Happy New Year : )

Good morning sweet peeps and a very

Happy New Year xx

It’s the first challenge of 2015 over at Papertake Weekly and we have our usual Anything Goes theme this week,
with the option to make a thank you card or gift.

So that’s just what I did : )

I kept it fairly simple because if you have a lot of them to do (hopefully lol), you want something that isn't going to take you hours and hours.

So I used Set 44 - Statements - Just to Say from Lili of The Valley and teamed it with some of the beautimous Pastel Dreams papers.

I made the flower using the Spellbinders Pretty Petals A die set and the centre stamen is from Spellbinders D-Lites Blooms 3.

I topped it off with a little sparkly gem.

I rubbed a Tsukineko glue pad ..

… over the centre strip of paper and covered it with some Glamour Dust.
It look so pretty I think.

Some gorgeous Aqua Dewdrops from The Ribbon Girl.
I LOVE the colour of these.

It matches the walls of my craft room lol.

So that’s my card for today and before I go, I just have to share this with you.

Have you seen the £10 for 10 days offer?

You’ve only got a few days left so nip over and check it all out.

On that bargainous note, I’ll be off.
Have a fabulous day and hugs to all xx

A Little Old Sneaky Peekie

Howdy sweet peeps and long time no see lol.
I hope that everyone is OK

It’s been an eventful few weeks to say the least. We have completely gutted my old craft room and I now have a nice shiny new one – I’ll put some pics on here as soon as I get them done. I hurt my arm in the process but I was always going to do something daft – it’s just how it is with me!!  But who would have thought that carrying a load of wooden planks would hurt so much!!

Anyway we are back in the crafty swing of things now and today I have a little sneakie peekie for you which is also my card for this weeks Papertake Weekly and our theme is

2 or 4 Legs

So ..

… this is what I did (I have used 2 lots of 2 legs lol).

Do you like the  image?
It’s one of the brand new Lili of The Valley release and it’s called Secretly Yours. 
Although it isn't technically a Chrimbly image, I think it could double up as one.

I coloured it with the following Copics -

  Skin – E000, E00, E13, R00, R02 
Hair – E31, E35, E39, E50
The rest – B0000, B000, B00, B02, B05, B93, B95, E30, E31, E33, E34, E35, E39, E42, E50, E81

The papers are Winter Wishes and the sentiment is from SET 75 - Christmas Wishes, both of course from Lili of The Valley.

I covered the punched holly leaves with glitter and added some Holly Berry Red Dewdrops from The Ribbon Girl. 
I love how they look.

The bow is made from 38mm white organza and topped off with a Red Small Polka Dot Spotty Button.

I love her twinkly collar – very glam and Christmassy.

So that's my card done and I will be back soon as soon with some more crafty stuff plus my giveaway for my 1000th post – I haven't forgotten peeps, I m just putting it all together.

Right I better be off cos I have work to do then we are off to check out the new Waitrose – I can feel the diet slipping, nay hurling itself at great speed right out of the window!!!

Have the fabbiest of days and sending nice to be back hugs to all xxx

 

Spotty Dotty Sneakie Peekie :)

Good morning sweet peeps and hope everyone is ok today : )

It’s Papertake Weekly time and this week our theme is

Spots & Dots

and all we want to see is either or included.

So …

… here’s what I did and this is a bit of a sneakie peekie, because I  used one of the brilliant new Lili of The Valley Art Pads which launch on Thursday.

There are 7 new ones and you’ll be spoilt for choice as they are all fabulous.
Not only that,  but the new pads are XL and now feature 60 images instead of 30.
Best news is that they are still the same price but you are getting twice as much for the same price of only £6.00!

I used one of the Christmas Cuties images.
They are soooo sweet and they work beautifully with some of the new paper pads such as Up Up & Away and Pastel Dreams.
And that’s exactly what I did.

The sentiment is from LOTV  Set 75 - Christmas Wishes which will be back in stock any time now – it’s been very popular and I'm not surprised because it has so many sentiments included and in fonts to match every type of card.

I actually started this card when I was up in sunny Newcastle – it was verrry sunny on Saturday and I got a bit sunburnt sitting in the garden having our gorgeous lunch.  I used Andrea’s Martha Stewart punch for the border and stupidly didn't ask her what it is called so I don't know I'm afraid.

But I do know that I used some lovely stuff from The Ribbon Girl shop.
And how thrilled were Anne and I to actually go in and have a private viewing – get us lol!!!.
Talk about kids in a sweet shop!!.

The bow here was made using 25mm Organza Pink/Silver Sparkle Stripe Ribbon – oh my this is beautimous, as is the little Aqua Dewdrop on top of  the snowflake, which I made from a Marianne Design Creatables - Snowflakes Style 1 die set from Dies To Die For.

