Bellarific Friday time!

Please scroll down for my There She Goes and

Lili of the Valley posts (there are prizes to be won!)

It's Bellarific Friday!  Here is my card using the dragonflies are from the Em's Lantern Flowers set...

I just love those delicate little things and how they add a touch of elegance.  I used Prima paper and my Stampin' Up embossing folder for some texture.

Next week's Bellarific Friday is the theme of winter - yep, I need to get another Christmas card made so I'm up for that!

 

New Uptown Girls!

I know that there are some major Uptown Girl fans out there - well there is a new release out this Friday!!  And you are going to LOVE this release - because I do!!  Here is a sneak peek...

Isn't she FAB?  This is Reilly Loves to Relax - although she looks like she's having far too much fun to be relaxing, don't cha think?!!  Available in the store Stamping Bella store this Friday!!  I am entering this card into the Simon Says Stamp for new something (new stamp!).

Also this Friday is the first 2013 Bellarific Friday challenge - the sketch below.  Email your creations to Em at Stamping Bella by next Thursday 10 January so they get posted in next Friday's post as well as have a chance to win some Bella Bucks!  

 

And you still have up to Monday to join in with our current Bellarific Tuesday Splitcoaststampers challenge - it's all about white space - join in for a chance to win $25 Bella Bucks.  See you tomorrow with my Bellarific Babe card!

My new sketch over at Quixotic Inspirations!

Thanks to all of you who joined in and used my Quixotic Inspirations February/March sketch – I loved seeing what you did with it!  We will announce the winners will be announced on Saturday.  Here is my new sketch for March/April and those who know me know I love circle cards so I can't wait to see what you make of it!

Here is my take on it.  I used Marianne D Creatables Cupcake Dies with papers from the My Minds Eye Miss Caroline Fiddlesticks pad and finished off with Prima Lace. 

I hope I've inspired you to join in this month J  You have up to 14 April and a random winner will receive a £15 voucher to use at Quixotic Paperie and the DT will choose their top 3 and showcase them on the blog!  Get all the deets and link up your projects here!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• Sassy Cheryl's - show me Thursdays
• Karen's Doodles - something special (a birthday card)
• Cupcake Craft - going dotty
• Papertake Weekly - girls
• Little Darlings - Spring colours
• Crafts and Me - let's see circles
• My Mum's Craft Shop - for mum or special lady (my auntie)
• Cute Card Thursday - happy birthday

Make It Monday sponsored by sponsored by My Mum's Craft Shop!

It's Make It Monday time!  That means anything goes, just show us whatever papercrafts projects you want to share! So here is my make I want to share with you this week...

I had so much fun making this card!  I used these cutie digi stamps by Torico (you can get from her Birdie Brown shop Etsy shop here) - the flowers and fence come with the two sweet cows - aren't they the SWEETEST?!!  Yes, I really love this set!  I matched them up with papers from the Prima So Cute paper pad (from Quixotic Paperie here) and felt clouds using the My Favorite Things flat bottom cloud die (from Dies To Die For here).  I think this is one of my most fave cards I've made (even if I say so myself, lol!!) - I don't think I'll be able to give it away!


This week we are sponsored by My Mum's Craft Shop and the fabulous prize being offered this week is a £10 Gift Voucher! Go to the It's Make It Monday blog to find out how to win!

And now my pick of of last week's entries.  My choice is this wonderful card by Dorcas...

Created by Dorcas


Isn't that a fab image and how clever to make it look like the window is actually in the wall!  Thx for sharing with us Dorcas!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• Paper Sundaes - receipe (stripes and die cuts)
• The Paper Shelter - anything goes
• Catch The Bug - anything goes

Recipe time over at Flutter by Wednesday!

At last, here is my card!  So the new challenge has opened over at at Flutter By Wednesday and this week it's and this week we have a recipe for you!  So on your make we want to see...

The color blue, lace, at least 3 flowers and at least one butterfly!

And of course you can also add your angels or fairies too!  Here is my make...

