Blogaversary Candy

This is a sticky post until June 5th

I can't believe my little blog will be 4 years old in June. My first post was on 6 June 2009 and I would like to celebrate by giving away a lovely candy. I deliberated over whether to buy some goodies and then I thought why not let the winner choose their own. So I have chosen this as the prize

Teresa has so many lovely things to choose from in her online shop including stamps, papers, embellishments and a huge selection of Memory Box dies. 

Usual rules apply please.

1 Be a follower of my blog (No candy only blogs)

2 Post a pic and link to my blog in your sidebar

3 Leave a comment below

4 Add your name to Inlinkz below.

Candy will close 5 June 

Graduation

I have scheduled both my posts this weekend as I am at craft fairs both days. I don't normally do two at a weekend but they are two regular ones which I didn't want to miss. 

I have a really simple card today. I bought this graduation outfit years ago before I discovered stamping and thought it was time I used it. The paper is Papermania Ahoy There and I have used the offcuts as borders. I love doing that with striped paper. I found the sentiments in my stash. I made the scroll with a piece of rolled card and a Crafttime tassel. I bought two packs of these, 5 in a pack reduced from £1.99 a pack to 10p in Dunelm Mill. The tassel was much too long so gave it a chop and job done.

I made a new dress

I love easel cards but hate photographing them because of the awkward angle. Here's a pic of the image.

Image and sentiment - LOTV

Medium - Copics

Papers - Papermania Persimmon

Dies - Tim Holtz cotton reel and Memory Box small dress form

Punch - MS border

Other - DI vintage Photo, embroidery thread and glossy accents

Challenges

Penny Black and more at Allsorts Sew Special 

Crafting Musketeers Anything Goes

How many candles?

A simple but effective card today using no image. It's midway reminder time at Crafty Ribbons where our challenge is no designer papers. I do love the effect of embossing folders with sanded Core'dinations and I don't use them enough. This challenge was a great chance to get them out. I have teamed the Stamposaurus sentiment with the gorgeous candles ribbon from Crafty Ribbons. This is lovely ribbon to use around a Birthday cake too.

Challenges

Stamping Sensations Embossing and textures

Where have all the butterflies gone?

The back is gradually getting better, mainly the right side now. Was in quite a lot of pain with it at times yesterday. Finding it takes a lot of time to do anything as bending down and stretching up has to be done slowly. Can't sit still for too long so keep getting up and talking a walk around the house.Thanks for all your lovely comments. I have been managing to leave some comments but still way behind with visiting, sorry.

My poor Penny Blacks have been a bit neglected of late, don't know why because they are so cute. Time to remedy that and here is my midway reminder post for our Kraft It challenge at A Little Bit Crafty.

Image - Penny Black

Medium - Copics

Papers - Docrafts Kraft Notes

Punch - MS border

Dies - Joy birdhouse and butterfly which has been sprayed with spray and sparkle

Challenges

Penny Black Anything Goes 

Forever Friends Anything Goes 

My Mum's Craft Shop Spots or Stripes 

Natalie and Amy Things with wings
Docrafts Stamp
Incy Wincy Animal antics

Howzat

Another painful day yesterday, mainly my back. Hoping it will be a bit better today. Only managed to make this non coloured card yesterday but hoping for more crafting time today. A nice clean simplea card this one.

Image - Delicious Doodles

Papers - Papermania Happy Days

Stars - Woodware punch

Other - Baker's twine

Challenges

Sketch Saturday 

Totally Papercrafts CAS 

That Craft Place Makes for men 

Sketchy Colours Green, orange and white
Allsorts Any Sport

Welcome to my new followers. Sorry if I haven't visited much for the last couple of days but have to keep getting up and moving round and can't spend too much time on the computer at the moment.

Don't forget to enter my candy.

A few of my favourite things

What a drama yesterday, one I could have done without. Got out of car at craft fair, slipped on a small gravel slope, banged head on car. Luckily I had a hat and both hoods on my tops came up. Saw nurse and after a while not too bad so did craft fair. Felt shaky at the end so went to walk in centre. Seen within 3 mins. Delayed reaction but hubby to keep an eye on me. This post was scheduled so will see how I am today to see if I manage any commenting.

