Birthday candy

  

 This post will remain at the top until 31 October. 

To enter my candy please click on my Birthday candy page above.

Cover girl!

Have you got your copy of the new Little Claire magazine yet? I was delighted to find my card made with the accompanying stamp on the front cover. Here it is in more detail.

Lovely to have a taste of Spring which is a long way off. The image has been coloured with Copics and I added fun flock to his tail. The papers are all from Little Claire and I added some faux stitching with a fineliner pen. The prim poppy is a Memory Box die and the grass is a CC die.

Up early this morning to set up a stall at an indoor car boot sale. It makes a change from selling my cards and gifts. Hopefully we will get rid of some stuff from the loft. Set up is from 8.30 and it runs from 10-12 so back home this afternoon.

I would like to enter this into the challenge ar Creative Inspirations, inspired by nature and anything goes at Simon Says.

Last day to enter my candy.

Glass of bubbly

Our new challenge at Crafty Ribbons is snowman. I still have lots of digis I have won and never used and this sweet image is one of them, from Di's Digis. Coloured with Copics with fun flock added for the fur. The papers are Dovecraft twelve days of Christmas, MS cherish border punch, ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, hearts all from Hobbycraft.

Challenges

Simon Says anything goes 

Penny's anything goes 

Simon Says Monday Throwback (Dec 2014 holiday card) 

Crafting from the heart anything goes

Candy ends tomorrow.

Delivering presents

New challenge day at The Sugar Bowl and it is anything goes with an image from Funky Kits, home of Sugar Nellie.  We also have a DT call running so if you love Sugar Nellie and can commit to making one project a month and commenting on some numbers head over and enter.

Image - Sugar Nellie on the wings of love

Medium - Copics, Wink of Stella clear pen on her wings, Sakura clear star pen on the bells

Embossing folder - Embossalicious with sanded Core'dinations

Other - wooden reindeer from Hobbycraft, wooden poinsettia, ribbon, baker's twine, Stickles, pearl pen, DI worn velvet, fun flock and bells

Challenges

Simon Says Monday Throwback (Dec 2014 holiday card) 

Penny's anything goes 

In the Pink magical;

Simon Says anything goes 

Winter Wonderland jingle bells 

The Cutie Pie Pretty in pink 

Sparkles Christmas Distress it

I am out today, morning coffee, facial and massage, trip to The Range, lunch and then visit my Mum.

Just a couple of days left to enter my candy.

Scotties for Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine

Now that a new issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine is out I can share the cards I made for last month's issue. I had to create a sketch and make three cards using the Little Claire Scottie stamps. The papers are First Edition Vintage Noel. For this one I used a wooden snowflake, ribbon from Crafty Ribbons and a Memory Box banner die.

This one has baker's twine and a snowflake charm along with MS punched snowflakes and pearls.

For this one I used three different MS snowflakes punches.

I would like to enter the three cards into the following challenges.

Simon Says Monday Throwback (Dec 2014 holiday card)

Crafting from the heart Anything goes 

Bizzy Becs anthing goes

I am super busy at the moment. A lady phoned yesterday as she bought some cards and a gift from me at the hospital shop and picked up my business card. She ordered some special Christmas cards and two gifts. I also had two magazine commissions come in this week and need more stock for Christmas fairs. Must do some ironing this morning then a crafting day for me.

Banners and jingle bells

I have been pinning a few cards on Pinterest lately which don't include stamping and I had an idea to make this card based on a few different ones I had pinned. I used a poinsettia embosing folder, wrapped it with baker's twine and added the bells. The banners were made with a pierced MFt fishtail die and scraps of paper and I used TH word dies. I really like the effect and think I may try out a few variations on this.

Challenges

Winter Wonderland Jingle bells 

Simon Says all wrapped up 

CCAYR no stamping 

Country View add some texture 

Whimsy Christmas
Simon Says Monday Throwback (Dec 2014 holiday card)

Still a few days left to enter my candy.

