Wednesday 29 February 2012

Waste Not Wednesdays wk9

Blimey week 9, how did that happen?!  As my lovely regular blog visitors will know, it's 'Waste Not Wednesdays' day, my little challenge to get me (and anyone else who wants to join in!) using up all that forgotten stash - stamps, papers, anything really that might be feeling a little neglected...




Apologies to all those who aren't keen on Miss Tilda, but I seem to be a bit addicted at the moment!  This stamp has actually been used... but only once just after I bought her.  I've coloured her with promarkers and flexmarkers, with prisma pencils for the shadow underneath her.  The papers are from an old K&Co pad.  The card base is cream - for once it's not just a dodgy photo lol.

I decided to have a go at making a flower from lace (I've got a huge box of lace that needs using), and I don't think it turned out too badly for a first attempt.  The fancy button in the centre is from a huge box of buttons that were given to me by my mum's hubby - they were his mum's collection, she was a bit of a hoarder so there's loads of them!  It started out gold and I painted it with some acrylic paint (bought in many colours and then never used), dabbed on some distress ink and sprayed it with iridescent spray & sparkle.  Added some more lace and some more of that fancy trim from the offcuts bag, a punched butterfly and a Pink Petticoat sentiment.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Oh, I almost forgot - if you fancy joining in this week using your own neglected stash, I'm going to sort out a little prize - as usual for my little challenge prizes it'll be a surprise until I announce the winner next week.  Hope to see lots of you playing along :o)


Monday 27 February 2012

Little bit of happy...

Last night I spotted the colour challenge (pink, orange & white) at Magnolia Down Under, thought of these papers and couldn't resist having a play... there is some yellow on my card too, so I'm hoping that's ok!




I had so much fun making it, so this Pink Petticoat sentiment seemed appropriate :o)  I've used Tilda with Balloon, coloured mainly with promarkers and flexmarkers, with some diamond stickles on the bright pink bits for some sparkle.  The papers are Making Memories, kraft card is Stampin' Up and the pink is possibly bazill bling, it's got a bit of shimmer to it.  The butterflies were cut with my brand new Kars punches (love them!), corner cut with the Memory Box madera corner die, pink satin ribbon from The Stamp Basket, rose from Wild Orchid Crafts, orange fabric flower, pearls and gems from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Well I'm sure there's lots I should be doing, but I'm going to grab some lunch and then sit with my feet up and spend a lovely couple of hours catching up with you all before I pick the boys up from school/ nursery.  Hope you're all having a lovely day :o)

Saturday 25 February 2012

Sweet stampin' - masculine

Our challenge at Sweet Stampin' this week is 'masculine', which was quite handy for me because Morgan's going to a birthday party later today so he needed a card to take with him... they're going 'tubing' at the ski village (dry ski slopes)... must admit to not being entirely sure what tubing is lol!  We're sponsored by the fabulous Quixotic Paperie who are offering the lucky winner a £10 voucher, and our monthly sponsor is Joanna Sheen who is also offering a £10 voucher for our monthly winner.




The image is from a fab set called The Snuggles from DigiStamp Boutique, printed onto linen card and coloured with promarkers and flexmarkers.  The photos have made the spotty paper look a bit pink, but it does actually match the red/orange balloon.  The papers were a magazine freebie that I admired on Debs blog and lovely lady that she is, she sent me a copy of the mag with the freebie papers!  Thanks again hun :o)  The sentiment was made using the Birthday Numbers set from Pink Gem Designs, and the button was from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:


We've been to see The Muppets at the cinema today... ooh I loved it, and the kids did too!  Hubby was a bit bemused though, don't think Poland really did The Muppets!  I think he liked it once he'd got used to all the sudden 'bursting into song' type stuff.  I've gone all sleepy now though - always the same when I go to the cinema during the day.  Hope you're all having a fab weekend :o)

Friday 24 February 2012

Stamp Fairy GDT - Linda spring

It's my last week as GDT for Stamp Fairy - thanks Gerda for letting me play with your sweet images this month :o)  This week's cute image is called 'Linda Spring'...




