Lilac Lemon Designs

Craft Sale

2011-11-03T12:04:00.002Z

I'm almost embarrassed at how long it has been since I blogged on here but I haven't crafted since my marriage broke down and I moved house. Accordingly I am selling my craft stash.

A lot of the stamps are quite old and therefore maybe retired so it's your chance to pick up a bargain as well as picking up some hard to come by stamps. I am selling them on ebay and my ID is craftybeckie. I'm also selling some of my tools and fimo bits n pieces and it's taking an age to photgraph it all so I will be listing for some time I think.

Anyway, I hope you are all well and please spread the word about my sale.

Luv n hugs
xx

Business Sale - Testing the water.

2010-10-18T22:55:00.005+01:00

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!!!!!

2010-07-30T14:32:00.002+01:00

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

2010-06-19T14:04:00.004+01:00

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.

MAWTT Sponsor & Some News

2010-06-11T14:27:00.004+01:00

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!

Last Papertake Weekly GDT Card

2010-06-09T15:04:00.002+01:00

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!

2010-06-01T18:31:00.002+01:00

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

2010-05-27T16:31:00.003+01:00

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 Dar e U 2 Digi Stamp challenge.

Creative Expressions

2010-05-26T17:47:00.002+01:00

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

2010-05-26T09:30:00.003+01:00

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

2010-05-23T20:33:00.003+01:00

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

2010-05-18T15:50:00.002+01:00

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

2010-05-17T21:59:00.004+01:00

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

2010-05-17T18:54:00.003+01:00

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.

2010-05-13T09:48:00.004+01:00

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

2010-05-08T14:54:00.002+01:00

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

2010-05-06T16:21:00.002+01:00

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......

2010-05-05T15:22:00.002+01:00

....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

2010-05-03T18:49:00.002+01:00

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

2010-05-02T15:20:00.002+01:00

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

2010-04-30T17:14:00.003+01:00

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

2010-04-29T16:29:00.003+01:00

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

2010-04-23T11:12:00.002+01:00

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

2010-04-22T15:36:00.002+01:00

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

2010-04-20T20:27:00.004+01:00

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

2010-04-20T19:28:00.003+01:00

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

2010-04-16T18:31:00.002+01:00

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

2010-04-15T21:19:00.002+01:00

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

2010-04-13T20:56:00.002+01:00

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

2010-04-12T20:30:00.002+01:00

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

2010-04-11T17:38:00.003+01:00

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

2010-04-11T09:53:00.001+01:00

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

2010-04-10T13:58:00.003+01:00

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........

2010-04-09T09:32:00.002+01:00

......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

2010-04-02T16:57:00.005+01:00

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.

Good News and Bad News

2010-03-30T10:21:00.003+01:00

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

2010-03-29T21:16:00.003+01:00

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

2010-03-28T19:05:00.001+01:00

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

2010-03-28T15:17:00.002+01:00

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!

2010-03-25T12:57:00.002Z

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

2010-03-23T16:06:00.003Z

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

2010-03-22T19:36:00.002Z

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

2010-03-21T10:57:00.003Z

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?

2010-03-19T14:52:00.002Z

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'

2010-03-18T14:28:00.003Z

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

2010-03-16T20:36:00.004Z

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

2010-03-15T21:25:00.005Z

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

Things with Wings

2010-03-15T20:54:00.002Z

This is the birthday card I have made for my friend.

The image was a freebie from Pollycraft and the papers were freebies too with a magazine a couple of months ago. I coloured the little cutie with Promarkers and used Stickles around the candle.

This is my application for the Pollycraft DT. I have Cody all coloured and ready to go and will upload that one when the card is complete.

I am entering this card into 2 challenges.

Challenge 1. Totally Papercrafts - Things with Wings

Challenge 2. Papertake Weekly - Sketch

Paper Creator DT Cards

2010-03-11T20:13:00.002Z

Here's a little bit of eye candy for you. 2 cards made from Paper Creator kits.

The first is a 3D design that I adapted from a sheet of toppers. The duo backing sheet is just so pretty. The plaid and the pale green reminds me of Spring. There are 6 toppers on the sheet. 2 of them have a slightly different frame to the 4 smaller ones. I highlighted the roses with my trusty Stickles and I matted the topper on some silver mirri card. The sentiment is a stamp from Lilac Lemon Designs.

The second card is Kitty in a Tub. It's a shaker kit which I decided not to make a shaker with. I have created the 3D frame and découpaged the kitty as per the sheet that is provided. I then 'filled the bath' with Stickles to look like bubble bath. Again the duo paper is really pretty.

I deliberately don't fancy these cards up very much so that you can see what can be done with the kits as they come. Beginners to cardmaking and découpage then feel like they can make these cards too.

