JUST BECAUSE!

Hi lovely crafters - hope you are having a very happy week!  

It seems ages since I made a card "just because", or entered any challenges, so here goes!

Stamps -

Indigo Blu "Miss Austen"

Crafty Secrets "French Mail"

Crafty Individuals "Fancy Script"
Images and white linen cardstock inked with

Weathered Wood DI, Ranger Jet Black Archival, and

Memento London Fog.

*******
Stampin' Up Framelits Ovals die.
Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes die.

Tim Holtz Idea-ology metal Keyhole, coloured with
 Gesso and Weathered Wood ink.
****
I would like to enter the following challenges ~

A Vintage Journey - A Little Bit French.
Alphabet Challenges - D for Die Cuts. 

Happy Crafting!

VINTAGE SEW-N-SEW!

Hi lovely friends and bloggers - I hope you are well, and enjoying warm weather wherever you are.

I have been stamping and inking today, to create a card for the

Sew-n-Sew challenge at Fashionable Stamping.

Stamps used:-

Crafty Individuals sewing sets - CI-328 and 322.

Indigo Blu crackle background. 

A beautiful stamp from the Flonzcraft Gibson Girl Collection, which was my fabulous winner's prize from Fashionable Stamping in the June "Tag Time" challenge. I cut out the stamped image, added some lace and attached her with silicone glue to add dimension.

***
Other items:-
A small brass oval frame, coloured with Gesso and DI.
The "reflection" in the mirror was created by inking the stamp and rolling a brayer over the inked image, then transferring it onto a piece of card.  Image softly coloured with Copics and trimmed to fit the frame. 
***
Copics to colour the main image.
Distress inks and Archival Coffee.
Machine stitching.
Buttons and cotton thread.
Spellbinder's Fancy Tags Two.
Brown lace from stash.
Cardstock - SU Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip.
****
I would also like to enter the Vintage (or Old) challenge at 
Simply Create Too.

A warm welcome to my latest followers - Michal, Chris, and a mysterious lady who is sitting out the back - would love to know who you are so I can pop over and leave you a comment!
Love and Hugs ~

MAIL TIME AT FASHIONABLE STAMPING!

Hi peeps - hope you are well, and enjoying the hot UK weather. 

This is a short post tonight - I have just made it in time for the 

 current challenge at Fashionable Stamping.  

The theme is "Mail Time", so anything to do with post cards, stamps etc.  

I would have posted this earlier, but Hubby and I have been to see the musical "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" this evening at the Leeds Grand Theatre, starring Jason Donovan. Fantastic music, costumes and cast - absolutely brilliant!

Recipe:-

Crafty Individuals postcard stamp.

Sweet Moments sentiment - Stampin' Up.

With Love - Papermania Chatsworth stamp set.

Crafty Secrets "French Mail" stamp set.

Base card - Stampin' Up Pool Party.

Distress Inks - Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo.
Archival Coffee ink.

Flowers coloured with Copics. 

Spellbinders die - Fleur de Lis Squares.

Definition of "Mail" torn from my very old school dictionary.
Edges distressed with scissors. 
*****
I would also like to enter the Craftroom Challenge - "Vintage Stamping".

Thanks for popping by ~ Have a happy weekend ~ 
Hugs, 

IT COULD BE A BIRD, IT COULD BE A PLANE, AT ATCAS!

Hello peeps - it's time for another fabulous challenge at Addicted to Clean and Simple, and the code word this time has been chosen by the lovely Karen. The Code Word is ................

Lots of scope with this one - can't wait to see what you lovely crafters come up with! 
(Please note - this challenge is open for ONE WEEK, rather than the usual two).

**************
For my DT card I have used one of the fabulous images which our Sponsor generously gave us to work with. The image is so beautifully shaded, all it requires is a little colour. 
I used Distress Inks, layered it onto black cardstock, added a few tiny birdies in flight (a Crafty Individuals stamp), created a sentiment on the 'puter, and made the banner. 

Our generous sponsor is Delicious Doodles  who are offering 4 digi images for the winner. Just click the link above, to take you over there for a peek at their awesome images.

Have a happy week - Hugs,

A TEENAGER AT ADDICTED TO CAS!!

Hi there lovely bloggers, friends and followers - I hope this scheduled Post has appeared on my Blog, as I am away on holiday for a few days.
Fingers crossed that the weather is good, and the wine even better!
Get to the point Sylvia - OK -  I am here to share my card for this fortnight's challenge at Addicted To CAS! 

