Artful Acheivements

2012-02-11T13:55:00.001Z

Shabby Chic Love!

Well I am sure you will agree, we all love a bit of shabby chic from time to time! I have really enjoyed creating this card. It has taken me over a week to design it so that I would be happy with all the little details. Yes I can hear you all saying how mad I am taking that long. Maybe I am, but I am happy I did, I really love this card and now I know just who it is going to. A special card for the special man in my life!

If you take a look over at TOMIC you will see a great challenge, a great sketch and using Edwin on the project. As you can see I used Brotherly Love and coloured the image with Copics. The papers are from Trimcraft the Isabelle collection. I have used lots of little elements to balance and finish off the card.

I have also used my sewing machine once again and ruffled the edges to distress the paper. The Vintage Shabby Chic style has come from the challenge over on Magnolia-licious Highlights.

I have embossed using "Without a Lock" by Couture and my Cuttle Bug. At the top of the card I have also added a silver heart and key charm to bring the theme together.

I hope you all love it as much as I do!

2012-02-06T16:25:00.000Z

So Sweet!

Another short post today. Just to show the card I have created for the SC challenge. The challenge is to use Red, Pink and White. At first I thought this was going to be hard to get the right balance of all the colours. But I really enjoyed it and an very please with my finished result.

I have used Ivy, designed by Krista over at SC and coloured her with Copics. She is mounted using a scallop nestie in red. The papers are from my stash and are from the Basic Grey "Blush" collection. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. Also I have managed to get my sewing machine out and use it!!! So some of the papers have added sewing detail.

I have added lots of little details to highlight the different colours, added the bow and sentiment to finish the card off.

2012-02-02T16:37:00.002Z

Saturated Canary. . .

This is a new digi stamp company I came across just by accident. Oh and boy am I so glad I did! They are just so different to my usual Tilda's I just had to get some. Well this is the first one I bought, she is called Penny, designed by Krista Smith and you can get her or any of her other chums here at Saturated Canary Etsy shop.

I just wanted to keep it simple and let the image stand on its own. Although a few floral embellishment and some bling was a must! As she is a little quirky I thought I would use some quirky papers to go along with her. Although I must admit I am not so sure about the contrasting card I have used. I was trying to bring out the similar colour on the paper. But there is no going back now.

She have been coloured with Copics and as you can I added a little sentiment to go along with her.

I have since bought a couple more so am looking forward to having a play on their challenge blog. Such Fun!!!

2012-01-30T16:31:00.001Z

Just Magnolia - Sketch

A short and sweet post today. This card is made for the Just Magnolia Sketch challenge.

This is the sketch, go check out the challenge and what wonderful things the DT have created.

I really enjoyed this sketch, and love the new papers I have used. I have reused those silver balls on plastic thread. They were part of a button hole I used for a wedding a while back.

This is also a new stamp I bought and just love it too. I just think everything came together nicely.

Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, as are the filigree silver corners.

2012-01-27T16:33:00.005Z

Oval Card and Embossing - TOMIC

The challenge over at TOMIC is to create an oval shaped card with some dry or heat embossing! Well this was certainly out of my comfort zone, I would never have thought it would be so hard to compose a sketch type card on an oval card shape. We are so used to creating square or rectangle cards, we should push ourselves more and that's what blog challenges are all about.

I started by cutting a scalloped oval on my Grand Calibur and then used my small nesties to create the smaller oval shapes needed. Should use my Grand Calibur more too!!! I used the Planes and Trains paper collection from G.C.D Studios. I used a Doohicky to cut out the tag and embossed it with a heart embossing folder. Ribbon and red gems are added to finish the card and bring all the colours together.
If you would like to join in this challenge take a peek here TOMIC.

Dry embossing and red gem detail.

Would also like to enter in the challenge over at Everybody Art Challenge - Swirls

2012-01-26T10:56:00.000Z

Loving Siblings

Isn't this just a lovely image! They look so cute n cuddly, so I thought it can be used for either siblings or for a couple. I think I will get plenty of use out of this stamp.

I have used the sketch from the official Magnolia Challenge blog. I was trying to join in with their challenge this week but as you can see didn't quite make it in time. But I decided to post it anyway. So am now ready for their next challenge and plan to join in this week.

I have framed the image using a nesstie, square scallop. The papers are from my paper stash along with the ribbon and the gauze material used under the ribbon and tied around the ribbon. I used copics to colour the image and used a little glitter glue to highlight her underskirt. You will have to look closely to see this. The card was finished off with some pearlised gems and the LOVE sentiment.

2012-01-22T14:15:00.000Z

A Quick Card - With Thanks

Now I have the use of my hand back I thought I would post this fairly simple card. I really like this new Tilda stamp. I could use it for so many occasions, so you will probably see it quite often on my cards.
It makes you appreciate thing so much more when you find yourself in a position like I did with inly the use of one hand, my good hand at that. So no crafting, no hair washing my dear husband did it for me and so many other things we take for granted.
More papers from Trimcraft and those darling tulips from Wild Orchid Crafts. The image of course was coloured with Copics. Hope you like what I have done
Going to enter in to the WOC challenge which is Anything Goes.

2012-01-17T12:04:00.000Z

Disaster . . .
Well had a lovely time with special friends at the weekend, but ended up at the hospital with a burnt hand! Had it dressed a couple of times and cannot believe how well it has come on.

The first dressing! It looks really bad, but I don't think its all that bad.

They redressed my hand so I could drive home easier. Don't you just love those sausage fingers! Hope the next redressing will release my fingers all together. My palm got the worst of it! The staff at the centre were brilliant, Great Work Girls!

So as it was my left hand, my crafting hand I have not been able to join in any challenge this week. Although I did make a start before I went so I could get stuck in when we got home. This is my coloured image, lets hope it will fit in with a challenge this week somewhere!

2012-01-08T15:25:00.001Z

Thoughtful Tilda !

I love this papers from Trimcraft so much I thought I would use them again. But this time for a Tilda card. It shows how versatile these papers are, used for both male and female. Check out Edwin for the male card.

The sketch I have used is from The Official Magnolia Inspirational Challenge. I only did part of the challenge, there is a colour combo too. So I haven't entered it this week.

As you can see I have created my own flowers. This is so the card can be mailed in a envelope and not a box. They are not quite flat but enough so they won't get damaged in the mail.
I have used copics as usual for colouring Tilda, but am not happy with how her hair came out! Need to practise more. My goal for this week it to enter a challenge, watch this space.

Well thank you for dropping by and checking Tilda out!

2012-01-08T14:49:00.002Z

Look! I am a BIG girl now!

Yes I know I could have just told you all, but thought it would be nice for you to see it. Its the first time I have added a video clip and am quite proud of myself. Sorry the clip is so dark! It is only a short clip but every time we get the camera out she drops to the floor.But it gives you a glimps into how she is getting on with it.

Why do they have to grow up so quickly, she looks so big now!

I'm sure it won't be long before she is wanting me to paint her nails and use my makeup.......

2012-01-06T22:25:00.001Z

Oh So Sweet!

Aren't phones just amazing! Noah's mum managed to catch the moment Noah opened the card I sent him. Then she sent the photo on to me so I could see his reaction.

Nearly as good as being there!

2012-01-06T13:11:00.000Z

Guitar Edwin
Well I have just been out and treated myself to a new pair of trousers, in the sales of course! Its quite a bit warmer today and no wind, Yay.
So now I thought I would give you all a treat with a lovely card with Edwin on it. I only have a handful of Edwin stamps but must admit I do like this one playing his guitar. My hubby plays, my dad plays and my nephew Noah has just got his first guitar. So this card is for him!

It is a thank you card too. Over the holidays he had us over for tea with his mam and dad, then let us play on his Wii. It was great fun!

I just love the colours in this paper from Trimcrafts Up Up & Away selection. So much so I am doing a Tilda on with the same colour theme.
The music notes and the letters for his name are rubbons. I have had them years, just shows we should keep hold of everything and not throw it away.
I have to be honest, it was so strange creating a card and not putting any flowers on it. Ha ha ha.

2012-01-03T10:41:00.002Z

So Thoughtful...

Its a terrible windy day here in Cumbria, and its so dark! So what better way to cheer myself up then finish and load a card I was working on yesterday.

We always need thank you cards, so I thought I would get ahead and make a few. I have also had a request for some. So sorry in advance if that's all you get for a few weeks.

I love this image and think it fits great for a thank you card. But then most of the gorgeous Magnolia images do.

The papers are from Trimcraft, the Isabelle collection. Lovely papers with such a variety of designs.

I used a MS punch for the decorative edge and a nesstie die for the circles which I used for the sentiment. The sentiment came free with a magazine, great eh! The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the ribbon from my stash.

Finally my image was coloured with Copics, what else!

I hope you like this simple card and thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!

This has been entered into the Magnolia-licious Highlites Challenge Blog," Anything Goes". Check it out here. http://magnolia-licioushighlites.blogspot.com/

Feels great to be back!

2012-01-02T18:39:00.002Z

One Year On!

Where has this year gone? Time has past so fast this year, more so than other years. Is that because our time is filled with watching Sophie grow. She is now a year old and is such a charming little girl, full of smiles and fun. Lets hope it lasts!
So many people have said over the years how special and different it is to be a grandparent. I used to wonder, how can this be. It cant be so different to being a parent.

But it so is! I am loving being a grandma to Sophie!!!

We have enjoyed every minute with her. But sadly that has meant other things have suffered, like my blog. I haven't even had or made the opportunity to do her scrap book.
So this year I do mean to do a little more in my craft room. Either creating a scrapbook page or creating cards which I can include in challenges.
Here is one to get the ball rolling! We had a lovely time away with family and this is a big thank you for all their hospitality.

2011-08-28T14:47:00.000+01:00

Just For You

What a miserable few days I have had! The weather hasn't been good and to top that my Internet has been down since Wednesday. Doesn't it just make you want to scream!!!!! They think you don't know what you are doing when you ring to find out what the problem is. I do know a little about computers but they really did get my goat. I have had to speak with them again today because although I have got on line the connection still comes and goes. Less of my complaining, here's what I made for today.

Well I have finally got round to creating a card for a challenge blog, for myself and not for an occasion. I love this Tilda image so cute! I have coloured her to match the DP from Trimcrafts Bird Song collection. Glitter, gloss and gorgeous!

I have used just two of their designs and followed the sketch over on the Wild Orchid Crafts Challenge blog. I have used my nessties twice here, once for the round heart shape and also for the rectangle that looks torn. I don't tend to use this one much but think it fits in great here. I have made the little flowers with two punches and added a tiny pearl. Tilda is coloured as usual with copics. Here she is finished of with an organza ribbon. This is very girly, I am sure you will agree!

2011-08-23T14:52:00.000+01:00

Picked Just For You

What a miserable day it is here, after the beautiful day we had yesterday it is rather disappointing. I managed to get out in the garden and plant more salad stuff and create a cage for my veggies. No they are not wild, just to keep the pesty cats off. Its my first year growing properly and we have done really well in the salad department. So hence me plant more! Then I came in for a rest from the sun, yes it was that hot for me! So I thought I would sort out another posting for today.

