Let's stitch it up ...

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

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!!

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 ...

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

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

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

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) ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 ...........

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!

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,