SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS - INSPIRED BY SONG - I AM BEAUTIFUL (no matter what they say)!!

Hi peeps - how are you all? Warm and cosy I hope.

This is NOT a Christmas card (hurrah I hear you say!) -    it's this weeks DT card for Sentimental Sundays and there's a great theme for the Challenge ~ "Inspired By Song" (plus a sentiment), and this is my take on the Christina Aguilera song "BEAUTIFUL". Would you believe it - this song choice was my hubby's idea!!

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There were lots of fabulous entries again last week - thanks to everyone who took part, and we look forward to seeing what you come up with for this week's fantastic challenge. For full details, FREEBIE SENTIMENTS, and some great DT inspiration, just click the link above to take you there!

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My card recipe:-

A beautiful digi image from the oh-so-talented  Mo Manning

Ann Vento Sentiment (part of a fab. set) - can be found here

Image coloured with Copics - background coloured with

blue craft chalk, applied with a cotton-wool ball.

Edges inked with Broken China DI, and Versafine Vintage Sepia.

Papers - Stampin UP

Corner punch - Anna Griffin

Ribbon, eyelets and Glamour Dust - from stash.

I would like to enter this into

Challenge 62 at Mo's - Fantasies and Fairies.

(I think this Prima Ballerina in her fab. tutu might be a fantasy for some of us)!! and also at

Allsorts 

~ Free and Easy ~ Anything Goes.

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Have a wonderful, stress-free, "pre-Christmas" week.

Love to all who visit -  

FIRST DT CARD FOR OSAAT! - HOLIDAY CHALLENGE!!

Wow - only two weeks to wait now for Santa's arrival, and here I am with my first DT card for OSAAT!

This is quite a loooong Post, so please pull up a chair and grab a cuppa!

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OK everyone - to get you in the holiday spirit, Stitchy and the DT at OSAAT have come up with a fab. challenge for the festive Holidays, starting  December 12th, ending January 9th, and the winner will receive a £10 voucher to spend here -
 http://www.onestopcardcrafts.co.uk/ 

The theme is "Anything Goes - Surprise Surprise Us", so there's lots of scope, and it doesn't necessarily have to be a card, so you can be as creative as you like!   

ALSO - as well as the above prize, we are spoiling you with a few other Surprise Prizes, so please play along with our quiz too!! 

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Fabulous new digi stamps can be found over at

Stitchy Bear Stamps - with FREEBIES when you spend $10 or more, so pop over and take a peek!

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Did you know, that for the LITTLE ONES, there is a

Stitchy Bear Kids too, HERE 
How fantastic is that!

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Look forward to seeing all your wonderful creations.

For further details, please click the links above.
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My DT card is a centre step design, with the fab. "Holly" digi image by the very talented Claire .  Her beautiful digis are available from Stitchy Bear Stamps, where you will also find a huge selection from other talented designers too (see link above).
Recipe:
Red cardstock - Bazzill
Holly BP - Bo Bunny
Image coloured with Copics, edged with Peeled Paint DI
MS border punch
Sentiment - computer generated
Red gems - Papermania Shimmer Dots
Glitter - Stampin Up Dazzling Diamonds.
I would also like to enter the following challenges:-
The Stamp Man - Christmas - 3 colours,
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes,
Crafty Ann - Christmas, and
Paper Cupcakes - Christmas card with traditional Red and Green.

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Thanks for popping by today. Do join in the fun - we look forward to seeing you!  Love to all ........ 

                         

HERE IS A CARD I DIDN'T MAKE!!

Just a short post, to share these photos of my FIL's 100th birthday celebration last Saturday. I had never seen a 100th card from Her Majesty before, and probably not a lot of people have, so thought you might like to see one!! (Don't think it's handmade though)!!

Below is the front of the card!

The huge yummy cake was made by the lovely Lisa - we met in blogland a few months ago, and surprise surprise, she lives not very far from me! Pop over  to her beautiful Blog and leave her some lurve!

And last but by no means least - here is my FIL, enjoying his party! Not bad for 100 and he's still going strong (in fact his memory is better than mine)!!!

Hugs to everyone - Sylvia xxxx

CHALLENGE 32 AT SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS - ANNIVERSARY!

Hi peeps -hope you are all having a fab. weekend - we celebrated my FIL's 100th Birthday yesterday - YES - 100 - how amazing is that! (More about that later)!! 

