Has winter returned?

Flippin 'eck! It's been pouring down here today - cold, wet, windy - 'orrible!!!!
Had to go out too as I had a hospital appointment so braved the weather and went for lasagne and garlic bread with OH afterwards - which was nice and at least the steaming coffee warmed me up a bit.

It's been a  couple of weeks since I've had enough mojo (and time) for Less is More - have managed a couple of CAS cards recently but none of them have fitted the challenges - maybe I shouldn't have posted them and saved the pics in case Chrissie and Mandi come up with a theme and I had a card to fit???
Am not so sure that this is really up to the mark either, but have posted it anyway so hope it passes muster.........

The basic card is Ivory linen (although it looks white here). I like this embossing folder and use it a lot - the stamp is 'Garden Chic' by Ecogreen  - have you ever bought a set of stamps cos you really like them and then struggled for ideas as to what to do with them? 'Cos that's exactly what happened to me with this set.
Determined to try and create something with them instead of them gathering dust in the drawer, I dusted the stamped image with Shabby Shutter, Wild Honey and Scattered Straw distress inks. I used a watercolour brush and coloured the poopy heads with Barn Door DI and then used some glossy accents.

The little bee is from the same stamp set and I added a tiny bit of glitter to it's wings. The twine started off it's life as black and white so ran it across the ink pads. As the LIM challenge called for a charm to be used I added a flower to the twine and tied them all together.


Overall I think this is an 'OK' effort. I have another idea in my head and if I can get the cells and the hands to work together I may submit another - but don't hold your breath!

Other Challenges -
My Time To Craft - Garden Gems
Paper Pretties - Clean and Simple
Shopping Our Stash - the letter 'B'
Fab N Funky - No Designer Paper

Thanks for looking - hope you're all warm and dry wherever you are! X

Recycled!

Over time, I have saved pieces of coloured tissue paper when stuff I have bought has been wrapped in it - I only save the coloured pieces cos the white is plain boring!!!

So you can understand I was real happy when a recent little spendie resulted in the goods arriving wrapped up in the most delicious Aqua Blue tissue! Like everything else I store {hoard} in the craftie room though the pile has become slowly bigger and bigger and is now getting real crumpled cos the little allocated space is stuffed to bursting.

Not wanting to throw it away (after all it is BOUND to come in useful for something...), I promised to rationalise it just a little.. trouble was, I knew I remembered seeing something done with tissue paper but couldn't remember what!

Spookily, a couple of days later, one of the blogs that I follow (here) lit up the light bulb over my head.
So there it was... that thing that I remembered somebody mentioning and doing and it was soooo simple and effective why had I forgotten??

Senior moment pushed firmly to the back of the  mind, out came the cuttlebug, nesties and tissue and here is the result.

Layers of tissue cut with two different sizes of scalloped nesties then secured together with a brad, scrumpled up and then flattened out a bit to give the petal ruffle effect.

Flourishes are Bazzil cardstock cut with a Marianne die. My fave linen textured cardstock used, two lines embossed and a centre panel mounted onto the same blue card. The sentiment was stamped with 'Robins Egg Blue' ink and then clear embossed.

Am quite pleased with this simple and quick CAS card.

I made a few in similar design.... but the one thing I have noticed about tissue paper - despite using LOTS, I still have LOTS left!!!!!!!!!! 

Challenges -
Whoopsi Daisy - Use a flourish
Made Especially For You - Recycling
Stamp, Scrap and doodle - Recycle
Truly Madly, Crafty - Handmade Flowers
Opus Gluei - Flourishes

Thanks for visiting - and if you've voted for me (see below post) a DOUBLE thank you - happy crafting! x

Vote for Viv????

Ooooo - how good is this! I'm in the top 5 over at the Fashionista Challenge blog with this card!
If you want to vote for me to be the overall winner from the Top 5 (or even if you want to vote for someone else...LOL) please pop over HERE and cast your vote

Thank you!! x

Quick update Sunday 29th April- voting now finished and winner announced tomorrow. Thanks to all my lovely followers who voted for me - I appreciate every single one of you! x

Getting your money's worth!

If you're thinking this looks familiar then you're right!
I made a very similar card last weekend.

