Thursday 30 January 2014

Crafty Little Fairies DT - Lavender & Lace


Good morning everyone - another week has flown past, it's Thursday, and so it's time again already for another Crafty Little Fairies challenge.

Thanks so much to everyone who joined the challenge last week - it's always so lovely looking at your creations.

This week it's the turn of the Pink Fairies, our challenge theme is 

Lavender & Lace

We are thrilled to be sponsored by Stamp and Create


Don't forget that in order to be eligible for the prize, you must use a stamped image on your creation.

I really liked this theme as I love soft lavender and lilac hues, and am also a big fan of lace ... together they make me think of vintage inspired, serene cards. Here's what I made.


I distressed all the edges of my  papers using my TH distressing tool and also distressed some soft lilac ink onto my image background. I also did a bit of faux stitching all around the edges of my papers.


Stamps: LotV "Pretty  Bouquet" and "Everyday Grungy Sentiments";
Media: Promarkers & Flexmarkers;
Papers: make unknown - a gift from my lovely friend Jennifer;
Supplies: flowers from various places including Wild Orchid Crafts, Hobbycraft (cherry blossom), The Ribbon Girl (spirals) and local craft shop (baby's breath); lace from The Ribbon Box; pearls from The Hobby House; cheesecloth from the Ribbon Girl; ribbon from my stash;
Tools: large floral oval nestabilities; Tim Holtz distressing tool.


Challenges:


Allsorts #243 - Vintage
Divas by Design - Vintage With Lace
Sweet Stampin' - In Stitches
Incy Wincy - Ribbons & Pearls
Crafty Catz #215 -  Monochrome
The Ribbon Girl - Anything Goes
Lili of the Valley - Anything Goes (5th & final entry)

Hope you can join us at Crafty Little Fairies this week, and look forward to seeing your creations.
hugs,

Monday 27 January 2014

With Deepest Sympathy


Hi everyone. Just a very simple card from me today, as I needed to make a sympathy card for my dad's neighbour who has sadly lost her husband. I always keep sympathy cards simple as I don't think it's appropriate to make them fussy. I always think a gentle watercolour flower is a good look for this type of sad occasion.


Stamp: Unity Stamps "Insightful Meadows"; (sentiment was computer generated);
Media: Marvey watercolour brushstroke markers;
Paper: Crafter's Companion "The Snowman" (yes I know, it's not a Christmas paper really, just a lovely soft abstract design!)
Supplies: Papermania shimmer dots; lace from The Ribbon Box; ribbon from my stash.

I have also entered this for only a few challenges as I don't like to go too mad with a sympathy card.

Challenges:
Created With Love #74 - Anything Goes
The Ribbon Girl - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting today and enjoy your week.
Hugs,

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Blue For A Boy


Hi everyone, I've not had a lot of time for crafting over the past week or so, but I really wanted to have a play with one of my new adorable LotV stamps from the latest release. I already have more darling LotV stamps than I know what to do with so I only bought a couple of the newest ones, but I just absolutely HAD to have this one!!


I deliberately chose this stamp and colour scheme to play with so as to tie in with some challenges; and I also attempted a different way of colouring, largely  based on CASEing the wonderful colouring by Elise on her LotV DT card here.

Stamps: LotV "James - Laptop" and "Everyday Tags";
Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers;
Papers: Forever Friends "Kraft Notes" (dots), LotV "Petal Fresh" (stripes) and LotV "Krafty Christmas" (kraft);
Supplies: twine from The Ribbon Girl; button and metal brads from my stash;
Tools: small, large and lacy circle nestabilities; Martha Stewart "Scallop Dot" edge punch.


Challenges:
Dream Valley #73- Boys / Men
Charisma #2 - It's A Boy Thing
Ooh La La #148 - A Man's Card
Cutie Pie #61 - Cute January Blues
Kaboodle #207 - Use Blue
Sentimental Sundays #190 - More Than 3 Layers
Passion For Promarkers #231 - Ribbon, Lace or Twine
Allsorts #242 - Buttons & Bows
Papertake Weekly - Bow Dies
Sweet Stampin - Your Favourite Style 
(anything that includes James the Bear!!)
Stampin' For The Weekend - Happy Birthday
Deep Ocean #69 - Birthday (2nd entry)
Sparkles #52 - Show Us Your New Stash (2nd entry)
Without Words - Spots &/or Stripes (2nd entry)
Divas By Design - Anything Goes
Lili of the Valley - Anything Goes (4th entry)

That's all from me for today - 'til next time.
Hugs,

Thursday 16 January 2014

Crafty Little Fairies DT - In The Kitchen


Good morning everyone - it's Thursday, so it must be time for another Crafty Little Fairies Challenge.

