Where's my creativity?

The new Pollycrafts challenge is here at last!

2013-06-19T08:00:00.000+01:00

And Pollycrafts is well and truly back in blogland with the launch of the new challenge blog today! And you don't have to use Pollycraft images (although you get store credit if you do and the chance to get featured!) and you have plenty of time to play as they are fortnightly! So to kick us off, our first challenge is ANYTHING GOES! Easy peasy! So without further ado, here is my DT card...

Isn't he handsome? Just like my nephew! This fella is from the Candyfloss Crew and he's called Quentin. I used papers from the Crate Papers Score collection and Echo Park alpha stickers.

So you've got to 2 July to upload your creations and you can check out more inspiration and all the deets over at the blog here!

Thanks for visiting and I'll see you later on my blog rounds!

Birthday sparkle

2013-06-18T16:00:00.000+01:00

It's time for some Tuesday Inspiration over at By Lori Designs! We are continuing with our summery theme so here is my make using is Firecracker Finn - isn't he a darling?!

I can't remember who the papers are from as they were just in my stash but I did use my Nestie to create the aperture and popped him onto foam pad for depth. We don't celebrate 4 July here in the UK so I'm going to use this as a birthday card instead (the sentiment sort of gives it away!).

Thanks for visiting - you can check out more Tuesday Inspiration over at the blog here!

A sunny hello

2013-06-16T10:53:00.000+01:00

Happy Sunday all and the sun is just about peeking out but it's still cold here in the UK. Well, the good news is that I've weaned myself off Candy Crush! It only took me 86 levels, lol! The bad news is that I'm now addicted to Farmville! But it's not so bad - you get to play a little and then there's not much to do while you wait for crops and cows to grow! So I can live my real life too!

Well I am sure you're not that interested in my slight OCD tendencies! Today I am here with my Bellarific Babe card using Ida Lulu...

Ida is so beautiful! And this little lady is only $1.99 in the store - so go get her now! There are quite a few bargains in the shop right (clearing the way for more new goodies!) and once they've gone, they've gone! Anyway, I matched Ida up with Digital Design Essentials Oh Happy Day papers and used up some more Echo Park alpha stickers - I can't believe I've hardly made a dent in my stock piles of them still!

Okay, I am off now - enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Summer fun time!

2013-06-15T10:17:00.000+01:00

Well, not here in the UK still! Our Summer is decidedly like Autumn! Hey, don't worry, not going to bore you with my lack of Summer rantings!! Grrr... Anyhoo, we are having some Summer Fun at the new Whimsie Doodles June monthly challenge! So, here is my DT make using Scuba Ollie...

Isn't he fab? I just love his wonky eyes and scuba gear! I matched him up with Digital Design Essentials Oh Happy Day papers, Quickutz large polka dot embossing folder, a touch of twine and American Crafts rub on lettering for the sentiment. I'm not sure whether to use this as a bon voyage card for someone I know going on a trip to Australia or a boy's birthday card - we'll see!

I hope you can join us this month! You don't have to use Whimsie Doodles images to win a prize of a WD digi of your choice from the new release but you do if you'd like to be considered for our August Guest Artist! The Guest Artist gets the whole new release for August to play with too!

Check out more summery fun and the deets over at the blog here!

Sealed with a kiss

2013-06-14T04:00:00.000+01:00

Have I told you recently how much I love Stamping Bella? I just love their range of stamps - Uptown Girls, Mo Manning, Tiddly Inks - I could go on! Well for Bellarific Friday this week we had a sketch to follow so I got out one of my new Tiddly Inks and made this...

Oh she is soooo darn cute! This is Izzie Has A Lettah (I just love the names Em the owner chooses!!) and I matched her up with Pink Petticoat gingham and heart digi papers. And don't you just love the matching sentiment that comes with her? Fab font!

Okay, next week the theme is "summer" and I hope we get the right weather to inspire me to make it! Email your creations to Em by next Thursday 20 June for a chance to win $20 Bella Bucks (either by submitting a project or simply commenting on next week's Bellarific Friday post)! ttfn!

I wish I could do this...

