CCT Add a Sentiment

So sorry I am late sharing today's CCT card with you - oh my am I tired!  Despite the new bed arriving and Mat being here to kindly put it all together for me (and dismantle the old beds for storing in the loft), the effort of rearranging furniture, cleaning once, twice and then there's still more fluff .. .. well, the early night saw me turning and fidgeting still at 1.30am and even after that I kept waking up hot!  Tonight I will be taking steps, large malt steps me thinks!

This week at Cute Card Thursday it's an easy peasy challenge, we just want you to add a sentiment to your creation.  We have a new sponsor, Great Impressions, please stop by the CCT blog to read all about the prize and see what the rest of the DT have made.

For my card I've inked up another of my new Stamping Bella Uptown Girls, this is Catherine Nibbling Chocolate, and the sentiment is from another Uptown Girl set.  I've coloured with my Copic pens and kept things simple with a piece of pink digi paper by Cuddly Buddly and a die cut floral embellishment made with various Marianne Design dies.

The In The Pink blog challenge is for either fussy and fancy or clean and simple, plus lots of pink of course.  I hope my card fits the CAS category, even though I do have a floral corner embellishment.

That's it from me for today .. .. I do have something to share soon, but am going to be busy with visitors this weekend so catch up with you all when I can.

Maybelline get's a letter

A close up of my colouring - eek! It looks better from a distance and those lavender blues are a pain to blend, they kept fading out completely so getting any shadow or shading was a nightmare .. .. I just hope the colours stay true. Not so bad on the flowers but I'm not happy with the dress, and should I have sparkled the frilly petticoat? I can go back and do that perhaps .. ..

The stamp is one from Stamping Bella Uptown Girls called Maybelline loves mail - and it's a big one, but with lots of detail in the flowers.  Anyway, let's quickly show you the card .. ..

Not a lot of room for adding embellishments so I decided to go CAS and just keep the image in view although I did add the 3 little domes coloured with a Copic to match the flowers, and stamped a simple text (not the one that comes with the stamp).  The papers are more from my scrap box and are bits of Cuddly Buddly digitals Spring Bouquet pack. If I can get a pack of bigger cards I might tweek things a little bit and cut off the front of the card, add a soft lavender mat behind and stick it to a bigger card, to me it needs more focus and the image could do with a mat too .. .. do you get those days when you think you are done then not happy with things the next day?

Oh well, perhaps it will grow on me .. .. and I'm going to enter it into a couple of challenges anyway.  The My Time To Craft blog challenge is for Spring Flowers, and at Moving Along With The Times the theme is 'let's get reading' - Maybelline is reading her letter although I rather think they are looking for book titles .. .. perhaps the RHS Encylopedia of Herbs would spring to mind - I have two copies, one in my bedroom and one in the conservatory, so always one to hand when I need inspiration!

CAS at CCT

Another wonky picture! I blame my poor neck that is leaning to starboard all the time at the moment .. .. mind you after a combination of 2 different painkillers and a double malt whisky I did have quite a good night!

So, on to the next challenge at Cute Card Thursday where we want to see your CAS creations.  Our sponsor for this challenge is Pinky Dolls and some of the DT have used images from the sponsor for their creations, please stop by the blog to read all about it and see what we all made for the CAS theme.

For my card I inked up one of my old style Penny Black stamps called Garden Spot then coloured with my Copics and added a little text.  Keeping with the CAS theme I just embossed a scrap of paper from my bit box with the Marianne Design DF3404 chicken wire, added the embossed stitching, and ta dah!

The Allsorts challenge is for quick and simple cards this time, well it did take me a little while to colour the image but putting the card together was certainly quick and easy!

Marianne Design Floral challenge

 I am cutting it fine for the Marianne Design challenge #127 for flowers as it finishes in just a bit.

