Madcap Manor

Evening, all! I've spent most of half term tidying, cleaning and chucking things out - whatever happened to my plans for several days' intensive crafting?! Alas, they went the way of all flesh! However, I have managed to make birthday cards for twins who will be two next week - and a right mischievous pair they are! I used these cute Lili of the Valley stamps, they are perfect for toddlers! The banners are also LotV. I coloured both with Promarkers. In this one, the wheels of the toy are Glossy Accented, and the stars in the paper have been stickled. I used a Go Kreate Frilly Square #6 die to cut out the image and emboss it with Excalibur (my gorgeous Grand Caliber machine) and distressed all the edges and papers with Salty Ocean Distress Ink. For this one, I used a Spellbinders Heart Circles die and distressed with Worn Lipstick but left the papers undistressed because they're more contrasting. The pram has been Glossy Accented. Who else had a toy pram like that wit...

Good evening, my dearios! And a special welcome to my new followers! Have a virtual cookie (calorie-free!!) x I hope everyone is settling down happily after the holidays, it always takes me ages to get back into the old routine! Especially the crafting routine! I am reorganising my craft hovel and cataloguing my stamps (nothing dramatic, just images in files!) and I'm aghast at how many I haven't yet used! So my new Resolution is to use them all at least once. It helps that I won't be at Ally Pally :( because my son is coming to see us :) This LotV LotV cutie is 'Shall We Dance.' I used Promarkers, and Diamond stickles on the lady's fringed dress. The papers are Nitwits: the spotty one is 'Breath of Fresh Air' and the checked one is 'Eggstravaganza.' I used a Martha Stewart punch, and the spotted ribbon is from Hobbycraft. I layered green and pink Prima flowers and put a mesh-and-pearl flower from stash in the middles. There are more...

Hello, my dearios! I hope you're all enjoying a good weekend, in spite of this crazy weather. Flaming June! It's time for another challenge at Dream Valley and we'd love to see your creations using Things with Wings Our sponsor this fortnight is Digi Doodle Shop There's a voucher for $10 to spend at their online shop for one lucky winner! I used one of their images, Butterfly Blossoms for my card and cut it out with a Nesties die. The card base and background papers were also cut with Grand Nesties on Excalibur, my wonderful Grand Caliber die-cutting machine. I coloured with Promarkers - the new pen tips are just brilliant for colouring a delicate image like this! I covered the butterflies' wings with glitter. The papers are a mix of Funky Hand and Nitwits. I used a Martha Stewart Deep Edger Punch for the bit across the middle. The flowers are made with Retro punches and covered in Glossy Accents, and the orange centres are shiny stickers from Paperc...

Evening, all! I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while, it's been quite manic here but Ye Olde Manne and I have finally arranged a weekend away in Shropshire to visit our granddaughter. I can't wait! Unfortunately a good friend hasn't been well, so I've made her a 'cheer you up' card.  I was originally going to enter last week's challenge at Whiff of Joy which was for paper piecing, but I was unexpectedly out today and missed the boat. I used Willow with Sunhat and she's on clearance sale at the mo, so if you like her, get in quick! I like paper piecing, it can be fiddly, but I find it relaxing when in front of the tv. I used MME papers that were free last year - or maybe the year before?  I cut out her dress and hat and then glued the scarf and apron over the top, that's a bit easier than cutting out bits that have to be put together like a jigsaw! The rest is coloured with Promarkers and the flowers are 'stickled pink'. (lol...

I could get used to this weather! I've been waking at 5 this week to catch the cricket and make cards at the same time. Yes, I'm a sad case. I don't think we'll mention England's result against Sri Lanka, though. Oh dear! Anyway, here is today's offering. The cute bunny is by Lili of the Valley of course, and so is the sentiment. I coloured him with Promarkers, these bunnies are a joy to colour! The papers are a mix of Pink Petticoat and Funky Hand I used a Martha Stewart Deep Edger punch on the horizontal strip. The skeleton leaves are Marianne dies, and flowers, gems and ribbon are from stash. Once again I'm using the terrific sketch from this fortnight's Friday Sketch Challenge . I'm entering the current Lili's Little Fairies Challenge which is 'Anything Goes.' Ah, the lovely whiff of paraffin just floated by - one of the neighbours is firing up the barbie! In March!! Thanks for looking! I really appreciate all your lovely comments...

