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YOWZA!
Where did 2012 go in such a hurry?
It's been such a long time since any crafty blogging has happened here ... so thank you to all the faithful followers who haven't jumped ship during my absence. 
It's fair to say that 2012 was a barren year for activity here at MCC,  although 'real life' was anything but ... being pretty hectic at times and frequently verging on chaotic!  My biggest problem was finding the time and enthusiasm to deal with it all effectively following my surgery. 

The intention for 2013 is to be more organised in all areas of my life and hopefully my mind will follow suit ... so fingers crossed I'll be able to do all the things I want to do, both crafty and otherwise and still have enough time and energy to share snippets of it all with everyone.

But  ... before that and to kick things off, allow me to share just a few of my 2012 cards that didn't get an airing. 
If you have any questions about techniques or supplies used, then leave a message and I'll do my best to answer your query.

Babies

(Kanban Kit)

(Stamping and Embossing)

(Stamping and Embossing)

(Stamping, Inking and Mirri Card)

(Inside View)

(Digital Stamping and Promarkers)

(Digital Image and Stamping)

(Inside View)

Birthdays

(Digital Image and Computer Sentiment)

(Inside View)

(Kanban Kit)

(Inside View)

(Kanban Kit with Butterfly Embellishment)

(Inside View)

(Kanban Kit and 3D Elements)

(Kanban Kit and Diamante Ribbon Buckle)

(Kanban Kit, Pearls and Glitter Paper)

(Inside View)

(Kanban Kit and Cupcake Wrapper Decoration)

(Inside View)

(Kanban Kit, Mirri Card and Ribbon)

(Inside View)

(Doodling and Stickles)

(Inside View)

(Easel Card and Diecutting)

(Recycling)

(inside View)

(Digital Stamp, Paper Roses and Ribbon)

Other Occasions

(Embossing and Stickles)

(Inside View)

(Kanban Kit with Black and Gold)

(Inside View)

"Bunny Friends"

That's the title of the Penny Black stamp I used to create these cards and I have to say that it ranks among my top 10 favourite PB cuties ... after the hedgies of course!
It is quite a large wooden stamp featuring 5 cute bunnies in flowerpots so, after stamping on linen effect card and colouring with Promarkers, I decided to chop it up to see if it was feasible to make 2 cards from 1 image.
The Papermania Spring Time pad was still sitting on the desk from earlier, so I matched cardstock to the colours of the paper I'd chosen and punched 2 scalloped circles. 

Then I doodled with green fineliner on one and pierced holes around the other for some detail before cutting out 2 of the bunnies and paper-piecing the flowerpots from a scrap of textured card.  This fits in quite nicely with One Stop Craft Challenge 74 which is Paper Piecing.
The Happy Easter sentiment was the freebie from Quick Cards Made Easy, (also still lying on the desk), and it was inked up with Brilliance Dew Drop Pearl Olive before matting it onto offcuts of card and adding some tiny flower gems.
For the 2nd card, I cut a square of lilac gingham card slightly smaller than the  purple cardstock and then cropped the corners before matting them together and adding some faux stitching with a white gel pen.

From the remaining purple card and some pretty pastel green spotty paper, I used the rotary trimmer to cut 2 strips of varying widths from each, with a deckled edge blade.
After overlapping them horizontally and vertically on the gingham card I added another 2 bunnies cut from the original stamped image and finished decorating with a few buttons and a lilac satin bow.

I must say I'm quite taken with the colouring on the textured card with the Promarkers - normally I stick to smooth cardstock - but the linen effect gives an interesting result and is something I will definitely try again.

For the first time in a long time I am able to join in with this week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  Their theme "Check It Out" requires the use of checked paper or ribbons along with a PB image, so both cards are suitable as entries.
Our Creative Corner are looking for us to Break Out The Buttons, so my 2nd card qualifies for this challenge and Stampin' For The Weekend are asking for Ribbons and Bows so my tiny lilac bow sneaks me in there.
Finally, The Pink Elephant Challenge 60 is Pastels so I reckon either of these cards would work.
For the benefit of those who haven't seen the Penny Black Bunny Friends stamp in it's entirety - here you go!  

Definitely worth keeping a look out for if you don't already have it - if only for the cuteness factor.

Q: Whooo's a Twit-Twoo?

A: Me!
Q: Why?
A: 'Cos I forgot someone's birthday and didn't send a card - DUH! 
That little snippet of information probably won't come as any great surprise to a lot of people who know me as they can see me getting more scatterbrained as the years go by.   Hey Ho ... old age doesn't come by itself LOL!

Anyway ... my little moment of amnesia meant I needed to make a belated birthday card and as there was a box from QVC sitting on the desk with DB's Spring Woodland kit inside, I thought I'd have a wee play. 

You will have guessed from the title of my post that I opted for the owl image from all the cute woodland characters, but that came about because it fitted the idea I had for the greeting. 
The cream base card was 8" x 8" and I sliced a section from the front before layering the back panel with some pretty double sided patterned card, (from the kit), matted onto silver mirri card.  The remaining front panel was then decorated wih the reversed patterned card, also matted onto silver mirri.

The die cut wavy border was then attached with foam pads - this was already foiled so no cutting out was needed. 
From the remaining strips of patterned card I punched the circles for the alphabet stickers, (not included) and then cut 2 x Nestability scalloped ovals with my cuttlebug - one of which I trimmed and overlapped to make it big enough for the owl image, (can you see the join?) - and then I used the offcut for the alphabet stickers on the front before doodling with a white gel pen.

