A Beady Tilda ATC!

In between all the crafty stuff I HAVE to do, I wanted a little bit of play time so I joined in with this weeks Beady challenge over on Tilda and Friends ATC Challenge.

I used tiny little seed beads to create a flower centre and finished off with some liquid pearls for detail. I might cheat actually and use this as a little card topper for a card that I must make for a friend!

So Pretty!

Last night made a personalised men's 40th card and this morning I have sat in the conservatory with the children colouring in!! ...and NO I would not let them anywhere near my Prismacolors!!

I have just put together my first design for the "So Pretty" stamp from Dewdrops Craftz. I had a wonderful time with some sparkly glitter glues and girlie colours. I have taken a few really close up pics of this one to try and show the glitter and detail but they haven't come out too well!

Whoo Hoo...I have won a comp!!

Just found out that I have won the competition over on Just Bex. Emma from Sassy Crafts ran the scrap lift competion from her blog and I have won 10 sheets of Dream Street papers..of my own choice...LOL. Dilly Dally Dingle had better hurry up and make her mind up!

Here is the card that I won with:

I cheated for this one!!!

For my 4th card using Nikki's new range I cheated a bit. I had just updated my challenge diary with this weeks Cute Card Thursday details (Things that Grow) when the stamps arrived in their TOP SECRET packaging....and well I thought of it immediately and just couldn't resist it!

LOVE GROWS!

Bride & Groom by DewDropz

I LOVED working with this stamp, cute but not overly so. I think the image will be so versatile and will take a wide range of styles...I used glitter glue for an extra sparkle on dress and veil!

I NEED more time now to try out a few more!

For this card I used the sketch over on Papertake Weekly.

School Girl by DewDropz take 2!

and for my second card....I dug deep again using some older, bright and bold papers.

The BIG reveal by DewDrop Craftz!

Finally Nikki has released some images of her exciting new range. Pop over and see them on DewDrop Craftz- I hope you like them as much as I do.

I have made 4 cards with these so far which I will load throughout the day...as kiddies allow!


My first was using the school girl stamp;



I made this card for this weeks DARE using papers I have had for a couple of years- as for all the cards I have made with this range, I feel that they can take much bolder papers and embellies...a great excuse to go spending me thinks!

A daring sneak peek!

I have just finished making my second card with the fabby new range of stamps that Nikki is releasing shortly.........I have rumaged through my paper stash for some bolder patterns and colours and found some scraps from some Cherry Art papers (I think) that I had for a Design team back in 2006....fits in perfectly with this weeks DARE!

"NOW ! - on to this weeks dare - we have a team dare this week, and we were thinking.....with so many new things /latest papers/ trendy stuff constantly coming on the market, we thought it would be nice to have a look back, and dig out some of our 'old' papers and embellishments and make a card with our 'preloved' treasures. I think the tendency these days is to get on the 'latest must have' band wagon, sometimes, its nice to recognise what we already have- even if it isn't the 'latest' embellishment/paper."

Now unfortunately...I am still on my secret mission so I cannot show you the complete card until later on in the week...but here is a little taster!

A Wedding card......and a sneak peak!

Another card off my to do list...but it doesn't ever seem to get any shorter!!! I have quite a few cards to make but I have so many new stamps to play with at the moment and I just want to play......LOL...not much chance of that with the children keeping me on my toes all day.

Holidays are usually very stressful, Jack and Amelia usually bicker so much it wears us all down. BUT so far Jack has bee an absolute angel. He had read, done some of his numeracy workbooks, helped around the house (although his room is still a tip!) and in general he has been so much better and understanding towards Amelia...I just hope this will last! He has his karate grading tomorrow so fingers crossed for him please. He is going for his brown belt/2 stripes...after that it is black!!!

