My exciting news!

(Please scroll down for my La-La Land Crafts DT post!)

For some time I've been wanting to move away from my very cutesy cards and create more fun cards so when I saw that Alicia Bel was putting together a design team, I applied straight away.  I really love her designs - fun and sexy (and still a little cute!).  Today the new design team is being announced over at the blog and I'm pleased to say I made the grade!

The DT are showing off their skills using the theme of Halloween so here is my DT make using the sexy but sweet Lily Monster...

See what I mean?  Fun and sexy!  And she is only 1 Euro!  I know Lily Munster has a streak of white in her hair and her dress is actually white but I didn't know that until after I researched it after I coloured her in!  Ho hum!

I used Authentique papers, a La-La Land Bat die and the sentiment is from an old There She Goes set.  You can't see from the photo but the black circle is actually embossed with clouds - it looks really good, honest!  I'm going to enter this card into the Copic Markers Spain challenge with the theme of....Halloween of course!

If you're not familiar with Alicia Bel yet, you should go check out her store and check this section of freebies out - you're welcome!

I hope you're going to enjoy seeing my designs using these digis.  We're going to have a monthly challenge, lots of inspiration and regular freebies to share with you too!

Now you need to go and check out the rest of the new gorgeous design team designs over at the blog here.  I'll be back this weekend with my SugarPea Designs DT post - see you then!

A spooky scene

I've got a card today to share that I had so much fun in creating!  It uses one of the new Whimsie Doodles Background Borders - Places and the witch from the very cute Little Boo's set...

Oh I so love these backgrounds!  And the set includes a Christmas, out of space and a farm scenes - I'm going to be busy playing with these - check them all out here.  I used Authentique papers and La-La Land Crafts Spiderweb Border die.

I'm off now to play with the others - you can find me in my craftroom!

Showcasing the La-La Land Crafts September Club Kit

Have you subscribed to the Club La-La Land Crafts Kits yet?  They are so super cute and I'm so lucky to be on the team so that I get to play with them to my hearts content!  We are showcasing the September Club Kit today and here are my two projects using it...

Isn't she adorable?  And I love the accessory stamps and dies in this kit too.  I die cut the branch twice - one in green cardstock and another in orange.  I snipped the orange leaves off and adhered them onto the green branch with foam pads to give it some depth.  The papers are by My Minds Eye and used my cloud folder for the background.

Copics used:

Face: E000, E00, E21, R20

Hair: E50, E53

Outfit: C01, C03, R20, R22

Pumpkins: R00, R02, R05, R08

Here is my second card...

So for this card I used from the kit the Boo banner, leaf and fence dies.  I also used the sweet girl, haystack and pumpkin stamps.  The papers are by Authentic and I used a polka dot embossing folder for interest in the background.

Face: E000, E00, E21, R20, C05, C07

Hair: E50, E53

Outfit: C03, C05, C07, C00, R20, R22

Pumpkins and hay bale: E02, E04, E08, E33, E37, Y21, YR23, YR27

Check out some more DT inspiration over at the blog here and you can find all the details on how to subscribe to the Club La-La Land Crafts kits here.

I'm off now but I'll be back soon - ta ra!

La-La Land Crafts spooky new September release!

Yep, another day to showcase more of the super fun La-La Land Crafts September release and today I have a spooky card to show you!

Stamp - Egyptian Mummy Luka

New Dies - Tombstones, Spiderweb Banner

Copics used:

Face: E000, E00, E21, R20

Hair: E35, E37

Outfit and presents: C01, C03, V12, V15, V17, Y21, YR23, YR27

Isn't he adorable?  If I had a little boy, I'd wrap him up like in bandages for Halloween just like this!  And I love the details of the dies - the little peek holes on the spider are perfect!  I layered several layers of the cobweb die and inked around the edges of the tombstone.  The paper is by Authentique.

Thanks for visiting and I'll see you on my blog rounds tonight!

We're all just getting old!

