Flissys Crafty Haven

A sketch at Sketch Saturday

2012-02-02T01:47:00.000Z

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

2012-01-28T10:41:00.002Z

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

2012-01-24T08:37:00.001Z

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

2012-01-23T15:01:00.000Z

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,

2012-01-19T01:02:00.000Z

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

2012-01-16T09:00:00.003Z

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

2012-01-16T00:46:00.000Z

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

2012-01-15T12:01:00.001Z

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!!

2012-01-10T11:02:00.000Z

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

2012-01-09T08:00:00.010Z

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

2012-01-06T13:15:00.000Z

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,

Clockwork Birds for Make my Monday

2012-01-02T08:00:00.004Z

Hi everybody

I wish all my followers and lovely commenters a Happy, Healthy and Safe 2012, and hope that 2012 is what you want it to be.

This is the first challenge of the year at Make My Monday, and we are starting with a new theme. January is Nature, and the first challenge is to make something with Birds on it.

This is my take on the Birds - slightly quirky. These are not new stamps, but they have not been inked before, so as far as I am concerned they are new!!

I made the background for the stamping with Pan Pastels. I am in love - they are so easy peasy to blend and so smooth and soft. . These are fairly new in my craft stash, but I had them sometime before Christmas. I had to cancel a class at L B Crafts with Lin, and decided to use the money to purchase some of the Pan Pastels. Now these were on my Christmas list but I think everybody thought I had enough craft stash so everything crafty was totally ignored.

The stamps are Paper Artsy. I have stamped the cogs and clock in Distress Inks, and the birds and measure in Archival Black. Along the bottom is a strip of tissue tape. I have added a small clock and key. I thought the birds looked slightly feminine, hence the soft colours, and the background paper which is from K &Co Ancestry.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Fashionable Stamping - Anything goes with new stash
Creative Inspirations Paint - Inspired by something new
Robyn's Fetish - Anything Goes
Pile It On - Anything Goes
Hiding in my Craftroom - Freestyle
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,

Night night Fanta

2011-12-31T08:00:00.004Z

My darling little pewter Persian, Fanta, became unwell over Christmas, and although she rallied a little for a day, it was quite clear that she was not going to get better, so we had to take the very sad decision to have her put to sleep on Thursday. This very spiky little girl is going to be sorely missed, but 19 years is a very long life for such a little girl.

Hugs,

It's time for a Seasonal Tag at Make My Monday

2011-12-19T17:54:00.001Z

Hi everybody, I do hope your Christmas preparations are further forward than mine. But we did manage to get the tree up over the weekend, and re-organise the kitchen - so a job well done. However, I have run out of cards so shop bought ones are coming back out of the cupboard. Today is the final challenge of the year for Make My Monday, and we are looking for Seasonal Tags. Please pop across to the challenge - there are some lovely pieces of work for your inspiration.

I'm sure most people will recognise the Father Christmas image - from Tim Holtz - probably one of my favourites ever. I stamped with Archival Ink and then coloured lightly with pencils. The tag itself I coloured with distress stains and to take the colour back I went over with picket fence. Ran it through the Bug, and then highlighted the snowflakes with ink. The branches at the bottom are from the TK Pine Cone die, and I still haven't mastered the art of getting them right - so no pine cone.

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,

Fred She Said Christmas Challenge

2011-12-17T01:27:00.000Z

Fred She Said is having a fun little Christmas Challenge! The theme is " Make a Christmas Tag OR Share a favorite Holiday Recipe "

The prize is a $25 Gift Card to the Fred She Said Store. There will be one winner chosen randomly. Entries will be accepted until Friday December 30th midnight EST. ... more details at the Fred She Said blog.

I have made a little fun tag using a new image called Hat Tipping Snowman. I have used the pre-coloured image and put a sentiment above it. Printed it out, and then cut it with a Tim Holtz tag die. I used a single snowflake embossing folder around the tag hole. I then inked over in various shades of distress ink. Applied some spakrly stars , and added some holly leaves and fit sprigs and a couple of flowers with a snowflake centre, with seam binding knotted through the hole at the top.

Please do pop across to the challenge - there are some fab examples using Fred She Said images.

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

2011-12-12T17:28:00.000Z

Well - I hope somebody at Blogger sorts this problem soon. I have just looked on the forum and there is a pile of messages coming up with the same error message as I am getting on the design page that is causing the blog to look a mess.

Valxx

Make My Monday - Red Ribbon

2011-12-12T08:59:00.001Z

Good morning everybody -

I hope everybody has had a good weekend. I had quite a busy time, having done my last craft fair of the year, and the best one ever in terms of sales and I have come away with quite a few commissions, which I am really pleased about. In fact unless I burn both ends of the candle there is every likelihood that some people are going to end up with shop bought cards (eeeeeekkk!!). So I think I am going to be putting together a batch of one-layer type, similar to my card today. To end the day we had dinner with some lovely friends, and chatted until the early hours of the morning.

So welcome to another challenge at Make My Monday. This time we want to see red ribbons on your creations.

So my one layer card is quite simple. The Medallion is Stampin Up, and I have used an SU Real Red and Distress Ink Festive Berries on it. Ribbon is from stash and the flower is home made (not mine I hasten to add) - but just gorgeous. The sentiment is also SU. Very stupidly I forgot to run some red ink around the edge of the ticket before it had well and truly stuck, so it sort of fades into the background.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Dream Valley Challenge - Christmas
Gingerloft Challenge - Christmas
Let's Ink It Up - Christmas
paper Sundaes - Anything Christmas
Stamptacular Sunday - Christmas 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.

Hugs,

Traditional Christmas Colours at OSCC

2011-12-11T02:19:00.000Z

Hi everybody

My apologies for the lateness in getting this posted, Events on Saturday just overtook me, and consquently I was not able to get around to it until Sunday.

We are looking for Traditional Christmas Colours at the One Stop Craft Challenge this week, and I have decided to use everything Tim Holtz to create my card, with a very traditionnal image, but not in his style.

I coloured a piece of card in the Festive Season distress inks, and then stamped the image with archival ink. I have lightly coloured the bbig spray of holly with pencils. The background consists of a panel run though a Texture Fades folder which I then lightly inked over and a Pine Tree die cut. I coloured this with greens and browns before added distress stickles to get a frosty look.. The photo is poo because of the lighting - and the red looks pinkish in places. Ugh!

I am entering this into the following challenges:

The Squirrel and the Fox - Christmas
Stamptacular Sunday - Christmas Glitz
Crafty Emmas - Traditional Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut - Traditional Christmas
Crazy 4 Challenges - It's Santa
Creations by Gill M - Red and Green

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,

Dressmaking and Corsets at Fashionable Stamping

2011-12-09T18:02:00.000Z

Hi everybody

I have an entry for Fasionable Stamping today, and for me it is all about corsets - those glamous decadent underpinnings - which I can only dream about.

For this card I have layered up black and red, and punched along the bottom with an eyelet lace MS edger. The whole thing is on a pale shummery gold base. My image is a B Line stamp which I have had for a long time. The background is a variety of distres inks on smooth card, and faux edge sticking has been added down the side with an embossing strip. Th swirl is also B Line. The fromt of the coreset has been embellished with some Swaroski crystals that I had loose, and they sparkle like mad, but it does not show up here. I have also used lace on the edge, and a small silk flower.

This is the inside. The corset actually opens up (it is a Provocraft die which has been discontinued now). I have laced it up the front with black ribbon and put some lace edging along the bottom of the back part.

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,

Vintage Christmas at It's My Time to Craft

2011-12-06T01:22:00.000Z

Hi everybody

Tuesday has rolled round again, and it is time for a new Challenge at My Time to Craft, and this week our thme is Vintage Christmas. This is my vintage Christmas in dark Red and Cream. Please do pop across to the challenge blog to have a look at all the lovely work from the other teamies.

For my card I have used a dark red base and layered with toning paper, which I have used my distresser on,. I have layered some other papers on top with a cream background and music in red, and on top of that a Weather Clock from Tim Holtz. I cannot remember where I got the pciture of Father Christmas from - it was a download. I have added cream lace, toning ribbon, and cherry blossom in similar colours as well. The sentiment is LOTV which I have distressed to within an inch of its life.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Crafty Bloggers Network - Shades of Winter
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Trulu Madly Crafty - Images of Christmas
The Ribbon Reel - 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,

Make My Monday - We're all about Glitter today

2011-12-05T08:30:00.005Z

Good morning everybody

I have some exciting news - I was selected as one of the new Design Team members for Make My Monday, they are really a very talented bunch of ladies, so I hope I can live up to their standards. I am so pleased to be on this team, because there is a lot of freedom in what we can create within the bounds of the theme each week or month.

So this is also my first post for them. We are sticking with Anything Seasonal - but it must have Glitter on it this week. Please pop across to the challenge blog - there are some fabulous pieces of work for inspiration.

I am a little disappointed with my card. I have put the star in the wrong place and it doesn't really look right. It was cut with some new dies - Sizzix Framelits - (of all things I did not have a star in all my dies - hence this choice), but I am really disappointed with them - they hardly cut through the coredinations, and so I had to cut the patterned paper and coredinations separately and stick them together, and come to think of it I think the shape is a bit naff!

For the background I stamped and embossed the trees and snowflakes, and then worked distress inks over in various colours. The conifer branches were then inked in black on the bottom to get a bit of depth. The whole thing has been sprayed with Tattered Angels Irridescent Gold. The small star was covered in glitter. The two deers from the Tim Holtz die had bows applied to their necks, and have been mounted on pop dots. The whole thing was first mounted on to a blue-green base card, and then on to gold shimmer cardstock.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Addicted to stamps - Christmas Card
Come an Get It - Anything Christmas
Dream Valley Challenge - Sparkle
Gingerloft Creations - Winter or Christmas

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,

Joy and Happiness

2011-12-03T18:21:00.000Z

I bought a new paper pad the other day, Vintage Winter by Maja Design. I love the Scandinavian colours in there - 48 sheets of double-sided shabby deliciousness in cardweight paper. So I have now broken into it.

I have used a heavyweight card for my base and chomped the corners off with my Zutter Chomper, and then rounded all the other corners as well. My image is an Stampinton, and I have had it a very long time. I tried out several reds before I got the one I felt toned in with the DP, and then finally stamped it on patterned paper, which is actually the reverse of the paper in the long panel. The flowers are Prima North Country, and lace is from stash.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Cardmaking Mamas - Sentiment
Clearly Inspired - Christmas
Simply Create Too - All About Christmas
Artistic Stamper - Christmas
Christmas Cards all year round - Anything Goes
Cupcake Craftroom - Christmas Traditions - I have angels
Joanna Sheen - Christmas Wishes
Sundays with Chrissie - Anything Goes
Charisma Cards - Seeing Spots

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 little bling for Less is More

2011-12-02T18:38:00.000Z

A very quick post and a very quick card.

