Lili of the Valley Challenge # 117 - BINGO!

Good afternoon everyone, hope you are all well on this rather windy day... at least its not raining.... at least here in Cheshire its not!  Its a lovely autumnal day here.... the sun is shining and the leaves are blowing around in the strong gusts of wind.

Well my card today is for this weeks Lili of the Valley Challenge # 117 - BINGO!!

I have chosen gems, flowers and ribbon and lace.

The card was inspired by the very talented Bev Rochester.... if you haven't visited Bev's blog please do take a look at her amazing work........ Bev has been my biggest inspiration ever since I started card making..... she is a lovely lady and produces the most amazing creations........I can always rely on Bev's work to inspire me if my mojo goes walkabout ...... which it does.... fairly regularly!!

The image is of course Lili of the Valley, coloured with Copics and Promarkers.

Paper is Kaisercraft - December 25th

Sentiment - Lili of the Valley

Roses, Poinsettia, brad and Stamens - Wild Orchid Crafts

Snowflake - Marianne Die

Ribbon and lace from my stash

As well as amazing creations Bev also has some fabulous video tutorials... I have used 2 of them on this card..... colouring blonde hair with Copics and covering poinsettia flowers with Twinklets.

I have added little dots of Liquid Pearls White Opal around the little angels to represent snow and you cant see it very clearly from the photo but there is Stickles Gold on the angels wings and around the edges.

Well I am off to peg some washing out to make the most of this lovely sunshine and breeze, enjoy the rest of your day and thank you for your visit today.

Hugs

xxx

Twinkling Star

Good evening everyone, hope you are all well, just realised how long its been since my last post, I am a naughty blogger!!  The days just whizz by so fast, they are gone in the blink of an eye ....... at least the weather has been a bit more decent the latter part of the week but alas its not to last.... apparently its going to get colder and wetter next week....... !!

My card for today and its an easel card.... I really struggle to take photos of easel cards..... do you??  I  seem to take hundreds of photos and none of them seem right somehow.... there must be a better way ...... if anyone has any tips I would love to know.

The image is of course Lili of the Valley 'Twinkling Star'

 coloured with Promarkers with lots of Star Dust and Silver Stickles.

Delish paper is a digi download from Nitwits - Joyful Hearts

Sentiments are Lili of the Valley

Snowflake and Star are Marianne Dies

Label is Spellbinders Shapeabilities Fancy Tags

I am entering this card for this weeks challenge # 116 at Lili of the Valley where the theme is 'Warm and Cozy' - I think she looks as warm as toast in her little boots, gloves and furry coat, don't you!!

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend, thank you so much for dropping by, I really appreciate it!

Hugs

XXX

Let it Snow - LOTV Challenge #115

Hello again everyone.........hope  you are all well and managing to avoid the dreaded cold virus I had over the last few days ......... feeling much better than I was but whenever I have a cold it goes straight to my sinuses... so painful, usually it only clears up with a course of antibiotics..... I want to try and do without them if I possibly can this time... we shall see....and so far OH is clear of it!!  Well its blowing a gale here today, we have had wind, rain and sunshine and its freezing!  This time last week we were basking in lovely warm sunshine, bizzare british weather!

Onto my card today ....... thought I would try something different using the Martha Stewart Doily punch .... I quite like the effect.

  Image is Lili of the Valley Milly Winter Window coloured with Promarkers.... with lots of glitter added.

Paper is from my bits box from last Christmas so dont know the make ... sorry.... it could be Bo Bunny... but not sure!

Snowflake is Marianne and the brad is a pink moonstone from Wild Orchid Crafts.

The ticket sentiment is part of a Christmas set from Whimsy Stamps

I am entering this card for the the new challenge at Lili of the Valley this week which is Let it Snow.

Today is my birthday...... not telling you how old I am today..... but put it this way...... I now dread the birthdays..... time is whizzing by far too fast!!  I am being thoroughly spoilt though and the family are meeting us for tea at a local hostelry..... so looking forward to that.

Enjoy the rest of your day and hopefully catch up again very soon!

Hugs,

XXX

Emma and Flowerpot

Hello everyone, hope you are all well........ hope you all managed to enjoy some of the gorgeous sunshine we have had this week .... looks like its over now though ..... its pouring down here... it was nice while it lasted and so unusual for October.  I am feeling a bit poorly today, have a cold virus and its knocked me for six.... it crept up on me very quickly ..... I was fine in the morning but as the day wore on I began to feel really achy and fluey.... sore throat, headache and runny nose...... yesterday I felt so bad I took myself off to bed for a couple of hours...... very reluctantly as it was glorious sunshine and I wanted to make the most of it but my head felt like it was going to explode.  Today I dont feel much better ..... but have to get on with it... it will go on its own ..... meantime I am dosing myself up with Day and Night Nurse capsules, just hope hubby doesnt catch it.... a man with man flu ...... groan!!!!

