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!

BASIC GREY CHALLENGE - PAPER PIECING!

Hi peeps! This is my entry for the Basic Grey Challenge 28, which requires some Paper-Piecing and the use of BG papers (of course)!!.

So - here goes!!

I have stamped one of my all-time favourite images - Gracious Lady from Hero Arts, which I have had for years. I have paper pieced her hat and coat with Basic Grey Bittersweet, and decoupaged the bow on her hat. (Her face, and the curved sides of the hat are lightly coloured with Copics).  

If you look reeeeeeally closely, you will see I have also added a tiny Bittersweet EK Success Retro Flower in the centre of Sir Tim's Tattered Florals flower, which is mainly made up of Basic Grey Motifica papers (again, which I have had for oooh - years).

The flower has been finished with a central coffee coloured pearl. The back of the flower petals have been stamped with the same Crafty Individuals text which I have used on the Motifica BP.

The Gracious Lady has been layered onto black cardstock, with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo DI applied around the edges.

I coloured the cream lace with Antique Linen, added the Crafty Individuals swirls stamp to the BP, and that's about it really!!! Bet you're glad that's the end of that!!!

PS - I have waited 6 weeks for my TH Tattered Florals die - it arrived 2 days ago, so this is my first attempt at using it! Not the best TH flower, but it was great fun to make!!!!

Have a great week my lovely bloggers -

DISTRESSED CHRISTMAS TEDDY !

Hi lovely bloggers! Just a quick post today, and yes it's another of those gorgeous LOTV Christmas images!! Ted is a little distressed (well, the backing paper is anyway), and he is now on his way to join two Challenges  - Lily Of The Valley Thursday Challenge - using a beautiful sketch by Bev, and Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge - which is Make a Start on Christmas. I have only just discovered their lovely blog, so have just managed to squeeze in at the last minute!

Gorgeous Ted is coloured with just a light touch of Copics, the BP is an old scrap piece from my stash, stitched around the edges. Punches are EK Success Retro Flower, Papermania Snowflake and Woodware star.

Fun Flock on Ted's hat and on the "snow" on the ground, Silver Stickles on Ted's star.

The sentiment is also from LOTV, stamped onto a CB die cut tag. The base card is SU Kraft.

Have a wonderful weekend!

TILDA FOR 2 CHALLENGES!

Hi Peeps - September tomorrow - time to start Christmas shopping!!!

My Tilda is entering two Magnolia Challenges -

Just Magnolia - a sketch by Dawny P., and

Magnolia Down Under - A Recipe: 3 patterned papers, 2 buttons, 1 ribbon.

The papers are Basic Grey Wisteria, Tilda has been coloured with Copics and the edges inked with Milled Lavender DI, the two heart buttons have been distressed with sandpaper , and I have added stitching, Glamour Dust, ribbon (well, fibres actually - they were the only thing I had in my stash in a matching colour)!, and a SU sentiment on my favourite SU oval scallop die.

Love to all -

DU2DS CHALLENGE 45 - A SHAPED CARD!

Hi lovely bloggers - it's time to Dare U 2 Digi Stamp again!
Another two weeks have gone by, so time to get your thinking caps on for another fab challenge - A SHAPED CARD!
Lots of scope there then - can't wait to see what you all come up with! Thanks to everyone who joined in the previous challenge - stunning entries once again!

Pop over to DU2DS
for full details and some DT inspiration!
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My DT offering is a Nestie easel card with a fabulous digi image from the talented Mo Manning. This little sweetie has been coloured with Copics (of course), and methinks I may have overdosed on the pinkness and the glitter, but hey - a girl can never have enough of these things!
The two large cupcakes have been decoupaged and I then printed a smaller version of the image so I could cut out a teeny-weeny cupcake for the "stopper". 
I have added lots of Glamour Dust and Stickles (Star Dust and Silver), spotty paper from Papermania Chatsworth, Penny Black sentiment on a SU punched oval scallop.
If anyone has been looking for a simple to follow
tutorial on small Nestie Easel Cards - pop over
here. Kari's easel cards are fabulous.
Have a great weekend everyone!

WOYWW AND SOME ORIENTAL LILIES

Hi lovely bloggers and fans of  WOYWW . You will spot fairly quickly that there isn't much crafting going on here - I have finished and put to one side, my DT card for this week's DU2DS Challenge, and today I have been out with my 7-year old granddaughter, which was great fun, so all you will see is a load of bubble wrap!  That means Blog Candy for my followers has arrived today - yay!! I will be posting details later! YOu can just see the two LOTV stamps which I won this week on their "Ideas to Inspire" Blog (the link is in my sidebar) which also arrived today. Whoo-hoo!!

And here are some of the Oriental Lilies in my garden, which have survived the heavy rains of yesterday - every year, as soon as the flowers open, the rains come down!! Thought you might like to see them. Wish we had smelly-blog as the scent is divine!

Will be back later with candy.

HAPPY BUNNY!

