Been getting on a bit with the commissioned cards the last couple of days although I think that today I might have to do something else as I am beginning to get irritated with Christmas!

This is another one of Mo's images I have had for a long time but rarely coloured. Opted for a pink and blue theme as something a little bit different from the normal red and greens.

The papers are from my stash and I added a little bit of spiders webby sparkly fabric stuff (no idea what it's real name is....) on top of the base layer before layering up everything else.

The stamp was coloured with promarkers.

Some blingy in the form of dies cut from sparkly paper and a few dabs of Stickles.

Another one off the ordered list!

Challenges -
Milk Coffee - Hand Coloured Image
Delightful Challenges - Patterned paper
Bearly Mine - Christmas Cards
C.R.A.F.T - Winter
I love Promarkers - Cute Christmas
Papertake Weekly - A/goes with sparkle/glitter

Am sat here listening to the rain lashing down - perfect excuse not to venture away from the craft room - (as if I even needed an excuse! LOL).
Thanks for visiting - have a lovely day whatever you're doing. x

Bird House

I had a mass clear out when we moved house last year - and amongst the things that went to the Charity Shop were lots of Christmas ornaments and decorations so I took the opportunity of the challenge to make something which I will hang on a wall somewhere!

I had a devil of a job taking a pic of this.

The birdie house is a wooden template - part of a set of 2. This was the smaller one and it measures  just over 5".
I used up odds and ends of paper scraps and rescued a torn die cut - so entering this into Pixies Playground too.

I painted the wooden base with a white gesso wash then used up an oddment of woodgrain paper (had to join it in the middle but simply ran down the join with a grey promarker to hide it) as the background.
Used modelling paste on the roof and in the hole in the centre, just slapped this on and once dry painted over it again with white acrylic paint and while the paint was still wet threw some glamour dust over it - instant bling!!

The snowflake die was the rescued piece - I had cut it from some thick sparkly paper when making this card here but it hadn't cut all the way through and I ripped it - but thankfully it was just the right size for this.

The holly die was a new buy. Once cut, embossed the berries with red and then ran over 'Mowed Lawn' DI.

The rolled roses were just done from oddments of paper and randomly embossed with silver and the white fibres were from my stash. I stamped a tiny sentiment and embossed in red.

And here is my little robin ready to be placed strategically (!!) when I decide where I'm going to hang his house! 

Challenges - 
Pixies Snippets Playground - week 149
Completely Christmas - Anything Goes /Twist add a robin
MAWTT - Winter is Coming
Fab n Funky - Christmas
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything but Square
CHNC - Anything Christmas Goes
The Crafting Cafe - Not a Card
  Thanks for looking in today Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Feed the Birds

Had a very exciting couple of days - more of that later at the end of the post.
In between all the madness I relaxed a little by carrying on with my commissioned cards. Here's another one done and on the stack which is half way finished.

I have had the image called 'Ragged Urchin' for a while but this is the first time I have coloured it.

I don't know why either- even though I can't pick a fave from the talented pen of Mo Manning this one does rate somewhere near the top of the list - there she is all muffled up against the cold, with patches and darns on her pinafore but she has managed to find enough pennies to feed a little bird to protect him from the winter - Love it!
I coloured her with promarkers.

Keeping embellishments to a minimum once again but couldn't resist the pearls!
The berry trim was in the fabric box and I estimate it's about 8 years old but I think it goes quite well with the papers and image.
The sentiment die was bought last Christmas and used for the first time for this Christmas....and the big green brad is another oldie!

So shall now tell you about the rather pleasant shock I got yesterday - received a phone call to tell me that my club had won the Bowls England Club of the Year................ OMG!!! How good is that!

If you're really interested the press release is here -
https://www.facebook.com/bowlsengland/photos/a.171055699631612.40631.141047599299089/726637634073413/?type=1&theater

What a year we've had - Commonwealth Games Squad match, Bowls England President's Team match, hosting the lawn bowls of the British Transplant Games and now Club of the Year - No wonder I'm worn out!

