From the Bit Box

Sorry to have been away so long .. .. and I never got to join in with a DT creation for Cute Card Thursday 'Just for Laughs' theme this week, or for the Marianne Design Divas letters and/or numbers challenge .. .. I will try to do better!

I'm still kept busy with Izzy, and thankfully, fingers crossed, I've found a lovely chap to help finish off the decorating in the bungalow.  He also spent time getting to know Izzy and giving me some advice as he used to have spaniels too.  I have to seal the wall behind the bed in the guest room tomorrow (smelly stuff so hopefully it wont be too cold to have the window open) ready for wallpaper to go up later in the week, I hope.

Today I stopped by St Francis and gave them a selection of cards to sell in the office, and they asked if I'd like a stall at the summer fair in July .. .. not sure about that as still need to do a lot more work to get Izzy socialised and happy to meet other dogs, and people! Anyway, they like my cards so that is good to know, and here's another one for them.  I'm keeping things flat, and this one is blank inside so it could be for any occasion.  An old Stampavie stamp, but oh so cute, coloured with my Copics but looking a bit washed out due to taking the picture on a dull day with the lights on. The small square base I'd already got cut so rummaged about and found pieces of Cuddly Buddly digi paper in my print out box and little green stars in the waste jar. Nice when I can use up the old stash .. .. especially as I just succumbed to buying some new!

CCT What's New?

Time for another challenge at Cute Card Thursday, and we would like you to use something new .. .. or perhaps a new idea. Our sponsor is Whiff of Joy, please stop by the CCT blog to read about the prize and see the rest of the DT's inspirational makes.

Well, Santa didn't bring me any crafty pressies, so I had to treat myself! This is little Polly digi from Wee Stamps and I've coloured her with my Copic pens.  Keeping to my resolution to use up what's in my bit boxes, I found I already had the pretty MD background mat cut and inked and after rummaging in another box of digi print outs came across the old piece of Cuddly Buddly paper for the background that would match it.

Here's the card so you can see:

To make the card 'special' I've matted twice, and added the faux embossed stitching to the white and printed layers.  The die cut doily flowers and text mat are from another MD set and the leaves are snips from another.  I've stitched around my image mat with some pink embroidery floss and added the little waste hearts. Nice one! well I think so, anyway.

The Marianne Design dies I used are:
background doily with raised embossed areas inked with blue chalk ink cut from LR0141
image mat cut from CR1248
flowers with raised hearts inked with pink Brilliance ink, and the text mat from CR1251
leaves snipped from LR0242

Thanks for stopping by, I am pushed for time at the moment with a doggy that is desperate for a walk but weather that is iffy, to say the least! Hopefully I can come back later and do some link ups and come see what you've created for our challenge.

Just seen that Moving Along With The Times have a photo of flowers and colours pink and aqua predominant so hopefully my card will be ok to link up with them.

Little Tilly

My weekend was quiet so I decided to have several tidy up/clear outs of both my wardrobe and my craft stash!  I've organised the chaos and have an empty choc box with cards that have been started and then stopped for lack of ideas, and a bag of images that are anywhere from just stamped to half coloured.  I've also matched up all my old cards with envies to take to St Francis or another charity and have started to think about what direction my crafting is going.

Well, I love to colour, and I love my Marianne dies, but I'm not made of money and will have to tighten my belt somewhat this year.  Also, I'm not sending many personal cards these days and those that go by post need to be flat and postage friendly, as do the ones I'm going to make for charity, especially as I'm donating them too so wont be able to afford extra little bits and bobs, not that I need any as I have bags of blooms and boxes of ribbon!  So you will find that any cards I make will tend to be flat, embellishments wont be sticking out much and dogs will be a big feature! I do want to try my hand at home decor this year, as a way to use up those flowers and ribbons .. .. ..

Anyway, here are my first couple of cards with little Tilly the dog stamps by Wild Rose Studio (having a dog in the picture means I might be tempted to buy a new stamp - my excuse!)  I've coloured Tilly with flowers with Copics to match the part made card with the pretty Nitwits paper, and then simply fixed the image to a doily I found already cut out in a bit box .. .. one down!

