Just Magnolia Week 2

Wow - Just Magnolia had a huge response to their first challenge and already have 248 responses to this one too! How's that for a new blog? This week is to make a card using pink and green.

Bo Bunny Papers, Magnolia Stamp, Pro-Markers, Sakura Pens, Glitter Gems

Again I struggled to find an image as mine are nearly all Christmas or winter themed but I did spot this bear who I thought might look cute in pink and green. I tried to steer away from my usual in your face colours and mute it down a bit, not sure I was very successful!

Bear coloured with pro-Markers and Sakura pens and cut out. The floral border and the patterned edge at the bottom are both from the same piece of Bo Bunny paper - 'a gift of love' which I bought for the name as well as the colours! Finally used a circles nestabilitie die as a template to stick my glitter gems down.

Having another lazy day today before a full long weekend of work! Feeling much better - thanks for your kind comments.

Victoria

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Love is in the air

Cheered up last night when my sister in law phoned to say her fella had popped the question whilst they were in New York and of course she said yes!

So found a sketch challenge by Sharon on Creative Card Crew and set about making them a congratulations card.

And here it is:

Greetings Farm Digital image, Pro-Markers, Nestabilities, Ribbon, button, heart punch, Doodlebug papers

I found it a bit difficult to start with, I knew I wanted to have a red theme but couldn't get the colours and patterns right. I tried swirls, flourishes, all sorts but settled on spots and stripes - must still be in the mood after yesterdays Papertake challenge!

The image is a digital download from The Greetings Farm which took me four attempts to shade right with Pro-Markers. I'm desperate for some Copics to get more tone on tone colours. The sentiment is Doodblebug rub ons on a Nestabilties tag. I love the image, wanted to use it as my sister in law isn't traditional or old fashioned and likes quirky things.

Having a day at home today, no work, cancelled going to toddler group and intend to spend the rest of the day playing with Zac, I've just fished out some card and his crayons so we're going to attempt a colouring session! Might help bring my blood pressure down a bit.

Victoria

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Oooh Mama

Feel like I've found an old friend. This weeks challenge over on Papertake is 'Spots and Stripes'
What a fab excuse to get one of my old Dolly Mamas stamps out and indulge in some pinkness.

Dolly Mamas stamp, Doodlebug paper, ribbons, fiskars punch.

You know when you have one of those days? Well today was it for me. I'm overtired I think. I got wet through walking to the post office this morning, then this afternoon I went to see the midwife and forgot to take my notes...I could go on but you'd be bored stupid!

So this card is me telling myself to deal with it! I stamped the image (which had a different message on the bag) and the caption I wanted and glued over the existing one. I thought she'd look better cut out with a bit of white surround before mounting her on pink card. I shaded her with Pro-Markers but the black didn't work so well - you live and learn eh?

Made a nice change to work with one of my old favourites.

Hope you like her

Victoria
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Oh Boy!

Colour Create's Jo has set a challenge this week to make a card in green, brown and orange. Fab I thought, I can do that and got all my ribbons and flowers out. Then I remembered to check the 'optional extra'. Make a male card. Flowers and ribbon out then!

Pink Petticoat image, Nestabilities, Cookie Cutters, Fiskars Punch, Cuttlebug

Had to make this really quick again as busy with work. Not long now 'til maternity leave, not that it makes much difference when you work from home!

Sooo, after putting my bright orange flowers away (sigh) I thought this image would be perfect. It's 'turtle-y amazing' from pink Petticoat. I coloured it on the PC to save a few minutes and cut out with labels Nestabilites. The green card has been textured in the Cuttlebug and the tag was printed on the PC and cut with a Quickutz Cookie Cutter die.

The gems at the top were clear but I coloured them with peel off pens to match.

Victoria

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Baby Keepsake Boxes

A while back I made a card for a friend for her twin baby nieces or cousins (I get confused!) and I've made her some keepsake boxes to give to them too:

They have frames on for photos along with their names, nice and sparkly. The photos are a bit dull as I haven't had time to tamper with them in Photoshop before popping on here today.

We've had the in-laws for lunch today which was fab as they haven't been here for 6 months as my Mum in Law has been getting treatment for cancer. They only live 5 minutes away but all the same made such a nice change for them to come to us.

I'm shattered now though and bump is wriggling and booting so I'm off to try and have a nap!

Victoria

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Not enough day!

Not enough hours in my day today, sooooooooooooooo busy but just managed to squeeze this quick card in.

