Happy Christmas All!!

No card from me today, I am all Christmassed out!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year to everyone!!

xxx

Just Magnolia Challenge 84 - Anything goes with Sparkle

Wow, 2 challenges within a week! Anyone would think I was well organised, lol! This little lady is my entry for the Just Magnolia Challenge 84 - 'Anything Goes plus the option of sparkle' and seeing as I love a bit of sparkle and bling I just couldnt resist!

Image is coloured with Promarkers, the backing paper is Papermania Festive Frolics. The yummy 'glittery snow' at Tilda's feet is Diamond Sparkle Soft Snowdrift. The snowflakes and poinsettia are Marianne dies and the sentiment is Lili of the Valley.

Hope you are all keeping well and warm and not too snowed in. It was very cold here in Cheshire last night, -15c!!

Thanks for dropping by and your very kind comments, I love reading them and they are very much appreciated.

LOTV Challenge 76 - A few of my favourite things

The challenge over on LOTV this week is 'A few of my favourite things' and this card is chock full of my favourite things. Its not very often I manage to make challenges on time so I am really chuffed with this one, it covers the challenge and my friend's birthday, result!!!

My Favourite Things:

Lili of the Valley stamps, love em all, this one is Coffee Break
Digi sentiment is also LOTV.
Papermania Henbury Lane paper.
The colours pink and brown together.
Martha Stewart punch.
Leon Em punch for leaves.
Wild Orchid roses.
Promarkers for colouring.
Tim Holtz Distress ink Spun Sugar around image and sentiment.
Nestabilities.
Stickles Star Dust for bling.

Well I wish this snow would disappear, had enough of it now, mind you I admit I do prefer it to rain but it's so cold!! Still, 3 weeks to Christmas and the shortest day, then we can look forward to Spring!!

Thanks for dropping by my blog, keep warm and well.

Lhasa Apso

Brrrrr!! Hello everyone, isnt it cold? Ive had enough of it already and we have only just started with Winter! Its been one of those days today, if anything could go wrong it has, first all the pond in the garden was absolutely frozen solid and I could see the poor fish gasping for air under the ice. I was backward and forwards with kettles and pots full of boiling water until eventually there was a small hole, just big enough to float a ball on I thought. Then realised i didnt have a ball so set off for town to buy one (or 2!). The car was also frozen solid, took me ages to de-ice and finally set off when suddenly my windscreen wipers stopped working!! Anyway reached town and could I find a shop that sold non-leather footballs, noooo!! My last try was a small toy shop, whooopee they had them so I bought 2. By the time I reached home I couldnt see at all through the windscreen, so I cleaned it as best I could and headed back into town to find a garage that could sort it out for me. Luckily I found a really nice man and he fixed it for me, for free! Phew, I was so relieved I can tell ya! When I got home again I thought right go put the footballs in the pond and guess what one of them had started to deflate, Couldnt believe it but thought what the heck its going in! I don't know if it will work but Ive done my best, I hope those fish appreciate my efforts! My day just got gradually worse, I decided to turn some trousers up for hubby and my sewing machine wouldnt work, grrrrr!!

Well onto my card, isnt he cute?? He is the image of my nieces dog Alfie so this is her Christmas card. He is of course an image from Mo Manning, coloured with Promarkers. The paper and ribbon is from my stash, the punch I have no idea of the make, sorry. The sentiment is a freebie from Janet (Pink Gem).

Well keep warm everyone and thanks for dropping by.

Hello Cupcake

Hello cupcake, hello everyone! hope you are all well and not too cold, looks like we have snow and ice on the way, brr, nice to look at but I just don't like driving in it.

Isn't this image just gorgeous? This card is for my niece Angela, its her birthday at the weekend. I have coloured her with Promarkers, the paper is Henbury Lane and the sentiment is a digi download from

Lili of the Valley.

Well I finally conceded and started my christmas shopping today, quite surprised myself as I managed to do about a quarter of it. I hate wandering around shops waiting for inspiration to jump out at me, not knowing what to buy but today I did quite well.

Hope you like my Christmassy blog layout, thanks for your visit!

