Very Very Very VERY Different!!!

 

You may have gathered that it is VERY different over here today. That’s because there is not an image or Copic in sight!!!!

But I thought I’d do something  totally un-piggy like for my Papertake Weekly card today. I also wanted to challenge myself to use stuff that I don’t usually use and that I’ve had in my stash for a while.

So our theme this week is In Stitches and you might be thinking that I hadn’t put any on (it wouldn’t be the first item I’d got it wrong).

But…..

… there are some on the little insert

This beautiful butterfly stamp is by a (fairly) local company to me – CaroLine's Rubber Stamps – and I got this from Port Sunlight last year but have never used it until now (how weird of me,  cos it’s fab !!!!). It’s called Jewelled Butterfly and you can see it here peeps.

I stamped it onto acetate (use Stayzon peeps cos otherwise it will smudge) and then dabbled a bit of ink onto the back (which you can’t really see from the pic, but it gives it a nice soft glow), then finished it off with some Stickles, liquid pearls  and a couple of flat backed gems

The large flowers were punched from DCWV Pocket Full Of Posies paper stacks (I think they came from the Paper Mill Shop but wouldn’t swear to it). I’ve just decided whilst looking at this pic that the flowers need some little gems in the centre so I’ll do that in a sec. I think it’ll finish it off nicely and also pick up the ones on the butterfly.

So that’s me card :)

I’m on a flyer today cos I have shed loads to do and then I have a workshop later so I need to get the butt moving. You notice that I didn't say lardy butt as I usually so. That's cos I have lost a total of 15lbs now – woohoooo – and it aint as mahoosive as it once was. I can now fit onto my size 12 jeans again. Not that long ago they would only go just past me knees!!!

So all that cycling is paying off. I wasn’t exactly enjoying it once upon a time, but as I always say,  if you want to dance you have to pay the band!!!!

Have the fabbiest of days peeps and see you later in the week.

Huggiest of hugs xxxx

Peachy Last Post For Anya :(x

 

Ohh its a bit of a sad day for me today cos it’s my last post for the Anyone For Anya Challenge.  I so wanted to get his post on the blog in time cos I am usually late with it, but we had a bit of a misshap this morning – tell you in a sec!!!

Although I am sad to leave, I know in my heart that it is the right thing to do and I wish Yvonne and the rest of the AFA girlies the very best for the future  xxxx

It’s my last post and it’s also the last one of the month so that means it’s sketchie time :)

So …..

…. this is the very chap.

 

And this is the very card.

I used Nora On A Swing – she is a cutie I think – and she is available from Tracy at Dies To Die For – you can see her right here peeps :)

I coloured her with Copics (which Tracy also has) in the following colours -

E00, E21, E31, E35, E42, E50, R11, R20, YR00, YR02, YR31, YR61

Those totally delish papers are SEI – Happy Days Confetti which  has a sprinkling of green glitter and is double sided. I really love these papers and I got them from Purple Butterfly Crafts which is a craft shop local to me and is situated within Daleside Garden Centre in Hawarden. It’s been revamped and is utterly FAB!!!! I don’t know if they do mail order but if you follow the link, there’s a phone number and you could ask Lesley.

I’m doing some workshops there in July which I’m really excited about :)

The pretty rose is of course from Wild Orchid Crafts, as are the pins, and the butterfly is an old punch I have. The white didn't show up well against the white so I punched some out in peach and layered them up – I think it looks quite pretty.

I really like the colours on this card – they’re fresh and clean looking which is right up my street!!!

Well the ballet show went well yesterday.

There were 2 shows and the first one was pretty much perfect – or as well as could be expected from a loads of dinkies. But the second one went a bit awry and to be honest, it was my fave. The kids had all had cake and juice and been on the bouncy castle in between shows and were quite frankly over- adrenalized, bless them.

But it was hilarious.

