Wednesday 30 June 2010

Hope your day is 'udderly' perfect.

Afternoon everyone... another quick post today -
my daughters are 'moo'ving into their new Uni digs tomorrow -
so we are busy getting everything ready.

Just had time to finish this card that I started yesterday.
I just love these Penny Black cows.
I have coloured them with Copics, and a bit of glitter,
used foam pads to make parts of them 3D
and also given Daisy -
that's the cow on the right :-)
some silver hoop earrings!!
Ha! Ha!

I would like to enter this for 2 challenges..
Sketch & Stamp, where I have followed Maggie's great sketch.
(I did slightly move the text - hope that's ok)
and
A Spoon Full of Sugar, where the theme is 'Animals'.
They also have an optional twist this week where you can also
enter a card made by your child.

Stamp - Penny Black, Ladies Divine.
DP - My Mind's Eye, Wild Asparagus
Text Stamp - Personal Impressions
My Stash - heart brad, ribbon, button.
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Monday 28 June 2010

Tutti Fruit Tea!!

Ha!Ha! Do you like my title?
I thought I was so clever when that popped into my head...
:-)
(I need to get out more!! )

Just a quick, cute project to show you today..
this little Apron, with a pocket to hold Tea Bags.

I am entering this for this week's Secret Crafter Challenge,
where the theme is

'Strawberries and Cream'.

Thanks to Penni, for letting me know about the
'Just Us Girls Challenge',
that I am also entering.
I can't believe that their challenge is this apron card, with the same template!!
They must have been sending vibes out to me this morning.
Check out the awesome DT work over there.

I love how this little apron turned out,
and I can just imagine a whole row of them in my kitchen.
All the fruit teas in their appropriate coloured aprons...
blackcurrant, peppermint, mandarin..

I used the apron template from PaperScrapz,
and covered it with K & Co 'Classic' DP
The ribbon, adhesive pearls, brads and eyelets are from my stash.
I stuck the little tags down with a piece of 3D foam,
dusted the edges of them with pink chalk
and made the 'Tea Time' text on my comp.

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Saturday 26 June 2010

Summer Bride

Afternoon everyone, hope you are all enjoying the weekend.
Up here in North Yorkshire there's no sign of that
sizzling, summer sunshine we were promised!!

I am slowly building my stamp collection up,
so that I have a stamp for most occasions,
and I couldn't resist this Wedding Couple from Lili of the Valley.

I have coloured it with Copics and then 3D'd the bride
and added some stickles glitter to her train and flowers.

I would like to enter this card for Lili of the Valley's challenge,
so I have followed Dawny P's fabulous sketch
(just rotated it so the image is a better fit).

I called in at my local craft store yesterday and came across this gorgeous paper.
It's from GCD Studios and is Ella Blue.
It has a linen texture and also includes some flocked, foiled and glittered sheets.
The blooms are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I made the sentiment on my computer.
Ribbon from my stash.


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Friday 25 June 2010

Lazy Afternoon


I think buttons are my nemesis.
I see lots of you using them, to fabulous effect,
but it doesn't seem to matter what I do with them,
they never look quite right!
I will persevere though - I won't let the buttons beat me!!
lol**

I had to have this Lili of the Valley stamp when I saw it,
it's going to be perfect for those boys/men cards that I struggle with.
I coloured it with Copics -
but kind of wish I hadn't done those red stripes on his top.
Something a bit softer might have looked better.

I'd like to enter it for this week's Charisma Cardz Challenge,
where the theme is
'One for the Boys'

Stamp -Lili of the Valley - 'Lazy Afternoon' coloured with Copics.
  • Design Paper - Papermania Hampstead 'A Warm Welcome'
  • Red Velvet Brad - Papermania Hampstead 'Sweeties'
  • Edge of stamp inked with Tim Holtz Distress Ink 'Antique Linen'
  • String and buttons from my stash.
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Totally Papercrafts - Easel Card With A Twist

Happy Friday morning everyone..
I am in a good mood today -
after we managed to scrape a victory in the Football!
Can we do the same on Sunday????

It's time for another challenge at Totally PaperCrafts,
and for you all to welcome our new teamie - Carol.
If you haven't seen her fabulous work before,
go and check out her Little Piece of Heaven.


