VICTORIAN DIES

Hi lovely friends, followers, crafters and anyone else who happens to pop by!

Sending good wishes to all of you, for a wonderful Christmas and a happy and peaceful 2016.

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For my final Post (probably!) of 2015, I am sharing a few Craft Stash DT cards, made with the new "Victorian" Apple Blossom Craft Stash dies. My favourite die set is the "Victorian Frame" - perfect to display a vintage photo, or in this case, one of my all-time fave stamps!

I used all three dies - 2 frames and a square embellishment which I die-cut, then cut in half to create
4 ornate corners. All edges coloured with Distress Inks.  

I also used the large frame for this Santa tag - coloured with Distress inks and coated with 

Glossy Accents here and there, to create a look of distressed wrought iron.

The elegant Victorian Oval die set  is perfect for any occasion. 

The large ornate die measures 5" x 3". 

For my final DT card  I used the pretty Victorian Vase die set. 

I brush-painted the four flower die-cuts with Distress Inks.

Sending Christmas hugs, and lots of love to all ~
PS: pop over to the Craft Stash site HERE - they have a fabulous
selection of crafting products and well-known brands.
There is a 20% discount on first orders - so well worth taking a peek!

SUNSET ON FIRE!

Hi Lovely crafters - hope you are all having a happy week.

Thanks for visiting - it's always good to "see" you!
A warm welcome to  my new Followers - Liz (Crafty Sunflower), and
Vicky M. (Vicky's Place).

Today I am sharing a card I made for the Less is More #249 challenge.

This week is a Colour Challenge week, and the theme is ~

"FIRE"

 Chrissie and the DT have some fabulous inspiration for us on the LIM blog, and you can also 

find the  challenge details there.  

I made a sunset with Distress Inks, using a Tim Holtz Ink Blending tool.

Colours used - Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade and Fired Brick.

The Indigo Blu "Wild Meadow" stamp was inked with Archival Jet Black.

Sentiment - SU.

Happy Crafting ~

SKETCH TIME AT LIM CHALLENGE # 247

Hi lovely  Friends and Followers - this week, the Challenge at LESS IS MORE

is a Sketch

I decided to go with a Halloween theme for my card - firstly I swiped Distress Inks with a wet-wipe,  after masking a circle for the moon.
The Woodland Branch die is from Memory Box.
I hand-drew the little Owl, cut it out with scissors and coloured with Derwent pencils.
He looks more scared than scary, but never mind!
Sentiment - Stampin' Up.

I would also like to enter these challenges:-
 "Cute Halloween" at Inkspirational Challenges
"Halloween" at AAA Cards
"Spooky" at ATCAS

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Happy Halloween,and Love to all ~

HALF-WAY REMINDER AT HLS!

Hi Peeps - Have you joined in yet, with the Happy Little Stampers Paper Piecing challenge? 

If not, there is still time, and you can find some more inspiration HERE at the Half-way Reminder!

As Guest Designer for the October HLS  challenge, I have another Paper Piecing card for you! 

This time I have used a Hampton Art stamp, "New York Diva", stamped with Archival Jet Black.

I paper pieced the 3 sections of the dress , the belt and the shoe.  Paper from Prima Sweet Fairy. 

Just a touch of Copic Aqua to add a little shade here and there on the pleats.

Light colouring with Copics on the skin. 

Sentiment - LOTV, cut with a circle punch.

Hope you will join in with the challenge - happy crafting!

Love,

SNOWFLAKE and VENICE!

Hi lovely bloggers - it's lovely to be with you again, and I hope you are all well and happy. 

 I am back from our holiday in Venice, (a treat for our 50th anniversary), so life is back to normal now! 

Today, I am sharing a card I made for Craft Stash, using 

the "Delicate Snowflake" die from their Apple Blossom collection.

You can find it here .

The snowflake is quite impressive, measuring approx. 10cm at the widest point.

I cut the snowflake twice and layered for dimension, then added lots of glitter!

The Peace On Earth sentiment die is also from Craft Stash, and there are lots more Here.

