Fist full of Glitter ~ cards by Aj.

Lots of Make it Crafty Chipboards used throughout,

and today I am going to share with you the card which has just been published in Whimsy Magazine

The stamps used were the 3 Art Deco Ladies from the Little Miss Muffet Stamps Paris release

Teamed with papers by Glitz 6x6 stacks - Pretty in Pink & French Kiss

Whimsy Sentiment & Matching die

Paper flowers & flat back pearls - Wild Orchid Crafts

and the fantastic ribbons were from this months Ribbon Carousel Ribbon Kit

Design Team Posting - Little Miss Muffet Stamps

2012-02-26T04:45:00.000-08:00

Little Miss Muffet Stamps - Paris release Inspiration

Hello everyone, I'm really late with this posting today, our internet is currently throwing a wobbly & doing anything with pics today has been a lesson in patience, its better than it has been, i made it into my emails last night but its still not good.

An inspiration pic for you to highlight some more of the paris release from

Little Miss Muffet Stamps

The stamp I have used here is

La Promenade au Jardin

Love this stamp, she is such a fun to colour up & offers endless colour themes to work with.

The DP I have used is from the Prima 6x6 faerie stack

Doily is Marianne Designs

Paper flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Design Team Posting - Just Inklined

2012-02-24T13:05:00.000-08:00

Today I have a

Digital Stamp - Show Pony

image to share with you

Here I have used

Coloured using copic sketch markers & Derwent coloursoft pencils

DP - My Minds Eye Fiddlesticks 6x6 stack

Pearls - Wild Orchid Crafts

Ribbon - Ribbon Carousel

Sentiments - Making Memories.

Design Team Posting - Little Miss Muffet Stamps

2012-02-23T08:05:00.000-08:00

Its time for a new challenge over at

And this time our theme is

Fancy or Lacy

Here I have used Nora Claire Hatter who has been coloured using Copic Sketch markers

DP - Prima fairy stack

Flowers & pearls from Wild Orchid Crafts

Ribbon - Stash

On this card I have used Elizabeth Louise Hatter coloured using Copic Sketch Markers

DP - Nikki Sivils Tree Love 6x6 stack

Flowers & Pearls - Wild Orchid Crafts

Do come and join us for the challenge

we really would love to see you !

I need your help !

2012-02-22T23:10:00.002-08:00

Good morning crafty bloggers

I hope you'll excuse this craft empty posting because I really need your help.

I have entered into the Enterprise Nation funding race, which If I can reach my total of 500 votes fast I am in with a chance of being awarded £500 towards the costs of expanding my craft business.

This is something I really need to happen now that we are faced with my husband taking a paycut due to the local authority overspending and having to make 33 million of cuts to its budget.

I need you to Vote for me

I know its a bit of a pain because you do have to sign up to the site but it will only take a moment and I would really appreciate your help in being able to reach my target goal to produce a range of wedding stationery for todays Bride on a Budget and to finally be able to meet the cost of travelling to get copic certified & start doing some much wanted classes in the north of scotland.

Please help, and if you can, please pass this message onto as many people as you can, this funding source is a race, they only have £5000 in the pot every month & its the first to reach their vote target which win the access to funding.

I currently need 360 votes and only days to get them, nobody's met the target yet but many are close

(link works, the site was having problems because of the huge amount of traffic)

Design Team Posting - Its Crafting Time !

2012-02-21T01:19:00.000-08:00

Good morning

Our theme over at

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge Blog

This week is to use Die Cuts.

I wanted to try and get a bit of a 3d lift happening in my project

I coloured up tilda with raining hearts using copic sketch markers & coloursoft pencils

The die cuts I used TH tattered clock & fence (supplied) I coloured up using antique linen and vintage photo distress inks - applied using ink dusters. Then I use the clock to frame the image, gently bent the fence cut & applied a layer of glossy accent on the underside so it would hold the shape.

I matted & layered my papers with layers of medical gauze in between, removing all showing warp threads to leave the feather like appearance with just the weft threads.

Built up my layers, then fixed my image to the clock & fixed both to the card base.

The fence was left to dry for 2hrs then fixed to the card base and paper roses usesd outside and inside to add to the 3d feel.

Design Team Posting - Crafty Cardmakers Challenge Blog

2012-02-20T04:08:00.000-08:00

It's time for a brand new challenge over at

And this week we have a recipe for you

1 stamped image

2 Designer Papers

3 embellishments (1 must be a heart)

Please list your ingredients on your entry post.

We are sponsored this week by

who will be providing a $10 gift cert for the winner.

A lovely challenge ! I met the requirements by using 3 embellishments (including 1 heart as required) 2 DP's & 1 image, nice to have a limit on the amount of *stuff* we are able to put on our card.

Do hope you will come and join in with us this week !

Design Team Posting - Love to Create Challenge Blog

2012-02-20T03:34:00.000-08:00

It's time for a fresh challenge over that the

Love to Create Challenge Blog

And this week we are sponsered by

with a theme of

Navy, Pink and one other colour.

I coloured my image using copic sketch markers then to meet the theme I had a right ole dig through my 6x6 stacks till I found something which had both pink & navy, my other main colour i chose as brown. Added a navy ribbon bow to finish off.

Do hope you will come and join us this week, we'd sure love to see you !

Design Team Posting - Three Companies Team Up

2012-02-20T00:31:00.000-08:00

To keep up the celebrations - we're having another blog hop!! Come hop around with us "in Paris" this week with a New Release Blog Hop!! Leave a comment as you go for extra chances to win! You have until February 27th to complete the hop and we'll post the winners on February 29th.

The blog hop starts here with me !

However, if you get lost along the way you can see the complete list HERE.

Have you heard the big news? Whimsy, Make it Crafty and Little Miss Muffet Stamps have come together to give you a little romance in Paris this Valentine season! You can join the festivities and read all about it on the ThreeCompaniesTeamUp blog. But wait... have you heard the really big news?! Little Miss Muffet Stamps has now released images in RUBBER! That's right - so pop on over HERE to get your rubber fix. :D

For your inspiration today I have the following cards

Here I am using Bandit Boy Tom in disguise from Little Miss Muffet Stamps

He is coloured using copic sketch markers & the papers I used are a random mix of bits and pieces from the scrap box.

On this card

I have used Wilma Kay Hatter by Little Miss Muffet Stamps

Coloured using copic sketch markers

DP is the same random mix of scraps as before

Flowers, corner piece & Pearls - Wild Orchid Crafts

Lace from stash.

Your next stop on the hop is Arabella

We have even more activities planned for the rest of the month too so be sure to check back often and bask in all the inspiration. Oh-la-la! Also, don't miss out on extra prizes - come participate in the Joint Release challenge at:

ThreeCompaniesTeamUp - the theme is "LOVE"

Then check out all the Paris themed New Releases at:
Whimsy, Make it Crafty and Little Miss Muffet Stamps

Caution - This post contains Button Porn !

2012-02-17T10:52:00.000-08:00

Do you like buttons ?

Me.. I love buttons..

I'm always looking out for new places to buy *interesting* buttons from.

I want to introduce to you two of my recent finds.

First up..

The Little Button Shop

Its pretty new, but boy are there some fab finds in there !

My order made on Monday arrived today

Isn't opening a package to find it all wrapped up & pretty such a lovely experience !

Yeah I know.. quit the waffle and show us what you bought..

Buttons ! haha

Flower buttons, ladybug buttons, teddy head buttons

More flower painted buttons and some beautiful heart shaped buttons

Big chunky Zebra print buttons and doodle buttons

Heart shaped union jacks & heart shaped metal buttons

And lastly some big chunky painted white buttons.

The little Button shop is totally worth a visit

Want more buttons ?

Hows about buttons designed especially for cards/scrapbooking with ?

