My shining star

My shining star

Thursday 28 February 2013

Totally twitterpated

Hi there - hope you are well? I had a very odd day yesterday - there was a planned power cut from 9am until 4pm - only I forgot and got back from my run to find no way of making food, tea, having a shower - or more importantly blogging - so I was very late with my commenting last night - got there in the end though!

Todays card has been in my mind all month - but I only just managed to make it in time!!! Its for the love and marriage challenge over at Penny Black - where has this month gone?


its a very quick simple cute little card made with an overlap - aren't those hedgies just gorgeous!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Penny Blackpennybfriendssaturdaychallenge: Love and Marriage
TPSthepapershelter: Animal Magic
Totally Papercraftstotallypapercrafts: Hope for Spring

Have a fabulous Thursday and thanks for dropping by!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx

Wednesday 27 February 2013

DT post for Creative Inspirations: Buttons and Bows

Hi there! Happy Wednesday to you! Hope you're having a good one - I'm running again today and then later on I've got Rainbows - most importantly though I've got to set my broad bean seeds and tomato seeds. Exciting stuff!!!

At Creative Inspirations today there's a new challenge starting - its called 'Buttons and Bows'.

This week's prize is from  CRAFTY RIBBONS which is a BUNDLE OF RIBBONS!



We also have a 2nd prize from our Monthly Sponsor J&C CREATIONS which is also a £10 GIFT CERTIFICATE!



Here's the card I've made - its using an image from Crafters Companion that was released earlier this month - I think she's just beautiful.






The image had been coloured with promarkers and I used tumbled glass DI around the edges of the spellbinder die. The papers came from Bunny Zoe Crafts but I can't recall the manufacturer - sorry. The roses are tiny ones from WOC and the buttons and ribbon are from my stash.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Crafters Companion challenge crafterscompanion: Love is in the air
Papercrafting Journeypaper-craftingjourney: Bingo - sentiment, buttons and flowers
CC and CCchocolatecoffeecards: Buttons and Bows
Cardmaniacardmaniachallenges: Fairies or butterflies
Bearly Minebearlymine-challenges: Anything goes

Thanks for dropping by today and I hope you have a great one! Big Hugs

Rachel x

Tuesday 26 February 2013

LOTV birthday competition

Morning all - well if you didn't already know there's a fabulous competition going on on the ideas to inspire site at LOTV to celebrate their 9th birthday - there's a button on my side bar that will take you there and let you know all the details! There's also a fabulous blog hop and on Saturday they'ver got things going on at the shop and also a virtual party online! For the competition  I guess you've got to be in it to win it - although the chances are remote - but its always worth a try - especially when it means making a card with one of the super cute images from LOTV!

Here's my card - I do love it to bits I have to say - not sure if the photographs do it justice!!!




Oh I did have fun putting this together! The stamped image is the mermaid that was released last year with the seahorse. its been coloured with promarkers and cut out. The paper behind is from a pad by Crafty Individuals - its an absolute dream of a pad - I just adore it. The flowers are WOC and the shells are from the beach!The charms are both from the Ribbon Girl and the circles were cut using spellbinders grand fancy circle dies. There's my new memory box die in their too for good measure! I do hope you like it - check that link out though - its well worth entering!!!

I'd like to enter my mermaid card into the following challenges:

LOTV ideastoinspire: Birthday Challenge
Cupcakecupcakecraftchallenges: Shaped cards
cutiepiechallenge: Pretty Pastels
IDIC:robynsfetishchallengeblog Ribbon or twine
comeandgetitchallenges: Playing in the water
panpasteluk: Happy Birthday
thesquirrelandthefoxl: Fairytale and Fantasy
Allsorts CBallsortschallenge: Animals
Polka Doodlespolkadoodle: Fantasy/fairytale
Jellypark:jellyparkchallenges Shaped cards

Hope you have a fabulous Tuesday - what are you up to? I'm running - then will be at my mums - we might get some crafting done! I really do need to stay at home and clean the house though!!! Nevermind!

Big Crafty Hugs

Rachel xx





Monday 25 February 2013

Day 2 of the new wedding release at Crafty Sentiments

Hi there! Morning to all of you lovelies in blogland and welcome to followers old and new - today is day two of the fabulous wedding release going on over at Crafty Sentiments - there's two grooms and two brides for you to choose from - today I'm showcasing one of the wonderful grooms - this is Billy - Mr Romantic.
I decided to try a card type that I saw on the paper clinic on create and craft one day using an acetate layer/wrap.




My image is coloured with promarkers and then I've cut two heart using an XCcut heart shaped die and added them to a wrap of acetate that forms an extra layer. I've added ribbon and a heart shaped ribbon buckle at Billy's feet. The main body of the card has three layers and I've made up a proposal verse to go with it. The flowers are WOC. He's a lovely image and definitely versatile - he could be used for non- wedding occasions quite easily!

