A bit of elegance

Hi All
I was asked by my sister to make a birthday card that she could give to her husband's Gran.  I decided to go for a bit of elegance.

I followed the sketch over at Sketch Saturday as the starting point.  The stamp is by Kanban (The Cavendish Ladies).  I wanted quite a soft look so used chalks and highlighted the fur parts with Glamour Dust.  The papers are from a paper pack that I had (think it was Papermania).  Added some lace and ribbon across the center of the card.  The embellishments are a bow, flower, pearl stamens and a lovely feather.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday Challenge #181 - Use sketch
One Stop Craft Challenge week #157 - ribbons and lace
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #160 - spots and stripes

Thanks for looking and I love reading all your comments.
Mags
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Green and Blue Combo...

Hi Everyone,
Spotted the challenge at Sir Stampalot and decided to have a go as it was using a colour combo that I would not normally have thought of putting together - green and blue.
Here is my creation:

Apologies for the quality of the photo but these dark nights are not a great help.
Anyway, I based the layout of my card on the challenge over at Creative Inspirations.  I used dark blue coredinations card and various green tones of paper from my stash.  Of course, I had to do a bit of distressing to the blue card because I just can't resist.  The centre panel has been done using Docrafts Papermania Urban stamps.  I used green chalk ink to lightly stamp the grasses at the bottom.  Also inked round the panel with distress ink to soften the edges a bit.  The butterfly was stamped with versamark on blue cardstock and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  The flowers were from WOC and my stash.  Finally added a couple of brads and some gems and liquid pearls to the butterfly.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sir Stampalot - Blue and Green
Creative Inspirations Challenge 138 - use sketch provided
Die Cut Dreams Challenge 102 - recipe, 2 brads, 3 gems, 4 flowers.

Added 17.11.11
I tried to take a better photo when I got home from work tonight but the light was still fading fast.  What do you think?

Still not sure it is that much better.  If anyone has any tips on how to take a good photo of a card then please let me know. I just never seem to get it right.

Thanks  for looking and please feel free to comment.  I look forward to reading them.
Mags
xx

Back from holidays

Hi All
Well, my holiday is now well and truly over.  Got back at the weekend but taken till now to get time to post anything.
What can I say, the cruise was superb.  Went with P&O and they were fantastic.  We could not fault them at all.  The ship was fab, the food was fab, service was fab.  The only thing that let us down a bit was the weather but that is in the hands of the gods.
Here is a picture of our ship 'Azura'.  Quite large as you can see.

Good job I took some loose clothing with me to travel back home in.  The food on board was excellent and there was plenty of it lol.

Now comes the task of dealing with Christmas - from buying presents to making the cards.  Feel like I have tons to do and not enough time to do it in.
Hopefully will get to start some crafting tomorrow.
Bye for now
Mags
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The Craft Barn 600 follower blog candy

The Craft Barn are celebrating 600 followers with huge blog candy.  Well done to them.  Why not pop over and check it out.

Mags
xx

It's Holiday Time

Hi Friends
Just wanted to let you all know that I am going on holiday tomorrow and won't be back until 12th November.  Hubby booked us a wonderful two week Caribbean cruise.  This is a late celebration for our 25th Wedding Anniversary which was in September.  Too say I am a bit excited is an understatement.
Hope you all stay safe and well while I am away and I look forward to catching up with all your crafty makes when I get back.
Mags
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Special and Pink

As I have probably mentioned a couple of times I am going away on a cruise on Friday.  While I am away it is my mother-in-laws birthday so had to get this done before I go.

Used a stamp from Kanban for the main image.  I wanted the colouring to be quite soft so I used chalks to colour it.  I also added glitter to the hairpiece for a bit of sparkle.  Used a few layers of papers from Tim Holtz which I inked round the edges with some walnut stain to try and give a more aged look.  Layered the papers onto Coredinations cardstock.  The finishing touch was some ribbon, flowers from WOC and some pins.
Was quite pleased with the result and hopefully mother-in-law will like it.
Made a box for it to go in and decorated that with some matching papers and flowers.

