A big welcome to all of my lovely followers and visitors to my little space in the crafting world of blogland! I love colouring, drool over every embellishment and love to 'look' at papers (never mind using them) - some are just TOO good to use lol. I hope you enjoy your little wander through my creative world and would love to feel that I may have inspired some of you in some small way. Happy Crafting to you all and I hope you will stop by again soon!

Monday 18 November 2013

The Hobby House 'Pearls' Inspiration

A very good Monday to you all - hope you're all keeping well and raring to go for the start of a new week!

Today I'm sharing with you my inspiration piece for the Hobby House.  I'm really loving the gorgeous array of die-cut toppers available in the store and these little love birds are no exception! How adorable are they?!


I cut the topper into an arch to fit underneath the Tim Holtz birdcage die, which I frantaged and adhered with 3D foam.  I pushed the cage forward and cut out an opening at the front so that we can all get to see the cute little guys inside!  The background paper is so beautiful to work with and compliments this little duo just perfectly!


My recipe for this little card is:
Tim Holtz Birdcage Die

I hope I've inspired you a little today and don't forget, you still have time to enter our Challenge this month which is showcasing pearls!  We'd love to see you over there!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Sunday 10 November 2013

Scribble & Scrap Challenge #5

Good Morning Crafty World!  

Today is the start of Challenge 5 over at  the Scribble & Scrap Challenge and, as always, it's
ANYTHING GOES!

The winner of the challenge will receive a fabulous £15 voucher to spend in the Scribble & Scrap Shop, however, should the winner have used a Scribble & Scrap image, the voucher will be raised to an even more fabulous £20.  To be in with a chance of winning this fab prize,  please check out the RULES to make sure you don't miss out!

My creation this week is, erm ..... not too sure what I'd call it to be honest!  It's kind of a picture inside a picture type box thingamajig!! LOL!  I have used one of the stunning images from Vintage Girls Topper Sheet 2, which is all ready to print in sepia (although you can change the colour/tone should you wish).


I cut out & scored four pieces of card and fitted them together to make a 4" x 4" frame, which I then painted & popped some Gesso on.  I laid the 'frame' on top of some 6" x 6" Maja Design paper then die-cut another piece of 6" x 6" paper to fix on top of the frame, which I inked & distressed.  The edges of the paper, therefore, overhang by approx half an inch on each outer side.  I frantaged the little wooden frame in the centre and framed the gorgeous little girl in the image.


     A little close up of this beautiful image - she's one of six digital images on a sheet, so I have plenty more to play with too :)

Other materials used are:
Mulberry Roses, Pearl Flourish, Pearl Brad, Pearl String from the Hobby House
Maja Design Paper, Gesso, Twine, Pins, Vintage Berries from Live & Love Crafts
Ribbon from stash

I would like to enter into the following:
Alphabet Challenge Blog - 'T' for Twine
By LORi Designs Challenges - #59 Ribbons & Bows
Craftitude Challenges - #52 Anything Goes/Use Twine or String
Crafts 4 Eternity - #149 Anything but a Card
Craftyhands Challenge - #2 Vintage
Make It Monday - #166 Linky Party
Sugar Creek Hollow - #73 Anything Vintage Goes


I hope you like my take on this little picture box and would love for you to pop over to see the fabulous inspiration my DTeamies have also come up with this time. We cannot wait to see what you all create for us over this next fortnight!

Happy Crafting to you all xx

Friday 8 November 2013

Yayyyy! It's ME ..... with wings!

Hey Everyone! Hope you're all keeping happy and warm in this miserable old weather :)

I have a very exciting post for you today! I'm not only publishing my 100th post (very impressed with myself LOL), but I am also showcasing this beautiful image, which has been based on MEEEEE!! Eeeek! 

