Phew.... just in time!!

Hi Girls...

Well, I made it just in time!!  Mind you, I had to get up early this morning to finish the glueing...   Anyone else in that situation?

I chose this image from Digi Stamp Boutique a while back for my lovely OH's card...  so it was just a matter of colouring it..    The image is called Cute Robins Xmas Kiss and can be found HERE.

I coloured with my copics... die cut it with my Li'l Inkers Stitched Rectangle dies,  put a gorgeous paper I found at Sammy Taylors Embsay behind the image.. then added a bit of Bazzill dotty which I cut with a Martha Stewart Border punch.  I added a lovely satin ribbon and bow, and to finish, a computer generated sentiment.... oooh, and some glitter!!

I just wanted to show you the difference in the colours here when I took my first photo with just a normal electric light... and without my OTT lite.  Pretty amazing difference in the reds huh?  The other photos were taken with no light on in the room, just the OTT lite to catch the glitter..  and as it was about 8 am - there was very little natural light.  Santa brought me the OTT light a few years back now... hope he's as generous this year!

As my lovely OH is just as sloppy and romantic as me... I think he'll like this card.... and he does like a little bit of mistletoe!!

Big hugs and Happy Christmas to everyone..

Christine xxx

Hi all

As I'm unlikely to be on my blog much this week...  (even though I still have my lovely OH's card to MAKE!)...  I just wanted to say a special

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and a

VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 

NEW YEAR

to you all.... and to thank you so much for taking the time to follow me and my card making this year.

I hope you've all been good and that Santa brings what you're wishing for... (including some craft stash!)

Big hugs

Christine x

A couple of quick tags... and guess what colour???

Hi Girls

A real quick post from me today - but I thought you may like to see these tags I made very quickly...  and of course, in my favourite of all colours!

I used the stitched tag die from Papertrey Ink (Tag Sale #3)... and cut both a pink, and a glitter card tag with this.... then I used a Marianne Creatable Snowflake Die (LR0123) - to cut out the snowflake on the pink layer.  A bit of glue to stick them together and hey presto!  Oooh and some sparkly snowflake yarn to attach them to parcels...  

Like em?  Soooo easy!

Big hugs
Christine xxx

It's Snowing..... (well not really...)

Hi Ladies

I'm back today with my card for All Dressed Up...  let me introduce this little guy who needs a name!  The image is called 'It's Snowing'  and as he  is soooo darn easy to colour  ...  I decided to decoupage him too!  All I did was print him three times...  then diecut the first image with a square.  Then I fussy cut his body to layer... and lastly fussy cut another scarf, hat, robin and nose..  but I lost the nose before I got it onto the card!  Lesson learnt there for me...  to have a tidy desk when I decoupage!  So I resorted to Glossy Accents for his nose, and for his coal buttons too.  After I'd coloured the image (using Cool Gray Copic 1 and 3 on the white snow to give it some shade), I used sticky foam pads to layer up to give him lots of depth...  then added a Spellbinders Square Fleur De Lys behind the image shape.   I sponged a pale blue around the image while the square nestie was still in place to give me that white border.

And of course, no snowman would be complete without glitter to show the sparkles....  so I used my glue pen and sprinkled loads of it!!  The paper was one that I've had in for years... and the snowflake charm too... then all I needed to do was add the bow and the card was done.

I'm still writing my cards believe it or not.... I'm so disorganised this year!  But my lovely OH is at work over the weekend, so I'll have a bit of time to get then done....

Have a good weekend all..
Christine x

Yes...... it's me again...

And I'm back!!  Hardly seems like I was away for an hour or so... does it?? LOL!

This card is my DT card for our FAIRIES challenge theme at The Sugar Bowl...  and isn't she just the cutest little fairy??

This time I went for a much more muted pink.... which I managed with my Copic RV's..  