Pinching the idea from Andrea, I cut a strip of aqua gingham paper and swiped a glue pad along it then dunked it in Glamour Dust – it goes all nice and sparkly and pretty : )

And here’s another snowflake which I layered up.
I die cut the shapes out then covered the smaller one with Cosmic Shimmer glue and soaked it in Glamour Dust.
It dries quite stiff so it’s a bit more robust!!

Bit of a pooey pic is this one, sorry peeps.

So that’s my card for today and if you get a sec, do nip over and check out the challenge peeps – as always, the DT girls have come up trumps with their work and there’s lots of different ideas to inspire you.

I’m counting the days down now to Sunday when my little treasures come back from Spain.
To say that I’ve missed them is an understatement and it’s proved to me yet again that I could never go and live abroad – it would kill me I think not to see them. I’ve ordered their new bunk bed which is arriving next week, and I’m going to redecorate their bedroom in the next day or two. We are going for an aqua and pink them – a bit like my card today, and all the furniture will be white. I’ve got bunting to make and shelves to put up (well I say ‘I’ cos that bit will be his Lordship).  Anyway there’s the biggest hug ever waiting for them when I collect them from the airport = not too long to wait now : )

Have the best day and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Teally-tastic Tilda

Good morning sweet peeps and I hope that you are all having a lovely weekend.

The card I’m sharing with you today is for this month’s Magnolia Only Challenge over at the Ribbon Girl's Challenge Blog and this month we want you to

Add A Die Cut

so it’s very straightforward.

There’s also 2 fabulous prizes - a Magnolia stamp all the way from the home of Edwin and Tilda kindly donated by Magnolia of Sweden and a £10 voucher towards a spending spree at The Ribbon Girl

 

So ……

… this is what I did.

The image is called Swedish Tilda and I coloured her with the following Copics -

Skin – E000, E00, E11, E13, R00, R02
Hair – E31, E35, E39, E50
The rest – BG0000, BG10, BG15, BG49, BV0000, BV01, BV08, BV13, C00, C0, E50

The papers are Timeless Victorian from Lili of The Valley.

Here’s some pics and I’ll list the lovely Ribbon Girl goodies that I used in a tick …

I stamped the LOTV sentiment from the Sentiments to Fit Scroll set onto one of the dies from a Doo Hickey Events Flags set.

I didn't get it quite right now I look at the pic, and why is it that I don’t see these things till they are on here?

Somebody needs to go to Specsavers!!!

The bits and bobs that I used from The Ribbon Girl are  -

38mm Teal Silky Crush,  ribbon
Wooden Heart Buttons
Cheesecloth
Teal Cottage Garden Blooms
Mini Dahlia Vintage Teal Blooms
Darjeeling White Mini Blossom Flowers
Jade Tiny Ric Rac Trim
3mm White Self Adhesive Pearls

So that’s me done for today.

I'm off to get everything ready for the two little visitors that are staying tonight and tomorrow night.
Emma's partner’s aunty has sadly died so they are going to the funeral on Monday which is in Wiltshire and the little darling are staying here. I will probably be shattered by the time they go back and I will have a taste of what Emma has trying to get them organised for school / nursery before  starting work myself. I do not know how you working Mums do it – I take my hat off to to you all.

The diet is going well and I am close to 7lbs.
His Lordship has joined me so it’s quite easy with him being on board. I can already see a slight difference and that is spurring me on. I think you know in your heart / head when it’s the right time and this time was the time for me.

Right I’m off.

I will be back in the week with some Papertakey stuff.

Here’s a sneakie peekie ….

…. it’s not at all my usual style – I don't know what’s going on in my creative head at the mo lol!!

Anyhoos, all will be revealed on Tuesday.

Till then, enjoy the rest of the weekend and don't forget to nip over and see the other DT cardage and projects when you get a sec – they are as fab as fabby could be.

Hugs to all xxx

Not QUITE Mixed Media !!!!

Morning sweet peeps and hope you are all OK today xx

It’s that time of the week when we nip over to the Papertake Weekly blog and see what’s a happening, and this week we have our usual last challenge  of the month

Sketchie Free For All

And of course,  we are sponsored by those fabulous peeps from over the water, the one and only Simon Says Stamp

As our reggies will know, you can use the new sketch or you can use any of the older ones, and that is what I did this week.

So this is sketch #74    ….

. .. and this ….

.. is my card.

It’s an 8x8 card which I am soooo into at the mo, to the point where 6x6s which I’ve always done in the past,  now just look tiny.

This card is actually for someone in my family – I won’t say who because if she sees this she’ll know.
She may guess anyway as she is the only one with a birthday in July but I don't think she reads my blog so I’m probably safe lol!!

