Christmas decorations

Hello lovely people,

Only 2 sleeps to go!
I am really excited to do things a little differently this year as we are spending Christmas Day at ours with some lovely friends and our main meal will be curry :-)
We will then be catching up with our families over the weekend.

I still have some preparations to do, so today is going to be a busy one getting the last bits of food and presents...and a new shower head since the one in the bathroom rather inconveniently broke :-(

While I hit the shops (but try not to hit any shoppers getting in my way!) I shall leave you with the new Creative Inspirations challenge and this week we have the theme... 

ANYTHING GOES
(+/- the option of a sketch)

You can use any of the previous sketches from the sketch page or this new one;

Our sponsor this week is The Paper Shelter with a $15 gift certificate

This Christmas card was a very late make and won't get used this year so that's one in my stash for next year!
It's based on the sketch with a slight rearrangement of the layers.

This was my first time using an image from The Paper Shelter and I love the retro feel of it.
Sorry the photo is a little grainy because of the serious lack of proper daylight!

I cut the sentiment from one of the DP border strips and used a new swirly die to add a few flourishes.  It's an absolutely brilliant die for cutting apart and using in sections; it's so versatile :-)

Card recipe;

Image: Christmas decorations - The Paper Shelter

DP: Home for the Holidays - Maja Design (available from Live and Love Crafts)

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Fancy edge: Martha Stewart doily edge punch

Dies: Fancy flourish - MFT Die-namics

Copic colours;
Skin: E000/00/21/11/04 & R20
Hair: E41/43/47
Dress / headband: R37/39/89
Sash / shoes: W6/8/10
Branches / tree on headband: YG93/95/97
Boxes: E41/42/43/44
Tissue paper: W00/1
Baubles: B24/26
Fairy lights: B26/R37/YG67/Y35
Ground: W00/0/1/2/3/4

In case I don't get round to any more blog posts before the big day then I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and hope you have a wonderful festive season!

The DT have made some wonderful samples to inspire you so pop over to Creative Inspirations to take a look :-)

Thanks for visiting and I really appreciate any comments that you leave,

Mistletoe kisses

Hello lovely people,

That's another couple of study days at Bath completed so my next challenge is to complete my Christmas cards! 

While I am drowning in Christmas images and glitter it's time for a new challenge at As You Like It and our theme is...

YOUR FAVOURITE...traditional or non-traditional Christmas colours
...and don't forget to tell us why it's your favourite!

We are sponsored by Crafty Ribbons for this challenge

I often favour non-traditional colours (well, you know how much I love pink!) but this year I found some really lovely papers in reds/greens/creams so it's traditional all the way for me!

How adorable are this couple?!
A great image for a first Christmas as Mr & Mrs.

I think these colours look especially lovely teamed with Kraft card for a really cosy feel and I am glad I bought a few more red roses in my last flower order!

Card recipe;

Image: Happy Kissmas - LOTV

DP: Glad Tidings - Dovecraft

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Twine: Natural button twine - The Ribbon Girl
Dies: Tilda lace - Magnolia Doohickeys, Holly vine - Memory Box

Sentiment: generated on computer (font - Parisienne)

Copic colours;
Skin: E000/00/21/11/04 & R20
Hair (girl): E51/55/57
Hair (boy): E55/57/59
All red bits: R27/29/46/59
All green bits: YG93/95/97
Shirt: W00/1/3
Trousers: E41/42/43/44
Shoes: E43/44/47
Ground: W00/0/1/2/3/4

I hope you are all feeling festive and ready for the big day...not long to go now!

Do pop over to As You Like It and check out the gorgeous Christmas projects from the rest of the team :-)

Thanks for visiting and I really appreciate any comments that you leave,

Challenges I am entering;

Merry and bright

Hello lovely people,

I'm going to have to start with another one of 'those' apologies for not visiting my lovely blogging friends over the past week.
I have been concentrating on another big piece of coursework, our internet at home seems to be on snail's pace, I still have loads of Christmas cards to make and I haven't even had time to put my decorations up yet :-(

However, I did at least manage to create something for the new challenge at Creative Inspirations and this week we have the theme...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Our sponsor this week is none other than our lovely Creative Inspirations boss, Natalie, with a  fabulous mystery prize!

