Paper/Card advice needed please

I need your help and advice please people.

As most of us do either stamping or digital stamping for our blog challenges, I would like to know which paper/card you print/stamp onto. 

The reason I ask this is because the paper I have used up till now isn't available at the stationers anymore.

The paper I have used up till now is made by IQ Mondi smooth white paper, 160 gsm.

This was perfect for my stamping/printing/colouring needs.

They have another 160 gsm paper there, but it doesn't seem the same as what I was using, in fact it feels much more flimsy than the previous paper I used.

Could you give me an idea what paper/card you all use please? And where you get it from?

I would appreciate your replies and advice please.

Thank you.

Karen

xxxx

Inked Inspirations Blog's Birthday Candy

Jodi over at Inked Inspirations Blog is celebrating her birthday today, and so she is offering some blog candy.She's not just giving ONE prize away, she is giving FIVE away!

Pictured below are all 5 of the candy's on offer, this can't be missed. It's such a wonderful offer!

This offer is open until the Midnight, 31st July 2010 (PST).

Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog # 25

I'm a keen follower of the Crafty Sentiments Challenge Blog # 25, and their challenge this week is to follow a sketch, which is pictured below.

I coloured the images in with Promarkers, and the backing paper is the Papermania Capsule Collection - Red Hot Paper Pack.

I picked a pack of 30 sheets  up at my local Staples store.

I hope you like my card.

Pollycraft Challenge # 51, Forever Friends Challenge Blog, Passion for Promarkers # 59 & The ABC Challenge

I wasn't feeling too well this morning, so all in all, I'm quite pleased with how this card has turned out.

I've followed a few challenges and fitted them into this card so here goes:

1 Pollycraft Challenge # 51 - follow sketch given (pictured below)

2) Forever Friends Challenge Blog - Stitching Challenge

3) Passion For Promarkers # 59 - Give us a Laugh"

4) The ABC Challenge - Y is for You and Me 

I made this a large card, as I accidentally printed the image out a little bit larger than I meant to. I used quite a few promarkers to colour the image, baby pink, pastel yellow, peach, buttercup, baby blue, berry red, terracotta, pastel green, lilac, ice grey 2, yellow and satin for the skin.

I used some bronzed effect pearl gems to adorn the corner of the image and I drew in some stitching around the backing papers and the image itself.

The backing papers and card I bought from The Paper Mill.

To include it in the "Give us a Laugh" challenge, I typed out a sentiment saying "you don't have to be mad to live here, but it helps!"

I added some satin effect sticky ribbon at the bottom and either side of the ribbon I added a gold peel off.

I found some X peel offs, which are supposed to represent kisses I think but I thought they may also represent cross stitching so I placed a few of those on the ribbon.

I hope you like my card. Thank you for looking.

Friday Sketchers # 109 & Just Cute Bears Challenge # 24

The 2 challenges I am entering this card into are:

1) Friday Sketchers # 109 - follow the sketch

2) Just Cute Bears Challenge # 24 - decoupage 

This card I made using the Gingham Vase papers by Design House, I've not seen these used that much on people's blogs but I think they're lovely colours. The cardstock which I used is from The Paper Mill. The decoupage is one I got from Hobbycraft. I love doing decoupage so it was nice to be able to use one for a challenge.

The card and sketch I followed are pictured below. I hope you like my card. Thank you for taking the time to look.

Sugarbowl Challenge # 38, Pollycraft Monday Challenge # 50 & Alphabet Challenge Blog

I made this card with a few different challenges in mind, and I must admit I'm really happy with how it's turned out.

The challenges I'm entering my card into are:

1) Sugar Bowl Challenge # 38 - follow sketch

2) Pollycraft Monday Challenge # 50 - Pinkalicious

3) Alphabet Challenge Blog - J is for Jewels

As I had an image which was "portrait", I turned the sketch  90 degrees clockwise. I used  gems, papers and card which I bought from The Paper Mill and Hobbycraft. 

The image I used was Sugarnellie Belle and I coloured her in mainly pinks, to fit in with the pinkalicious theme. I coloured her in with Baby Pink,  Rose Pink, Magenta, Sunkissed Pink, Forest Green and Buttercup Promarkers (sorry for the green and buttercup colours but I didn't think pink would go too well for a flower stem or for hair)

The sketch and the card I made are pictured below. 

Thank you for taking time to view my card.

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge # 57

The Craft Challenge for this week, Number 57, is to follow the colours Purple and Green with Gems.

I got my new Hougie Board yesterday so I sat having a play with loads of embossing techniques on different spare pieces of card to see what came out with, like you do, and I found myself with the background to this card.

I used a cream pearlescent card, which I bought from my local Hobbycraft, then I cut down the card so it was exact inches and then scored the lines an inch apart. After that I got some green holographic  mirri board and scored a grid pattern 2 cm apart then cut these out, and then used my corner punch to snip the corners off the squares, and stuck them in the squares between the embossed lines.

After that, I coloured in the lovely Miss Evie Patches image, which is from the wonderfully talented  Squigglestamps, and I coloured it with Grass Green, Olive Green, Pale Green, Forest Green and Purple Promarkers, and cut it out, then stuck on purple gems in her hair and on her shoes, flower, buttons, and added a couple green square gems onto her pocket,  then with 3d sticky dots I stuck it to the card.

I used a purple happy birthday banner and stuck 2 green gems onto that.

My card is pictured below, I hope you like it!

Thank you for taking time to view my blog.