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



Card Recipe:

• Image - Magnolia Tilda
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies
• Papers - Laura Ashley
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Nesties - Lacey circles, Labels 18, Grand Nesties Labels 1
• All flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts
• From my stash -  Stickles, pearls, lace, ribbon

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

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




Card Recipe:

• Image - Close your Eyes from Lili of the Valley
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies
• Papers - First edition (I think!)
• Card Base - Crafty Boots
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Nesties - Lacey circles, Labels 18
• All flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Memory Box die - Macarena Corner
• Ribbons - Sew Sweet
• From my stash -  Ribbon, Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Lili's Little Fairies - Not a Square
• Truly Scrumptious - Pretty in Pink
• Bunny Zoe - Anything Goes

Happy crafting.

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




Card Recipe:

• Image - Morning Mindy from Saturated Canary
• Papers - First Edition
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Nesties - Labels 18
• All flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts
• From my stash -  Pearls, Seam Binding

I've been inspired by:

• Stamptacular - Through the Window
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Truly Scrumptious - Pretty in Pink

Happy crafting.

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




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:

• Saturated Canary - Bookmarks
• Pollycraft - Photo inspiration
• Truly Scrumptious - Pretty in Pink
• CMC Copic - Pink & Green

Happy crafting.

Basketball Herb

There is a new release and freebie today at StampFairy called Herb Basketball.  I find male cards so hard to make, and as such I'm not really pleased with this one.  I tried to keep the embellishments to a minimum, but it just didn't feel right, so I added some star buttons and pearls, but even still, something seemed to be missing.  But I didn't feel that I could add bows and ribbons to a male card, so I decided to stop.  What do you think?  If you figure out what is missing (other than my mojo), let me know.

See some of my cards available to buy on eBay




Card Recipe:

• Image - Herb Basketball & freebie from StampFairy
• Papers - Summertime Designs
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• From my stash -  Pearls, buttons

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 - Father
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch
• Chocolate Coffee and Cards - For the boys
• Charisma Cardz - No flowers
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Happy Crafting

Jubilee Wedding Celebrations

A friend is getting married on the Queen's Jubilee celebration day in 2 weeks time, and I wanted to make a card for her wedding using her colour theme which is ivory and plum.  I seem to be hooked on this style of shaped card right now, but I really think that it is much prettier and far more personal than a square one.  No doubt I'll fall back into square ones sooner or later, but for now, I'm happy with the shaped cards.  I've created a specific sentiment using the names of the happy couple.

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




Card Recipe:

• Image - Wedding Couple from Lili of the Valley
• Sentiment - One of my own
• Papers - First Edition
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens, Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Nesties - Lacey circles, Labels 18, Grand Nesties Labels 1
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• From my stash -  Pearls, Glossy Accents, ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Wild Orchid Crafts - Anything Goes
• One Stop Craft - Spring Weddings/Anniversary
• Lili's little Fairies - Not a square

Happy Crafting

Daisy Chain

I've decided to try to brighten up my colour schemes with some summery colours, and chosen a bright orange, which is really out of my comfort zone (being effectively blue, purple, pink and brown!!).  I bought some beautiful ribbons from Sew Sweet, and some pretty blooms from Wild Orchid Crafts to try to encourage me to use brighter colours. Here is the result ...

This card is available to buy on my eBay listings




Card Recipe:

• Image - Daisy Chain from Lili of the Valley
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies
• Papers - First Edition
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens, Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Nesties - Lacey circles, Labels 3, Grand Nesties Labels 1
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Ribbons - Sew Sweet
• From my stash -  Gems, Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Wild Orchid Crafts - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Summer Holiday
• Crafter's Companion - Summer

Happy Crafting

Bunny Toadstool for Two

Thanks so much for all your kind wishes yesterday.  We had a anniversary (well a nice evening cos we were both at work during the day !!! LOL).

