Anyone for turkey casserole?

Did you have a lovely Christmas?  I hope so! However, I have a feeling we'll be eating turkey in one form or another at least once a week until next Christmas!  The mince pies have gone, the cake has a good wedge taken out of it (and very boozy it was too) and we used up the last of the bread sauce and cranberry sauce last night.  How we still have so much turkey left, I'll never know, but I'll be on the Good Food website later to check out the various ways we can keep eating the same thing without anyone noticing!

Having been a very bad blogger in the run-up to Christmas, I thought I'd better try to make up for it while I'm on holiday.  This is the box I made for Mum and Dad's Christmas card:

I used papers from the Maja Design Christmas pad (from Live and Love Crafts) and matched these with some gorgeous ribbon from the Ribbon Girl.  The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I stamped an older Tilda and coloured her with Distress Markers, adding some Glamour Dust to her halo and wings.  The banner is a hAnglar and StAnglar stamp and the sentiment is by Magnolia.

I put more of the gorgeous ribbon around the edge of the box.

The star pin and pearl stems are from my stash.

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:

Simply Magnolia - Gift Box
Deep Ocean - Santa is coming to town
Live and Love Crafts - Anything but a card

I'll be back to show you the card which went inside the box over the next couple of days.  In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your Christmas holiday!

Hugs

Tracey xx

Seeing Double!

No, I haven't been on the gin!  It's still a little early, even for me!  It's time for a new challenge at Sweet Stampin' and our theme is Seeing Double  - we want to see two of something on your creations!

Here's my DT card

It's a long story, but this isn't my original DT card, or at least, it isn't what I had planned.  Let's just say that my nearly finished original card met with disaster and I had to make something new - fast!

I used Basic Grey DP (Dasher) and added some jute and green ribbon.  I masked two Magnolia images, coloured them with Copics and added lots of Stickles.  The fence was cut with a Doohickey die and I added some Flower Soft in Polar White.  The two snowflakes were sent to me by the amazing Jacque Bedingfield a couple of years ago when I won one of her "sweet stuff" draws.  That lovely lady sent the most fabulous pack of goodies all the way from the USA and I'm still using some of the contents!

Hope you can join in our Seeing Double challenge this week.  As ever, we have fabby prizes up for grabs. Letraset are sponsoring us this week and Joanna Sheen is giving away a £10 voucher to one lucky winner at the end of the month. And if you're making a Christmas card, don't forget you can enter this in our Anything Goes challenge over at our other blog, Christmas at Sweet Stampin'.

Going to get the food shopping done before I tackle the housework ... yuk!

Hugs

Tracey x

A Lovely hAnglar Christmas

It's Christmas time over at Lovely hAnglar or Sweet Magnolia!  We're starting a new challenge today and it's an easy one - we'd like to see your Christmas creations!

I used this gorgeous hAnglar & StAnglar stamp and painted her with Distress Markers.  The papers are by Simple Stories and I love their homespun look.  I matched the DP with Kraft card; the image mat has been stamped with Walnut Stain using a Magnolia holly swirl stamp and the border was cut with a Doohickey die.  I just added some roses and pearls from Wild Orchid Crafts to complete the card as I wanted to keep the layout quite simple.

Why not pop over to LhoSM  to check out what my lovely teamies have made?  We'd love you to join in this fortnight if you can!  Instead of a sponsor prize this fortnight we're offering one lucky winner, chosen by the design team, the chance to guest design for us for two challenges.

I can't believe it's only a couple of weeks until Christmas! I really need to make a card for Mum and Dad, so I think a bit of blog-hopping inspiration might be in order after I've finished my marking.

Hugs

Tracey xx

In Full Swing

I'm now in overdrive on the Christmas card production line, especially now that I've discovered the joy that is CAS! 

However, this card does not fall into the CAS category.  It's my DT card for our latest challenge at Sweet Stampin' and our theme this week is dies and punches.

I'm definitely putting more of these sweet Bildmalarna images on my wishlist.  This one was a joy to colour with the old Copics - I do like working with Copic reds as I find they blend really well. I stamped around the edge of the image using an Elzybells snowflake stamp and some Antique Linen DI.  The frame was punched using a Martha Stewart PATP and layered with Magnolia papers.  I cut the poinsettia and mistletoe with Doohickey dies and edged them all with Antique Linen as before.  The pearl centre of the poinsettia is from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I really hope you can play along with our Dies and Punches challenge this week - come over here and see what my fabby teamies have made to inspire you.  We have great prizes to give away as usual, so there's even more reason to join in the fun!


Hugs

Tracey x

Christmas at Sweet Stampin'

Good morning!  I'm so excited to tell you about our new challenge blog, Christmas at Sweet Stampin'!  We start our Christmas themed challenges properly in January but we're having a bit of a welcome party today by hosting an Anything Goes challenge!

The challenge will be a monthly one, so you'll have plenty of time to plan and make your creations.  And for this challenge blog, we won't be insisting that you use a stamp, so you can make whatever you like as long as it fits the challenge theme!

Here's my card:

At last I managed to ink up this gorgeous Tilda from this year's Christmas collection. I coloured her with Copics and added Liquid Pearls and Stickles for a bit of Christmas sparkle.  The die cuts were all made from Doohickeys and both the heart and the poinsettia have a Doodlebug glittery brad attached.  The papers are Magnolia and I got the stunning ribbon from Live and Love Crafts.  You can just about see a Doohickey tag sticking out from behind the image, but numpty-girl here forgot to take a photo with the tag showing!

