Age is just a Number!

I hope everyone enjoyed the recent festive days and thanks to everyone who sent me messages, cards and prezzies!!!
We had a lovely quiet couple of days in our first Christmas in our new house and am keeping my fingers crossed that the current hailstorm will turn to snow 'cos I can't wait to see the hills and valley at the back all white!! (Yes I am definitely crazy wishing to be snowed in I know!)

My share for today is a commissioned card for a 70th Birthday.

The recipient is someone who can only be described as 'a party gal' and I was asked to reflect that in the card. The lady in question certainly knows how to have a good time and is the life and soul of any celebration and I hope I have captured her personality as asked.

I opted to use a centre step scalloped edge card as a bit of a change from my recent squares and rectangles.
The background is embossed although it doesn't show up very well (light here is not good - aforesaid hailstorm!!), and I matted it onto some red card.
The image is of course from Mo Manning and called 'Veronica' - she makes me smile! I coloured her with a mix of promarkers  and distress inks and decoupaged her onto a fancy oval frame.
I added a few tiny sparklies for a bit of bling and some spotty ribbon and a pearl buckle.
The 'pink martini' was a download, coloured then some stickles added for bubbly bits, and the numbers were also a download.
I finished with a few punched out stars and a sentiment from TLC which I cut out with a fancy tag die and I think is absolutely PERFECT to describe the 'party gal'!!!!!
Mo's DP2 has a challenge called 'Your favourite Mo card of 2013' - I have made many this year and can't choose really - so have opted to link the latest one!
 Challenges -
Digitally Sweet - Anything Goes
Delicious Doodles - Let's Party
Digistamps 4 Joy- Anything Goes
I Love Promarkers - More than 1 fold
Whimsy - Party Time
Digi Galore - Anything Goes
Pile It On - P is for - (Party, Pearl, Polka Dot ribbon)

Have a great day. x

Favourite Five

Debby is once again playing host to Favourite Five Christmas Cards of 2013.
I have had quite a CAS Christmas this year mainly due to the ridiculous postage that the highway robbers otherwise known as Royal Mail impose!
Played with less embellies than usual and definitely not a lot of flowery bits!
So without further ado here's my fave 5 of this years christmas makes and the reasons why I chose them!

First up is my use of the oldest card pack known to man! Picked these 'cos they have been lying about in a drawer for EVER and it just shows that if you keep something long enough you can make use of it!

 

Next is my 'man' card! Love this old truck and this was definitely one of my faves this year

 

Third one  has to be the 'most used by everyone Christmas Stamp of the Year' but I just love it!

Next is one of my White on White makes (which I made a lot of this year)   and    last but by no means least is a masking and stamping technique which I have been practising - and another make that once I did one ended up doing a batch!  Choosing five was soo difficult - there are some I wanted to use but my list would have ended up as being 'Favourite Fifty' I think!

 Thanks to Debby for again inviting us to link up and to all of you

here is one that was originally in my top five but 

-have saved her to say thank you to all my wonderful followers for finding time to visit with me this year, I wish you a Beautiful Christmas and may 2014 bring you all everything that you wish for.  

Viv. x x

 

Less than perfect pearls.......

Yesterday finally got round to putting up the Christmas Tree... that WAS a bit of a performance as we had given a lot of decorations etc to the charity shop when we moved and half way through the' adorning the branches' task I decided that we didn't have enough baubles.......... so off out we went to a nearby garden centre and luckily for me they were taking down their spectacular displays and all the baubles they had used were going dirt cheap!!
Those who know me well realise that I normally put up the tree at the last possible minute so 6 days before is VERY early for me but it looks nice (even if I do say so myself! LOL) and am quite looking forward to the first Christmas in the new house (am even praying for snow!!!!).

This share was (I thought) a bit of a disaster but the other half said there was nothing wrong with it and the person who received it thought it was lovely! So am showing it to you all in all it's messy glory.....- please feel free to make any comment you wish!!! LOL

• I had this bright idea of inking inside a nestie - this turned out reasonably well

• I had this bright idea of stamping tiny snowflakes inside the shape - this turned out fine

• I had this bright idea of stamping 3 trees in a darker shade of Distress Ink - all good so far

• I had this bright idea of using some scrummy coloured organza ribbon - looked nice

• I had this really really bright idea of using 'Pearl Maker' on the biggest tree's branches - AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. STUPID IDEA.

Talk about DUMBO. The WHITE Pearl Maker stuff absorbed the distress ink and it turned out this sludgy goldy/yellowy colour.
But I finished it anyway on the instructions of dear husband who told me I was being daft and there was 'nowt wrong with it'.
Am entering this into the following challenges and hoping that they agree with the husband! LOL

Stampin 4 the Weekend - Anything Goes
Craftitude - Anything Goes 
Charisma - Anything Goes
Crafts for Eternity - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Feeling Crafty - Christmas
Dream Valley - Christmas

We are being battered with high winds and heavy rain at the mo - and it's set to last for a couple of days - which means I am now going to lock myself in the crafty studio (any excuse!).
Have a great weekend. x

A Lazy Day

It has been a manic few days - but we have today been as lazy as lazy can be as neither of us have been able to summon any energy to do much at all!
We did a barbeque (yes I kid you not, a BARBIE) for over 40 yesterday at the Club instead of the usual sit down Christmas Dinner....... it was some feat for my other half who did the kebab/burger/pork steak cooking outside on what is definitely nothing other than a home size grill! Thankfully it stayed reasonably dry and only rained towards the end of the cooking.
But combined with putting up the Christmas decorations earlier in the week, a few days shopping for the food and then doing all the things that you have to do to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves yesterday, being on my feet all day saw me off!

