Thursday 28 February 2013

Lili's Little Fairies DT - Peaches & Cream


Good morning Lili fans, and welcome to another Lili's Little Fairies Challenge. Once again it is team B's turn to host the challenge, and we hope you'll be able to join us this week. Thanks to everyone who joined in last week - don't forget to check the main challenge blog to see if you are the winner.

This week's challenge theme is

Peaches & Cream

Pretty or what??

I'm running late today, so please do check out the main challenge blog for details of this week's fabby prize and inspiration from the rest of the DT.

Here is my card for this week.


As you can see I've gone in a rather different direction for me, and certainly for LotV. I have had this stamp (which is meant to be a background stamp) in my collection for 2 or 3 years and never used it before, but this time it just somehow beckoned to me, helped by the fact that I didn't have a single piece of peach coloured paper in the house with which to make a cutie card!!


Stamps: LotV "Grunge Letter" and "Everyday Grungy messages";
Media: Tim Hotz "tea dye", " marigold" and "antique linen" distress inks;
Paper: Papermania "Vintage Notes";
Supplies: flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts; berries and cheesecloth fromThe Ribbon Girl; pearl hearts from The Hobby House; ribbon from Hobbycraft; doily, lace and pearl brad from my stash;
Tools: Simon Says "Meadow Rue" die.

Challenges:
Fab 'n' Funky #160 - Pastel Colours
Crafts & Me #122 - Dies or Punches
Simon Says Stamp & Show - The Stamp You Love ... But Don't Use
Crafty Ribbons #40 - Anything Goes With Ribbon
Divas By Design - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Bearly Mine #75 - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays #109 - Anything Goes
Craft Us Crazy #38 - Anything Goes

Last but not least, don't forget that Lili of the Valley is having it's 9th birthday celebration this weekend with an Open Day at the shop in Farsley plus competitions on the Ideas To Inspire blog and Facebook. I'm hoping to go with a friend for my first ever visit to the shop ... I'm really excited and saving my pennies!!


As I won't have time to make another birthday-special card (I'll be at work til Friday and then out visiting the shop all day Saturday) I'd also like to enter this card into the LotV 9th Birthday card competition - hope they really will have a day filled with sunshine !! :-)

Have a great week and look forward to seeing your creations.
Hugs,

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Papertake Weekly GDT - Sketchie!


Good morning Papertakers, and welcome once again to another challenge at Papertake Weekly. Thanks so much to everyone who entered last week's Buttons & Bling challenge - don't forget to check out the main challenge blog to see if you are a winner.

As it's the last week of the month we have a sketchie free for all for you: you can use either the sketch on the main blog or any of our previous sketches (please do let us know which one you've used).

We are sponsored this week by

Simon Says Stamp

who are offering a $20 store voucher - woo hoo!

Here's my card for this week ... I think there was a teeny bit of confusion over which sketch was the one for this month so I'm not publishing it here ... but I'd changed it a bit anyway due the extremely large size of my stamp, so that's probably a mercy (call it artistic licence lol!!).


I've gone in a bit of a different direction for me with this card, driven by the yummy vintage-style "Country Lady" papers by LotV. I somehow came over all vintage and non-cute, so I rummaged in the depths of my stamp box and pulled out this Inkadinkado floral stamp with script writing... I really love it but sadly have not used it for a loooooong time!!  This was also the first time in a long time I have broken out my heat embossing powder and Twinkling H2O paints - scary or what?


Stamps: Inkadinkado "Tin Can Mail"; Whimsy "Firendship Tickets" sentiment;
Media: detail gold embossing powder, Twinkling H2O and Cosmic Shimmer paints;
Papers: LotV "Nitwits - Country Lady" (all edges distressed with Tim Holtz distressing tool);
Supplies: pearls from The Hobby House; lace by Papermania "Vintage Notes"; Woodware crocheted doily flower; ribbon from my stash;
Tools: Marianne D Creatables "English Rose and "Branch Forest" dies; La La Lands corner flourish die.

