Challenge #30 at Fairy Fun Fridays

What a WEEK!!! It's been so hectic at chez Holden this week. Been here there and everywhere all week!
I thought when you retired, you took things easy. Pottering about in the garden, lazing around watching the world go by. I WISH! LOL
Just had a new suite delivered and OMG!! It's taken over the living room!!! It's MUCH larger than it looked in the showroom!  You have to come through the door in single file now!!...but Oh boy!! Is it COMFY!
We get our new car on Monday too. (Perfect timing 'coz that's our wedding anniversary)!

OK, enough waffle, onto this week's challenge at Fairy Fun Fridays.

 The challenge this week is .....ANYTHING 3D! Easy Peasy.
(anything that's not flat is 3D yeah)? 

I decided on decoupage using the gorgeous daffodils drawn by the VERY clever Fairy Queen, Roberta.
Available to purchase HERE.
I am SO fed up with rain, clouds and no sun, I thought I'd get back to Spring, even if it IS only on a card.

  You can see the decoupage better in this shot.

 
I printed the daffs out 5 times and coloured them with Copics before cutting elements out and attaching them to the base image with silicone.
Layered the MS 'Grass' borders with the MS Picket fence and Flowers punches.
I thought the 'garden twine' was a good finishing touch, (even though it's threads off a piece of Hessian) LOL.
I hope you play along with us. There are lots of prizes on offer and you may get to be our next week's Guest designer!

(Please step over there and leave the the Queen Fairy some love, (after you've ogled my DT mate's fabulous cards), she's very poorly at the moment! Get well soon Roberta!!!!

My last card as Guest Designer for Karen's Doodles

Aww, How time flies when you're having fun. It only seems 5 minutes ago that Sandy asked me to guest design for Karen's Doodles(US)!
Where DOES the time go. I've had a marvellous time and can't thank Karen's Doodles and Sandy enough for the fun time I've had.

Ah well, all good things must come to an end, so let's get started. 

The theme this week is 'WHITE ON WHITE!

Every element on your card must be white, (except the image).

I chose the adorable image... 'I didn't do it' 'coz it's SO like my fur-baby, Harvey.
He's coloured with Copics and embellished with Nestability and Sizzix (I think), die cuts.
The 'feathers' are punched out birch leaves cut all around to get the effect.
(The technique is actually called 'feathering').
A band of white ribbon completes the picture.

(This card is a particular favourite of mine and I'll be loath to part with it).

Thanks for the ride Karen's Doodles!

PEACHY KEEN BLOG HOP & CANDY WINNERS!

I wish I could give you all a prize. You are ALL winners with me. Thank you for playing along. I loved reading all your comments. Yep, I read every one of 'em.

Here are the lucky winners, chosen by Random.org.

$15 Gift Certificate

BEEJAY

My PEACHY KEEN candy

FRAN

Peach die and stamp set

KATI

Congratulations girls!!! 

Please e-mail with your details ASAP so I can organise your prizes.

A mini (and quick) candy for you!!!

NOW CLOSED, SORRY.
(Winner will be announced tomorrow 26th.)

Joanne over at the Scrapping Cottage, has donated a Peachy Keen designed die (HERE), for each of us on the PK DT to give away to one lucky winner!!! WOWEE!

My give-away will of course, be the gorgeous 'Peach set'! 

This give-away will be short but oh so sweet. All you have to do to win this amazing die and stamp set, is..... 
leave me a comment telling me which is your favourite fruit. 
How easy is THAT!  (The winner will be chosen by Random.org)

You only have until tomorrow midnight GMT (Sunday 25th), to 'have a go' so hurry!

  

Don't forget the MEGA blog hop prizes are STILL running!!! Click HERE! for all the details and to be in with a chance of winning an amazing prize (or two)!!!

It finishes tomorrow, so sit down with a cuppa or a coffee and throw your hat into the ring!

Just to remind you of the fabulous Peach die and stamps, here's another card I did this morning ....

Nope it's not an orange!! It Is pinky red. (I can't get my camera to do as it's told this morning)!

Remember, just leave me a comment telling me which is your favourite fruit for a chance to win the 'Peach' die and stamps set. Good luck!!!

It's time for another Fairy Fun Fridays Challenge!

Yep! It's Friday again. But, you all know that. Today it is challenge #29 and the theme this week is....
LACE IT UP!!! Now you can interpret that one or two ways, it's up to you!
Just have fun and let's see you enter the challenge. I NEED YOUR INSPIRATION!!! LOL

Here's what I did with the theme....

