Batty Boo!

This cute image is the Batty Boo! digital version from Sylvia's Wee Stamps - you can find it here.  I had printed it out last year but never got around to creating anything with it, so before my stash got put away I had a play.  The image is coloured with my Copic pens and rather than do a Halloween card, I've made it Autumnal instead with lots of Marianne Design die cut leaves.

The colours are looking washed out as I had to take the picture with the lamp on - that pumpkin is actually quite orange!  The paper is also more orange and is a Nitwits digi design I use quite a lot but can't get to my stash to see what pack it's from.  I've added the faux blanket stitch edge with a black marker pen as I had planned to have this as my DT card for the Totally Papercrafts blog, sadly though I've had to step down from the team as I just don't have the time to commit to creating and commenting each week - but instead I can go back to entering the challenges!

Just a couple of Marianne Design dies on this card, the ivy spray is from LR0206 and the maple leaves are the smaller die from LR0255.

Die Cuttin' Divas are looking for Fall colours this time around, as are the Created With Love team.  Over at the Fairy Tale challenge blog they are looking for pumpkins, mushrooms and/or bats this time - perfect!

A quick update on the DIY home front - we are now all plastered and the coving on so looking good.  Now I just need some fine days with a bit of a breeze so I can open all the windows to help get it dried out.  Jason is much better on the medication and managed to get back in his car - so he's off to spend the weekend with his girlfriend and look around the DIY stores in Plymouth.  It's the big craft event at Westpoint, Exeter on until Sunday .. .. I would love to go but although it's not so many miles away, getting there from here would take a couple of hours at least and I certainly can't do that each way on my own and spend a day at the show.  So, yet again I'm having to miss out seeing my friends - if you are going, have a great time and let me see what stash you get!

Pretty Ribbons

The theme this week at Cute Card Thursday is 'pretty ribbons' and we have a new sponsor for this challenge: Crafty Devils, a UK store based not too far away over the border in Devon, but sadly I've never been to it .. .. perhaps a day out is in order then!  I had a quick look at their web shop and there's lots of lovely crafty stash in there so once I've finished my post I'll be putting the kettle on for a cuppa and a leisurely browse.

I can't do much else today as there are two men in the living space .. .. the ceiling is plastered and looking good, if a bit pink! They are making a start on the walls so hopefully they will be finished by tomorrow evening.  Then it's a case of waiting for the plaster to dry before deciding what to do next.  Unfortunately Jason is in agony and off work with a painful back - the doctor says it's just lots of muscle spasms and to rest, take anti-inflammatory pills and pain killers, and not to move any more furniture for a while!

Back to my card .. .. the image is one of my new Lili of the Valley stamps called Nativity Angels and I coloured with my Copics in pale neutral shades then got stuck for putting things together .. .. I hope it all works, what do you think?

Yet more of the freebie Nitwit papers - can you see how I was going for that beige colour rather than the red or blue shades.  When it came to embellishments though I had to add in a little colour so after die cutting the poinsettia from some matching beige Nitwit paper in my stash, I added the blue die cut snowflakes and leaves, and the tiny blue pearls.  Finally, as it's a ribbon challenge I tied a multi bow from narrow red satin ribbon and added a couple of loops behind the flower too.

These are the Marianne Design dies I've used on this card:
mini snowflakes from the Christmas Stocking die (and I still haven't made anything with the stocking) - CR1256
poinsettia - LR0122
leaves - LR0227 & LR0192 (bottom spray with inked embossed areas)

The Fussy and Fancy Friday theme is to use punches and dies on your creation and at Creative Inspirations they would like you to use your favourite stamp brand - Lili of the Valley! There are others I like too but I have more Lili's in my stash now than any other brand!

Boy Sledging

Good Morning!  As promised, I have a card to share with you today.  I treated myself to this charming little lad on his sled with his best friend, a stamp from Lili of the Valley.  I've coloured the image with my Copic pens and created my DT card for the Stampavie and More challenge - yes we are back!  The theme is flowers and the challenge runs for two weeks.  Our DT is a little thin on the ground just now so we might be looking out for a few more teamies very soon, so why not come and join in with our challenge!

Here's my card - the base is cut with a Frilly #10 and I've used a piece of the red spotty Nitwits magazine freebie paper .  There's sparkle on the snow, plus little triple dotty snowflakes I created with a white gel pen for added interest in the 'white space' on the image.  To embellish I've die cut various bits and bobs with my Marianne dies and finished off the flowers with little blue pearls.

