Last week at Allsorts

This is my last creation as guest designer at Allsorts, I've had a fab time, thanks so much for having me ladies. This weeks challenge is Weddings and there's a brill Stampin' Up Christmas stamp set for the lucky winner.



I'm entering this into these challenges:

• Mojo Monday - sketch
• Passion for ProMarkers - any colours and an animal
• Stamp Something - Cute and fuzzy
• Fun with Shapes - Borders and frames
• Frosted Designs - Include an owl
• Daring Card Makers - Use your latest punch
• Saturday Surprise - Once upon a time
  

See I told you I'd get my use out of these scalloped cards! The owl image is a digi download from Pink Petticoat coloured with ProMarkers. Luckily for me I had this mat cut out ready in my stash and had a circle punch the right size for the image, actually that's very lucky!

The punched border is Fiskars and my newest punch is the snowflake. I always think weddings are the start of a fairytale so hence the once upon a time theme. The sweet heart is by Making Memories, I love these and have been using them a lot recently. Maybe I should get some more?

Right so much to do today so I'd better go and get on with it all. Have a fab weekend.

Victoria
x

Sorry I'm late!

I nearly didn't post a card today 'cos I'm absolutely shattered!

I've had a fab day as my Dad and Step Mum came to visit, they spoilt my boys rotten and got tons of cuddles in return. But then Zac decided my Dad would look better with a spot of yogurt on his head and launched some straight at him and in the process decorated my windows too - thanks for cleaning it off Dad!



Now don't faint - but this card is only for one challenge! It's Dawny's sketch at Anyone for Anya.



I have to admit I'm really missing my Cuttlebug now, it's taken me ages to make this for some reason! Anyway, I felt like a fun card and some bright colours to liven me up a bit.

I think the spotty paper is Pink Petticoat, it was already printed off so who knows? I've used ProMarkers, Glamour Dust, some black gems and a punched border. Loving the scallop card too, must use these more often.

Right I'm going to see if I can visit at least 10 blogs before I nod off! What a light weight.

Victoria
x

Tilda does Spooky

I know, I know I said no more Halloween, but too many challenges have it as a theme so I just had to. And Tilda is really too cute to spook.



This is for these lovely challenges:

• All That Scraps - Halloween (I won last week woo-hoo, 3 fabbo stamps winging their way)
• Papertake - Spots and Stripes
• Just Magnolia - Sketch
• C.R.A.F.T. - Halloween
• Stamp Something - Halloween Something
• Secret Crafter - Orange plus one
• Saturday Spotlight - Sweet Treats
• Rosie-D's - Carrot, courgette and a flower
• Everybody Art - Autumn
• Cuttlebug Challenge - Favourite things (Copics!)
• Treehouse Stamps - colour combo
• Kraftin' Kimmi - Shades of Autumn
  

Edit to add (forgot to say what I used!):
Spot and stripe papers are by Doodlebug as are the glitter sweetie brads, the other papers and sentiment are by Pink Petticoat. The stamp is a Magnolia Tilda, shaded with Copics, I drew around a cookie cutter die as couldn't use the slice - too noisy when the bubs and bigger bubs are having their nap! I punched the star and other shape out and the border is Fiskars.

It's a gorgeous day here, hope it stays like this next week for Centre Parcs! We've bought waterproofs just in case though!

Victoria
x

A lot of sparkle and WOYDW!

I liked the papers I used on my card yesterday so much I thought I could use some more of it today.



I created this card using the sketch from Cupcake Crafts. Anya Ink want to see 2 ribbons, circles and staples. The Greetings Farm challenge us to use at least two punches and Simon Says sparkle!



I used a new Christmas Anya stamp, shaded with ProMarkers and as much Glamour Dust as I could dust on. The purple and pink glittery ribbon are more magazine freebies and I attached the bow with pink staples. My circles are the cute glittery brads by Doodlebug. If you can't spot the punches, I've used a Martha Stewart snowflake and a Fiskars border punch.



