3000 blog posts candy

I shall be posting my 3000th blog post on 9 September. I have a giveaway for one of my followers so hop over to my candy page to enter.

Crafts Beautiful festive magazine

I made this cute card for the latest edition of Crafts Beautiful magazine. They like bright colours and no glitter but apart from that the choice was mine.

Image - Pink Gem

Medium - Copics

Papers - LOTV Nitwits

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Die - Joanna Sheen starry night

Other - wooden snowflakes, pearl dots

Challenges

Crafting from the heart anything goes 

Deep Ocean anything goes 

Winter Wonderland Tic tac toe (Snowflake, patterned paper, white or snowflake, blue, ribbon) 

Di's Digis Ribbon, lace or twine
Simon Says anything goes

I have been feeling rather poorly this week as hubby seems to have shared his cough with me. His lasted about three weeks and is almost gone but he didn't feel unwell. Unfortunately I am so haven't been blogging much. We had a lovely night away on Wednesday in Ipswich with friends. Went to a 60's show which was brilliant. Thankfully nobody could hear me coughing with the loud music but how frustrated I was not being able to sing along. We stayed overnight and came home yesterday. So glad I felt well enough to go but have gone downhill since. Dreadful night last night, phoning Dr this morning. Good job I schedule my posts ahead or my blog would have been empty this week.

Thank you

Our challenge at Crafty Ribbons is simply use ribbon. For my DT card I used another card made using the LOTV sentiment trio and my new Lawn Fawn papers. I stamped the sentiment in white on kraft.  The dies are Lawn Fawn stitched circles and Doohickey lace border. Saddle stitch ribbon from Crafty Ribbons and some enamel dots to finish.

Challenges

Crafting from the Heart anything goes 

Fussy and Fancy my favourite things (LOTV stamps,layered papers, enamel dots, ribbon and dies) Sweet Stampin' Buttons and/or ribbons
Simon Says anything goes

Still time to enter my candy

Autumn colours

I have a few friends with Birthdays in September and October and this is another card I made for a friend whose Birthday was on Monday so I can share it with you now. Autumn is my favourite Season and I love  Autumnal colours. 

Image - Wee precoloured topper from The Hobby House

Papers - American Crafts

Die - MFT stitched scallop edger

Butons - Gorjuss

Other - twine and pearls

Challenges

Crafting from the Heart anything goes 

As you like it favourite colour combo (Autumnal colours are my favourite in September/October) Deep Ocean anything goes 

ABC P is for pearls

Still a few days left to enter my candy.

Papercrafter published cards

I was sent a pack of Hunkydory papers and toppers by Papercrafter magazine and asked to make 8 cards which are published in the new edition now available. Obviously I had to mostly use items from the pack as that was the focus of the feature. Not something I would normally use which made it fun coming up with different shapes and ways to use them. The first one is a fun card and I added some Joy snowflakes and pink pearls.

The second one was made using Go Kreate scalloped circle dies and I added some punched and die cut snowflakes. This one features on the front cover, not as the main feature but on the side.

Challenges

Crafting from the Heart anything goes 

Deep Ocean anything goes 

Crafting by Designs Christmas 

Winter Wonderland Tic Tac Toe (snowflake, sparkle or shine, punch or diecut) 

CCAYR monochromatic 

A few days left to enter my candy.

Lots of boxes

I have been busy decorating more boxes as I am preparing for sales to increase with Christmas present buying increasing. As you may know hubby paints them for me. He sets up his workshop with a table in the conservatory and is quite happy in there playing his vinyl on his vintage radiogram. I used ribbon and lace from Crafty Ribbons and flowers from Wild Orchid. The butterflies are from The Works and Poundland. 

Challenges

In the Pink photo inspiration 

Simon says Gift it 

Noor! Design UK flowers and lace

Friend's Wedding

I made this card for some friends who got married yesterday. I love the sweet LOTV couple and I know that she used to love LOTV when she was a cardmaker.

Image - LOTV

Medium - Copics

Papers - Craftwork Cards

Die - Joy leaves

Flowers - Wild Orchid

Lace - Crafty Ribbons

Sentiment and charm from stash

Wooden hearts - MDF Craft Supplies coloured with white wink of Stella.

Challenges

Noor! Design UK flowers and lace 

Ribbon Girl any image 

In The Pink photo inspiration
Deep Ocean anything goes
Bizzy Becs anything goes

Have you entered my candy yet?

Cats amongst the flowers

Another commissioned card today, the request for a card with cats, and I know that the recipient loves her garden so I went with cats and flowers. I bought these shaped cards at Doncaster and its the first one I have used. It makes a nice change and I must use some more of them.

