Cupcake Monday

Wow Monday already! It's Bank Holiday here and James actually had a day off so we took the boys to Sherwood Forest, had a fab time but came home all itchy as so many gnats and greenfly everywhere. Yuk! Anyway, this week at Cupcake Craft Challenge our theme is 'Summer Delights' and we want to see what Summer means to you. Here's my project:

I've used this CC digi image and for a change used ProMarkers to shade her in, I don't think I manage as well as when I use Copics so I need to practice more! I've used DCWV papers and embossed the pinker ones and used the same paper to make the bunting in the corner.

I've cut the image out and popped her on 3-D foam for a bit more dimension to the card too. I'm joining in with these challenges:

• The Pink Elephant - Use bright fun colours
• Digital Tuesday - Cute people
• Passion for ProMarkers - Anything goes
• Lucy's Cards - Digital
• ATS Wednesday -  Sketch
• Quixotic - Emboss it
• Cuttlebug - Pennants
• Just Us Girls - Dry embossing

As I'm starting to feel better normal blogging service has resumed and I'll be back tomorrow!
Hugs
Victoria
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Creative Craft Challenge

I'm so late with this but I'm determined to get back to blogging now I'm starting to feel a little better. The challenge this week at Creative Craft is to use ribbons and bows. Here's my GDT project:

I decorated a coffee bag with the image we were given and shaded it with Copics and then cut out using nesties. The ribbon and brad are from my stash, not sure who makes the ribbon as I'd taken it off the reel!

I'll be back tomorrow with my Cupcake Craft Design Team creation.
Hugs
Victoria
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Wow look at all these goodies!

It's Wednesday again and after missing out last week I'm back joining in the fun with Julia and the gang over at Stamping Ground with 'What's on your workdesk Wednesday'!

Not so much the whole desk today as two shots of it as Mr UPS has just been and delivered my Stampin' Up! new products share that I organised:

In the first pic you can see all the inks pads and the patterned window sheets and a little glimpse of the spotty grosgrain ribbons (to the right) and some soft suede card stock.  The next pic shows more of the card and ribbons. The patterned paper and Melon Mambo card should arrive tomorrow thanks to some of the lovely ladies helping me out over at ILWS!

Are you wondering what the other stuff is? Well I joine din with someone else's share and got my hands on some glassine bags and kraft coffee bags. Haven't got a clue what I'm going to make with them yet so I welcome any ideas lol! If you want to join in my share with these gorgeous new products, I have just two spaces left, details can be found HERE.

My little boys are both home today as Ganny and Gangan are on holiday, so here they are in a rare shot together, Blake on the left and Zac on the right:

They've both got runny noses and coughs again so both their t-shirts were wet through about 5 minutes after I took this photo! Right, I'd better go and get them some lunch and when they (hopefully) nap this afternoon I can hop around and see what's on your desk!

Hugs
Victoria
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All about lace

At Die Cut Dreams this week our challenge is 'lace it up'. We want to see lace used in your creations. Here's mine:

Can't believe I didn't have any lace but luckily Vikki came to my rescue and sent me a fab selection to choose from - thanks loads Vikki. Defo a case of Die Cut Dreams to he rescue as I got these fabulous Die Cuts from Susie's shop, aren't they brill? Nice big size too. I went for a bit of a grungy feel with this one as it matches my moood of having one of those weeks! Only due to my laptop issues, everything else is tickety boo!

Please take a look at the other Design Team creations as they're all so different and yummy! I'm joining in with:

• Stampavie - Pink
• Creative Inspirations - Use punches or die cuts

Can't wait to see what you create
Hugs
Victoria
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Meet Marvin

I've been meaning to get this little fella coloured in for days now but haven't had chance. Finally here he is!

My friends little lad will be three in August, I know I'm early but I like to plan ahead sometimes! I've used Marvin from the Digi Stamp Boutique, cute isn't he?

I've made the bunting by cutting the triangles out and using rub-ons and then threading with SU linen thread. The patterned papers and sentiment stamp are by Stampin' Up! too. I'm joining in a load of challenges with this one (well a girl's not blogged in a while - I've got some catching up to do!).

