Live Laugh Love

Good morning all.

A quiet day at home was had yesterday with a little bit of crafting and a lot of being lazy!!

A project to share today which I started ages ago but has been lying in my craft room waiting to be finished...you know the type!!

I was lucky enough to win this Imagination Craft's MDF kit from Linda. I started by painting all the MDF with acrylic paint. Once dry I added paper to the front from Prima's Fairy Belles collection. I used the cutout from the middle, reverse side up, beneath the aperture and stamped the sentiment which was a recent magazine freebie. I cut images from another sheet of paper to layer up the fairy, butterflies and flowers then added butterfly die cut from Marianne Design to finish. I even remembered to sandwich my recycled ribbon hanger between the two sheets of MDF before glueing them together!

I just need to find somewhere to hang it now.

Challenges entered:

Creative Corner - girly

A Girl who Crafts - anything goes

Altered Eclectics - anything goes

Country View Challenges - word play

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes

Red's Creative Spirit - anything goes

TokBobok - mixed media

Moving along with the Times - feeling a little vintage

Inky Chicks - fairies or angels

Loves Rubber Stamps - wings

All Crafts Challenge - anything but a card

Christmas Card Club "Cardinal or some other Christmas Bird"

Good morning all.

The weather was a bit showery yesterday so I had a day colouring....tried the skin colouring class again from Kit and Clowder and it just doesn't work for me, don't know whether I'm just over thinking the whole thing or what but it's very frustrating! I did manage to colour a couple of DT images satisfactorily so will get them made into their relevant projects today hopefully.

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, it was Mary's turn to choose the theme this week and she's asked us for a "A Cardinal or other Christmas Bird". 

The image and sentiment are "Winter Song Birdies" from the Doodle Pantry. I've coloured with promarkers before cutting with a nestie die....I thoroughly enjoyed colouring this in and was very pleased with the outcome. Backing papers are from Tilda and Papermania. Round dies are all Spellbinders; foliage dies are from Marianne Design. Red lacy seambinding is from Crafty Ribbons. Card is finished with stickles and pearls.

Inside all finished too! Probably not flat enough to post but it's good for hand delivering.

Do pop round and see what the other girls have made for this challenge, you'll find the links on my sidebar.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes with patterned paper

Polkadoodles - Christmas

Winter Wonderland - anything goes

Crafty Little Fairies - cute and cuddly

Creative Moments - animals

Deep Ocean Challenge - Christmas in August

CHNC - merry and bright

Miracle

Good morning all.

Well it's been sunshine and showers for the last few days, wonder what the weekend is going to bring! Not a Bank Holiday weekend up here in Scotland but since I don't work I'll maybe pop down home for the day on Monday and go to the local agricultural show.

The smelly silicon glue seems to have struck me again!! I used Collal the other day to stick my calendar together and whilst it didn't smell at the time it does now it's dry!! I opened a new tube for this card to stick the flower arrangement and again no smell from the tube but I can smell it now it's dry...not as bad as the Pinflair glue did but it's rather off putting to say the least....grrrr.

A card to share today using another of the gorgeous PPinkyDollsArt images, this one is called Miracle.

(The one I used on my calendar earlier in the week is called Lilith not Gigi in case you go looking!).

I've coloured the image with promarkers before diecutting with an oval nestie and layering onto a co-ordinating scalloped oval. Backing papers are from Prima. Lacy die is a Tattered Lace magazine freebie, butterfly is from Marianne Design an all other dies are Spellbinders. Flowers are from Petal Lu; lace from Creative Expressions; ribbon from Crafty Ribbons; leaves and bling from my stash. Sentiments are from LOTV and a magazine freebie.

Challenges entered:

Artbymiran -anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

Stempelsonnen - anything goes

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes

Crafty Ribbons - celebration with ribbons

Seize the Birthday - anything goes Birthday

Crafter's Cafe - square cards only

Paper Shelter - lace

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - anything square or rectangular

Tattered Lace - decadence

Crafting for all Seasons #84 "Monochromatic"

Good morning all.

I'm off down home today...hopefully I'll get to see my niece's wedding photos, I can't believe it's already six weeks since the wedding!

Today it's time for our next challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Monochromatic". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. Our sponsor this time Stitchy Bear Digi Outlet who gave the DT images to work with.

A very simple card from me today to let the image do the talking. The image is from Audition by Stitchy Stamps which I've printed onto Kraft card. The sentiment is computer generated using Rubber Stamp font. The background has been embossed with a star folder from Crafts Too which I've inked with DI. Card is finished with a bow and some gems.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:
Creative Card Crew - embossing wet/dry
Sweet Stamps - anything goes
Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday - anything goes
Crafting From the Heart - anything goes
Love to Scrap - anything goes
My Craft Creations - anything goes
Sentimental Sunday - monochromatic

Meet Lilith...

