Tuesday 22 November 2011

Digital Tuesday- Sparkle and Shine

 

It’s time for another Digital Tuesday challenge, and this week we are asking to see “sparkle and shine”. This can be glitter, gems, charms, sparkly paper………anything that sparkles or shines.

 

Our sponsor this week is Saturated Canary and Krista gave me an image to play with for the challenge.

I love Krista’s images and have a few of them, so I couldn’t wait to use this little cutie.

 

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I coloured the image with promarkers and used a Sakura clear star Gelly Roll pen for some glittery bits on her dress and tights, it looks nice in real life, but here it looks rubbish!! lol

The papers are a bit of a jumble and I have no idea where any of them are by except the purple gingham which is by Papermania.

I used some sparkly pink ribbon from my stash and added some stickles to the purple flowers for some more sparkle. The bigger flowers were a gift from a friend and the little purple ones were from Janlynn.com but unfortunately, they no longer sell them.

I also glittered the pretty butterfly with some crystal stickles and of course the butterfly is from non other than Little Snippets Etsy Store…….which is THE place to go for gorgeous embroidered embellies.

 

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A close up of the sweet image and the butterfly and that’s it from me today.

I hope you will come join us this week at Digital Tuesday and be in with a chance of winning a prize from Saturated Canary.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Lora x

Tuesday 15 November 2011

2 cards for 4 design teams!

I had 3 design team cards to do for today and also wanted to do one for Little Snippets, so as one was already made for my guest design spot at Anything Goes Challenge, I decided to combine the other three with one card.
I must warn you that this may be a long post as I have a lot  of pics to show! So get ready for a photo overload!! lol

So my first card is for the Anything Goes challenge where I am guest designer this month. This is my last card for them (although I have only done one other because it's a fortnightly challenge lol) and I have had real fun making it.
Thank you girls for having me, I really enjoyed my time as guest dt with you :)
The challenge this fortnight is "A Real Sweetie" - so anything related to food.

I decided to do something a little bit different and made a criss-cross card.

Sorry about the poor photo, the light is just terrible here just now! :(
As I said, I made a criss cross style card, and this is it with the pull out insert panel still in place.
I didn't take a pic of the insert as you can kinda see it here anyway. It's just plain red card (which is a bit shimmery) with the corners rounded and I added a Marianne designs die cut frame so there's room to write on.
I have used a few products on this card that are available to buy at Craft Den, so I will add all the product links at the end.

This is what the card looks like when the insert is removed.
I though these papers would do the job since one has strawberries on it, but then I went and covered up that paper with the insert lol. I don't know who makes the papers though as I got the paper pad free with a magazine a while ago and can't find the front cover.
Tilda and the popcorn box have been cut out, then Tilda stuck on top and stuck on the card only up to where the card crosses over (otherwise you wouldn't be able to take the insert out)



I took this pic at a funny angle so you can see the glitter on Tilda and the Popcorn box, but you still can't see it very well.
I used a Sakura Gelly Roll Pen (Clear Star) on bits of her dress and the bows in her hair and also on the popcorn box. You can't see it here, but I used it on the label and lettering and also around all the white stripes.
I also used some crystal Stickles on her socks. It looks really sparkly in real life, just a pity that it doesn't show in these pics.

Ok, here's what I used.
Mariane Designs Dies from the Frames/Swirls set
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
Crystal Stickles
Collall Photo Glue
Woodware 3d foam squares 1mm (for sticking on the image so it was a little bit raised)
Aleene's Original Tacky Glue (to stick on flowers)
 All of which are available at Craft Den

I also used Promarkers to colour and Sakura Star Dust Gelly Roll pen. Flowers, ribbon and strawberry charm from my stash.
Magnolia Lollypop Tilda and Magnolia Popcorn Box, which are not currently in stock at Craft Den, but they do have loads of other Magnolia Stamps :)

Wow that was a long post for one card!!
My other card is an easel card, so I do have a few pics to show, but I will try not to chat too much!! lol


 It was my turn to post on the Inky Impressions Inspirational Blog today, and this month team Christopher (the team I'm in) are doing easel cards. So I made an easel card with one of the new release Inky Impressions Stamps.
The stamp I have used is called Maddie The Elf. I think she may be my favourite stamp of this release....well my favourite one today anyway, because they are all lovely and I keep changing my mind about which one is my favourite lol.



