Ooh La La..........

Morning peeps hope you have had a chilled out weekend, although it was rather wet to say the least perfect for crafting. I did manage to get a Dt card done and then my printer ran out of ink, I don't know about anyone else but I'm sure the cartridges are half empty when I buy them as I haven't done that much printing and they are already running out......drat. I think I might try refilling them this time to cut down on costs.

Todays card is for the new challenge at Ohh La La, the theme this week is to make it manly and being as it was my brother in law birthday a couple of weeks back I thought I'd make a waterfall card featuring fishing as its one of his hobbies, I used the Boys to Men Cd.The papers are also from the same CD.

Challenges
Sweet Stampin'....anything but square.
Paperplay......monochrome and ribbon.
My Mums Craft shop....The great outdoors.
Crafty Cardmakers......for the boys
Lollipop crafts......anything goes.

Catch you all later
hugs n smiles

Sugar Creek Hollow......

Morning peeps hope you are well and looking forward to the weekend of rain....lol, well in the Midlands where I am we are in for another wet day tomorrow roll on May hopefully we'll get some sun then.....talk about April showers.Despite the weather we are selling ice cream at work brrrr.
The week has flown by again and at Sugar Creek Hollow we have another SHABBY CHIC/VINTAGE/PRIMATIVE challenge for you......there were lots of lovely entries for last week well done to you all.

This week we are sponsered by Nana Vic who has kindly donated $10 for one lucky winner to spend in store.

For my card I used Nana Vic....Letter writing so apt for this time of the year as its Mothers Day in America this weekend, I wanted to create a faux framed picture so I distressed crackle glazed and spritzed to get the desired effect, probably would have been easier to add a piece of acetate over the image......lol. The papers are From Websters Pages which were a freebie in a magazine a while back.

Challenges

Crafty Catz.....anything goes.
Poodles Parlour......anything goes.
wags n Whiskers.....distressing.
Delicious Doodles.....bingo (Gems,Dies, and flowers)
Paper Crafting Journey.....Vintage.
Simon Says.....anything goes.
Pixie Cottage....for Mom or a special lady.
Truly Scrumptious.....distressing and dies/punches.
Party Time Tuesday......anything goes and kraft.
My Sheri crafts.....Mothers day card with flowers
Have a great weekend
hugs n smiles

Polka Doodles............

Morning peeps hope you are all well and not too wet, gosh a months worth of rain in one day we'll need water wings soon or we'll get webbed feet. The stripping is well under way.........no not what you're thinking, the wallpaper stripping in the dining room, I hate the mess but its got to be done so hopefully I'll get started on Sunday with the painting ready to hang the wallpaper.

Well on to todays challenge at Polka Doodles the theme is Shabby Chic, I have used floral circles and papers from the Candy Doodles Collectors Edition Cd, I tore around the egdes and crumpled the paper, distressed the edges and then glimmer misted in irridescent gold, laayered the circles up and added a pearl to the centre.....kept this very simple just adding lace and torn edges to the background paper.

Challenges
4 Crafty Chicks......no stamping
Paper pretties.....clean and simple.
Creative inspirations.....anything goes.
Try It on Tuesdays......anything goes The Craft Barn must sell the item though...Polka Doodles Cd.
Craft room challenge....ink it
Digital Tuesday....winter or blue
Hugs n' smiles

Sketch n Stash............

Hope you all had a fabbie weekend and didn't get too much rain, weather for this week here is more rain and this Wednesday its going to get really wet.....lol, well thats what the weather man said. I though all rain was wet but there you go you learn something new every day.I really do need to get in my garden and tackle the weeds that are growing at a rate of knots and I have a few plants that I need to get in ready for the summer.

What a lot of fabbie cards we had for the last challenge at Sketch n Stash so looking forward to see what you create with this weeks sketch which is by our lovely teamie.......Doreen.

Our sponser this week is Crafty Emmas store.

For my card I have used my fave dancing lady stamp CI 346 from Crafty Individuals I have used the fabbie papers from Prima called Almanac, I think I'm going to have to get another pad before stocks run out as I just love the designs.I just love all the different elements that make up the papers including the tags and embellishments, I cut out the clock face and added crackle accents to the top. The flowers are made used a Memory box die and then I added a pearl to the centre and made a lace rosette for them to sit on, the ribbon I got from the NEC and its been dyed with different shades of browns and peaches......super lush.

Have a fabbie week
hugs

Sugar Creek Hollow.......

