Monday 31 March 2008

Sweet Sugar Challenge

Challenge 5 this week for the Sweet Sugar Challenge Blog is ...

to make TWO (yes two!!!) cards for those very hard people in our lives - men and
boys! So get your creative thinking caps on and make two male themed cards
.

Here are my two
This first one is using Simon in shorts from the Sugar Nellie Lola collection. I've had these papers for quite a while but never used them and thought how well they would go with Simon. I paper pieced Simon's clothes this time with some co ordinating scraps of paper and used prismas and zest it for his body parts and hair. I added the thick yellow ribbon to the bottom so I could make the shell embellishments stand out. The blue fish are little stickers. The papers are from Memories Complete.



My second card is using the cowboy Sugar Nellie stamp. I again paper pieced his clothes and coloured in his face and hair with prismas and zest it. All the papers and embellies are from a Stampin Up Simply Scrappin set called "Round Up".






To take part in the challenge just make your card, post a comment on the blog for this challenge along with your name and a link to your work. Easy!
There are again some fab cards made by the Design Team on the blog so why not go over and have a peek. You can find it here.


Sunday 30 March 2008

Tilda & Co Challenge Blog

It's challenge #13 this week for the Tilda & Co Challenge blog. And the theme is....

Mix & Match

Mix & Match 2 Magnolia Stamp images together to make 1 Image,Now this
could be a simple as ,Taking a Tilda Stamp with a Basket and removing this and
adding a Heart from another magnolia stamp so she is holding that instead of the
basket, Or it could be as simple as Tilda's Head on a Magnolia Horse, Have a
play and mix & Match your magnolia stamps to come up with a Unique Magnolia
Image.

There's a fabby prize too! Here's what you could win if you enter the challenge this week

DIY Edwin Magnolia Stamp
Loads of ribbon
Die cut hearts
Primas
Wire and mesh butterfly
which will all come in a prima lunch box.

All entries must be in by 6.30pm on Saturday. All you have to do is leave a comment on the post and a link to your piece of mix & match work. Easy eh? So get those Magnolia stamps out and why not have a go? Here's the link for you

Tilda & Co Challenge Blog - Challenge #13


And here is my card for this week's challenge. I used the Tilda with a basket of flowers stamp for this one but took out the basket of flowers and added the little letter instead. All the papers come from a Basic Grey Lily Kate pad. I used one paper for the background but then cut out co ordinating pieces from another paper. I then used 3D pads to make them stand out and added some zoomz to them. The sentiment is from a Stampin Up set. I used prismas and zest it to colour in Tilda's hair and skin. I then paper pieced her clothes, shoes and letter. To add a bit of sparkle to her wings I added diamond stickles.

Papers:- Basic Grey Lily Kate

Stamps:- Magnolia

Sentiment:- Stampin Up Curvy Verses

Thursday 27 March 2008

Cute Card Thursday

We are now on Challenge 2! Doesn't time fly!! So for this week's challenge the theme is...

"People"


As we had 'All Creatures Great and Small' as our challenge last week, we think
it's only fair to have 'People' as the theme for this week. Any people image is
fine, it could be Magnolias, Bellas, Nellies, Lolas or any others.

So I immediately thought of Bellas! This Bella is called Pregabella. I coloured her in my usual way with prismas and zest it. And guess what? I used a Stampin Up Simply Scrappin kit again, this time I used the "Secret Garden" set. I've been using these so much lately because they are absolutely fab. Great papers, card and embellies and really top quality too. And of course very pretty and gorgeous colours. The sentiment is from a clear stamp set .

The CCT team are offering some blog candy this week too. A fabby Hamish in kilt stamp and some stamped images. It's easy all you have to do is make a cute card using the theme people, post a comment and leave a link on the Cute Card Thursday blog. You could be the winner!! A name will be drawn out of a hat next Thursday.

Get your thinking caps on and for some fab inspiration why not go over to the blog and have a look at what the Design Team have come up with? Some gorgeous cards there.
Here's the link. http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/

Stamps:- Bellas Pregabella
Papers, card & Embellies:- SU simply scrappin "Secret Garden"


Wednesday 26 March 2008

Papertake Weekly Challenge

For this week's challenge on Papertake Weekly it was a sketch.