Purple Pumpkin

Is an Australian web store with the most awesome flat back fabric covered buttons

Aren't these just super cool ! The center button has been flipped over so you can see the flat metal back.

These do however require patience, they took weeks to get here & were overtaken a number of time by supplies ordered from Australia from other web stores at a later date, however, well worth the wait.

Design Team Posting - Its Crafting Time !

2012-02-17T02:01:00.000-08:00

Hi there

It's time for my weekly slot over at

Little Miss Muffet challenge Blog

and this week we are working to a sketch

Here's what I did with it

The image i have used is To Grammys house by Mo Manning

(reminds me of my girls when they little, if things didn't go their way they'd huff and puff and announce "Thats it.. I'm off to Grannies !")

Image was coloured using copic sketch markers & polychrome pencils

I used a 12x12 double sided paper so I could use brands and put in the corner tucks & have the center strip match the corner tucks.

The flower are a layered mix of Prima paper flat flowers & paper roses and the sentiment I made myself.

Design Team Posting - Little Miss Muffet Stamps

2012-02-17T01:23:00.000-08:00

Today we are sharing more inspiration using the new

Paris Release

over on the

To share with you today I have a card made using the digi stamp

Little Misses: Le Baiser Volé"The Stolen Kiss"

I have coloured the image using copic sketch markers & polychrome pencils

The papers I have used are a mix of Prima 6x6's

lace is from stash

Flowers, threaded pearls & wired clusters are from Wild Orchid Crafts

Next up we have a card made using

Sophia Maria Hatter

She has been coloured using Copic Sketch markers

Papers are Prima Fairy 6x6 stack

Pearls, metal corner & flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts

Ribbon is stash.

Do pop over to

Little Miss Muffet Challenge blog

to see the inspiration from the rest of the Design Team

QKR Stampede February Blog Hop !

2012-02-16T23:32:00.001-08:00

Hello & welcome to the start of the

QKR Stampede February Blog Hop !

Our theme this month is

Birthdays !

I have used

digi9603 Birthday Bear

On my card today

She has been coloured using copic sketch markers

Fur - E31, E34, E 53

Dress RV 00, RV10

The papers I have used are Victoria Garden 6x6 stack by Echo Park

Flat back pearls from Wild Orchid Crafts

and the ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons.

I do hope you enjoy our hop today & pick up some inspiration along way.

Next, it's time to go visit my teamie Roxie

Design Team Posting - QKR Stampede

2012-02-16T05:07:00.002-08:00

Good Morning

Today I am sharing a card made using digi stamp

digi24003 Birdhouse and Vines

I have coloured the image using copic sketch markers & teamed it with these rather fun papers from Nikky Sivils adding a few wraps of bakers twine & a really nice metal thank you sentiment.

I do hope you enjoy my card today and don't forget to check out the store for a vast selection of rubber and digi stamps.

Ribbon Club Shout Out - Ribbon Carousel

2012-02-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't like ribbon ?

I love ribbon ! I use it lots on a whole list of projects

But I also become bored when ribbon shopping seems to involve browsing through stacks of never changing pages looking for anything that might just happen to be new.

Then I stumbled upon the

Ribbon Carousel ribbon club

A montly shipment of brand new stock, direct to the door, no choosing involved, no jumping from ribbon retailer to ribbon retailer looking for new products.

So.. I signed up.

Am I happy..

Delighted !

Packages like this drop through my door every month now

The variety is fanastic all different but all to a common theme

The selection is fantastic, wide ribbons, wired ribbons, twill ribbons, narrow ribbons, tape ribbons,

seam bindings, twines & novelty yardage.

Every month is different & every month its been a fantastic package to open.

I've joined a few other ribbon club's before & ended up not continuing my membership because they were always a bit samey samey month after month but Ribbon Carousel has kit building down to a T.

The pinterest project

2012-02-14T04:15:00.001-08:00

Something I can't ecourage enough for you to take part in if you use pinterest !

http://linkwithlove.typepad.com/linkwithlove/

Please pin it on every board you have & help protect the rights of artists.

DT - Little Miss Muffet Stamps + Make It Crafty - The Big Three reveal !!

2012-02-14T02:06:00.000-08:00

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday !

Today is a very big day over at

Little Miss Muffet Stamps and Little Miss Muffet Challenge Blog and Make It Crafty

Today is the big reveal for ...

The Big Three !

Yes, we are going on a little adventure to Paris.

Little Miss Muffet Stamps have teamed up with Make it Crafty and Whimsy Stamps

to bring to you the most spectacular, the most massive, the most enthralling combined release there has ever been.

Prepare yourself to be transported to gay Paris, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the cafe's, the fashions, the fabulous art deco inspired architecture awww C'est merveilleux !

There is a wonderful combined blog hop for you which starts Here with Ann, it's littered with awesome prizes and giveaways so make sure you comment on all the hop stops to be in with a chance of winning

A teeny peek

I made this card using all three of the wonderful art deco ladies which are available now over at

Little Miss Muffet Stamps

Design Team Posting - Just Inklined

2012-02-13T23:18:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone

Today I am featuring images from

Digi Stamp Company

Mad Hatter from the Alice digi pack

and I have 2 cards to show you

The first card uses

Robot Boy

My image has been coloured using copic sketch markers & the highlights made with a white gel pen

On this card I have used

DP - Cosmo Cricket 6 x 6 stack *joy Ride*

And one of my own sentiments.

A rather fun birthday card for a younger boy don't you think ?

My 2nd card uses

He's a rather charming fellow isn't he.

He has been coloured using copic sketch markers

DP cosmo cricket + G45

Ribbon from my stash

sentiment one of my own

Do pop over to

Love to create challenge blog

and have a browse, there is something for everyone there and the quality of digi is always fantastic.

DT - Love to create challenge blog !

2012-02-13T03:35:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday !

It's time for a new challenge over at the

and this time we want to see...

Buttons & Bows !

This week we are sponsered by

Who have a fab prize lined up for you.

Here's my project using a Sassy Digi

My image has been coloured using copic sketch markers & polychrome pencils

DP - Bo Bunny Crush 6 x 6

Seam binding from Crafty Ribbons

Buttons & twine from stash

Do hope you will come and join us this week !

Introducing a new venture

2012-02-11T01:34:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you but I am forever on the hunt for digital sentiments that say exactly what I want a card to say, and always it is a bit of a fruitless search.

So I end up designing them myself

So I have decided to offer some of my sentiments for sale

Introducing my Sentiment Store Blog

Every sentiment is £1 regardless of size design & files will be emailed to you within 24hrs.

DT - Make it Crafty

2012-02-10T02:11:00.000-08:00

It's time for a brand new challenge over at the

Make it Crafty Gallery

And this time our theme is

Spring Colours !!

Something to brighten up these cold winter days.

Today I have used one of the Petal Sprite collection

Bobo

I have coloured her using copic sketch markers

DP - Crate paper - Emma's shoppe

Paper flowers - Wild orchid crafts

Ribbon - Ribbon Carousel

Sentiment - my own design

Do hope you'll come play with us this week !!

This project is being entered into the following

Ribbon Carousel Challenge - Anything Goes !

A few more pretties

2012-02-09T11:49:00.000-08:00

Image by Mo manning - coloured using copic sketch markers

papers - fancy pants

ribbon - crafty ribbons

flowers - petaloo & wild orchid crafts

lace - lace basket

Sentiment - my own

Image by Kraftin Kimmie - coloured using copic sketch markers

Papers - mixed

lace - my lace basket

ribbon - crafty ribbons

pearls - wild orchid crafts

sentiment - my own.

image by Mo Manning - coloured using copic sketch markers

papers - basic grey

Ribbon - crafty ribbons

flowers, pearls, metal corner - wild orchid crafts

Image by saturated canary - coloured using copic sketch markers

papers - prima springtime

flowers, pearls, metal corner - wild orchid crafts

ribbon - ribbon carousel

DT - Little Miss Muffet Stamps

2012-02-09T01:40:00.000-08:00

Its time for some Mid Challenge inspiration over at

Where our current theme is Valentines/love & you still have plenty time to enter.

