Shabby Botanicals and Clipart Fairy Freebies

Today I have a new range from The Clipart Fairy to show you, it's called Shabby Botanicals and as well as some gorgeous shabby papers the kit contains some Butterfly Woodchip Collectors cards, these digital images actually look like pictures painted on to wood, very convincing!

I have to be honest they are not really my thing, but I enjoy a challenge and I'm quite pleased with the way the cards turned out. 

As the papers were so pretty I didn't want to cover them with all kinds of things, so printed all the sentiments straight onto the papers, instead of matting and layering them onto circles, squares etc, and covering up more of the design.

For this square card I printed out some of the papers then cut them to size and rubbed a brown ink pad around the edges. I wanted the flowers on the paper to show so attached my butterfly image to the right hand side with foam pads. As the paper had pink daisies on I used a die and the pink paper from the kit to make some diasies, using another paper to die cut the foliage. I finished off by dotting a few groups of gems around the flowers.

Kit - Shabby Botanicals - The Clipart Fairy

Sentiment - Create with TLC - freebie

Daisies - upsy Daisy - Die-namics

Foliage - Anja's leaves 1 - Marianne Designs

Ribbon and Gems - Meiflower

I made an A5 landscape card base for this one, once again edging the card and papers with a brown ink pad. I punched a lattice edge down the pink paper and layered it over the daisy paper, then fixed the butterfly image at a jaunty angle LOL! to the left hand side. To make the shabby flower, I die cut seven flower shapes, 3 large, 2 medium and 2 small from pink and creamy lemon papers, inked around the edges and then crumpled and unravelled and crumpled and unravelled each one, before layering them up in alternate colours, making a hole through the centre and attaching a brad to hold them all together.The butterfly was die cut, and lightly brushed with an ink pad all over the front and around the edge. I did the same with a small punched butterfly them layered them up and decorating tiny gems. I added a large pearl to the centre of the flower and arranged small pearls down the lattice.

Kit - Shabby Botanicals - The Clipart Fairy

Sentiment - Computer generated

Flower - X cut nesting dies - Bloom (I used the three smallest)

Foliage - Gentle Leave - Poppy Stamps dies

Butterfly - Darla - Memory Box dies

Small butterfly - X-cut punch

Gems and Pearls - Meiflower

My final card is a twisted easel and I'm not sure if I went a bit over the top with the embellishments on this one LOL!

After making a square twisted easel card base I added the same papers to both the top and base inking all edges. I used a strip of contrasting paper across the width of the top and wrapped brown polka dot ribbon around it before sticking into place, and adding a bow at one end. Once again the Butterfly image was attached at a jaunty angle using foam pads. I die cut some swirls and flowers, inking around the edges of the flowers before shaping the petals and layering up. I added groups of small pearls amongst the swirls.

On the base I arranged a large Die cut butterfly and two punched ones around the sentiment, adding pearls to the butterflies bodies and a group of pearls to act as the stopper for the easel top.

Kit - Shabby Botanicals - Clipart Fairy

Swirls - Elegant Scrollwork - Memory Box

Flower - CREAlies - CL CF 05

Large Butterfly - Darla and Vivienne - Memory Box

Small butterflies - X cut punch

Sentiment - Create with TLC - freebie

Ribbon and gems - Meiflower

The Clipart Fairy has also posted some fabulous freebies recently so go check them out here , here, here and here

I've got a few cards made but not yet blogged, and if I get time this week I will try and get some of them posted in between my design team posts.

thanks for stopping by,

hugs,

Colette xx

D'Arcy's Diaries - Pearls and Swirls

As you can probably tell from the title, today is D'Arcy's Diaries day and the start of our next challenge, which this time around is

Pearls and Swirls.

Now I've been feeling quite tired over the last week or so, and on Tuesday after the grandson's had gone home I decided to have a relaxing evening reading my kindle, as I had all day and evening Wednesday to get my D'arcy card made (no child-minding duties). I completely forgot that the hairdresser was coming (hair was desperate for a cut, I had already trimmed my fringe myself), and that I had made arrangements to go out to the cinema with my hubby and his sister and hubby.

I managed to get my image coloured, card planned and everything printed before having my hair cut, eating my tea and then going out, still had to cut it all out and make up the card.

