A SUNNY DAY AT ATCAS!

Hello friends and followers - I hope Mr Blogger has been good today, and uploaded this scheduled Post.  If not, you won't be reading it!
I will be on holiday when this goes out on the 21st - (a "Big 0"birthday gift from Hubby) !

So peeps - it's time for more fun at ATCAS, and our uber-talented Teamie, Loll, is your Hostess this fortnight - here is the Code Word she has chosen for you ....

I used the Tim Holtz "Rays" stencil for My DT card - inked with

Distress inks - Mustard Seed and Wild Honey.

The white linen cardstock is from Craft Creations and the blue layer is Bazzil card - name of colour unknown.

Sentiment - computer generated, with a stamped exclamation mark (part of an old birthday stamp).

Once again, our generous Sponsor, Bugaboo Digi Stamps, is offering
7 fabulous digis for our CAS Perfectionist.

Hope you will join in the fun in the sun - see you soon!

Hugs, 

FLOWERS AND DREAMS!

Hi peeps - thank you for visiting!

Just popping by to share a card, using a beautiful dreamy stamp I bought from Blade Rubber when 

I met up with the ATCAS girls in London a few weeks ago. 

The square trellis die is Boudoir by Tonic, cut from SU Crumb Cake cardstock.

The background is SU Soft Sky card, layered onto a Crumb Cake base card .

The stamp is Judikins "Leda", stamped with SU Crumb Cake ink, cut out with a

Spellbinders circle die, edges inked with Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass & Vintage Photo.

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Dies used - 

For the flower - Tim Holtz Tattered Florals and Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms. LOTV patterned paper for the base layer, over-stamped with SU "Music Notes" Stampin' Around Wheel.

Swirls and small flower sprays - a mixture of Memory Box  Geneva Vine and Whimsical Flourish.

Sentiment - Lili of the Valley Vintage Sentiments set. Distressed with DI, as above.

I am linking up to the following challenges - 

Rhedd and Rosie - Back in Time, Vintage Style

Vintage Stamping Challenges - Summer Blooms

Krafty Hands - Floral Fancy

Happy Crafting my friends - I will be away for a few days in June - missing you already!
Hugs,

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.

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

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

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

Happy Crafting!

CIRCLES AT ADDICTED TO CAS!

Hi there lovely bloggers - thanks so much for visiting!
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At Addicted to CAS, we have a another super challenge for you! 

 The Code Word, chosen by my lovely Teamie Marie,  is CIRCLE(S)!  

Lots of scope with this one! Do pop over to the blog to see what the talented DT have been creating!  
Our Sponsor this fortnight is Paper Makeup Stamps. They are offering a prize of a $15 voucher towards a digi purchase in their store.

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My Card Recipe:-

Dotty circle stamp - Artemio.

Inks - Tattered Rose DI, and Celadon VersaColour.

Sequin waste used as a stencil for the small inky circles.

Linen Thread - SU.

Poppy die - Cuttlebug.

Top layer of flower petals - smallest die from Tim Holtz Tattered Florals. 

Sentiment - Hero Arts, inked with Memento London Fog.

Buttons from stash.

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Happy Crafting ~

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. 
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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 ~

HAPPY INKY CHRISTMAS!

Hi lovely bloggers friends and followers - hope you are all having a happy day?

Just popped by to share a card which I have made for the Xmas Card Swap at the Chocolate Baroque Online Community Group. 

I thought you might like to see it and here it is ~

The Chocolate Baroque stamp  is from the Christmas Flourish set - one of my all-time favourites.

The image was stamped onto white card with Versamark ink and heat embossed with white emb. powder.

Several shades of blue Distress Inks were applied over the image with a TH Inkssentials applicator. 

Sentiment - "Christmas" from HOTP,  "Wishes" from Layers of Color.

A mixture of water with a tiny amount of household bleach was spritzed over the ink to give a snowy effect.

A sprinkling of Glamour Dust added here and there to the Holly leaves.

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I would like to enter the following challenges ~
Christmas at Sweet Stampin Challenge - "Christmas Anything Goes"
Try It On Tuesday - "Lets Get Inky"
My Craft Spot - "Merry Christmas"
Victorine Originals - "Blue and White"
The Stamp Man - "In The Bleak Midwinter"

Love and Hugs,

PUNCHES AND DIES AT IN THE PINK !

Hello lovely bloggers, followers and friends - I hope you are all having a happy week.

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For all those lovers of Pink, it's In The Pink challenge time again, and we would like you to use PUNCHES AND/OR DIES on your project, (plus lots of PINK of course), and it doesn't have to be Clean and Simple this time, so you have no excuse for not joining in the fun!  Do pop over to ITP to find out who the CAS Perfect Pinkies are!

~

Must admit - I went a bit overboard with the amount of dies and punches used!

