True Love

Morning peeps and a very happy Sunday to everybody.
I hope that you are all having a nice weekend : )

It’s time for our first Card Challenge of 2015 over at The Ribbon Girl blog and this week our theme is

Romance

Our challenge is sponsored by Lili Of The Valley ….

… and The Ribbon Girl

There are some absolute corkers on display today – drool worthy doesn't come close – so if you get a sec, go and have a mooch.

So …

... this is what I did.

The pic here doesn’t really show how the card is put together but basically it’s a tent fold card and a panel attached
to the first part of the hinged bit at the bottom.
Hope that makes sense!!

I stamped the sentiment which is from the Lili of The Valley SET 42 - Statements – Congratulations set onto acetate.
Instead of using ink I used a glue pad.…..

… one of these.
Then I doused it in red glitter.

I die cut various circles from pieces of card and built the card base up that way.

I trimmed the outer aperture with  15mm Venetian Red Fine Cotton Lace.
The inner one was trimmed with 15mm White Diamond Guipure Lace – both from The Ribbon Girl. 

The bow is made from 38mm Red Faux Silk Ribbon and topped with a Heart Shape Sparkly 2-Hole Button.
I cannot tell you how lovely that ribbon is to work with.

A mixture of Ribbon Girl bloomage here.
I used Mixed Dahlia Raspberry Delight Flower, Darjeeling White Blossom Flowers and Sweetheart Red/White Blossom Flowers.

You may be able to see here how it’s all put together.

And I lifted up the ribbon tail up here so you can hopefully see the hinge at the bottom.

So that's it from me today. I hope that you have a fab day and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Before I go, I have to say a huge congratulations to my youngest on getting herself a new job. She is staying within the NHS which she loves and which is so important to her (as it is the rest of us)  and starts her new job on Monday. It has been a very difficult and trying time for her and her work colleagues who all do a job that not many would want to do but is important and valuable nonetheless and I know how stressed she has been over these last few months.

Well done Em – you sooo deserve it love xxx

Huggiest of hugs to all xx

A Lovely Lili Sunday

Good morning lovely peeps and a very Happy Sunday to everybody : )

Today sees the last Lovely Lili Challenge of the year over at The Ribbon Girl blog and today our theme is

Anything Goes

so you can really get creative with your Lili of The Valley products.

As usual we have two fabulous prizes from LOTV and The Ribbon Girl for the randomly chosen winner of the challenge

So …

… here is my card.

The image I used is Snow Queen and she is one of my fave LOTV Christmas images.

This was my first attempts using the brilliant Inktense Pencils and I have to say that I am smitten.
They are super easy to use and give a different look than you get with Copics.
I'm not saying I have abandoned the Copics or prefer the pencils, but I do like them and will use them lots.
They will last a lifetime as well – I cannot see how you could use them up because a little goes a very long way.

Some utterly beautimous products from The Ribbon Girl -

The bows were made using Pink Tulip Seam Binding and Ascot Grey Seam Binding. Then I topped them with a Wooden Heart Button which I’d painted using a White Snowcap Paint Dabber and finally I topped it all with off with a Pink Dewdrop.

The sentiment is from SET 75 - Christmas Wishes and the papers are from Mr & Mrs and Country Meadow paper pads.  
I really like using non Christmas papers for Christmas cards – call me strange lol!!!

The snowflakes were made using a die that was free with a magazine.

So that’s me done for today.
Enjoy the rest of  your day and I’ll be back soon.

Huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Blooming Lovely Lili

Good morning  peeps and a very happy Sunday to everybody.

It’s time for another fabulous Lovely Lili challenge over at The Ribbon Girl blog and our theme is

Add Flowers

A blooming lovely challenge methinks : )

We have 2 fab prizes as well.
There’s a

and a

so hugest of thanks to The Ribbon Girl & Lili of The Valley 

If you get a sec, nip over and check out the blog – there’s some pretty darn tootin’ fab cardage to be seen : )

So …

... this is what I did – it’s a little bit different in that I didn't use any image.
But the papers are Lili of The Valley and they are the Country Meadow design – lovely and clean and fresh aren't they.

I used some beautimous goodies from The Ribbon Girl shop and they are -

38mm Parrot Green Faux Silk ribbon,

 25mm 'Amber' White Flat Polyester Fan Pattern Lace,

7mm Pale Lime No 6 Satin Ribbon,

40mm White Mulberry Daisy,

Bubble Gum Pink Small Plain Button)

Here’s a couple more close up pics ….

I got me a Tim Holtz Word Play die a while back and this is it’s first airing.
It won’t be the last I’m sure because I LOVE it.

I did the glitter pad thing again – it’s so addictive!!!

 

 

And that's the old card done.

It’s a bit of a sad day for me today because it’s 11 years today since my beloved Mum died. I cannot believe it’s been 11 years – I wonder sometimes how I have managed without her, I really do. But of course we do manage because life does and must go on.  And life is all about balance I think. In amongst the sadness, there’s been some wonderful things that have happened in my life in those last 11 years, things that I would have loved to have shared with her. First and foremost my beautiful grandchildren whom she would have adored as much as I do. And the crafty stuff as well – she would have loved it all. 

