Mrs. B's Crafting Addiction

Tulips .............

2012-03-09T08:19:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

A bit of 'me' time today, so I made my card for Make My Monday, where the monthly theme is Spring - and this week Spring Flowers. This was a bit of a struggle for me (which is what I suppose it's meant to be - that's why the call them challenges!) I don't have any spring flower stamps, other flowers yes, but snowdrops, daffs and tulips - no, so I downloaded this FREE image from Paper Garden Projects. I stamped kraft card with vintage photo and a TH flower swirl, the sentiment is heat embossed with clear EP and the image cut out with a Nesties label, and then sponged Antique Linen around the image. I have kept it quite simple to tie in with the sentiment, its not my usual style.....hmmmm.... don't know.

I am entering this card in
Make My Monday- Spring Flowers

That's it for now, off to do some catching up before I get ready for a 'girly ' night out at our favourite Italian restaurant. - diet starts Monday!

Avril xx

Less Is More

2012-03-08T14:35:00.001-08:00

Hi All,

Just a quick post tonight as I have just had a 'craft and natter' night with my friend Diane and I've made this card for Less Is More, (sometimes I'm not this productive!) so I need to enter it before I'm too late. I have missed the last few challenges due to lack of time and inspiration. I think the hardest part of a LIM challenge is thinking what to do it with!

This weeks theme is 'neutral colours' and I have used one of the ladies from Crafty Individuals CI322, she is stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa, then masked and I stamped a TH Flourish in the same ink. I used Promarkers Pastel Beige on her top. The fabulous is a Hero Arts stamp and I masked off the rest of the birthday greeting.

Thats it for tonight,

Avril xx

Try It On Tuesday

2012-03-06T09:19:00.001-08:00

Hi All,

I'm so pleased its Tuesday! I don't have to keep it a secret any longer .......I have been invited to be a DT on the Try It On Tuesday Challenge!
The blog is currently undergoing a bit of a 'makeover' so for all the details please pop over and you will also meet the rest of the 'new' Design Team. As an introduction this week we had to make something 'favourite'. I chose to use this Rivercity Rubberworks stamp that I bought at Christmas and its only been inked once, I love the sentiment. Its coloured with Promarkers and I used Glamour Dust on their hats. The embossed panels are CB Script on coordination's, the Sizzix Bingo folder which has been inked on cream card, I won in Brenda's candy a couple of weeks ago, thanks Brenda.

I am also entering this card in :
Shopping our Stash - Embossing
Creative Card Crew - Humour
Sparkles Creations - Use a number - (lots on the Bingo card)
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
One Stop Crafts - Button It

That's it for now, and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Flourishes & Diamonds

2012-03-02T11:20:00.002-08:00

Hi All, Hope you've all had a good week, mine has been so busy, but I am trying to make amends now for not being on here all week.

I have started to follow the Make My Monday challenge and the theme this week is Flourises & Diamonds.
I have used the lady from my new Music Hall set by IndigoBlue and Crafty Individuals Flourish (stamped in Dusty Concord) and masked off the Birthday bit on a Hero Arts sentiment. The background is Milled Lavender DI brushed onto white cardstock. I have added lots of Diamonds to the swirls and her neckline - after all, they are a Girls Best Friend!

I am entering this card in:

Make My Monday - Romance - Flourishes & Diamonds
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Bling It On - Shades of Lilac
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Paperplay - Something Old - Something New (old swirl - new IndigoBlu set)

Thats it for now and thanks for looking.

Avril

Make It For a Child at FSC

2012-02-25T15:30:00.000-08:00

The theme this fortnight over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges is 'Make it for a Child' and for my DT piece I have made a Pop-Up card.

In this months Craft Stamper magazine there was an article on pop-up cards, so I thought I would have a try. I have used 2 House Mouse 'cake' images and cut out an extra couple of little meeces to make a 'party'. The card base was very easy to make and fits nicely into the outer card. I didn't want to have a fussy background to detract from the images, so I just sponged Tumbled Glass DI onto the cardstock.
The banner is computer generated and each letter cut by hand before attaching to the cord. The sentiment on the front card is a CB Die cut.

As usual there is fabulous inspiration from the rest of the DT, so please pop over and have a look. We would love to see your creations, but just remember, we are a stamping challenge, so there should be at least one stamped image.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
House Mouse & Friends - Make Wishes come True
Crafty Boots - Glorious Food
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Outlines - Make it Square
Tuesday Throwdown - Winter Blues
My time to Craft - Bring on the Cake
Truly Scrumptious - All Creatures Great & Small
Hotshot crafts - One for the Boys
Allsorts - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons - Paws for thoughts
Papercrafting Journey - Make it Cute

Thats it for now, hope to see you at FSC this fornight.

Avril xx

Victorian Romance

2012-02-25T08:35:00.002-08:00

Hi All,

I decided this year to pick a couple of challenge blogs and enter all challenges and one of these has been Make My Monday, whose theme this month has been Romance and this weeks challenge is Victorian Romance. I didn't have a suitable stamp, so downloaded this vintage image from Sum of All Crafts.
The papers are K & Co and the 'white' (well it was before I distressed with Antique Linen) doily was
made using a Marianne corner die. Flowers coloured with Promarkers to match the ladies flowers.

I am entering this into the following challenges:
Make My Monday - Victorian Romance
Aud Sentiments - Happy in the sentiment
Victorine Originals - Lace
Charisma cards - Love is in the Air
MAWTT - Lots of Layers
Stamping for the Weekend - Bingo
Sarah Hurley - Die Cuts
Southern Girls - Distressing
DYSU - Distressing

Well thats it for now, enjoy your weekend and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Friends and Chocolate!

2012-02-23T04:22:00.000-08:00

I have been very bad at posting lately,but feeling back to 'normal' now, just need to catch up with life, so to make a start, I am showing a card I made just after Christmas when I was playing with my new Dark Room Door stamps. A very simple card, just pink and 'chocolate'! I just love the sentiments with this set.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Gingersnap Creations - Two Colours
Deep Ocean Challenge - Pink & Brown
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays - Lets get Sentimental - Focus sentiment
Allsorts - Anything Goes
The Poodles Parlour - Card for a Female

Thats it for now, and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Hearts & Tags

2012-02-18T05:56:00.001-08:00

Hi All,

Can't believe its almost a week since I last posted! I thought I was at last getting over this horrible cold bug, and this week swollen glands and earache! Anyhow, enough of my moans, I'm feeling much better now and hopefully the crafting will resume!!

I love the look of tags, but never seem to make them, so when I saw the challenge at Try It On Tuesdays was a tag..... so last night I got messy with Rose acrylic paint,  Vanilla custard spray(Dylusions) and then smuged with copper paint daber. Looked at bit pink, so after going through the CB distressed with Peeled Paint and some Gold EP and of course another of those fab egshell hearts!

I am going to enter this tag in :
   Try It On Tuesdays - Tag with hearts and flowers
    Fussy & Fancy - With all My Heart
    The Stamp Man - Texture
    Totally Papercrafts - Ribbon/Bow
    DYSU - Layers
    Freshly Brewed - Love
    Joanna Sheen - Love is in the Air
    Make My Monday - Hearts & Flowers
    Simon Says - Tag

Thats it for now, and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Monochrome at Fashionable Stamping

2012-02-12T02:25:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

The challenge this fortnight over at FSC is Monochrome.

I seem to have made a few monochrome cards lately, but never just used green. For the background I sponged Bundled Sage and Peeled Paint DI , the various stamps - CI Flourish - Tim Holtz ticket, cogs and clock Kanban) were all stamped with Bundled Sage, the TH sentiment was stamped with Winter Green Versa Colour and heat embossed. The flower was punched out of Pearlised paper that had been distressed with Bundled Sage and Peeled Paint DI. The main image is from Kanban Jasper Steampunk Set, coloured the dress with Promarkers, lots of Glamour Dust on the dress and swirls, although it doesn't show in the photo. I used foam pads to give a bit of dimension. I didn' realise that green was such a hard colour to photograph - or at least it was for me!

The rest of the DT have made some fabulous creations, so please pop over, and of course, we would love to see your creation. As usual there is a great prize on offer for one lucky winner.

I would also like to enter this in the following challenges:
Gingersnap Creations - Glorious Greens
Crafty Cardmakers - Monochrome
Crafts & Me - New image
Scrapbook Sisters - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes - No patterned paper

Thanks for looking,

Avril xx

LOVE

2012-02-11T10:11:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

Don't know where last week went! and the fact that I started this card on Tuesday, but needed to put the sewing machine up just to stitch round '2' papers - can't believe it has taken till now to do it!!!

There are a few challenged around asking for Love and hearts, so a good opportunity for me to use one of my old favourite stamps, which was stamped onto white card, coloured with chalks for the background and Promarkers for her skin, rose and butterfly. I then stamped onto acetate with Stazon. The papers are MME Wild Asparagus.

Do you like the heart?

Although it looks a bit dull in the photo - it has a gorgeous sheen. Lisa, at My Makes'n'Me made one or two last week and gave the link here. They really are quite easy to make and this was my first try! I added a heart brad (after cutting the pins off)

I am entering this card in the following challenges
Try it on Tuesdays - For a True Love
Everybody Art - Love
Heart2Heart - For the one you love
Make My Monday - Romance (script on the bottom of the image)
Simon Says Stamp - Love
Sisterhood of Crafters - Valentine
Our Craft Lounge - Vintage Love
4 Crafty Chicks - Love is in the Air
Fussy & Fancy - With All my Heart
Divas By Design - Love
Rainbow Lady's - Have a Heart

I said there were a few challenges - didn't I!

Thats it for me, and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Altered Box

2012-02-04T11:29:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

DD gave me this empty box at Christmas - 'to keep things in'.

However, as she had bought me Crafty Individuals 'Sewing theme' stamps for Christmas, I thought I might alter the box (eventually) using the stamps.

The challenge at Try It On Tuesdays this week is alter something with texture, and that gave me 'kick' I needed to do it.
After painting and inking the box, I stamped the smaller images directly onto the box. I wanted a vintage look and so decided to stamp and then emboss with UTEE for the labels and sewing machine. I stamped and cut out the card before wrapping embroidery threads around.

I also stamped the dress form from the Tom Holtz haberdashery set, onto shrink plastic and added this, and some little mother of pearl buttons. The lace flowers and ribbon are from stash.

I also inked the sides and bottom, but only stamped images on the sides

It has been a bit difficult to photograph today, and I had to use the daylight bulb for the photos, and for some reason it looks like a brown smudge on the front of the box, doesn't look like this in daylight!

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Try It On Tuesdays - Alter It with Texture

The Stamp Man - Embellish It

Stamping for the weekend - Embossing

Charisma Cardz - Vintage

Do You Stack Up - Anything Goes

Divas By Design - Anything Goes

Allsorts - Free & Easy

I would just like to say 'hello' to my new followers, I'm thrilled that you like my work enough to want to follow, thank you.

That's it from me, hope you like it . (Don't know what I have done on the bottom of this post, - but for some reason, the text has developed a mind of its own - sorry)

Avril xx

Something Different

2012-01-31T13:15:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

Just thought I would share this little domino card I made for a friends birthday. This is her first birthday back in the UK after living in HongKong for the last 9 years , and as its Chinese New Year, I thought she might like it. Unfortunately, I didn't upload the piccys before I gave it to her and for some reason they wont upload round the right way!! as you can see they were the right way in photo gallery when I put the watermark on them.

I got my DH to drill 2 holes in the domino's before I used Alcohol inks, and stamped using an Oriental set of foam stamps - the first stamps I ever bought! The card was cut and folded, stamped and distressed with Tattered rose and Worn Lipstick.

To finish off I threaded organza ribbon through the holes and added some beads.

Sorry for giving you a pain in the neck!!, but I though it too pretty not to share.

I am entering this in Crafty Bloggers Network - Oriental
Ooh la la - Seeing Double - same image twice - (on front and inside)
Secret Crafters - Use Ribbon
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

That's it for now and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Under the Weather at LIM

2012-01-31T11:56:00.000-08:00

Having missed the last couple of challenges over at LIM, I was determined to enter this week, especially as Less Is More is celebrating 1 year - Congrats to Chrissy & Mandy on such a great challenge blog.

The challenge this week is a sketch and for my card I have used Tim Holtz Umbrella Man and Distress inks for his 'weather', and a computer sentiment.

A couple of weeks ago a friends husband was in hospital, and I BOUGHT a Get Well card, thought I didn't have anything suitable for a man - why didn't I think of this then!

I would just like to say hello to Amanda, my newest follower.

Thanks for looking

Avril xx

Its a Guy Thing

2012-01-29T04:18:00.000-08:00

Hi All

Today sees the start of a new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and for this fortnight, yes, you've guessed, the theme is 'It's a Guy Thing'...... which is to make to make any card or project for A Man, and as we are a stamping challenge, the only rule is to included some stamping. As usual we are sponsored by Marina at Cottage Crafts, who this time os offering the winner a chance to pick her own prize to the value of €7.
For my card I stamped the background with various Tim Holtz stamps, the gentleman man image was masked and stamped numerous times before adding the red hat. The adverts stamp is from the Stamp man, bought at last weeks papercrafts show.
As usual there is some fabulous inspiration from my fellow teamies, so please pop over and be prepared to be inspired!

