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

Sugar Bowl Challenge 77

 

Phew, just getting this done in time before the end of the current Sugar Bowl challenge finishes!  I've had this cute little Carnival Balloon coloured (with Polychromos) for a couple of weeks and had papers chosen, but only today have I had enough time to put it all together.  I even tried a bit of doodling!!

The papers are a mix of old stuff from stash and MME Vanity Flair (the newsprint background paper).  The heart is the Sizzix Framelits again, embossed with Swiss Dots folder.  And there is a liberal use of Stardust Stickles and some neglected pearls to finish!

Apologies for the short post, but there are a million and one things to do before Lou gets back from dancing......

Dream Valley Challenge 26 - Just for Men

Wow, can you believe that at Dream Valley, we are at challenge number 26 already?!  Our challenge for this fortnight is Just for Men and we are sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps .

I decided to dig out one of my favourite male stamps, Lazy Days.  I've coloured him with Polychromos and tried cross-hatching his hat to make it look more textured, but I'm not convinced it's had the desired effect.....and the grass could do with more shading now that I see the photo.....oh well, maybe I'll get time to alter that and retake the photo....

I have used scraps from my scraps drawer - the scallops were cut from card Papermania card ages ago, the brown paper at the bottom was an envelope and has been embossed with Swiss Dots folder.  Once again, I've used the scrim, together with some rafia and a chipboard tag I got in a set from Costco ages ago and haven't known what to do with!!  The dragonfly brad was from the same set and I found a dragonfly stamp to complement it and the swirls were left over from the Home card in a previous post. 

I've used my beloved Circle and Scalloped Circle nesties and Platinum Stickles too.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sketch and Stash - Sketch (flipped) and neglected stash as above

Inky Impressions - Use Punches or Dies

Penny's Paper-Crafty - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew - Masculine

Delightful Sketches - Use your Scraps (all paper, and the swirls below dragonfly brad)

I'm thoroughly looking forward to seeing your male inspired craft projects!  Happy crafting:0)

Susie x

Bear Hug

 

 This little cutie is called Bear Hug and I've coloured her with Promarkers.  I have a really soft spot for this image as she reminds me of Louise when her hair was a bit longer, and she loves her teddy too!

I've kept it really simple with some papers from First Edition Summer Breeze, scrim hear, flowers and button.  I haven't decided on a sentiment yet as I think it could suit a few different people/occasions.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Purple Frog - Flower Power (2nd entry)

Little Darlings - Favourite Embellishments (scrim, flowers and buttons)

One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

The Crafty Pad - The Letter 'B' (blue, brown. bear, button, brunette)

Creations by Gill M - Photo inspiration - blue and brown

New Home Card

 

 Something a little different today, although using lots of elements I really adore......using up scraps (paper, scrim heart outlines, ribbon), recycling ("kraft" card from the inside of wrapping paper, corrugated roof and door from my Starbucks wrapper), die cuts (house, circles, scrim), sewing (cross stitch to hold scrim and die cuts), square card base, bling.......

And I'm so pleased with the result (for once NO areas I would alter, which is very rare!), I'm going to use up some blue scraps and see if I can get another one made that I'm equally happy with.

So, I would like to enter the following challenges:

Paper Pretties - Texture (corrugated roof, scrim, sewing, 3d)

Catered Crop - Hearts

One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes

Scrappy Frogs - Die Cut challenge

Allsorts - Free and Easy February (2nd Entry)

 CES  - Lots of Layers (more than 3)

Hiding in my Craft Room - Super Scraps Saturday