Happy New Year - 2017

Hi there everyone, it a long time since I posted, and I do apologise.  Sometimes life gets in the way of crafting!  I have done a few new year cards to send to friends and family I do not see regularly, and this is my design:

My little good luck charm has made an appearance.  A gift from a friend from when she went abroad on holiday.  My card features the new SU design papers 'posies and petals'.

I do hope that 2017 brings you all peace and contentment, and that a little sprinkling of hope and determination will see you through the uphill struggles that life invariably throws at us.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Gold and Copper card for Snippets Playground 252

Hi there, my card today is a masculine card, one of many I have to make over the next few days.  Why is it that when I need to make a masculine card my mojo goes AWOL!  For this card I used the current FMS sketch

 

and my last snippet of SU Blackberry Bliss cardstock for the A6 base and the strips. I heat embossed in gold and copper and used gold and copper shiny card for the mats.

I shall enter my card into Di's Snippet Challenge and find out what everyone is doing in the playground. Thanks for dropping by.

Lynn x

Butterfly Challenge 63 and Snippets Playground 249

Hello there, I hope you have enjoyed your Sunday.  I am relaxing now and watching 'Victoria' on telly.  The butterfly challenge is to use wire and/or white on white.  Here is my card.

I have used the gorgeous butterfly die I won from Mrs. A.  I thought this was just right for wrapping wire around the body.  Now, this card did start off as a white on white, but as I used up snippets the whites were all different shades - amazing eh!  So, I decided to get out my ink brushes and distress inks and put a bit of colour into it.  This card will  also head for Di's Snippets Playground.  Thanks for stopping  by.
Lynn x

Snippets playground wk 245 and NBUS #7

Happy Sunday folks.  My card today is for Di's Snippets playground and I have used a baby groovi plate never before used so I have entered into Darnell's NBUS (never before used schtuff).

The snippets were the gold and green layers, and the half a doily I had left over, and the tags.  The baby groovi plate is from the Claritystamp Groovi Club.  I used my Stampin Up markers to colour on the back of the parchment.  I have not yet perfected the art of snipping out with the parching scissors, so I used my trusty cutter to trim up the artwork.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Lynn x

Butterfly Challenge 61 - Kraft and kaleidoscope

Hi there, it has been a glorious day here today - I have managed to paint a shed!  Time to relax now.  Here is my card for Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge, to use a range of colours and/or kraft card.

Here I have used Create and Craft topsy turvy cardstock to form the base and panel.  Kraft card to mat, and  a range of mini distress pads to stamp my hexagons, and I managed to use up scraps to match up the ink.  I used a scrap of white card and made a rainbow effect with the inks and then diecut my butterfly.  You can't see here, but I have overlayed the butterfly with a sparkle pen.  Thanks for looking.
Lynn x

Butterfly challenge No. 60 + Snippets playground #242

Hello there, I have a fancy fold card today for Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge, which is V for vase and/or vanilla.
I saw a Z fold card on Di's Snippets Playground from Meena.  She has kindly done a tutorial on her blog which you can find HERE - thank you very much Meena.  She gives such clear pics and instructions that I found it super easy!  Here is my card

I have used SU Flourish Thinlets dies and stamps, and Clearly Besotted mason jar stamp. The cardstock is SU Very Vanilla and Soft Suede.  I hope you pop over to Meena's blog, leave her some love,  and give this style of card a try - the possibilities are endless!
Lynn x

Edit: I used some snippets on this card, the cream band going along the bottom - Di kindly gave me a nudge, so I will bounce this card along to the Snippets Playground.  See you there. 

CD Sunday Challenge - Shape it up

Hello there.  A drizzly Saturday morning here, but I hope the sun shines through later.  The flowers could do with a drop of rain water.