So did a bit of present wrapping and made a couple of very similar last minute cards.

I simply used up some odd bits laying about on the desk (was supposed to be tidying so this was my 'tidying up'!)

Basic red and off white hammered textured card, some organza ribbon, some dies (poinsettia, flourish and a fancy frame).

Christmas greetings stamps inked with 'Really Raspberry' pigment ink and clear embossed.
Centre of flowers dusted with some Stickles - (gold on one and silver on the other)  and done!
Pics are a wee bit iffy but you get the general idea....

Challenges -
Stampin 4 the Weekend - Use some Red
Cut it Up - Christmas
52 CCT - Red/white (from May)
HIMCR - Use your Scraps
Pixie's Playground - Snippets
Sweet Stampin'- Last Minute Christmas
CAS 271 - Sketch (modified a bit but followed the basic guide)

Thanks for finding the time to visit. Coffee now here so will be calling in to see what you've all been up to! x

Guest Designer!

I was over the moon to be asked to take a GD spot over at Crafting By Designs. Their challenge this week is White on White.

My card is a variation on ones I have done previously (inspired by the creativity over on Pinterest)  and is made entirely from linen textured small pieces of left over white card. So it's going to give me access to the playground this week too!
On all edges and to highlight some of the embossed areas I used the very delicately coloured Versacolour ink in Narcissus. This is a lovely pale lemony colour which I think is subtle enough to highlight without taking away from the white on white effect.
 
The largest piece of card I used at the top - I embossed both edges with a flourish folder and embossed the middle with a nestie frame.
On top of this piece I glued a length of thin paper with a scallop edge which was the off cut left over from punched out piece of paper and added some white shoestring ribbon to tidy up the edge.
The layers at the bottom were also done with a punch then glued to the base card and the larger embossed piece - again some shoestring ribbon to hide the join.
A fancy oval label cut with a nestie and secured with 3d foam pads.
The rose was also made using nesties.
The flourishes are a Marianne die (I think!) and the leaves are an embossed punch.
Finished it all off with two punched butterflies and some pearls.  

Challenges -
Crafty Catz - Use 2 or more dies
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Anything But Christmas
Red Carpet Studio - Ribbon/Lace (and I interpreted the lace part as the frilly lacy punch used)
My Craft Creations -Anything Goes
Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes
Bunny Zoes - Wings 
Crafty Bloggers - Girly

Thanks to the wonderful team at CBD for asking me to do this guest spot and hope you will all create something and join in their challenge!  Thanks for visiting today. x

Winter Fun

The latest challenge at Crafty Cardmakers is 'Winter Fun'.
 Marie wants any creation that shows having fun in winter but it must not be Christmas or New Year related! So no Christmas/New Year cards but something that you have fun with during the winter like skiing or sledging.
Our sponsor are THE PAPER SHELTER  and SIR STAMPALOT

After much deliberation - (I was considering a mug of hot choccie with lots of marshmallows - that is DEFINTELY my idea of fun when it's cold..... )I chose to make a card which shows a skating snowman!

I have had this image for a long long time and he seemed so 'right' somehow for this theme!

This was a quickie card make but hope he's inspired you to come and join us this challenge.
The background was the usual 'swiss dots' embossing folder on textured linen card and matted onto dark green.
For an extra bit of highlight I covered Frosty here with Glossy Accents - he's all shiny  in real life!

The snowflake flourishes die from Memory Box have seen a lot of use this year! I applied liberal helpings of Stickles to the dies and it's quite a sparkly effect  but doesn't show it well in this photo - added 3 small sparklies on the top of the card.
The sentiment is a freebie from TLC - and perfect I think!!

Challenges -
Word Play Saturday - Snowman
Sweet Pea Stampers - It's cold outside
PCJ - Christmas
Sentimental Sundays - Snowman
Craft Your Passion - Let It Snow
Lexi's - Snow
Paper Playtime - Winter Fun


Please pop over and visit my teamies and thanks for stopping by today. x

Second visit!

Don't say you weren't warned that I'd be back!
Second offering from me today - and my quota reached over at Pixies Playground for the last 2 weeks.. so am expecting at least a free go on the swings if not a Gold Star!!

I have coveted this poinsettia die for a long time and finally bought it a couple of weeks ago... I have used it to make LOTS of CAS cards like this with different colours so it was well worth the pennies!

White hammered cardstock used throughout.

Stamped the greeting with Stone Grey ink, cut into a tag shape, punched a hole in the top and threaded through some shoestring ribbon and tied into a bow.
A few sparklies dotted round at random.

Used liberal helpings of sparkly stuff (!) on the embossed parts of the flower, then stuck a bigger gem in the middle.

The flourishes are another well used Marianne die which I have had for ages.

LIM - Sparkle
ABC Christmas - No Squares
Christmas @ Sweet Stamping - White on White
Addicted to stamps - CAS
ABC -  A for Almost Christmas
Craft All Day - Winter
RRR - Bingo (White/Text/Glitter & Ribbon)

Have a great weekend everybody - and I thank you all for taking the time to visit and leave comments - I appreciate every single one. x

Last minute!

Quick post as I only realised this morning that I hadn't posted my Less is More card for this week - and after being Showcased' last week with my winter birdies card too! (It's here if you haven't seen it!)
I treated myself and went for a lovely massage this morning - hot stones and aromatherapy - just wonderfully relaxing - but am now so laid back can't get going to do anything LOL!
So here is this weeks card for the challenge which is 'Sparkle' -

 Black pearlised card for the background, matted onto silver pearl card.