This is my DT card for the Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge #75 which is a fab sketch by Maggie. 

The gorgeous paper is from Nitwits Affection Collection 

Image is Emma with Flower Pot by Lili of the Valley, coloured with Promarkers

Sentiment is a digi download from Lili of the Valley

Raffia is from Wild Orchid Crafts

Doily die is Marianne

Leaves are Martha Stewart Punch

Crochet flower made by me! (my first attempt!)

I am entering this card for the Lili of the Valley Challenge # 114 - Button it!

Enjoy the rest of your evening and thanks for dropping by

Hugs

XXXX

Three Little Angels Easel Card

Hello my lovely friends... hope you all had a good weekend, did you do anything exciting......they go far too quick though don't they?  At least the weather wasn't too bad.... and we are said to be in for a heatwave this week......... have you noticed we have had some lovely Indian Summers the last few years? 

Well onto my card today and its the adorable three little angels image from Lili of the Valley... coloured with Promarkers and Prisma pencils, I think this stamp is my fave of this years Christmas releases. 

The shape cut with Go Create XL Frames Frilly #3

The paper - Kaisercraft December 25th

 Star and snowflakes - Marianne Dies

Sentiment - Lili of the Valley

Anyways this is a very quick post as I am off to watch Downton Abbey .... so catch up again soon and thank you so much for your visit.

Hugs

xxx

Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge #73 and a pass!

Good evening everyone, hope you are all well ..... I am thrilled to tell you all that Katie has PASSED her maths exam!! woop woop!!  Cant tell you how relieved we all are and as you can imagine, Katie is over the moon, she got 58%!!  She also took 3 skills exams today and passed those as well!!  We didnt expect to hear so quickly, she was told it could take up to 4 weeks so to hear after 4 days.... we can now eat and sleep again!! LOL!

This card is my DT for Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge #73which is a fab sketch by Gry ......

The prize offered this week is from Robyn's Fetish so pop across to Sunday Sketch and Stamp, we would love to see you there!

The image is Lili of the Valley Chrsitmas Angels Praying coloured with Promarkers

Lush paper is December 25th by Kaisercraft

Thanks for dropping by, see you all again soon!

Hugs

XXX

Christmas Angels

Hello there everyone, hope you are all well and enjoyed a good weekend, they go far too quickly though don't they??  On Saturday I took my youngest daughter Katie to Ormskirk, which is about an hour's drive away, to take a Maths exam as part of her (GTP) Graduate Teacher Programme training, she was very nervous as she struggles with her maths plus she only had 4 days notice for taking the exam!........ and if she doesnt pass she will lose her place on the teacher training course which seems totally unfair to us.  She has been a TA in a Resource base for special needs children at the local school but has always wanted to teach so when the opportunity came along she applied and was successful, she was delighted as you can imagine.  She left the Resource base at the end of July and started her teacher training when the new term started in September, she was only in the job a week when the GTP dropped the bombshell that she needed the maths, despite the fact she had the required qualifications at interview........!!!  She gets just the one chance and if she fails thats it, she is off the course!! ... she is worried sick she will fail and lose her job and she has up to 4 weeks before she gets her results..... seems so unfair that the GTP can move the goalposts to suit.... anyway... rant over .... we can only wait and hope she gets the 50% pass she needs... so fingers and toes crossed! Will let you know when she gets her results!!

Onto my card for today and its another christmas card.... I am really into the chrissy cards at the moment, dont know how long it will last though.... so while the mojo is there I will make the most of it!  This is of course one of the new LOTV Christmas releases and I think its one of my favourite ones ..... just love the angels little faces!  Coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers with lots of Star Dust Stickles on the wings.

Paper is Dovecraft Christmas Fancy

The poinsettia is from Wild Orchid Crafts..... I followed a brilliant tutorial by Bev Rochester here that shows how to cover these lovely little flowers with Twinklets.

Leaves are a Martha Stewart punch

Dies are Spellbinders and Marianne.

The cute sentiment I thought was perfect for this image, I did this on the PC ... I saw this on a card on Bev's lovely blog and really liked it.

Thanks for your visit to my blog today, enjoy the rest of your day!!

Hugs

XXXX

LOTV Challenge #112 Red, Green and White

Good afternoon everyone, how are we all on the gorgeous September day..... the sun is shining and I actually managed to get a bit of gardening done this morning .... sweeping all those leaves away after the high winds we have had recently.

