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Monday 31 January 2011

Sparkle & Swim

Hello folks and many, many thanks for stopping by. Please leave a trace so I can return the favour, its crazy how much lovely comments (or bad ones!) mean to us weird & wonderful bloggers.
My card for today was created with a number of challenges in mind.

 Firstly I used the fabulous Dawny P's  sketch over at Paper Take Weekly its a great sketch and I enjoyed working from it, its definitely one of those sketches you can use over and over and be different every time.
Secondly, over at Magnolia Stamp Lovers they gave us a 'heads up' that their challenge was going to be 'Glitter' so I knew that whatever image I used on this sketch it was gonna get glittered to within an inch of its life! It was very difficult to take a photo that showed the glitter up and when I finally did I had to compromise other things (this pic does nothing for my colouring skills - not that I have many) its taken slightly at an angle which kinda shows more flaws in your blending!.
I knew from the beginning that the image I used on this card would be an unused, stashed and an almost forgotten one, as it was designed with an Oldie But A Goodie challenge at the front of my mind. Their theme is 'Fairies, Mermaids, Dragons or any other Magical Being'. This will always be my favourite challenge as it was the first (and only!) challenge I have ever won.
The Stamp is Magnolia, the papers DCWV from their Glitter Stack, the colouring Copics, the sentiment LOTV, the flowers are from Wild Orchid Craft, I have tried to open them up to look like water lillies and the whole thing is distressed with Antique Linen distress ink.
x Laurie x

Sunday 30 January 2011

All My Favourite Things

Hello again folks and thank you for visiting (I know somebody reads me now - yeah!) You'll never know how happy you have made me!
My card today is a combination of all my favourite things - my favourite colour combination - pink & brown, my favourite papers - Making Memories  Cosmopolitan  Girl and my beloved Tilda stamps from Magnolia. This is the second time this month that I have used these papers (sorry, but you will get used to them! If not these, then my second favourite, the same in blue & brown)


I have combined this creation to 2 very popular challenges, Just Magnolia who have sent us all 'Dotty' with their challenge this week and Friday Sketchers whose very talented Jorunn provided the sketch.  This is the first time I have entered their challenge (there's just not enough hours in the day)
My good friend Lisa has pointed me in the direction of 2 more challenges that this card will fit into (I am compiling a list!) Crafts 4 Eternity has a 'Polka Dot' theme and Crafty Sentiments is asking for 'Your Favourite Things'

Its another first for me too, as its the first time I have covered the inside of a card, I've always loved the idea but if you knew how long this took me you would not believe it!!


The  sentiment is from LOTV, the flowers Wild Orchid Crafts and everything else is from my stash - oh and I used the Magnolia Doo Hickey dies - Lace Border, Label and Swirl. Shy Tilda is from the new You're so Special Collection available at SirStampalot

 Thanx again for stopping by x Laurie x

Saturday 29 January 2011

A Challenge For Myself

Hello again, welcome and thank you for visiting. I'm getting the hang of this blogging malarkey now and I'm absolutely loving it! Even if nobody reads my drivel I'm happy posting it!
I decided that I needed to challenge myself and the hardest thing for me is making male cards (OK I made it easier by making a mini man card, but technically boys will be men eventually!) It's really hard to get texture on a card for a man, ribbons, bows, gems and flowers just don't cut it, buttons is our only saving grace. These stars were from an old Christmas garland that was gonna get thrown out, but me being a hoarder, 'nothing ' actually gets thrown out!
 I'm really pleased with how this has turned out, the stars, buttons & pop up aliens I stamped and cut out have given it what I think is usually missing from my cards for men or boys.
Originally I didn't create this card for any challenges, just me, but I came across Anyone For Anya after I'd made it. I'm not sure if it fits their criteria of '2 Images' but I have nothing to lose by trying. I love the Anya images and enjoyed making it. This was the first time I have used this stamp ( Oldie But A Goodie have got me in the habit of dusting off all my great but tucked away stamps)
I was also pointed in the direction of the Allsorts Challenge by my buddy Lisa who have a theme of 'Saving Nature' this week and my stars qualify for that.
The paper for this card is from Prima's 'Spaceboy' 6 x 6 pad and I love it, the stamp as I said is an Anya from The Greetings Farm everything else is from my stash.
Thanks for stopping by x

Friday 28 January 2011

Love That Liebster

Hello folks and thanks for visiting.

I have no card tonight, I would just like to share with you an award I received from the lovely 
Lisa 
which I am so pleased and honoured to accept - Thank You Lisa, I don't know what I'd do without you. Please check out her blog 


 
Here are the conditions for the 'Love Blog' award.

You have been TAGGED and want to share your love?

Create a post where you post the 'LOVE BLOG' image.

