I have a bit Apology to give to Lyn

Im so sorry Lyn of http://spyder-spyderscorner.blogspot.com/ for taking so long in not only acknowledging the lovely award you left me, but for not thanking you for it. Im afraid I must have missed it while visiting you, not sure how but it looks as though I must have.
Its such a lovely award and I appreciate it very much, and in return I must pass it onto ten deserving people in return, so here is my list

Kim - http://craftymakes.blogspot.com/

Brenda - http://stamping-fantasies.blogspot.com/

Kirsten - http://rockstardj1.blogspot.com/

Linda - http://linda-wright.blogspot.com/

Riet - http://rietsblog.blogspot.com/

Linda - http://simpleandsassycreations.blogspot.com/

Jamee - http://pink-beach-ball.blogspot.com/
Lorraine - http://coldwaters2.blogspot.com/

Linnie -http://linniepink.blogspot.com/

Teresa - http://treesawardincrafts.blogspot.com/

Thank you girls for the loyal support youve been giving me, and I do so enjoy visiting your blogs, so I hope that you will accept this award with all my love and hugs, Shirleyxxxxx

Whiff of Joy Stamps - Guest Designer Call Challenge

This card has been created for the Whiff of Joy Stamps, Guest Designer Call Challenge, this is to be for the release of the new stamps on the 25th July, as Katharina is looking for people to take part in a bloghop. Although Im going to take part in this Challenge, I wont unfortunately be around on that date as Im of to Norfolk to pick up my two grandsons for a weeks holiday the day before.
I have used Katharina's sketch as requested to create my card. I have used a flexiable ruler to create the curve, then cut it out. I have put some green pearlescent behind the curve, and on the piece of card that Ive left, I have used a patterned paper for the curve to lay against.
The papers I have used are from several of the Nitwit Digi collections. I have used a basic 8"x 8" size card, and for the first layer Ive used a pale blue pearlescent card, with my first paper, this one is a pale blue one with a pretty leaf pattern on it. For the second layer I have used a pale green pearlescent card with a very pretty rose patterned paper, before sticking it down, I have used a bit more of the paper thats been stuck to the inside and used my Martha Stewart border punch to create a lace edge, these were then stuck to the base layer.
The stamped image is one of the Whiff of Joy Summer Design images, I have stamped it onto white card and coloured it with my copic pens, I have then cut it out with my circle Nestabilitie die, using a masking technique that Rach Jakes uses. I have used a piece of the pale green pearlescent card for the scalloped outer mount, they have then been stuck together with some foam tape. I have also used one of the Whiff of Joys greetings stamps this was cut out with a tag Nestabilitie die, trimmed around and stuck to the green mount.
To finish of I have created four flowers using the papers that I had left, and some green paper I also printed, I have moulded them as shown in Bev's tutorial, and Ive stuck some pearl brads and silver spacers through the centres. To stick them to the card I have punched out some fern leaves, and with some silicone glue arranged them on the base card with the flowers stuck on top. The final thing is the blue pearls stuck to the curve of the cut out edge.

A Ruby Anniversary Card

Todays card is a rather belated Ruby Anniversary card, as I wasnt aware that a couple of friends of mine had already celebrated it, but I thought Id try and make up for that and get one ready to take around to her house later today.

This card has been made with the Glitter Girls Bookoftricks embossing board, I have embossed three different sizes, firstly in a red mirri board that has a heart pattern on it, the second layer is a silver mirri board one, and the third layer is a white card one. I have stuck a silver border around all the embossed edges, and stuck corners on as well. The top layer has also got further silver boarders down the centre with a silver leaf design as well.

I then stamped the greeting to the left hand side, and created a heart topper for the right side with one of their large heart peel offs, stuck onto red mirri board. Ive then stuck some flowers onto this heart with some silcone glue, left it to dry and then mounted onto the card with some foam tape. The final thing I have done is stuck some heart gems onto a embossed heart pattern Id embossed down the side.

I also created a box for the card, from some silver and red holographic card.