I do hope you can join us over at Christmas at Sweet Stampin'!  We have great prizes - this time we're sponsored by Letraset and Funky Kits - and the most wonderful design team EVER!  And as we all seem to be making Christmas cards at the moment, you might as well play along!

Hugs

Tracey

And now for something completely different!

Oooh, look at me... doing CAS!  Whatever next!

After my panic at not having made nearly enough Christmas cards and my shame at having had to give Mr John Lewis the benefit of my custom in the card department, I suddenly had a brainwave!  This was in no small part due to inspiration over at Pink Petticoat.

 

 After parting with a very reasonable sum of small change, I printed out a number of  Pink Petticoat Christmas sentiments onto linen card, cut them out with Nesties and mounted them on a contrasting Bazzill base.   I cut some Magnolia Doohickey shapes, including the small star tag above, from white card. I embossed the star with gold powder twice, added a loop of gold embroidery cotton and there it was, a CAS card that I rather like.  Shame I couldn't get a decent photo!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Midweek Magnolias - Starlight, Star Bright  (Magnolia Doohickey Star Tag)
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

Hugs

Tracey x

Pretty in Pink

I have to say that pink isn't the first colour which springs to mind when I think of Christmas!  However, I wanted to give my Distress Markers an airing and the pinky shades match the Magnolia paper quite well, I think.

I splodged the edges of the Magnolia paper with Picket Fence paint and put this on top of some Maja Designs paper from their Christmas pad.  There are two heart shaped doilies underneath the image with a Magnolia Doohickey lace die cut from white Bazzill.  I added some pink seam binding tied in a double bow, a Magnolia sentiment and a few flowers.    All edges have been distressed with Antique Linen DI and I added plenty of Glamour Dust to Tilda's wings.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Magnolialicious - Pink Christmas

Deep Ocean Challenges - Pastel Colours

Tilda's Town - Celebrate Christmas

Dieing for a Challenge - Christmas

 

 

 

I must also let you know that we have a new challenge at Sweet Stampin'!   The theme this week is Ribbons and Snowflakes and we've got some great prizes as usual; this week we're sponsored by Stampfairy (a $10 voucher) and Joanna Sheen is once again sponsoring the monthly prize draw.  Hope you can join in!

 

Hugs

 

Tracey xx

Flower Power!

No, I'm not feeling nostaligic for the 70's! It's our latest challenge at Sweet Stampin'!  We want to see flowers on your creations this week, please.

Here's what I did

I've layered up some of my last remaining scraps of Pink Paislee Queen Bee papers with co-ordinating Bazzill card.  The image is an older Tilda which I've coloured with Distress inks and markers. I've used a Hero Arts stamp dabbed with diluted Distress Ink to create the swirls around the image and used the same ink (Antique Linen) around the edge of the watercolour card.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  Here's a little peek at the inside, although I haven't added a sentiment yet:

Do hop over to Sweet Stampin' to take a look at what the Sweeties have made to inspire you - there are some particularly beautiful projects on the challenge blog this week.  As usual we've got some fabby prizes to be won in the weekly and monthly prize draws - Emerald Faeries are our sponsor this week and Joanna Sheen, of course, kindly sponsors our monthly prize.

Hope
Have a lovely weekend

Icky

Multi-tasking.  I've decided.  I don't like it.  Moan over.

In between making mincemeat, marking prelim papers and helping with homework I've managed to make a couple of Christmas cards. 

It's been a while since I coloured on Kraft card and I still can't get the skin right, but I'm pleased with Tilda's hair and her dress.  The papers are a mixture of Authentique and Simple Stories (love this year's Christmas pad) and the border was cut with a Memory Box die.  The only embellies are a couple of pearls, a charm and some twine as I need some cards to be flat for posting.

I added a fair bit of sparkle with some Glamour Dust but I must confess that not all of it is stuck down with glue.  'Cos I've been making mincemeat while marking prelim papers and helping with homework.

I'm now off to unstick the pages of the Boy Wonder's homework jotter and rub off the sticky splodges on the exam papers.  Still, everything smells very nice.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge:  For the love of Tilda

Ribbon Girl:  Add Sparkle (with added mincemeat!)

Magnolialicious: Stickles and/or Glitter (see above)

I should also tell you that we have a new challenge starting today at Sweet Stampin'.  The theme is Snow People and we're being sponsored by Bugaboo, Di's Digi Downloads AND Joanna Sheen! So go and check out what Team Fi have made here - hope you can play along this week!

Hugs

Tracey xx

Dies and Punches at LHOSM

It's new challenge time at Lovely hAnglar or Sweet Magnolia and it's a nice, easy one!  We'd like to see your designs using dies and/or punches. Of course, you need to use either hAnglar & StAnglar or Magnolia stamps too!

Here's my DT card:

I love this stamp! This cute little munchkin is so lovely to colour and she works well with whatever colour combination you fancy.  I went for purple as I wanted to use this gorgeous Magnolia paper from last year's Christmas collection.  I used a Martha Stewart PATP for the lacy border and a Sizzix die for the scalloped circle.  The bow was made with my fabulous Lil'Inker die and I added a flat-backed gem to its centre.  The little pearls and flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I did a close-up of the image so that you can see it in more detail.

She's been coloured with Copics in V, BV and C shades.  I added a little bit of Glamour Dust to her wings and the cloud.  There is Crackle Glaze (don't know if you can actually see it) on the flask and Diamond Glaze on her mug - it looks quite pretty irl.