I have made a small A6 condolence card with the Marianne Design cross I got a while ago, but hadn't as yet used.  For the flowers I've cut the various layers from thick card with a texture finish, the same used for the cross.  I inked the edges of the petals with a pale blue Momento ink then spritzed the back and scrunched them up, before leaving to dry overnight.  Then it was just a matter of gluing them together and adding the pearl in the centre.  I've made them with the flower dies in LR0111, and I'm quite pleased with how they turned out.  Here is the card:

The background paper is from the Marianne Design Flower Garden paper pack and I embossed the faux stitching around the edge and lightly inked to bring it out.

The cross is 3d mounted, it's LR0252, the fronds are from LR0107, and the swirls from LR0116. You can just make out a snip of the chicken wire cut with DF3404, and I tied a bow with one of the laces in the MD blue pack to finish off.  The text is from my stash.

That's it for today, I've somehow messed up my neck again and not feeling great so will have to ease back on gardening and the computer for a bit, as well as crafting.  I need to get myself a new wheat pack as mine has disappeared and ice isn't doing the job of relaxing the tight muscles in my neck.

Little Hedgies

Now where did the weekend go to?  Ah yes, I cut all the grass on Friday with the new lightweight mower and didn't get a 3 day migraine afterwards - so was able to go plant shopping with my friend on both Saturday and Sunday. Although Sunday turned more into a girly shop with some lovely new candles and a desire for a new wardrobe, if I ever come into a few hundred pounds spare cash! The revamped Trelawny Garden Centre is looking good and I'll need to visit again soon .. .. for candles as well as plants.

So, wondering what I could share with you before my next DT card on Thursday, I found these pictures of cards I'd made for charity and not shown you.  They are the little 4" cards that suit the small Penny Black transparent critter stamp sets and I've used up more bits from my paper and odds and ends boxes.  Here's a better look at the first one:

This I made as a little pocket card so a gift voucher or tag could be slid in behind the hedgie image.  The background paper was plain pink so I over-stamped it with a little rose and coloured with Copics to match the hedgie.  A die cut flower from the Marianne Design set CR1204 cut from hand made paper then died with inks and a few die cut leaves and swirls and a little bow finish things off. Swirls cut with die in set LR0116 and the bow from set LR0328.

This hedgie makes me smile, and I did add extra stamped flowers.  The scrap of paper was inspiration for the colouring and to finish I just added the flower embellishment cut from red hand-made paper and die cut leaf sprays.

Flowers are Marianne Design die COL1323, smallest die, with centres cut from the small poinsettia set LR0142 and leaves from the bird on a branch die LR0137 (same die used on card above).

A very simple card to finish off.  Oddments of Nitwit papers, a strip of fancy raffia I've had forever and a day, and the little hedgie image matted and 3d mounted to the card with a couple little pearls to finish things off.

I just saw that the Crafty Cardmakers new challenge is for dots, so with my dotty gift and dotty paper I'm going to enter with this card.

It's been a mish-mash day today, cleaning, baking and waiting for a visitor that never turned up.  I've been tidying in the garden and need to get motivated to dig in the composted horse manure around the roses and to finish off digging the final end of the rose bed that never got done last year .. .. will have to tell myself "no more plant shopping 'till it's done!"

Thanks for stopping by .. .. I seem to be able to leave comments on some blogs, but not the new style blogger connect ones?  Hopefully, if you leave me a comment I'll be able to get back to you too.

Charmed at CCT

Just the one wonky picture of my card to share with you today!  It's my DT creation for Cute Card Thursday and the theme is 'Charmed, and for this challenge we are sponsored by Whimsy Stamps.  Please stop by the blog for details and to see what the rest of the DT made.

I've used one of me new Uptown Girls stamps, Perry on her laptop, and it is a big stamp with that chair likely to overwhelm, or so I thought.  Therefore, I coloured the chair in pale lavender grey Copic tones and emphasised Perry with reds - hopefully it's worked.  I couldn't help but add a touch of sparkle to the fringing on the chair with Stardust Stickles .. .. these Uptown girls cry out for a touch of bling!  I found a scrap of digi paper in my bit box and other odds and ends, adding the red organza bow and the little heart charm.  I've cut the flowers out of red handmade paper then curled up the edges, adding pearls and die cut leaves to make the corner embellishments.  I didn't use the text that came with the stamp, instead found this little clear one and stamped it up as these days we mostly keep in touch via our laptops etc .. ..

