Tuesday 31 May 2011

Bags of style

It's my youngest daughter, Annabel's, 21st birthday on Friday so I am rushing around organising things. She wanted money from us, so that she can start saving for a house deposit and I didn't want to just put the cheque in an envelope, so I searched around for something a little more special.


I made this little tote bag using a template from Creations by AR
My pictures don't really do this justice - the paper is GCD Studios Ella Blue, and it has a lovely linen texture and a faint, glossy text design that my camera hasn't picked up very well.





I thought the little key charm was appropriate for a 21st, but it looked a little bare, so I put a heart on there too and tied on some ribbon.

The handles are fastened on with pale blue, pearl brads that match the colour of the lining in the bag.


You can just see here that there is also a little pocket on the inside of the bag.

Can you make out the stitching on the handles?
It was really tricky getting them through my sewing machine, but well worth the effort.








Challenges...
Wags 'n Whiskers - Stitches
2 Sisters - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes, Linky Party
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes


Monday 30 May 2011

On yer bike!

LIM card - version 4.0    -    Photograph  - version 35 !!!  
Thank God for digital cameras!


This card took several attempts before I was happy with it. The bicycle is from the Graphics Fairy, printed onto cream card (that's hard to see in the photo). I chopped a bit off the image, so that it would fit the 'square' better and decided I liked it more like that anyway. Then it was mounted onto a white card base. The 'Happy Birthday' is a Wild Rose Studio stamp.

I really love how this turned out, so I am going to search out some similar images and make a series of these.

Challenges
Less Is More - Pick a Square. 
Secret Crafter - Clean & Simple
and a challenge that is new to me  Paper Sundaes - Vintage or Shabby Chic.
I've used the vintage bicycle clip art.

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Saturday 28 May 2011

A little birdy

A few days ago I was asked for a 'get well' card for a male and all I had in my pile were 'girly' cards.  I racked my brains trying to think of what to use and decided on these nitwit stamps, which came free with the Simply Homemade magazine.
I'm not convinced though - is this still too girly??



I paper-pieced the stamps and added buttons to the tree. It took me longer to choose these buttons than it did to make the whole card!!

Challenges
Crafty Creations - Get Well
Charisma Cardz - Boy oh Boy ( male cards )
Aud Sentiments - A sentiment/card for a male
Allsorts - Things with Wings


DP is My Mind's Eye, True Blue
Stamps - Nitwit Collection. I haven't come across these before, but they have a fab collection of digi papers/kits, digi stamps etc.
Get well Soon Stamp - Wild Rose Studio.

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Friday 27 May 2011

Totally Papercrafts #68 Pink and Girly

Can it really be Friday already? This week has just flown by.
We have another challenge for you at Totally Papercrafts, hosted by the very talented Carol,
                    with the theme...

Pink and Girly

A good excuse (like we need one!) to get out all those pretty papers and gorgeous embellies.


 I'm not supposed to be buying any new craft goodies right now, but this Docrafts Westie stamp reminded me of my little Suzie, so I HAD to have it!

I started with the idea of making a tent card, but somewhere along the way it turned into a bag, to hold a gift card or cash!


Here is the tutorial for the tent card, by Beate Johns.

I took a 6 x 6 card and cut it along the score line, so I had a front and back piece.

The tent piece is 6" x 4", scored at 1", 2" and 3",
on the 4" side.
Folded mountain/valley style and attached to the front and back pieces.

To make the handles, I used 2 oval nestie dies to make a frame and cut it in half.

I couldn't find my velcro fasteners, so I just used a piece of bakers twine to keep the handles together.




For the inside pocket I cut a piece of card approx 6 1/2" x 3 3/4
scored at 3 1/4 and folded up.
I used a nestie to cut a little piece out of the top of one edge, so you can get to the gift card.
I decorated it with my DP and stitched the sides,
then attached it to the inside of my bag with DS tape.






Challenges
Do You Stack Up - Animals

and a couple of challenges that are new to me...
My Mum's Craft Shop - Favourite colours/combos.  My fav. combo at the moment is this pink and grey. To me it says 'girly' but not too fluffy??!! Does that make sense?


