Not even a hint of pink

I did it - not even the tiniest little splash of pink (the lips are red!)

Penny Black Stamp, Pro Markers, Nestabilities, Doodlebug papers and ribbon

It's my Birthday today and I've made this card in advance of opening my pressie off my Husband tonight. It's his thank you card. I already know what my gift is as I ordered it myself! It's a box full of stash and I can't wait to get my mitts on it! So this card is to say thanks :)

The stamp is by Penny Black, coloured with Pro Markers and mounted on layers of Nestabilities labels two. The papers are limeade Doodlebug with Boutique Trims ribbon.

Maybe make something with my new stash tomorrow, off to go and sit in the sun with a coffee and a whopping great big slice of Banoffee Cake now...............mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Victoria

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Sew not good at this!

Well, erm bit embarrassed to post this one - I have now faced the realisation that sewing is NOT my thing. Not even a little bit.


Felt, nestabilities, thread, ribbon, glass bead, cuttlebug flowers

This is my result of the challenge for me and Sue to make a card featuring real or fake stitching. Sue sensibly went for fake - I picked the wrong route :( Ah well at least I tried. You can see Sue's card on her blog - Stamping Sue Style

I cut the felt with cuttlebug dies and nestabilities, was impressed both cut through without any tearing or fraying, so that's something positive to come out of it! The ribbon at the top was off a gift I'd been given and the other was out of a Brenda Pinnick kit I think, both had nice neat stitching on so just perfect.

I'm going to try and stray away from pink for the rest of the week - bet I can't do it!

Victoria
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Pink and Turquoise

I needed to make a 70th Birthday card and figured at that age the receiver wouldn't appreciate a huge 70 slapped in the middle of her card. So what to do instead?


Doodlebug papers, cuttlebug emboss folder, rub ons, glitter gems, sparkle brads, flowers

I really enjoyed doing the colour challenge last week on Colour Create so decided to set myself two colours and go from there. I laid a selection of turquoise and pink stash out and just went for it without planning the card first. It could have gone very wrong as I stuck everything down as I went along. The sugared brads match the glitter gems and the flowers so I'm really pleased with it.

Happy days yesterday as I got my hair cut and coloured and feel less of scruffy moo too!

I have GOT to find some time today to make a card with stitching on for my challenge with Sue. Eek, so much to do today so it will have to be posted on here tomorrow morning.

Victoria
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Two Peas in a Pod

A friend asked me to make a card as she had just become Godmother to twins.


Sizzix die, various papers, cuttlebug emboss, rub ons, Fiskars punch

I've been itching to use this pea pod die for ages and had the perfect excuse the other day! It made a change not to make a card with really bright colours too.

I used a Sizzix die and various papers I had lying around, added pink gems for the eyes and made a fake bow secured with a sparkly Doodlebug button. The names are Doodlebug rub ons and the greeting was done on the PC.

So hoping for a free hour to craft today but I don't think it will happen. Off to be pampered at the hairdressers later, woo-hoo no more roots!

Victoria
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Easter Challenge

This weeks challenge over on A Spoonful of Sugar Blog is to create an Easter card. I don't have many Easter style items to play with, in fact Bun-Bun is one of two! But I do love Bun-Bun and remember waiting ages for him to come into stock when he was first released.


Penny Black stamp, cuttlebug emboss folder, pro markers, doodlebug papers and button, Cookie Cutters

I stamped Bun-Bun with a black Momento ink pad then coloured with Pro Markers and Sakura Glaze pens. First time I've had my Pro-Markers out in ages, it was good to use them again. The ribbon was off a present I'd been given and although it doesn't show too well on the photo, I went over the embossed buttons with a white Versacolour ink pad to highlight them. The squares are made using Quickutz Cookie Cutter dies.

Inside the card is pink with a stamped Easter egg message.

May not get to blog much over the weekend as my Mum and Step Dad are coming to stay from Spain until Monday. Fingers crossed I'll find some time.

Victoria

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Papertake Weekly Challenge

This weeks attempt for the Papertake Weekly Challenge was to create a card based on a sketch by Dawny:

Paper and embellishment from kit, ribbon, brads, cuttlebug embossing folder

Now normally I shy away from sketches as they're not really my thing but I was stuck for ideas yesterday so gave this one a go.

Just about everything is from a scrapbooking kit I got a while back from QVC, including the cute 'lil tiger. Now I just need someone to have a baby soon so I can send them this card! Bit of cuttlebug embossing, ribbon and brads and sparkly gems finished it off.

