Business Sale - Testing the water.

Hi All.

I'm sorry I haven't blogged for some time, but things have been quite hectic over recent months. Anyway, the reason for this post is to let you know that I am thinking of selling my rubber business. If you know of a craft shop wanting to expand, or you are someone who is looking to perhaps start up with an already established business please contact me at lilac.lemon@gmail.com.

Hope everyone is well.

I See Candy!!!!!

Hi everyone

I am so sorry that I have been such a bad blogger of late. To be perfectly honest I have so much going on I have barely made a card for weeks. I think I am back in the swing of it though and will hopefully have some cards to share shortly.

Anyway, I was just doing a bit of blog hopping and found the most delish candy in the form of Martha Stewart punches and blooms from Wild Orchid Crafts. Check them out here at Jacqui's blog. While you are there have a nosey around her cards. They are just gorgeous.

Enjoy your weekend and I'll be in touch soon.

Father's Day Times 3

Good afternoon and how are everyone's preparations for tomorrow going? I have to make 3 Father's Day cards every year and here are my 3 for this year.

The first is for my FIL. The papers are Foundations from Creative Expressions. They were featured on a show on Creat & Craft earlier in the week. The sentiment is from a Popcorn the Bear stamp set and the Nautical stamps are one stamp separated but I can't remember who the manufacturer is. If you are interested email me and I will find out. I coloured the images with Distrss Inks

The second is hubby's card off the boys. It's Popcorn the Bear coloured with Twinks. I used the co-ordinating papers from the CD.

Last and not least is my Dad's card. I am not at all pleased with this and was almost embarrassed to send it to him. The picture is from one of the Creative Expressions Create-A-Scene stamp plates. I used Distress Inks to stamp it. The card shape is from one of the Keepsake boards.

This week, my store is sponsoring Crafty Catz Challenge blog. The theme is shaped cards and the above card is my GDT work. Oh well, better luck next time guys! I hope you like the prize I have donated.

I would also like to enter one or all of these cards into the One Stop Craft Challenge, which is One For the Boys.

OK, off to play with some new stamps and some Cosmic Shimmer..........

Have a good weekend.

x

MAWTT Sponsor & Some News

Good afternoon. Well it's brighter today with no rain but the Summer seems to have left us for now. Just as I was getting used to it too!

This week my store is sponsoring Moving Along with the Times. They asked me to be GDT this week and this is my card.

No special technique, just a bit of découpage. This is Popcorn and Coconut from the Popcorn Romance CD. I almost didn't get this one made in time. It's my SIL's wedding anniversary today and nearly forgot.

Now, anyone following my blog may have noticed that there have not been many entries recently. I am stuggling for time to craft with working 2 part time jobs, and running my online store, oh and running a house. The latter is looking very neglected....................more so than usual. Accordingly, I will not be able blog much let alone craft for a while.

My mojo has up and left me and I think I need a wee break. My store is sponsoring several challenge blogs over the coming weeks and I will of course, let you know which ones and when, with perhaps a card or two along the way. So, please forgive me if I appear to go AWOL.

In the meantime, please check out the MAWTT challenge blog and see what you can do with Clare's sketch.

Mwah!

x

Last Papertake Weekly GDT Card

This is my last week on the Papertake Weekly Design Team. Next week a new GDT take over.

Dawny has provided us with another fabby sketch and the added twist is to use Lilac and/or Lemon in honour of my store sponsoring the challenge this week.

I have used a Sarah Kay image coloured with Promarkers and used 2 Spellbinders sets. The border is from the In Spades Pendant set. I edged the image with Dusty Concorde Distress Ink. I have no idea what make the main backing sheet is but the border is cut from a Foundations set which will soon be available from Creative Expressions. The Cherry Blossom are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have coloured them with a Big & Juicy Inkpad so that they match my colour scheme.

Do head on over to the PTW blog to see what the DT have done with this sketch and to see what my store is offering as a prize.

Have a good evening.

There goes the sun!

I'm sorry this is quite late in the day, but I've been fighting a migraine since I came home from work. I think I am winning!

Today is the start of a new Papertake Weekly challenge. Dawny sets the challenges a few weeks in advance and thought that as it's the 1st June, Summer would be underway. Well, it was for a while, wasn't it? The theme this week is Summer Fun and doesn't Lacie look like she's having oodles of fun.

She's a Digital Pencil Too image by Mo and I think she is gorgeous. The papers are Funky Hands from the Funky Seasons CD. The ribbon is from my stash, but I think it's HOTP and the little flip flop charm is also from my stash. I coloured her with Promarkers.