Supplies.
Stamp - Docrafts, Pampered Pets Highland Terrier
DP - Papermania Capsule Collection, Red Hot
Dovecraft Heart Punch 
Wild Rose Studio - 'For You' Stamp.
Gems, Baker's Twine, Lace, Ribbon, Button from my stash. 

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Mister Blue Sky

I thought I would try something different today. I am hopeless at the distressed/shabby chic look - I think it's the Virgo in me wanting everything to be neat and tidy  :-)  but, I am pleased with the way this turned out.


This gorgeous bird image is from the The Graphics Fairy. I just removed some text and added a sprinkling of glitter here and there.
I stuck a piece of DS tape to my card, and ruffled the ribbon up as I went along it - I wasn't sure the tape would hold it though, so I stitched down the middle for good measure.

Challenges - 
Craft Emma's - Embelish It (use at least 3 different embellies). I used blooms, pearls and ribbon.
A Spoon Full Of Sugar - Things with Wings
Ladybug Crafts - Animals.   Birds are animals, aren't they???



Supplies.
DP - Webster's Pages, Petite Papers
New Home stamp from Papermania Scrolls and Sentiments.
Blooms, ribbon, pearls from my stash.

Monday 23 May 2011

I'm Feeling Orange!

Woohoo!! I can emboss!! :-))   
When the fabulous Lols, read that I had no embossing things 
she sent me a Cuttlebug swirls folder (along with some little mice!) 
- what a STAR ***
So here's my first attempt with it.
I think I got my layers a little wrong,
'cos it cut right through in some places, 
but I do love the texture it gives you.


The butterfly is a Spellbinders die, which doesn't get used much because it's the devil of a job to get the paper out, once it's been cut. I did see a little trick about adding a layer of wax paper first, so I will give that a try.

I used a neat little trick for adding the glitter. I put a wide strip of DS tape on my card, then die cut my oval. I peeled off the tape backing and pressed the sticky side into my glitter. Easy peasy and much less messy than glue.

Challenges - 

CAS-ual Fridays - CAS + Bling
Less Is More - Butterflies
Designed2delight - White + 1



I just want to say how totally thrilled I was when my 'white on white' card was ShowCASed at Less Is More last week. 
There was such a lot of awesome talent on display,
I was stunned to be chosen.
Huge thank you to Chrissie and Mandi
and to everyone who left me such lovely comments.
xxx

Sunday 22 May 2011

A Quick Sugar Fix


My first attempt at a Swiss Roll :-)


Friday 20 May 2011

Cake and candles

It's my turn to choose the theme over at Totally Papercrafts this week and I went for -

Don't Be Square

no groaning please :-)
You can make this nice and simple with circles and rectangles,
or treat us to something a little more elaborate.
Just have fun!

Our fabulous sponsor this week is Robyn's Fetish
If you need some inspiration check out the brilliant work of my teamies
over on the challenge blog.


I came across this AWESOME card and tutorial by Kathrin
on the Stempeleinmaleins Blog
and I just HAD to try it. Isn't it AMAZING?




It's a great tutorial - very easy to follow and surprisingly quick to make. The card itself, is like an easel card, with an added scored section, so that it folds over the cake and candle box.
 

I did find the cake a bit tricky, but that's because I have fingers like Shrek!! I added an extra circle layer to the bottom of the cake to help me keep it together. For the candle holes I used a standard hole punch (like you use for A4 paper) which was the perfect size for my candles.

My candles only just fit, lengthwise, inside the box, so make sure you measure yours. It would be easy to add a few mm's to the template. 






Here's a close up of my image
Kenny K Club Kid,
coloured with Copics



























And finally a picture of the card folded down - in my excitement to finish, I forgot to add a little bit of ribbon to the top and bottom, which would tie in a pretty bow at the front. Never mind - next time!!


 I'm not sure how safe it would be to actually light these candles - 
so maybe it should be given with a warning!