The fabulous Kyra of Kith & Kin offered to draw a character based on us lucky DT girls and I chose to have a fairy ....... preferably with her hair up, as that is how mine sits the majority of the time hehe!  I'm so, so flattered ....... she's made me look GORGEOUS!! Thank you Kyra :)

Please welcome 'Tracey Fairy' into the digi stamp world ....
I chose to colour this little lovely in pink & green (rather than my most favourite colour purple) purely because I wanted to use my gorgeous Maja Design papers to compliment her with.
Copics in the following:
Skin:  E000, E00, E11    Hair:  E29, E15, E50, E51
Pink Tones:  R81, R83, R85, R89   Green Tones:  G99, G94, G21
 A little close up :)
For a change, I've actually made this trinket box for little old me and my ingredients are as follows:

Maja Designs Vintage Summer Paper Pad - LLC
Magnolia Vintage Berries - LLC
FabScraps Latch Set - LLC
Vintage Pearl Pins (Chocolate) - LLC
Shabby Seam Binding - LLC
Mulberry Roses - Hobby House
Pearl String - Hobby House
Pearl Flourish - Hobby House
Frantage - Hobby House
Little Toadstool Charm from Stash :)

I really hope you like my little make & would love for you to pop on over to Kith & Kin Store to see the rest of their beautiful products.  You can also join us HERE on facebook to see all the new releases, as and when they arrive ...... there will be new ones up on there real soon so keep your eyes peeled ;)

I would like to enter into the following:
4 Crafty Chicks - #167 Anything But a Card
Digi Galore Challenges - Wings
Fitztown Challenge - #12 Things with Wings
Make It Monday - #166 Linky Party
Moving Along With The Times - Pearly Swirly and Girly

Thanks so much for popping by today!  Wishing everyone a happy, crafty weekend!
Big hugs xx

Saturday 2 November 2013

The Hobby House Challenge #6 - Pearls

Good Morning Everyone! Hope you're all healthy, happy & raring to go for our November challenge at the Hobby House!

This month we'd like to see PEARLS on your wonderful creations!  How awesome is this challenge!  The DT have had a ball with this one as I think we're all a bit partial to pearls - hey, who wouldn't be? 

There is a slight change to the RULES in that you must now use at least one item from the Hobby House and this needs to be mentioned in your post!

As always, our winner will receive a HUGE

(postage paid by winner)

My card today features a beautiful image from a Wee Stamps Topper Set called 'Love Me Do'.  I cut the topper into an arch and edged with Pearl String.  The Hobby House stock the most beautiful card and I used a mixture of Spring Hearts and Spring Damask to mat my topper onto! This card is 250gsm and is so beautiful to work with.
The die cut branches are randomly cut from a Marianne Designs die, which I then added little pearl adhesive hearts, which are available in 6mm and 8mm sizes.  I made my little floral arch using the gorgeous Mulberry Roses, which come in a variety of colours and sizes.
 For the bottom of my card I adhered the beautiful lace and added some gorgeous Self Adhesive Pearl Ornate Flourishes, with a few of the 5mm self adhesive pearls popped onto the bottom corners ... and there you have it! My pearlicious card has been well & truly pearlised LOL.   

I really hope you can join us in this month's challenge and cannot wait to see what you create!

I'd like to enter into the following:

Card Crafter's Circle - #99 Cute Cards
Creatalicious Challenges - #56 Wedding Day
Creative Card Crew - #48 Teddy Bear Picnic
Stampavie and more - #197 Bear

Thanks so much for popping by today & Happy Crafting to you all!

Monday 28 October 2013

Creative Creations Challenges #22 - Inspired by a book

Good Morning to you all .... and a very WINDY morning it is here in the UK!! Didn't sleep a wink last night what with the torrential rain and lashing winds, plus the fact my darling little boy decided to patter into my bed at 1.30am! Seriously, how much space does a little one need? LOL!  As soon as the light of day dawned, it also dawned on me that I am now minus two fence panels .... don't you just love Mother Nature at times!!

Well, it's challenge time again over at Creative Creations Challenges and the theme for the next fortnight is Inspired by a Book

Our sponsor for this challenge is the fabby Sassy Studio Designs who are offering the lucky winner 4 digis of their choice!

