Vroom

And this is the last card from the LOTV action time art sheet. I used the Ech Park dots and stripes papers again and a Fiskars tag punch. I love using spotted and striped papers. They create great patterns and are favourites of mine to use on Christmas cards too. I have seen very dew Christmas papers for sale so far this year and those that I have seen are very uninspiring. If you have found any nice bright Christmas papers do let me know.

Seeing Stars

I love coming up with different designs for felt decorations and Pinterest is a great source of inspiration. I saw some felt stars on there and thought I could make some of those. I like to take the ideas I see and devise my own individual makes. I recently bought these cute snowmen buttons on Ebay and thought they were perfect to add to the stars. I used an Xcut die set. The red and blue ones have glittered felt and the green one has some Christmas holly material added to the plain felt. 

Challenges

ABC Christmas S is for snow 

Lili of the Valley

In case you haven't seen the news Lili of the Valley will not be selling digis after the end of the month. The EU regulations on selling digis have become much stricter and have made it very difficult to sell digis to other countries without calculating individual countries' taxes. So the good news is that they have some incredible offers on digis until the end of the month. The bad news is no more digis after that date. Of course this means no more Digistamp Boutique images which have only just moved to LOTV. So if you want any of those get them before the end of the month.

The other good news is that they will be going back to selling rubber stamps and printed paper pads. I love their papers and am very excited about them coming back. They will also be selling more of their precoloured art sheets which are great quality.

They hope to set up an Etsy shop to sell a smaller range of digis as Etsy will deal with the tax implications. 

It is such a shame that bureaucracy spoils things for small businesses. 

Up the stairs

This is the last of my LOTV art sheet images from the furry friends sheet. I teamed it with a LOTV sentiment, MFT hearts and stripes papers and flowers from Wild Orchid. The stitched square die is from The Works. These are bigger than many of the more expensive die sets and cut beautifully.

Cheers!

Our new challenge at A Gem of a Challenge is one for the ladies. I used this fun precoloured digi with Lilybee Victoria Park papers. The sentiment is Little Claire. I added the ribbon and then couldn't decide how to decorate it. I don't often have a blank like that, usually the card comes together easily. However as soon as I decided on diecut flowers and used various paper scraps I was happy with the result. I used some Gerbera dies from Printable Heaven and inked the edges, added diecut leaves using a Britannia die and some pearls.

Hanging around

Another LOTV art sheet card today. This one is from the action time sheet. Although they are precoloured I added some clouds using chalk and a MFT mini cloud stencil. The papers are Echo Park dots and stripes. I created the pattern just using scraps from the pad and a Fiskars tag punch. The sentiment is LOTV everyday grungy.

Snow Bunny

I made this card for Crafts Beautiful which is published today. I used one of the cute new LOTV images and coloured it with Copics. The papers are digi ones from LOTV and the sentiment is also LOTV. I used MFT wonky stitched oval and Winter tree dies and a Joy snowflake die. I also added my favourite fun flock to the snow.

Challenges

ABC Christmas S is for snow

Swing Kitty

I love these new art sheets from Lili of the Valley. This is another from the furry friends sheet.  I have had so many samples to make using precoloured images but I will get some colouring done again soon.

I used MFT hearts and stripes paper, MFT wonky stitched oval and scalloped stitched edge dies. The sentiment is LOTV, ribbon from The Range and flowers from Wild Orchid.

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl anything goes 

Creative Inspirations anything goes 

Crafteezee anything goes

Love Heart

I recently bought this large freestanding heart from Craft Heaven and decided to go with a shabby chic look. It would make a lovely Wedding or Anniversary present. I made it Sunday and put it out for sale yesterday. It was the second item I sold and we then went on to sell lots more items including some Christmas ones. In fact I had my best sales since Dec 2016. A tiring day but worthwhile and we always meet some lovely people. A day at the hospital makes you realise how lucky you are. 

The heart was painted with Rustoleum chalk paint. I coloured some cheesecloth with vintage photo distress ink, diecut a heart from patterned hessian and stamped the Inkylicious sentiment using brown ink on kraft. After assembling these I added ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, lace, flowers from Wild Orchid and I am Roses, small wooden hearts from Hobbycraft, a Prima butterfly and some burlap butterflies. I coloured the large wooden butterfly with a Zig wood marker and then a white Wink of Stella brush pen.

