All tidy and Easter

If you're wondering why my post title is all tidy - you really need to check out my previous post to see the incredible mess my craft room was in. But first as card:

I've used Chirpy from the Digi Stamp Boutique and made what I think is going to be my last Easter card! I'm popping him in to these challenges:

• Kaboodle - Shaped card
• Crafty Angels - Easter
• A Spoon Full of Sugar - Shaped card
• Everybody Art - Spring
• Creative Craft - Eggtastic
• Fab n Funky - Spring is in the air

And as promised the 'after' photos lol! Some of you commented to say it would take me a week to tidy up, all I can say is - you're not wrong, there's lots still to do, but for now this will have to do:

I can see the floor - admittedly it needs a good clean now but I can't be expected to do everything in one day!

Nothing on the floor again and my SU stamps all organised and tidy.

Space to create without moving things to one side!

Another pic just to show I haven't shoved everything to one side! So if you want a nosey at everyone else's desks or you want to join in, visit Julia over at Stamping - Ground. Right that's me well and truly done, I've just about got time for a nice soak in the tub before hubby and the kids get home and the birthday celebrations begin. If you've been kind enough to send me a card, I'm not being rude, I just haven't opened them yet!

Hugs
Victoria
x

oooh the shame!

Ok it's Wednesday and that means two things for me this week:

1. One it's my Birthday 
2. It's 'What's on your desk Wednesday'!

So as a treat I have sent both my bubbas off to their Grandparents for the day so that I can sort out this mess. If you are a neat freak I'd suggest you pouring yourself a stiff drink before you look at these!

I promise there is a work bench under there! And a swing to the left:

And a swing to the right:

Now you see why I need a who;e day to get it sorted! I'll be back later with a card and photos of a much tidier and organised room of craft! I promise!!

Hugs
Victoria
x

Going Vintage

Cor what was up with blogger last night? I was all set to go commenting and I couldn't see any pictures at all. Still, it's all better this morning! It's challenge time again at Creative Card Crew and this time we want to see your 'Vintage' creations. Please check out the other DT creations for some Vintage inspiration. We've all been given a digi image from our sponsor to use:

I'll be the first to stick my hand up and say that vintage isn't easy for me! But a challenge wouldn't be a challenge if they were all easy eh? So I used this little boy on the beach image and printed him on cream card and coloured him in using Stampin' Up! ink pads and an aqua brush. I distressed the edges of all the card with a distressing tool and used a dauber dipped in Mellow Moss ink to 'tatty' up the look a little. I thought the papers were quite vinatge and they set my colour theme.

The sentiment is from a now retired Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration set 'Whimsical Words' and the starfish was a lucky find. Ages ago I'd bought a few scrapbooking bits from Tesco and this was stuck on one of the page borders!

I'm joining in a few challenges with this one:

• The Pink Elephant - Pastels
• Truly Scrumptious - Sketch
• Creative Friday - Photo inspiration (I chose the colours)

Now a few days ago I mentioned how Blake wasn't loving trying savoury foods and mentioned he pulls a face when he tries. So for a giggle, here is my bubba eating toast and loving it (well sort of!):

Compare that when trying a few spoonfulls of lentil casserole:

Hmm, it's going to be an interesting advernture into the world of savouries. And yes that is casserole in his hair!

Hugs
Victoria
x

Chocolate and Easter or Spring

This week at Cupcake Craft Challenge our theme is 'Easter or Spring with lots of chocolate!'. There are some fab digi images up for grabs for the lucky winner. Here's my creation:

I've used a digi image from Bee Crafty and if you love it you can get it for FREE here! I've shaded bunny with ProMarkers and cut him out and mounted him on to layers of patterned papers - these are all new from Stampin' Up!

I've added my chocolate not only in colour but also in this cute little clear treat cup - you just punch out a circle and stick the self adhesive cup to the inside of the card with a slider or piece of card over the back to stop any goodies from falling out! I've filled it with sugar coated chocolate eggs and took colour inspiration from these for the rest of my card. If you want to order any of the Stampin' Up! goodies - please visit my other blog here.

