Thank you for Chocolate!

                                        

Hope everyone had a great weekend, and 'Hello' to my new followers, its lovely to see new faces and I hope you continue to enjoy your visits here.

Our new sponsor at Fashionable Stamping Challenges is Flonzcraft, who do some fabulous vintage stamps, and as you know, I do like my vintage.  Our challenge at FSC this fortnight is 'Sentiment/Sentimental' and as this card has a sentiment, it might just give you the inspiration to join us.  My card today uses stamps from Darkroom door to create the scene and sentiment, background script is Tim Holtz.  My chocolate loving friends, is a Flonzcraft stamp, coloured with Promarkers and fussy cut, then mounted onto foam pads.  My flower and leaves are TH Tattered floral strip.
I have made this as a Thank You card for DD to give to a friend, for turning up with a box of chocolates and a bottle of wine, when boyfriend had to dash to Ireland due to family illness, (fortunately a full recovery was made).  I had intended printing the sentiment 'Thanks for being there' but the printer is playing up - so she will just have to write it!  Anyhow, I'm sure it will still fit the bill at Vintage Stamping  Challenge which is 'Thank you'.
I am also entering this at:
  Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon
  Amusing Challenges - Anything Goes
  Craft your Passion- Add Text/Sentiment
  Make it Monday - Anything Goes


That's it for now, the sun is shining - lets hope it continues!

Avril xx

F - Fantasy

Hello and welcome to another letter in the Alphabet Challenge, this time its  'F'  for ...Fantasy

and we would love to see how you interpret  'Fantasy.'  I have have Fairies at the bottom of my garden, well I wish I had, they might do a bit weeding now and then .....although this one certainly doesn't look like a Gardener!

I have used the TH Cabinet card dies, cut the arch from DP that looks like stone, then cut  2 extra frames and covered these with the paper, these were layered with foam pads over the image which is Lost Coast Design,  to give depth, as if she was 'hiding'  The flowers are from the Tattered Floral Strip die, another new purchase bought with 'stash' money left over from Harrogate.
If you need any inspiration, the rest of the DT have some great makes, so please pop over here to take a look.  Don't forget, we now pick a Top 3 and have a great Winners badge for you.

I am entering this at:
  Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
  Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Goes
  Creative Card Crew - Handmade flowers
  Oldie but a Goodie- Make it Girly  (image is old)

Thats it for now,  hope you all have a great weekend.

Avril xx

Inventors/Inventions at Try it on Tuesdays

Hi Folks

Its time for another challenge at TioT, and this time we have chosen Inventors/Inventions, and as we love to see creativity, it could even be your own invention!
For my piece I decided to make a wall hanging, I am busy 'updating' one of DDs  redundant pin boards and this will  'feature',  not sure exactly how I will adhere it, so I have included two eyelet holes at the top for chain/wire or clips.

The quotes and 'inventors' are Tim Holtz and the gent displaying the 'prototype' is from a Chocolate Baroque stamp plate. The embossing folders are TH and Spellbinders.

I do hope you will join us this fortnight, and should you need any inspiration, my fabulous teamies have certainly excelled themselves this week, so please pop over here and take a look.  Don't forget, our April sponsor is   Genuinely Jane Studios

I am entering this at
  Make it Monday - Anything Goes
  Crafty Catz - One for the Boys
  Stamping with the Dragon - Steampunk
  Aud Sentiments - For a Guy

Last week Linda gave me this                                                              

This award is designed for blogs that have less than 200 followers.  Once the award has been accepted, the idea is to pay it forward to 5 other blogs that you like to read and follow, and hopefully encourage others to visit, read and follow them too.
To accept the award you have to ......
Thank the person who gave it to you, and link back to their blog
Post the award on your blog
Give the award to 5 other Bloggers, with less than 200 followers and leave a comment on their blogs telling them they've been nominated.
1. Jenni 
3.  Pia 
4. Claire
5  Alexa 
5  Jan

So, it would be nice if you paid these ladies a visit, you won't be disappointed.
That's it for now, have a great week.

Avril xx

Sentimental at FSC

Hello and welcome to our new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping, and this time we are getting 'Sentimental'

For this fortnight we also a a fabulous Guest Designer joining us, so please pop over to the main blog and prepared to be inspired by Suzanne and the rest of the Team.  And don't forget we are again sponsored by Leo of Flonzcraft, who is offering one lucky random winner a $20  gift certificate to spend in the online craft store.

For my piece I chose to make a little book, and although at the moment there are only the 2 pages, I will add more.  I have used 'Elizabeth Bennett' from IndigoBlu, and as she has such a dreamy look about her, the sentiments, from  Inkylicious, just seemed to be the right ones.  I have used pencils, as I wanted a very soft look and all  distressing was done with Iced Spruce, Tumbled glass and Vintage Photo to tone with the cover.

