POPPY'S PAPERCRAFT PATCH

FOR YOUR INSPIRATION .......

2012-01-26T18:23:00.004Z

Hi lovely bloggers - hope you are all having a happy day. My fingers are inky, so I have definitely had a happy day!!

I recently discovered a fabulous challenge blog called FYI - FOR YOUR INSPIRATION, where the challenges are to work with photo inspiration - here is the current challenge photo:-

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So peeps - here is my take on the above picture:-

Recipe:-

Orange card from Stampin' Up (sorry - not sure of the name of this shade).

Backing paper from a very old 6" Basic Grey pad - "Sublime"

Image from the beautiful Chocolate Baroque "Fantasy Meadow" stamp set, inked with Coffee Archival.

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Distress inks used -

Antique Linen, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade,

Old Paper, Bundled Sage, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint.

The flowers were coloured with Distress Inks and Ranger Cut'n Dry pen nibs.

Sentiment from Wendy Vecchi's "Nature's Art" stamp set.

Machine stitching around edges.

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I would also like to enter my card into the following Challenge:-
Make My Monday - Flowers and Leaves (week 33).

A warm welcome to my new Follower - Jean.

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~ Love to all ~

BIRDS Sing Like There's Nobody Listening ..............

2012-01-18T18:02:00.007Z

Hi lovely peeps - hope you are having a happy week. I am just popping by with a card for this week's challenge at LESS IS MORE.

The wonderful Mandi and Chrissie have set all those Limettes out there, the challenge of using a BIRD, or BIRDS on our projects. It is also ONE LAYER week - yikes!!

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Recipe:-

The wording was typed on my 'puter and printed directly onto the card.

According to my Google search, the complete quote was originally

created by Mark Twain, or maybe someone by the name of William W. Purkey.

I just used the last two lines, which I thought were quite apt for this card.

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I then inked my brayer with Kaleidacolor Desert Heat, brayering the excess ink onto spare paper before brayering the coloured panel onto my card. This gave me the soft look I was aiming for. ( If you have never used this particular ink pad, it is quite a vibrant mix of reds, pinks and oranges).

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I used two Crafty Individuals stamps, inked with Ranger Jet Black Archival.

The birdcage was stamped first, and masked before stamping the birdsong musical score.

I added a little of the pink ink onto the Rose petals, using a Ranger Cut'nDry pen nib.

Cardstock - SU Whisper White.
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I would also like to enter my card into the following challenges:-
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - Birds of a Feather.
Card and Scrap - Clean and Simple.
Bloggers Challenge at Splendiferous Creations - Wing and Things.
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A warm welcome to my new followers - Delphine, Teresa, Marie and Terry.

Love to all ~

PREDOMINANTLY PURPLE !!

2012-01-12T17:31:00.006Z

Hi lovely peeps - this is a very quick post tonight, as we are dashing out to babysit, so musn't be late!

This is a card for the PREDOMINANTLY PURPLE CHALLENGE at Less Is More..

I have inked one side of an acetate strip with Alcohol Inks - Wild Plum, Raisin, Denim and a touch of Stream and Butterscotch, with a sprinkling of gold leaf flakes here and there.
Acetate attached to the white card with black brads.
A black line drawn onto the card along both long edges, using a Pilot Hi-Tecpoint Extra-fine pen - a very handy little crafting tool.

The Chocolate Baroque stamp on the front is from the Floral Bouquet set, and inked with Black Staz-on.

Sentiment from Hero Arts (must buy some new sentiment stamps - I keep

using the same old stash - sorry)!

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Evening indoor lighting isn't the best for photographing acetate - may try again in the morning!

Hope it doesn't look TOO bad!
Friday Update - have changed the photo - it's a bright sunny morning so managed to take a picture I'm happier with!

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I would also like to enter the following challenges:-
CRAFT ROOM - Clean and Simple.
CRAFTY CARDMAKERS - No Floral Embellishments.
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Bye for now - love to all ~

"JUST ONE WORD" .......

2011-12-29T20:13:00.007Z

Hi there lovely bloggers - hope you had a wonderful Christmas?
Have all those mince pies sent Mr. Mojo to sleep? Yep - same here!
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Fear not - the lovely Chrissie and Mandi - those fabulous Less Is More Divas have given us all a kick-start with a fab. challenge - to use "JUST ONE WORD" on your card.

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Recipe: -

Very Vanilla SU cardstock

Inkadinkado stamp, which I have used on my blog a couple of times before - sorry, but I love it!

Stamped with Ranger Jet Black Archival ink then brayered with Weathered Wood DI to give a cloudy effect. (I think there may be a couple of thumb prints in there too but they are of course meant to be small clouds)!!!

A soft touch of Victorian Velvet DI to colour the dress.

"Forever" from the Anna Griffin stamp"Forever and Always". ("and Always" was masked with sellotape before inking, then removed before stamping).

The finished piece was layered onto black card and attached with 3-d foam pads.

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I would like to enter my card into the following Challenges:-
Dutch Dare Challenges - Favourite Things (This "Monsieur and Madame" stamp, and Distress Inks).
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes.
The Artistic Stamper - Vintage.
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Hi and welcome to my new Followers Kim, Shirley and Laura.
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Love to all, with wishes for a happy, healthy and peaceful 2012.

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS FROM AN ANGEL ..........

2011-12-22T20:00:00.007Z

Hello fabulous friends, followers and visitors!

I am popping by with a card, to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and

a very happy and peaceful 2012.

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Thank you so much for your wonderful inspiration and friendship during the past two and a half years - some on-line, some in real life - all of it has been appreciated 100%.

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My Christmas card has been made with one of the beautiful stamps I was lucky enough to win at Glenda's "Chocolate Baroque White Christmas Challenge" (please see the link in my sidebar). The image is from a set called "Christmas Angel of Light".

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Recipe:-

Image stamped onto cream card with Black Versafine ink and heat embossed with clear powder.

Coloured with Distress Inks - Antique Linen, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, using Cut 'n Dry Foam, and Ranger Pen Nibs.

Edges distressed with scissors.

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Image layered onto a roughly torn piece of "My Minds Eye - Mabel" paper, also distressed and inked around the edges.

Sentiment - two HOTP stamps.

Gold leafing Krylon pen around edges of black base card.
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~ Have a wonderful Holiday, wherever you may be ~
~ Lots of love ~

WISHING YOU A STEAMPUNK NEW YEAR!

2011-12-18T18:10:00.009Z

Hi peeps, hope your weekend has been brilliant, and are we all ready for Christmas?!!
(Did I hear someone say "NO")?!!
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A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to win the Plain and Simple challenge at QUIRKY CRAFTS, (thanks DT ladies), and as well as three fab. digis, my prize included a Guest DT spot in this week's Challenge.
Hope you will join in the fun - just pop over to Quirky for all the challenge details. The theme is Quirky Christmas or Steampunk New Year, and this week's generous sponsor is
Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps .

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The fabulous "Steampunk Fairy" and "Steampunk Corner" which I used on my card are from Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps, and although Steampunk is something new for me, I thoroughly enjoyed working with these images, and the Fairy was a joy to colour.
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Recipe:-

I used Copics to colour the Fairy image, cut her out with the Stampin' Up "Top Note" die, inked edges with Vintage Photo DI.

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Base Cardstock - SU Baja Breeze, layered with Co-ordinations Cappucino.

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Tim Holtz Idealogy Findings on the Steampunk Corner.

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For the larger cog, I printed an enlarged Corner image, punched out the main cog, added an eyelet and a circle border from the Cuttlebug "Stamps" set of dies. It always reminds me of a cog but looks great round a circular sentiment too.

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The tiny calendar page is a snippet from a sheet of TH paper.

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Sentiment from Layers of Color Art Stamps, inked with Jet Black Archival.

Sequin waste inked with Vintage Photo DI.
I ran a black extra-fine Pilot Pen around the die cut after attaching it to the card.
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I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:-
THE SECRET CRAFTER - New Year or Celebration.
CRAFT ROOM CHALLENGE - Die Cuts and Punches.
SUNDAYS WITH CRISSY - Anything Goes.
ALLSORTS CHALLENGE - Blue and Brown.
Update - January 1st 2012 -
Artist's Choice Award from Sundays With Crissy,
and a Top 3 Badge from Craft Room Challenge - many thanks!

Have a wonderful week everyone - lots of love ~

LET IT SNOW!

2011-12-15T22:35:00.005Z

Hi lovely Bloggers - hope you are all having a happy week?

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LET IT SNOW is the theme chosen by Chrissie and Mandi this week at

LESS IS MORE, and guess what - we woke up to a thin coating of the white fluffy stuff in this part of West Yorkshire this morning, and very pretty it looked too.

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This gorgeous Hero Arts Penguin is another of my all-time favourites!

I masked the central image, and then there were three!

Images stamped with Jet Black Archival Ink.

Lightly coloured the hats and scarves with Copics.

SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the "snowy" ground and hat bobbles.

Sentiment from Lili of the Valley.

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I would also like to enter the following Challenges:-
Oldie But A Goodie - Christmas Animals (image must be over 6 months old - my Penguin is 3 years old)!
Paper Minutes - Clean and Simple, not much colour but lots of white!

~ Love to all ~

GREEN TREE-MENDOUS !

2011-12-08T20:06:00.003Z

Hello lovely bloggers - hope you're keeping warm, dry and safe in this wet and windy UK weather.

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A short post today, with my offering for the GREEN challenge at LESS IS MORE.

The image is Indigo Blu "Tree-mendous", inked with Versafine Spanish Moss, Color Box Moss Green and Color Box Olive. I applied the inks to give a slightly darker shade towards the tree trunk.

The layers of cardstock are left-overs of River Rock (love this colour) from SU, and a dark green from Bazill (no idea what it's called)!

The heart is punched from a snippet of red glitter card which I LOVE.

Ribbon from stash

Sentiment from a fabulous set by Layers of Colour Art Stamps.

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I am also entering this card into Jules' Snippets challenge at Always with a Heart
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Hope you are all ready for Christmas now, with cards made, cakes baked and all that jazz -

have a great weekend - love to all ~

CHRISTMAS MEDALLION ORNAMENT.................

