Sorry I've not posted in a bit

Hi, hope you are having a great weekend, I'm so sorry I went AWOL for a bit :-)

Excuses first, well I went to Stitches (which is a craft trade show) with Kerry from Ladybug Crafts Ink at the NEC Sunday to Tuesday and then back to reality (Yawn!!) on Wednesday when I had to go back to the day job :-(. 

It was a busy three days, but I think by Friday everything was covered although I next week is likely to be manic again!  The show went well (hope Kerry agrees with me!) and once I had got over my nerves really enjoyed speaking to craft shop owners from all over the UK and Europe.  The stand looked fantastic and the samples were much admired too :-)  Here's hoping you will start seeing LCI stamps being stocked in a shop near you soon, it was great meeting Kerry - although on the drive up to Birmingham I had a sudden panic thought of "oh my word, what if we don't get on!!" but I think we did even if both of us were tired and achey at times :-)

It was good to see my friends Julie and Karen from Scrapbook Sisters on the Sunday not long after I had arrived, even though they were pooped by then!!!, I'm so looking forward to seeing some of the new goodies they have ordered arriving in the shop soon... hubby is strangely less enthusiastic!!!)...

and to meet Hayley (fellow DT at LCI and owner of Funky Farm Scrapbook Barn) on Monday, Hayley's hubby took this pic of Kerry, Hayley and I...

I'd never met Hayley before, only communicated by email, so it was lovely to meet her... hopefully it won't be the last time :-), she too has ordered some fabulous new collections.  I fear my stash diet (it's not going too well already) going completely to the wall :-)

I made it home really quickly on Tuesday night, only 2 hours after I had dropped Kerry at Karen's, which was quick considering the amount of roadworks on the M1 and M25, and in time to see the kids and relieve a slightly frazzled HB (please don't give him sympathy over having to look after his children... he goes away with work loads and I don't get a medal for managing to wash, feed and dress them on my own for 48 hours!! 

So the rest of the week passed in a bit of a blur, and yesterday we took HB's parents to B and Q and Ikea, as they don't have a car anymore since my FIL had to give up driving due to him having tunnel vision and MIL never having a licence and they need a hand to get further afield.  I wanted needed to get a couple of bits to keep my stash in order, so we took both cars over.  HB seemed confused as to how my storage is no longer up to the job as it was when I bought it... I'm not sure he believed me when I told him it was just me re-organising, nothing to do with new stash at all :-)  I don't think I am alone in being completely incapable to wander round Ikea without getting a few more bits and bobs than I had intended  We popped Sam in the Creche for 45 minutes and he went in all happy but bless him was in tears (proper ones, not the fake crying!!) when I picked him up as he was worried that I wasn't coming (I think that means he does love me really!!) and it took me 10 minutes before I managed to uncling him :-)  Then we went to Nando's for a bit of a pig-out and we spent the evening having a family movie night watching Despicable Me, (think lights out, all piled on the sofa, blankets and you get the picture).  I've seen better films but the kids loved it :-)

Right that's me all caught up, gotta get cracking as I have a day of trying to juggle housework (deep joy!!) and crafting ahead (after I tidy up all my stuff!! :-) )

Have a great day

Sue xx

Scrapbook Sisters Challenge 24 - Lace and Pearls

Hi, hope you are having a great week :-)

This weeks Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge is to use

Lace and Pearls

easy peasy huh?  If like me you love using gems on your projects using pearls are a nice change, as the effect is softer, and lace always looks so classy :-)

Without further ado here is my card

I couldn't help but add a touch of ribbon too as I thought it echoed the ribbons on the Shoe Shopping image :-)

There are pearls dotted here and there - in the centre of the flowers on the paper, on the shoes and at the top of the image.

I decided not to add a sentiment at this stage, I'll add one later when I know who I'm going to send this to and why!

We are all looking forward to seeing your creations this week :-)

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Totally Ladybug Tuesday - Challenge 16 - Recipe Challenge, New Stamps and a Blog Hop!!

