Animal Magic and other things!

Animal Magic is the theme of our challenge this month at Stamping Sensations . Great prizes again up for grabs but please observe our rules and remember we are a STAMPING challenge so must see a stamped image or sentiment as the FOCAL point. If you follow our rules you could be in with a chance of winning this fab prize from TATTERED LACE

I have a lot of stamps I rarely use - no surprise there then.... and I bet I am not alone.😛 I buy because I like them, maybe use them once (or even not at all) and then store them away.

This LOTV stamp is one of those (along with the other 3 I bought from the Mice set....) - this one has seen ink twice, the others once each I think!

I always think LOTV stamps need lots of embellies but I have tried to do one with hardly any on it at all - as I am intending on sending this through the post.

Originally I had a plain base but it really did look stark so this tiny flower embossing folder which was free in a magazine last year (or the year before?) was also taken out of it's wrapping!

Our flower shop mice were coloured with Promarkers, then matted onto green card after using a X stitch die to cut it out.
The little tags were snippets left over from the green card and the sentiment is from SU.

Other Challenges -
Crazy 4 Challenges - Animals

Thanks for taking time to have a look today - hope you will join us! x 

Just Hangin' Around

Flags and bunting out!!! It happened!! I got to spend a few hours today in my little craftie space! Not that I did much - LOL
Did a DT card so I am still a couple of months ahead with these (just so I don't get into a panic- or even worse get too busy and away too much to fulfil the commitment) and generally then just mooched about!
Am thinking of taking some stuff with me this trip away cos I am away for the whole month - even if I just colour some things up it will give me something to relax to?
So here is a little make

and 'cos I used some snippets for the branch and the flowers I'm going to the Playground! See all this spare time ( 1 whole day) has gone to my head...

Back to the card.
I used plain white cardstock and sponged a little blue ink on the top.
The embossed bottom was done using an embossing folder which I think was free with a mag, then just dabbed a little green ink on the grasses.

I cut the branch from a scrap of brown card then punched out the tiny flowers from pink scraps.

The image is of course LOTV, layered up onto foam pads and positioned over the branch.
Sentiment also LOTV.

Weather here has been awful today - I am hoping it improves for the month of the National Championships which start on Saturday (hence my being elsewhere for the month of August!)

Challenges -
Glitter n Sparkle - Use the letter 'B' (Baby, Bunny, Branch, Blue)
Crafty Sentiments - Baby
Fab n Funky - No Patterned papers
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes with a sentiment
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything goes but Make it feminine

Thanks for visiting - off to do the ironing!Have a great time until I get chance to call in on you all (whatever you're doing!!) xx

Relaxing Sunday

After a whirlwind (but brilliantly enjoyable) 36 hours across Friday and Saturday - I am having a 'chill out' day!Lovely pre-wedding meal at a fab hotel on Friday night, then a very early start Saturday morning for a civil ceremony within the stunning setting of St Georges Hall at 10am, followed by pastries etc back at the hotel before the newly married couple hopped into a taxi on the start of their trip to the Maldives.
A very small and intimate affair, just 7 of us altogether (them, us, the grooms 2 grown up children and a girlfriend!) -  it was all the more special for that. They're having two small celebrations with their respective families  who live a considerable distance away from each other when they come back!
So here's my share for today -

The papers are very very old - that old I have no idea where they're from!
The darker green piece is two off cuts and I just juggled about positioning it with it so that I got a larger piece to the right and little teen scrap peeping out from the left.
Used some scrap hessian for a 'rustic' feel (cheated a bit with this too cos it's in two pieces - the space is hidden behind the image!)
Highlighted the LOTV image with promarkers and matted onto green card then punched two holes and added metal eyelets.
String threaded through and tied using a metal rimmed clock button for the bow centre.
A tiny metal fish charm tied from the string and positioned onto the top of the sentiment (a freebie from TLC) which was printed onto Kraft then die cut. Two corners punched using the remanants of the die cut piece.
Popping into the Playground this week (been absent but have good excuses which I hope Miss will accept....LOL)

Other Challenges -
Di's Digi's - Green
Challenge Up Your Life - Masculine
Crafting When We Can - Hobby/Activity
Cardz 4 Guyz - Hobbies
City Crafter - Keys/Time

 Oh and of course I couldn't finish the post without a couple of pics from yesterday!

