Tick Tock Goes the Clock - Time or Steampunk

We have a fabulous new challenge for you at Anything Goes this week - Tick Tock Goes the Clock - Time or Steampunk.

I guess my card is a composition of both, but please do pop along to the challenge - there as some fabulous DT pieces for inspiration.

I have used two images from a Kanban set of stamps for focus, which I coloured in Copics/Promarkers, and then cut out.  With my wonky fingers I was not sure I would be able to cut it out, but they are not too bad.  I added a clock with some beads onthe bottom, a key, and a flower made out of the same paper as the background, with a brad through it.  The background paper is from Fabscraps, and I used a template with clocks on it, and inked through in distress ink.  The brown card has been through an clocks embossing folder.

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 very belated DT post for Make My Monday - Sports or Hobbies

Hi everybody

I cannot believe that chaning computers is so difficult.  I became the very proud owner of an iMac and last week it went in to have all the content of my old computer transferred.  The email was not done, and everything is scrambled, so tomorrow hopefully they are sorting it once and for all.  So I had been carrying on using my old PC, and then lost my internet connection - just what I wanted to happen.  So I am finally back up.

At  Make My Monday  we are continuing our theme of Men and Boys chosen by Caz.  This week the subject is Sport or Hobbies  I decided to  base my card around music - in particular jazz and the 20's.  My youngest son is a talented double bass player, among other things he does, and plays with a number of groups around when he lives.


Please do pop across to the challenge - there are some fabulous pieces of work for inspiration.

The background and other papers are from Graphic 45 Curtain Call, as are the stamps.  I used a variety of distress inks to age them.  The piano keys stamp is from Clarity.

I am entering this for the following challenges: 

Use It Tuesdays - Anything Goes - all my stuff is from hoarded stash bought last year and not touched
Deep Ocean Challenge - Inspired by a Song - St Louis Blues


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 for MMM

Good morning

At   Make My Monday  we are continuing our theme of Men and Boys, which has been chosen by Caz.  This week we want to see Vintage creations for your entries, so lots of scope for this.  Please do pop across to the challenge, there are some amazing pieces of work for inspiration.

My entry is quite a simple one.  I have taken a piece of dusky pink card and overstamped with script down the middle.  I embossed some clocks on to brown card and then sanded it to get the images showing through and tore it in half.  My main image is a Dark Room Door image of a pub stamped on to card coloured with distress inks, and the words came from another Dark Room Door stamp plate.  I peated some toning ribbon across the bottom.

We are very fortunate to be sponsored by the fabulous Marianne Designs, who have provided an amazing bundle of goodies as a prize.

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,

Pretty Pastels

Good morning everybody

I hope you are having a good Easter break, and just remember - don't eat too much chocolate.  I was looking at the divine Easter Eggs the other day in a shop and was so tempted - but restrained myself - just can't do it at the moment!

Anyway, on to the One Stop Craft Challenge.  Our theme this week is Pastels with Die Cuts, and there are some fabulous pieces of work from the design team, so please pop across.  We were very lucky this week to be given some images from the lovely Heather Ellis to play with.

Our inspiration was this photograph, which has some of my favourite colour roses in it, so right up my street.

I have coloured with a mixture of Copics and Promarkers, and the image has distress ink sponged around the edge.  The papers were from a freebie pack, and other cardstock from stash.  I have embellished with a Memory Box corner, pearls and some flowers from stash.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Catch the Bug - April Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin' - Dies and Doodles
Card Making Mamas - Easter
Raise the Bar - Easter
Sweet 'n' Sassy - Easter and a Digi


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 Anything Goes at .........

Anything Goes! 

Good morning everybody

I cannot believe it is a week since I have posted.  We have an easy challenge for everybody this week at Anything Goes.  It is Anything Goes, so massive scope for everybody.

This is quite a simple card with Basic Grey Printery paper mounted on to black cardstock..  I have stamped the sentiment and the flying paper on to some matching paper and the typewriter on to white cardstock and then sponged distress ink around the edge.  A small cluster of paper roses and a leaf complete this.

Please pop across to the challenge blog, there are some fabulous pieces of work there from the team.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Karen's Doodles - Make It For A Male
make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Oh La La - Vintage
Stamp with Fun - No Easter card
Tammy's Scrappin Corner - 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 ready for Easter

Good morning

Tim does seem to be flying when Easter is beginning to loom on the horizon.  A beautiful day here again, and I was almost tempted to put the hood down on the car, but did not have a jacket with me, but the arm weather had certainly tempted a lot of people to do so.