2013-06-13T03:00:00.000+01:00

I'm still not sure where our UK summer is and sure isn't warm enough to do this yet...

Come on sunshine, come on warmth - please visit us for goodness sakes! Okay, so back to the card! We are showcasing some summery inspiration over at MilkCoffee Stamps and the theme is summer so for my DT make I used Madeline: Summer Time - she's so beautiful and I love that hat! I used Kristin Cronin-Barrow Pumpkins and Spice papers and created the sand with some left over cork.

Check out more summery inspiration over at the blog here and I'll catch you later on my blog rounds. Thanks for visiting!

Om...

2013-06-12T13:27:00.000+01:00

(Please scroll down for my CC Designs DT post!)

Hello everyone, I'm back again today! I'm back here on this cold, , damp day in the UK! It's quite depressing really - where is our summer?! Makes me so mad! Breath deeply, breath deeply.... Well I think my card for you today is quite apt...

I really should get into yoga - looks so calming! And this pretty lady is Yoga Lizzie and I just love that sweet heart and the bow in her hair! I kept this really simple with just a touch of extra pink and used my Sizzix butterfly embossing folder.

I feel calmer already! Thanks for visiting and I'll see you tomorrow with my MilkCoffee Stamps DT post. ttfn!

You are my sunshine

2013-06-12T07:00:00.000+01:00

Today we are reviewing the gorgeous CC Designs stamps by owner and illustrator, Christine. So here is my make using C.C. Designs Swiss Pixie Birgitta with Popsicle, Summer Sentiments and C.C. Cutters Curly-Q border Die...

I love this cute girl with her Limeade lollipop! You know, I really thought our summer here in the UK was here last week, but the weather has gone rubbish again - 13 degs and rain again!!!! I don't think I am ever going to warm up this year!!!! Ho hum, can't complain cos I can't do anything about it!

Anyhoo, check out more sweet DT inspiration over at the blog here!

Dream in color

2013-06-11T22:08:00.001+01:00

Hi everyone! I am so sorry I haven't been visiting you all - I have a big conference on Thursday so I've been massively busy sorting that out and in the little spare time I've had I've been playing Candy Crush on FB! I'm looking at you Lisa M for getting me addicted! So normal blog rounds will resume on Friday!

Okay, okay, so here is my card today! A new challenge has started over at There She Goes and this week we have a sunny fresh photo to be inspired by. Here is my Trendsetter make for it...

I used more black than I intended but I think I can still get away with it! I love this flower - it's called Dream In Color (not the British spelling, I might add!) and I kept the design very simple with my Darice chevron embossing folder for interest.

I hope you are inspired enough by the photo to join us too - you can check out more gorgeous Trendsetter inspiration over at the blog here!

Join the Lili of the Valley design team - moi?

2013-06-10T07:00:00.000+01:00

Yes, I have some fab news - I've been invited to join the Lili of the Valley design team - woo hoo! I love their sweet, sweet stamps but haven't really used them much as I have so much else to play with. But when I was asked to make some samples with my CAS style I enjoyed playing with them so much that I was happy to then be invited to join the very talented team!

Today is my debut and we are also holding a Lili of the Valley design team blog hop to celebrate the launch of their gorgeous Pretty Vintage stamps. Vintage, you say - but I thought I had joined for my CAS style! Well actually I think I managed to keep to my style and still loved playing with them! There are 26 new sets and they will be available to buy on the website from midnight (12am) on Wednesday 12^th June (UK time)

The prize is a full set of the Pretty Vintage stamps...

That’s 26 A5 sheets, one each of all the new designs, and it’s worth a massive £325

Pretty impressive, huh?! So, for a chance to win this fabulous prize you need to visit everyone on the hop and leave a comment along the way.

I really did enjoy playing with the stamps, so much so that I not only made one card, but three! And I have more half made that I'll be able to share with you over the coming weeks! So you may want to get a cuppa while I show you my makes! So without further waffle, here is my first make....

I am really pleased with how this one turned out. I used the butterfly and leaf stamp from Grunge Elements, a sentiment from the Pretty Grungy Good Times set and the papers are the LOTV Petal Fresh collection. I used a selection of Versamagic inks to give a softer look and added a bit of texture for interest.

