Fabulous Followers - Its OK if you don't.... but it would be nice if you did

Linky Followers

Sunday 30 May 2010

All the things I Love - Bev's Candy

I am always catching up on Bev's blog, I have followed her for about a year now, and although she doesn't know me - I feel as if I know her, her blog is so friendly, not to mention the fab cards she makes!

This week, she has some great candy to give away, so pop over and check it out.

Have a great weekend.

Avril

Friday 28 May 2010

Lily of the Valley Challenge




Whew! what a hectic week, my daughter has gone back to Uni today and tonight I have had a 'me' night and guess what - I made a card! Not just any old card, but one following Bev's sketch on the LOTV's challenge - nice one Bev! The challenge has changed slightly - now you have to use a LOTV stamp to enter for a prize - and what a prize this week!

I have just bought my first two LOTV stamps about 3 weeks ago, I think I might be visiting their store very soon as the new release stamps are just fab! I have used 'Fairies on Tiptoe' this little fairy is just so cute! I have coloured her with Distress inks and Twinkling H2O's. The papers are Papermania's Rose Garden. I have used a MS Zigzag punch for the border and Nesties Large Scalloped Circle to cut around the image. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

The challenge closes tomorrow, so must dash and get my entry in!

Thanks for looking,
Avril

Monday 24 May 2010

Penny Black Saturday Challenge



I seem to be having another busy week! My daughter is home from University for a week, before going on holiday to Ireland. I think I am looking forward to those two weeks to recover from this one! Although she will be home after her hols, it should be a bit more normal as she has a summer placement for 8 weeks before going back to Uni for her 3rd year.

I am so pleased I made a few cards when my hubby was away working a couple of weeks ago (end of May and June are the busy birthday months for me) and this one was made then. (Handy or what! considering last week it took me all week to finish 1 card and post it Friday night).

This week over at Penny Black Saturday Challenge its 'Lots of Dots' and this card certainly has that, so a pity not to use it! This is one of my favourite Penny Black stamps 'Tweet Talk' and the sentiment, another Penny Black 'A little Bird Told Me' goes so well, especially on an easle card. I have coloured her in with Distress Inks and gold glitttered her bracelet and necklace.
The papers are Wild Asparagus from My Minds Eye. I made another scrunched flower, I just love these flowers, and added a little glitter to that as well.







Back to another round of washing, pressing and organising - and I'm not even going on holiday!

Lanks for looking,

Avril

Friday 21 May 2010

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Oh such a busy week - it was Tuesday before I even checked out this weeks Penny Black Challenge, and what a surprise - there was a list of winners from the Blog Hop and guess what - my name was there! I had to check that it really was me and click on AVRIL B just to be sure. I was so amazed - I think its the first prize I have ever won.

As I said a busy week, and it has taken until now to finish the card for the challenge which was to include flowers.




I have used my new Penny Black slapstick stamp 'Thinking of you' she is so sweet, with her teapot of tulips. I have used Papermania's Rose Garden papers and punched one of the layers with a Martha Stewart Pansey Edger - so 4 lots of flowers - papers/image/punch and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. I have coloured her with Distress Inks and distressed the edges of the image.



Thats it for now, thanks for looking.

Avril

Thursday 13 May 2010

3 Challenges in One





After a hectic week last week, this week has been totally indulgent! My hubby has been busy working away, so its only been me at home - and I have had plenty to time for crafting without feeling guilty. Back to normal tomorrow, must catch up on the housework!

I have made another card today (just as well as I have lots of birthdays coming up in the next couple of months).

I have followed the sketch on Simon Says. The Quixotic challenge was DIY flowers. I made these using my Woodware Retro punches, held them together with brads and then scrunched them up, I love making these flowers! Over on ABC challenge it was 'U' for unused stash, I have used my new BoBunny papers - Jazmyne Botanical they are gorgeous - all glittery! I have used a Sarah Kay stamp that hasn't been inked up for quite a while - I don't know why cause I love this image!

Wish I could get the colours right on the pics. they always look a lot paler than the card.

That's it for now, thanks for looking,

Avril

Tuesday 11 May 2010

Celebration Birthday Card



Well last week - nothing, this week 2nd card so far!

Its my daughters birthday in August - well in advance I here you say! (if anyone does read this). She will be home from University in a couple of weeks time and I don't really want to be making her card with her around - silly me still likes to surprise her.

I have used the 'Glorious' dress from Stamps Happen and stamped with silver pigment ink and then heat embossed with silver embossing powder onto white card, and then again onto pink card. I also stamped and embossed with silver onto some silver embossed handmade paper. I cut out the dress in the pink card and then only the skirt of the pink handmade paper and layered them over the original white dress. I also added some glitter to the flowers on the pink dress. Whew - that was long-winded!

I layered the original 'Glorious' image onto pink and then silver cardstock. The sentiment is computer generated and then matted onto pink cardstock. The pink and organza flowers are from my stash.

I kept the card quite simple so as not to detract from the image.

I am entering this card into 3 challenges -
Papertake Weekly - Shiny, Sparkly & Special
Simon Says Stamp challenge - Birthday/Celebrations challenge
Stamp Something - Birthdays

Thanks for looking,

Avril

Monday 10 May 2010

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Blog Hop



Don't know what I did last week, but I didn't even make one card!
When I looked at the Penny Black Challenge on Saturday and saw it was a sketch and a Blog Hop, I though I really must get my act together for this one.
I have really enjoyed working with sketches, and this one with 2 circles really made me think!



I have used the 'Angel Frame' stamp, then circle cut around the 'angel' with my new large scalloped nestabilities. I cut the 'Angel at Heart' sentiment from the top of the frame to use as my sentiment! She is coloured using Distress Inks.
The papers are the Papermania Rose Garden, just love these papers.

This is the first time that I have 'entered' a blog hop, I usually just browse through and not always in the right order!

Thanks for looking

Avril

Tuesday 4 May 2010

House Mouse challenge




I just love the House Mouse stamps they are so cute! and there seems to be one for every occasion.
I usually like to have a get well card in store, 'cause you can bet when someone is ill, its the time you don't really have time to make a card and you need it quick. I made this one last week, the image was a gift from my craft buddy Diane. On looking I find this one fits the bill for the House Mouse challenge - Flower Power. The flower is made with a Retro Punch and then I gathered ribbon into a circle, and held it all together with a pearl brad and added punched leaves. The sentiments are computer generated - great when you don't have the right stamp.

Im still a bit new to 'blogland' and some things I just haven't figured out how to do, like linking in to challenges. I have seen lists of challenges under the appropriate days in the 'sidebar' but haven't a clue how to get them there, if there is anybody out there reading this, a hint would be appreciated.
Thanks for looking!

Avril

Sunday 2 May 2010

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Tent Card


It's my Son and Daughter-in-law's 2nd wedding Anniversary this week and I wanted to do a card that was a little bit different for them. I tried a Tent card a couple of weeks ago from the tutorial on the Magnolia Challenge blog and really enjoyed doing it, so that gave me the idea for this card. I scanned 2 black & white papers onto some pearlised paper and I was quite pleased with the effect, the hearts are cut using the Cuttlebug nesting hearts die with plain pearlised card, hanging from silver embroidery thread. The pearls and flowers and ribbon are from my stash. I even made a box using my 'new' Martha Stewart Score Board and Envelope maker, (love this piece of equipment!) I used the oval cut from the front of the card, with a smaller white oval on top for the name label.

On checking the challenges this week I see I can use this card in the Papertake Weekly Challenge - Do something different.