Not QUITE Mixed Media !!!!

Morning sweet peeps and hope you are all OK today xx

It’s that time of the week when we nip over to the Papertake Weekly blog and see what’s a happening, and this week we have our usual last challenge  of the month

Sketchie Free For All

And of course,  we are sponsored by those fabulous peeps from over the water, the one and only Simon Says Stamp

As our reggies will know, you can use the new sketch or you can use any of the older ones, and that is what I did this week.

So this is sketch #74    ….

. .. and this ….

.. is my card.

It’s an 8x8 card which I am soooo into at the mo, to the point where 6x6s which I’ve always done in the past,  now just look tiny.

This card is actually for someone in my family – I won’t say who because if she sees this she’ll know.
She may guess anyway as she is the only one with a birthday in July but I don't think she reads my blog so I’m probably safe lol!!

Just for a change, I thought I would do a non image card and try and go for a mixed media sort of look.
I so admire people like Gabrielle Pollacco and wish I could produce works of art like she does, and that is what they are.
I've never tried and to be honest, I think I’m a little bit scared.
I keep buying all sorts of things that would look nice but never quite get around to doing it.
One day maybe I will set aside a whole day and just have a fiddle with it all lol!!!

In the meantime, this is a sort of halfway house thingie.

I used one of the brilliant Lili of The Valley sentiment stamps and this one is Set 43 - Statements – Fabulous.
Love love LOVE this set.

In an attempt to be a bit arty farty, I stamped the sentiment straight onto the design paper and the papers I used are Antebellum - the more I use this pad, the more I like it.

A mixture of beautimous seam binding, Chocolate Brown Hemp Twine and a 6mm Round Aurora Acrylic Gem from our Mary & Andrea over at The Ribbon Girl.

Now if you saw the last Create & Craft show then you will know for sure that I really am as blonde as they come sometimes, and not just the hair,  because I made my card the wrong way around : ))))

This one wasn't quite in that league but for the life of me, I cannot understand why I would use pretty lace and then cover it up so you can hardly see it.

Doh!!

But it is verrry pretty lace and I actually used 2 lots,  one on top of the other – Phoebe and Flora, both from The Ribbon Girl

The blooms are a mixture of dies -  Die-namics Rolled Daisy from Dies To Die For and a Sissix one whose name escapes me – and Darjeeling White Mini Blossom Flowers, Floribunda White Roses and Darjeeling Pink Mini Blossom Mixture from The Ribbon Girl

I also gave my Die-namics Chicken Wire an outing as well.

So there you have it – lots of proddies on this and I have to say that I’m quite pleased with how it turned out.
It’s verrry different for me but I think it’s good to take yourself out of your comfort zone occasionally.

Right I’m off.
Enjoy the sun (I’m typing this at 22.17 the day before so I am gonna look pretty darn stoopid if it’s peeing down tomorrow,  but hey ho).]

But whatever the weather, have a fabulous day and huggiest of hugs to all xx

Making A Pig’s Ear Out Of A Silk Purse lol

Morning sweet peeps and I’ve been a bit AWOL of late but hope everybody is OK today : )

It’s time to head on over to see what’s happening with the Papertake Weekly girlies and talking of girlies we have a lovely theme for you this week, cos it’s all about

Lace & Pearls

We are sponsored by our Mary & Andrea from The Ribbon Girl and there’s a fab voucher up for grabs which you can spend on ever fabbier things if you win.

Now, me being me, I thought I’d try something different, but sometimes I really wish I wouldn’t.
I tried to do a card like our Kathy at LOTV does – I just love her work, it’s soooo gorgeous.  And I admire al these lovely, pretty shabby chic cards that I see and I long to make something like that.

But I can’t.

But still I had a go and ……..

.. this is what I did.

It’s more shabby than chic I’m afraid but I am a warts and all crafter so on here it must go.

The beautimous papers are from Lili of The Valley and they are the Timeless Victorian designs.

The sentiment is also from Lili of The Valley and this is one of the  Sentiments to Fit Scroll sentiment that I just LOVE.