So, hop on over and see what the rest of the DT have done. Have a good evening.

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp Challenge

Good afternoon. Sorry for my bad blogging of late. I'm up to my eyeballs in TV samples and wedding stationery, not sure which to do first...................

So this is going to be a short post as I can hear Kieran wrecking the living room. This is the card I sent to hubby for his birthday. The image is done by Di, her link is over to the right of my blog. I was hunting for an image when I came across this cute fella, only he was asleep over a bottle of wine. My hubby is not particularly a wine drinker so I asked Di about a Beer Bear and voila, she drew this one for me. The papers are Pink Petticoat and the font is theirs too.

I am entering this card into the Dare U 2 Digi Stamp challenge.

Creative Expressions

If you live in the UK and are a crafter you will certainly have heard of Creative Expressions, the brains behind Cosmic Shimmer. If you haven't, where have you been hiding???????

Anyway, I went to Creative Expressions HQ yesterday and underwent Demonstrator training, which means I am now a fully fledged demonstrator for them. It was THE best day and our trainer was Sheena Douglass herself. Talk about down to earth, is exactly as she is on TV if you have seen her.

So......if you live in the Midlands and would like to see any of Cosmic Shimmer, Ranger or the new Eco range demonstrated, get in touch with your local stockist and ask them to speak to their Rep about having a Demo Day. You may well see me :-)

Papertake Weekly GDT Week 2

Good morning. A bit chillier this morning, I feel. Not going to get any better this week either I am told.

So, yesterday was the launch of the new Papertake Weekly challenge. I am sorry I am late posting this but I was a training course all day yesterday with Creative Expressions and it was hubby's birthday so I opted to spend time with him last night rather than at the computer.

This is Ethan Pirate. He is a Pollycraft image that was a frreebie a few weeks ago. He is still available but you have to buy him now :-) Papers are Creative Cottage which are also available from Pollycraft. The sketch was created by the fabulous DawnyP.

Please head on over and see what the other girlies have done with this sketch and have a go yourself. You could win a wonderful prize.

I am also entering this card into the Dare U 2 Digi Stamp challenge.

Hubby's Birthday

What a lovely weekend we have had. I hope it lasts for a little while.

Tuesday will be hubby's birthday. I made this card using the LOTV sketch and one of their stamps called Zoom. This is hubby's card off the boys. The sketch called for flowers but obviously they don't suit this image or the recipient so I used 2 buttons and a racing flag.

Well enjoy the rest of your weekend. Sorry it's such a short post tonight, loads to do and so little time.

Papertake Weekly GDT Card

Good afternoon. If I hadn't been at work today it would have been the perfect day to sit in the garden. Hasn't it been a lovely day?

This is my card for my first week as a GDT member for Papertake Weekly. The theme is Say It With Flowers as they are sponsored by Wild Orchid Crafts. I have used flowers from them on my card too. You really should hop over and see what the DT have created for this week's challenge.

I coloured the image simply with Promarkers and slapped some Stickles on the roses. I have decided to keep this card and send it to the couple who's Wedding stationery I am making. They get married in November, I think. The DP is Polka Doodles from their Love and Cherish CD.

I would also like to enter this card into the following challenges.

Challenge 1. Totally Papercrafts - Wedding / Anniversary

Challenge 2. Creative Card Crew - Sketch

Simon Says Sketch

I know, no post for days and then two in one day.

The DP is from the Popcorn CD (I guess you can't see it all that well). The stamp is huge so I had to move some of the elements of the sketch a little. Also, the sketch called for flowers but I didn't think that flowers suited the image or the recipient of the card. I made this card with one of Kieran's childminders in mind as she is 21 tomorrow.

I coloured the image with Promarkers and the ribbon is a self adhesive glitter ribbon from Anitas.

Night all!

One for the Girls

Good evening. Please forgive me for the lack of blogging of late. I have a weekend job as well as my normal part time job and did more hours last week at my weekend job than my normal one! This resulted in a serious lack of crafting time due to tiredness, lol.


Anyhoo, these are some of my favourite papers which work perfectly with the Fairytale Tildas. They are from the DCWV Fairytale stack. I have coloured the image with Promarkers and glittered her wings with Stickles.



I would like to enter this card into the following challenges (and just in the nick of time too!)

Challenge 1. I {Heart} Promarkers - Sketch
Challenge 2. Just Magnolia - One For The Girls
Challenge 3. Creative Inspirations - Fairies
Challenge 4. Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Metal

It Takes Two and some news.

Good morning everyone. It's a lovely morning here, the sun is shining, Lewis is at school and Kieran is running amok! Well, that's what 2 year olds do best, isn't it?

