ART IMITATING LIFE

Allsorts DT Wk 143 Your Choice

2012-02-25T08:00:00.001Z

Hi everyone, (and a special shout out to my new followers - great to have you here!)

This week at

we are giving you one last shot at

Your Choice

of creation, so let loose with the imagination, I have been blown away the last few weeks with so many different styles, creations and simply stunning projects that so many of you have made.....I couldn't believe we had over 500 entries last week, and the diversity was amazing!

My offering this week is an altered frame that had seen better days and was ready for the bin. However after sanding it back a little and adding some craft stash inside and out, it was transformed!

Used Tim Holtz Flourish die, WOC flowers and such a sweet Tilda (but I've forgotten what she's called!)

The little compartments used to have shells in them but I think you'll agree that they look so much better with craft stash!

It's on the wall next to my craft desk now, full of my favourite embellies!

I can't wait to see what you all create this week, check out Allsorts challenge blog for the rest of the DT's amazing inspiration and have a wonderful weekend/week ahead!

Hugs,

Allsorts Wk 142 Free and Easy February Part 3

2012-02-18T11:09:00.001Z

Hi everyone, back again as promised for my creation for

Allsorts

this week, who are on their third week of

Free and Easy February.

When put like that you realise just how quickly the month is passing!

I have a few different projects on the horizon coming up that I will be showing you over the next few weeks, starting with this shadow box card:

I cut the aperture using Nesties Lacey squares, the edges are the trusty Magnolia Doo Hickey Antique lace, the sentiment cloud and heart swirl branch are also Doo Hickey's and the grass inside is cut using my newest Doo Hickey! Didn't notice quite how many I had used until I had to list them lol!

I masked Tilda loves flowers with Tilda's heart flowers, both from the latest Sweet Crazy Love collection, coloured with TH DI's. I added gel pen to the heart flower and gems to give it that extra bling!

The flowers are mainly WOC with a couple of blue Marianne Creatables rolled flowers.

This is the back of the card, with plenty of room to write a message. The papers used were: two different patterns from Basic Grey Out of Print, and Basic Grey Kraft.

Challenges I would like to enter:

TOMIC - 3 papers,2 embellishments,1 image (The third paper is on the back so remove my entry if it doesn't qualify)

Sir Stampalot - In the Garden

Bunny Zoe's - Celebrations

Thanks so much for popping by, I love reading your comments as they are the highlight of my day. I look forward to seeing your blogs this week as there are so many uber talented ladies out there that keep me inspired, I hope I inspire someone out there too!

Check out Allsorts blog for the usual challenge details and all the other gorgeous DT inspiration.

Have a wonderful weekend....

Hugs,

The Liebster Award x

2012-02-18T10:16:00.000Z

I do have an Allsorts card to show you today as well, but first I thought I would show you the award I received yesterday from my lovely blogging friend Sara - check out her blog if you get the chance as her work is outstanding! - thanks Sara, the recognition means so much and I was honored that you picked lil ole me lol!

Liebster Award-

It is given to blogs with less than 200 followers and passed from Blogger to Blogger, each hand picked by the previous recipient. This award is not given lightly and takes much thought as to who will receive it. There is a history to the Liebster Blog Award- it originated in Germany and means dearest or beloved, and Liebe is the word for love.

When one accepts the award they agree to:

Thank the person who gave them the award and link back to that person’s blog

Copy and paste the award to their blog

Reveal the next 5 blogs they have chosen to receive the award, commenting on their blog to break the happy news!

And lastly, hope the artists nominated will do the above and keep the award going by accepting and awarding “The Liebster Blog Award” to 5 special bloggers that they too would like to honor.

My nominees to forward this award to are:

Jill http://jills-scrapping.blogspot.com

Tina http://tinchyustvarja.blogspot.com

Pami http://pamiscraftycreations.blogspot.com

Paola http://myhandmadeexpressions.blogspot.com

Jane http://janesboxofcolours.blogspot.com

Scroll up for my latest Allsorts offering!

Hugs,

Wk 141 Allsorts DT Free and Easy February pt2

2012-02-12T13:29:00.000Z

Scroll down for my Fussy and Fancy creation from yesterday

The
Allsorts
challenge this week is
Free and Easy February week 2.

Hi all,

another late post...... sorry everyone, I've been so busy this week preparing for a direct observation I had at preschool on Thursday as part of my Level 3 Childcare course, and on top of that I've had a really nasty cold which knocked me back for a couple of days... anyhoo the upshot is that I didn't get any productive crafting done this week, but instead of having to miss a week of my beloved DT for Allsorts I have a couple of show and tellcards for you from an SU class I went to a while back.

I love the CAS style of them as it's usually an area I struggle with, so I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to show something completely different from what I usually do. I hope you like them......

The background was embossed and the image was heat embossed.

The background card was image stamped, layered with SU paper and embossed cardstock. The butterfly was punched out of more SU paper and finished with SU gems.

Take a look at Allsorts challenge blog for details of what you could win and for more gorgeous DT inspiration. Thanks for popping over to check out my blog, take care and see you around blogland this week.

I will be back next week for another Allsorts creation!

Hugs

With all my Heart.... Fussy and Fancy challenge 56

2012-02-10T14:13:00.000Z

Afternoon blogging friends,

Hope the weather isn't disrupting your lives too seriously.

Over at

Fussy and Fancy

today we have a solution to those snow problems.... stay in and join in with our challenge which this time is

With all my Heart

With this in mind I made my husband's Valentine card, not too girly either for once LOL!

It has a bookmark incorporated into it as it was just too hard to keep it very CAS and minimalist!

I used SU Polka dot embossing folder, stitch stamp, and spotty paper.

Love stamp is a Whimsy mini postage stamp.

I used my SU stampamajig to get the positioning just right on the bookmark so that when it is on the card the images line up.

Check out the Fussy and Fancy blog for all the challenge details and the beautiful inspiration that my teamies have made this time round!

I will be back tomorrow with my Allsorts creation, thanks for your continued support and lovely comments which mean so much!

Hugs,

Free and Easy February - Allsorts DT Wk 140

2012-02-04T14:57:00.000Z

Afternoon bloggers!

I can't believe it's Feb already, and

Allsorts

have a

Fab Free and Easy February

for you, so you can make anything your heart desires!

I have made a gift bag to hold a bar of chocolate or stamp set, two great loves of mine!

I originally had the idea to make a gift bag for hubby for V day but it ended up too girlie LOL so it will have to be given to a friend as a birthday present instead!

I paper pieced Be Mine Tilda's outfit and gave her a bunch of flower soft!

Papers are BG Kraft and Magnolia Cloudy purple hearts and Sweet Crazy Love Vintage Turquoise.

A Doo Hickey tag slips behind the image and purposely omitted a sentiment so it could be used for a range of occasions. I ruffled the SU Baja Breeze Seam Binding ribbon.

Other Doo Hickey's used: Heart swirl branch and Antique lace.

Made a concertina frame to create a bag around the Go Kreate shape.

Also used Nesties lacey circles and that fab Labels twenty three that I can't get enough of at the mo.

Challenge I would love to enter:

Just Magnolia #142 Anything Goes (Valentines Optional)

Hope you can join us this week, check out the details of the challenge, prize and other gorgeous DT inspiration over at Allsorts.

Have a lovely weekend and a great week hopefully with plenty of time to craft!

Hugs,

One or more hearts - Allsorts DT Wk 139

2012-01-28T10:17:00.000Z

Hello,

It's Saturday morning and that means a new

Allsorts

challenge hosted this week by our lovely Helene who would love to see you

Use one or more hearts

on your cards or projects, a perfect opportunity to get those Valentine makes out the way early - it's not as far away as you think!

My finished card is a little bit different as it is in two parts. The front rests on a frame and leans back against the 'inside' of the card.

This is what is behind the main card, space to write a message in the middle.

Supplies:

Go Kreate shaped card die plus offcuts from this die

Nesties lacey squares, labels twenty three

SU Photo corner punch plus offcuts from this punch

SU polka dot embossing folder

Papers: Magnolia Cloudy blue hearts and blue foliage, Basic Grey Kraft

Magnolia images - two new images I was really lucky to win from Magnolia - Tilda with heartchain and Edwin with stolen heart from the new Sweet Crazy Love collection

Magnolia tree stamp

Magnolia Doo Hickey Antique lace

Challenge I would like to enter:

Magnolialicious Highlites - Valentine project

All the details of the challenge can be found on Allsorts main challenge blog along with the rest of the DT's gorgeous inspiration for you! I haven't been a very good blogging friend lately and haven't had much chance to visit anyone's blog because my college work has been taking up all my time and stressing me out! However that has nearly come to an end and I now have a much nicer time consumer - an 8 week Boxer puppy called Cocoa!

Have a lovely weekend,

hugs,

Needles and pins - Allsorts DT Wk138

2012-01-21T17:26:00.000Z

Hello everyone,

I'm really late with my

Allsorts

card today, but better late than never!

The challenge, chosen this week by our lovely Jo is

Needles and Pins.

This theme made me think of safety pins so I made a baby card.

The safety pin holds some mini SU tags with 'hello baby' sentiment and two baby shoe charms. I ruffled the ribbon and stuck a sparkly button to the centre of the bow.

The card shape is Go Kreate die. Papers are Magnolia Sweet Rainbow Pink Plaid, BG Hopscotch and My Minds Eye Kraft Funday Everyday and the layers are shaped with Nesties lacey circles and Labels 23. The cotton scrim I popped under the layers was given to me by my lovely friend Fleur (thanks hun x)

The cute Greetings Farm image called Snuggle is coloured with TH DI's and her dress, hairbows and bunny are paper pieced.

The outer layers are paper pierced and randomly stitched using embroidery thread.

The big pink flower was part of the prize I was lucky enough to have won from TOMIC and the turquoise flower is made from a Marianne Creatable die.

I kept the inside CAS :

As I was finishing this card I thought I could have made a pin cushion to follow the theme too but it was too late by then, that's one for the future, watch this space Lol! Maybe someone will have time to make one and enter our challenge with it.....

Please pop over to the Allsorts blog for all the details of the challenge and prizes up for grabs, where the rest of the DT have some gorgeous creations for you.

Have a lovely weekend, and I look forward to getting round a few blogs this week....

Hugs,

Celebration of Nations - Allsorts DT Wk 137

2012-01-14T08:00:00.002Z

Morning blogland,

I'm here to show you my card for

Allsorts

challenge hosted this week by yours truly and the theme is........

Celebration of Nations!

I made this card with not just the Olympics in mind, but also as a celebration of my home nation, Great Britain!

I used my new Nestie Labels Twenty Three and Gymnastics Tilda with ribbon from the winner takes all collection.

The sentiment is a Whimsy Mini stamp

Although you cant see very well in the photo, the card shape is stepped with the central panel standing proud from the rest of the card.

Hope you like my creation and the other amazing DT inspiration that Allsorts has for you, check out the main blog for all the details of the challenge and what you could win.

Please scroll down to see the card I made for Fussy and Fancy's fortnightly challenge which started yesterday.

Have a fantastic weekend and I will see you next week for more Allsorts fun!

Hugs,

Let It Snow - Fussy & Fancy DT

2012-01-13T20:25:00.000Z

Evening everyone,

Yippee! It's time for another

Fussy and Fancy Friday challenge

and the theme this fortnight is

Let It Snow!
Sorry my post is late, the intention was to finish this post last night and schedule for this morning, but things never go the way you plan do they?!
Anyway, better late than never......
I've made a snow globe card as seen loads about in blogland and thought they look fun to make, and it was LOL! Hope you like it:

Used Nesties Grand Scalloped Circles for the main shape of the card. Tilda with Snow heart was coloured as usual with TH DI's. The 'snow' is flower soft. I tried to make the snow using Puff White Embossing powder but didn't like the effect - maybe I haven't got the knack with it yet. If anyone has a tip for getting good results with this I would love to hear it!!!

Inside the card used the Nestie shape again with some Magnolia paper. The Let it Snow sentiment stamp is so old I can't remember where I got it or who makes it (sorry). The sequins were 'spares' for a top I bought!

Layered the image between Magnolia and SU papers and acetate, and used Magnolia's Doo Hickey Spruce tree and Heart Swirl Branch.