This one was made at the same time for my MIL to give to her good friends as they celebrated their golden wedding yesterday and I couldn't post till they had received it.

Some time ago during an internet trawl I came across a site called 'Imagine' which is primarily for people who want to make their own wedding invitations etc. This shop supplies amazingly gorgeous embellishments at real reasonable prices and for the likes of me, who doesn't have a stationery business, the best thing is they offer in single quantities too. So.. despite the imposed 'saving up to have a couple of massage spas on September holiday' spending ban - I succumbed and ordered one or two... well a few really!

Made the easel with white pearlised and gold mirri card on a scalloped card base, used a MS punch for the edging and the prop, and the inside sentiment was computer generated - I think it's a lovely sentiment for an anniversary. I popped a couple of sparkly heart shaped gems onto the base too.

The front of the card was done with the same Viva 'Flourish' stamp which I think is going to become worn out very quickly!! Embossed with gold embossing powder and the gold ribbon was from my stash. The crystal diamante heart securing the ribbon looks absolutely fabulous in real life and this pic does not do it justice at all.
I'm really glad I bought a few of them and suspect this last little pile may not be the only purchase from this shop. 

The celebration was a lovely intimate occasion with just 30 close family and friends sitting down to a great meal in a private function room at a local golf club and I was very happy that they liked their cards!

Challenges -
C.R.A.F.T - Wedding/Anniversary
Crafts4Eternity- Something new
Alota Rubber Stamps - Easel Card
CYDA- Metal (and the heart is metal based)
Stampin for the Weekend- Sparkle and Shine
Cards Galore - Celebration
Bearly Mine - Embossing

Thanks for taking the time to look at my little creation - hope you're all having a perfect day whatever you're doing. x

Another CAS

I said I'd made a couple more CAS cards and here's another.

I love this Marianne die - think it's really delicate  and it's useful for these kind of clean and simple cards as it adds a bit of a 'lift' to the design without over embellishing.
I used bright white linen textured card  and embossed two lines.The spots were done using a Tim Holtz stamp inked with 'Spun Sugar' DI and I duster brushed round the inside of the frame.
The dress form and lacy banner stamps are by My Mind's Eye inked in Versamark Onyx Black with the banner stamped across a scrap piece of paper already coloured with the DI.
I thought it looked a bit too'clean and simple' so added some tiny pearls to the lacy banner, to the middle of the dress form and also a couple to the top of the card!
It's been a bit of a blustery day here - we've had some heavy showers and some lovely blue sky - but it's windy and not very warm at all!
We've been out and had a (light????) lunch - beef stroganoff for me but of course had to have some cheesy garlic bread too so am feeling over fed - but at least I don't have to worry about what to have for tea!!!!!!

Challenges -
Paper Sundaes - Anything Goes
Sugar Creek Hollow - Die Cuts
Card Makin Mamas - Girly
Craft Your Passsion - Die Cuts
The Stamping Boutique - Anything Goes

Am off to tuck myself up in the craftie space and try and do a bit more 'fiddling'!

Thanks for calling in, and as ever if you've left a comment I appreciate you taking the time. I'll be popping in to see all your latest creations with my coffee as always.

Hugz from me. x

Mum's Button

A week of mixed fortunes and emotions has been thrust upon us this week. We have had a firm offer on the asking price for the house - though they still have a place to sell, at least I felt a bit more positive about things . It may still all go pear shaped but hey ho have got to look on the bright side!
Then I had that silly fall which has really knocked me for 6 (and there was me thinking I had LOTS of padding on my backside!!)
 And then yesterday was a real bad day - last October whilst out walking we came across a little cat in the hedge. It followed us over a mile back to our house which surpised us as we're used to ferral cats living in the fields around us and over the year have fed lots of them and with the exception of one, none have been trusting. It had no collar and we thought someone had just dumped it on the country lane. We rang the local paper and kept a look out in the village to see if anyone had lost a cat but nothing.
It's been a house guest coming and going as it pleases ever since. Was an affectionate little thing and beloved husband loved it to bits. It used to jump up on his tummy and nuzzle into his chin!
On Thursday we bought a carrier and made an appointment to take it to the vet as we thought it was likely to stay with us now and we wanted to get 'her' checked out. At the vets it was discovered it was in fact a 'Him' and it was chipped. The vet contacted the owner and left a message. Cat came home.
At 6pm last night my husband was treated to a telephone call tirade of verbal abuse from the cat owner (who incidentally lives across the fields) who ranted on about why we didn't take it to a vet sooner etc etc etc.
The more he tried to explain the worse this lunatic woman got. Eventually he got her address from her and he drove (our) little loving cat back to it's awful owner. He was so upset last night and we're both really sad today cos we'd become really attached to her (him) waking us up howling outside the windown at 6.15am cos she (he) wanted feeding and we've really missed her (him) today whilst we've been here in the office. Friday 13th indeed.

