Bottoms Up!

Hello lovely people,

I'm flying by today with a DT card for The Ribbon Girl and you can find a list of all the gorgeous products I used at the end of this post.

This design was entirely inspired by the cute new wine bottle charm and I knew I had the perfect large sentiment stamp to go with it.

I chose to give it a pretty vintage floral design...really just so I could use these totally scrummy papers!

Do you recognise the die?!  I used it recently and commented that it wasn't one I use much but I found a new way to use it by cutting it up and using it as a cool loopy detail tucked under the flowers :-)

Since it was the inspiration for the whole design, I thought I'd share a close up of the fab wine bottle charm.  Yes, it probably says something about me that I fell in love instantly with a wine bottle charm - lol!

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

The Ribbon Girl products;
Pion Scent of Lavender 6x6 complete set of designer papers
45mm Eleanor white embroidered tulle lace
15mm Heliotrope No7 Berisford satin ribbon
Silver wine bottle charm
Ivory button twine
Lilac 10mm open roses

Other products;

Large sentiment: Statements (fabulous) - LOTV

Other flowers: from stash

Dies: Large frilly frames #10 - Go Kreate, Twisted swirl - Magnolia Doohickeys

Live, laugh, love

Hello lovely people,

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

FLY AWAY
(With an option of using pink & 1 other colour)

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

I keep saying I would like to do more home decor projects so decided to decorate a wooden heart.
I cut the DP to fit the heart, inked the edges and then stamped a few swirls around the edge.
Once the DP was glued firmly in place I sanded back the edges to give a slightly distressed finish.

These butterfly dies are absolutely gorgeous and I really haven't used them much but knew they would be perfect for this project...and for the challenge theme of course!

The words are stamped from individual letter stamps, cut into strips, and have one foam pad under the middle to add that little bit of dimension.
The charm was a last minute addition and I'm so glad I popped it on as it looks so pretty :)

Project recipe;

Wooden heart: from Hobbycrafts show

DP: Summer Crush - Maja Design (available from Live and Love Crafts)
Swirl stamp: Summer swirl - Magnolia

Dies: Leavenworth butterfly trio - Memory Box
Charm: Daisy chain - The Hobby House
Twine: Ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl

Ribbon: from stash

Lettering: magazine freebie stamp set

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

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

Challenges I am entering;
Papertake Weekly (to die for)
Inky Chicks (hearts)
Fab 'n' Funky (things with wings)
The Ribbon Girl (pink)
ABC challenge (pretty in pink)

A lovely duo

Hello lovely people,

The days are running away with me again and I almost forgot to post this....because it's Tuesday again peeps so it must be time for a new challenge at Top Tip Tuesday and our theme is...

DUO

We are sponsored by All Dressed Up with a prize of 2 free digis of the winner's choice

There are lots of possibilities for this theme and I have chosen a stamp with a cute duo of mice and also my favourite duo of colours - pink and green.

These little cuties would work for lots of romantic occasions; this card is for a couple renewing their wedding vows.

I think this was the last of my pink roses so I guess I'll have to do some shopping - lol!
Oh, and I'm going to need some more of those heart charms because they are just so gorgeous...

Card recipe;

Image & sentiment: Hugs and Kisses (Everyday in Moonbeam meadow) - Crafter's Companion

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

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Lace: from Crafty Ribbons at Hobbycrafts show (not available online)
Charm: Heart with side loop - The Ribbon Girl

Twine: Ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl
Dies: Tea label tags - Magnolia Doohickey

Copic colours;
Skin: E000/00/21/11/04 & R20
Mice: E40/41/42/43
Mouse feet / tails: R000/00/02
Waistcoat / bow: B91/95/97
Flowers: R81/83/85
Leaves: YG61/63
Mushroom top: T0/2/3/4
Mushroom stalk: T4/6/7/8
Grass: YG61/63/G85/99

I hope you will pop over to Top Tip Tuesday and check out the fabulously creative projects from the rest of the team including a brilliant easel notepad holder tutorial :-)

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

Challenges I am entering;
1.  Live and Love Crafts (signs of Spring)
2.  Fussy and Fancy (Springtime flowers)
3.  Addicted to stamps (flowers)
4.  The Pink Elephant (anything goes)

Can you see the sparkle?!