So why not join in the fun over at Lovely hAngar or Sweet Magnolia this fortnight?  There's an added incentive this time: instead of a prize we're offering a GDT slot to our winner!  Hop on over here to see what my lovely teamies have made to inspire you.

I'm going to make my mincemeat this afternoon, in between helping the Boy Wonder with his maths homework.  I love the smell of the dried fruit and spices and I like it even better when the brandy goes in!

Hugs

Tracey xx

Christmas at Sweet Stampin'!

Woohoo!  I have exciting news!  Sweet Stampin' is branching out and is starting another challenge blog, but this one is especially dedicated to Christmas!

Christmas at Sweet Stampin'  will launch officially on 9th January 2013, but we're going to have an Anything Goes challenge on 5th December to introduce ourselves and to get the ball rolling.  Each new challenge will start on the second Wednesday of each month, so you'll have plenty of time to get your creations made and uploaded! We have some fabulous sponsors lined up so there will be great prizes on offer.

I now need to tell you about two things. 

1.  Christmas at Sweet Stampin' is having a DT call.  If you'd like to join our ever-so-slightly-bonkers team of Christmas Sweeties, please can you hop over to the new challenge blog here and contact Abi and Fi using the link in the sidebar.  The DT call will run until 6pm on 28th November.

2. We have some candy up for grabs. You need to visit the candy post at Christmas at Sweet Stampin' and then follow the instructions! 

Come on over to take a look at Christmas at Sweet Stampin's new blog - we're looking forward to seeing you there!

Hugs

Tracey x

Make Something - Anything!

No excuse for not entering our latest challenge at Sweet Stampin' - it's Anything Goes!  We're being sponsored by Quixotic Paperie and the Stamp Fairy this week and Joanna Sheen is our monthly sponsor - with all of those Christmas cards to make, what better time to win crafting vouchers or digis!

Here's my card for Team Abi

I was given a Stamp Fairy digi to use and my first thought was that she was perfect for paper piecing.  I used papers from Authentique and Pink Paislee and added flowers and pearls from Wild Orchid Crafts.  As for the choice of colour, well why not?  It's so grey outside that I thought a little bit of autumn sunshine wouldn't go amiss!

I hope you can join in the challenge with us at Sweet Stampin' this week - you can check out the cards the Sweeties have made here.

I'll be back tomorrow with my Lovely hAnglar card.  Have a great day.

Hugs

Tracey

All that Glitters

Hello!  This is a real quickie to let you know that we have a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin'!

The theme is All That Glitters - yes, it's time to get glitter everywhere (and let's face it, it will get everywhere because it always does), so let's see those stamped designs and lots and lots of sparkle.  We've got fabby prizes from our very own lovely Natali's online store, Iva Nova Chest



and the lovely Joanna Sheen, who sponsors our monthly prize draw.

The Sweeties have made the most gorgeous creations to inspire you, so hop on over here and check them out!

I'm dashing out now to pick up some Chinese food as the Boy Wonder and I are celebrating (albeit with a bit of a lump in my throat). Yes, the time has come - TBW is now, officially, a teenager.  Those of you who have met my son will be forgiven for thinking that he was already a teenager as he has been practising for this role for some months.  I love him to bits all the same!

Enjoy your evening!

Hugs

Tracey xxx

Woooh... Spooky!

I can't believe that this is my last GDT card for Cupcake Craft Challenges! The weeks have just flown by.  Thank you so much for having me, Cupcakes - I've loved every minute.

So, what's our challenge theme this week?  It's "Witches and Pumpkins". If you're anything like me, even though you don't "do" Hallowe'en, you still have to make a couple of cards, don't you?

I went for the (nearly) CAS look this time:

I love colouring this Tiddlyinks image! I used Copics (C0-09) for her dress, hair and hat. The dark red accents on her clothes are Copics R59 and R89; I used a silver Promarker for the buckle on her hat.

My card base is made from Bazzill cardstock and I cut a fancy Nestie rectangle from the same card.  Underneath that you can just see a strip of Basic Grey DP from the Little Black Dress collection.  I didn't have flowers in the right colour, so I took some WOC white roses and spritzed them with Charcoal and Pearl Glimmer Mist. 

The Cupcakes have made the most gorgeous Hallowe'en creations for you, so I hope you can go over and take a look.  This week we're sponsored by

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

Cute Card Thursday - Something Scary
Tiddlyinks Challenge - Hallowe'en

It was back to work for me today and my suspicion that I've got a manic couple of weeks ahead was confirmed.  On the plus side, at least life is never dull!

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Hugs

Tracey xx

Hallowe'en Tilda

I'm getting myself ready to go back to school tomorrow and thought I'd take a break to show you a wee Hallowe'en creation.

I cut a fancy border from black glitter card using a Martha Stewart PATP, then layered Bazzill cardstock and black DP (Basic Grey Eerie, I think).   I painted Tilda using Distress Markers and cut her out.  I stamped the moon from the Magnolia Sports/Space collection and painted that using Pumice Stone Distress Ink.  Now for the fun part: after covering everything in sight with newspaper, I masked the moon with a post-it and squirted the watercolour card square with various Glimmer Mists - Charcoal, Pearl and Dazzling Diamonds.  I also sprinked a little bit of Glamour Dust here and there. The end result is quite effective irl.