The babies class were on first and one little mite decided that she didn't want to dance, she just wanted to squeal. So she did. Then the rest of them joined in. I am tittering as I’m typing this cos it was soooo funny – 6 little dinks in pretty pink tutus all squealing at the audience!!!  But they raised lots of money for Leukaemia research which was fab. There were a couple of famous dads there as well – better not say who they were, but one was the first in the queue at the bar, and the other had his son with him who was a complete and utter little sod!!!!

My poor Emma was in charge of the dressing room as she is CRB checked etc and she was exhausted by the end of the afternoon, so we all went up to Parkgate for fish and chips and ice cream :)

Now the reason I was a bit late this morning was because a certain little ballerina was left with her granddad while I started the post. I heard him saying something to her and so I went to investigate, only to find the dining room floor was sopping wet and she was busily mopping away. She had told him that she was mopping the floor and he said OK, that's fine because he thought the mop was dry, as it usually is. BUT I had left the mop soaking in disinfectant last night and that’s what she was using – un-wrung out I should add!!  I wasn't too impressed so I had to clean it up. 

Kids and men – it’s a dreadful combination (unless that’s just in our house)!!!

Right, that’s me done chicks. Nicola and I are off to town to do a bit of shopping so I need to get ready. There is a new Primark opened (or Primarni and my two call it lol xxx) so we are off for a nosey. Have the fabbiest of Sundays and see you in the week.

Hugs to all xxx

A Bit Of A Giveaway :)

It is indeed – and more of that in a sec :)

I was so honoured and delighted when the sweetness that is Emma asked me if I would like to be Guest Designer for them over at the Allsorts Challenge blog.

They have a FABULOUS theme this week is and it is embossing.

So this is my card.

I have been itching to ink up this cute little H&S baby ever since it arrived at chez piggy – it’s my first ever H&S set and I just HAD to use it for this challenge. I coloured her with the following Copics -

C3, E00, E21, E35, E50, R11, R20, RV00, V02, RV10, RV13

You can sort of see the embossing on the white panel (hopefully!!). I used a Scor-Pal board to make embossed diagonal lines and then just dotted a little bit of Glamour Dust where the lines intersected. IRL it does look quite effective even if you can hardly tell from this pic - and it so quick and easy to do.

The white scalloped layer under the image was made using a Nellies Multi Frame – rectangles and Tracy at Dies to Die For has these beauties in stock

and here they are.

The gorgeous pale pink organza ribbon and blooms are of course from the wonderful Wild Orchid Crafts

If you click on each pic it will take you to the right place on the website :)

The tag was made using a Cuttlebug embossing folder…..

… this one here.

It’s called It’s a Girl, and Paula and Sue at Crafts U Love have them in the sale – you can see them here peeps :) I just added a little bit of chalk – well you can never have too much pink can you lol xxx

So that’s my card and I have to say a big thank you to all the girls at Allsorts for having me this week xxx

And as a proper thank you, I thought it might be nice to have a little bit of giftage to go with the challenge, so I have 5 sets of everything I used to make my card to giveaway. I must point out that you’ll get the image and NOT the actual stamp peeps, cos as much as I’d love to do that, I would be bankrupt and in the divorce courts if I did. But you’ll get the paper, blooms, die cut frame, ribbon, border etc etc :)

So if you want a set, all you have to do is make your card and then put Dawny after your name on Mr Linky – you'll find all the details over at the challenge - and I’ll post the winners next Saturday

Well we are off today to watch Kyla in her first ballet show - awww!! Then I have to get my card done for my last AFA post tomorrow. So I’ll see you back here in the morning.

Have the fabbiest of days and hugs to all xxx

Any Better Peeps?

I think this is maybe a little better but it still isn't 100% as sharp as it might be. But then again, neither am I so who am I to point the finger!!!

