Let´s Celebrate

Ooh am I an Old Age Pensioner today? I think not because I won´t get my pension until July with the revised retirement age. Aha but I am lucky as I fall just a month behind the new official guidelines so not liable to work to the age of 65 ... thank goodness I left the rat race almost 17 years ago.
Today is also very special to me as my grandson Ryan celebrates his 17th birthday and will be able to get his Provissional Licence (is it still called that?) then get behind the wheel of a car and drive his parents nuts no doubt, mind you it won´t make much to difference to his mum as she is nuts already as I am sure half of you already know rofl - chip off the old block???
Happy Birthday Ryan, you light up our lives. -x-

Anyhoo now onto the challenges for today,

Die Cut Dreams have set the theme of a

Celebration card which must have a number on it ... this challenge is in honour of my Birthday and I am so honoured to work alongside such a fantastic DT, thank you girls you light up my life too.




Now can you tell me which 17 year old lad would appreciate a hand coloured card ? I have taken the easy option and used a pre-coloured image from the Mikey Collection available from Charmed Cards & Crafts , papers are "For Him" from Papermania, corner dies are Double Do, numbers are Sissix, a trio of card candy and my gorgeous new label dies which took an age to find in stock anywhere.

I am combining this card with Crafty Catz - The boyz are back and The Crafty Pad - Make a card for any male, father, husband, brother, uncle, son etc

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This week´s theme at Sweet Pea Stampers we would like to see

A Sprinkling of Fairy Dust

so come on girls and glitter yourselves silly

I have inked up ching chou kuik´s "Full Moon" for the first time and she is available from Sweet Pea Stamps, coloured her with my Copics and used H20´s for the background. I treat myself to both new releases at Bearly Mine Designs this weekend and what a snip they are. This paper is from the Stripes Collection, corners are Double Do´s, Martha Stewart punch, ribbon and gems from stash, leaves are a sizzlet die and flowers and pearl sprays are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I wish to combine this card with
Crafty Creations - Use your favourite stamp ... every new stamp I ink up is my favourite Flutter By Wednesday - Butterfly, Fairy or Angel
One Stitch at a Time Use something New

Rosie D´s - Fairytales

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Totally Gorjuss - Wings
Quirky Crafts - Girly Girl

Lili of the Valley Challenge, Sneak Peeks, and Awesome Candy

Today the Lili of the Valley DT are all sharing a project made with one of the fabulous new stamps that are going to be released on Tuesday 1st June 2010 – Midnight GMT. There are 12 new designs – 4 Dressing Up Girls, 4 Boys, 2 Babies and 2 Get Well Designs - Overseas Postage will be reduced to £3.50 and orders of £25 will get free shipping from 1st June.

And to top it all off there is some fabulous candy up for grabs!!! Win a full set of the new stamps on both the Lili of the Valley Challenge Blog (Thurs 27th to Sat 29th May) and the Lili of the Valley Ideas to Inspire (Sat 29th May to Mon 31st May) . So you get two chances to win before they are even released.

So now to the challenge. As well as the fabulous candy that’s up for grabs on the challenge blog, we are also giving away 2 Lili of the Valley stamps of your choice to the winner. We are changing the rules, from now on only cards that have a Lili of the Valley image will qualify to be in the draw for the prize.

Our wonderful Bev has designed the sketch for this fortnight´s challenge and has kept it open to let your imagination run riot with embellies or be like me and keep it simple.

Having 4 young grandsons I will be working in overdrive with these adorable boys images, aren´t they just perfect for those little fella´s in our lives? I have coloured him with my Copics and used a Sakura Glaze pen to the hull of the yacht. Paper is K & Co´s Hopskotch, ribbon is SU, Swiss Dots folder, Double Do corners, See D sentiment and gems from stash.

Please pop over to the challenge blog to see the DT’s cards with all the new stamps, they are fabulous!

There are still a few days left to enter my Birthday Candy and how lucky am I to share my birthday with my eldest grandson Ryan who will be 17 on Monday.

Recipe versus No Stamped Images

Morning peeps, not sure where last week went but Monday is here again along with my two new projects.
Looks like it´s gonna be another scorcher today, 29 degrees already which is about as hot as I like it.

Anyhoo onto today´s challenges
Sweet Pea Stampers theme is a RECIPE of

4 Patterned Papers

2 Ribbons

1 Button

2 Shapes

I inked up Ocean Fantasy and coloured with my copics, followed the sketch on Sketch Saturday. One Stitch at a Time would like to see furry friends, just look at the adorable wee mermaid kitty - what a cutie. Crafty Catz have set the theme for Stars and Stripes, Sew Many Challenges say Anything Goes and SophistiCat have set the theme of "Splish Splash".
Papers are from the BG Indian Summer pad, ooh I adore these - ribbons, button and gems are from my stash.