So, at  Anything Goes  this week the theme is Getting Ready for Easter, so lots of ways of protraying this with rabbits, eggs, and what about Easter Tea ...

I have used a Sarah Kay image and coloured with Promarkers and Copics.  My background papers are from First Edition Spring Drop, and although it does not show - the main paper is quite shimmery - so pretty.  I have used a variety of dies and punches for embellishments, and flowers, gems, silk ribbon and lace from stash.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Celebrate the Occasion - Welcome Spring
Craft Room Challenge - Bling Glitter and Sparkle
Deep Ocean Challenge - Butterflies
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Flowers
LadyBug Crafts Ink - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Bingo (Gems, dies cuts, flowers)
Sassy Cheryl - Think Spring
Wild Orchid Challenge - Bingo (Gems, flowers, Ribbon and lace)


Please do pop across to the challenge blog  for lots of lovely inspiration, and don't forget that the Craft Den has lots of fabulous crafting goodies, which you know you just cannot do without.



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,

Springing into Spring

Hi everybody

I am slightly behind with my blogging today,  I have a mammoth task on sorting out my craft room for some new furniture.  I'm sure that everybody knows what that means - trying to convince yourself you didn't know you had so much!  Hee hee ...

We are continuing our Spring celebration at  Make My Monday,  and this week Jacqueline really challenged the team - we want to see a Spring Fold Card.  If you are not sure how to nmake one, there is a tutorial by Jacqueline here which is very easy to follow.  Please pop along to the challenge and have some fun with this slightly different shape of card.

I have used a very pretty Pansy image from Fred She Said for this.  The base paper is from a FabScraps pad, and I have added a pansy border along the bottom edge.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Cupcake Craftroom - Spring Bouquet
Sparkles Forum - Mothers Day or Spring

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,

Blue and Brown

Hi everybody

I hope you have had a wonderful day.  I have a card which I made for a commission to show you.  I was particularly asked if I could use an image that evoked the style of flappers or art deco, so here it is.  However, I had forgotten how awful Crystal Stickles looks when it is photographed, so apologies for the bird - it looks fab in real life, but awful in the pictures.

This is the inside

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Brown and Blue - Die-ing for a Challenge
One Stitch at a Time - Girly
Pan Pastel Challenge - Add a flower
Quirky Crafts - For a Special Lady (this was for a 30th birthday)


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,

Spring continues at Make My Monday

I love these bright mornings, it makes things so much nicer than getting up to dull grey skies.  I have two unhappy furbabies today, as they have been for a wash and brush up at the groomer and have decided they they don't like each other any more and have been fighting all over the house!

At  Make My Monday  we are continuing with our Spring theme, and we want to see cards for Mother's Day or Thank You cards.  There are some fabulous DT projects for inspiration on the challenge blog so please do pop across and join in with us.

My card is a Thank you card, as sadly I lost my mother in 1994, and then a year later my mother in law.  I decided to go CAS having messed up two cards along the way, one of which I was really annoyed about because I dropped an inked stamp on to my beautiful disress background all pretty with roses, and there it was - black ink right on the edge so I could not salvage it for what I had planned.  However, it has gone in my scraps box for future use.

I have used a music stamp across the centre of the card, and then overstamped with some leaves from a Wendy Vecchi set.  The sentiment is SU. All the ink is Adirondack Slate.  I like the pinky grey colour of it.  I then die cut a flowers and put it together with a pearl brad.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

All Sorts - Say It With Flowers

Less is More - Use script - mine is music script so hope it counts

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,

Mother's 'Day with Ribbon

Good morning everybody

I hope you have had a good week.  Well, if it is Saturday, that must mean  One Stop Card Challenge  for me.  It is so lovely and spring like today I think this card reflects it.  Our projects this week must be for Mother's Day.  We would also like to see ribbon on your card.  Please pop acros to the challenge to see all the brilliant DT examples and from our guest designers at Bugaboo.

My image is from Bugaboo - one of our very generous sponsors this week.  I have coloured with Copics.  The papers are from Basic Grey Lucious, and I picked out the blue for my mounting card.  Flowers and ribbon are from stash, leaves punched.

There are two fabulous prizes up for grabs from our sponsors this week.  Bugaboo is offering 7 digis of the winner's choice, and there is a £5 voucher from The Ribbon Girl.

I am entering this into the following challenges.