I bet you'll never guess which book inspired me for my little creation ;)


This is the fabulous Cruella Honey and yep, you've more than likely guessed, the book for my inspiration is the one and only 101 Dalmatians.  What a classic! When I was about 10, there was a TV program called Take Hart and I sent in a picture I had drawn of the evil Cruella.  Now, I was hoping and praying my 'masterpiece' was going to be aired on national TV, but, alas, my drawing wasn't anywhere to be seen in the 'gallery' ..... I've always put it down to the fact that I'd forgotten to put my name & address on the back!!! That MUST have been the reason it wasn't shown .... LOL

Well, this particular Cruella is definitely a honey, unlike the original, and I thoroughly enjoyed colouring her with my Copics and playing 'dot-to-dot' on her fabulous coat! I then transferred the image onto my candle and added this gorgeous spotty, dotty ribbon to give an extra bit of glamour!

So, what book would inspire you to create?  We really hope you'll join us this time and we look forward to seeing your fabulous entries!

I would like to enter into the following:

Bloggers Challenge - Black, White and a splash of colour
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - #67 - Anything BUT a card
Kitty Bee Designs - #11 - Black, White and one other colour
Make It Monday - #164 Linky Party
Top Tip Tuesday - #112 - Black, White with a splash of colour

Thanks for popping along today! Big Hugs and Stay Safe!

Sunday 27 October 2013

Scribble & Scrap Challenge #4

Good Morning lovely peeps! It's time for a fresh challenge at Scribble and Scrap and, as always, it's
ANYTHING GOES! 

We had an amazing turn out of beautiful creations for our last challenge and we're so looking forward to seeing your fabulous makes for this one! The winner will receive a £15 voucher to spend in the Scribble and Scrap Shop, however, if the winner has used an image from Scribble and Scrap, the voucher will be raised to £20.  If you haven't popped into the shop yet then you really need to ..... Lexie has some of the most beautiful, digital vintage images alongside some gorgeous card kits and sentiments!

For my little creation this time, I have again used an image from Vintage Photo Sheet 16.  These topper sheets are amazing, truly! You get six beautiful images on one sheet and all for just £1.


I printed this beautiful, seasonal image onto 160gsm Elegance Satin paper from Joanna Sheen.  I've always used this weight/paper for transferring onto candles as it has given me perfect results everytime (hope I haven't jinxed it now lol).  I then used the good old greaseproof paper and heat gun to transfer and voila!

For my snowflake edging I frantaged these cute little padded snowflakes from Wild Orchid Crafts and my beautiful pearl edging is from the fabulous Hobby House.


So, that's two of my six images from this one topper sheet used - the first one being used on this little creation HERE.  Of course, these can be used again and again what with being digital and all so there's no worries about saving your favourite image to just 'look at' ..... which I've done many a time with favourite papers LOL.

Well, I really hope you'll join us this time!  You have until 6pm on Friday 8th November to get your entries in and we look forward to seeing yours there!

I'd like to enter into the following:
Crafting Musketeers - #6 Christmas in October
Polkadoodles and Studio 12 - #43 Christmas - Anything but a card
Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenges - October - AG with glitter, embossing powder and/or flocking

Thanks so much for popping by today and Happy Crafting to you all xx

Thursday 24 October 2013

Rory Fairy

Happy Thursday Everyone! 

I'm back today sharing this most adorable little fairy by Kith and Kin.  This little cutie is called 'Rory Fairy' and has been created by the very talented Kyra, who has based the drawing on her own daughter, Rory.

I enjoyed every minute of colouring her up and here she is ....

I coloured this little sweetie with Copics in the following:
Skin:  E000, E00, E11     Hair:  C0, C1, C3, C5, C7
Greens:  G21, G94, G99    Pinks:  R81, R83, R85, R89
then added a sprinkling of glitter to her wings and flower stem.

The sentiment can also be found at Kith and Kin.  I die cut a mini doily to place behind the sentiment and glittered over the word Fairy.  The gorgeous backing papers are from Lili of the Valley.  

  
Rory has been matted onto a doily, which I inked up beforehand, and is surrounded by these beautiful roses, adhesive pearl flourish, flat backed pearls and self-adhesive pearls - all of which can be found at the Hobby House.

