FANTASTIC FOLLOWERS ~

Sunday, 13 March 2011

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 ~

Friday, 4 March 2011

GUEST DESIGNER AT PHINDY'S PLACE!

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!
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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!
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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)!
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Have a fabulous weekend - love to all ~

Sunday, 27 February 2011

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS - ANYTHING GOES!

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

Monday, 21 February 2011

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


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. 
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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. 

Sunday, 13 February 2011

SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS - RED PINK AND WHITE....

  

 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!!
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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!
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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. 
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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 ~

Wednesday, 9 February 2011

GRANDDAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY CARD - PHINDY'S FLOWER TOP FAIRY!

Wow - an update! This gorgeous Fairy from Phindy's Place won "Card of the Week" in the Embossing Challenge.
Thank you!
Hi lovely friends and bloggers - hope you are having a good week, wherever you are. I have caught some kind of bug, but I was determined to post my card before having an early night. 
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My middle Granddaughter, Jemima,  will be 8 in a couple of weeks - she loves pink, purple and fairies, so this wonderful image from Phindy's Place is just perfect. I am entering this week's Challenge at Phindy's - Embossing (dry or heat).
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I have embossed deep purple Bazzill card, using my
Eazi-Score Board and an embossing tool, to create the diagonal squares design. Pink gems have been added to the cross sections, and Phindy's Flower Top Fairy Rose has been coloured with Copics, cut out with a circle Nestie, leaving the wing-tips overlapping the circle (not as easy as I thought it would be)!!. 
SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the wings, and some flower lace around the edge.
I will, of course, personalise the card before giving it to my Granddaughter.
Thank you for popping by - Love to all who visit (hope you don't catch the lurgy)! ~

Sunday, 30 January 2011

OSAAT CHALLENGE - DT PROJECT

Yes - two posts in one day again, but things will be back to normal very soon!!
The challenge at OSAAT this week is "Inspiration from a photo":-
and I chose this beautiful "Lady Klimt" image of Claire's (Hope Jacare), which is available to purchase from Stitchy Bear Stamps. 
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I printed the image onto white card and coloured the background with Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed Distress Inks, swirled on with a shaving brush (AKA an Ink Duster!) 
The image is coloured here and there with Copics, and mounted onto black card.
I used Yellow Bazzill cardstock and an Anna Griffin template to make the bag.
Added two lengths of satin ribbon - one green, one black, to secure the opening.
The  bag charm was made with punched circles glued back-to-back to create a "sandwich", with a thread through the centre and a couple of beads at the bottom.
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I would like to enter this project into these challenges -  Cute Daisy May - Any shape but square and Everybody Art - A Bag or A Box.
Thanks for visiting - have a fabulous Sunday.

Thursday, 27 January 2011


Wow peeps - you've just got to pop over to
Lovin Ink. There are TWO (yes two) free places up for grabs at the Lovin Ink Retreat at Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire, 26 - 28 March. Full details of how to enter can be found by clicking the link above - so what are you waiting for?!!!  Good luck (I've got my fingers and toes crossed)!!
See the fab. candy on offer too!!

Sunday, 16 January 2011

DT CARD FOR SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS - "WINTER"

24th January Update!! My little birdie has been chosen as "The Shabby Tea Room Tea Time Terrific Top Three Winner" - whoo-hoo and tweet tweet!! Thank you so much. 
Hi Peeps - hope you are all having a great weekend ~
This is my DT card for the "Winter" challenge at Sentimental Sundays and I hope you like it.
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Thank you to everyone who entered their fabulous projects into the last Challenge - pop over next week to find out if you are a winner!  More prizes are up for grabs this week,  so get your thinking caps on crafters! Winter is something we have all experienced, so I know you will have lots of amazing ideas. (As always, a sentiment is required on your project). 
PLUS - there are freebie sentiments and DT inspiration if you need it!!
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My DT card recipe:-
Easel card created with Nesties Labels 1.
My favourite SU punch - "Two-step Bird" (love it)! I layered two birds to give dimension.
Distress inks to lightly colour the Robin - Antique Linen, Tattered Rose and Spiced Marmalade with a light touch of Antique Linen on the larger Nestie.
A huge amount of Glamour dust (did I go over the top)?
Flowers - EK Success Retro Flower punches.
Swiss Dots CB embossing folder.
Pearl sprays and pearl gems.
Sentiment - my own (computer generated).
I would like to enter the following challenges:
 Sir Stampalot - A Winter's Tale, 
 Crafty Cardmakers - Use Red and a Die Cut.
The Shabby Tearoom - White and Bright.

DT CARD FOR OSAAT - NEW BEGINNINGS!

