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Monday 30 August 2010

Soft Shades of Vintage at Die Cut Dreams

Monday again so time for another challenge at Die Cut Dreams, but before I get onto that I would just like to say thank you for all your wonderful Tilda in Lemon entries over the last week - there were some fabulous creations to behold!!  Look out for the Winners Post on the Die Cut Dreams challenge blog, don't worry if you didn't win you could have been one of our Top 3.  If that still wasn't you, don't worry you can have another go this week! 
And so, what is this week's challenge I hear you ask??  Well this week we want to see your Soft Shades of Vintage.  Now I don't normally do vintage - bit out of my comfort zone, goes along with distressing which I find just that - Distressing!!!  I waited to see what some of the DT had done for this challenge before I set to work and I have to say that I'm quite pleased with how the card turned out - and here it is:
Here are a couple of close ups of the extras:


Recipe:
Die Cuts - Die Cut Dreams
Image - Tilda by Magnolia (not sure of the name)
DP,flowers and pin - stash
Brass plate - Challenge win at Ann's Creative Nook
Happy Birthday Stamp - Clarity Stamp
I shall enter this card into the following challenges:
Bunny Zoe's Crafts and Creatalicious - Vintage
Dutch Dare Card Challenges - Vintage Summer
Prairie Fairy Fridays and Delightful Challenges- Pearls and Lace
One Stitch At A Time - Girlie or colour scheme - I went with Girlie

Sunday 29 August 2010

Totally Tilda Challenge #4 - Lilac and Lace

Well another fortnight has rolled on by and that means it is time for another challenge over at the Totally Tilda challenge blog.  Once again we had some beautiful entries for our stitching challenge and it was a difficult task to pick the top 3 - I am so glad Susie picks the winner!!  Look out for the Winners Post on the Totally Tilda Challenge Blog - you never know - it could be you!!
So onto challenge number 4 and that is Lilac and Lace.  Once again you can interpret this however you want to but remember we are called Totally Tilda and that means you must have Tilda on your card!!  We don't have too many rules but that one is a biggie!!
So here is the card I made for this challenge:
My card making has taken a whole new turn since I met the wonderful Susie Sugar - her die cuts are a dream to work with and there are so many different ones the difficult bit is deciding which one to use!!!  So a huge big thank you to you Susie - sooooo glad I know you!  Please pay a visit to Susie's store - Die Cut Dreams - where not only are there some wonderful die cuts but a fantastic selection of other goodies too!
Here is a close up of my card:
Recipe:
Die cuts - Die Cut Dreams
Image - Tilda brings flowers - Magnolia
Flowers and lace from my stash,
Especially for You paper - Henbury Lane - from my stash
Remember to click on the Design Teams link at the top of this page and pay a visit to the rest of the Totally Tilda Design Team where you will find some awesome inspiration.
I am also entering this card into the challenges at:
Allsorts - Park Inspiration
Craftalicious - Purple and Green (hope there's enough green!!)


Thursday 26 August 2010

Softpencil Thursday and a Halloween Treat

Hello Softpencil fans, Thursday again which means it is time to showcase another of Elizabeth's fabulous digital images.  This time the DT are showcasing the image - Michu and the Big Flowers which you can buy here  for only $2.75, and here is the card I made:
Paper - Basic Grey - Olivia Pad
Cardstock - stash
Gems, flowers, leaves - stash
Image - Michu and the big flowers - Softpencil
Here are a couple of close ups:

If you don't have any of Elizabeth's super cute images - although I can't think why you wouldn't - pop on over to the Softpencil blog and have a look at the digital images that Elizabeth has in her shop.  Also remember to nip in on the Softpencil group at PaperCraft planet where you will find like minded people for a chat, freebie images from time to time and also the odd challenge.

If you've been over to the Softpencil blog you will have noticed that Elizabeth has recently released some fabulous Halloween clip art and digital images. 
Here is a little treat bag I made using this fabulous clip art and I also added one of the accompanying tags to finish it off.    For those of you with young children just starting school have a look at the latest Back to School digital images that Elizabeth has just released - Soooo cute!

