Guest designing for Anything Goes Challenge and a Blog Hop

Good morning everybody - I hope you have had a good holiday weekend.  As I write this it is pouring with rain - which means no garden for the cats (they are white long-haired chincillas) so they are moping around and getting into everything they shouldn't.
I am very proud to be Guest Designing for the  Anything Goes Challenge ,  particularly as it is their 1st birthday!   And talk about throwing me in at the deep end - they are also having a Blog Hop to celebrate. 

The theme on the challenge is Masking.

This is a very simple masking .  I used a favourite Crafty Individuals stamp, and using Rangers Archival Ink stamped on to cream card that I had precoloured with distress inks.  I masked the image and then overstamped with a Hero Arts lacy floral stamp.  This is quite delicate and I did not want to take away from the pretty little girl.  I then cut the card into a tag shape and mounted it on to cream card.  Added steam binding and a flower,  The background paper is from Crate Paper Restoration pack.

HOP INSTRUCTIONS

All you have to do is visit each of the design team members blogs, leave a comment, collect a letter or 2 letters, unscramble them to uncover a two worded phrase. Return back  to the Anything Goes Challenge Blog and leave a comment with the correct answer.  All correct answers will be entered into a draw to win lots of crafting goodies sponsored by

CRAFT DEN

The Craft Den are also celebrating as they have been trading for 3 years and as a special thank you for your support the Craft Den are holding a  MEGA SALE  on loads of crafting goodies including 12 x 12 papers, Martha Stewart punches and tons more! so why not head on over and treat yourself....

Some of the design team also have blog candy to give away so don't forget to visit them all!

Please note that on this occasion, only one entry per person will be allowed and you must be in the blog hop to enter into the prize draw.  But, if you enter a card or project, and take part in the blog hop your name will be entered into the draw twice

If you've come to my blog from Steph's fabby blog then you're in the right place.  If you've just happened across the hop you will need to start at the Anything Goes Challenge blog to be in with a chance to win.  Before you move on to your next stop on the hop, the talented Tamara, you need to collect a letter from my blog. In my case the letter is D.     Enjoy the hop and good luck with the draw.


I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Dream Valley Challenge - Stamp something
Emerald Fairies - Anything goes
Paper Sundaes - Vintage
2 Sisters - Anything goes
Crafting for all Seasons - 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.

A box for Anything Goes - lots of them!

I have been decorating quite a few boxes recently, so I thought I would blog one, and enter it for several challenges.

This is an oval box, which I have painted with a dusky purple paint - matchpots are really good for this, and I think this is a Homebase own brand.  The colour in the photo looks nothing like it does in real life.  I have sprayed the top with Crafters Companion glimmer spray in Gold - it is a sort of glittery varnish.  The top has then been decorated with a variety of bits and pieces,  The gold coloured pieces I removed from packet of christmas decorations - one is a lotus leave and the other a nut shell.  I also sprayed these with the glimmer varnish.  I then added some very pretty flowers from Prima.  I have, since taking this photo, added some toning beads.  Will get another photo when the light is better.

I am entering this for the following challlenges:



2 Sisters Challenge  - Anything goes
Crafts 4 Eternity - Alter something
CRAFT Challenge  - Alter/recycle
Challenge Up Your Life  - Recycling
Crafting for all seasons - Anything goes
Creative Card Crew - Anything goes
Digi Design House - Anything but a card
Get Hippity with Ippity - Flowers
Make it Monday  - Anything goes
Paper Crafting Journey  - Anything goes
Paper Play Challenges- Blossoms & blooms
The Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Woodware USA Challenge- 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.

What a Guy for Craft your Passion

One of two posts today.  This sees me with my GDT hat on for Craft your Passion.  The theme this week is What a Guy, and I have been given this image of a little boy on the high seas in his boat.  It is by CocoDingo.

The sketch I followed is from Inkspirations.  I have coloured in Copics, and all my papers are from the Sweete Shoppe Good Morning Sunshine range.  The sentiment is one from the Raindrop Echo Whimsy Stamps range designed by Ann Vento.  They are available here.

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, News !!!!!!!!!

I am really excited because I have been chosen as a DT for Sentimental Sundays.

One thing I do know - i am going to be working with a lot of really talented crafters, and hopefully making some more new friends in this crazy cyber world of ours.

As it is Sunday, a new challenge has been announced - ANYTHING BUT A CARD - so why not pop across and check out all the gorgeous creations from the team and join in the fun.




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.

It's Ooh La La at Sweet Stampin' this week

Good morning everybody

I cannot believe how quickly the week has gone.  Sadly this is my last post for  Sweet Stampin  where the theme is Ooh La La - so we want to see something  French, or something a bit cheeky or saucy. 