The off cut from the silver pearl card just used to punch out lots of  leaves and stuck in a circle.(and as all the pressure made my hand sore my idea of making a batch was quickly laid to rest!!!).

A scrap of silver edged black ribbon in a tiny bow and a few very small (and very fiddly to glue!) gems finished the wreath.

Sentiment stamped and embossed in Silver EP.

I have another card to finish today so I can also get my entries into Pixies Playground - otherwise the Head Girl will send me to the naughty step!!! So this is the first of my 'snippets make' - and I need to get my skates on to get the other one done!

Other Challenges -
CRAFT - Christmas
Creative Knockouts - Christmas Splendour
Delightful Challenges - Add gems
Paper Crafting Journey - Christmastime

Thanks for looking - will be round to you all later to see what you've been creating. x

Penguins

Am almost done as far as my Christmas Cards are concerned - all made and inserts fixed - just need to write the envelopes - which is NOT my favourite job at all!
These little singing penguins are part of the large 'kids' order which thankfully I have now finished - "not too fancy but want something a little different from what you get in the shops" was the remit.
So photos taken (none of which are brilliant as the light here has been pretty poor over the last few days), and will share them all with you over the next couple of weeks.

I DID follow a sketch for this - trouble is can't remember which challenge blog the sketch was from!! Challenge has probably long since finished anyway....

Just used up some bright Christmas papers and a snowflake embossed leftover piece, all matted onto dark green card.
The sentiment was stamped using Pine Needles distress marker and no Christmas card would be complete without the statutory helping of sparkly Stickles would it???

Challenges -
Crafting by Designs - Penguins
Cutie Pie - Cute Scenes
TTCRD - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties - Christmas
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes 

It's certainly been wild here today up on the moor top! The wind seems to have dropped a little but not much - wherever you are I hope you are safe and warm and as ever I appreciate you calling in to see me. x

Cold and Frosty Colours - Vintage Stampin DT

So December is here! And to go with wintry weather the challenge this time over at Vintage Stamping is COLD & FROSTY COLOURS.
I have scheduled this post so fingers crossed it publishes OK!! 
If the main challenge post isn't  showing yet please check back later and link up your creation.
Not a lot of rules  really = we are definitely a stamping challenge and we do need the main focal point of your project to be stamped and although we have vintage in  the title of the blog your creation doesn't have to be vintage!

A bit of a diversion from the CAS cards I've made recently and one with lace, ribbon, crystals etc!
I used a lovely oval stamp from our sponsor and after stamping,  I clear embossed, then painted with Distress inks and dusted on some glitter for the 'snow'.
Isn't the birdie on the tree cute?!

The papers - a digi freebie from Astrid - in shades of blue, gray and white stitched onto some darker blue co ordinating cardstock.
Same used  for the frame of the image and the corner die cut.

Vintage icy blue lace and some hand dyed seam binding tied into a bow with a sparkly in the centre of the bow.
A teeny off cut of the ribbon twisted and secured again with another sparkly on the top of the frame and to finish off a stem of crystal leaves. 

Challenges - 
Opus Gluei - Brrrring it on
Crafting When We Can - Winter
IDIC - Christmas
Stamping Sensations - Free & Easy
Addicted 2 Stamps - Embossing
Charisma - Christmas

Have a great day! x

Sufficient Sparkle!

I have been getting on with the commissioned cards - only a couple left to do then I can concentrate on getting back to my own Christmas ones as well as my DT's!
This is part of the order - no instructions other than a 'girly' card!
I bought this image from Mo's last year and this is the first time I have coloured her.
I am so pleased with the final result of this - although as ever the light here isn't very good so hope you can imagine what it's like IRL!

Bright white linen textured card ran through the 'Swiss Dots' folder, then a circular aperture cut out.

I coloured the image with Distress Inks, then got out all the sparkly stuff!!!
And before you ask, yes I DO have some left! But she seemed to be crying out to be 'sparkled' to within an inch of her life.................so I put it EVERYWHERE - on the background of the image, on her socks, hat, frill of her dress, wings, snowballs - oh and for good measure used some liquid pearls on her skirt. LOL

All the snowflakes were cut from white glitter paper and this really doesn't show up in the pic - but you get the idea!
Finished with a couple of sparkly gems.

Challenges -
Glitter n Sparkle - Add Glitter n Sparkle
Totally Gorjuss - Snows the way to go
Crafty Hands - Sparkle and Bling
Simply Create Too - Snow
Wags n Whiskers - Things with Wings
Happy Campers - Glitter It
OSAAT - Use a Digi
Gem of a Challenge - Winter Wonderland

Hope you've all had a great weekend! x

Soothing Scene?

I received an order yesterday for a lot of Christmas cards - and all for ages of teenagers to babies... I am now in Christmas overload and at risk of becoming even more 'bah humbug' than I usually am - so I took a break from the cutey, organza ribbon, red/green/gold/silver/pink/lilac/blue snowmen/teddies/Santa cards and went for something which (I hope) is 'gloomy and soulful!!!! LOL
 A fellow blogger posted something similar to this some time back and said that they had used Distress Inks on watercolour paper  - it was one of those things that I put in my mind marked 'to try'!

After a couple of less than successful (downright awful, if I'm truthful!) attempts where my blending left a lot to be desired, I finally managed to produce something which didn't look like something had splodged all over the place.