This week the challenge has been chosen by the lovely Anne,
and she would like to see

'EASEL CARDS -- FOR BOYS'

sponsored by Heidi of


Check the blog for the super prize on offer.

To add to the challenge fun we will also be picking our
TOP 3
from now on.
Be a winner and you get to display our Top 3 badge on your blog.


Now, I am always getting stuck with what to make for boys,
so I am looking forward to seeing all your cards,
and getting some inspiration.

Here is my card.

I do like Easel cards- they are very easy to make and look so effective.
If you haven't made one before, give it a go.
You can find lots of tutorials on google.

Stamp - House Mouse 'Olive A Party', coloured with Copics.
Design Paper and Brad - Papermania, Hampstead.
Thanks again to Liz at 'Buttons for Brains' who sent me these gorgeous papers and brads.
Card candy and sentiment from Craftwork Cards.
Ribbon from my stash.

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Wednesday 23 June 2010

A Girl's Best Friend


Afternoon everyone...
just got time for a quick post before the football gets underway.
Come on England!!

Today I have used one of my new stamps from Lili of the Valley.
This one is called 'Little Girls Swing Time'
and I thought it would be perfect for this week's
Simon Says challenge, where the theme is FRIENDS.
What better friend could a little girl have, than her dog?

The stamp is coloured with Copics,
with a little Papermania mosaic gem as the button
on the back of her dress.
I distressed the edges with Distress Ink ( Antique Linen ).
I used embroidery thread for the cross stitches,
after I had punched the holes through with a large pin!


Design Paper is Papermania Simply Elegant.
Blooms from Wild Orchid Crafts.
Sentiment from Craftwork Cards
Robin's Nest Dew Drops
A touch of stickles glitter.

Monday 21 June 2010

Art Nouveau

How stunning is this Art Nouveau lady?
I got a couple of these beautiful stamps
( my win over at Papertake Weekly)
from the lovely Beckie at Lilac Lemon Designs.

I haven't used a stamp like this before,
so I wasn't sure how to colour it.
In the end I went for this monochrome look
and used just a few grey Copics.
I also added some stickles glitter here and there.

I am entering my card for this week's challenge at Sketch and Stash,
I have followed their sketch and, of course, my new stash is the stamp.
This is another of those cards that look better in person... honest!!
The picture doesn't really show the glitter too well,
or the lovely texture of the black, velevet ribbon.

Stamp - Lilac Lemon Designs, Art Nouveau Lady,
coloured with Copics and stickles glitter.
Design Paper - Papermania Capsule Collection, Monochrome.
Small roses from Wild Orchid Crafts.
Heart charm from The Hobby House
Black velvet ribbon from my stash.
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Friday 18 June 2010

Soggy Doggy

I finally got round to buying a blank notebook,
so I can jot down all those great sketches.
Then, when I am short of inspiration ( which is often!)
I can open it up and hopefully it will fire up my brain cells!

It would have been ideal to decorate the cover with some sort of 'crafty'stamp,
but I don't have anything like that.
Instead, I went for my new fav. stamp 'Soggy Doggy'.
I think this is so cute...
and somehow I managed to give the little mouse at the front,
a bald patch, on the back of his head....
rofl**


I'd like to enter this for the Friday Sketchers challenge,
so I have followed their sketch,
which is great for those larger stamps.

  • Stamp - House Mouse 'Soggy Doggy' coloured with Copics.
  • DP - My Mind's Eye, Pretty Please
  • Stickle glitter on the bubbles
  • 'Sketch' stickers came with the design papers
  • Fiskars lace broder punch
  • Buttons and bow from my stash
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Totally Papercrafts Challenge - Sue's Sketch

Wow!
Animals galore over at Totally Papercrafts last week -
we had a fabulous number of entries.
We hope that you will all join us again this week
for Sue's wonderful sketch.
Head on over there to the blog to check it out,
and see if you were last week's lucky winner.


This week we are being sponsored by Sew Many Cards
and you could win your choice of 5 digis.