Thanks for looking and please feel free to leave any comments.  I do enjoy reading your comments and they are much appreciated.
Mags
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Molly Blooms Penguin

Thank goodness the working week is over and the weekend is here.  A couple of days to unwind a little.
Picked this stamp up a couple of days ago.  It is a gorgeous one from Molly Blooms.  I just love penguins and he was so cute.  Here's what I created with him.

I used the layout from the Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge.  I coloured the image using my trusty promarkers.  Decided to go for a monochromatic theme using varying shades of green.  Coredinations cardstock and some papers from my stash were used for the matting and layering.  The mock snowflakes at the bottom are wooden shapes that I have glittered. Added little strips of glitter paper to the underneath of the centre one.  A glitter flourish and bow completed the card.

Think the colours work for a christmas card but would be interested in what you think.  Please feel free to leave me comments.
I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - use sketch provided
I love Promarkers - Ain't it cute
Creative Inspirations - Monochromatic

Thanks for looking and happy crafting.
Mags
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Grrrrr.....inserts

Hi Fellow Bloggers
No new card from me today.  Just spent gawd knows how long putting inserts and sorting envelopes for a stack of christmas cards I had made.  Note to self - do the inserts as I go along.  Trouble is I am too impatient, always wanting to move onto the next card.  This sound familiar to anyone?
Well, only another week before my holidays.  As it was our 25th wedding anniversary in September hubby booked us a Caribbean Cruise for two weeks.  Totally surprised me as he did it all by himself, picked the location, the cruise company and everything.  He wanted it to be a surprise and it really was.  So hopefully will see some lovely sunshine and get a bit of a tan.  Trouble is when we get back on November 12th will be frightfully cold.
Enough of my ramblings for now.  Will probably get a card or two done over the weekend so keep your eyes peeled for new uploads.  Ordered some flowers from wild orchard crafts and they came today so seems a shame not to put them to use.
Bye for now
Mags
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Another christmas one....

Bought a stamp set from Papermania a little while ago and decided it was about time I used it.  I have followed the sketch over at Sketch Saturday for the layout of my card.

The image has been stamped and coloured with promarkers.  I have also added glitter highlights.  I decided that I wanted to stick to fairly traditional christmas colours (if there is such a thing these days), hence the variations of green and red.  Finished it off with some peel off stars, some ribbon and a bow.

I also distressed the edges of the papers used and added a slight touch of distress ink to the edges of the image.
I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday - use sketch
Polka Doodles 41 - ribbons and bows

Thanks for looking and please feel free to comment.  I love reading all your comments
Mags
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Lavender and Lace

Well, it has been quite chilly today.  Winter I think is well and truly upon us.  Only 1 week and 4 days to my holiday thank goodness.  Hopefully get a bit of a tan.
Now onto today's card.  The inspiration for this card came from the challenge over at Allsorts - Lavender and Lace and I followed the sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday.

The stamp I used is a free gift stamp that I got with a magazine several months ago.  I think it is Ladybug but not too sure.  Love the image of a little girl playing at dressing up - reminds me of my two girls when they were little, trying on my dresses.  After stamping the image I coloured it with promarkers and then attached some thin lace around the edges.  The background paper was a papermania one and I also used some glitter card. Under the glitter card is a piece of textured purple card, again edged with lace.  I finished it off with some roses, a punched butterfly and a cute little heart charm.
I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday 123 - use the sketch provided
Allsorts week 125 - Lavender and Lace
Secret Crafter #156 - use white and one other colour
Crafty Pad #143 - monochromatic
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge 17 - Lace It Up

Thanks for looking and I look forward to any comments.
Mags
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Wedding

No new cards from me today as I have just come back from spending the weekend with my daughter in Manchester.  She is studying at University there and I needed to get some new clothes for my holiday in a couple of weeks.  Seemed the ideal opportunity to combine the two.
So just sharing some photos of a recent wedding order that I did for some friends of mine.  The photography is not that brilliant.  The bride adores tulips and wanted something very modern, simple and with tulips.  She also requested the colours purple, yellow, bright pink and turquoise blue.

