Rain, rain , go away ... and some spring colours

My first challenge for a while, and it currently represents was is happening here.  However, it has been lovely these last few days just being able to relax in the garden in the sun, with everything springing into life around me.

This card is being entered into the following challenges:

- Whiff of Joy Challenge, no. 76, which has a sketch from the very talented Bev

- Quixotic Challenges, and they are asking entries to Make a Splash

- Our Creative Corner, lots of Blooming Blossoms

- The Creative Cottage Challenge, Going Green - well there's lots of this!

- Rainbow Lady's Challenge, 100 - April Showers

The image is Whiff of Joy, Willow in the Rain. I have coloured with Copics, but I am not too happy with my blending this time around. Probably out of practice a bit. The cardstock us Bazzill Bling, and the papers are the lovely Basic Grey Kyoshi - there are so many different colourways. Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, with leaves punched from various punches, with stickles used to add an itty bitty sparkle.


Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your comments.

Sorry I have been away for so long ....

The last few weeks have been really crap for me, and blogging and card making has just not been there, although I have visited quite a number of bloggers and left comments. It is lovely to see all the work that has been going on everywhere.

Anyway, hopefully I am coming through this black phase, and it is now pale grey, or even slightly sunny, and I will start getting some stuff done again, especially as I have quite a few new stamps, papers and others bits and pieces that need to be put to good use.

See you all soon.

Hugs,

Lili of the Valley, Challenge 49

I adore the Lili of the Valley images, and no doubt tomorrow at the NEC I shall be filling my bag with the ones I don't already have!

Anyway, for this challenge, which is no 49,  there is a great sketch to follow, and some great samples from the DT. 

My image is  Lili of the Valley Thistledown Fairy, and she has been coloured with Copics.  The sentiment is Magnolia, and I have used the lovely new Basic Grey papers Kioshi.  Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, pins from Tabby Crafts, and everything else from stash.

Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your comments.

Something distressed .......

A lovely Sunday here, just wish the wind wasn't so cold.  Even the fur babies run back in from the garden - such is their pampered life!

Once again I have used a lovely Whiff of Joy image on this card.  This is Willow Writing Recipes.  She looks very pensive, and you can image her cooking up something lovely.

I have coloured with Copics, and the DP is a double sided paper from Kaisercraft.  I really like this one, as it has so many elements on each side, going from cream and brown script on the brown side, and the damask pattern to the almost plain bluey-grey colour on the reverse, so offers lots of options.  The edges of the papers have been distressed with the Tim Holtz distressing tool, and inked with Frayed Burlap distressing ink.  The flower has been punched from the same papers, with a button tied on with a bit on embroidery thread.  The ribbon is from Stampin'Up.

As I am also make a second entry into the Whiff of Joy Design Challenge, I have kept to the recipe specified by Katharina, which is to use 1 cardstock, 2 design papers, 1 button, 1 ribbon.

This card is also being entered into the  Stamp Something - Distressed.


Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your comments.

Whiff of Joy Guest Designer Call

This card is for the Whiff of Joy guest designer call which is held every two months on the 16th of the month.  There is a specific recipe for this card -  1 cardstock, 2 design papers, 1 button, 1 ribbon.  I decided that I wanted to do something spring like or summery, hence the use of these lovely papers, which I think Melinda goes with perfectly.

I have used Melinda with Bouquet for my image, coloured with Copics, with a little bit of bling added to her wings with Stickles.  I have added a flower by cutting one from the double-sided background paper which is K & Co Berry Sweet.    The reverse of the floral pattern has glitter added to the images.  Gorgeous lace is from Tabby Crafts and button is from stash.  The punched edge is done using a Martha Stewart Deco punch.

I am also entering this for the following challenges:

• Truly Scrumptious, no. 28, the sketch of this which this card is loosely based
• Sweet Stampin Challege, no. 18 - Spring
• Totally Gorjuss - Ribbon - I have used lace and hope that counts
• A Spoonful of Sugar - Easter -
• Crafty Catz, no. 24 - Spring
• Creative Cottage, no. 2 - Flowers
• Our Creative Corner, think Easter
• Fussy & Fancy, no. 6 - Green
• Saturday Challenge, no. 75 - Easter
• Saturday Spotlight, no. 23 - your birthday in colour - my birthstone is Peridot (bright green)

Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your comments.

The Creative Cottage Challenge no. 1

Hi everybody

I'm late, I'm late .........

The image for this card is Whiff of Joy from the Birdie Love February stamp Kit.  I have coloured with Copics, and have team it with papers from  K & Co Madelaine.  Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and everything else from stash.

Creative Cottage Challenge 1


Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your comments.

Spring has sprung - all least it has for some challenges ...