Hi peeps - this is a very short post as I am busy doing star jumps and cartwheels - I am such a happy bunny today!! 

Two reasons - firstly, I won this week's candy at LOTV Ideas to Inspire - two of the gorgeous new Christmas stamps. 

Secondly, I have now hit 100 followers! (no - I haven't actually HIT them - you know what I mean)!! Anyway, thanks to each and every one of them - I think it's time I offered some Candy to celebrate, and once I know what that will be, I'll get back to you, so keep checking!

Lots of love, and have a great weekend.

DU2DS CHALLENGE 44 - BLOOMS AND CHARMS!

Wow - another two weeks have just flown away which means that it's time for another Friday challenge at DU2DS.

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Hope none of you lovely bloggers were caught in that amazing thunderstorm/rainstorm/snowball storm yesterday afternoon - was it just here in Leeds I wonder?!! (They weren't actually snowballs of course, just bloomin' big hailstones!) Half an hour later, the sun was shining.

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This fortnight's challenge theme is Blooms and Charms, and as usual a digi image is required on your project. (Full details and DT inspiration can be found by clicking the link above).

Thanks to all those who joined in last time - your projects were fabulous.

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 The beautiful image on my DT card is "Summer Blossoms", from the ever-so-talented Phindy, and is coloured with Copics.

The two flowers (Woodware punch) are coated with Anita's Clear Gloss Finish, although the shine doesn't show up on the picture.

Beaded spacers have been added to the flower centres and a butterfly charm next to the Hero Arts sentiment.

Ribbons from stash, green card from SU.

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Have a fabulous snowball-free weekend!

WOYWW ! (A BIT OF A MESS)!!

OK all you WOYWW fans - you asked for it!! You wanted mess, and here it is!! The pic. was taken last night after finishing my DT card for DU2DS. You wouldn't think it from looking at this pile of stuff, but the card is actually a very simple one!! (Sorry peeps - the card is hidden away until I post it for the challenge on Friday)!

So, this is my workspace - warts 'n all. For those of you who haven't yet shared your space - pop over to  Julia's blog to find out more about WOYWW. 

OFF ON AN ADVENTURE AT THE CARDS FOR MEN CHALLENGE!

OMGoodness - two posts in two hours (OK, so only one of them is a card)!! It's still a record for me though - two cards in two weeks is usually the rate I work at!!

This gorgeous little chap is entered into the Cards for Men Challenge, where the theme this week is "Off on an Adventure".

It's obviously the first time he's been down to the boating lake with his brand new yacht - I can just tell by the way he's striding out that he can't wait to get there and give it a go! What an adventure!

Yes, it's another LOTV stamped image - told you I was addicted!

The image has been cut with a Nestie Labels 4 die and coloured with watercolour pencils. 

Card is SU Kraft, papers are LOTV downloads inked around the edges with Adirondack Denim and Stonewashed.  

Sentiment computer generated. Faux stitching drawn with a white gel pen, some navy ric-rac and a metal charm added.

Hope you like him as much as I do!

Love and hugs, Sylvia xxxxx

WHATS ON YOUR WORKDESK WEDNESDAY, No. 61...........

Hi Peeps! Hope you are all having a great week! (Its been pouring with rain here in Leeds this morning - hope it's better where you are).

I have been intending to join in the WOYWW fun for a while now, but have been a bit scared of sharing the mess that is my craft room! Soooooo, after taking a load of pics, then deleting them 'cos they were a bit

TOO scary, I decided to tidy up my desk, and here it is. (I also wash my hair before going to the hairdressers - mad or what)!

Maybe now I've taken the first step, I will have the courage to show my workspace in all it's messy glory next time!

Hugs to all - Love, Sylvia xxxx

MO MANNING'S GOTH GIRL - DU2DS CHALLENGE 43

Good morning lovely bloggers!

Don't you just love this Mo Manning image. 

I think the card will be perfect for my

eldest Granddaughter's 18th birthday in a couple of weeks, but right now it's my DT card for the DU2DS Friday Challenge  - this fortnight we are working with a fab sketch by Donna. Hope you will join in the fun - full details can be found by clicking the link above. I am always in awe of the huge amount of entries each fortnight - all of them fabulous.

I am also entering the card into this week's Paperplay Challenge , which is "Anything Goes"

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The image has been coloured with H2O's and watercolour pencils, and just a small amount of Copics, mainly under the feet. 

Edges inked with Old Paper Distress Ink and Wisteria ColorBox Chalk Ink.

The purple layers are SU cardstock.

Purple patterned BP - Bo Bunny.

Green swirls paper - "Happy-go-Lucky" digi download from Shabby Princess.

Black lace - a Prima clear stamp.

Black textured paper ribbon from goodness knows where!Four holes were punched in the ribbon, then small metal washers glued over the holes (washers from DIY shop).

Sentiment - computer generated.

Feather from stash.

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Have a fabulous weekend - love and hugs, Sylvia xxxx

CHRISTMAS IN JULY! ONE CARD - TWO CHALLENGES ....

