Tuesday 31 May 2011

Fairy Stars & Stripes (& glitter of course!)

Today I've got a little LOTV fairy card to share. I have loved this image ever since I got it, and have phases where I make lots of cards with it, in different colour schemes.  Today's card is brought to you in the colour "dusky pink"!!!

Card Recipe:

Freebies:
Finally, as promised above, here are some Sentiment freebies, including the one I've used above.  You're welcome to download them if you like them; click on each image for a larger version, then right click and 'save picture as' to save to your own computer. 

My conditions are as follows:
  1. Please become a follower, then you will see more freebies as they are posted,
  2. Please leave a comment on this post to let me know you've downloaded it, and
  3. Please don't share my freebies directly with other people.
I also adore seeing your creations using my digi sentiments, so I'd really love you to send me an email with links to your creations so I can pop over for a peek.




I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Monday 30 May 2011

Kute Kittens !!!

It is a new challenge today at Stamp Fairy Challenge Blog and the theme is a sketch.

I've been inspired by the quote : "It is impossible to keep a straight face in the presence of one or more kittens". How true that is, so here's my take on the sketch, using 3 images of Kasi the Kitten from Stamp Fairy, coloured of course in ginger like my little Arnie !!  The bottom 'peeking' image of Kasi is actually a generous freebie.  I've added flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, a chiffon ribbon from my stash and some flat backed pearls in orange to complement the ginger.


I hope you like my little Arnie  Kasi card !   Please pop on over to Stamp Fairy challenges to enter our sketch challenge this week and don't forget to pop over and have a peek at the creations from the other DT members too.  I look forward to seeing your creations. Here's a preview of the sketch:


There are also two new releases at Stamp Fairy today, Lenny Fathers Day and related sentiments, so check out the new releases out today:



I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Fish Ahoy !

This week at Incy Wincy the challenge is Nature.  We're sponsored by the fab Di's Digi Downloads and I'm showcasing the lovely image called Fish Ahoy!  I've coloured the image with Promarkers and chalks, and used a blue colour theme, with little dark blue gems, pale pearly butterflies, flowers and a little wired bow (love this ribbon from Fantastic Ribbons!)


Please pop on over to Incy Wincy to see the fab creations by the other members of the design team, and also to enter our Nature challenge. 

I've been inspired by:
Have fun.

Saturday 28 May 2011

Walking Bear

This week at 2 Sisters Challenge the theme is Anything Goes and we're sponsored by Crafty Sentiments & Glitterbabes.  The image I've used is Going Camping from Crafty Sentiments and is great for a male themed card.  I've used lots of blue and some embossed card with papers from Summertime Designs.


Please pop on over to the 2 Sisters blog to see the other designs by the talented design team and to enter our 'Anything Goes' challenge.

I've been inspired by:
Happy Crafting

Friday 27 May 2011

Red White & Blue

It's Friday so today is a new release day at Stamp Fairy.  This week we're showcasing Herb with his US Flag and related sentiment (freebie at Stamp Fairy). I've used lots of red white and blue (apart from the bear himself) and added some lace, gems and ribbon. I've coloured the image with Promarkers and the sentiment with chalks.


Pop on over to Stamp Fairy to see the lovely images and the new release out today, Herb Patriot.


I've been inspired by the following:
Have fun

Monday 23 May 2011

Birthday Bunny Balloons

This week the new challenge at Stamp Fairy Weekly Challenge is 'It's my Party' and you're challenged to use balloons somewhere on your project.  I've used the adorable little Clemantine Bunny (the one where she's sitting on her carrot, but I've cut off the carrot part) and I've added 2 sets of the freebie balloons and glittered them up.  I've used my new Floral Doily Motifs nesties, added some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and some sparkly star gems.  The papers are from Summertime Designs and the sentiment is one of my own freebies.


There is also a new release at Stamp Fairy today, Lenny Memorial Day.


Please pop on over to Stamp Fairy Challenge blog to see the fab creations by the other talented members of the design team, and to enter our Party Balloons challenge.

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Lavender & Lace

This week at Incy Wincy the theme is Lavender & Lace, and we're sponsored by Sassy Studio Designs.  I've used Crissy's Prom for my sample card, and covered a square of lilac card completely in strips of overlapping lace, sticking them to the back of the card with tape before sticking to my base card.  I've then added some purple accessories in the form of beaded oval nestie, buttons, bow and flowers.  I've coloured the image with Promarkers (skin), watercolour pencils (dress and hair) and shimmer chalks, shading around the image.  The sentiment is one of my own that you can help yourself to on my freebies page.