I have taken an A6 card - yes I still have some blanks that size, and run it through the Bug with an embossing folder. I have then stamped and embossed the sentiment in the middle - I used green tinsel, and added some little starts to the snowflake centres. I guess though I am going to have to unfold them to put through the bug because the fold has become a little creased.

I think the conclusion that I have come to over One-Layer and CAS - is that I do like them, enjoy doing them, but I need much more practice, because my bin is evidence of what I have been doing!

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmarkers - Heat Embossing
Less is More - A Bit of Bling
Stamptacular Sunday - Anything Christmas
Stamps R Us - Emboss It

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,

It's Sketch Time at MAWTT

2011-12-01T17:59:00.001Z

Hi everybody

We have a brilliant sketch from our lovely team-mate Hazel today.

I am still with Christmas cards - can you ever have enough - I know I should have started them at the beginning of the year and it would be much easier!

For this card I have used Basic Grey Jovial Paper as the background - both sides have been used. Again mounted on to Bazzill cardstock. The image is Penny Black, and I have coloured with Copics I have used distress stickes for the fur around Santa's coat, and over his beard to give some texture. The holly leave sre a Tim Holz due, flower and satin ribbon from stash.

For this challenger we are sponsored by Crafty Emma's Store, and the winner will receive a pack of My Mind's Eye paper.

I am entering this card for the folliowing challenges:

Craft Your Days Away - bows or buttons
Craft your Passion - Tis the eason
Dream Valley - Sparkle
Fab'n Funky - Anything Goes
Ooh La La Creations - Lots of Sparkle
Patties Creations - Christmas
Pollycraft - Christmas fun
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamping - punches or dies
Totally Gorjuss - Sparkle
Totally Paper Crafts - Christmas

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,

Cutting Corners at Anything Goes

2011-11-29T08:12:00.004Z

Good morning

It is time for another challenge at Anything Goes today, and this week the theme is Cutting Corners, so we want to see decorative or altered corners. So apart from that there is a wide choice of what you can do at Anything Goes, as always.

For my card I have used a Penny Black stamp that I have had forever. In fact rooting around in my stamp drawers I have discovered some treasures of the past, so I will be using a few more of them. I have coloured with Copics and added stickles and glamour dust to her wings. The papers are from an Authentique pad, mounted on to Bazzill. The corners are cut with a Spellbinders die and decorated with pearls. The flowers are from stash.

I have to give credit to Bev Rochester for this colour scheme for the image - I saw it on her blog and thought it was amazing.

Don't forget you can get lots of wonderful crafting goodies at the Craft Den, and if you can't see what you want, just drop Lynne a line.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Anything Christmas with Pearls
Craft Your Passion - Tis the Season
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Oh La La Creations - Lots of Sparkle
The Ribbon Reel - Anything Goes
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Anything Christmas
Gingerloft - Winter or Christmas

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,

Christmas Fairies ...

2011-11-26T09:14:00.002Z

Good morning everybody

A quick post from me today as my sister is arriving for the weekend, and as she is an early bird, she could easily be here before I am out of my PJ's!

At the One Stop Craft Challenge this week our theme is Christmas Fairies, and anybody who my post from a couple of days ago will recognise the image. I decided this lovely lady also suited this challenge.

For this card I have used Bo Bunny paper again layered on to Bazzill card. I have cut a clock from a Tim Holtz die, and added distress ink to it to darken it up, and layered the fairy over this. The large snowflake and the bottom border are both Memory Box dies cut from silver holographic card, and as usual when photographed it picks up other tones. The snowflake has a brad through it and I have also added silver mesh fabric - just peeping out behind the flower - and a Prima silk flower which I thought toned in with the browns in the DP and cardstock. but now I am not so sure. The fairy was coloured with Copics and I have added Glamour Dust to the wings.

We are sponsored by Stitchy Stamps this week, and the prize is a $10 gift card for the winner.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Alphabet Challege - V is for Vibrant

Bah Humbug - Fabric - I have silver mesh fabric layered across the bottom, and a fabric flower

Bloggers Challenge - Favourite colour - this is my all time colour

Fairy Tale - Christmas

Inspire Me Friday - Always Anything Goes

Crafty Ann's - Mono

Phindy's Place - A sprinkling of snow

Stamping with the Dragon - Anything goes for Christmas

Ttally Papercrafts - Christmas

Wags 'n' Whiskers - Snow angel or fairy

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 Silver Fairy in Blue

2011-11-24T23:45:00.006Z

Another post from me today. This time I have a beautiful Whimsy Stamp - Silver Fairy. I think she is just gorgeous, and her face is beautiful.

I coloured the fairy with Copics in lots of blue-green shades, and her wings were just dying to sparkle so I added lots of Glamour Dust to them. My papers are Bo Bunny Snowfall as are the brads. The snowflakes have been cut from a Whimsy die I bought last year, and forgot about until I had a sort out of my dies. The sentiment is LOTV, and the silver mesh ribbon is from stash.

I am entering this inti the following challenges:

Make My Monday - Foliage, Flowers or Snowflakes
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
LadyBug Crafts Ink TLT - Winter Blues
Flutterby Wednesday - Open
The House That Stanps Built - must be Christmas card and include a snowflake
My Mum's Craft Shop - Things with Wings
Bearly Mine - All My Favourite Things
Little Red Wagon - Christmas Theme
PaperCraft Star - Anything Goes
PanPastel UK Challenge - Frosty and Bright
PaperTake Weekly - Christmas Crackers
Scraobook Sisters - Christmas Cards
Crafty Sentiments - My brads are metal
Sassy Cheryl's - Anything Goes
Totally Gorjuss - Swirly Whirly

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,

Ribbons and Bows

2011-11-24T09:20:00.000Z

Good morning everybody

At Moving Along With The Times this week our new challenge is Ribbons and Bows. For me this is another Christmas Card as I am never going to catch up on what I need. Do pop along to the challenge blog - there are some fabulous cards there for inspiration.

The image is the lovely Ragged Carollers from Mo's Digital Pencil, coloured in Copics. I have used papers I bought last year, mounted on to dark red Bazzill, and he two lacy borders in co-ordinating colours are a Martha Stewart deep edger . The holly leaves are done with a Tim Holtz die and have red dewdrops as berries. The sentiment is Stampin' Up, and the ribbon from stash.

Our sponsor this week is The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop, with a fabulous pack of ribbons and pins as the prize.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Christmas Crackers
Lollipop Crafts - Anything Goes
OSAAT - Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes - Beautiful bows
Creative Craft Challenge - Free for all
Digital Delights - Red and Green
Aud Sentiments - Any Winter Holiday Sentiment
CRAFT - Unusual Christmas
Dutch Dare - Recipe - - I have used ribbon, image, layers

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 Variation on a Theme

2011-11-23T00:35:00.000Z

Hi everybody

A quick post to show you two cards both with the same image, same background papers, but set up slightly different. The images are from Fred She Said.

The papers are from an old Basic Grey set, the holly die cut is a Spellbinders border, with gems added for berries, and the berries on the wreath have had glossy accents added to make them pop.

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,

Less is More - Silhouettes

2011-11-22T19:26:00.001Z

At Less is More it is theme week, and this time round it is Silhouettes. So again I am out of my comfort zone, but I have used a favourite Penny Black stamp for this, but one I often emboss against black. It has such a lot of movement in the image.

I stamped this on shimmer card and it is horrible to photograph.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew - Monochromatic
Everybody Art Challenge - Christmas Card
Sassy Cheryl's - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash - Christmas or Winter

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 Under The Weather

2011-11-22T09:45:00.002Z

Hi everybody

At My Time to Craft this week our theme is Under The Weather. Now, I guess that means various things, but often somebody might like a little boost in their smiles. Now I know this is not a card that can be given to everyone, but I do like these Bugaboo images - they are such fun! So this is my version.

I have coloured with Copics, and added ribbon and dewdrops as embellishments. I was supposed to be following a sketch, but went totally off when I realised that I had not placed the sentiment correctly, and I could not get it to move.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Hooked on Crafts - Punches or die cuts - I have used die cuts
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Stamps are Us - Bling It On

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,

Another CAS

2011-11-19T18:44:00.001Z

Have I got the bug - I don't know, but I decided to enter a second time into the Make My Monday CAS challenge.

For this card I have used letters from an illuminated alphabet which I have rarely used, but really liked at the time I bought them. I stamped with Versamark and embossed with Rangers Queens Gold - probably my favourite embossing powder - it is really fine and always looks fabulous. I cut the card with a die and then die cut gold shimmer card to go behind it. The edge of the card has been inked with Galaxy Gold Ink.

My apologies that this is such a awful photo - doing something after the natural light goes is a nightmare.

I am entering for for the following challenges:

Christmas Inspirations - No images
Quirky Crafts - Clean and Simple
The Crafty Pad - Gold
2 Sisters - Let it 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.

Hugs,

CAS for Make My Monday

2011-11-19T17:27:00.000Z

For the whole of November Make My Monday has been exploring various themes for Christmas, and this week have a CAS chalenge, with the emphasis on the sentiment. I am not sure whether this could be called CAS because I have mounted my sentiment.

The stamps are all Tim Holtz and the ink is from the Festive Distress Ink set.

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,

Leaves

2011-11-18T18:21:00.000Z

Hi everybody

My second post today. I decided to use a couple of new stamps for Less is More whose challenge is One Layer - Leaves. One is the Stampin Up French Leaves, which I love. The second is a Penny Black stamp - Snowflake and Holly, which I am really struggling with to get a decent image.

For this first card I stamped the text with archival ink, and then the leaves were done with a Kaleidoscope Cappucino pad

On this card I have stamped with Olive Archival ink, and in order to get the snowflake to show up I have added a holographic snowflake, which has promply turned pink when I photographed it. My bin is full of various versions of this, trying out different inks. I did think that maybe the card is just soaking up the ink too much, but I guess I am just going to have to persevere with it.

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,

Fred She Said fabulous Christmas/Winter Blog Hop

2011-11-18T11:42:00.000Z

Welcome to the Christmas/Winter Fred She Said Blog Hop! You should have arrived at my blog from Nancy's fabulous blog, if not you might want to go back to the Fred She Said Blog at the start. You will find some amazing projects along the way, and there are three great prizes on offer for three random winners.

$30 GC from Crop Stop

$30 Gift card from Fred She Said

There is a a secret phrase is in play, and you will need to collect each word/s from each hop stop. Instructions on how to enter are on the FSS Challenge Blog.

Entries will be accepted for 2 weeks - until Friday December 2nd midnight EST. Winners will be announced Saturday December 3rd.

