It's time for an Unscripted Sketch

My second post today - this time for Unscripted Sketches.

You can flip the sketch, rotate it… create a card, a scrapbook page, or anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted Sketch as the inspiration and basis of your creation!  Please pop across to the challenge to have a look at all the lovely inspirational pieces.

My card is very simple.  I have taken a piece of Tim Holtz paper, mounted on to co-ordinating blue card.  The image is a download I have lad for some time, and I thought she went so well with the colours.  The sentiment is a download as well.  I have mounted this all on to a strip of crushed silk ribbon, and added a Prima pearl flower centre and a line of pearls underneath.

I am entering this for the following challenges@

Inspire me Fridays - Anything goes
Paper Cutz  - 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.

I'm In Stitches at the One Stop Craft Challenge

Hi everybody

What a fabulous day yesterday - I was up with the lark to see the lot from start to finish.  You know - THE WEDDING.   Catherine's dress was elegant, understated and just beautiful in its simplicity.    Her sister looked stunning, and the little bridesmaids were sweet, as were the pages, and I liked that the flowers were very simple as well.  Catherine looked so composed and William looked like the cat that had got the cream - which of course he had.  We sure can put on a show when it comes to something like a royal wedding.

Enough of wittering - I had better tell you about the  One Stop Craft Challenge  today.  Our theme today is In Stitches - and we want to see stitching, either faux or real.  Our sponsors are Dianes Digital Designs.

My card has a background paper from the Tim Holtz Shabby stack, which I have overstamped with stamps from the Haberdashery set.  I have added a panel of pink card whichhas been embossed with faux stitchings, underneath which is some cobwebby pink lace.  .I have cut out the dressmakers stand from the Sewing Room die set, painted it with crackle paint and then wrapped it with brown and pink pleated ribbon.  A brad and rhinestone spacer has been added to look like a brooch.  At the bottom is a reel wrapped with lace and at the top a Tim Holtz letter tag.   I have also added a few sparkly bits over the card.

Fine up to there.  But oh - what was I thinking of!  Why, oh why, did I put that pink flower there.  I cannot get it off because it is stuck with Crafters Pick glue.!!

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Paper Crafting Journey - Bling
Anything Goes Challenge - Pink and Brown
Creative Craft Challenges - get Recycling - my dressmaker stand and the ribbon spool are cut from corrugated cardboard from a box that I pulled apart
LadyBug Crafts Ink - Fashion and a blog hop
Use it Tuesdays - Fasteners - I have used a jewelled brad
Digi Doodles Shops Best - Anything Goes
Do you Stack Up - Make it Pop - 3D effect
Phindy's Challenge - Glitter, Glamour and Glitz

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.

Anything goes for MAWTT

Time flies at the moment - perhaps that should have been the subject of my card. But it is not.

At  Moving Along With The Times  this week it is Anything Goes - so let your imagination run wild.  I have used sewing as my theme.

This week we are being sponsored by The Stamp Man  and there is a fabulous set of Hero Arts stamps up for grabs.

For my card I have used a favourite B Line stamp.  I have used Ranger Manila Card and added distress inks, and then stamped over that.  The edge has been stamped with a small irregular swirl, which is also B Line.  The background paper is Tim Holtz Crafty Attic, and I have used other bits from the same pad behind the image.  The dummy was supposed to be in chipboard, but hey-ho I could not find chip board, so had to cut with paper and colour over it.

 

I have embellished with lace, velvet ribbon, a piece of Tim Holtz tape measure, Prima flower, pearl pins from stash which I coloured with Copics, and some pretty buttons from Websters Pages.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Crafts and Me - Vintage/Distressed
Little Red Wagon - For Mom
Scrapbook Sisters - Distress
Digi Doodles Shops's Best - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Anything goes and a blog hOP
Sisterhood of Crafters - Mother's Day
Stampavie and more - Pearls
Party time Tuesdays - Anything goes
Craft your passion - Show us your layers
Simon Says Stamp and Show  - Some Buttons.
Delightful Challenges - Distressing
4 Crafty Chicks - Distressing



Some people may wonder why I have entered this for some Mother's Day challenges.   When my mother was a young woman, and soon after she came to the UK from Australia, she worked for a company that is now world reknown for their shirts.  So this seemed to eb quite fitting - even though it is Mother's Day in the US that is being celebrated.


