Time For A Hoppity Hop : )

Good morning everyone and thanks for stopping by!

Time for another Lili of The Valley design team blog hop and today we’re giving you some inspiration for using the latest stamp releases which will be available to buy on the website from midday (UK time) on Monday 24^th November or if you are coming to the shop for the last open day of the year this Saturday 22nd, then you can get your crafty mitts on them then.

There are 10 brand new images and all of them gorgeous, plus 3 brand new paper pads.

So you know how it works peeps - you just need to ‘hop’ from one blog to another following the links and leave a comment on each card. As well as being in with a shot of winning the fab prize or prizes on offer, you're bound to get oodles of inspiration while you are on your travels.

Now talking of prizes, as always there's some hidden along the way.
We don’t know where they are so do be sure to visit and comment on every blog - you have to be in it to win it me darlins :). 
But what we DO know is that there’s  a set of papers and images to win

We will let you know on Monday which were the ‘lucky’ blogs and the winners will be drawn at random from all the comments that were left on those blogs.

Here’s the hop list for you -

Ideas to Inspire
Andrea
Anne
Becky
Dawny (that'll be me then!!)
Dena 
Fleur
Gretha
Jen
Lou
Mary J
Mindy

So what did I do then?

Ta-daaaahhhh!!

The sweet image is called

…. Afternoon Stroll ….

and I coloured it with the following Copics -

Skin – E0000, E00, E13, R00, R05
Hair – E31, E35, E35, E50
The rest – E31, E35, E39, E50, R85, RV00, RV10, RV34, RV69, Y0000, Y00, Y02, Y21, Y28

The papers are from the brand new One Birdie Lane paper pad – full of pretty Spring colours which are a sight for sore eyes on a chilly, grey Autumn day.

 

 

 

From here you need to visit the  sweetness that is our lovely Dena but don't forget that if you get lost you can start again at the beginning and pick the links up from there, and don’t forget to stop by the Ideas to Inspire blog on Monday when you can find out who the lucky winners were of the prizes before the stamps go on sale.

Finally, just to let you know that there are a few spaces left on the workshop so if you are coming to the shop and fancy doing a bit of crafty stuff, give the shop a ring -  it would be lovely to see you.

Enjoy the hop everyone, good luck, and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Sunny Wishes :)

Hi there me darlins and hope you are all OK today and not melting too much in this heat :)

It's that time of the week when we head on over to the Papertake Weekly challenge and this week our theme is

Old, New, Borrowed or Blue

so you just need to use one or more of those things to qualify :)

So what did I do then?

Well I went for an old flower punch, a new stamp and there are blue spots on the DP

I used my new Tilda Binding Flowers stamp and coloured her with these Copics -

Skin – E000, E00, E11, E13, R00, R02
Hair – E31, E35, E39, E50
The rest – G99, Y08, Y17, Y38, YG0000, YG00, YG03, YG95

I had another go at doing the grass thing - still not perfect but it's getting there

The papers are Authentique Delightful (they are ) I used  the following dies ...

Borderabilities - Curved Borders One die
La La Land Heart Banner Die
Spellbinders Floral Ovals Die
Nellie Snellen Stamen Punch

I made a double bow using 15mm gold yellow no 37 Berisfords satin ribbon from The Ribbon Girl

A bit of close up detail for ya - LOVE that curved border :)

So that's me done for today and I'll be going to swelter in my office in a tick.

Enjoy your day, stay cool and I'll see you back here soon as soon.
Huggiest of hugs to all xxx.

What's Pink & A Bit Distressed? Clue? Well It Isn't Me!!!!

Hi there peeps and hope you are all enjoying the sunshine today.

Blimey, it's beginning feel a bit like summer here. However, and I don't want to be the party pooper,  I heard that tomorrow we are back to our usual rain / grey / damp etc.

Never mind, it was nice while it lasted.

It's time for our weekly dose of all things  Papertake-ie and this week we have our

Anything Goes

theme, with the optional extra to make a non square base card.

So that's what I did!! 

I went for a round base, or rather a scalloped round base which I made using me Grand Nesties ;)

And it's also another sneakie peekie from the brand new Lili of The Valley  Pretty Vintage release  - this is from set #62 - Friendship Quotes. Judging by the reaction to all the new stuff at the shop at the weekend, you are going to love these as much as we do, I'm sure :)

So no colouring - just a nice easy bit of stamping.

The papers are from a Lili of The Valley  8x8  Perfect Pair paper pad and I did a bit of inking, distressing and glittering.

And to highlight the lovely words, I made a little frame ..... 

 

.. and covered it with Stampendous - Frantage Embossing Enamel - Shabby Pink.