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Onto this week's Sentimental Sundays challenge where the theme is "Anniversary" - pop over for full details, and grab some fab. freeby sentiments too! Look forward to seeing more of your beautiful creations this week!

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I would like to enter my card into the challenge at Mo's Digital Challenges - Glitz and Glimmer (I think it just about fits the bill)! and Moving Along With The Times - "For Someone Special".

My Card Recipe:- I have used a beautiful Mo Manning image, coloured with Copics, and I decided to go for a "Joy Fold" card design ("Duet" card seems more suitable - wonder why it's called "Joy")? I love this card shape, but it's not very easy to photograph.  The base card is from SU.   Grey and white swirls paper from Rayher - Classic Collection.

Border punch - MS Doily Lace. 

Sentiment -  computer generated, cut out with a SU punch.

The inside sentiment (photo.below) which has been die-cut with a Nestie oval, is from the talented Ann Vento, (Raindrop Echo Designs), and fits in with the theme perfectly.
Edges inked with Tattered Rose DI.

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Love and good wishes to everyone who visits ~
Hugs, Sylvia xxx

hAnglar and stAnglar - Christmas Love!

Dec. 11th - Update! My card came 2nd in the Sarah Hurley masking challenge Whoo-hoo! 
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Hi Peeps - I think it's safe to say that almost all of the UK is covered in white fluffy stuff today - looks fabulous doesn't it!

This is just a short post, to share a card before I settle in to my armchair to watch Strictly!

I am entering this into A Spoonful of Sugar - Anything Goes,

and Sarah Hurley - Masking.

I managed to find a gorgeous hAnglar and stAnglar Christmas stamp set on e-bay (with the help of a tip-off from a blogging friend - thanks Larissa)!!

The cute little girl has been "masked" onto the basket of cookies and hearts, which is also part of the set.

Recipe:

Image coloured with Copics and watercolour pencil.

Edges inked with Antique Linen and Weathered Wood Distress inks.

Pale creamy pink base card from SU.

Grey/green layer - Co'ordinations.

Red ribbon from stash.

Machine stitching around the layers.

Glitter - SU.

Christmas sentiment - Pink Petticoat.

Die Cut heart - Cuttlebug.

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Thanks for looking - Keep warm - love to everyone who visits ......

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS CHALLENGE No. 30 - THANKS/THANKSGIVING.

Update - 1st December - My card won 1st prize

in the Sarah Hurley Embossing Challenge. Whoo-hoo!!

Hi peeps - I can hardly believe that two weeks have passed by since my first DT challenge at Sentimental Sundays. There were some amazing entries for the last two challenges - thanks to everyone for joining in the fun!   A new feature of the SS challenges is to have a "Random Winner" and the "Top 3" - If you would like to see who the lucky entrants were last week, just click the link above.  Details of the challenge, plus some fabulous DT inspiration, and fab. FREEBIES can also be found there!  

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This week's challenge theme is THOROUGHLY THANKFUL, (Thanks or Thanksgiving), and your project should include a sentiment.
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Thanksgiving day this year is November 25th - so Happy Holidays to all our blogging friends who celebrate this joyous occasion.

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So - onto my DT card, which is "clean and simple", for a change!! (The card is pale ivory, but looks blue in the photo - does anyone have any tips for photographing cream (and white) card please??!!!
I am entering my card into this week's challenge at
Sarah Hurley - Embossing, and
Stamp Something - Something With Thanks.
The sentiment is a Hero Arts stamp. If it's a digi sentiment you are searching for, or a custom-made stamp, please take a look at Raindrop Echo Designs (Ann Vento). Her designs are fabulous.

So - back to the card, and here is the Recipe (are you still with me? - Oh, good!!)

Base card - SU Very Vanilla

Bird and branches - SU Two-step Bird Punch

Embossing - CB Swiss Dots Folder

Ink - Versacolour Sky Blue.
Ivory ribbon from stash.

My SU products were bought
HERE

Have a wonderful weekend, and please pop back soon!

OOOOH - IT'S NEARLY CHRISTMAS, AND A LITTLE BIT OF NEWS !!

Update 20th Nov. - Wow - my card has made it to the Top 5 at "Stamp Something! 

Thank you so much!

 Hi peeps! Hope you are having a great week, and  managing to keep warm.
Firstly, I have a little bit of exciting news which I would like to share - I have been invited by Liz, co-ordinator at OSAAT to join the DT as from December 12th - Whoo-hoo!! Can't wait to work with the talented DT and digi designers - hope to see you there with your beautiful creations!
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Have you made all your Xmas cards yet?  No, neither have I .  Anyway, here's one to go into the "collection" (I use the term loosely of course)! and I am entering it into the following challenges:-

Sir Stampalot - Christmas Traditions.