Card Recipe:

Image - Sugar Nellie Digi from the Winter Wonderland release - On the Wings of Love

Colouring Medium: Copics

Papers:  Maja Design

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat Handwritten Christmas Sentiments

SB Nestie - Rectangle

Magnolia Doohickey Border Die - Christmas Lace - from The Glitter Pot

Wooden Snowflake/Star embellishment - liberally sprinkled with Frantage

ooooh .... and some GLITTER!

My lovely OH prefers this muted pink to the brighter pink I did on my earlier card.... but I think I love both....  see?  Pink in any shade and I'm hooked!

Now... one lucky winner at The Sugar Bowl can win  FOUR fabulous Sugar Nellie pieces of sweet rubber if their card is chosen .. soooo why don't you get over there and join in..... you have to be in it to win it as they say.... 

Big hugs and Happy Crafting

Christine x

It's a PINK Christmas..

Hi Girls

Hope you're all well and preparing for the festivities...  and being as it's nearly time for the big fella to come down our chimneys.... we decided over at In The Pink to have a Christmas challenge!

I seem to have accumulated lots of Christmas digi images lately,  so I decided to go for one of those.. and she was a delight to colour!

Card Recipe:

Image:  Tiddlyinks Wryn Goes Caroling

Colouring Medium: Copics

SB Nestie Rectangle

Paper: Design House Digi Frostine Berry Ice (sorry no longer available)

White Bobble Trimming and Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon from Samuel Taylors

JOY charm from The Hobby House

GLITTER!! 

I'm really pleased with how this one turned out... I've been trying to achieve 'good depth of colour' for a while... and this one seems to show it well.

Why don't you pop over to In The Pink and join in....  all we'd like to see is something for Christmas - but of course, it has to be PINK!! LOL!

Big hugs

Christine xxx

PS...  I'll be back in an hour or so with another DT card today...  s'funny how they all end up on one day!!

A Very Posh Princess!

Hi Girls

Hope you're all OK after our recent bad weather....  the wind blew a hoolie here - but I'm delighted to say our new fence stayed put - thank goodness!

Today I have a card for you using one of the fab new Paper Nest Doll images..... this time it's Posh Princess - and I decided to have a change from my usual pink, as I've had this lovely plum Echo Park paper (from their Springtime range)  in my stash for a little while.  So she was coloured with my copics..... liberally sprinkled with glitter.... then I used one of my Li'l Inker Stitched Rectangle Dies for the shape.

I used the matching plain colour for the borders (which are using a Die-namics Wonky Scallop Border Die) - then all I did was add an organza bow, a little gem for the centre of the bow.... and some tiny gems for the edge of the border..

Sometimes less is more....  until it comes to the glitter of course........

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Big hugs

Christine x

While Shepherds Watched....

Hi Girls

Today I have another DT card for All Dressed Up....  these super cute images are so gorgeous to colour.... they're really just TOO cute!!  But.... (as always lately)... I seem to be last minute Lizzie again and rushed my card, so am not over happy with it...  I really don't like the snowflakes, but thought it needed something... ah well..

This gorgeous little shepherd image is called 'A Star is Born' and you can find it HERE.  I used Copics and Promarkers to colour...  some Pion paper combined with some Bazzil dotty textured card..  some white ribbon, a couple of Nesties for the shapes, an LOTV Christmas Sentiment.. then some Martha Stewart punched snowflakes.  I sponged around the image too with some pale blue to give it a night time feel and used a white pen for the falling snow. Of course, I had to finish off with glitter too - but not a lot this time...  it doesn't seem fashionable for shepherds to be dressed up in bling!

Why don't you pop over to the challenge blog HERE to see what the lovely other DT ladies have come up with...  and if you enter, you can win some fabulous digital images!

We also have a Facebook page...  you can find that HERE if you'd like to say hello to the group.... there's a very friendly bunch and it'd be fab if you wanted to share your creations there too!

Big hugs and Happy Crafting

Christine x

In The Pink again... (when isn't it pink time for me?? LOL!)