Invitation was kept quite simple.  Used a tulip stamp that I obtained from Sir Stampalot.  They were stamped and embossed on different coloured pearlescent card and then cut out.  It seems like I spent forever stamping and cutting out tulips.  The card front was embossed using a impressibilities stencil.  Added a strip of ribbon and some peel offs and bling for the final touch.

Just changed the layout for the thank you cards.  But more stamping, embossing and cutting out.

These were the order of service booklets.  Thankfully no stamped, embossed tulips on these.
I also did a large table plan for the happy couple.  Table cards and name cards and a post box for all the wedding cards.
Was a mammoth task but really enjoyed doing it and the happy couple were really pleased with what I did.
Hope you have enjoyed looking.
Mags
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Dottie Claus

I purchased some digi images from Charmed Cards and Crafts and couldn't resist having a little play.  Love this little image.

Tried to keep this fairly simple as I wanted the papers and digi image to speak for themselves, so to speak.  I used the sketch from Sketch and Stash #72 challenge as my starting point.  All the papers I have used were old ones in my stash that I needed to start using.  The ribbon was also part of my old stash.  The new item used is my digi stamp which has been coloured with promarkers and then lots of glitter added.  Added a sentiment in the top corner and a glittered snowflake embellishment (cut on my Big Shot).
Here is a closer view of the image

Wasn't sure about this card when I first completed it but it has grown on me the more I look at it.  Let me know what you think.
I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Sketch and Stash 72 - use sketch and new/old items
Aud Sentiments Challenge 39 - use sentiment on a winter theme card
Scrapbook Sisters 56 - anything goes

Thanks for looking and would welcome any comments.
Mags
xx

Forever Friends Christmas

Dare I say it but Christmas is fast approaching.  I am trying to get ahead with mine as I go on holiday at the end of October for two weeks.  So need to get some made before I go.
I am really liking the Forever Friends christmas images at the moment and have several lucky folk that I can send these sweet images too.

This image comes as a decoupage but I like it just as it is (can use the layers for another card).  Used some papermania christmas papers and gold mirror card for the matting and layering.  The embellishment in the corner is two buttons with ribbons behind.  Simple layout I think but effective.
Apologies for the quality of the photo but was already dark when I took it so no natural light about.
I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Divas By Design Challenge 12 - use a button
Allsorts Challenge week 124 - use a bear
Forever Friends Monthly Challenge - use a sentiment.

Thanks for looking
Mags
xx

Molly Blooms Snowman

Hi All
Bought this snowman stamp a little while ago.  It is a Molly Blooms (link to blogspot) stamp and I think he is so cute.  He is super to colour in and lends himself to lots of different styles of cards.  Here is my creation for today.

Coloured him in using promarkers and added lots of glamour dust to give it some sparkle.  I have used Coredinations cardstock for backing layers and the blue snowflake paper (which also has some sparkle) was from my stash.  Added some ribbon and a snowflake embellishment for that finishing touch.
Here is a closer picture of the image

Really enjoyed working on this little fella.  Certainly makes me feel all chrismassy.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Sweet Sketch 122 - use sketch provided
Little Claire's challenge 14 - christmas creation
Secret Crafter challenge 155 - anything goes as long as it sparkles
Lothian Crafts Online challenge 19 - anything goes
One Stop Craft challenge 152 - anything goes
Papertake Weekly challenge - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp challenge - sparkle and bling
Bah-Humbug challenge 40 - Glitz and Glitter

Thanks for looking.  Please feel free to leave any comments, they are appreciated.
Mags
xx

Christmas flowers

Wow, 3 posts in one day.  Better be careful, don't want to wear myself out.
I have been working on my Christmas cards and this one came about when I recently purchased the Marianne Creatables die for large lantern.
Items used:
Coredinations cardstock
Flower punch for the mock poinsettias
Marianne creatables die of large lantern and the pine branches
Backing paper from my stash (Hot Off The Press I think)
Green glitter paper
Tim Holtz distress ink

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Scrapbook Sisters - christmas flowers
One Stop Challenge - anything goes
Papertake weekly challenge - anything goes
Lothian Crafts - anything goes

Thanks for looking and happy crafting.
Mags
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Card making workshop

Today I spent 4 hours at my favourite local craft shop Dalexkrafts doing a card making workshop. The workshop was organised to concentrate on card ideas for christmas.  Caroline, who runs the workshops is always trying to come up with new ideas for us to try.
Shown below are just three of the cards we made today.  To my mind the cards are simple in design but can be embellished as much or as little as you want.