I have used macie

She has been coloured using Copics

The DP are Prima

Paper flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts

and some vintage lace from my lace basket

Do hope you will come join in with us over at

Digital Tuesday - Pink or Red

Saturated canary birthday card

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

Image by Saturated Canary - coloured using copic sketch markers.

Papers - prima

Flowers - Wild orchid crafts

lace - stash

Sentiments - making memories

Charm - stash

This project is entered into the following challenges

Celebrate the Occasion - Birthdays

This card is now available to buy via my Folksy Store

DT - Dragons Dream - Tag it on !

2012-02-08T08:12:00.000-08:00

Argh I'm late ! blogger has been playing up and refusing to let me upload all afternoon.

Anyhoo, onwards and upwards.

Our theme this week..

The time travelers wife - Anything time related.

My tag is a work in progress, its part of a steampunk/time related commission gift set.

however, because of extreme use of perfect pearls, getting a photo of the detail on the clock faces is impossible however I set up the studio lights.

I'm now waiting for some UTE discs to finish cooling to cover over the watch faces with then I need to figure out a detail to add along the edges & dye up some seambinding to co-ord with it it all.

So, fancy having a play yourself ?

Then come over and join us !

DT - Its Crafting Time !!

2012-02-08T01:16:00.000-08:00

Good Morning !

Our theme over at

This week is to use the colours Pink, white & red.

Yes ok I was sneaky and slipped in a smidgen of blue & green just so I could use the stamp/paper combo ... Wasn't me ! poor Molly has been neglected since I bought her last year, still in her sealed packet !

Materials:

Stamp - Molly Blooms

Papers - Fancy Pants Beach Babe 6 x 6 stack

Bazzil grasscloth - chantilly white

Doodlebugs valentine twine.

Don't forget to visit the shop and grab yourself a bargain !

packs of flex markers down to £9.99 a set !!

WOYWW - 140

2012-02-08T00:39:00.000-08:00

Blimey.. Wednesday.. groan.. grump.. et all.

We are a busy little bee this week, got the last of the valentines commissions done & dispatched

Now started on Easter and Mothers Day

So.. Onwards with the wednesday stuff !

Desk porn...

or is it Mess Porn

Piled high after a big making spree last night

Some of what was made last night, sitting patiently waiting for the pretties to be applied now that the glue holding the bows has dried.

Little Lucy Pussy who has came to help...although as she has developed a habit of sitting on the pile of tins of paint accumulated in the corner for the up coming white repaint of the studio.. im not to sure I appreciate her help and constant reminder that soon I have to pack up and move into the dinning room for a few days while the walls are painted..

So thats me this week.

Your turn to head on over to Chez Julia and allow the world a gawp at your mess.. i mean desk !

Don't forget to add yourself to the blogaversary candy linkz !

You can find it here

DT - Just Inklined !

2012-02-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Woohoo my first posting as a member of the Just Inklined DT

And what do I have to show you ?

One of the range of stamps I most enjoy from the Just Inklined Store are the florals.

They are drawn with such an attention to detail and perception.

Today I have used Tulip Jug

This stamp is a sheer joy to colour up, so easy to loose yourself amid the tones and hues of shade v light.

I coloured my image using Copic Sketch markers, adding tiny smidgens of polychrome pencil where I wanted depth.

The papers I have used are from the Prima Botanicals 6 x 6 stack

Kraft cardstock was used throughout

and I finished off with a very lush satin ribbon which I tied into a double bow.

Now this guy up next is one of my all time favourite stamps from Just Inklined

He is of course, White Rabbit from the Alice in Wonderland Digi Pack

If it were possible to wear a digi stamp out this guy would be looking somewhat faded by now, he's been used on birthday cards, stag & hen cards, party invites, sympathy cards, mini albums & filing folders.

News !

2012-02-07T06:38:00.000-08:00

Good news to share !

I have just had my arms & legs twisted until I begged mercy & agreed to join the

Wild orchid challenge - Love

Design Team !

(seriously... a company who's stamps are a joy to work with & I use loads.. I'd say no ?)

Whats more, Jak is looking to increase the team a little so they have a DT call

If you really enjoy working with quality images, timeless designs and traditional themes then you might want to think about submitting something for the call.

Raining hearts for Tilda

2012-02-06T14:12:00.000-08:00

The theme over at Wild Orchid Challenge this week is Love, and this morning the postman handed me a package from the Netherlands containing Tilda with Raining Hearts.

I needed more of an excuse to get her opened and inked up ?

I have coloured her using copic sketch markers and a wee smidgen of polychrome pencil just where I wanted to pop out the darker areas.

The papers used are an eclectic mix of prima, fancy pans and whiff of joy.

The flowers and pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts as is the seam binding.

Sentiment is from Making Memories

Dies used - spellbinders and Dynamics flourish.

Gauze - from the first aid box.

This project is entered into the following challenge

DT - Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Monochromatic !

2012-02-06T04:16:00.000-08:00

Its time for a new challenge over at

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge Blog !

And this round our theme is

Monochromatic

We are sponsered by the fantastic

Indigo Blu

and Ohh boy do they have an awesome prize up for grabs if you are one of our random winners !

We are also sponsered this week by

Digi doodle shop

Who are giving a random chosen winner a $10 gift cert to the digi store.

My card this week, a real challenge to myself

I chose to do monochromatic browns, something I'd never done before

The image is Used is Tilda with chain by Magnolia, coloured using copic sketch markers

DP - basic grey kraft stack

Ribbon, flowers, lace are all from various stash boxes here in the studio

Do hope you will come and join us this week !

DT - Love to create challenge blog !

2012-02-06T03:44:00.000-08:00

Woohoo its here !

Its our first challenge over at

Love to create Challenge blog !!

Challenge No 1 is a Sketch

with an optional colour theme of Red, Pink & White.

Our first challenge is sponsered by non other than the fantabulous

Bugaboo Stamps with a prize of

Awesome or what !

Here's my take on the Sketch

I have used this fantastic Mouse with Heart image by Bugaboo stamps, coloured using copic sketch markers.

DP - Bo Bunny Crush stack.

Paper flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts

Spellbinder labels

Bazzil basics cardstock

Sentiment - made by myself using Word.

I do so hope you will join us this week over at

Love to Create Challenge Blog

We are all looking forward to your fantastic entries !

Another Saturated Canary

2012-02-05T21:02:00.000-08:00

Such stunning images are a sheer joy to work with !

Image - Magic by Saturated Canary - coloured using copic sketch & polychrome pencils

Papers - My Minds Eye & Prima

Flowers, metal corner & pearls - Wild Orchid Crafts

Sentiment - Making Memories

Seam Binding - Crafty Ribbons

DP2 entry & a colouring Tut

2012-02-05T09:14:00.000-08:00

The theme over at DP2 this week is Anything goes with the option of the sketch.

So, in response to over 100 emails & FB messages asking to show how i worked Mo's winter fairys

I have done one up as a challenge entry & took pics all through colouring her.

So here is the finished Card

Which I am entering into

DP2 - Anything goes + Sketch

And here's the colouring process, which does not use half as many copics as some of you were thinking.

There we go, a big ole 6 copics used.

So to start I used BG000

Go around the edges of the image & fine line to pick out your shadow areas, then go back around & lightly feather out the colour so you are overlapping your shadow lines giving them depth while at the same time, where you have light, the colour intensity fades.

Next up E0000

Colour all the skin area fully.

