Feeling happy

Hello lovely people,

Things I am happy about today;

1)  I have had an utterly amazing 38 day holiday in America but am actually happy to be home again to sleep in my own bed and catch up with all my friends and family

2) I passed my course and am now a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber (so I can prescribe medicines just like a doctor!)

3)  It has been sunny today so I was able to do a little tidying in the garden; still LOTS more to be done though!

4)  While I was away, this happened...

I had to sit on this news for ages and then I was unable to get my hands on the actual magazine until I got back to the UK so I am super excited to finally share it with you.

I even got a little bit of my colouring on the cover!

I thought I'd share all 3 cards at once rather than spread them out but I won't do all the extra shots with close ups and details as this post would be unbelievably long if I did, and I kept the cards fairly simple anyway to show off the images.

 #1 - my favourite card of the trio :-)

#2 - that sentiment is so true!

#3 - yum yum...anyone fancy ice cream now?!

Card recipes;

Image: Sand castle Ellie, Surfer Avery, and Ice cream Ellie - all from The Paper Nest Dolls

DP: Country meadow, Pastel dreams, and Bonnets and bowties (solids) - all from Nitwit Collections

Twine: Ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl

Dies: Tilda lace - Magnolia Doohickeys

Charms: Shell mix - The Hobby House
Sentiments: various from stash

Copic colours;
Skin: E000/00/21/11/04 & R20
Hair (ice cream): E11/15/18
Hair (sandcastle): E53/35/59
Hair (surfer): Y21/YR23/E35
Turquoise bits: BG000/01/02
Pink bits: R81/83/85
Yellow bits: Y23/35/YR23
Sand: YR30/E50/E51/YR31/E53
Water: BG0000/000
Shell: E41/423/43
Stick: E55/57
Ice cream cone: E50/51/53

I hope you have all had a beautiful day, sunny or otherwise!

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

Beach wedding

Hello lovely people,

It's time for a new challenge at As You Like It and our theme this time is...

YOUR FAVOURITE 2 EMBELLISHMENTS
...and don't forget to tell us why!

Our sponsor this time is Crafty Sentiment Designs

I love a pretty feel to my cards so I do enjoy adding embellishments and the one I always reach for first is flowers; I have lots so that I can try to match the colours of my image or paper!

I had to think a little for my second favourite embellishment choice as I do use a few things but realised it had to be pearls as I often scatter a few around just to add a little hint of detail and elegance.

The beach themed papers and details were chose because the couple are getting married on a beach, and I have to say I really love the kind of faded natural look to this design.

I know I've already picked my 2 fave embellies but I have to admit that a metal charm often finds it's way onto my designs...like this uber cute little shell charm :-)

The tags are made from the blank tag shape available in one of the LOTV sets and I stamped the names with little letter stamps...this only works with short names though - lol!

Card recipe;

Large focal sentiment: Congratulations statements - LOTV

DP: Shoreline treasures - Pion Design (available from Live and Love Crafts)

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

Tag: blank tag shape from Christmas sentiment tags - LOTV
Charm: Shell mix charms  -The Hobby House
Hessian ribbon & pearls: from stash

I hope you will pop over to As You Like It and check out the fabulously creative projects from the rest of the team :-)

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

Challenges I am entering;
Inky Chicks (use a metal embellishment)
Sweet Stampin' (anything but a birthday)

Beach fun

Hello lovely people,

I'm so sorry I haven't been round to see you all much lately; the last week or so has been a 'life gets in the way of crafting' week...how dare it!

It's time for a new challenge at Top Tip Tuesday and our theme this time is...

SUMMER FUN

We have 2 Cute Ink sponsoring us this time and they have a prize of 2 free digi images of the winner's choice.

I decided to make an easel card since I haven't made one for ages and I always like the extra decorating space that comes with an easel - perfect for personalising the design with a name!

Despite the extra space, the embellishment on the bottom section does need to be fairly minimal so the card will fold flat, hence I put all the lovely 3D flowers and layered bow on the top section.

The sentiment comes with the image and I thought it would look cute as a little hanging plaque :-)

I love this chic lady...hmmmm, maybe because I would love to look like this!
Well, I can do the big hat and cocktail part!