I'm joining my card in with these challenges:

• Digital Tuesday - Spring
• Passion for ProMarkers - Spring and an animal
• Everybody Art - Easter
• C.R.A.F.T. - Easter
• Paperplay - Easter
• Dare U to digi stamp - Easter
• Daring Cardmakers - Egg shapes or chocolate or both
• Fussy and Fancy - Easter
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch
• Pile it on - Animal - riffic
• Handful of stamps - Sweetness
• Chorrosive - Easter

Please join in with our challenge and see what the rest of the DT have made to inspire you.
Hugs
Victoria
x

Happy Birthday Bee Crafty

Yey - Bee Crafty is one year old!! And as a treat we have extra prizes up for grabs too, all you need to do is create a project using a digi image with a Birthday theme. I've used Mouse with Balloon to make this cute party card and treat box:

Wondering what's inside?

Sweeties! I've shaded Mouse with ProMarkers and stamped a sentiment from Stampin' Up! The spotty acetate and blue card are also Stampin' Up! I love this little mouse, he's such a cutie isn't he?


I'll have to join in a challenge or two with him:

• My Time to Craft - Make it manly
• Inspirational - Sketch
• Frosted Designs - Transparancey

Can't wait to see what you make. I'm off out in a bit for an early Birthday lunch being as hubby can't take a day off in the week. Don't feel sorry for me though, I can't wait til the day as the in laws are having the boys and I get to spend the WHOLE day sorting out my craft room which has got messier and messier by the day lol!


Hugs
Victoria
x

Time to dance

I got this stamp a few days ago and I've been itching to ink her up - she's mad!

I picked the colours using the ones set out in Color Dare this week, Stampin' Up! colours basic Black, Green Galore and Pretty in Pink. I love pink and green together and the added black does it for me lol!

I've taken a close up so you can see my faux stitching - I've used the same colours as the card but used Markers to give a subtle effect as think the image needs to be the focal point. Fun with Shapes want to see faux stitching this week ad of course die cuts or punches (I've used scallop oval and oval punch by Stampin' Up!).

The sketch is by Dawny over at Papertake and I've used some fab green lace that so far has only been stroked and not cut because Caardvarks have the challenge of stamping and lace.

Righto, I'd better go and get some finger food ready for the little fella, lunch takes ages now he's trying to eat 'real' food instead of just purees, hope he ends up a good eater like his big brother. Not looking good so far, every time I try to give him anything savoury he pulls a face like a bullgod chewing a wasp! I'll stick with it, one day he might surprise me and eat what I give him!

Hugs
Victoria
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This week at Cupcake Craft Challenge our theme is 'Food and drink'. So create your projects using food and drink related images! Here's my creation:

I've used one of the first CC stamps I got and decided to stick with just three colours and a nice simple layout, this sketch is from Inspirational this week.. How much did I fancy a cupcake whilst I was making this lol! Please take a look at the fab creations by the rest of the Design Team, they're yummy.

Sorry I'm a bit late blogging today - just had one of those days. Thought I had a nice quiet day relaxing at home but no - not meant to be. First of all, Zac hit the tv screen with a toy and killed it. The tv not the toy, but the excess is too high for us at the moment on the insurance so we have the tiniest tv from our bedroom downstairs now - even I need a telescope to watch it!

Next.......Zac decided to stick a bit of toy up his nose whilst I was feeding Blake. Of course the minute I tried to pull it out, he sniffed it further in and gave himself a nose bleed so off to the nurse we went. She couldn't get it so we have to wait for nature to take it's course or a big sneeze! Either way he might bleed as whatever it is may have a rough edge so I need to keep watch over him carefully as that means a trip to children's A&E. Never a dull moment eh? At least he's not in pain now and he's playing happily away.

Hope your day is less eventfull than mine (I've just broken a match as 'they' say bad things come in threes!!)
Hugs
Victoria
x

Spring Showers

I saw a challenge today that asked for the use of an umberalla, I have this cute Emma stamp that I've been wondering what to use for!

I'm joining in with these challenges:

• One Stop - Let it shine
• Pollycraft - Sparkly things
• Alphabet - Umberella
• Friday sketchers - Sketch
• Saturday Spotlight - Use your birthstone colour (aquamarine for me)

Now I've used shiny aqua gloss card for my card base, shiny gems and loads of glitter on the puddle I drew but even though it's sunny today, I can't seem to get it to show up very well:

I'm going to hide out in my craft room for the rest of the afternoon, hubby has been to do the weekly shop and come back in a bit of a mood - let's just say another driver would have driven into the side of our car if hubby hadn't slammed his breaks on and because he had the boys in the car with him he had to stay calm and not let off steam, so I think that's happening at the moment lol! He's taking it out on cooking a roast dinner so I'm staying put! I'm planning a few future classes so that'll keep me quiet for a bit!

