Lili Of The Valley Freebie.

Hi All,

First I must welcome my new followers and thank them for their truly lovely comments.

Well it's Rachel and Andrew's wedding at 3pm tomorrow. The weather forecast is looking fine for them. The grounds of the country house where the wedding is are lovely, with a very big lake in the centre and surrounded by woodland and grass. Ideal for the piccies.

This little card, I made with a magazine free gift of LOTV images. She is so cute, so deserved a pretty setting.

The backing paper is just white paper, put into the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder that I had inked with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink, before running it through the Bug. Then I used a Martha Stewart punch on one edge.

The flower paper was from my stash and matted onto a piece of white card, edged with a Copic Pen BV13. I used the same colour on her shoes, the large flower and also to colour the white ribbon. The next layer was more stash paper cut with the Nestie Fleur De Lis Die.

I was unable to use my Distress Inks to colour the image, as the paper was not heavy enough. I had to use Copic and Promarker Pens. I actually quite enjoyed using them for a change. Which was just as well, as there are a lot of them to colour!Lol!

I used a white Pentouch Pen to put the white dots on her dress. I then added some Star Dust Stickles on them, also on her necklace and her ribbon.
The Fern leaves are cut with the Little Claire die and the flowers are from my bits box. We all have one, don't we?

I hope you like this little card as much as I enjoyed making it.
I wish you all a good, enjoyable weekend. I know I will enjoy mine, once all the hair do's are done!
Please stop by again and thank you so much for your lovely words.
Hugs,Carol S.xx

A Touch of Teal

Hi All,

Hope you all had a good weekend. It rained all day on Sunday, here in West Sussex. A very dark miserable day. Never mind, Spring is on the way.

This is a card I have made, to give to my friends' Daughter, who is getting married next Saturday. I made all the Stationery for the wedding, which I posted a few back.

I am doing the Brides hair for the wedding and also her Grandmothers' hair. I then have to help her Mum, to lace her into her dress!! Fortunately she is going from her Grandmothers' house, which is the same road as me. Oh, and I am a trained hairdresser. I had a Salon in Streatham, London, many moons ago!

I then have to fly home, change my clothes, grab my husband and get to the Country House where the wedding is taking place! Hopefully before the bride!Lol! No pressure.

The centre piece of this card is another of the new Sizzix Framelits Dies. I printed the names and sentiment on the computer, onto white paper and used the largest of the internal Dies to cut it out. I left it in the Die and used Broken China Distress Ink to soften the edges with Dry Foam. The main frame Die was cut out using white card. The background is a Crafts-Too embossing folder, which I coated the negative side with Broken China Distress Ink. I had cut a piece of white card to the size I wanted and put it into the inked folder and ran it through the my Joy machine. As the piece of card was bigger than the folder, I repeated the process on the rest of the card. Making sure that I placed the top plate away from the edge of the folder so I didn't get a line.

The butterfly is an old stamp which I really love. It doesn't have an outline, so you can cut it to any shape. I made a mix of white embossing powder and Crystal Ultra Fine Glitter. I stamped the butterfly onto a piece of Vellum with Versamark clear ink and then used my mix. You can't see the sparkle in the picture due to the bad light today. It looks like holographic powder.
The body is Stickles of course!

I just hope the weather next Saturday is better than this weekend.
I hope you like my card. It is very different for me to do what I call paper crafting, rather than painting my toppers. Somehow it feels like cheating. Or is that just me!Lol!!
I enjoy looking where my blog visitors come from. I would love to have a comment from another country.

Thanks for stopping by,

Hugs,

Carol S.xx

Spot the number!!

Hi everybody,

Hope you all had a good weekend. I am still getting over a full day working in the garden. My muscles ache where I didn't know I had them. Lol! We filled 11 big black sacks with leaves and dead bits of plants I had to cut back.

I bought 2 new Sizzix Framelits Dies from The Craft Barn in Lingfield. This is the first one I used, on this card for my friends' parents.

Yes it does say 73 years of marriage. Does anyone know what, if anything they have for this one? Sixty is Diamond but I don't know any higher! I have never known anyone that has been married for so long!

This frame does have a top and bottom, so I just turned the centres around. As well as the fancy frame, you also get 2 small oval dies that fit inside the centre of the frame. The oval at the back of the 2 in the picture is the one that is cut from the frame itsel and the one on top, is the largest of the 2 separate dies.
The backing paper was from my stash.

The text I did on the computer and then used the largest die to cut it out. I used Dry Foam to apply Victorian Velvet Distress Ink to the oval, whilst it was still in the die. I then ran the Dry Foam around the edge of the other oval with the VV Ink.

I used a silver Sakura Stardust pen around the edge of the frame.

