Wednesday 31 July 2013

Roar!!!

Hello peeps. Just a quick post to share a male type card that I have made for some challenges and to add to my stock. The image is another from that Lil Dumplings set and I coloured him with my Promarkers. The papers are MME and the buttons are a couple of odd ones that have been in my button box forever!


I am playing at these challenges

Oldie but a Goodie - Best Dressed (old buttons)
Wednesdays Creative Inspirations #225 - Anything Goes

Thanks for sharing your day. See you soon xx
Top 'o the mornin' crafters and wherever you are I hope the weather's going to be kind! Looks like a few spits and spots for Dorset today but never mind, at least it's still fairly warm.

I have another girly Birthday card to share today. I have made it for Isis (our eldest Son's Fiancee) who celebrates her Birthday next week.


I have used another image from Cuddly Buddly and coloured her with Promarkers to match the Wild Rose Studio paper, which I mounted on Kraft card for a change, and also punched a border too, using an old Martha Stewart punch. A perfectly matched seam binding ribbon with a bow and a button, some coffee coloured gems and sentiment tag finishes it off nicely!!

I'm entering these challenges

Allsorts #217 - Kraft it
Anything Goes #98 - Coffee break and/or food (cupcake!)
Shopping Our Stash # 112 - Use your oldest punch
(Martha Stewart border punch. The first one I ever bought!)

Off to do some chores now and then intend to have a play with some old crafting CD roms, so I may see you later! xx

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Snowballs..and lots of them!!

Evening everyone. Hope you are managing to dodge the showers!!

I have another Christmas card to share with you today. The image is from here and coloured with my Promarkers. I have no idea where the paper came from, I discovered the pad in my Christmas basket this morning minus the cover, but it is fab nonetheless!! A ribbon, some twine and a charm to complete!!



There are currently lots of Christmas in July Challenges
 so I am playing along with these

Card Crafter's Circle #85 - Christmas in July
Crafty Catz #193 - Christmas in July
Polka Doodles #30 - Christmas in July
Creative Corner Challenge #29 - Christmas in July
Hiding in my craft room #108 - Christmas in July
Crafting for all seasons #57 - Christmas in July
A Gem Of A Challenge #90 - How charming

Thank you for coming to see me today, I appreciate it xx

Sunday 28 July 2013

Pink!

Hi everyone. Hope you have all had a good weekend so far and enjoy what is left of it!!

I have a simple pink creation to share today which was a commission.


The pink papers were magazine freebies from some time ago and the adorable image is from the Lil Dumplings gang by Pollycraft (I managed to get the whole set when they were on offer and they are just fabulous!). She is called Fleur  and I coloured her with my Promarkers .  I die cut the circle and scalloped circle and used pinflair glue gel to give her some dimension. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches and the little resin flower, another freebie.
 She fits the criteria for the following challenges

Songbird # 25- My Favourite things (Spellbinders dies, and paper)
Paper crafting Journey  - Punches and/or dies
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Pretty in Pink
That Craft Place - It's a girl thing

Thanks ever so much for stopping by. 
See you soon xx



Thursday 25 July 2013

Fancy fold

Good morning crafty ones!! Nearly Friday again and the start of a new challenge at As You Like It. This week we are inviting you to share with us your favourite fold and don't forget to tell us WHY (pssst...£10 to spend at Handy Hippo up for grabs for the winner!!)

My favourite fold is the centre stepper because you don't
have to consider the  layout of your card and are able to get on with decorating it!!





 In this case I used an image from Digistamp Boutique that I coloured with Promarkers. The papers are Nitwits and the  Memory Box  Christmas tree die is new from Joanna Sheen. I used a simple sentiment from Craftworks.
Couldn't be easier!!




I am playing along at the following
Creative Creations Challenge #15 - Anything Goes
A Gem Of A Challenge #89 - Anything but square
Digistamp Boutique - July 13 Customer Competition
Crafts and Me #139 - Anything Goes
ABC Christmas - O'Christmas Tree

Whatever you are up to have a lovely day and don't forget to join in our challenge! xx

Wednesday 24 July 2013

Just one won't harm!

