Stamping'Grandma

and there's more..... !

2012-01-27T11:49:00.000Z

Today I'm sharing piccies of the other knitting projects I've completed while I've been unwell, there is one more garment that I'm still working on, but these are the ones I've finished so far.

This one is knitted in Aran weight yarn and is the same pattern as the one I inadvertantly knitted in too big a size to fit me so gave to a friend. The yarn isn't the same as the one I gave to my pal though, that was in a pale blue flecked yarn. I'm wearing this tunic today and I have to say it's really cosy - perfect for this rather chilly morning.

I had a little of the gorgeous Baby Alpaca yarn left over so knitted these fingerless mittens to use it up. The pattern was a freebie in a knitting magazine and I also knitted a pair for my Dad who was staying with me over Christmas and just after. I know he gets cold hands when he's working in his craftroom, so thought they would be ideal to keep his hands warmer but still leave fingers free for crafting ! It's a lovely pattern and takes next to no time to knit up.

The final project for today is the mitred squares I'm knitting up using the pale blue flecked Aran weight yarn left over from the cabled tunic I gave to my pal. I saw the instructions for knitting mitred squares in a magazine and changed the number of stitches and needle guage to make the size of squares I wanted. When I've knitted enough, I'll join up the squares into a throw and maybe add a pretty crochet edging to finish it off. I haven't done mitred work before but it is really easy and gives a great finished look I think. I shall probably stitch them together in this pattern when I've knitted enough of them.

Just one more knitting project to share with you once I've finished it, I'm starting to do a little cardmaking again, so will have a couple of cards to share with you over the next few days.

This evening hubby and I are meeting up with my lovely crafting pal Kathy who is visiting Plymouth with her hubby. We are heading off for a meal at a local Chinese restaurant this evening and it promises to be a great evening of catching up and crafty chat !

Thanks for checking out my post today, I hope I haven't bored you with all this knitting! I think I may be recovering from my knitting 'bug' a little as I don't have a new project in mind for after the current one is completed - gasp !

Anything but Cards !

2012-01-26T11:43:00.000Z

Since getting sick at the end of November, I haven't been able to do much of my cardmaking and papercrafting, but I have been knitting - lots !!

I currently have my sixth garment on the go since November and thought I'd share a couple of piccies with you as I've been asked exactly what I'm knitting.

This is the first jacket I made, I'd previously made one using this pattern in darker colours and liked it so much I thought I'd do another one.

As I had been well and truly bitten by the 'knitting bug' I then bought some gorgeous Baby Alpaca yarn and knitted this longline jumper with an asymetric hemline. I just loved working with this super soft yarn and it's great to wear as it keeps me warm but not overheated and is remarkably light. I do plan to knit more garments with this fabulous yarn.

The final project I'm sharing with you today is not quite finished as I need to press the parts before stitching up and knitting the roll collar. I am still not able to do ironing (shame!!) so can't complete it until I can. I put the pattern into the picture to show what the finished garment will look like. The yarn this time is a mixture of Alpaca, Silk and Wool - nice to work with but nowhere near as soft as the Baby Alpaca, although may be a little more hard wearing.

I knitted an Aran weight short sleeved tunic with lots of lovely cabling on the front but when I'd finished it I realised it was far too big for me and should have knitted a smaller size. So, I gave it to a friend who was delighted with it. I have knitted myself one now and will share a pic of that another day.

Hope you've enjoyed seeing some different projects today, thanks for dropping by.

My Heart Belongs To You

2012-01-24T23:59:00.003Z

I've managed to do a little light crafting over the past few days, albeit with limited stash as the bulk of my stuff is still packed away since Christmas and my OH won't let me get at it until I'm 'well' again !!

Today's card is my DT project for the I Love Promarkers blog and our theme for this week's challenge is 'Pink and Purple'. This week's prize is sponsored by Digi Doodle Shop and I've used a lovely image from them for my card.

The image is coloured with Promarkers and a couple of the very lightest shades of Fleximarkers - I like these for blending. I used dies by Memory Box and Nellie's Choice to create the hearts and Nellie Snellen punch and emboss sets to punch out the flowers and leaves. The sentiment was created on my computer and I've added Stardust Stickles in the centres of the flowers, on the filigree and the lace on the bodice of her outfit.

I've enjoyed getting back into my card making and hope to get more projects done in the coming days to share with you.

Thanks for dropping by to check out my latest creation.

Quick Update

2012-01-14T10:34:00.001Z

I thought I'd post up a quick update as I haven't been around for some time.

My surgery on 16 December went well and I continue to recover, although much more slowly than I would like and had anticipated !! I guess that's just me being far too impatient and I do know I have to take things easy for a while.

Sadly I am not yet able to get back to my crafting as I still have to take it easy and not lift anything heavier than a mug of coffee. I have been doing a lot of knitting though so that has stopped me from going totally stir crazy !! I've completed a cardigan and two sweaters and have another ready to stitch together, so I've been keeping busy.

I'm hoping to be reunited with my craft stash soon and get a few projects done to share with you.

Signing off for a while.......

2011-12-15T13:13:00.000Z

If you've popped in recently, you will probably be aware that I've not been feeling so good for a while. Well, tomorrow (friday 16 Dec) I go into hospital for surgery and I'll be MIA for at least a few days.

If all goes to plan, I should be home again in the early part of next week and hopefully recovering well by Christmas. I guess this year I'll be merely 'directing' and 'orchestrating' the preparation and cooking of the family Turkey Dinner rather than cooking it myself ! I'm told I need to take things really easy for at least two weeks, lots of pampering and being looked after. I'm sure that my Hubby, Dad and Son will do their best to make sure I rest and take it easy !!

Just in case I don't feel up to being on line much next week, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all A Very Merry Christmas and may you have A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

I'd also like to say a special thank you to all my wonderful Followers, I do appreciate you taking time to drop by to check out my projects and thanks for sticking with me throughout 2011. Also to those who do visit regularly but aren't signed up as an 'official' Follower, thanks so much to you also.

I hope to be well enough to be crafting again in January and I'm looking forward to sharing my projects on here with you again.

Surprise.. Surprise... Happy Birthday Holley ! bet you thought I'd forget ?

2011-12-13T23:59:00.009Z

Happy Birthday Holley, bet you thought I'd forget my promise made during Vicki's birthday blog hop to make a special card for you ! Well, I didn't. Hope you like it Hun.

I used the beautiful 'Tree Fairy' designed by Amy Brown and is one of the stamps available through Queen Kat Designs. This is a new stamp released for the month of December and I think she's just gorgeous.

I coloured her with Copics, adding some touches of Spica Glitter Pen on her wings. Dotty paper was from my stash and the image is added over a layer of SU! cardstock. The matching lush wide striped ribbon is also from SU! and I created the sentiment on my computer.

Have a great day Holley.

Cute Snowman

2011-12-09T23:59:00.008Z

Got another of my Christmas cards to share today, I made this one just before I got sick and realised I hadn't posted it up on here yet.

The basecard is a 4 x 4 ivory pearl card and I stamped and heat embossed this sweet little snowie from a set by Inkadinkado before cutting it out with a nestie. I then added Distress Ink around the image leaving the centre lighter to highlight the embossed image.

I cut out a few different sized poinsettia flowers from white and silver card and a couple of swirls from some green pearl card. The smallest flower was punched with a Nellie Snellen punch and emboss set and the centre pearl created using a Waco Pearlmaker Pen. I added touches of Stickles on the petals to bling it up a bit. The sentiment is also heat embossed to match the image.

This turned into a sweet little card to add to my stock. The colour would fit the Simply Less is More challenge this week, but I feel it's a tad too fussy to be classed as CAS

Thanks for dropping by today, I'm still not up to doing any crafting, but at least I have a few ready made projects to share with you in the coming days.

Yet another batch......

2011-12-08T10:09:00.001Z

Got another little batch of cards I made recently to share today. I used a Papermania embossing folder, white basecard, Stickles, Lili of the Valley sentiment stamp, Memento Cottage Ivy ink and SU! labels punch.

It's so difficult to photograph white designs and Stickles well, but hopefully you can see the design in this piccie.

Here's a more close up pic which shows the contours of the embossing a little more clearly.

I'm entering this design for the Simply Less is More challenge as it has green on is and it is a CAS design.

Thanks for dropping by today, I'm still not doing any crafting, just getting cards written and other christmas prep which isn't too strenuous ! I hope your preparations for the Big Day are going well. I have a few more projects which I haven't shared with you yet, so I'll be posting these over the next few days. I am so looking forward to feeling well enough to craft again.

In Memory of Mike....

2011-12-05T12:00:00.000Z

Sadly, our dear friend Mike lost his short battle with cancer recently. I created this card in his memory to send to his family, just to let them know they are in our thoughts at this very sad and difficult time.

I thought I'd share my design with you, created using stamps by Stamping Up! and Hero Arts. I do feel the Clean and Simple (CAS) style is ideal for these very difficult cards which most of us, unfortunately, have to send from time to time.

Thanks for dropping by today.

Green is the Colour...

2011-12-04T14:21:00.000Z

The theme for this week's Simply Less is More challenge is the colour Green. Here's the Green design card that I'm entering for the challenge this week.

I was pleased with the finished card so went on and made a few more to add to my stock as I still don't have enough cards made for this year yet.

The stamp I used is from The Unmounted Stamp Company/Circa Designs and I stamped it using Evergreen Bough Tim Holtz Distress ink. The image is layered over a metallic green cardstock and the ribbon is from my stash. I added Stardust Stickles on the Mistletoe leaves and berries and green gems as the finishing touch.

I'm not able to do too much crafting right now as I have some health problems going on. I'm waiting to go into hospital for surgery but I'm not sure if that will be before or after Christmas. Only able to spend short periods crafting means I'm not producing many projects, but I'll share anything I do actually get finished. Most of my cards at the moment are in the CAS/LIM style as I'm not up to sitting colouring for long periods.

I hope you'll drop by from time to time just to check if I've managed to get some projects completed, your support means such a lot to me and it cheers me up when I check on here and see comments left for me.

It's just a number

2011-11-30T23:59:00.006Z

'It's just a number' is our theme for the challenge this week over on Cute Card Thursday and our prize is sponsored by The Stamp Shoppe.

I selected a couple of cute snowpeople digis from Robyn's Fetish for my DT card. Coloured the images using my Copics before cutting them out and adding Glossy Accents dusted with Glamour Dust on the bobbles on hats, scarves and mittens.

The background paper is a magazine freebie and I stamped a Magnolia snowflake circle stamp on white card before cutting out with a scallop circle nestie. I added the snowpeople over this circular layer and Star Dust Stickles around the edge of the scallops.

The Holly Spray was cut with a Cheery Lynn die and I added berries using a Waco Pearlmaker Pen. The sentiment is from Magnolia and blinged up a bit with some Stickles. It has the number 25 on it to fit the theme for this week's challenge.

Thanks for dropping by to check my project, do take a look at the fabulous creations from the rest of the DT, it's well worth a visit to their blogs. You'll find direct links from the CCT blog here, just click on their name or their card for the link.

Snowmen & Snowflakes

2011-11-30T10:14:00.001Z

Today it's back to a Christmas card I'm afraid ! This week's challenge #94 theme over on I Love Promarkers is 'Snowmen and Snowflakes' and our prize is sponsored by Robyn's Fetish. I chose this cute snowie from RF for my card.

It's sort of White on White style, with minimal colours added. I've used one of my lovely Memory Box dies on the left edge and the snowflakes which were cut out, I've added in the bottom right hand corner with some Stickles in the centres and a clear gem over the top.

The flowflake was created using a Martha Stewart punch and a Crealies flower die. Again I added one of the tiny snowflakes from the border, Stickles and a clear gem in the centre.

The image was coloured with Promarkers and Glamour Dust over Glossy Accents added on the scarf and hat, before cutting the whole image out. I created the frame behind using a Labels 17 nestie and the largest stamp from the Fancy Labels set from Our Daily Bread. I stamped the frame using Versamark and heat embossed using WOW! Plantinum embossing powder. The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley and again embossed with plantinum.

One more card added to my stock, so I'm happy - hope you enjoy your visit here today, thanks for taking the time to check out my project.

A new skill ?

2011-11-27T23:59:00.002Z

Something a little different to share with you today peeps - did I hear a loud sigh of relief as it's not a Christmas card today? hee....hee...!!

