We're Still Hot!!

Hi Fellow Bloggers,

 

Hope you are enjoying your weekend. It hasn't rained today! Hooray!! There is no wind either and we even saw the sun. Do you remember what that is?;)

 

I bought this stamp from the Craft Barn a couple of weeks ago. It's from Art Impressions and the sentiment is also AI. I just needed another humorous stamp in my stash.

 



 

 

I coloured them with Distress Inks, stamped onto 350gsm water colour card. I added a little Sakura glitter pens on their glasses frames, also some Stickles on their earings and outfits.

 

 

I really enjoyed making this card. I had a smile on my face all the time! I'm easily pleased!Lol! Just thought it might appal to my more mature ladies!

 

 

I spent quite a time cleaning my craft room today. Boy did it need it. I have just got to finish making my Granddaughter's birthday card. She is 8 on Monday. (going on 18!!)

 

I am going with a friend, to a Craft Fair at Sandown Park on Thursday. Just hope the weather is like it was today. It's not as big as Ally Pally but good for a top up of stash.

 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend and thank you for popping into my world. I love reading your comments and if you are not a follower, I would love it if you could take the time to join. Just to boost my pathetic number!

 

Hugs,

 

Carol S.xx

Just Flowers

Hi everyone,

 

It's been blimmin' cold here today. About 4 degrees this afternoon and dark and miserable.

 

I have spent all afternoon, playing with my photo program, that I have had for a few months. It was just a new version of my old one, but much more complicated! I couldn't find where to fade or add fade-out designer frames to my photos. The program is now in 4 different parts. Ugh!!!

 

As you can see below, I have finally found where to do it and then to get my photos into blogger. It's now a very fiddly process, so don't know how often I will do it! I bet it was designed by a bored bloke!!

 

I just had to show you these new dies I have. They are Sizzix, Susan's Garden, Thinlits Dies. I am sure you too probably already have them, but I bought them a just before Christmas.

 

The first one I got was the rose. I made it from double sided paper that I have had for years. Everyone that has seen it, thought it was real. It looks very fragile but actually, it is really robust.

 

 

 

 

You also get the dies for the bud which I did with blue paper. Don't ask why blue!!

 

The next ones I bought, are the Poppy and Pansy/Violet sets. You also get the leaves that go with the flowers. I had made the Pansy and Violets, but my Granddaughter pinched them, before I had the chance to photo them!

 



Because the rose is rather large, 3 1/2" or 8.5cm across, it is too big for cards but great for boxes. I hope they come out with a set suitable for cards. What I did have a go at, was down sizing the petals. You get 4 sizes and different shaped petal dies. I drew around them onto paper and then reduced them down by half. It did work, but as you need loads of petals for each flower, it was very time consuming. Not doing it again for a while!

 

Well at least I have had some success today. I now have to sort and list a rack of cards, to take to my Charity for tomorrow.

 

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and thanks for taking time to visit my little blog.

 

Hugs,

 

Carol s.xx

 

 

 

Dancing Queen

Hi Everyone, I would like to welcome on board my new follower. I really would like to get to 50 followers soon please. Pretty please!!

 

I can't believe that 10 days have gone already this year! Christmas seems as if it was weeks ago now.

 

Are all of you in the UK, as fed up as I am, with continuous strong winds and rain?! It's so boring having the lights on most of the day. Whinge, whinge!!

 

This card is made, using a stamp from the last release of girly stamps, from Lili of the Valley. She is called 'Dancing Queen'. I used a mixture of Copics pens and Distress Inks to colour with.



 

 

I stamped the image onto Water Colour 350gsm card. I like to use this weight, as you can wet the area you want get a good blend in, before you add the ink. It then blends itself. Just like using proper water colour paints.

 

The sentiments were a mixture of makes. The HHHooray was from a set of Crafter's Companion Bebunni, Birthday Bunny. The 'it's your birthday', was I think, an old Little Claire stamp.

 

 

I added a little Star Dust Stickles here and there. I think it still qualifies as a CAS card, do you agree? It is so hard not to put on embellies. My itchy fingers hover over my drawers of flowers!

 

I have found some challenges to enter this card into. My New Year resolution remember!

 

                            Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

                            Hobby House Challenge - Ribbons

                            Creative Craft Challenges - Anything goes

                            Addicted to Stamps -Make Your Mark - Using Marker pens

 

Wow, I have never entered so many in one posting!!