Hi Girls

I'm here again today with another pink card.... (yep.... you're surprised, aren't you??)...  This time it's for In The Pink... where are challenge this time is 

Embossing

Now I got asked a couple of times by the DT whether this included using embossing powders.... the answer was a big yes...  we'd love to see any type of embossing...  using embossing folders, stencils.... or heat embossing... and with our DT being addicted at the moment to Frantage..  this was a perfect reason to use it! (I did hear a tale of one of our ladies nearly getting frantaged to her desk......  shhhhhhhh... no names)

I decided to use both types of embossing......  as you can see...  this little fairy's wings were Frantaged within an inch of their life! LOL

(I tried to show the white dots surrounding the image... but no success really)

Card Recipe:

Image:  A Day for Daisies - Fairy Wish (freebie a couple of months ago)

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Marianne Creatables Edge Die

Nitwits/LOTV Always and Forever Paper

Button, Twine and glitter from Stash

Sentiment - Pebbles Rub On

Shabby Pink Frantage

I'm quite happy with the CAS (apart from the Frantage) way this turned out...  and it was nice to do an 'un-Christmas' card for a change! 

I've had a busy week up to now...  I have started doing some voluntary work for our local children's' hospice - Martin House in Boston Spa..  I'm hoping to help grow their lottery numbers...  £1000 prize every week and only 2500 people in the draw at the moment (such good odds!)...  £1 entry per week payable by Standing Order or 6 monthly cheque.... and it raises money for such a worthy cause..   so..... if any of you would like me to send you an entry form... just holler!  (OK that's the cheeky bit over with..) 

I also met up yesterday with my lovely friend Christine (Nanaseaside) - and finally got to meet her oh-so-cute little grand-daughter Mia... ooh and of course, Mia's mum - Alison.  Lovely to say hello again and to see Mia..

Don't forget to pop over to In The Pink and join in our challenge...  The Pink Ladies and I would be delighted to see you there!

Big hugs and Happy Crafting

Christine x

Still practising with Distress Inks..

Hi Girls...

I had a couple of quieter days this week.... so I took the opportunity to have another play with my Distress Inks...  I'm determined to master this colouring medium...  and know I'm getting better.... but not quite there yet I don't think!

I stamped LOTV Fairies in Stocking onto watercolour paper...  then enjoyed myself colouring and adding touches here and there.. I think I've managed to get some depth of colour which is what I was aiming for.. I used Pumice Stone and a touch of Black Soot for the shading.  The sentiment is from LOTV too.    I used my floral oval Nestie for the image.... then liberally Frantaged....  (oh how I love that stuff!)  I added a print out of some sheet music that I'd 'vintaged'...  and a little bit of woven hessian type stuff that was lying around in my drawer.  I also distressed and  'stickled'  the edges of the music..  put it all on some fabulous Pion paper, layered onto Kraft...  added a few enamel dots... and called it done...  I was in danger of getting carried away.

Hope you're enjoying my practising as much as I'm enjoying playing!  There's nothing like having a bit of quiet time to recharge.  I just wish I'd been able to get a better photograph.... there's barely any natural light today so I used my Ottlite... which on photos can wipe out the colour if it's too close.

I'd really love to hear what you think of my DI attempts..  so do say hello...

Big hugs.... and have a good weekend all..

Christine xx

Challenges:  LOTV Monthly Challenge - Pink and White

Time for a little punk lady..

Hi Girls

I'm here today as I'm thrilled to say that I've been asked again to be a Guest Designer at Paper Nest Dolls...  and today they have a fabulous new release of some gorgeous punk images! 

This little lady is Punk Emma.... and I decided that she deserved a bit of purple.... well OK, a LOT of purple (with just a hint of pink!)  Try as I might, I couldn't get a good photo of the actual shade of purple that the card is made with... blame the weather - no good light at all!  It's really a bit more vivid than the photo shows.

