Saturday 30 July 2011

Feeling the Blues

It's time for a new challenge over at CES, and our lovely host Vicky, has chosen the theme...
Feeling The Blues.

We don't just want a little bit of blue, 
we want to see blue used as your main colour.

I went for a Christmas card - ice blue and a dab of sparkle always looks good to me!   I coloured my image with Copics, added a little stickles glitter and popped her up on foam pads.
I finally got round to buying some embossing powder, so I stamped my 'Merry Christmas' in blue and embossed it with clear powder.




I tried this piercing technique
around the paper edges,
it's the first time I've done it, so it's not very neat,
but I kind of like the way it looks.





























I hope you'll join in the challenge this week - don't forget you have the chance to win a £10 voucher to spend at Crafty Emma's Store (not inc. P&P) and she has some lovely new papers available to pre-order right now.

Challenges -
Fussy & Fancy - Christmas In July
Crafty Creations - Christmas In July

Supplies from Crafty Emma's
plus... DP - Free in Simply Homemade Magazine.
Digi Stamp - Sassy Studios, Baby It's Cold Outside
Glossy Accents, Stickles Glitter, Ribbon,
'Wish' - Making Memories Velvet Sayings.

Friday 29 July 2011

Spread A Little Sparkle.

Hello everyone,
this week at Totally Papercrafts we want you to put a little sparkle back into your crafting.
Our lovely teamie Anne has chosen then theme of

Bling It Up

So get out your glitters, pearls, beads and shimmer
and come and join us.



Ok - I admit my 'bling' is a little on the subtle side, but it is there :-)
I used a glue pen on parts of the background paper and scattered it with fine red glitter.


Flowers are really not my thing. I never know how to group them or how many to add, or where to put them, so, can you believe I made these little felt blooms MYSELF!     :-)
I used a small scalloped nestie to cut the felt and  cut a spiral into it.
Then I rolled it up, starting on the inside.
I did have trouble with glue, everything I used just soaked into the felt and didn't stick.
So, if anyone knows what would work please let me know.
I ended up putting a few little stitches in, to hold the bloom in place.


 Don't forget to visit my teamies on the challenge blog and check out their fabulous work.
This week we have two great sponsors - Simon Says Stamp and the StampFairy.


Challenges -
Cupcake Craft - Shabby Sparkle. Not sure this qualifies, as I haven't distressed the papers, but I thought the vintage style script and lace gave it that shabby feel. If not, just delete it cupcakes - no worries! :-)
Paper Shelter - Anything Goes
Top Tip - Make It Girlie
Party Time - Anything Goes

Supplies 
DP - Prima, Madeline.    Fine Red Glitter
'Enjoy your day' stamp - Wild Rose Studios, Girly Greetings.
Ribbon, Lace and felt from my stash.
Adhesive Pearls
XCut Botanical Leaf Punch.

Wednesday 27 July 2011

Cute as a kitten

I was all set for a day of crafting today -  
until Annabel arrived with pics of her new playmates,
and insisting on a trip around the local pet stores!!

These kittys now have more toys, 
food and treats than your average 2 year old!!

Everybody say ahhhhhhhhh...


Tuesday 26 July 2011

I feel the need, the need for speed!

My BIL loves his motorbike, 
so I am always on the look out for images for his cards.
This one from the Graphics Fairy caught my eye, I think he will love it.


I printed the image out, layered it up, and followed Uma's great sketch over at Sketch & Stamp.
I stamped the bunting, cut it out and paper-pieced it. Then I just added a few brads and the sentiment.
Nice and easy, and I think the slightly grungy style paper goes well with the vintage image.

Challenges - 
Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Uma's Sketch
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Free 'n' Easy
Make It Monday - Linky Party

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Supplies - 
Digi Image from The Graphics Fairy
DP - Basic Grey, Oliver
Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Saturday 23 July 2011

Sweet Sugar Mountains

The best thing about my foray into homemade ice-cream - other than eating it :-)  - is the the fact that I find myself with a bowl of egg whites -
and egg whites = MERINGUES !!


Meringues are the perfect summer dessert - imagine these little beauties crumbled into thick whipped cream and ripe strawberries, or sandwiched together with dark chocolate ganache!!

