The Sugar Bowl

Look at this gorgeous little Belle, who could resist falling for her? She is one of the download images from Funky Kits. I am entering this one in to this week's Sugar Bowl challenge which is DIY, in other words, choose which of the past sketches you wish to use. I chose Sketch #33.

Belle is coloured with distress inks, I'm having problems with these at the moment - when aren't I having problems with something or other. I'm using a new watercolour pad and finding I'm getting bleeding - it's the same type I normally use so am somewhat clueless as to why this is so. All the papers for this card I've resurrected from  my bit box. Hooray - now there's room for more.

The leaves are Wild Orchid, the flowers Prima and the lace is from my stash. The sentiment is Hero Arts.

Now I'm going to sit in a corner and write 100 lines

"I must not colour my images before I've chosen my paper"

I don't normally but have done it twice this week then spend more time trying match papers than I do making the card.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend, doing whatever pleases you the most  -  Crafting by any chance?

WOYWW

What has happened - who has stolen my week?  I haven't finished commenting on last weeks WOYWW

This was my work desk at 7 o'clock this morning, it's now almost 2 o'clock,  that's 7 hours gone and nothing achieved. The set of sentiment stamps takes pride of place, purely because one has gone walk abouts and I couldn't possibly put the others away till their little friend re-appears. The box is full of my distress re-inkers, the egg cup - dirty water, the red stamp is a Tim Holtz spotty one, the pliers are left from trying to open a bottle of glossy accents which had glued itself together.  The same bottle that half emptied itself on the desk last week. And here are the result when I finally prised it off, tried everything but it insisted on taking some of the veneer with it.

Today shout for help is what now, how do I get rid of this???

And here is the offending blob!! The two holes are punched because I suddenly had the idea I could possible make some clear buttons - drop some of the accents on waxed paper and ..........no I don't think I should go there!!! 

Nothing much has changed apart from more clutter appearing, I'm working on 4 DT cards at the moment and not getting any of them to come together. One at a time would be better and probably mean less mess.

This is where my computer was before I moved it, extra space to clutter up, this lot would probably have been on the floor.  Someone last week said by little red sewing machine must be worth it's weight in gold.

NO - it will insist on sewing crooked lines, lol.

Right see if I can't be more organised this week and get to nosy around a few more of you.

Simon Says Stamp Spots!!

Firstly we have some sad news at Simon Says Stamp challenge, the  lovely Dena has decided to step down from the Design team, we will miss both her and her fantastic creations, we wish her all the best and hopes she stays in touch.
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This week the Simon Says Stamp challenge we are all going 'dotty' (some of us are already there) and would like to see spots and dots anywhere and everywhere.

We have the usual $25 (p&p paid) voucher from the generous Heidi to spend in store

Tilda is coloured with Copics, the edges of the image distressed with the Tim Holtz distressing tool, inked with Weathered Wood and coated with Stardust Stickles. The papers are from Tim Holtz's Vintage Shabby paper stack. I used the pink spotted piece and you can just make out the spots through the stamping. I stamped the borders with Prima marketing's Build a Frame. I then distressed and stickled the edges


The script is a Tim Holtz stamp, and I stamped the sentiment on a piece of velum, and forgot to photograph it.  The flowers are cut from a mixture of velum and the Tim Holtz papers and the leaves with a Woodware punch. I made the 'button' with a Spellbinder's heart die and used Inkessentials glossy accents on it. I am also entering this card into the Just Magnolia challenge who so conveniently ask for vintage this week.
You can buy all the lovely 'goodies' used to create this card at the Simon Says Store apart from from the ancient Woodware leaf stamp, the button and the lace.

Last time I used these stamps I was asked how I managed the corners, I saw this demonstrated on a video produced by Prima marketing but cannot find it anywhere so you'll just have to put up with me doing a demo on it. I have put it in the post below this one and have linked it HERE

Tutorial on using Prima Build a Frame and border stamps.

First cut a right angled square out of a piece of paper.

I use acetate as it makes it easier to see where to place it, it wipes clean and I can use it again, I keep it in the pack with the stamps.

Place the acetate so that the sides of the cut out square touch each of two corners. I photographed this below with the light shining on it so you can see better 

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You're also getting the shadow of my plants, lol.

I anchor the acetate with post it notes. I have low tack tape but find it can still disturb the surface of the card.  Stamp one edge, move the acetate round to the next and so on until you have stamped the four sides.

Here you have your frame, not perfect I still need lots more practice.