Anyway, back to the little bit of crafting I have managed. Here is the wedding card I made- I have had this stamp for a while and never used it.....it has sat in a drawer for well over a year- it was a bargain from another crafter who was selling it and I couldn't resist a bargain , even though I didn't really stamp at the time! (hmm)

....and finally here is a sneak peak at the first of my "TOP SECRET" cards I am making for Nikki at DewDrop Craftz. A fab new range of stamps are due out and although I have only seen two so far...I LOVE 'em. Really fun and funky so watch out for the big release!

A little snippet!

OOoooo...it's here, it's here!!!

Mr Postie has been-Quick, I will give you a sneak peek!!! Lookie, lookie!!!!

Ssshhh..can you keep a secret?

I am about to embark on a secret mission with Nikki over at DewDrop Craftz!!!

"I have some news about an entirely new range of stamps being released on August 1st.. but I have to keep quiet about it at the moment.. test stamps are being made and packaging prepared.. once this has finished.. I can let you know and believe me, I am sure this is something you haven't seen before..
Nikki x"

I am eagerly awaiting Mr Postie to find out more about this intriguing range....Oh my goodness. I do hope my little stamping skills are up to it!!! (runs off in panic mode!)

3 down, one more to go!

Made up another three teacher cards today, got one more left to do now. I have left the hardest one 'til last though!

Got to rush, have a meeting with Amelia's teacher in a moment - to try to get some targets sorted out for me to work on over holidays...no rest for the wicked!

Thank you Jennie!!!

My goodness, that was quick! Mr Postie has just delivered the blog candy I won from Jennie only yesterday!

I was right in the middle of making another 2 cards for the teachers BUT I couln't resist quickly trying out William! I had a few offcuts of card, perfect in size, that I had just cut to make my square cards.

The Stitchels look absolutely fab. I have a meeting tonight, but hopefully I will have enough time afterwards to cut and mount them so I can play with those too!!!

HUGE THANK YOU!!!!!!

Who hooo....I've won my first ever blog candy!!

Got home from work today to find I had won my first ever BLOG CANDY from Jennie!

THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!

I am so going to need so crafty therapy what with having six weeks of kiddies bickering at each other!!! I can see me locking myself in my craft roonm as soon as hubby gets home!

Another one down- 5 to go!

I used an image that I had already stamped, cut and coloured for this one...just as well I have some ready really!

Panic stations now!!

As usual, all my best plans go out the window and despite starting the teacher's cards a while back, I still have another 6 to make before Wednesday. A couple of friends and cyber pals have asked for a few cards and now I am starting to panic.


It's my last day at work tomorrow as the little boy I support is starting school in September, so I am now working strictly in order to meet all the deadlines!! This card is a little good luck wish to give him tomorrow. Not my cup of tea really, not sure I like the paper now but I felt it was appropriate for the card at the time! LOL.


I used the quick and easy template over on Friday Sketchers for this one! Hmmm, think I might be using this a bit more over the next few days!


Right next on list; 6 teacher's cards!

Another card for a teacher!

Took the opportunity of making another Tilda card for Jennie's Challenge over on The Artistic Stamper Blog. Another teacher's card off my list too! (running out of time as usual, they break up on Wednesday!)

This is the first time I have used Tilda with Teddy and I had fun making it really girlie with glitters and liquid pearls and of course ..............PINK!!!!

When Ferdy met Gerdy!

With the exciting arrival of some new DT stamps from DewDrop Craftz yesterday I set to work on making my first card using ther flirty frog Gerdy!

It fits in beautifully with this weeks challenge on Cute Card Thursday which is Animals Only!! "The challenge this week is to make a card using animal images only - NO PEOPLE OR CHARACTERS AT ALL!!!

I used Ferdy from the Snow Frog stamp and paper piecing for Gerdy's dress.

Gone Fishing!!!

Had a funny day today, Amelia is still poorly but at least she is starting to eat a bit more.

I have had this card sitting on the side half finsihed nearly all day and finally I added the few final touches and mounted it to some cardstock! I use the Fishing George from the Sporty George Collection . I water coloured this a while ago before I got my Prismacolors, I used a shimmery grey for the fish, topped with a little glitter glue, topped by a few layers of Glossy Accents....tried to get that "wet fish" look!!!!