Now I've poured out all my news I have a card to share - have made a few clean and simple cards the last few days (mainly because I can't get comfy after the fall!) - and here's one that I have left without a sentiment until I decide wedding? or anniversary? or thank you? etc etc!
I used white pearlised card and the stamp is a Viva Decor one which I embossed with Ultra Fine WOW pale gold embossing powder.
The metal button is from my Mum's button box - and it came from a short very tailored jacket (similar to the shrugs that are about today) that was a wedding outfit - I remember her wearing the dress and jacket - would have been in the mid sixties - she looked so chic and stylish complete with her stilletos, matching handbag and leather gloves- and of course her 24"waist!
I threaded some broad white satin ribbon through the shank at the back (with some difficulty!!LOL) 

Well if you've made it to the end of this ramble, I thank you for sticking with it and hope you're not bored or even worse asleep!

Challenges about that this is suitable for -
Craft Your days Away - Metal
Crazy 4 Challenges - Buttons.
Stampin with the Dragon - Weddings
Pixie Dust Studio - Ribbon

Thanks for visiting and listening to me - and to my new followers - don't panic, my posts aren't always this long!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. X

Fairy for Hire?

Grrrrrrrr.......... am sat here - very uncomfortable - slipped on some steps this morning and came down very hard on the base of my back - had a couple of painkillers so if I start to ramble (more than usual- LOL) you'll know why!
Trouble is, jarring my spine like that has kicked off the neck again - so am in a sorry state..................actually am just ANNOYED at myself more than anything else! So just ignore me....!

So hands up  -who wishes they had one of these?????

Get in the QUEUE!!!!!!

Wouldn't you give absolutely ANYTHING to just be able to summon up this little star and have her whizz round the house.......... (and of course the craftie space!)

A spakling bathroom, towels neatly folded and not left on the floor, dining table free of clutter (mostly mine), kitchen floor gleaming - oh the list could go on and on... and on.....and I suppose she woujld even tidy away all the paper and card into colour co-ordinated piles!

Alas! Just a dream.... but if I find one I am willing to hire her out.... for a small fee!!!!!!!! (Well gotta buy more craft stuff somehow!) 

Mo's image coloured with promarkers and glittered, gold pearl stickles used on the tiara and I used a white gel pen on my new found friend's dress!
Opted not to go over the top with embellies - after all the whole object of the housework fairy is to leave you free of clutter - so instead gave her a suitable polish laden 'cloth' (secured with pearls as befits a fairy) and made her a yellow fluffy duster from a cocktail stick and a few maribou bits lying on the desk.

Challenges -
Digital Tuesday - Birthdays
My Time To Craft - Fairy Nice
Digi Makeover - Bright Colours
Mo's Digital challenge - Anything Goes with a Mo image

Almost forgot - a warm welcome to my new follower- Claire - - hope to see you often!
Enjoy the rest of your day everyone! X

Butterflies, hearts and CAKE!

BE WARNED!! THIS IS A PICTURE HEAVY POST!!

Happy Easter! Are you all full of choccie?? I have been VERY good so far as I've been busy finishing off this project.

This is for a friend who's grandson is getting married later this year and they wanted something different than the normal cards.

The wedding colour scheme has the bridesmaid dresses in gold and caramel so I picked the gold colour to theme the box.

I used white pearlised card which has some sparkly dots embossed on it for the basic box  which measures about 9cm square. The heart ribbon I have had in my stash for a long time and I wrapped it round each individual side, securing it underneath another layer of card inside.