Here is the sketch from Katharina. She is one very talented lady and it's well worth having a look at her blog. She makes some incredible cards.








And here is my take on the sketch. I turned it round as my image was quite big. I coloured in the image with prismas and zest it and then lightly sponged around the edges with adirondak lettuce ink. All the papers and embellies are from a SU set called Home Again. I really love the colours in this set. I thought the sentiment "giggle" was quite apt for this card. The giggle comes from a stamp set from SU called Warm Words.

Stamps:- House Mouse, Stampin Up
Papers:- Stamping Up Simply Scrappin - Home Again

Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge

Challenge # 4 for the Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge has just been put up. All the DT's work is fantastic again.
Here's the details....


The inspiration for our ATCs this week is taken from the colours of the
Swedish Flag, the home of Magnolia stamps:
Blue
and Yellow

And you can win a fabby stamp too!! If you go over to the blog you can check out all the DT's work and see the stamp you could win.


And here is my ATC for this week. I decided to make the Swedish flag into the background for this one. I then used the Tilda bookplate, but I cut off the plate and her pencil and also her little hand. If you look closely I kept her hand and added it to the fence so it looks like she is holding onto the fence. I then used some accesories from Magnolia. Must say thanks to Annie and Lynn for the toadstools and signpost. Thank you!! :-). I just added the "sweden" with a black pen. All the images are coloured in with prismas and zest it.

Stamps:- Magnolia
Cardstock:- Bazill

Hope you all join in again this week there were some gorgeous ATCs posted on blogs last week.


Monday 24 March 2008

Robbyn's ATC

I gave Robbyn an image to colour in and she went off to do it. 15 mins of quietness and she came to show me this....


She'd made her own little ATC and just turned 5 too!! Must be following in her mum's footsteps. ;-)







Sunday 23 March 2008

Tilda & Co Challenge # 12

This week's challenge on the Tilda & Co Challenge Blog was a template.


And here it is...

We would love your project to involve The template above, If you have never used
templates before do not panic , it is simply a guide of how we would like to
see
the placement of your items. Don't forget your work can be anything from
a
Card, Layout(scrapbook page) To an Atc, Altered Art Project , anything
that
takes your fancy , but do try to challenge yourself out of your comfort
zone ,
as you may be surprised what you can come up with.

I thought I'd have a go at ATCs this week. Here is a set of 3 that I made. It was a bit tricky incorporating the template into them.
The first one is made with papers from a SU simply scrappin set with mini brads attached to the two tabs. The Tilda image is coloured in with prismas and zest it. To add a little bit of decoration I adhered 3 green flower gems.
The second one I covered in with some Rouge de Garance papers and added a bit of bling to the tabs. This time the mermaid was coloured in with prismas, zest it and for the tail and bodice I used twinkling H20s. To her wings and hair I added some diamond stickles. The shells were also coloured with twinkling H2Os and then dabbed over with distress inks. The "mermaid" lettering was done with the same paper and a dymo machine and then distressed with sandpaper.
The third one I covered with Fancy Pants papers and added Edwin and his stars. These were again coloured in with prismas and zest it. To finish off I added two blue buttons onto the tabs.

To see all the other great work from the Design Team and to participate have a look on the blog you can find it here. There is a prize this week of a brand new Magnolia stamp. All you have to do is create something using the template and then leave a post on the blog with a link to your work.
Good luck and I'm looking forward to seeing all your work.


Forgot to say..

Happy Easter everyone!!


Happy Birthday Robbyn!

My daughter Robbyn's 5th birthday today. Lucky girl presents and Easter eggs!! Of course she had to dress up in her favourite costume, Barbie ballerina. She got lots of girly presents including a rather messy Polly Pocket car decorating glitter set! Glitter everywhere including all over Daddy!!
Hope she isn't sick as she has a birthday cake later on too.



Thursday 20 March 2008

Cute Card Thursday

For CCT's Challenge #2 the theme is...

All Creatures Great and Small!

This week we would like to see creatures on your cards, they
can be animals, birds, fish even dinosaurs or dragons. Absolutely any creature
imaginable!