For my card I have new the new Christmas Poinsetta Lantern. These are available as digis and pre-coloured images- which I have used here on this stepper card. I have printed it three times, and the lanterns have had glossy accents added to give them a lovely shine. The sentiment came with the set.
Thanks for looking at my card and now I'm sure you want to know the secret words, which are "Joyful", before you leave me and visit my friend, the oh-so-talented Anne who is your next stop on the hop.

Hugs,

It's Snowing at MAWTT

2011-11-17T16:20:00.000Z

Hi everybody

Well it certainly isn't snowing here - just a glorious sunny day again.

At Moving Along with the Times this week our theme is Let It Snow. I have gone totally digital for this.

I layered some Raspberry Road papers together, which included this lovely snowy one, added the sentiment, some holly corners, and then printed my images over it. I then coloured them with Copics, and added Stickles and Glamour Dust to them as well. Not sure whether I like it or not. What do you think?

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Shelly's Images - Anything Goes
Samuel Taylor - Christmas Cards
Crafters Companion - Let it Snow
Creatalicious - Christmas and make sure it sparkles
Freshly Brewed - Anything Goes

We are sponsored by Digi My World this week who gave us some fab images to work with, and they also very kindly will be giving the winner a $10.00 Voucher to spend instore. There are lots of great images to choose from so do have a look and they are very reasonably priced!

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 DT Call

2011-11-15T11:44:00.001Z

I recently came across Make My Monday. This looks like my type of challenge, with a lot of creative freedom available to do what you want within the confines of the challenge set. They are having a DT call, and I have decided to enter it.

The DT call is to make a celebration card. So this card is to celebrate a 21st Birthday, and it is quite girly, as the person is it for is also girly and very feminine, so I think she would really appreciate something like this.

I have used Bazzill Swiss Dot as the base and Maja Design paper on top, which has a pretty floral pattern on it. I have kept it quite simple as far as layers go, and there are just two small doillies cut from the reverse of the paper. My lovely image was a buy from Etsy. The sentiment is computer generated. I have added flowers to tone with the paper colours and some swirls in pink and gems.

I am also entering this for the following challenges:

Deep Ocean Challenge - Vintage

Crafting When we Can - Female Birthday

Colour Create - Blue, Pink and Ivory

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 real sweetie

2011-11-15T11:02:00.001Z

Hi everybody

My internet connections have been playing up since late yesterday evening, so consequently I feel as if I am behind. It still wasn't working early this morning, but just before lunch it came back, but by then I was off out for a girlie lunch with my best friend. No booze because of driving, but some nice food and lots of chat, and a wonder around a garden centre looking at all the lovely autumn colour.

At the Anything Goes Challenge this week we are looking for real sweeties - over to everybody to decide what that is to them, as long as it connects to food that is fine. Please pop along to the blog - there are some fabulous examples from the team this week.

For my card I have used an LOTV image, coloured with Copics as usual, and some stickles added to the icing on the cake, the starts, and candle. The Christmas Tree die cute was in a pack of paper amd other things I got from a friend, so I kept it and have glammed it up a bit. I am not sure what pad the paper comes from as it was falling apart and I threw the covers away. Flower from stashm and leaves cut with a punch.

Don't forget you can get lots of fab crafty stash at The Craft Den.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Sketch & Stash - followed the sketch
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Heart Songs Inspiration - Gold or Glitter
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
My Partner In Crime - Use a Freebie - my Christmas Tree was a freebie

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,

I'm oh so late for Ribbons and Lace ...

2011-11-12T15:44:00.002Z

Hi everybody

This is a late posting of my DT card for the One Stop Craft Challenge. We are also having a DT call this week, so if you fancy being part of this fab team, then please enter our challenge and all you have to do is add DT hafter your name.

We have a fairly easy theme - Ribbons and Lace.

For my card I have tried to give it a slightly vintagey fell, with non-tradtional colours. The papers are MME Lost & Found Christmas. I have used a new LOTV image - I think she is really cute. I have coloured with Copics, and did not want a stark white fur on her coat so added some Copics underneath to get the slightly creamy colour. I think used Stickles and some Glamour dust on top while it was still wet. The paper edges have been distressed and coloured with Vintage Photo DI, and I have added stickles around the edge of that as well. The lace has ribbon threaded through it, and I have added a handmade flower, some leaves and berries. The sentiment is Stampin Up.

This week we are sponsored by Robyn's Fetish, who are offering

5 digital stamps

or 4 digital stamps and 1 digital paper set of their choice

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Christmas Stampin' all year long - a stamp that has never seen ink
FloweretStamplar - Christmas card
Inspire Me Fridays - Always Anything Goes
Jellypark Challenge - Christmas with non-traditional colours
Wags 'n' Whiskers - Christmas Themed
CRAFT - Cute
Crimbo Crackers - Make It Sparkle
Samuel Taylor - Christmas Cards
Inky Impressions - Glitter It Up
Cupcake Craft - Textalicious - the text is all over the background paper
Stampavie and More - Anything Goes
Truly Scrumptious - Bingo Time (Lace, Flowers, Ribbon - slotted through lace)
Party Time Tuesday - Bling it on
Totally Gorjuss - Chritmas
Let'sInk It Up - Favourite Technique - Vintagey style with stamping and distressing

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,

Moonlight Wishes

2011-11-08T08:37:00.004Z

Good morning bloggers

Another card from mefeaturing a Lili of the Valley stamp. This is my DT card for My Time to Craft, and we are looking for the Sun, Moon or Stars on your project.

I have coloured with Copics, brushed around the image with distress ink, and added stickles over the stars, The decoration across the bottom is a Memory Box die. Papers are Bo Bunny Snowfall.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Heart Song Inspirations - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Paper Creations Ink - Holiday Wishes for Kids
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenges - AnythingGoes
I Did It Creations - Christmas/Winter

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,

3 is a magic number

2011-11-05T09:34:00.005Z

Good morning everybody

It is our 3rd birthday at One Stop Craft Challenge, so we are celebrating with lots of prizes. The theme this week is '3 is a magic number'. Please pop along to the challenge blog to have a look at the amazing DT creations.

For my '3' I have Three Little Angels from Lili of the Valley, 3 flowers, and gems in '3' as well. My background paper is fom the Snowfall collection by Bo Bunny and the sentiment is Stampin' Up

For this birthday challenge we have loads prizes so that means more winners.....

2 Digi Stamps from

-----

3 Digi Stamps from

-----

5 Digi Stamps from

-----

3 Digis From

-----

$10 To Spend At

-----

£10 To Spend At

**********************************

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Delightful Challenges - A very sparkly Winter
Lili of the Valley - Bright and Sparkly
Do You Stack Up - Teal
Catch the Bug - November Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Floweretstamplar - Christmas

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,

Food and drink for MAWTT

2011-11-03T10:00:00.004Z

Hello everybody

Thursday already and time has just flown this week. We are indulging in a favourite pastime for lots of us - Food and Drink at Moving Along With The Times. That conjures up lots of different images. How fitting that our sponsor has chocolate in their name!

I recently bought a batch of the lovely L:ili of the Valley die cut squares for some quick Christmas cards. I'm doing a craft fair at the end of this month, and another in December, and I wanted to make sure I had plenty of suitable cards. So this is one of them. They are really adaptable, and the colours can be strengthened with Prisma pencils or Copics. The sentiment ios LOTV. I have also added some stickles to various parts of the card, and the red edge is punched with a Martha Stewart punch. Lace and gems from Stash. The paper is the Authentique Christmas Wonder collection.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch
Crafting for all Seasons - Texture
The PaperShelter - Christmas Fun
The Paper Variety - Humourous (well I reckon this is - feeding the turkey to the dog)
Aud Sentiments - humourous
Delightful Challenges - Sparkly Christmas

This week we are sponsored by

They are very generously offering a prize of 1 A5 stamp set of the winner's choice. This is an amazing prize. You must go along to the website, they have some amazing craft items for sale. You can check out the website 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.

Hugs,

Let's stitch it up ...

2011-11-01T08:00:00.001Z

Good morning everybody

I hope you are keeping warm and cosy - there certainly seems to be a chill in the air. Halloween passed without even a flicker where I live, although I did here in the distance some fireworks.

At Anything Goes this week we want to see stitching - real or faux - so lots of opportunities there to show us all your stitching. Have a look at the DT work, it's so varied and gorgeous and is a great example of how different everyone can interpret a theme!

No sewing machine working at the moment, so I have used faux stitching around my little cutie. This is a Heather Ellis digi, and I have coloured with Copics. The snowflake is a fabulous Memory Box die, and roses from stash. They certainly did not look green in the daylight - the camera must be playing tricks. I have added gems to be background paper and the little star on the sentment is the centre piece left over from the snowflake. My background papers are from a big Basic Grey pack from last year.

Don't forget you can get lots of papers and a massive amount of other goodies from The Craft Den.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Crafty Boots - Young at Heart
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Oh La La Creations - Stitching
Paper Pretties - Use a Sentiment
Pollycraft - Anything Goes
Dream Valley - Anything Goes
OSAAT - Christmas
Bah Humbug - Die Cuts
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes
Raise the Bar - Stitching

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,

Dressing the Snowman

2011-10-30T17:12:00.000Z

Hi everybody

There is a lovely sketch by Bev over at the Lili of the Valley challenge this week, and I decided to follow it and enter this card using the Build a Snowman stamp.

Mr papers are Prima North Country - just love the colours and non-traditional patterns of these. I have coloured with Copics and added a fair amount of stickles for the fur and snow. I have used seam binding and a poinsetta from stash, and also a snowflake cut with my new Memory Box die.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge - Cold and Frosty
Come and Get It - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut - for someone special
Dream Valley Challenges - Anything Goes
Hiding in my Craft Room - Freestyle
Just Us Girls - Wild Card challenge
Lili of the Valley - Sketch
OSAAT - Christmas
Pile it On - Keep Warm
Sweet Stampin - Anything Goes
The Ribbon Girl - Jingle all the way to Christmas
The Squirrel and the Fox - Hats or flowers
The Crafty Pad - Freindship
Totally Papercrafts - Glitter It

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,

No Girls Allowed!!

2011-10-27T09:23:00.002+01:00

No - that is not a title of a song - but the theme at Moving Along with the Times this week. I struggle with cards for men, so this is a good excuse to get one more in my stash of cards. In fact I'm also struggling with my mojo at the moment. I came back from Cornwall at the end of September with a chest infection and stinking cold, thought it had gone, and this week it is back with avengance. Hey ho ......... enough moaning - let's get on with my card for MAWTT.

We were kindly given some images & a paper pack to play with by our very generous sponsor. I chose to use one of the papers, which I thought would go well with this motorbike image, which is slightly old-fashioned. The lettering is from the Tim Holtz Crafty Attic Salvage Stickers.