Sweet Stampin is sponsored by Quixotic Paperie who are offering a £10 voucher to be winner, and don't forget the monthly sponsor, Joanna Sheen, who is also offering a £10 voucher.

I have used a lovely stamp from Kanban, and coloured with Copics, and then covered her dress with crystal stickles to allow the colour to come through.  I have very lightly stamped aroound the edge of the image as well and put stickles on that as well to give it some glimmer.  My papers are from GCD Blue Ella.  I have added pleated ribbon, lace and a pearl swirl.  The fab feathery flower is Prima.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Lace
Creative Stamp Friends - My favourite colours
House of Gilli - Flowers
Claudia & Co & Co - Birthday card for a girl
Karens Doodles - make it sparkle
Make It Monday - Always anything goes
Mojo Monday - Sketch (but I put the ribbon underneath the image instead of across it)
Woodware USA - Anything goes
The Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Delicion Doodles - lace
Paper Pretties - Birthday card
Bloggers Challenge - Make it Shimmer
Stampin for the Weekend - Blue, Buttons and Bling
Daring Cardmakers - Passion for Fashion
Fub with Shapes and More - Sparkle


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.

Fred She Said May Blog Hop

Good morning,

Hello and welcome to my first ever   Fred She Said  Blog Hop!

If you've come to my blog from Marlena's marvellous blog then you're in the right place.   If you've just happened across the hop you will need to start at Tracey-Lynns' blog to be in with a chance to win.  We have an awesome prize for one lucky winner.  The winner scoops FOUR  fabulous prizes:

Bearly Mine Designs - £15 gift voucher

Pizzazz APlenty - prize package worth $15.00

Custom Creations from Carolivy- 3 digital downloads

$30 Gift Certificate to FSS Store

I've got two cards to show you for this blog hop, and I have done something I have never done before - decoupage.  Both cards are also using the pre-coloured digis.  For the first card I have used Fred She Said called Wee Humming Bird and Petunias.  You can buy this beauitfully coloured image here.  These petunias are glorious and the colouring is so realistic.  No patterned papers on this card, but I have put the peachy/pink and white background card through en embossing folder and then mounted it on to blue card.  A couple of butterflies, some stickles on the flowers, a few glittery gems, and some seam binding to finish off.

My second card features The Hearts and Roses set which you can find here.    I have printed this in the golden yellow verson, and again have decoupaged this.  The roses have some stickles around the edges.  I have layered on to semi-matt shimmery gold card, and also some pretty Papermania paper which I have had for some time.  I have added some lace and ribbon, which just shows, and decorated with pearls.

HOP INSTRUCTIONS:

To WIN, each hop participant will have a special word, collect them up to form the secret phrase! At the last stop of the HOP, there will be instructions on how to make your entry. Blog Hop entry date ends Friday JUNE 3rd midnight EDT.


So,
Before you move on to your next stop on the hop, the talented Michelle, you need to collect a word from my blog. In case you haven't guessed, it's to!   Enjoy the hop and good luck with the draw:) 


My cards are also for the following challenges:
Crafty Purple Frog - Things of Beauty
Digi Doodles Shop Best - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Special occasions
PaperPlay Challenges - Blossoms and Blooms
Crafting for all Seasons - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me - Gems and Pearls
Creative Craft World - 3 or more flowers
A Spoonful of Sugar - Things with Wings
The Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Anita be Stampin' - Pearls and Lace
Digital Tuesday - Add some texture
Hippity with Ippity - Flowers
Stamps and DFun = Creativity - Flower Power


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.

Fussy and Fancy - but not too much ...

It's Fussy and Fancy at Penny Black Saturday this week, so I decided to enter this card.  I coloured the impage up while I was at Anne's the other Friday, and then had to hunt for some papers that would go with it.  The paper is Prima Shabby Chic and I think this is probably the last of it - I really do like it - you can get good use of both sides and they co-ordinate really well, and they are in some of my favourite colours - pale turquoise and rosy pink.

I have coloured with Copics, added some swirls made with Magnolia Doo Hickey dies, pearls and Prima flowers.  The sentiment is LOTV.

I used the sketch from Sunday Sketch and Stamp, but because the image would not fit into a circle, I have reversed the elements (see sketch below), so I hope they don't mind!

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Creative Stamp Friends - favourite colours
Woodware USA - Anything goes
Make It Monday - Always anything goes
Cheerful stamp pad - colour my world


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.

It's all about fairies at the One Stop Craft Challenge

Hello again

This is my third post - this time for the  One Stop Craft Challenge,  and it's all about Fairy Tales.  This week we are sponsored by the Sassy Design Studios, who gave us some great images to play with.  Unfortunately my printer was playing up, and everything I printed was coming out smudged so I have used a favourite LOTV image. 

