Madcap Manor

  Hello! There's another Challenge at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge where it's always Anything Christmas Goes. My image is from Bugaboo - I am so very sorry that the store has closed, I adore Jodie's stamps, they are unique.  This is one of my favourites. The papers came from my stash, I didn't add a sentiment because 'Merry Christmas' is printed on the paper.  I used both blue and silver card to mat and layer. Check out our Challenge blog and join in! Thanks for looking and stay safe. love Mags B x

Hi, guys! It's time for another Challenge at Dream Valley and our theme is Our 4-Legged Friends.   Does anybody else start singing A Four-Legged Friend sung by Roy Rogers in the film 'Son of Paleface'? The film is an old-fashioned but very funny Western, starring Bob Hope and Jane Russell - she is so good in this, she out-rides, out-shoots and out-acts everyone else! An oldie but goodie. Anyway, here is my card, using AKV Giraffe by our awsome sponsor Bugaboo Stamps. I used snippets of papers from my scrap drawers for the background papers and added Love from Lizi in Grass Green Mirror. I backed an old Lili of the Valley circle sentiment stamp with green mirror cardstock by Tonic and finished with green gems from my stash.  We have a Design Call at the moment, open to experienced or new crafters alike.  Do check it out! We're a very friendly bunch! My teamies have made adorable animal cards to inspire you to join in the challenge!  Thanks for looking and st...

Oops! I'm a day late with my post for Dream Valley, I apologise! Following on from the last Challenges theme of 'One For The Girls' we now have One For The Boys. Our sponsor is the amazing Bugaboo Digi Stamps. Unfortunately my printer is making everything look blurry and I wasn't able to use the fun images we were sent so generously, so instead I used something I already had. This is Gus , isn't he wonderful? The sentiment reads: 'Growing old is mandatory... Growing up is optional.' I used old papers from my stash plus 2 of Love from Lizi's Gold Matt Peel-offs. I added Glossy Accents to Gus's spectacles and two stitched circles die-cut from a scrap of gold card as embellishments. My teamies have made some fab cards to inspire you, showcasing more of Bugaboo's fun images, do check them out! Thanks for looking, and have a good week. love Mags B x PS I was talking to a friend who has just finished a Bio-Med degree, and he explain...

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. Ours was much busier than expected, I got a message from my Dear Daughter on December 20th: DD: Mum, can the three of us come and stay with you for Christmas? Me: Yes, of course! DD: That's good, I've already booked our flight from Dublin on Sunday! So we did a lot of unexpected food and presents shopping and had a good time with the Grandson and his parents. Now all is returning to normal, and we are bringing you the first Dream Valley challenge of 2020. The theme is Anything New. Our sponsor is the wonderful Bugaboo Stamps. I have used their delightful AKV House image, I love its quirky look! The striped paper is from American Crafts Dear Lizzy Stay Colorful pad, and I matched the Copics I used to the paper. The sentiment is an old one from LOTV. I also used some Plum Pudding Nuvo Crystal Drops in the bottom corner. Do join in with the Challenge - it can be anything New: New Job, New Baby, New Home ...

Hi, guys! Well, in a month's time it will be Boxing Day! It's beginning to feel Christmassy in the Manor, with interesting boxes arriving and rehearsals for carol singing. And, of course, making Christmas cards! We have a new challenge at The Holly and Ivy We have 2 lovely new ladies on the DT, to pop over and say hello to Bianca and Danka. They have made lovely cards for our new challenge! I have used an old Bugaboo Santa image, no longer available, but there are some fab Santa images on the site! The background paper is from stash, and so is the bobble ribbon (I think both were magazine freebies.) The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn's Simply Winter Sentiments stamp set - so useful! I matted everything onto gold mirri card and added glitter to Santa's fur trim. Et voila! Thanks for looking, and I hope your week is going well. love Mags B x

Hello, my dearios! We have a NEW Challenge at CRAFT Challenge and our theme is NEW! New baby, new home, new job.... The fun image is AKV House by Bugaboo Stamps. It cried out for primary colours! The papers are from the 'Ad Lib' collection by Bo Bunny. I added two pieces of velvet ribbon from my stash. The sentiment is an old one from Lili of the Valley and I used a Word Bubbles die by Paper Smooches - and then a tiny silver heart to cover a smudge!! Our wonderful sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps. My teamies have left some terrific inspiration for you on the blog! Go and see! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Happy New Year! Our first Challenge of 2018 at CRAFT Challenge is to make a Box or Bag. And here's a sideways view: I used the new Complete 5 x 7 card and box die set from the Christina Collection at Craftstash. I used one of her trellis dies to cut a pattern in the top side of the box, backed it with acetate, and added Pearl Pen to the intersections. The flowers and leaves are from the same die set. I used rather thick card, and cutting the trellis was quite difficult, no next time I'll be sure to used thinner card. The cute image is an old one from Bugaboo Stamps - check out their freebies if you want to 'try before you buy'! Our sponsors this week: The Cutting Cafe and Bugaboo Stamps. Thanks for looking, and have a good weekend! love Mags B x