I thoroughly enjoyed Rock of Ages, loved the music and wanted to get up and dance, don't think the rest of the cinema goers would have been too impressed though, LOL! Got home around 10pm and then had to make my card, photograph it and blog it, finally sat down to blog at midnight! I may still be in bed when you are reading this LOL!

I loved this image the minute I saw it, so I just had to use it.

Image DD_063

Coloured in Photoshop

Papers - Sakura Garden Kit - Mindy Terasawa

Happiness symbol - Google

Swirl - Go Kreate die - Border Swirly #1

Pearls - Meiflower

Check out the new images in store today

and then pop over to the challenge blog and have a nosey at the fabulous creations from the rest of my teamies.

Teddy Bo - Let's Celebrate!

This week Team A are hosting the challenge at Teddy Bo and our theme for this time is

Let's Celebrate!

we would love to see cards or projects celebrating absolutely any occasion you like, for example - Birthday, Christmas (for the super organised LOL!), a New Baby, New Home, Summer, Wedding, Anniversary, mowing the grass, changing your underwear, opening a paper bag LOL!, you get the idea

My mum and dad in law will have been married for sixty years in July and I thought this was the perfect image for an anniversary card. I've made a double easel with a twist (sounds a bit like a gymnastic or ice skating move LOL!) the double part is quite apt as they had a double wedding - Eric's (my hubby) dad and brother married Eric's mum and her niece (she's two years older than my MiL) which makes for a very complicated family tree, as my FiL was also his older brothers uncle and my MiL is also her nieces sister-in-law, and as for the offspring, well don't even go there LOL!

Image - TBB_134 - Coloured in Photoshop

Papers - Cuddly Buddly Cottage Collection - Duck Egg

Large Filigree heart die and Lock and Key- Cottage Cutz

Small filigree heart die - Joy Crafts

Nesting Lace Circle die - Lifestyle cutting dies

Number 60 - Go Kreate (retired)

Elegant Scrollwork - Memory Box

Ribbon, gems and diamanté oval buckle - Meiflower 

I am entering these challenges -

Allsorts - #160 Dies to Die for
Craft Your Days Away - #48 Teddy Bears
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge - must use digi - Anything Goes (ends 1st July)
Digi Makeover Challenge - must use digi - Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs - Anything Goes
Love to Create - Anything Goes
Make it Monday - always Anything Goes
Tammy Scrapin Corner - Anything Goes Any Artist

As it is a new challenge week, we also have some new releases, check them out in store.

then pop over to the challenge blog and see what the rest of my fabulous teamies are celebrating!

Thanks for stopping by,

Colette xx

BMX Billy

What is going on with the weather?! one minute it's chucking it down, the next, the sun is cracking the flags. My poor hubby is in the process of building a Gazebo over part of the patio, so that in the summer I can sit out there with the kids (if we ever get a summer LOL!), and since he started it a couple of weeks ago it has done nothing but rain (maybe it's his fault the weather is so bad, maybe

he'sjinxed us by building the gazebo LOL!)

Anyway I have a couple of cards to show you using a new set of kits from the Clipart Fairy called

BMX Billy, another great set for all those boy cards you need to make.

 This is an A5 car, using papers, letters, and a topper from different kits in the collection.

Papers - BMX Billy Kit,

Alpha - BMX Billy Alpha set

Square frame topper and sentiment circle - BMX Billy Square Card panel kit

Card candi - stash

Grosgrain ribbon - Meiflower

I used the Make me a topper kit for this card, in my graphics software I opened up an A4 page, then re-sized the topper until it was 14.5cms wide, re-sized the green paper to about 15cms square and made the tag. Once printed I roughly cut out the scalloped circle and used double sided tape to attach a couple of the scallops on the left hand side to the square (make sure to choose the correct scallops so that the image is the right way up), I then cut around the scallops, through both layers, to make my card shape. I punched a couple of holes on the left hand side, threaded cord through the holes and buttonholes and tied in a knot. The tag has another button attached to the front and is fixed to the card with a small foam pad. I printed a second Billy and used foam pads to fix him to the front of the card.

BMX Billy Make me a topper kit.

