CCT Flowers

Hello there!  It's time for our next challenge at Cute Card Thursday, this time we want to see some flowers on your creations - stop by the blog to see what the rest of the DT made and read all about the prize.

I just have the one picture for you today, the camera isn't playing ball on the close ups and this one is a bit off on the colours - ah well!  I've used another pretty picture from the Mattie's Flowers cutting sheet, the picture is actually a circle but I've cut it into an oval to fit the pretty Marianne Design lacy frame CR1204.  The background paper is a sheet that looks like floorboards from the Country Style paper pack, I've roughed up and inked the edges for a more rustic look as well as inking the edges of the picture and lace mat.  To embellish I raided the bit boxes and found the little green hearts, lavender swirls and flower sequins.  I've cut a fancy MD die cut in half to decorate the edge of the card, inking the embossed areas to tie things in.  And I found the snowflake circle die already cut out in my bit box ready to tuck in behind the picture on top of a piece of jute ribbon and length of lace.  I've die cut a few tiny flowers with the tiny flower strip die then finished off with scraps of ribbon, twine and liquid pearls.

Thanks for stopping by again.  I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment with trying to look after Mum as well as the house and garden - and finding time to craft and catch up with blogging, Facebook etc.  I really appreciate the visits and can see from my stats that lots of ladies are stopping by - so thank you each and everyone.

I Do!

I recently got to play with a couple of my older LOTV Wedding stamps, and this is one of the cards I made.

This image is 'I do!' and I've coloured with my Copics then added lots of sparkle with Stardust Stickles and glaze pen over the hearts.

Here's the card:

Having difficulty focusing the camera again .. .. and having to take the picture under the cooker hood light as it's back to dull misty days here in Cornwall.  I've used white pearl paper for the embossed background and for my die cuts - all Marianne Design of course.  Here's a close up of the flowers and the list of dies I used:

Better focus this time!

The embossed background I made with the new folder DF3424 called Pearls - it's going to be one of my favourites!

And I've cut a swirl edge with one of the dies in the wave border set  LR0395 tucking a little tiara lace behind.

I've cut the new star doily LR0397 to tuck in behind the image.

The flowers and leaves are cut with the strip dies I love so much, the leaves from CR1336, and the flowers from CR1323.

The Addicted to Stamps challenge is to use die cuts with your stamped design, I think I'm ok to enter with them! And over at Sweet Stampin' the theme is for glitter and sparkle, plenty of that too!

Thank you for stopping by, I'm not sure when I'll be around again but I do have several half finished projects on the go .. .. enjoy the rest of your weekend - and hey! it's brightening up here so I'd best make the most of it and take Izzy for a quick walk.

CCT Warm Colours

Well I'm actually blogging my DT card for Cute Card Thursday, on Thursday!  And here in North Cornwall the sun is shining, the wind has dropped, the birds are singing and pecking away in my garden - hopefully eating all the pesky bugs.  It actually feels that Spring might finally have arrived, but shhhhh, I shouldn't talk to soon!

So, this week at CCT we want to warm things up, show us something made with warm colours.  Looking after Mum has been a wee bit exhausting at times so I haven't had time to stamp and colour any images lately, instead I've used one of the pretty images from a Marianne Design Mattie's Beautiful Flowers cutting sheet.  I covered my cream base card with a piece of patterned paper from the Country Style paper pack, it's got a subtle pattern but I've added to it by stamping the little dots with Sahara Sand chalk ink, randomly here and there.  The stamp comes with the Party Numbers die set and I just inked without using a block then casually stamped not worrying too much about where the dots went .. .. been watching some of the mixed media clips on You Tube for ideas!