It doesn't feel that long ago when my family, friends and I were having fun in our 30s, but now we're all looking forward to a quiet night in on a Friday and no-one wants to get too drunk because it takes them three days to recover from hangovers!  And at 45, my memory is alarmingly getting worse as the months go by.  Yesterday I stood at the top of the stairs wondering what I was going to get so I went back down the stairs and then remembered.  So I went back up the stairs and promptly forgot again.  Yeah, this is becoming my new "thang" to do, lol!!

There have been lots of milestones birthdays over the past year or so with my niece turning 21, my dad turning 70, both my brothers turning 50 and my brother-in-law turning 40 later this year.  Groan, I'm fed up with being reminded that I'm firmly in my middle age!!  So when Steve asked me to make a card for his cousin who is turning 50 this week, I reluctantly made this card for him...

Well, I say reluctantly, but I had a lot of fun making this card!  I used the new SPD SugarSketch and SugarPea Designs My Hero - I love this fella!  Steve's cousin works in a bank so I thought I'd create a city feel (especially after I saw this fantastic card by mate Wendy.  I used Authentic Celebrate papers and My Favorite Things dies.  The number are adhesive stickers and I used Doodlebug Lily White glitter on them - it really pops irl!

Here's the gorgeous sketch...

Check out the rest of the gorgeous DT inspiration over at the blog here.  I'll see you again soon - ttfn!

Take a picture

It's There She Goes Again week over at...well, There She Goes!  During this week we visit some classics from the store and this time we have been focusing on Oh Snap, On The Move and ConGRADulations.  Today, the Trendsetters have made all new makes and you can see my make on from Monday here using the On The Move set.  Here is my new make for today using Oh Snap...

Such a sweet camera!  I used a Quickutz polka dot embossing folder, Authentic Celebrate papers and MFT Die-Namics - Boy Meets Girl border die.  Check out more Trendsetter inspiration over at the blog here!

Okay, I am off not but I will see you with my Bellarific Babe post - ttfn!

 

Have a gr8 day

It's Bellarific Friday!  And it's an extra special Friday because we have a bank holiday on Monday!  So without further ado, here is my Bellarific Babe card and this week we had a sketch to follow...

I loved using this guy so much in this post that I had to ink him up again!  He is Mo Manning's Game On stamp and the papers are from the Authentique Celebrate paper pad.  I got to use some more of those zillions of alpha stickers I have in my stash too!  I am entering this into Mo Manning's challenge for anything goes.

The next challenge is to use kraft somewhere on your project.  Email your creations to Em by next Thursday 9 May for a chance to win $20 Bella Bucks (either by submitting a project or simply commenting on next week's Bellarific Friday post)!

 

Addy is so fab!

I'm here today with my Bellarific Babe card and today I've got a card using one of those cool, sassy Tiddly Inks Addy gals...

I love love love Addy!  This lady is called ADDY 'tude LOVES to sparkle and I just love her dress, such a pleasure to colour!  I used Bazzill Basic Bling cardstock for the base and papers from the Authentique Celebrate pad.  I also used two different embossing folders by Stampin' Up and Sizzix to keep it interesting.

I hope you are all having a super week - yay, it's Friday tomorrow!  I'll be back then with my Bellarific Friday Babe post!

Take a picture, why don't you?

(Please scroll down for my All That Scraps October

previews DT post!)

Happy Tuesday everyone - I hope your week has started well.  Mary J here today with my Whimsie Doodle DT post.  Today I am showing you a card I made using the cool Photo Lizzie...

I love this gal!  I wanted to give the card an outdoor feel and lots of movement, hence the pinwheels and curling the banners - I'm quite pleased with how it turned out!  The papers are from the Authentique Celebrate paper pad and I also used MFT Die-Namics - Flat Bottom Clouds die and Lil' Inker Designs Stitched Sentiment Flag Die.

I am sure I have seen another layout somewhere in blogland, but I can't remember where so if you see this and think it's yours, please let me know so I can give you credit for it!