Challenges:
Fab 'n' Funky #159 - Flower Power
Sentimental Sundays #143 - Flowers, Flowers & More Flowers
Sparkles #41 - Lace It Up
Simon Says Stamp & Show - The Stamp You Love ... But Don't Use
Joanna Sheen - Layer It Up
Crafty Catz - Dies & Punches

Looking forward to seeing your creations this week.
Hugs,

Monday 25 February 2013

Teddie With Stocking


Good evening everyone - just a quick post from me this evening ... first day back at work after my mega sniffles and boy am I tired!!

Every year I promise myself that I am going to crack on with my Christmas cards during the year rather than getting into a complete lather come November ... but alas every year is the same and my New Year resolution crashes and burns!! This year I really have no excuse for not getting started though, as I received a fabulous package of stamps for Christmas from my lovely friend Jennifer which included the most adorable Christmas stamp imaginable ... and here it is.


Isn't teddie totally the cutest?? This really was a wonderful Christmas surprise from a fantastic friend :-)

I have to admit though, one of the reasons that I tend to shy away from cards using the colour red is that for some reason the photographed colour never seems to come out right ... all the reds on the card are somewhat darker than the photo shows.

Stamps: Stampavie "Teddie's Stocking"; sentiment by Crafter's Companion;
Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers; Stickles on flower and birdie's hat;
Supplies: poinsetta flower from Crafts4U2Do; gems from The Hobby House; ribbon from my stash;
Tools: "Decorative Labels Eight" nestabilities; Cheery Lynn "Holly Flourish" die; Cuttlebug "Holly Ribbons" embossing folder.

Challenges:
Allsorts #195 - Animals
I ♥ Promarkers #156 - Four Legged Friends
Little Red Wagon #115 - Totally Teddies
Oldie But A Goodie - Bright Colours
Kaboodle #160 - Use Any Bling
The Pink Elephant #188 - Anything Goes
Sparkles Christmas #25 - Anything Goes

Until tomorrow, when I'll be back with another Papertake Weekly Guest Designer card.
Hugs,

Saturday 23 February 2013

Pretty in Pink


Good morning everyone - hope you're all well and enjoying the weekend. I haven't been posting the past few days as I've had a rotten cold for over a week now, and had to take a couple more days off work as my nose was (and still is!!) so blocked I couldn't breathe properly and it was sending me light-headed - lovely!! I've been feeling far too lethargic to feel creative ... but at least it's now the weekend, and here at last is a card.


I do so love this sweet fairy with her cute dandelion clock :-) Hopefully this closeup at least hints at the sparkle I've added!


I also managed to make my puffy bow turn out quite puffy for once, which in my mind tied in to the generally light and fluffy theme of this card.


Stamps: LotV "Dandelion Clock"; scroll from LotV Geisha Companion Set; sentiment from Sentiments to Fit Scroll;
Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers; liberal dusting of glamour dust on image and Stickles on flowers; dots of Liquid Pearls on image;
Papers: LotV "Nitwits - Perfect Pair";
Supplies: most flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts; button from The Ribbon Girl; large rose, various gems and organza ribbon from my stash;
Tools: Simon Says "Harrington Vine" die.


Challenges:
(rotated 90 degrees to the right)


In The Pink #14 - Pink + Bling
ABC - H is for Happy Birthday
(sentiment / buttons / flowers)
Ooh-La-La #124 - Sparkle & Shine
Craft Your Passion #150 - All That Glitters
Penny's Paper Crafty #115 - Anything Goes

Rightee - back to curling up on the sofa with my Kindle and some Sudafed lol! Enjoy your weekend.
Hugs,

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Papertake Weekly GDT - Buttons & Bling!


Good morning Papertakers - hope you are enjoying your week. Here I am today with my second GDT card for Papertake Weekly - thanks so much for your kind comments on my card last week, and for your fab entries to last week's challenge.

This week our theme is

Buttons and Bling

Another great theme, I'm sure you'll agree!

Don't forget to check out the main blog for details of this week's fab sponsor - you've got to be in it to win it!