So as promised another of the cards I have been creating over the last few weeks. This is another of the LOTV new girly stamps and I just love this one. The lovely sentiment I have used is just perfect and it came free on the front of Do Crafts Creativity magazine. I don't know about you but I never throw any of these freebies away, you just don't know when they are going to come in handy.

The image was coloured with copics and the flower was highlighted with glossy accents. I have used the nesstie and a MS punch for the circle and the decorative border. The gorgeous flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

2011-08-21T14:15:00.002+01:00

LOTV Thank you Challenge

Well it has certainly been a long time since I posted on my blog, and I am ashamed of myself. Life just gets in the way. Its not that I haven't been creating its just getting the time to take the photos and then post onto my blog. So today I have been doing just that, I have taken photos of the cards I have done recently and I will be posting them here all this week.

I do love all the newer LOTV images and this is my first card of the week. Doesn't she look so cute! This is a Just for you, to say Thank you card. So I have entered it in to the LOTV challenge this week. If you want to join in the check the blog out here.

The papers are from an old stack from DCWV. It has squirrels and toadstools on and the colours are very jolly, as you can see.

I have used copics to colour the image and my nessties to cut out the ovals. The little dots on the toadstool is Liquid Pearls, makes them pop don't you think. I have also added Glossy Accents to the swirly background paper, you will need to look real close to see.

Well thanks for checking back with me and hope you liked the card.

2011-06-18T16:44:00.002+01:00

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue.........

Well first I must apologise for my lack of posting!
It is a long time since my last post but I have had such a lot on. I want to thank everyone that has emailed me and continued to come back and check me out even though there has not been much to look at.

Today's post is a little card I have made for a dear friends Wedding Anniversary. It has made me focus and I really enjoyed creating it.
I have used a LOTV stamp, which I coloured with my darling Copics and used some dp from Trimcraft. They are called UP UP & AWAY. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

The challange over on the LOTV Challenge Blog is to include something musical, Sheet music, a Nursery Rhyme, Musical Notes or a Musical Saying. Now this one is stretching it a bit because my roses are not quite red. Roses are Red, Violets are Blue...........

If you want o join in just click here.

2011-04-27T12:37:00.000+01:00

50th Wedding Anniversary
No it's not me and my darling hubby ! ! !

Hiya guys, just thought I would stop by and let you know whats happing here, I'm not being lazy and ejnoying the weather. I have been quite busy.

A friend of ours is celebrating their 50th anniversary next month and I am creating an exploding box to celebrate their 50 years together. Why am I telling you all this I here you ask? Well I wanted to let you know why there has been no posting on my blog. I haven't left town, I am just concentrating on this box for them.

As soon as it is finished I will post some photos so you can see what I have been up too.

You won't believe it but there are no Tilda images on it, I am trying to create a delicate romantic look for them using their own photos . So watch this space for the finished article and I hope to be back to doing my Tilda challenges very soon.

Shelley

2011-04-16T22:50:00.002+01:00

So Special...

Well I started this card over two weeks ago, but I have not been on form and also been away for our wedding anniversary. I am going to enter it into the challenge to use both Edwin and Tilda together on the same card, you will find the challeng here magnolia-licioushighlites.blogspot.com/.So I am going to use it for two challenge blogs I don't think I have ever join in with before. The first is Craft and Me Challenge using ribbon on your project and the second is Truly Scrumptious with the challenge of Vintage!

I have had this idea in my head for a while now, maybe I have seen it somewhere and not realised. I have made the arch using a grand circle scallop nesstie and added it to a easel card. I got some beautiful papers from Trimcraft called Spring Feast. I matted with the core-dination card. I have added pearls and ribbon over the arch and created two small floral arrangements. I have used flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and a punch from NS for the greenery.The decorative edge is from a new MS punch I bought while away,I think its called Bubbles.

I have coloured both Tilda and Edwin with copics, Edwin's shirt was layered with a few colours as I didn't really want him to have a pink shirt. Its kinda a salmon colour.

This is a close up of one of the floral decorations.

This photo is just to show you that when you do this yourself you need to make sure your arch is no higher than the base of the easel card when closed.

2011-03-31T16:45:00.000+01:00

More Pink !!!

I don't know whats up with me this week, I just keep thinking pink, pink and more pink? Maybe it my new grand-daughter or maybe I am just loving the papers. Yes they all have pink in them. But I did want to keep this one a bit simple, a bit elegant. Not to much colour!

I have use these papers before but not as simple as this and just love the effect. The sketch is from the Wild Orchid challenge blog so of course I have used their flowers on the sketch. I have used a MS punch both for the decorative bottom and the corners. I have added tiny pearls in the centre of the punched flowers. The ribbon is just perfect in both colour and pattern, not from the same line as the papers but a perfect match. I have coloured Tilda with Copics and used nessties and my cuttlebug for the oval shapes. The edge has slightly been distressed with Antique Linen a distress ink pad.

This is a close up of the sentiment and the detail on the decorative edge.

2011-03-30T15:08:00.002+01:00

Friend Tag with Mini Tilda

Well it's not been a good day for me today, but I so wanted to use my new Mini Tildas that came in the mail this morning. So as I had made a box for the card in my previous post, I though I would make a tag for the top with the mini Tilda. I was suprised to see how mini they are, but soooo cute! I will have to get a couple more me thinks! You can see from the pearl gem and the DooHickey tag I have used how small they are.

I started off distressing the tag with Frayed Burlap then stamping over that with a friend stamp and then over that with a tiny swirl. The flowers have been cut out with the Tim Holtz Alteration flower and my cuttlebug. These where also distressed and shaped using an embossing tool. It was finished off with the pearl gem. I have also added some really mini pearls to the bottom of the tag and in Tildas hair.

Tilda was coloured with copics to match the Tilda card in the previous post. Finally I added some ribbon and wool. I am really pleased with how this has turned out and will be making more of them.

The finished card with box and tag.

2011-03-27T22:49:00.001+01:00

Friends

This is just a gorgeous image from Magnolia and I have love using it. It is so playful, I am sure you will all agree. My dear friend Margaret brought me back some lovely goodies from the show in Harrogate. Sadly I couldn't make. So I thought I would make a card using them. the papers go so well together and so they should, they are form the Cherry Blossoms Nitwit Collection.

Many would have probably saved them because they are colours used for christmas, but not me.These have been matted onto Core-dination card stock. I have a very special person that this card is going to. I hope she will like it! I am even going to make one for myself because I like the colours so much.

I have coloured the image with Copics, used glossy accents for her lovely shining wellington boots and distressed the paper edges with Frayed Burlap distress ink. I also added a red brad in each corner to balance the whole card off.

I have entered this card into two challenges this week, firstly the sketch is from Friday Sketcher and secondly from Just Magnolia and hAnglar sTanglar, over on their blog you can have a go at playing bingo. Intrigued then pop over to their blog to find out how you can join in.

I have chosen to go diagonally, embossing, pins and of course flowers. As you can see from the close up I have embossed the large rectangle with my Cuttlebug.

This is the gorgeous flower display complete with two crystal pins. I love the long gypsophilia stems. These can be bought with the other flowers used from Wild Orchid Crafts. They have such lovely flowers you just cant get enough of them.

This is the sentiment to the side, I have also embossed this tag using one of those cut and embossing folders from cuttlebug. But I have actually used the debossed side to stamp the sentiment on. I have added three tiny silver gems to match the silver corner piece.

2011-03-18T15:10:00.002Z

Just Magnolia Challenge - Colour Combo

This is just one of the Hanglar Spanglar images I have, they are like gold dust so was so pleased to receive one in a swap. How long will it be do you think, until we can get our hands on them ourselves here in the UK! If anyone knows please let me know!

Well having won the challenge for week 96 on the Just Magnolia and Hanglar Spanglar blog, I thought I would get right in there and join in the challenge for this week. The challenge is Colour Combo, I have used green and purple, don't they look so great together. I just had to give it a go, especially when I dug out the papers from Basic Grey Kioshi collection. I wasn't able to join in the sketch for week 97, so I have used that sketch along with the colour combo.

I have used my Cuttlebug to cut out the circles and the MS punch for the decorative border. I have embossed the white circle and added a few gems to the border and for decoration.

I have coloured the image with my Copic pens. I do like using the very pastel colours a great addition to the Copic collection.

These beautiful flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. I just love their selection of flowers and colours. I have filled them out with leaves which I have punched, one is a NS punch and the other is from Papermania.

2011-03-07T12:16:00.001Z

Friday Sketchers - Magnolia

This is one of my new images from Magnolia, isn't she a darling!!! I am not an orange person and have probably said this in the past, but I think it goes quite well with the green and the DP. I did have a struggle finding some flowers to go along with the colour scheme. These are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I bought them such a long time ago these are what are left. Must get more!

I have added some glitter to the flowers and the paper because the challenge over on the Just Magnolia and Hanglar Spanglar challenge blog is to use glitter on your design. I have also used the wonderful sketch from Friday Sketchers. So if any of you want to join in just follow the link for either or both blogs. I have coloured the image with my beloved copics..

As I am using more flowers and the sizes are getting bigger I thought I would create boxes for my cards. A nice touch I thought and they look so much nicer when receiving them. I created a template to go with each card so they fit perfectly and also used a MS punch for the decorative sides.

2011-03-02T14:54:00.002Z

Lili of The Valley - Love Grows

These new stamps from Lili of the Valley are so sweet. They are so versatile, so can be used for so many different occasions. This one I have made is for my mum and step dad, it is there wedding anniversary in a few months. Wow look at me getting ahead for a change!!! They both love their garden and growing things that i thought this was just perfect for them. Let's hope she doesn't see it!

I got the DP locally and thing they are from Docrafts but will stand corrected if not. I bought them a month back and come in a cellophane wrapper. So when you open them you throw the wrapper away and hence the name of who made them. I have used Core-dination card stock for matting the papers and used the Cuttlebug for both scalloped circles.

I added the gorgeous flowers from Orchid Crafts and finished them of with some tiny leaves from a punch. I love to add flowers but need to becareful I don't over do it.

The image was coloured with my trusted Copics. I have used glossy accentss on the watering can, but I dont think it has come out very well. The sentiment I have added came with the stamp, how thoughtful of them. We don't even need to think of what to put, its all done for us.

I am adding this card foor the challenge over on the Lili of the Valley challenge blog. The challenge is to use Circles as many or few as you like. So if you want to join in follow the link.

2011-03-01T14:17:00.000Z

My Cards on Ebay

Over the past few months several people have asked about buying some of the cards I make. So, I have decided to put a few on Ebay. Each card will come complete with a box made to fit .

I have a short cut button in my side bar which will take you straight to my cards. So, please stop by now and again to take a look.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me.

2011-03-01T14:00:00.000Z

Friday Sketchers - Just A Note....

I wasn't so sure about these twist easel cards at first, but having made a couple it has got me! I like different shaped cards make things fun and interesting. So I hope you like how I have decorated my twisted easel card.

I have used the sketch this week from The Friday Sketchers blog and it is a great one, thanks Claudia. The challenge is sponsored by Tickled Pink from Australia. So check out both blogs and join in the fun.