I think the 'hill' could have done with being a more grey or brown shade but decided to use the inked piece anyway to make into a sympathy/get well/thinking of you card.
Stamped the bullrushes using Versafine ink.
Matted onto black card and then layered onto some textured linen lemon card - one piece of which I ran through the 'diamonds' embossing folder.
Not too bad! I enjoyed the technique and no doubt will practice some more - (once I have done the Christmas stuff!!!!)

Challenges -
Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes
Lady Annes Last Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Created with Love - Sympathy

Almost forgot - a big thank you for everyone who commented on my recent makes - and of course those of you who were inspired by my DT cards to enter the challenges!
Off to see what you've been up to now as dear husband has just arrived with a cup of coffee for me! xx

Triangles and Tribulations

I was delighted to see some new followers to my blog - a big hello to  Doris, Sarah, Dawn and Marjon! And thanks for clicking the button to follow me!
Have you ever bought something and then years later think 'Do NOT know AT ALL why I got these - have never used them and am not sure that I ever will'????
Go on - own up!!
Sorting out my new craft space after we moved I found three packs (yes THREE packs) of triangular shaped cards - white, green and silver.
It seemed a good idea to buy them at the time - LOL- it was when I first started card making - around 2003!!!
Almost felt sorry for the unloved dusty packs so early resolution - to use up at least one of the packs.

After staring at this odd shape  (well odd for me anyway) for about 2 days and discarding any silly ideas -  I opted for quick and basic!! (Doing a lot of that lately!!)

Here is the result -
Embossing folders, Snowflake and Christmas Tree dies, snippets of pastel glitter paper, a scrap of mirri card, a couple of stamps, some gems and the tiniest piece of ribbon which would you believe had stuck itself to the bottom of an acrylic block!

Used up the whole pack of white cards - made 2 of each design  - fear the green and silver ones may remain in the drawer for another 10 years!

Challenges -
Paper Players - Shaped Cards
TSG - Card Sets
Pixies Crafty Playground - Snippets
Clear It Out - Add a Snowflake
SOS - Winter
Songbird - Die Another Day
Paper Minutes - CAS Christmas
Crafting By Designs - Winter/Christmas

Thanks for looking (if you click on the pic you'll get a better view) and thanks too for leaving any comments - I appreciate every single one. x

CAS - Crafty Cardmakers DT

Am hosting another challenge this month at Crafty Cardmakers and for my second theme I have chosen Clean and Simple.
It's not that long ago when I dreaded doing these but now find them very 'soothing' to make - there's something about clean lines and no fussy stuff which makes a nice change when you just want to 'make' a quick card!

I chose as usual to make a card with linen textured cardstock.

I used a duster brush and inked a small piece of scrap card with Wild Honey Distress Ink first.

I then stamped flower heads and foliage in Memento 'Rich Cocoa' ink direct onto the base card, then stamped again once onto a white left over piece of the cardstock and once again onto the already inked piece.

With two circle nesties I cut out the tops of the stamped images and ran round the edge of the inked one with a sponge dipped in watered down 'Tea Dye' Distress ink to give a more definite edge, then 3d mounted both circles together lining up the design.

Aligned onto the card base and stuck with some 3d dots to raise it slightly.

The sentiment was also stamped in the Memento ink. I have long been an admirer of this blog and credit the owner with the inspiration for this card - well worth a visit - she makes some awesome cards.
Two great sponsors as always - hope you will join me again for the challenge this week - clean and simple, minimal embellishments, lots of white space - what can be easier???

Challenges -
Dream Valley - CAS
Stampin with the Dragon - Autumn Colours
Ladybug Crafts - Autumn Colours
Aud Sentiments - Any sentiment
Delicious Doodles - No Designer Paper

First today!

This is the first of a couple of posts today - my DT card for Crafty Cardmakers will be along in a little while!
Have had a mad few days since the middle of last week - meetings to attend, minutes to type and in between a really nice night at the Annual National Presentation Dinner in the Midlands -  (And yes for the second time in succession I wore a DRESS!! - Not the same one as last year either!!! No Pics to share though!). Also plucked up the courage to go and have my hair cut!

In between all this madness I found time to make a few cards yesterday which was the first day I have really had where I haven't had to be busy (should have been doing housework... hey ho..)

I also haven't had the time to enter any LIM challenges for a while so set to and rustled this up in double quick time -
 Don't you love these little birdies!
The ear muffs crack me up!
The stamp was a freebie I managed to snag from From The Heart Stamps a while back.

I printed direct to the linen card and then used lots of my Distress Inks to bring the feathered ones to life - the blue background was not DI but watercolour pastel.
Added some stickles to the hat and glossy accents to the two stars and there you are - another Christmas card done!

Challenges -
LIM - Birds
That Craft Place - Stars
One stitch at a Time - Bingo (Blue/Stickles/CAS)
CAS on Sunday - Winter Theme
Addicted to CAS - Pet (hope my birds qualify!)
So am off to take some more pics of yesterdays makes whilst the light is good here... thanks for visiting -will catch up with you all today and hope you will come back again later to see my DT card! x

Winter

Enjoyed waking up to a real wintry morning here - the amazing view we have was covered in thick white frost this morning - so snuggled back under the duvet and watched the sheep who were blending in nicely with the white covered fields!
So my share with you is of a wintry vista too..... this is a CASE'd card which I saw last year over a the wonderfully talented Heather's blog - and once I saw it I had to run out and buy the stamp IMMEDIATELY! But by then Christmas was over and it lay in the drawer - until last week!

Now I can't stop stamping with it... have made a large batch of cards which has swelled my stock pile considerably!

Stamped the image direct onto the card and clear embossed.

Scored two lines down the left side and stamped the greeting in Stormy Sky DI.

