Something a little different...

Hi Best Blogging Buddies

Well I did a crazy thing the other day, I joined Pinterest... and I think it's going to become a bit of an addiction (as if I didn't have enough!)!! 

Anyway, whilst browsing boards.... I came across a fabulously designed card, and I'm sorry, but I can't remember whose pinboard it was on!  But I liked it, so clicked on it to find out who'd designed it so I could ask to have a go!  It led to a blog called Blush Crafts and a very nice blogger called Vicky.... who was happy that I tried a version of it.  And I did......  and I'm not happy with it!  Vicky's is so much nicer.....  so I may just give up on this one and go back to image colouring!! hehe!

I think the card is self explanatory.... a bit of machine sewing for the stems, a Martha Stewart Hyacinth punch for the flowers, and I added handcut leaves to mine as my card did look bare with just the flowers -whereas Vicky's didn't...   Hmmmmmmf!!!  Ooooh and the sentiment is from Pink Petticoat btw.

My OH didn't think I would blog it as I'm not that pleased with it... but I decided to show my poor attempts as well as my good ones! 

Take care all
Hugs
Christine x

Aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh back in comfort zone...

Good Morning best blogging friends...

Well phewwwwwwwwwww here I am back in the land of pink and glitter!  Oooh such a wonderful place it is!  I knew I'd have to get right back into it and as quick as I could......  so this little lady helped me along the way!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Digi -  All That Scraps - Spring Kiki La Rue
• Coloured with Copics and Promarkers
• Nestabilities - Large Labels - run through a....
• Crafts Too - Hearts Embossing folder
• MFT Mini Tabs Quartet has the sentiment on (Most of the dies I've used are from Dies to Die For)
• Sentiment from Pink Petticoat
• Flowers - MFT Dienamics Flower Trio
• Magnolia DooHickey Die - Romantic Lace (hearts along the side
• Ribbon and pearls from stash
• Kaisercraft DP - Bonjour collection - Moriesse
• Tim Holtz Core-dinations Bazzil cardstock
• Glossy Accents on her flowers and shoes
• Ice Stickles around the edge

My goodness, there seems to be a lot of things in that list.... didn't seem like it at the time!  This little lady is so gorgeous to colour... and even though she doesn't have any glitter on herself (well ok... I admit, she actually does on her flowers - coloured with a Spica pen!) there is loads of glitter around the edge of the card which makes up for it for me...

We had a nice day out yesterday in Ripon - just pottering around the market there and treating ourselves to a nice lunch.  I bought some of the most gorgeous pale pink tulips I've ever seen - to welcome spring into our house..  but I really think it's probably a bit early to say that, even tho it's so warm!  And this is a photo of what was over our house when we got home!  The sun was just about setting and was reflecting on the most amazing cloud formation... we had to go out into our little road to watch it as it was so stunning!

Now... I better go and get some breakfast as I'm getting hungry!  But before I go, can I just say a big welcome to my new followers.... my little band grows slowly, but I know that you are true followers - and that means a lot!  Thank you for the comments you leave too.....  I read each and every one and love to hear your feedback - I feel like you're all good friends!

Big hugs to all and Happy Crafting
Christine xx

Challenge:  Dies to Die for Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Anything Goes Challenge 61 - Altered Projects

Hi all

Well it's time for another challenge over at the Anything Goes Challenge Blog - and this time it proved a difficult one for me, as it was for an 'altered' project.  Those that know me well will know that this is WAY out of my comfort zone!!  Anyway, I had a go, and this was the result..... but if you check out my fab teamies creations on the blog.... you'll see far better!

Firstly I made a small gift bag from card.  Then I used some paper I handmade using Starburst Stains a while back to cover the front of the bag.  I did a bit of ripping and tearing of some lush Tim Holtz bazzil, and laid that along one side, then dyed some rose trimming that I'd bought from the States with glimmer mist (the colour didn't come out as I thought - more blue than  the pinky/purple on the bottle... ). I used some home dyed and distressed seam binding for some ties (yes it IS supposed to look that crinkled...), then lastly cut a couple of fabbie hearts using dies from Tim Holtz Alterations Movers and Shapers (available from The Craft Den).  The hearts are cut from grunge board, then thickly embossed with two tone embossing powder and stamped into with a script stamp while the embossing powder is still hot.   

I promise you that the bag itself looks better in real life than on the photos - the colours do all match!!

We had some fantastic entries for the last challenge - and I look forward to seeing all your fab creations this time......  If you need some inspiration, check out the main challenge blog here to see what my lovely teamies have come up with and also to see if you were one of the lucky winners!

Big Hugs - and Happy Crafting!
Christine x

Am I getting boring now??

Hi all

Hope you're all well and having a lovely weekend.... we're still kitchen deciding so brain-ache is still happening, trying to decide which goes where and why...  Spent another lovely (!) hour this morning in Magnet... I think the girl there is now just humouring us.... waiting for our decision!