Please pop over to Incy Wincy to see the creations by the other members of the design team, and to enter our Lavender & Lace theme challenge.

I've been inspired by :
Have fun

Sunday 22 May 2011

Blowing Bubbles

I'm going back to my roots again today as I've got another Penny Black to share with little Hedgy blowing bubbles.  The card is mainly blue, with a little touch of red, and I've added sparkly gems, a butterfly charm and some flowers as embelishments along with a ribbon and bow.  The baby sentiment is one of my own and all three papers are from Summertime Designs.  I hope you like my little card.


I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting

Saturday 21 May 2011

Fairy Happy Birthday

This week at 2 Sisters Challenge Blog the theme is to use a Digi.  We're sponsored by the fabulous Pizzazz Aplenty.  I've chosen to use one of my all-time fave digi stamps which is Patsy Toothfairy (without the tooth) from Stamp Fairy, and the papers are Summertime Designs.  The sentiment is one of my own, see my freebies if you'd like it.


I'm not sure if it shows up in the photo, but I used blue shimmer chalk around the image, pink shimmer chalk on the wings and a little dusting over the dress and hair which I had already coloured in Promarkers.  I put "fluffy stuff" on the cloud and heated it up to make it textured.


Please pop on over to 2 Sisters Challenge to see the fabulous creations by the other members of the design team, and to enter our Digi Stamp challenge.

Happy Crafting

Fairytales

This week at One Stop Craft Challenge the theme is Fairytales.  We're sponsored by Sassy Studio and I've used Princess Ariel for my sample card in a pink theme. The papers are Summertime Designs, I've added pink roses, lacey circle nesties, pink pearl stars and a double pink bow.  The sentiment is one of my own (with a large brad in the center), which you are welcome to download from my freebies page if you wish.


Please pop over to the One Stop Craft Challenge to see the creations by the other members of the design team, and to enter our Fairytales challenge.

I've been inspired by the following:
Have fun

Friday 20 May 2011

Cheers

It's Friday and that means there is a new release at Stamp Fairy.  This week it is Linda Cheerleader (plus a free "CHEER" sentiment).  She is so cute in her little cheerleading dress and pom poms (is there a proper name for those pom pom things?)  I've used lilac for the card, adding some pink ribbon and gems, and some glitter on the pom poms.  The embossing folder is Budding Vine from Craft Concepts, the papers are from Summertime Designs and the sentiment that I've used is one of my freebies.


Here's the full preview of the new release out today at Stamp Fairy:


My card has been inspired by:
Happy crafting

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Back to the beginning ...

Penny Black stamps were the brand that started me stamping, and I was always buying new stamps, mainly the cheesecake mice and hedgies as they were always my faves.  I remember when I once took some cards into work to try to sell off to create some space (about 50 that I'd accumulated over a short space of time) and someone looked through them and said "There are a lot with hedgehogs in here!". 

Since then my addiction has spread to other rubber stamp brands (like LOTV) and now that I'm also hooked on digis, courtesy of my favourite Stamp Fairy digis, it has meant that the Penny Blacks have been 'missing in action' for a little while. 

So I dug out my 'old faithfuls' and inked one up to create this little card, which I'm really pleased with. I created a shaped card with my circle cutter, and coloured the image with my Twinkling H2O watercolour paints, cutting it out and layering it up on sticky pads.  The beautiful papers are both from Summertime Designs.  I've added a couple of pale pink roses from Wild Orchid Crafts, some ribbon and pink lace.  Finally the lovely little white gems on the side edges were an out-of-the-blue surprise gift from my utterly lovely Incy Wincy team coordinator, Chris.  Thank you soooooo much Chris, you're fab, and I'm proud to be on the team! 


I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting

Monday 16 May 2011

It's so hard to stop (and freebies)

This week at Stamp Fairy the challenge theme is to use 3 embellishments (3 different ones or 3 the same).  For me this was really hard to do as I'm so used to using a splatter gun approach with gems, flowers, ribbons, pearls etc that to use just 3 embellishments was a real challenge to hold myself back!  I settled on lace, a single flower and a silver bow from wired ribbon.

It is our wedding anniversary on Saturday, and I wanted to make an anniversary card for my hubby in a spring-fold heart shape.  I've used Lenny & Linda Wedding, for my first spring-fold card (far easier when I followed a tutorial).  I'd been meaning to make one of these for ages, and it was really just a bit of folding, but I wanted the card to be in the shape of a heart, so I cut out a heart and stuck it over the main diamond part of the spring card.  The fab papers are Dreamy from Robyn's Fetish and the sentiment is one of my own (see below).


Please pop on over to the Stamp Fairy challenge blog to see the other creations by the fab teamies, and to enter our "3 embellishments" challenge. 