What a glorious day it's been! Spring is here!! I'm looking out of my craft hovel's window admiring the lovely soft shades of pink and blue as the sun sets behind the houses opposite. Pretty! Here's a card for the two beautiful daughters of a good friend of mine. The lovely image is by Sarah Kay, I love her old-fashioned boys and girls! Papers are from a Tilda pad, 'Winterbird' which was a bargain at Hobbycraft in January. I used a Martha Stewart Deep Edger Punch on pearlescent white card, which irl has a nice soft gleam. The only embellies are Glossy Accents on the lollipop and candy canes, and glitter on the younger girl's apron frill. The papers are so busy I don't think it needs any more. The ribbon was in a candy from the lovely Lilackat . The sketch is the latest one at Friday Sketch Challenge isn't it nice? I'll leave you with this question: What is the longest time, from stamping an image to taking the photo, that you've taken to mak...

/PB%2Bmouse%2Bin%2Bstocking%2BChristmas%2Bcard%2BDec%2B11.jpg"> It's too long since I've joined in at Penny Black Saturday Challenge . This week's theme is Christmas + Red and Embossing . I love this little Penny Black mouse, all snug in his stocking! I coloured him with Speccies and stickled the fur trim of the stocking. The spots are gold liquid pearls. The fab papers were free with this month's 'Cardmaking and Papercraft' and they are gorgeous! I embossed the mistletoe strip with a snowflakes folder and my cuttlebug, then lightly sanded to make the snowflakes stand out better. The two strips of ribbon are from stash. The gold corner is from Wild Orchid Crafts, the chipboard snowflake is by Woodware and I covered it with gold Glamour Dust, then put it on a large Magnolia doohickey flower die-cut. The swirl is a Marianne die. The sentiment is LotV, stamped in Fired Brick Distress Ink and mounted on gold holographic paper. The sketch is from Friday Sketc...

This card is for a little boy who is one today. He and his twin sister were born 6 weeks early, but now they are both healthy and happy and right little mischievous cuties! The LotV images of toddlers are just so right for them as they learn to walk! I used Nitwits papers from the 'Promises' collection - such soft, pretty colours! The image is coloured with Promarkers, with a touch of Glossy Accents on the wheels. The sentiment is also LotV. I kept the decoration simple, just blue and white gems and a bow made from a sparkly organza ribbon from Hobbycraft. The great sketch is from Friday Sketch Challenge though I turned it on its side, so I'm entering that challenge. I hope you're all having a good day. We have sunshine in South East Herts, though it's very chilly. Thanks for looking! luv, Mags x Promarkers: Blush, Dusky Pink, Baby Pink; Powder Blue, Arctic Blue, Sky Blue, Azure; Chestnut, Henna, Ivory; Cool Grey 1, 4

Purple and black are not my normal colours, but Lil Haunts Vampire Lilith , who is a digi from Tickled Pink Stamps, demanded to be given a Gothy and mysterious look, so what could I do?! I have had the sparkly black card for years - it came in an assortment from The Range and I found it while having yet another clear-out of my shambolic craft room. The purple paper with writing on it is Papermania capsule collection, and I put it twice through my paper crimper to give a waffle texture, just for a change. The other paper was loose in a drawer and I can't remember its provenance! I used a MS deep edger punch and a Nestie to give a bit more interest. The ribbon is from stash, it has a slight sparkle that isn't showing well. Also not showing is the distressing round the image and the addition of Whiff of Joy Christmas swirls, both in Milled Lavender DI. The sentiment is from The Greeting Farm, stamped in Dusty Concord DI. The flowers are from stash, I coloured the gems with my Spec...