For my second card I used a stamp from the Vintage Background Script set (using Versafine Smokey Grey ink), the leaf and corner stamp from the Grunge Swirls set, the butterflies and postage stamp from the Grunge Elements and a sentiment from the Quotables Go For It set.

My last card is probably to more natural CAS style. I simply used the True Love sentiment from the Statements Congratulations set against some grungy floral, gingham paper and topped on foam pads for depth.

I hope you like my first makes for LOTV! You should have come from sweet Lou and you now need to hop off to the lovely Mindy. If you need to start from the beginning or get lost along the way, go to the LOTV blog Ideas to Inspire. Don’t forget to stop by the Ideas to Inspire blog tomorrow evening when you can find out who the lucky winner is of this fantastic prize

Beautiful you

2013-06-07T07:00:00.000+01:00

it's Bellarific Friday time and this week the theme is sisters or friends. Here is my Bellarific Babe card take on it where I've made a card for a friend PLUS I used one of the new Uptown Girls called Polly Loves Her Perfume...

She is so beautiful indeed! And I love that sentiment that comes with that gorgeous gal! I matched her up with BasicGrey LilyKate papers, a touch of lace and lots of Stickles Glue on the trims - this shimmers! Here's a close up...

The next challenge is the sketch below - well, either a square or circle version! Email your creations to Em by next Thursday 13 June for a chance to win $20 Bella Bucks (either by submitting a project or simply commenting on next week's Bellarific Friday post)! ttfn!

Stamping Bella new release sneak peek!

2013-06-06T07:00:00.000+01:00

OMG, I'm very excited - there's a new release over at Stamping Bella which includes new Uptown Girls - and I LOVE my Uptown Girls!! So, here's my sneak peek using the new Sandy Sombrero...

Another winner with a fab matching sentiment! Sandy is so darn beautiful and I want a beach bag just like that too! I matched her up with Zoe Pearn Beautiful You papers, used my Quickutz polka dot embossing folder and finished it off with a touch of twine.

Check out more inspiration over at the Stamping Bella blog here. Thanks for visiting and I'll catch you later!

Whimsie Doodles new release!

2013-06-05T12:00:00.000+01:00

(Please scroll down for my All That Scraps

June release DT post!)

It's time for the new Whimsie Doodles release and this one is super, super sweet! Full of Lizzie goodness and you can check them all out in store! Here is my DT make using the gorgeous Ballerina Lizzie...

She is so puuuurty! I matched her up with sweet Lili of the Valley Petal Fresh papers and a Sizzix embossing folder with sweet butterflies! I used lots of Stickles Glue on her skirt - I think a bit too much though! Still, it helps make her pop!

Check out more gorgeous DT inspiration over at the blog here. Thank you for visiting and I will see you tomorrow with the Stamping Bella new release!

Day 3 of the All That Scraps June release!

2013-06-05T07:00:00.000+01:00

It's the third day for the All That Scraps June release showcase and today we showcasing the new Sweet November Princess collection. Here is my DT make using one of the four Princesses, an AmyR Simply Enchanting sentiment and CC.. Designs Cutters Olive Branch Die...

Isn't she beautiful? And such a pleasure to colour in. I matched her up with Zoe Pearn Sugar Baby papers with the Papertrey Ink background die.

Check out the blog here to see more inspiration and link up to Inlinkz for a chance to win some of today's cute stuff! Thanks for visiting and I will see you tomorrow with my MilkCoffee Stamps DT card. Thanks for visiting!

Day 2 of the All That Scraps June release!

2013-06-04T07:00:00.000+01:00

It's the second day for the All That Scraps May release showcase and today we showcasing the new Tickled Pink Lil Lads & Lolitas and Drozy's Darlings. Here is my make using new Bikini Lyla and C.C. Designs Beach Logos sentiment set...

I wish I was skinny enough to wear a bikini like that! I matched her up with Echo Park Paradise Beach papers and a little twine - et voila!

