Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 91 - 3 different techniques

 I have scheduld this post and am keeping fingers crossed that it appears when it should as I am still on holiday! 
Our latest challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers has been set by Sharon  and is the theme 'Pick Three Different Techniques'. Our fab sponsors this week  are MILK COFFEE DIGITAL STAMPS   and   Sir STAMPALOT.
 
Take your pick of 3 from the following list and be sure to state which 3 you've used to qualify for a winner or Top 5 slot:

1. Embossing (wet or dry)

2. Distressing  

3. Masking

4. Making your own flowers  

5. Paper piecing/patchwork

6. Shrink Plastic 

I chose this lovely image from our sponsors Milk Coffee Digital Stamps called 'Michelle in Hot Air Balloon'. Isn't she pretty?

Having chosen what image I was going to use I thought about my 3 different things... and promptly ended up using four from Sharon's list!!

I paper pieced the balloon using different scraps of pink papers - (My first technique done!)- and cut it out with an oval fancy frame die.

I coloured the rest of the image with promarkers.

The background is Core-dinations cardstock, embossed with 'Oriental Blossoms' folder (second technique) and then sanded it. I also distressed the edges (third technique).

So with all my techniques done I decided to finish off the card by using a trellis die cut along the bottom and some twine - and as Michelle was scattering flowers from her balloon, I stamped two flowers onto some shrink plastic, coloured them and blasted with the heat gun to shrink them , popped them onto the trellis with a couple of die cut leaves and a pearl in the centre. So 4 techniques for the price of 3!!!

A sentiment printed out onto a tag, layered onto pink card, some twine and a couple more pearls finished it all off.

Hope you can join us this challenge!

a quick hello

Hello everyone!  Just a very quick visit. House move went smoothly..I have no idea how I managed to accumulate all the stuff that I did! Mixed emotions too - sad to leave after 26 years but looking forward to a new place.
Anyway we're here and so far so good-settled in better than i thought and it actually feels like home despite all the cardboard boxes!!! And the boxes will be here for a while yet as we're off tomorrow for 2 weeks to sunny Cyprus
Our new neighbours (there's a novelty -neighbours LOL) are keeping their eye on the place so we're leaving behind this amazing view to look over blue sea!
So will be trying to pop in on you all dependent on internet connection - thank you all for your good luck messages. Will be back soon. X

April Showers

Todays challenge at Crafty Cardmakers has been set by Tracey, who has chosen the theme 'April Showers bring May Flowers' and her criteria is 'cards that include an image of something rain related and are embellished with at least 2 flowers'.

(Remember in order to qualify for one of the prizes from our two sponsors this time -  (a $10 gift voucher to spend at Di's Digi Downloads and a £10 voucher from The Stampman (and Lady of course!)) 

 
So here's my DT card - have you ever come up with something that you think is a good idea? And then when you come to try and execute your idea you wish you hadn't bothered??? Well this was one light bulb moment that maybe I should have turned off as soon as the light came on!

I fiddled about with it for ages until the finished article looked half way presentable! And then trying to photograph it was a nightmare as the light was terrible!

The shape is a template from Whimsy Stamps and this is why I had so much trouble - not the template itself but as I don't have a cutting machine I had to cut it by hand - and I am really bad at following lines!! Consequently it's a bit hit and miss if two sides actually turn out looking anything like each other!!!!

But it's not too bad now..... I don't think!!

I used 300gsm card for the actual template then covered with papers are by K and Co. The handle is simply colored with a promarker and finished with two eyelets.

Once all layers were assembled, I covered the inside with plain cream paper and stamped a few flourishes using Shabby Shutters DI to leave a suitable surface for writing a greeting.

Tracey wanted at least 2 flowers so I attached these tiny pink flowers to the points of the brolly and added a die cut flourish, some pink ribbon and a couple of suitable blinged Victorian Velvet Distress inked butterflies.

The sentiment was a freebie from BrossArt, printed onto cream card and cut out with a nestie. I attached it using a tiny peg.

Using the heavyweight cardstock as a base meant that the card stands up without any props (thankfully!!!).

