Saturday 30 April 2016

Leyla


It's new challenge day at A Gem of a Challenge and here is my DT card for the theme of your favourite colour combo. I have several favourites but I do love purple and as I also love to use kraft decided on that colour combo as it really suited my image. I knew I wanted to use one of the vintage girls and was astonished to find this one in my file as I have never used her before!
Image - Pink Gem Layla
Medium - Copics
Papers - First Edition Mulberry Kisses
Flowers - Wild Orchid
Die - Joy vintage flourishes (another new purchase at Ally Pally)
Wooden butterfly - Hobbycraft

Challenges
As you like it Favourite animal (I love cats, they are so independent yet so sweet and loving) 
Dream Valley all creatures great and small 
Double D April showers bring May flowers
Simon Says anything goes

Up early today to sell at a craft fair. They only do 3 a year and all the products are handmade. I did this one for the first time last November and did really well so it will be interesting to see how today's compares.

Friday 29 April 2016

Dream


Another shabby chic card today using one of my new Inkylicious stamps, stamped in brown on kraft. The papers are LOTV Timeless Victorian. I used another of my dies, Joanna Sheen star border. The stars were punched and tied with string and I added some lace and a lovely Gorjuss lace bow.

Challenges
Noor! Design UK anything goes 
Live and Love Crafts inspiration collage
Simon Says anything goes

Thursday 28 April 2016

Cheerleader


I have two DT cards due today and very unusually for me I decided to make one card to fit both. I have also used an unusual combo as I rarely use bright green.  I don't like publishing 2 DT cards on the same day as one detracts from the other I always think but sometimes it is unavoidable. So our challenge at Sugar Nellie is anything Sugar Nellie goes and for Crafty Ribbons the challenge is button it up (add a button). Remember the Sugar Nellie challenge has moved to the Sugar Nellie blog from The Sugar Bowl.

Image - Sugar Nellie cheerleader
Medium - Copics
Papers - MME Remarkable
Ribbon and buttons - Crafty Ribbons
Die - Spellbinders labels 10
Other - twine, wooden stars painted with a Wink of Luna pen

Challenges
Noor! Design UK anything goes 
Bizzy Becs anything goes
Creative Inspirations for the boys or something sporty
Simon Says anything goes

Wednesday 27 April 2016

Ella


There are several new elephant images in the Pink Gem store and they are all so cute I had a job to choose which one to use.
Image - Birthday Ella
Medium - Copics
Papers - LOTV Always and Forever
Balloons - Sizzix die
Rbbon - Crafty Ribbons
Sentiment from stash
Other - pearls, baker's twine

Challenges
In the pink pearls 
Deep Ocean dots and/or stripes 
Dream Valley all creatures great and small 
Fussy and Fancy female Birthday 
Crafty Friends all things cute 
Sweet Stampin' pink and girly

Tuesday 26 April 2016

Don't try this at home


Sorting through my stamped images I came across this one which is a Flonz stamp I won ages ago, stamped it up and it has sat waiting to be used. I teamed it with Prima Youth papers and added some doodling with a Letraset fneliner, wooden arrows and washi tape.

Challenges
The Paper Shelter for the boys 
Pile it on Doodle 
The Ribbon Girl any image 
Bunny Zoe Travelling/transport 
Bizzy Becs anything goes 
Noor! Design UK anything goes

Monday 25 April 2016

Texting


I love the new Jasmine stamps from LOTV. I made two with the music image and sold them both on their first outing and got an order for another. There aren't that many good teenage images around.
Image - LOTV Jasmine phone
Medium - Copics
Papers - MME tangerine
Die - Joy flowers
Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons
Sentiment - LOTV

Challenges
Simon Says make it girlie 
Fussy and Fancy female Birthday 
The Ribbon Girl any image 
LC Designs Spring colours 