I had some fabby news this morning.......My Random thingy picked my number and I have been picked as a GDT member on the Papertake Weekly challenge starting next week. I'll be on for 4 weeks and my final week coincides with my store sponsoring the challenge. I am so pleased.

So onto today's card. I am entering this into the Just Magnolia It Takes Two challenge. I didn't really have 2 images that worked together very well, but thought that the cat would work with most images. The papers are from Kay & Co and although you can't tell from this picture they are very heavily glittered. I have had them for about 5 years and thought they were so pretty I had only used a fraction of the one sheet and none of the other. I have the vellums that match and they are barely touched either.

I coloured Tilda and the cat with my Promarkers and the ribbon is from my stash. I've kept it quite simple as the papers are quite busy.

Hope you like it. Have a nice day. xx

Orange & Purple Fairy

Good afternoon. What happened to the sun? Which one of you was singing again??? OK it was me, but don't tell anyone, lol.

I think I took this picture at the wrong angle, quite a bit of shade has fallen on the one side from the raised sentiment. If I get time I will take it again, but I'm at work tonight. Shows the sparkle off quite nicely though, don't ya think?

So, this image is Fearn and she was a Friday Freebie at Pollycraft a few weeks ago. I love Paula's Lilybean Fairies. I coloured her with Promarkers (surprise, surprise) and the border is a Nestabilities border cut from some Basic Grey paper. I stamped a bit of a swirl on it to give it a bit more interest. The backing paper is also from the Green at Heart paper pad......... (thanks Simon Says :-) I followed the sketch on the Papertake Weekly challenge and although the ribbon part isn't on the sketch I thought it suited the colours in the card.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Challenge 1. Papertake Weekly - Sketch (GDT)

Challenge 2. Simon Says - Birthdays

Challenge 3. Creative Inspirations - Orange, Hot Pink & Purple

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. xx

My First Sweetpea

Good afternoon. Been a bit of a dreary one, but I've managed to make a couple of cards and do a few more wedding invitations. Not my wedding, of course, but an order I have.

I ummed and ahhhed about buying any of these stamps as I felt my colouring skills weren't up to doing them justice. However, after a chat with Randi from The Dark Mermaid blog (you must visit there if you haven't seen her work) and some reassuring words from Teresa at Crafts and Me I took the plunge and this is my first attempt.

The stamp is called Dark Royalty and I coloured her with Promarkers. I have added Stickles for some sparkle. I made the background with my Alcohol Inks to give a polished stone effect. I tried to mask a moon but it didn't work, so I punched one out and added a touch of Stickles to give an ethereal effect.

The cherry blossom stamp is one from my stash and is embossed with some Moonglow 2 tone embossing powder. The vellum has some Kanji on it but I have no idea what it says.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges.

Challenge 1. Crafts and Me - Sparkle

Challenge 2. Passion for Promarkers - Gratitude

Challenge 3. Create4Fun - Sketch

Challenge 4. I {heart} Promarkers - Wings

As a note to any blogs that need a link back, I still haven't worked out how to do this within my post so there is a permanent link in my side bar for many of the challenges that I participate in. I hope this is OK.

You have to kiss a lot of frogs......

....before you find your handsome Prince. (ain't that the truth, lol)

In my opinion, these Fairytale Tildas are the best that Magnolia have released to date. They are so pretty and span a wide age group.

So, quite a boring blog from me today, just the recipe for this card. Nothing exciting has happened.....oooooh except my Simon Says Papercraft Planet win. I am such a dosey mare! I got an email last week telling me to hurry up and claim my prize! I had completely forgotten that I entered. I won the most wonderful Basic Grey Green at Heart paper pad and all the brads and goodies that compliment it. I scampered straight over to the group (tripping over my keyboard on the way), apologised profusely and my goodies arrived today..........barely a week after it was despatched. Thank you to Chris from the PCP group and Heidi at Simon Says.

OK, onto the card, lol. The papers are again from a Forever Friends CD, the ribbon is from my stash, Tilda is coloured with Promarkers and I used some of the prettiest blue glitter board to pull it together. I Stickled Tilda's wings. The card still looked a little boring though, so I added some wee roses from Wild Orchid Crafts and Stickled those too!

I am entering this card into one challenge......Just Magnolia for the sketch.

Thanks for looking, enjoy the rest of your week.

Princess Tilda

Isn't this image adorable? It has almost killed me to have to wait for these stamps having them on pre-order. Some of us weren't so lucky as to be able to go to the NEC in March and buy them early. Maybe November..........

