Monday 28 February 2011

Spring is in the Air (and a freebie sentiment)

I'm such a lucky girl as I've been privileged to be able to play with some of my favourite stamps today from the Stamp Fairy.  They are our sponsors this week at Incy Wincy Challenge Blog, and their images are simply adorable.  They are all designed by Gerda, who I'm thrilled to say is also our guest designer for this week.  Her talents are exceptional and the images she designs are delightful.  Please pop on over to the Incy Wincy blog to see all the designs from our guest designer Gerda and the rest of the talented Incy Wincy design team.

I really hope that the beautiful cards we've created inspire you to have a look at the Stamp Fairy images, as they are just gorgeous and very reasonably priced.  Trust me, you will get loads of use out of them as they are so versatile.


Anyway, onto the theme of this week's challenge at Incy Wincy, which is 'Spring is in the Air'.  I've chosen spring themed colours of bright yellow and orange, and used a Linda Fairy image.  If you have a look at the link I've supplied here, then you'll not only find the lovely Linda Fairy, but also a free circle sentiment provided by the generous Gerda to go with her! 

For my card, I've actually used one of my own ticket sentiments as it went with the 'Springtime' theme of the challenge, and also used some lovely bright yellow daisies that I've had for years and not used much.  I used an edging punch to create a rectangle of golden yellow card behind the image, and some daisy paper behind that, edged at both ends with golden yellow ribbons. I've coloured Linda with my Promarkers, and then rubbed over and around the image with yellow shimmer chalks to make her sparkle.  Not sure that's come out very well in the photo though!


Please pop on over to the Incy Wincy challenge blog to see the stunning cards created by the rest of the design team, and to enter our 'Spring is in the Air' challenge for this week.  I look forward to seeing your creations.

By the way, if anyone is interested in the "Spring has Sprung" ticket sentiment that I've used in this card, please help yourself below.  I would just ask that you please respect my requests below :
  • Become a follower (if you're not already) so you'll see new freebies that I add in future, 
  • Leave a comment on this post to let me know you've downloaded it, so I know it is worthwhile in doing more freebies,
  • Finally, please don't share it directly with others, but instead I'd be delighted if you point them here to collect it themselves if anyone asks you to share.
I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting.

Sunday 27 February 2011

Another Lili Fairy

After my coffee and cream attempt on Friday, it made me remember how much I loved using this little LOTV Pom Pom Fairy stamp so I've been busy with my usual pastels this time.  I've stamped her twice, cut and raised the second image on foam pads, and glittered everything in sight!  Just in case that wasn't enough glitz, I've added some pink star gems and round gems in the corners.  I've used a circle sentiment from blogpal Christine coloured in pink, and added pink flowers and thin red satin ribbons with a bow.


I've been inspired by the following:
Happy Crafting

Saturday 26 February 2011

Teddy Bear's Picnic

Teddy Bear's Picnic is our fab theme for this week at 2 Sisters.  And who doesn't like teddy bears!  Our generous sponsors this week are Inky Impressions and the fabulous Stamp Fairy (who are quite possibly my fave stamp company at the moment).  I mean, how cute is this little guy?  He's actually one of Stamp Fairy's 'thank you' image, but he's just too cute to only use for 'thank you' cards, so he's out here for an anniversary theme.  Please pop on over to Stamp Fairy and have a look through their images as I'm sure you will just fall in love with them. 
The digi papers are from Coney Island Summer from Robyn's Fetish and they are also my favourties at the moment (and on sale too at the moment - even better!).   I've used peach ribbons and created a little bow with a peach brad.  And how's this for a bit of recycling; the paper I've used to matt my image and the paler design papers is actually from an old paper bag that was used as wrapping for my purchase in my local craft shop.
Please stop by the at 2 Sisters challenge blog and enter our Teddy bear's picnic theme.  I look forward to seeing your wonderful creations.   

Bring out the bears!!!

I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting.