Hop across to the Fussy and Fancy blog where you can find all the challenge details and the rest of the beautiful DT inspiration!

I would like to enter

Magnolia Down Under - Anything Goes

Have a wonderful weekend, and I will be back tomorrow with my Allsorts creation

Hugs,

Allsorts DT Wk 136 Paper Piecing

2012-01-07T09:42:00.000Z

Hi everyone hope you are all well, I'm here to share my card for

Allsorts

this week, following Brenda's fab challenge of

Paper Piecing

which is a technique that's a particular favourite of mine.

I used stardust stickles on the flowers, heart swirls, button and fence for lots of added glitter, the opaque paper cut into a beaded oval has glitter spots too.

Supplies:

Go Kreate card die

Magnolia Tilda with Winter flowers

Magnolia Doo Hickeys - Lovely Fence, Heart Swirl branch, Antique Lace, Doily

SU and Magnolia papers

Marianne Creatable flowers

SU Mini tags stamps, scallop punch, Thank you sentiment

Ivory flower soft

Nesties beaded oval

Magnolia White chandelier

Challenges I would like to enter:

TOMIC - Sketch and colour combo: Blue, white and glitter

Bunny Zoe's - Fancy Folds

Totally Tilda - Thank you

Magnolialicious Highlights - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting my blog and maybe leaving a comment, hope you get the chance to join in with the Allsorts challenge this week, check out the main challenge blog for all the details, what you could win, and the fab DT inspiration. Have a lovely weekend and I will be back next week with a couple more creations
Hugs,

Love and Hearts - GDT Penny Black and more Allsorts

2012-01-01T20:19:00.000Z

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my followers!

Wow, the first day of 2012 is nearly over and it almost passed me by completely after a rather enthusiastic Celebratory New Years Eve last night at my brother and sister-in-laws! Ooops, have to admit I had a few too many to drink and have felt under the weather for much of today! But it was a fantastic night and had a really good time so I suppose it was worth it LOL!

Just wanted to share a card with you today that I did for

Penny Black and more @ Allsorts

as it was my turn to guest design for them and the theme.....

Love and Hearts,

gave me a break from the Christmas cards!

Supplies:

Penny Black image- Love Nip

Go Kreate shaped card die

SU DP's

Nesties Lacy Circles

Pink stickles

Whimsey Mini postage stamp sentiment

gems, flower, brad, ribbon and pin from stash

Thanks for popping by to visit me, your comments are always appreciated, and let me take this opportunity to welcome my newest followers, will be hopefully visiting plenty of you this coming week to see what new projects you are all up to.

Be sure to check out the challenge over at Penny Black and more @ Allsorts for all the details, and the gorgeous inspiration from the fab DT.

Hope your new year is filled with health, craft and happy times!

Love,

New Beginnings - Allsorts DT Wk 135

2011-12-31T08:00:00.001Z

Wow, it's the last day of the year, doesn't the time fly when you're having fun! That's definitely how I can describe the time I spend crafting and blogging - I have made some fantastic friends and met some extremely talented ladies and I can't bear to think of my life without my blog now as it has introduced me to a whole new world where the people are just amazing. I've been lucky enough to be welcomed on to two fabulous design teams this year, which I never thought would be possible, and I'm loving what I do for those challenge blogs - Thanks Allsorts and Fussy and Fancy for giving me the opportunity to design for you, giving my work direction, and meeting loads more talented crafters along the way!

Anyway, onto the main reason for this post:

Allsorts

are about to see out the old 2011 and welcome in the new 2012 with a brand new challenge

New Beginnings.
Please pop over to the Allsorts challenge blog for all the details and the other amazing DT inspiration!

I chose to make a wedding card as I don't think I've ever made one before! Hope you like it.......

I heat embossed the word 'Bliss' ontowhite cardstock to tuck behind the matted image.

Supplies:

Go Kreate shaped card die

Magnolia Antique lace Doo Hickey and Sweet Rainbow Dark Pink Flowers Paper

Nesties Labels two

LOTV image coloured with TH DI's

SU stitch stamp, Bliss sentiment, Polka dot embossing folder

Flowers, hearts/ring charm, ribbon and bling from stash

Wishing you all a very Happy and Peaceful New Year,

see you tomorrow when I will show you my guest design card for Penny Black and More @ Allsorts.

Love,

Fussy and Fancy DT Challenge number 53 - Happy Birthday to Us/Use animal print

2011-12-30T08:00:00.002Z

Morning blogland,

This fortnight's

Fussy and Fancy

challenge will see out 2011 and welcome in 2012 with the theme

Happy Birthday to Us/Use an animal print!

and this is what I created:

The image is LOTV - coloured with TH DI's

SU photo corner punch, beveled frame (for the sentiment)

Nestie lacy squares

Flowers, gems, buttons, lace all from stash

Paper - SU and was given the animal print paper so don't know where to get it from :(

Pop along to the Fussy and Fancy challenge blog for all the details and all the fab DT inspiration!

xxxx

I hope you all had a fab Christmas, mine was hectic but lovely - it can't be any other way with three young children who are all professionals in the art of unwrapping things! Anyway, lets just say Father Christmas didn't disappoint and the big day relieved a lot of tense anticipation that had built up in the week leading up to Christmas Day, all that waiting was getting a bit too much for three over excited kids! I must have been a good girl this year as I got this:

which is amazing as it means I now have a crafting station and I won't have to trail all my stash from one room to another and back again!

I would just like to thank everyone who has supported me this year, I have made some fantastic crafting friends and hope to make many more in 2012!

Enjoy your day and I will be back again tomorrow with my

Allsorts DT creation.

Love,

Allsorts DT Blue and Brown Wk 134

2011-12-17T10:48:00.000Z

Morning everyone,

Hope all your christmas plans are going to schedule, I've got what will probably be my last Christmas creation to show you today....I've made a tree decoration for

Allsorts' new challenge

which will run for a fortnight over the festive period. Our wonderful hostess, and my best friend Fleur, has come up with a colour challenge of

Blue and Brown.

I ran out of inspiration for the third side of the 'bauble' as I was trying to work on it late one night, I think I might add a Christmas recipe to it now I've had chance to live with it and decide what it was lacking!

Supplies:

Nestie beaded ovals

TH Swirl Die

Magnolia flag, vintage tag, mini doily dies

Marianne Creatable Flower Die

Magnolia Tilda hiding gift, coloured with DI's

Challenge I would like to enter:

TOMIC - make a Christmas decoration

Please find all the details of this challenge, and prizes to be won, on the Allsorts challenge blog. Check out the other fab DT work for more inspiration!

Thanks for popping by, your comments mean so much and keep me going!

Have a magical Christmas and although I probably wont have anything new to show you for a fortnight I will definately be catching up on a whole heap of comments!

Love,

Monochrome and Sparkle No.52 Fussy and Fancy DT

2011-12-16T07:44:00.001Z

Morning blogland!

Just listening to sleeps till Santa on the radio - only nine to go! I dont know who's more excited me or the kids, LOL!

This fortnight,

Fussy and Fancy

have another fab challenge for you - Monochrome plus sparkle!

I cut an aperture out of the front of the card using a nestie lacey square, tied a tag to the top made using a beaded oval nestie and Tilda with snow heart, coloured using TH DI's.
Blue flowers made using Marianne Creatable Die and swirls are Magnolia's Heart Swirl Branch.

The frame for a personal message was made using the lacey square nestie again. I used Magnolia paper Sweet Flurry blue for the bottom panel and not sure what the name of the embossing folder is.

All the details of the challenge are on the Fussy and Fancy blog. Hope you find time to join us this fortnight - take a look at the other amazing DT work for inspiration : )

I will be back in the morning with my creation for Allsorts......

Love,

Allsorts DT Wk 133 Take Two

2011-12-10T10:29:00.000Z

Morning everyone,

Welcome to a new

Allsorts

challenge, set this week by our lovely Brenda, who would like you to

Take Two

colours only for your cards and projects.

I made a box-frame front for my card, using concertina strips of card.

Supplies:

Paper: Magnolia Sweet Rainbow - Dark Pink Foliage

Magnolia Tilda with Winter flowers coloured using TH DI's, sentiment also Magnolia

Doo Hickeys used: Lovely Fence, Spruce tree, antique lace, heart swirl branch

Magnolia White chandelier

Framed Tilda using nesties lacy square

Flowers from stash, and rolled some using Marianne creatable die

A peek at the dimension and inside of my card, where I used more pink Magnolia paper and the reverse frame cut from nesties lacey squares.

Thanks for taking a look, hope it inspires you to have a go at using only two colours, take a look at Allsorts challenge blog for all the details, what you could win, and further inspiration from my fab DT teamies.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love,

Going Round in Circles - Allsorts DT Wk 132

2011-12-03T10:07:00.001Z

Happy Saturday everyone,

Back again today,as promised, with another fun

Allsorts

challenge. This week Debs is our lovely hostess and she has set the theme

Going Round in Circles!

Lots of scope for this one, I was spoilt for choice, and in the end went for a bauble that I dug out of the Christmas trimmings bag!

It was really quick to make and is already on my tree!

I brayered the background, then overstamped with an SU Christmas sentiment stamp.

Coloured Tilda with Snowheart using DI's, cut her out and mounted her on background with dimensionals. Added ivory flower soft to her hat and inside the bauble loosely to look like snow around her feet, and finished it all off with a big bow and flowers.

Please take a look at the Allsorts challenge blog where you will find all the details of this week's challenge, prize up for grabs and amazing DT inspiration.

Scroll down to see my creation for Fussy and Fancy DT from yesterday.

Thanks for popping by, your comments mean so much. I will be having some candy soon to celebrate over 100 followers, so watch out for that hopefully in the next week or two.

Have a truly fantastic weekend

Love,

Fussy and Fancy Friday DT No.51 Photo Inspiration

2011-12-02T11:33:00.000Z

Hi fellow bloggers,

Sorry I'm a bit late with this fortnight's DT creation for

Fussy and Fancy,

my OH is off work and everything has gone out of the window. I'm not saying my life is the most organised at the best of times but he definitely throws a spanner in the works!

Anyhoo, I digress, here is my take on the fab Christmassy

Photo inspiration

we have to get you in the festive mood - well it is the 2nd of December today - eeeek! (As my son would say!)

Sad to say this isn't one of my favourite creations as I left it a bit late to start it, hence the tree looks a bit bare! If I'd had more time I would have done more to it but you get the general idea......

I just made a few little boxes and covered them in Christmassy paper, ties up with SU Linen thread. The 'snow' is ivory flower soft. The tree is made up of layers of strips of doo hickey cut card.

Tilda's used are from the Sweet Christmas collection - Sitting Tilda with Teddy and Tilda hiding gift, coloured as ever with DI's.

Please take a look over at the Fussy and Fancy challenge blog for full details of the challenge, prize to be won, and where my fab DT buddies have some stunning inspirational creations for you! Enjoy whatever you are doing this weekend and I will be back tomorrow with my new Allsorts challenge project to show you.

Take care,

love,

Allsorts DT Wk 131 Pennants/Bunting

2011-11-26T09:36:00.000Z

Good morning blogland,

I'm just back off my holiday and straight into a new

Allsorts

challenge, hosted this week by lovely Helene, who would like to see

Pennants/Bunting

on your projects.

A little piccie to show dimension and a bit of sparkle:

Supplies:

LOTV image coloured using TH DI's

Nesties labels two, lacey circle

Go Kreate shaped card die

Magnolia paper: Sweet Christmas Dreams - Vintage Hellebores/Vintage Holly and doo hickey flag

SU sentiment and linen thread

Ribbon, gems,flowers from stash

Stardust Stickles

Challenges:
LOTV - Anything Goes

You can find all the details of the challenge and the prizes to be won over at Allsorts, along with the rest of the DT fab inspiration! Have an amazing weekend......

Love,

Another Christmas card! Allsorts DT Wk 130

2011-11-19T08:00:00.001Z

Morning bloggers, another quick post and another Christmas creation!

Allsorts

challenge this week is to go for just

One Layer

to your cards!
Hope you like what I've done with mine. I tried the Spotlight technique that I have seen so much lately around blogland. Had great fun with it and am pretty pleased with the end result.

