Something different…

 

 

 

Good evening crafty friends, did you have a  nice weekend?

We went into town to get a few holiday bits, all my shorts and sundresses are too tight and I’m so mad with myself – 6 weeks of dieting and I weigh exactly the same lol, I’m not the most successful slimmer in the world it has to be said!! Anyway I’m not going to lose a stone by next Sunday so I just have to get on with it and take what does fit me! I don’t suppose I’ll care once I’m laid by the pool with a cocktail and a good book lol!

 

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I have a couple of cards to show you tonight that are a bit different for me, I’ve seen a few on pinterest and the blogs in this style and I thought I’d have a go using some of my favourite Lili of the Valley products…

 

This first one was for Father’s day, the papers are Winter Wishes

 

 

This one is for my Nephew, these papers are from Pressed In Time and the little embellishments are from My Minds Eye

 

The circular sentiments are from the Greetings Postmarks set and I used the Vintage Boys art pad which I love

 

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What do you think? I very much appreciate all your feedback as this is something new for me, I quite like them and they were easy to make

 

Enjoy the rest of your evening, it’s lovely here so I’m going to sit in the garden and snatch the last half an hour of sunshine!

 

 

 

Sketchy free for all…

 

 

 

Evening crafters, how’s your week so far?

We’re going away on holiday soon so I’ve been trying to get in front with my cards. Most of our family birthdays and occasions are in the Spring so it’s quietening off a bit now on that front. I promised myself at the beginning of the year that I wouldn’t buy any cards… and so far I haven’t!

 

We had a busy weekend, one of the horses that Jess looks after had an awful accident and sadly had to be put down so we needed to go and see her for some cuddles, she was devastated, she loves those horses so much. She’s very soft like me and I think it will take her a while to get over this

 

As it’s the last one of the month (really, already??) it’s a Sketchy Free For All at Papertake Weekly 

I chose to use the new layout but you can choose any of the sketches from the back catalogue (make sure you add the number of the sketch you’ve used on your entry so we know it’s one of ours)

There is a sketches page at the top of the challenge blog to make it easier and there are lots to choose from
Hopefully this will save you having to go back through the archives to find one that you like

 

Here’s the new Sketch…

 

 

It’s number 91 and I think this month the whole DT have used the same one

 

 

 

I used the Lili of the Valley art pads again, this is Cobweb and she’s from Magical Fairies

I don’t usually do my own backgrounds but the Just Rite cobweb stamp matched perfectly so I stamped and embossed with silver powder, still love this technique even though it was one of the first things I learnt when I started making cards nearly 20 years ago.

I used the Promises papers (solids and patterned) and a LOTV sentiment

The cute little butterflies are a Joanna Sheen die and the clouds Memory Box

…and you can’t really see on the pic but there’s lots of glitter on the web!

 

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All the details are on the Papertake blog, there is a fab prize as always and lots of inspiration for using the Sketch

 

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Thanks for stopping by, and all your comments are very much appreciated

 

 

 

Lace and Pearls…

 

 

Good evening peeps, thanks so much for stopping by

I’ve sneaked up into the attic to do some crafting and it’s boiling up here, I’ve got the fan on but I think I’ll do this post and call it a day – it’s stifling!!

I have a card to share for the new challenge over at Papertake Weekly 

We thought it was time for some nice girlie cards so our theme this week is a lovely one…

Lace & Pearls

You can use either or both, my card is actually one I did a while back for a magazine but I wasn’t happy with it so I took a few bits off and remade it, now I like it better lol

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used a LOTV topper for my card, the image is also available as a stamp called Emma Presents but the art pads are great for a quick card if you don’t have time to colour, this one is from Party and Cake

The papers are the Heartfelt collection and the sentiment is from their Set 9 which has loads of useful words to mix and match either in the circular border or on their own

I made a paper lace border (I think that counts as lace!) with a Joanna Sheen die and cut the flowers with an EK Success retro flower punch – each one has a flatback pearl in the centre

The gem flourishes are from K&Co and I finished with a few dots of liquid pearls around the image

 

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Hope you like it, you can see all the challenge details and some fab inspiration from the DT over on the Papertake blog

Right I’m going before I melt, I hope you’re enjoying your Friday evening and looking forward to the weekend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ivory…