She was a little cutie to colour (with my copics and promarkers).  I used a large dotty digi paper from Pink Petticoat... cut out a circle with my nesties.... I put some white card that had been run through a chevron embossing folder behind...  then finally added a sentiment from Paper Smooches.... oooh and some glitter - as yes, even punks can have glitter!

If you pop over to the blog HERE, you'll  see all the new images.... then just leave a comment on the Paper Nest post today for your chance to win the whole five images!!

Big hugs

Christine x

All Dressed Up....

And I'm back yet again today...  with a card I made for the All Dressed Up Team inspirational posts...  using another of Wendy Burn's fabulous images!  Isn't she just the cutest?

Of course, this little fairy had to have pink and glitter...  didn't she girls??  Coloured as always with Copics, then liberally sprinkled with glitter..  I then popped her onto a card with some pink snowflake paper that has no name - but is one of my favourite papers.. (I think I got it when I last visited the US... but I got lots cos I loved it so much!)  I used a Martha Stewart snowflake border punch that I've had for yonks... and added some ribbon and a bow in luscious satin pink.

There's always lots of fabulous inspiration from the Design Team using Wendy's images over on the All Dressed Up blog....  why don't you grab a cup of coffee, then pop over and take a peek?  See you there!

Big hugs
Christine x
PS......  Phew....  my last post for today - I can go back to hibernation for a while!!  Thanks for bearing with me.. x

Sparkle and Shine at The Sugar Bowl... - Challenge 111

Hi again all..

I know what you're thinking... my posts are like buses... nothing for a while and then they all come at once!! LOL!

It's time for another challenge at The Sugar Bowl...  and this time the theme is 'Sparkle and Shine'.... a perfect theme for me don't you think?  I'm the one that goes out all dressed up and then someone tells me I have glitter on my nose!  I think my house is like a snow globe...  it seems to get on every surface...  but I love it!

Anyway... back to the card...  I've used Titania today (coloured with Copics).. and although she's Queen of the Fairies in Midsummer Night's Dream, I tried to make her look frosty for this time of year by using lots of blue...  think I managed it?

I used a snowflake paper from Crafters' Companion...  then I diecut some Memory Box snowflake hangers.  The 'sparkle' sentiment is done on the PC - then I used some distressed seam binding by pleating it onto DST.  Some gems and lots of sparkle - and she was done!

I hope you'll pop over to The Sugar Bowl to see what my lovely teamies have come up with... and then hopefully you'll join in our Sparkle and Shine challenge where you could win some fabulous stamps!  Don't forget, you have to use a Sugar Nellie image to enter...  but with such fabulous ones to choose from, and now digis too...  how difficult is that?  LOL!

Looking forward to seeing you in The Sugar Bowl..

Biggest of hugs
Christine x

In The Pink.... (as always)... and this time it's a bit of stitching..

Hi Ladies

This is the first of three posts of mine today......  no wonder I've been quiet lately... squirrelling to get all these done as I knew they were all due for the same day!  Hope you don't get fed up hearing my waffle...

This first card is  for In The Pink......  our theme this time is 'Stitching - Faux or Real'...  and I'm afraid I'm not a very good stitcher at all!!  But I dug out my sewing machine and tried a very simple rectangle..  hope you like the result.... with the strategically placed snowflakes!

This cute little lady is from Whimsie Doodles and is called 'Ugg Leah' (OK... I can see the Ugg boots... but such an awful name for a lovely little lady when you put the two words together!)  

I coloured her with my trusty Copics (R81, 83, 85 and 89 - a combination I love),  then used my (favourite at the moment) Nestie rectangle die to cut the shape.  I did try to stitch in a straight line.. honest.... but I can see where I've wandered!  The snowflakes are from Marianne Createables.. and the sentiment is from a Paula Pascual set..  and of course, glitter and gems to complete.