Right, I am off and I'll be back tomorrow with my next All That Scraps October preview DT post - see you then!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• Totally Stampalicious - anything goes
• A Gem of a Challenge - for the girls 
• Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
• Forever Friends - anything goes 

Shy Little Nickie

Hello,I'm here today to share a recent card I made as one of the July/August guest designers for Inky Impressions...

Isn't the Nickie stamp range so pretty?  This one is Shy Little Nickie and perfect for those thinking of you or missing you cards.  I wanted all out to emphasis her prettiness hence the lace and doily and touch of pink (which I don't use much unless it's HOT pink!).  I matched her up with papers from the Authentique Splendid paper pad and subtly distressed the edges with my Tim Holtz distressing tool.

Okay, I'm off now.  Thanks for visiting and see you on my blog rounds later!

 I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• Fussy and Fancy Friday - vintage and lace
• Sweet Stampin' - text (on the DP)
• Craft Your Passion - anything goes

Nature's Tapestry

Normally I'm very happy when it gets to Friday but unfortunately that means it's the end of my week off work  :(  Hey ho, at least I got to do some relaxed crafting rather than squeezing it in in the evenings!

Anyway, I'm here today with my make today using newbie Quixotic Paperie goodies and I'm still sticking with the experimenting (with much encouragement from lovely blog mates Sue and Lisa who, might I add, are both brilliant at shabby chic so I have a lot to live up to!)...

I love dies and these new romantic style SCACD dies are at the top of my list!  This gorgeous fan is called Nature's Tapestry and the detail is amazing.  I matched it up with the romantic Splendid papers from Authentique.  So I hope Sue and Lisa approve!  It's not as shabby chic as it should be, but I think I need to buy more shabby chic style materials, like pretty paper flowers.  Any other advice on helping me get to the essence of the style is most welcome please!

*** Latest Arrivals ***

• Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps June Release
• Some Odd Girl - Summer Fun Release!
• Simply Betty Stamps - Teen Scene Summer & Restocks
• Craft Stamper Magazine July Issue
• Dies by SCACD - gorgeously detailed new dies!
• Susana Loves Stamps - fantastic new Mixed Media stamp collection!
• Tim Holtz Distress Markers
• Whimsy Stamps Restocks & Latest Releases

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• Unstampabelles - ribbons
• Creative Card Crew - 3-2-1 (3 flowers, 2 papers, 1 fan)
• Divas By Design - to die for
• Papertake Weekly - bingo (ribbon - free - blooms)
• Crafts and Me - anything goes
• Wags 'n Whiskers - kraft
• Sketch N Stash - free choice sketch (used #20 below)

 

More mixed media experimentation!

Happy weekend everyone!  I'm here today to show you how my experimenting with a more mixed media style using Quixotic Paperie goodies is getting on!  If you're familiar with my usual style you'll know I'm more of a clean lines, cutesy card maker so this new style is hard for me!  So, I'm just getting my inks, materials, tools, etc out without having any particular design in mind (otherwise it will lean to my usual style!) and see what magic happens!  And here's what "happened" to me today...

So, what d'ya think?!  I doubt if I will ever get this mixed media style right but I think I'm finding my own style within the style - if that makes sense!  I didn't take me long to make either - it sort of all fell into place.  I loved using the Authentique Splendid pad along with the exciting new Susana Loves Stamps Blank Canvas Women stamp set and the Whimsy Friendship Ticket Sentiments Set. 



That's it from me this week, see you tomorrow with something exciting happening at MilkCoffee Stamps and my next Whimsie Doodles guest artist spot - it's gonna be a busy day!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Thursday
• The Ribbon Carousel - birthdays
• Waste Not Wednesdays - using up that lace (got miles of it still!)
• Crafts and Me - lace
• Divas By Design - chocolate (lots of chocolate inking!)
• Pixie Dust Studios - use 3 or more patterned papers (I got four!)
• Bunny Zoe's - anything goes
• Papertake Weekly - anything goes