Good morning!! 

Today at Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge we are celebrating the release of a new range of stamps (which you can pre-order for a very special price here) with a blog hop,  and I am hoping that you have arrived from the lovely Pam's blog, if not and you want to join in and have the chance to win these lovely images head on back to the Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge blog where the hop starts

This week our GDT for February, Domi, has challenged us to use the following recipe

3 flowers, 2 papers, 1 image

Now I'm going to have to confess that I was merrily making my card and was following the recipe happily then got distracted and when I came back to it started adding flowers and very naughtily added another 3... I only realised what I had done when I came to write up this post.  I'm so sorry Domi!! 

Please don't follow my extremely bad example, but here's my boo-boo card!

I've used Cheerleader Amber, she' such a sweetie :-)

OK, so there you go... I'm hanging my head in shame!!  Please don't sack me Kerry!!  I've used some gorgeous cream and red flocked paper by Making Memories and punched a border from a co-ordinating red paper and matted them onto Kraft CS.  I've used some gorgeous ribbon by Berrisfords (love this stuff, it's so soft and lucious!!) and have added my naughty naughty flowers which are a mix of Wild Orchid Crafts and Papermania.

Now the important stuff!  One lucky hopper will win all of the stamps in the new relase and four hoppers will win one stamp each :-)

How do you win?

Well firstly you need to grab the blog hop banner and display it proudly on your blog (if you have one)

Next visit each of the DTs blogs, leaving a lovely little comment on each one, and make a note of the number included in their post, then add them together (fingers and/or calculators are allowed!)

and email your total to lcichallengeblog@aol.com 

OK, so the number you need from me is.....

9

Honestly, it's a good job I'm not allowed to enter, what with my inability to count this week!

Your next stop on the blog hop is the super talented Anita.

I'm on the lookout for an "I'm a total idiot who can't follow basic instructions challenge", if you stumble across one in blogland please let me know!  In the meantime I'd like to enter these challenges please

Creative Cottage - Fabulous Florals

Digi Doodle Shop - Anything Goes

Stamp Something - Something Funky

By the Cute and Girly - Red
The Spotted Chick - That's Krafty Thursday
I Did It Creations - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by, more tomorrow

Sue xx

All dressed up!

Good morning, hope you had a great weekend :-)

This is the third card I have made using the new release of Digi Stamps from Scrapbook Sisters, called All Dressed Up

As I said on the first one I set myself a challenge to actually use one piece of paper up to make these, and I'm sorry to say I failed miserably... I've still got a piece measuring 6 and a half inches square left!!

I think we've all dressed up in our mum's best frock, shoes and jewellery as kids!



I found a little hat charm in my stash and it seemed perfect to go with this card

The scalloped circle has been cut on my cricut and the border punch is a Martha Stewart and I've wrapped the panel in some more of the gorgeous orchid ribbon from Berrisfords.

I'd like to enter this card for these challenges

My Time to Craft - Going Round in Circles

Thanks for stopping by, more tomorrow :-)

Sue xx

Patches

Good morning!!

Today I am sharing the second card I have made using the new release of digi images from Scrapbook Sisters, this little lovely is Sweet Daisy

This card has been made using the off cuts from yesterdays card and the blue dotty CS is off cuts from last weeks Scrapbook Sisters DT card, how's that for being frugal!!  I took inspiration from the patches on her clothes for this card, and at first tried sewing the squares together but it went all wrong and I ended up doing faux stitching with a fineliner, a cute little button and some co-ordinating ribbon finishes it all off :-)

I'd like to enter this card for these challenges
Charisma Cardz Challenges - Spring has Sprung
Creative Inspirations - Plain and Simple

Thanks for stopping by, more tomorrow

Sue xx

I've been playing :-)

Good afternoon!  I hope you are having a great weekend :-)

Today I am sharing a card which I made using one of the new digi stamp releases by Gayle from Scrapbook Sisters, and for all of the cards I have made with the new release I challenged myself to see how many cards I could make from one piece of paper... I don't think I am alone in having more scrap bits of paper laying around and am constantly cutting new ones up, and then the scrap bits get damaged and are then unusable - apart from being extremely wasteful, it's not an economical way to craft! 