And don't be put off by people telling you they are difficult to make -give them a try - and let me know how you get on.



Live. Love. Laugh.

Are you up for a giggle?   This week at CES we want you to make us laugh.
The challenge theme is...

Humorous / Funny

Check out the brilliant work from my teamies over on the challenge blog
(make sure you put your coffee down first!)


Here's Mary,  my Bovine Beauty, from Karen's Doodles (hubby says she's more of a Gertrude, but I don't see it!) :-)  
Mary is paper-pieced, coloured with Copics, with glossy accents on her nose.

The DPs are Prima, Sweet Fairy. 
I LOVE Prima papers - check out the amazing new designs available to pre-order at Crafty Emma's  (at 20% off the RRP).
Emma also has a Summer Clearance Sale, so grab yourself a bargain, or 2 !



Make sure you enter the challenge, to be in with a chance of winning a fab £10 voucher to spend at Crafty Emma's (p&p not included).


Supplies
Digi Stamp - Bovine Beauty from Karen's Doodles.
DP - Prima, Sweet Fairy.
Text made on my comp and punched with a McGills Ticket Punch.
Martha Stewart Border Punch.
!00% Girl Die Cut from KaiserCraft La Di Da

Friday 22 July 2011

Boys will be Boys

Well, it's clear to see you really love your 'girly' cards - 
the Totally Papercrafts entries last week were fabulous. 
So, you can guess what's coming this week, can't you?
Our lovely host is Mel and, yep, the theme is...

One For The Boys


I'm really happy with my Copic colouring on this little boy - once a flood it just seems to come together!
Once he was coloured I thought to myself,  'what would this little guy have in his pockets?'
and, amongst a plastic dinosaur, a block of lego and a half eaten jammie dodger, I decided he would have an old ticket, an odd button and a piece of string. So, those were the things I used as embellies!




Challenges - 
Sweet Stampin - One for the Boys
Die Cut Dreams - Animal Antics

Supplies.
Digi Stamp - Mo's Digital Pencil, Tolerance.
DP - Basic Grey, Oliver
Tim Holtz Ticket.    Craftwork Cards Sentiment.   
Brads, button and string from my stash.

Thursday 21 July 2011

Go Green...

Today I have spent the day crafting, when really I should have been getting on with some housework.
I will just have time, after posting this, to rush round with the hoover and spray some furniture polish about - make hubby think I have been busy!!


This is for my SIL's birthday next week - I hope she likes bright!!
The background is a single piece of Kaisercraft DP, that I didn't want to cover up too much. Luckily there was an area of white space where I could place my circle and image.


When I have a large area, like this Diva's dress, I usually resort to paper piecing ('cos I don't trust my colouring skills) but I got the Copics out for this one and I'm really pleased with the way it turned out.


Challenges - 
Ladybug Crafts Ink -  Summer Birthdays (you have until the end of July to enter)
The Paper Shelter - The Colour Green
Aud Sentiments - Use the sentiment 'enjoy your day' or any other sentiment to make someone smile.


Supplies - 
Stamp - Kanban Diva, Let's Go Shopping.
DP - Kaisercraft, La Di Da
Sentiment Stamp - Wild Rose Studio, Girly Greetings
Necklace - Liquid Pearls, White Opal
Ribbon from my stash

Wednesday 20 July 2011

Always and Forever

 It's my Anniversary today - hubby and I have been married for 26 years.

"What's that?" he asked  "glass, tin, copper???"
"No, it's My Mind's Eye Paper" I said, but he didn't fall for it
;-)

I made this picture board to stand on the table tonight,
as we eat a celebration meal that, right now, I am slaving over!!


I started with the plastic stand below, which was in a perfume box set
that someone got for Christmas.
I have a nice collection of odd boxes and packages all ready to upcycle!


The first thing I did with this was to cover the plastic with some 'kraft'
style card.


Then I cut a piece of cream card,
slightly smaller,
and inked and distressed the edges.
This formed the base for my
collage.








I inked and distressed a couple of sheets of Prima Botanical DP, and added them, along with some cream lace, pearls, blooms,  and a heart.

Look at me?
Can you tell, that even back then I wasn't a girly girl?
No amount of persuading could get me into a meringue with a flowing train!

