The Darling Buds Of May

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Hi everyone,

I hope you're all keeping well?
 I've had a little break from blogging, not an intentional one, but had no challenges to post for a while and ended up doing a few other bits and bobs instead.
I went to see Eddie Izzard on Saturday night and really enjoyed it - he is one of the best comedians I've seen, and I've been to see quite a few lately!  I noticed he had a bit of a fall coming off the stage at the end of the show so I hope he was OK - good thing it happened at the end and not at the start!

We have a new challenge starting at the Creative Card Crew today and this fortnight we are being sponsored by


They're offering 4 of their gorgeous digi's to one lucky winner!

Our challenge for the next fortnight is...

Dies/Punches

So a fairly easy one!

Here's what I did;


The image was supplied by our sponsor, Delicious Doodles and she's called Rosalee (reminds me of the Thin Lizzy song!) and I coloured her with the following copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair; E47,44,43,42. Roses; RV34,32,R00. YR24,23,14. E09,08,07. YG97,95,93. Background; W7,5,3,1,00.


The papers are by Prima from the Romance Novel pad.  My dies are Spellbinders Labels 10 and petite ovals lg and my punches are Stampin' Up! scallop edge punch, EK Success daisy punch to make the roses (6 punched daisies for each rose) and a Martha Stewart rose leaf punch.  I used Fired brick, brushed corduroy and black soot distress inks on the roses and other edges.  The lace and the pearls are from my stash.


The inside is fairly plain and I haven't added any sentiments yet, I might even just leave it blank!


 So go take a look at the rest of the DT inspiration at the Creative Card Crew, they are such a great bunch of talented ladies!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

By The Cute & Girly; Flowers
Creative Belli Blog; Flowers
Fussy And Fancy Challenges; Pearls & Lace
Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog; Girls girls girls
Oh La La Creations Challenges; Inspired by nature
The Squirrel & The Fox; Here come the girls
Eclectic Ellapu (Purple team); Self made flowers

Here's a wee video of the Thin Lizzy song, Rosalie



Thanks for looking!
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Is It A Bird? Is It A Plane?...

Sunday 19 May 2013

Hi everyone

I hope you're all keeping well?
My arm and shoulder are a lot better than they were a few days ago and I've been to the doctor about it and am getting it seen to.  Hopefully it won't be too long til I get an appointment with the specialist!

After such a lovely week weather-wise, yesterday was such a let-down!  But I made the good of the rain and had a pyjama day!  Bliss!

We have a new challenge at Eclectic Ellapu this week from the Pink Team!  It's another one for absolutely everyone - and we mean everyone, cos every craft is accepted!  The challenge is...

Anything Goes!

See, for everyone!

Here's what I did:


I made this to send off with the baby card I showed you last week, this is for Charlotte's big brother Joseph and I knew I wanted to use this image, I've had it for years and I don't think I've ever used it!  Its called Super Baby by Alota Stamps.  I coloured him with the following copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20.  Clothes; B39,37,34,YG95,93,91,R39,29,24. Hair; E49,47,44,43.
I fussy-cut him out and attached him to the card on a thin strip of acetate, so he sits out as if he's flying!


The papers are Blast Off by Bo Bunny.  I used a Spellbinder Star Circles die for the comet (I suppose you could call it a comet!) and also cut a star out of that paper to go behind the boy.  The ribbon is from my stash and the sentiment was computer generated and stuck on with foam pads.


The inside matches the front.


And there you have it!  Go take a look at the fantastic inspiration from the rest of the DT, including all our new Pinkies, at Eclectic Ellapu.  I do hope you'll join us!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge Blog; True Blue
Charisma Cardz Challenge: No Digi's allowed
Craft Your Passion Challenge; Child's Play
QKR Stampede; Children's card
Ruby's Rainbow; Squares (my card is square)

Thanks for looking!
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First Communion

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Hi everyone!

I'm starting todays post off with a moan and a grumble, but I'll keep it short and move on!  I was supposed to write this post up last night but my arm and shoulder have been so painful I wasn't able to :(  Thankfully it's not as intensly painful today so I managed to get to work even though I hardly had a wink of sleep last night, and I'm getting my post done tonight should I have to type one handed and keep my eyelids open with match-sticks!

So onto happier things and a new challenge at the Creative Card Crew with our prize this fortnight being sponsored by the fabulous Marianne Designs!





So the challenge this time is...

White On White!

We are allowing colour on images but nowhere else!

That's a decent challenge I think, difficult to do, but it can create some fantastic results!
I'm not so sure about my own card though, here it is:

 
I made a card for a First Communion - or First Community as my little nephew calls it! lol!
The gorgeous image is by Mo's Digital Pencil and I coloured her with the following copics: Skin: E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair: E47,44,43,42. Bow: RV11,10. Shading: BV31,V0000,C7,3,blender. Grass: E33,29,YG97,95,67,17.  And highlighted with white acrylic paint.


I used up some scraps of a sort of fabric paper with glittery stuff through it that I've had in my stash for ages and have no idea where I got it!  the upper part is plain white card which I ran through an embossing folder (again, I have no name on it but I know it's not a CB one).  The swirls are a Marianne Designs die and the ribbon, netting, gems and butterfly are from my stash.
The sentiment and the punch are both Stampin' Up!.


The inside, as ever, is done to match the front.


