Oooh La La, We're Having A Blog Hop :)

 

Good morning everyone and thanks for stopping by!

Today we are holding a Lili of the Valley design team blog hop to celebrate the launch of their gorgeous Pretty Vintage stamps

There are 26 new clear stamp sets and it’s a fabulous mix of backgrounds, sentiments, quotes, tags and more...

They keep up perfectly with the current trend for all things vintage and grungy whilst still retaining a bit of the feminine charm that you’ve come to expect from Lili of the Valley!

The stamps will be available to buy on the website from midnight (12am) on Wednesday 12^th June (UK time)

***

The LOTV design team are all joining in and you may have noticed a new name on the list.
We’re all thrilled to welcome our new teamie   ...it’s the very fabulous Mary J!

***

You just need to ‘hop’ from one blog to another following the links and leave a comment on each card. We know that these stamps are a little bit different so hopefully we can give you lots of ideas and inspiration along the way for using the new images.

There is an amazing prize up for grabs on this hop, we don’t know where it is hidden so do make sure you that you visit and comment on every blog

The prize is a full set of the Pretty Vintage stamps...

... that’s 26 A5 sheets, one each of all the new designs, and it’s worth a massive £325

We will let you know tomorrow evening which was the ‘lucky’ blog and a winner will be drawn at random from all the comments that were left on that blog :)

Here's a list of all the blogs taking part, and remember that you will need to visit them all and leave a comment on each one to have the best chance of winning, because we don’t know where the prize is hidden.

Ideas to Inspire 
Anne
  Dawny
Dena
Elise
Fleur
Gretha 
Jen 
Lou 
Mary 
Mindy 
Moni

So what did I do?

      

Well I did something totally and utterly and completely different for me, that's what :)

For a start, I deviated from my usual 6x6 square card base, and I also just kept to black cardstock. And I've been faffing with the editing as well and I added a darker edged misty thingie (I'm sure there's a technical terms for it - maybe vignetting?). I will have to find out but till then sorry peeps, it will have to be darker edged misty thingie!!!

I used one of the Vintage Backgrounds Prints stamps to create the main panel and rather than stamping with ink, I used copper gilding flakes.  I've never used these before and they do give a lovely shine which wouldn't work for all stamps etc but for these I think it's fine.

I think this set stamps is so useful to have in your stash as it works for both male and female cards. In fact, there's quite a bit in this release that works like that - marvellous!!!.

For the rolled flowers I stamped another panel and gilded it in the same way then just cut out 3 circles. As these panels are a fab size, you can easily get 3 or 4 circles from each one. 

This lovely sentiment is from Set 58 Pretty Grungy - Good Times.
Can you guess what I did with it lol!!!

As it had a bit of a French feel to it, I added a feather which I had in my stash for an extra bit of ooooh la la. It just wouldn't behave itself for the pictures and kept wafting all over the place.

Silly feather!!!!

So that's the old card done and now it's back to the hop.

Don’t forget to stop by the Ideas to Inspire blog tomorrow evening when you can find out who the lucky winner is of this fantastic prize

Enjoy the hop…    and good luck!

Huggiest of hugs to all xxx

A Muzzy For Simon :)

Hi peeps and hope you are all OK today xxx.

It's that time of the week when we catch up with our friends in the US of A over at the Simon Says Stamp challenge and this week our theme is

Masculine / Father's Day

This week, the DT are showcasing Tim Holtz products.
You don't have to use them of course, but if you have them we would love to see them  :-)

And as always, our lovely Heidi is giving away a fabulous …

… for one lucky winner to spend …

… right here :)

THANK YOU Heidi & Simon Says Stamp xxx

So what did I do then?

Well I did this cheeky card here.

I kept it very simple (well, it is for a bloke after all lol!!). The die cut in the centre was made using a Tim Holtz Sizzix Die BAROQUE Movers & Shapers Alterations Die.

I like the shape of it and it is a really good size.

And the papers are Echo Park 6 x 6 Paper Pad For The Record 2 - nice :)

A bit of trendy here, courtesy of Memory Box Moustache Set Craft Dies

 

I printed the sentiment onto Safmat. IRL you cannot see it but the camera here has picked up the film.

  

So that's the old card and it's me done for today.

I'll see you soon as soon and I'm off now to a pottery class - I had so much fun last time that I wanted to do it again. I'll show a pic next time of  what I made a few weeks ago :)

Enjoy your evening and 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

Share Some Love & A Sneakie Peekie of a Different Kind:)

 

Hi there peeps and I hope that you are all OK today xxx

I just thought I'd share this with you today and ask if anybody would be interested in sharing some love and making a card for this little lady here .....

What a stunningly beautiful girl but this kid has been through the mill.
You can read all about her here and if you have a spare minute and would like to make her a card, I'm sure it would lift her spirits.

It just about kills you when you hear of what some kids go through and I  always feel a bit ashamed of myself for moaning about having a cold or a sore throat.

Thank you peeps xxx

Before I go, I thought I'd share a few pics with you. 
I've been putting the finishing touches to the wedding candle that we are going to be making on Saturday at one of the Lili of The Valley workshops and thought I'd do a little sneakie peekie of what we are going to be doing.

So what can I tell you about the candle then?

Well .....

 

... it's a bit bling.

And ....

 

... it's a bit frou frou.

And .....

... it's a bit lovey dovey hearty.

And it's sweet and very pretty I think ( I LOVE doing these candles).

I'm quite pleased with how it turned out and I will share the proper pic after the workshop. And if you are coming to the workshop at the weekend, I especially hope that you like these and that you are as looking forward to it as I am.