 

The paper is made using Sir Tim’s Tattered Florals die set.
I do like making these flowers and I got me a jumbo Tattered Florals set as well but haven't used that one yet. I will do one of these days though : )

All the bits and bobs that I used are from The Ribbon Girl.

The bow is made from Sky Mauve Lilac Seam Binding and the buttons are 20g Bag - Mixed Lilac Purple Theme

 

This beautiful lace is 75mm 'Dawn' Antique White Lace.
Yes, that’s right, Mary named it after me. She names her lace etc after her DT and I was chuffed as mint balls when she told me about this one.

That's the lace bit and there are pearls of course ……

… which you can see better here. 

I added a strip of 20mm Ivory Lace and Pearl Trim just above the buttons. 
I also added a  14mm Acrylic Gem which I’d coloured to the centre of the flower.

Finally I added some flat backed gems and made a swirly pattern out of them.

So that’ me and my shabby chick card for today.
I realised that I’ve got cardage which I haven't blogged so I’ll be back soon as soon with that plus a special card on Thursday which I’m dying to tell you about … but I won’t until then lol.

So what’s been happening here then?

Well, I’m on yet another of me diets – good old Slimming World. 
Having seen myself looking a bit like a dumpy little barrel on C&C, I decided that the blubber has to go. They say that the camera adds 10lbs (or something like that) but I look the same in the mirror here  where there’s  not a  camera  in sight, so I am deluded to think that that ‘s the reason. And hugest of thanks btw to everybody who tuned in. We had a great show and Deano was so funny doing his demo. He is doing that a lot of late – maybe we should get them all to have a go, what do you think?  I’ve done loads with the new kits so I will try and share these makes with you. The more I used those kits, the more I found to do with them – they are awesome.

We are getting a load of ‘housey’ jobs sorted because we are probably going to move house – it’s wayyy too big for us now -  so we’ve been painting, gardening, tidying, binning stuff etc, like you do.  And it’s also been that time of the year when we have our baby chicks to look after. We only lost 2 this year which is good but still very sad. It is inevitable that some will not survive but it upsets me so much and I will never ever get immune to it.

Thea was 2 at the end of May and we had a lovely part for her which she enjoyed.
She got a bit embarrassed when we all sang Happy Birthday but in a pleased sort of way –she is sooo cute. She is doing the potty training thing at the mo and she keeps asking us all if we have pooed!!! It’s fine in the house but we get some funny looks when she says it outside!!

Right, that’s enough waffle from moi. I’ll get off and leave you in peace.

Have a great day, whatever you’re doing, and I’ll see you soon as soon.

Hugs to all xxx

Another Sneaky Peekie Papertake Weekly

 

Hi sweet peeps and sorry for the repetitive post title.
I do like it though and in the absence of anything better, I thought I’d drag it out once more!!

So it’s time for another

Anything Goes

challenge over at Papertake Weekly and this month our optional extra is to not use any patterned paper.
Oh that scared the bejayzus out of me I can tell you, and being lily livered,  I didn’t go for that one!!

But I did go for something lily – I used another of the soon to be released birthday fairies and this one ….

… is called Flower Dance (she is soooo sweet).

I coloured her with the following Copics –

Skin – E000, E00, E11, E13, R00, R02
Hair – E31, E33, E34, E35, E39
The rest – BG0000, BG01, BG05, BG10, BG49, BV0000, BV000, BV01, BV02, BV04, BV17, Y15, Y17, YG0000, YG00, YG03, YG95, YR00, YR02, YR61

I outlined her with Glamour Dust, like you do : )

The papers are from Promises, Bonnets & Bowties and Promises Solids paper pads – what’s not to love about lilac : )

 

I made the blooms using the Promises Solids papers and some yellow card.
The die is a Sissix Flower Layers & Leaf die and the leaves were done with a Memory Box Lavish Branch die.
No prizes for guessing  what I made the lacy border with (thank you kindly, Miss Martha Stewart!!).