Image - LCDesigns clear stamp

Medium - Sakura rose star and green star pens

Papers - Craftwork Cards

Die - Go Kreate frilly squares 10

Lace and ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Punch - Woodware leaves

Flowers - Wild Orchid 

Sentiment - computer generated

Other - pearl pen

Challenges

Ribbon Girl any image 

Noor! Design UK flowers and lace 

The Cutie Pie Birthday
Fab n Funky Ribbon or lace

Another early start for another craft fair, very unusual for me to have two in one week as I only do a few now along with my monthly hospital shop stall.

Still time to enter my candy.

More plaques

This is my second post today and I am sharing a few of the small plaques I make for my stall. These are 100mm hearts covered in various papers. Depending upon how patterned the paper is I either stamp direct onto the paper or onto white card. They are proving very popular especially the ones for friends.

I would like to enter these into the gift it challenge at Simon Says.

Art Deco

I have had such a busy week this week with preparing for and attending craft fairs, two nights out with friends and general stuff at home that I haven't had as much time for commenting as usual. So apologies if I haven't been by your blogs this week. I really appreciate all your visits and will get round to visiting you as soon as I can. I have the last of my September fairs tomorrow.

I bought a pack of Art Deco toppers and papers from the Debbi Moore stand at Doncaster. They are so beautiful but very large and I wasn't sure I would ever use them all so I made a few cards and sold the rest of the pack. They are useful for making quick cards and they are very popular with my customers too. I added a pink feather, some pearl pins and a lovely vintage flower from The Hobby House. This 7" card sold on its first outing at a craft fair.

Challenges

Crafting from the Heart anything goes 

TTCRD anything goes 

In the Pink photo inspiration
Deep Ocean anything goes

Have you entered my candy yet?

Autumn

I had another good craft fair yesterday. Good job I have plenty of stock as I have another one on Saturday. Now making a Birthday card for a crafting friend is always more of a challenge as I like to try to use an image I don't think that person will have. I made this one for my good friend Lynsey whose Birthday was yesterday. I know she loves these new girls, as do I, but I don't think she bought this one. Although I normally make her a pink card as that is her favourite colour, I went for an Autumnal look for a change as these colours suit the image better.

Image - LOTV Autumn

Medium - Copics

Papers - MME Happy day

Lace - Crafty Ribbons

Leaves and berries (coloured with Copics) - Creative Embellishments

Other - enamel dots, gauze

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl any image 

Di's Digis Autumn 

Bizzy Becs anything goes
TTCRD anything goes
Crafting from the heart anything goes
Simon Says Monday Inspired by Music (Forever Autumn)

Have you entered my candy yet?

Simply Happy Birthday

I recently ordered a few things from Sprinkle Twinkle as they offered 30% off full priced items and couldn't resist getting this lovely Lawn Fawn Winter perfect plaid paper pack. The colours are so fresh. I teamed it with a LOTV sentiment, one of a trio, which I really love. I used MFT inside and out stitched rounded corner dies, Lawn Fawn sitched circle and Joy stitched bunting dies. The ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons and I added some of my fave enamel dots.

I am up early today to set up my stall at the hospital craft fair so a long day today.

Have you entered my candy yet?

Christmas ribbon plaque

I made this plaque as a sample for Crafty Ribbons to showcase some of the gorgeous new ribbons now available. You can find all the new ribbons here.  I added some tartan paper, burlap, Woodware holy punched leaves, MS fern punched leaves and flowers and pearl stems from Wild Orchid.

I would like to enter the no squares allowed challenge at Dream Valley.

Musical Jasmine again

I was asked to make a special card for a 16 year old who loves fashion and music so used this image again. Isn't it funny that some stamps get used so much more than others.

Image - LOTV Jasmine Music

Medium - Copics

Papers - Craftwork Cards Chambray and Lace

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Die-versions banner, MFT wonky stitched rectangles

Punches - MS cherish border, music notes

Challenges

Little Miss Muffet anything goes 

Fussy and Fancy Music 

Ribbon Girl any image 

The Cutie Pie Birthday

Still time to enter my candy

Christmas bells

Another of the spinner cards I made for Papercrafter Magazine using Marianne dies and papers.  It is ages since I made a tent card. One of the worst things was trying to describe how to make it to get every piece in the right order and to make sense to the readers.

A sideways view. I also used Memory Box stitched holly leaves and Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle dies. The sentiment is from LC Designs.

Challenges

Dream Valley no squares allowed
Winter Wonderland at least 2 dies

Check out my candy page.