• Digi Stamp Boutique - Monthly competition
• Sophisticat - Blue, Brown and Cream
• My Time to Craft - Too cute
• Cute Card Thursday - Someone special
• Colour Create - Khaki, cream, brown, aqua and circles
• Stampin for the Weekend - Card for a male
• Daring Cardmakers - Bunting
• Totally Gorjuss - Round and round
• Our Creative Corner - Masculine birthday
• Create4Fun - Sketch
• Allsorts - Birthday
• Sweet Stampin - Get personal

And I just have to share these photos, we drove to the country park where I have a stall at a craft fair next weekend and they had the most amazing outdoor play area. Here's a couple of pic's of Zac playing in the tunnels:

How blue is that? And here he is about to go in to a tunnel:

I have to confess to playing too, it was great fun!

Hugs
Victoria
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Soooooooooooo late

OK I should have posted this on Tuesday but I'm having serious issues with m laptop - it's lost the will to work at anything greater than a snails pace and so trying to upload photos or use the internet is painfully slow. It's off to the tech guys for repair a week on Monday (not sure how I'm going to cope without it!). Anyway, I was lucky enough to be asked to be a GDT for Creative Craft Challenges for a few challenges and this week the theme is to use 'blue and brown'. We were also given an image to work with:

I've shaded Squaddie with Copics and used Stampin' Up! Card and ribbons. The paw print ribbon and brad are from my stash.

So sorry to blog and run but this has taken me nearly 30 minutes to upload and my typing appears about a minute after I've typed aaaargh!!!

Hugs
Victoria
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Buttons

This week at Cupcake Craft Challenge our theme is 'buttons'. Simple as that - we just want to see buttons on your new projects. We were all given some digi images to use, here's mine:

I went with bright colours for this one to go with the strip of patterned paper I found lurking in my scraps box! I hand wrote the sentiment but now I wish I hadn't - doesn't look quite right.

I suppose I can cover the sentiment up and replace it with something else later on lol! Have a look at the other Design Team creations - they're sooo fab! I'm going to join in with:

• Papertake - Sketch
• Cute Card Thursday - Boyz to Men
• Stampin' For the Weekend - Male card
• Crazy 4 Challenges - What are little boys made of?

I'm going to add some Stampin' Up! offers to the top of this blog soon - keep your eyes out for them!

Hugs
Victoria
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Cupcakes anyone?

Sorry I've not made an edible ones, just a card with some on:

I made this for my buddy Susie Sugar as it was her Birthday on Friday - I know I'm safe to pop it on here now! I've made my own patterned paper using Stampin' Up! True friend stamps set and used this cute Kimmie stamp in chocolate and browns. Ok so I added a smidge of red in there too!

Susie's a huge fan of pink and brown and cupcake stamps so I thought this would be just right for her. I'm joining in with:

• ATS - Pink and brown
• Simon Says - Birthday celebrations
• Stamp Something - Birthday somethings

Just realised I don't actually have a birthday sentiment on here - it was handwritten on the inside!
Hugs
Victoria
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Something New

This fortnight at Bee Crafty our theme is 'Something New'. So much choice - new home, new baby, new job......the choice is yours. I made a new baby gift bag and gift tag - apologies for my wonky photography - kind of reflects how I'm feeling at the moment!

Just tilt your head to one side and it'll look just fine lol! I decorated a plain gift bag with paper from my must use up stash! Very luckily I had the chocolate flowery ribbon in my stash too so I teamed it up with some wide pink satin ribbon. The image I've used is Baby Bunny Suit and I've shaded her with ProMarkers and sponged around the edges to soften it a bit. Here's the bag:

You can just about see I've used a baby sentiment on the tiny tags hanging from the pink brad!

And a smaller version on the card. I wish  had mroe of this ribbon, I've had it for so long and have never found anything that went quite right with it, but I like it with this paper so much. I'm joining in with:

• Quixotic - Oh baby
• Stampin Royalty - Anything but a card
• Fab n Funky - Fancy edge
• Crafty Catz - Card and tag
• Dare you to digi - Anything goes
• Fun with shapes - Pastel inks
• Creative Inspirations - Congratulations

Off now to pick up my boys from their Grandparents who've had them today to give me a bit of a rest.
Hugs
Victoria
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£240 worth of stash for £125

Stampin' Up! starter kit promotion

Have you ever wondered about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator yourself but weren't quite sure? I signed up last year and I love it and you can join my team now and grab yourself a right bargain in the process as Stampin' Up! have an amazing offer on:

Sign up between now and 7th May 2010 and get your customisable Starter Kit for just £125. That's 10% off the usual price of £139 and you get £240 worth of stash!!