I am also entering this card in:
Craft Your Days Away - Distressing
Samuel Taylors - Distressing
Creative Card Friends - Old Fashioned/Antique

Thanks for all your well wishes and I am pleased to say I'm feeling much better now.
Before I go I would like to say 'hello' to Jenni, my newest follower.

That's it for now and if you like what you see, please leave a comment and then I can come visit you.

Avril xx

Postcards for the Mail

2012-01-27T13:14:00.000-08:00

Hi All

Just a short post tonight, can't quite shake off this cold bug - doesn't it know I need to feel better - I have new goodies to play with!
I went to a Craft Fayre on Sunday with crafty friend Diane and we met up with my lovely teamates from FSC, Cazro and Meggymay, and of course we all bought 'a few goodies'. I bought a set of stamps from Kanban which need inking up!!
My card tonight uses a new CI Stamp that I got for Christmas. I stamped this twice, and then layered up. The piece behind was stamped with a script stamp in Weathered Wood DI and then distressed and spritzed. The sentiment is Inkylicious. The base card is Cordi nations embossed with the CB and then sanded.
I am entering this in:
Try It On Tuesdays - Its All in the Mail
MAWTT - Blooming Marvellous (Flowers)
Papercrafting Journey - Floral
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers Network - Distressing

That's it for now, and thanks for looking

Avril xx

Black & White for House Mouse

2012-01-25T12:53:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

It seems a while since I made a House Mouse card, but I have only missed the last challenge, but I am a bit late with this one, so maybe that's why. The challenge on the HM Blog is Black and White, and although this should be easy - I found it hard not to colour this little bunny! I chose Bumbles in the Bath, so tried to make it look like a bathroom scene and even tiled the walls (I won't give up the day job) and 'made' blind for the window! I used Glitterflock for the bubbles and even 'spilled' some on the floor! Papers are Papermania.

I am also entering this card in:
Stamp & Doodle - Add an Animal
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenge - Animals

I would just like to say 'hello' to Siobhan, my newest follower.

That's it for now, and thanks for looking and if you like what you see, please leave a comment and I will come and visit you.

Avril xx

Do You Believe in Fairies - Of Course!!

2012-01-20T15:19:00.000-08:00

Hi All,
No crafting all week due to a nasty cold, and then Mr. Mojo went missing - probably because I couldn't really be bothered to find him!! Fortunately for me he came back last night and I finished a card I liked (won't tell you that I actually binned some yesterday afternoon - usually....I do try to re-hash, but not yesterday).

This card is for the challenge over at Try It On Tuesdays - Do you Believe in Fairies. I have a couple of fairy stamps and I initially played with them - and when I gave up looking for Mr. 'M' I decided to tidy, so pleased I did because I had forgotten about this Lavinia Fairy - and yes I do believe in fairies because this little lady worked her magic for me.
I used a Marianne Die for the card base and Nesties circles for the rest. The sentiment is from Inkylicious. The Moon and her wings are coloured with H2Os, before adding Glamour dust and a couple of gems - fairies have to have sparkle!

I am also entering this card:
Raise the Bar - Circles
MAWTT - Things with Wings
Creative Belli - Fancy Frames
Sir Stampalot - Monochromatic
The Craft Garden - Monochromatic

That's it for now, need to see if Mr. 'M' is still here.

Avril xx

Butterflies or Bugs at Fashionable Stamping

2012-01-15T08:44:00.000-08:00

The challenge this fortnight at Fashionable Stamping Challenges is Butterflies or Bugs or even to use both!
For my DT card I used a Lost Coast Designs unmounted stamp, (which was half price in Scrapz online store sale before Christmas) This is the first time I have used this stamp and although she has a modern face - thought it would look good 'vintage' so stamped her in Timber Brown Stazon and stamped again on Acetate for the butterfly, which I then coloured with Alcohol inks Bronze and Pearl. The papers are MME Lost and Found Two, the pattern one overstamped with Crafty Individual Words and the coordinating one was embossed with the CB Script and then distressed. The sentiment is Inkylicious.
There are some fabulous projects from the rest of the DT, so please pop over to FSC and be prepared to be inspired , in more ways than one, as our 'leader' Shirley is going to post a tutorial on a 'concertina butterfly', which looks amazing. Our regular sponsor Marina from Cottage Crafts is offering a fabulous Dragonfly Collage stamp to the winner.

I am entering this card in:
Sugar Creek Hollow - Embossing
Gingersnap Creations - Ribon
Rainbow Lady's - Many Faces of Woman
Lets Ink It Up - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers - No floral embellishments

I had my DD home last week before she starts back at Uni, so didn't manage any crafting last week, so hopefully normal service will resume this week.

That's all for now, and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Temptation!!!

2012-01-06T08:38:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

Just a quick post to show a card made earlier in the week using my new Darkroom Door 'Chocolatier' stamps, this time with the Clarity 'Velvet Lady' stamp. Lady was masked and then the Chocolate shop stamped twice, I thought this looked as if she was trying to resist the temptation to cross the road!
I love the little sentiments. The background is sponged with Vintage Photo after stamping with a Crafty Individuals swirl.

I am entering this card in:
Try It On Tuesdays - A card - but with all your own work
Gingersnap Creations - Use a set of stamps
Little Miss Muffet - Anything New
Freshly Brewed - Something New
Inky Impressions - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamps - Something New
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes with option of new (stamps)

That's it for now - hope you like it - and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Chocolate!

2012-01-04T12:13:00.000-08:00

Chocolate! I here you say - Oh NO - .......Its OK - its not the edible kind.

I was very lucky at Christmas and got lots of crafty goodies, including these Darkroom Door stamps, which I have wanted for a while, and there are some great sentiments in the tin (the tin is also fab). I was stamping up some of the images the other night and thought they looked good as a background, and better still on pink cardstock with brown ink than black/white, So .....I stamped again with brown ink on a slightly paler pink card for the main image and sentiment, both matted onto brown cardstock and then attached with 3Dfoam.
I am entering this card in:
Sir Stampalot - Monochromatic
Through the Craft Room Door - Monochromatic
Heart Song Inspirations - Anything Goes
Stamps RUs - What you got for Christmas
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Something Old Something New (Ribbon is old)
Sentimental Sundays - Anything Goes

Thats it for now and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Another for LIM

2012-01-03T08:16:00.000-08:00

You are probably thinking, its that stamp again! Yes, but this time its CAS....... and 'mauve'

I think she's 'Fabulous', so I just had to use her that way. So... this is my 2nd card for LIM's One Word.
Just a little bit of soft chalking, this really is Less Is More!

I am also entering this card at Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking,

Avril xx

Less Is More

2012-01-03T05:39:00.000-08:00

Hello All, I love the Christmas holidays, but it is nice to get back to 'normal' and into routine again.
Which for me means a bit more time for crafting - and I am itching to play with my new goodies, I was very lucky for Christmas and got ALL the stamps I asked for on my list!
This stamp - Two Old Ladies by River City Rubberworks, is new to me (I got it off EBay just before Christmas) and is having its first inking.
I thought it would work for Less is More where the theme is 'One Word' but when I stamped directly onto card, it didn't look right, so then I mattted it onto black cardstock. I ran a glue pen round the edge of the image and added some black glitter, but no matter how many times I have brushed it, and it looks OK, every photo has a black speck! Very simply coloured with Promarkers, and , apart from a bit of 'sparkle' for the necklace, brooch and bag clasp, that's it - for now, but I think the image will work for OTT!!

That's it for now, off to play!

Avril xx

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2012-01-01T04:42:00.000-08:00

Hello and a Happy New Year to All. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and were lucky enough to get some 'new goodies to play with'.

I was very lucky this year and got some gorgeous stamps (unlike last year - not one!) The only problem is I haven't had time to 'play'with everything - yet!

The challenge this fortnight at Fashionable Stamping is an easy one - to use your new goodies - that could be paper, ribbon, embellishments - anything new as long as there is some stamping on the project. As usual there is a great stamp for the winner donated by our permanent sponsor - Marina from Cottage Crafts.

For my card I have used my new set of 'Music Hall' stamps from IndigoBlu. I masked the lady and then stamped the music and sentiment, then lightly coloured with chalks. The poster was stamped and mounted on tiny 3D pads and the lady's dress coloured with Promarkers. On the base card I randomly stamped the music and flourish with Bundled Sage, Tattered Rose and Pumice Distress Inks. My flower was cut from pages of an old paperback, ribbon & lace and then and spritzed with Red Cosmic Shimmer. A dusting of fine black glitter and Glamour Dust was added, although it doesn't show too well so the in the photo

The rest of the girls on the DT have been very lucky with their Christmas goodies and have created some fabulous pieces of work, so please pop over to FSC and have a look, you wont be disappointed.

That's it for now, and I don't have a hangover, which is what this post looks like, but I have pressed something and it has got very messy!

That's it for now, but before I go I would like to say 'hello' to Kym my new follower, its lovely to see you.

I would like to enter this card in Secret Crafters Challenge - Anything Goes

Glitter Geeks - Brand New

Moving Along with the Times - Step back in Time

Thanks for looking.

Avril x

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T15:09:00.000-08:00

I would like to wish all my Crafty Friends and Followers a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I hope 2012 is a good year for everyone.

To finish off the year, and by the skin of my teeth, here is a card I made earlier for one of DD's friends baby's 1st Christmas. It fits in nicely with the House Mouse & Friends last challenge of the year ' Fuzzy & Warm'
I took the piccy ages ago,and because I had to 'find' it, it has taken me ages to post it here!
( Edited to say, I uploaded the wrong picture, this is the one it should have been!)

Just a short one tonight, need to be organised for Santa coming tomorrow - wonder if I'll get any goodies!

Enjoy the holidays.

Avril xx

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly - but no music!

2011-12-22T07:37:00.000-08:00

Hi All, just a quick post, didn't really want to miss the challenge at LIM this week which is Music, or if you don't have music it could be a song. I played around, but didn't really get what I wanted with the Music stamp, so went with a song. Stamped the image and sentiment with Pine Needles and Peeled Paint, added red glitter to the berries and Crystal stickles to the circles down the swirls - looks quite sparkly , shame it doesn't show in the photo!

Thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Enjoy the Journey

2011-12-18T00:18:00.000-08:00

Can't believe how fast this month has gone - Only 1 more week to Christmas!!!

It's also the last challenge of the year at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and this time the theme is Travel - this can be a particular place or a travel theme, which is what I chose. The rest of the Team have made some fabulous 'creations' so please pop over and check them out.
For my card - I bought a compass mask at a craft show a few weeks ago and I used this with DI Pumice Stone in the bottom corner, quite pleased with the effect. I then stamped directly onto DP with Black Memento Ink using a selection Tim Holt stamps. The ticket, a piece of recycling here, was stamped onto a used brown envelope. I stamped 'umberella man' on spare card and added him on 3D pads to give a bit of depth.
I know its a busy time, but the challenge is open for 2 weeks, so possibly after the big day you will 'need' some "me time" and it will be a great opportunity to make something that doesn't resemble a Christmas Card!! There is a fabulous set of stamps as a prize from our permanent sponsor, Marina of Cottage Crafts, and don't forget our new feature 'The Spotlight'.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges
Sundays with Chrissy - Anything Goes
Corrosive challenges - Anything but Chrisitmas
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes
Sparkles Forum - Anything but Christmas card

Well that's it from me, thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Snowflakes at Less is More

2011-12-15T11:31:00.000-08:00

Well, 2 posts in one day! - Most unusual!!!

I have intended to make this card all week as I wanted to get back into doing the LIM challenges, which this week is One Layer - Snowflakes, but I must admit, although I have posted, I haven't actually crafted this week. Normally I find crafting takes my mind off 'things' but this week I just can't settle. Although DD finishes Uni today for Christmas, she has a part-time job, supposed to be just 'term-time' but she has never quite managed this. This year Christmas Eve is a Saturday - and she has to work Christmas Eve - the concession being she can finish at 3p.m. She will have a 3hr journey on a good day, so I am just hoping we don't get snow as her journey takes her over the A66, which has already been closed last week. Sooooooooooo...............

Back to the card - Penny Black Silver Snowflake -( won in Brenda's Recycling candy,) sentiment Hero Arts, both embossed in Silver Razzle Dazzle. When I first started doing LIM I didn't like any of my cards, but now, I look forward to doing them.

I am also entering this in
Aud Sentiments - Any Christmas Sentiment
Crimbo Crackers - Embossing

Well that's it for now and thanks for looking - and listening!