Last week I showed you a gift bag I had made and teased you with talk of the matching gift to go in it!
So here it is...a decorated MDF bauble.

I chose just white flowers for the decoration and tried out some new beaded stamens with them.  They come in little bunches but I pulled one apart and popped individual stamens in where I wanted them.

I love the mix of fonts on this sentiment and think it suits the shabby chic style of the decoration perfectly.

Bauble recipe;

DP: Home for the holidays - Maja Design (available from Live and Love Crafts)

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Twine: from stash

Sentiment: Pink Petticoat

The DT have made some wonderful samples to inspire you so pop over to Creative Inspirations to take a look :-)

Thanks for visiting and I really appreciate any comments that you leave,

This time in pink!

Hello lovely people,

I had a lovely time catching up with people from work at the Pizza Hut lunch yesterday and my final pizza slice total was.....8 slices!  But I cheated a little by not eating the boring crusts ;-)

And now it's time for a new challenge at In The Pink

Our theme this time is...

PINK CHRISTMAS

So don't forget we want to see more pink than any other colour!

Our fabulous sponsor this time is Paper Nest Dolls with a $15 voucher

I had another play with this lovely stamp because it was just crying out to be done in pink and I fancied a bold modern design this time.

Since I threw rather a lot of bling at this card the tag seemed very appropriate!

Card recipe;

Image: Bubble tree - Woodware

DP: from stash

Twine: Cotton candy pink Bakers Divine Twine - The Ribbon Girl

Tag: Christmas sentiment tags - LOTV

Dies: Dotties - Presscut

Gems - from stash

If you haven't already done so then do pop over to In The Pink and check out the gorgeous creations from the rest of the Pink Ladies.

Thanks for visiting and I really appreciate any comments that you leave,

Challenges I am entering;

Bauble gift bag

Hello lovely people,

Even though I am on my career break, I wouldn't dream of missing the annual work Christmas lunch at Pizza Hut which is happening today!
We always have the all-you-can-eat buffet so how many slices of pizza do you reckon I can eat?!
And how much exercise will I need to do to work it all off?!

While I'm off stuffing my face, it's Creative Inspirations challenge time and this week we have the theme...

WRAP IT UP

I have made a gift bag, which is designed to match a handmade present...but you'll have to wait until next week to see that!

As usual I couldn't resist the gorgeous Christmas papers from Maja Design; there are some lovely reds in the collection too but I have used just the brown and blue ones here.

The bauble die was a freebie with a card magazine and the border was a little something that fell in my basket a few months ago but hadn't yet been used!

Bag recipe;

DP: Home for the Holidays - Maja Design (available from Live and Love Crafts)

Twine: Dusky blue button twine - The Ribbon Girl

Tag: Christmas sentiment tags - LOTV

Dies: Border die - Joy! Crafts, Christmas bauble - Marianne Design

The DT have made some wonderful samples to inspire you so pop over to Creative Inspirations to take a look :-)

Tune in again tomorrow to find out how much pizza I managed to eat!

Thanks for visiting and I really appreciate any comments that you leave,

Christmas angel

Hello lovely people,

It's December!  I have no decorations up, a grand total of 18 Christmas cards made and 2 presents bought - eek!
Ok, that last one is not really a problem as this year we decided not to do Christmas presents other than a small token gift if desired and that could be handmade.

Today, I am sharing one of the few Christmas cards that I have made and I have used lots of lovely LOTV products.

I recently got some larger size circle dies and knew they would pair well with my favourite fancy shaped base.



I think this little cutie is now discontinued...so sad as she is beautiful and really lovely to colour...I do love rich red against Kraft.

