Mo's Digital Challenge

I'm not sure I should really be posting this but couldn't resist as swirls and flourishes are the challenge at Mo's Digital Challenge this week.  The problem - it's on it's way to someone for her birthday - I'm sincerely hoping she doesn't visit my blog but I don't think it's likely.  The second problem I can't think of another challenge this wall hanging would fit.

I just fell in love with this image of 'Learning to Read' - Mo has excelled herself with this one - what am I talking about - she excels herself with everyone!!!

I wanted to colour it blue and grey, well I did colour it blue and grey, didn't like it so in the bin it went and I worked with the nearest Copics I could - the BV's (blue violets) and the E43's which are a cool colour and I blended these with W1 - much better!!

I wanted to make a wall hanging rather than a card so I made a purple frame, then a white textured one - it looked a little bare so I decided to add swirls and flourishes in the corner - it's pretty big - the overall size is about 9"x9". These are cut with a Marianne Creatable and a Spellbinders Floral flourishes die.

Excuse the wonky photograph - I don't seem to be able to take straight ones at the moment - me thinks a trip to the optician is in order.

If the friend who this is for visits - all I can say is
Happy Birthday Sweetie, have a fabulous day and love you loads. xx

For this fortnights Challenge at Basic Grey we would like you to use the following Recipe :)

4 Different Types of Embellishments

(You can have as many of each type as you wish, as long as there are 4 different kinds, for example Ribbon, Pearls, Flowers, Charms etc etc)

3 Different Patterned Papers

(You can have as many plain matting papers as you wish, just as long as there are 3 patterned papers)

1-2 Images and/or 1-2 Sentiments

(You can choose to have up to 2 in either of these, or even both if you wish)

Don't forget though, to be eligible to win the fab prize for this challenge you MUST use at least one item from BasicGrey somewhere on your creation, it would also be helpful if you could state on your post what that item is, makes it easier for us you see :)

I decided to use this beautiful image be Ellusive Images which I coloured with Copics. I'm not very good at putting multi-patterned papers together so took absolutely ages sorting out my layout, once done I then discovered my image to be far larger than I'd thought and had to re-arrange the layout - derr..........
The panel at the left is cut with a Tim Holtz alteration die and is in the BG paper Dasher, the check on the bottom layer is Infuse and the stripe is Dasher and the plain is Figgy Pudding.
My embellishements are the ribbon, the charm, the leaves and the flower (Can't for the life in me remember where I put my poinsettias - NB - must stop tidying up and re-arranging my stash!!!) I don't like the gold leaves and will ease them off and replace them with - I don't know - perhaps green ones.
The sentiment is from the LOTV set, cut with nesties and edged with gold Stickles.
I know my photograph is crooked but the image looks crooked to me, in fact the church looks a little like the leaning tower of Pisa - shall have to try and put that right as well - this will probably take me longer than it did to make the card LOL.


Hope you all have a brilliant weekend and enjoy the snow if you have it.

Lovely hAnglars only and Create4Fun

I think I'm pretty much on the last minute with this one!!!

Not having a particularly good day :-( firstly it  snowed overnight so my little car's stuck in the garage, my internet connection did walkabouts this morning, got that back - thought whoopee then my electrics did a disappearing act. If thing come in 3's that should be it!!!

This card is for Lovely hAnglars only and I followed the sketch at Create4fun 

This card was something of an experiment, I wanted to try using warm colours with 'snowy, icy' embellishments, I did think I was being a little silly but it has turned out better than I thought it would although it didn't photograph very well and does look better IRL - I'm putting that down to the dark, miserable day. 

My little hAnglar girl is coloured with Copics but looks a little washed out against the background in the photo. The papers are of unknown origin - names cut off again - one of the downsides to having a 12"x12" guillotine - you have to cut of the   make and name to fit the paper in the machine.

The icicles and snowflakes are Crealies dies, stamped with glue and coated with Glamour Dust and the swirls are a Marianne creatable and given the same treatment. The tag has been dug out of my Christmas stash box.

Right I'll see if I can get on with some commenting, Deutsch Telekom and SVO Elektrzitat willing.