I'm now going round again with a different stamp.

And here you have the finished article which I will use as the insert to the card in the card when I have distressed and stickled it.

Here is the finished card 

Here is one I started then decided it was too wintery as we are in the middle of July, but it shows you can use them differently and the corners are just part of one of the corner stamps as I didn't want them too large.

This is a photograph of the set, the stamps as they are laid out just fit an A4 sheet of paper, so you can see how large they are. There are two sets and the Simon Says Stamp Store have them both in stock. I only have the one as yet

but I hear the other one is calling my name out so loud I'm going to have to have it.

CAS

I haven't managed Clean and Simple for a couple of week's so I thought I'd better pull the stops out this week if I'm ever going to master CAS.  This is about as good as it gets with me.

I use double sided Bo Bunny paper for the actual card, which is great as the inside is already decorated just needing a verse/sentiment panel. I used the scorbug and Scorpal to make the grid effect on the outside but as usual thought it looked a little plain and heaped piles of little black pearls all over it. The border is cut with a MS punch and the sentiment is computer generated. The gorgeous sentiment circle is a free download from ??? To my shame I wrote it on a piece of paper - then lost it. If anyone knows where it is

from will they please let me know so that I can  give credit where credit is due.

 I know some people find or think clean and simple is quick and easy - hmmm

just wish it was for me.

Lili of the Valley and yet another ooops!!

Guess who won last week's Lili of the Valley challenge - how lucky am I? Shall be stalking postie again until my prize arrives. 

This week's challenge is a fabulous sketch by Bev,  I love sketches but oh boy - did I make a 'cod's ear' of this one!! I thought I'll flip the sketch to accommodate  the shape of the image, that's when things started to go drastically wrong. I'd practically finished the card when I realised my trees were growing sideways - not a good look. Fortunately I used wet glue and was able to pull things apart but I'm not sure how true to the sketch this now is, but at least my trees are growing in the right direction. If it won't do they'll have to throw me out.

I've had this image since the NEC in November last year and shame on me but this is the first time it's seen ink. I coloured it with distress inks. The papers are some I found rooting around in my Christmas boxes and the poinsettia is one I made for a tutorial I did last year. The snowflake is cut with the Provocraft Build a Flake one, the border cut with a Carla Craft punch and all else is from my stash.

Now I think I need to clear up all the stuff I emptied out from my Christmas boxes which is spread all over the floor, siggghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

WOYWW - On dear - how boring!!

WOYWW - well not a lot!! Pretty boring really, It is so hot I just can't get into the crafting mood so  decided today to have a good clear out and tidy. The usual pots of tapes, glues, sharp things etc. are there plus my little sewing machine I decided to drag out of retirement, I've got it I should use it!!! The two black things are the lights for my light tent - they need new daylight bulbs and I'm struggling to get some. Found one electrical place and a little man there said he could order me some but I would have to buy a box of 24 - cost 92 euros - WHAT!!!!! I don't think so. I shall have to search the web, I don't need them now but I shall in winter.

Another oops - this little 'puddle' is glossy accents, I was cleaning the top and must have knocked over the bottle, course it had well and truly dried before I noticed, now I'm working out how to remove it.

I thought, just to relieve the boredom, I'd show you my stamp storage space. I'm trying to sort and organize these as well. Top right are my Mousies, the boxes on the left are basically in categories, Magnolias, Hanglars, Sarah Kayes etc. but they do get terribly mixed up.

Each box is supposedly sub-divided and the stamps are kept in cases and I trying to get round to stamping the images on paper so that I can see at a glance exactly what's in a box.Will it ever happen I wonder???

My friend has just popped in to see what I'm up to, poor lad, he is so hot, he's just wandering around trying to find a cool spot. I did as Lols suggested and soaked him with cold water last week and he really didn't seem to mind. It cooled off slightly for a few days but we're back to sweltering so I think it might be a cool shower for him today.

Right I shall post this then pop over to Julia's for a good old nosey and I'll try not to be so boring next week.

Simon Say Stamp Challenge

This week we have one of Martine's fabulous sketches for you.

As usual our lovely Boss Heidi will be giving one lucky entrant a trolley dash around her fabulous Simon Says Stamp store to the value of $25 !! with so many fab items arriving almost daily there is just soo much to choose from ! 