For the CD Sunday Challenge Margaret has chosen the challenge of using shaped cards. Now that is a challenge for me!  Here is my card

Obviously this challenge calls for some elements from a CD to be used.  I have used papers and topper from the Crafter's Companion Nordic Christmas collection, from the Crafter's Inspiration magazine CD issue 8.  I have tried to do stepper cards before, but for some reason they never turn out so they stand up straight!  This took 3 goes, but what helped was the video by Sara Davies on her Ulti-cards and Boxes Video Project DVD - this came with the issue 9 magazine.  I quite like this one, and there will be more to come.  My first christmas card of the year!!  Have fun with the challenge.
Lynn x

Snippets Playground 241

Hi all, here is a card which uses up some white and pink card and so a visit to Di's Snippets Playground is in order.

I have had this stamp from Crafters' Companion for simply ages, but not had a need to ink it up until now.  Can't wait to cuddle a new babe due in September.  See you soon, Lynn x

Butterfly Challenge - Punches and/or pink

Hi there, back at last - the pace seems to be slowing down and the 'jobs to do' list getting a little bit shorter.  I am entering my card for Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge and I have done pink and punch.

I have used this little lady several times, but I have never heat embossed, so here she is embossed in tonic nuvo white.  The punch is a corner punch by Stampin' Up, and I have used it to add detail to the mat panel and the tag.  Oh, the flower is also a SU punch.  If you pop in to take a look, it is very much appreciated.  Enjoy your day.
Lynn x

CD Sunday Challenge - chosen by Sue

Hello there, I am just in time I think to enter the CD Sunday Challenge, and the theme is 'no image or photo' on your creation.  Here is my card:

Now, as it it a CD challenge, you must use something from a CD 'no matter how small'.  Here I have used the Crafters Companion Sara Signature Country Garden collection papers.  These were taken from the Crafter's Inspiration magazine issue 10 CD, along with the digi image, which I have resized to fit into my die cut.  The layers are Stampin Up card colours Rose Red and Daffodil Yellow, which seem to match well with the papers.  L ittle bit of sparkle on the digistamp, a few pearls and ribbon were used to finish off.

I shall also enter this card into the Freshly Made Sketches challenge, as I used the latest sketch, which you can find HERE.   Hope to catch you again soon.  Thanks for visiting.  Lynn x

Butterfly Challenge - #55

Hi there, such a scorcher this week that I have not been in my hothouse   craftroom, until today.  I made this card for Mrs. A's Butterfly challenge, which this time around is 'A for aperture and/or apricot.'

The cardstock is SU crisp cantaloupe, which is the nearest I had got to apricot.  I embossed a piece of vellum to go centrally down the cardbase.  The butterflies were punched out of parchment, and embossed using parts of baby groovi plates (Claritystamp).  Dies are Apple Blossom from Craftstash.

Thanks for visiting the blog, and have a lovely weekend. Lynn x

Snippets playground 232

Hello there, phew what a scorcher today has turned out to be!  I do hope you have managed to enjoy some sunshine where you are.  Di is on 'teacher training' this week so there is sure to be good behaviour (not) in the playground.   My make for this week is a Father's Day card.

I have used a snippet of green card behind the parchment to show it up  better.  I have used Claritystamp Groovi plates for this one.  This is my first attempt - it is by no means perfect, but you gotta start somewhere.  Here is a close up of the design.

My white work definitely needs working on, lol.  Have a good week. Lynn x

'Lets go Lilac' CD Sunday Challenge

Hello there, I am showing you my card for the latest CD Sunday Challenge which was chosen by Jocelyn, and the theme is 'Lets go Lilac'.  I do like lilac, but I had to search hard through my CD collection for what I really had in my mind.

Here I have used a topper from the Makey Bakey Mice Everyday CD by Crafters Companion, and the dark background and gingham papers are from the same CD.  The striped paper is from the Crafters Inspiration Magazine CD (4 Spring) from Crafters Companion, and this is within the Rachel Anne Miller collection.  Just in case you are wondering the butterfly, flourish and flowers diecuts are by Apple Blossom, and the hexagon dies are from the current Crafters Companion Inspiration  Magazine.

There are two new Design Team members, so if you visit the challenge site, please say hello to them.
Thank you for dropping by my blog. Lynn x

CD Sunday Challenge

Hello, I have my make for the CD Sunday Challenge, which the theme is 'Something beginning with B', and the challenge was chosen by Wynn.

