Embossed Butterfly - LIM Take 3 Challenges

Hi lovely bloggers! Hope you all had a good bank holiday weekend!

This week over at Less Is More, Chrissie and Mandi have given us a great challenge of being able to choose three from any of the previous 29 challenges. My three choices are...
Week 5 Pastel Colours
Week 15 Embossing
Week 16 Butterfly

For my pastel colours I used Coredinations distress card in scattered straw for my butterfly, and for my label I used lavender pigment ink. I did both kinds of embossing on my card. I dry embossed the whole card and butterfly with embossing folders. I stamped my WMS label with ink, then embossed with clear embossing powder.
My butterfly is a Sizzix die cut, to which I added some lavender gems for the body, and wire for the antennae.
The sentiment stamp is by Anna Griffin.
 
Thanks for stopping by today!

A Bluebird Welcome - LIM WEEK 29

Hi everyone!  Hope you're having a lovely day!

Over at Less Is More this week, Chrissie and Mandi have set the theme as 'Things That Move'.  My take on this is a bird and feathers.

I used an embossed background that resembles a tree, then inked the edges.  My bird is 'Swallow' Sizzlits die, and I used Whitewash ColorCore card in pale blue.  I stamped 'Welcome' onto a piece of satin ribbon with a tiny sentiment from the 'Say It Loud' collection from WMS. Keeping to the bird theme, I added a small maribou feather beneath the ribbons.

Thank You! for stopping by - Have a Great Evening!

Ribbon Rose & Music

Hi lovely bloggers!  Hope you're all well. I've been unable to blog for a few days due to some very faulty software causing me grief. After some lengthly phone calls, (one to Canada), everything is now back to normal.

My card today has some of the delightful paper from the Crafty Secrets CD.  I scaled it down to fit my card, then added a ribbon rose and bud, made with gorgeous satin ribbon from The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.  Leaves are a 'Marianne' die, twine is from The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop and  'Just A Note ' stamp is by HOTP.

Thank You! for stopping by, have a Great Day!

Teddy Bear's Picnic

Hi Folks!  Second card for today. 

Over at Let's Craft and Create the challenge is Teddy Bear's Picnic.  I've made a fairly simple card.  I love this sweet image which is part of some software I have, and thought it was just perfect for the challenge, as the little bear is having a picnic with his cute little friend.

Thank You! for stopping by today xx

Black On White

Hi everyone!  It's a bleak summers day here in West Yorkshire.  We've had to bring the hanging baskets indoors as they were being battered by the wind.

I made this card a while ago, it was my first attempt at rolling roses, and I didn't like the finished result of the card, so I threw it in with a box of disasters.  But when I came across it again today it didn't seem too bad.  Perhaps it rearranged itself in the box - LOL!  I think it's the style of the card I like more than anything.  I love the sentiment, and the swirly background looks okay.  But I'm not too sure about the glittered leaves and the rolled roses.  I may try and remove those and try to improve on things.

Thank You! for stopping by today xx

Roses & Butterflies

Hi everyone!  Hope you're all having a great day!

I was playing with paper again last night.  My friend sent me a lovely card in a deep pink envelope.  The envelope was too pretty to throw away, so I made some rolled roses.  I wanted to mimic the rose spray on my DP, so I also made another rose using 120gsm printer paper and edged it with red ink.

I folded a square doily for the top of my card.  DP is 'Rose Garden' by Papermania.  My bow is seam binding, and the tiny butterflies were made with a Martha Stewart combination punch/stamp. Sentiment is from Hot Off The Press.

Thank You! for stopping by today xx

LIM Week 28 - One Layer & Ink

Hi everyone, hope you all had a lovely weekend, with some sunshine. The sun only seems to come out here in West Yorkshire after 6.00 p.m.

This week over at Less Is More, Chrissie and Mandi have challenged us to make a one layer card using ink.  I'm completely out of my comfort zone with this challenge.  I decided my only hope was to stamp something then colour it with distress inks.

My image is 'Antique Rose' by Rubber Stampede.  I've had this stamp for years, and never used it.  After stamping with anchival ink, I coloured the image with the following Tim Holtz distress inks... Spun Sugar, Tattered Rose, Barn Door, Bundled Sage and Shabby Shutters.  The sentiment stamp is from Hot Off The Press.
Thank You! for stopping by today xx

LIM Week 27 Challenge - Patriotic Lolliop

Hi everyone.  This weeks challenge by the lovely Chrissie and Mandi over at Less Is More is to make a card in the colours of your countries flag.  I've used the red white and blue of the Union Jack flag of England.

