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

Say That Again lol!!!

Hi peeps and hope you are all OK today xx

It’s that time of the week when we catch up with the Papertake Weekly gang and this week our theme is

Repeat Repeat

and all we want you to do is to use a repeated design or words, or embellies.
Or you may have another interpretation – as always it’s up to you/

So what did I do then?

Well I went with a repeated design ie the die cut circles and also the layers in the flower.
And there’s also repeat pearls on there as well.

The papers are from LOTV Country Meadow and I just added random sized circles.
The sentiment is from the LOTV Sentiments to Fit Scroll set – love this set.

 

The flower was made using Sir Tim’s tattered Florals die (I also used his Flourish and Leaf die as well ).
I used the same pattern throughout and added some of Mary’s gorgeous White Tulle in the centre and a 14mm Acrylic Gems which I coloured.

I also used a couple of Crystal Trinket Pins.
I didn't colour these but they do colour beautifully if you needed them to match

 

 

I like how this one turned out : )

 

And that’s the old card done.

It’s a quickie today but if you get a sec, do nip over and check out the PTW cardage – it’s beautimous and there’s lots of different ideas for the challenge.

Till next time, have a fabby-tastic day and hugs to all xxx

It’ A First lol : )

Morning peeps and hope you are all OK today xx

Oooh blimey, I hardly know where to begin with today's post.

But we’ll start at the very  beginning as Julie Andrews once said!!!

It’s time to head on over and catch up with what's been happening with the Papertake Weekly girls and as it’s the first one of the month (and can you believe we are now over half way through this year, it is sooo scary!!), we have our usual

Anything Goes

theme and here’s ….

… my card.
Except it isn't a card at all, it’s actually an 8x8 canvas.

Yes it’s my first proper attempt at mixed media – oooh please don’t laugh!!.
I’ve been fascinated lately with the work of lots of mixed media artists and I really do have craft envy when I see their work.

So I thought I’d have a go

Now, it isn't perfect, I know that.
But I’ve never been one of those crafters who have to make sure that everything is just right before it goes on public display.  
So  I made it for the challenge and on here it must go!!

I’ll try and explain what I did although to be honest, a lot of it was winging it and although I had a plan of sorts when I started out, this has deviated a bit from the original!!

I got the canvases from Wilkinsons - they are cheap as chips and just the job : )

The papers I used are Lili of The Valley – Antebellum.
I know I bang on about it on the telly but they really are fab for this sort of stuff.
They are quite hardy but they fold like a dream.

I inked and distressed the edges then I stamped a few bits on to the top layer using some butterflies and keys from LOTV Set 66 - Grunge Elements and also some script from Set 57 - Vintage Backs – Script.

Then I added some white dots using Gesso and the end of a paintbrush before adding water to the edges and curling the paper in ….

… as you can see here.

I also added a chipboard hinge which I painted with Gesso first.

 

LOTS going on here.

First layer down was some pretty lace from The Ribbon Girl – I used Flora – and also some Diamante Trim. Then I topped that with a die cut Sizzix Frameworks Die - Lattice by Tim Holtz which I sprayed with some Cosmic Shimmer spray. I still have the evidence on my nails – it will not come off so if you are using this, here’s a tip….. 

… wear rubber gloves!!!

Once that was dry, I rubbed the edges with some gold gilding wax before I stuck it down.

Then I die cut a couple of Tim Holtz Flourishes (jeez, Kath would be proud of me lol) and glued them together because I didn't have a chipboard one. Then I painted that with Gesso and inked and distressed the edges.

Down that went.

The I stamped the sentiment onto paper – I used Set 63 - Quotables - Go For It -  did the inking and distressing thing and stuck that down onto some contrasting paper.  Before I stuck them down properly, I tucked some Cheesecloth Fabric behind it which I’d sprayed lightly with some gold glitter spray. It’s very delicate and you can barely see it but it gives a soft glimmer to the fabric which I like.

The flowers started out as Floribunda White Roses which I sprayed with Cosmic Shimmer spray – this is the colour of one my nails btw.

I also sprayed some leaves which I found in my stash as well. It could have been worse - I could have had green nails then it would actually look like I had a fungal nail infection or something – ugh!!

I finished it off with a couple of bows made from Seam Binding, a key which I painted, distressed then rubbed with gilding wax, and tied on with some rusty red twine.

Phew -  I think that’s it.

A LOT of work and as I said before, the result isn’t perfect, but if / when I do more, I can hopefully see an improvement.

I’ve spent quite a few days just fiddling and generally ruining my nails with all sorts of inks, pastes and gilding waxes and the likes. I’ve really enjoyed it because it is sooo different for me and I think I learned a lot from the experience. You will see one or two other things as the weeks go on as a result of those fiddly days and I can see that I have gotten a bit better.

Right that’s me done for today.

I’m typing this on Sunday before the onslaught of my two little darlings coming to stay for a couple of days. There was no way on God’s green earth that I could have typed this with them here or just after they’ve gone. I thought a bit of forward planning was in order. I love them both dearly and with every fibre of my being, but I am always shattered when they've been to stay. There’s a reason that we don’t have babies at my age and I know exactly what that reason is as I’m waving the goodbye!!!!.

I hope you've enjoyed my little experiment today (!!!) and I’ll  see you on Thursday if not before.,

Enjoy your week and hugs to all xxx

 

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