Around the edge I've added golden glitter on top of the 3d snow, then there's little bits of ric rac ribbon and a heart charm, die cuts from cream card and a scrap of patterned paper, and then the flowers - here's a close up:

I've cut them from Mulberry paper then inked the edges with a golden yellow chalk ink, spritzed with water, moulded with a ball tool and when dry added a tiny black gem to the centres to tie in with the picture.  I cut a few tiny flowers from cream card using the flower strip die and, of course, I had to use some of the little butterflies too. I am really liking those strip dies that Marianne is bringing out.  Here's the list of the dies I used on this card:

text die and stamp - COL1324

flowers - COL1323

tiny flowers COL1323

tiny butterflies - CR1354

leaves snipped from LR0137

triangle border - LR0385

Marrakesh trellis - DF3416

Thank you for stopping by to take a peek at my card. Can I remind you that the new Marianne Design Divas challenge is now up for the next month with the theme of monochromatic.  I didn't get a chance to create a DT project this time, although this card could almost fit the bill .. .. ..

Now, I've been following the Mixed Media blog for a while now, trying to get more adventurous with my crafting.  The February theme is for glitter, so I am hoping that my mix of glitter on top of the thick snow tex will count, along with the mix of stamping on my background paper, the inking on my die cuts and the different papers will count and I can enter my card with them.

CCT Sweet Valentine

I'm late again!  This week at Cute Card Thursday we are celebrating Sweet Valentine's, please stop by the blog to read about the prize and for more information from the DT.

As my regular readers will know, I'm busy looking after Mum at the moment so crafting has not been a priority.  I do find it therapeutic and must make some time for myself - doctors orders! Thankfully I've been given the green light to go back on HRT so hopefully the hot flushes and aching joints will soon be a thing of the past .. .. had I known what was going to happen with Mum I'd never have stopped it, but hey ho! who knows what's around the corner.

So, my card for the Sweet Valentine's challenge is just a die cut creation with goodies from Marianne Design - I'll give you a list, but first here's a close up of the flowers I made:

I've cut them from the pink sheet of mulberry paper in the mixed pack, then spritzed and shaped with a ball tool to give dimension.  I've used a Rose Pink pearl pen for the centres and also across my lace and on the butterflies.  Here's the list of Marianne Design goodies with links to the Buddly Craft shop - just in case you want to go shopping!

Country Style paper pack

Tiara Sweet lace

hearts die set CR1225

flowers die set COL1323

leafy swirl die set LR0271

mini butterflies die CR1354

charming alphabet set COL1397

I hope you like my card.  Thanks for stopping by to take a look.  I've not been on the pc for several days so not sure if there are any challenges I can link up to .. .. please let me know if you see any!

I see that the Marianne Design Kreadivas blog challenge theme is for a project with MD goodies and the option of 'love' - so I can enter with them!

CCT is in the Pink!

Apologies for being late again sharing my DT card for Cute Card Thursday where we are 'In the Pink!' - so looking for lots of pink on your creations.  Our sponsor is Bunny Zoe Crafts, please stop by the CCT blog to read all about the prize and see what the rest of the DT have created.

I have stamped up one of my older LOTV designs, this is Emma in the Rose Garden, and I used a grey Momento ink for a change to keep things soft.  I've coloured with my Copic pens then added Stardust Stickles to the flowers and hem of her dress, and glaze pen on the butterflies - and it's not showing up!

Here is the card:

I've used another of the 5" square base cards that I thought looked better with the papers I'd chosen. My paper and die cuts are all by Marianne Design and on the papers I've added the embossed faux stitching then inked the edges with a soft grey/green chalk ink and a touch of Stardust glitter on the pretty flower design in the corner.  The circle is threaded with pink organza ribbon and I've added a quadruple loop bow at the bottom - and that means I can enter a new challenge I found called Craft-Dee BowZ where it's anything goes with a hand tied bow.  A few soft pink pearl blobs finish things off.

The Marianne Design dies I've used are the mini butterflies CR1354 and the ribbon doily with rosette CR1350.  The pretty papers are from the Country Style pack.

Thank you for stopping by to take a look at my card.  Things are still topsy turvey here with Mum but with some improvement.  I have found a decorator to come and finish off the painting jobs I don't have time for anymore, and to re-decorate my bedroom and hang the wallpaper I've had for 3 years - it looks fab!  And with family visiting over the weekend I'm only just getting my breath back - but hopefully it will be a quieter week and I can find some time to play with my craft stash.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look.

Rudolph for Rudolph Days!

Here is my Rudolph card for the January Rudolph Days challenge - I'm just making it on the last day!