I printed two strips of paper, one in red with a white border, the other in blue. Both strips are 12" long, but I slightly varied the width.  I pleated them both and layered the blue over the red, added a button, then used a cotton bud stick and tied with red and blue narrow ribbon.  Sentiments stamps are from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by today xx

Black Magic Roses

Hi everyone.  Hope your having better weather than us in West Yorkshire.  It's dull, dreary and raining.

I've been making roses with the Black Magic ColorCore cardstock again.  I've had this cardstock for years and only just come across it at the bottom of a craft box.  This happens to me quite a lot.  I buy stash, put it away, and then completely forget about it.  But now I'm enjoying using it.

I'm entering my card into the Papertake Weekly Challenge - which is - Grow Your Own.  You have to make a card with flowers that you have made yourself.

I used Rose Garden Collection by Papermania as backing paper.  Cuttlebug and Sizzix embossing folders. Cut a leafy spray on the Silhouette and stamped my sentiment using a JustRite stamp.  I made faux stitching by pricking around the edge of my card and then used a white pergamano pen.  I daren't use my sewing machines on paper/card, they were both very expensive computerised machines.  My decorative heart pin, bakers twine and pearl button are from The Petty Little Ribbon Shop.
Thank You for stopping by xx

Card For A Special Couple

Hi everyone!  I was asked to make this card for a special couple, who will be celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary later this month.  65 years of marriage, what a wonderful achievement.  I did a bit of research and found that blue sapphires signify 65 years of marriage.  So I used a deep blue silk card on white.  I also used the same labels twenty die as the one I've used on previous 210mm square, (8" square), cards.  I love this large label for special cards, as you can get a significant size sentiment inside.  The border trim is from shapeabilities - Parisian Accents. I also attached a few faux sapphires to replicate the real gems, and a vintage pin with faux pearls and sapphire.

Thank you for stopping by - Have a Great Day! xx

The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - A New Challenge Blog!

Good morning everyone!  Today is the very 1st challenge over at The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop Blog.

This first challenge is...RIBBONS! Make a card, or any papercraft using ribbons. This fab prize is up for grabs...

I love working with ribbons, so I thoroughly enjoyed making a card and embellishing it with a ribbon bow and flower.

The ribbon I used for my bow and flower is the 25mm Satin Ribbon in Salmon Pink.  I also used  one of the White Vintage Style Hat Pins, both from The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.  Embossing folder is cuttlebug, roses. Label die, sentiment stamp and border die are all from the Die-namics range.

We would love to see what you create with your ribbons, and don't forget that there's a fab prize up for grabs.

Pop over to the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop Blog and see some great inspiration from the other team members.

Thank you for stopping by, and enjoy a Great Day! xx



More Gorgeous Paper!

Hi everyone!  Here is another little card using the Crafty Secrets CD.  This paper design is soooo pretty that I just couldn't bring myself to cover it up with anything.  I purchased my CD from Crafty Secrets in America, and the very same day it arrived, Joanna Sheen had it in stock for £12.99, (FREE P&P), along with lots more goodies from Crafty Secrets.

Sorry for the poor picture quality, but it's been very dull here today.

Thank You for stopping by! xx

WOW! - My Card Made ShowCase at LIM!!

I'm so pleased that my card made it to ShowCase at Less Is More!  I'm honoured, as there were so many beautiful creations entered for the Ribbon/Buttons week.  This was my entry...

Thank You for stopping by today xx

Shabby Roses

Hi everyone!  Today I was really excited when the postman  delivered my Crafty Secrets - Creating with Vintage Patterns CD.  If you love shabby or vintage papers, then you will want this CD!  The paper designs are stunningly gorgeous!  And there are some lovely projects included, too.  I will be using papers from the CD on my next few cards.
My card today was created with a backing paper from the CD.  I had already cut some roses and leaves on the Silhouette, and thought they would look nice against this pattern.
The roses were cut from Black Magic card stock and distressed.  I made two with the pink inside, and one with the black inside.  The leaves were also cut from Black Magic, from the green/black option. Pink organza ribbon is from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.

I'm entering this card into the August 'Stampalot Challenge', which this month is...whatever you fancy.