Close up of some of the sparkle, although a lot of the stickles isn't showing up in the photo!

Challenges I would like to enter:

Bunny Zoes - Anything Christmas with Pearls (Large white flower has pearls)

Truly Scrumptious- Christmas and pearls

See main Allsorts blog for full details of challenge and prize to be won plus last week's winner/Top 5 picked by little ole me!

Hope this and the other fab DT work inspires you to create something with a single layer this week.

Scroll down to see my DT creation for Fussy and Fancy this week, and have a wonderful weekend! I must apologise in advance for no commenting from me this coming week as I am away on holiday with no internet access, can't wait to catch up with you when I get back!

Love,

Christmas Cracker - No. 50 Fussy & Fancy DT

2011-11-18T08:00:00.001Z

Happy Friday blogland!

Quick posts are the order of the day at the moment as busy getting ready to go on holiday next week, got so much to do I shall need a holiday to recover! So without further ado, this fortnight's challenge for

Fussy and Fancy

is to Make a Gift/Anything but a card.

As I am keeping the pressure on myself to make as many things for Christmas as time allows, I have made a Christmas Cracker:

Got the template here.

Papers are Magnolia Sweet Christmas Dreams - Holly Christmas Song

Magnolia image - Tilda hiding Gift coloured with TH DI's

Tied a bell to the tag

Sentiment is Forever Friends

See Fussy and Fancy main blog for full details of challenge and prizes to be won.

Hope you find time to join in with this challenge, visit my teamies blogs for more gorgeous inspiration and will be back tomorrow with this week's Allsorts creation!

Love,

Santa Edwin and his little helper! Allsorts DT Wk 129 Black/White plus One

2011-11-12T08:52:00.000Z

Morning sweet blogging friends,

Hope you are all ready for another
Allsorts
challenge. I's my turn to host this week and I hope you enjoy playing along with the theme I've thought of which is
Black and White plus one other colour.
My mission is to make as many Christmas projects as I can for the next few DT challenges that I have to get done, killing two birds with one stone! No matter who's turn it is to host the challenge I always give 110% but thought I was going to let myself down this week. However, I eventually pulled myself together and managed to create this double shutter Christmas card, I must apologise now for the number of pics but one photo doesn't do a card this size justice, so make yourself comfy with a cuppa!

The card, when closed, fits TOMIC's challenge this week of Edwin plus sketch.

Hope you can see the snowflake charm hanging from a button!

The card fully opened out:

Close up of Jolly Tilda on a pile of presents, the torn paper around her is supposed to be a snowdrift but you may have to stretch the imagination for that one!

A couple of tags on the back for a message:

Supplies:

Magnolia paper - Sweet Christmas Dreams/Sweet Flurry Blue

Magnolia Doo Hickey's - Antique lace/tag, heart swirl branch

Nestie's - lacey circle and labels two

Magnolia stamps - Jolly Tilda, Santa Edwin and Wishful armchair coloured with TH DI's

Sentiment and snowflake stamps from the girl's paperie 'tinsel and twig' clear stamp set (free when I took part in Sir Stampalot's Freebie Friday!)

Challenges:

TOMIC - Edwin plus sketch

Magnolia-licious highlights - Photo inspiration (winter scene)

Allsorts are sponsored this week by:

Full details of challenge and prize can be found on the Allsorts blog, if you have time visit my teamies blogs as they have made some awesome inspiration as always!

Many thanks for taking a look at my creation today, hope to pop by your blogs this week.

Enjoy your weekend and have fun

Love,

Anything but square - Allsorts DT Wk 128

2011-11-05T09:18:00.001Z

Morning all,

Here to kick start your weekend with another

Allsorts

challenge, hosted this week by lovely teamie Jill, who would love to see you create

Anything but a Square.

With so many shaped dies and all you fabulous crafty designers out there, this should be easy peasy! I can't begin to tell you how much fun I had with this one! Thought I would get into the Christmas mood and make a gift basket and I love how it turned out! I used a silver glitter pen on the ends of the cracker but it doesn't show on the photo :(

The back of the basket:

Tied the doo hickey tags on with lace

View of the top of the handle

A side shot to show side panel and double layer handle:

Supplies:

Magnolia Sitting Tilda with Teddy from new Sweet Christmas collection and Christmas Cracker

Magnolia Doo hickey Antique lace,doily, heart swirl branch and tag dies

Magnolia papers - Vintage Holly and Vintage Hellebores 'Sweet Christmas Dreams'

TH DI's

flowers, brads and lace from stash

Allsorts are sponsored this week by

with 6 digi's up for grabs!

Challenges I would love to enter:

TOMIC - Create a basket

Just Magnolia -Anything goes
Bunny Zoes - Lace it up

Can't thanks you enough for all your wonderful comments, they make my day. Be inspired by my teamies creations this week over at the Allsorts challenge blog and enjoy your weekend whatever you end up doing!

Scroll down for this week's Fussy and Fancy creation :)

Love,

Be Thankful/Feature a Sentiment - Fussy & Fancy DT No.49

2011-11-04T14:05:00.001Z

Hi there,

The week's are flying by, aren't they? I can barely keep track, these fortnightly challenges for
Fussy and Fancy
seem to be rushing past so fast! I can't believe we are onto yet another challenge which this time is
Be Thankful/Feature a Sentiment.
I have to admit, I really didn't know where I was going to go with this one, but I did the image a while back and didn't want it to go to waste so that was my starting point and it just flowed from there!

I used SU Linen thread for the kite's string, paper pieced Tilda's jeans and masked Tilda with the rainbow background.

Supplies:

Go Kreate shaped card die

Nesties Lacey circles

Magnolia Dp's, Doo Hickey Heart Swirl Branch, Sweet Rainbow Tilda with Kite and Magnolia rainbow background stamp

SU sentiment, stitch stamp and linen thread

Fussy and Fancy are sponsored this time by

Thanks for stopping by and will be back again in the morning with my latest Allsorts creation

Love,

Allsorts DT Wk 127 Christmas Easel

2011-10-29T09:36:00.000+01:00

Morning all,

It's Saturday again and that can only mean one thing, a brand new

Allsorts

challenge. This week Emma wants to see your gorgeous

Christmas Easel cards,

I know there are going to be some wonderful creations!

Well, I just had to make a double twisted easel as I have so much fun making these.

Supplies:

Go Kreate card die

Nesties Beaded ovals

Magnolia Tilda on Christmas Ornament, Sneaky Tilda and Loving Christmas wishes ticket stamps

Magnolia Doo Hickey tag and Doily

TH Swirl die and Distress inks

SU christmas decorative stamps

Some paper and brads - Papermania

This week's sponsor is:

offering a fab card kit as a prize!

Challenge to enter:

Just Magnolia: Merry Christmas

Thanks for popping by and all your amazing comments last week, they mean such a lot! Got a lot of blogs I want to visit this week, hopefully I will visit you! Check out the Allsorts blog for the DT's gorgeous inspiration

and hope you find time to craft. Whatever you are up to this weekend, have a good one!

Love,

Something wicked this way comes! Allsorts DT wk 126 - Halloween!

2011-10-22T09:55:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

back as promised with today's

Allsorts

DT creation. This week it's hosted by my best buddy Fleur who chose a very popular theme:

Halloween!

I decided to make a step card to create some depth and add to the spookiness! Modified the Magnolia tree by cutting off the blossoms and just leaving the few leaves.

Just had to include a close up of that fab sentiment, tucked some tumble dryer sheet behind the layers, so it smells nice if nothing else!

Supplies:

Nesties Lacy circles

Magnolia Doo hickey Antique lace, heart swirl branch

Magnolia stamps: Flying witch Tilda, Moon and Bats, Owl, tree coloured with TH DI's

Prickley Pear Clear pumpkin stamp set - Sentiment

SU papers

Marianne Creatables Flower

other flowers, gems, cardstock from stash

SU photo corner punch

Two chances to win this week as Allsorts are sponsored by

offering a $15 voucher!

and

offering a $10 voucher!

Challenges to enter:

Totally Tilda - Halloween Tilda

Divas by Design - Something Spooky

Stampavie and more - Halloween

Thanks for taking a look, hope it inspires you. Remember to visit my teamies for more inspiration, enjoy your weekend and see you next week!

Love,

3 B's Black, Border Punch and Bling - Fussy and Fancy DT

2011-10-21T08:00:00.001+01:00

Hi everyone!

I have a sickness bug free household at last! Hurrah! Thanks to everyone who wished us well, it didn't keep us down for long!

Today's brand new challenge over at

Fussy and Fancy is

Black, Border Punch and Bling!

I had such fun with this one and came up with this twisted easel:

Click on images to enlarge.

Shot of card closed:
Our lovely sponsors Bugaboo let me use their Flower Bears image: Poppy so I printed Poppy bear digi off three times, coloured with distress inks and decoupaged.

Photo of both decorated sides:

Although the photo isn't too clear, I did put glossy accents on the bear's nose and teeny heart on his foot.

A closer look at sentiment and bling:

Supplies:
Bugaboo image - Flower Bears: Poppy
Martha Stewart round the page punches
BG papers
LOTV sentiment
SU Gems
TH DI's
SU Scallop punch
Magnolia Doo Hickey's Antique lace and heart swirl branch
Flowers, cardstock and ribbon from stash
Hobby Art clear set - Just for You 'Grass' stamp
Nesties labels 2

Fussy and Fancy are sponsored this time by
Bugaboo offering a whopping 7 digis!
and Love to Stamp are giving away a $15 voucher!
Such fab prizes, I wish I could enter!!!LOL

Thanks so much for visiting me and your sweet comments that make my day! Enjoy your weekend and I hope you find time to create, maybe even enter our challenge. Pop over to my teamies blogs as they all have some gorgeous creations to share with you, I ll catch you tomorrow with my next Allsorts DT project.

Love,

Allsorts DT week 125 Lavender and Lace

2011-10-15T11:35:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Not had a brilliant end to the week as on Thursday, I had to pick up my middle son,Callum, from school as he had been sick. Then Friday morning Jasmine woke up with a temperature, took her to the doctors and she has an ear infection. She didn't like the antibiotics and they made her sick! Never rains but it pours is the phrase that springs to mind!

I have my

Allsorts

DT card for you at the start of another weekend, this week hosted by the lovely Brenda, who has thought of the fab theme of

Lavender and Lace!

Stuck to CAS for this one, embossed the backing cardstock and printed off and coloured the digi image three times then made a pyramage feature. This is a Passion for Stamps image which I have been lucky enough to work with and I had a lot of fun with it!

Supplies:

Go Kreate -XL Frilly Frames die

Stylised Flowers Cuttlebug embossing folder

Magnolia Doo hickey Antique lace

cardstock and lace from stash

Whimsy stamps mini postage stamp

A Passion for Stamps Orchid image

Allsorts sponsor this week is:

offering a fab four images of choice for the prize!

Sorry this post is late, I have been unfortunate enough to pick up the bug that Callum came home from school with and feeling really poorly at the mo! :(

Thanks so much for visiting me and for your lovely comments, love you all!

See you next week for more Fussy and Fancy, and Allsorts creations! Have a great weekend x

Love,

Allsorts DT Wk 124 - Show us your Bears

2011-10-08T09:48:00.000+01:00

Morning everyone,

Another Saturday, another

Allsorts

challenge, this week hosted by our lovely Debs who wants you to

Show us your Bears!

What a great theme, so dig out your best bear images and create something fab! I made a covered post-it-note pad:

I made a frame for the post-it pad to sit in and my image is the front cover of the pad:

This is a view of the covered bottom of the project:

Supplies:

Bo Bunny Forever Fall paper pad

Magnolia Doo Hickey Heart Swirl branch

Nesties Blossom

LOTV image coloured with TH DI's

ribbon and flowers from stash

Allsorts have a new sponsor this week:

offering a fabby prize of:

and our wonderful Guest Designer, Jo Channon has given us this as an additional prize for someone:

Thanks for popping by and taking a look, and for all your lovely comments! Hope you find time to craft and have a really great weekend, scroll down to see yesterday's Fussy and Fancy halloween creation, and I will hopefully get round many of you this week as I have neglected my blogging buddies just lately! It's a case of too much to do and too few hours to do it all in, LOL!