I cut the swirls (Memory Box) and bats (CC Designs) from the same black glitter card; I had to chop up the swirls a bit to get them to go in the direction I wanted.  You can't tell from the photo, but Tilda is mounted on a piece of coiled wire so that she bobs about on her broomstick!

I'm going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Dieing for a Challenge - Hallowe'en
Live and Love Crafts - Hallowe'en/Autumn Colours
Simply Magnolia - Sparkle and Swirls

It was lovely having an extra hour this morning, but it's only mid-afternoon and it's nearly dark!  Time to light the fire, I think.

Hugs

Tracey xx

What's Cooking?

Hello everyone! It's a chilly morning here in SW Scotland, but gorgeous nonetheless. It's amazing how blue sky and sunshine can take your mind off the bitterly cold wind coming down from the North!

We have a new challenge for you at Sweet Stampin' today: What's Cooking (or something to eat).  We'd like to see your food-themed creations this week - stamped, of course.

When I was trying to decide which stamp to use for my DT card it occurred to me that all of my food related stamps have cakes on them.  I wonder why that would be..?

I masked the little hAnglar & StAnglar girl with the kitchen stamp from the same kit and coloured them with my Copics.  It doesn't really show in the photo, but there's some crackle glaze on the water jug and glitter on the cupcake.

The DP is from an Authentique Christmas pad and I used the Cheery Lynn corners again.  Check out the little food mixer charm! I can't remember where I got it but I've been dying to use it for ages! 

Make yourself a cuppa and go over to Sweet Stampin' to check out what my lovely teamies have made to inspire you. We have digis from Whimsy Stamps  as our prize this week and Joanna Sheen gives away a voucher each month to one randomly chosen entry.  Hope you can join in!

Hugs

Tracey x

Pieced Off!!!

Isn't this just the best title for a challenge?  I've know about it for a few weeks and it still makes me giggle!  It's new challenge day at Cupcake Craft Challenges and this week we'd like to see paper piecing on your creations, please!

It's my penultimate week as a Guest Cupcake (where did the time go?) and I've been having a fabulous time. Here's my take on this week's challenge:

I've used a Stamping Bella image and paper pieced the dresses. I put some Glossy Accents on the glasses and a tiny pearl for the cherry in the cocktail.  The papers are all from an Authentique paper pad and I cut the various shapes using Doohickey, Dienamics and CC dies. The sentiment is a Sizzix rub-on which I've had for ages!

I really hope you can join in this week's Cupcake Challenge.  There are some great prizes lined up; we're being sponsored by

and

Freckled Fawn are giving away a $15 voucher and Paper Pretties have digis up for grabs.  So why not make yourself a cuppa and hop over to see what the Cupcakes have made to inspire you?

Have a great day!

Hugs

Tracey xx

Keeping it simple

I've been trying the mono look with my Copics again.  I thought this Tiddlyinks image would suit the CAS treatment:

I used my square Nesties and the tan mat to emboss the borders onto plain white cardstock.  The image mat is cut from black Bazzill and all I had to do after that was add some black gems.

While I'm here, I should tell you that we started a new challenge at Sweet Stampin' today - Hallowe'en! The Team Fi Sweeties have made the most spookily amazing creations to inspire you, so do hop over  and join in the fun.

I thought I'd enter my card into the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz - Clean and Simple
Deep Ocean Challenges - Anything Goes

Enjoy the rest of your evening!

Hugs

Tracey xx

Two's Company

It's time for a Cupcake (yes, I know - it's always time for a cupcake).  I'm loving being a guest Cupcake Craft Challenges this month!

This week's challenge is Two's Company, so we'd like to see two images on your design.  We're sponsored this time by My Mum's Craft Shop and the Stamp Fairy who are giving away a £10 and $10 store voucher respectively.  The Stamp Fairy also gave us some images to play with.  Here's mine:

I coloured the image with Copics and white gel pen.  The paper is by Magnolia and I splodged all round the edges with Picket Fence Distress Stain. I used a Doohickey die to cut the snowflakes and added a few little pearls here and there.  A touch of Glamour Dust and some sheer ribbon et voilà!

Do hop over here to see what the Cupcakes have made to inspire you - hope you can join in the fun this week!

Hugs

Tracey x

Ribbon and/or Trim

It's time for another challenge at Lovely hAnglar or Sweet Magnolia.  This fortnight we'd like to see ribbon or another form of trim on your creations, please. 

I'm enjoying using my autumn colours at the moment, so here's my card:

The DP is from the MME Fine and Dandy (Boy) pad and I added gold coloured roses, pearls and a heart-shaped doily from Wild Orchid Crafts, together with some brown velvet ribbon from my stash. The swirl is cut from a  Memory Box die.  I painted Tilda with my Distress Markers - I love the warm yellows and oranges in this range.

My teamies at LhoSM have made some lovely creations to inspire you, so I hope you'll be able to hop over and join in with us.  We are lucky to be sponsored by Live and Love Crafts for this challenge and this is a prize I'd love to win:

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Hugs

Tracey x

Woo Hoo! Yay! and all that...

It's the holidays and boy, am I ready for them! I'm looking forward to getting some quality time with the Boy Wonder and working my way through my list of things to do in preparation for that thing in December which starts with a C!

Another cause for celebration is that it's Saturday and that means a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin'!  This week we'd like to see your take on Autumn Leaves and/or Trees.  I usually love this time of year although I know that for some of you lately the weather has been causing all sorts of problems.  I do hope you're all cosy, safe and warm.