Friday 25 February 2011

Lili Fairy

I'm on a roll today!!!  I've had a day off work and caught up on all my DT work and made a couple of extra cards to boot!  I'm still using my fairy theme but this time a LOTV image which I've used a lot in the past. She's adorable and I'm going to have a go at another coffee and cream colour theme.  I've created a circle shaped card using my Fiskars circle cutter, and used some really lovely Laura Ashley papers in creams and coffee colours.  I've added some cream pearls and flowers, and some coffee coloured ribbons. Finally, I've glittered just about everything to try to brighten it up a bit.  I usually colour this image in pink, lilac or blue and use pastel papers, but this coffee colour was a real challenge and a break away from my usual colours. Hope you like her.  ps - don't tell my hubby that I've been crafting most of the day, he's gonna wonder why only half of the laundry has been done while I was off work today!!!


I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting

A Card and an Award

My card today is another Stamp Fairy card (cos I'm so in love with their fabulous images).  This one is the lovely Linda Fairy sitting on a swing.  I've gone for a Christmas theme only because I found some fab turquoise snowflake wrapping paper when I was having a tidy up.  Plus I think the fairy image is quite Christmassy.  The red and turquoise theme seems to go together quite well and is a break from my more traditional pastel colour themes.  Hope you like my little Linda bear.


I've been inspired by the following:
I've also been lucky enough to have been given an award by Donna, of My Happy Place. Thanks Donna for thinking of me and giving me this award.


The conditions of this Award are . . .
  1. Make a post linking back to the person who gave you the award!
  2. Share 7 random things about yourself
  3. Award 7 recently discovered bloggers with this award
  4. Contact these bloggers and tell them they've won the award.

Here are my 7 (very) random facts :

  1. I first met my husband while I was on holiday in Gran Canaria
  2. My favourite animals are tigers and penguins
  3. I would love to have a go at driving a huge articulated lorry (probably just once!)
  4. I love pink and lilac, but prefer orange flowers in my garden
  5. I grow my own fruit and veg, and also have 2 pet chickens
  6. I like astronomy and science
  7. I don't like eating peas
The 7 uber talented bloggers I would like to give this award to are:
  1. Mary
  2. Chris
  3. Jacki
  4. Nikbee
  5. Lisa
  6. Nikki
  7. Jo 
 Happy crafting everyone

Tuesday 22 February 2011

Easter Circle Sentiment Freebie

I've got another free digi sentiment to share with you. This time it is an Easter one so quite timely for spring and Easter cards!  Please feel free to download it if you like it, and don't forget you can re-colour it if you want it to blend in with your projects.

 
Polite requests :

  • I would really love for you to become a follower if you're not already (then you will see any more freebies that I put on my blog),

  • I would appreciate a comment on this post if you do download the image, to let me know you've taken it, and to let me know that it is therefore worth my efforts in sharing more creations. 

  • Finally, please don't share my freebie directly with others, but I'd be delighted if you point others to my blog to collect it for themselves.
Hope you find it useful !

 
Happy Crafting

 
Annette

Monday 21 February 2011

Bear Hugs

I've used a masculine image called Toby Bear Hugs from The Stamp Fairy for this project (this is Toby's second time out to play in one week!). I've opted for neutral tones of coffee and cream for this card, with the only other touch of colour being Toby's tie and nose which I've coloured in blue.  The beautiful circle sentiment is from my talented blog pal Christine and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I've added flat back cream pearls in the corners and some espresso and latte coloured ribbons!


Just looking at it is making me drool for a cappuccino !!!

I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting

A few too many die cuts?

This is my first week as a DT member for Incy Wincy and I'm so happy to be part of the team. The other DT girls are so talented, and I'm really looking foward to working with them all.

Anyway, back to the theme of the day - the challenge at Incy Wincy this week is to use punches or die cuts (cricut, nestabilities, die-namics, etc.).  I may have gone overboard with my die cuts and punches, which seem to be on every inch of space, but noone can say that I've not adhered to the theme!  The BP is from Barely Mine Designs and is one of several great papers on their blog, and the 'Thank You' sentiment is a peel off.

I've gone for a darkish green theme on this card, which is a bit outside my usual comfort zone of pastel pinks, purples and blues.  But I thought that a natural green matched in with the floral theme of the image, which is donated by our fab sponsors for this week, Peggy Loves Vintage.  There is also a freebie donated by them on the Incy Wincy blog page, so pop on over to check it out.

Photobucket

The die cuts are a sizzlit flourish die with the punched out parts being recycled. I've also used an edging punch on a thin strip of green and cut both sides of the strip. They weren't quite level, but it actually looks OK being offset a bit.


