Ok - where exactly ....

.... did January go?  I can't believe it's been almost a month since I blogged (and the same amount of time since I made anything - oh dear!).  Can't even think what I've been doing, the weeks have all blended into one.  Read a good few books, watched an inordinate amount of crap telly, and for the last week I've had a steeeeenkingly bad cold.  My card from my last post was a winner on Basic Grey Challenges, but I haven't even spent the voucher I won yet!!! 

But, since it was my DT team's week on PaperPlay, that was the kick-start I needed to make a card.  It's for my friend's daughter.  Our theme this week is "Hearts and Flowers .... but not Valentine", and here's what I made:

I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Basic Grey Challenges ("All Heart"), Just Magnolia (Anything Goes + ribbon), Crafty Cardmakers (Hearts), The Shabby Tea Room ("Hearts") and Cute Card Thursday ("Hearts + Flowers").

I used a cute hAnglar + stAnglar girl that someone stamped for me at a crop last year, can't remember who, but if you're reading this and it was you, thank you!  I coloured her with distress inks, highlighted the hearts with silver Stickles, and cut her out leaving a teeny white border.  Here's a close-up, bit dark but you get the idea:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Marjolaine"

Image: hAnglar + stAnglar - don't know the name

Colouring Medium: Distress inks

Other: ribbon from stash, Hero Arts smooth gemstones, needle + thread

I've been given an award by both Deirdre and Sandie.  Thank you girls, hugs to you both:

"The idea behind this award is to give it to people whose talent you admire but feel they do not get the recognition which they deserve, so please do not award this to anyone with say 1,000 followers.

If you have been TAGGED and would like to take part, all you have to do is post the blog award above on your blog and link the person who gave you the award (also let them know you are accepting the award by posting on their blog ).

Then you can choose 3-5 people who you think deserve the award and post their name and blog links on your blog."

Some blogging pals who are all great girls, whose work I love and who I think deserve to be shared with the world are... 

June

Lily

Liz

Anne

There are so many others I could add, but some are too popular to qualify - celebrities really, hee hee!!!

Thanks for looking at my work today - hope it won't be so long 'till next time.

Bow-challenged ....

.... not me!!  I've always been rubbish at tying bows, I generally just tie a knot with two tails and leave it at that.  But no longer - now I have my .... da da DAH .... Bow-Easy!!!  Look at this little beauty:

Mind you, I did have to watch several tutorials and then go on utube before I finally got the hang of it!!

Here's the card with the wonder-bow on it:

I'm entering this in the following challenges: Friday Sketchers (I had to leave out the tag, 'cos my card has too many scallops and it kept getting stuck on them), Basic Grey Challenges (pearls), 7 Kids Challenge (brand new challenge blog - "pink + dots"), Just Magnolia ("acetate" - my disused tag was acetate, so the compromise is a scalloped acetate circle behind the image!), Bunny Zoes Crafts (vintage - yayyyy!) and Wild Orchid Challenge ("one for the girls"). 

I used my all-time favourite BG Phresh & Phunky papers, how I love them - I stamped polka dots on the pink background and heat embossed with white.  Here's a close-up of the image, you can see the little acetate bit and the spots more clearly:

Recipe:

Stamps: Magnolia "Summertime Tilda with Bow", Hero Arts DesignBlock "raindrop background"

Papers: BG "Phresh + Phunky"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Hero Arts Pearls, acetate, ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking - I will post the winner of my candy later today (once I figure out how to use random picker thingy!)

Bitten by the ....

.... Tilda bug - I don't quite know how it happened, I've said before that I didn't like these stamps when I first saw them, but almost without me realising it, they've grown on me to such an extent that I've started a collection (yes, another collection - I'm doomed - again!) - and they are so lovely to colour!!

This card isn't for anyone in particular, I was at a workshop on Thursday night and began working on it, and then finished it at a crop today.  I used last week's sketch from Sketch Saturday, obviously can't enter it 'cos it's too late now - and I used the "Seasons" theme (mine being "Autumn") from Magnolia Down Under, only to find that I'm too late for that as well, curses!  Here's the card:

I'm entering it on Totally Tilda (chocolate), Just Magnolia (vintage), Basic Grey Challenges (stitching), The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge (Fairy Tales) and Crafty Angels (shabby chic).

I have to thank Mina for telling me how to make the image have bits sticking out - I assumed she had some complicated Nestability trick I hadn't worked out.  Nope - it's simple!!  All I did was centre a roll of sellotape over the image, trace around it lightly in pencil and cut it out by hand, leaving the foot sticking out!!!  I used distress inks to colour the image, and added a few sparkly highlights with diamond stickles on the tiara and swirly movement bits and copper stickles on the hem of the dress.  They don't show up in the pics, though.  Here's a close-up anyway:

Recipe:

Stamps: Magnolia "Ballerina Tilda" from Fairytale Collection + Hero Arts "Three Designer Leaves"

Papers: Basic Grey Nook + Pantry, Archaic, Scenic Route "Grafton"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Doodlebug copper brads, copper + diamond stickles, ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

Now I'm smooookin' ....

.... second post in one day!!  Will probably never happen again! 

I've finished another communion card, for our friends' little girl - we're going to this one 'cos it's on Sunday, the day after the 90th birthday party (I have yet to make the card for the 90th birthday girl - next on the long list!)

I've used this week's lovely sketch on Just Magnolia and made my second Tilda card (I think this one is supposed to be a bridesmaid but I figured she could be in a communion dress either!).  Here it is:

I don't think I've ever made such a girly card and the lilac/yellow colour combo is a definite first for me!  Originally, I only had the yellow ribbon, but when I was sticking it down, I pulled the sticky tape funny and a great big ladder appeared in the ribbon.   Aaaaagh!  I couldn't change it 'cos everything was stuck down too well, so I used the little bits of lilac gingham to cover the disaster.  It actually looks nicer with that addition.

I'm also entering this on A Spoon Full of Sugar (celebrations), Creative Inspirations (distressed), and ABC Challenge (V is for Vintage).

I coloured Tilda using Distress Inks - I am just loving this method of colouring - thanks Mina!!!  Here's a close-up of the image:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey Kioshi

Stamp: Magnolia Tilda - image from Mina - thanks!

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: MS Valentine Lace punch, Nestabilities, ribbon from stash, needle + thread.

Thanks for looking - wish me luck as I crawl back up the stairs to start the Happy 90th Birthday card!!

My first ....

.... Tilda card - what took me so long?!!!

This week's challenge on PaperPlay was set by Mandy and it's called "Pretty Pastels".  We are sponsored this week by Card Mad Fairy, who are offering a prize of some of their digi images, and also our old DT member, Kate, has put together a lovely prize package.

This was another challenging one for me, I'm not really a pastel-kinda girl!  But one of the images I coloured at Mina's workshop last week has a pretty pastel blue dress, so I decided to use it on my card.

I'm also entering this in the following challenges: A Spoon Full of Sugar (3D something - I've popped up the image), Creative Cottage (circles), Quixotic Challenges (distressing - I always do!), and, for the first time Just Magnolia (anything goes).

As far as I can remember, I don't think I liked Tildas very much when they first came out.  But I think I've got used to them, 'cos now I do like them, and have recently even bought a few!!!  I really enjoyed colouring them, it's very easy to decide where to put shading, as all the lines are already there in the stamped image!  Here's a close-up of the image - this is the one without the bruised face!!  I put stickles on her lacy underskirt, very cute in real life, invisible on the photo!!

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Dasher"

Stamp: Magnolia "Tilda Writing Diary"

Colouring Medium: Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Other: Nestabilities, MS Doily Lace punch, ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!