Mid way at TIOT Spring Challenge

 One week left for our current Spring themed challenge at Try It On Tuesday!

Think Springtime is a wonderful season.

I love seeing all the buds coming through on everything and the beautiful spring flowers are such lush colours - which now makes me wonder why I decided to use up some odd bits which were all white!

I used hammered cardstock to give the background a bit of texture and in the little box of unused bits I found some more so the all white was born!

Quick and simple make using dies too!
I love these little bunnies - especially the baby one - although he is easily lost as he is that tiny!

I didn't want to put Easter on it so struggled a bit finding a sentiment!

In the end I used two sentiments (both said Birthday)  masking off the Birthday word at the beginning of one and the end of the other and using my Misti to get them in the right position!

Still time to join us with a Spring themed creation - we love visiting your blogs!

Am also sharing this over at
Pixies Snippets Playground - I don't get there as often as I would like to but it's lovely to know it's there for me to pop in when I can!
This is my second entry into
Four Seasons - Spring

Thanks for stopping by. x 

Try It On Tuesday Mid Way Reminder

Our Hearts and/or Flowers theme at Try it On Tuesday has reached it's half way point. Some great creations added to our blog this time and there's still another week to go if you haven't had a go or even if you want to do another!

Just before Christmas my friend got married and this was the card I made for them.
The majority of the card was done using Centura Pearl and I used up a few oddly shaped bits of card which were in the folder with the full sheets to make the corner flourishes.

I opted to emboss the background to give it a bit more interest.

The 2 smaller flowers were made from some oddments of card too using a Spellbinders die - there wasn't enough to make the big one!
I forget how many rounds I cut but I wanted them to be full!

They are a bit of a faff to glue all together but I think worth it in the end.

Layered onto silver matt card and used a little bit of leftover to die cut the silver leaves and used the smallest pieces to pop behind the tiny heart shapes in the corner flourishes.

It's been a while since I managed to skip across to the Playground but am sticking my head through the railings this week!
Also sharing at
CYHTP - A/Goes
Alphabet Challenge - W for Weddings
Cut It Up - Have a Heart
MMM - Love

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

Christmas Stash

I've managed to make another Christmas Card🎄!

Thinking it will be really nice to have a small supply done and stored in the Christmas Box and this was a quick card really so I have no excuse not to continue with the Christmas makes.

CAS Christmas challenge is 'Joy'.
I don't have any dies or stamps that just say 'joy' so hope that my 'joy-ful' wishes stamp is OK.

The circlet die I have used is not specifically a Christmas one but it was in the die cut box and I thought it would double up as a Christmas one.

Simple snow embossed background and some silver Nuvo Pearl used on the flowers. A little double organza bow with a blingy buckle and a sentiment done in metallic silver ink - job done!

Am sharing this Christmas make at
Allsorts - Dies
Alphabet - W - Anything you Wish
Winter Wonderland - Anything Xmas

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

White (and Red!)

It is the most AWFUL day here weatherwise! Wind is howling and the rain is battering down... glad I don't have to go anywhere!
A white on white card to share today - used up a few bits of white card too (Playground for me then!!)

 

I have some sheets of this leather effect card left (bought it years ago) so used some for this card.
It's quite a nice texture.
This was not only CAS but QAE (Quick and Easy!).

The holly flourish die was one I bought last year and have used it quite a bit.  I cut it out twice using the left over piece from the A4 sheet that I used to make the square card.
The poinsettia is the same that I used on the DT cards this month - (hadn't put it away so thought I might as well use it again!)
Added some red blingy bits to the holly and the centre of the flower and a little sparkly stuff to the poinsettia petals.
Sentiment stamped in Rocket Red.

Got a mountain of ironing to do but am intending to spend some time chucking glitter all over the place later - got to get these Christmas cards made!!

Challenges -
Fab n Funky - WOW
Beccy's Place - CAS
Clear it Out - White plus 1
Paper Players - CAS Christmas Card
Glory of Christmas - CAS
 
Thanks for looking today - hope you're warm and dry - have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Sunday

Another week gone! Glad to say have improved a whole lot so a big thank you to everyone who sent me messages - I really appreciate you taking the time.
Have played a little in the craftie space this week and swelled the 'Macmillan Box'. It's a long time since I made an easel card and this week I made two!

Am continuing with trying to get as many specific occasion cards done as I can - although I have not one 'new home' card in the box at all - something I must sort out!
This one was quite quick to do despite all the cutting and I used up quite a few odd bits of paper for the die cuts.

I love this stamp!
Used white linen card coloured the stamp with Distress Inks and then chucked a load of glamour dust down the bride's dress - really sparkly in real life and am quite smug about how nice it looks! LOL

Used a variety of dies - the ovals are all from the same set. The fancy corner die is from a set I confess I don't use very often but it was the right size for this card!

I didn't like the plain straight edge with the fancy main oval so I decided to put a border die across the top - in fact I added two and put some ribbon across the middle to hide the join! I cheated a bit because the bottom one is only two tiny bits tucked behind the main oval - was running out of linen card scraps by this time!
Same die used to create the 'stop' for the easel (I think it is a Marianne one.)