Here's my DT card:

I painted Tilda with my Distress Markers and added a metal corner from Wild Orchid Crafts, which I'd splodged with Picket Fence Distress Stain.  The paper is from the Basic Grey Curio pad; I love the fact that these papers all have a slightly distressed edge to them, which I've just roughed up a bit with the Timmy thingy.  The chipboard corners (wish I could remember where these came from) have also had a coat of Distress Stain and a dab of ink too.  I used some Basic Grey fibres and a strip of lace to break up the DT a bit.  The flowers and leaves are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the Doohickey heart has had a good rub down with an inky piece of foam!

Hope you can join in the fun with us this week. We have a fabulous prize on offer from this week's sponsors Lili of the Valley:

Off to do the housework now.  Can think of plenty of things I'd rather be doing but at least today once it's done I should be able to find some time to make a card or two.

Have a lovely day.

Tracey xx

It's definitely Autumn...

For those of you who are unsure and, like me, have been under the impression that it's been Autumn since the middle of June, I can tell you that this lovely season has now started.  Officially.  Why am I so certain? Because that's the theme of our challenge over at Cupcake Craft Challenges this week!

Here's my Guest Cupcake card

 

 

I used one of my all-time favourite hAnglar images for this one.  There is something about this stamp - the simplicity of it, maybe - that really appeals to me and she is a joy to colour.  I stuck with E number Copics and added a little Distress Ink around the edge of the Nestie.  The fence is a Doohickey die cut which also had some DI splodged over it.  I love the papers - MME and Basic Grey, I think.  The flowers are of course from Wild Orchid Crafts.

 

I hope you can join in with us at Cupcake this week.  Do hop on over here to check out the DT creations - they really are fabulous!

 

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

 

Just Magnolia - Anything Goes

Wild Orchid Crafts - Anything Goes

 

Hugs

 

Tracey

 

Just a quickie

I'm running late and won't have a card until tomorrow, but I must let you know that the new challenge over at Sweet Stampin' is "Through the Window".  Hop on over here to see what the Sweeties have made to inspire you this week.

Hugs

Tracey xx

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink was one of my favourite films when I was younger - I loved all of the Brat Pack stuff.  Over at Cupcake this week we're celebrating the colour pink as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Some of you will know that my sister is currently fighting this horrible disease and not so long ago one of my best friends also had to go through  months of chemo and feeling pretty rotten.  Still, the good news is that my sister is now halfway through her chemo so we can start counting the weeks back to normality.  As for my lovely Marianne, she's now had her first haircut since her treatment finished and she's looking and feeling fabulous!

So, here's my first card as a Guest Cupcake for October:

I love this Saturated Canary image. She's a joy to colour, too.  I made another centre step card (still can't find the link to the tutorial, but I'll keep looking!). I used Prima 12 x 12" paper, which I prefer to their pads because they tend to be double sided and they are a similar weight to cardstock.  I cut a little heart Doohickey tag and used some Doodlebug rubons to write the sentiment.  Liquid pearls and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts are the only embellies so that the image can take centre-stage.

I do hope you'll play along with our Think Pink challege at Cupcake Craft Challenges this week.  The Cupcakes have made the most gorgeous designs to inspire you, so do go over and take a look.  There are prizes too!

Have a lovely week, everyone and remember to check those boobs!

Hugs,

Tracey xx

Anyone for a Cupcake?

As promised, I'm back to let you know the news I hinted at yesterday.

I'm chuffed to bits that my lovely blogging pal, Faye, has asked me to be a Guest Cupcake for the month of October over at Cupcake Craft Challenges! 

I'll be posting my first Guest Cupcake card tomorrow for our first challenge of the month, so I do hope you'll visit us at Cupcake to join in the fun!

Today I've got a card to share that I made a wee while ago but didn't get round to posting.

The photo isn't the best, I'm afraid - it seems to be almost dark here all the time.  I used a
little hAnglar stamp and coloured her with my Distress Markers.  The papers are from a Maja Designs pad and I've added some pink pearls in the corners, flowers (WOC) and seam binding.  The brad in the centre of the bow is from the Basic Grey Capella collection and I made the butterfly with a Cheery Lynn die.

I'm going to enter this card in the Just Magnolia challenge, which is Die cuts/punches and pearls.

I'm off to brave the howling gale that's going on outside to try to rescue a few plants which I had to put into pots because they were sitting in a lake of rainwater.  Now they're rolling around the patio - I can't win, can I?!

Enjoy your Sunday.

Hugs

Tracey xx

Vintage (and I don't mean me!)

Good morning everyone! I can't believe it's been so long since I was able to post anything.  We've had a pretty dodgy internet connection again this week but I've also been really busy at work, with lots of stuff going on after school.  We're on holiday in a couple of weeks and hopefully then I can catch my breath and get back on track.  I've also been busy doing something crafty which I can't show you yet, but I'll be back with news of this tomorrow!

Anyhoo, it's Saturday and that means it's time for a new challenge at Sweet Stampin'! This week we want to see your interpretation of Vintage style in your creations.  Now, I'll admit, I wasn't sure whether I was confusing vintage with shabby chic (can anyone tell me the difference?) but this is what I made:

I was lucky enough to win over at Totally Tilda a couple of weeks ago and the prize was a £10 voucher from Bunny Zoe's.  The lovely Nikki has such a beautiful range of goodies and I was spoilt for choice, but I decided to get myself a couple of Bildmalarna stamps to try.  I stamped this little cutie onto watercolour card and painted her using my Distress Markers and some water.  There is a little bit of Glamour Dust on her wings, to give her a wee bit of sparkle

The pretty papers are from a Maya Designs pad and I've distressed all of the edges with the Timmy Thingy and some Walnut Stain ink.  I wish I could remember where I got the chipboard flourishes, particularly as it wasn't that long ago that I bought them! The heart was cut with a Magnolia Doohickey and edged with Walnut Stain and I added some lush ribbon from the Ribbon Girl and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I do hope you can join us at Sweet Stampin' this week - hop over here to take a look at the fabulous designs my teamies have made!