Hugs
Victoria
x

Spring chick

I'm sorry I've not been a good blogger this week - I just haven't found the time, I'll be making up for that though! I've made a nice cheerful Spring card today using Easter Chick from the Digi Stamp Boutique.























I found this spotty paper in my scraps box and it inspired my colouring and pattern for the egg and the embossed background card too. I'm making up for being a bad blogger by going a bit crazy on the challenge front:

• Sketch Saturday - Sketch
• Digital Tuesday - Lots of green
• Simon Says - A splash of green
• Creative Inspirations - White, yellow and green
• Crafty Catz -  Spring
• Stampin for the weekend - Easter
• Daring Cardmakers - Tweetie Pie
• Frosted Designs - Think Spring
• Secret Crafter - Spring has sprung
• Our Creative Corner - Think Easter
• Allsorts - Spring is in the air
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Spring
• Lots to do - Spring time
• Sweet Stampin - Spring
• Cuttlebug challenge - Spring

There, that's better - I'm back lol!
Have a great weekend

Hugs
Victoria
x

Easter Bunny and Candy Winner

It's challenge time at Creative Card Crew again. Thank you so much to everyone who joined in our Birthday celebrations. I'll announce the winner of my candy at the end of this post! First of all our theme this week has been set by me and it's 'Going Dotty'. I want to see loads of spots and dots on your creations this week please! Here's my creation:

I had a riot making this one! The stamp was orgionally Angel Anya, I inked her up and then used a baby wipe to rub away the bits of the image I didn't want before stamping. Then I drew the bunny outfit around her and added a pair of cutie bunny slippers too! It's the second time I've altered a stamp and I'm happier with the result this time around.

I think she says Easter, but just in case I added some spotty Easter Eggs. I made them using an oval punch on spotty paper and then drew the egg and bows on using a letraset pen (the same one I used to draw the image). I've used fours different spotty papers in pink, grey, black and white and added an embossed spotty layer too. Love my dots me! Please check out the rest of the design team creations as they have some fabulous inspirations - and check out their blogs too to see if you're a lucky winner of their candy from our last challenge!

OK, I'm joining in with quite a few challenges:

• Quixotic - Alter a GF stamp
• Truly Scrumptious - Sketch and good enough to eat (Easter eggs)
• Susie's Sassy Challenge - Easter
• Secret Crafter - Anything goes
• One Stop Crafts - Spots and dots (would have been rude not to join in!)
• Allsorts - Pink, Black and White
• Pile It On - Pastel Colours
• The Pink Elephant - Spring
• A Spoon Full of Sugar - Easter

And now for the winner of my Stampin' Up! Candy (which I posted on my other blog Blue Jelly Stampin). Are you the lucky winner of this pile of goodies?

I had 54 comments on my post so I popped 1-54 in Random Org generator and

Number 25 came out, the 5th comment was left by Ann Cutts at Craftroom Creations. Well done Ann, please can you send me an email with your address on and I'll get your goodies in the post to you? Thanks to everyone who joined in.

Hugs
Victoria
x

Pack a punch

Over at Die Cut Dreams this week our challenge theme is 'Pack a punch'. We want to see you use at least two different punches on your projects. Also want to say thank you so much to everyone who joined in last week with our 'no flowers' theme. What a fab response! Here's my punch project:

I've used one of Di's Digi images and a sentiment from Stampin' Up!, please take a look at the other design team creations, they have some fab techniques to show you using punches.
I'm joining in with these challenges:

• My Time To Craft - Kidz Kardz
• Our Creative Corner - Sketch
• Fun with shapes - Birthday card

And before I go, take a hop over to Vikki's blog as she has some fabbo candy up for grabs....you'll be gutted if you miss it as it's a very generous stash indeedy!

Hugs
Victoria
x

Spring is a wonderful thing

This fortnight at Bee Crafty our theme is 'Spring or Easter' and to use a digi imiage too. Here's my creations using 'Bunny and Flowers'.

Now there's a story behind this card, I'd started off with great plans tp decorate up some chocolate bars but on Friday my mojo took a little break. If you don't believe me, here are the chocolate bars:

More like Halloween than Spring eh? Still, I thought I'd share it anyway and enter it for the Passion for ProMarkers challenge too!

Now back to my not so much of a disaster!

I paper pieced the bunny by sticking a bit of patterned paper to my printed card with low tac tape and running it back through the printer - means I can use up any scraps that way. Then I cut bunny out and stuck the patterned paper on to the printed image, colouring in the rest. I'm joining in with these challenges:

• Cute Card Thursday - Celebrations
• Stampin' B's - Spring or Easter
• The Sweetest Thing - Sketch

Well it may be sunny out there but I've just come in and it's very cold and so windy! That was a shock to the system! Have a great weekend.

