Dream Valley Challenge 31: For a Special Lady

The new challenge at Dream Valley is "For a Special Lady" and I've made my card for my extremely special little lady, Lou. She turned 8 yesterday and I really don't know where the last 8 years have whizzed to. She is as beautiful as ever, and getting so mature......we have had some lovely, more grown up conversations with her lately. It scares me that time can move so quickly and that my little girl is not so little anymore, but it's also kind of exciting and interesting too.

 

Anyway, for this challenge, we are sponsored by the very awesome Saturated Canary. The team were massively excited to receive an image from Krista and I chose Bubbles for my Special (Little) Lady. Bubbles looks like a more grown up Cinderella and Lou LOVED her princesses, especially Cinderella........and everyone loves bubbles so this image is absolutely perfect for her! I've coloured her with Promarkers, gloss and Stardust Stickles.

 

I wanted to make something a little different for Lou.......I looked at so many options but decided on my usual easel card, but tried to make it a bit different by cutting "bubbles" from a cello card bag. They were a bit of challenge tothey to stick, but I'm pleased with the result, although I'm not so sure the "bubbles" are all that obvious in the picture. Here's another pic that might show it, and the colouring a bit better:

 

Well, I need to be off......hubby's 40th today.....

 

Can't wait to see what you create. Have fun!

Susie

 

Ps Here is some info about our amazing sponsor:

My name is Krista Smith. I am the artist behind the Etsy shop, Saturated Canary Digis. I began working in the stamping world about a year ago when I was hired to create rubber designs for the sweet Scottish company, Sugar Nellie. They launched my artwork under the name 'Simply Sassy.' I moved into the digital world just this past month (it's been a super busy month, indeed!). And-- I love it!! There is a little more freedom here, as I can create anything that pops into my head:)! I am so humbled by the artistic talent of the girls coloring in my designs-- it is truly an inspiration! Likewise, I am so thankful for the friendships I've made in this wonderful and lovely crafty community! It's been a true delight! I'd love for you to stop by my challenge/inspiration blog, Saturated Canary Challenge and join in the fun...And, while you're there, click over to my personal blog (Saturated Canary) and introduce yourself! I am a bit eclectic and touch on everything from family (I've got me a great one!) to fashion (obsessed!)...Please say 'hi!'...I'd love to be friends!:)

Winner gets $10 Voucher

Scraps and Flourishes

I love to use up my scraps.....did you know that?... You did?......Oh, ok, lol!! Well, I've used up LOADS of scraps in these four cards!

 

Firstly, I had fun sticking the First Edition Up, Up and Away paper strips and scraps to some 6 x 6 paper I don't use any more (although normally, I just use my computer paper). I really love this bit - deciding which strips to put beside one another. While I was waiting for it to dry properly, I die cut some Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourishes and looked out my Buttermint Card Candy, which go perfectly with these papers.

 

This was the first card I made and it uses almost a full sheet of the scraps paper. It includes a little ribbon and a die cut scalloped circle from my VERY neglected (but previously extremely well used) Papermania Venetian Skies pad. (Extra brownie points for using neglected stash?!). The punched daisies have a bit of silver doodling added.

The second card I made, uses another sheet of scraps. The Venetian Skies paper hides a die cut circle cut from the scraps (which I have used on the top card). I got the beautiful satin ribbon from Dunelm Mills and I love how easily it makes pretty bows.

The third card uses 3cm squares of the scrap off cuts, layered onto navy paper. The sentiment has been stamped directly onto the card. The flowers have also been punched from the scraps.

The last one (shown at the top) uses the dies cut scrap circle from card 2, together with the scrap from a previous die cut ages ago from white paper.

 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - to Die For

Craft Door Magazine - Show us your favourite technique (using up my scraps)

Cheery Lynn Designs - Birthday

Craft Your Passion - punches and Die Cuts

Lexie's Creations - use your punches and dies

A Fanciful Flourish Card

I love using up scraps and I love this MME Everyday Flair paper pad - the colours and designs are lovely and fresh, but simple! And for this card, I've used my new Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish die. I've admired it on others' blogs for a while and I am really pleased with it! I'm guessing you might be seeing rather a lot of it in future!!