Pink Petticoat image, nestabilities, ribbon, gems, cuttlebug embossing

I think this will go down in my personal history as the fastest card I've ever made! I already had the image printed off (coloured on PC) so quickly cut it out using nestabilities labels 3, simply mounted on a green frame.

The blue card has been cuttlebugged and stuck with a few glitter gems.

And that's all I have time for today, not even had chance to go blog hopping, must catch up tomorrow. Just means I'll have so much more to oogle at!

Victoria

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Yoo-hoo

I'm getting braver with sketches! Found this one by Caryn over on A Spoon Full Of Sugar. Quite liked the colour scheme of the sketch so took that as inspiration.

This is what I came up with:

Image - Pink Petticoat, Cuttlebug emboss folders, Nestabilities

The owl is another cutie from Pink Petticoat, coloured with Pro-Markers and then cut with Blossom Nestabilities. I just used contrasting paper for the three stripes and ran them through the Cuttlebug to add some texture. The pink flourish is cut from Basics 3 card on The Slice and the flowers are from the Noteworthy card.

Got loads of work to do today, but had a horrible night of not much sleep - rolling over used to be so simple, now more of a 36 point turn - so feeling very lethargic. The sun is shining though so I'll make some time to take Zac for a ride in his stroller and get us both some fresh air.

Victoria

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Big Hugs

I know challenges are meant to be challenging but this one totally had me flustered. It's week 13 over at Papertake and Dawny put this sketch together. All the Design team cards are fab and inspiring but I really struggled for some reason.



Anyway, here's what I eventually came up with:


Nestabilities, Pink Petticoat Image, Doodlebug paper frills

Hmm, maybe my base card was the wrong size for the elements I picked to use, who knows? Just don't love this one. I do love the image though, isn't it a cutie? It's a new mini download from Pink Petticoat and I've been itching to use them.

Image coloured with Pro-Markers and coated with Glamour Dust then cut out with one of my new sets of nesties! Went round the edge with Glamour Dust too before adding a rub on sentiment. The flower strip down the side is a bit from a Doodlebug Paper Frill with glitter gems stuck in the flower centres.

It still felt a bit 'open' to me so before I stuck everything down, I used a Cuttlebug border emboss folder underneath the image! I do believe in less is more - just not on this occasion!

Victoria
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A load of old rubbish?

I set myself and my friend Sue a challenge this week to make a card out of something you'd normally throw away or recycle, but nothing from our craft rooms as that would be too easy!

I was about to make something with bottle tops when I found this in my hand.....One of my little lads Easter egg boxes, contents of which I happily helped him to eat. Actually no that's an outright lie - I ate it for him! OK he got a few bites too, I'm not totally mean! I have to limit his chocolate intake, he's only 16 months old.



And here's the card I made out of it:


Chocolate egg box, Cuttlebug emboss folder, Nestabilities, Fiskars punch

I cut out the main bird shape as half had already been done on the box anyway and then got the smallest Nestabilitie circle I had and cut out the 'splats' and birdies. I quite enjoyed the Magnolia sketch challenge the other day so figured it would be a good idea to create myself a background and then see how everything fitted on top.

Got to use my new Fiskars punch (three arrived today - yippee) and used papers to match the colours on the box. I would never normally use brown and mustard yellow but hey, I like it!

I even decorated the inside with some left over bits to match



Victoria
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Just Magnolia

A little something different from me today. Found a new challenge blog Just Magnolia and their first challenge uses a sketch and a Magnolia stamp. I have quite a few tucked away in a drawer and decided to dust one off. Most seem to be winter themed but I found this one of Tingla in the bath.

Magnolia stamp, doodlebug rub ons, nestabilities, Pro-MArkers, Prima flowers, glitter gems, Cuttlebug emboss folders, DCWV paper, brads

I stamped the image and coloured with Pro-Markers, highlighted with a little Glamour Dust and some glitter gems on the water bubbles. Did my best interpretation of the sketch layout which I found really challenging to fit on the card well. I decided to limit my colours in case the Tingla image ended up getting lost in chaos. It was only when I went to pop Tingla on the card I realised she was too big to fit in the sketch, so I cut her out and mounted her on 3D foam.

A spot of Cuttlebugging to add some texture and some fab Prima flowers and I was almost done. Took me ages to figure out the text for this one and I decided to do a circle rather than a rectangle as on the sketch - hope that's OK.