Tealight Card

Good afternoon everyone, hope you are all well this freezing cold day!! I have been so cold today, just cannot get warm and its supposed to be getting colder by the end of the week, brrrrrr!!

Well onto today's card and its a tealight card, Ive been itching to make one of these for ages, I followed a brilliant tutorial by Stampartic. It was great fun and easy to make, I love cards that are different from the usual trend. If I make another one of these I will add a piece of acetate to the little window but it looks okay without it.

The little pocket on the left side of the card holds a little tag, not sure the make of the paper, had it ages, the circular sentiment is Catslife Press and the image is Lili of the Valley Candle Girl , coloured with Distress Inks. The edges of the card and flower are distressed with Frayed Burlap.

Thanks for dropping by, hope to see you again soon and keep warm!!

House Mouse Opening Presents

I think these little mice are soo cute don't you? The stamp is from a set called 'Opening Presents' from Joanna Sheen. Coloured with Promarkers with lots of Stickles Star Dust. The paper I have no idea, its a piece Iv'e had for ages. The snowflake embossing folder is by Crafts Too and the snowflake is a Marianne die cut. The sentiment is also part of the stamp set.

Hope you are all well and not too cold!

Thanks for dropping by

Barbara x

James in Pink

Hi everyone, thanks for dropping by this bitter cold, wet and miserable day. We live not far away from Buxton and believe it or not the road between Macclesfield and Buxton was closed today because of SNOW!! Brrrrr, doesnt bear thinking about! Still a good excuse to stay in and craft and this is a card made today. The image is Lili of the Valley 'James' - he is coloured with Promarkers and lashings of Stickles Silver. The flowers are Marianne small poinsettia with leaves cut with Leon Em Ash branch punch. The sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly and the gorgeous backing paper is a download from Nitwits Collection Mooey Christmas.

Right off to watch Corrie, it's a tear jerker tonight so better get the tissues handy!!

Thanks for looking, stay warm!

Barbara xx

Christmas Tilda

Well here I am again with another Christmas card, can't believe how well I am doing with them, I'm making the most of this inspirational period I seem to be experiencing at the moment, don't know how long it will last!! Another grey and miserable day in Cheshire today, although it was beautiful sunshine this morning and now its raining. Ah well, thats British weather for you!

This lovely Tilda image has been coloured with Promarkers, the flowers are Marianne small Poinsettia die cuts which have been covered with Glossy Accents and Twinklets Diamond Dust. The snowflake is also a Marianne die and the sentiment is a freebie from http://onehappylittlecrafter.blogspot.com/

The background paper is Dovecraft 'Jolly Happy Christmas'.

Thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of your day.

Hugs
Barbara

Snowy Kiss

Good evening folks, hope you all had a good weekend and a spooky halloween!! We had lots of little skeletons, ghosts and ghoulies visit us this evening, they looked really spooktacular!

I am posting this card later than I intended to, I couldn't get near my laptop as my granddaughter has hogged it all day!! Another card to add to my slowly growing collection of christmas cards. The stamp is Penny Black 'Snowy Kiss' isnt it sweet? Coloured with Promarkers and lots of Star Dust Stickles. I embossed the outer frame with Crafts Too Snowflake folder, the ticket sentiment is a freebie from One Happy Little Crafter

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs

Barbara x

Toby Tumble

Good afternoon everyone and what a glorious afternoon it here in Cheshire, hope the sun is shining for you wherever you are.

Today's card is a little different from my usual method, it's a digital download from Cuddly Buddly - 'Toby Tumble' - isnt he sweet? The papers are also from Cuddly Buddly and they match perfectly with this fab image. He is coloured with Promarkers with lots of Stardust Stickles and the sentiment is also a Cuddly Buddly download, good value at £1.99 for a sheet of various sentiments.

Thanks for dropping by my blog, hope you like what you see, I really appreciate your visit and your comments.

Hugs
Barbarax

James the bear with baubles

Mornin all, hope you are all well this wet and miserable morning, its pouring down here in Cheshire but never mind a good excuse to stay in and do some crafting!!

