Outta this world :-)

Good morning!!  Did you see the Royal Wedding yesterday... I tuned into the service and missed the build up, but oh my wasn't Catherine's dress exquisite??  So elegant, timeless, classic and modern all at the same time.  They really looked like a young couple in love... ahhh, you caught me, I'm a softy at heart.  Just normally hidden :-)

In between watching the wedding, and yelling at the kids !!) I got in some crafty time in while HB was out helping my BIL with his Mini, which is due to come out of it's winter hiberation and go for it's MOT ready for the run to Brighton in a couple of weekends time.  Tomorrow we are planning on going to Brands Hatch where our friend Bill Richards is racing.  HB's company now sponsors Bill, so fingers crossed he has a good race - his car is incredible and beats cars that on paper you would think he'd have no chance against (think BMW's/Suberu's...) .  Bill also gave our Mini a little tune up this week - I haven't driven it since, but HB report's it's really made a difference, and the new suspension has made it more responsive, but that he'd really, really like a new set of wheels and tyres (see black hole comment above!!)

Ah well, enough rambling, onto the card

I kept this card quite plain, just CS and stamping.  The inside has been decorated to match the front :-)

The sentiment stamp is from the Whimsy stamps set I got the other day, and I stamped it onto a tag I cut using the Plaintain Schoolbook cartridge on the Cricut.  The Jute is from Ladybug Crafts Ink, and the button is from my stash

I also used my Cricut to cut the star, and I got the little lost Alien from a stall at Ally Pally - no idea who they where, but I will say it was a bit of a bun fight to have a rumage through all the loose stamps, but some of them, like this little guy were different, and who could resist!!

I've coloured him with Copics, and then added some Silver accents to his spacecraft :-)  The star is mounted on 3D pads and then the spacecraft it curved and layered on 2 pads in the middle, graduating from one to none to give some extra dimension.  I made another one of these, but as a Happy Birthday card, which adds to my Men's Cards collection :-)

I'd like to enter this card into these challenges

DYSU - Make It Pop

Moving Along With The Times - Anything Goes

Southern Girls - Green and Blue

Pear Tree Designs - Colourful

That's it from me today, thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend

Sue xx

Warning... Hazardous Dragons :-)

I had a small bonus this month from work, which I wasn't expecting, seeing as it most certainly wasn't enough to see us laying on a beach in the Caribbean (LOL!) it was enough for me to get some bits and bobs for the Mini, which remains an ongoing project/black hole depending on your point of view.  Anyway, HB is happy with the new suspension, whatever floats your boat!!

I decided to treat myself to some Kraftin' Kimmie stamps as I hadn't found any I liked when I went to Ally Pally earlier in the month (there was one stall selling them and they only had 3 designs!!), and was chuffed to find them discounted at Bunny Zoe's last weekend... well it would have been rude not to have taken advantage... somehow a set of Whimsy Stamps, die and this little cutie managed to find their way into my basket.

The parcel arrived today, and I was itching to get home and colour him up

Here's the first card, based on this weeks Mojo Monday Sketch

In this card I went with traditional colours for a dragon... not that I've ever seen one, but it's what I imagine :-)  The papers are Bo Bunny and MME, the sentiment came with the main stamp.  The brown (although it looks a bit olivey in the pics!) Bazzill has been edged with a MS border punch and a Lacey Circle Nestie.  Ribbon is from Scrapbook Sisters, Buttons from my stash and Jute from Ladybug Crafts Ink

I've never seen High Hopes Stamps before, but there are hundreds of them.  This one is designed by Dustin Pike

I liked it so much I repeated the card, but taking inspiration from Florrie's Dragon, a programme watched AVIDLY by my 3 year old and based on the books by An Vrombaut, and went a bit brighter :-)

The papers for this one are Bo Bunny and MME (again!!)  More ribbon from Scrapbook Sisters, Jute from Ladybug Crafts and Buttons from my stash!!  Apologies for using the same design but my brain is fried from trying to fit 5 days work into 3 and I liked it :-)

Don't tell Dragon number one but I think I prefer this one!!

