Bethlehem

This is one of 2 new Bethlehem stamps available from Stamposaurus. They were originally cross stitch designs and have been made into stamps. When I first received the stamps to make samples I thought they were quite a challenge to colour but they look stunning when finished. The photo really doesn't do it justice.

Image - Stamposaurus

Medium - Copics and Sakura pens

Papers - First Edition Gilded Winter

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Marianne poinsettias

Challenges

It's all about the Vintage Town/city 

Simon Says Anything goes
Allsorts Early Christmas makes
Craftyhazelnut People matter

There are 2 new large sentiment stamps just released as well and I will be showing a sample of one of those on September 4th. In the meantime look out for candy coming soon.

Sledging with Daddy

I have so many Christmas cards scheduled for the week ahead with the various samples I have been making but I made this card last night so I am back with a second post today. Please scroll up for my Pink Gem DT card. I was lucky enough to win this cute stamp on the LOTV daily candy.

Image - LOTV Sledging with Daddy

Medium - Copics

Sentiment stamp - Inkylicious Papers - Crafter's Companion Vintage Christmas

Die - Doohickey slender firs sprayed with silver Spray and Sparkle

Punch - Woodware holly, MS holly border

Other - ribbon, Stickles, pearls, pearl pen

Challenges

Winter Wonderland Gingham or checks 

Lili of the Valley Christmas 

Allsorts Early Christmas makes 

Di's Digis All about animals 

Brown Sugar Anything goes

Up the City

Our challenge this week at A Gem of a Challenge is It's Summer Time. Clearly the challenge was chosen before the weather changed to give us a chilly and wet Bank Holiday Monday. I chose to use Footballer Boy to make a card for my stock with Norwich City colours.

Image - Pink Gem

Medium - Copics

Papers - Papermania Happy Days

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Setiment - Craftwork Cards

Football die - Sizzix with some old football card

Cup - old diecut from stash

Challenges

Bizzy Becs Anything goes 

Crafty Blogger's Network Summer fun

 Vintage Stamping Summer days

Divas by Design Happy Birthday

We are meeting some friends at Frankie and Benny's tonight for a meal, not been there for ages. Day at home tomorrow I think as we have been out a lot this week. Enjoy your weekend.

Penguin Hugs

Well I promised you some gorgeous new stamps were coming from Little Claire for Christmas cards and here is the first release, Penguin Hugs. I love this one and can see me using it for some Christmas cards. I made a couple of small fairly simple cards. Both coloured with Copics with Stickles for the fur on the hats.

I die cut this one with a Marianne die and used DI Worn Lipstick, Spellbinders curved die and some baker's twine. More new Little Claire Christmas stamps coming soon.

Challenges

Craftyhazelnut Merry and bright
Penny's Christmas
Simon Says Anything goes
Deep Ocean Something sweet

We are off out again today, going to visit Lynsey and her daughter Grace. Looking forward to hearing all about her holiday, visiting a new craft shop and lunch out.

Is that loud enough?

Over at Crafty Ribbons we are celebrating Crafty Ribbon's Birthday so all of the DT are playing along with inspiration. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning a fabulous prize from one of ours sponsors, Bugaboo, Stamping Boutique or Treasured Times is to enter a Birthday creation including ribbon. Craft Ribbons will also be offering prizes for the top 3 and there will be guest designer spots too, so lots of chances to win.

Image - Penny Black you make me bop

Medium - Copics

Papers - LOTV Country Gent

Die - MB virtuoso music

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Thanks to all those of you who left me such encouraging comments yesterday, I do appreciate it.

Challenges

Let's Craft and Create Anything goes
Crafting Musketeers 1,2,3 (1 image, 2 hedgehogs, 3 papers)
  TTCD Anything goes
Fussy and Fancy Pets or favourite animals (I love the Penny Black hedgehogs)
Divas by Design Happy Birthday
Simon says Anything goes

Hello Little Robin

Regular readers, for which I thank you, will know how much I love Sugar Nellie stamps from Funky Kits. They were one of the first companies I ever bought stamps from and I have added to that collection many many times since then. I love the Sugar Bowl monthly challenge and was sad to see it disappear but it is coming back, hooray, and with a DT call. So this is my entry for the DT call. I would absolutely love to join their DT so fingers crossed. Is my card good enough, I don't know, but nothing ventured nothing gained. If I am unsuccessful well I shall have the pleasure of playing along with the challenge again every month.