I was given a boost to make this - not only to cross of another image from Juliet's Challenge but to complete this weeks Arty Girlz challenge too.

Mr Postie arrived with some more goodies for me today too. Some reduced papers and blooms that I ordered last weekend....AND two Design team stamps from the lovely Nikki over at DewDrop Craftz. I couldn't resist trying her out straight away Nikki. Meet my first Gerdy!! I have so many ideas hopping around my head (pardon the sad pun!) Thank you Nikki!!!!


Gerdy is in a flirty mood here I think, just look at her lipstick and bright blue glittery eyeshadow! I wonder who she is fluttering those lashes at!

My first Christmas Tilda!!!

I have loads of other cards I needed to make first but I just couldn't resist her!!! I decided to make this card towards the challenge over on The Artistic Stamper. "For the challenge you can make anything you like as long as it has a Magnolia, Tilda,or Stitchels stamp in it. Here is the blog candy and you will also get a Stitchels stamp too!"

I used the round greeting from the Christmas Dottie & George Collection...and yes they world a treat with my new nestabilities!!!!

OMG - BLog candy alert!!!

Lookie, lookie - it's got to be worth a try. They are giving away the most fantastic blog candy over at Funky Fairy!!!! I have just downloaded some of their freebies to try out, I must get my printer sorted now out!!! Scrummy goodies, go take a look.

Dottie on a sketch!

I have been playing with my Nestabilities and deffo need another set now! The sketch I used from Friday Sketchers worked a treat with my attempt at this weeks Dotties World Challenge.

Hello on this bright and sunny Sunday Morning!! lol!!This is Nicola and it my turn for the Challenge,which isRhinestones...Ribbon and Raised...Raised can be corregated/textured Card,embossed paper,3d card or just foam pads, the choice is yours.

Unfortunately I don't really do "bling" and I didn't have any Rhinestones...LOL...but I used a little glitter instead and a shiny blue metallic eyelet (!) as I didn't want to miss out on the fun!

A Scrap lift Distressed Tilda.

I so enjoyed making the card for this weeks Tilda & Co Challenge that I decided to go for another one, I love this style of work anyway and what better excuse to play with one of my new stamps!

I took another Scrap lift opportunity for the Sassy Crafts competition running over on Just Bex.
This time I used this card for my inspiration.

And with a bit of shuffling around I ended up with this!

Organising my stamps!

With the delivery of a few more unmounted stamps yesterday I was busy stamping up load of images and trying to start organising storage for them. Up 'til now my unmounted stamps have sat in a shallow drawer in a filing cabinet. I have cut up pieces of card to fit into the packaging bags of my Magnolia, Nellies, Maggie & Hamish stamps, stamped on the image and labelled the tops. They are all sat in a little plastic "take away" type carton for now until I find a more suitable box.

I stamp and cut around quite a lot of my images rather than work directly on the card, if you know what I mean, so after stamping loads of images, I have coughly cut around them and placed them in the appropriate little bag so I should always have a stamped image at hand. This is great for me as I can take my little box downstairs of an evening and happily cut around the images while watching TV with hubby.

I want a bigger box now so I HAVE to buy more stamps to fill it up!!! LOL...I hope to do the same with the rest of my unmounted stamps soon, that way it will free up another couple of drawers to put my A4 cardstock in. One day I WILL be organised.

Just in time!

I have JUST finished this weeks challenge from Cute Card Thursday when I heard the Postie put some letters through my door!!! YIPPPEEEEEE!!! My new Magnolia stamps have arrived along my my first set of Nestabilities!!

Quickly load this, have some lunch and I will have a short time to play before I collect the children from school!!!!!

Right, this weeks challenge (#18) on Cute Card Thursday was to make a card for a child! I thought I would try out one of the Socks downloads from Pink Petticoat...I have had them a while and they have been sitting in a box all coloured in and waiting to be stuck on a card! I tried to make this quite bold and textural.

