Time again for Totally Gorjuss

Well girls, I'm cheating a bit here...  only a little bit, but cheating never-the-less.  The theme this week at Totally Gorjuss is 'Something Old' (Challenge 175)...  and I sort of don't do much vintage-y stuff, and most of my stuff is old anyway...  I was scratching my head again...  then this came to me!!  I'd seen a card very similar on Pinterest, so can't take the credit..  but thought it was a nice card to send to an 'old' person..... Get the connection???  Hope so!!  So, my 'something old', became 'someone old'!   And I haven't had my hand smacked yet!

The sponsor this time is Heather's Hobby Haven...  pop over to the challenge blog to see what my lovely teamies have come up with!

I used my L'il Inkers Stitched Mats for the card.. (these are getting over-use now as I love them!)...  then I got out my lovely Papertrey Ink number dies...  and cut straight through the mat with them.  I used 3D foam pads to lift the mat off the paper... and placed the bits of the numbers in hopefully the right places.  The flowery paper is a digi one from Echo Park Country Drive collection...  makes a nice contrast with the Kraft.. yes?  I did the sentiment on the computer using Aquarelle font..  then used my square punch to make the fishtail endings... as my new PTI fishtail die was slightly too small.  Shucks...

This post is scheduled this morning as with a bit of luck, Elaine and I will be heading to the GNPE at Harrogate... meeting up with t'other Christine (Nanaseaside), and hopefully getting together at coffee time with  Mau, Avril, Lisa...  and Janet - who I believe has cupcakes!!

If you happen to be going to Harrogate today - and you spot us..... please give me a nudge... I'm useless at faces (also don't wear my distance glasses at places like shows as I keep on having to take them on and off!)  But I'd love to say hello!  Also, if you keep me talking, I will spend less money.....  method in the madness huh?)

Big hugs to all and Happy Crafting..
Christine x

Where does the time go....?

Hi Peeps

I can't believe how fast the time goes... I do try to keep up with my DT work, but always seem to be a 'last minute Lizzie'!  (No offence there to any Lizzies out there reading this!)

Today's card is for the new challenge at Anything Goes - our theme this time is 'Seeing Double'.  I popped my thinking cap on and had a little think about what I could use, and came up with this little digi image - Huggabuggs from Tiddlyinks - that's been on my computer for a long time...  though I don't think I've used it before.

I'm still on my CAS phase...  (it'll pass, don't worry) - so I enjoyed just colouring and glittering the image..  I use a mix of Copics and Promarkers as always.  Then the glitter came out...  and the stickles...  and then of course, the little pearl dots using Cosmic Shimmer Pearl Glue.    All I did then was use my Li'l Inkers Stitched Squares die....  and finished it off with a rub-on sentiment from Pebbles Inc (courtesy of Pami!)

Hope you like my little Huggabuggs - and if you would like to see more 'Seeing Double' inspiration, pop over to Anything Goes where you will see what my fab teamies have come up with!  Don't forget also, that lots of goodies can be purchased from the Craft Den here.

Big hugs to all and Happy Crafting.. and thank you for taking to time to say hello..
Christine x
Challenge:  Tiddlyinks Challenge 105 - Clean and Simple

Love you Mum..

Hi Peeps

A real quickie from me today...  it's Totally Gorjuss time again, and this time their theme is 'For Mum'..  soooo, I threw this quickie together (believe it or not, the colour is bright pink but shows red on the photo).

I used the My Favourite Things Rustic Hearts stamps, their dies to match, a rick-rack die from Papertrey Ink... and a computer generated sentiment..    Oooh, and I used my new Stampin Up inkpads - such lush bright colours!

There's lots of fabulous inspiration from my teamies over on the blog.. take a peek!  And the sponsor this time is Crafter's Companion.

The sentiment on this card says it all for me.... my mum passed away in 1989.... but I still miss her and hope I told her enough while she was still here...

