Its been ages!

Its been ages since my last blog post. What with being ill (all better now, thankfully) trying to get stock ready for a craft fair,  Christmas and my husband being ill too,  blogging has been put on the back burner. I apologise to my teamies and our fantastic and long suffering co-ordinater, Jane.

But I'm back, luckily Christmas is two weeks away and have just a couple of cards to go international with a wing and a prayer for a good postal service.

Our Theme this week on the One Stitch At a Time Challenge blog *277 is Anything Goes with Lots of Sparkle and will run for a month. Lets see those fab Christmas and New Year cards.

*** This will be the very last One Stitch At A Time challenge but my fab Teamies will be back in February with a shiny new challenge blog and some exciting new themes. I can't remember when I started with the blog but it has been some time and its been wonderful.  Thank you to all those of you who have taken the time to leave me a comment or two. 

For my card this week I chose Coosty Creations Holly Girl.

This is a real vintage image so I've kept her fairly plain to show her off. I've coloured her with a mix of Pro-Markers and some Copics too.  The oval has been cut with a Spellbinders Grand Decorative Ovals and the gold card with Grand Scallop Ovals. I wish Spellbinders would bring back these large dies but perhaps Creative Expressions will bring out some new ones.

My card for Challenge *276

I bagged this card up and sold it at the Craft Fair and the lady was delighted as she thinks her husband would like her to dress like this on Christmas Day!

My card for Challenge *275

I loved this image of Poor Pumpky.

Challenge Time at OSAAT

This week at One Stitch At A Time is to showcase your cards or designs for a Special Day. This could be for a special year, anniversary, birth or some thing good that has happened.

There is a $10 gift voucher to spend in the store for the lucky winner, so please, come along and join us. The link is just above.

 I chose to use Rose by Stitchy Bear Stamps and the paper pack by Panda Bear Designs called Going Round in Circles.  Both of the designs are so handy to keep in your files as the image is lovely to colour and a;; the papers in the paperback all tone in with each other. Jusr a small knot of ribbon and a Memory Box Bow Corner to finish.  I cut a circle from the left over paper and added two Spellbinders numbers from a set I've had  for several years.

Please leave me a comment if you pop in, lots of people visit but I never know who you are. I can then visit you.

So forgetful and a new Challenge at OSAAT

I'm just getting so forgetful these days and it totally went out of my head to get this blog post done. I know we have a scheduler but i just don't get that far!!!

Anyway, last Sunday it was time for a fabulous new challenge at the One Stitch At A Time blog and this week we would love to see your creations with Lace/Pearls or both even.

 The Sponsor for this challenge is StitchyBear Digi Outlet with a $10 coupon to spend in our store.

When I created this card I had in mind a certain friend  for her birthday.  I've used another of the Shoes, set of 4 by Ike and you can find them here. Such a fabulous set and I have changed the overall colour of the image to a dark brown to match my lace.  The lace I bought from Ebay years ago and its perfect for the image. The cotton lace I was given to by a friend and the bronze apple blossom flower from WOC I've sprayed with Cosmic Shimmer Ancient Copper several times to get the right depth of colour.  My favourite Memory Box Flourish and a couple of Memory Box tiny leaves to finish.I was really pleased with the finished card and I hope Gill liked it.

Something for the Man in Your Life.

It's time for a new challenge on the One Stitch At A Time Challenge Blog.  And our theme this week in Anything Goes For Men.  We would really like to see those gorgeous creations for the man or men in your life.

You have a fabulous chance to win a $10 voucher to spend in the Digital Outlet Store, hop on over to the store right here and check out the fabulous digital creations and check back often as there is usually something new being designed.

For my card this week I chose to use Coosty Creations, A Grandfather Is.  The gorgeous papers print brilliantly and the sentiment is wonderful. I've made my card into a shirt as this always reminded me of my grandfather who passed away when I was quite young.

If you drop by, please leave me a comment, I'd love to know what you think.

Its Sunday and time for a new challenge at OSAAT

It's that time again for a lovely new Challenge here at One Stitch At A Time and it's brilliant!

Our challenge for the next fortnight is Anything Goes with Boxes or Bags.

For the Challenge I chose to use use CraftyGirl's design called 'A Mother Is' and you can find it in Stitchy Bears Digital Outlet right here. What a beautiful sentiment this is and so useful to have for your Mum, Mothers day or just for giving.