Hello everyone and thank you for paying me a visit today and I hope it's cooler where you are too!
We actually had some rain in the night so the garden is looking much fresher today together with the temperature!!

I am sharing a card  inspired by a mish mash of challenges here...

Marianne Design Divas - Layer it up
Papertake Weekly _ Die-ing for a punch
Creative Inspirations #224 - Bingo
(stamped image, pearls and red)
I Love Promarkers #178 - Christmas in July
Cards for Men #15 - Christmas in July
Shoppping Our Stash #111 - I don't really need another
(.....paper pad, in my case, it's a serious addiction!!)




The image is a Cuddly Buddly digi that I've coloured with promarkers.
I used one of the dies from Marianne Designs Anja's squares to add a bit of interest to the easel card.
The papers are Carta Bella's winter Fun which I chose purposely as they are a more masculine colour palette. I added a simple stamped sentiment to finish off.

I am off to mow the lawn (not that it's grown
 much but just looks untidy!!).
Whatever you are up to today, have a good one!! TTFN xx

Tuesday 23 July 2013

On yer bike!

Morning peeps. Hope Tuesday finds you well and happy.
 No work today so I am extremely so!!
Surprise and I have just taken in the morning air with friends and a bit sticky it was too! Now it's a trip to the hairdresser. I had to cancel last week because of that washing machine engineer (grrr) so consequently I look like an old english sheepdog!! 

Anyway here is my card for today...another "attempt" at shabby chic/vintage.....I really don't get it!!


I used some digi papers that have been on my computer for yonks, Raspberry Road Family Ties, which I roughed up and inked. The stamp is by Dreamees ( I can't rate these highly enough SUCH brilliant value & quality). I made the roses myself using scraps of the same papers. Cotton lace with a pearl buckle and a couple of pins, ooh and I tore the paper and stapled a different one behind the tear. Is that shabby enough for you!!? You will find my card at these challenges...

OLLCB - For the one you love
Totally Papercrafts #176 - Make your own flowers
House of Cards - Month One Vintage/Shabby 
Allsorts Challenge #216 - Transport
Country View Crafts #5 - Summer sizzler
 (The colour red and what you would be if you went
 too far on a bike in this heat! lol)

Hope you have a good day whatever you are up to and take care xx

Monday 22 July 2013

Blue

Morning all, I have a simple card to share before I head off to work. 
Inspired by the following challenges

Ribbon Girl Challenge - July Colour Challenge Blue and white


I don't often choose blue so thought I'd live on the wild side for a change!!


I used Maja Designs, Life in the Country paper. The stamp is Zinnia coloured with Promarkers. I added glossy accents to the little vase. The sentiment is from the same set. Finished off with a knotted bow and there you have it. Hmmmm...blue is not so bad after all!!

Thanks for taking the time to visit. I appreciate it! xx

Sunday 21 July 2013

Hat of Dreams

Good evening bloggers. Hope you are enjoying your weekend.
I have had a lovely afternoon outside, snipping decoupage for today's project. The CD Sunday Challenge have the theme of Dreams and Dragons and Simply Create Too #42 want anything but a card so this is my effort......a wall hanging!!


I used a beautiful image from Joanna Sheen's Josephine Wall Project Book/CD. I had to get the old thinking cap on for the frame. My largest Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles was too small so I cut two, laid them on top of one another horizontally with an overlap, then cut through both with a craft knife, discarded the slithers of waste and spliced the two pieces together. I wrapped ribbon to hide the join but you wouldn't know it was there. The  matt copper board was a little too bright so I toned it down with Tim Holtz alcohol inks Slate, Currant and Lettuce. It also echoes the mottled background on the image.


This shows the layers of decoupage




The title of the image is Hat of Dreams....
...she has a vivid imagination, for sure!!

Thanks for visiting and go on get the old CD's out,
 I'd forgotten how good a resource they are!!