There's a new challenge today at the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge Blog and the task for the next fortnight is to dig out and use your old stash.  Well, looking at my craft desk, I seem to have quite a lot of stash, although somehow it never seems quite enough!  ;0)

I've dug out a LOTV image that I've had for many months, but only used a couple of times.  I've also used one of my oldest sentiments (you can get this off my Freebies page along with a shed-load of others to choose from).  The flowers are also really old (although I ordered some new ones at the weekend from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I was starting to run low of their beautiful blooms, which is a tragedy in my eyes, and as soon as I got onto their website, I was shocked at how fast my basket seemed to fill up with all sorts of pretty petals.  So keep your eyes peeled for some new flowers in the near future.  Finally the pearls and Grand Nesties Labels that I use for my card base shape are both items that I've had in my stash for ages too.

Despite a lot of old stash, the gorgeous satin ribbon is new, and the paper is one that I've only had a couple of months.  I really love this paper set, mainly because it is my current favourite colour combo of pink and brown, but also because I love these double sided papers which I can flip over for a perfectly complementary two tone card.

The tan coloured matting paper behind the image and sentiment is actually shimmery, but unfortunately this has not shown any shimmer in the photos.

See some of my cards available to buy eBay





Card Recipe:

• Image - Toadstool for Two from LOTV
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies
• Papers - First Edition
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens, Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Nesties - Lacey circles, Labels 3, Grand Nesties Labels 1
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Ribbons - Sew Sweet
• From my stash -  Pearls, ribbon, Glossy Accents

This week we are sponsored by the fabulous Nicecrane Designs and also Sew Sweet which is where my ribbon is from.  I got carried away when I placed my order and bought quite a few different colours as they are just so gorgeous, so expect to see some more over the next few weeks.

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:

• Wild Orchid Crafts - Anything Goes
• Dies to Die for - Anything Goes
• Dutch Dare - Shaped Cards

Happy Crafting

Pom Pom Fairy Girl

Today is our wedding anniversary, but I've already shared the card I made for hubby, so I've got LOTV birthday card to share today instead.   I'm really loving these shaped cards and bright papers.  This is an image that I've not used for AGES, but loved it loads when I got it and used it quite a lot at the beginning, but like a lot of my other rubber stamps, it seems to have been sitting idol while I have been using digis.  So, I've had great fun reacquainting myself with the inky stuff.

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




Card Recipe:

• Image - Pom Pom by Lili of the Valley
• Papers - Nitwits
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Nesties - Grand Labels 1 (for card base shape), Labels 3 and Lacey Circles
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Ribbons - Sew Sweet
• From my stash -  Pearls, Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Truly Scrumptious - Anything Goes
• CMC Copic - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stamping - Fairies and Angels
• Sentimental Sundays - Whimsical
• Stamptacular Sunday - In the Garden
• Crafry Calendar - Things with Wings
• Bunny Zoe - Anything Goes

Happy Crafting

Butterflies Galore

The Olympic torch started its journey through the UK yesterday, and is being carried through my town today.  We're planning to walk down to the beach, which is about a mile from home, and watch it being carried along the seafront.  There are also loads of activities happening on the public green before the torch arrives, with demonstrations of all sorts of sports from Archery to Zumba.  It should be a fun afternoon.

Anyhoo, before I go, I wanted to share a card.  I've had this cute little StampFairy image for a while, but have not used her yet.  She's called Linda bear and this is a Springtime theme, so very apt for the season.

I've gone a bit mad with the butterflies, there's some on the image, they're on the ribbon and the charm too.

Here's the inside of the card with a little version of the same image on the inner panel.

See my cards available to buy on my eBay listings



Card Recipe:

• Image - Linda Spring from StampFairy
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies
• Papers - Nitwits
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens, Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Nesties - Labels 3 & 18
• Die - Memory Box Macarena corner die
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• From my stash -  Ribbon, pearls, brad, charm

I've been inspired by:

• Craft your passion - Purple & Green
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes
• Wild Orchid Crafts - Anything Goes

Happy Crafting

Close your eyes

I really love this image and have used it a couple of times now. It's just so sweet.  I'm really loving this shaped card at the moment.  I bought some larger card blanks, and I can use a larger nestie to cut my fancy base shapes which means that I can even more space to fit embellies onto my cards!!!  I used inks to give the image panel and the backing papers a distressed look around their edges. It seems to make the panels stand out more too, and I'm really liking this look at the moment.