Sunday 24 April 2016

I've mastered the fun flock


Another Christmas card today and another one I printed a long time ago. I love using the fun flock but it is a bit lumpy but I have finally mastered the technique. I spread it on and then kept flattening it until the lumps all flatten out, shake off the excess and it leaves a lovely fluffy fur look.
Image - Pollycraft 
Medium - Copics
Papers - LOTV 'twas the night and First Edition Vintage Noel
Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons
Punch - Dovecraft holly
Poinsettia and brad from stash

Challenges
Little Miss Muffet anything goes 
Simon says make it girlie 
Winter Wonderland winter blossoms 
Allsorts red, white and blue 
Crafty Friends all things cute 

Saturday 23 April 2016

And the winner is .......


Thanks for all your continued support and entries to the Stamposaurus giveaway. Welcome to my 3 new followers too.

The lucky winner is ...........

Drum Roll



That's you Carole Pollard, congratulations. Email me your address please.

Don't despair everyone, my blogaversary candy will be coming along soon.

Shabby chic


I love making this style of card and aren't I good as I have used another of my new stamps bought at Ally Pally. This must be a record. I stamped it in brown on kraft for a softer look. The paper is LOTV Timeless Victorian, ribbon from Crafty Ribbons from my favourite vintage butterfly range.I used another of my favourites, the Tim Holtz clock die. The butterflies were another new purchase, made with a Joy die and tied with string.

Challenges
Simon Says Monday Beautiful butterfly 
Noor! Design UK anything goes
Cute Card Thursday add a quotation
Penny's anything goes

Looking forward to a quiz night tonight with friends at a local village hall.

Friday 22 April 2016

Stamposaurus Giveaway


Jayne at Stamposaurus very generously gave me this stamp to give away to one of my lovely Followers. Many of you have admired the cards I made with this stamp so if you would like to be in with the chance of wining then
Be a follower with Google friends connect
Add a picture of the giveway to your sidebar with a link to my blog
Enter via Inlinkz
Leave me a comment

If you are a Facebook member please hop over to the Stamposaurus Facebook page and like their page.

Giveaway closes Friday 22 April.

More gifts



I am sharing a few more gifts with you today. The first of these are these little MDF houses which I bought at Ally Pally. I only bought 4 to try out. I painted them with Zig Woodcraft pens and then wondered how to decorate them. I remembered I bought some leaf ribbon at the first NEC craft show I went to several years ago, possibly from Crafty Ribbons. It was perfect for the design I had in mind. I added some rose and mni sweethaert blossoms from Wild Orchid and butterflies from Hobbycraft.


Challenges

Simon Says Monday Beautiful butterfly 
Allsorts Ribbon and roses 
Country View Spring


These are some more magnets I made as they are proving popular. I found the shoes sentiment when I was having a sort out. I think it was from a Crafter's Companion stamp. The shoe die is a Marianne one I bought a couple of years ago and I think this was its first outing. The other two sentiments are Inkadinkadoo. I used MFT and Lawn Fawn dies to cut them out and added some enamel dots and hearts.  I would like to enter these into the add a quotation challenge at Cute Card Thursday.

Thursday 21 April 2016

Ho Ho Ho


I am doing well both with using new purchases and some of my older images too. I found this one in my stamped Christmas image file. I think that Lynsey stamped it for me as I don't have this rafter's Companion stamp. He has been coloured with Copics and I added fun flock for the fur. Th papers are Craftwork Cards and the sentiment is one I found in my stash. I have just had a sort out of my printed sentiments, some of which are years old as they aren't something I buy now preferring to stamp my sentiments. The Memory Box stitched holly was a Christmas pressey from Lynsey and is the first time I have used it. I do love the stitched and pierced dies.

Challenges
  ABC Christmas Hats 
The Ribbon Girl any image

The powerboat racing season starts tonight with a practice night so hubby will be off driving one of the rescue boats as a volunteer and I get a crafternoon and evening to enjoy.

Still time to enter my giveaway, post at the top.