Check out the blog here to see more inspiration and link up to Inlinkz for a chance to win some of today's cool stuff! Thanks for visiting and I will be back tomorrow with day 3 of the new release!

Day 1 of the All That Scraps June release!

2013-06-03T07:00:00.002+01:00

(Please scroll down for my There She Goes DT post!)

It's the first day for the All That Scraps June release and today we showcasing the newbies created by ATS owner Christine. Here is my DT card using the new Swiss Pixie Snorkle along with AmyR Stamps Beach Sentiments and C.C. Designs Cutters Bubble Border Die...

I love this cute, sweet girl! I wanted to give her a feeling of being suspended in water and I think that swirly paper by My Minds Eye is just perfect for this along with that bubble border!

For my second card I used the cute and fun Meoples Once Upon and AmyR Simply Enchanting Sentiments...

Aren't they adorable?! I especially love that cute, cute dragon and there's also a really sweet unicorn in the set. I thought this would be good a sweet wedding card for my friend who loves going to Disney World! I used Dovecraft Princess Fairytale papers and My Favorite Things trio window die.

Check out the blog here to see more inspiration and link up to Inlinkz for a chance to win some of today's cute stuff! Thanks for visiting and I will be back tomorrow with day 2 of the new release!

Arrr!

2013-06-03T05:00:00.000+01:00

It's time for a new challenge over at There She Goes and this week the theme is CAS - so put away those embellies and join in for a chance to win a TSG store voucher! You don't have to use TSG stamps but we love it when you do! So, without further ado, here is my DT take on it...

Yep, I just had to use the Shiver Me Timbers set again and Shawna Clingerman Little Bubby papers. To give it some pop, I used my Quickutz large polka dot embossing folder.

Check out more CAS inspiration over at the blog here. Thanks for visiting and I'll be back later with the start of the All That Scraps June release sneak peeks!

Smokin' hot fun

2013-06-02T14:00:00.000+01:00

Happy Sunday everyone! I'm here today with another Doodlelicious Diva make for you. The sun is actually out here in the South East corner of this UK so this card is pretty apt for it...

BBQ! I love BBQs! And this fella is perfect for all those men who become chefs for those few times in the year! This fella is the aptly named Smokin' Hot and he looks just like my Steve cooking those yummy steaks on our BBQ! I created a lot of depth on this one with my foam pads and used a simple patterned paper (Karen Funk So Happy Together). to bring all the colours together.

Okay, I am off to enjoy the rest of my weekend - have a fab day yourself!

Everything is more fun with a friend

2013-06-01T21:47:00.002+01:00

Hello! Just very quickly popping in with my Bellarific Babe card using the sweet Annie from the Tiddly Inks Annie and Arthur duo stamp set...

She is soooo pretty! I coloured her on kraft cardstock with my Copies and used the Crate Paper collection kit along with a sweet doily. I am entering this card into the Simon Says anything goes challenge.

Okay, I gotta run - thank you for visiting and I will see you tomorrow on my blog rounds!

My Stampbook Saturday for There She Goes

2013-06-01T05:00:00.000+01:00

Happy Saturday everyone! This is my last day as this week's There She Goes featured Trendsetter and today I had to do a scrapbook layout! Okay, so here goes - my very first ever scrapbook page! I must say that I like my little "canvases" on cards - I found the huge space on the scrapbook page really hard to fill up! Of course, I had to do a layout with my two fur balls, Poppy and Lulu, and wanted to show them in their usual place, lying by my desk and snuggling each other!

I'm not sure if I like my first 8 x 8 page that much, but I do love the stamps I used! I has to use one of my all time favourite stamps called Puppy Love by illustrator Torico. I used Kristin Cronin-Barrow Pumpkins and Spice papers and My Favorite Things fishtail banners. I am entering this card into the Simon Says anything goes challenge.

Well I need a lot more scrapbooking practice but not a bad start! Thanks for joining me on my week as the featured There She Goes Trendsetter!

Puppy love

2013-05-31T14:00:00.000+01:00

It's Friday! And that means it's Bellarific Friday time and this week we had a sketch to follow. Here is my Bellarific Babe card take on it...