But sadly it wasn't to be.

We are off to Emma’s for lunch shortly (yayy, no cooking for me today)  and I will raise a little toast not only to my Mum but to all the mums out there as well. We do a great job if I do say so myself lol!!

Enjoy your Sunday whatever you are up to and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Twinkling Away :)

Good morning  peeps and a very happy Sunday to everybody.

Yes you’re right,  I haven't been on here for a good while now but I haven’t been slacking, I promise you!!
Oh no, far from it. I’ve been busy with all sorts of exciting stuff.

I’ve also got a fair few cards which I haven't blogged so I’ll try and get that done very shortly.

But on with today and it’s time for another fabulous challenge over at The Ribbon Girl blog and our theme is

Add Ribbons

and that’s it – couldn’t be easier.

We have 2 sponsors for you …

Lili of The Valley

and

The Ribbon Girl

If you get a sec, nip over and check out the blog – there’s some pretty darn tootin’ fab cardage to be seen : )

And …

... this is what I did.

I used and image from  LOTV Art Pad Set 33 Christmas Cuties – so handy to have – and I just cut it out and added a bit of Glossy accents to the buttons and carrot nose. Then I mounted it onto a die cut oval which I'd covered with some Up Up & Away paper, swiped with a glue pad then doused it in Glamour Dust.

You can see it a bit better here.

 

Now for the ribbons.

I made a bow from  25mm Black No 10 Small Check Gingham Ribbon then topped it with another made from 25mm Red Plain Sheer Ribbon. Then I put some glue onto an Aqua Small Plain Button and dunked that in the glitter, and on that went!!

I also used some Red/White Spot Lace Edge Bias Binding which you can see better on the top pic – seriously love this.
And I added three Aqua Dewdrops cos they are so pretty and they match the papers perfectly.

And that's the old card done.

Right I’m off to get on with the next thing on the list. Enjoy your Sunday and I wont leave it quite so long next time.

Huggiest of hugs to all xxx

 

Thank You

Good morning sweet peeps and a very happy Sunday to you - I hope that you are all having a fab weekend : )

It’s time for another ‘Lovely Lili’ challenge over at The Ribbon Girl blog and our challenge is a lovely one indeed because it's all about saying

Thank You

It’s always nice to say thank you I think – if only some people in our village would remember this when you let them through even if it is your right of way - (ooh it is one of my pet hates!!).

We have 2 fab prizes for you -

A LOTV stamp of your choice

and a £10 voucher towards a spending spree at The Ribbon Girl

I think you may be surprised at my card today because it was one I did when I fiddling with the shabby chic /vintage thing a few weeks ago  and here …

... it is.
And not an image in sight!!! .

One of the designers whose cards I just adore is Klaudia and my card here was inspired by a card that she did.
So I must say thank you to her first  for the inspiration I have gotten from looking at her beautiful work xxx

The papers I used are the gorgeous Lili of The Valley Antebellum and I inked and distressed them to within an inch of their lives.
They can take it lol!!

The sentiment is from the LOTV Set 58 - Pretty Grungy - Good Times set.
I stamped it straight onto the paper and then punched it out.
It looks like it is at a very dodgy angle in this pic but it isn't IRL – it’s just how it looked from the angle I took the pic!!

I used a mixture of home made paper flowers which I made using Tim Holtz Tattered Florals and others which I got from Mary at The Ribbon Girl.

The flowers from Mary are -

 Tiny Pink Rosebuds, White Starburst Stamen, Pink / Pale Pink Beaded Berries, White Beaded Twirl, 10mm Pink Open Rose, White Floribunda Rose, Floribunda Roses Raspberry Ripple, Darjeeling White Blossom Flower, White Kort & Godt Chrysanth, Rolled Paper Flowers - Ivory Roses Kort & Godt.

I also used  White Seam Binding which I dyed using a Cosmic Shimmer spray.
I spritzed it with the spray then scrunched it up and left it to dry and it dried all lovely and crinkly.

I also used 12mm White Cotton Lace and White Tulle.

The leaves are Tim Holtz Bigz Garden Greens and I die cut them from white card then used some Distress inks and Cosmic Shimmer spray on them so that they looked a bit variegated.

I was quite pleased with how this turned out and it’s given me the confidence to try another card like this s0 watch this space!!
I think I can see an improvement from my last attempt which I’m happy about.

Right I'm off to do some more colouring  - I can’t say what of just yet but it is seasonal, ho ho ho (hee hee heeee).
Then I have to finish, nay start, the grey wicker heart wall hanging thingie which I bought months ago for our bedroom wall.
It needs a bit of tarting up with some floral what nots and ribbon or lace then it can be hung up.

Dicky Mint is at work today and I did my housework (yawwwwwn) yesterday so that  I can have a whole day to craft. Well, that's the plan but Sod’s law that it won’t pan out like that – it never does : 0)

Have a great day whatever you are doing and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Game, Set & Match :)

Good morning sweet peeps and a very Happy Sunday to everyone.