Addicted to Stamps challenge is for a girly card, but no pink (a touch on my paper but hardly any) so I'll enter with them.

The Allsorts blog challenge are playing Bingo - I have a line across the middle with ribbon, flowers and die cuts.

Marianne Design Divas April challenge

The next challenge is up on the Marianne Design Divas blog, you have until May 14th to make something with either a Marianne Design stamp or decoupage sheet, and there is a free download available if you don't have either.  Some stunning creations made by my fellow DT ladies so please go take a look at them for inspiration.

Well, I thought that it was about time I started on my Christmas cards! I got these stamps just before the last Christmas but was too busy to play with them at the time, so here they are.  Love Don and Daisy carol singing and the door from the Christmas scenery set is perfect tucked in behind.  There's lots of other stamps in the set that I'll no doubt be adding to my D&D characters too.  I've coloured with my Copic pens, although the subtle shade of green on her hat and dress are looking rather grey, it's also on his scarf with the red stripes.  I had so much trouble taking this picture as it's been sunny here in Cornwall .. .. not that I'm going to complain about sunshine!  I've added a flaky glitter for snow on the ground, steps etc. then for the falling snow I used a pearl pen.  I used a pearl dabber to add snow effects to the branches, pine cones and leaves cut from kraft card for more snowy effects. Here's the card - a twisted easel so another reason for it being difficult to photograph!

Marianne Design products on my card:

Patterned paper Eline's Winter House PB7037

snow card CA3104

stamps: Don and Daisy Carol singing DDS3345, Christmas scenery set DDS3344,
text SF1118

Die cuts:

mini poinsettias LR0142

pine cones and twigs LR0286

ivy corners CR1253

snowflake used as leaves CR1225

Star semi circle CR1293

I hope you will come and join in the fun with us, as always there are two fabulous prizes to be had.

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge is to add texture to your festive creation, I think with my snow glitter shards, pearly falling snow and all the different layers plus die cuts from sparkly card, I've done that so will enter my card with the challenge.

Emma with a Pot Plant

For this card I've done things a bit different .. .. trying my hand at the vintagey distressed look.  I'm happy with how it turned out but perhaps not quite as distressed as it should be?

I've stamped up my LOTV Emma with Pot Plant then coloured her with Copics, I do love the images with a little dog included!

A couple of challenges I'll enter with this one: Creative Inspirations want to see a trio of something so when you see the card there are 3 butterflies and 3 pearls in a row as an embellishment.  Crafty Catz want you to use 2 or more patterned papers, I have used 3/4 different design patterns (2 with roses are similar and from the same design pack)

Here is the card:

I had the base paper already with inked edges fixed to the base cream card in my WIP box for ages .. .. you know how it is, an idea takes shape then things go off in a totally different direction, at least that's the way of it with me!  I've added the green and flowery paper layers and used a tool I picked up at the Cornwall craft fair to distress the edges then added ink, and nibbled out a bit of the green layer too.  Those papers are from the Marianne Design French Roses pack.  The edge around my image is a pricked design using a very old brass stencil and I distressed the edge of that layer too. So, how do you think I did with the distressed look?

For embellishment I've just added a single flower spray created with different bits of MD die cuts and those pearl on a stalk thingies, then the 3 butterflies created with a Nellie Snellen punch and emboss set, the text stamped on to a MD label die cut, and then top right the 3 little pearls in a row.