Update:
OK, I have to admit that I was a bit concerned that my card was going to be a bit 'girlie' to give to my hubby after I'd added the lace, but I thought it needed something around the edge (plus I couldn't help myself).  Then I was casually chatting to my hubby about our Anniversary (ie reminding him that it is this week, cos he'd completely forgotten!!) and I asked him what kind of card he'd like to receive from me.  He replied 'not one of yours, cos they're not very masculine'.   Nice !!!   I can't think what he means [says she who is surrounded by pink, lacy, glittery crafting stuff].   I wonder if I can find a zombie anniversary image which would better suit his masculine taste, with a matching sentiment of "Wishing you a 'dead' good Anniversary"?  Otherwise he's going to get a post-it note with "Happy Anniversary" written on it with a biro.  Today's card has therefore been added to my supplies for someone else who will appreciate it more, while I go back to the drawing board!

Freebies:
Finally, I've been promising some more freebies for a while now, so I guess that I'd better live up to my promises.  So, here are some freebies which have been featured on my recent cards, including the one I've used above.  You're free to download them if you like them; click on each image for a larger version, then right click and 'save picture as' to save to your own computer. 

My conditions are as follows:
  1. Please become a follower, then you will see more freebies as they are posted,
  2. Please leave a comment on this post to let me know you've downloaded it, and
  3. Please don't share my freebies directly with other people.
I also adore seeing your creations using my digi sentiments, so I'd really love you to send me an email with links to your creations so I can pop over for a peek!






I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting.

Lacey Bride

The new challenge at Incy Wincy this week is Clean & Simple, and we're sponsored by Digital Delights. I've used Madison the Bride for my sample card and used a really simple layout in lilacs.  However, I couldn't resist the urge to add some lace, and feel that I was still keeping it simple by not adding an array of flowers, which was as much restraint as I could manage.


Please pop on over to Incy Wincy to see the creations by the other members of the design team, and to enter our Clean & Simple challenge.

I've been inspired by the following:
Have fun.

Sunday 15 May 2011

Flowering Tree & Guest Designer for Gingerloft

I've got a special post today as I've been invited to be a guest designer for Gingerloft this week.  The challenge is Trees and I've used Flowering Tree, and printed it in olive green. The only colouring I've done is to colour the little butterflies in a pale red water colour pencil.  I was planning on using a completely green theme, but I decided I couldn't resist using some pink, so I added a pink embossed panel, some pink flowers, pearls and some gorgeous pink sparkly ribbon (15mm Ilissa Pink / Opal) from Fantastic Ribbons.  The sentiment is one of my own and will be a freebie soon (with some others).  I hope you like my card and look forward to seeing your creations for the Gingerloft Tree challenge this week.


I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting

Saturday 14 May 2011

Summer is here (& a story about Beryl)

Beryl (the chicken) escaped this morning, and spent a happy hour rearranging my flower beds (very kind of her).  Then, so sooner had I returned her to her HUGE penned in area (which is the whole of our 10m x 10m lawn (aparantly 100SqM of lush grass is not enough for her!!!)  and she had escaped again (I don't even think I was back inside the house from sweeping up the last mess she'd made).  This time she headed for my veggie plot and ate her way through the whole of my newly planted purple sprouting broccoli seedlings. 

I was NOT amused to say the least.  So now she's ruined it for Mabel (who is as good as gold) as they're both spending the rest of the day inside their smaller (but still flippin' huge) run that they're usually only confined to when we're both at work.  We've spent the rest of the morning trying to chicken proof the veggie plots (never gonna happen!).

Anyway, as the sun is out today, I'm sharing Patsy Beachtime from Stamp Fairy for a quick card.  I used an embossing folder [update : "In Bloom" from Craft Concepts] for the background with some sandy peach coloured papers from Robyn's Fetish behind for the main card.  I also used a lovely orange gingham ribbon (John Lewis), a bow (from the same ribbon) and a single cream rose.


I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting.

How does your garden grow

This week at 2 Sisters our challenge theme is "How Does Your Garden Grow". We're sponsored by Patties Creations who have supplied the image called Tulips in Vase for us to showcase.  I've used a purple colour theme, adding flowers, a little pin, ribbon, a bow, my own sentiment and a bit of lace.  The papers are from Summertime Designs.


Please pop on over to 2 Sisters to see the creations by the other members of the design team, and to enter our How does your garden grow challenge.
I've been inspired by:
Have fun

Friday 13 May 2011

Piggy Cowboy - Yee Ha !!!