A commissioned card today. It's an 8 x 8 card and I had fun playing with dies I have sprayed the birdcage with gold spray and sparkle and used sanded Core'dinations on the top heart banner. I have wanted the La La Land heart banner for ages and finally decided I must have it. I have also used some of my fave rose ribbon, this one is from The Hobby House as I bought it before I joined the Crafty Ribbons DT, the roses are Wild Orchid. Oh and the papers are Marianne Designs, Eline's Huis.

Challenges

Simon Says Things with wings 

A Gem Things with wings 

Divas by Design Anything Goes 

Sister Act Anything Goes 

Crafty Blogger's Network O's and X's (Die cut, flowers, ribbon)

Still plenty of time to enter my £20 voucher candy.

Sweet Peas

I have scheduled this post as I am selling at a craft fair all day today. It's a country fayre too so hoping we will be busy. I loved colouring these gorgeou sweet peas though they were quite a challenge deciding which pieces belonged to which flower. I love sweet peas, gorgeous colours and the smell is divine.

Image - LOTV from the sketch pad

Medium - Copics

Papers - Papermania Henbury Lane

Dies - Joy, Marianne and Memory Box Isabella butterflies.

Other - Seam binding, sanded Core'dinations

Challenges

Whimsy Anything Goes 

Live and Love Crafts 50 shades of lilac 

Papertake Anything Goes

  A Gem Things with wings 

Simon Says Things with wings 

Docrafts Stamp

Motorbikin'

Back again with my second card today, complete contrast to the first. I bought 3 more male digis from Delicious Doodles yesterday and here is the first one I used. It got hubby's seal of approval, he loves the image. I teamed it with Prima Craftsman papers, Spellbinders arrow dies and sanded Core'dinations and a LOTV sentiment. I knew I was doing the right thing buying this set of arrow dies at Ally Pally.

Challenges

Papertake Anything Goes

I just found out I won a £15 voucher from Wild Orchid at the lovely Vicky's blog. Still plenty of time to enter my £20 voucher candy.

More Art Deco

These art deco cards are so popular at craft fairs and even though I prefer using stamped images this decoupage from Docrafts is beautiful. I decided to keep to a black and white combo with just the dress in colour. I've used a Crafty Sentiments heart border, free paper from Scrapbook mag, think it is Prima, Wild Orchid roses and a Prima butterfly.

Challenges

The Paper Shelter Love is in the air 

Charisma Black and white plus one 

 Heck of a challenge Fashion

Pppppppick up a Penguin

It's time for the Snowflake Team's challenge at Winter Wonderland and our challenge is ppppppick up a penguin. I've used this adorable image from LOTV coloured with Copics with lashings of glitter.  I've used a Tim Holtz snowflake on the edge die, MS snowflake punch and some pearls.  The papers are Kaisercraft Dear Santa, ribbon from Crafty Ribbons. Check out the Crafty Ribbons Inspiration Blog here which features my card today. You'll always find lots of different ribbons on view and inspiration from the DT.

We hope you will come along and play this week for a chance to win a £10 voucher for 

Ooh wish I could win. Of course if you enter my candy you could win a £20 voucher to spend there too.

Challenges

Allsorts Add some sparkle 

Sparkles Christmas Favourite Christmas colours (I have a few but red and kraft is definitely one of my favourites) 

ABC M for Make it sparkle

Crafty Creations Something Old, Something New (old ribbon, new on the edge die) 

Papertake Anything Goes 

Docrafts Stamp

Snuggle Time

Time for another challenge at Lili’s Little Fairies and our challenge this week is anything but a card. I made a gift bag for a little one using the gorgeous Snuggle Time stamp. a fairly new release. I thought I would keep the colours neutral so that it could be used for a boy or a girl.

Bag - Hobbycraft

Image - LOTV Snuggle Time

Medium - Copics

Papers - Docrafts Kraft Notes

Dies - Dienamics banner and Spellbinders heart with embossed Core'dinations

Other - DI Tattered Linen, pearl heart from Meiflower, Doily

Challenges

Papertake Anything Goes

Don't forget to enter my candy, see post above.