And here's the second one, this time Tilly with a pile of pressies.  I tried adding a little sparkle around the edge with wet glue and glitter from my stash, sort of worked, and decorated with the little die cut flowers and butterflies.  The little hearts are from my bit jar so another pat on the back for me!

Inside each card I've just stamped 'hugs and kisses' that way it could be for any occasion.

The Marianne Design dies I used are:

butterflies from LR0261
leaves from LR0117
flowers smallest in set COL1323
doily mat on top card CR1248

Hope you like my little creations, if my internet lasts I might be able to browse and find some challenges to link up with .. .. thanks for stopping by.

CCT anything goes!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's another anything goes week at Cute Card Thursday, we guessed you might be busy doing other things and getting sorted for 2015 .. .. I am determined to make a dent in the stash, (didn't I say that last year?) and I think I've found a way of doing that thanks to hours of 'study' looking at YouTube videos!  I made a couple of mini albums for Christmas gifts, the first was for my granddaughter Lauren and I forgot to take pictures, this is the second and I think better made with more room on the spines .. .. but more of that later.  I've used up some of my Classic K&Co 12x12 double sided paper along with odds end ends of lace and ribbon etc.  So here's a peek inside:

This is the first couple of pages, I think so, but forgot to number them in the pictures before giving the album away!  As you can see, lots of little tags in pockets for adding photos and journalling. I've inked the edges of everything with a soft brown chalk ink, the colours aren't right in my pictures but I had to do the auto edit thingy so you could see the pinks better.  Next page:

The die cuts are created with Marianne Design dies, the borders cut with a Martha Stewart punch and the tiny flowers are waste from other punched and die cut pieces that I've collected in a bit jar .. .. using it up here!

This is the middle of the album and I'm not totally sure about my die cut circle cut in half holding the journal tags, fingers crossed it doesn't all fall out!

Towards the back now, and more tags, flowers and pearls.

The last pages .. .. so what do you think?

And this is what it looks like on the outside .. .. in hindsight I would have put the ribbon tie under the ribbon down the side, but I was making things up as I went along!

They were fun to make, and quite easy once I got the hang of it. This second version has the spines spaced further apart which makes adding embellishments and leaves room for sticking out bits to fit between the pages. My base album is made in one piece with just an extra layer on the outside of the spine for reinforcement, I think you can make that out in the picture above.  I allowed a quarter inch between the page spines, and each page spine is half an inch and doubled up with red line tape for extra strength.  I started with a piece of 12 x 6 double sided paper then along the 12" side scored at three and five eights of an inch (sorry can't figure out how to type the fractions), then at half inch further on twice, leave a quarter inch for the gusset between the page then score again at half inch on twice repeating until you have 4 lots of half inches with a quarter inch between. Score and stick the half inches together with a strong tape to give strength as you will be attaching your pages to them.

Using double sided paper/card means you only stick one piece to each spine, if you want a bigger album then there are lots of  videos showing the spines made separately with different amounts left between then fixed to a thick album back spine.  Or using a plain card stock for the covers, spine and pages then adding patterned papers over, that way you don't need double sided.  One of my favourite videos is this one for a much bigger album but oh isn't it pretty!

Please let me know if you have a go and leave me a link if you post your project so I can come take a look.

It's still Christmas!

Hello! I'm back with another Christmas card to share, but sadly the colours are off as the beige brown shades are showing up grey - oh bu*****! I seem to be getting a slightly better internet connection since my youngest fiddled, but still have trouble getting about and linking up so wont be joining in any challenges just yet.

So here is a card I made with one of Sylvia's digi designs for Wee Stamps - do go grab them quick as the rules here in UK/Europe for selling digi images are getting complicated and until they are made clear several companies will be shutting down their stores on 31st December .. .. .. there's a link to Wee Stamps digi store on my side bar.

I've coloured with my Copic pens and added glitter for snow and glaze pen on her bauble berries. The stamped snow background should be a pale blue, ah well!  Here's my card:

I was going through my bit box and found the pretty ribbon and some punched out flowers I hadn't used so incorporated them with the die cut snowflake doily and little holly leaves, both Marianne Design dies and cut from the MD Snow paper (it's actually thick sparkly card).  The spotty background paper is actually a soft chocolate brown with pale blue dots .. .. and I've matted with old chocolate card and inked my embossed stitches with a soft brown chalk ink.  The ticket is an old digi one from Cuddly Buddly that needed using up too!