Here is my card. I used the Stampin Up Simply Scrappin "Round Up" set of papers and card. For the chocolate coloured border I used a SU wheel called Autumn Dots with clear embossing powder. The little scallop embellie is also from the simply scrappin set as is the label. The sentiment is from another SU set called "Simply Said". For the main image I have used a Whippersnapper stamp called Fall Fun Kitty. I coloured it in with prismas and zest it and then went over the leaves with glossy accents. To finish off I sponged ink around the edges and layered it onto a co ordinating piece of card.


We had a fantastic response to our first challenge and I'd love to see your creature cards. This week you can also win a prize of a brand new Magnolia stamp and some fab images. The winner will be picked from a hat next week when challenge #3 has been posted. The DT again have done some fantastic work, why not go and have a look? Then you can make your creature creation and post your link on the blog.
You can find the blog here

Stamps:- Whippersnapper
Card & Papers:- Stampin Up Simply Scrappin "Round Up"
Sentiment:- Stampin Up "Simply Said"

Wednesday 19 March 2008

Sweet Sugar Challenges #4

Challenge #4 for the Sweet Sugar Challenge blog this week was - Easter. I don't really have specific Easter stamps so I had to incoperate some Cricut images for this card.
I paper pieced Nellie with the matching paper and adhered her to a layered oval with 3D pads. I used my Cricut to make the bunny, basket and "Happy Easter". To fill the basket up and to make it more of an Easter card I added some Easter egg images which I stamped out with a Stampin Up set. Sorry I don't know whose papers they are as they came with my monthly kit. To finish off I added the blooms, diamantes and some ribbon.

If you would like to have a go at this challenge, all you have to do is use just one or more Sugar Nellie stamps on your work. You can find the Sweet Sugar Challenge blog here

Papers:- Sarah's monthly card kit
Stamps:- Sugar Nellies, Stampin Up
Sentiment:- Plantin Schoolbook
Bunny & basket:- Cricut cartridge - Stretch your imagination

Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge # 3

Challenge #3 for the Tilda & Friends blog this week is.....

Chocolate Creation!

and here is the info


It's that time of year when the shelves in the shops are full of Easter Eggs of
all sizes from those easy to pop into the mouth mini-eggs to some very large and
incredibly high caloried creations! So this week I've taken inspiration from
them all and challenge you to a Chocolate Creation!


Here is mine. To start with I covered a blank ATC with chocolate coloured card and used my SU whirly twirly wheel to give it an all over embossed pattern. I then added some bits of paper that I had left over from a SU simply scrappin pack. Both images are from Magnolia, these I coloured in with prismas and zest it. To finish off I added the text "chocolate" by putting a piece of the brown card through my dymo and then rubbing over it with a darker brown ink pad. Oh and I put some glossy accents onto the chocolates.

Why not go over and have a look at the gorgeous work my fellow Design Team members have done and then you can get inspired to make your own! And.... you could win a prize this week as we are giving away a prize of some fabby images to 3 lucky entrants. They'll be Magnolia images but a nice mixture of not just Tilda & Edwins but the accessories too!

You can find the challenge here

http://tildaandfriends.blogspot.com/


Stamps:- Magnolia
Embossed swirls:- SU whirly twirly wheel
Papers:- SU simply scrappin Round up
Sentiment:- Dymo

Tuesday 18 March 2008

Papertake Weekly Challenge

This week's Papertake Weekly Challenge is

"Weather with you"
After last weeks appalling weather here in the UK, we've
decided to use
this theme for this weeks challenge! So anything
associated
with the weather -
whatever your interpretation! Under the
weather, fun in
the sun? Wind? Rain?
Let's see what you can come up with
lol!



Here is my take on the theme. And the sentiment is so true. I should really have used a snow scene as that is what it is doing here in Germany at the moment!

I've used October Afternoon papers for this card and I think I was sent the image by Kim. So if it was you Kim , many thanks. I coloured the image in with prismas and zest it. But.. the face I coloured in with some new pencils that I bought on Saturday, they are special skin tone ones. They worked just as well as the prismas. Finished it all off with a piece of flower ribbon along the bottom and 2 metallic burgundy brads down the top right hand side.

Why not go over to the Papertake Weekly Challenge blog and have a go?