That's a saving of £115 - why wouldn't you want that? 

On top of that, I'll throw in a stamp set of your choice (any value) from the current Idea Book and Catalogue or Mini Catalogue. That's an offer just from me - not Stampin' Up! I'll also give you colour swatches, and a couple of sample cards to start your collection.

Join my team and you can start your own buiness working the hours you want, or simply extend your hobby or get yourself discounted stash. Either way, you'll be able to take advantage of special offers and promotions, attend exclusive Stampin' Up! training events and the European convention is in London this year so loads to look forward too.

I'd love to hear from you if you're interested, you can contact me HERE and have a look at my Stampin'Up! blog HERE.

Hugs
Victoria
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All about weddings

I know I've been neglecting my blog and hopping around to comment recently so I thought I'd explain! The kids had a virus and when they're ill together I can forget trying to do anything! Then they kindly passed their germs on to me and hubby and on top of that I've been busy with wedding orders and the papercraft show I did last week. So I thought I'd share my latest commission:

It's one of my favourite designs and I always enjoy making it whatever colours my couples choose.

I love seeing lots of things the same!

And here they are nearly ready to go:

I'm going to try and have a good catch up over the weekend, but hubby is working so not much me time planned!

Hugs

Victoria

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All about cake

Oooh Louise will be so proud of me! Louise travels some distance every month to come to my card making classes and I love her for it, she's great fun, has a fab card making blog and also a foodie blog. Now I'm not much of a baker, I can cook but savoury is more my thing but Louise brought some of her homemade carrot cake to our last class and I was blown away by how gorgeous it was so.....whilst not doing much crafting this week due to the onset of 'man flu' or in our case 'toddler boy flu', I made some comfort food instead.

The cake when it left the oven:

I wasn't sure if I should brave it and slice it through the middle but I did with the help of my massive pink spatula!

I've had a piece and it's yummy but not as yummy as yours Louise!! You obviously have the magic touch.

Check out Louise's foodie blog Comida y Vida - she has some scrummy recipes on there and it's a flippin good read too.

Hugs
Victoria
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WOYWW

Wednesday again and time to join in the fun with Julia over at Stamping Ground with What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday!!! Hmm, Julia thinks her desk is a mess, you ain't seen nothing Mrs:

Hmm a right mix of things! Some acrylic champagne glasses I got as ex display for £1, some stamps and some card. Oh and is that wire and oasis? Not telling you what it's all for - that's for another day!! Aren't I mean?

No photo of Blake today either, the little man isn't very well, nothing serious only a cold but still in his jammies and snuggled up next to me. Will pop round and visit all the otger WOYWWers later tonight.

Hugs
Victoria
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Pretty in pink

I should have posted this yesterday really but I didn't find the time! It was a hectic weekend doing the papercraft show and then we went to visit my Dad yesterday who is doing fab. Was so good to see him. Right then, this week at Die Cut Dreams our theme set by the Birthday girl Susie is.....'Tilda in pink'. Here's mine:

It's been a while since I made an easel card and I do like them. I have Tilda stamped twice here (they were a RAK from Susie), coloured in the same and cut out and punched out! My DT colleagues made some quips about me punching and be-heading Tilda when they saw this!!

I've coloured her in, added spots to her dress with a marker and added oodles of glitter to her wings. Everything except the image and copics are from Stampin' Up! The two spotty papers (very small spots!) are from the Sweet Pea stack and I stamped the card behind Tilda using one of the jumbo wheels. I've finished the card off with some gorgeous stitched ribbon and a punched sentiment and ahem - Tilda! I'm joining in with:

• Creative Inspiriations - Easel cards
• Dutch Dare - Easel card and repeat something
• Paperplay - Pretty Pastels
• Crafty Catz - Spots
• Just Magnolia - Sketch
• Daring Card Makers - Easel does it
• Totally Gorjuss - In stitches
• Secret Crafter - Friendship
• Lots to Do - Faces

Remember to look at the other creations by the Design Team at Die Cut Dreams - they're just fab.

Hugs
Victoria
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