The box lid was decorated with a handmade rose made with the rose creations nesties, which I embossed the petal edges with gold embossing powder and dabbed a little bit of 'Diamond' stickles for a bit of bling.

The two satin flowers with the pearls are from my stash as is the gold mesh. I tied two gold curtain rings with white ribbon and secured underneath the flower decoration, then stuck it all onto the lid.

I then began to finish off the inside - first I added another layer of gold card on the four sides to add a bit of extra weight, then embossed some pearlised card, cut out a fancy frame with a nestie and glued on some pearl hearts.

The names of the bride and groom and the greeting space were printed direct onto the pearlised card and glued on.

The inside centre of the box was layered with the same sparkly spotty card as the outside and I made the 'cake' using the same white card and gold embossed a border around each layer.

The butterflies were punched out by my own personal craft supplier (otherwise known as maureen - LOL) and I added a wee bit more diamond stickles to make them gitter.

The acetate strips were cut from a nestie package and the gold hearts were from my stash.

On the top of the 'cake, I put a pair of gold goblets, added a bit of sparkly fibre and some pearls.

I am really pleased with this exploding box, the butterflies and hearts wave about brilliantly when you take the lid off and think although it took me a while to put together, it was worth the effort! I hope the recipients think so too!!

A couple of challenges about so am submitting this into -

Craft Us Crazy- Anything but a Card

Flutterby Wednesdays - Open challenge

Just keep on Creating - Anything Goes 

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - To Die For 
The Crafty Pad - Just Die-delicious
Gingerloft - Anything but a card
Dream Valley - Wedding/love
Crafting when we can - Things with Wings

Thanks for calling in today - please leave a comment then I know you've paid me a visit - I love visitors! x

Wrong colours for Spring!

Have a small commissioned project ongoing at the mo so haven't made many cards this week to share.
I found time though to make this CAS card using up some scraps on the desk! 

The leaf stamps were just laying about - have no idea how long I have owned them or who made them but thought it may be a good idea to put some ink on their pristine condition and use them at least once before they were consigned to the black hole known as the stamp drawers that are home to 'viv's stamp collection'. And I know we're supposed to be all pastel-ly and spring like but the weather here is windy and autmn-y!

Basic bright white card with a rust coloured textured scrap mounted across,  the three flat leaf images all stamped with Distress inks in Rusty Hinge, Brushed Corduroy and Frayed Burlap. The maple leaf was stamped twice, once directly onto the paper and once on a piece of scrap using Barn Door. I then cout out the leaf and mounted using foam pads. I then used some glossy accents and this has dried to a glorious perfect shine for once ('cos I usually end up with air bubbles or a sticky fingerprint in it..LOL).
I stamped the sentiment with Barn Door DI.

A basic, simple and quick card which I think will be great for my sadly lacking 'man' stash! I mean the stash of cards that are suitable for men not that I'm stashing away human beings.......lol
Not a very exciting card really but I hope it showcases CAS if nothing else!

Challenge -
Cropstop - Clean and Simple

Ok that's it - am off to work out why my carefully measured, scored, folded and glued box lid absolutely point blank refuses to fit on the top of my exploding box.......... grrrrrrrr!!!!!

Have a lovely Easter weekend, whatever you're doing. x

Diva!

What a change in the temperatures! Yesterday was a cold and grey day and although the sun has shone again today and I've got all my washing dry it's a lot colder than earlier in the week when I managed to fall asleep in the glorious warm sunshine and burn my face!

Here's another from the 'use up the coloured images' pile. 
A fab image from the gloriously talented Mo Manning who always manages to capture just the right facial expressions - she just makes me smile. I have coloured her with promarkers and added some black glamour dust on her pearl necklace and earrings after cutting her out with a nestie  and then sitched her onto two layers of scalloped nesties in pink and black cardstock.
The spotty backing paper and pink/black organza ribbon are from my stash and I cut a single 'droplet' from a length of black lace, popped a pink pearl in the centre and attached it to a length of the ribbon.  
The black edging is a Martha Stewart punch. 
Added some flowers,a couple of die cut flourishes and some more pink pearls. The sentiment was a freebie from TLC and I played about with it to alter the colour then stitched it onto a black scalloped circle. 

