Love...

Hi Crafters,

Happy Leap Year Day!

Monday morning soon comes around and I have a card to share with you all.

I have been playing with the CD Rom that comes free with this quarters Crafters Companion Magazine. There are some lovely taster images on it from the 4 featured CD's and here's one of the cards I've made.

It was created using a card companion from the 'Downton Abbey' section of the CD Rom. I have cut it out and layered it up for a little dimension and added some glitter, paper flowers with flower brad centres and the word 'love' is a fancy brad too.

Challenges I'd like to enter:
Try It On Tuesday - Transport
Cute Card Thursday - #414 Florals
Crafty Friends - #26 Floral - Feature a Flower

It's a short post today, thank you for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment, I read and appreciate every one.
It might be a little quiet here for the upcoming week as I have a stack of orders to get finished and if I get drawn in to the computer then I will never get them done. Is it me or does your computer suck hours out of your day too?

Take care and stay well.

Lorraine
xXx

Sharing an 'Oldie' on Friday

Hi Crafters,

I'm here at last.... phew! it's been a busy day.

Had a great time at the Farmers Market this morning, it's good when all your hard work pays off.

So on to my 'Oldie for Friday' - a bit late in the day but here none-the-less.

This is the fun weekly post where some of us join in with Erika at Snappy Crafts and show an old, crafty project on our blogs.

This card was made a while ago using a stamp set from Habico which had different breeds of dogs and cats on it. This was created for a dog lover as you can tell.

The word stamp is from Woodware and a lovely large one it is too, I embossed this with white EP, the dogs are stamped in brown and embossed using clear EP. The brief was for it to be flat for posting so no embellishments I'm afraid.

Hope you have all had a good day too,

Take care and see you soon,

Lorraine

xXx

As You Like It Challenge #74 - Favourite Occasion and WHY

Hi Crafters,

We all have a favourite occasion right?

So this weeks challenge should be easy peasy!

At As You Like It this time we want to see your cards or projects depicting your Favourite Occasion and WHY.

I have chosen Birthdays as my favourite.

 Creating Birthday cards for friends, family and for orders has afforded me a very wide and varied platform in which to create all kinds of cards in varying styles according to the recipients tastes. I have been able to experiment with different techniques and designs and each card is a new challenge which I love.

This card was one I made for my eldest daughter's birthday last week.

Recipe

Image - Santoro Topper

Papers - Santoro

Organza Rolled Flowers

MFT Flourish Die

Die'sire Edge'ables Die

Corrugated Card

Doily

Gems

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Crafty Friends - #25 Girly

Allsorts - #351 - Birthday Wishes

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Things with Wings (owl)
TTCRD - ATG

For more details of the challenge and our sponsor Bunny Zoe's Crafts 

please visit the challenge blog here.

Well that's all from me today, I have a busy day ahead getting packed up and ready for my monthly Market stall tomorrow.

Keep well!

Lorraine

xXx

Easter and Mother's Day Goodies

Hi Crafters,

Just a quick hello from me today to share a couple of projects I have been working on.

Easter Egg Boxes

and

Mother's Day Treats

As you can see they are quite deep so I could fit lots of yummy sweets inside.

These were fun and simple to do and make great little gifts for the occasion.

The Easter boxes filled with chocolate eggs were from a tutorial I saw on Pinterest and the Mother's Day ones filled with toffees and mints were inspired by a tutorial on Sam Pootle's blog.

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Crafty Creations - #309 Something To Eat/Drink

Not Just Cards - #29 ATG

Craft-Dee Bowz - Feb. ATG + Bow

OSAAT - 3D Bags and Boxes

Well I can't hang around here for too long, the family will be getting hungry and I haven't decided what we're having yet!

Bye for now,

Lorraine 

xXx

Passion For Promarkers Challenge #334 - Dies and/or Punches

Hi Crafters,

It's Tuesday and that means a new challenge at Passion For Promarkers.