Gingham buttons and cord - Meiflower

Finally an easel card. Once again I made my topper up in my graphics software, printed it out and then layered up the letters of BOY and also Billy. The letters all overlap each other, so I added the Y first using a single layer of foam pads on the right hand side only and a little bit of tacky glue on the left, so that it sticks out at an angle, I repeated the process with the other two letters but used a double layer of foam pads down the right hand side. After attaching the stopper with a double layer of foam pads down the centre I fixed a couple of buttons in place each side, again with foam pads, then wrapped a double loop of cord between the two buttons, crossing over in the centre.

BMX Billy Kit,  and Alpha Set

Stopper - BMX Billy Shaper Set.

Gingham buttons and cord - Meiflower.

Meiflower has 20% off sequin blossoms at the moment 

and if you want to see a different way of using these, other than on cards pop over to the

Meiflower Design Team blog.

That's it from me for today, off to colour in Teddy Bo now ready for the start of our new challenge on Tuesday.

See you then,

hugs,

Colette xx

D'Arcy's Diaries Mid challenge reminder

Well here we are already half way through the D'Arcy Use your Dies and Punches challenge, doesn't time fly, my hubby informed me that today is Midsummer's day and from now on we are counting down to winter, as the nights will start getting darker earlier each evening, bundle of laughs isn't he? LOL!

Here's my reminder card for the challenge

Image  DD_059

Papers - Designs By Dani - Dapper Dan

Circle and star dies - Sizzix

Sentiment - made by me

Red Cord - Meiflower

You still have until Tuesday 26th June to get your entries in, and all you have to do is use a D'Arcy image and Dies and Punches.

Thanks for popping by,

Colette xx

When all else fails.... use DST!

Crafters of a nervous disposition, go no further, and if you must, then do so at your own risk LOL!

We are halfway through Team B's challenge on Teddy Bo, and as it is not my teams turn this time around, we can use any Teddy Bo image we like for our cards..

Now if you have already caught a glimpse of my card you are probably wondering What the !#@%,...my four year old could do better LOL!, but there is a reason why it is sooooooo very messy - this card is for my friends husband - he is the world's worst decorator, and will quite happily tell you that himself. every join in the paper shows, the top and bottom of every strip is badly cut and most of the corners are peeling away from the walls. There is usually more paper and paste on the floor and him than on the walls!

One day after redecorating, when he was bemoaning the fact that all the corners were peeling away already, I made some flippant comment about lending him my red extra tacky double sided tape, and it has become a bit of a standing joke between us whenever something needs fixing, and that's the reason my card is so messy, I hadn't even had a glass of wine when I made it, honest LOL!

The image is a cut down version of TB_166 - Bo is actually painting a heart on the full image so I just coloured the bits I wanted to use and once printed, just cut away all the parts I didn't want. 

The flooring and wallpaper are from Echo Park Digital Kit Happy Days, the "artexed" ceiling was made using a Cuttlebug snow folder, the skirting board and picture rail from Kraft card, and the splats of wallpaper paste on the walls, ladder and dripping from Bo's ear are Tim Holtz white picket fence crackle paint. The "red tape" is actually..... red tape LOL!

There are no Teddy Bo new releases this week,but there are some fab new Fairydoodler images, so pop over to the store and check them out.

Head over to the challenge blog and check out Team B's fabulous creations, using a mix of last weeks Teddy Bo releases and this weeks Fairydoodler images.

Thanks for stopping by,

Colette xx

Oh my!

What a week! my daughter finally returned to work this week after almost nine months maternity leave and I am now looking after Charlie each day as well as picking Will up from school each afternoon. I had so gotten used to having lots of time to myself and now I don't know whether I am coming or going. I am finding it really difficult to get a lot done with Charlie about, one, because as he is only seven months old so he still needs quite a bit of attention and two, he is such a smiley and pleasant little boy that you can't help yourself from talking to him, just to see his little face light up in a big smile.

Here's some pictures of my two little monsters angels! taken a couple of months ago.

Last week I made this get well card, so thought I would pop it on my blog today.

Images TBo_029 and TBea_029 - coloured in photoshop

Papers - Nitwit Collections - Ouchies

Digital Medical embellishments - K Hadfield Designs - Doctor Doctor kit

Thanks for stopping by,

Colette xx

D'Arcy's Diaries Punch or Die!

There's a new challenge starting over at D'Arcy's Diaries this week and it is easy peasy, the theme is 

Use Dies and/or punches

we would love for you to play along, and the winner gets to choose five D'Arcy images, including this weeks new releases, definitely worth giving it a go, don't you think?