Love,

Fussy and Fancy DT Challenge 47 Fall or Halloween

2011-10-07T11:58:00.001+01:00

Happy Friday to all my fellow bloggers, it's time for another

Fussy and Fancy

challenge and you have a choice of either

Fall or Halloween

projects to make. I'm really into these themes at the moment and had difficulty choosing which to do so sort of combined the two!

First I made a pumpkin out of strips of orange card, distressed and inked, held together top and bottom with a coupleof Nesties Blossoms.

I brayered the background scene using distress inks Black Soot and Wild Honey, masking a moon and adding a halloween stamped image from Prickley Pear Pumpkin stamp set. The stamped pumpkin that you can just see behind Tilda is also part of the same clear stamp set. The leaves at Tilda's feet are a Shapeabilities die.

I decided to keep Bat Tilda monochrome for added effect, coloured using DI's.

and a view of the back of the pumpkin:

The finishing touches were a plastic spider, ripped tumble dryer sheets for cobwebs and some autumnal leaves out of my garden!

Fussy and Fancy are sponsored this week by

offering 3 digis as a prize!

I would like to enter the following challenge:

TOMIC - Halloween/Everything but a card

Hope you can join us over at Fussy and Fancy this week, and if you get the chance to visit my teamies blogs you wont be disappointed as they have created some fab projects as ever this week.

I will be back tomorrow with a new Allsorts DT creation.

Love,

Allsorts DT Wk 123 - Use more than 5 Flowers

2011-10-01T08:00:00.001+01:00

Yippee, it's Saturday again, and I am ready for a well earned rest as I have been working hard all week on my Level 3 childcare coursework. I was panicking thinking I wouldn't finish it in time to hand in next Tuesday but I ploughed through it so I've earnt myself some much needed craft R & R!

As it's Saturday it's time to share another

Allsorts

DT card with you, this week the theme is hosted by Helene and she would like to see you

'use at least 5 flowers'

on your cards/projects, easy peasy, I guess everyone does that without even thinking about it, I know I do!

For today's challenge I made a teepee card, based on one I saw made in Magnolia ink magazine No 3 issue this year (I think), Ying made a mini one, using cardstock 3"x3". I made mine using 6"x6" cardstock.

On the first side I hung a pumpkin charm off one of the Tim Holtz flowers:

A little bit of paper piecing going on with this Tilda.
I made a garland of flowers to sit over the top of the teepee as it looked a bit bare around the top section.

Supplies:

Magnolia Tilda gathering Straws, Tilda with sunflower and Tilda picking mushrooms

Magnolia Doo HickeyTag die

SU corner photo punch

Bo Bunny - Forever Fall 6"x6" paper pad, BG Hopscotch paper pad

Hobby Art Just for you stamps

TH DI's

TH Tea Dye Distress stickles

TH idea-ology foliage/leaves/brads

SU acorn stamp

Nestie labels nine

Magnolia DooHickey Heart swirl branch

Prickley Pear Clearly beautiful leaf stamp and sentiment

Flowers, buttons, ribbons from stash

Allsorts' sponsors this week are:

offering 6 digi's of winners choice

and

with this super prize

Hope you can join in the fun this week, you must visit the DT blogs this week as their creations are magnificent! Have a fabulous weekend and see you next week for more Fussy and Fancy and Allsorts creations to show you!

Love,

Allsorts DT - Wk 122 Keep it Simple

2011-09-24T08:00:00.008+01:00

Morning sweet blogging friends,

I'm here with my

Allsorts DT

card for this week which is for Amanda's fab challenge this week of

Keep it Simple!

It does everyone good once in a while to take it back to basics and go for a minimalist approach. Sorry if this card is following a similar theme to my last post but I made it shortly after the class I went on and still had the techniques fresh in my mind!

The image was first block stamped, then overstamped with text and then my new stamps.....

Supplies: SU Perfect Polka dots embossing folder

TH Distress inks

SU text stamp from Rustic Rooster

Hobby Art Clear stamps - Just for you

SU sentiment

ribbon from stash

Allsorts are sponsored this week by

offering this fantastic prize:

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to have a look at my work, hope you find time to enter our challenge and pop over to the other DT blogs, your support means so much! Have a great weekend,

Love,

Wk 46 Fussy and Fancy DT - Try a New Technique

2011-09-23T08:00:00.001+01:00

Morning blogland,

and welcome to another fortnightly challenge for

Fussy and Fancy Friday!

This time want to see you

Trying a new technique!

I was fortunate to attend one of Brenda's fabulous classes at Sir Stamp-a-lot last Saturday where I learnt a couple of new techniques and the card I have to show you today was from that class.
I'm not sure what the technique is called, something like block/shadow stamping as two distress inks (tattered rose and tea dye) were put on an acrylic block, water spritzed and then pressed onto a piece of water colour paper. Once this was dry, several different stamps were overlayed on top of one another to build up the main panel. The edges and part of the flowers were highlighted with embossing powder. The edges were also inked with DI Tea Dye/Walnut Stain/Vintage photo. (Apologies for the lack of details, I got so carried away that I forgot to write any info. down) The hinges were a die cut down to fit the card size and also heat embossed and gems were added for effect.

Anyone who knows me will not recognise this as my style of card, wot no Tilda?, and no nesties?! I did have loads of fun making this card and the others at the class but I would miss my Maggies too much to completely change direction. I would like to incorporate techniques I learnt though and combine the styles maybe. Watch this space!

Fussy and Fancy's sponsor this time is Meljens designs offering the winner 4 digis!

Thanks for taking a look, hope you find the time to take a look at the other DT work over at Fussy and Fancy sometime soon and maybe have a go at something new yourself! Enjoy your weekend and I will be back tomorrow morning with my Allsorts DT card.

Love,

Week 121 - Alter/recycle Allsorts DT

2011-09-17T08:00:00.001+01:00

Morning all,

Firstly I must apologise for being quiet on the comment front, I love visiting all your blogs to see what you've been creating but it just hasn't happened this week, hopefully things will be back to normal next week! Also welcome to my new followers, I will get round to visiting you, I promise!

What a week I have had! Some of you may remember way back me saying my eldest son had to have a foot operation to remove a blood vessel. This didn't happen when it should have, so we had to take him this Wednesday to Addenbrooks and it finally got done. The nursing staff there were absolutely brilliant and put us all at ease - I think I was more traumatised than Josh, especially when it came to the General Anaesthetic!!!

Needless to say Joshua was extremely brave and is enjoying his week off school and all the attention he's getting from his class mates!

Anyway, on to the real reason for my post: over at
Allsorts
it's my turn to host this week's challenge which is:

Alter or Recycle Something!

Hope you can join in as I really cant wait to see what all you talented crafters do with my theme.

I was so spoilt for choice with this challenge, as I cant bear to throw interesting things away that have crafting potential, that it took me a while to settle on a project, hope you like the end result.

It started it's life as a matchbox:

and ended up becoming a recipe box:

The top of the box:

Inside the box with the recipe cards:

Supplies:

SU paper - Elegant Soiree

SU Perfect polka dots embossing folder

Magnolia Doo Hickey Antique lace and tag die

Small book ring

flowers, ribbons and pearls from stash

Hero Arts self adhesive lace

Magnolia rolling pin and Yummy Tummy Jam Tilda (borrowed from Fleur, thanks hun xx)

Allsorts are sponsored this week by:

offering a Little Darlings rubber stamp of choice!

Challenge I would like to enter:

TOMIC - Chocolate (brown and cream)

Hope you can play along with Allsorts this week, check out the other amazing DT inspiration and have a great weekend!

Love,

Allsorts DT Challenge 120 -Flowers and swirls

2011-09-10T09:00:00.000+01:00

Morning everyone,

It's Saturday again, it comes around so quick, and I have a new DT card for

Allsorts

today to show you.

The challenge this week,

Flowers and Swirls,

has been set by Jill, a fab theme I have to say!
I made this card for Mackenzie, my lovely friend Fleur's, daughter.

Supplies:

Go Kreate shaped card die

Basic Grey sweet threads paper

SU Stitch stamp

Magnolia Antique lace doo hickey

LOTV image

Nestie lacy squares

TH Distress inks

SU Hodgepodge hardware

SU birthday sentiment

gems, flowers, ribbon from stash

SU Linen thread

Allsorts have two sponsors this week:

offering 4 images, and

who have one of their great 'Make a card kits' to win.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Sir Stampalot - It's a frame up

Basic Grey - Celebrations

Thanks for visiting my blog, take a look at the other fab DT work and can't wait to see your creations this week. Enjoy your weekend!

Love,

Back to school with Fussy and Fancy DT

2011-09-09T08:00:00.001+01:00

Morning blogging friends,

It's time for another new fortnightly

Fussy and Fancy challenge.

This time we would love to see your

Back to School creations!

Here's my card, it started off as just an envelope card but turned into a slider card inside too, hope it inspires you to make something for our challenge.

A side/back shot, because I just had to decorate all the sides.

The card open.

The slider pulled up inside.

Supplies:

LOTV school girl image

TH Distress inks

Old dictionary page

Nesties beaded ovals

SU Botanical paper

BG Hopscotch paper

Doo hickey antique lace die

SU grid paper

SU photo corner punch

Whimsy mini postage stamp sentiments

Ribbon and flowers from stash

Fussy and Fancy are sponsored this time by Simply Betty Stamps and you could win 2 clear stamps!!

Thanks for stopping by today, have a great weekend and I hope you have time to enjoy some crafting!

I will be back tomorrow with my Allsorts DT card.

Take care,

love,

Back to school build up

2011-09-04T10:01:00.000+01:00

Happy Sunday morning in blogland :)

Just a quick post today as we are going to Burghley Horse Trials today, as long as it doesn't pour with rain!

I had time to make an extra project this week so made a door/wall hanger. I would say it's for my daughter but technically it should say Back to Preschool as she doesn't start school for another year. Jasmine will definitely love this creation though, she adores Tilda and calls her a little doll!

There is a little bit of pink netting under the image but it is hard to see on the photo unless you click to enlarge.

Because I want to enter my project into TOMIC's challenge this week which is Back to school plus Metal, this photo is a close up of the metal elements I've included - paper clips, protractor charm, staples and book rings.

Supplies:

Go Kreate XL Frilly Frames

Doo Hickey Antique lace die

BG Hopscotch papers

SU Grid paper

Nesties labels 2

Tilda playing hopscotch

TH Distress inks

Ribbon, flowers, letters from stash

Karen Foster - Protractor charm

SU Mini tag stamp

I would also like to enter:
Totally Tilda - Back to school

Thanks for visiting today, enjoy your week and I will be back on Friday with a new project for the next Fussy and Fancy challenge.

Love,

Blues and greens/Allsorts DT wk 119

2011-09-03T09:20:00.000+01:00

Good morning blogland,

I'm here to show you my

Allsorts

card for this week which is following Emma's superb theme of

Blue and Green!

Now, I have to admit that I didn't know where I was going with this one at first and it freaked me out slightly. Don't ask me why because it's one of the easiest challenges, or so I thought until I started and then had a total mental block. I guess we all have those moments when all ideas fly out of the window, just glad they decided to return pretty sharpish! Lol!

A photo of the inside:

A quirky dimensional side shot:

Supplies:
Challenge I would like to enter:

Allsorts sponsors this week are:

offering six digi's!

and we also have a great prize to give to the winner from:

Supplies:
Go Kreate card die
SU, Magnolia and BG papers
Magnolia Doo Hickey Antique lace die
Nesties - lacey circles
Shapeabilities -foliage
Magnolia flowers
SU photo corner punch
Whimsey mini postage stamps
Magnolia Sailor Edwin and Tilda gone fishing
TH Distress inks
ribbon and buttons from stash
Magnolia Doo Hickey Doily

Challenge I want to enter:
Just Magnolia - Anything Goes with Optional extra of Circles

Thanks for popping by, hope you enjoy your weekend - the last one for us before the kids go back to school!

I hope you can join us at Allsorts this week, take a peep at the other DT work for fab inspiration and I can't wait to see your wonderful creations......