Celebration

2010-03-08T20:22:00.002Z

The end of last month was one of my Yahoo group's 3rd birthday. We had a little challenge and the recipe was 3 papers, 3 embellishments and 1 image. Yes I cheated a little and used 2 stamps to make one image.

The stamps are from Creative Expressions and they are coloured with my Twinks. I used a Papermania paper for the sundae bowl and another party paper for the cupcake holder and then a stripey paper left over from a Mother's Day card. The 3 embellishments are 2 red gems and a bow. I also glazed the cherry.

Creative Card Crew's challenge this week is Celebrations as it's their 1st birthday, so I am entering this card in to their challenge.

Blog Candy Winner

2010-03-07T13:05:00.003Z

Well, we didn't reach 100, or anywhere close. However, I promised a draw so I have used random.org and have got a winner.

Thank you to you all for following me. I know I don't have much to share, generally just challenge entries but do keep checking back as I may have something interesting to say one day, lol.

So, without further ado, the winner is.......................................

****Michele****

Congratulations hun. If you would like to have a scoot round my store (link on the side bar) you can pick any 4 stamps or one of the A5 sets. Please email me with your choice. My email addy is at the top of the blog.

My Mother's Day Card

2010-03-05T20:14:00.007Z

This is the card I am giving to my mom for Mother's Day. I decided to colour it in blue and red and then struggled with the papers. So after some divine inspiration for Dawny P at Pink Piggy I revisited my Pink Petticoat CD and found a colour paper that suited the image perfectly. I decided to go with the blue and red trimmings rather than the other way round, lol.

She's a Lili of the Valley image coloured with Promarkers and I have highlighted the flowers and the roses with Stickles. You can just about see this on the next image.

This photo shows the left hand side of the insert, which finishes off what the outside says.
I am entering this card into the following challenges.

Challenge 1. Sketch Saturday - Sketch (hope I'm in time)

Challenge 2. Simon Says - Mother's Day / Girly

Challenge 3. Totally Papercrafts - Mother's Day / Special Ladies

Girl Racer DT Card

2010-03-04T21:08:00.004Z

Good evening. I have had this cutie sat on my desk for a couple of weeks and decided yesterday it was time that she adorned a card. This is a circular pyramage from Paper Creator.

I found some yellow card to create a square card. In my craft room it matched part of the check better than the picture shows. I cut a square piece from the backing paper and then chopped it in half diagonally, adhered it to the card and edged it with peel offs. I then stamped the greeting with the stamps from Lilac Lemon Designs. This is one of my favourites from the set. Nice and simple but I like it.

My Pink Ladybug......

2010-03-03T16:23:00.004Z

I'll start with a little story and then get to the point, lol. About 7 years ago when I first starting online crafting with Yahoo groups I made friends with a lovely lady in Devon. It's her birthday at the weekend and I know she loves Tilda so I have made this card for her. Happy Birthday Karen.

I have coloured her with Promarkers and highlighted the lacy areas of the hearts and her cap with a clear sparkle Sakura pen. I have her tummy a little sparkle with Stickles. The papers are Pink Petticoat and I cut into the flowers to give the nice border down the side of the image. The sentiment is from the new Lilac Lemon Designs clear stamps and I have used Nestabiliries to create the frame for the sentiment.

Here is a closer view. I was trying to catch the glitter.

I am entering this card into 5 challenges.

Challenge 1. One Stop Challenges - Pink

Challenge 2. ICS - Sketch

Challenge 3. Passion for Promarkers - Back to Nature

Challenge 4. Just Magnolia - Birthdays

Challenge 5. Quixotic Challenges - Leave it Out

Mono for the Boys!

2010-03-01T12:18:00.002Z

Well I finally seem to be getting over the upset stomach that my dear 2 year old gave the rest of us I managed to finish this card today. I should be at work but my eldest son is suffering the the bug and I fear that I am still not right. I spent all of yesterday on the sofa and it meant that we could not attend the family meal planned for the 3 birthday's that it was last week (mine included).

So, I followed the sketch given on Papertake Weekly (cutting it fine for this challenge), coloured with Promarkers and used a Funky Hand CD for the backing papers. Green is my son's favourite colour so this will be my eldest's 11 year birthday card in June. There is some sort of sentiment to add, but I'm not sure what to put on yet. The image is from Mo's Digital Pencil.

The 3 challenges I am entering this card for are:

Challenge 1. Quixotic Challenges - For the Boys

Challenge 2. Papertake Weekly - Sketch

Challenge 3. Creative Inspirations - Mono

Sepia Willow

2010-02-27T20:10:00.002Z

Have you visited the workshop section of the Passion for Promarkers blog? It is definitely worth a visit. I have downloaded a few of the workshops and used the Sepia one by Caryn to colour these two Willow images from the Whiff of Joy City Girl collection. I can't tell you how pleased I am with the outcome.