I used this fabulous image of Mo Manning - 'Rae with Journal' which is available in stamp form at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp store, she is coloured with distress inks. The papers are DCWV Linen closet (you can also find DCWV products at the store) and I used a Martha Stewart deep edge punch on vellum for the border. The leaves are cut with a Woodward punch and the flowers with a Nellie Snellon punch and emboss set. The pearls and pearl  butterfly is from a Prima 'Say it with Pearls' and finally the ribbon is from my stash.

It's taken me near two hours to do a couple of posts which were prepared and just need finishing, 'things' are jumping all over the place and I keep getting little messages popping up - please tell me it's blogger and not me!!!

Truly Scrumptious and Dewdrop Craftz DT

It's time for another challenge at Truly Scrumptious and this week we have a fab sketch by our lovely Dawn 

and as the optional extra we would like you to use something recycled on your card.

We would also like to thank all of you who entered our DT call. WOWEE - what fantastic creations you all provided us with and what a headache trying to narrow the list down to three. But here are the lucky three

Mandy craftyfoxcards.blogspot.com

Lisette totallyinkspired.blogspot.com

Debbie debssimpletreasures.blogspot.com

Welcome the the team ladies I do hope you'll enjoy working with us.

 

I used one of my DT images from the fabulous Dewdrop Craftz, this one is called the Sorcerer and by the artist CupuDOTexe. For the purpose of this card and to create impact I have just used the head and shoulders of  this fabulous image. She is coloured with distress inks (I'm still finding my Copics are not too happy with this heat and humidity). The papers are from Tim Holtz's Vintage Shabby and the edges distressed with the TH distressing tool.The flower is cut with vellum and I used pearls and a brad from my stash.

The recycled elements are the sequin waste - I've had this so many years I can't even remember where it came from, also the ribbon which was wrapped around something I bought, a blanket of a throw I think. It is strange stuff - it's not satin, not grosgrain and you can't tie a bow with it, it unwraps itself but for the purpose of this card it was perfect.

And our sponsor this week is is the fabulous Lacey from Stamp and Create with the fabulous prize of

Not only that for the term of this challenge, all Truly Scrumptious participants/blog readers can receive 10% off your total order!! Use discount code trulyjuly (all one word - all lowercase) at check out.

Is anyone else having problems, I've really struggles creating this post I think Blogger must be playing again. It's a MAN thing I think - trying to mend things that aren't broken!!!

Cute Card Thursday, Sketch and Stash and another one I can't remember

I'm just about in time for Cute Card Thursday who's challenge is "Get a Head Start" on Christmas cards. I followed the fab sketch at Sketch & Stash, and there one was other challenge I intended this card for but I can't for the life in me remember which one. Oooh just remembered -  it's "Christmas in July for the Cuttlebug Spot 

I know I promised no more LOTV but so many of you said don't stop doing them - so I didn't. This is a new stamp - first inking and I really enjoyed colouring this one in distress inks. The baubles I covered with glossy accents and the snow is my usual mixture of Fun flock and Polar White Flowersoft. I tried mixing some silver glitter with this - another failed experiment I'm afraid!! The snowflake paper is about three years old and so is the little silver snowflake in the middle of the one I cut with the Provocraft Create a flake 1. The panel is embossed with the Snowdots folder, very cleverly nearly covered up and the edges punched with an MS punch.

I think I only have one uninked LOTV stamp left does this mean I have to buy more do you think???

Simon Says Stamp DT Call for New Vintage Challenge Blog

Copied from the Simon Says Stamp blog

We have a New Vintage styled Challenge Blog going live in August! Simon Says Stamp and Show. The new challenge is devoted to All Things Vintage! The Style is inspired by the likes of Tim Holtz, Wendy Vecchi, 7 Gypsies and Graphic 45 - among many other Vintage enthusiasts.

The Design Team Call is from now until this Friday, and we would love to hear from you! Please go HERE for the details! The new challenge is Directed by the infamous, worldly, and OOOOBER talented Linda Elbourne! We are so pleased and honored to have her join us! Thank you Linda! I have been eying Linda's work for almost a year and had the luckiest opportunity in the world to meet her in person and sit across from her for Ranger U! It was a thrill and delight. Please join us in welcoming Linda to our Team!

We are soooo excited for the new challenge! The prizes are FANTASTIC! We have loads of variety packs of Tim Holtz, 7 Gypsies, Jenni Bowlin, Ranger, Wendy Vecchi goodies...and SO MUCH MORE!

We hope to offer you weekly challenges that will inspire you to let your creative juices flow, feed your soul, and (as Wendy would say)...make art!

Hope to see you over at Simon Says Stamp and Show!