Good morning all.

Last day of the holidays here so back to normal tomorrow.

I had a couple of hours to myself yesterday afternoon so settled down to do some colouring homework...the results could only be described as diabolical!! I decided my fine nibs might work better but could I find the two clean ones which have been put somewhere safe...could I heck!!

This image was lying on my desk so I decided to give it a whirl instead.

The image is called Lilith from PPinkyDollsArt....I've fallen in love, these are gorgeous. I've coloured with promarkers and although it's not perfect I'm very happy with the outcome...so happy I wanted to make something to keep. This years calendar stubs were still lying on my desk so voila...my favourite Spellbinder die, a pearly swirl (I've had these for ages and am too mean to use one on a card lol) and gems and I have a lovely easel calendar for my desk.

Unfortunately the colours haven't come out too well in the photos, in reality the card is a lovely dusky greeny blue colour and Gig's dress is coloured with soft green.

Challenges entered:

Fairytale Stampers - everything goes

Scribble and Scrap - anything goes

The Corrosive Challenge - B unique (blue, brown, bling, bow, boots)

The Squirrel and The Fox - anything goes

Suzy Bee's Bloomin challenge - anything goes

Brown Sugar - anything goes

Crafts4Eternity - something old (pearly swirl)

Crafter's Cafe - anything but a card

Paper Shelter - punches and dies

Scrapper's Delight - anything goes with diecuts

All Crafts Challenge - anything but a card

Happy Day

Good morning all.

I've spent  a good deal of the weekend practising colouring using the Kit and Clowder skin and hair classes. I've got a way to go before I become proficient...but I have ordered a set of flexmarkers in skintones to see if they are easier to flick with than promarkers.

Sharing a card today made with the fan freebie which was being offered at Scrappers Delights facebook fan page last week.

The image is called Genie 7 and I've coloured her with promarkers before fussy cutting. Backing paper is from Pink Paislee and was a magazine freebie.....I've decoupaged the background images. Dies are from Marianne Design and Spellbinders. Flowers from Petal Lu. Sentiment from Hero Arts. Ribbon, leaves and pearls from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Scrapper's Delight - anything goes (twist die cuts)

Crafting at the Weekend - anything goes

Hiding in my Craft Room - use ribbon

Paper Creators Crafts - bows, bling and blooms

Bearly Mine - anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes with patterned paper

Happy Day

Good morning all.

The revolting natives have been calmed with a full fridge...don't suppose it will stay that way for long though!

On Saturday night I did a live colouring class with Alyce Keegan from Kit and Clowder. My live colouring wasn't too great....my skin colours were wrong, it was late and the adverts kept popping up at the most inopportune moments! Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!

Here is my second attempt done at leisure on Sunday, with better light.

The image is Flower Girl from Lia Stampz available at Whimsy Stamps which I've coloured with promarkers. Backing paper is from Prima...which I've embossed with a corner die and inked with DI whilst still in the die. Corner and foliage dies are both from Marianne Designs. Circle dies are from Spellbinders. The gorgeous ribbon is a new acquisition from Crafty Ribbons which I couldn't resist! Flowers are from Petal Lu, sentiment from Hero Art and leaves and doily from my stash.

I have now signed up to do the skin and hair colouring classes at Kit and Clowder so hoping to find some time over the next few weeks to get to grip with it.

Challenges entered:

Creative Card Crew - embossing

Crafting from the Heart - anything goes

Crafty Boots - flowers

Stamp and Create - anything goes

I Love Promarkers - anything goes

Art is Life

Good morning all.

I think shopping will have to be on today's agenda, the cupboards are bare and the natives are revolting!!

What a difference a day makes - had a crafty afternoon on Monday and nothing came out right, had another yesterday which was hugely productive. Here is one of the cards I made.

I had another play with distress ink...using three colours (peacock, dried marigold and mustard seed) I randomly blotched over a piece of white linen card, then stamped over with various stamps using the same inks. Stamps are mainly from The Artistic Stampers with a couple of magazine freebies thrown in for good measure. Things went a little awry when I tried to stamp the main image in black ink and didn't get a good print so I changed tack and stamped the image on white linen using peacock and coloured the flowers with DI pens...which frankly haven't had a lot of use in the time I've owned them and need a lot more practise!! The stamp is from Crafty Individuals and had just arrived in the post...it would have been rude not to use it! The dies are both from Spellbinders and the sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Challenges entered:

Crafty Sentiments Designs - anything goes

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - anything goes

{Pin}spirational Challenge - anything goes

Bunny Zoe's - summer colours

The Artistic Stamper - anything goes

Comments

Good evening all. Hope you've had a good day.