Hello lovely people,

All the lovely sunshine we have had in my little corner of the UK has really been lifting my spirits so I hope you have all seen some of it too.
I have almost finished tidying the garden, my tomato and chilli seeds are sprouting up, and the garlic is just peeping through; such exciting times :-)

In my crafting world though it's time for a new challenge at In The Pink and our theme this time is...

MAKE IT SPARKLE

We are delighted to have The Ribbon Girl sponsoring us again for this challenge with a £10 voucher :-)

As soon as you say 'sparkle' to me I think of fairies so that's what I've done!

If you're searching for the sparkle, I added Stickles to all those little spots on my DP - that took a while!  But it does look pretty, even if the camera was not good at picking it up!

There's also sparkle for the fairy dust and along the edge of the wing.

I guess the star charm counts as sparkly too and I've used one of my favourite tricks of tying twine around a satin ribbon.

I finished this quite simply with a few flowers - I didn't want to overshadow the sweet fairy image.

Card recipe;

Image: Tilly - Saturated Canary (rubber stamp)

DP: Special delivery (girl) - Pebbles (available from Hey Little Magpie)
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Ribbon: from stash

Twine: Ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl

Sentiment: Clear mini stamp set - Kaisercraft
Stickles - stardust

Copic colours;
Skin: E000/00/21/11/04 & R20
Hair: E50/53/55
Eyes: B02/00
Pink bits: R81/83/85
Tights / legwarmers: C00/T0/T1 & R85/89 for spots
Bag / wings: B0000/000/00/02
Ground: T0/1/2/3

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;
1.  Deep Ocean (things with wings)
2.  As You Like It (alcohol markers or Distress Inks - it has to be Copics for me as I don't have anything else and I have spent a lot of time practising with them so not sure I want to switch to anything else!)

3.  The Pink Elephant (photo inspiration - I have used pink and flowers)

Sewing themed apron card

Hello lovely people,

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

BUTTONS &/OR BOWS

It's a double sponsor week as well so we have 2 fab prizes on offer

Whimsy Stamps

and 

Bugaboo

It was my Mother-in-Law's 65th birthday at the weekend so that needed a really special card and after the success of my previous apron card (this one) I thought I'd do a sewing themed one.

I used bits and bobs from all over the place to fit the theme and when I couldn't find what I wanted I created my own, like the little button card and thread spools which I cut by hand and stamped.

I very nearly forgot to add a '65' so had to quickly add the little tab; not so easy to stitch in place with the pocket already stuck down!

I also made a matching tag to pop on her present :-)

Card recipe;

DP: Petal fresh - NitWit collection for LOTV

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

Twine: Ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl

Tag: Family sentiment tags - LOTV

Sentiment: For you circular sentiments - LOTV

Dies: Heart flower swirl - Magnolia Doohickey
Pins: Teardrop ivory pearlised pins - The Ribbon Girl
Charm: Scissors charm - The Ribbon Girl
Ribbon / buttons: from stash

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 on creating the perfect bow :-)

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

Challenges I am entering;

1.  ABC Challenge (F is for festive - any holiday or birthday)
2.  Fussy and Fancy (ribbons and lace)

Cake and flowers

Hello lovely people,

Today was spent celebrating my Mother-in-law's 65th birthday but you'll have to wait a bit to see her card!

Instead I have another birthday card to show you, made purely for a few challenges and for fun :-)

One of the challenges I am playing along with is As You Like It and they are asking us to use our fave type of stamp - rubber or digi.
I use both and love each type for different reasons but if I had to have just one it would probably be rubber.
Using a digi means fiddling around on the computer and then waiting for the ink to dry before I can colour it and well, I'm far too impatient for that sometimes!

Stamping Bella are one of my favourite rubber stamp collections as they are so stylish.
I cropped this image to fit my hand cut polaroid frame.