Just Magnolia Challenge Card - Bev's Sketch

This weeks Just Magnolia Challenge is a sketch by Bev, so I have used one of the Valentine set of stamps. I have stamped Tilda holding a envelope onto a piece of white card and coloured it with my Copic pens, then cut if out completely.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card, on which I have placed a piece pale green pearlescent card on top of which I have used one of the Making Cards papers, I have also the same design in pink and stuck this to the second layer, a piece of pink pearlescent card.

The third layer is a strip of the green pearlescent card that I have put through the cuttlebug with a embossing folder and stuck a piece of scalloped lace to the bottom and stuck the ends to the back of the first layer.

I stamped a greeting onto white card, and with a label die I have cut it out, then used it on a piece of pink pearlescent card as well. I trimmed around the edge of the white cut so it would fit on the pink label, which I then attached to the card with some brads.

The mount for the stamped image is one of pictures that I have enlarged from the Making cards magazine, I have printed it out onto card and with the circle die cut it out, Ive then used both of the pearlescent cards and cut out a further two scalloped edged circles for the picture to be mounted onto with some foam tape. The stamped image was them mounted onto the picture.

To finish of I have created two flowers from the two paper designs, and using Bev's tutorial I have embossed them and moulded them, then poked a hole in the centres and put two pearl and spacer brads through the centres. These were then mounted on the card with some punched out leaves under them.

My own Popcorn Bear

Today I havent been able to create a card, as Ive been to Abergevenny. While we were there my dear husband bought me yet another bear, this one is so sweet, and I thought you might like to meet him, Ive christened him Popcorn after the stamp I used yesterday, on my Challenge Card.
I also want to thank you for all the lovely comments that you left me on my Wallet Writing Card. With love and hugs Shirleyxxxxxx

Stampin for the Weekend Challenge - Wallet or Pocket Card

This weeks Challenge is to create either a Wallet or Pocket Card, Ive created a Pocket card with a Wallet inside.

Ive used the papers from the new Crafters Companion Cd Popcorn the Bear, I have used a piece of A3 card, and folded it half, stuck one of the corners to help with holding it square, and put it through my printer and printed it on the two sides, then folded up the bottom by making the base card a 8"x 8" size. After this I printed two more papers of the same design, which I used on the inside. I then stuck up the folded part with some thin foam tape to create a pocket for the envelopes I printed and the notepaper.

I then stamped the Bear (which is one of the new sets of rubber stamps) image onto a piece of white card and coloured it with my copic pens, after which I cut it out with my rotatrim, and mounted it on a piece of teal coloured pearlescent card. The greeting is one that I had in my stash, and I also stamped a duck image at the end of it, which was also coloured using the copic pens.

These were then stuck to the front of the card, and a piece of spotted ribbon around the middle which I stuck down on the inside of the pocket. To finish of I have made a bow with a bit of the ribbon I had left, and with a flower stuck to the centre a pearl gem in the middle, Ive stuck it to the ribbon.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge - "Wheely Good Fun"

Todays card has been created for the Cute Card Thursday Challenge, "Wheely good Fun!, Ive used one of the Rachelle Ann stamps, shes such a cutey pushing her teddy around in the cart. Ive stamped her onto white card and coloured her with my Karisma colouring pencils, then used one of my Nestabilitie label dies to cut her out, I created a larger one with some salmon coloured pearlescent card and stuck them together with some foam tape.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card, and I have layered it up firstly with some of the salmon coloured card and one of the Bearly Mine Extreme Design papers, this one has butterflies on it. The second layer is a lime green pearlescent card with a similar colour patterned paper on which it has swirls, the third and last layer is another piece of the salmon coloured card and this time I have used a small star pattern paper, these were stuck to the base card, and then Ive stamped and punched out a greeting with one of the ribbon label dies, and threaded it onto some pretty ribbon I found in my stash, this was attached to the back of the first layer. The stamped image was them positioned in the centre of the card.