Image - Sugar Nellie Hello Little Robin (rubber)

Medium - Copics

Papers - Crafter's Companion Vintage Christmas

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Simon Says Kate snowflake, Doohickey slender firs

Other - doily, pearl pen, Stickles

Challenges

A Creative Romance Fantasy

Completely Christmas Anything goes 

Craftyhazelnut Merry and bright 

In the pink Fairies and elves 

Crafty Cardmakers Fantasy 

Inky Chicks Fairies or angels 

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' Gifts galore

Sunny Garden

Well as I scheduled this yesterday afternoon it was raining and had been all morning but I live in hopes of more sunny warm days to come this Summer. So a lovely bright card to cheer anyone's day.

Image - Penny Black

Medium - Copics

Papers - K&Co Hopscotch

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Sizzix

Flower punches - EK Success and Xcut

Other - pearls

Challenges

Bunny Zoe Summer colours 

Natalie and Amy Diecuts and flowers 

Penny Black Floral fantasy 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts Anything goes 

Crafty Blogger's Network Summer Fun 

Vintage Stamping Summer Days 

Divas by Design Pretty pearls 

Allsorts Bright. sunshiny colours

I had a very productive afternoon and evening yesterday. Off to the coast this afternoon and then we have tickets to see The Simon and Garfunkel Story at the theatre. I have always been a huge fan of theirs and this is supposed to be an excellent show.

I have noticed that whilst the number of comments is staying around the same the number of visits is going up. For one recent post I had 93 views but only 31 comments. If you are visiting please leave a comment as I love to read them. Thank you xx

Pink Gem and washi tape

Three clean and simple cards today, all using Pink Gem pre coloured images and washi tape. These are 5x5 cards and I need these to be quicker cards to make. I have lots of washi tape and rarely use it but as I am loving trying various cas techniques decided to have a play with it and I really love how these turned out. The sentiment is an old LOTV stamp. All these images are also available as black and white outlines to colour yourself which I normally do.

Challenges

Penny's Christmas, children or critters (I managed all 3) 

My Mum's Craft Shop CAS

Hubby is off for most of the day and evening volunteering. He drives a rescue boat at the powerboat racing at Oulton Broad and today is a big day there with a fete and fireworks later. So a crafting day for me after a lovely day off yesterday. Both doing some of the things we love today. Enjoy your day.

Snowy scene

The Christmas cards are coming along nicely, still loads more to make though. I love stamping on kraft with white ink, so effective and quicker than heat embossing too. 

Image - Woodware

Medium - Copics

Papers - various oddments

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Other - burlap, Stickles, pearls

Challenges

Divas by Design Pretty pearls 

Penny's Christmas, children or critters 

Fan-tastic Tuesday Anything goes 

Simon Says Monday Anything goes 

CCAYR Sparkle and shine

Taking a day off today, no jobs at home, no crafting. Planning a day out starting at a vintage market and then on to the coast.

Silver Wedding

This 8x8 card was made for an order for 3 girls to give to their parents. I had previously made a white on white card for their Mum, a friend of mine, and she loved it so I kept to white on white with just silver numbers. I hate trying to get a good picture of wow cards as they never come out looking as good as in real life. I used Centura pearl card and the background was made with an A4 embossing folder from Crafter's Companion. Dies used are Memory Box birdcage, Impression Obsession lovebirds and Doohickey butterfly. I added some gems and Wild Orchid rose along with some rose ribbon from Crafty Ribbons.

From a very elegant outside to a fun inside as the 3 daughters all love many types of dancing including ballet. The two left images are All Dressed Up and the one on the right is Little Miss Muffet.

