Harbour Scene

This is my second card today. I love the Delicious Doodle scene digis especially for male cards and this is one I chose when I won the challenge a couple of weeks ago. Isn't it tranquil.

Image - Delicious Doodles harbour scene

Papers - Nitwits Country Gent from LOTV

Dies - Go Kreate seagull, Cheery Lynn lighthouse both edged wit DI Vintage photo

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Challenges

Delicious Doodles Make a scene 

Cute Card Thursday Beside the seaside 

MAWTT I do like to be beside the seaside 

Country View Only men allowed 

Let's Craft and Create Spots or stripes

We are out for a carvery this evening with some friends so I will catch you later.

Eat Cupcakes

Another Birthday card for a friend whose Birthday was on Wednesday so I know she has opened it. She loves going out for tea/coffee and cake and loves flowers and plants so this image is just perfect for her. 

Image - LOTV Art Pad

Paper - First Edition Rose garden

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Flowers - Wild Orchid and I am Roses

Die - Creative Expressions faux quilled leaves (I have seen these so many times on Sue Wilson's blog I just had to buy them, aren't they lovely and very reasonable too)

Challenges

Crafty Sentiments Cas or full on 

Craftyhazelnut's patterned paper Anything goes
Simon Says You gotta have friends

Experimenting

Yes this card was my first attempt at colouring on kraft. At first I wasn't really sure about it and debated giving it to the friend I had made it for. I kept looking at it though and after a while the effect grew on me. I found shading much more difficult as the colours soak into the kraft and I didn't achieve the level of shading I like but I like to try something different but not sure I would make another.

Image - LOTV

Medium - Copics

Papers - Craftwork Cards Time Flies

Dies - Tim Holtz star clusterwith sanded Core'dinations, Cheery Lynn faerie mushrooms which I cut out of DCWV gauze paper, another experiment but I am really happy with this one

Other - stickles

Sorry if I haven't visited but we have been away since Saturday. We went to a concert in Ipswich Saturday night and stayed in a Premier Inn. On Sunday we headed off to Bourton on the Water in the Cotswolds for 3 nights. I have scheduled posts for while I have been away as well as this one and hopefully I have managed to do some commenting whilst we have been away.

Challenges

Crafty Catz 2 different dies 

A Creative Romance Anything goes 

Sister Act Anything goes

Crafts and Me Add wings 

Simon Says Monday Anything goes 

Creative Card Crew Fairy

Simon Says You gotta have friends

Noteholders

These are some noteholders I made recently to sell at craft fairs. They are another attraction for people to the stall as well as the cards, bags and plaques. Cards are obviously my biggest seller but it is good to have some different things and I enjoy trying out different ideas. The top 4 have pegs for holding notes. The bottom ones have post-its. All the ribbons are from Crafty Ribbons.

This is my second post today. We have been away since Saturday and will be returning home this afternoon. More on that in tomorrow's post.

More gifts

A couple of my plaques today. The first is a Wedding one using a cute LOTV diecut which I fussy cut. The paper is Wild Rose Always and Forever and I added a large white rose from I am Roses and some pearl hearts and silver ribbon.

The second plaque uses Marianne dies and stamps, a butterfly, ribbon and flowers which I have had in my stash for a while.

I would like to enter these into the pretty gifts and packaging challenge at  The Shabby Tea Room.

Back this afternoon with another post.

Keys to the home

I really love this Inkylicious stamp and have stamped it in white on kraft for a change. A simple but effective card I think. The chandelier is a Memory Box die and I added some baker's twine and a key charm. The shaped card which I bought at a show adds a bit of interest.

View from the lounge

Today I am sharing a sample I made for Little Claire using one of the room with a view stamps. This one is Four Seasons so you can choose which of the 4 stamps to use behind the window. I chose Summer.

I wanted to make it look like a lounge window and found this paper in my stash which looks like wallpaper. I cut a flower from another oddment and put it behind a small frame, added some die cut bunting and some tassels to the curtains.

Zentangle and flowers

Yes I have been having a go at Zentangling again and this time doodled around the edge as well and made a girly card with lots of flowers.