I love that lace. It reminds me of my Nanna's table runner from years ago, when she would get the tea service out on a Sunday. Awww, happy days. I still miss my Nanna. The 'steam' coming from the teacup reads..'One person can make such a difference and that person is you!' (From SU's Flight of the Butterfly set).
I coloured the tea set with Copics and made a 'lace' border with a MS punch before adding the real lace to the middle. The DP is DCWV.
Well I hope you like it and I hope you feel energised to hop on over to the Fairy Fun Fridays blog and give some love to the fabulous DT. Their cards are out of this world. Please join in, you never know, you could be next week's guest designer!!

Come back tomorrow when I will be having a mini blog candy to 'die' for!!!

I AM AN IDIOT!!!

Grrrr.... I spent all day, (not unusual for me) creating my challenge card only to realise, JUST as I about to send it to Angelica,......... that IT WAS THE FOR THE WRONG WEEK! ARGHHHHH!
So, I had to start again from square one. That's why I'm dead late with my sample card.

I had decided to make a card each for my newest grand-daughter and grandson as they are both one year old in October and December respectively. Well, I did Alfie's and THAT was the wrong one. (You will get to see it at the next challenge).  This week's challenge is a sketch, here............

 So, sat down and started again and came up with this.....................

I was DETERMINED to use those gorgeous Tear Bears released yesterday in the blog hop.
(I think you might like the Alfie one too, when it's the next challenge, 'coz that's a Tear Bear too)!
I'm having a BLAST with these dies and can't praise them enough!!!
Kathy is a genius for designing these marvellous fellas and to come together with Cottage Cutz to arrive at this fabulous marriage of dies and stamps, is just amazing!! Check out the fantastic discount offer HERE!

I coloured my bear with a brilliance ink pad and a sponge, (except for her mouth which is coloured with a Copic) and I covered the 'one' in Glamour Dust for some girly sparkle.
Please, pop on over to the Peachy Keen challenge blog and see what the most amazing DT EVVAH made for you today.

Happy crafting!!

Today's the Day!!!

Whoo Hoo!!! Here we go and it's a long post, so pull up a pew and enjoy.!!!

It's Monday and it's a Blog hop to celebrate  Peachy Keen and  Scrapping Cottage teaming up to bring you some amazing metal dies from Cottage Cuts, that will blow you away!!!
To celebrate this fantastic event, each member of the DT is giving away a $15 certificate to use in the Peachy Keen store.
Each die set (except the Happy Bird package) will come with two to three Peachy Keen Face stamps to coordinate with your shapes!

The dies are available now for pre-order on both Peachy Keen Stamps and The Scrapping Cottage.  

Single sets will be discounted 15%, or 25% off the entire collection for one week only!  

The Pre-sale ends July 26th. Orders will begin shipping the second week in August.

The blog hop starts with The PK Stamps Blog so please make your way there first to start hopping and to get all the glorious details!!!

JUST WAIT 'TILL YOU SEE THE PRIZE ON OFFER AT
PEACHY KEEN STAMPS BLOG!!!
(OK, I'll tell you....ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL WIN THE WHOLE 14 SETS..WOW)!!! 

OK! If you came to me via Angelica, you are on the right path. 

I've used the fabulous 'PEACH' die. There is one die and TWO stamp faces in the set.

Here is the card I made with it. I LOVE these dies!!! I don't envy Cricut owners any more!! These dies are compatible with almost every machine out there and especially good with the Big Shot!  I know that's true, 'coz I've got my beloved BS and it's like a knife through butter cutting with it. (I can use loads of my face stamps too now if I want a change of expression now and again).

I hand drew and cut out the branch, but the leaves and peach are from the die and the pretty face is the girly one included in the set. Isn't it cute!!!!

To celebrate this 'marriage' I am offering some candy as well as the $15 certificate. 

                                                       That's TWO prizes on offer!!!!

I will keep the prizes running until Sunday night when I will pick the winners via Random.org. The winners will be posted on Monday 26th. No need to jump through hoops to win. Just leave me a comment, that's all you have to do.

Well, I've kept you long enough I reckon! LOL

Please click on this button to take you to Lorie, the next link in the hop. (You will be delighted)!

Here is the complete list of blogs to hop to in case you get kerfuddled.......

PK Stamps Blog

Kathy
Angelica
Viv (You are here)
 Lorie
Janice
Nikki
Emma
Sonia
Heidi
Samantha
Lisa

Have a great time 'hopping' and I 'll 'see' you soon!!!!