Just for a change, I thought I would do a non image card and try and go for a mixed media sort of look.
I so admire people like Gabrielle Pollacco and wish I could produce works of art like she does, and that is what they are.
I've never tried and to be honest, I think I’m a little bit scared.
I keep buying all sorts of things that would look nice but never quite get around to doing it.
One day maybe I will set aside a whole day and just have a fiddle with it all lol!!!

In the meantime, this is a sort of halfway house thingie.

I used one of the brilliant Lili of The Valley sentiment stamps and this one is Set 43 - Statements – Fabulous.
Love love LOVE this set.

In an attempt to be a bit arty farty, I stamped the sentiment straight onto the design paper and the papers I used are Antebellum - the more I use this pad, the more I like it.

A mixture of beautimous seam binding, Chocolate Brown Hemp Twine and a 6mm Round Aurora Acrylic Gem from our Mary & Andrea over at The Ribbon Girl.

Now if you saw the last Create & Craft show then you will know for sure that I really am as blonde as they come sometimes, and not just the hair,  because I made my card the wrong way around : ))))

This one wasn't quite in that league but for the life of me, I cannot understand why I would use pretty lace and then cover it up so you can hardly see it.

Doh!!

But it is verrry pretty lace and I actually used 2 lots,  one on top of the other – Phoebe and Flora, both from The Ribbon Girl

The blooms are a mixture of dies -  Die-namics Rolled Daisy from Dies To Die For and a Sissix one whose name escapes me – and Darjeeling White Mini Blossom Flowers, Floribunda White Roses and Darjeeling Pink Mini Blossom Mixture from The Ribbon Girl

I also gave my Die-namics Chicken Wire an outing as well.

So there you have it – lots of proddies on this and I have to say that I’m quite pleased with how it turned out.
It’s verrry different for me but I think it’s good to take yourself out of your comfort zone occasionally.

Right I’m off.
Enjoy the sun (I’m typing this at 22.17 the day before so I am gonna look pretty darn stoopid if it’s peeing down tomorrow,  but hey ho).]

But whatever the weather, have a fabulous day and huggiest of hugs to all xx

Making A Pig’s Ear Out Of A Silk Purse lol

Morning sweet peeps and I’ve been a bit AWOL of late but hope everybody is OK today : )

It’s time to head on over to see what’s happening with the Papertake Weekly girlies and talking of girlies we have a lovely theme for you this week, cos it’s all about

Lace & Pearls

We are sponsored by our Mary & Andrea from The Ribbon Girl and there’s a fab voucher up for grabs which you can spend on ever fabbier things if you win.

Now, me being me, I thought I’d try something different, but sometimes I really wish I wouldn’t.
I tried to do a card like our Kathy at LOTV does – I just love her work, it’s soooo gorgeous.  And I admire al these lovely, pretty shabby chic cards that I see and I long to make something like that.

But I can’t.

But still I had a go and ……..

.. this is what I did.

It’s more shabby than chic I’m afraid but I am a warts and all crafter so on here it must go.

The beautimous papers are from Lili of The Valley and they are the Timeless Victorian designs.

The sentiment is also from Lili of The Valley and this is one of the  Sentiments to Fit Scroll sentiment that I just LOVE.

 

The paper is made using Sir Tim’s Tattered Florals die set.
I do like making these flowers and I got me a jumbo Tattered Florals set as well but haven't used that one yet. I will do one of these days though : )

All the bits and bobs that I used are from The Ribbon Girl.

The bow is made from Sky Mauve Lilac Seam Binding and the buttons are 20g Bag - Mixed Lilac Purple Theme

 

This beautiful lace is 75mm 'Dawn' Antique White Lace.
Yes, that’s right, Mary named it after me. She names her lace etc after her DT and I was chuffed as mint balls when she told me about this one.

That's the lace bit and there are pearls of course ……

… which you can see better here. 

I added a strip of 20mm Ivory Lace and Pearl Trim just above the buttons. 
I also added a  14mm Acrylic Gem which I’d coloured to the centre of the flower.

Finally I added some flat backed gems and made a swirly pattern out of them.

So that’ me and my shabby chick card for today.
I realised that I’ve got cardage which I haven't blogged so I’ll be back soon as soon with that plus a special card on Thursday which I’m dying to tell you about … but I won’t until then lol.

So what’s been happening here then?

Well, I’m on yet another of me diets – good old Slimming World. 
Having seen myself looking a bit like a dumpy little barrel on C&C, I decided that the blubber has to go. They say that the camera adds 10lbs (or something like that) but I look the same in the mirror here  where there’s  not a  camera  in sight, so I am deluded to think that that ‘s the reason. And hugest of thanks btw to everybody who tuned in. We had a great show and Deano was so funny doing his demo. He is doing that a lot of late – maybe we should get them all to have a go, what do you think?  I’ve done loads with the new kits so I will try and share these makes with you. The more I used those kits, the more I found to do with them – they are awesome.

