Pretty Papers

We have a new challenge today at Try It On Tuesday with the title of 'Pretty Papers'.
A challenge it was for me too! 

Aside from the other stuff going on in my head at the moment I had such a terrible job trying to find papers. In a mass clear out a couple of years ago I got rid of all those papers I had coveted, bought and never used and left myself with only a few (still never used either!) so I was a little bit bothered as to what I could do.

I remembered some time back (and I MEAN some time back) there had been a freebie with one of the Cardmaking mags so a delve into a box and found them at the bottom - a little bit tattered as all kinds of stuff had been dumped on top of them but pretty papers nevertheless.
I got out the lace box too.
I chopped off part of the front of the card and simply edged it with lace.

If I'd have been on top of things I probably would have stitched this card as I always think stitching looks good on a vintagey card. Maybe next time.

Thank you again for looking and for any comments you leave.
I hope all is well in your part of blogland. x 

Traditional Christmas at Try It On Tuesday

 Christmas is looming and our challenge for the next 2 weeks at Try it On Tuesday is called 'TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS'
There is nothing more traditional than a Christmas Tree is there?
So here's my take on the theme -

I am not very good at sewing but I confess to having such fun making these - so much so I ended up making a whole forest in different sizes! (Well quite a few anyway!)

I have long been promising to get round to using up scraps of material and lace which have lain in a box for years.
I also have a massive amount of stash (like everybody else) which I hoard because in 48 years time I might need it for something...........

I made a little dent in the pile and enjoyed myself!
I hand stitched most of the decoration on the triangle trees which were sewed on the machine and were cut from the remains of a fat quarter.

The 'trunk' is a pencil wrapped in twine
I used some stuffing from an old cushion to fill the trees, then glued a little bit of stuffing to the pencil before glueing again and pushing into the tree top.

I was a bit bothered as I wasn't sure if this would work but happy to say it dried well inside and the glue didn't seep through to the material.

The pencil trunk was glued into oasis which had been glued into the little buckets. Again I wasn't sure how good this would turn out but it's dried solid and the trees are quite stable, the biggest one measures about 12 inches tall.

Added some snowy stuff, some glittery bits of a scrap of yarn and wooden shapes (which I have had FOREVER)
Hope you will join us for this challenge!
Will share some of the others in another post. Thanks for looking. x
Linking up at
Pixies Playground with all of my lace and odd leftovers!
Crafty Catz - A/Goes
Simon says Stamp - Trees
Double Trouble Thing 1 - Stitch it Up

Tussie

Tussie Mussie -  Definition - a cone shaped holder for a flower bouquet - or a cone shaped holder that you can fill with choccies or nice smelly bath bits and give to someone you like!
Well that's what I did anyway - (the choccies not the flowers and the other stuff.....)
I had made one of these a long time ago and  have been promising myself each year since that I would make another! 
NOTE TO SELF - these things are THE WORST  EVER to photograph!!


Used a sheet of dark blue and white pretty K and Co paper (very old - had eons) to make the actual cone - it has vintage roses printed on it and I loved it so much I wouldn't use it.. but all things have to be used up eventually...

So cone shape duly cut out, I lined the inside with some strong white card, then dragged out the lace and bits box.
The pale blue and cream lace was stitched to the top of the cone, along with a piece of dark cream heavy vintage lace.
I used 2 more bits of the same blue/cream lace and stitched it down the centre then assembled the cone.

The very slim 'tassels' were made simply by separating an oddment of a bit of silky twine stuff, a short length of which was found in the box and then tied round a teeny pearl string handle (which you can't see very well in the photo) and secured to the edge of the cream lace.
The gold and pearl embellishment from my stash was  threaded through a bit of pale blue ribbon and tied through the lace at the top and finally the scrap of organza rose trim glued in place.

All the lace and trim used where left over pieces - so am hoping this qualifies as 'snippets' and despite the grotty weather I am going into the Playground.

Challenges -
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes/Feminine
Eclectic Ellapu - Tussy Mussy
CFTH - Anything Goes
Robyn's Fetish - Anything But A Card
All Crafts - Anything But A Card
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes
Enjoy the rest of your 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

Ribbons, Lace and Pearls

Jackie is hosting our challenge today at Crafty Cardmakers and her theme is 'Ribbons/Lace and Pearls', so she would like to see ribbons or lace, {or both} AND pearls on your creations.