It's a sketch at Karen's Doodles

I LOVE Sketches. When I have lazyitis, (And I have it often) LOL, having a sketch to follow, is just up my street 'coz all the thinking is done for me!
Here's the latest one for you to play with at Karen's Doodles Challenge blog....................

The sketch is so pretty, it's almost a digi card in itself!!

I had eight friends round for a crafting day yesterday and had a BLAST! BUT in the hecticness of the day, I forgot to add my flowers to the top left hand corner before whizzing my sample card off to Sandy at KDs!!
Not my fault Sandy!! It's THEIRS for making me have so much fun!!! LOL

So, here's my third Guest DT card, (with flowers) Ha Ha .......................

I LOVE this image. She's called simply 'Flower Girl' and is available to purchase at Karen's Doodles store.
Recipe....
BC is Bazzil
Coloured with Copics
DP form DCWV's Nana's Nursery and the striped strip is apiece of SU DP
Flowers are Prima

Please spend a little time going over to Karen's Doodles to ogle the gorgeous samples made by the brilliant DT. You are of course, going to enter the challenge, aren't you? 'COURSE you are!
Have a fun week!

Newsflash!.......... A marriage made in Heaven!!!!!

Oh BOY! Have I got news for YOU!!!!
Peachy Keen has teamed up with The Scrapping Cottage (home of Cottage Cuts), to produce the most cute whimsical DIES AND MATCHING FACE STAMPS!!! 

To celebrate the 'marriage', we are having a combined blog hop.................

You are all warmly invited to join in and there will, of course, be prizes. Make sure you check the Peachy Keen Stamps Blog  for all the details.
The die and stamp packs will be available at a special PRE-ORDER PRICE starting on Monday, 19th July!
 Here's some info I pinched from the blog.......

 What are Cottage Cutz®? They are an exclusive thin metal die line brought to you by The Scrapping Cottage. These thin metal die shapes are made to work with many embossing/die cutting machines on the market today. They cut incredibly well, and like Peachy Keen Stamps, are produced at the highest quality standard. (They are similar to Quickutz).

Here's an image of just a few of the dies..........(There are loads more)!

 

Exciting or WHAT!!!!

(I always envied the girls cutting all their fabulous images out on the Cricut, well now I don't need to turn so green any more).

See you Monday with my sample and the hop!

It's One For The Boys this week at Fairy Fun Fridays

Hi everyone, did you like my transformed living room?  (Previous post). I'm still in novelty mode with it.
I digress, you want to know all about the next challenge at Fairy Fun Fridays don't you!
Well, I'll tell ya! It 's exactly what it says on the tin, (to mis-quote the Cuprinol advert)........

'FOR THE BOYS'.

Simple. 

Create a project with a masculine theme. Now how easy is that!

Here's my take on the challenge..........

I teamed 'Fisher Beary' up with 'Lenny' the lion. I LOVE Lenny. He's SO cute!
He looks so innocent sitting there, trying not to look avidly at that fish in Beary's basket. Ha Ha.

I coloured my furry friends with Copics as usual.
The DP is from SU and the 'ticket' is three stamps combined from a brilliant set by Autumn Leaves called 'Stampology'.
The titchy bulldog clip is also from SU.
Now, run on over to Fairy Fun Fridays and check out the other fabulous samples from my VERY clever DT friends. Please join in with the challenge. There's always a great prize on offer and all you have to do, is what comes naturally.....play with your stash!!!
Have a fabulous weekend won't you. I surely will, 'coz I have eight friends coming for a day of crafting and laughs on Sunday!!!!


See you soon!

The results of my handiwork!

Have you missed me? I hope so.
I've been ultra busy and ultra tired after spending nearly a week re-decorating my living room.
I thought I'd share a couple of before and after pics..... so you can see I've been AWOL for a good reason.
My son Paul, aided by my grandson Adam, stripped the walls for me and Paul emulsioned the ceiling.
Then it was all down to me. The wallpaper hanging, the painting and the setting the room to rights again.
I'm really quite pleased with the result.

BEFORE

  

My son and grandson (and Harvey)

My son Paul, acting daft

 AFTER

(The Sky channel showing on the TV isn't what you think)! LOL

The horrible suite is going in two weeks when our beautiful new leather suite arrives. I can't WAIT!!!

It's Christmas in July at Karen's Doodles!!