Hi peeps - hope you all had a fab. weekend!

Another beautiful LOTV stamp - another challenge. Well, two challenges actually, as this little Christmas card is entered into the LOTV Challenge - a sketch by the Lovely Bev, and the Bah Humbug Challenge - a Christmas Scene.

The cute little LOTV carol singers have been coloured with Copics (of course), edges inked with Adirondack Stonewashed and Denim, and the lamp has been masked with a circle before inking. 

The snow scene was created at great cost and with lots of skill,

by roughly tearing a load of white card!

Flowers made with the EK success Retro punches, plus a tiny snowflake punch in the centre (an old Woodware one) then finished with a pearl gem.  The 3 tiny layered snowflakes were also made with the Woodware punch.

Dots BP from Lasting Impressions, dark blue card - Bazzill. Loads of Glamour Dust sprinkled around, and Stampendous Fun Flock (with more glitter added), for the furry trim on the hats, and some on the snow.

Bye for now - have a wonderful week
Love and Hugs, Sylvia xxxx

DARE U 2 DIGI CHALLENGE 42 - STITCHING!

Hi lovely bloggers - thanks for popping by!

The challenge at DU2DS Friday Challenge this fortnight is Stitching - real or faux, and of course there must also be a digi image on your project - just click the link above for full details, and inspiration from the DT.

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For my DT card I have chosen one of Chris's fabulous images - from Sketching Stamper.

The Retro Pram has been coloured with Copics

and I have stitched the "kisses" with narrow satin ribbon.

Gingham BP is from Pink Petticoat, lightly distressed around the edges.  The blue cardstock and the oval punch are from SU, and the sentiment

is Anna Griffin.  

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Thanks to everyone who took part in our last challenge - there was a mega amount of stunning entries once again.

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Have a wonderful weekend - Love and Hugs, Sylvia xxxxx 

LOTV - AN ADORABLE IMAGE!

Hi Peeps! Get your wellies out - lots of rain and thunder tonight in this part of West Yorkshire, so a real treat for the garden and hubby's allotment!

Another Lili Of The Valley card to share with you, which I am entering into Challenge 57 - a sketch by Dawny (I made mine into an easel card, hope that's OK!) at

LOTV Thursday Challenge.   I do love these gorgeous images - there's just something irresistible about them!

The image I have used here, reminds me so much of a photo taken 14 years ago of my eldest Granddaughter when she was 4 years old. She is admiring herself in a full-length mirror in my bedroom, with a large straw hat on, a pair of my shoes, and a huge scarf draped around her shoulders!  Ah, happy memories!

Soooo, I have used Copics to colour this little beauty, who I'm sure must be called Grace, and the papers are part of a download kit from Tinker and Co.  The "adorable" stamp is part of the "New Baby" set by Kars, and of course there just had to be a sprinkling of Glamour Dust! The border punch is by Fiskars, Retro Flower punches by EK Success, ribbon from stash.

Love and Hugs, Sylvia xxxxx

THE GREAT OUTDOORS AT DU2DS!

Hi lovely bloggers - hope you are all enjoying the warm weather (wish I had a paddling pool).

So, what with all this hot and sticky weather, methinks that "The Great Outdoors" is a very suitable challenge subject this fortnight over at

DU2DS.

If the last challenge is anything to go by, there will be a huge amount of fabulous entries - thanks to everyone for taking part.

So, if you're joining in for the first time, just click the link above and you will find all the Challenge details, and some inspiration from Chris and the DT.

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For my DT card I have coloured Mo's fabulous "Secret Garden" image with copics and inked the edges with Peeled Paint and Broken China distress inks. The image was then cut out with the Nesties Labels 1. This is a very detailed image, so you may wish to click it to enlarge.

The BP is My Minds Eye, Bloom & Grow - this was machine-stitched onto the SU Kraft card (more wonky stitching I'm afraid!), and some natural twine added. I was going to add some lace, but somehow the twine seemed to fit in better with the garden/outdoors theme! Heart button from stash, and an old Hero Arts sentiment stamped with Coffee Archival ink. Ooops - nearly forgot - there just had to be a tiny bit of Glamour dust sprinkled on the flowers!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Love and Hugs, Sylvia xxx

A BEAUTIFUL BIRTHDAY GIFT.....

I just had to share this fabulous work of art with you all, and no I didn't make this one peeps!! It was hand-made and sent to me for my birthday this week, by the lovely

Gini at A Little Bit of Shiny

 (I did ask her permission to post it here). To say that I am thrilled to bits is an understatement! The detail is amazingly beautiful and I do hope that Gini will soon be letting us know, on her blog, how she created this masterpiece.

The wistful lady leaning from her tower is "Flora" from a painting by Evelyn de Morgan. I was fortunate enough to see the original painting in an art gallery several years ago, and I

absolutely love it.

Hope you will all pop over to Gini's fabulous blog - her tall stories are amazing!

Enjoy the sunshine - Love and Hugs, Sylvia xxxxx