We'd like to see your creations using dies and or punches and your Pro / flex / tria markers of course.

Our sponsor is Dies To Die For and they are offering a £15 Voucher to the winner. 

Now we could all spend £15 on some new dies couldn't we? so what are you waiting for, come and join in!

I've used both dies and punches on my card along with this sweet little Penny Black stamp...

Recipe

Stamped Image - Penny Black, Seeing your face...
Medium - Pro/flexmarkers
Papers - Printable Heaven
Dies - Spellbinders Lacey Circles, Circles and Scalloped Border
Crafty Notions Hedgehog Die
Stampin' Up Ticket Punch
Sentiment Stamp - Magazine Freebie
Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts

Challenges I'd like to enter:
Creative Inspirations - #345 ATG / Sketch (Flipped)

Aud Sentiments - #149 Cute + Sentiment
One Crazy Stamper - ATG
Penny Black and More - ATG with a Stamp and a Die
Addicted To Stamps - #120 Stamp and Die Cuts
The Ribbon Girl - Feb. Use any Image
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends - #28 ATG
Crafting From The Heart - #100 ATG

For more details and inspiration please pop over to the blog, where you will see what the rest of the team have created.

By for now,

Lorraine

xXx

613 Avenue Create Challenge #164 - Anything Goes / Colour Challenge

Hi Crafters,

**If you are looking for my CCC card then please scroll down to the previous post thanks**

Why not join in the fun at 613 Avenue Create this week? 

Our challenge is always a nice and easy Anything Goes one with an optional twist this week of using a Colour Grid.

We have a prize of 3 digital images for the winner from our sponsor Crafty Sentiments.

I have used this image called Mia for my card.

Recipe

Image - Mia ~ Crafty Sentiments

Medium - Pro/flexmarkers

Clothing - Paper Pieced

Papers - Unknown and various, (bought in a batch from Ebay)

Spellbinders Floral Oval Die & Scalloped Border

Creative Expressions Petite Peony Cluster Die

Sentiment Tag - Lili of the Valley

Pearls

Instead of colouring all of this sweet image with my Promarkers I decided to paper piece her jacket and leggings and add shading with my markers. I like how this turned out and am very pleased with the card over all. It's colour combo is a little unusual for me but I think it works.

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Addicted To Stamps - #120 Die Cuts

I Love Promarkers - #302 Bingo (Ribbon, Sentiment, Flower)

Creative Inspirations - #345 ATG / Sketch

Cute Card Thursday - #413 Warm Colours

Aud Sentiments - #149 Cute + Sentiment

Brown Sugar - #186 ATG

Creative Fingers - #103 ATG

Crafty Friends - #25 Girly

Allsorts Challenge - #351 Birthday Wishes

Crafty Girlz - #12 ATG

Craft-Dee Bowz - Feb. ATG + Bow

For more details and inspiration please follow this link to the blog. There you will find the colour grid to follow if you choose to and some fabulous cards and projects from the rest of the team.

Lorraine

xXx

Christmas Card Club Challenge #4 - Icicles

Hi Crafters,

I'm posting my CCC card a day early as I have another DT card due tomorrow. 

Kate is our hostess this time and has chosen the theme of 'icicles'.

Recipe

Memory Box Die - Cute Cottage & Frosted Roof and Ledges

Sizzix Striplet Die - Stacked Words - Christmas

Paper Smooches Stitched Dies 

Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean

Perfect Pearls Shimmer Mist

Crafts Too Embossing Folder

Black Brad

Glitter Card

I made my own sky background for this card. I used water colour paper and my distress inks and swooshed the wet paper through the inks on my craft mat, dried it a little with my heat gun and then sprayed the Perfect Pearls Shimmer spray, which is very shimmery in real life but a little shy here.

Dried the paper again, embossed the snow using the embossing folder, then ran a white ink pad carefully over the raised bumps and used clear embossing powder to further highlight them.

