Anything Goes taking a little break...

Hi Girls...

Today is normally the day for another Anything Goes challenge.... and this time it was supposed to be Altered Art or Tags...  so I got these ready..  but unfortunately have to tell you that Anything Goes is now going to be taking a short break until the New Year...  so there's no challenge today... :(

Some of our lovely DT have been going through major life issues...  so we all had a natter and thought rather than keep the challenge going half-heartedly, we would come back at full strength after Christmas and also have fab new DT members along with us too, to provide lots of wonderful inspiration.

Soooooo  ....  I decided to go ahead and pop my tags on here anyway.... to show you what I've been working on. These were inspired by the lovely Elaine at A Technophobe's Blog...  when I saw some that she'd done last year... I just had to have a go.

The actual tag die is from a Papertrey ink die..... the poinsettia is a Tim Holtz die, cut using dark red pattered DP, with distress ink round the edges.  There is a little button in the centre, and some twine for a little knot, and also for the tag string!  The little sentiments (which I use a LOT) are from Paula Pascual and are from the Essential Christmas set.  I've stamped them in Memento brown ink..  I thought it looked better on the kraft than black.

So there you go....  hope you like these....  and hope you'll join us again in the New Year.... as they say... Watch This Space!!

Big hugs and Happy Crafting
Christine xx

Just the ticket!

Hi Ladies

I'm here today with some exciting news...  I was thrilled to be asked recently by the lovely Christine to do a Guest Designer spot at Totally Tilda Challenge blog..  Now... most that know me know that I've not been too partial to Tildas in the past..  but I must admit... I've been converted by these fabulous new designs lately..  and my collection is growing!

The theme for this challenge is 'Just the Ticket'...and cards must feature a ticket in some shape or form..   This little lady is Princess Tilda with Curl...  coloured and shaded with my Copics..  The paper is from Magnolia too which was part of a lovely birthday gift, and I distressed the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink... so that it would blend in with the Kraft card better.  I added a Tim Holtz ticket... a distressed seam binding band and bow... a lovely gem button from The Hobby House... and lastly a gem swirl.... well she IS a Princess.... so she deserves lots of jewels, doesn't she?  I finished off with plenty of Stickles and Glitter too..

Why don't you pop over to the blog and see what the lovely ladies have come up with for inspiration..  And you could win yourself a fabbie prize - the sponsor this time is Bunny Zoe's Crafts... and the prize is a £10 voucher for their store!

I have to admit, the postman brought me some of the new Winter Wonderland Tildas on Friday...  wonder how he knew I wanted them?? !!  So my collection grows evermore!

Big hugs to all and Happy Crafting..

Christine x

The Sugar Bowl Challenge - this was my first Sugar Nellie image...

Hi again ladies...

Well.... can you believe it's me????  This time NO PINK at all!!  Even I'm struggling to believe it's me!  But we all need a change every now and again - so I took the opportunity to go for some different coloured  pens that don't come out very often...

This time the theme at The Sugar Bowl is 'Use your First Sugar Nellie Stamp or Image'.  I'm not totally sure that this is actually the first one I bought... but definitely ONE of the first as I may have bought one or two (or MORE..) at one go..

Card Recipe:

• Sugar Nellie Manga Fairy
• Colouring Medium - Copics
• Stars Embossing Folder from Central Craft Collection
• Paper - Bo Bunny Ambrosia
• Square Nestie
• Ribbon and glitter from stash..

I really enjoyed this colour combo...  and decided she had to have bright red hair...  I think I managed it, don't you??  And as she's sitting... I decided to put the embossed panel behind her... hopefully giving the impression she's sitting on a window frame..

I hope you'll pop over to the challenge blog HERE and join in the fun....  don't forget, you need to use a Sugar Nellie image...  the first you ever had.  You'll also see that the lovely Sweeties have come up with some fabulous inspiration for you...  And, as if you needed more persuasion... you can win one of the best prizes in blogland.... FOUR lovely pieces of Sugar Nellie rubber from Funky Kits....  images of your choice!

So what's stopping you??  Hope you enjoy this fabulous challenge...

Big hugs and Happy Crafting..

Christine xxx

Time for a SKETCH at In The Pink

Hi Ladies

Well it's Pink time again (let's face it... in my world, when is it NOT?)...  and over at In The Pink, the challenge theme is to use our sketch...  

So easy...  I couldn't wait to give it a go! 

I chose Mad Blanche from Saturated Canary who was a dream to colour with my copics..  (I tried another hair colouring combo this time by the way as I thought she deserved a touch of red...)  My lovely OH commented 'she looks like she means business' - she certainly is a sassy lassie!  I used a Nestie Floral Oval die for her... then added Frantage to make her oval frame sparkle!  Obviously she had to have glitter, so I made her sash sparkle with my prisma glitter.  I used a Martha Stewart border punch and some ribbon for the band beneath the oval, then added a Pink Petticoat sentiment using a Memory Box Sentiment Strip die. The pink dotty card was bought at the Harrogate show a couple of weeks back.. then three lovely organza flowers from Mei Flower completed my card.