For this card I have followed the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday.  I have coloured with Copics, with a liberal dosage of stickles as well.  I have then very lightly brushed around with distress inks.  My papers are some very old Cloud 9 design, with a dark pink base card.  My fairy is surrounded by lovely pale pink roses which remind me of my favourite blowsy pale pink and peachy roses in the garden, which are out a few weeks too early.  I have added lace and pearls, as embellishments.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Card Making Mamas - Recipe, 1 image, 2 patterned papers, 3 different types of embellishment - flowers, lace, pearls
Fairy Knoll - Flowers
Crafty Emma CES Challenges - Embellish It
Fussy and Fancy - Recipe - 3 papers - 2 patterned and 1 plain, ribbon - lace, 2 embellishments - pearls and flowers
Guylou's Inmitability Blog - ... brings May flowers with a colour challenge
Wags 'n' Whiskers -  Circles
Sew many cards - Flowers and lace
Miami Doodles - Spots and/or Stripes
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything goes
Truly Scrumptious - Anything goes
Charisma Cardz - Birthdays in Pink

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.

An Unscripted Sketch

My second post today is for  Unscripted Sketches.  The idea around this was to be a one layer for me - but it did not work.  So this is my final result.  I decided to use only Tim Holtz stamps and dies for this - it is a mixture from a couple of sets.

I have brushed distress inks in various colours across the card, and then overstamped.  I then cut out a cage and bird to go on top, and added a piece of ribbon to be top.  Easy peasy!

I am entering this for the following challenges@

Crafty Catz - Anything goes
Crafty Emma CES Challenges - Embellish it
Truly Scrumptious - 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.

Are you in the garden at Sweet Stampin?

Hi everybody

I have three posts today!  How did I manage that?

First up is  Sweet Stampin,  and the theme and sketch this week was chosen by me - In the Garden. So all you Sweet Stampers out there I am sure you will find lots of ideas around both.

We are sponsored this week by Heather Ellis, who has provided us with some lovely images for us to play with.  I think her images are delightful.

My card features a cute little girl with her watering can.  As she is In The Garden she is surrounded by flowers and greenery.  The paper is from the Cosmo Cricket De Lovely pad.  I have coloured with Copics and very lightly brushed around her with some distress inks.  Die cutes are Marianne and Magnolia Doo Hickey.  Flowers are from stash, Wild Orchid Crafts and Joanna Sheen.  The sentiment is from Stampin Up.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz - Birthdays in Pink

Crafty Us Crazy - Something New and or favourite embellishment (mew is the Marianne Dies, embellishment - flowers)

Fairy Knoll - Flowers

Delicious Doodles - Let the Sun Shine

Wags 'n' Whiskers - Circles

Stamp Something - with beachy colours (she may be in the garden but I reckon these are beachy colours)

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.

It's sketch time at Moving Along with the Times

Hi everybody

My apologies that this is so late - I lost my internet last night, and it is now back.

This week at  Moving Along with the Times  it is Hazel's turn to host, and we have a brilliant sketch to follow.  And as Hazel says - You can bend it stretch it or turn it round.  Just so long as its still recognisable.

Our Sponsor this week is Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps.  The Winner will receive a $10.00 Voucher to use in their store.  They have a fabulous range of stamps and digital papers.

So on to my card.  I have used Garden Fantasy Digital Stamp Silhouette.  I printed on to a blue background, and then brushed some distress ink over it.  I have used used stickles on the wings, and some glittery gems.  My background paper is from Sweete Shoppe, as is the patterned green scraps on the ovals.  To fnish a swirl from a Marianne die, and a sentiment from Craftwork cards.

Please pop over to the  MAWTT challenge blog for all the details and to check out the fabulous DT makes for your inspiration.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

A Spoonful of Sugar - Anything goes
Cupcake Crafts - In the garden
Creative Belli - Something Beginning With S - Silhouette
Flutterby Wednesday - Open
Sir Stampalot - Magical Worlds
Stamps R Us - Going Digital
Truly Scrumptious - 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.

Hummingbird notelets

My cards today are part of a set of notelets  made using the newly released Pre-colored Hummingbird and Columbine from Fred, She Said, and are available in store now.  Tracey-Lynn's coloring is so superb that it take all the stress out of coloring the digi yourself.    I just love these - they are so pretty.   I have made them CAS with no sentiment either, so that they can be used for anything, particularly as they are part of a gift for a friend.

My apologies for the photograph - it has started to rain here and is really dull.

i am entering this for the following challenges:

Stampin' Royalty - Birds
Paper Pretties - Flowers
Penny's Paper Crafty - 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.