Oh and the best bit -- - - - -  another new posh dress required - well can't wear the same in February as I'm wearing at the end of November can I ????? LOL

Challenges -

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Delicious Doodles - Baby It's Cold Outside

Jingle Belles - Christmas card with a Creature 

Winter Wonderland - Pick n Mix (Brads, pearls and berry trim trim which I'm hoping will count in the ribbon/lace category)

That's it from me. Have a fabulous weekend everybody. 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

Rudolph Day

I go missing for ages then am back 2 days in a row!!
I'm feeling very pleased with myself as besides the commissions, I am actually making a few cards for my own stash for Christmas - nothing too fancy, mostly CAS and I know that I will still not have anywhere near enough by 1st December - but at least I am trying my best!!!
Rudolph Day is here again and this is my first entry this year (challenge has been running for months and this is the next to last- typical of me-  LOL) -

This 'Christmas Lights' stamp by Penny Black is a 'never before used'/ - don't know why - just found it whilst looking for something else - 

OK truthfully I had FORGOTTEN I OWNED IT

so in order to make up for it's years of neglect I made 3 cards with it! (only showing 2 here - saving the other for another day!)

Just plain white card, embossed one in silver the other in pink ( another 'never before used' embossing powder!), matted them onto same coloured card before putting them on base card, then added a few sparklies of the same colour.

Quick, easy and I quite like them! Got lots of different coloured embossing powders crying out to be opened too so likely will have worn out said previously forgotten stamp by the time I've finished my cards.....

Challenges -

Rudolph Day

PB & More - Christmas

Anything Goes w/a twist- Twist is PINK 

Allsorts - Christmas

Completely Christmas - Anything Goes - twist -add a sentiment

Oldie but Goodie - Christmas (stamp)

Not too many hectic days (she says) - Club Presentation tonight, TWO AGM's tomorrow (County and Club) then completely nothing in the diary for a whole week! So once all the minutes are done from the two meetings I intend to shut myself away and chuck ink all over the place!! x

Soon be Christmas!

Have been at 3 County Presentation lunches in the last 6 days - all in the North of England, - Cumbria, Yorkshire and Northumberland -nice food, nice wine and nice company!! My waistline however is not so nice!! So 'eat as little as possible' this weekend - despite it being my own Club presentation tomorrow.

I relaxed on Wednesday by making a start on the dreaded Christmas cards. Have a commission for a few as well as my own to do so here's the first commissioned one finished - The little cutie is of course by Mo Manning and I think she is amongst my faves!

I coloured her with promarkers in a soft pastel green and highlighted her wings, leg warmers and bobbles with a touch of pale blue grey and some glamour dust.
 The background was done using a mix of blue and yellow chalks.

Cut out with a nestie, edges distressed and stickled then mounted onto the background - paper I think from Wild Rose Studio. Just distreesed the edge and again - out with the Stickles!

All the snowflakes are from the same Memory Box die just cut up using scraps of white sparkle paper (which doesn't show up very well here but it is really sparkly in real life!)!
 The sentiment was a freebie from a magazine, added some bright white ribbon and a couple of crystal gems.
Not heavily embellished really or too thick - so it will be OK in the post!

Challenges -
Red Rubber Inspirational - Focus on Stamping
Crafty Little Fairies - 1 Designer Paper
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
Christmas @ Sweet Stampin - Snowflakes
Crafting By Designs - Get Ready for Christmas
Pixies Snippets Playground - Week 147
CHNC Challenge Extra - Anything Christmas

Am off now to remove the trophies from the cabinet at the Club and get stuck in with the silver polish so all the winners tomorrow will be able to see their faces reflected!!! Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Not a good end result?

My mojo has been seriously lacking since I came back and haven't managed to create very much. I think perhaps because I have been so busy with paperwork and other stuff that the crafting bit of my brain has been pushed that far back it's disappeared completely!
Even getting an order for 10 cards hasn't spurred me into action.
So instead I opted for simple things and made a start on my own Christmas Cards - did a large batch using the same stamp which I am keeping to post show later this week- just in case Mojo doesn't re-appear!
This one was a 'good idea' thought - I fear a thought was all it was as I not too sure it looks exactly how I had thought it might but am sharing it 'cos I haven't got anything else!!!

I have had this embossing folder for a couple of years and this is the first time I've used it.

I made the silly mistake of using pearlised card..... won't do that again- was really difficult doing this 'Belleek' technique on slippy card!!
And as for the pic- have no idea why there's dark smudges on it cos there isn't in real life!
Used silver ink (another 'not a good idea') and swept it across the embossing folder, ran through the cuttlebug and carefully extracted the card. Gave it a blast with a heat gun to dry the ink.
From the remainder of the pearlised card, simply tore two strips, stamped and clear embossed the sentiment and ran some stickles across for more bling!
A little red gem for Rudolph's nose and some sparkly bits on the main star.
Overall it's not TOO bad I don't suppose?!

