Trimming the Tree

Hiya everyone, hope you all enjoying a lovely evening.  I've had a day playing with papers and images  - I feel totally pampered lol.   I've been good and caught up on some DT work and, as a bonus, I've created a card just for fun - whoo hooo!

This little cute little image is called, "Trimming the Tree".  It's a new digital image released on the 1 July from Whimsy Stamps and available to purchase HERE.

  

 I'm entering this into the following challenges 

Totally Gorjuss - Sketch

Simon Says - Check it Out

 ABC Christmas - Noel

Fussy and Fancy - Christmas in July

Winter Wonderland - Punch it Out

Incy Wincy - Use Punches
Corrosive Challenge - Christmas Time

RECIPE

Digi - Whimsy Stamps

Colouring Medium - Copics

Papers - DCWV

Cardstock - Stash

Punch - Martha Stewart

Glitter - Glamour Dust

Snowflake - local haberdashery store.

Sentiment - done on laptop.

Thanks for stopping by.  Take care and enjoy the rest of your evening. 

Mel X

Introducing All That and Mad Skillz

Morning everyone, Pete gone to work today for a couple of days and taken my car so I'm going to pass some time crafting seeing as I can't get out of the village (how's that for an excuse lol).

To get the ball rolling, I've started with my new Kenny K images!!  I purchased two but couldn't decide which to use first - so I doubled up and used 'em both.  Gotta do this more often as it was loadsa fun and you can just get such a different feel to your images!!  I'll add a sentiment at a later date when I know who its going to.........I'm going to try and keep it to one side for Emily's 10th birthday later this year - better see if I can keep it out of her sight first lol.  I know she'll love these images but also it would be her first choice of card for her friends.

 

I decoupaged the images using silicone glue.

RECIPE

Digi Image - Kenny K Downloads (All That and Mad Skillz)

Papers - Rusty Pickle

Cardstock - Stash

Colouring Mediums - Copics, Promarkers, and Watercolour Pencils

Ribbon - local Hobbycraft

Blue Gems - Stash

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

ABC Challenges - Xtra Dimension
Simon Says - You Gotta Have Friends
Friday Sketchers - Sketch
Totally Gorjuss - Sugar and Spice
Sweet Stampin - Clean and Simple

Don't forget Kenny K has a new challenge blog starting in in July and they currently have a DT call -  there's still a few days left to apply.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of your day.

Hugs

Mel X

Two Cards for Challenges

Hiya everyone, hope you're all well and finding time to craft.  I went to the Harrogate Paper Extravaganza on Sunday with my crafty buddies Emma and Jo.  We had a wonderful time and I even came back with change - a MIRACLE lol!  Today I've lost myself in my craft room playing with some new papers and images I've been longing to use - a bit of relief from my ongoing car trouble!  The AA towed it to the garage for me yesterday where it is now refusing to play nice with mechanics - won't even turn on!  The breakdown man discovered the clutch is gone - the jury's still out on the engine!  Oh well, such is life!

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Wow, what a lovely sunny day here in East Yorkshire, and quite warm too!  The garden is definetly waking up after its winter sleep - I can see new growth everywhere!  My first card is for nine challenges;

Dotties World - Step into Spring

Create4Fun - Sketch

Crafty Creations - Spots & Dots (Paper and flowers)

Magical Crafts - Spring/Easter

Crazy 4 Challenges - Spring

Sweet Stamping Challenge - Spring is in the Air

Allsorts - Spring is in the Air
Digital Tuesday - Happy Spring
 

RECIPE


Digi Image - Charmed Download
Colouring Mediums - Copics and Promarkers
8x8 card and Sentiment - Craftwork Cards
Papers - Blonde Moments
Flowers - Prima and Hobbycraft
Punches - Martha Stewart and Leone Em
Clear Gems and Bows - Hobbycraft
Card Candy

I did this one first and found out the cost of a new clutch when halfway through - my embellies exploded all over it in response lol, VERY cathartic, even the image is layered.