The flowers are all from my stash, punched out some ferny leaves and I finished it off with a LOTV sentiment and a little pearl heart.

Unsurprisingly there's lots of 'love' themes about this week -
Allsorts - Love is All Around
Sweet Stampin - Add a Heart
Fussy & Fancy - All About Love
Cuttlebug Mania - Heart
We Do Doobadoo - Hearts & Flowers
Crafting with the Dragon - Hearts & Flowers

I have been absent from the Snippets Playground whilst I've been feeling yuk - but am going to poke my nose through the fence this week as I've missed everyone!
Thanks for looking in today. Have a great day whatever you';re doing! x

Frosty

Title of this post describes the scene outside here this morning - beautiful - all sparkly white with a thick frost - (even the cars have turned white and blended into the landscape!) and a glorious clear blue sky - although the window up here on the top floor hasn't yet defrosted so I feel a bit like I am sitting in a white cave!

Am sharing another white card made up with odd bits of sparkly paper which I've been hoarding - (see previous post!)
Quick and easy - and because I wanted to get all sorted early it has made me use up quite a bit of christmas stuff this year although the 'seasonal stash' area is still overflowing. How did I accumulate all this stuff? I had a mega clear out 18 months ago when we moved and I swear I haven't bought any new Christmas stuff since but still I have tons of papers!

White snowflake vellum background (which is really pretty and I know why I didn't use it before now!).

Wrapped some sparkling white organza ribbon around and added a bow. Stamped the sentiment onto a scrap of vellum and clear embossed, adding a couple of tiny sparklies then tucked it underneath the bow.

Three snowflakes  die cut from glitter card and more blingy - and finished! (Card is now adorning my neighbour's mantelpiece - she thought it was really nice!)

Challenges -
Allsorts - White Christmas
City Crafter - Glittering Snowflakes
Opus Gluei - Let It Snow
Fussy and Fancy - Snowflakes and Ribbon
Crafty Catz - Last Minute Christmas
Crafty Creations - Die Cuts

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Winter

Winter has officially arrived here in my little part of England. And it has arrived with a BANG... snow, sleet, hail, coupled with the most horrendous gales (made worse by the fact that we are up on the top of the hills!). According to the forecast it is much the same everywhere so that makes for smiling crafters doesn't it - cos the weather is 'too bad for us to go out'..................!!!!

I have (I am glad to say) finished all my cards, now written and in the post. This is the first time for YEARS I have actually finished without having that mad rush that is usual for me.
So christmas stuff now ready to be put away for another year!!

What a devil of a job I had taking this pic - typical of White on White. I think this was made worse too by the sheen on the vellum paper.
Simple card really, tore some white pearlised card for the snow 'drifts' , used a snowflake background from a hoarded vellum paper stack ( bought about 4 years ago - one gold and one silver - so used some of it this year finally!), 3 trees cut from  the same white pearlised card then layered between the snowdrifts and liberal helpings of glitter.
The star was punched from silver glitter card and I embossed the sentiment.

 Challenges
Die Cutting Divas - No Red/Green
Incy Wincy - Snowy days
Dies r us - Winter Wonderland
TIOT - Winter Whites
Apart from the aforesaid (dusty) vellum sheet the rest was from odd bits... so it's off to the playground for me this week too!  Pixies Snippets Playground Week 154. 
Thanks for taking the time to pay me a visit - I appreciate it.
(I know people have been having trouble with word verification... can anyone tell me if it has appeared here on my blog? ) x

Wedding Day!

Time for another challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers (aren't the weeks just flying by?) and this time Sonia has chosen the theme of 'Cut It Out' - so dies and punches are to be used on your project this time and we are sponsored by HOBBY ART STAMPS and DI'S DIGISTAMPS.

I am sharing a Wedding card I made as a commission earlier this month. 

I was asked to include some 'pink somewhere' on the card as the Flower Girl attendants were wearing a baby pink colour.

I used my fave linen textured card, rescuing all the offcuts to use for the die cuts!

The background has a punched edge (Martha Stewart punch set) which I edged with Petal Pink ink.

The flower wreath was also randomly sponged with the same ink and some pale pink and  teeny white pearls were glued to the flowers.

The heart and butterfly die cuts also edged with pink ink and a couple more pearls to the butterfly body.
PC generated sentiment to finish.

Other Challenges -
Ecletic Ellapu (Pink Team) - Flowers/Anything Floral 
Pixies Snippets - Week 148
Stampin Boutique - Congratulatory 
Crafty Calendar - Bingo (Pearls/Sentiment/Die Cut)

Suzy Bees Blooming Challenge - A/Goes with twist - Wedding

Thanks for visiting - hope you will have a go this time with the challenge - have a great day whatever you're doing. 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

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

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

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

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

White on White

I hate White on White! Or at least trying to take a decent pic of WOW cards!!

The cards made with it I usually love - I think the stark simplicity of them is stunning - and there's lots of beauties on display this week over at Less Is More - and their WOW CAS challenge also has the theme of Christmas - so another card for the Christmas box - and you'll just have to believe me when I tell you that this is actually quite a nice card in real life!