Papers:- October Afternoon

Monday 17 March 2008

Mmm Happiness

Mmm don't you just love gum drops?

Here is a card I made using some of my new Stampin Up products.
All the papers and card are from a SU Simply Scrappin set called "Confetti". For the main image I stamped the jar from the SU set, "All Wrapped Up" onto some white card and lightly watercoloured the edges with a light blue. I then stamped out the gum drops which came from the SU set "All Wrapped Up Accessories" using the masking technique. I used adirondak inks for this as they matched my paper and card perfectly. I then stamped out the lid on card and covered it in glossy accents. I then stamped out the jar again on ... the inner cellophane of a CD cover. Cut it out and used glossy accents again to adhere it over the original jar image. On the card I embossed some of the gum drops with clear embossing powder. I then layered the image with some of the matching card and paper. Last but not least I used the "happiness" from SU Warm Words to stamp the sentiment.
I am really impressed with all the Stampin Up products I have used so far. The card and paper packs are of really good quality.

Stamps:- Stampin Up... All Wrapped Up, All Wrapped Up Accessories, Warm Words
Card & Paper:- Stampin Up Simply Scrappin Confetti
Inks:- Adirondak

Sunday 16 March 2008

Tilda & Co Challenge Blog

This weeks challenge on the Tilda & Co Challenge Blog is # 11 (!) and had the theme of

Hidden Secrets

Must have a hidden message on your project ,perhaps pull out journaling
maybe?
A hidden flap? A slider ,
something where a message can be hidden
away from the public eye.

And here is my slider card. It took me a while to get the hang of how to make it, but I got there in the end. I used a Stampin Up , Simply Scrappin' kit for all the papers and embellishments. This particular kit is called "Confetti". I paper pieced Tilda with the same papers.
This photo shows the slider up and hiding the message.






And this shows the slider down and showing the "enjoy your day" message. All you have to do to show the message is pull the ribbon.









Papers:- Stampin Up Simply Scrappin' Confetti
Stamps:- Magnolia

Award

I received this award from my fellow DT member on Cute Card Thursday and Sweet Sugar Challenges and that's Deb. She is a great person to know, thanks Deb.

I would like to award it to not just one person but everyone who inspires me with their work using Magnolia stamps. A lot of people I know but so deserving.

Thursday 13 March 2008

Cute Card Thursday

In case you didn't read my previous post there is a new challenge blog called Cute Card Thursday. A great way to show off all those cute stamps whether it be Magnolias, Hanglars, Sugar Nellies, Penny Blacks etc.
The first challenge is ...

"New Beginnings"


Here is my card, your first day at school. I used a Hanglar image that I was kindly sent and coloured it in with prismas and zest it. The satchel was covered in glossy accents to give it a shiny look. All the papers and the die cut flower are by Fancy Pants Design. The little diamond button is from Rayher. The sentiment is computer generated.

I hope you come along to the blog and join in. It's a great way to show off all those cute stamps that you have tucked away.

You can find Cute Card Thursday here.

Stamps:- Hanglar
Papers:- Fancy Pants Design
Die cut:- Fancy Pants Design
Button:- Rayher

Wednesday 12 March 2008

Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge

Week 2 and the challenge for this week's challenge is

IN THE PINK



So here is my ATC. All papers are by Basic Grey and I paper pieced Farmer Tilda with these papers too. The felt flowers came in a strip from a DIY german store ( and a lot cheaper than the prima ones) as did the pink hen.



I'd love to see lots of "in the pink" ATCs on the challenge blog, even if you've never made an ATC before why not have a go, they are great fun and you get to use up all those scraps of paper that you can't throw away!!


For all the details go to:


Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge blog.


Stamps:- Magnolia

Papers:- Basic Grey

Tuesday 11 March 2008

A New Challenge Blog

Just to let you all know there is to be a new challenge blog called "Cute Card Thursday". You can use any sort of stamps as long as they are cute. So it could be Magnolias, Penny Black, Sugar Nellies, whippersnapper, the skys the limit!
The blog has just gone online and the first challenge will be set on Thursday morning. So if you want to bookmark the blog ready for the challenge it is here.
Hope lots of you will join in.