I have also included a crocheted flower that I have made. My Nan taught me to crochet years ago and, after a trip to Dunelm Mills, I took a notion to try it again. I found a really easy flower pattern and practiced with my cheap wool, although it is maybe a little chunky to use on a card, so I had a try with some embroidery thread - a much flatter, more delicate result! I've added a punched, embossed flower and brad and my new favourite LOTV ticket and word stamps finished off my simple card.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Poodles Parlour - Going Round in Circles

Truly Madly Crafty - Handmade flowers

Paper Sundaes - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking and for any comments you leave. I really appreciate it.

Susie x

 

 

 

Luv a Latte with a Latte (Shock!)

I do love this Luv a Latte stamp and, for once, I have kept her coffee cup and NOT substituted it for a champagne glass!!

 

I have coloured her with my Polychromo pencils again, but the paper is quite rough, so the finish isn't quite as "polished" as normal, although each time I look at it, I become a little less critical of it. The Sugar Bowl sketch has been used once again, and the optional theme of Stripes has been observed this time. I've used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the stars paper and folded and sewn the white ribbon into pleats. The stripy paper is from the MME Everyday Flair paper pad. The ticket and wording is from LOTV.

 

Isn't it strange how designs and layouts change from your initial plans?! For example, for this one, because I wanted the image to "pop", I used white embossed paper. I knew I wanted to pleat the white ribbon, but it all looked too plain. I tried loads of different embellishments, in lots of different positions, until I eventually tried placing it all onto another layer of paper, patterned this time. Then, I was finally happy with it and the embellishing was easy. Yet for my Delicious card, I had planned to use a number of different patterned papers, but decided that it just looked far too much and pared it down to just 2 papers!! Best laid plans, and all that!

 

Have a lovely day, peeps.

Susie x

 

 

Dream Valley Challenge 30 - Earth Tones

I LOVE an excuse to get time to make some jewellery, so Dream Valley's challenge of Earth Tones was an absolute gift for me!

I've had this gorgeous ring pendant for ages and had fun sketching a few ideas to go with it while I had the kids at soft play one day. The waxed cord is from Dunelm Mills, which has recently opened near us. Originally, I had planned that the beads would be added alternately to each of the double cords throughout the necklace, but after the first couple, I decided that I actually liked it better with both cords being threaded through one bead at a time (must be my simple tastes again!).

I have sewn a few tiny seed beads and a yellow Swarovski crystal to bling it up a little and make "more" of the pendant. The earrings were made ages ago but seem to suit this necklace, although it matches better when I actually wear it!

I've made this necklace for myself to wear with my summery vest tops, whilst on holiday. Although I love colour, I also love the range of browns and khaki that I seem to have in my hot summer wardrobe!

So, what will you make for our Earth Tones challenge? Remember that you can make any crafty project as long as it fits the theme. And this fortnight, we are sponsored by Bead Crafty - oh I'm sooooo jealous!!

Happy crafting!

Susie x

Sugar Bowl 81

I know it's not really, but it feels like ages since I played along with the Sugar Bowl and the Sugarnellie Facebook Challenge.

 

Delicious was one of the stamps I chose when I was lucky enough to win the Sugar Bowl one time. I used my head, rather than my heart, for choosing this one, so it's taken me a wee while to get it coloured, but I'm so glad I have! And my head was right to choose it as I can think of loads of peeps it would suit. I'm also starting to love it like my other Sassy stamps!

 

I've coloured her with Polychromo pencils and Stardust Stickles in colours that suit the challenge on the Sugarnellie Facebook page. I love this colour combo and it goes perfectly with my First Edition Spring Drop papers.

I've kept it simple, apart from some birthday goodies in the form of a stamped and coloured cupcake, bottle of champagne and glass. I've also doodled around them edge of the image in a white embossing pen - not particularly obvious, but it's there!

 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sugar Bowl - sketch

Sugarnellie Facebook Challenge - colour inspiration as in photo above

Ruby's Rainbow - Birthday Cake

Anything Goes - Anything Goes

And just a note to any iPad fans - I am now able to use my iPad for blogging. I am using the Blogsy app and it is brilliant! I am able to add photos from my gallery, camera roll and photostream (after first uploading REALLY easily to Flickr) and even managed to add the design seed photo through the Google part of the app. I haven't yet mastered how to get the Facebook page URL to show in order to add a link for the Sugarnellie page, but I'll keep trying. I'm hoping that this might mean that I'll be able to blog a little more often as I can do it from my craft desk or in the kitchen, rather than having to schedule computer time!

Happy crafting and blogging, my lovely friends!

Susie x

A Couple of Male Cards

I really enjoy making male cards- keeping them simple but trying to add interest through texture, rather than fuss- it suits my kind of style.

