Diamonds and Flourishes

Good morning

I hope you have all had a good weekend.  I spent friday with some crafty friends,the fabulously talented  Anne and Lady Limmette herself, Chrissie,  at Make It, Farnborough, and of course there was quite a bit of money spent on new stash, and on Sunday it was more crafting time and lots of natter with Anne.   Thank you Anne - I had a lovely time.

It is the last week of our Romance theme at  Make My Monday,  and this week we want to see Diamonds and Flourishes on your projects.  You will see that I have decided to treat the idea of 'diamonds' slightly differently to those of my of my Deezine team mates, and I have not used anything sparkly  Please pop across to the challenge blog to see all the team members fabulous creations.

This card was produced during my crafting day with Anne, and I am really pleased with it.  My base card is from the Tim Holtz distress pad.  The first layer is covered with distress inks and then the flourish stamped over the top in the same colours.  The second layer is a Crafters Template in Diamonds.  Again the same method, covered the card in distress inks and then used the template over the top.  The image is from Art Journey whose stamps I adore.  The edges have been stamped with the same flourish as on the background.  All the background colouring has been done with Inkylicious brushes for a softer feel.  The edges on all the layers have been closed in with Dusty Concord.  The flower and leaf have been die-cute, and put together with a moonstone brad.

Don't for get that this is your last chance to be in the running for our  fabulous prize generously donated by Marianne Designs - take a look

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Do You Stack Up - Distress
Happy Daze - A Technique you love
Lawnscaping - Distress Mania
Moving Along with the Times - Layers
Paper Creattions Ink - Show us your style
Stamp and Create - Valentines/Love
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Non-Cute
The Crazy Challenge - Anything Goes
The Corrosive Challenge - Another Dimension
That Craft Place - Anything Goes

I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you.

Hugs,

Woo Hoo - Fabulous News!

Recently  Let's Ink It Up  had a DT call, and I am so excited to tell you that I have been chosen as one of the new team.  One of the things that really drew me to it is that it is a rubber stamping only challenge, no digis allowed. 

The challenge runs monthly and the next one starts on March 4, so please check back then, or even better go the challenge and play along with us..



I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you.

 Hugs,

Let's Alter It at Anything Goes

At  Anything Goes  this week we would like to see Altered Projects - anything as long as it is not a card, so lots of scope for all your inspiration.

This is my piece of work - a small wooden box.  I have used PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk paints on this, staring with a darker green colour, dired that, and then covered with covered it with with crackle finish, and then when that was dry went over with a light green colour.  The top coat cracks to show the darker colour underneath.  The edge of the lid is wrapped with cream lace, and a fancy button applied .  On the top is a handmade flower, and leaves colour from the Tim Holtz tattered leaves, and then stamped and coloured with distress stain.

I am entering this into the follwing challenges:

Stamp n Doodles - Lace and Flowers
Make it Monday - Always Anything Goes
Corrosive Challenge - Another Dimension


I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you.

Hugs,

Victorian Romance at Make My Monday

Hello everybody

I am a little late posting today for our challenge at  Make My Monday.   This week we are continuing our theme of Romance, and this time we want to see elements of Victorian Romance. 

This is my Victorian Romance card.  There is no sentiment because it is probably going to the daughter of a friend who is getting married soon, and I need to decide what would be suitable.

I inked my base card all round the edges before added the brown card and the lovely pink Pion paper which has been distress to within an inch of its life.  The photograph is mounted on a doilly which I have inked and also attached some lace to at one side.  I cut two swirls, and added flowers and a pretty pin as well. 

Since making this I have decided this needs some sassing up, so probably by the end of the week you will find a new version of this card at the bottom of the blog.

Don't forget that Make My Monday is being sponsored by Marianne Design and we have this fabulous prize for the winner at the end of the month.

I am entering this into the following challenges

Ruby's Rainbow - Vintage
Bunny Zoes - Celebrations
Crafty Bloggers Network - Shabby Chic
Creative Mondays - Anything Goes
Deep Ocean Challenge - Pink and Brown
Stamps R Us - Anything Goes
St Lukes Charity Challenge - Love and Lace
The Crazy Challenge - Use a die or punch
Victorine Originals - Lace


I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you.

Hugs,

Hello Baby ...

Good morning, and welcome to my new followers.  Thank you so much for joining me.