Papertake Weekly Challenge

This week's Papertake Challenge was in the form of a tutorial for a frame card by Claudia.
It took me a while to do but here is the finished result. Lots of paper piecing and intricate cutting out. The actual card frame was quite easy to do. Thanks Claudia I really enjoyed this challenge.
If you would like to take part have a look at the Papertake Challenge blog , all the instructions are on there.



Stamps:- Magnolia & Stampin Up (heart)
Papers:- Basic Grey
Bling:- Stickles diamond

Monday 10 March 2008

Pirate Ty

Just an update to say that Tyrrell won best costume for his pirate outfit in his year. (see post below). He won a book voucher. Really chuffed for him, maybe he might smile now. ;-)

Sunday 9 March 2008

Tilda & Co challenge # 10

This weeks challenge for the Tilda & Co Challenge blog is

"From Boys to Men"



Here is what I made for the challenge.
The outside covers are made from two pieces of chipboard. I covered them both in papers from Basic Grey, Mellow. Then added the coloured in images of the step, owl and Edwin. "Dad" was made using my cricut. The two corners are decorated with some die cut photo corners in contrasting papers. I used the bind it all to hold it all together.




For the inside I again covered the chipboard in some contrasting BG mellow papers. I cut out a frame with the same papers and put in a photo of the kids. The stars are also from Magnolia and they are coloured in too. I printed out the calendar from the net and adhered it to some card using two brads. The calendar pages will easily rip off each month.

I made this for my DH to put on his desk at work.

Why not have a go at this week's challenge? The DT have again made some fab creations.

Papers:- Basic Grey Mellow
Stamps:- Magnolia
Corner die cuts:- Ellison thin cuts
Dad:- Cricut cartridge, Plantin Schoolbook
Calendar pages:- free off the net
Bind it all.

Friday 7 March 2008

High Hopes Rubber Stamps

Have you seen the High Hopes rubber stamp range. They are really cute and are bringing out some new releases on March 15th. If you go over to Katharina's blog you can see a sneak preview today and for the next few days too. She is giving away some of these new releases as blog candy. How good is that?

Wow how lucky am I???

Well I had a wonderful surprise last night. Look what my fantastic DH got me as a surprise! I had been given a SU catalogue by Monica as I'd joined her monthly SU club and I had marked all the things that I wanted to buy first. Rob had looked at the catalogue and secretly emailed Monica to order them. Mwah love you loads Rob xx. And thanks Monica for helping him out and the beautiful card that you made for him to give to me. I've put a pic up of it. It's beautiful and the photo doesn't do it justice as it's lovely and sparkly.
So first of all here's Monica's card. She has a fantastic blog too with lots of her fab work and some tutorials. Here's the link to her blog:

http://monicas-passions.blogspot.com/






The first photo is of :-
Stamps sets - Simply Said, All wrapped up,All wrapped up accessories
Jumbo wheel - Autumn dots
Uninked cartridges
Blender pens


In this photo there are 4 kits
Home Again
Secret Garden
Round Up
Confetti


These are lovely with papers, cardstock and die cuts.


And finally this is the catalogue and the wheel guide.








I have loads of things to play with now it's just finding the time.

Thursday 6 March 2008

Here she is


Well here she is posing on my crafting chair. She's now sleeping it off on the settee. I think she is just tired now.

Woo hooo


I finally got mail this morning. 11 Magnolia stamps from the Spring range. I'm not gonna have time to play with them till Sunday though as I have some busy days coming up. :-(. This morning I am finishing off some DT work so I can't even show that till Sunday.

Pirate Ty

Today at the younger kids school they have a dress up day of "characters from a story book". Unfortunately Robbyn was ill all last night and had too much of a high temperature to go to school so she is missing out. She was so upset as we'd bought her a new ballerina outfit and shoes. But if she feels better later I will dress her up at home and take a pic.
So here are some pics of my son in his pirate costume. Not looking too happy as both mum and dad had him posing for pics and I think he got a bit fed up after a while!
Do you like his beard and scar? Mmm dad thought it was a good idea to use my eyeliner and mascara.
Needless to say I'll have a struggle on my hands later when I'm trying to get it off!!

