Another Birthday Bunny...

Hello folks!!

Firstly... Happy New Year to you all, I hope 2017 has started well for you and that you had a lovely Christmas time!! :) Secondly, I finally have another card to share with you... made for my lovely Mum's birthday just before Christmas...

My mum has always loved rabbits since being given a toy one- named Mr Bun, and who still resides, wrapped up safely, in Mum's wardrobe to this day!- so I ordered her a lovely mug with a watercoloured bunny as one of her presents and decided to continue the theme with her card and use an equally gorgeous LOTV bunny stamp :) I have had this stamp for a very long time (bought to use for my Mum!) but think this is the first time I've actually used it... it definitely won't be the last as I love it even more now!! 😍 I'm sooo glad I have it as it's one of the many that has now been discontinued :(

The image is simply coloured on cream cardstock (Papermill Direct's Cream Smooth, which I've found to be fine for colouring with markers on so long as you're not worried about laying down too much ink for perfect blending... and I like the relaxed style of quicker colouring so it's all good here!! ;) ) with Pro/FlexMarkers and Warm Grey Copics for the bunny... with a little added glitter and shimmer here and there, of course!! :)

I also added a bit of blue paper to match the butterflies and a scattering of diecut hearts and sequins... so many of my favourite brands made it on to this card!!! lol

{The List}

Cardstock - Papermill Direct - Cream Smooth; SU! - Blushing Bride

Stamps - Lili of the Valley - Gift Wrapped (retired); Clearly Besotted Stamps - Many Mini Messages

Dies - Simon Says Stamp - Mum, Mini Hearts Set; CBS - Scalloped Edge (retired)

Colouring Medium - ProMarkers, FlexMarkers and Copics

Inks - Memento  - Tuxedo Black; VersaMagic - Pretty Petunia, Cloud White

Papers - My Mind's Eye - Lost and Found Portobello Road

Tools - Cuttlebug

Embellishments - Little Things by Lucy's Cards Sparkly Shaker Selection - Cherry Blossom, Forget Me Not

Finishing Touches - Wink of Stella Brush Pen - Clear; Sakura Stardust Pen - Clear

{Challenges}

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes

And, last but not least, a fuller pic to show the lovely mug :) I only discovered the amazing artist, Hannah Dale of Wrendale Designs, late last year when a friend posted a picture of a book she had won... it was full of gorgeous dog images with a Black Lab on the cover and I fell in love there and then!! 😍 When I searched for the book on Amazon, though, I discovered she paints sooo many stunning animals and there are all manner of different items... if I had the room in amongst the craft stash I'd totally start collecting!!! lol

Right, I'm off to press post then to bed! Thank you for reading, have a good week!! :)

Wonderful Watercolour...

Hello :)

I'm back with a card today- I've not been well enough to make many cards at all since before Christmas but this last week I've managed to make four... most of them very simple but I'm very happy!! :) 

If any of you follow my little blog over on Facebook or Instagram, you may have already seen a sneak of this card as I was simply so excited I had to share it straight away...

... but I have since taken some better pictures on my proper camera so please keep reading!! ;)

Last week saw yet another fabulous release from Stephanie at Clearly Besotted... I seem to say this almost every time but I really think this may be my favourite release so far!! :) I couldn't wait to play with this particular set as it is just stunning... so I just had to drag myself to my desk the evening they arrived despite not really feeling too well... and I am so glad I did as I love what I made!! :)

Having seen so many of the fabulous DT creating gorgeous samples from this set with watercolour, I decided it was time I gave it another go... and for once, it actually came out looking the way I wanted it to!! :) If I had had the energy, I would have danced for joy!! ;D ;D I used the 'Wet on Wet' technique, which is truly wonderful with a heat embossed image as the embossing pools the paint so beautifully :) I also added some ink splatters... my technique with this needs some serious practise as I ended up being a little (okay, a lot!) heavy handed when trying to get a *few* *slightly* larger splatters :/ lol 

{The List}

Cardstock - Papermill Direct - Smooth Cream

Stamps - Clearly Besotted Stamps - Friends Forever

Inks - Versamark

Tools - Heat Tool

Embossing Powder - WOW! Metallic Brass

Colouring Medium - Distress Inks - Tattered Rose, Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Wild Honey, Forest Moss, Peeled Paint, Weathered Wood, Pumice Stone

Finishing Touches - Shimmer Sprays - Perfect Pearls Perfect Pearl, Tattered Angels Antique Gold, Wink of Stella Clear

{Challenges}

Simon Says Stamp - All Things Bright and Beautiful

And I'll leave you with another quick pic from my Instagram of my messy desk... believe it or not I had already done some of the tidying away at this point!! ;)

Thanks for reading, I'll hopefully see you soon!! :) Have a good week folks!! :)

It's the most wonderful time...

Hello!! :)

I'm popping in with a last minute entry for the Clearly Besotted Stamps Challenge which is Christmas... and we all need to get on with a few of those right about now, don't we?!!

I have been putting off and putting off a Simon Says Stamp order for most of this year... but I finally caved last month after I saw the Stamptember release... which included a couple of exclusive (and gorgeous!!) sets from CBS... so this is what I did with one of them the very day it arrived :)

I stamped the wreaths from the set three times in three different green chalk inks then added pinecones and berries, with a little sparkle and shine to finish them off!! :) I love how they came out- and I'm not usually one for traditional at Christmas!! lol - and all three barely took me 45 minutes... perfect for the Christmas rush!! ;)

I also got slightly carried away with the photos, as you can see... this one does at least show the glaze on the berries as well as the Stickles on the pinecones!! lol

{The List}

Cardstock - Papermill Direct - Rich Cream Linen

Stamps - Clearly Besotted Stamps (for SSS) - Autumn Blessings and Holly Berries ; Clearly Besotted Stamps - Most Wonderful 

Inks - VersaMagic - Sage, Tea Leaves, Hint of Pesto, Red Magic, Jumbo Java & Sahara Sand

Embellishments - Docrafts/Anita's - 3mm Gems

Finishing Touches - Wink of Stella Clear brush pen, Sakura Clear Glaze pen, Stickles in Frosted Lace

Right, I'm off to link this up at Steph's blog while I still can... have a fabulous weekend everyone!! :)

CBS and sewing for World Cardmaking Day...