E000

Feather from the edges to approx the middle of each body section

E00

Feather from the edge to approx 1/4 width of each body section

go back to E000 and gently blend out the E00 using very light flicks

E11 (I have used far thicker lines than normal here so you can pick it up easier)

using the very tip of your brush nib, lightly lay in a line of colour right up on the edge of all your heavy shadowed skin areas.

Again, go back to E000 and gently pull out the E11 softly blending as you go

And there you have her, I then very lightly dusted her wings with E0000 to finish off.

New challenge blog on the block !

2012-02-04T20:56:00.000-08:00

Thats right !

There is a fantastic new challenge blog and our first challenge goes Live on

6th of Feb !

Thats just 2 days away !

Are you going to be playing ?

Hanging around with HAnglers

2012-02-04T08:11:00.000-08:00

Since I've not inked them up in ages I decide to spend the weekend with my HAnglers

Made this one so far

Image has been coloured using copic sketch markers & faber castell polychrome pencils.

Papers are from the Echo Park Springtime 6x6 stack

Flowers, pearls & metal corner - Wild orchid crafts

Metal sentiments - Making Memories

Pleated organza ribbon - Ribbon Carousel

This project is entered into the following challenge

Just magnolia - Anything Goes

Its a horrible horrible day here today, horizontal torrential rain & storm force winds, our poor heating system is fighting a loosing battle trying to warm the house up, roll on spring so we can get it fixed.

Just some ramblings

2012-02-03T15:20:00.000-08:00

No cards to share tonight, worked on a few, coloured a small stack of images but got nothing finished.

Its been one of those doing bits of lots days.

I spent much of today reading pretty much everything I could find about SVG files & using them, I finally bought myself another electric die cutter after discovering that the cricut was little more than a waste of time and money 2yrs ago. So there is a Silhouette Cameo making its slow way to me, I wont see it for almost two weeks as we're still on winter timetable with the ferry, tuesdays only, & it stands no chance of getting to Shetland mainland by Monday to make that ferry so it'll be the following week it arrives, but at least by then the hope is that I'll know how to use it.. I hope... My head aches from all the technical info its take in today haha..

What else have I been doing ?

Well I started to test out some products that I have been asked to review & blog about, so you'll be hearing about those in the none to distant future, pretty impressed with two so far.

And playing with my new toys

Ink Dusters ! I know, Im the last to get them, but thats because they were always out of stock when i went shopping for them.. I love them !

What do you think of the new blog look ?

Isn't that header fantastic !

Totally indebted to Jak Heath who designed & installed the whole lot for me, so chuffed with it !

Anyhoo, its hitting 11.30pm so I am off to bed with the book as I'm a very early up person.

Oh , before I go, I just want to *wave* to the new followers ! So nice to have you here !

Don't forget to add yourself to the candy bar linkie, page link is on the sidebar.

DT - Little Miss Muffet Stamps

2012-02-02T04:10:00.000-08:00

Its time for a new challenge over at

Little Miss Muffet Challenge Blog !!

And this round our theme is

Valentines & Love

For my card I used newly released Vanilla

Whom I coloured using copic sketch markers

DP - Prima Fairy 6 x 6

lace - stash

Metal corners, pearls & paper flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts

Sentiment - QKR Stampede

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

We'd love for you to join in with us over at the challenge blog

and if you use a Little Miss Muffet Stamp you have the option of Anything Goes

This project is entered into the following challenges

Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Fab n Funky - Use a Digi
The Paper Shelter - Love is in the air

DT - QKR Stampede

2012-02-02T02:15:00.000-08:00

Today is my day over at

The QKR Stampede inspiration blog

And today im sharing with you this cute Hippo Birthday Card

The stamp I have used is

9410 Birthday Gator with 14307 Birdie Told Me Sentiment

The image has been coloured using Touch Twin markers.

DP is from the Basic grey Oxford 6 x 6 stack

Ribbon is from Ribbon Carousel

And the pears from Wild Orchid Crafts

Do pop into QKR Stampede for a browse, the digi selection is fantastic & they have a sentiment to match everything

Tonights doodles

2012-02-01T11:35:00.000-08:00

Just a few quickies, had one of those days where I had to be everywhere so I spent most of my spare moments with hands full of copics colouring up new images.

I did however get 2 cards completed

This is Krista's recent freebie image over at Saturated Canary, isnt she just beautiful ! A total dream to colour but then good art always is.

and Mo Mannings Mr Fix It, whom the children say looks like daddy because he is a Mr Fix It man & when not on ferry duty tends to spend his day dressed just like that lol.

Its bitter bitter cold up here today with a strong smell of snow being carried on the wind, but the wind direction is not good for the studio, its an old building and the wind is on its drafty side, so its extra thick socks and a blanket tucked round the legs tonight lol.

Sugar Nellies facebook challenge

2012-02-01T09:19:00.000-08:00

The colour theme was to use shades of peach/tangerine soft greys and sage greens.

*gulp*

I managed the image, but when it came to finding DP's... ohh boy

Thank heavens for the scrapbox is all I can say !

Its not colours ive actually worked at once before but I have to say I rather like them together, so im now seeking out some 6x6 stacks with peaches & oranges in them.

WOYWW - 139

2012-02-01T01:55:00.000-08:00

Already ?

Your sure its wednesday ?

I'll take your word for it...

Befuddled... somewhat...

Lost track of time/days of the week/existence of the outside world..

Yep..

The reason... The desks play a huge part in it, as does every other available inch of space in my room at the moment...

Why.. up coming big release..

who/what

I cannot say at this time.... but I can assure it's good !!

Even the floor has been taken up with research for this project... books on the floor as I make a study of textures and colours, print outs all over the place, samples and test runs litter the desks & I'm just about happy enough to start on my actual projects.

Anyhoo, on a lighter note !

Don't miss out on the birthday candy !

Top left is a link to the post, go add your name to have a chance at winning !

Make it crafty blog hop winners !!

2012-02-01T00:44:00.000-08:00

Was it you ??

Go Look !

Congratulations to everyone who won !!

A few of todays efforts

2012-01-31T14:25:00.000-08:00

Simply love these saturated canary images !

Yep I used more of that lush roses ribbon from wild orchid crafts, I just love how tactile and touchy feelme it looks on a card.

Anyhoo, its been utterly freezing here today & I've been huddled at my desk most of the day with a quilt wrapped over my legs working on some secret projects which you'll get to hear about soon enough, time now for a huge mug of real hot chocolate & probably half a page of my book before I nod off.

DT - Its Crafting Time !!

2012-01-31T02:31:00.000-08:00

Extra Extra Read all about it !

Newspapers - was the theme the boss ladies over at

Charisma cardz challenges - pretty in Pink.

Set me for this weeks DT piece.

Lil ole me headed straight for that big pile of already coloured images knowing just which one I was going to use

Extra Extra by Mo Manning of course !

Coloured using copic sketch markers/polychrome pencils and Distress Inks

DP - fancy pants

dies used - Spellbinders labels

I was thinking Milestone birthdays with this one so i've left plenty of room for a customers choice of personalized sentiment to be added.

Still lots of bargains to be had in the Its CraftingTime sale, many 50% off !

Helen is off to meet Tim Holtz for a workshop soon, sporting a set of rather plush looking aqua blue fairy wings & matching Tiara.. ohh to be a fly on the wall haha

Saturated Canary

2012-01-30T12:18:00.000-08:00

I am weak and I could not resist

Image - Cinderellaaa - coloured using copic sketch

DP - Prima Botanicals

Rose ribbon - wild orchid crafts

Twine - Ribbon Carousel

Image - Glinda - coloured using copic sketch

DP - Prima Botanicals

Rose ribbon - Wild orchid crafts

Twine - Ribbon carousel

Just Inklined

2012-01-30T12:11:00.000-08:00

Have some fantastic new images out & I couldnt help but grab a few to turn into cards

This image is Lazy Daisy

Coloured using copic sketch markers

DP - a mix of prima & my minds eye

Twine - Ribbon carousel

This image is 23rd Psalm

Coloured using copic sketch markers

DP - Prima botanicals

Twine - Ribbon carousel

My word, I almost took the night off

2012-01-29T17:13:00.000-08:00

Sorta... Kinda.... Maby....