I'm not sure who the papers are by as they were a gift from a friend :), as was the lace.
The flowers are from Little Snippets Etsy Store, and they are called Lora's White Lace Flowers.....yes, they are named after me :))
They are so pretty and just perfect for Christmas/Winter cards as they have a little snowflake in the centre.
I added some red Inky Dinky Drops in the centre which are from the Christmas Splash pack (red/green) and I also used some White Inky Dinky Drops around the flowers......love how you can see the paper colours through the clear ones. You can find a huge selection of Inky Dinky Drops in the Inky Impressions Store here.
Oh and the holly leave spray I bought in a little craft shop in Montrose.



This card is also for Digital Tuesday where the challenge this week is "Christmas Time", and our sponsor is My Grafico, who gave the design team their Vintage Christmas Labels digital stamp set by Lindsay's Stamp Stuff to use for the challenge.
I have used one of the labels from the set and just coloured in bits of Santa with a red Promarker.

I am entering this card into the following challenges.
Totally Gorjuss- Christmas Traditions
Miami Doodles- Christmas
Crafters Companion- Let It Snow
Stamps & Fun=Creativity- Recipe- design paper, glitter and lace
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long- Never Seen Ink, Holiday Image- This is the first time I have inked up the new Inky Impressions stamp :)
Floweret Stamplar- Christmas Cards
Crimbo Crackers- make it sparkle

Well if you managed to get to the end of this post, you deserve a medal!! lol.
That's it from me for today. Thanks for stopping by, and a huge thank you if you take the time to leave a comment :) I really do love reading them, and I will try my best to return the favour and visit you all:)




Saturday 12 November 2011

Inky Impressions Christmas decoration

Last month Nicole (the owner of Inky Impressions) had a competition just for the Inky design team, and we were to make a Christmas tree decoration.
I made a little angel which I will post on here another day, and a kind of wreath thing, which I won a prize for :)
I was going to show it last month after the competition had ended but I keep forgetting about it, so here it is now.
Sorry about the pics, I had to take them quickly before mailing it and the weather was not cooperating! lol


 The papers I used were 6x6" ones by Dovecraft. They were single sided but I wanted them to be double sided since you see both sides, so I cut out lots of squares all the same size, then stuck 2 back to back....would of saved myself loads of time if I just used double sided papers, but I didn't have enough double sided christmas papers.
Once they were stuck together, I cut around the edges with pinking shears, then just folded them into a cone and attached them with strong glue.
I started off with a circle of cardboard (I used 2 circles cut out of a cereal box and stuck them together to make it strong enough), then just stuck all the cones on and flattened them.
I cut 2 circles with my scalloped circle nestie (one for the front and one for the back), stamped on Lili's Present that you can find in the Inky Impressions store here, coloured them both with Promarkers, edged the front scalloped circle with glittery stuff (not sure what it's called, but it's like little strands which I got free in a magazine a while ago), then decorated with some flowers and snowflakes.
Oh before attaching the image, I punched a hole and threaded through some ribbon from my stash.

 This pic is rubbish but you can see the rest of the ribbon that you hang it with.

And another one to show how it looks laid down.


 And finally a close up of the image and flowers etc. I added some diamond stickles to the flowers, snowflakes and on some parts of the image, and I also edged the edges of the "cones" with stickles too.

I forgot to take a photo of the back...duh!! lol, but it looks the same as the front without the flowers etc. I stamped the same image, cut it out with the same scalloped circle and coloured her up the same and stuck it on the back so that if it turns around, the back is still pretty :)

I am entering this into these challenges
Ribbon Carousel- Anything Goes
Crafting for all Seasons- Texture ( I have ribbon, the glitter strands, flowers and a little bit of embossing on the scalloped circles)
2 Sisters- Anything Goes
Scrapbook Sisters- Anything Goes




Wags N Whiskers- Christmas and a few pics

I'm a day late with my card for the Wags N Whiskers challenge because I thought I had scheduled a post because I would be out yesterday but I thought wrong lol. I hadn't even wrote the post, never mind scheduled it!! Better late than never though.

