Butterfly Thank You's

Hi there,

I have made an ATC collection for the lovely ladies in the Friends International ATC group, who were all very supportive for my wedding and sent some lovely cards through.

The base for the ATC was made with X-Cut large frames nesting dies - using the smallest one. The sentiment die was free with Cardmaking and Papercraft 152. The butterflies are from a Sizzix set.

I would like to enter this collection for the following challenges:

alphabet challenge B for Beautiful Butterflies

my time to craft #318 Girlie
creative card crew #109 CAS
allsorts #356 Wings

Down on the allotment today I started to cut back the Bramble bushes. Yup a little late I know but with the way the weather has been over winter - and then getting married - there has not been much opportunity to get it done before now. Unfortunately I do not get to spend much time down on the allotment if I actually want to have some tea due to the traffic on my commute, so I haven't managed to do the whole of the two bushes, but have done about half. I will finish them off on Sunday (it is the other allotments turn tomorrow and Saturday lol).

I am sitting here quickly writing my blog with the little boy mice playing out and a ball of wool next to me. The little boy mice keep climbing into the ball of wool and unravelling it. Very funny to watch - just a shame my camera is downstairs otherwise I could take a video. After being full of a cold for the past couple of days it is noce to be able to sit and play with the mice in the evening again :).

Thank you for reading my blog,

Hugz Tinz

You are my sunshine - Inspired by a song over at Creative Moments

Hello everybody,

It is time for a new challenge over at Creative Moments - this time round the optional twist is to be inspired by a song (of course we are always an anything goes challenge). I used a Flower Love Bug image from our sponsor Kitty Bee for this card, which was inspired by Johnny Cash :) Please visit the blog to see our other sponsors.

 The image is coloured with Promarker pens. The front of the card blank had an aperture die-cut into it using X-cut nesting dies and Big Shot Plus. The inside of the card was layered with Papermania patterned paper, and the image die-cut using a Nellie's nesting die, before being mounted inside the apeture with 3D tape. Alphabet peel-offs were used for the sentiment and flowers to finish the card.

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges also:

mmm - Going round in circles

PFP - #339 Weather (sunflower and sunshine sentiment)

allsorts - Wings

 digichooseday - wk13 Spring Colours
simplycreatetoo - #105 Be funny
crafting by designs - Anything Goes 

Thank you for looking

Hugz Tinz

Zentangled #2

Here is my second card using the hummingbird Zentangle image from the free CD-Rom:

This time I used a white base card and die-cut the image using a Spellbinder's fancy oval nesting die, before colouring using aqua promarkers in greens and purple. I blended them, but did not worry about keeping within the lines in order to give an effect of movement around the birds wings. I layered this onto some Botanical Papermania paper and a piece of yellow gauze ribbon (which is difficult to see in the picture). Finally I layered some paper flowers over the panel, following sketch #152 from AHSC.

I would also like to enter this card into these challenges:

mod squad Springtime

crafting by designs 3 or more layers

allsorts 356 Wings

avenue 613 #168 Use a bird
crafty calendar Special lady

Here are the pictures of the wedding cakes, which were brilliant!! Oh and a lovely picture of the groom lol.

Thank you all for looking.
Hugz Tinz

Sketchy Just To Say

I am now back from honeymoon - and absolutely exhausted due to a late night at karaoke and then early morning to be out of the apartment by 10am! However, I have managed to play with my Zentangle CD-Rom that I got free a while back with Crafts Beautiful magazine.

This is the first card I have created, using two of the pre-zentangled images:

I used a cream base card and doodled a central border down the centre. The flower was coloured using the 10 promarker set - Stamping Set 2 (except for the Poppy). The flower was die-cut using X-cut large label dies. The bird was also coloured using promarkers and then fussy cut to layer over the flower. A simple sentiment as used to finish off the card.

I used the sketch #405 from Catch the Bug:

Digi Chooseday Week 12 Flower Frenzie

Deep Ocean #125 Fav Colour Combo (I love using greens and purples, and have used both for these images)

OLL #200 Spring is in the Air

live and love crafts #45 Signs of Spring

PFP 338 Spring has sprung

mod squad springtime

cute card thursday #418 to die for

I also thought you might like to see the table toppers I made for the wedding:

Close-ups of the animal ones:

And finally a picture from the wedding itself:

Thank you for looking, and watch out for card #2.