The Code Word has been chosen by the lovely Vicki, 
and the codeword is......... 

I have used the Bugaboo circle digi image - "You Rock" which is perfect for a teenager. My two teenage Grandsons have birthdays quite soon, so this card will come in very useful!!

The 3 banner strips are SU Real Red and Basic Black cardstock - torn at one end, cut with scissors at the other.

Music notes - Crafty Individuals stamp "Singing Merrily", which I masked in parts.

Splodge stamp - La Blanche (possibly discontinued now).

Circle digi cut out with a Nestie die - stars and guitar coloured with Copics and Black Sakura Gel Pen.

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

Our amazing sponsor is Bugaboo Digi Stamps, and they are
generously offering 7 digis of your own choice from their store!



Look forward to seeing you soon - 
Big Hugs, 

TAG TIME at Fashionable Stamping

Thanks for popping over here lovely bloggers  - I hope you are all enjoying sunshine wherever you are. It's been glorious weather for the last few days here in West Yorkshire, and I had to kick myself up the proverbial  to come indoors and join in with the Fashionable Stamping girls, but I really wanted to take part in their Tag Time challenge!  I don't often do tags - I find the small space a challenge in itself, but I do love trying something out of my comfort zone now and again!!  Here it is ......................! 

Update - June 22nd - 

My Tag won the fabulous Winner's Prize at Fashionable Stamping!

Recipe:-

"Serena" stamp - Stampsmith.

Penny Black Sentiment

Crafty Individuals vintage text stamp.

Postal stamp - Crafty Secrets. 

Copic Light Pink on tiny flowers.

SU Linen thread. 
Black Versafine Ink.

Ribbons, lace and heart charm from stash. 
Charm painted with white acrylic, and the white lace was coloured with Distress Ink.

White card, roughly torn then run through a ribbler before colouring with DI inks and white acrylic paint.

Distress inks - Vintage Photo, Antique Linen.

Hand stitching with Linen thread.

The middle layer (with the eyelet) was a fab. clothing tag on a recent purchase of a jacket from Debenhams!!! Inked it, distressed it, stamped it - Job Done!!

Have a wonderful week - I won't be around for a few days

after Monday - Hubby and I are taking a break! 

Missing you already - Hugs, 

Fashionable Stamping - Red, Black and Brown.

Hi lovely bloggers - sorry I haven't been around for a couple of weeks - a rather nasty chest infection has left me with very little energy, or the inclination to create. The antibiotics have more or less worked their magic now, and it's great to be crafting again.

 My card is for the challenge at Fashionable Stamping. and the talented DT would like us to use Red, Black and Brown - not a combination I have ever used before, but it's good to try something new!

Recipe:-

Stamps - 

New York Diva from Hampton Art,

Postcard, Sentiment, and Background Text from Crafty Individuals.
All stamps inked with Archival Coffee.

Black cardstock and SU Real Red cardstock.

Distress Inks - Antique Linen and Vintage Photo.

Copic Markers

Machine stitching

TH Ideology metal corner

Black lace from stash.
Distressing on Postcard and edges of main image.

Thanks for popping by, and a happy hello to my new followers!

Hubby and I will be setting off somewhere warm in a couple of days, so I

promise to visit my lovely blogging friends when I return. 
*************
Update - 12th March - just returned from holiday to a very 
pleasant surprise - my card is in the Top 3 at Fashionable Stamping -
thank you so much to the DT ladies!

Love to all ~

A HUGE THANK YOU FROM "IN THE PINK"!

Hello Pinkies  and bloggers everywhere - hope your week is  going well ?
  
WOW -  you certainly turned out in your dozens to enter our very first challenge at IN THE PINK!

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, and to those who helped to spread the word on their blog.  Christine and I have been overwhelmed by your support and kind messages.   
Choosing the Perfect Pinkies has been extremely difficult, as there were so many stunning entries.  

You can find out who the Perfect Pinkies are, by clicking the link above!  Details of next fortnight's challenge can laso be found there.  
I hope you will  share more of your  fabulous creations with us - you have two weeks to create something wonderful!   Our theme for this fortnight's Challenge is "THINGS WITH WINGS" (and plenty of PINK!)  and here are my two inspiration projects - (it just had to be fairies for me)! Hope you like them!

