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!

Die Cut Dreams Last Challenge - #107 - Pink/Red Hearts

Hi All

Hope you're all well this cold Monday morning...

Well it's that time again....  time for another Die Cut Dreams Challenge, and unfortunately this is our last challenge!!! I'm so sad!!! 

We had some fabulous entries in our last challenge - which was for a Sympathy card.... it was really good to look through them all.

Now the challenge this time is for a card using pink/red hearts.  I'm sure that we're all thinking Valentines at this time of year.... so it should be easy!  For my card, I used some My Mind's Eye Paper called State of the Heart...  then a digi image from DigiStamp Boutique - in their Valentine Set.  Well of course, I had to colour this little cutie in pink....  and then the hearts glittered red!  I did an extra image and 3D'd it up on foam pads after embossing it to curl the edges.  I added a red satin bow and it was finished!  I think I may just send this to my lovely OH in a couple of weeks time!

Check out my super-talented teamies creations over on the challenge blog... Die Cut Dreams - then we look forward to seeing your fabulous entries!  Up for grabs this week are some die cuts from our lovely sponsor ... Crimson Cloud... check out the main challenge blog for details.

Big Hugs
Christine x
Challenge:  Anything Goes Challenge - To the One I love

Always up for a quickie...

Hi All

Just showing a very quick card this morning - It had to be put together very quickly, as I'd forgotten to do it and the lady I sent it to loves flowers, so I thought this image was perfect!

I used a Hero Arts Digi Kit - Garden Flowers that was already pre- coloured (talk about cheating....!)  All I did was add some glitter (of course), used a nestie to cut out the shape.....  added a little bit of ribbon and lace to the bazzil background.... then a home cut tag with a printed sentiment from Pink Petticoat.  And it was ready to go!  Hope you like... and thanks for any comments you may leave... It's always nice to hear from you..

Big Hugs and Happy Weekend..
Christine x

Sooooo pink, soooooo glittery....... soooooo me!!

Hi everyone..


I've just come back from the dentist where I've had yet more work done (another root canal filling.... yuck(!) so I've come on blogger to take my mind off what may be to come when the injection wears off! I keep hoping to have got to the end of the dental work... but still have the jaw inflammation. Fingers (and everything else) crossed that it'll all calm down now... I'm so fed up of it all! So I'm going to think positive!!!!

Onto my card.... as I'd done a card or two without my favourite pinks and glitters lately, it just had to come. I went overboard! But.... it's my type of card.... and it made me happy, so what the heck!

I used the first of my Saturated Canary images (confession - I've bought a few lately...) This one is Whispy - A Fairy, and she's from the uber talented Krista Smith on Etsy. Well ....... she just HAD to have a pink dress, didn't she? And then, she just had to have my most gorgeous DP - which is Crea Diem from Maja Designs (I got it from Tracy at Designs to Die For...) and it was all Laurie's (Designer Diva) fault for using this paper on her card last week. I distressed the edges of the paper (I got distressed while doing it to such lush paper too!) ALSO Laurie's fault was the heart die that I've used - it's a Doo Hickey Die Romantic Lace (I got it from Sir Stampalot). So this card cost me roughly about £20!! Your fault Laurie!!! hehe!

Anyway, as you can see, she's coloured with Copics and Promarkers... her overskirt and wings glittered with glamour dust... the oval is a nestie.... then I inked and distressed the edges of the oval and glittered them with Stickles Icicles... (mmmm!) which actually let the pink inked edge show through. I decided she needed a lovely big bow, so I used some wide ribbon from my stash that I'd bought from The Ribbon Girl a while ago.. I felt she just NEEDED that glamour alongside her..... right??? I finished the card off with a few diamante gems from my stash.. then had to stop myself going any further! Hope you like..

Can I just say a big welcome to my new followers - it's lovely to have you wanting to follow my makings... (and my ramblings) and for all your kind comments on my video tutorial. I promise I will try to do another one soon!

Big Hugs and Happy Crafting..
Christine x
Challenges:  Saturated Canary - Challenge #9
LCI Challenge # 52 - Bows

Rosie...... oh Rosie..... I'd like to paint your face up in the sky.....