For my DT card I made this -

Ribbons, pearls and lace HAS to be vintage and shabby as far as I'm concerened! 

It gave me an opportunity to dig out this much neglected stamp which is I think perfect for a vintage look.

Stamped it straight onto coloured cardstock, and coloured the roses slightly with Distress Inks. Added some pearls for the buttons (very fiddly - took me ages!!) and tied a tiny shoestring bow in the same colour as the backing card.

Ripped and distressed the edges.

The other papers are oddments from various pads - spotty one first, (Prima Botanicals) then overlaid with some very broad cream lace. Next layer paper is from 5th Avenue pad (a scrap I had left), and two pre cut pieces from a Paris themed paper pack from Craftwork (I think!).

All stitched then overlaid with another piece of lace before adding the stampoed image.

The large lace 'rose' is a recycled piece from a very very old sweater  and I stuck a white pearl in the centre.

Two more pearls added and the inside decorated to match.

Please pop over and join us this time round - 2 great sponsors - Woodware and Di's Digistamps- are offering prizes this time round! 

Other Challenges -
We Do Doobadoo - Feminine
Suzy Bees - Anything Goes
A Vintage Journey - With a Flourish
Choc, coffe and Cards - Vintage
Delicious Doodles - Fancy & Frilly
Charisma - Lace & Pearls 
ALBC - Distress It 
Joan's Touch - Vintage/Distress/Layers

Thanks for visiting - have a great day whatever you're doing! x

No time....

It is now 8 days since my last post and I have no idea where the time has gone. I have been busy with stuff at the club and travelling a fair bit but I honestly haven't had any 'ME' time at all - except for an hour and a half yesterday - when I made this.

I used up a few scraps of lace which had been cut off from an original length - the only way I could get them to fit was to make this diagonal shape!
The backing paper is from my stash (which STILL doesn't seem to be getting any smaller) and I stitched it onto some coordinating paper, distressing the edges lightly.
The image is of course from ADFD and I coloured her with promarkers and added a fair bit of glamour dust to make her wings sparkle!
The scalloped frame was cut from the same colour backing paper as were the two 'trellis' corners.
This solitary rose was lying on the desk and although I think the pic makes it look quite red, it is in fact a deep lush pink colour!
Just added a couple of pearls, a sentiment and decorated the inside to match.

Challenges -
Di's Digi's - Lace & Pearls
Inkspirational - Use Markers
Suzy Bee's - Anything Goes
Crafter's Cafe - Use a Digi
Addicted to Stamps - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Anything Goes

So my blogging buddies, please accept my apologies if I haven't been round visiting you all this week. I promise to try and play catch up in a couple of days - I am in the middle of the maddest month ever - I have two four day visits to the National Championships over the next 2 weeks then a 12 day stay coming up. Am hoping that on the couple of days I have back at home the middle of next week I will be able to 'wind down' a bit before getting 'wound up' again!
Hugs from me -and if you've left me a comment - THANK YOU!! x

Oh baby!

Have been working my way through a few commissions this week and this is one (can show it as the recipient doesn't do blogland!)

I had HUGE trouble taking a pic of this as it looked very peachy when in fact it is definitely PINK! And lots of it at that!

I stitched the polka dot paper with a zig zag stitch- am getting better with the sewing machine - albeit slowly!
The wide lace was from my stash and I've had it for absolute eons - stitched that then added a smaller picot edge lace to the right.
Hid the join with the pink ribbon which I wrapped round and tied into a bow.
Stuck it all down onto the white base card.

The shoes were made from a template downloaded from the internet and the card was inspired by a similar one I found on Pinterest.
I cut a base from the same paper, layered the inside with white then popped  up the top with foam pads which gave them a little dimension. Slightly distressed the top and bottom layer of the shoes edging in some Spun Sugar DI/

A pearl centred brad and a little lace finished the shoes and they were then glued onto the card.
Completed the card with some flowers from my stash, a few pearls and decorated the inside to match.

The new arrival- Xsara- is the latest addition to a family with two boys - I really liked the sentiment - 'One tiny baby, many happy hearts' - thought it fitted perfectly and I printed it out on the PC.