The DP I have used are from Basic Grey Cappella collection. I just love these papers they are so subtle in both their design and colour. The image was courtesy of a friend who has a few of these wonderful stamps, aren't they just so difficult to get your hands on! I have coloured her with Copics and matted all the layers with Core-dination card stock.

This is a close up of the flower arrangement complete with a few pearls. Finishes it of perfectly, they are from Wild Orchids Crafts.

The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley, the Dreamy Days collection. I used my Cuttlebug to cut out the scalloped circle to frame it. All the flourishes were cut out with my slice.

2011-02-12T17:33:00.003Z

Friday Sketchers - Dreaming

I was expecting a lovely day here in Cumbria, but was sadly disappointed! Suppose I should be glad it wasn't raining. It has given me some time to have a play with my new Magnolia stamps and to create a card.
This is my contribution for the challenge over on this weeks Friday Sketchers Challenge blog and for the Sentiment Challenge over on the All Sorts Challenge blog.
Great sketch ladies!!!
I have used these gorgeous papers from Trimcraft, the Love Letters collection. As you can see from the photo, some of the papers are embossed and glittered. The flowers I have used are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the sentiment is from Lilly of the Valley.

This is a lovely new image from Magnolia which I have coloured using Copics.
If you want to join in this challenge or just want to see how others have used this sketch go to Friday Sketchers.
I would also like to enter it for the Sentiments Challenge over on the All Sorts Challenge Blog.

2011-01-26T15:20:00.000Z

Baby Box

Photos as promised of my exploding box.

Although these boxes take a little time to create they really are worth it. I have made a few and already have a 50th Wedding Anniversary one ready to start now I have finished this one.

I have made this exploding box for my Great Nephew, Ethan and his mum and dad. I love these exploding boxes, a great gift full of lovely memories. It was so difficult because I am in a sweet and cute mode creating scrapbook pages for Sophie. I have used some lovely papers from First Addition Papers, these are the Animal Antics Collection. The sweet tag you can see on the outside of the box is a Magnolia Die, I just love it! Most of the sentiments are from Kaisercraft Rubons.

I have cut out these little nappy pins using my Cricut machine and the New Arrival cartridge. I have distressed the edges of the papers on the outside with Old Paper Distress ink and my blending tool. I have highlighted the top of the pins with glossy accents to give it a more realistic look.

The finished box measures 9cm x 9cm with three layers. I have only used 6 photos, two on each layer and a sentiment on the other sides. As you can see I used a MS punch to decorate the edge of the lid and added some ribbon to lift of the lid.

The Teddy Bear was bought for this project and I think finishes it of nicely.

2011-01-22T20:11:00.003Z

New Baby...

Yes that's right, another new addition to the family. Not only am I a grand-ma but I am also a great aunty! This is baby Ethan, doesn't he look so sweet! So now I am in the process of making him an exploding memory box. All this means I will not be joining in any challenges this week. But when I have finished the box I will post some photos for you to have a peek at.

2011-01-16T14:52:00.006Z

Tilda Calendar

Another miserable day outside, so I decided to create a calendar for the challenge over on the Magnolia Down Under challenge blog.

I have used a blank from the bare essential range for my base and added papers from my stash to cover the board base both the front and back. The edges were highlighted with a Silver Krylon pen.

The holes were already punched because it was a book blank. I threaded ribbon through so I could hang it up and decorated that with more ribbon. I stamped three little cup cakes on two different coloured papers and paper pieced them together. These were then highlighted with Glossy accents and a crystal gem and left to dry.

For the circle I used my nestabillities, embossing folder and my cuttle bug. I highlighted the embossed dots with my blending tool and blue ink. Finally I coloured Tilda with my copic pens and cut her out. She was then mounted with 3d foam pads. When the cup cakes dried I glued them in place on the calendar.

If you would like to join in this challenge and create a Magnolia calendar follow this link.

2011-01-16T12:37:00.003Z

Sweet Dreams

Page two of Sophie's scrapbook. I have kept the embellishments very simple because I wanted to show of this beautiful paper. It matches great with Sophie's baby grow! I used my Cricut to cut out her name and created the flowers with a MS punch. The embossed piece down the side has a punched decorative border, but you cannot see it very well. This is the first photo of Sophie at home that I took. I can't believe how she is changing, still gorgeous though.

2011-01-10T12:02:00.007Z

Welcome to 2011

I have created this calendar using the sketch from Stamptacular Sunday Challenge. A lovely image from Magnolia and gorgeous papers from g.c.d Studios, the Planes and Trains collection.

I have used a M/S punch for the decorative strips and used my Cuttlebug with Nestabilities for the oval and embossing. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. I finished off with a pearl pin and some pearl gems.

Tilda was coloured with my Copic pens, sorry I don't have the numbers but will get back into that the more I do.

So If you like the sketch and want to join in go here to the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge.

Also I have joined in on Magnolia Stamp Lovers Challenge, the theme is Blue. Check them out too.

2011-01-05T14:20:00.005Z

Sophie

Well as promised I have managed to get started on my crafting again. What better way to start than with my granddaughter Sophie.

I have used the sketch from Wild Orchid challenge Blog, and rather than do a card I have done my first page for her scrapbook.

I have used the Nana's Nursery Papers by DCWV, some plain green card for layering and created two ovals for all the info by using my nestabilities and my cuttlebug. The decorative heart edging was made using a MS punch. I added some brads to finish the page off.

If you would like to join in with this sketch or see how other bloggers have used it take a peek here at the Wild Orchid Challenge Blog,I think you have until the 17th Jan. Ckeck the blog out for all instructions.

2010-12-29T22:21:00.003Z

Baby Sophie

I know I haven't blogged for such a long time and I am really sorry for that! Got to start doing it more seriously soon.

But I did want to introduce you all to our first beautiful grand-daughter Sophie.

She is such a darling and I am looking forward to enjoying our lives together!

2010-09-04T10:57:00.006+01:00

Two People One Life. . . .

This has been an ongoing project, it was for a wedding which has been and gone now so I thought I could share it with you now.

I have had this little book for over a year, just waiting for the right opportunity to come along for me to use it. I can't even remember where I bought it from! The papers are perfect for this occasion and they are from DCWV, Linen Closet Stack.

As you can seen I have used quite a selection of Magnolia images from the Wedding range. I have used the full image on some of the pages and then used just part of the image on others.

I have added quite a lot of embellishments, lots of beautiful flowers and some gorgeous lace.

As usual all my images have been coloured with Copics, but as it has been done a while I can't remember which ones I used. I know they are the soft colours the 0000's with just a couple others.

2010-07-05T10:44:00.006+01:00

"More Than Words" . . .

Well the month of June has come and gone, were does the time go! As promised I have been reading all your wonderful comments, which I appreciate very much! I have made my choice of the comment that has won a card I have made.

This is the card the comment is for, and the

winning comment is . . .

"I love these papers & how you displayed the message of morning marital lovable bliss! Wow! Striped wallpaper, with two panels hanging against the wall as "his" & "hers" towels made it look like a shared dressing area. Yet, my eye fixes on the sweet love shared in the reflection of the oval antique mirror. Nothing stronger could be said than to lean over and speak his heart on her cheek. What a great start to any morning! Real nice. Debi"

So Debi could you email me privately so I can get your home address and send on the card to you . Here is my address - Michelleseli@aol.com.

Thanks for all your wonderful comment over the last month and beyond. They really do mean a lot to me. I am sorry for not being able to post at the moment, but I am working on project that has taken over and is taking longer than I thought. I want to get it right, what a burden it is to be a perfectionist!

2010-06-22T11:00:00.004+01:00

Sorry No Postings!

Just a short note for you all. I bet you have been wondering were I have been. I am sorry for being Awol!

I am doggy sitting at the moment for my mum and you don't realise how much time they take up when you are not used to having one around. I love her to bits and really love having her, she is such good company. She goes home on Wednesday so I will be back in the saddle and working properly on my crafting.

I have also had some wonderful news this week. I am going to be a grandma! My first grandchild, can't wait!

2010-06-17T09:00:00.003+01:00

Love Honour & Cherish

I have made this card for my friends son who is getting married in July. Can't believe I am so organised.

Also I have followed the sketch from the Just Magnolia blog challenge and the challenge on the Magnolia Down Under. The theme there is to use swirls on your project. Also the theme over on the Creative Inspiration Challenge is Monochrome.

I wanted to create a soft elegant wedding card and am pleased with the result. The papers are new ones I purchased recently, they are from DCWV the Linen Closet stack. My kind of colours, but then all the papers from DCWV are my kind of papers whatever the colour. As usual I have used my favourite card stock from Core-dinations. I have gone to town with the flourishes and embellishments on this card, well for me anyway. Lots of pearls, swirls and flowers. I added the cream lace to the cream ribbon and added some decorative leaves around the flowers. The scalloped circles were cut with nestabilitie dies and my Cuttlebug and the swirls were cut using my slice. (I should use this more)

I added a small epoxy sentiment. But I attached it to some matching paper before I glued it on.

This is the inside of the card, simple and elegant. The image is from the new wedding range, the bride and bridesmaid. I just love the way she is looking down at her bridesmaid and thought she would be perfect on her own. I have used the same card for layering and pearls for decoration.

I have used two images from the new wedding range. But I have only used part of each image. I have coloured both images with copic and the numbers are below.

2010-06-15T15:05:00.007+01:00

Thank You !

Over on the Creative Card Crew blog their challenge has the theme of "Thank You". So I have created a gift for my mum, we always have something to thank our mums for. So here is my thank you bag! I should have taken a photo of the bag before I decorated it. It was just a plain papier mache solid bag, nothing to look at. I thought, once finished it would be great for holding a plant.

I am really please with how this has turned out. I have been stirring at it for weeks wondering what to with it and which direction to go in. As I have had a week of not being able to do much I did just a little at a time and now it is finished. As you can see from my previous post I seem to be in the "RED". The bag was sealed first with some acrylic paint and the edges distressed.

The paper is from Paper Mania which I edged with Old Paper and Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink this was layered with Core-dination card stock. For the decorative corners and border I used a MS punch. They ovals were cut with my nestabilitie dies and my Cuttlebug. The plain oval has been coloured with Old Paper Distress Ink and the scalloped oval has been coloured with Old Paper, Frayed Burlap and Fired Brick Distress Ink. I did the same for the thank you tag. I have added flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and the leaves were punched out with a Nellie Snellen punch. Pearl gems were also added to the ribbon the decorative corners and one in Tildas hair. The butterfly was added for the finishing touch.

I have used two Tilda images and both were coloured with copic. The colours I used are below.

2010-06-12T14:14:00.006+01:00

Love From Edwin . . .

This sketch is from Friday Sketchers, if you want to join in go take a look og their challenge blog. They also have a free digital image for everyone. I have kept the card quite simple, not a fussy card. I haven't used and Edwin image in a while and I thought these papers would go well with him. so here we have Edwin sending some LUV!!!!!

The papers are from DCWV the Green Stack and they are made from 70% recycled paper. Again they are great colours and they have some wonderful designs. This has been layered on the core-dination card stock that I use so much. I have used a MS punch for the decorative strip which is layered with ribbon and brads. I have added an Adage Ticket from Tim Holtz Idea-ology range. This was distresses with Frayed Burlap distress ink as was the scalloped rectangle. On top of the Frayed Burlap I added some Brushed Corduroy and Fired Brick. I love to mix and match the colours from the distress inks.