Masked off the left side and using torn post it notes to create 'banks' sponged Tumbled Glass DI along the edges.

Stole a coin from dear husband to make the moon mask and then sponged the sky with mix of Stormy Sky/Faded Jeans/Dusty Concord.

Left for a little while to dry then used some glitter dust on the snow banks and Cranberry Stickles on the winter berries.

I just LOVE this stamp! 
And it was great getting inky for a change - although my technique is not brilliant, I am happy with the way these all turned out!

Lots of Winter Challenges -

C is for Challenge - Winter is Coming
Creative Creations - Sparkle &Shine
Paper Playtime - Sparkle
Sparkle n Sprinkle - Glitter/Embossing Powder
PB Saturday Challenge - Sparklers
Creatalicious - Christmas
Freshly Brewed  - Christmas
One Crazy Stamper - Christmas

I am away to make a coffee so I can trawl through blogland! Thanks for any comments you leave - it means a lot. x

Getting on....

Lack of blogging posts this week as general life got in the way - when I've had some spare time I have been making just not been able to take pics as when the sun has been out or the light has been bright enough, I have been out!
I tried to take some pics this morning - light not brilliant but better than it's been - so this may not be the only post today!

Done quite a few Christmas cards now - (still not enough I don't think) - I really need to use some of the Christmas themed stash that I have bought over the years and used rarely.

This also used up some scraps of white Centura pearl card laying about on the desk.

The snowflake embossing folder I bought last year and sadly it has not seen a lot of service! 

The snowflake was done using nestie dies, layered up with a sparkly in the centre and some stickles for good measure.
The greeting embossed in silver and tucked underneath and the sparkle ribbon is from my stash (something else which is years old! LOL)

 Challenges -
4 Crafty Chicks - Snowflakes
Sisterhood of Crafters - Embossing
Creative Moments - CAS/Anything Goes
Christmas@Sweet Stamping - White on White
Oldie but Goodie - CAS Christmas
SOS - Something on your desk
Crafting by Design - Anything Christmas Goes
Divas by Design - Snow

Patch of blue sky appearing as I type so maybe it's time to get on the scarf and gloves and have a short walk whilst I have the chance - as always I really appreciate you leaving me any comments and I hope you're having a great day. x

Paper Piecing - Crafty CardMakers DT

Today it's my turn to set  the Crafty Cardmakers challenge - and a challenge it was - well for me anyway!
I (having a moment of sheer lunacy!) picked 'Paper Piecing'.................. no idea why....... seemed like a good idea at the time.......... but I am soooooo NOT good at it!

And as one of the sponsors for this challenge is the very talented Krista, I wanted to use one of her lovely digis (which you can all go see here) - and I hope I have done it justice!

Here is 'Christmas Nutcracker' - suitably pieced with very apt papers entitled 'Merry Christmas' by Raspberry Road.

I pieced the dress, shoes and her hair ribbons - quite tricky- and probably could have been neater - but overall not too bad!

Applied some Stickles to the neck of the dress and the stripes on her socks and even popped a wee bit of gold blingy on the little soldier (well it IS for Christmas after all!).

The green ruffle ribbon was from my stash and I added a few red pearls.

The bauble sentiment is a chipboard piece bought a long long time ago and the red and green beads were rescued from one of last years Christmas cards!

Hope you can have a go at my very own challenge this fortnight - would love to see your creations - even if like me you think you're not very good at it!! (Which I am sure you are 'cos we're all too critical of our own work!!!!!)

Other Challenges -
2 Sisters - Christmas Sparkle
Kraftyhands - Trad Christmas Colours
Crafty Calendar - All things Christmas
Doodle Pantry - Any Digi Goes 
RRR - Christmas with Ribbon

Have a very happy day! x

Poppies - Just Because

The weather today here has been absolute PANTS! And because it's been wet the light has been even PANTSER! (Is that a word???)
Anyway you know what I mean - so consequently I had about 10 zillion attempts to take a photo of this card which looked anything like the actual thing - grey, full of shadows, horrible flower colours... even messing abpout with photo editing didn't make much difference - then just before I went out a patch of blue sky appeared through the roof window and I managed to get a couple of pics before the hailstones came again!

As Remembrance Day is almost upon us here in the UK it seemed fitting to make a card with Poppies.

I wanted something reasonably CaS but didn't want to make what you might call a 'typical remembrance card' with 'Sympathy' or a 'thinking of you' type sentiment, but wanted one that could be used to commemorate the fact that we are here when others are not.

The sentiment I stamped onto this small tag reminds me that I have a lot to be thankful for and happy about - even when I am feeling  the same as the weather - Pants!

Just basic linen card and a die cut from a scrap of card - die coloured with Distress Inks and mounted with 3d pads.
A few tiny sparkly gems and some shoestring ribbon - job done !

And a card which I hope can be sent 'Just Because' you feel like it!

Challenges -
Daring Card Makers - Other Occasions
Twist of Faith - Remembrance
Totally Gorjuss - Remember
Delicious Doodles - Remembrance
My Time to Craft - One layer or less
Pixies Playground - Snippets

Hope the weather isn't pants where you are! Thanks for taking the time to leave me a comment - I appreciate it. x

Christmas Window

Quite a cold day here today -think Winter is on it's way! It must be cold 'cos Dear Husband has turned up the heating!!!
I think I lulled myself into a false sense of security recently as I have actually liked my finished creations - all that is apart from this one.........

Have no idea what it is about it but it just doesn't sit right! 

There were a couple of challenges about to CASE other cards and that is what I tried to do with this one - everyone else's are 100% better than this one!