Dies used:-

Memory Box Madera Corner

Tim Holtz Tattered Florals

Sizzix Ornate Frame and Ovals

Nestabilities  Fancy Tags 2

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Punches Used:-

Anna Griffin Butterfly

Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace

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Papers: -  Craft Creations

Sentiments:-  HOTP and Anna Griffin

Ink:-  Memento London Fog

Finished off with Machine Stitching, Pin Pricking and a little Glamour Dust.

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I'm so looking forward to seeing all your beautiful creations!

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I would like to enter my card into the Penny Black and Allsorts challenge - 
Any Die Will Do!

~Happy Crafting~

DOES ANYONE HAVE A CRIMPER?!!

Good morning peeps - hope you are well and enjoying the Olympics?
   
The amazing photo Steph has chosen for us at this fortnight's  For Your Inspiration Challenge,  is a night-time view of  Cologne Cathedral  -love the turquoise  and gold!

and here is my take on the photo - a very clean and simple design, inspired by the architecture and the colours.

Recipe:

Cream cardstock.

My Minds Eye, Stella Rose spotty papers.

A paper Crimper was used on the ovals to replicate the lines on the bridge.

 It's the first time I've used this crafting tool for years!  What ancient craft tool have YOU got hidden away, unloved and unused? I would love to know!

I used  two sizes of Nestie Ovals, and the Lacy Squares die.

Corner rounder punch.

The banner was cut by hand, sentiment an old favourite from Hero Arts.

Tim Holtz brads and Distress Inks to finish.

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 Have a great weekend - 

Love and Hugs  ~

FOR YOUR INSPIRATION - WOW!

Hi there my lovely blogging friends - I hope you are all having a happy week.

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This is my second Post in two days - (otherwise known as something of a miracle in my crafty world)!!

This fortnight at FYI we have another amazing picture for you to work with - you can interpret it in any way you desire - I have taken inspiration from the rich shades of blue, orange and green. My "Recipe" is further down the page.

We also have an amazingly generous Sponsor this fortnight - Bugaboo Digi Stamps who are giving SEVEN digis to the challenge winner.  

The Design Team have also been offered some of their fabulous images to work with - do pop over to FYI to see what the talented DT have created.

  I chose the beautiful "Love Conquers All" image from the Silhouette "love blocks" range. 

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 Recipe ~
Black base card, 6" x 6".
White cardstock brayered with Kaleidacolor "Creole Spice" ink pad, then machine-stitched to the base card.
The Bugaboo digi was printed onto a separate piece of white cardstock, and lightly brayered with the same ink pad.  Butterflies coloured with Copics.
Corners were rounded with an X-cut punch, and a sprinkling of Glamour Dust added to the butterfly trail. The Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes die was used for the black diecut swirl, before attaching the panel to the card with 3-d foam pads.
A butterfly was cut out from a second print-out of the image, coloured with Copics and attached to the card.
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And here is the stunning inspiration photo:-

I would like to enter the following Challenges ~
Come And Get It - Flowers and Butterflies.
Stampin Sisters In Christ - Elements of Heaven.
Update - 12th June - My card won a Shining Star Top 3 badge from Stampin Sisters in Christ. 
Thank you ladies!

Lots of love ~

STORMY SKY AT FYI !

Good morning lovely crafters - thank you so much for popping by. 
Here's wishing you all a very Happy Easter, no matter what the weather is like!

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It's time for another challenge at FOR YOUR INSPIRATION and as this is our first
challenge of the month, there will be a prize for the winner. Our generous sponsor is Regina , the owner of The Cutting Cafe - she is offering 3 digi stamp sets of the winner's choice. 



As always, we have a picture inspiration for you to work with.

Here is this week's beautiful and atmospheric photo -  you can interpret it in any way your heart desires, so please get thinking and inking - can't wait to see what you create!

.......... and here is my interpretation .............

Recipe:-

Backing paper - SU Beau Chateau collection.

Machine stitching.

Layers - SU Night of Navy, and Not Quite Navy.

Lighthouse digi image from Sweet 'n Sassy.

Distress Inks used - Weathered Wood, Faded Jeans, Wild Honey.

Swirl - Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes

Sentiment - The Cutting Cafe.

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I am entering my card into the following Challenges:-
Paper Pretties- Monochromatic.
Crazy4Challenges- Blue, White and one other colour.
Digi Doodles- Something New (Lighthouse image).
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Lots of love to all ~

WISHING YOU A STEAMPUNK NEW YEAR!

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 ~

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

Hello peeps! Hope you are having a fabulous week. 

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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.
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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.
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So lovely bloggers - start thinking about FRAMES (whatever your interpretation of that might be), and join in the fun!
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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.  

YOUR FAVOURITE THINGS AT MAWTT !

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!!
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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.
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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!
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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 ~

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

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.)!

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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!

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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.

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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 ~ 

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS GOES GREEN!

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.

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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.
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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 ~