Hello folks!! :)

Well... Happy World Cardmaking Day to you all!! :) Seeing all the posts about WCD this morning, I thought this was as good a day as any to make my long-overdue return to Blogland (again- I know!! Thank you to anyone who has stuck around this long!!) but, having actually made it to my desk to make some cards earlier- my mojo actually made one of its fleeting reappearances just in time for World Cardmaking day- how unusually cooperative of it!! ;) - I haven't got much energy left... so I will try and keep it short... it is sure to be sweet by virtue of the stunning stamp set I made my card with!! :) 

After depriving us for the month of August ;D , the lovely Steph came back with another fab CBS release last month... and I was waiting to pounce on the postie so I could make a card for a sewing friend of mine the very day it arrived... her birthday was two days later but I knew the Sew Special set was perfect!! :)

I used the stamp set and matching dies along with a lovely vintagey floral paper from First Edition, some stitching on my new little machine- which I am still in love with... but more on that another day!! ;) - and added a little watercolouring and some WOS to the images... as it was coming together, I was quite unsure but ended up very happy with the result and it was just perfect for my friend!! :)

{The List}

Cardstock - Papermill Direct - White Plain

Stamps - Clearly Besotted Stamps - Sew Special, Fabulous Fuchsias (Happy Birthday sentiment)

Dies - Clearly Besotted Stamps - Sew Special Die Collection; MFT - Fishtail Banner Stax

Inks - Versafine - Vintage Sepia; Memento - Espresso Truffle, Angel Pink, Summer Sky, New Sprout

Papers - First Editon - Floral Pavillion

Tools - Cuttlebug, my new (teal! ;D) Sewing Machine

Embellishments - Sequins, Gems and Pearls from stash

Finishing Touches - Wink of Stella Clear Brush Pen

Okay... thank you for stopping by tonight... I am truly grateful that people still want to read my blog when there are so many unscheduled and lengthy absences lately!! :) And now, I shall hit publish and head off to bed before I fall asleep right here... hope you are all having a lovely weekend!! :) And if any of you were lucky enough to make it to the craft shows on this weekend, I hope you had a fab time!! :)

Soft and Subtle with CBS... Sketch Saturday Week #312 and a Blog Hop :)

Hello everyone!! :)

Well, I can hardly believe it but I am here to share my fifth and final Sketch Saturday GDT card with you... and as it is Sketch Saturday's 6th Birthday, there's something a little special going on this week... a blog hop which I am pleased to be joining in with... more details after the card!! lol Also this week, as it is the fifth week in the month, you can choose which sketch you want to use from the SS archives... from as far back as #215 to the present so plenty of choice!! :) I went with a sketch of Jen's which I loved when I first saw it a couple of months ago but didn't have chance to use at the time... here's my card...

I pulled out a few more CBS items for this one- all from the SMS (Shop My Stash for any newcomers- have a look at the tab at the top to know more!) drawer, though some had been there longer than others!! :) I kept it nice and simple as I haven't had a lot of energy this week but the addition of some designer paper (as part of my ongoing SMS challenge, I am also trying to use more of the consumables in my stash- like the tons of cardstock and papers I have- as well as using all my never before used stamps and dies) kept it interesting :) I also added a couple of lines of stitching with my brand new and utterly fabulous (*TEAL*... this makes me ridiculously happy!!! lol) sewing machine!! :)

I love the soft and summery look this has with the colours and oh so pretty flowers :) Oh, yes- and my fave ever sentiment stamps made another appearance too!! lol

{The List}

Cardstock - Papermill - Rich Cream Linen

Stamps - Clearly Besotted Stamps - Bridal Bouquet and Fabulous Fuschias

Dies - Clearly Besotted Stamps - Bridal Bouquet Die Collection and Lovely Labels Die Collection

Inks - VersaMagic - Thatched Straw, Persimmon, Sea Breeze, Turquoise Gem & Aspen Mist (blended on stamp), Aloe Vera & Tea Leaves (blended on stamps), Pink Grapefruit

Papers - First Edition - Boho Chic

Tools - Cuttlebug, my new (teal! ;D) Sewing Machine

The sponsor over at SS this week is Little Miss Muffet Stamps...

...and here's the sketch I used...

... though don't forget, you can choose your own favourite :)

I hope you can join in and take part in the blog hop too!! :) Here's the list for you...

Sketch Saturday 6th Anniversary Blog Hop

1. Alex

2. Audrey

3. Barbara

4. Carla

5. Cathy

6. Debra

7. Donna

8. Faye

9. Jen

10. Jo

11. Julie

12. Kathy

13. Laura

14. Lesley

15. Lizy

16. Marzena

17. Niki

18. Rachel

19. Stephanie

20. Tabbatha

21. Vannessa

22. Wendy

The collection has closed. Let other people know about it through twitter.

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All that's left is to say thank you to Jen and the other SS ladies for having me as their guest designer this month... I have had a lot of fun!! :) It's also Jen's final week on the SS DT... I know I will miss her sketches!! :)

Thanks for stopping by folks (and for reading what turned out to be a rather mammoth post!! :S ) ... I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!! :)