Geisha in lilac

This is one of my favourite stamps from Lili of the Valley - Aimi with Lantern  I've had this one coloured up a while but hadn't got round to putting her on a card.  I decided to colour the image in ProMarkers in purples and leave the flowers white for a move delicate look for the kimono.  Then image was cut using a scalloped round die.

I've used papers from Lili of the Valley & NitWit Collections Snow Princess and  Solids - Snow Princess

Flowers and leaves are from Wild Orchid Crafts

I've used some pearl and amethyst self adhesive gems and finished off the card with a silver happy birthday sentiment from Express Yourself.

I'm entering this card into the Fantasy Stampers challenge - Here Come the Girls, Crafty Catz challenge - Happy Birthday and Deep Ocean challenge - At Least One Flower

Good start to the week :)

Andrea x

Hanging around

These two cute little bunnies are just hanging around waiting for Santa to come :)  It's a couple of weeks since I did a Christmas card so I decided it was about time to do some more.  Also Charlotte at work is waiting for me to finish doing bunny cards so she can nab one for her daughter.

The stamp is Christmas Bunnies - Stocking from Lili of the Valley.  I've coloured the image with ProMarkers, then used a die to cut it out and edged it with a black marker to get a fine line.

I've used five different papers from the following paper stacks and backed them with black card to give a contrasting line.

Lili of the Valley - Classic Christmas

Lili of the Valley & NitWit Collections - Festive Trimmings

Lili of the Valley & NitWit Collections - Simple Joy

Once I'd got the card made up I had a mess around with my embellishments and ended up using some poinsettia and leaves on one side of the image and some holly leaves and berries on the other side.

The card is then finished off with some black pearlised self adhesive gems.

I'm entering this card into the Winter Wonderland challenge - Layer It Up because that's what I've done.  I'm also entering it into Fab 'n' Funky challenge - Christmas and Papertake Weekly - Oh How Cute

Happy Christmas! (I know it's too early)

Andrea x

Gone fishing

I work with a girl that wanted a card for her little boy who goes fishing with his dad.  So I've found this appropriate stamp from Lili of the Valley - Gone Fishing for her.  I've coloured the image with ProMarkers.

Papers used are from First Edition - Rose Garden, Lili of the Valley & NitWit Collections - Bear Essentials and Promises - Solids

I've used some blue ribbon fro Lili of the Valley Little Bags of Ribbon - Blue.

I've finished the card off with a celebrate sentiment from Express Yourself and some golden self adhesive gems.

Hope she likes it she's not seen it yet as I've made it over the weekend for her.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges

Cardz 4 Guys - Water

Without Words - It's a Celebration

Totally Gorjuss - Young Boy

Happy Crafting

Andrea x 

Pretty paper experiment

The current challenge at Lili of the Valley is Pretty Papers.  For this card I tried to do something I've never done before.  I've used papers and flowers and couple of vintage tags from Set 49 Le Jardin but I've not used a stamped image as the major feature.  I've done this to make the papers and flowers rhe man features of the card. The tags are coloured with ProMarkers

Papers used are from Lili of the Valley & Raspberry Road Designs - Father Knows Best, Antebellum and Lili of the Valley &NitWit Collections Solids - Promises.  For the first time I've had a format distressing the papers to give the card a vintage look.

The flowers and leaves I've used are from Wild Orchid Crafts

Finishing touches are a pear flourish, a couple of brass butterflies and some blue butterfly stickers.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges

Lili of the Valley - Pretty Papers

CRAFT Challenge  - Add a Charm/Use Metal

Deep Ocean Challenge - At Least One Flower

A Little Bit Crafty - Distress It

Paradise of Stamps - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Vintage

Happy Weekend - making the most of mine I'm back to work on Monday

Andrea x

Quinn in the snow

When First got this stamp from Stamping Bella Uptown Girl Quinn in her Boots I wasn't sure what to do with it.  I decided to give her a soft look in pinks for a start, I used ProMarkers to do this.  It then made me think of a winters day (maybe it's the change in the weather)

I used papers from Lili of the Valley & NitWit Collections Always and Forever and Solids - Always and Forever for the background papers.

The lace is from Wild Orchid Crafts

I've then added some sparkle to the snow using DecoArt Glamour Dust in crystal which I bought in Hobby Craft.  The bling was added by using Creative Expressions Finishing Touches - Crystal Sparklers which I bought in Lili of the Valley a few months ago.