It has been so lovely these past few days, it does feel almost spring-like, until you pop outside the door into the biting wind.

This is another first for me - in that I have used Copics to colour this Penny Black image.  I have been practicing - and hopefully it is coming right, though I am sure that there is loads to improve.
I have used the Sketch and Stash Challenge no. 30, for this card. 

I am also entering it for the following challenges:

• Penny Black's Saturday Challenge, 92 - Spring Colours
• CRAFT Challenge, Challenge 41 - Citrus
• Flutterby Wednesday's, Challenge 100 - Butterflies
• Stamp with Fun, Challenge 49 - Spring
• Cupcake Craft Challenge, 81 - Flower Power
• Crafty Angels, Challenge 25 - Butterflies

I decided to keep the background paper plain as there is so much going on in the stamped image.  The punching has been done with Martha Stewart punches, and I have recycled the little punch outs from the pop-up butterfly to add to the card.

My embellishments are Roses from Wild Orchid Crafts, a Prima flower, both of which I have added stickles to, and punched leaves, with Dew Drops added as well.

Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your comments.

My first easel card ... for several challenges

Why is it Stickles take so long to dry?  I thought it was dry, picked it up, it is now over my hands, which I promptly wiped on my trackie bottoms because I could not find the wet wipes, and so it goes ......... .  That said, you may have guessed that I have used stickles on my card.  Yes  - on the butterflies, flowers and on the image border.

It is positively spring like at the moment, although we seem to be getting some hard frosts, and my colours reflect this.

This is my first easel card, and I used the tutorial by the lovely Jacqui, which I found the easiest to follow.   My image is from Lili of the Valley - I think she is really cute.  I have used Prisma Pencils for the colouring.  The punches used are Martha Stewart for the butterfly and the leaves are L-Em, which I purchased at Make It.  Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and I have coloured with with Copics to match the paper, which is MME Market Street (I think - I cut the border off and binned it, so cannot remember).

This is a birthday card for a lovely lady who has been a really good friend for around 36 years, and decided she had had enough of the rat race, took early retirement and moved backed to Wales to follow other interests.

I am entering this card for the following challenges:

• Flutterby Wednesday, 99 - I have butterflies on my card
• Cute Card Thursday, 102 - Lucky Green
• Lili of the Valley, 48
• Creative Card Crew -  Celebration - my card is to celebrate a birthday
• Simon Says Challenge, Mother's Day/Girly
• Crafty Creations, 57
• CRAFT Challenge, 40 -  Mother's Day/Floral - my card has a floral theme, with the little girls holding a bouquet of flowers, and I have added flower embellishments
• Pink Elephant, 56 - Add green
• Crafty Catz, 22 - Shades of green - I think mine is bluey-green, so hope it counts!
• Rosie-D's Challenge, 66 - Think Spring

Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your comments.

Multi-challenges - again ...

This image is the first I have used from my crafty day with my friend .  It is Daisy by Sugar Nellie.  She is so pretty.

I feel I have been really lazy this last week, although I did have a visit to Make It at Farnborough with two crafty friends who are also members of the Graphicus Guild.  I picked up some lovely Prima papers, a couple of new nesties, and also a set of Copics.  Now comes the learning curve - practice, practice, practice ........... and the ones I did at the weekend were awful!

This card is being entered into several challenges, and the sketch I have used is that for Mojo Monday, challenge 128 .

The others are:

• One Stop Craft Challenge, Optimistically Pink, 69, my papers are basically pink, and the top on the Daisy image is pink
• Lexi's Challenge, 8 - Anything Goes
• CRAFT Challenge, 39. Ribbons and Sparkles, I have used a ribbon, pearls, and stickles on the flowers
• CraftyCatz, 21, Ribbons and Fancy Edge, again for the ribbon and the fancy edge is in the form of the nestie used for the image, and for the two pieces of punched paper attached to the cream card.

The image is coloured with Prisma Pencils, the paper is Prima Raspberry Tea - the rose on there probably represents my favourite flower - an old fashioned sweetly smelling rose - and I decided that the paper was statement enough without adding loads of embellishments.  Ribbon and pearls from stash.

Thanks for stopping by.

Multi Challenges

I had the most brilliant time on Friday and had a very inky day with a crafty friend, who has been a virtual friend for some time since we met last year.  I have so many new images to colour I think my OH might argue that I don't need any more stamps - haha!!  We also had a little retail therapy, and I bought some Tim Holtz's bits and pieces, the most scrummy My Minds Eye papers, and a few stamps .... so watch this space.

I am entering this card for several challenges.

