Green and Purple?

We're halfway through the 'G for Girls and Boys' challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge and I've got a mid-way project to share. I know that traditional Christmas colours are green and red, but I've opted for some lovely purple "The Snowman" papers and green accents, but now I'm not sure the shades that I've used look right together.  Perhaps the combination will grow on me!  I've used my lovely Lavish Branch die underneath the flowers; I'm really loving this die and using it loads.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Fancy Sunbonnet Christmas Stuff
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• The Snowman paper pack
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Fleur de Lis Square Spellbinders
• Memory Box Lavish Branch
• Ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Totally Gorjuss - AG with Sparkle (the baubles are coloured in Stardust pens & Glossy Accents)
• Ribbon Girls - Flowers
• Wild Orchid Crafts - Purple and green

Happy crafting.

April Showers

We're half way through this fortnight's 'Kids come out to play' challenge at Top Tip Tuesday so I've made a little card to share.  For my image, I've used an oldie, Patsy April Showers, and based on the winter weather we had so far this 'spring', the image seemed quite appropriate.  Patsy looks like she's having fun jumping the puddles.

I embossed the base panel with Swiss Dots as I thought it complemented the rainy theme (I usually use it for snow too!) and added some blue pearl dots around the edge of my cloud die (I think I might have gone slightly overboard with them though).  I also chalked some clouds as a background to my image.

ps : I've just realised that I've not used any designer papers nor any flowers on this one.  I think that might be a 'first' for me.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Patsy April Showers from Stampfairy
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Go Kreate large scalloped circle nestie die (for cardbase shape)
• Tan shimmer card
• Spellbinders labels 18 Nesties
• Memory Box fence die
• Magnolia Doohickey's Cloud die
• Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
• Ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
• Liquid Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• MAWTT - Let's get Krafty
• Sweet Stampin' - Scallops
• Joanna Sheen - Swing into Spring

Happy crafting.

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby ....

Morning folks.  This is my second guest designer project for Wee Stamps and I've chosen to showcase the beautiful Ruby.

I've used a pink and blue colour scheme with my favourite glittered papers from Papermania. The design is very spring-like with pink glittered cherry blossom.

The heart fence is from La La Lands which I've coloured to give it a woodgrain effect and the other three dies are all Memory Box (who else!!!)

See my cards available to buy on eBay



And if the title of today's post got you humming, .....

Card Recipe:

• Image - Ruby from Wee Stamps
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papers - Papermania Lucy Cromwell
• La La Lands Heart Fence Die
• Memory Box Corner Bow Die
• Memory Box Precious Hearts Die
• Memory Box Honeyblossom Sprig Die
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Glossy Accents
• Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake - Kraft (the fence)
• Crafty Creations - Flowers or Fairies (I chose flowers)
• MAWTT - Let's Get Krafty
• Sweet Stampin' - Scallops (the card base shape)
• Joanna Sheen - Spring into Spring

Happy Crafting

Little Lady Bug

My card for The Stamp Basket today showcases Little Lady Bug from Saturated Canary.  I've used pastel pink and blue, with some shimmer kraft coloured accents.  My lovely Lavish Branch die has made another appearance, as have my Precious Hearts.  The pretty papers are from the Country Companions pad.

I used a pale Promarker to outline the image as usual, but then forgot to chalk in my clouds.  D'oh!!!

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Little Lady Bug from Saturated Canary
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papers - Country Companions
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Spellbinders Lacey Circle
• Memory Box Lavish Branch
• Memory Box Precious Hearts
• Pink Satin Ribbon
• Liquid Pearls
• Rhinestones
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Saturated Canary Challenge - Pastels
• The Sketchy Challenge - Sketch
• Papertake - Anything Goes with Kraft
• Crafty Creations - Fairies and/or Flowers (floral papers & dies, fairy costume)
• I Love Promarkers - Favourite Colours (pink & blue combo)
• Moving Along With The Times - Kraft
• Simon Says Stamp - Birthday

Happy crafting

Rebecca Pearls and Lace

I've got a 'pretty in pink' project to share using some lovely items from The Stamp Basket today.  The image is Rebecca from Saturated Canary and I've also used my lovely Memory Box Lavish Branch die, this time in its entirety instead of only using one of the two branches.  I've also used a slightly darker blue Promarker to accent the veins on the leaves on the die cut.

I've used an aqua and pink colour combo and added lots of pearls, lace and vintage ribbon in both colours.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Rebecca from Saturated Canary
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papers My Minds Eye Dolled Up, WRS Flight of Fancy, WRS Annabelle's Garden
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Blue Bazzill card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Memory Box Lavish Branch
• Liquid Pearls
• Wide lace
• Vintage Ribbon
• 5mm  & 3mm Snow White pearls
• Hobby House 8mm Pearl Brad

I've been inspired by:

• Saturated Canary - Pretty Pastels
• I Love Promarkers - Your Favourite Colours

Happy crafting

Mimi April Showers

Little Mimi is out playing in the rain in this week's new release at StampFairy and I'm sharing the second decorated notebook that I mentioned I'd made last Friday.  I really love the colours on this one.  The book is a little bit aqua tinted, and I've teamed it with purple which looks really pretty.