Ive created three flowers from Hydrangea petals and some very pretty crochet flowers I bought from Wild Orchid webshop, I put a pearl brad through the centre and hung a bear charm from the bottom flower, before sticking them to the card I punched out some leaves and stuck them down with some silicone glue, and attached the flower on top.

The finishing touch is the punched out flourishes that Ive stuck down the right handside and put some pearl gems amoung them.

Max and his Snowman

This is another of Janet Roberts Pink Gem Winter Designs, and Ive stamped it onto white card and again coloured it with my copic pens, then cut it out with my Nestabilitie label die, because the image is to big for the smaller dies, Ive created a mount with some pale blue pearlescent card and with Bev's tutorial, drawn around the large die and cut it out. Then Ive mounted the stamped image onto it with some foam tape.

The base card is a 6"x 6" white card and I layered it up firstly with a piece of light blue pearlescent card, on top of this I have used another of the papers from the Making Cards magazine, this one has a greeting pattern all over it. On top of this I have layered up a piece of darker blue pearlescent paper and used the star border punch along edges again, this was arranged and stuck down the card. The last layer is a darker blue pearlescent card which I have run through my cuttlebug with a snowflake embossing folder, this was stuck to the card with a edge over the last one.

Ive then stuck my stamped mounted image in the centre of the card, and with a piece of the same greeting ribbon that I used yesterday, Ive stuck it around the bottom of the card. To finish of I have punched out three snowflakes and dipped the ends into some glue and Twinklets Diamond Dust, then arranged them across the top of the card with little blue gems stuck in the centre of them. I have also used the Sakura glitter pen on the stamped image again, just to make it glitter a bit.

Mimi and her Snowman

Todays card is my first Christmas card and Ive used one of Janets new set of Christmas stamps, if you like to click on her name it will take you to her webshop, as you will probably be aware she has had an article printed in this months Quick Cards Made Easy magazine, its also has a stamp give away with Janets stamps.

I love this one of Mimi and her snowman, Ive stamped it onto a piece of white card and coloured it with my copic pens, and then cut it out with my rotatrim and inked around the edge with a chalk inkpad. Ive then mounted it onto a piece of dark blue pearlescent card.

The base card is a 6"x 6" white card onto which I have layered up dark blue pearlescent card and a paper from my Making Cards Magazine, this one has snowmen all over it, then on top of this I have layed a piece of pearlescent paper but Ive used a Martha Stewart star border punch down both edges. On top of this I have stuck the stamped image.

I have then wrapped a piece of greeting ribbon around the bottom of the card (I couldnt find my Christmas greeting stamps so will have to have a good look and thought this was a good alternative) and stuck it to the back of the first layer, then to finish of I have punched out three snowflakes and dipped the ends into glue and Twinklets diamond dust, and stuck them around the card across the top and then stuck some little blue gems in the centres, I have also used my Sakura glitter pen in several places on the stamped image.

My Second Mimosa Card - Little girl sitting of the Fence

This is another of the beautiful Mimosa stamps that I bought from Nikki, again I dont really know what the stamps title is but to me she looks a little Molly sitting on the garden fence, not that it looks particularly comfortable.

Anyway Ive stamped it onto white card and coloured it with my copic pens, as the image is a bit to big to use a Nestabilitie die I have cut her out with my rotatrim and mounted her onto a piece of dark blue pearlescent card, but before doing so Ive distressed it around the edge with some foam and a pink inkpad. I also stamped out a greeting that I thought went with it and mounted this also onto a piece of the same colour of pearlescent card.

The base card is my usual size of 8"x 8" white card, and onto this I have layered up a piece of pink pearlescent card with again one of the Bearly Mine Extreme Designs (I should say that my printer is still not in a good state it looks as though its going to the boneyard as at the moment the chap is unable to repair it, and so Ive pinched my hubbys printer instead) layered it up and stuck it to the base card. On top of this I have put two further mounts and on one Ive used the dark blue card with a blue design and another piece of Jacqui's beautiful ribbon, this was stuck to the left handside of the card with a another piece of patterned paper but this has been punched along both edges with the Martha Stewart border punch. The other mount layer is a piece of the pink pearlescent card with a pink and blue paper, and it was stuck across the other layer in a angle.