Happy 2016

I have been waiting for these fabulous new ribbons to be launched at Crafty Ribbons so that I can share this card I made as a sample for them. You can find the New Year ribbons here. 

Image - Pink Gem Flapper Emma

Medium - Copics

Papers - Craftwork Cards Venetian

Dies - Spellbinders labels and Venetian sets, Doohickey feathers

Other - doily, enamel dots

Still time to enter my candy.

Simply tweet

Little Claire have just launched a set of three dinkie stamps which can be used together or on their own as I have done here. I really love the bright colours of this dinkie card using paper from Little Claire and ribbon from The Ribbon Girl. I coloured the image with Copics and just added some pearls.

This one is a little bigger made with the smallest of the Go Kreate large frilly square 10 dies. Again coloured with Copics and chalk for the sky. I used some of the Little Claire quilt paper and lace from Crafty Ribbons.

Challenges

Papertake all about the base 

Bizzy Becs anything goes

Think we will be staying home most of the day today, popping out this morning though then paperwork to do and shall be fitting in some crafting too before a lovely home cooked roast tonight, Enjoy your Sunday.

Little Devil

Our challenge today at A Gem of a Challenge is too cute to spook. I do love cute Halloween images but I only sell the occasional Halloween card so this is probably the only one I shall make. I sold 29 Christmas cards at the last two craft fairs so I am busy making more of those and I still need to make more to send myself.

Image - Devil Josh (precoloured)

Papers - oddments 

Dies - MFT drippy goo border

Punch - Martha Stewart zigzag border

Diecuts - spider and web diecuts bought on Facebook, pumpkin and leaves from Michaels

Challenges

Crafty Calendar Halloween 

Noor! Design UK Halloween/Autumn 

Deep Ocean Halloween 

Die Cuttin' Divas picture inspiration 

The Paper Shelter Trick or treat

Di's Digis include a pumpkin

One of my regular craft fairs today so hope people will be buying lots, Christmas is approaching.
Still time to enter my candy, see candy page.

Time flies

My second inspiration card for October and another Birthday card for a friend who also loves LOTV.

Image - LOTV time flies

Medium - Copics

Papers - LOTV Dress Shoppe

Lace - Crafty Ribbons

Punch - Marta Stewart fern

Flowers - Wild Orchid

Sentiment - Pink Gem

Other - Wink of Stella clear on wings

Challenges

Sparkles pearls and lace 

The Ribbon Girl pastels
Penny's anything goes
The Cutie Pie pretty in pink

Have you entered my candy yet?

I wish I had this stamp

When I first started entering challenges I won a challenge and was sent some stamped images of this fabulous Santa. I have tried to find the wooden stamp, which has been discontinued but it is available as a clear stamp as part of a set but I can't remember who makes it. I almost bought the wooden one for 50p from somebody at a craft fair as she said she had it at home and didn't use it as didn't know what to do with it. She liked a card I had made so much I inspired her to keep it, damn! Update - Thanks to Jackie for telling me the make, found it on eBay but as it is American the postage is ridiculous.

I went for a vintage look, distressing the edges with Vintage Photo DI and a distress tool. The papers are Dovecraft North Pole and I used 3 Martha Stewart snowflake punches.

Challenges

Friday sketch challenge great sketch 

ABC Christmas Unusual Christmas colours 

Sweet Stampin' Antiques roadshow (use an old stamp) 

Sparkles Christmas distress it 

Whimsy Fall colours or Christmas 

Bizzy Becs anything goes

Still time to enter my candy, see my candy page.

Tea for Teddy

Another of the Hobby House toppers with a very sweet Elisabeth Bell image. I used the lovely bright LOTV Sunny Side Up paapers, Doohickey lace border die, doily, Little Claire dinkie sentiment and Joy vintage teapot, mug and cup and saucer dies.

Challenges

Elisabeth Bell's World Happy Birthday

We are out for lunch today with a friend, but I shall be drinking coffee, can't abide tea.