Sorry that the picture is a bit dark today. I managed to break my lovely crafting lamp (the one which has my expensive 'daylight bulb' in it).  It fell off my craft desk onto my head when I was bending down to pick up the waste bin while I was hoovering the carpet. Both the bulb and the lamp broke, glass going everywhere.  Luckily of course I had the hoover out already to clear up the mess, but I have a rather painful bump on my head.  Ouch!!!  Plus, I now need a new bulb, and a new lamp to go with it.  D'oh!!!

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



Card Recipe:

• Image - Close your Eyes from LOTV
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies
• Papers - Nitwits
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens, Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Nesties - Labels 18, Lacey Circles, Grand Nesties Labels 1
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Ribbon - Sew Sweet
• From my stash - Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Craft - Distressing
• Wild Orchid Craft - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes

Happy Crafting

Feeling poorly? Have a nice cup of tea ...

There is a new release and freebie today at StampFairy called Donny Doc, great for any 'get well' theme.  I've made a cute little tea bag gift box decorated with one of the cute new digis and the freebie sentiment. This box was so simple to make once I'd cut out the template. I even simplified the acetate window by using a nestie to cut it out. The template is here, go and have a try for yourself.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Donny Doc from StampFairy
• Sentiment -  from StampFairy
• Template for box - Stempeleinmaleins
• Papers - Nitwits
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Nesties - Lacey ovals, Labels 18
• Pearls - Wild Orchid Crafts

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 & Show - Anything Goes
• Wild Orchid Crafts - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp - Clean & Simple

Happy Crafting

Twice as much fun

I was asked to make a couple of baby boy cards for a friend at short notice, so had to have a bit of a crafting evening (well that was my excuse anyway, and I'm sticking to it!).

I admit that I cheated a little, as I had no planning time, so I created both of them based on previous card layouts that I've really liked.

Here are the new versions .....

Card Recipe:

• Image - Toby Everyday Angel from StampFairy.com
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies
• Papers - Nitwits
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Nesties - Go Kreate Large scalloped circles
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Dies- Magnolia Leaf & Swirl
• From my stash -  Stickles, pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes
• Wild Orchid Craft - Anything Goes
• Creative Craft - Distressing (image panel)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Little Sleepy Head from LOTV
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies
• Papers - Nitwits
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics,
• Nesties - Lacey circles
• From my stash -  Brad, ribbon, charm, pearls, sewing machine

I've been inspired by:

• Lolipop - Just for him
• I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
• Truly Scrumptious - Anything Goes
• CMC - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Card for a man / boy
• CES - Anything Goes
• Craft your days away - All creatures great and small
• Bunny Zoe - Anything Goes
• Charisma Cardz - Metal charms

Happy crafting.

Fairy pink and brown

I'm trying to use some of the stamps that I've had for a while.  I have so many of them now, and keep seeing new ones that I like, but really there are some lovely ones already in my collection that I still love and need to dig out and use again.  This is such a pretty one, and I love this pink and brown colour scheme at the moment. 

I'm also loving these double sided papers that I can cut in half and flip over for a dual coloured card, with perfectly complementary papers.  This is also my favourite shaped card (at the moment).  I have bought some new ribbons from Sew Sweet last week and I'm loving these satin spotty ones especially.

This card is available to buy on my eBay listings




Card Recipe:

• Image - Wipsy a Fairy from Krista Smith
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies
• Papers - First Edition
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Nesties - Lacey circles, Labels 18
• Leaf die - Magnolia leaf and swirl
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Ribbons - Sew Sweet
• From my stash -  Pearls, ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes
• Wild Orchid Crafts - Anything Goes
• Saturated Canary - May Flowers

Happy Crafting

Sweet Treats ... (Take 2)

I've made another card using the same image as yesterday, but today I've used brighter colours and created a shaped card too.  The pearls were pale pink so I coloured them with a permanent alcohol marker to make them match the yellow accents in the papers.