Avril xx

Here Comes Santa

2011-12-15T06:03:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

Hope everyone is feeling OK and not getting too stressed about Christmas.
Showed you a C&S card yesterday, so thought I would show something different today. I bought this stamp off Ebay just before I went on holiday, so didn't get the chance to play with it, so although the cards are gone, I had to ink it up - I'm now ready for next year!!!
The papers were free with a craft mag, along with the sentiment. The image, which is Rubber Stampeed was stamped in Vintage Photo, masked and then I stamped a music stamp, then again on vellum. Glamour Dusted his beard, Glitter flock on his eyebrows and Glossy Accents on his specs.
I am entering this card in:
4 Crafty Chicks - Christmas Card
Crafty Ribbons - Traditional Colours
Cute Card Thursday - Stripes
Paper Crafting Journey - Christmas
Paper Play - Christmas
ABC Christmas - Christmas
Crafts & Me - Christmas
Divas by Design - Christmas
Crafting for All Seasons - Christmas
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Well that's it for now, thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Quick Christmas Card

2011-12-14T10:50:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

The Christmas cards are posted, the tree is up, but somehow, I don't feel very Christmassy! So, I thought I
would show a card I made a few weeks ago. I have kept most of my cards quite simple this year as they needed to be made early.
This one uses my all time old favourite Judikins Angels - Naughty & Nice, very simply coloured with Promarkers and GlamourDust. The die cut frame is a Mariann Corner die and quite easy to line up.
I am entering this card in the following:
Bearly Mine Challenge - Un-Traditional - No Red or Green
Paper Minutes - Clean & Simple & Mostly White
Crafty Boots - Christmas
Creative Stamp Friends - Christmas
Cupcake Crafts - Don't look at the Light (Sparkle. Shine)
Hooked on Craft - Christmas

Well, that's it for now, and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Mr Mojo has returned!

2011-12-10T08:04:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

What a week, really desperate to craft and then found Mr Mojo was still on holiday! Hopefully things are returning to normal, and crafting is now resumed.

I made this tag a while ago, and although I love making them, never feel quite sure about just sending a tag, so usually end up adding to a card. The tag on the tag is Crafty Individuals, and is coloured with DI Tattered Rose, the words are also CI. I used Hero Arts French Writing on the main tag, which was again distressed with the same DI. The papers are K & Co. The butterfly(Inkylicious) was stamped on Vellum with Versamark and then sprinkled with Mica, I added the Mica powder to the swirl. I stamped the words on the DP with Versamark and dusted with the Bronze Mica and Perfect Pearls Interference Red, which didn't show up at all in the photo, so - here is the 'bad' photo which does show!

I am going to enter this in the following:
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Totally Papercrafts - Anything but Christmas
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
DYSU - Anything Old
Dutch Dare Challenge - Things With Wings
Southern Girls - Ribbon
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

That's it for me, Mr Mojo wants to play, so can't disappoint.

Thanks for looking, hope you like it.

Avril xx

Dressmaking time at Fashionable Stamping Challenges

2011-12-06T04:13:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

Well I am back after a lovely relaxing holiday, and hopefully I will be able to do some crafting later today as I am now suffering withdrawal symptoms from no crafting for over 2 weeks - wish I could take it all with me when I go on holiday - but would the plane be able to take off!!

Managed to complete my DT card for Fashionable Stamping before I went away and this  was a real pleasure to make, as I love vintage and sewing themes, which is the challenge this fortnight. I distressed the base card with Tattered Rose, Spun Sugar and Antique Linen before Stamping with Hero Arts French Script, and the DressForms and Corset stamps from Crafty Individuals. The bill head was also distressed with the same inks before being added to the card. The corsets and DressForm were then stamped again and cut out after being coloured with Distress Inks. The ribbon started life as mauve, but after Domestos - it was the perfect shade!

I have just had a look at the cards over at FSC made by the DTs and there are some fabulous creations, so please pop over to be suitably inspired, and of course, there is always a fabulous prize on offer from our permanent sponsor, Marina of Cottage Crafts, and now there is a Saturday 'Spotlight' (I have lots to catch up on - holidays do interfere with crafting).

I am also entering this card in Stamp & Create's challenge which is Vintage
    Make It Monday - Anything Goes
    The Ribbon Reel - Anything Goes
    Craft Your Days Away - Buttons or Bows
    Divas by Design - Anything Goes
    Fab & Funky - Anything Goes
    I Break for Challenges - Vintage

Nearly forgot to mention - came home to find that I had won some of Brenda's Recycling candy. Not only dose she have a great blog, but she is a very generous lady, and if you haven't visited her, please do.

Well that's it for now, need to catch up on what has been happening in blogland! Hope to see you soon.

Avril xx

White Christmas at Fashionable Stamping Challenges

2011-11-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

Hopefully you are reading this and I am on my way to the sunshine in Sharm-el-Sheik!

The challenge this week over at Fashionable Stamping is 'White Christmas', that can be white cards, snow or snowflakes or or anything Christmassy! interpret it anyway you like, the choice is yours!
The girls on the Design Team have made some fabulous Christmas cards for inspiration, so please pop over and have a look, and of course we have our permanent Sponsor Marina of Cottage Crafts donating this weeks prize.

For my card I have used Gilding Flakes, and an IndigoBlu stamp. I added a little glitter to the baubles, matted onto red and then a white card base. It was a bit difficult to take a photo of, either too much glare and you couldn't see the detail of the stamp, or I lost the sparkle, which is really quite pretty. The sentiment is HeroArts.

I would just like to say 'hello' to my new followers, thank you so much, I am really thrilled that you like my 'makes' enough to follow, and a BIG 'thank you' to everyone of you.

Thanks for looking,
Avril xx

Less Is More is Gold!

2011-11-17T02:56:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

I am having such a busy week! Made this card on Sunday, thought it would suit LIM as the theme is Leaves this week, but haven't had a chance to upload until now and even now I'm dashing - off to help my Son move home!
I recently bought some Gilding flakes and Flitter Glu - and this was my first (almost - I'm not showing that one). The Leafy Tree is an old one from Elisive Images (now Chocolate Baroque), and I have stamped using the Flakes. The sentiment is Hero Arts.

This will probably be my last post, apart from my (hopefully) scheduled post for FSC on Sunday, as we are off on holiday on Sunday for a couple of weeks of sunshine. I am not much of a sun worshiper as I hate to be too hot, but I do enjoy winter sunshine.

Thats it for now, but pleas pop back on Sunday for the new Challenge at FSC.

Thanks for looking

Avril xx

Late Again!!

2011-11-10T15:29:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

Just a quick one - because I am late again with my card for LIM. I played around with inks and stamps 'creating' various masterpieces (who am I kidding), but just wasn't happy with them. Then the light bulb went on and I thought of this very old Dolly Mama's stamp, there's a whole set of them with various sayings, and we bought them when we first started crafting, I have 2 and my friend Diane has 2, and which one did I want to use, yes - Diane's!!
So this was made tonight in our 'craft & natter' - took ages to colour with Promarkers, but its Red and Orange to fit the challenge at LIM. The sentiment is from Rivercity Rubberworks, which just arrived in a little parcel today!

That's it for now, its almost past my bedtime.

Take care

Avril xx

Another Chrstmas Card to Share

2011-11-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

Hi All,
Just a quick post tonight to show another of the 'batch' Christmas Cards. I made something similar for a LIM challenge a few weeks ago, but just used the CI stamp. (kept it simple for LIM). For this one I inked the background and matted onto silver. I stamped The Night Before Christmas text from Inkylicious, and inked again with DI, and lots of Stickles around the distressed edge. The Jingle Bells stamp on the bottom was a 'freebie' from CI with my last order. The Snowflake is a Marianne die borrowed from my crafty friend Diane.
I am going to enter this card in:
Papertake Weekly - First Christmas
My Time to Craft - Sun ,Moon or Stars
Partytime Tuesdays - Bling it On - anything Sparkly
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Christmas
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Just before I go, I would like to mention that Dot a very talented DT member from FSC is giving away her fabulous card from this weeks challenge, Dot is trying to get to 50 Followers, she is almost there, and if you pop by her blog, I am sure you will want to visit regularly, prepare to be inspired.

That's it for now,

Take card

Avril xx

Altered Poppy card

2011-11-08T13:23:00.000-08:00

Hello All,
Thanks for all your well wishes and I'm pleased to say they worked - woke up Monday feeling OK, so I think the horrible cold for the day must have been the reaction from the Flu jab.
Is been a really dark and miserable day today, and although apart from lack of natural light, perfect to stay indoors and craft, I decided I had better tidy up my rather messy craft room - (spare bedroom) and do a bit of re-organising. (That's because I couldn't find anything since finishing the Christmas cards).

So tonight, in a nice tidy room, I thought I would share this card, it started off as my DT piece for FSC 'Coffee & Cream' with coffee coloured poppy heads, BUT - DH said 'Poppies have to be RED'. So it was put aside for a couple of days, and as I liked the idea of the printed background, kept to the original idea but paper pieced the poppy heads after stamping in black and heat embossing with clear powder, and added a bow. I also cut the card down and matted on to a red card base.
The poppies are Hero Arts and the text is the sentiment from Inkylicious.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes PLUS Brown
Heart Song Inspirations - Anything Goes
The Crafty Pad - Paper Piecing
2 Sisters - Ribbon
Allsorts - Anything but Square
Challenge Up Your Life - Friendship
Our craft Lounge - Distressed and Stressed
Rainbow Lady's challenge - Remember with Poppies

Well, thats it for now, been on here too long. I'm still having poblems with my neck, but the weekly physio sessions are definitely helping, I'm not getting the pins & needles in my arms now and can move my neck more. One good thing from it, I don't do any lifting of shopping!!

Take care

Avril xx

Fashionable Stamping Challenge - Times Gone By

2011-11-06T10:24:00.000-08:00

Its time for another Challenge at Fashionable Stamping, this time we would like you to think of 'Times Gone By', there is some fabulous inspiration from the Design Team, so please pop over and take a look, you won't be disappointed. There is also a gorgeous stamp to be won!

For my card I went with Fashion from Times Gone By. I used a Crafty Individuals stamp, coloured with Promarkers, and DI Spiced Marmalade for the followers and shading on the image. The tag is also from CI.l
The clock, ticket and stamped corner Flowers were 'freebies' with my last order, that's one of the great things about ordering direct from CI, you get a little packet of 'freebies', I can't wait to ink them up and see what they are! The DP is MME Lost & Found, there are some gorgeous papers in this pack.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamps - Shabby/Chic/Vintage
Dream Valley - Anything Goes

Just a quick post tonight, I had the Flu injection on Monday and just haven't felt great since and today I have started with the cold from h............! hopefully it won't last.

I would like to say 'hello' to Stephanie my new follower, thanks for following.

Avril xx

Time to Share

2011-11-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

Hi All, now that I have finished making the Christmas cards, I must start and show them. This is one of the last ones I made, it is probably a 'one off' - due to the fact that I stuck the matted image on the card upside down!! So... it couldn't be wasted, hence the Easel card, inspired by the challenge at AllSorts this week which is Christmas Easel card. The image is a new stamp, bought at the Purely Papercrafts show a couple of weeks ago, it is by IndigoBlu, I heat embossed with Stamp-N-Stuff EP in Jeweled Gold, it really does have a great sparkle. The snowflake corners are Clarity, the sentiment is an old one from Anitas.
Found a couple of other challenges for this card:

4 Crafty Chicks - Die Cuts - its a Nesti scalloped oblong under the sentiment.
For Your Inspiration - Photo - Black & Gold
Stamp & Doodle - Embossing
Always Something Creative - Must Sparkle
The Craft Garden - Christmas - No Red or Green
HeartSong Inspirations - Embossing/and or 3 layers
One Stitch at a Time - Christmas
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - Monochromatic

Before I go I would just like to say 'Hello' to Monica - my new follower, its lovely to see you, and thanks for following me.

I hope you all have a good weekend, weather forecast isn't too good, but it just might be perfect crafting weather!

Take care

Avril xx

Wishing on a Star!

2011-11-01T13:48:00.000-07:00

Doesn't this make a change - It's only Tuesday and my card is ready for LIM!!
The challenge this week is 'Stars' and I have used Lavinia fairy and stars stamps that I am ashamed to say I bought at Harrogate in September and this is the first time they have seen ink!! The sentiment is from an Inkylicious set. All stamped in Black Memento with just a dash of Glamour Dust.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Bows & Berries - CAS
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenge - Anything Goes

I had problems with my internet connection again last week, and its surprising how much time you make for crafting when there are no other diversions - I only have 3 more Christmas cards to make!!! I have been in 'factory mode' at least 6 of each design, but they are done, in envelopes and the address labels on - just need stamps (big sigh), so it must be true - every grey cloud has a silver lining!

Thanks for looking, and I hope to catch up and visit soon.

Avril xx

Dotty for LIM!!

2011-10-26T10:22:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

This week at LIM the theme is - POLKA DOTS

So for my little offering I have inked up a very neglected stamp, the image is by Stamps Happen and is one of the first stamps I bought! For my 'Polka Dots' I paper pieced her jumper and added a strip of the same BoBunny paper down the size. The rest of the image is coloured with Promarkers. Didn't even need a sentiment!!

