Madcap Manor

Hello, my dearios! Welcome back to Dream Valley! Our first Challenge for 2021 is Winter and/or Snow.    Our sponsor is Di's Digital Stamps - do check out Di's very cute and pretty designs. She is also having A SALE!   I have used an old set of layered snowflakes dies my My Favorite Things - unfortunately it seems to be no longer available. I used Distress Oxide inks in Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean and Blueprint Sketch to blend colour onto the background, then glued down snowflakes cut from glitter and white cardstock. The banner and sentiment are from Simon Says Stamp and came in a kit.   I'm very sad that I have had to cancel my Simon Says Stamp kit subscription, as the post-Brexit VAT and customs duties make it too expensive. These kits saw me through 2016, when I was treated for cancer - it was like having a birthday present every month! Maybe one day I can subscribe again.   Go and see my teamies' fab creations and check out our D T Call...

Hello, my dearios! We have another challenge for you at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge where it's always Anything Christmas Goes! The most difficult cards to make at this time of year, I find, are not masculine ones but the totally non-religious ones! I don't mean for my Jewish or Muslim friends but those who are humanist or atheist. I don't know if my card today actually fits our theme, though it will accompany a present of hot chocolate and marshmallows at the end of the month - what do you think? This adorable image is Christmas in a Cup by Elisabeth Bell. A number of her stamps that were originally rubber are now available as digis. Instead of traditional greens and reds I used pink and mint, with Wink of Stella added to her sash and bow, and Stickles on the snowman on the cup. I used my corner chomper on the bottom two corners. I had several attempts before I got the image to print in the right place - I'm not very good at digi crafting! I th...

Happy Thursday, all! My goodness, the nights have suddenly turned very chilly here, I have a woolly blanket wrapped around my legs to keep them warm! Winter Is Coming! And that's my cue to tell you about the new CRAFT Challenge where our theme is Winter. I have made a winter birthday card, as I always need several at this time of year. The image is Fenna Snowflake from Scrap'N'Dipity. I used papers from my scrap drawer for the background and banner. The stars are from Paperchase and the Sentiment is from the Fresh Freesia stamp set by Altenew, embossed in Simon Says Stamp's Steel Navy embossing powder which came with last month's kit. I added drops with a white pearl pen around the image to look like snow. Our sponsors this week are: Scrap'n'dipity and Lacy Sunshine My teamies have left some lovely wintry inspiration for you on the blog, do go and see! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Good morning, my lovelies! I hope you have a good week ahead of you! The new Winter Birthday Challenge at Dream Valley is very appropriate for me as there are 3 important family birthdays for me between December and January! I used wintry shades of blue and white, plus two snowflake papers for the background. The image of the airship is from Grand Tour I by Indigo Blu and I stamped it in pigment ink and clear embossed it. The oval mats are cut with a Stitched Ovals Die by My Favorite Things. The brads are from my stash and the sentiment is from an older Clearly Besotted set. Do go and see what lovely creations the team has made, and say hello to Gina, our new DT member! Thanks for looking, and have a great dy! love Mags B x

'March winds and April showers Bring forth May flowers.' Since it's April, the new challenge at My Time to Craft is Umbrellas Fortunately, I haven't needed an umbrella in a while, as we've had gorgeous sunshine and mild weather for several days now! However, it never does to underestimate the British weather's ability to turn cold and wet in the summer! I have used an older stamp, 'Winter Wonderland' from Sugar Nellie for a winter birthday card. She is coloured in Promarkers, and I added Pearl Pen to the falling snow. The papers are Frosty Christmas by Lili of the Valley. There are 3 glittered snowflakes cut with a Lawn Fawn Stitched Snowflakes die The gems and stars are from stash. CHALLENGES I'm entering: Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 supplied the wonderful sketch: Go and see what my teamies have made, and join in the Challenge! Thanks for looking and have a great weekend! love Mags B x

Well, after yesterday's debacle I made certain that I posted this picture! The weather has been so cold and damp today! I've had the heating on - in June! Can you believe it! Anyway, this wintry card and the Whiff of Joy image, 'Willow with Hot Chocolate,' seems appropriate. Brrrr! I used Nitwits papers from the 'Joyful Hearts' and 'Still Joyful Hearts' collections, they are such a pretty blue. The doily is a Marianne die, and the label is from Spellbinders' Floral Doily Accents set. I added icicle stickles to both die-cuts. Willow is coloured in Promarkers and her mug is Glossy Accented. The sentiment is by Lili of the Valley, stamped in Broken China Distress Ink. I also distressed the edges of the papers with Broken China. The gorgeous lace is from The Ribbon Girl . The stars are from stash. I'm entering three challenges: Whiff of Joy Challenge which provided the great sketch; and The Ribbon Girl Challenge which is to use lace ...