I decided to keep it clean & simple for this one - I've just coloured sweet Linda with prisma pencils and used a Pink Petticoat sentiment, and then mounted it on a piece of teal cardstock from Papermill Direct.  Not much else to say really!

We're off to see The Muppets film at the cinema tomorrow morning... I love the muppets, I even have it as my phone ringtone lol.  Can't wait to see it, I'm sure the boys will enjoy it too!  Hope you all have a fab weekend, whatever you've got planned :o)

Thursday 23 February 2012

The Stamp Basket DT - Tilda loves flowers

It's Thursday and that means it's my day for posting on The Stamp Basket blog.  I have, of course, used one of the adorable Tildas from the Sweet Crazy Love collection...




Items from The Stamp Basket
Craftwork cards scalloped edge card blank
Magnolia - Tilda Loves Flowers stamp
Magnolia papers - cloudy turquoise hearts 6x6 & vintage turquoise 12x12
Dovecraft white flat lace 2 1/4"
Berisfords satin ribbon - aqua
Stickles glitter glue - diamond (on Tilda's flowers)

I've coloured Tilda with Prisma pencils and added lots of stickles on her flowers.  The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat, cut out with nesties Labels 14 and inked with distress ink in 'broken china'.  Butterfly, doily and pearls from my stash.  The flower is from Wild Orchid Crafts - it started out white and I used water and 'broken china' distress ink to give it a bit of colour, and then sprayed it with iridescent spray & sparkle.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

As usual for me, I did start off following a sketch, but ended up adapting it a bit too much - I couldn't bring myself to cover up the lace!

It's been lovely sunny day here today, all fresh and springlike... I love spring, wish it could stay like that all year round.  Have a lovely evening, will be trying to catch up with you all again later :o)

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Waste Not Wednesdays wk8

It's Wednesday yet again, so that means it's time for this week's instalment of my little Waste Not Wednesdays challenge - my bid to use up lots of stash and get uninked stamps or digis onto cards.  Everyone is welcome to play along, if you have your own neglected stash that needs using (don't we all?!).




Ok, so this week I've used a fairly new stamp but it was previously uninked - my lovely friend Kathleen bought me this sweet little Sugar Nellie stamp for my birthday.  There's plenty of other very old stuff on my card though.

I've coloured 'Best Day Ever' with promarkers, flexmarkers and prisma pencils.  The papers are some forgotten ones from K&Co, probably about 3yrs old.  The bow was made from tulle that I bought when I was making my wedding favours, so I've had that nearly 6yrs... for some reason I've got LOADS of it, in more than one colour, so one pale pink bow hasn't really used much of it up lol!  The pink rose is from Wild Orchid Crafts and the gorgeous beaded trim was in the bag of offcuts that my mum's boss sent me - I love this stuff :o)

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

I'm still losing the battle to keep up with you all... Dex has got a rotten cold and has been off nursery this week, and hubby's Granddad is in hospital following a heart attack, so it's all a bit chaotic here.  Hoping next week will be better!

I'll be round to see all your lovely Waste Not Wednesday creations, so feel free to play along, just for fun again this week :o)


Tuesday 21 February 2012

The lovely Mac...

Yay, I haven't got my negative head on today, and I've managed to craft without too many disasters too :o)




My mum asked if I could make a birthday card with a westie on, for one of her friends.  Luckily for me, Sally-Ann released some lovely images last month that were perfect - this is Mac and I think he's so sweet, and very easy to colour too.  I've coloured him with promarkers and flexmarkers, and used prisma pencils for the grass.  The papers are Echo Park, with Stampin' Up textured kraft card.  The flowers were cut with a MFT die, sentiment is Craftwork Cards and the ribbon, buttons, bow and pearl were all from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Ooh... I think I've talked hubby into getting me the spring Magnolia club stamps for my Mother's Day present - wonder if they'll have come by then?  That is, of course, assuming that he actually remembers to order them!  Sorry for the flying visit, we're just about to eat.  Will be having my usual attempt at catching up with you all later :o)

Monday 20 February 2012

Less is More - punches or die cuts

Huge enormous thank yous and hugs to everyone who left me lovely messages on yesterday's post, you're all fab xxx

I was hoping to return with a half decent card today, but Mrs Mojo decided to abandon me and I've thrown so many rubbish attempts in the bin... only one card survived!  The challenge at Less is More this week is 'punches or die cuts' and I really did try to be clever, but I gave up in the end and my effort is very ordinary...