Card recipe;

Image & sentiment: Uptown girl Sandy and her Sombrero - Stamping Bella

DP: Shoreline treasures - Pion Designs (available from Live and Love Crafts)

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Twine: Natural button twine - The Ribbon Girl (not currently available)

Seam binding: Cruise beige - Wild Orchid Crafts
Wooden star / pearls: from stash
Letter stamps: magazine freebie stamps

Copic colours;
Skin: E00/21/11/04 & R20
Hair: E50/53/55
Hat / bag: E40/41/42/43
Bikini / bag / flip flops: B91/95/97
Drink: RV11/R83 & Y21/Y35
Glasses: W9
Sand: YR30/31/E50/51/53

I hope you will pop over to Top Tip Tuesday and check out the fabulously creative projects from the rest of the team and there are some great tips for you too :-)

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

Challenges I am entering;
The Ribbon Girl (anything goes +/- stars or stripes)
Fussy and Fancy (fancy folds)
Craft your Passion (anything goes)

Bikinis and cocktails

Hello lovely people,

I have had a delightful a weekend and it has flown by as usual.

I had a lovely catch up with friends and very much enjoyed seeing their new house and pilfering plants, specifically some very pretty aquilegias, from their new garden!

I also got several hours of gardening done and had two lovely walks in semi-sunshine :-)

Ok, onto the crafty stuff...

I really have nothing against yellow but it's not a colour I would usually choose for my cards, however I thought it was perfect with this image to create a sunny feel.

I had lots of pretty flowers and lace out to go on this card and really couldn't get them arranged to my liking so decided it just didn't need any of them and left it all CAS instead.

In the end I did add a couple of pearls to 2 corners of the flowered layer...and forgot to re-take the photo...you'll have to use your imagination...lol!

My new word die was the perfect match though!

I bought this stamp about 3 months ago with a special friend in mind...so of course I didn't want to use it before her birthday...which was today!

It was lovely to finally ink it up!

Card recipe;

Image: Uptown girl Sandy and her sombrero

DP: Nyhavn - Maja Design (available from Live and Love Crafts)

Dies: Birthday words - Paper Smooches

Copic colours;
Skin: E000/00/21/11/04 & R20
Hair: E50/53/55
Hat: YR30/Y21/Y23/YR23
Bikini / flip flops: R81/83/85 & B91/95/97
Bag: R81/83/85 & YR30/Y21/Y23
Drink: R0000/000/81
Sunglasses: T6/8/10 & B97
Sand: YR30/31/E50/51/53

Now, roll on summer so we can all lounge around in bikinis with a cocktail in hand...I wish!

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

Challenges I am entering;
1.  Without words (pink, yellow, blue)
2.  Sweet Stampin' (CAS)

At the beach

Hello lovely people,

I had a lovely relaxing and mostly sunny weekend but oh dear., it seems like such a long time to wait for the next weekend :-(  So, to take your mind off that, here's the new challenge at All Dressed Up and this time we have this fabulous sketch for you to work with...

I am a huge fan of sketches as they are a great starting point for a design, although I usually can't resist putting my own little twist on it!
In this case the circular layer has become a square and my set of 3 embellishments has become some bunting... yes, bunting again, but it's so cute!

Given the gorgeous sunny weather we have been having I just had to use one of the 3 little summer girls and some papers that make me think of the seaside.

Card recipe;
Image: 3 little summer girls - All Dressed Up
DP: Shoreline treasures - Pion Design (available from Live and Love Crafts)
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Bunting stamp: freebie with a magazine
Sentiment: Clear mini stamp set - Kaisercraft
Twine: The Ribbon Girl

Copic colours;
Skin: E000/00/21/11/04 & R20
Hair: E53/55/57/59
Dress: V91/93/95
Leggings: W00/1/3
Bucket: B91/93/95/97
Spade: E55/57/59
Sandy ground: YR30/E40/41/42/43

Do pop over to All Dressed Up to see what the rest of the Dressy Girls have created; they are all stunning! We'd love to see you join in for a chance of winning 3 images of your choice!
Don't forget to swing by our Facebook Group to share your creations and chat to fellow All Dressed Up lovers :-)

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

Challenges I am entering;

1.  Live and Love Crafts (by the sea)

2.  Cute Card Thursday (pretty papers)