Well onto my card for today and its another of my fave images from Lili of the Valley and this is James with baubles, ain't he cute?? He is coloured with Promarkers with lots of Stickles gold and his baubles have some Glossy Accents added to make them shine! The die cut and the poinsettia are Marianne Createables and the paper I don't have a clue, its a piece left over from last years christmas crafting. The sentiment is Catslife Press, sorry cant remember where I got that one from!

I was hoping for a lie in this morning but no my beauty sleep was disturbed at 7.45am with roadworks right outside the house, diggers, rollers, drills, you name it. The house is vibrating with the noise of it and my poor parrot Honey is wondering that the heck is going on!! I cant listen to this all day so I am off to my friend Anne's house for a coffee, a natter and some cutting and colouring, heaven!!

Thanks for dropping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Hugs

Barbaraxx

Skater Girl

Hello everyone, thanks for visiting, I hope you are well and not suffering with the various bugs that seem to be doing the rounds at the moment!

This is another easel card, I am really enjoying experimenting with these shapes, not just circular ones either, made a few different ones and I will try and add them to my blog very soon.

This image is one of my faves at the moment, Lili of the Valley Skater girl, the dog is soooo cute, he looks like he is doing his best to keep his mistress on her feet!

Image is coloured with Promarkers, with lots Stickles Star Dust, the 'ice' is Twinklets Diamond Dust, fabulous stuff, really crunchy and chunky. The poinsettia flower is from Wild Orchid Crafts which again has been sparkled with Star Dust. Sentiment is Lili of the Valley and of course the shapes are cut from Nesties.

What a change in the weather eh? Couldnt believe how iced up my car was this morning and of course I couldnt find the de-icer anywhere! I think our Indian Summer is finally over don't you? The clocks go back next weekend, then its Halloween and before we know it Christmas is upon us. Don't know about you but I'm not a winter person, hate being cold and long dark winter days, give me spring and summer light and sun anyday!

Thanks again for your visit, I will try my best to post some more very soon!

Take care

Hugs

Barbara

Baubles and Tinsel James

Hi peeps, I did promise more cards and this is one of them. Another fab Lili of the Valley image, 'James' - he is coloured with Promarkers with lashings of glitter and the baubles have been glossed with Glossy Accents. The sentiment is also Lili of the Valley, the background paper is Dovecraft Jolly Happy Christmas, the strip at the side I have no idea, its just a piece I found in my scraps box. The poinsettia is from Wild Orchid, sprayed with Pearl Shimmer Mist.

Hope you are enjoying the lovely late summer sun, let's hope it lasts, it makes the winter seem shorter, although its been forecast that we may have a winter like last year, lets hope not!! I am prepared though, I have invested in a pair of wellies, something I havent worn since I was a child!!

Thanks for looking and your kind comments, I do appreciate them so much.

Angel Friend

Hi folks, its been a long time since my last post, where does time go I ask myself?? Life just seems to get in the way, theres always something needs doing, like boring housework!! I'd much rather be crafting but I dont have a fairy godmother unfortunately! Never mind, at least I have managed to make a few Christmas cards and this is one of them.

The stamp is a Lili of the Valley angel, she is coloured with Promarkers with lots of Stickles Star Dust. The sentiment I am not sure of as a friend stamped a few for me.

I have quite a few more cards to add to my blog, I will try and add one a day over the next week so check back often. Thanks for dropping by!!

Lili of the Valley Thomas

Another fab image from Lili of the Valley - Thomas, he has been coloured with Promarkers with lots of sparkly champagne bubbles!

I am really enjoying these circular easel cards, they are so quick and simple to make, which is always good as I am still trying to get going with my christmas cards! 

We have had a lovely start to the week weatherwise so I made the most of it today and managed to get lots of itty-bitty jobs done in the garden.  The forecast is for cooler days and rain so it was good to get those jobs out of the way.  All my summer baskets and pots are looking straggly and past their best now so they will be going in the green bin sometime very soon but there are some lovely colourful cyclamen and sweet pansies ready to replace them .

I have another couple of easel cards almost ready so watch this space and thanks for looking!