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Die Cut Dreams have set the theme of

Words Only "NO" Stamped Images

This was a challenge and a half for me as I don´t have many word stamps so was completely lost. The sentiment is this week´s freebie at Sentimental Sundays where they want you to Get Well, this brilliant sketch, another lifesaver, is the theme at Crazy 4 Challenges. Flutter By Wednesday would like to see flowers along with your butterfly, fairy or angel and Stampin´Sisters in Christ have set the theme of distressing or sponge the edges of your card/project - I have sponged with rouge fluid chalk. Papers are K & Co Classic and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.





Don´t forget you have another week to enter my Birthday Candy.

Pink to make the boys wink

Monday is upon us once again and I have no idea where the last week has gone, gosh I seem to blink my eyes and a new week is upon me before I know where I am. At least my memory is still in working mode cos I remembered today always brings us a new theme at Sweet Pea Stampers and this week we challenge you to try your hand at

Paper Piecing

The wonderful Lynette from Sweet Pea Stamps has donated a fabulous stamp for the winner so check out the blog to see what you could win, remember you´ve gotta to be in it to win it!

I have never done any paper piecing, played around with acetate and glitter, but always fancied trying using the paper and like everything else ... I just needed a push in the right direction and now that I have tried it this will be something I definitely will repeat.

I have paper pieced her tail and belt in pearlescent paper, her hat and outfit with BG papers -
coloured Caribbean Treasure with my Copics and used Prisma pencils for the background - added some glaze to the bones to make them look authentic and gems and pearls from my stash. Papers are from the Indian Summer pack by Basic Grey, flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts ... check my Blog Candy. Embossing folder is Swiss Dots and the gorgeous ribbon was a gift from my DT buddy Victoria.



I wish to combine this card with the following challenges where we all reap so much inspiration.

Friday Sketchers - Sketch

Pixie Dust Studio - Cut It Out

Inky Impressions - Summer Creation

One Stop - Summer Breeze

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This week at Die Cut Dreams we challenge you to



Lace It Up( Use lace on your creation)

Our wonderful Vikki ,who has just started up her own business selling beautiful handcrafted "Posh Pins" for your cards and crafts, is our sponsor this week. You can find Vikki's beautiful handmade creations here at Posh Pins and Charms and you will be in for a real treat when you check out her prize on the blog and I know how you all love your lace so there will be nothing stopping you to join in with this fabulous theme.

I have inked up Hero Arts ( retired) Kitty Cat Kitten C3939, doesn´t he have the typical Cheshire cat look about him and looking very guilty as though he has had a licking session at these cakes! The Sassy Cook stamp is Denami Designs (2008 collection from the USA) and I coloured these with my Copics adding a sprinkling of Glamour Dust here and there. Matted and layered these with my trusty nestability dies, sentiment is a See D, papers are a freebie from a magazine, leaves are punched and flowers and pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts .

I am combining this card with

Allsorts - Birthdays ... happy 1st birthday girls

Charisma - Sweet Treats

Crafty Catz - Petals & Pearls

Creative Inspirations - Punches or Die Cuts ... I have both

Cute Card Thursday - Someone Special

Paper Cutz - Image of a Dog or Cat

Sketch Saturday - Sketch ... rotated

Stampavie and more - Pink

Stamp Something - Celebrate Something

Lili of the Valley, Sneak Peek, Good News and an Award

Good morning and welcome to a new challenge at Lili of the Valley. You sure blew us away with the entries this past fortnight, wow over 200 beauties.
This challenge we have a super

SKETCH

designed by none other than the uber talented Bev plus Lili of the Valley have again sponsored us with 2 stamps of the winners choice.

I have inked up Christmas Bird Box - Bow and coloured with my copics adding the compulsory glamour dust. Papers are from the Christmas multi stack by DCWV, flowers , gems and ribbon are from my stash and the sentiment is a See D.

Lili of the Valley have set a release date for the 1st June for their new Annabel stamp designs, 12 of them in total. They've got four new 'Dressing Up' girls, four new boys, one really cute litte unisex baby, one adorable christening stamp and two sweet get well soon ones.

Here's one of the Get Well Soon stamps - it's called "Little Nurse"

Isn´t she adorable? Now onto more good news ... from the 10th - 21st May there is free postage on all orders worldwide so this is your chance to stock up on all those must haves.