Hugs
Victoria
x

Party Cat

One of the cats that lives next door (yes with real people too!) is always spotted strutting home in the early hours, so me and hubby have named him 'Party Cat'. So when I saw a challenge to make an invitation, I had to feature a party cat! Spencer from the Digi Stamp Boutique is my perfect party cat!

I followed the sketch from Sunday Sketch and Stamp and changed the squares to circles - hope that's OK?

The Pink Elephant want to see party invitations so I thought I'd better stamp the inside too, Digital Tuesday want to see paper piercing and finally, Dare you to Digi Stamp don't want to see any patterned papers.

I probably went a bit overboard with the dotty embossing - I lurve these folders though!

Hugs

Victoria

x

Not a desk, a bubba and some choccies!

Where to start today? Well as it's Wednesday it's only right to share a pic of my space today. My space being the dining table again as Zac's asleep upstairs and I don't want to disturb him!


















If you're thinking I have the munchies - you're wrong. If you think I'm making something with choccies - you're right, read on! Pop over to Stamping Ground to see what's on everyone elses desks today! I think I should also show you what's on my carpet today, or rather who's on my carpet:























It's Blake! He turned 8 months this week and has celebrated by cutting his two front teeth! So onto my project:

The Digi Stamp Boutique has just released this fab new set of Mothers day images and sentiments, although you could use these images for anything girlie. I love 'em! I decorated up a load of choccies and made a card to match.

I've used the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday challenge and used lots of orange to fit the theme at Stampavie too.

I think these look delicious all together like this. I should have made more!

Hugs

Victoria

x

Late Cupcake

Oops I'm a day late posting! This week at Cupcake Craft Challenge our theme is 'Flower Power'. 

As always you can make anything you like this week as long as we see lots of flowers on your cards...it can be through images...design papers...embellies...or anything else you may think of...we're pretty sure you will rock this theme and the DT are standing by ready to come and visit your blogs! The design team have provided plenty of inspiration this week and if you want to find out how they made their cards you can click on their names in the sidebar on the Cupcake Craft Blog to go directly to their individual blogs...they would love for you to leave a comment on their blogs to show your appreciation for their work! Here's mine:

I've used Claudia Cow digi image from Digital Delights and created the sentiment on the PC. I chose this image as it had plenty of flowers in it and matche dit up with some very funky floral black and white papers.

I'm joining in with these challenges:

• Stamp with fun - Spring
• Secret Crafter - Shades of grey
• Pile it on - One colour
• Crafty Calendar - Flower power
• Crafty Creations - One Colour
• Creative Craft - Thanks a bunch

It's lovely and sunny again today, I'm expecting a few deliveries today so I have my fingers crossed they arrive this morning so I can take the boys to the 'inbetweenies' play session this afternoon. They have a great outdoor play area and Zac can play safely whilst I look after Blake.

Hugs
Victoria
x

No Flowers Challenge

This week at Die Cut Dreams our challenge to you is 'No Flowers'. As a prize we have some gorgeous paper flowers to make up for not using them this time!

 

Susie suggested making a card for a chap so I did! It's my Father in Laws birthday this week and this is his card from his Grandsons. The scrummy image was a present for me by Sally-Ann at the Digi Stamp Boutique. I've wanted an image for a while representing my two little boys and their angel brother - you can't buy this image as it's just for me, but there are loads of  others to choose from. I'm going to love using this image again soon. Righto, these are the challenges I'm joining in with:

• Double Dutch - Boys only
• Kaboodle - Happy Birthday
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch
• Allsorts - Just for men
• Saturday Spotlight - Friendship
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Paper piercing
• Lots to do - Distressed

 

I had great fun making this one, for my distressing I roughed up the edges, popped a wet coffee mug on the top righthand corner to create a stain and rubbed a wet tea bag around the centre image after I'd shaded it. I should really have rubbed it with marmite, dribbled on it and dropped it on the floor to have distressed it in the way I imagine my boys would have done!

I paper pierced around one side of the main image and wrote the sentiment out with my laft hand. Zac can't say Grandad yet but can manage Gan-Gan so that's what we call him now. Gan Gan in return calls us 'the Elm Grove People' - apparently quicker than trying to remember all our names! Please pop and look at the rest of the design team creations and stay with me as I'll be uploading my Cupcake Craft Challenge creation in a bit too.