I have coloured Edwin with Copics. I love to use the greys, both the cool and warm. They complement each other. I have kept the colours to a minimum with just some added red and green on the rose. You can't see it on the photo, but I have also added some glossy accents to the stripe on his trousers.

Here are the colours I have used.

2010-06-09T09:00:00.000+01:00

Love Me, Love Me Not . . .

Just a short post today as I am still in the middle of cleaning out my kitchen. Once done there, I am not sure where I will move onto.

The sketch I have used today is from Friday Sketcher Challenge blog. I have used some new papers from DCWV, the Cafe Mediterranean stack. Another great colour combination! This had been layered on to core-dination card. I have added some glossy brads in the corners, some pearl gems, ribbon and a Tim Holtz sentiment holder. I used a MS punch for the decorative border across the page and added gems to the punched butterfly.
I have used nestabilitie oval dies both straight and scalloped for Tilda to sit on. The final touch is the bunch of flowers, created using flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts some pearls on a stem and a bow.

Tilda was coloured with copics. You will find the photo with the number below. For those on the Yahoo Magnolia Group I have sent instruction on how to do this using your photo editing software.
If anyone else wants to know how to do this email me privately.

2010-06-07T09:00:00.000+01:00

Always There For When I Need You.

There has been a craft famine in my house over the last week. I have had some little visitors since Wednesday, my niece and nephew. Emily is 13 and Reuben is 8, we had a good time but I am just not used to it and have been left wiped out.

Thankfully this card has been ongoing since Tuesday. So today all I had to do was put the card together and add all the finishing touches.

I love different styles of cards don't you! I came across this in a little booklet and have altered it slightly. I have used two pieces of 14.5cm x 14.5cm and stuck them together so they open from both sides and fold over each other. I then trimmed both open edges and the angels top edges to get the finished shape. You could used and depth or angle for this card.

The papers are from 7Gypsies and they are layered on Core-dination card stock. The ovals were cut out using nestabilitie dies and the plain oval was embossed with the cuttlebug which was then highlighted with distress ink. I added some cream lace to the scalloped oval and then I added another plain oval over that at the back to keep the card tidy. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the leaves and swirls were punched out. The final decorative elements for the front are three brads, the sentiment, which I got free with a magazine and some ribbon. I have entered this card for the challenge over at the Just Magnolia challenge blog. Framing an image or paper with lace. Go check it out!

This is a picture of the inside of the card. Not a good one, but it gives you an idea of the finished shape. I added the three corner embellishments which I made using a MS punch.

The image was coloured with copics and if you want o know which ones I used, check out the photo below.

2010-06-02T09:00:00.002+01:00

Embrace

I really enjoyed making this card! I have had these papers a few weeks now, I kept looking at them and wondering what to do with them. The colours and patterns are beautiful, Basic Grey have out done themselves with this paper. Well that's what I think!

Tilda and Edwin are getting rather cosy and romantic, and why not! We all need that from time to time.

The paper pack is Cappella, old world elegance, sweet-cream paper, ribboned with espresso and biscotti-coloured confections. (quote from BG) If only I could be so poetic! I have gone for strong layering card stock, black , grey and aqua.

I have created this card for two challenges, the first is for the Magnolia Down Under blog. The challenge there is to use flowers, now that wasn't too difficult for me as I love flowers. The second is for the Magnolia Bash and the challenge there is a sketch. If you want to join in any of these two challenges click the shortcut.

I used two nestabilitie dies and used the masking technique so Edwin could cosy up and kiss Tilda. The flowers are made with two small punches and peal gems. I also used a die for the swirls. Lace was added across the middle and some larger peal gems for decoration. Finally I added a 3D sentiment.

I have just come to the part were I tell you I coloured my images with copics and the list is on the photo below. But what do you know, I haven't added the numbers. So I am just off to add the photos and add another photo.

2010-05-31T09:00:00.003+01:00

Stitched Together with Love . . .

Hope everyone here in the UK is enjoying the bank holiday and everywhere else are having a great Monday! Thanks for stopping by to see what I am up to today.

I enjoyed using the Pinks and Greens so much on a previous card I thought I would give it another go. This card is for the challenge over at Friday Sketchers. Also over on the Creative Card Crew challenge blog, the theme is "Pink and Green". I have already entered my card. But if you want to have a go at their challenge click on the link above. One other challenge I have entered my card for is Creative Inspirational Challenge, their theme is "Stitching" real or faux stitching.

These gorgeous papers are by Basic Grey and they are called "Green at Heart". They are acid free and archival safe as are most papers these days. They have used soy-based inks, must check out what these are. So according to them not only can we be creative but also help save a tree.

The paper was layered with Core-dination card stock and all the edges were distressed with Tim Holtz distress tool. I have stitched the papers together using my sewing machine and a few decorative stitches. Two ovals have been cut out using my nestabilities, one scalloped and one plain. the plain one was embossed using my Cuttlebug, but I have used the de-bossed side and coloured it with Tattered Rose distress ink. I have added three brads and a selection of flowers from our local market. These were filled out with punched leaves from Nellie Snellen. This was finished of with a the sentiment from Great Impressions.

The image I have used was from Debbie my friend. We did a swap of images and this was one of them. It is an older image but it is just as lovely as the others. I think she goes well with the sentiment. she was coloured with . . . . . . yes Copics and they are listed below.

2010-05-27T12:25:00.013+01:00

Best Friends

Whilst shopping for new paper with my DH the other day he made a suggestion. "why don't you use some of the paper you haven't used for a while". So that got me thinking and rummaging through my paper stash. It was a good idea, or so I thought! I did still manage to get some new papers while I was shopping too.

I decided to have a go at a new challenge blog Creative Card Crew, the theme was to use Pink and Green. So I got these older Basic Grey papers out, I didn't have a full set or a full pad. Just a couple of odd pieces. I have used this sketch before and think its a good one. I did use some Core-dination card stock for my matting and layering. I also used a couple of MS punches for the decorative bits.

But when it came to layering my image, what a nightmare! I just couldn't get it right. It was late last night, so maybe I was tired. So as you can see from the photo below I tried every which way. I was trying to add a frame, because I hadn't done it in a while. But it was just too much. Then the two colours I was trying to match up didn't match. I even stamped on one colour with the other matching colour and that didn't work. All I kept thinking, was whose idea was it to use older papers that I didn't have a lot of . So I went to bed and left it for another day.

So with a good nights rest and a new day I set to sorting out layering my image. I coloured a piece of card the pink I wanted and layered that on the greeny blue and then added a piece of the Basic Grey patterned paper. It worked!!! I went back and edged the patterned paper slightly with the greeny blue ink to soften the edge. I added some brads, tiny pearls and some net ribbon. It was finished off with a 3D sentiment I had in my stash. Did you notice, I haven't used any flowers. Not done that in a while.

You probably already know by now that I coloured my image with copics. Se photo below for the numbers.
Just one more thing. I would like to thank my DH for the suggestion. I think this card came out rather nicely. Will be using more of my older papers in future as well as all those nice papers I bought.

2010-05-26T09:00:00.002+01:00

What do flowers say ! ! !

This is one of my favorite Tilda images. " Will need to check out just how many favourites I have! I have created this card for the challenge on Friday Sketchers. Check them out here to join in or see what others have been up to. Great inspiration!

The papers are called Hampstead and are I think from Papermania. I threw the wrapper away once I opened it, wouldn't do that again. This is matt and layered onto Core-dination card stock. Great 6x6 card packs, because they are the perfect size for card making and there are so many different shades. I have used a MS border punch and a matching corner punch for decoration. I have also added some brads and some lovely flowers from Wild Orchids Crafts. Finally I have also added some decorative leaves. Both are punches, one from Nellie Snellen and the other from Docrafts, X-Cut range.

I think this is also my favourite Nestabillitie shape for placing Tilda on. But this time I have not added one but two to the front of my card. One is actually stuck down to the card base and the other can rotate as you see in the photos below. When you use this idea make sure, if you are putting anything close to the oval itself like I have on this card, don't use to much glue. This could stop your top oval from swinging round. I have also added a little tap to make opening easier.

As usual for me, I have coloured my image with copics. I did have a play with a few different colourways but this one won out in the end. The numbers I used are below.

2010-05-24T09:00:00.001+01:00

Tilda and her Pinwheel.

When I saw this image all I could see was Tilda with a pinwheel! ! ! Do you do that when new images come out? I like being able to use the image as it is or adapt it with something else. There are quite a few Magnolias that you can do that with and this is certainly one of them.

I made the pinwheel just like your would make an ordinary one, but on a much smaller scale. In fact it was 2cm x 2cm, very fiddly. But worth it. The papers I have used are from G.C.D Studios and the collection is Planes and Trains. Gorgeous papers , gorgeous colours but for the life of me I don't know what they have to do with planes and trains.This paper is matt and layered with Core-dination card stock. I have added three brads, some jelly srones and a few flowers from my stash.

The Sketch I have used is from the Challenge over on the Just Magnolia challenge blog. Click here, to join in the fun. Also I would like to add it to the Magnolia Stamp Lovers challenge, the theme is "Summer". Although the colours are quite rich, we only have our pinwheels out in summer.

Last and by no means least, my copic colours I have used for colouring this gorgeous image of Tilda with a Wand/Pinwheel.

2010-05-22T20:18:00.002+01:00

Beautiful Sunshine . . .

What a day! We have had some beautiful weather her in the UK today. Glorious sunshine and hot too. So what do you do when you have such nice weather? Bask in the garden in your bikini ! Have a BBQ ! Take a trip to the beach !

Well no not me, I did a little weeding and helped hubby wash the car. What we like ! ! !

Lets hope we have this heat wave for a bit longer than a day and we all enjoy it more.

No cards today, but have been working on one and it should be ready for Monday so watch this space.

2010-05-21T09:00:00.000+01:00

Just Because . . .

Over on the Magnolia Down Under challenge blog this week the challenge is a colour theme. Make something that includes "Black, White/Cream and any other colour. This was fun to do.

As you can see I choose black, cream and pink. Well it's more a hint of pink. The papers are from DCWV the Creme Stack. These papers are beautiful, they have gorgeous patterns and some of the papers are flocked. The flowery paper here is one of those that are flocked. You cant really tell from these photos, but I also coloured some of the tiny flowers with a RV11 copic. I used a MS punch for the decorative border and a Nestabilitie die for the scalloped ovals.

This is a close up of the sentiment I have used. It is from the "Just Rite" stamping system which Debbie let me borrow. Thanks for that Debbie! Once stamped I used the scalloped circle to cut it out.

I added some flowers, most of which were from Wild Orchids Crafts. One of the rosebuds has a pearl heart bead thread onto the stalk. You can use any type of bead for this, but secure with a little glue. Ribbon was added to both parts of the card, along with some tiny pink pearls and brads.
Tilda was of course coloured with copics. I wasn't sure is her outfit should have been a pale pink! But then her Liquid Pearls on her necklace and bracelet would have clashed.