(Please click the pics. to see the detail)

The easel card was created with Nestabilities  Circles (Scalloped and Standard).
The gorgeous image is "Talking With The Moon" from A Day for Daisies, coloured with Copics.  
Edges and background inked with DI - Tattered Rose and Spun Sugar.
Lots of glitter on this  one! (SU Dazzling Diamonds).
Sentiment - Crafty Individuals
Pink pearls - Hobby House.
Starry pink paper on the easel base - Kaisercraft.

This is another fabulous image from A Day For Daisies - "Morning Dew Fairy".

Image printed onto watercolour paper then painted with Distress Inks - 

Tattered Rose, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Old Paper, Bundled Sage and Peeled Paint.

Background sponged with Tattered Rose and Spun Sugar.

Other items:-  

Nestabilities Lacy Squares. 

Memory Box Wrought Iron Fence cut from Rose Red SU card.

Base card - Pink Pirouette, also from Stampin' Up.

Hero Arts sentiment.

********

Love to all ~

TIME FOR SUMMER ............

Hello peeps - I'm sure you are all looking forward to some hot Summer weather - I know I am!  But in the meantime,  I am joining in the  Crafty Individuals Challenge - TIME FOR SUMMER. 

You might like to click the pic. to see the detail!
****

Recipe ~

Backing paper from the Crafty Individuals "Book 7" - Shades of Summer.

Stamped images - CI -309, CI- 320, CI- 302, and CI - 234.

Distress Inks used - Weathered Wood, Antique Linen, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Brushed Corduroy.  

Victorian Velvet, Worn Lipstick and Tattered Rose for the flowers.

Other inks used - Coffee Archival and Memento London Fog.

Memory Box die - Wrought Iron Fence.

Machine stitching. 
"Summer" stamp - Layers of Color Art Stamps.

**********

Love to all ~

A WONDERFUL DAY AT WHITBY !

Hi lovely blogging friends - I hope you are enjoying your weekend, whatever you are doing.

*******

I recently had the pleasure of spending a whole day with the oh-so-talented  Jean Hardy  of Crafty Individuals fame, at her craft class which was held in a beautiful cottage in Whitby on the East Yorkshire coast. Crafting doesn't get much better than this - believe me.  

It was a wonderful day, with awesome views across Whitby bay - the sun was shining, the home-made lunch was fantastic (not to mention the wine and the never-ending supply of chocolates!). Malcolm and Kay were there too, of course, and I met some lovely crafters on the day.

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

My "shabby-chic" clock project is pictured below - something quite new for me, but as my regular visitors will know - I do not have a particular "style" - I just love crafting!! 

So here it is (must admit - I didn't finish it at the class - spent too much time talking and eating!), but it is now complete, and all of the  images are Crafty Individuals - either stamps or papers - some of them decoupaged, which doesn't show up very well on the photo.  A few embellishments are from my own stash. 

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

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

The Stamp Man - Shabby Chic.
Anything Goes - Tick Tock Goes the Clock.

Love to all ~

ONE LAYER ONLY, AT LESS IS MORE ....

Hi Lovely bloggers - I hope the weekend has been a good one wherever you may be? 

Are you all joining in this week's LESS IS MORE ONE LAYER, with Script challenge?  Go on - you know you want to!

Here is my offering - I know it looks as if  I am still in last week's  LIM Neutrals mode, but it was quite unintentional, and the base card is actually the most gorgeous shade of pastel greyish green - "River Rock" from Stampin' Up. (Twas my last piece too - sob)! 

Could I get it to look green on my photo? NO!  May try again in the morning.

**********
UPDATE! - Took another pic. this morning with natural daylight in the room -  much better result! (Would love to learn more about photography) !!

Recipe:-

SU River Rock cardstock  

Crackle background stamp from IndigoBlu, "second-stamped" with Versafine Vintage Sepia.

Crafty Individuals script, stamped with Vintage Sepia.

Chocolate Baroque image from the Fantasy Meadow set, inked with Staz-on Timber Brown.

Sentiment from Layers of Color Art Stamps.

**********

Have a very happy week ~ love to all

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

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!!

*****

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.

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

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). 

***

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.
******
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.
***************
A warm welcome to my new followers - Delphine, Teresa, Marie  and Terry.

Love to all ~

CHRISTMAS COLLAGE

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!

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

 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)

********

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

**********

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 ~ 

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

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!
*****
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!

*********

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!!!

**********

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)!

*********

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

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

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!

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.

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

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

FEELING BLUE AT LESS IS MORE!

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 ~