See my cards available to buy on eBay




Card Recipe:

• Image - Mimi April Showers from Stamp Fairy
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Papermania Lucy Cromwell
• Pearls
• Liquid Pearls
• Paper Flowers
• Flower punch

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:

• Bunny Zoe - Girlie
• Creative Craft - Alter It

Happy Crafting

Angelica (and LOTS to tell you!)

Firstly, I have some really exciting news that I can finally share:   I'm a guest designer for Wee Stamps for April.  Woohooo!!

I've been playing with a couple of the new images which will be released later in the month, but today I'm sharing my first GDT card which is using one of the older images, Angelica.

Erm, yes, I know this is a Christmas card and it's only April, but you can never be too prepared for Christmas. Plus, in my defence, with all this snow around, and the coldest Easter on record, it's hardly spring-like outside is it!!!

This image is so pretty, I love the expressions on the little critters. I've used my (current) favourite colour combo of aqua and pink, and stitched all the panels.

Secondly, this card also supports the new ABC Christmas challenge which this fortnight is G for Girls or Boys.  Our sponsors are Bugaboo stamps (and I'll be showcasing one of their images next Wednesday at the half way point of the challenge).  In the meantime, I hope you pop along and join in with us.

(OMG even my GDT badge is cute!!!)

And last but not least, we're visiting my in-laws in Sheffield this week, and for part of the week we are having a couple of days by ourselves in York.  The exciting bit is that hubby agreed to take a small(ish) detour on the way to York yesterday and took me to the Lili Of The Valley shop in Farsley!!!

So yesterday I spent a happy time browsing the gorgeous loveliness on their shelves.  It was amazing to see the beautiful cards made by some of my designer idols in the flesh.

While I was there I also got to meet the lovely Anne, who is just as sweet in person as she is in blogland.  I don't know how she manages to restrain her spending while working there. I think that I'd end up with half my wages paid in stamps.

I did buy a couple of stamps (well, it would be rude not to) and I thought I'd share a wee picture of what I bought.  I was actually quite restrained, partly because I seemed to have many of the images already (don't tell hubby that I admitted that), but also because I am saving my pennies for the new release that's out this weekend.  I'm soooo gutted that I couldn't visit the shop on Saturday instead of yesterday, but we'll be back home by then so I'll now have to order the new images online next week instead.

Sorry about the pic, but it's taken with my phone, with my stash laid out on the duvet back at the hotel!

See my cards available to buy on eBay


Card Recipe:

• Image - Angelica digital image from Wee Stamps
• Colouring - Promarkers, Sakura Stardust Gel pens (for the sparkly bits)
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papers - Papermania Lucy Cromwell and The Snowman
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Memory Box Snowflake corner die
• Aqua Satin Ribbon
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Hobby House 8mm Pearl Brad
• Liquid Pearls
• Gems

I've been inspired by:

• Simply Create - Animals
• Joanna Sheen - Weather Related
• Bunny Zoe - Girlie
• Papertake - Anything Goes
• I Love Promarkers - Your favourite colours

Happy Crafting

Mimi Easter

The theme today at Top Tip Tuesday is "Girls and Boys come out to play".  I needed to get cracking on my Easter cards so decided to make an Easter card with this cute Stampfairy image called Mimi Easter.  This one was for my friend and I've made a matching baggie for her which I'll share later this week.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Mimi Easter from Stampfairy
• Colouring - Distress Inks
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papermania Lucy Cromwell papers
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Memory Box Corner Bow Die
• Ribbon
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pearls 
• Sewing machine

I've been inspired by:

• Forever Friends - Girls
• Creative Inspirations - Easter Wishes
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Go Girlie
• Crafty Calendar - Easter Egg-stravaganza

Happy crafting.

Sending Smiles Across the Miles (FREEBIE)

Happy Sunday everyone.  Today's card showcases products from The Stamp Basket, and features Sun Kissed from Elizabeth Bell.  I've used my lovely Lavish Branch die and pretty Country Companions double sided rose papers.

The sentiment is a new freebie, requested by TaylorMade. Unfortunately she didn't leave her email so I can't tell her that it's one of those I've selected, but hopefully she'll pop back to collect it.  It's taking me a while to make them up, but I'm getting through them slowly and there will be more to come yet, so keep popping back.

See my cards available to buy on eBay

Freebie:
As promised, 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.
4. Please give me credit when you use them and post your finished creations on your blog.

