Snowflake hearts

I knew my Embroidery O Level would come in handy in later life! I am really enjoying sewing my die cut hearts and after seeing some snowflake hearts on Pinterest thought I would have a go at embroidering some. The design evolved as I stitched and I am really pleased with result. They didn't photograph very well, the white one seemed to have reflected some of the blue but hey do look lovely and I will be making some of these for my next stall to sell as I took these two into the local cafe/gift shop where they sell for local crafters. I shall be making one for myself as well.

Challenges

Simon Says anything goes 

Winter Wonderland frosty 

Not just cards anything goes
Craftyhazelnut anything Christmas goes
Allsorts Let's make a start on Christmas

Have a magical day

I was so pleased with this sweet unicorn and rainbow stamp and die set from Avery Elle which my good friend Lynsey bought me for my Birthday. I immediately thought of using them with my Lawn Fawn Puffy Clouds dies. The stamps are coloured with Copics. I did struggle with the unicorn's mane for some odd reason. I used a Lawn Fawn stitched circle die for the sentiment which is also part of the set and added some Stickles. 

Challenges

Dream Valley one for the girls

Creative Knockouts something to say

Simon Says anything goes 

In the Pink Lots of layers

Cozy

New challenge day at A Gem of a Challenge and I have chosen a nice easy theme of snowflakes. So many of you are making Christmas cards now so I hope to see lots of entries for the chance to win 2 of Janet's fabulous digis.

I wanted to make a shaped card and discovered a pack of hexagon dies which I had forgotten I had and which was a nice surprise. I coloured the very cute Cozy Ollie with Copics, die cut with my MFT wonky stitched oval. The paper is from one of my fave packs, Bo Bunny Altitude. I added some crispy ribbon from Live and Love Crafts, a rubon sentiment, Stickles, fun flock and used Memory Box stitched snowflake dies.

Challenges

Winter Wonderland  Frosty or Wrap up warm (mine is both)

Creative Knockouts something to say
Simon Says anything goes
The Paper Shelter pearls
Squirrel one colour

Oh deer less than 2 months to go

How is your Christmas cardmaking going? I am busy working away on mine, still have lots to make and this week have had an order for 4 special Christmas cards from a friend plus two large magazine commissions so good job my diary is fairly empty for the next few days as I have a lot going on in November with craft fairs, trips to the theatre etc.  

When you have a lot left to make toppers come in so handy don't they and these gorgeous new images are so cute it really doesn't matter that I didn't colour the image. I used some papers from last Christmas, Dovecarft 'Tis the Seasin, lots of distressing and Stickles and added some lovely new ribbon from Crafty Ribbons. I bought a few goodies from Live and Love Crafts before they close and that is where the berries and cone came from. White flowers are from Hobbycraft and I added some frosted berries from The Ribbon Girl in the middle of an odd poinsettia I found in my stash.

Challenges

Simon Says anything goes 

Allsorts Sparkle and shine 

The Ribbon Girl any image 

Vilda Stamps anything goes 

Bizzy Becs anything goes

I have a large pile of ironing waiting for me this morning before I can head into the craftroom. Enjoy your day.

Christmas hedgies

It is my turn to host the challenge this week at Crafty Ribbons and I chose animal Magic. I used the MFT hedgie stamp set again and I thought these two wrapped up in their scarves could be used for a Christmas card.

Images - MFT happy hedgehogs

Medium - Copics

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Papers and diecuts - Kaisercraft Silver Bells

Punch - Crafts Too snowflake

Dies - MFT wonky stitched border rectangle, Memory Box ornament border

Challenges

Live and Love Crafts pink 

Squirrel one colour (apart from skin and hair/fur)
The Cutie Pies 5 of a kind (snowflakes)
Winter Wonderland Wrap up warm
Allsorts sparkle and shine
As you like it Your favourite, new or old stash (I love these new stamps, new is definitely my favourite, though I love my old faithfuls too)

In the Pink lots of layers

Hedgehugs

I created a little scene with my MFT hedgie stamps this time to make a card for a friend. Coloured with Copics, I used the Lawn Fawn puffy clouds die with LOTV Country Gent paper and added some twine and a charm. Simple and sweet.