Shoes - now they are another matter altogether. I LOVED these white, satin heels.



I digress ;-)   The frame - this was made by cutting up an old soap powder box and wrapping it with gardener's twine. You need the cardboard to be quite stiff to withstand all that wrapping!
I love this twine, the cheaper the better, so you get the lovely whispy bits.
I'm seriously thinking about using it, in some way, to tie up my Christmas presents this year.


Finally, I added a cream bow with a silver, glitter heart.
I made the 'Love' ticket on my comp and punched it with a McGills Ticket Punch.

I did stamp 'Amour' just above my bow,
but it got covered up when I added the key charm on a piece of twine.
 I think there's just room for me to go back and stamp it again, a little higher.








Challenges
Make It Monday -  Linky Party
Allsorts - Free & Easy


Supplies
DP - Prima Botanical.       Pearls, blooms, stickles glitter, cream ruffled ribbon, cream lace.
Gardener's Twine.             Key Charm.        McGills Ticket Punch.
'Amour' stamp from the Penny Black J'aime Paris set.
Dovecraft 2" Scalloped heart punch.
Xcut  Botanicals leaf punch

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Bling it on

Over at House Mouse & Friends they are celebrating their 100th Challenge. If you enter a card and follow the Blog Hop there are some incredible prizes up for grabs. The theme is  Buttons, Bows & Bling.
What a great excuse to get out all my glitters  :-)


I used this cute 'Tis the Season stamp (thanks Lols xxx), coloured with Copics and sprinkled liberally with glitter. If anyone has any tips for photographing glitter, please share... IRL this is much more sparkly. 
I've also chalked the background in blue, but that doesn't show up real well either.


Challenges.
House Mouse & Friends - Buttons, Bows & Bling + Blog Hop
Papertake - Getting Cute. (I think this has the awww factor!)
Cupcake - Wish upon a Star
Paper Sundaes - Christmas in July
Stamptacular - Animal Antics
2 Sisters - Christmas in July

Supplies - 
House Mouse 'Tis the Season Stamp
DP - Memory Box Mistletoe and Daisy & Dandelion A Winter's Tale.
Art Institute fine silver glitter.   Ultra fine crystal glitter.
Catslife Press Merry Christmas Stamp
Martha Stewart lace border punch
Ribbon and buttons from my stash.

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Monday 18 July 2011

Going in circles

Here's my entry for this week's LIM challenge, where the theme is Circles.
Quite appropriate really, as I find myself going round and round in circles these days.

This was another tough challenge and you wouldn't believe the number of circles I ended up with :-) 
Just three made it onto my card though.


The DP is Kaiser Craft, La Di Da and some of the papers have that gorgeous embossing on them. The scalloped strip is a die cut from the same paper pad.
Sentiment is Wild Rose Studio - Girly Greetings.  You can get this, and other goodies at Crafty Emma's sale.
Cupcake is from the Simon Says, Savour Sweet Cupcakes stamp set.
Flower is an Xcut punch

Saturday 16 July 2011

Christmas in July

Do you know, that if you make one Christmas card a week from now on, you will have 23 cards by Christmas. Doesn't sound a lot does it?
So, if you want to get a head start,  why don't you join our challenge at CES this week, where the theme is

Christmas in July



This Gruffy Little Gnome, from Meljen, was a big hit last year, so it seemed like a good image to start with.
He is coloured with Copics and paper-pieced. Somehow, I even managed to get the snowflake design to be right on the front of his jumper. Go me :-)

The DPs are Dovecraft 'let it snow' - available from Crafty Emma's Store. They have either a glitter effect, or a co-ordinating coloured background and they are quite thick papers, so they would be great for 3D projects.



 Don't forget, if you join in the challenge you could win a £10 voucher to spend in Crafty Emma's, and besides lots of goodies she has some gorgeous papers available to pre-order.


Challenges.
Stamp Something - Christmas in July
Creative Inspirations - No Flowers Allowed


Supplies.
6 x 6 Card Blank from Crafty Emma's
Ticket made on my comp and punched with McGills Ticket Punch.
Bah Humbug made on my comp.
Xcut Punched snowflakes covered with Diamond Dust
Pearls from Crafty Emma's - Don't forget you can use Copics to colour your pearls to match your card.