I got this from the Lili of The Valley shop at the weekend and if you want some, just give the shop a ring and they will be able to help you (it isn't on the website). Or if you are near the shop, you can pick some up there (there is a wide range of new stuff in now).

By the way, do you like the pink 'mist' around the card today?
I had to change it because the card got a bit lost in the usual white froth that I generally use.

 

A paper rosette courtesy of Sir Tim (well his die, not him personally!!) which I topped with a pretty Daisy Pale Pink Ribbon Girl daisy.

The Memory Box Lavish Branch die has been put to good use again ....

 

... as has the La La Land Heart Banner die and Spellbinders A2 curved border die.

I'm such a creature of habit.

 

So that's the card for today - hope you likee.

And if you do likee the new stuff and want to win yourself the complete set, check this out -

Between now and 11.59pm (UK time) on June 7th all orders over £15 will go into a draw to win a full set of the new Pretty Vintage stamps

The (very) lucky winner will get one of each of the 26 new A5 stamp sets   …this prize is worth a whopping £325 so make sure you get your orders placed to be in with a chance of winning.

All details can be found here.

And as it's the first Monday of the month, it's time for a brand new ....

LOTV challenge and you can check it all out right here.

I have to say the BIGGEST THANK you to the lovely ladies who came to the workshops at the Lili of The Valley shop on Saturday. We had 2 lovely groups and I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did.

And Tracy did the afternoon workshop and of course, my little pal Bobby came to collect her with his dad and he brought me ....

.. this lovely pic that he coloured for me.

Bless his little heart - he is such a poppet. I stole a hug from him - not sure he enjoyed it though as he is too old for that kind of carry on.  And especially as he is now Sportsman of the Year for his footie team - yayyyy. He brought his trophy in to show me as well  - he made my day:)

I know I've said it before but every time I go into the shop, I am blown away by all the prettiness. The DT cards look stunning and I get so much inspiration in there. There's loads of new stuff in as well such as gorgeous embossing powders, gilding flakes, Pan Pastels and mica powders. I was spoiled for choice!!

And what a glorious day it was - the drive there in the sunshine was wonderful. I love going over the moors first thing when there isn't much traffic about. Maybe I'm a bit strange (hold that thought!!) but I really think they are beautiful in their barrenness.  My Granddad use to tell me when I was little that they found me up on Denbigh Moor so perhaps that's where it comes from!!

Then we had a barbeque on Sunday.

I got a text from Emma as I was leaving the shop to come home saying that Thea (one year old) had clearly said 'barbeque' and they took this to mean that she wanted one so would I be a good Granny and oblige her? Well I may look like a cabbage but I am not that green cos they lie like fish on a slab!!!! . But we had one anyway (I am such a soft touch) and his Lordship Dickie Mint did the cooking -  and a fine damn tooting  job he did  as well.

Verry delish :)

Right I better get going. Enjoy your day and see you tomorrow.

Huggiest of hugs to all xxx

You'll Be Singing This ...& A Bit Of Pridey Stuff Too :)

 

Hi there peeps and hope you are all OK today :)

We are supposed to be having rain but somebody forgot to tell the weather -it's rather nice here at the mo.

OK so it's time for a bit of Papertake malarkey and this week our theme is

The Sound of Music

(or moojic as Kyla used to call it!!).

You can interpret this how you want and there is an array of lovely cardage from the DT so if you get a sec nip over an check it all out. Plus we have not one but 2 prizes up for grabs this week and you have to be innit to winnit.

So what did I do then?

I went for a few of my favourite things and I've been singing this all flamin' morning - it is soooo stuck in my head.

Practically everything on here is a fave of mine, from the suppliers to the colours and of course all the bits and bobs.

The Lili of The Valley image is called Emma Swing and I coloured her with these Copics -

Skin - E000, E00, E11, E13. R00, R02
Hair - E30, E31, E35, E39, E50
Swing - E30, E31, E33, E35, E39, E50
Flowers - R85, RV0000, RV000
Grass - YG000, YG01, YG03, YG95

The papers are from the Nitwits  Romance & Roses collection - gorgeous.

 

 

A little arrangement chock full of goodies from our Mary & Andrea over at The Ribbon Girl and they are -

White Kort & Godt Chrysanth,   Hip Rose Buds Pink/White Two Tone, Sweetheart Blossom Baby Pink & White Pink, Beaded Stamen White, Mixed Dahlia Raspberry Delight, Kort & Godt Rolled Paper Roses Pink, Starburst Stamen Pink

 

 

This sentiment is from the LOTV A7 Sentiments to Fit Scroll set.
I LOVE that font :)

 

 

There's also a La La Land Heart Banner die and the shape on the card was made using an A4 Frilly Frame 6 piece Rectangles SET 6 which I got from  Once Upon A Stamp at Port Sunlight on Saturday

And hugest of thanks to everybody who came to see us at the LOTV stand at PS.
And a special thanks to Hazel for bringing me some yummy choccies :)

And I must also say thank you to the lovely ladies at Happy Stampers North West for a very enjoyable Copics workshop on Sunday that I did with Wendy from Stamps and Memories.