Going to spend the rest of the day cuddling my little fella as he's had a bit of a reaction to his MMR jab and is very clingy and unhappy with a slight temperature. I prescribe tons of love.

Victoria

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Little Owl Badge Card

Well after bragging about the cute badges I got at Paperchase yesterday I thought I'd be in trouble if today's card didn't feature one.


Paperchase badge, DCWV papers, beads, Paperchase stickers, glossy accents

I usually reserve red and green for Christmas cards but the owl badge set my colour scheme. I used patterned papers from the DCWV Spring Glitter Stack along with a little spotty paper from Doodlebug. I've had the alphabet beads for ages and stuck them on with a bit of silicone glue. You can't really tell on the photo but I've highlighted the berries in the bottom half with glossy accents to add a bit of dimension.

Aren't the little owl stickers cute?

Here's a close up of the badge - I didn't realised they were fabric until I opened them and I have so many to play with too.

Victoria

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Note Cards and Gift Box

Could it be more windy? Sounds like my house is going to blow down!

Anyway, enough of my exaggerations, I've just got back from lunch with a friend and not had time to make anything, so I cheated. I made these yesterday!


DCWV papers, plastic flowers, ribbon, Pink Petticoat Paper, Nestabilities

It's my first attempt at making a box and I have so much room for improvement. You can't tell from the photo but the lid is too big for the box. There must be hundreds of templates on the web but try as I might yesterday, I couldn't find a simple one. So if you know of one, please let me know as I'd like to make more.

Used up some more of the plastic flowers and the 50p ribbon. I had the cards in a drawer - they were free when I bought some A4 card from a local shop a while back.

I've just had to get my mitts on some scrummy badges from Paperchase on my way home. Watch this space as I'm itching to use them!

Victoria
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Just Three Colours

This weeks challenge over on Colour Create is to make a card using only turquoise, navy and lime. An added extra option was to create the card without using any design papers. So I didn't :)

Just Pots Funky Flowers, brads, gems, ribbon, doodlebug rubs ons, cuttlebug embossing folders

I thought I'd go one step further and set myself the additional challenge to stop being predictable and not use buttons or my threading water punch. I got a variety of the appropriate coloured items out on my worktop to get me started as wasn't sure where I was going with this one. Found the perfect ribbon that I picked up for 50p a few weeks ago at Hobbycraft and some plastic flowers that have been sitting pretty in their pot for (ahem) about two years now! to give the paper a bit more oomph, I used two Cuttlebug embossing folders and this is the result.

Now for this weeks challenge for me and Sue......make a card or project featuring sewing. Can be real or fake sewing, machined, by hand, drawn, rubs ons, stamped etc. Feel free to join in and post your creations with mine next Sunday.

Victoria

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Stampin Up Blog Candy

There's a new challenge blog for Stampin Up fans and they have this fab blog candy up for grabs. I don't have any Stampin Up stuff so winning this would be fab. Fingers crossed!

You can enter by visiting Stamp With Us

Victoria

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Sweet Like Chocolate

I think the sunshine is having an impact on my colour choices!


Doodlebug papers and ribbon, Sizzix dies, DCWV rub ons, nestabilities, Fiskars punch

This one is made for the papertake weekly challenge blog. This weeks challenge is to make a card with something edible on. I've had these dies for ages and never used them so today's as good a time as any to break them out of their packet! Plus I seem to be craving chocolate at the moment and making a card to feed my craving seemed the right thing to do!

Someone once told me that pink and red don't go, I disagree! Maybe I should set myself a new challenge to make a card without using my Fiskars punch? Got to get my thinking cap on now to come up with a challenge for me and Sue to do next week. Let you know tomorrow.

Victoria
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UK Scrappers March Card Challenge / Crafty Goings On Blog Candy

This months card challenge on the UK Scrappers forum is to make a card featuring three of the following:

• Bunnies
• Birdies
• Bling
• Blossoms
• Bows
• Buttons

I used all but bunnies! I also used this card to enter the Blog Candy on Crafty Goings On Blog - link down on the right under 'Blog Candy'.

Cuttlebug, Pink Petticoat Image Stamp, Glitter Gems, Doodlebug papers, Nestabilities, Button, Ribbon, Pro Markers

I was intrigued as to what I'd come up with for this challenge as I'm not really a birdie or a bunny type of person! After liking the pistachio and fuchsia colour combination used yesterday, I decided to use it again and hope for a better photo. I went outside in the sun to take this one and I think it's come out tons better. So all I need is a bright sunny day, every day......