A while back I bought some metal mesh ribbon from Ribbon Box at a craft show in Westpoint Exeter. I also got some pearl brads and brooch pins so thought I'd make up a few brooches to give as small gifts, don't they look pretty? I think I shall be buying a little more mesh as I really enjoyed working with it.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day, whatever you have planned.

Hot Chocolate Mouse

2011-11-26T23:59:00.009Z

Happy Sunday morning folks, hope you are enjoying your weekend although I guess at this time of year we are all really busy preparing for Christmas and some of us having just celebrated Thanksgiving.

Today's project is another design using the pretty 'Hot Chocolate Mouse' from Queen Kat Designs This cutie is designed by Che Gilson for her 'Gothic Dollies' range.

Here's a list of tools and supplies I used on this project:

Copic markers
Stickles
Glossy Accents
Papers from my stash
SU! cardstock
Lace
EK Success border punch
Memory Box dies
Flower punch
Waco Pearlmaker Pen
Scalloped oval nestie
Cuttlebug embossing folder
Pin Flair Glue

Thanks for stopping by today, hope to see you again real soon.

Still playing with my Memory Box Dies !

2011-11-24T23:59:00.002Z

I've got more projects using my new Memory Box dies to share with you today.

I had a great session making a batch of Christmas cards using mirror board and some of my new dies. For these three I also used the Fancy Labels stamps by Our Daily Bread, which are compatible with nestie labels 17 dies. I cut the shapes first, then stamped and embossed using WOW! Platinum and Silver Sparkle embossing powders, before attaching to the base card.

For these two cards, I added the diecuts over plain white base card.

Here's a close up of one of the cards showing the diecuts a little more clearly.

The sentiments are from Lili of the Valley, stamped and embossed in silver.

I hope you've enjoyed today's projects, thanks for dropping by.

Merry Christmas Silhouette

2011-11-24T12:50:00.001Z

I've managed to squeeze in a second entry for this week's Simply Less is More 'Silhouette' challenge - and it's yet another Christmas card !

I used two lovely stamps from an Inkadinkado set, stamped with Versamark then used WOW! Black Twinkle embossing glitter - hard to photograph, but the effect is great IRL really twinkly.

Simple white C6 basecard with the fold on the short edge and rounded corners, job done !

Thanks for dropping by to see my last project. If you've dropped by to see my Cute Card Thursday DT card, scroll down to the previous post and you'll find it there.

I want a puppy for Christmas

2011-11-23T23:59:00.001Z

It's Sketch Time on the Cute Card Thursday's Challenge Blog and we've a great sketch designed by Fiona. I've chosen to use the sketch to create another Christmas card as my DT project. Our sponsor this week is Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.

I haven't used this sweet Sugar Nellie stamp in ages and as I was looking for an image for the Craftbubble Craft Mad & Loving It theme, 'Christmas Carol or Song' I thought this one was just perfect for "I want a puppy for Christmas". I do like it when I can enter my DT projects in other challenges.

I coloured the image with Copics and used some magazine freebie background papers. I'm so in love with my new Memory Box dies, I just had to use a couple of them to create embelishments for my card. The image was cut out using an oval nestie then matted over a layer of red card cut with a scalloped oval nestie. The large snowflake was cut with a Martha Stewart punch and the gem in the centre was from my stash.

Glamour Dust over Glossy Accents gives the puppy's hat trims some sparkly dimension, Stickles around the edge of the image layer, on the stars on her dress her wand and wings and GA on her ribbon sash were the finishing touches.

Hope you like today's project and that you'll enter the CCT challenge, I do love checking out all the fabulous creations entered each week.

Have an Elfy Christmas !

2011-11-22T23:59:00.020Z

We've got an 'Anything Goes' theme for this week's challenge over on I Love Promarkers and our prize sponsor is Digi Doodle Shop.

I chose this cute 'Elf with Gifts' image from DDS for my card - yes another christmas card I'm afraid ! The image was coloured with Promarkers before cutting out using a nestie die. I used a piece of magazine freebie paper to cut a larger layer for under the image.

The mistletoe sprigs were cut using a Marianne's die and I used a regular office punch and a scrap of white card to create the white berries. Then I added Glossy Accents to the berries to give them some dimension.

The sentiment is from Magnolia and there's Stardust Stickles around the edge and also around the image layer to give the card a little sparkle.

A simple design, but I think this cute little chap deserves centre stage without too many embellies drawing the eye away from him.

Hope you're own Christmas card production is going well and thanks for taking the time to drop by to see my project today.

Clean and Simple Season's Greetings

2011-11-21T19:57:00.000Z

I've struggled to get an entry done for the Less is More Challenge over the past few weeks, so was determined to get one finished in time for this week's theme 'Silhouettes'.

I'm still busy making Christmas cards, so no surprise that my entry is yet another one !!

For my card I used two of my stamp bargains picked up at the Sincerely Yours Craft Show in Taunton a few days ago. The tree stamp was just £1.50 and the sentiment £1 - how good is that?

I inked up the tree stamp with Versafine black ink, stamped it directly onto the basecard, then stamped again to the left and very slightly higher than the first image without re-inking the stamp. This gave me a much paler second image and created some dimension without having to mask the first image. I added touches of subtle glitter to the trees with a Quickie Glue Pen and some Glamour Dust. The sentiment was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed using WOW sparkling embossing powder for added twinkle.

I don't normally like black and white Christmas cards, but I'm quite pleased with how this one has turned out. I might try the same design using different coloured inks.

Three Wreaths Closer to Christmas

2011-11-20T23:59:00.008Z

As I still need to get lots of Christmas cards made in time, I've been doing some batch making using a CAS style and some beautiful stamps. The three cards I'm sharing today feature this gorgeous whispy wreath stamp from Penny Black.

I've used the Tim Holtz special edition Winter Set of Distress Inks to stamp the image and the Inkadinkado sentiment, then added touches of Stickles just to give a few subtle highlights. Left to right the colours are Festive Berries; Evergreen Bough and Iced Spruce. They are really gorgeous colours and I'm so pleased that I decided to get them after all.

A very simple design, but I like the classic elegance.

Thanks for stopping by today, I'm afraid there'll be more Christmas cards in the coming days, I do need to get a wiggle on if I'm going to finish before the last posting date!

Sparkly Unicorn

2011-11-19T23:59:00.016Z

I've got a project to share with you today using the Christmas Unicorn stamp set from Queen Kat Designs. This little Unicorn is so cute !

I decided to add lots of glitter and bling to the image rather than colour it in for this card, using two colours of Glamour Dust and Spica Glitter Pens.

Recently I bought some gorgeous dies by Memory Box and used two of them to cut lacey layers to add under the sentiment. Aren't they pretty? I just love them.

The basecard is a small 4 x 3 inch black card and as it's so small, I've kept the design simple.

Thanks for checking out my project today.

Green & Grey Christmas (better photo now added !)

2011-11-16T23:59:00.010Z

Yet another Christmas card to share with you today folks ! Well, it is that time of year again and I'm busy trying to get all my cards made in time to send out, so here's another one.

Our challenge theme over on Cute Card Thursday this week is to use the colour combo Green and Grey and the prize sponsor is Alota Rubber Stamps.

I've had this cute sledging hedgehogs image in my box of stamped images for ages, I don't know who the stamp is by, so if anyone can enlighten me, I'd be grateful ! (amended - this is definitely a Penny Black image)

The image is coloured with Copics, with Glamour Dust over Glossy Accents on the hat trims and as snow. I used a snowflake flurry stamp from a set by Inkadinkado and Memento Cottage Ivy ink to stamp on the basecard creating a background, and a Cuddly Buddly sentiment which I embossed with a metallic green embossing powder. The image is layered over some mat silver (grey) card and I used the same card to punch out the tiny snowflakes. I used one of my new Memory Box dies to cut out the lacy medallions from green cardstock. I'm just loving these dies right now, they produce such pretty and delicate diecuts.

I hope you've enjoyed today's card, check out the challenge details on the CCT blog if you'd like to enter a project yourself.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree......

2011-11-15T23:59:00.059Z

Christmas Trees are our theme for this week's challenge on I Love Promarkers and our prize sponsor is Stampeezee.

I created my card using these stamps

They are by Judith and when I saw them I thought they were a brilliant idea. You start by stamping the bare tree, then choose the leaves you want, or any of the peg stamps with which to dress the branches. I selected the pine needles, candy cane, candle, bow and light bulb stamps, although I do have quite a few others.

After stamping the bare tree using Memento Rich Cocoa ink, I used the pine needles stamp and Cottage Ivy ink to add foliage to the branches. I then stamped a number of candy canes, candles, bows and light bulbs on white card, coloured with Promarkers and cut them all out before attaching randomly over the tree. The bowl the tree stands in was stamped with Tuxedo Black ink and coloured with Promarkers.

The sentiment stamp was from a £1 box at the Sincerely Yours Craft Show in Taunton last sunday. I stamped and embossed in white on to the red layer and cut a silver star for the top of the tree using a nestie die. Finally I added Glossy Accents on the lightbulbs, candles and candy canes.

It was quite time-consuming, but I am pleased with the final result.

Thanks so much for dropping by today, I hope you've enjoyed your visit.

Christmas Unicorn

2011-11-12T23:59:00.017Z

Good morning and welcome to my little piece of blogland. Sunday is now my day for posting projects using Queen Kat Designs products on Facebook, but I like to share them on here too with my lovely Followers.

Today's project features more new stamps released by QKD for November. I got to play with the 'Christmas Unicorn Set' from Artemiss designed by Danika Lindsell and I've used the main image and one of the sentiments included in the set for my design.

This sure is a cute lil' Unicorn, don't you think? I coloured her with Copics and added touches of clear Spica Glitter pen on her hooves and horn with Glossy Accents on top. The background paper is again from a previous QKD kit, as was the lace and ribbon. The snowflakes were punched with a Martha Stewart punch and I added the red sparkly brad from the kit in the centre. The image was added over a layer of SU! Baja Breeze then a layer of red cardstock, I edged around it with some red Stickles. The Stickles has dried flatter since I took the photograph, but I wanted to catch the last bit of daylight so couldn't wait for it to dry first !

Hope you like today's project. it's also posted up on the QKD Facebook page.

I'm off to the Sincerely Yours craft show in Taunton with a crafting pal today, I prescheduled this post so I hope I publishes OK !

Red for Remembrance

2011-11-09T23:59:00.011Z

With Remembrance Day occurring next Sunday, our theme for this week's challenge on Cute Card Thursday is really appropriate - 'Red for Remembrance'. Our prize sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp.

We'd like you to interpret this theme however you wish, I chose to create a Christmas card with Red as the predominant colour.

The background paper is a magazine freebie from Hot Off The Press. I used a set of nesties to cut out the image and a layer of red metallic card (which I also embossed with a snowflake design using a Cuttlebug embossing folder.

The tree was cut using a Marianne's die and I created the baubles by using a regular office punch and a scrap of the red metallic card. After punching the tiny circles from the card I used a ball tool to curve them slightly before attaching with PinFlair glue, then I added Platinum Stickles to create a tinsel garland around the tree. The image is from Magnolia and I coloured Tilda with Copics. Sentiment is from Lili of the Valley, stamped then heat embossed using sparkly red embossing powder. The red gingham ribbon was from my stash.

I hope you've enjoyed today's project, check out the full details of this week's challenge over on the Cute Card Thursday blog.

Festive Fairy

2011-11-08T23:59:00.009Z

This week on the I Love Promarkers Challenge we have a great sketch to work with and our prize is a pack of Promarkers. The sketch is posted on the ILPM blog for you to check out, along with the creations from the DT.

I just had to have some of the sweet Lili of the Valley stamps from their new release recently and I selected one of them to use on my DT card for this week. This is Festive Fairy and I think she's just adorable.

The background papers are some scraps I had in my stash and came from Graphicus some time ago. I coloured the image with Promarkers, used plain circle and scalloped circle nestie dies to cut the layers. The flowers were created using a set of Spellbinders poinsettia dies. The sentiment is from LOTV and there's Stardust Stickles added as finishing touches.

Hope you've enjoyed today's project, let me know what you think of it. Thanks for stopping by today.

Merry Hot Chocolate ChrissyMouse

2011-11-05T23:59:00.057Z

There are new release stamps for November in the Queen Kat Designs Store and I got some of these new stamps to play with for today's project.

I'm still working on getting my stock of Christmas cards finished and when I saw the cute 'Hot Chocolate Mouse' stamp designed by Che Gilson, I thought she would work really well on a Christmas design.