2011-12-05T15:18:00.004Z

Hello lovely bloggers -it's jolly cold in this part of the world today - we had lots of white fluffy stuff this morning so the hilltops in the distance look fabulous in the winter sunshine. Hope you are all warm and cosy wherever you are!

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At THE STAMP MAN ,the challenge this fortnight is to Create An Ornament - it doesn't necessarily have to be Christmassy, but I just happened to have this Medallion Stamp, (the design is called "Raintree") which makes a rather nice festive ornament and looks a bit like a large snowflake (kind of)!
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For anyone not familiar with Medallion stamps - the idea is that you stamp the image several times, cut out different sections from each stamped image, add glitter or colour, then layer up with 3-d foam pads, starting with the largest sections at the base.

I have also repeated the snowflake back-to-back so the ornament looks the same on both sides.

If you are into box making, the medallions make a beautiful box topper too.

Not a very good photograph, but here it is!

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A very warm welcome to my new followers - Cazzy, Marja and Claire.
Have a happy week everyone ~ love to all ~

A SNIPPET FROM CRAFT STAMPER 2012 .........

2011-12-01T19:11:00.001Z

Hi lovely Bloggers - I am not normally one for "blowing my own trumpet", but I am Soooooooooo excited, and I just had to share this with you - hope you don't mind.

Here is a little snippet from the January 2012 Craft Stamper, (page 39)!!

This is the first time I have submitted my work so I am over the moon. I am not allowed to show you the full image - you will have to buy the Magazine!! (on sale now)!

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~ Love to all, and a warm welcome to my new Followers - Carla, Miranda and Michelle ~

BLING IT ON ............

2011-11-28T15:35:00.008Z

Hi there lovely bloggers - hope the week has started well for you.

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Before I post my card for this week's LESS IS MORE CHALLENGE, for anyone visiting Harrogate, (in Yorkshire) a new branch of Samuel Taylors opened 8 weeks ago on Commercial Street. I found it quite by accident on Saturday, as it's a street I don't often go down - but of course I will now! Maybe I'm the only person in the area who didn't know about it, but I thought someone out there might welcome the news!!

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OK - down to business - the Lovely Mandi and Chrissie have asked all Limettes out there to use BLING on their cards this week - yaaay how could anyone resist !

So peeps - when I popped into Samuel Taylors in Harrogate on Saturday (ha-ha)! I just couldn't resist buying this fabulous Indigo Blu stamp - she is called "Rebecca - Snow Queen".

Ink used - Ranger Archival Jet Black.

Soft touch of Weathered Wood Distress Ink on the background applied with Cut 'n Dry foam.

Sentiment - Anna Griffin

Pale pink and blue gems from stash (they are much more sparkly in real life)!

Cardstock from Stampin' Up.

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I would also like to enter the following challenges:-
Glitter Fairies - "Non-Traditional Christmas"
Craft Your Passion - "Tis The Season"
Dream Valley - "Sparkle".
Stamptacular Sunday - "Anything Christmas" (with a stamp).

Have a great week everyone ~

A BUTTERFLY SILHOUETTE FOR LESS IS MORE ...........

2011-11-22T22:23:00.006Z

Hi peeps - hope you are all well and enjoying some winter sunshine wherever you may be.

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I have been searching through that dark corner of my craftroom again, and found another

forgotten, yet suitable stamp for this week's challenge at LESS IS MORE - which is SILHOUETTES!
Mandi and Chrissie, the lovely LIM Divas, have some fabulous inspiration for us, as always, so do pop over to take a peek.

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Recipe:-

Flutterby stamp from Imagination Crafts, stamped with Ranger Jet Black Archival ink onto rectangle of white cardstock.

Punched circle mask for the setting sun, then the sky was created with Distress Inks - Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, a soft touch of Fired Brick, and Weathered Wood - all applied with Cut 'n Dry foam.

More butterflies stamped above the rectangle.

Sentiment - one of my all-time favourites from PSX (dated 1999 so probably discontinued) ?

A little Glamour Dust added to the sun.
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I am also entering this card into the following challenge:-
Quirky Crafts - Clean and Simple!
Update - December 5th - my card won 1st Prize at Quirky Crafts - thanks DT ladies!
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Love to all, and welcome to my new followers - Geraldine, Vicky, Debbie and Joan !

CHRISTMAS COLLAGE

2011-11-17T12:38:00.002Z

Hi there lovely Bloggers - wow, we have sunshine in West Yorkshire today, and here I am making a Christmas card - doesn't seem right somehow!!

Anyway, this will be a rather quick post (sort of) or I shall be too late to enter my card into the Collage Challenge at The Stamp Man , so here goes!

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Recipe:-

Base card - Real Red from Stampin' UP

Backing paper - Bo Bunny

Machine stitching

Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel on the top corners (applied over a Versamark ink pen)

A distressed snippet from my (very) old school dictionary - the meaning of Christmas

Nestabilities - Labels One

Distress Inks - Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Brushed Corduroy, Fired Brick.

Stamps from:-

Anna Griffin (angel)

HOTP (tiny words)

Crafty Individuals (vintage text)

Chocolate Baroque (Holly)

Layers of Colour (main Christmas sentiment and Post card stamps)

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Do pop over to The Stamp Man Blog - the DT inspiration is fabulous.
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I would also like to enter this card into the following challenge :-
Samuel Taylors - Christmas.

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Last but not least - a warm welcome and a huge thank-you to my new followers.
PS: Won't be around for a few days (unless there's an Internet Caff in Scarborough!)

~ Love and Hugs ~

WINTER LEAVES AT LESS IS MORE

2011-11-13T15:14:00.009Z

Hi beautiful bloggers - what a great day for crafting - the sky is thick with mist, it's wet and cold, and hubby is glued to the motor-racing on TV!

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My card today is for the challenge at LESS IS MORE, and the theme is a one- layer card, with LEAVES.

I hope I have left enough "white space" - got a bit carried away with my brayer!!

Recipe (using a resist technique):-

Christmas Flourish stamp from Chocolate Baroque - stamped with Versamark, heat-embossed with white EP.

Brayered over the image with Distress Inks - Peeled Paint, Crushed Olive and Old Paper, then spritzed with a mixture of water and bleach in a Mini Mister to give a soft snowy look.

A little SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter added to Holly leaves.

Sentiment by Layers of Color Art Stamps.
I would also like to enter my card into the following Challenges:-
Let's Ink It Up - Favourite Technique.
Update 25th Nov. - my card was awarded a Top 3 Badge at Let's Ink It Up - thank you DT!
Just For Fun - Favourite Colour - green!

Glenda Waterworth - White Christmas.
Update - 17th December - winner of the Glenda Waterworth White Christmas Challenge- whoo-hoo!
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Have a wonderful week everyone ~

STARS WITH A PUNCH FOR LESS IS MORE!

2011-11-02T20:41:00.004Z

Hi peeps - hope you are all having a happy week ?

This week, Mandi and Chrissie, the LIM Divas, have set us the challenge of using STARS at

LESS IS MORE. So after searching through my stash and finding very little star-inspired goodies, I went once again into that darkest corner of my craft room, and re-discovered this Woodware Cassette punch, which has several tiny interchangeable punches, including a tiny STAR!! Yaaay!

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Update - 7th Dec, - my holly wreath was chosen as a runner-up in the St. Luke's Charity November Challenge. Thanks ladies!
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But what to do with it was the question!! But then I spotted a small Holly punch (All Night Media) - also very old, and so, a wreath was born!!

The holly leaves are punched from snippets of various different designs from the Papermania Verde Capsule Collection, and the Stars are punched from leftovers of red glitter card.

Ribbon from stash - sentiment from Hot off the Press (which is also quite apt for Mandi as she sails off into the sunset - have a great one Mandi)!

I am entering this card into the following Challenges:-
Jules' Snippets Challenge at ALWAYS WITH A HEART

WINTER WONDERLAND - Clean and Simple.
ST LUKE'S CHARITY - Christmas.

Love to all ~

HAPPY HALLOWEEN (AGAIN)!

2011-10-30T11:18:00.007Z

Happy Halloween to all you Halloween fans out there!

Sorry I didn't get around to making a card this year, but I'm going to cheat and share last year's Halloween card instead!! Well - some of you new bloggers out there may not have seen it, and it's just for fun, and you don't even have to leave a comment!

SO LOVELY FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS - HAVE A GREAT HALLOWEEN WITH LOTS OF TREATS!

The original Posts can be found here:-
http://sylvia-anne-poppyspapercraftpatch.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-first-ever-halloween-card.html
and here:-
http://sylvia-anne-poppyspapercraftpatch.blogspot.com/2010/10/my-first-ever-halloween-card-update.html

Love to all ~

CAS WEDDING CARD

2011-10-27T16:53:00.002+01:00

Good afternoon lovely bloggers - hope you are all having a happy week.

It's wet wet wet in this part of Yorkshire, but the leaves are turning into the most gorgeous Autumn colours, which really brightens the day.

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I am just popping by to share a Wedding card a friend has ordered - she is going to a

Wedding in Florida quite soon, and asked for something simple and elegant, with a splash of colour to match the bridesmaid's dresses. Who says simple cards are easy to make?!! I do hope she will like it!!

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Recipe: -

Very Vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up - a mixture of textured and smooth.

Nestie Labels 18.

Anna Griffin Sentiment inked with Onyx Black Versafine and heat embossed.

Deep purple satin ribbon.

Nestie Fancy Tags 2 separated down the centre and placed under the folded ribbon.

Eazi Score Board used to create two simple lines of embossing at the top and bottom of the card.

Two cream pearls to finish.

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I printed the insert with personalised details, and a simple heart and pearl embellishment bearing the wedding date - (of course I can't share due to privacy reasons).

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I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges:-

Lexi's Creations- Just a Sentiment.

CES Challenge - New Beginnings.

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Love to all ~

PINK POLKA DOTS AT LESS IS MORE!

2011-10-23T19:07:00.005+01:00

Hi peeps - hope your weekend has been fabulous! Just popping by with a fun card for the LESS IS MORE Challenge, which this week is POLKA DOTS. Thanks to Mandi and Chrissie for another great theme.