The Stamp Man - Anything Goes - Christmas.

Bah-Humbug - Reindeer
(there is a teeny-weeny Reindeer on there)!

Stamp Something - Digi Day.

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Recipe:-

Gorgeous digi image - "Timmy's Stocking" from the talented Mo Manning

Whisper White cardstock and stamped sentiment from Stampin Up.

Patterned papers - MME and Papermania.

The tiny Wish List was cut out (ouch) from a sheet of Bo Bunny Back to Backs.

Image coloured with Copics. 

Fun Flock "fur" on the stocking top plus a sprinking of Glamour dust.

MS border punch.

Red Ribbon.

Machine stitching.

Some distressing has gone on here! - Distress inks (Bundled Sage, Antique Linen and Old Paper) and  scissor-distressing to edges of BP.
 Thanks so much for visiting ~

have a wonderful week. 

FIRST DT CARD FOR SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS!

I am so happy to be sharing my first Sentimental Sundays DT card - hope you like it.

The challenge this week is to work with  a beautiful sketch by DT member, Dorcas. You can use any theme you wish, as long as you add a sentiment too!

If you click on the link above you will find full details, fab.inspiration from the DT, and digi freebies too!  

If you are looking for more digi sentiments, you can find a great selection at Raindrop Echo Designs, at  http://www.whimsystamps.com/ .

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I am also entering this card into the following challenges:-
Crafty Cardmakers - Stitching.  
Crazy4Challenges - A square card

Soooooo - onto the card recipe!!

Blue BP - BG Granola.The stamped border on the left (and on the dark brown strip) is the Very Vintage "Stampin Around" wheel from SU - a new toy and I love it!  The stamped vintage image is Monsieur and Madame from Inkadinkado (an old favourite) inked in Coffee Archival and very lightly coloured with Copics. The Rose panel is a piece of BG Periphery, again with a light touch of Copics B93 on the petals.

Moonlight Glimmer Mist was spritzed over the BP, the main image, and the paper Rose. Difficult to see the glimmer though!  All edges inked with Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks.  Machine stitching and lace to finish, and of course a Sentiment -this one is from a beautiful digi set by Raindrop Echo Designs at Whimsy Stamps.

Look forward to seeing your wonderful creations!

Have a great weekend.........

LILI OF THE VALLEY WEDDING DAY AND A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR!

 Hi beautiful bloggers! At last, a card, and yes - it's another of those gorgeous LOTV

stamped images! The theme of the challenge at LOTV this week is another of Bev's fabulous sketches, which are always a joy to work with, and I am also entering the card into the

challenge at A Spoonfull of Sugar. The challenge this week is to use your die-cut machines, and punches.

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The happy couple have been coloured with Copics and cut out with a Nestie "Labels One" die, inked around the edges with Tattered Rose DI. Frosted Lace Stickles added here and there.

Base card is Bazzill, the lacy BP was bought on

holiday 2 years ago and this is it's first outing (just couldn't bear to use it)!

Border punch is MS Doily Lace, Sentiment from a set by Hero Arts, cut out with a circular Nestie, and layered onto a slightly larger punched circle of pink card. Edges inked with DI.
Loads of pearl gems, cream satin ribbon, and some flowers I made from pink organza ribbon (do they remind you of jelly-fish)?

Thanks for popping by - have a wonderful weekend.

WELL, IT'S SUNDAY, SO LET'S GET SENTIMENTAL !

Hi peeps - and a huge WOW!!

Just popping by to share some wonderful news - the very talented Ann Vento from Sentimental Sundays has asked me join her amazing Design Team, and I can't wait to get started on November 7th!! 

Click the link and you will be magically transported by cyber-flight! 

LILI OF THE VALLEY ON THE GARDEN WALL!

PS: UPDATE - 21st October - The two little cuties above have been awarded a "Top 3" badge from

Lili who lives in the Valley! Thank you so much!

Hi lovely bloggers! Hope you are all well, and getting used to wearing six layers of clothing again (or is it just me who's cold)!

I'm just in time to enter this week's Challenge at

LOTV!  - the theme is a fabulous sketch by Bev.