 

Thank you for taking time out to stop by my blog and I hoe you have liked what you see. If you decide to join as a follower, I will return the favour on your blog.

 

Big hugs,

 

Carol S.xx

 



Two New Babies!

Hi Everyone,

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

 

Thanks to and inspired by Pops,  I am now seriously going to try to make more CAS cards. They are certainly not as easy as they look!

 

I have used 2 of the new Lili Of The Valley baby stamps, Cosy Pram and Balloon Basket. Stamped onto Watercolour 350gsm card and coloured with Distress Inks. The sentiment is also from a LOTV set.

 

I used a watercolour pen, to squiggle a line around the card, very roughly. I used Cosmic Shimmer Pearlescent PVA - Dusky Pink, for the little raised dots.

 

The sparkles are of course, Star Dust Stickles.

 

You can use either stamp for boy or girl. I think next time I use the balloon stamp, I will definitely stamp the balloon twice and 3D it.

 

 

This is the first time I have made the pictures x-large. Could only do so on the blue card. The pink one went over onto the side panel. Shows they are a bit blurry! Please let me know what you think. Not too rude though!!

 

I am going to enter one into some challenges, as it is my New Year resolution. You will see if I keep to it!Lol!!

 



Challenges

Crafty Little Fairies - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Old, New Borrowed, Blue

 

I hope you are all ready to see the New Year in. We just like to sit and watch the fireworks at midnight and then go to bed. Boring I know but I am too knackered to do anything else!

 

So Happy New Year to all who visit my blog.

 

Maybe some more of you can join me as followers next year. I aim to get to 100 followers next year, so will need your help.

 

The biggest of hugs to you all,

 

Carol S.xx

 

 

My Favourite Five Christmas Creations

Hi everyone,

 

Hope you are still enjoying the Christmas break. We had a few power cuts on Christmas Eve but nothing like some parts of the South. A tree came down at the bottom of the road, blocking it for a while. Today it's lovely to see the sun and not too windy either.

 

I decided to join in the fun of choosing my favourite 5. I found it quite difficult to do! They are not in any order of preference though. I will also link them to Debby's Challenge, A Scrapjourney.

 

 

This was one of the first cards I made, many months ago! The first, with the newly released Lili of the Valley stamps. Coloured with my favourite Distress Inks. I think she is my favourite LOTV release this year.

 

 

Another LOTV stamp! Loved it too! I am very fussy with my snowman stamps. It is all in the face and these are just right.

 

This one was great fun to make and looks so much better than the photo shows. I used white flock, mixed with ultra fine glitter on the polar bear. The shading still showed through and you could stroke his fur!

 

This was another easel card, with I think again, one of my favourite LOTV stamps. Could be used all year round too. Just do not ink the 'snow'.

 

 

This was probably my favourite card. I made it for the manager of the Charity that I fund raise for. She said she thought it was so beautiful, that it brought tears to her eyes. It is definitely one to see in real life. I used the new Cosmic Shimmer, Glitter Jewels, Iced Snow on the flowers. I think it was my favourite Christmas product this year. It gave great texture. I also used it on the snow on the polar Bear card.

 

Well I hope you like my choice. I would love to see yours. So why don't you join in the fun over the weekend.

 

Have a great weekend,

 

Hugs,

Carol S.xx

Happy Christmas!

Hi Everybody,

 

This is my last posting before the big day.

 

This card is for everyone, who takes the time to visit my blog and especially those who leave me such lovely messages. I want to wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas and a Brilliant 2014.

 

I am amazed, that even at the busiest time of our year, you still find the time to stop by my little blog. Thank you so much.

 

I also would like to thank Lili of The Valley, for all the amazing stamps they have provided for us to use this year. The quality is second to none.

 

I would also like to thank their amazing design team, for the stunning inspiration they provide us with daily, through the blog. I am looking forward to 2014, to see what they come up with!

 

 

I hope to find the time over the next few weeks, how to use my blog a bit better. I don't even know how to make a post stay at the top of the page! Or even to find and use different fonts, other than the boring blogger ones! I must find out so I can do a Candy posting!

 

I just hope the weather calms down a bit. These strong winds and the non-stop heavy rain is getting boring. Our back garden has a couple of ponds we didn't have a few days ago! We even had 3 power cuts this evening. Fortunately, we had just finished our meal, when the first one happened. That one lasted for half an hour. The following 2 were a bit shorter. It's just a pain having to reset Sky TV each time it went off.