The challenge this fortnight is "Christmas Themed", so a nice easy one for this time of the year, and a good kick up the bum for me to get cracking on my Christmas cards!



I used the same Dovecraft papers that I used the other day. They were already out from last time I used them and I couldn't be bothered looking for other ones lol.
The stamp I used is Ansley's Surprise. I used a rubber stamp, but it does also come in digi form. You can buy both rubber of digi Wags n Whiskers stamps at Stamp and Create if you are in the US or Canada or if you are in the UK like me, Bunny Zoes Crafts caters for Europe and the rest of the world.

I coloured the image with Promarkers and used  Diamond Stickles on her wings and a Sakura Gelly Roll Clear Star pen on some of her hairband, her lips, the digs bow and on the creases of her dress. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good photo to show the bits where I used the Gelly Roll pen as it was really dull outside.

The flowers I used are from Crafty Emma's Store and the leaf spray thing was from a little craft shop in Montrose, as was the ribbon.

Here's a close up of the sweet image

So that's my card for today, and I will be back later with a Inky Impressions Christmas decoration that I was going to show yesterday but forgot!

While I was uploading the pics of my card, I came across some pics Barry took on Bonfire Night of the fireworks.
A few of  my friends from across the pond have asked what Bonfire Night is......I'm not very good at explaining stuff like that, so you can google if you want to know the whole story behind it lol, but basically a group of men plotted to blow up the houses of parliament. One of the men called Guy Fawkes got caught in a cellar with 36 barrels of gunpowder and was tortured and executed.
Now on the 5th of November we have Bonfire Night. We make a big fire (the bonfire) and sometimes place a "guy" on top representing Guy Fawkes.
But really nowadays, here, Bonfire Night is all about the fireworks and most villages and cities have a big bonfire and firework display.

Ok lesson over lol. We went to a bonfire and firework display in the village that we live in last Saturday. They had a huge firework display and the kids all got free glow sticks :)
My girls didn't like the noise of the fireworks very much lol, but they did stay till the end and I got Barry to take some pics.
So here's a few for anyone who is interested.





Aren't they pretty? lol
Ok that really is all from me today. Hope you are having a great weekend! :)


Wednesday 9 November 2011

Inky Impressions- Glitter It Up!

As my title says, the challenge over at the Inky Impressions challenge blog today is Glitter It Up!
So a nice easy one this week. I mean, who doesn't like to use glitter? especially at this time of year :)

 I used Lili's Sweet Treat for today's cars and coloured her with promarkers ( I have listed the colours at the end of the post for anyone who is interested), and added some stickles glitter to her glass and the ribbon on her hat.
I'm not sure what company makes the papers I used on this card, but the white one has glitter on it :) and I also added some glitter to my flowers which were made with a Marianne Designs die set. I also die cut the image with a Marianne Designs frame.
I have had this frame and another one for ages but I never use them for images because they are a bit too small for Magnolias etc but these Inky images fit in them perfectly :)



 You can see the glitter a bit better in this close up pic of Lili and just about on the paper too.

And finally a pic of the glittering flowers :)

Oh and before I go, I have got to tell you about the new release Inky stamps!! I got my dt package this morning and all I can say is WOW!!! They are adorable!! :) If you haven't already checked them out, you can see all the new release rubber stamps and also the new digital stamps here in the Inky Impressions Store.

Well I am off to ink up my new stamps :) and I will be back tomorrow with another Inky project that I done a while ago but haven't yet shown on my blog.