Love,

Back to school with Allsorts DT Challenge 118

2011-08-27T08:00:00.002+01:00

Hi blogging friends,

It's Saturday again which means only one thing, another

Allsorts

challenge!! This week Fleur is our hostess and she has chosen the fab theme of

Starting/Back to School!

My take on this was to make a tag scrapbook for my daughter who is going to be doing her final year at preschool this time around and I thought I would take a couple of pictures of her with her little friends as a momento of her early years - she won't remember these precious times when she's older :(

I wanted to enter TOMIC's Recycling challenge this week as I have so much fun with this theme and so I made the tag out of a cardboard tube.

The page was torn out of my son's old dictionary (he doesn't know yet!). The 'Back to school' sign is made out of lollipop sticks and as I didn't have any school Tildas I had to 'borrow' a school bag for her from an LOTV image.

This is what 'raw' materials I started with, cardboard tube, lollipop sticks, dictionary page, napkin and there's Tilda with Butterfly dress stamped out ready to transform into a school girl. The hash marked area is a paper cut out of the LOTV school bag to see if it looked right.

This is the first inside pages, the lined paper on the left is from SU Botanical range and is for a little bit of journalling. On the right hand side I will mount a picture over some of the dictionary page.

The second inside page layout is similar to the first, just with slightly different finishing touches.

And the back page, the napkin was great to distress as it held the crumples nicely but didn't rip.

Supplies: SU Spiral border punch

TH Distress inks

BG Hopscotch 6x6 paper pad

SU Boho blossom punch

Ribbons, pearls and brads from stash

SU Embosslits Beautiful wings die

SU Photo Corner punch

Magnolia Doo Hickey doily die

Challenge I want to enter: TOMIC - Recycling

Allsorts are sponsored this week by regular sponsors

who are offering the winner a set of Aquamarkers!

Thanks for visiting me today, enjoy the rest of your weekend, I hope you will join us at Allsorts and if you have time take a look at the other DT creations - they're gorgeous as ever!

Love,

Fussy and Fancy DT - Challenge 44 a Sketch

2011-08-26T08:00:00.001+01:00

Happy Friday everyone,

It's time for another
Fussy and Fancy
challenge and this fortnight we have a fab sketch for you. As I love easel cards so much I decided to do a step twisted easel - loads of fun!

The original sketch, which I turned upside down, don't ask me why it just ended up that way, Lol!

This is a picture of the card closed:

And a side shot to show the dimension:

A close up of the key charm and one of the cute buttons I used:

Supplies:

Go Kreate shaped card die

Magnolia Doo Hickey Antique Lace die

SU Botanical paper/cardstock

Magnolia Sweet Rainbow Blue Foliage paper

SU photo corner punch

Nestie Lacy Squares

Magnolia Root cellar door, watering can Tilda, and Shabby chic fence stamps

Whimsy mini postage stamps

TH Distress inks

SU Linen thread and pearls

SU Stitch stamp

blue flowers - Magnolia

ribbon, lace, key, other flowers and pins from stash

This fortnight we are sponsored by Sweet 'n' Sassy stamps who are offering the winner 3 digi stamps!!

Check out the other gorgeous DT work for more stunning inspiration

Thanks for popping by and leaving such fab comments

Love,

You've been framed - Allsorts DT challenge 117

2011-08-20T09:50:00.001+01:00

Morning everyone,
I'm here to show you my DT card for

Allsorts

who have a challenge this week of

'You've been framed'

so be sure to include a frame somewhere on your card or project.
We are sponsored by Sir Stampalot this time who are offering the winner 2 Molly Blooms stamps!!

I couldn't wait to ink up my new Tennis Tilda and the frame around her sets her off a treat! This is the first time I've ever done a black and white card, and colouring an image just using different shades of black was fun, I don't know what I was so worried about!

I wanted to use the mesh for a tennis net but didn't want to obscure my Tilda image so decided to tear it in two and make it look like she blasted the ball right through it!

I WON TOP 5 AT TOMIC WITH THIS CARD - YIPPEE!!!!

This is as flat as the card would fold closed because of the big bow, but you can see the white embossed panels better using the stitch stamp all the way round and black inked to edge them. I handmade the flower using Nestie Blossoms, something I very rarely do now as I tend to favour bought flowers.

Supplies:

Magnolia Winner Takes It All Tennis Tilda

SU Polka dot embossing folder

Nesties Lacy squares & blossoms

Whimsy mini postage stamps sentiment

SU In Stitches stamp

Magnolia Doo Hickey Antique Lace

Ribbon, flowers, pearls from stash

Challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Easel cards

Magnolialicious and TOMIC - Black and White/Monochrome

Sir Stampalot - Anything You Fancy

Thanks for popping by and showing your support, the rest of the Allsorts DT have more wonderful 'Framed' inspiration for you!

Love,

Another award and a couple of holiday pics

2011-08-17T23:00:00.000+01:00

Hello friends,

No card tonight, just wanted to share an award that sweet blogging friend Jacki gave me the other day and which I will pass on to a couple of my friends who always return time after time and humour me by leaving such kind and encouraging comments no matter what my work is like! Lol!

Hope you like it guys, I sure appreciate your wonderful comments, they keep me going!

Also got a couple of holiday pics from last week when we went to Kent.

This one is of my children sat on a cannon at Dover castle.

(Front to back: Callum, Jasmine, Joshua)

This one was taken at the Battle of Hastings field.

Take care and I will be back soon with more creations at the end of the week.

Love,

Fussy & Fancy DT - 1000 followers Celebration!!

2011-08-16T10:00:00.000+01:00

Morning fellow bloggers,

Got a quick card to show you today which was made especially to celebrate

Fussy and Fancy Friday's Challenge blog reaching the 1000 follower mark!

Everyone on the DT is thrilled by how popular our challenge blog is becoming and to celebrate we are doing an additional month long challenge for you guys to win some awesome prizes. We have got quite a few sponsors who wanted to help us celebrate, visit our challenge blog for all the details of what you could win.

All you have to do is make a card to celebrate something, it could be a birthday, anniversary, christening, or anything else that you could be celebrating. As an optional extra you could make your card using the Fussy and Fancy banner colours.

Here is my card:

An arty shot of the inside and to show the dimension to the front.

Supplies: SU Sizzix Textured Impressions Perfect Polka Dots Embossing folder

Nesties Labels Two

SU Paper 'Elegant Soiree'

LOTV Image

TH Distress inks

Bo Bunny Brads

SU Baja breeze Seam binding ribbon

Flowers from stash

SU Scalloped oval punch and sentiment

Hope you can join in with the celebrations, can't wait to see what you create!
Here's a reminder of our banner for the optional colour combo:

Pop over to the Fussy and Fancy challenge blog to see what the other DT have created for some more gorgeous inspiration, you have until 16th September to enter!

Thanks for stopping by,

Love,

Allsorts Challenge 116 - Anything but a card

2011-08-13T08:00:00.053+01:00

Good morning friends,

I'm here with my DT creation for Allsorts this week, and it's not a card for a change! As I'm sure those who know me are aware I LOVE 3D makes of any kind and this time I made a cupcake. I originally made it for an Allsorts challenge a while back that some of you will remember was Lemon and Lime (hence the colours!). However I never got to put it in for this challenge, as I had just been asked to be a DT member for them and I wasn't sure how to upload work onto their blog, Jill and I had the option of leaving this challenge and starting with the next week. I knew that my creation would come in handy one day and it has, I wouldn't have had time to make something else before I went away and this fit the challenge perfectly! Hope you like it.....

I ruffled the ribbons and wet scrunched the card to make the layers of the cupcake, securing with brads at random positions.

Tilda is on the top of a tag that slides into the middle of the polystyrene ball for a surprise message.

The challenge this week at Allsorts is

Anything but a card

and we are sponsored by:

offering a $10 voucher!

Pop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see the other DT work for more inspiration and if you have time, visit the other girls blogs as they all do beautiful projects!

Project supplies:

Sizzix Cupcake die

SU cardstock

Magnolia Mini Congratulations Tilda

TH Distress inks

Magnolia Doo Hickey Tag

Ribbons, flowers, brads from stash

3" Diameter Polystyrene ball

Thanks so much for your continued support xx

Love,

Fussy and Fancy DT Challenge 43 - Use a lot (3 or more) of favourite embellishment

2011-08-12T08:00:00.001+01:00

Happy Friday morning,

Here's my card for

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge.

This time we would love to see you use more than 3 of your favourite embellishment on your work! I enjoyed this challenge immensely and I chose to make a tent card this week, another first for me. The only problem I have these days is choosing which style of card /project to do as there are so many gorgeous ones out there! I'm like a

kid in a sweet shop most of the time!

Anyway, enough chit chat.....I had to go with more than 3 papers, images/stamps and flowers as I don't make much without them. The first two are not technically embellishments although they do enhance my cards, so the flowers I guess have to be my ultimate fav embellie! I have added other things I love on the card such as the brad and the dragonfly charm although only one of each as I don't use them on every creation.

A side peek to see the paper piecing on the tree better and the stitches from a new stamp I'm going to adore using!

This fortnight Fussy and Fancy is:

who are offering a $10 gift certificate!!

Check out the other DT work as it's always so inspirational and hope you can join in the fun! I look forward to seeing what everyone's favourite embellie is!

Supplies used for my card:

Basic Grey - Sweet Threads & Curio 6"x 6" paper pads

Magnolia Doo Hickey Antique Lace

Nesties Blossom Die

Magnolia Tree stamp

Magnolia Explore Tilda

SU Stitches Stamp (From Stampin around wheel 'In Stitches') I cut the stamp off the wheel, separated the stitches stamps and mounted on easy mount to use them individually

Whimsy Mini postage stamps

Bo Bunny Brad

TH Distress inks

Dragonfly charm from Bunny Zoes

Thanks for popping by and I would love for you to leave me a comment, they are truly appreciated!

Love,

Allsorts Challenge 115- Make a red card

2011-08-06T08:00:00.002+01:00

Hello fellow bloggers,

I've got a new Allsorts DT card for you this morning, provided Mr Blogger is behaving himself that is! All being well this is a scheduled post as I'm on holiday for a week starting today in Kent.

I don't know why but I thought of a napkin card when I knew what the challenge was going to be for this week. I'd never done one before but I'm pleased with how it came together, it was right up my street in fact as I love creating something different especially with lots of panels to cover and embellish. I googled 'napkin fold card' and this is the link I chose to follow the tutorial.

The challenge this week over at Allsorts

is to Make a RED card,

our sponsers are

offering a $15 voucher!
and

offering 6 digi images of choice!

Take a look at the other DT work for more inspiration, I can't wait to see what you create!

Card supplies used:

SU 12"x12" cardstock

SU DP 'Love Letter'

SU Scallop punch

SU Leaf punch

MS Corner and straight edge punches

Nesties Lacy squares

LOTV Sentiment and image

Magnolia Chandelier Red Garland

TH Distress inks

Gems, flowers and ribbon from stash

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a look, your comments are always appreciated xx

Love,

Allsorts DT Free and Easy

2011-07-30T09:39:00.000+01:00

Hello friends,

I'm here again,

this time with my Allsorts DT card

which is for one more Free and Easy week.

A photo of the front of the card using Whimsy Stamps Vintage postcard, Basic Grey Sweet Threads 6x6 Paper, Shapabilities Foliage, SU Baja Breeze Seam Binding, flowers form stash.

A photo of back of card using Basic Grey Sweet Threads paper, Magnolia Bon Voyage newspaper, SU photo corner punch, SU Linen thread, Mini Tilda coloured using TH Distress inks, buttons from stash.

A photo of the slider inner for writing a message on. I just stamped the postcard again onto cream card, punched a hole at the edge with the cropodile, threaded the ribbon making sure it was flat at the back and tied at one side. I ruffled the loose ends of ribbon.

I hope you like what I made and that you find time to visit the rest of the Allsorts DT's blogs to see what gorgeous work they've come up with this week. Allsorts are sponsered this week by:

and you could win a set of aqua markers

and there is also a great prize up for grabs from Passion for Stamps!

Thanks for stopping by and for your wonderful comments as ever!