Challenges -
ABC - P for Pearls
Alphabet - L for Lace
Fussy & Fancy - Words
Deep Ocean - Lots of Layers
Bunny Zoe's - Stitching/Pearls/Sentiment
Whoopsi Daisy - Lots of Pink
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes

Thanks for taking the time to call in today - and I hope the sun is still shining where you are! x

Summer Days

Inspired by the last few days of warm sunshine and blue skies I made this card! (Although today it is grey and threatening rain - as can be evidenced from the picture quality!)

I have had this stamp for a long time and used it little - I don't know why 'cos I think it's a really nice one.... that old I have no idea of the make.
It just conjures up images of when life was so much slower and tranquil - a lady sat on a warm summers day painting a scene - perfect peace.

I stamped the image in Versafine Sepia and clear embossed then coloured it with Distress Inks.
I used a pastel chalk for the sky which is in fact a very pale blue in real life but doesn't show very well here.

The papers were from an old papermania pad I think, and distressed, layered and stitched onto co-ordinating card.
Used the same card for the die cut frame.
A scrap of old lace, some pearls to finish.
Have left the top right corner bank for a sentiment which I will add at a later time and used up the remains of the papers decorating the inside to match.

Challenges -
Fantasy Stampers - Here Comes Summer
Crafty Bloggers - Bingo (Die Cut/Lace/Pearls)
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes
Whimsy Insp - Bingo (Summer/Lace/Pearls)
Ruby's Rainbow - Stamping
Inky Impressions - Anything Goes

 Am away tonight as I have a meeting tomorrow so off to chuck a few things into an overnight bag! Thanks for visiting, have a great day whatever you're doing. x

No Marmalade for the Toast!

Arrived home at 4am - lovely holiday - fell into bed, got up to .......... RAIN! There's a surprise. Thought about just leaving everything in the case and going straight back! LOL
Missed my making messy though if not anything else and have had a chill out day finishing off a few bits and pieces as I have a busy weekend coming up.
So here is a change from cards -

 NOTHING is safe in our house according to the long suffering other half. If it's not cutlery it's marmalade jars!
In my defence I tell him that I use up odd scraps for these projects so am not buying stash.. he believes every word - love him to bits!
So the rinsed out marmalade jar which was waiting to be taken out for recycling walked up 3 flights of stairs on its own to the craftie den and sat looking at me on the desk.

I lifted out the lacy scraps drawer and found a bit of burlap big enough just to wrap round the entire jar. Once glued and dried I added a piece of wide pink lace to the bottom and a smaller width piece to the top then tied some shoestring ribbon round it (in the ridge of the screw top).
The lid was first painted with primer and once dry  overpainted in a pale pink acrylic paint. Some more lace suitably glued on the top and then stitched together in the middle to create a ruffled effect. The vintage drawer knob was in my stash and I fixed it to the top.
Finished the rather untidy edge with some pink braid.
The label was cut from a scrap of paper and I just stamped a bit of text over it with Memento London Fog  (which doesn't show up very well in the pic!). Two pearls to the edge.
Finished it with a pink lace flower (cut from a tatty scrap) and three pearl pins.
Quite happy now! Pretty jar now sat with some of my other bits on the shelf - much better than it being crushed at the recycling centre! LOL (and because it's from scraps and odd bits it's off to the Playground for me!)
Challenges -
Scribble and Scrap - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - Shabby/Vintage
My Craft Creations - Anything Goes
Lexis- Ribbons/Lace
All Crafts Challenge - Anything but a Card
Clear it Out - Vintage/pearls
Craft Room Challenge - Recycle
Craft Your Passion - Pearls/Lace
Fashionable Stamping - 3D Object
Pile It On - Shabby Chic

Thanks for looking in. Now off for a proper trawl through blogland to catch up with you all! x

Another beautiful day here - clear blue skies and lovely sunshine - it's amazing how more upbeat you feel when the weather is nice!
A warm welcome too to my new followers - Leisa and Christine - thanks for following my blog and I look forward to seeing you often!
Here's my share for today

Had a little play about with some watercolour pastels on a Wild Rose Studio 'Annabelle' stamp then stitched it onto pale pink card.

