A BIRTHDAY AT ADDICTED TO CAS!

Good morning lovely bloggers, friends and followers - thanks so much for visiting!

Today at ATCAS, Kylie is hosting our challenge, and her chosen code-word is 

Our amazing Sponsor for this challenge, is Bugaboo Stamps, and our CAS Perfectionist will receive 7 Bugaboo digis of their own choice.

There is plenty of DT inspiration on the ATCAS Blog, so do pop over and see what my Teamies have been creating! 

Here's mine!

Recipe:-

Melon Mambo Spotty paper and ink - Stampin' Up.

SU Crumb Cake card cut with a Nesties Scallop Circle die.

Nesties circle die.

SU heart punch.

Two stamps have been used for the sentiment - the tiny "with love" is from an old Papermania set, and "On your Birthday" is part of a SU stamp (the other part of the stamp was covered with cellotape before inking, cellotape removed before stamping)!

Look forward to seeing your beautiful birthday cards -

Hugs ~

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MY BLOG CANDY!

ADDICTED TO CAS, AND SOME NEWS!

Hi lovely bloggers - it's good to see you!

My card today is for the current fortnightly challenge at Addicted to CAS. 

The Codeword is "RAINBOW", and you can interpret this in any way you wish.  
There are several days left if you would like to join in, and you can find  some beautiful DT inspiration on the Challenge Blog.
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Now - onto my News snippet!  
I was thrilled when Kylie, from Addicted to CAS , asked me to join her Design Team, and of course it was a big fat Yes from me!  My new Teamies are a very talented group of ladies, and I am so happy to be working alongside them.

So here I am with my first ATCAS  DT project - I hope you like it!

Recipe:

Aperture and frame cut with Nestabilities Classic Squares.

The rainbow was inked onto the cut-out square, then attached through the aperture, onto the inside of the card.
Distress Inks applied with TH Inkssentials ink applicators. 
Chipped Sapphire, Indigo, Faded Jeans, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Fired Brick.

Butterfly - SU Elegant Butterfly punch.

Sentiment - Hero Arts.

Look forward to seeing you soon, at Addicted to CAS!
Have a happy weekend

Hugs, 

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MY BLOG CANDY ! 

CELEBRATION CANDY!

Hi lovely bloggers.  

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I'm sending a big wave to my Followers today, plus the chance to win some celebration Candy!

What am I celebrating? Four years of Blogging, and 400 Followers!  It was on May 18th 2009 when I nervously posted my first project. I have met some wonderful people through blogging, both in cyber-land, and in the "real" world -  thank you so much for your friendship - it wouldn't have been the same without you!  So here is a little "Thank You" Candy - a £20 gift voucher to spend in Glenda's fabulous on-line shop - Chocolate Baroque.

To enter, please add your  link below, and  pop the Candy picture onto your sidebar with a link back to my blog.
 The candy closes on May 20th - the winner will be drawn shortly afterwards.

Hugs and Huge Thanks ~ 

LESS IS MORE - CASe IT

Phew - just made it in time with my second offering for this week's challenge at Less is More, (the first one is over HERE)!

The lovely Chrissie and Jen would like us to CASe one (or both) of their cards.

I used Jen's card for my first offering, so this one is based on Chrissie's beautiful creation (well it's only fair isn't it)!
I have never tried this technique before, and if I try it out again, I will use a less detailed stamp and larger diecut letters.  I don't have any large letter dies,(something else for my wish-list)! so I used the Cuttlebug "Thanks".

A click on the pic. will reveal the detail!

Recipe:-
White cardstock layered onto Stampin' Up Rose Red.
Ink - SU Melon Mambo
Stamp - "English Rose" from La Blanche
"Thanks" die - Cuttlebug.
Small sentiment - Lili of the Valley
I would also like to enter this card into the Addicted to CAS challenge -
Code Word "Flower"

Love and Hugs ~

CRUMB CAKE AND WHITE ANNIVERSARY!