Took a bit of a close up pic so you can see the glitter gems as they're really subtle. The ribbon was from a selection bundle I got from QVC, I'm rubbish at tying bows (as my friend Sue will tell you!) so I cheated. So if you too are rubbish with ribbon, here's my 'cheats' method:

Cut a small piece of thin jewellery wire then fold your length of ribbon in a bow shape. Wrap the wire around your bow and twist to tighten. Manipulate the ribbon into a bow you're happy with and then either disguise the wire with another piece of ribbon wrapped around it or use it as a feature. I chose neither and plonked a button on top!

Victoria
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Cards for Ginger Jo

Having one of those days today where I planned to do everything and instead have done bits and bobs :(

Still I've stripped a bit more wallpaper off in the hallway, so the chances of getting it finished this side of Christmas are looking more promising!

I managed to get the Mothers Day cards done for Jo and she's nipped round to pick them up. Hmm not sure she concluded from my scan pics if she thinks it's a girl or a boy - she's always wrong (aren't you Jo?) so I was hoping for her opinion and then I can start shopping in the opposite direction!

Anyway, here are the cards:


Doodlebug papers, nestabilities, papermania embellishment, fiskars punch, fiskars emboss plate

Tried something new out on this one. I knew I'd read somewhere that you could use Fiskars embossing plates in the Cuttlebug so I gave it a go. I think I need a new rubber embossing mat as two would be better. But I like the result and it's opened up more options for textured card too. I got the layout of this card and the next one from Nicole Heady's blog.


Pink Petticoat papers, Fiskars punch, Doodlebug ribbon and button, Quickutz

Hmm, in real life this is pistachio and vibrant pink! You'll have to take my word for it. Quite a simple card using Pink Petticoat papers with Quickutz die cut letters. Wanted to use this Doodlebug button but not found the right home for it until now, was a job and half to get the ribbon through though.

Victoria
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Yet more (very pink) Mothers Day cards

After a fab morning at 'Wobbly Ones' club minus a minor incident of a bump to Zac's head (he's OK) I nipped to the florists to drop off the Mothers Day cards I'd made for them. Here they are:



These were made with Pink Petticoat papers and images with a bit of sparkle from Sakura and some gems. Simple but yummy.

I had some paper left over from the card I made for Sheryl last week so used it up here, along with some Doodlebug paper frills.

And finally a simple silver and pink combo finished off with a cute Doodlebug button.

I'm hoping to get a couple of cards made for Ginger Jo this afternoon - fingers crossed, all being well I can post those tomorrow.

Victoria

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Blue Yonder Mark Two!

OK so I don't know why but there was something about the card I made yesterday that I wasn't happy with. So I've changed it. A bit.

So can you spot the difference ha, ha? I cut the card up, mounted it onto blue mirror card and shaped around the greeting and raised it. I like it a bit better now!

Victoria
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Blue Yonder

Quick off the mark that's me!

Sue set this weeks challenge as anything blue, only blue and nothing else. I do have until Sunday to make this but whilst I was out browsing the shops this afternoon trying to get the little one to nod off, inspiration struck....so I rushed home and made this:


MM Slice, Quickutz, peel offs (!), sequins, printed greeting

Yes the little one is sound asleep now and I've had time to make the card and get it posted on here too. My friend Teresa asked me to make a 60th Dad card - hope you like it!

I have got to get to grips with taking better photos as you can't really see the sparkle or dimension on this one. Some of the letters are raised and some are stuck flat. And I have to confess to using peel offs - something I try to avoid as they always tend to look rubbish when I use them! I coloured them blue to fit the theme and then added a few sequins and gems to finish off.

Victoria
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Birthday Boy

I didn't get chance to make a card today. Had to take the little fella for his MMR jab and then spent the rest of the day giving lots of cuddles which was very lovely. He was incredibly brave and didn't cry at either jab - so proud of him. He even managed to squeeze out a few smiles for the nurse afterwards :)

So here's a pic of the card I made for his first birthday back in December:


Pro Markers, Fluffles stamp, cuttlebug emboss folder, cookie cutters, nestabilities

It's one of the 'Fluffles' stamps which I admit I love as they're just so cute. This was one of my first attempts at using Pro Markers, I wanted to buy Copics but couldn't justify the cost of them in comparison. Maybe one day!