The final touch was some clear self adhesive gems.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges

In the Pink - Sparkle & Bling

Divas by Design - Pretty in Glitter

The Ribbon Girl - Pastel

Crafty Little Fairies - Sparkle & Bling

Happy Friday

Andrea x

It's a celebration!

I went for multi-coloured balloons for this Crafters Companion Bebunnie Celebration stamp.  I wanted it to look bright and cheerful for a celebration.  To do this I've used ProMarkers.

The background I then tried to keep to three colours blue, red and yellow.  I've used Lili of the Valley & NitWit Collections 'Twas the Night and Lili of the Valley & Raspberry Road Designs Shabby Shack and Heartfelt papers.

I've added a couple of sentiment tags from Lili of the Valleys Set 24.

To finish the card off I've used some red, blue and black self adhesive gems and a hot air balloon button.

I'm entering this card into the latest a Without Words Challenge - It's a Celebration.

Cheers everyone!

Andrea x

Happy Birthday Zoe!

Zoe from Make It Crafty has just announced it's her birthday and asked us to make a card for her.

As I'd just coloured Melody I thought I'd use her to send Zoe "Groovy Birthday" wishes.  I used ProMarkers to colour the image.

Papers are from Lili of the Valley and NitWit Collections - Snow Princess and Lili of the Valley & Raspberry Road Designs - Farther Knows Best

The sentiment is made using some letter beads

I've added some daisies and a poppy to add to the groovy flower theme.

To finish off I used some self adhesive gems.

Happy Birthday Zoe :)

I', also entering this card into the Without Words Challenge - It's a Celebration

Andrea x

Autumn romance

Not sure what it is about this time of year but it seems to bring the romance out in guys.  We know a few people that have announced their engagements recently.  To congratulate one couple I've been asked to do a card.

I've chosen one of Stamping Bella's Uptown Girls stamps - Emily & Ryan Under Umbrella.  Seen as it's autumn I've coloured the image in reds, yellows and browns, apart from Ryan's jeans :)

The backing paper I've used is from Gorjuss Neutrals.

I've edged the card at the left with some vintage lace and added some heart ribbon over the top, both I picked up in Hobby Craft last time I was there.

The trailing flowers and leaves down the right of the image are red and red/yellow roses from Wild Orchid Crafts.

The finishing touch was some red hearts and some self adhesive gems.

Congratulations to all those recently engaged couples!

I'm submitting this card to Passion For ProMarkers challenge - Autumn Colours.

Andrea x

Two tone monochromatic challenge

Well I've done it!  Never in a million years thought I'd be able to do this.  The current colouring challenge from Make It Colourful is to pick an image and then pick two colours and blend them towards each other getting lighter at the middle.

This was my second attempt.  First one bombed, did it in two sittings on my lunch break at work and managed to pick up the wrong blue - doh!  I was also using Elven Samenah.  This one is Anastasia which I've coloured with ProMarkers in the following colours to blend and shade.

Lavender, orchid, purple, pastel blue, denim blue and Capri blue.  I've also used a blender pen.

I wanted Anastasia's image to stand out more than the flowers so I started with her first.  Once I'd completed the image I used the palest purple and blue to create an abstract background which I then completed by adding in some glitter.  Colouring the image took me about 4 hours to complete.

Once I'd done this I then decided she deserved a card.  I went through lots of alternatives before I finally chose papers from my Lili of the Valley paper stash.

I added some flowers and leaves from Wild Orchid Crafts and finished the card off with some blue and purple self adhesive gems.

The whole thing took me about 6 hours to do, by far the longest project I've ever done.

I'm entering her into the following

Make It Colourful challenge

A Creative Romance - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Pretty Woman

Crafty Little Faries - Sparkle & Bling

Inky Chicks - Anything Goes

Paradise of Stamps - Anything Goes

The Ribbon Girl - Pastel colouring projects

Happy colouring - Andrea x

Vintage wedding

The season is still here - just!

I love these vintage style stamps from Kaban Crafts,  I've used ProMarkers to add some colour

Papers are from Do Craft - Bexley Black and Lili of the Valley & NitWit Collections Solids -Always and Forever.  I've also used some plain red card from Hobby Craft behind the images.

The red satin ribbon and lace are from Hobby Craft as are the pearl beads in the brides bouquet.