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Uninked

This week I have found a couple, a few, rather a lot of never seen ink stamps! Suppose I should resolve to ink them all at least once so am going to give it a go....
This LOTV stamp has been in my stash since a couple of days after it was released - it was one of those - 'I have to have it' stamps. So much for THAT! Had to have it that much that it just got stored away and neglected!

I wiped the dust from it and used it (rather like the backing paper - something else which has been in the paper box for EVER).

Cut out the image with a nestie and put it onto a pink scalloped circle then onto a green one.
Coloured with promarkers and added some Liquid Pearls for the icing and some glamour dust for the wings.
Stitched all together.

Stitched the backing paper onto a pink base and added some green ruffle ribbon and pink lace.
Finished with a cut out cupcake (from yet another old paper piece), some die cut corners amd a couple of pearls.
The sentiment came with the stamp. 

Challenges -
Addicted to Stamps and More - Make Your Mark
Crafting For all Seasons - Dies or Punches
Crafting by Designs - Bingo - Lace/Glitter/Pearls
Fab n Funky - Ribbon and Lace
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes with a Die
Papertake Weekly - Bingo - Glitter/Free/Die Cut

Had a really nice day today - went for lunch with dear husband and my nephew (we met him halfway between where we both live!)- had a lovely leisurely lunch at Betty's in Harrogate - was nice to see him as we don't get to see each other often. A great catch up and a relax  which was just what I needed ahead of my BIG weekend! (All will be shown early next week - promise!) Thanks for looking in - have a great day whatever you're doing and will catch up soon. xx

Wedding 1

Worked steadily the last few days in swelling the Macmillan stash box. Made a few specific occasion cards (Easter, Wedding Day etc) rather than my normal 'Do for Anything' (Just for You, Best Wishes) card in the hope that having a wide selection may tempt people to stock up for a few occasions!

The taking of this picture has caused me such angst!

I think my loved little camera may be about to go to the camera heaven in the sky... the colours are not true and there has been a lot of 'bleed' round the edges - this is the most passable pic but still not as sharp as I would have liked!
I used a 'Blossom' embossing folder (from an Oriental set) for the background, simply highlighted and layered image onto another piece of white card and ran some blingy round the edges and on the image itself.

The lace is from my stash, with a few pearls added and a die cut heart with a tiny organza bow.
The flowers were made using Spellbinders dies, popped on a corner die cut and a couple of punched ferny leaves and the inside decorated to match.

Challenges -
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
MAWTT - Dies and Punches
Crafting 4 all Seasons - Ribbons/Lace/Pearls
Crafty Gals Corner - Sweet Hearts
Paper Shelter - Punches and Dies
Creative Moments - New Beginnings
Crafty Catz - New Beginnings

We've had quite a bit of snow today but thankfully the terrible high gales from last night have calmed down a bit! Thanks for stopping by - Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Another Baby!

Have done a few different things the last couple of days - Mr Mojo went walkabout for a day or two so made a couple of CAS cards which I will share another time (sometimes it is easier for me to just do something plain and simple when my brain will not handle layers and layouts) and also once Mr Mojo put in a (very short) appearance, finished off the baby cards.

This LOTV image is from their 'Babies' Art Pad - (I have found these images a little 'foggy' for me so when ever I use one I always end up with the Distress Inks or promarkers out and colour them again!)
I cut the image out with the fancy oval dies then coloured the background with pastel chalk, I then decoupaged the baby and coloured it using the aforementioned DI's!
I added a wee bit of glamour dust to the bottom of the dress and to the Cross.
The Guipure lace was a Christmas present from a crafting buddy - it's so pretty and has a lovely shine to it.