Our sponsor this week is Stitchy Bear - please pop along to their website to have a look at all the love digi stamps, papers, and lots of other stuff..

I am entering this into the ollowing challenges:

Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Scrapbook Sisters - Anything goes
Sparkle Creations - No colouring
Make It Monday - Always 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,

Going dotty ...

2011-10-26T17:58:00.001+01:00

Hi everybody

What a gorgeous sunny day, and such a clear sky. The sort of crisp Autumn day I like.

Less is More are asking us to go dotty this week, and this is my offering.

My dotty backgroud is a Stampotique image. The dots are distress inks. The flower is Hero Arts, which I stamped and coloured twice, and then cut out and added the smalled section on top. The sentiment is one from an Elusive Images (now Chocolate Baroque) set called Life Affirmations.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Less is More - Polka Dots
Crafty Ann - Clean and Simple
Crafty Sentiments - No designer paper
Jens Digi Stamps - Polka Dots

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,

It's Halloween at Sentimental Sundays

2011-10-23T10:14:00.001+01:00

Hi everybody

The weekend is going just too fast.
At Sentimental Sundays it is Halloween time. My card is certainly not what I planned - it was going to be something entirely different, but it did not work.

On to a black base I layered two pieces of Apothecary papers - one spotted and the top one has the tree on it which I tore apart so that some of the spotted paper was visible. I overstamped with the spider, cat, wire and splodges - all Stampotique stamps and I then stamped the web on a separate piece of orange paper and also a bat. The skeleton was cut out and overlaid again. The other stamps were all Tim Holtz.

For the inside I over printed one of the Sentimental Sundays freebie sentiments on to orange paper and inked the edges.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

All Sorts Challenge - Halloween
Addicted to Stamps - Halloween
Alphabet Challenge - Soon be Halloween
Card Making Mamas - Halloween
Craft your days away - Halloween colours
Crafty Calendar - Spooky Birthday
Crafting for all Seasons - Halloween
Delightful Challenges - Halloween
Di''s Digi Designs - Halloween
Dream Valley - Halloween
Inky Impressions - Trick or Treat: Halloween
Just some Lines - Halloween
Pattie's Creations - Halloween
Sweet Stampin' - Trick or Treat
The Crazy Challenge - Halloween

Our sponsor this week is Whimsie Doodles , and they have a special offer for Sentiment Sundays fans. Use the discount code SentSun10 at the Whimsie Doodles online store and receive 10% off your next order! Code expires 30 days from today (November 23, 2011).

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,
Valxx

Two little birds in a tree

2011-10-22T15:51:00.000+01:00

Good morning bloggers

I hope you are all looking forward to a crafty weekend.

This morning it is time for the One Stop Card Craft Challenge, and our theme is NO Patterned Papers. Help - I thought - but out came my embossing folders and my 'bug worked it's magic. So I have a a very simple Christmas carrd.

My imageand sentiment are from Hero Arts. This is mounted on to mirri board and of course when photographed it just seems to distort.

Our sponsor this week is Stitchy Stamps

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments - winter theme
Charisma Cardz - Embossing
Do You Stack Up - Trees
Shelly's Images - 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,

Valxx

Going Vintage for MAWTT

2011-10-20T08:00:00.002+01:00

Good morning everybody

This week I am having the pleasure of hosting the Moving Along with the Times challenge, and my choice of for the theme is Vintage. Pleae pop along to the challenge blog - there are some fab cards for inspiration.

The centrepiece of my card is an old photograph, but I have had it for so long I am not sure where it came from. The papers are Pion Design - such pretty subtle colours. I have used a variety of dies - Cheery Lynne, Magnolia and also a punch. The flowers are WOC, and the lace and pearls from stash. All the papers have been roughed up around the edges with the Tim Holtz distressing tool and then inked with a distress ink and stickles. The sentiment is Hero Arts.

This week we are sponsored by Crafty Emma's Store and the winner will receive a £10 voucher to spend on some crafty scrumptiousness.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Monthly Challenge - Lace
By the Cute and Girly - Anything Goes
Crafting Life's Pieces - I followed the sketch
Creatalicious Challenge - Distress your edges
Creations by Gili - Vitnage Wedding
Clear It Out - use old stash - trims - I have had the lace since last year
Crafters Companion - Pink and Green
Di's Digi Designs - Girly
Fab 'n' Funky - Distressed or Torn
Heart Songs - Flowers
KB Cute monday - Anything goes
Let's Ink It Up - Think Pink
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps - Lots of layers
Pollycraft - Girls, Girls, Girls
The Stamping Boutique - Some-one special
Top Tip Tuesday - Layer It
The Squirrel and the Fox - Girly
The Crafty Pad - Monochromatic (sorry I have a touch of green for the leaves!)

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,
Val xx

To the Letter (or maybe number) ...

2011-10-18T09:00:00.001+01:00

Hi everybody

As I am writing this the rain is pouring down and the wind howling outside - so I guess Autumn really is here.

This week at Anything Goes we want to see Letters or Numbers on your project, whether it is a card or something else.

I realised when I was doing my card that all the chipboard letters and grunge board letters that I had were far too big, so I have resorted to using numbers that fitted with my Christmas Card. My image is from FSS. The papers are, I believe, from Basic Grey Jovial, although I cannot be sure, as I have a box of Christmas papers and no covers in the packs. Ribbons and flowers are from stash.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Christmas Inspirations - Die Cuts and/or Punches
Christmas Card Challenge - Stickers (my numbers are chi[pboard stickers)
Corrosive Challenges - Flying things
Crafting When we Can - Christmas
By the Cute & Girly - Anything Goes
Sparkles Christmas Forum - Christmas Songs - When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along
Crazy 4 Challenges - Create something for an up and coming holiday
Just some lines - Reminds me of a Song - When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along

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,
Valxx

Witches, Ghosts and Ghoulies

2011-10-15T09:00:00.002+01:00

Good morning everybody

I hope you are all looking forward to the weekend, and have lots of crafting going on.

Today at the One Stop Craft Challenge our theme is Halloween, so I am sure we are going to see some amazing pieces of work celebrating this.

I have had rhis digi and the papers since last year, but cannot remember where it came from. I have coloured with Copics, dusted distress inks around the surface, and then added some bats. The sentiment is from a Tim Holtz Halloween plate I have had for a while. Embellishments are a button, some bling across the sentiment, ribbon, whch I have shredded the ends of , and some green spidery stuff.

At OSCC this weel we are sponsored by Sassy Studio Designs. Please pop along to their shop and have a browse.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew - Spooky Fun
Crafts and Me - Orange
Come and Get It - Orange Purple and Black
Divas by Design - Button up
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Halloween
House That Stamps Built - Halloween
Meljens Designs - Use a ribbon
Pixie Cottage - Dark & Spooky
Phindy's Challenge - Halloween
Quirky Crafts - Something Spooky
Samuel Taylor - Halloween
Sarah Hurley - Halloween
Shellys Images - At least 4 layers and Halloween colours
Scrapalicious - Black, Orange and Purple
Sparkles Forum - Halloween
Simon Says Stamp - Halloween or Goth
Shopping our Stash - Spooky or Orange/Black
The Rubber Cafe - Halloween
Victorine Originals - Halloween

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,

Valxx

A Heart for Less is More

2011-10-14T02:07:00.001+01:00

Mandi and Chrissie at LIM want to see hearts this week on a one layer card. I do hearts, but not sure about it being a one layer!

I have used a Stempelglede heart from the Grungy Hearts plate, and my sentiment is from their Just a Note plate. The only embellishment is some small pearls to dot the i's.

I am also entering this into the following challenge:

CES - Seeing red

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,
Val

It's ATC time at MAWTT

2011-10-13T09:00:00.003+01:00

Good morning Thursday

What a rush this was - I really got myself in a muddle over the days, and it was only when I was scanning the newspaper late Wednesday that I realised I had to get something done for Moving Along with the Times ....... Well, I am putting it down to the fact that we have had a new mattress for our bedstead, and it is so comfortable I could wallow in it all day!

At MAWTT we would like you to make ATC's this week. When I got round to it I found it really difficult - sizing up what stamps would go into the 2.5 x 3.5" size, and getting it to look right. This was my third attempt using different colours for the base and the stamping medium. Anyway, this is what I have made.

I coloured a piece of card with distress inks in Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade and Crushed Olive. The image and sentiment are from the Stempelglede Vintage Christmas sheet, and stamped in Versafine Black Oynx. Interresting how it takes on these brown tones when photographed. I have added some red/orange gems and a piece of ribbon in the same tones.

This week we are sponsored by

http://www.everycraftsapound.co.uk/

I am entering this for the following challenges:

ABC Christmas - U is for unused stash - bought last year and never inked!
Flutterby Wednesday - must include an angel, butterfly or fairy and use scraps - my piece of card was a scrap as was the ribbon
Crafty Cardmakers - Anything goes
Make it Monday - Always Anything goes
ATC Challenge - Anything girlie or anything goes
Truly Scrumptious - Distressing

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,
Valxx

A Christmas card

2011-10-08T12:36:00.002+01:00

Good morning everybody

Saturday means it is the One Stop Craft Challenge, and this week the theme is Anything Goes. Easy Peasy!

My mojo does not appear to be quite back yet, so I have done a very simple Cristmas card, using a lovely digi image.

My image is Winter Chickadee from FSS. The papers are North Country from Prima - very pretty indeed. I have embellished with ribbon and some gems.

We are sponsored this week by Robyn's Fetish, and the winner will receive 5 digital stamps, or 4 digital stamps and 1 digital paper set of their choice.

I am entering this into the following challenges.

Stamp Scrap and Doodle Saturday - must have something round
CardMadFairy Digi Challenge - Too early for Christmas?
Inspire Me fridays - Always Anything Goes
Simply Create - Older than 6 months - I bought this image for last Christmas
My Time Made Easy - I followed the sketch
Crafts and Me - Use a Digi
Fab 'n' Funky - Diecuts/Punches - I have both
My Mum's Craft Shop - All creatures great and small
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.

Hugs,
Val

I'm back with the Colours of Autumn

2011-10-06T10:53:00.000+01:00

Hello everybody

My first DT post for a while. This is something I really enjoyed making - I love Autumn colours.

At Moving Along with the Times the theme this week is Autumn Leaves, but this can be interpretted anyway you choose.

My image is coloured with Copics, and the background is several colours of card layered up, with the brown being embossed with the Tim Holtz Woodgrain, and then leaves cut from the Tattered Leaves die, and over-stamped with Distress Inks the the leaf set of Tim Holtz stamps.

