A BOOK CARD FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL, AND A BABY CARD FOR LESS IS MORE!

Hello lovely bloggers - it seems Summer has finally arrived in the UK - yaaay!! I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine wherever you are.

I have TWO projects to share today - the first is a very simple little card for LESS IS MORE.  (Better late than never)! 
Chrissie and Mandi's theme this week is a BABY card, or CHILD'S card.
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Please be warned - this is a "photo-heavy" post - sorry! 
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For my LIM card, I used some leftover gingham snippets (Craft Creations), trimmed with a Fiskars border punch. 
The vintage pram stamp is from Anna Griffin, the sentiment is from a New Baby set by Kars, both inked with Jet Black Archival. (The image is much clearer when you click on the pic.)!
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I am popping over to  Di's Playground to share this card with the playmates!

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My second project is a Book Card. This is for my DIL's birthday next week - I've been intending to have a go at making one of these for ages, and my DIL's birthday has spurred me on - she loves all things vintage, shabby-chic, fairies etc., and I know she will appreciate it.
 If you would like to make one of these, there is a fab. tutorial on Sandie's wonderful blog http://delightfullycrazytoo.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/vintage-book-card-tutorial.htm
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I would also like to enter this Book Card into the ALLSORTS 3rd Birthday Blog Hop Challenge,
and OCC - Shabby Chic Theme.

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Update - June 2nd - My Book Card was awarded a Top 5 Badge by the ladies at Allsorts. Many thanks!

Front cover:-

Inside:-

The Nestie oval will be personalised before giving the card to

my DIL. 

This was rather difficult to photo - the punched border on the shadow box looks more like pale blue than the real-life shade of pale cream, and the "hinges" on the back cover are dark grey IRL, not blue! 
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Items used:-
Papers from Prima (but I think the back cover is Basic Grey)
Tiny flower punches - SU Boho Blossoms and EK Success Retro Flower.
Pearls and ribbon from stash.
Tons of Glamour Dust!
Martha Stewart border punch - Floral Vine.
Tonic Studios Butterfly punch.

DI Inks used - Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Faded Jeans.
Memento London Fog.
Nesties dies -  Ovals and Fancy Tags Two.
Cuttlebug fancy corner die.
Stamps -  Layers of Color (Birthday Wishes), Indigo Blu Wild Meadow (Swirl).
. Crafty Individuals (Dream a Little Dream). Kaisercraft Botanical.
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Many thanks if you are still with me!  Have a wonderful weekend.
Love to all ~

SUNSHINE AT "FOR YOUR INSPIRATION" , AND 3 YEARS OF BLOGGING!

Hello my wonderful bloggers - I hope you are all having a happy week, and some warm  sunshine.
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At the FYI CHALLENGE we have loads of  sunshine to share with you - just take a look at this  fortnight's inspiration picture!  (SUNGLASSES ALERT)!!

You can interpret the picture in any way you wish, and we would love you to join in the fun.  My talented Teamies have created some fabulous cards, so why not pop over to take a peek!

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The card is SU Pumpkin Pie.

Large flowers and grasses -  Cuttlebug Poppies die. 

Dark brown felt was used for the large flowers - one of the flower heads has been double-layered for dimension.

The grasses are cut from brown velvet paper, which I've had for years, and I couldn't resist adding just a tiny bit of magenta velvet paper to give the card a "lift".
Sentiment - WeRMemory Keepers.

Ribbon from stash.

Circle punch for flower centres. 

X-cut corner punch.
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Wow - tomorrow, May 18th, it will be 3 years to the day since I set up my Blog, and those three years seem to have flown by.
I have been blown away by the crafting talent I have discovered in blogland, the kind-hearted people, the feeling of community, inspiration and enjoyment. 
 I would like to send a huge Thank You to my Fabulous Followers, and to everyone who has ever taken the time to leave a much-appreciated comment during those 3 years. 


~ THANK YOU ~
(and love to all)

THREE STAMPS AT LESS IS MORE, AND HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY DEBBIE!!

Good evening lovely bloggers - life has got in the way of blogging this last week or two, so I'm happy to be back in crafting mode again, and sharing my LESS IS MOREcard for this week's challenge., which is ................. the one we all love - A ONE LAYER CARD!!!  The fabulous Chrissie and Mandi would also like us to use THREE  stamps (not 2, not 4, but THREE)!!

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I would also like to wish my lovely "For Your Inspiration" teamie Debbie  a very Happy 60th Birthday!

Yes - you can't keep it a secret Debbie - the whole world now knows that you are 60 years young on May 13th!!  So peeps, please pop over to Debbie's lovely blog and leave her some lurve, and wish her a Happy day!

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Update - June 6th - my card was included in the Winners list at St. Lukes Charity Cards.
Thank you ladies!

I have used THREE stamps from the "Wild Meadow" Indigo Blu set. - the sentiment, the Dandelion Clocks, and the Grasses border stamp, inked with Archival Coffee. 

Brayered Distress Inks -  Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed.
I would also like to enter my card into the following Challenges:-
PILE IT ON - "Clean and Simple".
ST LUKES CHARITY CARDS - "One Layer Month".

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A huge welcome to my new Followers.

Love to all - have a very happy week ~

FRESH BREWED AT FYI, AND A CRAFT STAMPER SNIPPET!

Hi there my lovely blogging friends - I hope you are all having an enjoyable week?
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It's time for another Challenge at FYI, and as always, Steph has provided us with a beautiful inspirational photo. 

This one is quite dark and brooding, with wonderful shades of green and orange, but you can interpret the picture any way you wish.

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As it's the first challenge of the month, there will be a prize for the winner of the Challenge, of three digi images from our generous sponsor - Fresh Brewed Designs. 

The DT have also been given some of their fab. images to work with.

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I have used the "Ladybug Teapot" digi, coloured with Copics, cut out and

slightly curved, then attached with silicone glue onto two oval Nestie layers. 

A sprinkling of Glamour Dust on the flowers.

The gingham is a Wendy Vecchi rubber stamp from the Nature's Art set (love this stamp).

All cardstock from Stampin' Up.

The tiny "party" stamp is from the Papermania Chatsworth set.

"You're Invited" stamp from K andCo.

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Finally, here is a little snippet from my project published in the June issue of 

~ Craft Stamper ~

sending love to all ~