You're so hug-a-bull

I've got great news for my UK friends who love SugarPea Designs - I know there are many of you!  Well you can now buy them in the UK from Make the Day Special who specialise in importing crafty good for us!

Lovely owner and blog mate, Tara, asked me to do a guest spot to show off one of the new sets in her store so here is my card using Hug-a-Bull...

I love that sentiment that comes in this set - you can mix and match them up too - so versatile!  I framed the cute image so they look like they're standing on a hillside and enjoying the green, green grass!  The papers are by Lili of the Valley called Candles and Cake.

I'm off now for a big slap up family lunch - of course it's Mother's Day but it's also my niece Hollie's birthday PLUS she got a job too this week - a triple celebration!  Have I told you how brilliant my niece is?  She's in her last year of her teacher's degree so has to find a job now.  She went for an interview this week and they phoned her back within two hours to offer the job - that is how brilliant she is!  Must take after her aunt.

ttfn!

This year's Mother's Day cards

I've left making our Mothers Day cards a little late this year - better get them in the post tomorrow to make sure they get there before this weekend!  And this year I decided to go down the grown up elegant route instead of my usual cute stamped makes.  Here they are - one my mum...

And one for my MIL...

The flower is made with My Favorite Things Large Hybrid Heirloom Rose die and the greenery is from My Favorite Things Large Leaf Filled Flourish die, with a large ivory pearl popped in the middle.  The background is a Papertrey Ink Quatrefoil cover plate and the sentiment is from the CC Designs All Women set stamped on a Simon Says banner die cut.  The papers are from My Minds Eye but I couldn't tell you which ones because they were scraps - sorry!

I'm quite liking my grown up makes - even Steve liked them!  I will have to experiment more with these especially now that I've recently stepped down from some teams so I can experiment more freely.  It's so nice not having loads of DT commitments!  And I'm lovin' the teams I'm on so it doesn't feel like hard work being on these.

Okay, I'm off now - gotta make my niece's birthday card and I want it to be as special as her!

Upside down fun!

The new Lili of the Valley Annabel stamps are available in the shop today from midday!  I love this release so much - I'm going to get a lot of use out of them.  Here is my DT make using Upside Down...

I had so much fun making this card - wheeeee!!!!  Sorry, childhood memories resurfacing there!  I matched her up with papers from the Promises pad and a sentiment from the Scroll Sentiments set.  The embossing folder is by Sizzix and I layered some My Favorite Things grass die cuts for extra depth.

You can check out more Annabel inspiration over at the Ideas to Inspire blog.  I'll see you later on my blog rounds - ttfn!

Don't talk to me until I've had my coffee

Hi everyone!  I hope you have a lovely weekend planned.  The sun is out here but it's turned really cold so I'm staying in as I just can't get rid of this bl**dy cough!

Anyway, I'm here today with my Doodlelicious Diva make.  I don't know about you, but I can't function properly until I've had my first cup of coffee in the morning.  That's why Cafe Lizzie is one of the most perfect images for me!  Here's a card I made using her for a friend who is just as worse as me in the mornings...

I love this girl!  And I really want an outfit like hers.  And flowing locks.  And a cute button nose.  Not much really!

I used Digital Design Essential papers and Doodlebug white rub on alphas on brown cardstock for the sentiment, finished off with a couple of hearts so it wasn't too boring!

Okay I'm off now to do a ton of ironing - see you again soon, ta ta!

New cuteness!

Have you seen the sneak peeks of the new Lili of the Valley Annabel stamps that are due for release on Monday?  She is super cute - a real tomboy!  will be available to buy on the website from midday (UK time) on Monday 24^th March.  There are 7 gorgeous stamps featuring their adorable new character Annabel.  Today the design team are having a blog hop to show them off so here is my make using Pedal Power...

Isn't she brilliant - I love her hair!  All of the other stamps are just as brilliant!  The sentiment is from the Scroll Sentiments set and the papers are from the Petal Fresh collection.

Okay, so back to the hop - there are prizes to be won!  Just join the hop and leave some love along the way.  The winners will be announced on Monday morning over at the Ideas to Inspire blog.

2 lucky random winners will each win a set of 7 Annabel stamps!