I am also entering this card in:
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Partytime Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Papershelter challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

I would like to say 'Hello' to Vicky my new follower, Lovely to see you!

Enjoy the rest of your week, and Thanks for looking

Avril xx

House Mouse Challenge - Fall

2011-10-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

This is my second Spot as Guest Designer for the House Mouse Challenge Blog and the theme this fortnight is 'Fall', very appropriate for this time of the year. The girls on the Design Team are a very talented group and have made some fabulous creations for your inspiration, so do please pop over to the blog and have a look, and hopefully you will join us.

For my card I have used one of the unmounted Fall stamps from Joanna Sheen. I stamped the image, coloured with Promarkers and used chalks for the sky. I stamped and coloured a few extra leaves,and added some Glamour Dust, (the original stamp only has 3 falling leaves), there are also some smaller leaves in the set, so I stamped these onto the panel at the bottom. I inked the base cardstock with Bundled Sage, Antique Linen, Tattered Rose and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Quirky Crafts - Autumn Leaves
One Stop Craft - No Designer paper
I Love Promarkers - Cute
Little Red Waggon - Autumn

Coffee & Cream with a hint of Dark Chocolate

2011-10-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Challenge this week at Fashionable Stamping Challenges is 'Coffee & Cream with a hint of Dark Chocolate' Mmmm!

So, we would like to see your stamped creations using Coffee and Cream with the option of Dark Brown or Black. and as usual there is a fab prize from Marina, at Cottage Crafts our sponsor.

For my card I have used 'Dandelion Wishes' set of clear stamps from Inkylicious. I repeatedly stamped the sentiment on cream cardstock in Antique Linen Distress Ink I stamped it again on spare card in Vintage Photo, tor the edges and distressed using a combination of both. I stamped the Dandelions on a nesti cut from the same cream cardstock and again, distressed this. I added Glamour Dust to the little seed heads.
For my hint of Dark Chocolate, I used a Dark brown card base and ribbon.

The Design ~Team have made some absolutely fabulous samples for you inspiration, so please pop over and check them out.

I am also entering this card in One Stop Crafts challenge - No Designer Paper
Sugar Creek Hollow - Shades of Fall -(shades of brown)
Totally Papercrafts - Layer on Layer (there are 3 layers here - I think that counts)
Fab & Funky - Distressed or torn
TopTip Tuesday - Layer It
HeartSong Inspirations - Use Flowers/Felt
Moving Along with the Times - Vintage

Late Again for LIM!

2011-10-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

Well once again - Where has this week gone!

When I saw the challenge at LIM this week was 'Cocktails', I knew I had to use this digi image from Bugaboo, I bought the set, and have only used them once or twice, but I must admit - I'm a bit basic when it comes to digi's I can re-size, but that's it! I always need to print out and then layer, I can't do anything else with the image - note to self - I must learn!
I coloured with Promarkers, layered the images onto black and added Glamour Dust - so what took so long!
I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
http://www.4craftychicks.blogspot.com/4Crafty Chicks - Colour It Up

This is just a quickie post as my Crafty Friend Diane is due - Craft and Natter night!

Thanks for looking, and Thank You for all the nice comments I have received lately, especially as I am still not spending too much time at the computer to leave many comments, but I am trying to catch up!

Avril xx

Sugar & Spice

2011-10-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I entered Lexi's challenge for the first time and was so surprised when I won the Guest Designer spot! The challenge this time was to use a sentiment and this cute 'Sugar & Spice' was the the one I picked. I thought it went so well with this Penny Black image, and to show the sentiment to its best, I thought it had to be an easel card. I made the roses after watching a few tutorials on UTube, but didn't add all the layers on the smaller one.
I am also entering this card in Craft Your Passions challenge - Double up in Pink
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Heart Song Inspirations - Use Flowers/Felt
Sentimental Sundays - Fancy Folds

We have just returned from a long weekend in the Lake District, one of my favourite places, the Autumn colours were gorgeous, the first piccy is Rydal Water, the other is Lake Windermere, I always think this is a lovely time of the year - especially if you are lucky with the weather.

Thats it for now, thanks for looking. Hope you all have a good week,

Avril xx

Less Is More

2011-10-10T12:37:00.000-07:00

I think this must be the earliest I have entered LIM
I went to a small craft fair yesterday and one stall was selling Wood Backed rubber stamps for £1.00 each, and this was one of them! Perfect for this weeks challenge which is one layer and 'hearts'.
The stamp is All Night Media and I have coloured with Promarkers and added a little Glamour Dust. I did try a bow at the top, but wasn't too sure.
The Happy Anniversary stamp is straight - I promise - must be the way the card is lying for the photo.
I didn't have any heart stamps before yesterday, and now I have 2 - bought another which you may see later.
Just a short one tonight,
Thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Spooky Mouse!

2011-10-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

Oh Lucky Me! I am thrilled to have been offered a second GDT spot on the House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge, and of course I jumped at the chance, well....... which HM fan wouldn't!

For this fortnights challenge they would like to see Halloween/any or all of the colours Black/Orange/Yellow/Green.
I don't normally do Halloween cards, and don't have any suitable stamps, so needed to improvise and it was a case of letting the imagination run wild, so to speak! This is actually a cute stamp called 'Lip Stamp' (nice red lips on the stamp) but I changed it to vampire teeth and gave him a cloak (coloured with Promarkers and added glitter)
The orange and green papers are from a handmade paper pack and I distressed all the edges with Walnut Stain DI. Hand drawn spider and web - couldn't resist! Sentiment was computer.
Do have a look at the Blog as the Design Team have made some fabulous creations for you inspiration, and I really feel very privileged to work with these girls again.
Thanks for looking and I do hope you like my little offering - and you are inspired to enter this great challenge.
I am also entering this card in the following challenges
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Stamps & Fun = creativity - Halloween
Victorine Stamps - Halloween
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes
Sparkles Forum - Halloween
Challenge up Your Life - Halloween
Scecret Crafter - Anything Goes as long as it Sparkles

Avril xx

Fashionable Stamping Challenge

2011-10-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

The challenge this week at Fashionable Stamping Challenges is 'Anything but a Card' and this is a theme I haven't really ventured into, so it was a bit of a challenge for me as well!

I decided to make an Explosion Box - something that has been around for quite a while - but I have never done one. I have usually seen them made with papers and embellishments, but as this is a stamping challenge - I decided on my trusty Hero Arts Script stamp and my new Inkylicious Butterfly stamp and of course Distress Inks. (Vintage Photo, Spun Sugar and Bundled Sage)

Its all very similar, but I tried to make the acetate butterflies look as if they were flying free from the box when it opened.
The sides of the box were embossed with Butterfly Swirl CB folder as is the panel on the top of the lid. I also stamped a butterfly and embossed with UTEE for the lid. This was a difficult piece to photograph, so, sorry for the poor piccys.

The design Team have created some fabulous pieces of work for your inspiration, so please pop over to the FSC blog, I guarantee you will be amazed at their creativity.

I am also entering this in the following challenges:
Stamping for the Weekend - Colours of Autumn
Stamping with the Dragon - Fall Colours
PaperPlay challenge - Autumn colours
Pixie Dust - Anything but a Card

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Blue Lady

2011-10-07T03:11:00.000-07:00

I'm late again for LIM who want to see the colour of your 'eyes'.
Well - mine are blue - so not much choice there!
The lady is by Inkadinkado and stamped in Adirondack Denim, her hat band is coloured with Denim Promarkers. I used blue chalk for a soft shading, matted onto dark blue and a computer sentiment!
I am liking my LIM cards now - just need to do the earlier in the week.
I am also entering this card in the 4CraftyChicks challenge - Monochromatic

Hope you all have a good week end.

Thanks for looking,
Avril xx

Vintage - Again!

2011-10-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

I am really going through a Vinage phase at the moment, I think its because after my little spending spree at Harrogate last month, I was making room for the new stamps and began to look at all the neglected stamps, most of which were vintage - my first buys in the stamp world.
This is 'Pearls & Plumes' by Hampton Art Stamps. she is coloured with Promarkers, I added Glamour Dust to her feathered hat and pearls, this does look sparkly in real life The embossed panel was stamped with a script stamp in weathered Wood Distress ink, then spritzed with water, embossed with CB folder and then distressed with Weatherd Wood, Worn Lipstick and Fired Brick before rubbing some Metallic Rub-ons on the raised embossing. I used the same DIs and rub ons on the swirls. The vellum layers is from last year's Papermania's Silent Night, and has a lovely gold pattern printed on. The flower which is old book pages and organza was cut with scalloped Nesties and spritzed with Bronze Cosmic Shimmer
This started as just a short one tonight, but I got carried away with the discription, hope you are still with me!
I am entering this card in the following challenges.
Make It Monday - As Always - Anything Goes
Anything Goes - Die cuts/punches
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Fab & Funky - Die cuts/punches
Simon Says - Sparkle & Bling
Truly Scrumptious - Distressing
Crafty Cardmakers - Anythging Goes

I would just like to say 'Hello' to my new followers Paula and Lindsay - Thanks girls, You have just brought the total to '70' - and I am so thrilled - Thanks You All

This post has take 2 nights to do, thanks to the pins & needles I keep getting down my arm, due to the 'pain in the neck' so if I'm a little slow in paying visits, I hope you'll understand.

Thanks for looking,
Avril xx

House Mouse Christmas Sparkle

2011-09-30T13:17:00.000-07:00

The challenge at House Mouse this fortnight is Christmas Sparkle, and after making 4 for the LIM challenge last week, my little pile is slowly growing - oops, that sounds terrible, but you know what I mean.

This image is called 'Stocking Full of Love' and even if you don't like mice, you have got to love these!
The papers are from the Artylicious CD, snowflakes Cuttlebug, large one in glitter paper, and the little sentiment is Penny Black. I added lots of Glamour Dust and Diamond Dust for the snow.
Again, a short post, you're probably thinking 'thank God - she sometimes prattles on!' but I am having problems with the disks in my neck giving me pins & needles in my arm - had my first physio session yesterday, and sitting at the computer isn't helping - but thankfully I can still craft, its better when I am moving as long as I don't turn my head!

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday - Animal Crackers
Southern Girls - Anything Goes
Inky Impressions - Punches or Dies
Scrapalicious - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

That's it for now, hope you all have a good weekend.

Avril xx

Less is More - and just in time!

2011-09-30T02:13:00.000-07:00

What beautiful weather we are having and it looks like it's set to last over the weekend, so we have to make the most of it, which for me has resulted in little time for crafting, however I did make my card for LIM last night when my 'crafty' friend Diane came over, we were both very productive as well as talkative!
This image is a Lavinia stamp borrowed from Diane, thanks, and the sentiment is computer generated. I added Glamour Dust to her wings and a little bit of soft chalk for the background, matted onto black card and that was it - I am beginning to feel a lot easier with this challenge, but it has taken quite a while!

I am also entering into the Allsorts Challenge - Keep it simple
Truly Scrumptious - CAS
Sisterhood of Crafters - Silhouettes

That's it for looking, will be back later with another of last nights efforts.

Avril xx

Vintage Lady

2011-09-25T04:30:00.000-07:00

Its catwalk time again over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and - … what would we like to see …

Well, we would love to see you cavorting onto the catwalk with all those stylish olde worlde, antiquee, shabby chiceee looking outfits, so our theme this fortnight is …
VINTAGE

For my little number -

I have used Rubber Stampeed 'Dreaming of You' which I stamped on to Acetate with black Stazon ink and on the reverse I dripped 'Johnsons Klear Floor polish, Twinkling H2O paints and some mica powder and glitter. Covered this with a single layer scrunched up tissue and left to dry for 24 hrs. She was then matted onto cream and then brown cardstock with brads. I stamped another butterfly which was coloured with Alcohol inks. The script is Hero Arts and the larger butterfly is from Inkylicous The background is Distress inks - Vintage Photo, Spun Sugar and Bundled Sage, and then a CI swirl stamped in gold. I do hope you like my little 'creation'.
The DT at FSC are a really talented group and have produced some amazing 'creations' for inspiration, so please pop over and pay them a visit, I promise you will not be disappointed . We would love to see you enter the challenge and there is a fab Retro stamp sheet for the Winner.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
    Sweet Stampin - Anything Goes
    Polkadoodles - Distress
    Raise the Bar - Things with Wings
    Crafting for all Seasons - Fall Colours
    Marks Finest Paper - Things with wings
    Just some Lines - Fall Colours
    Art Impressions - For the Girls
    Scrapbook Sisters - Autumn colours

I would just like to say 'Hello' to my new follower Lynne, great to see you there!

That's it for now, and thanks for looking, and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Avril xx

LIM - No 4

2011-09-23T05:50:00.000-07:00

This is the end of last night 'productive play' and another Christmas card in the box as well as another for LIM - 1000 cards!
This is a PSX stamp and I coloured the holly and red bows using the fine nibs for the Promarkers - great for detail like this. Matted onto silver and lots of Glamour Dust. The sentiment is Hero Arts.

