Easter Bliss

Sunday 28 December 2014

Scribble & Scrap Challenge #34 Reminder

I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas and that Santa was kind. All that rushing around, planning, cooking, wrapping and preparing and it seemed like it was all over in a matter of hours. But it was worth it to be able to spend some quality time with loved ones.
Despite the festive season being in full flow, normal life still goes on, so, here is my reminder for challenge #34 at Scribble & Scrap. The current challenge runs until 6pm (GMT) on Saturday. A full list of all the rules is on the blog. The theme for Scribble & Scrap is always "Anything Goes"
My DT card features a stamp available in the Scribble & Scrap shop.

I started with an A5 card blank that I layered with gold mirri card. I used a Spellbinders die to cut two corners in a piece of red card and wrapped a gold and a green ribbon around it before fixing onto the card.

The gorgeous image is the Sweet Pea Stamps Norma J Burnell's Firefly. I coloured it in traditional Chrismassy colours with my Polychromos and matted and layered it onto green card and then gold mirri card. The sentiment was made using a Britannia die set.
The Scribble & Scrap shop is open 24 hours a day, every day,  for your crafty needs so don't forget to go and have a look round.  I hope you can find the time to visit the Scribble & Scrap blog to enter your crafty creations at this busy time.
 If you have any Sweet Pea Stamps you can share those projects on Facebook in the dedicated Sweet Pea Friends and Fans group.

Now I'm off to get ready to celebrate my wonderful husband's birthday and then New Year's Eve with friends. 
Happy New Year everyone, I hope 2015 is very kind to you all.

I've entered this card in the following challenges:
http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/chnc-challenge-209-anything-goes-as.html
http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/anything-goes.html
http://a-crafty-mess.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/challenge-2_5.html
http://www.craftforthecraic.blogspot.ie/2014/12/mi-na-nollaig-decembers-challenge.html
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/dragons-lair-designs-challenge.html
http://stempelsonne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/131-vom-261214-080115.html
http://thatscraftychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/anything-goes-challenge.html
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/dec-17th-team-b-anything-goes.html




Saturday 27 December 2014

Fabulous News!

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and are pleased with what you received. I had a lovely time and was very spoilt. And I had an extra present this year ....
I applied to join the Crafts Galore Encore Design Team and was accepted!


 I'm so excited about this as it is a fabulously talented team run by the wonderful Denyse and Isobel. I'm so looking forward to my first post for the team which will be on January 1st. I do hope you can pop back to see me then.
In the meantime, you can visit the Crafts Galore Encore Blog and read a short introduction to myself and the other new DT members.  
You still have a couple of days left to enter the current Anything Goes challenge at Crafts Galore Encore and be in with a chance of winning a lovely prize from Beccy's Place.

Wednesday 24 December 2014

A Merry Christmas Birthday

One more sleep to go!! Are you all ready? I think I am, just about. Thank you to everyone who left birthday messages for me on Sunday.
Today I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and say Happy Birthday to my brother. I'd just turned five when he was born (quite a few years ago) on Christmas Eve - and I thought he was the best Christmas present a little girl could receive. We have a tradition these days where I make Christopher a birthday card with a lovely lady on it. This is the card I've made for him.
I kept the card quite simple as he will probably only notice the pretty lady on it.

I started by covering a card blank with gold mirri and layering a square of green card. The paper is from Dovecraft's Twelve Days of Christmas paper pack and I matted that on gold mirri too. I used a Britannia die set and some X-cut dies to create the sentiment circle and added a bow.

This fabulous image is a stamp from Sweet Pea Stamps and is available in rubber and digi format. She is Kristy  by Joanne Schempp and I coloured her with Polychromos. I used distress ink around the image and matted and layered it onto green card and gold mirri card. I wrapped a short piece of ribbon around a top corner and added a matching bow.

I used a Marianne die to cut three branches from green card and then embellished them with lots of Frantage. I added another bow and finished the card with three red faux pearls.

Thank you to everyone for your wonderful support throughout this year and I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and that Santa is very kind to you. I bet you don't get a baby brother though!

Sunday 21 December 2014

Scribble & Scrap Challenge #34

Welcome to Challenge #34 at Scribble & Scrap. Thank you to all who joined in with challenge #33, the winners have been announced on the blog.
The theme for Scribble & Scrap is always "Anything Goes" and there is a full list of all the rules on the blog.
My DT card features a lovely rubber stamp available in the Scribble & Scrap shop.
A couple of weeks ago I showed you a card with this image coloured in pale blue but this time I've used it to make a Christmas card.