My card was made with the elements from the Crafters Companion Inspirations magazine 10 CD, and these papers and topper and elements are all from the 'Sugar and Spice' collection.  As you can see my card features butterflies, blooms and bow.  The card companion was printed twice, and I die cut the topper from one to 3D the front.  Here is a peek at the inside which used up what was left from the die cut paper 

I received some happy news from Carol to say that I was one of the  winners in their birthday challenge, so a special prize is on its way - I love happy mail!  Thank you so much to Carol and the rest of the team.

Rina's sponging technique challenge and Snippets

Hello there everyone,  I hope you have enjoyed some sunshine today.  Here is my card for Rina's challenge

I have used distress inkpads to create my panel and tag, and I stamped the leaves and stems whilst the mask was still in place.  I decided to 3D the elements, and the stamping then added shadows to the leaves.  I  added a little bit of sparkle to the flowers, but the photo does not really pick it up.  I enjoyed the sponging technique.
As I used snippets of white card for the flowers and tag, I shall also be taking this card into the Snippets Playground.  Thanks for looking. Lynn x

CD Sunday Challenge - 'Songs from the Shows'

Hello there, goodness gracious we have just got through a very heavy thunder storm!  I wish I had left the car out now, the rain would have washed it, lol.  The CD Sunday Challenge has been chosen by Carol, and it is to choose something from a CD, which reminds you of a Song from the Shows.

I had to scratch my head on this one, and look through my very limited CD collection.  I came across some toppers from the 'Destinations'  CD from Crafters Companion, which was featured on the  Crafters Inspiration CD 9 (Spring edition).  Here is my card:

As you can see this features Paris, and I thought of the song 'April in Paris'.  Here is the info:

‘April in Paris’ – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

1930s jazz standard ‘April in Paris’ first became a hit thanks to a debut 1934 rendition by Freddy Martin, but it wasn’t until its timely revival in 1952 as the title hit for a Doris Day musical film that the song was properly welcomed into the jazz canon. 
 And you can listen to the recording here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCsNg6XB3dg&list=RDfCsNg6XB3dg

I noticed that my entry for 'All creatures great and small' was chosen as top 3 by Jocelyn - so thank you vey much!

Thanks for dropping by - Lynn x

Butterfly Challenge #53

Hello everyone, I do hope that you are enjoying your Bank Holiday.  I have just got back from taking the dog for  a bracing walk - so windy in the park!

On to my make for Mrs. A's Butterfly challenge, which is T for texture, teal and butterfly/ies.

I decided to use my new embossing folder and die for this one.  The emboss folder was in the Crafters Inspiration 10 magazine from Crafter's Companion.  It is a narrow die for the diamond press machine.  I just matched up the pattern and embossed along the panel. Some of the emboss got flattened, but I think that just adds to the texture.  The diecut panel is one from the Die-Cutting magazine.  I cut two panels and snipped out the corner die to make the four corner frame, and gave the butterfly a lift.  The little flower on the side is a Die-sire die.  Thanks for looking. Lynn x

Have a lovely day!

Hi there, happy Friday everyone.  I have been playing with the new CD from the Crafters Companion Crafters Inspiration 10 magazine, and the lovely papers from Sara's Signature collection, English Country Garden.  The stamps are also from the magazine.

I actually machine stitched this card.  Sometimes I'm just too lazy to take the cover off, lol. Have a good Bank Holiday weekend, if you are lucky enough to have one. Lynn x

Mojo Monday and Snippets

Hi there, what is happening to the weather?  I walked to work in the frost this morning!  Ah well, at least hubby's plants are warm and toasty in the greenhouse.
Here is my recent make:

This uses the Mojo Monday sketch which you can see HERE, and the blue matting is from a piece of 12x12 I cut into a while ago, and so I shall share my card over at Di's Snippets playground.  The papers come from the Crafters Companion Crafters Inspiration 10 CD, from Sara's Signature Collection 'Just for Men'.  The sentiment is from Stampin Up.  I am trying to use up some of my very old crafty stash of peel offs - here I have used the bits that get left behind, just to give the card a bit of a lift.  Thanks for dropping by. Lynn x

CD Sunday challenge

Happy 6th blog birthday to all the design team at CD Sunday.  For the current challenge, it is super easy.  You are asked to back-link (yes, back-link!) to a card or project you have used a CD image/element on.
As I haven't been playing all that long I haven't anything any earlier than last year.  But I found this card on my blog which was posted in August 2015.