Well it is Friday and I have got off to a flying start today. I’ve done a shed load of housework (booo, hisssss), including cleaning my office (boooo hisssss - how sad am I!!) and I haven’t even had me brekkie yet :)

So as it is Friday, it’s time for another challenge with the fabulous Just Magnolia girlies and this week our Bev has done a sketch for us to follow and …..

… I really loved it – it’s fab isn't it.

And this is what I did.

I gave Tilda and her Peony and bit of  a going over with the Copics, and don’t faint cos I remembered not to chuck out the list during the tidy up operation.

So I used -

E0000, E00, E21, E31, E35, E42, E50, R0000, R00, R11, R20, R32, R85

The fabulous flowers and little stranded pearly beads  are of course from the always wonderful Wild Orchid Crafts. This pic does not do that pink cherry blossom flower justice at all cos IRL it is the most gorgeous shade of pink, it really is.

The papers are all Pink Petticoat – Lots Of Dots, Gingham  and Spring Wishes and I used pretty pink and mocha shades.

And a few little The Hobby House pearls and a scrap of pink grosgrain ribbon finished it all off.

Well what a finish to the tennis-athon yesterday, and I was secretly glad that John Isner won it because he is such a sweetie. I so wish I was there today with my lovely bloggy pal Kath and I will be looking out for her on the telly. Instead I will have to make do with finishing off my week’s work, organising the next lot of classes at the craft centre around the corner (well, sort of!!), doing the prep for a class I have next week, and maybe squeezing in making a card or two whilst I am at it!!!! Then his Lordship has informed me that we are going out on our bikes later as we have been slacking a bit this week (cos of the tennis!!).

Then tomorrow, our Kyla has her first show at ballet – awww I feel a bit of a weep coming on. We saw the rehearsals last week and that was bad enough. But I know I am not the only embarrassing Grandma out there so there’s bound to be a couple of us at it, and my Aunty Jean is good for a sniffle or two as well so I will be in good company!!!

Enjoy this beautiful day lovely peeps and see you tomorrow cos I’ll be back with a GD card  :)

Huggiest of sunny hugs xxx

Lots Of Shakes But STILL No Copics!!!!

Yes we’ve been at it again peeps. I just had to use another one of these fabby die cut images, and I tell you what, they didn't half come in handy yesterday – more in a sec!!

I firstly must apologise for the blurry and rather dodgy pics here today.  My camera isn’t feeling too well by the looks of it -  and I don't know why it has developed the shakes all of a sudden – grrrrr!!!

So please do not adjust your set – tis me and not your eyes (and I wasn’t even drunk!!!! )

So over at the Lili Of The Valley Thursday challenge, it’s time for a sketch and ….

… this is the very chap!!!

Now yesterday, Kyla was going to her friend Heaths birthday party and Emma got her a card (she bought one  cos she doesn’t like mine!!!)  but she realised yesterday that there was no envelope with it :(   

So  I had to make one  fairly quickly and my stash of LOTV Die Cut Sheets really did come to the rescue :)

And this is what I did -  IRL your eyeballs don't wobble when you look at it, honestly!!!

 

The only thing I can tell you about the papers is that the grey stripy one is Pink Petticoat.

I found the red ones in my stash and I wish I knew where they came from because I really like them. They are an  A4 sheet, rather than a 12 x 12 but they don't have a name on them sadly. If anybody recognises them please do let me know because I’d love to get some more xxx

So that’s the card done peeps.

I took Kyla to Heath’s party yesterday – cutest lil fella he is - and we all had one eye on the kids and the other on the telly. The poor kids must have thought we were all nutters when the final whistle went.  Then I dropped her back home then flew back to catch up with the tennis.

Well, did anybody watch the marathon match? I could not tear myself away – it was fantastic, and there’s more of it today. When R told me to check out the score, I thought the eyes were playing tricks on me and you have to feel so sorry for whoever will eventually lose.

So I best get on and get me work done so I can see the end of it later. I’m assuming it will finish today but you never know!!!