Wednesday 20 April 2016

Live. Love. Laugh


Another plaque to share today. I make a lot of these to sell and I don't put them all on my blog but today's has some of my favourite things on it, 
Sentiment - Magazine freebie
Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons
Burlap with lace -  Walmart, USA
Dies - Memory Box butterflies and cross stitch hearts
Roses - Wild orchid

Challenges
Simon Says Monday beautiful butterfly
  Allsorts Ribbon and roses 
Bizzy Becs anything goes 
Noor! Design UK anything goes

Still a few days left to enter my little giveaway, see post at the top.

Tuesday 19 April 2016

Squirrels


I have impressed myself that I have used another of the new stamps I bought last Saturday at Ally Pally. I bought 2 of the mini Gorjuss stamps and needn't have worried that they are small as they fit perfectly into a circle leaving lots of white space to show off the image. I also used another new die set today.
Image - Santoro Gorjuss You brought me love
Medium - Copics
Papers - MME Nostalgia
Sentiment - LOTV
Dies - MB tree, Lawn Fawn stitched leaves and stitched circle, Craft emotions squirrel and acorns
Punch - MS birds on a wire

Challenges
Bizzy Becs anything goes 
Noor! Design UK anything goes 
Stamping Sensations one for the girls 

Have you entered my stamp giveaway, at the top of the page?

Monday 18 April 2016

I love Reading


Well the post title is true, I have loved reading ever since I could read and whilst I love my iPad I don't want to read books on it. There is no substitute for a real book and there is something about turning the pages that you lose on a tablet. So I have used several of the goodies I bought at Ally Pally on this card.
Image - Gorjuss New Hieghts
Medium - Copics
Papers - Dovecraft Serendipity
Sentiment - LOTV
Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons
Die - Joanna Sheen star border
Other - wooden stars painted with a Zig pen and clear Wink of Stella

Challenges
The Ribbon Girl Any image 
Simon Says Let's do the polka 
Stamping Sensations One for the girls 
Creative Inspirations Your favourite things (Gorjuss girls, Copics, ribbon, Wink of Stella, Dies, books)

Have you entered my stamp giveaway, at the top of the page?

Sunday 17 April 2016

Let's ride


This is the last of three cards I made for Making Cards magazine using Stamposaurus stamps. This motorbike is such a great image and the sentiment comes with it. I stamped them in white on kraft and used the Dovecraft North Pole papers again which have all been distressed. I simply added some baker's twine to finish it off.

Challenges
Bunny Zoe Travelling/transport 
Crafting from the heart anything goes

Have you entered my stamp giveaway at the top?

Saturday 16 April 2016

Teddies and some exciting news


Before I get on to my card today I just wanted to share my exciting news that I am now designing for Crafts Beautiful and Quick Cards Made Easy magazines. My first projects for them will be out in the next few weeks. So onto my card. It is my turn to host the new challenge at A Gem of a Challenge and I have chosen the theme of Teddy Bears. I kept changing my mind about which image to use and as you can see from the DT cards there are lots to choose from in the Pink Gem store. I thought I should get another Christmas card made so here is my DT card. I hope you will play along for a chance to win 2 of Janet's lovely digis.
Image - Pink Gem Barclay with snowflake
Medium - Copics
papers - LOTV 'Twas the Night
Sentiment - LOTV
Dies - MB stitched snowflakes with added white Wink of Stella pen

I added Stickles to the snowflake after I coloured it and the shine has bounced off the camera lens a bit but at least it shows how sparkly it is.

Challenges
The Ribbon Girl any card 
Crafty Calendar anything goes 
Noor! Design UK anything goes
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' animals
Penny's anything goes
Creative Inspirations Your favourite things (teddies, Pink Gem digis, Copics, Christmas, snowflakes) Winter Wonderland Pink or blue

Have you entered my stamp giveaway at the top of the page?

