Scraps!

We've had some wild storms over the last 24 hours - weird weather - in between the torrential downpours and thunder/lightning, we sat outside and did the crossword!! It's raining quite heavily again now so it gave me a perfect excuse to have a little 'fiddle' with some odd bits laying about on the desk and make a quick CAS card!

Base card is Ivory Linen and the stamp is an old one!

The script paper is from a Papermania pad and I edged it with some scraps of black card cut with a scalloped punch.

An off cut of some cream vintage cotton lace was wrapped round the middle.

The tatty flower is just all bits of papers from the same paper pad. Cut it with different sizes of nesties circles, tattered the edges a bit, sprayed with some water and scrunched up. Once dryish put them all together with a brad.

The leaves and foliage were also punched from odd bits of paper and I just finished it off with some black pearls.

(There appears to be a small mark on the left - must have been on the camera cos it ain't on the card! My mucky fingers on the lens no doubt!)

Challenges -
Cuttin' and Stampin' - CAS
ABC - Use Scraps
Lady Annes - Monochrome
Card Making Mama's - Monchrome
Fashionable Stamping - Use Script

and although it's a bit wet for the Playground, have donned my wellies and am going to go splash in the puddles! x

Card making by Numbers! - Crafty Cardmakers DT

Time for another challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers and this time the challenge has been set by  Elaine who has chosen the theme '1,2,3' -  so projects have to have - 1 image, 2 patterned papers and 3 embellishments  (and you must have the required elements in the required quantities to qualify for a winner or Top 5 slot!).

Our sponsors this week are  THE PAPER SHELTER and SIR STAMPALOT

  So here is my DT card - using one of the fab images and co ordinating papers from the Paper Shelter - called 'Trattoria Chef'. He is all rotund and happy - just like I imagine chefs should be (after sampling all their own food!! LOL)

I printed him out a couple of times and decoupaged him for a bit of depth.
I stitched all the papers and printed out a 'menu'. The wordart in the centre of the menu was a freebie from TLC and I added a little scalloped edge cut with the leftover paper, a tiny bow and attached it with a tiny wooden peg.

I made two 'napkins' from scraps of paper and lace and popped a tiny pearl in the centre, a couple more pearls and a 'recipe' and spoons from my stash.
I continued the papers inside but have yet to put a greeting on it as I'm not sure if it needs one or not!

Challenges -
Craft Your Passion - 3D it
Paper Shelter - Anything Goes
Tammy's Scrappin Corner - Use a Digi
Addicted to Stamps - Lots of Layers
Crafts 4 Eternity - Anything Goes


Thanks for looking - do pop over and see the other projects from my DT buddies and have a great day whatever you're doing! x
  

Hello Baby!

I've had a real nice week - been away for a couple of days playing - first in York then on to  Cumbria for the Ladies Festival. The weather was hot but bearable (just!), had lots of laughs with my teamies and we won the Fours competition on Tuesday! Sadly, though playing Monday and Tuesday did nothing for the neck and shoulder condition and although I gave it another go on Wednesday I have suffered since! So have spent today doing not a lot at all. (Any excuse.....)
All in all though despite all the aches, pains and crunching of bones one of my better weeks!!

I also found time before I went away to do a 'rush job' on a new baby card for one of my team mates to give to a work friend. 
Done in a mega hurry don't think it's turned out too bad! And she thought it was fab!

As time was at a premium it had to be CAS - Basic white linen card ran through the favourite and much used Swiss Dots embossing folder then layered onto pale pink.
The pram was inspired by an idea over on Pinterest (where else???? LOL) and is simple to do by just cutting two different sized nestie circles and chopping them in half!

I edged both with some pink and white lace from the stash and added a couple of fabric roses.
The wheels were also cut using a scalloped edge nestie, a circle punch and a tiny flower punch. Layered them all together and popped a pink pearl in the middle.

Handle of the pram was a nestie label die which I chopped up to get the required shape!
LOTV stamp greeting and some pink organza ribbon finished it all off.
AND - as I used up the 'left-overs' from the main piece of card after embossing for the pram I'm sneaking over the wall into the Crafty Playground very late this week..... and tip toeing past the swings before I get locked out!

Challenges -
CRAFT - For the Girls
Milk Coffee - Emboss It
Paper Crafting Journey - Punches and Die Cuts
Die Cutting Divas - Twice is Nice
ALBC - Die-ing for it  

Hope you've all had a great week! Off now to catch up with you all. x

Post Cards

It has been such another beautiful day and I am beginning to feel very spoilt with all this lovely sunshine. Long may it continue - although I have heard lots of people complaining about how hot it is - there's no pleasing us Brits is there - moan when it rains, moan when its cold and now moaning because it's hot and sunny!!
No moaning from me............. well not about the weather anyway!
I did though take a rest from the searing heat and spent a few hours indoors - this card is the result.
The papers are all torn from the Prima Botanicals pad, distressed and stitched.
The post cards seemed very apt for the sunny weather!
The heavy dark cream lace was in my stash and I used Kraft cardstock for the card base.
The chipboard birdcage is from Maya Road and I did consider embossing it but changed my mind as I thought the cardboardy colour blended in well with the overall appearance.
Added some flowers and lots of swirly pearl bits and the scrummy ribbon was a present from Maureen. I used a vintage button in the centre of the bow and stuck in a couple of pearl pins.
The little metal bird and letter charm was from my stash and the sentiment was stamped using Versafine Smokey Grey ink.

Made a change to make something vintagey and adult after all the kid's cards recently!

