Truly Scrumptious challenge

There is a gorgeous sketch at Truly Scrumptious challenge this week! I've used some more of those MME papers and inked the edges with peeled paint distress ink.

I've used Psst Dani and Taylor by Mo Manning, coloured with distress inks. Wonder what they're gossipping about LOL!

The flowers are from the Hobby House as are the cute little flower beads in the centre, they come in a bag of lots of different colours too! The ribbon and gems are from the Hobby House and I arranged the gems into a swirl myself.

More beads from the Hobby House!! Aren't these great for making up sentiments! I think they look really young and fresh, perfect for the image!

Hope you like it and thanks for looking! x

Lili of the Valley challenge

Another card with the papers from that gorgeous MME Jack and Jill range! I've followed the stunning sketch at Lili of the Valley challenge! Thanks for such a gorgeous sketch!!!

This is Rae with journal by Mo Manning! can't quite make up my mind if she looks deep in thought or if she's looking at the butterfly but either way it's a gorgeous image! I've coloured her with distress inks and inked around the edge lightly with spiced marmalade distress ink. I have mounted the image onto yellow glitter card from the Hobby House, it gives a really lovely soft sparkle to the card!

Instead of the two strips of the sketch I used a MS deep edge punch to create two strips of lacey detail. I've backed it with more of the glitter card so that you can see the punched design rather than the patterned paper which looked too busy! I've also replaced the two buttons of the sketch with my butterfly - hope this is OK to participate in the challenge! The flowers, flower buttons and gems are all from the Hobby House. Aren't those clear flower buttons gorgeous! The butterfly is the first one with my replacement MS butterfly punch (I suppose it had done rather a lot of butterflies before it broke).

The gorgeous gingham ribbon is from the Hobby House and I thought it brought out the red of the paper nicely.

Hope you like it and thanks for looking! Hope you enjoy your weekend! x

Just Magnolia Challenge DT - Birthdays meets Simon Says Stamp on PCP!

Well that's some mouthful of a title isn't it!? LOL! Thank goodness it's Friday, it has been a challenging and upsetting week for me and I'm quite glad it's over! I was cheered up emmensly when my replacement MS butterfly punch arrived this morning! Woohoo the butterflies are back, I've so missed using them this week!

Today's Just Magnolia challenge is all about birthdays - easey peasey!!! I have used the most gorgeous paper by Cosmo Cricket which is actually a Christmas paper that was on sale at my local craft store and seeing as there isn't a single thing Christmassy about it in my opinion I decided to use it LOL! I have torn all the edges and distressed them with Vintage Photo distress ink. I've also stamped one of my Stempelglede grunge flourishes around the edges. I decided to make a joy fold card for the first time, just love how they open don't you!? The gorgeous chocolate chiffon ribbon is from Running with Scissors. I've used the gorgeous colour challenge at Simon Says Stamp's challenge on Paper Craft Planet which is Dark Brown, Vanilla and Teal, as my inspiration too - thanks Chris it's a gorgeous combo!!

I've used the oh so sweet Tilda from the Yummy in my Tummy collection, I don't know what it is about this stamp it is just sooooooooooooo cute!! I've coloured her with distress inks and stamped around the edges of the image with the Stempelglede stamp using Vintage Photo.

I have added a gorgeous gardenia from Wild Orchid crafts, some twigs using my MS punch and some swirls using my EK success punch (yes AGAIN LOL - I will get bored soon, I promise). A few pearl pins from my stash finished the embellies nicely!

To keep the card from completely falling open when displayed I added a sentiment using a Tim Holtz tiny attacher brad so that it can be swung round to allow the card to open. The sentiment is from a Forever Friends set I've had for ages.

I must say I'm loving how this card opens, will definitely be making more of these! As you can see I've added a panel for a hand written message to the inside of the card.

The sentiment inside is another from my Forever Friends set and I thought it was quite appropriate to use with this Tilda, it says "wishing you lots of sweet treats on your special day!".

Hope you like it and can join us this week at Just Magnolia! You must go and see the rest of the DT's work - truly stunning! x

PS. the Simon Says Stamp challenge on PCP runs until the 14th March and there is a great prize from Simon Says Stamp if you're interested which I'm sure you are!!

Create 4 Fun challenge

WOW!!! Before I show you my card I have to say a HUGE thank you to all of you for being so lovely and supportive about my little "outburst" last night. I am so touched by everyone's understanding and lovely words and thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I feel truly blessed that you all cared so much to leave me a message or email me and I do feel better for getting it off my chest as it were. I woke up this morning feeling like I've got rid of my upset about the incident and I would like to say that I hope it doesn't stop anybody taking inspiration from anything I make as I'm more than happy for that to happen, just not a complete copy! OK, enough said on the horrible subject I think and onto a nice sunny card to cheer things up around here......

There is a gorgeous sketch over at Create 4 Fun Challenge this week, I just had to join in!! How gorgeous are these papers by My Minds Eye!?!?! It's their Jack & Jill range and I fell in love with them as soon as I saw them!! Now you will notice there are no torn edges (gasp!) - they just didn't suit these papers I didn't think, too fresh and modern for tearing LOL! I've still inked them though, they don't get off that lightly LOL! I've used peeled paint to sponge around the edges. The lovely scalloped paper comes with the holes already punched around the edge too!

