For an Engagement...

Hi Best Blogging Buddies

Just a quickie from me today, as I'm still not well with this cough etc.... not sleeping much at night so am cream crackered in the day!  Quick apologies here too as I'm not getting to do all my commenting... I've really not been up to it....  But, in the words of Arnold S....... 'I'll be back!!'

Anyway, a friend of mine rang a couple of days back to tell me that her daughter had just got engaged, so I put together a quickie card.  I chose to use an idea from a card by Mandi from Less is More - she'd used something similar in the shape of a butterfly a week or so back, for a new beginnings card.  I just tweaked the shape and used different flowers...  and I was happy with the result!  I diecut a heart shape - then used a Woodware multi-flower punch (Christmas Rose), but only used the smallest flower - bit fiddly getting the card just under the small hole, but worth it!  I used a pearlescent cardstock for the flowers.  Then I embossed them to curve them into the shape, added gems in the centre, and stuck them all over the heart!  Simples......  as my favourite little merekat would say!

Materials: MFT Heart Shaped Die (second to smallest of the set)

I printed the word in French Script font on thePC, then used my brand new Stamping Up Word Window punch.......  to give it the very CAS look.  Hope you like!

Now - a very quick look at the new stash I bought at the Harrogate show.  I know I'd promised to do this sooner, but I've also had problems uploading pics ......  so anyway, it's here now....

It was a fabulous show as always - I met up with the lovely Elaine from A Technophobe's Blog (whose hubby apparently passed this cold on to me....  gee thanks Phil...) and we had a nice natter and a catch up.  Btw, she can't really call herself a technophobe now, as she can handle an IPhone with the best!  And the above is what jumped into my shopping bag before I got back to the car!  (Well OK, the LOTV stamps I bought at the LOTV shop a couple of days previous...)  As you can see, I got lots of ribbons and gems from Mei Flower and Hobby House, some fab new Memory Box dies, a mahoosive doily die from Cheery Lyn,  some pre-scored and cut stepper type blanks from Which Craft....... and a few other goodies too......  Most still to be played with when I feel better!

Right.....I have a hairdressers appt in an hour or so, tho I really don't feel like going, I'm DESPERATE as my grey parting is getting ever wider!  So needs must!

Hugs to all and Happy Crafting
Christine x
Challenge:  MilkCoffee Challenge blog - Flowers

Bug and Roo - Marcie (no... I'm not swearing!! hehe)

Hi best blogging buddies

Well just a quickie from me tonight as I'm poorly sick, as someone (no names mentioned but she blames her hubbie), gave me a cough/cold last weekend at the Harrogate show.... and I can't shake it!  Nor can I sleep....  which wasn't helped by my OH being called out by work at 2.45 a.m. as one of the alarms had been set off!  When he arrived back, I just de-camped to the settee and watched Desperate Housewives till the sun came up...

It/s another little mini circular one from me again... I just love doing these...  and the image is from Lori Boyd Designs - she's called Bug and Roo - Marcie - and isn't she just soooo cute??

The rest of the card is self explanatory I think... apart from the dotty paper and the sentiment which are both from Pink Petticoat.  The paper is actually a more minky colour than it looks on here... nice with the pink.  The little flowers are punched with a Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch..  and I've put Pearl Makers in the centre of each.  There is a bit of daisy trimmiong from my stash... and yes....  there's glitter on this little lady.....  there just had to be or it wouldn't have been me colouring her, now would it?  Don't think it did my cough any good tho!

I thought I'd show you the back of this one too...  I normally just print this logo on all my cards, as I sell quite a few.. but I can't print on the circular ones obviously.  I just thought this was the best solution..

By the way, I still haven't unpacked my Harrogate stuff..... so will make sure I 'show and tell' on my next post as long as my other half isn't looking!!  Ok, I'm off to take some Lemsip (other cold remedies are, of course, available.....LOL!)  Uh oh, it's getting to my head now!! hehe

Big hugs to all and thank you for your lovely comments... hope you're having a lovely weekend.
Christine x

Anything Goes Challenge 63 - Get Ready for Easter

Hi to my lovely blogging friends...