Image - Woodware

Paper - MME Sky's the limit

Crispy lace ribbon - Dreamees

Flowers - Wild Orchid and the Ribbon Girl

Pearl sprays - Wild Orchid

Other - pearls and ribbon

Challenges

Crafting with Dragonflies Zentangle 

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Black, white + one 

Sweet Stampin' Say it with flowers
We Do Doobadoo Ribbons
Crafty Calendar Petals and pearls 

Let's Craft and Create Spots or stripes 

Stampin' for the weekend Anything goes
Vintage Stamping Summer Blossoms

Tulip Bunny

Challenge time has come round again at Little Claire and this time we want to see lots of bright colours and we also have an optional sketch for you. I used the sketch and flipped it and as you can see I have used several bright colours, including yellow which is probably the colour I use least.

Image and sentiment - Little Claire

Medium - Copics

Papers - Papermania Happy Days

Tulips - I am Roses

Other - pearls and ribbon from stash

Here is the gorgeous prize

Challenges

Di's Digis Ribbons 

Bizzy Becs Anything goes 

Craftyhazelnut's patterned paper Anything goes 

Stamping sensations Animal antica

Catching snowflakes

I hope you have been enjoying the lovely warm sunshine we have had here in the East. I cooled down with a Christmas card for today's post.

Image - LOTV diecut

Papers - Echo Park Keepin' Cozy

Die - Magnolia Doohickey slender firs sprayed with silver Spray and Sparkle, Spellbinders labeks dies

Other - snowflake and patterned tree from old stash, stickles, Viva pearl pen

Challenges

ABC Christmas L is for little gifts 

Charisma Sparkle and shine (glitter) 

Fan-tastic Tuesday Anything goes 

The Ribbon Girl Lovely Lili-girlie 

Bunny Zoe Layers 

Crafts and Me Add wings 

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Extra Anything goes 

Sparkles Christmas Favourite colour combo (love blue and white for Christmas)

I am waiting for the logo but have put the news on my sidebar that I am officially a member of the online DT for Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine. Exciting times.

A boy's best friend

Well I am having an exciting week as I have been asked to make another project for Cardmaking and Papercraft online.  I have also been making samples for the new release stamps from Little Claire for July so busy, busy, busy. I took time out yesterday to make this card to add to my stock for the next craft fair.

Image - LOTV sketch pad

Medium - Copics, Sakura gold star for buckle and buttons

Papers - Nitwits Country Gent from LOTV

Sentiment - LOTV grunge

Die - Impression Obsessions puppy set with sanded Core'dinations

Other - burlap, button, raffia

Challenges

Lili of the Valley Male or sporty

  A Creative Romance Anything goes option Happy Birthday 

Oldie but a goodie Father's Day/Masculine (nothing on this card is new) 

TTCD Anything goes 

Country View Only men allowed

  Natalie and Amy Four legged friends

Before I go I must tell you about the new launch at Crafty Ribbons

Gorgeous new wedding ribbons and more scrummy new ribbons to come shortly.

Baby Birdhouse

I had a very exciting email yesterday as I had submitted two cards for a magazine commission and they like them so I had to send them the cards and email them the product list and instructions. Not sure when they will be published but watch this space. I hope this is the start of more magazine work. What an exciting week.

Something different from me today, a large tag for a baby's present using the Little Claire Changing Birdhouse stamp with Baby Birdhouse 2. The tag is Prima and the image has been coloured with Copics. I have used one of the new sentiment stamps. These are a brilliant idea, each set has 6 different circles and lots of sentiments which all fit in the circles so you can mix and match. I used some strips of paper, ribbon and a peg from stash and a Memory Box die with DCWV gauze paper for the banner.

Challenges

Sweet Stampin' Baby 

Dream Valley Baby 

Delightful All tied up 

ALBC Child's play 

Bizzy Becs Anything goes

Bargain Stamp

I haven't had a new home card on my blog for a while but I do need to make a few more for stock. Last week we went to look at the car boot sale and as it was busy we decided we will have to do one soon. One lady was selling some wooden stamps as she can no longer make cards and this one caught my eye as I don't have that many images for new homes. A bargain for £2.