Well, I think there have been a few Friday 13th gremlins playing with blogger today, and everything I typed in last night has vanished!  Doh !!!

Anyway, there's a new release at Stamp Fairy today, Piggy Cowboys, and I've made a little sample card with one of the new images and the freebie sentiment "Yee Ha" !!!  I've used my nesties (as usual !), lovely floral papers, and added some embossed card, pink ribbon and pink flowers.   I've also added some pink liquid pearls and also some green flat back pearls along the ribbon and also on the points of the label nesties.  I'm not entirely sure the pink ribbon is right on this card as I had wanted it to be a bit masculine, but I really like the image and hope that holds it together? Let me know what you think.


Here's the rest of the new release images:


I've been inspired by the following:
Have fun.

Thursday 12 May 2011

Panda Paul and Pauline

Today I'm sharing a little card featuring Panda Paul and Pauline from Stamp Fairy.  I've used my Promarkers to colour in the cute little image, layered it twice for a 3d effect and used nesties, flowers, chiffon ribbon, lace and some flat backed gems as embelishments.  The sentiment is one of my own and I've used papers by Summertime Designs.

Front:

Inside:

Full Card:

I've been inspired by the following:
Have fun

Tuesday 10 May 2011

Green Donny Bee

Another little Stamp Fairy card for today (boy, I'm addicted to these little critters!). Today it is little Donny Bear in his bee costume and I've done a Spring green colour scheme with a bit of lemon for accents.  He's so cute sitting on his beehive.  I've used promarkers, circle lacey nesties, some flat back pearls with some arranged in a circle with some gold liquid pearls center to make a kind of pearl flower, and my usual flower arrangement. 


I've been inspired by the following:
Happy Crafting


Monday 9 May 2011

Ain't No Sunshine When You're Gone

I do love little Patsy, so I'll take any opportunity to let her out to play in the rain, and this fab little sentiment (from Tracey Brossart) goes so well with the rainy theme.  This week at Stamp Fairy the theme is a sketch:

Here's my take on the sketch using little Patsy April Showers, I've decorated the front and the inside with complementary Patsy images.  The sketch was a really interesting one for me as I tried a new technique on this one. The sketch showed some stitiching on the panels and usually in the past whenever I've had to do stitching, I've always drawn on faux stitching, but I've been meaning to have a go with the sewing machine for ages now (just seemed a big deal to lug out the sewing machine but hubby recently sold his desktop computer in favour of a laptop so the computer desk is now conveniently empty - well, not for long as my sewing machine is now on it!)


It was much harder to get a straight line than I had thought. I'd never had a problem with fabric (and I used to do a lot of sewing when I was younger with my trusty 25 year old sewing machine) but sewing a straight line on paper was a whole different ball game, even with a spacer foot on the machine.  Anyway, I think I've hidden up the dodgy bits under the image, sentiment and a few strategically placed gems. 

Finally, for a bit of a change which I've done lately, I've used my watercolour pencils for most of the image, instead of just my Promarkers. They give a much softer colouring, but I'm not a true convert and the Promarkers are still my fave choice, so I did sneak them in for the skin and hair.  The papers are Summertime Designs and the nesties are from Homespun from the Heart.

Here's the sketch:


Here is the inside of my card:


I hope that I've inspired you to enter our sketch challenge at Stamp Fairy this week. Please pop on over to the challenge blog to see the fab creations by the other members of the design team, and I look forward to seeing your creations.

I've been inspired by the following:
Have fun.

Lady In Red

The theme at Incy Wincy this week is Girlie / Mother's Day and we're sponsored by Kenny K who've supplied this Bathing Beauty image for us to play with.  I've decided to design another sentiment as I wanted one that fitted my Oval nesties so I had to create one that was the right shape.  It ended up a bit pale as I coloured it pink to fit the colour scheme of my card, but it kind of looks ok(ish) still.


Please pop on over to Incy Wincy to see the fab creations designed by the other members of the design team, and to enter our girlie / mother's day challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations.

I've been inspired by the following:
Have Fun

Sunday 8 May 2011

Good Luck Cats

I've got a little Good Luck card to share today, from an image by LOTV of some little kittens playing with a lucky horseshoe which I've coloured using watercolour pencils.  I've used embossing, two patterned papers, and some ribbon & lace. I've pierced the main backing paper all the way around the edge with three rows of piercing and added my favourite array of flowers.  I've used a blue theme this time for a change from my usual pinks and lilacs.  Hope you like my lucky card.  The sentiment is one of my own and will be a freebie available soon.


I've been inspired by the following:
Have fun.