Today I have two cards with the same image, but different coliourways.  If you love Lili of the Valley stamps then you will recognise this as one of their range.  Both images are coloured with Copics.

For this card I have followed the sketch at Sketch Saturday, with lots of circles, and I really enjoyed putting this together.  The papers are from  Memory Box pad I have had in my stash for a while.  I really like the pink and green combination - very pretty and refreshing.    The sentiment is LOTV.  Lace, pearls and flowers are from stash.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

All Sorts - Free and Easy February

Cupcake Craftroom - New Beginnings

Drunken Stampers - Texture

Lili's Little Fairies - Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes

Sketch Saturday - I followed the sketch

Scrappy Frogs - Die Cuts

For my babt boy card I have followed the sketch at Pixie Cottage from last week.  I think the papers are from a Kaisercraft baby pad - but have lost the outer covers from the pad so cannot be sure!  Again the sentiment is LOTV.  Pearls, ribbons and buttons from stash.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Bling It On - Love is all around - and I guess love means lots of things
Crafters Companion - Anything Goes
Cupcake Craftroom - New Beginnings
Lili's Little Fairies - Anything Goes
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - Anything goes with ribbon
Crafting for all seasons - Love


I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you. Hugs,

Make My Monday - We're all about Hearts and Flowers and die cuts

Hi everybody

I hope you have all had a good weekend. 

This month at  Make My Monday  the theme is Romance, and this week we want to see Hearts and Flowers, with the option of die cuts as well.  There are some fabulous pieces of work from the design team, so please pop across to the challenge blog to have a peek.

This is my take on this weeks' challenge:

I decided to let the fabulous paper do the talking here.  It is Graphic 45 La Romantique, and it has taken me several months to dare to use it.  It is layered on to a darm creamy/tan paper which I have distressed around the edges, and then I added Distress Crackle Paint in Rock Candy around the edges of the two pieces.  I am not sure where I got the sentiment from - I have had it for a while - I really felt it suited the theme.  It is pounted on to a piecve of the same card and I wetted this and then rubbed distress ink around the edges.  The hearts are Marianne dies, and flowers are from stash.

Don't forget that this month we are sponsored by Marianne Designs and there is a fabulous prize to be won

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps - Valentines/Love

Bloggers Challenge - In Bloom

Crafty Bloggers Network - Love is in th Air

Creative Belli - Hearts/Valentine

Creative Inspirations Paint - Hearts

Dream Valley Challenge - Valentine

Gingersnap Creations - Words of Wisdom

Just Inspirational Challenge - Photo for inspiration - I have picked the roses out

Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes

Our Craft Lounge - Vintage Love

Rainbow Lady - Have a Heart

The Squireel and the Fox - Valentines Day

Truly Scrumptious - Love and Hearts

I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you. Hugs,

Heart and Flowers for OSCC

Good morning everybody

It's a lovely bright crisp morning here with not a cloud in the sky. 

We are still in a Valentine mood at the  One Stop Craft Challenge  and we want to see Hearts and Flowers and a touch of ribbon on your projects this week.  Please pop over to the challenge - there is lots of fabulous inspiration.

This is my take on the theme for the challenge.

I have used Art Journey stamps for this card.  The background flowers is from the Butterfly Wishes plate and the main image and sentiment from the Precious Moments plate.  This range of stamps is fabulous, and although I do not have many they are certainly among my favourites, and the service from the Art Journey store is second to none.

My background is inked with distress inks and them I have stamped the flower over the top in the same colours as the background - a technique that Liesbeth shared with me.  I have edged all round the background with distress inks in Vintage Photo to close the background in.  The main panel has a distress ink background again, and is stamped in archival ink.  This is mounted on to a black background.  The heart is die cut, and I have a small seam binding bow to finish off.

At OSCC we have two sponsors this week:

Art Journey are very generously offering two beautiful stamp plates as prizes

The Ribbon Girl who are offering a £5 ribbon voucher with postage paid.

I am entering this card for the following challenges:

Card Making Mamas - Valentine
Crafty Ann's - Love is in the Air
Delicious Doodles - All Loved Up
Try it on Tuesday - A card for True Love
Stamp With Fun - Love
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Fussy and Fancy - With all my Heart
Our Craft Lounge - Vintage love
Lexi's Creations - Love
My Mum's Craft Shop - It must be love
Snazzys - Love/Romance


I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you. Hugs,

Love letters from the heart

Hi everybody

I hope you have all kept warm, cozy and safe over this weekend.  We don't have snow any longer, just wet mucky slush.  I just hope it does not freeze.