I've just got a little bit more prep to do and then it's time to get it all packed away. I leave that bit until the last  minute because it's sod's law that I will need the very first thing I packed away and which will be at the bottom of the box. So I leave it until Friday night now :)

And if you fancy having a go I THINK there may be a couple of spaces left but best check with Erica.

Right I better get back to it, plus I can smell a baked potato that has my name on it and I am so hungry today, I really am. I must be having one of me growth spurts lol!!!. I can always tell cos the jeans no longer fit me !!!

Enjoy your evening and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Chunky Funky Fab :)

Hi peeps and hope you are all OK today xxx.

It's that time of the week when we catch up with our friends in the US of A over at the Simon Says Stamp challenge and this week our theme is

Anything Goes

This week, the DT are showcasing Bottle Cap Inc and Authentique products.
You don't have to use them of course, but if you have them we would love to see them  :-)

And as always, our lovely Heidi is giving away a fabulous …

… for one lucky winner to spend …

… right here :)

THANK YOU Heidi & Simon Says Stamp xxx

So what did I do then?

I went a bit tangerine and funky:)

Another fairly quick and straightforward card as well.
The papers are all from an Authentique 6 x 6 DELIGHTFUL Paper Pad ....

... and I really like them :)

I also like the letters - they are Bottle Cap Inc. WOOD LETTERPRESS ALPHABET BLOCKS

And I'm at it again - I cannot leave this Spellbinders A2 CURVED BORDERS 1 One Borderabilities Card Creator Die alone at the mo.

Good job it's nice!!!

 

    

A nice hessian bow and button from my stash to finish off :)

 

So there we are all done for today.

Enjoy your day and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

 

Another Sneakie Peekie at Papertake Weekly :)

 

Morning sweet peeps and hope you all had a great Bank Holiday - wasn't the weather nice (well for 2 days at any rate!!).

Before we get to today's card, I must announce the winner of my gorgeous giveaway from last week - you can see it here - and the winner is .....

... woohooo hoo, it's Crafty Lou :)

Well done to you my hunny and if you ping me a quick email, I will pass the details on to Mary, and of course hugest thanks to The Ribbon Girl for these lovelies xxx

So onto the card which is for this week's Papertake Weekly challenge and it's

Sketchie Free For All

time again, and this ....

... is sketch #73 which is the one I used.

I thought I'd use one of the  sentiments from the brand new Lili of The Valley  Pretty Vintage release and this is from set #62 - Friendship Quotes.

What lovely words they are don'tcha think peeps :)

The papers are from a Lili of The Valley  8x8 paper pad  - this one's Perfect Pair (these are soooo pretty.

I made the rolled roses using a Memory Box SCALLOPED POSIE Craft DIE and the leaves are chopped up from a  Martha Stewart FROND LEAF Craft Punch.

Well not the punch but what it made lol!!!

 

Ohh beautimous gingham ribbon - so nice that I had to use 2 lots of it :)

I made the bows using 25mm Shocking Pink Small Check Gingham and topped it with a 15mm Sparkly 2-Hole Button which doesn't look very sparkly on these pics but IRL it GLEAMS

 

 

     

A nice inked up bit of paper lace courtesy of a Francesca Border Die

I’ve linked the die to Sir Stampalot cos Jan has a fab selection there, but if you are ever over at the Lili of The Valley shop, there is a mahoosive selection there as well :)

And speaking of the shop, are you planning on coming to the Open Day this weekend?

There's all sorts going on - demos, workshops and an eye feast fit for a King with all the lovely stuff in the shop.
PLUS you will be able to get your mitts on all of the new stuff before they go on general release.

There MAY be one or two spaces left on the workshops but please don't quote me - best check with our Erica as she is the girl in the know :)

Right I'm done for today and I'm on one of me dashes as there is a list as long as yer arm with things to do on it - no rest for the wicked and I must have been very bad indeedy!!!!.

Enjoy the rest of your day and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

FABULOUS Sunday Sneakie Peekie :)

    

Good morning sweet peeps and a very happy Sunday to all xxx

I've got a little sneakie peekie for you today from the new Lili of The Valley Pretty Vintage range which is going to be released at midnight on 12th June.

There are 26 different sheets and all of them are amazing and a bit different for us and the DT will be  sharing them with everyone over the next few weeks so you can see what's what.

The sentiment I used is Fabulous and it's actually from the sentiment sheet of the same name.

And this ....

... is what I did with it.

You know how sometimes you see an image or a sentiment and something just pops into your head straight away? Well the first time I saw this I knew what I wanted to make.

I LOVE it when that happens.

It's such a simple and straightforward card but that's what I like about it .

And the words are nice and big - to give you some idea, that is a 6x6 card base I used here - so they are the focal point and  really draw your eye in.

The beautiful bloom is from the Anemone Antique Mauve flower collection from The Ribbon Girl and I just tucked a bit of card 'spaghetti' and some leaves made using an Impression Obsession BRANCH Steel Die from Simon Says Stamp and a Memory Box Lavish Branch die which I got from the Lili of The Valley shop.

And that was basically that,  apart from a bit of matting and layering and stitching :)

 

So I do hope you like the sneak peek today and thank you for stopping by.

What a glorious day it was yesterday - perfect for my sweet little Thea's first birthday party. What a nice day we had and I'll share some pics when I've sorted them out. Today my lot are coming here for lunch and I'm still undecided about whether to give the BBQ it's first airing of the year or go with something else. Apparently the weather is going to change later and it would be our luck that it would happen just as we are sitting down to eat.

And there's nowt worse than a soggy sausage is there !!!

So I better go and make a decision.
I'll see you back here soon as soon and enjoy your Sunday and the rest of the Bank Holiday.

Huggiest of hugs to all xxx