For the Girls

This months challenge at Stamping Sensations is 'ONE FOR THE GIRLS' and we have PDA as our sponsors who once gain have offered a great prize - £40 to spend at their online store!
Get out a stamp and come and join us!
I have done a shabby vintagey girly card as my DT offering this month -

I decided it was time to get out the sewing machine again and stitched the layers of papers from the Sweet Paris paper pad.
The stamp used for the focal point of the card was (I think) a free one with a magazine. Coloured it with Distress Inks.
The wooden frame was also coloured with DI (Victorian Velvet).
I stamped the Tower and fussy cut. The doily, lace and pins were all from my stash and I finished it off by adding a metal frame and a couple of pearls.
Inside decorated to match.

Other Challenges -
AYLI - Bingo board (Fussy/Lace/Pearls - cos I like vintage and shabby!)
MTTC - Girly
CCCE - Paris
ABC - E is for Everything

Thanks for looking - have a great day! x  

Saturday Dawns!

Another week just flown past!
Busy now getting sorted for the first of my 'duty' trips away this summer - we're off to Cornwall tomorrow for a game on Monday then on to Devon Tuesday, Gloucester Wednesday, Oxford Thursday and home Thursday night. Shall probably lie in bed all day Friday!

I'm told that you DO get used to the travelling about and it's quite exciting visiting all these different places and meeting lots of different people I think so although am a little apprehensive of my first 'official duties' am quite looking forward to it too.

Enough of the waffling - a shabby card from me to share today - made from a paper stack I won in a challenge win over at the Playground - (I still haven't bought any new papers you know - it's over a year - but why does the mountain in this room not get any smaller?????)

Anyway decided it was about time I got stuck into this new pad.
A really quick card this I suppose as I just let the pretty papers do the talking! Mounted onto dark red and cream cardstock.
A metal corner and a couple of pearls along with a scrap of lace and a tiny crochet doily with a paper flower as embellishments - and the butterfly was stamped in Versafine Sepia onto a scrap of paper - it's an Indigo Blu stamp. Used up another couple of sheets on the inside too!
So that's my post for today - thanks for having a look - will be popping along a little later to visit you all - in the meantime have a great day whatever you're doing! x
Challenges -
Craft for the Craic - Wings
Crafting by Designs - Flowers
Crafters Cafe- Feminine
2 Crafty Girls - Vintage
Dream Valley - Things with Wings
Rosey Hearts - Things with Wings
Kitty Bee - In the Garden

Trees!

Well I survived  the last 48 hours - JUST! Friday was spent cooking and baking and yesterday was the actual Party Day - think everyone enjoyed it - we came home, poured a very large Gin and Tonic for me, a not quite so large Whiskey for the other half and collapsed!! 
From today we are concentrating on our own Christmas (which as usual will just be the 2 of us and quiet) but I first need to get the Christmas Tree up otherwise it won't feel like Christmas at all!

All my cards are done and sent so am sharing some from the 'For Blogging' folder. These 3 are a variation on a theme from last year and were an original design a few years ago by the very talented Birgit.

I made a batch of these using up the odd snippets of glitter card for the green one and other odd bits for the pink and kraft ones - and of course a few scraps of lace!
Snow embossing folder on the background then the 'tree' shapes ran through the corrugating machine, pearls and lace added and some white organza ribbon then matted onto coordinating card.
The stars were punched from the oddments and another pearl added.
Am off now to get covered in glitter and tinsel (makes a change from flour) - will be back later for a chill out blogland visit. Thanks for visiting today and enjoy your day!x
Challenges -
Suzy Bee's- Anything goes with Pearls
My Time to Craft - Trees
One Sweet Challenge - Christmas
Challenge up your life - Christmas without stamps
Pixies Snippets Playground - Week 156/157
CHCCE - Anything Chruistmas

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

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

Amour

Arrived home for a couple of days- did my washing! Ironing next (tomorrow) before I load it all back into the car again for another 12 days - Am hoping the motorway may be a little less hectic on Saturday morning!Weather here has alternated between very brief glimpses of sunshine and really heavy rain showers so made an excuse that as I was going to have to wait for the washing to dry I might as well go and lock myself in the craftie space!

It gave me an opportunity to make a card for someone who is getting married very soon - (it's OK she doesn't read the blog!) - all I have to do now is sort out a box!
I had a bit of a 'shabby' mood on me when I made this - I had already made two other cards with clean sharp lines and very few embellies for the stash (which I will share later in scheduled posts!)- and was bored with straight edges and stuff so went a bit OTT with this!

The background paper was done by Astrid and I printed it onto linen textured card, distressed the edges, used Antique Linen DI then stitched it onto the base.

A paper doily then another printed piece from Raspberry Road, cut into a banner shape, again distressed and stitched.

The centre was done with a fancy nestie, and a couple of oval layers, the sentiment is from an old stamp set.
Flowers, pearls, pins and shabby ribbon all from my stash and the inside decorated to match.

Challenges -
MAWTT - A little Vintage
Gliiter n Sparkle - Weddings/Love
Live and Love Crafts #26 - Stitching
Fussy & Fancy - Pearls/Stitching/Message
Dream Valley - wedding
Lexi's - Special Occasion
Crazy Challenge - Love & Marriage
As You Like It - Fave 2 Embellies (Got to be Ribbon and Pearls- use them as much as I can, wherever I can! They just seem to 'tie it all together' I think!)

That's it from me - have scheduled a couple of posts for whilst I'm away - thanks for visiting today - and if you've left a comment I really appreciate it! Enjoy your weekend whatever you're doing. 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

Wild!

In the last hour it has turned absolutely wild here weather wise. The sleet/snow/rain is blowing sideways and the wind is howling. So having been out earlier (when it was much calmer although cold)I have now taken myself upstairs to the craft space!

I bought this stamp over a year ago from a crafting buddy as she no longer wanted it. Anyone would think that I didn't really want it either as this is the first time I've used it!
And to be honest although I love the stamp, I cannot feel the same way about the finished card.

But at least I can say I DID use the stamp even if it goes back into the drawer for another year!

I considered colouring all the image but in the end just highlighted in bits, using Squeezed Lemonade and Mustard Seed DI to continue the acid yellow theme of the papers.
The papers came from the stash pile (where else??!!), stitched and distressed lightly with the edges inked in 'Sacttered Straw'.

I made a crumpled shabby bow from more papers which were a similar colour.

Finished with a few pearls and an organza bow with a metal handbag charm.

Carried the papers on through to the inside and have at the mo left it blank sentiment wise - might add one at a later time!

Challenges -
Crafty Hands - Shades of the Same Colour
Simply Create Too - Female
Crafting 4 all seasons - Girly
Sister Act - Anything Goes
Totally Gorjuss - Sunny colours
Alphabet Challenge - Z for Zesty

I welcome your comments as always and I hope wherever you are you are safe and warm away from any bad weather. 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

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

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

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