Wednesday 30 March 2011

Princess for a Day

Here's my 'tall, thin card' for this week's Less is More Challenge
I haven't made  a card this size before, and now I've done it, I am wondering how I am going to make an envelope for it!! lol**

Sorry the pictures aren't great, but the sunshine has left Yorkshire and it's a grey, overcast day today!


I made the 'princess for a day' text on my comp  - (if you like it,  you can grab it from my 'freebies' link at the top of the page, but it is small and I don't think it will enlarge very well). 
The crown was a freebie from SKhedrDesigns, that I printed out and covered with very fine silver glitter.
The DP is from Pink Petticoat, Little Big Dots.


Tuesday 29 March 2011

Mother's Day Blooms

It's Mother's Day on Sunday, so everywhere I look the shops are filled with bouquets of flowers and pretty gifts - all at hugely inflated prices, of course!
It will be my eldest daughter, Maria's, 22nd birthday the following week, so we are planning a big family meal for the this weekend. Lots of good food and plenty of bubbly - can't wait.

Here's the card I made for my Mum.


 This stamp isn't my usual style. I bought it in a sale months ago and was really disappointed with it, so  it ended up at the back of the drawer. The picture on the wood shows all this lovely detail in the middle of the bouquet, that just isn't there when you stamp it.  I gave it another go though - and I'm pleased with the result.  It's coloured with Copics, some stickles glitter and glossy accents, here and there, on the watering can.

Challenges - 
Stampin' for the Weekend - For Mum/Mother's Day
Allsorts - For a Special Lady
Craft Your Days Away - For Mum or A Special Lady
Cupcake Craft - Flowers for Mum
Top Tip Tuesday - Nature Inspired ( check out Paula's 'polished stone' tutorial )








Stamp - Papermania, Henbury Lane Watering Can.
DP - Prima, Moulin Rouge            Crystal brad from Papermania, Hampstead 'sweeties' set.
Stick on letters      Platinum Liquid Pearls.     Blooms, ribbon and heart charm from my stash.
Leaves - Martha Stewart Leaf Border Punch.     Lace border, Marth Stewart Punch

Saturday 26 March 2011

Any excuse...

My hubby starts his new job on Monday,
so that's all the excuse I need, to make a celebratory chocolate cake!



I thought it was going to be a disaster -  the chocolate cake wouldn't cook in the middle, but it was burning on the edge - I ended up covering it with foil and baking it as long as I dare.  The result is that the edges are a little crispy, but I just slathered more ganache on them!! :-)


Friday 25 March 2011

Totally Papercrafts #59 Cuddly & Cute

Hello everyone... hope you have all managed to get outside and enjoy some of this spring sunshine - not sure it's going to last the weekend, so you'll be ok to stay indoors and make a card for this week's Totally Papercraft's challenge. ;-)
Marion is our lovely host, and the theme is 
Cuddly & Cute
My fab teamies have made some gorgeous cards, so head on over to the blog to check them out.



 I used this adorable, James Bear digi from Pollycraft, (he comes holding balloons in both hands, but I snipped one set off. I've just noticed I left the little strings in his hand, better go and snip those too.. lol**). He's coloured with Copics and popped up with foam pads. The background paper is Pink Petticoat, Sweet Flourishes.


Challenges
Pollycraft - Swirls and Pearls

Monday 21 March 2011

Man at Work !

Hi there, just a quick post from me today, as we are really struggling with our new bathroom. Everything that can go wrong, HAS gone wrong!! **Sigh**
I did manage to make this card, in secret, yesterday. It's for my hubby who starts a new job next Monday.

Challenges -
Less is More, Masculine, Not sure if this is CAS enough?? I think I should probably ditch the 'good luck' sentiment.
Crafty Emma's -  Inspired by a Song.   My song is Why Don't You Get A Job, by The Offspring. This one of my favs from a while ago, but it's still great for blasting out in the car!! Not for the easily offended though!



Work James Digi Stamp from Digital Stamp Boutique.
DP - Papermania, Monochrome.

Sunday 20 March 2011

Emma's Fundraising Candy

Have you donated for Red Nose Day yet ?? 
If you haven't  OR  if you want to give some more :-))
 has some gorgeous 
Fundraising Candy up for grabs.
If you donate just £1 to the Yokshire Air Ambulance,
you will go into the draw for lots of lovely goodies - 
and, the more you donate, the more chances you have of being lucky. :-)
This is a really great cause, pop over to Emma's blog to hear all about it 
and for more details.
xxx

Saturday 19 March 2011

Pink Gem Challenge #17

Time for Jenny's second challenge at Pink Gem - and she has chosen the theme
Anything BUT Square
This is my last card as part of the GD team at Pink Gem, and I want to say thankyou to all the lovely ladies over there. I have really enjoyed my time with you. A special thanks has to go to to Janet, who has been so friendly and incredibly generous with her work and also to Mandy, who has kept me on the straight and narrow and stopped me from stressing out!