Before I go, shall I tell you what the three little words are??

{Snigger}

My 9 year old thinks it's HILARIOUS!! 

The flame is another separate stamp, so I suppose with a bit of careful positioning you could have it coming out of the dragon, somewhere :-)

Don't forget you still have plenty of time to enter the Ladybug Crafts Ink Fashion Challenge and the Scrapbook Sister Distress Challenge!!

I'd also like to enter these cards into these challenges

ABC challenge - T is for Trouble

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - One for the Boys

Cards For Men - Circles

Incy Wincy Designs - Buttons and Bows

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Buttons

Right, that's me lot for today, thanks for stopping by!!

Sue xx

Scrapbook Sister Card Challenge 33 - Distressing

Hi!  I'm so thrown this week what with the bank holiday on Monday, goodness knows what I'll be next week after the second long weekend in a row!!

Anyway, here we are on Wednesday already which means it's time for this weeks Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge, which this week is

Distressing

There are so many distressing techniques out there, but I went all out and did quite a few for my card!!

First off, here's the complete card

I ruffed up the edges of all the CS and papers with my scissors before sewing round them all with white thread

Then printed the Flower Mask Digi, coloured with copics an

d went over it with crackle paint.  Once it had dried I rubbed Black Soot Distress Ink into the cracks... although this hasn't shown up too well on the photos :-(

I stamped the greeting and then distressed it with Black Soot Distress Inks - the roses got away with it as they were though :-).  The orgnaza ribbon was tied in a bow and I attached a flower charm to the centre of the bow with thread and stuck a black gem on with Glossy Accents

I then wond some ribbon round a wooden skewer and adhered this, and a second flower  to the mask with silicon glue, before sticking the mask onto the card with more silicon.  An extra length of ribbon hangs from the skewer.

Then I went all straight on the inside and used my wrought iron MS border punch and a Marianne Creatables Die along with a Papermania sentiment

Hope you like it, thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Totally Ladybug Tuesday - Challenge 25 - New Release and Blog Hop

Good Morning!!

Welcome to this week's challenge at Ladybug Crafts Ink!!

This week it is the turn of head ladybug Kerry to set the challenge and she has chosen

Fashion

The DT have all used the new release of Stamps and sentiments available here, and we are having a blog hop to celebrate!!  Hopefully you have arrived from Michele's blog.  If not why not head back to the start and check out all the fabulous DT cards?  We are also joined for this challenge and blog hop by the incredibly fabulous Jeanie aka the Spotted Chick - something we are all really excited about!

Hello everyone - well it's another big day today here at the Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge blog! Kerry has a new release of stamps and we are having a Blog Hop to celebrate!!   There are lots of chances to win a prize, so why not join in the fun? :-)

So here's my card, just as a little tease, there are more pics later in the post

Cute image huh??

OK, back to the important stuff... there are four fabulous images in the new release, and as we have all kept our cards secret this week we have no idea what the others have been up to, so I am as excited to see what everyone has been up to!!

None of us like rules, but there are just a couple to participate in the hop

a) Visit each of the DT members in order and leave a comment on each of their blog hop posts.

b) leave a comment on the challenge blog once you have finished the hop.

c) Display the blog hop banner below on your blog, either in a post or on your side bar

 

 

The First Prize is all 4 images in the new release and we have 4 Runner up prizes of one new image each, all to be drawn at random, plus if you enter a card into the challenge you can win a stamp that way too!!  Aren't we good to you? :-D

And if you can't possibly wait (and who would blame you!) Kerry is offering the stamps at a special price of £5.50 until Monday 2nd May - click here for more details

I did promise more pics of my card :-)

I used some gorgous papers by Theresa Collins from the posh range - if you look closely there are fashion elements in the range - the pink looks like lace and the black and white resembles fish net stockings!!  I edged the papers with Black Soot Distress Ink and ran them through the sewing machine with black thread

The stamps come with three sentiments each - I used "If the shoe fits...

...buy the matching handbag!

The set also includes "Happiness is a matching handbag and shoes" and Who needs therapy when you have accessories?"  *Sigh* how true!!  I love how you can use these stamps for pretty much any occasion, and we all like a bit of versatility from our stash these days!!