Hus

Victoria

x

She's got a bunny!

Oooooooh it's just so lovely and sunny here today. I've been out for a family lunch, had a play outside with the boys and some lush time in my craft room. I don't even have to cook tonight as we're so podged from luch! Here's one of the things I've made:

 

I spotted this new image and couldn't wait for rubber so had to grab it in digi form for now lol! I've stamped the sentiment though. I'm so excited too as I won a GDT spot with Colour Create so look out for my contributions soon. These are the challenges I'm joining in with this card:

• Sketch and Stash - Sketch and new image
• Colour Create - Black, Red, off white and silver brads
• Pollycraft - Distressing
• Polka Doodles - Stamping and wings
• Frosted Designs - Favourite technique (shh - it's colouring in!)

 

I love this sketch, so simple and easy to work with.  I love using red too and colouring in (release my inner child lol).  My distressing is difficult to spot as it's so bright it's not shown up too well on the photo, but I've had a go at distressing with a Copic pen. The image is printed on white card and I've tried to make it streaky and off white by using a skin toned pen. Did it work? I don't own any of the other distressing type of inks and I'm not great with chalks or inking around the edges so I thught I'd try something new. Bravely - after I'd spent ages shading the image in!

Hope you're having a fab Sunday.

Hugs

Victoria

x

Mikey Monkey

It's my hubbys Dad's Birthday on Monday and I've had to make three cards for him, one from us, one from the boys and one from Hubby's Mum too. This is the one from us:

 

I used Mikey Monkey from The Digi Stamp Boutique - a perfect image I do believe lol! I've had these papers a long time and thought they looked good with Mikey. The plain rust card has been embossed with a stitch embossing folder - the lazy girls guide to sewing today! I'm popping it in for a couple of challenges:

• Little Paper Shop - Sketch
• One Stop Craft - Sewing

Hmm, I've got to master getting photos off the PC on to a digital keyring now as a present for James' Dad. We're all going out for lunch tomorrow in the village where I'm having a stand at a craft fayre next week so it will be a good opportunity to have a look around in advance!

Hugs
Victoria
x

Cupcake Girl

I saw this stamp whilst I was blog hopping today and couldn't wait to get it so I bought the digi!

 

I'm joining in with these challenges:

• Anyone for Anya - Sketch
• Stamp Something - Something girlie
• Copic Creations - A hint of green

Here's my card

I've had a day doing not very much except playing with the boys, Blake's now 8 months and is desperate to be on the move and play with his big brother! So it's nice to come up here and make something girlie!
Hugs
Victoria
x

Girlie Christmas

Hurray - finally I made my first Christmas card after promising myself I'd start in January and make at least one a week! Thanks for the pressure Susie and Vikki!!

 

It's soooooo sunny today - can you tell by my photo? It's a bit bright so here's a not so bright close up

 

I'm joining in with these challenges:

• Our Creative Corner - Sketch
• ABC - Paper piecing
• Papertake - Buttons, brads, bows and bling (I did 'em all!)
• Charisma Cardz - Fairies (I made the top 3 last week - yey!)
• Flutter By Wednesday - Fairy
• LOTV - Easel card
• Susie and Vikki's Christmas Challenge - Girlie Christmas
• Winter Wonderland - Monochromatic Christmas

I found a gorgeous glittery button in my stash and used that on her hat, along with a huge blue sparkly brad on the bow. I added glitter to her wings but I'm not sure you can see it in the photo. Got to dash as Zac's due home from his grandparents any minute now.
Hugs
Victoria
x

WOYDW?

It's Wednesday again and it's not a case of what's on my desk as what's on my dining table? Today I crafted downstairs with bubba watching whilst Zac had a nap upstairs:

 

Join in the fun every Wednesday over at Stamping Ground! To see what I created with this lot - hop over to Blue Jelly Stampin!

Hugs

Victoria

x

Coco Bear and Candy news!

I have a pretty card for you today using one of the brand new images from the Digi Stamp Boutique - Spring Coco and friends. I was in a girly mood and opted for a very pink card using the previous sketch from the Pink Elephant.

I'm joining in with Digital Tuesday this week as their theme is scallops.

 

I've used a white gel pen to add the white dots the flower centres and Coco's cheeks. The stamps are on offer at the moment so a fab time to grab them!

Also if you want to see more of this:

Or you want to be in with a chance to win this lot:

Please hop over to my other blog Blue Jelly Stampin!!!
Hugs
Victoria
x