Happy Birthday Tilly!

As I said the other day, it was my lovely Sister in Law's birthday the other day. I forgot to post the card as I had been working all weekend and had set off at some ungodly hour on Saturday morning to get to County Durham.

Anyway, here is the card that I made. I can show you now as she should have had her birthday card and gift. (I hope!)

I used a few new bits of stash for this card, the stamps are new and so is the paper. But the colours went so well together. The cardstock and ribbon is Stampin' Up.

I have used copics to colour, and brush blended the pink and yellow on her dress. I'm sure there's a name for this technique, but not sure what it's called.

Here she is in more detail.

Isn't she sweet? I have rather a large (!!) collection of these LOTV stamps - they are just so cute and lovely!

I hope you had a great birthday Tilly and sorry for the lateness of your card and gift. I bet I know what you'll be doing this next weekend... I bet you're making a start on your Christmas cards! lol.

Tomorrow, I'm off to Manchester for my Stampin' Up regional training.. so I've got all my swaps made, sorted and ready to go.. and will share those over the weekend if I get chance to come back online before then!

Love to all for now, Happy Crafting!

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A little challenge... and a little fun - gi..

I've just noticed whilst writing this post that there are some new little icons on the top of my post bit...  how fancy shmancy!

Anyway.. back to business..

Today saw another challenge over on LOTV, and I managed to get my card finished and uploaded in time.. that is a novelty.. lol. I had taken a break over the last few weeks with the challenges as I had a bit too much on, but now things are settling down a little - and it's only 39 days to christmas!! - I thought I'd get back in the routine.. lol.

Here's my card.

The papers are all Stampin Up, and I've finished off the card with a little charm, some flowers and a few pearly gems. I love this lickle image too.. so cute!

Also, here's the mushroom I was telling you about the other day.

Now how many mushroom stroganoff's can you make with this? What a corker..

And lastly, a little piccie of Truly for you.

When we walk in the woods, all the woofers hunt out water in the trees. Some people put plastic tubs in the bottom of the holes so that they fill with water, and other trees just collect it without the help of tubs. They all enjoy drinking out of the holes, although I check before hand that it smells fresh and is clean.

Here's little Truly having her slurp -

I know it's not a totally clear picture, but it was a quick one off my phone.. sorry.

Right.. I'm back to sorting out my SOS mail, chasing up parcels and tomorrow I'm having a crafty sorta day, I'm making some special samples for the Stampman - or actually stamp woman - Jill! I've already made a few, but more to go yet. lol.

See you soon.

PS.. don't forget about my Wish List post underneath, or check out my site here.

Blog hop day....

****EDITED TO ADD - Some comments seem to have gone missing after I have moderated them - if your name isn't on the list, can you please re-comment.. I have taken comment moderation off my blog until the 18th November. Thanks xxxx *****

Today's the day for the LOTV Blog Hop to celebrate the release of the new stamps on the LOTV website.

Each DT member is offering the chance for you to win one of the new stamps of your choice, and if you complete the blog hop you will also have a chance to win 6 of the new images of your choice.

Here is my card for the blog hop.

To enter all you need to do is start at Jacqui’s Blog and work your way through each of the links leaving a comment, telling us your favourite LOTV stamp, and link the blog hop on your blog, until you get to the LOTV Valley Challenge Blog.

On the way around each DT member will give you a letter, make a note of these as they will make up a word which we will ask you for. If your comment on the LOTV Challenge Blog is drawn by Random.Org as the winner of the 6 stamps, we will e-mail the winner and if you respond with the correct word the stamps of your choice will be sent off to you.

My secret letter is C, and the next blog in the hop is Claire.

The hop will run till Tuesday 17th November when we will announce the winners on the Challenge Blog. Best of Luck.

For my card, I have used one of the new release LOTV stamps and a range of papers which are Stampin Up.. I will show you in more detail later how to make the little flowers - aren't they so cute?

A Christmas card for a child

Morning everyone! Notice I didn't say GOOD there!

