Finally...Heartstrings!

Hello lovely people,

I have to say that I am usually fairly speedy at using my new stash but occasionally there is something that for some reason sits unused for aaaaages, and the die I have used on my Dies to Die For DT card this week is one of those things!

I really don't know how I ignored this die for so long as it's one I had wanted for quite a while by the time I bought it, plus it's absolutely gorgeous :-)

It finally got used because I had a wedding card to make - lol!

I've chosen to use an inlaid die cutting technique here but there are several other ways to use this die too...quicker ways as well, but I do love the inlaid look :-)

If I've tempted you with any of the lovely supplies I've used then you can go straight to the individual products via the links below or just pop over to Dies to Die For and have a little browse around!

Thanks for popping in and I hope you have a beautiful day!

Lovely things I've used from Dies to Die For;
Heartstrings - Concord and 9th
Fancy frames squares - Sunny Studio

Other ingredients;
Sentimental dies - Avery Elle (not stocked at DtDF any more)
Devoted 6x6 paper pad - Carta Bella

Vintage floral heart

Hello lovely people,

This past week I have not got a huge amount done, mainly because I have been glued to the Paralympics any chance I get; what amazing athletes and so many fantastically exciting events to watch.  Team GB also seem to be doing pretty well ;-)

I did drag myself away though to tell you about the new challenge at In The Pink and this time we have a photo inspiration for you...

There's loads to inspire you here from the gorgeous vintage style to all the pretty embellishments but don't forget we want to see more pink than any other colour!

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

I finally got around to decorating another MDF heart and it's just a dinky one at approximately 8cm square.  I painted just around the edges with white acrylic paint, then covered both the front and back with DP, sanded the edges and sponged a little ink round it.

I did the sentiment on my computer, using a well known quote and mixing up 2 fonts for what I hoped was a stylish look!

I cut all the flowers on my Cricut, so I could make lots of different sizes for variety, and of course, I had to add some pretty pearls and lace :-)

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.

I hope your week is going well and you know the weekend is not far away now!

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

Card recipe;

DP: Scraps from various Maja Design collections (available from Live and Love Crafts)

Flowers: Cut with Cricut (Create a Critter cartridge)
Twine: Ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl
Lace: 8mm 'Rebecca' ivory vintage style fine scallop lace - The Ribbon Girl

Dies: Bloomers greenery - Taylored Expressions

Just my type

Hello lovely people,

I'm busy busy with some custom orders at the moment; isn't it nice to be in demand?!

So, I'm just popping in really quickly with a cute little Valentine's Day card.

The typewriter image (now sadly unavailable) came with some individual pages with sentiments on and also a blank page image, so I chose a typewriter style font to add my own text to the blank page image, cut it out and put a thin foam pad underneath the top.

I was then able to use the same font for the word labels underneath so it's all nicely co-ordinated :-)

Card recipe;

Image: retired digi from Pink Petticoat

DP: A gift for you - Maja Design (available from Live and Love Crafts)

Twine: Ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl

Dies: Notebook edge die - Clearly Besotted
Paperclip: from stash

Sentiment: done on computer (font: Travelling typewriter)

Copic colours;
Main body of typewriter: W00/0/1/2/3
Darker details on typewriter: W3/5/7
Hearts: R46/59

I hope you all have a good week :-)

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,

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)

I {heart} sewing

Hello lovely people,

Hmmm, I wish the weather would make up it's mind; one minute I'm in shorts and the next I'm popping the heating back on!
At least all the pretty flowers in the garden are doing well and my tomatoes are rocketing away :-)

But you didn't drop by for a weather report and it's time for a new challenge at In The Pink where our theme this time is...

STITCHING

This can be real or faux, it's up to you!

I love to stitch on my cards but thought I'd use the theme in a slightly different way and have a play with an MDF heart to create a sewing themed decoration.

You can't see in the photo but I painted the back and sides of the heart with white acrylic paint and covered the front with pretty paper, which I sanded slightly around the edge.

Then it was the fun part of adding all the little details...the heart is only 8cm across so I managed to get quite a few on there!

I was excited to use one of the teeny wooden bobbins I picked up at the Hobbycrafts show especially when I found just the right shade of thread to wind onto it!

The quote was typed on the computer and printed onto scraps of DP.

Given my love of stitching on my cards it is rather ironic that the stitching isn't real this time but I didn't want anything to stop the DP sticking really nice and flat to the heart.

Heart recipe;

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

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

Seam binding: Pink tulip - The Ribbon Girl
Dies: Timeless rectangles - Spellbinders

Tape measure: freebie stamp with magazine
Pins: Teardrop ivory pearlised pins - The Ribbon Girl
Charm: Silk cord spool - Live and Love Crafts
Buttons / pearls: from stash

I had so much fun decorating this heart and can't wait to do another one!
Maybe a baby or wedding one?