I hope you have had a lovely Christmas, it's frosty here today but the sun is shining and Izzy has discovered the joys of rolling on frosted grass!

CCT Anything Goes!

Merry Christmas!

Today it's anything goes at Cute Card Thursday, as I expect everyone is supper busy .. .. so here's a chance to share those last minute makes or anything else new you have created.  Stop by the CCT blog to read all about the prize and catch up with the rest of the DT's creations.  My last minute make is the cute LOTV little boy sleding with his dog and ooops! they come across Rudolph hiding in the woods .. .. the scenery stamps are from the Don and Daisy Winter set by Marianne Design.  I've added plenty of sparkle but then just mated in red and kept it CAS.

Here's the card:

And here's another quick CAS card I made with that naughty little PB puppy! a touch of colour from my Copic pens and some sparkle and snow, then a slivery mat and matching bow - simples!

LOTV Christmas Cards

I do love my LOTV Christmas stamps and the only problem I have with them is that I can't get them all inked up each year and made into cards!  But here are some I've been playing with and managed to create with for those last minute makes .. .. ..

Here's the first card with Christmas Carol stamp coloured with my Copic pens then a white pearl pen for the snow.  The papers are scraps of Nitwits and the die cuts are from Marianne Design with the stars cut from the MD sparkly snow paper that's actually a thick card!

And here's the second card with Gifts on the Tree, one of my new snowmen stamps so the first time inked then coloured with Copic pens.  I've added clear glaze to snowman's coal buttons and the baubles. Another scrap of paper but not 100% sure it's all Nitwits. Die cuts are again by Marianne Design with pearl pen added for the berries and centres of the flowers.

And here's the third card with My Snowman Friend, he's a new stamp for me this year but I've used it once before and think he will be a favourite as he's not too big so perfect for my smaller charity cards.  He's coloured with my Copic pens then more of the white pearl pen for snow and a scrap of Nitwits paper along with old brown card stock from my stash. The snowflake is from a Joy border die that I always have trouble cutting out, but it is a nice design and I managed to rescue this part and tuck it in.  The faux embossed stitches on all my cards are created with an old Marianne Design border die that lives permanently on my desk, then just highlighted with my favourite chalk inks.

I hope you like my easy LOTV makes, I do enjoy the colouring most of all!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you all have a

Festive Yule!
and a
Merry Christmas!

CCT Sparkles!

This week on Cute Card Thursday we are going all sparkly! My image is called Sweet Sparkles and is one of Sylvia's digi designs at Wee Stamps.  I've coloured with my Copic pens and added a sparkly border, and there's a touch of subtle sparkle on her wings and on the flowers but that just doesn't show up!  Anyway, here's the card - for more inspiration from the DT stop by the CCT blog where you'l find details about prizes too. .. ..

My background paper and the die cut embellishments are all Marianne Design.  Sorry no list as I'm having lots of issues with internet again .. .. but, I might get my son's laptop at the end of January when he hopes to upgrade so fingers crossed I can get used to typing on a smaller keyboard and will be able to sit in the lounge closer to the box of tricks!

I have shopping, baking and cleaning to do before family arrive for Christmas, so catch up with you later.

Bells and Bows for CCT

Hello again! I'm a little late sharing my DT card for this week's Cute Card Thursday challenge, just one of those days/weeks it seems when things don't always go to plan.  Anyway, here it is, another of my favourite LOTV boy stamps and I created a scene by adding in the trees from the Marianne Design Don and Daisy Winter scenery set - just a little makes it I think.  And lots of sparkle too!  Where are the bows and bells? .. .. here you go:

I've been trying to make some more cards for posting so have kept the embellishments to a minimum and fairly flat, fingers crossed the card will fit through the slot.  The holly and bells are from the Marianne Design die set COL1363, the snowflake and banner are older MD dies from my vast collection!

For details about the prize and to see the rest of the DT's creations please hop on over to the Cute Card Thursday blog.  I'm still having internet issues so find it hard to do link ups to challenges at the moment, I am trying to get all my own creations on to my Pinterest boards so do come take a look if you can.