Hi all

Well... does anyone else remember Don Partridge with that song?  It's been going around in my head while I've been making this card!  And yes, I'm THAT old! LOL

This is a card I've done for the Sugar Nellies Facebook Challenge (Week 1) - the criteria was to only use green and blue!  Sooooo difficult for the pink queen here....   But I managed to put lots of glitter on which kind of made up for the lack of my fav colour!

Rosie is from the Fairy Glen Sugar Nellie collection over at Funky Kits.  She's an adorable image and I'm sure she'll look better in pink when I get the chance! LOL!  I coloured her with Copics - glittered her up.... used a nestie shape for the image... and sponged the edge of the shape to give some definition.  I then used some paper from my stash (GCD Ella Blue - may be out of production now cos I bought the pad cheap a while back)... and put the whole lot onto a bazzil pale blue back.  I used some lace, some seam binding... some pearls from my stash.... then made some flowers using a sizzix die called (surprisingly enough) 3D flowers!  I'd distressed the edge of the green DP so I added stickles to give MORE glitter!! LOL!   Then lastly, added some punched, (and glittered) butterflies! Oh and a big thing for me, I actually chose the paper BEFORE I coloured the image!

I was so out of my comfort zone on this one not being allowed to use pink... and with all those embellies.... very unlike me!  Anyway, hope you like the finished result!

Can I just say welcome to my lovely new followers - it seems my tutorial went down well with you - I'm so glad because I was so nervous doing it!  Don't think I'll ever be an internet phenomenon..... LOL.... but hey, I'm happy with it!

Big Hugs
Christine x

Challenges: Moving Along with the Times #132 - Things with Wings
Flutterby Wednesday - Things with Wings
Deep Ocean Challenge - Sparkle and/or bling
Try it on Tuesdays - Do you believe in Fairies
My Mum's Craft Shop - Favourite Colour
Anything Goees - Anything Goes!

YESSSSS!!! I did a video tutorial!

Hi Girls

Go easy on me please, because this is my very first venture into video tutorials and YouTube in general...  but I would love it if you take a look and let me know what you think!

I had to split the tutorial into two parts... (didn't realise they have a max but can't colour any quicker!)  So here is Part 1 (which shows the shading of the denim jeans)

then Part 2 which shows the shading sponging around the image...

As I say, be gentle, because it's so difficult to colour around a camera.... (that was between me and the image!) - and to do it quickly and not go over the lines (which I did in places!!)

Big Hugs
Christine x

Look what I've got!!!

Hi Girls


Wowww look what arrived in the post for me this morning!! This wonderful marker pen storage unit was made by Steve who is husband of our lovely blogger buddie Vixx...... isn't he clever? They're for sale on her website Vixx Handmade Cards - she very quietly put them on her sidebar the other day - and I happened to notice and ordered one! I can only say it's super-fantastic..... I only emailed her about it last Wednesday - and he made just what I wanted - a 4 cubbie x 3 cubbie unit over the weekend - mailed it to me from Essex on Monday and I have it today! What fabulous service!!

I wanted to share it with you and I know we all struggle for storage units for our luscious pens and this wonderful man is an answer to our prayers! LOL! If you look carefully to the right of the unit, you can see a pink box that contains all my 'uninked' stamps - OMG!

Now this is a set of shelves that my lovely OH made for me last week too! I needed to keep my nesties and unmounted stamps somewhere that wasn't shoved at the back of my desk..... and this is what we came up with between us! So much more space.... I'm getting all excited! And talking of excitement, is it only me that would get excited about these two wooden boxes below that my OH brought home from work the other day (they were going to be thrown out..) - I think he knows me very well now - he saw my eyes light up when he brought them in! I don't know what I'm going to do with them but ooooooooohhhhh aren't they sooooooo useful!

And a bit more excitment.... I managed to do a video this afternoon of the shading I used on the Daisy card..... I was asked a few times on the DC forum how I'd done it - so decided to give a tutorial a go!  Be gentle with me when I upload it as it's my first!

Big Hugs
Christine x

Die Cut Dreams Sympathy Challenge #106

Hi Girls

Hope you're all well......

Well it's Monday and it's time for another challenge over at the Die Cut Dreams Challenge Blog!  Your White on White Creations were stunning for the last challenge - we had such a fab time checking them all out!  Such talented crafters out there!

The challenge this time is to make a card to send for a sad occasion....  it's a Sympathy Card.  Not cards we like to create, but cards that are needed and often appreciated by the person they are sent to.