Simon Says - Let it Snow

Well another week has flown by and it's time for a new challenge at Simon Says Stamp and the title is

"Let it Snow" -  right - well - yes - it is!!! (well sleeting anyway) brrr.......

 I wish I was tucked up all cosy and warm in a nice fluffy sock - 

The image is coloured in Copics and the snow and snowflakes are a mixture of Flower Soft and Diamond Dust. The gorgeous papers are Echo Park Wintertime.
The frame is cut with a Spellbinders die, the tree with a Tim Holtz alteration die and stamped with a glue pad then covered with Glamour Dust (if you haven't noticed I'm addicted to this stuff at the moment). The snowflakes are a EKSuccess punch and the lace and diamonte's are from my stash.

Image - House Mouse - Sleepy stocking set (the image I use must be out of stock at the moment but I have linked you to a similar one - part of a set which are brilliant value for money and currently on special offer so hurry whilst stock last!!
Papers - Echo Park - Wintertime - a little bit different and scrumptious
Trees - Tim Holtz Sizzix Alteration die 
Frame - Spellbinders frame
Glue Pad
Snow -Flower Soft and Diamond Dust and  Glossy Accents

Heidi will be giving one lucky entrant a $25 trolley dash around her fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store AND she will pay the postage costs too :-)

EDITED Oh I am so dozy - I've just found my bit of paper with other challenges this card will fit and they are -

Stamping for the Weekend - Winter
Fussy & Fancy - Christmas with no Red or Green
Totally Papercrafts  - Snow and Snowflakes

Truly Scrumptious is Thinking Pink

It's a Truly Scrumptious week this week and we would like you, as the optinal extra to "Think Pink"

I decided to give this Greeting Farm Anya an outing this week, I've coloured her with Copics, stamped the edges with a Magnolia snowflake stamp and heat embossed using clear embossing powder, I have then inked the edges with Victorian Velvet distress ink. I've use a Marianne creatable as a matt which was stamped with a glue pad and liberally covered with Glamour dust. 

The papers are Tim Holtz Idea-ology Shabby Vintage. The white panel is embossed with a cuttlebug Seeing spots folder, the snowflakes cut with a Crealies die and again liberally coated with Glamour dust. The sentiment is an old one found in my Christmas stash box and mouted on a Spellbinder Fancy tag. The lush velvet ribbon and pearls are from my stash.

You might notice I've forgotten to add the fun flock/flower soft to the fur on her coat and ear muffs - durrr...........!! It's a little cold here - sleeting yesterday and I think my brain, mojo and all else have gone into hibernation!!

Here is Sharon's fabulous sketch for you to follow

We are delighted to welcome back Crafty Individuals as our sponsor for this challenge. If you haven't had a browse around their store you really should as they have some fantastic stamps, papers and other crafting goodies.

These are another couple of challenge into which I'm entering this card

Oldie but Goldie - Glitter and I think the lovely Anya will count as she is about 18th months old
Die Cut Dreams Christmas Club - Anything goes.

House Mousies are decorating Envelopes

It's time, yet again, for another challenge at House Mouse & Friends, and this week we would like to see you decorate your envelope.

I apologize for my lateness in posting this - I've has a manic weekend and being running round all morning doing necessary errands.

This is yet another one that didn't travel from head to paper, and on the third attempt I gave up!!!

I used Tumbled Glass distres ink to ink the envelope (I found it better to put a piece of plain card inside for this) and then I stamped the edges using Adirondak in Coffee using a Stempelglede grunge stamp. The flowers and leaves are cut with Crealies dies as are the lacey edges on the flap.

My mousies are Upside Down, Mouse Feet and one from the Poppies set and they are coloured with Copics. The pearls are from my stash and by Hero Arts.

I did start a card to match the envelope but sadly didn't have enough time to finish it. Hope you all have a brilliant week and I look forward to seeing your fabulous creative envelopes.

LOTV for Friday Sketchers

I used the Lili of the Valley challenge of Glitter and Glitz with the fabulous sketch over at Friday Sketchers

I used 'Little Ballerina' - isn't she a cutie? She is coloured with Copics and her skirt is liberally covered with Glamour dust. I used a mixture of Scattered Straw and Pumice Stone distress inks around the edges, on which I then gave used Tarnished Brass distress stickles - is it me or does anyone else find the distress stickles more difficult to use and take longer to dry than the ordinary ones.