So I am entering this card into several challenges and as usual I will list them below. But just a quick note on the bits n pieces used to make it. I stamped her with a black Memento ink pad, and coloured her with Promarkers. The papers are from Pink Petticoat (I just love their CDs). The pearls are from my stash and the flowers are Papermania, not sure if they still do them as I need more! I have used Stickles on the petals of the flowers and the sentiment in the centre is from my new clear stamps - available now in my store. I have edged the images and the sentiment with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I have run faux stitches down the centre panel.

Challenge 1. A Spoonful of Sugar - Distress Ink, Pearls and Glitter

Challenge 2. Simon Says PCP Challenge - Dark Brown, Vanilla and Teal

Challenge 3. Simon Says - Vintage with Flowers

Challenge 4. I [heart] Promarkers - Sketch and Stitch

Challenge 5. SCSC - Stitches

Thanks for looking.

A Bear for Mom

2010-02-26T17:18:00.003Z

I treated myself last weekend to 2 of the Lili of the Valley stamps. I was going to use the bear for the Crafty Catz Charming Bear challenge, but ran out of time. However, their new challenge still suits this card so it hasn't been completely wasted.

I coloured the bear using Promarkers and the papers are both from Pink Petticoat. I stamped and embossed the flourish on the Papaya plain paper as the LOTV sketch has a flourish but I have nothing suitable to use.

I used the blue ribbon from my stash to pull some of the blue from the image but I think it's a bit strong.

I am entering this card into 3 challenges.

Challenge 1. SCSC - Mom

Challenge 2. LOTV - Sketch

Challenge 3. Crafty Catz - Bows and Fancy Edges

This card will probably end up being my MIL's Mother's Day card.

New Release & Blog Candy?????

2010-02-23T11:15:00.002Z

Well we don't seem to have found many more followers. I'd be really grateful if you could put a little note in your side bar about my candy. Especially as I have a new set available for pre-order on my website. I am expecting delivery of the set later this week and I will be shipping them the next working day. You can find them here

The clear set are designed work with Nestabilities and are some lovely sentiments. More sentiments will follow on another set later in the year.

So, please go and spread the love. I would like to draw the candy in a couple of weeks.

Polka Doodles & DT Work

2010-02-22T19:29:00.003Z

Good evening everyone. I have a couple of cards to share with you today. Tomorrow is my birthday so I doubt I will be posting. Going to chill with my guys.

The first is a card that I made for a Yahoo group swap using a Polka Doodles sketch. I didn't realise there was a theme until I had already decided to follow the sketch. Luckily it was birds, lol. I have used the Back to Nature CD and my faithful nesties.

The second is my DT work for Paper Creator. Although this design comes with a card template I decided to make this as an easel card. The pyramage was really easy to cut out and mount. I then matted it onto red foil and onto white hammered card. I then stamped round the edge with a flourish stamp to add a little something and take away the starkness of the white. On the bottom layer I used the pink paper from the duo sheet and some red ribbon.

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to take a look at the Paper Creator website. Debbie has some freebies for you..........

A Birthday Wish

2010-02-21T21:48:00.002Z

I don't seem to be able to win with lighting. I scanned this and the colour has been bleached completely.

Anyway, I am quite pleased with how this worked out. I wasn't sure about the colour combo but I think it works.

The 2 papers are from the Popcorn Birthday CD, the images are from Pollycraft and I have merged them to make one, and Wilbur is coloured using Promarkers. The 2 embellishents are eyelets and ribbon.

I am entering this card into 4 challenges.

Challenge 1. Digi-Ink - "Wish"

Challenge 2. Pollycraft - Double up

Challenge 3. Simon Says - Recipe (2 patterned papers, 2 embellishments, 1 image)

Challenge 4. Truly Scrumptious - Sketch

Dad's 60th Card

2010-02-19T17:49:00.003Z

So we've established that my Dad is 60 next week and after I had made everyone elses cards for him I put this one together from hubby and me.

I then realised that the backing papers had checks and spots. They are from a Funky Hand CD, the dragon is one from my store and coloured with Promarkers. The sentiment is printed BUT is one I am releasing in a stamp set in the next couple of weeks. Watch this space.

So as pure luck, I am entering this card into 2 challenges.

Challenge 1. Papertake Weekly - Checks

Challenge 2. Totally Papercrafts - Lots of Spots

Happy Birthday Germaine (no peeking!)

2010-02-18T18:08:00.003Z

It's my pal Germaine's birthday next Tuesday (it's mine and my son's also) and I know she likes purples and oriental so thought this lovely image from Mo's would be perfect. Yes I know the Japanese script is on it's side but I had started to cut the paper before I planned the card - typical me!

I cut the shape using a nestie and left the die on while I dusted round the edge with Dusty Concord Distress Inks to look like another layer. I only had one purple button and you would have had a hoot watching me scouring the house for a shirt or blouse I could cut buttons off, but alas I could not find any with suitable coloured buttons. I used a border punch which also embosses to create a lovely edge to the oriental paper.