Right, first up a card made using Joleen

I think she is lovely, quite different, and really useful for girls who aren't girly girls :-)

The paper is by Magenta and is all soft colours and sping like, and I've used a MS border punch and a Marianne Creatables Die, along with some gorgeous soft ribbon in orchid by Berrisfords, lavender gems and some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts

I'd like to enter this card for these challenges

Totally Papercrafts Challenge - Do It With Digi's

Crazy 4 Challenges - Use Dies

Drunken Stampers - Absolutely to Die For

More tomorrow

Sue xx

In the dark...

... apologies for the lack of anything crafty today!  I came home to find my light on my desk has packed up and so colouring was out of the question with only the overhead light to work with (I struggle to stay within the lines with it on at times, without it doesn't even bear thinking about) so I will be dispatching HB tomorrow night to the DIY shop to get me a replacement while I take the kids swimming... he has checked and it's not the bulb so a new one is a priority!!

Good job I got a couple of projects finished already otherwise I'd really be panicking, but I can't share them with you just yet (how's that for a teaser!). 

There may be a post late tomorrow night, probably Saturday morning though, which is my last full day at home before I travel up to Birmingham on Sunday afternoon to give Kerry from Ladybug Crafts Ink a hand at Stitches on Monday and Tuesday.  I half jokingly offered to help a while back, and we confirmed things last weekend, so I'm going!!  I am quite excited, and not only cos I'm going to meet the Boss, but Hayley will be going on Monday too!

If you are lucky enough to be going why not drop in to Kerry's booth - BS12 - and say hi!

Right gotta go, my bed is calling!!

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Scrapbook Sisters Challenge 23 - Baby Baby

Hi, this week at Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge we would love to see your 

Baby Baby

 themed cards!

Now this was perfect timing for me as my sister in law is expecting and is due in the next month (although if you saw her, you'd think it was in the next few hours!  The poor love is all uncomfortable, and it is her first so I have valiantly refrained from pointing out that is she is uncomfortable being 8 months pregnant in February, she should try it in July doing one of the hottest summers on record like I had to, still swollen ankles are swollen ankles and sleep deprivation is not nice whatever the time of year, although she might as well get used to it now, LOL :-)

Anyway, I'm on standby to make birth announcement cards, so I have used this challenge to make akinda sample, as opposed to a congratulations card - but as they decided (infuriatingly!!) NOT to find out if I'm going to have a niece or nephew, I don't know if to colour in pink or blue so this is just an idea for her, more basic design.  But I really like the effect of this fairly simple card - it's something even a fairly new cardmaker could do, with relatively few pieces of expensive equipment, but the effect is lovely.. well I think it is anyway!!

Right enough with the waffle, here's my card

Right now my crafty style is all over the place, I'm either fairly CAS or throw as many things on as is humanly possible!!  Is there a middle gound?!

Right, that's it from me today, there may be more from me tomorrow, just need to get a couple of things finished!!

Sue xx

Totally Ladybug Tuesday - Challenge 15 - Anything But A Card

Good morning, hope you are OK and raring to go for another Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge, and this weeks the lovely Mary J would like to see

Anything But A Card

Humph!  But waddya know, once you get thinking there are so many things you can do with stamps other than make cards and I love what all the Ladybugs have created.

I decided to get out the shrink plastic and see if I could stamp on it with Momento and colour with copics, and yep you can, blending is a bit of a no-no though! 

I enlisted the help of my Dad, who used to be a jeweller before he retired and he got me some silver chain and lent me some of his old tools (as they are better than the pliers etc that I liberated from HB's tool drawer!!) to twist the silver wire round to make the jump rings and the top of the pins that go through the beads, and after a bit of faffing (and wishing I'd just handed all the bits to my Dad to assemble for me, but that would have been cheating!!) I was done!!