I used a set of nesties - Labels 14 - that I bought recently from Pink Gem Designs, and did lots of inking.  Even that wasn't going well for me today and I kept messing pieces up and starting again, and then I managed to dunk the first card blank in brown ink too.  The image and sentiment are from a Flourishes set and the swirl is Eco Green.  Card blank and nestie shape cut from ivory linen card, and the ribbon is from my stash.

You never know, maybe the mojo will come back tomorrow and I might have a better day  Still trying to catch up with you all as usual - I'll get there eventually!

Sunday 19 February 2012

Remembering Harvey

No card for now, I just wanted to mark today with a little 'birthday' post for our beautiful little boy Harvey, who was born sleeping at just under 42wks of pregnancy 5 years ago today.

He will be forever missed, but thankfully I've found this year easier than last... I remember being very weepy and angry in the days leading up to this date last year.  Today I've had my emotional moments but it's been better.

I'll be back tomorrow with a card, business as usual :o)  Hope you've all had a lovely weekend xx

Saturday 18 February 2012

A Gem of a Challenge - sketch

This week at A Gem of a Challenge we have a fab sketch created by Katie... I was having a very bad crafting day and haven't made a good job of the sketch, but I'm sure you all will!



I've used one of Janet's cute new owl images - this is 'owl in hat' and you can buy it on its own here or in a set of Mother's Day owls  here.  I used Prisma pencils again, but I'm still learning when it comes to matching up colours with them, so the papers I meant to use didn't go at all once I'd finished colouring!  After a search through my paper stash I found these - possibly kanban - not perfect but they go better than the ones I wanted to use.  Added card candy, fabric flowers, a button and 2 ribbons all from my stash.

Me and Dex woke up with yet another cold today... wish all these blimmin' germs would leave us alone for a bit!  I'd planned a crafty afternoon, but I feel a little nap coming on, so I might shut my eyes... just for 5 minutes... Hope you're all having a good weekend :o)

Friday 17 February 2012

Stamp Fairy GDT card

It's my 3rd week as GDT at Stamp Fairy and I've fallen in love with this week's image - I think she's adorable, and so lovely to colour too...




I've coloured the lovely Clementine with Prisma pencils, the papers are Papermania - the new pink capsule pad, with some pink linen card from my stash.  I used the Memory Box madera corner die again, cut from a scrap of core'dinations whitewash card.  Added some flowers and a button from my stash, card candy and a Stampin' Up tab punch and sentiment.

This week's new images from Stamp Fairy


I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

We've been out most of the day, but I managed to get a chicken stew in the slow cooker before we left so the house smells lovely now - I love the smell of stew :o)  Will be round to catch up with you all later, not that I ever completely catch up... enjoy your evening!

Thursday 16 February 2012

The Stamp Basket DT - Lovelypop Tilda

I'm not sure how it can be Thursday already, but apparently it is, so that means it's my day for posting on The Stamp Basket blog.  Here's the card I made this week...