You should also blog the person's link that gave you the award and inform her/him that you accept the award.

You can then choose 3 - 5 favourite blogs which you also link in your post, then each blogger will inform you that they have been tagged.

I am awarding the Liebster to 
 
because she like me is just starting out and its so hard to get noticed
because she was so helpful to me when I entered my first challenge
 
because this lady is a true lady and has the biggest heart I have ever come across
 
and finally
because she was my first follower (other than my son who I made follow me and he doesn't count!)

I hope you ladies accept my Love
x Laurie x


Thursday 27 January 2011

Pigs Might Fly!

Hello again and thank you for stopping by my little corner of the  world (wide web!)
I made this card in honour of me actually winning a challenge - I would have thought I'd have seen Pigs Fly before I won anything, but there, it shows you what do I know? (Fortunately)
I have been itching to give my new Martha Stewart Optic Dot punch a trial run since I bought it at the beginning of the month.
I am entering this card into the challenge over at Pink Elephant, they have a colour combo theme of 'Red, Pink & Brown' I love these colours together, you will see more of that combo from me in the future.
I am also entering this into the Totally Stampalicious challenge whose theme is very similar this week with 'Pink & Red'
It fits nicely into the Penny Black challenge as that is where my stamp is from (I've loved these cute little piggies since I bought them), their theme is 'January Sales' and I got my punch in January though it wasn't in the sale!
Simon Says Stamp  have a theme of 'Animal Antics' which I'm sure flying piggies is perfect for!
All the other materials in this card (apart from the flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts) were from my ever growing, enormous stash. Funny even now I've started to use it, it doesn't seem to be going down!

Wednesday 26 January 2011

I Know Why They Call It A Challenge Now!

Hello again and many thanks for visiting. I really don't know how some crafters have the time to post a new project everyday it takes me ages to actually make a card, though most of that time is sorting through hoards of stuff to find what I'm actually looking for! I long to have an organized craft room like Marlene it would be like dieing and going to heaven!!

 My card today was made specifically for 2 challenges the first is 'Emma's Sketch' over at Sunday Sketch And Stamp its a great sketch and I've decided I like to follow a sketch it gives me somewhere to start!
I combined it with the 'Who Said 3's a Crowd' challenge at Stamptacular Sunday Challenge
- wow this made it more difficult! 3 patterned papers, 3 ribbons and 3 flowers makes for 1 very busy card!
I'm really pleased with what I 've done with the ribbons and will use that again in the future.
I've taken my new Buddy Lisa's advice and also entered this into the Sarah Hurley Challenge where the theme is 'Birthday Girl'
Thanks Lisa x
I am also entering this card into the Magical Monday Challenge  they have a theme of 'Flowers' I'm not sure if this fits their criteria but as my stamp is Fairytale Tilda I'm hoping it does.
Over at Top Tip Tuesday the theme is also 'Flowers', what a great blog I've already picked up quite a few new ideas!

Ingredients
Stamp: Magnolia Fairy Tale Collection
Papers: Kaiser Craft
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Colouring: Copics
Dies: Magnolia Swirl & Martha Stewart Frond Punch
Ribbon & Brads from stash

Tuesday 25 January 2011

I Won!!!

Hello again and thanks for dropping by, no card today but I just wanted to tell the world (Don't really suppose the world is reading this!) that I won challenge 10 over at Oldie But A Goodie I am so excited
Thank you Thank you Thank you x x
everyone should try their challenges, we all have stamps we have never used or at least not for a while and its great to dig out past favourites  and ink them up again x

Monday 24 January 2011

Mwah.....Sending Kisses

Hello again and thank you for visiting.  Firstly can I say how lovely everyone is, your comments really make my day and give me so much confidence I can't wait to start my next challenge!
My card for today is another Tilda, I can't help being drawn back to them although I have just purchased some really comical characters from Prairie Fairy which I hope you will all see here soon and Nina led me to Make It Crafty where I will soon be purchasing some more! This crafting is very international, I never thought I would get to know people from all over the world!

To make this card I have used Donalda's sketch over at Just Magnolia, that blog really inspires me I had no idea what I was making till I visited there.
The spotty pink paper is recycled from Habico along with the little flower stamens which I pulled out of an artifcial flower at my Mums that was about to be thrown away, and that makes me eligible for Magnolia Down Under as their theme this week is 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' Another amazing blog I recommend everyone visits.
This was the first time I had used my Tim Holtz paper distresser, every week I'm attempting a new (albeit small) challenge so I entered this into the  7 Kids College Fund Challenge as 'Challenge Yourself' is their theme.