She's coloured with Copics then cut out and added over a layer of SU! Garden Green cardstock cut using a scalloped oval nestie. The background papers are from a previous kit by QKD, the poinsettias were cut using a set of Spellbinders dies and the holly leaves punched with a Martha Stewart punch. I added finishing touches using Glossy Accents on the mug and Stickles on her hair ornament and around the scalloped layer. The ribbon was from my stash.

My card is posted up on the Queen Kat Designs Facebook page today too, as myself and the rest of the DT share our new projects on Facebook now rather than on the QKD Blogs.

Baby You're a Firework !

2011-11-02T23:59:00.026Z

This week the challenge over on Cute Card Thursday has the theme 'Baby You're a Firework (use glittery, sparkly firework colours). Our prize Sponsor for this week is The Stamp Shoppe.

You can interpret the theme however you wish, I decided to create the effect of fireworks bursting in the night sky for my design.

I started with the sentiment, stamped using a Kaleidoscope inkpad, it's by TPC Studio, huge thanks to my pal Kathy who kindly allowed me to stamp up some of her images when I visited last weekend and for reminding me of the manufacturer. I then cut it out using a nestie die before attaching over a layer of metallic black card.

When I first saw this set of Marianne's dies, this flower shape reminded me of starburst fireworks, so I used it with various colours of metallic card to create the effect I wanted. With the stem trimmed off, I do think they work, what do you think?

Purple Stickles around the edges of the layers just adds a touch of sparkle to the design. Let us see your Firework cards, leave a link to your project on the CCT blog to be in with a chance of winning this week's prize.

You Can't Beat a Bit of Glitter and Glitz for Christmas !

2011-11-01T23:59:00.032Z

Happy Wednesday, hope it's a good one for you. Today I'm sharing my DT card for this week's challenge #90 over on I Love Promarkers. Our prize Sponsor this week is Joanna Sheen and the theme is Glitter and Glitz - how smashing is that ?

I expect that like me, you are busy making Christmas cards, and I don't think you can ever have too much glitter and glitz on these cards.

I've used the gorgeous 'Three Little Angels' stamp from Lili of the Valley and coloured the image with Promarkers of course. I then matted it over a layer of Almost Amethyst cardstock from Stamping Up! - slightly off-set. To intensify the glitter and glitz effect I added Glossy Accents on the clouds, angels' wings and the stars in their hair, then sprinkled Glamour Dust glitter over the top. The large snowflakes were punched with a Martha Stewart punch and the smaller ones were cut using a Marianne's die.

The sentiment is also from LOTV and cut out with a small circle nestie. I added extra glitz with Stardust Stickles around the edge of the image layer, on the snowflakes and around the sentiment.

I hope you'll enter our challenge this week, it's a nice easy one I think ! Thanks for dropping by today, let me know what you think of today's card, I love receiving comments.

Time to P.A.R.T.Y !

2011-11-01T20:43:00.001Z

Whoo.... Hoooo... ! it's celebration time over in the Queen Kat Designs castle, QKD is 5 years old and we are holding a Blog Hop to commemorate the event. You should have arrived here after checking out Chris' fabulous creation, if not just start at the beginning here and follow the links. The Royal Court are all in Partay mood and have been busy working on some awesome projects to share with you for the Hop, go check 'em out and join in the celebrations !

I thought I'd show you one of the older QKD images for my birthday tribute, I just love Tilly by Maigan Lynn and I know that our Queen Kitty Kat just loves the colour purple, and she's a Star, so this design is just perfect.

Right, I'm sending you off now to see what Janie has in store for you - Enjoy !

Are the Stars Out Tonight.................

2011-11-01T08:34:00.000Z

I'm trying to crack on with making my Christmas cards right now, so when I saw this week's theme for the challenge over on Less is More is 'Stars' I was really happy as I can enter today's card.

I used a Kraft basecard, cut the lovely filigree star using a Marianne's Die from blue holographic card and attached it with silver thread. I then stamped the sentiment from an Inkadinkado set using Memento Bahama Blue ink. As a finishing touch, I used a Spica Glitter pen to colour over the sentiment to give it a subtle sparkle.

Here in Cornwall it is promising to be a much brighter and drier day as the sun is already shining, unlike yesterday which was dull and damp all day. Sadly, I have to go to work today, so won't see much of the sun. I hope you have a wonderful day, wherever you are and whatever you have planned.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-30T23:59:00.009Z

Happy Halloween !

Are you ready for tonight's Trick or Treaters? I've a pumpkin bucket full of sweetie eyeballs ready just in case we get any callers. I expect my Grandsons will be out Trick or Treating, but they don't live close to me, so I won't get to see them myself.

This is the card I made and sent to them, I hope they liked it.

I used stamps from a few different manufacturers to create the scene. First off I used a spiders web stamp from Sparkle n Sprinkle on the basecard to make a background. I then used the haunted house, bats and gravestones from a set by Reflections and finally the funky skeleton was a $1 dollar stamp I picked up at a Jo-Ann's store in Florida.

To create the night sky I used Distress Inks in Stormy Sky and Chipped Sapphire and added yellow Spica Glitter pen on the windows and the wording on the gravestones so they glow eeriely in the dark.

It was such a fun card to create, I don't usually make many Halloween cards and this is the only one for this year.

Blue Christmas

2011-10-28T23:59:00.020+01:00

One more Christmas card to add to my stock with this one, although my stock isn't growing anywhere near fast enough if I'm going to be ready in time !

I used the theme from last week's challenge on the Craftbubble Craft Mad and Loving It group which was 'Blue Christmas'.

The image is by Crafty Individuals and I stamped it using Memento Paris Dusk ink. The poinsettias and fronds were cut using Marianne's dies and the leaves with a Martha Stewart holly punch. The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley. The background paper was a scrap I found in my stash and I added touches of Stardust Stickles to stars, moon and around the sentiment layer.

Hoppy Max Birthday

2011-10-26T23:59:00.006+01:00

Today's project is my DT card for this week's challenge on Cute Card Thursday. It's also the card I've made for my Nephew's forthcoming birthday. There's a sketch to follow this week and the prize is sponsored by Kraftin Kimme Stamps.

I picked up the cute large and mini 'Max' stamps from Sparkle n Sprinkle when I visited recently. He's such a great image and just right for a male card.

All the Maxes are coloured with Promarkers and I added Glossy Accents to the glass and olive on the larger image. I created the Happy Birthday strip using some plain cardstock which I stamped using Memento Cottage Ivy ink. The image and green layer were cut using a set of nestie dies.

I hope you like it, check out the sketch and full details of the challenge over on the Cute Card Thursday blog.

Wedding Gift Tag

2011-10-25T23:59:00.012+01:00

Welcome to my wednesday project. This week the theme for our challenge over on I Love Promarkers is 'Tags' and our Prize Sponsor is Digi Doodle Shop.

The image I used for my DT project is this really sweet bridal couple from DDS - aren't they cute? I've created a pretty tag for adding to a wedding gift.

I've coloured the image with ProMarkers before cutting out using a plain circle nestie. The base of the tag is cut from SU! Baja Breeze cardstock using a nestie die.

The flowers were created using a set of Magnolia Doo Hickey dies with smaller punched flowers added to the centres. The sparkly centre beads were created by adding a spot of Crystal Stickles underneath the clear beads. The green sprays either side were cut using a Marianne's die.

Lots of diecutting on my tag, can you tell I've missed my Cuttlebug and dies while I was away ? hee...hee.... !

A Stitch in Time Creates a Birthday Card.....

2011-10-24T10:19:00.001+01:00

Happy Monday morning folks, don't know about you but the weather here in Cornwall is truly dreadful, we have torrential rain and high winds forecast to last all day - oh joy !

Still, it gives me an excuse to stay indoors and craft, which is always a bonus, and I have a couple of crafty pals coming round to play this afternoon.

Today's project fits into two of this week's challenges, Simply Less is More want us to use Polka Dots and the Sunday Theme over on Craftbubble's 'Craft Mad and Loving It' group is Sewing. It's a triple whammy too as it's a birthday card for a family member - result !

The dotty paper was a magazine freebie and I cut the layer out using a nestie die. The lovely sewing images are by Stamping Up! which I stamped on to cream card using Memento Rich Cocoa ink before cutting out. I love the tapemeasure image and I added gold Spica Glitter Pen covered in Glossy Accents on the end to create the impression of a metallic tip. The sentiment is by Lili of the Valley and I added just a touch of pink Spica Glitter Pen to the tiny butterfly.

The dotty layer and sentiment were distressed a little using Antique Linen Distress Ink and I coloured the thread on the spool using Copics (although it might actually be a little too subtle as you can't tell it is coloured in the piccie !!). The sewing machine was attached using PinFlair glue to raise it up, then Glossy Accents added to give it 'substance'.

It may be a tad too busy for a LIM card, but I'm struggling to get back into my creative zone since returning from holiday !

Thanks for swinging by today, hope you have a great day whatever you have planned.

2011-10-22T22:05:00.001+01:00

I put this card together really quickly to get it submitted in time for last week's challenge on the Craftbubble 'Craft Mad and Loving It' group. The stamps I used came from the October monthly Myka Jelina stamp kit from Queen Kat Designs which was waiting for me when I got home from my vacation.

I do like to use the accessory stamps from the kits to creaet something a bit different, although the main images are always so lovely. This month's kit is ideal for Halloween cards.

Hope you like today's card, thanks for dropping by.

I'm so sorry...........

2011-10-20T12:00:00.040+01:00

Well, that's the theme for this week's challenge over on Cute Card Thursday - we want to see your sorry/apology cards. The sponsor for this week's prize is Meljen's Designs. Do check out the digi designs site for some cute images or the Whimsy Stamps Store if you prefer rubber stamps.

This is my second post today, so if you'd like to see the earlier project, just scroll down and check it out.

For my DT card I chose this sweet little stamp from Sugar Nellie. The Designer is Diane Duda but I'm not entirely sure that it is still in production. She was one of the stamps I received when I won some Sugar Nellie Candy quite a while ago. I know I haven't used her in absolutely ages and for some reason I thought she was perfect for a 'Sorry' card, she's just so sweet.

I coloured the image with Copics, cut it out with a deckle edge nestie then attached it over a layer of patterned paper cut using a slightly larger die from the same set. The base card is a plain C6 and I kept the design clean and simple to fit comfortably on the small card.

The sentiment I created on my computer as I wanted to say "sorry I missed your big day" which could be appropriate for many occasions, not just a missed birthday. I don't have a stamp with that exact sentiment, so created one myself. After printing it I cut it out using a die from a Nellie's Multiframes set and attached using PinFlair Glue to lift it from the background a little. Finally I added a bow tied from a length of pretty ribbon I had in my stash, plus a few pearly flowers which I confess I recycled from a card I received some time ago !

All the fabulous creations from the CCT Design Team are on display on the blog, why not check them out for inspiration and enter a card yourself this week? It would be great to have you join in.

Finally, a couple more florida pics for you. We saw some really spectacular sunsets during our stay, the first shot was taken as we drove 'home' one evening, the other two were taken from the same spot outside the home our friends were renting, one using a flash and the other not. I do quite like what I call 'the arty shot' taken with the flash, I like the effect - what do you think? Which do you like best?

My Baby Boy is 40 !! - Happy Birthday Son

2011-10-19T23:59:00.054+01:00

I just can't believe that my Son is 40 years old, where did the time go ? I'm sure I'll hear the groan from here when he opens his card - Motherrrrr.... ! Not sure it will be out on display in his house though !!!

Planning the design for his card I was originally thinking masculine (sporty. techie etc) then when I looked through this cute monster stamp set, I just knew I wanted to use a couple of them for his card. This just reminds me so much of when he was little, and I think the teeny monster is such a cutie.

The stamp set is by Recollections - Michaels Stores' own brand in the USA. I coloured the image with Promarkers and added touches of Glossy Accents to his boots and all the monters' eyeballs for dimension.

It's a real CAS style as he's not fond of 'fussy stuff'' - just punched the bottom edge of the image layer with an EK Success border punch, then layered it over a piece of 'Not Quite Navy' SU! cardstock with the bottom edge punched to match.

Hope today's creation made you smile - if so, that makes me happy !!!