Not sure you can see but he has lovely glossy teeth and shiny bulbous eyes!

Just SMILE!

More blog hopping- very unlike me, I never usually have the time. On my blog travels I have found some more beautiful BLOG CANDY on offer. Have a look over on Mayas Hobby Blog! The though of having all those image drop through your letterbox is enough to make anyone SMILE!

Right off to finish my next card!

Andrea's Magnolia Blog CANDY!!!!

AS a new found Magnolia stamper (!!!) I have been blog hopping recently to help me decide which stamps to treat myself to next. (Eargerly drums fingers on desk and hopes Mr Postie will turn up trumps tomorrow!) During my expedition of Blogland I discovoered that Andrea is offering Magnolia Blog Candy!!!!!!! Pop over and take a took.

Andrea has asked anyone entering to tell her what their fav Magnolia stamp is...and why. LOL...seeing as I only have 4 at the moment I am going to decide from those as I cannot truely pass comment on a stamp I haven't worked with.

Hmmm my choice is;

Edwin with Pencil- I love layering him up for a really 3D effect.
Tilda with Daffodil- only used her once so far
Tilda with Rosebud- my first attempt at Magnolia
Tilda with Easter Egg- I have loved the detail on her dress

I think it's a close call, but I will go with Tilda with Rosebud. She was the first Magnolia stamp I used, I love her hair bunches, her quirky little legs and the versatility of her.

......but tomorrow may be acompletely different story!

Tilda & Friends ATC-Perfect Pearls

My second ATC-hmmm- I can see how easy it will be to get addicted!!!

This weeks challenge over on Tilda & Friends ATC Challenges is Perfect Pearls.

This week our theme is Perfect Pearls, so we would like to see you incorporate pearls, pearl paint, pearl paper or pearl shimmer of some kind on your ATC. Just a reminder that an ATC should measure 3.5 inches x 2.5 inches, and although we allow some overhang of the image and embellishments, please remember that if you intend swapping your ATC you may have to keep within the size. Further information on making an ATC is on the side bar.

and here is my version. A little Pearly Princess. ( never have been very neat with Liquid Pearls-sorry!)

One for the Boys!

On a roll today with my first challenge from Spoonful of Sugar:

We would like you to make a Male inspired card. Don’t forget you must include at least one Sugar Nellie, Rachelle Anne Miller or a Hanglar stamp somewhere on your design.

As my stamp collection isn't that extensive (YET!) I choose my little Hamish with Tractor stamp. I have been using some offcut shapes that I have had for absolutely ages, and scraps of paper on my desk to make the "ribbons!" I am so enjoying colouring with my Prismacolors-so relaxing and well worth the money!

Another Sketch Challenge!

Found the Friday Sketchers blog last night and it would have been rude not to have joined in!


Here is the template;



and here is my card;
please excuse the wet glossy accent....off to make lunch!

Another card for a teacher!

I decided to treat myself to a few new goodies yesterday so I will eagerly be awaiting Mr Postie this week. Well after all I need to pat myself on the back for getting my new job and also having survived the sicky lurgy that has struck the family since Wednesday night (better not speak too soon though!) I have had 4 very sleepless nights and I needed a boost...is that a good enough excuse?

Anyway, one of my most recent purchases was a reduced Magnolia stamp - Tilda with Easter Egg...not one to miss a bargain ! Don't know about you, but I have to try out all my new stamps, even if I don't actually make a card with them...and after stamping her I wondered if she could somehow be adapted rather than just use her at Easter...such a waste!

Here is what I ended up with;

I used this weeks Tilda & Co Challenge which was to ..."Make her Distressed looking, a little rough around the edges, a bit of grungy! So stay clear of these cute pastel colours if you can help it and get down and dirty with tilda!"

Not sure that it has really worked, but either way I have my second Teachers card complete!