Onto this I have stuck my stamped mounted image, and stuck the greeting to the left handside of the card at the bottom. Ive then created two flowers again with my Hydrangea petals and two smaller roses this time, and before sticking them to my card I have arranged some punched out leaves in some silicone glue, and then hung the charm and stuck the roses to the centre of them. To finish of I have stuck a few buttons appropriate to the scene.

New Mimosa Stamps - Little girl paddling in a Tub

Ive created todays card with one of the new Mimosa stamps that I bought from Nikki's webshop, this image is so sweet paddling her feet in a metal tub, I suspect her mum hasnt bought her a paddling pool.

Ive stamped the image onto white card and used my copic pens to colour it, then used one of my Nestabilitie label dies to cut her out, then cut another in dark blue pearlescent card and rotated this and stuck them together with some foam tape. While I had the die out I stamped a greeting and cut this out with the smaller one and then again with the dark blue pearlescent card and rotated it like the stamped image.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card, on top of which I have layered a piece of dark blue pearlescent card and one of the Bearly Mine Extreme Designs, then used two more of the patterned papers and my Martha Stewart border punch, these were then layered up one of top of the other and stuck to the base card. For the second layer I used another piece of the dark blue card and stuck a fourth patterned paper on it, with a piece of the lovely ribbon that I won from Jacqui in her blogcandy Ive wrapped it around the middle and stuck it to the back. I then stuck it in the centre of my base card, and mounted the stamped image on it, I also stuck the greeting to the right handside at the bottom.

I then punched out some of flourishes with my EK punches and stuck them to the left handside of the card and positioned some pink pearls amoung the swirls. To finish of I created two flowers from my Hydrangea petals and with some large roses stuck them in the middle of them. With some punched out leaves and some silicone glue Ive arranged them on my base card and put the flowers and charm on top. I also punched out a few butterflies with my Martha Stewart punches and arranged and stuck them to the righthand side of the card.

Stampin for the Weekend Challenge - "Wait, Mr Postman"

This card has been created for the Stampin for the Weekend Challenge, and this week its is to create a card with a theme from one of three songs, and my choice is "Wait, Mr Postman" from the Marvelettes, though I have no doubt its been sung by other groups as well.

Ive stamped my Tilda image onto white card then masked her and used the butterfly background stamp to create an image behind her. Then I have coloured her with my copic pens, after which I have cut her out with my rotatrim and before I mounted her I cut around her hand and stuck a vellum envelope in her hand, then mounted her onto some teal coloured pearlescent card.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card, on top of this I have layered up a piece of teal coloured card and one of the papers from the Bearly Mine Extreme Design Cd, and then Ive used a pink pearlescent card for the second layer and another of the designs from the same cd, and Ive used another of them to create the last layer, but Ive firstly used one of my Martha Stewart punches around three of the edges.

I have layered up the card with the second layer then the third layer, before sticking the stamped image on to the card I have stuck a piece of Rikrak ribbon across the centre and attached it to the back of the first layer, on top of this I have stuck the stamped mounted image. I printed out the greeting from one I created on my computer then mounted this also on a small piece of the same teal card, and stuck it to the bottom of my card on the right hand side.

The final thing I did was to create a couple of flowers with my Hydrangea petals and some roses, before sticking them to the card I arranged some punched out leaves in some silicone then stuck my charm from the bottom one and then attached the flowers on top of this.