The image is another of Sylvia's designs at Wee Stamps and isn't he cute!  I've coloured with my Copic pens and added touches of glaze pen.

Here's the card:

It's a C6 blank with a simple layout using up a piece of old Nitwits paper.  I've added my embossed faux stitching around the edge sof the image and paper and inked with Sahara Sand chalk ink to bring the stitches out.

For embellishment I've added a length of pretty pearl trim over lace from my bit box.

Thanks for stopping by, I'm scheduling this post so fingers crossed you get to see it, and hopefully I will have time to come back and add it to the Rudolph Days link.

Ladies Only at CCT

Sorry I am late again sharing my DT card with you for the Ladies Only theme at Cute Card Thursday.  It has been a tough couple of days with Mum, and both of us seem worn out this morning so whilst she is sleeping I have a chance to blog!

This little darling is Dyanne drawn by Sylvia Zett for Wee Stamps - I have the digi version, thankfully they are available again.  I've coloured her with my Copic pens and added touches of glaze and glitter, although it is difficult to see in the picture.  Here is the card:

It's another of my big 7" square blanks, and as most of my newer papers are either A5 or 6" square, I had to go rummaging in my old 12" box.  These are pretty designs from several years ago by Imaginice (think that's how it's spelt), and I have mostly bits left so made the most of them.  The die cuts are by Marianne Design and I've finished off with a little bow and more of the liquid pearl blobs. 

These are the Marianne Design dies I used:

Birthday die plus stamp 'Girl' COL1349

heart with waste hearts CR1256

flowers COL1323

leaves LR0226

mini butterflies CR1354

Thank you for stopping by to take a look.  I will try and link up to some challenges if I have time to go look for them, do let me know of any that you think might be suitable for me to enter with this card.

Thank you to Sarah for telling me about the As You Like It Challenge - I'm entering my card with all the layers because, like Sarah, I have lots of papers to use up!

Just Boys!

So sorry I am late sharing my DT card with you for Cute Card Thursday's Just Boys challenge. Our sponsor for this one is Di's Digi stamps, please stop by the blog to read all about it and see what the rest of the team made.

My friend Blankina kindly sent me this stamped image to colour, he's called Snoesjes 'Goal!'  Also, if you like colouring with Copic pens, like me, stop by her blog for a fabulous colour chart! It's unusual but shows the colour families, with numbers, in an ingenious but easy to see way.

And here is my card:

Another simple one with old papers from my stash, punched red stars, a little red trim and the Marianne Design die cut Birthday greeting, oh and the little metal gem too!

Finally, Mum is home from the hospital.  It has been a stressful time with several unexpected medical problems I wasn't expecting .. .. but hopefully with some tweaking of her meds and the help of the Community Nurses it should be a short set back.  She is confined to bed at the moment so I am having to do absolutely everything for her .. .. .. but she is eating well so I'm cook as well!  It does mean I'll not be around much so sorry for not leaving comments or getting around to visit.

Vintage style at Marianne Design Divas

The new challenge over on the Marianne Design Divas blog is to create something with a vintage style and at least 3 products by Marianne Design. Our sponsors for this challenge are Buddly Crafts and Marianne Design.  The DT have produced beautiful examples for your inspiration so why not pop over and take a peek!

I have taken a picture from the Matties Beautiful Flowers sheet to make a Spring card - I do hope it's not so far away, I'm tired of all the rain! I've die cut the oval image then inked the edges before fixing to the beautiful oval die cut frame, where I've used the same ink to highlight the embossed areas.

Here's the card, I've had to photo enhance as the colours were looking too pale and washed out, so perhaps it's not quite this bright in real life and what looks like a layer of kraft coloured card is actually more caramel in colour, the card is much warmer in real life with soft caramel tones and chalk inked highlights and edges with Sahara Sand:



I've added the sparkly edging with the Viva Decor 3d snow pen and fine pale golden glitter from my stash, and also added the caramel coloured pearl dots in places on the paper too.  The pretty lace is by MD and is much creamer also.  I've die cut the flowers from Mulberry paper then inked with yellow chalk ink, spritzed, scrunched and then when dry teased them out.  The leaves I've die cut from the caramel and green card and inked the edges for the vintage style.