Well it's another gorgeous sunny day so I'm venturing out for a walk for a coffee with my friend Tam and her little baby Eve. It'll be more of a waddle as bubs is lying very low down today, but I have the pushchair with Zac in to lean on so that'll help - I paint a pretty picture don't I?

Victoria

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Feeling Dotty

Another gorgeous sunny day and some more bright cards to match.

This weeks challenge at Colour Create has been set by Chris. Make a card using black, pink and white with optional extra of polka dots. I made two cards because when I finished the first one I thought it was a bit fussy and fancied another go!


Doodlebug papers, ribbons, flowers, Prima flower centre, Galaxy Markers, button

Hmm, sometimes I'm not sure when to stop! Used some Doodlebug polka dot paper and layered up with black and white card and some polka dot and plain ribbons, my usually faux bow as still not mastered the art of tying a decent one! The flower is from Imaginisce, I popped a button in the middle and added a flower centre gem from Prima. To finish off and over clutter, I did some doodling with a white Galaxy marker.

Pink Petticoat paper, nestabilities, ribbon, gems

This is a bit more subtle! The paper is from Pink Petticoat. I printed the black pattern on to pink card, used a little more polka dot paper and yet another faux bow! These ones are from Club Green and are self adhesive too - proper lazy! Finished off with a pink butterfly and some gems.

Me and my friend have the day together today so we're going to nip to Ikea to see if my little boy wants to chose himself a first table and chair so he can sit and colour in with me!

Victoria

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Sunny days

Found a new challenge blog - Dare U 2 Digi - and their third challenge is to make cards in pink and green using a digital image. I went a bit over the top and made a set of six!

I used various bits of pink and green card and paper including Doodlebug in Bubblegum and Limeade. The Frog images are 'Hoppy Wishes' from Pink Petticoat. The lovely die cut shape in the centres are cut using the Noteworthy card on The Slice, which I'm pleased to say I'm starting to use a lot now.

All images are coloured with Pro-Markers and finished with Glamour Dust. I didn't realise until I'd finished that I'd used a different white card to normal and the colours and glitter haven't taken so well.

A bit of 'cuttlebugging' later, some ribbon and buttons and of course some glitter gems and they're done. Thankfully a gorgeous sunny day today for taking half decent photos.

Thanks for the challenge, I'll be joining in again!

Victoria

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Bloomin' Marvellous

Ooh fab, the challenge this week on Cute Card Thursday is simply 'Floral fantasy'. Very handy for me as I can use my new Brenda Walton stamps again!

Brenda Walton stamps, Slice die cutter, sakura pens, ribbon, button, Memento inks

I used white linen base card and randomly stamped some flowers using Memento inks in Rose Bud and Angel Pink. Then for the first time in ages I got out some Sakura Sparkle pens and did a spot of colouring and shading using a water brush. (Get a load of me said the usually very lazy crafter!).

Popped a bit of orange card across the top before cutting some fab label shapes out with The Slice and a bit more stamping with the negative of the flower image. You can't see on the photo but I've gone over the stamped image with Glamour Dust - it's just not quite sunny enough to show up :(, then round the edges with an orange ink pad.

Finished off with a bit of ribbon, a button and a faux bow. Hoping for some inspiration now as I've got a couple fo hours free to sit in my craft room and not a clue what to do!

Victoria

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Blog Award

So chuffed, my first ever Blog Award. What a lovely surprise. It's a gift from Chrissie, if you haven't visited her blog, you should because it's fabulous and she makes some gorgeous creations. Have a look here. Thanks Chrissie xx

In return I have to pass this award on to my favourite 10 bloggers so I nominate:

Zoe
Helen
Sarita
Sue
Clair & Sharni
Wendy
Sonia
Sally-Ann
Joey
Caz

Please pop and have a look at these blogs as they rock!

Victoria
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She started it, I've finished it......

Ages ago, Sue set the challenge for each of us to start a card for the other to finish. And it's taken me over two weeks. Because I was waiting for some stamps I'd ordered to arrive (honestly).

Here's the card Sue started for me:



Sue chalked the card in green and blue then cut a circle using Nestabilities and stamped on it with the Basic Grey Two Scoops in Adirondack Lettuce. The stamp Sue used on the blue border is from a Paper Artsy set called Swirls & Curls, which was stamped in Black Stazon before tearing the bottom edge.

And here's how I've finished it, hope I've done it justice:

Brenda Walton stamps, Creative Imaginations paper, glitter gems, doodlebug button, Memento inks.