Hope you like my card, and please pop on over to Incy Wincy and join in the fun.  Don't forget there are images on their children's charity site, Aspire to Thrive, so please check them out too and support the worthy cause.

I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting.

Sunday 20 February 2011

A Hug in a Book

Just a quick little make today, being a little scalloped bookmark. I guess it could also be used as a gift tag, but I made a bookmark for my hubby for Valentines day and wanted a little handmade book-mark for myself. And of course it had to have a bear on it !!!  So here he is, my little bear holding his arms out for a hug every time I open my book.  The image is form, of course, The Stamp Fairy, and I've left him white but added a hint of grey Promarker (heavily blended so it's not come out well in the piccy) around the left most edge of each line to give some shadow.  I've added some blue shimmer chalk around the image, cut it into an oval using my new oval cutter, and matted it onto blue card and cut around with scalloped scissors.  Finally I've added a white satin ribbon that my Mother-in-Law bought me for Christmas. 

There we go, a hug in a book!

I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting

Saturday 19 February 2011

Exciting News !!!

I've been away from blogland most of this week for a couple of reasons; the first (and dull) reason being that I had a couple of evening work functions so I didn't get back home until quite late on a few days, but happily I also have some much more exciting news that I can now share with you. 


Yes!  I'm so proud to have been asked to join the Incy Wincy Design Team. I'm so excited that I got started on my first couple of Design Team cards right away, which has also kept me busy this week.  I'll be sharing them with you over the next few weeks as the challenges are announced each Monday. 


Incy Wincy have got some great sponsors lined up, and some fantastic challenge themes.  I really hope that you join in with our challenges, and give me a few motivating comments to keep me going!

Please also check out their digi shop, Aspire to Thrive, which is a great way to stock up on great digi images, whilst also supporting a worthy children's charity.  Check out their goals page to learn more about their fantastic charitable work.


Hope to see you at Incy Wincy very soon.

Happy crafting everyone.

Embossing

The theme this week at 2 Sisters Challenge blog is Embossing (wet or dry) and our sponsors are Robyn's Fetish & Pizzazz Aplenty.  Robyn's Fetish have supplied us with this fab image and I've stamped it twice, coloured it using my Promarkers, and layered it up on sticky foam pads for height.  I've even tried to get a tabby coloured effect with my colouring (as usual, using my own ginger tom Arnie as inspiration!!).  I love the little hearts on their furry chests!  No flowers on this card (for a change) but buttons and bows this time instead. The sentiment is one from Sentiments 4 You, and I love it.  My embossing is the white embossed card in the bottom right cormer, cut into a triangle and mounted onto lilac paper to complete the purple colour theme.  I've also used some blue shimmer chalk around the edge of the base image to add depth.


Please come along to the 2 Sisters Blog and join in our embossing challenge. I look forward to seeing your creations.

I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting.

Saturday 12 February 2011

Hearts

I'm off to visit my bestie for the weekend. She lives in Southampton so I'm going up on the train to spend a couple of days with her, leaving the hubby to fend for himself for the duration.  I'm so looking forward to having a weekend away, work has been extra busy and therefore I'm really in need of some rest & relaxation.

The theme this week at 2 Sisters Blog is Hearts. We've been sponsored by Pattie's Creations & One Stop Card Shop who've supplied this lovely image.  I've gone for a pink colour scheme this week, to compliment the hearts theme, and added some pink pearls and red accent ribbons.  I've used my scalloped scissors to cut around the pink mount for the image, and added some pink flowers.




I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting

Wednesday 9 February 2011

Not A Card

Ok, this is just a quick little make for tonight as I've got a work function tomorrow night and am going away on Friday night, so this is my last chance to get in a quick crafting fix until next week.  I've made this little book mark for my hubby for valentines day. We don't tend to get pressies, but he's always reading and I fancied making a book-mark so this one's for him.

I've been inspired by the following:
Happy Crafting

Best Friend

I'm off to Southampton this weekend to visit my bestie, and I've made her a card to leave as a little Thank You for letting me stay with her.  I've used a lovely sentiment that I got from a challenge, but didn't use it in time to enter their competition. Anyway, I thought it was appropriate for my bestie, so I've got around to using it now. Better late than never, and I usually need to have a card in mind when I'm using a sentiment or image.  I'm using a cute-a-licious ballerina teddy from The Stamp Fairy, and included a second image that is a freebie on their site that really goes with my image.