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Recipe:-

Two very old stamps from that darkest corner of my craft room which I only visit now and again (but really should visit more often) - Dotty Shoe by All Night Media, Sentiment by Impression Obsession, stamped with Coffee Archival ink.

Worn Lipstick Distress Ink applied through sequin waste for the Polka Dots.

Shoe also coloured with Worn Lipstick DI, a paint brush and water.

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I would just like to say a big Thank You to all those wonderful friends and followers who leave kind comments - I really do appreciate it .

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My card is also entered into the CAS Sunday Challenge #24 - CAS - Think Pink

Have a wonderful week - love to all ~

WILD ORCHID CHALLENGE AND A LOTV CHRISTMAS CARD!

2011-10-20T23:01:00.002+01:00

Hi lovely bloggers - hope you are all having a happy week.

I am just starting to get back into crafting mode after my hols. thank goodness.

I have made very few Christmas cards as yet, (no doubt lots of you have finished making yours)???!! so I need to get cracking.

The Christmas Fun challenge at WILD ORCHID was just what I needed to give me some inspiration - thanks ladies!

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Recipe:-

Base card - Pink Pirouette from Stampin'Up

Papers - "Beau Chateau" also from SU

Stamp - "Skating Along" from LOTV, coloured with Copics

Sentiment LOTV

Nestie dies - Labels 18 and the smallest Lacey Circles for the sentiment.

WHITE SEAM BINDING FROM WILD ORCHID CRAFTS

Snowflakes - X-Cut punch

Glitter - Dazzling Diamonds from SU

blue gems from stash

Machine stitching

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Love to all ~

HEARTS AT LESS IS MORE - AND IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK!

2011-10-09T16:10:00.008+01:00

Good afternoon lovely bloggers - hope you are all having a happy weekend. I have really missed you all and it's great to be back. I will get around to see what you have all been up to, as soon as I finish the ironing!

Just popping by with a card for this week's challenge at Less is More.

It's a one-layer card week, and Mandi and Chrissie are asking us to use HEARTS, which I absolutely love!
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Update!! 19th October - my card made the Top 3 at Creative Inspirations

Recipe:-

I have used three shades of Versacolor inks (the small square ones) in Lapis Lazuli, Topaz and Cardinal, "direct to paper", shading each colour slightly from light to dark by using less or more pressure on the pad. Hence the rather random look!

After several failed attempts at measuring the spacing of the inking, I decided to go for it "by eye" - wish I had done that to begin with!

The tiny heart is from the French Mail clear stamp set by Crafty Secrets.

Sentiment is from Hot off the Press.
I would also like to enter my card into the Creative Inspirations Challenge - A Single Layer Card.

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Just thought I would share this holiday pic. with you - the life-size dress form was standing outside a gift shop and I couldn't resist taking a photo of it. It was covered with fabric flowers and looked so pretty - very fashionable in the crafting world at the moment - thought you might like it!
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Welcome to my new followers - Janet, Liz and Dorte.

Click the pic. to enlarge.
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Love and hugs to all - have a happy week ~

LESS IS MORE - 1,000 ENTRIES???? (CARD 2)!!

2011-09-20T15:16:00.001+01:00

Hi lovely bloggers - this is card no. 2 today (yes - two in one day - that has to be a first for me)!, so please scroll down if you would like to see the 1st one!
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At LESS IS MORE Chrissie and Mandi now have 1,000+ Fab. Followers, so someone suggested it would be fun to aim for 1,000 entries into this week's challenge! PHEW!! Hence my two cards being posted separately!

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As from tomorrow, I won't be around for a couple of weeks, as hubby and I are going in search of that big orange thing in the sky! So I am wishing Chrissie and Mandi good luck in advance, oh and if any of those Blog Candies in my sidebar are coming my way - please hang onto them ladies - I will be back to collect!!!

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Recipe:

Very Vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up.

Postcard stamp - Crafty Individuals.

Sentiment - Wendy Vecchi Nature's Art set.

Vintage Photo DI.

Flowers coloured with Wild Honey and Spiced Marmalade DI, applied with a

Cut-n-Dry Nib. A soft touch of Crushed Olive on the leaves.

DI applied with Cut-n-Dry foam onto Sequin waste (found this in the kiddies' craft section at Boyes store - very cheap)!

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Hope you will all join in - as long as your card is Clean and Simple, Anything Goes!
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See you soon - love to all ~

LESS IS MORE - 1,000 ENTRIES???? (CARD 1)!!

2011-09-20T15:03:00.000+01:00

Hi lovely blogging friends - hope all is well with you today?

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This is the first of two short posts - both of them for this weeks challenge at LESS IS MORE.

The Limette Divas, Mandi and Chrissie now have a very well-deserved 1,000+ Followers, and someone suggested that it would be fun to see if we could

help them reach 1,000+ entries into this weeks challenge - Wow!

I am posting separately to help the cause!

The challenge by the way is: "ANYTHING GOES", as long as it is CAS.

I think Mandi and Chrissie may have writer's cramp by the end of the week!!

So, here is my first Card.

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Recipe:-

Wendy Vecchi stamps from the Nature's Art set.

Base butterfly coloured with Copics.

Black Glaze pen on the top layer dots.

Swirl - freee-hand doodle!

Embellishment - an old press-stud.

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Hope you will all join in the fun!
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SEEING DOUBLE AT LESS IS MORE THIS WEEK!

2011-09-16T19:28:00.004+01:00

Hi peeps - sorry I haven't been around for a few days - had a very busy week with family "things"!

Just managed to squeeze into this week's LESS IS MORE Challenge, which is SEEING DOUBLE SEEING DOUBLE!

This reverse stamping technique is one which I haven't used for ages - it's similar to the brayering reverse stamping technique, but I have used a very old Hero Arts "Shadow Stamp", which is basically a plain square of wood-mounted rubber. The Anna Griffin blue pram was inked up with Versafine Majestic Blue, then stamped onto the Shadow Stamp. The image on the shadow stamp was then stamped onto the card. This "reverses" the image. The pink pram was stamped with Staz-on Blazing Red, directly onto the card.

The Twins stamp is from a New Baby set by Kars.

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A warm welcome to my new followers - Elizabeth and Maria.
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Have a wonderful weekend ~ love to all,

LESS IS MORE METALLIC COLOUR THEME, AND A CRAFTY SNIPPET!

2011-09-05T22:24:00.008+01:00

Wow lovely Bloggers, Friends and Limettes - what a fabulous challenge Mandi and Chrissie have set for us this week over at Less Is More - METALLICS!! And here is my card, which took longer to photograph than it did to make! The SU card looks rather orangey in the photo, but it's a lovely Christmassy red IRL. (Tuesday - Update - have managed to take a slightly better photo in daylight today)!
ANOTHER UPDATE - 13th Sept. - My card has been ShowCASed - Thanks Chrissie and Mandi!

As I have used very old bits and pieces, I am also entering this into Jules' lovely Snippets Challenge at

Always With a Heart. Do pop over to see what Jules is up to!

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So peeps, for the LIM METALLIC challenge, I dug deep into my cupboards, drawers, boxes, shelves etc. and re-discovered these chunky metal initials C and H, which were originally hanging around the neck of a bottle of Carolina Herrera perfume (see the picture below for a "before I used them" shot). The perfume is long-gone, but I just couldn't bear to part with the initials as I thought they would come in useful one day!!

Recipe:
I printed appy hristmas in gray Parchment font, onto white cardstock and cut out with a Nestie Labels 18 die.
Edged the Nestie with Versamark ink and heat-embossed with Judikins Metallic Silver EP.
Chopped off the little metal circle from the "H" before attaching to the card with glue.
Attached the chunky metal snowflake (I think this came from an old Xmas card) to the "C" with silver
metallic thread then attached these to the card.
Wrapped silver metallic thread around the card and attached the Nestie with 3-d foam pads.
Edges of card coloured with a Pilot Silver ink pen.
************

and here is a picture of the Carolina Herrera perfume bottle (found this on the internet today):-

A very warm welcome to Tilly and Jo, my newest followers.

Have a wonderful week everyone ~ love and hugs,

"IT'S A FRAME UP" AT SIR STAMPALOT, AND MY GUEST DT SPOT !

2011-09-01T08:31:00.013+01:00

Hello peeps! Hope you are having a fabulous week.

********

Several weeks ago, I was lucky enough to win the Sir Stampalot "Magical Worlds" challenge, and as well as receiving a parcel of crafting gorgeousness, I was thrilled to be asked to join the Team for a one-off GDT spot as part of my prize.
So peeps, here I am with my GDT card for September's Stampalot challenge, and the theme is "IT'S A FRAME UP".
Do pop over for all the details, and some fabulous DT inspiration.
****************

My Card Recipe:-

White and Black cardstock - Stampin' Up.

Backing paper - Springtime Vintage from SU.

Stamp - "New York Diva" from Hampton Art, softly coloured with Copics and Distress Inks.

The rectangular FRAME was created by cutting, and joining together, two Nestie Lacy Squares.

The "brads" on the frame are made from black card, punched with a Woodware

small circle punch, shaped with an embossing tool and spritzed with Perfect Pearls Mist - Heirloom Gold.

Postcard stamp - Crafty Individuals, distressed with scissors and inks.

Flower - TH Tattered Florals die.

Circular sentiment - HOTP.

All edges inked with Versafine Smokey Gray.
Black lace - from my ribbon box.
************
So lovely bloggers - start thinking about FRAMES (whatever your interpretation of that might be), and join in the fun!
******
I would like to enter my card into the following Challenge:
Fashionable Stamping - Ribbon or Lace.

Love to all,
and a warm welcome to my newest followers - Hazel, Tracy and Suze.

TAKE THREE CHALLENGES AT LESS IS MORE!

2011-08-28T17:57:00.003+01:00

Hi lovely blogging friends - hope you are enjoying your weekend?

This week the Challenge is A Recipe at Less is More - Chrissie and Mandi would like you to CHOOSE 3 CHALLENGES FROM THE PREVIOUS 29, and combine them on your card.

I have chosen "Pink Black and White", "3 Squares" and "Use Ink".

Do pop over for all the details and fab. inspiration from the Delicious Divas - Mandi and Chrissie.

***********

My card Recipe:-

The three squares are from a set by Crafty Individuals, stamped in Onyx Black Versafine.