This is the gorgeous Silver Fairy created by Sylvia Zet of Wee Stamps for Whimsy Stamps (from Quixotic Paperie here) and I matched her up with papers from the Prima Madelaine and the gorgeous rich Prima cream lace (here).

You can see with the rest of the gorgeous DT creations over at the Flutter By Wednesday blog!  That's it from me today, back tomorrow with my Pixie Dust Studios DT card and a new monthly Cupcake Craftroom challenge!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• Sweet Stampin - punches and dies
• Crafts and Me - swirls and pearls
• Fab 'n Funky - anything goes
• The Paper Shelter - anything goes
• Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
• Divas by Design - anything goes

Friends are the best over at Pollycrafts Monday!

(Please scroll down for my Make It Monday DT post!)

 

It's time for the next Pollycraft Monday Challenge and this time it's the wonderful Joey's turn to set the challenge of...

Friendship!

I used this sweet couple from the Sweet Love set of the Swings and Slides collection...

 

They have obviously got a very good friendship, blossoming into something else perhaps - I'm such a romantic at heart!  I pictured them sitting in the park together so matched them up with these fun papers from Prima's Road Trip paper pad.

So this week we are being sponsored by the shop full of my fave gorgossity Quixotic Paperie and the prize is a £10 voucher!

And don't forget to see the rest of the DT gorgeous takes on this challenge here!

 I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• Southern Girls - inspired by a song ("It must be love, love, love.."!)
• CRAFT challenge - cute
• Paper Sundaes - use a digi
• Cupcake Craft - two's company

Taking it slowly....

Well, not me personally - this week has flown by, it's been manic!!  I've got so much to think about at work and home and I haven't even spent any time studying - really gotta get going on that!

Anyhoo, the title of my post refers to this little cutie using lots of lovely Quixotic Paperie stash!

 

 

Isn't he a sweetie?  This is one of the new Emerald Faeries called Boo & Snookie (aren't they the best names ever?!!).  I used my Sew Easy Tool with the Zig Zag Piercer Head and finished it off with flowers using the Marianne D creatables Chinese Rose dies and beads.  Quixotic Paperie has run out of the brown felt ribbon, but you can buy it in other colours here.

I used the Prima Madelaine paper that is unfortunately out of stock now, but there are a host of gorgeous Prima pads in including the latest arrivals which came today here!



I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• Emerald Faeries Garden challenge - birthdays (this is going to one of my very good work colleagues who loves all the bugs in her garden!)
• Flutter By Wednesday - dies
• Crafts and Me - blues and greens
• Whimsie Wednesday - 3 different papers (I used 6 including the ones I used for the flowers and the inside!)
• The Pink Elephant - stitching
• Papertake Weekly - bingo (pearls and blooms)

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Prima Madelaine

Stamps: Emerald Faeries Boo & Snookie

Mediums: Copics, Distress Ink in Antique Linen
Accents: floss and organza ribbon from stash, brown felt ribbon, beads
Tools: Marianne D creatables Chinese Rose, Sew Easy Tool with the Zig Zag Piercer Head, Distressing Tool, Nestabilitie dies

Mushroom hugging - a new hobby perhaps?!

Hiya!  Here for a quick post on this week's faves at Quixotic Paperie - EMERALD FAERIES! I am in luuuuurve these gorgeous stamps!  Here's what I made using Ebony....

 

 

How beautiful is this stamp?!!  I matched her up with papers from Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl, embellished with rolled flowers with pearl bead centres and that luscious Prima lace! To add some more interest, I used my Sew Easy Stitcher Tool with the Sew Easy Burst Piercer Head - I love it!  The sentiment is from Whimsy's Ticket Sentiment Set and Shapeology Ticket die.  I've left the inside blank for my own personal message (hopefully it will say "thank you for ALL my birthday presents on 25 August" (you get the hint, right?!!).


Okay, that is it from me today!  Back a little later with my sneak peek for the new Pixie Dust Studios release!!!!

Happy Anniversary cards

Isn't it strange how similar things turn up at the same time?!  A previous boss of mine who is now one of my best friends is reaching his 30th wedding anniversary very soon and there's a big post party this Sunday to celebrate it.  AND then, it's my in-law's 40th anniversary August and we are holding a lunch party for them on the UK Bank Holiday weekend!  Both couples are very traditional - a very difficult style for me as I like cute and sassy!  I ended up using the very same layout for both, just using different papers...