Challenges

Creative Inspirations Halloween/fall 

Dies R Us Fall 

Noor! Design UK CAS or fussy and fancy 

Stamping Sensations Autumn 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts Autumn

Fussy and Fancy colours of Autumn
Simon Says Monday Autumn
Sweet Stampin' favourite colour combo (At this time of year I love Autumnal shades)

As you like it Your favourite, new or old stash (I love these new stamps, new is definitely my favourite)

Have a heart

I enjoyed making the felt owls which I shared with you last week so I thought I would have a go at making something else. I tried a Spellbinders die and was delighted that it cut felt so easily. I also found these flower dies which came free with a magazine and they also cut straight through felt. I really liked the idea of a button in the middle of the flower too. Off I went to Hobbycraft for some different coloured felt and a bag of filling. Here is the result of my design. I am hoping these will sell well all year round as I love making them. The beauty of sewing is I can do it whilst watching TV which I can't do when cardmaking.  Of course some programmes like Poldark demand my full attention so the sewing gets put away when that is on.

I would like to enter these into anything goes challenge at Not just cards.

Sneak peek

I was delighted to be asked to make a card with one of the gorgeous new animal images due out this week from Lili of the Valley. There are also squirrels and hedgehogs and 4 super cute vintage boys. They will be available in both rubber and digi.  I couldn't resist using fun flock to give them fluffy tails.

Image - LOTV 

Medium - Copics and chalk for sky

Paper - MME

Sies - Memory Box curly tree, Cheery Lynn faerie toadstools

Other - wooden leaves, Stampendous fun flock

Challenges

Creative Inspirations Fall 

Fussy and Fancy colours of Autumn 

Sweet Stampin' favourite colour combo (I love using Autumn shades at this time of year) 

Bizzy Becs anything goes 

Vilda Stamps anything goes

For a friend

I made this card for a special blogging friend of mine and now she has opened it I can share it with you. When posting I noticed the charm is at an interesting angle but of course I can't rephotograph it now so you will have to forgive that.

Image - Little Miss Muffet Pollycraft Candy Floss Crew Daisy

Medium - Copics

Papers - Tilda

Dies - MFT stitched scallop edger, MFT wonky stitched oval

Sentiment - LOTV

Punch - MS flower

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Challenges

Little Miss Muffet anything goes 

Simon Says Think pink 

Fab n Funky fabulous flowers 

Ribbon Girl any image
As you like it your favourite new or old stash (I love getting new crafty goodies and just bought these papers and the scalloped border die is a new purchase too.)
Southern Girls punches and dies 

With Love

I love playing around with papers to come up with different layouts and using a simple sentiment as the focus is a good opportunity to do just that.

Sentiment - LOTV sentiment trio

Dies - Lawn Fawn stitched circles, MFT chevron stripes

Papers - Lawn Fawn perfectly plaid Winter

Ricrac - Crafty Ribbons

Challenges

Double D plaid

I am at a craft fair today at the local bowls club. A new venue for me so will see how that goes.

Christmas owls

I really enjoying small items and when I found some owl kits to make in The Works I bought a pack to see what they are like. I really enjoyed making them and they both sold at the first fair I took them to. I made another 4 for the next event and sold 3 of them so I had to buy some more. I backstitched the second ones I made rather than running stitch and preferred that look.

I would like to enter these into anything goes at Not Just Cards.

Penguin tags

I recently bought this cute Lawn Fawn stamp and die set and thought the penguin was a perfect size for tags. The sentiment that comes with it is Happy Holidays which I don't like to use for Christmas so I use the sentiment stamp from the Lawn Fawn tobogganing together set. The other die is Lawn Fawn forest border. Coloured with Copics and matching coloured baker's twine. 

Challenges

Graph'It anything goes 

The Ribbon Girl any image 

Winter Wonderland Let's get krafty 

Vilda Stamps anything goes 

Incy Wincy inspired by your favourite candy (milk and white chocolate)

A Deer Friend

I bought the Lawn fawn tobaganning together stamp and die set a little while ago. The set is so cute with reindeer and penguins and can be mixed and matched so many ways.  It also has some cute sentiments. I used 2 of the reindeer along with the toboggan, coloured with Copics. The papers are Studio Light Scandinavian and he die is Lawn Fawn forest border. I also used a MFT wonky stitched rectangle die.