Mollie

I am always admiring this style of card on people's blogs so I decided to have a go at making one. The image is one of a new vintage range from Pink Gem and they are adorable. Such great images for practicing colouring hair and skin. I'm quite pleased with the hair and face but the arm colouring could be better. The trouble is if I fiddle too much the layers build up and she would end up looking like she had a suntan.

Image - Pink Gem digi Mollie

Medium - Copics

Papers - free with Scrapbook Magazine, think they may be Prima

Dies - Tim Holtz film strip, Memory Box bird and birdcage, Joy butterfly

Flowers - Wild Orchid

Birdcage charm - The Hobby House

Lace and ribbon from stash

Challenges

Wild Orchid 3 or more different flowers 

Simon Says Stamp and Show Inspired by (the card shape is inspired by those I have seen on other blogs) Charisma Shaped cards

Don't forget to enter my candy, see post above.

Fishing boats

I love the sketch effect of this image and normally either leave it black and white or use DI Vintage Photo. This time I used my poor neglected chalks. It must be well over a year since they saw the light of day. I just used them on the sky and sand, cutting a template from the smallest Memory Box cloud for the sky. The papers are the new Papermania Ahoy There. I have added some jute, washi tape, Memory Box clouds and Dienamics anchor and ship's wheel tied with the pieces of jute I removed from the sides.

Challenges

Simon Says Happy Mail 

MAWTT One for the guys
As you like it 

Favourite die (I have so many but these clouds definitely feature amongst my top 10) 

Delicious Doodles Something for the boys 

Crafty Catz Inspired by a song (Boats to Build by Jimmy Buffet)
Card Makin Mamas Washi tape

Simply floral

Quite a simple card from me today for this just because card, well as simple as I get. I've used a digi stamp from Digistamp Boutique printed onto kraft. I love the way these images look so effective on kraft. The papers are Prima Botnaicals, rafiia lace from Quixoric Paperie, flower made with matching paper and Memory Box cherry blosom die and the butterfly is from Prima.

If you like Memory Box dies and these butterflies you should enter my candy as both items are available from My Crafty Heart.

Challenges

Digistamp Boutique Monthly competition 

Simon Says Happy Mail 

Paper Crafting Journey Anything Goes

Crafts 4 Eternity Colour Combo

Flower shop

I've used one the Wild Rose pre coloured toppers for this card teamed with Wild Rose Always and Forever papers. I thought it was a great image for a get well card for my stock. I've used a new Marianne watering can die with kraft and a Mrianne topiary tree with kraft and sanded Core'dinations. A few little flowers and pearls to finish.

Challenges

Crafts and Me Floral frenzy 

Fab n Funky Lots of pink 

Simon Says Happy Mail
Marianne's Design Divas Going girly

We're off out for the day today so hopefully the sun will shine. Enjoy your Sunday and catch you later.

Still plenty of time to enter my £20 voucher candy.

Strawberry and Chocoalte

I'm selling at a coffee, cake and craft morning and as the weather has been so lovely thought I would schedule another of my Stamposaurus samples I made a little while ago using the ice cream van. Such a lovely Summery stamp. I've teamed it with Dovecraft papers and bunting.

I'll be home this afternoon and will be catching up on what's happening. 

Enjoy your Bank Holiday weekend everyone.

Travels with my Scooter

Aren't we having some gorgeous weather this week, let's hope it lasts for the weekend. This little lad wouldn't want to be out in the rain, that's for sure. I love making this style of card and I do love my Sugar Nellies. I was so excited to find I won The Sugar Bowl challenge for April so 4 more sweet stamps coming my way.

Image - Sugar Nellie Scooter Boy

Medium - Copics

Papers - Bo Bunny Etc

Dies - Spellbinders postage stamp, Spellbinders arrows, Dienamics Eiffel Tower

Postmark stamp - Crafty Sentiments from an A5 set

Washi tape - Docrafts All Aboard

Explore ticket - Kaisercraft

Challenges

Kaboodle Doodles Brown and/or tan 

The Sugar Bowl Anything Goes with a Sugar Nellie stamp

Simon says stamp and show Passport to fun 

The Cutie Pie Lots of layers 

Bearly Mine Anything Goes 

Crafty Sentiments B (Boy, brown, blue, Bo Bunny papers)
MAWTT One for the guys
Card Makin Mamas Washi tape

Love Chocolate

It's mid challenge reminder for the Anything Goes With Ribbon challenge at Crafty Ribbons and I've made a simple gift bag this week. The image is a die cut from LOTV, papers First Edition Desert Bloom. MS flower punch, Sizzix die cut corner and heart, MB tiny bow die and fabulous Chocolate themed ribbon from Crafty Ribbons online shop.