By 'eck.. it's bloomin freezing this morning - thank goodness I've got three pupsters to keep me nice and warm in bed. Along with an electric blanket and a pair of fluffy jim-jams. (I know how to live the good life me, you know!)

I thought I'd just share this little card with you today. I made it for the LOTV challenge yesterday, and the theme was 'Christmas Card for a Child'.

Today, I'm making a start on some extra bits for the website too. It'll be up and running quite shortly I'm hoping. There are a few more bits and pieces that need adding onto it.

This evening, I'm out having some Stampin Fun over in Carlton, and I have a little something I need to get made for this. So quite busy all round me thinks.

In addition to this, I have to finish cleaning out my fridge and freezer as they are being rehomed today. We decided a few weeks ago to buy a new fridge-freezer combined, so the two seperate ones have been given a new home thanks to Freecycle. I love this site. If you've not come across it before, it's a Yahoo group, and you can offer unwanted items on there free of charge. If you're lucky, you can also pick up a few good things too.

So... that's my day... what's yours? Whatever it is, make it a good one!

Lili of the Valley Challenge

Oh dear. I'm running really late with projects this last week or so. Time has just got the better of me again, what with hospital appointments and things, and as a result, my card for last week's Challenge over at the Lili of the Valley blog is late.

The Theme for this week's challenge is Brown, Green and Orange. Why not nip over and play along too?

I have had a chance to get it done now.. and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!

The stamp is one of the lovely new released by LOTV and they are sooooo cute. I just love how they look!

Here is the little cuddlybud in close up

Isn't he just the cutest? I can see me using this little bear again and again.. He is really easy to colour too.

Image - Lili of the Valley, Stampin Up Basic Grey ink, Derwent Inktense pencils, Stampin Up blender pen
Papers - My Minds Eye Glittered Christmas
Sentiment - Doodlebug rub on
Other - Stickles ice glitter glue, 3D foam pads, Border punch, Marvy liquid applique

Playing catch up..

This week has been bonkers in more than one way! After a very pleasant morning, I settled down whilst hubby was watching tv and having lunch, to make my card for this week's Lili of the Valley Challenge.

I am a little late with it - it should have been done on Thursday, but other things took priority and I let Mummy Fairy know that my card would be late.

Anyway, without further ado, it's here...

The theme this week is So Charming, so you must use a charm on your blog. Mine was a christmas theme card, so I used bells. And... did you notice? I also used peel off stickers - yuck! But they actually added something to the design... not something I usually use for my personal cards.

The card image is one of the new sets from Lili of the Valley. You really must check out their web site as the new products are just FANTASTIC! There are new stamps and die cuts from some brilliant designers, Annabel Spenceley, Chris Gaisey and Tricia Harrison. But due to the demand of these lovely images, they are taking preorders and will be sent out from the 22nd August. Good things are worth waiting for eh? There are some of the other new products featured on the challenge blog, so why not pop on over, join in (you could win some of these) and get some inspiration.

Here is a close up for you.

I used cuttlebug embossing folder and the new Mandala Reflections board to create the image layer. The snowflakes are a mixture of die cuts (sizzlets) and dimensions stickers from Docrafts.

Down in the Valley...

Lili's valley that is... I don't know how I managed to forget this challenge this week, I think it must be my noncrafting week that's frazzled my brain!!

Of course, I'm talking about my DT entry for this weeks challenge over on Lili of the Valley's challenge blog. 

This week we had a sketch by our very own Jacqui - aka Mummy Fairy! Here it is...

And here's my little card...

I just lurve this little piggy-wiggy!! I used the papers and diecuts from LOTV animals set, which is currently showing on Create and Craft, although I'm not sure what times it's on. I rounded the corner and scalloped the edges. Once the papers were on, I doodled around it, added my greeting around the bend of the card and used pearls to embellish the little flowers and oval.

And this week we're on the lookout for a Guest Designer.. so why not enter?

Big Bloomers and pig flu!

Oh what fun!!