See you soon xx

Saturday 20 July 2013

Mistletoe

Hello my crafty friends. Yet another glorious day has passed. I'm not overly keen on the idea of thunder storms during the coming week, they are most definitely NOT my favourite thing, so I shall be keeping my fingers firmly crossed that they pass us!!

Anyway enough about the weather and on to my card. I am still dabbling with christmas cards at the moment and again used several different challenge themes as inspiration to create this.......


The image is from Digistamp Boutique and I coloured the cute mice with my Promarkers. The papers are digis from Nitwit Collection. I added some bling and sparkles in the form of gems and some stardust stickles and there you have it ready for the following challenges

Creative Corner #28 - Let it sparkle
Winter Wonderland -  A boy and a girl
Stampin' for the weekend - Sparkle and bling
Sweet Stampin' - What Christmas in July!?
Anything Goes #97 - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting xx

Friday 19 July 2013

CAS again?!

Good evening bloggers and I hope you are well
 and looking forward to the weekend.

I am just going to quickly share a simple card inspired by the following challenges

Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog - Citrus colours
Cute Card Thursday #278 - Oranges & Lemons
Crafty Ribbons #53 - CAS + ribbon
A Creative Romance - No Designer Papers
MilkCoffee - Emboss it


Yes....another CAS card, not sure what's wrong with me but I am actually enjoying the less is more approach!! The image is from a lovely Penny Black set called Homemade which I am sure has plenty of mileage! Everything else came from my stash. I also dry embossed a border along the top edge of the card which is just visible. Apologies for the picture. I caught it just as the wind was about to blow it over for the umpteenth time so there may be a slight blur!

Toodles for now, off to bake a Victoria Sponge for cricket teas tomorrow. Should have bought one really as I don't relish baking in this heat....hey ho, that's what Mum's are for!! xx

Thursday 18 July 2013

Red!

Morning crafters!! Off to work today :0( so a quick post before I go.
 Another departure from the norm...an attempt at shabby chic
 (whatever that is!!). The stamp is by Kanban from a diverse set that I've had for years.  The papers are one of my favourites ( must get another pad before it's discontinued!)  and the roses are from WOC. It was actually nice to use them for a change, as I tend to avoid bulk because of the increasingly expensive postage. Oh...and I did bash up and ink the edges to make it look shabby!!


Today I am playing along at these challenges

Sweet Stampin' - Shabby chic
Pollycraft #3 - Ruby Red
The ABC Challenge - R for Roses are Red
House of Cards Month One - Classic & Elegant 

Right.... that's me for now, off to NHS land. Whatever you are doing have a good one.
See you soon xx

Wednesday 17 July 2013

Birthday

Good evening all,  and a special thanks to my newest followers, for choosing to keep any eye on me!!  So...the sun is still shining. Hubby tells me that it's not been this hot since 2006 so it's about bloomin' time!!

I am sharing the card that I made for my team mate Samantha's Birthday. She's not a huge fan of pink and she favours the CAS style so here is what I came up with....


Oops what a dreadful picture.... it was a square card, promise!!

I used one of my The Cat's Pajama's stamps, a strip of Doodlebug paper and MFT border die.

I am joining in at these challenges

The Paper Shelter #121 - CAS 
LEJ Designs #62 - Anything Goes

That's all for now. I'm off to dust off my Christmas CD roms and see what treasures I can discover!!
 Thanks for sharing your time with me and have a good evening xx

Fur!!

Hello all  the weather is still being kind here in Dorset. 
Not so much at night though.... I can't sleep!!  

I've had one of those wasted days yesterday, waiting for an engineer to come and fix my washing machine. I had a 14:00 - 16:00 time slot and what time did he arrive?.....you guessed it 15:59!! Anyway said machine is now fixed and I am working my way through the mountain of laundry that has amassed while waiting.  

Moan over... so here is today's card, a just for fun, because I couldn't pass up the opportunity of making a card showcasing something with fur and/or feathers as per the current Allsorts Challenge.
 After the best of three eeny meeny miny mo, the pony won, although she's not too furry this time of year!! 



