Monday, 11 June 2012

This is soooo me !!!

This is me.  Jeans, pink top, phone in hand and a cute little bag that is only large enough to carry, erm, well, not a lot really !!  

Ok, I have shorter hair, I don't look half as cute without those gorgeous big eyes, and I'm carrying a little more padding.  But a girl can dream, right!

I coloured my her eyes with Sakura starburst gel pens and the shine has made the image look a bit blurred. This was the best photo I could muster.



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Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy Crafting

Time for a Garden Party

StampFairy are sponsoring Incy Wincy Challenges this week, and the theme is to use more than one image.  Well, I think I qualify because I've used 7 images on my creation today!!!

I bought a clock mechanism a couple of months ago and it has been sitting patiently waiting for me to decorate it.  So I've used 4 cute little characters who look like they're having a garden party, plus 3 little birds sitting on the telephone wire.  I have to admit that I cheated with the birds, as they are taken from a much larger image of George & Friends 2, but I think they still count, and it shows how versatile the images can be.




Have a look a my cards available to buy on my eBay listings
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Project Recipe:

Please pop on over to StampFairy to see the adorable digi images, and I look forward to seeing your creations at the Incy Wincy Challenge this week.


I've been inspired by:
Happy Crafting

Sunday, 10 June 2012

Butter wouldn't melt ....

Isn't this just the cutest Tilda, she really looks so angelic.  I've used my (current) favourite colour combo of aqua and purple.  I've done some stitching around the edge of the panels and seem to have taken a break from my large nesties, instead just using the small lacey circle for my sentiment.  It makes a bit of a change not to have lots of nesties.





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Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy Crafting

Saturday, 9 June 2012

Stitching, Clouds and Butterflies

I've got a cute little Tilda to share today.  I think this has to be one of my favourite Tilda images.  I also really love this aqua / purple colour combo.    More stitching too on this one.  I've decided to leave my sewing machine out and then I can use it more often.




See my cards available on eBay

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Card Recipe:
  • Image - Tilda with Hawaii Flower Butterfly Dreams 2011
  • Papers - Nitwits
  • Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens, Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
  • Nesties - Lacey circles
  • All flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts
  • From my stash -  Stickles, pearls, glossy accents, butterfly
I've been inspired by:
Happy Crafting

Friday, 8 June 2012

Molly Graduation

It's Friday so there is a new release and freebie at StampFairy called Molly Graduation.  Here's my card using Molly in her graduation gown.  She must have got top marks to get a diploma certificate so large that she can hardly carry it!

I've tried to give her coat some folds, but I'm not sure that the shadows look quite right.  I think that I should have used pencils to create the gathers.  Something to try next time.




See some of my cards available to buy on eBay

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Card Recipe:
  • Image - Molly Graduation and Freebie from StampFairy
  • Sentiment - Graffiti Sizzlits Alphabet
  • Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
Please pop on over to StampFairy to see the newly released digi images.


Here's a preview of the set being released today:


I've been inspired by:
Happy Crafting

Thursday, 7 June 2012

Balloon Girl

Woo hoo, I've just seen that I've got my 600th follower today.  I've been hovering just below 600 for months.  Thank you so much to everyone who follows me and reads my drivel!  I'm so proud that you want to read more from me!

I've got another 'just for fun' card to share today, and a real Clean & Simple design with none of my usual array of embellies (OK, one flower, but a girl's gotta be allowed one flower, right?)

The image is Ava, and she's just adorable, isn't she.  I also really like this sketch layout and think I might use it again soon.  I did some stitching although it is barely visible, so maybe I should use a darker thread on the lighter backgrounds!



This card is available to buy on my eBay listings

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Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy Crafting

Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Tilda Flower Girl with Petals

A mix of old and new stash is in use today, and another card to share.  I've had the papers for ages (I think they were free with a magazine), but the card base is a new acquisition (winnings from a challenge - YAY!), the flowers were a recent indulgence from Wild Orchid Craft, and the pin is one that I made myself over the weekend.

I've got a little tip too, one that my TTT teamie Samantha shared earlier this week, but it is one that I use often and I think it is worthy of another mention.  When I'm using my nesties, I use the die to cut out the image panel, and then instead of running it back through with the embossing mats, I run my dry embossing tool around the inside of the image on the reverse side, to make the embossed mark around the edge of the panel.  Then, I use the die again to cut the outer panel (the coloured one that the white image panel sits on), lightly tape it to the card, and cut around the outside with a craft knife.  I find that the next size of nestie is too large, and creates too much frame around the image, plus on some of my images, I've already used the largest nestie and there is not a larger one to make the panel to matt the image onto.



This card is available to buy on my eBay listings
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Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy Crafting

Tuesday, 5 June 2012

Just for you ...

How great this having 2 extra days off work this week (thanks Liz!).  I've had lots of time to craft as well as do other stuff, like tidy the garden and plant my veggie seedlings out.  Mother Nature is now helping out by giving them all a good drenching, so I've got some time to craft.