Home Tweet Home

Afraid I'm not doing very well in my mission to create 2 christmas cards a day, life gets in the way, there always seems to be other more important tasks like boring housework, shopping etc!!

I have seen these circular easel cards on a few blogs lately and thought I would give it a go and you know what, they are so easy!! Had a play around with various shapes using Nesties and discovered almost any shape can be made into an easel card, I have yet to decorate them so as soon as that is done I will post them.

This card I made for my daughter's friend who is moving house very soon. Isn't this image just so sweet? It's a fab free image from Mo Manning (Mo's Digital Pencil), I love Mo's images they are a breeze to colour, this one has been done using Promarkers.

Apologies for the rubbish quality of the photo, the weather here has been dark and dismal today, not ideal conditions for decent photos.

Thanks for looking!

Yay two more Christmas cards!

Christmas Magic

James with Cracker

Yay, two christmas cards to show you today, I am back on track!!  These are 2 of the lovely images I bought at the show in Manchester.  Both coloured with Promarkers and lots of Star Dust Stickles.  The embossed backgrounds are both by Crafts Too.

Thanks for looking and thank you everyone for all your kind comments, I really do appreciate them.

LOTV Pup and Postbox

Isn't this image just soo cute?  I adore Lili of the Valley stamps so I was in seventh heaven when I found the LOTV stand at the Creative Crafts show in Manchester last weekend.  So much choice, I wanted them all!!  The images are so clear when stamped and easy to colour in, I really love em!!

This one has been coloured using Promarkers with lashings of Star Dust Stickles.

  The backing paper is by Dovecraft - A Jolly Happy Christmas, another buy from the show.

I am way behind with my intention to make at least 2 christmas cards a day, commission cards are getting in the way, but they are almost finished now so watch this space for more luscious LOTV images!

Thanks for looking!

LOTV Candle Girl

Another christmas card made - whoopee!  Set a goal to make at least 2 christmas cards a day so when it comes to December I won't be in panic mode as I usally am!

This cute image is Lili if the Valley ( I really love LOTV stamps, can you tell!) and she is called Candle Girl.  She looks so cosy and warm all wrapped up in her lovely red outfit.  I imagined the lovely red coat and hat she is wearing is made from sumptuous red velvet so I added the red velvet ribbon to reflect this. 

She is coloured with Promarkers with lots of Star Dust stickles, the paper is Cosmo Cricket Festivities Mitten Weather, the edges have been coloured using Fired Brick Distress Ink again glittered with Star Dust.  The flowers are Wild Orchid sprayed with Glimmer Mist Pearl with a hint of Star Dust Stickles.

Enjoy the rest of the bank holiday Monday at least the sun is shining here, hope it is wherever you are, thanks for looking!

Lili of the Valley James

Isn't he just sooo cute??  As soon as I saw him I had to have him, he is one of the new Christmas stamps at Lili of the Valley.  He is coloured with Promarkers with lashings of Star Dust and Gold Stickles.  The BP is from my stash and I have had it ages so sorry don't know what it is. The sentiment is again Lil of the Valley.

Hope you are having a nice day, its a bit breezy here in Macclesfield but at least the sun is shining after really heavy rain this morning.

Thanks for looking!

LOTV Challenge 62 - Circles

Crikey!!  I managed to make 2 challenges within a week, I must be on a roll!!  Or it could be due to the fact I have some scrummy new LOTV stamps and I just had to have a play! 

The challenge at Lili of the Valley this week is a nice simple one, CIRCLES and this is my entry.  This image is sooo cute and ideal for a birth or birthday.  Coloured with Promarkers, paper from stash, flowers from Wild Orchid and pearls from The Hobby House.

Thanks for looking, its much appreciated.

Lili of the valley Challenge 61

There is a fabulous sketch by Bev to follow on this weeks Lili of the Valley Challenge No 61.  This sweet image is of course Lili of the Valley bird house, coloured with Promarkers with lashings of Stickles Star Dust.  This is my first Christmas card for this year, been a bit slow to get going with my chrissy cards, just don't seem able to find any mojo or inspiration, perhaps this one will be the start of it, we can hope!!