As promised, here are a couple more of my Florida piccies. We seemed to be on the direct flightpath of the hot air balloon rides as most mornings around 6.30 - 7am there was at least one balloon passing by. I just had to take a few piccies as it was all so serene, they were close enough that we could hear the roar of the jets as they inflated the balloons to rise above the trees but apart from that, there was hardly a sound. Lovely to observe from the ground, but I'm afraid I am not at all tempted to take a ride up there myself ! There'll be a few more piccies later.

Time for Cocktails ?

2011-10-19T10:45:00.003+01:00

This is my second post for today, please scroll down to see the first one.

Here's my entry for the challenge this week on Simply Less is More which has the theme 'Cocktail'.

For my card I used one of the $1 mini sets of stamps by Inkadinkado which I picked up in Florida and couldn't have been more perfect for this theme. I'm so glad I bought it !

Stamped in black Versafine ink with parts coloured using Copics and Spica Glitter Pen, and the 'slice' stamped and cut out before attaching using Pinflair Glue to give it just a little dimension. I love the effect of the zingy lime shades against the black ink.

I plan to share a few pix from my Florida vacation, just adding one or two at a time to the bottom of other posts, so today's is the view from the back yard on our last morning there, just after sunrise.

A Merry Pengie Christmas

2011-10-18T23:59:00.029+01:00

I've dug my mojo out of the corner, dusted off the cobwebs and hit the table of craftiness - yes, I'm home and reunited with my stash. I can't wait to get busy once more with my DT work, creating cards I need to make for friends and family for the coming weeks and looking forward to being able to enter a few challenges once again.

Today's card is my DT card for this week's I Love Promarkers Challenge. The theme for this week is 'Cute' and our prize sponsor is Sentiments 4 You.

I just couldn't resist this cute penguin stamp when I saw him during a visit to Sparkle n Sprinkle in Ruskin, Florida and it was really awesome to see them make my actual stamp right in front of my eyes ! I kind of knew what the process was for producing rubber stamps, but it was great to see all the processes IRL.

I really need to get busy increasing the number of Christmas cards I've made so far for this year as I'm late starting, so this cute little chap was just perfect for the theme and adds one more to my stock.

He's coloured of course with Promarkers, cut out using a nestie and added over a layer of My Minds Eye DP. There's Stardust Stickles around the edges of the image layer and as 'snow' on the ground. I also added some to the spots on his scarf and his snowflake to give them some sparkle. The sentiment is from a set by Sentiments 4 You, designed especially to be punched out using a Stamping Up! oval punch. I don't have this particular punch so cut it out using a scalloped oval nestie. I was able to colour the sentiment on my computer to match the DP background which was an added bonus. The tree was cut using a Marianne's die with some dots of red Stickles so that it matches the trees on the DP. As a finishing touch, I added Glossy Accents to his hat, feet and beak, I think you can just see the shine from the glossy parts in the pic.

Thanks for dropping by today, I hope you'll have a go at this week's challenge, I'd love to see your interpretation of this theme.

My new stash from Florida

2011-10-17T23:08:00.001+01:00

I did promise you a peek at the new stash I acquired during my Florida vacation - well, with all the Michaels and JoAnn's stores in the Orlando area, the fabulous Violettes in Lakeland and Sparkle n Sprinkle in Ruskin, how could I resist ?

A selection of $1 stamps found at Michaels and JoAnn's - and I even had discount coupons of 40% to 50% off for most of them too.... I was practically being paid to take them away !

This litle selection is from Michaels with Glitter and Embossing powder from S n S tucked in at the top.

Inkadinkado and Recollections stamp sets from Michaels, some wood mounted stamps from ~Violettes (I had to remove a couple of the large wooden blocks as they were just too heavy for my luggage). I just love the knitting chickies stamp and just had to find room for the wooden block on this one. The butterfly spellbinder dies and matching stamps were from S n S and the fabulous bare tree and accessories are by Judith and were from Violettes.

As seen in my previous post, I did purchase some yarn to knit my blankie and I also acquired a loom as I fancy having a go at loom knitting.

That's the extent of my crafty indulgence this trip - I did also pick up a couple of pads of background paper, but haven't got around to photographing those yet.

Holiday Blankie and Multicolour Cardi

2011-10-16T23:01:00.006+01:00

Sorry for being MIA for much of the past 5 weeks, as you may have guessed, I've been away on a lovely long vacation in Florida, with hardly any internet access - Yikes !!

I don't think I've ever gone so long without doing some cardmaking, but fear not, I did do some crafting... I can't rest with idle hands, so had to find a little alternate crafting to be getting on with. So I knitted a blanket (which was really useful on the flight home I can tell you as they seem to keep the atmosphere in aircraft at a much lower temperature these days - must be to save fuel !) and finished off a cardigan I had just started before leaving home. The cardi is knitted from that clever yarn which works it's way into stripes as you knit. In fact, I saw the yarn first and knew I wanted to make something with it, and found this pattern.

They were fun to make, but I have missed my craft stash so much. I'm hoping to get my Mojo polished up and start creating tomorrow. Watch this space....,.

BTW I did do a little (?) craft shopping while across the pond, I'll share piccies of my new goodies tomorrow.

Dirt Pie and other great stuff.....

2011-10-06T13:38:00.005+01:00

Just a quick update as to what I've been up to since my last post. I've seen Shamu and other Killer Whales, Dolphins the Space Shuttle launch pads and Apollo 13, Alligators, Turtles and got caught out in the St John's River on an airboat in the eye of a severe tropical storm - was drenched to the skin and quite scared with the lightening flashing all around while I was on water !!

But one of the highest highlights just has to be eating Dirt Pie at the Santa Fe Steakhouse. Yes, those are worms, but of the Gummy type :o) The 'Dirt' was crushed Oreo Cookies but it looked like real dirt/soil - heee...heee...The mud was chocolate sauce and it was delish though I do have to say.

Hope to be back with more pix later - although we are now down to our last few days of this wonderful vacation. I will be happy to be reunited with my stash and able to get crafting again, but I will miss the lovely warm temperatures and the fabulous sunshine here in Florida.

hugs
Wynneth
x

Happy Birthday Karen

2011-09-30T23:59:00.004+01:00

Today is the birthday of one of my lovely crafting pals, and it's a real milestone birthday !!

I made this card especially for her and I do hope she likes it - Happy Birthday Karen, hope you have a splendid day.

I decided to use an elegant CAS design, with diecut shapes and pretty paper as the main design elements. I added Platinum Stickles around the edges of the diecuts to add a little Birthday Bling and found the tiny number buttons at my local Art Shop a few days ago and thought they'd be just perfect.

Monochrome Naomi

2011-09-26T23:59:00.005+01:00

Another Tuesday means another creation from me using a stamp from Queen Kat Designs - Naomi was designed by Myka Jelina for QKD and newly released for September.

I'm a huge fan of monochrome using watercolour to achieve the effect. However, I do love to experiment and push the boundaries of my tools and materials. To create today's card, I would normally have stamped the image on to watercolour paper using Distress Inks then used a water brush to drag ink from the outline to colour the image.

I also love using Copic and Promarker pens for colouring, so decided to have a go at using Copics to achieve a watercolour effect. What do you think ? Did I pull it off ? I'm quite pleased with the finished result and will use it again I think, maybe trying different colours.

I used a kraft basecard, a scrap of ribbon which I recycled from another card and a piece of patterned corrugated cardboard - I picked up a roll of it for a bargain price at my local art shop and just knew it would come in useful !

Thanks for dropping by today, hope you've enjoyed your visit.

... and another LIM entry

2011-09-21T21:38:00.000+01:00

The Purple Princess (aka Kathy) and I managed another craft stash acquisition expedition today and I picked up a few bits (!) at the lovely Violette's in Lakeland. I just had to have this Christmas wreath and sentiment stamp from Inkadinkado and it's going to be perfect for some batch cardmaking (which I shall have to do in order to catch up with my Christmas card production once I get home).

Kathy didn't have any red or green inks in her stash here in Florida, so I used a couple of Marvy Le Plume pens to colour the stamp and 'huffed' on it before stamping it directly on to a 5x5 white card blank I created from a piece of 12x12 cardstock. I stamped the front part of the sentiment banner a second time, cut it out and layered it up with silicone glue. The final touch was some Christmas glitter from Sparkle n Sprinkle added to the berries in the wreath using a glue pen.

So, yet another entry for this weeks Less is More challenge and one more towards their goal of 1000 entries.

Polar Ice Skater......

2011-09-21T00:09:00.001+01:00

Yes, I am in sunny Florida with the fabulous Purple Princess and allowed to play on her wonderous table of craftiness - how lucky am I ? Am missing my crafting since leaving home so it was sooooo... great to get a little inky at Kathy's.

Wasn't relishing the prospect of not being able to enter the Simply Less Is More challenge for a while, but thanks to Kathy and her Florida stash I've managed an entry for this week. Spookily it also fits right in for the Sketchie Challenge this week over on the Craft Mad and Loving It group on Craftbubble - great sketch Clare !

This great Christmas skating bear is from a set of Recollections stamps from Michaels - think I feel a craft shopping trip coming on !

What a pity that we have to take yet another trip to Viollette's craft emporium in Lakeland tomorrow - well, someone has to do it and the boys are planning a day of fun at the DIY store etc!

Not sure when I'll be posting from Florida again, but there will be a few pre-scheduled postings appearing on here while I'm away.

Thanks for popping by, and a huge welcome to my new Followers.

Tea & Cookies

2011-09-19T23:59:00.002+01:00

I do hope you enjoyed last week's project featuring Tea Angel by Che Gilson.

After creating the teabag holder box, I thought it would be nice to create a pretty package for some cookies to go with the box, so this is the project I've got to show you today.

I've used Tea Angel coloured with Copics and the same cardstock colours as used on the teabag box.

I placed some cookies into a cello bag and attached the coloured image layered up on scalloped circles. Two large and two small flowers from my stash finish the decoration.

Here's a piccie of both the teabag box and cookie bag together.

Thanks for visiting today, I hope it's been fun !

Hokey Pokey

2011-09-14T23:59:00.005+01:00

This week we have an 'Anything Goes' theme for our Challenge #182 on Cute Card Thursday. Our prize this week is sponsored by - Tickled Pink Stamps.

For my DT card I chose the super cute 'Hokey Pokey' from Nellie's Choice stamps - isn't she a Doll ? I've coloured her with Copics and added Stardust Stickles on her fur trims, all the stars and snowflakes and around the image layer.

I used a Marianne's Die for the large snowflake, nestie heart frame for the bottom right layer, Martha Stewart snowflake punch and LOTV sentiment. The background paper was a scrap I found in my stash which I think is from Elusive Images but very old.

Thanks for visiting today, hope you enjoyed my project.

Time for Tea

2011-09-12T23:59:00.004+01:00

Anyone for Tea?

There's nothing quite like a nice cup of tea to refresh you in the afternoon I think, and today's gorgeous image is 'Tea Angel' designed by Che Gilson which is one of the newly released stamps for September from Queen Kat Designs.

I've used Tea Angel to decorate a teabag holder box I created and coloured her with Copics. I added Glossy Accents on her bows and the cup and saucer to give them a little dimension.

The image layer was cut using a circle nestie die then attached over a slightly larger layer cut with a petite scallop nestie. All the papers and card used are from SU! and the small flowers punched from scraps of the same paper.

To decorate the top of the box I created a rosette from the paper, created a sentiment on the computer and cut out with a nestie to add to the centre.

I do hope you've enjoyed today's project - Tea Angel is in the QKD Store if you'd like to have her in your stamp stash.

Thanks for looking and have a great day !

At the Office...

2011-09-07T23:59:00.033+01:00

There's a bit of a different theme for you with this week's Cute Card Thursdsay Challenge #181- 'In the Office'. We'd like you to use things you might find in an office eg paper clips, staples, envelopes, clips etc etc on your projects. Our prize sponsor is Simon Says Stamp and full details of the challenge can be found on the CCT blog along with the gorgeous creations from the rest of the DT to inspire you.

On my DT card I've used the lovely Lizzie fairy image designed by Amy Brown for Queen Kat Designs and coloured her with Copics.

My basecard is Kraft and I've added string, staples, a page torn from a note pad and an admission ticket which was lying around on the desk as my embellies. I created the flower using Crealies flower dies and a metal brad in the centre, finished off with a touch of purple Stickles.

I really enjoyed the challenge this week, hope you like my project.

NOEL with bells on !!

2011-09-06T23:59:00.014+01:00

It's wednesday and there's a new challenge on the I Love Promarkers blog. This week we're asking for a metal embelishment or charm on your projects and the prize is sponsored by Joanna Sheen.

