Something Different

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr, hello folks.  How has your Monday been?  I would love to be able to say that I have had the most brilliant day, but I can't.  If I'm totally honest, it's been the pits!

But, it's mostly over now so I thought I would just grab this minute or two before getting dinner on to show you a card I made yesterday.  It's just that little bit different for me, although no doubt you will recognise the simple layout.

I was playing around with ideas for a monochrome card, but simply could not resist adding a splash or two of colour for contrast.

Ingredients for this pooch are:

Stamped Image - Crafters Companion Mulberry Wood Everyday "Friend"

Medium - Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers - DCWV Black & White Stack - I used the daisies and the roses

Cardstock - DCWV Neutral Stack and Brights Stack

I haven't added a sentiment yet because I think he could be used for several occasions.  I know when the right one comes along!

Hugs, Sxx

A Tiny Weeny Bear

I'm just about to sit down to watch the Indian Grand Prix so this is a very quick one .......

Ingredients:

Stamped Image - Marianne Design - Stamp Fairy Xmas Present

Medium - Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers - Magazine Freebie

Lights on, lights off - COME ON JENSON!!

Hugs Sxx

Snowman Hugs

Doesn't every one adore a snowman?  So wouldn't it be extra special, if a little chilly, to get a hug from one?!  It's almost been snowman weather here today, we've had rain, wet snow, sleet and hail, brrrrrrrr.  It was perishing at 9.00 this morning.  At least the sun has popped out now for a lovely, bright interlude between the downpours!

And speaking of snowmen, I thought it was about time I got ink to one of my new Wild Rose Studio stamps.

As I shall be posting so many Christmas cards I am trying to keep them all fairly flat and light, hence the simplicity of the layout on this one, as UK PIP postage prices are now quite high, especially if you are posting a lot of items in one go.  I don't want to sound mean, but last year my postage stamp bill was higher than the cost of Toad's Christmas present!

Ingredients are

Stamped Image - Wild Rose Studio Snowman Hugs

Medium - Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment - Hobby Art

Paper - LOTV Frosty Christmas

Extras - Sparkle borders and Martha Stewart snowflake

On the coloured version of this stamp on the packet, the little bear is done as a polar bear but I wanted to add a little warmth with colour, so here he is just a plain old teddy!

I've made another Christmas card today that I will save to show you tomorrow.  Now I'm off downstairs to make a birthday card for a bloggie buddy.  Shepherd's Pie for dinner tonight (omm nom nom) so nice and cozy comfort grub, stuffing my face while watching Strictly and Merlin.  How much better can it get?

Hugs, Sxx

OMG It's nearly here

Morning all, hope you are ok.  When I got off the bus this morning I had a nosey in The Card Factory window and depressed myself greatly by looking at boxes of 10 Luxury Handcrafted Christmas Cards ....... for 99p.  Oh come on!  99p?  Really? It's no wonder that I can't sell any of my genuinely handcrafted cards.  I can't compete with that!  But it does bring it home just how close Christmas is getting.  I may start to panic very soon.

 

Anyhoo, here is a card that is definitely NOT Christmas.  I made this for a friend who has recently been promoted to Manager of the coffee shop she works in.

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image - LOTV Hello Cupcake

Medium - Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers - all LOTV Petal Fresh

Sentiment - Personal Impressions

Dies - Die-namics Faux Crochet border, Whimsy corner

Thank you for all your lovely comments.  Once again I am behind in catching up with you but I'm getting there slowly.  I'd also like to say goodbye to the Follower who left me yesterday - sorry you decided to go but it has been fun while you were here.

 

Have a lovely day everyone.

 

Hugs Sxx

Well a girl can change her mind .....

Yeah I know I said I wasn't doing the LILI challenge this week as a DT but I'm sure they won't mind a little one tagging on at the end.

Theme this week is GIRLY CHRISTMAS, ooh, how much fun is that to play with?

Just quickly
Image - LOTV Winter Fairy
Medium - Distress Inks (ReInkers)
Papers - LOTV Frosty Christmas
Pink Card - Bazzil Bling
Dies/Punches - Die-Namics Dainty Lace border die, Nestabilities, Martha Stewart

TTFN Sxxx

I Love You Little Rabbit

Evening all!  Just a flying visit in between getting home from work and trekking out again for groceries (boo hiss).

Thought I would share this little darlin' with you as it's the first time she's seen ink from me

Bit of an optical illusion here, she looks terribly squint, but after checking with a ruler, she's quite straight (well, at the top anyway, lol).