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!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Sun Kissed from Elizabeth Bell
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papers - Country Companions
• Spellbinders Lacey Circles Nesties dies
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Memory Box Lavish Branch Die
• Liquid Pearls
• Hobby House 8mm Pearl Brad
• Vintage Style Pink Ribbon
• Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts

I've been inspired by:

• Simon Says Stamp and Show - Quotable
• Forever Friends - Girls
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Go Girlie

Happy crafting

Let's Dance

Happy Saturday.  I've got a sweet ballet themed card to share today for The Stamp Basket.  The image is Eleanor, and I've used some pretty pink papers which I didn't want to cover up much, so I cut the image out and raised her onto a smaller shaped panel to give her a background.  I covered up the join of the papers with some satin ribbon and some wide lace.

See my cards available to buy on eBay




Card Recipe:

• Image - Crafter's Companion Eleanor
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papers - Wild Rose Studio Flight of Fancy and Annabelle's Garden
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Memory Box Lavish Branch die
• Memory Box Poppystamps Banner die
• Pink Azalea Satin Ribbon
• Lace
• Liquid Pearls
• 5mm Snow White pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Dream Valley Challenges - Pearls and Lace
• Incy Wincy - Pastel Colours
• Forever Friends - Girls
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Happy crafting

Still searching for Spring, never mind Summer.

There is a new release and freebie today at StampFairy.  It's a summery set today, Lenny Summer Fun, but the weather feels far from summery yet.  Still, there's no harm in wishful thinking!

Today's project is a decorated notepad.  My MIL likes to keep notebooks in her bag for random thoughts and lists, and she gets through them, so I've decorated a couple, one that I'm sharing this week, and another for next week.  Hope she likes them.

See my cards available to buy on eBay




Card Recipe:

• Image - Lenny Summer Fun from Stamp Fairy
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens, Distress Inks
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Papers - Fancy Pants beach Babe
• Spotty ribbon
• Gems
• White gel pen

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:

• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
• Stamptacular Sunday - Fuzzy Friends

Happy Crafting

Enjoy your retirement

Today is the last day of work for one of my lovely colleagues because she is retiring today.  I've only worked directly with her for a year as I transferred into her department last April but she is a lovely lady and will be greatly missed.  I am pretty sure that her leaving it is nothing to do with my moving into the department, and I'll just take her timing as a coincidence for my own sanity!  Anyway, today's card is to give to her on her retirement.

It's also my final project as a guest designer at CRAFT where this week's theme is "Feminine".  Hopefully the girlie image, spot of pink and the glittered floral papers fits the bill.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Sunbonnets from Bugaboo
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papermania Lucy Cromwell papers
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Spellbinders Labels 3 dies
• Pink satin ribbon
• Glossy Accents
• Hobby House 8mm Pearl Brad
• Liquid Pearls
• Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Boots - Flowers
• Bunny Zoe - Girlie
• Incy Wincy - Pastel Colours
• Sweet Stampin' - Layers
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Happy crafting.

Buttons and Bows

The theme today at Lili's Little Fairies is Buttons and Bows.  Now I admit that I'm not usually one to include buttons on my cards.  I think they belong in my wardrobe, but I've given in and created this one.  I've managed to get both a ribbon and a bow on it, and really love this gingham ribbon, although I don't usually like gingham.  Anyway, here's my card:

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Bunny with Chicks from LOTV
• One of my own Freebie Sentiments
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papermania Lucy Cromwell
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Lacey Circle Spellbinder Nesties
• Ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
• Pearls
• Hobby House 8mm Pearl Brad

I've been inspired by:

• Wild Orchid Crafts - Buttons & Bows
• Totally Papercrafts - Easter with an egg shape (ok I have pieces of eggs in my image, but so did one of their design team so I hope it counts!)
• Incy Wincy - Use Pastels

Happy crafting.

Berry on Stamping Linen

We're half way through our Fabric themed challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge so I've got another card using my new Stamping Linen.  This time I'm using Berry from Wee Stamps, again printed in grey-scale before colouring it with my Copics and fraying the edges of the linen to draw attention to the fabric.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Berry from Wee Stamps Digi Image
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Joy Crafts Stamping Linen
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Nitwits Papers
• Red Satin Ribbon
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Memory Box Snowflake Corner Die
• Memory Box Frosty Border
• Memory Box Bistro Label
• Pearls
• Hobby House 8mm Pearl Brad
• Liquid Pearls
• Stickles

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Boots - Flowers
• Crafty Catz - Sparkle with a Bow
• Bunny Zoe - Girlie
• Forever Friends - Girls

Happy crafting.

Teddy with Present

Today's card features a Wild Rose Studio image from The Stamp Basket aptly named Teddy with Present.   It's such a versatile image, and would be suitable for Mother's day, Thank you, or even a 'just for you' card.  But today he's bringing birthday wishes.

