Vintage?!

Happy Friday peeps and I hope you have a good day despite the dreadful weather forecast. 

I know I said yesterday that I don't "do" vintage, well I've decided to have a go so that I can participate in one or two Vintage type challenges...so here goes

I used a shaped card and covered it in a sheet from my Almanac pad (forgotten how pretty this pad was). The stamp was by Marianne -  one that I have used a couple of times, I raided the die box and used one from the SB timeless rectangles set as a frame, a tag (of unknown origin!!) through which I threaded crochet ribbon, a freebie butterfly die and a doily which was cut from another piece of paper from the same pad. I finished off the butterfly with  some gems. It seems an awful lot to put on a card (for me!!), however, I am really quite pleased with the result.

I am joining in with these challenges

Allsorts #243 - Vintage

Divas by Design - Vintage with lace

Incy Wincy Design Challenge - Ribbons & pearls

Creative Card Crew #54 - 1 ribbon, 2 papers, 3 pearls/gems

Thank you for calling today, I appreciate your lovely comments xx

My Style

Hello everybody. I hope you are all well today. I can hardly believe it's Thursday again, almost the weekend and more importantly another new challenge at

As You Like It Challenge

We would like you to share a project showcasing your "style" be it Clean and Simple, Steampunk, Vintage, Fussy...whatever denotes YOUR style (and don't forget to let us know WHY).

I don't mind admitting I struggled to define my style. I tend to avoid bulky embellishments due to the postal charges these days, so that's "fussy" out. I'm not "C&S" because I LOVE patterned papers far too much to leave acres of white space, although the absence of embellies could make me lean a little that way. My images tend to be cute but I don't do the sweet, girly shabby chic thing either but I do like to use dies...Oh pants...I really don't know!! HELP!! 

I know...my style is just "me"!! Here's an example...

I thought it was about time I coloured a Barry image so matched him to some papers from a free paper pad. 

I stamped the sentiment on to a die cut tab. I pierced holes and used a letraset fineliner to created the illusion of stitching. Oh yes...that's definitely my style!!

I am taking Barry to play along here

Sweet Stampin' - In stitches

Creative Fingers #21 - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations #255 - Seasonal (Summer...wishful thinking)

Crafting for all seasons #69 - For the girls

Have a super duper day whatever you are up to and thanks for sharing a little bit of it with me!! xx

Soggy Sunday!

Hello one and all and I hope you are well in spite of this thoroughly yucky day,

 although the perfect excuse to get some crafting in!!

 I have been doing just that and have another Christmas card to add to the (as yet) little pile. 

 After sorting my ribbons the other day I set to and had a good old save and scrap session with the bits box and came across snippets of Nitwits Patchwork Christmas. Little Maya and Kitty Sledging were coloured to match. I stamped the sentiment in white, although the light wasn't brilliant to take a photo it does show up much crisper in reality. Stardust stickles were added to the snow, flowersoft to her fur trim and viva decor, Ice White, for the snow.

It came about in support of these current challenges.

Sketch Saturday #294

Moving Along With The Times - Cats

ABC Christmas Challenge - B for bare minimum of embellies

Christmas Card Chalenges #9 - Anything Goes

CHNC Extra - January

Pixies Snippets Playground - #109

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday xx

Heart hanger

Hello my lovely crafty friends and I hope you are well.

I have an experiment to share today and not a stamp in sight!! 

I have been having a sort out in the work room and found mountains of ribbons which, I might add, are now colour coordinated and put away in their very own chest of drawers (yup, that's how many I have). Having made this shocking discovery I decided to actually do something with them other than tying a bow and adding to a card so here is what I did...

I did a bit of weaving with an assortment of my red ribbons, the base rows were alternated organza and spotty ribbon and I then wove a different ribbon for each row.

 I mounted an  die cut heart aperture over the top and added a bundle of ribbon and pearl string attached to a button.

The hanging loop is secured between the layers.

This shows a better view of the texture.

Once I had anchored the base rows it took no time at all to do so I will be definitely doing this again.

I am off to play along here

Crafty Ribbons

Creative Inspirations #249 - Ribbons

Divas By Design - Anything Goes

The Crafting Cafe - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Bow Dies

Thanks for calling to see me. See you soon xx

GDT Sporty Little Fairy!!

Hello to you all. I am sharing my Crafty Little Fairies GDT card with you  as they have a brand new challenge starting today and the theme is "Sport". With a house full of men you would think I would have sporty stamps aplenty...but Oh No, I had to go and buy one!! Here he is......

James Bear-kham!!