Book at bedtime

I made this card for a special blogging friend whose Birthday was on Sunday. I know she loves LOTV and bright colours. This is one of my inspiration cards as part of the LOTV Design Collective.

Image - LOTV Odd Dog Sleepy Book

Medium - Copics

Papers - LOTV up, up and away

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Sentiment - Stamping Bella

Other - enamel dots

Challenges

Creative Moments spots or stripes 

As You Like It Mono or colour (I love more than one colour) 

Little Miss Muffet anything goes

A meal without wine

We had a lovely weekend, brilliant concert and so glad we stayed overnight rather than driving home. Cool and breezy Sunday morning bit we had a lovely walk along the prom as we couldn't walk on the beach because the tide was in and there wasn't any beach to walk on! So onto my card which features another fun wine topper from Pink Gem. I am sure we all know somebody we could send this card to. I printed it onto photo paper and really love the vibrant colours. I used an Embossalicious embossing folder with sanded Core'dinations, lace from Crafty Ribbons, gauze, Crafts Too butterfly die, wooden butterfly from MDF Crafts coloured with dark pink Wink of Stella pen and roses from Wild Orchid.

Challenges

Sparkles pearls and/or lace 

Creative Inspirations CAS or Fussy and Fancy 

Christine (Nanaseaside) Pink for breast cancer awareness candy

I am selling my crafts at the hospital today so a very early start and will link up later.

Have you entered my candy yet?

Cheers

This is the third and last of the cards made for Making Cards using the Pink Gem digi kit. The papers are LOTV Promises. I used a MS zigzag border punch and added some pearls, buttons and baker's twine.

Challenges

Papertake two by two (two papers, two lots of two pearls)

We have been away in Hunstanton for the weekend as we went to see Midge Ure in concert last night and stayed in a B&B rather than driving home. So if the weather is nice a walk on the beach after breakfast before heading home.

Hello little bee

I just love using this cute Penny Black image for new home cards. I used Spellbinder dies and coloured it with Copics and used my much neglected chalks for the sky. The paper is MME. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder, ribbon bought on Facebook, wooden ladybird from Hobbycraft and a Memory Box dragonfly die.

Challenges

Penny Black embossing 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts warm Autumn colours 

Scrap and Craft Colours of Autumn 

Stamping Sensations Colours of Autumn
The Ribbon Girl anything goes with an image

Have you entered my candy yet?

Bang the Drum

This is another of my LOTV inspirational posts using one of the special offer stamps, 10 of the selected stamps for £30. Offer ends soon so don't miss out. I won this cute stamp over a year ago, stamped him out and there he sat waiting to be coloured, hangs head in shame. How many more are sitting there like that, oh dear. Anyway here he is now.

Image - LOTV Bang the drum

Medium - Copics

Papers - Echo Park dots and stripes

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Buttons - Docrafts Gorjuss

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl anything goes with an image 

As you like it Mono or colour (two main colours are my favourite rather than one) 

Bizzy Becs anything goes
Creative Card Crew ribbon
Papertake Two by two (two ribbons)

Have you entered my candy yet?

Off to the hairdressers today for a trim and lunch out, then setting up my stall at the hospital shop ready for Monday.

Christmas to die for

New challenge day at Crafty Ribbons and this week our theme is Christmas to die for (include die cuts and ribbon). As always there is a lovely prize from Crafty Ribbons on offer.

Image - Little Claire

Medium - Copics

Papers - Dovecraft 'Tis the Season

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons coming home -polar bear

Sentiment - Hobbycraft

Dies - Simon Says and Marianne snowflakes using glitter card

Other - Stickles, pearl pen, Sakura gold star pen

Challenges

Sketch Saturday
Papertake Two by two (two papers, two polar bears) 

Creative Card Crew ribbon

TTCRD anything goes 

The Craft Barn Light  

The Ribbon Girl anything goes with an image

Still time to enter my candy.

