Sometimes you just need a hug.

Just  a quick post from me today...
my time seems to be running away from me right now.
Here is a card I made for a crafty friend, who needs a big {hug}

You can't tell from the picture, but that  DP is gorgeous. 
The pink stripe is flocked, so it has a lovely, soft, furry texture.
I kept everything else really simple - colouring lightly with my Copics and adding die cut 'hugs'.

I wanted to make the 'hugs' letters more 3D, but they are so tiny I couldn't cut the foam pads small enough. I ended up just using a dab of glue on each letter.
 

Challenges.
Dilly Bean Designers - Think Pink
Digi Stamp Boutique - April Challenge, use a DSB image
Crafty Creations - Pink + 1    (Pink and Green)
Sweet Stamping - Anything but Birthday
Simon Says - Anything Goes

• Digi Stamp Boutique, Mac
• Copics
• Adhesive Pearls
• DP Kaiser Kraft, La-Di-Da
• Memory Box Parker Alphabet Dies

Bloomin' Lovely

So, here I am with my MOST difficult card make of the year - Mother's Day!
My Mum does not do cute and girly, and as you know, I am florally challenged,
so this was a tough one.
I was thrown a lifeline, when I saw the Mother's Day Set at Digi Stamp Boutique.

I used a sentiment and vase of flowers from the set and combined it with the tea cup, from Coffee Break.  The images were coloured with Copics, cut out and popped up on foam pads.

I added some glitter and gems and some white gel pen on the flowers.
Am I the only one that struggles with a white pen - it never seems to flow properly for me, no matter what I do? Have you got any tips for using one?

 I also used a couple of flowers from a ribbon strip. I cut them out and attached them to a punched flower. If you bend the petals of the punched flower up, it supports the lace flower and makes it look better than just lying flat.

Challenges.
Digi Stamp Boutique - March
Digi Galore - Mother's Day
One Stop Craft - Mother's Day
Cupcake Craft - Sparkle
Creative Creations - Just For Mum
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations -  Mother's Day

• Digi Stamp Boutique images, Mother's Day Set and Coffee Break
• Pink Petticoat Digi Paper - Woodgrain
• Copics, Stickles Glitter, Ribbon, Crystal Gems
• Lace Flowers

 

Spring Bunny

With Easter just around the corner, I thought I'd make a start on my cards.
I haven't sent Easter cards in the past, but with living so far away from friends and family now, 
I think it would be nice to send some out.

The sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch gave me the base for my card.
I used strips of dotty paper from Pink Petticoat, in pastel colours and my bunny is from Digi Stamp Boutique.

The bunny is coloured with Copics, a touch of glitter and I gave him a cute, fluffly tail.

Challenges.
CAS(E) this Sketch - #17
Aud Sentiments - Easter
Simon Says - Anything Goes
My Mum's Craft Shop - Spring

Thanks a latte

Arggghhhhh!
I really wanted to play along with Muse again this week,
but the inspirational card, beautiful though it is, is FLOWERS!!!
You know I am florally challenged.
So, this took some thought.

I used Deanna's card, like a sketch and substituted her flowers for lattes :-) 
Then I stayed with the same colour scheme of pink, orange and green.

Deanna's card has a lovely, doodled border, which I tried on mine, but the wavy lines just didn't look right,
Instead I opted for straight lines, using a ruler and my fineliner.

You can't really see from these pics, but my card does have some dimension.
The 'doodled' rectangle is popped up on foam pads, as are the latte cups.

Challenges.
Muse #6 - Deanna's Card
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
One Stitch At A Time - Use A Digi
Digi Stamp Boutique - February Challenge (2nd entry)

• DigiStampBoutique Digi Lattes, from the Coffee Break Collection
• Copics
• Heart Gems
• Sentiment made on my computer

The Tweet Life

Have you paid a visit to Digi Stamp Boutique recently?
Sally-Ann has some super cute new digis and even more on the way.
I was lucky enough to win a very generous voucher for her store, and here's one of the images I chose.
This is Alyssa.