Have a fab day peeps and I’ll be back manana along with something Tilda-ish :) Hoe the camera is sorted by then!!!

Huggiest of hugs xxxx

What …… No Copics?????

Yes it’s true – this is a Copics free zone today.

In fact, come to think of it,  there isn't a pen of any description in sight!!!

The reason is that I got meself some of the new Lili Of The Valley Die Cuts last week and they are just so beautiful peeps, they really are.  So I thought I’d use one today for my Papertake Weekly card.

These die cut sheets are already coloured, and there are 9 per sheet, so they are brilliant value as well –  if you get a sec, check it all out here

So our challenge this week over at PTW is a sketch - 

- this bad boy here, and this …..

… is what I did with it.

Yes,  another easel card and STLL not good at doing the pic thing with them sadly :(

The die cut image I used was Afternoon Tea (oh yes please) and those gorge papers are Pink Petticoat, Stripes (silver) and Really Big Dots (quartz). these colours matched the image perfectly. I added a sprinkling of Glamour Dust to the image as well – not too much, just a bit of highlighting really. You can maybe see it better in the top pic :)

The pretty blooms are of course from the fabbydoodles Wild Orchid Crafts (yes, I’m still pinching myself lol xxx

The blingy pins are from the also fabbydoodles Dies To Die For.  I THINK Tracy is uploading the pics etc sometime this week so keep checking peeps. There is also lots of newbie stuff going on the website as well :)

The sentiment is from the Thinking Angel stamp set from Butterfly Kisses – I am sooo glad that they have their website up and running now.

So that’s me done for today chicksters. I’m off to SW19 courtesy of the TV shortly – no actual  trip for us this year sadly -  cos a certain Rafa is playing later and I think he is going to have a good year this year :)  So I have some strawbs in the fridge – no cream due to the ruddy diet which quite frankly is doing my head in now -  and I’m going to watch it and pretend I am there.  I could maybe stretch to a weak Pimms with diet lemonade as well later on and really live dangerously!!!!!.

Or maybe I should get out more!!!

Have a fab day peeps,  see you soon and huggiest of hugs xxxx

Pink & Pretty :)

Just for a change!!!

But I had one of those ‘what am I going to do’ moments where Mr Mojo seemed to be acting up. So I stayed in my comfort zone – sort of!!! I don't often use circles or round things on my cards – not sure why really and it isn't intentional, but it just happens like that.

Maybe my brain is square – assuming there is actually anything at all between the ears that is :)

Our challenge this week over at Anyone For Anya is

Fabulous Flowers

and as I am still on cloud nine re my Wild Orchid Crafts news, then it is doubly fabulous for me  - I am still grinning like a Cheshire Cat!!

So this is my card and I have to confess that that my Copics list was chucked in the bin as I was tidying us before we went out this morning :(  

The image I used today is one of the TGF Happy Days duo which is available from Tracy at Dies To Die For. The scalloped circle is one of Nellie's Multi Frames and Tracy has these as well.

The gorgeous bloom are of course Wild Orchid Crafts – how pretty is that pink!!!

And that’s the old card peeps.

I’m really later getting this on here today because we’ve been out all day, having a picnic and enjoying the glorious weather we’ve had. We’ve been walking and climbing and now as a result, we are completely pooped!!! So I am off for a nice shower and then put my feet up and just chiiiiiiiiiiiiill :) I hope everyone had a fab weekend and I’ll see you in the week with a bit more cardage.

Hugs to all xxx

Butterflies, Blooms & BRILLIANT News :)))))o

 

Hiya lovely peeps and I hope that you are all OK.

There’s a few bits and bobs going on here today including some news I just HAVE to share because I am still doing the happy dance and I’ve pinched meself so much that I am black and blue lol !!!

But first things first.