Card one

This card used the baubles stamp from Docrafts Papermania range.  Simply stamped out, coloured in promarkers and cut out.  The red background was done using one of the baubles and versamark ink.  A ribbon and stamped sentiment finish it off nicely.

Card Two

A fold back card using a die cut christmas tree, some backing papers, ribbon bow, sentiment and a few gems.  Quick to do but very effective.

Card Three

This final card is a little more unusual in that we used 3 squares of paper to make a stand up pyramid shape which was then embellished.  Again, we used Papermania stamps and sentiments and added some snowflakes made from punches.

Decided that this is a versatile shape and am going to have a go at making a centre table decoration with it for christmas.  Will post something on here when I get a chance to have a go, so keep your eyes peeled.

Thanks for looking and if anyone is in the area of Dalexcrafts they are well worth a visit.  Not sure how they manage to fit so much into the space that they have.
Thanks for looking and won't ramble on any longer.
Mags
xx

Handmade Roses

Hi All
Well the weather really has turned colder.  I have even had to put my heating on, much to my husband's disgust, I am sure he just wants me to put more and more layers of clothing on to keep warm.  But how can you craft with lots of layers on.
Anyway, been busy making my own paper roses for embellishments.  I used them to make a card for a friend's 40th birthday.

I printed the image and backing papers off a CD (cupcake crafting).  Rather than print them in colour I printed them in black and white.  I then matted and layered onto black mirror card and I also inked the edges with Tim Holtz distress inks.
I then made the paper roses using various papers I had in my stash.  Added a ribbon, sentiment and some small punched flowers in the top corner.
Here is a close up image of the roses.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Polka Doodles Week 40 challenge - handmade flowers
One Stop Craft Challenge week 152- anything goes

Thanks for looking
Mags
xx

Forever Friends

Hi All
Weather has turned a bit cooler today.  Think summer is now well and truly over and need to think about reaching for the jumpers.
Been working with the lovely forever friends images and have come up with this lovely girly card.

Kept the design quite simple using matting and layering.  Used a deckle edged cutting blade to create a bit of interest to the different layers.  Used a colour combination of pink and brown.  I think the paper used is a Papermania one but can't be sure.  Finished off with a wire flower that I had in my crafty stash and some gems.
I am entering this card into the Forever Friends Challenge - pink, brown and white.

Thanks for looking
Mags
xx

Black and White

Hi All
I don't very often do black and white cards so decided to stretch myself a bit and have a go.  The challenge on Little Claire's Designs was the push I needed to have a go.
Here is the result.

As you can see I went for a double twisted easel design.  The flower is the Gerbera stamp from Little Claire.  I wanted the flower to be larger than the original image.  I therefore stamped the flower a couple of times onto silver paper.  Each flower was then cut into several pieces and I stuck the pieces to the outside of a 2" circle.  I then stamped the flower image onto white card and stuck this over the top.  A glittery brad completed the centre.

The other side of the card was done using a butterfly that I die cut using my big shot.

Finally I made a stopper for the easel.  I embellished this with some punched butterflies (they are glittery but doesn't show up very well) and a stamped sentiment also from Little Claire.

The flowery backing paper was some I had in my stash and I believe it was Papermania's Capsule Collection.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Little Claire's Designs - black and white
Kelley Kid's Digi Stamps - black and white

Thanks for looking.  Please feel free to leave any comments
Mags
xx

Engagement Keepsake

Well, it has been a lovely day again today.  Pity I had to go to work.  Did a little crafting when got home but nothing finished.  So I decided to post an engagement keepsake that I made for some friends a few weeks ago.

The template was purchased from Card Carousel.  It was a bit fiddly (particular the construction of the balloon part) but was well worth it.  Needless to say the happy couple were thrilled with it.

This is a picture of it in its presentation box (which also comes as part of the template).  Well worth the money.
Mags
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