I used a rectangle nestie to cut out a window in my white card and
placed my bird DP behind it.
Alyssa is coloured with Copics and some stickles glitter. 
I also added a touch of glitter to some of the birds wings.
 

Challenges.
Tuesday Alchemy - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
Moving Along with the Times - Only Girls Allowed
Digi Stamp Boutique - use a DSB image.

• Digi - Alyssa from DSB
• DP - Echo Park
• Memory Box Die, Fluffy Clouds
• Sent Stamp - Impression Obsession, Life Is Tweet

Mayan Christmas Wishes

Winter Beau from Digi Stamp Boutique
Apple Digi paper from Pink Petticoat.

Home for the Holidays

Now that these cards have made it to their destination, I can blog them. 
I made one for each of my girls, Maria and Annabel.
I am so excited that they are both going to be heading home for the holidays.

This is definitely my favourite card of the year - and really represents the more CAS style I have been doing of late.

I made the image up with a couple of digis from Digi Stamp Boutique - the car is from the 'we've moved' set and the tree is 'Xmas frame' tree. 

I wanted to keep everything nice and crisp and sharp, so instead of colouring the image I used digi papers from Pink Petticoat ( leaves and stripes).
I also made the sentiment on my comp.

I really wanted to add some glitter to the stars on the tree, but in the interest of CAS I stopped myself  :-)
 
Then to finish off, I tied some whispy string around the card and added a little star charm with  baker's twine.
I would have preferred a snowflake, but I didn't have any left.

Challenges
Digi Stamp Boutique -  December Challenge
Stamping Sensations -  Tree - mendous
Papercraft Star - Christmas Tree
Dream Valley - Christmas  
Creative Card Crew  - Star
Hooked on Craft - Christmas 

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Don't it make my brown eyes blue?

At last, here I am with a card...
I got side-tracked drooling over Damian Lewis when I was catching up on Homeland.

Here's another card for the Christmas pile - I really must get a list done.
I've used the adorable Lucy from Digi Stamp Boutique, coloured with Copics, and lots of my favourite Glamour Dust.
 

Challenges.
Digi Stamp Boutique -  November Challenge
Sketch Saturday - Lizy's Sketch (I just rotated it)
Sweet Stampin' - All That Glitters
Polka Doodles - Bright Colours and Sparkle
My Mum's Craft Shop - Bold and Bright
ABC Christmas Challenge - V for Vibrant Colours

Supplies.
Lucy Digi from Digi Stamp Boutique, coloured with Copics and Glamour Dust.
Sorry, can't remember what the DPs are!!
Memory Box Twiggy Tree Die, with white gel pen and white gems.
6 x 6 Petal Point Card Blank and Sentiment from Craftwork Cards  
Ribbon from my stash. 

 
 

Birthday Balloons

Well - flippin 'eck - 'ave a gander at this - I've managed to make a card AT LAST!
It's a tad simple  -  I  did manage to find some DP's, but couldn't for the life or me remember which box contained my sentiment stamps :-)

This cutie pie, from Digi Stamp Boutique, is coloured with Copics and the balloons and presents are decoupaged and popped up on foam pads.

Challenges.
Digi Stamp Boutique - July Challenge
Divas By Design - Happy Birthday
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
My Mum's Craft Shop - Birthday Girls

Now - the wine is in the fridge, the cupboard is full of snacks and we are ready to settle down to the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Let's just hope that's it's more than a couple of double decker buses, an old british bulldog and a sing song of the hokey cokey.

PS: Huge thanks to everyone who has left me a comment about my non house move :-)
It really meant a lot to me to know that you were thinking of me - now stop messing about on craft blogs and find me a BUYER !!! :-)

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It's All White

Saturated colours are sooo last week ;-)

There's a new challenge at Totally Papercrafts, and the lovely Cathy has chosen the theme...