Good morning, all, from a sunny and chilly S-E Herts! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas! Ours was quiet, mainly because we were both going down with colds!! Now things are getting back to normal, and we have our last CRAFT Challenge of 2017, which is Anything Goes. I have made a birthday card for an old friend, using one of Bugaboo Stamp's fun images. This is Gus Birthday - Golden Years. The sentiment reads 'If these are the Golden Years, I am NOT impressed!' The papers are from stash and I used an MFT Vintage Buttons die (sadly unavailable) and some blue Centura Pearl cardstock for the embellishments. Our fab sponsors: Digital Delights and Bugaboo Stamps My teamies have left some great inspiration on the Blog, do go and see! Thanks for looking! Wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy and crafty 2018! love, Mags B x

At CRAFT Challenge our new theme is Summer. One of the good things about being on the Church Flower Arranging Team is seeing the different varieties of blooms on sale in each season. We work to a strict budget, so the seasonal flowers are often the cheapest - just like fruit'n'veg! To me, Summer means Roses, so I have made a card with a 'flower arrangement' style image by Bugaboo stamps which features roses, this is Rose Watering Can. I made a Shaker Card. I added Glossy Accents to the watering can, and it shows even under the acetate. The sunshine-yellow paper is from stash. Our sponsor is the fabulous, funny and witty Bugaboo Stamps who have a sale on until the end of July! Have a look at my teamies' fab summer creations, they will make you smile! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Good morning! At CRAFT Challenge this week we'd like you to be Inspired by a Book. Mine is 'Treasure Island' by Robert Louis Stevenson. Arrr, Jim lad! The image is an old one by Bugaboo Stamps . I used some very old pirate buttons, cutting off the shanks before gluing them down. The blue strips are supposed to represent the treasure trail - in hindsight I should have stamped arrows along each strip! Hindsight is a wonderful thing! I used stickers for the sentiment, and the paper is from stash. As Lord Melchett said in the Blackadder II episode 'Potato,' - "With a Yo Ho Ho and perhaps I might venture a bottle of rum into the bargain." Our sponsor is wonderful: Bugaboo Stamps Go and see my teamies' creations - you may well be inspired to read the books they have illustrated! Thanks for looking and have a great weekend! love Mags B x

Hello! Our latest CRAFT Challenge is to use this great sketch by Sheryl: I used a fun image by Bugaboo Stamps called Circle Sentiments Birthday Ewe. The papers are from Echo Park's A Boy's Life 6 x 6 pad. I used silver mirri card for the mats, the round one is done with a Spellbinders Lacey Circles die. The stars are from Paperchase, and the sentiment is from the Message Me sentiment set by Clearly Besotted. The balloons and party hat have Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle added. Our sponsors are: Digital Delights and Bugaboo Stamps My teamies have made some great creations using the sketch, have a look and be inspired! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Morning, all! Our last Challenge at CRAFT Challenge is Anything Goes I abandoned Christmas cards to make something girly and adaptable for several occasions, using WO Cupcake Tower by Bugaboo Stamps . Cute, or what? The cupcake background paper came from stash, and the strip with teapots came with the same, very old, set of papers. I added Wink of Stella to the cupcakes and the teapots, and also to the girl's dress. The spotty ribbon is from stash, and the diamante butterfly is from Hobbycraft. I used a Martha Stewart heart border punch to edge the teapots horizontal strip. Our lovely sponsors are: Bugaboo Stamps Nikki Burnette The Stamping Boutique which sadly is closing down at the end of December :( Thanks for looking, and have a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Healthy New Year. love Mags B x

Good morning! We have a Christmas Challenge with a twist at My Time to Craft this fortnight: Christmas with non-traditional colours which means no red, gold or green! I went with pink for my card, using Snowman Bells by Bugaboo Stamps: I apologise for the naff photo, the corner where I usually take them is now blocked by the Christmas tree. I decided to make this a Snowwoman, in pink, for a change. The paper by Dovecraft is very old, so sadly no longer available - a shame, since I really like the pastel colours. There is a bit of green on it, but it's mint green rather than pine green, so I think I've got away with it! The ribbon is from stash. I used a Spellbinders 5 x 7 Detailed Scallops die for the mat, and the Modern Stationery Card Creator dies for the background. I added stickles to the snow and Wink of Stella to the hat, scarf and bells. Not quite my last Christmas card, but nearly! I still have a few to make for the neighbours. Awwww, the 5 year old ...