You should have got here from Lou and you now need to hop off to Mindy.  If you want to start from the beginning, go to the Ideas to Inspire blog here where you'll also find all the deets.

Well I'm off now but I'll be back tomorrow with my Doodlelicious Diva card - ttfn!

I dig you

There's a new SugarPea Designs challenge starting today and the theme is Embellish It - get those bits and bobs out to decorate your project!  Here is my DT take on it...

Well, most of you will know that I'm not very good at embellishing, but I think I did wonders with this heart and button, lol!!  And I just love this SPD Go-pher It stamp set - look at his sweet smile!  I matched him up with My Minds Eye papers (I think, they were just scraps!) and used My Favorite Things fishtail banner dies.  The heart die is by CC Designs.

Check out the rest of the gorgeous DT inspiration over at the blog here and deets on how to win!

A grown up card!

Hi everyone - hope the weather is fantastic where you are as it is here in the South East of England.  The sun is blaring and even getting up to 17 degs (fingers crossed!).  Still no coastal walk for me today though - more gardening to do and even wash my car (I do sometimes wish I didn't get a soft top convertible!).

Anyhoo, I'm here today with my Lili of the Valley DT card.  I have to say upfront that I CANNOT take credit for colouring in this image!  It's from one of the pre-coloured art pads called English Charm and I used a sentiment from the Handwritten Phrases set which I think matches it beautifully...

I've been meaning to make some less cutesy cards and these art pads are perfect for them.  I kept it very simple with just the added gingham ribbon and a little flower to finish it off.

Okay, I'd better go get my old clothes on and get stuck into the mud!  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday - ttfn!

Bunny shaped card

Hi all!  Yay, it's Saturday and it's going to be another sunny weekend for us here in the UK - well, in the South East at least!  The bad news is that I have no excuse not to do the gardening today and I've got to wash my car too.  Pah!

Today is also the start of a new Whimsie Doodle challenge and this month we want to be Seeing Spots!  So, any creation with some sort of circle!  I bet a lot of you thought I'd make one of my mini circle cards but instead I made this bunny shaped card instead...

I really liked how this bunny turned out!  I used this month's freebie Bite Me cutting file and sentiment from the Egged set.  I softly roughened the edges to give it a slight shabby chic feel.  I used My Favorite Things dies for the leaf and flower arrangement with a pearl popped in the centre.  The gingham paper is by Pink Petticoat and I finished it off with some sweet Doodlebug spotty chiffon ribbon.  The tail is made out of three fluffy balls that I squished together to make one big ball.

Check out more Doodlelicious Diva inspiration and get all the deets on the prizes over at the blog here.  I'm off to get changed into my gardening clothes (i.e. clothes that I've just got bored of).  

See ya later on my blog rounds - ttfn!

Cupcake love!

I'm here with my Doodlelicious Diva card today using one of the beautiful newbies in store called Treat Lizzie...

As soon as I saw her, I knew I had to use this digi paper by Digital Design Essentials.  I love pink and orange together!  I think the butterfly is proportionately too big against that girl though!  The sentiment is by Lawn Fawn.  I popped the frame onto some foam pads for some interest and depth.  You can check out more new gorgeousness in the store here.

I'm off now but I'll be back with my Lili of the Valley DT make very soon - ttfn!

Hey cute kitty kat!

Hi everyone!  Thanks for everyone's get well wishes - they must have worked because I am feeling so much better today!  

Inspired by the sunny Sunday we've just had, I created this Spring-like card using one of those very sweet digis by Jess College Fund - couldn't resist that cute kitty kat and this very pretty girl...

This cutie is called Girl With Cat and I used papers from the Lili of the Valley Bonnets and Bowties collection and topped it off simply with a big pink daisy. 

I'm entering this into the Jess Challenge with the theme of bling - there is a set of Copics pens to be won!!

Okay, I gotta go now but I will be back soon - ttfn!

Have a rice day

We're shaking things up a bit over at SugarPea Designs and adding a monthly sketch challenge every second Monday of the month.  I know many of you like to use sketches and the ones Wendy has created are so cool that I'm sure you'll be inspired by them!

