Printing on Clothes

You know when you have a great idea going round in your head and then spend forever trying to decide how to make it work? Well my little nephew was born nearly two weeks ago now and he had a very traumatic start to life. He's now home safe and sound with his Mummy and Daddy and as pround Auntie, I wanted to make him a few very special Christmas presents. Here are two of them, I think I'm safe as I'm sure my brother doesn't read my blog!

I've used the Emile Elephant image which is a newbie over at the DigiStamp Boutique. To get him on to the baby vests, I firstly opened the image up in Paint and carefully coloured him in then copied him to Powerpoint and added my nephew's name. Then copied the lot in to Word and flipped it so the font and image were both mirrored before printing on to T-shirt transfer paper and ironing on to the vests. I tell you, it's easier to colour with pens and inks than this way!! It took me ages to zoom in and slowly colour around the edges one pixel at a time. Here's a close up of one of the vests:

I'm really pleased with how they turned out as I have never tried this before. Now I need to make a matching card, gift bag or box and tag so check back soon to see how they turn out. I'll also be having a go at stamping on some baby clothes soon too - I'm in the experimenting mood!

Hugs
Victoria
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Christmas Doodles

OK - so after my plans to make my own Christmas cards whilst on holiday and the weekend we returned went totally to pot, I am now madly trying to catch up. I think it's more likely I will be sending New Year cards now instead of Christmas ones! Anyway, not one to give up just yet - here are a few made using the super Christmas Doodles images from the DigiStamp Boutique - currently 20% off!!!

I printed the images directly on to Crumb Cake card and left them as simple as possible with just a few areas shaded for a change instead of the whole image. I quite like the way they've turned out.

These were so quick and easy to make so if you've left your cards to the last minute too - hop over and get yourself these images which are part of a larger set.

Hugs
Victoria
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Emile and Emily

Wow these little fuffants are so so cute! Meet Emile and Emily with Balloon from the DigiStamp Boutique.

Aren't they sweet? I found some old kraft style cards in my cupboard, they've got a bit of a ridge to them so wasn't sure who they'd turn out. I've coloured them with Copics, Galaxy Markers and a Stampin' Up! white gel pen. The punches, papers and sentiment stamp are also Stampin' Up!

Here's Emile with Balloon:

And a close up of him:

Here's Emily with Balloon:

And a close up of Emily too:

There is another version of each image too which I hope to do something fun with later this week.
Oh and before I forget, there's 20% off all Christmas images this week over at the DigiStamp Boutique so if you're a bit last minute - go grab some images!

If you've not read my other blog yet this week, I've been absent due to a family break to Centre Parcs which started off fabulously and then turned very ugly when we all got ill. I won't go in to detail but we're trying to get some tests done to determine what it was - a bug or food poisoning. I am left 11.5lbs lighter which is a slight bonus!

Hugs
Victoria
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Paper craft sale and Stampin' Up! Event postponed

I'm sorry to have to post postpone the Paper Craft Sale and Stampin' Up! Event this Sunday at the Old People's Welfare Centre.

I will let you know the new date as soon as one has been organised. Massive apologies, this isn't just down to the poor weather.

Hugs
Victoria
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Party Beau

OK I lied, I know I said I was over my printing digi's on Crumb Cake but I'm not. It all started with the cute little spotty cat and I couldn't resist having another go with Party Beau. You can get her as part of this months special offer over at the DigiStamp Boutique! I've used some window sheet with Crumb Cake to make my card base.

I coloured her with Copics and paper pieced her outfit, bag and shoes to brighten it up a little.

Then some paper piercing and faux stitching with a white gel pen, followed by some Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon, a rhinestone brad and a filigree brad too. The sentiment is Stampin' Up! Basic Phrases, punched out with the jewellery tag punch and the border created with the scallop trim border punch.

It's soooo cold here today, it was minus 10 this morning so I'm staying inside. I have loads of prep to do for my paper craft sale and Stampin' Up! event on Sunday so it's all for the best really!

Hugs
Victoria
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More Winter Beau

Oooh I must be nuts. I just ventured in to our conservatoire to take a photo of this card (that's where my light box lives) and it's arctic in there! Let me explain, those of you who have a mental picture of my conservatory being a deluxe, double glazed, white clean, bright lovely place to sit and craft or let the kids play - wipe that image from your minds now. Replace it with, wood, scrap that, rotting wood, single pane glass and a lot of mahogony varnish. Oh and no heating! Not  idea of a dream conservatory but the dream is out of our price range at the moment so we have to make do with what is there!!