Then I loaded it up with girly embellies, including some yummy lace from my latest shopping spree at The Ribbon Girl :-)

Card recipe;

Image: Ava loves to celebrate (Uptown Girls) - Stamping Bella

DP: Vintage Spring and Summer basics collections - Maja Design (available from Live and Love Crafts)

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Lace: Lyra - The Ribbon Girl - currently unavailable :-(

Twine: Ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl

Tag: Sentiment tags - LOTV
Charm: Dragonfly charm small - The Ribbon Girl
Dies: Tea tags - Magnolia Doohickey

Sentiment: freebie stamp set with magazine
Pearls: from stash

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

Hair: E41/43/47
Dress: BG53/45/57/09
Pink bits: R81/83/85
Cake: YR30/E41/42/43
Tray: T0/2/4

Tonight I am going to chill out and watch a film with Dr. Hubby (who has a really awful cold, poor thing) and tomorrow I shall be crafting and baking :-)

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend whatever you are up to :-)

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

Challenges I am entering;
1.  Papertake Weekly (Mum's the word / any girly card)
2.  Cute Card Thursday (celebrate)
3.  As You Like It (fave type of stamp - rubber or digi - see above!)
4.  Sweet Stampin' (cakes)
5.  The Ribbon Girl (birthday)

Spring colours

Hello lovely people,

It's been a lovely weekend and I was even in my shorts for a walk in the sunshine on Saturday afternoon!

Now I have some fab news to share...

I was delighted to be picked as guest designer for Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge and this month the theme is...

SPRING COLOURS

To me this means fresh green and pretty soft pastels, and you know, I think Spring is really here now :-)

I have been admiring the Whimsy stamps Sylvia Zet images for quite a while now so I chose one to use for this card and I think it's safe to say I have a new stamp addiction!

Heres' another peek at the pretties I popped on here...yes, it's those butterflies again!

Card recipe;

Image: Dyanne - Whimsy stamps (from Bunny Zoe's Crafts but currently unavailable)

DP: Vintage Spring Basics - Maja Design (available from Live and Love Crafts)

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

Twine: Ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl

Dies: heart flower lace - Magnolia Doohickey

Sentiment: clear mini sentiments - Kaisercraft
Charm: small butterfly charm - The Ribbon Girl

Copic colours;
Skin: E000/00/21/11/04 & R20
Hair: E41/43/47
Dress / hairband / shoes: BV00/02/04 & R81/83/85
Wings / flowers / socks: BV0000/000/00/01 & RV0000/000/R81/83
Flower stems: YG61/63/67
Ground: YG61/63/67/G99

I wish you all some Spring sunshine and hope you have a great week!

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

Lilac wedding card

Hello lovely people,

Where did that week go to?!
I am working this weekend but only until about 2 p.m. each day so I still get a little crafting time too :-)

I have a wedding card to share with you today and I seem really drawn towards a shabby chic/vintage style for wedding cards at the moment.

I used a big sentiment as the focal point again but cut into a circle this time.

I had a little spending spree at The Ribbon Girl (yep, another one!) and got loads of gorgeous new bits and bobs including some fabulous charms... like this little heart.  It's such a simple charm but it's so elegant and I adore it... good job I bought a few!

Card recipe;

Image: Statements: congratulations - LOTV

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

Flowers: various, all from Wild Orchid Crafts

Seam binding: Sky mauve lilac - The Ribbon Girl
Lace: Laila - The Ribbon Girl
Twine: ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl
Heart charm: heart with side loop - The Ribbon Girl

Dies: Circle stax - Die-namics

Letter stamps for names: magazine freebie

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend whatever you are up to :-)

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

Challenges I am entering;
1.  Live and Love Crafts (hearts)
2.  Papertake Weekly (hearts and flowers)
3.  Fab 'n' Funky (charm us)
4.  Fussy and Fancy (it's all about love)
5.  The Ribbon Girl (Lovely Lili & charm)

Snuggle up

Hello lovely people,

Here we go again with a new challenge at Crafty Little Fairies and very sadly, it is our last ever challenge :-(

Our final theme for you is... HOLLY AND/OR IVY

Well, it pretty much had to be another Christmas card with that theme didn't it?! 
I've done a stepper design and there is holly both on my image and the little charm I added.