A quickie post today as I have loads to do and so little time to do it .... my card for today is for the LOTV Challenge #112 which is Red, Green and White.... perfect traditional Christmas colours!!

This cute little miss is coloured with Promarkers with lots of stickles and liquid pearls.

Paper is Pepper Christmas

Sentiment - Whimsy Stamps

Fab Holly Punch - X-Cut

Right ho I am off to get some more work done and outa the way, then I can do some crafting without feeling guilty!!

Enjoy the rest of your day whatever you are up to.

Hugs

XXX

Baubles on Kraft Card

Hello everyone..... hope you are all well and not been affected too badly by the forecasted 'tropical storm Katia' ........ so far we are okay, in fact today has been beautiful sunshine and quite warm..... a bit blowy but nothing too drastic... maybe the quiet before the storm??

Just realised how long its been since my last post ... been so busy..... still trying to sort stuff in drawers and cupboards .......... made a few trips to the charity shop and the rubbish dump this week and managed to sell a few bits on Ebay too so quite a productive week.... love selling stuff on Ebay but hate the packaging  and posting ... the lady at the post office positvely groans when she sees me with my arms full of little packets!! 

Surprisingly though I managed to make a few Christmas cards this week and this is one of them and the inspiration for this one came from the very talented Bev Rochester..... I tell you Bev's cards are soooo gorgeous and inspirational and she has some fab tutorials...........she makes them so easy to follow too. The video tutorials are on the Ideas to Inspire blog by Lili of the Valley.  This one shows how to colour on Kraft card and how to do highlighting on the baubles with a white prisma pencil.... so very easy but effective.... if you have never seen Bev's work do pop across to her blog...... I can guarantee you won't be disappointed!!

Image is Lili of the Valley

Coloured with Promarkers and white Prisma pencil

Fiskars Holly border punch

Ribbon and red dots from stash.

Thats it from me for today, thanks for dropping by and enjoy the

rest of your evening

XXX

        

Easel card with Drawer

Good afternoon my lovelies, hope you are all well and ready for the weekend.  I really hope this weather improves very soon, don't know about you but I am soooo fed up with all this rain.  It should have been sports day today for my grandson and it had to be cancelled as its too wet, hopefully it will take place next week when it might just be a bit better, we can live in hope eh!!

Onto my card for today, I fancied making an easel card with a difference so hence this little card with a pull out drawer.  I followed a really easy tutorial here by Missmagic 1975.  It was great fun putting this together and one I will definately be making again only next time I think I will try and make it a bit larger.  This one measures 4" x 4" excluding the punched borders.   

The papers I used are Prima - Sparkling Spring

Punch is Martha Stewart Punch around the page

Image - Lili of the Valley coloured with Promarkers

Sentiment - Film Strip Sentiments by Whimsy Stamps

Lace and crochet flowers from stash.

Well thats it from me today, thanks for dropping by

Hugs

xxx

It's Summer!!

What a horrible, wet and miserable day!  Who would think it was June......... and to top it all its cold as well, I have had to put my heating on today... I was frozen!  My daughters have gone to Manchester today to the 'Take That' gig!!  They will be soaked wet through, its an open air concert!!  Rather them than me, I will wait until its televised and watch it in comfort!!

My card today is my DT contribution for this weeks challenge over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp which is a fab sketch by Lisa.  The gorgeous image is Sugar Nellie 'Summer' from Funky Kits.  She is coloured with Promarkers, I just adore these images, they are a breeze to colour.  Don't know if you can see very clearly on this photo but I followed a fab sky tutorial by Bev Rochester here using Distress Inks.  Its my first attempt with this technique and definately something I would try again.

Papers - Sparkling Spring by Prima.

Roses -Wild Orchid Crafts

Sentiment - Lili of the Valley

Seam Binding is Pink Tulip - The Ribbon Girl

Bakers Twine - The Ribbon Girl

Charm and Gypsophilia from stash  

I am entering this card into the Addicted to Stamping Challenge, the theme this week is 'Summertime'

Enjoy the rest of your evening and lets hope the weather improves for the coming week.  Thanks for taking the time to drop by!

Hugs,

 xxxxxx

Sugar Bowl Challenge #61

Close up of gorgeous Wild Orchid Crafts - Poppies

Good afternoon everyone, hope are all well and had an enjoyable weekend.  Its a pity the hot weather didn't stay around for very long but the gardens are in need of some drenching, in an ideal world it would rain all night and sunshine all day, but we don't live in an ideal world......... ahh well!