The first card uses one of my all time favourite images,  No. 1 Fan, coloured with promarkers. The papers are a mix of Bo Bunny Alora and Basic Grey Oliver, matted onto red paper.  I've used my favourite scrim, with layered paper on top, some corrugated card (previously a Starbucks wrap) and some punched stars.  I've added some rafia cross stitches too and some faux stitching around the circle.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Sugar Bowl - Sketch
 Karen's Doodles - Make it for a Male
Stampalot - Happy Birthday

The second card, uses the other halves of the papers, layered onto red paper.  I've coloured LOTV's Deckchair Dreaming with my polychromo pencils - pleased with the grass on this one!!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Cards for Men - Great Outdoors
Crafty Purple Frog - Anything Goes
Lili's Little Fairies - Anything Goes
Moving Along With the Times - Cute 'n' Cuddly

Dream Valley Challenge 29 - Wedding / Love

 Our lovely teamie, Mel gets married today, so in celebration of her big day, the theme at Dream Valley this time is Wedding / Love.  And you should see Mel's amazingly beautiful creation - WOW!

For my card, I have used Sizzix Wedding flower with various scraps of card and paper, a MME flower and a gorgeous gem brad from stash.  I've layered 3 hearts. one cute from gorgeous vellum (that's always slightly disappointing when I try to use it!!) and the sentiment.  As you can see, I've gone a bit mad with the dies and my Big Shot!  The papers are Summer Driggs free downloads - one is the Dryer Lint at Tiffany's kit, but I'm not sure about the spotty one.

We have our wonderful sponsor One Stop Card Crafts with the following prize for a lucky winner:

I'm looking forward to seeing your lovely creations for Dream Valley.  Happy crafting!

Susie x

Hamish and His Tractor

I haven't used this little guy for ages, but I thought he suited a two year old really well.  I've coloured Hamish with Tractor with Promarkers and a liberal amount of gloss on the tractor. 

The papers are a mix of Basic Grey Oliver (I think), First Edition Up, Up and Away and Bo Bunny Alora, with some Bazzil Basics card for matting.  The letters came with a scrapbooking set I got from Costco last year and i love them - great size and perfect with my circle punch!


I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sugar Bowl - Sketch

Crafting When We Can - One for the Boys

Crazy 4 Challenges - Use some Green

Sweet Stampin' - Use Lots of Green

Totally Papercrafts - Male Card

Dream Valley Challenge 28 - Easter

The challenge, for this fortnight, at Dream Valley is Easter.  Originally, I thought I'd make a scrap page of our Easter outings , but realised that there weren't many last year due to us moving house just beforehand and the year before, we were sledging and skiing at Aviemore, which just didn't seem Spring enough!  So, I opted for a card instead.

We are being sponsored by Mulberry Crafts AND Meljen's Designs this challenge and the team were lucky enough to get a few images to play with.  I have used the super cute Meljen's Designs Little Lamb, coloured a little with promarkers.  I've used the Sketch and Stash sketch, some VERY neglected papers and ribbon. 

I'm looking forward to seeing your wonderful Easter creations at Dream Valley.  And remember that you could have the chance to win:

A goody bag from Mulberry Crafts or 4 images from

Happy crafting, everyone!
Susie x

Scrappy Mother's Day Cards

One of my most favourite crafting techniques / styles / things to do is to use up my scraps.  I have a drawer, butter tub AND plastic display book filled with strips, die cut scraps, odd shaped bits of paper that I can't bear to part with.  And if its taking up space, I NEED to find a use for it or else I'll feel compelled to chuck it in the bin, won't I?

So, my first card has a scalloped circle, cut from scrap paper from something else I printed.  It has been embossed with a Crafts Too folder with a couple of flowers from stash and a sequin and bead centre.  That has, in turn been layered onto some black card, scrap Bo Bunny Alora strip and ribbon, with a circle die cut scrap frame.  There is another Bo Bunny scrap frame around that.  (I must admit to being rather mean, or waste conscious when matting my papers: there's normally a die cut shape hidden behind it!!) Then, there is a red heart, scrim heart and butterfly tucked behind the main circle, with beads sewn for the butterfly body. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Say it with Flowers

Hiding in My Craft Room - Super Scraps Saturday

Crafts and Me - Circles

And then, I made this scrappy card too, using a scrap die cut frame with some doodling and Stickles, a vine and flowers cut from scraps of red and black paper and the Bo Bunny Alora paper strikes again!!

