Thursday, 30 December 2010

PDCC #62, Card Patterns #96

Hi fellow bloggers, hope the Christmas season has been good to you this year! The snow has melted around these parts, but it's grey and dull and a bit drizzly, not great, but at least we can get out and about!

Look what Santa brought me this year! How lucky am I? Loads of Spellbinders dies, and my most wanted Waltzingmouse Stamps! What can I say, except that I have been a VERY good girl this year LOL!!



So I set to, and had a little play........ but my mojo has taken a little Christmas stroll, too much turkey and Christmas pud, lol! So after a few attempts, and a little rest (ie a big sulk!) I came up with a thank you card for two challenges, Card Patterns and The Play Date Cafe.

Here is the Card Patterns Sketch:


And here is the colour inspiration from The Play Date Cafe:


And here is my take:



Using a white linen card base, I have stamped the lace border from Faux Fun in Victorian Velvet Distress ink. Then using some kraft card, have cut a decorative circle using a Nellie Snellen die cut. The scalloped circle is a Papermania paper, cut with Spellbinders Small Scalloped circles, and topped with a sentiment from Waltzingmouse Fancy Phrases and Victorian Fripperie.



I have inked around the kraft circle in Rosebud ink and added flat backed pearls from Kaisercraft. Finally finished off with some jute twine and pink bakers twine from The Ribbon Girl. Added a couple of clear gems to the top corners, I do love a bit of bling!

Thanks for looking, and Happy New Year to you all!

Pauline xx

Monday, 27 December 2010

Stylish Blogger Award

Oooh, I had a lovely surprise yesterday from Clare Buswell, over on Clare's Creations. She has given me my very first award!! Thank you so much Clare! It was a lovely little extra christmas gift, and made me smile.




By accepting this award I have to:


1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award. Thanks Clare!
2. Share 8 things about yourself
3. Pass it on to 8 bloggers
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their award

So now I have to think of 8 things about me!

1. I am addicted to coffee, in particular Costa coffee with their lemon cake, it's yummy!

2. I love reading, and for christmas my lovely hubby bought me a Kindle, (haven't looked at the
instructions yet!) in the hope I will stop buying books and stop cluttering up the house! He is
mistaken. I love Tintin books, and read them with my children, I just can't see how this type
of book will transfer to a gadget. We will see....

3. I am ashamed to say that I am a bit of a technophobe, whilst my hubby is the master of all
things electronic. I have only been blogging since the early part of this year, and I really
needed his help to get things going.

4. I love cooking, but hate the washing up afterwards! That's what lovely hubbys are for!

5. I was born in London, and moved to Thatcham near Newbury 14 years ago. Everytime I
go back to London it feels like going home, I miss it.

6. I am a big Kate Bush fan. There, I have said it! My family find it quite irritating that I play
her music all the time. I love her music, and her last album is very soothing, I usually have
it on in the background whilst I make a card. She needs to make a new album, if only for the
sanity of my family!

7. I like to watch documentaries on all periods of history, I find the past, and how people lived
fascinating. One of my favourite programmes is Time Team, I love Tony Robinson in this he is
so enthusiastic, but he will be known forever in my mind as 'Baldrick' from Blackadder, one
of my most favourite comedies EVER! He has a cunning plan m'lud!

8. I have 3 wonderful and inspiring children, who never cease to amaze me with their love,
sense of fun and take on life. My 10 year old has the next 100 years planned out! We will all
apparently have flying cars by then!

So, I managed to find 8 things about me, I hope I haven't bored you!

Now here's the fun bit! 8 lovely ladies I like to visit on a very regular basis, pop by their inspiring blogs, you won't be disappointed!

1. Julie's Inkspot

2. Diaries of a Craftaholic and Demented Housewife

3. Ruby 2 Shoes

4. Flower Sparkle

5. Glitter Me Silly

6. The Peddlar's Gallery

7. Helen Berry Design

8. A Delightful Waste of Time

Well, that was difficult, so many inspiring blogs to choose from! Hope everyone is enjoying the on-going festivities, I have my in-laws coming today.