The cottage and words were cut from textured core'dinations cardstock and I sanded the cottage after running that though a wood-grain embossing folder. This card has lots of texture and lots of  shimmer too, hope you like it.

Challenges I'd like to enter:

That Craft Place - ATG
Creative Moments - #87 ATG / Wet / Dry Embossing
Crafty Catz - #312 CAS, No DP
Brown Sugar - #186 ATG
Creative Fingers - #103 ATG
Country View Challenge - Make your own background
Crafty Girlz - #12 ATG
The 12 MoC Link Up - #14 ATG / Winter Wonderland
CHNC Christmas Challenge - February Challenge

I have quite a few Christmas cards made already this year and am feeling rather pleased about that, looking forward to a 'no rush' approach to Christmas this year.

Enjoy your weekend and see you tomorrow,

Lorraine

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - D for Don't over do it. (CAS)

Hi Crafters,

At ABC Christmas Challenge this week we are up to the letter 'D' already and are asking you 'Don't over do it', ie.  a clean and simple Christmas creation.

Here's mine using an image from our sponsor - Christmas Penguins.

Recipe

Image - Christmas Penguins - All Dressed Up

Medium - Pro/flexmarkers

Green Glitter card

Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Circles Dies

Presscut Large Plain Circle Dies

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Allsorts Challenge - #350 Circle Cards

CHNC Christmas Challenge - Feb. Challenge

The Ribbon Girl - Feb. Card Challenge

Eureka Stamps - #180 Feathers and Fur

All Dressed Up

Our sponsor is offering two free digi's to the winner.

Hop on over to the blog for more details and inspiration from the rest of the team.

Happy hump day everyone!

Lorraine

xXx

An ATC Inspired Card

Hi Crafters,

Whilst making my latest set of atc's for the swap group over at Jo's blog I had one left over so decided to make it in to a card.

Recipe

Stamp - Personal Impressions - Butterfly Flowers

Archival Brown Ink embossed with clear EP

Inking and colouring of image - Distress Inks

Britannia Die - Happy Birthday Die Cut

Stampin' Up Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder for Background

The background was created by embossing with the EF and then inking gently over the raised parts with Vintage Photo DI and then clear embossing powder added to define the pattern.

The image itself was stamped and heat embossed then I coloured the butterflies and flowers with Distress Ink markers. All matted and layered on to brown and gold card.

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Crafting From The Heart - #90 ATG

One Crazy Stamper - Feb. ATG

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Things With Wings

Butterfly Challenge - #48 Butterflies + S is for Stamping

Well folks, what a mixed bag of weather we've had today. Woke up to a very sharp frost this morning but then the sun came out and it was glorious although still very cold. Mid morning we had sleet and rain a little bit more sun and this afternoon we've had hail and snow flurries. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Hope you are all fine and warm.

Lorraine

xXx

Letterpress Snowflakes

Hi Crafters,

A Happy Valentine's Day!

I haven't got a Valentine card to share with you but another Christmas card, thought I would try and keep ahead of the game with them.

This time I have letter pressed a Sheena Douglas embossing folder with Summer Sky Memento ink for my background and used this lovely, large sentiment die from Ultimate Crafts cut from Glitter card.

This is a 5" x 7" card so you can see what a lovely size that die is. It also has a few snowflakes of it's own but I wanted to concentrate on the ones in the background.

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Sweet Stampin' Christmas - Snowflakes

CHNC Every Saturday - #268 Colour Blue

CHNC Christmas - February Challenge

Enjoy your Sunday!

Lorraine 

xXx

Sharing an 'Oldie' with Erika on Friday - Memory/Keepsake Box

Hi Crafters,

Friday has come around again and time to 'Share an Oldie' with Erika from Snappy Crafts.

I've been looking through an old memory card for a camera that I had a few years back and found these dated in 2012 - the photo's are rather grainy I'm afraid but you can still see them ok.

 This was commissioned by a work colleague and she had asked for a large vintage looking box for her mother using blue and white to keep old photos and memorabilia inside.