Hello lovely friends, followers and bloggers - thank you for visiting - it's always good to see you!

 The April challenge at Stamping Sensations is "Special Occasions" (apart from Birthdays). I decided on Anniversary - always a useful card to have in stock, and it gave me a reason to open up my new Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms dies! 

Recipe:-

Stampin' Up Cardstock - Whisper White and Crumb Cake

Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms

Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two

Memory Box Madera Corner die

Stampin' Up Sizzlits "Little Leaves" die

Linen ribbon from Samuel Taylors (Embsay Crafts)

Sentiment - SU Memorable Moments set

Coffee Archival ink

Tiny heart punch - Woodware

*****
I would also like to enter the following challenges -
 "No Patterned Paper" challenge at Crafty Creations,
Crafts4Eternity "April Showers Bring Spring Flowers" (Lots of Flowers) 
and the "So Sentimental" challenge at Craft Room Challenge.

Love and Hugs to all ~

FALLING FROM THE SKY TO SAY HI !!

Hi peeps - this week at Less Is More, it's the "ONE LAYER CARD" challenge - Oooooooooh.

But that's not all - Chrissie and Jen would also like us to take our card inspiration from a FILM!!  

Not a difficult film choice for me - the last film I saw was the brilliant "SKYFALL" starring the delicious Daniel Craig!

A parachute image sprang to mind, and I discovered this fun little Bunny digi HERE.  

Sky created with Weathered Wood DI, a torn piece of paper and an ink sponge.
Image coloured with Copics.
Hello stamp - Hot off the Press
Main sentiment - Stampin' Up.

(apologies for the rubbish photo - the card is white, not blue)!
It may look better if you click the pic.! (or maybe not)!!

A warm welcome to my latest Follower, Darnell, 

and big Hugs to all.

And this is for Sally  - enjoy!!!

LIME GREEN AND BLACK !

Hi there lovely bloggers, friends and followers - thank you for popping by, and a warm welcome to my new followers - Nessa, Wendy and Estelle.

********

Chrissie and Jen have chosen a fab. colour combination for us to work with this week at Less is More ..........

LIME GREEN AND BLACK

Recipe:-

Black base card.

White card layer.
Peeled Paint and Crushed Olive Distress Inks applied with
a Tim Holtz Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool .
(No mention of "lime" on those ink pads, but I hope the result
looks sufficiently limey)?!

SU die - Sizzlits Little Leaves.

SU punch - Elegant Butterfly.

Sentiment - hAnglar and stAnglar - part of a Christmas stamp set bought a couple of years ago, and this is the first time the sentiment has seen ink!

I would also like to enter the Hobbycutz CAS (or Sketch) challenge
and the Card Mania challenge - dies and/or punches.
Update! my card was included in the Top 3 at Hobbycutz - thank you
to the DT girls!

*******

Have a warm and happy week everyone - 
Hugs,

SOME SCALLOPS AT LESS IS MORE!

Hi friends and followers - thanks for popping by!

*******

It's Lucky Dip Challenge Week at Less is More, and Chrissie and Jen would like us to use  SCALLOPS on our creations.

Although I do have some scallop dies, I decided to use some of my older, long-forgotten stash on this little card. It's great fun to re-discover things, and find a use for them. Anyway peeps - in case you're wondering - this is

supposed to be a couple of garden fences (with flowers) !!

Recipe:-

The topmost fence was edged with a Fiskars border punch.

The small fence was edged with a pair of scallop scissors,

then snipped between the scallops.

The tiny flowers were cut with a VERY old punch - no maker's name - just a label which says "Made in Taiwan" - ah nothing changes does it!

Flower stems drawn with a black Pilot pen.

Fences layered onto a 5" square card with 3-d foam pads.

SU Linen Thread.

SU papers for the flowers.

Small tag punch - Woodware.

Hello stamp - Hot off the Press.

Happy Crafting ~ 

Hugs ~

BEADS AT LESS IS MORE

Hi lovely bloggers, I'm  hoping you are all safe, well, and warm, wherever you are.