 

 

 

Morning all, thanks for stopping by. I have my card for the new Ribbon Girl colour challenge to share today and the theme is…

IVORY

Nice easy one, you can’t go wrong with this colourway and there are so many options with it

 

I used one of the toppers from the LOTV Magical Fairies art pad, this image is called Midsummer’s Night

 

 

I tore the paper for a change and put some lace behind it, I really like the effect and think I’ll be doing this again

 

 

You can just see on the pic I put a layer of tulle over the first layer, this gives a lovely texture to the card

 

  

 

The little resin dove is a new product to the Ribbon Girl, I think I’ll be using those again too – so cute

 

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I used LOTV Always and Forever papers (patterns and solids) and a sentiment from Handwritten Phrases

The gorgeous embellishments are all from the Ribbon Girl;

Lisa lace

pearl bead string

tulle

pure silk ribbon

resin dove

mini blooms (vintage cream)

trinket pins

stickles

 

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You can enter and find all the challenge details on the Ribbon Girl blog as well as lots of inspiration from the amazing design team

Have a great day all whatever you’re up to

 

 

 

For The Boys…

 

 

 

Good morning crafters, looks like it’s going to be another lovely day here. I finally managed to get my pots planted up last night, I love to have flowers around in the summer when we sit out and I have lots of assorted tubs with different flowers and solar lights in them. I have intended to get a window box for the last few years and never got around to it, I finally got one for under the bay window and I think it will look lovely when it’s in full bloom. I even put a few marigolds in as it’s high up – I’ve tried them a few time unsuccessfully as the slugs and snails always find a way to get to them, greedy little beggars   …knowing me I’ll get the spider man of the snail world and he’ll find a way up and have a right old feast!!

 

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Before my card I have to share this funny that I saw on Pinterest last night…

 

 

omg isn’t this just the truth!!

 

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This weeks theme at Papertake Weekly is…

For The Boys

I made a card using the James and Jenny art pad from Lili of the Valley and their Father Knows Best papers

 

 

 

I wasn’t sure about this pad at first they looked a bit dark for my taste but once you get using them they are really FAB for male cards

This other card is one I did a few months back for another challenge so I thought I’d put it up again for comparison, same image and papers just a different layout, I think I like this second one the best

 

 

 

Hope you like them, you can check out what the DT did and find full details for the challenge on the Papertake Weekly blog here, as always there is a smashing prize up for grabs

 

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Right I’m off to work, have a great day everyone and thank you so much for your comments, I love reading them and really appreciate you taking the time to leave them for me

 

 

 

 

Lovely Lili challenge…

 

 

Morning crafty friends, are you enjoying the weekend? As was forecast, it tipped it down yesterday for most of the day so I had a lovely day in the attic. I had a few birthday cards to make so got nicely caught up. Keith sent his bike away for shot blasting and spraying so it’s been gone a few weeks, he’s been mooching about and getting under my feet (or worse, wanting to spend time with me aaarrgh) but it’s back now so he’s busy in the garage and I can get on with my crafting. There are just never enough hours in a day and by the time I’ve wasted an hour looking at my papers and ribbons or rearranging things it’s time to do something else (like cleaning boo!)

 

There’s a new lovely Lili challenge at the Ribbon Girl and this month it’s a nice easy one,to make something…

'GIRLIE’

You must include a LOTV stamped image or an image from an art pad, a LOTV sentiment or LOTV paper on your card or project and as always there are 2 fabulous prizes up for grabs

My card for the challenge is using another one of the toppers from the Here Comes Annabel art pad,  I’ve been using these a lot lately and this adorable image is just perfect for Jess…

 

 

 

I used downloaded papers from Raspberry Road, this is a new collection called Yard Sale

 

Here’s a list of the supplies…

Tonic oval dies

Martha Stewart border punch

Frantage ‘aged teal’

Computer generated sentiment

 

And of course lots of gorgeousness from the Ribbon Girl…

Cheesecloth

Doiley

Stickles

Turquoise Organza

White tiny ric rac

Cosmos daisy

20mm pink open rose

Pink beaded berries

Pearl bead string

3mm pearl flatbacks

 

 