Items used from The Stamp Basket
Craftwork Cards - on the edge scallop card blank
Magnolia - Lovelypop Tilda stamp
Dovecraft - back to basics 'pink' papers
Vintage style ribbon - limoges
Berisford satin picot edge - pale pink
Dovecraft white flat lace 2 1/4"
Wooden mini clothes peg with a Crystal heart button

Sweet little Lovelypop Tilda was coloured mainly with Prisma pencils, the sentiment is Pink Petticoat - hand cut into a tag and attached with a little wooden peg - these are available plain from The Stamp Basket, I just added a crystal heart button (also from The Stamp Basket!).  The flowers and pearls are from my stash, blue card is core'dinations, textured kraft card is Stampin' Up and everything else is from The Stamp Basket.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Isn't it hard to get everything done when the kids are off school?!  I love having them around, and they've actually been fairly good this week - apart from the amazing ability to argue over everything (latest squabble was about who was in mummy's tummy first, seriously...), but whenever I sit down I feel guilty - there's always something else I should be doing.  And then it'll seem too quiet when they go back to school & nursery next week lol!  Hope you're not finding the week too stressful anyway, if you have littlies around.  Have a lovely evening, fingers crossed I'll find some commenting time tonight :o)

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Waste Not Wednesdays wk7

Well it's now week 7 of my little 'Waste Not Wednesdays' challenge, and I've decided to change things slightly, so you can now join in using anything that you need to use... for me this is usually going to be an unused stamp or digi, but for you it could be a pack of papers that have been neglected, something that you bought so you could try a new technique that's been gathering dust ever since (can you tell I'm guilty of this one?!)... Whatever it is, I don't mind - just get all that neglected stash out and get it on a card :o)



When I was moving some stuff around in the craft room, I found a pack of Gorjuss Girl sheets of die cut images... I vaguely remember buying them in a sale, must have been more than a year ago and the pack was still unopened.  I always feel like I'm cheating a bit when I use a pre-coloured image, but as I've got them it's better to get them used, right?

The papers are all scraps from a Cosmo Cricket pad, the flowers were also bought in a sale ages ago and the sentiment is from the Gorjuss Girl die cut pack.  The corner is my latest favourite die, the memory box Madera Corner and the pearls are from my stash.  The trim is from a bag of offcuts that my mum's boss sent me - mum makes window blinds for a little family run business... I was practically drooling going through the bag, there are some gorgeous pieces.  Mum thinks I'm very sad getting so excited over a bag of offcuts though lol!

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Thanks to everyone who's been joining in with me so far, I love popping round to see your creations :o)  Hopefully I've made it a bit easier for you to keep playing along now I've changed the 'rules', just for fun again this week.  See you soon, have a lovely evening!

Tuesday 14 February 2012

The Prickles - new images from DigiStamp Boutique

There are lots of gorgeous new images from DigiStamp Boutique this month - this cute hedgie is from a set called The Prickles.


I was having a wonky photographer day, and this is the only half decent photo!

I've coloured the image mainly with prisma pencils, although there's a little bit of promarker in there too.  The papers are MME 'blink of an eye' with Stampin' Up cardstock.  The tabs at the top were cut with the Stampin' Up 'word window' punch, buttons from my stash.  Sentiment is LOTV and the little dot stamp either side of the sentiment is one that came with a Paper Smooches alphabet set from here.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:


Have you been spoilt for Valentine's Day then?  I've not even seen hubby yet lol.  Although we're not big on grand romantic gestures, so I'm not really expecting much... takeaway and a bottle of wine probably!  Hope you have a lovely evening whatever you're doing :o)

Monday 13 February 2012

Less is More - one layer, stripes

I must admit to being slightly horrified when I saw the latest challenge at Less is More - one layer and stripes?!  Now I'm fine with stripes, I like them, but on a one layer card... eek!!!  Honestly had no idea what I was going to do, and then I noticed Helen mention border stamps on her entry, and I had an idea...


I'm not sure if it's a bit of a cheat though?  Are they really stripes?  Let me know if it passes Chrissie and Mandi, I'll make something else if not... no idea what though!

I've used a set of Kelly Panacci border stamps that I've had ages, but I think I've only used once.  The zig zag, wonky stitching and row of dots are all separate stamps.  The bicycle stamp is from Little Claire, sentiment and cardstock is Stampin' Up and I added a black pearl on each wheel centre.

Off to have a huge commenting catch up now, I'm sooo behind with you all again!

Saturday 11 February 2012

Followers gadget... eek!

You might have already seen this on Vicky's blog but apparently the google followers gadget will be disappearing soon, which means all our followers will disappear too!