I bought the first issue of a new craft magazine called 'Creative Stamping' this week which had a sheet of Christmas stamps as a free gift. I used the NOEL stamp from the set, coloured it with my Promarkers then added Glossy Accents to give the letters some dimension. The papers were also a free gift with a magazine.

The filigree shape was cut with a Marianne's fancy corner die and I added the red gems as highlights. The bell charms were attached using red thread and a punched poinsetia added to hide the join. Finally I added a little red Stickles where the two papers join.

I hope you've enjoyed today's project, it was a fast and fun card to create.

Naomi

2011-09-05T23:59:00.004+01:00

Goooood morning Crafters ... welcome to tuesday here at Stamping Grandma.

I've used one of the new stamps released by Queen Kat Designs for September on my card today. The lovely Naomi was designed by Myka Jelina and I love her oriental feel design.I've coloured Naomi with Copics and used a tiny floral stamp to embelish the edges around the image layer using Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink.

The scrap of lace was in my stash and I attached it using gold coloured staples, then added a strip of flowers cut with a Martha Stewart punch over the top. The pretty oriental theme paper was from my stash and the beaded embellie and pearl topped pin have been sitting my stash for ages waiting to be used on the right card ! No sentiment on the front so it can be personalised later.

Hope you like it - leave me a comment and let me know what you think .

Happily Ever After

2011-09-04T13:19:00.003+01:00

Yesterday saw the wedding of the youngest son of our pals Janet & John - if you've dropped by my blog before you may well have seen these invitations I made earlier in the year.

It was a lovely day, the weather was kind with the rain not arriving til late in the evening.

Here's the Bridal Party outside the reception, the Bride was beautiful and all the bridesmaids and pageboys were well behaved - the pageboys were running around having a great time when this pic was taken so are missing from it !!

I expect you can see a pink and white theme going on here, and everything was really prettily co-ordinated. The table centres were sort of lava lamps with white ostrich feathers on top and looked like palm trees - really effective.

Here's the cake, very pretty and quite yummy with fruit, chocolate and vanilla sponge layers and a few cupcakes for the children.

Hope you've enjoyed a sneak peak at what I was busy doing yesterday - I'm hoping to get a little crafting done later today and will have a project to share with you on here tomorrow.

Warm and Cosy Christmas

2011-08-31T23:59:00.036+01:00

Our theme for this week's challenge on Cute Card Thursday is - #180 'Pinch and a Punch - and the prize Sponsor is The Stamp Shoppe.

I've used the Whipper Snapper 'Snowmen with Scarves' stamp for my DT project, I do so love this image, these little chaps have such rascally expressions, you just know they get into mischief at every opportunity! I've coloured the image with my Copics and added Stardust Stickles for the snow and Glossy Accents on thier noses, twig arms and buttons.

Kraft card is very popular at the moment and I've some 7 x 5 kraft basecards in my stash so I thought I'd use one for a Christmas case with a different style. I cut the tree shape using a set of nestie pennant dies - so you could say I 'pinched' the pennant shape to use as a Christmas tree shape - and the snowflakes were punched from white card using a Martha Stewart Punch, with Stickles plus a crystal gem in the centre to bling them up a bit.

The different layers were cut with plain and scalloped oval nestie dies and the sentiment is from Lili of the Valley.

I hope you like my fun Christmas card and that you'll enter the CCT challenge this week. Thanks for visiting my little bloggie today.

Sharing a Biscuit

2011-08-30T23:59:00.024+01:00

I just couldn't wait to ink up this gorgeous new stamp from Nellie Snellen - Dawn 'Sharing a Biscuit' is so cute, so thought I'd use her on my DT card for this week's I Love Promarkers Challenge #81 as the theme is 'Anything Goes'.
Our prize sponsor this week is Secret crafter.

This project adds yet another card to my Christmas card stock for this year too - result !

The background paper is a scrap I had in my stash and is one of the Graphicus papers I received as a Guild Member a couple of years ago.

I coloured the image with my Promarkers and Letraset Flexi Pens, adding Stickles dusted with Glamour Dust on her hat and scarf and the snow on the branch on the right.

I cut the snowflakes using a couple of sets of Crealies flower dies, I think they work well as snowflakes don't you? Here's a close up shot to show the larger layered snowflake flower. There's a touch of Glossy Accents on the biscuits/cookies Dawn is sharing with her sweet little pal to give them some dimension and Stardust Stickles around the outside edge of the image layer which I've added at an angle over a layer of plain cardstock, both layers cut using square nestie dies.

You can check out all the details for this week's challenge over on the I Love Promarkers Blog, I'm looking forward to seeing your 'Anything Goes' creations.

A Gift For You

2011-08-29T23:59:00.019+01:00

I've got something different to share with you today, this is the project I've posted over on the Dark Ink Sorority blog.

I've used one of the sentiments from QKD on a chocolate/candy bar wrapper, turning it into a special and pretty gift. The monthly stamp kits always include lots of sentiments which are so useful for many occasions. This project is a great idea if you need a small gift in a hurry, we all have pretty papers in our stash and you can add any embellies you wish to finish it off.

My wrapper was created from a piece of 12 x 12 heavy weight patterned paper, cut long enough to wrap around the chocolate bar of your choice and wide enough to cover the length of the bar. I used a Martha Stewart punch to give a pretty lacy edge to both ends of the wrapper, then attached a narrow band of cardstock around the centre.

The rosette was created from a strip of the paper 12 x 1 inches, scored on a scoreboard and a couple of small circles punched out of the same cardstock as used for the narrow centre band. I added a pretty wooden button from my stash in the centre to finish it off. The sentiment was stamped on to a scrap of cream cardstock and cut out using a nestie pennant die.

I hope you've enjoyed today's project, thanks for stopping by today.

Dad meets new friends in Essex !

2011-08-28T09:10:00.000+01:00

Hope you are having a lovely Sunday, I'm away from my stash for the bank holiday weekend, so no new projects to share with you today.

We had hoped to visit Cressing Temple Barns yesterday, when we arrived, however, we discovered it was closed to visitors while they are setting up for the Essex Guild of Craftsmen exhibition which is being held there this weekend. We may well go back today to try again to get in as we have my Dad with us and he hasn't visited there before. I found it to be a really fascinating place when I visited the first time a few years ago and am more than happy to make a second visit.

So, with our plans for the afternoon thwarted, we decided to visit a nearby garden centre for a browse around and try to dodge the showers ! Of course we had to sample the delights of a cup of tea and a teacake while we were there and quite delish it was too.

Here's Dad meeting some of the locals, they seem to be a friendly bunch !!

This evening we are meeting my lovely crafting pal BlueBertie (Lauren) and her OH at the Jack and Jenny pub for a nice meal and a catch up. I haven't seen her since our craftathon in Bristol in June and I'm sure we'll have lots to talk about !

That's all from me for today folks, I may well have more piccies to share from this evening. Have a great bank holiday, whatever you get up to.

How many crafting days til Christmas?

2011-08-24T23:59:00.046+01:00

.... scarily few and I've just realised there aren't anywhere near enough if I don't get a wiggle on and add to my stock of Christmas cards soon.

Sooo..... I decided to use this week's Cute Card Thursday Challenge #179 - sketch to get one finished to add to my stock. The prize sponsor this week is Ktraftin' Kimmie Stamps.

I've had this sweet Whiff of Joy image stamped up for at least a couple of years and languishing in the bottom of my box of Christmas images awaiting colouring and turning into a cards. The lovely tartan background paper has also been lying around in my cupboard for a long time. So today's project is helping me to clear out some of my older stash too - result !

The image is coloured with Copics, sentiment is by Lili of the Valley and cut out using plain and petite scallop circle nesties. Flowers were punched using my pal Annie's die from plain red and metallic red card and the leaves were cut with a Martha Stewart holly punch. I added touches of Stickles and gold coloured half beads to finish off the flowers.

This is a really nice sketch to work with and I know I'll use it again and again, hope you enjoy using it too. The details of the challenge and sketch are on the CCT blog here if you'd like to check them out.

Have a great day.

Sail Away

2011-08-23T23:59:00.053+01:00

I always think there's something quite tranquil about an image of a small sail boat on the ocean. This lovely digi image called 'Sail Away' from Digi Doodle Shop captures that tranquility perfectly I think. I've used it for my DT card for this week's challenge over on the I Love Promarkers Blog as DDS are sponsoring the prize. The challenge this week is to use Paper Piercing (not paper piecing!) on your projects.

I created a stepper card using my Hougie Board and the background paper is by Papermania. I pierced around all the edges and used a blue Spica Glitter Pen to join up the holes and create faux stitching to the design. I deliberately didn't prick the holes in straight lines as I wanted the faux stitching to look a little uneven and hand sewn.

The sentiment elements were cut using dies from a nestie set which I adhered to a scrap of SU! Night of Navy card and cut round leaving a navy border around the shape. The image is layered over the same navy cardstock. Blue gems from my stash completed this clean and simple design.

Hope you've enjoyed today's project, the full details of the challenge and the DT projects are on the I Love Promarkers blog if you'd like to take a look.

You're Invited

2011-08-22T23:59:00.001+01:00

Time for another Tuesday Dark Ink project from me, and I've used 'Messenger' designed by Terra Bidlespacher which is one of the new stamps released this month by Queen Kat Designs.

I created an ATC sized card cutting out just part of the whole image with a rectangle nestie before adding it over a slightly larger layer.

I coloured the image with Copics and added Glossy Accents on her goggles and the clasp on her mailbag. The ribbon for the loops was from my stash, as was the brown gem in the centre of the flower on the sentiment.

The sentiment is from a QKD Myka Jelina monthly kit and stamped using Memento Rich Cocoa ink and cut out with a nestie die. A length of thin brown ribbon tied around the card and into a knot, finished the design.

Hope you've enjoyed today's project - that's it from me for today, hope you'll drop by again soon.

Zen

2011-08-21T09:32:00.002+01:00

As the Guest Design Team Member for August on the Craft Mad and Loving It group on Craftbubble, it's my turn to set the Sunday Theme Challenge and I thought I'd do something a little different this week.

There just seems to be so much stress and unhappiness around at the moment, in the UK, globally and especially amongst my lovely friends and family. So my theme for the week is 'Zen' and the following is what I've asked everyone to do. You might like to join in and try this for yourself, I'd love to hear what your experiences are if you do and please include a link to any project you create, I'd be fascinated to see what you've made.

Take a moment, sit down in a lovely quiet place, relax and take a nice deep breath and let it out slowly, clear your busy mind and just let the word 'Zen' float through your consciousness. Relax and let your creative imagination run free to create a project (anything you like) inspired by whatever the word Zen brings to mind.

Relaxation and meditation are a great way to help reduce stress and anxiety, but not always easy when we are busy, sad, in pain or just restless and ill at ease.

I chose the lovely image by ArtKure to create my card. Just looking at this scene calms me and I can just imagine sitting there looking out towards Mount Fuji and breathing in the clean mountain air. The ray of sunshine slanting across the top of the card does make it look as if the top is angled, it isn't IRL but I didn't want to block off the sun as we've seen so little of it here this year.

Enjoy your Sunday and do try to find a little calm space in your day just for You, to relax and re-charge your batteries - it need only be five or ten minutes but you will feel the benefit.

Special Friends

2011-08-19T23:59:00.048+01:00

I'm lucky enough to have been invited to be the Guest Design Team Member for one of the challenges in August over on the Craft Mad and Loving it Group on Craftbubble. I got to design a sketch and select a theme and it's my turn to set today's new sketchie. My theme is 'Special Friends.

I used this cute set of stamps from Kanban to create a scene for my card design, coloured with Copics and touches of Spica Glitter Pen. There's Glossy Accents on parts of the images too.

The lovely background paper is by SU! and I had a go at making my first rosette with a strip of the same paper. The smaller layers you can just see peeking from under the image are cut from the same paper but with the other side pattern uppermost. The lacy edged pennant shaped layer was cut from SU! cardstock using a nestie die set. The flower gem in the centre of the rosette was from my stash.

I'm excited to see what other members of the forum make using my sketch this week, and tomorrow I have a theme in mind for the weekly Sunday Theme challenge which I believe will get everyone putting their 'Thinking Caps' firmly on !!

Here's the sketch if you'd like to use it yourself

Thanks for dropping by today, hope you enjoyed your visit.