I used a new pony digi as my cuddly buddly ones have had a fair bit of use and isn't she cute?!
Oh pants my finger slipped.... that's me!! lol

Here it is......

....that's better!!

I coloured with Promarkers and used a fairly simple layout with die cuts and papers to create the scene.
Hope you like it. Off to dead head the garden now!!

Challenges I am entering

Passion for Promarkers #207 - Create a scene
Allsorts #215 - Fur and feathers
I love Promarkers #177 - Anything Goes
Inky impressions #117 - Summer

TTFN xx

Monday 15 July 2013

First Christmas

Evening crafty peeps. Hope this finds you well and not too hot and bothered !!
 I seem to remember that, as a little girl (in the 70's), summers were always  like this and no-one complained!! How times change..a week or so of "proper" weather and we're beside ourselves !!
Another christmas card to share with you this evening. Some Nitwits papers, a Pink Gem Designs digi and a ribbon.....simples! The baby was coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and Promarkers and I added a little bit of flowersoft to his hat as a suggestion of fluff.


I am playing along here

Inky Impressions #116 - Christmas in July
Winter Wonderland - Baby's First Christmas
A Gem Of A Challenge #88 - Spots, stripes or both
My Time To Craft #229 - Brown & Turquoise
Paper Crafting Journey - Christmas in July
Here come The Boys # 56   - Anything Goes

Thank you for coming to visit me, I appreciate it! xx

Sunday 14 July 2013

Swing

Hello everybody. Hope you have had a lovely weekend. 
It's flown by hasn't it?!

I started this card on Friday and have just added the finishing touches (it's just been too nice to be indoors). It's my first Gorjuss stamp and I must admit I wasn't keen when they first appeared but, having had a jolly good look in real life, I took the plunge and actually think they are excellent value for money and stamp beautifully.
The papers are the lovely First Edition New Bloom (these have encouraged me to expand my colour repertoire and include purple!! This also meant shaking the dust from a bundle of antique purple seam binding!!) and I coloured her with Promarkers to compliment them. A couple of pearly flowers, a bow and a sentiment finishes it off!


I would like to enter the following challenges

The squirrel and the fox #48 - Use something spooled (ribbon)
Songbird #24 - Ribbon
Crafty Friends #7 - Inspired by a song (Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits)
One Stop Challenge # 234 - Summer colours (the colour of my petunias - Mauve)
Use it Tuesday #59 - Birthday (very old seam binding)



I snapped this little devil while photographing the card. We've had so much noise in the garden this afternoon. I think all the birds in Dorset have descended on my cherry tree and this little devil looks like he's eyeing up the next one!! They pinch all the low ones so I can't reach what's left!!




That's it from me for now. Have a lovely evening and see you very soon xx

Friday 12 July 2013

Beach Time!

Yay!!The weekend is nearly here again.
  I think I've lost this week somehow, probably because I swapped my days off....it's confused me!!

It wasn't intentional but I appear to have a yellow theme emerging. Today I am sharing a card using another Doodle Garden image (isn't she cute!?) and was inspired by this sketch from Incy Wincy


I coloured with Promarkers and used On the Sunny Side papers. I created the edge with a Spellbinders border die. I was actually going to use the waste edge only but decided to add the intricate bit too.


I will add an appropriate sentiment when the time comes!!

I am playing along at these challenges
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Sketch
Creative Inspirations #222 - At the Beach
Shopping our Stash #109 - Summer Theme (papers from my stash)
Deep Ocean Challenge - On the Beach
Creative Corner challenges #27 - Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting me.
 Have a good Friday and lets hope for another glorious weekend. xx

Thursday 11 July 2013

Peace!

Hello and thanks for calling this evening
 What another lovely day we've had, even being at work isn't so bad!!

Isn't it lovely to get natural light so late this time of year, makes colouring so much easier, especially with light shades, the like of which I have used on my card. It's one of those cards that I made because I liked the image and what better reason could there be?! Added to which the creative juices are flowing at the moment so why not add to the stock box!!



