Day Dreaming

My card for The Stamp Basket today features one of the new Molly Blooms images and some gorgeous springtime papers.

I started off by trying not to cover up most of the paper with embellishments, and I think I failed miserably! (pop back tomorrow for another attempt!)

Just to let you know too that there's a Party Celebration going on at The Stamp Basket for the Bank Holiday weekend, so pop over to take a peek at the special offers on until Tuesday 9am.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Molly Blooms Day Dream Molly 
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papers Annabelle's Garden
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• La La Lands Heart Banner Die
• Memory Box Summer Kites
• Memory Box Lavish Branch
• Memory Box Evergreen Landscape
• Memory Box Dancing Butterflies
• Liquid Pearls
• Vintage Ribbon
• 5mm, 4mm & 3mm Snow White pearls
• Hobby House 8mm Pearl Brad
• Promarkers
• Flowers from Wild Rose Studio

I've been inspired by:

• Passion for Promarkers - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Tie It Up
• Joanna Sheen - Girls Girls Girls

Happy crafting

JIngle Bells Pickle

It's the mid way point of the 'Jingle Bells' challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge and I've got a cute  pingu card to share with you.  I've wanted this stamp for ages, after seeing it quite a lot last Christmas.  I finally got it from The Stamp Basket and this it its first inking.

I've kept the card quite simple, water-colouring the image with my DI reinkers, adding some glamour dust, a ribbon, some twine and a couple of dies.  The jingle bells are actual bells tied on with the twine and I've doodled some stitching around the edge of the image and sentiment panels.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Wild Rose Studio Pickle with Present
• Colouring - Watercolour painted with Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• The Snowman Christmas Papers
• Memory Box Frosty Border
• Memory Box Snowflake Corner
• Bakers Twine
• Gingham ribbon
• Pearls
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pearls
• Gold Bells

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Craft - Just Checking (gingham ribbon)
• Charisma Cardz - No Digis
• Sweet Stampin' - Oodles of Doodles

Happy crafting.

Mimi Stars Box

Stampfairy are sponsoring Tuesday Morning Sketches today so I've made a card to support the theme.  It's also the mid way reminder of our challenge at Top Tip Tuesday which is Boxing Clever, so I've made a matching box to go with my card using the same backing papers.

I've painted my image in DI reinkers.   I've tried to create a soft wash of colour rather than bold colours as the papers were quite pale too.

Here's my card:

Here's the box using matching papers:

And here they are together so you can see the respective sizes:

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Mimi Stars from Stampfairy
• Colouring - Distress Inks
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Shape EZ Roll Bag template
• Nitwits Digi Papers
• Memory Box Fancy Blossom
• Floral Ovals Spellbinder Nesties
• Magnolia leaf (from leaf & swirl set)
• Spellbinders Grand Nesties Labels 1
• Ribbon
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Favourite Ink (watercolouring with DI reinker bottles)
• Joanna Sheen - Girls Girls Girls

Happy crafting.

Metal Mania

The theme at Incy Wincy today is Metal Mania, and I'm joining in as a Guest Designer for StampFairy who are sponsoring the challenge this week.

My metal is the brad that I've used to hold on my flower.  It looks a bit like a screw, but I thought the colour was perfect for this card.

I got the gorgeous papers when I visited LOTV at Easter and this is the first time I've used them.  They look a bit shabby-chic, and I really love the rich chocolate colour scheme.

See my cards available to buy on eBay




Card Recipe:

• Image - Barry Spring from Stamp Fairy
• Colouring - Distress Re-Inkers
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• LOTV Country Lady Paper Pad
• Memory Box Catalina Wreath Die
• Memory Box Corner Bow Die
• Memory Box Dancing Butterflies
• 15mm Chocolate Satin Ribbon
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pearls
• Brown Paper Flower
• Liquid pearls
• Magnolia flower die cuts
• c'Art Us Border Die
• Metal Brad
• White Gel Pen

I've been inspired by:

• Simon Says Stamp - Flower Power
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Favourite Ink (water painting with Distress Ink reinkers)

Happy Crafting

Walkies !!!