Challenges -
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Never used/Forgotten (my embossing folder)
HIMCR - Embossing
Christmas Card Challenges - Card/optional photo insp
CAS on Sunday - Emboss It
Allsorts - Embossing
My Perfect Life - Any Christmas Card

Off to find Mr Mojo! Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Wonderful Day

The 'Wetlands' set from Stampin Up is one of those rare sets that I own and feel like I spent my money wisely -  I have lost count of the numerous stamps I've bought and only ever inked once or even worse, never used at all!
This has to rate amongst one of my better purchases and it's a set I am not yet tired of.
So here's another card!

Stamped onto plain white cardstock and coloured lightly with Distress Inks.

Matted the image onto grey cardstock and then layered onto a black off cut strip.

The background paper is I think a Kaisercraft one - but I might be wrong! Like it tho - has a lovely woodgrain textured look to it in real life.
Also layered onto grey and black.

Stamped the sentiment, cut out into a banner shape, added a grey pearlised button with some twine and done!

No nonsense quick card for the 'man' stash.

Challenges -
Inky Impressions - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything with Wings
Stamps and Fun - For a Man
Creative Card Crew - Black Cardstock

Have a great day whatever you're doing! 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

Penny Farthing - Vintage Stamping DT Post

Just another 3 days to go before I am unleashed back in the craft room! Actually it's likely to be at least 4 as I have a mound of paperwork to do for forthcoming AGM's and other meetings but still am sure I'll squeeze in a little bit of inky stuff!

-
got a stamp set of vintage transport images from Flonzcraft, all which are great for male themed cards - airplanes, trains, balloons, ships and the like. I had a bit of an inking session with all the stamps using different ink colours and then just made them up into cards, using up scraps of card on the way so am also calling in at the Snippets Playground this week too.

 And this time our challenge over at Vintage Stamping is a colour choice - you can use one or ALL of the following colours! Green, Orange, Black, Purple, Red - which of course 'scream' Halloween but I don't do Halloween so my offering is - as with most of my 'Cards for Men' - a CAS one. (Yes I know ANOTHER CAS and a basic card but it  pads out the numbers in the box which really are very low at the mo!  )

Having stamped the image in Forest Green Stazon,  I cut it out with a circle die then layered it onto another circle cut from dark green cardstock.
I embossed a piece of white card (the folder I think is from the Oriental Cuttlebug set) then layered it over the same green.
Cut out two banner shapes from oddments of paper and finished off with a scrap of green grossgrain ribbon and a button!

Challenges -
Addicted to Stamps - White plus one
STAMPlorations - Stamp and Embossing
C.R.A.F.T. - Embossing
Crafty Ribbons - Buttons and Ribbon
Crafting when we can - No Designer paper

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Feeling Blue!

Yet another post done before the holiday - (edit) am now desperate to get back into the craftie space to make messy ..... 

Before I came away I needed a card in a hurry but didn't want to settle for all white - so opted for Blue instead! I seem to have made a lot of 'quick cards' recently and they're all basically CAS - I shall be embellie crazy when I next get chance!

Started with navy blue cardstock then layered some striped, then polka dot paper.

The flower was stamped with Versafine Majestic Blue then fussy cut. I dabbed a bit of Glossy Accents in the centre.
Once dry I stuck it with a 3D pad onto a tiny square scrap of embossed white card which was laying about on the desk! (Waste not want not!).
Sentiment stamped with the same ink and a couple of dark blue pearls to finish.

Quite a 'severe' card I think - but it works with the straight lines and monochrome colours?
I also needed to post it  -didn't want it too thick but wanted it to have SOME dimension so hope it achieves the objective!

Challenges -
Time Out - Stamping (optional Twist apples - which -obviously!-I didn't use)
That's Crafty - Keep It Simple
Crafty Calendar - Bingo (Flower, Sentiment, Blue)
Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes
ABC - U for Unique (Anything Goes)
Anything Goes With a Twist - Anything Goes


Only thing with holidays is there's - lots of lazing about, eating out with friends, more eating as OH cooks on the Barbie and of course the odd glass or two of vino! Which adds up to diet and detox when I get home at the end of next week!!
Thanks for taking the time to call in - have a great day! x

Birthday Girl!

A quick CAS card for a teenager's birthday to share with you all today - (again a post typed before I went off to sunnier climes and quickly updated!)