So enough moaning minnie, here's my card!

I promise to outgrow my phase of printing on Crumb Cake and using Copics and try something new soon! I've teamed Winter Beau up with some lush Stampin' Up! papers and stamps and made this quite simple card.

You can get Beau at the DigiStamp Boutique as part of December's offer of the month.

Back tomorrow
Hugs
Victoria
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Bit of Beau

Ooh December the 1st and my second post of the day too! Some new images have been released today at the DigiStamp Boutique and I couldn't wait to create! So, meet Winter Beau:

Excuse the quality of the photo but ligh is fading fast and I wanted to snap her today! I've printed her onto Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake card and shaded her with Copics and a white gel pen. All papers and punches are also Stampin' Up!

There are three gorgeous Beau images available so please pop over and take a look and enter our monthly competition too.

Hugs
Victoria
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no card but lots of soft white fluffy stuff

No card or WOYWW for me today but an early walk at 7.15 this morning to go and get some supplies with Zac:

And the back garden too:

Hope to do some crafting later, Hubby is home as to many roads closed and once he's done some working from home, followed by some hardcore snowman building - the afternoon is mine to disappear and create. Woo-hoo!

Hugs
Victoria
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Spotty Dog

Brr could it be any colder here? We've had more snow and it's still snowing so a snuggly day indoors is the order of the day for us. I'd share a photo but I'm not venturing out to take one! Yesterday I showed you my latest creation using Spotty Cat from The DigiStamp Boutique and today I'm sharing Spotty Dog:

I created the card in a similar way to Spotty Cat by printing him directly on to Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake card and layering on Marina Mist. I shaded him with a mix of Copics, white gel pen, Galaxy markers and pencil crayons. I think I've got a bit better on the Copic shading on coloured card now. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up! Something Sweet and I've added a strip of patterned paper and a large eyelet, tried to avoid using ribbon! Here's a close up:

I'm really enjoying colouring and printing on something other than white card and have some Christmas cards planned for tomorrow.

Hugs
Victoria
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I thought I saw a puddy cat

Oooh it's getting harder to take photos now the days are getting shorter, I need to get ahead of myself so I can take a load of photos in good natural light. Not much chance of that tomorrow with the snow forecast we have here!

Anyway, onto the card and all that. Love this new image of Spotty Cat which you can get your paws on over at The DigiStamp Boutique right now.

I printed Spotty Cat directly on to Crumb Cake card and then shaded her with Copics for the natural furry look and then a pink Galaxy marker for the spots and flower and highlights done with a white gel pen. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up! level two hostess set Longfellows and the pink card and ribbon are Pretty in Pink. Finished off with a pawfectly pretty border using a Stampin' Up! punch. I'm going to do something similar tomorrow with the Spotty Dog I think!

I lurve how DigiStamp Boutique images go so well with my Stampin' Up! supplies, makes life so easy for me!

Hugs
Victoria
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Craft Fair Saturday

Just a quickie to say if you're out and about in Nottingham tomorrow, please pop by and see me at the Arnold Methodist Church Christmas Craft Fair. It's next to the market and is open from 9.30 -2.30.


Be lovely to see you

Hugs
Victoria
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A little bit of Hoot and Hootie

Oooh have you seen these new little cuties from the Digi Stamp Boutique? Introducing Hoot and Hootie - if you love them too, grab them whilst they are on offer!

I seem to always colour my digi images in so thought I'd try something a bit different. This idea actually came to me whilst I was lying in bed at about 2am and I had to get up to write it down in case I forgot the next day! I would have too! I printed the images on to Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake card and layered on Real Red. Then I simply coloured in small areas of the images instead of the whole thing. I've used Stampin' Up! white gel pen and red and green Galaxy Markers - they're ideal for working on coloured or dark card.

This is my favourite of the collection - both Hoot ad Hootie together:

Here's Hoot looking all hopefull with a sprig of mistletoe!

And again Santa'd up!

I like this effect so no doubt will be trying some other images out this way too.

Hugs
Victoria
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Cupcake Fairy

At Cupcake Challenge this week our theme is to use fairies or a panto theme. I got stuck with the panto theme so went with the cutie fairies instead. I've used Tallulah from the Digi Stamp Boutique, isn't she so sweet? I've shown you a close up of the image on my card so you can see her in detail and also the sweet border sticker too. It's from the Love Stories Scrappin Kit by Stampin' Up! and I thought the wording was perfect for this challenge. It was a challenge to use as I printed and coloured Tallulah and then stuck the border sticker down. Had to cut round by hand - eeeeeeek!