Well it's the weeks have rolled by and it's time for another challenge over at Anything Goes!!  We had such a fabulous lot of entries for the Boyz to Men challenge... why don't you pop over to the challenge blog to see if you were a winner!! 

This time our theme is 'Get Ready for Easter'.... so I chose a lovely digi image that I had stashed on my computer from Saturated Canary - she's called Murray..  and I just love her to bits!

Now, I chose to use a central stepper card for this one, my first attempt at a stepper card... and I'm quite pleased how it turned out on the whole.  I coloured my image with Copics (available from The Craft Den), then matted and layered her with various pastel spring colours - which I also used on the steps.  I finished it off with a bit of ribbon and lace (again from my stash), a couple of Memory Box die cuts (Tessatina Border and Spring Border) to give it dimension, and a computer generated sentiment..... hope you like!

Just take a peek at the challenge blog to see what my lovely teamies have come up with to inspire you.....  and I look forward to seeing your entries!!

Thank you for the lovely comments you leave.... and happy crafting..
Big Hugs
Christine x
PS.... Will tell you all about my fab spa break and the new stash that I bought at Harrogate with my lovely friend Elaine on my next post!
Challenges:  Stampavie and More - Easter

Going to be pampered...

Hi Best Blogging Buddies

Well... in honour of the fact that my lovely OH and me are off tomorrow for a couple of days at a fabbie spa hotel, I decided to make a card to mark the occasion!  So out came LOTV Positively Pampered..  And yes, she had to be all pink and glittery (we'll maybe just refer to this in future as 'a la Christine..' hehe!

I coloured her with copics and promarkers, and I did try various embellishments including ribbons and bows with this image, but decided finally that she and her glitter was all that was needed - so I left her at that.  I did score a grid on the card behind her, then glittered the grid with Ice Stickles... I like the look I think...  No busy DP's tho to take away from her prettiness!

Now, for those hanging on tenterhooks waiting for news of my first WI meeting last week!!  Well, certainly no Jam and Jerusalem despite a lot of your comments!! hehe!  I'd made friends with some lovely ladies before I'd even got through the door - and they'd saved me a seat so I didn't feel so Billy No Mates!  There were about 80 ladies in the meeting altogether - it's a new and really fresh WI group... and I would say the average age is around 40-45 (ish).  Of course my joining raised that average a good deal! The talk was by a lady from 'Colour Me Beautiful' - and was all about the colours you should wear and how you look in the first impression you give means so much.  And there was I sitting in my jeans....  Hmmmm!  Anyway.... despite that, I really enjoyed the talk and made a few new friends, so a success all in all!  And guess what.... the next meeting just happens to be a craft night!  With.......  yes, you've guessed, a card making stand!!  (There is also a cross-stitch and a sugar-craft stand too).  So me being me, offered to help out with the card-making.  Good thinking???????   But now I think I have to come up with a project!!!  HELP PLEASE!!!  All suggestions gratefully received!  But remember, there won't be loads of scissors or DST, and I'm not taking my copics (heaven forbid)...

Hope you're all having a good week.... I'll think of you tomorrow when I'm being pampered having my facial etc... honest!

Take care and Happy Crafting
Hugs
Christine x

What a Sweetheart.....

Hi Best Blogging Buddies

Well, after a manly card yesterday, I just had to get back into my pink mode...  didn't I???  And this lovely little darling dropped through my letterbox yesterday (ooooh errr ... now did I order that? - seems I must have hehe!)  So she jumped the queue cos she's just so darn cute and she'd travelled a long way so must have had jet lag!  (I've got to admit, there were a few dirty looks from some of my other 'waiting to be inked' stamps.... particularly a LOTV fairy.... who did not look at all pleased!!)  Ah well, next time!

I'd like to introduce you to 'What a Sweetheart' from the Little Darlings Cutie Pies Collection - just released by Little Darlings Rubber Stamps over in the US.  And of course, she just had to be pink.... yes?????

Materials used:

• Bazzil cardstock
• Embossed cardstock from Sam Taylors
• DP from my stash - no name on it I'm afraid!
• Ribbon & Lace from stash
• Oval and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities
• Crafts Too Little Heart Embossing Folder
• Pearls from Stash
• Glittter.......... ahhhhhhhhhhhh...