Here's a close up of the corner embellishment.

Marianne Design products I used for this card:

Mattie's Beautiful Flowers sheet

Victorian Vintage paper bloc PK9092

Mulberry paper

Vintage lace JU0898

banner and text COL1324

flowers COL1323

leaves CR1336

leaves LR0226

oval frame LR0240

Marrakesh trellis die DF3416

On the We Love Vintage blog the current challenge is for vintage style with lace - I hope that's how it's translated anyway.  So I will enter my card with them as I do have vintage lace and think I might have got the style sussed at last!

A bit of fun at CCT

This week at Cute Card Thursday our challenge is to show us some fun times!  Our sponsor for this challenge is All Dressed Up, please stop by the CCT blog to read about the prize and see what the rest of the DT have made.

I have made a little 5" square card with various Marianne Design goodies, and being for a boy I stayed clear of the flowers!  The image is skateboard Don coloured with my Copics and cut out with a die in set CR1223, and I used a die in the same set to cut the edge of the paper scrap down the side.  The papers are from the Garden Party pack, and I've inked and distressed the edges. I die cut the star behind my image from cordinations cardstock so I could distress with an emery board, using the biggest die from the set CR1226.  The text I die cut with the new Charming Alphabet dies COL1397 then finished of with the narrow cream ric rac and MD domed metallic gems.

It's been a busy few days here with meetings to try and arrange for Mum to come home from the hospital.  Most have gone well, but a few hiccups in getting support for me to help with showering etc and a granny sitter for when I need to be away for more than an hour or so.  She is doing much better and actually starting to become more mobile so I will have to take over her physio too as the waiting list for home physio visits is long .. .. ..  Next week I should be taking delivery of a hospital bed and other equipment, then fingers crossed.  She sleeps more nowadays so I should be able to find time to craft, once we settle into a routine.  So, I am still an infrequent blogger and am sorry for not visiting/commenting very much, but I do appreciate all the visits you make to see what I've been making.

Wee Lullaby

I have made a card with one of the Wee Stamps digi designs I recently managed to get printed out.  She is called Lullaby, and I coloured her with my Copic pens and then added lots of Stardust Stickles.

I also found an old tiny rubber stamp in my stash that echoed the sprays in the design so I've stamped around the edges of the design, at the bottom in dark ink then along the top and sides in a softer chalk ink .. .. difficult to see but it is there!

Here's the card:

I'm still playing with the vintage/shabby style and distressing the edges of all my layers.  The papers are from the Marianne Design Sweet Baby bloc, I'm not sure if it is still available, but I still have some to use up!  I've created floral embellishments with die cut flowers from mulberry paper that I've inked, spritzed and scrunched up, then teased out and fixed pearls in the middle.  I used flower dies COL1323 and the smallest die in CR1204 as well as a few tiny left over leaves from CR1336, little pink sparkly sprays from LR0106 and the swirly leaves in LR0271.

And as the new butterfly punch die CR1354 came today I just had to cut out some to finish things off - aren't they sweet! I really like those punch dies with the tiny die cuts.  A few blobs of liquid pearls here and there and I was done, hope you like it.

The challenge at the In The Pink blog is anything goes, so I can enter my pink lullaby card with them.

Christmas Romance

I was looking through my card album and came across this little one that I hadn't got around to blogging - so here it is as my first Christmas card for 2016!

The new Don and Daisy Christmas Romance stamp from Marianne Design is coloured with my Copic pens, then a sprinkling of frosty snow added.

Here's the card:

It's on a 5" square base card and the papers are a patchwork from the MD Scandinavian Winter pack with narrow white ric-rac braid covering the joins, I've loved the designs in this pack but now I just have oddments left and this was a good way of using up some of them.  I've used a selection of Marianne Design die cuts to embellish, finishing off with white pearl pen and more glitter frosting. 