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Mrs Sugar has some Candy!!

Hi peeps,
Just a quickie to let you all know that the wonderful Susie Sugar has now been blogging for Two years!! Whooot Whooot!!  I for one am sooo pleased that she has otherwise I wouldn't have made a really great friend. 
So to celebrate Susie is offering up this wonderful candy:
This will be open until 15th September and the winner will be announced on that day - Reid's 17th Birthday!
So what you waiting for - hurry on over, sign up, do a post/link on your blog and Bob's Your Uncle!

Monday 23 August 2010

Ooh La La - What an Elegant Lady

Well, another fortnight rushes on by and that means it is time once again for another fabulous challenge at Ooh La La Creations.
The theme for this next challenge is called Elegant Lady.  Now you can interpret this however you want to but I chose to go literally and used an Elegant Lady on my card.
I used the Passion for Fashion CD and took all my paper elements from the Powder Blues folder on that CD. 
The ribbon and the flowers are from my stash.  I have recently purchased a new MS leaf punch and that is what I have made those little leaves with.  If ever you are in need of something really quickly you should go pay a visit to Bunny Zoe's Crafts.  Nikki is a fantastic person and she turns her orders round in 24 hours (if it is in stock obviously).  Seriously, I ordered my stuff on the Monday and it was here on Tuesday!! Thanks Nikki for such a fantastic service - you should give it a try!!

Tilda in Lemon at Die Cut Dreams

First of all let me say thank you to all of you who entered our last challenge "Tags".  Oh boy were there some fabulous creations.  Remember to nip in on the Die Cut Dreams challenge blog and see if you were one of our lucky winners/top 3.
So it is time once again for another challenge at Die Cut Dreams and this week our challenge is "Tilda in Lemon".  So as you would imagine we would like to see your card/creation be predominantly yellow and also feature Tilda.  The Dream Team have come up with some awesome projects and I am so proud to be in such talented company - please click on the Design Teams page tab at the top of this page and visit the rest of the DT to see their wonderful creations.

So here is the card I made for this challenge:
and here are a few close ups of all the little extras.

Recipe:
Image - Tilda kissing frog - Magnolia
Papers: Papermania Capsule collection - Sunshine
Die Cuts - Die Cut Dreams
Flowers, Ribbons - from my stash

I shall enter this card into the challenges at:
Let's Ink It Up - Anything Goes and use yellow
Charisma Cardz - Die Cuts
Craft Your Days Away - Things with wings
Fab n Funky - Flower Power

Sunday 22 August 2010

Christmas in August at Creative Inspirations.

Oh my word, what a huge number of people who want to join a DT - amazing.  It will take a bit of time to sift through all the entries so please bear with us.
Now onto the number of fabulous entries we had for challenge 40 which was to use a recycled element on your project.  Again we had a fantastic response and the winner and top 3 will be announced Mid Week.
So on to this fortnight's challenge and this time Jude has chosen Christmas in August. 
Our sponsor for this challenge is Whiff of Joy and the prize is a stamp of the winner's choice, so thank you Fenella for sponsoring Creative Inspirations once again.
So without further ado here is the card I made for Jude's Christmas in August challenge:

I have used two of Susie's fabulous Die Cuts, available from Die Cut Dreams along with a ream of other wonderful die cuts and embellishments, and layered them on top each other.  I used some adhesive purple snowflakes which my bestest buddy Ali aka Dragonlady sent me yonks ago - finally got around to using them Ali!!!  The sentiment is from a pack of die cut festive mini messages from craft work cards and the image is from Charmed Cards and Craft which I have coloured using my promarkers.
I added purple glitter for her wings and white/silver glitter for the furry bits on her outfit.  Please remember to visit the rest of the DT who have some wonderful creations to show you.  Go to the Design Teams tab at the top of the page and then click the links for the Creative Inspirations DT - there are truly some wonderful projects on show.
I will enter this card in to the challenge at Moving along with the times - Glitter

Thursday 19 August 2010

Challenge #9 at Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes!