Challenges

We do Doobadoo Shabby chic

Natalie and Amy Diecuts and flowers

Crafting for all seasons Monochrome 

Charisma Wedding Anniversary

Papertake To Die For

Scrapology Use dies as a focal point

Magazine project - Postcards

My latest project to be published online for Cradmaking and Papercraft has jost been published. You can find it here so please pop over and take a look.  The first postcard features a photo from Key West and the second a gorgeous silhouette stamp from Little Claire. You can find all the products listed on the CM&PC page. I have never made postcards before but I will be using these for scrapbook pages.

Well all I bought in The Range yesterday was a pack of red card as I am getting through a lot of red and green card making Christmas cards. Mum loved her card and her present. I had a couple of emails, one with a magazine commission for 5 cards and another from Stamposaurus for whom I make cards to launch their new stamps. 4 new stamps coming out so that is 8 cards to make for the lovely Jayne. Crafty Ribbons also have some new Christmas ribbons on their way to the DT so samples needed of those for their stand at upcoming shows. With lots of craft fairs Sep-Dec to say I am busy is an understatement. Good job I love it.

Thanks so much for all your visits, I always appreciate all your lovely comments. I will have some new candy coming very soon for one or maybe two lovely followers.

Stitched with love

Today is my Mum's Birthday and this is the card I made for her. When we were young my Mum made a lot of our clothes and I know this image will amuse her.

Image - Crafter's Companion Makey Bakey Mice Stitched with Love

Medium - Copics

Papers - Country lady LOTV and Marianne Designs Eline's Huis

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Sizzix scissors, reel and needle, MB dress form, Die-Versions sewing machine

I distressed all the edges with DI Vintage Photo and TH distress tool and added some faux cross stitching to the image and thread round the cotton reel and through the needle.

Challenges

Let's Craft and Create Ribbon or twine 

Live and Love Crafts Stitching 

ALBC Sew what 

Stamping Sensations Anything goes 

We Do Doobadoo Shabby chic 

Papertake To die for

Simon Says Stamp Monday Anything goes

Popping into The Range today on my way to see my Mum for her Birthday.

Christmas gifts

Yesterday I spent most of the day crafting and this is one of the cards I made. I have been making a lot of simple 5" cards too so that I can have a range of priced cards for sale. Most of them won't be on my blog as they are fairly simple cards. In amongst making the quicker smaller ones I took time out and made this one, my more usual style,  hand coloured 6"x 6" card.

Image - Pink Gem Angelica with gifts

Mediu - Copics and sakura blue star and clear star pens

Papers - Nitwits Woodland Wishes

Seam binding and ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Wooden snowflake painted with white acrylic paint and heat embossed with shabby blue frantage

Pearls

Challenges

Completely Christmas Sketch 

Winter Wonderland Anything Christmas 

TTCD Anything goes

  Sweet Stampin' Christmas in August 

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' Gifts galore 

Sparkles Christmas Snowflakes

Day off today. Facial and massage followed by lunch with a friend so catch you later.

Just a flower for you

I was lucky enough t win 2 of Lee Holland's gorgeous digis and this is one of them, so cute. I am mega busy making cards for stock and have just finished the last of my Little Claire samples. Making this was a change from Christmas cards.

Image - Lee Holland elephant with flower

Medium - Copics

Papers - Forever Friends Kraft Notes

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Punch - MS border

Circle Die - Spellbinders

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Other - flowers, button and bow from stash

Challenges

Sketch Saturday 

Simon Says Summer 

Charisma Buttons and bows 

Delightful 1,2, punch 

In the pink Anything goes 

Bunny Zoe Summer colours

Text 4 U

I loved colouring this digi from Sugar Nellie. I used cool grey Copics and tried to give him a really shaggy look. The papers are almost the last of my MME Blink of an Eye pack. I wanted to keep the layout simple to keep the emphasis on the image so just added 4U from my scrapbook letters, some baker's twine and card candi.

Challenges

Sugar Nellie Use a new furry friends digi

Bizzy Becs Anything goes

  Let's Craft and Create Ribbon or twine 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts Anything goes 

Stamping Sensations Anything goes 

Without Words Use a previous challenge (Cute and fluffy July 2014)

Wedding Carriage

Another Wedding card today but using one of the now discontinued LOTV diecut toppers. A beautiful image which I have just enhanced with a little sparkle on the flowers with my Wink of Stella brush. The paper is from an old Forever Friends pad and the ribbon from the last new release at Crafty Ribbons. I added a doily, some wooden hearts and flowers.