I am so honoured to have received this award from my lovely blogging buddy Lorraine. The rules are that I link to the person who gave me the award which is Lorraine and to nominate 12 other blogs to award it to. This is always the hard bit as there are so many wonderful blogs that I have the pleasure of visiting and following so here we go.

Emma, Chris, Claire, Debbie, Sheila, Helene, Jen, Vanessa aka nessy, Sylvia, Sharon, Stef, and Pascale,

Lili of the Valley Ideas to Inspire Blog

Lili of the Valley have started a new blog Lili of the Valley Ideas to Inspire Blog and as the title suggests it is hoped that this will give you ideas and tutorials to help and inspire you when creating cards with your Fabulous Lili of the Valley Stamps. There will be sneak peeks of new releases, colouring tutorials in different colouring mediums and lots of cards to give you inspiration made by the Lili of the Valley DT. Today, Laila the Creative Director, has posted a really great Video Tutorial on colouring the fairies with Promarkers, and there is also a sneak peek of the new little girl stamps to be released end of May/beginning June, so why not pop over there now and become a follower so you are the first to see the sneak peeks, just click here.

Shabby Chic and a Colour Combo

Good morning my lovelies, I hope you had a super weekend, I know I did. Can´t believe it´s Monday again already, where on earth do the weeks go? I was good yesterday and tidied up my craftroom although there were other places that should have taken priority but whey hey a gal needs some clear space to work in. Bet I´m not alone at leaving things lying around after a project!! Memo to self ... tidy as you go along, well I do that in the kitchen rofl.

Monday´s always allow me to share two DT cards with you and thank goodness for the challenge blogs which make my life easier ... this is where I get my inspiration to complete my projects so without further ado my 1st card is for Die Cut Dreams and our challenge this week is

SHABBY CHIC

Out came my scissors for this decoupage easel card, artwork by Linnie Smith.


I was good and made a matching envelope too.

And here is the card folded back .

Challenges:

Crafty Catz - Card & Tag

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The challenge this week at Sweet Pea Stampers is a colour combo of

Green, Pink and Brown

Challenges:

Alphabet - B is for Butterflies

Crafty Creations - Magical

Flutter By Wednesday - Use a fairy, angel or butterfly

PaperPlay - Stamp/Digi and Bling

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Stamp Something - Birthday Somethings, congratulations on your 100th Challenge

Materials:

Image: Dance of Butterfly

Ink: Copic Ciao

Papers: BG Eskimo Kisses

Sentiment: See D

Punch: Martha Stewart

Dies: Spellbinders

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

Glitter: Art Institute

Two of my DT buddies have fabulous candy as seen on my sidebar. You can find Susie´s here and Vikki´s here and don´t forget to check mine out too.

Two sketch cards today

Good morning and what a glorious morning it is here on the Costa del Sol, wall to wall sunshine and a kiss goodbye to the rain. I still can´t believe we were in UK this time last week, it sure was a flying visit due to the volcanic dust and cancelled flights but 3 days were better than none and it was wonderful to see our youngest grandson christened and be with our family.

Anyhoo onto today´s cards.
This week at Sweet Pea Stampers we have

A Beautiful Sketch

for you to follow designed by our very own Anne and once again we are sponsored by the very generous Lynette from Sweet Pea Stamps .
I adore Ching-Chou Kuik´s artwork and these stamps are just so addictive.

Challenges:

My Time To Craft - Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby

Incy Wincy Designs - Anything goes

Materials:

Image: Red Hearts

Sentiment: Sweet Pea Stamps

Ink: Copic Ciao

Papers: BG Indian Summer

Punch: Martha Stewart

Pearls and gems from my stash

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This week´s challenge at Die Cut Dreams has been set by our lovely Susie and she has chosen the theme of

Tilda in Pink

Susie is addicted to Tilda and her favourite colour is pink and she has set this theme for her upcoming Birthday on Friday. Have a great day sweetie!

Challenges:

Charisma Cardz - Girly Card with Flowers

Crafty Angels - 1 Ribbon, 2 Papers, 3 Flowers

Creative Card Crew - April Showers bring May Flowers

Just Magnolia - Sketch

PaperPlay - Pretty Pastels

Totally Stampalicious - Flower Power

Materials:

Image: Tilda with flowing hair

Sentiment: Stampin Up

Papers: BG Sugared

Die Cuts: Nestabilities

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

Pearls, lace and ribbon from stash