*********  

I was determined to enter the Less Is More challenge this week, as it's a while since I've joined in, due to a holiday and other things which got in the way.  

Chrissie and Jen's theme is "USE BEADS", and although I have lots of beads, I very rarely use them on my cards, so I really had to get my thinking cap on for this one, and I'm still not totally happy with the result! I will let you be the judge, so here it is:-

Recipe:-

The colours are much more attractive IRL (honest!). 

To create the heart I used a small, old, metal cookie-cutter (originally used for shaping Fimo clay) - placed it on a piece of card, then squeezed lots of Glossy Accents into the bottom of the cutter, adding a deep layer of red micro beads, then more Glossy Accents, topped with coloured seed beads and pearls, and a sprinkling of Glamour Dust.

After the glue had set, the heart was removed from the cutter and 

peeled off the card. I was amazed how easily it came out!

******

The double frame was created with Nestie Classic Squares (Small).

Sentiment - from the beautiful Chocolate Baroque "Fleurs et Parfum de Paris" set, inked with Stampin' Up Real Red.

Thanks so much for visiting -

Hugs, 

Fashionable Stamping - Red, Black and Brown.

Hi lovely bloggers - sorry I haven't been around for a couple of weeks - a rather nasty chest infection has left me with very little energy, or the inclination to create. The antibiotics have more or less worked their magic now, and it's great to be crafting again.

 My card is for the challenge at Fashionable Stamping. and the talented DT would like us to use Red, Black and Brown - not a combination I have ever used before, but it's good to try something new!

Recipe:-

Stamps - 

New York Diva from Hampton Art,

Postcard, Sentiment, and Background Text from Crafty Individuals.
All stamps inked with Archival Coffee.

Black cardstock and SU Real Red cardstock.

Distress Inks - Antique Linen and Vintage Photo.

Copic Markers

Machine stitching

TH Ideology metal corner

Black lace from stash.
Distressing on Postcard and edges of main image.

Thanks for popping by, and a happy hello to my new followers!

Hubby and I will be setting off somewhere warm in a couple of days, so I

promise to visit my lovely blogging friends when I return. 
*************
Update - 12th March - just returned from holiday to a very 
pleasant surprise - my card is in the Top 3 at Fashionable Stamping -
thank you so much to the DT ladies!

Love to all ~

PINK VALENTINE !

Hi lovely bloggers, friends, and followers - I'm sure you all know that Valentine's Day is almost here! 

Our challenge at In The Pink this fortnight is - you guessed it - PINK VALENTINE!

***** 

 In order to have a chance to be chosen as a Perfect Pinkie, please remember to use lots of PINK on your creation, plus the required challenge element. 
You can find out who our "Distressed" Perfect Pinkies are if you pop over to the blog!

For my card I used SU Pink Pirouette and Whisper White cardstock.
The Nestie die is Fleur de Lis Squares (a lovely gift from Santa!), attached with 3-d pop-ups.
PSX stamp - Victorian Filigree Heart, inked with black Archival.
SU "Full Heart" punch, pin-pricked around the edges, curved slightly, then attached with silicone glue. 
Sentiment - two separate stamps from Anna Griffin.
*****
My card is entered into the following challenges ~
Addicted to CAS - Code Word "heart"
Lexi's  Creations  - Valentine/Love.

Thank you for popping by, and a warm welcome to my new followers, Sylvia and Hetty.

Love and hugs ~

A SKETCH AT LESS IS MORE

Hi lovely bloggers!  What a wet and windy day -  I hope you are all safe and well, wherever you are. 

***** 

Chrissie and Jen have given us a fab. sketch to work with this week at
  Less Is More. and the sketch must be followed "as is".  Pop over for all the details and some gorgeous card inspiration.