Challenges

Simon Says stamp on it 

Crafteezee anything goes 

As you like it favourite non-card make (This was difficult as I love scrapbooking and sewing as well as making shabby chic plaques. I love using different textures on a plaque to create a keepsake.) 

Stamping Sensations Something beginning with B (butterflies, burlap, brown, beige)

The Ribbon Girl anything goes

Let it Snow

This is my favourtite of the new DSB Word Art images. No surprise there as this one has a snowman. Being precoloured they do make quicker cards. I used my fave Bo Bunny Altitude papers, Crafter's Companion icicle die and MS snowflake punches. All it needed to finish were pearls and Stickles.

Challenges

Creative Inspirations anything goes 

ABC Christmas S is for snow 

The Ribbon Girl anything goes 

Christmas with the cuties cute snowmen

Out early today to trade at the hospital. The shop is packed with so much this time as I have put all my Christmas cards and decorations out. I have spread them around the other things but next month will have a Christmas display with them all together I think.

Joy

Another of the new DSB precoloured Word Art images released tomorrow at LOTV. I added some sparkle to this one using a sparjkle brush pen on the pudding and adding Stickles to the icing. The papers are Bo Bunny Altitude. I used MFT wonky stitched rectangle and Memory Box holly border dies adding some tiny red pearls.

Challenges

ABC Christmas T is for teal 

The Ribbon Girl anything goes

It is the last powerboat racing day today and as it starts at noon hubby set off at 8 this morning. The rescue team are meeting up for breakfast and then they will be launching the boats and setting out the course. He will be home by 8 so I will be spending the day alone, mainly crafting.

Keepy uppy

Another of the new LOTV art sheets today. This is another from the action time sheet. I used a Go Kreate die to create the card and image shapes and added MME chalk paper.  I kept the layout simple adding some football ribbon and punched stars.

We are at the hospital shop on Monday so will be going to set it up with my stock this morning.

Jingle all the way

Well it has been a few days since I posted a Christmas card but as DSB are launching some new Christmas images and sentiments on Monday at LOTV I have three to share with you over the next few days. I used one of the precoloured Word Art images. The papers are some of my faves Bo Bunny Altitude. I love the mix of aqua, teal and purple. I used an old MS snowflake border punch and my latest Christmas die. Isn't that a cute die at the top. It came from The Works and cuts beautifully. I added some bells to match the sentiment. They have very small holes so were quite difficult to thread but I'm glad I did as they finish the bunting off nicely.

Challenges

Creative Inspirations anything goes 

ABC Christmas T is for teal

Giddy Up

I have the second of my LOTV furry friend art sheet cards to share today. This is such a cute image. I used a MFT wonky stitched rectangle die, Echo Park dots and stripes papers, corner rounder punch and a LOTV sentiment. I love using spots and stripes to create layers on a card.

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl anything goes
Creative Inspirations anything goes

We are off to my Mum's today to do some cleaning jobs for her (the parts she can't reach) and then we will all go out for lunch.

Autumn loves Autumn

I love Stamping Bella and have been longing for the opportunity to use this stamp Autumn loves Autumn. A friend's September Birthday was the perfect chance. It was one of the hardest images I have ever coloured as some of the pieces are so small. It looked so much better in real life than it photographed. It even looks like I didn't ground her but there is shading all around the image.  I have coloured her with Copics and added some doodling. The papers are Liliybee Autumn Spice. I used Lawn Fawn stitched leaf dies and Little Claire sentiment stamps. 

Challenges

Crafteezee anything goes 

The Ribbon Girl anything goes 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts feminine

Stamping Sensations I spy something beginning with B (brown, Birthday)

On my bike

This is another of the new art sheets from LOTV. This image is from the action time sheet. I love the sketchy look of this cute image. I used a Go Kreate frilly squares die to create the card shape. The paper is MME all things chalk, sentiment is LOTV. I created the banner using a MFT banner die and punched some stars in it for a change.