 

A pretty bow made with some 38mm Lavender/White Spot Organza Ribbon and topped with one of Mary’s 14mm Acrylic Gems which I coloured with a Copic to match the card. You can just make out a strip of 15mm Heliotrope No 7 Berisford Satin Ribbon on the vertical element. All available of course from The Ribbon Girl.

 

 

It’s a nice clean and fresh card – just the sort I like really, so I was quite pleased with how it turned out.

You probably can’t tell from the pics but I’m using a lot of 8x8 card bases lately.
I’ve discovered that they are perfect for making different sized card bases and the world is your lobster re the shape and also they work well with the LOTV 8x8 paper pads.

Right I’m off so I’ll see you back here as soon as soon.

But before I go, don’t forget that it’s our ….

... this weekend.
Please do let me know if you’re going to pop along and do come and say howdy.
We’ve got lots of lovely things going on and it promises to be the most amazing day.
To say that we are excited is probably the understatement of the year!!

Enjoy your day and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

A Perfect Pair :)

    

Hi sweet peeps and hope you are all OK on this lovely Spring day (or at least it is in Chester :)

It's time to nip over and check out what's happening over with the Papertake gang and in keeping with the weather, our theme this week is

Spring Has Sprung

so you can either do a Spring card or use Spring colours (like what I did !!).

And ...

.. this is my card.

I used of of my faves from the new Lili of The Valley release and this is Annabel Upside Down.
She looks like she's having a whale of a time I think :)

I coloured her with the following Copics -  

Skin - E000, E00, E11, E13, R00, R02
Hair -  E31, E33, E35, E39, E50
The rest -   C4, C7, C9, E31, E35, E39, RV00, RV10, RV34, YG0000, YG00, YG03, YG95

The papers are Perfect Pair - they're so gorgeous and this is again one of my fave ever LOTV paper pads.

 

You can say anything you want (within reason,  natch lol) with these fab tags - they are from SET 24 - Sentiment Tags.
What ever did we do without them!!

 

 

Some fab stuff from our Mary & Andrea over at The Ribbon Girl -

15mm Shocking Pink No 72 Small Check Gingham 15mm-meadow-green-microdot-ribbon-p-536.html">15mm-meadow-green-microdot-ribbon-p-536.html">15mm-meadow-green-microdot-ribbon-p-536.html">15mm-meadow-green-microdot-ribbon-p-536.html">15mm-meadow-green-microdot-ribbon-p-536.html">
15mm Meadow Green No 664 Microdot Ribbon 

 

And I used a couple of Cheery Lynn dies -  Francesca Border and French Pastry Doily, both from Sir Stampalot

The tree is a Memory Box Twiggy Die  and the clouds are dies from Joycrafts

 

So there we are for another week and before  go I have to say a mahoosive thank you to the lovely ladies that came to the shop for the workshops on Saturday.

Here's a couple or three pics ....

The morning colouring group.

 

The afternoon Birthday Planner ladies - or rather,  half the room.
Some of the morning group stayed over for the afternoon workshops as well :)

 

 

And look who's here.
In the background you can see Tracy Thompson and Susan Stacey, and in the foreground concentrating very hard is our lovely Marjorie who is one of our Guest Designers at Papertake, along with her daughter Debs.

I also had a very special encounter with my little pal Bobby who is Tracy's boy.
This kid is a real sweetie and I just love him  -  I overlook the fact that he is a Leeds supporter. Anyway he brought me a box of choccies, bless his little heart and thank you Bobby xxx

Now in the past I have asked him for a hug and a kiss but of course he doesn't do such soppy stuff - he is far too old for that kind of thing now.  But at the last  open day our Lou took him some sweets and she didn't mess about, she just planted a big kiss on his cheek and gave him a hug.

Well I was most put out I can tell you.

So this time, I didn't ask, I just sort of got him in a head lock and nicked a kiss as well!!!.
He did walk back to his Mum wiping his  face (yes Bobby Thompson I saw you!!) but I didn't care.
He makes my day when he comes into the shop, little poppet.