I would like to enter these challenges:

Moving Along with the Times - Special Lady

The Crafty Pad - Mum's the Word

Craft Your Days Away - Mother's Day

Papertake Weekly - One for the Girls, or Mum

My Mum's Craft Shop - Mum's the Word

An Award

I am so chuffed to have been nominated for the Liebster Blog Award...

Thank you, Mags for thinking of me, and thank you for leaving me such lovely comments. 

The LIEBSTER BLOG AWARD is used to show appreciation of smaller blogs (under 200 followers)  and to help spread readership and joy.
As part of the tradition the award is to be passed along to five other blogs that have motivated and inspired me.
The name comes from the German meaning Dearest or  Beloved, but can also mean Favourite.

To accept the Award you must:
1. Link back to the person's blog who gave it to  you, and thank them.
2. Post on your blog.
3. Give to five other Bloggers who you appreciate and value.
4. Leave a comment on the five blogs you choose and  let them know.

Now, there are soooo many blogs that inspire me and make me happy, so it was a tall order to choose 5, but here they are:

Susan - Mix's Meanderings

Susan - Lily's Secret Garden

Jack - Jack's Arty Crafty Kreations

Clare - Crafty Clare

Rachel - My Crafty Life

Cutesy Baby Girl

I adore this stamp for baby cards!  The elephant is super cute and I love the heart shaped bubble.

I've coloured Blowing Bubbles with Promarkers and Stardust Stickles.  I've dug out these beautiful Henbury Lane papers, matted onto some pink paper from Papermill.  I have used my favourite Circle and Scalloped Circle Nesties for the image and sentiment and cut a heart from scrim using Sizzix Heart Framelits. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Purple Frog - Pink and Girly

Divas By Design - Favourite Things (Image, Scalloped & Circle nesties, scrim, Hearts Framelits die)

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Celebrations (3rd entry)

Crafting When We Can - Animals

Angus Dog

I started colouring this neglected image, called Angus, for my Aunt.  I've used my polychromo pencils and doodled around the frame to add a little more interest. 

Texture has been added through the use of scrim (over the spotty paper), some rafia and by embossing the stripes.  I added some pen to the stripes too.  All of the paper was dug out from my stash and the Forever Friends sentiment was also used for the first time in months and months and months!!!!

I used the fab sketch at Sketch and Stash and I liked it so much, that I used it again:

 

This time, I tried white on white and added interest and texture by embossing each piece and edging it with Silver Stickles (another less used bit of stash!).  I made a scrim flower (have I told you how much I love this stuff?!) and attached it using a button and paper flower. 

I would also like to enter:

Crafty Creations - Stripes (first card)

Paper Pretties - Masculine card (first one again)

Krafty Let's Hit the Town

 

She's gorgeous, is Let's Hit the Town and I LOVE colouring her, especially using my Polychromo pencils and a bit of gloss on her shoes.  I was brave too, cos I used some black pencil on her skirt to darken the shadows/folds a bit more. 

I've used some dotty paper from the First Edition Summer Breeze pad, together with a couple of scraps - one from the same pad and the flowery one from Dovecraft Sugar and Spice pad.  Everything has been layered on to Kraft.  

The ribbon came from a birthday cake, I think and the flowers punched from scraps of card and paper.  I have made a flower from a strip of scrim, which I really love using (just in case you haven't already gathered that fact from my numerous previous posts mentioning it!!). 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Sugar Bowl - Sketch and Kraft

Stampin' for the Weekend - Bingo (flowers, polkadots, die cuts)

One Stitch at a Time - Reuse or Recycle (paper scraps, ribbon)

Patchwork Blues

This card was so much fun to make!  I love sewing and would love to do more....on cards, cushions, pictures, clothes....I just need a LOT more time!

My friend asked me to make a card for her MIL, who likes sewing.  After a fair bit of brainstorming, I decided to go for a patchwork effect, so have had the opportunity to use up lots of scraps, this time the Papermania Henbury papers.  It also includes a scrim and paper heart, embellished with cross stitches and a button.  The letters are Sizzix dies, layered on to die cut circles, which have been embossed using a Crafts Too folder for a bit more texture.  Beads and buttons have been sewn into the flowers and onto the FF greeting, which I have had for ages and got out of the habit of using. 