Well there it is, hope it has inspired you to come over to CCM  and have a go this week!
I am currently in the process of moving house! Will try and catch up with you all as often as I can over the next few weeks -  Hugz from me. x

Challenges - 
Cheerful Stamp Pad - April Showers
Cute Card Thursday - Can't stop the Rain
Word Play Saturday - Weather
Kraftyhands - April Showers

Cardboard Boxes

Slipped away from the bubble wrap and cardboard boxes to do this quick post - after all the anquish of the last two weeks (and the previous 2 and a half years)  it now looks like we will finally be leaving here early next week.
Will be glad in one sense as it's far too big for us and the huge garden is now becoming a chore rather than a labour of love, but will also be very sad as I have been here for over 25 years. Time for a fresh start....
So I will try and keep popping in and out until we go - then will have to use the lappie as nothing connected in the new house and as it's all finally come together in the last 3 days it will be a while before we can get PC's up and running....
Made a couple of quickie cards whilst resting my back from the packing and also finally managed to add the finishing touches to this one -

He just makes me smile - not many in the Premiership of English Football look like this do they????? LOL
Don't know how he can see the ball with his round tum - never mind chase round after it!

All shapes cut with Nesties and the paper is odd bits from my stash.

The image is called 'Dunderton Academicals' from Dr Digi and I layered him up a bit to give him some definition from the background.

The sentiments are all PC generated and I applied liberal helpings of Antique Linen DI all over the place in an attempt to make it as grubby as his shorts!I can think of one or two players who live by the aforementioned 'Rules'.... LOL

I made a stand for the back as opposed to a 'flip open' card and covered the stand in footie paper.

Hope all is well in all your worlds and thanks for looking. x

Challenges -
Creative Corner - Unusual Shapes
Crafty Catz - One for the Boys
One Stop Craft - Not Square
1 Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi
Cards for Men - Anything Goes

Stress and Sentiments!

I have not had any inclination for crafting this last week  but yesterday sat and forced myself to make 'something'- I am hoping that it doesn't look too 'thrown together' and completely lacking in imagination!
We are currently going through one of the 3 (so they say) most stressful times in a person's life - having previously experienced 2 - divorce and death - this house selling is by far the worst time in my life to date. We are still in limbo, having had to cancel the removal firm once, we are running up huge solicitors bills, and all because we are waiting (as are our buyers) for their solicitor to get his act together. This has now been going on for weeks and quite frankly I am thoroughly sick of it all.
Enough of my personal problems - am sure you all have enough of your own without listening to mine....

So back to the 'something' card!

I have had this beautiful linen textured wedgewood blue colour patterned paper since last year - and I decided it was about time I steeled myself and used it.

Not having any enthusiasm/inclination for colouring images I just distressed and stitched the paper onto a plain darker shade background.
Added two pieces of gorgeous lace which was a present from a blogging buddy and edged a bit of shabby seam binding in between the two strips.

Made a bow and had a metal filigree circle (again in my stash for years) which I stitched to the bow centre. The blue/white resin cameo flower circle brought it all together.

Sentiment stamped onto a nestie tag using Adirondack 'Stonewashed' ink and hung a metal birdcage and birdie charm from the bottom of the tag with a scrap from another tag!

Finished with some pearl pins, a couple of flat backed pearls and die cut corners.
Inside co-ordinated to match.

Thanks for sticking with me whilst my blogging is sporadic - I appreciate that you come back and love reading your comments. Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Challenges -
Little Red Wagon - Cameo
Live & Love Crafts - Bingo (Lace, Vintage, Pearls)
Charisma Cardz - Colours of a Flag (Finland -blue and white)
Papercrafting Journey - Use a Sentiment
Craft Room - So Sentimental
Crafty sentiments - Pearls and Lace
Oldie but Goodie - Girly  (my paper and metal circle both over 6 months old)
Belli - Pastels
Totally Papercrafts - Monochromatic

CAS

I have had a week of ups and downs, none of which I will bore you with, but sometimes don't you wish that you could just get through one day without more bad news/stressful situations/illness and anything else that contrives to add up to a crappy day????
I try to keep reminding myself that there's millions of others who are worse off than me at this moment in time!!
So how did I try to cheer myself up and shake off all this doom and gloom??? By making sympathy cards of course................... I know, I know, probably wasn't the best idea but didn't have one single solitary one in my stash and on Sunday I was asked by 4 different people if I had any!
I won't depress everyone even further by sharing them all, promise! Will save them for another day!
Here's one which wasn't exactly intended as a sympathy card but is likely to be sent to someone to let her know we're thinking about her as she goes through a particularly difficult time.