The card uses a Crafter's Companion Makey Bakey Mice (Everyday) CD  image.  I like it because I just picked out snippets of card and played about until I had a design I thought worked - nothing pre-planned, as I very often work off a sketch.  You can see the original post HERE 
Thanks for looking - Lynn

Fancy Fold - Butterfly challenge #52 and Pixie's Snippets Playground 224

Hello everyone, this week is going by so quickly.  My card today is for the Butterfly Challenge 52 where Mrs. A would like to see a fancy fold, butterfly(ies) and/or colour fuchsia.

I saw this card featured in a video which you can find here.  I used papers from Crafter's Companion  Club Inspire download for this month.  These are gorgeous butterfly papers, so if you are a member it would be worth a look.  I think the fuchsia colour can be seen in the paper.  The greeting is by SU 'Wetlands'.  This is how it looks open -

As I have used snippets of patterned paper, and white card for the matting, this card is also going over to Di's Snippets Playground.  See you soon - Lynn x

CD Sunday Challenge - No. 2

Hello there, I am looking out of my window at a sunny evening, and the cherry tree is in blossom.
I am again. entering the 'Get Well Wishes' challenge which Sue has organised for the CD Sunday Challenge.  My first card, as I suspected, didn't meet the challenge rules, so this time I have made a card suitable for either gender.  And I have used that tatty teddy bear again! Here he is -

The gingham paper is from the Crafter's Companion Makey Bakey Mice (Everyday) CD, and the image is from Docrafts 'Especially for You' Tatty Teddy CD.  I printed him in Sepia, and then added alcohol pen colours. Added a bit of doodling, and some elements from those peel-offs that never seem to diminish! Thanks for looking. Lynn x

CD Sunday challenge - 'get well wishes'

This theme has been chosen by Sue, and this is my card.

This was made with elements from the Crafter's Companion Club Inspire download of the month - some pretty butterfly papers in this, and gorgeous colours.  This is a mat and layered topper, and I just die cut the image and layered.  I actually got my sewing machine out, and used a fancy stitch to stitch a pale blue and silver ribbon together, and to machine the banners on top of the card.  I used another of the papers to finish off the insert -

I am not sure that a download fits in with the rules of the challenge, but they were so pretty, I just thought the papers made a delightful card.  Please let me know ladies if a download is okay to use so that I know for future times.  I look forward to going over to CD Sunday Challenge and seeing your creations. Lynn x

Embossing folder stamping and Butterfly challenge

Hello there, I hope you enjoy your Sunday, and the little sunshine that we may have.  I made this card for two challenges - Rina's Creative Challenge, which was to use an embossing folder as a stamp; and Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge, which was M for margins and/or mint.

It took me a while to find an embossing folder that I liked the look of when inked.  I cannot take
credit for the design of this card as I remembered a card which used the same embossing folder on Jules (Always with a Heart) blog.  This is her card - https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/442830575841655597/

The emboss folder was inked with SU rich razzelberry, and  for the butterflies, I damped a piece of watercolour paper and brushed the SU marker mint macaron over it.  Before drying I brushed some mica powder in angel green over, and dried with heat tool before die cutting.  Thank you for looking. Lynn x

Snippets playground #222 and Mojo Monday

Hello there, on this gorgeous, sunny Thursday - the birds are twittering noisily!  This card is for the Pixie's Crafty Workshop snippets playground.  Di has had serious Easter goings-on in the playground I hear, and I do hope that Parsnip is now back to his brilliant white self and all the chocolate fountain has disappeared.