Hugz Tinz

Sping has Sprung over at Creative Moments

It is time for a new challenge over at Creative Moments. As always it is anything goes, but this fortnight we are playing an optional twist of Spring has Sprung. So let us see your spring creations everybody!

We are sponsored by:  http://www.bugaboostamps.com   http://decossesdynamitedoodles.blogspot.co.uk  https://www.etsy.com/shop/melonheadzdoodles  More information on the prizes is available over on the challenge blog.

Here is my Springtime creation:

I used Spring Set from Eureka Stamps as a flower centre! I wanted to make something that really shouted that spring was here! I coloured the image with promarkers and die-cut using X-cut scalloped circle die. I then used two green patterned papers and fancy flower dies from Marianne Creativity and Creative Dies and layered these onto a green mirri cad scalloped circle. I then layered them together with a Daisy and Dandelion brad in green with polka dots, along with a green ribbon, which I used to attach the flower to a stem.

I would also like to enter this creation into the following challenges:
modsquad rainbow connection (rainbow in image)
allsorts 354 Spring is in the air
glitter n sparkle #179 use some green
polkadoodle Spring Colours
simply create too 104 Use green only
the stamping boutique Countdown to spring
my time to craft #317 flowers
addicted to stamps #122 Any shape
CCM #159 Go green
digi chooseday 10 Easter/Flowers


Thank you for looking
Hugz Tinz

Christmas Glitz

Hi there,

I decided to pause my cross stitching to make a Christmas card. I wanted to try using my masks and stencils with a different technique I saw - using glitter - messy!!

To start with I decided to use the Sketchy Colours Sketch #267
 alongside the Always playing with paper colour scheme of Navy, Grey, Blue and Lime.

And this is what I came up with:

I used a pale green base card from The Works. I applied the Memory Box modern sprinkles mask stencil onto a woodware double-sided adhesive sheet, and then sprinkled grey papermania glitter over the area. After removing the mask I used navy blue Glitz-it glitter to fill in the remaining areas - giving a nice background:

This was layered over Helz Cuppleditch and papermania Christmas papers and washi tape applied over the top. This panel was layered onto the base card. Finally, using lime and blue papermania glitters, and gold glitter, with a glitz-craft stencil, I made the topper and added a charm to the top corner to finish. Unfortunately I think the extra glitter on the topper is a little too much and a more basic topper would have emphasised the background better - more excuse to try again lol.

Other challenges I would like to enter this card for are:

jingle belles Spirit of Christmas past (it reminds me of making cards with lots of glitter when I was younger - also traditional topper image)

crafting by designs Anything Goes

crafty hazelnuts #272 Add some gold (hence the gold glitter that sneaked in)

Winter Wonderland Must have a charm

I let Billie and Piper play out this weekend - the first time in their new room. Unfortunately Billie still cannot fly, due to losing his flight feathers - and he managed to well and truly confuse Pip, by going into the Rabbit hutch.

But even without working wings he still managed to get to the top of the curtains!

Please pop back tomorrow for our new challenge over at Creative Moments!

Thank you for looking,

Hugz Tinz

Apple to keep you healthy!

Hi there,

The sun is definitely getting warmer now - when it has the chance to peek out from behind the clouds. I planted the first lot of potatoes yesterday, and will be heading out shortly to plant the second lot down on the second allotment. However I wanted to share my get well soon card with you all first:

 Items used - White card blank
                 - Handmade paper from my stash
                 - Red die-cut circle
                 - Crafter's Companion Dahlia stamp (Free with one of the magazines)
                 - Get Well Soon sentiment stamp (came free with a magazine again)
                 - Promarker 2012 Summer Limited edition set (to colour the dahlia)
                 - Pretty Colour Red ink pad, and Tatty Teddy grey ink pad
                 - leaf from stash and gel pen.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

CCEE 1610 Add an apple (as I didn't actually have an apple in any form, I made my own)

addicted to stamps #122 Any Shape

my time to craft #317 Flowers (the cross stitch is also good for this theme)

I also wanted to share with you my bird cage place setting - I will be making all these up  hopefully on Friday - ready for the wedding on Saturday!