2010-05-19T23:20:00.003+01:00

More Than Words

Visitors and Bloggers please read.

Hi all. I just wanted to run and idea I have had for you, my blog visitors and followers. Every time I post a project I get such wonderful kind comments about my project and I appreciate each and every one of them. "They are more than just words".I have some great ones this month and it has spurred me on to get started.

So here's the idea, I want to show my appreciation by choosing just one comment that has made me smile or means a lot to me each month. The chosen comment will then receive one of the cards posted or an image I have used on my blog that month chosen by me or my darling hubby.

I am planning to start this from the 1st June and it will run to the 30th June. The chosen comment will be announce a day or so after that. Then the next month begins and so on. The name of the chosen comment and blog address will be listed in my side bar. The header will be "More Than Words". So you will be able to see who has been chosen for that months comment.

Maybe in the future, I will feel able to move it to weekly. Especially if your comments are just so good and I am not able to choose just one.

I would appreciate your feed back on this, your my bloggers and followers, so leave me a comment below. Always remember your words are encouraging, inspiring, stimulating and fun. But they are always more than words.

2010-05-19T09:56:00.008+01:00

More Purple . . .

This Tilda card has been made for two challenges this week, Friday Sketchers and Just Magnolia. The theme for Just Magnolia is "One For The Girls" and I think this image is pretty on it's own without any other embellishments. Come and join in the fun or just see what others have been doing.

But as you can see, I just couldn't resist adding ribbon, pearls, gems, brads and flowers. The paper is from Basic Grey - Kioshi, beautiful papers. As usual I have matted the papers with core-dination card stock. The leaves are cut out with a die. The scalloped circle was cut on my cuttlebug with a Nestabilitie.

The Tilda image was coloured with copics, I have used some of the new colours again. Love the soft palette of the "0000" sketch pens. The colours are listed below.

2010-05-17T09:00:00.000+01:00

Love U . . .

This is the sketch challenge over on the Magnolia-icious Highlights blog. I don't know why but I did find this one a challenge. If you want to join in check out the details here.

I have used one of my newest Magnolia images. I just love it! I also treated myself to the newer pale copic colours, the set of 12. So I sat down with my new stamp and new colours and played.

I know this image of Tilda is blowing fairy dust but as soon as I saw it I wanted her to be blowing hearts. So I added them to the image with an outliner pen and I love the finished image. It is great to be able to use one image but then be able to alter it slightly. As you can see I drew them over the sparkles.

I used Basic Grey Euphoria/Trance papers and used a MS round the page punch for my decorative edge. I added small pearls to the edge too. Core-dination card stock was used for matt and layering. I used two ribbons to decorate the bottom edge with some added red heart brads.
Finally I made up a tiny bunch of flowers using purple rose buds, pearls on a stem, some leaves and secured them together with some ribbon. This was then attached to the top left corner.

As this was just a play time for me, I just picked up copic pens and tried them out. So I didn't keep a track of the ones I used for this image. Sorry!
But if any of you are desperate to use these colours email me and I will try and work it out for you.

2010-05-10T10:00:00.003+01:00

Butterflies and Blossoms

What's this, it isn't a Tilda stamp, what's wrong with Shelley, I hear you all shouting!!!!!

Well, a friend gave me this stamp to play with. Apart from things not going to plan I loved colouring her.

Its been a wet day and I have been feeling a little under par. That might explain why things didn't go as planned. You won't believe how many different papers I tried to match this delightful image from Sugar Nellie. I even matted my papers with core-dination card and was still not happy. Anyway I plumbed for this paper from Basic Grey and pink core-dination card, I think I was at the point of "it looks ok whats the problem". But I was glad I choose it the end and no longer feel like I made do.

I have added lots of flowers because I am entering into the Sir Stampalot challenge. My first go on this challenge blog. If you go over to their blog you will see the challenge is to use flowers and butterflies. I have also added some tiny punched butterflies. Ribbon and some pearls have been added and then it is finished of with the thank you sentiment.

Can you see any difference with these two cards? I added the butterflies after I had photographed my card.

See how flat it looks without them!

Again I have used copics for my colouring and the numbers are in the photo below.

2010-05-07T09:00:00.000+01:00

Magnolia Down Under Challenge #44

A new week, a new challenge from the DT over on the Magnolia Down Under Challenge Blog. This week the challenge is a wonderful sketch to get your teeth into. Check out the DT cards and join in yourself here.
These are new papers I found in our local store. They are by g.c.d studios and the range is called Ella Blue. They are gorgeous, some flocked, some foiled, some glitter and the rest are linen texture. I love the colour combination, strong but soft. I have used a MS punch for the decorative border and the decorative corners. I used a nestabilitie die for the oval. The flowers are from Prima and the leafs are cut out with a NS punch. I have matt and layered with Cor- dination card stock. Ribbon, brads and dew drop gems were added for more decoration and it was finally finished with sentiment, this was cut from a piece of ribbon and stuck on to card.

Tilda was of course coloured with copics, I tried a few different colours but settled on this colour way. Again I think it is soft but strong. Maybe that should be my title for this post! The copics are below in the photo should you want to use these colours.

2010-05-05T10:00:00.001+01:00

Remember when . . .

As soon as I saw this image I knew I had to have it! We all know or have known a little girl who fits this image. She is so sweet!

I have made this card for the challenge over on the Just Magnolia Blog. The challenge this week is to use the sketch they have provided, so if you want to join in or check out what everyone else has been up click the link here.

I think this is my smallest colour pallet yet, just six colours. I wanted to keep it simple but elegant, I think I just about managed it. It was one of those times where I knew exactly what I wanted to do and what I wanted to use and it all came together without a hiccup!

These are old papers and you probably can't get them anymore. I have used a MS corner punch for the decorative corners. Some ribbon and old lace to go across the card. I love the use of lace on cards but you do need the right elements to go with it for it to work. The large flower is form Magnolia and the others are from Wild Orchid Crafts. The little leaves are made using a NS punch. To finish of the card I added some pearl gems and a pearl hat pin. The pearl hat pin has been coloured, yes I coloured it. What with you are all asking now! With a copic pen. The pin would just not fit in the colour it was and I didn't have any other colours so I thought, copics why not give it a go. It worked!!! So give it a try yourselves.

As usual the copics I used are shown in the photo below.

Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving such lovely comments.

2010-05-03T10:00:00.000+01:00

Cherish . . .

Happy Monday all! I hope you all had a great weekend. For those of us who live in the UK today is a bank holiday, so an extra day crafting, gardening or just slobbing about. Whatever it is you are planning, enjoy.....

I have had some time in my craft room over the weekend and created an altered easel card with a Tilda image and my new Nestabilitie set. It isn't for any blog challenges, it is just for fun.

I don't use orange a lot, I think that is because of the colours I have in the copic pens. Maybe I should try practicing with some different ways of colouring my images.

I bought these papers while on holiday and as soon as I saw them, the combination of the orange and the blue I just had to use them. They are certainly not colours I would have put together myself but they look fantastic. The papers are from the Whymsical Stack by DCWV and as usual the card I have used is by Core-dinations.

The flowers are from a beautiful web site called Wild Orchid Crafts, flowers to die for. These have been embellished with a NS punched leaf and a swirl die to complement the paper. I have used MS around the page punches, brads and pearl gems to decorate the card.

This is the sentiment, it is a 3D set I got from K&Company many years go and have never used any of them.

As I said these are my new set from Nestabilities, aren't they a great frame! I have cut out two of the frames, one has been edged with Brilliance Orange ink the other was embossed and then inked. Peals, brads and ribbon where added to finish off the card.

I have used copics to colour my Tilda image, I have tried to give a chiffon effect on the dress sleeves. The colours I used are listed below.

2010-04-28T12:29:00.008+01:00

Recipe Card - Raspberry Muffins

Over on the Magnolia Stamp Lover Challenge the challenge is to include a recipe on your project. So as you can see I have used a Raspberry Muffin recipe.

The papers I have used are from DCWV, Nana's Kitchen Stack. I just love these papers and use them all the time. I have also used some pink and white plain card for the base card and for matting and layering. I used a MS punch for the decorative edges. I have also added some flowers, ribbon and brads. The oval mount has been embossed with my cuttlebug and an embossing folder and the egde has been highlighted with pink versa ink.

This is the card insert with the recipe on and a Rolling Pin from Magnolia, which I coloured with copics. This is a Criss Cross style card and I followed the tutorial here. So If you want to have go use the link.

The Recipe - I hope you can see it!

The Tilda image has been coloured with copics. I have listed them in the photo below.

2010-04-26T10:00:00.001+01:00

Good Times - Friday Sketchers

Happy Monday to all! Hope you have all had a great weekend and did plenty of crafting. As you can see I managed to put another card together and I have used the sketch from Friday Sketchers for my "Good Times Edwin". Though I did cheat a little! We can never go anywhere without taking something to craft with, now can we! So, I took a few stamped Tilda and Edwin images with me on my holiday and of course just a few copic pens and coloured the skin and hair ready for colouring their clothes to go with the papers I use when I make a card.

The papers I have used are from Basic Grey, called Archaic. They are lovely oranges, greens and blues. Perfect for a mans card. I also used some Core-dination card for matting these papers and for the decorative border that was cut out with a MS punch. I added some brads, ribbon and a Tim Holts memo pin which I used for my sentiment. Finally I added some Glossy Accents to make the balloon shine.
You knw it's not easy pulling back on decorative elements. I really struggled, we use flowers so much on our projects and this is just not a flower card.
We could do with seeing more of Edwin, so common girls get your Edwins out and start creating.

The image I used was Edwin with a Balloon and I coloured him with copics. The colours I used are written in the photo below. Yeah........ I remembered to add the numbers to the photo. Must be getting back into the swing of thing.

2010-04-23T16:42:00.007+01:00

Let's Do Lunch . . .

I would never have thought, getting back into my card making would be so difficult after a brake! I need a holiday to get over my holiday. I have been trying all week to get my mojo back by looking at my papers and my Tilda images. Well today I found this paper in a magazine I bought while I was away, I loved the colour combination and design and it was free.

The ribbon I used also came with the paper, so all I needed to add were my flowers and pearl gems. I used the Core-dination paper to matt and layer and also for the decorative strip in the middle. I added extra holes to thread the ribbon through and I love the effect.

I have entered this card into the "Just Magnolia Challenge". The challenge this time is "Anything Goes" You want to go and check out the DT projects, they are wonderful.

So as usual my Tilda image is coloured with Copics and in my haste to get something on my blog after a two week brake I forgot to add the numbers to my photo of the copics. So here are the numbers - Skin-E51,E50 Hair-E37, E35, E33 Coat-BV02,BV00 Skirt-V91,V000, Socks-RV000, Bottle / Napkin G21, Basket-E53,E51

2010-04-20T22:56:00.002+01:00

Oh. . . to be Back .

Just a little post to let you all know that I haven't abandoned you. Although I do feel I have neglected you. I hope you missed me as much as I missed you. But I have been on a much needed holiday to celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary.

I did prepare a couple of schedule posts for you all, but it is just not the same is it! Well we are home and would you believe, now I need a holiday to get over that holiday. Driving is just not good for me!