This card uses my favourite 'blue lagoon' card and ink by SU and I used SU timeless texture and flying high stamp sets.  The snippets on this card is the by now quite old SU design paper that I have left over.  I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch

Have a good day. Lynn x

CD Sunday 'All creatures great and small' (2)

Hi there, a beautiful sunny day today.  In my small, simple mind, I find such pleasure when I can put freshly washed clothes out to dry!  I had to make another manly birthday card today, and then suddenly realised I could put this into the CD Sunday challenge.

The images are from the Crafter's Companion Thelwell CD, and I used Stampin' Up stamps to finish off the embellishments.  I thought it would be a bit quirky to put the bowler hats into the branches - its mayhem out on the racecourse, hehe!

CD Sunday challenge - 'All creatures great and small'

Happy Easter Monday.  It's snowing here! I checked the theme for the CD Sunday Challenge, which is 'All creatures great and small', and I noticed that my 'thank you' card had been chosen as top 3 by Jocelyn, so thank you Jocelyn -

For the current challenge I chose to use images from Crafter's Companion Moonbeam Meadow, which was on the Crafter's Inspiration CD6.  I used the snapshot tool to get the images I required from the PDF (it sounds as if I know what I  am on about, but I don't, it's just trial and error, lol!)

and various backing papers.

I used sketch 25 from Jules at 'Always with a Heart' as my inspiration.  The embellishments came from one of the two toppers I printed off.

Here is a picture of the insert, again I printed off one of the sentiments and made it into the verse for my card.

A bit picture heavy I know, but if you are still with me, please join the team over at CD Sunday, as this theme lasts for the rest of this week.

Butterflies and B for buttons #50

Hi there, no time to chat, I have only 15 mins to get this to Mrs. A for the above challenge.

There you go, butterfly and button - there was an option of using the colour bronze, but I don't have anything in my stash to use.  Right, must dash, as I am linking to Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge now.

Housemartins

Hello there, I thought I would just check in and share some colouring I have done recently.  I had drop through the letterbox a gorgeous Claritystamp stamp from the stamp club - a Housemartin.  I really like bird stamps,  but I do get put off using them as my colouring is not that good.  However, I decided to have a play, prior to making a card.  Here are the results:  The stamps on the left uses Spectrum Noir pens, and the one on the bottom right uses Stampin Up marker pens watered down on watercolour paper.

The top bird stamp uses watercolour pencils.  I stamped the stamp in grey archival ink this time.

Which one do you prefer?  And if you have any suggestions to make, regarding colours, that would be great. Lynn x

CD Sunday Challenge - colour challenge

Hello.  Happy Friday - here is my project for the CD Sunday challenge, chosen by Wynn.

These little chicks made me think of Easter, and so I made an Easter basket.

I used a sheet of A4 card which I printed on both sides using two different paper designs from Funky Hand Papercraft factory 'Dreams come true' CD, choosing the 'Just Juicy' colourways.  I then followed a video using the WR Memory Keepers envelope punch board.  Cut out some flowers from the left over card, and covered with sparkle.  I think I will make a few of these little treat baskets.  Please join in the challenge if you can - you have another week to think about your project. Have fun! Lynn x

Just checking in

Hello there, I am just having a play with some colouring mediums at the moment, so no new card to show as yet.  However, I can now share my Mother's Day card -

This was done at a Stampin' Up class with the new rose die.  Superb isn't it?!  This is now on my wish list, and I will have to cross my fingers that it will make it into the new catalogue.  The sentiment was made with ClarityStamp letterbox kit.  I'll be back at the weekend, until then, happy crafting.  Thanks to all who stop by my blog and leave happy comments.  Lynn x

Butterfly challenge 49 and Snippets wk 219

Hi there, I hope your Monday is going well.

I think it has felt as cold as the ski slopes today.  Here is my card  project for Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge which is Glitter and/or the colour grape.

Now the flower and butterfly topper started life on a card, but then I spoilt the card.  So I managed to save the topper, and with the bits left from the card, I decided to make a book mark.  Inventive, eh!

I will also enter this into Di's Snippets Playground - remember folks, only one entry a week for this.