The new LOTV Christmas stamps are so adorable, just couldnt resist them so watch this space, there will be a few more very soon.

Hope the weather is reasonable where you are, at the moment in Macclesfield its lashing down, ah well, nothing else for it but crafting!! 

Thanks for looking!

LOTV Wedding

Firstly I will apologise for the rubbish quality of the photos in this post, I never seem to be able to get the lighting right when I photograph my work, do you have this problem and does anyone have any tips for making it easier?

I just adore this LOTV wedding stamp, so easy and quick to colour.  I have used Promarkers for this image with lashings of Star Dust Stickles glue.  The edges and the butterfly have all been distressed with Victorian Velvet DI and stickles again.  The flowers are from Wild Orchid and the pearls are from The Hobby House.  The background panels are embossed with Cuttlebug Tapestry and Swiss Dots folders.  The depth of the flowers make this card unsuitable for an envelope so I made a matching box following the same theme as the card which I think serves the purpose and makes a nice keepsake. 

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Baby Boy Christening Card

..

This is a card made for a friend's grandson's christening day.

The request was for a fairly simple card and I thought this image was perfect for the occasion. Its a Nellie Snellen stamp called 'Koetie' coloured with Promarkers, the papers are from my stash, sentiment done on PC and flower made using medium and small retro punches.

Isn't this weather weird? Never seen such heavy rain, the guttering is cracked at the front of the house and the garden is flooded, all my poor plants are drowned! Have you noticed that whenever a hosepipe ban is introduced the rain arrives? The forecast for the weekend is supposed to drier and warmer, let's hope so!

Have a nice weekend and thanks for looking!

(ps, what do you think of my new look blog??)

Magnolia Challenge and a Birthday!!

It's ages since I entered a challenge, I am usually kept busy with family birthdays etc, but when I spied the challenge on Just Magnolia this week I decided to combine it with my daughter Caron's 40th birthday card. I try to time my cards with challenges but I don't do very well, I always manage to miss the challenge or miss the birthday! I was on a roll with this card, not sure if I have gone a little over the top with this card but once I started it I couldn't stop! Still, Caron loves bling and sparkle so I am sure she will be happy with it.

I love this cute Tilda - Fairy Dust, she is coloured with Promarkers and she has been cut out with a Nestie oval using the 'out of the nestie' technique. The papers, card, butterfly and heart have been edged with Frayed Burlap DI and glittered with Stickles Gold. The papers are My Mind's Eye, Wild Asparagus and the lovely flowers are from Wild Orchid., again glittered with Stickles Gold and Star Dust.

The challenge this week at Just Magnolia is Vintage, I think this one qualifies for this challenge.

Thanks for looking, have a great week, hope the sun shines for you wherever you are.

Con-Grad-Ulations!

This card I made for our youngest daughter Katie to congratulate her on her graduation from Manchester Metro University on Monday at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.  She gained a Ba.Hons Education, she has worked so hard for her degree and we are very proud of her.  Its taken her 4 years to reach her goal and its not been easy for her in that time as she was married in August 2008, had a baby girl in January 2010 and she took a year out when her dad had his horrific accident in September 2008.  Katie works with special needs children at a local school, she is extremely dedicated to her children, both at school and at home, she is mum to Sam who is 7 and Evie, 6 months old.  

For the image on the card I used one of Mo Manning's fab images, Grad Girl, coloured with Promarkers.  The black background has been embossed using a Cuttlebug Congratulations folder although you can't see it very well on the photo.

Thanks for looking! 

  

Shhhh!!

Just had to share this cute photo of my youngest granddaughter Evie Lily Mae, she is 6 months old now, hasn't that time flown?   She tends to cat-nap during the day, the rest of the time she is constantly on the go!  I had her all day Thursday and I was shattered by the time my daughter Katie collected her at 4pm!