Friday 15 April 2016

Morning coffee


I spent a while on Wednesday inking up a lot of new stamps, some of which I have had for a while and others like Jasmine just a couple of weeks. I still have a few new ones left to ink but that's a task for another day. I also filed all my new stamps straight away rather than leaving them like I used to do and I am going to try to keep that up. After all I put everything else away once I have used it.
Image - LOTV Jasmine - coffee
Medium - Copics
Papers -LOTV Snow Princess
Sentiment - LOTV
Dies - MD coffee to go, MFT stitched rounded corners
Punch - X cut corner rounder punch
Other - pearl pen

That tablecloth is perfect for paper piecing and a good way to use odd scraps of paper too.

Challenges
Die Cuttin Divas Library day 
Creative Inspirations Your favourite things (LOTV stamps, Copics, aqua and lilac, dies, pearl pen) Simon Says Let's do the polka 
Fab n Funky girly and pretty
 Little Miss Muffet anything goes 
Sweet Stampin' paper piecing 
Paper Creators polka dots or gingham 
Penny Black and more at Allsorts Birthdays
Allsorts purple passion
Have you entered my stamp giveaway, at the top of the page?

Thursday 14 April 2016

Flower umbrella


This is one of my favourite PB stamps which I have used many times but this is the first time I have paper pieced the flower. I thought the image perfect for April showers and used one of my new dies too, the lovely flowers. I added tiny pearls under the rain clouds to create a rainy scene.
Image - Penny Black
Medium - Copics
Papers - MME Portobello Road, DCWV guaze
Dies - MB clouds, Joy flowers, Sizzix doily
Lace - Crafty Ribbons
Other - blue ink pad for flower edges, pearls

Challenges
Crafting from the heart anything goes 
Simon Says Monday April showers bring May flowers 
Sweet Stampin' paper piecing 
The Craft Barn April showers 
Penny Black April showers 
Paper Creators Polka dots or gingham 
Country View Spring
Simon Says Let's do the polka
Cute Card Thursday handmade embellishments

Have you entered my stamp giveaway, at the top of the page?

Wednesday 13 April 2016

For Grace


This is my second inspiration card for the LOTV Facebook Challenge for APRIL, which is to use at least 3 colours from Aqua, Pink, Red, Ivory, Lilac. I made this card for my good friend Lynsey's daughter's 8th Birthday. Grace loves fairies and is a keen crafter. She loves receiving handmade cards and really appreicates the effort that goes into making one.
Image - LOTV
Medium - Copics, Sakura clear star pen
Papers - First Edition Mulberry Kisses
Ribbon - The Ribbon Girl
Dies - Cheery Lynn faeire mushrooms, Memory Box banner
Flowers - Wild Orchid

Challenges
The Ribbon Girl any card 
Creative Card Crew die cuts 
Stamping Sensations One for the girls
Crafting from the heart anything goes 
Bizzy Becs anything goes
Noor! Design UK anything goes

Have you entered my stamp giveaway, at the top of the page?

Tuesday 12 April 2016

A plaque for a special lady


Next to cards I love making these plaques and I made this one for Jayne at Stamposaurus. She has been having a difficult time lately with caring for her Mum whilst her Dad has been in hospital and her family have been so supportive. I thought the Inkylicious sentiment was perfect for her. I used some Joanna Sheen paper, ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, Crispy lace from Live and Love Crafts, wooden hearts with a clear Wink of Stella pen, Doohickey die cut feathersenamel dots, roses from Wild Orchid and a butterfly from The Works.

Challenges
As you like it Favourite non card project (I love shabby chic and using great quotes with dies, flowers and other embellishments to make something special to treasure)  
Cute Card Thursday Something shiny (Wink of Stella on hearts, enamel dots) 
Crafty Calendar anything goes 
Noor Designs UK anything goes 
Bizzy Becs anything goes

Monday 11 April 2016

Ellie


I love elephants and there are several cute new elephant images in the Pink Gem store. I have used one of the digi kits again downsized to use with LOTV Baskets and Bunnies paper. I recently bought a few new Memory Box dies which were reduced at Crafts U love and I am loving these cross stitched hearts. They will be appearing a lot I am sure. I also added some ribbon from Crafty Ribbons and sweetheart blossoms from Wild Orchid.