The stamp is No 7 Bear and he was coloured with Promarkers. I spotted and "stole"  the layout from Larissa as I thought it would showcase the stamped image beautifully. The spotted papers were scraps lurking in the bottom of my scrap box and the sentiment from Paper Smooches.

I am off to play here

Charisma Cardz #2 - It's a boy thing
Pixies Snippets Playground #108
Creative Creations Challenge - Less is more
A Gem Of A Challenge #111 - For the Boys
Digi Designs Challenge - Spots and dots
I love Promarkers #203 - For the Boys

Wishing you a good day whatever you are up to and thank you for your lovely comments, it means a lot that you take the time to leave your thoughts xx

Recycle

Morming all and I hope you are hale and hearty this Tuesday morning. 

I am sharing my design team card for

 Oldie But A Goodie Challenge

 today as we start a new challenge. Janice picked the theme this time and she chose "Recycle".

So, have a rummage and see what you can "re-purpose" and don't forget though that something on your creation must be at least six months old. This is the prize...a fantastic array of really unusual flowers

Here's what I came up with...

I received a fabulous Body Shop collection for Christmas  and I saved the ribbon for such an occasion as this!!

So the ribbon was the inspiration and luckily I found some papers that matched perfectly. I think they are called Prairie Hill but can't be sure as I've had them so long.  The image is a digi which, I think, came from Imagine That. She was coloured with Promarkers and a clearly besotted  sentiment to finish off.

I am playing along at 

Divas by Design - Use Ribbon

Natalie and Amy #16 - One for the girlies

Sister Act #40
Sweet Stampin' - Your favourite style
 (these days fairly simple with minimal embellies to keep flat for posting!!)

Well, that's me for today, thank you for your company and take care xx

January Blues

Hello one and all. I am here today with my DT card for

 The Cutie Pie Challenge. 

We return with the theme of January Blues so we would like the dominant colour on your  creation to be blue with the optional twist of using something new and don't forget that it MUST be CUTE.

Our sponsors are the fabulous My Mum's Craft Shop who are offering the DT's chosen winner a £10 voucher to spend and Just some Lines (who kindly let us have some gorgeous digis to play with!!) who are offering 4 images of the random winner's choice.

I chose Emo Snowflake and here she is......

... coloured with Promarkers to match the papers which, I think were Dovecraft from a couple of years ago.
I added the twist and used a new resin rose from Dovecraft's 'Tis the Season range.

I'm sure at some point we will inevitably get some snow, so this could actually be for a winter Birthday as the sentiment isn't specific.

I am joining in here
Digihaven - Baby it's cold outside
Fussy & Fancy #105 - Monochrome
Creatalicious Challenges #59 - Turquoise Winter
The Paper Shelter #141 - Winter Blues
Sweet Stamps - Winter Blues
Milk Coffee - Monochromatic
CHNC #160 - shades of blue

That's it for now peeps, I do hope you will pay a visit and have a looksee at what my talented teamies have done and then why not join in? we'd be pleased to have you!!

Have a good day and thanks for sharing it with me xx

Poinsettia

Hello Peeps...Friday again!!  I have another Christmas card to share today and I have to say I am really rather pleased with it.

I made the frame by using strips of scrap paper...check out the mitres in the corner (except the top right one!!). I don't know where the stamp came from but I found it in a box under the bed in the guest bedroom with tons of others that will be making an appearance some time in the future!! I used versamark ink and heat embossed with gold powder, first the leaves on green and then the petals in red, twice so that I could decoupage them. The sentiment came from the same set too.

This picture shows the dimension.

I was inspired by these challenges and am playing along

Pixies Snippets Playground #107

Crimbo Crackers #56 - Poisettias

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Frame It

Aud Sentiments Challenge #98 - Any sentiment

Crafty Hazelnut's christmas Challenge Extra

ABC Christmas - A for Anything Christmas

C.R.A.F.T #242 Technique Challenge - Decoupage

It's Martin's weekend off so we are out and about today as the weather looks horrendous for tomorrow.

See you soon xx

Clean and Simple

Hello, Good Morning and welcome to Thursday and already half way through January...soon be Christmas!!

We have a new challenge starting today at

As You Like It Challenge

and this time the theme is CAS. Soooo we would like you to share your favourite clean and simple sketch/layout, and don't forget to tell us why. This is what I have to share...

I have a go at real CAS from time to time but don't really have a particular favourite sketch or layout that I fall back on, so this is from my head!!  I found the sentiment stamp which came with a magazine ages ago and the card sort of evolved from that. The adorable image came from Pollycraft ( I still haven't recovered from the closure of this store!) and was coloured with Promarkers. The papers were from my scrap box and die cut with MFT Flag stax. Oodles of white space so I think it fits the brief. 