For the pink inking technique I have used a brayer with Worn Lipstick and Spun Sugar Distress Inks applied between two roughly torn masks.

After applying the Worn Lipstick I moved the masks slightly, then brayered the lighter shade of Spun Sugar to give a lighter edging.

The sentiment is from my stamp stash, found in the darkest, deepest corner of my craft room. Goodness knows where it came from!

The white element is my SU Whisper White cardstock.

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Have a happy week - love to all, and a very warm welcome to my newest Followers ~ Thelma, Sally, Lisa, Celeste and Katina.

COLOURFUL FINGERS AT THE SIR STAMPALOT BLOG GIRL DAY - FAB!

2011-08-22T16:30:00.002+01:00

Just popping by to share one of the cards I made yesterday at the Blog Girl class with the lovely Brenda at Sir Stampalot.

There was a crafting heaven of inky fingers, superb brayering techniques, stamping, good food, great company and loads of fun!

**********

Methinks I need to improve my scenic brayering skills before sharing with the nation, so I decided to show you my personal favourite card of the day, created with collage stamping, Distress Inks, embossing and TH hinges. (Love Brenda's choice of colours).

~ Have a wonderful week ~

A POSH PENGUIN - ALWAYS WITH A HEART!

2011-08-18T21:59:00.002+01:00

Hi lovely blogging friends - this is just a quick post tonight as I want to make sure I don't miss entering Jules' snippets this week (Week 32). If you haven't joined in the fun yet , you can find Jules' lovely blog at Always with a Heart HERE. If you have lots of leftover crafting snippets, then why not try it out!

**************

I seem to be in a blue mood recently - no idea why as I have always been more of a "pink" girl! I think this little Penguin looks very posh in his (or maybe it's a her) ornate frame and pink woollies!!

Anyhoooo here is my card recipe:-

White cardstock - SU Whisper White

Pink layer - SU Pink Pirouette

Found this piece of blue and white dotty paper in my leftover box - it's a digi but I don't know where it came from - sorry!

Pink ribbon leftovers.

Nestie Fancy Tags 2 - I've been longing to use this and it was perfect for

the gorgeous Penguin stamp from Hero Arts - bought him last year and I love him!

I paper-pieced the hat and scarf with a tiny leftover of dotty pink paper from the Prima Sweet Fairy paper stack, and attached them with silicone glue.

Sentiment from LOTV.

Love to all, and a warm welcome to my new followers - Debby and Gail - thank you so much.

USE YOUR INKS AT LESS IS MORE!

2011-08-15T18:06:00.009+01:00

Hi lovely blogging friends. Wow - we have had sunshine here in West Yorkshire today (hope you have too), and my washing dried outside for a change - just have to do the ironing now!

Anyway, enough about the chores - Chrissy and Mandi, the Delightful Divas from LESS IS MORE have set a great challenge this week - to USE INK! (maybe in a way you haven't tried before). Do pop over for all the details and some fabulous inspiration.

***********

I decided to do a bit of "splattering" with my inks - it's probably one of the oldest inking techniques in the world, and one I remember doing as a child at school, back in the Dark Ages, with an old toothbrush and some paint. If you flicked the toothbrush in the wrong direction you came home with a lovely patterned dress. OK peeps - who else remembers doing this at school ??!!

*********

Recipe:-

I swirled a SU Brocade Blue ink pad onto an acrylic block, added a drop of water and then used a stiff bristle paintbrush, and a finger, (one of my own fingers of course) to do the splattering - great fun!

********

Before starting to splatter (ooh I love that word) , I cut a curved mask from paper, placed it at the bottom of the card and lightly splattered the ink over the top section. To create the darker curve I placed the leftover piece of cut paper at the top of the card, leaving a gap between the two masks, then splattered more ink across the curved gap. (Sounds complicated, but it's not)!!

********

The fairy stamp and tiny stars are from Lavinia, inked with SU Night of Navy.

Sentiment from HOTP, inked with both shades of blue.

Stickles Stardust on the wings, stars, and moon. (You probably have to click on the pic. a couple of times to see the glitter)!!

*****
I would also like to enter the following challenges:
Make My Monday - Fairies or Angels.
Challenge Up Your Life - No Patterned Paper.
Crafts and Me - Blues or Blue-Green.
*************

Have a great week everyone, and a warm welcome to my newest Followers - Sheilagh, Marita, Harry, Sylvia, Valerie, Minasverden, Catherine and Caroline. ~

WHITE ON WHITE AT BAH! HUMBUG!

2011-08-09T18:37:00.003+01:00

Hi peeps - hope you are having sunshine today?

Are we all determined to start making our Christmas cards before December??! OK - if you need a kick-start (like me), why not join the girls at Bah! Humbug! as they come up with the most fabulous Christmas challenges, and this time it's WHITE ON WHITE ! (OK - so my card may look blue, but it really is white - honest)!!

And here it is:-

Recipe:-

Cardstock - Whisper White from Stampin' Up

Fabulous stamp - "A Christmas Carol" from Papermania

Embossing Powder - Personal Impressions Opaque White

Glitter around the main image, and a little here and there on the ornaments - Dazzling Diamonds from SU

Lacy Squares Nestability Die - I die-cut two of the largest squares then chopped them down to create one large rectangle frame.

Tiny Holly punch - a really really old one from All night Media (you can just see the holly leaves along the base of the frame).

Pearls from my craft box.

That's it folks - one less card to make in December!!
I would like to enter the following Challenges:-
Ooh-La-La Creations - Christmas.
Pink Gem Designs - White on White.
Craft Room - White on White.

Lots of love to all ~

CRAFTY SNIPPET CHALLENGE WEEK #30, AND A FIRST FOR ME!

2011-08-04T23:04:00.002+01:00

Hi peeps - I am just popping by to share my very first "Crafty Snippet" !

In case you're wondering what that is - do take a peek at Jules' beautiful challenge blog Always With a Heart which I discovered recently. The challenges involve using up snippets of paper, ribbon, or whatever you have in your mountain of leftover stash - well, we crafters can never throw anything away - right?!

It was a bit scary, not using colouring pens, but I enjoyed the challenge and the re-discovery of long-forgotten bits and pieces! So, here is my (very simple) card!

The Hydrangea was part of an Anna Griffin die-cut decoupage sheet which is about 8 or 9 years old. I curved the layers slightly and applied silicone glue, to give a bit of depth.

The vintage text paper is a leftover from a very old 12x12" pad - name unknown! Torn and distressed around the edges with Vintage Photo DI.

Sentiment - Hot off the Press, inked with Timber Brown Staz-on.

Two pieces of blue ribbon leftovers.

*******************

~ Love to all ~

BUTTON OR RIBBON AT LESS IS MORE THIS WEEK

2011-07-25T14:53:00.003+01:00

Hi peeps!

At last - another card, and it's for this week's LESS IS MORE CHALLENGE - BUTTON or RIBBON - how fab. is that! I love ribbon, so thanks Chrissie and Mandi!!

For anyone new to this Challenge, all the details can be found by clicking the link above.

Recipe:-

The "20's" Lady is a clear acrylic stamp I bought several years ago on e-bay, and I'm sorry I don't know the name of it.

I masked the lady (and her rather large hat), then stamped the La Blanche swirls.

Soft colouring on the hat - Copics.

The Amour stamp is part of a beautiful theme plate from Elusive Images (still available at Chocolate Baroque) called Fleur et Parfum de Paris.

Ink used - Versafine Vintage Sepia.

Blue satin ribbon from the local Boyes store in Ilkley.

White base card - SU.
(Please can anyone tell me how to photograph white card so that it LOOKS white?!!

Have a happy week everyone ~

YOUR FAVOURITE THINGS AT MAWTT !

2011-07-14T10:00:00.016+01:00

Hi peeps - hope you are all happy and having sunshine wherever you are.

Just popping by with this week's Challenge at Moving Along With The Times -

the theme has been chosen by the lovely Laurie who would like to see "Favourite Things" on your projects this week, and I'm sure we all have lots of those!!
*******************

This will be my last DT project for MAWTT - thanks to Hazel and Teamies for your friendship over the last few months.
Hope you like the card - I'm not too sure about it myself! (You know when you have one of those days when nothing seems to work out as planned)!!

However, I do LOVE this stamp which was a birthday gift from a good friend of mine - it's called "Sunrise" by Rachel Anderson, at Sweet Pea Stamps.
I have loads of "favourite things" but on my card I have used just a few of them - Copics, Fairy, Glitter, Swirls!

Recipe:-
The background for the fairy was brayered over the masked image with Kaleidacolor "Desert Heat" ink. The mask was then removed, and the stamped image coloured with Copics, and cut out with a Nestabilities Labels 4 die.
The layer of black SU card, and the TH Flourish diecut were spritzed with Ranger Perfect Pearls Mist - Heirloom Gold.
Corner punch - Anna Griffin.
The black and white paper is Rhonna Farrer Urban Junque, the green base card is Amy Butler Sola by K and Co.
All edges inked with Brilliance "Lightening Black".
Sentiment - Crafty Individuals.
Glamour Dust on the large Butterfly wings.
*************
Our lovely Sponsor this week is
My Mums Craft Shop
and the lucky winner will receive a £10 voucher to spend in their fabulous craft store.

Huge thanks to everyone who took part in last week's Christmas challenge - your projects were amazing. Do pop over to MAWTT to see who the winners are!
**********
I am entering my card into the following Challenges:-
The Craft Room - Butterflies.
Simon Says - Anything Goes.
Papertake Weekly - Hot Hot Hot Colours!
Paper Play - Things with Wings.
The Stamp Man - Anything by T!M.

Love to all ~

IT'S CHRISTMAS (AT MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES)!

2011-07-07T09:52:00.006+01:00

Hi lovely peeps - have you noticed the Christmas goodies in the craft shops, and "Christmas in July" on the TV shopping channels? Well, it's Christmas in Blogland this week too, at the MAWTT Challenge.

Our lovely Shell has chosen the theme of CHRISTMAS which is great for someone like me who usually makes their Xmas cards in December - I will have at least ONE Xmas card prepared now - and here it is!