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.

Less is More is Off-Centre

I have been playing about with a couple of new stamps, and thought I would enter my attempts at Less is More.  I decided to keep both as one layer, although i was sorely tempted to make the first one up with a mount for the image!

On the first card  I masked the edge of the card and then stamped a Hero Arts Crackle Stamp with Distress Ink.  I then stamped over it with a Penny Black Stamp which I have just acquired.  I used Stampin' Up ink in black.  The poppy is coloured with Copics.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up.

With the second card I used a very old Hero Arts shadow background stamp with several colours of Distress Ink on it.  Then I overstamped with a stamp from a set of stamps by Artemio.  i don't like the sentiment placing on this, and think I will have to play about a bit more with this idea.

Both cards are stamped on to cream cardstock.

I am entering this for the following challenge:

Claudia & Co - Clean and Simple
Stamp, Scrappin'Central - 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.

Pink reigns again for Unscripted Sketches

I am so late posting this for  Unscripted Sketches  and our latest challenge.  Once I had decided what paper I wanted to use the rest was quite easy for me.  A brilliant sketch to follow.  I did however alter the circle and the square because the balance did not seem to be right with mine.  Please do pop across to the challenge to look at all the lovely creations.

My background paper is from the Cosmo Cricket Delovely pad.  There are some really pretty papers in this pad, which I know will get a lot of use.  The base card is a White Silver Shimmer card, and I have used the same card for the white accents on the front.  The flower strip is a Martha Stewart punch, and the circles and squares have been made with Nesties.  The flowers and the little square have been embellished with tiny pearls.  I think I could not have got a better match from my flower - which is Prima.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Ai Factory - Flowers in bloom
Wee Memories - Anything Girlie
Sugar Creek Hollow - Circles
A Gem of a Challenge - Pearls or Swirls
C.R.A.F.T. - Flowers
Cute Card Thursday - no text



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.

In the pink for Sweet Stampin'

Hello bloggers everywhere

We have such fabulous weather at the moment, and I am sure this is where my desire to use these scrummy pinks has come from.  So bright and summery.  The week has flown by,  probably because we were away for a long weekend in Lincoln visitng my son.

For this week at  Sweet Stampin'  we are sponsored by Di's Digi Downloads, and we were given some lovely images to use for our cards.  So I have chosen this lovely Hoppy Bunny with his bunch of Easter flowers.  This week our challenge is Easter and whatever that represents for you.

I have followed the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday for this card.  My papers are from Prima Madelaine - they are defintely not going to last very long - they are so pretty, with a dark pink base - which is probably Stampin' Up.  I have coloured with Copics, and added the merest amount of stickles in yellow to the centre of some of the flowers.  The ribbon is from stash, and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Sweet Sketch Wednesday - I followed the sketch

Penny's Paper Crafty - Easter

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Easter

My Mum's Craft Shop - Glitter

For Fun Challenges - Easter

Card Making Mamas - Spring

Delicious Doodles - Anything Goes
Easy Craft Projects - Easter

Fairy Fun Fridays - April shows bring forth May flowers - showers or flowers

Fun with Shapes and More - Animal

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Springtime

The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge - must include an animal

Ai Factory - Flowers in bloom

.C.R.A.F.T. - Flowers

Cute Card Thursday - no text

Paper Crafting Journey - Use a freebie - my image is

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.

Making a Wish for MAWTT

Hi everybody

I had a fab weekend away and spending time with my son and his partner.  Lots of talking, laughing and eating, and such wonderful weather.

So here I am with my DT card for  MAWTT.  We are sponsored by LadyBugs Crafts Inks, and I have used a lovely image called Cutie Pie - Making a Wish.  Don't you just love cupcakes!  The lovely Lisa has chosen the theme for today and it is RECYCLE As it is also Earth Day on Friday, April 22.  And - we are celebrating Lisa's birthday today as well, so a really good reason to pop across to her blog and send her good wishes for the day!