• Whiff of Joy, Challenge 67, Swirls and Pearls
• Flutterby Wednesday, Challenge 97, and the requirement is for Angels, a Fairy or Butterfly - well I think Melinda Reading Book is a delightful angel
• Crafty Angels, Week 22, Fantastic Flowers
• The Corrosive Challenge, no 52, Wings
• Pile it On, Challenge 6, Let us see Flowers

The DP is MME Bloom and Grow.  I have coloured Melinda with Prisma pencils and used a mxture of Shimmerz and Stickles on her wings.  The pearl pattern was plotted out by hand, and the pearls stuck to it.  Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and the punching was done with a Martha Stewart punch.
I hope everybody has had a good weekend.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love is in the air .......

Well it certainly seems to be from the challenge point of view.  I normally don't do Valentines, but I loved colouring these  little Lili of the Valley bunnies - they are so cute.  This is the first time I have used Lili of the Valley, and their images are really easy to stamp with.

So what challenges am I entering this for:

• Lili of the Valley, 46 - Valentine
• Double Dutch, 36 - Be my Valentine
• Stamp with Fun, 45 - Hearts
• Creative Card Crew, 44 - Valentine
• Everybody Art Challenge, 78 - Valentine
• ABC Challenge, N is for New - this is a new stamp
• CRAFT Challenge, 36 - Love or Valentine
• Charisma Cardz, 5 - I love you
• Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge, 3 - Hearts
• Stamp Something - Love Somethings
• Stamp Something for the weekend - Love is in the air, valentines
• Crazy for Challenges - Valentine
• By the Cute and Girly - Love
• Raise the Bar, 4 - Hearts

The image has been coloured with Prisma pencils, the papers are Basic Grey Sultry (I found them at the back of the drawer!), rose from Wild Orchid Crafts, and the ribbons and pearl string from stash.  The text is computer generated.

Thanks for stopping by.

Whiff of Joy Challenge, 65

Not sure if I have got there with this one for the Whiff of Joy Challenge, 65 - Love.

This is a fairly simple card, with Basic Grey papers, and the image of Willow blowing kisses and hearts coloured with Prisma Pencils and Shimmerz on her wings.

I have used the Martha Stewart valentine border punch, and decorated with roses, ribbon and a heart charm.

Thanks for stopping by.

Four-legged and furry - 4 in 1

I love this kitten stamp and the text that goes with it - both  from Clarity Stamps - and for me it sums up kittens let loose in the garden with all the insects of summer flying around.  This is for the Cupcake Challenge 76, and they are looking for something four-legged and furry.  I adore cats, and would have many more if I lived somewhere bigger, but my OH might decide he is getting pushed out!  So I am definitely not getting more ...

I am also entering this two other challenges

-  Creative Belli Challenge, no. 84, who require ribbon to be on the item entered for the challenge,
-  Cute Card Thursday, no. 98, who want something with spots and dots
-  Lucy's Card Challenge, no 5 - Polka Dots

I have stamped this with Memento ink, cut out with Nesties, and used My Minds Eye Bella Bella paper .  The ribbons, flower and charm are from stash.

Thanks for stopping by.

Butterflies - 2 in 1

I am entering this card for two challenges:

• Quixotic Challenge, and the requirement is for butterflies in some form to be shown on your challenge item
• Flutter by Wednesday, and a butterfly, fairy or angel should be on the card.

 For this card I have used a background paper from an Graphicus Guild pack that I have had for a while.  I took the colours for the rest of the card from that.  The glossy card has been resist stamped with images from a beautiful new theme plate, Patchwork Butterfly, also from Elusive Images, and the Create image is Hero Arts.  The background for Create has been coloured with distress inks which I dabbed on to a craft sheet and sprayed with water and swooshed the card over it, and while is was still damp sprayed with glimmer mists.  Ribbons and Moments tag from stash.

Thanks for stopping by.

Whiff of Joy - challenge 64, Cute Card Thursday - challenge 97, A Spoonful of Sugar - challenge 88

Good afternoon everyone

So far today it has been a sun, hail, snow, and now rain.

Today I have a card which is a 3 in 1. I am entering this for
Whiff of Joy, challenge 64, with a lovely sketch by Gio to follow
Cute Card Thursday, challenge 97, blooming gorgeous
A Spoonful of Sugar, challenge 88, freestyle

The image is Willow with Flowers, and to be she is very spring-like, hence the colour scheme I have used. I have stamped with Momento ink and coloured with Prisma pencils with some Shimmerz in Candle Light added to Willow's wings, and also the flowers. The papers are Basic Grey Lemonade, and although the pack was open it looks like it is the first time I have used them. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and Cuddly Buddly.

Thanks for stopping by.