I saw these flower stamps from Brenda Walton on a card Sue made and have been oggling after them ever since. Finally found them on ebay and they arrived at last. I stamped them onto white and green card using Memento inks in Bahama Blue and Pear Tart then cut them out, not something I'd normally do as far too fiddly and too much effort! I'm such a lazy crafter at heart. Stamped a few extras onto the card before popping the flowers on top.

The strip of flower edged paper is from Creative Imaginations and came ready punched to save me a job, that's far more my style! Finally I added a few gems, coloured with peel off pens and a spotty button in the centre of the main image.

You can see the before card I created for Sue and her finished creation on her blog Stamping Sue Style.

Victoria

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So far out of my comfort zone.....

.....it's not true! Only last week my friend Sue was saying to me it would be my worst nightmare to make a monochrome card. So why have I made one? I'm a sucker for a challenge that's why!


Pink Petticoat papers, nestabilities, white peel offs, gems

I saw this challenge on Creative Card Crews blog and had to give it a go to prove to myself I could escape from bright colours for a while. I have to admit it was a struggle but I got there in the end. The challenge was 'monochrome madness'.

I used patterned paper from Pink Petticoat, nestabilities butterfly and some grey, black and white gems. I even used...... (Shhhh don't tell anyone!) some white peel offs! They are the flower border strip along the middle. I do have a bit of a phobia of peels offs for some reason.

And I need to apologise to Sue - I've not forgotten our challenge I just haven't quite finished, something is still missing but I'll try and complete it tomorrow.

Victoria
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Me.....distressed?

Another challenge completed. This was week eleven at Colour Create. Tab set this challenge based on the colours of her living room wallpaper - coffee, chocolate and cream. The extra option was to add some distressing.



DCWV and Doodlebug papers, flowers, cuttlebug embossing folders, button, string, Sizzix dies



I can tell you I got pretty distressed making this card if that counts? This was my third attempt at this challenge, I may post my previous attempts sometime but not yet! I got myself in a right pickle trying to figure out how and what distressing to do, determined I was going to do something inky - which just resulted in a mess to be honest.

So instead....used DCWV papers with the white core and used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on it before setting to it with my nail file to reveal the white core over the pattern and along the punched edge. The pointy flowers are cut from Sizzix dies, one using Doodlebug paper and the other through Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. I even distressed the button. Not sure my nail file will be good for nails again but I will probably use this technique again some time.

Since taking the photo I've added a sentiment with rub ons along the chocolate strip of paper too. I'm enjoying doing all these challenges as they're really making me try things outside my comfort zone.

Victoria
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Chocolate Orange

Donna created this sketch challenge over on Secret Crafters Blog. With a twist of using chocolate and orange as the colour scheme.



Here's my attempt. Over inked my stamp a bit but like the effect anyway.


Pink Petticoat paper, Anita's flower stamp, ribbon, nestabilities, glitter gems, flower punch

I used Pink Petticoat Pretty Doodles paper in milk chocolate printed onto bright orange card, then used the plain orange to create the backgrounds. The ribbon is yet another 50p roll from Hobbycraft, and the greeting is doodlebug rub ons. I punched the flowers from left over bits of card and the square mounts too.

Well looks like today will be mainly spent sorting and tidying the house - but of course I'll squeeze some card making in later!

Victoria

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Chocolate and Marshmallows

Another card I managed to squeeze in yesterday from another challenge. this time over at Cute Card Thursday. The challenge was to make a card in chocolate and marshmallow:


Doodlebug papers, rub ons, cuttlebug emboss folder, flowers, brads, ribbons

I've made a card using this layout before and really liked it. I have quite a few thank you cards to make for all my wonderful Birthday pressies so you'll probably see a theme over the next few days!

Base card is candy pink with matching flap which I ran through the Cuttlebug before sticking several flowers on with various brads. The ribbon was yet another 50p bargain roll from Hobbycraft. I still have about 9 rolls I haven't started yet so they'll keep me going for some time.

We've been invited out to lunch today so I'd better go and get myself ready and pick some flowers from the garden to take with me. We have sooo many tulips it'll be nice to share.

Victoria

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Papertake Weekly Challenge Dawny's Sketch #12

This weeks challenge over on Papertake is to use this sketch from Dawny:



Was happy until I added the floral paper ribbons, but they were stuck down so had to stay. Think they just make the card too fussy.



Doodlebug papers, Pink Petticoat image, doodlebug rub ons, glamour dust



I actually bought some Glamour Dust this week after seeing how well Liz uses it at Pink Petticoat. So this is my first attempt with it and it was really easy to use, so much finer than any other glitter I've used before and oddly enough, less mess. I added some to the body, the flowers on the boots and then around the edge of the square. So thanks for the advice Liz, I'll be using it a lot from now!