I hope that you will nip across and have a look at what my team mates have done, they'd love to see you!!

Here's where I am playing along

Challenges 4 Everybody #37 - Anything Goes

Craft Mojo - All things new (digi)

Crafting for all seasons #68 - All things bright and beautiful
I Love Promarkers #202 - Hot colours (red hot)
Cas-ual Fridays #125

Thanks for stopping by, it's good to have your company!! xx

With thanks

Hello to you all and I hope this finds you well. 

Too wet to play outside for long today so once all pony and dog amusement was over and domestic chores completed I first had a bit of a baking session (chocolate chip brownies and a carrot and orange loaf) followed by a play with new and/or unused bits and pieces that were covering my desk!!

The only item on this card that isn't new is the stamp and my Promarkers. The image was  a Customer Competition Challenge win at Digistamp Boutique and is Grace and Puppy (now retired I think). The lovely papers and buttons were from a  candy win from Sammy (I'm working my way through the bundle now!!)...you thought I'd been buying again didn't you?!! New stuff doesn't always mean parting with pennies you know!!

I was also inspired to play along with these challenges

Papertake Weekly - New Year, New Stash

Just Inspirational - Children

Creative Craft challenges 2 #1 - New (digi and papers)

 Creative Inspirations #248 - Anything goes + Sketch 

Rhedd & Rosie #24 - No White

Fab 'n' Funky #199 - 1 Image, 2 buttons and 3 papers

Digistamp Boutique - January Customer Competition

Well, the heavens have opened again and someone out in the field is shouting at me because she's getting wet (wearing a rug mind you!!) so I had better go and put the beast to bed!!

Thank you for stopping by and, as always, for your kind words of encouragement xx

Sunday Blues

Hello everyone, hope you are enjoying your Sunday. It's back to grey and dismal as I write this and, I have to say, I'm not fond of Sundays, especially when Hubby has to work :0(

Anyhow, I have kept myself busy and made this shadow card to share with you, inspired by some current challenges out there. Hope you like it.

I found the instructions to make the shadow card in a magazine and

 adapted it a little to suit the size of my available cardstock. I used my MS Cherish punch to cut the edges AND got out the old needle and embroidery floss and stitched it too!! I thought I would focus on a sentiment today rather than an image and found the sentiment as part of a Woodware set. This was stamped onto the back piece of card (although it doesn't look like it in the picture). The corner stamp is from Clarity and doesn't get used nearly enough!! Lavish branch had a long overdue airing and just in case you were wondering, the papers are the super duper Parisienne Blue which I bought on my recent trip to The Range.

 I had a flash of creativity and made the flower with some ribbon that came in a value bag from Crafty Ribbons. I simple cut a 6" length, stitched a row of running stitch and pulled to gather and then neatened the edges.

the inspiration came from these challenges

The Squirrel and The Fox #61 - Show us your new stuff (papers)

Fussy and Fancy - Monochrome (cream and blue)

Sweet Stampin' - Girlie but no pink (hope the sentiment counts)

Allsorts #241 - Ribbons

Craft Your Passion #195 - Fancy borders or edges

Stamping Sensations January - Ribbons buttons & bows

Enjoy the rest of your day xx

Kiss?

Hello my blogging buddies. Hope you are enjoying some sunshine as we are here in Dorset!!

I think Suzy is rather enjoying being an "only dog" as she was allowed to accompany Surprise and I on our ride this morning . The bottom of our lane is flooded still (about a foot at the deepest part) and she managed to clamber onto the banks and leap across the storm drains as she doesn't like getting wet!! Surprise and I had a lovely paddle!! Anyway onto the card!! I have made the decision not to put the Christmas hamper away this year and try to make a couple of cards each month  so that I am better prepared when Christmas comes and less tempted to buy new seasonal stamps!! This is what I have done

The adorable image was coloured with Promarkers with the addition of some liquid pearls for the mistletoe berries. The papers are Docrafts Christmas in the Country. The little boots were adorned with black glitter and the hat had a liberal sprinkling of glamour dust. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. I'm off to play along with these challenges

CRAFT #241 - Christmas

CHNC Extra - January

Christmas Cards All Year Round - January

ABC Christmas - A for Anything Christmas

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Festive Foliage (hope the mistletoe counts!!)

Jingle Belles - Old (Kraft and navy card) & New (digi stamp)

Digistamp Boutique - January Customer Challenge

See you soon xx

Guest Blue Fairy!!!!