Here's the full card, all elements are from teh same Scrappin Kit:

Hope you like her. Pop back tomorrow to see a set of fabbo Christmas cards using one of the newest sets of images from the Digi Stamp Boutique.

I'm off for a latte now, we traded in our clubcard vouchers yesterday and got a Tassimo machine, a new vacuum and still have vouchers left. We were supposed to get a new landline handset as ours has about had it, but the man at Tesco gave me the wrong vouchers and then refused to swap them. I won't type here what I said to him as I wasn't very polite!

Hugs
Victoria
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Nottingham Max Papercraft Show THIS Sunday!

If you want to come and see some of the fab Stampin' Up! products and have a go at a FREE make and take - come and see me THIS Sunday 17th October at the Harvey Hadden Stadium in Nottingham.

If you've been thinking about signing up as a demonstrator yourself, please come and have a no pressure chat or ask for one of my info packs.

Plenty of samples to see, catalogues for sale, goody bags for everyone and a fabulous raffle.

Hope to see you there
Hugs
Victoria
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Get Well soon card

It's challenge time at Die Cut Dreams again after me taking a short break. Our theme this week is to make a get well soon card. The challenge blog will be updated as soon as possible, we're having t internet problems at the moment so please hang with us whilst we get it sorted.

Anyhoo, here is my card:

I always think a bit of chocolate can work wonder so this fab new Zoe Loves Chocolate image from the Digi Stamp Boutique works for me - isn't she a cutie pie? I've shaded her with Copics (I'm selling my ProMarkers on a certain auction site at the mo) and then used the Satmpin' Up! white gel pen to add dots to her top and hair bow. Then a glitter gem in the middle as I felt the need to be very girlie when I made this one!

I printed the sentiment on the PC and all the card and scalloped trim are from the Love Story Scrap Kit by Stampin' Up! I daubed around the edge of the image in Pink Pirouette ink (yum) and also masked over a small heart which I then removed and added another gem, I think you can just see it.

Zoe is on special offer this month so get your mitts on her whilst she's brand spanking new! And please join in with our challenge at Die Cut Dreams too.


Hugs
Victoria
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Paper Craft Sale

Just to let you know if you're in or around Nottingham on Sunday I'm having a HUGE sale of all my unwanted new and second hand stash! If you want to grab a bargain you can find me at:

Arnold Old People's Welfare Centre
Nottingham Road (corner of Charles Street)
Arnold
Nottingham

Sunday 12th September
Doors open 11AM and close 1.30PM - entrance is FREE

Hope to see you there

Hugs
Victoria
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Stampin Up Last chance list

Aaargh! It's September already and that means that Stampin' Up! are having a clear out in anticipation of the new Idea Book and Catalogue in October.

The list shows all products that are retiring and is only valid whilst stocks last or September 30th. Order now to avoid disappointment! Oh my word.......some products have 50% OFF!

Please CLICK HERE to follow the link to view the list which is SEVEN pages long!!! Last year items did sell out so you might want to order quickly.

On another note, being a Demonstrator I have just seen a preview of the new catalogue and it's FABULOUS!!! Now I can't share with you what is in it, that's a surprise for later, but I can confirm that prices have increased a bit, so if there is something in the catalogue that is staying (i.e.) not on this list) but you like, it will be cheaper for you to buy it this month too!

You can email me, phone me or post your order, I will check availability of all items at time of ordering and update you straight away. With this in mind, it would be helpful if you could pick alternative items.

Hugs

Double Design Team Post

Ooh eck how have I managed this? I normally plan my DT projects for Monday so that I get one on each blog, not this week! So I'm sorry but it's two for one today to save me doing two posts. I would but it's my wedding anniversary today and after a hard slog at a car boot sale this morning I have wine and a takeaway to look forward too with Hubby. We've made it to seven years without an itch!! Actually we've been together for 15 years now and married for seven of them. Anyway, getting on with it.....Let's start with Cupcake Craft Challenge being as I set the theme this week. It's to use a digi image or sentiment on your project. I made these thank you cards:

The patterned papers and floral image are both digis from Pink Petticoat. I couldn't make just one, never can with thank you cards!

I'm entering the challenge at Pollycraft with these as the theme is 'add a little nature'.

OK - now pretend you're reading a new post now............