Challenges - 
Spoon Full Of Sugar - Anything Goes
Truly Scrumptious - Anything Goes + DT Call
ABC - U is for Unusual Fold
Charisma Cardz - Birthdays in Pink


Supplies - 
DP - Papermania Regency.        Stamp - Kenny K Club Kid
It's Your Birthday Stamp - Catslife Press
Balloons -  Sizzix Die               Marth Stewart Lace Border Punch
Leaves - XCut Botanical Punch
Blooms, Card Candy, Ribbon, from my stash.

xxx

Monday 16 May 2011

Happy Little Bunny!

Did you all have a good weekend? We had a FABULOUS time. Me, hubby and our 2 girls, got the train down to London to see Roger Waters, The Wall at the O2.  We were perched so high up we had to have several drinks to calm our nerves!! lol** But, it was AMAZING!

Here's the card I made for my Mum's birthday. 


Don't you just love easel cards - they're so easy to make and I think they always look a bit special. 
I layered a couple of stamps to get this little scene and then used a craft knife to cut out a black frame. I wasn't sure that my mum would like the bold, black and white when I had finished, so I added lots of glitter, blooms and girly stuff to try and soften it.


 The image took me an age to colour with my Copics and I'm still not happy with it (the tree is awful!), but it's the best I could do!


I hate making envelopes for these bulkier cards - I get in a real mess measuring all those triangles and angles  - BUT, no more! I found this fab little tut by Maddy Hill, to make the easiest of boxes.





Challenges -
Stamp Something - Anything Goes and 3 Year Celebration Blog Hop
Moving Along With The Times - 2 B's (2, or more different B's on your project). My B's are Blooms / Bling / Box / Bunny
Bling It On - Photo Inspiration
Cupcake - In The Garden

Supplies
Stamps - Country Companions, For Someone Special.
DP - Prima, Sweet Fairy.                  MUM - Making Memories Velvet Aphabet Stickers
Corner - Sizzix Architectural Accent Die        Blooms/Ribbon/Pearls from stash.
Leaves - XCut Botanical Punch         Birthday Sentiment/ Card candy - Craftwork Cards
Pearl Slider from Crafty Emma's Store
Swirl on Box - Sizzix Swirls #2 Die        
Sentiment on Box - Papermania Mix & Match Scrolls & Sentiments Stamps

Friday 13 May 2011

Totally Papercrafts #66 Anniversaries

Over at Totally Papercrafts today, we are cracking the whip and putting our new teamie, Cathy, straight to work.
She is this week's host, so I hope you will join in and make her feel welcome.
The theme is..
Anniversaries


I wanted to stay away from pink and girly, so I went for this more unusual blue and brown combo. These GCD papers are really gorgeous and they have a lovely texture to them.
I only had small scraps of brown card left, so I used a tip I picked up at Top Tip (sorry, can't remember who posted it) - I used white card and ran a brown Copic around the edge. This is a also a great idea for when you want to match your background card to a colour you used on your image.


Image is from the Penny Black J'aime Paris Set - paper pieced and coloured with Copics.
Stickles glitter on the flowers.        DP - GCD Ella Blue
Hearts - Catslife Press Stamp with gold ink.
Sentiment - Papermania Mix & Match Set
Martha Stewart lace border punch.

Thursday 12 May 2011

Do You Stack Up?

*** re-posted after blogger's meltdown ***

I am so excited to show you my card today. I was asked by the talented ladies over at Do You Stack Up, to join them as a Guest Designer for the week. The theme for their challenge is
Add  A Tag

I hope you will join in the challenge and check out the amazing work of the Design Team.
I was sent this fab Robyn's Fetish image to play with. Perfect for me, right? I do love cake!! :-))


I wanted to try and create a kind of cake shop awning, so I punched some card and folded and attached it, so that it would stick out. You can see it a little better on the picture below.


Challenges - 
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Fancy a Punch ( punches and dies)


My 'cakes' are coloured with Copics, some glossy accents and lots of fine white glitter. The little tags are coloured with Copics and then wound around the sentiment.

Sunday 8 May 2011

Everything is All White!

EEK!!   White on White, is the LIM challenge this week, no colour allowed!
My first thought was to sit this one out, but I'm no quitter.. lol***
So here's my effort...