I am also entering this card in:
The Paper Variety challenge- Home

That's probably it for me for today and I am looking forward now to looking at the fab cards already entered.

Thanks for looking,

Avril xx

LIM - No 3

2011-09-23T05:18:00.000-07:00

Back again to help swell the numbers - I noticed when I linked the last card to the LIM challenge some folks have added 10! I think thats an amazing response to the challenge.

This card is using a Crafty Individuals stamp - stamped onto pearlised card, matted onto black glitter paper, a little Glamour Dust, and a CB embossed card.

I am entering this card in Paper Shelters challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks again for looking.

Avril xx

LIM - No 2

2011-09-23T04:33:00.000-07:00

A good crafting night last night, and another for the LIM challenge - hope you get the 1000!
I bought these two little angels (Judikins) for the first Christmas Cards I made and they have re-surfaced every year in one form or another, great for LIM cards.

I am also entering this in:
Little Miss Muffet Challenge - Things with Wings
Rainbow Lady's Challenge - White Space
Flutterby Wednesday challenges - Anything goes (with wings)

Thanks for looking

Avril xx

Less Is More

2011-09-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick posting to 'add' my card for the LIM challenge this week which is
                   Now we are going for the 1000 submissions.
                                                       so
                                           Anything CAS Goes
I have had quite a busy week 'socialising' and have had a 'girly' shopping day with a friend - coffee/lunch/not ot mention the shopping. I am now dashing to tidy up the mess I made last night - lots of bits in progress, but only this card to show - before my friend Diane comes over to play! Depending on how much talking and how much crafting gets done - I might have another one to post.

I am also enering this card in:
Crafty Ribbons challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking

Avril xx

House Mouse 3rd Birthday

2011-09-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

No internet for a week! Its amazing just how much we rely on it now, and only 20 years ago it didn't exhist. Normal life can now resume - after 2 new modems and a 'Virgin' man. There was a good side though - no blogging meant more crafting time! I made quite a number of cards, and this House Mouse was one of them, it is for the 3rd Birthday of the HM Challenge, where the theme is - you guessed - Birthday - with the option of flowers, there is a 'blog hop' and some the original DT have joined in to celebrate, so if you have any HM stamps, join in.
I have used Cupcake Birthday with Mudpie & Muzzy image and coloured with Promarkers. The pink embossed Birthday is cut from a CB Birthday folder. Papers are 'snippets' from stash.
I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Daring Cardmakers - Birthday (they have a fab prize of a Funky Hand Papercraft CD)
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Lexi's Creations - Card for a Child
Stamp with Fun - Anything Goes
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - Birthday

I would just like to say 'HELLO' to my new follower Craftin Suzie.

Well that's it from me - I'm off on a blog hop!

Avril xx

New Goodies - So - Less is More

2011-09-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a good weekend and these horrible winds haven't done any damage to anyone.

I am very fortunate and have had a lovely weekend. On Saturday I went to Harrogate Papercrafts Show with friends Diane and Michell and had a great day. It was lovely to meet up again with Christine and Lisa and also to make some new acquaintances - Joan and Maureen.
DD came home on Saturday, just a short visit, and went back today, so although I was itching to 'play' with the new goodies, I was banned from crafting while she was here! After she left, the first thing I did was make a card! and decided I would be early with my Less Is More card.
The stamps and sentiment are from the same Inkylicious set and I have stamped the dandelion twice in DI Bundled Sage, I cut a nesti oval in a 6 x 6 card and used this as a mask and although the colours look completely different, the oval is sponged with the same ink! I added a sprinkling of Glamour Dust to the floating seed heads, didn't think it needed anything else - unusual for me! - think I might be getting there Mandy & Chrissy?

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Make It Monday - Always Anything Goes
Crafting When We Can - Anything Goes
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenge - Photo Inspiration

I would just like to say a huge 'HELLO' and THANK YOU to my new and 'old' followers and I will be round to visit you.

That's it for now, and I hope everyone stays safe in these dreadful winds tonight.

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - A Tag

2011-09-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

Well Girls, its that time again for my little walk down the catwalk at Fashionable Stamping Challenges. The theme this time is a 'Tag' - and you should have a look at the fabulous tags the other DT members have made for your inspiration.
I haven't ventured into the world of tags previously, yes I have added a tag to a card, but that seemed different to actually making a stand alone tag, but really, once I started, it was just like adding all the bits to a smaller card, don't know why I haven't done this before!
For my tag I used an ordinary postage label, stamped the Eiffel Tower, masked it and stamped the Post card, both from the Royal Langnickel French Travel stamp set. I drew a line and stamped Hero Arts French Writing to one side of this before removing the mask. The little Paris tag, from the same set, was stamped onto spare card and I added an eyelet. These were all sponged with DI inks Vintage Photo and Tatted Rose. I used Clarity's Sketchy Lady and stamped her onto spare card, paper pieced her dress and hat and just coloured her skin, I added foam pads just to 'lift' her. The swirl was sponged with Vintage Photo and is cut from a Marianne die. To finish I added a scrunched flower and pale blue organza ribbon.
Well I hope you like my 'little number' and are tempted to pop over and browse the inspirations on the catwalk of Fashionable Stamping Challenges. I hope you join us this time as there is a fabulous prize on offer from out sponsor Marina from Cottage Crafts.

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Challeng up Your Life - Paper Piecing
Allsorts - Flowers & Swirls
Just Us Girls - Text
Addictied to Stamps - Anything but a Card
Paperplay - 2 or more stamped images

Thats it for now, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Avril xx

Less Is More

2011-09-07T11:05:00.000-07:00

The challenge at Less Is more this week is -
It's the first Saturday of the month and so we have a colour themed challenge once more and this time it is
METALLIC
We'd like to see CLEAN & SIMPLE cards with something that has a METALLIC finish to it... ink, embossing, card, charms, actual metal... come on people let's get creative -

This is a very different card for me for the LIM - it's black, I usually play safe and stick to white!
I have used the large and small Clarity Swirls, inked with Versamark and stamped onto a black cardstock that has a matt and shine appearance. I then brushed the image with LuminArte Metallic Mica - Bronze powder. I used a matt dull gold card for the mount. The sentiment was made in the same way. This was then layered onto a matt black for the card.
I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
This is a short post - but didn't want to miss this challenge - I know there will be some fabulous entries this week and I will have time tomorrow night to look and be inspired.
I would like to say 'hello' to my new followers and I hope to catch up with you tomorrow.
That's it for now,

Avril xx

House Mouse - 'The Ultimate Recipe'

2011-09-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

The Challenge over at House Mouse & Friends this time is a ' recipe'. Not the usual card recipe where they tell you what to use - Oh no, this one is to include a recipe on you card!
There are some fabulous inspirational cards from the DT and some great sounding recipes with cute 'foodie' meeces. I did think about using my 'Chocolate Truffle' stamp, but this is one HM stamp that takes a lot of colouring, unlike most of the others I have and time is a bit short at present so I decided on a 'different' kind of recipe - A Recipe for Relaxation and used Relaxing Bubbles with Bumble.
I have used Dawny P's sketch over at Papertake Weekly, I paper piece the bathtub and her arm, and she is coloured with Promarkers, I added Glitter flock and Glamour Dust for the bubbles. The papers are from an old Laura Ashley set. My 'recipe' is all my own work!! printed out then cut with a nestie label. The flowers were cut from pages of an old book which was on its way to the Charity Bag, inked and cut with a scalloped circle nestie, bits of net and ribbon, all scrunched and held together with a brad, then spritzed with mica spray.
I am also entering this card in the following Challenges:
Moving Along with the times - Handmade flowers
Poodles Parlour - Animal Antics
Aud Sentiments - Sentiment for a Girl
DUSU - Friendly Critters
Some Odd Girl - Paper Piecing
Oldie but a Goodie - Sparkle

I would like to say 'hello' to my new followers - I can't believe I actually have 61!! I remember when I started blogging and I got my first 'follower' I couldn't wait to tell my family. Now there's '61' , all I can say to that is WOW!! and Thank You.

Its a miserable afternoon here after a promising start, so, I'm glad we went out early this morning ,which leaves me with nothing to do this afternoon but craft and I need to make a Starting School card for my Godson, going to see his uniform tomorrow!

That's it for now and I hope the weather is better where you are and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Avril xx

Less is More

2011-08-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

The challenge at Less is More this week is a Recipe - a combination of any 3 previous challenges. So plenty of options as the challenge has reached week
For my choice I have picked 3 squares - Week 4, Embossing - Week ,and a touch of Red - Week 9. I decided to use this Woman in the Hat, by Rubber Stampeed, she was one of the first stamps I bought and hasn't seen ink for some time!
I matted the 3 images onto red cardstock and embossed the with love in the right-hand top corner (no choice about this as the folder only works 1 way ( I have thought about cutting it open and sticking the other end but most cards I make have the fold on the left, so it stays as it is). Easy Peasy, card done - then I wondered about colouring her necklace red or the ribbons on the hat, but thought this might be more than 'a touch' so have left well alone. (it might get done before sending)
I see that the challenge has it the 1,000 followers - Well Done Chrissy and Mandy! This challenge takes me out of my comfort zone, but it is addictive and I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks like this.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Ooh La La - No backing paper
Stamps R Us - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - As Always - Anything Goes

I would like to say 'hello' to my new followers, and I'm glad to say Mr Blogger didn't keep them too long.

Just thought I mention -I didn't get made redundant last week as 'rain stopped play' again, but after my 'interfeering again' this morning, DH says I might be! I have started calling it the 'Winter House' cause there's not much summer left, it feels like Autum.

Thats it for now, and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Latest News !!!

2011-08-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

Well girls, I can now tell you my latest news! I am absolutely thrilled to have been invited to join the fabulous Design Team at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and become a 'Fashionette' !!! This is an extremely talented team, so please pop over to the challenge blog and see their amazing creations.

For my first outing on the catwalk I created this little blue number ........

For my card I used K&Co papers, the image is a Crafty Individuals, that I have had for a couple of weeks and this is the first 'inking'. I stamped the bill head on a cream tag, masked and then overstamped Hero Arts Old French Writing, I stamped the heading again and on cream card and cut out with a nestie label. I used Walnut Stain DI for the stamping and distressed with a combination of Vintage Photo and Tattered Rose. I paper pieced the corset bodices and parasol from scraps in the same pad. The lace flowers were cut from an old lace collar and inked with Adirondack Denim ink. I haven't added a sentiment, because I didn't want to cover all the swirls on the paper!
Well , I hope you like my first 'exhibit' on the catwalk of stamping and that I have encouraged you to pop over to see the fabulous show of inspiration from the rest of the Team.

I am also going to enter this card in the following challenges:
Just Add Ink - Something from stash - Old lace collar
Some Odd Girl - Paper piece
Craft Us Crazy - Anything Goes
Phindy's Place - Mak your own embellishments
Papercrafting Journey - Anything Goes
Fab & Funky - Mono Madness
Crafts & Me - Lace

Well that's it for now - have a great week -end and I hope the sun shines for you.

Avril xx

Enjoy the Ride!

2011-08-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

Well, another week has just whizzed by - helping DH (my new job as 'Gofer' on the Summer House - almost got the sack for interfering last week - I wish!) - but its looking good and almost finished, and in my spare time I've managed to do a bit of housework.! Oh and I gave myself a day off and met up with friends for coffee- but very little crafting I'm afraid. I am hoping to be redundant this week-end and then normal service can be resumed - unlike Mr Blogger who has lost my followers again!!

I did manage to make a card last night while DH was at work, at least that's what he call the Youth Club!

Its for the Less is More challenge, which this week is 'Things that Move'. This is the second card, not too sure if the first is LIM - will think about it. This was one of the first stamps I bought, (my Son still loves his mountain bike(s) yes, he has more than one and both very expensive!) and I used this stamp for the first birthday card I made him, and the last! I can't remember who made it. I have just stamped the image, matted with black and added brads, did some soft chalking and that's its, very LIM!! The sentiment was made on the computer.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Cards for Men - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Thats it for tonight, thanks for looking and if you find my followers, please send them back to me

Avril xx

Less is More

2011-08-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

The challenge at Less is More this week is to use inks - on a One Layer Card!
I have had a few ideas using one of the new stamps I bought from Crafty Individuals at the beggining of the week, but its been a busy week and haven't had a chance to do anything until now. This stamp was a 'freebie' I received in my "delivery" and I stamped it onto some scrap papers to see exactly what the image was, I am not really into birds for cards, but when I saw this image stamped, the idea for the card was there.
I have used my brayer before, but only a couple of times and then just for blue skies, and although I watch Barbara Grey on Create&Craft, I haven't really played with it! I used Distress Inks Tattered Rose and Spiced Marmalade for the sky and Walnut stain on the hills. Because this image was smaller than I wanted, I drew a frame with a Black Embossing Pen and then heat embossed with clear powder (I have seen Barbara G do this - so I can't take any credit for this idea). I did the same frame around the sentiment. This card is a 5" x 7" as I felt the image suited an oblong card and a DL was too long and thin!
This is a different type of card for me, and I really enjoyed doing it, so Thanks Chrissy & Mandy for the challenge - LIM really does take me out of my comfort zone, and I am starting to like the cards I make. I will tell you a little secret - some of the cards have been 'altered' (or binned) after the challenges .