The background papers are from Pink Petticoat, again layered onto pink card and stitched.
I am using the pink lace on a mixed media project at the mo so it was out on the desk - wrapped it round the papers then made a bow using a pearl buckle.
Flowers, pearls and pins are from my stash and the little pink ladybug is a wooden embellie bought years ago!
Decorated inside to match.

Challenges -
Crafting With Dragonflies - Special lady
Creative Card Crew - Spring
Fantastic Tuesday - Pastels
Ruby's Rainbow - Ladies
Nutcrafters - Girly
Fab n Funky - Flower Power
Paper Crafting Journey - Special lady

Thanks for visiting today - hope the sun is shining wherever you are. x

Tag

Having a rummage about in the lace baskets I found lots of odd bits which I haven't been able to bear to throw away - (I was obviously a squirrel in a former life) - I dragged out a few scraps and left them out on the desk  as I have had this idea rattling round in my head and wanted it all to 'come together' before I made a mess of making something -
- and the reason why I didn't want to spoil anything is the centrepiece - it was made by the lovely Caz and it came with fab candy stash which I was fortunate enough to win!

Originally I didn't want to use either of the two gorgeous hand made brooches from the candy pile - they're just too beautiful but it seemed a shame not to - at least this way the tag can sit out on display in my craft room and be seen!
So thank you Caz - and I hope I've done your creation justice!

I inked the tag with Old paper, Vintage Photo and Worn Lipstick DI, then randomly stamped some script over it. (Can't see this very well on the pic but trust me it's there!)

I covered the whole of the tag then with some old lace which had a fancy edge and stitched it, then just added more and more odd scraps, stitching them all as I went along.

The brooch was then pinned to the centre and I cut out a vintage pic and popped it into a metal frame, covered it with Glossy Accents and stitched to the base of the tag.

The 'believe' was another scrap found in the lace basket and I raised it up slightly by arching it before stitching the ends. Used some seam binding ribbon and more odd lace looped through the top.

Am putting this into Pixies Snippets Playground this week to earn some brownie points for using up odds and ends!

Thanks for taking the time to call in today - have a great day whatever you're doing.x

Other Challenges -
Creative Moments - Girly
Clear it Out - Anything Goes with Stitching
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes
All Crafts - Anything But a Card
Glitter n Sparkle - Pearls and Lace
Crafts 4 Eternity - Anything But a Card
Crafty Hands - Shabby Chic
Fairies Challenge - Vintage
Pile It On - Feminine

French Rose

There may be disadvantages living on the moor tops - howling winds/rain and of course if it snows heavily then you're stuck in but at least it means that there is little chance of being flooded out like so many poor people are in the south of the country on the low plains and levels. The weather here at the moment is horrendous - sounds like all the roof tiles are rattling with the strength of the wind but I am safely sat in the crafty space with a big smile as I bask in the happiness of a terrific win at Anfield!
Enough - don't want to be upsetting anyone (or rubbing it in but 5 - 1 REALLY????!!!!! LOL)

Back to more SENSIBLE things - a Paris themed shabby card!
Used several different types of papers including some scripted vellum. Distressed, tore and then stitched the background paper to the card then added the different paper layers.

An Inkylicious stamp called French Rose (which just HAD to be bought at the Craft Show this week) - stamped onto ivory linen card.
I coloured the rose with DI's and swiped Antique Linen DI across and around the edge before stitching.
Slipped a 'post mark' stamped piece under the main image.

The two different types of lace were from my stash.

The bow is hand dyed and I bought the vintage frame on Thursday too - found this image amongst my stash and cut it to fit - since taking the photo I've added some glossy accents across the pic and am quite pleased with the result.

The Eiffel Tower is made from shrink plastic.(No idea why the bottom half of the pic looks a wee bit out of focus - perhaps I was still excited from the match result!)