The papers I used are from the new Forever Friends CDs. They are so pretty I was spoilt for choice. I made the flowers using punched flower shapes, a Brilliance Ink Pad and some Moonglow Glimmer Mist from Lindy's Stamp Gang. A fairly simple card, coloured with Promarkers. But I think it is soooo perty (pretty for those of you that don't speak silly)!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges (would have been one more but I missed the Pollycraft deadline)

Challenge 1. Passion for Promarkers - Sketch and handmade flowers.

Challenge 2. Cute Card Thursday - Make Your Own

Sugary Sweet

As soon as I received my Sugar Nellie prize I just had to have a play. It took a while for her to get here but wow, she is as beautiful as the website shows her. I can see why it's such a popular stamp.

Following my watercolour pencils hissy fit, I decided to use them on this image too. As soon as I saw these papers from Kirsty Wiseman I knew they would go perfectly with this image. I picked the deep pink and blue from the papers to colour Daisy with and I think it works really well.

I followed the skecth from The Sugar Bowl challenge. I nearly forgot to use my punch, but was able to use the border punch for the centre horizontal panel and (I'm not sure if this counts but) used a Nestie for the sentiment panel. I edged the sentiment with a Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid ink pad.

The papers are a little out of my comfort zone, being so bright. But, I am pleased with this card.

Hope you are all keeping dry. Have a great Bank Holiday.

Happy Anniversary

Since discovery Promarkers about 6 months ago my watercolour pencils have been seriously neglected. They started to throw a hissy fit earlier this week so I thought this would be the perfect image to use them on.

Friday is my Outlaw's wedding anniversary and I very nearly bought an image to use. However, belts are being tightened and I decided to have a look and see what I had in my stash. I have no idea who makes this stamp, it was one that my friend gave me as she is not a stamper.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the papers are Pink Petticoat. I used a peel off as my initial stamped greeting went quite wrong.

I am entering this into the Moving Along with the Times Challenge as I followed the sketch.

Sentiment Sheet Sale

Just a quick note about the clear stamp sheet that I sell. Due to some sheets discolouring I am selling them at half price. They are not faulty and are new, they have just gone slightly yellow. Some of them haven't discoloured at all. You can find them in my store (link to the right) for just £5.00 per A5 sheet.

In The Garden

Gooooood morning everyone. Isn't it another beautiful day?

I am sure many of you have papers that you buy in bulk packs and wonder when you will ever use them, but you keep them.....just in case. The paper used on this card is one of those sheets. I bought it about 5 years ago along with a load of other papers that have been sat in the box ever since. I didn't really like it but it 'spoke' to me when I was thinking about this card.

Now, I picked the pinks and greens to pull from this paper but I'm not sure that the yellows and golds would have been better now that it's together. The image of course, is Tilda. My friend Karen sent me some stamped images to play with so I'm not sure which one she is. The sentiment is from the Lilac Lemon Designs clear stamp sheet and I used a couple of Nesties for the circle. The ribbon was liberated from some gift or other at some stage.

So, the challenges I would like to enter this card into are:

Challenge 1. Creative Inspirations - Sketch

Challenge 2. Passion for Promarkers - In The Garden

Challenge 3. Just Magnolia - Anything Goes

Have a lovely weekend.

Papertake Weekly Sketch

Good afternoon, I hope the weather is as nice where you are as it is here. It's been a lovely day only spoilt by hubby's car failing it's MOT!

As some of you will have seen from posts earlier in the year, I have been going to Weight Watchers since January 2009. I got to my 3 stone mark a few weeks ago and while I haven't lost much since (typically), I managed to get into a size 14 trouser today. It's been 20 years since I last fitted into anything that size!!!!! Only 1.5 st to go...............

So, onto my card for today. This card was supposed to be for a female but turned out a bit male for my liking.

The image is Thomas from Lili of the Valley and the papers are MME Wild Asparagus. I coloured him with Promarkers (what else!) and the brads are from my stash. I followed the sketch from Papertake Weekly, although I flipped it a little so that the greeting sat right given the way Thomas is facing. I am absolutely certain there was another challenge I wanted to enter this card for, but can't remember what it was.

So, I have one more card to show you tomorrow and then that will probably be it until next week as I have a busy weekend coming up so won't have any crafting time.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Happy Birthday Nanny

It's my MIL's birthday on Thursday and I made this card for her off my boys. I used 2 of the Thomas LOTV stamps, one each for Lewis and Kieran. I used the masking technique and the Lili of the Valley sketch for this week.