Thanks so much for fluttering by today and I do hope you like my little inspirational piece showcasing this gorgeous girly!

Big hugs xx

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Hobby House Inspiration

Morning Everyone! It's my time to share a little inspiration over at the Hobby House today and I chose to decorate a Dolcetto 'wafer rolls' tin.  Of course, there are no wafer rolls to be seen anymore as they were far to delicious to keep, but the tin has been saved to be used as a little extra storage.  We crafty peeps can't have enough storage now can we?!


Our challenge at the Hobby House this month is 'Roses', so I thought I'd add one or two ... plus a few on my tin to keep in with the theme ;)


The papers are from my stash, but you can find the gorgeous mulberry rosespearl string and adorable Wee Stamps Topper, alongside other delicious goodies, at The Hobby House.

I hope I've inspired you a little today and don't forget you still have time to enter into this month's Challenge.

  I'm gonna tootle off now and see what else I can find to decorate!
Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks so much for stopping by today!
Big hugs xx

Sunday 13 October 2013

Scribble & Scrap Challenge #3

Morning Everyone! Hope this finds you all well and happy!

It's time for our third challenge at Scribble & Scrap and, as always, it's an ANYTHING GOES challenge so you can let your creative juices flow to your heart's desire!  Our Random.Org winner will receive a £15 voucher to spend in the Scribble & Scrap Shop, however, if the chosen winner has used an image from Scribble & Scrap, the prize will be raised to a £20 voucher! How cool is that?  

For my little creation this time, I chose to use this beautiful image from one of the fabulous topper sheets available in the shop.  In total, there are a massive 32 sheets available to buy, which each hold 6 beautiful vintage images and my little girl is from the Vintage Photo Sheet 16.


I bought this fabulous trinket box from The Range and couldn't wait to dress it up :)


The beautiful papers are from a Pion Design range from Live & Love Crafts as is the gorgeous Rhinestone Lace, bark heart and Frant-age.  The roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the little wooden butterfly at the front is from The Range.  The handle on the front is a drawer pull, which I have frant-aged, and you can find these, along with my cameo (also frant-aged), adhesive pearls, pearl string (separated to make individual flower pearls) and flat backed pearl at The Hobby House.


Well, I really hope you like my little creation today and would love for you to pop on over to the Scribble & Scrap Challenge to take a look at what my fabulous DTeamies have created for you all this time ..... and, whilst you're there, don't forget to enter your own creations for us to have a drool over! :)

I would like to enter into the following:

A Little Bit Crafty - A Little Bit Shabby
Alphabet Challenge Blog - 'R' for Roses
Creative Corner Challenges - Anything but a card
Natalie & Amy's Challenge - #13 Shabby Chic
Timeless Tuesday - #241 Pearls & Lace
Whimsy Stamps Challenge - #64 Shabby Chic/Vintage

Thanks so much for popping by today!
Big hugs,

Saturday 5 October 2013

The Hobby House Challenge 5 - Roses

Happy Saturday Everyone!! 

It's the start of a new challenge at the Hobby House and this month we'd like to see 
ROSES

You have until 30 October at 5pm to enter and the winner will receive a fabulous

(postage paid by winner)

Well, like lots of you lovely crafters out there, I do have a little HUGE thing for embellishments - flowers being most definitely one of my favourite embellies, so this challenge is the perfect one for me ..... and here's my little rose-filled creation


I used another one of Elisabeth Bell's wonderful toppers called Snow Fun - I absolutely adore the image and the non-traditional colours are so right up my street! 


The Hobby House have an array of these beautiful mulberry roses ranging from 15mm to 25mm in size and the colour choices are out of this world gorgeous!!

Hobby House items used:

Other items used:
8" x 8" Promises Paper Pad - Lili of the Valley
Xmas Bella Papers - Wild Rose Studio
Memory Box Winterberry Sprig die
Memory Box Peaceful Snowflake frame die
Marianne Designs Snowflakes die

I do hope you'll join us in our fabulous challenge this month and I really can't wait to see what you all create for your rose theme this time!