Love,

Fussy and Fancy DT card - Christmas in July

2011-07-29T09:00:00.001+01:00

Hello everyone,

I'm here with my fortnightly card for Fussy and Fancy to share with you today

Please pop by my fellow DT's blogs as there is more stunning inspiration to feast your eyes on at each one!

The theme is Christmas in July

and I thought this would take a while to get into but I surprised myself! I've always wanted to make a candy cone and I can honestly say it was a joy to create!

I used TH Distress inks to colour Magnolia's Jolly Tilda.

The lace is the self adhesive variety from Hero Arts. I used Magnolia's Vintage tag for the sentiment (Forever Friends I think!)

The lacy top edge was made using Magnolia's Antique Lace Doo Hickey.

Papers, ribbon, brads, flower and sweeties! are from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look, I love reading your comments if you get the chance! I will try to get around to visiting loads of your blogs this week as I can't wait to see what everyone's been doing.xx

Love,

Another ALLSORTS Free and Easy week

2011-07-23T08:00:00.014+01:00

Hi friends,

At Allsorts we are still having a
Free and Easy July,
which allows you to make absolutely anything that your heart desires!
our sponsor this week is
Sir Stamp-a-lot and the prize is :

Hope you can join us we love seeing what everyone's been making!

My project is a card and bookmark thank you that my youngest son gave to his teacher yesterday. I wanted some summery papers as I didn't have any really, so I thought Basic Grey's Sweet Threads fitted the bill when I ordered from Bunny Zoe's. But when it arrived I wasn't sure it was me as it was so different to what I've had before. However, when it all came together I was happy with the end result! Phew!

Supplies:

Go Keate shaped card die

Magnolia Doo Hickey Antique lace and tag

Magnolia Tilda with Hawaii flower

Basic Grey Sweet Threads 6x6 paper pad

Nesties Labels nine

TH Distress inks

SU Thank U Sentiment

Whimsy Stamps Mini postage stamp sentiment

Bo Bunny Brad

Ribbon, flowers and pearls from stash

Thanks for taking a look, I love your comments to let me know you passed by this way, visit my teamies if you get the chance as they are sooooo talented!

Thanks as ever for your support

Love,

A Blog Award!

2011-07-18T17:36:00.001+01:00

Hi sweet friends,

I got given this mouth-watering blog award from my great blogging friend Jacki(thanks again this is so kind !)

Seven random things about me!

1. When working as a waitress I was very priveledged to serve the American Ambassador!

2. Had a hernia operation when I was seven

3. I love making unusual shaped cards and 3D projects

4. I love horse riding but don't have time to participate in this hobby at the moment

5. My mum and dad used to be a host family for French students when I was at school.

6. My favourite singer at the moment is Jessie J.

7. Favourite season has to be summer, lovely weather (most of the time) and plenty of opportunity to get outside and enjoy the fresh air with the kids.

Sorry I'm afraid I've had to bottle out of giving the award to just eight other fellow bloggers as it would offend too many of my lovely followers and DT buddies, so feel free to take the award if you are kind enough to leave me a comment! (Hope this is acceptable!)

Love,

Male Teacher's thank you card and pressie!

2011-07-16T15:02:00.000+01:00

Hello friends,

I'm back today to share my creation for Allsorts DT this week. It's another Free and Easy challenge week, we are sponsored this week by the fab Stamp addicts and you could win a £15 gift voucher to spend at their online store! I decided it was time to get one of my teacher's thank you's out of the way for my eldest to give out next week. I thought it would be a difficult one to do but I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly and easily it came together. Now I've just got my other son's teacher to make for now!

I kept the design simple and uncluttered, adding Sizzix die-cut buttons as I surprised myself by not having any brown buttons left in my stash. The matching notebook follows a similar design to complete the set.

I attached the pencil by stapling an SU round tab punched shape around it.

Supplies:

LOTV Rugby mad

SU papers

SU thank you sentiment stamp

SU scallop punch

Whimsy stamps - everyday mini postage stamp sentiments

SU Spiral border punch

Distress inks and SU inkspots

Sizzix button die

SU linen thread

nesties labels two

paper clips, ribbon, cardstock from stash

Thanks for stopping by and maybe leaving a lovely little comment, don't forget to pay my teamies a visit if you get the chance as there work is amazing as ever!

Love,

Celebration of 'Summer'

2011-07-15T16:35:00.001+01:00

Hello to everyone in blogland.

Sorry I'm only managing to post my DT cards at the minute, time is limited and I'm hoping that in the school holidays things settle down and become less manic! End of term is always busy for me as Chair of a preschool as there are so many loose ends to tie up so that September return isn't a nightmare!

I must apologise also for my lack of commenting on all your lovely work, I promise I shall be back asap!

My card this time for Fussy and Fancy is following the theme of 'Summer', such a popular one with so many lush stamps and papers out there. Our sponsors this week are MelJen's Designs - 4 digi's and Love to Stamp - $15 gift voucher! Please visit my teamies blogs if you get the chance as there work is truly amazing!

Here's a view of the wonderful dimension that a shutter card creates. Sorry if the photo's aren't that clear, I must have done them in a hurry!

It's a shutter card following the fab sketch over at Magnolialicious Highlights created by the lovely Mindy. I've created a seaside themed card, as long hot summer days are perfect at the beach! I have lots of childhood memories of beach holidays spent rock pooling, collecting shells and paddling in the sea and I try to take my children on coastal adventures as often as I can.

Supplies:

SU cardstock and Blueberry crisp papers

SU photo corner punch and leaf punch

SU linen thread

SU Seaside shell stamps

Hero Arts self adhesive lace

Magnolia Surfing Tilda and seaside background (sorry for not having the correct names for these stamps but haven't got time to look up)

LOTV Sentiment

Nesties Labels two

Shell charms from bunny zoes

TH Disress inks and SU inkspots

Flowers from stash

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sir Stamp-a-lot - Anything Goes

Magnolialicious Highlights - Sketch

TOMIC - Create a scene/dimensional

Will be back tomorrow with my Allsorts card.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look, I truly adore your wonderful comments!

Love

Allsorts Free and Easy July

2011-07-09T09:02:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Doesn't time fly when you're having fun! Can't believe a week has gone by and I'm here again showing you this weeks creation for Allsorts DT. For the whole month of July the theme is Free and Easy, this week our sponser is crimson cloud and you could win this fab kit that you can make seven cards with!

I've been itching to have a go at this box card since I did one at my lovely friend and fellow blogger Chris' craft class! I followed the great sketch set by Kristy over at Magnolia Down Under this week. I used Basic Grey Origins papers, gave my panel a torn top edge and a Magnolia doo hickey Antique lace lower edge. The bunting is Magnolia (borrowed from Fleur, thanks hun xx), the image is new Magnolia's Explore Tilda coloured with Distress inks and cut out and backed using Nesties Labels nine. Leaves are an SU punch and the flowers are from my stash.

A view of the depth of the 'box'.

The inside of the card. Sentiment on left hand side is LOTV. The top lacy strip was done using an SU punch, the 'grass' that Magnolia's Edwin with butterfly is sitting on I cut out myself and made it up as I went along. Coloured Edwin in using Distress inks. The background inside the frame is an SU tree stamp and the foliage is a Shapeabilities die. The butterfly is an SU embosslits.

Hope you find the time to look at the amazing DT work my teamies have done this week, and it inspires you to join in with us! Have a lovely weekend whatever you're doing.

Thanks for stopping and taking a look today, your support is amazing!

Love,

My Blogaversary Candy Winner!

2011-07-02T21:35:00.000+01:00

Hi, hope everyone's enjoying a fab Saturday evening,

just a quick post to let you know who won my blogaversary candy, sorry for the delay, I had a few technical issues as per usual! So won't keep you in suspense any longer.....

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 26

Result: 14

Number 14 is Tanysol

CONGRATULATIONS!

Please email me at nicolajacklinis@live.co.uk

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU MAIL ME WITHIN THE NEXT 7 DAYS OR THE PRIZE WILL BE REDRAWN!

Thanks to everyone who entered xxx

Love,

My First Allsorts DT card !

2011-07-02T10:12:00.006+01:00

Hello everyone in blogland,

I'm back again, this time with my first Allsorts DT creation! We are having a lovely Free and Easy theme for the whole of July so plenty of scope there to cater to everyone's tastes and styles!!! Let your imaginations run wild LOL!

Here's what I came up with:

A peep at the inside....

Please check out my fellow DT's inspiration, if you have time, as their work is stunning! Hope you can join in the fun this week - we are sponsored this time by

who have a set of aquamarkers for the winner!

Supplies I used to create my card:
Go Kreate Frilly Frames #2

Magnolia papers: You are So Special - Lace Flower

Butterfly Dreams - Pink Butterfly

Once Upon a Time - Fairy Tale Pink Rose

Nesties - Blossom

Shapies - Foliage

LOTV image - Garden of Wishes??

LOTV sentiment

TH Distress inks

Bo Bunny Brads

Flowers from stash

Would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Bunny Zoe's - Fairies
Truly Scrumptious - Things with Wings

Thanks so much for popping by and having a look at my humble creations, I know I'm not quite up to other DT members standards yet, but thanks for your support it keeps inspiring me to do more and push myself further every time :0)
Love,

First Fussy and Fancy DT card

2011-07-01T10:41:00.000+01:00

Hello friends,

Soooo excited this Friday to be sharing my first DT card with you all. It's for the fab Fussy and Fancy Friday challenge which is this sketch:

and here is my take on the sketch:

I paper pieced Tilda's dress to co-ordinate her with the papers. I used an SU scallop circle as a template for the cloud effect behind Tilda. I thought it would be different to cut an aperture and peep at Tilda inside the card.

Take a look at all the other DT inspiration, their work is fab and hope you can join us this time round, the sketch was really fun to work with!

We are sponsored this week by Simply Betty Stamps, and the winner will get 6 digi's from the new 'Jude and the Rockers' line.

Supplies I used to create my card:

Go Kreate card die

SU 'Botanical' double sided paper

SU photo corner punch

Nesties labels two

Magnolia Doo Hickey Antique lace die

SU Tiny Tags stamps

Magnolia -Beautiful Tilda

TH Distress Inks

Pink gems and ribbon from stash

Thanks for stopping by to take a look and leaving such fab comments!

Love,

Blogaversary candy!! Fat free treats

2011-06-26T21:36:00.005+01:00

Hi everyone,

I'm back again, no card this time though, just some candy that I thought you might want to try and win! It's my first blogaversary soon, I can't believe how quickly a whole year has passed and I've made some fantastic crafting buddies along the way. To show my appreciation to all you guys out there and to hopefully make more new friends (you can never have enough friends in my opinion) I have put together a little treat which I hope you think is worth winning!

THIS IS A STICKY POST, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE RECENT POSTS, THANKS!

The gift box in the photo is just an example of what will be in with the prize, I will make one between now and my blogaversary and put some little crafting treats inside!

Just a few little candy rules if you want to play along (I don't want to make things any more complicated than they have to be!):

Already be, or become a genuine follower (don't just follow the candy please!)
Add my candy to your blog (sidebar or a post) with a link back to my blog (help spread the word)
Leave your name with Mr Linky (1 entry per person please)

(If Mr Linky's not there it means I'm not as clever as I think I am, I haven't managed to successfully link it into my post and therefore just leave a comment as your entry and I will draw the winner using Random org.)

All crafters are welcome, both UK and International, as long as the couple of rules are followed, thanks xxx

Good Luck,

I will draw the winner on or soon after 26th June - my blogaversary!

Love,

Competition closed: will draw a winner as soon as possible, Thankx

I'm a Fussy and Fancy DT member!

2011-06-24T21:03:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone in blogland,

what an incredible week I have had! Less than a week ago I thought I would never be accepted onto any DT, now I find myself on two!! I had exciting news on Monday and I'm ending the week with more exciting news as Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenges have invited me onto their DT too!

As I said on Monday I am going to put everything into my DT work and that goes for both DT's now. I can't believe how fortunate I have been this week and I feel so privileged to be working with so many talented ladies!

Hopefully I will be back at the beginning of next week to announce who won my candy, IF I can figure out how to use Random org LOL! That doesn't sound very good after the news I've just shared about my DT status, but it doesn't mean I know everything - far from it! Technology and I don't always see eye to eye and that's before Mr Blogger gets started!