The image is from the Doodle Garden and was great to colour. I used a tutorial by my  team mate, Annette, for the circle stepper card base (note to self.... follow instructions properly then your steps will be on the correct side!!). The lemon card was from a very old  HOTP pad that went with an 8x8 Paper Pizzaz pad called Retro from where I cut the smiley and peace sentiment. I created the sky and grass using distress inks and a few little flowers too.

I am entering into these challenges

Top Tip Tuesday # 105 - Circles or Hexagons
 (TIP...Use a stubby old paint brush for masking clouds instead of cut 'n' dry foam.  You can be far more precise and it gives a softer finish. Also good for grass!!)
Oldie But A Goodie - In the Garden (ancient HOTP paper pads)
Creative Card Crew #40 - Great Outdoors

See you soon xx

Just Because

Happy Thursday Peeps!! Thank you for sharing your time with me and for leaving me such kind comments, I appreciate every single one and they make me smile :0)

Today there is a new challenge at As You Like It and we would like you to share projects showing your Favourite Special Occasion.  Our lovely sponsor is Tammy-Louise from Shape EZ.
  I used her roll bag template for my creation.


 It was SO easy to do and, I think you will agree, the result is really professional looking at the fraction of the cost of one you buy in the shops. Unique too! I used Nitwits papers and also had a go at some rolled roses (inspired by my teamie Carol!!). I used Spellbinders dies, a simple sentiment and finished off with a complimentary organza ribbon.

I am supporting the following challenges


Have a good day wherever you are and whatever you are doing xx

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Hat and Ribbon

Hello bloggers, hope you are well on this lovely Wednesday.

I am sharing a card that I made for the Monster
 (oops!... Mother)-in law's Birthday..she's really not that bad lol
She isn't a pink, flowery or frilly lady so I always struggle to find something that is just right. So I hope this fits the bill......



The image and the papers came from a very old Joanna Sheen CD Rom, Victorian Companions, which is dated 2007 and, I am ashamed to say, has had very little use!! I added some not too fussy ribbon and a die cut corner to add to the victoriana together with some mink coloured pearls. Hmmm....quite nice!!

I was inspired by these challenges
Use it Tuesday #59 - Birthdays (used an aged CD rom)
The CD Sunday Challenge - Quite Simply Hats

That's it for now. Have a lovely evening xx

Tuesday 9 July 2013

Red, White & Blue

Evening one and all and I hope this finds you well.

 I am having a serious case of the shakes after making this CAS card,
 so much so I had to add the little banner in the corner!!




All things considered I am really rather pleased with it.
 The image and sentiment are from Sassy Cheryl and  coloured
 (as usual) with my Promarkers.
 I am trying to live on the "wild side" (as the grumpy teenager so eloquently puts it!!) and try new styles,
 but I do like my papers!!

Anyhow I am joining these challenges

 (old, well loved Promarkers, new(ish) digi, and blue spots)
Creative Inspirations #221 - Red, white and blue

Have a lovely evening and I'm off to get a paper and ribbon fix!!

See you soon xx

Monday 8 July 2013

Christmas in July!?

Hello my crafty buddies.

This feels soooo wrong but....what the heck, my first Christmas Card!! Anyway it was a jolly good excuse to play with my Sheena Douglass stamps.


I coloured with Promarkers and die cut the scalloped oval, messed up the edges with Frayed Burlap.
The sentiment came from another stamp set in the same range.






A close up of the image and you can just about see  the stardust stickles on the die cuts and snow!







I am going to play along at these challenges

Have a good evening and I'll see you soon xx

 (ooh and stay warm won't you!!....wipes brow!!)


Sunday 7 July 2013

Summer!

Good Evening Bloggers! Hope you are happy and well.
What a day.....blue sky as far as the eye can see and a British Wimbledon win, a real summer's day.

Surprise and I were out and about early this morning and here is a little bit of Dorset and some furry pony ears!! When I showed Hubby the picture he told me off for taking one hand off the steering wheel to take it!!