Inside I used some pink/white paper from Craftwork card as the base and another nestie die to make a blank for the greeting.
Challenges -
Crafty Catz - Use a digi
Crafts 4 Eternity - 3 of a kind (3 flowers, 3 pearls)
CardMadFairy- Dies/Punches
Crafty Ribbons - Black/White and one other colour
Fashionista - Feminine and bling
My Time to Craft - Easel Cards

Sorry my posting has been so intermittent just recently because of the nasty sore bones - but thanks for hangin' in with me and continuing to stop by and leave me comments - I REALLY look forward to reading them and visitng you too. x

Sunshine!

What a glorious day again today - wall to wall sunshine - have a suntan and it's only March!! A {very} warm welcome to my new followers - it's lovely to see you and I hope you pop in often 'cos I love visitors!

Have another here to share today from the 'coloured in images'drawer - doing what I promised and sorting through some of the piles - am soooo good aren't I?  
This is 'Melissa' from the Sugar Nellie 'Adorables' range and I don't know what it is about this stamp but it really is one of my favourites - I think it maybe because she looks so intense studying her little flower and quite sad too - or maybe she's not sad at all and is thinking happy thoughts!
Whichever it is, I think she is just lovely!

She is coloured with promarkers and I stitched her onto a sandy beige background.
The backing papers from Nitwits are called 'In The Meadow Too' and they were all stitched and layered onto the same beige card.
I added some white cotton lace from my stash - this is the last of it and as I have no idea where it came from won't be able to buy any more.
The flourishes were done using a Marianne die and I made the two roses using the rose creations nesties again. (Talk about get your money's worth!)
(Note to Maureen - am quite hooked on these now...and it's your fault! LOL)

I finished the front with some blue/silver pearls and continued the colour theme into the inside, using a thinner version of the same white cotton lace.

The sentiment reads in full -
I saw this flower.....  And thought of You  which I think makes it a suitable card to send for any occasion.

Thanks for calling in today and if you've left a comment I thank you lots- they really do make my day.
I hope the weather is as nice for you and if it is - enjoy the sunshine while it lasts! x

A few Spring themed challenges -
Stamps and fun - Handmade Flowers
Creative Card Crew - Spring
Paper Sundaes - Spring blossoms
Cupcake Craftroom - Spring Bouquet (OK - I know one flower doesn't make a full bouquet but I am using some 'artistic licence here......!!)
2 Sisters - Spring is in the Air
Crafty Ann's - Spring
Lollipop Crafts - Anything Goes

Totally Tropical!

Can you believe the temperatures? It's a gorgeous SUMMER's day here! It's ridiculously warm for March and I'm loving every second of it! So before I go outside to enjoy this fabulous sunshine I thought I'd post a card that's suitable for the weather......
This lovely Sugar Nellie image is called 'Summer'. Apt don't you think?!!!

I got her last year and this is the first time I've used her - (like a lot of my purchases....shhhhh)
The backing papers are from Summer Driggs' 'Flopsicle' collection (did someone mention 'summer' again.....LOL) and i layered them onto dark orange cardstock and stitched them all together.
I coloured 'Summer' with promarkers and used some distress ink for the pale blue sky background - which probably doesn't show up too well in the pic but has given the sky a lovely pale hazy colour.

The ribbon and pearls were from my stash and I am slowly depleting my challenge win flowers!

I used a gold coloured metal butterfly and thought the cocktail umbrella fitted perfectly!
The sentiment was a freebie from Rainbow Echo and I altered the colour using Serif, then cut out with a nestie and used a scalloped nestie to on the rest of the orange cardstock to make a frame.

The inside was co-ordinated using up the rest of the paper and a pearl buckle secured the ribbon scrap.

Challenges -
CardMadFairy - Use a Digi
Card Crafters Circle - Tic Tac Toe (Flowers/Digi/Die cuts)
I Love promarkers - 3 Different papers
My Mum's Craft Shop - Use a Digi
Stampin for the Weekend - Anything goes  
Crafty Purple Frog - Anything Goes
Pattie's Creations - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin - Anything Goes

Thanks for dropping in to see me today - appreciate your visits and comments - have a lovely day whatever you're doing - am now off out to enjoy the sun while it lasts!  x

Cake!