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft Us Crazy - Anything Goes
Try It On Tuesdays - Anything Goes
The Stamp Man - Anything Goes with summer colours

That's it for now, thanks for looking and if you like what you see, please leave a comment and I can come and visit you.

Avril xx

House Mouse - Fruity?

2011-08-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

Well - where has the week gone! I can't blame DD this time, as she went back to Preston on Friday.
I think its just a case of catching up on everything - blog comments - which was a priority as well as washing, ironing, housework and of course homework for the never ending curtains. One pair is finished and they look great, although not up yet, but the finished look with 'hand-made' is worth the effort!

I had planned a 'play day' today, but DH asked for a 'hand' with the "finishing" of the Summerhouse (yes the one he started months ago) - I couldn't really say 'no' as I had been out most of yesterday meeting some friends for a 'girly' lunch. So, this is another short post to enter my card for the House Mouse challenge, which is 'To see fruit '. I didn't have a stamp with HM and Fruit so this (lemonade! or whatever) image was the nearest - I did add extra lemons to the image, so I hope this will do. Its not that long since I made a card using this image so to make it different I made it into an easel card. The papers are 'old' freebies from some magazine, the image is coloured with Promarkers, and I used stickles and Glossy Accents on the ice cubes. The sentiment was done on the computer.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says - Food & Drink
Anything Goes challenge - Birthdays
Celebrate the Occasion - Easel card
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Craft Us Crazy - Anything Goes
Frosted Designs - Friday challenge - Animals
I Love Promarkers - Easel Card

That's it for now and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Penny Black Challenge

2011-08-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Just another quick post as DD has just popped out to hand deliver this card for her friends birthday.
I haven't managed a Penny Black challenge for a while, so when she asked for a card, thought I would make the most of the opportunity to craft while she packed!
I have used Rain or Shine Friends - which seems appropriate considering the weather! Coloured it with Promarkers and used an oval nestability and 'cut outside the frame'. The papers are Pink Petticoat and were a freebi from a magazine, I distressed all the edges with Adirondac Denim ink, and I used this weeks sketch from Totally Gorjuss. The challenge at Papertake Weekly is 'Grown Your Own' so made my flowers with punches and the DP.
Challenges for my card are:
Penny Black challenge - Anything Goes
Totally Gorguss - Sketch
Papertake Weekly - Grow Your Own
Charisma Cards challenges - Distressing
Crafty Sentiments challenge - Die Cuts & Punches

I'm off for a glass of wine and a 'girly' last night with DD, and hopefully I will catch up with everyone tomorrow night.
Thanks for looking and if you like what you see, please leave a comment and I will come and visit you.

Avril xx

Less Is More

2011-08-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

I missed the challenge at LIM last week - in fact, I think I missed most challenges last week!
So this week - and all quick posts - I have actually managed a few challenges.
The challenge at Less Is More this week is 'The colour of your Nations Flag'. I have chosen an easy option of red on white, and used my new Hero Arts Poppy stamp. I inked with Black Versamark and heat embossed with clear powder on a 3" x7" card blank. Coloured with red Promarkers and then stamped the Thanks sentiment.
A very quick card, but no doubt when I go to link it in and see all the other creative entries I will probably think looks too CAS.
I am also entering this card in the Allsorts Challenge - Red

As I said, a quick post, DD and I have had a 'girly day' shopping and lunch and tonight we are all going to the cinema to see - 'Harry Potter'.

Thanks for looking and I hope to catch up with everyone on Friday when DD goes back.

Avril xx

House Mouse and First ATC!!

2011-08-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

The challenge at House Mouse & Friends this fortnight is ATCs. I haven't really got into these, but I suppose its just the first step of cardmaking (without the papers). I try not to miss these challenges as I really love HM stamps and this image was just sitting there - already coloured in - waiting for the right card.This image is from one of the unmounted sets and I added an extra parasol from a different set (courtesy of Crafty friend Diane). The image is coloured with Promarkers and I added a little glitter to make it look as if the sun was glinting off the sand - well we can all dream can't we!
Some challenged for my card are:
Creative Craft Challenge - Summertime
Cupcake Craft - Sew Mad
Die Cut Dreams - Holiday Fun
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

This is another quick post -I'm off to Diane's for the 'next lesson in the hand made curtains' and have just managed to get my 'homework' done while DD was out meeting a friend for coffee this morning. Only 2 more days left before she goes back and then I will have time on my hands, or something like that!!
Thanks for looking and Thanks for all the nice comments I have had lately, I do promise to catch up with you all at the weekend.

Avril xx

There's a new Challenge!

2011-08-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

Well...another week has just whizzed by!! I can't believe just how quickly the last few week have gone by.
Yesterday was DD last day working on her 8 week Summer Placement - and although she doesn't start Uni until 19th September she has to go back next Friday as her student -'term time' job working one and a half days a week 'need' her back in store and don't even allow her to take time off unpaid. Still, only 1 more year left at Uni and then she will move back to the N.E. She has had a Trainee Pharmacist job offer to start next summer (I think this means she will be independent! - can't wait!!!)

Last night I was 'home alone' for a few hours and decided on 'me' time - it was heaven to craft in peace -and made this card for a friends birthday. This stamp, Hampton Art Stamps 'Odes', hasn't been inked up for a while - don't know why cause I love it. She is coloured with Promarkers and inked with DI inks Dusty Concord and Antique Linen. The Postcard is from the Royal Langnickel travel stamp set and the music sheet is the LOTV clear stamp. These were both distressed and inked with Antique Linen.
I gave her a 'real' feather fan, I also stamped an extra butterfly on vellum, and glittered it before adding.
I stitched the paper, which is from Papermania and also stitched the cotton lace down the side of the image by machine. I added a little glitter to the Marianne flourish.

I am entering this card in the new Fashionable Stamping Challenge - which is Anything Goes
and also in the following challenges:
The Stamp Man - Stitching
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes
Sir Stampalot - Anything Goes
Just Add Ink - Distressing
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Only 1 more week of DD distractions and then hopefully I will be a better blogger! but I am not really complaining as I do enjoy her company. We are supposed to be having a family barbecue tomorrow with Son and DIL, but I think the weather will probably dictate that I cook a Sunday lunch instead - so much for 'summer'.

That's it for now, hope you all have a good weekend and its not too wet where you are!

Avril xx

Wedding Card

2011-07-31T13:49:00.000-07:00

Just a short post tonight to show the card I made for a friends Daughters Wedding. Its another circle card cut with the Marianne die, this time I embossed some hearts with CB folders and sponged everything with a Petal Pink Versa mark ink to match the pearls. The sentiment is computer generated.
A couple o challenges for my card are:
Simon Says - Shaped cards
Ooh La La - Circles
Creative Craft World - Anything but Birthday
Sew Many Challenges- Anything Goes
Craft us Crazy - Anything Goes
MAWTT - New - (Wedding - New Life together)

I have just seen that I was chosen for the top 3 at MAWTT with my House Mouse card!!!

I would like to say 'hello' to some new followers its lovely to see you.
Hope to catch up with everybody tomorrow.

Thanks for looking

Avril xx

Poppy Card

2011-07-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post - (coffee break) I need to get my homework done for tonight - the curtains! I am going to Crafty buddy Daine's house for the next stage.

DD bought me some crafting goodies for my birthday and this stamp was included, I have wanted this for ages. I used a beige cardstock, and stamped with black Memento and then overstamped with Hero Arts Old French Writing in Vintage Photo Distress Ink, I didn't bother to mask as I have paper pieced the flower heads, this and the Cuttlebug Script panel were then sponged with the same DI. I stamped the image on red with Black Versa Mark ink and heat embossed this before cutting out the poppies. I used the same red for the punched panel. I know its nothing too original, but I enjoyed making it and I am looking forward to more 'plays' with this stamp set.

Some challenges for this card:
Everybody Art - Garden
The Stamp Man - Anything by Tim (Distress Ink)
Anything Goes Challenge - Flowers
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Free & Easy (3rd entry)

Well off to do a some more sewing, thanks for looking.

Avril

Less Is More

2011-07-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick post, time just seems to be rushing by - again! and I am trying to finish some new curtains. My Crafty Friend Diane, did a 'Hand Made Curtains Course' and she has shown me how to do them, lovely finish, but very time taking, but hopefully well worth the effort. I have been busy with them all afternoon, so felt I needed time off for 'good behavour' and managed to make this card is for the LIM challenge this week which is to use a bow or button.
I have used a Crafts Too Embossing folder for the bottom half, embossed 2 lines - either side of the ribbon, although its not showing up in the pic. The flower image is coloured with ProMarkers and distressed with Tattered Rose Distress ink.

Thats it, and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

House Mouse 100th Challenge Blog Hop

2011-07-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

To celebrate their 100th Challenge, which is Buttons Bow and Bling, the House Mouse Challenge team are having a Blog Hop, and you all know I like my little meeces, and always try not to miss a challenge, so of course I just had to join in. The team have done a fabulous job with their creations, and there are a few new stamps featured!!
For my card I have used 'Mudpie with Chocolate Truffles, which I have had for a little while just waiting to be inked up (shame on me), This is quite a large image so I have made a 6 x 8 card. The image is coloured with Promarkers and a little fine line of Glamour dust between the chocolates to make them look tempting, although I think he is already tempted! This was matted onto purple mirri card and the papers are from Papermania. The bow is some wired ribbon from my stash, and because I didn't have any suitable purple buttons, I punched out some shrink plastic, punched 2 holes and then coloured it before heating and added stickles when it was cold. The flower was punched with papers from the same pack, and then stickled on the edges. The sentiment was made on the computer and matted onto the mirri card.

I have a 'me day ' today, should have done some housework - but didn't! I have been 'home alone' so thought I would make the most of it!!! (Made a card, did a blog hop - what a busy day)

Some extra challenges for my card:
PapertakeWeekly - Cute
Aud Sentiments - Enjoy your Day
Craft Us Crazy - Anything Goes
MATT - Cute & Cuddly with a punch(punched flower)
Crafting for All Seasons - Furry Friends
Crafts & Me - Add a Flower
Fab & Funky - Animal Magic
Stampin for the Weekend - Four Legs

Now I need to finish a card for a Wedding we are going to (its another circle card - do hope you're not sick of these), and then I hope to do some catching up in Blogland.

Thanks for looking, and I would like to say 'hello' - just in case I don't get round to everyone who has left me comments, I know some of you are also struggling with a lack of time for various reasons at present, so I hope you understand.

Avril xx

Avril xx

Less Is More

2011-07-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

The theme at Less Is More this week is circles, and more than one!
This card uses a Butterfly Kisses stamp which has been stamped with green Versamark and then heat embossed with clear powder, the holly leaves and bows have been coloured with ProMarkers. The gold baubles are glittered. Merry Christmas is stamped in red and heat embossed with clear powder again.

This is another quick post, and a thank you to those of you who have left comments on my last card, I hope to be around tomorrow night to see what everyone has been up to this last week.

Thanks for looking,

Avril xx

LOTV - Pink & Blue - with a freebie image!!

2011-07-19T13:22:00.000-07:00

What a week! I can't believe its a week since I last posted.
DDs boyfriend stayed until the weekend and I just haven't had the opportunity to craft, which has been awful, as I had these LOTV 'freebie' images from a Papercraft magazine just waiting to be used!!
I haven't entered a LOTV challenge for a couple of months, so a great way to start again. This image was coloured with Promarkers and I used Papermanias Blueberryhill papers, DIY flowers and a Marianne swirl.
I haven't added a sentiment as the card could be Birthday, or Thank You card.
Its a short post tonight as its another Harry Potter film (DD likes to do a re-run of ALL the films - every time a new one comes out - before she sees it, and because I don't have her at home that much, I do indulge her when she is here (plus she can talk for England) so that's another reason for the lack of crafting time.
I would like to say 'hello' to my new followers, and I will come and visit you.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
LOTV - Pink & Blue
One Stitch at a Time - Flower
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Bling It On - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Free & Easy -
Divas by Design - Pastels

Thats it for now,

Avril xx

Another Circle card - Just for You

2011-07-12T13:14:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post tonight with 'another' of the embossed circle cards, I love making these cards with this Marianne die This time I have used some K & Co papers, the swirl that is included in the die set, punched border and a punched flower.. The sentiment is comp. generated. These cards are so quick to make now that I have a 'stock' of frames, circles etc. already cut out! (from a night in front of the T.V, with Cuttlebug on my knee)

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Creative Crafts - Pretty Blossoms
Craft Your Passion - Just for You
Allsorts - Free & Easy
Sir Stampalot - Anything Goes
Rubber Cafe - Shaped Cards

Thats it for now, DD and Boyfriend have just arrived back from his Graduation 'weekend', so I'm off to look at some photos.