I CASED this card and designer
 http://kittiekraft.typepad.com/kittiekraft/2013/10/poinsettia-christmas-window.html
but tried to put my own twist on it rather than just do a straight copy.
(Mainly because I don't have either the same window or poinsettia dies! LOL)
Not sure if it's worked really - perhaps the  embossed brick background with the  raised bricks is too fussy?

All done on white linen card.
The window die I cut out twice for some depth and added a bit of lace behind it - (next time I likely will cut out an aperture from the base card I think)

Bit of printed Christmas ribbon and some punched leaves added. The flowers from my stash were a dirty cream shade (LOL) so coloured them with red distress ink before they got the stickles treatment!

Challenges -
Twisted Tuesday - Free for All
As You Like It - CASE a designer
C.R.A.F.T - Christmas
Paper Craftin Journey - CASE a Card
Beccy's Month of Holiday Cards - White on White
Crafty Bloggers - Christmas

Thanks for having a look today - comments appreciated - would love to know what you think! Have a great day. x

Man card!

Am still toiling away with Christmas Cards! It is so unusual for me to be organised I am beginning to get a bit worried!!
Today's share was made with a man in mind, inspired by something I saw last year on Pinterest
and uses a stamp I won in a challenge.

Blue base card layered with white linen textured card which had been given the treatment with a snowflake embossing folder!
Blue snowy patterned  paper at the bottom and a strip of punched snowflakes over the join.

The 'Old Truck' stamp comes with flowers and grass so this posed a bit of a problem - not a lot of floral greenery here in the Winter!
I used some tinselly twinkly white embossing powder  - and held my breath as I wasn't sure it would cover all the floral fancy round the base and in the back.... but it did!
Then put some more onto the body of the truck in an attempt to make it look like it had been snowed in for some time - was quite pleased with the result.

Added some glossy accents on the windscreen and headlamps which doesn't show up very well inj the pic.
Cut it out with a nestie and popped it onto a blue scalloped nestie oval. Finished off with my fave snowflake die and some blingy gems.

Challenges -
Nat and Amy's - For the Boys
2 Sisters - Christmas (no red or Green)
Crafting Cafe - Winter Blues
WOW - Christmas
Tok Bobok - Christmas
Scribble & Scrap - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's #149 - Christmas
CRAFT - One for the Boys
Christmas @Sweet Stamping - Card for a Male

Thanks for taking the time to call in today - and if you've been able to leave me a comment I really appreciate it. Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

A Traditional Christmas - Vintage Stamping DT

November is here and Christmas will soon be upon us!
So, to spur you into making sure you have all your Christmas cards made this month's challenge at Vintage Stamping is 'A Traditional Christmas'.
Remember - even though we have the word vintage in our title your project doesn't have to be! It DOES though, have to have some actual stamping on it...
So here's my DT card for this month -

I used black cardstock.
The mesh stuff I found in a drawer - I remember buying it and thinking it would make snow background and then used a teeny piece of it about 2 years ago! So am using it all up this year - or at least am going to try to!

The stamped image is from our wonderful sponsor Flonzcraft - and what can be more traditional than decorating a Christmas Tree?
After stamping, I painted the sky with Distress Inks in shades of blue and purple.

A liberal helping of Diamond Stickles applied to the floor and a wee bit dabbed onto the rooftop.
I glued tiny red gems onto the body of the tree and a green one on top. There was a 'garland' on the stamp so I stuck on some red metallic thread.. really fiddly and doubtful if I would attempt again!!!
Mounted it onto black card then layered it onto the card base.

The snowflake flourish is being well used this year! Popped on a couple of sparklies and some thin organza grey ribbon before adding the sentiment which I think is from Raspberry Road.

Challenges -
Crazy 4 Challenges - Not all Black & White
Sunday Sketch & Stamp no 181


Thanks for stopping in today and hope my little card has inspired you to join us this callenge - we'd love to see you!
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Most Popular?

A quick share today before I go out and get wet!

Another Christmas card too - and likely a stamp that the world and his wife have been using since it was released - I bought it a while back and spent yesterday stamping it in different colours to make into cards - only wish I could have got my hands on the Train postcard one at the same time too - but it's as elusive as Santa's reindeer at the mo!! On order and promised so I will just have to be patient.... NOT one of my best traits!

Opted for an aqua blue theme on this one - in a fit of madness about 5 years ago (!!!) I bought a pad of ridiculously expensive 12"x12" K and Co Winter Wonderland papers - as with so many papers they were strokable and viewable but too nice to be usable.......LOL
Last Christmas I made a start into cutting into them and have continued this year...'cos if I don't I'll be selling them as antiques!
Distressed the "vintage" papers, matted onto aqua blue card then layered onto the white base card.
Snowy Postcard stamped with Smokey Grey Versafine ink, edges distressed and coloured the sky with Tumbled Glass DI. Matted onto the same aqua blue.
Script embossing folder used onto Coredinations and sanded and placed behind the stamped image. A stamped word, some glittered die cut snowflakes and a scrap of white organza ribbon.
Once made up I decided to colour the holly leaves and berries in the corner of the stamp which I had originally left - oh and of course HAD to add lots of glittery stuff for snow!