First day of Spring - and it has been a really beautiful day here - gorgeous sunshine and blue skies - let's hope that the weather remains as good throughout Spring and Summer!
Have sat here (guiltily!) and enjoyed the sunshine streaming in through the windows.... and finished a card I started when the weather was a little less nice!

Stamped this image before Christmas - (another in the drawer of 'things to make up' LOL), and the card was starting to look a bit tatty round the edges so set to and made it up.

I coloured it with promarkers - and then stitched it onto some pink and green cardstock.
Layered it with foam pads onto a trusty doily and popped it onto the backing papers then added some sparkle to the Icing Sugar.
The papers were a challenge win last year and shamefully I only opened the pack last week to use them.
Stitched onto the same pink and green cardstock and added a couple of promarker coloured die cuts and two very very pink pearls!

The flowers were another challenge win and I added some green glass leaves - which probably don't show up too well in then pic but am really happy with how they look in real life! The flowers and glass leaves were placed onto a lovely pink and green hand crocheted cotton flower which was given to me by Maureen and I think came from her aunt. 

The ribbon is from my stash -it just seemd to tie it all together and I added a little metal heart charm which says 'Made With Love'. 

I decorated the inside to match.

Hope your day has been as nice - thanks for visiting - you know I appreciate you taking the time.  x

Challenges -

CraftyPurpleFrog - Pink and Girly
Papertake Weekly - Bingo (Gems, DieCuts, Flowers)
Passion for Promarkers - Animals
Birthday Sundaes - Animal Birthday Card
Fashionable Stamping - Bingo (metal, Sewing, Flowers)
Tuesday Throwdown - Spring Cleaning - and I am using my papers and old stamped images
Love to Create - Anything Goes
Pan Pastel - add a Flower

Best Friends

Have been away from the craftie space this week although I have managed to keep visiting some blogs - not all though and if you're one of those I didn't get to I promise I will get to see your creations over the weekend.
Some time ago I made a card like this for a commission. I always print off two images in case I mess up one and this one was coloured and in the 'things to assemble' drawer! I have been trying very hard to use up stuff and am not always successful but this is another image from Mo Manning which I like a lot and I decided to make it up into an easel.

I hope the horse lovers will forgive my less than perfect shading!

Anyway, little girl and her big friend were coloured with promarkers and the sky was painted with watercolour pastels.
 The image was stitched onto a cream coloured card die cut and then put onto the card with 3d pads. The backing papers from My Mind's Eye also stitched and layered onto the same coloured card and some very old cream cotton lace from my stash added.

The flowers were a challenge win from Crafty Emma's. I coloured the flourish with a promarker and used some cream ribbon to make the back for the flower rosette, then just finished with 5 brown pearls.
The base of the easel has a tiny galloping horse metal charm attached to the lace with a ribbon.
I need to add a sentiment yet - am still thinking!!!!

Challenges -
Forever Friends - Add a Charm
I Love promarkers - Anything Goes
Everybody Art - Easel card
Craft Your Passion - Easel Card
Digi Makeover - Critters
Papertake Weekly - For the Girls

Am now off to be pummelled by the physio so -
Thanks for visiting, the sun is shining here and I hope it's shining where you are too.... x

Script

Having not finished last week's in time to post before the challenge closed I am extra extra early this week for Less Is More which is a one layer card with 'script'.

Maureen is today holding a workshop at Barry's craft store on painting with Distress Inks so not to be outdone I decided even though it is too far for me to travel to be of any use/support/a nuisance to her, I would take part anyway!

The Elusive Image stamp was inked in versamark black first. I made a mask as I wanted to emboss the actual flower - it's really difficult when the stamp isn't a clear one but after two attempts I managed it using black embossing powder on the hydrangea.
It's given it a lovely raised effect which I am pleased with (for once!).

I painted the background script with Victorian Velvet and Spun Sugar and did the flower with Broken China and highlighted it with Dusty Concord.

Unfortunately I am not so pleased with the new card stock I bought recently- although it was supposed to be quite a heavy weight and felt OK when I opened it, it has really disappointed me - it coped with the DI painting quite well, but boy, did it buckle very easily with the heat embossing.
It also didn't cope particularly well with an embossing folder coming out all wavy when I ran it through the cuttlebug, so will only be using it in future for basic stamping projects.

