The Usual Suspects

Happy Bonfire Night everyone - if you're having a bonfire and fireworks have a great time and keep safe.
I am making up a little bed, in the downstairs loo, no.. not for hubby!!  - it's where the dog runs to, when she's feeling stressed!!

It's time for another challenge at the CES Challenge Blog.

It's my week to host and I haven chosen the theme...

Song or Film Inspired

It seems like a tricky challenge, but trust me, it's not that bad :-))

There are lots of options and I really hope you will join in and give it a go.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

My card was inspired by one of my favourite films - The Usual Suspects. 

One of the tag lines for the film is

                   'Five Criminals. One Line Up. No Coincidence'

and it just so happens there are five rascals on this House Mouse stamp!!

 After I stamped the image, I cut around some of the mice and the jar, then mounted it onto my DP, so that the DP became the background.  
Does that make sense?? You can see from the pic what I'm trying to say..lol**

I used a 6 x 6 'on the edge' card blank, some Prima flowers, Card Candi, black gems and a Craftwork Cards Mini Message - all available at Crafty Emma's Store.
The DP is Bo Bunny, Timepiece.

Join us this week for your chance to win a £10 gift voucher 

to spend in the store (excl p&p)

Challenges - 

Moving Along with the Times - Food and Drink

***************************************

'Bear' ing Gifts

Hello peeps, how are you all?

Have you got your sparklers ready for tomorrow night?

No fireworks for us I'm afraid - apart from the fact that last time we let dh arrange some, he came home with industrial sized bangers that nearly set the whole street on fire - poor Suzie turns into a nervous wreck at the slightest sound.

It's a new callenge at Totally Papercrafts today. 

Our lovely boss lady Cathy  (*grovel *grovel *curtsey *curtsey )

is our host this week and the theme is

Stitch it!!

We'd like to see some real OR faux stitching on your card/project.

We also have 4 new amazing ladies joining us this week.
3 new DT members and  our Spotlight GDT. So please pop over and say hello to them.

I am cracking on with my Christmas cards and I used a LOTV teddy stamp here. He's coloured with Copics and a sprinkling of glamour dust.

I used a zig-zag stitch around my DPs and  I even managed to run some plain, white ribbon through the machine

I bought some Marianne snowflake dies recently and I've been having trouble getting the DP out of them. Someone suggested putting a piece of greaseproof paper between the die and my DP - so I tried it. It worked a treat. It also gave me some  delicate,  greaseproof paper snowflakes, that look really pretty with a dab of glamour dust.

Pop along to the challenge blog to see the amazing work from my teamies and the fab prize from this week's sponsor Die Cut Dreams.

Challenges -

Really Reasonable Ribbons - Christmas

St Lukes Charity Cards - Christmas

Do You Stack Up - Teal

Crafty Ribbons - Bingo (Glitter/Punches or dies/Lace) For the lace I used a Martha Stewart Lace Doily Punch - hope that qualifies.

Supplies.
LOTV Stamp.    Catslife Press Stamp.  DP Prima, North Country.
Martha Stewart Border Punch.  Marianne Snowflake Dies.   Glamour Dust.
White Grosgrain Ribbon.

A Pastel Christmas

 My cold is finally on it's way out - it's been a real stinker, but quite short lived - I'm just struggling to get my brain into gear now!

I keep having to call my mobile to find out where I left it!!!

I did manage to concentrate long enough to make this card.

I followed the sketch over at Bling it On - well, I though I did lol** 

Just looking at it again, I have missed off the 'swag' along the bottom and haven't added the optional butterfly. I hope it's close enough to enter though. :-)
I went for pastel colours, which is the theme at Teddy Bo right now and I would also like to enter the Papertake challenge (anything goes, plus a bit of bling if you want!) and Digital Tuesday (cute and cuddly).
 

Supplies -
Teddy Bo coloured with Copics and Glamour Dust and popped up with foam tape.
Happy Christmas stamp from the Papermania 'Sleigh' Set       Gems
DP - DCWV Nana's Nursery      Marianne Snowflake Die.     Mini Xcut Punch (snowflake centres)

Happy Halloween

Gingerbread Halloween House

Just a quick post from me today - I have a stinking cold!

Did you see the work in progress?

Well, here is the finished house - lots of photos.

I had to take these in my kitchen, where the lights give everything a slightly orange glow.

This is a BIG house, and I assembled it on a large baking tray, covered with silver foil.

I used white icing to stick it all together, and then went over a few lines with chocolate icing.

I am VERY messy - so don't look too closely at my lines!!

The roof was a little tricky, with the gable piece at the front and a chimney.
The tiles are Golden Grahams cereal - but I would never make a tiler would I ? With a roof like this I should be on rogue traders!!

 I used liquorice allsorts, jelly beans and little ghost sweets to decorate.

My favourites are the little graves, with gingerbread headstones and a little mound of brown sugar!!