Have a lovely day!

Hugs

Tracey xx

Awww..!

I'm not a soppy person.  At least, I don't think I am.  But I didn't take that into consideration at all when, a couple of years ago, I bought these stamps.  I don't get to use them very often, but when I do... oh, they are such a joy to colour.

It's new challenge time over at Lovely hAnglar or Sweet Magnolias and we've decided on an "Anything Goes" theme this fortnight.  My fabby teamies have made the most gorgeous creations to inspire you and I decided to make not one card, but two!

Apologies (again) for the photo - this time there was a yellow thing in the sky and no matter what I did, I couldn't avoid getting shadows on the cards. One even looks like a grubby fingerprint but I promise you, it isn't!

I found a tutorial for this card shape, wrote down the link and now can't find it.  When I do, I'll edit this post in case anyone would like to take a look.

The images were coloured with Copics and all that was added were some roses from Wild Orchid Crafts and gingham from my stash.  Very simple, I know, but I do like the effect.

I do hope you can join us over at Lovely hAnglar or Sweet Magnolias - for this challenge we are sponsored by Creative Treasures

I’m Tracy and the owner of Creative Treasures, we are a family run business with a love of all things craft related. We stock a great range of mulberry flowers, pretty ribbons, seam binding, lace, crystal drops, charms and lots of pretty embellishments. We are always adding new stock. Our aim is to provide fantastic customer service and great value for money.

 

Hope you all have a lovely week and I'll see you soon!

 

Tracey xx

Simply Sentimental

Another Saturday, another new challenge over at Sweet Stampin'!  This week our theme is "Simply Sentimental".  No, we're not asking you to get all nostalgic and weepy, we'd like to see you use a sentiment as the focus of your card.  Stamp & Create are our sponsors this week, giving away a prize of a $20 voucher.

I will apologise in advance for the rubbish photo; I must have taken a picture of it in every room in the house and still couldn't get it right.  Anyhoo, here it is...

The sentiment is from a Magnolia Christmas collection and has been stamped with brown Staz-On. The DP is from last year's Authentique Christmas pad and I've added some Cheery Lynn die cut corners.  The kraft frame has been cut with a Spellbinders die. 

I had hoped to get a photo of the "special thing" I mentioned that the Boy Wonder and I were off to collect last week.  Sadly the awful weather has meant that I haven't been able to do that but... we picked up our new car!  Yay!  And then ... yesterday I got a letter to say that my brand new car was on a recall list as there is a potential fault with it.  I haven't even had it a week. Typical!

Finally, if anyone wants to know just how rubbish the weather is here, the driveway and patio are covered in seaweed-like algae again.  Yuk!

I'll be back tomorrow with a little hAnglar (or two??).

Hugs,

Tracey xx

G'day!

Fingers crossed that after the last two manic weeks at school I can now start to get back into a more normal routine and start crafting again.  I was able to colour some images for an upcoming DT project last night and it felt so lovely to be doing something other than schoolwork or housework!

I've got a few projects on the go at the moment but nothing ready to post, so I thought I'd share another bit of the mini album I made for my dear friend and colleague who retired recently.  She has been planning a trip to see family in Australia, so this cute Tilda stamp seemed the perfect choice.

The papers are from the MME Sunny Side pad and they've been layered to form little pockets for my friend to put photos or other mementos in.  Tilda has been coloured with Distress Markers; the postcard is a Lily of the Valley stamp which I really should use more.

There are a couple of animal challenges out in Blogland at the moment that I would like to enter.


Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Animal
Midweek Magnolias - Animal (non-domesticated)


Before I go, I must let you know about our new challenge at Sweet Stampin'!  This week it's White on White and let me tell you, the DT creations are amazing! We've got prizes from Letraset (Promarkers) and from our lovely Sweetie Natali, as well as our monthly sponsor Joanna Sheen.  Lots to play for, then and a fabulous challenge!

I'm rushing off to get everything done today so that I can (hopefully) get some crafting time tomorrow.  It's not all work for me today, though...  all being well the Boy Wonder and I will be going to collect something a bit special!  More news of that next time!

Have a lovely day.

Hugs

Tracey xx

Inspired by a Song or a Film

There's a new challenge at Sweet Stampin' today! Our challenge this week is for you to create something stamped which is inspired by a song or a film.  We are being sponsored by Papelitos Stamps so we were all given some digis to play with.  Mine is called Alice, so I had a choice: Alice in Wonderland or something else.

After much faffing about I went with something else!  My choice has, however, caused some consternation over at Sweet Stampin' Towers as I am now responsible for putting a naughty song in the heads of my lovely Teamies!  I decided on "Livin' Next Door to Alice" from all those years ago when I was a teenager.  And then I remembered that a certain rotund comedian (and I use the term loosely) did his own version... 

Moving swiftly on... I stamped a row of Magnolia houses and put my Alice image in front of them using sticky pads.  The papers are also Magnolia and I added a punch MS border, lots of Wild Orchid Crafts flowers and some blue ribbon to finish it off.