The New Stamps from Magnolia

If there is anyone out there who's looking for the new Magnolia stamps, my friend Mandy has some on her website http://sparklybits.com/( just click on the link), why dont you pop over there and take a browse, and if you spend over £10. you will get everything postage free, (providing you are in the UK), Mandy also posts to countries abroad but the postage will be more, and she's also extremely quick getting them to you. With love and hugs Shirleyxxxxxx

Just Magnolia Challenge - Summer

Todays card is for the Just Magnolia Challenge titled Summer, Ive chosen a Edwin stamp and the dock. Ive stamped them onto white card and coloured them with my copic pens, and as he looked a bit lost I decided to stamp in some bullrushes as well just to give it a bit more depth. Ive then cut it out with my rotatrim and mounted him onto a piece of dark blue pearlescent card.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card, and onto this I have layered up firstly with a piece of dark blue pearlescent card, then two pieces of paper from the Pocket full of Posies pad, as the second one resembled water I have cut in in a wave shape and pasted it to the middle of the base paper, it might not be to clear on the photo as both papers are rather dark, I have then stuck a piece of jute ribbon just below the edge to try and show you where it is.

I then stuck mounted stamped image onto the card to the left handside, and then typed a greeting onto photo paper and mounted this also onto the same colour pearlescent card and then stuck it to the right handside bottom of the card. To finish of the card Ive stuck some leaf and branch buttons to the top of the right handside of the card.

Guess What I won the Stampin Up for Weekend Challenge

Guess what I won my first Card Challenge today, the Stampin Up for the Weekend Challenge, Im so gobsmacked I dont know what to say, though I really ought to give my hubby a big thank you as he helped me with the greeting. I thought you might like to see which of my cards did win, and its this one.

Thanks Donna and Kimmi and all the team on the Challenge for the honour youve given me in winning this week. Thank you and Bless you, with love and hugs Shirleyxxxxxxx

Ive had to amend my stupidity as I put the wrong Challenge Heading on this posting, Im so sorry to Donna and Kimmi, I think I was getting confused with the Card I had just posted, please forgive me for the mixup.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge - Tag, your it

Todays card has been created for the Cute Card Thursday Challenge, Tag, your it, Ive created mine as a sort of parcel, with the tag on top.

Ive stamped the new Tilda image onto white card and coloured her with my copic pens, then cut her out with my Label Nestabilitie die, and then with some foam have distressed the edge with some pale mauve ink. Then I created a larger label using Bev's tutorial from a piece of dark mauve card and then attached them together with some foam tape. I created a large tag from a piece of odd card, and shaped the top before using a punch to make a hole, before putting my piece of cord through Ive again used some pale mauve ink and the piece of foam Ive distressed t all around the edges, then used a greeting from the Papermania set and first with the pale mauve stamped it onto the tag, and again using a darker colour have done it again, its given it a sort of shadow effect, I was pleased with that, never tried that before. After this I threaded some cord through the hole and attached my stamped image onto it.

I then created a 8"x 6" base card, and onto this I have layered up a piece of pale mauve pearlescent card on top of this I have used a patchwork piece of paper which I found in my craft stash, and around the middle I have attached a wide Organza mauve ribbon, and then stuck the mounted tag across the centre at an angle. The two flowers are the same as the ones I created for my card yesterday that I had left over, but firstly I stuck some punched out leaves on the card and stuck them on top, the last thing I did was stick a bird button on the right hand side at the bottom.

Tilda and her Cat

Well Im still without my printer and have no idea when Im likely to get it back, so Ive been sorting through some of my papers and found these really striking Dovecraft ones, they are a bit louder than I would normally use but I hope that you like what Ive done with them.

Ive used one of the new Magnolia stamps, this one is Tilda and her cat, and I have her sitting on a chair, Ive stamped Tilda first and then masked her and stamped the chair afterwards. Ive used my copic pens on her, though I think I may have overdone things with the pink this time, but as its on a really striking pink paper it doesnt seem to matter quite so much. After Ive finished I used a inkpad and rubbed around the edge with some foam, though I think even that got a bit overdone. Ive then cut it out with my Label Nestabilitie die, and created a larger one with the salmon coloured pearlescent card and Bev's tutorial then stuck them together with some foam.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card, and on top of this have layered up a piece of salmon coloured pearlescent card and the first of the papers Ive chosen to use, the second layer has another of the papers, as has the third mount. Ive pinched one of the sketches and layered it up in the way its been drawn, then wrapped a piece of jute ribbon across the centre, under which I have also put a piece of grosgrain ribbon and attached them to the back. Then stuck it to the base card.