Anyway we al had a smashing day and everybody said how pretty the shop looked, as it always does. I am hugely looking forward to the next workshops so watch this space lovely peeps :).

Right I'm off to do some work so I'll see you soon as soon and till then, have the most fabulous of  days.

Huggiest of hugs to all  xxx

 

A FABULOUS Sneakie Peekie

 

 

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

It's that time of the week when we head over to the Papertake Weekly blog for a brand new challenge and this week it's

For Mum

As Mother's Day is approaching, we thought it might be nice to make a card for your Mum this week but if you don't have a Mum now (cry cry) then just make a card for a special girlie instead.

So ...

 

... that's what I did.

It's also a little sneakie peekie of one of these little sweeties .....

  ... and aren't they brilliant - I LOVE them :).

It's the brand new 'Here Comes Annabel'  release which you will be able to buy on Monday 24th March at midday. The DT are showcasing these awesome little images all  week so keep an eye on their blogs for lots of different ideas.

I personally cannot choose a fave and they are perfect for all the little tomboys out there :)

The image I used is called Roller Girl and I coloured her with these Copics -

Skin - E000, E00, E11, E13, R00, R02
Hair - E30, E31, E33, E35, E39, E50
The rest -  B45, B93, B95, B97, C9, E30, E31, E35, E39, YG0000, YG00, YG03, YG59

It's been ages since I had a colouring sesh and I thoroughly enjoyed colouring her :)

The papers are from a Shabby Shack 8x8 paper pad - beautimous!!!

 

 

The blooms were made using a Spellbinders D-Lites Blooms Set 3 and ....

 

 

 

... the sentiment is from a Sentiments To Fit Scroll.
I use this one all the time (you probably noticed lol!!).

 

 

A couple more bloom. I think this set will get some hammer in the future!!!

 

 

 

 

And there it is all done.

Right it's  a quickie today cos I've got loads and loads to get through with work etc and my hues guests are keeping me very busy. I love having the kids here and will miss them so much when they move into their new house.

I'm also prepping for the next workshops which will be held over at LOTV HQ on April 5th. We've got the whole of the upstairs for the workshops and with all that  gorgeous natural light, it's just about the best place ever  to craft I think. We have a colouring class in the morning to help you get the most out of your Pro Markers and then a 3D project in the afternoon.  We will be making one of the birthday planners that I made for Create and Craft and these are so useful and would also make a great gift (if you could bear to part with yours!!).

And I wonder what image we will be colouring in the morning?
I'll give you a clue, it isn't Roller Girl, however ....... :)))

Anyway, all the deets are on the website right here so if you fancy spending a day with old Piggy chops or even just a morning or afternoon then you will be very welcome indeedy. I THINK there may be a few spaces left but they do book up fast so if you are thinking of coming along, then  best book early.
It would be fab to see you there.

Right I better crack on.
Have the fabbiest of days and don't forget to check out the challenge if you get a sec.

Huggiest of hugs to all xxx

 

A Lil Sketchie :)

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

It's that time of the week when we head on over and catch up with the Papertake Weekly girls and this week it's sketchie time, and our featured sketch is ...

 

.... this one here - sketch #87.

Of course, you don't have to use it but I did lol!!
I quite like this one :)

If you get a sec, do nip over and check it all out.
It's a very special post today and if you go over there you will see why because it's dedicated to the lovely Gourley family.

So what did I do with the old sketch then?

Here you go.
I used some papers and one of the Art Pads from the new  Lili of The Valley release.

The image is from Art Pad 20 - Pretty Girls and it's also available in stamp form (she is called Millie Hello).
I also used some of the brand new Baskets & Bunnies papers.
They are quite simply delish!!!

 

 

This is a blast from the past - some prima flowers that I scrunched up and made into a sort of chrysanthemum.
I have a big bag of these which I rarely use so it was nice to do something a bit different today.

The seam binding is from The Ribbon Girl - it's such a lovely pretty pink.