I kept the flower detail sweet and simple to complement the design.  I had a little restock of 'essentials' from Wild Orchid Crafts last week and popped a few new items in my basket too...the teeny little white flowers on here are my new favourites :-)

Card recipe;

Image: LOTV (discontinued)

DP: Krafty Christmas - LOTV

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Twine: Natural button twine - The Ribbon Girl

Tag: Family sentiment tags - LOTV

Tag: Christmas sentiment tags - LOTV
Lace: Sylvie Chantilly cotton lace - Crafty Ribbons

Dies: Circle layering die set - Tonic Studios, Large frilly frames #10 - Go Kreate

Copic colours;
Skin: E000/00/21/11/04 & R20
Hair: ??? (probably E51/55/57)
Cape / headband: R27/29/46/59
Wings / dress / candle holder / ground: W00/0/1/2/3/4
Candle: YR30/31/Y35/YR18
Stars: YR33/Y35

I know some of you will already have seen this on facebook but I am over the moon that I passed part 1 (of 3) of my prescribing course :-D
Now for part 2!

Thanks for visiting and I really appreciate any comments that you leave,

Birthday champagne

Hello lovely people,

We have a new challenge for you at As You Like It and our theme this time is...

YOUR FAVOURITE...for a male or female
...and don't forget to tell us why it's your favourite!

Our sponsor this time is Crafty Sentiment Designs

This was an easy choice for me; girly cards are my favourite because I love using pretty floral papers, pearls and preferably a hefty dash of pink!

I wanted to include some champagne glasses on this design and was struggling to find something I really liked but went for this digi in the end and I rather like it.

I added little liquid pearl dots for the bubbles...don't they look cute?

I am very sad to report that this is the last of this beautiful soft hessian trim...well, I have a teeny bit left to stroke!

Card recipe;

Image: Wedding toast - DigiStamp Boutique

DP: Dress Shoppe - LOTV

Trim: from stash
Twine: Ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl

Tag: Sentiment tags - LOTV

Dies: Circle stax - MFT Die-namics, Large frilly frames #10 - Go Kreate, Filigree corner - La La Land Crafts

Copic colours;
Champagne: YR0000/000/30
Glasses: B0000/W00
Bow: R81/83/85/56

I hope you will pop over to As You Like It and check out the fabulous projects from the rest of my teamies :-)

Thanks for visiting and I really appreciate any comments that you leave,

Winter warmth

Hello lovely people,

I have come to the conclusion that I need a time machine and then maybe, just maybe, I could be ready in time for Christmas ;-)

Ok, not going to happen so I'll just crack on with those Christmas cards and meanwhile...

..it's Creative Inspirations challenge time and this week we have the theme...

ANYTHING GOES
with the option to use a sketch

Here's a lovely new sketch for you, or you can use any of the sketches from the Creative Inspirations sketch page

Our sponsor for this challenge is Time for Tea Designs with a prize of 5 digis of the winner's choice

I have done my usual thing of using the sketch but tweaking it a little...so my embellishment cluster grew a little bit and also migrated over to the opposite corner!

The papers I chose are such soft pastels that I wanted to keep my colouring a little paler than normal, which I find quite tricky with Copics.  So, I just did one layer of each colour rather than my usual two layers and I think it does look a little softer.

I always find myself reaching for my little letter stamps when I want to personalise cards...although in this case 'Felicity' is entirely fictional and can be replaced with any other name as and when I need to!

Card recipe;

Image: Winter warmth - Time For Tea Designs

DP: Vintage frost basics - Maja Design (available from Live and Love Crafts)

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Lace: Teresa - The Ribbon Girl

Tag: Sentiment tags - LOTV

Letter stamps: magazine freebie set

Copic colours;
Skin: E000/00/21/11/04 & R20
Hair: E41/44/47
Coat / boots: R81/83/85
Hat / scarf / boots: B91/93/97
Hand warmer / pom poms: W00/1/3
Boot soles: W6/7/9
Ground: W00/0/1/2/3/4

The DT have made some gorgeous samples to inspire you so pop over to Creative Inspirations to take a look :-)

Thanks for visiting and I really appreciate any comments that you leave,

Challenges I am entering;

Hard to choose a favourite!