My card for today is one of the gorgeous Sugar Nellie digi's from Funky Kits and this cute little miss is Sybil.  Isnt she just adorable?  love those curls and the dolly shoes!!  She is coloured with Copics and Promarkers, I only have a few Copics, I would love more, I much prefer them to Promarkers but they are a bit pricier so I buy one now and again when I am feeling indulgent!

The paper is Classic K McKenna Pink Swirls, the scalloped one I have no idea, it was in my stash, but it just matched perfectly. 

The flowers are Poppies from Wild Orchid Crafts as is the seam binding, Light Beige

Sentiment is Hero Arts - Sparkle Clear Tickets

I am entering this card into the Sugar Bowl Challenge #61, a fab sketch by Kiki with the optional theme of Love/Weddings.

Well thats it for me for today, thank you so much for your visit and enjoy the rest of your day!

Hugs

Barbara

xxx

Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge # 57

Hello again everyone, hope you are all well and enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend and fitting lots of crafting in!!  At least the weather has improved a little, the rain seems to have stopped and we have seen some sun in Cheshire but its its still a wee bit chilly!

Well it's challenge time again at Sunday Sketch and Stamp and this week we have a fabulous sketch by Gry and this is my DT contribution for the challenge.  Make sure you hop on over and take a look at the fab DT entries.  

The fabby papers are Echo Park Springtime

Image - Lili of the Valley Dandelion Clock

Image coloured with Promarkers

Sentiment - Kaisercraft, Mini Clear Stamps - Birthday

I am also entering this card for challenge # 98 over at Lili of the Valley this week which is I Believe in Fairies

That's it for now, thanks for dropping by, your visit is very much appreciated!

Hugs

Barbara xx

Passion for Promarker Challenge 97

Hello everyone, have you been watching the Royal Wedding? .... wasn't it fabulous, I blubbed most of the way through!  Weddings make me emotional anyway but today I was thinking of how proud Diana would have been of her sons........  I just love Royal occasions, the pomp and pageantry...... makes me proud to be British! 

The weather was perfect too, so pleased the forecasted rain stayed away.

And didn't Kate look beautiful, that dress was stunning, classy and elegant and William so smart in his uniform, they make a lovely couple and hope they will be very happy together.

Well onto todays card, there is a challenge over at Passion for Promarker and the theme this week is pre-historic, I thought this card fitted perfectly.  The image I found on the internet, coloured with Promarkers and the background papers are a free download from Create with TLC, the sentiment done on PC so a very cheap card to make!  

Thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of the long weekend! 

Hugs,

An announcement, a sketch and a blog hop!

Hello everyone! Finally I can tell you my exciting news!!  I have been chosen to be a DT member at Sunday Sketch & Stamp, the challenge blog is celebrating it's second birthday and there are a few surprises, first the blog is going to be a WEEKLY challenge blog and second there is not just me who is a new DT, pop over to Sunday Sketch and Stamp and see for yourselves who the rest of the DT-newbies are!

I am so thrilled to be part of the team and looking forward to lots of exciting challenges.

We have a fabulous prize for the winning card and as part of our huge celebrations, we are also having a blog hop. Simply visit each DT member's blog (the links are below along with their cards) and make a note of their birthday (which will be included in their post for this challenge). Then email a list of all the names and birthdays to the challenge email (see the sidebar), and you could be in with a chance of winning a fabulous prize.

Also, while you are visiting the blogs keep an eye out - some of the girls are offering some delicious candy!

For those of you taking part in the blog hop, my birthday is 6th October, make sure you visit everyone's blog and send the full list of birthdays to the challenge email adress (sundaysketchandstamp@gmail.com), with the title 2nd Birthday Blog Hop!

The Sunday Sketch and Stamp DT-Ladies:

Maggie

Arianne
Me!

Claire

Donna

Emma

Erin

Gry

Kathrin

Lisa

Mandy

Marie

Mira

Samantha

Sarah

Uma

Maggie's Sketch

Here is my card for this weeks challenge

Card Recipe

Image - Teddy Bea Digi from Teddy Bo

Paper - Prima Sparkling Spring

Sentiment done on PC

Border Punch - Martha Stewart

Lace and buttons from stash

Thanks for dropping by, hope you all had a fabulous Easter break and not eaten too much chocolate,I have, can't resist it!! 

Hugs, Barbara xx

Lili of the Valley Dandelion Clock

Good afternoon everyone, hope you all have sunshine wherever you are.  It was lovely here in Cheshire this morning, the sun was shining and I even ventured out in t-shirt and flip flops but now its clouded over and its a wee bit chilly, but mustn't complain, summers on its way, yay!!!!