A close up of the cross stitches on heart and 'M':

And the flowers, with sequin flowers, beads and button:

 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Top Tip Tuesday: Stitches - real or faux

CES Challenge - Flower Frenzy

One Stop Craft - Button It

Dream Valley Challenge 27 - Mother's Day

 

On 18th March, it will be Mother's Day and so, that is our theme over at Dream Valley this fortnight!  And we have two fantastic sponsors: One Stop Card Crafts and Crafty Ribbons.  

At first, I was going to show you the card I've made for my mam....but then I decided that it would spoil the surprise for her..... so, I decided to show one of the two jewellery sets I was asked to make for Mother's Day presents.  It is made using clear, silver and grey beads and the wonderful silver curved tubes that I love.  

And the box was decorated using some silver foiled card and MME Vanity Flair paper, cut with Nesties Small Labels, a scrim heart, Sizzix vine and punched flowers.  There is also some Silver Stickles in the centre of the flowers and corners of the frame.  

Here is a close up of the jewellery:

And the other set is similar but different, with some pearly grey beads:

Remember that at Dream Valley, you can enter any type of craft, as long as it follows our Mother's Day theme.  I can't wait to see what you come up with:0)

I would also like to enter the following challenges:

Craft your Days Away - Mother's Day

Crafty Ann's Challenge - Anything But a Card

Crafty Catz - Punches and Dies (on the boxes)

Have a happy Sunday, folks!

Delectable Delia

Delia's cute, isn't she?  Now originally, I coloured her to use for my bestest friend's little girl, Lily's birthday (who is Lou and Euan's honourary sister!).  Her favourite colour is orange, hence how I coloured her.  But when I asked Lou whether she thought Delia or Gorjuss Bumble Bee suited Lily more, she opted for Bumble Bee.

So, I had a complete change of mind about my choice of papers: from MME Bloom & Grow to these Dovecraft Sugar & Spice ones.  And I checked out Sketch Saturday's sketch:

Oh my goodness, when I first saw this one I thought it was WAY too fancy for my style......but then seeing all the great inspiration from the team, I decided that it would be a brilliant challenge to have a go and I'm so glad I did! 

I've used rafia and Butter Mint Card Candy for embellishments and Delia has had some glamour dust added to her wings and wand and Gloss to her shoes and wand.  The greeting has also been completely glossed but my photo doesn't really show it.  After much deliberation, I used artistic licence and opted for a rafia bow in place of the the 3 button/ribbon details - hope that's ok.

So, I would like to enter it in:

Sketch Saturday - Sketch (funnily enough!)
Allsorts - Spread Your Wings
The Poodles Parlour - Birthdays

Sugar Nellie Facebook Challenge - Colour inspiration:

Luv a Latte with Champagne - Again!

This fabby stamp, called Luv a Latte, has had her coffee cup removed and a (full) glass of champagne added and yes, I think I might be a little jealous!!  This is the second time I've done this as I think it suits a 40th so well, especially for the ladies they have been made for!.  The first card is here.

This time, I have coloured the image with my beloved Polychromo pencils and Stardust Stickles - have I told you how much I LOVE these pencils?  Yes?  Oh well....

I've used some old paper from my drawer (good girl that I am!!), layered on some pink paper as I think black, white and pink suits a party girl.   The glass and champagne bottle were from the Pickles and Onion stamp set and the champagne glass charm came from Fabfifi.  I've been a bit adventurous too:  I've cut some bunting using my smallest labels die, which has never before been used as it's so bloomin' small!  And I used some pink star gems that I've had forever too.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sugar Bowl Blog - The brilliant sketch I followed
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Celebrations (2nd entry)
The Crazy Challenge - Anything Goes (2nd entry)
Truly Madly Crafty - Ribbon and Bling
Crafting When We Can - Big Birthdays

Astronaut Card

This is the first card I have made using LOTV's Astronaut and isn't he cute?   I've coloured him with Promarkers (for a wee change) and Glossy Accents on the helmets and boots.

My children love making things (whoever could they get this from?!) and I could really imagine them making a rocket out of cardboard boxes like the boy in the image.  And the teddy and rabbit just adds another touch of cuteness!

The papers are a mix from stash and I think the stripy one was a Summer Driggs download.  I've embossed the stripy paper for a bit more texture and, as I wasn't posting the card, I added a button with a rafia bow underneath, which added so many more millimeters than I would have thought!!  And I found the sentiment wooden stamp in my drawer that I had forgotten about (naughty!) - I love the loopy font on it.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Celebrations
Cupcake Crafts - Boys and their Toys
The Crazy Challenge - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps - Birthday with Dots
Fashionable Stamping - Made for a Child