Other than that I look forward to sharing my first DT cards with you next Friday and Saturday!

Love,

My Dream came true!

2011-06-20T13:20:00.002+01:00

Hello friends,

Got quite a post for you today, lots of news, hope you've got a comfy chair!

My first BIG thing to tell you, is that my dream came true, I feel deeply honoured and priveledged to tell you that Allsorts picked me to be one of their two new DT members!!!!! I keep pinching myself to check that I'm not still dreaming! Needless to say I am going to work my socks off and hopefully do the rest of the team proud. Many thanks to them for choosing me and for all my followers who left such words of encouragement, words can't say how much it means to me. Check out my fellow teamies blogs if you have time, they are the best! Jill (as excited as I am to have been chosen!), Brenda, Fleur, Amanda, Debbie, Helene and Emma. .

Now that I've calmed down and told you my good news, got a few piccies to show you of a gift box I made to go in with my blogaversary candy:

Papers are SU Botanical, Nestie Labels 2 for top and bottom, button off Jasmine's old clothes!

Other stash included in candy are; 1 LOTV Teddy bears picnic stamp,

1 Magnolia Mini Tilda with big ribbon

a 4x4" Acrylic block

1 Basic Grey 'Kioshi' 6x6" Paper pad

1 pot of lilac Flowersoft

1 pink embossing powder and 1 silver embossing powder

1 adhesive stick

1 small cream bucket

some Magnolia doo hickey tags cut out of various pastel shades of cardstock

If you are interested in winning the box and the above list of stash, you still have about a week to enter. Mr Linky is there, underneath my signature.

Thanks as always for popping by and leaving those scrummy comments

Love,

Baby card gift box

2011-06-17T21:44:00.000+01:00

Hello blogging friends, hope you are all well!

got a short and sweet post this evening for you to show you the box I made for my friends baby card to go in. Due to the large flower arrangement there was no way the card was fitting in an envelope! As I don't have a box template I had to make it up as I went along but it came together surprisingly easy.

I cut the Magnolia doo hickey tag in two to fit either side of the ribbon. Pink Stickled tag and butterflies. The butterflies are from my new SU Sizzix die. I used ribbon and scraps of paper that I'd used to make the card to decorate the box so it co-ordinated the two projects.

I embossed the pink side panels of the box with my in bloom universal embossing folder. I set them at sloping angles all the way round to make them more interesting.

A peak at the card nestled inside it's custom made box!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look, your comments are as sweet as ever, I keep trying to keep on top of commenting back, don't want to leave anyone out!

Love,

Father's Day offering

2011-06-15T22:21:00.002+01:00

Hi to all you sweet bloggers out there,

well I've got a 'male' card finally done for Father's Day! Little bit out of the old comfort zone but I'm fairly pleased with it Lol! As uber critical as usual though I can always think of things I could have done better, but a) ran out of time and b) was trying to be clever and it didn't go according to plan! Therefore things are a bit wonky and it has an air of being 'thrown together'. I say it was meant to look like that for the manly rough and ready impression! Who am I kidding? The image looks a bit washed out on the photo, the colours are more vibrant than that, and I'm blaming my dad for the colour of the tractor - I stupidly asked him what his favourite all time tractor is (he's been a tractor driver for more years than he cares to remember) and he said a little grey one! I should have just gone with what colour I like - red! I did try to add some sparkle with a silver gel pen on lights etc but that doesn't really show on the picture. Needless to say after all that, Dad will adore it!!

I did follow the sketch from The Sweet Stop this week and travelled it up the easel. Of course I couldn't find a Father's Day sentiment in my ever growing stash (probably only dreamt I have one in the first place!) so had to make a rather amaturish one up at the last min!

Supplies: SU; cardstock and double sided paper, photo corner punch, scallop punch, 'for you' sentiment

LOTV Pride and Joy stamp (lent to me by my fab friend Fleur - what would I do without u?!xx)

TH Distress inks

Nesties labels two

string, buttons and scrim from stash

More wonderful challenges I couldn't do without:

Cupcake - Boy, oh boy, oh boy

One stop craft challenge - Father's Day

Stamp man - Boys and Men

Allsorts - A recipe for the boys: 1 designer paper, 2 punches or dies, 3 buttons

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Man or boy card and DT call

Thanks for stopping by and maybe leaving a comment. BIG HUGS to everyone who has recently left me comments they mean so much to me you are all Fab!!!

Love,

Elegant All White Birthday card

2011-06-08T22:07:00.021+01:00

Hi,

hope everyone is well in blogland.

Tried a wall hanging card this time and love how it came out! Originally I set out to do an easel card based on Crafts 4 Eternity Sketch but I went off on a tangent! Still stuck with the fab sketch though. I'd also started to work with some designer papers, didn't like the way it was going, so changed direction and went for the brilliant Allsorts challenge of All white apart from a coloured image. I'm so pleased I did as it turned out to be very therapeutic and great fun!

There is a special reason why it was a birthday card, to celebrate Pauline's birthday over at TOMIC! However, this white theme would be lovely as a Wedding/Christening card also!

Supplies: Go Kreate card die

SU sentiment and scallop oval punch

buttons, ribbon, lace and flowers from stash

nesties blossom die

Magnolia doo hickey Antique lace die

In Bloom universal embossing folder and Jamara Cuttlebug embossing folder

Shapeabilities Foliage die

Magnolia Tilda Hawaii flower

TH Distress inks

stardust stickles

More challenges I just had to enter!:

Just Magnolia - Anything goes plus optional lace

One Stop Craft Challenge - Texture

Shabby tea room - Wet or dry embossing

Wild Orchid are having a DT call until 12th June

Dont forget, plenty of time still to enter my blog candy, I don't want anybody to miss out on winning some fab cool crafting stuff, Mr Linky is sitting there waiting!

Thanks for stopping by, taking a look and maybe leaving me one of your wonderful comments

Love,

Allsorts DT call/Baby card

2011-06-03T11:06:00.012+01:00

Happy Summer to all in blogland!

Summer seems to have landed with the start of June, we took the kids to Burghley Gardens of Surprise yesterday and I got sunburnt, ouch!!

The card I have made to show you today is for my friend who had a baby on Tuesday, Sophia was a week over due and Sally was very relieved when she finally made an appearance!

The fantastic challenge blog, Allsorts, are having a DT call the next couple of weeks and although I don't stand much chance I thought I would enter for it. (I don't have much luck with DT calls as a rule but nothing ventured, nothing gained!) Maybe they're all trying to tell me something lol!!

The image, a Mo Manning stamp called Baby Fairy Flora, I played around with and tried to do a pyramage with. It's an abbreviated pyramage because I didn't cut the middle image out right. Don't know if it works but I've left it on!

I tore the corners back and decorated with buttons and gems. The pink cardstock was run through a Craft Concepts In bloom embossing folder.The flower arrangement is supposed to be a bouquet with the stems hidden within a folded back piece of card, hope that what it looks like anyway!

I used a corner photo punch on the inside left for the proud parents to display a piccie and the sentiment, which I borrowed from my mum, is silver heat embossed.

Other supplies: Go Kreate card die

SU sentiment and scallop (front of card)

Nesties label 9 and Shapeabilities Foliage

TH Distress inks

Silver gel pen

flowers, buttons, ribbons, brads and gems from stash

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment

don't forget to enter for my blogaversary candy, either scroll down for details or click on link in my sidebar

Love,

Tilda's three tags

2011-05-27T19:56:00.019+01:00

Hello to everyone in blogland,

hope everyone's looking forward to the half term holidays. Hubby's off next week too, a rarity in itself, which will make it feel like a proper holiday even though we're not going away anywhere.

Tonight, I have three Tilda tags to show you, created with the following awesome challenges in mind: Totally Tilda -Tilda's Trio of Tags
Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Dry Embossing background
Paper Sundaes - Pop it Up
Truly Scrumptious - Anything goes and they are having a DT call (I don't hold out much hope as there are loads of extremely talented crafters putting in for it but you never know unless you try)

I wanted the tags to have the same basics but made for different occasions and here is the result:

A Christmas tag

A wedding gift tag

A birthday tag

Thought I might put this post on the http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/Make it Monday linky party blog too, looks like a lot of fun!
Supplies:
Nesties labels two and blossoms
Magnolia doo hickey tag
cuttleebug embossing folder
papers; Magnolia, SU- Botanical
Hero arts self adhesive lace
Manolia vintage tulip
Magnolia stamps - Jolly Tilda
Beautiful Tilda(Butterfly dreams)
Sitting Wedding Tilda
SU and TH Distress Inks, Inkssentials white opaque pen
Stardust stickles
Bobunny brads
other flower, snowflake brad, button, gems and ribbon from stash
(Sorry for the funny links on two of the challenge blogs, my computer has a mind of it's own at the moment and won't do a thing I tell it!!!)

Thanks so much for taking a look, your comments mean everything to me,

love,

Teddy bears picnic

2011-05-20T13:31:00.011+01:00

Hi everyone, just a quick post today to show you what I've been up to, I loved the theme this week for Allsorts - Teddy bears picnic, and had lots of ideas for it. However in reality I ran out of time, so instead of making a cupcake, picnic hamper and card, I had to settle for the card for now! No doubt I will get round to doing the other things another day.

The buttons are from Jasmine's old clothes, I stuck garden string around the 'frame' aperture and if you look closely the paper is just loads of teddies!

I found a 'basket' that one of the kids easter eggs had been in and used that to take this photo (a bit like a picnic basket!)

The doo hickey tag tucks in behind the antique lace edge of picture and the only reason why I added it was because there was nowhere to write a message otherwise!

Supplies: Go Kreate card die
SU stem/leaf punch
Doo hickey tag and antique lace border dies
nestie labels 2
LOTV Teddy bears picnic
Distress inks and SU inks
Flowers, paper, ribbon and string from stash

Challenges:
Allsorts - Teddy bears picnic
A Spoonful of sugar - Anything Goes
Lilli of the Valley - Here comes Summer

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look and watch this space as I am going to be having some blog candy up for grabs next week to celebrate my first blogaversary - you wont want to miss it!
Love

Tilda, pets and lots of frills!

2011-05-16T13:14:00.011+01:00

Hi, hope everyone is ok,
Although it's raining outside as I type, my card today is bright and cheery. I've got loads to do this week: housework, playschool jobs, card/projects and taking my son for a small operation on his foot! Today is the only free day so I'm taking a deep breath ready to launch myself into all that I need to do and will be ready to collapse in a heap by the weekend!
Anyway back to my card, certain challenges inspired me to make it and I must admit it took me out of my comfort zone a bit. I don't usually do lace, but I've just blitzed my kids out-grown clothes and Jasmine used to have frilly knickers to wear over her nappies.....instantly I'm surrounded by mounds of lace! I think I may have over dosed for the lace challenges just a tad - nearly everything I used was either made out of lace or called lacy, hope it's not too much for you!

Supplies: Go Kreate shaped card die
Papers- Magnolia; Something Old, Something New - Something Old, borrowed and blue
Basic Grey; Origins
Magnolia Doo Hickey - Antique Lace
Nesties - Lacy Squares
LOTV - Sentiment
SU and TH Distress Inks plus my new Inkssentials opaque white pen(don't look too closely, haven't perfected it's use yet!)
Tilda was kindly loaned to me by Fleur (thanks sooo much x)
Magnolia dog with butterfly
Flowers and lace from stash

Challenges I'm entering:
Totally Tilda - Tilda with her cat or dog
Just Magnolia - Make it Lacy
Bunny Zoe's - Lace
Magnolia Down Under - Favourite things(LOTV sentiments, new Magnolia dog stamp, flowers, shaped card die, nesties.......)
Paper Sundaes -#69 Birthday creations

Thanks for your continued support, you're all wonderful ! xx
Love

Paper Sundaes DT call

2011-05-09T12:08:00.007+01:00

Hello,
My post today is specifically to enter a DT call that wonderful Paper Sundaes are having until 11th May, all details of which can be found here.
They want to see three favourite creations, two of which have to be cards. The three I have chosen are all fairly recent as I feel I'm improving as time goes on (especially my colouring), I just hope they're good enough! I hope they reflect the range and diversity of my work.