  Still, we managed to mow the lawn and do a bit of tidying up in the garden, it lovely to see the trees in bud and the birds twitterpating!  The entire side of our house is covered in ivy and its home to hundreds of sparrows and a family of wood pigeons, so its a little bit noisy at times but its fascinating to watch them fly in and out making nests for their little (and big!) babies!

This card is for my granddaughter Abbie's birthday next week......... and it fits a couple of challenges which is good.  The image is Dandelion Clock by LOTV, coloured with Copics and Promarkers. The digi sentiment is also LOTV, the papers are Fizzy Moon by Dovecraft.  Pearls, ribbon and lace from stash.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Lily of the Valley Challenge 92 - Happy Birthday

Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge # 51 - which is a fab sketch by Arianne

Thanks for looking, hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Hugs,

Lili of the Valley Easter Bunny

Good afternoon peeps!

Can't believe how long its been since I last blogged, where does the time go?? !!  Hope you are all well out there in blogland and where has the sun disappeared to?? .......At the weekend I was basking in the sunshine in vest top and shorts and then Monday.......... back to duvet jacket, boots and gloves, weird!!  How extreme is our British weather, but then its still early Spring so hopefully the sunshine will return and stay around.

This card I made a few weeks back and forgotten about it if I am honest!  I was just playing around and made this basket type holder for the little bunny and the choccy eggs.

 The paper is Prima ~ Jack & Jill Celebrate, the image is of course Lili of the Valley, coloured with Promarkers.  The lovely flower is also Prima ~ Pearl Penache Ice Castle.  Sentiment done on PC.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly ~ Truly Dimensional

Creative Inspirations ~ Easter

Well thats it for now, thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of your day!

Hugs

Barbara xx

LOTV Girl with Flowers

Hello there again everyone, hope you are all well and had a lovely Mothers Day yesterday.  I had a wonderful day, I was thoroughly spoilt, loads of flowers, choccies and pressies and taken out for lunch,

but of course I sooo deserve it, lol!! 

Well it's a miserable cold and wet day here in Cheshire, so ideal for staying in and crafting, which is what I intend to do, whether in reality that will happen, we will have to wait and see!   Can you believe I have been trying to upload these photos for a almost a week, its so frustrating!  Had problems with my internet connection and after countless calls and hours on the phone to my internet provider it was finally established that there was a problem with my router.  So off I went to PC World to find another one, explained to the salesman I needed one that was easy to install, cos I'm not brilliant with techno stuff.  He assured me the one I purchased was easy to install, so took it home.  Well nearly 3 hours later I was nearly throwing the darned thing through the window, I couldnt understand the instructions now matter how many times I read through them.  My daughter came to my rescue, even she struggled with the instructions and she is much more techno orientated than I!  Anyway, after a lot of trial and errror she got it working, eureka! 

Well now thats sorted hopefully there will be no more problems.  Onto these 2 little cards,the images are of course Lili of the Valley coloured with Promarkers. The turquoise and pink paper is Eline's Huis - In the Meadow.  The punch is Martha Stewart.

The pink and lemon card, not sure about this paper, I had it in my stash for a while so don't know who makes it, sorry.  I am trying to use up my bits of paper and card that seem to be taking over my craft room at the moment!  This size card - 12.5cm square, is ideal for using them up.

Well thats it for today, I do have a few more cards to add to my blog so drop by again soon and thanks calling in today!

Hugs,  Barbara xx

Christening Card and Matching Box

Matching Box

I made this card ages ago and forgot to post it, duh!!

Pink and girly, just up my street!

  The image is of course Lili of the Valley, coloured with Promarkers. 

The papers, sorry have no idea, its so long ago I can't remember. 

 Flowers are Wild Orchid, lace and ribbon from stash, border punch is Martha Stewart.

Thanks for dropping by, enjoy the rest of your day,

 sorry this is a rushed post today!

hugs,

Just Magnolia and Hanglar and Stanglar Challenge 97

Hello there peeps, hope you are all well.  The challenge over at Magnolia and Hanglar and Stanglar this week is a fab sketch by Bev and this is my entry.

This cute little lady has been coloured with Promarkers, the little tulips and butterfly are a magazine freebie, I thought they matched the lovely paper perfectly.  The paper is Prima Sweet Fairy collection. Sentiment is a digi from Lili of the Valley and the flowers are Wild Orchid. 

Sorry about the poor quality of the photo, the light wasn't ideal for taking photos today. 

Well that's it from me for today, thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,