I couldn't resist adding a handbag charm along with some more georgeous roses!  I've coloured the bag and shoes in with copics pens and added a touch of silver pen here and there where I thought the metal bits and bobs would be :-)  I also used some sheer box pleat ribbon also from Ladybug Crafts Ink

Your final stop on the hop is the lovely Gaelle

I'd like to enter this card for these challenges

The Sweet Stop - Sketch

Craft Your Passion - Show Us Your Layers

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Pile It On

House Of Gilli - Lots of Layers plus real/faux stitching
Sir Stampalot - Ladies and Fashion
Party Time Tuesday's - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Brads or Eyelets

Thanks for stopping by, I'm really looking forward to seeing all your fabulous fashion makes this week!

Sue xx

I think I'm in love :-)

How can I have left this stamp uninked since I got it the other week at Ally Pally?!?!

OMG I love it now :-)  It's a Bild Malarna stamp called Rose Fence, and I am kicking myself for not getting some more of their gorgeous stamps at the time - fingers crossed they will be back at Ally Pally later in the year :-)

I have made this card into a thank you card for HB's boss and his wife as we went round their house last weekend for dinner, and I used the lovely sketch this week from Mojo Monday to kick start me, some Basic Grey papers, a Ladybug Crafts Ink sentiment, some Bo Bunny ribbon and white and dark rose Bazzill CS.  I also followed Mary J, my LCI teamie's instructions and had a go at adding some blue colour (actually it's a blend of several blues, greys and pale lilacs) round the top of the image - not bad for a first try!  Although bother my photography skills, as ever it looks SOOOO much better IRL!!

I was stunned that I managed to get the image to look like this on a first attempt - sometimes with new stamps it takes me a couple of attempts before I am happy, but this little baby was a breeze!

Right, gotta dash... last day of work this week before the long Easter weekend :-)  Although I have a horrible feeling that it's going to feel like a Thursday and Friday rolled into one!!  I think we are going to be out and about (I'm planning going for a fish pedicure on Saturday, I'll let you know how that goes!!) and also doing some work in the garden over the weekend... but I have made it clear I am going to be crafting at some point ;-)

I'd like to enter this card for these challenges please


Totally Stampalicious - Lean and Simple (hope this counts as clean and simple enough!!)
Ambers Crafts - Ribbons and Bows

Paper Shelter Challenge - Nature Inspired
Cards and Things - Colous Challenge
Karen's Doodles Netherlands - Punch
The Crafty Calendar - April Showers Bring Forth May Flowers
Basic Grey - Easter/Spring

Have a great day

Sue xx

Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge 32 - Buttons

Hi, this week's Scrapbook Sisters Challenge is to use

Buttons

I love buttons on my cards, they pop up here and there all the time!  I think they are especially good for mens cards... and OMG have you seen the latest release of digi's by the fabulously talented Gayle, I so need some of these images for the men in my family!!

Anyway, enough waffling, here's my card this week

I stitched the buttons on to the image - which was a bit fiddly but worth it :-)

I love this His Shoes image, it's perfect for so many men!  And lets face it they are so tough to make a card for!!

Looking to seeing your button creations

Sue xx

Totally Ladybug Tuesday - Challenge 24 - Anything Goes

Good Morning!

This week at Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge the theme is

Anything Goes

so, we'd love to see your birthday, Christmas, Easter, Get Well, Wedding, Anniversary, Kids and Grown ups cards and projects (and if your project isn't in this list, we'd love to see it too!!)

I decided to make an Easter Card, but went for less obvious colours, chosing a brown and blue colour scheme, but I think this card would work so well as a birthday or thinking of you card too!!  As I had my sewing machine to hand I stitched the edges of all the pannels with blue emboidery silk.

I decided to use Liquid Pearls on Daydreaming Ruby's wings, but now I'm not sure I did the right thing, and I kicked myself after I'd done it, and I'm still not sure it works as well as glitter, but hey ho, sometimes you just gotta try these things!!  I also have a tub of clear crackle paint to try out, maybe I'd like that result better?!