I was having a good laugh the other day with my 'chat' with my online buddy Rosie and we decided to send each other a card to suit the chatter! The subject of Tena lady came up as we were laughing so much... this is my card I recieved yesterday -

(apologies for the photo - it's off my phone) The card looks beautiful in real life... and yep.. it's a tampon.. lol.. as you can see as it says on the front - not a tena lady! Witty lady with a wicked sense of humour. Thank you so much Rosie.. it made me giggle.

Here's the cards that I sent on  -

I can share as I know they've been recieved. They're a doddle to make, and they look so effective. I used some gathered ribbon around the edges of the thong and bra to give it a different look.. and of course.. for such a funky lady, I had to include a tattoo or two!

As well as doing this lovely card swap, I had a very important card to make for my sister, Julie. I got a phone call from my mum the other day to say she'd started oinking! She's got Swine flu, and was diagnosed the other day. Of course, I haven't rung her as I don't want the infection getting to me down the phone LOL.. joking! She's been really tired with it, so I thought better not to ring in case I got her out of bed.

This is the little card that I made for her -

'flu by to say put ya trotters up and take it eeeeeasy' is the wording I chose.. quite apt - but it took alot of thinking!! I just love this little piggy - another die cut from Lili of the Valley.

Right.. that's it from me..

See you all again soon!

How very Tweet!

Wandering through the blogging world last week, I came across a wonderful little birdhouse template - I can't remember the link so need to go back through my history and links - which I thought would be absolutely brilliant for the challenge over on LOTV this week.

The theme this week is Animals, and I had some of the fantastic die cuts leftover from sample making for the program on Create and Craft. And what did I have that would go with my birdy house? Of course, the little parrots..

Don't they just look the cutest? Would you like to treat yourself?? Then take a nosey over at the Lili of the Valley website where they have got some fantastic offers on at the moment, there are stamps, die cuts, and even promarkers on offer. (the promarkers are selling for £1.75 each now, which is reduced from £1.99!)

And if you'd like to join in with this challenge, don't forget to take a mosey over to the blog.

I've had a busy-ish week trying to get new samples made for my demo this week over at Southport, The Range, so I'll have more cards to show you later.

Until then.. happy crafting xx

LOTV

Oh what a joy it was to make this card. This was what I entered into this weeks challenge for the LOTV Blog -

The sketch for this weeks challenge was created by our very own Mummy Fairy, Jacqui. It was a great sketch to work with too. The papers and little fluffy sheepy are from the LOTV range. Check out their shop here. There is also a show currently on Create and Craft too with their new products on.

I haven't anything else to show you for now, as my samples for my demo tomorrow at Samuel Taylor's in Leeds are all packed and sorted ready to go. I'll photograph them when I get back and put them on for you to take a peek at.

Today, I've spent the day wandering around McArthur Glen, East Midlands. Did I say wandering? I meant I'd had a business meeting with a lovely lady! I can't tell you what about for now.. but I'm sure I can tell you the exciting news relatively soon! Very very very interesting stuff though! So watch this space! We did find time to do a bit of shopping too - Papermill to be more exact. They have some really lovely coloured card in at the moment in their new range - well, who could resist at £4.99 a box?? Not me, I say, not me!!

Well.. I'm off to unload my goodies for now. It was a hard journey back - a 10 car pile up on the M1.. slow traffic... air ambulances.. quite a while to get home! Now I'm gonna make a cuppa tea!

Is it two weeks already??

I'm going to start off this post by sharing my card that I made for the Lili of the Valley Challenge blog (check out my link list above), and I honestly can't believe it's two weeks since the last challenge! Boy, did that creep up on me!

Anyway, without further ado, here's the card which to me, represented the theme Summer Fun. 

 

To me, there's nothing better than a camping trip to Mabelthorpe, and a paddle on my favourite beach there - it's always empty and we have the beach to ourselves! It must be my own personal little secret, and I - and the furbabies - love it!

Here's a little close up of the stamped image - 

 

As you can see I paper pieced the dress to make the image stand out a little more. The rest is stamped and coloured on white cardstock, and I coloured using Stampin Up Watercolour Wonder crayons. These are fab and I reckon I'll have to buy some more! I added a few different colours for the sky and water, then finished off with a little holographic glitter to add some sparkle. 