This week it's the turn of the Pink Fairies ... so it's my turn to join in, yippee!  ... and even better, I'm hosting this week's challenge, so I do hope you'll pop over to the challenge blog and play along.

Thanks very much to everyone for your gorgeous entries last week, and don't forget to check on the main challenge blog to see if you are a winner or top 3. 

This week our theme is

In The Kitchen

Very apt for me seeing as I have just started a new baking blog  - it's here if you would like to check it out.  :-)


Anyhoo ... back to the challenge. This week we are very pleased to be sponsored by Whiff of Joy


with a stamp of the winner's choice,

and by Delicious Doodles


Don't forget you need to use a stamped image on your creation if you want to be eligible for this week's prize.

The rest of the fairies have cooked up a storm with this challenge so please do go and visit them - here's what I did.


I must admit that I did order this image and sentiment specially to tie in with both this challenge and my current baking obsession .. and I may have another baking image waiting in the wings for a card in the near future!! They are just sooo cute though, I really couldn't resist!!


Stamps: LotV "Busy Baking" and "Recipe Sentiments";
Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers;
Papers: Papermania "Lucy Cromwell";
Supplies: flowers by Wild Orchid Crafts; berries, doily and lace from my stash;
Tools: Spellbinders "Floral Ovals" die ; La La Lands "Filigree Corner"; Leone Em "Ash Branch" leaf punch.


Challenges:
Crafty Calendar - Let's Celebrate
Papertake Weekly - New Year, New Stash (image & sentiment)
Sparkles #52 - Show Us Your New Stash (as above)
Creative Craft #1 - New
A Gem Of A Challenge #110 - Something New (2nd entry)
Creative Romance - Something New
Whimsy #67 - Something New
Crafty Cardmakers #107 - Bear With Me (2nd entry)
Deep Ocean #69 - Birthday
Simon Says Monday - Anything Goes (2nd entry)
Crafty Boots - Anything Goes
Lili of the Valley - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

That's all from me for today - hope you can play along with Crafty Little Fairies this week, and look forward to seeing your creations.
Hugs,

Monday 13 January 2014

Love Is In The Air!


Good morning everyone. Here's a card I made over the weekend using an adorable LotV image of 2 bears dancing ... how cute is that?? The image really put me in mind of an anniversary card, so that's what I made.


I actually coloured the image a couple of weeks ago, so I then had to decide on papers to match - I was struggling a bit but then remembered some Pink Petticoat digital papers I had so I downloaded a couple of sheets - had a bit of trouble with my printer but managed to get enough to make the one card.


Stamps: LotV "Shall We Dance" and "For You Circular Sentiments";
Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers;
Papers: Pink Petticoat "Old Fashioned Girl";
Supplies: flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts; heart shaped pearls from The Hobby House; ribbon from my stash; 
Tools: "Classic hearts" nestabilities; Martha Stewart "Valentine lace" edge punch; Memory  Box "Sofia heart" die (a Christmas present from my lovely friend Jennifer - thanks so much !! :-) ); Magnolia "Heart Swirl Branch".


Challenges:
Penny Black & More - Love is in The Air
Divas By Design - Let's Celebrate
Crafty Catz #213 - Pretty In Pink
A Gem Of A Challenge #110 - Something New (heart dies)
Creative Inspirations #247 - Blooms & Pearls
The Hobby House - Ribbons
Lili of the Valley - Anything Goes (2nd entry)
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (2nd entry)
Simon Says Monday - Anything Goes


Thanks for visiting.
Hugs,

Sunday 12 January 2014

Winter Blues


Hi everyone - hope you're enjoying your weekend.

Today I would like to show you a very simple card I made using one of the adorable LotV Christmas stamps  that I bought last autumn but never got to use due to my time out ... so today it is getting its first inking. I was also inspired by the fact that there are also still a few Christmas & winter challenges around, plus one or two on the theme of "blues", so I thought I would tie those themes together.


Stamps: LotV, Crafter's Companion sentiment;
Media: Promarkers;
Paper: Forever Friends "Kraft Notes";
Tools: Joy Craft snowflake dies.