I've got another pink and green combo, and some more lace to share today.  I'm really loving these shaped cards from Crafty Boots, they are quite large at 15cm square, which is a couple of centimetres larger than my usual card base, so the cards don't look so cluttered once I've loaded them with flowers.




This card is available to buy on my eBay listings
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Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy Crafting

I may possibly have got carried away ...

Well we didn't go to see the fireworks after all last night.  Once it got to 9.45pm and hubby was settled down with a bottle of beer in one hand and a packet of crisps in the other, he suddenly changed his mind about going out again.  So we had a quiet night in. Or as quiet as is possible with fireworks seemingly surrounding the house from every direction.  The fur babies decided to join us, so the four of us had a nice evening together, not really doing much at all.

Anyway, I've got something sparkly and glittery to share with you today.  I'd spent last Friday night making a pair of sparkly earrings with some gorgeous sugar coated beads that hubby gave me last Christmas (yes, it has taken me nearly half a year to use them!), but I didn't just make one pair.

I, erm, seem to have got a bit carried away:




Well it just so happens that this fortnight's challenge at Top Tip Tuesday is Sparkles Galore in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  So, what better project to fit the theme than some sparkles!!!

I made a little gift pouch for a couple of the pairs. I wanted to make the theme of this post Red White & Blue, so made one pouch in red (for the pink earrings) and one in blue (for the blue pair).

Beware, picture overload coming up .......







Here's a close up of the pink ones:




See some of my cards available to buy on my eBay listings

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Both Stampfairy and Simon Says Stamp are sponsoring Top Tip Tuesday this fortnight, so there is even more reason to join in the Jubilee fun.




Project Recipe:
Please pop on over to the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge Blog to see the other creations by the talented design team, and to enter our challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this week.

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Monday, 4 June 2012

Is this manly enough? (And a freebie)

It's been an odd day, threatening to rain a bit, then sunny, then overcast.  I spent a bit of time planting some veggies out (sweetcorn and mange tout in the raised beds, and some tomato seedlings out in the greenhouse. And then gave them all a good drenching. The soil in my greenhouse was sooooo dry. I drenched it for ages, like 20 mins at least, and then found it was still powder dry less than a centimetre deep.  I'll have to give it another drenching tonight I think.  Paul wants to go to see some Jubilee fireworks on the seafront later tonight, so despite the fact that I'd like my veggies to be watered in, I hope the rain still holds off for the fireworks.  A nice downpour while I'm tucked up in bed later on would be just fine.

Once I'd worn myself out in the garden, I came in to rest at my craft desk.  I wanted to enter a challenge which required some text on the papers, and couldn't find the papers that I wanted, (I've had a tidy up and now can't find them even though I can picture them in my head exactly!).

Anyway, I decided to make a male themed card (not my favourite theme, since I'm worse than hopeless at male cards), but dusted off a Penny Black image that seemed to fit the bill.  Penny Black is what got me interested in stamping all those years ago, and this little hedgy really does bring back some memories.   I went to town with the colouring, using 4 different colouring mediums; Twinkling H2O Watercolours, Copics, Shimmer chalks and Sakura stardust gel pens.

The multitude of colouring tools made up for not having any flowers, glitter, or ribbon.  Ok, I did sneak a couple of bows in there on the twine, but that is still masculine, right?

The sentiment is a new one, and is a freebie available below if you'd like to nab it.




See my cards available to buy on my eBay listings

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Card Recipe:
  • Image - Hedge Delivery by Penny Black
  • Sentiment - One of my own Freebies (see below)
  • Papers - Summertime Designs
  • Nesties - Lacey Circles
  • Colouring - Twinkling H2O watercolours, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens, Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
  • From my stash -  Buttons, Twine


Freebie:
As promised above, here is my Sentiment freebie that I've used above.  You're free to download it if you like it; click on the image for a larger version, then right click and 'save picture as' to save to your own computer. 

My conditions are as follows:
  1. Please become a follower, then you will see more freebies as they are posted,
  2. Please leave a comment on this post to let me know you've downloaded it, and
  3. Please don't share my freebies directly with other people, but please send them over to collect it themselves by giving credit where you use it.
I also adore seeing your creations using my digi sentiments, so I'd really love you to send me an email with links to your creations so I can pop over for a peek!




I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

New Hat

I've not used these nesties for a while, so decided to reacquaint myself with them. I use the lacey circles on almost every card as I use the smallest one for my sentiments, but I seem to reach for my favourite labels 3 or 18 mainly, and I realise that I'm neglecting some of the my other nesties.

The beautiful papers are shimmery and embossed so I didn't want to cover them up with too many embellishments.





This card is available to buy on my eBay listings
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Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy Crafting

Sunday, 3 June 2012

Use it or Lose it.