I painted the box a gorgeous rich blue and lined it with patterned papers.

I can remember at the time that I had just purchased some crackle medium and welcomed the chance to use it on a project such as this. I was really pleased at how it turned out - after having a few practise goes on a scrap of card I took the plunge and covered the whole box with it.

I then set about creating the embellishments for the lid. The frame for the Tim Holtz quote stamp was made using a Spellbinders die and covering it with UTEE, thick embossing enamel, and sprinkling a little glitter on it whilst it was still wet. The flowers were from Wild Orchid Crafts and were arranged and adorned with charms, jewellery findings and pearl brads for the centres.

I also covered the chipboard letters with clear UTEE after painting them blue.

I'd like to enter this challenge:

Country View Challenges - Make Your Own Background

Hope you liked my little trip down memory lane today. 

If you would like to join in the fun at Erika's, pop over to her blog and leave a comment and she will visit you back.

Thank you for visiting me today I really appreciate each and every one of you and your kind comments here.

I hope you have a lovely day whatever you are up too.

Lorraine 

xXx

As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Card Shape or Fold & WHY

Hi Crafters,

This week is flying by and it's already time for our new challenge at As You Like It. 

We want to see your favourite card shape or fold.

  To qualify for the prize we need you to tell us in your post the reason WHY it is your favourite.

Now, although I usually make square cards because my customers ask for them,  my favourite card fold is this.....

Tri-Fold Shutter Card

I really like this shape because it gives you so many panels on which to add your embellishments and decorate to your hearts content. This one however, I have kept rather plain as I am wanting to post it. If you decorate all the panels it can be rather chunky by the time you have finished.

Recipe

Free Papers from Making Cards Magazine

Magnolia Leaf Die

Spellbinders Oval Floral Die

Waltzingmouse 'Mother' Die

Fabric Flowers

Brads and Gems

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Quirky Crafts - #2 Use Red/Pink and Black & White

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends - #27 ATG

Crafting From The Heart - #98 ATG

Our sponsor for this challenge is

Sweet Stamps

and they are offering the winner a $10 voucher.

For more information about the challenge and more inspirational cards from the design team please visit the blog here.

Well I'm off now to get the dreaded housework done so I can have a play later.

Lorraine 

xXx

Passion For Promarkers Challenge #332 - Papertastic

Hi Crafters,

Papertastic I hear you cry?!

What is that?

Well, this week at Passion For Promarkers we want to see your fantastic papers on your card or project...   ...and your Promarkers of course.

Our sponsor this time is Little Miss Muffet Stamps and I am using this sweet digital image called 'Hanging Baby Clothes'.

Recipe

Image - Hanging Baby Clothes - Little Miss Muffet Stamps

Medium - Pro/flexmarkers

Washing Line, Grass & Sentiment Stamp Set  - Hanging Out- Papertrey Ink 

Papertastic Papers - Doodlebug Inc.

Corner Punch - EK Success

Scalloped Oval and Oval Punch - Stampin' Up

Gems

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Little Miss Muffet - #130 ATG

Cute Card Thursday - #411 In The Pink

The Ribbon Girl - February Card Challenge

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends - #27 ATG

Crafting From The Heart - #98 ATG

I hope I have inspired you to use some of your stash of papers, for more info on the challenge please visit the blog.

Lorraine 

xXx

613 Avenue Create Challenge #162 - Anything Goes / Optional Twist - Create A Single Layer Card

Hi Crafters,

A happy Sunday to you all.

**if you're looking for my CCC post then please scroll down, thanks**

As always we have an Anything Goes challenge at 613 Avenue Create this week, or if you choose to, you can create a single layer card if you use the optional twist.

My inspirational project today is using the Anything Goes option and an image from QKR Stampede, one of our sponsors.

I followed this tutorial from Splitcoast Stampers.