I'd like to enter my romantic Billy into the following challenges:
joannasheenchallenge: Layer it up
divasbydesignchallenge: Fancy Folds
happycamperscc: Favourite Stamp - he's definitely up there!
pattiescreationschallenge: Fancy Folds
2 sisters:2sisterschallengeblog Romance
glitternsparklechallengeblog: Bling it on
herecometheboysblogchallenge: Lots of layers

I hope you like this new image - check out the rest of the images here at the Crafty Sentiments Store.

Have yourselves a fabulous day - and I can't wait to show you what I've got for you tomorrow!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx

Sunday 24 February 2013

A crafternoon with mum

Hello there - well I hope you're not snowed in - we had snow flurries yesterday but nothing too drastic - it didn't stop us getting most bits sorted at school on our parents help day!

This morning I've got to go to church - it was thinking day on Friday - and so we will be on parade at the church this morning - guides, brownies and rainbows. I must put my thermals on as its always freezing in church!!

Today's card was made on a crafternoon with my mum on Thursday - it was all a bit rushed but I got there in the end. Its not for any reasons other than just because!



I found this very tricky to photograph because of all the mirri board - but I did my best! The image is, of course, saturated canary - she's usually by a branch with a birdie but I've cut that off. The papersare Kanban and the colouring is with promarkers. I've used a spellbinders die to cut the oval and followed a sketch at MAWTT. The flowers are WOC.



AGOACpinkgemchallengeblog: Add a bow
Totall Gorjusstotallygorjuss: Happy
MAWTTmovingalongwiththetimes: Sketch
OLLCBooh-la-la-creationschallenges: Sparkle and shine
CYPC: craft your passion challengesAll that glitters
Sat'd canarysaturatedcanarychallenge: Love

Thats all for today - back tomorrow with a special new release from Crafty Sentiments. Make sure you check back for that and thanks for dropping by today!

Big Crafty Hugs

Rachel xx

Saturday 23 February 2013

Luke's card

Good morning all - I hope you are both well and happy? We are all good and ready for a new day! I've got a parent help morning at school today and we will be putting together all sorts of things for my gardening club that I run - I managed to get a grant and we bought water butts and a new raised bed system and a three section composting unit  and some fruit trees. Me and two other mums managed to put the fruit trees in today and after this weekend we really will be ready to get going on the Spring gardening! woo hoo.

Todays card is for my nephew Luke who will be 10 next week - I've used a gruffies image - Lukes dad has a motorbike - or used to - and so I thought this would be quite appropriate!





I've followed a sketch from the Friday sketch challenge and coloured my image with promarkers.. I've added faux stitching around the edges for the house mouse challenge - hoping to get this linked up in time this week! The papers are a combination of papermania and the prima engraver pad. The die is a Crafty sentiments (Summer-Doily) crafty cutter - love that one - you'll be seeing more of that in the very near future! The happy birthday has been cut with dies from Joanna Sheen - can't remember the brand. the stamping of the name and numbers was done using claritystamp. Here's the sketch I followed.



I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

fridaysketchchallenge: Sketch 37 - Christines sketch
housemouse-challenge: Love you sew much
songbirdchallenges: Age cards
craftingforallseasons: Dies and punches
DoCraftsdocraftsblog: Anything goes
Crafty Catzcraftycatzweeklychallenge: Dies and punches
cardcrafterscircle: Teddy Bears

Thankyou so much for dropping by and for leaving a comment if you can - I do love to read them! Big Hugs!

Rachel xx

Friday 22 February 2013

a canvas for my husband

Good morning all! Hope you are doing well? Well I've got something a little bit different to share with you today - its a small canvas that I have made for my husband for part of his wedding anniversary present - thats not until March 21st so as you can tell I'm getting prepared early!!! I just had to have the crafty individuals stamps that I've used on here - and the crowned rabbits of course! They're just wonderful.




The backgound was created using antique linen distress stain all over the background then I added the creative expressions clock face mask and added tea dye and wild honey to the canvas. Afterwards I used some Sheena Douglass stamps to create the words Live in the moment and the silhouette vegetation behind the ducks/geese. Finally I added the stamped geese and the crafty emblies dragonfly and also the heart plus the crafty individuals words onto the heart. Pretty simple but I just love it! I hope hubby will too!

I'd like to enter my mini canvas into the following challenges:

visibleimage: Love
tuesdaythrowdown - monochromatic
Crafty Embliescrafty-emblies: Wings
glitternsparklechallengeblog: ABAC
Sunday Stamperpinkleart: Man of the world
totallygorjuss: For your man
Crafty Individuals Feb Challengecraftyindividualsblog: For my friend

Another busy day beckons with some more mileage to get into these legs! Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you again soon!

Keep Crafting!

Hugs Rachel xx

Thursday 21 February 2013

more cats!