The backing paper is from my stash (I think a Prima pad) as are the flowers and pearls.
Used a tag die for the sentiment and finished with a tiny white shoestring bow - and of course used up more papers to co ordinate the inside.
Challenges -
Creative Inspirations - Finished with a Bow
Crafters Cafe - New
Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes
S.O.S - Use something new (my lace)
Die Cut Divas - Anything goes (w/die)
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Rubys Rainbow - What Santa Brought (Lace)
Inspiration Destination #15 - Anything Goes

Another CAS day I think for me today! Hope you all are having a great day. x

New

I am intending  to stick to my promise about no more paper buying and keep using up what I have use up what I have. I am not averse though to printing paper!!! But am not going to buy any as I have far too many paper packs which are largely unused and have decided that the less I spend on paper the more I can spend on stamps and other stuff!

Have been able to have crafty couple of days and am trying to swell the 'Pink' box - which for a lot of this year will be 'green' cos we've adopted  Macmillan this year as the County's charity, so I am intending to split the proceeds from the sales 60- 40  with the larger portion going to Macmillan for this bowling season. 

I have had a bit of a 'baby fest' as these are for the 'box' and here's the first of 3 finished yesterday.
I used some pastel chalk to take the white glare from the background and hopefully little 'rocking baby' stands out a bit more! He has been highlighted with Distress Inks and Promarkers to give the colours more definition.

The papers are by Nitwits (from my stash) and I found the letters in another (unused) paper pad! Attached them with a little wooden peg and popped on 3 blue buttons.
Finished off by continuing the papers inside (in an attempt to keep using!)
 Challenges -
Buckwells - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
That's Crafty - Blue
Gem of a Challenge - Something New
Dragons Lair - New Beginnings
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Another day in the crafty space for me today - have a great day whatever you're doing and if you've left me a comment or just called by, thank you! xx

Debby's Fave 5 and a time to reflect

Following from the Fave 5 Christmas Cards as always there is Debby's Fave 5 of the Year. If I thought choosing 5 from Christmas was bad choosing 5 from the year has been worse!! But here they are (and there's a special message from me to you all at the end of the post).
Am also joing Mynn over at 'On a Stampage'.

First up had to be this baby card (original post here) - am not a 'baby' person really but do like frilly and fancy (sometimes LOL) so when I was asked to make a card for a special arrival I turned to Pinterest (again!) for some inspiration and this was the result

Next is another fussy one! I love this sentiment - think it's so true-  original post here

Ok - so this one isn't a card - but it does rank amongst my faves so have included it! - original post here

A 'man' card - unusual for one to be amongst my faves - cos let's face it, we all hate making them! - original post here

  I have this year made quite a few CAS cards - out in blogland many have perfected this art of CUSP ('Completely Understated and Strikingly Perfect'!!) and I have become an avid follower of several blogs who make these gorgeous cards. Here is a 'case' from one - original post here

So that's it - another year has gone past. I hope 2014 has been good to you but if it hasn't may 2015 be better. For me it has largely been a good one, some lows but many highs. 

Sad today as it would have been my darling Mum's birthday - I miss her every single day and it's particularly hard when you can't share the 'highs'  - maybe that's why the sentiment on the second card means so much to me - it IS the little things (like sharing a cup of tea with your Mum) that make life so big.

Thank you for visiting me this year and I wish you all a 2015 filled with the 'little things'. xxx

Angel

Since my last post I have had a weekend of shocks and bad news so haven't really felt like doing much but had to get the last of the commissioned cards finished today.
I managed to finish the order and take some pics (now all stored away for future use) and decided to post one today.