A large glass please

Had a brilliant day yesterday selling at the hospital shop. I was very tired last night after a few nights of not sleeping too well but feeling much more refreshed today especially as it is cooler. New challenge day at A Gem of a Challenge and its a very easy one this time, female Birthday, so hope you will play along for the chance to win 2 digis of your choice.

Image - Angie with wine (precoloured but I used Copics on her hair)

Papers - magazine freebies

Sentiment - LOTV

Dies - MFT wonky stitched rectangle, Joy stitched bunting

Challenges

Scrap & Craft red, green and yellow

Check out my candy page.

Railroad

I took some time out from cardmaking and made a scrapbook layout for a change. The picture is actually a postcard we bought when we went on this train in January. The tickets are a nice keepsake of the day so I added them onto the page. The main papers are Gorjuss and I found the train paper in an old pack of K&Co Tim Coffey. I diecut it using a Go Kreate frilly squares 10 die.  The banners were cut with MFT stitched banner dies and I added some stars and a flag from a K&Co pack bought in America. The title letters are from Hobbycraft.

Challenges

Stuck September 1st sketch 

Country View travel
Simon Says Monday At the movies (Runaway train)

Check out my candy page above.

I love this style

As the title says I love making this style of card and this is my DT card for our new challenge at Crafty Ribbons of Happy Birthday.

Image and paper - LC Designs

Burlap with lace - Ebay

Lace and ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Flowers - I am Roses and Wild Orchid

Butterfly - The Works

Challenges

Bizzy Becs anything goes 

The Ribbon Girl a card 

Noor! Design UK flowers and lace
TTCRD anything goes

Check out my candy page.

Snooker Dave

This is the last of the three cards I made for Making Cards magazine using Pink Gem Dave. Once again teamed with MME papers. I love playing with colours, patterns and shapes. All I added were 2 buttons tied with baker's twine.

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl a card 

Bizzy Becs anything goes
TTCRD anything goes
Simon Says Monday at the movies (The Hustler)

Don't forget to enter my candy.

New ribbons

There are some lovely new ribbons out this week at Crafty Ribbons and more to come. The first of my samples uses this gorgeous snowman ribbon calles Santa's Grotto - snowman, which I have teamed with a fun precoloured Sassy Cheryl digi from Paper Creators. The papers are Studio Light Scandinavian, dies are Memory Box and Joy snowflakes used with aqua glitter card. I also used some lovely aqua pearls from The Hobby House and my fave pearl pen.

Challenges

Paper Creators Christmas 

Winter Wonderland Lots of layers (at least 4)
Simon Says Monday at the movies (The Snowman)

We have been away for a couple of days to Clacton. We stayed overnight Sunday night, had a lovely day at the seaside and went to a 60's show in the evening. Then on Monday we went to the outlets and came home in the afternoon. A nice little break away in a busy month.

Have you entered my candy yet?

Christmas jumper

I just couldn't wait to use this fun new image from Janet at Pink Gem. Ernie looks a little sheepish in his jumper doesn't he. I think it's fab.

Image - Pink Gem Christmas Ernie

Medium - Copics

Papers - Echo Park Keepin' Cozy

Dies - Joy mittens and hat, MFT stitched scalloped edger

Sentiment - LOTV

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Challenges

Creative Inspirations anything goes 

Winter Wonderland lots of layers (at least 4) 

The Ribbon Girl a card 

CCAYR Monochrome 

Paper Creators Christmas 

Bizzy Becs anything goes

Check out my candy page.

In the pub

This is the second of three cards published in last month's Making Cards magazine and featuring Dave from Pink Gem. Quite a simple layout for this one, the papers and the topper were enough without added embellishments. I used a MFT drippy goo die, which is suitable for so much more than just Halloween.

Check out my candy page above.

One of my favourites

I love this style of quote and card and they prove very popular on my stall too. The sentiment is Inkylicious, papers are LOTV, ribbon Crafty Ribbons and the die is a Marianne die. I also used some string and a feather, another thing I rarely use but have quite a few I have had for years, like many of you no doubt.

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl a card 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts add a sentiment
Creative Inspirations anything goes
Simon Says Monday stamp it
Simon Says stamp it

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

Gardening

Today is my 3,000th blog post and you can find my candy to celebrate on my candy page above. 

The new Making Cards magazine is in the shop today so I can start sharing my Pink Gem cards which were published last month. These digis of Dave make such great cards for men.

Image - Pink Gem Gardening Dave

Papers - MME

Dies - Marianne watering can, MB snail

Challenges

The Craft Barn things men like to do on bank holidays
Ribbon Girl a card

I have an extra day at the hospital shop today so an early start, catch you later.