Asked to make a card in a hurry (less than 24 hours) and Mr Mojo disappeared off into the sunset so had to settle for a quick digi from All Dressed Up.

Love these stamps though - this one is from the 'Love to Shop' set and thought it was a reasonable choice for a very pretty grown up young lady of 15!

Printed both image and sentiment direct onto linen card and coloured our grown up girlie with Promarkers.
Matted the coloured image onto some orange card and then added a couple of banners from the cut off scraps of the orange sheet, running both scraps through two different embossing folders and then shoved the teeniest bit of orange card left into a heart punch and stuck above the sentiment!

The spotty ribbon and button from my stash.
Am sorry the pic isn't as sharp as it should be -don't know why.... think the really 'right between the eyes orange' of the ribbon and card overshadowed everything else!

Challenges -
Addicted to Stamps - White and one other colour
Pixies Playground Week 144
Gem of a Challenge - CAS
Di's Digis - Girly
Crafty Catz - Birthday Celebration
My Sheri Crafts - Buntings or Banners
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with Buttons and Ribbon
Passion for Promarkers - Autumn Colours (and I chose orange!)
All Dressed Up - Favourite Colour (love all colours but bright ones are my fave!)

Thanks for having a peep at  my CAS card - am off for a quick laze on the sun lounger by the pool! 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

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

In the Garden

Have had a nice couple of days - made a few 'quickie' cards to bulk up the stash a bit, finished an order and then today have been out shopping for the 'essentials' for the impending sunshine holiday ( 6 more sleeps then the sunbed for me!!!)
As we've been having some lovely weather lately I made a card with a 'summery' flavour!

Polka dot background paper distressed and stitched, a scrap piece left over from something else torn and stitched then some old white lace overlaid across.
The image (from LOTV), stitched to a plain white die cut frame and I lightly glittered some of the flowers (although it doesn't show up very well!)
Flowers and pearls from my stash and the little wooden 'Friends' banner was part of a challenge win.
Inside decorated to match.

I have a small die cut butterfly which I think may find it's way to the front of this card just to the left of the flowerpots on the bottom of the frame!

Challenges -
Crafty Sentiments - Spots
Oldie But Goodie  - Stitching
S.O.S - Bird image
Tuesday Throwdown - 1image, 2 papers, 3 flowers
Bunny Zoes - Lace
Incy Wincy - Girly
Pennys Paper Crafty - Stitching

Hope the sun has been shining where you are - thanks for looking and if you've left a comment I really appreciate it! x

CASE'ing the talent

I tend to spend a lot of time oohing and aahhing over  so many beautiful creations on both Pinterest and Blogland that I usually find I have run out of time to actually MAKE anything myself!

One such blog is that of Birgit - who has to rank among the top makers of beautiful CAS cards which although supposedly 'simple' are full of amazing detail, lots of texture and delicate touches. Just love what she does and it all seems so effortless.
I saw her original version of this card a long time ago and have been meaning to try it for myself.

I am really happy with the way my effort turned out although perhaps the inked panel backgrounds might have been better a wee bit darker round the edges.

Linen textured card used throughout.
Inks were a mixture of Adirondack and Distress inks.
Die cuts from different companies.

Sentiment stamped with Versafine and tiny gold pearls from my stash.
This has been another few days that have whizzed past I have travelled from home to East Yorkshire to Cumbria and then back home! Few days of peace (I hope) - Club Finals at the weekend then will be on the massive chill out before the proper sunshine holiday!

Challenges -
Mema's September Challenge - Fall Colours
Seemacrafts - Autumn
Die Cut Divas - New things
Come & Get It - Autumn in the Garden
OSAAT - Use a Die
HIMCR - Fall
Just Us Girls - Leaves
The Paper Players - Happy Fall

Thanks for visiting today - if you've left me a comment I really appreciate it. Have a happy day! 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!

Imagination

Despite being assured that there was Broadband at the rented place, the lovely people at BT saw fit to let a fault on the line remain for the whole 12 days I was there... not happy!!!!! But thankfully now back at home and normal service has resumed (well nearly anyway!).
I have a CASE'd card to share  which I made a while ago  - mainly because I am desperate to post something and haven't had any time since I came back to do anything constructive - cos washing and ironing is definitely NOT considered constructive.....
I was lucky enough to win this stamp set in a challenge -

it's a fab set!
I used white textured hammered cardstock and layered onto black before mounting onto the base card.
I double stamped the bird and the sentiment onto the remaining pieces of white card, then cut out the bird with a circle die and mounted it onto the stamped offcut with 3d pads.
I scored two lines top and bottom then glued on the panel.