I am entering this card into 3 challenges.

Challenge 1. Crafty Catz - Buttons & Bows

Challenge 2. Passion for Promarkers - Buttons and Bows

Challenge 3. Totally Papercrafts - Buttons & Bows

Challenge 4. One Stop Craft Challenge - Sketch

Thanks for looking.

Dad's 60!

2010-02-17T18:01:00.003Z

Sorry I haven't posted for a few days. I've been working on a new stamp release (yay), which hopefully is finally complete and available in the next 2 weeks. Secondly we had a long day yesterday driving to Southampton for hubby's SIL's funeral. I was so tired when I got home last night.

Anyway, he is a card I have made for my Mom to give my Dad for his 60th birthday next week.

It's an easel card using Popcorn the Bear decoupage. I hope she likes it, lol. They don't have internet connection so I can't get her to look here and see.

I am entering this into this weeks Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge which is multi-folds.

Mega Challenge

2010-02-13T19:26:00.005Z

Well, blogland still seems to be loved up so I put this together. During a blog hop a day or so ago I saw that someone had threaded beads into their flowers. I am sorry I can't remember who, but I did comment on it on your blog. I have loads of beads from when I used to make jewellery, so I thought I would try it.

The red card has been passed through a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I then patted the embossed area with a glue pad and added glitter. The brown paper is HOTP and has some pink flecking to it which is not at all clear in the photo. I hope that doesn't disqualify me from the ASOS challenge. Tilda has been coloured with Promarkers and I have coloured a couple of the hearts with a silver gel pen.

I am entering this card into 8 challenges.

Challenge 1. A Spoonful of Sugar - Recipe (1 patterned paper, 1 embossing, 1 button, 1 ribbon)

Challenge 2. Papertake Weekly - Sketch

Challenge 3. Simon Says - Love

Challenge 4. Creative Card Crew - Valentines

Challenge 5. Lili of the Valley - Valentines

Challenge 6. Just Magnolia - Love

Challenge 7. By The Cute & Girly - Love

Challenge 8. Colour Create - (off) White, Red, Chocolate & Pink

Wow, I hope all the DTs like this........I know I do :-)

One Stop & Quixotic Challenges

2010-02-12T12:52:00.004Z

This is the first WOJ stamp I have ever coloured. I struggled with the shading a little but I think I got there eventually. She's from the new City Girl collection which arrived so quickly I couldn't believe it.

I was initially following a sketch for a challenge blog and then found out I was using the wrong colours. I hadn't read it properly, lol. Typical me!

So, my little party girl is entering 2 challenges this time.

Challenge 1. One Stop - Apple Green, Chocolate and Cream

Challenge 2. Quixotic Challenges - Tag It!

The paper is from Pink Petticoat, the sentiment tag is from my stash and Willow is coloured in, yes you guessed it, Promarkers.

2010-02-11T15:06:00.002Z

Well after what seems like an eternity my Art Deco and Art Nouveau ladies are back in stock. They have been available as sets and multibuys for some time now but as of tomorrow (or tonight if the kids leave me alone for 5 minutes) they will be available as individual images. I have been asked for this a lot recently so decided I would try it. Accordingly there are not many individual images available. I may make more available it if proves to be popular.

I guess you want to see what I'm waffling about?

Art Deco Set 1

Art Deco Set 2
Art Nouveau Set 1
Art Nouveau Set 2
I think I have them the right way round, lol.

For those of you that love the dragons I have used recently, I am also expecting a delivery of those shortly, together with just about everything else that's out of stock.

Thanks for looking........oh, the link to the store is on the right.

Paper Rose Plea

2010-02-11T11:22:00.001Z

Nothing to share particularly on this occasion......but can anyone recommend somewhere that I can buy paper roses at a reasonable price? I see all the beautiful cards on the blogs and while I have a few, I would like to be able to buy more soon.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Amber & White Ebony

2010-02-09T18:25:00.004Z

Good evening. I had such fun with these colours. I am not an 'orange' person particularly but found that the Papaya collection on the Pink Petticoat CDs goes beautifully with soft peach, peach and mango Promarkers.

Don't you agree?

I am entering this card into 2 challenges.

Challenge 1. Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - White & one colour

Challenge 2. Club Anya - Sketch

Pink & Cream Recipe

2010-02-08T17:32:00.002Z

I was going to do this tomorrow as I have already posted today but the kids are quiet so thought I would do it while I remembered. Again, please forgive the lighting.

Totally Papercrafts gave a recipe to follow. 3 embellishments, 2 papers and 1 image. Here I used 2 papers from the double cream Pink Petticoat CD (you can just see the one under the ribbon), 3 pearls and the image which is Dream Catcher from Funky Kits. I coloured her using Promarkers. I forgot to glitter the wings (just realised D'oh). I am either an embellishment short or have one too many, I think! Let me know if I am. I understand if it can't be entered.