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My second card is for

Pollycraft - Things that Sparkle

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Totally Gorjuss - Ribbon

Simon Says - A Splash of Green

One Stop Craft Challenge- Let it Shine

RECIPE


Digi Image - Pollycraft Download
Colouring Medium - Copics and Promarkers
Papers - Basic Grey
Punch - Martha Stewart
Ribbon - Stash
Spacer and Brad - Hobby House
Flower - Prima

Isn't she lovely, this is first time I've used her and I think she's gorgeous.  Her hat, dress and shoes are layered with glamour dust applied to her wings and a greenish glitter to the stars.

I think I'm gonna make more cards today for some challenges.  I'm back at work tomorrow and then won't be off til Saturday so need time to play I reckon whilst waiting for the garage to ring.  I have a curtesy car in the meantime and may even take it for a little spin to Hobbycraft and Boyes lol!

Thanks for stopping by my little haven in cyberspace. Take care and happy crafting.

Mel X

Three Cards, Eight Challenges

Morning, gosh my second post for the day, must be on a roll lol!  I made these cards yesterday in a spot of crafty therapy and relaxation and they fit numerous challenges.

This first one is for my mum's best friend, Brenda who turns 60 on Monday. They went to school together, went clubbing together and now, will be using their new bus passes together lol!.   This one's entered into

Simon Says - Vintage with flowers

These are new stamps, I don't have many Tilda Magnolia cos I think I'm one of few people who find them a bit freaky - where's their mouths lol!  However, I have loved every single card I've seen with this image and I've had my first ever attempt at the masking technique!  Wowzers it was easier than I thought!

Brenda doesn't like too much fuss on her cards and I didn't want to distress this.  I think the papers have a distressed look to them and anyway and the colours are quite vintage. The lace was originally sewn onto some shabby blue ribbon, which obviously wouldn't match so I unstitched some to use separately.  The photo corners where drawn once freehand to make a template on black cardstock.  I edged the burgunday paper with a lovely gold paint pen - which I've now lost somewhere on my craft table so can't tell you which one it is - sorry!! 

RECIPE

Stamps - Magnolia

Colouring Mediums- Copics, Promarkers and Inkessentials White Marker 

Papers - Basic Grey 

Lace - Stash

Circle Die Cut - Nesties

Flowers - Hobby House

Leaf Punch - Leone Em

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My second card is for my uncle Chris. He was in the Royal Air Force for years and did a couple of stints posted over in Holland - which his family LOVED!  This fits...

Cards & Things Challenge - Sketch

Quixotic Challenges - One for the Boys

Your Next Stamp Challenge - Spring Colours

RECIPE

Digi Image -Sugar Nellie (Funky Kits)

Cardstock - Stash

Papers - Basic Grey

Card Candy - Stash

Metal zig zag Brads - Stash (possibly Papermania)

Sentiment - done on laptop

Circle  Punch - XCut

Card Candy

I'm sure he'll love this image!

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My last card today is for Mother's Day.

Paper Cutz Challenge - Feminine with fairy and the colours pink, green, white and lavender/blue

Totally Gorjuss - It's For You Mum

Allsorts - Mother's Day

Magical Crafts Fortnightly Challenge - Something for Mum

Papercutz ideally want this to be a birthday card too (I missed that little detail!) but I hope they'll still be happy with this.  I LOVE papers with circles on and have loads of em on 12x12pages! As soon as I received this stamp I thought of this paper!!  I don't know what went on with this pic but in reality the colours in the random circle paper isn't as bleached!!  No matter what I do though I can't get a better pic than this!  I have again used the lace after removing it from the blue ribbon it was attached to.

RECIPE

Stamp - Lily of the Valley

Pink paper - stash

Patterned Paper - by Crafty Creations Ltd 

Die Cut - Nestabilities

Border Punch - Martha Stewart

Lace - Stash 

Flowers - Prima

Polka Dot Brad - stash

Sentiment - done on laptop

Circle Punch - XCut  

Phew, and that's all of them! I loved making these as have been wanting the opportunity to use these images.  It also gave me chance to practice with my copics and promarkers.