Victoria
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Hugs for a friend

I have a friend this week who's in need of some hugs and I think this card does just the job to send some from me. Just keeping my fingers crossed she doesn't look here and see it before it drops through her letterbox or guesses it's for her. Being a bit previous but I promised Sue I'd finish this challenge on time.

Mine and Sue's challenge this week was simply 'silver'.


Black pearl card, W R Memory Keepers rub on, Quickutz, gems

I was in the mood for crafting this afternoon after taking my little man for his first trip to the park for a toddle outside. I think he ate more than he fed to the ducks!

I got these gorgeous rubs ons a few weeks ago and sadly my photography doesn't do them justice - they are silver I promise! Finished off with some Doodlebug pink gems and the greeting was cut using a Quickutz alphabet on self adhesive silver foil. The foil didn't want to stick down, I don't know if it's because I've had it for so long that's it's given up it's stick or what! It's my day for things giving up on me. I have an all in one PC and the screen keeps clicking off at random intervals.

Looking forward to seeing what Sue's made.

Victoria

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Personalised Christening Card

Well today I've been out to check out new double buggies - I know, it's an exciting life but someone has to do it! Found one we like but not so keen on the price. Zac looked very cute as he tried out his potential new wheels and grinned throughout. Good lad.

Anyway came home and looked through the doorway to my craft room and I'm ashamed to say I couldn't see the floor or the worktop! So I'm taking a break from sorting and tidying and thought I'd pop this card on I made for my friend Jo when she became a godmother (again!).


DCWV luxury stack, sizzix lollipop dies, cross charm, printed greeting, nestabilities

I wanted a large landscape card to fit Isabella's name on and realised I didn't have any so cut a piece of card from the DCWV stack, creased the edge and stuck another piece of card to make the inside. The letters are cut from silver glitter board and mounted on foam pads and I gave Jo the choice of a cross or teddy bear charm to hang on the front.

Right, must get on with my sorting or I'll be here 'til midnight and still have no space to create. I'm determined to do some scrapbook pages this week.

Victoria
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More Mothers Day Cards

I was chatting with a lovely friend today who said she must get crafting after seeing the Mothers Day card I'd made for my mum. So I jumped at the chance and offered to make one for her. Luckily for me she asked for it to be in pink - what a hardship!

Hope you like it Sheryl :)

Another chance to use some gorgeous Pink Petticoat papers.

And here are a couple more I made too. I got to use the MM Slice I won to cut out the letters and am chuffed to bits it cuts through sugary glitter card no problem. Could never get the Cricut to manage it.

Mirror card, glitter board, MM Slice, paper flower, adhesive ribbon

I've been wondering how to use these flourish stamps for a while, now I've used them they'll probably be appearing on everything!

Flourish stamps, DCWV card, MM Slice, printed greeting, adhesive flowers.

I'll probably make a few more tomorrow so watch this space!

Victoria

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Cute as a button

Just a quickie as I should have made this card a couple of weeks ago -oops!


Doodlebug rub ons, papermania button, threading water punch, embroidered fabric bunny

I'd set my friend Sue a challenge to make a card using buttons. Decided my collection was becoming just that - a collection of unused buttons itching to be stuck or sewn to something. I had an idea of what I wanted to do and I'm not sure this was it. Sometimes things don't turn out how you want them to so maybe I'll give it another try one day.

I did enjoy using my new threading water punch though to the point I may have over used it here!

Victoria

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Card And Gift For My Mum

My Mum lives in Spain so I have to make and send her Mothers Day card quite early to guarantee it gets to her on time.

I decided to make her a wallet card and pop a few pics of her Grandson in as she hasn't seen him since the beginning of December. I decorated the wallet with some scrummy Pink Petticoat papers inside and out. The greeting is printed on the outside and I stamped the flourish afterwards - a very lucky guess size-wise!

The image and sentiment inside are from the new 'Simply Delightful' range from Pink Petticoat - gorgeous isn't it?

Once I saw the images it gave me so many ideas for Mothers Day cards, I'll be posting some more over the next few days as have to make for Mum in law, Step Mum and some friends have asked me to make some too.

Victoria

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Father in Law is 60 tomorrow

Right, something I'm particularly rubbish at is making cards for men. I just can't find the inspiration or ideas most of the time. So my Father in Law is celebrating his 60th tomorrow and as usual I've left my card making to the last minute.