Challenges

Crafty Sentiments Anything goes 

Fan-tastic Tuesday Anything goes 

Crafty Calendar Anything goes
Simon Says Summer
Brown Sugar Anything goes

Garden scene

This month at Little Claire we are challenging you to create a man's Birthday card.As always we have a fabulous prize on offer for you. 

Ten free Dinky stamps of your choice (worth £15)

I went for a distressed look, inking and roughing up the edges and sanding the Core'dinations. I just love these Autumnal shade.

Image - Little Claire The Office

Medium - Copics

Paper - K&Co Hopscotch

Dies - Memory Box dragonfly, snail and tools, Joanna Sheen Signature plant pots

Sentiment - Little Claire

Other - green burlap, DI Vintage Photo

Challenges

Simon Says Monday Scratched up 

That Craft Place Autumn

Southern Girls Texture

Cute Friends

I was lucky enough to win some digis from Di's Digis and I couldn't resist this one. I am not entirely happy with this card, not the fault of the image at all. Still I can't love every card I make.

Image - Di's Digis

Medium - Copics

Papers - Crafter's Companion Vintage Christmas

Snowflakes - Joy

Other - stickles, pearl pen, cabuchons bought on Facebook

Challenges

ABC Christmas P is for penguins 

Craftyhazelnut Fur and/or feather 

CCAYR Sparkle and shine 

Sparkles Christmas Snowflakes

Had my best ever sales yesterday so am going to be really busy making more stock. One lady bought a card and then spotted my Making Cards article proudly displayed on my stall and said she thought she had recognised me from somewhere and it was from the magazine as she had bought it. Fame at last!

Special Day

These cards made with the Inkylicious sentiments are very popular and I do love making them. I have used a different Spellbinders label die for a change from floral ovals which is my favourite. The papers are some old Wild Rose Always and Forever. The border die is a Martha Stewart one. I used some chipboard hearts from Simon Says and added flowers and bow from Wild Orchid, lace from stash.

Challenges

The Paper Shelter Punches and dies 

In the Pink Anything goes (pink) 

TTCD Anything goes 

Allsorts All sentimental 

Bunny Zoe Summer colours 

Country View Word Play

Some of you will know I sell at a craft fair at the hospital 4 times a year. They also have a sop unit opposite the outpatient's reception and they rent it out to crafters. I am excited to be there today with 2 friends as I couldn't fill it on my own and it would be too expensive as well. One sells textiles and the other painted ceramics so we will be offering a good variety of products. An early start for me so I will link up and catch up this evening.

All decorated for Christmas

Well not sure poor James is very happy about being decorated rather than them being on a tree. Cracking on now with the Christmas cards and busy making samples which I can't share with you yet but all I will say is there will be some gorgeous new Christmas stamps from Little Claire out soon.

Image - Lili of the Valley

Medium - Copics

Papers - First Edition Vintage Noel

Punches - Woodware and Hobbycraft stars

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Suede strips and crimper - the Works

Challenges

Lili of the Valley Christmas in August 

Sketch Saturday 

Completely Christmas Anything goes 

Winter Wonderland Anything goes 

Craftyhazelnut Fur and/or feather 

Graph'it Fur 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts Anything goes

Sent from above

Another baby card for my stock today. I actually got this digi from Pollycraft and I am delighted to see it is now available at Little Miss Muffet.

Image - Sent from above (Pollycraft, now Little Miss Muffet)

Medium - Copics

Papers and sentiment - First Edition It's a Boy

Die - Memory box

Other - seam binding, wink of stella brush on the star

Challenges

Little Miss Muffet Baby, baby 

Simon Says Make it sparkle 

The Squirrel and the Fox Anything goes 

Crafting from the heart Anything goes
Brown Sugar Use a banner

I am having my hair cut this morning, just a trim and need to do some shopping so will catch you later.

2015!