The feathers were stamped onto an old book page then I fussy cut them out, tied them together with a bit of embroidery cotton before fixing to the card.

A quick card which I think would be great for a man so into the stash it went!


Challenges -
Aud Sentiments - Any sentiment except Birthday
Red Rubber Insp - #135 Stamping - anything goes
Inky Impressions - Anything Goes
Stampavie and More - CAS
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes
TTCRD - Anything Goes

 Thanks for taking the time to come see me - I am slowly working my way round everyone - have so missed popping into blogland over the last few weeks! x

Old Plane

A man card to share today! (this is a scheduled post so hope Mr Blogger behaves himself - and will try to link up the post to a couple of challenges if I can get a good enough internet connection!)

I had some odd bits of card left over and remembered a layout seen on Pinterest so adapted it a little for my odd scraps.
The cardstock is all Stampin Up.

Embossed one large piece with a Houndstooth Check folder, then layered it onto white and blue.
Another scrap of blue was stamped with a background stamp which is so old I have no idea who's make it is (was originally on wood but now on EZ mount!) - I only stamped it because it looked a little 'flat'!

Layered a piece of dark red, added a sentiment and a couple of large black pearls.
The circle (another scrap) was embossed and then on the final bit of krafty coloured card I stamped the old Bi-plane using Raspberry pigment ink (which was the nearest colour I had to the red card) then fussy cut it and glued it on.


Quite pleased with this - a basic man card and another for the stash box!

Challenges -
Pixies Snippets Playground
UPDATE - Absolutely no internet at all whilst I've been away - back home and playing catch up now!
So am a little late with my linking -
Creatalicious - Up to the Sky
Sweet Pea - Embossing
That's Crafty - Man's World
Red Rubber Insp - Wing It

Fantasy - Crafty Cardmakers DT

Time for another challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and our theme this time is 'Fantasy'.
Please pop over to the blog and check out the rules before sharing your creation with us!

I found some fabric in one of the drawers which was like very fine net/organza stuff with sparkly bits and thought it would look good over a plain white card so used it as the background for this one.

Am really sorry about the pic quality (think it may be time for a new camera....)- it's not the best!
Not much to this card really but was quite pleased with the result - it was made for a teenager as a commission and am told she loved it!

The central stamp is from LOTV, coloured with Distress Inks and Pastel Chalks, then mounted onto a die cut frame, before placing onto the base card.
Liberal helpings of sparkly stuff onto the wings and the flower seeds
I used a diamante buckle for the centre of the white organza bow.
The sentiment was from TLC and I altered the colour to purple to match fairy's dress, a few sparkly gems and a bit of the same organza ribbon - job done!

Challenges -

Thanks for visiting - hope you will share your creations with us this challenge - 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

Purple

Came home late Tuesday, washed on Wednesday, ironed Thursday and am off back to the Midlands again today! In between I DID manage to catch up on a few blogs but if yours was one I didn't get round to visiting I will be back middle next week and will come calling!

This was a quickie card made for no other reason than I had determined that I was going to make SOMETHING before I went away again.

Have also been trying recently of using coloured inks to stamp with rather than the normal black and brown.

I love this old stamp. It was one of the very first I bought and it stamps really well with any type of ink.
I used Dusty Concord DI as it was the nearest colour I had to the purple striped cardstock.
The sentiment is from an SU set and I added a few sparklies before finishing it all off with some polka dot ribbon.

Quite happy with the result and this is one that will go into the stash box - will probably do a few more on similar lines in different colours as I have quite a collection of striped card!

Challenges -
Mema's - Anything Goes
Creatalicious - Monochrome
Sweet Pea Stampers - Thinking of You
Aud Sentiments - Thinking of You
Crafty Creations - Flower
Penny's paper Crafty - Anything Goes

So it's off to the 'delights' of the M6 motorway for me - will be back next week! 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

Graduate Number 2

Couple of weeks ago my neighbour's eldest daughter graduated from Edinburgh after obtaining her degree in

Veterinary Science and Medicine.
This week her younger sister also dons her cap and gown as she too graduates (Education) and I was told that the trim on her gown was 'a strawberry colour' so have tried to reflect that with this card!

I had a bit of fun making this, used up a few odd bits of coloured card and paper too.