I used basic linen textured card. After cutting out a panel to fit across the card I ran it through a houndstooth embossing folder and wrapped a length of brown and white gingham ribbon across the centre, then stuck it on the card using 3d pads.

The stamps are an assortment from different companies but all are inked with Versafine Sepia Ink. I added some Stickles to the seed heads in the centre oval for a wee bit of sparkle.

The ovals were cut with a nestie using the scraps from the card base.
Sentiment stamped on bottom with same ink.

Sorry about the poor pic - think my little digi camera is about to go to the picture gallery in the sky as my pics are not as good as they should be................. or maybe it's ME????? LOL

Challenges -
Crafty Creations - No Squares
Card Mania - Diecuts/Punches 
Card Crafters Circle - Die cuts/dry embossing
Cards by Lady Anne Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers - Anything Goes
HIMCR - Scraps Saturday
My Craft Spot - Anything Goes

It's been a gloriously sunny day here today - am just off for a stroll down the lane to feed the ducks! Thanks for calling in. x

Dragonfly Dreams

Hello from a wet and cold north west of England! After a couple of quite nice, sunny (if a bit chilly) days we are blessed today with rain and grey skies.
Everyone is talking about Spring - well it ain't sprung here! Think even the daffodils are sorry they've opened their heads to face the world.

In anticipation that Spring is just around the corner (well we can hope can't we???) I made a card using a stamp I longed for then when it was bought for me didn't ink! (Not until now that is....)

I used Stazon Timber Brown and stamped the lovely dragonfly and sentiment on ivory pearlised card - which is really hard to nab a decent pic of - must be to do with the reflection off the paper I think.

The 'Dragonfly Dreams' sentiment was part of a set from the Stamp Bug many moons ago and thought that it gave the card a 'neutral' theme so it could be used for many things. 
I also resisted the temptation to put on flowers, die cuts and all the other usual things that I automatically reach for.

The backing papers are from the 'use these up 'cos they're too big to throw away' box, think one was a digi download and all the elements were matted layered and stitched onto dark brown card.

I added some two tone cream and brown ribbon, tied a little bow, and a bronze pearl. (Knew I wouldn't be able to just leave it plain!)
Hope Spring has arrived where you are! x

Challenges -
Papercrafting Journey - Monochrome
Pan Pastel - Stamped Image
Rhedd & Rosies - Monochrome
Milk Coffee - Welcome Spring
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes
Creative moments - Things with Wings

Lime & Green

This week at Less is More the challenge is a colour one.
Lime and Green are what we were given to work with - I finished one but have another in mind so who knows I may well get to put in 2 entries this week if I get my act together!!

I used the usual linen textured cardstock and in the scrap box found some bits of papers left over from the Basic Grey 'Sultry' pad.

This was a quick card and am pleased with the finished result.
The black frame was also cut from linen textured card.
I used a punch for the butterfly and dabbed a wee bit of Versa Ink across it in 'Key Lime' colour.
The black gems are from my stash as a girly has to have a bit of bling!
Sentiment stamped with black Versafine.

(Now that I've taken a pic of this card it looks less Lime than it does 'in real life' !)

Am also popping across to the 'Playground' this week with my 'sultry snippets' - and try not to spread my germs!

Thanks to all of you who have left me get well wishes - cough is not as bad but lingering!

Other Challenges -
Pixies Crafty Playground - Weekly Snippets (and a go on the swings!!)
Basic Grey - CAS
2 Sisters - Anything Goes
Hobbycutz - CAS

Enjoy your day whatever you're doing and thanks for visiting! x
 

Birds In My Hair

I used to sail through the winter months without a sneeze -  think it must be an age thing now 'cos for the last couple of winters I've been struck down with some nasty bug or other!
Have felt really terrible this past week - cough is still here (although the cold has gone) but am not feeling totally 100% yet - thanks to you all for your get well wishes - this virus thing is just a nuisance and people I know have all said it takes ages to get rid of - which hasn't cheered me up one little bit!!
But - I spent a little time yesterday in the craftie space - it was actually far warmer than in the house - and finished this card.