Crafty Catz - Mothers Day or a Special Lady
Deep ocean -  Spring
Divas By Design  - favourite things - Die cuts flowers ribbon, pearls and pretty papers
Kaboodles Doodles  - Spring Flowers
Lexis Creations  - Mothers day
Make It Monday - Always anything goes
Simon Says Stamp -  Mothers Day/Special Girl
Totally Stampalicious - Spring is in the air
Totally Papercrafts - favourite things - Die cuts flowers ribbon, pearls and pretty papers






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,

Boyz to Men

Good morning

I cannot believe how time flies, and it is two weeks since the last challenge at Anything Goes.   This week for our challenge our theme is Boyz to Men - so we don't want to see anything girlie.

For my card all the images are from Paper Artsy, and have been stamped in archival ink on a distress ink background.  The papers behind the images have been torn and distressed a bit, and mounted on to sluggy green card.  The only adornments are a cog, and some wooden buttons with twine tied through them.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Oh La La Creations - On the Move
Catch the Bug - March Anything Goes
Clearly Inspired - Anything Goes
Phindy's Place - Distressing
Raise the Bar - Use Twine - I have used it through the buttons


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,

Has spring arrived?

Well I don't think so, even though there are lots of pretty snowdrops popping up everywhere.

However, at Make My Monday, Spring has arrived.  This is our theme for the month of March, and this week we would like to see Spring Flowers on your project.

This is my card, and you will see that I have taken a slightly different tack on this - but to me spring in Paris is the time when it is overflowing with flowers everywhere - bulbs, cherry trees along the streets- just so pretty.

My base card is Tim Holtz Distress Card, and I have topped it with s sheet of Prima paper which I have added a few extra swirls to.  My image is Hero Arts.  The background is distress inks, with stamping in archival black.  The flowers are coloured in pencils.  Pearls and flowers are from stash.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Paper Creations Ink - Spring is in the Air,
St Lukes Charity Challenge - Spring into Spring
Gingerloft - Spring
The Paper Players - Spring has Sprung
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Pollycraft - Spring has Sprung
PanPastel Challenge - Use a stamped image
Hiding in my Craft Room - Bring on some Spring

I also have to say a very big THANK YOU to two challenges this week, as I have just learnt that I was chosen as the winner at Paper Creations Ink, and was one of the runners up at St Luke's Charity Card Challenge.



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,

Show us your flowers

Hi everybody

This is my first card for Let's Ink It Up, and our challenge is all about flowers.  One very lucky prize winner is going to win this fabulous package of lovely flowers from our very own Suzanne who is sponsoring the challenge this month.

So - on to my card.  I have been really restrained with my flowers - they are all die cuts this time around.

I have used a Lili of the Valley image - one of several I bought at Make It a couple of weeks ago, so this is it's first inking.  I do love her cute little bunches.   I have coloured with Copics and Promarkers.   The papers are from a Tilda pad, and I have used offcuts for the flowers and dragonfly.  The pearls are from stash.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Flutterby Wednesdays - open

Do  U Stack Up - Things with Wings

Night Shift Stamping - Bouquet of Flowers

A Gem of a Challenge - Perfect Pastels

Catch the Bug - March Anything Goes

Die-ing for a Challenge - Anything Goes

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

Diamonds and Flourishes

Good morning

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

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

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

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

I am entering this into the following challenges:

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

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

Hugs,

Woo Hoo - Fabulous News!

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

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



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

 Hugs,

Let's Alter It at Anything Goes

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

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

I am entering this into the follwing challenges:

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


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

Hugs,

Victorian Romance at Make My Monday

Hello everybody

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

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

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

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

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

I am entering this into the following challenges

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


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

Hugs,

Hello Baby ...

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

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

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

I am entering this into the following challenges:

All Sorts - Free and Easy February

Cupcake Craftroom - New Beginnings

Drunken Stampers - Texture

Lili's Little Fairies - Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes

Sketch Saturday - I followed the sketch

Scrappy Frogs - Die Cuts

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

I am entering this in the following challenges:

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


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

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

Hi everybody

I hope you have all had a good weekend. 

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

This is my take on this weeks' challenge:

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

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

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps - Valentines/Love

Bloggers Challenge - In Bloom

Crafty Bloggers Network - Love is in th Air

Creative Belli - Hearts/Valentine

Creative Inspirations Paint - Hearts

Dream Valley Challenge - Valentine

Gingersnap Creations - Words of Wisdom

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

Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes

Our Craft Lounge - Vintage Love

Rainbow Lady - Have a Heart

The Squireel and the Fox - Valentines Day

Truly Scrumptious - Love and Hearts

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

Heart and Flowers for OSCC

Good morning everybody

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

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

This is my take on the theme for the challenge.

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

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

At OSCC we have two sponsors this week:

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

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

I am entering this card for the following challenges:

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


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