The flowers and leaves making up the bouquet are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I've completed the bouquet by tying some of the red satin ribbon round it.

To finish off the card I've added some pearl self adhesive gems to the red border and some red hearts in the bottom right to complement the theme.

I'm entering this card into two challenges that have Vintage themes at the moment Crafty Creations Challenge and Deep Ocean Challenge

Happy crafting

Andrea x

Time to relax

We're celebrating a week off work, my hubby and me.  So hopefully we'll be doing a bit of chilling out.

The stamp is Lili of the Valley's - Put Your a Feet Up.  I've used ProMarkers to colour it then cut it out with a die.

Papers are from Lili of the Valley and NitWit Collections Winter Wishes and Solids - Promises

I've finished the card with some letter beads on some brown thread, a brass clock and some self adhesive gems

I'm entering this card into

Addicted to Stamps Challenge - For a Boy or Man

Hope you're having a good weekend

Andrea x

Strolling along

I think summers over in Yorkshire it's been miserable here all day.  I'm not ready to let go of Summer yet so I thought I'd post this card I've just made which makes me think of strolling along on a summer evening.

The Lili of the Valley image is Emma Walkies.  The image is coloured with ProMarkers and I've cut it with a Spellbinders die.

I've used papers from the Solids Promises and Petal Fresh pads

The central panel is edged with lace that I purchased at Lili of the Valley

All the flowers and leaves I used are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

To finish off the card I've added some silver butterflies and some self adhesive gems.

This card had the three elements required for ABC Challenge Tic Tac Toe

I'm also entering it into the Ribbon Girl September Lovely Lili challenge Add Flowers

To celebrate the start to a week off work I'm off to make some more cards now :)

Andrea x

Autumn cocktails

Just got in touch with my friend Diane this week to say lets get a date in the diary for cocktails/food so we'll be doing a bit of this soon :)

The image I used was a Stamping Bella Uptown Girls one - Victoria & Juliette's Night Out

As the current challenge from Fantasy Stampers is Autumn Colours I've used reds and orange Pro-Markers to colour the image

The papers used are from Lili of the Valley & Raspberry Road Designs - Father Knows Best and Santoros Gorjuss Nuetrals.  I've also used some orange card to back the card and image to make it stand out.

The ribbon edging the left side of the card is from Santoro's Gorjuss collections.

I wanted to add some flowers in oranges and reds.  These were from Wild Orchid Crafts, mainly roses.  The gold corner embellishments was also from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I'm also entering this into 

A Creative Romance - Anything Goes

Inky Chicks - Anything Goes

Paradise of Stamps - Anything Goes

Anyone for a drink - I'm celebrating a week off work - yay!

Andrea x

Flower cascade

As autumn is coming up I decided to do this Lili of the Valley stamp - Summer Days in red, orange and yellow.  The image is colouted in Pro-Markers.  I've hand cut the image square and backed it with some red and black card.  The current challenge from Fantasy Stampers is Autumn Colours so I'm going to enter this card into that challenge.

 

The most recent challenge from Papertake Weekly is Punch it Out - with no dies allowed.  So for this one I decided to use just flowers punched out in red and orange with two different sized punches from Tonic Solutions.  I casdaded the flowers mainly down the right hand side of the card and finished them off with some self adhesive gems.

 

The final touch were some tiny brass butterflies.

 

Bit of a fiddly card but the effect is worth it :)

 

Happy crafting

Andrea x

 

 

Autumn swing

In spired by Fantasy Stampers latest challenge - Autumn colours.

I've used Lili of the Valley's Hanging Around coloured with ProMarkers.  I then hand cut the image out.

The paper is from Santoro's Gorjuss Neutrals.  I've used this so the boy looks like he's swinging next to a garden fence.  I've added a brown cards rock strip from Bazzill Basics Paper.

The mixed autumn colour paper leaves are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I've added a few wooden leaves too.

Hidden away under the fallen leaves at the bottom of the card is a wooden hedgehog.

I've finished the card off with some golden/brown self adhesive gems.

Quite different from my usual thing 

Andrea x

Wrapping up

When I saw the current Winter Wonderland challenge Boys Will Be Boys!  I had a dig around in my stamps and found to my disappointment that I've only one suitable one - The Perfect Snowman. Must rectify that, I can feel a shop at Lili of the Valley coming on again :)

I've coloured the image in my favourite Pro-Markers

I've used papers from Lili of the Valley and NitWit collections - Festive Trimmings.