We are sponsored this week by Digi my World who kindly provided the images for us to work with.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me - Use a Digi
Creative Stamp Friends - Autumn
Cupcake Inspirations - Photo Inspiration
Fab 'n' Funky - Die Cuts or Punches
For Fun Challenges - Leaves
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Fall
If the Shoe Fits - Fall
Ladybug Craft Inks - No designer paper
Lille Darlings - Fall
OSAAT - Use a Digi
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Pixie Cottage - Fall Fun
Stampavie and More - Autumn
Sweet Stamps - Anything Goes

For those of you who have read my blog recently will know that my Dad passed away last month. We gave him a really good send off with a service to celebrate his life in our local church, which was packed to overflowing. After that we went away for a week to Cornwall, and had a lovely time just pottering and relaxing, enjoying the sub with the roof down on the car, eating nice food, particularly at Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant in Padstow.

I would like to say thank you to all my followers for sticking with me over the last few weeks, and for your lovely cards, emails, messages and comments you have left on my blog. Thank you.

Hugs,
Val xx

Dad - update

2011-09-10T17:53:00.000+01:00

Dad took a turn for the worse last weekend, and developed acute pneumonia - this was on top of the MRSA he had contracted, and the fact that he had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and his kidneys were failing. We were told it was unlikely that he woud reach his 92nd birthday, although we still kept our hopes up. Sadly Dad passed away on the morning of his birthday, September 6.

Daisy is still in the hospice and holding her own, and the last few days have been very good for her.

I will be back soon.

Hugs
Valxx

Sentimental Sundays

2011-09-04T08:31:00.003+01:00

Hi everybody

Hope you are having a great weekend - it almost fels like an Indian Summer .

At Sentimental Sundays this week we are asking for a card that expresses Sympathy or Thinking of You. Always very difficult subjects to tackle.

I have used a Stempelglede image from the Vintage Garden plate. It is stamped with Stazon and colour with pencils. I have brushed DI around the edges. The sentiment is SU, and the papers are Memory Box Minuet. Flowers and ribbon from stash.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Fussy and Fancy Friday - I followed the sketch
All Sorts - Green and Blue
Creations by Gilli - Anything that flies
Sweet Stampin - Anything but Birthday
Alphabet Challenge - P for pretty pastels
Fun with shapes and more - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Fridays - Always anything goes
Jellypark Challenge - Get punchy or die cuts
Charisma Cardz - Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday - Use at leasst one punch

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,

Handmade flowers

2011-09-01T09:00:00.003+01:00

A very short post from me today. At Moving Along with the Times, and we want to see handmade flowers.

This week we are sponsored by the fabulous Lili of the Valley, and the prize is a gift voucher

For my card I have used one of the new Christmas images - Christmas Dance - from LOTV that I bought a few weeks ago, and this is the first inking. There are some really love images, and more to come soon.

I have used some new Prima paper for this, and I have to confess I think the whole thing is far too busy and I should have gone for a much less complicated sketch. It isn't helped by the fact that I photographed this after dark, and the creams in the background paper are now pinky colour! I have coloured with copics, and added glamour dust to the fur around the jacket.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - I followed the sketch
PartyTime Tuesday - Anything goes
Creative Card Crew - Anything goes
Heart Songs - Favourite colour combo or anything goes
Incy Wincy - Diamonds and Pearls - I have used some pearls
Make It Monday - Always Anything goes
Stamps R Us - Anything goes
The Crazy Challenge - New - I have used a new stamp and papers
Woodware USA - 3-2-1 Challenge - 3 papers, 2 types of embellishment , 1 image

Thank you everybody for sticking with me during my long absences. My step-mother is still very, very poorly and is in the hospice attached to the hospital. Unfortunately my father had a fall and has broken his hip, which because of his age and the fact that he has a chest infection and has contracted MRSA, he cannot be operated on, so has a long haul with enforced bed rest and his leg in traction. As you can imagine, this has taken quite a toll on all the family, and we are just taking things day by day.

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,

Here come the Girls

2011-08-22T08:00:00.000+01:00

A very quick post from me today. At My Time to Craft, the theme is Here Comes the Girls. So I have used one very classy lady on mine!

This card is a true mxture of stamps. The colouring on all the pieces is done with a brush and a variety of inks from Big and Juicy pads. The two background pieces are done with a lace stamp from the Artistic Stamper. One piece has been stamped in black on to the coloured card. The other piece has been heat embossed, and had the colour brushed over it. The main image is from the Great Gatsby stamp place by Artistic Outpost, and the sentiment is from an Art Journey plate.

The border was punched witha Martha Stewart punch. The flower, lace and pearls are all from stash.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Heart Song Inspirations - Shabby Chic or Pearls
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Oh La La - No backing paper
Paper Play Time - Anything Goes
Stamps R Us - Anything Goes
Challenge Up Your Life - No patterned paper
Designed 2 Delight - Anything Goes
Ellephantastic - Add Some Layers
Sketch Saturday - I followed the sketch
Annabelle - Say it with Distressing
Inspire me Fridays - Always Anything Goes
Crafty Ann's - Scallops or Fancy Borders
Fussy and Fancy - Use three or more of your favourite embellishment (pearls)
Simply Create - Time to Distress

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 wonderful melty day ...........

2011-08-20T14:31:00.001+01:00

Woo hoo! I had some time to myself on Wednesday, having booked a class with Hels Sheridan at the Stamp Attic in Wantage. It was a fabulous day, and I learnt all things melt potty! Was I wowed? Yes - most definitely, so guess what is going to be my next purchase! We made a sampler, and this is my version.

The canvas is panged with Kaisercraft Clamshell, and then washed over with sand paint. The edges are done with a Dabber Paint in Cranberry, and although not seen, the edges are done with Black paint dabber. The background stamping is a Tim Holtz script.

Some detail from the various elements:

Stained glass effect flower - Wire was twisted into a flower shape, and then dipped in the very top of the melt to gather up a very thing layer - very difficult and several attempts were required

Faux porcelain flowers - the first flower is cut from Tim Holtz Crafty Attic paper, and dipped, the second flower is layers of paper flowers with a paper rose also dipped into the liquid

Owl made from Mould - Agate effect into a memory frame - Stamping into the liquid on a craft sheet and rubbed over with perfect pearls

Image transfer - shrink plastic - faux soldering

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Fashionable stamping - Handmade flowers
All Sorts - You've been framed - two of my elements have frames
Challenge up your life - no patterned paper
Craft your passion - Anything but a card
Creative Card Crew - Handmade flowers
Craft us Crazy - Anything Goes
Designed 2 Delight - Anything goes
Paper Playtime - Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
Creative C raft Challenges2 - Anything but a card
Dream Valley - Distressing
Pollycraft - Distressing
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Shelly's Images - Anything Goes
Stamp Insanity - Anything goes

On a different front, Dad came home on Friday from respite care in the nursing home, and the brilliant people at social services have put in place a package that allows him to stay at home, being cared for and monitored to see how thing go. Unfortunately my step-mother is still extremely ill, and we are hoping and praying that she makes a gradual recovery, and is able to join Dad at home again. A worrying time for all of 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 go flashback!

2011-08-18T10:00:00.002+01:00

Hi everybody

We are having a flashback week at Moving Along With The Times, and so we want you to post an old project that you are proud of .. could be one of your first using a particular technique /a project you won a challenge with/ or just a project you really liked . Please create a new post ( no back linking) to show us your project and tell us why it is special.

I have chosen a piece of multi-media, which made me realise that I loved doing stuff other than cards, and wanted to learn more about this type of 'art'. So gradually I have been expanding what I do, and I'm loving it.

This piece is a canvas that has been painted - I think probably Kaiser or Eco paint, and then overstamped with a swirl. The four squares are Ten Seconds Studio metal, and the bird cage is the Tim Holtz die. I think - but cannot be sure, that the copper leaves and white flowers are Wendy Vecchi stamps, stamped on to metal and then cut out. The tiny flowers are all sequins covered in Inka Gold gloop with tiny gems added to the middle.

I hope you enjoyed looking at my Flashback, I hope you will join in with us this week as we have a fab sponsor

Stampin With Brenda

The prize will be THREE FREE months of The How to WOW Paper Crafting Techniques Club.

Information can be found here /http://the-how-to-wow.stampingwithbrenda.com/

Please pop over to the main challenge blog and take a look at the fabulous work of my DT buddies this week - there is some gorgeous work to see

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,

Thank you

2011-08-16T19:59:00.000+01:00

The challenge at Lili of the Valley this week is Thank You, and I thought this little girl with her present of a flowering pot was just right. I know - no sentiment - but I tend not to put them on until I know who the card is for.

My image is coloured with Copics, and I have used paper from an Authentique pad which I was a RAK from a friend. It is so pretty, and I love the pink colours. I have team this was black cardstock. Pearls, a piece of stripe ribbon, a handmade flower and butterflies complete the picture.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Lili of the Valley - Thank you
The Sweet Shop - I followed the sketch
Make It Monday - Always anything goes
Paper Creations Ink - Flowers
Paper Playtime - Anything goes
There She Goes - Colour Challenge - Baby Pink, Coral, Black

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,

On the Beach

2011-08-13T09:07:00.000+01:00

Time has just flown this week, and it is time for the One Stop Craft Challenge, and this week it is about life On the Beach.

I have finally mounted up a batch of Crafty Individual stamps I have had for ever, so am making use of them. This one suits our theme perfectly.

I have used distress ink on silk card which guves a slighly softer colour. I dried this and then stamped over with black archival ink, which I then dried as well. The background papers are fairly muted, and are all from the Raspberry Road Travelogue. I have added some small Petaloo flowers to finish off.

This week we are sponsored by

and one lucky winner will receive 5 digital stamps or 4 digital stamps and 1 digital paper set of their choice.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

ColorLab - Colour challenge - I used the colours for the challenge

Cards und More - I followed the sketch

Creative Craft Challenges - Summertime

Digital Tuesday - I love the sea - include a digital element (my papers are digital)

Craft us Crazy - 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,

Getting Inky .......

2011-08-12T20:02:00.003+01:00

This is really something I have done for me - getting inky and playing about with colours, although there is a purpose behind it, as I am also entering it into a challenge - the new kid on the block - the Fashionable Stamping Challenge - and I guess in some ways it takes me back to what I love best - stamping ......... I really enjoyed this, particularly as I have had so little time for crafting this week.