I was lazy with the image itself and coloured it in Paint rather than by hand. And here's a little image I stuck to the inside to match:



Victoria
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Easter Angels

Here are some little Easter cards for some very, very precious little ones:



Magnolia Tilda Stamp, Hero Arts Easter Egg stamp, Pink Petticoat papers, Pro-Markers




These cards are made for four little babies who will be eating their chocolate eggs somewhere over the rainbow. My own little baby boy Flynn and his angel baby friends Lucas, Alison and Gracie.

I can't give them chocolate in person, but I can hold them all close in my heart. Me and my fellow angel Mummies are lucky, we've each been blessed with the gift of another child, but we still need to do special things for our precious babies who tragically weren't ours to keep. I know there are so many other parents out there in the same position so hugs to you this weekend and floaty kisses to your gorgeous children.

I love the Magnolia range of stamps, they're just perfect for cards like this when nothing else seems right.

Victoria
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Sweet Treats

Hmm, looking at the rain outside it's obvious I didn't take these photos today. Come back sunshine.

These are the last few treat bags I made the other day:


Pink Petticoat Spring Wishes kit and Chick download.

The tops of the bags were made from left over scraps of the patterned papers. The round flap is cut from nestabilities and then finished with the last bit of my printed ribbon and a doodlebug button.

These are the bags I made for my nephews and niece.

As usual, coloured with Pro-Markers. I've woofed so many of the chocolates that should have gone into these bags over the last few days. I'm blaming the pregnancy but I think I need to go on a sugar free diet for a few days now. Like that'll happen!

Had a lovely day with my folks yesterday, they brought lunch and spoilt the little fella something rotten. Today we're popping round to a friends as our regular toddler group isn't happening over Easter so we're having our own. Think Zac might get his first haircut too!

Victoria

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Easter Goodies

I've had a text so I know my parents are on their way and won't be looking here!
So here's a peek at the card and goodie bag I've made for them:

Cute 'lil bunny card


Pink Petticoat dots paper. Spring Wishes image, pro markers, sparkle pens

Card and goodie bag:



I used some doodlebug paper frills on the card instead of a border punch for a change, must invest in some new punches for variety. Wanted to stray away from the pastel colours for this as the choccies are so red. The dotty paper is Pink Petticoat little big dots.

And here are a couple of goodie bags I've made for Sunday. Some friends have invited us round for lunch and it would be so rude to go empty handed. These are for the kids. We're going to call in at the cheesecake shop on the way and pick up dessert(s) as a treat.

Right that's all for today. I've made plenty more so will post over the next few days and then Easter will be over and I'll be starting something new.

Victoria
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Easter Madness

As Easter looms closer by the crafting second, I'm at it like a mad March Hare trying to get all my Easter Gifts ready in time. Here are my latest creations....

A decorated box of miniature chocolate bars:


Choccie box, Pink Petticoat Spring Wishes Collection, Pro_Markers

On the inside of the box, all the choccie bars are individually wrapped. The egg image is cut out from one of the decorative papers and the chick was from a free download kit - thanks Liz :). I didn't have an egg shaped punch so I used a balloon one and trimmed the ties off afterwards. Saved buying an egg one especially. Cute 'lil bunny coloured with Pro-Markers and mounted on matching papers.



Egg Gift Box:


Chocolate eggs, Pink Petticoat Spring Wishes Collection, plain ribbon, Papermania Acetate

I saw the pattern for this box over on Split Coast Stampers but it didn't fit the Creme Eggs in so I had to adapt it - a lot! I have improved my box making skills and can say hand on heart that the lid fits the base this time! I printed the card so it's patterned on one side and then used the sanded plain colours for the reverse sides.

The chick image is from the freebie kit Liz is giving away on her blog fab isn't it? I printed the matching ribbon on my Epson, if you missed my tutorial on printing your own ribbon, you can see it here.

Inside the goodie box...




Kind of thinking about keeping this one as I like it so much!

And finally for today, an Easter card:



Again, used the same kits and my printed ribbon. I'm in the middle of making a selection of goodie bags and Easter cards so hopefully I'll get them finished tonight and on here some time tomorrow.

Got my parents coming to visit me and their Grandson tomorrow so if I haven't finished my goodies, I'll be in trouble with my nephews and niece on Sunday!

Victoria
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