And the great thing is that SugarPea Designs stamps are NOT required for our sketch challenges. There will be a $5 gift certificate up for grabs and the winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Sunday, April 13th.

Without further ado, here is my DT make using it...

Didn't I say it was a cool sketch?!  I loved using it and I'm not normally a sketch lover.  I used my favourite Rice Rice Baby set along with some kraft cardstock run through my Darice embossing folder.  I think this would be great for a guy of any age.  I might do a pink version for my sushi lovin' girl friend!

I don't enter challenges usually but I am going to enter this into Make It Monday - it's their last one and I'm very sad because I was on the original team and Michelle, the owner, has made it such an incredible success.

Check out the blog here for more sketch inspiration and get all the deets on how to win!

When pigs fly...

Hi everyone!  I'm in a great mood because the sun is shining and it's actually warm here in the UK - woo hoo!  Unfortunately, I've still got my cold so I'm not allowed out, but at least I can see out of our window (even though I feel like a prisoner....).

Anyhoo, popping in today to remind you that you've still got plenty of time to join in with our Naughty or Nice challenge this month with the theme of birthdays.  Nice and easy!  Here's a cheeky card I've made - I think this would be perfect for my brother...

He he!!  A bit naughty, huh?!  To tell the truth, my brother turned 50 in January, but he looks amazing for his age - looks more like he's in his 30s!  But don't tell him I said so....

For this card I used my Nesties to create the base, Echo Park Bundle of Joy papers, some American Crafts foam numbers and an old There She Goes stamp set.  I'm still sad TSG closed down  :(

I hope you can join us this month - can't wait to see your naughty or nice creations, just link up them up on this post.  Ta ta for now and see you tomorrow with my SugarPea Designs post!

Pretty wedding stationery set

Hello everyone, hope you have a good weekend planned.  I've been in bed with a very bad cold the past few days so I suspect I will be in the same place this weekend!

Okay, so today I'm showing you what I created with one of the new wedding sets by Lili of the Valley called Pretty.  I was very nervous creating a whole new wedding set but it was so easy to mix and match the stamps in the set that it all came together quite easily.  So this is what I ended up with, also using the Petal Fresh paper pad...

Save the Date

Front view                                                                                            Inside view

Wedding Invitation

Front view                                                            Side view                                                  Inside view

Evening Invitation

View with belly band on                                                                    View with belly band off

Thank you card

When I designed the set, I wanted to make sure that it was simple and quick to do.  I treated each element so it could be made up in advance (like in a production line!) and then easily brought together using a glue runner and foam pads.

The new wedding sets will be launched on Monday but don't forget to check out LOTV's Ideas to Inspire blog tomorrow to see another sneak peek from the lovely and very talented Gretha!

Come sunshine or rain...

(Please scroll down for my SugarPea Designs sweet sneaks

and deets on how to win prizes!)

There's a new release over at All Dressed Up and it is another super cute set!  The DT are showcasing the beauties and here is my Dressy Girl make using the very sweet A Time To Share digi...

This card didn't turn out anything like I envisaged it, but I think I like it anyway!  I used a variety of dies to create the scene and a My Favorite Things sentiment from the happy set.

Check out the rest of the gorgeous Dressy Girl makes over at the blog here and buy the newbies in the store here!

Day four of the SugarPea Designs March release sweet sneaks!

It's the last day of the SugarPea Designs March release - not long now until they are in the shop!  Today we are showing you sneak peeks of the super cool Rice Rice Baby set.  Here is my DT make...

This is my most fave of the SPD stamps yet - so totally cool and cute!  I couldn't find a design paper I liked to match with him so I just cut even rectangles of orange and blue textured cardstock, stuck them together to form a large rectangle and them popped it onto foam pads for depth.

Wanna win this cool set?   Just join our hop and leave some blog love each day.  One lucky blog hopper will win this stamp set and one lucky duck will win the entire March release!  Winners will be announced during the online release party chat on the SugarPea Designs Facebook page on Thursday, 3,6 between 8:00 - 9:00 PM EST.  The release will launch in the SugarPea Designs online shoppe immediately following the release party.  

InLinkz.com

Okay, I gotta go now but I'll be back later with my All Dressed Up new release post - ttfn!