These are the MD dies I used:

red flowers from Mulberry paper with flower set COL1323

pale blue flowers and centres of red flowers with flower set CR1323

leaves from set CR1245

snowflake from set LRO327

banner from set COL1325

The Jingle Belles blog challenge is for something old (my papers) and something new (the new Don and Daisy Christmas stamp).  And, over at Crafty Catz the theme is for flowers so with my sprinkling of red and white festive blooms, plus little blue ones to the side, I can enter with them too.

Enjoy your weekend - I'm stalking the postman for some new crafty stash .. .. .. fingers crossed my packages arrive tomorrow then I have the weekend to play!

Hey! what's new at CCT

The new theme at Cute Card Thursday is Hey! what's new .. .. interpret as you like.  Our challenge is being sponsored by Bunny Zoe's Crafts, please stop by the CCT blog to read all about the prize and see what the rest of the DT have created.

For my DT card I used a new Wee Stamps digi image called Jillian that Sylvia Zett gave away as a freebie on her blog just before Christmas.  I've managed to print her off and colour with my Copic pens.

Here is my card:

I've taken one of the 7" square cards I recently got and paper from my stash - no idea who made it as it's a single 12x12 sheet I picked up at a craft store years ago.  I've inked the edges of the mat card layer and paper with soft pink chalk ink, and also the die cut image and mat too.  Then it was lace, pearls and die cuts to finish things off.  I kept it quite simple, and left off a text as I'm not sure what occasion it will be used for yet.  The die cuts are all Marianne Design - these ones:

heart circle doily CR1251

Anya's fancy oval (cut in half) behind image LR0236

leaves from CR1245

butterflies from LR0261

flowers COL1323

Creative Inspirations challenge is for flowers, so I can enter my card with them.

Short and sweet from me tonight as it's been a tiring day.  Izzy is all smooth and sleek from the doggy groomers, but feeling the cold especially as we are getting stormy hail showers!  Either we stay indoors or I'll have to buy him a warm rain coat!  I risked visiting Mum and didn't cough too badly, she is very down in the dumps but cheered up chatting to me.  Unfortunately her short term memory is virtually non-existent so I have to keep repeating conversations over and over, and she is not too good physically although is brighter now that her iron levels are back up.  There is going to be a meeting next Tuesday afternoon with family and health careers to decide what and where is best for her - the family think she will do better back home in familiar surroundings, but we will need support from the community doctors, nurses and careers.  We will have to wait and see .. ..

Sarah Kay Kiss

I have had this cute Sarah Kay stamped image in my UFO box for quite some time .. .. having run out of the pale denim blue Copic colour I had to order a refill, and then I couldn't decide what style to go for .. ..

Well, I'm having a go again at the shabby chic style, with perhaps a hint of vintage - I'm not sure what the difference is apart from the cards I've seen where vintage seems darker and shabby chic has tons of lace embellishments and lots of rough edges.  So, this is my version of a combination of both.

Here it is:

The picture is rather wishy washy as I've had to take it under the cooker hood lights again - when will it stop raining!  The actual card is more beige/brown in real life and the lace is cream, ah well!

I've distressed the layers and added little bits of embellishment.  The papers and die cuts are all Marianne Design, as is the lace. The flowers are cut from mulberry paper then inked, spritzed, scrunched up and when dry, teased out to give the shabby look.  The little hearts are waste that I saved from cutting out doily LR0185 for another project.

These are the Marianne Design dies I used:

image cut with die in set LR0235

flowers COL1323

mini leaves CR1336

birds LR0290

I'm joining in a new to me challenge at Stamping Sensations, where the theme is to include some die cut elements along with a stamped focal point.  I hope they like my card.

That's all for now dear friends, I will back soon as I've been playing today .. .. the cold is still with me but hopefully on the way out.  Mum is still in the hospital and not doing so well, but once I am up and about again I'm hopeful the family will be able to arrange for her to come home with visits from the district nurse etc to help with her care.  I will have to put my nursing cap back on - it's been a while though, around 40 years since I trained and worked in a hospital.  Back in those days once you married and started a family it was difficult to continue which is why I changed careers.  But some basic skills you never forget and I would like to care for Mum in her own home for whatever time she has left.

CCT Anything Goes!