The papers are some I got at the NEC in March which I've eventually persuaded myself to cut into - they are by The Paper Loft and called Grandma's House.

The flowers and leaves are cut with Crealies dies and the flower center is a Say it in Pearls by Prima. I died the lace using a mixture of Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo distress inks amd the ticket sentiment is a freebie by my lovely Copic Creations teamie Jama and you can find it HERE

A close up of the Little Ballerina showing the sparkle on her tutu a little better. 

This card was the devil's own to photograph - not helped by the fact I photographed it the first time around having forgotten to attach the sentiment.

If you take the flower & leaves in the bottom photograph and the ones in the top - the true colour is somewhere inbetween!!

Well folks it's weekend again - hope you all have a good one.

CES challenge, and another if I can remember which!!

Whoo-hoo - I've managed a challenge only card - must be the first in about three weeks!!!

This one is for The CES challenge which is Think Pink, it was also for another challenge that wanted us to decorate the inside, but I can't for the life in me remember which it was. so I shall post this then have a little hunt around.

The lovely Paula popped along and told me which challenge I was looking for - thanks sweetie for looking after me!!!

It is - Crafty Creations Challenge with beautiful insides

The lovely Tilda is coloured, as usual, with Copics, cut out and sat on a Marianne creatable. The papers are from Donna's Bearly Mine Designer Extreme Vol III - I had ordered her beautiful digi-download Christmas papers but couldn't wait - needless to say they arrive before I'd finished this card!!
The holly leaves and snowflakes are cut with Crealies dies, the vellum panel stamped with a old Silent Night text stamp of unknown origin, the sentiment stamp is LOTV and the lace from my ex-local market in Blackburn.  
The glittering is Stardust stickles and the pearls are from my stash.

This is the inside - I've kept it fairly simple and tried to replicate the front of the card.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have yourselves a great day.

Simon Says - Sparkle !!

We. the DT are this week showcasing Whiff of Joy stamps and also heat embossing. So, if you have any Whiff of Joy stamps and have the equipment for heat embossing, we would love to see them but its not conditional for this challenge.

I used  Willow with lamp - I love this image so much, she is so beauitful!!! I coloured her with Copics, stamped and heat embossed the edge with a Magnolia snowflake stamp in silver then inked the edge with Broken China distress ink and finally edged it with silver stickles.
The papers are from Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby Paper pack and the corners stamped with an old corner stamp of unknown origin. Behind the image is a piece of white vellum stamped with a Tim Holtz script stamp and again heat embossed with silver powder. The ribbon is some I picked up from my local market whilst in the UK,  the silver 'things' in the corners I picked up at the NEC and  the beautiful flower is by Prima.

Products used from the Simon Says Stamp store

Willow with Lantern

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Vintage Shabby Paper pack
Silver Stickles
Prima Flowers

As usual the lovely Heidi will be giving the lucky winner a shopping spree of $25 (P&P free) in the Simon Says Stamp Store  Check out the "New In" page - you won't know what to spend your money on first !!!

I would also like to enter this card into the following challenges
A Spoonful of Sugar - Distressing
Anything Goes - Emboss it
Crazy4Challenges - Christmas
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
The Stampman Christmas
The Secret Crafter Sparkle & Shine

Copic Creations Shading Paper Piecing

We have another fun challenge for you at Copic Creations - shading the paper pieced part of your image.

This was such a fun challenge and I just ended up loving the fabulous Sookie I used - (Lil Fashionette - 80's Sookie)  The backing and paper pieced papers are the same download - I minimised the pattern for paper piecing so the spot for her dress would appear a logical size. I printed out Sookie three times, once on her own, once on the blue spot and once on the peachy colour. I used the cool greys for shading the blue and E31 for shading the peach parts. I added liquid pearls to her necklace to cover up the join/s Lol.

The edges of the image and bp are stamp with a Stempelglede grunge edge, the peach with a Kaisercraft stamp 'Sheet Music', the flower is from Papirloftet and the leaves cut with a Crealies die.