What a lovely bunch of ladies you are xxx

 

 

Right I better go but before I do (see, there I go in Columbo mode again) I just have to share this.

My sweet little Thea took her first proper steps yesterday and we were there to see it. I was  thrilled I can tell you because of course we were there when Kyla took her first steps and I did think we might miss it with this little soul, but no she obliged. And just a few days short of her first Birthday as well - I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone.

Here she is when we went to baby Niamh's Christening a few weeks ago, reading the Mass sheet.

Bless her little heart, she is such a little sweetie and not a  single tooth in her head yet - don't you just love gummy little grins!! And as I said to her Daddy last night, here is where the fun starts now that she is mobile because she will be into everything!!

Rubbish pics sorry but I took them on my phone and it was a bit dark in the church.

And I can't leave my Kyla out.

While we were at the Christening,  the kids were entertained by a Creepy Crawly man who brought along some snakes, spiders, frogs, giant rats, you name it. My little Kyla is really not  a brave kid but she so wants to be. Anyway he told all the kids to bring the creatures round and show the grown ups as they were brave and the grown ups would be scared of them (how right he was in my case). And of course she was scared as well but she  really tried and she managed to pick up a tortoise so of course we told her how proud of her we were and praised her to the hilt for being such a brave kid.

And then she came over to us with  .....

... this bad boy.
Well of course we (I say we, but it was Emma and I ) could not run away after telling her how brave she was. She doesn't look entirely comfortable here on this pic but believe me, it is nothing compared  to how we were looking. Have you ever tried to smile and look convincing while you are absolutely cacking yourself?  No? Well it ain't easy I can promise you that.  I was so relieved when she too it back to him!!!

You can see where she gets her courage from can't you!!
Stick to the face painting kid ... please!!!!!

Well I really am going now. I'll see you tomoz but until then have a fab day and hugs to all xxx

In The Pink (Just For A Change!!!)

 

Good morning sweet peeps and a very Happy Sunday to everyone.
It's time for the monthly  Ribbon Girl Magnolia Only Challenge and this month our theme is

Add A Die Cut

And that's it :)
A nice easy peasy one for you to join in with and aren't there some FAB dies about at the mo :).

We have 2 sponsors and prizes for you -

Our regular sponsors, Magnolia of Sweden will be sending our randomly chosen winner a stamp direct from Tilda HQ ....

... and Ribbon Girl are giving a £10 voucher towards a spending spree in the Ribbon Girl online store.

So ...

.. this is what I did.

I deviated from my usual 6x6 offering and made a base card using Spellbinders - Nestabilities Decorative Elements - Labels Eight - you can probably see this better on the last but one pic)

The image is Poppy Tilda and I coloured her with these Copics -

Skin - E000, E00, E11, E13, R00, R02
Hair - E31, E35, E39, E50
Clothes & Flower - E42, R85, RV0000, RV000, RV01, RV02

No patterned paper today peeps  - not like me I know!!!
We really are deviating aren't we!!!!

Oooh a host of loveliness from The Ribbon Girl

16mm Pink/White No 113 Berisford Pencil Stripe Ribbon, White Kort & Godt Chrysanth, Beaded Berries Pink/Pale Pink, Sparkle Rose Pink/White, Hip Rose Buds Pink/White Two Tone, Sweetheart Blossom Baby Pink & White Pink

I think you can safely say I went for PINK today :)

  

I just HAD to use my new La La Land Hear Banner  (again!!) and I added some more pretties from The Ribbon Girl - Sugar and Spice Self Adhesive Pearls and a few dabs of White Opal Liquid Pearls which you can just about see.

  

You can see the base card a bit better here. 

 

 

So that's me done for today.

We are off to a Christening later on. Its the granddaughter of my friend Joyce - little Niamh Poppy :) I still haven't got a clue what I will be wearing (I'm writing this up on Saturday afternoon so I still have time to sort it  and check me out getting ahead of meself with the post!!)

I'm off now to finish off some stuff that needs to leave here on Monday so I better crack on. Have the loveliest of Sundays and see you soon as soon.

Hugs to all xxxx

Lots of Gorgeous & a Giveaway Too :)

 

 

Morning sweet peeps and hope you are all OK today.

It's time for a visit to the Papertake Weekly challenge and this week our theme is

One Paper Taker

so you just need to use one type of design paper.

This was a bit of a challenge for me cos I usually use 2 or 3 or sometimes more.
But we got there and this ....

 

.. is what I did.