My image is coloured with Copics and I have dusted some pale pink ink around her.  The top of the cupcake has been covered with stickles, as has the candle.  I'm afraid I don't know what the paper is as I have only bits and pieces of it left, and nothing with a name on it.  My recycled element is the pale green card behind the image - it is a piece of card from some Prima flowers I have been using, and also the pink dotted ribbon.  The sentiment is from a set of Inkadinkadoo stamps, and I just felt it suited this.  Flowers are a mixture and I have added a pretty dotted brad to the centre.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Cooking it up with Katie - Pink and flowery
Crafts and me - Pink and sweet
Creative Card Crew - Recycle something - mine is the pale green card behind the image and ribbon
Freshly Brewed - Sparkle
LadyBug Crafts Ink - Anything Goes
My Mum's Craft Shop - All that glitters
Paper Pretties - Pink, Green and Neutral
Stampavie and more - Birthday
A Spoonful of Sugar - Let's Celebrate
Try it on Tuesday - Recycle - mine is the pale green card behind the image and ribbon


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.

Unscripted Sketches - My first DT post

Good morning again - this is also scheduled - so I hope it appears.

This time round I am showing you my DT item for  Unscripted Sketches.  This week is a slightly different take, and we are asking you to do a 'piggyback'.  Earth Day is Friday next week so to promote that, and to encourage a variety of projects, the piggyback is to recycle something.  You could use a craft item in a unique way, or use something that you've had forever (use it in a new, fresh way instead of throwing it away), but also, you could use something that isn't normally used as a craft item. Cardboard from a cereal box as the base for the cover of a mini album, crepe paper or tissue paper from your last birthday to make a flower to decorate another gift or card, etc. You get the idea. Have fun with it!

Please do pop along to the Challenge to have a look at all the wonderful pieces of work.

I have made a card and have something recycled on it.  You will have seen from my previous post that I am using quite a lot of Prima flowers.  Well they are packaging them on some very useful card with script, ledger, etc, so every piece is going into my useful bits box.

For this card I have used a new Sarah Kaye image, which I have coloured with Copics. My papers are Sumer Cottage from Daisy Bucket, which I have had forever.  This is layered on to cream cardstock.  The mount behind the image is my Prima recycled card.  To embellish I have used a large flat gardenia from Wild Orchid Crafts and some pearls.

I am entering this for the following challenges

Freshly Brewed - Cute and Sweet
Simon Says Stamp - Card for a Child
The Paper variety - Flowers



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.


  x x

It's altered for the One Stop Crafts Challenge

Good morning one and all

I really hope you are reading this because it is scheduled and I am in Lincoln visiting my son for a long weekend.

The theme is ALTERED this week at  One Stop Crafts Challenge.  So you lovely crafters let us see something other than a card this time a round, and please pop along to the challenge to see all the pieces of work from our teamies.

I have two examples for you this week.

This is a paper mache box from Hobbycraft which I painted with Eco Green craft paint. The top is then covered with artists modelling paste and used my heat gun to help it dry - which made the paste pop and splutter to get the raised bits. I wiped over the top with some diluted paint on a baby wipe and added a bit of Inka Gold on a paint brush across the top and around the edge. I added blobs of Gemtac glue to which I added seed beads, and then the dragonfly to which I added beads. Lastly the flowers, which are Prima.
The second boxes are very easy, and I have to give credit to Louise at Zuzu's Petals 'n' Stuff.  I really admire her really incredible work.  Please pop across to her blog and have a look at it.

These are light weight wood boxes and I have sprayed them with glimmer mists inside and outside.   Rubbed or brushed on Inka Gold around the sides and edges.  Added flowers (Prima again - and lazy I know - but I am doing some other boxes that will have handmade metal ones on), brass leaves, butterflies etc.  The top bluey green one is Cosmic Shimmer Peacock and it is multicoloured shades.  Fab!  All the edges have sari lace around them, as in the photo below.