Ingredients:

Stamped Image:  Gorjuss Girl - I Love You Little Rabbit

Medium - Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers - KandCo and Basic Grey

Sentiment - Personal Impressions

Punch - Martha Stewart doily lace border

Here she is in close up

And just because I was feeling arty with the camera phone, here she is in sepia tones

It is Team B's turn for LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES CHALLENGE tomorrow (from midday) and I'm not gatecrashing this week so no DT card from me, but I will be back on Friday with one I made earlier!

Hugs, Sxx

Hot Stuff

Now we all know Eric used to tease Ernie about his short, fat, hairy legs - and I can do two out of three, but I really wish I had legs like these .......

I ordered this sassy lass from Quixotic Paperie last week (thanks again Elaine for a super quick service).  She is Hot Stuff from Victoria Case SCACD Retro Crew.

Quixotic have a fabulous sale on at the moment - up to 50% off some stamps - which is always a bad

thing to tell a rubber addicted squirrel!

As she is so tall and thin, I used her on a 6x4 card to show off that fabulous figure!

Papers are Nitwits/LOTV Promises and the sentiment is also LOTV

and I've painted her in Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Ooh, nearly forgot the Martha Stewart border punch to finish off.

Hugs, Sxx

Jolly Holly

I should be saying "Happy Sunday" everyone, but honestly, it is such a grey, wet, cold and miserable October afternoon that I don't actually feel that cheerful.  I never used to mind days like this, especially if I was snuggled up indoors all safe and cozy but today it is really getting to me.  

Anyhoo, I've been having a little play, which always makes me feel better, and here is the end result of today's efforts.

Ingredients for this are:

Stamped Image: Whimsy/Wee by Sylvia Zet "Holly"

Medium: Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers: LOTV Classic Christmas

Extras: Fine line gold border peel-off

I really enjoyed painting this little lass, even if the red tried to go and do it's own thing.  It must be made from a different stuff to the other inks!

And two challenges for her are

ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Up To You

Christmas Stamping All Year Long - Traditional Colours

Hugs, Sxx

Hoopy Birthday

I have a compulsion that I think I might need counselling for very soon.  I can't help myself - even though I know it's wrong and I shouldn't do it, I do it anyway, and then feel really guilty.

But I think trying to explain the lure of new rubber to a therapist could end me up in far deeper water than I am already in.  I mean, what would you think if a lady of a certain age sat on your sofa and said she was addicted to rubber??

And that compulsion/addiction has lead me to some gorgeous stamps from Kraftin' Kimmie that I have seen around on blogland and just knew I had to have.  If you haven't met this little lady already let me introduce you to Lulu.

This one is from the Lulu On The Move set that I found with the lovely Tracy at Dies to Die For.  There are three Lulu images in the set and a sprinkle of sentiments so all is well with the world - great value for money. I also bought the Birthday Lulu set but haven't taken ink to rubber yet.

I've made this one for my office room-mate's little girl who will be six on Monday.  She isn't a girlie-girl but not quite a tomboy so it was difficult to find that in between.

I've painted Lulu with Distress Inks (ReInkers) and then with her hoop I used Diamond Glaze to give dimension and shine and added a sprinkle of Glamour Dust for some irresistible sparkle.  I know it doesn't show well in the above photo so here is a closer look just to prove it really does sparkle!

And that quirky sentiment is part of the set.  Brilliant.

That's all from me for now.  Hope your day is a happy one, whatever you are up to.

Hugs, Sxx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Anything Goes

Whoo-hoo!  It's Fairy day again!

This week at LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES it is

the turn of The A Team to have a play with

ANYTHING GOES

I loved making this tag but wish I'd had my Perfect Layers tools at the time!

Anyhoo, the ingredients for this are:

Stamped Image - LOTV Fir Cones

Medium - Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers - Basic Grey Nordic Holiday

Extras - Memory Box curly die and Martha Stewart "Goo" border

punch (not got the icicles one)

and luscious blue glittered velvet ribbon from (believe it or not) WH Smith

The other members of the Fairy A Team have created the most wonderful inspiration for you, not

that you need encouragement for an Anything Goes theme

so I shall be looking forward to seeing your entries this week and hoping to

steal some ideas (grin)

Hugs, Sxx

Pixie Fall

Is she a Pixie, or a Fairy?  Hmmmmmm.  I am sure there is a definition out there somewhere, but whatever, she's just gorgeous!

Hello peeps, I wasn't going to be back today but things didn't go to plan so I had time to have a play, which was a bonus.