Challenges
ABC E is for everything (anything goes) 
Creative Card Crew die cuts 
In the pink dies/punches 
The Ribbon Girl any image on a card 
Simon Says Happy Birthday

Sunday 10 April 2016

Ally Pally stash


I had a good day yesterday at Ally Pally though there weren't as many stands as usual and for the first time ever I came home with money, and not just a few pounds either! Such a shame that not so many companies are attending the show, a lot of which is down to cost I believe. When you don't have a good craft shop in Norwich other than The Range or Hobbycraft shows are a great place to look at everything. It is also lovely to meet up with fellow crafters and I met Sam Alpine for the first time which was lovely.

I stocked up on essentials like card blanks as my stock was very low.


A few stamps and some Copics.


Papers and embellishments. I really wanted some more new papers but they just weren't about this year.

Some of my favourite things, dies and at some great prices too.

Smile


I am not doing very well with finding time for scrapbooking this year and have only managed three layouts so far. However I was determined to use the great sketch for 1 April from Stuck and have made another page from last Summer's holiday in Yorkshire. The papers are Tim Holtz vintage shabby. I cut down a journal card saying Smile and added a die cut camera using a Marianne die and a die cut banner. I also use my MFT jumbo stitched banner dies. The lettering I bought in America and is very fiddly to use as it is so fine.

Saturday 9 April 2016

Guest Designer again


Isn't it strange that I haven't been a guest designer for ages and then two come along in the same month. The Pink Gem DT were invited to be guest designers at Crafty Friends as PG are sponsoring their challenge starting today.


The theme is a card for a child and I was spoilt for choice really but as I had this gorgeous image printed ready to use I went with a lovely bright card for a boy. I kept it simple just adding a fancy button and some turquoise pearl dots.

We stayed overnight in a Premier Inn at Enfield last night so as this publishes I shall have had a lovely cooked breakfast and we will be heading to Alexandra Palace for the Crafting at Ally Pally show. I am looking forward to meeting up with some blogging buddies and spending lots of money. I shall also be looking oit for some lovely things to add to my candy I am collecting.

Friday 8 April 2016

Dream every day


Isn't this a beautiful image from Elisabeth Bell, such gorgeous colours too. I am trying to use up odds end ends of paper and I have lots of MME pads with just a few sheets and bits left in them. I don't use a lot of yellow but this yellow paper seemed to go well with the image for a Spring colour scheme.
Image - Hobby House topper by Elisabeth Bell
Papers - MME Howdy Doody
Die - Clearly besotted notebook edge
Punch - MS daisy
Sentiment - LOTV
Other - ribbon from America, pearls, DI wild honey

Challenges
The Ribbon Girl any image on a card 
Elisabeth Bell's World die cuts and/or punches 
Country View Spring 
Crafty Calendar anything goes 
Dream Valley girlie 
Crafting from the heart anything goes 
Deep Ocean Spring is in the air 
Crafty Creations for a young girl 
Double D yellow 
The Paper Shelter Spring delights

Thursday 7 April 2016

A hot night


You may have seen me use this fun image recently. I sold the card I made on its first outing after several people admired it so I thought I should make another. I used one of the images from the digi kit of Molly in the bath. The beauty of these is that you can print them whatever size you like. I like to layer mine and I used some First Edition floral pavilion paper. As it is double sided I used the reverse dotty strips, so no paper waste. I added white Wink of Stella to the bubbles for some sparkle, flowers from Wild Orchid and pearls.