Friday 15 July 2011

Girls, Girls, Girls

Look at these girls - aren't they fab?
I think they are in training for the 2012 London Olympic Games - 
the Extreme Shopping event  !!   
:-))

This is my card for this week's Totally Papercrafts Challenge
where the theme is
Girly Girls


 I kept the card pretty simple and just had fun with all that fiddly paper-piecing. The DP's are My Mind's Eye Mabel, available from this week's sponsor, Crafty Emma.
Pop over to Emma's Store and see the gorgeous new papers she has for pre-ordering - all with 20% off.





Here's a close up of some of the paper-piecing.

I also discovered that my glue pen worked brilliantly for sticking down these tiny pieces.




























So, get rummaging through all your girly supplies and join in the challenge, and don't forget to check out the amazing work of my teamies.

Challenges
Papertake Weekly - Hot Hot Hot.  I have used bright orange on my card, but  I also think these girls would say they are Hot Hot Hot !!!
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Moving Along with the Times - Favourite things.  My favourite thing is the paper-piecing and I think it really worked well here.


Supplies.
Silhouette girls from Shery K Designs
DP - My Mind's Eye, Mabel from Crafty Emma's
Sentiment - Craftwork Cards       Papermania Mosaic Gems.

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Tuesday 12 July 2011

Home is where the heart is...

I have a prototype to show you today :-)
For the last 5 years, this frame has hung in the downstairs loo, with random postcards in it - so it was long overdue a remake.

With Annabel completing her degree, she has moved back to town and has a flat with her b/f, whilst Maria is still in the city and has just started sharing a house with a couple of other girls.
So, I thought it would be nice to use the three frames to show where we all are living.


I used google maps to find our addresses and printed them off - then added a little glitter heart over the exact location.

I WISH I could show you the finished frame, because it looks much nicer than this IRL -  but I don't want our addresses broadcast on the net (the above maps are just random places).
For my final frame, I printed the maps out on better quality paper and used the 'best photo' setting on the printer, so the colours are much brighter.
I also changed the 'Home is where the heart is' heading, by using a simpler font and layering it on cream card. (The black didn't work very well).

Overall, a really simple project that just makes me smile when I see it.
You see how easily pleased I am?  :-)

Challenges
Allsorts - Free & Easy July
Make It Monday - Linky Party
Cupcake - Your favourite past Cupcake challenge.  I chose 129 I {heart} you. To include a heart.

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Sunday 10 July 2011

Cupcake Sunday

It's been a while since I showed you any sweet stuff,
so get your virtual calories with these 

Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes


Easy vanilla cupcakes, with a creme-fraiche, cheesecake topping
and decorated with strawberries.
Delicious :-)


 Here's my recipe card...


 

Saturday 9 July 2011

Secret Storage Book

I have always loved those books you see in old movies, where they open up to reveal a secret hiding place for cash or jewellery, or the murder weapon!! So, when I saw this book card, I knew I HAD to make one.


This is for our new challenge at CES, where Jenny has a recipe for you

1 image. 2 ribbon, lace or twine.  3DP's


This is surprisingly easy to make, thanks to the fabulous tutorial from Tina.
My 3 DP's are  Websters Pages, available from Crafty Emma's. 
They are so gorgeous, you just don't want to cover them up!



No prize for guessing what's going in my card - I think a few bars of emergency chocolate should fit nicely!!


My dressy Anya was coloured with Copics and paper- pieced, with some tiny pearls on her shoes.
Check out Crafty Emma's for pearls and gems in different sizes.




Don't forget to pop by the blogs of my fellow teamies,
you can get to them by clicking the links on the CES challenge blog.



Saturday is Crafty Emma's Store's

Photobucket

1st Birthday


so this week the prize is a fab £20 voucher (P&P not incl)


Emma also has some gorgeous candy to giveaway - 
see the details of how to enter on the 
CES Inspirational Blog


Challenges - 
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (with buttons as an optional extra) - sorry, no buttons on my card.
Little Miss Muffet - Anything BUT a card. Does this count?? It's really more of a box than a card... honest!! :-))
Bling It On - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Linky Party

Supplies
DP's Webster's Pages
Miss Anya Dressy - The Greeting Farm.
Sizzix corner die - architectural accents #3
Martha Stewart lace border punch
Chocolate Sentiment -  Craftwork Cards
Cream Ribbon, Organza Ribbon, Pearls, Flower, Card Candy, from my stash.