Happy New Year everyone!

Pauline xx

Thursday, 23 December 2010

WMSC #28, CR84FN8

Hi all, hope everyone is ready for the Christmas festivities? I braved the supermarket today, it was manic, but I made it there and back! Phew, now I can start to relax and enjoy the season!

I have a card today for a couple of great challenges, Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge and CR84FN at Mona Pendleton's blog Cupcakes's Creations.

Here is the WMSC sketch:
And here is the colour inspiration from CR84FN8:



And here is my take:



I have used a white linen card base, and made a topper using matt silver card from a christmas stack by Papermania. The pink gingham and floral papers are also by Papermania, cut to look like and envelope, and edged with some Victorian Velvet distress ink. I still have not perfected the art of making the sponging look soft and dreamy like everyone else, but I guess I'll have to practice a bit more!

Added some cream daisy lace ribbon by Dovecraft over the join.



Using the lacy circle from WMS Faux Fun Circles, stamped and silver embossed twice onto some kraft card, and cut out the middle from one, and cut the other using Nestabilities Small Scalloped Circles. Stamped the sentiment from Peace and Plenty in Tuxedo Black on the cut out, and popped it onto the other circle with some foam dots.


Wrapped some pink baker's twine from The Ribbon Girl around the silver topper, tied a bow and added a punched out butterfly.


Added some gems and stickles to the butterfly for some shine, would have added some more, but I restrained myself!


Finally distressed around the edge of the scalloped circle with Pink Petunia chalk ink, layered it all together and voila! A pretty thank-you card for a girly girl!

Thanks for looking and Merry Christmas!

Pauline xx

Thursday, 16 December 2010

Hi all, today I have a card for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge. I have been a bit M.I.A the last few weeks due to the Christmas frenzy and pesky things like house work!

I was determined to play along this week, so here is the sketch:



And here is my take, I have flipped the sketch upside down.



I have gold embossed the star image from the Season's of Love stamp set, and the same with the sentiment, the middle of which has been stamped twice and cut and layered up for a bit of height. At the top of the star are two buttons layered together and tied with some jute string from The Ribbon Girl.


The backing papers are from Wild Rose Studio's Christmas paper stack, the card base is kraft card, and the star is stamped onto some red coredinations paper. The red twill ribbon is from Marks and Spencer, and all the gems are from WH Smith. Around the edges of the card and the topper I have distressed using Victorian Velvet Distress ink.


I am also entering this into:

Bunny Zoe's challenge.

Fab n Funky Challenge



Short and sweet tonight, got some wrapping to do!

Pauline xx

Thursday, 2 December 2010

WMCS #25 and a few other challenges

Hi all, today I have a card made for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge, and a few others too. I've made this christmas card for my middle daughter, she's a very girly girl, so it had to be pink!

Here is the sketch:


And here is my card:



I've gold embossed the little gingerbread girl from Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy, and popped her onto a label from Holiday Labels 14 stamped in Victorian Velvet Distress ink.


Using Versamark Ink, I stamped the background flourish from Very Vintage Labels 10, the little snowflake from Compliments of the Season, and the little star from Oven Fresh..Joy.

Stamped the sentiment circle, gingerbread man and star again from Oven Fresh in Victorian Velvet and cut using Nesties Scalloped Circles sml.
Added a lot of gems, (my daughter loves the bling!) some ribbon and a little bow, distressed around the edges of the card in Victorian Velvet, and the edge of the scalloped circle in Pink Petunia. Finally added a little gingerbread man stamped in Rich Cocoa and added some glossy accents to him.

I'm now feeling very sweet!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Die Cut dreams

The Creative Cottage

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge



Thanks for stopping by

Pauline x

Friday, 26 November 2010

A Christmas Creation for a few Challenges

Hi all, today I have a simple door hanger for my son - I made a matching set for my daughter with a card (see THIS post) so I'm in the process of making matching card for this too, then I have one more set to make in pink for my youngest daughter, who is a girly girl!