Finished with a couple of pearl topped pins, a scrap of ribbon and two flat backed pearls and the inside is co-ordinated to match.
 Challenges -
Craft Room Challenge - Ribbons & Lace

Live & Love Crafts - Love and Lace
Penny Paper Crafty - Something Old (Papers), Something New (Stamp)
Stamplorations - Stamps & Stitches
Crafts and Me - Inspiration from this photo -
Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes
Crafts 4 Eternity - With Love
Sugar Creek Hollow - Love & Adore
 
Off to have a little visit to you all and see what you've been doing- thanks for paying me a visit. x 

Vintage Sepia

Continuing with my 'use up that paper or chuck it' theme, I sat yesterday and fiddled with a few things. I have though come to accept that I am NEVER going to get to the bottom of these paper mounds as quite frankly, I will soon become bored!
But I have definitely promised not to buy any more and this is something I WILL keep to.
(Besides - there are so many lovely digi papers now and instead of buying packs where you only use half (or even less) at least with digis you can just print what you want! LOL)  

Whilst ferreting about I found an absolutely ANCIENT half used paper pack by Basic Grey and a slightly less ancient  and less used pack by Joy Crafts - the sepia vintagey colours appealed so here is the card -
Dusted off the sewing machine too!

Edges distressed with the wheely tool, then Tea Dye distress ink and stitched.
The main image and the script stamped with Vintage Sepia ink, cut out with nesties and the main image then sponged with Tea Dye and Antique Linen.

Attached the image using a mother of pearl button, folding down the top corner.
Sentiment tag also got the same treatement with the ink!

The ribbon is hand dyed and I found a coppery coloured heart in the stash box .   
All the vintage lace used is from my stash, the bottom corner 'fan shape' was from a crochet doily and I just cut it into quarters!
Papers all carried through to the inside.

Challenges -
Stamping Sensations - Ribbon/Buttons/Bows
CFTH - Pearls or Buttons
Artistic Inspirations - A.Goes/Feminine
Country View Crafts - Monochromatic
Creative Moments - Ribbons/Pearls
Divas by Design - Use Ribbons
Simon Says Stamp (Monday) - Anything Goes
Bunny Zoes' - Stitching
Fab n Funky- 1image, 2 Buttons, 3 papers

So that's me for today - 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 

Cutie

Quick post from me to share a commissioned New Baby card.
And also to apologise if I don't get round to visiting you over the next 2 weeks - cos today is the day we leave this wet and windy weather and fly off to HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!
Will try and pop in from time to time, as am sure I'll be wanting a little bit of shade at some time in between the drinks with umbrellas in and sleeping on the hammock!!

This image just makes me smile every time I see it - I am in NO way maternal but there's something about the 'folds' in baby's skins isn't there - squidgy hands and feet!!

Coloured with promarkers and cut out with the Radiant Rectangles dies, layered onto blue cardstock before assembling onto spotty and striped background papers.

All the dies were cut from pearl white card and as usual cut some corners with what has to be my most used die set!
Lace and ribbon rose trim from my stash.

The sentiment was computer generated and I added a few pearls (as always!!) and followed the theme into the inside, using the same papers.

Challenges -
ABC - V for Very Cute

Clear it Out - Boys/Dies
Just Inspirational - Die Cuts
Oldie but a Goodie - Dies
Cutie Pie - Cute for Boys

Well that's me done - some posts for my DT scheduled whilst I'm away so fingers crossed Mr Blogger behaves and loads them for me!
See you in a couple of weeks! xx

Moment

Hello to my new followers - it's lovely to see you here!
We are off for a bit of retail therapy today - the boring kind like new crockery - not the crafty kind!!
A card to share before we go -

I really have to say a HUGE thank you to Tammy from A Day for Daisies - I didn't buy this image first time I saw it - went to purchase it ('cos I finally remembered) and searched their site for ages - lots of lovely digis, (quite a few that are now on my 'HAVE TO HAVE' list), but no sign of this one apart from in a clear set.

I had almost given up hope but decided to mail them to ask if it had been discontinued and lo and behold I got a reply with the digi attached and an apology saying their site was being re-vamped and some of the stamps had gone AWOL! How kind was that - offered to pay for it but the offer was refused - what a great company.

'Braid in my Hair' coloured with promarkers, background sponged with Tumbled Glass DI, cut with nestie, distressed and layered onto scalloped nestie.
Backing paper is from Raspberry Road, distressed and edged with Evergreen Bough DI.
The lace, flowers and pearls are all from my stash and the sentiment is from TLC.
Inside co-ordinated to match.