Ingredients
Stamp: Lots of Love Tilda - Magnolia So Special Collection
Papers: Magnolia & Habico Recycled
Flowers: Magnolia & Wild Orchid Crafts
Dies: Magnolia Lace Border & Martha Stewart Frond Punch
Colouring: Copics
Alphabet stickers from stash

Monday 17 January 2011

Dull & Damp v Bright & Cheerful

Hello all thank you for visiting my blog, I'm getting the hang of this blogging now just not enough hours in the day.
My daughter is of on her travels later today so I'm sure I will be in floods of tears when we take her to the airport.
My card for today is very bright! Looking out the window on a damp, drizzly & dull day makes it seem really out of season but believe it or not it actully fits into a number of challenges
Pink Elephant Colour challenge of Pink, Orange & Aqua
Magnolia-licious  4 Flowers 3 Pattern Papers 2 Images & 1 Ribbon
Oldie But Goodies Bright & Cheerful

I had to photograph this with a flash it was so dark in my kitchen so the colours are all a bit strange

Ingredients
Stamps: Surfing Tilda (Summer 2009) Signpost - Magnolia
Papers: DCWV
Flowers: Prima & Stash
Colouring: Copics

Friday 14 January 2011

Addicted To A Challenge

Ladies I think I've gone challenge mad! I only entered my first challenge a matter of days ago and now I'm rushing around like a crazy woman to make this card in time to enter it into the Magnolia Down Under Challenge  'Karens Sketch' which closes tonight! I know that a new challenge starts tomorrow but like I said..... crazy woman!!
I had to photograph this card tonight in artificial light which doesn't do it any favours and I burnt my husbands pork chops for tea in the process but as all you fellow crafters will know, you have to get your priorities right!!

I have been saving this wonderful paper for years (no need to distress it soon it's already vintage!) I never thought I could bring myself to use it but it was made for this Tilda and my favourite frosted berries were a perfect match which also makes it eligible for the challenge over at  Just Magnolia my favourite things.


I have entered this card into the following challenges
Just Magnolia My Favourite Things
Magnolia Down Under   
Stamp Something Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp  Sketch Time
Bunny Zoe's Craft  Love Is In The Air

Ingredients
Stamp: Violin Tilda, Banner - Magnolia
Papers: 7 Gypsies - Life's Journey
Swirl Doo Hickey Die - Magnolia
Nestabilites Label 6
Ribbon & Charm from stash
Rose: Wild Orchid Crafts
Frosted Berries & Leaves from a garden centre in Norwich
Colouring: Copics & Distress Ink

Tuesday 11 January 2011

1 Image 2 Cards

Now I've achieved my challenge of actually creating a blog,  I need to set about the task of filling it up so gave myself a challenge to create at least 2 cards from the same stamped image (also helps me to justify buying so many if I have used them more than once they are obviously indispensable!)


Ballerina Tilda from the Fairytale Collection seemed like a very easy challenge (don't want to make things too difficult I am new at this!) She is such a beautiful & versatile image that it was impossible not to match her with every single piece of paper I possess - or so I thought!  Purple is always a favourite of little girls so I coloured Tilda in before I chose the papers - another mistake! Trying to find papers in the same shades as your colouring is a nightmare, I didn't realise there were so many shades of purple.


Ingredients
Stamps: Ballerina Tilda - Magnolia. Ticket - Whimsy
Papers: Papermania.  Labels: Nesties
Flowers  : Wild Orchid Crafts
Butterfly and Frond punch - Martha Stewart
Swirl  & Border - Magnolia Doo Hickey Dies
Ribbon from stash. Colouring - Copics


This time I chose my papers first and coloured Tilda in to match them - sooooooo much easier! Another lesson learnt

Ingredients
Stamp -as above
Papers: Making Memories
Flowers & Pin: Wild Orchid Crafts
Deep Edger & Fronds punch: Martha Stewart
Sentiment: Craftwork Cards
Ribbon from stash. Colouring - Copics



I have entered the pink Tilda into Just Magnolia , Totally Tilda  and Ribbon Girls challenges

My 1st Tilda

I think I've actually learnt enough to attempt my 1st blog now so here goes!



Raegan
Our daughter, Raegan, is off to Australia on Monday to begin a year out after graduating from Loughborough University last summer so Australian Tilda seemed to be the ideal stamp to use.  I have been hoarding away Tilda & Edwin stamps for the last 4 years so this new year I thought it might be a good idea to use them!



Although I was initially pleased with this card, hindsight is a wonderful thing and I realise now it must be very uncomfortable for poor little Tilda as she is in a sitting position with nothing to sit on!! A mistake that I won't be making again!










Ingredients
Stamps: Tilda, Boomerang & Bon Voyage - Magnolia.
Ticket - Whimsy
Papers: Safari Chic - DCWV
Flowers:  Wild Orchid Crafts
Leaf Dies: Martha Stewart & Magnolia Doo Hickey
Colouring: Copics