So onto my card - I have used the Loopy Daisy from Stamping Bella image - and have decoupaged the flower head to give it some depth.  I've coloured it with my markers, and just added a small amount of glitter (wouldn't be me without glitter now, would it?)  The sentiment was done on my PC, and again 3d'd over the flower stem.  I added a white satin ribbon bow - then matted and layered onto bazzil dotty cardstock.  Just a few gems in the corner and it was done.  Very simple, but I hope, effective.

Why not pop over to the blog and check out my fab teamies creations - then we look forward to seeing your card!

Big Hugs
Christine x

I've not fallen off the face of the earth.......

Hi Girls

Well here I am (eventually I hear you say?) with another card!  'Bout time too!!  Sorry about my absence from posting.... my lovely OH had a few days hol after working very hard over Christmas - so we took some 'quality time' together.... nothing exciting - just a few lunches out and pottering in each other's company...  we both enjoy our 'together bubble'...  so cardmaking was a lower priority!!  That said - I did manage to get some extra shelves up in my craft room....  but we WERE together making them!! (Me bossing the job of course.... hehe.. you know how it goes?  'up a bit....... down a bit....  stop....  DRILL!')  So now my endless nesties have found a fab new home in CD organisers on my new shelves! YAYY!!

He's at work today, so I'm sitting here on my own, with SuBo on Spotify - singing at the top of my voice..  I'm sure I could sing as good as her ........ "I dreamed a dream........"  cough, cough, splutter!  Actually her rendition always brings tears to my eyes... but that never takes much!

OK I'm waffling (well I have no one to talk to today!!).  Onto my card!  This one was inspired by the lovely Lisa over at Wishcraft...  when I saw her creation using Daisy a week or so ago I was so impressed I really had to make!!  And I have her to thank for the RAK when I couldn't get hold of the rubber as it seems now not in production, she very kindly let me have one of hers...  thank you Lisa!

Anyway, I coloured Daisy using a mixture of copics and promarkers...  I did try not to use pinks as Lisa had used pinks on hers and I didn't want to copy too much... so I chose lilacs and lavenders ...... but I have to say, they look pink to me.... sorry Lisa!  I used my square nestie to cut the image, and sponged around the edge while the nestie was still attached with a shadow blue on a make up sponge! The paper is from the Kaisercraft Bubblegum Hills collection and is called Candy Confetti....  ooooh and it's so lovely to use!  I did an embossed panel of daisies from Bazzil pink.....  which also forms the base of the card.  I've added a little bow from fine string, and some buttons from my stash.  Oooh and i SO NEARLY forgot to mention...  I added just a little bit of glitter too!! LOL!

So there you go.... I'm back!  Btw, I have been having lots of trouble commenting on some of your blogs in the last few days.... even though I've not been posting cards, I have kept up with my commenting..... but think Blogger is misbehaving!  So if you normally get comments from me and haven't....  It's not been for the lack of trying!

Oh and some exciting news too...  I was contacted by a lovely lady over in the States the other day who asked me to do some cards for her as she'd come across my blog....  so I've also been busy fulfilling that order!  How exciting to think my cards are going world-wide!! LOL

Sorry for my waffling......  hope you like Daisy as much as I do. 
Thanks for any comments which I love to read..
Hugs
Christine x
Have entered this card for Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Spots and Stripes

Die Cut Dreams Challenge # 105- White on White

Hi Girls

Well it's that time again..... time for a new challenge over at Die Cut Dreams.... and this time the theme is White on White...  which I have to admit, I love to do.

I think my card is self-explanatory, it's so simple... but here's what I used:

• Crafts Too Embossing Folder - Hearts
• Shapeabilities - Fancy Tags 2
• Woodware Punch for flowers
• Tiny pearl gems
• White Linen and White Glitter card

The sentiment is PC generated in a mock silver shade.

This fortnights challenge is being sponsored by Crimson Cloud

who are giving the winner 3 packs of die cuts. Why not check out the site to see what goodies they have in store at Crimson Cloud. You collect loyalty points with any purchase and they have a sale at the moment too.

I hope you like this card - check out my teamies creations over at the Die Cut Dreams Challenge Blog - then I look forward to seeing your creations!

Hugs
Christine
PS - I am entering this card in the Less is More 'Just One Word' challenge