For this card everything has been stamped on Ranger Manila cardstock because I wanted the creamy colour to show through on the embossing. I heat embossed the writing with clear detail embossing powder, and then coloured with distress inks. The piece on the diagonal I have coloured the same, and then stamped a fine swirl over it - barely visible. However, when I put the two pieces together I realised I needed to knock the colour back so went over lightly with DI Antique Linen, and then sprayed ovr with glimmer mist. The lovely ladies are Crafty Individuals. Once stamped, I lightly coloured some elements with colouring pencils and edged the border with distress ink. They are mounted on a piece of card I coloured with distress stains. The lace las been dyed with distress stain, and sprayed with glimmer mist. To finish off a pretty fabric flower.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Anything Goes
Crafty Individuals - Bright and Beautiful
Charisma Cardz Challenge - Distressing
Do yYou Stack Up - Emboss It
PaperPlay Challenge - Create Your Own DP
Anything Goes - Celebration (well I think this is the celebration of women everywhere!)
Clear It Out - Summer (I have used summery colours)
Crazy Amigos - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Emboss It
Inspire Me Fridays - Always Anything Goes
Phindy's Place - Vintage
Simply Create - Distress
The Stamp Man - Anything goes with summer colours
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Favourite Stamp
Papertake Weekly - Grow your own - hand made flower
Dream Valley - Distressing
Truly Scrumptious - 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,

It's fantasy time at MAWTT

2011-08-11T18:20:00.001+01:00

Hello everybody

I am sorry I have not been around much, but life happens. My Step-mother is in hospital very ill, and we have had to sort out care arrangments for my father for a few weeks, who is 92 next month. We have received an enormous amount of help and support from social services, and I cannot thank them enough for this at what has been a really difficult time for Dad..

Anyway on to my card. At Moving Along With The Times the theme is Fantasy - and this can be interpreted any way you want.. We were lucky enough to be given some images from Bugaboo, and I chose Ruby Tidbits - Tequila. Now Ruby is doing the splits - even if I had had a bottle I don't think I could achieve this - so this is definitely a Fantasy.

I have followed the sketch from Midnight Madness. The background papers are K & Co Que Sera papers (well tequila is tropical) and I have picked out the blue for the border across the middle with I have also put through the cuttlebug with a embossing folder, and added a punched border on top with a piece of ribbon. Ihave coloured the image in copics, and added a bit of Stickles to her boots. The background has been lightly brushed with distress ink and then stamped over with a stipple stamp. A toning flower from Prima completes the picture.

For this challenge we are sponsored by

and the lucky winner will receive 7 images to play with.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Use It Tuesday - Indian Summer - my hoarded stash is the K & Co paper and flower
AiFactory - Anything Goes
Craft us Crazy - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Punches and Die Cuts
Stamp Something - August Digi Day
Totally Papercrafts - Holidays
Cooking it up with katie - Emboss a summer punch
Crafty Calendar - Hot collours

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,

Don't be square

2011-08-04T08:54:00.003+01:00

At Moving Along with the Times this week we are asking you not to be square - so round, oval, oblong, or whatever other shape you fancy - but no squares.

On to my card. I have chosen the Little Trumpeter silhouette iamge to use.

For this card I used a Ranger Big and Juicy pad and brushed several colours on to the cardstock. I aslo added Spiced Marmalade DI. The image was then printed over this. The images all around the edge are from Lavinia Stamps. My background papers are from the K & Co pad Que Sera, which I have had for several years. The butterfly is a Cherry Lynn die, and the gems are a strip from a Prima pack. I have dotted Diamond Stickles over the image to give the impression of fairy sprinkles.

This week we are sponsored by Stitchy Bear Stamps,

and the winner will get a $10.00 voiucher to choose from their catalogue.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Ambers Crafts and Stuff - Sparkle and Shine
Cooking it up with Katie - Show me your Old New Favourite technique (Old is DP, New is butterfly die, technique is the background)
Crafts and Me - anything goes
Divas by Design -Summer
For fun challenge - Anything goes
Freshly Brewed - Hot images or colours
Stampavie and more - Summer
Sparkle Creations - Freestyle
Crafter's Companion - Glitter 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.

Hugs,

In the garden

2011-07-31T10:00:00.005+01:00

At Sentimental Sundays we are haveing a Garden Party this week, with, of course, a sentiment. That should allow for a lot of leeway to see lots of gardening projects this week.

The background papers for my card are from the Prima Madelaine pad - just love these papers, and the butterflies down the side panel tie in so well with the garden theme. I have chosen this beautiful image of a wheelbarrow filled with flowers, which you can find here. My sentiment is Floral Haven by Ann Vento of Raindrop Echo Designs for Whimsy Stamps.   I have scrunched up some seam binding down the side panel, and added roses which I bought at the Newbury Show from The Hobby House. The punch used for the senitment is from SU, and the butterflies at MS.

The prize for this challenge will be four individual sentiment sets from the Raindrop Echo Designs Whimsy Stamps Digital Collection.   If you like the weekly freebies offered, please visit the store to see even more!


We have also been asked to help with the fundraiser for Kim Sherrod's friend whose son was admitted to the hospital for heart problems. Kim is trying to raise money for her friend to be able to see her son, but it's not going well. Her friend is struggling financially and can't afford to make the trip.

To help with the fundraiser, Ann (Raindrop Echo) designed some fab stamp sets that are going to be sold as digital stamps, but will also be available as clear stamps for those who prefer it.

To support the cause, make a donation and get yourself these gorgeous stamps, please click here.

I am entering my card for the following challenges:

Anything Goes - Pick of the Bunch - Flowers
All Sorts Challenge - Free and Easy
Crafty Ann - Summertime
If the Shoe Fits - Summer
Inspire Me Fridays - Always Anything Goes
Mami Doodles - Flowers
Paper Play Challenge - In the Garden
Paper Star - Anything Goes
Phindy's Place Challenge - Delightful Die Cuts
Polka Doodles - In an English Country Garden
Sew many cards - 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,

We are going Vintage at OSCC

2011-07-30T08:48:00.004+01:00

Hello everybody

It is time for another challenge at One Stop Card Crafts, and we are going Vintage. Now this is a style I am getting to love more and more, and I am sure that we are going to see some fabulous creations from all the entries. Please also pop across to the challenge to see all the wonderful inspiration.

This week we are also sponsored by One Stop Card Crafts, where you will find lots of crafty deliciousness.

For my card this week I decided to go with a bridal theme, and have cut into some new papers from Pion, very pretty and delicately summery. I have been looking at them for a while, and as most people know, if there is something you really love, it is quite hard to make that first cut.

My papers have been backed with a blue card, which tones really well. The central panel is the reverse of the main paper, The edges of the central panel have been lined with lace, and the photograph has been mounted in a Nestie frame. All the edges have been edged with distres ink, and I have used stickles as well. On the frame I have knocked the colour back a bit from the Snowflake paint from PaperArtsy. All the flowers gave been sprayed with Irresdescent Gold Glimmer Mist, and I have removed the centres of the small ones and added pearl brads to all of them. The lovely flower at the bottom from WOC, and they are bought by the metre, so there are lots to play with.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts - Bling it up
Crafty Ann - Summertime (wedding)
Crafty Enna - Feeling the blues
Cupcake Craft - Shabby Sparkle
Karen's Doodles - Bingo - Flowers, Die cuts, gems
Mami's Doodles - Flowers
Anything Goes - Flowers
Sew many Challenges - Anything goes
Make My Monday - Vintage Lace and Pearls
4 Crafty Cicks - Bling
Delightful Challenge - Summer (wedding)
Top Tip Tuesday - Make it Girly
Divas by Design - Summer
Pixie Dust Studio - Favourite colours
If the Shoe Fits - Summer
Digi Doodles Shop's Best - Anything goes
Bee Crafty - Wedding Wishes
Paper Pretties - No Markers
Little Darlings - Girly
Papercraft Star - Anything goes
The Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Ruby's Rainbow - Vintage and DT Call
Celebrate the Occasion - Blue and White
All Sorts Challenge - Free and Easy

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,

Brand New at MAWTT

2011-07-28T09:06:00.001+01:00

Hi bloggers

Thursday again, so it must be Moving Along With The Times , and we are looking for something to represent Brand Spanking New. Now that could be a new baby, new home, and lots of other 'news'! There is lots of fabulous inspiration over at the challenge blog, so please pop along.

For my card I have chosen to do something for a new baby - I am going to be surrounded by babies soon - three neighbours are going to have new additions to their families, including one set of twins!

My image is from a very old Inkadinkadoo stamp - probably one of the very first I bought. I love the fluffy detail on him. I have layered up three pieces of card that have been cut with a lacy border and embellished with some white satin ribbob and a couple of tiny buttons. The sentiment is computer generated. So all in all, a very simple card.

This week we are sponsored by Crafty Emma's Store, and you can be sure to find lots of delicious goodies there

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Less is More - Recipe
Crazy Challenge - Ribbon
Creative Stamp Friends - Monochrome
Fabulous Friday - Buttons
If the Shoe Fits - Ruby
Fuzzy Wuzzy - Get punchy and include an animal
Inspire me Fridays - Always Anything Goes
Stampin for the Weekend - Paws

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,

Hearts and Roses for Fred She Said

2011-07-27T02:38:00.000+01:00

Hi everybody

Unfortunately because my computer was down and I was feeling pretty unwell, so this did not get blogged, but I want to amend that now. Fred She Said has some fabulous designs and I really enjoy working with them. It was my turn last week to choose the Digi of the Week, and I chose the Hearts and Roses design.

This lovely pre-coloured set comes with a lovely scalloped heart but unfortunately but cutting out i not very good, so I resorted to Nesties. This set is also available as a digi, and there are a range of colours in the pre-coloured set. I printed the roses and then layered them up so they 'popped'. My papers are also digis from Raspberry Road. The tiny flowers over the piece are from a Woodwae punch, and I have used pearls to embellish them. The side panel is a piece of lace over-laid with a piece of patterned paper which has been punched using the MS Doilly border, and then had some butterflies added to it.

I am entering this into the following challenges.

Crafty Cardmakers - Flutterbies
Kreative Stampelfreunde - Monochromatic
Cupcake Craft - Shabby Sparkle
Daisy Doodles - Anything goes with a digi
Make It Monday - Anything goes
Stamps and Fun = Creativity - no text or sentiment
Sparkles - Elegance and Lace
2 Sisters - Anything Goes
Digis with Attitude - Anything goes
Paper Cutz - Anything goes
Little Claire's Monthly Challenge - Things with Wings
Mark's Finest Papers - Use 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,

News, News !!!!!!!!!

2011-07-26T19:07:00.000+01:00

I am really excited to annouce that I have been asked to be part of the Design Team at One Stitch at a Time. Please come and join us every Sunday for some fun challenges and lots of inspiration

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 go walkies at My Time to Craft Challenge

2011-07-26T15:20:00.000+01:00

Hello everybody

I think I am back in the land of the living again, having got my computer backand working again, and I am also feeling much better following a stinking head cold and chest infection, which just seemed to wipe me out.

At My Time to Craft the challenge this week is all about Delightful Dogs. I was horrified to discover that I had nothing with dogs on except this LOTV stamp that I have used for my card.