We’re on a roll with awesome sponsors too!   This week we’re showcasing the very cool Tickled Pink Stamps, brought to us by our awesome sponsor, Kellie Winnell ~ Tickled Pink Stamps, Australia’s No. 1 Stamping Supplier of Everything Cute, Quirky & Pink! 

Kellie, the owner of Tickled Pink Stamps, has supplied each DT member with a TP  Lil Lolita or Lil Lad image from this awesome collection for today’s challenge.   I know you’ll be blown away by the amazing creations!!    I hope you will check out these fun images ~ you’ll love them!  

Our prize today for one lucky participant is a

$15.00 Gift Certificate to Tickled Pink Stamps

PLEASE NOTE:    You are NOT required to use an image from our sponsor for your Copic Creations project.   You will have untilNovember 30th, 12:00 P.M., CST to post your artwork and be eligible for a chance to win this weeks prize; The winner will be announced along with our next challenge post on December 1st.

Basic Grey - WINGS

Firstly I must apologise for being so late with this post - I thought I'd scheduled it as I was travelling back home to Germany first thing yesterday, but apparently not, or at least it didn't publish itself when it should have done.

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It's time for another challenge at Basic Grey and this week we would like to see 'WINGS'

 Butterflies, Fairies, Angels, Birds, or even (if you are feeling brave) Insects - as long as it has wings then that is perfect.

Don't forget though, to be eligible to win the fab prize for this challenge you MUST use at least one item from BasicGrey somewhere on your creation and we would love you to say which Basic Grey products you have used as it makes commenting so much easier for us.

I chose the gorgeous Wisteria papers and the beautiful Sweetpea image. The image is coloured with Copics and her wings glittered with Stardust stickles. The border is cut with a Crealies die as are the leaves and the flowers sprayed with a mixture of mille lavender distress ink and perfect pearls. 

I'm calling this one my CAS look as I think it looks a little bare - it was somewhat rushed as I has to finish it before I left for the UK.

And this week's fabulous prize is

As always, our wonderful sponsor, the lovely Heidi at Simon Says Stamp is offering one lucky winner a fab $25 shopping spree in the Simon Says Superstore 

This Challenge Closes on Friday the 26th of November at 11.00 pm


I'm now back in a very cold Germany, but at least it's not so wet and windy as it was in Lancashire, and I hope to be catching up with you all during the coming week. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you're all having a great weekend.

Simon Says - Prince Charming

It was such fun viewing all the truly fabulous all white creations you produced for us last week.

This week we want a PRINCE CHARMING ................so any card/creation for a Male and add a charm ! !

I decided to use the sketch I did for Basic Grey a couple of weeks ago, I don't usually like my own sketches but amazingly liked and enjoyed this one.

This has to be one of my favourite Edwin's and I've sat him on the Whiff of Joy Chair. This chair is one of the most useful stamps, I've sat so many of my images on this chair, animals included. Both chair and Edwin are coloured with my trust Copics.  The edges are distressed with Walnut Stain distressed ink and glittered with Gold Stickles. The papers are from Basic Grey's Offbeat pad and the circles cut with Spellbinders round nesties  and the border with the Martha Stewart Lattice Arch punch.

Now came the fun part - using shrink plastic to make a charm. If you have never tried this - give it a go - it's such fun!!! I stamped Edwin with Stazon onto the plastic and cut out leaving 2 to 3 mm around the edge and a tab at the top in which to punch a hole with a Cropodile.

Here's is where you are told to colour the image but I find the colours come out too strong so I shrink my image first then colour it when using Copics.

I popped it (on a piece of foil) in a low/medium oven (along with my leg of lamb on this occasion) for about 30/40 seconds. 

If it's not totally flat - push it flat with your fingers for a couple of seconds - then colour away and you have yourselves a personalized charm.

I also added a couple of silver charms, one available at the Simon Says Stamp Store, the butterfuly I received in a RAK from a friend.

The leaves are cut with a Woodware punch and the flower from various punches and dies, the ribbon is from my stash and the sentiment a Tim Holtz adage ticket.

Links to some of the products from the fabulous Simon Says Stamp store

Whiff of Joy Chair

Tim Holtz Adage Tickets

Gold Stickles

Shrink Plastic

Heart Charm
Lattice Arch Border Punch

Heidi will be giving one lucky entrant a $25 trolley dash around her fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store AND she will pay the postage costs too :-)Almost every day I go to check out the All New Just In Pages so many new goodies arriving every day !

