More reindeer

More of the cute reindeer from the new A5 set launching on 4 September along with lots of other cute stamps. For this one I used 2 of the images coloured with Copics. I kept the layout very simple as the Memory Box sentiment die is so large. I found some embossed card in my scrap drawer, no idea where it came from but it looks good with the die. The paper is MME all is bright and I added some silver acrylic paint and some punched snowflakes.

Challenges

ABC Christmas R is for red

Day out today as I am having a haircut and colour so lunch in the city no doubt.

Blossom

This is the second of the new flower stamps from Stamposaurus which has been coloured with Copics. I used a MFT cloud stencil and chalk for the sky. The papers are Bo Bunny Secret Garden. I just couldn't decided what embellishments to use for this one and played around with a few ideas. None of them looked right and I suddenly though butterflies so I added three pretty sparkly butterflies from Poundland and am very happy with the result as I didn't want to overembellish this large image.

Challenges

In the Pink anything goes

Hugs

I promised you the new LOTV images are cute and they don't come any cuter than this one, Snowy Hugs,

Medium - Copics

Papers - Hobbycraft Christmas Whisper

Dies - Go Kreate frilly squares 7, MFT party banners

Sentiment - LOTV grunge Christmas

Cheesecloth - The Ribbon Girl

Ribbon from stash

Other - pearl pen, Stickles, fun flock

Challenges

Allsorts ribbons more than just a bow

Hubby is volunteering today driving one of the rescue boats at the powerboat racing. It's a big event today with lots of stalls etc for charity so I will be going along this afternoon with a friend whose hubby has also started volunteering there. Neither of us are interested in the powerboats but will enjoy looking round the stalls, having a chat and there are fireworks tonight too. It will be nice to go and see them in action as normally I stay at home crafting.

Reindeer sneak peek

The second Christmas launch from LOTV will be for sale on 4 September and they are some more cute images. I didn't know which to use first but decided on one of an A5 set of reindeer.

Medium - Copics

Die - MFT stitched domes

Papers - Bo Bunny Winter Wishes

Snowflakes - Paperhouse puffy stickers

Sentiment and border - Bo Bunny

Challenges

ABC Christmas R is for red 

Noor! Design UK anything goes

Keep on Rockin'

I was so pleased to see the latest First Edition papers included a pad called Grand Plans which has some great papers in it. You may remember I have used one of these records on a previous card. It is actually a gift card from Barnes and Noble in America. I may have picked up a few whilst visiting as I knew they would be perfect for musical cards. I covered the writing with the LOTV sentiment and added some MFT diecut musical notes and a MFT sentiment.

Sunflower

Stamposaurus have a new range of stamps which will be available to buy at upcoming craft shows. I am delighted to be making samples for Jayne and this is the first one I am sharing with you. There are three flower stamps and a variety of other images. I have coloured the sunflower with Copics and decided to fussy cut it out as I wanted to put it into a flowerpot. That is when I realised just how many petals I had to cut round. The flowerpots are all Memory Box dies and the watering can is a Whimsy die. I added a punched heart to the pot and used clear Wink of Stella on the pot. I found the sentiment in my stash.

Challenges

Noor! Design UK anything goes 

Dies R Us anything goes using dies

Christmas present

The new Papercrafter magazine is out today and I am delighted to have three cards featuring the cute MFT Santa stamps and dies.  I have used MFT papers and my favourite Go Kreate frilly squares die.  Coloured with Copics with fun flock on his hat. I kept the design simple just adding a bow and some enamel dots.

Challenges

ABC Christmas P is for People, Q is for Quick, R is for red

The Paper Shelter pearls, gems, enamel dots

Winter Wonderland

As you know I love making scenes with these Card-io stamps and this card uses a variety of sets. I added a touch of sunset colour behind the tress using a dry baby wipe and small ink pads  A touch of silver acrylic paint for some sparkle and job done.

Challenges

Allsorts forest friends 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts all creatures great and small 

Stamping Sensations anything goes

Mum

This is my Mum's Birthday card using a cute LOTV stamp coloured with Copics. I added some clear Wink of Stella to the flower centres and the butterfly. The paper is First Edition Sweet Nothings. I used a MFT stitched square die and a new set of Joy butterfly dies. I have so many different butterfly dies but when I saw a crafting friend selling these on Ebay I had to bid for them as I don't have any this shape. I added some Impression Obsession diecut leaves and lots of flowers from Wild Orchid. The sentiment and crispy ribbon are from my stash.