The colour was selected for no other reason than the papers were the last of a pad that had been left on the desk - but am actually pleased with the finished result.

Love this image from A Day for Daisies - but this is the first time I've got round to colouring it!
(On close inspection actually the colouring is not the best but I'll put that down to my trying to do it between coughing fits!)

All papers distressed, layered and stitched.

Some vintage lace which was a present from a blogging buddy which toned in perfectly with the papers -(don't you love it when that happens!) and some flowers from my stash.

I added an organza bow behind the flowers and a couple of pearl pins.
 
The sentiment is from TLC and I thought it fitted well with the image.

To finish off I stuck some seed beads into her hair.

I followed the same colour scheme inside and added a die cut bird cage which was coloured with Mica powders.



Challenges -
Creative Moments - Things with Wings
Mema's Crafts - Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers - Anything Goes
A Little Bit Crafty - Anything Goes
Sparkles Forum - Birds


Thanks for visiting - will be calling by you all on a catch up mission to see what you've all been doing whilst I have been feeling sorry for myself! x

Crafty Cardmakers DT - New Challenge

As it's April Fool's Day, our latest challenge over at Crafty CardMakers is being hosted by Suze, who has chosen the theme of Humour. 
Suze says perhaps a use funny image or sentiment, or you might just want to add some googly eyes. Remember, laughter is the best medicine - so have fun! 

On offer this week is a $10 GIFT VOUCHER from DI'S DIGI DOWNLOADS and a fab prize from HOBBY ART
Please make sure tho' that you read and follow the rules for our challenges so that you can have a chance of nabbing one of these prizes!
 
I confess to scratching my head a bit with this challenge - mostly because I was bothered that what I found funny might not be someone else's idea of humour....... in the end I had a 'light bulb' moment and came up with an idea.

I settled on a monochrome colour scheme and opted for quite a CAS design.

The stamp set came from somewhere in the USA and I have had for absolute ever. I had intended to put it into the 'charity' basket last year (as with most of my 'never used' stash over 3 years old!) but am glad now that I forgot!!

All stamped with Memento Black onto white textured linen card.  

The spotty paper was a freebie download from I think Jak Heath (again a long time ago!) and I layered it and the stamped images onto black card.

The three different sizes of black buttons were from my Button Box and I threaded some black and white twine through them.

Someone else shares my sense of humour anyway, cos this card went into the 'Pink Stash' and was there about 5 minutes before it was bought!

Please pop over to my teamies blogs and check out their creations - they'd love to see you.
Have fun with this challenge and I can't wait to visit you all - 'cos there's nothing like a smile and giggle to brighten up your day is there?  

Other Challenges - 
Creative Card Crew - Masculine
Top Tip Tuesday - Funny
Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Funny
Cards For Men - April Fool
Craft It Up Linky Party - Buttons
Digi Darla - Laughter is the best Medicine
Created with Love - Funny 
Paper Playtime - Use a Pun
  
  

Just a very quick posting with a card that's taken me three days to make (!!) and unsurprisingly I think it will end up being dismantled and the bits that can be saved will be... and perhaps I will try again when I feel better.

Kicked off on Wednesday with what I thought was a 'bit of a cold' - now I feel like I've been run over by a bus and the rear wheels are parked on my chest - hacking cough, no voice (much to dear husband's delight...LOL), and the wooliest head in the world.

Which probably explains the card!
Tried to use up all my scraps of 5th Avenue papers, distressed, given a liberal rub with some Antique Linen DI then stitched them all together. 
Used some cream vintage lace for the edge and cream seam binding for the bow.

Flower from stash and added three pearl pins.
Sentiment stamped with Versafine then cut out with a nestie fancy tag.

Birdcage is a Memory Box Die embossed with Weathered White EP then rubbed some pink metallic rub over it, glued some pearls in a swirl for the 'hanger'.
The tiny feather was my attempt at 'the bird has flown' - (told you my head was woolly!!)
Finished with some more pearls.