I love this fabulous Mo Manning "Christmas Fairy Holly" image, and the Christmas theme gave me the chance to use lots of glitter - yaaay. (Though it doesn't show up very well on the photo - sorry)!!

As we are still in Summer, I went for a kind of "alternative" colour scheme - hence the addition of PINK!! (Any excuse)!

Recipe:-

Image coloured with Copics and layered onto a Nestie Lacy Square diecut. Edges of image inked with Weathered Wood DI.

Backing paper is Craft Creations - "Small White Dots on Pink" - no surprise there then!

White machine stitching.

Moss Green seam binding from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Sentiment - Lili of the Valley, punched out with the SU Scallop Oval punch, edged with glitter.

*********************

Do pop over to MAWTT to see what the DT have created, and find out who last week's lucky winners are.

******

Our Sponsor this week is

http://stitchybearstamps.com/shop and the winner's prize is a $10 voucher to spend in their digi store.

Huge thanks to everyone who entered our Summer challenge last week - you projects were awesome.

Hope you will make the leap from Summer to Christmas, and join us again this week!

~ Love to all ~

****

I would like to enter the following Challenges:-

By The Cute and Girly - Things With Wings

Simon Says - A Stitch in Time.

Paper Sundaes - Stitching.

Celebrate the Occasion - Christmas in July (NO RED)!

A Spoonfull of Sugar - Sewing.

Stampin for the Weekend - Wings and Things.

FEELING BLUE AT LESS IS MORE!

2011-07-03T22:20:00.005+01:00

Hi everyone - hope you are all enjoying the fabulous weather.

Mandi and Chrissi at Less is More have set a fabulous challenge this week for all

blogging Limettes out there - SHADES OF BLUE.

I have missed the last couple of challenges, but am pleased to be able to join in this week, and use

my brand new La Blanche Roses stamp - a birthday gift from one of my lovely Followers.

The ink colours used are -

Text stamp (Crafty Individuals) - Adirondack Stonewashed in the centre and Versacolor Lapis Lazuli around the edges.

Roses Stamp - SU Night of Navy

Sentiment (HOTP) - Versafine Majestic Blue
The images have been swirled with pale blue craft chalk (which you can barely see)!!

The pale blue thread is some really ancient Anchor Pearl Cotton (used for embroidery I think)? All things come in useful eventually!!

*********

Have a fabulous week wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

I am going to see my 11 year old Grandson in his last Junior School concert tomorrow - he is The Artful Dodger in "Oliver", and will be making the huge leap into "big school" in September.

Love to all ~

HERE COMES SUMMER AT MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES!

2011-06-30T10:00:00.091+01:00

Hi lovely blogging friends! It's great to be back home after a few days away for my birthday. Had a brilliant time - the architecture, the galleries, the shops, the hot weather, the food - all of it fabulous, so why is it so good to be back home?!!

*******

So peeps, onto this week's challenge at MAWTT - "HERE COMES SUMMER", chosen by the lovely Lisa. The winner's prize is 4 digis of your own choice from our talented sponsor, Beth at Squidgi Digi.

This is Beth's fab. Beach Huts image.

Recipe:-
Base card - white Bazzill (I know - it doesn't look white does it)!
I printed the Beach Huts twice, cut out and decoupaged the roof section to create dimension.
Image lightly coloured with Copics
White ric-rac, coloured with Copics
Cuttlebug heart cut from Nitwit paper, edges inked with Broken China DI
Sentiment - Hero arts
Shell and twine from stash
I would like to enter the following Challenge - Take Time For You - Summer, Sun, Beach and Sea.
******
As always, a huge thank you to all you talented crafters out there who entered last week's Challenge - hope to see you again this week!

*******

~ And finally, 3 of the 200 photos taken in Venice ~

Love to all ~ have a happy day

CLEAN AND SIMPLE AT MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES!

2011-06-23T10:00:00.055+01:00

A very good morning to you all - if Mr Blogger is behaving himself today you will be reading this, if not - well, you won't!! This post was scheduled for 10.00am today, by which time I shall probably be eating ice cream, and singing "O Sole Mio" (not both at the same time though - I never sing with my mouth full) - can you guess where I am peeps??!!!

*************

This week at MAWTT the challenge theme is "Clean and Simple", chosen by the lovely Hazel
(A card with clean lines, minimal elements, areas of white space, and few or no embellishments).

My DT card Recipe:-
Ink - Kaleidacolour Creole Spice, applied with a brayer onto a rectangle of white card. 4 holes punched down one edge.
The images were stamped with black Staz-on onto a Stampbord rectangle after brayering with Creole Spice. Some of the coloured ink was removed with a scratch pen to let the white surface show through. The stamps are by Leigh Hannan, available from Impression Obsession.
Stampbord edges inked with Gold Krylon, then layered onto black card and mounted.
Sentiment from Hero Arts.

There is a fabulous £10 gift voucher for this week's winner, from our lovely Sponsor - Crafty Emma.

See you all soon ~

ANNIVERSARY CANDY WINNERS!

2011-06-19T11:42:00.002+01:00

Good morning lovely Bloggers - I hope you are all having a happy weekend.

******

I am just popping by to announce the winners of my Two Year Anniversary Blog Candy. The entries were printed out, folded up and put into a bowl, and Hubby's Hairy Hand picked out two of them.

And the winners are:-

First out of the bowl was

SHIRLEY - Nannieflash

****

Second out of the bowl was

PAMI- Pami's Crafty Creations

Congratulations Shirley and Pami - Please e-mail me your address ladies, so I can send your £10 Joanna Sheen vouchers. (My e-mail is on my Profile page).
*************

Thank you to all my lovely followers and visitors for your kind comments and fabulous inspiration over the last two years.
Love to all ~

INSPIRED BY A SONG AT THE MAWTT CHALLENGE!

2011-06-16T10:01:00.014+01:00

Hello lovely bloggers - hope you're having a happy week, and some sunshine wherever you are in the world.
********

I'm sure you will love this week's INSPIRED BY A SONG challenge at MAWTT - chosen by the lovely Laurie.
I didn't have to think for more than a nano-second to decide on the fabulous Robbie Williams song "Angels" (I love it), and I used the beautiful "Sending Peace" image by the super-talented Mo Manning (which I also love)!
This photo doesn't look very "sharp" - it's better when enlarged - honest!

The Angel has been softly coloured with Copics, and the background was created with
Sky Blue Versacolor ink, dabbed on with a cottonwool ball.
SU Dazzling diamonds glitter on the wings.
Sentiment created on the computer, and a spray of pearls to finish.
The die cut for the Easel card is Nesties Labels 1.
I would like to neter my card into the following challenge:-
Freshly Brewed - Put a Little Song in your Heart!
*****************************
The prize at MAWTT this week is a fabulous Kanban Music Kit .

Thanks to everyone for the fabulous entries last week - look forward to seeing more of your beautiful creations.

ANYTHING BUT A CARD AT MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES!

2011-06-09T10:00:00.037+01:00

Wow lovely bloggers - that's another week gone by, and time for a new Challenge at MAWTT, - this week we would like to see "Anything But a Card", which is the lovely Pami's choice

Our fabulous Sponsor this week is

Every Crafts A Pound
Full details can be found over at MAWTT.
***************
My DT project is a mini concertina folder, for recording those all-important, special occasion dates you just don't want to forget.

Recipe:-
All cardstock from Stampin' Up.
Distress Inks - Vintage Photo and Brushed Corduroy.
Front cover: - computer generated wording on small Nestie "Labels 4".
Flourish stamp - Stampin' Up
CB Corner die, cut from Gold Japanese Washi paper.
Ribbon - had it for ages!
*********
Inside: - Floral paper - Anna Griffin, over-stamped with Crafty Secrets "French Mail" set, and Text stamp from Crafty Individuals. The folds and outer edges of the pockets are machine-stitched.
Twelve large Nestie "Labels 4" diecuts (3 in each pocket), with Tim Holtz months of the year Tissue Tape on each one.
***********
Thanks to all the lovely crafters who entered last week's challenge - there were some amazing projects once again. Look forward to this week's entries - and don't forget peeps - NO CARDS!!
I would like to enter the following Challenges -
Dream Valley - Stamp Something.
Craft your Passion -Anything Goes

Love to all ~

MONOCHROME AT LESS IS MORE!

2011-06-07T09:06:00.001+01:00

Good morning lovely bloggers, hope you are having sunshine in your part of the world.

This is week 18 for the challenges at Less is More

and the theme is MONOCHROME. Mandi and Chrissie, the LIM Divas, have very kindly given a description of exactly what Monochrome is, alongside their inspirational DT cards.

I have used one of my oldest, and most-loved stamps - Gracious Lady from Hero Arts.

The image is stamped with Staz-on Azure, and the shading has been added with Derwent watercolour pencils, used dry.

The sentiment is from Penny Black. An Eazi Scoreboard was used to add a couple of embossed lines.

Whisper White card from Stampin' Up.

Have a happy day ...

NO DESIGNER PAPERS AT MAWTT THIS WEEK!!!

2011-06-02T10:00:00.038+01:00

Hi peeps - hope you are all having a happy week.
After 5 days, my Followers have returned, no thanks to "Blogger Help". I downloaded Firefox and the followers returned immediately, so if anyone else is having problems, it may be worth trying.
I am also a very happy bunny to learn that I won the prize at last month's Magical Worlds challenge at Sir Stampalot with my MAWTT DT Mermaid card HERE
*********

Anyway, enough of my rambling - this week at the MAWTT Challenge it's the lovely Shell's turn to host, and she doesn't want to see any of those gorgeous Designer papers on your project (yikes)!! So c'mon - I know you can do it!!

Our lovely Sponsor this week is Didge, (Shells' Daughter) whose images are available from Stitchy Bear Stamps . The prize is 3 of Didge's cute images, which were designed exclusively for MAWTT - pop over there for all the details.
****************
I have used a beautiful Poinsettia image, also from Didge, and made my first Christmas card of 2011 - yayyy!!