I'm sharing a new image for The Stamp Basket today, called Walkies.  I've not used a Molly Bloom image before, and this one is kinda cute.  I've also used some beautiful papers from Graphic 45 in a gorgeous soft purple.  The text on the papers is just so pretty, I love it.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Molly Blooms Walkies
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Graphic 45 Secret Garden Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• La La Lands Filigree Corner Die
• Spellbinders Lacey Circles
• Bo Bunny Small Doilies
• Ribbon & Lace
• 5mm Lilac Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• The Sketchy Challenge - Sketch
• Penny Black & More - Sew Special
• Charisma Cardz Challenge - No Digis
• Papertake Weekly - The Sound of Music (Singing in the rain)

Happy crafting

Cherry Blossom

Yay, it's Saturday, so I've got a card to share for The Stamp Basket.  I've used my favourite Saturated Canary Rubber called Cherry Blossom, and painted her with my DI reinkers.  It gives a really soft appearance but does appear to make her hair grey rather than black!  For my first attempt at painting this image I was actually quite pleased with the result on the dress, face and tree. Might need a bit more practice on hair though.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Cherry Blossom from Saturated Canary Rubber Stamps
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papers Graphic 45 Secret Garden Patterns and Solids
• Bo Bunny Doilies
• Purple Card
• Colouring Medium - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Spellbinders Lacey Circles
• Memory Box - Evergreen Landscape
• La La Land Heart Banner (heart cut outs)
• Liquid Pearls
• 3mm Snow White pearls
• Ribbon
• Sentiment is one of my own freebies
• Sewing Machine

I've been inspired by:

• Saturated Canary - Emerald with photo inspiration with purple
• The Sketchy Challenges - Sketch
• Penny Black & More - Sew Special
• Creative Craft - Just Checking

Happy crafting

My Favourite Colours

We were bowled over with 200 entries for our first challenge at As You Like It.  Thank you to everyone who joined in and entered our DT call.  We'll announce the new team shortly, but we're already onto our second challenge, and the theme this fortnight is to showcase your favourite two colours.

Well, anyone who visits me often knows that I love pastels, and especially pink and blue (although purple would be a very close third choice).

I've made a card and matching gift pouch using my favourite colour duo.

I've used some new cute bear stamps that just happened to fall into my basket when I visited the LOTV shop on my holiday travels to York at Easter.  I think they're really great on this C&S themed project and I used a different image on each item in the set.

Here's a close up of the little gift pouch which is a template from our sponsor at the As You Like It Challenge this week, Shape EZ.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Shape EZ Gift Pouch Template
• Image - Posy Trio from LOTV
• Typed Sentiment onto Digi Paper
• Colouring - Sakura Stardust Gel pens, Distress Inks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Nitwits Digi Papers
• Lacey Circle Spellbinder Nesties
• Pink Satin Ribbon
• Glossy Accents
• Pink Gems
• Pink Gem Brad

I've been inspired by:

• Anything Goes - Not a Square - do you remember the cream card bases, Lynne !  ;0) 
• Sweet Stampin' - C&S
• Papertake Weekly - The Sound Of Music 'These are a few of my favourite things' :
     - Two favourite colours (pastel pink & blue),
     - Favourite rubber stamp company (LOTV),
     - Favourite digi paper company (Nitwits),
     - Favourite animals (teddies),
     - Favourite colouring medium (DI reinkers)
     - Favourite style (cute and cuddly!)

Happy crafting.

Jingle Bells

The theme today at ABC Christmas Challenge is J for Jingle Bells.

I've used an adorable image from Wiff of Joy of Maya with Kitty drinking Hot Chocolate (with cream and marsh mallows of course!).  The little kitty had a teeny bell on his collar, but in case that is not enough jingle to qualify, I've also used a jingle bell die cut in sparkly blue at the top.

Whilst I've got your attention, I'd like to let you know that there's a Special Promotion on at the Stamp Basket for the next week, ending on Tuesday 21 May so get your skates on and pop over to see the bargains.

See my cards available to buy on eBay


Card Recipe:

• Image - Maya and Kitty from Wiff of Joy
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Papers - Far Far Hill
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Bo Bunny Small Doilies
• Fiskars Snowflake Border Punch
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pearls 
• Sewing Machine

I've been inspired by:

• Wild Orchid Crafts - 3 Different Flowers (Cherry Blossom, 15mm & 10mm roses)
• Cute Card Thursday - Something Blue
• Penny Black & More - Sew Special

Happy crafting.

Boxing Clever

The theme today at Top Tip Tuesday is to make a box, and there's also a tutorial on how to make a 6-sided box.  So I've had a go at making one.  It's a bit different and really looks great when it's made. It's also much more simple to make than it looks as the template is quite easy to make.