  

If you have never looked at the Craft Stash online shop, it's well worth a visit - they have special offers, and other well-known crafting brands too. 

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Just two of the many photos I took on holiday ~

The Madonna dell' Orto Church we visited, which has several
 amazing Tintoretto paintings inside and the Madonna statue.

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I will be back tomorrow!
Love  to all ~

GUEST DESIGNER at HAPPY LITTLE STAMPERS

Hi lovely bloggers - sorry for my absence - it's been a stressful few weeks recently.

One thing which cheered me up a few days ago, was a message from 

HAPPY LITTLE STAMPERS,

Earlier this year, my card was one of the Favourites in the HLS CAS challenge, so I was

asked if I would be Guest Designer for the October CAS Paper-Piecing challenge.

Here is my paper pieced card, using the  "Bella Loves Christmas" digi image
from the fabulous Mo Manning.

Dotty paper from Nitwits for the dress, edged with clear glitter.
Christmas bauble - SU silver glimmer paper, and I found the little December 25th in an old SU catalogue, and cut it out with a circle punch.
Such a shame the glitter and glimmer doesn't show up in the photo.
The holly leaves and tiny berries were paper pieced with plain cardstock.
Everything else coloured with  Copics.

It's ages since I did any paper-piecing, but it's great fun. If you would like to
join in the challenge, you can find the details HERE !



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Yesterday was our Golden Wedding Anniversary, so this evening,
Hubby and I are having a celebration party with our family.
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I will be away for a few days next week -
will let you know where I've been when I get back!!

Thanks for popping by - have fun with the Paper piecing!
Love to all -

A SHORT MESSAGE

Hello lovely friends and followers. 

This is just a short Post to apologise for my lack of commenting recently.

Crafting and blogging had to be put to one side for a while.
Sadly, my Father-in-Law passed away on 24th August.

 As some of you know, he was 104, 

and just a few weeks away from his 105th birthday, 

which is quite an achievement. 

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I've missed you all, but now that things have settled down, 

I hope to be blogging and commenting again quite soon.

Lots of love ~ 

A STAMP AND A DIE!

Hi lovely bloggers - hope you have some sunshine wherever you are. 

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A warm welcome to my new Followers - Carole and Sid !

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Today, I am sharing a White on White card - quite difficult to photograph!
Will try to get a better pic. tonight, after hubby and I have collected our Son's beautiful doggy Juno.
Son is taking his 3 children on a holiday for a few days, so we are doing the Dog-Sitting!
Update 9.30pm -  a slightly better photo!

****

I would like to enter my card into the August challenge at Stamping Sensations ~
the theme is "Anything Goes, with a Stamp and a Die"

items used -

Craft Creations white linen cardstock
DIES~
 2 layers of Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Squares (small one popped up with 3-d pads).
Memory Box Corner Bow (cut into several small pieces)
Tim Holtz Tattered Florals.

STAMP ~
One of my old favourites - Anna Griffin All Night Media
"Forever and Always"
inked with SU Smoky Slate, with a top layer of Sakura Jelly Roll Clear Sparkle.

Happy Crafting ~
HUGS,

THE EYES HAVE IT !

Hi all - hope you are having a happy week.

This week at Less Is More , it's a ONE LAYER card and the theme is
"The Eyes Have it"!

I had more or less decided not to enter my card, as I was not very happy with it, but after spending most of today at the Leeds General Infirmary, some crafting seemed like a breath of fresh air tonight,
so here I am after doing a bit of tweaking (still not happy with it though)!

Some of you  know of the problems hubby and I have had for many years with my elderly FIL who is almost 105.   He is now slowly deteriorating, and had two very bad falls last night (just 2 of many, recently) - hence our dash to hospital this morning.   I must say - the LGI staff were amazing.
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So - here is my card.
The stamp is "Miss Austen" from Indigo Blu , inked with Jet Black Archival.
Eyes coloured with a mixture of Distress Marker Iced Spruce and Promarker Cool Aqua.
Quote typed and printed on my 'puter.
Apparently, it was William Shakespeare who
first used that quote, in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Is that true?!!

