Frosty Fairy

Hello... 

I've been busy in the last couple of days making all the Christmas cards I should have done already... I'm soooo up against it, but hey nothing like a bit of pressure to get the creative mojo going :-)

Here's the first one - using some lovely papers and lace from Live and Love Crafts, some silver organza ribbon, a die cut, with some dome shaped gems

and some chunky embossing powder, accenting the Saturated Canaary Image

and an oversized sentiment (Bo Bunny I think) from a couple of years ago... I put some glitter here and there, but it's not really visible in the picture... humf!!

oh and some pins, a charm and a sparkly button

I really love the feel of this one - really frosty and wintery

 

Please can I enter these challenges

 A Gem of a Challenge - Anything Christmas

Crafts 4 Eternity -Christmas

Cut It Up - Button Christmas

Digitally Sweet - Non-Traditional Christmas Colours

Cupcake Inspirations - Picture Inspiration

Sentimental Sundays - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by

Sue

xx

Simple Christmas Cards

Hello!!

I've been busy this weekend, bulk making Christmas cards... I left it a bit late, and have had to go down the quick and simple route for the majority of my cards.

I had some mini (well 9 x 9cm) card blanks in my drawer and I got cracking, bulk making cards...

I think they look lovely, with a background stamp stamped on top of the green card stock with Bundled Sage distress ink, and the sentiment added to the pennant (I don't have a pennant die cut, so cut my own - I did make a template first though, to make sure I got the dimensions right!) I found a couple of snowflake dies from years ago... I rarely reach for these, but they are a lot quicker than dies when making in bulk!  Some co-coordinating twine tied in a little bow finishes these off .  Actually, all the cardstock I used was scraps - far too small to be usable on a big project, so these have been made for next to nothing :-)

And once I got going I had 14 made quite quickly.  The bonus of hand cutting the pennants is that I had a reverse too!!

I really like how these turned out - quick, simple, but stunning...

Please may I enter these challenges

Fantasy Stampers Challenge - CAS Christmas

Hiding in my Craftroom - Super Scraps Saturday

Brown Sugar Challenge - Red White and Green

Fab n Funky - Christmas

A Crafty Mess - Anything goes/Traditional Christmas

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge - Christmas
Crafty Catz - Last Minute Christmas

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week

Sue xxx

Inspiration from your Home with Top Tip Tuesday

Hello... can you believe another two weeks have gone by and it's time for another challenge at Top Tip Tuesday... which is to be inspired from something in your home.

It's a bit more is more. with lace, ribbon, buttons, pearls, pins, charms, cheesecloth, a doily, and die cuts on here, along with some lovely papers from Live and Love Crafts. And my inspiration is this teddy, which is my son's (yes both of them have one each, it saves arguments)

His scarf , hat and nose, just reminded me of this little fellow from the now sadly closed Stamp Fairy, and I have fussy cut him out after colouring him with my copics, and added some lovely shabby embossing powder to the panel at the back.  Just a touch of glitter to his hat... just love him :-)

I decorated the inside to match, nothing fussy... I think I'd run out of steam after the front :-)

I tucked a hidden tag in here too

And stamped a Stampin' Up sentiment onto white card, cut it out and plonked a load of crackle glaze on top :-)

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xxx

Skating Along...

Hello!!  How are you?  OK I hope?  It's got mighty chilly here in my little corner of the UK this week... brrrr...

Anyway, it's made me get cracking with my Christmas cards, starting with this little cutie from Lili of the Valley.  Again, its a fairly basic design, perfect for quick mass makes

The image is coloured with my trusty copics and blinged up just a little bit :-)

I will try to post again this week, but you know what I'm like :-)

Thanks for stopping by

Sue  xxx

Buttons or Bows at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello - how has two weeks gone past so quickly?  It's only a month until Christmas and I am pleased to say I'm doing quite well, and I'm hoping that this year I won't be in the disorganised rush that I normally am in!  

I've been cracking on making seasonal cards too - and just love this one that I have made for this fortnights Top Tip Tuesday challenge

I used some scrummy papers that I got last year from Live and Love Crafts, and teamed them with Bunny Christmas Lights from this fortnights sponsor Zlatoena.   I've used a sentiment I found in my stash - no idea when I got it or when, but it's a wooden one so must be quite old!

Why are Christmas lights so complicated, and how is it mine always end up tangled no matter how carefully I put them away! :-)  He's coloured with Copics, and I've dotted glossy accents on the bulbs

The inside has been decorated to match

That's it from me today - hope you can join in with this fortnights challenge

Hugs, Sue

xx

I found Barry!!!