Hope you like her...  and that you'll pop over to In The Pink and join in the fun!  We are sharing some exciting news today also... but you'll have to go and see...

While I'm here - I'd love to say a massive welcome to my newest followers..... thank you for taking the time to find my blog and leave your lovely comments...  I can't say often enough that the comments I receive often make my day...

Big hugs and Happy Crafting..
Christine xxx

PS... You'll get tired of me today as I'll be back shortly with my Sugar Bowl card..

Another Paper Nest cutie...

Hi Ladies

I'm here today with another Paper Nest Doll card that I was asked to make by the lovely Christine of The Paper Nest.  This time it's a fabulous new image called Ice Skating Ellie.. available as a digi image at the website HERE or as a rubber stamp.

I coloured this gorgeous little cutie with my copics... (in pink of course..), then used some lovely pink Christmas paper (no name on it I'm afraid), together with some kraft card.  I glittered a Memory Box Gabriella Border and added some gems for extra sparkle.... then completed the card with a rub-on sentiment by Pebbles Inc.

It's lovely to think that a couple of my cards are on display in a shop in Florida!  

If you pop over to the Paper Nest Blog HERE today.... you'll find that there's a blog hop going on with some wonderful prizes to be won...  so why not take a peek? 

Big hugs and Happy Crafting..

Christine x

All Dressed Up and ready to party...

Hi peeps..

I'm very excited today to be doing my first Dressy Girl post for All Dressed Up Digi Images..  I'm still getting over being asked to be on their DT..  so excuse me if I blabber on a bit... 

I thought I'd go for a circular card for a change..  these are so easy to do and always look so very effective.. 

I chose to use one of the gorgeous Three Little Party Girls for my card - available HERE (they can be used separately or as a threesome)...  and as (some of you may know) my very favourite colour is pink... this little lady had to be wearing a pretty pink dress!

I used Grand Nestibilities circular dies (scalloped and plain) for the card shape... then coloured the image with Copics.  The paper is from a My Mind's Eye Dwell paper pad, and I used a pearl rope trim round the edge.  Believe me, there was glue everywhere while I was sticking this on!  The tag sentiment is from LOTV - and of course, the glitter and ribbon came from my stash.

If you haven't already visited the the All Dressed Up Blog and the Etsy Store to see what's on offer - you really should...  All of Wendy Burns's  images are so super-cute...  you'll be spoiled for choice!   And you could also join our Facebook Group HERE to share your creations... we'd love to see what you make!

Hope you all have a good day... Happy Crafting!

Big Hugs

Christine x

Caroling Snowmen..

Morning Girls

I had a nice surprise recently....  Christine from Paper Nest Dolls got in touch with me to ask would I make a couple of cards for display in her shop in Florida using her images...  (I'd made a couple of cards personally for Christine a couple of years back..)  so it was lovely to hear from her again and to find she is now doing her own digi images and stamps. I jumped at the chance of using them - and would like to say a very big thank you to Christine for asking me to Guest for a while!

Today's card is using Caroling Snowman... a gorgeous image to colour which really comes to life... and of course, needed LOTS of sparkle!

I decided on traditional reds and greens, and used some tartan paper from a Nitwits/LOTV Paper Pad... Classic Christmas to match their tartan scarves.  I coloured with copics and promarkers...then used a Marianne's Craftables CR1248 Circle die.  I added a sentment from LOTV Handwritten Christmas Sentiments.. then finally some tiny little snowflakes that were waste from a border punch..  some gems, and a tiny green twine bow... oooh and some red Stickles for the holly berries and the ear muffs!

Hope you like.... I'll be back next week with another of her fab designs which is being released soon...  so exciting!!

Hope you're all keeping ok...  and now the Autumn has arrived, are able to get more crafting done!

Be back soon...
Big hugs
Christine xxx

It's that PINK time again..

Hi Girls

I'm here again!  I know, I know.... I've been missing for a week (for which... blame Virgin Media.. grrrr!)... then I'm here twice in two days!  Ah well... feast or famine as they say!

Hope you're all doing OK and not feeling the 'after summer blues'...  it's getting a bit chillier and very damp over here in Yorkshire at the moment... but the weekend is supposed to be nicer.......  hmmmm..... enough rattling on about the weather and onto my card!

It's time for another challenge at In The Pink......  and this time, the theme is 'Luscious Lace'!  I'm sure you all have the odd bit of lace knocking about somewhere.....  don't you?  If not, I have a drawer full so I could let you have some! LOL!