One of my new stamps

I spent my early birthday money on some Uptown Girls Stamping Bella stamps from Quixotic Paperie .. .. and there is still a sale on! I had a couple from craft fairs here in Cornwall but still hadn't done anything with them, so got to inking them all up .. ..so several to show you in the coming weeks.  Here is a little card I made with Sofia the Sicky, coloured with my Copic pens and a touch of sparkle.  I must say, they are big stamps and I am going to have to get bigger base cards for some of them.  I think I just about got away with her on this 6" square .. .. here's the card:

The papers are digi designs from Cuddly Buddly printed out as a full A4 sheet rather than just half a sheet as I usually do to get a smaller design, I like the pretty soft blue tones and the pink in the roses picks up the RV pinks I've used to colour and stamp the text, a Marianne Design clear stamp that's a little bigger than the rubber one that comes with her.  A few little MD flowers, twiddly bits, swirls and a die cut bow finish things off.  These are the MD dies I used:

Bow cut from CR1269
flowers COL1323 & LR0105
seed heads LR0106
leafy swirl LR0271

Not sure of any challenges I can enter - will try and look about and if I find any will come back and add in.  But, I have the grandsons arriving this afternoon to stay for the weekend so doubt I'll be able to indulge in much internet browsing .. ..

An update from the vet - Piper is finally going to be discharged this afternoon, the delay was getting him to walk on the broken leg that has now been fixed with pins and a plate.  He figured out he could get about far quicker on 3 legs .. .. he's not daft! Anyway, hopefully his healing will go well and my estranged DH has promised to keep me informed.  Izzy has been well and truly groomed and looks like a different dog! He's also been assessed after the 'incident' a few days back and accusations that he is a dangerous dog!  He is in fact a very nervous dog who in a fearful situation may, if provoked, bite.  However, I've been assured that I'm doing things right but have expected too much of him too soon.  I do need to try and socialise him with other calm and non-aggressive dogs so he can, hopefully, overcome his fear and nervousness.  I will need to be more vigilant with him and not let him go up to other dogs or people unless under strict supervision in his safe environment, i.e. home. It saddens me that in his short life before he came to live with me, he was so traumatised.  I would love for him to be able to enjoy the fun and play on the beach safely with other dogs .. .. perhaps one day?

Bonny Blues

It's time for another challenge at Cute Card Thursday, and this time we are looking for Bonny Blues.

I am scheduling my post as I have a busy day with vet visits and dog grooming, the vet for Piper who has broken his leg (a desperate call from my estranged DH about it) and been referred to the specialist at my vet practice in St Columb.  They are excellent vets so all should work out ok.  And after that I have to take Izzy to groomers after a stressful day with him today (yesterday now) .. .. I love them dearly and am rewarded with slobbery kisses, but sometimes they are a nightmare!

Anyway, here's my card for Bonny Blues at CCT, please stop by the blog for details of prizes and to peak at the other DT creations.  I have used Daisy finding a crocus and the little lambs from the Don and Daisy Spring scenery set to create my picture, then coloured with Copics.  Here is the card:

The blue papers are from the Marianne Design Flower Garden pad and I've added the faux embossed stitching around the edges.  My embellishments are cut with MD dies then I finished off with a stamped greeting and little pearls.  These are the dies I used on this card:

flower spray across top and little bit down the right hand side CR1270
bigger flowers from LR0112
leaves that I think look a little bit like feathers from LR0226
butterflies from LR0261

The Stamp and Create challenge for April is an anything goes theme so I will link up with them when I'm able. The Allsorts blog challenge is for Easter cards so hopefully I'll be back in time to link up with them too.

Rowan Fairy for Crafty Cardmakers

Hello again! how are you all doing this fine spring day?  I have finally ditched the leggings and pulled on a skirt, found a blouse and cardi instead of a jumper and coat, and enjoyed a walk with Izzy around the Seven Bays Holiday Park just down the road.  It's been good for him to gain confidence in me as pack leader (yes, I've been watching the dog whisperer on tv) and cope with lots of other dogs and children playing without going skitzy!