Happy 60th Birthday

2011-08-18T23:59:00.038+01:00

It was a pal's 60th Birthday recently and I wanted to create a special card for her to celebrate this milestone birthday, so today's post features her card.

I do love these elegant lady sketch images by Penny Black. You can either colour them or just stamp and leave the design as simple line art. I decided to add just a touch of colour to the image and I know my pal likes blue.

I wanted to add a very discrete number rather than a 'in your face' large one, so stamped the tiny 6 and 0 on to two of the balloons. My first instinct was to stamp the numbers on the two balloons in the centre of the bunch, but decided to add them to the right hand side as I felt it would better align with the image. In this position the eye is drawn from the numbers in a lefthand diagonal line down to the the flower on her bag and is more balanced (in my view anyway!) what do you think? Answers on a postcard please! or better to just leave me a comment !!!!

The 'Congratulations' sentiment along the bottom is from a set by Dark Room Door - I love and use this set a lot.

There's Glossy Accents on the balloons, the flower on her chic handbag and her shoes and also touches of Spica Glitter Pen on the strings of the balloons and her dress.

As it was a special birthday card I decided to create a specially embelished envelope to hold it, You can just see the envelope under the card in the piccie. I stamped a calender image, added the month and her birthdate, with a tiny pearl star to highlight the date on the front of the envelope. The base card I used is a large 8x8 scalloped edge, so the card has a great deal of 'presence'.

Hope you enjoyed today's creation and that you'll drop by again soon.

With Love on Your Wedding Day

2011-08-17T23:59:00.028+01:00

Today we have a new challenge posted up on the Cute Card Thursday blog and #178 this week asks us to created a Wedding card. Our prize sponsor for this challenge is Michelle's Scrapbooking and More.

I've used three gorgeous stamps from Whiff of Joy and one from Magnolia to create the design for my card. The rose swing, bride and dove are all WoJ and the lacy heart is from one of the older Magnolia collections.

I coloured the images with Copics, adding clear Spica Glitter Pen to give a subtle sparkle to her veil and the tiny white flowers on her headress and in the bouquet.

The background paper is from Pink Petticoat and the tag was cut using a Magnolia Doo Hicky die. The larger flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the tiny white ones were in my stash. I curled the flower stems around a pokey tool to create the little swirls and the fronds were cut using a Martha Stewart punch. The bride and dove were popped up using Pinflair glue and I added Stardust Stickles around the image layer and the heart and also touches on the flowers.

Here's a close up view which shows the dimension of the Glossy Accents on the roses in her bouquet and the flowers in her hair a little more clearly.

I'm looking forward to seeing your entries for this challenge, you can get the full details and check out the fabulous DT creations on the blog.

Thanks for checking out my card today.

Maisie's Balloons

2011-08-16T23:59:00.015+01:00

We've got a new challenge starting today over on I Love Promarkers and our prize sponsor is Stampezee. You can check out the full details and see all the DT projects on the blog here.

Challenge #79 this week is to create an easel card and I selected the cute 'Maisie Two Balloons' stamp from Lili of the Valley for my DT sample.

I stamped Maisie on to a triangle/penant shape which I cut using a nestie die, then coloured her using Promarkers and my newly acquired Letraset Flexi Markers. The pale shades of the Flexi's work well for blending with the original colours of the PM's. There's Glossy Accents on the balloons, her hair ribbon and shoes. The image layer is attached over a slightly larger penant shape with a lacy edge, also cut using a nestie die.

The background papers are from my stash and flowers and foliage cut using various Marianne's dies. For the sentiment inside I used a stamp from Little Claire's, attached over a lacy layer cut with a Nellie Snellen die. This was attached using foam pads to raise it up as the 'stop' for the easel.

That's it from me for today, thanks for visiting.

Fairy Hanger

2011-08-15T23:59:00.017+01:00

Happy Tuesday folks, hope you're having a great day. I've got another project to share today featuring the lovely Venus Moon by Myka Jelina which is a new release stamp for August by Queen Kat Designs.
Rather than a card I decided to make a fairy hanger so cut out the base shape using a nestie die, one piece from patterned heavy weight paper and another from cream pearlescent card for the back.

I coloured the image with Copics, added some Spica Glitter Pen, Stickles and Glossy Accents before attaching over a fancy layer cut using a Nellie Snellen die. The leafy swirl was cut using a Marianne's die and the butterflies cut with a Martha Stewart punch for the large one and a set of punch and emboss punches by Nellie Snellen for the small ones. I've added pearls and gems from my stash and tied on a length of silky twine for the hanger.

I hope you've enjoyed today's project - do come back soon as I've lots more to share with you.

Have a great day !

Congratulations..... Rosie !

2011-08-14T23:59:00.004+01:00

Recently we had a little fun running a caption contest over on Craftbubble. We asked for suggested captions for a photo taken during a fabulous crafting weekend I spent with my pals Kathy and Lauren. I selected the winner using a random number generator and the lovely Rosie's name was picked as winner of the wee prize I offered.

Before mailing Rosie's prize I made this congratulations card to include in the package.

A simple design using a set of SU! stamps and a couple of colours of ink. I am sure it will have arrived by now and hope that Rosie likes both the prize and the card.

Thanks for checking out my project today.

Cards for Ryan Appeal

2011-08-14T17:04:00.004+01:00

Firstly, I'd like to welcome my new Followers, welcome on board it's great to have you join us. I hope you'll find the time to drop back now and then to check on what I've been up to in my crafty space !

Now on to today's project. I received an email from a lovely crafting pal of mine in the USA Meredith Winston detailing an appeal for cards. I won't repeat all the details as you can read more here if you wish to join in and send a card. Suffice it to say that a friend of Meredith's brother was involved in a serious accident and is currently undergoing rehabilitation. My card today is the one I am planning to post to Ryan at the hospital and I hope that in some small way it helps him along the way to recovery. If you have a card lying around that you could send, that would be so lovely, apparently the staff read all the cards to Ryan and it is positively impacting his rate of recovery to know that so many people are thinking of him.

I decided to create a CAS card as, being just one layer, it will be more reasonable to post to the USA than one with lots of embellies on it. It's a C6 base card with the Get Well sentiment by Dark Room Door stamped along the lower edge with Memento Paris Dusk ink. The cute teddy from a Nit Wit Collection set of stamps was also stamped with the same ink and coloured with Copics. I added Glossy Accents to the ribbon and the heart on the top left and considered it done.

I don't know where the grey spot has appeared from on the upper left of the piccie, it certainly isn't on the actual card, so apologies for the less than perfect quality of the pic.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post.

Ink Spots

2011-08-13T10:54:00.002+01:00

For too many reasons to go into, I'm soooo... happy that the weekend has finally arrived. One of the reasons is the new Less is More challenge as I've missed taking part in these over the past few weeks.

I was on vacation for a couple of weeks with no internet access and then last week was so manic I didn't get the chance to create an entry until the end of the week. I also struggled to find the time to leave comments on more than just a handful of the other fabulous entries and for this I apologise. This week I hope to get around to you all to check out your creations and leave you some lurve !

Chrissie and Mandi have asked us this week to create a one layer card and use Ink, preferably utilising a style or technique we either haven't tried before or haven't used much.

I have all the colours of the Tim Holtz Distress Inks in my stash and use them a great deal, but using a craft mat and water spritzer with them is something I haven't tried more than a couple of times. Soooo.... I thought I'd have another try at this technique for my card today.

The DI colours used are Forest Moss and Broken China for the water spritzing/craftmat technique on the background and Rusty Hinge over stamped with Walnut Stain for the image, with Walnut Stain for the sentiment. The image was created using a set by SU! which my pal Annie gave to me recently, and the sentiment from a set by Dark Room Door.

I think I need a lot more practice with this technique and I'm going to enjoy trying it with lots of other colour combos as I like the effect.

Thanks for checking out today's project.

Red, White & Blue

2011-08-11T21:20:00.003+01:00

Challenge #27 on the Less is More blog asks us to create a project using the colours of our national flag. Mine of course are the Red, White and Blue of the Union Jack as I live in the United Kingdom.

I created a clean and simple design using a stamp and sentiment from a lovely set of stamps by Inkadinkado. I stamped them using Memento Danube Blue ink and coloured the flowers with Copics. I also added Glossy Accents to the flower heads to give them dimension.

After layering the image over red card then blue card, I added red Stickles around the edges, then attached the whole topper to a C6 base card.

That's it for today folks, hope you like today's creation and thanks so much for dropping by. Have a great day whatever you have planned.

CAS Thinking of You

2011-08-10T23:59:00.024+01:00

We've a Clean and Simple (CAS) theme for this week's Cute Card Thursday challenge #177 and the prize is kindly sponsored by Michelle's Scrapbooking and More.

I used the adorable 'Sorry Shanna' by Mo Manning for Stampingbella for my DT card and coloured her with Copics. The sentiment comes with the image stamp as a set and I stamped it with Memento Cottage Ivy ink on to a scrap of SU! Pretty in Pink cardstock before cutting out with a Spellbinder banner die.

The tiny pink pearl heart was from my pot of gems and as a final touch I added Glossy Accents to her hair ribbons and the flowers in her little bouquet.

The layers were cut using plain oval and petite scalloped oval nesties and the base card is C6 deckle edge. I'm really loving the CAS style at the moment, although I do still find it difficult not to add too many elements and embellies !

Hope you've enjoyed seeing today's card and that you'll have a go at the challenge this week. Just hop on over to the CCT blog to check out the rest of the DT projects and get all the details.

Snow Matey.....

2011-08-09T23:59:00.025+01:00

The new challenge starting today over on I &hearts; Promarkers is sponsored by Di's Digis and we have a sketch to work with. Pop on over to the challenge blog to check out the details.

For my DT card I was planning to use a great DD digi but sadly my printer just decided to stop working and nothing I've tried will make it spring into life. Looks like I'll have to get some technical help in.

So, as I was planning to create a Christmas card, I thought I'd just go ahead but use a stamped image instead. I found this cute snowie pals image in my box of stamped images and I'm sorry I have no idea where I got it. I believe it is by Whipper Snapper Designs but it may be a really old stamp as I can't find it anywhere online. If anyone can confirm this or tell me who it's by, I'd be very grateful ! (thanks to Paula I can now confirm that the image is indeed a stamp by Whipper Snapper Designs called Snowmen with Scarves, and as she was kind enough to give me a direct link to the stamp in her comment, I just had to hop right on over and somehow this stamp - plus a couple others - just jumped into my shopping cart - oopsie !!) So you may just see these cheery little chappies appearing on some of my cards at a later date.

I coloured the image of course with my Promarkers then added Crystal Stickles dusted with Glamour Dust for the snow and around the edges of the image layer and the sentiment. I embossed the background layers in my Cuttlebug using a couple of different embossing folders. The sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly and there's a little Stickles and GD on the snowflakes in the design. Here's a close up shot to show the embossing a little clearer. There's Glossy Accents on the hat and their noses to give them some dimension.

That's it from me for today, I'm looking forward to seeing what you make of this week's sketch. Just post a link to your entry on the I &hearts; Promarkers blog and we'll hop over and check it out.

Bringing you Messenger

2011-08-08T23:59:00.015+01:00

Happy Tuesday ! For today's card I've used 'Messenger' designed by Terra Bidlespacher for Queen Kat Designs, to create a card.

I've coloured her with Copics and added some touches of gold Spica Glitter pen on the rings holding the ropes of the balloon and basket.

I thought this sentiment was perfect to go with the image as I can just imagine her delivering lots of 'missing you' letters. There's a little Glossy Accents on her goggles to give the impression of glass too.

The stamp is quite detailed so I kept the rest of the design simple, I just doodled a freehand frame around the outside edges of the C6 card, added the sentiment and considered it done !

Thanks for looking

Happy Anniversary Kathy & Steve

2011-08-07T23:59:00.010+01:00

It's the Wedding Anniversary of my dear friends Kathy & Steve today and I made this card especially for them. I hope they like it and have a wonderful day.

I know that Kathy loves anything purple, so I get a tick in the box for my colour scheme and she is also a fan of CAS cards - another tick I think.

The flower was created using stamps and matching punches from SU!. The petals were stamped using Memento Paris Dusk and Potter's Clay inks, punched out and assembed into the flower shape. The sentiment is from a set by Dark Room Door and again stamped in Paris Dusk directly on to the white base card. The finishing touch was a purple gem in the centre of the flower.

Thanks for stopping by to check today's project.