Its time for our monthly card challenge over at The Ribbon Girl blog and our theme is

Summer

 

As usual our card Challenge is sponsored by our lovely friends at Lili Of The Valley and The Ribbon Girl and we have 2 fab prizes up for grabs -

 

 

So what did I do then?

Well, I thought, what could be more summery than tennis?
Very topical, and I will be glued to the telly for the final later.

So …

… here’s my card.

I used Tennis Tilda and I coloured her with these Copics -

Skin – E000, E00, E11, E13, R00, R02
Hair – E31, E35, E39, E50
The rest – B0000, B000, B00, B05, G99, YG00, YG03, YG95

I’ve outlined the image with glitter and added some to the lacy bits of her dress and the racquet strings.

The gorgeous papers are Shabby Shack from Lili of The Valley – I love the clean crisp look of these papers.

A beautiful bow made with 32mm Celery Green Pure Silk Ribbon – this stuff is pure gorge.
You can also see the 38mm 'Phoebe' White Guipure Lace, Apple Green Tiny Ric Rac,  5mm Mixed Greens Self Adhesive Pearls,  and I chopped up some White Rose/Pearl Organza Ribbon to top the bow.

I also added some of it to these …

… flowers here.
I quite like the way they look on their own  : )

I made some little tails for the flowers using the ric rac.

Here, I gathered up some 32mm 'Anne' Antique White Lace and glued it to the back of this panel.
All these beautiful goodies are of course from Mary over at The Ribbon Girl

The sentiment is from the Lili of The Valley Sentiments to Fit Scroll set which I adore – you probably noticed lol!!!

I can almost smell the grass with those pretty green colours.

So that’s the old card done for today.

I’m so looking forward to the tennis later even though we won’t be having our usual food fest (I usually do us a yummy picnic style late lunch to go with our Pimms and strawbs and cream). We will be having the strawbs but it will be low fat cream this year. Not that I mind cos I am sticking to the diet this time. I tell you peeps, I have found some lovely recipes on the SW website and we have actually been eating really well AND losing weight.
It's win win fo sho!!!

I don’t mind who wins today although I do have a soft spot for old Rog the Dogdge.
But it’s the kind of match I enjoy best when you are non – partisan

Right on the note I’m off.
It’s our monthly card club tomorrow and I’m in the middle of doing the prep.
Enjoy your day whatever you are doing and love and hugs to all xxx

Teally-tastic Tilda

Good morning sweet peeps and I hope that you are all having a lovely weekend.

The card I’m sharing with you today is for this month’s Magnolia Only Challenge over at the Ribbon Girl's Challenge Blog and this month we want you to

Add A Die Cut

so it’s very straightforward.

There’s also 2 fabulous prizes - a Magnolia stamp all the way from the home of Edwin and Tilda kindly donated by Magnolia of Sweden and a £10 voucher towards a spending spree at The Ribbon Girl

 

So ……

… this is what I did.

The image is called Swedish Tilda and I coloured her with the following Copics -

Skin – E000, E00, E11, E13, R00, R02
Hair – E31, E35, E39, E50
The rest – BG0000, BG10, BG15, BG49, BV0000, BV01, BV08, BV13, C00, C0, E50

The papers are Timeless Victorian from Lili of The Valley.

Here’s some pics and I’ll list the lovely Ribbon Girl goodies that I used in a tick …

I stamped the LOTV sentiment from the Sentiments to Fit Scroll set onto one of the dies from a Doo Hickey Events Flags set.

I didn't get it quite right now I look at the pic, and why is it that I don’t see these things till they are on here?

Somebody needs to go to Specsavers!!!

The bits and bobs that I used from The Ribbon Girl are  -

38mm Teal Silky Crush,  ribbon
Wooden Heart Buttons
Cheesecloth
Teal Cottage Garden Blooms
Mini Dahlia Vintage Teal Blooms
Darjeeling White Mini Blossom Flowers
Jade Tiny Ric Rac Trim
3mm White Self Adhesive Pearls

So that’s me done for today.

I'm off to get everything ready for the two little visitors that are staying tonight and tomorrow night.
Emma's partner’s aunty has sadly died so they are going to the funeral on Monday which is in Wiltshire and the little darling are staying here. I will probably be shattered by the time they go back and I will have a taste of what Emma has trying to get them organised for school / nursery before  starting work myself. I do not know how you working Mums do it – I take my hat off to to you all.

The diet is going well and I am close to 7lbs.
His Lordship has joined me so it’s quite easy with him being on board. I can already see a slight difference and that is spurring me on. I think you know in your heart / head when it’s the right time and this time was the time for me.

Right I’m off.

I will be back in the week with some Papertakey stuff.

Here’s a sneakie peekie ….

…. it’s not at all my usual style – I don't know what’s going on in my creative head at the mo lol!!

Anyhoos, all will be revealed on Tuesday.

Till then, enjoy the rest of the weekend and don't forget to nip over and see the other DT cardage and projects when you get a sec – they are as fab as fabby could be.

Hugs to all xxx