I layered up squares of green and red card on a card blank and then cut a lacy square using a Spellbinders die.

This beautiful image is Sweet Pea Stamps Conie Fong's Angel of Christmas Stars. This time I used Polychromos in traditional Christmas colours. I die-cut the image with an X-cut die, inked the edges and added red faux pearls.

I finished the card with a die-cut holly, a tissue paper poinsettia and a Docrafts sentiment.

Don't forget to head on over to the Scribble & Scrap shop for your crafty needs and to the Scribble & Scrap blog to enter your crafty creation.
And you can share your Sweet Pea Stamp projects on Facebook in the dedicated Sweet Pea Friends and Fans group.
I've entered this card in the following challenges:
http://a-crafty-mess.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/challenge-2_5.html
http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/challenge-125-christmas.html
http://chocolatecoffeecards.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/challenge-80-christmas.html
http://thatscraftychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/anything-goes-challenge.html
http://blog.red-rubber-designs.com/2014/12/inspirational-151-christmas-cheer.html
http://theartisticstampercreativeteam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/decembers-creative-challenge-anything.html
http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/chnc-challenge-extra-for-december-2014.html
http://seemacrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/christmas-december-challenge.html

Thursday 18 December 2014

Gears and Glass Kraft Card

In this mad rush to get everything sorted for Christmas and the New Year celebrations I'm trying to keep my head down and get all my jobs done. It may seem that I'm neglecting a lot of things, including blogging, but I have been busy, honest! Just to prove my point here is a card I made for a friend's birthday earlier this month.

I used Kraft card to back a couple of G45 papers and a Docrafts one and scruffed the edges before arranging on an 8"x 8" base with a length of lace. I die cut the image and matting layer with Spellbinder's dies. The sentiment is from an old Docrafts kit.

I got this gorgeous image from Sweet Pea Stamps. It's by Meredith Dillman and is called 'Gears and Glass'. It's available as a rubber stamp or in digi format. I coloured her with Polychromos in some of my favourite colours on watercolour paper.

I went to town with the embellishments. I die cut some cogs from brown card and sprinkled them with lots of Frantage. I added a metal corner, some large faux pearls and a few die-cut flourishes.

I tied a bow using a wide silk ribbon and added a large button to the centre. I fixed this to a small tag that I'd Frantaged and clipped a small peg to the top.
Now I'd better get back to work as there is still so much I want to get done.
 There is a Sweet Pea Stamps Facebook group. Ask to join and share your stamped artwork.
I'd like to add this card to the following challenges:


Sunday 14 December 2014

Scribble & Scrap Challenge #33 Reminder

I hope you are all better prepared for Christmas than I am. It's been a hectic week for me. I've been away visiting family, friends and Bath Christmas Market. I still have a few presents to buy and all of them to wrap. I think I'm fighting a losing battle trying to get everything ready in time for the big day. I did however take some time out to do some colouring....
Here is my reminder for challenge #33 at Scribble & Scrap. The current challenge runs until 6pm (GMT) on Saturday. A full list of all the rules is on the blog. The theme for Scribble & Scrap is always "Anything Goes"
My DT card features a stamp available in the Scribble & Scrap shop.

I started by colouring my 6"x 6" card base with Yummy Yellow Inkadinks and layering a First Edition New Bloom paper.

The image is the Sweet Pea Stamp Norma J Burnell's Fairy Tangles Will-O and the Wisps. I used my Polychromos on watercolour paper. The matting layer is the same as the base card.

I embellished the card with a mix of flowers from the shop including Curiosity Corner Paper Blossoms, Scribble & Scrap Flowers and Things and Hobby House Boutique Paper Flowers - Daisies. The bow is made from the Sue Wilson Finishing Touches Dotty Bow die. I finished by adding faux pearls to the flowers and bow.

I've entered this card in the following challenges:
http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/challenge-87.html
http://stempelsonne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/130-vom-121214-251214.html
http://thatscraftychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/anything-goes-challenge.html
http://ema-ginationstation.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/AG-ch-11.html
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/ttcrd-anything-goes-dec-9th-15th_9.html
http://avenue613.blogspot.co.uk/
http://onecrazystampercom.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/december-challenge-anything-goes.html
http://thesistersofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/sisters-of-craft-dec-anything-goes.html

Sunday 7 December 2014

Scribble & Scrap Challenge #33

Welcome to Challenge #33 at Scribble & Scrap. Thank you to all who joined in with challenge #32, the winners have been announced on the blog.
The theme for Scribble & Scrap is always "Anything Goes" and there is a full list of all the rules on the blog.
My DT card features some of the lovely products available in the Scribble & Scrap shop.