Recipe ~

Cardstock - SU Crumb Cake and Real Red

Heart, and Square "Stamp" dies - Cuttlebug

Linen thread - SU

Sentiment - Anna Griffin

Charm from my stash

*******

The definition of LOVE is from my tatty old Pudsey Grammar School dictionary (and I'm talking 50+ years old)!   I have occasionally cut out parts of the original pages to use on cards, but it seems like sacrilege, so I

photocopied this one, and added some Antique Linen DI. Much less stressful! 

Does anyone else feel bad about cutting old book pages? 

PS: you can read the definition if you click to enlarge!

Happy Crafting peeps

Hugs ~

DISTRESSED AT IN THE PINK!

Hi lovely peeps - here is a card which makes me think of Summer days - none of the white fluffy stuff here!
It's time to join us at the In The Pink Challenge again, and we would like to see
DISTRESSING (and LOTS of pink)!  
This could be Distress Inks, torn edges, sanding etc. If you are using Distress Inks, please tell us which colours you have used.
*******************

I have used a beautiful Mo Manning Cling Stamp from Penny Black - part of my wonderful candy from Debby in her "Favourite 5 Cards of 2012" challenge.

The spotty paper is from a MME paper pad - The Sweetest Thing - also part

of my candy prize. (Thanks Debby)!

I used Distress Inks to paint the image - mainly Victorian Velvet, Fired Brick, Crushed Olive, Antique Linen, Tea Die, and Vintage Photo.

Edges of oval die-cut inked with Victorian Velvet and an Inkssentials  Applicator.

***********

The pink card is Core'Dinations Primrose Petals (from SU), distressed with a sander. 
Edges of the top two layers distressed with scissors. 
Corner brackets - Cuttlebug die.

Elegant Butterfly punch - SU.

Tag punch - Hobby-Craft

Sentiment - Penny Black.
Stitching - my machine!
I am entering the "New Goodies" challenge at That Craft Place.
(New goodies -  stamp, spotty paper, oval die).
Love to all ~

FRIENDS AT LESS IS MORE

Hello lovely bloggers, friends and followers - hope you are all coping with the snowy weather, and keeping warm and cosy. 

******

My card today is for the challenge at Less Is More, which this week is all about FRIENDS. (Just hope I remember to link it up, unlike my "entry" last week)!!

Please tell me I am not the only blogger who has entered a challenge and forgotten to link their card back to the Challenge blog!! 

This gorgeous LOTV image is called "Swing Time". 

I coloured it with Copics , mainly greyish shades, which was a challenge in itself as I have very few grey Copic pens! 

The sentiment is from a very old stamp set by Hero Arts. 
I created a banner, curved it, and added a couple of grey brads.

*******
I am also entering the "Friendship" challenge at Stamping Sensations.
***

Thank you to my friends for popping by!

RED POPPIES AT LESS IS MORE......

Hello lovely peeps - just squeezing in before closing time at Less Is More, so a very quick Post as I am also preparing for my Saturday card-making class. I do hope the "splash" of red isn't too much for the challenge. 

Chrissie and Jen would like to see black and white with a suggestion, a dab, or a patch, of colour. Here is my card.

(Please scroll down if you are looking for my In The Pink post).

I created an aperture and a "frame" with Nestie square dies.

The Indigo Blu "Wild Meadow" image was stamped with Black Archival ink on the die-cut square and adhered to the inside of the card.

The Cuttlebug Poppies were cut from SU Red Glimmer Paper, and the tiny

words are from DoCrafts Chatsworth set. 

Thank you for popping by, and a warm welcome to my new followers - 
Marilyn, Svetla, Viera, Astrid and Pia.

Happy Crafting - Hugs, 

LUSCIOUS LACE AT IN THE PINK!

Happy New Year lovely Bloggers! Have you made a New Years resolution? If so, have you kept to it so far?!   My resolution is to eat less Ferrero Rocher and spend less on crafty things. Mmmmm - may have to give this a little more thought ..............

Wow, the four weeks since our last challenge at In The Pink have just flown by.