Hello again :-)

There is a little tale to today's card.  As some of you know we were burgled earlier in the year, and one of the things that was taken were laptops.  Now it didn't occur to me to check that all my digi images had been backed up at the time, there was so much going on and I just didn't think of it.  Then the insurance paid out, and still I didn't think... it was only when I started making my Christmas cards that I suddenly realised that I couldn't find some of my Christmas images that I got last year... irritating, but not the end of the world, as I could rebuy the ones I wanted right?   Including The super cute Barry the Bear from Stamp Fairy

Wrong!! As Stamp Fairy had closed their doors the week before... my timing was dreadful!  Lamenting the loss of Barry I started trawling through every memory stick and hard drive in the house I could find, in the hope that Barry would re-appear.  And there he was, backed up on HB's work hard-drive... no idea how he ended up there, but I was very pleased to see him again.

Anyhooo, here's Barry, getting ready for a skiing adventure :-)

  

I have to say, he doesn't look super confident!!

You can just see the ski charm I got from Live and Love Crafts tucked away in there

The ticket sentiment is from Stampin' Up!, and I've covered it in crackle paint, before popping layering it over a Memory Box snowflake

The tag is tucked away behind the image - I couldn't resist using Indigo Blu guilding flakes to create the Christmas tree (image and greeting were freebies from a Magazine)

The papers are from Live and Love Crafts, love the Scandinavan feel to these papers,  I've embossed the panel behind the sentiment, and got the distress inks out again :-)

Thanks for looking

Please may I enter these challenges
Cosmic Colour Challenge - colour inspiration
Milk Coffee Challenge - Lots of Embellishments

Enjoy the rest of your weekend

Sue xx

Still love this image....

Hello!  I'm still doing Christmas cards - I've no idea how many I've done, or how many I've left to do!  But I am having fun :-)

I used some MME papers from a 6x6 pad for this card - love the colours of this pad, and it seems eternal, as I've had it for ages and it's still got loads left in it! 

The image is from Ladybug Crafts Ink (sadly now closed) and she's a real cutie to colour.  I will admit to having a wobble when I stamped the postmark as that line on the bottom one isn't meant to be there... I was really cross with myself as I had already coloured and glittered the image, but then I thought that it kinda still worked - if I hadn't pointed it out would you have noticed?!

The inside is decorated using the same papers.

Anyway. hope you like it :-)

Please can I enter the following challenges
Creative Card Crew - Stripes 
Crafty Catz - Winter Theme 
Crafty Creations - Recipe (3 layers, 2 dp, 1 image)
Little Red Wagon - Layer it Up
Papertake Weekly - Sooo Girlie

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

More layers required...

Hello!

I couldn't resist making another card with lots of layers, as it is the challenge over at Top Tip Tuesday

There are layers on the inside too :-)

 

I embossed the background behind the sentiment, then got busy with my sanding block - love the kraft core cardstock

But back to the front...  there are two sentiments on here, the Joy sentiment is a freebie from a magazine, stamped onto paper that is stuck onto chipboard and the edges filed back, then attached with a sparkly brad 

 

 

 The second is a Stampin Up one which has been stamped onto Kraft, then covered with clear crackle paint

 

 

The image is a Lili of the Valley one from a couple of years ago, coloured with my copics and glittered up

Hope you like it :-)

Please may I enter these challenges

Cutie Pie Challenge - Festive Furry Friends

Love to Create - Make It for Christmas

Melonheadz Friends - as a Sentiment

Crafting When We Can - Use Markers

Stamping Sensations - Simply Christmas

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Layering Up at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!

Welcome to my post for this weeks Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - this time we would love to see your layers... I don't know about you but its got rather chilly here, so layers seems more than appropriate... anyhoo... three or more papers is just what we would like to see... :-)

Wow, this challenge has been made for me, being a more is more kinda girl :-)

There are four papers on my card, love these neutral colours for an unusual and striking Christmas card, which is layered onto a kraft card base, and brown cardstock matting.  A Memory Box die cut, some gorgeous Berrisfords ribbon in an antique gold, some gold pins and a charm from Live and Love Crafts (love these!!) finishes the card off

 

The Reindeer image and the sentiment is a freebie from a magazine, stamped in Brown Momento, and lightly coloured with my copics.  A dash of white pen gives the impression of hoof prints in the snow

Although the more-is-more style is very me, the image is a bit of a departure, but I love this card ;-)

Please may I enter these challenges

Crafty Cardmakers - A Touch of Charm

Eureka Stamps - Four Legged Friends

Love to Create - Anything Goes

Stamp and Create - Ribbons or Bows

Fashionable Stamping - Animals

Jellypark Challenge - Festive Creations

Kit and Clowder Challenge - Christmas
Creative Card Crew - Christmas Joy 
Papertake weekly - 2 or 4 legs

Thank you for stopping by

Sue xx

Just for a change... two posts in a week :-)

Hello!