Maybe it will look OK when I feel better????

Challenges -

C.R.A.F.T.  - Female
Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbons
Rhedd & Rosies - Vintage/Shabby
Allsorts - Vintage
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Will try and get round to visiting you all - if the coughing fits stop for long enough! Enjoy the rest of your Easter Weekend. x

Special

Am vainly searching for my mojo lately as far as card making is concerned - really as far as a lot of things are concerned!

This is another one of those - 'I think it's not toooo bad but could have done it better' efforts. Trouble is don't know what I could have done better... perhaps the sewing machine should have been stamped onto a frame or decoupaged to make it stand out a bit more?

I did consider this but when I set out to make the card I wanted it to be somewhere between CAS and 'frilly and fancy' and a bit more 'flat' than my usual multi layered efforts!

The papers are called 'For the Record' by Raspberry Road. Some digi papers I find really bright and not my cup of tea but I really like these - they all co-ordinate beautifully and the set is such a pretty one.

Used Kraft card as a base, layered the papers onto black card after distressing and sponging with Antique Linen DI then stitched (not very well I might add).

The stamps were a free set with a crafting magazine - I don't normally buy crafting mags  but paid for this one 'cos I wanted the stamps!!

Black satin edged organza ribbon tied round and a huge bit of blingy stuck in the centre of the bow - the blingy was in fact an old ring and I just used a pair of pliers to remove the front from the back! Happily too I found a single black 'dew drop' in my stash so popped that onto the bottom corner.

Used more of the papers on the inside to tie it all together.

All in all don't suppose it's too bad - might do another similar and swap the placement of sentiment and sewing machine..... 

If you, like me, are experiencing freezing weather conditions I wish you all a warm and snuggly day in your crafty spaces! x

Challenges -
1 Stop Craft - 1 image, 2 embellies, 3 DP's
Crafty Catz - Sparkle with a Bow
Emma's Cards UK - Vintage
Ladybug Crafts - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays - Stitching
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Texture and Stitching

Is it cold where you are? It's freezing here!
This week's challenge at Less Is More is to 'use beads'.
Dreaming of warmer weather probably planted this little seed of an idea which surprisingly fitted the challenge theme.

  
I used to wear these wooden beads (very hippy chick - LOL)  and having a clear out a few years ago I put them into the craft stash with the usual crafters mantra - 'they may come in useful'!!

Cut myself a piece of hessian type stuff from the material bag and tacked it onto a dark piece of material.

Stitched the wooden beads on and then stitched the wooden charm onto a piece of 'cheetah skin' ribbon threading some small coppery seed beads through as I stitched.

Then sewed it onto the backing 'mat.

The wooden bark heart was from my stash.

The words and zig zag where computer generated and I printed out onto cream hammered cardstock.

I considered embossing round the 'mat' but in the end left it plain as I rather liked the 'tatty' and 'rough' texture mix and didn't want to 'formalize' it.

I have a friend who loves all things to do with Africa so no doubt this will be sent to her very soon!!

Am really disappointed with this pic though - it looks so much better 'in real life' - spent ages trying to get good reproduction of it but in the end the grey skies defeated me!

Thanks for calling in - enjoy what's left of your weekend. xx

Portholes

Finally found some time yesterday to sit and mess about with stamps and paper! By the look of the weather today I will be able to do the same again today - so much for spring! 
Was having a mooch about over at Raspberry Road and saw this quote - 
The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another.  
The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.  ~Henry Van Dyke
He wasn't wrong was he???? LOL

I have a couple of mens birthdays coming up so got on with quick makes whilst looking at the wind and rain. As I'm typing my world is now white (with snow!)

I saw a card made like this ago on Pinterest - sadly I didn't bookmark it so have had to do it from memory and now it's finished I don't think it comes anywhere close to the other lovely creation!

The ship stamp is from a set by Artemio. Stamped using Versafine Black onto white linen textured card and slightly coloured with water colour pastels. I masked the image off and sponged on the sun and sky with DI.

The striped background paper was a piece from the 'left over' drawer and I cut out a circle using a nestie and popped the stamped image behind then stuck it all onto white linen cardstock.