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image: Hazel & Nutty from Sugar Nellie

Medium: Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers: Raspberry Road (magazine freebie)

Sentiment: LOTV

Extras: Whimsy Corner Dies

And the challenge for this one has to be

Sweet Stamping Pixies - Fall Colours

Hugs, Sxx

You Just Gotta Fly Away

Hello all - it has been absolutely ages since I joined in a LESS IS MORE challenge, not because I didn't want to but simply because my time seems to be evaporating faster and faster these days.  Anyhoo, this week's challenge is WINGS so to make up for lost time I've made three cards - but I am only entering the first one.

Titania by Sugar Nellie - Hero Arts Sentiment
Painted in Distress Inks

Pink Gem Birthday Owl - Hero Arts Sentiment
Painted in Distress Inks

Woodware Patch Set (including Sentiment)
Coloured with Caran D'Ache pencils

Going to try and catch up on some commenting.  See you Thursday with my Lili's Little Fairies DT.

Hugs, Sxx

Midway Reminder

Just popping in with a mid-month reminder for our October challenge at WITHOUT WORDS which is focusing on the darker colours this month - it doesn't have to be Halloween so long as you are using the right colours, purples, blues, blacks, reds etc.

If you haven't played along with us yet then we would like to see a CAS card featuring a handcoloured image.  Sentiments are fine, but minimal embellishments (or none at all) 

A very simple 6x4 card using a Stampavie (Gillian Roberts) image, painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers) and teamed with First Edition: DreamCatcher papers.

We will be changing our date next month from the 1st to the first Monday - so our next challenge will post on Monday 5th November.

Hugs, Sxx

The Joy Of Snow

I like snow.  Honestly, I do.  I love the fluffy white crispness and the amazing flakes and how it can change the look of anywhere in seconds.  But that is only if I am tucked up safe and warm at home!

But those feelings don't last long - if it is a work day, soon I am fed up with the buses being cancelled and the snow turning to freezing lumps that make it impossible to get anywhere.  There is just no pleasing me really.  But I am head-over-heels in love with these little guys ....... and I blame Delphine for that, if I'd not seen what she did with them on her blog I may never have felt my heart-a-flutter!

And the ingredients for this one:

Stamped Image - CC Designs Snow Joy

Medium - Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Papers - LOTV Classic Christmas

Sentiment - Hobby Art

Extras - Holly leaf punch and Card Candi

And a challenge for it

Christmas Stamping All Year Long - Anything Goes
Totally Gorjuss - Traditional Christmas Colours

Hugs, Sxx

I Warned You!

Evening all!  Well, I did warn you that you might be seeing this stamp more than once this Christmas so here it is again!

This time I stamped the Wild Rose Studio Baby Jesus onto Bristol Board, and then again onto Eclipse Masking Tape.  I carefully cut out and applied the mask, and stamped over it using the Personal Impressions Christmas Story script stamp in Memento Rich Cocoa, then distressed the Board with Antique Linen Distress Ink and then again round the edges with Frayed Burlap.

After removing the mask I then painted the image with Distress Inks (ReInkers), layered onto a piece of darker card and applied to the white card base.

It was simple enough to do, if somewhat time consuming, but I am really pleased with the result - might do some more of these now that I have the mask made.

Hugs, Sxx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) A Classic Christmas

Hello my darlin's!  It's LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES challenge day, whoooo!

Since the new Fairies joined, Mummy Fairy has split us into Team A and Team B, and this week is actually Team B's turn, so I'm gatecrashing - but I could not resist the excuse to make a card for

a CLASSIC CHRISTMAS.

Just to clarify that, we are looking for cards that are mainly either

Red, Green and White; or

Gold, Silver and White

And the ingredients for this card are

Stamped Image:  LOTV Bringing Gifts

Medium: Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment: LOTV Christmas Grungy Messages

Papers: Dovecraft Vintage and Modern Christmas Collections

Extras: Card Candi, Whimsy Corner Die

Hugs, Sxx

Feeling Sentimental

Hello peeps, and a happy Tuesday evening to you!  Hope all is well in your worlds.

It feels like a lifetime since I entered any challenges so I am about to put that right with an entry for this week's SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS challenge of Anything Goes.

I do love my sentiments - as Toad will tell you, almost every time a new package plops onto the doormat, there is bound to be a sentiment in it somewhere.  And my new favourite sentiments are from LOTV from their most recent mini release!