I inked a few images that had been sitting for a while, turned some of them into cards

Went to bed early to with the laptop so I could watch the playback of Call The Midwife (excellent series of period drama on BBC 1).

Then somehow found myself yet again on Pinterest browsing through all the CHA releases and to be honest, not thinking all that much of most of them.

G45 - I want them all ! (then when do I never)

nothing of TH's made me want to rush out and get it, already made my own set of distress markers so his were old news.

There were a few paper releases that were nice but a lot of them looked like reworks of Maja Design releases from previous years but not quite so nice.

Spellbinders release is without a doubt the flattest one yet.

Ahh well, roll on CHA Summer.

Blogaversary Candy Time !

2012-01-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

It's my 1st Blog a Versary coming up on the 9th of March so I thought I'd celebrate with a good ole follower candy draw.

And hopefully this box will multiply into many boxes !

How do you get a chance at this candy ?

Simple.

1/ be a follower

2/ grab the image and display it on your blog sidebar linking it back to here so other folk can join in

3/ add your name to the linky at the bottom of this post.

For every 50 new followers I will add a new candy !

Pics of the candys will be going up as I get them organised & Packed & also in line with increasing follower numbers.

One thing I can say, there will be awesome candy !

So what you waiting for !

Pretty In Pink !

2012-01-28T13:28:00.000-08:00

This weeks theme over at Charisma Cards challenges

And here's my entry

Tilda is coloured using copic sketch markers & polychrome pencils

DP - My minds Eye

Ribbon, flowers & pearls all from Wild Orchid crafts.

Dies used - Spellbinders looped circles & Tim Holtz seasonal strip die.

This card is entered into the following challenge

Creature Comforts - Wild Orchid Challenge

2012-01-28T08:34:00.000-08:00

Tilda with Bunny - Coloured using copic sketch markers + Polychrome pencils.

DP - Prima

Metal Corners, Paper Flowers & Gingham Ribbon - Wild Orchid Crafts

Sentiment - QKR

This project is entered into the following challenge

Wild Orchid Challenge - Creature Comforts

Gothic inspired Tilda ?

2012-01-28T08:16:00.000-08:00

I was dared to do it !

(was actually rather fun lol)

Could maby have got away with black boots but I didnt want to go that dark overall.

Image - Tilda with Chains by magnolia - Coloured using Copic Sketch & polychrome pencils .

Papers - Bo Bunny Crush 6 x6 stack

Dotty Ribbon from Stash

Black ribbon & black bakers twine from Ribbon Carousel

Paper flowers & Button from Stash.

Kraft leaves cut using TH christmas wreath strip die.

Butterflys - Martha Stewart punch.

Ticket Sentiment - Tim Holtz.

This project is being entered into the following challenges

Just Magnolia - Sketch

Ribbon carousel - non traditional valentine

Love Saturated Canary ? Make sure you buy the real deal.

2012-01-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

Lets face it, who doesnt ?

Someone loves them so much that they have been attempting to COPY Kristas images.

Lets get it out there and educate folks

Buying the real deal supports the artist

Buying the copies only supports the copyright theft

It's time those who disrespect copyright received Zero Tolerance.

DP2 entry !

2012-01-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

The challenge theme this week over at Mo's is

All my favorite things

Ribbon & flowers !

(im such a ribbon floosy !)

And I also love red !

What better than a valentine card to show this.

(my fav fav though is anything & everything Mo produces with that pencil of hers ! )

I have used "with Love" by Mo Manning, coloured using copic sketch markers

The papers are Bo Bunny - Crush collection

acardstock is Bazzil Basics grasscloth in Chantilly white.

The ribbon is from this months kit collection over at The Ribbon Carousel

and the sentiment is from QKR

This project is entered into the following challenge

Mo's DP2 - My Favorite Things

DT - Make it Crafty

2012-01-27T02:18:00.000-08:00

It's time for a brand new challenge over at

Make it Crafty

And this round the theme is

Shade those reds !

We want you to overshade or undershade those reds using your choice of colour, browns/greens/purples.

I chose to undershade using browns

For the shading I used copic sketch markers in E49/29/18/15

The reds I then used were R89/59/37/29/17

and I am of course using one of the MIC elven faeries.

Want to join us ?

All you need to do is upload your project to the MIC Gallery

And don't forget to join us on the MIC Aussie release Blog Hop !

Every DT stop has a prize giveaway so make sure you leave them a comment to be in the draw & don't forget to add yourself to the linky at the final stop for Zoe's awesome candy giveaway !

Good Morning Australia !

2012-01-26T02:01:00.000-08:00

Or should that be....

Good day Bruce !

A little Atmosphere setting video..

It's Australia Day in the Land Downunder and what better way to celebrate than bring you some NEW Australian themed Digi Stamps and offer you some inspiration with a quick blog hop!!

What is Australia Day? Well in short, it's the day that the first fleet of convicts arrived in Sydney Australia (yup we are a bunch of convicts!! haha) but today we celebrate what's great about Australia with our family and friends and it usually involves a few snags on the barbie (BBQ)!

So let's celebrate amongst friends from around the world and share some crafting inspiration with an Aussie Outback theme!

The blog hop order is as follows:

Me !

For your inspiration today I have some of the scene elements to show you.

Here we have on of the pre-made scenes which I coloured using copic markers & copic inks + brush.

The Dunny - no self respecting Aussie outback scene is complete without one.. Rekon you'll see this a few time.. Us DT girls got a tad carried away with the Dunny jokes.

The windmill - gota get the water up that borehole somehow.

Jillaroo - female jack of all trades who spends her days wrestling sheep.

Now I guess you're looking for the next mate to hop on over to??

You wanna go visit Barbara !

Well before you do... Make sure you comment below for your chance to win an Australian Souvenir. Each of us will be selecting someone from our comments to receive a little Aussie Souvenir from Zoe!

PLUS Zoe is offering 20% OFF store wide at Makeitcrafty.com until the 28th January! Hurry on over (when you get through the hop of course!) to grab some bargains!!

OK OK... It's time to head on over to see my mate Barbara

Thanks for celebrating with us!! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!!!

DT - Little Miss Muffet Stamps

2012-01-26T00:19:00.000-08:00

Its time for our mid challenge inspiration over at

Dragons Dream - Tag it On

And this week we have a

New release

to share with you !

This is Jasmine, she is one of the two new Sugar and Spice dolls.

I have layered up my card base using Basic Grey Marjolaine 6x6 paper stack using spellbinder labels to cut some of the layers with.

Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts have been added and the sentiment is one that I made up in word while preparing the digi stamp for printing.

We do hope you will come along and join in the challenge with us.

Remember if you use a Little Miss Muffet Stamp your theme is always anything goes !

Dragons Dream - Tag it On !

2012-01-25T06:10:00.000-08:00

Yes we're back !

A new year & a new round of dreaming with

Tag It On !

Our theme for this fortnight is Book Titles & we're kicking off with Elizabeth's pick

The Beach

Made me think of holidays by the sea as a child

Donkeys, balloons, icecream cones with sand toppings...

I used a stamp by Joanna Sheen, coloured using a mix of copic markers & painting using copic refil inks.