I decided to use a lovely image from Sherri Baldy...  as she's been calling out to be coloured for a while and I've been ignoring her pleas... but out she came for this little one.

Recipe:

• Image - Sherri Baldy image 765 (Fussy cut and mounted)
• Colouring Medium - Copics and Promarkers
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
• Paper - Maja Designs Sofiero (soooooooo gorgeous... didn't want to cut it)
• Sentiment - Rub on from Pebbles Inc
• Lace, Glitter, Stickles, and Pearl Trim from (seriously getting too big for my house) stash

I'd love you to pop over to In The Pink and take up the challenge...  the lovely Pink Ladies have come up with some stunners (again!) to give you PinKspiration should you need it! 

Before I disappear - I'd like to share with you as promised,  a photo of my girls that is one of the ones that were taken at a photo-shoot we had done (part of my 60th pressies in August)

I'm just a teensy bit proud of them!!

Big hugs to all and Happy Crafting..

Christine xx

Challenge: Live and Love Crafts Challenge #16 - Must use Pink

The day has finally arrived!

Hello ladies...

Well... it's finally here (I'm so excited!)...  time for my first DT card for a brand new challenge at All Dressed Up......  with such fabulous images by the super-talented Wendy Burns.  You really won't believe how cute these images are.... to be quite honest (and you know I always am...), these are the best digi images I've seen in a very long time!  The design team are all so thrilled to be involved and we feel very lucky ladies!

The challenge theme is a nice easy one for you.....  it's 'ANYTHING GOES' - All we ask is that you use an All Dressed Up digi image please...  and as there are some freebies available for you when you visit the blog...  it couldn't be easier!  

But if you would like to check out Wendy's other images......  you'll find her Etsy shop HERE - but be warned.....  you'll fall in love with her stunning artwork........  I know I certainly did!

This little lady is called 'My Best Friend' - and awwwwwwwwwww  she's so cute!!  

Other materials used:

• Papers - Echo Park Sweet Girl
• Dies - Spellbinders Rectangles and Li'l Inkers Sunshine Small
• Colouring Medium - Copics
• Tiny Flower Border - Doodlebug Designs Paper Frills
• Gems, Stickles, Twine, Bazzil and Glitter from stash

So...  pop over to the blog HERE to check out what my lovely teamies have come up with....  you'll be amazed to see such stunning use of Wendy's images....  I know I was.

The challenge will run for two weeks and we're sooo  looking forward to seeing what you come up with using images from All Dressed Up.  And you can win this........

That's £5 to spend on these wonderful images!  So what're you waiting for????  

Before I go... I'd love to say a big welcome to my lovely new followers...  thank you for taking the time to be here and for any comments you leave...  they mean a lot to me.  And I also need to apologise of behalf of Virgin Media.. (GRRRR).... who have kept me offline for more than half of this last week!  Did you miss me??? 

Big hugs and Happy Crafting....

Christine xxx

Out with the Girls...

Hi Peeps

Today's card is for the new challenge at Anything Goes - and the theme is 'Out With The Girls'...   well I know these ladies can only be 'loosely' referred to as girls...  but they certainly look out for a good time, don't you think?

I tend to think I'm the one on the left with the pink dress, and the glittery sequins...  and a bit fatter ankles than the others...  but I'll leave it to you to decide!

Recipe:

• Image and Sentiment - Inky Antics Worldly Women Clear Stamp Set
• Colouring Medium - Copics
• Paper - Kaisercraft

Hope you'll check out my lovely teamies' creations at Anything Goes - you have four weeks again this time to enter...  then hopefully we'll be back to our regular two weekly slot.

Big hugs and Happy Crafting..

Christine xxx

Exciting News!!!

Morning Ladies..

I have some really exciting news to share today...  a little while back I applied for a new Design Team call from All Dressed Up Digi Stamps....  and heard this week that my application had been successful!!!  As these are the cutest little digis I've seen for a long time from the pen of the very talented Wendy Burns, I jumped at the chance and bit their hands off when I received the offer.... so I'm now a Dressy Girl - and am still doing the Happy Dance!

There are quite a few of us newbies on the DT...  so it'll be fun getting to know everyone, but I also found some very familiar faces too... which is fab!  But I'll let them break their own news...

To celebrate - I've used one of my favourite images (hmmmm ok, I think they're all my favourites at the moment..) - this little lady is called Sweetie Pie - and don't you think she just cried out for pink and gingham? I did try (honest) to put other embellishments on....  but nothing seemed to fit, so I left her CAS so nothing would detract from the image - just using a PTI rick-rack die and a couple of My Mind's Eye coloured dots.

I hope you'll pop over to our Facebook Page to join in the fun - click on the image above to be taken straight there.... it's a fun place to be!  And then pop over to our challenge blog HERE.. 