The papers are all stampin up too, which I got through a fantastic paper share I have taken part in. When I know which they are, I'll let you know. 

The next cards I want to share are two that I did for the lovely Rebekah from our vet surgery. She is so sweet, and when I was in with the cat the other day, she asked if I could make a welcome home card for her boyfriend. I got the requirements for the card, and then came home to do my bit... and here are the results.. 

 

So, that's all for now... apart from to say that you should go and check out Lili of the Valley... They have a massive sale on at the moment and you can save absolutely oooooodles of dosh! Go over and take a look, and whilst your there, check out the news section where they put up details of their TV shows.. there are some new items out and they are beautiful. 

Right.. I'm off for now.. back soon with more to share! xx

Monsters... Fairies.... Bogeye... And more...

I was working hard a few weeks ago to make up some samples for Lili of the Valley and their new product launch on Create and Craft. If you click on the link above, then you will be taken to their website, where you will find oooooooooodles of lovely stuff for a massive 50% off!! What a sale!

If you are fortunate enough to have caught the show already (more showing dates are on their website) then you may well have seen my cards. There were lots of wonderful ideas on the show too, but here are a few of the ones that I made. I hope you like them.

This was my little bag. I made it from an envelope and a strip of cardstock. The papers are all included with your designs in the collection and they correspond with the images brilliantly. The greetings are included too, so really, all you need is your imagination.

Oh my lordy.. I absolutely love pigs, and these two little ladies are no exception. Well, I say they're ladies, but they could well be used for male cards too. I pleated a strip of paper and attached it to the card and finished with buttons.

Now isn't this monkey cute? This is what I absolutely love about the LOTV products, the cuteness. When they first started trading, I remember seeing them up in Harrogate (I think it was) and just needed the fairies, which I think were one of their first sets. My love of their products has never changed as they are so generic and not limited to childrens cards either! I love cute!! Always have.. .always will!

Oh boy this card was so much fun to make.. I know the pictures aren't brilliant but they were on my phone. (too lazy to get my camera out! lol)

This little panda is adorable.. just look at his lickle-ickle eyes.. and his hair-do!
The papers are all included again, so with all the sets that are available you will get a great collection of backing papers to add to your stash, and they are all inter-mingelable (is that a word?? but I'm sure you know what I mean!)

Now finally, how can I end this post without my little cuties? We were out walking yesterday - a long long walk as I was in a majorly bad mood! - and we came across the Barley Field. Well, not so much came across it, because it's always there.. lol.. but we haven't had a venture in there for a few days, and I can't believe how much it's grown!

It was sooo funny to watch Holly bouncing in typical springer style and thoroughly enjoying herself.

Here's a quick pic.. spot the springers!!

Holly is in the background (can you see her?) and our Chunka Munka, Scooby is here at the front.

Lili of the Valley Challenge

This week over on the LOTV Challenge blog we have a template challenge. The template was designed by me, and there are some stunning cards to see with it too! I am soooo loving the little doggy card, but you'll have to nip over to see it.. You also stand the chance of winning a little Moggi Stamp.. it's sooooo cute!

Anyway here's the template -



And here's what I did with it..



The papers are My Mind's Eye, and I just love the patterns and colours of it.. I can't remember which online shop I got it at, but will check and add the link for you.



Here's a little close up of the Bunny. I coloured him in with copic markers, then restamped the image and layered up the prezzies. A little doodling around the edges just finishes it off I think..

Aaaand... get this..



After seeing lots of cards on the blogs with a decorated inside - I decided to try my own! It's a bit plain, but hey.. it's a start!

Lili's lovelies..

I don't know how many of you tuned in to Create and Craft the other day to watch the Lili of the Valley show, but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it! Laila and Lisa are two very lovely ladies who always try to bring out beautiful papers etc. These ones I've used on these cards I want to show you today are using the new decoupage papers, which are only available at the moment through Create and Craft.