Anyway, I have just had a really pleasant surprise finding out I won the last Crafty Cardmakers Spring challenge with my Daisy Springtime card! A nice birthday surprise for me .. .. and as their next challenge is for things with wings and I had this card made for a while but haven't blogged it, I thought what a perfect one for this next challenge!  Wee Stamps Rowan Fairy is coloured with my Copic pens, but with the artistic licence of making the berries more magenta than scarlet!  Here's the card:

It's a simple layout, a couple layers of muted paper in the background with my embossed stitched edges that I've highlighted with ink, then an embossed layer with the pretty corners that I didn't want to hide too much so just added the Platinum Stickles around the edge.  I've also sparkled the edge of my image before fixing to a pretty Marianne Design die cut circle, then a few punched butterflies fluttering by to finish things off.

Off back outside now to carry on tweaking the garden .. .. although I can't cut the grass as the verdict on the mower was "it's had it!"  I have to do some serious shopping this week for a new mower, a new bed for guests coming to stay over the May Day weekend, and food shopping for my grandsons staying this coming weekend, without Mum and Dad!  Izzy has the groomer on Thursday afternoon so I'm leaving washing bedding until he's all lovely and clean (not that it'll last long) and as my decorator never turned up or replied to any of the messages I left for him .. .. I'm back to square one and trying to do it myself or find someone else .. .. all in all that means my craft stash is staying put away until next week, but I do have a couple things all done and dusted and ready to share later on for my DT commitments.  Enjoy the sunshine, and long may it last!

CCT Buttons and Bows

It's Thursday again already! Time for the next challenge at Cute Card Thursday, this time it's for buttons and bows and we are being sponsored by Bunny Zoe's Crafts.

My mojo went walk-about for this one so I have just made a little baby card, another of the 4" square designs with an oddment of digi paper by Cuddly Buddly and the cute little digi bear by Eline, also from Cuddly Buddly.  I've coloured with my Copics and added white dots to his diaper with a pearl pen.  I coloured a length of white satin ribbon with the same markers then tied the double bow and used the odd bits left over to thread my cardboard buttons.  The text stamp is by Marianne Design and I've added my faux embossed stitches as usual.

The ABC blog challenge is up to the letter G: to go digital, so with a digi image and digi papers I can join in with them!

I'm getting ready for a family invasion, need to get shopping today (mustn't forget the grandson's Easter Eggs) and tidy away my craft mess so we can eat at the dining room table on Sunday.  Enjoy your Easter, and the chocolate eggs! and hopefully we will see some sunshine too!

Daisy Knitting

I have a little card to share with you today, looks a bit bright as I hit the auto brightening button so you could see it a bit better .. ..

It's a small 5" square this time, and I deliberately left off a text so I could keep it for any occasion that I might need a card in a hurry.  I've coloured Daisy knitting stamp with my Copic pens then fussy cut her out to 3d fix to the centre square.  The blue papers are from the MD Flower Garden pack and I've added the faux embossed stitches around the edge, although they are hard to see.  The cream mat is cut from MD die CR1203 and I've embellished with a leafy swirl LR0271 and flowers created with COL1323, LR0105 and LR0106.


The Creative Card Crew challenge is to make handmade flowers, mine are quite simple die cuts then I've curled the edges upwards and added a die cut stamen centre.  I think they look a little like spring blossoms and will curl up more into tighter buds .. .. but then wont fit in the envie for posting!

I was hoping to tidy up the garden for Easter, get the grass cut etc - but I've blown another mower motor after only a few minutes cutting grass.  I want to keep the lawn at the back so there's somewhere for dogs and children to play, but think the front weedy patch and the small side area could be gravelled.  It will mean an awful lot of gravel at the front of the bungalow though as I did the area in front of the extension and large side drive last summer with just a couple of small planting areas.  Perhaps I can put in more grasses and prairie style plants in the gravel, nibble away at it as and when I can afford the plants or grow from seed.  It's a big job so either I'll have to get one of the boys to take off the grass with a turf cutter (no way am I attempting it by hand myself) or fork out for the landscaper to do it all .... I wonder if he would come back though as I was pretty fussy with the plants I wanted last time and in the end he left me to it!