Less is More...

I took a trip out to London's flower lover heaven yesterday - Columbia Road Flower Market.  Well worth a visit if you get the opportunity.  It was full of the most beautiful roses, tulips, lilies and exotics in every colour imaginable. I came home full of inspiration to make my card, using some of my favourite things - paisley, pink and paper roses.

It's for the sketch challenge over on the Less is More blog.  I'm a 'Less is More' kinda girl, and plan to join in each week but time usually runs out for me, so I'm really pleased to have made it this week! :)

Recycled Paper Card Blank
Crepe Paper
Colorbox Chalk Ink
Papermania Sentiment Stamp
K&Co Patterned Paper

Look Whoo's 1...

Three years of card making and I'd never made an owl - until this week and now I'm hooked, there's owls all over the craft room.  I blame Papercraft Inspirations - there's a great feature on owl cards in this month's issue. 
The My Minds Eye - Dwell papers from Bubbly Funk were just perfect for this 1st birthday card. and it's my project for today over on the Bubbly Scrumptious blog.  There's a 'how-to make it' on this PAGE.

Thanks for visiting today and enjoy your weekend.  I've got a couple of 50th birthday cards to make and I'm just wondering if I could get away with owls for those too - maybe not !;)

Pick a Cake...

I had one of those days yesterday when nothing seems to go right, I just couldn't get my card to work, so I scrapped it and made some cake picks instead.

It's for the challenge over at Let's Craft and Create and the theme this time is 'Valentine'. It doesn't have to be a Valentine card or project especially, just anything that you associate with the word 'Valentine' - hearts, love, red, pink...

Check out the BLOG for all the details and the lovely creations from the DT, we'd love to see you join in with us this time and don't forget you've got until 7th Feb to enter.

Now I'm off to put the kettle on... :)

Stampin Up Very Vanilla Cardstock
Colorbox Chalk Ink
Inkadinkado Heart Stamp
Fiskars Decorative Scissors - Scallop

Fun With Flocking...

I've been having a tidy and come across a set of flocking powder from Studio G.  Never used it before and wasn't really sure what to do with it.  The packet says to use a rubber stamp and glue pad, didn't have a glue pad, so I used a glue pen to flock the spots on this giraffe, the starting point of my card.  I kept the texture theme going by adding glamour dust to the fluffy clouds, crepe paper grass, a lace border and some dew drops. 
I do enjoy finding a use for all those unused products hiding deep down in the crafty stash.  I'm going to delve into another box and see what else I can find!


Pink Petticoat Fluffy Clouds and Baby giraffe
Pink Bakers Twine and Dew Drops - The Ribbon Girl
Flat Cotton lace - Hobbycraft
Glamour Dust
Studio G Flocking - The Range

Ribbon Tips and Tricks...

It's Saturday, my day to post over on the Bubbly Scrumptious blog.  This week I've used this card to share some tips and tricks to help get a professional finish when using Ribbon and Ric Rac on your cards and projects.  You can find it HERE.

I've got some news to share today too.  Remember THIS card, well it's been featured in Papercraft Inspirations this month (issue 96), in the Beautiful blogs feature on page 88.  Here's a photo of the page.

I'm doing a little happy dance, just as well I'm home alone.  Now it's a lovely bright day here, the sun is streaming through the windows of my craft room so a perfect day to get that pile of cards finished.  I'll be back tomorrow with another 'Baby' card.

Looking back...

This week I've moved on to 'Baby' cards, and this is the first of a few.  The image is from the Pink Petticoat 'Sweet Cheeks' collection.  Which, would you believe, was the first digi  kit I bought when I started on my card making journey back in February 2009.  The first card I made with it is deep in the archives of the blog, I've just looked back at it and I'm cringing!!!  But, we all have to start somewhere and I never would have guessed I'd still be here 3 years later.  One of my first followers is still following and commenting on my work.

Pink Petticoat - Sweet Cheeks, Tiny Leopard Print and Vintage Stars, Tiny (New Baby) Sentiments
Stampin Up Crumbcake Cardstock
Bakers Twine from The Ribbon Girl
Crepe Paper
Glamour Dust

More Thank Yous...