So please be patient, I will try and get back into my saddle ASAP. I have missed my blogging but more importantly I have missed seeing what you have all been up to. So I am checking you all out as I write. So please continue to come back and let me in on what you are thinking. hugs .....

2010-04-18T10:00:00.000+01:00

Tilda Says Hi . . .

This card is for the Magnolia-licious Highlights Challenge. The challenge is a sketch from one of the DT members, Jacque. You should go check out what the DT have done with the sketch, all their cards are beautiful. Also if you want o join in the challenge all the details are there on the blog too.

For my card I have used DCWV, Nana's Kitchen papers. Orange is not my colour but did like the design of the paper so I gave it a go.

I added some small hearts cut from the border of the plain paper and added some small gems to finish the hearts off. I have used a large Prima flower and added some leaves to it by using my NS punch. I added some ribbon and some buttons to finish of the card and made some corner pieces form a MS punch. The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Tilda was coloured with Copics and this time I remembered to add the numbers. So check out the photo below to see which ones I used.

2010-04-13T10:00:00.000+01:00

Happy Silver Wedding Anniversary. . .

Today is our wedding anniversary and we have been married for 25 happy years. I can't believe where the time has gone.

This is the card I have made for my husband using the kissing Tilda and the kissing Edwin. I wanted to make it with a silver theme to it but not like a traditional card. I didn't like it at first, just ask my friend Debbie. She needed to reassure me, it was ok.

I have used some gorgeous papers from the Creme Stack from DCWV. I layered it with a grey pearlised paper and used a MS punch for the hearts border. I cut the hearts from Nestabilities and my cuttlbug. I embossed the top heart.

The flower was made from the papers I had used and the NS paper punch. I got the sentiment from the internet and think it is perfect.

Both images were coloured with copics and they are - SKIN -E51, E50 EVERYTHING ELSE - C7,C5,C3,C1.

I just hope he like it...........

2010-04-08T12:30:00.007+01:00

Magnolia Down Under - Thankyou

Over on the Magnolia Down Under Challenge blog the theme for this times challenge is "Thankyou". if you want to join in this challenge or see what the DT have been creating go take a peek.

This is my contribution. I really enjoyed making this card and it all came together when these darling flowers arrived from Wild Orchid Crafts. The size and colours are just perfect. Of course I added some leaves, which were punched from NS punch. I also added some pearls.

The two circles were cut with the Nestabilities and my Cuttlebug. The top one embossed and both distressed with Distress Inks. The papers are from Basic Grey and I just love this colour cobination. They are matt and layered with Core-dinations card stock. I added ribbon and brads to finish of the decorative elements and the "Thankyou" sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Tilda with the letter is coloured with Copics and the colours are listed in the photo below.

2010-04-08T10:00:00.001+01:00

Bildmalarna Challenge - Hello . . .

Well after winning the last Bildmalarna Challenge how could I not jump into the next one! The challenge this time is to make an easel card using these gorgeous stamps. So I hope you like it.

I have used DCWV papers, The Green Stack. There are some gorgeous designs on these papers, some perfect for any cards you want to make for your male friends and family. Also they are made from 70% recycled paper. So its good for the enviroment too. I love the combination of colours in these papers, lovely greens and blues. I added some green gems, brads and ribbon, but kept it simple.

I used a MS punche for the deorative corners and the decortive part with the sentiment. The sentimant is from Great Impressions. I coloured the image with Copics, but being a tidy girl, I put them away before taking my photos. So now I can't even remember which ones I used. SORRY!!!!!!

2010-04-05T15:15:00.000+01:00

Special Moments

Have you ever tried to photograph a tri-fold card! Well it isn't easy. So I must apologize now for all the photos. I want to make sure you got a good look at the style and all the different parts to it.

The Closed Card

Over on the Just Magnolia Challenge Blog the challenge this time is to create a folded card. So as I had wanted to have a go at making one of these tri-fold cards for a while this was the perfect opportunity to knuckle down and make one. I followed the tutorial here to make it.
I have used DCWV The Garden Stack papers and for matting I used Core-dination card. Oh I love this card, there are so many different tones in these packs. Just what you need!

I used a MS punch for the little flower border. The scalloped oval and plain oval was cut out with Nestabilities and my Cuttlebug. They were then distressed with Old Paper and Brushed Corduroy Distressed ink. I added three tiny flowers and the Pure Bliss sentiment. The little butterfly was cut out of the butterfly paper and glued on.

The Opened Card

I added the pink ribbon, the Inspire sentiment and the main sentiment to the other segments of the card. The oval in the centre is for writing your greeting on, this was also distressed. Finally I added two Tilda images. These were coloured with copics, the list of colours are below. Yeah!!!! I remembered this time.

2010-04-05T10:00:00.000+01:00

Friday Sketchers - Smile . . .

Have you ever started to make a card and have an idea what your finished card will look like, then when you actually finish it is nothing like you imagined. Well this is one of those!!!

I made this project for Friday Sketchers and it was going to be soooo green. But look, the colour that stands out to me is blue. I used Cosmo Cricket papers, which have many colours on them but I was trying to pick out the green. But I have picked out the blue instead. All the flowers are from Prima. The foliage is from the NS punch and I added some wire spirals too. These were made from the wire I cut of the flowers. The base to this project was embossed with one of the new Cuttlebug embossing folders. The ovals were cut with Nestabilities on my Cuttlebug and the top layer embossed. They were both distressed with Old Paper distress Ink. The decorative border was punched with a MS punch which I then sewed with blue cotton. It was finished with ribbon, brads and pearls.

Although, this is not what I started out to achieve. I am happy with the results and as you can see I turned it into a note book.

Tilda was coloured with Copics and you can see the colours in the photo below.

2010-03-31T10:46:00.004+01:00

Cherish. . .

I created this card after playing on the Stamptacular Sunday Blog Hop. The idea was to build a card as you went from each DT member. They each had an element to add to build your card. It was great fun. But this sketch idea was from Sarah one of the DT and what she had created using the different elements. I love the sketch, so thought I would do my take on it. It is slightly different and you could do so much with this sketch.

The papers are from DCWV Nana's Kitchen Stack. They are gorgeous colours and a gorgeous combination. They are matt and layered with Core-dination card. I have cut out the scalloped circles with my Nestabilities and Cuttlebug and layered them up. I made the flower from the background paper, a perfect petal shape and perfect flower to match the layout. I added ribbon and a metal word from Colorbok, I have this a long time so am not sure if you can still get it.

I coloured Tilda with Copics and you can see the colours below.

Forgot to edit my photo with the Copic numbers so here is the list - Skin E51.E50. Hair E35.E33.E31. Dress R05.R02

2010-03-29T17:59:00.007+01:00

Time for Tilda . . .

Well this has bee a work in progress for a few days. I have been under the weather with a cold and not felt up to creating. But this idea has been going around and around. I am not quite happy with it. But I don't know what it is. It has the shabby chic look, but maybe it's just that I am still not right and in the zone. I am using it for three challenges, this is a first for me never done it before. They are - Magnolia Stamp Lovers Challenge - to add Purple to my project. Magnolia Down Under - Any type of Stitching. Just Magnolia - Sketch. If you want to join in any of these challenges just click on the link above. It's great fun.

My Tilda Clock . . .
It started of as a small painted clock for a kitchen, it measures just 12cm across the center, so it is a small area to work with. But I was determined to do so. First I had to take it apart and you can seen the piece I was left to play with in the bottom picture.

On to the decorating - I cut up some large paper flowers and spritzed them with Sherbert Glimmer Mist and left them to dry. I cut out the various shapes for the sketch over at Just Magnolia. Created the flowers with NS punches. The two larger shapes, the circle and the rectangle have also had stitching around the edges. These edges were then distressed with Tim's distressing tool. I can't remember who the sentiment is from but I think it fits perfectly. Three lilac pearls were added at the top.

First the small pink sherbert petals were glued in place, then the distressed, stitched circle was glued on top of them as you see in the photo. Next I added the rectangle, the sentiment and the tiny lilac pearls in place.

The Love Me Tilda was used and she was coloured with copics. No picture this week my brain has started to hurt. But here is the list - Skin - E51,E50 Hair - E35,E33,E31 Flower - Y00,RV000,RV10,V000 Clothes - BV00,BV02,G000,G00. After gluing Tilda in place, I added Glossy Accents to the flower and positioned the other flowers in place.

One thing to remember when creating a clock is that the hands need to be able to right around the clock circle. So don't build up you flowers to high.

A close up of the sentiment I used

The clock base after I removed the hands but before I decorated it.

2010-03-24T13:26:00.006Z

Magnolia Down Under Challenge

The challenge over on the Magnolia Down Under challenge blog is a sketch. If you want to join in or see what the DT have been up to go here.

They have done some great cards with the sketch, go check them out.

This is my take on the sketch - I have used MME Pretty Please Spring papers. Would you believe they came free on the front of Cardmaking magazine a month or two back. They are a lovely combination of colours. The butterflies also came as a free gift on a magazine along with lots of other little embellishments. Quite often I forget I have them and never use them, but I was rummaging through some of my stash and found them. So glad I did, they are just right for this card. I have used Core-dination card stock for matting these papers.

The flowers have been made using my favorite and trusted punches from Nellie Snellen. I added a button to the centre and some punched leaves to fill them out. After the butterflies were glued in place I used Liquid Pearls to create their little flying trails.
Finally Tilda with a Tag was coloured with Copics and the colours I used are in the photo below. I used a small friend stamp and stamped the tag, along with a tiny swirl.

2010-03-20T19:02:00.010Z

Orange Tulip . . .

I came across these delightful images on my travels through blog land and I just had to get me some. Then I found that they have a blog and they have challenges alternate Fridays. This challenge was to emboss and use flowers. If you want to see more go check out their blog - Bildmalarna Blog.

I have also followed the sketch from Friday Sketchers Challenge. The design team have created some great cards so go and take a look and join in the fun.

The papers I have used are from K&Company, but I have had them years. But as soon as I saw this image I thought they were just perfect to use with it.

Before I punched out the flower I embossed the paper using a cuttlebug embossing folder and my cuttlebug. The flowers were then punched out with a Nellie Snellen punch. Below you can see a close up of the embossed and punched flower. You can just about see the embossed image. I also embossed the two side pieces of paper with the Cuttlebug and then rubbed them to give a distress look. Some leaves were added to the flowers, along with brads, some photo holders and some ribbon.

I coloured the image with Copics and you can see the colours I used below.

2010-03-20T10:45:00.000Z

Tilda's Drawers

I have made this project for the challenge over on the Just Magnolia Challenge blog. The challenge is to create an Easel card. Well my easel card has a twist as you can see from the photos. I hope this counts.

I have created these drawers using eight match boxes. A top and a bottom piece of strong card which fixes the boxes together. I used green and orange ribbon to match the My Minds Eye Bloom papers. The border punch used was from MS and the flower punch was from Nellie Snellen. The sentiment is a stamp and is from PSX. I cut out the oval with a Nestabilities die and my Cuttlebug. This was then edged with Spiced Marmalade Distress ink.

Once I covered and inked all the pieces needed for the box, I measured the length of the sides. This gave me the size I need for the top and bottom pieces. I did this and add 1/2cm to each side to give a small lip.