The black and white card is linen textured and has quite a bit of 'depth' in real life. The red  card is from a Stampin Up pack - don't know what the actual colour is called!

I used a scrap of peach parchment paper for the neckline, added a teeny piece of silver 'beading' and a sparkly gem to make a 'necklace'.

I suppose the 'neckline' of the blouse could have been a bit tidier but the card was a bit thick to get a clean crease  - (hope it doesn't spoil the overall look) and I glued on a couple of tiny buttons from my stash.

Mortar board made with the same cardstock, the Tassel made with embroidery thread, another scrap of cream parchment paper rolled up and tied with the same thread and a PC generated sentiment to finish!

Challenges -
That Craft Place - Anything Goes
Pixies Playground - Snippets - week 134
Sister Act - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything Goes
CFTH - Anything Goes


Played a bit of catch up today and visited some of your blogs - am still waaay behind though - slowly working through it!
Thanks for looking at today's creation! Appreciate any comments you have too. x

Summer's Day

My blogging and commenting has been sporadic lately to say the least, so if I haven't been round to you lately I promise I will do so!
I have been really busy and feel like I am constantly playing catch up - didn't work this hard when I was gainfully employed!! LOL

Anyway, before I have to go out again I have a card to share.
I made this earlier this week - locked myself away for a couple of spare hours- and as time again was short opted for a CAS style.
I inked up the background using Distress Inks in shades of blue, stamped a couple of flying birds and punched out a 'sun'.
The image is by Stampin Up and is one of a small pile previously stamped that I am currently working through.
Pained also in Distress Inks, I cut round the little boy and his sandcastle, sponging a tiny amount of blue to the edges where they meet the 'sea'.
I stuck him to the inside of a die cut square frame cut from linen textured card and then used 3d foam poads to raise him and the frame up from the background.
The shells and starfish were fussy cut after stamping and the sentiment is I think by Papermania.
Challenges -
Dream valley - Summer
Crafty Little fairies - Summer Fun
Inky Impressions - Summer Fun
Creative card Crew - Beach/sea
Addicted to Stamps - CAS
Fresh Brewed - Seaside
Cardz 4 Guys - At the Beach

It's a glorious day here - hope I can find some time later to sit out and relax in the warm sunshine!
Have a great day whatever you're doing and thanks so much for looking! x

Wet Feet

Made this for a friends birthday - this Wetlands set is being used to death at the moment - but I really like it!

Used black card as the base and the coloured card is also from Stampin Up (treated myself!). Ran the top piece through the 'dots' embossing folder and the bottom piece through a houndstooth check one to give them a bit of texture, then matted onto the base card.

The string was 're-cycled' from a parcel !
Had a little bit of fun making messy with the distress inks and masking before stamping the wading birds and foliage.

The 'summertime' sentiment is an old one which was part of a set of floral stamps - can't tell you which company.
I was happy with this make and more importantly so was the recipient!
Challenges -
Allsorts - Splish, Splash, Splosh
Crafting at the Weekend - Anything Goes
Choc, Coffee & Cards - For the Birds
Creative Corner - Water 

And whilst we're on the subject of wet feet thought I would share these two pics of our bowling green on Friday night taken during a County Pairs semi final- the 2 players ran for cover as we were treated to an immense (but quick) thunderstorm! First pic shows how deep the water was in less than 20 minutes - second shows it draining away 10 minutes later!

Talk about rain! The wading birds would have been quite at home here!

Thanks for stopping by today - I've had a busy few days but have a couple of free days now so will be round visiting!
Have a lovely (dry!) day whatever you're doing. x

Go Fly a Kite!

A crafting friend stamped up this image for me that long ago I can't remember when!
Found it amongst a drawer full of pre-stamped and printed out image snippets and decided it was high time they were coloured.
Have tried to keep the overall look of this card a bit 'in-betweeny' - not too fussy (cos it's for a boy) and not too CAS (as I thought it'd be a good card for a child).

I CONFESS - the papers were printed and not used from the paper mountain.............. {sigh} - naughty step for me.

Papers matted onto blue cardstock. (Thebackgrounds of the papers look a little creamy/pink in the pic here but in real life they are stark white)
Image coloured with Distress Inks
Sentiment (which I think is from a Papermania set) stamped in Stazon Midnight Blue
Red and Blue twine  and the buttons from my stash and the inside decorated to match.