Next up I'm going to shame myself and show you a photo of how my desk looked about 45 minutes ago. It's not improved much since then! I'm joining in What's on Your Desk Wednesday over at Stamping Ground. You can see my new Martha Stewart Christmas stamps, my Slice which I'll be using whilst waiting for my new bug, my box of mats and layers that I'm now glad I never threw away and generally everything I didn't put away this week.



I nipped round to a friends for coffee this morning to borrow a travel cot for our looming trip to Centre Parcs, although each villa has a cot we didn't want to pay extra to rent another one.

Victoria
x

I'm not square I'm tall

Now I hadn't planned on posting this until tomorrow but if I wait I'll miss a challenge deadline -so today I have two posts!

This is the first time in a long time I've made a tall card instead of a square card but I quite like it and a change is as good as a rest. It's also the first time in ages I've made a card without the aid of my Cuttlebug (I hope the new one arrives soon!).



Right then I'm entering this for the very first weekly challenge on the new All That Scraps Blog, so chuffed they have one as I love all the stuff from there including this very cute CC Designs stamp. I feel back in my comfort zone using pink again - yey!



I'm also entering this for:

• Inspirational card sketches - I flipped the sketch and stretched it!
• Caardvarks - a tall card
• Charisma Cardz - Delightful daisies
• Just Us Girls - a 3-D flower

I shaded the Snow Bunnie with ProMarkers and oodles of Glamour Dust for sparkle, the stamped background is by Kars with a bit of paper piecing on the ground. Note I cute this out the old fashioned way with a pair of scissors! The scalloped mat was cut out using The Slice - thanks goodness for emergency back up tools!!

The beautiful papers are Pink Petticoats new Fairy Lights collection, I cut out one of the flowers and layered it up on 3-D foam and added a couple of pins and some extra Glamour Dust too. The glittery ribbon was a freebie with a magazine and I finished the card off with some glitter gems to match.

Oh and I just received this award from the lovely Dolly. Thanks Dolly :)



I'm to tell you five things about me and then pass it on to five others:

1. I didn't think it was possible to mourn my Cuttlebug!
2. I am wearing huge pink and white fluffy polka dot slippers 'cos my feet are freezing
3. I really thought Blake was going to be a girl and had the name Paige ready!
4. I can't stand milk
5. I can't wait to take Zac to meet Santa this year

Then I'm passing this on to Chrissie, Patti, Sue, Vikki and Amy.

Victoria
x

Creative Card Crew Design Team

Well what a day, it started off so early when my mobile phone clock re-set to summertime and we rushed out of bed thinking James was late for work when it was only 5.30. Grrrr.



So a bit of lovely news, I'm proud to tell you I've now a member of the Design Team at Creative Card Crew! I nearly fell off my chair when Sharon and Paula invited me. I couldn't wait to set started so this is my first DT project for them. Our theme this week is 'Snowflakes'. We're sponsored this week by Simon Says Stamp and Heidi has donated a £20 voucher to spend in her store as a prize. You can see all the DT creations here.



Without my Cuttlebug I had to improvise a bit and use some leftovers, I'm so glad I never throw my scraps away, I have a tub full of die cut mats and embossed bits and pieces. So knowing I couldn't go Cuttlebug crazy I decided to keep things simple and made this set of four cards.



I'm also entering these for:

• Alphabet Challenge - B is for Blue
• If the Shoe fits - Blue, white and silver
• Frosted Designs - use 3-D foam
• Winter Wonderland - Open theme
  

I used some gorgeous blue card, my Martha Stewart snowflake punch and various scraps including some silvery and white glitter card, some embossed scraps and some lovely Prima pearls to finish.



I think the sticky silver / white letters are Making Memories, I don't have the packet anymore so not sure.

Right, I'll probably be spending the rest of the morning putting my clean laundry back in the wash now that Zac has been very helpful and emptied it all over the kitchen floor!

Victoria
x

I Love Provocraft

I have got to post this.....after my sad sad day yesterday with my Cuttlebug falling to bits for no reason, I took advice from the lovely Elaine and have phoned Provocraft in America. I had to queue for 20mins but I get free international calls and I'm so pleased I did.

I spoke to a fantastic lady called Jeanette who is arranging to ship me out a replacement bug free of charge! How fantastic is that?