 
I expect you are wondering why so many boxes - well I have taken a stall at my Village Fete, and also a big craft fair.  In the meantime, I have just taken over the house with boxes, paints, etc, etc.  However, it is really enjoyable doing something else as well as cards.  I use a very large pizza box for a spray place, lined with plastic, and then lined with paper towels - several thicknesses.   And how's this for a good way of using up the ink on soaked paper towels - I have rolled a couple of boxes in and got a variation in colour scheme - which has been really effective on a pink box and an orangey-gold one.

I am entering this for the following challenges

Your Next Stamp - Texture it
The Paper Variety - Flowers


Have a fabulous weekend.

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.


    xx

Moving Along with the Times

Recently  MAWTT  had a design team call, for which I applied, and I am so thrilled to say that I have been chosen to be part of the team, so this post is also to show you my first DT card for them.

Our sponsor this week is 

with a prize of $10 of Digital Stamps.

The theme for this week is 'Any Kind of Chocolate'.  It could be milk chocolate, dark chocolate even melted chocolate!  As long as your card has some chocolate brown on it, it fits!

So over to my card.

The team were given some fab stamps to work with and this is Bunny Break.  I am afraid that he looks a bit disreputable with his very pink nose and a bit overweight, and a glass of what might appear to be a glass of beer in his hand.  But no, this Bunny has a glass of Chocolate!

I have coloured him with Copics, and the papers are from my new Prima pad, Madelaine.  I have given bunny a fluffy tail as well.  The corners are a Marainne die.  The sentiment is from Bugadoo.  I should also say that I have followed the sketch from Sketch and Stash.

I am also entering this for the following challenges:

Kaboodle Doodles - Cute and Cuddly Animals
The Pink Elephant - Easter - he is an Easter Bunny with his chocolate eggs
Cards for Men - Easter
Die Cut Dreams - Easter
Stamps R Us - Easter
A Spoonful of Sugar - All Creatures Great and Small
Creative Inspirations - Chocolate
Sparkles Forum - Easter
Bee Crafty - Easter
Paper Sundaes - Childhood memories - particularly bunnies as we lives in the countryside
Simon Says Stamp - Card for a child
Shannon's Sentiments - Must include an animal
Crafty Ann's - Raise a smile


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.


xx

A little vintage sailing for the One Stop Craft Challenge

My second posting of the day - this time for  One Stop Craft Challenge.  This week our theme is Monochrome.  Remember it does not have to be a card, but you do have to follow the theme for the week, and there are lots of lovely examples by the DT's over on the challenge blog.  We are sponsored this week by Robyns's Fetish.  If you pop over to her shop you will find an array of digi stamps and papers.

For my card I have gone a little vintagey again. 

I have layered some map paper on to green Bazzill card.  The ship image has been stamped on to a piece of Range Manila card which I have used distress inks on.  The image is Crafty Individuals, and the birds flying across the sky are mini stamps from the Tim Holtz clear stamp set, Visual Artistry.  For embellishments I have used an anchor charm which is coloured with Alchohol ink and distress ink, and a couple of Ideology bits - a cog with a game spinner, and a pin with an addage ticket, which I overstamped with some more words.  Along the bottom of the green mount card I have used my new Fiskars border punch.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Card Making Mamas - Embellish it

Fabulous Friday - Brads - I have one brad in my game spinner

Fairy Tale Challenge - Happy Birthday - this is a birthday card but I generally do not put sentiments on until I know who the card is for

Delightful Challenges - Sun, Sea and Sand - well I have sea - hope that counts

Samuel Taylor Monthly Challlenge - Distressing

Stamping Vacation - Vintage and Map

Cooking it up with Katie - Scallops, Monochromatic

Paper Shelter Challenge - Anything Goes

Claudia & Co - Monochromatic

My Time to Craft - Nautical

Paper Take Weekly - Anything goes + the option of something new - my stamp is new

Make it Monday - Anything goes

Lexi's Creations - Monochromatic

My Partner in Crime - Layer it Up

Woodware USA - Monochromatic

CES Challenge - Monochromatic

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.