My cover......I have been wanting to try this technique since seeing my DT sisters Terry and Dot make pieces following this video tutorial.  As Terry said, it does get a bit ugly in the process, but the end result is amazing. The photos don't really do it justice.  I just wish I had been brave enough to do a bigger piece, this is only 4" x 4"- so watch this space for a larger version.

I am entering this at:
  Craft Room Challenge - So Sentimental
  Allsorts - A Passion for Flowers
  Eclecticpaperie - Flowers
  Crafts4Eternity - April Showers bring May Flowers (lots of flowers)
  Just Add Ink - New technique (cover)
  Dutch Dare Card Challenge - Anything but a card
  Artistic Stamper - Texture
  Cards Galore - Vintage

Thats it from me, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Avril xx

Ribbon at In the Pink

Hello and welcome to my very neglected blog, but at last I have been crafting and catching up on DT work, but you will have to wait a few more days to see what I've been doing this week.
This card was made a few weeks ago, for a blog friends Birthday,  I never got round to showing it, but as it fits in with the new challenge at In the Pink which is Ribbon/Ruffles, well better late than never.
The main image is Katzelcraft, matted onto Fleur de Lise square die cuts,  the background is IndigoBlu Vintage Flourish.  I wish I could take a straight photo, it isn't as lopsided as it looks!
Just a quick post as I need to finish an of Anniversary card before I go to bed! but I must say 'Hello' to my 3 new followers, lovely to see you and I'll catch up with you over the weekend.
I am also entering this at:
  Crafty Creations - No pattered paper (stamped background)
  Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - Frame it

Enjoy your weekend whatever you're doing.
Avril xx

It's E for Emeralds at Alphabet Challenge.

Hi Folks,

Its time for another letter at Alphabet Challenge and this time it's 'E' and the challenge is to use Emerald Green on your project.
Not a colour I would normally use - but  that's what challenges are for - to take us out of our comfort zones!
My image ' Madam Berth'  by Stamps Happen was coloured with Promarkers, I also stamped a LaBlanch swirl down the right-hand side with a mix of Crushed Olive and Peeled Paint DI's. The background  is an old K&Co paper and a cream embossed panel that was distressed with the same DI's, not sure what make the folder is, but they were 2 for £3.99 at GNP.  Bargain!!

We would love you to join us and show us your 'Emeralds' and if you need any inspiration, the rest of the DT have some wonderful creations to show, so please pop over here to take a look

I am entering this at
  Paper Crafting Journey - Monochromatic
  Rhedd &amp ;Rosies challenge - Monochromatic

Thats it for now, and I would just like to say 'thank you' for all the lovely positive comments I've received lately, especially as I've been such a neglectful visitor, just managed to keep up on DT comments!
We had a very positive day last Saturday,we are now organised with the 4 Bridesmaids dresses,  just wish she would make her mind up on Stationary, I think she thinks I can do it in a weekend!!

Hope you all have a good weekend.

Avril xx

Spring has Sprung at TioT

Hi Folks,
It's a long time since I've been here  - but I'm back and  it's the  first crafting I've managed in about 3 weeks!
Just in time for our new challenge at Try it on Tuesdays and this time its 'Spring has Sprung' and we would love to see something that 'moves' on your project.  You can interpret this any way you like - moving techniques, dangling, pop-ups - it's up to you as long as something moves.  And for this month we are sponsored by

                                        

For my project I decided on a Tag Pop-up Card

and when you pull the Tag,

the front pops-up just like an Easel card, leaving a little space that I have used for my sentiment.  The personal greeting will be written on the tag.  I made one of these at a class when I first started cardmaking and luckily I kept the template.

My image is Katzelcraft, the banner is Graphic 45 Ladies Diary and the inner sentiment is Hero Arts, the swirl is LaBlanche. Papers are Papermania Capsule Collection.
We'd love you to join us this fortnight, and if you need any inspiration, then my fabulous teamies have some brilliant ideas for you, so please pop over here to take a look and check out the details.
I am entering this at:
  Bunny Zoes - Fav. colour combo - Black/white with a pop of red
  Make it Monday - Anything Goes
  Dream Valley Challenge - Happy Birthday
  Pan Pastels - Use a stamped image
  Creative Corner - Girly Birthday
  Crazy4Challenges - Cards with movement

Life is getting back to normal, although my 'craft room' still needs some reorganising, so all I need is Mr. Mojo and some 'free' time.
Just before I go - I would like to say 'hello' to my new followers - hope to catch up with all you lovely people in the next couple of days.

Avril xx