Challenges:
ABC Christmas - A is for Anything Christmas
CRAFT #241 - Christmas
Pile It On #2 - Holidays / Celebrations
Cute Card Thursday #303 - Cold & Frosty
Simon Says Wednesday - Ice Inspiration
Totally Papercrafts #201 - Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland - Monochrome
Fussy & Fancy #105 - Monochrome
Crafty Cardmakers #107 - Bear With Me
Without Words - Spots or Stripes
Creative Craft #26 - Anything Goes
Lili of the Valley - Anything Goes

That's all from me for today - enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Friday 3 January 2014

Ribbon Girl adorable pink goodies giveaway.

Hi everyone,
Just a quck heads up to let you know that
www.ribbongirl.co.uk
is givng away this absolutely gorgeous selection of pink flowers, ribbons etc. on  The Ribbon Girl Challenge Blog.

Darjeeling Pink Blossom Mixture Diamante & Pink Satin Daisies Gardenia Small Pink/Baby Pink Pk of 5
16mm Pink Ruffle Edge Sheer 38mm Pale Pink Silky Crush 23mm Pink Flowery Organza

How wonderful is this??  (Please excuse the pictures thrown all over the page ... I'm having TERRIBLE trouble with Blogger at the moment!!)All you need to do is link o the giveaway form your blog, and leave a comment saying what you would make with these scrumptious goodies if you win them.
 
Hugs,

Thursday 2 January 2014

Starting over


Hi everyone, and welcome to 2014!  Hope it is going to be a happy, healthy and crafty year for you all.
 
I have finally returned to blogland after so long away, so it is time for me to welcome you to the first Crafty Little Fairies Challenge for 2014 ... it is the turn of the Pink Fairies this week, and our theme is
 
Starting Over
 
A pretty apt theme for the season I'm sure you'll agree, and particularly resonant for me!!
 
This week we are sponsored by the lovely Mary at
 
www.ribbongirl.co.uk
 
The rest of the fairies have sprinkled their fairy dust as always so don't forget to check them out ... this is what I did.
 
 
Stamps: Penny Black image from "Hugs" transparent set;
Media: promarkers and Flexmarkers;
Papers: LotV "Country Lady" and "Country Gent";
Supplies: flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts; ribbon from Hobbycraft; pearls from the Hobby House; lace and charm from my stash; printed sentiment from LotV Art Pad 8;
Tools: Joycraft butterfly die.
 
 
Challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday - Something New
Totally Gorjuss #216 - New
Heck Of A Challenge - New
Sentimental Sundays #187 - Pick of Team's Favourite Challenges
(I picked #140 Celebrating the NEW)
Craft Your Passion #194 - Something New
Oldie But A Goodie - Tartan or Check
(my PB stamp is several years old)
A Gem of a Challenge #109 - Anything Goes
Creative Craft #26 - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew #52 - Anything Goes
Bearly Mine #117 - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations #253 - Anything Goes
Stampin' For The Weekend - Anything Goes

 
 
Hope you can join us this week and look forward to seeing your creations.
hugs,

Wednesday 1 January 2014

Favourite Five of 2013

 
Happy New Year everyone! Here we are in 2014 ... and a whole new year of crafting ahead!!

Before getting onto that, I thought I would play along with the lovely Debby by looking back to my favourite 5 cards of 2013. This time it's not as hard for me as some past years, as having just returned from 3 months off blogging, I haven't posted nearly so many in 2013 as any other year! So here goes ... most recent first ...

I loved the colour scheme and girliness of this one and the touch of frantage ... and I posted it to coincide with my first ever baked cupcakes!! :-)


Loved this cute snow family image, and was pleased with the way the sepia colour scheme worked out.

 
This is one of my favourites because of the colour scheme ... the little wooden embellishments seem to fit so perfectly with the blue and cream theme.
 
 
this is the last card I ever made for my mum ... for Mother's Day last year. it would have made my favourite 5 based purely on the design, but the reason I put so much into it was cos mum was so special to me and I knew it might be the last card I would make for her.
 
 
Last but not least, a card which is rather different from my usual style ... rather more shabby chic ... but I think I like it!
  
 
Well that's 5, but I must have a little cheat and include 1 more for sentimental reasons ... the last ever card I amde for my mum and dad together ... whcih was their diamond wedding anniversary card last March. They were so thrilled with it, which makes me all sad and happy a t the same time!
 
 
So that's all from me ... sorry the last three photos are rather small, but naughty Mr Blogger won't let me resize them ... in deed for some reason during my time away from blogging my blogger interface has started to REALLY act up - problems posting and editing photos, and inability to open links to other blogs etc. ... anyone else having trouble??
 
Hugs,