Big hugs to all, and for all the mums out there, have a fabulous day tomorrow!

Christine x

Happy Pinkie Thursday..

Hi Peeps

Don't all shout 'OH NO...  she's here with her PINK again please...' - who on earth would ever think that I'd get a week when I didn't want to pick up my pink pens  - I'd have happily picked up any other colour- so I'm feeling a little bit pink sensitive!! hehe!  However, I had to get my finger out and get on with it...  I think I'd only had 'overload' as one of the other DT's I'm on also wanted pink..  but I asked myself, is it really a hardship?? NOOOOOOOO!

Today's cards are for the FLORAL/MOTHERS' DAY challenge at IN THE PINK, and are very different in style from each other..  the first one (which somehow is my favourite)..  is CAS and I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Recipe:

• Li'l Inkers Stitched Square Mat Die
• Papertrey Ink - Vase Die using vellum
• Stampin Up - Hopeful Moments Stamp Set
• Flower punch - had it years!
• Butterfly Punch - ditto
• Sentiment - Pink Petticoat
• Word Window Punch from Stampin Up
• Glitter and Cosmic Shimmer pink glue from stash

Flippin' heck... I didn't realise how much I'd used till I listed it.. so much for simple!  But it did take very little time to do...  so that was really good..

My next DT card for today's In The Pink is using a favourite LOTV image...  and would be suitable for Mother's Day - but I couldn't find a place to put a sentiment (always a struggle for me!)

Recipe:

• Image - LOTV Emma Rose Garden
• Colouring medium - Copics and Promarkers
• Die - Spellbinders Floral Oval
• Ribbon from stash
• Flowers...  Tim Holtz Tattered Florals used on white muslin - spritzed with distress inks and water to make the right colour (I was really pleased how these turned out..)
• Pearls, DP and glitter from stash

Hope you can join in the pink fun over at the challenge blog..  if Mothers' Day isn't a time for pink flowery things... I don't know when is!!

Take care all, big hugs and happy crafting.. and a big thank you to all of you who take the time to drop by and say hello in my comment box - it always means such a lot.

Christine x

Totally Gorjuss time again..

Hi Peeps

Well this time at Totally Gorjuss....  the theme is.....  (and with no influence from me)....  wait for it......  Anything Goes.......  PLUS PINK!!!  Would I be in my element?????   hmmmm let me think about that one...  

I didn't have to dig very far to find my pink copics and promarkers as you can imagine, and here's what I came up with..

Card Recipe:

Image - Scribble - Gorjuss Girls
Embossing Folder - Crafts Too
Papers - Magnolia
Die - Stacking Stars - MFT
Die - Papertrey Ink - Mini Tags
Sentiment - Papertrey Ink - Mini Tags Sentiments
Glitter - from stash

Hope you like this lovely little lady who almost looks ready for a party.. 

Our sponsor this time is J & C Creations.  If you need more inspiration..... pop over to the challenge blog HERE where you'll see some fabulous pink creations from my lovely teamies!

I'd like to say a big hello  and welcome to my new followers...  please do say hello when you pop in... you can pull up a chair... I have coffee and donuts if you stay a while!!

Big hugs and Happy Crafting..
Christine x

Everyone go 'awwwwwwwwwww...'

Hi Peeps

Well??? Did you all involuntarily go 'awwwwww....'?  I did when this image turned out like it did... it made me think of the smell of baby powder and soft baby linen, and the feel of their hair after bathing... and that lovely soft downy feeling when you kiss the top of their heads... awwwwwwwww......

My daughter requested a baby card for a friend... and so I went to Digi Darla... and found this little fabbie..  she's in the Blessings of Heaven series and is #5...  and that's it, pretty well..  she's coloured with copics and promarkers...  glittered with stickles in crystal... and matted and layered..  I didn't think a sentiment was necessary as the young'uns like my daughter tend to go for minimalistic cards...