Challenges

Dies R Us anything goes using dies 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts all creatures great and small 

Simon Says add a sentiment 

Noor! Design UK anything goes

Country Rock

I was lucky enough to win The Ribbon Girl challenge a few weeks ago and my lovely prize from Maja of Denim and Friends paper pad arrived. There are two sheets of fabulous male images and I loved making this card using one of them with papers from the pack. I seem to have bought a few dies recently and he MFT western star border is one of them, a Facebook bargain for £4 plus postage. It goes perfectly with my image. The sentiment is also MFT. I added some denim washi tape from America and used the stars which were the waste from the diecut.  The cowboy hat was a lucky find amongst some stickers I bought in America. 

Challenges

Simon Says add a sentiment 

Noor! Design UK anything goes

It's my Mum's 85th Birthday today so we are taking her out for the day.

Christmas in the forest

I have some Christmas ornaments to share with you today. I covered the wooden discs with scraps and paper and used some embossed card I found in my stash. The little fence is a MFT rolling hills die, the deer are Impression Obsessions and  Memory Box dies. The little trees are also MFT Winter trees dies and the snowflakes the smallest of the Memory Box stitched snowflakes dies. They have been sprayed with Crafter's Companion spray and shine.

Challenges

ABC Christmas Q is for quick 

Dies R Us anything goes using dies 

Allsorts forest friends

I have been busy cutting out lots of material ready to make more bunting and some Christmas things too so watch this space.  Enjoy your Sunday.

Winter Ella

Our new challenge at A Gem of a Challengeis snow fun (add snowflakes). I think Winter Ella looks so cute in her jumper and hat and she has been coloured with Copics and I used fun flock on her pompom. The papers are some new ones I found in Hobbycraft, Christmas Whisper. I have used my favourite shaped dies from Go Kreate, frilly quares 10. The sentiment is another favourite set from LOTV, Grunge Christmas.  I added some lace from Crafty Ribbons and used a Marianne snowflake die with glitter card. Do come and join in the fun and don't forget to get your children crafting with our Summer Holiday challenge for children at A Gem of a Challenge.

Challenges

Simon Says add a sentiment

The Paper Shelter dies and punches

Looking forward to a trip out this afternoon with friends for a carvery and then a trip to the coast for a walk and then a show on the pier, a Beatles tribute band, They are supposed to be excellent so that should be a good show.

The scales must be wrong!

This is the final paper pieced Pink Gem card I had published in Making Cards last month. My friend Carol made me laugh with the last Rita card I had on here as she said the image has my hairstyle. So here I am in my PJs and slippers on the scales 😃. I only like rose or white wine though. As before she has been coloured with Copics and paper pieced. The papers are Santoro Willow and I added some lace from Crafty Ribbons, doodling and enamel dots. The scalloped border is an MFT die.

Challenges

Simon Says add a sentiment

I have a new outlet for some of my gifts, a new florist shop which opened last week in Acle. It was a chance meeting in a wholesalers when I saw them buying a lot of stock and asked what it was for. I gave them a business card, they contacted me and bought a few gifts to start with to see how they go. This morning I have to go and see them and then go into Norwich for some shopping, lunch and a haircut for hubby.

Let's bake

It's always good to find things you had forgotten about and whilst looking through my dies for something the other day I came across a First Edition baking set and thought that would be good to use on a plaque so here it is. I used some lovely ribbons from Crafty Ribbons and some more lucky finds were the wooden cherries and the wooden chicken tag. I have no idea where that came from, America I think. Then I thought some eggs would be good to go with that and remembered I have an old Sizzix thinlets die of a basket and Easter eggs so I diecut 2 eggs to add to it. 

Birthday time

I really need to build up my stock of male cards before I am next at the hospital shop so expect to see several popping up over the next few weeks. This is a Woodware stamp which I stamped in brown on kraft and diestressed with vintage photo DI. he papers are some old ones from a couple of pads and the sentiment is one of my last from Craftwork Cards which I bought years ago. I remembered I bought some wooden cogs which were just what I needed along with the burlap.