These are the Marianne dies I used:
mini poinsettias - LR0142
leaves from - LR0226 & LR0227
snowflakes - CR1225, CR1226 & CR1256

The Christmas Stamping All Year Long challenge is for anything goes, but Christmas and stamping of course.  Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge is to use stamps - my image and text are stamped, and the Cutie Pie challenge theme is 'one for the boys' - my little chap sledging just might go to one of my grandsons, and finally, the challenge at Totally Gorjuss is going dotty - I have dotty paper, dotty snowflakes and pearl dots in my flowers as well as dots embossed on the snowflakes.

clickity click

No card to share today, but I do have a couple for later this week.  Instead, here is a picture of the cushion I've made, styled on my bed with my teddy bear - well you are never to old to have a teddy bear in bed with you, are you?

The wool is a DK weight I bought ages ago to knit a jumper for my grandson, needless to say he grew out of the Grannie's knitted jumpers stage and so the yarn got left in a box.  I have several other colours and weights too, so will be looking out for more ideas to use up the stash.  The pattern for the cushion was in a Woman's Weekly magazine back in the last century .. .. I tore it out thinking one day I might get around to making the cushion, and that day came!  At the moment the pad inside is looking a bit big, but I am sure it will squash down and then the buttons wont be straining so hard to keep the thing closed.

Just a note: ted is a 'Boyd's Bear' - I think called James but I'm not 100% sure and the ticket is put away 'somewhere safe' - and you know what that means!  He is a few years old now and came from the teddy bear shop in Padstow, here in Cornwall. His trousers have faded over time, originally they were an aqua colour similar to the cushion, and his jumper has stretched a bit - and no I didn't knit it although I used to do a little Fair Isle knitting many years ago and still have a little girl's cardi I made for my granddaughter but never got to finish before she got too big!  No more granddaughters so perhaps I will finish the lace edging and offer it up to a good home .. .. ..

Well, we are just about ready for the plasterer - he phoned to say he was delayed but would be here tomorrow morning .. .. I do hope so as I can't get to any of my paper crafting stash without serious risk of back injury.  Jason and our kind electrician neighbour have sorted out the electrics for now, but there will be more electrical work to do fitting spots in the kitchen ceiling and connecting the rewiring for the remaining lights once things are dry and painted.  My big problem now is making a decision on a paint colour for the walls that will sit with the Laura Ashley roman blind I made for the kitchen window, it's in shades of eau-de-nil, off white and pale stone - should be easy then!  The sofas are a dark brown leather and the kitchen work top is a brown/beige/white imitation marble laminate with kitchen units in an oak effect shaker style.  The blinds at the large windows either end of the sitting/dining area are white verticals, and the dining furniture is a 'teak' solid wood from Africa that my parents were given as a wedding present - all I know is it's very solid so not easy to shift about!  We are going to be laying the same laminate floor as in the new build area, a white oak effect finish, and the kitchen area will be tiled in a pale beige ceramic.  So, with the mix of styles, wood and wood effects, I'm thinking a fairly neutral pale shade of beige is going to be the best option .. .. perhaps Dulux Nutmeg White if they still make it.  From experience their 'white' shades have more colour in them than shows on the paint chart - I have Jade White for my bedroom and Mum has a Lilac White in hers and both are definitely a colour - if you get what I mean.

Die Cut Christmas

Hello again!  I just have a little C6 Christmas card to share with you today created with Marianne Design die cuts.

Talking of stash .. .. it has been out of the sideboard so we could move the solid wood thing, then I had to squeeze into the porch to put the boxes back, before the dining chairs got stacked in front of it.  So, there is no way I'm going to be able to get to my stash for at least a week, possibly longer if we decide to wait until the floor is laid and decorating done before bringing the furniture back in.  I do have a couple of cards put by to share with you in the coming days - but sadly after that I will be painting walls, skirtings and doors rather than anything stamped!

I can't remember the name of the paper pack that I used to create the card, if you really want to know I am sure it will be available still from your Marianne Design retailer. The dies I used to create the card are:

icicle border LR0135
fronds LR0245
mini poinsettia LR0142
Merry Christmas LR0225
snowflake LR0124  and CR1227
Christmas tree layers CR1227

To finish things off I've added the little blue gems.