I don't want to lose any of you, and would love to be able to keep up with all your blogs too, so could you sign up again using the new linky on the top right of my blog please?  And also add it on your own blogs so I can come and follow you too :o)

I'm sure it'll take some time to sort out... Could you all spread the word on your blogs and hopefully we won't lose too many people along the way!

Edit - Just adding this link here which does say that it WILL affect blogger...

Another edit - It seems that the official line is that it's just non-blogger blogs like wordpress that will lose this feature, and that it could just be a rumour that it will be phased out completely... so fingers crossed, and hopefully panic over?  But I'm leaving the new linky thing in place just in case!

Sweet Stampin' - clean & simple

Time for a new challenge at Sweet Stampin' and it's one of my favourites this week - clean and simple :o)  We're sponsored by Stamp Addicts who are offering a £10 gift certificate to spend in their online store, and our monthly sponsor is Joanna Sheen.


I've used a fab new image, called Love Owls, from Pink Gem Designs.  I printed it directly onto linen card and then coloured with promarkers and flexmarkers, outlining the letters and little hearts with a sakura clear stardust pen.  Obviously you get a lot of bleed through when you colour directly onto linen, so I've just added another piece of card on the inside to cover it.  The spotty letters were cut from Cosmo Cricket paper using my Cricut, but I think it might have looked better if I'd just stamped some smaller letters instead.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Today I need to tidy in the craft room AGAIN, because even though I have an enormous desk I'm currently working on a 6" square space surrounded by piles of stuff... and then I need to make loads of boxes so I can finally get round to putting some cards on ebay.  With a bit of luck I might also find time to make a card ;o)  Hope you all have a great day, whatever you're up to!

Friday 10 February 2012

GDT for Stamp Fairy - Barry Bee

Well I made it back - the snow has almost thawed now so I managed to get the car home :o)  This is my second post today, with my Guest DT card for Stamp Fairy - the new release this week is so cute!




I've coloured the adorable Barry Bee with prisma pencils, with glossy accents on the honey and sakura clear stardust pen on the wings.  The papers are MME (ooh la la for him, I think), with black core'dinations.  Sentiment is computer generated and the buttons are from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

This week's new releases from Stamp Fairy

Do any of you have the Magnolia stamp club?  I'm very tempted to order the spring set, but I've never done it before and I'm not sure if it's worth it... also, any ideas when the spring one's likely to be delivered?  I'm not great at waiting ages lol!  It would be very naughty of me though!  I really need to get some of my cards on ebay to justify buying more stamps ;o)

Less is More - aqua

Happy Birthday Less is More - thank you for all the fab challenges Chrissie and Mandi, it's been great fun joining in with you :o)  The challenge this week is 'aqua', which I really like but seem to have very little of in my craft room... I've been trying to think something up all week, but the end result wasn't really worth the wait!


Annoyingly it doesn't even look particularly aqua in the photo, but I promise it is!  I searched through all my inks but the nearest I've got is a distress ink in broken china - a bit too bright I thought.  So I rummaged through all the paper and cardstock in my stash and found a few sheets of this mottled paper, no idea where it's from.

I used black core'dinations to make the card base, the stamps are from a Flourishes set and the corner die is the Madera Corner by Memory Box.  I've 'coloured' the shoe with a sakura clear stardust pen for a bit of shimmer.

I've had to abandon the car around the corner this morning.  We had a very light covering of snow last night - on top of a bit of leftover ice from the last lot.  I took Morgan to school and the car made it off of our cul-de-sac ok, but when I tried to come back up again it wasn't having any of it!  One of the neighbours came over and gave me a push, but it still wasn't going anywhere, so I had to back up and park on the road at the bottom.  So I'm not looking forward to going out again to pick him up from school, fingers crossed it'll have cleared a bit by then.