Anyways, here are some of the samples I made for the show....

This one used two colours of the papers and I layered the two tone decoupage topper. The edges were cut with the Docrafts fancy punches which came out last year, and then I inked the edges with chalk inks.

This one's pretty straightforward..

With this one I used a green ink pad to add a little grass to the bottom and then created some stalks with the papers, topped off with a fancy little topper.

I just absolutely love this shade of purple.. complemented with a bit of silver and finished with a button and a ribbon! The shape was created with my lovely Eazi box board

This one was made with the Eazi box board too. I am loving these triangle shapes!

That's a fair share of samples fo ryou for today me thinks.. I've been doing a couple of challenge cards today, and I'm just waiting for them to dry off before I photograph them - so hopefully tomorrow I'll have more to share.

So, until next time.. xxx

so... what've I been upto?

Well... I'll tell you... I have just become a Stampin' Up demonstrator  -  YAY!

I have had the phone call and chat with a lovely lovely person - and got my demo number, placed my order for my kit and I'm just waiting for it to arrive so I can have a play!

So, if you'd like to have a workshop and earn some free goodies, just let me know.. have sat nav, will travel! I'm just in the process of sorting out a seperate bloggy or something for it, so my things don't get lost with all my other ramblings on here.. best keep them seperate me thinks!!

What else is new??

Well, LILI OF THE VALLEY have a show today over on Create and Craft at 11am, it's a live show so don't forget to tape it.. and I wish the lovely Lisa and Laila all the best for it - I'm sure Lisa said they were working with Nigel - he's such a doll.. love him to bits!! If you're really lucky - or unlucky! - you may just see a few of my cards on there.... the DT have been beavering away making a few samples for the show this week (hence the lack of posting on here.. lol) and I'll share my kaboodle with you when the show has finished. Can you wait that long? Of course you can.. !

I've also been making my projects as a designer for STAMPTIVITY and they got posted back at the beginning of the week - I'm still sorting them off the camera so I can crop them down a little, so will be able to show them to you too shortly. There will be step by step instructions too for them over on the website, I just need to finish getting them typed up and sent in..

Other than that, (!) I'm prepping for a demo tomorrow over in Norfolk - yikes! a 3 hour drive in the morning - so I'm a pretty busy bunny this week. I got my stuff from Craftime on Tuesday for this demo, so really need to get the samples knocked out and finished today. I will be at Bead This, Craft That in Dereham. What a lovely name for a shop don't you think?!

So, that's me all done.. I'm still blufing around the net, stopping by everyones blog in a hurry, so I've not had much time to post comments - I promise to be a better blogger this next week.. lol..

Till then, toodles.. xxx

My Lili card

Hi all again.. two posts in one day.. lol..

I'm back with my Lili card for this weeks challenge HERE

The fairy is one of the Lili prints and I took the three from the pack and layered them up slightly shorter each time - the edges were done with my copics.

The paper is DCWV, I absolutely love this pack.. full of blues, tangerines and pinks.. lush! The little flowers are Papermania die cuts which were out last year, but are still available I think. Letters are also Papermania and I covered them with glitter.

Here's a close up of the flower...

My Challenge cards for LOTV

Ooooh.. still plodding on with everything, but at least I can share these two cards with you this morning. These have been sitting in my piccie folder for a few weeks now, until this week's challenge over on the LOTV blog was announced.

I absolutely love this card - and those that know me should know this is a rare occurance!

Here is the little ducky in close up.

And here is a close up of the flower I made at the bottom of the card

As far as I remember, the papers are from DCWV Spring pack from last year. The flower was made using the XCut flower punch from Docrafts.

Here is my second card I made - this was using the LOTV products.. I decided to show one with and one without.. plus I got fed up of them just sitting there doing nothing.. lol.

Now.. I do not have a clue what papers these are, they were dug out of my studio drawers to match in with the stamped image. However, the rub ons for the greeting is Basic Grey and so are the doodles. The buttons at the top of the page I made by punching a circle and doodling on them..

Hope you likey! see you soon xx