Afternoon peeps,don't know about you but I'm struggling with blogger, I don't like the new layout it looks too technical for me and so I have to keep reverting back to the old style, I don't like change just wish they would leave things alone.....don't they know I'm a silver surfer who has to use water wings to keep afloat....lol.

Oh well on to this weeks challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow.....this week we want to see your fancy folds, don't forget you can do Shabby Chic, Vintage or primative style.
For the main image the stamp is by Our Daily Bread called Birthday Blessings available from Oyster Stamps. I coloured the image with Prisma pencils. the heart is a Crafty Individuals stamp CI 342, I have embossed and layered up the heart using a wow purple tinsel embossing powder.

Challenges
Sir Stampalot.....Happy Birthday
Fussy and fancy.....punches/dies.
Cooking it up with Katie.....Green/gorgeous/garden
Divas by Design......anything but a card.
Stampavie......spring
Praire Fairy......anything with flowers
Hugs n smiles.

Summer Flowers.....

Morning peeps hope you are well, what a wonderful week I've had crafting wise, firstly my new stamps arrived from Crafty Individals and they are all now available on the website along with some other must haves like the chipboard perfume bottles....so gotta get some of those, I collect perfume bottles and my bathroom is quite full of them such a pain to dust though.My other good news was I won over at Teddy Bo this week and got to chose 10 images.....I am so gonna be a busy bee for the next few weeks playing. if you are a new follower to my blog just thought I'd let you know that my crafting is quite eclectic as I love cute, inky, distressed, vintage, you name I'll have a go at it.....lol.


Todays card didnt turn out quite how I wanted it to, I think the embossing brightened up the colours too much for my liking but I thought I'd share it anyway. I have used CI 134 stamps for the four panels which were coloured with Promarkers and then clear embossed (think they would have been better using a Crackle), I used the last bit of my lush silk ribbon for the frame in the centre.....got to get some more of that as well.The centre bird stamp is CI 220 which after colouring it I rubbed Star dust stickles all over it, the scrim I dyed with glimmer mists. I used a Krylon silver pen to highlight all of the panels.

Yesterday I went shopping and finally got some wallpaper to redecorate my dining room ......so I'll be doing a bit of different paper crafting comes Sunday, well after hubby stripped off the original paper that is.

Challenges
Creatalious.....Butterflies and flowers.
Crafty Ribbons.....Things with wings.
Bunny Zoe....ribbon or twine.
Oldie but a goodie....on the farm or in the garden (both stamps)
Stampin for the weekend.....sparkle and shine.
Alphabet Challenge.....F for feathered friend
The Stampman.....shabby chic/distressed
Have a lovely day
hugs n smiles

Sneak Peek......

Morning all and what a wild morning it is.......not much ice cream being sold today. After Easter we sell ice cream and whilst we have had those lovely warm days before Easter I had lots of people coming into the shop to see when it was coming back.....well now its back the weather is cold .......typical.

Thank you for all your lovely comments with regards joining Crafty Individuals so much appreciated, so today I thought I'd show you a sneek peek of one of the new stamps that should be out real soon, you'll probably get fed up of me showing this image as I think its gorgeous. I have made a box frame for the image to sit in which I layered up. I first painted the box in Paper Artsy acrylic paints using Guacamole and Pansy and then used the Crackle stamp CI 116 for the top embossing with Tinsel gold, I then added strips of paper from the Sprintime book to the inside edges. I coloured the image wih Promarkers and Flexmarkers and added stickles. The paper for the flowers and the diecut swirls are from the same book, the dies are both by Memory Box, I popped little diamantes into the centre of the flowers for a smidge of extra bling.

Challenges
Simon Says Stamp and show......anything goes.
Stamp with fun ......favourite colours .
My Craft Spot.....make it dimensional.
Pile it on .....make it pop.
Cupcake.....In at the deep end, add structure using different elements (glossy accents, paint,fibres).
Corrosive challenge.....use something out of a bottle (paint, stickles).
Divas by Design....anything but a card

Have a fabbie day
hugs n smiles

Ooh La La..........

Morning peeps wow we had alot of gorgeous cards for the last challenge, guess like me you love Vintage well today see the start of a new challenge at OOh La La and the theme this week is Bold and Bright.......so no pastels, well that was me well and truly out of my comfort zone, the image I have used is from A Carnival of Colour Cd and the image is called In the Pink and as you can see no pastels just lovely bold colour.

Hugs n smiles

Crafty Individuals.......