The papers are from a Joanna Sheen CD, Precious Petals, I think and I have edged them with a Brilliance Inkpad, along with the circle. The bottom edge is punched with an Empuncher. My good old Promarkers came in handy again for the colouring. The roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts and they were a tad too pink, so I rubbed a little of the Orchid Brilliance pad on the them to darken them a little.



I would like to enter this card into 2 challenges.

Challenge 1. LOTV - Sketch
Challenge 2. A Spoon Full of Sugar - Happy Birthday

Welcome Baby Archie

My bestest friend for 20 years had a baby boy last week. 2 1/2 years ago she was told she couldn't have children so to find out she was pregnant to a man who adores her was the icing on the cake.

I followed last week's sketch on the A Spoon Full of Sugar challenge but have uploaded it too late to enter it, but I still have time to enter the Quixotic 'Heavy Metal' challenge. It should also have entered the Papertake Weekly 'Cutie Pie' challenge but I am not doing well for time, lol.

The stamp is from Elzybells and I've coloured using my Promarkers. The papers are Funky Hand printed on pearl paper. How cute is this little bear?

Sitting Mollie

It's been a lovely day here in Halesowen, the sun has been shining and Summer seems closer. I hope it's been nice where you are too.

I coloured this image the other evening with the colour scheme in mind for 2 challenges. She Sitting Mollie from the Secret Crafter's new Manga collection. Isn't she gorgeous?

The papers are Funky Hand, the sentiment is from a Kay & Co pack I bought several years ago and never used and the flowers are from the same set, but 'borrowed' from other embellishments, lol. I coloured her with Promarkers. I am really pleased with the shading on this one.

I would like to enter this card into 3 challenges.

Challenge 1. Pollycraft Monday Challenges - Pink, Brown and Green or Yellow (I chose Yellow)

Challenge 2. Crafts and Me - Pink, Brown and Yellow

Challenge 3. I {heart} Promarkers - Sketch

Thanks for looking and have a fab weekend.

Sugar Bowl Challenge

I just loved the sketch on The Sugar Bowl this time and had to have a go. The image is one of the Funky Kits Manga stamps and I have coloured her with my Promarkers. The papers are Pink Petticoat.

I decided that it needed a little something so used silver mirri card for the layering. Boy, that flower looks big in this photo. It's a Papermania silk flower and the lace is from my stash. I used the Lilac Lemon Designs clear sentiment stamp set for the sentiment.

Right off to get a cuppa.

Shopping Willow

I coloured this image weeks ago but haven't really had a project to use it on. I followed a sketch from the Inspiration Card Sketches blog but the new challenge started today so I can't enter it there. However, it is perfect for the Creative Inspirations Challenge blog which has a colour combo of Green, Brown and Blue.

I coloured Willow with my Promarkers and stamped the flower and sentiment from the Lilac Lemon Designs clear sentiment set. The paper is from Funky Hand and the wrap is from my stash.

I am also entering this card into te Creative Card Crew's Happy Birthday challenge.

Card for a Boy

Good evening. I'm cutting it close with this one!!!

Firstly I want to apologise to anyone who's eyes do the hokey cokey without them when looking at this picture. I had a headache after making the card looking at those stripes!

I have had this stamp for about a week and finally got round to having a play. It's one of the new Manga stamps from the Secret Crafter. Although it's not my son's birthday until July he loves this image and I thought it would fit perfectly with the Simon Says and Passion for Promarker challenges this week. I coloured him with Promarkers and used a Pink Petticoat paper for the background.

Thank you to Dawny P for her advice on fair hair. She is a star!

Lewis's favourite team is Aston Villa who play in Claret and Blue. I had to improvise a little with the football strip on this one but hopefully it works.

This is not at all my best work and I am a little disappointed with it. Hopefully the DT at Papertake Weekly will look past this and at some of better work when considering my GDT application :-)

I would like to enter this into the following challenges.

Challenge 1. Papertake Weekly - Sketch

Challenge 2. Passion for Promarkers - The Young Ones

Challenge 3. Simon Says - Card for a Child

Another Spring Card

Oh what a beautiful day and I am sat in the loft making cards! Not this one though........

This is a card that I made at a workshop at the Secret Crafter. I am so lucky that Wendy and her store are right around the corner. Not so sure that Wendy feels that way about me, lol.

This post is going to be very ignorant as I have no idea what make the papers are (maybe Basic Grey). The stamp is Helz Cuppleditch and he's a real cutie. I coloured him with Promarkers and used a Martha Stewart punch for the borders at the bottom of the card. I think I needed to distress the yellow to match the Nestie shape but it was already on the card before I realised that they didn't match, lol.