It is the start of a new theme for us at  Make My Monday,  and what else could it be for February, but Romance.  And this week we want to see Love Letters; verse or text on your project.

Please pop across to the challenge blog - there is some fabulous inspiration.

This is my take on the theme.

The base card is Co-ordinations )not sure what shade of pink it is.  I have distressed the edges and inked them with DI walnut stain.  The spot paper is from a Graphics 45 pad, and again this has been distressed and edged with walnut stain,.  I then sprayed them with Tattered Angels Gold Irridescent spray.  I then took a piece of card which was coloured with DI in spun sugar pumice stone, with worn lipstick around the edge.  Again it was distressed and edged with walbut stain.  I also dripped water over the card to mottle it slightly.  My main image is B Line designs which stamped in coffee archival ink and  coloured with pencils. This was masked and overstamped with text - a Studio 490 stamp from a set - in pumice stone and worn lipstick.  The pattern around the edge is from a Stempelglede set as is the Carte Postale stamp in the top corner.  The sentiment is from a Studio 490 set.  The swirls are cut with Marianne Designs dies and coloured with DI over the pink card.  For the heart, I stamped the Paper Artsy heart on to pink card in worn lipstick and then cut it out with a matching die.  A matching heart from a piece of Clearly for Art was cut and had some stamping added in coffee.  The two pieces were then glued together and heated so it could be bent slightly.  I do wish I had not put the coffee stamping on it though.  Flowers, lace and brads from stash.

Oh dear - I do seem to have gone on a bit about all the stages in this card.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps - Valentine / love
The Stamp Man - Embellish It
The Artistic Stamper - Hearts
The Sunday Stamper - Hearts
Come and Get it Challenge - Love
Let's Ink It Up - Lace and Ribbons - I have ribbon threaded through the lace.
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Show love
Sweet Stampin' - The One I love

We have a fabulous sponsor this month - Marianne Design - with a prixe that I am sure anybody would want to win. 

All you have to do for a chance to win this gorgeous set of craftiness is to enter some of our challenges this month and as the theme is such a great one, that shouldn't be too difficult!




I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you. Hugs,

A sketch at Sketch Saturday

There is a fabulous sketch at Sketch Saturday this week, so I have used it for this card.

I have a commission for a number of baby cards, so this will be one of them.  I have used an image from LOTV, and coloured with Copics.  Defintely my fave medium at the moment, but I have just watched a video of that fab Lord Tim demonstrating his new Distress Markers HERE,  Fabulous or what!!  I can't wait for them to arrive .......

Anyway  back to my card.  The pretty papers are Kaisercraft, and the flowers are from stash.  Leaves are cut with a punch.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Divas By Design - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Animal Antics
Crafty Sentiments - Punches and / or Dies
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Beary Sweet
Incy Wincy Designs - Flowers
Karens Doodles - Cute and Cuddly
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Stamp and Create - Anything Goes


I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you. Hugs,

Stitches for OSCC

Hi everybody

Time for a new challenge at  One Stop Crafts  and this week we want to see Stitching - it can be real or faux.  I have used faux stitching.

All the stamps are B Line Designs, with the exception of the cross stitches, which is Tim Holtz.  My background has been done with Pan Pastels - must get some more colours!  The DP is from the So Sophie range which I have had for ever and hardly used, but I love the damask pattern on this and it seems to go really with the the vintagey feel of the stamps.  Flowers, lace and seam binding are all from stash.

I am entering this card for the following challenges:

Card Making Mamas - Something Old - My stamps are old
Digi Doodle's Shop Best - Anything Goes
Pan Pastels - Use Two of Something - I have two tape measures, two lots of faux stitching, and two carnation flowers
Moving Along With The Times - Blooming Marvellous
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers Network - Distressing
Creative Stamp Friends--Old fashioned or antique
The Crazy Challenge--vintage
Craft Your Days Away--distressing
Sugar Creek Hollow--go girly


Sponsoring us this week is Chocolate Baroque, who has become a regular sponsor for us, and we have a fabulous prize of a set of stamps worth a whopping £40.