Challenges -
Allsorts - Christmas
Gem of a Challenge - Christmas
C2CU - Vintage Christmas with a mono twist
Crafty Hands - Anything Goes
Scrapping 4 Fun - Christmas/Holiday
Winter Wonderland - Blue/White (and am hoping that my little touch of green for the holly leaves is ok!)
ALBC - Sparkle & Shine
2 Sisters - Christmas - no red or green

Thanks for visiting today - am away out for the afternoon but will be visiting everyone later.  Enjoy your day whatever you're doing.x  

More purple

Just spent a couple of hours using up odds and ends - made a couple of cards and thought I'd share this one with you -

Embossed the edges of a standard white square card with a border folder.
Layered a left over piece of  embossed card onto a lilac base and then cut out two triangles from the lilac piece.
Both of these triangles went through the 'crimping' machine and stuck different sizes of pearls on one and wrapped some braid round the other.
Punched out a star and put a pearl in the middle and finished it off with a white bow.

Quick, easy and used up some leftovers instead of either hoarding them or chucking them in the bin!  So this will go into the Playground this week as a snippets make!

Challenges -
Christmas Card Challenges - Bows
TTCRD - Anything Goes
Hobbycutz - Bingo (Pearls/Free/Ribbon)
MAWTT - No papers
Beccy's Place - Holiday Cards

Am now nicely settled in the craftie space with the cup of coffee and am about to come calling! Thanks for visiting! x

The Colour Purple - Crafty Cardmakers DT

The last two weeks have flown by and it's time again for another challenge at Crafty Cardmakers.
Hosted by Fiona, who  decided to tax my brain cells and choose the theme of Purple!
So cards/projects that are all or mostly purple please - hair/skin colours are allowed.

This is not a colour that I use a lot - not because I don't like it but because I struggle to make anything with it  that I actually like when it's done!

However, I am actually quite pleased with this effort for a change!

I used basic purple coredinations cardstock for the background.
Stamped it with a lovely floral branch stamp from Flonzcraft and then white embossed.
I used Dusty Concord DI and lightly coloured some of the flower petals.

The flowers were done using an old set of stamps so have no idea who made them!
I punched out the butterfly and gave it a little blingy.
Finished with some antique style lace and shoestring ribbon.
No sentiment ....yet.... but maybe it doesn't need one?

Other Challenges -
My Time to Craft - Butterflies
Flutterby Wednesday - No Orange or Black
Sister Act - Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
Craftin Boutique - Anything Goes

Hope everyone is safe, warm and dry! Thanks for finding the time to come see me today. x

White stash!

Finally found some 'ME' time yesterday and then sadly discovered the mojo had gone walkabout!

With creative ideas sadly lacking I thought I'd best stick to CAS cards as simple layouts were all that my brain cells would manage.

And it also gave me a chance to use up some of the smaller pieces of pearl card laying about - cuttlebug to the rescue, some dies and embossing folders and a bit of glitter and so began a Christmas card making session.

Two cards to share - one tent card, one square, same basic design just using different die cut trees and sentiments.

The punched out glittery snowflake was not intended originally -  but there was a dirty mark on the embossed piece which I didn't notice until I stuck the other bits on - happily the little glittery flake covered up my smudgy sins!

The sentiments were stamped using Stone Gray Stazon - I treated myself to a little PB stamp set this week and these were included in the set. 

Challenges -
Charisma - WOW
Aud Sentiments - Christmas Sentiment
Allsorts - Treemendous
Craftin Boutique - Anything Goes
Nutcrafters - Lots of Layers
Crafting Musketeers - Christmas
Pixie's Playground - Snippets

These are the first of quite a few done yesterday so am feeling rather smug as for once I am getting myself organised! Whether it will last or not is a different matter!!
Thanks for calling in today - hope you're all having a great weekend. x

UPDATE - 
Everyone asking me about the die for the larger top card - it's a Memory Box one called - would you believe - 'Twiggy Tree'!! LOL

'Belleek

This week has seen friends visiting (days out and lunches!), two other lunches (and travelling to Cumbria and Yorkshire) in the form of Northern Counties Presentations, my own Club presentation night (some polishing of silver and washing of crystal) and today is the Club AGM (lots of minute taking and typing later!) - so before I collapse in a heap I thought it about time that I at least posted SOMETHING!!!

I made this card after being inspired by the hugely talented Sylvia-Anne.
Her CAS cards are so beautiful and I tried this simple method with a Christmas card which I have already shared and thought it would be perfect for a quickie Sympathy card - I don't like making them but it's something we all need....

I used Versamagic 'Pixie Dust' Chalk Ink on the embossing folder.
The card used in the embossing folder was some high quality  bright white stamping card which has a subtle sheen.

Believe me I held my breath as I ran it through!
First attempt and it turned out just fine!

The ink is lighter in places (altho the pic isn't the best) and it gives a fab subtle effect which is just perfect for a 'soft and gentle' card.

I stamped the sentiment in grey ink and cut out with a nestie tag. Raised the middle slightly and popped on a couple of pearls before layering the finished piece onto linen card.
This is the first of several 'Belleek Style' cards  now in my stash -Thank you Sylvia!

Challenges -
Keep It Simple - Be Inspired
CAS(e) -  Challenge 50 (Sketch)
Paper Shelter - 2 Colours
Craft Your Passion - Add some Embossing 

Off to get all the paperwork ready - hopefully the meeting won't take long, then I can come back and catch up with everything that's gone on this week whilst I have been AWOL!!
Have a great day. x

A Visit to Grandma's House - Shabby Chic - Crafty Cardmakers DT

It's time for another challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and this one is one of my ABSOLUTE FAVES!! So I hope you will find time to join us this fortnight - prizes up for grabs!!
A big thank you to fellow Teamie BettyC who set this challenge - SHABBY CHIC. Love it!
 I have had soooo much fun creating this project and I used up lots of little bitty things - fiddly, time consuming, messy desk and sticky fingers - just what us crafters love!