This hasn't happened in quite a while... two posts in a week, and this one is a just for fun card :-)

I made this for a friends son... both he and his Dad appreciated the humour :-)

I think this is a Dustin Pike image... tee hee :-)

 

I just could not resist decorating the inside of the card too :-)

 Although I left it quite boyish... using a ticket style tag for the inside, I could not resist picking this set up along with the paper pad the other week :-)

Right, that's it from me, I need a little lie down now, two posts in a week has kinda taken it out of me...

Before I do, please can I enter these challenges

Get Creative Challenges - Anything Goes with optional stitching

Fairy Tale Stamping - something new (dies and papers)

The Sweetest Thing - Sketch

Cupcake Inspirations - Picture Inspiration

Hiding in my Craftroom - Fall colours

Thanks for stopping by...

Sue xxx

Chevron Crazy at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!!

Gosh, it's been a while... hmm... not quite sure what is happening this year!!

Anyhoooo... it's time for another challenge at Top Tip Tuesday - last fortnights Colour Combo seemed quite popular, and I AM going to make one of the fabby block cards - they are one of those things that looks amazing, but when you break it down into simple steps it's a lot easier than you think :-)

But... that is soooo last week :-)  This fortnights challenge sponsored by Sweet Stamps is 

Chevrons

Now, I don't have a chevron stamp - although as I'm typing this I've just had an idea, which I will try to do before the challenge is up :-) - however, like most people I have odds and ends of papers, and lurking in here was a chevron paper - teamed with some glitter, ribbon, a charm and a blingy button and an embossed panel it was done :-)  Speaking of paper (and storage!) checkout the ideas on the challenge site...

Anyway, without further ado, here is my card...

I really love this little lady from Kenny K, she really is a joy to colour :-)

This is one of the three (yep three... check me out) that I made at the Begonia Crafts Crop at the weekend... can't wait until the next one :-)

Please can I enter these challenges
Kenny K's Krafty Krew - Christmas
Allsorts Challenge - Christmas

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Something Fishy at Top Tip Tuesday...

Hello... how quickly has two weeks flown by?!?

It's time for another Top Tip Tuesday Challenge, and this weeks is 

Kids

Which is sponsored by 2 Cute Ink and I used the Angel Fish image

Now, I don't know why (maybe I've been making too many cards for adults recently...) but I found this one tough... maybe because when I'm making a kids card, I usually have a recipient in mind... who knows!

Anyway, I really hope you like it... in my defence it is quite pink... does that count :-)

Hope you like it nevertheless :-)

Hugs, Sue xx

Ladybug Crafts Ink Grand Finale

Hello

This is one post I never wanted to write, and I'm welling up as I type this ;-(

After much soul searching, Head Ladybug has decided the time is right to close the doors on Ladybug Towers :(  As of today there is a massive sale on over at the online store - get your bargains while you can, as once they have gone they've gone... click here to go directly to the store.

I'm delighted that so many of my fellow DT members have returned for our last hurrah... which is

Your Favourite Image

As ever, we'd love for you to use a LCI image, but it's not compulsory...

Anyway, before I go all teary eyed, here is my card, using Dancing Nikki...

I coloured Nikki with my copics, and added a touch of bling here and there...

And I just had to decorate the inside too...

I'd like to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to Kerry for having the courage to set up LCI in the first place, it was her images that got me into stamping and colouring in the first place, and for asking me to join the original DT, and for being a fabulous friend over the last few years;  to all the DT members past and present for making this a complete blast, I will miss working with you all

Hugs

Sue xxxx

It's all about the stationary at Top Tip Tuesday...

Hello!

It's time for another Top Tip Tuesday, and this time it is to use stationary... if I'm being 100% honest I really struggled with this one - I'm more of a flowers and bows kind of a crafter than a metal one.  Maybe I see too much stationary every day at work to get inspired by it when I'm trying to relax :-D

Anyway, after a bit of a think I dug out some paper fasteners/brads and started playing... as I needed a thank you card, and had unearthed a whole heap of scraps my card came together.  I guess I could have popped an image on here, but I quite like the simplicity of this one without!  The brad was a bit brassy for the papers, so I coloured it with a Copic marker, I think it looks OK, and is a good way of matching metal items to your project.  Although I would recommend more patience than I had first time round, and letting the ink dry, or you end up covered :-)

Anyway, hope you like my interpretation of this weeks theme...

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xxx

Anything Goes with Bugaboo at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!