The 'porthole' was done using two nesties then adding some silver brads and secured with 3d pads to raise it from the card.

The anchor is a Kanban stamp. I ran some string across a DI pad threaded it through the top of the anchor, underneath one of the brads to secure and attached it to the greeting tag. Instead of throwing the leftover bits of string away I stuck them to the tag!  

Challenges -
Happy Campers - Add dimension

Creative Card Crew - Masculine
OLLCB - Male themed
Penny Black & More - One for the Boys
Here Come the Boys - photo inspiration (and I thought of Transport)
4 Crafty Chicks - Circles

I'm thankful that you have popped in to see me today - am hoping that everyone who has snow, wind, rain and freezing conditions is warm and dry - am just away to turn up the heating!
PS - My lovely friend Allesandra is giving fab candy away - click on kitty Bailey's pic in my sidebar to take you to her blog....

 

Confusion reigns

and not in my house for once...
Am reading on Blogs that lots of you are joining up to 'bloglovin' because you believe that your followers will no longer be able to follow you.

I (and Coops and others) don't think you need to sign up to anything - Courtesy of Coops here is a copy from the Blogger forum -

The reading list on your dashboard is based on the feed of the blogs you are reading and their feeds are not going away. 

If you have items in your reading list on the dashboard that are only there because you added them through GReader and they are not Blogger blogs, they might be removed from the list when GReader goes away but any Blogger blog that is on your Reading List because you used the "following" gadget on another blog to start following it, should remain intact

 

So it looks like it will only affect those blogs you follow through google reader like wordpress or typepad blogs. 
I am not joining up to anything until we get more info from Blogger - they are not bad at publishing stuff on their 'Blogger News'.
I hope you'll still come and visit me using your dashboard!

Flying

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

Here's the card!

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

Some lines embossed round it to make a frame.

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

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

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

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

Match for the Linen Closet

Have made rather a mess of my fingers with some inks and paints today - I have been fiddling about with a project for what seems like forever and it still doesn't look right so once again the sand paper etc will be out tomorrow and I'll strip it back to the bare bones and start again!
I thought I would just pop on and share this card with you.

I have had the 'Linen Closet' papers for EVER and never used them - mainly because they;re not square and the majority of cards I make are square ones!

This yummy image was sent to me by a fellow blogger and after having found the tiniest scrap of velvet ribbon in my ribbon drawer I teamed her with the Linen Closet papers as the papers matched the ribbon! Waste not want not..........

She was cut out with a nestie  - (been a long time since I went 'over the edge' LOL) then layered onto another scalloped nestie cut from some co-ordinating cardstock and a couple of flourish die cuts in the same card added.

The cotton lace was also a scrap left over from a present from the lovely Alessandra and I was really happy to see that it matched the colours perfectly!

Some suitable bling in the shape of a large square buckle showed off the aqua velvet ribbon much better than my original idea of  just knotting it (trying to knot a tiny scrap of wide velvet ribbon was such a silly idea but my brain cells still insisted I try..........)

Added some glamour dust to her wings and decided against adding any sentiment on the front as I thought there was enough to look at!

Challenges -
Flutterby Wednesday - Winged Things
Penny's paper Crafty - Ribbons and Die Cuts
Crafts and Me - Ribbons and Lace
Creative Card Crew - Ribbon
Cutie Pie - Magical
LEJ - Things with Wings

We've had the full round of weather again today! Gorgeous sunshine this morning, (not warm tho'), then grey skies, a bit of rain, some hail stones then more sunshine!! Weird!!
Have spent a little while blog hopping tonight after the disaster with the altered piece and think I will now call it a night and go watch a bit of TV before my eyes shut...catch you all soon. xxx

Blingy Big Birthday!

Had a busy couple of days but sat last night and finished a commissioned card.

Asked to make an easel card for a 30th Birthday, girly, pinky/bluey and blingy! Hope this fits the bill.

But what an absolute sod it was to photograph this morning - grey skies now after a couple of hours of sunshine - it was dry but very cold when we went for the walk earlier but now it's snowing!
And apart from anything else it does NOT make for taking decent pics -
But I think you'll get the general idea..

Pink Petticoat papers layered and stitched  onto pink bazzil.
The card had to be 'modern' and this image from Mo seemed to be the most suitable I had to use.