Creative Inspirations' colour theme is pink and cream. I am so pleased with how my colouring has turned out.

All Creatures Great and Small

2010-02-08T09:18:00.002Z

What a fab excuse to play with my Dragons. This is Ladybird Dragon from my store, they are also available at The Secret Crafter. A quick plug, but The Secret Crafter also sells Promarker pens for £1.60 each with free postage when you spend over £5.00. Wendy also has fantastic deals on the sets.

Back to my card, lol. The papers are Funky Hand from the Funky Daze CD. I used a Cuttlebug flower die and some cream roses to make the embellishments at the top.

I'm really pleased with this and hope that the PfP design team do too.

Quixotic & Pollycraft Challenges

2010-02-07T20:23:00.002Z

Firstly, can I apologise the for the lighting on this photo. I must have taken it about 20 times and it still didn't turn out right. The only thing the camera seemed to do right was catch the glitter on the wings.

I used an image that had been sent to me by my friend. I believe it's from Charmed Crafts. I coloured her using Promarkers and highlighted the wings with glitter glue. The backing paper is from Pink Petticoat and is a plain sheet from the Papaya collection. I stamped the corners with Fancy Pants Bella Blush stamps and white embossing powder. The "Believe" sentiment is also from this collection.

I am really pleased with the simplicity in this one.

This card is entering 2 challenges.

Challenge 1. Quixotic Challenge - I believe in fairies

Challenge 2. Pollycraft - Things with wings.

Crafty Catz Lilac & Lemon Challenge

2010-02-05T08:20:00.004Z

Lilac Lemon Designs are the proud sponsors of Craftz Catz Weekly Challenges this week. As such, they asked me to be a guest Design Team Member. I made this card using Dennis Dragon. He is one of the prizes on offer for the lucky winner. Obviously the winner will get a new one, lol. The theme if you can't guess from the card is Lilac and Lemon.

Why don't you hop on over to the Crafty Catz blog and enter this week? The link is in the banner to the right.

Blogaversary Candy

2010-02-04T17:22:00.009Z

OK, so the 5th March is my Blogaversary. Considering I was dragged into blogging kicking and screaming, I have become quite addicted over the last year. At the moment I have a measly 9 followers, am I that boring..........? Maybe it's better that you don't answer that, lol.

To celebrate I am giving away 4 stamps from my store but we need to get to 100 followers. The winner can choose any 4 individual stamps OR one stamp set. For every 50 followers over the 100 I will add more candy. The link to my store is in my side bar.

Leave me a comment and become a follower. I would also love it if you could let everyone know about this candy via your blog. Either mention it in a post or copy the banner to your side bar. I will draw the winner on 5th March using random.org.

All You Need is Love!

2010-02-03T17:35:00.004Z

Two posts in one day! I have a special project to work on tomorrow as I didn't have time today so I may not be able to share anything so I thought I would post this while I think about it. I love this stamp, once again from my store, Lilac Lemon Designs.

I am entering it into three challenges.

Challenge 1. Papertake Weekly - Love Actually
Challenge 2. Crafty Catz - Sketch
Challenge 3. Creative Card Crew - Valentines

Wow! I'm all loved out now. Please check back on Friday for my extra special news and project!

Create 4 Fun Challenge Week 5

2010-02-03T16:50:00.005Z

I've made this card primarily for DH for Valentine's Day. It's Prince Ian from TGF. I've coloured him with Promarkers and have used the hearts Cuttlebug embossing folder for the background. I have not made a good job with his hair. I've not coloured black hair with my pens before so the colouring this time is shocking - sorry!

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

2010-01-31T19:06:00.003Z

Just a quick one this evening. A little bit of self indulgence and an anniversary card for my Cyber-Mom and Dad, lol. The stamped image is from my range of stamps, Lilac Lemon Designs. It is from the Art Deco set. Unfortunately they are currently out of stock but I am expecting more very soon. It's a very simple card but I like it. The background is embossed with a Cuttlebug hearts embossing folder, the image stamped and coloured with Promarker pens. The corners were punched withan X-Cut punch.

I am entering this into one challenge and that is this weeks Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge which is Hearts. They are there.................honest!

Flutterby, Saturday & MMSC#38 Challenges

2010-01-29T15:54:00.009Z

Good afternoon. I've had a wee play this afternoon while my little person was asleep.

I've had this image coloured for a couple of weeks but haven't found the right card to put her on. The SS challenge was a picture which was meant to inspire you. Well, all the purples were already on Penelope so I added some Pastel Green on the charm and around the edge of the wings, a touch of glitter glue and we were away. Not sure what happened to the rest of the green though........I guess I got carried away with the purple!