Apologies for such a long absence... to cut a very long story short we were burgled back in May, and everything I need to post on here was stolen (laptop, cameras etc)... then I realised that when they had thrown my printer on the floor they broke that, and realised last week my Grand Caliber also had been broken... gutted over it all doesn't quite cover it.

Anyway, I've chucked out everything that was broken, redecorated my bedroom and replaced the contents of my underwear drawers - just couldn't cope with the thought that horrible people had been in my personal space, and rumaging through my undies!  Yuck :-(  I hope that they get everything they deserve for making my children cry, and making us all not feel safe in our home.

Now I've done battle with the insurance company I can replace the stuff that was taken, and get creative again, it totally sapped all my energy.  And I'm delighted that both LCI and Top Tip teams that I design for have been wonderfully supportive and sympathetic, both giving me a leave of absence to sort out the insurance, house, police, children and me (being mum, I dealt with it all then it all hit me like a brick)!  Thank you all, you are fabulous xxx

Anyhooo... So without further ado... this weeks Top Tip Tuesday is an Anything Goes challenge, sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps... and there is a fabby tutorial on shaker cards... check it out... just love shaker cards especially in the run up to Christmas :-).  I used one of my go-to images - Har Repotter the chosen one.

I've not quite decided who will get this one yet, so I'll add a sentiment later!  And oh my, taking two months off has affected my ability to tie bows!  What's going on there, this took ages, and it still doesn't look right to me!!  Anyway, the papers are MME from a Halloween range from a couple of years ago - love these as they are all textured and lovely :-)

Thanks for stopping by - I might be a bit stop/start over the next couple of weeks until I get back into my stride, so please bear with me!

Hugs... Sue xx

Special Ladies at LCI

Hello!

It's time for another challenge at Ladybug Crafts Ink - and this time it is the turn of the super-talented Julie to choose, and she has picked 

For a Special Lady

You can interpret this however you like - Mothers Day, a special birthday, or just a fabulous card for a friend or relative.

All the DT have used images from the Nikki range - this is probably where I should confess just how much I love this range of images, as they were what got me into colouring and cardmaking in a big way - and I have loved returning to use Original Nikki - available as a digi here or a stamp here, or

check out the entire Nikki range in either digi here or stamps here

I couldn't resist going all out on this card - I think I have done enough plain and simple cards of late, and I was just crying out to get everything on here!!  So there's ribbon, flowers, lace, die cuts, pearls, cheesecloth, stitching, charms, brads, glitter, gorgeous papers, and some frantage embossing power too (super impressed with myself at finally using this stuff!!)  I really love this card - and I think Nikki has a hint of 50's glam to her :-)  Either way, how stylish is she with her shades up on her head, and her cute pooch at her feet:-)

 

I've coloured her with my copics, sticking to pale lilac tones

Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by :)

Please can I enter these challenges
Papertake Weekly - For Mum or Girlie 
Sweet Stamps - Anything Goes
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - Charms
Fan-Tastic Tuesday - It's Hip to Be Square
Craft-Dee BowZ - Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow
Tuesday Throwdown - Tic, Tac, Toe (Die Cuts, Flowers, Ribbon)
Shabby Tea Room - Anything Goes
Sparkle and Sprinkle - Anything Goes with Glitter, Embossing Powder or Flock

Hugs, Sue xx

All things metallic at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!!

Can you believe two weeks have gone by already and it's time for a new challenge over at Top Tip Tuesday?  No, me neither!

This fortnights theme is 

Metal or Faux Metal

I went down the metal route, and made a funky card for a teenage boy (always find boys cards really tough!  Teenage boys especially so!!), and tucked this fabulous image from Ladybug Crafts Ink - he's called Skateboarder Josh and is from the Teenager range

Isn't he cool!  I've teamed him with MME papers, and a zip and metal button

I really loved how this image coloured up

Thanks for stopping by

Please may I enter these Challenges
Digi Choosday Challenge - Boys Stuff
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
One Stitch At A Time - Use a Digi
Pile It On - For a Guy

Hugs

Sue

Take 3, 5, or 7 at Top Tip

Hello!

I'm so sorry I've not been about much, just when I thought life was going better, more curve balls have been thrown.  I'm hoping the rest of the year is better than the first two months!

Anyway, how can I be down when I have been colouring this little guy up for this fortnights Top Tip Tuesday challenge, which is 3, 5 or 7 - interpret how you like!!

Don'tcha just lurve his ears!!  This little guy is Take off / Rabbit Traveler - Air plane and he is available from this fortnights sponsors Zlatoena.

 

I wondered about putting glitter on him... but decided not to, might change my mind yet!!

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xxx