Image - Create-It

Medium - Copics

Papers - Teresa Collins Fabrications

Dies - Doohickey fence, Die-namites birdhouses

Challenges

Creative knockouts Die cut/punch frenzy

Another Male card

About time I had a distressed vintage card on my blog and I must say I really love how this one turned out. The stamps, clock die and mini gears are Tim Holtz of course. I stamped the truck using Memento Rich Cocoa onto kraft. I bought a white ink pad recently and used that to stamp the sentiment and I think it looks really effective. Lots of DI Vintage Photo, use of the TH distressing tool and some tearing too. The paper is Dovecraft Curiosity Corner and the wooden arrows are Studio Calico from Little Claire.

Challenges

Crafty Catz Inspired by a song (Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper) 

Country View Only men allowed 

My Mum's Craft Shop Ink it up 

Papertake Anything goes

Simon Says Father's day/Masculine 

Rhedd and Rosie Back in time/vintage style 

Aud Sentiments Any sentiment for a guy

That Craft Place Men

Pleasure Boat

What strange weather we are having, poured with rain at times yesterday and then sunny and warm. At least we only had a little thunder and lightning, not too keen on that. I love red, white and blue on cards especially nautical ones and this card was one that sold last Wednesday.

Image - Kraftyhands postcard topper

Papers - Papermania Ahoy There

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Go Kreate Seagull, Die-namics anchor and ship's wheel with sanded Core'dinations

Challenges

Crafts 4 Eternity For the boys 

Simon Says Father's Day/Masculine 

Divas by Design Red, white and blue 

Creative Card Crew Nautical 

Papertake Anything goes option Summer

 Country View Only men allowed

Not sure what we will be doing today but enjoy your Sunday.

Mollie in purple

Our new challenge at A Gem of a Challenge today is to use gingham papers and/or ribbon. Some of you may not recognise this gorgeous girl as a Pink Gem image but she is one of a range of vintage images available and I love them all. They are a joy to colour and great for practicing skin colouring.

Image - Pink Gem Mollie

Medium - Copics

Paper - Papermania Capsule Heather

Ribbon - candy win

Wooden hearts - Little Claire coloured with Copics

Flowers - Prima and The Ribbon Girl

Other - Doily and diecut from a DTDF order

Challenges

TTCD Anything goes

 Papertake Anything goes option Summer
A Creative Romance Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter Flower power

Candy Winner

Thanks so much to everyone who entered my candy. I am sorry I can't send you all something but there can only be one winner and that is 

Yes that is you Deborah A. I had the pleasure of meeting Deborah at the LOTV Birthday Party. Luckily she recognised me as she has a picture of a tiger on her blog so I had no idea what she looked like nor even knew she was going to be there.

Congratulations Deborah, please email me with your address and I will post your candy off to you. I am sure I will be having another giveaway before too long.

Please scroll down for today's card and my exciting news.

Thanks for all your support everyone, welcome to my lovely new followers, hope you will stay with me.

Have a good weekend.

Dad

I am very excited to bring you my first, and I hope not my last, magazine commissioned card today. It is for Cardmaking and Papercraft online. I was asked to make a modern Father's Day card with shopping list and instructions. 

Sentiment - Woodware stamp

Papers - First Edition Man Made, DCWV Burlap paper

Dies - Sizzix primitive stars, Tim Holtz star cluster

Other - baker's twine

Challenges

Bearly Mine One for the boys 

Country View Only men allowed 

Charisma Father's Day 

Allsorts For the guys 

Sweet Stampin' Father's Day/special man/boy
Simon Says Father's Day/masculine
Fab n Funky Father's Day/for the man in your life
MAWTT Father's Day

You can find my post here and I would really appreciate you hopping over to the online magazine to take a look.

Thanks for all the Anniversary wishes. We had a lovely chilled out day with a lovely lunch at Cafe Rouge.

Anniversary candy

To enter my lovely Summery Anniversary candy please click on the candy page above. You must enter via the link on the candy page.

I would love you to leave a comment on this post but please note this will not be counted as a candy entry.

Good luck and please spread the word.

This post will stay at the top until 5th June when the candy closes.

Please scroll down for newer posts.

Happy Anniversary Hubby

Today is our Wedding Anniversary and this is the card I made for my hubby which is also my DT card for 2 challenges. I don't normally combine my DT work but they both fitted the card idea I had and I only want this card on my blog today. I distressed all the edges and used sanded Core'dinations and challenged myself to only use browns on the image, apart from the tree. The card is a 7x7 which meant I coud use the gorgeous, but rather large butterfly die.