I know I shouldn't say it, but it's been too hot to do very much today so I have been colouring in the shade of our willow tree and this is what I came up with....


I saw this digi on a blog the other day and knew I just had to have it in my collection!! It was a dream to colour and it just says "Summer" to me. I matted and layered some coredinations card and magazine freebie papers added some ribbon, lace, butterflies and a thank you sentiment and job done!! 

I am playing along at these challenges

Allsorts #214 - My favourite things (Promarkers, papers and ribbons)
Charisma Cardz #26 - Lace (just about visible but there!!)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and see you soon xx

Saturday 6 July 2013

Star

Hi-De-Hi!! Hope you are all well and enjoying the glorious weather. 

This evening I'm sharing a card using  leftovers from one I made
 earlier in the week. I am also trying to use my crafty cd's too and thought this digi from Polka Doodles  Pretty Tuff worked well. 
I coloured him with Promarkers, cut him out and gave a
 bit of height with glue gel. 



I am playing along at

Wednesday 3 July 2013

Cake!

My mid-week weekend is nearly over so thought I would post this now as I probably won't have time in the morning before work. This is a collaboration of themes from several challenges and, as is so often the case, I am thrilled to bits with the result! Hope you like it too!



I used my WRMK circle cutter to create a 5 1/2" card blank. The papers are Just So Scrappy again ( I really love the colour combo), I used a new stamp from my shopping trip to My Mum's Craft Shop that I coloured with Promarkers. I used  spellbinders, MFT and la La La land dies.

 The inspiration came from these....

Cupcake Craft challenges #249 -  Anything but square
A Little Bit Crafty - Die-ing for it
House of Cards Month One - Cute and fun
Fab 'n' Funky - Anything but square
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (optional animal/creature)
Joanna Sheen - Don't be square (2nd entry)

I had a hectic morning doing horsey things ( and got bitten by a horsefly for my trouble!) the house is tidy and the lawn mown so I am off for a bit of crafty indulgence before my mojo fails me again!!

Whatever you are doing....enjoy!
 See you soon xx

Buzzin' by

What's wrong with me?!....another pink card and earlier in the week I even played with purple.
 Must be an age thing ( heaven help me when I get to 50!!)
 thank goodness I still have dark hair or I could be considering a lilac rinse!!

Anyhow on to the card... which wasn't what I intended to make at all!
I  found the Tulip papers in my scrap box while looking for something else, so decided to use them to make a card for a friend who is a little under par at the moment.

The image is from The Stamp Fairy, (who incidentally have a Sale right now,) coloured with Promarkers. The sentiment stamp set is old and, I think, from Stampendous. I added some stickles to the antennae and the spots on  the wings for a little bit of sparkle and some bling for the butterflies thorax.


I am joining in at the following challenges

Thank you for sharing your day xx

Tuesday 2 July 2013

Lavender and Lace

Morning peeps and wherever you are I hope it's a good one.  Surprise and I have just had a lovely ride, it's cool this time of day and the smell  of honeysuckle from the hedgerows is gorgeous.

 I am sharing a couple of poppets today ( Paintbox Poppets !!), I am so glad I found The CD Sunday Challenge because they have inspired me to shake the dust from my basket of CD Roms...so thanks girls!! Their challenge this week is Dance and these little darlings should fit in a treat!! You will also find them joining in at Allsorts Challenge Lavender and Lace. I  used my lovely New Bloom paper pad, a flower from The Ribbon Girl, the sentiment from LOTV and the pretty lace that I bought from The Sherborne Tapestry Centre. If you are ever this way pay a visit to Sherborne, it's a lovely little Abbey town and Orlando Bloom is known to frequent the local bars and cafes when he visits his Granny!!


My Escallonia isn't quite a lavender backdrop but quite pretty nonetheless!!

The house was neglected, in favour of the outside, over the weekend so I had better show it some love, by way of the Dyson...blimey I know how to live it up!!

Toodles for now xx