Purrfect together

Isn't this such a cute stamp and has only been inked once when I first got it and made a sample for LOTV's shop. Another one used out of my inked pile and a second inspiration card for the LOTV FB challenge of animals.

Image and sentiment - LOTV

Medium - Copics

Papers - MME

Dies - Whimsy fence, MB tree

Ribbon - stash

Scrim - B&Q

Challenges

Simon Says stamp it
Simon Says Monday stamp it
Creative Inspirations anything goes
Bizzy Becs anything goes
Fab n Funky fall colours

Check out my candy page.

Wedding bouquet

An all white card today and a perfect Wedding card for those who don't want cute. I die cut the Papermania stamped sentiment , added a doily, some flowers from Wild Orchid, white velvet ribbon and white pearl hearts.

Challenges

Dream Valley monochrome 

Allsorts new beginnings 

Sweet Stampin' Weddings/anniversaries/love

Check out my candy page.

Carol's Birthday

I made this card for one of my friends I met through blogging, Carol, and was delighted when she and her hubby moved to Suffolk last year. I know this is her favourite colour and she likes shabby chic.

Sentiment - LOTV

Die - Lawn Fawn stitched square

Papers - Echo Park 

Burlap with lace - Ebay

Flowers - Hobbycraft

Gauze and enamel dots

Challenges

Noor! Design UK flowers and lace 

Penny Balck and more at Allsorts add a sentiment 

The Ribbon Girl a card

Exciting day today as we are going to pick up our new car. Well new to us, but only 4 years old, the newest car we have ever had.  Hubby is very excited.

Check out my candy page.

James again

Yes it's sweet james again but this time I have used one of the LOTV art pads, now discontinued. I used an X cut oval die and trimmed it straight at one side for a change.  The fab tartan paper is Dovecraft winter blooms, the sentiment is LOTV. I found the ribbon in a local shop whilst at the coast for the day, well who can reisst a shop that sells a few crafty bits. I added shabby white frantage to some lasercut snowflakes from Creative Embellishments, a doily and used my pearl pen.

Challenges

Paper Creators Christmas 

Crafting by Designs anything goes 

Simon Says anything goes
The Ribbon Girl a card

Check out my candy page.

It's raining again

I found this shaped card in my stash and thought I should use it. The papers are MME Nostalgia, can you tell they are on the top of the pile in one of the drawers? I am trying to use the last few sheets. I love the colours of these papers but I do hate having just a few left in a pad, taking up valuable room. I used one of the Hobby House topper. These really are coloured well. The image is Elisabeth Bell of course, one of my favourite artists. I added a Craftwork card sentiment, some flowers from my stash and some pretty patterned BRADS! yes, how many of you have brads in your collection that haven't seen the light of day for a long time.

Challenges

Elisabeth Bell's World make a splash

Crafting by Designs anything goes 

Simon Says anything goes

Check out my candy page.

Mum's Birthday

We have a very easy challenge for you this time at A Gem of a Challenge and that is ribbon, lace or twine. I made this card for my Mum for her Birthday. She loves gardening especially since she moved into her new bungalow she also loves having a bath in the evening. These pre coloured Molly images from Pink Gem were perfect for my Z fold card. I used LOTV Always and forever papers and ribbons from Crafty Ribbons. Along with my lovely new MFT stitched scallop edge die I used an old Crealie leaf die with flowers from Wild Orchid. I added Wink of Stella pen to the bubbles and flowers but of course you can't see the sparkle.

Challenges

Simon Says anything goes 

The Paper Shelter make it digital

Check out my candy page.

Simply James

Time for a new challenge for LOTV Facebook and our challenge this month is Animals. I love this simple James image which I coloured with Copics. One of the magazines I design for asks me to make A6 cards with a top fold and I really like this size and decided to start making a few of these to sell. I wanted to keep the design simple so this smaller size was perfect. I used Simple Stories snap life papers and added some doodling and enamel dots. The image was cut with an old Spellbinders die I haven't used for ages. I tend to use my newer stitched dies so I must try to use some of these older ones more often.

Challenges

Crafting by designs anything goes 

Simon Says anything goes 

ABC O is for Open

Last car for a while

Anything goes with ribbon for our new challenge at Crafty Ribbons. This is actually the last of three cards I made for Making Cards magazine but as I used some lovely Crafty Ribbons ribbon on it I am using it for my DT inspiration for the new challenge. The image is LOTV coloured with Copics and die cut with a Lawn Fawn stitched circle die. The gear was die cut with a Tim Holtz Sizzix die and I added some Tim Holtz metal gears.

Challenges

The Craft Barn What men like to do on bank holidays 

Allsorts at least 2 dies

Country View travel