Back later with my Stamp Fairy GDT card :o)

Thursday 9 February 2012

The Stamp Basket DT - my favourite Tilda again

It's time for my Thursday post on The Stamp Basket blog again, and this week I've used my favourite (for now at least) Tilda... I think she's lovely, and so nice to colour too :o)




Items used from The Stamp Basket
Magnolia Tilda with Wrapped Heart stamp
Magnolia paper - cloudy purple hearts 6x6
Memory Box dies - scalloped posy & madera corner
Craftwork Cards - on the edge scallop card blank

I've coloured Tilda with a combination of promarkers, flexmarkers and prisma pencils.  The panel behind the image is a piece of whitewash core'dinations embossed and sanded - not sure what the embossing folder is called though sorry.  Sentiment is a Penny Black, cut out with Labels 14 nesties and inked with 'London Fog' memento ink while it was still in the die.  Leaves are a woodware punch and the pearl bead is from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Apologies again if I've not managed to visit you yet - I'm trying (and failing!) to catch up with you all... there's just so much to do!  I'll leave you with Dex's pearler for today - he's started playing on the Wii a bit, and we've set him up his own 'Mii' character.  He's very put out about being the smallest character on there and he's actually clearing his plate at the moment so he'll get bigger lol.  Today he said he needed to eat lots of food so he can get a fat tummy like mummy and daddy on the Wii Fit!... ho hum, better get going with that diet!

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Waste Not Wednesdays wk6

Here we are at week 6 of my little challenge to get those poor un-inked stamps and digis used... it would be lovely to see you join in using something you've not managed to use yet.  Just for fun usually, but last week I said there would be a little prize - although as usual I forgot to take a pic of it earlier!

So we need a winner, and that is....

Number 3 - Victoria

Congrats hun :o)  Can you email me your address please and I'll get your goodies out to you - here's a pic of what you've won...


I can confirm that the papers are just a bit gorgeous, because I bought a pack myself and I've used them on this week's card!




This week I've used an unused Pollycraft digi - isn't he gorgeous?  Before I got the prisma pencils I had a tendency to buy bear images and then not use them, because I find them a bit tricky to get right with promarkers.  They're so easy with prisma pencils though, I love colouring them now :o)  So the bear and the grass are coloured with pencils, the clothing, kite and sky was done with promarkers and flexmarkers.

I've used my new Papermania capsule papers - love these, every sheet is gorgeous... I bought the pink ones as well lol!  The cardstock is Stampin' Up textured kraft card.  The nestie shape is also new, it's Labels 22 and I bought them from Pink Gem here - I used the largest die to cut out the image and then used the die as a template to draw and cut out a mat for it.  Punched some holes using my cropodile and threaded some hemp twine through, the image and the card front are popped up with foam pads.  Added pearls from my stash and a Craftwork Cards sentiment tag.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:
Well I hope to see lots of you joining in again, back to just for fun again this week - thanks to everyone who's been playing along, it's lovely to see your creations :o)



Tuesday 7 February 2012

A polar bear in pink & yellow!

I don't think I've ever used a polar bear on anything other than a Christmas card, but there's a first time for everything, and I think it worked out :o)  One of my lovely customers requested this one - her little girl currently has a bit of a polar bear 'thing' and these are her favourite colours, so fingers crossed this will be ok!



I was quite happy with this card until I saw the photos, and now I've decided the flowers look a bit imbalanced!  So I might alter things ever so slightly before it gets handed over.  The image is from Pink Cat Studio, coloured with promarkers and flexmarkers, with glamour dust on the hood.  Papers are K&Co, flowers are from Wild Orchid.  The tag was cut with a Stampin' Up punch, butterfly cut with an x-cut die, number 5 with a sizzix die (night & day alphabet).  The daughter sentiment I think is Cuddly Buddly - coloured in with promarkers to match and the birthday sentiment was computer generated.  The card blank is a large 8" square made from Papermill hammered card.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

It's my mum's birthday today, although she doesn't read my blog so there's probably no point saying happy birthday lol.  We'll be going round to take her pressies this evening - luckily I made her card ages ago, although I've just realised it needs a box and I didn't make that, so I'll have to quickly make one when I've picked the boys up from school and nursery!  Will catch up with you all later :o)