I started with a base layer of Kraft card that I distressed around the edges. I then added a paper from the Craftwork Cards Pretty in Pink 8x8 paper pad and covered it with some netting. The next layers are Kraft card with a paper from Lillibet 6x6 Designer paper pack. I used a Britannia Lattice die to create a frame behind the image.

The beautiful image is Sweet Pea Stamp's Conie Fong's Angel of Christmas Stars. I coloured her in non-Christmassy colours with my Promarkers and cut her out with an X-cut die.

I used Hobby House Boutique Paper Flowers Daisies, a Santoro Mirabelle Wooden Butterfly and Sue Wilson's Finishing Touches Collection Itty Bitty Bow Create Die Set. The other embellishments are from my stash.
Head on over to the Scribble & Scrap shop for your crafty needs and then to the Scribble & Scrap blog to enter your crafty creation.
You can share your Sweet Pea Stamp projects on Facebook in the dedicated Sweet Pea Friends and Fans group.
I've entered this card in the following challenges:
http://acreativeromance.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/anything-goes-goodbye.html
http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/challenge-86.html
http://ema-ginationstation.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/anything-goes-challenge-no-10.html
http://lilredwagon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/challenge-266-things-with-wings.html
http://paulaholifieldcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/albc-anything-goesbut-not-christmas.html
http://theartisticstampercreativeteam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/decembers-creative-challenge-anything.html
http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/craftyhazelnuts-patterned-paper.html
http://onecrazystampercom.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/december-challenge-anything-goes.html

Kraftyhands December 2014 Challenge

Today is the start of the December challenge at Kraftyhands. Thank you to all of you who joined in with the November challenge, the lucky winners have been announced on the blog. This challenge is just for fun. 
The theme this month is 
" Christmas - No Squares Allowed"
I had a brainwave and decided not to make a card this time.

I covered an empty tub with papers and elements from the 12 Days of Christmas CD. I love the softer colours and folk art images in this collection.

I printed some of the elements out twice and decoupaged them. I used a punch around the center panel.

I added some Christmas themed die-cuts and some faux pearls.

I finished with a pom-pom trim and polka dot ribbon.
The tub is the perfect size for some biscuits or sweets and will be used for a Christmas present.

Please visit the  Kraftyhands Challenge Blog for a full set of the challenge rules and to view the inspirational DT creations. Remember to be a follower of the challenge blog to qualify for entry in the challenge. 
Visit the Kraftyhands webshop where there is a fantastic 30% sale on everything until the 19th of December.

Sunday 30 November 2014

Scribble & Scrap Challenge #32 Reminder

This is a reminder for challenge #32 at Scribble & Scrap. The current challenge runs until 6pm (GMT) on Saturday. A full list of all the rules is on the blog. The theme for Scribble & Scrap is always "Anything Goes"
My DT card features a stamp set available in the Scribble & Scrap shop.

This is an 8"x8" card I made for a teenage girl's birthday. I used Spellbinder die-cuts in white, red and black card and some large punched hearts.

The image is from the Santoro Gorjuss 'The Collector' eight piece stamp set. I stamped Gorjuss onto Super Smooth card and added the hearts randomly around her. I coloured the image with Promarkers.
The card was finished with some twine and a heart gem. 

I've entered this card in the following challenges:
http://artbymiranchallenge.blogspot.ca/2014/11/challenge-20-anything-goes.html
http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/challenge-122-anything-goes.html
http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/challenge-85.html
http://www.4craftychicks.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/4-cc-222-die-cuts.html
http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/challenge-56-anything-goesmake-it.html
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/challenge-239-anything-with-die-cuts-at.html
http://ema-ginationstation.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/AG-ch-no-9.html
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-10/





Sunday 23 November 2014

Scribble & Scrap Challenge #32

Welcome to Challenge #32 at Scribble & Scrap. Thank you to all who joined in with challenge #31, the winners have been announced on the blog.
The theme for Scribble & Scrap is always "Anything Goes" and there is a full list of all the rules on the blog.
My DT card features some of the lovely products available in the Scribble & Scrap shop.