It's certainly got me back from male cards into my nice pink zone... hope you like!

Big hugs and Happy Crafting..
Christine x

Cheers!!!

Hi peeps

Tis me again... yikes I'm getting to be turning them out fast!!  Not like I used to be... one every week or two..  but I'm enjoying myself and sharing my passion only adds to the enjoyment... I think that's what we all feel in blogland... yes?

This one is for the new challenge at Anything Goes..  'Very Manly' the theme is.... so very manly I gave them!! LOL!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Digi Stamp Boutique - Alf with Beer
• Papers - believe it or not, some I've had in my stash for 10 years - I bought them on my first trip to the States!
• Colouring - Copics
• Doodling and sentiment - yours truly
• Glossy Accents for beer glass

I've given you a sideways view here too so you can see that besides being paper pieced, he's also decoupaged too..  at least his big head and his pint are!!  And THEN.......  after putting it all together, I was kinda stuck for a sentiment and felt, even though I'm trying to be all minimalistic and let the image do the talking... it needed something!!  You should have seen how my hand shook as I wrote the word 'cheers'... I could have ruined the card with a mis-spelling or something....  NOTE TO SELF...  Write sentiment BEFORE doing image etc!

Hope you're all having a good week so far...  I'm catching up with a few friends this week... so plenty of coffee and chat!

Big hugs and Happy Crafting
Christine x

Angels Among Us..

Hi all

A quickie from me today...  it's Totally Gorjuss time again and this time our challenge theme is 'Happy'... so  I chose to use this little lady from Krista at Saturated Canary..  who certainly looks happy...  and maybe a touch thoughtful too..  I like using quite strong colours..  (other than pink!)...  so really enjoyed the colouring.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Saturated Canary Angels Among Us
• Copics and Promarkers
• DP - Papermania Capsule collection - Boysenberry
• Core-dinations card - embossed with Swiss Dots embossing folder
• Spellbinders Nestie Labels 
• PTI Double ended Fishtail Banner
• MFT - Dienamics Clouds Die
• Sentiment - done on PC
• Gems, glitter  and Buttons from stash

We're sponsored this week by

.... and also by

If you need inspiration ... pop over to see my talented teamies at Totally Gorjuss..  they've come up with some fab creations!

My lovely OH is at work today... so hopefully I'll be able to spend some time in my craft room.....  I'll  put on my music and PLAY!!

Big hugs and Happy Crafting..
Christine x

Time for another at In The Pink.. this time it's BLING!

Hi Bestest Blogging Buddies

Well, after my venture into male card making...  I decided to jump well and truly back into my comfort zone.. pull up my pink blanket,  and I'm happy to be back today with my cards for In The Pink..  Hope you like!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Sugar Nellie Jasmine
• Paper - Raspberry Road Digi Paper - Cute as a Button
• Sentiment - Pink Petticoat
• Copics and Promarkers
• Cosmic Shimmer pearl glue
• Flowers - Cheery Lynn Minature Rose Die using felt
• Gems and glitter from stash
• Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch

And for my second card... I decided on a simpler idea (nothing to do with being short of time - honest!)..

You may have seen this young lady before on my blog... but I just love colouring her so I use her quite a lot.

Card Recipe:

• Flower Kiki from All That Scraps
• Copics and Promarkers to colour
• Spellbinders Nesties for card shape and inner circles
• L'il Inkers Stitched Banner die
• Sentiment - done on PC
• Gems and glitter - from stash

Hope you like my blingie creations...  and that I may see you over at In The Pink...  it's good to know that the number of entrants and followers is climbing quite rapidly..  Seems there are lots of pink lovers in Blogland!!

I'd just also like to say a big welcome to my new followers...  thank you for wanting to see my work - hope you're not too disappointed and that you'll leave a comment or two for me.. it's so lovely to hear from new friends!

Big hugs to all and Happy Crafting

Christine x

Out of my pink comfort zone... or what??!!