The fern leaves I cut using a Little Claire Die. The flower is made up with an assortment of die cut and punched flowers glued together and a Cosmic Shimmer glue dot in the middle. I coloured the dot when dry, with Cosmic Shimmer Mica Powder.

The Butterflies are punched from scraps of card, with a Martha Stewart punch. Their bodies are Pink Stickles. An Organza ribbon bow tops the whole thing!

Hope you like this one. A bit different for me as no painted image for a change.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your lovely comments.
Hugs,
Carol S.xx

A Very Special '0' Birthday

Hi everyone,

What an amazing day today. It was so warm this afternoon, I even got out in the garden for an hour and planted 24 pots of flowers!

On Sunday it is our neighbour's 90th Birthday. He is such a lovely guy, who is the main carer for his wife. He does all the cleaning, washing and cooking. On top of this, he also does the garden, in which he grows all their vegetables!

I made a card for his wife to give him and this is the one I chose to do for us. He was a 'Forester', which was quite a dangerous job in his day. He also looked after the landowners pheasants. I chose to do this tree card for him, as like him, it is tall and straight.

The stamp is one of the latest from Sheena Douglas, in her 'Little bit Sketchy' range. I firstly sprayed a piece of white card with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, colours Yellow Daisy and Pink Ink. Then added Cosmic Shimmer Mist, colour Golden Fish. I stamped the tree with Versamark Watermark ink and used Disco Black embossing powder, just to add a little sparkle.
On the sentiment on the front, I added 'You've Broken the record', as he is the first member of his family to reach 90 years. Sadly all his brothers and sisters are no longer here to see it.

I hope he will like his card. For a present we are getting him Garden Vouchers, as they are always useful for a gardener.
Hope you all have a good weekend. Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Carol S.xx

A Couple Of Quickies!!

Hi All,

Thank goodness it is not so cold now and the snow has finally gone. It's great that you don't have to put the lights on until around 5pm. Spring is around the corner! Well we can hope!Lol!!

Here are a couple of quick and simple cards.

They are both made using just one colour of Distress Ink. For this one, I used Broken china and using a piece of Dry Foam, I covered a piece of white card with the ink.

I chose an assortment of stamps from my files and then I stamped them randomly across the bottom of the card. Still using the Broken China ink.

For this one I used Tattered Rose Distress Ink. I coloured a piece of card the same way, leaving the card slightly lighter in the middle.
I then stamped the images, again using Tattered Rose. The Butterflies are an old set of Graphicus stamps, which I stamped and cut out.

The sentiments are Kan Ban stamps and I used Nestabilities Labels Eighteen die to cut them out. I used a piece of Dry Foam to ink around the edge whilst the card was still in the die.

If you haven't yet tried Rangers' Distress Inks, then these are easy cards to start with. You only need one colour and any stamps you have, to make a complete card.
I hope you like them and give it a try.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your lovely comments, that are much loved.
Hugs,
Carol S.xx

Copics For A Change

Hi everyone,

It is great not to be coughing anymore!! I had to have antibiotics in the end to get rid of my cough. I now have a new date for my knee operation. It will be confirmed by the end of the week but is hopefully going to be on the 14th March.

Great news, as I have a brides' hair to do on the 10th and we are also going to the wedding!

This is a card I made using a free gift with a magazine. Can't remember which mag but it had a lot Lili Of The Valley printed images, ready for you to colour. Unfortunately the card they are printed on will not take my distress inks. So I had no choice but to get the Copics out!!

The backing paper was from my stash, printed from a CD I think!

I used a doily that I found in a box but had to cut the frilly edge off, to get it onto the card!Lol!!

The yellow dots around the main image are glue beads, using Cosmic Shimmer dries white glue and coloured with a Copics pen.
I do struggle a bit with Copics because I don't have hundreds of them, so I don't always have enough shades of one colour for blending. I bought a few packs but was a bit dissapointed, as they had a few of the same colours in the different packs. I then ended up with 3 of the same shade of green and the same of a pink.

That is one of the reasons I prefer my Distress Inks!!
I added Star Dust Stickles to her necklace and the ribbon on her hat. Also a little on the flowers and around the edges of the die cut.
I used a Sizzix Framelits Die for a change. They sadly don't emboss but they are cheap!!
Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by.
A special thanks also, for all the get well wishes. They really cheered me up.Hugs,
Carol S.xx

I Have Returned!!

Hi everyone,

I am back in the land of the living!

I was supposed to have my knee operation on 25th January. Instead I got the flu on the 21st, so I had to cancel my op. I still cannot get rid of the cough it has left me with, so I cannot ask the hospital to rebook me until I am 100% ok.

My daughter's mother-in-law got it the same day as me, which was very strange. We compared notes on how bad we were. As I didn't eat or sleep for 5 days, I lost just under a stone! I am happy about that but could have done without all the pain.