Sewing and strawberries

Another of the Elisabeth Bell  Hobby House toppers which I fussy cut this time. The lovely bright papers are LOTV Sunny Side Up, Little Claire sentiment, Marianne flower dies, doily and ribbon from stash.

Challenges

Elisabeth Bell's World Happy Birthday
TTCRD anything goes
Creative Card Crew Ribbon
The Ribbon Girl anything goes with an image

Have you entered my candy yet?

Snow Queen and special offers

This is one of many LOTV stamps which will be on special offer from tomorrow lunchtime for a few days only, 10 stamps for £30, what a bargain and a great chance to buy those stamps missing from your collection. There will also be paper pads and art pads on offer. The Design Collective have been busy creating inspiration for you and you will see many of their cards on blogs and Facebook this week. There will also be a special Facebook challenge so do check out the LOTV Facebook page.

Image - LOTV Snow Queen

Medium - Copics

Setiment - Sizzix die

Other - Stxikles, metal corners, enamel stars and pearl pen.

Challenges

Creative Inspirations stars and/or stripes 

Penny's anything goes 

Simon Says CAS Christmas 

Cute Card Thursday one layer (I checked and some of the DT have added embellishments) 

The Ribbon Girl anything goes with an image

I had a surprising email yesterday inviting me to be a presenter on Create and Craft for a fairly well known craft company. I had to say no as it isn't something I fancy doing and I certainly don't have the time either but a huge compliment to be asked. Thanks for all your visits and lovely comments. Don't forget I have some candy on offer including a LOTV stamp, see my candy page.

Guest Designer at Bunny Zoe

I was delighted to be chosen as the guest designer for this month's challenge at Bunny Zoe. I chose this new stamp from Wild Rose for the shabby chic challenge.

Image - WRS owls on branch

Medium - Copics

Papers - Bo Bunny Rejoice

Lace - Crafty Ribbons

Die - Memory box stocking banner

Sentiment - LOTV grunge

Other - TH distress tool, DI antique linen, fun flock, embossing enamel

Challenges

Country View add some texture 

Sparkles Christmas Disress it! 

The Paper Shelter Xtra vaganza

The Ribbon Girl anything goes with an image

Snowman Bunting

Our new challenge at Little Claire is use your favourite Little Claire stamp. Not an easy choice to choose a favourite but a snowman and bunting is a great combination, two of my favourite things together so this is probably my favourite LC stamp. There is a £10 voucher waiting for the lucky winner so grab your favourite Little Claire stamp and enter.

Image and sentiment - Little Claire snowman bunting

Medium - Copics

Papers - Little Claire

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Doohickey slender firs and Memory Box bunting

Other - Sakura gold star pen, Stickles

Challenges

Natalie and Amy snowpeople 

Crafting Musketeers Christmas with a ribbon
Sketchy Challenge great sketch

Graph'It Xmas colours
As you like it Mono or colour (I prefer using two main colours rather than just one.)

Have you entered my candy yet?

Happy Birthday

You may have seen a card I made using a Woodware stamp about growing old, which was on my blog on 4th October. This sentiment is part of the same set and I used the First Edition Neroli papers again. The pierced fishtail dies from MFT have been out again, I do love these dies. The edges were distressed with DI weathered wood. I used a star punch and a crimper. 

Challenges 

Sweet Stampin' Use script or text 

Bizzy Becs anything goes 

Penny's anything goes

Creative Inspirations Stars and/or stripes

This is my second post today. Please scroll down for my PG DT card and don't forget to enter my candy, see my candy page.

New home pumpkin

Our new challenge at A Gem of a Challenge is spots and/or stripes. I decided to go with both and used one of the cute new digi kits for my card. As usual I reduced the size of the front sheet to use as a topper and used one of the sentiments from the kit. The papers are LOTV Country Gent and I used a Memory Box leafy branch die, which I cut up. A nice flat card for posting.