Hope you like my purple gift box.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Meljens Garden Fence Background, Turtle's Friend, Diggin' A Hole
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Nitwits Digi Papers
• Liquid Pearls
• Ribbon (liberated from inside the shoulder of a jumper!!)

I've been inspired by:

• Anything Goes - Shaped and Not a Square

Happy crafting.

Clean and Simple Barry

I've got a 'just for fun' card today using a cute image from Stampfairy called Barry Spring.  It's a nice clean and simple layout, and I've painted my image with Distress Re-inkers.

See my cards available to buy on eBay




Card Recipe:

• Image - Barry Spring from Stamp Fairy
• Colouring - Distress Inks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Sentiment - typed and given some sparkle with Sakura Stardust Gel pen
• Spellbindgers Labels Eighteen
• Cut outs from Spellbinders Lacey Circles
• Nitwits Digi Papers - Crab Apple Too
• Ribbon from Fantastic Ribbon
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Sweet Stampin' - Clean & Simple (this is about as C&S as I can manage!)
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Happy Crafting

Mariella

Today's card for The Stamp Basket features Mariella from Crafter's Companion.  I've used a pretty pink and blue colour scheme to match the papers, added some blue ribbon and a blue button and also some new dies.

I've used Arianna Sprig, Dancing Butterflies and Forest Snail from Memory box, and also my new La La Lands Heart fence which I've coloured with some brown streaks to give it a wood grain effect.

Don't tell anyone, but I didn't have the right shade of blue for the flower sprig die, so I cut it out in white and coloured it with my Copics!!

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Mariella from Crafter's Companion
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Wild Rose Studio Flight of Fancy Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• La La Land Heart Fence Die
• Memory Box Forest Snail Die
• Memory Box Arianna Sprig Die
• Memory Box Dancing Butterflies
• Button Mix Pastel (blue)
• Natural Twine
• Vintage Ribbon
• Liquid Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Stickles
• 5mm, 4mm & 3mm Snow White pearls
• C'artUs Border Die
• Wild Orchid Crafts Flowers (Cherry Blossom, 2x 15mm roses, 2x 10mm roses)

I've been inspired by:

• Wild Orchid Challenge - 3 different flowers
• Craft Your Passion - Floral Delights (image, papers, embellies)
• Simon Says Stamp - Things with Wings (fairy image and butterfly die cuts)

Happy crafting

Amy's Room

My project for The Stamp Basket today is something a bit different, and it's not a card.  I've made a door hanger in some lovely pinks, and of course some gorgeous dies!

The hanger is a large piece of chipboard and I've threaded some ribbon through holes at the top to hang it by.  I used some really teeny circle dies to make some re-inforcers for the holes.  The sentiment is typed in Word in white text with a purple background, and then cut out with my Bistro Label die.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Bunny With Flowers by Wild Rose Studio
• Docraft Country Companions Sunshine Meadow Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Purple Card
• Lacey Circle Spellbinders
• Memory Box Precious Stars
• Memory Box Lavish Branch
• Memory Box Antique Lamp Post
• Memory Box Bistro Label
• Satin Ribbon
• Gingham Ribbon
• Liquid Pearls
• 5mm Lilac Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Flowers are all from Wild Orchid Crafts

I've been inspired by:

• Craft Your Passion - Floral Delights (flowers in image, on papers, and as embellies)
• Wild Orchid Challenge - 3 or more different flowers (I have 4 different styles)
• Creative Craft - All About Animals

 Happy crafting

Bad hair day?

I've got a rarity today as I'm posting a 'just for fun' card that I made.  I've also been making a lot of items other than cards this week, so it's been fun to make a card again!  I tried really hard with my colouring on this image, and I don't think the dress is too bad, but I'm not keen on her hair.  I think that I need to print her out larger next time (although this is quite a big card base so she probably looks smaller than she actually is anyway!)

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Nevaeh from Saturated Canary
• Sentiment - Go Kreate dies
• Colouring - Promarkers
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papermania Lucy Cromwell
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• La La Lands Heart Banner Die
• cArt-Us Nesting Dies Frame Scalloped
• X-Cut border punch hearts
• Ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
• Butterfly
• Pearls on a string
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Papermania pearl brad
• Liquid Pearls
• Lace
• Homemade Pin

I've been inspired by:

• Charisma - Black & White plus One (black ground, white lace, blue everything else + skintones allowed)
• Dutch Dare - Ribbons & Lace (lace is below the ribbon, it's just a bit faint in the photo!)
• Passion for Promarkers - Birthdays
• Simon Says Stamp - Things with wings (the butterfly)
• Cute Card - Something Blue (yup, think I got something blue on there !!!)