Challenges
The Ribbon Girl any image on a card 
Bizzy Becs anything goes 
Crafting from the heart anything goes 
Allsorts April fool/humorous

Wednesday 6 April 2016

Balloons of Love


This is one I made for Making Cards magazine using one of the LC Designs silhouette toppers and LOTV papers. The Marianne heart balloons have been embossed with a heart embossing folder. The sentiment is from LOTV, flowers from Wild Orchid and I used a Joanna Sheen flourish die.

Challenges
LC Designs anything goes

Tuesday 5 April 2016

Vrooom


This is the second of three cards I made for Making Cards magazine last month featuring the fabulous transport stamps from Stamposaurus. I stamped the image and sentiment onto kraft card and just coloured the lightning flash. The paper is from Dovecraft and is from the North Pole pack. Lots of distressing with black soot DI and my TH distress tool. I love doodling with a fineliner pen and I added some TH mini gears.

Challenges
Cute Card Thursday transport 
Paper Creators Polka dots or gingham

Monday 4 April 2016

Sailing


We have a new LOTV challenge on Facebook and this month, APRIL we challenge you to use at least 3 of  Aqua, Pink, Red, Ivory, Lilac. Each day you will find inspiration on the team's blogs and on Facebook and whilst most have gone girly I love red, aqua and ivory for boys. This is one of the recently revived old stamps whch I used for hubby's Birthday card and as I stamped another one decided he needed another outing. He has been coloured with Copics, papers are Docrafts Ahoy There. I used one of the new LOTV sentiment and a MB bunting die.

I hope you will join in the challenge as there are some lovely prizes to be won.

Challenges
Simon Says anything goes
Cute Card Thursday transport 
Little Miss Muffet anything goes 
Noor! Design UK anything goes

I am doing my best to keep up with as much commenting as I can but as you may know I am spending a lot of time helping my Mum to get sorted after recently being widowed. She is moving to a small bungalow and needs all new carpets, furniture and furnishings. Today we are going to measure up for paint and carpets and check where the plug sockets are etc. Hubby and I have been researching furniture and white goods for her so we will hopefully be sorting out some timescales once we have the measurements.

I really appreciate your continued support and can promise you a lovely candy coming soon xx

Sunday 3 April 2016

A purple plaque


I do love making plaques and recently bought some rectangular ones which I must say are quicker to cover and sand than the hearts. No quote on this one just some lovely girly things. I covered it with paper and added the ribbon. Then I added gauze and lace. The parasol was cut and embossed with a Marianne die and the feathers lightly sanded Core'dinations with a Doohickey die. The butterfly is from Poundland and the flowers from Wild Orchid.

Challenges
Dream Valley girlie 
Simon Says anything goes 
As you like it Favourite line on the bingo board (I love the whole board but have gone for my very favourite line of lace, purple and die/punch)

Saturday 2 April 2016

Happy 60th


Time for a new challenge at A Gem of a Challenge and we want to see your shaped cards this time. My Mum asked me to make a card for her hairdresser for her 60th. She enjoys a night out and a drink and is young at heart so I thought I would use Cocktail Emma. They wear pink and black in the hairdressers and that colour stuck in my mind when I was making the card. It's the first time I have made a shaped easel card with this die and really like the effect.


The front in more detail.
Image - Pink Gem Cocktail Emma
Medium - Copics
Dies - GO Kreate frilly squares 7
Flowers - Wild Orchid
Other - raffia lace, Wink of Stella clear, pearl pen, accordion sticker

Challenges
Dream Valley girlie 
Simon Says Anything goes 
Di's Digis for the girls

Friday 1 April 2016

Guest Designer


I am delighted to be a guest designer this month at


The challenge is 3 papers, 2 images, 1 embellishment. Well the 1 embellishment was a bit of a challenge for me but by making a man's card I managed it. The papers are from a Gorjuss girls pack, sentiment from Craftwork Cards. I used Harbour Scene and Vintage Anglers digis. I do love the sketched scenes.

I am selling my cards and gifts at the hospital shop today and hope I do as well as I did last month, one of my best sales days ever.

Challenges
Simon Says anything goes