Recipe:-
The textured Very Vanilla card is from Stampin' Up.
The Poinsettias have been re-sized, cut out and layered, then coloured with Copics. The swirl stamp is from Crafty Individuals, and the digi sentiment is from Raindrop Echo Designs, available from Whimsy Stamps.
Edges inked with black Staz-on to create a slightly "worn and shabby" look. Glamour Dust added to the flower centres.
******
Thank you for all the wonderful entries last week, and don't forget - no designer papers!!
Love to all ~

WE'RE ALL GOING ON A SUMMER HOLIDAY, AT MAWTT!!

2011-05-26T10:14:00.010+01:00

Update - whoo-hoo! My card was voted into the top 5 at Stamp Something - thank you ladies!
And it was also featured on Tiddly Ink Fabby Friday - whoo-hoo again!!
*******
Hi peeps, it's Thursday so let's Move Along With The Times! We have a fabulous challenge for you at MAWTT this week, chosen by the Lovely Lisa - HOLIDAYS!

My DT card Recipe:-

Base card - Crumb Cake - Stampin' Up

Papers - Stella Rose - My Mind's Eye

Ribbon - Gisela Graham

The fabulous "Bathing Beauty" image is from Tiddly Inks

and has been coloured with Copics.

The little starfish are from the Tiddly Inks "Queen of the Castle" digi set.

http://tiddlyinks.com/catalog.htm

The postcard was made by photocopying the top part of a mini postcard, (it had some printed wording on the bottom, which I didn't want)!, onto a piece of lined Stella Rose paper, I distressed the edges and added the hand-written wording.

To finish - a punched flower attached to Bathing Beauty's hat. Distressing and stitching around all edges.

The "water" was roughly torn and the 3 starfish were coloured with DI.

*****

I would like to enter the challenge at:-

Stamp Something- Beachy.

*********

So, get out those caravans, flip-flops, sunglasses, aeroplanes, bikinis, or whatever, and join in the holiday fun! Hope to see you soon!

********

Our sponsor this week is Robyn's Fetish and the prize is 3 digi images from their on-line store.
http://robynsfetish.com/shop/

Love to all ~

BUTTERFLIES AT LESS IS MORE.......!

2011-05-25T20:58:00.008+01:00

Hope you are well lovely bloggers.

I have missed the last two challenges at LESS IS MORE, and as I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms I really HAD to join in this week - Chrissie and Mandi have asked us to use a Butterfly/Butterflies - and here is my little card!

*******

The card measures 4" square, and the Butterfly (from Elusive Images) is stamped onto white shrink plastic using various shades of Staz-on, then coloured with Sakura JellyRoll glitter pens before shrinking. Now, I'm sure anyone who has tried shrink plastic knows how difficult it is to get a totally flat result, so that's why mine has lumps and bumps - hope you don't mind!!
Edges have been inked with a Krylon Gold pen.

The background stamp is from SU and the wording was a freebie from Craft Stamper magazine.

**********
I would like to enter my card into the following Challenge:-
A Spoonfull of Sugar - Things with Wings.

Thanks for popping by - love to all ~

TWO YEARS IN BLOGLAND (and a little bit of candy)!

2011-05-25T19:07:00.008+01:00

19th June - Blog Candy now closed.

Hi Peeps - I can hardly believe it's two years today since I very tentatively entered Blogland, and wow, what fantastic inspiration and friendship I have experienced!!

******

So, lovely friends and followers, I would like to celebrate, and say Thank You, by offering Candy for two of my Followers - not a huge basket of goodies I'm afraid, but the first two followers to be drawn from the hat by Hubby's Hairy Hand will each receive a £10 gift voucher to spend at Joanna Sheen's wonderful on-line store (free p&p too)

http://www.joannasheen.com/craft-supplies/

I didn't make this card by the way - it's a photo of one of the gift vouchers!!

So if you would like the chance to win - here are the "rules"

You must be a follower.

Leave a comment on this Post, before midnight 18th June.

Please spread the word on your sidebar.

Only one entry per person please!

All comments will be printed, cut out and put into the hat, and the TWO winners will be announced on the 19th or 20th June.

Thanks a million ~ love to all

MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES - A SKETCH!

2011-05-19T10:00:00.045+01:00

Update - 31st May

Wow - I'm doing star jumps today!!

My card won 1st prize in this month's Sir Stampalot Challenge Thank you so much DT!

Anyhoo - onwards and upwards, and onto this week's DT card for another fab. challenge at MAWTT.
******

This week the "sketch" challenge has been chosen by the lovely Hazel , and our Sponsor is Stitchy Bear Stamps and they are giving $10 of digi stamps to the winner!

http://stitchybearstamps.com/shop/
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The DT have used digi images available from Stitchy's on-line shop, so do pop over to see their fab. creations!
I chose this beautiful "Mermaid" image from Sylvie's Stamps (available at Stitchy Bears) for my DT card, coloured her with Copics, added a sprinkling of Glamour dust on the bubbles, and pearl gems on each corner. Weathered Wood DI applied around the edges. The patterned backing paper is from the gorgeous Kaiser Craft "Magic Happens" paper pad which I won in Mina's Candy several weeks ago (thanks Mina)! The design is what I imagine it to look like on the sea-bed, with floaty deep-sea plants, though I've never been diving so what do I know!!!
The 3 rectangles are also cut from the same pad and embossed on the CB.
The tiny sentiment is from a set by Hero Arts (I think)!, circular punch from Woodware, and black circular border is a CB die which is exactly the right size for the punch!
Black cardstock from SU.
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Look forward to seeing more of your amazing creations, and thank you for all your fabulous entries last week.
*****
I would like to enter this card into the following Challenge -
Sir Stampalot - Magical Worlds.

TWO B's AT THE MAWTT CHALLENGE THIS WEEK !

2011-05-12T10:00:00.058+01:00

Hi peeps - isn't it great to be blogging again!

This week's challenge at MAWTT is the lovely Brenda's choice - her initials are BB, so she would like you to use at least two items beginning with the letter B on your project. Also, if you pop over to Brend'a Blog, she has a fab. surprise for you!

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So, you could maybe use Buttons, Bows, Blue, Burgers, Balls, or even Bees - (no real ones though!) Please tell us which B's you have used on your project - I can't wait to see what you come up with this week. Do pop over to MAWTT to see the B's which the DT have used!
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Our lovely Sponsor this week is ~

http://www.craftyemmasstore.co.uk/
and the Prize is this gorgeous Bloom and Grow garden-themed stamp set . We hope you will join in the fun - the entries last week were amazing, as always, and thanks to everyone who took part.

For my DT project I have made a cute little double-pocket bag for my DIL's birthday. There is a slip-card in the front pocket, which I will personalise later, and when the bag is given to my DIL there will be a gift voucher (from a rather nice clothing shop, at DIL's request) in the back pocket. So - a card and gift all in one!!
~ My choice of B's ~
Black, Beads, Bag, Butterflies, Bow.

Recipe:-
Very Vanilla textured cardstock - SU.
All Papers - SU Love Letter.
Butterfly stamp - SU.
Black beads from an old necklace.
Rose Petal seam binding - Wild Orchid Crafts.
Black ribbon and eyelets - from my stash.

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The butterflies were stamped with Distress Inks, Spun Sugar and Tattered Rose, then cut out.
The papers were machine stitched onto the front and back of the bag.
Four holes punched, and eyelets set, with a Provo-Craft Silent Setter.
Close-up of the back of the bag, and the slip-card.

I would like to enter the following Challenges:-
Flutterby Wednesdays -Anything But a Card.
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes.

Love to all ~ have a fabulous weekend!

LESS IS MORE - WHITE ON WHITE.

2011-05-07T21:50:00.007+01:00

Hi peeps - hubby is happy today as it's rained on his allotment - yaay! Personally,I prefer the sunshine!

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There is a fab. challenge this week at Mandi and Chrissie's challenge blog Less Is More - WHITE ON WHITE. These challenges certainly get ya thinkin' don't they!!! By the way - we are officially known as LIMettes when we take part in the LIM challenges - isn't that great!! So - here is my LIMettes white on white card:-

Recipe:-

Nesties Lacy Squares

SU Bird and Branch punch (one of my all-time favourite punches)

CB With Love embossing folder

SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

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I am entering the challenge at:-

Wags 'n Whiskers - Use dies or punches.

By the Cute and Girly - Anything Goes.

*****

Have a Wonderful week ~

HAVE SOME CAKE AT MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES!

2011-05-05T10:00:00.108+01:00

Hi everyone - I do hope you are all having a happy week. Yesterday I went to see the exhibition of John Atkinson Grimshaw's wonderful paintings at the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate. I love his work, and it was an absolute joy to see it in real life, particularly his painting "Iris", which is amazingly beautiful. For anyone who is interested in his work, the exhibition is in Harrogate until September, before it moves to London.

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Ok - it's time for another fab. challenge at MAWTT, which this week is Shell's choice - "Have Some Cake", so we would like to see some yummy cake on your projects please!
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Our lovely Sponsor this week is Bows and Berries, and the Winner will receive 2 digis of their own choice from the shop.
They are also giving everyone a 25% discount on any of the fabulous digis bought from their shop during the week of the Cake challenge - the Code you need to quote is BB25.
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Please click on the link above to take you to the shop!

The DT have used Bows and Berries images this week, so do pop over to MAWTT to take a peek at what they have created! I chose to use the Heart Cake, which I paper-pieced with the Prima Sweet Fairy paper, and cut it out with the Stampin Up Sizzix die "Top Note".

A second die cut was placed underneath, slightly to one side.
Diecut edges inked with Distress Inks.

Other items used :-
Backing paper - Sweet Fairy from Prima
Rose Petal seam binding - Wild Orchid Crafts
Pearl hearts on a stem - from stash
Die cut tag, and heart - CuttleBug
"Sweet" sentiment - Kars "New Baby" set
Base card - SU
Stitching and scissor-distressing around paper edges
SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter on cake hearts
and a 3-d layer at the base of the cake.
Hearts coloured with Copics.

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Thanks so much to everyone who joined in the Anything Goes challenge at MAWTT last week - there were over 400 entries, and some really awesome designs.
So lovely bloggers - let's see what you can do with CAKE !!

Challenges entered:-
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Pollycraft - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Paper Piecing

THANK YOU or CONGRATULATIONS AT LESS IS MORE !