Hello lovely people,

It's time for a new challenge at In The Pink and our theme this time is...

YOUR FAVOURITE RUBBER STAMP / IMAGE

Or one of your favourites if you're like me and could never pick just one!
Don't forget we want to see more pink than any other colour!

Our fabulous sponsor this time is Bunny Zoe's Crafts with a £10 voucher

I have been playing with my new floral frame dies to create a shaped base for this card and I cut down the card blank to fit the back of the shape, leaving the back section longer so it matches the height of the frame on the front.

This image is a real favourite of mine because it's so glamorous and involves wine - lol!
I like the name too...Opal the Optimist is clearly a glass half full lady and I like that.
I don't think she is sharing that bottle with anyone though from the way she is hugging it!

Since I was going for proper girly on this card it had to be finished off with a touch of sparkle on the dress and a few flowers but I like that it's still relatively simple.

Card recipe;

Image: Uptown girl Opal the optimist - Stamping Bella

DP: Till Mor - Pion Design (available from Live and Love Crafts)

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Twine: Ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl

Dies: Triple floral frames - Spellbinders

Sentiment: For you circular sentiments - LOTV

Copic colours;
Skin: E000/00/21/11/04 & R20
Hair: E41/43/47
Dress: RV11/R81/R83
Wine bottle: YG93/95/97 & YR30/31

If you haven't already done so then do pop over to In The Pink and check out the gorgeous creations from the rest of the Pink Ladies.

Thanks for visiting and I really appreciate any comments that you leave,

Heart of flowers

Hello lovely people,

Aaarrrggghhh!  It's deadline week!
I have to submit all my coursework for the first part of my prescribing course by the end of the week so not much time for crafting this week:-(

While I crack on with my essays, it's Creative Inspirations challenge time and this week we have the theme...

WHITE ON WHITE

Our fabulous sponsor this week is Live and Love Crafts with a £10 voucher

I have had the idea for this design in my head for a while and by some miracle it turned out just like I wanted!
I created the embossed background using my score board.
And no, I haven't lost my needle and thread but I just felt this design didn't need any stitching...shocking I know!

I drew a very faint pencil heart outline and arranged all the flowers before shaping them slightly with a ball tool and sticking them down.

Card recipe;

Dies: Perfect petioles, Fancy blossoms, and Adorable posies - all Memory Box
Pearls: from stash

It's a little bit different for me isn't it?  Hope you like it :-)

The DT have made some wonderful white on white samples to inspire you so pop over to Creative Inspirations to take a look :-)

Thanks for visiting and I really appreciate any comments that you leave,

Presents!

Hello lovely people,

Here we are again on a Monday and it's been a frosty one where I am, but no snow...yet!

I'm just back from a lovely relaxing week away in a cottage near Exeter :-)
I planned for the poor weather by taking some colouring and a good book with me.
We managed a little walking and lots of cake; despite it being November I still had to have a cream tea!

So today I'm showcasing some LOTV products as part of the Design Collective and I'm still busy making Christmas cards.

Huge apologies that this image is actually one of the ones that have just been retired but there are loads of other cute Christmas images still available.

I was spoilt for choice as to where to add some sparkle but tried to be a bit selective!

Card recipe;

Image: Box of wishes - LOTV (DISCONTINUED - sorry!)

DP: from stash
Twine: Bakers Divine twine in cotton candy pink - The Ribbon Girl

Tag: Christmas sentiment tags - LOTV

Copic colours;
Skin: E000/00/21/11/04 & R20

Pink: R81/83/85
Rest: not sure because I did it on holiday and didn't write it down!

I wish you all a lovely week whatever you are up to...even if you are working!

Thanks for visiting and I really appreciate any comments that you leave,

Challenges I am entering;

to be added