Hello there - well it was Penny's birthday yesterday - she had a lovely day despite being at school!Thanks for all the well wishes and a big thanks to Rebecca for your card - it was beautiful and Penny loved it!!!

Well the card I've made to show to you today is another one featuring cats - its for my friend Sandy who has been adopted as mum by 5 wonderful cats - so when I was lucky enough to enjoy a win at Eureka stamps I knew I had to have this particular image.



I've coloured my image with promarkers - and distressed around the edges with tumbled glass DI. The die is spellbinders. The brown paper is from a pad of Graphics 45 colour core -dinations  paper that I've sanded to reveal the pattern and distressed around the edges - the patterned paper is from the wonderful engraver pad by Prima that I bought at bunny zoes. The twine and charm are from a win a long time ago.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

pennyschallenges: Anything goes
TPSthepapershelter: Celebrations
craftsandmechallenges: Add a charm
ilovepromarkers: 4 legged friend
digistamps4joy-sa: Birthdays are fun
bearlymine-challenges: Lace ribbon and twine
totallypapercrafts: Pets

Hope you're having a good day - I'm taking my mum to do her shopping today! But then I'll be back to the exercise tonight with aerobics followed by boxercise! Woo hoo! Looking forward to that!

Have a fun day and thanks for dropping by!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx


Wednesday 20 February 2013

Love cats!

Good morning to you! I hope you are feeling well and happy - another blast of sunshine for us all yesterday it seems - wasn't it beautiful - and my run went well although we didn't do the distance intended as my friend had an injury. I'm running with a different lady today so I'll have to see how she is!!!

I've been playing around with some one layer CAS cards - and trying to do some simple masking - I've used two stamps from Little Claire - they had an offer on the swirly whirly stamps and I had to use them as soon as I got them. This is what I did:




I'm very pleased with the cat one even though I managed to move the mask and obscure part of the cat tail - but the owl one I'm less happy with - lets just say needs some work!!!!
I'd like to enter my lovecats card into the following challenges:

MAWTTmovingalongwiththetimes: Love is in the air.
totallypapercrafts: Pets
LIMsimplylessismoore: up in the air
littleclairesdesigns: Love and Romance
2 sisters2sisterschallengeblog: Love
That Craft Placethatcraftplaceblog Valentines

Its Penny's actual birthday today - she's off to school soon - but is very excited as everybody will sing to her in assembly - its a small village school but she really will beam I'm sure!!! We're having my mum and dad around for tea after school - so it should be a fun filled day!

Thanks for dropping by and hope to see you again soon! Big Crafty Hugs

Rachel xx

Tuesday 19 February 2013

DT Post for Crafty Sentiments: Fancy Folds/Not square

Hi there to all my wonderful followers old and new - welcome!  - well wasn't it a gorgeous day yesterday? Springlike where we are - beautiful!!! Hope you had that too! I'm hoping its going to be like that today too as I've got a 6 mile run planned at 9.30am with my friend Debbie - wish me luck.

Today there's a new challenge starting at Crafty Sentiments challenge blog that is called Fancy Folds/not square. You can get all the details here.  I decided to make a get well soon card using the lovely stamp Dr Tobey (you can find him here - check it out  he's currently on sale at only £3.00) and I've done a round easel card to cover all bases.




I've used the Marianne fence diecut to make at look as though the doctor is just about to come up the path to make you better - aw - what a cutie he is too!!!! He's coloured in with promarkers and the edge is distressed with tumbled glass DI. The circular die I've used to cut the paper is a spellbinder - one of the smallest in a set of grand dies.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

kaboodledoodles: Not Square
HCTBherecometheboysblogchallenge: Lots of layers
deliciousdoodleschallenge: One for the boys: 
Bearlymine-challenges: Lace, ribbon, twine.
 
Hope you have enjoyed your visit and I hope to catch up with you again soon! Big Hugs

Rachel. xx




Monday 18 February 2013

DT Post for whoopsi Daisy: Make it girly

Back again - hope you're having a good monday - my girls have gone back to school today so I'm hoping to get back to normal.

This is my second post today - its for Whoopsi Daisy where a new challenge is starting - the theme is 'make it girly'. Here's my card:





I'm very pleased with this card - I love the image which is from sheet 412- you can get this here. I've also used my favourite new memory box die! The flowers are from WOC and my lace is from the ribbon girl. The image has been coloured with promarkers.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

OSAATonestitchatatimechallenge: make it girly
lacysunshinechallengeblog: Favourite colours - purple
Sparklessparklesforumchallenges: Lace it up
Guylou's guylousinimitabilitytictactoe - starts with G - girl , free space, diecuts
pmspapermakeupstamps: anything goes

That's all for today - back tomorrow with more from Crafty Sentiments. Thanks for visiting today and hope to see you again soon!