I LOVE doing Christmas cards and for my second guest spot at Karen's Doodles, I used the delightful digi image, 'Emma and Snow Scene'. She's a real cutie and the image lends itself beautifully to being cut out with a Circle Nestability.

I placed a light at the side while I was taking my photograph so you could see the sparkle of the Glamour Dust I used on the snowflakes. I dotted it in the middle of the DP snowflakes too, but you can see those very well, even with a light shining on them.
I wanted Emma's clothes (and boots) to look like Suede and it worked out well I think.
I love that DP. It's by Papermania and I've had it for ages. I like the fact that the greeting is more or less on the paper, so if I decide to add a poinsettia or large snowflake at a later date, it gives me room to do so.
I like it as it is though.

Please go on over to Karen's Doodles challenge blog and see what beautifully crafted cards the DT have created. There is SO much talent there, you will be spoilt for choice. Why not join in with the challenge. I love to see all the different ideas.
Well, that's it from me for now. I have to get back to my paper hanging. I've decided that this will be my last D-I-Y decorating. I'm getting too old and my oncologist would have a fit if she could see me working myself silly!! Shhh, don't tell her!!!! It's going to be worth it!!!

(I'll show you some before and after pictures when it's completed).

It's time for another Fairy Fun Fridays Challenge!

It's week #27 and I can't believe how quick the weeks are flying by!!! I'm sure I'm in a time warp! Ha Ha!
We are in the middle of re-decorating the sitting/living room and it's like an explosion in a mattress factory at the moment. My son Paul, is brilliant but just dives in. He doesn't do 'prep' so the room is a nightmare of bits of scraped off wall paper, dust and muck and bullets. It's no good me trying to clean up as everything is just dumped everywhere and I can't get at it. *sigh*. I'm just staying out until tomorrow when he comes back to paint the ceiling. THEN we'll clean up and I will then wallpaper myself. Yep, ME! I'm quite good at it and Alan (hubby), is not fit and can't decorate for toffee anyway.

Enough waffle from me, let's get to my card before you fall asleep!!!
The theme this week at Fairy Fun Fridays is colour inspired using this picture........

How gorgeous is that decor!!! I LOVE those colours!
Here's my interpretation.......

 
I used the adorable 'Gina' from the image Lil' Gina 'n Gerry Giraffe'.
(I left Gerry grazing in the Fairy Meadow).
Do you like the edge around my circle? It's made with a Martha Stewart border punch. How cool is THAT!!!
(The idea isn't mine and I cannot for the life of me, remember where I saw it. I would give credit in a flash if I knew).

Recipe
Copics
Doodlebugs Design Paper Pot pourri (top) 
DCWV Nana's Nursery DP (Below)
Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts
Ribbon from stash
Leaves via Woodware punch

With such gorgeous colours as your inspiration, you can't go wrong!!
Pop over to the Fairy Fun Fridays challenge blog and take a look at the amazing cards created by the other wonderfully talented Fairy Princesses! There's inspiration by the bucketful there.

Well, it's back to dodging the muck and bullets for me until tomorrow.
Take care and 'see' you soon.

Peachy Keen Challenge 32

Never mind the comments going wonky, today is the start of a new challenge at Peachy Keen.
The theme this time is........and I quote,(I've always wanted to say that)! Ha Ha......

 Summer Destinations Challenge

 "Create a card drawing inspiration from your favourite vacation destination! 

Also must use one of the three "B"s: Buttons, Brads or Bling".

 One random winner will receive....

 PK-790 Boogie Board Max

 Memento Ink Pad in Tuxedo Black 

 Coordinating acrylic block

Well, my inspiration comes from many wonderful trips to France when we had our motorvan. (RV)
We loved the fresh seafood we could buy direct from the fishing boats at all the ports we visited.
Our favourites were prawns and lobsters. So, my card celebrates those yummy crustaceans.

I'd like to introduce you to......... Pepe le Prawn!!!! Ta-Da.......... Drum roll please!

He WAS Larry the Lobster 'till Angelica and Kathy pointed out that he was a prawn. (Shrimp).
Didn't notice he didn't have the big front pincers did I! Duh. So, he's a very red prawn! Ha Ha.
Pepe is from the set PK-952 Ocean fun.  Available at the Peachy Keen Store.