Happy Crafting and
thanks for popping by!

Hugs,

LIFE'S A BEACH!

Hi lovely Bloggers - thank you for popping by!

This week at Less Is More, it's Challenge #233 and the theme is
"Life's A Beach!"

The Memory Box stencil is "Texture Wave", coloured with distress inks.

I Die-cut a Nestabilities circle  and frame on the top card layer and  placed the beach scene behind.

The top layer was popped up with 3-d pads.

I made a little beach umbrella, (it looks more like a mushroom, but never mind)!! I coloured it with DI and popped it under the circle with Pinflair glue.

Sentiment from the SU Happy Day stamp set (now retired).

I would also like to link up to Thats Crafty - "Stencils and Masks"
and
Happy Little Stampers  - July Sketch Challenge

Have a happy day - HUGS,

AN ORANGE ROSE!

Hi peeps  hope you are enjoying the hot weather - have been waiting several months for it to arrive, but now I'm too hot!  The heavens have just opened here in West Yorkshire and it's pouring down, which is a blessing for me, and for the garden!

My card today is for the current Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge and I have used some of the stamps from the Harlequin Rose again, with a very different effect from the previous one.

I painted the Rose and leaves with Distress Inks and SU Mint Macaron for the pale green.
Edges of cardstock coloured with Distress Inks, applied with a TH Inkssentials  applicator.
SU Linen  Twine attaches the heart.

This is the colour swatch and inspiration picture for the
  Chocolate Baroque Challenge -

Happy crafting ~ hugs, 

A SKETCH AT LESS IS MORE!

Hello lovely bloggers, friends and followers - thank you for visiting my blog today!

Happy to be joining in the Less Is More challenge again, and this week Chrissie and the girls

would like us to use  this  Sketch ~

I used two stamps from the Chocolate Baroque "Harlequin Rose" set, layered them onto black cardstock, and added just a little soft colouring with Copics.

I would also like to enter Susie Bees Bloomin' Challenge Blog - use 2 colours.

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Apparently, there will be hot sunshine this week - hope it reaches you, wherever you are!

Hugs, 

HEARTS AT CRAFT STASH

Hi lovely bloggers - some exciting news (for a change)! - 

A few weeks ago, Practical Publishing contacted me about joining the DT of their brand new crafting website called "Craft Stash".  
Various top crafting brands can be bought here, alongside  their new "Apple Blossom Craft Collection" excellent quality dies, with more to come in the near future.

The site is now launched and I'm very happy to be part of the fabulous Design Team.

For my first cards, I used the fabulous "Ornate Heart and Frame" die which is perfect for so many occasions. This set comprises 4 heart-shaped dies. 
The ornate outer die measures approx. 6" x 5 1/2". 

Version #1 - (layering 3 of the dies)

Version #2 -

I used two of the dies,  with silver cardstock for the ornate outer die, and as you probably know, metallics do not photograph very well !! It looks much better IRL though! 

(The silver-embossed sentiment stamp is an old one from my stash)

Have a fabulous weekend -

Hugs,

FABULOUS IS WHAT YOU ARE!

Hi lovely crafters/friends and followers - hope you are having a sunny, happy week!

I will be away for a few days as from tomorrow, so I thought I would leave you with this cute little card.

Fabulous is What You Are, and I will miss you all!

 Stampin' Up items - 

 Bow Builder Punch.

 Irresistibly Yours Designer Paper, coloured with ink to reveal the pattern.
Sentiment - Million and One stamp set.
*********

I am linking up to the following challenges:-
Scrap Creations - "Fathers Day"
Crafty Boots Challenges - "Fathers Day/For the Man in your Life".

Big Hugs -

COLOUR CHALLENGE #11 AT CHOCOLATE BAROQUE

Hello lovely crafters - thanks for visiting! I hope you are all well, warm and happy!

I am just popping by to share a card I made for the Colour Challenge at Chocolate Baroque.