It's the first time I have used the tiny bow die, which is a bit of a fiddle to put together as it comes in 3 sections. You have to fold the bow and the middle over and attach the bottom pieces but it is rather cute when made up.

Challenges

Allsorts Anything but a card
Songbird Truly Scrumptious
Creative Craft All about animals

Have you seen my candy post for a £20 voucher?

Little gardener

1st of the month and that means time for a new challenge at  A Little Bit Crafty. Our challenge today is kraft it. Nice and easy of, like me, you love using kraft card.

This is one of the images from the new LOTV sketch pads, isn't he a cutie. He certainly look hard at work.

He was such a joy to colour with Copics of course. The papers are MME Blink of an Eye. I've used a X cut oval die, MS simple scallop border punch, various Memory Box dies, LOTV sentiment and DI Aged Mahogany.

I would like to enter this into the going green challenge at A Gem as not only is there the colour green but he is growing his own vegetables.

Check out my my candy post above for the chance to win a £20 voucher.

Wee Wedding

I have been asked a few times at craft fairs for a 6 x 6 Wedding card, although mostly I sell the 8 x 8 ones. So I thought it was time I made one or two smaller ones. This image is so adorable.

Image - Wee printed die cut

Papers - Wild Rose Always and Forever

Die cuts - Memory Box Precious Hearts and Marianne chandelier

Other - lace, pearl hearts, pearls and DI Vintage Velvet 

Challenges

Creative Creations Weddings 

Cutie Pie Lots of layers 

Divas by Design Inspired by a movie (The Princess Bride)

We had a day out in the City yesterday, shopping and haircuts so hoping to get lots of crafting done today while hubby is at work.

Have you entered my candy yet? I still have some craft items for sale, some have been reduced, check out my craft items for sale page.

Vase of flowers

The last card I made with one of these beautiful images from the LOTV sketch pad sold last week so I wanted to make at least one more before this Saturday's fair. They are so beautiful, though I did find the tiny flowers and stems a bit challenging to colour and found them easier to colour with my glasses off as I am short sighted. Coloured with my Copics, papers are First Edition Dreamcatcher. I've used a Spellbinders floral oval and Cheerly Lynn butterflies with Centura Pearl and pearls so lots of shine and glitter. 

Challenges

Simon Says Anything Goes 

Crafty Catz The colour purple 

Sister Act Anything Goes

Sweet baby hedgie

I bought this sweet Penny Black stamp from one of the Facebook groups recently. I just fell in love with the image and couldn't wait to colour it with my Copics. My collection is growing, just another 44 and I will then have the complete set of Ciaos, despite my saying I wouldn't need them all. Of course there are then all the Sketch markers but I think I will just get a few of those where I need to fill in colour ranges.

Image - Penny Black

Medium - Copics

Dies - Memory Box clouds and party lanterns

Punch - MS cherish border

Papers - Mag freebies

Roses - Wild Orchid

Other - pearl hearts, Core'dinations, DI Weathered Wood, ribbon

Challenges

Friday sketch challenge Great sketch 

Creative Inspirations Ribbons and pearls 

Divas by Design Inspired by a movie (The Cradle Will Fall) 

Simon Says Anything Goes 

The Paper Shelter For the boys 

Stampin' for the weekend Die cuts and/or punches 

Sweet Stampin' Anything but Birthday
Here come the boys Little Boy Blue

Check out my candy post above and craft items for sale page

Butterflies

I am sharing another Stamposaurus sample with you today using one of their new Happy Birthday sentiments. I've have teamed it with some Papermania Henbury Lane paper, Spellbinder floral oval die, Cheery Lane and Marianne butterfly dies, Doohickey fence die and some pearls, Simple but rather pretty.