 

Well I am having an early night tonight. These 2am nights have caught up with me. So I am going to be in bed by 12.30!

 

Have a wonderful time with your friends and families and see you all soon.

 

The biggest of huggles to you all,

 

Carol S.xxxxxxxxxxx

Mannequin No: 2



Hi to all my lovelies,

 

This is my other Mannequin I mentioned in my last posting. It is very different from the last one, much more girly.

 



I found some tissue paper that I had been playing with, in my stash. I had sprayed it with my Cosmic shimmer Mica sprays. I am guessing at the colours I used as, a teal colour and pearlescent.

 

I then stamped it with an old Penny Black Flower stamp, using Picked Raspberry DI. I tore the tissue into small pieces and using IndigoBlu Slap It On, I covered the form with the tissue. When dry, I stamped swirls using Flitter Glu and applied some silver Flitter Flakes on top.

 

I made a small necklace, using beads from my stash and glued it to the back, to hold it in place. I then attached a piece of lace, topped with a piece of ribbon with dangly beads on it, around the bottom.

 

I found the piece of cord with a tassel on each end, in my odds and sods box. I know we have all got one! Couldn't believe my luck, as the colour matched perfectly!

 

I made the flower from a Woodware large flower punch. I found this very strange piece of paper in my pink paper box. Goodness knows where it came from. It has a very strange texture to it but the colour was perfect. I just added a bit of the DI around the edges. I was quite pleased with it, as when made, it looked more like fabric.

 

 

The top is a door knob that I bought, when we updated the kitchen at our last house. We were selling the house and wanted to tart up the aged kitchen! As you do!! The butterfly is a Mariannes die set. 

The leaves in the bottom picture, are a set I bought in a sale, Dees Distinctively.  

 

I really enjoyed making these mannequins. Very different and fun to do. I have another 3 of them to do but will save them for next month.

 

I am still clearing up my craft room, from all the Christmas clutter. I have put some away but still a couple of boxes on the floor yet to do.

 

I have bought some new Sizzix flower dies. They are amazing. Everybody I have shown the flowers to, thought they were real. I will put them in my next post.

 

I am Christmas shopping tomorrow with my husband in tow! Well you do need someone to carry the bags! Just got the last few pressies to get. I hope the weather is at least dry, unlike the last few days here. Rain and then more rain!

 

Well I am off to cook dinner. I missed lunch, so getting a bit hungry now.

 

Thanks for stopping by and leaving your friendly messages.

 

Hugs,

 

Carol S.xx

Mannequin Magic.

Hi everyone,

 

I hope you are sitting safely on your seats! Yes, it is two postings in one week! Shocking I know but I just felt the need.

 

I bought this Papier Mache, mannequin from The Craft Barn in Surrey. I just checked and they are out of stock at the moment. I am not surprised, as they are the best price I have seen them.

 

I used IndigoBlu Slap it On to stick the paper onto the base. It was pages from an old book I had. Don't forget to check pieces for any naughty words!

 

The top was an old door knob, with a piece of trimming I had in my stash, glued around the neck. I also put some around the mannequin's neck and attached some beads to it, that I had just threaded onto some cotton. I added a metal flower to the end of it.

 

 

I used Indigoblu Flitter Glue and stamped some swirls onto the paper and then covered it with gold Flitter Flakes. The picture above is the back.

 

The picture below was taken before I had completed the trimmings. I attached some beads to a tassel and stitched it to another piece of trimming, then stuck it around the waist.

 

I also covered the piece of dowling with paper, up to where the base of the mannequin finished. My good old Brother-in-law, turned me some Mahogany stands.

 

 

I used Marianne die cut butterflies and stuck them here and there. The flower on her shoulder I made from scraps of paper. The large petals I drew and cut out. The centre piece, is just a strip of paper that I feathered and rolled up, then glued into the centre of the large petals.

 

Around the hem area, I stuck a piece of antique lace and topped it with a piece of ribbon , which had Mother of Pearl discs hanging from it. Simples!

 

I really enjoyed doing this, as it was very different from cards, candles and clocks!

 

 

I have done a second one, that is very different from this one. I will try to post it soon. Three posts in one week is unheard of for me!Hee, Hee!

 

Thank you for taking time to pop over to my blog. I know we are all very busy at this time, so I appreciate it even more.