Take care, and if you like what you see, please leave a comment and I can come and visit you

Avril xx

House Mouse

2011-07-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

As I said in my earlier post today, the weather wasn't very good yesterday - perfect for crafting, so gave myself the 'day off' - well I deserved it! DD's boyfriend has been staying this last week, and this weekend they have gone back to Preston for his Graduation on Monday, then back here to stay until next weekend, so I had to make the most of the peace and quiet!

I made my card for the current House Mouse Challenge which is - Make a Splash. I'm not too sure whether this is water in the glass, doesn't look like it from the look on his cute face - but it is wet! The image is coloured with Promarkers and I added Glossy Accents mixed with Glamour Dust to the ice cubes to make them stand out, and Glamour Dust around the glass. The flower petals have pink glitter on them as the flower started out 'pink' but after picking the papers, (Picnic in the Park) which were a freebie with a card mag, it was changed to red. The flower us punched using a 5 petal punch and a smaller cherry blossom one.
The sentiment was done on the computer.

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Sweet Stampin - Cute & Cuddly
Dutch Dare - Summer Fun
Fussy Wuzzy - Get Punchy
Crafty Calendar - Water Theme
Totally Gorjuss - Summer Fun

Almost forgot to tell you, I was picked as One of the Top Three for my Clarity Corset - Circle card at Delicious Doodles !!!

That's it for now,

Thanks for looking, and if you like what you see, let me know and I will come and visit you.

Avril xx

Less Is More or How to Look Good Naked!

2011-07-10T00:52:00.000-07:00

Its week over at Less is More and the Challenge is One Layer Card - the theme is 'Something with Legs'

I have followed this challenge since week 1 although I didn't have the 'courage' to join in at first. Its out of my comfort zone, I like to embellish, I do cute, girly, frilly but not really CAS. You girls who enter this challenge do some amazing cards and I always think 'how stylish', and I always debate each week on which stamp or whatever is needed and spend ages doing my cards - half of them end up in the bin, or are recycled into something more 'me' at a later date. I hope there is someone out there reading this who has felt the same. Last week I even thought of suggesting to Chrissy and Mandy that they should change the challenge name to 'HOW TO LOOK GOOD NAKED' cause thats what it feels like to me! (I wish I had watched the programme - it might have helped).

So this week - I have just gone for it - (easy theme might have helped) . Idea - Do It - Post, no messing about, if its not right, its my interpretation - no angst, cause I think the problem is really my lack of confidence with CAS. So now that its said, I might 'embrace' this challenge and try to enjoy being 'naked'!

I have used the Clarity stamp - Sketchy Lady, masked, and stamped the Eiffel Tower. She is coloured with Promarkers. I couldn't leave it ALL White, so have gone for a subtle chalked sky and grass. The sentiment is Hero Arts (you might have already seen it - its my favourite)

Wow- What a long post - If you are still with me Thanks for listening, and I do appreciate all your comments and the confidence you are giving me with CAS - Thank You.

I am also entering this card in a Aud Sentiments Challenge - More than Two Words

I hope to be back later with some 'embellished' cards that I made yesterday - we had heavy showers all day yesterday, so a good day for crafting!

Thanks for looking,

Avril xx

What a Struggle!

2011-07-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

I don't know why - but I always seem to struggle with blue cards!

The challenge at Less Is More this week is colour - and its ......Blue!!! and not just one shade - lots of blue shades!!!!

I have thought about it since Saturday, and guess what - nothing seemed right, but DD liked this one so here goes! I have used the large Clarity Swirl, inked with 2 different blue Versamark ink pads - Baby Blue and Royal Blue then heat embossed with clear embossing powder then I chalked aroung the image. I used 2 different shades of blue for the mat and the navy one again for my embossed 'faux' ribbon. The sentiment is from Craftwork cards on a navy, again, nestie circle. Lots of white card. On the he first version of this, I decided to use the small swirl, inked with Royal Bule - on my white card as a background, then I realised - no white card (again)! Quite liked this, so added ribbon, pearls and a greeting - definitely not LIM!

My original idea was to use another Clarity stamp and my Hero Arts French Writing, I printed the sentiment directly onto the card, stamped Life is a Journey stamp, (courtesy of Crafty Friend Diane) with Adirondack Denim ink, masked and then stamped the script, thought it looked too bare with just a little script peeking out, so added more, then chalked, then I realised there was no white card left!! Thought I would show it anyway!

Well thats it for now, need to 'relax' now!

Thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Its that Clarity Corset - Again!!

2011-07-03T11:55:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous day it has been, hope you have all enjoyed it. The only downside to nice weather is you don't want to be inside to craft - so just a quick post to show a card I made on Friday night.

I have used my new Marrianne Die to make another easel card, I sat the other night watching TV with the Cuttlebug on my knee and cut out loads of these frames, I just love how they look! I also cut out lots of
Nesties circles and now have a little box full and just waiting to be used!

On this this card I used a Textile CB embossing folder. I stamped the corset ,and heat embossed with white embossing powder, on the same purple paper I used for the backing circle. The base card is a pale mauve hammer card, and I used Dusty Concord Distressing Inks on the embossing and the punched flower. Little purple gems and a bit of Glamour Dust to finish off.
I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Stamping for the Weekend - My Favourite Things
Sassy Studio Designs - Easel cardhttp://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.com/
Delicious Doodles - Flourishes & Bling
Bling it On - Anything Goes

That's it for now - off to water the garden after all this sunshine.

Thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Less Is More

2011-06-30T12:59:00.000-07:00

I missed last weeks LIM challenge, so I was determined not to miss this weeks, which is a sketch, a little bit easier than some of the challenges!

This card has been in 'bits' since Tuesday - DH decided we should decorate the Dining Room this week - and although I don't really do much - I am the Chief Gofer! (so not much me time).
Today, however, is my Birthday - 21 again!! (I've had a day off) My son and DIL came for tea and DD is home for the summer, so it was lovely to be all together. DH has now gone to his special needs youth club and DD and I are going to 're-fresh' Harry Potter ready for the new film! So like all 'good' things
the birthday is almost at an end, lots of nice cards, flowers and prezzies - and a special surprise card from my blog friend Katina, who makes some lovely cards, Thank You.

So a short post - or I'll be too late to enter the card! I used a white linen card base - and the scallop border is a MS punch - only half of the scallop showing, nesties circles and MS butterfly punch. The sentiment was printed onto the card base. I added some stickles to the butterflies.

I am also entering this card in Crafts & Me challenge - Birthdays
Truly Scrumptious - Things with Wings

Thanks for looking, and if you like what you see, please pop back.

Avril xx

House Mouse Card

2011-06-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

Who stole my week!

I can't believe its over a week since I last posted - and made a card! especially after telling you all of my good intentions to be a better blogger!!! I think it was John Lennon who said "You make plans and then Life happens"

We had planned to decorate the Living Room earlier in the year, but never quite got round to it, so re-scheduled for the Autumn, but with the weather being a bit cold last week DH decided it was as good a time as any, so thats what happened!

Trying to get back to normal now and have made my card for the House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge before its too late. The theme is Here Comes Summer and I have used one of the unmounted 'Summer' stamps that I won on the last HM & Friens Blog Hop a while ago. I have coloured the image with Promarkers and added Glossy Accents and Glamour Dust on the ice cubes. I added the LOTV Postcard - I wrote the message 'Having a mice time' - well, they do look as if they are! The sentiment is one of the unmounted ones as well.

I am also entering this card in - My Time to Craft challenge - Here Comes Summer
Sparkles Form challenge - At the Beach
Thanks for looking and if you like what you see, please leave a comment and I will come and visit you, but for now I'm off to do a catch up around Blogland to see what everyone has been up to and say hello.

Avril xx

New Baby Card

2011-06-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

I bought this Mariann die a few weeks ago and although I cut out the frames as soon as I got it, I hadn't got round to putting them together, I don't know why, because I had so many ideas for them!

It rained all day yesterday, and I can't think of anything worse than going out in the rain when there's no need, so, an ideal opportunity for a 'play day'. DD needed a card for a friends new baby and I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I have used my PSX Moon Baby stamp, cut with nesties and coloured with Promarkers. I glittered the moon with Glamour Dust. The frames, swirl and layers were all sponged with TH Distress Ink - Tattered Rose. I added some white pearls and a couple of sparkly flowers from stash. I added a label on he back for the greeting.

I love the look of these frames made into an easel card and have loads of ideas for them, so watch this space as they say!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Totally Gorjuss - Pearls & Swirls
   CES challenge - Sparkly flowers
   Challenge Up Your Life - Circles
   Craft Your Days Away - Monochrome
   Crafty Cats challenge - Fancy Folds
   The Crafty Pad challenge - New something - Baby

Thats it for now, enjoy whats left of the weekend.

I hope you like what you see, if you do, please leave a comment and I will come and visit you.

Avril xx

House Mouse Challenge

2011-06-16T08:07:00.000-07:00

Just a quick one from me to show this House Mouse card that I have just managed to finsh. The stamp is called 'Lip Stamp' and poor things haven't been ined for a while! The current House Mouse challenge is Adorn with Jewels and that to me says my 'Fancy Pants Happy Hoppers stamp, but I always use that one, its so easy to 'bling'. I have used a Spellbinders frame (courtesey of Crafty Friend Diane) which has been Glamour Dusted on the embossed spots. I used a Silver Metalic Promarker on the outside of the tin, but its now showing up too well in the picy. For my 'Jewels' I have added a glitter necklace! The sentiment was done on the computer and mounted on Red Glitter card.

I am also entering this card in Crafts & Me challenge - 'Bling it on .

Also - MAWTT - Inspired by a Song - Lipstick, Powder & Paind (thanks Laurie) or even Pretty Woman

Back to the housework, DD's Boyfriend is flying in tonight as they are going to the Kings of Leon concert at the Stadium of Light tomorrow night. I have told him to bring a jacket (he lives on the west coast of Ireland -but doesn't do coats!) The weather forecast is for rain all day tomorrow.

Thanks for the help yesterday re Mr. Blogger, I did as Lisa Jane suggested and Unchecked the sign in box, Thanks Lisa. However, as you can see - something has happened and my blog is all over the page!!! So I now need to go into my setting as soon as I have another spare minute.

That's it for now, Thanks for looking, and if you like what you see, please pop back - its not usually this messy!!!

Avril xx

Another Less is More

2011-06-15T08:20:00.000-07:00

Is Mr. Blogger being difficult this week, or is it only me he doesn't seen to like! I have only been able to leave a couple of comments this week - I am not getting my 'profile - Mrs B name' even though I keep signing in, it comes up Anonymous. I have also had Service Unavailable - Error. I know there were problems last month and we all lost comments, but is something happening again?

This is another card I made on Saturday for this weeks LIM challenge, I entered my favourite of the two, but DH said I should show this as well, so here goes - another Crafty Individuals stamp, this time coloured with chalk for the sky and Distress Inks for everything else - and the same sentiment!

I am also entering this card into Oldie But a Goodie - Where in the World (Inspired by a Country -Paris)
and Tiddly Inks challenge - One Layer card

I am off to finish my House Mouse card for the current challenge - and hopefully Mr Blogger will let me leave some comments tonight!

Thanks for looking

Avril x

Less Is More

2011-06-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

Hello, I'm back and couldn't wait to start crafting again, so after getting all the washing and ironing out of the way, and a lot of pruning in the 'overgrown' garden, I have made my card for this weeks LIM Challenge. This weeks theme is One Layer Card 'In the Frame' and I have a few 'frame' stamps (this makes a change 'cause I'm ususally thinking have I got anything suitable!). This one is a Crafty Individuals stamp -and hasn't been inked up for quite a while - Girls Night Out - stamped in black and the 'girls' lightly coloured with Promarkers, and a little glitter on the necklaces and ear rings, the sentiment is Hero Arts.

I am always amazed when I check out the blog on a Saturday and see how many entries there are on the day! and as yesterday was such a miserable day, too wet and cold to go out, I had a crafting day and made my card. This morning was quite sunny, but by the time I got around to taking my pics - the rain had arrived again, and the glitter necklaces and earrings aren't really showing up.

I am also entering this card in Papertake Weekly challenge - Anything Goes
Do You Stack UP - Birthdays
Pennys Paper Crafty - Best Friends

We had a fabulous holiday in Dubai, where the weather was very hot - 40 to 43 degrees!!! I think we were getting used to it when it was time to come home - back to a chilly North East. I haven't been warm in a week and we have had to put the heating back on!

DD is home for the summer, she is doing her 3rd year work placement with Boots -(when we were away I took a photo of one of the Boots shops in Dubai - apart from the Arabic writing on the shop front, its the same inside with the 3 for 2 offers and all the No.7 Makeup,) told her to get her CV sent off!!

Well that's it for now, hopefully will be back with another card tomorrow and a catch up in blog land.

Thanks for looking

Avril x

Less is More

2011-05-18T13:25:00.000-07:00

I hate packing - I find it so stressful - do I take this /have I got enough to wear?