Truly Scrumptious - Happy Birthday

Thank you for all your fabulous entries at Truly Scrumptious and welcome to the new challenge.

I just love this cute image from LOTV and I coloured him with the usual Copcis. I've stamped the edge of the image with a Kaisercraft grunge stamp using Scattered Straw distress inks. The papers are Linen Closet by DCWV,  The Border is cut with the negative postage part of the Tim Holtz Plaque & Postage alteration die and the sentiment is one of the Freebie  ticket sentiments from my hugely talented Copic Creations teamie Jami and you can find them HERE. I added white twine with a button threaded through and some pearls on the border to finish.


Here is the sketch which I turned sideways to accomodate the image.


.
and the optional extra is to make a birthday card.

This week we are sponsored by the lovely Janet from Pink Gem Designs. Pink Gem design and stock a wide range of cute and whimsical clear polymer craft stamps and downloadable digi stamps and also stock other crafting essentials including acrylic blocks, inks, Promarker pens, nestabilites, stamping packs and embellishments. At the moment they also have £1 off all their Nestabilities and 10% off ProMarkers until 2011.


One lucky winner will receive this adorable stamp

No card - just photo's from the NEC

Well I've managed to upload the photographs I took at the NEC and they've turned our better than usual.

I'm usually threatened with a fate worse than death if I publish them, but guess what - this year I decided I didn't care!! 

Here are my matey Tara (Happily Ever Crafting) and the lovely Kim (Cards by Kim) 

The fabulous Jo (Boots), the amazing Dena (Dena's Stamping Corner) who flew over from America and another fab teamie Chris (Sketching Stamper)

The adorable Tab (Tabby Craft Designs) and Kim, who as I pointed the camera at her turned pointed a finger at me and said "NO!!!" so I took it anyway LOL. 

Jo, me and Chris - being silly!! I said move in so she sort of did?

Me with the fabulous Dena whom I've known for ages and was over the moon to meet at last.

Jacqui (Cat's Whiskers) and Mina (Pink Puds).  I've never met Mina before although she's been an teamie for a couple of years. 

What do you think of this - a couple of minutes after meeting me she called me a "Daft Cow", made worse because everyone laughed - I think they agreed with her!! All because I said she looked taller in her photographs!!

Here we have another of my brilliant Basic Grey teamies  Kim (Paperbabe) along with Andie of (Andie's Space) who I haven't met before but really hope to meet again.





I didn't get photographs of everyone I met but all I can say is I had a brilliant day and meeting up with you all (both again and for the first time) is what made it so special - thank you all - love you loads!! 


Now I'm going to try and catch up with my DT commenting - I have grabbed my grandson's laptop and have 3 hours (uninterupted I hope) to get it done and hopefully it will ease the frustration of not being able to craft.

House Mouse 8/11

This week at House Mouse & Friends we have the theme 'You Gotta Have Friends and was set by our sweet and  fabulous Team Mate Sue Drees. We are to create a House Mouse & friends project keeping it "ALL  ABOUT FRIENDS".

I've used the image 'A Carrot between Friends' and coloured it with Copcics. The papers are Basic Grey's Green at Heart and I've used the Tim Holtz Sizzix  on the edge alterations die to create the frame. I've used the negative cut away aspects top and bottom and the positive portions in the middle. The flowers and leaves are cut with Crealies dies and the sentiment with Spellbinders Fancy Tags. The sentiment panel is cut out with the SU punch and I can't for the life in me remember who the sentiment stamp is by - and as I'm still in the UK I can't  have a look.

ONE HOUSE MOUSE or HAPPY HOPPER stamp of choice will go to one lucky winner from our very GENEROUS sponsor Simon Says Stamp! 

Simon Says Stamp started in 2002 and now has over 100,000 items in stock. They strive to bring you a wide range of rubber stamps, Altered Art, Scrapbooking, ATC and papercrafting

I had a brilliant time at the NEC and it was so lovely to meet up with bloggy friends again and to meet so many more for the first time. I have photographs I hope to be able to show tomorrow if I can commandeer my grandson's computer and he doesn't snatch it back.