I so so so struggled to get a decent pic - my pathetic photography skills, coupled with the lack of decent light (very grey day here today) and of course my ridiculous notion of using the dreaded pearl Centura card as the focal point all combined to make one naff picture! But you'll get the general idea....

Simply made with dies layered onto each other and finished with a sparklie in the centre.
Layered onto a linen textured card that has a lovely sheen. 
The sentiment was stamped in silver ink and clear embossed.

A quick card but another one towards the Christmas stack!
Other Challenges -
KIS - White
Paper Creator - Dies
Inky Chicks - 2 different die cuts

That's it from me - time for bed I think! x

Can't believe that my last post was Sunday! I've had a busy week - doing paperwork - and not the crafting kind of paperwork either more's the pity!
But I received a request for a wedding card so set to yesterday to rustle one up -
I don't know the intended recipients but hope that they (and the person who ordered it) like it!

 The whole card is made using Centura Pearl White.
I embossed the background using 'Budding Vine' embossing folder (which is one of my favourites), then layered it onto silver mirri card. I confess to not liking mirri card very much but think that for weddings and other glitzy occasions if you don't use too much it's fine as it gives a bit of shine to your projects......
I printed out the sentiment, then cut with the oval from the Radiant Rectangles nestie set and again matted it onto the silver.
I popped on a tiny rhinestone to make the 'diamond ring'!

The large corner die cuts I simply love and they always seem to be perfect for wedding creations.

The flowers were made using nestie blossom dies and once assembled I brushed on a wee bit of Stickles Diamond to give them some sparkle. The white leaves were done with an embossing punch and the silver ones are another punch which was one of the very first I ever bought.

The two tiny silver goblets are secured with a ribbon which is being 'carried' by the butterfly!
I have continued the theme on the inside.

Challenges -
Lexis - Sparkle and Shine
OLLCB - Inspired by a Song - ('I Do' by Westlife)
Crafters Cafe - Embossing
CRAFT- Congratulations
Delightful Challenges - Make the Cut
Cuttlebug Mania - Die Cuts
Delicious Doodles -  Anything Floral
Natalie & Amy - Embossing

Thanks for taking the time to look at my share for today - have a great weekend! x

Scraps for a Special Friend!

I used to hoard scraps of card - then I started to throw them away as the hoarded scraps threatened to overtake storage space! Occasionally though, I DO use them up and this is one made of 'left overs'.

Bright white linen cardstock used as a base.
The flower border is a punch and I glued on some pale blue pearls.
The centre panel is a scrap of K and Co paper which has been lying about for about a year I scooped it up when we moved house and lo and behold it found it's way back onto the desk here - after I'd cut off all the dog eared bits it was literally just enough to put across the centre!
I edged it with some blue shoestring ribbon.
I quite enjoy making these flowers by using nestie dies and again this one was made just using up scraps of white card. To achieve the blue colour I dabbed on some 'Sea Breeze' Versamagic Chalk Ink.
The flourish got the same inky treatment as did the tag. The 'Special Friend' stamp was a freebie.

Challenges -
LOC - Girly
Gem of a Challenge - Letter 'B' (Blue)
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
2 Sisters - Square cards
CAS on Sunday - Floral Fantasy
Addicted to Stamps - CAS
Whimsy Stamps - CAS

Am also going to call in at Pixie's Crafty Snippets Playground with my scrap card - the weather is just lovely and I am wanting a go on the swings!!
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Flying

The post title relates to how quickly time is passing for me just lately!
I have a CAS card to share today - and once again the pic quality is not brilliant as the sun had gone in just when I decided to take the photo!
This was just a quick make with odd bits of card I had in the 'off cuts' drawer so it will also be given an outing at the Crafty Playground this week. Once I have finished this post I am going to forge an adult's signature onto my 'report card' to say I have been 'poorly 'ick' and unable to attend.... (it's a big fib but Playground Minder Di has very very poor eyesight and believes everything you tell her so she won't know I was busy doing other things or who signed it.................)

Here's the card!

Bright white pearlised card. An odd piece left over from a previous make ran through the Bug with a 'never before used' embossing folder (note I didn't say new - just never used!!!) and then matted onto the card base.

Some lines embossed round it to make a frame.

I printed the sentiment (from TLC) after altering the colour and then used a fancy tag die and popped it onto the card with 3d pads, adding a couple of pearls at either end.

Butterfly again was cut out from a left over and I just inked some Versamagic Chalk Ink called 'Pixie Dust' round the edges (quite apt for Pixies Playground dontcha think????). It's a lovely pale pink colour and the card will now go into the 'Pink Stash'.

Challenges -
CAS on Sunday - Use a Butterfly
Sentimental Sundays - Anything Goes
Heck of a Challenge - Butterfly and Pearls
Natalie & Amy - Die Cuts
Addicted to CAS - Wings
4 Crafty Chicks - CAS
Happy Campers - Flutterby Butterfly
Nutcrafters - Letter 'B'

Will be calling on you all in a little while as soon as I have the coffee cup in hand - Have a great day!

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