Added a few starfish charms and some seashells collected from various beaches (think these are ones my parents took back from holiday)

Anyhoo do come and play and let us see your beach dreaming

over at

DT - Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Use Beads

2012-01-23T04:33:00.000-08:00

Its time for a new challenge over at

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge Blog

And this time our theme is

Use Beads

Our sponsers this week are

The Stamp Man - £10 gift cert

Di's Digi Downloads - $10 gift cert.

Here's my card

I love to use beads on projects so really enjoyed this challenge.

I used a Teddy Bea image, paired with Prima papers in soft pink and matched the rose to Bea's clothing, for my beaded addition I used thin grade florists wire with some pink sparkly star beads to create the cluster accents used in the floral display

So come join us over at

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge Blog !

QKR January Blog Hop

2012-01-21T04:03:00.000-08:00

Bringing you a little Lurrvvvv !

Everybody needs a little love in their life !

Good Morning !

You should have reached me here via the QKR Stampede Blog

Lovely to see you (even if it is a day late)

This month we are on a Lurv hop !

I have used

digi10602 Cupid Bear

Ain't he just Cute ! (really fun to colour too !)

I have coloured him using Copic Sketch Markers

I kept the card really simple as this then allows me to spread myself around when I finally think up a suitably quirky sentiment for him.

The papers used are from the Bo Bunny Smoochables 6 x 6 stack

Matted with Bazzil basics grasscloth in Chantilly white

Pearl accents are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Next up on the hop is Jessica

So pop on over and give her some love

Small glitch

2012-01-20T05:47:00.000-08:00

My laptop got hit by a nasty virus yesterday it seems so am currently getting it all back to normal after having to reformat.

QKR bloghop & various other misc posts will apear as soon as all the important files are back where they should be.
Fun fun...

Edited to add

8.30pm, giving up for the day (been at it since 4am) half way through putting everything back onto the pc that needs to be on it, still photo editing stuff and discs & discs of digi's to go (thank god I hard back up my digi files !) off to take new photo's for posts due & next weeks posts so normal service should be up and going tomorrow !

Saturated Canary Gift Set

2012-01-19T06:20:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking along the lines of mothers day with these

Saturated Canary image used on the card

which is also decorated to match on the inside

But not overly as customers tell me that if there is more than that on the inside, by the time the card has sat in a box for a few days & gone through the mail system, the weight of the embellishments on the front result in pressure points showing from any 3d embellishments inside.

Comes with Matching box envelope & Matching Gift Tag

Image by Saturated Canary - Coloured using copic sketch

Sentiment - kraftin Kimmie

DP - Prima Sparking Spring 6 x 6 stack

Seam Binding - Ribbon Carousel

Paper flowers & pearls - Wild Orchid Crafts

Dies - Spellbinder Labels

This project is entered into the following challenges

Cupcake craftroom - Anything Goes

Celebrate the season - Any occassion + Polka Dots

City crafter challenge blog - pretty inside & out.

DT - Little Miss Muffet Stamps & Challenges

2012-01-18T22:19:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Everyone !

It's time for a new challenge over at

Little Miss Muffett Challenge Blog

And the theme this round is

* Blues and Creams *

What do I have for you today...

I have used

Bandit Boy Tom

He reminds me so much of my daughters friend Henry, spring & summer they both spend hours at the ponds and rock pools here on the Island looking for fantastic critter finds.

Image - Bandit Boy Tom - Little Miss Muffett Stamps - coloured using copic sketch markers.

Papers - a mix of Basic Grey and Crate Paper

Cardstock - Bazzil basics & Kraft

Die used - Dynamics stars die.

We do hope you will come and join us over at

with your * Cream and Blue * creations !

I would like to enter this project into the following challenges

Divas by Design - New Beginings or Thanks

My Mums Craft shop - Fav Colour Combo

Get Funky Challenge Blog - January Blues

Card a day blog challenge - Thank You

WOYWW 137 !

2012-01-17T22:27:00.000-08:00

Blimey where does time go huh.

Well this is me at the end of a very busy period, these past two weeks I have been topping up the card boxes for the upcoming cruise boat season & getting a huge jump on DT projects and hop projects right up to the end of March because there are some fab new releases coming soon & I wanted to be stress free to do them justice... More about those closer to the releases.

So. desk..

The *putting it together* place has been really busy, this is it with me just finished decorating 10 mothers day cards.

One of said cards drying & waiting for its sentiment.

The cutting desk.. certainly has been busy these past few days, job for today is to clear out those scraps then turn all the usable pieces into gift tags to match the mothers day cards.

Anyhoo, on other news, my 1yr blogging birthday is coming up shortly so im currently putting together a special followers candy which will be up on the blog in approx 3 to 4 weeks once its all here and photographed etc.

Hope you all have a great day ! Its currently storming here again but after 4 very cold calm sunny days, the extra heat from the wind powered heaters in the studio is very welcome indeed.

A few more randoms

2012-01-17T09:15:00.000-08:00

Bit slow on the photo's and finishing today, it was such a nice day that & opted to flee the studio for a few hrs and take my daughters pony out on the leadrope for a walk round the island so gets used to all the big monsters in the corners before we start riding again.

Seeing Stars...

2012-01-17T07:39:00.000-08:00

Of the Christmas variety !

This is a Joanna Sheen stamp called Christmas Lambs - Coloured using Copic Sketch Markers

The papers are Memory Box and I have used Kraft as the matting.

Flowers - Wild orchid crafts

Die cut stars - dynamics

sentiment - kraftin kimmie

This card is entered into the following challenge

Totally Gorjuss - Seeing Stars

ABC Christmas challenge - A for Anything Goes

Joanna Sheen Challenge blog - Celebration.

Just Magnolia & Magnolia Stamp Lovers

2012-01-17T03:29:00.000-08:00

One more Tilda

This one for a special little Tom Boy who's birthday is really soon.

Tilda Skateboarding - Coloured using Copic Sketch Markers

Cardstock - kraft

DP - Basic Grey Life of the party Stack

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons

Sentiment - kraftin Kimmie - sassy girls set.

This card is entered into the following challenges

Just Magnolia - Fabby Sketch !

Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Sports

Playing with Tilda

2012-01-17T01:55:00.000-08:00

Trying to get myself more comfortable with really soft pastel shades, kinda strange working with something which does not benefit from some undershading for depth.

No sentiment as yet, still thinking about what it is she wants to say.

Image - Tilda with daisy - coloured using copic sketch markers

Papers - Isabella stack matted with bazill grasscloth in chantilly white.

Flowers and beaded clusters are from wild orchid crafts

Ribbons from Crafty Ribbons

Die - dynamics flourish.

This card is entered into the following challenges

Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Stamp and Create - Anything Goes

Truely Madly Crafty Challenges - Anything Goes

Gingerloft challenges - Anything Goes

I know.. 4 challenges at once.. Think this is a first for me haha.

I'll be back later with a few more cards !

DT - QKR Stampede

2012-01-15T23:25:00.000-08:00

Its my day for posting this week over at the

QKR Stampede Blog

And here is what I have to show you

This is digi9603 Birthday Bear whom I have coloured using copic sketch markers & a little bit of polychrome pencil here and there.

The papers I have used are from the Crate Paper Neighbourhood 6x6 stack, matted with Kraft cardstock.

A smidgen of ribbon has been added from the Ribbon Carousel & a matching bow.

DT - Its Crafting Time

2012-01-15T23:13:00.000-08:00

It's a new week over at

Quixotic Paperie Sketch Challenge - No.3

And this week the DT are all playing with this brilliant Sketch composed by the lovely Pina

You can have a go yourself, just leave a link to the sketch on your blog by using the comments section underneath the sketch post on Its Crafting Time

So here's what I did

The first thing I did was to turn the sketch upside down which gave me the open area at the top to use for bow placement. I used Spellbinder dies to feature my image, using the inside of of the looped circle as a template to draw the perfect fit of circle around the image.