I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you.

Hugs,

Love is in the Air

Hi everybody

At  Anything Goes  this week our challenge is To the One I Love, and this is my take on it.

I decided to try something different.  When I bought the paper pad, which is Kaiser Craft Sweet Nothings I noticed that there were some collage elements to buy as well - so how could they not leap into my basket!  I have used an Indigo Blu Heart stamp on a colour washed piece of paper and them mounted it on pale pink and dark pink card.  The Victoria bride image is one I have had for ever.  The ticket has been stamped with a Penny Black stamp.  I have addded roses carnations from stash, a die cut leaf which has been coloured with distress stains, and a couple of pearl pins.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Get Hippity with Ippity - Hearts
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge - Create a Valentine's project
Stamp and Create - Anything Goes
Hooked on Crafts - Anything Goes
There She Goes - Love Is In The Air
Victorine Originals - Anything Goes
Bunny Zoes Crafts - Picture Inspiration
The Pink Elephant - Photo Inspiration



The Craft Den will be stocking all rubber stamps from Indigo Blu and to celebrate Indigo Blu are sponsoring this challenge with a whooping £20 voucher to spend in their store.

You can order IndigoBlu stamps from The Craft Den with P&P only £2 and free P&P on orders over £25 (Only available to UK). The Craft Den are offering an introductory price on all IndigoBlu Stanps. Visit the Craft Den to find out more..


I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you. Hugs,

Nature at Make My Monday

Hi everybody

At  Make My Monday  we are still following the theme of Nature, and this week we want to see Flowers and leaves.  There are some fabulous pieces of work from the DT so please pop across to the challenge blog and join in.

My card this week is quite a simple one.  I had planned  to give this a slightly oriental feel, but hey ho - could not find my Japanese papers, tassels or coins!  So I have stuck with red and black.  The image is a favourite one from Elusive Images (now Chocolate Baroque).  I love the beauty of these poppies and the fact that they have seed heads as well as it gives more dimension to the image.  I have coloured with Copics with several shades of red and added some orange in as well to get the richness in the colour.  The centres have a little stickles added.  Ribbons are from stash.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Daisy Doodles - Anything Goes
Let's Ink It Up  - Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Journey - Floral
Hook on Crafts - Something Bright
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes

I must apologise for the fact that this is late - I have been having real problems with my broadband connection - I am now hoping it is solved after having spent several hours this morning working through all the cabling etc and found a loose connection.

I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you. Hugs,

Hi everybody

We are looking for a few more crafters to join our team and are therefore having a DT call at the Anything Goes Challenge.  It's a great team to work with, where we have loads of fun. And there are some really talented ladies in the group, so if you're interested don't hesitate to apply.

 

This call will be stay open from Monday 16th January 2012 until Monday 30th January 2012.







Hugs,

Create a scene at Make My Monday

Good morning everybody - I hope the weekend has been a good one.

Now - I do not mean scream and shout when I say Create a Scene.  This is the third week of our Nature theme at  Make My Monday,  and we want to see a scene created.  There are some fabulous examples on the challenge blog, so please do pop along and have a browse.  I must admit I did struggle at first, but it's amazing what can be found in the stash when you are desperate for the right stamps.  However, as a result of this I also have another carrier bag full of stamps that I am going to sell.

I built my background with Pan Pastels - did I say I love these (!), and then used a variety of stamps from Elusive Images - now Chocolate Baroque.  I am now sure where the seat came from - it is very old and the writing is off the stamp.  All the images are stamped with archival ink.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Craft a Scene - Anything Goes
Let's Ink It Up - Anything Goes
Pan Pastel Challenge - Anything Goes
Bloggers Challenge - Wings and Things
Alphabet Challenge Blog - Y - You can choose

I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you. Hugs,

Blogger Issues - White screen, no comments - Fix

I found the following on my friend Alison's  blog

The easy fix is:

Settings
Comments
Comment Placement - You have to untick the radio button next to Embedded Comments and select 'Pop Up' instead.

This will fix it and  will allow people to see your blog properly and leave comments. Hope this helps anyone having the same problems.  However, this will only fix the issue on your own blog, you can't change what you see on others blogs obviously, and this could affect quite a few blogs.