Hi Bestest Blogging Buddies...

Yes... before you ask...  you are at Christine's blog....  you haven't got lost along the way, nor is blogger being a baddie and mis-directing your mouse...  it's ME!!  With very much an un-me card!! LOL

You probably all know that I don't normally do male cards... in fact when people ask me would I make one for their hubby/son/brother......  the answer is a swift NO!!!

But, needs must, as it's time for another challenge at Totally Gorjuss... and this time the theme is "For Your Men".  Soooooo  this is what I came up with!!  I got the idea from Pinterest a little while back - at the time I thought 'i have that punch!'....  and knew I wanted to try it out.  I chose the most male type colours in my cardstock pile....  it's pretty self explanatory really!  You just have to be careful to get the punch lined up on both sides of each piece.  I started off with 1.5 inch strips before punching... which gave me the right size.

Items used:

• Martha Stewart Border Punch
• Various blue cardstock
• MFT Die-namics Fishtail Banner die
• MFT Die-namics Star die
• Paper Smooches Sentiment

So there you go... no pink, no glitter, no gems, and no image......  What's to become of me??!!  I don't know...... the things I do for my DT positions!!

This time we're sponsored by:

Why not pop over to Totally Gorjuss for more fabulous male card ideas from my lovely teamies..  and to see if you were a winner in our last challenge!

Take care all and have a good weekend..

Big hugs

Christine x

A midweek couple of quickies...

Hi Best Blogging Buddies..

I'm here on a very snowy day in Wetherby, to show you a couple of cards that I made a couple of weeks back and forgot to blog... using some fabbie things I got from Stampin Up.  I'm afraid the camera hasn't quite picked up the colour of the card on the first image... but I think the others show the different pinks pretty well...  and noooooo .... funnily enough, these aren't cards for In The Pink..  it just shows, pink is never far away from my work space.. LOL!

The first card uses part of a digi image from A Day for Daisies... I think it was called Cherry Blossom...

I also wanted to show you the one below...  t'was my first attempt at trying this style... but I used a freebie digi image, that I really don't think does the frame justice...

Stampin Up Items Used:

• Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders
• Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies
• Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folders
• Labels Collection Framelits Dies 
• XL Oval punch
• Top card also uses Stampin Up Pink Card
• and lastly - not SU...  a Martha Stewart Border Punch

There's also a touch of glitter on the flowers of both cards, and a little pink bow...

I have to give full credit to Amy at Ustamp4fun.com... whose card I have CASed...  thank you Amy!

Hope you're staying warm in this nasty weather.... I have to go pick up my car shortly from the garage... it went in for it's MOT this morning after having four new tyres yesterday....  costing me a fortune this week!

Also - to cheer you...  thought you may like to see my lovely OH with his youngest grandson from their visit last week..  It's only about 5 seconds long, but makes me smile everytime I watch it!

Big Hugs to all and Happy Crafting!

Christine x

Romance is in the air...

Hi blogging friends

Firstly, I'm scheduling this post as we're having a busy time...  Barry's grandsons (aged two and a half, and seven months) are here for a couple of days (along with their parents of course) which is lovely... but I've had to child-proof the house ... and that has taken some time!  So my apologies for not keeping up with my commenting over the last couple of days... forgive me??

Now...  it's Totally Gorjuss challenge time again... this time the theme is 'Love'.... and what better stamp to use than this little lady blowing kisses?  Of course, a little bit of pink had to sneak onto the card... but I've mainly kept it to pale blue this time, and quite simple... hope you like!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Melinda Blowing Kisses from Whiff of Joy (had it in my stash for a LONG time!)
• Floral Oval Die from Spellbinders
• Digi Paper - Pink Petticoat Wild Blossoms - Little Daisies
• Colouring medium - Copics and Promarkers as always
• Glitter from Stash
• Distressed Seam Binding from The Ribbon Girl

Big hugs to all and Happy Crafting

Christine x

Valentines.... at In The Pink

Hi All

In this nasty, cold, windy weather, I'm here to brighten your day with some fabulous pink!!  Yep, it's time again for another challenge at In The Pink  -  I can't believe how fast this fortnight comes around!