That's what I call customer service. I know it's going to be very odd not having my bug for a while but I will have to manage!

Thanks for everyone's kind words and advice yesterday.

Victoria
x

Wedded Bliss

Here's my DT creation for Die Cut Dreams this week where our challenge is 'Wedded Bliss'. Anything goes including anniversary which is the angle I took. Susie is offering up a fabulous chipboard wall hanger kits from her shop to the lucky winner.



I've also made this for the following challenges, although I might be a bit late with two of them

• Crafty Angels - Black and white
• Digital Ink - Anything but a card
• A Spoon Full of Sugar - sketch by Debbie
• C.R.A.F.T - Anniversary
• One Stop Crafts - Celebration
• Our Creative Corner - book, film or holiday (I chose True Romance - fab film but not really romantic in the traditional sense!)
• The Pink Elephant - Black, Hardware and distressing (hope my embossing counts as distressing - if not I'll go with my Cuttlebug breaking, that's quite distressing!)
• Handful of Stamps - Layering
• CRAFT Mojo - momentous Occasions
• The Tree House - Embossing
  

The card and gift box are made with digi papers from Pink Petticoat, as are the matching hearts used as the main image. Huge thanks to Steph for giving me the right measurements to make the box! I used acetate for the lid but I'm too late to join in the Daring Card Makers Challenge with this one.



I embossed the white card with Swiss dots before the death of the bug (see my previous post) and the fab plastic heart embellishments are Making Memories, I punched holes in with the Big Bite. Now my plan is to pop chocolates in this box and send it to some friends in December for their Anniversary, I can't put the chocs in now as they wouldn't last until tomorrow let alone December!

Hope to see you all joining in the challenge.

Victoria
x

Death of Cuttlebug

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I was using one of the Cuttlebug embossing folders and the bug made a terrible noise and this happened:



I popped it back together but now it won't cut or emboss - any suggestions? I've had it over a year and not sure who I bought it from. Total crafting disaster, I think I may cry!

Victoria
x

Distressing

This is my latest DT creations for the challenge over at Bee Crafty. Our challenge this week is 'distressing'. I've used the Christmas fairies on my card - available to buy here.



I got in a bit of a tizz as those who know me will know that distressing isn't my thing. Still, I had a go!

I used this weeks fab sketch from the Pink Elephant and picked my images from Bee Crafty as Flutterby Wednesday want to see angels. Digital Tuesday asked us to use things with wings and Passion for ProMarkers set out a gorgeous colour combo perfect for Christmas cards. They also have a brilliant weekend workshop on shading on their blog too - have a look.

I used papers from DCWV and although they were already a bit distressed in the pattern, I added a little more fluid chalk ink around the edges, I also braved it and sponged some around the image AFTER I'd shaded it so it could have gone horribly wrong! I made the matching brads using a Papermania brad kit and that's my card.

The clocks going back meant nothing to Zac (my 22 month old) who has been awake since 4.15am (3.15) and eventually got me up at 5.15 (4.15)? I don't know it's too confusing. I tried grabbing a nap on the sofa which only resulted in him climbing on me, digging elbows and knees in various parts of my anatomy and rendering any chance of sleep a thing of yesterday. Little monkey.

Victoria
x

Allsorts of challenges and a DT call too

Ooh 'eck these photos are a bit rubbish - no sunshine and it's throwing it down too. Not the best for taking pics of light and glittery cards! Never mind. This is my GDT card for Allsorts where our challenge this week is 'Furry Friends'. The DT have been very lucky and given some images from Wild Rose Studio who are our sponsor this week and of course they have offered up some fab stamps as a prize.



This is also my entry for Susie's Design Team call on her blog Sassy Designs by Susie. Lovely Susie is looking for someone to join her and Vikki for a new monthly challenge on her blog. Good luck with the new challenge ladies, I'm sure everyone will twig on to what a fab challenge it is and join in - you'll be branching out to weekly in no time!