Well yet another of these little mini cards.... I so love them!!  This time it's using another of my favourite La La Land images... Marci.  She has such a lovely face don't you think?  Let me tell you, I had real difficulting cutting a second image up to just get the flower off her hat to decoupage... and the cut up image face is now looking at me from the paper bin!!  I'll have nightmares!

Anyway.... materials used:

• Nesties for scalloped circle blank and other circles
• White and pale blue card from stash
• Pink Petticoat Small Roses paper from Vintage Rose set
• La La Land Dress up Marci Digi Image (set at a jaunty angle - meant to be like that...)
• Copics and Promarkers
• Glamour Dust (of course..)
• Glossy Accents on pearls and shoes (though difficult to see in pic)
• bit of bling ribbon from stash
• miniature rose die from Cheery Lynn (blame Pam for that one!) cut out of felt
• Gems from stash

Hope you like!! 

I picked up my lovely Distress Ink Marker Pens today - can't wait to have a go at them... really want to learn to colour with DI's - sometimes it gives a more delicate feel.....  so watch this space!

Can I just say a big welcome to my new followers...  I love to read your comments and a bit about you... it makes the world a small place!

Big Hugs and Happy Crafting..
Christine x
PS.... I will have something completely different to show you during the next week...  am struggling with it, but I'll get there!

What a bargain!

Hi all

Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope you've all had a good day.... I got lovely roses off my man, and a beautiful card... and I really thought we'd not done Valentines for the last couple of years..  ah well, bad marks for me!!  But I do have an excuse, I've had a bad tummy since the weekend, and today I'm feeling so tired too...   didn't even want to get in my craft room!  (but I did....)

Anyway, onto my card and the reason for the title!!  This is another mini-card - so lovely to do.... and I've used Marci with Rose from La La Land Crafts digi for the image.  I've coloured her with both promarkers (the pink is from the limited edition - it's a lovely musky pink) and copics... then embossed her with a large embossing tool to 'round her edges'.  I've added glitter and a gem to her hat, and she was done.  Then, for my card I used a kraft card layer, then an embossed layer.... then a lovely bit of lace bought from Samuel Taylors in Skipton on Saturday...  thought it matched the pink well..

Now.... the bargain bit!  Last time I was at Dunelm Mill, I bought some alphabet stamps by Hampton Art Stamps - they were reduced, and each alphabet cost me the sum total of 84p!  Well.....  not one to leave a bargain behind, I picked up four different alphabets, and this one I think is my favourite!! I've used it for the HUGS sentiment... stamped each letter on kraft card and glittered around the edge..    Both the image and the word were added with 3d foam pads... to give them a bit of height.    Lastly I used Stickles Icicles around the edge of the embossed paper to give even more of my favourite stuff!! LOL!

Here's my flowers.... isn't he a lovely man???

Big hugs to all
Christine x (the one with the hot water bottle firmly attached to her tummy!)

Samuel Taylors got hit by the mob....

Hi all

Well no card from me tonight.... just some photo-proof of where I was today and who I was with!!!  From left to right, Laurie (Designer Diva), Pami (Pami's Crafty Creations),  me......  and Lisa (My Makes'n'Me).. 

While Laurie and Pami were up in Yorkshire visiting Lisa, we decided to get together at Samuel Taylors in Skipton (not sure they knew what had hit them when we breezed into the papercraft dept... )......  and we had a FABULOUS time browsing the goodies and buying some luscious stash!!  Of course, I couldn't keep up with them as they'd already been to a craft show yesterday, and a couple of other craft shops before getting to Skipton.... so I had some catching up to do!

I've met Lisa a few times now, but haven't met Laurie and Pami before, so it was really lovely to actually meet them both in the flesh so to speak! (They were actually fully dressed, honest - they would have been chilly if they hadn't been today, it was a bit brrrrrrrrrr to say the least!)  Sorry, sidetracked... typical me - that's how my mind is just lately - it zips so cleanly from one thing to another I forget what I started talking about in the first place!

ANYWAYS.... good company and a lovely time.. and a craft shop too!  What more could we ask for? 

Big hugs to my blogging buddies... and to my new friends
Christine xxx
PS Hope you're feeling a bit better now Laurie.... travel sickness is not nice....
PPS I really must try to keep my eyes open just slightly when I have a photo taken!

Oooh I feel another addiction coming on...

Hi All

Just a quickie tonight as I'm supposed to be studying figures, layouts and quotes for a new kitchen we've needed doing for nearly three years....  But I just had to take time out, didn't I?

And.... as the title suggests, I feel this addiction coming on, and it's all down to a couple of blogging friends (including Mary J) pointing me in the direction of ..... wait for it.....  'mini-cards'!  They're so easy to do - and I LOVE THEM!! lol!

Of course I had to use a little Wryn (my other addiction at the moment), this time I used Wryn and Wren... (her little bluebird) - oooh and some of her flower garden flowers too (inspiration from Delphine) I coloured her in what are my favourite ever colours (you're going to get bored with these colours from me), and gave her sparkle (though it's not showing up on this pic!)  Then I used my scalloped circle and circle nesties to cut out the shapes.  The card blank itself is my largest scalloped circle used on a piece of folded card (so double thickness).... just lay the nestie ever so slightly over the edge of the card so you get part that isn't cut as the hinge.