Huge thanks to everyone who entered the Pink and Pearlie challenge - we appreciate that you were all very busy in the lead-up to Christmas but you did us proud once again.  In fact there were so many gorgeous projects we had a tough time choosing just 4, so I think there may be more - do pop along to the Blog to find out who the Perfect Pinkies are!

************

Christine and I have a fab. challenge lined up for you this fortnight - we would like to see some "Luscious Lace" on your beautiful creations, and lots of Pink, as always!!

Recipe: -

SU Pink Pirouette card

Dotty paper from  the Tilda Flower Garden paper pad

Image - LOTV "Wish Upon a Star" coloured with Copics

Sentiment also LOTV 

Pink lace from Samuel Taylor, Leeds

Glamour Dust and crystal gems to finish.

  ********

Hugs,

MY FAVOURITE FIVE OF 2012!

Hi there lovely bloggers! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas?

*********

This is my first time at Debby's "Favourite Fives" - if you would like to join in the fun and share your five most favourite cards of 2012 , you can find the link HERE!    
Many thanks to Debby
 for organising such a brilliant end-of-year "get-together"!

So - here are my choices ~ (clicking the pics. gives more detail)!
***
Really enjoyed all the inking, and this is one of my fave. LOTV fairies.
The original Post is HERE 

A bit of resisting, and a lot of inking - so enjoyable !
The original Post is HERE

Really enjoyed making my first ever Book Card, but it was difficult to photograph! More details can be seen on the original Post, which is HERE

Cinnabar - one of my all-time favourite stamps.

The original Post is HERE

More inkiness and "resisting" !

The original Post is HERE

***
Thanks for looking ~

Wishing you all a very Happy and Peaceful 2013.

Hugs, 

Update - 8th January -  thanks to Mr Random Generator, who picked my Number, I am the lucky winner of Debby's gorgeous candy!  I am a very happy bunny! 
 Thank you again Debby, and thank you Mr Generator! 
XXX

SENDING LOVE AT CHRISTMAS

Hi peeps!  This is a Christmas card and a Thank You card rolled into one,  for all my wonderful crafting friends, followers and visitors - you are awesome!  

Thank you for all your lovely comments, your friendship, and your inspiration. I can hardly believe it's three and a half years since I started my Blog ~ it would have been pretty boring without you!!     (Oooooh - candy alert for May 2013)!!!

***

Sending love, and wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
***

As you  have probably noticed, I don't often do cute, but I saw this gorgeous 

"Rosie and Sledge" digi  image  HERE  at the Digi Stamp Boutique, and couldn't resist!

Recipe:-

Papermania Kraft card

Pink Petticoat snowflake papers

Image coloured with Copics.

Fun Flock and glitter on the clothing.

Memory Box Crystal Snowflake

LOTV sentiment cut with a CB die.
*****
I am entering this card into the Digi Stamp Boutique December challenge.
****** 
Lots of love to all ~

OUR LAST CHALLENGE OF 2012, AT IN THE PINK!

Hi lovely bloggers - hope you are all keeping warm and happy, wherever you may be.

It's our last challenge of the year at In The Pink, so why not pop over to the Blog and join in the fun!  You can also find out who the Perfect Pinkies are for the Pink Christmas challenge.

Our theme this fortnight is PINK AND PEARLIE - easy-peasy or what!

This is one of my favourite LOTV Fairies, and I was aiming for a shabby-chic, soft focus, gently coloured creation - not sure if my plan worked!!
Recipe:-
Papers -Papermania Rose Garden (had them for ages).
The Fairy is very softly coloured with Copics.
MS Doily Lace border punch.
Some distressing around the image.
Lace and a little Glamour Dust, and 6 pearl gems to finish.
The base card is SU Pink Pirouette.
**********
Christine and I  will be back with our next Challenge on January 10th 2013.
Huge thanks to everyone who has taken the time to share their beautiful creations with us over the last few months - we are so looking forward to seeing you again in 2013.
*********
On a very different note - some of you may remember my FIL celebrating his 100th Birthday two years ago - I posted a little bit about it HERE.
Amazingly, he reached his 102nd Birthday last week - he still lives in his own home (with a great deal of support, particularly from my dear Hubby), he is quite healthy, and has an excellent memory -  There is hope for us yet!!
*********

Lots of love, and thank you so much for your wonderful comments.