Challenges -
All About the Vintage - Summer Sparkle
Emma's Cards - Lace/Pearls
Shabby Tea Room - Pearls/Lace/Flowers with Romantic theme (hope my little love letter carrying birdie counts!)and a fab Inspiration Photo
Created with Love - Anything Goes
Frilly and Funkie - Summertime
The Hobby House - Vintage
Craft Room Challenge - Vintage Stamping

Thanks for visiting and leaving comments - I really DO appreciate it! x

Birthday - Crafty Card Makers DT

This week's over at Crafty Cardmakers Lin has chosen the theme of 'Birthday'  to celebrate our challenge's Birthday!
So we would love for you to join in and share your birthday creations with us - some great prizes from our sponsors - pop over to the blog and check them out!

This is the last one of my recent commission for children's birthday cards.

I think this little ballerina from Mo Manning is such a cutie!

I printed her out and coloured her with promarkers then cut her out with a fancy nestie oval.
Her tutu was liberally covered with some pink stickles and all the papers were from my stash.
Added some corner die cuts and some pearls and ribbon before fixing the greeting.

The inside is decorated to match.

I can only apologise for the poor color quality of my pics recently - I haven't found somewhere yet in the new house that quite matches the light of the window of the previous office and think that my pics look a little 'washed out'!

Challenges -
2 Sisters - Make it Sparkle
Paper Creator - Think Pink
Word Play Saturday - Birthday
Sister Act - Anything Goes
Crafting Musketeers - Ribbons/Pearls
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
One Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi


Thanks for stopping in - know those of us here in the UK are busy enjoying this fab weather we're having - so hope the sun is shining for you too! x

Summer!

Isn't this weather just the absolute BEST?!! Glorious!

I have been having a little play with distress inks - I was lucky enough to win some blog candy offered by fellow crafter  Sylvia-Anne and I used the voucher to buy some DI's in colours I didn't have (amongst a few other things!! LOL).

So armed with the newly acquired 'Squeezed Lemonade' and a combo of other older inks (!!), I made this quick CAS card for a relative of mine who has been having a worrying time just lately. 

Basic bright white cardstock with a column masked using torn post it notes.

Sponged Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Dried Marigold inks onto the panel, then after removing the mask, stamped one of my very fave and very old Agapanthus stamps on top.

Popped on a couple of pearls and a wee bit of sparkly on a couple of the flower heads, then layered  onto black cardstock then onto white.

The sentiment stamp I really like - and I thought it made a change from the usual 'Thinking of You'.

Challenges -
Oldie but Goodie - In the Garden
Shopping our Stash - Summer Colours
Crafters Cafe - Anything Goes
Paper Minutes - Anything Goes
Emergency Crafters - Summer Days
Crafting Cafe - Summer's Here

Off to enjoy the sunshine - hope you are too! x

First Birthday

The days have just disappeared in the last week so I have had no time to blog - in between running about like the proverbial headless chicken I have been trying to complete an order. This is the second card - for a little boy's first birthday.
The papers are from Summer Driggs and are called 'Easton' and I really like the bright sunshiney colours (just apt for the glorious weather we're having at the moment!!)
The image is a digi stamp from I think Digi Stamp Boutique, (I apologise if it is from somewhere else but honestly can't remember!) and I printed out a few times then layered it up to give it some dimension.
The addition of a few buttons,some bright orange thread and a teeny bit of stickles finished it!
Challenges -
One stop Craft - Anything Goes
HCTB - Use a Digi Stamp
Crafty Catz - Childs Play
Totally Papercrafts - Let's hear it for the Boys
Wags n Whiskers - Cute as a Button
Sweet Pea Stampers - For the Boys

Thanks for calling in - am off to finish another card then hopefully will get a couple of hours sitting enjoying the view outside!
Will catch up with you all later tonight! x

Holiday Destinations

Time for another challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers - and this week Jack would like to see projects that depict or are inspired by a holiday destination. This doesn't have to be somewhere you have been, it can be somewhere you would love to go. Please explain where you have chosen and why in your blog post and please please to keep things fair for everyone make sure you read those challenge rules as you don't want to lose your chance to win a prize from one of our two fab sponsors - CRAFTS AND ME and THE PAPER SHELTER.

 Onto my project - a long time ago I went to Italy. (Be warned this post is pic heavy!!)

I visited Rome, Pisa and Venice. 

I adored Italy - the culture, the art, the food(LOL), the wine (LOL) and well - just about everything! 

I have promised myself that I will return again and it's on my ever increasing list of 'things to do before I become too old and decrepit to enjoy them'!!  

So it was an obvious choice for me to choose this as my destination.

Instead of a card, this week I have altered a slide mailer. 
The mailer was inked with Dusty Concord DI before adding the papers (which are from Crafty individuals).

The pic with the Colosseum in the background - from a time when 'visiting Europe' was only something done by rich and privileged families seemed perfect to use. 

On the front I added a small fabric leafy flourish (cut off something or other!) and a metal camera charm. I popped a die cut in the top corner after colouring randomly with the same DI.
 
Inside another image, a bit of stamping, some ribbon,  and lace and a fabric flower died with DI. 

Under the slides are two more Italy images - of course no visit to Italy is complete without a trip on a venetian gondola or a visit to marvel at St Peter's Basilica.  
I used some tiny beads at the top of each one.

Same papers were used on the back.

I hope my project has inspired you to come and join us this time - we love seeing all your creations!

Challenges -
Our Creative Corner - Captured Memories
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes
Dutch Dare - Photo Inspiration (please visit their blog!)
Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Cards und More - Travel/Adventure  
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - From the Past
Lexi's - Summer Holiday 
seemacrafts - Holday/vacation

Thanks for visiting! x