Challenges

ABC R is for red, ribbon and reindeer 

Winter Wonderland Let's get krafty

Hello friend

I couldn't resits buying these new MFt stamps from Dies to Die For, so many cute images and sentiments that I made a few cards with them. As I am typing this I have just remembered that I have an acorn die which I could have added but never mind, will remember for next time.

I went for a CAS treatment, stamping and colouring three of the hedgies, with Copics of course, adding a LOTV Country Gent paper strip and some doodling. The little tags were made with a Fiskars punch and I added some enamel dots.

Challenges

Graph'It anything goes 

The Ribbon Girl any image 

Sweet Stampin' spots and/or stripes 

Noor! Design UK Cas or fussy and fancy

Day out today, facial and back massage, visit to my Mums, going out for lunch and then hubby is treating her lawn for the Winter whilst I sort out some queries with her iPad for her. She is 84 and this is her first encounter with the internet. I showed her the basics a couple of weeks ago and left her to play with it. Time to sort out her queries and teach her some more.

Birdhouses

I took these to the hospital shop last Friday and had a really good day there including selling one of these. So I just have one left looking for a home.

When I visited The Works recently I found some bare wooden birdhouse which I thought would make perfect Christmas decorations to sell. Hubby painted them and I set to decorating them.

I used lots of fun flock on the bottom for snow. The cute robins and wooden hearts came from Hobbycraft. I added some wooden pine cones and twigs and flowers from Wild Orchid. The bling I found in my stash and came from the Hobby House a few years ago when I won a challenge.

I used a white Wink of Stella pen on the roof, really pleased with the effect.

Challenges

ABC Christmas U for under the pile (old gem border) 

Not just cards anything goes

Candy winner

Thanks to everyone who entered my Birthday candy and thanks for all the Birthday wishes too. Thanks also for all your lovely comments and continued support visiting my blog an leaving me comments on Facebook. Welcome to my new followers too.

So onto the draw. Here is the lucky winner, number 16.

That's you Dianne. Congratulations, please email me your address.

Pinwheel

This is the last of the four cards I made for Making Cards magazine using scraps. I really must remember these as they are a great way of using up those bits we just can't part with. This one has a more masculine feel using LOTV Nitwits Country Gent papers. The trick with the design is not to attach the first square until you get to the end otherwise you can't insert the final one underneath it. The sentiment is Stamposaurus again.

I would like to enter this into the one for the boys challenge at Dream Valley.

Birthday candy

As I celebrate my Birthday this month I am offering the above to one of my followers. To enter just click on my Birthday candy page. Closes 15th October.

Abbey Road?

Our new challenge at A Gem of a Challenge is Autumn colours. I had this cutie waiting to be coloured and decided to use red, brown, gold and green for a Christmas card.

Image - Pink Gem Christmas Hedgy

Medium - Copics

Papers - MME Merry and Bright

Die - Joy lamppost

Sentiment - LOTV

Punches - Tonic and Crafts Too snowflakes

Other - Stickles

And the title, well I couldn't help smiling as I made it thinking of the famous Beatles album cover of them crossing Abbey Road.

Challenges

Di's Digis add a Sentiment 

Vilda Stamps anything goes 

Bizzy Becs anything goes ABC Christmas U for under the pile (over a year old - papers, sentiment)

Check out my Birthday candy page, closes today.

Owls and a Selfie

Today I am sharing two of the eight Hunkydory cards I made for  Papercrafter magazine. For the top one all the elements came from the kit apart from the baker's twine.

This is such a fun topper. Backing paper and sentiment strip are from the kit and I simply added some Joy diecut trees cut from white glitter card.

I am selling at the hospital shop today so an early start for me.

Check out my new candy page, closes 15th October.

Teddy Wedding

Our new challenge at Crafty Ribbons is sepia tones. As always we have a fabulous prize on offer so challenge yourself to play along with us. I have used several old items for my card. I printed the Teddy Bo image about two years ago I should think.