Working on building up my stock for craft fairs and decided it was time to make some calendars. Last year I made some wall hanging ones like my plaques and I may make some more of those but I decided to try some easel ones first. The pretty image is from an art pad by LOTV. The dark paper is a freebie from Making Cards and the lilac paper is from an old Henbru Lane pack by Papermania. I used an MS border punch and some Anita's ribbon. The wooden bird and butterfly have been coloured with DI Dusty Concorde.

Challenges

Bearly Mine Anything Goes 

Bizzy Becs Anything Goes 

Crafty Calendar Anything goes 

Let's Craft and Create Ribbon or twine 

Papertake Anything goes

Prepared for Rain

After all that lovely weather I am prepared for the rain with wellies and umbrella! I paper pieced the Little Claire dinkie stamp with oddments, main papers are MME. The clouds and umbrella were made with MB dies. The gauze paper I used for the clouds is DCWV.  I added glossy accents to the umbrella top and under the wellies. I found the cute little umbrella punch in a shop in the Cotswolds when we were there rectnly and used it to punch ut a border. The beauty of using a punch on symmetrical paper is that you can get the pattern even. Finished off with DI Weathered Wood around the die cut image and some turquoise pearl pen dots.

Challenges

The Shabby Tea Room Rainbows and raindrops 

Bearly Mine Anything goes
Papertake Anything goes

I've been published!

Yes, here are my first cards for Making Cards magazine using the adorable Josh and Andy from Pink Gem. It seems to strange to see my cards published in a magazine but very exciting too. 

Images - Pink Gem

Medium - Copics

Sentiment - LOTV

Papers - Nitwits Country Gent from LOTV

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - TH on the edge stars, MB clouds and kites, Impression Obsessions puppy

Embossing folder - Darice

Other - Letraset fineliner for faux stitching

Challenges for both

A Creative Romance Fun in the Sun 

Crafty Catz Lazy days of Summer 

Sister Act Anything goes 

The Paper Shelter Make it digital 

Delightful Anything goes 

The Crafty Blogger's network Summer Fun

Out for a meal with friends tonight at a recently reopened restaurant with new owners, heard it is good, so fingers crossed. Enjoy your weekend.

Tea for two

I made this card for a friend's daughter. Her favourite colour is blue which makes a change from pink or purple, most little girl's choice. Quite a simple layout but I love how it turned out. I do love spots and stripes on cards, clothes and furnishings.

Image - LOTV pre-coloured topper

Papers - various

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Butterfly - Memory Box die and pearls

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Challenges

Papertake Anything goes

  Dream ValleyFavourite colour combination (I have several and blue and brown is one of them)

James and a Snowman

First Thursday of the month means another challenge at Crafty Little Fairies where our challenge is cute and cuddly. Yes it's the lovely James again and another Christmas card, They really are my favourite cards to make. 

Image - Lili of the Valley

Medium - Copics

Papers - Dovecraft 'Tis the Season

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Spellbinders curved borders, Dee's trees

Other - Stickles, Wink of Stella brush on the snowman and trees

Challenges

Winter Wonderland Anything goes

  LOTV Christmas in August
CCAYR Sparkle and shine
Completely Christmas Anything goes
Allsorts Favourite things (James, Copics, Christmas, sparkle, ribbon, dies)
Papertake Anything goes
Simon Says Make it sparkle

This will be my last DT make as a fairy as I have decided to step down. I have enjoyed my time there but now that Squirrel is stepping down as Co-ordinator I feel now is the time for me to leave too.

New Furry Friends stamp

This is one of a new range of stamps from Sugar Nellie available at Funky Kits. These are digi images and they are all gorgeous. They are drawn by a freelance artist and I am sure you will recognise the dog and the cat when you see them. I chose just 3 of the 9 images as I have so many new stamps to use and I couldn't wait to colour one up. I tried a different technique with the colouring for a change.

Image - Sugar Nellie Furry Friends Picket Post

Medium - Copics

Papers - MME Blink of an Eye

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Dies - Sizzix corner, All Occasions birds, Spellbinders flutter tree ( a new die, bit fiddly to add extra butterflies as they are so tiny but I love the result)

Challenges

Sugar Nellie 

Crafting from the heart Anything goes 

Papertake Anything goes 

Crafty Sentiments Add a sentiment 

Bizzy Becs Anything goes
Allsorts Favourite things (Sugar Nellie, teddies, Copics, dies)

Jaffa the Giraffe

Meet Jaffa the very cute giraffe, another of the new digis at Pink Gem which you can find here. So cute for a baby or a child's Birthday.