Thank you for looking,
Hugz Tinz

Geometric Jingo

Hello there,

I have actually made a card!!! There will be another one to come, but for now here is my masculine creation:

This was inspired by the challenge over at DieCuttin Divas whose challenge this week is to use paint chips. Unfortunately I do not have any of these lying around, so I made my own.

I used a small purple card blank and layered some chalkboard geometric paper over, leaving a narrow border. I die-cut a frame using X-cut fancy frames, large - with the smallest of the dies, and then created a paint chip effect using small ink cubes in various shades of green. Unfortunately the central shade looks a little bluer than expected, and one of the in pads collapsed whilst doing this lol. Leads to a very sticky mess and green getting everywhere!!!

Once the ink painting was dry I used some corner peel-off stickers to make a geometric focal feature, before adhering the panel to the card at a slight angle. I then added a die-cut glitter key that I received in an exchange and a sentiment sticker.

I would like to enter this card for these challenges also:

inkspirational #103 Geometric

Country View - Industrial - geometric and key

CCM #159 Go Green
card concept #50

simply create too #104 Green Only
simon says wednesday A bit o' green

Audio Book Review

Jingo by Terry Pratchett

This is one of the Discworld novels. An island appears out of the sea, causing frictions between Clatch and Ankh Morpork to reach boiling point. Inspector Vimes and the watch have to try and ‘keep the peace’ on a very large scale and against plenty of well-armed men. Meanwhile, the patrician has an idea of his own to prevent full scale warfare. As I may have said before I do enjoy these Discworld novels, but only if they are on audio-book, otherwise I find them very difficult to follow. This book is no exception for the humour and novelty factor. If you are a fan of Terry Pratchett I would recommend reading this one – or listening to it instead.

Thank you for looking,

Hugz Tinz

Tulips and a Cockatiel

Hi there,

I have been making table setting for my wedding, so thought I would show you the first two. They do still need making up obviously but I will do them all at the end once the stitching is completed.

Both designs are stitched on some fabric from polstitch designs using DMC threads - the first is from Cross Stitch Crazy Mar16, and the second from Feb's WOCS.

I was planning on making a birthday card this weekend, but after my hen party we went straight across the country to get my dress fitted properly, so the card had to wait. There will e one before the end of the week though - hopefully!

I would like to enter my stitching into the following challenges:

mod squad Feature a Creature (Cockatiel)

suzy bee bloomin #120 Touch of Spring (Tulips)

abc-challenge  - Cute (Cockatiel)

alphabet challenge P for something pink (Tulips and fabric)

Thank you for looking

Hugz Tinz

Aloha Shelter - Add a sentiment

Hello there,

It is time for a new Anything Goes challenge over at Creative Moments, and this fortnight the optional twist is Add a Sentiment. This can be anything you like, so do pop over and join us.

Here is what I created using image from our sponsor Lacy Sunshine, who are offering 3 images:

I went for a loud, bright card as we all know summer IS on the way, even if it doesn't realise it yet lol

I used a spellbinders fancy oval nesting die to cut a fancy border around the image, after colouring with Promarkers. I also used it to cut a piece of sandy coloured glitter paper (Papermania collection) and embossed this with a Sheena Douglas embossing folder to give the effect of sand. I added a ribbon and printed out the sentiment to finish.

I would also like to enter this card into the following challenges:

simon says wednesday Touchy Feely

OLL #199 Add a sentiment

Anything Goes at artistic inspirations and crafting by designs

Audio Book Review

Shelter by Harlan Coben

Mikey Bolitar has just lost his dad in a car crash, and his mum to drugs, and so has moved in with his uncle. When his new girlfriend, who is also new to the school, disappears Mikey gets himself deeper than he ever imagined, and finds out things about both his girlfriend and his dad that he would never have expected. This is a very good action story, with obvious bad guys and the not-so-obvious good guys, and a naïve main character. I certainly enjoyed listening to this book. My only criticism is the ending is just a little too far-fetched in how it pitches the evidence, but as this book is the first in the series, maybe the next book explores and explains this in more detail?

Thank you for loking

Hugz Tinz