 

 

I'm not sure if I like them!  I think they are ok but feel they need something 'extra' - whatever that is though, I don't know!!  I'm not good with embellishing, always seem to make my cards look messy - any suggestions, please let me know!!!

Okay, before I go, just a reminder that we have a DT call for Make It Monday!  You have up to Sunday to apply by simply sending an email to Michelle at at mgissel70@yahoo.com.au!  We are a lovely bunch and you also get to use freebies from our sponsors!  Now, form an orderly queue....

I am entering my cards into the Crafts and Me challenge to include numbers and Paper Pretties to use die cuts.

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Websters Pages Hollywood Vogue & Wonderfall paper pack

Stamps: My Favorite Things Textile Rectangle stamp set (from Dies to Die For here), sentiments printed from PC using Embassy PC font

Mediums: Vermark black ink, VersaMagic chalk inks
Accents: Bazzill Bling flowers, stamen from stash, Prima leaves
Tools: My Favorite Things Textile Rectangle die (from Dies to Die For here), Nestabilities label die (inside cards)

Your fave stamp over at Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps!

Oh my, this was a very difficult challenge for me - to choose my most fave SCRS stamp for the SCRS challenge #51 challenge -but I love them all!  After much ummming and ahhhing here's what I made....

 

 

I ended up choosing Travelling Josh - he looks just like my brilliant 18 year old nephew, Michael!  I LOVE YOU MICHAEL!  (He needs reads this so he won't be embarassed!).

Our challenge is open to all players. Each week a random winner will be chosen to win their very own SCRS rubber stamp!  In order to qualify for a prize, you must use a Sparkle Creations image on your creation. 

I hope you can play along!  You can see more gorgeous Christmas inspiration here...

Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Store

Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Blog

Alice Wertz

Amber Hight

Elena Joldersma

Kadie Ensley

Kim Yu

Mary Johnson (me!)

Piali Biswas

Shaela Odd

Simonne Clay

Sparkle Smith

Stephanie Kraft

Tanya Johnson

If you've never bought a SCRS stamp, it's never been a better time to invest as Sparkle Creations is in sale this month...

See you later with my DT posts for Spoonful of Sugar and By LoRi Designs!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• Crafty Creations - boyz to men
• Sweet Stampin' - one for the boyz
• Totally Gorjuss - all bout boys
• Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Prima Road Trip (from Quixotic Paperie here - currently with 15% off!)

Stamps:  SCRS Travelling Josh, My Favorite Things sentiment

Mediums: Copics
Accents: none
Tools: EK Success border punch

New Karber stamps for SCRS preview - part 2!

I'm back today with the preview of the second new Karber rubber stamps that will be sold exclusively in the US through the Sparkle Creations store and be released with our SCRS normal release tomorrow!

So here is Bubble Millie...

 

 

I love this little cutie!!!  She was a real pleasure to colour in and that cute sentiment that comes with the image is just perfect for her!  I teamed her up with a paper from my Prima So Cute paper pad (Quixotic Paperie sell it here) and I doodled some faux stitching with my Sakura white gel pen.

Be sure to visit all rest of the SCRS designers (links below) for more peeks of Bubble Millie. Sparkle will be giving away a Bubble Millie to one lucky person! For a chance to win, you need to comment on all of the designer's blogs (list below). Then head on over to the SCRS blog and comment on the Millie post. You have until midnight EST each day to comment. The lucky winner will be announced the following day!

Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Store

Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Blog

Amber Hight

Elena Joldersma

Kadie Ensley

Mary Johnson (that's me!)