Alas as guest DT I don't get a sneaky peeky of the other ladies' cards ahead of time, but I'm sure you'll want to check them out as they will be brilliant as always. Here's mine.


I have made this card for a friend at work who has just has a baby last week. She has commissioned baby cards from me in the past, so I thought I would make a speical effort with this one for her! I was supposed to visit last Friday to take this card and a little gift but unfortunately I was full of cold so couldn't go (and still am, even worse luck!) ... but she doesn't know about my blog so I think I'm pretty safe publishing it here.


I absolutely adore these teeny weeny baby-themed charms which I bought from The Hobby House stall last time I went to Port Sunlight craft fair (I already knew then that this lady's baby card would be required in a few months' time lol!)


Stamps: LotV "Surprise Delivery" and "Everyday Sentiement Circles";
Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers;
Papers: Forever Friends;
Supplies: flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts; charms and gems from The Hobby House; button from The Ribbon Girl; ribbon from Hobbycraft;
Tools: large and lacy circle nestabilities; Martha Stewart "Eyelet lace" PATP; Leone Em "Ash Family" leaf punch.

I also made a box for this card as I hope it will be a keepsake. I will be putting a panel on the lid with the baby's printed details (name, date, weight) .. but here is a pic of the decorated lid before personalisation ... the little letters on the building blocks are sparkly which the phto doesn't really pick up (oh when will light spring days be here ???).


Challenges:


Deep Ocean #45 - The Letter "B"
(Baby, Bear, Blue, Bow, Bottle, Bling, Box)
Shabby Tea Toom #154 - Aqua + Brown + a Silver Element
Cutie Pie #38 - Pretty Pastels
Crafty Ribbons #39 - Button Up
Dream Valley #51 - Ribbon & Bling
Bearly Mine #74 - Ribbon / Lace / Twine
(I have used ribbon and a teeny bit of twine)
Whimsy #56 - Add Some Metal
Stamp With Stampavie #187 - Lots of Layers

Well I guess that's enough cuteness from me for today .. hope you can join in with this week's PTW challenge. Thanks for visiting.
Hugs,

Saturday 16 February 2013

WOW!


Good afternoon - hope you are all enjoying your weekend. I was intending to go out shopping this afternoon, but I'm full of an absolutely stinking head cold today, so I decided to stay indoors and do a bit of crafting instead!

This week's Simon Says challenge requires a White on White card - always love these thought I don't find them very easy to make. Anyhoo I thought I'd have a go, and here's the result.


I think it's true to say this is my first ever absultley totally 100% WOW card - there is not a single breath of any other colour anywhere!! I did my best to introduce interest through the use of texture, die cuts and dimension rather than colour; and used an extremely pearlescent white card throughout except for the mounting behind the frame (which is a piece of pre-embossed white card) .. though the poor light here doesn't show up the pearlescence all that well.

This may look like a very simple card, but making the frame was a real performance. I recently bought the Spellbinders "Decorative Labels Eight" set of dies, and I can honestly say that they are the worst for cutting and releasing the finished die cut I have ever had! Despite using shims and very patiently prodding out every hole to release the card from the die, there was still a bit of ripping on the corner of the frame (on both the first and second attempts!!)  - in the end I just smoothed it down with glue as best I could!!

Supplies: 3mm and 4mm pearls from The Hobby House;
Tools: Memory Box "Prim Poppy" die; Simon Says "Meadow Rue" die; frame made using Spellbinders "Decorative Labels Eight" (outer) and mega "curved rectangles" (inner); Cuttlebug "Floral Fantasy" and "Stylised Flowers" embossing folders; Cuttlebug "Butterflies" cut & emboss folder.

Challenges:
Simon Says - White On White
Allsorts #194 - Things With Wings
Daring Cardmakers - Fly, Fly, Butterfly
Crafty Catz #170 - Bingo! (Embossing / Dies / Flowers)
A Gem Of A Challenge #67 - Dies & Punches
Incy Wincy - Add Texture

That's all from me for today - thanks for visiting, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Thursday 14 February 2013

Lili's Little Fairies Team B Challenge - Pearls


Hello everyone, and welcome to another Team B challenge for Lili's Little Fairies. Hope you are all enjoying Valentine's Day - you clearly enjoyed the preparations judging by the gorgeous entries to last week's romantic challenge :-)

This week we have another fab challenge theme for you and it is

Pearls

 We are sponsored by the lovely Ribbon Girl


Don't forget you need to use a LotV image or die cut on your project to be eligible for this lovely prize.