And here's a piccy of the inside with the sentiment


I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting

Tuesday 8 February 2011

Love is You and Me

This is an adorable image from The Stamp Fairy, and I just love it. I love these little bears. I've used a new lace that I won in a fab blog candy from Tina (she is just too generous for words) and a sentiment from Sentiments 4 You.   I tried to highlight the heart punchies with white gel pen, but I now think they look like question marks so I'm a bit disappointed. Anyway, it is still cute, so I'm still happy with the overall card.

I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting

In the roll of a die

Today I'm going to share a birthday card I made for a colleague, Rose.  She actually went with me a few years ago when I went to have my ears pierced (yes, I waiting until I was in my 30s to get it done as I'm such a wimp for pain!!!) Anyway, she went with me in our lunch hour and 'held my hand' so to speak.  We then went for a coffee while my heart calmed down! Ever since then I started making earrings and almost all my earrings are ones I've made.  This is a pair I made for Rose's birthday which is this weekend, but she is on holiday skiing at the moment so I made this last week and gave it to her last friday, and have yet to get it onto my blog. 

I used promarkers for the image, but chalked Tilda's dress for a softer look. The scheme is strawberries and chocolate, so pinks and browns.  Hope you like it.


And here is a close up of the earrings which I thought were rather cute, and I think are her style (she likes danglies so to speak!):


I was inspired by the following:
Happy crafting

Saturday 5 February 2011

The World Is Our Oyster

It is Saturday again and therefore another new challenge set at 2 Sisters Challenge blog.  This week the theme is 'The World is Our Oyster' with an optional Valentine theme, but you need to have a pearl on your card.  We're lucky enough to be sponsored by Pizzaz Aplenty and Stitchy Bear, who've provided the image I've used today.  I've coloured the tomcat ginger, just like my little ginger tabby, Arnie.  But I wasn't so keen to try colouring a tortie to represent my little girl cat, Pickle, so I went for grey tabby instead.  I'm sure she won't feel offended!  Hope you like my card, and please get those pearls out and pop on over to the 2 Sisters blog to enter this week's challenge.


I've been inspired by the following
Happy crafting

Thursday 3 February 2011

Another Freebie

I've got another free digi sentiment to share with you.   This time it is a Valentines one so quite appropriate!  I'm really liking these circular sentiments now, and spend ages getting the image just how I can imagine it in my mind.  This one is quite basic, but I still like it, and I've used it loads myself already.

Polite requests :
  •  I would really love for you to become a follower if you're not already (then you will see any more freebies that I put on my blog),
  • I would appreciate a comment on this post if you do download the image, to let me know you've taken it, and to let me know that it is therefore worth my efforts in sharing more creations.
  • Finally, please don't share my freebie directly with others, but I'd be delighted if you point others to my blog to collect it for themselves.

 
Hope you find it useful !

Happy Crafting

Annette

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Cheeky Monkey

A change from my normal teddies and hedgehogs for today with this cheeky monkey from The Stamp Fairy! I've had another attempt at some handmade flowers, this time colouring some silver peel offs with orange perm markers, sticking them on orange papers and cutting around them, and adding some liquid pearls for the centers. I've also highlighted them with my orange promarker to give some definition to the petals, but it doesn't show much on the picture.

I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting.

Tuesday 1 February 2011

Quilled Flowers

This little teddy is from The Stamp Fairy, and I just love their images soooo much.  Luckily for my wallet, I've just won 3 of their stamps, so I'm in heaven!!  I've revered back to one of my favourite purple themes here, and added some purple shimmer heart punchies and some lilac flowers from Wild Orchid. However, the theme at Stamp Fairy challenge this week is homemade flowers, and since I've not done some qilling for about a year, I thought it would be a good opportunity to dig out my old quilling tool.  Let's just say, I was planning to do a few flowers, but after looking at how the first one turned out, I decided that one was enough. I think I'll stick to stamping in future.


I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting

Forever blowing bubbles!

My little hedgy stamp has been out again but this time in a lovely red, pink and white theme. The ribbon is a luxurious thick swirl from Craft Brulee and the pink flock paper is from a wrapping paper I've had for a couple of years. I've added some pink flatback pearls and some pearl hearts, as well as some red flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I've been inspired by the following:
Happy crafting