Peggy Toole, Sponsorship Coordinator

Piali Biswas

Suzanne Bier, Newsletter Coordinator

I used the Sweet Stop sketch and I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• Sweet Stampin - playing in the summer sun
• Catch the Bug - anything goes
• The Paper Shelter - celebrate
• Paper Pretties - use summer as inspiration
• Paper Sundaes - let's get sentimental

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Prima So Cute paper pad (Quixotic Paperie sell it here)
Stamps:  SCRS Karber Bubble Millie

Mediums: Copics, Sakura medium white gel pen
Accents: Dew Drops

Tools: My Favorite Things flower and leaf dies, Nestabilities dies

Quixotic Paperie 2nd birthday celebrations - SCACD spotlight and flower tutorial!

As part of the Quixotic Paperie 2nd Anniversary celebrations this month, we are throwing the spotlight on some of the fantastic stamp companies in stock!  First in the spotlight are SCACD Stamps!  And as well as doing a spotlight, I have a little tutorial on making my flowers!

SCACD Stamps is run by the lovely Susana of Susana's Custom Art & Card Design in the US.  The SCACD Stamps range is available in the UK exclusively at Quixotic Paperie.

There are three fab artists in the current range from SCACD Stamps - Carmen Medlin, Elisabeth Bell and Victoria Case, each with a different style.

  

As part of the celebrations and the spotlight today, we have a PRIZE GIVEAWAY!  Pop on over to the Quixotic Inspirations blog to get all the details and enter the draw to win some fantastic SCACD Stamps and more!

ALSO - until midnight on Sunday 12th June you can enjoy 10% off the SCACD Stamps range (does not stack with existing offers).

Now, on to the inspiration!  Some of the Quixotic Paperie Design Team have SCACD creations to show you today, and we also have some special guests from the SCACD Stamps Design Team!

This isn't a hop - feel free to dip in and out of the list of designers in whichever order you fancy!

- Annika - Elaine - Kim D - Mary J - Rowena -

- Alex - Carolyn - Colleen - Crystal - Danni - Dianne -Lori -

Here is my card spotlighting Carmen Medlin for SCACD 1st Signs of Spring...

 

 

   
I think this little lady is soooo beautiful!  I matched her up with papers from the Prima Madeline paper pad and for the sentiment I used the Whimsy Ticket Sentiment with the Whimsy Shapeology ticket die.  And aren't those flowers gorgeous?  I used 6mm pearl beads for the flower centres.  As many of you know, I usually use the My Favorite Things rolled flower dies but I found these Marianne D Creatables Chinese Rose dies are much easier to use!  And as promised, here is my tutorial on making them - I'll try to keep it short!


So first, here are the tools I use..

Hopefully it's self explanatory enough not to list them!  The first step is to cut out the shapes using your usual die machine (I use my Grand Caliber so I can do them all in one go!)...

 

The last two photo shows how I've tightly crumpled up one of the papers so I can show you a shabby chic flower.  I've seen some people crumple up the paper after they've die cut the paper but I find I tend to rip it!  So onto making a flower.

Onto making the flower.  As you can see below, you take the end of a thin paint brush and place it at the end of the die cut flower and begin to tightly roll it round onto itself.  I use my right hand thumb to push it along and keep my left hand fingers still to give it stability.  Keep the die cut flower behind your hand so you can clearly see what you're doing...

Once you get to the end, take out out the paintbrush and you can see that the round end of the die cut flower becomes the base onto which you glue the flower on...

Now at this point, you will have a tightly wound flower.  If you want it looser, simply slowly release your hold and it will unwind itself.  The more you release the hold, the bigger the flower will be.  Once you are happy with the size, squeeze some wet glue (I use Glossy Accents) onto the round and then press the flower onto it.  Hold it down until it sticks on its own and then leave it for the glue to dry fully...

And voila!  Here are the flowers with the shabby chic one on the far right...

 

 Finish it off with your chosen embellishment - I love using my pearl beads and I glue them with Glossy Accents as it dries clear.

As usual, if you have any questions or can share any tips on how you make your flowers, please leave a comment!  Thanks for your patience and for joining us, we hope you enjoyed checking out SCACD Stamps with us today!

 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

• My Mum's Craft shop - use punches
• Passion for ProMarkers - blue and brown
• Crafts and Me - stamp something
• Make It Colourful - cast your shadows
• Paper Sundaes - let's get sentimental
• Bunny Zoe's - lace