I've been digging through all my old stash, tidying my desk and trying to remember what I have got, so that I can use it before I convince myself that I need yet more stash (which of course I still do).

Today I've been using some of what I've discovered.

The image, lace and papers are ones I've had a while and not managed to use yet.  I also dug out my bead box (pop over again on Tuesday if you want to see some sparkles!!).  I decided to have a try at making some pins.  They were so quick and easy to make.  This is the first card that I've used one of my own pins on, and I think it is rather pretty. Be prepared to see some more soon (I may possibly have got carried away and made a fair few pins!!!)




This card is available to buy on my eBay listings
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Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy Crafting

Saturday, 2 June 2012

Pink Bunny Gift

Yet another shaped card to share with you today (sorry if you're getting bored of them!) and again using one of my favourite colour combos of pink and brown (or as I prefer to think of it, strawberries and chocolate).

This time it is a cute bunny from Lili of the Valley and I've used some of my seam binding (trying to use some of my old stash before I give in to temptation and buy yet more!).




This card has sold, but see some of my other cards available to buy on my eBay listings

eBay



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Friday, 1 June 2012

Barry Graduation

There is a new release and freebie today at StampFairy called Barry Graduation so I couldn't resist making a project using one of the cute new digis.  I am really trying to be more adventurous with my colour schemes, so I've added some orange accents to my blue card.  I've had the gems for ages, but the ribbon is a recent indulgence!

I think this is quite a masculine card (for me!) as I've kept away from the flowers, bows and pink.



See some of my cards available to buy on my eBay listings
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Card Recipe:
  • Image - Barry Graduation & Freebie from StampFairy
  • Papers - Summer Driggs
  • Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel Pens
  • Nesties - Lacey Circles
  • Ribbon - Sew Sweet
  • From my stash - Gems, glossy accents

Please pop on over to StampFairy to see the newly released digi images.


Here's a preview of the set being released today:

    I've been inspired by:
    Happy Crafting

    Wednesday, 30 May 2012

    Green? I must be feeling unwell !!!

    I have no idea what made me choose to make a green card.  The purple is definitely me, but green ... ?

    Really?

    I quite like the layout, but I'm still not convinced about the colours.  Hmm ......



    This card is available to buy on my eBay listings
    eBay


    Card Recipe:
    I've been inspired by:
    • Wild Orchid Crafts - Bingo
      : Lilac, Glitter, Pearls  OR  Ribbon & Lace, Flowers, Pink (hearts)
    • Just Magnolia - Gingham
    • Dies to Die for - Anything Goes
    Happy Crafting

    Tuesday, 29 May 2012

    Shape up for a kiss

    I've chosen soft pinks and coffee colours for today's card, and one of my favourite images at the moment.  These card blanks are quite large, about 15cm square, which gives loads of space for dies and flowers.  I've just received my last order from Wild Orchid Crafts, and am loving my new flowers, so expect to see some lovely blooms on my cards for a while !!

    I'm also back to my usual pink colour, pink papers, pink ribbons (x2), pink flowers, and a pink dress on the little girl.  I've kind of missed my pink lately, as I've been trying to try new colours, but I needed to come back to my roots for a bit of comfort!!!




    This card is available to buy on my eBay listings

    eBay



    Card Recipe:
    I've been inspired by:
    Happy crafting.

    Monday, 28 May 2012

    Shaped Window

    Playing along with challenges means that sometimes you get encouraged to try something new.  Well this card is a new venture, trying to make an aperture card to create a window.  I really like this nestie shape (you may have noticed if you're a regular visitor), and so I wanted to incorporate it into my design.

    Once I'd got the image and window lined up, and used my patterned papers, there was not much space left for embellies, so I added lots of flowers, seam binding and the obligatory pearls (cos I just love 'em)!

    I did emboss around the aperture, but I'm not sure it shows much in the photo.  I also distressed the outside edges of all my panels with ink, but otherwise, it is fairly plain (for me!)






    This card will be available to buy on my eBay listings

    eBay



    Card Recipe:
    I've been inspired by:
    Happy crafting.

    Sunday, 27 May 2012

    Bedtime Reading

    I really loved this huge tag when I used it last time, so when I saw the Saturated Canary bookmark challenge, I knew immediately what I wanted to make.  I also wanted a sleepy image since bedtime  reading is a great way to wind down from the day.  So here's my bookmark using Books and Bedhead from Krista's new shop.


    And just to show you how big the tag template actually is, here it is on one of my paperbacks. I tried desperately to keep the design simple so that there were not too many layers (after all I need the book to actually close), but I couldn't resist adding a couple of flowers and a huge bow, but the bow can stick out the top of the book.





    Check out some of my cards available to buy on my eBay listings
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    Card Recipe:
    • Image - Books and Bedhead by Saturated Canary
    • Papers - Dovecraft First Edition (I think!)
    • Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
    • From my stash -  Pearls, Glossy Accents, Ribbon, flowers
    I've been inspired by:
    Happy crafting.