This card is available to buy on my eBay listings




Card Recipe:

• Image - I baked a cake by Lili of the Valley
• Papers - Nitwits
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Nesties - Grand Labels 1 (for card base shape)
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Ribbons - Sew Sweet
• From my stash -  Pearls, Glossy Accents, Pin

I've been inspired by:

• Simon Says Sketch and Stamp - Favourite Stamp (used twice in 2 days!!)
• I Love Promarkers - Hat Pins or Charms (pin)
• Simon Says Stamp - Sweet Tooth
• Truly Scrumptious - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Food or Drink
• Lili's Little Fairies - Fave Craft Tool (Big Shot)
• CMC - Anything Goes
• Die-ing for a challenge - Sketch

Happy Crafting

Sweet Treats

I've used one of my older LOTV stamps today for a cute girlie card.  I think I've only used this stamp once before, but these little stamps are always a joy to use.

This card is available to buy on my eBay listings




Card Recipe:

• Image - I baked a cake by Lili of the Valley
• Papers - Nitwits
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Nesties - Labels 18
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Ribbons - Sew Sweet
• From my stash -  Pearls, Glossy Accents, Gem brad

I've been inspired by:

• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch
• The Crafty Pad - Girly Girls
• Simon Says Stamp - Sweet Tooth
• Cute Card Thursday - Food or Drink
• CMC - Anything Goes

Happy Crafting

Guest Bar-Tender and a Freebie

Woohoo, I got selected by Raise the Bar Challenge last week to join them as one of their guest "bar tenders" this week.  I'm so proud to have been selected.

The theme this week is Mother's Day.  For all my UK blogging pals, I know we celebrated Mother's day back in March, but it is celebrated on 13 May over in the US, so we get to create some girlie cards again.  Since I think you can never have too much pink, I'm happy to play along.  However, I cheated a little, because I made my sentiment say 'Special Mother' so it could be used for a birthday card for a mum too!!

The sentiment is a new freebie (see below).

I saw this pink and brown colour scheme used a few days ago and decided to give it a go 'cos I thought it looked gorgeous.  The thin brown ribbon is actually cut out of a brown jumper (you know those annoying little ribbons they put inside the shoulders to supposedly help to hang it neatly on a hanger in the wardrobe, but all they end up doing is poking out from the neckline when you're wearing the top!!). Well, I can't stand them when they do that, so out come the scissors, and voilà !

This card is available to buy on my eBay listings



Card Recipe:

• Image - New Hat from Lili of the Valley
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies (see below)
• Papers - First Edition Sweet Owl
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Nesties - Lacey circles, Labels 3, Grand Nesties Labels 1 (card base)
• Dies - Magnolia Leaf & Swirl
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• From my stash -  Pearl strands, pearls, lace, ribbon, glossy accents

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.

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:

• Lili's Little Fairies - Favourite craft tool (big shot for shaped card, dies and nesties)
• Lexi's Creations - Lace & Ribbon
• The Crafty Pad - Girly girls with pink
• CES - Shape it up
• Creative Craft - Anything Goes
• Really Reasonable Ribbon - Mothers Day / Feminine
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Layers

Happy Crafting

Barry Moving Card and Gift Box

There is a new release and freebie today at StampFairy called Barry Moving so I couldn't resist making a project using one of the cute new digis.

I've made a card and matching gift box using a tutorial and template from Stempeleinmaleins which was far easier than it looks.

Here's the card, using one of the new images and the freebie sentiment .....

Here's the card with the gift box ....

And a close up of the gift box ...

And another !!! ...

The card from this project is available to buy on my eBay listings



Card Recipe:

• Image - Barry Moving and freebie from StampFairy
• Sentiment - freebie from StampFairy
• Papers - Nitwits & First Edition Hideaway
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens, Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Nesties - Lacey circles, Labels 3
• Memory Box die - Wrought Iron Fence
• Pearls - Wild Orchid Crafts
• From my stash -  Seam binding

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 Craft - Anything Goes
• Totally Papercrafts - No Pesky Girls Allowed

Happy Crafting