White on White

This was a 2-fold challenge for me. Not only did I have to make the card, but I also had to try and get a decent photo of it!! Very tricky :-)

I would normally reach for wedding or Christmas images for  white on white, but I wanted to try and make something for an everyday birthday - plus I was dying to use my new Rosie from Digi Stamp Boutique.

I also had another go at this dotty technique around the image - this time I used greys and a white gel pen.
I  think the photo below shows it up a bit better, but IRL it stands out more.

 Challenges
Digi Stamp Boutique - May Competition

Crafty Sentiments - Spots or Stripes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Birthdays.   Check out their 3rd Birthday Celebrations xxx

My Mum's Craft Shop - Embossing

Do You Stack Up - Circles

Supplies.
Digi Stamp Boutique -  Rosie, coloured with Copics.
Diamond Dust on the circle edge.  Embossed Dots Folder.
Spellbinders Lacey Circles.  Memory Box Tessatina Border Die.
Xcut Leaf and Bloom Punches. White Gems.
Craftwork Cards Sentiment. Silver Mesh Ribbon.

With a hop, skip and a jump!

Have you been out enjoying the weather this week? Here in Yorkshire it's been glorious - we even managed to have a lovely picnic the other day. Can you believe my daughter had booked the week off work - how lucky was she?

Over at Totally Papercrafts we have the lovely and talented Vicky hosting this week's challenge and she has chosen the theme of Easter, so we are hoping to see lots of bunnies, chicks and eggs on your projects :-)

I don't send out Easter cards, so I made this one to just display on my mantelpiece. 

I couldn't resist this sweet little bunny and chick from Digi Stamp Boutique - they are coloured with Copics,

with a little cotton ball for the bunny's tail. :-)

Challenges

Crafter's Companion - Spring

Crafty Sentiments - Easter

Charisma Cardz - Easter

Aud Sentiments - Happy Easter

Supplies.
Digi Stamp - Digi Stamp Boutique,  Spring Hoppy.
DP - Memory Box, Spearmint.      Nested Pennants.    Lacey/Scalloped Circle Dies
Docrafts Ribbon      Card Candi

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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.

Spots & Stripes

Morning everyone - here we are at the last Friday in June - and what a wash out it's been so far, it hasn't stopped raining up here in Yorkshire.

Your Totally Papercrafts host this week is the fabulous Vicky, 

with the theme

Spots & Stripes

This is a Trifold Pocket card, and I followed the great tutorial by Beate Johns.
I made my card a little bit taller so that I could easily fit a face mask sachet inside.

This was so quick and easy to make, it would be perfect if you had a lot of little gifts to make up. I can see it with a chocolate bar inside, or a little notepad, hot chocolate/coffee sachets, etc etc.

The cute little 'Grace & Puppy' image is from one of our sponsors this week - Digi Stamp Boutique.
I hope you will join in the fun and check out the fab work from my fellow teamies over on the challenge blog.

Challenges - 

Top Tip - Cross It

Supplies.
Stamp - Digi Stamp Boutique.
DP - DCWV Nana's Nursery
''Handmade' stamp - Catslife Press (available at Crafty Emma's Store)
Tim Holtz journaling tickets    Blooms and Card Candy from my stash.

Hoppy Easter

Time to dig out those shorts and flip flops, girls and fire up the old BBQ - apparently we are having a mini heatwave this weekend.  I have the hot tub turned up and a nice bottle of Sauvignon in the fridge!!

Here's a card I made for Easter. I don't send Easter cards, but I have one of those plastic menu stands, that a card slides into and I keep it on my mantelpiece, with whichever card suits the season/occasion.

 Challenges - 

Do You Stack Up? - Follow that yellow brick road.  These digi papers are all in a shade called 'sunshine' - hope that's yellow enough!