Challenges

Noor! Design UK Halloween/Autumn 

Scrap and Craft Colours of Autumn
Papertake anything goes

Have you entered my candy?

I won't grow up

I bought some Woodware stamps recently from a local craft store and this is the first one I have used. It's a great sentiment and the First Edition Neroli papers make it suitable for males or females. I used a MS cherish border punch, X cut corner rounder punch and MFT stitched dies along with some baker's twine and wooden chevrons.

Challenges

Papertake anything goes

Happy Birthday to me

Today is my Birthday so if the weather is good we are off out for the day. Coffee stop then off to the coast for a walk along the beach before lunch. I had an excellent day at the hospital craft fair yesterday. Sorry I didn't have any time for blogging yesterday but I hope you will enter my Birthday candy.

Another Hobby House topper today featuring another sweet Elisabth Bell image. I am pretty sure I have the stamp of this one as I remember colouring her. Time to ink up some EB images I think. I teamed her with MME on the sunny side papers, ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, a Craftwork Cards sentiment and I used a Crafts Too butterfly die and some tiny pearls.

Challenges

Elisabeth Bell's World Happy Birthday

Bunny Zoe Teens and tweens 

The Craft Barn People
Papertake anything goes

Penguin choir

A cute Christmas card today using one of last year's digis from Pink Gem. I realised I mostly use two main colours on my cards so today I have tried using three for a change.

Image - Pink Gem

Medium - Copics

Papers - Papermania Penelope and Percy (years old)

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Punch - music notes

Other - gold doily, wooden snowflakes, violet  and deep pink Wink of Stella pens, Stickles

Challenges

Winter Wonderland Ppppick up a penguin 

Sketchy challenge great sketch
Craftyhazelnut All wrapped up 

Send a smile 4 kids Early holiday wishes 4 kids 

Country View add some texture
Papertake anything goes

I am selling at the hospital craft fair today so a very early start as we like to get there about 7.30. I will be back this evening to link up and catch up. In the meantime check out my candy page.

More hearts

This is my second post for today. I made some more heart plaques for craft fairs and these are two I made yesterday. I have the most stock I have ever had which is brilliant and I am just finishing off a few inserts tonight ready for a very early start tomorrow.

I buy the hearts from MDF Craft Supplies and I cannot recommend them highly enough. I used ribbon  and lace from Crafty Ribbons for this one, a Kaisercraft  sentiment, Marianne die, roses from Wild Orchid, First Edition Rose Garden paper, pearls, Zig Woodware and Wink of Stella pens.

For this one I used the same paper and flowers, Doohickey feather and love lamppost dies, Inkylicious stamp, MFT Eiffel Tower die, adhesive crochet lace, ribbon from Crafty Ribbons again.

Challenges

Papertake anything goes 

Country View add some texture

Don't forget to check out my candy page.

Wine o'clock

This is another of the new digi kits from Pink Gem and I can see this one being very popular. I am often asked for cards for wine lovers so it will be interesting to see if this one sells tomorrow. I like to reduce the size of the front page of the digi kit and use it as a topper rather than the whole card. The sentiments also come as part of the kit. I used First Edition Rose Garden papers, Martha Stewart rose leaf punch, roses from Wild Orchid, wooden heart coloured with deep pink Wink of Stella pen and some pearls.

Challenges

Live and Love Crafts pink 

Inky chicks Think pink 

In the pink 1,2,3 (1 image, wooden heart, 2 sentiments, papers, 3 leaves, flowers) 

Creative Knockouts lots of layers

Have you entered my candy?

More gift boxes

My next craft fair is on Wednesday. This is at the hospital, they do 4 a year and I always do well so hopefully this one will be good too. Hubby painted these for me last week and I decorated them all yesterday. My favourite is the deep purple one of course, I used flowers from I am roses, lace from Crafty Ribbons, various ribbons from stash, pearl sprays from Wild Orchid, wooden butterflies painted with a Zig Woodware pen and a clear Wink of Stella pen and a burlap butterfly from Poundland plus pearls and pearl hearts.