Going vintage for Sweet Stampin'

Good morning bloggers

Time flies!  And it is  Sweet Stampin'  time again.  This week we have a fab sketch for you to follow, chosen by Carrie.  So we would really love to see what  you can do with it.  Please also remember to pop across to  Sweet Stampin'  to see all the lovely inspiration provided by our lovely DT's.

Our monthly sponsor for April is Bugaboo Stamps, who have some of the most amazing digis, and our weekly sponsor is Bunny Zoe's Crafts, where you will find an amazing array of stamps, papers, etc - everything you could wish for and more.

So, on to my card.

This is quite a mixture!  My background paper is from Tim Holtz Crowded Attic Paper Stash, and I have layer a piece of paper from Basic Grey Curio on Green Bazzill on top of it.  Instead of the scalloped border I decided to use a piece of cream lace wtih ribbon threaded through.  I used a piece of Ranger cream card and covered it with a variety of disresss inks, overstamped this with a test stamp in distress ink, and stamped the word Botanical down the side.  The flower image is stamped in Archival Ink, and I lightly coloured the flowers with Prisma Pencils.  The flower image and Botanical stamp are both B Line Designs, and I have had them forever.  I did not want to put loads of embellishments on this, so I used a piece of Tim Holtz  Ideaology, and pearls down the lace.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Craft us crazy - Easter / Spring - mine is Spring
Dutch Dare - Spring has Sprung
The Rubber Stamp Cafe - Easter / Spring
Stamptacular Sunday -  Buttons, Bling and Bloom
Samuel Taylors Monthly Challenge - Distressing - there is a fab prize of some Tim Holtz dies
ABC Challenge - R is for ribbon - I have threaded ribbon though my lace
Freshly Brewed - Create something with Flowers
Paper Shelter Chellenge - Anything goes
Pixie Dust Studio - Lace it up
A Spoonful of Sugar - Tons of Texture - I have Lace, Pearls, Metal
Anything Goes - Pearls
Paper Take Weekly - Anything Goes + the option of something new - mine is my backing papers - BG Curio and TH Crowded Attic
Tuesday Throwdown - Spring
Pollycraft Monday - I have had this stamp for years!
Bunny Zoe's Crafts  - Happy Birthday with lots of pearls
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
House of Gilli - Ribbons and Pearls
Heart to Heart - Spring has Sprung
Blog a Doodle - Vintage /Shabby Chic
CCEE Stampers - Add a doilly and/or lace - I have lace
The Crafty Pad - Flowers
Scrappy Frog Challenge - Flowers and Lace
Sparkles Forum - Springtime


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.

A touch of red for Less is More and some other challenges

Hi everybody

Another beautiful clear blue sky, and a card from me.

I haven't entered Less is More for a while, and decided that as I had nothing planned this morning, I would make a card.  How unusual is that you might say!  Well at the moment I am also working on a lot of stuff to sell, as i have decided to take a stall at our village fete, which is quite a big affair, and I need to make sure I have stuff other than cards, so my kitchen table has been taken over as a painting station for a lot of stuff as well!!

My lovely spring-like tulips are from Fred She Said.  I have coloured with Copics, and the green frame is a piece of card recycled from a pack of Prisma Flowers, and tones beautifully with the leaves.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Allsorts - blooming blossoms
Less Is More - a touch of red
Paper Sundaes - spring blossoms
The Rubber Cafe - spring flowers

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.

News .....

Hello everybody

I hope all the mums out there are being spoilled rotten today.  I don't think it has to mean loads of pressies either - although they are nice - it can just be somebody taking over the kitchen for the day, having a treat for breakfast etc.  Mind you - my dear OH often takes over the kitchen as he is a brilliant cook with all the basics, and things like chilli always taste much better then mine.  Perhaps it is just that he has cooked it!

So to my news - I am really pleased that I have been chosen to be part of the design team at Unscripted Sketches.   I love working with sketches - seeing how the combinations go together.  Unscripted Sketches have a 2nd Blog Anniversary blog hop on this week, so please pop long and join in.


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.