Well, I couldn't find any challenges that my card would fit - the two Christmas challenges that I quite often enter both need stamps this time around, and my card is stamp free!  Now I must get back to clearing and dusting again, ready for the plasterer to get on with his job and to try and limit the amount of dust we consume with each mouthful of food and drink, or inhale with each breath of air - why is it bare walls and floors just exude dust all the time?

Fairy Nice Christmas

This week on the Cute Card Thursday blog our theme is 'Fairy Nice' and as always we leave the interpretation of the theme up to you.  Our sponsor for this challenge is Whimsy Stamps so fly on over to the CCT blog for the details and DT inspiration.


I have inked up one of my new LOTV stamps, although she isn't new to LOTV but somehow I forgot to order her earlier!  I have coloured the cute Christmas fairy image with my Copics then added Stardust Stickles to her wings and the stars, and a white gell pen over the polka dots on the bauble bow.

Here's the card:

The papers are more from the Nitwits freebie pack in Simply Homemade magazine and I have just added the little texts from Cuddly Buddly that have been in my box an age, a scrap of gross grain ribbon tied in a bow, and various Marianne Design diecut bits and pieces to create the embellishment, finishing things off with tiny blue pearls.

The Marianne Design dies I've used for this card are:
mini poinsettias - LR0142
spiky fronds - LR0226
edge to the plaid layer hidden under the flowers and fronds, plus the bit under the bow - LR0270
the little red hearts are the waste from the heart die in the new stocking set - CR1256

The Creative Craft challenge is to include some ribbon on your project and is being sponsored by LOTV for this challenge, so I just have to enter my card with them!  At Created with Love it's an anything goes theme, and the Flutterby Wednesday theme is also anything goes with a fairy or butterfly on it, whilst at Crafty Cardmakers it's for winged things!

And thank you to Claire for leaving me a lovely comment on this card, and when I went to check out her blog she had a reminder that the Christmas Cards All Year blog challenge for September is for Christmas fairies with a touch of sparkle - so another one to enter!

A Christmas Carol

Finally I'm able to post this card!  I have been packing up my craft stash then gradually bits and pieces come out of the cupboard or one of the boxes, and then I have to clear up again .. .. I tell you - being a tidy crafter is just not me!  The good news is that the plasterer is booked for next Tuesday, all the wallpaper is stripped except for behind the radiator and that we are leaving 'till the last minute as we want the heating on in the evenings.  The skip was delivered yesterday and is already almost full with the building debris that was in the garden, let alone anything we might find in the garage, the shed or from the latest diy challenge. Jason has some channeling out to do for the electrics and to build the boiler cupboard - but he tells me "that's no big deal and will be done in time .. .. .. so stop worrying!"

So, to my card - this is one of my new Lili of the Valley stamps, called a Christmas Carol and I've coloured with my Copics along with a white pen to hightlight the snowy accents.

Here's the card:

I've used paper and die cuts by Marianne Design to embellish my card, adding the embossed faux stitiching and inking the edges with a brown Versamagic chalk ink.  The little pearl flower button is from my stash and the pearls on the mittens and edge of the card are made with a cream Wacco pearl maker pen.

This is the list of Marianne Design dies I used on this card:
faux stitches - LR0161
skeleton flower and leaves - LR0156
pine boughs - LR0227
mittens - CR1255

I'd like to enter my card in the Oldie but a Goodie challenge to use dies or punches - and my old things are the dies that cut the flower and skeleton leaves and the Marianne Design patterned papers I got for last year's Christmas cards so am now using up.  Over at the Marianne Design Divas blog it's an anything goes challenge, so as I have the patterned papers and die cuts from MD, I'll enter my card. And, the Creative Card Crew have a Christmas challenge and on the Christmas Card challenge blog the theme is to include music with your creation -  so here's mine for them too!

Winter Gifts

I am enjoying colouring my Festive images to match the Nitwit papers that came free in Simply Homemade magazine, and for this card I chose the aqua paper with polka dots for my background and added a faux blanket stitch edge with a white marker pen.  The stamp is one of the Dawn designs called Dawn Giving Away, from Nellie's Choice by Nellie Snellen.  I've coloured with my Copic pens and added touches of Stardust Stickles on the snow and flakes.