Here's my card for the challenge

Image - DD_060 - coloured in Photoshop

All papers - Dani Mogstad - Hello Sunshine

Sentiment - Freebie - Create with TLC

Dies - Memory Box - Vivienne Butterfly and scalloped posie

(the swirls are the waste from the scalloped posie die)

Ribbon and gems - Meiflower

Pop over to the shop and check out all of this weeks new releases, 

then head over to the D'Arcy Challenge blog and check out my teamies fabulous creations.

Meiflower has a fantastic 30% off satin ribbon rolls, so if you need to stock up, now's the time to do it.

Thanks for popping by,

hugs,

Colette xx

Teddy Bo Tuesday

It's the start of a new challenge over on the Teddy Bo Challenge blog and this time around

Team B are hosting.

The theme for the challenge is -

Card that contains a gift 

i.e. tealights, choccies, gift card etc.

If you would like to join in with the challenge and be in with the chance of winning 5 Teddy Bo graphics (including this weeks new releases) then your entries need to reach us by Midnight 9GMT) Sunday 24th June.

As I am not part of the challenge this week, my card doesn't follow the theme, but does use one of this weeks new releases.

I thought Teddy Bo looked as if he was either trying to keep his balance or trying to fly in his owl costume, so Idecided to make a rocker card, it's also a sort of stepper card too.

Image - TB_200 - coloured in Photoshop

Papers - Hootenanny - Dani Mogstad

Butterfly - Vivienne and Darla dies - Memory Box
Punch - layered arches - Martha Stewart

Owl charm- stash

Ribbon - Meiflower

Check out this weeks new releases


and pop you don't want to miss all the fabulous inspiration from Team B there are some fabulous ideas for cards containing gifts, so pop over to the challenge blog and be inspired.

Hugs,
Colette xx

Shop til you drop!

Noooooooooo!!! I couldn't think of anything worse, I hate shopping!, well at least physically going to the shops, I know women are supposed to love it, but not me, it's my worst nightmare, give me a computer and a credit card and I can shop to my heart's content, especially if it involves buying digi goodies LOL! 

Talking of buying digi goodies, here are a couple of cards I have made using Clipart Fairy kits, that I have had in my 'stash' for almost twelve months and don't think I've used until today!

Image and Patterned papers - Colour-lil butterfly fairies-Lilac
Plain Lilac paper - The girls are back in town papers
Flowers - punch
Foliage - Memory Box die - Chloe Stem
Sentiment - Freebie -TLC
Little Pearl flowers - my good friend Donna (thanks)
Black metallic cord (butterfly head and antenna) and Ribbon - Meiflower

The card is pretty self explanatory, mostly matting and layering, but when cutting out the butterfly the antennae were too fiddly, so I cut them off, and then made new ones by cutting a short length of metallic cord, folding it in half and then tying it into a knot, making sure to push the knot down to the folded end and leaving the free ends loose. I used a bit of tacky glue to stick the knot into place to represent the head and antennae.

 ~~oo0oo~~

Image - Cute Girl's Shopping 1
Papers - Shopping Girls Hat
Sentiment - computer generated
Punched border - Martha Stewart
Ribbon, charm and pearls  - Meiflower
£10 note - borrowed from my hubby, who when I gave it back to him asked how his £20 note had magically changed into a £10 note, cheeky so and so LOL!

The tag on this card is big enough to hold a gift card to the recipient's favourite store, or some birthday money.

Hope the sun is shining where you are and you are making the most of the weekend.
hugs,
Colette xx

D'Arcy Mid Challenge

We are halfway through our menu challenge over at D'Arcy's Diaries, so here is what I chose this week.

Menu

Starter - Navy and Red

Main - Birthday

Dessert - Ribbon

2 sides - Gems and Flowers 

(and the teeniest tiniest bit of glitter on the star and wings, sorry being greedy I know!)

Image - DD_054

Night scene paper - Polkadoodles - Sugarplum Daisy CD

other papers and heart - Nitwit Collections - Tour of London

Wish Sentiment - Pollycraft

Flowers - red rose buds-stash, pretty white flower - Maritha (thank you)

Ribbons and gems - Meiflower

Pop over to the D'Arcy's Diaries challenge blog and check out what the rest of my teamies have created, we also have a couple of new members so make sure to leave them a little love.