I may well have to mat this onto other cardstock if I want to use it for more than just a 'notelet'.

Will have to see if the three heavy books currently on top of it straighten it out a bit!

Hope everyone is having a good day out in blogland, thanks for visiting and enjoy your weekend! x

Wistful

After saying in my previous post I don't make many yellow cards, guess what I've done?
Yep - a yellow card - LOL

I don't know what it is about this Stampin Up image but I have made a couple of cards now using it and am always drawn to colouring the dress yellow!!! 
I have lots of stamps/digis that I like, some I would even say I love and this is amongst those that I love - definitely.
Am at a loss to say what it's overall appeal is really - I just think she looks so wistful and lonely standing barefoot in the grass and looking at the two butterflies - she's probably nothing of the sort and is likely to be loving the moment but you'll forgive me my imaginative wanderings won't you???!
The papers are from Raspberry Road, distressed and stiched onto yellow card. I used one of my MS punches for the bottom border, cut the frame from the same yellow card with one of my 'recent present to me' nesties and stitched the image onto the frame. The image was coloured with a mixture of promarkers and Distress Inks, with a bit of glamour dust on the two butterflies (which hasn't shown up very well in the pic) and I added a white paper doily behind.
The blue flowers were amongst a prize from a challenge blog and the yellow one was made using another 'present to me' nestie set!
I finished the front with a lemon coloured patchwork heart button threaded with lemon and white gingham ribbon and three tiny silvery blue pearls.

The same colour theme was carried through to the inside.


Challenges -
Fab N Funky - Mellow yellow
My Mum's Craft Shop - Spring Colours
Let's Ink It Up - Show us your Flowers
CRAFT - Inspired by a Song (Yellow by Coldplay)
Crafty Catz - Mothers Day/Special Lady
Simon Says Stamp - Mothers Day/Special female
(My lovely Mum sadly is no longer with us but this woul;d have been exactly the type of card I would have given her on her special day - and anyway I think the image is one special lady!!!)

Thanks for paying me a visit - have a lovely weekend whatever you're doing. x

50 years!

Some family friends are set to celebrate their Golden Wedding next month - they're lovely people and no doubt like everyone else they've had good times and bad during their 50 years together - but it's quite an achievement isn't it?
OH and I will be well into our dotage to be celebrating this particular anniversary - we'd both well into our 90's!!!! At the mo we'd be happy to make the silver version!
I wanted to make a nice card for Bob and Joan as Joan always is so complimentary about anything I make but boy have I struggled!

I do not like the colour gold - I think it's really overpowering and am also not a big lover of yellow - think perhaps I have only ever made two yellow cards in my entire life that I am happy about and I made a well OTT Golden Anniversary card as a commision which I admit turned out fine and the recipient was happy with it - but Bob and Joan are real honest 'down to earth' people and OTT was definitley not the order of the day! 

I saw the idea for the stamped panels on Debby's blog - (don't worry I told her I was going to steal it! LOL) - and thought I could try and adapt for the golden wedding.

I used another stamp from the Stempelglede Vintage Garden set and stamped and gold embossed onto cream linen card. The  card was then cut into strips and I cut the bottom ends with the edge of a square nestie.

I attached onto cream linen card stock using foam pads.

The cream and gold ribbon is from my christmas stash and I punched a scalloped edge onto some gold card and attached it underneath the ribbon.

The flower is the last of a pile sent to me ages ago by Maureen and now I have my own set of nesties to make these she said she won't be sending me any more!!! LOL

The gold and pearl bead flower embellies and the gold mesh were from my stash and I used a LOTV stamp for the greeting.

I used some glimmer mist on the die cut butterfly (another sent by Maureen- and I only have two left now...hint hint....), gold embossed the body and added two pearls. 

I thought long and hard about gems for the butterfly trail but everything I tried didn't look right so instead opted for the easy option of gold embossing powder instead -  hope it looks OK!