I do hope you can come over to Sweet Stampin' to take a look at what the rest of the DT have made to inspire you.  It would be great to have you playing along with us this week - remember to stamp and, this week, to mention on your post the song or film behind your creation.

Many apologies for being away from my blog this week.  Work has been pretty full-on but I hope to be able to get back to normal in a week or so.

Have a lovely weekend!

Hugs

Tracey xx

And now for something completely different...

For me, anyway. I've been drooling over the black and white designs that Faye and Delphine have created for this week's challenge at Cupcake. Really, if you haven't seen these cards, you need to hop over and take a peek. Now I know my limitations and mono and CAS are not my strong points. However,  I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone, so, armed with only black and white card, a stamp and a handful of Copics, I made this:

I've kept the card as clean and simple as possible, with the only concession to any bling whatsoever being a sprinkling of Glamour Dust on trim of her hat and scarf. I'm not totally convinced that I've got the hang of this just yet, but I enjoyed making this card and will certainly try this style again.

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Black and White



Charisma Card Challenges - Monochromatic

Stampin' for the Weekend - Monochromatic

First day back at school today and already it feels like we've never been away!

Tracey x

Super Scooter

I've got the Abba tune stuck in my head (yes, I know they don't sing "Super Scooter" but that's what I'm hearing!).  That reminds me of when the Boy Wonder was very small.  He loved singing and would sing along to pretty much anything, even when he didn't know the words.  I used to love it when he would make up words to fit the song and I remind him of this every now and then - it's one of the fun things you can do when you have a (nearly) teenager, although I'm not sure the Boy Wonder would agree.  He did laugh the other night, though, when we caught the tail-end of the Peter Kay tour show... I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it, suffice to say it's to do with the lyrics of well known songs, Peter Kay stylie.

Enough of my waffle.  Here's a card.

I'm on the last of one of my favourite pads - Pink Paislie's Queen Bee, which you can't get for love nor money now.  I matched this with some ribbon from my stash and flowers and a flat-backed pearl from Wild Orchid Crafts.  The doily was cut with a Cheery Lynn die and the green matte pearls are by Pebbles Inc.

I stamped Tilda on her scooter from one of this year's collections.  I haven't used her as much as I thought I would, so it seemed like as good a time as any to put this right.  She's been coloured with Copics and I put some Diamond Glaze on her crash helment and on the light on the bike.

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Fall
Magnolialicious Highlights - Autumn Splendour

Back to school tomorrow!

Hugs

Tracey x

How do you choose your favourite?

It's time for a new challenge at Lovely hAnglar or Sweet Magnolias and we're asking you to choose your favourite stamp!  Now that, surely, is a challenge in itself!

I chose this lovely hAnglar girlie as she was one of the very first I bought.  I do wish Marie still had her online store although it's probably better for my bank balance that the temptation is no longer there!  I coloured the image with my Distress Markers and added some Glamour Dust to her wings.

The papers are from the K&Co Watercolour pad - still one of my all-time favourites - and I stitched all of the layers (wonkily, but I stitched 'em anyway).  As for embellies, well I used some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and I'm pretty sure the little lace butterflies came from there too.  The wee button heart has been in my stash forever as you can't get them anymore - it was in a Doodlebug pack and I wish I had more of them!

So that's my card.  Do hop over to Lovely hAnglar or Sweet Magnolias to see what my super-talented teamies have made to inspire you.  We'd love you to play along with us this fortnight if you can!  We are sponsored this time by

 

Make it Crafty are kindly giving away a $15 voucher for their online store - as if you needed another reasons to join in!

Well, it's my last weekend of the holidays and I'm trying to get myself organised for going back to school.  No doubt by Thursday I will have forgotten what it's like to be on holiday!

Hugs

Tracey x



**?!** Blogger!

Well, I'm still having problems with Blogger but at least I can now upload my photos to Picassa and get them onto the blog that way.  What a pain.  I've read a few of the queries on some of the help forums - some people have gone 3 weeks without being to upload a picture and they've all had the same error messages as me! 

Anyway, having had a couple of days crafting before I get properly back into doing schoolwork, I made some cards for challenges that caught my eye.  Thanks to **?!** Blogger I've missed these but, trying to look on the bright side, at least I've got cards "in hand" for future challenges.

I've been using more Kraft card lately and the more I use it, the more I like it! I've been inspired by the lovely Catherine who makes the most stunning cards and manages to successfully combine Kraft card with any colour or image - something I've found quite hard to do.

I found this sheet of red gingham paper in amongst the leftovers of a 6"x6" SEI Christmas pad and knew it would go well with Kraft card. I knew just the stamp to use, too; this is one of the older Magnolia Tilda stamps and I love the simplicity of it.  I coloured her with Copics and put some Crackle Glaze on the bauble to make it look old, although in the photo it looks a bit glittery.

The paper was inked and splodged with Antique Linen and Walnut Stain DIs.  I cut out some Cheery Lynn corners and stamped a Magnolia Christmas sentiment using Kraft cardstock.  I didn't think lots of embellies would look right with this style of card, so I simply added some jute and twine around the middle.  I had to put a flower somewhere, though, so I opted for a wee 10mm rose from Wild Orchid Crafts.
The card is a wee bit plain (for me!) but I do quite like it.  It will go with the lovely Christmas decorations I bought last year so I might try and make some gift bags along the same lines, if I get the time.
I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Totally Tilda - Use Kraft
My Mum's Craft Shop Challenges - Kraft It

I'm off to get some other work done now... duty calls!