I've also made this card for the following challenges:

• La-La Land - Oodles of sparkle. This card has loads in good lighting!
• Crafty Catz - Buttons or brads
• Daring Cardmakers - 'Favourite things' - Copics, brads, Glamour Dust to name a few!
• Sunday Sketch and stamp - sketch
• Winter Wonderland - The Christmas Stocking
• Crazy 4 Challenges - It's all geometric
  

I've not used an image from Wild Rose Studio before but I will from now, so very cute. Shaded with Copics and coated in Glamour Dust before layering onto glitter and card stock mats. The fabulous Doodlebug flower brads are from Die Cut Dreams Online shop and the snowflake brads are by Woodware. The snowflake punch is Martha Stewart.

The ribbon started off life white so I coloured it with Copics to match, in real life it's a lovely shade of light blue with sequins on! The dotty papers are Pink Petticoat and Mad About Cards digi downloads, with Fiskars punched borders.

And I had to decorate the inside to match:



Well I'm going to do a spot of clearing up now as I seem to be in a state of chaos in this little room that when tidy looks like this!

Have a fab weekend. Back later with another post.

Victoria
x

Spooky TImes

I hope this works as this is my first attempt at scheduling a post. This is absolutely my last Halloween card - honestly!



It's made for the following challenges:

• Kaboodle Doodles - spooky
• My Time to Craft - Halloween colours
• Everybody Art - Halloween
• Copic Colour Challenge - G99, V17, YR68
• Creative Inspirations - Halloween
• Stampavie and More - Halloween
• Cuttlebug Challenge - Scrap lift from the Design Team - I used Beth's card
  
• Crafty Creations - All Hallows Eve
• Cute Card Thursday - Candy corns
• The Corrosive Challenge - Spooky Times
• The Treehouse - Embossing
• Stampin' for the Weekend - a Haunting good time
• Polka Doodles - Halloween
  

The image is a Sugar Nellie stamp, shaded with Copics with an added witches hat from Robin. The sentiment is also a digi download from Robin. The papers and candy corns are by Doodlebug, left over from previous Halloween cards. The gooey punched border is Martha Stewart and was a lovely gift from Tracy at Dies to Die for that started off as pink, so shaded with matching Copic and then ran it through the bug using swiss dots embossing folder

And last night I lost another 2.5lbs and won slimmer of the week!

Thank Crunchie it's Friday!

Victoria
x

All about the boy

Ta-Dah..I have made a card for a boy! One aged 11 - 16 who's not into sports as that's the type of card Juyle wants us to make at Doodle Palace. I won their challenge last week and not only do I get to pick a couple of their fab digi images, I get to set a challenge too!



I used the fab sketch from Friday Sketchers, the colour combo from Color Throwdown and Our Creative Corner and Copic Buzz say any image but no patterned papers.



I've used an Hugh stamp from The Greetings Farm, shaded with Copics and mounted on various cards, some embossed through the 'bug. The label die is a Quickutz cookie cuter and the letter stickers are from a Brenda Pinnick kit.

The Doctor has said Blake could be suffering for up to another week bless him, he's too small to be so poorly. I'm feeling a little better but tired from all the coughing - good job you can't catch my germs over 'tinterweb!!

Victoria
x

Just Bright and Zingy

I'm nearly back in my comfort zone, fine with the colours but I always struggle with Magnolia images for some reason. Soooo, here's my card for Just Magnolia this week where the challenge is 'Bright and Zingy'.



I used one of Dawny's fab sketches from Papertake, her sketches are always so good to work with. Creative Card Crew want to see a card for a baby or a child and Creative Inspirations theme is a special card with numbers on.



This is a very special card as it's actually from Zac to his 'girlfriend' Aimee who as the much fancied older woman is the grand old age of two soon! A whole few weeks older than Zac!

I hope it's bright and zingy enough for you. I shaded Tilda with ProMarkers and an Inkssentials pen - no Glamour Dust - I forgot to use some. The sweetie background is DCWV as are the lollipop heads I cut out and mounted on coloured card. The sweetie by the sentiment is Doodlebug as is the glittery pink scalloped strip.

As it's such a special card I thought I'd better decorate the inside too:



Both my boys are still suffering in the nappy department and I sound like an old man who smoked camel non filters all his life with this flippin' cough that won't leave me alone! House full of germs we are. Hubby is taking the day off tomorrow to look after us all and let me get a bit of rest.