Gift box

Concertina card

Twisted Easel card

Thanks for stopping by, wish me luck :0)

Magical Worlds

2011-05-08T20:50:00.013+01:00

Hello,
Apologies for delay between posts, I really must do some smaller projects and pick up the pace! The card I have just finished is a double twisted easel(I think!) and took longer than I'd hoped because I completely changed the background papers from what I originally had ready. I guess my mood changed halfway through and I didn't like the way it was turning out so did an about turn and started from scratch. I'm a lot happier with this version so it was worth it!

(Click on image to enlarge:)

The idea behind the images I chose is that the Fairy Godmother waves her wand and transforms Tilda into a princess - a story my daughter would approve of!

I love my newest Tilda- Hello Little Butterfly, but I ended up paper piecing her because I wasn't happy with how I'd coloured her in! Even the butterfly got paper pieced lol!
The other two Tilda's and the doily die behind them were borrowed from my friend Fleur(thanx soooo much!).

I admire everyone who is able to use their sewing machines and finish their work beautifully with some gorgeous stitching. I, however, STILL haven't managed to do this (very frustrating) so I've had to settle for second best and do faux stitching!

Other materials used:
Go Kreate card die
papers: Kaisercraft 'Le Chateau' and Magnolia Lace Flower
Magnolia Doo Hickey Antique Lace
Magnolia Tulips-other flowers from stash
SU- inks, hodgepodge buttons, leaf punch, scallop punch, little butterfly die
Sentiments- LOTV
Tim Holtz Distress inks
ribbons, pearls, embroidery thread, coloured buttons- from stash

Some wonderful challenges that inspired me:
Sir Stamp-a-lot - Magical Worlds
Magnolialicious Highlights - Sketch
Flutterby Wednesdays - Open challenge(add a butterfly, fairy or angel)
Just Magnolia - Anything goes (with real or faux stitching)
Paper Sundaes - Magical/Mythical Creations

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look, you make my day with your comments.
Love Nicola xxx

The Stylish Blogger Award

2011-04-29T20:19:00.015+01:00

Evening everyone,
I'm back again as promised to finish what I started. I received my award (yippee!!) from my lovely new follower Lolis at the beginning of the week and have only just had time to respond(sorry! I feel bad leaving it so long) Anyway better late than never, here goes....

To receive this award the rules to be followed are:

Step 1 Make a post linking back to the person who gave you the award.

Step 2 Share 8 random things about you.

Step 3 Award 8 recently discovered bloggers with this award.

Step 4 Contact these bloggers and tell them they have won the award.

Eight random facts about me, OMG where to begin! Lol

1. For the last two years I have been Chair person for the preschool that all three of my children
have attended.

2. May be crafting and blogging in France in the near future, if my husband has his way.

3. I would love to be on a challenge blog design team, but so far this has eluded me. (I will keep trying and never give up hope)

4. I love chocolate a little too much and really should start exercising more!

5. My husband and I honeymooned in Mexico where we swam with dolphins and rode horses in the sea.

6. I would love to own a dog again, our two boxers died three years ago and miss them sooooo much.

7. I'm blessed to have had three wonderful children that bring me happiness every day.

8. I'm a Christian and although I don't go to church, I do try and read the Bible to better understand the faith I have.

One of the reasons I took so long with this post is because I had to do a little bit of what blogging is all about and go out there and visit new blogs. This to some is second nature but I somehow never have the time for this part of it. However, a few blog hops later and after a bit more searching and delving, I found loads of new blogs I never knew existed and wondered why I'd never took the time to do it before-it was great! Anyway, the long and short of it means I have eight recently discovered bloggers to give the award to, and they are:

1. Magali

2. Jane

3. Tiara

4. Jenny

5. Chris

6. Ashlee

7. Becca

8. Pat

Thanks for bearing with me and now I'm off to do the last thing on the list. Check out Lolis' blog and all those I've listed if you get a minute, they are all fantastic!
Thanks for stopping by and wading through all that!
Love Nicola xxx

Modified Easter Tilda

2011-04-28T20:31:00.003+01:00

Hello,
I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and are ready for the Royal Wedding tomorrow!
This post is a little on the late side, easter being over, but I just couldn't let it pass before showing you how I gave an 'alternative' look to one of the Tilda images on my big easter card. I couldn't afford anymore easter Magnolia stamps and I really wanted Tilda dressed as a bunny. Sooooo, I found a pair of bunny ears in a stamp set I've had a while, and made an Alice band for Tilda. I thought it looked so sweet but I didn't put it on my original blog, probably because it was a modification and I didn't want to enter it for any challenges like that. Anyway, here is Tilda, uncensored!

Sorry it's not a new creation, been busy this week with other (boring) things, much to my dismay! However, my fingers are getting restless and I feel a project coming on. Watch this space, hopefully will not keep you waiting too long. In the meantime I will be back tomorrow with a post to complete my side of the bargain for receiving a blog award earlier in the week.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look, I'm humbled by all your wonderful comments, they mean so much!
Love Nicola xxx

A Very Special Birthday Card

2011-04-23T20:53:00.005+01:00

Hello, and Happy Easter!
Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine, I love it! Yesterday we went with my mum and dad to Sandringham, had a picnic and chilled out, it was brilliant! Got to make the most of the good weather while it's here, you never know when you might see it again with the typical British summer! Tonight I'm showing you the card I've been very busy with for the last week. I do love my big projects but it means the blog does go quiet if I haven't got several things on the go simultaeneously! This card is for my mum's seventy-fifth birthday which is tomorrow - a very special day! Can't wait to see her face when I give her it :0)
The first challenge I had in mind while creating was Sir Stamp-a-lot - Ladies and Fashion. I thought LOTV 'Coffee break' summed up a well earned rest after a shopping spree.

I created my card out of two Go Kreate card dies stuck together and covered in Basic Grey Origins papers. On the front I stamped Magnolia's romantic window and cut an aperture following the window line, then decoupaged the shutters and added plenty of stardust stickles.

You can just catch a glimpse of the girls having their cuppa in the 'coffee shop' through the window!

Here's the card opened out.

First two sides inside. I 'window dressed' the inside of the window to complete the illusion of inside a cafe. The tiny gold blob is a little heat embossed leafy sprig as I found myself with a bare corner and couldn't leave it without something!

The image was coloured using SU inks and TH Distress inks. I ruffled the ribbon that I threaded through the SU buttons.

I used Nestie Lacey Squares here, threaded ribbon through the holes around the edge and tied in a bow at one side. Used a smaller lacey square without the lacey edge for the middle to write a message on.

The last side has diagonally contrasting papers, a tag and pocket with a little flower arrangement and more ruffled ribbon ( love the effect this has and really easy to achieve too). The picture on the tag is of mum with my three children, I took it yesterday on our day trip.

Other materials used: Nesties Labels 2
SU- scallop punch, stem/leaf punch, designer buttons, butterfly stamp, embossed flower stem, mini tags
LOTV Sentiment
Jewelled Gold embossing powder
Flowers, pearls and ribbon from stash

A couple more lovely challenges: Spoonful of Sugar - Let's Celebrate
Flutterby Wednesdays - #151 Open challenge, include a butterfly, fairy or angel
Cupcake craft Challenge - Layers(beneath the LOTV image)

Thanks for taking the time to look, please leave me a comment to let me know you passed by this way, you're my inspiration and reason for doing this after all! Until the next post......
Love Nicola xxx

New skill challange/blog hop

2011-04-20T10:31:00.010+01:00

Hi to all,

hope you are enjoying the sunshine, it's just perfect for the easter hols, plenty of opportunity to get out in the fresh air with the kids. Going on a teddy bears picnic now to a woods near us, still got lots to fit in, don't know if we will manage it all now. The time is slipping through our fingers and I'm just glad we have a few extra days at the end of the month to look forward to.
The project I'm posting today is a gift box I made for my friend Fleur for her birthday. I didn't use a template it just evolved and I made it up as I went along! I originally made it for a Basic Grey challenge but I couldn't enter because it would have been on my blog before I gave it to Fleur and would have spoiled the surprise! Anyway, I digress, it was obvoiously meant to be and I was sure there would be an opportunity to put it on my blog at some stage. The opportunity came the other day in the form of a comment someone kindly left for me from my gift box I made for my mum's birthday. A lovely lady called The Crafting Misfit (Rebecca) asked if I would like to enter her blog hop (and I think it's her first) for the challenge New skills, the link is HERE! I love this kind of challenge as it entices us out of our comfort zone and invites us to try something new. This gift box fit the bill perfectly as I've never done anything like it before, but I can't see it being the last as I love making things like this!

I drew out the shape I wanted the box to be on card, cut out and made it up. Covered in Basic Grey Curio papers and made a pocket for the front out of corrugated card. The tag is made out of recycled kichen roll tube (cut to size).
Image and sentiment are SU and coloured the image with SU inks. All brads except flower one are SU. Ribbon was from stash. Used Spellbinders Blossom nestie for making the flower and Lacy square nestie for under the sentiment.

Challenge: Crafting Misfit - New Season/new skill

Thanks for looking, leave a comment to let me know you passed this way, you know I love to read each and every one and I always try to return the favour, even if it takes me a while.
Love Nicola xxx

Birthday Princess

2011-04-13T20:47:00.007+01:00

Hello everyone,
How the time flies, can't believe it's over a week since I last posted anything. I'm totally lost with the days of the week when the kids are off school too. Done so much that it feels like they've been off for two weeks already, took them to Sacrewell Farm on Saturday and they had fun with the easter bunny! Sunday was really warm so we had family round for a barbeque, eight adults and six children made for quite a gathering. Never had big family get-togethers when I was growing up because there was only mum, dad and me.
My daughter will turn three on Monday and I think we shall take her out for the day (weather permitting). Jasmine is very girlie and loves pretending to be a princess so with this in mind I came up with the card I'm posting tonight.

I layered up the Blossom Nesties so it's a teeny little card! Finally got around to using my SU Tiny tags stamp for the name tags and just know that the birthday girl will love Magnolia's Fairytale Tilda! I made Tildas wings glittery with Stardust Stickles, and painted her with a mix of SU inks and Tim Holtz DI's.
Other stuff used: Magnolia Paper - You are so special Lace Flower
Gems and ribbon from stash

The challenges that I want to enter this week are:
Allsorts-Anything but a square
Fussy and Fancy Friday - Card for a child

Thanks for stopping by, your comments inspire me!
Love Nicola xxx

Easter Surprise

2011-04-04T14:24:00.015+01:00

Hello everyone,
Hope all you mums had a wonderful day yesterday, I did! My mum was over the moon with the card I made for her, it makes it so worthwhile when someone special appreciates your craft. Got a lovely card to show you today, I'm really pleased with how it turned out, could have added a lot more but didn't want to ruin it!
It's two shutter cards joined together and I had such a lot of fun creating it! As it's an easter card I thought I would give it to my children whilst still keeping it at a safe distance! They would tear it apart if I literally 'gave' them it but they can look!

This is what the card looks like closed up:

A shot of it opened out:

A close up of the middle image:

It was great fun to make as I got to use some new stash, my new stamps and only bought the doo hickey on Saturday! I plaited some of the ribbon and overstamped the layers behind the spring background.

I used the following to make my card:
Magnolia Stamps: Spring Background, Tilda with eggs in apron, Tilda with newly hatched chick
Magnolia Doo Hickey - Antique Lace
Tim Holtz Distress Inks
Basic Grey Curio Papers, cardstock from stash
brads, buttons, ribbon and silver gel pen from stash
SU: inks, blossom punch and leaf/stem punch, swirl/bee stamps
flowers given to me by my friend Fleur (thanks so much xx)
nestability labels 9

I had the following fantastic challenges in mind while I was making this card:
Magnolia-licious Highlights - Easter Spring Extravaganza #1 Catagory Full size image on easter themed card
Just Magnolia and hAnglar & sTanglar - WK100, Simon says Stamp Special Monthly Challenge and DT call - Anything Goes plus buttons (optional extra)
Basic Grey - Challenge 41 Use more than one fold
A Spoonful of Sugar - Easter

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a look, your comments are always appreciated.
Love Nicola xxx