Fairy Fleur

2011-08-06T23:59:00.003+01:00

I've been playing with my Lavinia stamps again, but wanted this card to be a more CAS (clean and simple) design. So no background papers, brayering or Distress Inks, just a plain white background.

I started with a white 5x5 base card and stamped the lovely 'Fleur' directly on to it to build up the scene. I was concerned that the Copics might bleed when I coloured the main fairy image, but luckily they didn't.

There is clear Spica Glitter Pen on her wings and the flowerhead and black Spica on her boots and the spots on her clothes, but as always it never shows up in a photograph. IRL there is a great deal of twinkly fairydust around !

My design started life in my head as a true CAS project, but as I got so carried away with adding more of the foliage, mushrooms and stars, it got a tad too fussy to be CAS. Still, I'm reasonably pleased with it and as there is no sentiment on the front, it will go into my box of 'any occasion' cards to use on a later date.

I'm still getting to grips with these gorgeous Lavia stamps and trying new techniques, thank you for allowing me to share another creation with you.

See you again next time !

A Life on the Ocean Wave....

2011-08-05T09:25:00.000+01:00

I created today's card as my entry for the nautical themed challenge over on Craftbubble's Craft Mad and Loving It group this week.

This stamp from Little Darlings was absolutely perfect for the challenge. I coloured it with Copics and added Glossy Accents to the waves to give them some texture. The background sky was created with some cloud stamps from a 'Build a Scene' set and the seagulls are from a Crafty Individuals set.

I've had the tiny real shells in my stash for a very long time and I tied a length of twine around the bottom half of the card, finishing with a simple knot. The image is attached over a layer of SU! Not Quite Navy cardstock just to lift it a little against the white background. A sort of CAS design, a style I am so loving at the moment, as regular visitors may have noticed !

Thanks for checking out today's project.

Grace

2011-08-03T23:59:00.024+01:00

Today sees a new challenge starting over on Cute Card Thursday.  For Challenge #176 we are asked to create our own backgrounds and not use any designer papers on our projects. This week's prize is sponsored by The Stamp Shoppe.

For my DT card this week I decided to use a sweet digi image - 'Grace Standing' - from Sugar Nellie.  I coloured her with Copics and added some Glossy Accents to her hair ribbons, buttons and sandals. I added the image over a layer of plum coloured card to pick up the shades used on the image.

I kept my design very simple, using a C6 deckle edge base card on to which I stamped the pretty hearts from a Nit Wit Collection set of stamps, then coloured the tiny hearts with a Copic to match the colours I used on the image.   No flowers, swirls or bling from me this week, sometimes it's nice not to include lots of embelishments and just let the image take centre stage. I hope you like today's card.

I look forward to seeing your entries for the challenge this week. Happy Crafting !

I'm Feeling Fruity !!!

2011-08-03T12:00:00.001+01:00

... well, I had to be so that I could create an entry for this week's Less is More Challenge which has the theme - Feeling Fruity !

When I ventured into Viva Las Vegas Stamps while on vacation earlier this year (it certainly was an experience I can tell you !) I was faced with a huge mountain of pink rubber and a sign which said "10 unmounted stamps for $10". Well, what was a girl to do? I had to pick up a small basket and load it with a pile of stamps.

The images I've used on my card were two of these stamps. I only inked up part of the one with the lines as I didn't want too deep a border under the watermelon image.

I stamped the images with Memento Cottage Ivy ink and coloured with Copics. The sentiment is from my box of sentiment stamps and I'm sorry I don't know who it's by, I stamped it with Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink.

I really missed the LIM challenge whilst away on vacation, it's so nice to get back to it this week.

Thanks for dropping by today.

Things with wings

2011-08-02T23:59:00.021+01:00

The I ♥ Promarkers Challenge theme this week is 'Things with Wings' and the prize is sponsored by Joanna Sheen.

For my DT card I used a digi image from Cuddly Buddly and background papers from the Vintage Rose Collection by Pink Petticoat.

I used an EK Success border punch on the edge of the floral layer, then tied a length of pretty pink ribbon around.

The image is layered over a piece of pale pink cardstock and the butterflies were created using a set of Nellie Snellen punch and emboss punches. A touch of Crystal Stickles around the edge of the image layer and for the butterfly bodies and a tiny sentiment stamped in the bottom right, to finish off this simple card.

Thanks for dropping by to see my project today, do pop by again soon.

Venus Moon

2011-08-01T23:59:00.005+01:00

Happy Tuesday to you, hope it's a good one whatever you get up to. I've been busy working with my new release stamps from Queen Kat Designs for August and today's project features the totally gorgeous Venus Moon by Myka Jelina - don't you just love her?

I think you know me by now and that I do so love to experiment and push the boundaries with images and materials. Today's creation is one of my latest experiments.

Normally I use a nice smooth coated white cardstock on which to stamp my images when I am colouring with alcohol inks such as Copics and Promarkers. I know that the colours don't bleed when I use the smooth cardstock, but sometimes I don't want to have my image on a separate layer and the cardstock isn't of a heavy enough weight to use as a base card.

For today's card I stamped the image directly on to a piece of subtley patterned background paper and coloured it with Copics. I then used some sequin waste and a couple of Memento ink pads to create a design at the bottom. I cut out some fronds using Marianne Designs dies and punched butterflies in three sizes using a set of Nellie Snellen punch and emboss punches. I punched two of each size, left one flat, which I attached to the card, then embossed the second layer and glued just the centre so the wings lift up. The butterfly bodies where created with a Waco Pearlmaker pen.

This is a much more simple and flat design than it appears in the picture and reasonably quick to do. I was very pleased that my experiment worked, it could have gone so horribly wrong ! and I will try it again in the future I think.

Bye for now....

I'm baaaaack.... !

2011-08-01T10:24:00.005+01:00

..... after a couple of wonderful weeks in sunny Spain entertaining my 7 year old grandson - you will note that I haven't actually called it a holiday ! lively young boy, small apartment, 30 degree + heat.... go figure. Seriously though, I did have a great time and it was so lovely to spend time with my grandson as I don't get to see him that often. Only problem is that hubby and I need a holiday to get over it !

"I've been as good as gold actually"

"Got to get my Arena finished before the tide comes in"

Yes, that IS a Purple and Pink cow you can see outside this beach restaurant - but the lasagna was delish !

"I need to exercise after eating that huge dish of lasagna"

"Look Grandma, I can swim now"

Just call me Jacques..... !

Thought you might like to have a sneak peek at all the fun we had, I really missed my crafting though and hope to have something finished and posted up on here very soon - see Ya later !!!!!

Hatter Rose Candy Bag

2011-07-25T23:59:00.004+01:00

Today's project is a little gift bag of candy with a pretty tag.

I stamped the lovely Hatter Rose designed by Che Gilson for Queen Kat Designs using Versamark ink, then added some WOW! Ruby Romance embossing glitter before heat setting it. The finish is really glittery IRL, but this doesn't show up too well in the pic sadly.

Hatter Rose is a perfect size to create a pretty gift tag and after embossing I cut the image out using a Marianne's die before attaching the tag to the bag of candy using a length of sparkly red ribbon.

Quick, simple and yet it makes a pretty gift, ideal for many occasions.

Thanks for dropping by to check out today's project, hope to see you again soon when I'll have another to share with you.

Fairy 'Nuff !!

2011-07-22T22:37:00.049+01:00

When I went to ArtStamps at Newbury with my crafty pals on 3 July, I was drawn like 'a moth to a flame' by the Lavinia Stamps stand. I could quite easily have done a full sweep of the stand and picked up one of each of these delightful stamps. In fact I think I may have had almost all of them in my basket at one point as I worked my way around the stand. Of course, common sense kicked in before I got to the till, but I did spend rather a lot of money even so - oopsie !! So far I have resisted adding any more to my collection from their website, but I don't know how long my resistance will last !!!

I've been playing with some of my new stamps and today's project is my first effort. I can see how I could have done it all so much better, but I am reasonably happy with the finished result, what do you think? Practice, practice, practice is called for I feel.

I started with a piece of cream cardstock the same size as my square base card, used Antique Linen Distress Ink all over then used it to stamp some of the lovely lantern flowers (that's what I call them anyway, I don't know what the actual name is !) to create a pale background design. I then used Memento Rich Cocoa ink to stamp the fairy image, the stars scattered around the background and the tiny toadstools and grasses at the bottom. I also used the RC ink to distress the edges. There is clear Spica Glitter Pen on the flower head on her staff and her wings, but Spica never shows up well on photographs - IRL they are quite sparkly.

I hope to have more Lavinia projects to share with you at a later date.

Thanks for stopping by today.

2011-07-18T23:59:00.010+01:00

I decided to try something different for today's project using the lovely Nefertari stamp designed by Myka Jelina for Queen Kat Designs.

I stamped the image with Versamark on to some SU! Night of Navy cardstock then used WOW! Embossing Glitter to heat emboss it. IRL the embossing is really glittery, sadly it just isn't showing up in the pic. The image is cut out using a narrow oval nestie and attached over a C6 Kraft base card. The small circular embellies were punched from scraps of the SU! cardstock.

I added Golden Rod Stickles around the edge of the image layer and around the small circles at the bottom.

This is a simple, but in my view, elegant layout - Nefertari is such a lovely image and is perfect for heat embossing.

Thanks for dropping by to check out today's project, hope to see you again soon when I'll have another project to share with you.

Going Round in Circles.....

2011-07-13T23:59:00.044+01:00

Challenge #173 on Cute Card Thursday this week is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp and our theme is 'Going Round in Circles' - we want to see at least one circle or circular embellie on your project.

The stamp set I pulled out for my DT card is called 'Make a Wish' from Debbie Moore Designs and I coloured the images with Copics. There's Diamond Stickles added to the dandelion heads and around the edges for lots of subtle sparkle, although it isn't showing up well on the piccie sadly.

The bp is from the Pink Petticoat Vintage Rose Collection and I used a plain circle and petite scalloped circle nestie dies, SU! Night of Navy and Garden Green cardstock for layering. I then edged a piece of pink cardstoc,k which matches the tiny roses on the bp, with a Martha Stewart border punch. My final circular elements are the gems added to the bottom left.

Add a link to your project over on the CCT blog for a chance to win this week's prize.

Thanks for dropping by today, hope you've enjoyed your visit.

Princess Jasmine Honey

2011-07-12T23:59:00.008+01:00

We've got a new challenge starting today over on I &hearts; Promarkers and our prize sponsor this week is Sassy Studio Designs. For Challenge #74 we have a recipe to work with. To enter the challenge, create your project including the recipe elements and don't forget to colour with Promarkers.

1 ribbon

2 brads/buttons/gems

2 background papers

I used the lovely Princess Jasmine Honey digi from SSD for my DT project, coloured her with Promarkers and cut her out with a nestie die. My two background papers, on the base card and the layer behind the image were scraps I found in my stash and I cut a layer with the same die set from SU! Early Espresso cardstock then embossed it with a tiny hearts embossing folder to add under the patterned layer.

I tied my length of gold seam binding ribbon around the shaped layers and tied a bow at the right before adding the image layer and the two flower gems were in my tub of miscellaneous gems. I added some Glossy Accents to the gem in her headband, earrings and necklace as a finishing touch.

I'm looking forward to seeing your entries for this week's challenge, leave a direct link to your project on the ILPM blog to be in with a chance to win this week's prize.

Hatter Rose with Bunting

2011-07-11T23:59:00.009+01:00

Happy Tuesday Peeps ! I've got another new release stamp from Queen Kat Designs to share with you today - she's called 'Hatter Rose' and was designed by the very talented Che Gilson.

I coloured Rose with Copics before cutting her out using a set of nesties and adding over a slightly larger circular layer. The lacey layer was cut with a Marianne's die.

I stamped and cut out a single rose image from one of the Myka Jelina monthly kits from QKD and added Glossy Accents over this and the roses in the main image. There's purple Stickles added around the edge of the image layer.

I created the bunting by cutting out small triangular pieces from some paper scraps in my stash, attached them to a length of crafters twine and added more of the purple Stickles along the top. The bunting is secured using a couple of the yummy purple staples I found recently for a bargain price.

Rather than using background paper for my card, I created a patterned background using a scrap of sequin waste and some Distress Inks. I added another couple of scraps of the sequin waste under the image - it's lovely shiny purple - perfect !

That's it from me for today thanks for taking the time to pop in to see today's project - have a great day whatever you have planned.

I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside.......