Clean and Simple

The theme at Penny Black Saturday is Clean and Simple, so I decided to get out one of my favourite stamps for this.  I adore the papery silkiness of poppies, and some of my favourites are the big blowsy oriental ones.

Penny Black Saturday - Clean and Simple

Creative Card Crew - May Flowers
Delightful - Flowers
My Mum's Craft Shop - To die for
Everybody Art - Flowers
Card Cupid - No patterned paper


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.

Do you like cake?

Good morning

Today sees me with my GDT hat on for  Craft Your Passion.  The theme this week is Cutie Patootie, and I have been given this cute digi image  from CoCoDingo.   This little pig obviously likes Birthday Cake.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

The Corrosive Challenges - Birthday

Scrappy Frogs Challenge - Anything goes

A Gem of a Challenge - Aqua, Lemon and Pink

Sketch Saturday - I followed the sketch

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.

Is it Steampunk?

Crafty Cardmakers have a theme of Steampunk, and I decided to have a bash at it.  I really don't know whether I have got the essence of it or not - but it is my version.

I put together a collage of images from Graphics Fairy which I manipulated in various ways in PaintNet (don't have Photoshop - it would probably defeat me!!), printed it in greyscale on to Ranger Manila card and then use various distress inks over it.  I have used Cogs, Butterflies and the Old Jalopy from Tim Holtz.  Inked the cogs and butterflies, and cut the Jalopy  in metal.  I used silver dabber ink on parts, and outlined round the windows in red. 

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Crafty us Crazy - use something new
Papertake Weekly - Fancy a Punch (or dies)
Creative Cowgirls - Anything Goes
Dream Valley - Dig out the old and use with the new  (the images for the background I have had since last year, so that is my old, and the dies are my new
One Stitch at a Time - 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 Unscripted again ..........

Saturday again, so it is time for an Unscripted Sketch.  You can do what you like with the sketch  - 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!

For me - I have pretty much stuck to the original sketch.  The colours of the card derived from the Crafty Individuals stamp I used during my crafty day with my friend Anne.  We had a fab time stamping and colouring - and chatting  - because we had not seen each other for quite a while.  I  coloured my card with carious Distres Inks and then stamped over it.  The ducks were then coloured with Distres Inks used as water colours.  This was mounted on to a piece of black card.  The base is two pieces of card that I have embossed with Tim Holtz embossing folders and then coloured with distress inks.  I have tied some twine around the middle, and added some leaves and a green gem in the middle.  (The twine was great value a pack of 8 rolls in different colours  - 15 metres each - for £4.00 from my local garden centre).

I am entering for this for the following challenges:

Card Creations and more - embossing
Scrap, Stamp and Doodle - Old supplies
Stamp Something - Anything goes - 3 year anniversary and blog hop
Sew Many Cards Challenge - anything goes
Inspire me Fridays - Anything goes
Fabulous Friday - use ribbon or twine

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.

It's all the B's at Moving Along with the Times!

Hi everybody

You may think that this title is a bit strange - well Brenda is hosting  Moving Along with the Times  this week, and the Theme is BB in line with her initials.  So that could be  any 2 x different B's you choose - button, bow, bling, blue, brad, butterfly, bird etc.  So my card represents some B's - Black, Bling from the pearls and sparkly black stones and the gold thread on the embroidered lace.  And also a black feather.  I had promised myself I was not going to use this stamp until I went for a crafty day tomorrow with my friend Anne.  However, I was still trying to decide what to do quite late on, and then remembered a beautiful card I had seen on the blog of my friend  Vicky, and I have cased her ideas to some extent.

I was supposed to be following the sketch from A Spoonful of Sugar, but when looking at the placement of the image I dropped it on to the card - - it has very sticky foam tape on the back, and I could not lift it without a lot of damage, so the scalloped circle that is supposed to partly show is now hidden underneath the main image.         

For this card I have used GCD Paris nights papers - just love these.  I have stamped with archival ink on to a piece of cream card that has a slight gold shimmer to it - just to add to the bling - not that it shows in the photograph.  I have embellished with a black feather and a cream feather, some embroidered lace, and a lovely creamy Prima flower.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Clear it out Tuesday - Ribbon/Trim

Creative Craft Challenge - Distresed/Vintage - I think mine is 'vintage'
Ladybug Craft - Black/white + one other - I have gold in my ribbon
Use it Tuesday - Bling
House of Gilli - Black and one other colour
Kaboodle Doodle - Lots of layers
Make It Monday  - Anything goes
OOh La La Creations - Tres Chic
Divas by Design - 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.