Here's some close ups of each of the little charms

To give the image a bit of shine on both sides I used clear embossing powder on the dull side and got the heat gun out (again).  To be honest I wish I had invested in some better quality shrink plastic, as the stuff i had in my stash wasn't as good as some I have used in the past, but it's OK :-)

And once I'd done that I needed to make a case to put it in didn't I, and one of the metal tins stocked by Kerry was perfect, I kept the outside simple though :-)

I've used:

Baby Baby Stamp Set; Nikki and Buttercup Snow Angels; Cross Eyed Buttercup; Cherry On Top Cupcake Cutie; Daydreaming Ruby; and Cupcake Ruby all from Ladybug Crafts Ink

Silver bracelet, clasp and wire from my Dad!

Copics; Momento Ink; Shrink Plastic; Embossing Powder; Beads; CD Tin - Ladybug Crafts Ink; Bo Bunny DP; Cordinations CS; Stickles; Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink

I'd like to enter my bracelet into these challenges

A Spoon Full Of Sugar - Anything But A Card

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything But A Card

Gingersnap Crations - Charms (I'm hoping that this counts!)

Really looking forward to seeing your creations this week, and next week we are celebrating the release of a new range of stamps and there will be more chances to win than normal, so why not grab the banner below and pop it on your sidebar??

Thanks for stopping by,

Sue xx

Monday quick post!

Good morning!  Anyone else wondering where on earth the weekend went to?!

We went to friends on Saturday, and to my parents yesterday, so we didn't have much time at home and I'm all behind in my jobs, but I'll get there!  I just need the ironing fairy to give me a hand and all will be well, and if the vacuum fairy could give the area under my craft table a good hoover it would be appriciated!!

Today I am sharing a card I made at the Scrap Attack at Scrapbook Sisters on Friday night - it was a lovely way to end a horrid week and as usual there was some crafting, much chatting and laughing!!

Without further waffle here's my card

I've teamed Kenny K's Download Diva with some Echo Park Papers and some Wild Orchid Crafts flowers, some gorgeous lace from Scrapbook Sisters and a stamp from my new PTI stamp set

I'd like to enter this card into this challenge please (not a lot around at the moment, anyone would think today was a special day!!)

Annabelle Stamps - Say It With Polka Dots

Right, time to get the kids up and sorted out ready for school, so gotta dash, there's MUCH more tomorrow, but in the meantime thanks for stopping by :-)

Sue xx

To quote Monty Python... And now for for something completely different!

Just for a change I thought I'd share a Scrapbook page I completed yesterday... I know!!! A scrapbook page!!  Completed!! I can only hope Julie and Karen (and my friends and classmates) from Scrapbook Sisters where I attend a fortnightly scrapbooking classes are sitting down - either that or there was just a rather loud thud as they hit the floor, cos I haven't actually completed a page in absolutely ages!!

OK so the story behind this page - as soon as I saw the Mask images by the lovely Gayle (which I have used on cards here and here) I wanted to use one of them to go with this picture, which I took during the Venice Festival when I went on a school trip to the area... OMG!!!... 21 years ago.  Venice has been one of those places that stayed in my heart, although I am glad I went in February as I understand it can get a bit pungent in the summer months :-).  I have completed a couple of layouts using my pictures from this trip previously but I just couldn't figure how to use this picture as the colours are quite unusual, and because it is a print from the original 35mm I have had to go with the dimensions as was, rather than crop and enlarge like I would now using my digital camera.  That said, considering I was only 16 at the time I managed to get quite a few decent pictures using my manual camera (the thought of no auto focus sends me cold now, but aged 16 I just got on with it!), and I had no flash so the colours are whatever the light allowed :-)

Right enough waffle... I'm assuming Julie, Karen and my friends have regained their composure and I can safely show you a picture of the finished  page :-)

Apologies for my rubbish photos (maybe I should learn from my 16-year old self and take the camera out of automatic and see if I can get the thing to take a better picture that way!)