CCT Christmas Angels

Hello again! it's been a while and although I have been busy with a little crafting I cant show you what I've been making until after Christmas .. .. just in case someone is looking!

I do have a DT card to share with you this week for the Cute Card Thursday challenge, Christmas Angels, or in my case more of a little Christmas fairy!  This is one of Sylvia's Wee stamps digi designs called Holly and she got flipped so is looking t'other way, I didn't know I could do that .. .. and probably wont be able to figure it out again. I have made a pretty card with lots of sparkle although its not always showing up, coloured with Copic markers and inked the raised embossed areas on my die cuts with an aqua chalk ink. Here's the card:

Another of the magazine papers for the background then a selection of little die cut snowflakes and hearts from Marianne Design, and the chicken wire piece too that I've glittered.  Here's the list of Marianne dies I used:
chicken wire DF3404
text banner COL1325
small snowflakes and heart (little hearts are from the middle of the bigger one) CR1256
large snowflake in top right corner LR0125

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and look at my card, I'm sorry I'm not getting a chance to visit much these days.  Izzy is doing well, he has been for the snip last week and whilst under the anaesthetic he had an x-ray of his oesophagus and a camera look at his throat.  All seems normal although we are still getting the regurgitation at times if he eats too fast, the pieces are too big (like when he found an old hide chew in the garden that Piper must have left hidden) or he is stressed by something, and there are lots of things that stress him outside the home.  Thankfully he is happy and settled here in his routine with me.

The Perfect Snowman!

As promised, here is my next CAS card created with another cute LOTV stamp, this time 'the perfect snowman'. I've been choosing stamps with dogs so I can make a few more cards for St Francis Animal Shelter.  I've coloured with my Copic pens to match the scrap of Marianne Design Scandi print paper I had left in my bit box.  Also added the falling snow with a white pearl pen and some sparkle with Stardust Stickles.  Here's the card:

Sorry for the wonky picture.  Again, just the embossed stitches around the edge of the paper, some inking, a snowflake and little gems.

I'm scheduling this one so fingers crossed you get to see it .. .. .. not sure when I will be able to afford a new pc now that I have Izzy and some vet bills to pay, thankfully he's doing much better as long as I can keep him calm and relaxed. Sometimes that's easier said than done though and any upset shortly after he's eating will be disastrous .. .. ..

CCT Stars

At Cute Card Thursday this week our theme is stars and we have Whimsy Stamps sponsoring us for the challenge.  Do stop by the CCT blog to read all about it and catch up with the rest of the DT.

The picture on the CCT blog was taken last night so the colours are not quite right, I've managed to snap again this morning as it's a relatively bright day here in North Cornwall, makes a change from the torrential rain of yesterday and my little car incident .. .. more on my Facebook page about that.

Here is the close up shot of the LOTV Mary and Joseph stamped image I've coloured with my Copics. The shades are close, but from two different sets, one BV and the other a B with a touch of the violet in it.  The camera doesn't pick up the subtleties that the eye sees!  I've added a little touch of sparkle to my stars .. .. and here is the card:

I got the embossed stars folder back in the late summer when we had a craft fair in Bodmin, but then forgot about them in the drawer .. .. good job I remembered for this week's theme.  The card is CAS with just the faux stitch embossed edge and a dark blue mat that also has a hint of the lavender about it.  It's another C6 card so will either be for Mum to send to one of her church friends or I will add it to the pile for St Francis Dog Rescue.

Well my pc is still playing up, you wouldn't believe how long it took to get these pictures added .. .. but I do have another CAS card made to share so will try and get it organised for tomorrow.  Take care, and thanks for dropping by.

Red and Green at CCT

I do apologise for the dreadful photograph! This week on Cute Card Thursday our theme is red and green, so perfect for your festive creations.  Please stop by the blog to read about the sponsor and prizes .. .. I'm writing this a day early as it's taking an age to load any pictures with my iffy internet!

I'm not getting a lot of time to myself these days but have managed to do a little colouring and used up some old magazine freebie papers by Nitwits to create a collection of cards for the St Francis Rescue centre.  Fingers crossed you might be able to see better in the individual pictures.  The images are Penny Black, all except Santa holding the puppy, I think that one is from High Hopes but as it's just naked rubber in my Christmas stamp box, I couldn't swear to it!