These stepper designs are great for using up quite small bits of DP and I love adding a little detail to the top of the front step with a border punch.

I always add a strip of card in the centre of my stepper designs so that it can't slip open when standing so I thought I'd show you, just in case you're interested!

And this post wouldn't be complete without a close up of the sweet bunnies all cosy in their stocking.

Card recipe;

Image: from LOTV but now discontinued

DP: Vintage Frost Basics - Maja Design (available from Live and Love Crafts)

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

Twine: The Ribbon Girl

Tag: Christmas sentiment tags - LOTV
Punched edge: Cherish (punch around the page) - Martha Stewart

Kraft letters: cut with my Cricut

Copic colours;
Bunnies: E40/41/42
Hats: B91/93/95 & T3/4/6 (right) & R39/89/99 (left)
Branch: E43/44/47
Leaves: BG93/96/99
Berries / bow: R39/89/RV99
Fur on stocking/hat bobbles: T0/1/2

If you pop over to Crafty Little Fairies you can check out the beautiful creations from my teamies and details of the four prizes on offer from some fabulous sponsors.

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

Challenges I am playing along with;
1.  Papertake Weekly (anything goes)
2.  Simon Says Stamp (Christmas/holidays)
3.  Divas by Design (feeling festive)

Finishing touches

Hello lovely people,

I seem to have developed a thing recently for having several cards on the go at once.  It was getting a bit silly when I had 7, yes 7, half finished cards on my desk... and I was running out of space to craft in!
So, I have finished 5 of the 7 cards and consequently will have lots to share with you over the next few weeks :-)

First up is my card for our new challenge at In The Pink and our theme this time is...

DIE CUTS AND/OR PUNCHES

I have made a buckle card and if you want more details of how to make one of these, check out my tutorial here.
The die cut swirl I have used is a firm favourite of mine especially as you can cut it up to fit where you want it and create slightly different shapes.

The 'buckle' slides out from under the image panel like so...

The inside is decorated both to look pretty and to hide the buckle mechanism.

I used my fave little bear, sweet James from LOTV, and I'm sorry to say this rubber stamp has now been discontinued :-(

The fishtails for the sentiment were cut by hand and I used foam pads to add some dimension to them.

Card recipe;

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

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

Twine: The Ribbon Girl

Dies:Leaf and swirl - Magnolia Doohickey
Tag: Christmas sentiment tags - LOTV
Snowflake charm: Snowflake 1 charm - The Ribbon Girl

Copic colours;
Fur: not entirely sure as I coloured his fur a while ago but I usually use E41/42/43 and maybe E44
Hat / scarf: RV91/93/95
Ground / fur on hat: W00/0/1/2

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;

1.  LOTV (Merry Christmas)
2.  Bunny Zoe's Crafts (snow)
3.  A Creative Romance (something old - this is one of my oldest  LOTV stamps but comes out to play every year!)

New baby girl

Hello lovely people,

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

LUSCIOUS LACE

Although I love lace I don't actually use it all that often on my cards but it is the perfect addition to a new baby card, as are pretty flowers, swirls and a light sprinkling of Frantage.
Much as I love colouring, I also really love these big sentiment stamps from LOTV :-)

It's been a while since I did any arty shots of my cards but thought it might be nice to show the gorgeous flowers a little closer.  I have really become a big fan of these and the roses are my favourites :-)

I have also started adding charms to a few more of my cards and don't you think these teeny baby feet are adorable?!

I also added a simple little tag underneath the sentiment panel.  The letters were stamped and cut out individually; I didn't worry about them being perfect squares as I think it just adds to the shabby chic look!

Card recipe;

Image: Congratulations statements - LOTV

DP: Coffee in the arbour - Maja Designs (available from Live and Love Crafts)

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

Twine: The Ribbon Girl

Dies: leaf and swirl - Magnolia Doohickey, mini heart collection - Memory box
Charm: feet charm - The Ribbon Girl
Frantage: Stampendous shabby white frantage from Live and Love Crafts

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 and from our guest designer :-)

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

Challenges I am playing along with;

1.  A Creative Romance (pink)
2.  Divas by Design (anything goes)
3.  Simon Says Stamp (anything goes)