I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you. Hugs,

We're coming out in spots at OSCC

Hi everybody

My apologies this is so late being posted, I have been having internet and blogger problems.

At the  One Stop Craft Challenge  we are Going Spotty and want to see ribbons as well.

We have two new sponsors this week, both of whom are going to be a regular sponsors for us.

The Ribbon Girl are offering a £5 gift voucher, with free post and packing

Bugaboo Stamps are offering 7 digis as a prize

Now on to my card. Bugaboo very generously offered the team a choice of images for the challenge, and I chose Peapod Twin Boo, so cute!

My image is coloured with Copics.  The papers are from a Kaisercraft pad (I think!) and I have computer generated the sentiment.  Embellishments are tiny flowers and butterflies decorated with pearls, and ribbon and lace from stash.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Dream Valley Challenge - Anything Goes

Gingerloft Challenge - Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes

Scrappy Frog - Lace

Sentimental Sundays - Ribbon + sentiment

Simply Create Too -  More than 2 layers

Totally Papercraft - Spots and Stripes

Eat, Sleep, Stamp - I followed the sketch

Moving Along with the Times - Spots and Stripes

I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you. Hugs,

Anything Goes at Anything Goes!!

Hi everybody

Our first challenge of 2012, and we are making it very easy for everybody at Anything Goes.

Because of this never ending chest infection I have had I have not felt much like crafting, so this card is one that was a commission.  The lady concerned had seen several of this in blue, but wanted a pink one for her grandaughter to go with her pink fairy dress.

I decided to go with a rosy pink rather than pale colours, and took them from the Prima paper I have uwed for the background - using both sides of it.  The clock - I am sure everybody will recognise as being Tim Holtz, and the die I have used for the fairy is a Go Kreate die I bought before Christmas.  Lace and flowers are all from stash.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

 Bearly Mine - Anything Goes

Celebrate the occasion - Child's birthday

Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Glitter

LadyBug Craft Ink - Anthing goes with new Stash - my new stash is the arched die

Papertake Weekly - Die Cute Special

Shopping Our Stash - All that Glitters, shines or sparkles

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes

Craft your passion - Mythical creatures - apparently fairies come into this catetory ...

Cupcake Craft Challenge - Something New - new stash - arched die

Make It Monday - Always anything goes 

Paper Creations Ink - Die Cuts or Punches

I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you. Hugs,

Ode to a Kitten

Hi everybody

It's time for Make My Monday again.  We are continuing with Fliss's Nature theme, and this time we want to see Animals on your cards.  Well my stock of animals is pretty non-existent, so I guess I am going to have to do something about that!!  So out came my lovely kitten stamp again.  Please do pop along to the challenge blog - there are some fab inspirational pieces of work.

The background papers are from a couple of pads, and the base is Bazzill.  I have stamped the kitten and then used Pan Pastel in turquoise around it.  I have done the same with the little poem as well.  A while ago I bought a couple of metal shim plates from Dies to Die For, and put them in the bug at the same time as cutting out - sigh - no more messing about with embossing mats as it is all done in one go. The flowers are a mixture of various Prima sets, and the ribbon, just seen on the tag, is from stash.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations Paint - something old - my stamp is very old
Dream Valley Challenge - Anything Goes
One Stitch at a Time - use Embellishments
Sparkles Forum - Anything but a Christmas Card
Crafty Emma - Anything Goes

I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you.

 Hugs,

New beginnings

Lili's Little Fairies have their first challenge running this week, and lots of people know I do love LOTV stamps.  As it happens I have just made a baby card and thought it would fit this challenge really well.

I have used the Little Ducky image,  Now I know ducks don't normally come with pink spots, but sometimes it is just necessary to take a liberty!!  I have coloured with Copics, and the papers are all from Prima Pixie Glen.  I have embellished with seam binding, a prima silk flower, pearl pins, butterflies embellished with pearls, and also a flower charm.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Lili's Little Fairies - New Beginnings
Crafty Ribbons - New Beginnings
Cute Card Thursday - What's New (I have not inked this stamp before)
Digi Doodle - New Beginnings
Dutch Dare - New Beginnings
Sassy Studio - Something New - my stamp
Seems a Little Sketchy - I followed the sketch
Simon Says Stamp - Something New

I really appreciate it that you take the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely comments. Thank you each and every one of you.

Hugs,