Challenges -
Card Crafters Circle - Winged Things
Creative Creations - Bingo (Flowers/Image/Distressing)
Stamping Sensations - Winged things/Vintage
Come and Get It - Things with Wings
Card Mania - Fave Embellishment - (has to be pearls cos I use them on everything!)
Crafty Bloggers - Favourite things - (Pearls - and I like lace/flowers too!!)
Digi Makeover - Vintage
Live & Love Crafts - Cool Colours

Thanks for taking the time to come along today - 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

Birds In My Hair

I used to sail through the winter months without a sneeze -  think it must be an age thing now 'cos for the last couple of winters I've been struck down with some nasty bug or other!
Have felt really terrible this past week - cough is still here (although the cold has gone) but am not feeling totally 100% yet - thanks to you all for your get well wishes - this virus thing is just a nuisance and people I know have all said it takes ages to get rid of - which hasn't cheered me up one little bit!!
But - I spent a little time yesterday in the craftie space - it was actually far warmer than in the house - and finished this card.

The colour was selected for no other reason than the papers were the last of a pad that had been left on the desk - but am actually pleased with the finished result.

Love this image from A Day for Daisies - but this is the first time I've got round to colouring it!
(On close inspection actually the colouring is not the best but I'll put that down to my trying to do it between coughing fits!)

All papers distressed, layered and stitched.

Some vintage lace which was a present from a blogging buddy which toned in perfectly with the papers -(don't you love it when that happens!) and some flowers from my stash.

I added an organza bow behind the flowers and a couple of pearl pins.
 
The sentiment is from TLC and I thought it fitted well with the image.

To finish off I stuck some seed beads into her hair.

I followed the same colour scheme inside and added a die cut bird cage which was coloured with Mica powders.



Challenges -
Creative Moments - Things with Wings
Mema's Crafts - Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers - Anything Goes
A Little Bit Crafty - Anything Goes
Sparkles Forum - Birds


Thanks for visiting - will be calling by you all on a catch up mission to see what you've all been doing whilst I have been feeling sorry for myself! x

Spring is on it's way?

Certainly feels like it here today! We had a hard frost overnight but during the morning the sun came out and is still here at 4pm! Unheard of! Not only that but it was warm enough to dispense with the 'North Face' body warmer under the jacket this morning on my walk too! The crocus and snowdrops are all flowering and the daffs have just started to poke their heads through the soil - so is Spring on it's way? I hope so!

I realised today it has been almost a week since I last posted....... I have been trying to visit all my blogging buddies but life has overtaken me this week! My head has been full of other stuff- but I was asked to make a wedding card and I managed to concentrate for long enough to put this together.

Not too difficult but was a bit fiddly and to be honest it doesn't look like I spent hours on it - which I did - because my concentration level was virtually non existent during the assembly process!!

I used white hammered cardstock throughout.
The punched edges are done with a MS punch - not the one I wanted to use (which was my doily lace one - but it decided to give up the ghost and won't punch through anything!) but think it looks OK.

On top of the punched layers I cut another piece of card and wrapped three strips of broad satin ribbon round it by mounting it onto foam tape to raise it from the square piece.

Another piece of white ribbon and some lace onto a piece of card which was then placed on top of the 3 ribbon piece and then the two pieces were matted onto the punched edged layer.

I printed out the sentiment in varying fonts using a grey colour and cut with a fancy tag nestie and added two little sparklies!
The butterflies were punched out and stamped with an Elusive Images flourish stamp in Smokey Grey ink and liberal helping of glamour dust applied! Couple more sparklies on the bodies.

The large pearl and crystal heart is of course from Imagine (where else! LOL) and I popped a scrap of lace under it to hang down - tried ribbon but it looked too 'heavy' so stuck with the lace.

Overall I'm reasonably happy with it and who knows if my new punch arrives later this week I may well re-do in a cream colour and let the lady choose which one she wants then the other can go in my stash!

Challenges -
Created with Love - Things that Fly
Love to Create - All that Glitter
OLLCB - Sparkle and Shine
Dream valley - Ribbon and Bling
2 Sisters - Love
Crafty Ann's - Love Actually
Daring Cardmakers - Fly Fly Butterfly
Pretty Little Ribbon - Anything Goes

I hope that you all have had the same sunny day as me! x