Morning and what a glorious morning it is, not what the weather forecast man predicted at all. I thought I'd share with you some fabbie news, I went to a workshop with Jean Hardy a few weeks back for a weekend of crafting, I have always been a big fan of Crafty Individual stamps and I have quite a few .....well thats a bit of a fib I have quite a lot. I first met Jean at a show where she was demoing her stamps, the backgrounds that she had done for them were amazing so I brought my very first stamps from her, they were mostly the travel ones as I wanted to do an Italian Journal as another of my passions is going to Italy and she had some gorgeous papers featuing Italy........well that was then and then I was hooked. I have been on a couple of Jeans workshops, the very first one a couple of years ago at Yarm, I had never done anything inky before then, in fact I'd never used a Cuttlebug and Jean patiently showed me how to use it along with introducing me to Viva paints.

After the workshop at Whitby Jean wanted a word with me but didn't get the chance as we had to head off home and she was helping another lady so she said she'd email me.........I recieved it a few days later asking me to join her team at Crafty Individulas .......to say I was thrilled is an understatement, I'm still on cloud nine now. Thought I'd show you the photos of the clock I made, if you pop over to The CI blog you'll see some of the other ladies finished ones as well, the challenge this month is 'Time for Summer', and not only that there is Candy to be had......yummy ends midnight tonight so what you waiting for, the goodies are scrumptious including some of the new stamps

Challenges
Paper Sundaes......anything goes.
The crafty pad......buttons.
Stamptacular......free choice.
Crazy 4 challenges.....buttons.
allsorts.....buttons and threads.
Artisic Stamper.....ribbons and lace

Sugar Creek Hollow....

 Hiya peeps hope you are all well.

Today sees the start of another challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow but before I get into that I just wanted to let you know that we are having a DT call at the moment so if you love Vintage/Shabby chic/primative why not pop over to check out the details. We are looking for 3/4 peeps to join in the fun so what are you waiting for........

Now for this week we have a sponser so we got to play with a couple of the images, just loving this girl with her flowers that I got to play with as part of the challenge we would also like to see you use punches and dies......but don't forget we are a Vintage/Shabby Chic/Primative challenge blog so no cuties unless they fit the criteria.

This weeks sponser is Sassy cheryls so one lucky persn will be winning some digis

I have gone for a Shabby Chic look this week, mind you is probably more Shabby than chic, the papers I have used are called Farmhouse from Crate Paper, I have added white to the edges of the flowers and distressed the edges of the main image using paint and then over stamping a swirl design with Frayed Burlap......not sure if it worked or not but its a kind of interesting finish.

Challenges
Papercrafting.....3 or more DPs.
Moving along with the times......Shabby Chic/Vintage.
Craft us crazy.....Mothers day/flowers.
Simon Says.....April showers bring Spring flowers,
sweet Stamps.....Vintage/Shabby chic.
Sweet Stampin'.......girly but no pink
Hugs n smiles

Polkadoodles......

Ohhh its Friday my last day off work, at least I've managed to spend time crafting and catching up although after the Easter rush it will be quiet for a few weeks now on the plus side I've still got a couple of weeks left to take before July, being as we won't be going away this Summer due to my Son doing his Masters at Uni. I'm going to have a week off to do some decorating, just need to find some paper.....
Today sees the start of a new challenge at Polkadoodles, this week I picked the theme.......Pink and girly, you'd never have guessed that would you.....lol.
For my card I did a stepper card using all elements from the new Sugar Plum Daisy CD, if you like pretty and fairies you'll love this one, I printed off the house topper and the bottom and front panel. I did reverse one of the side panels in gimp so that they faced out. The fairy image was coloured with Promarkers and glamour dust added to her wings. The butterfly I attached with a thin strip of acetate so that it wobbles......bit like my hips after eating far too much chocolate this week ......lol.For the grass I used a Marrianne Designs die which also comes with a sweet bird on, and the flowers are sequins available from Mei Flowers.

Challenges
Wags n Whiskers.....anything goes.
Totally Papercrafts......things with wings.
Fairytale challenge....stepper cards.
Delicious Doddles....... lots of layers
Charisma.....fancy folds.
Crafty Ribbons.....thing with wings.
My Time to Craft......fairy nice.
Digital Tuesday.....birthday
Hugs n smiles

Spring has Sprung.......