Oooh! and check out the lace and ribbon I've used that is available from Kerry's store here, I love texture on cards and this gorgeous lace and chocolate suede with a ruffled edge are such easy ways to add it to a card :-)  The metal flower embelishment was from Ally Pally and I dangled a butterfly charm off of it, attaching it to the card with a brad. 

Supplies: Daydreaming Ruby; Copics; Glossy Accents; Stickles; Liquid Pearls; Brown and Cream CS; Paper Salon Papers; Lace and Brown Faux Suede Ruffle Edge ribbon, LCI; Flowers, Gems; Charms, Brad from stash; Sewing Machine and thread; X cut border die.

I'd like to enter these challenges please:

Sweet Stop - Sketch with spin of Winged Things

Creative Inspirations - Easter

Moving Along With the Times - Chocolate

Paper Romance - Paper Flowers

Creative Inspirations Challenge - Easter

Secret Crafter - Stitching

Sweet Stampin Challenge - Chocolate

I did It Creations - Easter

Let's Ink It Up - Stitching

The Crafty Pad - Easter

Daring Cardmakers - Spring Fling/Easter

Delightful Challenge - Easter

2 Sisters Challenge - Bingo - I've used all 9!  (some are obvious, but a couple aren't as clear in the photp so - die cut and embossing - the scallop is a die cut and has been embossed, glitter - stickles on her shoes and hair slide, swirls - does the paper count? pastel colours - her dress)

Scrappy Frogs - Easter

Pile It On - Use a Stamp

Dream Valley Challenges - Easter
Cupcake Craft Challenge - Lot's of Layers
Pear Tree Designs - Easter
My Time To Craft Challenge - Easter
Karen's Doodles - Lots of Layers

That's quite a few isn't it!!  Hope that's OK :-)

Before I go, one bit of exciting news - next week sees the launch of some rather gorgeous new stamps and we are having a blog hop to celebrate!

I'm so looking forward to seeing all of your lovely projects this week, thanks for stopping by :-)

Sue xx

Looking at life upside down...

... do all kids do this?  Mine certainly do!!  Maybe it's a kid thing, but I can kind of see the point in checking how things look from a totally different perspective... oooh that's a bit profound for a Monday Morning!! 

This is one of the images I chose from Karen's Doodles, after winning one of their challenges... I just thought he was cute!!

I teamed him with some 3 Bugs In a Rug paper that I had lurking in my stash

He's called PeekaBoo Boy, just love the little toddler legs!!  The sentiments are from the Sentimental Numbers set by Ladybug Crafts Ink.  I used some of the lucious ribbon by East of India that I got at Ally Pally... honestly it has taken me a week to stop stroking it and start using it!!

I decorated the inside of the card too

I'd like to enter this card into these challenges

Fab 'n' Funky - All Spotty and Dotty

Simon Says Stamp - For A Child

Fussy and Fancy - Card for a Child
Craft Your Passion - You've been spotted

That's it from me for today, more tomorrow!  

Sue xx



A little bit early!

Hi

Hope you are OK and are enjoying the weekend - I'm freezing here!  I think my body got used to the warmer weather we had last week and it's now protesting now the temperature has returned to normal!!  I've turned the heating back on (don't tell HB!!) and am staying indoors attempting to get some projects finished, not that the kids seem to be in the mood to let me do so!

In the space of two minutes when I was loading the washing machine my youngest managed to find my make up bag, empty it, locate the powder, open it and tip it out everywhere.  Little horror.  And OMG!!  I'm going to be shiney until I get to the shops and buy some more!!

A prolonged stay on the naughty step did little to curb his enthusiasm for reaking havoc and he was next found in the bathroom, carefully unwrapping, err, well you can imagine... I suppose I should be grateful the little monster didn't actually try to eat them or he'd have got an almighty shock!!