I distressed the edge of the smallest circle and added my fav Stickles Icicles for bling, part of a little sentiment from Pink Petticoat, some little gems, then some bits of ribbon with tiny buttons to give it some glitz.  My job for tonight is to sort out my ribbons which are now in boxes thrown all over the lounge..   I've been meaning to sort them for a while, now i HAVE to!  Well, I have to AFTER I've studied my quotes.... LOL

So what'dya think??  Careful....  it should carry an addiction warning....

Big Hugs
Christine x

Anything Goes Challenge #60 - Bingo Board

Morning All...

A chilly good morning to you all!  But exciting times for me, here I am with my first card for the Anything Goes Challenge Blog!!!  I've joined a fab bunch of teamies who've made me and the other newbies all feel very welcome - and the challenge this time is a Bingo Board.  We had to use various items from the board - either in a straight or diagonal line... easy peasy I thought.......  but it turned out to be a proper challenge - which I loved!

For my card, I chose to use Die Cuts/Punches, (Own Choice) Embossing, and 2 or more stamped images.  My main image is Wryn - Grow a Little Love from Tiddlyinks, and the tag image is from Whimsy Stamps.  I coloured Wryn with Copics, then I used a couple of oval nesties (plain and scalloped).  I embossed some pink card with little hearts, and also used some Basic Grey Kissing Booth DP.  I distressed the edges of both the DP and the embossed bazzil - and used Icicles Stickles for the sparkle!  Then I made a nice little ribbon and bow from ivory seam binding.   Just a touch of Glamour Dust on the hearts in her plant-pot and she was done!!  Lots of the materials I used including the Copics are available from Lynne over at The Craft Den.

Check out the main Anything Goes challenge blog for details of this fab challenge - and also to check out my very talented teamies creations.....   Looks like I'm going to be busy in the near future, as there were over 300 brilliant entries in the last challenge.....  what a talented lot of crafters... Make sure you check to see if your card was a winner!

Here's the board you need - click on it to go to the Anything Goes Challenge Blog where you'll get full details  - then get entering...  and we look foward to seeing your fab entries!

Happy Crafting
Big Hugs
Christine x

Challenges: Lili's Little Fairies - Week 5 - Spring Colours
Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 140 - Free and Easy
DYSU Challenge Blog - 57- Anything Goes
Make it Monday - 75
The Pink Elephant - 140 3rd Birthday - Pink

To cheer us up on this chilly day.... and exciting news!!!

Hi All

Well, as I saw the weather forecast last night, I thought we needed a bit of cheering up with some bright colours and lovely flowers.... so I dug out one of my fav new stamps from Stamping Bella.   Let me introduce you to Patsy Pixie.... isn't she just so cute?  I've coloured her (unusually for me) with my prismacolour pencils... and I really enjoyed the change from my markers.  I thought the flowers needed bright colouring... and ooooh of course, some glitter! LOL!  Sooooo I coloured her, then gave her some grass to stand on with the pencils... (if anyone wants me to do a video tut of the grass, I'm more than happy to do so - just let me know).  She needed some shadowing to give her depth, so I chose blue this time - just to give the impression of a nice summery sky behind her. 

Then I cut her out using a nestability - this time it's Labels 22 (but I chose to cut the bottom rounded bit off (!)  I matted and layered by drawing round the outside of the nestie (I'd used the biggest one so it had to be a hand done thing) - and again cut a deeper pink around the outside of the peach - all freehand!  Not good with my shaky hands!! LOL!  I then used a sentiment from Pink Petticoat, again matted and layered... then my DP is Basic Grey Kissing Booth Sweet Nothings..... mmmmmmm so gorgeous I didn't want to cut it.. and backed it onto bazzil.  A few blobby things (that I cannot remember the name of but were from my stash) finished it off!  I did 'um and ah' trying to put more embellies on it, tried all sorts, but in the end decided less was definitely more!  Hope you like it...

Now..... my exciting news!!  Although I was very sad that the blog I was on the DT for (Die Cut Dreams) was closing...  I'm honoured to have been chosen for another FANTASTIC Design Team - the ANYTHING GOES CHALLENGE BLOG and I'm thrilled to bits!!  I've known for a few days but haven't been able to say anything till it was all announced today....  hmmmmm and I'm not good at keeping things to myself - as my blogging buddies know too well! hehe!  So I can't wait to get stuck in and join the lovely and very talented ladies there who have already made me feel very welcome.  There are still a couple of days left of the current challenge which is 'To the One I Love - Challenge 59' - so get on over there and enter your Valentine's cards.... I can't believe the amount of entries we've had already!

Sooooo now I need to get on with creating my first card for them.....  exciting times for me!

Big Hugs to all and Happy Crafting
Christine x
PS.... I've changed my profile pic at Sylvia's suggestion...  thanks Sylvia!