Then I have stuck the stamped mounted image to the centre and also used one the Magnolia greeting stamps mounted and stuck this to the bottom right hand side. I then created some flowers using another of Bev's tutorials and with a pink pearl brad with spacer in the centres and hung a kitten charm on the one which Ive used for the bottom one. Before sticking them to the card I have punched out some leaves and arranged them in some silicone glue under where the flowers would be stuck, and the last thing I have done is poke four baby's breath flowers under them.

Two wonderful Awards from Rozzybee

I have been given two wonderful awards from Roz, of http://rozzyb.blogspot.com/ you really should pop by her blog and see her beautiful and creative work, you will love what she makes.
I have been asked to pass these two awards onto five people so heres my list, thank you girls for all your lovely comments and for being such regular visitors to my blog.

Lorraine - http://coldwaters2.blogspot.com/
Brenda - http://stamping-fantasies.blogspot.com/
Riet - http://rietsblog.blogspot.com/
Julie - http://julieeastwood.blogspot.com/
Kimmi - http://poppy-petal-designs-shop.blogspot.com/
With love and hugs Shirleyxxxx

Sample 6 - Scrapbook for Sarah

Still no printer, rung the company this morning and it seems there is more wrong with it than we were expecting, not just the tray for collecting waste ink. But I do hope we will have some news later today as I really miss it.

Anyway this will be my last sample post for Sarah, this one is a Scrapbook and Ive used all the 12 desigsn for the 8"x 8" scrapbook pages plus a few duplicate extra ones to make up the book. Ive used a stiff paper/card 250gsm for the backing of the papers so as to give it some substance. On the first page Ive put it through my printer and Ive listed several dates for all the details we ladies like to keep about our babys stages in their first year, like first tooth, first smile, sittin up, all that sort of thing.

I then held all the pages together in the way I wanted them to open and then used my Zutter machine to punch holes for the binder wire. I then printed the alphabet sheet from Sarahs designs and cut out my granddaughters name, Danu then stuck it to the right handside of the cover page. After which I have printed out lots of photos to put in the Scrapbook though Ive not filled it completely so when its given to the hubby he can add any more photos he really likes to fill up her first years progress.

To finish of I have tied strips of ribbon and thread along the binder edge, just to give it more colour.

Sarah's sample No.5 - A Card for a Princess

Ive got a big problem at the moment as Im waiting for my printer to come back from being serviced so Im unable to make any new cards at the moment, and as I hadnt finished posting all of Sarah's samples I thought you would mind my doing that today. But I would firstly like to thank you all for the lovely comments on my Rose and Peony. I also have a very small garden, the back one is on a slope, its L shaped, 27ft long by 18ft wide, thats at its widest, but we have two sheds and a back porch in the L shape and a patio with my garden furniture on, and steps going up the middle to the back gate. The front garden is small as well and that is 18ft by 18ft, but I do cram a lot of plants in both of the small areas.

Anyway back to the card sample, Ive used another of Sarahs designs, this one is a little pony design and its called Princess, as we have a habit of calling our daughters that, I felt it was appropriate to use it for a birthday card for one of them. Ive printed out a A4 white card with one of the background designs and also printed the same design onto vellum, then punched along the edge of this with one of my Martha Stewart border punches, I then used a little vellum glue along the folded edge to fit them together.

Ive also printed an insert and stuck this to the inside of the card. For the topper I have printed out one of them from the topper sheet and stuck it to a piece of glitter card, then stuck it on top of the vellum. Ive then used one of my graphics programes to put a greeting onto one of the ribbon strips, then it was printed and cut out and fixed to the bottom of the vellum wrap. To finish of I have made up a little bow and hung a crown charm from it, then made up a flower with my Hydrangea Petals and a spacer and pearl brad through the centre and stuck this just above the greeting strip.