Finally I made my easel card, which needs to be the same size as the top of the finished box. You can use any sketch you want for this. But remember you are working on a small scale so you don't want it to be too fussy. The image I have used is a new one to me and is Tilda with Three flowers. I have used Copic and below are the Copic colours I have used on this project.

You will find the Easel challenge here at Just Magnolia Challenge blog. If you would like to join in or just want to check out what others are doing go take a peek.

2010-03-19T20:05:00.003Z

Loveable. . . Stamptacular Sunday Challenge

Over on the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge blog this week there is a sketch to get your teeth into. So if you want to join in follow the sketch below and place your project here on their blog.

This is my first Edwin card. I only have two Edwin stamps and one on his way. I started of doing a mono chrome effect but I couldn't do a black rose. So I introduced the red. So of course I had to balance out the red, so I introduce the red brads and some red ribbon. The papers are DCWV La Creme stack. a good selection of paper to use for a female and a male card. The sentiment stamp was from Dovecraft, inked with Memento and the heart was coloured with Copics. I used a MS punch for the decorative border edge.

Edwin was coloured of course with Copics. I haven't got round to taking a photo this time so here is a list of the colours I used. - Skin E51,E50, Hair & Clothes C7,C5,C3,C1, Rose & Heart R37,R35,R32. I also used a blending pen 0 for Edwin's top. I cut Edwin out and added 3D pads to give him some dimension.

2010-03-17T15:01:00.007Z

Ooo Lolli Lollipop . . .

The sketch below is from the challenge over on the Friday Sketchers Blog. If you want to join in and have a go with this sketch, go and take a look at the blog for more details.

Also I have entered it into the Magnolia Stamp Lovers blog, which this week is to use a die cut shape on your project. I have used the Scalloped Circle from Nestabilities.

The papers are from DCWV Garden Party stack. The card used for matting was Core-dinations. I have distressed the edges with Old Paper Distress ink. The scalloped circles are cut out using Nestabilities and the Cuttlebug, which were also distressed with Old Paper Distress ink. The top circle was also embossed with one of Cuttlebugs new embossing folders. I added organza ribbon, some pearl gems and three flowers.

Tilda was coloured with Copics. The colours I used are below.

2010-03-15T22:20:00.001Z

Thank You . . . Just Magnolia

This card has been made for the challenge over at Just Magnolia. The challenge this week is a sketch. So if you want to play and be in the chance of winning some goodies go take a look here.

I had a rummage through my stash of paper and found these by K&Company. I have had them a few years, so I thought I would use them. They are not spring papers but I do love the tones on them.

I matt and layered the pieces with Core-dination card and used a MS punch for the decorative border. I added ribbon, some brads and some lilac pearls. The flower was created with some Papermania flowers that I layered and curled using my poky tool. The greenery was made with a Nellie Snellen punch. These are just great for filling out your flower. I also added some tiny lilac rose buds.

Tilda was coloured with copics and for something a little different for me I took a photo of the ones I have used, so see the photo below for the numbers. I finished of her clothes by adding Liquid Pearls and Glossy Accents for highlights.

2010-03-11T16:17:00.000Z

keep in Touch

This is Tilda writing in her diary. But I have used as her writing a letter to keep in touch with her friends. I have used DCWV papers on this easel card. As you may have guessed, I really like these papers. I use them a lot because they are great quality, they are quite a heavy paper and have lots of different designs. This stack is the Latte Stack, wonderful rich colours. I have used a Martha Stewart punch for the decorative border and the decorative square mounted behind Tilda, again I use these punches quite a lot. The flower is also made using the papers and a Nellie Snellen flower punch. These are great punches, which make the flowers more life like. You punch and emboss each flower and layer them up, great effect. Finally I added ribbon and some coloured brads.

Tilda is coloured with Copics. The colours I have used are - Hair, E37, E35, E33, Skin, E51, E50, Dress, V000, V12, V15, Book Cover, G21 Feather, E50

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

2010-03-07T16:53:00.001Z

Just Magnolia Challenge 45

Wow, can't believe it! I won this challenge. Thanks Just Magnolia.

I made this card for the challenge over on the Just Magnolia Challenge blog. The challenge was to make a Tent Card. There is even a tutorial for you to follow so you can make your own. Thanks to Dena for this great card and tutorial. So If you want to join in this challenge go take a look here.

The papers I have used for this card a delicious, very tactile. They are by My Minds Eye the Penny Lane Collection. I have also used Core-dination card for the matt and layering. I created the flower feature using the same papers and a paper rose. I also added some tiny paper rose buds and a few leaves. The leaves were made by a Nellie Snellen punch. I finished the card of with coloured brads and corner embellishments made by a Martha Stewart corner punch.

Tilda is coloured with, yes you have guessed it Copics. Here are the colours I have used, Hair YR31, YR21,Y21, Skin, E51, E50, Clothes, BG10, RV000, RV10

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look and leaving so kind comments

2010-03-07T12:49:00.006Z

Magnolia Down Under Challenge - Gift Box

The Magnolia Down Under challenge this time is to create something using the following items -

Recipe - 3 papers,

3 flowers,

2 buttons,

1 bow.

So just for a change I thought I would make a gift box/bag. I used the instructions from SCS, it was easy and quick to make but I am sure you will agree very nice. I have used papers from My Minds Eye, Deena's Penny Lane Collection. They are just beautiful papers and I love the colours.

For the decorative top and bottom border I used a Martha Stewart Punch. The Shapes I used for matt and layering my Tilda image were cut form Nestabilities, once covered with paper the other embossed with my Cuttlebug. I used Pink ribbon for both the tie and for the bottom decoration with a bow. I added three flowers and some leaves. The two buttons required are used for embellishments in Tilda's hair.

My Tilda image is coloured with Copics, but I think you all know that now. The colours I used - Hair, YR31, YR23, Y21, Skin, E51, E50, Dress, BG10, RV00, RV10.

If you want to join in the fun over at Magnolia Down Under Challenge then go here.

2010-03-03T15:01:00.006Z

Just For You........

This card is for two challenges, the first is Magnolia-licious Highlights which is to use the sketch provided and the other is Magnolia Stamp Lovers Pink and Brown challenge.

The papers are from DCWV "The Glitter STACK". I have embellished these papers with ribbon, eyelets and pearl gems. The flower is made from a Nellie Snellen flower punch. The oval was cut using Nestablilities, embossed on the Cuttlebug and inked with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink. Finally I added a sentiment.

The Tilda image has been coloured with Copics. Here is a list of the ones I have used - Hair E37,E35,E33 Skin E51, E50 Dress RV000, RV10, RV21 Shoes and Ribbon on Dress E53.

In all the excitement to get this card on my blog, I have just noticed after uploading the photos, I have forgotten to colour something. Can you spot it? I am off to colour it now.

Thanks for stopping by and having a look.

2010-03-01T10:00:00.000Z

Cherish with all my Heart . . .

This card is concertina card, I used a piece of card 33cm x 13cm, scored and folded to get this design. The papers are from DCWV, Latte stack. I just love this colour combination. It is so different, lovely blues and greens.

I punched a frame using a Martha Stewart punch it was 3.25cm x 3.25cm and coloured the edges with Worn Paper Distress ink then added a small blue square of paper mounted into the middle of the frame. I wish that I had embossed this little square with the cuttle bug, just to give it a little more depth. I cut two flourishes with the Slice from green paper and mounted them on the back floral paper. The flower was made using two Nellie Snellen flower punches and added a brad to the centre. The card was finished of with two sentiment stickers from K&Company.Tilda was coloured as usual with Copics. What did we ever do without these wonderful pens!The colours I used, Skin - E51,E50, Hair - E35, E33, E31, Dress - YG11,YG63, Heart - B93. Finally I used a clear glitter glue to highlight the coloured heart.

I just wanted to thanks everyone for stopping by and leaving such lovely comments on my blog. They are very much appreciated and If you leave me you blog address in you comment then I will do my very best to stop by and check you out.

2010-02-28T14:48:00.002Z

NEW COLOURS and LAYOUT . . .

Yesterday I cleared out my wardrobe and bagged up lots of old clothes. So, today I decided to continue spring cleaning by rearranging and sorting out my blog. There are still some things to improve but I will do that over the next week or two. But it is still me! I hope you like the changes I have made, more light and airy. But I think it still looks a bit too busy so I want to simplify it a bit more.

John says Husband's corner needs updating and a face lift. Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-22T16:03:00.010Z

Imagine

This is a new style for me, not done anything like this before.I have never used more than one image on a Tilda card, but I do like it! There are two parts to it, there is like a front cover and then a top folding card inside. All the sides are decorated with Tilda images.
I wanted to do a muted colour scheme, with browns and creams. Here are the copics I used to colour all three of the images, SKIN - E51, E50 CLOTHES - E53, E33, E31, E00, Y00 HAIR - YR31, YR23, Y21, FEATHER - C5, C3, C1
The flower on the front was made using a Nellie Snellen flower and embossing punch with and added Prima flower. The leaf is also a punch from Nellie Snellen. The scolloped squares were cut out on my cricut and embossed with the cuttlebug. The edges were inked with Old Paper Distress ink.
The whole card was finished of with a few epoxy word sentiments.

Notice the flap on the patterned paper side. Lift this and you can write your sentiment inside.

2010-02-22T15:08:00.006Z

SPRING ............. The Little Things

I made this card thinking we are starting to see signs of spring. What a laugh!!!!! When I woke up yesterday morning I found the whole area covered with snow. Nothing like the amount some of our American bloggers have been getting, but it was snow none the less. Not snow drops or daffodils.

This is my car covered in snow. Where has the start to spring gone?

Well today it is melting very fast and the sun is shinning. So I feel more like showing you my card. I have made and easel card, I love doing this style.

I have entered this card for the Everybody Art Challenge and the Magnolia down Under Challenge which is to make an Easel card. Take a look at their DT card and join in the fun.

The paper is from DCWV, the citrus collection. The scalloped circle and embossed circle was cut out with nestabilities and embossed on the cuttle bug. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the decorative diagonal edge, and added some gems. I created a bow and added a button which I fixed in place with paper covered wire and wrapped it round a cocktail stick to get the spiral.

Tilda with a bee is coloured with copic. Hair - E37,E35,E33,E31 Skin - E51,E50 Top - B97,B95,B93 Pants and Socks -B00, 0 Bee - Y00, C5,C3.

I finished the card by added a decorative strip and a sentiment.

2010-02-17T22:56:00.009Z

MORE NOTE BOOKS

This is just a short note. I think I should have posted it before my Tilda Note book. But they are here now, hope you like them.
These notebooks have been created using a value notebook, some acrylic paint, lots of lovely papers and a darling image. Then they were finished of with suitable embellishments. The post below also includes a note book, but as your read the info you will see I have followed a sketch and used Copic pens from a challenge. All the images on these notebooks are from the Gorjuss Girls over at Sugar Nellie.

I have made them as gifts, but I am not so sure I will be able to part with them. Maybe if I make some more then it will be much easier.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my blog and leave such lovely encouraging comment.