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I will keep this post (fairly) short and sweet, as it's almost bedtime, which is a bit of a worry as I started making this card at 9.00am this morning and have only just finished it.

The image is LOTV - "On the Garden Wall"

Base card: Core-Dinations.

Papers: Basic Grey, MME, K&Co Brianna.

Sentiment stamp: Penny Black.

Border Punch: MS.

Flower Punches: EK Success Retro.

Leaf Punch: SU Two-Step Bird & Branch. 

Glamour Dust here and there.

Colouring: Mainly Copics, with DI around the edges (Antique Linen and Vintage Photo).

Machine stitching: wonky as usual.

Edges of papers distressed with scissors.

~ Love to everyone who visits ~

MY FIRST EVER HALLOWEEN CARD - AN UPDATE!!

Hi peeps - just popping by to share a little Update on my Halloween card which I posted a few days ago.

I am such a happy bunny, and hope you don't mind me sharing this, but not only did my card win the Challenge at Cowgirl-up Designs, and a Top 3 Badge at Moving Along With the Times, but it  has also been chosen by Holly and the DT as this week's feature in the "Trendsetting Spotlight"

at There She Goes!!!! Do pop over to see what it's all about, and take a peek at the range of beautiful clear stamp designs which are availabe in the store. There is some truly wonderful and inspirational work from the DT ladies too. 

Thanks for popping by - love to all -

and here is the card (again)!!!

AUTUMN LEAVES AND A MESSY WOYWW !!

UPDATE - OCTOBER 31st: My Autumn card has been chosen as one of the TOP THREE at the

Sir Stampalot Challenge! Whey-hey!

and

it made it to the TOP 5 at The Stamp Man!!

Whoo-hoo!!

Hi there lovely Bloggers! The leaves are turning into such beautiful colours, and of course there are some Autumn Challenge projects to be made!

I am entering this card into two Challenges:-

Sir Stampalot Autumn Breezes - Button(s) and Bow(s), and

The Stamp Man "Autumn".

I have used a Side Step template from Get In Shape Templates - cheating I know, but it's so easy to use!!!

The cardstock is from the Basic Grey Granola range, the gorgeous image is Serena from Stampsmith, and the leaves are CB die-cuts, gently curved over a pencil to give a bit of dimension.

Lots of Distress Ink was used, as you will see

in a mo. on my WOYWW below !  Spiced Marmalade and Vintage Photo are the colours. A spritzing of Glimmer Mist was added to the leaves too -  in Pineapple and Tiger Lily.

"Serena", the Penny Black sentiment, and the Crafty Individuals swirls were stamped with Archival Coffee ink.  A little Gold Glamour Dust was sprinkled here and there, and to finish - one heart-shaped button, and 2 tiny ribbons.

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here is the mess on my desk late last night

after playing around with inks and sprays! The sheet  of card on the right is the one I had been working on whilst inking some of the leaves - it's not part of my card!! I'm rather late with my WOYWW so I will probably be near the bottom of the list again, at around No. 1,500 (heaven knows how you get to be first on Julia's list)!!!!

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, click the link above to visit Julia's amazing blog!

Thanks for popping by, and have

a very happy Autumn  day!

MY FIRST EVER HALLOWEEN CARD!

Hi peeps - hope you are having a good week - it's actually sunny this afternoon in West Yorkshire - yay! Think this might be a looooong post so grab a cuppa and pull up a chair!

This is my first ever Halloween card - thought I would join in the fun this year and do something scary!!

Actually, this fab little digi witch is quite sweet really,

apart from that slime green cake covered in cobwebs,

and that very suspect little shopping bag from Harvey Nicks, full of bats, dripping blood and goodness knows what else.

This was one of several fab. digi images from Tiddly Inks, which I won in Larissa'srecent Blog Candy draw. You might like to pop over and leave Larissa some lurve, and then pop into the Tiddly Inks shop - if so, just click the links above.

Soooooooooooo - onto my card,, which I am entering

into 5 Challenges:-

Sentimental Sundays :- Autumn or Fall

There She Goes :- Purple, Orange and Lime

Cowgirl-up Designs!:-Anything Goes!

By The Cute and Girly :- Spooky!

Moving Along With The Times :- Fairies or Fantasy.

The cardstock is purple Bazzill lined with black.

Black cobweb lace and orange ribbon bought from the new Boyes store in Ilkley - love that shop!

Image coloured mainly with Copics, plus Dusty Concord DI for shading on the dress and Weathered Wood DI around the edges of the piece.