So take a run over to the Creative Card Crew blog and check out just how talented the rest of the DT are!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Bearly Mine Challenges: Lucky Dip - Diecuts, ribbon, gems
Crafts 4 Eternity; Tic tac toe - Ribbon, use up scraps, bling
Deep Ocean Challenge Blog; Lets sparkle
Delightful Challenges; Stash it
A Gem Of A Challenge; Things with wings
My Time To Craft Challenge; Show us the inside
Perfect Sentiments Challenge: Dry Embossing
Simon Says Stamp Challenge; Things with wings
Mo's Challenge Blog; Clean and simple

Thanks for looking!

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DT Call At PunkYouGirl

Friday 10 May 2013

 Hi everyone!

I'm just putting up a wee reminder about the DT call which ends in a few days, for a brand new challenge blog.


With darker themes like gothic and steampunk it should be a fun change!

Thanks for looking!
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Bibs And Heffalumps

Hi Everyone!

I hope you're well.
Hasn't the weather been atrocious!  There was even reports of snow a bit further north from here yesterday!  We've had plenty of rain and hail and wind with the odd break of sunshine to lull you into a false sense of security that the worst is over! lol!

So why not take the good of the horrible weather and stay in and craft!  Sounds like a plan to me!  And to help you in this matter, how about a new challenge?  A new fortnight at the Alphabet Challenge Blog and the turn of Team A to host the challenge!

Our theme for you for the next fortnight is...

G for Glitter And Gems!

So lot's of sparkly bling for us!  Yay!

At this point I'm gonna tell Laura to look away as I have made this card for her and even though it should have been sent off ages ago, it's still sitting on my desk!  But I'm hoping to get it posted at some point today.

So here is my card:


Just making sure Laura isn't looking?...


OK, here it is then!


I made a bib card!  The image is a real oldie by Stamposaurus called Elle No. 3.  I coloured her (?) with the following pro & flexmarkers: Salmon pink, Pastel pink, Pale pink, Apple, Emerald, Olive green, Bright green, Shale, Lilac, Spring lilac & Pink lavender.  I used Milled Lavender and Dusty Concord distress inks around the image and then a white gel pen for a bit of interest.  I added some glamour dust to the elephants ears and the flower.


I saw this tutorial ages ago and have wanted to make one ever since so I more or less followed it.  I added a panel onto the back so as it stands up.  Queue weird photo of the back of the card!


The papers I have used are Echo Park Country Drive.   I used Spellbinders Grand Decorative Circles One and Go Kreate XXL plain circle for the base of the card and Spellbinders circle and big scallop circle for the image and the little collar at the "neck" of the bib.  The sentiments are computer generated and I added loads of swarovski crystals.  The ribbon is from my stash.


 So go take a look at what the rest of the DT have done at the Alphabet Challenge Blog and have a go yourself - remember, we now pick a top 3, so it could be you!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Anything Goes Challenge Blog; Shaped, but not square
Crafts 4 Eternity; Tic Tac Toe - 3rd column: pink, 3 sentiment strips, bling
Crafty Boots Challenges; Use a stamped character
Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge Blog; Use a sentiment
Dream Valley Challenges; No squares allowed
Forever Friends Fortnightly Challenge; Pastel colours
Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge Blog; Oh baby
Southern Girls Challenge Blog; You can say that again!
ABC Challenges; M for make is sparkle

Thanks for looking!
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It's Not Even Easter!

Sunday 5 May 2013

Hi everyone!

I hope you're all well.  Not a lot to report at the moment.  Was another busy week at work and I was totally knackered on Friday night.  I'm off tomorrow though and I'm gonna go and meet my best friend for some lunch - I haven't seen her in ages and I'm looking forward to seeing how far along her bump is getting! ;)
Also I'm so excited to receive the fantastic blog candy that I won over at Fab N Funky!!

But, on to another challenge for the Pink Team at Eclectic Ellapu, and we have a theme for you this week that everyone loves!  It is...

Anything Goes!

I made my card for a friends birthday a month-or-so ago, hence the Eastery image!

Here it is


The image is, of course, from Saturated Canary and she's called Murray.  I coloured her with the following Copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair; E44,43,42,41. Clothes; R24,22,21,RV32,29,25,YR7,04,02,Y15,13,11,YG07,05,03. Grass;G09,07,05,00,E44.


It reminds me of our Easter Sunday when we have a traditional egg throw.  We pick somewhere as our goal and the winner is the best of 3 at who can get the closest to the goal when throwing our individually boiled and decorated eggs.  This year, our "goal" was a lump of snow! Lol!  I won the "Egg Cup" last year but didn't do very well this year with my gammy shoulder.  I will have to get into training for next year!

Anyway, back to the card!  The papers are Hello Luscious by Basic Grey.  Dies I used are Spellbinders ovals and scalloped ovals, Crafty Sentiments Designs- Fancy Hearts border and Magnolia swirl doohickey.  The sentiment is by Waltzing Mouse and I added some swarovski's to it, although they're hard to make out.  I also added some flowers, ribbon and a charm (also with a swarovski stuck to it) from my stash.


The inside is done to match the front with a Wild Rose Studio sentiment.


So I hope you like my Anything Goes card - go take a look at what the rest of the DT did at Eclectic Ellapu!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

All Sorts Challenge Blog; Add Some Sparkle
Crafts & A Me Challenges; Floral Frenzy
Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge Blog; The letter B - Bow, bling, border (CSD die)
Fab N Funky Challenges; Lot's of pink
One Stop Craft Challenge; Flower power
The Perfect Sentiment; Make it feminine
Stampin' For The Weekend; Dies and/or punches
ABC Challenges; M for make it sparkle
Saturated Canary Challenge; All things bright and beautiful
Basic Grey Challenges; Mix n match

Thanks for looking!
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