This is my second post today, please scroll down for my earlier post. You can find my candy on my candy page.

Man box

As you know I sell painted and decorated boxes at craft fairs. I decided to try making a box for the men for a change. It is hard to find presents for men at craft fair so I have just made one and will see if it sells. The box has been painted grey and then lightly distressed.

A close up of the decoration. I used a TH cogs die. The large one has been sanded and I then added gilding wax. The second one was die cut from black and I then added bronze embossing powder. I wanted to make both cogs distressed rather than perfect colouring all over. The metal wheels and cog are also TH,  the washers are from hubby's garage and I added a key charm.

Challenges

Everybdy Art circles 

Country View add some texture 

Cute Card Thursday masculine

Don't forget to enter my candy.

Ding Dong Bells

I love this cute image and had great fun making this card. I have been busy making lots of different things for my craft stall and it was lovely to take time out to colour and distress this one.

Image - Crafter's Companion

Medium - Copics

Paper - Bo Bunny Father Christmas

Punch - Woodware holly

Dies- Marianne poinsettia

Other - DI Vintage Photo, fun flock, brads, baker's twine, bell charm

I am so glad I bought this fun flock as I love the fluffy effect.

Challenges

Die Cuttin Divas anything goes 

Papertake Take your pick - Distress ink 

The Paper Shelter Music Maestro please 

Simon Says anything goes 

Di's Digis animals acting like humans 

Sparkles Christmas Distress it!

Have you entered my candy yet?

So pretty

I recently won the challenge at Allsorts and my prize was 8 sheets of Hobby House toppers. The images are all by Elisabeth Bell and they are all so gorgeous I didn't know which to use first. I believe this one was a Whiff of Joy stamp a few years ago and whilst I love colouring the toppers are handy when you have a lot of cards to make. I have a lot of fairs coming up so they will be very useful.

I used MME sweetest thing tangerine papers, MFT pierced fishtail dies and EK Success and Xcut flower punches. The sentiment is an old one which matched the papers perfectly.

Challenges

Elisabeth Bell's World Happy Birthday 

Bunny Zoe Teens and tweens 

Die Cuttin Divas anything goes 

Papertake Sketch 105 

Penny's anything goes 

Simon Says anything goes 

Creative Knockouts Lots of layers
Dream Valley Bingo (pearls, patterned paper, flowers)

Have you entered my candy yet?

Let's fly

Another friend's Birthday card, that's three I had for September, this time one for a man. I have used another of the Kraftyhands postcards and the Dovecraft North Pole papers. I added a wooden plane and used a Little Claire dinkie text stamp. Just one die on this one, MFT pierced fishtail. I really like the way the patterns work on this card.

Challenges

Creative Inspirations anything goes 

Simon Says anything goes 

Cute Card Thursday masculine

I have scheduled this post as we are off out for the day so I hope the sun will shine as it has all week. I love the Autumn sunshine. Hopefully we will get a walk on the beach.

Have you entered my candy?

No red or green

Today sees the first of our 12 weekly pre Christmas challenges at Crafty Ribbons. Yes is only 12 weeks to Christmas so instead of fortnightly challenges we will be weekly until Christmas so lots more chance to get those Christmas cards made and more chances to win a prize. I am the host for this challenge and I chose no red or green, Christmas plus ribbon of course. I used an Embossalicious embossing folder, 5 snowflake dies and 2 snowflake punches. The cute snowman is LOTV from the new trio set, coloured with Copics with added pearl pen and Stickles.

Challenges 

Papertake Take your pick (embossing) 

Natalie and Amy Snowpeople 

Country View ad some texture 

Die Cuttin Divas anything goes 

Simon Says anything goes 

Penny's anything goes

Little Miss Muffet Bingo (dies, sentiment,glitter)

Everybody Art Circles