Image - Pink Gem Jaffa Giraffe

Medium - Copics

Papers - Docraft Kraft Notes

Punches - MS star border, Woodware and Hobbycraft stars

Die - Memory Box baby

Other - lace, ribbon, pearls and pearl pen

Challenges

Sweet Stampin' Bingo (lace, ribbon, pearls) 

Di's Digis Lace and pearls 

Sketch Saturday 

In the pink Animal antics

  Let's Craft and Create Ribbon or twine

Deepest Sympathy

Sympathy cards should be fairly simple and elegant I feel. Sadly I need to keep a few in stock and this is one I just made for stock. The paper is from the Santoro pack, image and sentiment are both Inkylicious.  I bought a new set of 3 sympathy sentiments at Summer Crafting as I thought the font was lovely. The butterflies are Memory Box with added pearls. I simply inked arund the edges of the image and sentiment.

Challenges

Simon Says Anything goes 

Aud Sentiments Thinking of you type sentiment
Stamping Sensations Anything goes

Yesterday's car boot went really well, we took £107 which was more than we hoped for so that has been put away to help pay for a short break we are having next month. Eeeeeeek was going to write September and then realised that is next month.

I wasn't going to do any craft fairs this month but an opportunity has come up to share a shop space within the hospital next Thursday. As the hospital fairs are my best fairs and this space is opposite outpatient's reception which is always busy I had to take the opportunity so busy, busy, busy as always.

Angelica

As promised yesterday here I am with one of the many new digis released in July. This is Angelica and you can find her here.

Medium - Copics

Papers - First Edition Rose Garden

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Xcut oval, Spellbinders curved border

Punch - MS Cosmos

Other - card candi, pearls, chipboard heart from Simon Says

Challenges

Papertake sketch 92 

Simon Says Anything goes 

Divas by design Anything goes 

Crafty Sentiments Anything goes 

Fan-tastic Tuesday Anything goes 

Natalie and Amy Diecuts and flowers

Chocolate, coffee and cards Polka dots

Up early this morning to sell at a car boot so will link up and catch up this afternoon. Enjoy your day.

Merry Christmas

We are looking for your embossed creations this fortnight at A Gem of a Challenge and as always you can win 2 digis of your choice. There are some gorgeous new images in the shop and I will be sharing one with you tomorrow. But for today I have used one of the older images.

Image - Pink Gem digi Merry Christmas Chloe

Medium - Copics and Sakura clear star on the snowflake in her hair

Papers - Dovecraft Krafty Christmas

Embossing folder - Crafter's Companion

Snowflake and poinsettia Dies - Marianne Designs

Other - card candi, wooden snowflake coloured with DI Vintage Photo

Challenges

Simon says Anything goes 

Creative Card Crew Christmas

That way for adventure

Here am I with my second post for today. I featured a camper van card on my blog a little while ago and sold it at my last fair so thought I had better make at least one more. I bought the tattered lace diecuts from somebody on Facebook. I bought various colours and this one was a brighter green than I expected so I used DI Evergreen Bough on it to tone it down a little. The paper is First Edition Man Made, Curiousity Corner doily, green burlap, K&Co arrow and words from Tim Holtz chitchat.

Challenges

Simon Says Monday J is for (Journey) 

Sister Act Anything goes

Sunflowers

First of the month means a new club set from Little Claire and this month the stamps are all sunflowers. Lovely cheery stamps and I have made a really Summery card. One of the first dies I bought was the Siizix Bigz daisy set and I have hardly used it for a long time. It was perfect to use with Core'dinations and brads to make sunflowers to match the image which has been coloured with Copics, The lovely sentiment is also part of the stamp set. The papers are MME Sky's The Limit, border was made with a MS punch and the butterfly is Prima.

Challenges

Simon Says Anything goes 

TTCD Anything goes
Graph'it Hot colours