For this card I have followed the sketch from There She Goes. I have coloured with Copics. My background papers are Basic Grey, and I have added lace and some of that yummy crinkled seam binding, which has been scrunched up and glued to the lace. Flowers are from WOC, and the pin is from stash.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

There She Goes - Sketch
Crazy Challenge - Ribbons
Die Cut Dreams - Animal Antics - must be four legs
Forever Friends - Pastel colours
Hooked on Crafts - Cute and Cuddly
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Lollipop Crafts - Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes - Beachy or Summer - mine is summer
Sparkles Forum - Elegance and 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,

The focus is on something Masculine at Sentimental Sundays

2011-07-17T09:00:00.002+01:00

Good morning everybody

It's time for a Sentimental Sunday Challenge, and today we want to see the focus on something Masculine. This is always some of a challenge for me, but out came my trust Tim Holtz stuff and I managed to get something together.

My background paper is from the Thorndon Hall pack by PaperArtsy. I have gone round the edges with distress ink and stamped some inky blobs over it. On to that I have layered Kraft Resist paper, Glassine, and a piece of printed paper. All have been coloured with distress inks. Over them I have tied a piece of hemp string (from my local garden centre). I have used the Old Jalopy die to cut the car, which is made from Kraft Resist paper over heavy brown cardstock. The sentiment is Tim Holtz, and I have added some ideology bits - some cogs and wheel, and also a tag which says 'wander'.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Gingesnap Creations - On the Road

A Gem of a Challenge - Let's hear it for the boys

Sweet Stampin - One for the boys

Totally Gorjuss - All about boys

Crafters Companion - One for the boys

Hobbystuggu - Card for a man

The Stampman - Anything by Tim

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

Sketch time at One Stop Card Crafts

2011-07-16T09:00:00.002+01:00

This week seems to have flown by, and the weather is doing it's usual stuff of one minute really warm, and then back to chilly, and as I write this it is pouring with rain.

This week at One Stop Card Crafts I have provided a sketch for everybody to work with , and then of course I found that I had very little that would fit into my normal nesties ovals if I used them the way I had designed the sketch! So I had to resort to a very large one.

For my card I decided to use a LOTV stamp, which often comes out when I need a wedding card. I think this is so pretty. I coloured with Copics, and then went over the dress with StarDust stickles to give it some shimmer. Around the edges I dusted some distress ink, and dotted stickles over that as well. My papers are Prima Madelaine, all the flowers and little lace butterfly are WOC, and dies used are nesties and Marianne. Lace is from stash, and the crinkled seam binding is from Sew Sweet. I have roughly pleated this over the lace. Sentiment is computer generated. Pins are from the Hobby House.

We are sponsored by the Sassy Studios Shop and the lucky winner will receive 4 digis of their choice.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Lili of the Valley - Pink and Blue
Aud Sentiments - Sentiment with at least two words
CRAFT - Butterflies
ColorLaB - Colour challenge
Colour Create - Pink, Aqua and Cream
Paper Play - Things with Wings - I have a butterfly
Pixie Dust Studio - Girly girly
The Rubber Cafe - Spellbound by Spellbinders
Stamp Insanity - Summer colours
Stampin' B's - Use Bling
Crafts and Me - Summertime
Divas by Design - Pastels
Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes
Colour Throwdown - colour challenge
Creative Craft Challenge - Pretty Blossoms
Paper Creators Crafts - Weddings
Sugar Creek Hollow -Winged things - butterfly
By the Cute and Girly - Wings - Butterfly
Emerald Faerie - All things nice (and Girly)

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

Favourite Things at MAWTT

2011-07-14T09:00:00.004+01:00

Good morning everybody

It is Thursday again and time for another challenge at Moving Along with the Times. This week we want to see some favourite things on your project. That is going to give everyone lots of scope.

Our sponsor this week is My Mum's Craft Shop, with a £10 gift voucher to spend in the shop, which has lots of delicious goodies.

It is very difficult to choose favourite things when it comes to crafting, but these are some of mine - Shabby papers, Prima Flowers, butterflies, seam binding, glitter, punches, lace and the combination of pink and brown. All these are reflected in my card.

I have used papers from Raspberry Road Designs, and layered them up, using a sketch from an LOTV challenge. My stunning lady was from Magic Moonlight who have some fab free images, and this was was just so right for the look I wanted. The crinkly seem binding is a new purchase from Sew Sweet. Butterflies and heart are die cut, and the lace, flowers and pearls are from stash. I have finished off with stickles to give the whole thing some glimmer.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

A Spoonful of Sugar - Pink and Brown

Bearly Mine - Anything goes

Clear it out - Wings

Craft Room Challenge - Butterflies

Cupcake Craft Challenge - Your favourite Cupcake Challenge - 110 - Pink and Brown

Creative Craft Challenge - Pretty Blossoms
Digital Tuesday - Spellbound - Use one or tmore dies and something digital (my papers are digi, butterflies are heart are dies)
Scrap Creations - Recipe - at least two DPs, and 2 embellishments
Shopping out Stash - Out with the Old In with the New (Seambinding, papers, image, dies, border punch - all new)
The Cheerful stamp pad - Favourite Background - one of my is shabby papers
Gingerloft - Make It Sparkle
Crafty Catz - Vintage
Inspire Me Fridays - Always Anything goes
Simon Says - 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

Watch the Birdie

2011-07-12T16:14:00.000+01:00

Hi everybody

My apologies that this is late - I just seem to have got behind with everything, and my mojo has gone walk about a bit. So much so, that I even watched the Tour De France on TV

At My Time to Craft the challenge this week is to have something with a bird. But it does not have to be something like mind - which is covered in Robins (another Christmas card in the box), but there must be a bird somewhere. Please pop over to the challenge - there are some fab creations for inspiration.

I have had the digi for quite a while, and don't remember where it came from. The papers I think are Bearley Mine. I have coloured with Copics, and the flower is made with a die, and the leaves punched.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Bearly Mine - Anything goes
Clear It Out - Wing it
Sparkle Creations - Christmas In July
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
My Creative Moments - Christmas in July
Stampin with the Dragon - Christmas in July

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

Something with legs for LIM

2011-07-11T01:57:00.002+01:00

I keep telling myself that I must enter the Less is More challenge more often than I do, but it often comes to Friday evening and I have done nothing about it . . .

This week Chrissie and Mandi want a one layer card and they require something with legs. The Stampotique girls have the most fabulous legs - they go on forever, so here is my entry. I often wonder why some of them have their legs so tight together, and the sentiment I have used - almost Stampotique - seems to go so well with this!

For this card I have used a variety of Distress Inks to colour and then stamped with Ranger Archival Ink over the top.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Birthday Sundaes - Orange, Green and White (I hope this counts as a greeting)
Dream Valley Challenge - Summer theme - I have used summery colours)
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes and DT Call
Catch the Bug - Clean and Simple
Crafty Cardmakers - One Layer Card

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

Christmas in July at MAWTT

2011-07-07T09:25:00.002+01:00

Good morning everybody

Is it Winter again? I cannot believe it has got so chilly. Had the hood down on the car yesterday morning, and by the evening I was wrapped up in a thick sweatshirt.

At Moving Along with the Times we have Christmas in July. So I had to find my box of Christmas stamps and papers.I'm ashamed to say I discovered several that had not been inked up before, and the one I have used is one of them.

I have followed a sketch on Christmas Challenges for this card, and decided to go with colours of one tone for a change. Not something I would normally do. My image is from Lili of the Valley, and I have coloured with Copics. The paper is from the Basic Grey Wassail paid, which I have had for some time. Flowers are from WOV, and lace is from stash.

Our sponsor for this Challenge is Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Christmas Challenges - I followed the sketch
Flutterby Wednesday - must have an angel, fairy or butterfly
The House that Stamps Built - Christmas in July
Little Red Wagaon - Christmas in July
Stars & Stamps - Christmas in July
The Paper Variety - Its Christmas Time
Truly Scrumptious - Things with Wings
Bearley Mine - Anything goes
Celebrate the Occasion - Christmas in July (no red)
PaperTake Weekly - Anything goes
Sweet Stamps - Christmas in July
Tuesday Throwdown - Christmas in July
Chritmas Carsd Challenge - Twas the night before Christmas
Christmas Inspirations - Tones of one colour

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

Strawberries all the way for my Time to Craft

2011-07-05T09:33:00.001+01:00

Hi everybody

It is challenge time at My Time to Craft, and this week we are going A La Carte. That does not mean anything goes, but that we are looking for work that has some food in it. I have chosen one of my favourite summertime fruits - strawberries. It is a good job there is no PYO near me, otherwise I would be there eating everything I picked. Along with raspberries and nectarines and peaches, I cannot think of anything more lovely in a fuit bowl.

My image is Emma in the Strawberry Patch from Fred She Said. At the moment this is digi of the week at FSS, and there is 40% off off this particular set. The papers are from Nitwits and are a perfect match. Ribbon, pins and flowers are from stash.

Please pop along to My Time to Craft - there's some fabulous inspiration.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Scrap Creations - Summer
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes
Party Time Tuesdays - Square cards
Craft your Passion - Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday - Bling it up
Just us Girls - I followed the sketch
Secret Crafter - Here comes summer
Stamps R Us - There was a little girl
Squigglefly - Summertime

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 with a Sentiment

2011-07-03T11:00:00.002+01:00

I'm looking forward to going to the Art Stamps England show at Newbury, and meeting up with my friend Anne - having some crafty chat and hopefully finding some crafty must-haves.

But before that - It is time for Sentimental Sundays, and this week Anything Goes with a Sentiment. This gives everybody lots of scope, and we are really looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

For my card I have chosen colours in dusky pink, cream, dark browny/pink and small amounts of green. The papers are Pion, very, very pretty, and it is lovely that both sides are usable. For the inmage, I brushed Distress Inks lightly on to some card, and then stamped over it. The sentiment is LOTV, and a Prima flower ties in really well with the colours. I followed the sketch at Create 4 Fun.

I am entering this card for the following challenges@

Create 4 Fun - follow the sketch

All Sorts - Free and Easy July

My Mum's Craft Shop - Something old, something new (old is papers - new is stamp)

Digi Doodle - Anything goes

Frosted Designs - Going Vintage

Inspire me Fridays - Anything goes

Stampin' for the weekend - My favourite things

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 are Tagging It at OSCC

2011-07-02T08:48:00.002+01:00

Good morning everybody

Time for another challenge at the One Stop Craft Challenge, and this week we are doing tags. So you can either make a tag, or include a tag on a card or any other project. We are sponsored by One Stop Card Crafts this week - so please pop across to the have a browse at their fab range of goodies.