  

Recipe

Tutorial - Splitcoast Stampers

Image - 'Wishing Well' - QKR Stampede

Medium - Pro/flexmarkers

Papers - Basic Grey

Stampin' Up Oval & Scalloped Oval Punches

Spellbinders Oval & Scalloped Oval Dies

Sentiment - Computer Generated

Packet of Tissues

Challenges I'd like to enter:

That Craft Place - ATG

Crafting From The Heart - #97 ATG

Crafty Cardmakers - #156 Punches +/Dies

TTCRD - ATG

I Love Promarkers - #301 ATG

Creative Fingers - #102 ATG

Not Just Cards - #29 ATG

We are sponsored by two generous companies this week:-

QKR Stampede

winner receives 3 digital images

Digital Delights

I hope you liked my little get well tissue holder, to see more inspirational cards and projects please visit the challenge blog to see the rest of the creations from the design team.

Lorraine 

xXx

Christmas Card Club Challenge #3 Texture

Hi Crafters,

This post is a day early, hope you don't mind Rachel, as I have another DT card for tomorrow.

Our challenge this time was chosen by Rachel and knowing her love of mixed media art I am not at all surprised at the choice of theme - Texture.

I don't own many mixed media products so I thought I would just stick to my traditional embossing folders and heat embossing for my texture on this one.

Recipe

Cuttlebug 'Snowy' Embossing Folder

Kraft card

Go Kreate Tag Die

Our Daily Bread Designs - Christmas Tree Collage Stamp

Memory Box - Pine Trio Outline Die

Craft Concepts 'Budding Vine' Embossing Folder (for the tree fill-ins) 

Cretive Dies Sentiment Dies.

Glittered Embossing Powder

Tumbled Glass Distress Ink

Gingham Ribbon

Gems

Challenges I'd like to enter:
That Craft Place - ATG
Creative Fingers - #102 ATG

Please take a look at the other ladies blogs in the CCC group for more inspiration on your Christmas card makes - it's never too early to start!

Happy Saturday!

Lorraine

xXx

Sharing an Oldie on Friday with Erika

Hi Crafters,

Hope you are just fine and dandy, it's Friday and the end of the week so I'm happy! 

A quick post today to share an 'Oldie' with Erika at Snappy Crafts.

This card was made for an order 18 months ago which required shoes and handbags as the theme, I think this download from CraftsUprint fitted the bill.

Recipe

CraftUprint - Backing papers, shoes and handbag images.

Gold Peel-offs

Pearls

I sized the background and images to fit my 7 x 7 card and then printed the shoes and handbag a few times for layering.

If you'd like to join in with this fun Friday look back at old crafty projects then give Erika a look on her blog and let her know you are playing along.

Well that's all I have time for today, a busy day ahead finishing off orders for February.  I am very pleased that I have caught up with things that my computer breakdown had set me back with. Lets hope I can keep up the momentum throughout the year! Well that's my plan anyway. :)

See you soon,

Lorraine 

xXx

ABC Christmas Challenge - C for Cute Critters

Hi Crafters,

Thank you to all our crafters who entered our last challenge. It's lovely to know so many of you will have started your Christmas makes for this year.

This week our challenge at ABC Christmas is C for Cute Critters.

We would love to see your Christmas makes with your Cute Critters on them.

Recipe
LOTV Topper
Papers - Bought from Create & Craft a long time ago and there's no name.
Kraft card
MME Brads
Frame - Spellbinders Leafy Squares Die
Trees - From Comet & Cupid Die Set - Ultimate Crafts.
Sentiments from the paper collection.
Glitter Embossing Powder

Challenges I'd like to enter:
Winter Wonderland - Pastel Colours
Crafty Friends - #24 Animals/Birds
The 12 MoC Link Up - #14 ATG/Winter Wonderland
Crafting From The Heart - #97 ATG
Deep Ocean Challenge - #121 Winter Wonderland
Fab 'n' Funky - #290 All Creatures Great and Small

Come and join in the Christmas fun, our sponsor is giving away a £10 gift voucher to the lucky winner.
Wild Orchid Crafts

Lorraine 

xXx