It's Friday (yayyyyyy!!) and it’s time for another challenge with the girlie over at Just Magnolia. I have a sneaky feeling that you are going to love this challenge – the JM girlies all did for sure. Our theme this week is

In The Garden

so it’s time to get out your butterflies, bugs and blooms and whatever else you can think of and include them on your cards. The other reason I think it's going to be a popular challenge this week is because of this fabulous prize ….

…here.

Yes, this week we are sponsored by the ever wonderful Paul & Siri from Wild Orchid Crafts 

And this …..

 

… is what I did.

I have to say that I just LOVE easel cards but I cannot for the life of me photograph them properly. I can never ever get the angle quite right, so if anybody has any tips, please pretty please enlighten moi,  because it really does my head in!!

I used Tilda & Eddie from an older collection and put them together so that they looked like they were holding hands running through the garden catching butterflies.

The Copics I used were -

C00, C1, C3, C5, B00, B60, B63, BV0000, E0000, E00, E21, E33, E43, E51, R00, R11, YR0000, YR00.

And you can get your mitts on your own Copics supply from the loveliness that is Tracy at Dies To Die For –  and here they all are.

 

The gorgeous blooms were of course from Wild Orchid Crafts, as were the little rose leaves which I really like. The little butterfly is one of the first punches I ever got  and I;m not sure where I got it from to be honest.

I do know where I got this beautiful butterfly from though - 

It’s one of the new Marianne Designs Creatables that  Tracy has in stock and this is Butterfly Style 3.  You can use these with your Cuttlebug or Big Shot – aren’t they pretty and a great size as well? The MSBP is on there as well – just for a change!!! – and of course you can get these beauties from Tracy as well.

That gorgeous pretty pink paper is from Craftwork Cards. It’s from the new Sugar & Spice paper packs and what you can’t tell from the pic is how lovely it feels. The quality is superb and it’s great value as well I think.

So onto my news.

I am so totally thrilled to tell you that I have been asked to join the brand new Wild Orchid Crafts DT. I tell you peeps, I literally had to read Paul’s e-mail 3 times before it sunk in – no joking. I couldn't believe it but then I got this ….

Wooohooooo!!

I really do love love LOVE their products and am so looking forward to working with them, and also the rest of the DT and Paul & Siri too. There’s a lot of exiting things planned so  watch this space.

OK, there’s a bit of indulgence coming up, (OK, maybe a bit MORE indulgence, heehee)!!!

But I just HAD to show you this

I can’t quite believe we have had our little poppet for 4 1/2 years.

It’s a bit of a milestone pic this, because it’s her last ever nursery photo. She is off to big school in September and is going to have her uniform fitted etc later today before she comes to ours for the night. I'm not going with them because I will make a holy show of myself and start blubbing. I feel quite emotional about it because she is growing up so fast, it’s scary.

So that's my indulgence over lol !!

Have a  fab day and a great weekend and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Neopolitan Ice Cream

  Yes we have a bit if a yummy challenge over at Papertake Weekly because this week it’s

Ice Cream Flavours

so we want to see the colours of your fave ice cream reflected in your card. Well I had a real choice for this because I LOVE the stuff, but in the end I went for Neapolitan!!!

And this is what I did.

The images is one of Di’s Digital Downloads and she is our sponsor this week - there are 5 digis of your choice up for grabs :).  If you haven't checked out the website, do nip and have a look cos they are verrrry sweet.

Now I had another senior moment and chucked away the Copics list so sorry lovelies!!! And the papers are from the 12 x 12 mountain again so no clues there.

But ……

… the gorge blooms are Wild Orchid Crafts

and ….

… we have a bit of Martha’s Doily punch again which is on my fave pile once more (Tracy has these over at Dies To Die For if you haven't yet bagged yerslef one – they are sooo fab!!!).

Please excuse the flyer peeps today cos I am sinking under the paper in here – cry cry :(    I’ll be back soon as soon with another helping of pigginess but until then, take care and huggiest of hugs to all xxx