Challenges

Simon Says Anything Goes 

Dream Valley Things with wings 

Cupcake Monochromatic 

Crafty Sentiments Monochromatic 

Bunny Zoe Favourite colour combo

Have you entered my candy and checked out my craft items for sale page?

Photo Inspiration at Winter Wonderland

Just for a change we have a photo to inspire you for this week's challenge at Winter Wonderland. You will have to hop over to the challenge to see the photo. I have been inspired by the colours, poinsettias and the table decoration. We have a £10 voucher for Crafter's Companion as our prize this week.

Image - Stamposaurus

Medium - Copics

Papers - Kaisercraft Dear Santa

Poinsettias - Prima

Other - gold brads, DI Worn Lipstick

Challenges

Craftyhazelnuts Red and green must be seen
Simon Says Anything Goes

Check out my craft items for sale page and my candy post above.

Picking roses and my exciting news

If you follow m on Facebook you may have seen my post a little while ago saying that I had a exciting e-mail. I can now reveal that I have been asked to join the lovely girls at Lili’s Little Fairies so I am officially a fairy, woohoo. I didn't hesitate to say yes as I love Lili of the Valley images and use them a lot o here is my first DT card. If you love CAS cards you may want to look away now as this card has so much going on it. It's a commissioned card and as it is an 8x8 card I had a lot of scope for embellishing.

Image - LOTV

Corner stamps - found in stash

Papers - Papermania Henbury Lane and First Edition Dreamweaver

Medium - Copics

Wooden embellie - Hobbycraft

Fence - Doohickey die

Tree - Marianne die

Butterfly - Cheery Lynn die

Sentiment - PC generated

Pearl sprays and  Lace -- Wild Orchid

Flowers - ribbon flowers from Meiflower, cabuchon from My Crafty Heart, roses from Michaels

Watering can charm - Ebay

Ribbon and pearls from stash

Challenges

Allsorts Passion for flowers 

Forever Friends Lots of flowers 

Bunny Zoe Favourite colour combo (I love all shades of purple and pink) 

Bizzy Becs Tic tac toe (Diecuts, bling,lace) 

Marianne's Design Divas Going girly 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts Blossoms and bows 

ABC L for lovely lace

Alicia

I love the vintage adorable digis from Sugar Nellie and they are such good practice for colouring with Copics. I have used the heart circle Nestie, Docrafts Kraft Notes, MS border punch, velvet ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, Lucy Cromwell sentiment, tiny buttons and MS flower punch which I had completely forgotten I had. 

Challenges

The Sugar Bowl Anything Goes 

Sparkles Hearts 

Bearly Mine Digi Days 

Souhern Girls Button up

Bicycles

I hope you are enjoying this glorious sunshine in your part of the world. I normally schedule my posts ahead but didn't get a chance yesterday which is why today's card is a bit later than normal.

I have used a Marianne bicycle die and two if my new Spellbinders arrows dies. The papers are MME Dilly Dally. I made the notepaper using a single hole punch and scissors. I added a Stamposaurus sentiment, baker's twine and a bicycle die from eBay.

Challenges

Simon Says Travel 

Crafty Catz This one's for the boys

Another sentiment card

Yes, another Stamposaurus sample. I was given two lovely sets of sentiment. This set also has baby boy and christening. The font is lovely and the words fitted perfectly onto the Memory Box clouds. It's fun sometimes making a card just using dies. The paper is Papermania Henbury Lane and I also used a Marianne corner die and Memory Box precious heart all with sanded Core'dinations. The flowers are Wild Orchid with the excpetion of the large flower which I found in my stash.

Challenges

Stamping Sensations Special Occasions

  Allsorts A Passion for Flowers 

Bearly Mine Spring Flowers 

Crafts 4 Eternity April showers bring May flowers 

Totally Papercrafts Monochromatic

Thinking of you

I'm back with my second post today and  another sample card for Stamposaurus today. I decided to stamp the flower onto kraft and team it with black and white. I tried this colour combo a couple of weeks ago and really liked it. I lifted it with some touches of pink.

Image and sentiment - Stamposaurus

Medium - Sakura Rose Star

Papers - Papermania Liquorice Sherbet

Punch - EK border

Ribbon, flowers and brad from stash

Challenges

Paper Shelter Make it Bloom