Sorry I'm late posting my DT card for the Cute Card Thursday challenge - anything goes.  I've been rather under the weather the last few days with a horrid cold that's dragging on .. and on.  But at last, here it is:

I've coloured up another of the cute Wee digi images that I got off my printer, this is Oak Tree Girl.  I didn't want to go with the trad Christmas colours as I thought with the oak leaves this was more of a birthday type of card - what do you think?

Anyway, she's coloured with my Copics and with a touch of glaze to the ladybug and her buttons.  Here's the card:

Soft blues and greens with ivory/cream/beige - inspiration taken from the Nitwits papers I've had forever in my stash.  I've added the 3d snow and glitter again on this one, this time going for a light glitter mix.  The die cut embellishment on top of the scrap of hessian is created with Marianne Design dies:  Oak leaves LR0373, and swirls LR0112 with inking to bring out the design and a string bow to finish things off.

As I'm late posting, I'm not linking up to any challenges with this one .. .. but I hope you like it.

See you again soon when I'm feeling better .. ..

CCT Anything Goes!

With the festivities upon us, the next challenge for Cute Card Thursday is 'anything goes'.  Our sponsor is all Dressed Up - please stop by the CCT blog to read about the prize and see what the rest of the DT have created.

Here's another Wee Stamps image I've managed to print out, this one came out quite big, but as I've just got a pack of 7" square cards I think I can cope with them turning out bigger than I'd normally like.

I've had this Mr Frosty image for a while, since Sylvia Zett had to temporarily suspend the digital side of her designs, thankfully they are available again so I will go shopping in the new year.  I've coloured the image with my Copics then added Stickles to the snow on the ground and pearl pen for the falling flakes.  I also received a beautiful card from Sylvia so have created this card for her .. .. fingers crossed it's arrived safely.

Here's the card:

I've used a piece of old Papermania snowflake paper matted with light grey card, and used sparkle card to add die cut details.  Taking inspiration from the card Sylvia sent me with pretty corner edgings created with vintage embossing powder .. .. I thought I'd try a version with Viva Decor 3d snow and a fine vintage style glitter.  I think it's worked out ok and as I have a lot of glitter in my stash, I'll be using the idea again, I'm sure.

The Addicted to Stamps blog challenge theme is Winter, so I can enter my snowman card with them.

Well, it's Christmas Eve, a quite one for me this year just sharing with Izzy so we will have an early night.  Tomorrow the grandsons arrive to share some Festive Joy, so I wish you all a Merry Christmas too and hope you are having a peaceful and joyful time.

Wee Holly Berry

At last! I've managed to get some of my digital Wee Stamps images to print out on my newish printer.  It's been trial and error and with a lot of swearing .. .. and I still haven't figured out how to resize the images as I'm missing some of the software I had before.  But, I managed to get my favourite 300gsm card through and print each one on a quarter A4 page.

This is Holly Berry, one of my favourites from a while back.  I've coloured her with my Copics then added clear glaze pen over the berries and pearl pen for falling snowflakes.

Here's the card:

It's a simple design as I'm trying to get the craft stash put away for Christmas.  The papers are old magazine freebies and I've simply added my faux embossed stitching around the edges then inked with a dark red chalk ink.  I had a scrap of red lacy stuff to put behind the image and created a floral embellishment from left over die cut and punched pieces.  Finishing off with a little red bow, some bling and a text in my bit box  from a Buddly Crafts digi set.  The flowers are cut from mulberry paper with Marianne Design COL1323, one of my favourite die sets that I use a lot.

I have a box of Christmas cards I've made throughout the year, but not sent.  Mum usually takes quite a few from me but she's not been able to send many this year .. .. I think I will have to make several simple anytime of year cards for her to send later in 2016 when she is back home. Next time I'm at a craft shop I'll get a packet of cello bags and sort through the Christmas cards that are flat enough to post, this being one, then donate them to charity .. .. someone might like them for next year!

At the Holly Jolly Christmas challenge blog it's anything Christmas, so I can enter my card with them.

Christmas Crochet

I've finished the Christmas blanket I've been working on to keep my hands busy the past few weeks.  And, today got the good news that Mum has been moved to the Stroke Rehab Unit at a hospital closer to home, it means the family will be able to visit more often and perhaps some of her friends will too.