The icing on the tray is green IRL, but the camera hasn't picked up the colour.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Baby Grow Bouquet

I have something a little bit different to show you today.

I made this for Crafty Emma, whos gorgeous baby daughter, Olivia Roni Britton,

arrrived on October 23rd.

When it comes to making things like this I am all fingers and thumbs,

but I persevered with this and I'm happy with the way it turned out.

Just as tricky was getting a good photo of it!! :-)

 The bouquet is made up of Baby Grows and socks, with some artificial flowers and leaves added in and I got the idea from this Martha Stewart video.

The baby clothes are rolled up and then attached to some florists wire with florists tape.

Florists tape is a must - I found it really difficult to use because it only sticks to itself, but this is so that you don't get any tacky residue on the baby clothes.

The picture below shoes a bloom made with a single baby sock. 

I love how the lacey edge looks.

 

 And here's a pink Baby Grow - when rolled up and folded in the centre this gives you a double bloom!!

 

Despite my struggles, I really loved making this and would definitely try it again.

But if you want to see some really gorgeous versions, just google 'baby grow bouquet' and check out the images.


Don't forget that over at CES we are in the second week of our  'New Beginnings' challenge.
Your card/project doesn't have to be new baby, it can be new home, new job.. etc.

Challenges.

Inspire me Fridays - Linky Party

Have Your Elf A Merry Little Christmas

How is everyone's Christmas card pile coming along?

PLEASE don't tell me you haven't started one yet - I will get stressed out for you!! lol***

Our Totally Papercrafts challenge this week is...

                Glitter it!

Sorry about the rubbish photo - the flash has washed the colours out a little.

Our sponsor this week is the fabulous Sassy Studios - I love their digis -  and they kindly sent me this cute Santa's Helper to play with.

She's coloured with Copics, some fine green glitter and white opal Liquid Pearls.

Please check out the gorgeous, glittery creations from my TPC teamies

and I hope you find time to glitter something up this week :-)

Challenges - 

Party Time - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Anything Goes

Paper Shelter - Anything Goes

Supplies -

 6 x 6 On the Edge Card Blank from Crafty Emma's

Digi Stamp - Santa's helper from Sassy Studios

Copics / Green Glitter / Liquid Pearls.

DP - Echo Park, Merry Christmas Kit. (The holly and lights were stickers from the kit)

Twine and bell from my stash.

Merry Christmas Stamp - Catslife Press.

Can you tell what it is yet?

A work in progress...

and just to let you know 

that it IS entirely possible to eat your own body weight in gingerbread dough!!

Congratulations Emma and Steve

CongratulationsTo Emma and Steve

on the safe arrival of their gorgeous baby daughter,

Olivia Roni Britton

Sugar and Spice

We have something a little different for you over at CES today,

we are are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of Emma's little princess.
She should have made her appearance on Thursday, but is obviously still keeping all warm and snug.

So, the appropriate theme for the challenge is New Beginnings 

and it will run for the next 2 weeks.

I love this adorable Mo Manning image - she is just perfect for new baby girl cards.

Here she is coloured with Copics and some fine, silver glitter added to her wings.

Please head over to the challenge blog to see the amazing work of my fellow teamies - their cards are always an inspiration.
Check in with the challenge blog for details of the prize. 
 

Challenges -

Simon Says Stamp - Inspired by Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales

Flutter By Wednesdays - Anything goes as long as it includes a butterfly, fairy or angel.


Supplies
 6 x 6 Card Blank / Card Candy / Gems  all from Crafty Emma's
Digi Stamp - Mo Manning, Baby Fairy Flora
DP - DCWV Nana's Nursery / New Baby Stamp, Personal Impressions
Punched Flowers and Leaves / Ribbon from my stash

Layer Cake

Morning bloggers.. hope you are all well.

Have you checked out our fresh, new look over at Totally Papercrafts?

Do you think you could be part of our chatty, friendly team? 

Head on over there to check out the DT call and this week's new challenge.

Our host is the fabulous Anne - 

with a Layer Upon Layer theme.

Stickers!!! Do you use them?

When I first started card making stickers went on everything, but, for years now they have been confined to the back of a drawer.

I have been a sticker free zone!

I got them out again for this card and just added a thin, gold strip around one edge.

What do you think? Should they make a come back?

Please check out the amazing work of my fellow teamies over on the challenge blog and our sponsor this week is the fabulous  Bugaboo

Challenges - 

Digi Stamp Boutique - Monthly Challenge

My Mum's Craft Shop - Food and Drink

Stampalot Challenge - Food Glorious Food


Supplies -
Digi Stamp - Zoe and Cake from Digi Stamp Boutique, coloured with Copics.
DP - GCD Tea Time / Glamour Dust / Pearls / Ribbon
Gold stickers / Craftwork Cards Sentiment.