The main image was coloured with Promarkers and mounted on a piece of gold mirri card. It has  a Memory Box die cut along side too. The little purple butterfly is from a Dollar Store.The backing paper is by Graphic 45.

Ive used a clear box to keep the card in and decorated with a Creative Expressions Sue Wilson die and also used the backing paper that you can see on the card.  The sentiment die is by one of my favourite card makers, Becca Feeken of Amazing Paper Grace designs dies for Spellbinders. Her cards are so very elegant.

One Of My Favourite Challenges!

There is a lovely new challenge on the One Stitch At A Time challenge blog for the next fortnight, please pop over and see what my fabulous team mates have made. You can find it right here!

Anything Goes With Dies, Yay! Love my dies!

for my card this week I chose to use Stardust by Digi Blessings and you can find this gorgeous image in the Stitchy Bear Digi Outlet here.

I've coloured her with Promarkers and Ive sprinkles real stardust on the stars and her shoes.  The background paper is from a pad of Graphic 45. and the die cuts are a mix of Sue Wilson Pierced Squares and Marianne Designs  Anya's Squares.  The delicate little silver bow is a die by Memory Boxcalled simply Corner Bow and the small flower is a LeCrea' Multi floral die.

Yup! Love dies!

Anything Goes With Elements of Nature

There's a smashing new challenge at One Stitch At A Time this week and it is Anytjing Goes With Elements of Nature. The Sponsor for this challenge is StitchyBear Digi Outlet with a $10 coupon to spend in our store. Check out the fabulous inspiration my teamies have come up with here

I chose to use Doorway by Coosty Creations and you can find it here and with the image comes five beautiful papers to use as a background as I have.

I chose one of the beautiful papers as my background but this one will work with lots of flowers too.  I've printed the image onto watercolour paper from Crafters Companion. On my scene i've coloured the image with Spectrum Aqua pens in various shades as I tried to give it a very soft feel. I wouldn't mind popping into this taverna for a drink on a warm summer's evening.  The ivy leaves are from a lovely die by Sheena Douglas and it's called Festive Ivy but I think this is an all year round die. The vein on the leaves have been inked through the die with some dark brown Mary Matchables ink.

This is going into my card stash to send at a later date.

Flowers, One Of My Favourite Challenges!

Its a Sunday and it's time for a new challenge at One Stitch At A Time. Our theme as usual is Anything Goes but this week we would love to see what you can create with Flowers. Please pop over to our blog and see the amazing makes of my teamies.

For my card I used a piece of Stamping Up paper that I've had in my stash for a few years, Its so pretty on either side. My main image is Meowme by BB Kakes and you can find it right here, ain't she cute!  I was on holiday in France last week and took as much of my craft bits and pieces as I could but when you are travelling with a fishing husband there ain't much room left! Anyway, I forgot to take anything to do with a sentiment but I'll find the right one soon.  I had these Heartfelt Creations Arianna Blooms flowers over from a previous card I had made for a 50th Wedding Anniversary so chose my Promakers in apricot/ginger tones.  A bit different for me. The leaves are by Memory Box and Tattered Lace and tucked right underneath is a die from a Tattered Lace magazine.

OSAAT Challenge 264 Anything Goes with Layers

It's Sunday and time for a new challenge over at the One Stitch at A Time challenge blog here.  Our theme this week is Anything Goes With Layer It Up.

Just perfect for me as I love the dies I can get many layers with.  On this card I have used Spellbinders 5 x 7 Detailed Scallops with the matching 5 x 7 Matting Basics. I've used some papers from First Edition Bird Song pad and mounted the layers on an A5 card.  The sentiment is by Stitchy Bear and is called Just Between Friends and is perfect for me. Theres quite a few sentiments in this set that will be perfect for a close friend. Leaves ar by Memory Box

Please pop over and enjoy my teamies cards, they are fabulous and you can find them here

A New Little Gadget and a Lovely New Challenge

I love seeing shabby chic cards with stitching on them and I graciously allowed my other half to treat me to a sweet little pink sewing machine from John Lewis. I've been looking for a while and this one ticked all the boxes.  It took a little while to get the hang of threading the cotton through and then we were away. Our lovely new challenge at OSAAT was for Anything Goes with Stitching, Faux or Real.