Simon Says Challenge - Design Team Call, and Quixotic Challenge, no. 10

This is a two in one.  I am entering this card for

-  Simon Says Challenge - Design Team Call
- Quixotic Challenge, no. 10 - Ink up an old stamp

The image is Sarah Kay, Lucy & Kitty, with a Stampin' Up text.  I cannot remember the last time I used this - so to me it is old


Lucy is stamped with Momento ink and coloured with Prisma pencils. The papers are MME, Bella Bellagio - French Flea Market.  I just love the dusky tones on these.  I have used toning Bazzill cardstock.   All the papers have been distressed with a Tim Holtz distressing tool - don't you just love this tool, it makes everything so easy.  If I used scissors I am likely to cut my fingers off!   Lace and ribbons from stash.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stamp Simply 123 - Very Vintage

Another challenge, and something different for me - I don't do vintage very often.   At No Time to Stamp? the challenge this week is very vintage.  This is my take on it.

I 'simply' sponged Distress Ink colours over some cream card, and then stamped the central picture on to the stamp card, masked it, used one of the colours to stamp the floral motif around it.  The frame was gold embossed on to card and rubbed with the same colours from the background.  A ribbon, and a metal birthday card from stash wrapped round the whole thing, and mounted on to a co-ordinating card. 

The stamps are all B Line from LB Crafts.

Have a great weekend everyone, and thanks for stopping by.

4 in 1

Over on Whiff of Joy Katharina's blog she is looking for 1-3 Guest Designers for 2 months at a time for the Whiff of Joy Challenge blog. This first call is open until January 23rd. There are some great perks to receive if you get to be chosen which are detailed along with what is expected on Katharina's blog. For this first Guest Design Team call there is a sketch to follow.

I have decided to add a second entry.  The parameters and sketch are exactly as my previous posting.  So here is my entry:

The image is Willow with flower basket.  It is stamped with monento ink and coloured with Prisma pencils.  The DP papers are Basic Grey Wisteria - some of my favourites and not much left of the, and I have used toning Bazzill cardstock.  Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and ribbon and pearls from stash.

One Stop Craft Challenge wanted to see fancy edges and corner, and there quite a few of these included.

Incy Wincy Designs, who are based down under, are looking for wonderful colouring.

Pile it on - are looking for something tied on.  The ribbion which is covered in pearls is tied at the back of the punched embellishment

Thanks for stopping by.

Whiff of Joy - Guest DT Call, and ABC Challenge

Over on Whiff of Joy Katharina's blog she is looking for 1-3 Guest Designers for 2 months at a time for the Whiff of Joy Challenge blog. This first call is open until January 23rd. There are some great perks to receive if you get to be chosen which are detailed along with what is expected on Katharina's blog.  For this first Guest Design Team call there is a sketch to follow.

This is my take on it:

I used the Rose Swing and Willow Sitting Bride, and I am ashamed to admit that I have not used them before.  However, this will also make a lovely card for the daughter of a dear friend who is getting married. 
I stamped Willow first and made a mask of her, and stamped the Rose Swing around her.   I coloured with Prisma Pencils. I then cut out and mounted onto Bazzill cardstock. The DP I have used is all from the Basic Grey Porcelain. The circle, which is not very visible, was cut out with a Lattice Pendant Nestie, and I added an overlay of the green DP to prvide a muted background for the flowers.  I have added more than the three on the sketch, because I felt it needed it.  The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  The heart border at the bottom is cut with a Martha Stewart valentine lace punch, and overlaid with lace and pearls from my stash.

Details of the flowers:

I am also entering this for the ABC Challenge, M is for Masking, and it fits the criteria for that challenge as well.

Thanks for stopping by.

My fur babies are growing up ....

A couple of pictures of Dennis and Ollie, taken a Christmas time - they were fighting on our bed! They seem to be ruling the roost, and don't stop even when we go to bed - we can hear the balls rolling around - that is what comes of having wooden floors....

Thanks for stopping by.

3 in 1

Well - I was beginning to think I had lost my mojo,  but perhaps it is coming back.  I have made this card for the following challenges

• Papertake weekly challenge, 32, based on a sketch provided by Dawny P
• Craftz Catz, 15, in which they ask for a birthday card
• Crafty Cardmakers, 12, What's new?

I have used a Sarah Kay image, coloured with Prisma Pencils, with papers from Basic Grey, and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, which has been spritzed with glimmer mist.  The edges are punched with a Martha Stewart punch.


Thanks for stopping by.

Happy New Year 2010

As the sun has set on 2009, but before the memories fade, may I wish all my friends the wings to fly, the vision to dream wildly, the heart to love deeply, and the spirit to embrace all the beauty in life. Have a FABULOUS 2010!

Love
Val xxx