I am entering this card into the following challenges

Truly Scrumptious- Bingo, I used Glitter, dies and ribbon
Card Makin Mamas- Cut It Out (use die cuts)
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Moving Along With The Times- Food and Drink
Papertake Weekly- Anything Goes with bling


Tuesday 8 November 2011

Digital Tuesday- Anything Goes

The challenge over at Digital Tuesday this week is everything goes and our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps who are giving away 6 digital stamps to the winner!

I decided to get some more Christmas cards done since I have hardly made any this year! and used an image from Bugaboo.



As usual, I coloured the image with Promarkers and added some icicle stickles on their hats and  the snow. I'm not so keen on these icicle stickles, I much prefer the diamond or crystal ones. it's maybe just me, but I don't think this one is so easy to get into little spaces as the others, it comes out in blobs most of the time rather than being able to add a thin line like I can with the others....maybe I just got a dodgy bottle??
Anyway, the papers I used, I think are by Dovecraft, some ribbon from my stash and some die cut snowflakes done with Marianne dies.

A real simple card but I think it's easier to do simple ones for Christmas, otherwise I would never get half of the amount I need done lol.
 I think this is the first time I have used a Bugaboo image, but I was having a look in their store and they have loads! This one is more my kinda cute style, but they have all types of images, and some real funny ones too.
Oh and my card is also featured on their blog today :)

Right I'd better get ready to pick up my girls from school.......where has the day went?!!

Thanks for stopping by.


Wednesday 2 November 2011

By The Cute and Girly Blog Hop Winner

Please scroll down for my Inky Impressions blog hop post.

I just popped on to announce the winner of my prize from the By The Cute and Girly blog hop.
You can see a list of all the other winners on the challenge blog.

So the winner of a $20 Gift Certificate from My Favorite Things
is..............................Ellie!!!

Congratulations Ellie! Please email me to claim your prize :)

Thank you to everyone who joined in with our 2nd birthday challenge and blog hop!


Inky Impressions Stamps: Snow Much Fun Blog Hop Day 2

Welcome to day 2 of the Inky Impressions Stamps, Snow Much Fun Blog Hop!
I hope you enjoyed yesterdays hop and all the fab projects from the design team. If you didn't do yesterdays hop, I suggest you do it today to see all the inspiration from the design team.

One lucky winner will win a $25 gift certificate to spend in the Inky Impressions Store, so what you waiting for? Go get hopping and see what the design team girls have created today :)

Today I am showing another of the new release digital images- MaMaw Skiing


I have coloured MaMaw with my usual Promarkers and added some icicle stickles on the snow.
The papers are from a pad I got free a few weeks back in a magazine. The snowflakes are cut from some glittery paper I found in my stash. I have no idea where it came from, but I think I pinched it from one of my kids lol. I cut it with some Marianne Designs snowflake dies.
I'm not keen on glitter paper because all the glitter rubs off, especially when die cutting or punching with it, but this one is great. It's really smooth and no glitter rubs off at all.....I must find out where it came from so I can get more! lol

 Here's MaMaw's close up. I love cute images, but I kinda like that she is not a cutesy one. I don't know what it is, but there's just something about her that makes me go awww. I know I am strange!! lol

Here's the blog hop order in case you loose your way


The design team are showcasing two of the new digi images today but you can see all the new release digital images in the Inky Impressions Store here.
And of course there is lots of rubber to choose from too if you just love rubber stamps.
Oh and speaking of rubber stamps, I was just over at the Inky Impressions Store and noticed that Nicole has some of the Winter rubber stamps on sale! You can find them all here.
As well as stamps, there is also papers, flowers, ribbon, charms, spacers, brads, pearls, gems, inky dinky drops, buttons...........need I say more?
I must add though that I am in no way responsible for the amount of money that you spend while you are there!....ok maybe being a bit of an enabler but once you check out all those lovely goodies, I know you will love them.

Thanks for stopping by today, and thank you for all the lovely comments that you leave. I appreciate every one of them and it really does mean a lot to me when you take a minute to leave a comment :)


Tuesday 1 November 2011

Digital Tuesday, By The Cute and Girly and a guest design spot!

This is my second post today. If you are looking for the Inky Impressions blog hop, please scroll down to the next post.