Inside I opted to use the cute die cut bunny message which was layered onto the last wee scrap of pink dotty card - and that's it!
I now need to get this card in the post or it'll be a week late - and that just won't do!
I'm going to submit this card as an entry at  
Crafty Cardmakers whose theme is Spring
and also 
Daring Cardmakers, for their theme of Tweetie Pie, if multiple entries are allowed.

Happy Birthday Bruv!

Today was my wee brother's birthday - he is a year and 4 days younger than I am - and I have to confess that I count myself very fortunate that he is one of my very best pals.
His card had to convey how special he is but without being too 'mushy' so I chose to combine a selection of funky'ish papers and elements from a craft kit which my son gave me for Christmas.  The orange text paper feels like canvas material, which is slightly weird.

Once the matting and layering of papers and cardstock was completed and I'd added that fabby star ribbon to hide the joins, I got a little bit adventurous with a white gel pen and did some 'doodling'. 

I tucked some 'cally-dosh' into the triangle pocket inside and stamped the sentiment using brown Whispers Ink. 
Hopefully he will treat himself to something nice ... or at least have a birthday drink on us.

Oh ... nearly forgot to tell my 'skeeeeeeery' but important news!
Ann, Irene and myself are going on a wee adventure today.  We are finally going to all meet up for the first time and spend a week together in York - how exciting is that?! 
So there's no challenge this week 'cos we'll not be here ... obviously!  Enjoy the wee break, 'cos we certainly intend to and we'll see you all next week.  Don't pine now!

KT's Challenge

Over at my forum buddy Shells blog is a Sketch Challenge which has been set by her 11 year old daughter and as I'm all in favour of encouraging the 'littlies' to be creative, I wanted to join in and give my support.
It would make her day to get a good response, so if you have a spare half hour and fancy playing along then hop on over to Shells.
I used a cute Penny Black stamp ... I really love those hedgies ... and it was coloured in with watercolour pencils before using a scallop punch and adding some doodling.
The patterned papers are from Papermania and they have been matted onto purple cardstock.
Purple and white velvet ribbon and a Prima flower topped with a button brad were added before mounting onto foam pads and sticking to the front panel.
The butterfly was created using silver decorative corner peeloffs and 2 small purple punched hearts with some graduating adhesive sparkle gems for the body.
Peeloff dots were ideal for the butterfly trail down to the greeting which is a transparent circle sticker on a leftover scrap of purple card.

Flower Doodle

Am being forced to catch up on our laundry today 'cos there's a severe basket overflow situation with piles big enough to sink the Titanic ... where does it all come from??

In between washloads I've managed to make a couple of quick cards, which are virtually identical apart from the wee bit of doodling I added to the 2nd version around the petals and the edges of the layers.
Click the picture for a larger image.

The Pink Elephant Challenge #26 is a recipe where the ingredients are ...
3 x brads
1 x flower
1 x patterned paper

... and Funky Fairys Challenge #28 is to use Black and White ... so I've killed 2 birds with 1 stone here.
The focal flower image with the funky border is from Funky Fairys Doodmentals kit ... which was a free download ... and I simply printed it onto white paper, then matted and layered with black and white card from the scrap box before adding a black button brad to the centre.
The patterned paper was also in my scrap box but I can't remember which range it came from ... sorry.
All the bits were popped onto a plain white DL card blank and finished with spotty ribbon a sticky sentiment and large white brads.
Super simple!

Wedding Card Box and 2 Challenges

I still have to personalise the wedding card box ... silly me ran out of A4 silver mirri card ... but it's as good as finished so thought I'd show you before it gets sent off.
It was made using a sheet of silver mirri card for the base and a sheet of double sided card forms the lid because I thought a mirri card lid might be a bit overpowering.
The edge of the lid was scalloped using a corner punch with the guide removed and then I added some sparkly decorative lace around the sides and knotted some pink satin ribbon for decoration.
Sorry the sparkle isn't showing in the photo but trust me, it looks lovely.

The 2 heart shapes were cut freehand from the remnants of that gorgeous floral embossed paper and they have been mounted onto silver mirri card and cut out leaving a narrow border. Silicon glue has been used to attach them.

The Pink Elephant Challenge #25 is a sketch this week and I can see me using this layout a lot 'cos it's so easy to follow.
The image and sentiment are free digi downloads from Whimsie Doodles ... don't you just love that cute wee face?
I've used Sakura Pens for colouring and they have a lovely subtle sparkle effect when dry.
A black fineliner was perfect for the doodling and 'faux stitching' with teeny weeny Making Memories brads and Prima flowers adding the decoration.

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #10 is to use a digi image so this fits in perfectly and I must admit that I've amazed myself for managing to combine challenges this week, 'cos I usually find this very difficult.

Paper Piecing

Where on earth do the days go??
I'm sure someone is stealing them from me when I'm not looking!

I have to tell you that I really enjoy playing along with the challenges but time restrictions mean I don't always get a chance. However, I particularly wanted to join in with Simon Says Stamp Paper Piecing Challenge as I'm a "paper piecing virgin" ... or should I say WAS !!

I PaperPieced these 2 adorable characters using the Woodware Patchwork Giraffes stamp ... isn't it a cutie??
It was stamped onto both plain white card and then again onto patterned paper from Paper Cellar 'Spring' 6" x 6" pad.

I then doodled around the edge of the image with a black fineliner and added fringed strips of paper grass from the paper leftovers, before adding a few floral adhesive gems and a sentiment decorated with green gingham ribbon.
Just hope I'm not too late to join in this week.