2010-02-17T16:13:00.005Z

Spring Note Book

I created this book for the Copic challenge. I have also used the sketch for the Sugar Bowl. The Blog challenges are the Copic Colour Challenge and the Sugar Bowl Sketch challenge.

I have used Cosmo Cricket papers from my stash. I wanted a shabby chic look, I think I managed it. I love these papers and they are dwindling fast. I used Prima flowers and two punches, a Martha Stewart corner punch and a Nellie Snellen leaf stem punch.

The colours for the Copic Challenge are - C3, R11, G21.

I have also used - for the skin E53, E51, E50, Hair C5,C1

If you want to join in either of these challenge or just want to see what others have been up too using these colours and this sketch take a peek here - Sugar Bowl

Copic Challenge

2010-02-09T10:27:00.004Z

For Being You - Friday Sketchers

You wouldn't think it after looking at my last two posts, but I am not a great lover of pink but have enjoyed using the papers and trying different copic colours. But I do love these muted pinks and reds with a hint of brown. They are from Basic Grey, the Blush collection.

The circle was created with Nestabilities, coloured with Distress inks and then embossed using the Cuttlebug. The photo corners were cut out with the Slice using basic 1 cartridge. I printed the sentiment from my computer.

Tilda was coloured with copic pens and there were quite a few. So here's the list -Hair, E37,E35,E33,E31 Skin, E21,E00,E50,R20 Dress, R05,R02,R00 Socks & Underskirt, E31+0, E33+0, Shoes, E37,E33,E31.

I would like to thank Samara Gugler for her wonderful tutorial. She has done a great job with this video using the Blending pen. But it is from this video that I got my inspiration for this card. If you would like to take a look at this video and a couple of others she has done then click here.

The sketch I am using is from Friday Sketchers. If you would like to join in you still have a few days so go join in the fun here. You will also be able to see what other blogger have created and also the talented DT for Friday Sketchers.

Thanks for dropping by and leaving your wonderful comments.

2010-02-08T12:14:00.004Z

BOX TEMPLATE

I was asked for the template for the Chocolate box I made below. Well I made the box free hand but I have done my best and drawn the lid and the box with the measurments and the score and cut lines. I hope this is clear enough for you. Sorry there seems to be a line missing on the box! Its just an edge so it doesnt effect the making of the box.

If you have any questions or problems just leave a comment and I will get back to you.

2010-02-07T15:53:00.011Z

Chocolate Candy Box

I had already started to make my box when I came across the challenge over on the Just Magnolia Challenge Blog. The challenge is to create a basket or container.

First I cut out the shape of my box. I matt and layered my patterned paper and pink card and glued to all four sides of the box. On two of the sides I cut out an aperture using my cuttlebug and a flower die and fixed some acetate to the inside. I stippled all the edges to soften and add depth. On each flower point on the aperture I added a drop of liquid pearls. I did this for both aperture flowers.

I have used two Tilda's, and just stamped their heads. These have been coloured with Copics and the outline of the stamped card has been edged in gold. Once glued to the box I added the flowers to the corner of the image. These sides were then finished with three pearls.

I added ribbon to the edge of the box lid and added the same paper and card on the top. I then punched a hole in the center ready for the ribbon. The embellishment on the top is made from a Martha Stewart Punch and the papers I have used throughout this project.. I punched a hole in the center of this and glued to the lid of the box lining up the punched holes. I threaded the folded ribbon through the hole and fixed it in place on the underside of the lid.

Finally I added the chocolates, and of course I just had to try one first to make sure they were ok.

If you would like to take part in the Just Magnolia challenge and see the baskets and containers others have made then take a look here. I must have a go at the basket!

2010-02-02T15:34:00.007Z

A Good Book ............

I really enjoyed making this card. I wanted to use some muted papers that I have had in my stash for a few years and I thought Tilda Reading would be perfect for this. She is a new addition to my Tilda collection and I think she looks great sat on her pile of books.
The card was made from a template in a magazine. They do have a name but it has slipped my mind. Just remembered, it's a side step card, I think! I have used a Martha Stewart punch for the two decorative edges and added a few brads, ribbon and some gems.

Tilda was coloured with Copic pens. I have used quite a few and here is the list - Skin E53,E51,E50 Hair E35,E33,E31 Clothes YR31,Y21, YG91,YG95,G21,E00 Book Cover & Book Highlights E08

The sentiment is a stamp from Peddler's Pack.

Thanks for stopping by and having a look.

2010-01-29T17:23:00.005Z

Let's Eat!

This card has been made for the sketch challenge over at Friday Sketchers. I have used Chef Tilda and sat her on the rolling pin. The paper I have used is from DCWV Nana's Kitchen. I cut out the three tiny cupcakes and the sentiments from a sheet of the paper. The fancy edge was created by a Martha Stewart punch. The oval was embossed using the Cuttlebug and finally Tilda was coloured with Copics.

Copic colours - Hair/Shoes-E37,E35,E33 Skin-E51,E50 Dress-B00, BG01

Top-RV000,RV10

If you would like to join in this challenge or want to see what the DT and others have done with this sketch take a look here at http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/ .

2010-01-23T15:51:00.004Z

Just Magnolia Challenge Blog

This card was made for the "Just Magnolia Challenge Blog". The challenge was to use the sketch below by Jay Jay, one of the DT in your project.

I have use Tilda with a present for this card and coloured her with Copics. The Paper is from Papermania Capsule Collection "Sunshine". That's a mouthful!!! All the flowers and button embellishments I have used are from the same range. Lovely spring colours to light these cold miserable days we are having at the moment. The ribbon is some I had in my stash. To finish the card off, I have added a little glitter to the petal edges and also the ribbon on the present Tilda is holding, this is not showing up to well.

If you would like to join in this challenge or see what other bloggers and the DT have been up to take a look here, Just Magnolia Challenge Blog.

Thanks for stopping by and having a look at my blog.

2010-01-22T13:57:00.006Z

Copic Colour Challenge 48 - Waiting Tilda

This week over at Copic Colour Challenge the colours are G21, B45, R85. I think being challenged in this way is great, these are colours I would never have used together. Of course I also used some other colours for Tilda's hair and boots.

The Copic Colours for challenge 48 -

This time I decided to make a gift tag rather than a card. I selected papers from K&Company that complement the Copic colours I have used. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the deortive edge, onto which I added some ribbon and some green gems.

The small flower accent was created using my slice and a rubber stamped sentiment. I finished of by adding three brads and of course a tag would not be a tag without ribbon.

Click on the image to see a larger view.

If your want to see how other bloggers have used these colours take a look here. You will also see what the Copic Colour Challenge DT created.

2010-01-20T23:28:00.011Z

Pretty in Pink........

This card is for the blog hop challenge over at Magnolia-Highlights, the theme as if you didn't know Pretty in Pink. The papers I have used are from Heidi Grace, Cherrywood Ln. They are beautiful papers, the sort you want to stroke and never ever use. But having had them quite a while now I have succumb and decided to use them. How could I not with this lovely theme.

The Tilda is coloured with Copic pens and I added a few Liquid Pearl highlight in amongst the flowers.
I also want to say this is my very first Easel card!!!!!! I have been adoring them from afar, seeing many talented blogger use them and couldn't wait to do my own. But I needed to know how! I followed the instruction from Split Coast Stamps the size i used is 5" x 5".

The card was then finished off with a few embellishments and some ribbon. I used the sentiment from Santa Rosa, one I have had for many years.

I hope you like it as much as I did making it, and thanks for dropping buy to have a peek.

2010-01-17T15:37:00.004Z

Thoughts of You.........

I have got to admit that the sittable Tilda's are my favorite. This is the "Jam Tilda" who I have sat on the "Stone Steps" with the "Just Sitting Here" sentiments.

Again I have coloured with Copic pens, I am going to have to start taking notes of the Copic numbers or name for future colouring because I cannot remember which ones I used. I have used a variety of papers that complement each other. I have also used the technique from Norma in her Paper Lace Tutorial. Thanks for that Norma, great technique.

I have added some small paper flowers, a prima flower and some small pearls.

I have done this card for the challenge over at Stamp Something. There the challenge is to stamp and create something using Blue and White. There are some gorgeous DT cards over on their blog so go take a look HERE.

2010-01-16T12:59:00.008Z

Sommer Tilda

Sommer Tilda is coloured using Copic Pens. I was trying for a spring / summer pastel look to brighten my day and I am happy with the results. I don't find it easy getting this result, more practice is needed me thinks. A good excuse to do more Tilda's and more colouring.

The sketch I have used is from this weeks from Friday Sketchers. There are plenty of DT examples so go take a look HERE and see what they have been up to. The paper I used have been in my stash for a very long time. They are from K&Company and called Tulip. I have finished the card of with a few buttons and a photo anchor from Papermania.

Friday Sketcher - http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/ just in case you want to join in the challenge and see what other bloggers have been creating.

2010-01-13T12:00:00.001Z

Copic Colour Challenge #47

Over at the Copic Colour Challenge the colours for the next challenge are B97, YG07, W5.

I am so pleased to have been asked to be a guest designer for this challenge. I don't have the YG07 so I have used the YG06 instead. I have used a Gorguss Girl stamp from Sugar Nellie and a selection of papers from my stash. I have also used a few Papermania flower embellishments and brads. I finished it off with a piece of blue ribbon and glossy accents in the hair and on the dress.

If you would like to see what the DT from the Copic Colour Challenge have done then go and take a peek here.

2010-01-08T18:03:00.006Z

Copic Challenge #46

Over at Copic Challenge the colours chosen are - G00, RV21, B32. I have used a Diane Duda stamp and a selection of papers from my stash. I have added a few embellishments and some ribbon to finish the card of. And for once I actually have the right colours. The more I use my Copic pens the more I wonder how I ever managed without them.

If you want to see more from this weeks Copic Challenge take a look here to see what the DT have been up to.

2009-12-21T16:06:00.006Z

Grunge Flowers

As promised! When I posted my plaque a few weeks ago I mentioned I made some flowers and embellishments with the grunge paper. Well finally they are here! They had gone walk about, but now are home.

The rose is using a flower stamp which is stamped three times on the grunge paper. Some of the petals are then cut away to make in total 5 layers. I coloured the flower pieces with Adirondack Red Pepper.

All the other flowers and embellishements were made using a Cuttlebug and the Petal Die. The large flower has both the scolloped and straight edge pieces.They were then coloured with Butterscotch and Terracotta Adirondack inks. All the petals were folded and glued with Glossy accents and finished off with a center embellishment.

The bow was made using the same Petal Die which was layered, folded and finished with a scolloped circle. This was coloured with Lettuce and Bottle Green Adirondack inks.

(If you would like to see the picture in more detail click on the picture. This will take you to my SCS gallery.)

2009-12-18T11:31:00.006Z

Notelets

These three cards were created with off cuts of card. I wanted a simple but colourful effect and am very please with how they turned out. These stamps are from Funnky Kits and are Sugar Nellie stamps. There are quite a few more so go take a look at them.

Again I was playing with my Copics, trying to colour with pastel shades as well as the darker colours. I don't find this easy. As these cards were an unusual size I also made my own envelopes to go with them.

All the cards were finished with either

ribbon or embellishments.