Challenges -
Alphabet Challenge - K for Kites
One Sweet Challenge - Red/White/Blue
Sparkles Forum - Summer Fun
Crafty Bloggers - Red/White/Blue
Paper Girls - Red/White/Blue
Sentimental Sundays - Red/White/Blue
Opus Gluei - Ribbon or Twine
My Craft Spot - Birthday
Incy Wincy -  Summertime Activities

Hope the sun is shining where you are - have a great day whatever you're doing. x 

Crafty Cardmakers DT Post - Challenge #120

Time for another challenge at Crafty Cardmakers & More! Julie is hosting our challenge today and she has chosen 'Under the Sea'.

This image is called 'Mermaid Visiting' - don't you just LOVE those little cute jellyfish thingies bobbing about?!!

Coloured the image with Distress Inks and added some Cosmic Shimmers to the starfish in the mermaids hair and my new friends the bobbing thingies! They're quite shimmery in real life - sadly doesn't show up very well in the pic. Distressed the edges of the image with Peacock Feathers DI.

The background paper is from Raspbery Road's 'Seaside Chic' collection.
The hessian and string were from my stash and the fabric was torn from larger piece and got the DI treatment!

I didn't have any 'seaweed' so improvised by using a Spellbinders branch die.
The sentiment was a freebie from TLC.
Finished it all off by adding some buttons (shell and sea horse), a starfish charm and some Dew Drops (which were a Candy prize so thanks Caz!) and co-ordinated the inside to match.
Hope you can join us this time - two fab sponsors as always -  SIR STAMPALOT  and also DI'S DIGISTAMPS.

Other challenges -
ADFD - Monochrome
Digitally Sweet - Day at the Beach
That's Crafty - All at Sea
Digi galore - Use a Digi
Open Minded - Water everywhere
Glitter n Sparkle - Bling 

There may be trouble ahead........

It's my turn to choose the challenge theme over at Vintage Stamping and I was recently reminiscing with a friend about how when I was small I would watch Saturday afternoon TV with my Mum. She'd sit in her favourite chair, I'd sit on a cushion on the floor beside her, we'd close the curtains, get out some sweeties and watch all the old black and white movies on BBC2, pretending we were at the cinema!
My Mum was quite a good ballroom dancer when she was young and her favorite films were of course all those musicals in which Fred and Ginger took to the floor!
So my theme is 'Lets Face The Music and Dance'.
Anything that relates to Music or Dancing - you must have some form of stamping on your project too!

Here's my card -
All the papers are of course Graphic 45 Curtain Call.
The central stamp is from our sponsor. Inked in Memento Black and stamped onto ivory card. I then used Antique Linen, Old Paper and Vintage Photo distress ink, sponging over the stamped image.
I mounted it onto black card.
The flower is also Graphic 45 - several petal layers secured with a pearl brad and then fixed onto a crochet star.
Tickets and punched out stars glued on and the inside decorated to match.
looking at this pic the central image seems a much brighter shade than it is in real life... it's actually quite muted and blends well with the backing papers not so 'in your face'!
Anyway I hope some of you will join in with us this time round -love to see your take on the theme!

Challenges -
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
Fashionable Stamping- Flowers
Pile It On - Flowers
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Sister Act - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting - have a great day! x

Mortar Board!

A quick share of a card I have just handed to my next door neighbour to give to her daughter on Saturday.
The proud parents will be at Edinburgh University watching their eldest graduate having performed exceptionally well and obtained her  degree in Veterinary Medicine and Science. So well done to Katie!

The background script stamp is from Indigo Blu (I think) and the 'Congratulations' sentiment was a freebie from a magazine.
Stamped both in versafine black then mounted onto black cardstock.

The mortar board was made from black card which is slightly corrugated so has a 'ripple' fabric effect - looks quite good in real life even though I do say so myself!

I made the tassel from some embroidery thread and the polka dot ribbon was recycled from a card I received for my own birthday!
Made a little 'diploma', tied it with twine and secured to another piece of the same black card.

I found a free sentiment some time ago perfect for Graduation cards from desert diva - it reads -
 "Ending? This is only the beginning!"
 - Perfect!

Challenges -
Cards Galore Encore - Use a Stamp
Less is More - recycle
Imagination Crafts - Anything Goes
Fantastic Tuesday - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiment - No patterned paper
Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes

Been a warm, humid day here today - got all my washing dry... trouble is now I have to do the ironing!!!
Thanks for stopping by! x