The ribbon is from Lili of the Valley Little Bags of Ribbons - Christmas

To finish the card off I've used some sparkly snowflake stickers, some self adhesive gems and a sentiment I got at Hobby Craft.

Still got loads of Christmas cards to make before the season sneaks up on me......

Andrea x

Pretty purples

This was another stamp I bought recently from Lili of the Valley - Time Flies.  I've used ProMarkers to colour the image and also to edge it in purple once I'd cut the image out using a Spellbinders die.

I love some of the new papers Lili of the Valley have brought out recently. I decided to use some for a card for their current challenge - Pretty Papers.  The papers used were from Lili of the Valley and NitWit Collections Snow Princess and Solids Snow Princess.

I hand cut the shaped background image as I haven't got a die large enough to cut it.  I did this twice as I wanted a fine boarder to the cut shape.  Over the top of this I used some of the darker purple backing paper, laying it in a cross and adding come cream lace.  

With another challenge in mind to which I'm going to enter to card, The Ribbon Girl September Lovely Lili Challenge - Add Flowers, I decided to embellish my card with some purple and white flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Some self adhesive gems in purple and pearlised cream were used to finish the card.

I'm also entering this card into the ABC Challenge which is Tic Tac Toe (flowers, lace and dies)

Happy Mondays ladies x

Star gazing

I saw this stamp - Midsummer's Night,  a couple of weeks ago at Lili of the Valley when they had their open day.  This is one of their newer stamps.  I hadn't got it and thought it was so cute I bought it.

Instead of colouring the mushrooms red I decided to do more of a fantasy colouring of pink and white.  I used ProMarkers to do this.

Once I'd got the image done and wanted to put it onto a card I had a complete creative block.  I spent ages last night trying to figure out what I wanted to do with it.

In the end I went for something very simple in the layout.  The papers are from Lili of the Valley and NitWit Collections - Solids Always and Forever, and Solids Bonnets and Bowties.

I've added to this some clear self adhesive gems, some silver star beads and finished off the stars in the image and the wings with DecoArt Twikles Writer.  Finally I've added a sentiment highlighted with pale pink and self adhesive gems.

The "bling" makes it appropriate for Crafty Little Fairest current challenge - Sparkle & Bling so I'm going to enter this card into that challenge.

Got there in the end :) x

Dad's birthday

Today it was my dad's birthday.  It's also two of my cousins as well so we all went out for a family meal to celebrate.

My dad loves real beer, especially Timothy Taylor's, so this cute bear from Lili of the Valley with a pint of beer and a present was perfect!

The stamp is Cheers Bear.  I've coloured the image with ProMarkers.

The papers are from Lili of the Valley and Raspberry Road Designs - Father Knows Best.

I've finished off the design with an appropriate sentiment in wooden scrabble blocks and some blue and black self adhesive gems.

I've entered this card into the Addicted To Stamps challenge - For a Man or a Boy.

My dad loved the card - hope you do too x

Comparing flowers

Inspired by In The Pink's latest challenge - Buttons and Bows (and entered into that challenge).  It's very appropriate for a few others so I've also entered it into Fantasy Stampers - Hearts & Flowers challenge, The Ribbon Girl challenge - Add Ribbons and Addicted to Stamps - Pastel (Soft) Colours

 

My initial thoughts were colour something pink!  No problem favourite colur :)  Then I had to think about it for a while.  I'm not one for using buttons on my cards and have only just learned how to tie a half decent bow.  The final result was this.....

 

 

 

The stamp used was Lili of the Valley's - Best Friends.  I've coloured the image with ProMarkers.

 

The backing paper is a pink one from Lili of the Valley and NitWit Collections - Solids - Always and Forever.  Over the top of this I've layered a grey paper from DoCrafts Papermania Capsule Paper Pack - Bexley Black.  Then more pink from Alway and Forever.  Then a different pink from First Impressions - Rose Garden.

 

I've added some grey/silver ribbon with a hand tied bow.  A paper heart doilie, some heart buttons in pearlised whire and silver and some pink flower gems.

 

I've also made a tag edged in pink and topped it off with some pink roses from Wild Orchid Crafts and some cream ribbon.

 

Nearly the weekend - have a good day x

Hearts & flowers

Ok so I was shopping in Lili of the Valley at the weekend again!