Hope you are all lurgy free.

Victoria
x

Anya witches up!

I was obviously destined to keep making Halloween cards and I'm glad 'cos I really like this one! It's a new Anya stamp but I thought she needed 'witching up' :)



These are the challenges I'm entering this one for:

• Mojo Monday - sketch
• Club Anya - Heathers recipe of 1 patterned paper, 3 colours of card, 1 patterned ribbon and some sparkle
• Cupcake Crafts - Things that go bump in the night
• Stamp with Fun - Halloween
• Anya Ink - Stitching
• Roses on Paper - Halloween
• PaperPlay - favourite embellishment
• Crafty Catz - Black, white and one other colour
• Stamp ARTic - Halloween
• If the Shoe Fits - Bling it on
• Anyone for Anya - Autumn
• Kraftin' Kimmie - Buttons
  

I shaded Anya with Copics and ProMarkers and added the fabulous hat and sentiment which are free digi downloads from Robin. Pop over and check out her stuff, you won't regret it.

My patterned paper is by Doodlebug as is the glittery button. I couldn't decide on my favourite embellishment as I seem to have three, so I used all three - buttons, glitter gems and Glamour Dust! The sparkly black and red papers are from my stash, sorry not sure who makes them. The spider has glitter gems for eyes and I added some faux stitching around the image and sentiment.

My cough has got worse - which will please certain folks as I can't talk for long ha, ha! So I'm staying in in the warm today after a day out with my boys and my mum in law. Was a fab day window shopping and going for lunch. Although I did go in Ikea.....OMG after my last traumatic experience there with the uber queue I said I'd never go back. Sarita if you're reading you know why!

Roses on Paper have a Guest Designer call on at the moment too, you can see the details here.

Victoria
x

Frosty held to ransom!

Here's my DT card for the challenge at Die Cut Dreams this week. Our theme is Winter Wonderland and there are some fab Christmas embellies for the prize.



I used some new snowmen stamps from The Greetings Farm for this card. I followed the sketch from Sophisticat but I think I may be too late to enter. I flipped the sketch and used the snowmen to represent the circles. Doodle Palace wanted to see a celebration that wasn't a Birthday, Saturday Spotlight want us to create a scene and The Greetings Farm say no frills!



I stamped the middle snowman first and then stamped him again on a post it note to mask him out and stamp the other two over the top to huddle them together. They're shaded with ProMarkers and oodles of Glamour Dust to make them frosty. I created the scene using torn papers from Doodlebug and printed the sentimet on the PC.

I wish I had a better photo of the inside - it reads 'or Frosty gets it'. Again I printed the sentiment on the PC, the border came as a gift from Tracy at Dies to Die For and the scalloped mat is one of those dies I keep using!

I stamped the middle snowman again, and cut out just his head then drew a puddle around him. Cruel eh?



I think I will be making some more humorous Christmas cards this year as I really enjoyed making this one. Hope you can join us at Die Cut Dreams this week.

Victoria
x

Itty Bitty Betty Boo

I know I said probably no more Halloween cards but I thought I'd squeeze this one in and make it for 10 challenges! I'm in full on lights are on but no-one's home mode today and thought I should be posting one of my DT cards, but that's tomorrow and I had nothing to post today - eeek! So I browsed some challenges and came up with this card:



The challenges are:

1. Mojo Monday - Fab sketch
2. Copic Creations - Black
3. ABC - Flying
4. Cute Card Thursday - Spookfest
5. Colour Create - Black, white, red and yellow
6. C.R.A.F.T - 3 papers, 2 buttons, 1 ribbon
7. Stampin' B's - Halloween
8. One Stop Crafts - Halloween (I won last week's challenge - yey!)
9. Pile it On - Ready for Halloween
10. Creative Friday - Halloween
    

My three patterned black papers are all from Pink Petticoat's Spooky Doodlies CD if you can't see it, the third paper is plain stars hidden under the stitched ribbon. I got this fab Itty Bitty Betty digi stamp from the Pink Cat Studio and tried my best to do some grey / black Copic shading. Harder than it looks. The red star was cut out with a Nestie die and I cut the yellow one by hand and topped them with two buttons tied with some yellow thread.