Hello to my lovely crafty friends and what a great day it is as I am sharing my first card as a

Crafty Little Fairies Guest Designer!! Whoo hoo!! The utterly fabulous Squirrel asked me to play along with the Blue Fairies for a month or two and how could I refuse!!? 

The theme this week is Kraft so not too hard then, as we all have kraft card stashed away somewhere.

So, without further ado here is my interpretation...hope you like it!!

Kraft card, of course, forms the base and I then ran a second piece  through the GC using a very old Provocraft embossing folder. This was mounted (on foam pads) atop a scrap of Nitwits paper and I then coloured the adorable Dandelion Clock to match. There is also a flittering of stardust stickles to her wings.

A clearly besotted sentiment onto a IO die flag tag and that's it!!

You will find my card here

Creative Craft Challenges 2 #26 - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers #18 - Anything Goes

Charisma Cardz #1 2014 - Birthdays

Crafty Hands #5 - Anything Goes

Pixies Snippets Playground - Week 106

LOTV - January Challenge

Thanks for looking at my work today, I really appreciate it and don't forget to go and have a peep at the fabulous work of the Blue Fairies xx

New Beginnings

Hello Peeps. I have a cheery DT card today for our New Beginnings Challenge at Oldie But A Goodie.

This could be "new" anything and I decided to make a card to celebrate a new hobby!!

 Unusual, I know, but why not?!! and here it is...

I coloured Rosie with my Promarkers to match the extremely old papers from a Helz Cuppleditch decoupage pad and matted on to some matt fuschia pink mirri board. A computer generated sentiment finishes it off...nice and flat for posting too, although at the moment I can't think who I will give it to!! Oh well, another for the stock box!!

I am playing along here

Natalie and Amy #16 - One for the girlies
ABC Challenge - C is for colourful
Heck of a challenge - New (hobby in this case!)
Rhedd & Rosie #23 - Going dotty
Just for Fun - New
Just Inspirational - New
Without Words January - Spots and/or stripes

Thank you for popping in to see me today

 and thank you for your comforting words about our beloved Mog  xx

New Year Candy

Hello my blogging buddies. I hope you are well this Monday. For those of you (and I sincerely hope there are very few) who have suffered as a result of these ongoing storms I send good wishes.

Now usually I would be sharing a Cutie Pie DT card with you but we are having a post festive break and will be back with a new challenge on 20th January. For the next fortnight we are offering super duper Follower's New Year Candy, kindly donated by our fabulous DT Boss Lady Lisa.

 Link up and THIS is what you could win...

...oh, how I wish I could!!

prize consists of: doily's, 2 packs of flowers, 2 sheets of sentiment toppers, mint/iridescent bows, 3m roll of ribbon, pink butterfly washi tape and a selection of buttons. Sooooo go on what are you waiting for!?

On a different note, we have had a major change to our lives. As a family we made the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye to our precious boy Mog the Dog. Since celebrating his 17th Birthday in October, his health started to decline, he was frequently off his legs, life seemed to be a struggle for him and he'd lost the light in his eyes. Goodbyes are never easy but he went quietly and peacefully to eternal sleep in his own bed on Friday afternoon. Suzy is a little subdued, largely I think, because she used to lick his dinner bowl after he had finished and now only has her own!! He did his very best for us and hope we did the same for him. Thanks for listening to me xx

AYLI DT Post

Morning All. Hope the heads are beginning to clear today...you know who you are!!

Also I hope you are all safe and sound after the foul weather we had yesterday. Our paddocks and the neighbouring fields resemble  lakes!! Unfortunately our village takes on the qualities of an island when we have heavy rain and we are dangerously low on bread and milk so I may have to venture out later...thank goodness for my 4x4!!

Anyway, after a welcome extra week there is a new challenge starting today at 

As You Like It Challenge 

and this time we would like you to share a project using your  favourite single colour and don't forget to tell us WHY.  Our fabulous sponsors are

Stamp and Create

Here is my creation...

I am regularly replacing Tea Green, Cool Aqua and Duck Egg Blue Promarkers so they have to be my favouritest colours, therefore they are what I used to colour the adorable Heather Ellis image. I hope I won't be "sacked" for using a touch of red though!! The papers are from my odds and sods  box, but I am certain they are from Nitwits and the flowers from my stash. 

You can find this little lady playing along at these challenges too

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards #55 - New Beginnings

The Squirrel and The Fox #60 - Anything Goes

Challenges 4 Everybody #36 - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew #52 - Anything Goes

Pixie's snippets playground #105

Stampin' for the Weekend - anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by to see me and take care xx