I wanted to add some texture to the card, but I don't have any embossing things, so I scoured my craft room and came across some white felt. After a couple of goes, it went through my Big Shot, with a nestie die and I stitched it in place.
I used a simple white bloom, with a white gem in the centre and the stem was cut down from a Martha Stewart punch (leaves & branch).

This challenge is also testing my photography skills (or lack of them) and, like last week (thanks for noticing Mandi xxx) I have tried using a coloured background  - just to make the white card stand out more. It's not ideal, but it is a little better, I think!


Thanks again to all you Limettes who leave messages and hints and tips on how I can improve - I appreciate every one of them.   xxx

Friday 6 May 2011

Totally Papercrafts #65 Recipe

Morning everyone.... Friday again already... I could get used to these short working weeks!
Time for another challenge at Totally Papercrafts, and the lovely Anne has chosen a RECIPE.

1 Image    2 Papers    3 Embellies

Can't wait to see what you cook up for us.
We  have 2 sponsors for you this week
Crafty Emma, who is offering a £10 voucher to spend in her store and

I also want to welcome our 2 new DT members.
Cathy at Ellieskeepers Creations who is joining us straight away
and Victoria at Angeldrummer cards who will be with us mid June.
Please pop over to their blogs, check out their fabulous work and say hello.



For my card I have used the cute Little Nurse, from LOTV - coloured with Copics. I cut my 2 DP's into sqaures and stitched them onto the card in a simple patchwork design.
For my 3 embellies I used pearls, ribbon and little, punched blooms.
You can find the Prima, Sweet Fairy DP, a great selection of pearls and lots of other goodies at Crafty Emma's Store.



Wednesday 4 May 2011

Thankyou

Have you heard me screaming this afternoon?? I have been trying to change the background on my DT blog, and have got in a right pickle with it all. I think it's done now, but everything is in a different place - Ha! Ha! Hope my teamies are in a forgiving mood. :-))

I also managed to have a play for the LIM challenge - this week the theme is Thankyou OR Congratulations.


I rummaged around in my stamp drawer and came across a Stampin' Up set 'On A Pedestal'.  The letter stamp actually says - Amazing, thoughtful, sweet, wonderful, genuine - but it gave me the idea to make a digi with 'thankyou' in different languages.
You can grab this from my freebies page if you want it.

Challenges
LIM - Thankyou OR Congrats
A Spoon Full Of Sugar - White + 1 Colour

Tuesday 3 May 2011

A nice cuppa!

Shhhhhhhhhh.... can you hear that?  Silence!  Bliss! 
Hubby is back to work - Maria and Annabel are back at Uni - the dog is asleep on the sofa - even the hamster has put his escape plans on hold  :-))

Here's a card I made for a friend. She's not allowed to drink alcohol right now, so I thought the image was appropriate. I'm going to staple a teabag to the inside and tell her to have a drink on us!!! :D)
(She already thinks I'm MAD, so that's OK)


 Challenges
CES - Inspirational Picture. I used the checks from the bed, the dots to represent the drawer handles, and the green from the flowers.
Cupcake Craft - Something beginning with 'C' - there's is a little cupcake on there and, of course, a cuppa!!  :-)
Pink Elephant - Sketch



Stamp - Kanban Divas Let's Do Lunch, coloured with Copics and a little green glitter.
DP - Pink Petticoat, Spots and Gingham           Sentiment - Craftwork Cards.

Monday 2 May 2011

Oranges and lemons say the bells of St Clements

Morning everyone... hope all those in the UK are enjoying their extra day off.  I had a mad moment yesterday and decided I wanted to grow my own veg. So I spent the day trying to break up the soil and weed a raised bed in the garden. This morning I can hardly walk!!

Here's a pic of this weekend's sugar fix - a St Clement's Cake.


 It has alternating layers of lemon sponge and orange sponge, filled with vanilla buttercream and chocolate buttercream. It was delicious, and you can really taste the citrus flavours.
 

There is a recipe - here.    I followed the recipe out of an old Good Food mag, but they don't seem to have it online.  This linked recipe is by the same people, but is a slightly larger cake than I made.
If you want the smaller version   (2 x 20cm tins) email me. :-))