We are getting a load of ‘housey’ jobs sorted because we are probably going to move house – it’s wayyy too big for us now -  so we’ve been painting, gardening, tidying, binning stuff etc, like you do.  And it’s also been that time of the year when we have our baby chicks to look after. We only lost 2 this year which is good but still very sad. It is inevitable that some will not survive but it upsets me so much and I will never ever get immune to it.

Thea was 2 at the end of May and we had a lovely part for her which she enjoyed.
She got a bit embarrassed when we all sang Happy Birthday but in a pleased sort of way –she is sooo cute. She is doing the potty training thing at the mo and she keeps asking us all if we have pooed!!! It’s fine in the house but we get some funny looks when she says it outside!!

Right, that’s enough waffle from moi. I’ll get off and leave you in peace.

Have a great day, whatever you’re doing, and I’ll see you soon as soon.

Hugs to all xxx

A Rare Thing!!

Morning peeps and hope you are all OK today : )

I’ve another sneakie peekie to share today but this one is a bit different because it’s actually a card I made for somebody!!
Usually my cards aren't made for a real person but this one was for a very sweet real person and  I’m pleased to report that she did indeed like it

And …

… here it is.

This is another Lili of The Valley birthday fairy and this one is called Time Flies.

As always, I gave her the Copics treatment and these are the colours I used -

Skin – E000, E00, E11, E13, R00, R02
Hair – E31, E33, E34, E35, E39
The rest – B0000, B00, C00, C0, C3, C4, C5, C7, C9, C10, G99, RV0000, RV000, RV10, RV34, RV69, Y0000, Y00,  Y02, Y21, Y28, YG0000, YG00, YG03, YG95

I added loads of Glamour Dust around the image again – I LOVE how it brings the colours to life.

The papers here are from the Bonnets & Bowties paper pad and also the Bonnets & Bowties Solids.
I can’t stop using these solid papers -  they match perfectly the patterned papers so they are fab for matting and layering but also for making embellies such as flowers etc.  

Another Sentiments to Fit Scroll sentiment.
I think this font is awesome – it looks handwritten but really neat.
If I hand wrote anything, nobody would be able to read it – my writing is shocking!!

Almost as bad as my grammar lol!!

It wouldn’t be one of me cards without a little bit of prettiness from The Ribbon Girl would it.

The double bow was made from Siam Pink Seam Binding and the sweet Pearls look lovely in the centre of the flowers.
Oh. byw, the dies I used to make the flowers are Spellbinders Bloom Three – I keep forgetting to mention that, doh!!

 

I think you are liking these little fairies as much as the DT are and I wonder which one is going to be the fave.
Not long now till they go on sale so hopefully by then you will have loads of ideas and lots of inspiration.

They are going on sale on 10th May which is our 10th birthday. I simply cannot wait – I am so excited I cannot tell you. I will get to meet our Dena at long last and also our Mary too. And it will be lovely to catch up with the rest of the girls as well as customers and friends old and new : )

So there I am all done for today. 

I’ll be back with another sneakie peekie soon as soon so until then, enjoy your day and huggiest of hugs to all xx

I’m Getting Married In The Morning.

Morning chicksies and hope all is well today.

I’m not really getting married (perish the thought and if my Richard saw that title he would indeed break out into a cold sweat, bless him), but  I just thought I’d share …..

… this lovely pic with you.

I don’t normally put commissions and mag work on here but I was so thrilled with this lovely layout that I thought I’d make an exception.

It’s taken from this month’s Cardmaking & Papercraft mag (my absolute fave) for a wedding feature I did …

… and I even made the front cover so very happy days indeedy, wooohoooo!!

I used one of the new Wedding Stationery Stamp Sets from Lili of The Valley and this one is ‘Handwritten’. I tell you peeps, if you are making your own wedding stationery or if you  do this for other peeps, then you really should have a think about using these sets.

There’s everything included from ‘Save The  Date’ right through to Thank You and it all coordinates beautifully.
Plus there are 5 different styles to choose from, so there’s something there for every taste.

The papers are all from the Always & Forever paper pad they are so pretty and they were perfect for this feature

I’ve made wedding stationery in the past and I wish these sets had been around then.  Anyway I just wanted to share with you – hope you like them. If you get a chance as well, try and get a copy of the mag because there are hints and tips in there for you which I hope will help (as well as loads of fab cardage and makes)

If you are stuck for ideas, don't forget that there’s a Lili of The Valley Pinterest Board especially for these fabulous sets so loads of inspiration on there. And there’s also the Ideas To Inspire Blog – the link will take you to all the wedding stuff.

Thanks for stopping by today and I’ll see you soon as soon.

Have a fab day and huggiest of hugs to all xxx