As you can see in the picture, Izzy has claimed the blanket as his!  It's really just a giant granny square with the bands of red and green - I only had one ball of each of those colours so couldn't do much. Perhaps next year I will branch out and try something more adventurous, I have found it quite relaxing and felt less guilty for watching old movies in the evenings when I can't settle to crafting.

Thank you all for your support this past year, and I hope you will have a Very Happy Christmas.

CCT Stars

Time for another challenge at Cute Card Thursday, this time we would like to see stars on your creation.  Our sponsor for this challenge is  Whimsy Stamps, check out the CCT blog for details and inspiration from the DT.

My card is a bit of an experiment, and honestly I'm not sure it worked.  I stamped the cute Don and Daisy stamp and coloured with my Copics adding a silver pen to the stars in the picture and for falling snow, then lots of Stardust Stickles on the ground.

Here's the card:

The experimental part is the silver Viva Decor Inca Gold wax I've used to rub around the edges over my embossed faux stitching, I think I went a bit heavy with my finger in places .. .. The patterned paper is from Marianne Design Cosy Christmas pad.

More stars with a couple of Marianne Design stary die cuts in silver card, and clear star gems added.  I've also added a floral corner with poinsettia flowers and fronds cut/punched from sparkly card,  and little leaves cut with pale green card.

These are the MD dies I used:

CR1336 mini leaves

CR1294 falling stars

CR1293 semi circle of stars

LR0142 mini poinsettias

The Stampavie and More blog challenge is for Christmas creations, so I can enter with them.  I've not had time to go back and check for other challenges, and my craft stash is now packed away as I'm not sure what is happening over the Holidays.  Mum wasn't so good yesterday, but still in line for a bed at Bodmin Hospital on the Stroke Rehabilitation ward so she can get the therapy to enable her to come home .. .. fingers crossed it happens this week so I can go visit her.  Thank you for stopping by my blog, especially as I'm not around much at the moment and haven't been able to blog hop much to leave comments.  Love and Hugs x

MDF NOEL

It's time for the last Marianne Design Divas challenge of 2015, so wishing you all a Merry Christmas.  Our challenge is an easy one, anything goes but to use at least 3 different MD products, and our sponsor this time is Bunny Zoe's crafts as well as Marianne Design.  Stop by the MD Divas blog to read all about it.

As my regular followers will know, I've not been crafting much lately.  Mum is improving slowly after the stroke, but now has been diagnosed with an early duodenal cancer, but only time will tell .. ..

I have managed to add some sparkle and festivity to the mdf NOEL I've had since last year and you may have seen as work in progress a couple of posts back with my altered jars.  Here it is finished with lots of different Marianne Design die cuts to embellish the painted and sparkled mdf.

Marianne Design die cuts I've used

LR0392 snowy icicles

LR0286 pine cones and twigs

LR0255 maple leaves

LR0128 fantasy flower and skeleton leaves

LR0122 poinsettia straight

LR0111 stamens

I also used MD clear diamond gems for the centres of the flowers.

And here's a couple of close ups of the floral die cut embellishments

On this side there's a poinsettia and a fantasy flower, both die cut from vellum then the veins embossed.  I've sparkled the edges of the poinsettia and the stamens on the fantasy flower with Stardust Stickles.  You can also see the skeleton leaves I've cut from a thick green vellum scrap I had so they stand out on their own.

The main embellishment in the middle of the NOEL is more of the same flowers.  The icicles, pine cones and maple leaves I've cut from sparkly card, the twigs from thick blue pearl card in my stash. I had a short length of shimmery organza ribbon in my stash so tied a bow and stuck that in the middle of the embellishment.

It's a very sparkly project and looks fabulous with candle T-lights sat across the bottom, but they were distracting from the picture and the camera wasn't focusing properly with them, so please use your imagination.

The Die Cuttin' Divas blog challenge is anything Christmas goes, so I can enter my NOEL display with them.

Thanks for stopping by, I'm not ignoring anyone, I just need a little time out.