Here's my card ...


 I went for a circular easel card, which is really easy to make, using my largest scalloped nestie, and
Pink Gem's Skateboard Andy decoupage sheet was just a perfect fit.
The paper on the bottom of the easel card is from the Slugs and Snails set and the sentiment next to Andy is Puppy Dogs Tails Polymer Stamp.
Stars were cut by hand and layered with Gingham Digi Paper.
 



Hope you can make out all the decoupage  layers from this view.

Friday 18 March 2011

Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside.

Are you all singing along?? :D)
We have a nice easy challenge for you at Totally PaperCrafts this week - the lovely Sarah is our host and the theme is
Add Buttons
 I do like buttons, but I never quite know where to add them to my cards, so I can't wait to see your entries.
If you need a little inspiration, check out the wonderful work from my teamies over on the challenge blog.


I played it safe and added some mini buttons where you might expect to see them - on the door handles!
Wouldn't you just love to have one of these little huts by the sea? I can just imagine mine, all decked out in Cath Kidston florals, pretty china and gingham bunting!! :D)
These huts were a freebie from Little Musings and all the DPs are digis, from Pink Gem. The huts are all paper-pieced and the doors are popped up with foam pads. I used my comp. to write the sentiment.
I was really tempted to add some more gems, or buttons to the bottom right of the card, but I went for the simple look instead. :-))

Thursday 17 March 2011

Snack and Study

My girls are working hard at the moment - or so they tell me!! They live together in Leeds and are both in their final year of University. That means big exams looming and dissertations to write. I put together this little snack pack, to keep them going whilst they study.


This was really easy to make. I took 3 plain boxes and stapled them together, with the lids up. Then I added my DP across the front of the boxes and right across the lids.

Challenges - 
Papertake - Triple Tastic  - My trio of goodies :-)
Charisma Cardz - To 'Die' For - My sweet/salty/sour labels are all die cut with nesties.
Do You Stack Up? -  Add a Bow - I know it's only a little one on the top, but I was really pleased when I found this matching ribbon in my stash.




I filled 3 cellophane bags with goodies,
quality street for the sweet,
pretzels for the salty and sour jelly sweets for the sour.
Of course, as head of quality control I got to sample a little of each! :-)


This Catslife Press stamp is definitely one  of my favs.
You can get this one, and others like it, at Crafty Emma's Store.












DP - My Mind's Eye, Life Stories Roses.
Snack and Study stamped letters, MSE Adrienne's.   Lace and Ribbon from my stash.
Sweet/Salty/Sour circles were die cut from the DP and hand written.

Tuesday 15 March 2011

Take Two !!

My girls and I have blackbelts in shopping, but we are long overdue a little trip, so I made this card as an invitation to them - time to get out that plastic!!!

Challenges - Less is More,  One Layer AND Off the Edge.   In my excitement to actually come up with an idea for my last card, I forgot that it needed to be one layer - hopefully this card qualifies. Awesome entries this week - sorry I haven't been able to comment on more, but installing/decorating the new bathroom is keeping me busy.

 Stamps from Kanban, Damask Divas, Let's Go Shopping. Coloured with Copics.

Monday 14 March 2011

It's a tweet life!

Just a quick post,  as I have a STRIPPING job lined up for today! (Wallpaper that is!) :-)
Here's my card for the 'Less is More' challenge 'Off the Edge'.

***Awww shoot!! Just been told that, for this challenge, the card  needs to be ONE LAYER, and my birds are stuck on!!! Sorry about that girls, in my excitement I blocked that bit out...lol*** I will remove my card and go back to the drawing board. :D)  ***


I couldn't decide on a suitable stamp, so I cut out these birds from my DP, added some black card for the wing and a little black gem for the eye, and finished off with my sentiment and another gem. 

This also fits the 'Black & White' challenge at Craft Your Days Away.

Have a lovely day - and if anyone wants to join me, I have spare scrapers and will supply all the tea you can drink!

Digi paper from Shery K Designs  - check her out, she makes some awesome papers that are available to buy, and also has amazing freebies.

Friday 11 March 2011

Totally Papercrafts #57 Shaped Cards

We have a great challenge for you at Totally Papercrafts this week - we want you to get your thinking caps on and create a  
SHAPED CARD.
Yes... we know that rectangles and squares are shapes, but we'd like to see something a little different. Surprise us! :D)
If you want some inspiration, check out the fab work of my teamies over on the blog.