I have used one of Mo Manning's gorgeous stamps, Soaking up the Joy. I just think this is my little girl in a few years time, beaming up at the sun! I have coloured her with distress inks and I've inked around the edge of the image lightly with spiced marmalade distress ink.

The flowers, brads and ribbon are all from the Hobby House and I've sprayed them with pearl glimmer mist. The gorgeous flower pins are also from the Hobby House. The punched flower has been punched with an EK success punch and the leaves with a Woodware punch.

The gorgeous border punch is MS daisy punch. I added a few gems along the edges for some extra sparkle, also from the Hobby House.

Hope you like my "different for me" card and thanks so much for looking! x

Regrettably....

....I am finding myself in the position of having to point out my copyright notice (you may notice it has moved right to the top of my sidebar). This week someone out there in the world of blogger has posted a copy of one of my cards without asking permission and without linking back to me (and when I say copy, it looks as though they've had my card right there on the screen in front of them as they've glued every tiny piece down!) So as not to worry anyone unecessarily, I would point out I did contact the person asking nicely if they could link to my card.

I love it that my cards inspire people and am thrilled to be able to share my ideas for people to take inspiration from my work, indeed I'm flattered that they do so. However, to copy my work in its entirity and claim it as their own DT work is an infringement of my copyright and I am very upset that this has happened as I put a lot of work into every one of my cards (as we all do).

Maybe it seems foolish or unnecessary to post this but I have been so upset by this all week that I feel the only way to put it to rest in my head is to post about it. I hope I don't offend anyone by doing so and if I do I am truly sorry. x

Simon Says Stamp challenge - Vintage and flowers and blog hop winner!

Thank you to everyone who joined in with our blog hop, it was great fun! I know you're going to love this week's challenge at Simon Says Stamp challenge - I know I did!! It is "Vintage with flowers"!!!! All the DT are showcasing Prima flowers for the challenge, we all know how gorgeous Prima flowers are right? I'm really looking forward to seeing your creations with them! Something a little different from me this week - a layout!! I have had some professional photographs of my two little ones sitting around for almost a year now waiting for a) our extension to be finished and b) me to do something with them LOL! I have slowly collected some very special bits and pieces so that I could scrapbook two of the photos to put on the wall in my new living room and this challenge finally gave me the push I needed! The paper is K&Co and I have done some major distressing to the edges with a wonderful technique shown to me by Tracey and Nicki - thank you both, I know I'll use this a LOT! The photo is of my gorgeous little girl (although I can't believe how much she's changed since this was taken) and I have mounted it onto some gold pearlescent card.

Now for the flowers! There are lots on here, but the main focus are these stunning Prima Parlor petals!!! I love these so much and think they look lovely with the green of the paper. I have also used some blossoms and roses from my stash.

The beautiful wide lace is from my stash and the swirl is from the Tim Holtz grungeboard elements set. I have painted it with crackle paint in picket fence and then sponged with vintage photo distress ink.

I added two more grungeboard swirls, treated in the same way, to the top left corner to frame the photo. The gorgeous large butterfly is from an xcut punch very kindly lent to me by Lynda - thank you x and the small ones have been punched with MS Monarch Butterfly punch.....but not mine.....why you ask???? I broke it!!!!!!!! (major sobs) Oh my word was it a catastrophe!!! my beloved butterfly punch broken :(. Luckilly for me and my project I was at my local cropping class with some lovely buddies and Lynda came to my rescue again with her brand new MS butterfly punch - thank you again Lynda!! Needless to say, as soon as I got home I was straight on the net searching out a replacement punch, which, thank goodness I found! (phew).

Sorry, went a bit of course there didn't I LOL! Hope you like my layout and that I have inspired you to search out your Prima flowers and get vintage with us this week! You really must pop and see the rest of the DT's cards - WOW! they're incredible! x

THE WINNER OF THE CUTTLEBUG EMBOSSING FOLDER FOR MY BLOG IS......

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:100
Timestamp: 2010-02-24 09:36:24 UTC

WHICH MEANS JODIE FROM OZ IS THE LUCKY WINNER!! CONGRATULATIONS, PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR FOLDER AND EMAIL ME WITH YOUR ADDRESS!

For my Whiff of Joy challenge DT card please scroll down the previous post

Whiff of Joy challenge - Bev's sketch

Thank you so much for all your pearl and swirl entries! There were so many gorgeous creations! This week we have a gorgeous sketch by the super talented Bev!! I love Bev's sketches and this was no exception - I had such fun with this card! The yellow paper is from the Basic Grey Indian Summer collection and I've stamped around the edges with black soot distress ink using one of the Whiff of Joy Christmas swirls. I've distressed the edges with Walnut Stain distress ink and added stickles.

I know, I've used Dancing Willow two weeks in a row but I had an idea for this card using the music paper from Magnolia, and she was the only image that would work with it and she is super gorgeous too! I just can't stop using this collection! I've coloured her with copics and added some stickles to her jewellery and around her feet.