Tuesday 4 March 2008

Awards

Ok I'm probably gonna upset a few people with this post but you've got to excuse me because I have an absolutely terrible memory. If I've missed you out because you sent me an award I apologise in advance. (ahhh)


First of all Annie nominated me for this award. Thanks Annie I appreciate it. Annie is such a lovely lady and she is having a bit of a tough time at the moment but I just want to say to her "hang in there". x


And Annie, Marlene and Lynn tagged me as one of their fav 10 blogs. Thank you so much girls. I'm not going to nominate 10 blogs or the "you make my day award" to anyone special but just to both the Tilda & Co Challenge team and also the Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge team, as the girls work is always outstanding and inspirational. Well done girls and keep it up!! Also I'd like to nominate them both to the crafters who take part in the challenges on these blogs. I love looking at the different interpretations of the challenges. Thanks girls!!

If I've missed anyone out as in anyone who tagged me and I haven't mentioned I do apologise.

Papertake Weekly Challenge

This week's Papertake Weekly Challenge is..

"Be There or Be Square"

This weeks challenge is Squares!
Square cards, square patterns or squares on your layout!


A simple card from me today. I used a square paper for the background and then cut out a square from the same paper, adhered it with 3D foam pads and sat Tilda on it. Tilda's clothes are paper pieced with the same paper. To each of the remaining squares I added a button which I had threaded with purple metallic thread.

If you would like to have a go at this challenge you can find it here.


Stamps: Magnolia

Papers: SEI

Buttons: Rayher

Monday 3 March 2008

Ismaki Challenge #9

The weeks fly by and it's time for #9 of the Ismaki's challenges.

Here is this week's sketch and it is done by Inge.











I had a bit of trouble with this week's challenge. I had no intention of making anything today as my mojo's gone awol. But then I saw the sketch and thought I'd try it.
I used one of my Sarah Kay images that I kindly got sent and coloured it in with prismas and zest it. Not too sure I like the colours though.
Then I used the papers I got from my Sarah's Cards monthly kit. Sorry I don't have a clue who they are by (again!).
The two little white buttons are from Bazill. The sentiment is from a Stampin Up set.


If you would like a go at this sketch the blog is here.

Sunday 2 March 2008

Tilda & Co Challenge #9

This weeks Challenge on the Tilda & Co Challenge blog was... "Spring is in the air".

~*~*~ Challenge 9 ~*~*~
Spring is in the Air!
As spring is almost
upon us, the first signs are there now, the spring bulbs, the baby lambs are out
already, I thought it was time to get those spring and Easter projects under
way!
You could make an Easter card, a gift box for Easter eggs or other
goodies, alter a flowerpot for some spring flowers or a spring themed card or
layout. Absolutely anything, as long as it has at least one Magnolia stamped
image and follows the theme!


So here is my card. I covered a blank white card in Lilac Bazill cardstock completely. I then used some Basic Grey paper to make a smaller square. The same cardstock was used to make the scalloped square and then I used a piece of plain white card to create the scene. I added quite a bit of bling to this card, seems I'm in a bling mood at the moment!
I used 3D foam pads to adhere Tilda, the butterflies, the sun and the clouds to make them stand out. To add to the bling effect I framed the squares with some sparkly fibres. The clouds and Tilda's wings were enhanced with some stickles. The flowers, sun, butterflies and Tilda's shoes all had little gold and crystal dots put on them.

If you would like to join in with this challenge or even go to visit to see what the DT members have created, and they do make some stunning things, then go and visit the blog it's here.

Stamps:- Magnolia , background flowers - Stampin Up - basket full of fun
Paper:- Basic Grey

Saturday 1 March 2008

Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge #1

Well the new Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge blog is now live.
Here are the details for the very first challenge....

Time to Sparkle
We would like you to celebrate our new venture and make your
ATC sparkle! The rest is up to you. Below are some of the ATCs made by our
Design Team for your inspiration. Please add a link in your comment so we can
come and check out your artwork. You have until the next challenge is posted on
Wednesday 12th March. Have Fun!

So if you would like to take a look or join in with the challenge here is the link..

http://tildaandfriends.blogspot.com/



Here is my ATC that I made for the blog. Lots of sparkle , think I may have gone OTT. lol
I used black stickles and lots of fine pink glitter.