I have used Bazil grasscloth cardstock throughout and the papers are from a rumage through my scrap box. Seam binding was used for the bow and ribbon accent over the middle of the matting.

I punched butterflys using a Martha Stewart punch & highlighted the wings using stardust stickles and added a few paper roses to finish off.

Image - Magnolia (stash) - coloured using copics

Cardstock - Bazzil Basics

DP - Scrapbox (think they are memory box but not 100% sure)

Dies used - Spellbinders looped circles

Butterfly punch - Martha Stewart

Seam Binding - Stash

Stickles Stardust

Paper roses - Stash

Don't forget the sale is still on over at the Its Crafting Time Store, still lots of bargains to be had !

Now thats what I call a really good day !

2012-01-15T14:11:00.000-08:00

I made this & 23 others today !

No im not superwoman lol, I was working from a folder of images I'd coloured earlier so all I had to do was match up papers, decide on sketches, matt-stack-embellish.

You'll see some of them tomorrow once they finish drying, some you will see in dribbles between now and the end of March as they are the last of my DT assignments & blog hop cards for the years first quarter.

This card uses a sugar nellie digital image coloured using copics & polychrome pencils & the ingredients used on the card are all part of this months card kit from Duck Pond Crafts

Quixotic Paperie Sketch Challenge - No.3

2012-01-14T11:27:00.000-08:00

Had a lovely clean look to it so I just had to have a go !

And because the sketch was refreshingly unfussy I went C.A.S.

Image used is Cinderella by Krafting Kimmie + Matching sentiment. Coloured using copic sketch and finished with some matt glitter to ping the highlights of her dress a bit. (its no where near as pingy IRL, had to set the studio lights up & the white light makes the glitter look more than it is)

Bazil and Kraft cardstock used throughout.

Ribbons from Crafty Ribbons.

This project is entered into the following challenge

I do love a Kraftin Kimmie !

2012-01-14T07:38:00.000-08:00

Luv Luv Luv & really can't wait for the new release to go live tomorrow !

For this card I have used Willow & coloured her using copic Sketch with a smidgen of polychrome pencil where I wanted some extra depth, plus her matching sentiment

The papers I used are all from the Basic Grey Oxford Stack (yes, the scot in me really wanted to use that plaid)

Ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons

and the pearls were part of my monthly kit from Duck Pond Crafts.

This project is being entered into the following challenges

Kraftin Kimmie - Sketch

(The Kraftin Kimmie DT are all using tomorrows release too !OOOoo I want !)

Basic Grey - Something New

This is Willows first inking as she's only just got here, so she qualifies & the ribbon is new also.

Monochromatic Pink !

2012-01-14T06:10:00.000-08:00

That almost never happened..

One needs to go forth and shop pink DP's in soft pinkly shades, not easy, there don't seem to be a lot out there at the moment.

Anyhoo

I made this.

Image used is one of the new valentine release by Magnolia, coloured using copics

Sentiment - Krafting Kimmie

DP are Wild Rose Studio - Polka Dots stack

Cardstock is bazzil basics & Hunky Dory embossed cardstock.

Ribbon from crafty ribbons

Lace - stash

Flowers & metal corner - Wild orchid crafts

This card is entered into the following challenges

Wild Orchid Crafts - Anything Goes

TOMIC - Monochomatic Pink + Bow

If anyone has any recomendations re pink DP's please yell them at me, i'm looking for nice soft girly pinks rather than violety harsh gritty pinks, have a load of PION ordered but need lots more variety.

DT - Make it Colourfull with Make it Crafty !

2012-01-13T02:25:00.000-08:00

Its time for a new challenge over at.

Make it Colourfull ,

And the challenge this round is...

Create blades of grass within your image..

Sounds easy huh.

*coughs* Struggled* Coughs*

Me n greens.. we tend not to get along all that well.

after a few struggled attempts to find a green that would lay over the background colours without murking, i opted to go for a smattering of tufty stuff and admit defeat. But I do like my fairy !!

I used 2 digi's from the latest release.

Fairy Celandine.

and

Fairy Chair.

The papers are from the Basic Grey Hello Luscious 6x6 stack, matted with bazil basics, the ribbon is from crafty ribbons and the flowers from wild orchid crafts.

The prize for this weeks challenge is...

A $20 (A.U.D) gift cert for the new Make it Crafty store !.

Remember your project must be uploaded to the gallery and while you are there have a look at the awesome projects the rest of the Design Team have produced ! Stunning to say the least !

We are still running without our Barbara who is pretty poorly at the moment & we all miss her and her *coughs* awesome ideas for future challenges (new ways to tear our hair out)

Get well soon Barbara,, its a very quiet email box without you hun.

So what you waiting for ? Get colouring !

Ramblings on Design Teams

2012-01-13T00:20:00.000-08:00

We've probably all seem them lately, blogworld has been full of it, twitter has been full of it, facebook has flashed quite a few heated discussions through my news feed...

The big talk about design teams & payment.

I don't normally speak out about such things but I've read so much recently that really leaves me rather infuriated and the lack of gratitude some people seem to have.

Take your average design teams perks

Challenge blogs - occassional/regular sponser freebies to work with

Stamp companies - Free stamps and/or also an allowance to spend in store.

Craft stores/Craft product producers - free product every week/month and or also an allowance to spend in store, and or also a sizeable store discount usually between 20 & 40%.

What I don't understand is why some people just are not happy with what they get & claim they should also be paid a wage/commission.. Hello people, you are getting wages in kind, whats to sniff at that ?

On top of that you are also being handed some fantastic networking which most folk seem not to take advantage of and benefit from.

You scratch my back, ill scratch yours... You link to your challenge blog/stamp company/retail store/manufacture they in turn link to you, in between there are facebook, twitter, networked blogs, crafting forums & galleries at your disposal, what you do with those advertising mediums is totally up to you, you can either work it and benefit, or leave it alone and not reap the bounty of free advertising.

Me, I love design teams, I love the variety of people, skills, themes & mediums you come into contact with, I love the endless inspiration that can be gained through them, nothing is quite like opening that product package or unzipping those new digis and being swamped over with fresh ideas and inspiration & then you get to go on and get some critical feed back from the rest of your team, helping you improve your skills and learn new ones.

In short, the payment is already there, it all depends how well you access it and let it work for you.

Hurrah for Jak feeding the designers !

2012-01-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

The cupboard dwelling designers over at

Have received a ration of bread and water from her Ladyship

Jak Heath

and produced some new designs !

Always exciting, Just Inklined designs are such a staple to anyone who makes cards to sell, such classic well drawn designs never let you down.

I have used

Fast Freddie

on this card & yes he did make me chuckle a lot while colouring him.

He's coloured using copic markers, then matted with bazil basics and papers from the Fancy Pants - Back to School 6x6 stack, the sentiment I made up in word while resizing the digi before printing.

DT - Little Miss Muffet Stamps & Challenges

2012-01-11T22:44:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone

It's time for our mid challenge inspiration over at

Use a Little Miss Muffet Stamp

The theme this round is

Something New

However..

And you get to go Anything Goes

This week I have used the very pretty

Summer breeze

Coloured with copic sketch markers in lovely calm spring like colours which I then matched the papers and flowers around.

The DP I used are by Kaisercraft, I loved the vintage feel to these papers.

Mulberry flowers are all from Wild Orchid Crafts

Ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons

Dies used were Spellbinders and Memory Box.

You still have a whole week to come join in over at

Little Miss Muffet Stamps Challenge Blog

Do come and play, we'd sure love to see you !

Last one for today

2012-01-11T12:50:00.000-08:00

Its been a busy one..

Finally the Alice release from Kraftin Kimmie landed in my front porch after being delayed over the holidays at customs, so I just had to stamp them all out and start colouring.