2011-07-09T16:46:00.000+01:00

I've been out at a crop most of the day, so missed the launch of this week's Less is More Challenge this morning - #23 One Layer Card with the theme of 'Something with Legs'. As soon as I got home, I just had to sit down and create an entry.

I used a set of stamps from Crafty Individuals, created an oval mask using a nestie then Distress Inks to make a one layer background . I didn't want to achieve a smooth blend of colours, but more the effect of a patchy sky and sea, with just a hint of foreground sand, so used Broken China and Faded Jeans, with Scattered Straw for the sand.

The Bathing Belle (with legs), sentiment and seagulls (with legs) were stamped with Memento Paris Dusk ink.

Thanks for popping by to check out my card, it's great to see you !

Just Tagging Along.....

2011-07-08T23:59:00.014+01:00

No card today, I've got a tag to share with you instead.

I started my tag during the fabby crafting weekend with my pals recently. I had taken with me a pack of mountboard tags I'd bought at the Art Shop in Kelly Bray recently and thought it would be fun for each of us to start with a blank tag and compare how they all turned out.

That was a good plan, but I took a little too long with another project so didn't actually finish it during the weekend ! Since getting home I have finished it off, so it will be the first time my crafting pals Kathy and Lauren have seen the finished article. Hope they like it !

I added Distress Inks over the whole base tag, then used a few stamps from my recently acquired set of stamps by Nit Wit. I love the homespun style of these images and can see that I'll use them a lot. I doodled around the edge with an orange Spica Glitter Pen and finished off the edges with my Krylon gold pen.

I coloured the images with Copics and added lots of Glossy Accents and Stickles. The larger butterfly was stamped on cardstock, coloured with Copics, cut out and attached to the tag with some Pinflair Glue under the wings to give them dimension. The pretty ribbon/thread was in my stash and I thought the colours in it were ideal to match the colours I'd used on the design.

Normally on a saturday I have a Less is More submission to share with you, today I am off to spend the day at a local crop run by my lovely pal Linda, who is also a Stamping Up! demonstrator and has some new SU! goodies for me to collect. So, my LIM project will have to be delayed until later in the day. I haven't even had chance to check out what this week's theme is yet, so that will be something to look forward to when I get home later.

How does your garden Bloom & Grow

2011-07-07T23:59:00.041+01:00

During my lovely crafting weekend with my pals Kathy and Lauren I came across a couple of sets of Cling Stamps designed by Helz Cuppleditch, I just had to have them of course ! I got 'Bloom & Grow' and 'Fairy Cakes'.

I used the Bloom & Grow set for today's card, isn't she a cutie and she comes with lovely accessories like the flowerpot, seed packets, a watering can and a pair of gardening gloves - great for building a scene.

The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and coloured with Copics. I stamped two sets of sunflowers and decoupaged them, although it doesn't seem to show in the piccie. The sentiment is by LOTV, background paper by Papermania and I added the image layer over some SU! Not Quite Navy cardstock.

I've entered my card for the Craftbubble Craft Mad and Loving It sketchie challenge this week. I selected the colours dark blue and rich yellow from the inspirational pictures for the design.

Racey Lacey !

2011-07-06T23:59:00.030+01:00

Happy Thursday dear blogging friends, hope you're having a great one.

Today we have a new challenge starting on Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #172 with the theme 'Racey Lace'. We want to see lace on your creations and our prize sponsor for this week is The Stamp Shoppe. Hop over to the blog to check out all the fabulous creations from the DT for inspiration.

For my DT card I decided to focus on the 'Racey' part of the theme with just a touch of added lace !!

This Kenny K image 'Bodacious Bev' was a free digi image on the CD included with Complete Cardmaking magazine. I have this card in mind for someone who has a 'special' birthday coming up real soon !

I coloured Bev with Copics, cut her out with a plain oval Nestie, then added this over a scalloped oval cut from shiny black cardstock. I used a Martha Stewart border punch to add a lacey edging to the pink strip she is sitting on before adding a length of pretty black lace over the top.

She has Glossy Accents on her boots, but this isn't showing up too well on the main pic, so I've included a close up shot which shows the glossy effect a little more clearly.

The sentiment is from Crafty Individuals and cut out with a heart die from a Nellie's Choice set. The lacey pink heart was cut using a large die from the same set. Background paper was from my stash and I added pink Stickles around the edges of the image layer and heart shaped sentiment.

I'm looking forward to seeing your creations for this challenge, hop over to the CCT blog and add a direct link to your card to be in with a chance of winning this week's prize. Let's see what you make of this theme!

Flowers Intoxicate Me....

2011-07-06T21:10:00.000+01:00

I was sorting out some of my stamps today, I'm trying to catalogue them all but it's proving a marathon task ! I came across this gorgeous Penny Black 'Blush' stamp and as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to create another entry for this week's Less is More Challenge - Shades of Blue - using it.

I stamped the image on to a C6 deckle edge base card using Memento Bahama Blue ink, then added the sentiment from Queen Kat Designs stamped with Memento Paris Dusk ink.

A very Clean and Simple card, but I like the freshness of it and it will go into my box of 'any occasion' cards awaiting an appropriate insert/stamped greeting.

I rarely post more than once a day, but wanted to make sure I entered this for the challenge. I'll be back tomorrow with my DT card for the latest Cute Card Thursday challenge - hope you'll drop by again.

Clean & Simple

2011-07-05T23:59:00.062+01:00

We've got a Clean & Simple (CAS) Challenge on I ♥ Promarkers for #73 this week and our prize is sponsored by Joanna Sheen.

I struggled with CAS cards in the past, but recently I've become more comfortable with them. It is so hard to resist the temptation to add just a little more to a design ! Careful placement of the elements is the secret to achieving balance and simplicity in your CAS design.

When we talk about 'white space' on CAS cards it doesn't necessarily have to be white, just clean open spaces. For my DT card I opted to use a kraft base card on which I stamped the coffee/tea stain image, from Queen Kat Designs, using Memento Rich Cocoa ink - I suspect that most of us have images just like this one on our crafting table !! The Relax sentiment is from Lili of the Valley and the teacup image is a freebie stamp from Craft Stamper Magazine.

I don't often use the masking technique but I knew that I wanted the three teacup images to look as though they were really stacked on top of each other - I hope I achieved this, what do you think?

The image was cut out with a plain rectangle nestie and distressed around the edges with Old Paper and Frayed Burlap Distress Ink. The image was, of course, coloured with Promarkers.

That's it from me today, it's over to you now, let us see your CAS creations. Add a link to your card on the ILPM blog and we'll drop over to check it out, plus you will be entered into the draw for this week's prize of £10 to spend in the Joanna Sheen Store.

Nefertari

2011-07-04T23:59:00.007+01:00

Welcome to Tuesday, the first one in a new month. I've got a new release stamp to share with you today, the lovely Nefertari designed by Myka Jelina is now available from the Queen Kat Designs Store.

To my mind, this image is so lovely and detailed that I didn't want to detract from it in any way. I've kept my card design very simple, coloured the image with Copics and added it over a couple of layers of plain cardstock to reflect the colours used in the image.

The colours purple and gold always say Egypt to me and so I just added a length of gold coloured leather trim and some gold half beads on the coloured layers. There are also touches of gold Spica Glitter Pen on parts of the image.

I hope you've enjoyed today's project, leave a comment if you care to and do drop by again, it's lovely to see you.

Happy Crafting !

Shades of Blue - LIM #22

2011-07-04T12:55:00.000+01:00

I'm late getting my Less is More submission in for this week's challenge - I have been away since friday morning on a faberooney crafting weekend with two pals and two more joined in the fun on sunday - Yay !!

Thanks so much Kathy for being 'the Hostess with the Mostest' (and her lovely hubby Steve - I just don't know how he coped with three crazy crafters for the whole weekend !) and to Lauren for allowing me to 'make you' acquire things you never knew you needed !!! It was so great that both Cherry and Debs could join us on sunday too. I just had a ball the whole weekend and although I'm totally worn out today, it was Soooo.... worth it !

We managed to fit in a little craft stash acquisition foray on friday afternoon and a couple of sets of stamps by NitWit just happened to jump into my bag - oops! - and the fish pedicure was an amazing experience! To finish off a brilliant day we met up with another pal for a yummy meal in the evening - great to meet you at last Rosie.

On saturday we got down to the serious business of actually crafting and this is when I created my LIM entry. I had taken minimum (!!) stash with me as I had to haul everything on and off trains, but did have some appropriate bits and bobs with me thankfully.

The image is Star Girl from Queen Kat Design Stamps and the sentiment is from Dark Room Door. I felt the two just worked well together. The patterned bp in shades of blue is from a set of doublesided papers from Costco.

After stamping on white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, I coloured Star Girl with Copics and added some Spica Glitter Pen to the stars to give them a little twinkle.

That's it from me today, I've got two of my local crafting pals coming round this afternoon for a session and my lovely Dad - who is also a crafter - is still staying with me, so should be a nice creative afternoon. I've still to unpack my craft tote from the weekend and find homes for the few items I couldn't resist buying at the ArtStamps show at Newbury Racecourse yesterday, so I'd better get a wiggle on !

Hope you are having a great day and thanks for dropping by.

2011-07-02T22:18:00.036+01:00

I should be the Artstamps Show at Newbury Racecourse when you read this, meeting up with lots of lovely crafting pals. So this posting is prescheduled to go live while I'm away - fingers crossed it appears OK.

This card was specially commissioned by a pal who wanted a Silver Jubilee card for her local Priest who celebrated 25 years in the Priesthood this week.

I decided that the CAS style would be perfect and used an Elusive Images stamp for the design. This lovely cross is actually part of a Christmas image which I stamped and heat embossed with silver embossing powder before cutting out. The congratulations sentiment is from a set by Dark Room Door and again embossed in silver. The finishing touch was the addition of some clear gems to the design at the four points of the cross and in the centre. I created a personalised message for the inside and my pal was really pleased with the finished card.

I'll be back home tomorrow and hopefully will have another project to share with you then.

Tissue Box Cover

2011-07-01T23:59:00.043+01:00

I've got another non-card project to share with you today.

Way back in February this year a group of my crafting pals and I travelled to Accrington and did a workshop at Topaz Crafts with Rachael of Dark Room Door Stamps.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable workshop and during a bit of retail therapy in Topaz's store, I picked up a pack of supplies to make tissue box covers. I decided it was about time I had a go at one and today's project is my first attempt.

I used Distress Inks in Bundled Sage, Pumice
Stone and Walnut Stain to decorate the white base card and some sets of DRD stamps.

Here's a closer view of one of the sides of the cover, I wanted to create the effect of the cabin nestling in the countryside.

This is a view of one of the shorter ends of the cover, I added a different sentiment to the other side.

It was fun playing with the Distress Inks and getting messy and the various DRD foliage stamps were ideal for building up a scene.

Hope you like it, I shall be trying another one of these covers real soon, maybe using some different colours.

I'm away for a crafty play weekend with pals, so have pre-scheduled this to post on Saturday morning, hope it works OK !!! Tomorrow (Sunday) we are planning to go to Artstamps at Newbury Racecourse and fingers crossed we'll be meeting a few more crafty pals there - it promises to be a FUN day !!

Thanks for dropping by, I may have piccies to share of our weekend's frolics later !

Choccie Box

2011-06-30T23:59:00.053+01:00

Today's project is a little box/carrier I made to hold some mini choccie bars for the daughter of my crafting pal Jayne. I wanted to take a small gift with me when we met up with them last week in Pentewan in Cornwall, where they were camping for a week.

Here's a side view

The template for the box/carrier is available here on the Cards etc Challenge Blog for a donation and I'm entering their challenge #8 with my project.

The papers were from my stash and the little doggie image is a Kan Ban stamp which I stamped with Memento Ink then coloured with Copics. Seren loves my little dog Tilly, so I thought this image was perfect.

Finally, here's a view of the back.

It was a fun project to make and I shall be making more of them in the future as small gifts for friends.

I'm off to Bristol today to spend a crafty weekend with a couple of pals, finishing with a trip to Artstamps at Newbury Racecourse before heading home on the train on sunday evening. It promises to be a blast and fingers crossed that a few other pals will be able to join us on sunday at Newbury. I'm sure I'll have piccies to share with you once I'm home again !

Thanks for visiting, hope you enjoyed today's project.

STOP PRESS - BREAKING NEWS !!
I just heard that Queen Kat Designs are having a mega sale this weekend - 40% off their grey rubber stamps so head over there to pick up a bargain or two !