Here's my card...
and if you have time, please check out the fabulous work
of my teammates

I used a cute digital image from Pink Gem,
coloured with Copics and I paper pieced the little bundle.
The DP is DCWV Nana's Nursery, Baby Boy
and I made the sentiment on my computer.
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Tuesday 15 June 2010

Rocket Man

What a fun challenge there is this week over at Pollycraft,
Joey has chosen the theme 'let's have a sing song'.
Not as difficult as it sounds -
you just have to create your card with a song in mind.
The DT work is awesome !!
Go and check it out.

My favourite song at the moment is Lady Ga Ga, Alejandro
(join an orderly queue behind me for the dancers!! )
but I have no idea what I could have made for that!! lol**

So my entry is "Rocket Man" Elton John...

Stamp - Background, Rocket and Spaceman all from the Pollycraft 'Space Mission' Set
Coloured with Copics. With some stick on silver stars added to the background.
Design Paper - Dovecraft Masculine
Sentiment - Craftwork Cards
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Monday 14 June 2010

Card and Cookies

Crafting AND cookies... what more could you want?
Except, on my diet, I am not allowed to eat these - tempting as they are.
Well... maybe just a little one... only to check quality control!!!

I found this House Mouse stamp sooo tricky to colour -
and my stamped image wasn't great to start with.
I need to get used to stamping such a large image.

I coloured with Copics and 3D'd the little 'cat was here' note.
The edges of my papers were distressed and
I punched the ribbon holes to thread the ribbon through the paper,
then added a bow at the top and the sentiment at the bottom.

I would like to enter this for the Sunday Sketch & Stamp challenge,
which is a fabulous sketch by Arianne


Stamp - House Mouse, Mice Style
Text Stamp - from Penny Black 'Bubbly' set
Design Paper - Papermania Capsule Collection, Aqua
Ribbon Punch - Martha Stewart
Ribbon and small gems from my stash
Nestie Tibbon Tag



Cookies... more like little rockcakes really!

Makes 10

250g SR Flour / 1 tsp Allspice / 85g butter
85g caster sugar / 55g glace cherries / 55g Sultanas
1 egg / 2tbsps milk / brown sugar, for sprinkling

Heat the oven to 200C / 400F (I had my fan oven at 180C)
Sift the flour and allspice into a bowl.
Add the butter and rub in until it resembles breadcrumbs.
Stir in the sugar, cherries and sultanas. ( I added a few chopped pecans too!)
Break the egg into a bowl and whisk in the milk.
Pour most of the egg mix into the dry ingredients and mix with a fork.
Add the rest of the egg mix, if necessary, to make a stiff, coarse dough.
Using two forks pile the mix into 10 rocky heaps and a greased baking sheet.
Srinkle with the brown sugar.
Bake for 10 - 15 mins or until golden and firm to the touch.

Enjoy!
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Saturday 12 June 2010

Home Sweet Home

Awww shucks... this is one of those cards
that was definitely better in my head than on paper.
I'm just not very happy with it.
Maybe I will like it more, if I just step away from it for a while.

I made it for my daughters,
who are moving in to their new digs at the end of the month.
They will both be in their final year at Uni.
and I am so glad they are going to be living together.

I cut out the card shape, windows etc myself..
because I couldn't find a template on the net.
The one thing I am happy with, is that little brad,
found at the bottom of my stash.
It had an extra bit on it, that just looked like a lock.

I would like to enter this for 'A Gem of a Challenge'.
Don't forget about this wonderful challenge from Pink Gem Designs.
It's a monthly challenge and is posted on the 8th,
so you still have plenty of time to join in.
This month the challenge is hosted by Debby,
who would like to see 'ribbons and buttons' on your project'.

The stamp I used is Pink Gem 'Little Gem's Birthday' - cutting out the dog and robin.
I know the girls will like this little doggie - he is just like our Westie.
DP - My Mind's Eye - Pretty Please.
Letter Stamps - My Sentiments Exactly 'Adrienne's'
Blooms, buttons and ribbon from my stash.

xxx

Friday 11 June 2010

Totally Papercrafts - Animal Magic

Morning everyone...
we have a great challenge for you over at Totally PaperCrafts this week.
The theme, chosen by Mel, is
"ANIMAL MAGIC"

There are so many cute animal images out there, and I love seeing them,
so I hope you'll find time to enter the challenge.

We are sponsored this week by Heidi of 2Cute Rubber Stamps.
The lucky winner will receive 2 digital images of their choice
OR 1 cling mounted rubber stamp from her Etsy Shop.