To calm myself I decided to make some cards using one of the stamps I got from Ally Pally last week (my first Stamping Bella stamp!!).  I can now be slightly smug and say that I now have 4 Christmas cards completed :-)  Only another 50 or so to go :-(

Supplies: Santa's Clothes a Dryin', Stampin Bella; Kraft, Black Dotty and Red CS; Charms; Buttons; Black Pearls; Red Ribbon; Jute; Cuttlebug Snowflakes and Swiss Dots embossing folders; MS Snowflake Punch; Nesties Deckled Rectangles;; Copics; Glossy Accents; Woodware Fluffy Stuff; Crystal Glitter; Stickles.

I'd like to enter this card for these challenges please :-)

Totally Stampalicious - Anything Goes

Alphabet Challenge - X is for Xmas

The Spotted Chick - That's Krafty Thursday 50

Mami Doodles - Crazy for Kraft

Creative Craft Challenge - Embossing
The Stamp Man - Embossing

Before I go, quick update on my Dad - he is now home and looks much better - they now know what caused his heart attack and are treating it.  On the downside they have said that he really needs a heart bypass, but that it is not possible because of his age, and so they are trying to treat it with drugs instead, and I don't think he is keen on surgery anyway, which at his age is understandable with all the risks it entails.  So for now it is a case of watch and wait to see how he gets on - a huge thanks to everyone that has sent their good wishes, it means a lot :-)

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, thanks for stopping by, Sue xx

Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge 31 - Wedding or Anniversary

This week at Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge the challenge is

Wedding or Anniversary

and I couldn't resist using my Gus and Margaret digi

I inked the edges of the papers with a caramel coloured chalk eye, and them went round them all with brown thread in the sewing machine

I combined some flowers (well it's an anniversay card, and flowers are romantic!), gems, ribbon and a heart charm from my stash are added to the lovely Paper Salon papers.  The ticket is made up from my Papertrey Ink ticket set, and the border punch is by MS.

LOL! Don't they look cute together? :-)  I gave both of their glasses a good coat of glossy accents  and added stickles to the dots on her dress and slippers too.

The inside has been decorated similarly

I love the colours of this card - blue/chocolate is yet another of my favourite colour combinations!

Looking forward to seeing your creations

Sue xx

Totally Ladybug Tuesday - Challenge 23 - Celebration

Good Morning!  This week over at the Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge Blog it is the turn of the rather fabulous Pami to set the challenge and she would like to see your

Celebration

cards and projects

Don't ask me why but I decided to make a new job/good luck card!

I used some of the new Timeless papers by Theresa Collins, lacey circle nestie and some black flowets that I got at Ally Pally at the weekend.

The ruffled edged organza ribbon is from LCI, and you can get it here.  I used some pink flowers from my stash and popped a dot of stickles in the centre of each.  The gems and diamante flower pin are also from my stash.

The swirls are cut using a Marianne Creatables Die, and the Good luck sentiment is by Studio G.

I coloured up Posh Shopper Nikki using some of my new copic colours, and added glossy accents to her bag, and stickles to the flowers and her eyeshadow.  Sorry for the shocking photo, try as I might I could not get my camera to take a decent photo, I think the glare off the stickles confused it!

And I decorated the inside too. 

The sentiment is from the Baby Baby stamp set.

I'd love to enter these challenges

Colour Create Challenge - Pink Black and White

Paper Romance - 4 embellishments (flowers, gems, ribbon, diamante pin), 3 papers, 2 punches/dies one image and one sentiment

Stamp Something - Sassy Circles

Craft Your Days Away - Spots and Stripes

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Girls and Swirls

Looking forward to seeing all your lovely creations

Sue xx

Look what I got :-)

Hmmm, doesn't look at lot, but this is my haul from Ally Pally

Some lovely Theresa Collins and Paper Salon Papers, Nesties, charms, more Copics, Ribbon (but I forgot to include them in the photo - duh!), flowers and some new stamps... whoo hoo!!

It was a really nice day and I think my friends from work Linda and Debs enjoyed themselves too, even if our feet were aching and our purses were empty at the end of it!

Saturday night HB and I went out with some of his collegues for a 40th birthday.  I had driven past where we were going and wasn't expecting much, but it was OK - much better than I had expected in fact and the food was excellent!