2011-05-03T22:59:00.001+01:00

Hi lovely bloggers - almost at the last minute, here is my card for this week's

challenge at Less Is More, which is a choice of "Thank You", or "Congratulations".
The photo is not very good at all - I always struggle with white card and pale cream card - (this is Very Vanilla from SU). After taking photos in a tent, outside a tent, swinging from the chandeliers, I decided this one was the best of a very big bunch!

So, back to the plot - I bought this stamp a few years ago to make a special card for my eldest Granddaughter, Grace. Why? because in the centre of the frame was the word "Grace" - see, there is method in my madness (sometimes). You can see what I mean from the photo of the stamp below.

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I masked the word Grace before inking the stamp with Versafine Vintage Sepia. After stamping the frame, I stamped Thank You in the centre.

Both stamps are by Anna Griffin.

Pale pink chalk has been swirled around the image. An embossed frame was created around the edges of the card, using an Eazi-Score Board.

Light brown pearls added to each corner.

So peeps, if you would like to take part in Chrissie and Mandi's fabulous Less is More challenge, do pop over and join in the fun. (Warning - it can be addictive).

Love to all ~

ANYTHING GOES AT MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES!

2011-04-28T10:00:00.116+01:00

Hi lovely blogging friends - hope your weather is fabulous. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the sun will shine on the happy Royal Couple tomorrow ~ and isn't is great to have something joyful happening in the world.

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Thanks to everyone who joined in the fun last week with the recycling challenge at MAWTT - there were some really amazing projects!
This week at MAWTT the Challenge theme is Pami's choice - "Anything Goes" - Yaayyy I hear you all shout!! I know I did (thanks Pami)!! because I decided to indulge in a messy inky-fingers kind of day, and get out those Alcohol Inks which I love, but rarely use. So, here is my DT card:-

The Lavinia fairy has been stamped onto acetate with Black Staz-on, and only the image has been inked on the reverse with Alcohol Ink, with a little Glamour Dust here and there.

The background was created on a second piece of acetate, with more alcohol inks, then placed behind the main image piece. These were then layered onto white cardstock and secured with inked brads.

The black and green layers are SU card.

The Toadstools and branches at the base of the card are also Lavinia stamps.

The cream lace has been lightly coloured with Distress Inks.

Sentiment - Hero Arts.

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So peeps - let's see your fabulous creations - the prize this week is a beautiful floral Hero Arts stamp set from our lovely Sponsors -

The Stamp Man

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I would like to enter my card into the following Challenges:-
Sparkles Forum Challenges - Anything Goes.
Joyful Stamper - Anything Goes.
The Artistic Stamper - "Build it Up" (Layers).
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes, plus a BLOG HOP to celebrate their 2nd Anniversary!
Love to all ~

LESS IS MORE - OFF CENTRE!!

2011-04-27T19:32:00.002+01:00

Hi lovely Bloggers - just popping by with a card for the

Less Is More Challenge, which this week is "OFF CENTRE". I was in one of those "dark colour and bling" moods, when I made this (plus a ginormous Butterfly), so here it is!!

The purple card is Bazzill, the Butterfly die is Marianne (coated with Glamour Dust) and the stamped swirl is from Crafty Individuals. "With Love" sentiment - a very old favourite from PSX.

Hope you like it ~

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS - USE 3 OR MORE PUNCHES!

2011-04-24T06:01:00.015+01:00

Happy Easter Sunday, Peeps!
At the Sentimental Sundays challenge this week we would like you to use Three or More Punches (plus a sentiment). Quite an easy-peasy one, so get out those punches and join in the fun! As always, there are prizes to be won!
For my DT project I decided not to make a card (just for a change), but it could have been the thought of yummy chocolate eggs which inspired me to make an Easter basket.

The punches I used are :-

MS Doily Lace border punch.

SU heart punch for the base of the basket.

Woodware circle punch for the sentiment.

Woodware Daisy punches in 2 sizes for the flowers.

Other items used :-

All the papers are from Nitwit's "Egg-stra Special Collection", printed onto cream card.

Nestie circle for the outside border on the sentiment.

Sentiment - my own, created on the 'puter.

Glamour Dust.

Olive Green seam binding - from Wild Orchid Craft.

Mini chocolate eggs - Cadbury's (had to buy a second pack of these as I ate most of the first lot whilst I was making the basket)!!!!
The basket template can be found here:-
http://www.waltzingmousestamps.com/products/freebie-teeny-weeny-basket
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I would like to enter the little basket (but not the chocolates) into the following Challenge:-
CES - Spring Colours/Image.

Have a happy sunny week, wherever you are in the world.

MY FIRST DT CARD FOR MAWTT - A BIT OF RECYCLING!

2011-04-21T10:00:00.027+01:00

Hi peeps - gorgeous weather again - hope it is where you are too. Had a fabulous day out yesterday with my 8-year old Granddaughter - we did the "ladies who lunch" bit, and lots of shopping for all things pink and sparkly (sadly, not for me)!! Then onto the climbing frames, metal tunnelly-slidey contraptions, and all things impossible for Grandmas to swing from (but the ice cream was fab.)!

*****

So - back to the plot! I'm so excited to be sharing my first DT card today, for Moving Along With The Times, and as April 22nd is Earth Day, the challenge this week is to use something Recycled on your project.

Do pop along to see what gorgeous creations the DT have come up with, and join in the fun!

******

Our lovely sponsor this week is Lady Bug Crafts Ink, and the prize is one stamp of the winner's choice.

My recycled bits and pieces are:- Kraft wrapping paper from some packaging, a remnant of gingham from something I made several years ago, and two pieces torn from a VERY old dictionary which I have had since my school days (told you it was VERY old)!! If you enlarge the photo, you will just about see the wording.
Here's the dictionary - I would never destroy a book, but this is beyond redemption - it is genuinely "distressed"!!

The beautiful image is "What's Cookin''" from Mo Manning.

Other items used - Copics, MS border punch, circular sentiment from Papermania (a freebie), layered onto a Kraft and gingham flower made with the smallest die from Tim Holtz Tattered Florals. Some machine stitching and paper pricking to finish, and a Tiny sentiment from a KandCo stamp set in the top corner.

*****

I would like to enter the following Challenges:-

Try it on Tuesday - Upcycling

Top Tip Tuesday - Open Challenge

Crafts and Me - Pink and Sweet.

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Have a wonderful Easter ~

LESS IS MORE, SOME GOOD NEWS, AND HAS ANYONE SEEN MY FOLLOWERS?

2011-04-14T15:54:00.006+01:00

OK Mr Blogger - what have you done with my Lovely Followers - I miss them and want them back NOW!!

*****

Update - HERE COME THE GIRLS! My Followers are back home after a 2-day holiday - I'm so happy to see them!

Hope everyone is having a great week - I am popping by to share a couple of things with you, firstly a card for

Chrissie and Mandi's

Less is More Challenge which this week is to make a

ONE LAYER CARD with the SENTIMENT AS THE MAIN FOCUS. Mmmmm - not as easy as I first thought!!!

After seeing Chrissie's fab. tutorial on Nestie embossing, I so wanted to try it out. Of course, my design is nowhere near as intricate as Chrissie's but I did eventually manage to achieve the embossed outline, using a Nestie Labels #4.

The Sentiment stamp is from PSX. I punched out a tiny heart in the bottom corner, and added pink organza ribbon to finish.

******

If you haven't yet seen the LIM challenge site, do pop over and join in the fun - I'm sure you will love it.

*********

Finally, I have some great news to share.

I have been offered a DT spot at Moving Along With The Times, and will be working alongside the mega-talented Team as from next week, and I'm over the moon!

Please pop over, join in the fun, and leave some lurve!

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TREASURED MEMORIES AT SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS .....

2011-04-10T07:01:00.057+01:00

Update - 30th April - my card won a Top 3 place in the Sir Stampalot April Challenge - whoo-hoo!

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Hi lovely bloggers - I do hope you are all enjoying some sunshine, wherever you are - the last couple of days have been beautiful in West Yorkshire, and don't those little sunbeams make you feel glad to be alive!

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So, down to business - grab a cuppa, it's a loooong one today!!

Time to share my DT card for this week's challenge at Sentimental Sundays - "Treasured Memories" (plus a sentiment).
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I'm sure we all have lots of treasured memories of one kind or another, and I knew I wanted to use a "family" theme, (maybe the children, or grandchildren), but I decided to go further back in time, with two vintage photos which I have always treasured - one of my Mum, one of my Dad, taken in the early 1920's, before they were married. I only have a few photos of them in their youth, as cameras and photos were quite a luxury in those days.
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I think I may pop this into a suitable picture frame so I can actually look at the photos - seems a shame to keep them hidden away doesn't it.
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My card recipe:-
Black SU cardstock - spritzed with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist.
Backing paper - Urban Junque from Rhonna Farrer. Edges distressed with scissors and inked with Distress Inks - Antique Linen/Brushed Corduroy.
Sentiment - Personal Impressions.
Apertures - Nestabilities, Labels 4.
Organza Ribbon and flower from stash.
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So - get your thinking caps on peeps, and let us see more of your fabulous creations! There are prizes to be won, and our two mega-talented sponsors this week are:-

Melissa Jenkins of Mel Jen's Designs and

Ann Vento of Raindrop Echo Designs. Her sentiments can be found Here

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I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:-

Sir Stampalot - "Ladies and Fashion"
Creative Inspirations - Punches or Dies.

Have a fabulous week ~ thanks for popping by!

A TOUCH OF RED AT LESS IS MORE

2011-04-04T16:19:00.007+01:00

Hi peeps, hope you are well and happy and enjoying beautiful Spring weather (although it's actually raining here today)!

Another short post and another CAS card for Chrissi and Mandi's very addictive (in a good way!) Less Is More Challenge. It's week 9, and A Touch of Red is required.
I still get that "oooh something's missing" feeling when I am left with so much empty space though!!

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Recipe: -

Cinnabar stamp - Stampington (I really must buy some new stamps - it's so tempting to keep using the old favourites).

Bliss stamp - SU

Distress Ink - Fired Brick

Versafine Ink - Onyx Black
Teeny red gem on the headdress flower.
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I would also like to enter my card into the following challenge:-
Gingersnap Creations - "Geishas"
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Have a happy week everyone ~

LESS IS MORE - A SKETCH!