Hope you'll pop over to In The Pink and join us Pink Ladies in our Stitching Challenge...  we'd love to see you there!

I'll be back a little later - see you then! 

Big Hugs 

Christine x

Bob..bob..bobbing along....

Morning Girls..

Hope you've got a lovely Sunday planned... the sun is shining here and my lovely OH is at home..  so it's a fab day!

For today's card, I used one of the digi images that came from the new Digital Crafting Essentials Mag..  it's one of the Jellypark Design images that's on CD 1 - but I did crop it so I just was able to get the robin rather than the whole image...

He's so cute and a delight to colour....  then I cut him out and 3D'd him onto a Dienamics circle, which had been run through a cuttlebug embossing folder.  I used another Nestie decorative circle for the red trim.  The papers are from Nitwits/Lili of the Valley, and the sentiment is a rub on from Pebbles Inc.  I added a little bit of glitter to his scarf and hat... and he was done!

Hope you like!

Big hugs

Christine x

What do you think of this one??

Hi Girls

I bought this die a while back... it's called Winter Wreath from Die-Namics..  and is just the circle of twigs and the bow...  Anyway....  I added some holly leaves, some little punched star-like flowers... some stickles, and some red gems..  but I'm still not sure whether I like it or not...

The stitched square die is one of my favourite dies of all time (that's why I use it over and over) and is from Li'l Inkers in the US...  and the sentiment - well I can't remember where that came from... it was in my box of unused sentiments from a long time back!

So let me know what you think please?

My lovely OH has a few days off work now...  so I may not be around as much as I normally am as we plan to do some chillin' out and some nice pub lunches...  but I'll be back soon.

Big hugs and Happy Crafting..

Christine x

Going Postal for Christmas at Totally Tilda

Hi Girls

Today I'm here with my second and last Guest Designer card for Totally Tilda..  it was really lovely to be asked to do a GDT spot..  and I must admit...  I've really enjoyed colouring some of these fab images..

Soo...  I chose Holly Tilda- as the theme is 'Going Postal for Christmas'... She's coloured with my copics as usual..  It seems a very 'green' card... but saved by her pink dress and bows thank goodness!  It's also a very 'busy' card for me... 

I did lots of distressing and added loads of glitter and stickles too...  well, if you can't have sparkle-ishousness at Christmas, when CAN you have it??  My postal bit is the stamp cut sentiment...

Materials Used:

• Image - Tilda with Holly
• Dies:  Nesties Oval, Nesties Labels 18, Whimsy Postage Stamp Die, Cottage Cutz Holly Bough
• Sentiment: Whimsy Stamps Holiday Postage Stamps
• Papers: Bits from stash, no names sorry
• Gems and Glitter from stash

As this is my second and last GDT card, I'd like to thank the girls at Totally Tilda for inviting me to play..  I've had fun!  Why don't you pop over to the challenge blog HERE to see what the other lovely ladies have come up with??  You could win a fab prize if you enter too - the generous sponsor this time is The Ribbon Girl...  so what's stopping you??

Big hugs and Happy Sunday

Christine x

Autumn/Thanksgiving at All Dressed Up

Hi Ladies

I'm back today with a totally different colour scheme for me.....  but guess what, I like it!!  Hmmmm should I be worried about my lack of pink do you think?????

It's time for another fab challenge using my favourite digi stamps - All Dressed Up...  and this little lady is called 'All Wrapped Up' - she's drawn by the super talented Wendy Burns and is available HERE.  Isn't she just gorgeous??  As the theme is Autumn/Thanksgiving.....  I decided to use tans/browns (OK - with a tiny bit of muted pink on the flowers and her tights..)  Lots of E number copics and some promarkers did the job. I used a Nestie rectangle (plain and simple) and the papers were out of a Basic Grey pad called Marrakech. The 'belly band' is brown bazzil punched with a Martha Stewart border punch on both sides.  I added a computer generated sentiment onto a La La Land Crafts Stitched Tab die, then finished with some flowers using a Die-namics Flower Trio die.  A couple of pearls from The Hobby House added and that was it.