This week at Die Cut Dreams our challenge is Soft Shades of Vintage! Now me and vintage don't always go so well together, but I'm getting more used to it (I think!) and came up with this:

I used the sweet image from CC Designs and shaded her with Copics and cut her out. The paper and ribbon are both K&Co I think. A few matching pearls to finish, feel they're necessary with vintage for some reason!

With this one I'm joining in with:

• Dutch Dare - Vintage Summer
• Creatalicious - Vintage
• Allsorts - Park inspiration (swings!)
• Lots to Do - Fairies or angels

Right, tea to make for the boys then baths and bed (eventually) and me and Hubby have a gift of some champagne, I think a takeaway and a film or something!

Hugs
Victoria
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Thank you boy

Yesterday I had a fab time with my Dad and Step Mum. If you're reading thank you!!! I gave them a handful of thank you cards to take home with them to give out to family for birthday presents for Blake and other gifts the boys have been lucky enough to receive. This is one I made for Zac's cousin Alex because Alex always gives Zac some clothes or DVDs and he even gave him his Thomas the Tank Engine scooter!! So here's a thank you card for Alex:

I've used the Thank You boy image from the Digi Stamp Boutique and coloured him with ProMarkers and Copics. The papers are from my stash and I think are Doodlebug and the brads were lurking in a drawer somewhere too!

I love this image, there's a Thank You girl one available too. I'm joining in with:

• Papertake - 3-2-1 (3 brads, 2 die cuts, 1 image)
• Totally Gorjuss - Star
• Rosie Dees - Male card (it's also their last challenge so please join in)

 Well, I'd better go and make my boys some breakfast now before they start shouting at me!

Hugs
Victoria
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WOYWW and magic paint

Wednesday again and time to share my mess and stash with Julia over at Stamping Ground - now known as the Queen of snoop! So here's my desk, still not cleared up from my last crafty session where I made some Christmas cards:

Hmm what else is going on - oooh my lovely friend Tracy treated me to a Cuttlebug folder on Saturday - there it is next to my tape gun, can't wait to use that! Thanks Tracy, such a fab surprise! Also an empty washing tablet box. Not sure what to do with it but something stopped me from chucking it in the recycling!

No pics of theboys again but I have to show you this photo I took yesterday...

Zac looked out of the window and said 'Mummy, Mummy - magic paint in the sky'. I think that's just so cute. Right hop over to Julia's blog and join in the snoop! I've a busy day ahead, my parents are driving down from Manchester and we're off out for lunch, just me and Blake as Zac is off to Hubby's parents for the day as usual on a Wednesday. My folks won't get here until lunch time so me and Blake are going to spend some quality time sorting through my soon to be retiring card Stampin' Up! card and ink pads ready for my sale on 4th September. If you're in Nottingham give me a shout and I'll send you an invite!

Hugs
Victoria
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Tilda in lemon

Now I'm not a fan of yellow but after making this card, I have changed my mind!! At Die Cut Dreams this week our theme is 'Tilda in Lemon'. We have a guest designer spot up for grabs and a surprise too! Here's my card:

I've shaded Tilda with Copics and ProMarkers and popped her on a couple of Die Cuts from Mrs Sugar. I cut them in half to form a seat for Tild to sit on. The patterned paper is from the Sweet Pea stack by Stampin' Up! as is the sentiment and all punches used. The ribbon and brad are from my stash.

I think I'm coming round to liking this little lady again!! Please pop over and join in with our challenge, we can't wait to see what you create. I'm going to join in with a few challenges myself:

• Stamp with Fun - card for a girl
• Charizma Cards - Die cuts
• Just Magnolia - Use a sentiment

Hugs
Victoria
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Adrieeeeeeeeeeene!

Sorry, I always hear Sylvester Stalone screaming that in my head whenever I see the name Rocky! Showing my age now lol. Anyhoo, Rocky is one of the fab new images this month over at the Digi Stamp Boutique. Isn't he fun? I made this collection of Christmas cards with him:

I've shaded Rocky and family using Copics, but to get the red really bright I always add a little Lipstick red ProMarker - works for me!! Here's Rocky and family:

Here's Rocky Robin himself:

And here's Rocky with Christmas pud:

I'm not a fan of Christmas pud, I always have something else on the Big Day but this one looks scrummy. The patterned card strips and red card are from Stampin' Up! Christmas Jingle kit and the brads and ribbon are Stampin' Up! too. I think these images look fab combined with these goodies and I think I'll be seeing a few more Christmas cards with this little fella on! I'm joining in with a few challenges:

• A Spoon Full of Sugar - Christmas in August
• Stampavie - Christmas in Summer
• Stamp Something - Digi something
• Winter Wonderland - Walking in a winter wonderland

Hugs
Victoria
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Very much missing

Oh my word I haven't been able to log into blogger for ove a week, well I got in on Saturday morning for about 8 minutes and then got booted out again! Finally all seems OK again so I have some serious catching up to do. So over a week late but posting these two cards anyway. The first is my last weeks design team card for Cupcake where our challenge was to use lace:

I used a cute CC Designs stamp and one of my favourite colour combos of pink and green. My green lace is by Doodlebug.