Vintage new home card

We had a good day yesterday, the weather was gorgeous, the breakfast was yummy, went all round the garage sale, didn’t buy much but we walked 13000 steps. You may have seen the new home card I was asked to make which was on my blog last Friday. This is the card I made to send to the couple. As a complete contrast to the other card I went for a vintage style. The paper is Crafter's Companion vintage Wedding and I added some scrim from B&Q. The sentiment is Inkylicious. I used an old Tim Holtz on the edge townscape die I haven;t used for ages. I diecut it from kraft and coloured one house with Copics.  The sold sign is a Stamposaurus stamp and I added some green burlap and wooden flowers.  I would like to enter the anything goes challenge at Simon Says.

Another busy week ahead, how did I have time to go to work! Looking forward to a facial and back massage this afternoon.

Kite flying

Have you seen the new art sheets from Lili of the Valley? They are printed on lovely quality card and are only £1 each and each sheet contains 4 images so they are excellent value too. I was asked to make some cards with them and have several to share with you. This is one of the furry friends. I diecut an aperture in the paper which is Echo Park dots and stripes. I used a corner rounder punch, a kite from a pack I bought in America, some pearls and a LOTV everyday grungy sentiment stamp.

Anything goes Challenges at

Simon Says 

Crafteezee 

The Ribbon Girl

We are going out for breakfast today, trying a new place which has opened on the recreational field about 20 minutes walk away and then we are walking round the estate as they are having a charity garage sale. We found a few bargains last year and it is good exercise too.

Hedgie Anniversary

Time for a new challenge at A Gem of a Challenge and our theme is Wedding/Anniversary/Engagement. There are so many cute couple images to choose from but I decide to go for these cute hedgies. I used the precoloured image and teamed it with Jen Hadfield everyday papers. I added a white heart doily, some wooden hearts from Hobbycraft and some red roses from Wild Orchid. The sentiment is from LOTV.  I would like to enter the anything goes challenge at Simon Says.

New home, new cat

Well An Officer and a Gentleman was absolutely fantastic yesterday, one of the best shows we have ever seen on stage, and we have seen a lot. It was full of 80’s power ballads and we came out with St Elmo’s Fire singng in our heads. Isn't this an idyllic Summer scene. My friend asked me to make a card for her daughter and family who moved house yesterday. They are going to get a cat so I was asked to include it on the card. Mind you when the 5 year old son was asked what colour cat he would like he said a blue one!  The image is one of the digi printables from LOTV, papers are Jen Hadfield everyday. I bought this from a friend who is having a craft room clearout. Of course I needed more papers!  The sentiment is from LOTV and I added some Hobby House flowers and a Bo Bunny border.  This image is also available as a printed art sheet from LOTV. I would like to enter the Summer challenge at Crafteezee and anything goes at Simon Says.

Waiting for Santa

I can't keep up with all the cute new digis and toppers from Pink Gem but when I saw this one I just had to use it straight away.  This is one of the printables which come with extra layers for decoupaging.  I wanted to keep my card flat for posting so I just used the main image. I searched through my papers as I wanted the backing paper to match his hat and finally found this sheet in an old Crafter's Companion Scruffy Little Cat pad.  The sentiment comes with the image. I diecut a 5 part tree sing an Elizabeh Crafts die and added a layered snowflakes using MFT dies.  I don't know if the white glitter card I used for the tree and snowflake shows very well but it makes a lovely sparkly card.

I would like to enter the holidays challenge at Crafteezee and the anything goes challenge at Simon Says.

We are of to Ipswich today to see the matinee performance of a new musical An Officer and a Gentleman. It is at selected theatres before heading to the West End. I hope the lead actor is as handsome as Richard Gere. 

Dream Baby

This is the second baby card I made for Papercraft Inspirations where I was asked to create rainbow baby cards. I made a soft rainbow sky using chalks. The sweet image is from a Stampin'Up set. The papers are Bo Bunny Damask and I paper pieced the moon. I used 3 different star punches from Hobbycraft, some ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, pearl hearts and a MFT banner die.

More Hobby House

I seem to have a little phase on certain images and so today I have another Hobby House topper for you. These are always coloured so beautifully.  I have used First Edition Merry Little Christmas papers from last year.  I love these papers. So far this year I have only bought one small pack of Christmas papers from Hobbycraft. There don't seem to be many out yet and those that are out are not very inspiring. I shall continue using those I have and I love using non Christmas papers from Christmas cards too. The tree was cut from white glitter card using a Dee's die which comes n 5 sections (not to self, must use this one more often). I added a LOTV sentiment and a wooden snowflake coloured with a white Wink of Stella pen.  I would like to add this to the holidays challenge at Creative Inspirations and the cutest snowmen at Christmas with the cuties.