For my card I used the 'Lovely Little Apron' image from this week's sponsor - Meljen's Designs.
I increased the size of the apron to  175% and printed it onto my DP, (Gcd Studios, Tea Time) then attached it to a top fold card and cut around the shape.
I printed out the pocket and attached that with foam pads. I was going to put a slim sachet of Options turkish delight hot chocolate inside, but it just wouldn't fit, so I stamped a Happy Birthday tag and put that in instead!!!
It was easy to gather the lace up with a simple running stitch and then it was sewn in place.
Finally I added some ribbon and a bow, and the adhesive, pink pearls.


Challenges - 
Cupcake Craft - Pink Polka Dots (hope there's enough on the ribbon)
Fab 'n' Funky - Make It Girly
Simon Says - Anything Goes
ABC Challenge - P is for Pearls



Monday 7 March 2011

Eat more cake!

I really, really struggled with this week's 'Pastel' challenge at Less is More, and after several attempts went in the bin, I finally settled on this - still not too happy with it though!



I made the text on my computer. By the time I decided that the black outline was all wrong, it was too late to go back and change it. Next time, though!!  :D)



The little cupcake is from a Molly Blooms set, that came free in a craft mag.
I coloured it with Copics and a touch of glitter, and popped it up with foam tape.




*** I will add the text to my freebies at the top of the page, if anyone wants to grab it.***

Sunday 6 March 2011

Chocolatey, sticky, GOOeyness!!


 OK - I think my caramel is a little TOO gooey, but who's complaining???


Chocolate and Salted Caramel Squillionaire - recipe from Harry Eastwood -  Red Velvet Chocolate Heartache.

Saturday 5 March 2011

Pink Gem Challenge #16

Pink Gem has a new challenge for you this morning - it's a fabulous sketch by Jenny.   I love seeing all the different interpretations of a sketch, so I can't wait to see your entries.

Here's mine...


I went for a softer, spring feel with this card and used Prima, Botanical dp.  (check it out at Crafty Emma's)
I also used the dp to paper-piece Spring Chloe's coat, colouring the rest of her with Copics.

Challenges - 
Fab 'n' Funky - 'Spring into Action'.
Stampin' for the Weekend -  Springtime






Other Supplies -
Martha Stewart Border Punches - Arch and Leaves.     Ribbon - Docrafts V & A
Sentiment - Craftwork Cards        Swirls - Sizzix Die, Flourish #3
Pearls - Crafty Emma's Store.       Blooms from my stash.

Friday 4 March 2011

Totally Papercrafts #56 Pearls and Lace

Hello everyone - we have a lovely new challenge for you over at Totally Papercrafts today. My fabulous teamie, Carol has chosen the theme of   Pearls and Lace
Can't wait to see your entries and we have a great sponsor for you this week, it's the lovely Emma, at Crafty Emma's Store.




 I have had this recipe box for ages, and although it's full of our fav. family recipes, I just never got round to covering it.

Then, when I got some gorgeous new papers from Crafty Emma's Store,
I knew I had to use them.
The recipe box is on my kitchen counter, so I can have my fix of these lush papers every day..  lol**

First of all, I covered the whole box with pink paper, then layered on my dp - Prima, Madeline. 

The shaped piece on the lid was cut from the DP too.
Then I added a sentiment, made on my comp and some Prima swirls and pearls.

I put blue lace and pink ribbon around the box,
attached a bow, with a little glittered heart and then tucked in another heart and a butterfly sentiment from Craftwork cards.

'Recipe' was die cut on my Big Shot with Sizzix, Bug in a Rug dies.

Tuesday 1 March 2011

Hey Girlfriend

The sun is shining and I am feeling orange! It seems to be the colour I am drawn to at the moment - not sure what that says about me!
Here's a card I made for a friend's birthday.


This is another stamp from my new fav. set of Kanban Damask Divas. It took me ages to colour this and I don't think the shading is quite right, but I am still pretty pleased with the overall look. 
I also discovered that, instead of trying to chalk/ink the edges of my paper with my limited supplies, I could just use a Copic. You all knew this, right?? I know, I am a bit slow. So , that's what I did on the text paper,
not sure if the camera really picks it up.
I also added a few little crystal to her necklace.

Challenges - 
Craft Your Days Away -  I followed the great sketch from Joanne.
Papertake - Anything Goes (optional extra of 'something old' )
Top Tip - Favourites. My new favourite is the stamp, but my all time favourite has to be ribbon. I LOVE ribbon. My budget won't stretch to new supplies right now, but I do spend hours drooling over online ribbon stores.  :D)
Digital Tuesday - Celebrations, plus a Blog Hop, with the chance to win some fabulous goodies.


Supplies
Stamp - Kanban, Damaask Divas, Let's Go Shopping - coloured with Copics.
DP - My Mind's Eye, Stella and Rose.        Ribbon and card candy from my stash.
Tiny crystal gems (on her necklace)