Saturday 7 May 2011

Double Trouble

This week at 2 Sisters the challenge is Distressing.  We're sponsored by 2 generous companies this week, Stitchy Bear and One Stop Craft Shop.  This is not one of my favourite themes so I've struggled with inspiration a bit.  I've therefore used 2 torn panels of card, one plain and one patterned, layered onto a distressed looking patterned paper used for the main card.  I've also chalked the outer edges of my nestie with gold shimmer chalk for a more aged look, and used one single embellishment being a huge coffee coloured flower which I think complements the distressed theme.  I'm not sure I've completely mastered this distressed theme, but it's not too bad (is it???) !!!  The sentiment is one of my own, and is available on my freebies page if you'd like to download it.


Please pop on over to 2 Sisters to see the creations from the other members of the design team and to link up your cards for our distressed challenge.

I've been inspired by the following:
Have fun


Happy 30th to Shelley

This one's for you Shelley - Happy 30th Birthday.

Well how appropriate is this....  at the One Stop Craft Challenge this week, the theme is Special Birthdays, in celebration of Shelley, our team supervisor, who is 30 on the 5th.  Please pop on over to see her to give her your best birthday wishes.    However, that's not all, because this is also my 200th blog post, which is also something of a special occasion, so I think there is definitely reason for a celebratory card !!!

This week we're sponsored by Limited Runs, who've provided this little birthday cupcake.  Sorry Shelley, but I couldn't resist using cupcake that is almost bursting from its huge bunch of candles - no reference there to the big Three-O, honest  ;0) 

I've used my lacey circle nesties from Homespun from the Heart, papers from Summertime Designs, Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, and some mini buttons and lace from my stash.  The 30th Birthday sentiment is one of my own, one of a pile that you can help yourself to on my freebies page.


Please pop on over to One Stop Craft Challenge to see the fab creations by the other members of the design team, and to enter our 'Special Birthdays' challenge.

I've been inspired by the following:
Have fun

Friday 6 May 2011

Donny Ladybug & Cute Freebies

There's a new release at Stamp Fairy today, Donny Ladybug.  I decided I couldn't resist him and had to make a little card to welcome him to the Stamp Fairy world!   He is absolutely adorable and is my new favourite Stamp Fairy image (until the next one of course!).   I really like how this card came out, and I'm sure it is the lovely images that give me inspiration.

He has inspired the red colour theme of red ribbons, liquid pearls and flowers. I've used my new nesties and cut out some of the Stamp Fairy freebie ladybirds from the new release as embelishments too.   The papers are from Bearly Mine, and the sentiment is one of my own with a freebie ladybird in the middle.  If you'd like the basic sentiment, then please look below.


Here's the rest of the new release images, they are so cute:



As promised, I've tried my hand at some more of my favourite requests from the comments left on my 'freebies - your choice' post last month.  Please continue to leave suggestions (preferably on that post as it keeps them all together when I go looking for inspiration!) and I'll continue to try my hand at some creations.  There are more on the way.....

Today's theme is cute sentiments as requested by Janie Printz on my request post.  Janie, these are for you, honey!  Hope you like them.

As usual, my conditions are:
  • Please become a follower (if you're not already), so you see more freebies as they're posted,
  • Please don't distribute my digis directly to others, but I'd be delighted if you let others know where you got it from (if you're asked) so they can come on over and grab anything they want, and
  • Please leave me a comment to let me know you've downloaded them .
Click on each image to see it full size, then select Save Picture.





I'd also be delighted to see the creations you make with my digi so please feel free to email me a link to your blogpost and I'll be delighted to pop along to see how you've incorporated it to your project.

I've been inspired by the following:
Have fun.

Tuesday 3 May 2011

Pink Dotty

I've made a really simple little card today, using my current favourite DP, a couple of scraps of pink ribbon, a strip of lace and some pearls.  Oh, and my new NESTIE !!! Yippee - I just love this Fleur de Lis one after seeing it on lots of blogs lately and couldn't resist a little purchase.  I think I'm addicted to these things (no cure being sought!).  I've used the smaller nestie on the inside of the card too, and used two complementary images of Baby Dotty from the fabulous Stamp Fairy.   

I double stamped the image and cut out the second one to layer it over the base image on sticky pads for depth.  I also used pink shimmer chalk around the base image and sentiment for shadow.  The "Congratulations" sentiment is one of my own, and you can download it from my Freebies page if you want it.   Finally, with all the detail on the beautiful paper and nestie, I actually resisted the urge to splatter-gun loads of flowers over the card for once!    Hope you like my "Dotty" card.

Front :

 Inside :

Full card (I'm a bit disappointed about the bad light
in the photo but I hope you get the idea) :

I've been inspired by the following
Have fun