My card this week features me and my little pink number creating stitching around my card. When I finished it I just fell about laughing as it was awful, so crooked and I used to make clothes for my children when they were small and my seams truly were much straighter than theses.

Anyway, here's my card.

I chose this sweet image called Flower Child by Stitchy Bear and you can find it here.  It's so lovely and I printed it out on a piece of Crafters Companion watercolour paper as I wanted a much softer effect from my Promarkers.  I cut it with a Spellbinders circle die and then backed it with the smallest of the Spellbinders Grand Decorative Circles. Sadly, they don't make the big dies anymore but I live in hope of finding the ones I've missed .

The red and green papers are from a pad from Graphic 45 basic patterns and the corner die cut is from Memory Box and is a real favourite of mine.  The little 'Tranquility' tab is from the Graphic 45 'Bird Song Collection' and is perfect for my card.

Please drop by and see all the fabulous  cards my team mates have created over at the One Stitch At A Time blog here. If you love stitching real or faux please enter our challenge.  

Please drop by again and I'd love to know that you've been.

My First Try At Mixed Media

I've just spent a fab weekend with my very talented Sis-in-Law and using some gorgeous mixed media techniques on a front cover of a memories book. I'm creating this as my grandson said to me recently that he knew very little about my early childhood. So here goes.

We've used a stencils from Sweet Poppy Stamps and Creative Expressions, Tonic Studios Memories die cut (4layers) and a Memory Box corner.  We sprayed the cover with a mix of Phil Martin's Ink Spray Mist, Cosmic Shimmer mists and some American Crafts Mt Huey's colour mists.

I'm quite pleased with the outcome of my very first attempt at Mixed Media and would like to enter the following challenge:

Anything But Cute Challenge No.13 Celebrate Your Style

Hot! Hot! Hot! Well sort of!

Our new challenge theme this week is Anything Goes With Hot Colours on the One Stitch At A Time Challenge Blog.

Ive used the image Shake Your Groove Thing by Reeces Scrap Pieces, isn't she cute. I've coloured her with Promarkers and added some Heartfelt Creations Aster flowers and leaves from my favourite Memory Box die.  I managed to photo her in the garden in full sun as it was such a gorgeous day.

Please head over to the challenge blog here and see all the fab designs from my teamies.

Vintage!

Our challenge this week on the OSAAT blog is Vintage. Loving this one and please visit my teamies blogs to see their fabulous creations.

I chose the image, Window Shopping by Stitchy Bear and coloured her with Tim Holtz's Distress Markers. I wanted those vintage colours that he does so well.  I cut the word, Paris, from the paper and mounted it on a Spellbinders tag and covered it with some crackle glaze

The background paper is by Dovecraft and I found the ribbon lurking in my ribbon box, I think I picked this up in a Michaels store some time ago.

Wings!

There is a gorgeous new challenge over at the One Stitch At A Time challenge blog here and its called Anything Goes with Wings. You can interpretate this in different ways be it a butterfly, a bird, a fairy or an insect, just about anything with wings.

For my card this week I chose Panda Bear Designs papers called Butterflies and you can find it here. I used two sheets from the paper pack that complimented each other. The peach colours has beautiful soft images of butterflies and swirls that my camera just couldn't see,  I cut the outline shape from a Sue Wilson die and the sentiment, designed by Jane of Coosty Creations, was die cut with a Spellbinders die. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the leaves are from my favourite Memory Box die. The little butterflies are from Spellbinders too.

Please pop over and see the fabulous cards my teamies have created with the theme this week. There is a prize for the winning entry of $10 dollars to spend in the store.

Please let me know with a comment if you pop in, I see lots of people visiting but never know just who you might be!

Anything Goes With Distressing

Time for a lovely new challenge on the One Stitch At A Time Challenge blog (OSSAT) and you can find it here. We'd love to see your designs featuring distressing of any kind, distressed edges , inks, chalks etc.  The winner of the challenge will be announced very soon and there will be a prize to spend in the Stitchy Bear store here.

For my card this week I have used another of the fabulous shoes in the IkeSart set of four fabulous shoes.