I had a good day yesterday, getting several cards and a couple of small plaques made but no scrapbook layout. I also spent some time on a jigsaw we started on Sunday and read my book. I do love a good thriller and am currently reading The Widow by Fiona Barton which is very good.

Summer fun

I really am trying to work my way through my toppers. I still have plenty more to keep me going for quite some time. This one is from The Hobby House. I used some old LOTV papers again, Up, Up and Away. They are so useful for 7x7 cards like this one. The sentiment stamp is from Little Claire. I used MFT stitched sun and cloud dies.

Challenges

Creative Inspirations holidays 

Crafteezee Summer

Hubby is out for the day today as the Powerboat Club are part of the Lions Gala Day. That means a crafting day and I am planning to get a lot made including some Copic colouring and hopefully a scrapbook layout.

Wheeeeeee!

I have used one of the old LOTV art pads for my card today and also some old LOTV papers Snow Princess. You can still buy them as digi papers from Nitwits. Now I did something I am sure you have all done at least once, diecut one of the papers, placed it behind the image, added more diecuts and almost completely covered the diecut edge of the paper! I used a Lawn Fawn border die, Joy tree and Memory Box stitched snowflake dies. The sentiment is one of the new ones from LOTV.

We are going out for breakfast this morning and a walk. It is supposed to rain this afternoon so maybe a movie and start a new jigsaw this afternoon. Looking forward to the new drama, Bodyguard tonight.

More vintage

I enjoyed making the last vintage card so much that I decided to make another using a different Inkylicious stamp. The backing paper is from Crafter's Companion vintage Wedding pad. I distressed all the edges and used a new Cuttlebug embossing folder I bought from somebody on Facebook. I embossed Core'dinations and sanded it back. The ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons. I used clear Spectrum Noie sparkle brush pen on the wooden stars and added twine to the cardboard buttons which I found in my stash.

Challenges

Dies R Us You're a star

Love penguins

I treated myself to a Mama Elephant stamp set which I have wanted for ages as it has dinky penguins and snowmen. I used three of the stamps for my card, coloured with Copics. The backing paper is a digi one from LOTV. I kept it simple using CC designs heart banner and a Die-versions sentiment die.

Must do some housework this morning then into the City for lunch and a haircut for hubby.

Baby at the fair

This is one of two cards I was commissioned to make for Papercraft Inspirations. The theme was rainbow baby cards and I was asked to use a Hunkydory stamp set with Bo Bunny papers. I coloured all the images with Copics, used MFT pierced banner and stitched scallop border and stitched cloud dies. The sentiment is from Stamposaurus. 

Challenges

Penny Black and more at Allsorts I spy something beginning with B (baby card, bear, balloons, bow, blue, brown, big wheel)

Happy Birthday to my Mum today.

Vase of flowers

Complete change of plan yesterday. There was a fun run where my Mum lives, the town was cordoned off until 10 so she couldn’t get the bus. By the time she rang it was too late for us to go and collect her and do what we had planned for the day so we have rearranged for her Birthday tomorrow. We went to a vintage and collecter’s street fair instead which was good. So on today’s card. The lovely image is from one of the LOTV art pads. Although they are no longer available they have some lovely art sheets which are great for those who don't like digis. Very useful being precoloured of course. I used a stitched square die from The Works. The papers are Teresa Collins paper stories. I used a Doohickey lace border die, one of my favourites yet not used for a while. The butterflies were diecut with a mag freebie, hardly used for some reason.  The sentiment is from Pink Gem.

Challenges

Crafteezee Summer 

The paper Shelter punches and dies 

Crafty Calendar dots and/or stripes

Reach for the moon

I made this card to give to one of the neighbour's daughter as she achieved 3 A* grades at A level and is going to Cambridge to study. She has worked very hard for it and I wanted to congratulate her. The sentiment is from Inkylicious. The papers are MME lime twist and I used three different Hobbycraft star punches and put them through the crimper.

Challenges

Simon Says back to school

Crafty Calendar dots and/or stripes

We are taking my Mum out today as it is her Birthday on Tuesday but she preferred to go out today. I can't say where we are going as she will read this like she does every morning and it is a surprise.