My next card was for our use fabric challenge at Die Cut Dreams.

All supplies on the card are Stampin' Up! except the fabric cupcake which I cut out using a nestie die.

I shall do my best to catch up with you all this week and get back on track. I've missed blogging but have been so busy too, my sister in law got married at the weekend so we were away and had the most fabulous time. More on that another time.

Hugs
Victoria
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Come and do Christmas with me!

How do you fancy making a start on your Christmas cards and projects and enjoying some fun time with other crafters too? My Christmas all day classes might be just the thing for you! I'm running an all day class on three different dates at different venues and they are going to be so much fun! Here's a taster of one of the projects we'll be making:

So when and where?

Sunday 12th September - Linby and Papplewick Village Hall, Linby. Nottingham

Saturday 25th September - Waggon and Horses, Arnold. Nottingham

Saturday 9th October - Somercotes Parish Hall 

All classes are 10.30 - 4.30 and cost £30. This includes all the products needed to make fabulous Christmas cards and gifts including the bag shown above. You will also get a FREE raffle ticket which you'll want to keep hold of as there will be a raffle at each event with incredible Stampin' Up! prizes to be won on the day.

You will need to bring your own basic tool kit including a ruler, pencil, paper folder, adhesives, scissors and a hole punch. A basic kit can be ordered at time of booking so please ask if you'd like one.

Places are limited and do need to be booked in advance. A deposit of £10 secures your place; payment in full is needed as follows:

• Linby Village Hall - Friday 27th August
• Waggon and Horses - Friday 10th September
• Somercotes Parish Hall - Friday 24th September

Hot and cold drinks will be provided however lunch is not included so please bring a packed lunch with you.

Please book early to avoid disappointment - the Somercotes class is already over half full.

Hope you can make it - it's going to be such good fun
Hugs

Summer Treat

Mmmmm mmmm don't you just love ice-creams piled high like this:

This is the scrummy new 'Summer Treat' from the Digi Stamp Boutique. I've coloured mine with Copics and used one piece of patterned paper by DCWV for my background. The sentiment is by Stampin' Up! and I punched out three strawberries to make my embellishments. My sentiment got squashed as Blake climbed up and grabbed it after I'd cut it out - monkey!!


I'm joining in with a couple of challenges:

• Cute Card Thursday - Anything goes
• Stamp Something - photo inspiration (I chose strawberries, cream and chocolate!)

Have a fab weekend
Hugs
Victoria
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Summer Quencher

Oooh I lurve cocktails and couldn't wait to use this fab new image 'Summer Quencher' from the Digi Stamp Boutique.

Sorry about the shadow over the card - didn't realise until I'd uploaded it! I've coloured the cocktail with Copics and used oodles of glitter for the liquid. The patterned papers are all from the DCWV citrus stack and I think the bright colours are fab with this image. The sentiment and punches are both Stampin' Up! The cocktail image is part of this months offer of the month - so hurry up and get yours.Cocktails always remind me of Summer weddings and I'm off to one next week - chin chin!!

I'm joining in with these challenges:

• Pink Elephant - Something yummy
• My Time To Craft - Drink it up
• ABC - August
• One Stop Craft - Patterns

Hugs
Victoria
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Cute and girly

This fortnight at Creative Card Crew our challenge is 'Cute and Girly'. We have a huge design team now with loads of projects to inspire you. Here's mine:

The DT were all given digi images to use and I thought this one looked lovely against a plain white background. I've shaded her in green and lilac and added loads of glitter. Then punched the edge of the card and added a patterned strip inside to show through. I matched it up on the other side with a coordinating piece of paper and a lime green ribbon.

I'm joining in with:

• Pollycraft - Fit for a princess
• Papertake - White and bright

I'm on a mad dash to bring the washing in as it looks like it's about to start raining!
Hugs
Victoria
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