And some close ups...

Of the actual photo (and yes, there are real people in there, they were just sitting by the canal, in pose!!)

Of the lovely rolled flowers and die cut scrolls

and of course of the mask itself, which has been coloured with copics and glittered with stickles

Hope you like it, I've got loads going on this week, so I am having a quiet day, although I have got to pop up to my parents at lunch and borrow my dad's workshop to finish something off... all will be revealed next week :-)

Until then, have a great week :-)

Sue xx

TGIF!!! And after two days of valentines day cards for the kids, here's hubby's (shhh!) don't tell him!!

Oh my word, what a week!!

It all got a bit too much yesterday and I was on the verge of tears at work (ok, so I did the girly thing and flapped my hands uselessly in front of my eyes before beating a hasty retreat to the safety of the ladies loo!!), we'll see how it goes today!!  I hate getting all girly and emotional at work, but it was one of those moments when I was either going to cry or lose it, neither of which is a particularly good thing to do :-(.  I have to say I was helped through the day by a package that landed on my desk amd kept me going when the spirit was week... but more on that in a minute!!

Right, so I needed to relax more than ever, so downloaded one of the new digi images from Scrapbook Sisters called His Shoes.  Now this might seem a bit of an odd image for me to use for HB's valentines day card, but I think it is perfect - firstly I have coloured it the same colours as his favouite boots, and secondly after being married for 13 years we are kind of like a pair of old boots - give each other a kick everynow and then, but one is pretty ineffective without the other (awww...)

Anywhoos, enough with the smultz, onto the card!

I've used the Happy Together papers by Fancy Pants, and then wound a bit of twine round the panel and threaded my NEW ribbon that the lovely Kerry sent me as a thanks for helping her make samples to take with her to display on the LCI stand at CHA (there are pics on her blog and here if you want to take a look)

Now Kerry was incredibly generous and also got me some ticket stamps - these are from Papertrey Ink as is the ribbon and they are all mixey-matchy with three different borders and loads of text too, I'm just gutted that these aren't available commercially outside of the US and the postage is too much to warrant me ordering anything else!  Or maybe that's a good thing!!

Now I don't have a matching die so after stamping the image up using the various elements I cut it into a rectangle and used a woodware circle punch to nick out the corners - not quite as good as a die but not bad!! I then distressed the Kraft CS with assorted distress inks.

The main image is, as ever with Gayle's designs a dream to colour!  I tried to get the laces to match the ones in his boots - not that successful but hey, it's the thought that counts!!

I'm itching to get my hands on some of the other new shoe digi's in the collection and have a play :-)

Right, that's quite enough from me today, apart to say I hope you have a great day and if you are going to the Scrapbook Sisters Scrap Attack tonight I'll see you there!!

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

P.S. Please can I enter this card into these challenges... thank you!!

Ooh La La Challenge - For Someone Special

Fab n Funky Challenge - Tempting Texture

Paper Romance - Clean and Simple Valentines (OK, I know this is might be stretching it a bit, but this is CAS for me!!)

Sarah Hurley - Love, Be My Valentine

Southern Girls Challenge - Blue and Chocolate

Crafty Catz Challenge - Valentines/Love

Stamp Something - Something for your Valentine

And cos there's two of them...

...kidlets that is, I have to make two Valentines Day cards, cos a three year old and a nearly nine year old just won't share, and the small one will get the hump if I give the big one a card and not him, tusk, and they say girls are difficult!!

Mind you after his behaviour yesterday I'm not sure the small monster deserves it (we had to have a chat about acceptable behaviour... again...), but I just couldn't let it slide.  Honestly my eldest was (and still is) so different, so easy, that I was lulled into a false sense of security!  Sam is just such, well, a boisterous boy at times that he leaves me frazzled!!  That said he can also be kind, caring, loving, funny and downright cute so it's not all bad :-)

So I made him his own card last night, using the same image, sentiment and colours as I did for his brother to ensure no arguments but different so they know which one is which :-)  Nothing too flash or fancy, but I think he'll like it :-)

For this card I used the sketch from this weeks Friday Sketchers Challenge

I'd also like to enter these challenges

Praire Fairy Friday - For a Sweetheart (cos my son can be, when he wants to!!)