I've inked the edges of my card with Memento's London Fog ink. I've printed and used the positive and negative sides of a French Script design from Pink Petticoat that are sadly unavailable anymore. I've coloured the shoe with various shades of Copic Cool Grey and added just a touch of Promarker Hot Pink for the nails.  Finished with a little Card Candy. I'm putting this card away for Halloween!

Lovely Embossing!

Our new challenge at One Stitch At A Time this week is Anything Goes With Embossing.

Well, I just love getting my embossing folders out and having a play. I found my Couture Creation embossing folder and used this as the base for my image. This shoe image comes from a beautiful set of 4 designed by Ike and you can find them here. I know you will love this set as much as I do and check out the previous weeks blog posting where another of my teamies, Nikkie  has used one of them in a fabulous way. Enter our easy competition and you could win a $10 voucher to use in the store.

I've coloured the image with various pinks and green Promarkers and cut the oval with the centre die from Heartfelt Creations Eyelet Ovals. The outer die cut is from the same set and matches perfectly, these can be bought easily on the internet now. Lots of pearls and some Wild Orchid Crafts to finish.

Happy Mothers Day

A bittersweet day for me without Paul but joy in the children and grandchildren I have. I dedicate this blog post to all those without their Mums, sons and daughters.

Our challenge this week is Anything Goes With Fancy Borders. For my image I chose to use Delightful Daisies and I've coloured my image with several Promarkers. I used one of the brackets from Spellbinders Brackets One to create the cut out border and then used a yellow ink pad by Marvy for the edges.  The tiny flowers are from a die by Sue Wilson called Cornflower and go perfectly with one of my Cheery Lynn strip dies.

Please pop over to our blog here and see the other fabulous creations from my teamies and enter into our challenge.

Sunday and it's time for a new challenge

Sunday and it's time for a new challenge at One Stitch At A Time.  Our theme this week is Anything goes with 3 D. It can be a box, a bag or a pop-up box.  My team mates at OSAAT have come up with some fabulous ideas so please check them out here at the challenge blog.

For my little gift bag I chose to use Tropical Ice Cream Cone by Crafty Girl Creations.

I chose a simple little white gift bag and covered it with a piece of Pink Petticoat paper with little seaside huts on. Its not available anymore as the Pink Petticoat site has closed.

I coloured the image with a mix of Copics and Promarkers and although you can't see it in the dull natural light the ice cream sparkles with some clear Wink of Stella.I self generated the the two little sentiments and cut them out with a fish tail banner from Cheery Lynn designs

Happy Birthday, Sunshine!

It was one of my son's birthday yesterday the 8th of February.  Just a reminder of the card I made for him using the Graphic 45 Kraft paper pad. Its a lovely grungy pad and perfect for mens cards.

I cut the three cards out and distressed the edges and inked with some of Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs ink.  The die at the back of the cards a Sue Wilson Heraldic Square, perfect for these playing cards to sit on. I think the tag is by Sue Wilson too.

He was pleased as there isn't another one like it!

Love Is In The Air

Love is in the Air is the title of the latest challenge over at the One Stitch at A Time blog.

For my card this week I chose to use Menhdi Heart digital stamp pack and with it there are also some gorgeous backing papers too, you can find it right here

As I wanted the heart to really stand out I've used a paper from The Lake House pad by Kaisercraft.
My little sentiment is from the words of a son by Celine Dion that just happened to be playing when looking for something to write. Some skeleton style leaves and a lovely prima flower to match.

Please pop over to the OSAAT blog and have a look at the fabulous creations by our team members and have a go at our challenge, we would love to see what you create.

The Time Has Just Flown By

Its been been nearly two months since my last blog post, so much has happened. I had a really bad fall at home and hurt my back very badly. I was hoping to recover fairly quickly as we had an 8 hour flight to Toronto to spend Christmas with family.

I made it and had a magical stay. I was only back a few days and went down with a severe chest infection which had me knocking at the doctors door. That has now mostly cleared up and I am back creating cards again.

For our Challenge *254 Tic Tac Toe at OSAAT this week I chose BBkakes Baby Bug and you can find here.

I've coloured this little sweetie in shades of blue Promakers and added a little Wink of Stella on her antenna. The letters are by Spellbinders.

Blogger is plaing up for me at the moment, so I am going to post this without any further amendments.

Just another card from before, I love this image.