I covered a card blank with a gorgeous paper from First Edition 6x6 New Bloom papers. Using an X-cut punch and another New Bloom paper I created a panel down the right hand side. I attached a length of lilac satin ribbon to some turquoise lace and placed that across the card.

The image is a Sweet Pea Norma J Burnell stamp - Guardian of the Meadow which I coloured with Polychromos. After trimming around the image I matted it onto a piece of card edged on one side with an X-cut punch. I tucked a Dovecraft Cream Circular Doily behind it which I'd coloured with Shaded Lilac Distress Ink.

I coloured a Santoro Mirabelle Wooden Butterfly with a Pan Pastel and decorated it with faux pearls.
I finished the card with a satin bow and some more faux pearls.
You can share your Sweet Pea Stamp projects on Facebook in the dedicated Sweet Pea Friends and Fans group.

Friday 21 November 2014

The Dragon Keeper

I have been playing with another of the gorgeous Sweet Pea stamps available from the Scribble & Scrap shop. There are so many to chose from but this one caught my eye because of the fabulous little dragon.

I edged a 6"x 6" card blank with Pan Pastel and then layered two papers from the Bo Bunny Enchanted Garden paper pad. I used a strip of paper from First Edition New Blooms to cover the join and wrapped it with lilac lace and satin ribbon.

The gorgeous image is Sweet Pea Stamps Norma J Burnell's Fairy Tangles The Dragon Keeper. I just adore the little dragon perched on her shoulder. I'd love to have a pet dragon. I coloured the stamp with Polychromos on watercolour paper and die-cut it to fit in the Scalloped oval.
I finished the card with some paper flowers, faux pearls and a satin bow. 

Please visit the Scribble & Scrap shop for your own Sweet Pea stamps and other crafting goodies. And don't forget to join in with the Scribble & Scrap challenge where the theme is always 'Anything Goes'. You can share your Sweet Pea Stamp projects on Facebook in the dedicated Sweet Pea Friends and Fans group.

Wednesday 19 November 2014

Shabby Chic Gardenia

I took a bit of time out to do some colouring this week and finished a gorgeous image I started a while ago. I also wanted to use some fabulous papers I've been stroking for ages. This is the result.

The papers are from an old Prima A4 pad called Epiphany. I added some lace, a punched border and a die cut. I scruffed the edges of the papers and fussy cut the bow.

The image is called Gardenia and is by the talented Mitzi from Aurora Wings. I coloured her with Copics and Promarkers. I then die cut her using an X-cut scalloped circle and dusted the edges with Pan Pastel. I tucked some more lace behind parts of the image.

I finished the card with some handmade flowers and pearls.

I'd like to enter this card in:

Sunday 16 November 2014

Scribble & Scrap Challenge #31 Reminder

This is a reminder for challenge #31 at Scribble & Scrap. The current challenge runs until 6pm (GMT) on Saturday. A full list of all the rules is on the blog. The theme for Scribble & Scrap is always "Anything Goes"
My DT card features some of the gorgeous products available in the Scribble & Scrap shop.

I layered papers from First Edition 6x6 Rose Garden papers onto Kraft Card and scuffed the edges. One I fixed to the card base and the other is a panel. I added three Dovecraft Cream Circular Doilies and three flowers made from Scribble & Scrap Flowers and Things, White and Sky, one of which I coloured with Pan Pastels.

The image is the gorgeous Sweet Pea Stamps Norma J Burnell’s Fairy Tangles Midsummer Dragonflies stamp which I coloured with Promarkers and Copics. I layered her onto Kraft card. I added a satin bow, some die-cuts and pearls to finish the card.
There is a Facebook page for fans of Sweet Pea stamps. We'd love to see you there.

I've entered this card in the following challenges:
http://a-crafty-mess.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/challenge-1.html
http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/challenge-120-anything-goes.html
http://milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/hand-color-image.html
http://avenue613.blogspot.nl/
http://notjustcardschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/challenge-6.html
http://artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/challenge-117-anything-goes-stars.html
http://www.ttcrd.blogspot.nl/2014/11/ttcrd-challenge-nov11-nov17.html
http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/challenge-55-anything-goescelebration.html

Tuesday 11 November 2014

Remembrance Day 2014

Today is Remembrance Day in Britain. It is also known around the world as Armistice Day, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day and Anzac Day. The First World War officially ended on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 and we remember those who lost their lives with a two minute silence at 11 am. Towns and cities across Britain commemorated Remembrance Day with  civic services last Sunday which, as the second Sunday of November, is known as Remembrance Sunday.
The poppy has become the well known symbol of remembrance as it was made popular by the poem In Flanders Fields inspired by the sea of red flowers that thrived on some of the worst battlefields of the war. 
My card today is humble in comparison.
I printed the sentiment directly onto hammered cream card which I folded in half. I added a red ribbon and bow.