My daughters and I are off to a photographer's studio today to have a portrait done... one of my fabulous birthday presents from them in August - but we've had to wait for Clare to be here from Bermuda...  so wish me luck.... I HATE my photograph taken - and need to tell him not to show my mouth, my double chin, my legs, my kankles...  etc... etc... 

Big hugs and have a fab weekend..

Christine xx

Twice in one day??

Hi Girls

I'm back as promised - this time with my card for this month's Sugar Nellie Challenge.  Again it's an Anything Goes type theme (as long as you use a Sugar Nellie image)...  so I decided to make another Christmas card....  hmmm, don't know what's come over me - I'm not generally so organised when it comes to Christmas..

I chose Sugar Nellie Wish Upon a Star digi image and had a ball colouring her with blues... (yes, the only pink on the card are her rosy cheeks) - but I did succumb to the glitter...!  Well what self respecting fairy would be seen without her glitter??)

Recipe:

Image:  Sugar Nellie Wish Upon a Star from Funky Kits
Colouring Medium: Copics
Shading:  Sponged with Adirondack Sea Shells Cloudy Blue
Dies:  Marianne Craftables CR1248 (circle), Joy Snowflake Border Winter Wishes
White Ribbon, Gems, and Glitter from stash

Hope you'll pop on over to the Challenge Blog HERE and see my lovely, talented teamies' creations.... then why don't you join in?  As always, you have four weeks to enter using a Sugar Nellie image..  and you'll have a chance to win some gorgeous Sugar Nellie rubber stamps.....  what better reason could there be??

Big Hugs
Christine xx

In the Pink time again (ok.. when am I every out of pink mode??)

Morning Ladies..

Here's the first of two posts from me today... (you knew I'd been quiet didn't you??)...  and this one is for our new challenge at In The Pink.....  where the theme today is BLING IT UP!  Right up my street this one, don't'cha think??? LOL

I chose one of the new Saturated Canary digi images for my card...  I've been dying to colour her up..  she's called Sweater Socks Fairy....  I think she's just gorgeous - and I thought she cried out for pink and glitter!  

Recipe:

• Image: Saturated Canary Sweater Socks Fairy
• Spellbinders Nesties Oval Die
• Colouring Medium - Copics
• Sponging - Adirondack Sea Shells Pink
• Gems from The Hobby House
• Tulle to make bow from ever increasing stash
• Metal filigree corners also from stash...
• Glitter and Stickles from stash too... 

I just had to 3D one of her wings (though I do have trouble cutting a wing from another fairy - ouch!)....  I love it for the fairies to look like they're about to take flight on a card...  it always gives them a bit more depth too.  Hope you like.  Pop over the IN THE PINK to see what fabulous bling-ey creations the very talented Pink Ladies have come up with too...  you won't be disappointed.

Can I just say a very big welcome to my new followers to and say thank you for choosing to follow my ramblings...  and also to say thanks for the lovely comments I've received up to now.... it's always nice to say hello - and it really means so much to me.

I'll be back shortly with my post for this month's Sugar Bowl challenge.... see you then!

Big hugs and Happy Crafting..

Christine xx

A little stripey attitude...

Hi Peeps

Well I'm back from my hols in France.... Miss me??  We had a lovely time, but a tad wet for the last few days...  however we did manage to see all the sites in the Dordogne and I even climbed to the very top of a massive big hill with a castle on it...  (and I'm not a castle person really)....  ahhhhhhh the things we do for love!

Onto my card...  today's challenge at Totally Gorjuss is 'Stripes'...  so I decided to go bold and use a pre-coloured topper that I'd bought from The Hobby House - it's Kenny K's Queen's Cutie.....  isn't she just so sassy??  I actually trimmed her to a rectangle as the topper was shaped...  then I doodled around her.  OF COURSE, she just had to have a bit of glitter on her hat and trainers... and all I did otherwise to the image was to give her a little shading with my copics... W1 and W3 around the edges to give her depth.

I used a Cuttlebug chevron embossing folder for the texture on the other piece of card...  the stripey paper I can't tell you the name of I'm sorry as it was a piece in my stash.. I did the sentiment on the PC ... and then I added some gems to finish.

I'd love you to pop over to Totally Gorjuss to see what my teamies have come up with too...  our sponsor this time is Crafters' Companion... so you could win yourself something nice if you enter...

It looks like it may be a wet weekend here in Wetherby... so after I've finished the mountain of washing and ironing I brought back, I just MAY get some play time!

Oooh and I will try to be around next week.... but my youngest daughter arrives on Monday for a visit for a couple of weeks (for those that don't know, she lives in Bermuda)...  so my commenting may be a bit sparse.. Hope you'll forgive me!

Big hugs to all and Happy Crafting...
Christine x

Challenge: The Hobby House Artists Challenge