At the moment I am in love with some Art Journey stamps I bought a couple of weeks ago, so I have decided to make a tag using the Tick Tock set, and I think the wobbly clocks are fab.

To make this tag, first I took a Tim Holtz stamp inked with versamark, and embossed it with clear powder on the plain tag. Over this I used Distress Ink Stains in three colours, and spritzed lightly with water and let the colours run into each otherslightly. All the elements are stamped in Rangers Archival Black. I coloured some seam binding with the Distress Stain, and added a cog through the middle of it. A small key was added a a tiny watch part to the middle of one of the clocks. Across the bottom is a piece of tissue tape with the pm hours on it. I finished with a sparkly button.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Inspirations - Colour Challenge
The Stamping Boutique - No DP
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - Favourite background
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Stampin' for the Weekend - My favourite things - anything Tim Holtz, Art Journey, Distres Strains and Inks
Art Impressions Stamp Challenge - Distressing
Pals paper Arts - Favourite technique
PaperPlay Challenge - Anything but a card
Some Odd Girl - Bright and Blinding colours
Craft your Days Away - Vintage
Scrap Creations - Anything but a card

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

Here comes summer at MAWTT

2011-06-30T09:00:00.007+01:00

Well - where does the time go - Thursday morning, and it is time for Moving Along with the Times, and the theme is Here Comes Summer.

This week we are sponsored by Beth from Squidgi Digi, and were each given an image to work with. Naturally I had to choose ice-cream!

For my card I have layered up co-ordinating papers, which I think are Stampin Up' from a long time ago, an have used a burnt red/orange card to go with them. I have used a digi little girl in a bathing suit by A Day for Daisies - I have coloured this and the ice-cream in Copics. The ice-cream has had stickles added to give it some shimmer. The sentiment is from Raindrop Echo Designs by Ann Vento.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Sketch n'n Stash - I followed the sketch
Divas By Design - Dies and Punches
My Mum's Craft Shop - Something Old, Something New - old is paper, new is icecream and sentiment digi
Paper Pretties - Red, Orange, Yellow, Neutral
Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Scrapbook Sisters - Summer Fun
Stampavie and more - More than 3 layers
Digital Tuesday - there are flowers on the background paper
Make It Monday - Anything goes
My Partner In Crime Crafting - Let's Hit the Beach
Paper Creations Ink - Beach theme
Stamps R Us - There was a little girl
Some Odd Girl - Bright and Blinding Colours
Sparkles Forum - At the beach
Bearley Mine - Summertime
Southern Girl - Inner Child - memories of seaside holidays

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

My first DT card for My Time to Craft

2011-06-28T12:01:00.002+01:00

Hi everybody

I wasvery lucky recently to be asked to join the new team at My Time to Craft, and this is my first DT piece for them. The theme for the challenge is Here Comes Summer, and I have chosen a Lili of the Valley stamp of a little girl on a swing, and lovely bright summery reds and creams to represent this. Just loving these colours at the moment.

My image is coloured with Copics, the papers are Daisy Bucket, found when I was having a bit a a clear up, and flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. Lace is from stash.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Southern Girls - Anything goes
Craft your passion - Seeing red
Crafty cardmakers - Spots and Stripes
Critter Sketch Challenge - follow the recipe
KB Cute Monday - Use Flowers
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Oh La La - Summer flowers
Stamps R Us - There was a little girl
There She Goes - use two different dies 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.

I'm in the mood for dancing with Anything Goes

2011-06-28T07:03:00.008+01:00

Hi everybody

I adore the sun, but this sticky humidity is not for me. What I could really do with is to be chilling out somewhere by a lovely pool with a mojito in my hand. But I guess my craft room will have to do for the moment.

Sadly it is my last day as GDT for Anything Goes. The challenge this week is the letter D. This was right up my street as I have some lovely new stamps from Art Journey, and I have chosen Dancers. The stance of these dancers reminds me of watching somebody on Strictly Come Dancing (probably Vincent and Flavia) dancing the Argentine Tango in a steamy underground nightclub or bar.

The background is coloured with Distress Inks. I have chosen fairly hot colours, tempered with some cool blue. I coloured two pieces of card, and on the larger piece I stamped a small swirl around the edge. The black and orange card are from stash, as are the pearls. The flower is Prima, and what luck that it toned in so well.

People often ask - what is your style - well - it really depends on what stamps, box, mirror or whatever, I am using, and how I think it can best be represented, and this is one look I am loving at the moment. But, expect to see more Art Journey soon!

I am entering this card for the following challenges:

The Crafty Pad - Bold and Bright
Our Creative Corner - Your style - DT call
Creative Craft Challenge - Make your own backing paper
Sweet Stampin - Use something old with something new (old is my distress inks constantl
ly used but old - new is Art Journey stamp)
Class Act Insider - Vintage
Daring Cardmakers - Something old/Something new (old is my distress inks constantlly used but old - new is Art Journey stamp)
Stampin' for the Weekend - Favourite things - Distress inks and my new Art Journey stamps
Cheerful Stamp Pad - Favourite background
Craft your Days Away - Vintage
Southern Girls - Anything goes
Make It Monday - Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show - A Word
Sunday Stamper - Words

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.

Daisy Chains

2011-06-24T16:07:00.000+01:00

Hi everybody

The Lili of the valley Challenge have a sketch I really liked, and as I have a few of their new girly images, I decided to use one for this challenge. I don't think I will ever tire of using these, they are so easy to work with.

The image is Lili of the Valley 'Daisy Chains', which I have coloured with Copics, and brushed around the image with distress inks. My papers are Memory Box Brioche - very pretty they are too. The sentiment is also LOTV. Flowers are from WOC, lace and gems from stash.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Lili of the Valley - sketch
Phindy's Place - Going round in circles
Crafty us Crazy - Red, White and Blue or a Summer theme - mine is Summer
The Rubber Cafe - Summer
Southern Girls - Anything goes
Amber's Craft and Stuff - Summer
Cooking it up with Kaie - use a little yellow and follow a sketch from any current challenge
Crafting for all Seasons - Summer
Crafty Creations - Let it shine - I have sparkly gems
Fab 'n' Funky - Summer Lovin'
The Paper Variety - It's Summer
Bearley Mine - Summer is here
Ladybug Craft Inks - Use Red
Make it Monday - Anything goes
Stamps R Us - 1, 2, 3 Recipe - i image, 2 patterned papers, 3 types of embellishment

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 CAS at MAWTT

2011-06-23T08:45:00.002+01:00

Good morning everyone

We are going Clean and Simple at Moving Along With The Times, which means

a card with clean lines, minimal elements, areas of white space and few or no embellishments.

Now this is a theme I often have trouble with - I really want to go all out and embellish like mad, and this card was my third attempt at getting something I was happy with - I had tried several colour combinations before I decided to go with this one, and this is the one for me that really seemed to 'pop'. I love the colour combination and the blocks of colour, and it does make it easier to stamp something over it. So in the end a fairly simple card.

The block stamp is a very old Hero Arts one, the image is from Ippity stamps, the sentiment is Stampin' Up, and the card is from Craftwork Cards.

This week at MAWTT we are sponsored by Crafty Emma's Store, and there is a £10 Gift Voucher waiting for the winner of the challenge this week.

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Ambers Crafts - Summer - these are definitely colours of summer
Crafting for all Seasons - Summer
Little Darlings Challenge - Favourite colours
Scrapbook Sisters - Anything Goes
The Paper Variety - Summer
Everybody Art - Anything Goes
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Use red somewhere on your project
Dutch Dare - Clean and Simple

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.

Floral Notelets

2011-06-22T01:17:00.000+01:00

This is just a quick post to show you some floral notelets I have made as a gift for a friend. It is often difficult to know what you give someone as a thank you for a favour they have done for you - it usually ends up as wine or chocolates, or both, This particular friend looks after my cats if I am away for the night, and as a result of a conversation I was having with her one day, I discovered that she has a long list of elderly ladies who are in her care with social services, and she likes to give them a card for their birthday. So I made several sets of notelets for her. The card blanks are from Craftwork Cards, and I have used images from Fred She Said, which you can buy here.

Apologies for the quality of the photos, I had put them into plastic packaging, and sealed them, before I took the photos.

I am entering these into the following challenges:

Deep Ocean Challenge - Flowers
Everybody Art - Anything goes
Bows and Berries - Thank you / Appreciation
Karen's Doodles - 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.

We are Celebrating Summer at Sentimental Sundays

2011-06-19T08:00:00.003+01:00

Welcome to the Sentimental Sundays “Celebrate Summer” blog hop. Tuesday, June 21 is the official first day of summer in the northern hemisphere and we are ready for all the summer fun to begin. For our friends down under who are moving into their winter months and may not feel like creating a summery project, they may be making “Sparkly or Shimmery” projects. What girl doesn’t like her bling?

You should have arrived here from Joanna . If you didn't arrive from Joanna's blog and would like to join in the hop, please start at the Sentimental Sundays challenge blog.

One of the things I love about summer are the butterflies that seem to miracuralously appear once the weather warms up and all the flowers start coming out. So this is my take on Celebrating Summer.

My main image is a butterfly stamp designed by Jo Capper-Sandon for Stampotique. I coloured some card with Distress Inks and then stamped the butterfly with Distres Inks. I then darkened the colours by adding a bit more ink.    I have added diamond Stickles to the wings to give it a slightly ethereal feel. My papers are 5th Avenue by Melissa Frances, and these have a slightly dreamy ethereal feel to them as well. The lace is from stash. I followed the sketch from Crafting Life's Little Pieces.

We hope you will join in our “Summery or Sparkly” (plus a sentiment) challenge this week.   Our sponsor is the marvelous Ann Vento of Raindrop Echo Designs. This prize will be four INDIVIDUAL sentiment sets from the Raindrop Echo Designs Whimsy Stamps Digital Collection

Your next stop on the hop is Kimberly. If you should happen to get lost along the way, you can find the blog hop list over at the Sentimental Sundays challenge blog. Don't forget to leave comments along the way because there are 3 mystery DT members who will each choose a winner from the comments left on their blog hop posts. The winners will each win a $10 gift certificate to Whimsy Stamps!   The hop ends on Friday, June 24 at midnight EST. The winners will be announced on the Sentimental Sundays challenge blog on Sunday, June 26th.   So, hop on over to the next stop and good luck!

I am entering this for the following challenges:

Crafting Life's Little Pieces - I followed the sketch
Sweeet Stampin - Things with Wings
Delicious Doodles - Things that Flutter
Fairy Knoll - Sparkle
Inspire me Fridays - Always anything goes
Simply Create - Come Fly with us
The Stamp man - Butterflies and Dragonflies
Stamp Something - Something with pretty papers
The Rubber Cafe - Simply Summer
Alots Rubber Stamps - Summertime

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.