The image is a stamp from Indigoblu called Poppy Heart. I coloured it with Polychromos and matted and layered it onto red card and gold pearlescent card. I finished the card with some black gems.

This year there is the added significance that it is 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War. To commemorate the centenary a beautiful, but temporary, tribute has been created around the Tower of London. It is called Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red and is made up of 888,246 red ceramic poppies. Each flower represents one soldier from Britain, Australia and the Commonwealth who lost their life in the war. 
Each of these poppies has been sold to raise money for six charities involved in caring for the Armed Forces.

I think this is a most wonderful tribute and really brings the message home about just how many soldiers lost their lives. The poppies will now be removed from the tower but ...
We Shall Not Forget

Sunday 9 November 2014

Scribble & Scrap Challenge #31

Welcome to Challenge #31 at Scribble & Scrap. Thank you to all who joined in with challenge #30, the winners have been announced on the blog.
The theme for Scribble & Scrap is always "Anything Goes" and there is a full list of all the rules on the blog.
My DT card features some of the lovely products available in the Scribble & Scrap shop.

I started with an 8x8 card blank and used a beautiful paper from the Craftwork Cards Pretty in Pink 8x8 paper pad. It is covered in gorgeous gilded butterflies. I cut a square from another of the foiled papers from the same pad and matted it onto beige card.. I wrapped a pink silk ribbon round it before attaching it. I stamped a sentiment from the Dovecraft Curiosity Corner Sentiment Stamp set.

The stamped image is the Santoro Mirabelle “Butterfly” clear stamp and I coloured it using my Polychromos.

I took two of the Santoro Mirabelle Wooden Butterflies and heat embossed them with pink embossing powder. I then added some Frantage. I finished the card with some Hobby House Boutique paper flowers Daisies - pink and a silk ribbon bow.

I've entered this card in the following challenges:


Friday 7 November 2014

Kraftyhands November 2014 Challenge

Today is the start of the November challenge at Kraftyhands. Thank you to those of you who joined in with the October challenge, the winners have been announced on the blog. This challenge is just for fun. 
The theme this month is 
"Christmas Cheer"
I've made an easel card to show you. I used the S for Santa CD. It is full of fabulous papers, card making sets, humourous toppers, money wallets, inserts and more.

I printed off three of the papers, a sentiment and one of the toppers from a card making set. I used a plain red card for all the matting.

I love this image. It's from one of the card making sets and comes as a decoupage. It has different sayings for the speech bubble. I mounted the layers with foam pads.
I finished the card with some snowflakes and red faux pearls.

Please visit the  Kraftyhands Challenge Blog for a full set of the challenge rules and to view the inspirational DT creations. Remember to be a follower of the challenge blog to qualify for entry in the challenge. Visit the Kraftyhands webshop to get your copy of this fantastic CD and lots more.

Wednesday 5 November 2014

Emporium of Curiosities Debut

Today and tomorrow sees the debut of a fabulous new CD from Kraftyhands on the British Craft Network. It's called Emporium of Curiosities and is packed full of the most gorgeous vintage and Steampunk images and papers. There are toppers, postcards, embellishments and more.
Here are some samples I created with the CD.

I scruffed the edges of blue card and the images, added lace and die-cut feathers.

A simple card using a couple of papers and postcards as tags.

I created a base for the wonderful vintage paper and image by Frantaging some SB die-cuts. I added frantaged butterflies and some pearl flowers.

Here I've used  some elements from one of the card making sets. I embossed around the clock face and the center of the paper buttons. A doily and a corner die-cut are the only items I added.

Here I've layered up some beautiful papers and postcards with die-cut clocks. I've added Frantage to some of the corners.

So many of the papers and images can be used for either male or female cards. Here I prettied a postcard topper by adding a bunch of roses I cut from one of the backing papers.
Make sure you watch the Kraftyhands shows on the British Craft Network to see more samples and some fabulous demonstrations by the boys.
The CD is available from the Kraftyhands webshop.