Stamp Something - Use a Digi

Stampin' For the Weekend - St Valentines Day

Crazy 4 Challenges - Valentines Day Card

Secret Crafter Challenge - Valentine

Kenny K Krafty Girlz Challenge - A Card for Your Sweetheart + Photo Inspiration

Right gotta get these two sorted for school and nursery then get myself into work (thank goodness it's Thursday!!)

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Scrapbook Sisters Challenge 22 - My Valentine

Hi, another week has flown past and it's time for another Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge, and this weeks challenge is

My Valentine

After doing a couple of fairly busy cards I decided clean and simple was the way to go, and I'm going to be giving this one to my little boy (cos I do love him :-)  ) so didn't want to go fully down the flowers and sparkle route, cos at nearly 9 he wouldn't like it!!  The teddy bear I think I can get away with!

Here's my card

I found this cute little image over at Kenny K, and I have coloured him with copics and added glossy accents to his eyes and nose and to the heart, before layering him up on a heart cut out on my Cricut which I domed a bit and stuck to the card with 3D pads, the tulle (I've rediscovered this stuff!!) is tied round a little silver heart charm, and the sentiment is made up with a Paula Pascal set.  I couldn't help myself though, and added a bit of bling to the corners

And I decided to use this totally apt little Meljens sentiment for the inside, and coloured the little hearts in with copics

Looking forward to seeing your creations this week!!

Sue xx

Totally Ladybug Tuesday - Challenge 14 - Love Is In The Air

Good Morning!

This week it is the lovely Hayley's turn to set the challenge at Ladybug Crafts Ink and she has set us the challenge of

Love is in the Air

I decided to go for a Wedding Card, and am keeping everything crossed that Hayley thinks this is OK for her theme :-)

Plus I was itching for an excuse to use these gorgeous papers from the Be Mine Collection by Echo Park, and I haven't stamped Bride Nikki up in a little while :-)

I've coloured Nikki with copics and glittered her up with glamour dust then cut her out and layered her up on a die cut by Marianne Creatables.  I've used pink Bazzill Tulle under the die cut which is attached to a strip of Grey and Pink Bazzill and punched the pink with a MS border punch, and tied the tulle around a heart charm from my stash.  The edges of the papers have been distressed with Tea Rose Distress Ink.

I used my Sizzix flower die to cut the flowers, rolled them up then secured with a dab of Silicon and set a brad in the centre then rolled the edges of the outer leaves back. and set these round a sentiment made up of Paula Pascal and Papermania  that has been cut out with my friends circle nesties and edged in Weathered Wood Distress ink.

As I had a bit of paper left over (of the too big to throw away, too small to keep variety!!) I decided to decorate the inside too!!

I used the same border punch as on the front and cut a label using my nesties and inked the edges.

Supplies:

Stamps: Bride Nikki, Congratulations (from Baby Baby Set) both LCI; Paula Pascal Circle Sentiments set; Papermania Sentiments

CS & Papers - Pink, Grey and White Bazzill; Echo Park "Be Mine" papers

Other: Pink Tulle;  Heart Charm (I think it is Making Memories); Grey glittery brads

Inks: Tuxedo Black Momento Ink; Tea Rose Distress Ink; Stone Grey Stazon; Weathered Wood Distress Ink

Tools: Marianne Creatables Die; Martha Stewart Border Punch; Sizzix Flower Die; Circle Nesties, Labels 4 Nesties

I'd like to enter my card into these challenges please :-)

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Love is in the Air

Paperplay Challenge  - Use a Stamp

Sarah Hurley Challenge - Die Cuts

Allsorts Challenge - It must be love love love

Creative Inspirations - Valentines/Love

I Did It Creations - Love Is In The Air

Let's Ink It Up - Valentines/Romance

The Crafty Pad - Love is in the Air

Craft Your Days Away - Photo Inspiration

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

Pear Tree Designs - Free For All

Totally Stampalicious - At least 3 hearts (I'm hoping my heart embellishment, the stamped hearts round the sentiment and the hearts in the border punch count!!)