I tried to get the two xmas treat designs side by side, but couldn't .. ..

So, this one has the Marianne Design bells and holly die cut added for decoration, they are from die set COL1363. The berries and hearts are from my bit jar and are waste or left over pieces from other MD dies I've cut in the past.









 On this one I've die cut the greeting text from LR0225 and added the waste stars with a couple of gems.  On all the cards I've added the faux embossed stitching and inked with chalk ink, mostly a brown but once I used green.

This stamp is called Xmas Pilgrims.  The cute puppies stamp only the outline so it's up to you to decide where the markings go, thankfully the wood block mount does give you an idea!

I've added glaze to the balloon and the little waste green stars along the top, and of course glitter to the hats and for the icy snow they are skitting along!

The text across the bottom is from a Viva Decor clear stamp set, available from Cuddly Buddly.

On this card I've used a cute little stamp from one of my clear Penny Black sets, cant remember which one and with a puppy asleep on my feet I can't go and find out!

For decoration I added the waste hearts and die cut a mini poinsettia and spray of holly using Marianne Design dies.

Finally, here is Santa! I fussy cut him out then added the Lace Stickles to the trims on his suit before 3d fixing him to the card.  The little stars are more waste (feels good to use up the bits from the jar) and the tree behind santa is die cut from Marianne Design LR0136.

Well that's it. The internet packed up on me yesterday so it's been a rush to load the individual pictures this morning.  I've not taken Izzy for a walk yet, the wind is blowing a gale here so I keep putting it off, thankfully he is happy to do his business in the garden! Unfortunately he sneaked a drink of water from the can in the garden just a while ago and now is coughing a lot, I live in constant fear of aspiration pneumonia which is a common side effect for dogs with ME (mega eosophagus).  We seem to be doing so much better on the food front with no regurgitation and not always necessary to feed him upright anymore either, just slowly so still by hand.  The drinking still scares me although I notice that when he laps a few sips from puddles on our walks and then carry on, he doesn't have the cough or water regurgitation.  I also noticed that he needs to be completely relaxed during feeding, any stress is disastrous but the problem is he's scared of his own shadow half the time!  We are getting better though, and I'm having to tell him off for barking at people when we are out. The first time he cowered as though expecting to be hit, my heart nearly broke and I had to be firm with myself not to pick him up and cuddle him there and then.  He learns quickly though so hopefully a few more sessions and he will understand that there's no need to bark at people we pass - he does it to try and scare them away as he expects to be hurt .. .. so sad.

Stripes at CCT

Well that didn't last long! Today is decidedly iffy so I'd better be quick sharing my DT card for this week's stripes challenge at Cute Card Thursday.  The stamped image is another of my new LOTV stamps from the Bodmin show and with his stripy hat and scarf was a great start for the challenge theme. Iv'e coloured with my Copic pens then added liquid pearls for the falling snow and glitter at the base.

Here's the card:

The papers are by Nitwits and the die cuts made with Marianne Design dies;

mini poinsettia LR0142
holly leaves, bells and snowflake COL1363

I have a demanding spaniel trying to jump on my lap as I type so guess he needs to go water the garden .. .. and it's tipping down with rain here! Catch up later, when and if internet is working again, hugs to all!

One Layer Card

ok then, I have internet .. .. but not sure how long it's going to last so I'll be quick sharing this simple little card with you.  It was made for the CCT blog one layer challenge back in October and I used one of the cute LOTV stamps that I got at the Bodmin craft fair.  I've not been crafting much recently, what with more decorating, family ups and downs and now a new member of the family taking up so much of my time - but more about him later!

I've coloured the image with my Copic pens then added a little touch of glitter for the snow - here's the card:

I have had to stamp and colour onto my favourite smooth card then fix it to my base card, so it is a version of the one layer idea! Colouring with Copics they bleed through and my stamping card isn't substantial enough to stand on it's own anyway.  I've simply embossed the faux stitches around the edge then stamped the text to try and hide a blob of ink that must have been on my hand .. .. maybe you wouldn't notice it if I'd kept quiet!