The stamps are from Chocolate Baroque ~

The beautiful lady is "Ophelia" - I cut out a mask to place over the image, 

then stamped the window (from the fabulous "Gothic Fragments" stamp set).

I coloured the images with Copics and  used Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink around the edges.

The "Amour" stamp is also from a CB set - "Fleur de Parfum de Paris", bought a long time ago.

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Challenge colour board and picture inspiration ~




I would also like to enter the DRS Thursday Challenge"Easy as 1-2-3"
(1 word - 2 stamped images, 3 card layers)!

Happy crafting ~
Hugs,

A PRINCESS AND SOME LACE

Hi peeps - thank you for popping over - hope you are well, and having better weather than we are in West Yorkshire today!

The card is not my usual CAS, but I love the cute image called "I am a Princess",
from A Day for Daisies.
The card will be going to my youngest Granddaughter on her next birthday  - she loves anything Princessy!!

I coloured the image with Copics,  and inked the background with Distress Inks.

The patterned paper layer is from the Prima Fairy Belle paper stack, distressed around the edges..

Sentiment from LOTV.

Crumb Cake base card and Linen Twine from Stampin' Up.

Lace - from my stash.

I am linking up with these challenges:-

A Day For Daisies - Add Lace.

Graphit Markers - Add Ribbons OR Lace.


Happy Crafting ~

COLOUR WEEK AT LESS IS MORE.

Hi lovely  crafting friends - it's lovely to see you!
A warm welcome too, to my new followers - Sandma, Jacqueline,Wendy, Metsje and Laura.

I am joining in this week's LIM challenge, and it's colour week - that gets a Yaay! from me!

Chrissie and Team have a fun idea for us ...

Use opposite colours on the wheel (which you can see on the LIM blog).

I decided on a Red and Green combo, using one of my all-time fave dies - 

Memory Box Prim Poppy.

I embossed a layer of white cardstock on my Stampin' Up "Simply Scored", then popped it up on the base card with foam pads.

The die-cuts and layered heart were coloured with Copics. Added a sentiment banner to finish.

Heart punch and banner punch - Stampin' Up. 

I would also like to enter That's Crafty Challenge - "Let's Keep it Simple".

Happy Little Stampers May CAS Challenge - "Die-Cuts/Punches".

Happy crafting ~ 

HEPBERN DRESS

Hi peeps - hope you are all enjoying some warm weather wherever you are. 

It's been another sunny day here in West Yorkshire - had a lovely day out with my three Granddaughters today - they very rarely have the opportunity to meet up as the eldest is studying at Leeds Uni. 

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I am sharing a card today with a Day For Daisies digi image - "Hepbern Dress"

I coloured the image with Copics and inked the edges of the white card with Spun Sugar Distress Ink.

Layered onto  SU Rose Red cardstock, then popped up with foam pads onto the base card.

Sentiment from the SU "Simply Wonderful" stamp set.

Die-cut swirl - Memory Box Corner Bow.

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I  would like to enter these challenges - 

 Moving along With The Times - "Your Birthstone Colour" (June)

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge  - "Anything Goes"
Stamping Sensations - "Pretty in Pink"

Thanks for popping by - 

Love

BAROQUE BUTTERFLY DRESS

Hi lovely friends and followers - thank you for visiting.

Wishing you a Happy Easter weekend. Enjoy the chocolate!

This fabulous "Butterfly Dress" stamp is from Chocolate Baroque, and  I am entering my card into the Chocolate Baroque Challenge .  

Image stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black, then coloured with Copics.

The "Winter Tree" (also from Chocolate Baroque) was stamped with Memento London Fog.

Distress inks applied around the edges with Ranger Ink Blending Tool.

Layered onto some very old purple cardstock (name unknown)!

Popped up onto white card base. 

Sentiment - LOTV.

There is some glitter on the butterflies, but it doesn't show up - no sunshine in West Yorkshire this morning!

 Challenge inspiration photo and colour swatch ~

Happy Crafting ~