My day was going well until the phone rang whilst I was moderating my comments earlier....I published the comments waiting to be published forgetting to read them first so went into published comments....read them...ticked the highlight all button and deleted all 50 comments at the touch of a button thinking I was publishing them!!! Doh how stupid can you get!!

So, many apologies to those of you who wrote the comments, I do appreciate each and everyone of them...even if I didn't look after them very well lol.

I've had a productive afternoon in the craft room, just need to finish off a card to show you tomorrow, see you all in the morning.

Prevention is better than Cure

Good morning all. Well the rain finally caught up with us about teatime yesterday and hasn't stopped since! Hope you're all staying dry.

Thank you for all your comments yesterday and helpful hints on removing ink, however I've decided to adopt the "Prevention is better than Cure" route and found a pair of surgical gloves to wear yesterday!!

I needed a card for a swap using no more than three colours, here is what I did.

Stamp is from Imagination which I've stamped and heat embossed with white EP. Then I got inky with two shades each of blue and purple distressed inks...for some reason the purple isn't showing too well in the photo though! I added the darker purple to the dragonflies bodies and dark blue to the flower petals. The mat is a Martha Stewart punch which I've inked with the two darker colours. Sentiment is from Wild Rose Studio. I've added a few gems to the centre of the flowers to finish off.

Challenges entered:

A Gem of a Challenge - embossing

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

Stempelsonnen Challenge - anything goes

Art Impressions - like an emboss

Little Red Wagon - embossing

Sparkle N Sprinkle - anything goes with glitter, EP or flocking

Christmas Card Club "Anything but a Card"

Good morning all. Hope everyone is well.

 Rain is forecast for the next few days so I think I'll hole up out of it in my craft room!!

I realised last night it was time for our fortnightly Christmas Card Club challenge so had an evening playing with ink. Lizzie had set us the theme of "Anything but a Card".

After seeing Doreen's card yesterday I've made a tag using the bleach blocking technique by Hels Sheridan, shown in the July issue of Craft Stamper. I've treated myself to a years subscription of the magazine to try and make more use of the many stamps I own! 

All the background stamps are from a set of Anita's I was given, which I've inked with embossed ink and heat embossed with white detail EP....then I got to work with my blue distress inks before doing the bleached block technique. I stamped a few snowflakes with distress ink and some with embossed ink to which I added Glamour Dust, I also inked the edges and added Glamour Dust but this isn't showing in the photo. The snow woman is from Artistic Stamper, this is also heat embossed and coloured with my distress ink pens before being fussy cut and added with foam pad. Tag is finished with some ribbon, a snowflake button and some gems.

I did enjoy my play and may use the technique again some day...but to those of you who get inky often (pardon my french on a Sunday)....HOW the hell do you get distress ink off your hands....I look like I've just filled the school ink wells!!!

You'll find the links to the rest of the girls on my sidebar if you want to see what they made for the challenge.

Challenges entered:

Craft Stamper - any technique from 2014

 A Gem of A Challenge - embossing

Crafting at the Weekend - anything goes

Artistic Stamper - anything goes

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Creatalicious - monchromatic

Sparkles Forum - Christmas in July

Sparkles Forum Christmas - snowflakes

WOW Embossing Powder - monochrome

Christmas Stampin' All Year Round - tags

Crafting for all Seasons #83 "Feature a Creature"

Good morning all.

Just trying to get back to some semblance of normality after my holiday! We had a lovely relaxing time in Norfolk with great weather...highlights included seeing Prince Charles and Camilla, along with Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith at the Sandringham Flower Show and driving an armoured personnel carrier at the Tank museum at Weybourne - think I missed my vocation, I should have joined the army!

It was exam result day here in Scotland yesterday...Lora did okay and got good results in the three subjects she's taking at Higher level but will have to redo her maths and possibly her english this next year.

Off out to lunch today to catch up with a friend....after I've had a smear test! Then Friday it's time for my annual MRI scan again which I'm not looking forward to but is a necessary evil.

Today it's time for our next challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Feature a Creature". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. Our sponsor this time Lacy Sunshine who gave the DT images to work with.

I opted to use my own image this time and chose this cute little hedgehog from Penny Black which has been quietly waiting all year to be used! I've coloured with promarkers before die cutting. Dies are all from a Spellbinders Majestic Elements set...one I've had for ages and not made much use of!! Sentiment is from Wild Rose Studio. Gems are from Meiflower

I love how this card has turned out but you should see the pile of bits I'd created before coming up with this design!!