So, a quick introduction to Izzy my new cocker spaniel friend.  I have pictures on my facebook page now and then taken with my Hudl as I can at least use that to check my emails and get onto facebook. Izzy, short for Curtis (another aeroplane make as all my cockers have been named for aeroplanes) is now a year old and was gifted into the local re-homing shelter by his previous owners as they said he was scaring their children!  The poor fellow is scared of his own shadow and yes he does bark at strangers and will go for your ankles if you're not classed as a friend and move to fast! The poor lad was kept shut away when people came to the house so has never learnt to socialise and is fearful of just about every new situation.  He was also living with his litter brother, a rather more boisterous fellow by all accounts who would scare the living daylights out of him, consequently he's also scared of other dogs.  So all in all we have some behavioural issues to contend with, plus there is a question mark over his feeding/health as he has been regurgitating allot.  I've had some expensive blood tests done to rule out anything nasty, and until he gets a camera down his throat to see what's going on the jury is out.  Thankfully the blood tests were negative for anything nasty but he has been labelled as having a large oesophagus causing the regurgitation.  He previous owners when pressed for further information just shrugged and said they thought it was because he ate too fast being in competition with his brother.  There are lots of questions as to what might have caused it, a splinter from a stick getting lodged in his throat, an injury whilst playing .. .. I doubt I will ever know the truth.  Anyway, we have the feeding sussed now, it's just the drinking that scares me when he sounds like he's choking. He is a gentle lamb with both me and Mum and loves to be cuddled, and even brushed when in the mood! He sleeps all night, is house trained, travels well in the car and is all in all a joy to have in my life, so everything else we will tackle together one step at a time.

Anyway enough for now, as I'll try to add my card for this week's CCT challenge that I've managed to join in .. .. catch up as and when .. .. and if the internet holds I might even see if there are any challenges I can link up to as well.

CCT spots and dots!

The Cute Card Thursday theme this week is spots and dots, and we are sponsored by Nikki at Bunny Zoe's Crafts.  Do stop by the blog for more info and to see the rest of the DTs creations.

Sorry I'm late posting my card for you, I am still in the middle of decorating, expecting visitors to stay overnight in the room that I'm trying to paint, and on top of it I had to re-book the car to have the cam belt and new wheels fitted as the garage hoist was broken on Monday .. .. ah well, just about on top of it all now.  I must say though, having inadvertently put the high octane fuel in the car and having new wheels, 'twas a fabulous drive back from the garage last night!

But, to my card - one of the cute digi stamp images from Wee Stamps coloured with my Copic pens, she might be an old design but she is so sweet and I keep printing her out now and again. Here is the card, unfortunately looking rather washed out as in real life its more peachy pink and aqua tones:

My paper is odds and ends from Nitwits with lots of spots and dots on it.  I've added more dots with the liquid pearls on the mat around my image as well as the centre of the flowers and the butterfly bodies and a trio top right.  And to finish things off, I used one of my new Marianne Design design folder sets to cut the chicken wire and stamped dots onto the little bits that come out.

The MD dies I used on this one are:
the chicken wire DF3404
flowers COL1323
butterflies from set LR0261
leafy sprays LR0271

Sorry I can't do any link ups, you wont believe how long it's taken me to write this post - I've made a chocolate and banana loaf whilst waiting for it to catch up! Enjoy your weekend and catch up with you all next week.

Wee Holly

This is not quite so wee Holly as she came off the printer bigger than I was expecting! I coloured her up with my Copic pens anyway and added touches of sparkle then made a card with some pieces of Nitwit papers and a die cut embellishment.  Another fairly flat card to send through the post or add to my charity box.  Here's the card:

The snowflake and bells, as well as the scallop border are all Marianne dies, please excuse me for not giving you the numbers today, I'm struggling with the internet and a thick head!  I kept myself busy at the weekend with gardening and keep forgetting that I have a bad neck .. .. it never hurts at the time I'm lugging bags of compost in and out of the car, but does for a day or two afterwards!  My car should have been in the garage today but there is a problem with the ramp that goes up and down (can't remember what they called it) so I've had to re-book for Thursday - then I get a little Smart car to drive about for a day or two, that will be fun!