Image - Teddy Bo precoloured

Die - Spellbinders

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Flowers - Wild Orchid

Punch - MS fern

Wooden horseshoe and church bought at Ally Pally last year

Challenges

Vilda Stamps anything goes 

Di's Digis add a sentiment
TTCRD anything goes
The Cutie Pie 5 of a kind (5 flowers)
As you like it favourite flowers (although I love diecutting flowers my very favourite flowers are Wild Orchid flowers. I love creating little sprays with them.)

Check out my Birthday candy page, closes 15th October.

Paper strips

Yes another of the paper scrap cards I made for making Cards magazine. These papers are all from MME packs and I really love the colour combo. Again the sentiment is from Stamposaurus and I added some diecut flowers with pearls.

Challenges

Cute Card Thursday anything goes 

Allsorts colours of Autumn 

Crafty Friends Autumn colours
TTCRD anything goes
The Ribbon Girl a card

Check out my new candy page, closes 15th October.

New stamp

I treated myself to two of the new little Gorjuss Girl stamps on Saturday when I visited The Range. I have always loved this one and she is perfect to colour for Autumn.

Image - Santoro Gorjuss Girl Toadstool

Medium - Copics

Papers - MME

Dies - Joy Autumn (mushrooms), MFT wonky stitched oval

Sentiment - LOTV

Oher - burlap, wooden heart buttons

Challenges

Cute Card Thursday anything goes 

Little Miss Muffet anything goes 

Allsorts colours of Autumn 

Crafty Friends Autumn colours 

Penny Black at Allsorts Autumn 

Stamping Sensations Autumn

Don't forget to enter my candy.

Special challenge

Over at A Gem of a Challenge we have an extra special challenge today which will last for two weeks. Our challenge is part of the October raising awareness of breast cancer campaign and all you have to do to play along is to create a card which is predominantly pink. So not just a little bit of pink, but lots of pink.  I have used of the new fun new digis from Pink Gem.  Don't forget our noraml fortnightly challenge which is still running this week, Halloween.

Image - Christmas Molly

Medium - Copics

Papers - Wild Rose

Dies - MFT pierced rectangles, MB holly vine, Marianne poinsettias

Other - doily coloured with DI spun sugar, pearl pen, pearls

Challenges

In the Pink flower power 

The Ribbon Girl a card 

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' Christmas diecuts 

BizzyBecs anything goes
Vilda Stamps anything goes

Have you entered my candy yet?

Banners

This is the second of four cards published in Making Cards last month using scraps of paper. I used a set of MFT pierced banner dies but you could of course just cut some banners if you don't have the dies. The sentiment is Stamposaurus and I added some lace from Crafty Ribbons.

Challenges

In the Pink flower power 

Fab n Funky Happy

Check out my new candy page, closes 15th October.

Love this card

I don't often make a card that I really think I can't part with but this card has so many of my favourite things on it and I love the way it turned out so I may not be able to send this to anyone.  I bought 2 of the new Wee stamps and can't wait to use the other one now.

Image - Wee Stamps Candlelight

Medium - Copics

Papers - Kaisercraft Silver Bells

Die - Doohickey slender firs

Crispy ribbon - Live and Love Crafts

Other - gauze, bell charm, twine, shabby white frantage, glitter, DI Iced Spruce

Challenges

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' Christmas diecuts 

The Ribbon Girl a card 

Dies R Us the leaves on the trees 

Noor! Design UK Cas or fussy and fancy 

Dream Valley Embossing (I used frantage)
Vilda Stamps anything goes

It's my Birthday today so I am hoping to go for a walk and coffee somewhere and probably a light lunch. This evening we are going out with friends to Ask Italian and then to the theatre to see The Hollies in concert.

I hope you have entered my Birthday candy.

Starburst

The new Making Cards magazine is out today so I am sharing one of four cards I made for last month's magazine. I made four cards all using paper scraps. These are a great way of using some of those scraps we all keep. I added a large Stamposaurus sentiment to the centre and some baker's twine.

Check out my new candy page, closes 15th October.