'Party Girl' was coloured with a mix of my favourite pastels and promarkers and cut out with a Nellie Snellen Die. I layered more pink behind it and stitched together.
 
The lace was from my stash as was the scrummy pink velvet ribbon and I threaded a little extra piece through a blingy buckle then added all the crystals and a couple of sparkly pins.

Finished with a PC generated sentiment, a few more blingy bits and some die cut corners.

Challenges -
One Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi
Bronte & Bella's - Anything Goes with a Mo image
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - Birthdays
Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Corrosive Challenges - All that Glitters
2 Sisters - Pastels
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
Pan Pastel - Girly 
Robyn's Fetish - Birthdays 
Fashionista - Pink 
Bunny Zoes - Girly

Whilst I've been typing this the snow has stopped and the sun has come out again! Weird weather...........
Stay warm and dry wherever you are! x

Grey Day!

After the lovely few days of spring weather things have returned back to normal today! Grey skies and drizzly rain... but I can blame the blue skies for this card - it was soooo nice to see some quite warm sunshine (so warm I went for my daily walk without a thick jacket!) that I made my mind up to make a 'spring' type card!

This image I confess to not stamping myself - I don't own this stamp (the set from which it came is now discontinued) - I wanted to own this stamp but the price it was being sold for on the well known auction site was quite frankly ridiculous! 

Thankfully, a crafty buddy came to my rescue and stamped up quite a lot of the set for me some time ago - I have a couple of the others from the set left but this is the last one of this image. 

When it comes to colouring it - I have made numerous cards and they've all been on a yellow theme - no idea why - it just seems to be made for yellow and sunshine!

Coloured with a mix of promarkers and watercolour pastels then mounted behind a die cut frame.

The patterned paper was a couple of pieces I had left from a pad ("still using up", she says smugly!) and once all the tatty edges were trimmed I stitched them onto another piece of background paper from the same pad.

The ribbon was from my stash and I stitched a lace flower into the centre of the bow then a ribbon and pearl embellie.

Used up the scraps on the inside!
Challenges - 
Crafting for all Seasons - Spring
Ruby's Rainbow - Yellow and Green
Creative Card Crew - Ribbon
Passion for Promarkers - One for the Ladies
Ribbon Carousel - Spring is in the Air
Crafty Bloggers Network - Spring
Oldie but Goodie -  Feeling Floral
Am pleased that you've taken the time to drop in and see me today -  am off for my phsyio then will be  having a visit round blogland to see what you've been up to - have a great day whatever you're doing! x

Man Card! - Crafty Cardmakers new Challenge

Today sees a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers and this week Rebbeca asked us to make 'a masculine birthday card that includes some technology or a gadget. The technology or gadget could be a computer, games console, rocket or car for example.'

Although many of you are aware that I am married to my very own 'Inspector Gadget' I actually managed to make a card that did not have the current up to the minute technology that is so coveted by my dearly beloved! 

Instead I went for something that was the complete opposite - a steam train -
the image is by Just Inklined and is called 'Old Chuffa' - (heaven forbid I should have likened this to my 'long suffering' with a title like that! LOL).

So my technology refers to the 'age of steam'. it may be old technology but without it we wouldn't have developed transport across sea and rail would we?

I altered the colour in Serif to blue and teamed it with more papers from my stash - (which I think are My Minds Eye but as the cover has long gone I'm not sure!) 

Thought this sentiment was very apt for an avid train spotter and I finished the card with some Card Candy coloured with promarkers which were all the embellies I allowed myself 'cos it's for a man! Inside is co ordinated to match.

Thanks for calling today - please check out the other creations from the CCM DT and if you're like me and struggle with ideas for masculine birthday cards, swell your stash by joining in with our challenge and you could win one of the prizes on offer this time from Di'sDigi Downloads ($10 GIFT VOUCHER) or The Stampman  (£10 voucher)!

Other Challenges -
Ladybug Crafts - Colour Blue 
Dutch Dare - For the Boys
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Sisterhood of Crafters - Birthdays
Anything Goes - Make it Manly 
Craft Room Challenge - Something for a Man 
Digital Tuesdays - Birthdays