I am entering this card into the following challenges.

Challenge 1. Quixotic Challenges - The Joys of Spring

Challenge 2. I {heart} Promarkers - Animals

Thanks for looking and I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

Sweet Pea Candy

If there are any Sweet Pea stamp fans out there you will love the candy that Heather has to offer. Just follow this link and leave a comment for the chance to win.

http://ricas-haven.blogspot.com/2010/04/sweet-pea-blog-candy.html

More DT Work

Good afternoon, and isn't it a lovely day? I'm off to work in a couple of hours so thought I would share these 2 cards that I made with some Paper Creator kits.

The first is a circular pyramage from the Cupcake collection. It was so easy to put together, the work has been done for you, all you need to do is decide how you want to put it on your card.

I made a 5.5" square card and cut off half of the front. Then I made a smaller 4" square card and put the fold on the right hand side to create another dimension. The backing papers are a duo sheet and I cut them 1/4" smaller than the card to give a nice border before edging with peel off stickers. I found the button in my stash and made a closure for the card.

This card comes all ready for you to print off and put together. You even get a piece for the back of the card to keep it co-ordinated. I printed all the sheets off and cut them out. Following the instructions provided, I scored and folded the base card and applied the layers of the decoupage on the front before attaching it to the base card. I glittered the toppings with Stickles and they remind me of Jelly Tots. I added a few buttons from my stash and a peel off greeting to the plaque on the bottom.

I hope you like these cards. Please take a look at the Paper Creator website for more wonderful goodies.

"Mary, Mary........

......quite contrary, how does your garden grow?"

Since the release of my Art Deco ladies, I have neglected the Art Nouveau ladies and they were getting a little stroppy. So when I saw that the challenge on Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge was How Does Your Garden Grow? I immediately thought about using one of the set. I may have used my Daisy stamp from Funky Kits which I won at the beginning of last week but she hasn't arrived yet :-(

I have also agreed for my store to sponsor Moving Along With the Times and Crafty Catz Challenge blogs this week so I have used this as my GDT piece. MAWTT are asking for an Easel card and the sketch (albeit moved a little) is for Crafty Catz. Please forgive the fact that I cannot link these titles. I have added links in my sidebar for both of these challenges.

I have already said where the stamp is from, and you will find her and all her sisters in my store, and she is coloured with Promarkers. The papers are from a MCS Art Nouveau CD. I edged everything with Bushed Corduroy Distress Ink and the flowers are from my stash. I bought the smaller ones from Wild Orchid crafts but cannot remember for the life of me where the big flower was bought. I also went round the edge of the papers and the Nestie shape with my craft knife blade to distress the edges a little more but that is not very clear from the photo.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges.

Challenge 1. Totally Papercrafts - Distressing

Challenge 2. SCSC - How Does Your Garden Grow?

There may be another but I can't remember off the top of my head, lol. Will add it later today when I remember, if there is.

Have a good day. xx

Vintage Fairytales

I am sorry to have been quiet this week. If you look below you will see why. As I have mentioned before my team, the Sassy Lassies are entering the TGF Battle of the Groups competition. We got through with last weeks' entry by Jan (thank you to everyone that voted for us), and this week I volunteered to make the card. The theme is Easel cards, and this is mine.

Here is a slightly different view showing some of the dimension.
Now, I will firstly admit to 'casing' Dena at Dena's Stamping Corner for the layout. Her cards are beautiful and you really need to check out her blog. The flower is a home made embellishment that I recently learned at a workshop. Again, it was Dena's influence that made me decide to use one on this card. It just needed something..................

The image is the TGF Summer Fairy (which I won a few weeks back), the papers are DCWV from the Once upon a Time stack. I distressed all of the edges with a Brushed Corduroy ink pad, stamped the 'Believe' and swirl at the top left from a Fancy Pants stamp set, used gold stickles on her wings and sprayed a lot of Amber Fire Glimmer Mist from Lindy's Stamp Gang on the flower to give it a lovely sheen. (phew!)

Now, hopefully, my teamies will like this card as much as I do and they won't make me do another! You will go and vote for us again this week.......won't you????

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges.

Challenge 1. Simon Says - It's So Distressing

Challenge 2. Crafts and Me - Fairies/Wings

Challenge 3. Totally Papercrafts - Let's Go Digital

Challenge 4. Passion for Promarkers - 2 images (Summer Fairy and stamped flourish)

Challenge 5. By the Cute & Girly - Fairytales

Challenge 6. Sir Stampalot - Fantasy

Thanks for looking. Happy Easter.

xx

Good News and Bad News

Well, I don't have any cards to share today but I do have some news. Some good and some bad (well it was bad news for me, lol).