I'm loving this fence die at the moment. The die is cut in kraft card, and then I've run freehand streaks of various brown Promarkers to create a wood grain effect.

See my cards available to buy on eBay


All items are from The Stamp Basket as follows:

• Image - Teddy with Present
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papers - Wild Rose Studio Annabelle's Garden
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Memory Box Whimsical Flourish Die
• La La Land Fence Die
• Liquid Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Vintage Style Limoges in Walnut
• 5mm, 4mm & 3mm Snow White pearls
• Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts

Pop over to The Stamp Basket to see the lovely array of products on offer and the Spring Sale (that's if you can legitimately call the weather we are experiencing 'Spring' yet!)

I've been inspired by:

• I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
• Charisma Cardz - Die Cuts

Happy crafting

'Sew' many layers!

I'm so glad it's the weekend again, and not only that, but there's only one more week until Easter too.

Today's card features Bildmalarna 'Your Birthday' but the image is quite large, so I've cut her out and only used part of the image.  It's really versatile, but the girl and bird seemed to be looking at something (which of course is the bear in the full picture) so I cut out the present that the bear was holding, and put it on the ground for them to look at instead!  The sewing was a challenge in itself on this project.  I tried to get it really close to the edges as there were so many small panels, and I got there in the end.

I've streaked the fence die with various shades of brown marker pen to make it look like woodgrain.

See my cards available to buy on eBay


Card recipe:

• Image - Little Winged Friends Your Birthday
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papers - My Mind's Eye Dolled Up
• La La Land Fence die
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Glossy Accents
• Cardinal Red Card
• 5mm, 4mm & 3mm Snow White pearls
• Flowers from Wild Orchid Craft
• Promarkers

I've been inspired by:

• Wild Orchid Challenge - Sketch
• Sparkles - Birds
• I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Happy crafting

Spring Barry Swing

There is a new release and freebie today at StampFairy being Barry Spring, and I've got a card to share featuring one of the new images.  I've made a simple easel card and painted Barry with DI reinkers adding some chalked clouds behind the image.

See my cards available to buy on eBay




Card Recipe:

• Image - Barry Spring 2 from Stamp Fairy
• Go Kreate Sentiment dies
• Colouring - Distress Inks
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Emma's Garden Papers by Jennifer Ellory
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Memory Box Wrought Iron Fence
• Pearls (white coloured with copic)
• Glossy Accents
• Ribbon

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:

• Creative Creations - Letter B (bear, blooms, birthday)

Happy Crafting

Springtime Barry

StampFairy are sponsoring CRAFT challenges this week, and the challenge this week is a photo inspiration.

Firstly, I'll show you my card.  It features one of the recent Barry Spring images.  I've painted him using DI re-inkers and have sewn some green bakers twine into the image to make the swing ropes, sewing the twine in and out of the image panel where I think that the bear would show in front and behind the rope.  I frayed the ends underneath the seat and glued them down so they wouldn't fray any further.

and here's the photo inspiration.  The pink on my card is maybe a bit on the pale side, but my flowers are cherry blossom, the colour scheme is pink and blue, and I've created a blue sky on my image with my chalky clouds.

See my cards available to buy on eBay


Card Recipe:

• Image - Barry Spring 1 from Stamp Fairy
• Colouring - Distress Inks
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papermania Lucy Cromwell
• Cart-Us Border die
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pearls
• Pearls
• Felt flower cut strip
• Bakers twine

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Creations - Letter B (blooms, bear, border die)
• ABC - Just as you like (cute, bears, painted with DIs rather than go for the quick option of copics, pink, blue, pastel, shaped, flowers, pearls etc etc etc!!!)
• Crafty Boots Challenge - Flowers

Happy Crafting

Holly and some Stamping Linen

The theme today at ABC Christmas Challenge is F for Felt or Fabric.  For my fabric I've used Stamping Linen and printed my digital image onto it in grey-scale before colouring it with my copics and fraying the edges.  It was quite difficult to get the colours to blend, and I did find that some of the colours seemed to be different to how they normally look, but they didn't bleed over the surface like the've done when I've stamped onto fabric before.  I've added some sparkle and some liquid pearls, and some snowflake themed die cuts.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Holly from Wee Stamps Digi Image
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Promarkers, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Joy Crafts Stamping Linen
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• The Snowman Paper Pack
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Memory Box Snowflake Corner Die
• Ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
• Pearls
• Hobby House 8mm Pearl Brad
• Liquid Pearls
• Stickles

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Boots - Flowers
• Anything Goes Challenge - Double up (2 of the same snowflake corner die)
• Simon Says Stamp - Sketch #1 (turned 90 degrees)
• Bunny Zoe - Girlie
• I love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Happy crafting.