Today is a busy day for me for dt work as I have 4 dt's to post for on the same day! I did combine some of my dt work though because I have been really busy this week with stuff at home, so I only have 2 cards to show, as well as the treat bucket I posted for Inky Impressions earlier today.

First is a card that I made for Digital Tuesday where the challenge this week is "Cute and Cuddly" and also for By The Cute and Girly where the theme this month is "Christmas Girls".


It's a horrible day here today and no matter what I did, I just couldn't get any decent photos. I really need to invest in a lamp to use for these dark days!

I used a sweet image from Di's Downloads who is our digi sponsor this month over at By The Cute and Girly, and as usual, I coloured her with Promarkers and added some diamond stickles to the fur on her hat and jacket.
The papers are from a pad that I won in Brenda's recycling candy :)
I cut the image out and popped her on some scalloped circles cut with nesties and added some snowflakes cut with Marianne Design dies and a Woodware punch.
Oh and the border is also a Marianne die

 Here's a close up so you can see the snowflakes (the pattered ones have stickles on them) and also the dimension of the image.

My second card is for a guest design spot at the Anything Goes challenge blog where I will be guest designer all this month :)
The challenge is to use stitching- real or faux and this fortnight I am in the spotlight over on the challenge blog:)


 I decided to go a bit vintage with this card and used some K&Co papers which I stitched around by hand (I don't have a sewing machine anymore so had to do it by hand).
I used a few Marianne Design dies on this one which are all available to buy at the Craft Den.


 The one in the pic above is the Ribbon Border die (ribbon 3)

 And the flourishes and the decorative panel that Tilda is sitting on are from the Frames and Swirls die set.
You also get a smaller swirl in this set but I haven't used it on this card.

I coloured Tilda with Promarkers and added lots of Icicle stickles to her wings and heart. This Tilda is from the 2010 Merry Little Christmas collection. She is called Tilda With Hanging Heart and can be found in the Craft Den store here. Along with loads of other Magnolia stamps.
You can also find the stickles glitter that I used in the Craft Den here. Not only the icicle one that I used on this card, but the diamond stickles I used on my first card above and loads of other colours too :)
If you haven't checked out this store, it is a must see! Loads of yummy goodies and all at really reasonable prices too.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
I will be back tomorrow to announce the winner of my $25 gift certificate from MFT, so if you did the By The Cute and Girly blog hop last month, remember to check back to see if you are a winner! :)





Inky Impressions Stamps: Snow Much Fun Blog Hop

Welcome to the Inky Impressions blog hop!! We have some new digital releases to show off.....yes that's right, digital stamps :) Of course there will be some rubber too for you rubber lovers but today we are showing off the new digis.

The blog hop will run today and tomorrow (November 1st and 2nd) and one lucky winner will win a $25 gift certificate to spend in the Inky Impressions Store!

Today I am showing you Marisa's Sleigh Ride, and I have decorated an ice cream tub and filled it with candy.


This is also one of my dt projects for By The Cute and Girly where the challenge this month is "Christmas Girls".
 I used some MME Christmas papers, some ribbons from my stash, a few snowflakes cut with Marianne Design dies and a Woodware punch, some tiny sticky back gems and of course the sweet Inky image which is coloured with Promarkers.

Both sides are the same except I used a small snowflake for this side and a larger one for the other side, and I covered all the white snowflakes with stickles as well as the pom poms on Marisa's hat.

And finally a close up of the little cutie. I must point out that the lines on my image (especially on the eyes) are not a defect in the actual image, it was my stupid printer....or should I say the stupid ink that I used.
I normally buy genuine Epson ink but I ran out and couldn't get any close by (I needed it that say or else I would of ordered online), so I bought some compatible ink from Asda (their own brand). It was only the magenta one that I had to replace, the others are all genuine Epson, but the print quality is rubbish :( Now I remember why I never buy compatible inks!!

Anyway, enough of my moaning! Here's the hop order in case you loose your way.



Thanks for stopping by.
I will be back shortly with another post for Digital Tuesday and also a guest design spot card.

Lora x