 

 

 

Another blast from the past - a punched border made from an old Fiskars punch that I have had for donkeys years.
I don't even know what it's called, I'm so sorry :(

I stamped directly onto the image (I am verrry brave hahaaaa!!) and I used one of the LOTV Sentiments to Fit Scroll stamps. Love this set as you may have noticed!!

 

 

Somebody has been at the liquid pearls again :)
I'm obsessed!!

 

 

So that's me done for today.
I'll be back soon as soon so until then take care and enjoy the rest of your day.

Huggiest of hugs to all xx

Lovely Layers

 

Hi there peeps and apols that I didn't get around to posting yesterday.
I was a tad poorly and spent most of the day flitting between the loo and my bed :(

Normal service is slowly being resumed so hopefully whatever it was is on the way out, yayyyy!!.

So the card I'm sharing today is for this week's challenge over at Papertake Weekly where this week it's all about

Lovely Layers

I'm featuring some of the brand new papers that are due out next Monday .....

... and these are all from Baskets & Bunnies.

I really like the sagey greens and muted shades in this pad and I've made a few projects with them which I will share over the next few days. Hopefully you will have lots of ideas ready for when you get yours if you are ordering any.

So what did I do then?

I did this card which has so much dimension - you can't really see from this pic but it's there.

I also did something I don't do very often and rounded off some corners just for a change.
I also inked and glittered the edges :)

 

I used one of Sir Tim's rosette dies which I am loving at the mo and also did one of those lace things again like I did yesterday. The lace and sparkler are both from The Ribbon Girl but as most of you will know now, Mary's husband sadly passed away on Monday so the shop is closed for a few weeks.

My thoughts are with the Gourley family at their very sad time.

 

    

You can hopefully see the dimension here ....

 

 

... and here as well :)

I also used one of Sir Tim's little memo pins.
I've had these for ages but don't use them very often, but they are perfect for popping on a sentiment.

I'm rather taken with them actually!!

So that's me done for today cos I am as weak as a kitten. 
I'll try and get back here tomorrow and share another project with you, if my stomach allows me.

Enjoy your day and apols for the shortie and huggiest of hugs to all but don't come too close cos I don't want you catching my lurgy lol xxx

Sneaky Peeky Create and Crafty :)

 

Hi there peeps and hope you are all OK today.

I'm in full production mode at the mo getting all my samples ready for next week's  Lili of The Valley Create & Craft show.
Ohh my life, there's some beautimous new papers and stuff, not to mention world launches - all very very verrrry exciting. If you are about at 9am and 3pm on Monday 10th, it would be fab if you could join us.

But before then, it's time to head on over to Papertake Weekly and catch up with  the gang.
This week, we have our very popular

Anything Goes

theme and the option is to make a shaped card.
But you don't have to if you don't want to - it's just an option for those who still like to have a challenge.
There's also a GDT call out so if you want to join us for three months, please do nip over and check it all out.

Not only that, but there's a LOTV voucher up for grabs as well so it's worth a look :)

So what did I do then?

I made a little apron card.
I love these cards and you can really go to town on them if you wanted to, but they also look nice quite unadorned.

I went somewhere in the middle!!

The papers I used are from the brand new Lili of The Valley Shabby Shack paper pad  - are those colours just totally lush or what!!!

 

    

Isn't this little Miniature Rolling Pin sweet.
They are available from Mary at The Ribbon Girl, as is the lovely 16mm Aqua Open Weave Ribbon

 

 

I'm really into me punched flowers at the mo.

And I'm not averse to a spot of Liquid Pearl-age as well by the look of it lol!!

 

The sentiment is from LOTV SET 26 - Simply Sophisticated and the lace border was made with a Cheery Lynn border die.

 

So there we are all done and it's a bit of a shortie today (phew, I hear you say!!). 

But before  go, don't forget to have a look over at the LOTV Ideas to Inspire blog.
Not only is it updated every day with oodles of inspiration for you, but there's also now a daily candy giveaway as well ......

... and here's a little banner for you to put on your blog ....

... you have to be in it to win it :)))

Right I better be off -  have a fab day and I'll see you soon as soon.

Huggiest of hugs to all xxx