Thanks for stopping by.  Am off to gymnastics now with Emily then gonna help Pete decorating our bedroom - yes I've had to resort to cracking the whip with him now for him to get him to finish it lol!

Take care and happy crafting

Mel X

First Card of 2010 and some News

Good evening everyone.  Has life settled back down again after all the festivities?  We took our deccys down today, it feels like we have loads more room now LOL!  Have been busy on this little blog today and made several changes.  However my blog lists playing up so will have to look at that!   Still working on the loan laptop and am REALLY missing my own machine!  Hopefully it will be returned all fixed later next week - fingers crossed.  As some of you know, I went through FOUR laptops last year.  This loan laptop has kept crashing on me since yesterday so who knows - I might be on the start of breaking last years record!!!!  I just look at them and they break LOL!

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I had a wonderful e-mail last night inviting me onto the DT over at The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.  Of course I snapped their hand off, but I did wonder if they'd gotten mixed up with someone else LOL!  I am sooo excited to be working with such a talented bunch of ladies - my first DT call - SCARY!!!!

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I made my first card of 2010, sat crafting with Emily as she made not only her first cards of the year, but also her first entry into a challenge!!  Quality time!!!

My card will be entered into the following six challenges:

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Magical Crafts Fortnightly Challenge - Thankyou

Totally Gorjuss - Thankyou

Crazy 4 Challenges - Polka Dots

Sketchy Colours - Yellow, Pink and Bronze

Stamp Something Challenge - "New Somethings"

I used on of my favourite but recently neglected stamps for this.  The large flower is new as is the ribbon bow flower in the centre.  Coloured with chalks, copics and my new set of watercolour pencils - yes, I'm an old fashioned gal at heart!  The sentiment is also new.

RECIPE

Papers - Basic Grey and My Mind's Eye

Stamped Image - Sarah Kay

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Paper Flowers - Prima

Ribbon Flower - local haberdashery

Bronzy Metal Corners - stash

Card Candy

I hope you like what you see.  Thankyou for stopping by my little bit of peace and quiet here in cyberspace!  Take care

Mel X

Something Special - A Retirement Card

Evening everybody, are you all ready for Christmas?  I've still got a bit of shopping to do, trying to crack on with the wrapping for now!!  I've a few more cards I want to make before Christmas.  Once they're done I intend to pack away most of my craft stuff to the loft outta the way til after all the festivities.  I don't have my own craft room so this plan should hopefully ensure the dining room remains tidy!

This card I have done for my mum's best friend who turns 60 at the end of December and retires on the 4th January.   I am entering it into the following challenges;

Magical Crafts Fortnightly Challenge - Special

Allsorts Challenge - Pearls and Swirls

Stampin' for the Weekend - Blue and Brown

Daring Cardmakers - Going Dotty

Totally Gorjuss - Free and Easy

Quixotic Challenge - Lace

The layout design is my own.  I decided against any sentiment on the front as I think that may detract from all the elements - I think my craft stuff  kinda exploded on it a bit LOL!  The insert inside reads

"Congratulations on your Retirement,

time now to spread your wings and let the fairy

within you fly"

The flourish is gorgeous but quite big and I cut it to use in the two area here.  The flourish was also quite expensive but I LOVE the effect so think am gonna get creative with a pencil and create my own in the New Year.

I have also gone round the edges of the cardstock and papers with my uni silver paint pen to give a slightly gilted look to the edges.

RECIPE

Image - Mo's Digital Pencil

Colouring Medium - copics, water colour pencils

Blue Cardstock - Stash

Papers - My Minds Eye and HOTP

Border Punch - Martha Stewart

Leaf Punch - Leone Em

Flowers - Prima

Pearly Flourish - Prima

Lace - local haberdashery

Card Candy

Glamour Dust

My mum's friend has been ill lately so I hope this cheers her up and that she can soon wave goodbye to the pressures of work, really enjoy her retirement and let her hair down.

Thankyou for stopping by my little haven in cyber space.  I hope you like what you see!  Take care and happy crafting. 

Mel X