A sketch at Sketch Saturday

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

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

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

I am entering this into the following challenges:

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


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

Stitches for OSCC

Hi everybody

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

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

I am entering this card for the following challenges:

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


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

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

Hugs,

Love is in the Air

Hi everybody

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

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

I am entering this for the following challenges:

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



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

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


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

Nature at Make My Monday

Hi everybody

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

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

I am entering this into the following challenges:

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

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

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

Hi everybody

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

 

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







Hugs,

Create a scene at Make My Monday

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

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

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

I am entering this into the following challenges:

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

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

Blogger Issues - White screen, no comments - Fix

I found the following on my friend Alison's  blog

The easy fix is:

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

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

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

We're coming out in spots at OSCC

Hi everybody

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

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

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

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

Bugaboo Stamps are offering 7 digis as a prize

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

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

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Dream Valley Challenge - Anything Goes

Gingerloft Challenge - Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes

Scrappy Frog - Lace

Sentimental Sundays - Ribbon + sentiment

Simply Create Too -  More than 2 layers

Totally Papercraft - Spots and Stripes

Eat, Sleep, Stamp - I followed the sketch

Moving Along with the Times - Spots and Stripes

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

Anything Goes at Anything Goes!!

Hi everybody

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

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

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

I am entering this into the following challenges:

 Bearly Mine - Anything Goes

Celebrate the occasion - Child's birthday

Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Glitter

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

Papertake Weekly - Die Cute Special

Shopping Our Stash - All that Glitters, shines or sparkles

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes

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

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

Make It Monday - Always anything goes 

Paper Creations Ink - Die Cuts or Punches

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

Ode to a Kitten

Hi everybody

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

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

I am entering this for the following challenges:

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

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

 Hugs,

New beginnings

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

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

I am entering this for the following challenges:

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

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

Hugs,

Clockwork Birds for Make my Monday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,