Relax

Whilst sorting through my precoloured toppers I cam across some Forever Friends bears and as I needed an image for a male friend's Birthday though I would use this one. I fussy cut hom out rather than leave it as an oval so I could create a little scene. The papers are K&Co Hopscotch and I used a Whimsy fence and a CC grass die. The sentiment is one I found in my stash. It does feel good to use up some of the things I have had for ages.

Challenges

The Ribbon Girl A card

Check out my new candy page, closes 15th October.

Leaves are falling

I love using these Autumnal shades, maybe because Autumn is my favourite season. Some of our best holidays have been in New England in the Fall. The colours there are magnificent. Now when I think of Penny Black I always think of hedgies and mice and forget I have a few other PB stamps such as this one.

Image - Penny Black designed by Mo Manning with journal

Medium - Copics

Papers - MME Lime Twist

Dies - Clearly Besotted notebook edge, Cheery Lynn faerie mushrooms, Lawn Fawn stitched leaves

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Challenges

Penny Black Autumn/Fall colours 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts Autumn 

Stamping Sensations Autumn 

Dies R Us the leaves on the trees 

Di's Digis Ribbon, lace, twine 

The Craft Barn books 

The Ribbon Girl a card

Check out my new candy page, closes 15th October.

Edwardian

I love these new stamps from Lili of the Valley and this one is available as either rubber or digi. Our new LOTV Facebook challenge for October is Christmas and as always there are fabulous prizes to be won so I hope you will come and join in the fun.

Image - LOTV Edwardian Christmas

Medium - Copics

Papers - Echo Park Winter Wishes

Punch - MS holly border

Ribbon - present from Debby

Other - pearls and pearl pen

Challenges

Little Miss Muffet anything goes 

Graph'It anything goes 

Di's Digis ribbon, lace or twine
The Ribbon Girl a card

Check out my new candy page.

From our home to yours

So how are your Christmas cards coming along? I am doing ok but still need to make a lot more. So with that in mind I decided to make 5 of this design. It isn't very often that I do that but I really like this simple design. So one for Crafty Ribbons as a sample, 2 for me to send and 2 to sell.

I stamped the Inkylicious tree branch a few times and then added some tiny red berries with a Sakura pen. The cottage is also a Inkylicious stamp, star is a Memory Box die and the lovely ribbon is a new one from Crafty Ribbons.

Challenges

Double D Trees, trees, trees 

Fab n Funky Christmas 

Simon Says anything goes 

Cute Card Thursday CAS 

Winter Wonderland tic tac oe (ribbon, tree, diecut) 

Dies R Us the leaves on the trees 

Noor! Design UK CAS or fussy and fancy 

ABC Q is for Quick (CAS)

Lilac Wedding

No sooner do I make some Wedding cards for stock then I go to a craft fair and they all go. Another of the LOTV diecuts, one of the larger ones this time which was perfect for a 7" card. I went for shabby chic this time, sing LOTV promises papers and adding some gauze, crispy ribbon, wooden heart coloyred with white Wink of Stella pen, pearls, Britannia leaf die and Wild Orchid flowers. The sentiment is also LOTV.

Challenges

Fussy and Fancy my favourite things (LOTV, lilac, shabby chic, lots of flowers, die)
Simon Says anything goes
Deep Ocean anything goes
  Creative Inspirations Bingo (white, flowers, shabby)
Noor! Design UK Cas or fussy and fancy
Paper Shelter Blooming days

Thanks to everyone for your get well wishes. I went to the Dr who said it is a cough virus which started a year ago and can last for up to 4 months! I still feel pretty awful so I am hoping it disappears soon. Luckily after a busy September we had nothing planned for this weekend or the next few days so I am taking it easy until I feel better.

Blog candy winner

Thanks so much to everyone who entered my 3000 blog post candy. The lucky winner is

That's you Tracy W.

Congratulations, please contact me by Friday 7th October and let me have your address.

It's my Birthday next Saturday so I have a Birthday candy for one of you so keep checking my blog.

Moving Day

Sorting through my old LOTV precoloured diecuts I cam across this cutie and as I need some more new home cards for stock this image was perfect to make a quick card. I teamed it with MME Lime Twist and used my favourite sketch. The flowers were made using EK success retro flower punches and I found the sentiment in my stash.

Challenges

Deep Ocean anything goes 

Simon says anything goes