I would like to enter this into the anything goes challenge at Stamping Sensations.

Stitch and Sew

When I first made a sewing plaque it sold straight away and so did the next ones I made. However I then had one on my stall for ages and I also had one for sale in the cafe/craft shop I supply. They too had it for ages then would you believe we both sold them last month. I have made two the same design but in different colourways.

The ribbon and lace are from Crafty Ribbons. I found the mannequin diecuts which I think I cut from a friend's Sizzix die. I added the paper dress and used dies for the scissors and sewing machine. The wooden embellishments and tiny buttons were the perfect finish.

Looking forward to a facial and back massage this afternoon.

Exercising Rita

It is the second of the cards I had published last month in Making Cards. This is such a fun image from Pink Gem and she has been coloured with Copics and paper pieced again. The flowers are Prima and the ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons. I used  Go Kreate dies frilly squares 9.

We are out tonight for a meal at Cosmo with friends. Their lunch buffet is good but the evening one is much better so not too much to eat today so we can enjoy our meal. We are eating early then coming back to play a couple of new board games.

Another snowman

I feel like I have made lots of Christmas cards already but when I counted them I can see that there are a lot more still needed.

Image - Pink Gem Chilly with birdhouse

Medium - Copics

Papers and sentiment - Hobbycraft Heritage Christmas

Dies - MFT pierced fishtail stax, basic border

Other - Stickles, twine, charm

Challenges

ABC Christmas R is for red

For a special couple

I love making these plaques and I made this one for the couple who got engaged last Friday. I have already shared the cards I made so time to share this with you.  There is a close up of the heart below.

MDF Heart and butterflies  - MDF Craft Supplies

Paper - LOTV

Stamped sentiment - Inkylicious

Die - Tim Holtz clock

Flowers - Wild Orchid

Paper butterfly - Prima

Script Embellishment - The Works

Bark hearts - Live and Love Crafts

Lace bow - Gorjuss

Ric rac - stash

Challenges

Noor! Design UK anything goes 

Stamping Sensations anything goes 

As you like it your favourite embellishment (I have so many and have used my most favourite on here, flowers, diecuts and lace. I love ribbon but the delicacy of lace is even better and I love to use flowers whether paper or diecut, they really add to a shabby chic feel.)

Knitting

The new issue of Making Cards is out today so I can now share one of the cards I had published last month. I made three cards using Pink Gem's Rita and showed how to paper piece digis.  I must paper piece more often as I love it and when you have a big item like the chair it is particularly effective. I used a MFT scalloped edge die and some lace and ribbon from Crafty Ribbons I also love the little scissors charm.

Very early start this morning to set up and sell my cards and gifts at the hospital today.

Texting

I made this card to give to the youngest sister of the girl who just got engaged and as it was her Birthday on Monday I can share it with you. She loves blue and her phone so this image from LOTV, Jasmine texting was perfect for her. I used MFT graphic grid and hearts and stripes paper packs, MFT fringed bunting die, LOTV teenage girl sentiment and some enamel dots.

Challenges

Stamping Sensations anything goes 

Noor! Design UK anything goes 

Simon Says for a child

Christmas again

It's my second inspirational DT card for the LOTV Facebook challenge of Christmas which means another card for the pile. Christmas snowman has been coloured with Copics, papers are the new First Edition ones Merry Little Christmas. I love the addition of purple in this pack. I used a Doohickey fence and Joy tree dies, white glitter card and added a punched snowflake. here are some LOTV vouchers to be won so do hop over and join in the challenge. We also have a LOTV World Facebook group so if you love LOTV and are not a member then ask to join. We would love to see you there.

Challenges

Penny Black and more at Allsorts all creatures great and small

We are out for lunch with friends today trying somewhere none of us have been before. It's a garden centre with an award winning restaurant which is very popular so we have booked. Hope it is as good as people say it is.

Engaged

So this is the card I made to give to the engaged couple on Sunday.  I was looking through my toppers and found this sweet one which was in Making Cards magazine a while ago. I added some clear Wink of Stella to the umbrella as she loves a bit of sparkle and stamped the LOTV sentiment onto the topper. The papers are Bo Bunny Head over Heels. I added the wooden heart embellishment, some pearl hearts and used a Die-namites heart branch die.