This time, our challenge is Valentines - all mushy and romantic as it's that time of year... and these cards are what I came up with... hope you like!

Card Recipe:

• Image - LOTV Close Your Eyes
• Colouring - Copics and Promarkers
• Spellbinders Opulant Ovals Die
• Spellbinders Basic Lattice Die
• Memory Box Precious Hearts Die
• MFT Die-namics Rustic Hearts Die
• Tulle Ribbon Bow - from The Ribbon Girl
• Paper - Echo Park Be Mine
• gems, glitter from stash
• Sentiment - Hero Arts little alphabet set 

And now a change of style... more modern I think, but still one I loved making..

I fell in love with this little lady at Sammy Taylors in Embsay last week... and thought she was perfect for this theme.. and I enjoyed doing a bit of paper piecing on her dress..

Card Recipe:

• Image and Sentiment - MFT Sweet Friend
• Paper - Dotty Pink by Card Creations
• Paper Pieced dress - Marianne Design Paper - Eline's Flowers
• Glossy Accents - Heart on headband
• L'il Inkers Of The Heart die and also Stitched Sentiment die
• Martha Stewart border punch
• Hearts Embossing folder by Crafts Too
• Gems and Glitter from Stash

Hope you can pop over to the In The Pink challenge blog to see what Sylvia has come up with, and also our lovely Guest Designer - Amelia.... I promise you, they're sooooooo gorgeous!

Hope all my bloggy friends are well....  and that you're all keeping warm and dry.... and looking foward to spring!  My snowdrops are flowering well...  and I even have a daffodil with a bud... though it's a bit wary of opening as yet... and I don't blame it!  I'm sure the plants are very confused with the odd weather we've been having...  the daffodil is thinking 'time to go....... ooops no, not yet, too much white fluffy stuff..... oh well it's warm now... I'll pop up a bit further.... ooops no... bit chilly again...'  Yes.... I know, I'm off my trolley when I think that daffodils actually have a brain....  LOL!

With that I'll go..  (funny farm van just pulled in..)

Big hugs and Happy Crafting

Christine x

A little lacey...

Hi All

Hope you're all well and crafting happily...  think it's going to be a bit of a cold day today (perfect crafting weather huh?)... but I had a lovely day out with my OH yesterday... We went over to one of our favourite places for lunch... Skipton - they do the best fish and chips that I know of... , then of course, we just had to call at Sammy Taylors at Embsay..  just to check out if anything was new... (yeah of course, I hear you say), and there was, and..... etc...... etc.... !!  LOL!  Then we went off up to Grassington to have a cream tea... but unfortunately the shop had just closed... ah well, probably for the best!

Sooo today's card which is my DT card for the Totally Gorjuss Challenge...  the theme is Anything Goes + Lace.

I chose to use one of my Sugar Nellie digi images..  and had a fab time colouring her to match the lace I'd chosen.  And.....  then there's the bling!!!  

Card Recipe:

• Image -Sugar Nellie Best Day Ever
• Colouring - Copics and Promarkers
• Lace with bling - The Ribbon Girl
• Gems and Glamour Dust - stash
• DP - Pion Design

Hope you like....  and don't forget to pop over to Totally Gorjuss to check out the fab creations from the lovely Gorjusettes...   Our sponsor this time is the fabulous J & C Creations..

Can I also give a big welcome to my new followers.... it's really so lovely to see that people want to see my creations... and every comment I receive does wonders for me and my confidence...  It's just nice to know that people like what I do.

Big hugs and Happy Crafting

Christine x

Challenge:  Sugar Bowl - Anything Goes