Just did a plain cream colour scheme - backing paper from my stash distressed and stitched. Added some cream lace and ric rac braid and a paper doily.
The angel image is from LOTV highlighted with a bit of sparkly. I distressed the edges, took the cotton out of the machine and just ran round the edges with an empty needle.
A piece of cream organza ribbon tied into a bow and added some stamped and gold embossed stars.
Challenges -
Alphabet - T - Traditional Christmas
Christmas S.A.Y.L - #36 Anything Goes
Crafts 4 Eternity - Ribbon & Lace
Crafty Catz - Ribbon & Lace
Creative Corner - Christmas
RRR - Winter Holiday with Ribbon
Crafty Calendar - All About Christmas

Thanks for looking today and if you've left me a comment I appreciate it very much. x

Finally!

So the thought that I would be able to sit and make messy four days after my last post was a little optimistic! But FINALLY last night I did something!!
Before going any further I  want to say a warm welcome to my new followers, Maritza, Leslie, Julie, Karen S and Little K  - thanks so much for looking at my humble blog!
I had left a pile of stuff out on the craft table before I went away and once I'd removed the 3 week layer of dust(!) I decided to use it up rather than put it away so it is a similar make to a previous card I posted before the holiday.

I opted for cream tones throughout with the image only having the splash of colour and stitched everything!

Striped background paper from Anne- Marie designs and the square layer behind the image has a muted cream/ivory swirl pattern (doesn't show up very well in the pic), which is from an old Papermania pad.
All edges distressed with Antique Linen DI and added some Stickles to the image edge and also to the champagne glasses and drops.

Two lots of lace from my stash, some ivory ric rac braid (to hide the lace join),  ivory organza ribbon, a layered flower ('stickled again!), some pearls and a few pins to finish.

Oh and a stamped banner sentiment.
Inside decorated to match.

Challenges -
Ribbon Girl - Lovely Lili Add Lace
Sugar Creek Hollow - 1image, 2 papers, 3 embellies (flower,lace,pearls)
Fab n Funky - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Paper Shelter - Shabby Chic
Suzy Bee's - Anything Goes with Stripes
Country View Challenges - Sparkle and Shine
Scribble and Scrap - Anything Goes

Have a bit of tidying to do outside (sun is out!) but then am looking forward to a blogland catch up and of course a bit of creative nonsense this afternoon!
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Champagne!

Did you all think I'd left the country??? Well you're right, I Have!!! 3 whole weeks to be exact - currently sunning myself and chilling out with the odd glass or two of wine in 30 degrees of heat!

Typed this post up before I left and have just added challenges and stuff to it now I have a good internet connection - a commissioned card to share made for an anniversary for a friend's relative.
Still using up the paper stash and I am now soooo proud of myself that it has been almost 6 months since I bought a paper pad!!! Am still in danger of being buried under the paper mountain in the craft room and don't seem to have made any difference to the pile even though I have been trying to use it!

This card used a sheet of paper from the 'Exquisite' Pad by Papermania. This I think is only the second sheet I have used from this old pad!
Distressed the edges and then ran some Antique Linen DI round.
I used a paper doily and tucked some scripted vellum behind, then wrapped a piece of white organza ribbon round the card, layered some maroon satin ribbon on top and added a scrap of ric rac braid.

Next layer was a piece from Prima 'Fairy Rhymes' pad before topping off with the drunken mice!
I put some Stickles round the edge of the image and also on the champagne bubbles.
Finished with some pearls, a few flowers from my stash and a silver champagne glass charm.
Inside decorated to match.

Challenges -
Crafty Little Fairies - Sparkle & Bling
Card Mania - Doily
Sisterhood Snarky Stampers - D for distressing
Sweet Pea - Creatures Great and Small
Wags n Whiskers - Furry Friends
Alphabet - P for Pretty Petals
ABC - Flowers/Sentiment/Doily

Thanks for looking - apologies from me if I don't get round to visiting you all for the next couple of weeks - promise to play catch up again when I get back to England! x

Pots

I finally managed to get into the craftie space yesterday - (still didn't get anything finished as had to go play in a County Final last night) but have ignored everything this morning (like cleaning) and put a few dabs of glue in the appropriate places and (almost) completed this!