 

Hugs,

 

Carol S.xx

Pretty In Pink

Hi my blogging friends,

 

Are you ready for the big day. I'm not and I don't think I am alone! I have had a very busy few weeks, with a Craft Fair every weekend and both my children's birthdays. I did my last fair last weekend and it was the end of the best fairs run I have done. It was also my daughters' 40th birthday. That was followed on Tuesday, with my son's 37th birthday. I put it down to cold Februaries!

 

I would also like to welcome my new follower to my blog. I hope you enjoy visiting my blog and I hope to post more often. 

 

It doesn't look like I am going to get to 50 followers by Christmas!Lol! I suppose it would help if I posted more often and entered more challenges. I am sure I must have less hours in my days, than the bloggers that post every day!! How do you do it?!!

 

I have spent the whole of this weekend sorting out and cleaning my craft room. It was pretty bad. I had got to point, that even I couldn't cope with the mess! I finished all my Christmas cards on Friday. I managed to make everyone a card. So I got stuck into sorting out first thing Saturday morning. I found things that I had forgotten I had.

 

For this card, I used a stamp from the latest girlie stamps, from Lili of the Valley. She is called 'Getting Ready'.  They released 5 stamps and I just had to buy them all. I stamped them all out the day they arrived but told myself, that I couldn't make a card until I had finished all my Christmas cards.

 

 

 

The sentiment is from Annette's blog and she has freebies that you can download. Click here for the link. Her blog is brilliant and she really does make me laugh. It is also very inspiring and you must check out her clocks. They are stunning.

 

I coloured the image with Distress Inks with a dusting of Stickles on the bows, her dress and the edge of the white table cloth. None of it shows of course. I also added some Glossy Accents to the mirror.

 

The flower was a mixture of Spellbinders dies. The base layer is using the middle size Aster flower and the other 2 layers were using the Poinsettia die. I also used 2 different papers from my scraps box. The leaves are a Marianne die.

 

 

We got the 2 Christmas trees and decs out of the loft today. So I will spend the next couple of days cleaning the rooms and decorating the trees.

 

We are at friends, at the top of our road, for Christmas day and then all the family are coming to us on Boxing day. Should be a fun couple of days. Loads to eat and I might even have a drink. I have been off wine since last Christmas, hoping to lose more weight.

 

I hope to get a few earlier nights now, as I feel it's catching up with me. Going to bed at 2am and getting up at 8am is not good. I can't keep going on 5 or 6 hours sleep.

 

Right, it is 1.00am, so I am going to finish now and I should be in bed by 01.15, so 45 minutes earlier than normal. That's a start isn't it!

 

Thank you for stopping by and for your lovely comments that you leave  me. I really do treasure them.

 

Night, night.

 

Hugs

 

Carol S.xx

 



Wheeee!!

Hi everyone,

 

Just a quick post tonight. I did a Craft Fair yesterday and sold so much, I have a lot of stock to get made, for another fair next Saturday. It's all go at this time of year. I have decided not to do any more fairs in December. Even yesterday, I was asked to do one on the 12th December. I think it's far too late, as most people would have done their present shopping by then, so I declined.

 

I loved making this little card. Just pieces of torn copier paper for the hill and edged with DI Broken China. Topped off with Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Jewels, Iced Snow.

 

The stamp is Lili of the Valley's Sledging Buddies. I added a little shading to the Polar Bear and a touch of pink to his cheek. I then covered him with Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Jewels, Diamond Sprinkles. The shading and colour still showed through when the glue had dried.

 

The clouds are a Joy die. The sentiment is an old stamp and the metal snowflake was from our 99p shop.

 

I am sure I can hear the little Penguin shouting "Wheeee!!"

 

The background is just Stormy Sky DI with dots of snow.

 

Now the next picture are wood turned Snowmen, from my Brother-in-law's workshop. He was playing on his lathe and came up with these. He had told me about them and wanted some Holly for their hats. I cut the leaves from a die and took them when I went to visit.  On arrival, I was directed into the workshop and he showed how to make one. I ended up making 2, the one on the right in the front row and the one just to his left in the back row.

I brought these home and he still had over 20 left! A rather large family and they all look different. Sadly, the skinny one in the middle front row, has split right down the middle.  So he had to be binned! The one on the left also split a bit down one side but not too bad, so I am keeping him. I sold 2 at the Craft Fair, so just 2 left.

 

I have another couple of things I have made that are not cards. So I will take pictures tomorrow and will try to get another post on this week.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your lovely comments. I always try to visit you blogs every day.

 

Hugs,

 

Carol S.xx