To embellish I found a length of gingham ribbon, an odd button, and cut lots of bits and pieces from my Marianne Design dies to create the embellishments, then finally finished off with the white faux pearls made with the Wacco pearl pen.

Here's the list of Marrianne Design dies I've used on this creation:
biggest snowflake and leaves - CR1225
smaller snowflakes - CR1256
poinsettia flowers - LR0142
stamens - LR0122
red blobby fronds - LR0106

A Creative Romance want to see dies and/or punches - and you all know how much I love to mix up my Marianne Design dies to create pretty embellishments on my creations.

I'm going to have a lazy day today as it's raining and I don't fancy going out to do the weekly shop on my own.  I'm still feeling tired a lot of the time and the neck injury is something I'm just going to have to live with, along with the various allergies that keep cropping up!  My skin is really clearing up nicely - perhaps sitting on a leather sofa rather than a synthetic material one has helped .. .. I'm finding a lot of synthetic fibres irritating.  Plus, I've developed a routine of light skin brushing in the shower with a 'scratchy mit' to remove the flaky skin then tons of the organic Aloe Vera moisturiser with other goodies in it really is helping, so much so that I'm reluctant to go for the UVB treatment now as there are risks and side effects involved (and knowing me something is bound to crop up).  Ah well, I don't have to decide today so instead I can go back to colouring in .. .. no rush now for the DIY as the skip wont arrive until Monday and we have 2 weeks to fill it up.  Still waiting for the plasterer to ring with his quote - hopefully it wont be too exorbitant and he can start in a couple of weeks time as well.  So, I might be nice and tidy for Christmas after all!

Hip to be Square for CCT

Hello! Yes, it's me at last!  I have been having a bit of a tough time of it recently and decided that come what may I would make a DT card for this week's Cute Card Thursday challenge - our theme is 'Hip to be Square' and you can interpret as you will.  Our sponsor for this challenge is Whiff of Joy Stamps.

I recently treated myself to some new Lili of the Valley Christmas stamps and this little chap is the first one I inked up.  And this is the first time colouring with my new specs too - much better at seeing things than the old ones!  I've coloured with my Copics and then added touches of Stardust Stickles for the snow.  I've also added a little extra robin at the top - he has flown in from the robin bird table stamp and filled the gap I thought.

Here is my card, a square white base and I've used Nitwits papers with squares on (a freebie in a recent magazine).  I've matted each of my layers with dark red card and then cut out the snowflake and heart dies from my new Marianne set CR1256, the stocking die set.  The pretty candy cane ribbon is from my friend Jenny's new craft shop.  I found I'd already got the LOTV circular sentiment stamped from last year so that came in handy to finish things off.  The card is less embellished than many I've made recently, my excuse is that yet again my craft stash is on the move .. .. I've taken over the sideboard in the living room for my most used items so I don't have to venture into a freezing cold conservatory on dark winter nights to rummage for stuff.  That means the old falling apart chest of drawers can go to the dump - once I've re-homed the two drawers of wooden stamps somewhere .. ..  Of course, I can't find a thing and everything is squeezed up, but hopefully once the living room has been plastered, painted and the floors laid I can get re-organised again!

I see that the monthly theme on the Lili of the Valley inspiration blog challenge is for ribbon or lace, so I shall enter my Festive Christmas card.  I'm also going to enter the Totally Gorjuss anything goes challenge, and the ABC challenge that's up to the letter U for unlimited (that means anything goes!).

LIM with Baubles!

When I saw that the Less Is More theme for this week was to use a rubber stamp and possibly some water colouring, I had an idea or two!  This card is actually my second effort, the first is not quite so LIM, but I'll show it any way - tomorrow (if I remember).

I've stamped the Serendipity Baubles onto smooth water colour paper then punched out with a scallop square before colouring with my Derwent Metallic water colour pencils - limited colours but I thought they would work with this image.  To make it more festive I've added the Stardust Stickles to the boughs and a little glaze and sparkle here and there on the baubles.  I fixed the 3 squares to my base card with 3d foam then stamped  the text with my new bright red Momento ink - the text is a Serendipity stamp too.

The challenge on the Christmas Card Challenge blog is to use something new - my new red ink pad. And on the ABC Christmas Challenge blog they are up to the letter Q = quick.  My card was relatively quick to make as I didn't have to spend hours pondering on papers and layouts, although it did take a while for the Stickles to dry!

I'll be back soon with my other card .. .. ..