HAPPY INKY CHRISTMAS!

Hi lovely bloggers friends and followers - hope you are all having a happy day?

Just popped by to share a card which I have made for the Xmas Card Swap at the Chocolate Baroque Online Community Group. 

I thought you might like to see it and here it is ~

The Chocolate Baroque stamp  is from the Christmas Flourish set - one of my all-time favourites.

The image was stamped onto white card with Versamark ink and heat embossed with white emb. powder.

Several shades of blue Distress Inks were applied over the image with a TH Inkssentials applicator. 

Sentiment - "Christmas" from HOTP,  "Wishes" from Layers of Color.

A mixture of water with a tiny amount of household bleach was spritzed over the ink to give a snowy effect.

A sprinkling of Glamour Dust added here and there to the Holly leaves.

*********

I would like to enter the following challenges ~
Christmas at Sweet Stampin Challenge - "Christmas Anything Goes"
Try It On Tuesday - "Lets Get Inky"
My Craft Spot - "Merry Christmas"
Victorine Originals - "Blue and White"
The Stamp Man - "In The Bleak Midwinter"

Love and Hugs,

IT'S GONNA BE A PINK CHRISTMAS at IN THE PINK!

Hi peeps - are we all ready for Christmas with cards made and presents  wrapped?  No, neither am I !  So, here  is an opportunity to make at least one more Christmas card -

our challenge at In The Pink this fortnight is ..... 

"IT'S GONNA BE A PINK CHRISTMAS"!

Of course, it doesn't have to be a card - it could be a gift box, a Turkey, or anything else  Christmassy, but it must have LOTS of PINK on it ! 
*********
We had so many gorgeous entries for our last challenge, it was difficult for Christine and I to choose just 4 Perfect Pinkies - do pop over to the Blog to find out who they are!

Recipe:-
Card-stock - Stampin' Up and Bazzil.
Image - Mo Manning Christmas Fairy Holly, coloured with Copics.
Nestie Dies -  Labels #1, and Lacy Squares.
Sentiment - Cuttlebug alphabet die, and Woodware tiny snowflake punch.
Glossy Accents on the  snow globe, and SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter here and there.

( the detail looks so much better when you click the pic. to enlarge - honest it does!! )
Look forward to seeing more of  your  fabulous projects -
take care, keep warm, and Happy Crafting

I would like to enter my card into 
Mo's Challenge - Favourite colour combo + a Mo image.
and
Fab.'n' Funky Challenge - Use 3 of something (3 letters).

Love and Hugs, 

PUNCHES AND DIES AT IN THE PINK !

Hello lovely bloggers, followers and friends - I hope you are all having a happy week.

~

For all those lovers of Pink, it's In The Pink challenge time again, and we would like you to use PUNCHES AND/OR DIES on your project, (plus lots of PINK of course), and it doesn't have to be Clean and Simple this time, so you have no excuse for not joining in the fun!  Do pop over to ITP to find out who the CAS Perfect Pinkies are!

~

Must admit - I went a bit overboard with the amount of dies and punches used!

Dies used:-

Memory Box Madera Corner

Tim Holtz Tattered Florals

Sizzix Ornate Frame and Ovals

Nestabilities  Fancy Tags 2

~

Punches Used:-

Anna Griffin Butterfly

Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace

~

Papers: -  Craft Creations

Sentiments:-  HOTP and Anna Griffin

Ink:-  Memento London Fog

Finished off with Machine Stitching, Pin Pricking and a little Glamour Dust.

~

I'm so looking forward to seeing all your beautiful creations!

~
I would like to enter my card into the Penny Black and Allsorts challenge - 
Any Die Will Do!

~Happy Crafting~