She said yes

My friend asked me to make this card which meant we knew about the engagement before the prospective bride. There was never any doubt she would say yes. I was asked for a white on white card with a silhouette and I remembered I had the perfect Little Claire silhouette topper. I did use patterned paper as I was worried such a large card, it is 8x8, might look a bit bland and the hearts are lovely and sparkly. I used a heart embossing folder, flowers from Hobbycraft and coloured a wooden heart with white Wink of Stella. The ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons and the pearl trim from The Hobby House. I stamped, heat embossed and diecut some flowers and butterflies. The flower stamps and dies are from The Works and the butterflies from The Range.

Snowmen!

I am sure I have made more Christmas cards this year than I usually have by this time which is encouraging although I do need to build up my stock of other cards. For this one I used some new papers from Hobbycraft Christmas Whisper. The new Christmas collections seem slow coming out this year. I was amazed to find that MFT don't bring theirs out until October.  Anyway back to my card. I used a corner rounder punch, MFT scalloped border and Marianne square and snowflake dies, LOTV Grunge sentiment and a precoloured Little Claire topper along with some ribbon from my stash.

Challenges

Noor! Design UK anything goes 

Allsorts colours of your flag (red, white and blue) 

Winter Wonderland ribbon

ABC Christmas R is for Red

We are off to a BBQ at lunchtime today to celebrate a young couple's engagement. 

Cheers

Can you believe it is time for another fortnightly challenge at A Gem of a Challenge and it is a really easy one this time, Birthday. I made this card for Lynsey's hubby as he enjoys a pint or two. I used a precoloured image Cheers Henry as I really like his striped hat and scarf. I must colour one of these up and paper piece part of it I think. The paper is one of the new First Edition ones, Grand Plans. I added some burlap and a Little Claire stamped sentiment along with some punched stars.

Don't forget our children's Summer Holiday challenge running alongside our normal challenge so get those children crafting.

Carol singers

I have been playing with another of the Paper Creator kits. I love using tag shapes on cards and this tag and sentiment are part of the Carol Singing Mice kit. I teamed them with some  really old Papermania papers which were the perfect colour match. The scalloped edge was cut with a MFT die, sentiment diecut with a Lawn Fawn stitched circle die and I added some ribbon, punched musical notes and MS punched snowflakes. These precoloured toppers make super cut but quick cards. 

Challenges

Noor! Design UK anything goes 

ABC Christmas Q is for quick

I am very busy at the moment with magazine commissions and making stock but taking a day out today with hubby for lunch and some retail therapy. Hubby is out all day tomorrow so I shall be spending the day crafting.

Icecream!

A lovely Summery card today featuring Belle from Belle and Boo. She has been coloured with Copics and fussy cut. The papers are Sunny Side Up from LOTV and I used one of my most used die sets, MFT pierced fishtail stax,

Challenges

Allsorts photo inspiration (I chose the colours and Summer)

Dies R Us Summertime fun 

Squirreel's not so random challenge Holiday fun

I see a star

Our new Facebook challenge has started at LOTV and this month it is Christmas. Great prizes to be on as always. I used one of my new digis, Stargazing, coloured with Copics. I added some silver on her hat with a Sakura clear star pen and used clear Wink of Stella on the star. The paper is Bo Bunny Altitude and I I used Dovecraft 3d pearl effects in pastel green on white card to diecut the trees. I explain this technique in an upcoming magazine commission. The sentiment is another I found in my stash.

Challenges

Winter Wonderland digi image 

As you like it favourite colour combo (I love purple and aqua as they contrast so well with each other)

Blustery Day

Today is my first challenge post as part of the Paper Creator DT and our new challenge is for a child. I chose to make a Christmas card with the cute Sassy Cheryl precoloured Blustery Day image. The papers are Papermania Jolly Santa and I used Lawn Fawn pierced rectangle, Joy Christmas tree and MFT basic border dies. I found the sentiment in my Christmas stash.

Challenges

Simon Says anything goes 

The Paper Shelter anything goes 

Winter Wonderland digi image

Out for coffee with friends this morning at the coffee and gift shop where I sell some of my gifts. Time to restock a few items there too.