 Be warned now before you go any further this is a VERY picture heavy post - I have put 'close up' views at the bottom - please enlarge if you want a better look!

I bought this house shaped box some time ago and had already painted and distressed it but when we moved house it got packed away and I finally got round to making it up.
It gave me a chance to just - well have a 'play'!

My gran was an accomplished dressmaker. She made everyone's wedding dresses, bridesmaids outfits, winter coats etc and all my summer dresses. I was the proud owner of a beautiful red velvet dress with a white crochet collar one Christmas when I was about 8 followed by a luscious brown corduroy coat with a leather collar for my birthday.

So this project is in it's own way a tribute to her amazing needle skills - and of course her prowess with a Singer sewing machine!

Quick run down through the 'storeys' -
Attic - small cardboard box liberally stamped, a little Paris Passport rescued from another project, a hat, parasol, old clock and old sign, a bit of lace thrown in!

First floor - Paris backed Perfume Advert, small parcel of fabric, vintage lace and a teeny pink thimble, some 'rolls' of fabric (done by using cocktail sticks and scraps!), a couple of tiny buttons, sewing machine (stamped on metal) and a 'remember' sticker. Dressmakers dummy covered in paper and some floaty fabric, a mirror made by using modelling paste, acrylic paints and metallic rubs for the frame with the insert from a piece of tin foil, a reel of vintage ribbon secured with a sparkly pin and a small cotton reel.

Ground floor -from the left -  image printed onto fabric (reminded me of the way my hair was done in 'ringlets' when I was small!) edged with vintage lace, a fabric rose and a pearl earring,
Centre - a sewing 'basket' containing some vintage style pins, a safety pin, tape measure and scissors, a button and specs and a candelabra to see by!  

Right - a ladies vintage boot, more buttons and a tiny hanger with a feather bit all sat on some vintage lace.

Challenges -
Natalie & Amy - Shabby Chic
Altered Eclectics - Alter Something
Dream Valley - Buttons
The Crafting Cafe - Anything Goes
All Crafts Challenge - Anything but a Card
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
Created with Love - Sewing
ALBC - A little bit Shabby

I hope you have enjoyed my little trip down memory lane - the box is now sat on my work room wall where it evokes memories of my childhood!
Thanks for visiting today - have a great time whatever you're doing. x

Halloween Dance

I am not a Halloween person! Nor am I inclined to read or watch anything remotely spooky.... (apart from Casper that is!) but once in a while seeing all the masks, capes, spidery things I am tempted to produce something non cute that could be (loosely) interpreted as suitably scary.

Perhaps the image is not your normal kind of anniversary/wedding card subject but the sentiment seemed to fit with it so a wedding/anniversary/engagement card it is....... for someone who likes all things Twilight Zone!

Basic white card covered in some black paper then a piece of purple crackle style paper.
After distressing the edges, some Pumice Stone DI applied and some faux stitching in black along the edge.

Image matted and distressed in the same way, coloured with a mix of promarkers and Distress Inks.
Black lace, black pearls and flourishes and two die cut gothic style corners.

The freebie sentiment printed onto the purple paper. The two 'bats' are tiny cut outs from the corner dies - they didn't start off life as bats - I just used a pair of scissors and trimmed the off cuts a bit!!

The metal heart charm is a dull dark grey colour - the shine comes from the flash on the camera - I had a devil of a job taking this pic (perhaps not a good choice of descriptive person for Halloween??? LOL) - its very grey and damp here today and the dark colours didn't make for good photo taking!

So there it is - my Halloween offering for 2013!

Challenges -
Creative Insp - Happy Haunting
MAWTT - Spooktastic
CRAFT- Halloween
Crafty Catz - Halloween
LOC - Halloween
Card Crafters Circle - 3 embellishments
Country View Crafts - Something Spooky
Emergency Crafters - Halloween

Thanks for stopping by - have a great day whatever you're doing. x

A little bit shabby...

have been working on a couple of projects (not cards) but got withdrawal symptoms... so  with lots of bit and pieces left on the desk I made this....

Not a stamp in sight - just paper, lace and various bits and bobs.

Whilst the sewing machine was uncovered I put it to good use - the backing paper is from First Edition and I stitched onto cream card after suitably distressing the edges and running round them with Pumice Stone Distress Ink.

The large width lace is from my stash - it's stretchy so was a bit awkward when stitching!

Covered the dress form with paper from the Papermania 'Bookprint' stack which I bought last year and have never used one single sheet to my shame.... and then added some black lace threaded through a pearl heart buckle.

All the other lace, ribbon, ric rac braid were odd bits left over.

The 'C'est Magnifique' sentiment I found in an envelope - obviously rescued from something else at sometime or other so stitched round it and stuck it on with foam pads adding a lace flower with a cameo button middle on the bottom.
Three tiny black pearls in a corner, some pins stuck into the silky crush ribbon bow et volia` - French Shabby Chic!! (I hope!)...

Challenges -
Delightful Challenges - Distress
Crafting by Design - A.Goes with Ribbon/Lace
Crafting 4 all seasons - Pins and Lace
Timeless Tuesday - Pearls and lace
Whimsy Insp - Shabby Chic/Vintage
Oldie but Goodie - Lace/Stitching/Ribbon from the Bingo board
Cute Card Thursday - Neutral Zone
PNDC - #14 Vintage
Unstampabelles - Stitching
My Craft Creations - A/Goes

I appreciate you taking the time to look and thanks for leaving comments!
Hope you're all having some craft time wherever you are in the world time zone.xx