I've had a bit of a hectic week this week, only realising on Tuesday morning that I had to do some Polkadoodle samples for the launch of  Nikky's new Studio 12 collection on Create and Craft this Saturday, and the samples had to reach Nikky by today!!!. I managed to get a couple done and in the post yesterday, thank goodness for next day delivery LOL!

Make sure you tune in to Create & Craft TV on 9th June at noon and 4pm to see the launch of the first collection from Studio 12 

Hugs,

Colette xx

Red, White and Blue Mid challenge Reminder

Hope those of you in the UK are enjoying the long Bank Holiday weekend, pity the weather's been a bit grotty, after all the rain the last couple of days it was gorgeous here yesterday, who knows what today will bring.

Are you having a Jubilee party? if so hope it all goes well. We have a small park in front of our house which is called Jubilee Park and there is going to be a Jubilee Fun day going on there today, so we may pop over and have a wander around.

Whatever you're doing have fun and enjoy yourself!

We are half way through our Teddy Bo Red, White and Blue plus bling challenge, if you want to be in with the chance of winning theTeddy Bo Fantastic Five, then make sure your entries reach us by Sunday 8th June Midnight (GMT).

Last week I used Queen Bea, so to be fair this time around I have used King Bo and made a Father's day card, as there is only a couple of weeks until the big day arrives.

Image - TB_198 - Coloured in Photoshop

Papers and sentiment panel - Nitwit Collection - Tour of London

Wording - computer generated

Little Poem - written by me!

Die Cut corner - Lea'bilities Border/Corner Curve 006

Ribbons and Gems - Meiflower

Pop over to the Teddy Bo Challenge blog and check out the fabulous creations from the rest of my teamies.

I am entering my card into the following challenges.

Cards For Men - must be masculine - Father`s Day (ends 17th June)
Lexi's Creations - 'For the man/boy in our lives' (ends 10th June)
Make it Monday - always Anything Goes
Totally Stampalicious - Get your Giggle On!! Create a funny card or project!!!
Dream Valley Challenges - Humour (ends 9th June)
Here Come the Boys - cards only, must be masculine - Anything Goes (ends 9th June)

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs,

Colette xx

Wedding Bears

The Clipart Fairy has just added some sweet Wedding Bears collections to her stores, there are two sets - one pink, one lilac, and both have interactive and RTP options.

Although I enjoy colouring my own images, it is always handy to have something ready coloured, and with matching papers to be able to put together a card in a hurry and I think the Clipart Fairy kits are excellent for doing just that, so without further ado here are the four cards I made yesterday.

Made using elements from Wedding Bears make me a topper and beyond V3 Pink and Wedding day bears pink Kit. I used the toppers to make apertures in both layers of the card front, cutting away the centre section from each, then made an insert using pearl paper and embossing the page that shows through the window. I Glamour dusted around the openings, brides gown and flourish and added sequin blossoms to her head-dress

Die - Memory Box - Amira Flourish

Embossing Folding - Couture Creations - Venus Crest

Glamour dust - quickie glue pen - 3M spray adhesive

Ribbon, diamanté buckle, gems, flower blossom sequins - Meiflower

For this one I used Make me a topper Kit wedding bears Lilac and a paper from Wedding Day Bears Lilac.

Scalloped Circle dies - Go Kreate

Swirl Die - Marianne Design - swirl circle

Silver ribbon and pearls - Meiflower

This is a tent fold card made using Make me a topper kit Wedding Bears pink and papers from Wedding day bears pink

Punch - Martha Stewart - Deep edge blossom eyelet

Die - Memory Box - Elegant Scrollwork

Sentiment - computer generated- Spellbinders scalloped circle die

Gems, ribbon - Meiflower

The topper is also a mini easel which you can stand up when the card is flat.

My final card was made using the Ready to Print Wedding Bears Easel Card-Lilac, I just printed out the kit first adding my own wording to the editable page and then made up the card.

Border Die - Marianne Craftables - Anja Lace

Ribbon and Gems - Meiflower

In another life I used to do cake decorating and to make a lacy effect on the cake we used to 'take the icing for a walk', which basically means drawing a continuous wiggly line of w's and m's. I decided to do the same thing on her dress using my quickie glue pen and then sprinkling on Glamour dust, I was pleased with the result(left click on the pic and take a closer look, see what you think).

Thanks for stopping by,

hugs,

Colette xx