Firstly, I was flipping through the blogs I had entered cards for on Saturday morning and discovered that I had won a runner's up prize with the Quixotic Altered Anya challenge. I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I saw my card. I can't wait for my embellishment pack.

My next discovery was on Sunday when I found out that Mr Random had picked my number in a Blog Candy quiz for Sugar Nellie and I had won the Elizabeth Bell stamp of my choice from Funky Kits. It was a really close call between 3 stamps, but decided on Daisy. I hope she arrives soon, I am so looking forward to having a play with that stamp.

And now for my bad news........I didn't make the Pollycraft DT. I am obviously gutted, but I am sure the ladies that were picked will do a wonderful job and I wish them all well.

OK, back to work..........play time is over :-)

2 Challenge Cards

I have 2 cards that need uploading for challenges tonight so I am putting them in one post.

The first is a Sassy Studio Designs image. I coloured her with Promarkers and used Stickles on her wings. The papers are from my stash, I think they are K & Co and are beautifully pearlescent. The green one has been run through a Nestabilities die.

I would like to enter this card into 4 challenges.

Challenge 1. Sassy Studio Designs - Spring with flowers and butterflies

Challenge 2. Inspirational Card Sketches - Sketch

Challenge 3. SCSC - Pink, Green & Flowers

Challenge 4. Totally Papercrafts - Pink & Green

The second card is an Anniversary card for my friend in Australia. The image is Penny Black and coloured with Promarkers. The papers are from a My Craft Studio CD and I have run a co-ordinating piece of card through a Cuttlebug embossing folder.

I would like to enter this into 1 challenge.

Papertake Weekly - Sketch

Sorry I don't have much to say tonight, I am far too tired.

Battle of the Teams - Please Vote

Just a quick update on the Battle of the Teams competition on TGF.

http://www.thegreetingfarm.com/galleria/showphoto.php?photo=13147

This link will take you to the team I am on's card. Each comment counts as a vote so please vote for us.

Sparkly Thomas

Well good afternoon. It's been a hard slog today getting anything done. I worked a late shift last night and because the clocks went forward I effectively didn't get to bed 'til 2am. Yes the boys let me have a lie in but I am still absolutely shattered.

I coloured this cutie pie in the other evening and just couldn't wait to get him on a card. I am so pleased with how he turned out. He is Thomas from Lili of the Valley and I coloured him with Promarkers. I stickled the flowers and used glitter card for the layering.

Here is a close up of the sparkle.

The paper is Hot Off The Press and picked the colours from the image perfectly, I thought. I hadn't got any cord or twine to use for the buttons, so I improvised and used Mizuhiki cord. Worked quite well, don't you think? The sentiment is from the Lilac Lemon Designs clear stamp set.

I would like to enter this card into 3 challenges.

Challenge 1. Simon Says - Easter or Spring with Glimmer

Challenge 2. Creative Cottage - Sparkle

Challenge 3. LOTV - Sketch

Thanks for visiting my blog.

TGF Battle of the Teams!

Well here are the details for the TGF battle of the teams. My team is the Sassy Lassies.

The Challenge: Create a retro-esque card using the above color scheme.

What teams need to do: Discuss amongst your team members who will be creating this card. Only one member will be doing this. The member will have to email their team leader their finished project.

Due Date: Team Leaders will need to email me the final project no later thanSaturday, March 27th, 11:59pm. You can email your projects as early as you wish.

Please email me at: thegreetingfarm@gmail.com

Subject Heading: Battle Week 1

Please include: Your team name in the email and also the member who did the project. Please name your file with your team name. For example: MyTeam_week1.jpg

Teams are not to upload their projects. TGF will be in charge of uploading everyone's projects.

Voting: Voting/commenting will last Sunday-Tuesday evening. Everyone has 3 days to cast their vote, so don't feel rushed. It's actually better if you all don't vote at the same time and crash the website. haha.

All entries will be located in the

galleria > contests/challenges > TGF ROYAL BATTLE > Week 1.

Please DO NOT vote/comment on your own team. Each person can vote 3 times so please select your top 3 favorites and vote for them.

Next Wednesday we will announce the top 30 teams that will go onto the next round. So best of luck to everyone and remember... more than anything, HAVE FUN!

I will post the card and the voting details at the weekend. Please vote for us.

Spring has sprung again

I made this card using a Penny Black stamp from one of the clear sets. I think this cat is so cute.