Happy crafting.

Advent Wreath

We're half way through our inspirational Christmas Wreath photo challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge so I've got a midway reminder project for you.  I've used the same idea as last week with a circle frame wreath, but this time I used circle dies to create the gold frames.

Unfortunately my numbers went a bit wonky half way around so 15 to 23 are not crooked! (could you just tilt your head when you look at it please, so then they will look level !)

The little gold disks are actually the left over bits from cutting the smallest circles.

Here's the inspirational photograph for the challenge:

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Nitwits Digi Papers
• Nellie Snellen Circle dies
• QuicKutz number dies
• Gold Organza Ribbon
• Pearls
• Pink gem brad
• Liquid Pearls
• Pearl stars

I've been inspired by:

• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Inspired by someone else's creativity (the wreaths in the photo)
• Anything Goes Challenge - Shaped but Not a Square
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Inspired by a Song (12 days of Christmas)
• Joanna Sheen - Inspired by a song (12 days of Christmas)

Happy crafting.

Moving Times

It's the mid point of the 'moving parts' challenge at Top Tip Tuesday and I've decorated a clock.  My bear is watercolour painted with DI reinkers and I've decorated the clock with LOTS of dies.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Barry Spring 1 from Stampfairy
• Colouring - Distress Inks
• Clouds on image - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• La La Lands Heart Banner Die
• Memory Box Antique Lamp Post Die
• Memory Box Fancy Blossom Die
• La La Land Heart Fence Die
• Magnolia Cloud die cuts
• Quickutz grass die cuts
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Clock Mechanism
• Chipboard base

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Boots - Stamped Character
• Creative Craft - All About Animals
• Sweet Stampin' - Create a Scene
• Simon Says Stamp - Not a specific occasion - "just because"

Happy crafting.

I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles ...

My card for The Stamp Basket today features Felicity from Crafter's Companion (and a couple more new dies!).   I love the party lanterns and have cut it out on checked card and inked the edge a bit to give it some shape.  The 'thanks' sentiment is die cut and then given a dose of Stickles and the little snail and flower have been added to the lower corners.  Unfortunately most of the pretty floral paper panels have been covered up.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Felicity from Crafter's Companion
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Annabelle's Garden Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Memory Box A Little Thanks
• Memory Box Arianna Sprig
• Memory Box Party Lanterns
• Memory Box Forest Snail
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Bo Bunny Small Doilies
• Vintage Style Ribbon
• Pearls
• Stickles

I've been inspired by:

• Pinspirational Challenges - Photo Inspiration
• Tuesday Morning Sketches - Sketch
• Fab 'n' Funky - Lots of Pink
• Crafty Catz - Inspired by a song (I'm forever blowing bubbles)

Happy crafting

Annabelle on Swing

I've got some new dies from The Stamp Basket so you'll see some of them over the coming weeks.  I've got 2 new dies to share today; Heart Banner and Fancy Blossoms, along with a lovely sweet image called Annabelle on Swing.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Annabelle on Swing
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papers Secret Garden Patterns and Solids
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• La La Lands Heart Banner Die
• Memory Box Fancy Blossoms
• Memory Box Lavish Branch
• Memory Box Dancing Butterflies
• Liquid Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Stickles
• 5mm, 4mm & 3mm Snow White pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches - Sketch
• Passion for Promarkers - To Die For (& use promarkers, which I did)
• Simon Says Stamp - Happy Mail

Happy crafting

First "As You Like It" Challenge and a DT CALL

I'm a bit nervous today, because it is the start of our FIRST EVER challenge at our new challenge blog:

As You Like It

The aim of our new challenge is to enable you to create a project that showcases your own style, so don't forget to tell us what makes it YOUR style!!!

Every alternate Thursday we will host a new challenge with only a few loose rules, so we hope everyone can all join in and have fun.

Our first challenge is also a DT call, so if you want to apply to be one of our teamies then enter our challenge and type "DT" after your name in the linky.  We also have candy available too!!!

Pop over to the As You Like It Challenge blog to see the DT Call information.

Our first challenge is sponsored by my favourite specialist ribbon company, 

Fantastic Ribbons.  