Queen of Hearts - Coloured using copic sketch & polychrome pencils.

DP - Basic grey

Ribbons - may arts

Dies - memory box & cheery lynn

I'm such an Alice hoarder, I think I have every stamp ever released with Alice in wonderland as a theme and there's bits of Alice all through our house.

More Mo Mannings

2012-01-11T05:18:00.000-08:00

Just so relaxing to work with, nothing beats a good graphic.

Image - Adele - coloured using copic sketch markers

DP - Fancy Pants

Ribbon - Crafty Ribbons,

Dies - memory box

Flowers and pearl spray - Wild Orchid Crafts

Lace - Stash.

Image - Super Duper Boy - Coloured using copic sketch

papers - create paper

Dies - Dynamics.

DT - QKR Stampede

2012-01-11T00:08:00.001-08:00

Morning folks, today is my first DT posting over at QKR Stampede and I have used this cute valentine turtle 5402 Turtle in Love on my card & coloured him using copic sketch markers. The papers used are a mix of Create Paper & Basic Grey with Kraft & Bazil Basics as matting, and to finish off I added a rather lush bow in a shade to match him.

If you havent already you really need to go take a look round the stamps over at QKR Stampede, the choice is great !

Just a few quickies I made up tonight

2012-01-10T12:42:00.000-08:00

Both are Mo Manning images, I've been having a Mo day & coloured up 15 of them today.

Before I dash off can I just say a quick "Hello !" to my new followers, Great to have you around !

DT - Crafting Time

2012-01-08T23:24:00.000-08:00

Its my day for posting some inspiration over at

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge Blog

And this week my theme was

Green and Purple

I have used Tilda with Wrapped heart (stash) coloured using copic sketch.

I layered her using Spellbinder Dies and a Marianne Designs Doily Die - Both brands available from

Crafting Time

The DP's I have used as background is from my scrap box

Bazil Cardstock was used to make the card base and metal corners (stash) and May Arts ribbon added to finish it off.

There is currently a sale on over at
Crafting Time
Lots of bargins to be had so head on over and have a look, If a product your after isnt listed on the online store give them a call, chances are they have it in the shop.

DT - Crafty Cardmakers

2012-01-08T23:15:00.000-08:00

Its time for a new challenge over at

craftycardmakers Challenge Blogcraftycardmakers.blogspot.com

The theme for challenge no 59 is

No floral Embellishments

You can use flower Backing Paper, flowers in your image or even a flower as an image, but NO floral embellishments, so no flowers, flower shaped buttons, or anything else resembling a flower that you have added to the finished card.

The sponsers this week are

And

With a $10 gift cert for the store.

For my *no floral embellishments*

I chose to use a Kraftin Kimmie image

The image I have used is Abigail Apple, she is coloured using copic sketch on Xpress it blending card.

Papers used are from Memory box

Ribbon from The Ribbon Girl

Metal corners from Wild Orchid Crafts

Do hope you will come and join us this week over at

We sure would love to see you !

Tilda with Daisy

2012-01-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

Loves me.. Loves me not ?

Tilda with Daisy from the new valentine Magnolia release - coloured using copics & glamour dust.

Papers - basic Grey

Twine

Ribbon from stash

Dies - Spellbinders

Gems and pearls from stash.

This card is entered into the following challenges

Just Magnolia - Anything goes

Dream valley challenges - anything goes

Magnolia down under - anything goes

New Maggies

2012-01-06T12:43:00.000-08:00

I have been working away on all my DT projects these past few days & have managed to get as far ahead as mid feb, so I'm taking a few days to have a wee play with the latest magnolia release & experiment with different ways of creating depth & shadows without making the images overly dark or swamped with colour. Kinda happy with the way this one turned out.

And while we're at it....

The first christmas card for 2012, told ya I was going to tackle christmas head on this year haha, this is a Joanna Sheen stamp & I've a feeling its going to be find its way to the regulars box pretty soon.

Some odd Girl - Go forth & Bling it x 2

2012-01-05T11:30:00.000-08:00

Bling x 2 is the challenge over at some odd girl

So I made up this

Image - Some Odd Girl - Coloured using copics

Flowers & Corners - Wild Orchid Crafts

DP - Stash (think it could be K&Co)

Glitter - Glamour Dust

Stardust Stickles

Bling dots - Stash

Ribbon - Stash

This card is to be entered into the following challenge

Some odd girl - Bling it up x 2

DP2 Challenge

2012-01-05T11:24:00.000-08:00

Anything goes with a Mo Image.

I just had to put this together.

Image - Mo Manning - Coloured using copics

DP's - Prima

Ribbon - May Arts

Slider - stash

Corners, pearls, paper flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts

Die - Cheery Lynn.

This card is to be entered into the following challenge

DP2 - anything goes + Mo Image

Little Miss Muffet Challenges

2012-01-04T22:04:00.000-08:00

Its the first challenge for 2012 over at

Little Miss Muffet Challenges

And the theme is

Something New

And something else New..

I've been asked to join the team !

I did, of course, say Yes, Little Miss Muffet Stamps are just so versatile & fun to work with, how could I refuse !

So my project for this fortnights challenge

A card for friends of ours who are expecting the arrival of a new daughter in a few weeks.

I could not resist using one of the little monsters.

The image is Monster Balloons - Coloured using copics

DP are some Bo Bunny that came as part of a kit from Duck Pond Crafts as did the crown pin and the blinged up flower.

Dies used were spellbinders and Memory Box.

The seam binding and net ribbon came from Ribbon Carousel

Corner and pink beehive flower from Wild orchid crafts.

You don't need to use a Little Miss Muffet Stamp to be able to enter the challenge, however if you do you have the option of following the theme or playing as Anything Goes.

Nothing stopping ya then huh !

Come on,, we'd love to see ya.

News News News....

2012-01-03T13:14:00.000-08:00

Isn't it great to be able to see in the new year with good news !

What is this news...

I've been invited to become part of some more design teams !

I am now also on the design team for

And

I love that the teams I design with are all so different and all challenge me in different ways, and it allows me to work with wonderfull people that I would never have had the pleasure of getting to know otherwise.

Happy New Year everyone !

2012-01-01T22:17:00.000-08:00

Bit belated I know, things have been pretty manic here these past few days, we hosted the islands new years eve party & I also managed to pick up a good case of the lurgies between christmas and new year so haven't been feeling all that hot, well actually I've been burning up and shaking like a leaf but ya know what I mean. All is not over as tonight is the new year celidh over in our village hall, hrs of relentless 8'some reels, and the gruesome lancers, but once thats done its back to life as we know it with a thump, school restarts on Wed for the girls.

Hope everyone had a great new year.

Little Miss Muffet Inspiration !

2011-12-28T23:35:00.000-08:00

Good Morning folks.

Today I am one of many guests invited by Barbara over at

Little Miss Muffet Stamps

to take part in displaying

Saffron

Which is currently available as a freebie image

To get your hands on this fab image all you need do is email Barbara at forgottenscraps@gmail.com with *Freebie* in the subject field and in no time at all the image will pop up in your inbox.

Here's what I did with Saffron.

I teamed Saffron up with a few of the winter scene elements from Make it Crafty to create a frosted snowscape, perfect afternoon walk I think.

The image was coloured using copics with small traces of polychrome pencil added where I needed depth without shadow, the snowy areas were first shaded using various pale grey/blue/violet hued copics then varied layers of Aleenes Glitter Snow was added to give a sort of 3d depth feel to the snow piles and drifts & the branches of the trees, I also added some to Saffrons muff.

Papers used are from Maja Designs winter 6x6 stack.

Gingham ribbons were from wild orchid crafts (top) and Joanna Sheen (bottom)

Stars on stems are from stash.

Pop on over to the