We'd very much love you to pop over to the challenge blog and give it a go...  you do need to use an All Dressed Up image..  but with such fabulous ones to choose from and even freebies too... who could resist?? And there's a wonderful prize of NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT THREE of these super digis to be won! These images really are taking off in a big way... not surprising really seeing as how cute they are and how talented Wendy is...  and I'm so thrilled to be a Dressy Girl on the Design Team!

Take care all... and if you're going to any bonfires this weekend...  ENJOY and stay safe!

Big Hugs and Happy Crafting
Christine x

Challenges:  The Hobby House Challenge #6 - Pearls
Ladybug Crafts - November - Autumn colours
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes

Halloween.... at last!

Hi Girls

Well... I don't normally do Halloween bags... I just have candy in a big basket for kiddies that call... but this year I couldn't resist using a couple of wonderful All Dressed Up Images to make some pouches.  I finished them at 5 pm.... and they have now gone! (made for the kiddies next door!)  The glue was still wet!

This one is All Dressed Up Magical Day... 

And this one is All Dressed Up Mummy

Seems like I was just in time!!

And this is what my darling OH put at the top of our stairs to greet me today.... and he wonders why I didn't have a heart attack!

Have a S-P-O-O-K-Y Halloween...

Christine xxx

Ribbons and Bows at In The Pink

Hi Girls

Happy Halloween to you all!!

Now, here we are again... time for another pink card from me (OK, OK, I know I don't often stray very FAR from pink......), but this is 'proper' pink again!!  It's time for a new challenge at In The Pink... this time the challenge is Ribbons and Bows.  

I chose to use this lovely Uptown Girl from Stamping Bella - 'Ava Loves to Celebrate' coloured with my Copics...  oooh I could just eat a slice of that cake!  Of course, she had to have lots of glitter..  well it wouldn't have been me if I didn't get my glitter out, would it?  I fussy cut her, taking care not to slice her legs off or decapitate her, then glittered her skirt, and the icing on her cake.  I chose some Crafters' Companion dotty pink DP (I use this quite often as you can tell!), and a hearts embossing folder.  

And of course....  I used some lush satin ribbon for the bow!!

Why don't you pop over to In The Pink to join in the fun??  We'd love to see you at the Pink Palace.... and you can let your pink passion loose...  I think all us girlies have a love of pink tucked away somewhere... don't we??

Big hugs and Happy Crafting
Christine xx

A little Holiday Village

Hi Girls

Just a quickie today... I saw a card by Chrissie on LIM the other day using this fab stamp and die set... and of course, had to track it down!  I decided to use mine on a red background rather than white..  but with regard to the colouring... although I would have liked to make it a bit different, there is little choice but to do the trees green!!  However, mine do have a smattering of the all important glitter...

I really took to this set...  so easy to make and colour ...  so it may be another one I can turn out a few of!

Recipe:

Memory Box Poppy Stamps - Holiday Village Stamp and Die

Paula Pascual Sentiment - Christmas 

The most difficult bit was getting a photo of the true red colour...  always so difficult to do, but this is as close as I could get.

Hope you like!

Big hugs

Christine xxx

Rodney.... isn't he a cutie??

Hi Girls

Here's a card I made for fun....  cos I loved this little guy as soon as I saw him!  Let me introduce Rodney to you...  he's from CC Designs ... and he's a little joy to colour!!  He does have some Glossy Accents on his nose... and some glitter on his little bell... but I couldn't get it to show on the pic!  

Anyway.... simple as can be... coloured with my Copics... The square die is from Li'l Inkers..  there's a bit of twine, and a couple of sentiment tags from LOTV.  

I may have to go into mass production of these!! LOL!

Big hugs.... oooh and a big welcome to my newest followers...  

Christine xxx