The rest of the DT have made some stunning pearly creations for your inspiration this week - here is my effort.


This is my first inking for the adorable "Pots of Love" stamp set, and also the first outing for the delicious new paper pad "Perfect Pair" - I just had to have it as it  is in my favourite colour combo of pink and green - plus the patterns are soooo pretty!


Stamps: LotV "Pots of Love";
Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers;
Papers: LotV "Nitwits Collection - Perfect Pair";
Supplies: pearls from The Hobby House; organza ribbon from my stash;
Tools: large and small classic circle nestabillities; Marianne D Creatables "English Rose" flower and leaf dies; Magnolia Doohickey "Doily Flower" die; Simon Says "Harrington Vine" die; Martha Stewart "Eyelet Lace" edge punch.


Challenges:
Bunny Zoe's - Flowers & Pearls
Sweet Stampin' - Pearls & Swirls
Penny's Paper Crafty #114 - Favourite Colour Combo
(pink & green)
Raise The Bar #130 - A Couple Of Things ...
Stamping Sensations - Fur & Feather
Forever Friends (monthly) - Animals &/or Butterflies &/or Birds
Pretty Little Ribbon #19 - Anything Goes
Charisma #6 - Anything Goes

Looking forward to seeing all your creations this week.
hugs,

Tuesday 12 February 2013

Woo hoo - Papertake Weekly Guest DT Spot!


Good morning everyone - hope you're all well and coping with whatever weather extremes you're having in your part of the world. It's freezing cold here again, though at least where I am we haven't got snow at the moment!

I was really thrilled and excited when Sharon asked me if I would like to do a Guest DT spot on Papertake Weekly for the months of February and March ... woo hoo yes please!! I love PTW, it really is one of my favourites and I enter it most weeks when I can. Indeed the only downside I can see is that i won't be able to enter for any of the yummy prizes for the next 8 weeks lol!

This week our theme is

Hearts &/or Flowers

Pretty easy peasy methinks with Valentine's Day just around the corner, and hopefully we should get loooooads of entries !

Don't forget to check out the main blog for details of this week's sponsor, and to see all the gorgeous creations by the rest of the DT - here's mine for this week.


I think it's probably fairly self-evident that I majored on the hearts lol!! Indeed I shouldn't really be posting this yet at all as it is my husband's Valentine card ... but I know he doesn't look on here and in any case I don't have multiple husbands to make multiple cards for!!

This card is quite unusual for me in a couple of ways ... firstly the fact it is a stepper card (I recently bought a pack of 5 pre-cut ones, and so enjoyed making my first one here that I thought I'd have another go). Also there is the fact that the main image is not stamped but is decoupaged with cute teddies that were free in a craft magazine :-).  I rather like the fact that stepper cards allow you to showcase intricate border punches - this is especially true with the extravagant Memory Box ones.


Image & Valentine sentiment: decoupage from kit free with craft magazine;
Sentiment: Penny Black transparent set
Papers: Craft Creations;
Supplies: papermania heart gems; ribbon and heart-shaped doily from my stash;
Tools: classic hearts nestabilities; Memory Box "Cherish" border die.

Challenges:
Dream Valley #50 - Valentine's
Cutie Pie #37 - Valentine's
Allsorts #193 - Valentine's
Kaboodle #158 - Valentine's
Craft your Passion #149 - My Valentine
Fab 'n' Funky #157 - Valentine / Hearts
Gem Of A Challenge #66 - Valentine / Hearts
Totally Papercrafts #153 - Valentine / Love
Ready Teddy Go #19 - Love Is In The Air
One Stop Carft Challenge #215 - Love Is In The Air
Crafty Catz #169 - Love Is In the Air
Daring Cardmakers - Love Is In The Air
Sentimental Sundays #141 - Love Is In The Air
Ooh La La - Love Story
Cute Card Thursday # 255 - Love Struck!
Top Tip Tuesday - Let Me Call You Sweetheart
Simon Says - Have A Heart
Penny's Paper Crafty #113 - Ribbons and Bows

Wow - I  think the whole of blogland must be loved-up at the moment!!