They have fabulous multi-buy deals, so pop over and see their lovely range of ribbons and twine.

Our first challenge theme is to showcase a project using your Favourite Die or Punch and you MUST make it clear which chosen die/punch is your favourite.

Anyone who is a regular to my blog will know that I'm a HUGE fan of gorgeous dies, so although I tried, I could not decide on my ultimate favourite.  I have greedily opted for 4 of my current favourites!!

1. Spellbinders Labels Eighteen (this is my 'must-have' nestie and if you visit me often you'll know that I used this one lots!)
2. Memory Box Corner Bow (I've been in love with this beautifully delicate die since I got it)
3. Memory Box PoppyStamp Simple Banner (cute little banner perfect for an empty corner and also handy for a short sentiment if you have the patience to get the letters to print in the right positions!!)
4. Memory Box Locina Buckle (Fabulously elegant for dressing a pretty ribbon)

Here's my card, which also showcases one of my favourite stamp companies (LOTV), my favourite papers (Lucy Cromwell from Papermania), and also my favourite sketch (one from a challenge blog a few months ago that I saved!!)

See my cards available to buy on eBay

I hope you'll join us for our first challenge, show us your style, showcase your Favourite Dies and/or Punches. And don't forget to enter our DT call if you would like to join our fun team.

Please feel free to grab our badge for your sidebar as we'd love you to support us.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Bath Time from LOTV
• Colouring - Painted with Distress Ink reinkers
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papermania Lucy Cromwell Papers
• 10mm Aqua Satin Ribbon from our sponsors Fantastic Ribbons
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Spellbinders Labels Eighteen
• Memory Box Corner Bow
• Memory Box PoppyStamp Simple Banner
• Memory Box Locina Buckle
• Twine
• Pearls
• Baby Feet Charm
• Sakura Stardust Gel Pen (sentiment)
• Glossy Accents
• Sewing Machine

I've been inspired by:

• LOTV - Boy, oh Boy
• Wild Orchid Challenge - Twine
• Crafty Boots - Stamped Character

I've also linked this card up to the Make It Monday link party as my favourite card of the week (actually it's my favourite card for quite a while!).

Happy crafting.

Christmas Wreath

I've got something a little bit different to share with you today.  I found a large MDF Christmas wreath while I was shuffling around my local craft store.  I picked it up and immediately knew that I had to buy it, but then at the checkout I wondered what I would do with it!!

When I got it home I realised there were 24 circles to the wreath, so I made it into an advent countdown.  I've used 2 of my favourite colours, aqua blue and purple, with some white snow and a bit of silver thrown in for added Christmas sparkle.

I firstly painted the top (circle frames) layer of MDF with crackle paint, and cut out circles of contrasting coloured Xmas papers and stuck them onto the solid MDF base.  I then glued the top layer of MDF circles (the frames) back on top, sandwiching all the layers in between.

(ps I took the photo below before I added the blue sparkle paper in the middle of the wreath which you can see on the photo above - it was a late change when I realised I wanted it sandwiched in between the layers!)

I decorated my wreath with a few matching coloured flowers, liquid pearls, glitter glue, snowflakes, flowersoft and pearls.  The numbers were Quickuts diecuts and I used a pearl brad to attach a strip of silver card for the pointer.  I raised the pointer up on several layers of circle die cuts to ensure it could turn around the whole circle and easily pass over all the raised embellies.

I thought that the image of the cute little mouse reading his letter to Santa matched the theme, so he was added too.

The theme today at ABC Christmas Challenge is a photo inspiration, and my wreath is inspired by the pretty wreaths in the photo.

See my cards available to buy on eBay


By the way, don't forget to pop over to our new challenge blog As You Like It, which starts tomorrow.  Become a follower and sign up for our Candy.

Project Recipe:

• Image - Penny Black Christmas Critters Clear Stamp Set
• Numbers - Quickuts Metro Alphabet
• Tando MDF Wreath
• Mouse colouring - Promarkers
• Nitwits Digi Papers
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• MFT Snowflake dies
• Flowersoft
• Pearls
• Liquid Pearls
• Glitter edge ribbon
• Glitter glue
• Pearl Brad
• Silver mirror card

I've been inspired by:

• Sweet Stampin' - Anything but Birthday
• Crafty Boots - Use a Stamped Character
• Creative Craft - All about animals
• Passion for Promarkers - Dies & Punches
• Tando Creative Challenge - Purple, Blue and White

Happy crafting.