I would like to enter into the following:
Cards Galore Challenge - Oct Challenge - Flowers
Christmas Cards All Year Round - Oct Challenge - Getting Ready For Christmas 
Inky Chicks #14 - Use two different die cuts
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #147 - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #111 - Flowers
Twisted Tuesday Challenge - Lots of Layers/Use Metal

Thanks so much for popping by today! Happy Weekend to All

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Ella Ballerina and a new DT Post

Good Evening Everyone! Hope you're all having a great start to the week!  I have some very exciting news to share with you all that I've been keeping to myself for a little while now and can finally spill the beans!  Woohoo!

A few weeks back the lovely Kyra from Kith & Kin Digital Stamp Co invited me to join her DT on an exciting, new venture! Of course, one look at her images had me hooked and I couldn't not accept could I :)   

Kyra and her husband, Scott, are the founders of this fabulous up-and-coming digital company and many of their images are based on their family and pets.  Although in it's early stages, there are already the most beautiful images available to buy along with background papers and sentiments, plus, lots of fantastic new images are already in the process of winging their way into the Kith & Kin Store.

For one of my first images, I chose to colour up the adorable Ella Ballerina

Isn't she super cute?

I coloured Ella with my trusty Copics in the following:
Skin:  E000, E00, E11, R11    Purple Tones:  V000, V04, V06, V09
Blue Tones:  B91, B93, B95, B97, B99    Pink Tones:  R81, R83, R85, R89

Card Ingredients:
Lili of The Valley Petal Fresh Paper Pad
The Hobby House Mulberry Roses, Pearl String, Diamante Round Spacer, Ribbon
WOC - Spiral Stamens, Mulberry Flowers, Large Pearl Brad
Pearls - Stash
Spellbinders Opulent Oval Die

You can also find Kith & Kin HERE on Facebook and we'd love for you to come and join in and to be the first to see the new releases!

I would like to enter Ella Ballerina into the following:
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge - #49 Flowers
Digi Design Challenge - Show off those colouring skills
Kitty Bee Designs Aloha Friday Challenge - #9 Flowers
Make It Monday #160 Linky Party
SweetPea Stampers - Purple Power

I will close with a MASSIVE THANK YOU to Kyra and Scott for this amazing opportunity and I really hope to do them proud :)

Thanks so much for popping by today! Big hugs,

Monday 30 September 2013

Creative Creations Challenges #20 - Sketch

Hey Everyone .... I'm back again! LOL! 

It's challenge time again at Creative Creations Challenges and our theme for the next fortnight is to follow the sketch below:
Our sponsor this time is non other than the fabulous Kenny K who are offering a fantastic prize of 5 digis to our winner!

I've probably only ever followed about two sketches before and, honestly, I really should do it more as it's a whole load of fun and completely takes the headache out of wondering what to put where when that naughty crafter's block rears it's horrible little head!

I chose to use the very sultry Miss Fortune 

I coloured this gorgeous girly with Copics and added a bit of glitter to her hair for an extra bit of dazzle ;)  The papers are pretty old (Dovecraft ... I think) but I love the fab hot pink & black together!  I popped holes down each side of my little handmade fishtail flag, threaded some beads I had hanging around to kind of replicate her corset and popped bright, hot pink brads through every other hole.  


I hope you'll be able to join us this time and we look forward to seeing your wonderful take on our sketch.

Thanks for popping by today!
Happy Crafting and Big Hugs,

The Hobby House - Elisabeth Bell Topper Inspiration

Good Morning Everyone! Hope you're all well and that you've had a fabulous weekend!  I had an extremely quiet one, which is most unusual, so I made the most of it by catching up on some much needed 'me time'.

Today is my day to showcase my Inspirational Piece on The Hobby House Blog and, as I am totally in love with Elisabeth Bell's images, I thought I'd share with you all a card made using one of her fabulous pre-coloured toppers called Gingerbread Wishes.


Isn't this the most adorable image you ever did see?  I die-cut the topper into a circle to replicate the little baubles on the beautiful Maja Design Christmas papers and added the top 'bow' part using my Memory Box Precious Hearts die.