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.
We are also welcoming the lovely and very talented Sue to our DT; you may remember her from her gorgeous guest designer cards and we are delighted to have her on board permanently :-)

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

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)

Something new

Hello lovely people,

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

SOMETHING NEW

Think along the lines of new baby/new home/new job/newly-weds etc. or some new stash or a new technique... there are loads of possibilities!

We are very kindly sponsored by...
Hannah Lynn

with a $10 coupon code

I decided to make a wedding card and as you will see below used a bit of new stash as well.

The cute image qualifies as new stash even though I have had it for a while as this is the first time it has seen ink!

This came out so romantic with the flowers, lace and petty papers don't you think?

This gorgeous metal heart is also new stash and I was happy to find a way to use it that didn't really hide any of it!

Card recipe;

Image: Over the threshold - LOTV

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

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

Twine: Ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl
Lace: 'Faye' - The Ribbon Girl
Metal heart: Love heart clips - Live and Love Crafts

Tag: Sentiment tags - LOTV

Copic colours;
Skin: E000/00/21/11/04 & R20
Hair: E23/25/27
Dress: YR30/E41/blender
Hat / jacket: W7/8/10
Trousers: W5/6/7
Ribbons / hat band: RV93/95/R56
Flowers: RV91/93/95
Leaves: YG61/63
Ground: W00/0/1/2/3/4

I hope you will pop over to Top Tip Tuesday and check out the fabulously creative projects from the rest of the team and an awesome tutorial on creating paper ruffles :-)

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

Challenges I am entering;
1. Bunny Zoe's Crafts (hearts)
2.  Noor! Design UK (with love)
3.  Inky Chicks (anything goes)
4.  Fab 'n' Funky (something new)
5.  Winter Wonderland (show us your metal)

Mother's Day James

Hello lovely people,

I don't know about you but the days off at Easter and then my usual day off yesterday has left me very confused about what day of the week it is right now.
So, in case anyone else isn't sure, it is THURSDAY so that means it's time for a new challenge at Crafty Little Fairies and our theme is...

FURRY FRIENDS

We are sponsored by...

My favourite furry friend has to be the adorable James from LOTV and this is the card I made for my Mum for Mother's Day.  It's a fairly simple design, made before my new stash of flowers arrived, but I  wouldn't have added flowers anyway as it really doesn't need anything else IMHO.

I kept the shading quite light on James and paper pieced the heart adding a different little scrap for the patch.  I wasn't sure how well it would work given the placement of his paws on the heart but a little care with the cutting out and it's all fine!

Card recipe;
Image: James - big heart - LOTV
DP: Vintage autumn basics - Maja Designs
Swirl: Leaf and swirl die - Magnolia Doohickey
Twine: ivory button twine - The Ribbon Girl
Tags: Sentiment tags (set 24 & set 69) - LOTV

Copic colours;
James: E41/42/43/44
Rose: R39/59/89 & YG97/99
Ground: T 0/1/2/3/4

If you pop over to Crafty Little Fairies you can check out the fabulous creations from my teamies.  Don't forget that from next week our challenge goes monthly!

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

Hugs,

Kat xx

Hair that is different

Hello lovely people,

I am running rather late in posting this card for the SC challenge.  You know sometimes you just can't seem to get things to go how you want?  That was me with this card :-(

So, possibly out of frustration with the card, I ended up with quite a plain finish to it but I think it works.  I guess I could add on a sentiment at a later date if needed.  I did really like the double bow though!

I also enjoyed colouring the hair pinky purple even if it's not my best colouring and I added a bit of sparkle to the bottom of the dress and the umbrella although the stuff on the umbrella doesn't show up all that well.

Card recipe;

Image: Let it Rain from Saturated Canary

DP: Maja Design Vintage Spring Basics

Seam binding: from Wild Orchid Crafts

Heart button: made by my sister-in-law

Pearls: from The Hobby House

Copic colours;

Skin: E0000/000/00 & R30

Hair: RV91/93/95

Dress: B0000/000/91

Apron: E81 & YR30

Boots: E81/84/87 & YR30 & RV69

Umbrella: B0000/000

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges;
1.  Saturated Canary (hair that is different)
2.  Papertake Weekly (anything goes)

Today was clearly not going to be my day as I also missed the delivery of my new craft goodies because I was out with Dr Hubby collecting rather a lot of wood.  He is currently in the garden making a seriously over-engineered but hugely impressive compost bin with 3 bays for compost!  And I will have to wait until Friday for my craft bits to be re-delivered :-(

Thanks for visiting,

Hugs,
Kat xx