Here she is close up. Hopefully you can see the wings a bit more clearly on this one.

So, I am entering this into 3 challenges.

Challenge 1. Saturday Challenge - Colour Inspiration
Challenge 2. MMSC#38 - Sketch
Challenge 3. Quixotic Challenges - Flutterby.

Note to the Saturday Challenge DT. I'm not sure how to add a link into my posts apart from a full link, so I am adding a permanent link in my side bar. Hope this counts :-)

Thank You

2010-01-28T14:30:00.005Z

Afternoon All

I may not have time to post anything later today as I have a big order to fill. However, I would just like to say a big thank you to everyone who takes the time to leave a comment on my blog. I really do appreciate it, especially the DTs on the challenges I take part in, who have literally hundreds of blogs to visit each week.

So, THANK YOU...............mwah!!!!!
xxxxx

Pastel Green & Blossom Love

2010-01-27T21:41:00.005Z

When I saw the Passion for Promarkers colours this week were Pastel Green and Blossom my heart sank. I didn't have the colours. So I snook off to The Secret Crafter as they've just opened a store close to me and bought them, lol.

I am entering this card into 3 challenges.

Challenge 1. Passion For Promarkers - Pastel Green & Blossom

Challenge 2. Crafty Catz - Love

Challenge 3. Just Magnolia Sketch

Papertake Weekly & Simon Says Challenges

2010-01-27T18:40:00.004Z

Unfortunately TGF have decided to stop the Relay. Sooooooo many people have been taking part that the site keeps crashing so they have decided to stop. They have something exciting for us when they get back from CHA so watch this space.

Here was my entry for Day 3. It's Toby but I decided to make him a her as my husband's cousin had a baby girl yesterday. The news was slightly marred by the death of his SIL yesterday morning. At least she suffers no more.So this card is going 3 ways.

Challenge 1 Papertake Weekly - Sketch

Challenge 2 Simon Says - New Baby

Baby Daria

I love working with pink and green. I'll be back later with the same colour theme for some other challenges.

TGF CHA Digi Relay Day 2

2010-01-26T20:36:00.005Z

Well good evening to you. I am having a blast playing the CHA Relay with The Greeting Farm.

Meet Charlotte......she is the Day 2 Digi stamp on the CHA Relay. I had fun playing with this one. The papers are from a free paper pack I had with a magazine......My Mind's Eye I think they're called. The flowers are from a page of embellishments in the pack and of course, she's coloured with my trusty Promarkers. I have now discovered that Promarkers don't like my Lexmark printer. I really struggled to colour this without making the lines bleed. I am lookinh forward to using the next one. Come back tomorrow to see what I've been doing.

Lighthouse Pyramage

2010-01-26T16:23:00.003Z

Here is the next card using the Paper Creator kits. It's a circular pyramage, which is perfect for those men that we all have problems making cards for.

I used my make shift template to create the matting and layering. The backing paper has a nautical theme and the gold mirri board finished it off beautifully. The two embellishments are (I think) HOTP.

The Greeting Farm CHA Relay

2010-01-24T18:39:00.003Z

Meet Mer Ian. He's the free Digistamp that's on offer at The Greeting Farm blog today. The deal is that you make a card and upload it to the Galleria by 12 midnight (GMT). You will then be sent another image to make a card with and upload by 12 midnight Monday. This will continue for 5 days but you must upload by the deadline or you will be disqualified for the next round.

Confused? See http://splendidstamping.blogspot.com/2010/01/cha-digi-relay-rules.html for a better explanation. But be quick at the time of posting this you have 5 hours and 15 minutes............

I'm quite please with this. The papers are Funky Hand which I think work perfectly. I coloured using Promarkers and what you can't see very well is that I have glittered his tail and hair. I have now discovered that Digistamps don't like glitter glue!

Be Mine Bear

2010-01-24T11:19:00.003Z

I have so been neglecting my duties for the Paper Creator Design Team..........sorry Debs! I've had all the bits cut and ready to go for a couple of weeks but haven't had the time to put them on cards. Hopefully the final two will be done today.

With Valentine's Day fast approaching I thought it was the perfect time to put this cutie pie together. It's a circle pyramage on a teardrop shape with matching backing paper. I inked the edges of the paper with Walnut Stain and overlapped the tags finishing with a pretty pink bow. The mirri board shape is based on a Nestability label. I don't have this shape so I have a template from a magazine which I have resized. This one is 2 of these shapes over laid slightly to create one big one. Hope that makes sense.........

Did someone say Pink?!!!

2010-01-21T16:01:00.002Z

Well colours seem very popular on the challenges this week. This time it's pink. What a chance to go all girly on ya!
Again, using the Creative Expressions ladies and coloured with Promarkers. You'd never gess to look at this scan but I even glittered the flowers in a pale pink. I stamped the flourish in a Brilliance Inkpad (something Orchid) and the edging has been done with a border punch.I think that should have been closer to the ladies, but hey ho, it's stuck there now. And of course, the punch out glitter card flowers.