Afternoon peeps, hope you are well and have had a lovely Easter break, must say its typical April weather dodging the showers, although yesterday when we went to Liverpool for the day it was lovely, blue sky all day, bit breezy when we went round The Albert Docks but can't complain. Shopping is really good there and I managed to spend far too much on 4 artifical flowers from a lovely Sia shop which I spied as we went past on the bus, I've put them up until I do a bit of revamping later on in the year, knowing me I'll forget where I put them......lol. Mind you I didn't spend as much as my son did on trains, we had originally gone to Liverpool to find a shop there which stocks virtually every train, (it was set up like Argos for trains, by the way I mean minature trains as he is going to build his own layout), we caught a double decker bus to the shop as it was about 4 miles out of the city centre, haven't been on a double decker bus in years and we managed to get the front seats on the top deck.......big kid at heart.

Todays card is featuring a Teddy Bea image and I've used some of the new delish papers from Prima,( the image is coloured in with Prismas and then I added lots of Star Dust stickles, I'm out of another pot of that now, its the only thing I ever buy several of at a time apart from tape. The pearls are from Mei Flowers as are the little sequin flowers and the roses are from Wild Orchid crafts.

Challenges
Sweet Sketch Wednesday......sketch.(Ireversed the centre panels
Paper Pretties.....two or more DPs
Little Red Wagon.....Spring colours.
Crafty Creations.....flower power.
Ladybug Ink......use shapes.
Everybody Art.....Spring.
Teddy Bo......spring has sprung
Cupcake.....Spring is in the air.
Stamps&Fun=Creativity......butterflies
Pink Elephant......flowers
Cute Card Thursday.....Spring flowers

Hugs

Under the sea.......

Morning peeps I got up yesterday morning and inspiration hit me.....well I think that's what it was, so armed with a couple of cups of tea (cos I can't work without tea) I headed for my play room and got out all of my messy paints and I've used a fair few on this little diorama including Paper Artsy Fresco paints for the main part of the frame, as well as their crackle glaze, I also added distress stain in Dusty Concord to the edges before embossing it with silver using the crackle stamp CI 116 from Crafty Individuals......so I've done double crackling.....lol.

The other paints I've used are the Viva precious metal ones, these are soooooo scrummy and shiny and pretty and .....and I just love them, I used three colours in total.

The lady image CI 108 is also from Crafty Individuals, I stamped the image out using two shades of puples in the dew drop Memento inks, these are perfect for picking out detail, I inked her head in Cocoa, then I coloured in the image with Prismas, adding coping amounts of glitter.The background of the frame is from the Seaside paper book.

Then came the fun part using shells, beads, driftwood, the glittery seaweed (was originally a christmas decoration) and there is even a little mini coin charm popped in at the bottom. The scrim at the back I dyed using glimmer mists and is available from Stef Francis you can also get it pre dyed which is far easier I have to say as my fingers are now a pinky purple colour.

On the front of the frame there is a sheet of plastic instead glass and just to give the picture more depth I stamped on the front and back using a swirl stamp from B Line, so it appears to be looking through seaweed.

The theme this month at Crafty Individuals is .....Time for Summer and the challenge at Fashionable stamping is Nautical.
Challenges
Corrosive challenge......add some metal (coin Charm)
Pile it On......things beginning with S....shells/sea/seaweed/shimmer.
Pollycraft.....texture/fabric (usd dyed scrim).
Party Time Tuesday.....water.
Creative Inspirations.....pastel purple, green and blue.
Divas by Design.....use a charm (coin)
Happy Daze.....use a water technique or a watery theme
Hugs n smiles

Sketch n Stash.....

Well the weather man was right for once its a bank holiday and its raining, shame for everyone who were planning to take their families out as most things are outdoors.Personally I don't mind as I don't feel guilty heading up to my play room for a day of crafting now, just wish I could have got in the garden to weed the last border before they all take over.....ohhhh well they'll still be there for me another day.
Today sees the start of another challenge at Sketch n Stash and this weeks sketch is by our fellow teamie Kevin ....and this week Jill is sponsering the challenge and the lucky winner gets the sweet stamp featuring the art work of Faye Whittaker.

.

For my card I've used one of the Teddy Bea images called Ballerina Bea.....this time I printed the image onto linen effect card, actually truth be known it was a mistake but instead of discarding it I tried colouring it with prismas and a blending pen, it coloured great so I'm going to do this again as I love the texture of the fininshed image. Because the colour sits ontop of the texture of the paper you have to gently work it into the background as well......if that makes sense.
The papers are from First Edition......talking of papers I've just been on abit of a spend buying the new Prima paper pads.....some lovely vintage ones (I so need therapy for my paper addiction).

Challenges
Cutie pie.....favourite stamp

Have a fabbie Bank Hoilday even if it is raining.
Hugs n' Smiles