Friday 8 July 2011

Beach Bum in Training

Our sun worshipper Sue, has chosen 

At The Beach

So think sand castles, boats, surfer dudes and beach huts!

Our sponsor this week is Meljen, and I have used her cute
Beach Bum Baby  on my card.
DP is Websters Pages, Spring/Yacht/ Country, available at Crafty Emma's.



I made the little lifebelt using a couple of nesties and following
this tutorial.

I just added some extra red card to mine!















Challenges -  
Creative Inspirations - To the Seaside
Ladybug Crafts - Summer Birthdays
Secret Crafter -  Here comes Summer

Thursday 7 July 2011

Love is in the air...

I'm going to stop playing with my blog background now... honest!!
I think I have settled on a less 'in your face' dotty design.


Today I am showing you an Anniversary card that a friend asked me to make. 
She thought it might be for a Ruby Anniversary, so I went with colours for that, but left off any specific sentiment.


 I followed this week's sketch over at the Create4fun Challenge, so there are lots of layers on here, mostly stitched in place on my machine.



I love this stamp from Penny Black and it's great to colour.
I used Copics
and a glitter pen on her bow
and dotted on the flowers.


























Challenges - 

Create4fun - Sketch
Top Tip Tuesday - Wedding/Anniversary
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Sewing
Simon Says - A Stich in Time
Aud Sentiments - At least 2 words on your sentiment.




Supplies - 
Penny Black stamp from J'aime Paris set
Happy Anniversary stamp - Papermania Scrolls & Sentiments.
DP - K & Co Classic
Pearls from Crafty Emma's Store.
Sheer Ribbon.

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Monday 4 July 2011

Blue Day

Just a quick post from me today, before people turn up wanting to be fed!!
(When I win the lottery - 'chef ' - is at the top of my wanted list!!).

It's been a while since I've had time to join in with the LIM challenge, so I was determined to get to it this week.
Then I saw 'Shades of Blue'.    Aggghhhhhh!!!    I dont 'do' blue!! ;-)
Oh, well... I gave it a try, but it's not my best work !


Saturday 2 July 2011

Owl Always Love You...

We have another great challenge for you over at CES this week.
The theme, chosen by Shell is

Woodland Creatures


I admit, this had me stumped for a while and then I remembered this Owl template that I had seen in my 'Simply Homemade' magazine.


The owl is paper pieced with the same DP as the card, with card candy for eyes and a little gem for his beak.
The candy and My Mind's Eye, Mabel papers are available at Crafty Emmmas



Head on over to the challenge blog to see what 'Woodland Creatures' my teamies came up with,
and don't forget, if you join in this week, 
you could win a £10 spend at Crafty Emmas. (P&P not incl.)

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Check out the paper below...   
this is just one of the gorgeous papers available 
to pre-order at Crafty Emma's.
There are more papers available, Christmas Collections from Dovecraft and Fizzy Moon, including stamps, blossoms, buttons brads etc.
Pre-order now for 20% OFF the RRP

 


Supplies
DP - My Mind's Eye, Mabel.       Card Candy.       Gems.      Ribbon.
'Owl' is die cut with Sizzix, 'Bug in a Rug' dies.    Martha Stewart Lace border punch.

Friday 1 July 2011

You're smarter than you look!

Over at Totally Papercrafts this week, our lovely Lols,
has lined up a game of BINGO for you.
Check out the bingo card on the challenge blog,
choose your line, (horizontally, vertically or diagonally)
and use those embellies on your entry.
Of course, you can always surprise us and go for a FULL HOUSE!!  :-))


My bingo line is 3 down - Gems, Glitter, Ribbon.


This card is for my daughter Annabel, who has just passed her degree. Woohoo!!!
I used the cute Grad Anya, coloured her with Copics and added some very fine, silver glitter to the scroll.
The sentiment was made on my comp :-)


Supplies
Digi Stamp - Grad Anya from The Greeting Farm
DP - My Mind's Eye, True Blue
The star was cut on my Slice machine
Ribbon, bow and black gems from my stash.