The challenge at Crafty Ribbons is fluttering by (include a butterfly) and at Crafty Little Fairies it is spots and stripes. Maybe you would like to combine the challenges for your entry too. And don't forget there is still time to enter the Little Claire challenge of spots and stripes where there is also a fab prize on offer.

Image - LOTV

Medium - Copics, Sakura gold star pen for the spots

Papers - Nitwits Country Lady and Country Gent from LOTV

Ribbons - Crafty Ribbons

Butterfly - Doohickey

Other - pearls

Challenges

Sister Act Anything goes

Papertake Anything goes, option Summer

TTCD Anything goes 

My Mum's Craft Shop Ink it up

At the time of scheduling this post we are planning to go out for the day somewhere to celebrate but if I have time this evening I will catch up with some blogging then.

Wish upon a star

Yes another Christmas card today but this time with one of my lovely new Sugar Nellie digis. I love the pinks of these gorgous papers and they match up beautifully with Copics.

Image - Sugar Nellie wish upon a star

Medium - Copics, Sakura clear star and rose star pens

Papers - Nitwits Woodland Wishes from LOTV

Sentiment - LOTV

Die - Memory Box precious stars

Other - raffia lace, ribbon, pearls, glitter and Viva pearl pen

Challenges

The Sugar Bowl Anything goes 

Sketch Saturday sketch 236

Winter Wonderland No red or green (hope the tiny bit on the backing paper is allowed)

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas 3 of something (papers, pearls) 

A Creative Romance Girly 

Crafty Creations S (stars, sparkle, snow)

Magical Christmas

Time to get cracking on those Christmas cards or I won't have enough to sell when the Christmas fairs start. I used my favourite Christmas papers as I love blue and brown together. I wish I had another pad of these papers as mine are almost used.

Image, Postcard and Sentiment - Pink Gem Barclay with bauble

Medium - Copics, Sakura gold star pen

Papers - Bo Bunny Snowfall

Punch - MS deep snowflake border

Other - Stickles, Viva pearl pen

Challenges

Craftyhazelnut 3 of something (3 Pink Gem digis) 

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas extra Anything goes 

Natalie and Amy Four legged friends 

ALBC Child's play 

Sparkles Christmas Favourite colour combination 

Stamping Sensations Animal antics 

Delicious Doodles For the love of animals 

Winter Wonderland No red or green
As you like it Favourite colour duo (I have several but blue and brown is one of my very faves especially for bears and Christmas, the rich browns go so well with soft blues)

Something blue

I love using these Inkylicious stamps and for this card I used on of my favourite Sellbinders, one of the resplendent rectangles. I heat embossed the corners and then used DI Weathered Wood. The paper is Carftwork Cards Time Flies, butterfly ribon from Crafty Ribbons, rose from Wild Orchid, chipboard hearts from Simon Says and lace from stash.

Challenges

Simon Says Anything goes 

Crafty Catz Anything goes 

Chocolate, coffee and cards Embossing

  MAWTT No image 

Cute Card Thursday Blues and hues

Glamorous Emma

What a gorgeous sunny day today. We have been out and about and hubby is now putting some plants in the garden so I popped upstairs to make a card with this gorgeous new image from Pink Gem which I coloured yesterday. There are 3 new Emma images and there is 20% off all digis this week so treat yourself.

Image - Pink Gem Glamorous Emma

Medium - Copics, Sakura gold star and rose star pens

Papers - MME The Sky's the Limit

Die - Memory Box banner

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Other - lace, baker's twine, charm

Challenges

Graph'it Frilly and fancy 

That Craft Place Ribbon/lace 

Craftyhazelnut's patterned paper Anything goes

This is my second post today. Please scroll down for a Little Claire card and up to enter my candy, ending in a few days so don't miss out.

Baby Birdtable

The first of the month means a new club stamp from Little Claire and what a fun stamp this month, a bird table. There is also a baby bird house and more stamps will be added. The bird table comes in 2 parts so you can have different tops and for my card I have used the baby stamp.

Image and sentiment - Little Claire

Medium - Copics

Papers - First Edition Rose garden (oh dear, again!)

Card blank - Samuel Taylor

Punch - MS border

Rose - Wild Orchid

Other - lace, wooden hearts, baker's twine, DI tattered rose

I think the die cut hearts come from the Doohickey fence. I have a box on my desk with odd die cuts in as sometimes I cut something and change my mind or cut more than I need or as in this case they are the waste from a die cut.