Make sure you go to the blog for a peek at the fab inspiration from the design team, you can find all the details for the challenge on there too

 

 

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Hope you like my card, have a fabulous Sunday everyone

 

 

Anything Goes…

 

 

Hi everyone, another week flown by in the blink of an eye and it’s Friday evening again

I had a bit of an adventure this week, I went to Peterborough with my lovely pal Dawny for the Lili of the Valley show on Create and Craft. I hope you caught the show, Dawny was fab as always, she’s there for LOTV and does a great job promoting the products rather than herself as some of them just seem to do! She loves working with the products and I think that’s the main thing, it must be very hard to sell something and rave about it if you don’t particularly like it. I had a nosey round the studio, met the presenters and crew who I have to say were all very friendly and helpful   …and I was allowed to stay and watch the show while it was aired which was quite exciting!

 

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It’s the first week of the month which means the new challenge at Papertake Weekly is…

ANYTHING GOES

…as always there is an optional extra and this week it’s to make something that reminds you of Summer or use a Summery theme

 

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I made these 2 cards using the new ‘Here Comes Annabel’ art pad

This first one definitely says Summer to me, she’s chilling on her lily pad with a lovely cocktail (the cocktail bit that is, can’t remember when I last sat on a lily pad!!)

A few of us used this same image for our Summer cards so great minds think alike!

 

 

 

 

 

These are a bit different for me, wanted to have a go at CAS. I used the Candles and Cake papers, just love these bright colours. I used a black zig fine liner to do the border, I did try stamping it with a stitch stamp but after about 6 attempts at getting it straight I gave up!

The sentiments are both wooden stamps that I’ve had for years and apart from a bit of stickles that’s it!

 

Hope you like them, I love to know what you all think and appreciate the feedback

Have a look at the inspiration from the Papertake DT and as always there is a great prize up for grabs for the lucky winner

 

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That’s it from me, I bought a bottle of Pimms last week at Morrisons when it was on offer so I’m going to have a glass and sit in the garden for the last half an hour of sunshine – we have heavy storms forecast here for tomorrow so I think I’d better move some of my plants or they’ll be getting battered by the rain

Have a wonderful weekend everyone

 

 

Midsummer’s Night…

 

 

 

Good evening all, have you had a nice weekend?

The weather was much better here and I’ve got all my bedding plants in as I’m sure the risk of frost is passed now its June (omg JUNE, can you believe it?)

My hip has been feeling better but I had some twinges after I’d been gardening so I’ll have to take it easy. The scan didn’t show anything which is good as it means nothing major is wrong with the joint, but I know that something is not right …he just said to see how it goes, if nothing is showing up then he can’t really do anything at the moment

We had a drive over to Middleham this afternoon to see Jess. She was supposed to be home this weekend but had to go to the races at Newmarket yesterday so it wasn’t really worth it as she didn’t get back last night until very late. It wasn’t planned so it was a nice afternoon and then we took her out for tea. I am so uneasy on those country roads though, I’m on edge all the time in case a bunny etc runs in front of us. The roads are littered with poor squashed furries and it upsets me. Keith if course thinks I’m being irrational which I probably am and I know I’m getting worse with each year. I know some can’t be avoided but a lot of it is because of idiots who drive too fast. Some a**hole ran Jess off the road last week into a ditch, trying to overtake her on a bend and there was something coming the other way so she had to swerve off the road when he pulled back in – luckily she wasn't hurt but she was shaken up

Right, I’m off my soap box…    I put this card on the I2I blog last week and promised a list of supplies so here it is

I’ve got to tell you I spent literally hours colouring this image, I wasn’t getting the results I wanted and obviously the reason was I just wasn’t spending enough time on them. I was pleased with how this turned out, I used distress inks…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s everything else I used;

LOTV Sentiment Tags

Cosmos Cricket paper

Penny Black heart string

Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and the Ribbon Girl

Velvet lace and Flatback Pearls from the Ribbon Girl

Stickles

Spellbinders grand decorative ovals

 

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Hope you like it, thank you for all your lovely comments on my cards, I do appreciate the feedback

Right, I’m going to watch Quantum of Solace, I was never a huge fan of the Bond films   …but Daniel Craig, yum!!

 

Bye for now xx