Tracey xx

Happy Ever After

Good morning! Well, I'm here with a post and it's all down to my lovely pal and Sweet Stampin' Teamie/Boss Abi!   Abi, who is a bit of a whizz when it comes to computers, came to my rescue late last night as I haven't been able to upload any of my photos to Blogger.  I have no idea why this is, what has caused this or indeed, how to fix it.  If any of you lovely Bloggers know what I can do, please could you let me know?

Anyway, we have a new challenge today at Sweet Stampin'.  This week our theme is Weddings and Anniversaries, so now is your chance to use those neglected stamps that maybe only get an airing round about Valentines Day!

Being the miserable old so and so that I am, I have very little in my stamp collection that is vaguely romantic! However, I like this Lili of the Valley image, mostly because it's cute but also because it's a decent size - sometimes I find their images too small to colour with anything other than Copics.  I masked this image with a Magnolia background stamp and painted the lot using my Distress Markers and some inks.  The DP is from a Tilda pad; it doesn't show up too well in the photo but there are a couple of different papers layered up and I cut out some Cheery Lynn butterflies and some Doohickey swirls and a tag from another contrasting design from the same pad.  The doilies are from Joanna Sheen and the flowers and pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I do hope you can join us over at Sweet Stampin' this week.  The Team Abi Sweeties have made some gorgeous DT creations to inspire you and as always, there is the chance to be in our Spotlight and to enter our weekly and monthly prize draws.  This week's sponsor is Whimsy Stamps who are giving away 5 digis and the lovely Joanna Sheen continues to provide our monthly draw winner with a £10 voucher for her online store.

Right - I'm off to give Blogger a kick up the bahookie!

Have a lovely day!

Hugs,

Tracey xx

Another Christmas Card?

I can't believe that I'm posting another Christmas card but, yes, another one has actually been made.  We've had our first really beautiful day here this summer and the Boy Wonder have been sitting in the jungle  garden eating ice cream and enjoying the sunshine.  Then I remembered that the challenge which prompted me to make this card is about to finish, so I'd better get a wiggle on!

I coloured this Tilda with Copics and stamped around her with some Weathered Wood ink.  Everything has had a good dose of Glamour Dust and Liquid Pearls.  I've used a selection of dies: Doohickeys for the tag and the swirls, Spellbinders for the fancy oval and my lovely new Lil' Inker bow. The border was created with a Martha Stewart PATP.  Papers are Magnolia and the roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I stamped a Magnolia tiny holly sprig on the tag with some more Weathered Wood ink just to pick up the pattern in the paper.

I'm going to enter this card into the TOMIC challenge  which is Christmas in July using Red, Green, White and Stars and also this week's challenge at Midweek Magnolias, which is Dies and Punches (use at least 2).

Hugs

Tracey xx

Christmas... already?

I like to think that I'm a reasonably organised person, but I am not one of those who manages to get all of her Christmas cards made well in advance of the season.  I am, sadly, of the variety that has very good intentions but inevitably ends up buying a number of cards to give to colleagues and more distant relatives. 

Well, here is a Christmas card.  I'm not saying I'll manage to make all of my cards this year, but at least I've made a couple and it is only August.

I went a bit bonkers with the Distress Crackle paint and then plastered the first layer of paper with white embossing powder to give everything a worn, shabby look.  I stuck some cheesecloth over the top and then cut a square from one of my favourite Magnolia Christmas papers. The problem with this, though, is that the 12"x12" square has a white distressed edge - when you cut a square from it you are left with edges that don't match.  I tried to even things up with more Crackle paint but it didn't look right.  I then used my Picket Fence Distress marker; that was a bit better but it still didn't match the other edges.  In the end I used a white gel pen and I am a bit happier with the effect.

I inked up a Tilda which I bought last year but didn't really use - I don't know why, as I think she's really cute.  She's been coloured with Copics, cut out with a Nestie and popped onto a couple of doilies.  The poinsettias and mistletoe have been cut with Doohickey dies and I've added a 15mm rose from Wild Orchid Crafts into the centre of each of the paper flowers.

Here are the challenges that I'd like to enter

Just Magnolia and hAnglar & StAnglar - Anything Goes with optional handmade flowers

Totally Papercrafts - Monochrome (red and white)

Songbird Challenges - Anything Goes

Hugs

Tracey xx

Lovin' the Olympics

As some of you will have gathered by now, I've been totally hooked on watching the Olympics.  Normally the Boy Wonder practically has to bribe me to watch sports programmes but right now I'm reluctant to be more than a couple of paces away from the tv.

Some of you will also know that I don't feel confident about making boy's cards.  However, the success of Team GB and, in particular, Andy Murray winning his Gold Medal at the weekend, gave me some inspiration.

I followed the sketch from this week's Magnolia Down Under challenge and inked up Edwin playing tennis.  I stamped the rosette from the same Magnolia collection and coloured everything with my Copics.  The papers are by Magnolia and the die cuts were all made using Doohickey dies.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Edwin Only

Midweek  Magnolias - Olympics

Magnolia Down Under - Sketch (turned this round, hope this is OK)

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Bunting

I've been into work to get the results for my Higher class and I'm a happy teacher.  8 As, 3 Bs and 3 Cs.  I'm so proud of my kids - they worked their socks off and I'm delighted they got the results they deserve.  Plus it means I can actually get some sleep tonight!

Hugs

Tracey xx