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

Sue xx

Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge 21 - Red, Red, Red

Hi! This weeks theme at Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge is

Red, Red, Red

Well I've gone for Red, Red, Red (and a teensy bit of black, thrown in as an accent!!)

I've used one of the stunning Digi Masks by Gayle Bond available exclusively from Scrapbook Sisters - click here to see the range, and there are more shoe and flower stamps coming soon and I can't wait to get my hands on them!!

For some reason I just couldn't stop tinkering with this image, and kept blending and blending light and dark until I was happy, and then added stickles to accent the image.

I've taken my cue from Gayle on the handle for this mask and have wrapped a bit of a bamboo skewer in double sided tape then ribbon and the mask is mounted on half a tube (well, it seemed like it!) of Silicon, and I've left a couple of bits of ribbon hanging free.  I was going to add beads to this ribbon but it just didn't look right, so I left it!

I printed the image out twice then coloured the second flower again.  Before I assembled the mask I went round all the edges with a ball tool to give the image some shape and then layered the cut out flower on top of the mask.

The panel on the right hand side has been stamped with the greeting which has been masked up (no pun intended!) and then I've used this really detailed Heart Vine background stamp by Stampabilities around it.  I don't use this stamp as much as I should as it is stunning, but I kept it simple here are just used black ink, rather than embossing it.  I ran this panel and the main background panel through my sewing machine set to a simple straight stitch using red and black machine embroidery silks.

The rather lovely organza ribbon was rescued from a box of choccies at Christmas (shame this wasn't a recycling challenge!!) and I have made my own flowers (please pick yourselves up off the floor) and they look rather good for a first attempt!  I've put a brad pearl in the middle of each flower, and added red gems to the bottom left and the middle of the mask's flower to finish it off.

Right that's it from me today - hope you are having a good week!  Looking forward to seeing all of your lovely red creations!!

Sue xx

Totally Ladybug Tuesday - Challenge 13 - Card for a Child

Good morning!!  This week it is the turn of the lovely Pinky to set the challenge at Ladybug Crafts Ink and she has chosen

A Card For A Child

Easy peasy huh?  Boy or girl, whatever age, the choice is yours!

Well you'd think it was easy, but for some reason I sat there paper shuffling and going from one stamp to another until I got myself into a total tiz :-(.  At this point my mojo left the building and I was having a bit of a panic, so decided to have a little blog surf to see if anything jumped out at me... and what do you know it did!!

I saw this card over at the Spotted Chick blog, aka Jeanie who is a regular Guest designer at LCI (if you haven't visited her blog before I strongly recommend you have a little peek!) and asked her if I could CASE the layout, and being the lovely person she is, Jeanie said I could :-)  I'd already got the papers sorted, image sorted so got cracking!!

So after much faffing, huffing and Jeanie donning her cape and coming to my rescue here's my card...

The papers are by Prima that I got a couple of years back and are left overs from a scrapbook kit (I'm trying to use up my bits and bobs!!) and I've matted them on tangerine cs then mounted the panel on Kraft cs.  The bow is a gorgeous green satin and the button and square brads are from my stash.

I've coloured Policeman Jack with copics to match the paper and added Glossy accents to his police badges and whistle and stickles to the swoosh and the air coming out of his whistle.

The sentiment on the front and on the inside are both from the Sentimental Numbers set

Sorry for the pictures - my son has been fiddling with my camera and I need to get a better cloth to get the sticky finger prints off the lens (grrr...).

I'd like to enter these challenges please

Creative Inspirations - Buttons and Bows

Alphabet Challenge - M is for Men

The Crafty Pad - One for the Boys

Looking forward to seeing your creations

Sue xx