Hugs

Rachel xx

DT post for seems a little sketchy

Hi there friends and followers old and new - did you have a good weekend? We did have fun - Penny's party went well and thanks for your kind words on my cake - it was very tasty - not very good for my figure but hey ho! Here's a picture of Penny with the magician - she really had a great time - best party ever! She's wearing her new Merida outfit and holding on to the biggest magic wand ever!


Its time for a new challenge over at Seems a little Sketchy - here's the sketch.




We're sponsored by My Heart Pieces and Squigglefly - check out the blog here for full details of the prizes on offer.

Here's my card - I used a brand new image from squigglefly called Sketchy Dragonfly. The papers are mostly papermania. The diecut is my new Memory box die that will be featuring heavily in the next few weeks - I just love it!!! I've rotated the sketch through 90 degrees.






I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Pan Pastelpanpasteluk: Just two colours
stampinfortheweekend: Distressing
digitaltuesdaychallenge: up up and away
lexiscreations: Monochromatic
PMSpapermakeupstamps: Anything goes

I'll be back later with another DT card - thanks for visiting and hope to see you then.

Hugs

Rachel


Sunday 17 February 2013

Penny's Princess and the Frog Birthday Party Cake

Hi there - well  I hope you are well! We are all very excited in our house because today will be my daughter Penny's 5th Birthday Party. We are holding it at our village Institute and have a magician coming to entertain the children - there will be 27 children, 2 toddlers and 2 babies there - could be a bit crazy. Anyway I wanted to share Penny's cake with you that I made yesterday - its my first attempt at doing a cake for a party - I usually buy one - but in my wisdom I thought - I could do that!!!!! Well - Inow I'm not so sure - and hats off to those of you that are sugarcrafters - I don't think I'll be competition for a long long time yet. But I'm happy enough with it! I don't have to rush off to ASDA and buy something else!!!



I wanted to write Happy Birthday Penny - but it wasn't going to fit with the only enormous writing nozzle I could find for my icing kit. So it says Penny is five - which she won't be until wednesday.

I think she likes it though - and I hope the party goes well - wish me luck!!!!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx

Saturday 16 February 2013

Simon says WOW

Hello there - well I didn't think I would have time to squeeze this post in today - but I must keep it brief - its a WOW card specifically for the WOW challenge over at Simon says this week but its good for the flowers and pearls challenge at Bunny Zoes too this month.





I've used an embossing folder by Sheena Douglass directly on to the card , central spellbinders die and a spellbinders butterfly, behind the circle I've added a memory box die. There's lace from the ribbon girl and flowers from woc. I've used white pearls to bring out the body of the butterfly.

So I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

simonsaysstampschallenge: WOW
Bunny Zoebunnyzoescrafts: Flowers and Pearls
tuesdayalchemy: my hearts all a flutter
allsortschallengeThings with wings
AGOACpinkgemchallengeblog: dies and punches


Back tomorrow with a cake! Hopefully! Big Hugs - off to start my visits now! Hugs rachel xx

Friday 15 February 2013

Midway reminder for CCAYR plus a one layer card

Hi there - hope you are feeling good? I'm much happier today - thanks for all your kind words - you blogland people are so wonderful! Thankyou xx

Today I've got two cards to share with you - the first is one made as a midway reminder that the challenge over at christmascardsallyearroundCCAYR this month is 'red and white, hearts and flowers'. Here's what I did:



I have to confess for having a soft spot for this card - it really is up my street - I love the gorjuss girls - I love red and white - I love polar bears - and hearts and flowers - so together it all works for me - I hope you like it too! The sentiment stamp is LOTV - the charm came from the ribbon girl and the flowers are WOC. The image was coloured with promarkers and I used festive berries DI around the die edges.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

charismacardz Anything goes
jandccreationschallenge: Friendship
pennyschallenges Fave colour combo
ilovepromarkers: One for the girls
abcchristmaschallenge: Case the card - I've cased the colour scheme of Jackie using 'Mimi Christmas 1'
papertakeweekly: Hearts and flowers
christmascardchallenges: Scallops ( on the egde of the diecut)
Sugar Bowlsugarbowlblog: anything goes- challenge 100
winter wonderland:christmasblogchallenge a christmas card

My second card is a one layer card I've made for my nephew Nathan who will be 19 this time - he's a musician so I thought I would try out my Little Claire changing tree with some of the music stamps and some of the male stamps.



I'd like to enter this card in the simplylessismooreLess is More One layer  music challenge.

I think thats all for today - I may be absent tomorrow - I'm going to be attempting to make Penny's birthday Cake - if it looks okay I may take some pictures and blog it! And on Sunday it will be her birthday party - so I may be absent again - I just don't know how much time I'm going to get! Bear with me though - I will try and get around to visit you all ASAP!

Big Hugs and thanks for visiting

Rachel xx