I say almost as there's no sentiment yet - still thinking whether to leave blank on the front or not - but it's been so long since I posted I just took the pic as soon as I could.

The image is of course one of the 'Mice is Nice' series from LOTV. - Been lying in my stash for ages so thought it was about time I used it!

Papers were bought last year (yes I know - LAST year!!!) at a craft show in Manchester. At the stall I got talking to another crafter and we bought the 'bargain pack' (not cheap!) between us and then sat on the floor splitting up the pack - I wouldn't have bought them otherwise.

Everything on here is from my stash (and even though I am trying my best to use it, it ain't getting any smaller!!)
Inside is decorated to match.

I have planned to spend another ENTIRE day making messy with paper and glue - no distractions I hope!



Challenges -
Fab n Funky - Flowers/Ribbon/Pearls
Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes
TTCRD - Anything Goes
Clear It Out - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting - grabbing a cuppa and now going on a calling spree in Blogland....
oh and the aforementioned County Final?
 - Well a nice win for my four and a good way to finish off our 2014 County campaign -
only another 11 days to go and the summer outdoor season finishes!

Bump the Bear! (and can anyone help?)

What a way to treat a tablecloth!
In a mad hurry but needed a card for a child's birthday so had a bit of a 'lightbulb' moment and remembered this LOTV offering called 'Birthday Bumps.

Although this started off it's life as a pre-coloured image, I added a bit of pastel chalk to the sky (as the white background was really stark) and some watercolour and distress inks on the actual image to darken it a bit.

I kept the layout quite simple and straightforward and used up  a couple of odd pieces of paper that co-ordinated with the check background.
A simple layering job, stamped sentiment, a couple of pearls and some ribbon and job done!

I have been doing my 'domestic goddess' impersonation today - caught up with the washing, ironing, hoovering and general housework so am feeling quite smug....  LOL
Have a free evening so am hoping to be able to do something constructive and a bit more fun than using the duster!!!

HELP? - All the blogs I follow have disappeared from my reading list- only one at a time is showing in the feed - when I click 'view more' nothing happens! Anyone any ideas??

Thanks for calling in - will be round to do my catch up with you all later  IF I CAN FIND YOU ALL - hope the sun is shining wherever you are. x

Challenges -
Gem of a Challenge - For a Child
Opus Gluei - Animals
OSAAT - Anything Goes
Bearly Mine - 1 for the Boys
Whoopsi Daisy - Summer is Here

Time for Tea

I go missing for ages then turn up two days running!
Had some 'me' time yesterday - chill out after a very busy couple of weeks - our holiday seems such a long time ago now!
So during my 'me' time I had a bit of a messy play in the craft space (I should have been doing the cleaning but hey - there's only us here! LOL).
A couple of inky things started then set aside, I mooched about in the paper mountain, pulled a few out and made two cards  mainly to satisfy my craving for frippery as I've been doing quite a bit of CAS lately!

The papers I think are from a Papermania pad? Anyway there's a couple more sheets now used up whoever made them!

The second paper layer was stitched onto the background. I added some cotton lace which for some reason reminded me of a tablecloth with it's pointed edge!
The image is of course from LOTV - love her turban (wonder if she's got a few rollers underneath?? LOL)
Machine stitched the main image onto some co-ordinating textured card and raised it up with 3d foam pads onto the paper doily and then fixed to the base card.
Dusty Concord DI used on the sentiment stamp.
Finished it off with some lilac shoestring ribbon which secures a little metal tea bag charm.
Inside co-ordinated to match (to use up ALL the paper!)

Challenges -
Use Your Stuff - Patterned Paper
Suzie Bees' - Layer It Up
My Besties UK - Tea
Path of Positivity - Happiness (is a nice cuppa and cupcake!)
Desert Island Crafters - Itinerary - No Flowers/Use Ribbon/Use Metal
Inky Chicks - Metal Embellie
Paper Nest Dolls - Anything Goes

Off out to the club again now then to another club this evening to support the other half and his band of merry men! Have a great day whatever you're doing and will catch up with you all later - thanks for visiting! x

Recycled Ribbon.