So I had to have a little break and managed to make my card for the LIM challenge which is 'One Layer with some Embossing' I had thought about it since Saturday, but my original idea which seemed a good one, didn't turn out that good. So thinking caps on and came up with this. I have stamped the Hobby Art Lady of Fashion in black and coloured her skin with Blush Promarkers. I added red glitter on her necklace and to tie in with that I stamped and heat embossed the Hero Arts sentiment in red.

Well, must get back to the packing. I hope the weather improves here and we can all enjoy some sunshine.

I have made a post holiday resolution - Get control of my life! I feel as if I have been on a roller coaster lately
time is just flying by and I never have a minute - and I don't think I am the only one in blogland saying this!!
It will be hard - DD will be home for the summer a couple of days after we get back and her bofriend is staying for a week before going to see his family, but the resolution stands.

I would just like to say 'hello' to a couple of new followers - I am absolutely thrilled that people want to follow me! I will pop by to say hello when I return from holiday as we are off tomorrow morning.

A couple of challenges for my card:
Crafty Cardmakers - Embossing
Divas by Design - One for the Girls

Thanks for looking,

Avril xx

House Mouse Challenge.

2011-05-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

It was a great experience being a Guest Designer with the House Mouse team for the month of April, but now its back to making and entering their challenges.
This fortnights challenge is flowers, and I have had this image coloured up for a couple of weeks just waiting to be used. The image is from one of the unmounted sets which I bought a few months ago. I have used some papers which were a freebie with a card magazine. My flowers, as I didn't have any poppies, started out as pink cherry blossom from Wild Orchid crafts, were coloured with Promarkers The sentiment came with the unmounted stamps. I used a MS pop up butterfly punch and added a few 'flying' butterflies.

I did set myself the target of entering all the HM challenges this year, but I will probably miss the next one due to holidays (these things can sometimes get in the ways of blogging).

I would like to say 'hello' to my new followers, its great to see you!

I hope to be back with one more card - but if not, I hope the weather improves and we can all have some sunshine!

I am entering this card in : House Mouse & Friends Challenge - Flowers
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
The StampMan - Poppies

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Avril xx

This really is LESS!!

2011-05-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

The challenge over at Less is More this week is White on White, something I have done a few times, but you know, as well as me, when it is for this challenge its a different 'ball game' so to speak. I did a card at Christmas - White on White, with an aperture and a snowflake and have thought about doing something similar for a Wedding, so that was the plan - the snowflake card was a tent card - wasn't sure if that was OK for LIM - so just a folded card. Everything went to plan until I thought about embellishments, made flowers - made roses - cut swirls - looked at pearls - but nothing seemed right, so this card really is LESS is More!
I used white hammer card, aperture cut with Nellie Snellen die, then white vellum and used the smaller die for the die cut. I embossed Swiss Dots on the back of the card, so used the 'cut out' from the front for a greetings label on the back. I embossed CB With Love on the front. The hearts are cut in white pearlised card with a Mariann die and the larger one has another die cut heart attached to the back to hide the silver thread and tape (whoops - said silver - but it is so fine).
I am also entering this card into Tuesday Throwdown- Die cuts
Papertake Weekly - Die cuts/punches

Thats it for now - have a load of ironing to do.

Avril x

Messy Play!

2011-05-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

After doing my card for Less is More I wanted to enter The Stamp Man Challenge which is 'Resist'. I haven't done this technique for ages and I needed to play with my new stamps and ones I bought at Harrogate that hadn't been inked up!

When I 'play' I usually do a few extra pieces which I will use up in a couple of weeks, but this is the only one I finished today so that I can enter the challenge - just!

I have used Hobby Art stamps and embossed in white, then 'shadow' stamped the image again with DI Dusty Concord, which I then used on the white card. The sentiment is computer generated and again I distressed with the Dusty Concord. The background was mauve card stock which I stamped with a smaller flower using the same ink. I added Glamour Dust and some vellum butterflies after colouring the vellum with the ink, these are also glittered.

I am also entering this card in the Lets Ink It Up challenge - Embellish it - No Digis
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
By the Cute & Girly Monthly challenge - Anything Goes

That's it for now - a glass of wine awaits!

Will do some catching up with you lovely bloggers tomorrow.

Avril x

Less is More - And Not Last Minute!!

2011-05-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't been a good blogger again!! but at least I have been busy (well some of the time).
I hope everyone had a good Bank Holiday - again. I did, but didn't get to do much crafting, but I did manage to buy a couple of things on Sunday at the '1st SincerelYours Papercrafts show in the N.E.' held at Gateshead International Stadium which isn't too far away. I went with my friend Diane and no doubt Thursday when Diane comes over,will be a 'play with each others goodies' night . I bought a couple of new stamps, coloured embossing powders (which I couldn't get locally and NEEDED to finish off some projects) and some Nesties.
Back to normal now and after catching up with housework & washing yesterday, I have had a crafting day today.
I made my card for the Less is More challenge (I am hooked). The theme is Congratulations or Thank You.
Well!!! I did Thank You last week, so it had to be Congratulations (I took the easy option and did a remake of a card I did for my Son & DIL's Wedding Anniversary last week (theirs had 'Wedding Anniversary' and more pearls and had different coloured hearts)
I used 'Pearl' pearlised card - 'Textile CB folder - and the text computer generated - Marianne dies.

I am also entering this card in Crafty Creations - Anniversary challenge
Die Cut Dreams - Wedding

That's it for now, will be back with another show of today's play.

Avril x

Less Is More

2011-04-28T12:13:00.000-07:00

Once again I am entering the Less is More challenge at the last minute! I wonder if its because I still find this 'challenging' to create a 'clean' card!

I used large and small Clarity Swirls stamped in Pearlescent Purple Brilliance Ink and heat embossed with clear powder. The sentiment was printed straight onto the card, something I am not used to doing!
It looks a little pale, I think that's because the sun is still shining - or maybe I'm still not very good at taking photographs!

I am also entering this card in:
Crafty Creations challenge - White Space

Hope everyone has a good Bank Holiday Weekend.

Avril x

Another Clarity Corset!

2011-04-27T04:23:00.000-07:00

I inked and embossed this image a couple of weeks ago and last time the sewing machine was out I stitched a frame around it with gold embroidery thread, and it has been sitting there waiting to be used. When I saw the challenge at Lets Ink It Up - stitching - I thought this was the right time to use it. This is the first time I have used machine stitching on my cards!
I wanted the image to make the statement so kept the layout simple just adding gold and a black MS punched mat,I decided to make it an Easel card (love these). I continued with the same layout for the sentiment which is a Hero Arts stamp. The border is a Black Promarker drawn with a ruler - something I 'picked up' from a Barbra Gray demo. I rubbed some gold in ink over the image.

A couple of challenges for my card:
Lets Ink It Up - Stitching
Sir Stampalot - Ladies & Fashion
Creative Corner - Easel cards
Ladybugs Crafts Ink Challenge - Fashion

Hope you're not bored with this Corset stamp - I'm sure there will be more to come!

Thats it for now, I am trying to be a better blogger and crafter - so watch this space as they say!

Enjoy the sunny weather!

Avril x

House Mouse & Friends

2011-04-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a lovely Easter and I think everyone was lucky with the weather which makes a nice change!

This is my second card as a Guest Designer for the House Mouse Team, I have really enjoyed this opportunity of working with a great bunch of girls. The theme this week on the House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge is Way to Go - Travel, and there are some gorgeous card for inspiration on the blog.
For my card I have used 'Fancy Pants' (one of my favourite stamps!) I masked the image and then stamped the Eifeel Tower to tie in with the Craftwork Cards Paris papers, the sentiment is also from the Royal Langnickel set. The distressed flower was made with a Retro Flower punch (3 large and 3 medium shapes) held together with a brad and then spritzed with water, scrunched up and then opened again and left to dry. I saw this technique on a tutorial last year, but its the first time I have use it.

I have been a terrible blogger these last couple of weeks, but DH is very good at DIY and is making a 'Summer House' in the garden! I am priviledged to be his 'gofer/labourour' (you know what I mean - get this - hold this - where's this or that) so very little time for crafting and then I find I'm shattered at the end of the day. He's not very well at the moment, (man flu) so I have had yesterday and today off,and managed to make some much needed cards this afternoon. Hopefully I can do a 'catch up' in blogland tomorrow and come and say 'hello'.
A couple of challenges for my card:
Cupcake challenges - Fluffy Bunnies
Totally Gorjuss - Bling it on(her shoes & bag should count)
CES - Spring (April in Paris 'springs to mind')
Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenge - Well my bunny is brown and I have used green

Less Is More - 2nd Attempt!

2011-04-21T07:31:00.000-07:00

After looking at some of the other submissions which are fantastic, I felt as if I needed to to better - sounds like a school report!
A couple of weeks ago I stamped up some neglected images onto acetate, one a Crafty Individuals, I did make up. This one - Declaration of Intention - have loaned the stamp to crafty buddy Diane and can't remember who it is by - I had also stamped it onto some photo paper coloured with golds and bronze alcohol inks, and it was waiting to be put on the right card - I love this image, but - I think its the wording down the side - I always wonder if its 'right' for what I want to use it for - or is that just me! Anyway, I printed the sentiment onto the acetate, something I haven't done before and then put the images and backing paper onto the acetate card with brads. I added brown velvet ribbon to hold them together. Once again, a nightmare to photograph!

So 'not too bad' turned into a week long nightmare and I have turned into the worst blogger ever. I really must try harder next week!!
I am entering both of these card in the Less is More Challenge because my 2 efforts have got to be better than 1!

Thanks for popping by.

Avril x

Two for One!

2011-04-21T06:21:00.000-07:00

After doing the challenge at Less is More last week, I was determined to enter every week. The challenge this week is Acetate - I thought hmm not too bad - I have worked with acetate before - but beware Avril - Pride comes before a Fall!!!

I have never worked with a 'whole' piece before and what a difference that makes.
Decided on Saturday what I was going to do - but had a busy weekend and didn't get around to it till Tuesday. I stamped straight onto the acetate with the birthday stamp and then positioned the Clarity Swirl around that. That was the easy bit, putting the card together was the nightmare! The bow to hold it all together was a disaster so I tried one of Debby 4000's 'flat bows', mine just doesn't look as good.
This card has been photographed around the house and I'm still not happy with it.

Thanks for looking, will show another soon!

Avril x

I'm taking the plunge!!!

2011-04-14T10:44:00.000-07:00

Once again the week has flown by. DD decided to come home for a few days inbetween finishing uni work and before starting revision for exams. We have had a lovely week 'doing girly things'.
Unfortunately, I haven't had much time for crafting, but I had decided on Saturday that I was going to enter Less is More - Sentiment focus challenge this week. I have planned in my head what I wanted to do, but now that its done (DD said are you not going to finish it) I'm a little uncertain, but here goes - I can only be told its rubbish compared to some the the lovely cards submitted to this challenge.

I have used the verse and feather Clarity stamps that I bought at Harrogate a couple of weeks ago. I stamped on Linen card and then heat embossed with clear powder.
I don't seem to have a lot to say about it, wonder what others will say!!!

Well, all I can say is Thanks for looking,

Avril xx

House Mouse GDT card for April

2011-04-11T04:12:00.001-07:00

This is my first card as GDT for April on the House Mouse Challenge. I was really thrilled to be chosen, as not only do I love these stamps, but it is the only challenge that I have never missed - apart from holidays!
The theme this week is Easter and the challenge is being sponsored by Simon Says Stamps. The team members have created some fabulous cards for inspiration, so please check them out.
For my card I used Stampabilities 'Easter Surprise' and coloured with Promarkers. The papers are from a Laura Ashley pad and I punched the butterflies from the paper and vellum and then stickled. The sentiment is from comp.
I am also entering this card in some challenges:
Simon Says challenge - Easter
Stampin for the Weekend - Easter
Sarah Hurley - Easter
Everybody Art - Easter
Die Cut Dreams - Easter
Dream Valley ChallengeThings with Wings

Thats it for now and thanks for looking, and don't forget to check out the fab cards on the House Mouse blog.

Avril x

News to Share!

2011-04-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

Well once again, where did the week go! I was full of good intentions after my lack of blogging but it happened again, and I haven't even shared my good news with you - I was chosen to be a GDT for the month of April on my favourite challenge - House Mouse! You will see my first 'creation' tomorrow!!!
Although the blogging was neglected (the garden is now looking very nice though) I did make a couple of cards. This one was made using a set of Hobby Art stamps bought a Harrogate. I must admit though, I did see a card on one of the stands using a Penny Black stamp with a similar effect using the black circle embossed with white.
I am entering this card in the following challenges:
CES - Monochromatic
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes (just made it)
Anything Goes Challenge - Pearls
One Stop Crafts - Monochromatic
Stamp Scrap & Doodle Saturdaays - Clean & Simple
Stamp Something - Circles
Alphabet Challenge - W White + one
Cratfy Catz - Embossing
ABC Challenge - Ribbon

Well thats it for now, I'm back out in the gardens to catch the last of todays glorious sunshine.

Thanks for looking

Avril x