The colours reflect the French flag. I used Copics on Pepe and the rest is self -explanatory.
I suppose if Pepe was substituted for a bald eagle, or a bulldog, it would make a decent card for either the US or GB. LOL

Well that's my French flavoured 'inspired' card and I hope you liked it.
If you liked THIS, you will LOVE what my mega talented friends have come up with over on the PK blog.
Please make your way over there and see what treats they have in store for you.

Blogger error!!!

I'm having problems with Blogger at the moment. I can't seem to upload some comments.
I get this error message instead..... bX-o3qgph!  ARGHHH!!!
I open a comment and click 'publish' and I've had no problems until today.
The strange thing is, when I go to my dashboard, it says there are no unmoderated comments!!!
Yet there they are in my in-box!!! I've reported the error to Blogger.
Anyone else being frustrated like this?

Bling it up at Karen's Doodles!!!!

In case you missed my post, I have great pleasure in telling you that I was asked to be the July Guest Designer for Karen's Doodles, (US). I accepted in a flash! Karen's Doodles' digi and rubber stamps are well known and a delight to work with.
Well for my first card for this month, I've used a beautiful image to 'BLING IT UP' called 'Fairy fun'.

It's always lovely to bling a card up and with an image as pretty as this one, It was a real treat!
I re-sized and mirror imaged the fairy to make it kind of 'mother and daughter', or maybe little girl and her doll?
I've used Stickles on their wings and on their 'tutus'!  I LOVE Stickles. The base card is Bazzil Bling. It had to be, didn't it! LOL
The DP and glittery brads are by Papermania's capsule collection. The embossed panel was made with a Sizzix embossing folder and I chalked the leaves and placed a gem on each of the larger flowers, with a row of gems along the bottom for balance.
I also placed a gem on the big girl's shoes. Coloured with Copics and finished with a stamp that I think, says it all.
Please head on over to Karen's Doodles and play along. We all love an excuse to dress up and bling it up don't we! Winner's are chosen with Random.org. and you must use a Karen's Doodles image.

 1st Place - 3 Digi stamps of your choice from Karen's Doodles
2nd Place - 2 Digi stamps of your choice from Karen's Doodles
3rd Place - 1 Digi stamps of your choice from Karen's Doodles

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see your fabulous creations over at Karen's Doodles.

FFF's Challenge 26,..'Anything goes'.

Hi everyone! Firstly, thanks for all your lovely comments on my beautiful new look blog!
BJ will be pleased when he sees them. (It's great having my own personal Graphic Designer).

Ok, on to the new Fairy Fun Friday challenge...'Anything Goes' and as the title suggests, you can do whatever takes your fancy. My fancy, took me to a Christmas card and using the theme literally, decided on a fun card, with Giraffes walking in a snowy forest! Well, anything goes right? LOL

The image is as cute as can be and SO versatile. It's called L'il Gina 'n' Gerry Giraffe and is available for purchase over at the Prairie Fairy Store.

Coloured with Copics and DP is from a Christmas pad by MME.
Please go over to the Fairy Fun Friday blog and play along with us. If you need inspiration, check out the amazing cards by my fellow DT members. They have some stunning stuff to show you this week! In fact, they have stunning stuff to show you EVERY week!

Thanks for sticking with me although I've neglected you all terribly.  I'm slowly getting over the radiotherapy and my mojo is returning too. (Not fast enough for impatient Me though)!

One door closes, another door opens!!!

No card, but I've got fantastic news!!!!
As you know, I  resigned my position on the Cards For Men DT, to explore a wider range of subjects.
On the very same day, I was thrilled to be asked by Sandy Hulsart, DT Leader for the US arm of Karen's Doodles, if I'd be the Guest Designer for July!! How 'bout THAT!!!
I, of course, jumped at it and on Monday, I post my first GDT card!! Whoo Hoo!
Thank you for inviting me Sandy!!

My new look blog!!

How do you like it? My MEGA talented youngest son BJ (he's 28),  made my new look.
I told him roughly what I wanted and he went away and performed his magic!!
He knew I wanted elements from my crafting, so I chose 'Harvey' from Peachy Keen's Vivienne And Friends stamp set. (Well he just HAD to be included didn't he). LOL
As it's a Haven, BJ suggested resting under a tree in a meadow type of thing, so I chose 'Daisy' by Elisabeth Bell sitting under a Stampin' Up tree. The pencils are the 'grass' and Harvey is on a 'lead' made from ribbon.
The clouds were  made to look stitched and all the elements have a white border and a shadow to represent a 3D effect.
Thank you my Oh so clever son for making my beautiful new blog layout.

Please let me know what you all think of my new 'home'.