Luv,
Heidi

I love vintage, not very good at it, but hopefully I'm going to learn a lot from this new challenge blog. If you love your vintage and fancy becoming a DT for this  new challenge the fabulous Simon Says Stamp is creating details can be found HERE

 

House Mouse DT - B

First I'd like to thank you all of you who entered the last House Mouse & Friends challenge and helping us celebrate the fabulous, lovely America's birthday.

This time is the uber talented Curt's turn to choose and he's chosen B for whatever you'd like B to be!!

 
The prize this week is ONE HOUSE MOUSE or HAPPY HOPPER stamp of choice for one lucky winner from our GENEROUS sponsor Simon Says Stamp!


 

Here are my B's

B for blue,  bath,  bath towel,  bath mat,  bath flannel,  bath tap,  black bear,  brown bear, bird,  brass,  Basic Grey paper. brad, banner (sentiment) 

that's it inspiration has run out, if any of you can see any more will you let me know and I will add it to my list.

I coloured this adorable image 'Tubby bears' in Copics, the papers are Basic Grey's vintage - Vagabond, mounted on blue and orange cs and cut with an MS edging punch. The sentiment is WOJ, the corner cut with Provocraft's vintage corner die, the sentiment banner is cut by hand, attached with a brad from my stash and finished with a ribbon wrapped around also from my stash.


Hope you can join in the fun this week.

Sketch Saturday

This one is for Sketch Saturday and I promise you all faithfully this is the last LOTV for a while, I seem to have done little else this week.

It's a fabulous sketch at Sketch Saturday, lots of lovely layers. I coloured this gorgeous LOTV image

'Fairies on tiptoe' with Copics and cut her out with round nesties. Most of the papers are from my 'bit box' but the beautiful lavender and turquoise are from the Extreme Designer Vol III CD by Donna at Bearly Mine Designs. The sentiment is Personal Impressions, the flowers Wild Orchid, the swirls cut with a Marianne Createable  and the bow is some metallic mesh ribbon I bought at the NEC in March. 

I'm going to sit out in the sun for a hour or so this afternoon, see if I can get rid of my 'Crafter's Tan' - much paler than a Night Club tan I can tell you.

Totally Paper Crafts and Friday Sketchers

This one is for Friday Sketchers and Totally Papercrafts, I was on the Totally Papercrafts site checking this week's challenge and I spotted my name - I thought "what's my name doing there??"  - I'd only won last weeks challenge, how exciting is that!!  In fact writing this has just reminded me I started emailing them, got distracted and never finished the email, I shall do that as soon as I've finished this post.

I followed the fab sketch by Janneke at Friday Sketchers and 

 Totally Papers Crafts have a recipe for us this week:- 1 image, 1 ribbon, 2 papers and 3 embellishments. I'm not sure whether or not I have this right. The 1 image is this gorgeous LOTV 'Big Present', for the 1 ribbon I've substituted the jute webbing, the two papers are DCWV Linen Closet - the pale brown and the turquoise, and the 3 embellishments are buttons, photo-holder (or whatever you call them) and brad to fasten it.

I'm not sure if the jute webbing will classify as ribbon, the corrugated card as a paper or whether it was three embellishment in total or three types - if I've got it wrong, which is more than likely - throw me out!!

I nearly paper pieced the present with newspaper - my two when they were very young once gave me a birthday present wrapped in newspaper, they said they had spent all their money on the present and couldn't afford wrapping paper - I suspect the sweetie shop had seen some of the money but the memory of it still makes me smile.

The image is coloured in Copics, the buttons are Basic Grey and everything else is from my stash.

Just Magnolia

I've actually managed Just Magnolia this week, a fab sketch by Bev.  Actually I'm still doing last week's which was a recipe. I have a 'tub' with a screw top lid I've been meaning to alter for sometime - still doing it but at least I've started. I started this card this morning but developed a migraine, haven't had one for years, don't want another for years either. It wasn't too bad and didn't last too long but I get disrupted vision, so computer use and  crafting are impossible. So I'm posting another card at the wrong end of the day. It feel upside down - I usually start a card in the evening finish and post it in the morning.

I coloured Tilda with copics, cut her out with round nesties and mounted her on a curved rectangle stamped with the Magnolia New Year swirl. The papers are Basic Grey's beautiful Cappella. The border is cut with an EK Success punch. The flowers are from my stash and the leaves cut with a Carla Craft punch.

Right I think I will start on another card now then perhaps I will get to post one in the morning.

Hope you all have a great weekend.