Madcap Manor

Hi, guys! We have a new Dream Valley Challenge for you and it's a corker: Add Texture. I have made a Christmas card (surprise!) using a sweet image from our sponsor, the wonderful Digistamp Boutique. Seriously, go and have a look at their fun, adorable images! Here is my card: This fun trio is Happy Penguins and even my hubby, who does not 'do' cute, likes them! The senstiment comes with the penguins. I added Flowersoft to the trims on their hats, which gives a nice fluffy look. My background is dry embossed with a snowflake pattern and I added some Nuvo Drops for some shine. The silver trees are made with silver Nuvo Mousse and a stencil which came with the November kit by Love From Lizi and I roughed-up the mousse before letting it dry, then cut out the trees. Lots of Diamond Stickles were added to the hand-cut 'snow banks!' It's a very sparkly card! My texture is: dry embossing; Nuvo drops; stickles; Nuvo Mousse, and Flowersoft! Do you th...

Hi guys! It's already our 8th Challenge at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge! As usual the theme is Anything Goes, as long as it's Christmas. This cutie is Christmas Winston by Digistamp Boutique. I used papers from stash, and gold card for the dry-embossed corners, which are an old set by Spellbinders. The sentiment is heat-embossed in gold, and I added 3 tiny snowflake images, also gold-embossed. Go and be inspired by my teamies, they have such varied styles, you're sure to be inspired! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Hi, guys! We have a really original Challenge at Dream Valley this fortnight: Vintage with Music. That can mean adding music patterned paper to your vintage creation, or using a music-related image. Have a look at the inspiration from my lovely teamies to get an idea. Now, vintage and shabby chic are two genres I find are a definite challenge!! I spent a lot of time perusing Pinterest! I'm really pleased with this! It's not as elaborate as some of the wonderful cards I saw on Pinterest! The lovely image is from the Roses Collection by Digistamp Boutique. The papers are from my stash. I used a Sue Wilson die to cut the borders from ivory cardstock and distressed them with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The crochet lace is from stash, and there is a string of pearl trim from The Ribbon Girl down the middle. The 'Thank you' chipboard sentiment is by Scrapiniec also from The Ribbon Girl. We have two excellent sponsors: Digistamp Boutique Crafty Ribbon...

Hi, guys! It's a grey, wet January day here in S-E Herts. I have been listening to music and having a MASSIVE clear-out of my craft hovel - as always when I start tidying, the room looks 10 times worse than it did, but I'm determined to get it sorted! Here is my card for the Something New Challenge at Dream Valley . I went with a New Home card, using two sweet House images from Digistamp Boutique . There is a SALE on at their site at the moment, and some gorgeous bargains to be snapped up! Go and see! I was originally going to layer the houses (which I coloured with Promarkers) onto patterned paper, but decided they looked so much more bright and cheerful against plain white. I fussy cut them and popped them onto foam squares to give some interest. Sometimes the simplest cards take me the longest, as I'm always trying and discarding different ideas! The sentiment is an old stamp from Lili of the Valley but it seems to be out of print now. Ok, time to finish...

Hi, guys! I hope you're all keeping well! We have a new challenge at Dream Valley and the theme is All Creatures, Great and Small . Our terrific sponsor is Digistamp Boutique I chose an image featuring Winston, one of the cutest owls out there! This is Graduation Winston This has been made for a particular person, whose university colours are yellow and blue. The sentiment is Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler again, and the paper is from Teresa Collins' Everyday Moments 6x6 pad. My teamies have made some lovely cards to inspire you, do go and have a look, and join in! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Hi, guys! Happy Leap Day! Our new challenge at Dream Valley is Mother's Day . We have the fabulous Digi Stamp Boutique as our sponsor this week, do go and have a look at the delightful, charming images they have! I used Alyssa Relaxing - isn't that the perfect image for Mother's Day? Champers and bubble bath! I apologise for the wonky photo! I used Cotton Candy Stickles on the bubbles and Glossy Accents on the bottle and glass. The papers, ribbon and gems are from stash. The sentiment heart is a Paper Smooches Sweet Hearts stamp, I used Apple Mama Elephant Pigment Ink, then covered it with Clear Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents. Have a look at the gorgeous creations at Dream Valley, you'll be inspired! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Good afternoon! if you're looking for my DT card for The Squirrel and the Fox, please scroll down to the last post. It's time for another challenge at Dream Valley! It's Father's Day today in the UK, so our challenge is to make something for Father's Day or, if you prefer, For a Man. Now, I know it isn't easy making cards (or anything, really) for the menfolk in our lives. They don't appreciate flowers and ribbons the way we do. However, that's what a Challenge is all about - think outside the box! And my teamies have some totally fabulous inspiration for you, if you go over to the blog and take a look! This cute chap is Alf, and he's from the fabulous Digistamp Boutique I coloured him with Promarkers - but I can't find the list of the colours I used! I knew I shouldn't have tidied my craft hovel, nothing is where I expect it to be!! The spotty background paper is a snippet from my stash, and so is the brown matting card. I used Sp...