I tried lots of ideas out bit nothing seemed right, he's not into hobbies and I didn't want to do something featuring beer or anything 'fussy'. I think I found the ideal solution. And soooooooooooooo very easy to make too!

I had a look on 'Printable Heaven' website and found a free lotto ticket download with '60' on and some suitable 60th stuff too.

I think these are the easiest and quickest cards I've ever made!

This one is really appropriate as he's in recovery from a back injury:

This one is made with a wallet style card:

And here's the inside with his 'winning' ticket!

Feeling I can relax now!

Victoria

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My Creative Space

I decided it would be nice to show you where my creativeness takes place. I'm so lucky to have a room to myself and that I got to kit it out from scratch when we moved in....

The corner I usually sit in - not the 'naughty corner'!
The cupboards are from Ikea and remind me of some rubber stamps I have :)


Some more gorgeous ribbons!


A right old mish mash of papers

Punches on my window ledge

My fabulous storage drawers, would be very messy without them

Under the worktop

Home made 'clip it up'

A old CD shelf cut up and stuck back together to fit my wall

My comfy, comfy chair

So that's where I spend my spare and my work time. My happy place :)

Victoria

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Spots and Dots challenge

I love pink and black together and really enjoyed making this card, especially as it was so easy to do. This time I set the challenge to make something using spots or dots.....


Used in this project:
Sizzix Flowerz, Cuttlebug Spots n Dots embossing folder, Craftwork Cards Message, Nestabilities, brads, Pink Petticoat dots paper


I die cut the circle, ran it through the Cuttlebug with the embossing folder and then positioned some flowerz with either glue or brads before mounting on a scalloped circle. the message was silver and white and didn't look quite right, so I wiped over it with a pink Momento Ink pad to get a match. I'd cut an aperture in the pink spotty card before I stuck it down and raised the message on foam pads to give it some dimension.

I like it so much I might have to make some more like this!

Victoria
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Stamping with bleach

My friend Sue and I try to set each other a weekly challenge to keep our creativity going. We don't always manage it, with Sue being busy at work and me running around after Zac and having another bubs on the way too.

So the last challenge we both completed was to make a card by stamping with bleach, here's mine (I've got to improve my photo skills):


Stamps - Hero Arts, Impression Obsession, black pearl base card, nestabilities, ribbons, glitter gems.

I tried so many different types of card to get this to work, in the end opting for a scrap of pink cheapish sugar type paper. The stamps are a Hero Arts set and I think it turned out OK. I used really thick bleach so had to thin down with a bit of water. All you do is pop a few pieces of kitchen roll in a dish and pour the bleach on and dip your stamp in. You'll need to wash the stamp straight away when you've done!

I used a heat gun to dry it off quickly and used the same stamp in black Stayzon for the centre embellishment then finished off with an Impression Obsession phrase stamp. I don't think I'd let the bleach dry for long enough as the ink didn't take too well.

I sent the card to a friend who needed to smile that week :)

Victoria
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Pink Petticoat Blog Challenge Winner!

Pink Petticoat Blog Challenge Winner!

Liz at Pink Petticoat had the most fantastic blog challenge a while back (Details of the prize further down). The challenge was to make a card or other creation using Pink Petticoat designs. I absolutely lurve Pink Petticoat papers and images and enjoyed myself so much I just kept creating!

The plastic purse with the note cards was based on an idea I saw on Capture the Moment Blog http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/. I made it out of an old plastic lidded box that held A5 greetings cards by cutting it in half and sticking it back together as a bag then lining with Pink Petticoat papers and filling with matching note cards and envelopes.

This next purse was created using inspiration from Mel Stampz Blog: http://melstampz.blogspot.com/2008/03/purse-templates-galore-little-handbag.html

I can't remember where the template for this little decoration came from but as soon as I do I'll post a link

And these are a couple of the cards I sell in my shop Blue Jelly Cards:

http://www.bluejellycards.co.uk/catalog/

I NEVER win anything so I was absolutely bouncing off the walls with happiness to have won this challenge. Liz at Pink Petticoat was offering up a Making Memories Slice as a prize and I've wanted one ever since I first heard of it. Here's a pic so you can see what I won...

You can visit Pink Petticoat's fab blog here: http://pinkpetticoat.blogspot.com/

Thanks sooooo much Liz, I used my prize for the first time yesterday and will share my creations here soon.

Victoria

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