Today I have a confession make, I Love Ribbon, closely followed by Ric Rac and Lace!  I think I'd really struggle to make a card without them!  So, for this card I've made the grosgrain bow the focal point. 

and used grosgrain and ric rac for the stem and leaves for this card.
If you're a ribbon fan too, then why not join in with the latest challenge over at The Ribbon Girl blog.  The colour theme this month is blue and pink. 

Winners are chosen at random and there's two lovely prizes up for grabs, a beautiful selection of ribbons from The Ribbon Girl shop and a Gift voucher for LOTV - check out the blog for all the details and see the beautiful creations from the rest of the Ribbon Girls.

From The Ribbon Girl Shop
Light Blue Plain 16mm Grosgrain
Pale Rose Pink Tiny Ric Rac
Pearl Button
Papers: Pink Petticoat Vintage Rose and Woodgrain
Stampin Up Crumb Cake Cardstock
Martha Stewart Embossed Zig Zag Border Punch
Crepe Paper

Thank You Heart...

I found this cool technique whilst browsing on Homespun With Heart, Danielle Flanders is one of my favourite card designers and if you like, what I like to call 'clean shabby chic' then her blog is well worth a visit. 
The technique is oh so simple, one of those that you wish you'd thought of - Debossing with chipboard.
I found that larger shapes on textured card work best and after a bit of faffing with my Cuttlebug plates the sandwich I used was, from the bottom, A plate, C plate, B plate, cardstock then chipboard.

Here's the finished card, hope you can see the heart, it looks a lot more defined in 'real life'!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend.  I'll be back tomorrow with the new Ribbon Girl challenge.

Papers:  Echo Park Victoria Gardens
Melissa Frances Transfer
Seam Binding from The Ribbon Girl
Crepe Paper for the frill
Papermania heart gem

Let's Craft and Create...

Another of my many Thank You cards, this one is for the 'Butteflies' challenge over at Let's Craft and Create.

And... drum roll please...

I'm very pleased to be sharing the news that I'm joining the Let's Craft and Create Design Team and this is my first project as Design Team member.  I'm really looking forward to working with such a talented team.

For any of you not familiar with their challenges, they run for a fortnight, so plenty of time to enter.  The themes are always pretty open to interpretation and you can enter any of your hand crafted projects - doesn't have to be paper.  The main objective is to have fun with your crafting!   Oh, and last but not least, there's a prize for one lucky entry, chosen at random.  Hope to see you over there!

Basic Grey Out of Print - Paper Pad Die Cuts and Pops

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Textile

Hero Arts Sparkle Clear - Thank You

Crepe Paper Frill

Thank You Flower...

I finally found some inspiration for my 'Thank You' cards and this is the first one of many I'll be posting over  the next few days, all with a flower theme and using crepe paper.

It's my make for the Bubbly Scrumptious blog this week and there's a how-to make it and supplies list  over on the blog   HERE .

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the weekend.  I must get back to the dreaded accounts.

Edited to add:  The embossing folder I've used is Cuttlebug - Distressed Stripes.

Craft Clearance...

For those of you that aren't already aware,  QVC are having a Craft Clearance to make way for some lovely new products.  There's lots of bargains to be had.  You can still catch a couple more shows, 1pm today and again tomorrow at 1pm when I think Kirsty is the craft guest.
Here's just one of the cards I've made for the Craft Shows, it made a brief appearance on a show last week just before these lovely Prima Paloma flowers sold out...

Must get back to the Craft Room, I've 'Thank you' cards to make and I'm struggling for inspiration!

Happy New Year...

Here's a card to wish all my readers and followers a Happy Hew Year, and to thank you for all your support and inspiration.

I'm entering it for the  The Shabby Tea Room challenge - 'A Colourful and Shabby New Year!' you must check out the blog, there's some beautiful creations from the Shabby Girls to inspire us.  I'd also like to thank the Shabby Girls for choosing my Santa card as the The Shabby Tea Room winner last week - I'm honoured!

Papers: Echo Park Victoria Gardens
Prima  Acrylic Stamp - lamp trim
Vintage Image - The Graphics Fairy
Silky Crush Ribbon and Leaf pin from The Ribbon Girl