Sorry I've been AWOL from posting - it's been quite a busy few days so although have found some time to visit blogland, have had no time to actually post!
Am currently waiting for some glue/paint and other mess (LOL) to dry so popped on for a quick share.

 Used more paper from the Papermania pad which was still on the desk from the last 'teddy' card.
Another LOTV square which I 'enhanced' (LOL) with some Distress Inks and matted onto red card.
The Picket Fence die and the Heart Banner die were little 'treats' to myself a couple of weeks ago and I used plain white card for them both.
The ribbon is recycled. A friend bought me a Christmas plant basket and this ribbon was tied to the handle - she said - 'I know you'll use it on a card' so couldn't disappoint her could I????
Some twine, a couple of pearls and a stamped sentiment with the off cuts from the banner and the inside decorated to match.
This is another for the 'Viv's Stash/Pink Box'.
Challenges -
613 - Anything (option- recycle)
Ribbon Girl - Anything LOTV
2 Sisters - Teddy Bears
Susy-Bee's - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Animals
Mema's - Anything Goes

Hope your weather wherever you are is as sunny and bright as it is here! Have a great day and thanks for visiting. x

Va Va Voom!

Couple of days ago arrived back to a cold, wet Manchester Airport - the week in the sun passed by so quickly!
Have played a bit of catch up round blogland and a bit of catch up with other things since coming back - have 3 half finished cards on the desk and Mr Mojo is alive and well and still lying on a sunbed somewhere - cos he ain't here with me!I have not settled to do anything since I came home -so rather than leave another day with nothing shared here's one I finished before I went away.

I don't make many cards for the stash which could be used for kids really - think it's because I don't have any little ones in the family so unless I'm asked for one specifically they're not made!
But I did buy some LOTV squares last year as I thought they'd be useful - this is one of them.(And the ONLY one I've used up to now!)
He's a nice Ted I think!

Papers are a Papermania male themed pad (??) and matted them all onto black card.
The little wooden star was coloured with Distress Inks and I added a couple of black pearls.
The tag was attached with some twine which was a challenge win.
Inside decorated to match!

One for the 'pink box' and have now set to using up the other squares until Mr Mojo gets himself back on a flight!
Challenges -
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - Use stripes
Polkadoodles - Animal Magic
Sister Act - Anything Goes
Crafting Cafe - One for the Boys
Cute Card Thursday - All Boy
Delightful Challenges - Square
2 Sisters - Teddy Bears

Hope you all have a great weekend! x

Simple Joys

Did a few  cards without much embellishing or blingy stuff for the stash. This is one!
So many people are saying about how much postage costs are I have made quite a few cards just recently that are relatively flat and of course I try not to go OTT on men cards with thick embellies anyway!

 The papers are as old as Methuselah and I just found them at the bottom of yet another paper stack whilst looking for something else, so here we are in March and I am continuing with the promise to myself to use up papers and not buy any more.

Basic layout and just chopped up the papers into large squares for layering.

Used pastel chalks on the pic which is of course from LOTV.  (I resisted the temptation to add a few 'z's abpve his head!)

The sentiment was a freebie from TLC and I changed the font colour to blue to match the colour scheme. Think it fits perfectly with this image cos dozing off in the sunshine under the shade of a leafy tree is joy indeed!

It's been a lovely day here - getting spoilt cos that's 3 nice days on the trot - maybe spring is on it's way finally?
Hope the weather has been kind to you wherever you are - thanks for visiting! x
Challenges -
Nutcrafters - Boys
Male Room - Blue/Green/Brown
Suzie Bee's - Masculine
Ladybug Crafts - Boys
Paper Crafting Journey - Manly/Boyish
Divas by Design - Hear it for the Boys