Awww, doesn't this image just make you want to grab the person next to you and give them a cuddle?!! Go on, you know you want to!! This is Frankie and Fiona by Tiddly Inks for Stamping Bella. I used Dovecraft Princess Fairytale papers and created a window with my Nesties. I simply finished it off with a rolled rose in the corner with a pearl popped in it. Is it too plain, do you think? I think it needs something else but I don't know what! I am entering this card into the Simon Says anything goes challenge.

The next challenge is the theme "sisters or friends" - well, this is too easy! I make these all the time and I hope you can join us too! Email your creations to Em by next Thursday 6 June for a chance to win $20 Bella Bucks (either by submitting a project or simply commenting on next week's Bellarific Friday post)! ttfn!

TSG ABC Friday: wine bottle tag

2013-05-31T05:00:00.000+01:00

It's Friday which means it's the end of another working week for me and I'm happy! And what I really look forward to on a Friday after work is a large glass of wine! And happily my friends also like to share a bottle with me so I decided to get a bottle of champers to share with one of them and I made this wine bottle tag to present it with...

Mmmmmm, I am going to be popular! Here's a close up because that photo is not great...

I love this retro mama! She is from the Domestic Goddess set by illustrator Pien DaPino and it's perfect for those fun cards us women like to laugh at! I used a variety of Pink Petticoat papers and a large scallop border die by My Favorite Things. I am entering this card into the Simon Says anything goes challenge.

Okay, well I'm off to enjoy this bottle with my friend - I hope you have a lovely evening planned too. I'll be back tomorrow with Stampbook Saturday!

Wednesdays Trends: using negative die cuts

2013-05-29T05:00:00.000+01:00

(Please scroll down for my All That Scraps DT post!)

Hi everyone, it's Mary J here with this week's Wednesday trends. Today I want to show you ways to use the "negative" pieces from die cutting. I've been using this technique more and more recently as I love my dies but wanted to get more out of them. You may want to get a cup of tea and settle in as I have a few examples to show you!

So, first up is this very simple form of this technique...

You know, I think this is one of my most favourite images EVER! This cheeky monkey is from the Jungle Out There set by illustrator Melyssa Connolly. As you can see, I simply lined up a couple of die clouds using low tack tape on a piece of white cardstock, put it through my die cutting machine and then popped it on foam pads over some blue patterned paper for extra depth. I then layered a couple more cloud die cuts to create a bit more interest. I am entering this card into the Simon Says anything goes challenge.

Now on my second card (using the same Jungle Out There set) I did a similar thing but I first die cut the label, used a wood grain stamp on it and then die cut the leaves. The trick here is to keep the die as simple as possible otherwise intricate die cuts can get "lost" in the patterns.

So I have one more example to show you. This time I used the beautiful Blossom By Blossom set by illustrator Torico. I die cut a large flower from a piece of white cardstock and then ran it through my machine with an embossing folder to create more interest...

Well I hope I have inspired you to try this technique to get more from your dies. If you have any other way you use this technique, please leave me a comment here with a link to your project as I would love to see it! See you tomorrow with my Bellarific Babe card - ttfn!

Thanks for the lift

2013-05-29T01:00:00.000+01:00

It's time to review the All That Scraps Sweet November May release and here is my make...

I really enjoyed making this little scene! I used Sweet November Fairwee Emaline's Hot Air Balloon, C.C. Cutters Grass Border Die and C.C. Cutters Four Season Tree Die. a sentiment from the AmyR Stamps Sunny Sentiments set. You can check out more cute Sweet November inspiration over at the blog here.

Thanks for visiting and I will catch you later on my blog rounds. TTFN!

Paddling in my pool

2013-05-28T16:00:00.000+01:00

It's time for some Tuesday Inspiration over at By Lori Designs! Summer is just around the corner (although I am still waiting for our Spring!) so what better way to get ready for the pool than a summery card?

This is Lollipop Baby Pool Sam - isn't he a darling?! So cute! I matched him up with Echo Park paper and added some clouds because we don't really get clear blue skies in the UK!

Okay, check out more Tuesday Inspiration over at the blog here!