Ingredients for this card are:

Stamped Image:  LOTV Aimi with Lantern

Medium: Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment: LOTV Scroll Sentiments

Papers: DCWV Far East Stack

And that's all there is to it folks!

Hugs, Sxx

Yee-Haa!

Hello peeps, just a quickie from me today:

Ingredients:

Stamped Image - LOTV Yee Haa

Medium - Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment - LOTV For Him Sentiments and Paperchase Alphabet Stamps

Papers - Basic Grey and Prima

Extras - Martha Stewart star border punch, peel off gold border stars

Right, off to cook some dinner.

Hugs, Sxx

Scared of my own shadow

Thank you to everyone who sent good wishes for my appraisal this week - I am pleased to report that it went very well!

The week I've had at work has left me feeling somewhat flat and lacking in energy

But I did manage to make one Christmas card this week.  It's in my favourite CAS style so apologies if you are bored with seeing these

I've used a stamp called "Joyful Noise" from Penny Black but I am 99% sure that the artwork is Mo Manning - painted in Distress Inks (ReInkers), and the sentiment is from Woodware.

While I was doing this I was transported back three and a half years to art class.  I could hear the tutor, Paul, in my head firmly saying "deepen those shadows" and me squeaking back at him "but I'm too scared"!

Hope you have a fabulous day, whatever you are up to.

Hugs, Sxx

Lili's Little Fairies (DT) Christmas For The Boys

Whoo-hoo!  It's Thursday!  I'll be honest, I have never been able to get the hang of Thursdays - they are known as Turdsday in our house, because if it's going to happen, it's usually on a Turdsday.  But, lately things have been looking up, especially as we all know what Thursday means ...... it's LILI'S LITTLE FAIRIES challenge day!

So what do we have for you this week?  Well, I don't want to be hearing any moans and groans from you but it is Christmas For The Boys!  Oh come on, there are loads of wonderful LOTV stamps that are just perfect for those awkward boys/men in our lives, so I shall be expecting a load of entries for this challenge and will not be accepting any excuses!

The DT have done wonders to inspire you so don't forget to visit them and share some love.  Here is my card:

I've kept it fairly plain with a simple layout as we know those boys don't like too much fluff.  Ingredients are:

Stamped Image  LOTV Pup With Stocking

Medium  Distress Inks (ReInkers)

Sentiment  LOTV Christmas Handwritten Phrases

Papers  Dovecrafts Modern Christmas

Extras  Whimsy Corner Dies

So, that's what I did - can't wait to see what you come up with

 

By the time you read this I shall have had my second annual appraisal at work this year - work that one out.  Hopefully I shall still be employed!

Hugs, Sxx

Mini Candy Winner

Hi all, here I am, as promised, with the winner of my mini-candy - I wish I could afford something for all of you, you are such wonderful friends.  But sadly there can only be one so the old Random Number Generator has been cranked up to full steam and

So that is Number 15 and that's you!

Yes, you - Jayne at Tea Cake And Crafting

Well done sweetie - want to ping me an email so we can sort out your prize?

Thanks to everyone who took part, if you didn't win this time, please don't despair, I will do another one before Christmas.

Hugs, Sxx

Without Words (DT) October Challenge

Morning all, and welcome to 1st October!  Autumn is well and truly underway, Christmas is just around the corner ...... but what the heck, it's time for the second WITHOUT WORDS challenge!

Thank you all so much for joining in our launch challenge in September, you really did have fun with colour, and we have seen some amazing quality work.

So, are you ready for your new fun colour challenge?  This month our theme is THINGS THAT GO BUMP, so think magic, think mystery, think spooky - we are looking for darker colours, the purples, blues, reds, blacks .... it seemed like a good idea when I thought of this theme, and then realised that these are not the easiest colours to work with but hey, nothing should stop you as we all know how much talent is out there in blogland!  And please please please remember, a CAS card with minimal embellishments.

The design team have had a ball with this one and created the most amazing works of art for you to drool over, so please, if you get chance, it'd be nice to show your appreciation.  One of the images took four hours to colour.  Four hours!  And all done for you.

Here is what I did:

I just love this ultra CAS style of card, it's simplicity really appeals, but that's probably because I'm a simple squirrel, lol.

I've used Hazel from Whimsy/Wee Stamps (by Sylvia Zet) and painted her in Distress Inks (ReInkers).  The sentiment by Hero Arts is stamped in Grape Jelly Memento and the purple shiny spots are Papermania.

So, on your marks, get set, off you go - challenge runs until 6.00pm (UK time) on 30 October.

Hugs, Sxx