This time, I'm entering 4 challenges with this one.

Challenge 1. Papertake Weekly - Pink!
Challenge 2. Passion for Promarkers - Girls, Girls, Girls!
Challenge 3. Simon Says Stamp - Punch It!
Challenge 4. Creative Card Crew - Punch It!

I think I like it.................

Seeing Red

2010-01-21T15:43:00.004Z

Wow, it's been almost a week since my last blog. The last few days have been so busy I don't know where I am. So I made this today for 3 challenges.

Challenge 1. Seeing Red - Twilight Tuesday Challenges

Challenge 2. Birthday - Crafty Catz

Challenge 3 - Ink Up an Old Stamp (or 2 in this case lol) - Quixotic Challenges

The stamps are from Creative Expressions. I've had them in my stash for a while but haven't used them. I also used them for another set of challenges with a different colour palette. I have coloured them with my Twinks. Poor things are legless.........I messed up the colouring of the lady on the right's legs, so I chopped 'em off!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge Wk 83

2010-01-15T16:22:00.004Z

Well, I'm getting by the skin of my teeth with this one. I know 2 babies that are due shortly so I had a go at both sketches. All the papers are Pink Petticoat.

Sketch 1 - the baby expected here is a boy so I went for clean blue and white with the cutest baby Hedgehog. I didn't want to matt and layer the paper on this one so I edged it with, yes you guessed it, Faded Jeans Distressed Ink. (Sheena Douglass has a lot to answer for, lol).

Sketch 2 - the sex of this baby is as yet unknown, so I went for neutral browns and creams with the same baby Hedgehog. This photo was the hardest to take due to the pearl paper that I have printed onto. I kept getting flashes from the light.

Phew!

My First Design Team Cards

2010-01-15T09:48:00.004Z

Good morning all. Isn't the rain a little relief after all the snow? Hopefully it will wash enough away to make the roads and pavements a little safer.

Firstly, can I thank Lorraine for pointing out that word verification was on. I had no idea, and have now turned it off.

To business.............Here are my first 2 cards for Paper Creator (see link at right). The first is a shaker card with the cutest kitty holding a rose. I have built the layers up on top of the acetate rather than inside to add more dimension. The co-ordinating backing papers are lovely and I have used them here. The shaker elements have been printed off at 100% so I have made this on an A5 card.

The second is a Present Topper sheet which I have used as decoupage. I have glittered the bow and present lids with stickles and used the co-ordinating backing papers as layers. I have used gems and peel off messages to decorate. I love this, it is so girly.

The original sheet has 4 small and 2 large toppers.

Aqua & Cocoa Not so Shabby Chic

2010-01-13T17:25:00.003Z

Initially the card started out as an entry for the Passion for Promarkers Aqua & Cocoa challenge. Then, I entered a Blue and Brown swap on a Yahoo Group. Today I saw the Quixotic Challenge blog had an interesting sketch and Get Funky's monthly challenge is spots and stripes.

I've not done Shabby Chic before so I have no idea if this qualifies or not. The paper is Funky Hand, distressed with Walnut Stain, the images is coloured with Aqua and Cocoa Promarkers. I mounted it all onto cream card which has also been distressed. Hope ya like it!

Inked Inspirations Candy

2010-01-11T15:02:00.003Z

I know there are some Magolia fans out there so wouldn't you love to win this candy? Visit

www.inkedinspirations.blogspot.com for a chance to do just that.

I'm on the Design Team.........

2010-01-10T14:47:00.002Z

yay me!!!!!

I heard last night that I had been picked for the Design Team for Paper Creator. I will be adding their logo to my side bar later and you will see all my creations over the coming however many months she wants me :-)

Off now to print some of her new kits off, getting a bit cold up here in the loft......may need to go downstairs and do the cutting.

Distressed Hot Chocolate!

2010-01-10T13:58:00.004Z

I'm not good with distressing. Good at being distressed maybe but not distressing, lol. The Quixotic Challenge and Simon Says Stamp challenges this week are Hot Chocolate and the Creative Card Crew challenge is Distressed so I had a go at combining the 2 themes.

I started by colouring the gorgeous Tilda image with my Promarkers. The Rose Pink and Cocoa are just beautiful together. I then decided that she needed to be sat in an oval, so out came my Nesties. I printed out about 6 sheets of paper before I settled on these two designs. They are from a Funky Hand CD. I distressed the edges of all the sheets with Walnut Stain (I think I finally have the hang of it now) and stuck all the layers down onto an ivory card which I also distressed. The wording is also stamped with Walnut Stain......who'd have thought you could stamp with those ink pads too, roflmao.