Instead of a horizontal strip for the sketch I used a horizontal row of flowers! I stamped a Stempelglede flower stamp onto the same basic grey paper and then punched them out with my EK success punch. I also added a couple of vellum ones to lift the yellow, black and purple theme a bit. I added a gorgeous black fibre strand underneath the flowers and the stunning crown charm is from Whiff of Joy - isn't it gorgeous!?

I'm really getting in to making my own sentiments on the computer now LOL! This is another one I made myself. The dots are drawn with a copic and then stickled.

Hope you like it and can play along with us this week! Take a look at the rest of the DT's gorgeous cards! x

Whiff of Joy City Girl Collection

Morning! Today I have another card with those BoBunny papers to show you. This time I've used Willow Dressing Up. I wanted a sophisticated look for this card! The edges of the paper have been distressed with weathered wood distress ink and stickles and I have added gems along both edges for some sparkle and yes that punch jumped into my hand again LOL!!!
I have coloured Willow with Distress inks and added some stickles to parts of her dress and jewellery. I created a fancy frame for the image using EK success swirl punch. Really pleased with how it turned out, I think it looks like a fancy photograph frame LOL!

How gorgeous is this ribbon and slider?? Both are from The Hobby House. It is the first time I've used a ribbon slider but will definitely using them again they add such an elegant touch to cards!!

Thank you for all the wonderful comments you leave, I really do appreciate every single one even if I don't manage to get round to visiting you back! Hope you like it and thanks for looking! x

Whiff of Joy City Girl Collection

This is another of my cards made from the same set of BoBunny papers (see Saturday's post). I have given the papers the same distressing treatment and inked them with weathered wood distress ink and then stickled the edges. The "note paper" is also from the papers. I have punched the cool note book style eding with an EK success punch. I am entering this into the challenge at Cute Card Thursday which is to use metal.


Cool Oakley has been coloured with distress inks and I have added some brads to each corner of the image.
I added some ribbon across the card and studded it with more brads and added this fantastic motorbike charm from the Hobby House as did the brads. How cool is that charm for men's cards???? I love it!

Oh!! here it is again my new found favourite swirly punch from EK success LOL!!! It is taking on a life of its own and insisting I use it all the time LOL!

Hope you like it and thanks for looking! x

Stuck for a challenge?

Did you know that Simon Says Stamp also runs challenges on Paper Craft Planet??? If you're in need of some inspiration for a card why not pop and have a look here. x

Magnolia Down Under Challenge meets Everybody Art - Easel card

It is time for another challenge at Magnolia Down Under Challenge and this week it is my team's turn to inspire you all! The challenge this week is to make an easel card. If you haven't already had a go at these they are surprisingly easy! I managed to combine my DT card with the gorgeous sketch at Everybody Art challenge. The papers are all from the same sheet of Baby Blue Scroll by Paper Adventures. It had stripey, spotty and swirly bits all on the same 12x12" sheet! I have distressed the edges with weathered wood distress ink and stickles and I have also stamped a Stempelglede flourish around the edges.

I have used one of the gorgeous Tildas from the winter kit, I love the way she is crouched down doing this sealing wax, it reminds me of my wedding invitations because I wax sealed them all LOL!

I punched some flowers from plain vellum and stickled the edges before adding some sugar coated brads from my stash and more swirls from my new punch! I was trying to create a reasonably flat card. I don't know about you but I've posted quite a few of my cards lately and it is costing a fortune posting all those bulky roses etc!! Although I think the bow will probably still send it over the wafer thin limit the PO now has!

The sketch called for a tag - I've made mine from the same cardstock and papers as the rest of the card and added some chiffon ribbon to match the bow.

The base of the easel card has been decorated with the same papers and more vellum flowers and swirls. I have written the sentiment myself with a silver gel pen.

Hope you like it and can join us this week at Magnolia Down Under challenge. Have a look at the rest of the DT's awesome creations - I really am lucky to be on this team of immense talent! x

Whiff of Joy City Girl Collection

Here is another card I have made with Willow Dressing Up from Whiff of Joy's City Girls collection. I really do love this collection! I have used BoBunny papers. I've made several cards with the same collection of papers, it is the first time I've done this and I have to say I'm amazed at the different looks I have got with the same papers. I'm so bad with papers normally. I make a card with them and then the rest goes in the drawer never to be seen again LOL! I distressed the edges of the papers and inked with Weathered Wood distress ink and stickles.

I have coloured Willow with distress inks. I'm getting torn now between whether I want to use copics or distress inks. I can't decide which look I like best! I've added stickles to the trims on her dress and her jewellery and also around the edges of the image.

The flowers are a mixture of Prima and punched flowers. The stunning flower buttons in the centre are from The Hobby House, I threaded them with some coordinating thread tied some bows. I couldn't resist adding some more of these buttons as little flowers on their own with gems in the centres. They add a fantastic sparkle to the card!

The ribbon and gems are also from the Hobby House and I have used EK success diamond scallop edge punch for the horizontal strip.

Hope you like it and thanks for looking! Enjoy your weekend! x