Hi peeps, here I am again!  Wow - two posts in one day, that's a record for me!!
So - here is my DT card for this week's challenge over at OSAAT. The theme is New Beginnings, which gives you quite a wide range of options - new home, new baby, new job, new love - oooh the list is endless!! Can't wait to see your wonderful projects, and thanks to everyone who took part in the fun last week - your creations were fabulous!
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This week's prize is a £10 voucher from our wonderful sponsor Joanna Sheen to spend in her on-line shop.
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My take on the theme, is the beginning of a new season - Winter into Spring, when the new green shoots and tiny buds start to appear. (I love Spring)!
I have used a beautiful tree image from a digi set by Gingerloft, available to purchase from Stitchy Bear Stamps (please see the link in my sidebar).
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The Winter tree scene is sprinkled here and there with Glamour Dust, and the Spring tree is the same image with Distress inks for a hint of colour, Copics to create some tiny flowers, and a kiss of craft chalk for the sky.
SU card for the layers, and some green Anna Griffin ribbon to finish.
The sentiment is computer-generated.
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Did you know that OSAAT will be ONE YEAR OLD
on Feb. 14th?
Have you picked up your
1st Birthday Bash banner yet? 
If you want to know what this is all about - pop over to
OSAAT  for the details ~  there are prizes to be won.......!!
Wishing you all a splendiferous week!

Wednesday, 12 January 2011

WOYWW? - A CRAFT-FREE ZONE DUE TO DECORATING!

Don't you just LOVE it when the time comes to re-decorate your crafty space - what a frustrating week it's been!  Crafty stash and storage boxes all over the place, computer out of action a lot of the time, and me as hubby's gofor, and painter of doors and skirting boards etc. - oh what fun!! 
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So, as well as joining in at the lovely Julia's WOYWW, this is also an apology for my lack of blogging/commenting/visting this last few days. (I've missed ya all)!! The good news is, the room is now finished, the carpet fitter is coming today - Yaaay!!! so normal service will be resumed pretty soon!!
~ Love to everyone ~

Sunday, 2 January 2011

CELEBRATE FRIENDSHIP AT SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS!

Update - January 18th - my card was chosen as "Card of the Week" at Phindy's Place Challenges!! 
Hope you have all recovered from the Christmas/ New Year celebrations (and all those choccies)!! Now tell me honestly - how many of you can't wait to put the trimmings away and get back to normal, and how many of you feel a tinge of sadness when the tree comes down, and those beautiful twinkling lights are packed away for another year?!!
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So peeps, here is the first Sentimental Sundays challenge of 2011, which is "Celebrate Friendship". Details can be found by clicking the link above, and there are some fab. freebies up for grabs too, and of course some great DT inspiration!! Thanks to everyone who entered last week's challenge - lots of fabulous projects once again. Winners will be announced on the SS Blog on Tuesday.
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My DT card recipe is:
The fab. "Fishing" image, which I printed onto Kraft card, is from Phindy's Place,
coloured with Copics, edges inked with Broken China DI.  I used a soft touch  of white colouring pencil on the collar and cuffs.
Sentiment - by Ann Vento at Raindrop Echo Designs.
Kraft card - Stampin Up.
Card layers - Core'Dinations "Cappucino", edges distressed with sandpaper and scissors.
Paper layers - Amy Butler Sola (KandCo).
Linen thread - Stampin Up.
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I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:-
My Time To Craft - Something New, which could be a technique or crafty stash etc. (Using Copics on Kraft card was a first for me, and the SU Linen Thread is brand new)!,
Incy Wincy - Distressing, and
Phindys Place - Distressing.
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~ WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY 2011 ~

Thursday, 30 December 2010

HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR WITH MO MANNING and "CELEBRATE" !

Thank you to all my wonderful Followers and to everyone who has visited my Blog during the last 18 months - I have enjoyed every minute of it, and I truly appreciate all your wonderful comments and your friendship.
Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful 2011 ~
lots of love to all of you.
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I would like to enter this card into Mo's Challenge No 63 - Bless the Beast and the Children.
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Recipe: Basic Grey Lime Rickey paper.
Mo Manning "Celebrate" image,
coloured with Copics, edged with Spiced Marmalade DI and lemon craft chalk.
Base card - SU.
Sentiment - computer generated.
Glitter - SU Dazzling Diamonds.
Stitching - on my little machine!

Wednesday, 22 December 2010

WOYWW - CHOCOLATE SNOWMEN OF COURSE!

Hi peeps! As if you haven't seen enough snow recently - thought I would share these cute Snowmen chocolate- bar covers.  I have just finished making them, and as it's Wednesday, I decided to send them off to join in the fun at Julia's place -
WOYWW!  (These 8oz. Choccie bars are for my 5 grandchildren by the way - honest)! 
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Now, I can't take any credit whatsoever for this design - I first saw it a few weeks ago on Kerry's fabulous blog, where you will find a link to Laurie's blog and her downloadable template and instructions. Very easy to make, and the hats and scarves require a very small amount of fleece, so if you need a last-minute stocking filler this is ideal.
~ HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS ~

Sunday, 19 December 2010

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
~ Free and Easy ~ Anything Goes.
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Have a wonderful, stress-free, "pre-Christmas" week.
Love to all who visit -  

Sunday, 12 December 2010

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 ........ 
                         

Wednesday, 8 December 2010

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

Sunday, 5 December 2010

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