Passion For Promarkers Challenge

2010-01-09T19:37:00.005Z

I've been following the Passion for Promarkers Challenge blog for a few weeks and decided I was going to give it a whirl. Not sure when the blue theme turned purple, lol. I started with the image and cut it out with my Nesties. I used Faded Jeans Distressed Inkpad to take the starkness out of it. I then found some Forever Friends papers and sort of went with the flow in colour combinations. I think it works.......................I think!

Brief note to the Passion for Promarkers Challenge blog team......please forgive me if the tag is incorrect, this is my first try.

New Me

2010-01-06T13:11:00.004Z

This is not a crafty post at all, but as some of my crafty friends know, I am particularly proud of the fact that in 2009 I lost a smidge short of 2.5 stone. I still have roughly 2 stone to go (maybe more depending on how much I put on over Christmas) so will keep it up but thought I should show a before and after photo.

BEFORE (November 2008 at Kieran's Christening)

Size 20-22

AFTER (31st December 2009)

Size 16

Where'd I go, lmao!

Kathy's Birthday

2010-01-05T18:54:00.002Z

I said that I had made 2 cards with the rose stamp and here is the second.

I was going to use the rose as the decoupaged piece on my mom's card but discovered that I hadn't stamped the whole rose. A very happy accident as it looks stunning as a corner. So I coloured it with Twinks and then stamped a swirl from another of Sheena's theme plates using Lightning Black (a Brilliance inkpad). The greeting is one from my stash, stamped and embossed using Versafine and clear EP like the rose.

After more than 3 years of playing with my Twinks I finally have it mastered. I have always struggled with shading, however, I painted a base layer of Rose Petal all over the petals and then went round the edge with Cherry Blossom (I think). I then used my slightly damp brush the blend the hard lines away and I am over the moon with the results. Yay me!

Blog Candy

2010-01-04T21:32:00.002Z

There's some wonderful blog candy available at Quixotic Challenges. It's a mystery gift pack worth £40. Click on the following link http://quixoticpaperie.blogspot.com/2009/12/2009-round-up-and-some-new-year-candy.html and link back to your favourite creation of 2009 for your chance to win.

My Mom's Birthday

2010-01-03T16:59:00.005Z

I have had a blast today in my loft. I bought a new stamp plate from Creative Expressions and I was so inspired that I made 2 cards with it. This one is for my mom off my boys. My only 'dislike' on the card is the greeting plaque. However, I tried to take it off and almost wrecked the card, so there it stays.

You can't see, but I spritzed the backing paper with Glitz Mist from Lindy's Stamp Gang. I then stamped and embossed both roses with black Versafine and clear embossing powder. I took some Cut 'n' Dry and a Walnut Stain Distressing ink pad and distressed the edge sprinkling a little gold embossing powder as I went. The roses are stamped and embossed again on some seperate paper and coloured using Twinks. I am really pleased with this card. It's my first proper attempt at distressing and I LOVE it!

Thank You Notes

2009-12-30T19:29:00.004Z

I do hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and if you are out celebrating tomorrow night be careful and don't get too drunk. In any event, Happy New Year to you all.

As a child I was terrible at writing thank you noted after Christmas. Despite being bought numerous stationery sets the letters never actually made it to the post box. So, as a mother I always make sure that my boys send their thank you notes. As a crafter, I love to make them.

I made the following using the Jungle theme plates again, specifically Monkeying Around. Well, I have 2 monkeys of my own..........

I couldn't decide whether to colour them in Promarkers (left) or Twinks (right), so I did one of each and put it to the family vote. Here they are side by side. The boys decided that the Twinks looked better, so the rest were coloured that way.

Ju's Un-Birthday!

2009-12-29T16:26:00.003Z

I've not been on for a while. Bad blogger, lol! I haven't really done much crafting over the last week and spent some quality family time.

However, my friend Ju has decided that she's old enough and is now going to start having un-birthdays. I made this card for her as a bit of fun.

Sorry about the lighting on this one. I used stamps from the Creative Expressions Jungle Friends plates and coloured them with Twinkling H20's. The background, which you can hardly see, lol, was using the Joseph's coat technique. I stamped the leaves with a Versamark pad and embossed with clear powder. I then took a Distressed Ink Pad in Walnut Stain and wiped it over, buffing when dry. The paper was such a dark patterned green, you can barely see it.

Christmas Presents

2009-12-16T21:03:00.003Z

I wanted to give the children that Kieran goes to the childminder with a little something for Christmas. I got this idea from a demonstration on Create and Craft. I bought some inexpensive tree chocolates and repackaged a selection into A6 card bags. I then printed off some Christmas background paper and cut it into 4x4" pieces. I folded them in half and attached them to the tops of the bags and added a personal greeting. I'm really pleased with how they turned out.