I have used a kraft card base, and stamped a Martha Stewart background in Danube Blue through the middle of the hanger. At every large crossing I've overstamped in white chalk ink the little framed snowflake from WMS Very Vintage Christmas.



The little gingerbread man is also from Waltzingmouse Stamps Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy stamp set, clear embossed onto some tan bazzill, and I've given him some blue boots and mittens using Promarkers. From the same set, have stamped in Ladybug Red the little candy cane.

The frame is from WMS Holiday Labels 14, stamped in Danube Blue onto some cream linen card.

The sentiment circle is also from the same set stamped in Danube Blue. The ribbon underneath is from John Lewis. Finally added some little blue rhinestones for a bit of glitz!

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Challenge

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge

Fab n Funky Challenge

Secret Crafter

Die Cut Dreams

Our Creative Corner


Thanks for stopping by

Pauline xx

Sunday, 21 November 2010

WMSC #24, JUGS #60

Hi everyone, this is my second post for today, and it's for a couple of challenges. Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge, and Just Us Girls.

Here is the WMSC sketch:


And here is the colour inspiration from Just Us Girls Challenge:



And here is my take:


Using a white linen card base, I've layered some red bazzill card with some beautiful Webster's Pages DP.


Then placed a strip of red chiffon down the middle of the panel, and threaded some beads onto some thin white chiffon ribbon. Attached this under a Fancy Tag cut with Spellbinders Fancy Tags, and stamped with a tag from Waltzingmouse Stamps Fancy Phrases in Pearlescent Poppy ink.

Added the sentiment from Very Vintage Christmas in Memento Tuxedo Black.



Finally tied some chiffon ribbon around the top of the threaded beads, and added some yellow pearls to the tag.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.


Pauline xx

Cupcake's Creations - CR84FN5

Hi everyone, I'm very excited today to be the Guest Designer for this week's CR84FN challenge over on Mona Pendleton's blog Cupcake's Creations. Mona's work is truly inspiring, and if you haven't paid her a visit, pop over there now and join in the fun.

The colours are based on this gorgeous picture:


And here is my take:


I have made a Christmas card and matching door hanger for my eldest daughter using the colours red, tan and brown. I had such fun making these, the colours just speak 'Christmas' to me.


For the card I have used a white linen base, and layered some red bazzill paper with some ribbed kraft card. The kraft card was stamped with Antique Linen Distress Ink using a Martha Stewart dotty background stamp. Then randomly stamped stars in Lady bug Red using the little star shape from Waltzingmouse Stamps set Compliments of the Season.



Then using WMS Holiday Labels 14 stamped and embossed in red the spotty frame.

The little gingerbread man from WMS Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy is clear embossed onto some tan bazzill paper, and his hands and feet are coloured using Promarkers. Gave him a little chocolate lollipop stamped in Walnut Distress Ink.

The sentiment was made with two sentiments from the Frame It set from WMS, added a red flourish from Very Vintage Christmas, and cut using Nestabilities Ovals Small.

Finally layered some red grosgrain ribbon over the kraft card and added a red spotty grosgrain bow to the top, and added the labels and the tiny gems to the stars.



The door hanger was made in the same way. The template for the hanger was from a shop bought hanger - I just traced and cut!



I have layered the gingerbread man onto a red fabric flower cut in half and added some gems to the centres.

Thanks for stopping by today, I have so enjoyed my first spot as a guest designer, I hope you enjoyed it too! I can't wait to see all your creations, so what are you waiting for?!

Have a great weekend

Pauline xx


Saturday, 20 November 2010

PDCC #56


Hi all, today I have a card that really challenged me! It's for the Play Date Cafe, and the colours are based on the photo below:




A gorgeous picture of fresh bright colours, but I struggled! I made 3 attempts at this, and this is my final effort - I'm still not completely happy with it,but it's growing on me!


Apologies for the terrible picture, it's another grey wet miserable day here, the light is awful, and I'm not a great photographer!

Anyway, enough of the moaning and groaning, I have used the little snowman from Waltzingmouse Stamps set Sewing Box Christmas. He is stamped in Memento London Fog ink, and coloured with Promarkers.