Onto my bow I added a brad, then frantaged a large blossom spacer and popped on top!

Card Ingredients:


I hope you like my little piece of inspiration today and a huge Thanks for taking the time to pop by :)

Big hugs,

Sunday 29 September 2013

Scribble & Scrap - Challenge #2

Morning Everyone! 

It's time for Challenge 2 at Scribble & Scrap and, as always, the theme is 
ANYTHING GOES!  

You can create absolutely anything as long as it's hand crafted (no digital layouts permitted) and our Winner gets a fabulous £15 to spend in the Scribble & Scrap Store.  Please take a minute to read our Challenge Rules and then get those entries rolling in ..... we can't wait to see what you create!

For my card this time, I chose to use the gorgeous Vintage Steampunk Bird Cage


I just love how delicate this image is and I added just touches of colour to it to blend in with my fabby papers.  Okay, I know there isn't a bird in sight on my card, but there are plenty of pretty butterflies .... and they too have wings :)  I cut a few little random butterflies from a second sheet to make the little 3D effect.


I put a little chain of jump rings together and frantaged - a little tricky and sticky, but it worked.  My little charm bird cage at the bottom of the flower array, however, didn't work ..... you'll just have to trust me that it is, indeed, what I have just described and not just a blob of frantage LOL.  

My little card recipe:
Flowers, Pearl Medallions, Filigree Corner - Wild Orchid Crafts
Frantage - Live & Love Crafts

I really hope you can join us in our Challenge this time and look forward to seeing your Anything Goes creations!

I would like to enter into the following:
A.R.T Card Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers #100 - Winged Things
Just Inspirational Challenges - Metal Embellishments
Sister Act Card Challenge #26 - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Things with Wings

Happy Crafting & Big Hugs

Sunday 15 September 2013

A Brand New Challenge is Born at Scribble & Scrap

Hey Everyone! I have some extremely EXCITING NEWS to share with you all on this beautiful, sunny, Sunday morning!  I'm a very proud designer for Scribble & Scrap - a brand new, shiny challenge debuting today!! Woohoo!!

I was invited by the very gorgeous and extremely funny, Lexie, to join her in her brand new venture and, of course, I jumped at the chance! I am joined by an amazing DT who are all so very talented and an absolute joy to work with - but I'm not going to spill the beans .... you'll have to head on over to the challenge to find out who they are!! ;)

We'd love for you to take a look at Lexie's new online SHOP where you will find the most beautiful vintage digital images as well as some fabulous digital toppers and card kits.  You will also find Lexie's very first drawing of the adorable 'Scribble'.

48 hour sale in the Scribble & Scrap shop!
10% off all sales from 9am today to 9 am Tuesday.  To receive your discount please use this discount code at checkout: VTDSD6PHCYPB

The Challenge is a bi-weekly one and will always be 
ANYTHING GOES!! 
The challenge is open to everyone, however, all entries must be hand crafted - no digital layouts permitted! All of the rules are on the Challenge Blog and we would ask that you have a little browse through them :)
The winner will receive a £15 voucher to be spent in the Scribble & Scrap Shop!

For my first creation with these fabulous images, I chose to use this gorgeous Vintage Steampunk Bath Chair


I adore vintage/shabby chic and absolutely love distressing, inking and frantaging (if that's even a word) - so these images are just so perfect to work with.  

My card ingredients are as follows:

Bath Chair Image - Scribble & Scrap Shop
Maja Design Papers, Frantage, Cheesecloth - Live & Love Crafts
Roses, Pearl Flourish and Pearl String - The Hobby House
Pearl Brad, Spiral Stamens (which I used Frantage on) and Filigree Corners - Wild Orchid Crafts
I also used a doily die and Tim Holtz gears and added the all important Frantage to all :)

Well, I hope you like my card today and would love for you all to join me in Congratulating Lexie on her brand new challenge and shop and wish her the very best in her amazing, new adventure - and, of course, to head on over to the CHALLENGE to find out who's joining me on this fabulous journey and to enter your ANTHING GOES creations whilst you're there!

I would like to enter into the following:

Big Hugs and Happy Crafting!