The image is from one of the new  Lili of The Valley Sketch pads. This one is Sketch Pad Set 7-Just for Girls.

This is the first one I've used and I can see why they are so popular - handy doesn't come close, plus they are a joy to use as well :)

I coloured this sweet little Miss with Copics in the following colours -

Skin -  E000, E00, E11, E13, R00, R02
Hair - E35, E39
The rest - C00, C1, C3, G0000, G000, G00, G21, V000, V06, V12, V15, V17

The paper is from a Promises 8x8 paper pack.
Peeps they are out of stock at the mo over at the shop BUT don't despair because they are due in very shortly (about 10 days or so) so you can get your mitts on them then.

Gorgeous aren't they!!!

 

And speaking of gorgeous, I've had my eye on one of these bad boy La La Land Heart Banner dies for ages but they are so tricky to get hold of but thanks to my sweet LOTV teamies Anne and Dena, we managed to get one, yayyyy.

And it is just as fab as I thought it would be.
Thank you thank you THANK YOU sweet friends xxxxx

I also used a Martha Stewart DECO FAN Shells Punch Around The Page punch and  a Spellbinders FLORAL OVALS Nestabilities die.

 

How totally beautimous are these blooms!!!

I used a mixture of Wild Orchid Crafts roses along with ....

     

... these from The Ribbon Girl and if you think they look nice in the pics, wait till you see them IRL :)

The pics are linked but they are  Floribunda Roses Antique Lilac mix and Mixed Dahlia Marshmallow mix.
I also added a couple of White Beaded Sprigs and a cheeky little sentiment tag from the LOTV Set 24-Sentiment Tags set.

 

 

I finished off the card with some Liking Lilac Pearls from The Ribbon Girl.
Did you notice that this card is a bit of a rarity for me as well because there isn't any ....... ribbon!!!

It's practically unheard of!!!

So that's my card done.

Now who fancies a gorgeous giveaway then?

Well if you do, all you have to do is leave a comment and your name with Mr Linky and I'll announce the winner next Tuesday.

This month my gorgeous giveaway which is sponsored by Mary and Andrea at The Ribbon Girl is .....

... a pack each of the above new blooms - Floribunda' Raspberry Ripple Mix and Mixed Dahlia 'Eastern Spices'.

Thank you girlies for these lovely goodies and good luck to everyone who enters this.

There is also another Ribbon Girl giveaway, and .....

... a pink one at that :)
You can read all about it right here.

Right I'm off to see what the day has in store for me.
Enjoy your day whatever you are doing and I'll see you back here tomoz for our weekly transatlantic trip to the jolly old US of A.  But today my thoughts go out to our friends in Boston -  I do hope that everyone is safe and well xxx.  Isn't it just awful that we have to share the planet with people that can do a such a thing.

I do not have words to describe how I feel about these low lives.

Huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Don't forget to leave a comment and your name with Mr Linky if you want a chance to win my gorgeous giveaway :)

This Card Is Just Like Me :)

    

Good morning lovely peeps and I hope that you are all okay today.
It's the middle of the week and time to nip across and check out what's been happening at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge, and this week our theme is

Clean and Simple

So a bit like me really!!!!

As always, the lovely Heidi is giving one lucky winner a whopping ….

… to spend ….

… right here :)

The DT are showcasing LA LA LAND and LAWN FAWN stamps this week and there are LOTS of amazing stamps and stamp sets to choose from! PLEASE check out the huge selection at Simon Says Stamp Superstore!!!

Of course you don't HAVE to use LA LA LAND or LAWN FAWN stamps to join in but if you have them we would love to see them used :-)

So ….

… this is what I did.

I really love this colour combi - it always looks striking and even though black is a dark.colour, I think when it's used with plenty of white, it somehow manages to look clean. Sounds weird, but I hope you know what I mean lol!!!

The image is by La-La Land and is called Heart Balloon Marci. I coloured her with these Copics -

Skin – E000, E00, E11,  E21, R00, R20

Hair – E42, E43, E50, E51, E81

The rest – Black, C04, C07, R02, R05, R17, R27, R59

And the paper is from the Bo Bunny Crush 6 x 6  paper pack.

Where would I be without  me SAFMAT Self-Adhesive Printing Film!!!

I love using it because you can add text directly to your cards and it's practically invisible.

The punched mat is made from  the Martha Stewart PATP Deco Fan Shells set btw :)

So that’s me done for today.

This card is actually for somebody and I need to get in the post tonight, even though it's late already!! I won’t say who it's for but to be honest, if I’d sent it to her on time, she would probably have fainted with the shock and we can’t have that!!!!

So take care me darlins and I’ll see you back here tomorrow.

Have the fabbiest of days and huggiest of hugs to all xxx.