The red panel he is mounted on is stamped with the snowflake image from Season's of Love in Versamark ink and edged with a Martha Stewart punch.


Then wrapped some red and green bakers twine from The Ribbon Girl, around a kraft panel, and mounted them onto a piece of ivory linen card edged with Turquoise Blue chalk ink.

Then stamped a label from Holiday Labels 14 in Ladybug Red ink, and added the sentiment from two different sentiments in WMS Frame It stamp set.

Went round all the edges with some white chalk ink and added lots of gems!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend!

Pauline xx

Flashback Friday 5.0

Hi all, today I have a card that I posted way back in March, on my little baby steps of blogging!

Over on Amy Tsuruta's blog, she has a challenge to re-post a project using a new to you technique. Well, much of it is still new to me, but this was my very first Shadowbox Card, the tutorial for which I found over on Splitcoast Stampers courtesy of Dawn Griffiths.


The stamp set used was Say it With Style from Waltzingmouse Stamps, all the flowers and leaves were stamped, cut and layered, and I used Nestabilities Labels 1, also my first Spellbinders set!



Looking back on it now, there are a few things I would have done differently, but hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Pauline xx

Wednesday, 17 November 2010

WMS Blog Waltz



Hello fellow waltzers, here's my entry for the Christmas themed Blog Waltz, hope you are all enjoying a merry dance through the lovely creations!


I've used Waltzingmouse Stamps Seasons of Love for the beautiful heart image, and embossed it in gold, then layered up onto a scalloped heart cut with Nestabilities and dry embossed with a script embossing plate from Cuttlebug.

Layered some red grosgrain ribbon and some pretty daisy lace over some beautiful vintage lace, and added some red pearls to the upper corneres. Have added a ruby red brad to the top of the labe and the sentiment is from the same stamp set.

Happy waltzing everyone!

Pauline xx

WMSC #23, CR84FN4

Hi all, today I have a card for a couple of challenges, Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge, and Mona Pendleton's new challenge blog CR84FN #4.

This is the WMSC sketch:

And here is the colour inspiration from CR84FN:


And here is my take:


I love these colours, they make for a lovely feminine feel to a card, and I'm very happy with the result!

I have used a white linen card base, and some kraft card to layer up. I have stamped the border from Victorian Frippery in Distress ink Milled Lavender and cut around the bottom to make a frill.



For the label, I've used Memento London Fog to stamp one of the labels from Holiday Labels 14,
and mounte dthis onto some purple glitter card. Stamped the sentiment from Fancy Phrases in a purple ink I've had for ages, but has no name on it!



Wrapped some dark purple cord around the panel and added a heart shaped pearl and leaf pin.

Finished off with some gems and a bit of purple distressing around the edge of the card and a little triangle of glitter card in the corner.

Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Pauline xx

Friday, 12 November 2010

PDCC #55

Hi all, today I have a card for the Play Date Cafe Challenge, which is based on this pic:



I must confess, that I found this one a trifle tricky, but I persevered, and this is the result:


I can't seem to put the kraft card down lol! Layered up some V & A patterned paper onto some burgundy bazzill, and cut some labels using Nestabilities Labels 10. Stamped the dotted border on the larger label with WMS Very Vintage Labels 10. Used a black jelly roll pen to dot the smaller label.


Stamped the tree from WMS Sewing Box Christmas and the little baubles were stamped in Memento inks Danube Blue, Lady bug Red and Rosebud. The star was stamped in Distress ink Spiced Marmalade. Stamped all these little baubles several times, and stamped the star and pot twice and popped them onto the tree with some foam dots.



Added the sentiment and the snowflake before adding Glossy accents to the baubles, star and pot.

Finally added some pink ribbon and some of the fluffy ribbon (which I think came from one of my children's magazines!), and assembled.

Not too sure about this one, I feel it needs a little something - it may get some gems on before the day is out!!

I am entering this into the following challenges:

The PlayDate Cafe

Crafty Anns Challenge Blog

The ABC Challenge

Fab n Funky Challenges

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Pauline xx