That's all from me today - look forward to seeing your creations for PTW.
Hugs

Sunday 3 February 2013

PB and More at Allsorts - Guest DT Card


Good morning everyone, and hope you're enjoying your weekend. I was really thrilled when Brenda asked me if I could do a guest DT card for this month's Penny Black & More At Allsorts challenge - I love the challenge and enter it whenever I can.

This month's theme is

Pink, Pearly & Swirly

What's not to like about that??

Do pop over to check out the prizes on offer and gorgeous cards by the DT on the main challenge blog - here's my guest DT card.


I absolutely adore this cute girly hedgie although I haven't inked her up for quite some time - shame on me! My pearly swirly is handmade, just lightly hand drew a swirl with pencil and then filled it in with 2 different sizes of pearls (3mm and 4mm) to emphasise the curves.

Stamps: hedgehog from Penny Black transparent set "Tiny Wishes"; sentiment by LotV;
Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers;
Papers: Pink Petticoat;
Supplies: flowers and pearls from Wild Orchid Crafts; sparkly ribbon and lace from Hobbycraft; button from The Ribbon Girl; doily form my stash;
Tools: "decorative labels eight" and "labels four" (for the sentiment) nestabilities.


Challenges:


Allsorts #192 - Let's Get Cute
Passion For Promarkers - Add Sparkle (metallic ribbon)
ABC - G is for Going Dotty (paper)
Crafty Ribbons #38 - Anything Goes With Ribbon
Totally Gorjuss #169 - Anything Goes With Lace
Love To Create #50 - Anything Goes With A Sentiment
Simon Says - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting today, and hope you can join in this month's challenge.

Saturday 2 February 2013

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Love & Marriage


Good morning everyone - wow it's February already, and as it's the first Saturday it's time for another monthly Penny Black Saturday Challenge. Thanks so much to everyone who joined in with last month's January Blues challenge - there were some stunning entries as always, and don't forget to check the main challenge blog to see if youa re a winner.

So on to this month's challenge which is

Love & Marriage

It doesn't have to be a Valentine project specifically - any lovely-dovey theme will do ... so long as you remember to use a Penny Black image, large sentiment or stickeroo if you would like ot be eligible for this month's prizes.

And talking of prizes, as ever we have a brilliant selecion on offer this month.





$20 store voucher.

Please do check out the rest of the DT's gorgeous cards - here's mine.


My husband has already pretty much seen all of my PB cuties that are suitable for Valentine cards, so I decided to go for an anniversary card using this gorgeous image which was buried deep in my stash, sent to me many mooons ago by the lovely Squirrel.


Stamps: Penny Black "Long-Stem Cuties" (1648K); LotV Everyday Sentiment Circles;
Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers;
Papers: Docrafts "Vintage Notes";
Supplies: flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts; lace by Docrafts "vintage notes"; pearls from The Hobby House; twine and cheesecloth from The Ribbon Girl; heart shaped button and doily from my stash;
Tools: Martha Stewart "scalloped lace heart" punch and "Valentine lace" edge punch; Leone Em "Ash Family" leaf punch.


Challenges:
Crafty Calendar - Love & Marriage
Sweet Stampin' - Love Is All Around
I ♥ Promarkers #153 - Love Is All Around
Heck Of A Challenge - Love & Flowers
Deep Ocean #44 - Love & Lace
My Mum's #2 - Love
Bearly Mine #71 - Hearts Galore
Incy Wincy - Pearls & Lace
MAWTT - Punch It Out
Simon Says - Anything Goes

Have a great weekend - can't wait to see what you create!
Hugs,