I had to do this in less than an hour as I'd promised Hubby he could spend the day stripping wallpaper in the hallway whilst I play with the small boys. Yes, yes I know how to spoil him don't I? Tee hee.

Victoria
x

Bling it on

I had fun with this one. It's my GDT card for Allsorts and our theme this week is monochrome Christmas following a sketch. We're sponsored by Bunny Zoe's Crafts and have a fab stamp for the winner.



The Christmas tree is a new kit from Pink Petticoat called Fairy Lights, it has so much in it. I simply printed the tree and stuck a selection of Prima gems and pearls on it. Which is handy as Stamp Something have a theme of 'bling'. Crafty Creations are looking for the colour blue, I think I've managed that! Fun with Shapes asked us to use non-traditional Christmas colours which said blue on the list, but this doesn't look or feel traditional to me so I hope it counts. Creatalicious say we can only use patterned paper from scraps and add handmade flowers, the snowflake papers are leftovers from a card I made here, and the snowflakes are my substitute for handmade flowers.



The snowflakes and branches are Martha Stewart and were a little gift from Tracy with an order from Dies to Die For, she always includes some freebies. I printed the sentiment on the PC and used a Nesties labels die to cut it out and that's my card.

I've come down with another lurgy - how annoying is that just after getting over the last one. Never mind, hoping my Mum in law can still come round this morning to babysit Blake so that I can go out and have some time with just Zac. It's too cold to treat him to an ice cream so I'll have to look for a cute cookie or something.

Victoria
x

Coffee and cream and a cherry on top

There is a serious lack of pinkness occurring on my blog this week. I must do something soon to fix this issue!

Anyway, here I go with six challenges and a card I struggled to get to fit but made it in the end!



Right then, here we go:

1. Truly Scrumptious - Mina's sketch and Autumn theme
2. Rosie Dees - Coffee and cream and a cherry on top
3. Charisma Cardz - distressing
4. Dutch Dare - 2 different colours of card, 2 patterned papers, 2 flowers, 2 brads & 2 gemstones or buttons
5. Three Clovers - nature
6. Crazy 4 Challenges - Thankful
   

The gorgeous papers are off an Extreme CD by Bearly mine - that's where the nature comes in, flowers and ferns. It was already distressed around the edges so I didn't need to do anything extra - bonus!The image is from a Kars set that I got at a great sale price (yey!). She's shaded with ProMarkers and I did think her bobble hat would do for the 'cherry on top' part of the challenge.The designer brads are by DCWV and the sentiment, buttons and flowers are from my stash.

I'm going to make up for my lack of blog hopping last night tonight, I was so touched by all your lovely comments left last night, thanks so much. We had an emotional evening but it was also very calm and good to sit and chat about our little guy, whilst snuggling his little brothers.

Victoria
x

Elf yourself

I love this new stamp from The Greetings Farm and this card was so quick to make too. I chose the colours following Copic Colour Challenge this week, I think my patterned paper by Dovecraft is a good match. The sketch is from A Spoon Full of Sugar, Creative Card Crew want to see scallops and Stampavie and more and La-La Land Crafts have a Christmas theme.



I've done a spot of paper piecing for Anyone for Anya and My Time to Craft want to see quick and cute. They also have a DT call on so get looking if you want to be in with a chance.



I used a Martha Stewart snowflake punch on white glittered card and popped a Doodlebug gem in the centres. The sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.



If you read my blog earlier this week, you will know that this is Babyloss Awareness week and at 7pm tonight (GMT) it's Global Wave of Light where families across the world light candles to remember their forever babies. I'll be lighting my candle for Flynn and for all the other forever babies too. Lots of magical twinkling lights. My earlier post has links to the charities that support this event.

Whilst I'll be thinking about Flynn and my precious two days with him, I'll also be counting my lucky stars that I've gone on to have two more healthy gorgeous boys too - Zac:



and Blake:



Gentle hugs to all of you who have been affected by the loss of a baby.

Victoria
x