Corner cobweb drawn freehand with fine pen.

Black stitching done on my sewing machine.

The Halloween Ticket Sentiment is from a set by Ann Vento at http://whimsystamps.com/.  Ann's designs are

fabulous and are well worth checking out.

Orange stickles, Glamour Dust, and some black beads from a very old necklace, to finish.

Phew - hope I have remembered to mention everyone involved in this production!

Lots of love to all who visit -

BASIC GREY CHALLENGE, AND WOYWW!

Hi lovely Bloggers - came home from holiday yesterday, and couldn't wait to get back to my blogging. I will try and visit everyone ASAP, once the washing and ironing is done (on second thoughts - bubbles to the washing and ironing)!!

I started this card before I went away but didn't have time to finish it, so I am just in the nick of time for the fortnightly Basic Grey Challenge which ends on October 1st. The fabulous sketch we had to work with is by Tara G, and the BG papers I used are from the Granola range and were a RAK from my crafting buddie Nicola - thanks Nicola!! I have also been longing to use these Lavinia stamps which I bought at the Harrogate Extravaganza a couple of weeks ago. Love Tracey's delicate designs - her work can be seen in the November issue of Craft Stamper, and the stamps can be bought at http://laviniastamps.com/ 

The inks used are Weathered Wood DI, and Night of Navy from Stampin UP, with some  Peach Pastel Color Box Chalk Ink around the main image. White glitter has been added, and some machine stitching (please don't look at the wonky bits). The base card is  Blind Date Bazzill Bling, used with the reverse side showing as I wanted a "flat" colour rather than a shiny one. Nestie circles for the image, and cream lace from stash. 

 

And here is my workdesk today (a bit late in posting) for WOYWW - you can just see a sneeky peek of my card for the BG Challenge in the bottom corner, and my li'l old sewing machine on the left. The trimmer is a new X-cut Super Trimmer and I absolutely love it. You can just see my ribbon holder in the background, which was a fab idea from another WOYWW-er, and I am sorry to say I cannot  recall the name of the lovely lady whose idea it was, so if you're out there, please let me know! The holder is actually a kitchen paper towel stand, and I found this one at Boyes - it's chrome and cost 99p - I love a bargain!!!! It holds a dozen or more rolls of ribbon as long as the central holes are large enough to pop onto the stand.

If you would like to know more about the phenomenon that is WOYWW - visit Julia's blog by clicking the link above.

Thanks for visiting - have a great week/weekend!

BAH! HUMBUG CHRISTMAS TEXT!

Hi Peeps - hope you have had a great weekend!

As I'm going away on my jollies in a couple of days,

I thought I'd better get something posted before I go as I've been a bit behind with things this last week or two. 

Thanks to the lovely ladies at Bah! Humbug for the current Challenge - the main focal point on your Christmas card must be TEXT, and I just happened to have this card which I made recently, when trying out a Square K Card Template from WS Designs, (which I have had for ages), and hey-presto - the

main focal point is TEXT - yay!!  The fabulous Holly paper is from Anna Griffin - a few last scraps which I had been clinging onto, as sadly they don't make it any more. The gold heat-embossed Text stamp is from Papermania/Anita's (again an old favourite).

This WS template (designed by Kay Carley) is really easy to work with - not very easy to photograph the finished results though! 

The inside layer is a concertina shape, and the greeting square pops out of the aperture when the card is opened, but lays flat when closed!

Soooo - one less Xmas card to make! Hope you like it!

WOYWW ! (NEW STASH)!!

Hope you are all well Peeps. 
I am aiming to be first on the list of Julia's WOYWW this week, instead of leaving it until WOYWThursday before linking my Post!  No particular reason for this - I would just love to be first at something!!
If you want to know more about the fabulous WOYWW -
click the link above and leave Julia some love!

Anyhow, there's nothing much going on in the way of work on my "work"desk as I am feeling rather grotty - (probably just the start of a cold - sniff). Sooooo, as I  am just sat here trying to get motivated, and stroking the stash I bought at the Harrogate Craft Extravaganza on Saturday, I thought I may as well take a piccie.

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How come, that such a small amount of stash

cost  such a large amount of cash?

BLOG CANDY TO CELEBRATE 100 FOLLOWERS!

CANDY NOW CLOSED!
The lucky winner was Nicola of Nicola's Creations, and the Candy is now on it's way to her in sunny Spain! Many thanks to all the lovely followers who took part!