2011-03-29T21:30:00.010+01:00

Hi peeps - just a quick post tonight (did someone say Hoorah)?!!

This week at Less is More, Chrissie and Mandi have given us the challenge of working with a sketch on a DL size card, so if you haven't heard of this fabulous challenge blog, do pop over and see what it's all about.

My card recipe:-

Base card - SU Very Vanilla cardstock.

For the flower - SU "Love Letter" double sided paper, two circle punches, a water spritzer and an old fabric covered button, (plus lots of squeezing and teasing).

Paper from the same SU range for the dotty strip, edged with black ink.

Sentiment from Penny Black.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Lady Bug Crafts - Handmade Flowers.

Tuesday Throwdown - Florals.

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Have a great week ~

CUTE AND CUDDLY SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS - I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH !!

2011-03-27T11:11:00.020+01:00

Well lovely Bloggers, it's that time of year again - one hour less to sleep in this morning, but on the plus side, have you seen all the fabulous Cherry Blossom trees in flower - don't you just love them?

So - onto this week's Challenge at Sentimental Sundays which is an easy-peasy theme of CUTE AND CUDDLY (with a sentiment of course). More prizes to be won this week, and more freebie sentiments.

For my DT card I have used this oh-so-cuddly image from Meljens Designs coloured with Copics

Cardstock - Very Vanilla from SU.

Papers - MME Stella and Rose "Mabel".

Antique Linen DI around edges.

Machine stitching (wonky variety).

Ribbon from stash.

CB die cut hearts.

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Look forward to seeing more of your

beautiful creations at Sentimental Sundays.

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I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:-

Totally Papercrafts - Cuddly and Cute.

Southern Girls - Add an Animal.

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Have a happy week ~ love to all.

SOMETHING SIMPLE AND A BIT "OFF THE EDGE"!

2011-03-16T16:39:00.002Z

Hi peeps, just a quick post today - hope you're all having a great week, with more sunshine than we are having in foggy West Yorkshire at the moment.

*****

I'm sure you will all have seen the Less Is More Challenge Blog, run by Chrissie and Mandi, but if not, do pop over for details and fab. inspiration. The current challenge theme is "Off The Edge". and I used two images from a very old Habico stamp set - Chinese Flowers 2, plus a sentiment from a set by K and Co. The flower petals were painted with Spun Sugar Distress Ink re-inker.

Must say - it's nice to de-clutter for a change!

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS GOES GREEN!

2011-03-13T06:01:00.087Z

Hi lovely Bloggers - hope you are having a relaxing weekend, and some sunshine in your part of the world.

S0 - another Sunday, another Challenge, and at Sentimental Sundays this week we would like you to Go Green - either use the colour green, or recycle something (or both)! As always, there are prizes to be won, and freebie sentiments too. Pop over to SS for all the details and some fab. ideas from the DT.

*******

The challenge immediately brought to mind images of green fields and wild flowers, which is quite a happy coincidence as I bought this Hero Arts "Blooming Meadow" stamp recently (plus a few other things!), when I spent the voucher I won from
The Stamp Man (Thanks so much Jill and the DT).
Recipe:-
White card from Stampin Up.
The beautiful digi sentiment is from Ann Vento at Raindrop Echo Designs, printed directly onto the card.
The flower panel was created by stamping the image twice onto a separate peice of white card, using Versamark Ink, then heat embossing with White powder, which creates a "resist" when inks are applied over the image.

The top edge was roughly torn, then Distress Inks were applied with a Tim Holtz Blending Tool - colours: Peeled Paint, Crushed Olive and Mustard Seed.
The piece was then spritzed with a mixture of water and Green Patina Perfect Pearls (which doesn't show up in the photo)!!
The flowers were wiped over with kitchen tissue to remove excess ink , and the panel was attached to the base card.
******
Linen twine (from SU) was added, and a small butterfly which was created with a Wendy Vecchi butterfly stamp (from "Natures Art" set) stamped with Olive Green Staz-on onto white shrink plastic which had firstly been inked with Spiced Marmalade DI.
After shrinking, and curving it whilst warm (nearly burnt my fingers off), I coloured butterfly edges and some of the spots, with Cadmium Orange Copic then added a teeny bit of Glamour Dust.
I would like to enter the following challenges:-
Meljens Designs - Green,
Update 21st March - my card won 1st prize at Meljens Designs - whoo-hoo!
Sir Stampalot - Spring is in the Air,
Lets Ink It Up - Embossing.
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Did I hear someone snoring"?? Well, it was a bit of a loooong Post today - sorry!!
Love to all, and have a happy week ~

GUEST DESIGNER AT PHINDY'S PLACE!

2011-03-04T11:00:00.028Z

Hi peeps - hope you are all having a great week.

I am so happy to be sharing this card with you today - I won a Guest Design Team spot at Phindy's Place when my entry for the recent Distress challenge was chosen as Card of the Month, and was later chosen as overall winner of the month, with a prize of a Guest Designer spot in March.

So, I chose to use this adorable image, "Little Squirt", from Phindy's shop - don't you agree, he is just soooo cute!!

The theme of the challenge this week is Oh Baby!, which could be a new arrival, a 1st Birthday, etc., - if you are looking for the perfect baby/small child image, do pop over to Phindy's shop (see link above). Check out the new "Wee Babbies" range too - they're adorable!

*****

Card recipe:

Image coloured with Copics.

Sky created with a "mask"of roughly torn paper, a piece of Cut'n Dry foam, and Versacolour Sky Blue ink.

The image is die cut with Nesties Labels #1.

Blue cardstock - Stampin Up.

Patterned papers - Nitwit Big Top collection, distressed and machine stitched.

Sentiment - my own (computer generated).

Two buttons and white Ric-Rac to finish!

*****

I would like to enter my card into the challenge at Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes + the option of Something Old (the blue button is VERY old)!

*****

Have a fabulous weekend - love to all ~

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS - ANYTHING GOES!

2011-02-27T06:01:00.027Z

Update - 3rd March! This Gracious Lady is the Winner of the Fashion Challenge at MAWTT - thanks ladies, and whoo-hoo!!

Hi there lovely bloggers - hope you are well, and enjoying the weekend.

Thanks to everyone who joined us at the last Sentimental Sundays challenge - this week we have an easy-peasy challenge - "Anything Goes", (plus a sentiment), so lots of scope for everyone.

As usual, there will be prizes for the winners, and some more beautiful freebie sentiments for you to grab.

*********

As we can make whatever we like, I decided to use some of my favourite things, as follows:-

Gracious Lady stamp from Hero Arts

Cream and black papers from SU (Love Letter)

Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die

Sentiment and "Paris" stamps from the

"French Mail" set by Crafty Secrets.

******

The image was stamped onto acetate, and onto cream cardstock behind the acetate, to give the image more depth.

Gilding flakes (copper, gold and silver) were adhered on the reverse of the acetate.

Paper edges distressed with scissors and Antique Linen DI.

Flower edges inked with black, petals spritzed with Tiger Lily Glimmer Mist, and a metal button with twine added to the centre.

Machine stitching and brads to finish.

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I would like to enter my card into the Fashion challenge at MAWTT

and the Stripes challenge at Creative Inspirations

******

So peeps, I look forward to seeing your beautiful creations ~ Love to all .......

THE FABULOUS TIM HOLTZ........

2011-02-21T17:56:00.001Z

Hi peeps - hope you are all happy and well.

Just a short(ish) post today, firstly to apologise for not visiting my lovely friends and followers as often as I would have liked, over the past couple of weeks. I will get back to normal in a day or two (please forgive me)!

Thought it best to visit GP today and was prescribed antibiotics - apparently there is a secondary chest infection on top of the original flu bug. However, there's always a glittery lining to every cloud - I've shed half a stone in weight in the last couple of weeks!!

Anyway - enough of that - on to the second bit of my Post - the Tim Holtz class last Thursday - whoo-hoo!!

The class was fantastic (of course). Everyone created a hard backed journal book, full of pockets, tags, fab. Tim Holtz papers, products I had never used before such a Kraft Resist, Tissue Tape, Facets, plastic Alpha Parts, etc etc etc. The 4 hours were crammed with hints and tips and loads of techniques, and I would not have missed it for the world. The pages require some more detail adding, to finish them off, and I may store some inspirational crafting ideas in the Journal, as a book of reference for the future.

******

Tim is the most amazing guy, with a great sense of humour, and totally approachable. (He even signed my Journal - how cool is that) !!!

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This one may amuse you (or maybe not)!!

I cropped this picture as I was grinning sooooo much (well, who can blame me) - I looked like a manic Cheshire Cat - very scary indeed!! (Does anyone remember the "WOT" cartoon character)??!!!

Have a wonderful week. See you all soon.

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS - RED PINK AND WHITE....

2011-02-13T06:01:00.058Z

Happy Sunday everyone! Thank you for all your good wishes for my recovery from the "bug" - still not totally Ok, but much better than I was. As long as I am fully recovered for next Thursday, I really don't mind - yep, I'm going to a Tim Holtz class at Art from the Heart - Sir Tim is visiting Yorkshire - Yaaaaay!! I am soooo excited - no wonder my tummy is doing cart-wheels!!

****

So, back to the plot - at Sentimental Sundays this week the challenge is to use Red, Pink and White.
Along with the colour challenge, a sentiment is required on your project please.
There are fab. prizes to be won, from Meljen's Designs and Raindrop Echo Designs - click the SS link above to find out more!

Thanks to everyone who entered last week - there were lots of fabulous projects. Hope to see you all again this week!

****
My DT card is a "clean and simple" design, which I thought would be ideal for a couple of stamps I bought recently.
Recipe:-

WHITE cardstock - Stampin Up

RED Cherry Cobbler ink, also from SU
PINK ribbon from stash.
Pink crystal gem in the centre of the flourish.
Flourish stamp from a SU set.
Sentiment stamp - from a KandCo set.

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If you would like to see some really fabulous Clean and Simple designs, pop over to
HERE
Sarita's work is amazing.
******
I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:-
Wednesday Stamper - Expressions of Love,
Incy Wincy - LOVE,
By The Cute and Girly - RED and any other colour.
Have a happy week ~