The papers are MME from that free pack I've been using and I coloured him with Promarkers.

I know it's only a simple card but I love the way the colours come together.

Not much else to say today except these are the challenges I would like to enter.

Challenge 1. Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Sketch

Challenge 2. Passion for Promarkers - Spring with Cute Animals

Spring Fever

I nabbed this freebie from Pollycraft a couple of months ago and have been dying to use it. My dad loves ducks so I may ask Paula nicely if I can adapt the image so there is only one duck for his Father's Day card.

Anyhoo, I coloured the ducks and flower with Promarkers (like I had to say!), and used Funky Hand papers for the backing. The sentiment is from the Spring set from Pollycraft and the ribbon is from my stash.

This card, my previous post and my next one are all also for the England Stampers Yahoo group swap.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges.

Challenge 1. Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Spring (link on my side bar)

Challenge 2. Crafty Catz - Spring

Challenge 3. Simon Says Papercraft Planet - Sketch

Thanks for looking.

Lilac & Lemon Sparkle

I do smile to myself when I see a challenge calling for a lilac and lemon combination. Really can't miss those challenges. However, I tried to make this one much more difficult than it needed to be, so this card is mark 2, lol.

The image is the Hope for Haiti Carousel horse from Whimsey Stamps and it is coloured with Promarkers. I Stickled the wings and used the clear sparkle Sakura pen for the pole and some of the horses 'dress'. I cuttlebugged the backing card and used my faithful Nesties for the image.

I would like to enter this card into 4 challenges.

Challenge 1. Inspiration card Sketches - Sketch

Challenge 2. Papertake Weekly - Lilac & Lemon

Challenge 3. Pollycraft Monday Challenges - Sparkle

Challenge 4. OSCC - Let it Shine

Altered Audrey.....or is it Charlotte?

Quixotic Challenges are asking you to Alter Anya this week. Well, it's a 2 week challenge and a week has passed already. You can use any two or more TGF images. I have used Audrey's head and Charlotte's body. I just love the way she is poking her tongue out. So cheeky!

The image is coloured with Promarkers and the papers are Funky Hand. No trickery with merging the images. I simply printed the 2 out and lopped off Charlotte's head, lol. Likewise with Audrey's body.

I am entering this card into 4 challenges.

Challenge 1. Quixotic Challenge - Altered Anya

Challenge 2. Simon Says - A Splash of Green

Challenge 3. Creative Inspirations - Yellow, Green and White

Challenge 4. Totally Papercrafts - Sketch

On another note, TGF are having a Battle of the Teams whereby several teams compete making cards with TGF images to win a set of new release stamps before they are released amongst other prizes. The stamps will not be available for a few months yet. It starts next week and I am on a team. I'll keep you informed as soon as I know more.

Codi Stylin'

This is officially one of my fav cards to date. The more keen eyed among you will see that I used the same colours to colour Codi as I did my mom's Mother's Day card. Don't know why, as I struggled for backing paper then too.

Anyway, I did my typical thing and sat and had a colouring night not really thinking about what papers I would use, just having fun. On my blunder round blog land the other day I saw that someone had used some of the sweetest papers from Creative Cottage and that she had bought them from Pollycraft, so of I went. Imagine my surprise when I saw a pack of Monkey Pirate papers in the colours I had coloured Codi. It was like someone had created the pack just for moi! So, the paper pack fell into my basket and voila! here is my card.

I followed the sketch for this week's Passion for Promarkers challenge (albeit not very well) to create my second DT application card for Pollycraft. Paula, if you read this can we have a boy to go with Codi, I have a couple of 10 year olds that would suit that image down to the ground!

PS The image was a freebie, head on over to Paula's Pollycraft blog if you want to nab it.

Sassy Masquerade

I'm not sure if the glare on this photo is my laptop or a rubbish picture, so I apologise in advance if it's the picture.

The image is from Sassy Studio Designs. The papers are from Funky Hand and the feather is from my stash. I coloured the mask with Promarkers and highlighted areas with Stickles. The Sassy Designs blog showed a blinky for inspiration.

I am also entering this card into the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, Anything Goes.

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad

Wednesday is my Mom and Dad's wedding anniversary. I have made this easel card using one of the new Lili of the Valley images. I ran the image and the gold mirri card through my Cuttlebug with the Nesties for the embossed edge. The image is coloured with Promarkers and the papers are Pink Petticoat.

I am entering this card into 3 challenges.

Challenge 1. I {heart} Promarkers - Sketch and embossing

Challenge 2. LOTV - Easel card

Challenge 3. Cute Card Thursday - Celebrations