I've loads to show you over the next few days too :-)

In the meantime hope you had a great time if you went to Ally Pally, and enjoy the week :-)

Sue xx

Saturday and no rest for the wicked

Because I am so far behind where I need to be with my cards, and I'm out all day at Ally Pally and then a 40th so today I am sharing another page from one of my recent classes at Scrapbook Sisters

This series of three classes uses a stack of papers by OMG!  who are they by!!  I'll have to edit when my brain remembers!!  Anyway, we are doing something different with the papers in each of the fortnightly classes. 

This is a page I did from the first class, and I thought the colours worked well with a picture I took about 20 years ago from my hotel bedroom when I was in Italy.  Honestly the view was probably the best thing to say about the hotel, as the food was simply attrocious, most unusual for Italy!

I need to add a bit of journalling, but I need to figure out what to put first - or more specifcially try to find out how exactly to spell the name of the town on Lake Garda that we stayed in!

Right I've got to get cracking - I'm picking the girls up from the station at 8 and we are heading to Ally Pally for the day :-)

Have a great weekend

Sue xx

Quick, quick, quick

Good morning!  I promise this is going to be quick

No card today, but a page from a recent class at Scrapbook Sisters

The floral papers would not have been my first choice, but I really like them on this page :-), although please don't ask me who they are by as I haven't got a clue!!  I'd guess MME but I could be so wrong!!

The pictures are more from my SIL's wedding at Elvey Farm in Pluckley (which is reported to be the most haunted village in the UK, and is where the TV series The Darling Buds Of May was set.

The pictures feature me lacing my SIL into her gown, and HB peeking round the corner before he walked her down the aisle

Dad was in good spirits again when I saw him last night. although they are keeping him in ICU for the time being - so I think I will join a couple of colleagues and go to Ally Pally on Saturday before coming home and going to a 40th birthday do for one of HB's colleagues - oh bother, with everything going on this week I clean forgot to make him a card - I'll try and make one tonight, if not shock horror I'll have to buy one!!

That's it from me - have a great day :-)

Sue xx

Birthday card for my boss

Tuesday was my bosses birthday, so I decided to make him a card, I thought I could get away with this Bugaboo image as he has a sense of humour and would take it in the spirit it was meant - I appear not to have received my P45, so think I got away with it :-D

 

I didn't have ages to do this card, so it's quite basic (but then, the cards I do for men usually are!) and I was using up some odds and ends of papers that were on my desk, and my mojo is still wanderlust, but I suppose that is no surprise with everything going on at the moment :-(

The papers are by MME, ribbons and buttons from my stash and Jute from LCI. I've added a big dollup of glossy accents to his glasses too :-)

I even had enough paper to do the inside!!

 

I'd like to enter these challenges please

Totally Stampaclicious - Happy Birthday

ABC challenge - R is for Ribbon

Totally Papercrafts - One for the Boys

I was really pleased to spot that I had won a prize over at Karen's Doodles Challenge for one of my recent easter cards - thank you so much - after a week like I've had it was a lovely surprise :-)

Before I go just a quick update on my Dad - they have done loads of tests on all sorts of equipment, he is still in good spirits but remains in intensive care for the time being, no results as yet but fingers crossed all will be OK

Thanks again for all your support, and kind wishes - it means a lot (hugs to you all) - sorry I haven't had chance to respond individually

Sue xx

Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge 30 - Yellow

Hi, can you believe we are up to challenge 30 already over at Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge

This week we would like to see your

Yellow Cards

Here's my card

Honestly, I had no idea when I made this card the curve ball life was about to throw at me :-(

I've used a freebie from Meljens which I coloured with copics and accented with stickles and glossy accents with some Bo Bunny Double Dot CS.  The flowers, soft ribbon, button and wool from my stash, and I used a Spellbinders labels 4 and a Marianne Creatables Die, along with my trusty MS border punch and sewing machine.

Dad looked better last night when I went to see him - they have removed the breathing tube thingy, although his breath is a bit laboured at times he seemed in good spirits.  They are doing a CT scan later today so we will have to see what that shows...

That's it from me, looking forward to seeing all of your gorgeous creations

Sue xx