Thanks for stopping by - Enjoy a Great Day!

Feeling Fruity!

Hi everyone!  Hope you're enjoying this lovely warm weather.  Although it's been very overcast and humid here all day...phew!!

Week 26 challenge over at Less Is More is 'Fruit'.  Well, this was a bit of a challenge for me, as I'm not very good at colouring.  I decided to have a go at strawberries, as I have some growing in our garden.  I picked a couple and studied them, then got to work with the Pro Markers, and this is the best I could do.

I've had the 'In Stitches' embossing folder for a while and haven't used it before, but I thought it made a good backdrop for the strawb's.  The stamps and ribbon are from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by! xx

Another Little Fun Flower

Hi everyone! Here is another little fun flower and some tiny buds.  Follow how I made my previous flower, but this time don't pull your gathers as tight.  Also, when using organza ribbon you will need to burn the ends, or they will fray.  I use one of those barbeque lighters and carefully touch the flame against the ribbon edge.  The tiny buds are made exactly the same as rolled paper roses, but with ric-rac. The 25mm organza and pearl button are from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop
This is my second entry into this weeks challenge at Less Is More

Thanks for stopping by xx

Less Is More Challenge - Ribbons

Hi everyone!  Today my card is for this weeks challenge over at Less Is More where the challenge is to use either buttons, or ribbons.  This wasn't a hard desicion for me, as I love to work with ribbons.
To make my bow and flowers, I used white ruffle edge ribbon from the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop

To make the flowers you will need approximately 15cm (6inches) of ruffle edged ribbon, fold the ribbon in half width ways, so that both ruffle edges are brought together.  Do running stitches along the full length of the folded edge, then pull to gather and secure with a few back stitches.  Now join to form the flower and attach to your card. The flourish is from Cheery Lynn Designs - Tropical Flourish, and the sentiment was computer generated.

Two Little Boxes

Hi everyone! When is summer going to arrive!?

Here are two little boxes I made recently. The first one was cut on my Silhouette. I made a ruffled flower for the top then added some silk edged ribbon and a sentiment strip with a couple of cream pearls.

This second box was made using a digital freebie download.  I used the pattern on the box as a base to decorate, added one of my crocheted flowers with a button and twine in the centre.  Then used green ric-rac for the stem and rolled some little buds.

Thank you for stopping by xx

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop & Blog Giveaway!

Hi everyone,  I'm delighted to have been invited by Sarah to join the design team for the  Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.
If you pop over to The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop Blog, there's a fabulous 'Giveaway'.

To be in with a chance of winning these fabulous goodies, just display the giveaway on your blog, become a follower of the Pretty Little Ribbon Shop Blog and leave a comment to say, "hello".  The closing date is 2nd August and Sarah will announce the winner on 3rd August.

Thanks for stopping by today xx

A Little Note

Hi everyone.  Just a quick little card tonight.  I've had a few busy days.  Our sons girlfriend had her 21st birthday over the weekend, so lots of cards and gift boxes had to be made over the past week.  Which I throughly enjoyed!

My little creation tonight is a note card.  All papers and sentiment are digital.  I made the rolled rose with basil card stock, and layered a couple of ribbon bows.  Just a quickie, really.

Sorry about the poor picture quality.  I usually like to take my photo's during the day, in good light.  But unfortunately, it's been very dull here all day.  When is summer going to arrive!?

Thanks for stopping by xx

A Little Post Card - Thank You

I just love this Coredinations distress card by Tim Holtz, and today I also used one of his lovely 'Alterations - Texture Fades' embossing folders to create my card.  The coredinations colour I used is old paper, along with a strip of K&Company glittered card stock.  The postcards are digital, as is the sentiment.  My bow is seam binding and I added a vintage button.

Many thanks for stopping by today x

Wishing You Everything Wonderful!

Hi lovely bloggers! I haven't had chance to blog for a while. I've been really busy making cards and gifts. July is a very busy month for birthdays and anniversaries in our family.  Thanks for all your lovely comments while I've been away.  I have been visiting you all and admiring your wonderful creations.


Today, I actually managed to make a card, get the time to take a photo and upload it.

I embossed and distressed a piece of the Tim Holtz gorgeous Coredinations card stock in spun sugar. Then added some of my own crocheted flowers and a butterfly, ribboned lace, some flesh coloured seam binding and pink button twine.