Challenges

Simon Says Anything goes

In the pink Shabby chic/vintage 

Crafty CatzAnything goes 

Fussy and Fancy Outdoors

We Do Doobadoo Different shapes

Catkin

Here is another of the gorgeous new LOTV fairies, Catkin, coloured in my favourite purples.

Image - LOTV Catkin

Medium - Copics

Papers

First Edition Dreamcatcher, DCWV gauze for flower

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Dies - Sizzix corners, Go Kreate flower

Other - pearls, Stickles

Challenges

Lili of the Valley Fairies

Fan-tastic Tuesday Anything goes

Simon Says Anything goes

Crafty Catz Anything goes

Creative Knockouts Summer's coming

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 Great sketch and use purple

We will be out and about today. I have a dress and a skirt to be altered. The skirt I bought from Laura Ashley a few years ago. It was a bit tight and I thought I will get into it one day. Well I still haven't worn out as it is now too big! The dress I bought from Dash for a Wedding a few years ago and it is now way too big. With the nice weather hopefully coming I would like to wear them and I know a dressmaker so she is going to alter them for me. Also have the food shop to do and want to get some plants for the garden.

Still a few days left to enter my candy, see post above.

Butterflies galore

A rather different card from me today using the Little Claire May club stamp set. I cut an aperture using a Nestie, stamped the Little Claire image and then sprayed with Spray and Sparkle before attaching to the back of the circle. I used MB birdcage and butterfly dies and a Britannia Happy Birthday die. The large butterfly is recycled from some acetate hand cream packaging.

Challenges

Allsorts Happy Birthday 

Sweet Stampin' Sparkle and shine 

Rhedd and Rosie No flowers 

Country View Nature's glories 

Simon Says Anything goes

Gossip

Here is another of the gorgeous digis I bought from Funky Kits last week as they have 20% off until the end of May. I wanted to go for soft pastels and I just couldn't wait to use my new dies too. I have wanted these mushrooms for ages and last week I sold some stash on Facebook so treated myself to these and the Joy butterfly border, another on my wishlist for a while.

Image - Sugar Nellie Little bit of gossip

Medium - Copics, Sakura clear star and rose star pens

Papers - Prima Delight

Sentiemtn - LOTV 

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Punch - MS border

Dies - Cheery Lynn faerie mushrooms

Wooden ladybird - Facebook

Other - DI Weathered Wood

Challenges

TTCD Anything goes 

Stampin' for the weekend For the girls 

A creative Romance Girly

Allsorts Happy Birthday 

Sentimental Sundays Things with wings 

Papertake Sketch 90

Simon Says Anything goes

Wedding Season

Yes we are definitely coming into Wedding season and I need some more cards for stock. I have used this lovely Inkylicious stamp again as I think they make such great cards.

Stamp - Inkylicious

Papers - First Edition Rose Garden (again!)

Ribbon - Anita's

Flowers - Wild Orchid and The Ribbon Girl

Other - pearl hearts, raffia lace, DI tattered rose, TH distress tool

Challenges

In the Pink Simply Sentimental 

Sketchy Colours Fab sketch 

One Crazy Stamper Anything goes and an embellishment 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts Anything goes 

Stamping Sensations Anything goes 

The Crafty Blogger's Network Pink with ribbon

Abi Ballerina

I hope you all had a good Bank Holiday weekend. We had a lovely day out on Sunday at Freeport outlets in the sunshine. I got some new clothes, hubby got a shirt and we had a lovely meal. We drove home through the Suffolk countryside and stopped  at a lovely old thatched pub where we had a coffee in the garden. I hd a lovely crafting day yesterday while hubby went to watch the powerboat racing.

So her is one of the cards I made yesterday. I just couldn't resist using the second of the free ballerinas from All Dressed Up as they are sooooooo cute.

Image - All Dressed Up Abi Ballerina

Medium - Copics

Papers - the last of my Papermania Blueberry Pie

Punch - MS border

Die - Die-namics banner

Other - Letraset fineliner for faux stitching, Viva Decor pearl pen, ribbon

Challenges

All Dressed Up Stitching 

Divas by Design Anything goes