Time once again for another fabulous challenge at Aud Sentiments.  Firstly let me thank those of you who took part in the last challenge, obviously not a great favourite as entries were down quite a bit for this one.  Never mind though, those of you who did enter stand more chance of winning - YIPPEE!!  So hurry on over to the challenge blog and see if you were one of our lucky winners/top 3.
Before I get on to the next challenge it is with a heavy heart that, following the resignation of our lovely Suzanne who is starting up her own challenge blog, I have to announce that we are also losing our Wonderful Wendy. As heartbroken as we all are we understand and wish her nothing but the best. With that being said, we are looking for 2 new design team members. If you are interested please put DT next to your entry to this challenge. The call will be open until Tuesday, August 31 and we will announce our choices on Thursday, September 2 with the new challenge. The term will run until the end of December. You will be required to make a project for each fortnightly challenge, to comment on the entries, and help in selecting the winners.


Also, don't forget there is still time to enter our new monthly drawing. The link is here. You are still eligible to win even if you are applying to be on the DT because your term will not start until after this drawing is over.

So onto our next challenge - I think we may have a few more entries on this one as it is an "Anything Goes" challenge.  Yes, that's right, you can enter whatever you want as long as there is some sort of sentiment somewhere on your project.  This fortnight we are sponsored by the fabulours 2 Cute Rubber Stamps.

The Design Team all got to choose a digi image to work with and I chose Little Firefighter Girl and here is the card I made:
I just thought she was such a cutie, I couldn't resist her.  I used some fabby 6 x 6 papers from The Paper Cellar from a pad called Celebrations.  A great mix of bright and funky papers. 
I coloured my image with my promarkers and Sakura Glitter pens and then cut her out and put her on one of my fab die cuts from Die Cut Dreams using my silicone.  I added a little stamp to her left which says "for you" (which was part of a candy win a while back).
I made a treble bow using my bow easy and hung a little sunshine charm from it which says "Made with a smile" on the back.
Remember to visit the rest of the Design Team (click on the Design Team tab at the top of the page where you will find all the links) who have some fabulous projects to share with you, links are in my sidebar.  Thanks for visiting and have fun.
I shall enter this in the challenges at:
Charisma Cardz - Die Cuts
C.R.A.F.T.. - Photo Inspiration (I used the colours as my inspiration)
Craft Your Days Away - Favourite Things (Ribbon)

Softpencil News!!

Hey, I feel like a newsreader - I love the fact that I can share all of the current Softpencil news with you all.
I am sure you all know by now that the fabulous Elizabeth at Softpencil  produces some of the cutest digital images ever.  Just lately Elizabeth has been producing some of the most wonderful clip art and digital papers.  For example look at this little set below:

All of the images, clipart and papers at softpencil can be used together or indeed separately, the choice is yours and the possibilities are endless.  Right now over at the softpencil  blog you will find some new spooktastic halloween digital images like this one:
So if you like what you see why not pay Elizabeth a visit over at Softpencil  and you will be able to see the other halloween images that have just been released.  If you like what you see click on the PCP link at the bottom of the post to visit the Softpencil group at PaperCraft Planet and you will be able to pick up a Halloween Freebie.
So, have fun browsing and see you back here next week for another Softpencil Thursday - unless of course I can sneak in a Halloween card between now and then!!!!!

Monday 16 August 2010

Want to come and Tag along with us at Die Cut Dreams?