It took me 2 weeks to get my mojo back. As I had to complete my friends daughters' wedding stationery, it was a must for me to find it!!

(They collected the Order of Ceremony cards before I took the pictures.)

I made the invitations in November and they were sent out at the beginning of December. This picture was the one we were sent! It's strange getting a card you made yourself! I had to paint the roses with H2o's to match the card.

There are 40 favour boxes, complete with chocs wrapped in embossed tissue. I printed the details onto a heavy mottled parchment and used Label 4 Nestie to cut them out. The problem was, that the next size up for the card backing was too big. So I had to draw around the same size Nestie onto card and cut them out by hand. I often do this when I want a small frame but not 40 of them!!

The Menu was the same front as the Order of Ceremony. All the details of the day I printed onto the Parchment. The Menu will be the same, when I get the details on Wednesday.

In the bottom left corner of the first picture, are the place name stands. For these I will print the names onto the Parchment as well. I will use a Ribbon Tag Nestie to cut them out.

We are looking forward to the wedding, as Rachel is such a lovely girl and Andy, you just want to give him a hug!
I have now started Mother's Day cards for stock, as the Craft Markets will be starting soon.
Hope we don't have any more snow. I will be happy when this lot thaws!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving such lovely encouraging comments. They are all treasured.
Hugs,
Carol S.xx

Granddaughters' 6th Birthday Today!

Hi everyone,

First I must apologise to all the blogs I follow, that I have been unable to leave comments on your blogs. I don't know what is up with blogger at the moment. I even tried again tonight but still no joy. I can only get the top section of the blogs visible and I am unable to scroll down. Is anyone else having the same problem? I will say, that all the cards on the blogs I have seen on my dashboard, are brilliant. So will you all accept this message from me here!!

This is the card I made for Mia, my Granddaughter's 6th birthday today. (As it is 12.38 it was yesterday!!)

Sorry the picture is a bit pale but I used very pale Distress Ink colours, such as Spun Sugar and Broken China! The stamp is from Lili Of The Valley.
I stamped the wings again onto a scrap of pearlescent vellum. I then used a white Sakura pen and went over the stamped lines. I cut them out and 3D'd them onto the image. I painted the mirror frame with gold Acrylic paint and then applied Glossy Accents to the mirror and the perfume bottles. It shows up really well in the pictures! Not!! Lol!
With the white Sakura pen, I put dots around the outside edge of the blue mat layer. I added some Star Dust Stickles on her dress, powder puff and perfume spray.
Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon.
Have a good weekend and keep warm.Luv,
Carol S.xx

Blissful!!

Hi all,

Are you having problems with Blogger again? I am unable to leave comments on some of my blogs I follow, but some are ok! I just hope this will post without any problems.

This stamp is 'Blissful', one of my favourite Little Claire Stamps, she is so sweet.

I have coloured her with Distress Inks. Her dress is Faded Jeans, her bag is Dusty Concord and her hair is Antique Linen. On her face I have used Antique Linen, with a touch of Tattered Rose on her cheek and on her dress.

Sorry the photo is a bit rubbish, but I could not get the lighting right. Even the Stickles is not very visible.

I have another posting ready to go but the photo again is a bit pale. I will see what it looks like tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by and for the lovely comments. Also thank you to the lovely people for the good wishes for my op next week.

Luv,

Carol S.xx

My First Post Of 2012

Happy New Year everyone,

Sorry it is a bit late, but it has been rather hectic here in my little corner of Sussex! I am having a minor knee op, near to the end of the month, so I am trying to fit a lot into the next 3 weeks. After the op I will not be able to drive for a couple of weeks. Yuk!!

I am hoping it will mean I won't have to have a knee replacement yet. I cannot even think what it would be like to be stuck at home for weeks and weeks!!! I am not even thinking about that, just going to think positive.

This is a card using 'A Little Bit Sketchy' stamps from Sheena Douglass. The trees are from the set 'Lakeside Shore'. The Mountains in the background, are from the 'Peaceful Lakeside' set. I used the stamps for some of my Christmas cards. They look totally different in greens, rather than blue with glitter!Lol!! And no Santa flying across the sky, just 3 birds!!Lol!

I used 300gsm Watercolour paper but still used my Distress Inks. My Husband bought me some Watercolour paints for Christmas but I haven't used them yet. I will hopefully be painting my own sketched scenes, rather than using stamps. I just hope they will be good enough to post, as I haven't painted scenes for a loooooong time!

I made this card between taking my Christmas decs down and stripping the tree! My leg is not good at the moment, so I have to sit down quite a lot. A good excuse to sit at my desk.
My New Year resolution is that I am going to try to go to bed a bit earlier! It is 12.50am so I am going to fail tonight. Must try harder tomorrow!
Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon. I love your comments as they always make me smile.

Hugs,

Carol S.xx