I decoupaged her image,  as you can see with the hat done separately too.... so thought she deserved a big bow alongside!  Hope you like her..... I think I'm going to have difficulty parting with this one.... hehe!

I'm off to try out the Womens' Institute tonight.... I need to get out and meet some friends.... that's the problem when you move to a different area in your late 50's - you no longer meet mums at the school gate, nor are you in the 'pensioners day out' bracket!!  There's a definite gap - especially as I don't work.  I've been quite lonely lately (apart from my lovely OH and my daughter who pops over quite often), so I'm determined to get out there!  Wish me luck, as I'm not the most confident of people!!

Big hugs and Happy Crafting to all
Christine xx

Challenge: Little Darlings Challenge 18 - Pearls

No cracks please!

Hi to my lovely blogging friends..

Firstly I would like to say thank you to everyone who has been leaving me lovely comments lately... you really are a special lot!

Now.... it's Anything Goes Challenge time again.... and this week the theme is 'Boyz to Men' - which covers anything male-i-fied!!  I don't do male cards very often, so had to dig around in my stamps to see what I had - and came up with this rather rude guy on his knees!!  He's by Creative Expressions and comes in a set with lots of other 'old codger' type stamps - it's called Murray and Ethel Set 2.  After I'd coloured him, I decided to 3D his pants...  so I put an extra photo on to show that you can nearly see down them!! LOL

He's really easy to do - just coloured with my copics (available from The Craft Den), matted and layered .... sorry I can't remember the red stripe DP as it's been hanging in my stash for ages and has no name on it.  And I just added a touch of glossy accents on the hearts on his pants, and on his specs.  The sentiment was done on the PC. 

Hope my male creation made you chuckle.... and I look forward to seeing what you all come up with!!  We had some absolutely stunning entries for the Altered Project challenge..... why don't you pop over to the challenge blog to see it you were a winner.... and also to check out my gorgeous teamies male creations to give you some inspiration!

Take care all - and Happy Crafting..
Hugs
Christine x

Challenges:  Make It Monday Challenge 79- Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion 100th Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Yes it IS me with a Tilda....

Hi Best Blogging Buddies...


Yes...... you're seeing right........ tis me with a Tilda image!!  Well, it all started when I was chatting to my good friend Christine (t'other one) the other day, and we were talking about Tilda's and I said I only possessed one, as they're not my favourite ever images - those who know me, know that well!!  Sooooooooo kind lady that she is (and I think issuing me with a challenge at the same time, she immediately inked up some for me and sent me them, along with some fabulous die cuts (more about them later).  Twas lovely to receive such a nice RAK!)

So I set to to do my Tilda proud!  I used Kraft card and Magnolia paper (which I distressed the edges of) that I'd bought from Donacaster show last year, and then the die cut that (because it seemed out of stock everywhere) I persuaded Christine to do some of for me...... I love it!  It's a Cheery Lynn French Pastry Doily Die....  and it's absolutely gorgeous - and now I have it on order!!  I coloured Tilda with a mix of Copics and Promarkers.... shaded too with blues... then glittered her bow and underskirt with Glamour Dust.  The corners are Macarena Corner dies from Memory Box (from Samuel Taylor at Skipton the other day.... yes, ok, I confess,  MORE stash!  Katie at ST's knows now not to say the amount at the till out loud!!..... lovely girl!)  Then a couple of flowers out of felt and using another Cheery Lynn die.  Lastly, I used  a Woodware Butterfly punch and some gems that came from Stamping Bella a couple of years ago!  I think that's all that i have on it - quite a 'busy' card for me!

So don't say I don't ever do Tildas!  Hope you like this one.... I'll do another soon, I promise!

Hope you've all got a nice weekend planned - my OH is off this weekend, but I don't think we've anywhere planned ....  after going to Skipton and Sam Taylors the other day, I can't afford to!!  So maybe just more kitchen planning is in store!

Take care all and have a happy weekend..
Hugs
Christine x
PS... The card looks better IRL than it does on the photos!
Challenge:  Totally Tilda Die Cuts & Punches