Challenges -

Sparkles Forum - Things with Wings

DYSU - Things with Wings

Let's Ink It Up - Flowers

That Craft Place- Anything Goes

Stamping for the Weekend - Bingo- and I chose Ribbon/Sparkles/Flowers
Crafty Emmas - Flowers
Allsorts - Spread Your Wings

Thanks for stopping by today -  I appreciate you taking the time to visit and leave comments - have a lovely day! X

Pedal Power

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday blue skies, lovely sunshine and warm weather - today grey skies, pouring rain and on with the sweaters!
So after a quick trip to the supermarket and a whizz (well a stroll really cos my neck and back won't allow me to whizz anymore!) round with the vacuum cleaner as we have two viewings tomorrow I intend on spending the rest of the day in the craft room - will have to tidy up in there too unfortunately as the sight of the desk and paper strewn floor is likely to put off any prospective buyers. Am hoping that the next visitors are more than just 'carpet treaders' and we've had our fair share of those!

Onto the card - I made a similar one to this some time ago and the image was amongst a pile I had coloured and popped in a drawer so thought I would set to and get it made up into a card!

Mo Manning made a girl and boy version of this and although I like the little girl one, this one is my fave of the two! His little car backpack just makes me smile.

I coloured it with promarkers, then cut it out stuck it onto linen card using foam pads and added some embroidery thread for streamers from the handles.

The star paper is from a pack of sticky backed stuff - lost the front so don't know who made it and the stripey one was a scrap piece in my stash. I mounted the lot onto blue card and added three very large red buttons. I hope the big red bow hasn't made it too 'girly'!!
The inside has the same striped paper to co ordinate with a space for a greeting and the sentiment on the front was PC generated. I haven't fixed the sentiment permanently yet as I'm not sure if it's a bit too 'grown up' for  child!

Challenges -
One Stop Crafts - Button It
Card Crafters Circle - Buttons
Cupcake Craft - Boys and their Toys
Bronte and Bella - Anything Goes with a Mo's image
Pixie Dust Studio - Buttons
Creative Crafts - Boys will be Boys
2 Sisters - 1 image, 2 patterned papers, 3 embellies

Thanks for dropping in to see me today, I appreciate your visits and comments - Have a lovely day whatever you're doing! X  

Take time to smell the flowers....

It's a grey day here but not cold thank goodness! Had a wander round the garden this morning after I'd done the dreaded house work and the crocus, miniature daffs and snowdrops are all blooming - so spring is definitely on it's way - so thinking about Spring here's a little beauty from LOTV taking some time to smell the flowers!

I stitched the image onto the die cut frame and added some glamour dust bling onto her wings and the skirt. I keep forgetting I bought a white gel pen and hardly ever use it, but found it to dot a few pearly dots onto the flowers and in her hair.

The backing papers were from my stash and I matted the polka dot paper onto some lilac card, distressed and stitched it.

The square lacy doily was a present and I have been wating for an opportunity to use it - It seemed a shame to cover it really as it has a pretty design in the centre but I liked it layered behind the frame so used it anyway!
I coloured the hand made flower with a Promarker and punched out some leaves using the same lilac cardstock.

I tucked in a triple pearl pin and a pearl spray behind the organza ribbon and inside I continued the same colour scheme and used a scrap of the ribbon secured with a pearl buckle onto the die cut frame for the greeting.

Challenges -
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers - Spring Time
Pixie Cottage - Anything Goes
Cutie Pie - Flowers
Pan Pastel - Use Ribbon
Kaboodle Doodles - Shades of Purple

Thanks for visiting me today - have a lovely day whatever you're doing. x

Mojo has sailed away............

My mojo has seriously deserted me this week - I've had other things on my mind and have been a wee bit stressed out so consequently have not done any crafting other than to sit and shuffle pieces of paper about!

I made this 'man' card the week before last and as I haven't posted anything this week thought I should pop it on to share.

Not very inspiring is it?? LOL
Think it reflects how I feel!

Anyway, image stamped with Versamark and some light shading with promarkers. Two pices of black card put behind it in a 'fan/sail' type layout and mounted onto K and C striped paper.
I used some twine and a little fish charm on the top.

There are some 'Man' challenges about so am entering -
Sweet Stamping - Masculine 
Hotshot Crafts - One for the Boys
Wags N Whiskers - Masculine Birthday
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Manly
Whimsy - Monochromatic
Creative Card Crew - Masculine

Am off now to shuffle some more paper!!!
Thanks for visiting, have a lovely day whatever you're doing! x