My card uses one of Heidi's Digital Images - Hula Hoop Hamster.
Don't you just love his cheeky expression?
He can be purchased from Heidi's Etsy store.
I coloured him with Copics and added glitter glue to the Hula Hoop.

Don't forget to head on over to Totally PaperCrafts and check out the work of the fabulous DT

Recipe
  • Digital Image, 2Cute Rubber Stamps, Hula Hoop Hamster
  • DP - My Mind's Eye, Pretty Please
  • Text was made on my computer
  • Hearts - Sizzix Die
  • Ribbon and buttons from my stash

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Wednesday 9 June 2010

New Blog Challenge

Bunny Zoe's Crafts is starting a new, monthly challenge blog.
It will start next Monday - June 14th

and they will have a challenge for us every 2nd Monday of the month.


Can't wait for the first challenge.
xxx
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Mint Magic

I took a tumble yesterday (no, I hadn't had a single alcoholic drink! )
so I can imagine taking a nice, warm bath in Mint Tea..
just like these little guys.
I love the expressions on their faces.

It's the first time I've used this stamp,
and I was a bit worried about colouring it,
but it turned out ok.
I wanted to make the little tag 3D, so I decoupaged it and added a bit of string,
with a staple on the tag and just pushed through the card at the top end.

I'd like to enter this for a couple of challenges
1. The great sketch over at Papertake - I do like these sketches where I can use my bigger stamps, and some of these House Mouse ones are BIG.
2. House Mouse & Friends - where the theme is **Sweet**


  • Stamp - House Mouse, We're 'Mint Tea' Be Together.
    Coloured with Copics
  • Design Paper - DCWV, Nana's Nursery Baby Girl
  • Ribbon from my stash
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Monday 7 June 2010

Bloomin' Marvellous

I heard over the weekend that a friend is expecting.... crazy fool!! :-)
so I thought I would make her a quick card.
I found this gorgeous digital image at Pink Petticoat, coloured it with Copics,
and added dabs of glitter for her earrings and necklace.
I really wanted to add 'Congrats' somewhere, but my letter stamps were too large,
and I didn't trust myself to do it freehand,
so I have stamped it on the inside instead.

I am entering the challenge over at Sketch and Stash.
So I followed their great sketch and my new stash is the image.
Recipe
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Sunday 6 June 2010

Muffin Heaven

No crafting for me today... just lots of baking.
We're having a family meal for my daughter's birthday and she decided she didn't want birthday cake - just her favourite muffins.

As you all know 'birthday' muffins have HALF the calories of any others,
so you can eat twice as many. :-)

Large Blueberry Muffins

Large Carrot Cake Muffins

Large Chocolate Chip & Fudge Muffins

Normal sized Lemon Drizzle Muffins
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Friday 4 June 2010

Totally Papercrafts Challenge - More than one fold

Morning everyone... is it Friday already?
Then it must be time for a new challenge at Totally Papercrafts.
This week the challenge has been set by the lovely Joey and is

"MORE THAN ONE FOLD"

Our sponsor this week is Karen's Doodles and she is offering a lucky winner 3 digi images from her store. She also has a gorgeous new FREE image on her site HERE if you would like to go and get it !

Here is my design - it's a simple gatefold card.
To keep the gatefold closed, I added a heart to each side of the card, with one heart tucking in behind the other. It wasn't a complete success though, so I ended up putting some ribbon on the bottom too.
This card is for my 25th Wedding Anniversary, which is next month.. where does the time go???
I already had the image chosen and it was ready and waiting to be used, and I do like the way this fold makes the little hedgies kiss in the middle. Sweet!
The hedgies are Penny Black, Long Kiss, coloured with Copics, with stickles glitter added to the balloon and rose.
DP, Ribbon and Bloom are all from the Papermania Mono Capsule Collection.
It's hard to see, but I also added some glitter to the hearts.
I used more of the DP inside the card and added a Rub on quote from DCWV, Love Quotes.
The heart charm is from the Hobby House.
Sorry the pics aren't better... I knew exactly what I wanted to focus on, but the camera had a mind of it's own!! This is one of those cards that really does look better in real life... honest!

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