The sentiment is by Jess at Playing with Paper...here.

Thank you for stopping by today x

Two Cards Today - One for Ribbon Reel Challenge #4 - Colour Challenge

Hi lovely bloggers!  I'm showing two cards today.  I've been working on these on and off over a week.
My first card is for a friend, and I'm entering this into the Ribbon Reel challenge. I don't know if it will be acceptable as it only uses two of the colours, but these are my friends favourites...pale blue and white, and I didn't want to add a third colour. The lace and pearls are from my stash, label is from Whimsy stamps and I crocheted the little flower.

The second one is stamped using the gorgeous 'Vintage Garden' set of stamps by Stempelglede, and coloured with pro markers and distress inks. The little flower is one that I crocheted, and the frame is from the spellbinders fleur de lis pendants set.

Thank you! for stopping by and have a great day! xx

                       

Cat for Grandma

Happy Monday lovely bloggers!

After seeing my previous anniversary card, I had a request to make one almost identical, but this time for a grandma, with a cat on the front.  It was a bit tricky getting the image to fit perfectly inside the frame, and I had to use the largest of the labels twenty nesties, and then cut a larger matt in gold mirri, freehand.

The card base is cream and 8" square, (205mm square).  The sentiment is computer generated and I used a Martha Stewart border punch. Flower was made from basil card stock and the ribbon was tripple tied and came from my stash.

Thank you for stopping by and have a great day! xx

Baby Ballet Slippers, Butterfly & Gift Box

Hi everyone.  I spent most of yesterday and today crocheting this little set for sweet baby girl.  They both fit nicely into the gift box, which is a milk carton template.  The butterfly is going to be sewn onto a headband.  But I need to get another little rosebud to match the ones on the ballet slippers, as I could only find two :(

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely weekend

Birthday Wishes

I've been a bit busy lately, so not had much time to blog.  But today I managed to spend a few hours card making, and I then lost my Mojo.  Anyhow, I got out a few bits and pieces and came up with this.  Not for anyone imparticular, so it will go into charity box.

Thanks for stopping by xx

My Crochet Flowers

Hi lovely bloggers!  Here are some of the crochet flowers I made while on holiday.  Unfortunately, they are all either white, or gold sparkle.  Those were the two lots of crochet cotton I bought, as they were in large balls, and you can make lots and lots from one 100gm ball, (I made all of the white flowers from half a ball).  The adorable booties were not crocheted by me, I saw them in a shop and couldn't resist buying them. I'm in the process of trying to copy them, as I love to make booties for charity. The butterfly is made by folding a large flower in half.

                                      
 How adorable are these?

Thanks for stopping by, and have a Great Day!! x

I'm Back In Blog Land!!

Hi lovely bloggers, and many thanks for all your kind messages while I was away.

I've been so busy since we returned from Madeira. When we got home I had three requests for personalised cards needed within a few days.  They were all from really nice people, and I didn't have the heart to say no, so the washing etc has had to wait.  I will take some photo's of all my crochet makes, and some holiday memories and upload them later.

In the mean time...here is just one of the cards I had to make by today.  It was a bit of a rush, so I'm hoping it will be suitable for the recipient.

I used an 8" square (205mmx 205mm) cream card base. Some beautiful swarovski crystals, but they don't show up very well on the photo.  The sentiment was computer generated onto the largest Spellbinders labels twenty die. I made the flower and leaves from basil card stock.  The seam binding is peach, from the Ribbon Girl, and the border punch is Martha Stewart.

I'm now off to make a start on the other cards, but not before visiting a few of my favourite blogs to see what you've all been up to.

I've missed you all xxx

Back To My Crochet Flowers

Hi lovely bloggers.  I found a lovely lace shop and some fine crochet cottons.  Been crocheting some flowers, so will let you see them when I get back to the UK.  I´m in an internet cafe, and everything is in Portugese, so having a bit of a problem. The weather has been mixed here in Madeira, but very warm.  We have been watching the enormous cruise ships sail in and out.  I`m really missing my papercrafts and all the blogging, but enjoying the break.  Speak soon.  Miss you all  xx

Missing My Papercrafts

Hi lovely bloggers,  I'm away until the end of May, we're spending some time at our lovely retreat in Madeira.  I'm missing my papercrafting and don't get much chance to blog.  So I'll look forward to seeing all your lovely creations when we get back.  Take care everyone! xxx