 

I love hearts.  We used them a LOT in our wedding stationery about 18 months ago.  So, when I spotted this (don't know how I missed it before) I had to buy it.  The stamp is Filigree Heart.  I've coloured the image with ProMarkers and cut it out using a Spellbinder die.

 

The backing card is some plain red.  Over this I've used paper from Lili fo the Vally & NitWit Collections - Country Lady.  I picked the delicate flower pattern to compliment the filigree heart and used the spotted on to create a central panel as I didn't want to cover up too much of the paper underneath.

 

The flowers and leaves are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

 

I created the hearts at the top left of the card with Epiphany Crafts accessories and cutter.  The papers used for this were from First Edition Rose Garden for the flowers and vintage look.  The finishing touch are some self adhesive red gems.

 

 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges

Fantasy Stampers - Hearts & Flowers

Lili of the Valley - Pretty Papers

 

Andrea x

 

 

Reindeer in the snow

This will be my final reindeer face card unless I can find some more felt shapes :(

 

This card is very popular with my work colleagues at Christmas and also with my family.

 

The felt reindeer head I picked up in Hobbycraft last year.  I completed him with some movable eyes and a black pompom nose both from the childrens section in Hobbycraft.

 

I also picked up the Merry Christmass sentiment from Hobbycraft which they sell them in packs of five.

 

The cards used are plain red and white and I've finished off the design with some red self adhesive gems and some silver snowflake beads.

 

I'm entering this card into the Winter Wonderland - Scandinavian Style challenge.

 

Need to do some online searching now for more reindeer heads x

 

 

Don't go......

One of the girls in the office has got a promotion and is leaving her current role at the end of the month.  I was asked if I had any good luck or leaving cards but I've been cleaned out.  This is my first one as replacement stock but it may not last long in my box at work!

 

The stamp is Lili of the Valley - From All of Us.  I've colour the image using ProMarkers and edged it in a brown shade.

 

The papers are form Santoro Gorjus - Neutrals, Docrafts Wellington Bear paper stack and Lili of the Valley - On a High Note.

 

I've decorated the top left with a mixture of flowers (mainly roses) from Wild Orchid Crafts.

 

Finally I've added a sentiment in small letter beads and some black and red self adhesive gems.

 

I'm submitting this card into the Fantasy Stampers challenge - Hearts & Flowers.

 

Happy crafting x

 

Cupcake Tower

When browsing through various blogs this week I spotted one on I Love Promarkers for Sweet Treats.

I had just the stamp for that - Lili of the Valley's - Lots of Cupcakes.  I've coloured the image with my stock of Promarkers mainly in pinks - one of my favourite colours.

The papers are some Pearlised Pink paper from Hobbycraft and from Lili of the Valley - Heartfelt

The lace I bought from Wild Orchid Crafts when I purchased a "ton" of flowers to play with

I've finished the card off with a couple of sliver butterfly beads and some self adhesive gems.

Now I've done this I might go back some cup cakes :)

Andrea x

Bit of bling

Here's an example of the sort of birthday card my friend Julie asks me to make for her for her friends and family.  Julie has a certain style and loves a bit of bling, which I try to incorporate into the cards I make for her.

The papers are from Lili of the Valley and Raspberry Road Designs - Baskets and Bunnies, Father Knows Best and Lili of the Valley and NitWit Collections Solids - Always and Forever.

I've cut an oval out of some Tim Holtz paper with a Spellbinders die and hand cut two backing ovals of burgundy and black because the dies were too big to get the fine line I wanted.

The flowers are all pink roses from Wild Orchid Crafts, as are the leaves.

For this one I've double "ribboned" if there is such a word.  The pale pink organza is from Lili of the Valley Little Bags of Ribbon - Pink.  The cream one with black hearts is a Santoro Gorjuss one.

I hand cut the tag and added pink glitter letters from Hobbycraft.  Added to this is a silver butterfly charm AND I've actually managed to hand tie some pink organza ribbon to make a decent looking bow :)

The pink glitter sentiment is an Express Yourself topper.

Finally the jewel and enamelled figure and cat are from Diamanté Crafts.

As I was making this it occurred to me that it could be a good card to enter into The Ribbon Girl challenge - Add Ribbons so that's what I'm going to do.

Seeing Julie on Wednesday night with the two cards I've made her - she's already seen the pictures and loves them, hope you do too

Andrea x