Hiya! I hope your week is going well and that you're looking forward to the weekend - the clocks go back on Saturday, which means an extra hour's lie-in, hooray!!! Or you could use the extra hour to join in our new challenge at CRAFT Challenge! ;) The theme this week is Add Ribbon, Sparkle and Shine so dig out the ribbon, Glossy Accents, Stickles, Glitter..... Our fab sponsors are: Lacy Sunshine Stamps Crafty Ribbons Now for my card! My papers are from a very old magazine freebie by Raspberry Road.  The sweet image is Strawberry SB Basket from Bugaboo Stamps. There is Wink of Stella Clear on her dress and hat, and Glossy Accents on her hairband and the 'pips' on her bonnet. The shiny butterflies are stickers from my stash. The flowers and leaves are made with punches, the flowers are made from gold-dotted pink card and the centres are gems from my stash. The ribbon has a lovely sparkle to it - I found my Bowmaker recently and made a double bow. Th...

Hiya! We have a new Challenge at Dream Valley and it is One For the Girls . Our sponsor this fortnight is Live and Love Crafts who sadly will be closing down soon. Go there to swoon over the beautiful vintage and shabby chic items that are for sale! I have used Ruby-Chocolate-Nature's Way from Bugaboo Stamps to make a card for a particular 'girl'! Isn't that a wonderful sentiment??? I added sparkle to all the purple areas, and Glossy Accents to the phone and the chocolate. The papers, ribbon and diamante are from stash. I used Shaded Lilac Distress Ink to go around the image, since it seemed a bit too stark against the purple mat. I used a Spellbinders' 'Wonky Rectangles' die to cut it, using the 'out of the box' die-cutting technique for Ruby's hair, and I drew around the die and cut it by hand to make the narrow mat. Go and see the very pretty creations made to inspire you by my teamies and join the challenge! Thanks for l...

Good morning! It's Monday again (groan) but to cheer you up we have a new challenge at Dream Valley . (Yay!!!!!) Our lovely sponsor is Di's Digi Designs , do go and see her fab designs! The challenge is One for the Boys and is a chance to make something for the blokes in your life. Remember, it doesn't have to be a card! Though I did make a card myself. I made this for a friend's 60th birthday, luckily he liked the image and sentiment as much as I do! I made something using them for my Dad some years ago and even though he enjoyed it my sister disapproved rather loudly!!! You have to be careful sometimes! Anyway, back to the card. The image is Gus Birthday - Optional by the always-entertaining Bugaboo Stamps. I added Glossy Accents to his glasses and the car, then fussy cut him and popped him up on foam pads. The mat is cut using a Spellbinders die. The papers are from an old Cosmo Cricket pad, Joy Ride, which sadly is out of print. The stars are from...

I'm so sorry to be late with this post, I had a CT scan at the hospital and then slept all afternoon! Better late than never, though! So at CRAFT Challenge this week we are looking for Back to School creations. I used AKV Boy - school from Bugaboo stamps.  The papers are from stash, they are very old! The sentiment is a sticker, also very old. Our Sponsors: Bugaboo Stamps and Oddball Art My teamies have made some terrific inspiration, do go and see! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Hi, guys! I apologise for the lateness of this post! There is a new challenge at CRAFT Challenge and it is Thank You (Teacher) In other words, make a thank you card, with the option of making it for a teacher. I used Stella Calendar Month September Isn't she fun?! The papers are from the Boyfriend paper pad by Cosmo Cricket. The die is a Spellbinders Labels Eight and the border is made with a Fiskars Notebook Border Punch . The star stickers are from stash and the sentiment is from Altenew's Label Love stamp set. Our sponsors are: Bugaboo Stamps The Paper Shelter Di's Digistamps Have a look at my teamies' fab creations and then join in! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

I'm just zooming by to add another of the cards I've been making recently. My son and his lovely wife celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary earlier this month and this is the card I made for them. The image is from Bugaboo Stamps. The paper, lace and ribbon are from stash. The die-cuts are from Noor Designs The sentiment die-cut is by Paper Smooches. Sorry this post is so short! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Good morning! I hope you are all having a good week! It's time for another CRAFT Challenge and this time we'd like you to be Inspired by a Film We have two excellent sponsors: Doctor Digi's House of Stamps and Bugaboo Stamps I used The Chosen One from Bugaboo's Har Repotter collection - I love these images! So useful, too, since most of my kids' friends are fans! The striped paper comes from an old Christmas collection by Papermania, it echoes the stripes on The Chosen One's tie. The yellow and white ribbon actually has a chevron pattern, so I put two lengths together to give a 'lightning strike' effect. The stars are cut with dies by Simon Says Stamp and W Plus 9, using patterned holographic card for added bling, and the sentiment is by Lawn Fawn. I added Glossy Accents to his specs and gold and red stickles to the magic sparkles coming from the wand. The film that inspired this card is, of course, Harry Potter and the Philosoph...