Stampin' for the Weekend - Easter

Moving Along With The Times - Sketch

CES - Monochromatic
Digi Stamp Boutique - April Competition

Stamp - Digi Stamp Boutique, Spring Hoppy, coloured with Copics, with a little cotton ball, for the bunny's tail.

Digi Papers - Pink Petticoat, Pinstripes and Apples, in Sunshine

Bunting - Molly Blooms stamp (free in a magazine), paper pieced and attached with foam pads.

Happy Easter sentiment made on my comp.

Totally Papercrafts #51 One for the kiddies.

We have a great challenge for you over at Totally Papercrafts this week and our host is the lovely Joey and she has chosen the theme of 

One for the kiddies

So, we would like to see any cards or projects with children in mind.

We have 2 great sponsors for you  - Digital stamp Boutique and Simon Says Stamp.

Check out the challenge blog for the prizes on offer and take a look at the great work of my fellow teamies. Please also say hello to our newest team member Vicky - Vicky makes stunning cards and I know you are going to be inspired by her work.

I was lucky enough to get to use one of the great stamps from Digi Stamp Boutique for my card.

This is the adorable Feddie and Dino.

I paper- pieced Dino with some of the Kaisercraft, La Di Da, dp, and the rest of the stamp was coloured with Copics. The bottom edge and the arrow are both cut outs that come with the papers.

The 'it's your birthday' stamp is from the Papermania, Stamping for him, set.

Challenges:

Fab 'n' Funky - Delight in your Digi

Do You Stack Up? - Patterns

I'll just hang around the mistletoe, hoping to be kissed!!

Woohoo!!! I am soooo excited!   It's time to get the Christmas decorations up. I am waiting for the tree to drop a little before I start trimming it, but I have the fibre optic tree going, my christmas presents boxes on and strings of lights all over the floor that need checking. I better put a call into the National Grid, for when I flip the switch tonight!!!  :-))

Here's a card I made for my daughter and her b/f.   I just love these cute, kissing bears.

 I found the 'charms' in the jewellery section of my local craft store - these three came together on a piece of card, complete with the ribbon. They are made by Cousin and called 'Trinkettes' and they have some for sale on the Docrafts site.

 Challenges - 

Stamp Something - Christmas Colour Combo.  I went for the traditional red and green, but also tried to give the card a more modern feel.

Secret Crafter - Christmas

Image from Digi Stamp Boutique - Eddie and Jemima Xmas Kiss, coloured with Copics. Polar White flower soft on their hats and boots and some little white gems for their buttons.

DP is Dovecraft, Fancy Christmas.

 

Totally Papercrafts #41 Tag It !

I am dazzled, I tells ya !! You gals certainly love your 'sparkle'' - we had a fab response to our 'bling it on' challenge last week. Thanks to everyone who joined in - check out the Totally Papercrafts blog to see who the lucky winner is.

This week our host is the wonderful Anne, and her chosen theme is

'Tag It'

There are lots of different things you can do for this challenge - make a gift tag, a christmas tag, or add a tag to a card. Check out the awesome work of my teamies - guaranteed to get your mojo flowing!!

Here's my project - a little set of Christmas gift tags.

This started out life as a 'matchmakers chocolate' box. Don't you just love it when you have to eat the contents of a box, just so you can use it for something else!!
I used green card to make some dividers, so that my tags would sit in nicely,  then I covered the box with DP and added the cute 'Coco and Presents' stamp, from this week's challenge sponsor Digi Stamp Boutique

Don't look too closely at the tags - I cut them with my Slice machine, which can have a mind of it's own sometimes! It doesn't seem to have cut properly on the right hand side.

Anyhoo, I inked the edges, added some embellies and threw some glitter around in the hope that no-one would notice the mis-shapes!

Stamp - Coco and Presents, Digi Stamp Boutique, I paper-pieced the sledge and coloured the rest with Copics and stickles glitter.

DP - K & Co Peppermint Twist, which also contained the die cuts I used on the tags.

Slice machine - Fa La La Design.

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