Then all you have to do is make a Tag!  Before I get on to telling you more about the challenge let me first say thank you once again for all your stunning entries into our Fabric challenge!  Wow can you all use fabric or what.  Nip on over to the DCD Challenge blog and see if you were amongst our winners this week.
So, on to our new challenge which is to either make a Tag and embellish it or include a Tag or Tags on your card to be in with a chance of winning our challenge this week.  Now obviously that isn't much of a challenge is it?? So to make life more interesting.....................NO STAMPING!!  That's right, no stamping whatsoever, digital or rubber!!  Now believe you me this was a real challenge - I lost count of the amount of times I reached for a stamp!!  Some time ago I bought a craft book called "Tag Art" which was full of little kits to make cards featuring tags so I used this to make my card... and here it is:
I cut out several different elements from the book and then arranged them on the card before securing.  I raised up the larger butterfly using silicone and did the same with the little flower on the round tag.
I tied a piece of glitter thread around the flower strip before sticking it down.
I added small pieces of ribbon with my stapler to the other two tags and then adhered those to the card using sticky pads. 
Not my usual style of card but I am quite pleased with how it turned out.  Mind you I do have to tell you, you must make sure you are sitting down when you visit the other Dream Team members (links are on the Design Team tab at the top of the page) as some of their creations are truly breathtaking - look out for the snowflake tag and you'll see what I mean!  Puts mine well and truly in the shade that one!!!
Well have fun making your tags everyone and we all look forward to seeing your fabulous creations again at Die Cut Dreams.
I shall enter this card into the challenges at:
Flutter By Wednesdays - Open Theme (must include a butterfly, angel or fairy)
I Did It Creations - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Craft Challenge - Anything Goes

Sunday 15 August 2010

Totally Tilda - In Stitches!!

Well, sort of anyway.  Hello Tilda lovers everywhere, time once again for another fantastic challenge at Totally Tilda.  This next challenge is to include stitching - be it real or fake (or faux if you want to be posh!) 
Firstly though I have to thank each and everyone of you who entered our last challenge to use Tilda on a shaped card.  Wow, were there ever some fabulous shapes - I have never seen such a wide variety and some of them were really, really clever, well done to all of you.  Remember to visit the Totally Tilda challenge blog and see if you were our lucky winner (one of my personal favourites I must say) or one of our top 3.
Our wonderful Susie Sugar is sponsoring this next challenge and the Prize is a mystery colour selection of her shaped cards on stands worth approx £10 , they are like the ones the DT girls used in the last challenge (challenge #2) to make their DT cards.

So, onto my card for this challenge.  Now I'm no fan of sewing - ask anyone - sewing - yuk!!  Not much of a domestic goddess I have to admit but I thought I'd give it a go so my card has a mix of real and faux sewing on it and here it is.
So the white "stitching" is fake (as if you needed telling! LOL) and the blue stitching around the edge of the "pages" is real.
I coloured our Tilda Writing Diary with my watercolour pencils and added the creases and accents with promarkers. I used a blue feather for Tilda's quill just for a bit of fun really.
The flowers are from a selection I recently purchased from Jude at Crafts International so thanks again Jude - and so is the leaf, and to the flowers I added a bit of Stickles Crystal glue.   I added a pearl headed pin into the middle of the flowers and then I added a bow to the bottom of the flowers and used a piece of the same ribbon (all purchased from Crafty Ribbons) down the middle of the book like a bookmark. 
I used a printed tag from a Hot Off The Press paper pad and stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment on to it, I added a blue brad just to finish it off. 
The backing paper is from the Papermania Henbury Lane range - one of my most favourite ranges I think.  I finished off with four flat backed adhesive pearls in descending sizes just to finish off. 
I will enter this card into the challenges at:
Wild Orchid Crafts - One for the girls (I know it isn't pink but it's still girly!!)
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - What are little girls made of
Creative Card Crew - Let's get cute and girly
If the Shoe Fits - Die Cuts
Craft Your Days Away - Favourite things (ribbons and flowers)
A Crafty Little Place - Use at least one tag (mine has Happy Birthday stamped on it)
Crafty Cardmakers - Birthdays
Sew Many Challenges - stitching real or faux
Papertake Weekly - Something old, new borrowed and blue (new die cuts, old feathers, blue colours)
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Summertime Blues
Sweet Stampin Challenge - Use your favourite stamp/image (Tilda is definitely now one of my favourite images)
The Beary Scrap Design Team - In stitches
Corrosive Challenge Blog - Faux techniques (stitching)