Sorry, no linking up to challenges, perhaps when the internet works a bit faster and my brain cells aren't fogged I can find some .. .. My craft stash is still all packed away and as I'm still slowly decorating the guest bedroom it will probably stay in the cupboard a while longer.  I have my DT card made for CCT on Thursday so will be back then. Thanks for stopping by, and see you later in the day on Thursday.

Although I can't see any preview pictures in my blogger reading list, I did see that Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge is for colourful creations this time around, so I will try and enter my card .. ..

Dies and Punches at CCT

Good morning! It's Thursday so that means a new challenge theme on Cute Card Thursday, this week we want to see what you can create with your dies and/or punches.  Our sponsor is Rick St Dennis, sorry no link as my internet is barely crawling today.  Stop by the CCT blog to read all about it and see what the rest of the DT have created.

I've made a Christmas easel card with some of the new Marianne Design dies I've just added to my collection, plus a few from last year and a while back too.  The snow is glitter over a white Wacco pearl maker pen, thought I'd try that so it looks more like snow than just glitter on a card - what do you think?

 Here's the card looking down on the text and showing the die cut pine cone embellishment:

And here;s the card view on the CCT blog:

The spotty paper is from my stash with the faux embossed stitches around the edge inked with a pale blue Momento, I used the same ink to ink the embossed areas on the die cut rectangle and to create the snowy background and stamp the falling snow in the sky.  Lots of Marianne Design products on this one so here is the list:

fancy rectangle LR0111
tree scape CR1287
village and fence CR1288
tree in foreground, deer and lamppost COL1330
pine cone and branch LR0286
holly leaves, and snowflakes COL1363
text from SF1118 stamped onto small circle die from LR0180
snowflake sky stamp in die set COL1328

I hope you will come join in our challenge and I look forward to seeing what you create, even though I can't leave any comments until the internet connection picks up.  Likewise, I'm not linking up my card to any challenges, but hope you have enjoyed looking at it.

My Snowman Friend

After my busy weekend the last week has been a bit slow going, but I did manage to get some cards made and ignored the garden .. .. will have to do something about it this weekend though!

It was fabulous to see LOTV again at the Kernow craft fair last Saturday, I do hope they keep coming as we don't see many 'big' names down this way.  I treated myself to 4 new Christmas stamps, and this is one of them.  I've coloured the image with my Copic pens then added some flaky stuff for snow (ancient from my stash), and the falling snow I created with my white pearl maker pen.  Here's the card:

A simple little thing with a small scallop base then I just added the embossed snowflake layer with a blue mat.  The mat behind the snowman is cut from a new Nestie set I treated myself to at the fair, my excuse being it goes with the labels 1 already in my stash and used to cut out the snowman. Not sure of any challenges I can enter with this one .. .. still having issues with the internet but surprisingly I have 2 bars of signal at the moment .. .. more would be nice!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend, whatever you get up to! I have family coming for Sunday lunch tomorrow so I had better get my craft stash cleared off the dining table and sweep up the bits from the floor! Plus I forgot to get parsnips and frozen Yorkshire puds so will need to pop out - Yorkshires is something that just doesn't work with GF flour!

Awesome Autumn

This week at Cute Card Thursday we are celebrating Autumn with our regular sponsor Whimsy Stamps providing the prize - stop by the blog to read all about it and for more inspiration from the DT.

My internet is playing up again so I'll have to keep this short and sweet and hope that the pictures show up (I'm not seeing them). I've made one of my little 5" square cards with scraps of digi paper by Nitwits and stamped an old Elizabeth Bell sweetie called picking apples.  She's coloured with my Copic pens.  Here's the card:

The die cut embellishments are all by Marianne Design and I've added the stars to the centres of the flowers, they are old sticky things from my stash but I see coming back around again!  I noticed at the show last Saturday that a lot of the 'new' things are versions of stash I have from almost 10 years ago when I first started out, so glad I kept some of the smaller bits and pieces but a bit annoyed I gave a lot away in the house move, ah well!

Here's the list of Marianne dies I used:
scallop edge of middle layer cut with LR0300
green leaves and swirl LRO271
large flowers COL1323
small yellow flowers from CR1210

Can't do any linking up today so no other challenges to mention, but I might try later if the internet comes back to more than 1 bar signal strength. Thanks for stopping by and hope you will come and join in our Awesome Autumn challenge.