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Sweet Stamps - bling

2 Cute Ink - animals

Crafting from the Heart - anything goes

Love to Create - anything goes

My Craft Creations - anything goes

Stamp and Create - anything goes

Amusing Challenge - bling

Come and Get it - dies

Artistic Stampers - anything goes

Dies R Us - birthday

Christmas Card Club "Trees somewhere on your Card"

Good morning all.

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, it was Sylvie's turn to choose the theme this week and she's asked us for a "Tree somewhere on your Card". 

This was a very quick card made in less than 15 minutes before I left home!

Topper is from Wild Rose Studio, layered with various card and overlaid with a Die'sire template which was lying in the bits box. Card is finished with stickles, pearls, ribbon and a button from my stash.

You'll find the rest of the girls listed on my sidebar if you'd like to pop over and see their creations.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Crafting for all Seasons #82 "Christmas in July"

Good morning all.

Having a lovely relaxing holiday, weather has been great although a little muggy at times....although Saturday night we had the mother of all storms which cleared the air slightly.

It's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Christmas in July". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Meljens who gave the DT images to work with. 

I've used "Frosty Face" and coloured with promarkers before die cutting. Dies from Spellbinders. Background is Diesire "Softly Falling" template from Crafter's Companion. Card is finished with some stickles and a tag from my stash.

Flat for posting and finished inside too!

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Christmas Card Club "Nativity Scene"

Good morning all. A quick post before I disappear on my jollies. 

Several weeks ago I went to the memory stick I store all my Craft Artist layouts on and found it was blank...cue panic!! Hunted through my EHD and they weren't saved on there either...by this time I was totally gutted - I did have Jpegs of all the pages I had shown on my blog but these all have my signature on them. Last week when passing the local computer shop I popped in to ask whether there was any chance of recovering data from the stick and they said they would try...this morning I popped back to see how they'd got on and they'd managed to recover all my files....it was such a relief. Guess who'll be keeping backups of everything from now on!!!

I've finally got around to making my card for the Christmas Card Challenge which was due on the 1st June!! It was Sue J's turn to pick the theme and she asked us for a "Nativity Scene".

I treated myself to some of the Die'sire Christmas templates from Crafter's Companion...layered up with an added sentiment et voila a very quick card!

You'll find the rest of the girls listed on my sidebar if you'd like to pop over and see their creations.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Christmas Card Club "Christmas Teddy"

Good morning all.
We had a fabulous day on Thursday at my niece's wedding...the rain stayed away and the sun shone all afternoon. The bride was radiant as was her Mum, my younger sister. The weekend has been spent doing laundry, cleaning and shopping in preparation to going away on Tuesday.

My test results have come back negative for coeliac disease thankfully but hopefully by maintaining a gluten free diet my ailments will abate and I may be able to get my weight under control again!

It's time for our next challenge over at the Christmas Card Club, it was Sue P's turn to choose the theme this time and she's asked us for a "Christmas Teddy". 

Decoupage card kit from Create and Craft and part of a package my Mum gave me for Christmas.

I've added some punch waste snowflakes and gems to finish the card.

You'll find the rest of the girls listed on my sidebar if you'd like to pop over and see their creations.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #81 "Tic Tac Toe"

Good morning all. Sorry again that I've not been around much lately. 

I'm waiting at the moment for test results to find out whether I have coeliac disease or just a gluten intolerance....at least I now know why I've been suffering random ailments on and off for several months.

Well wedding no three has been put to bed and now all that's left to do is enjoy the day tomorrow! We're off down to the hotel later today so we don't have to rush tomorrow as hubby is chauffeuring the bride and the service is at 1.30pm. Unfortunately the weather forecast is dismal tomorrow so I don't think we'll be having tea on the terrace but I'm sure the day will be no less enjoyable.

It's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Tic Tac Toe". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by The Paper Shelter who gave the DT images to work with. I've chosen to use an image and papers from Rose.

It's the bride to be's birthday on Friday and this is the card I have made her. I've printed the backing paper twice and mounted them onto kraft card. The pre-coloured image has been die cut and mounted onto kraft also; dies from Spellbinders. The twine flower was made on my flower loom which I've had since I was a child! The wooden button is one left over from the wedding stationery and the sentiment stamp was a magazine freebie.

Here is the Tic Tac Toe square for you to use, I've used the diagonal Pink, Purple and Blue....there is some purple on the image and button though it's not very obvious on the photos.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Craftyhazelnuts's Patterned Paper - anything goes

The Paper Shelter - birthday card with sentiment