Big Sister Babs

Isn't this image just fab??  This card I made for my granddaughter Lauren's 18th birthday, I spent hours trawling through loads of digi downloads sites, I knew basically what I was looking for and as soon as I saw this I just knew I had to have it, it was the perfect image for the card I had in mind.   She is called 'Big Sister Babs' from http://disdigidownloads.blogspot.com  She looks so much like Lauren, even she commented when she saw it, she looks like me!!  She is coloured with Promarkers, the BP, I have no idea, had it for a while, the stripey paper and sentiment is Papermania Rose Garden.

I do hope the sunny weather returns soon, I know we badly needed the rain but enough is enough!

Thanks for looking! 

A couple of Thank You's

A couple of thank you cards for my daughter Donna to send to the lovely ladies in St Lucia who helped her with her wedding arrangements earlier this month.  One is for the wedding planner and the other for the hairdresser. 

I thought I would try to make them as bright and cheery as possible and these papers are so lovely and an added bonus, they were a freebie from a magazine!  The images are Lily of the Valley, coloured with Promarkers, the borders are Martha Stewart and I have sprayed the flowers with Glimmer Mist Pearl, Frost and Viva Pink.  It doesnt show up very well on the photo but the girl with flowers one has been embossed with a swirl and clear embossing powder.  Both cards have lots of Stickles glitter but again doesnt show up very well, I can't seem to get the lighting right for taking better photos. 

Thanks for looking at my thank you cards!!

Tropical Wedding

My daughter and new SIL returned home today after their wedding in St Lucia and I thought you might like to see these beautiful photos of them.  Doesn't Donna look gorgeous and they look so happy.  We are pleased to have them back, we have really missed them both.  They had a wonderful time and loved St Lucia so much they are already booking a return trip for their anniversary next year! 

Lili of the Valley Wedding

This card is for my daughter Donna who is in St Lucia after her wedding last Thursday to partner Darren. They are due home this week, can't wait to see them again, its only been 2 weeks but they seem to have been gone for ages! I couldn't resist this beautiful image from Lili of the Valley, its so cute and perfect for any wedding, be it in church or a beach.


I have coloured the image with Promarkers, the edges are coloured with Tattered Rose Distress Ink and glittered with Stickles. The embossing was done with Tapestry and Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folders, again edged with DI and Stickles. The flowers are from Wild Orchid and these have been sprayed with Glimmer Mist Pearl and glittered with Stickles. The butterfly is an X-Cut punch which has again been glittered within an inch of it's life!!  The insert I have printed on the PC.

Thanks for looking and check back soon as I have a matching box to make for this card. 

Video Boy

This card I made as a commission for my daughter's stepson Levi's 16th birthday. I really struggle with men and boy's cards but when I saw this image from Mo's Digital Pencil I knew it was exactly what I was looking for. The image I coloured with Promarkers and the sentiment I did on PC. The background papers are Dovecraft Masculine.

Hope you are all enjoying the lovely hot weather, its great during the day but the nights are so uncomfortable, still mustn't complain, its rare we get these hot days in the UK so we should make the most of the nice long days while summer's here.

Well I have a new mum card, baby card, wedding card, 2 x 18th birthday cards and a 40th birthday card to make so I better get a wiggle on!!

Thanks for looking!

90th Birthday

Hi there, thanks for visiting and sorry I have been AWOL for a couple of weeks. Not really been in the mood for blogging or cardmaking recently, various reasons I won't bore you with here. Anyway .... this is a card I made for my daughter to give to one of her customers on her 90th birthday. The birds and swirls embossing is of course a Cuttlebug folder which I have coloured using distress inks and added lots of glitter with stickles star dust. The sentiment I printed on the PC, the butterfly is an X-cut punch, again I have coloured using dusty concorde distress ink. The top and bottom edges were punched using a Martha Stewart punch. Hope Doris (aka Dodge) likes her card!

Christening Cards

Matching box

Today the 2 youngest of my grandchildren were baptised, we had a lovely day despite it pouring down with rain first thing this morning. The rain cleared up just in time for us as we were going into church, it was a lovely service and nice to see friends and relatives we don't see often enough.

The image on the pink easel card for Evie is of course from the fabulous Mo Manning coloured with Promarkers. The lace and papers are from my stash and flowers are Wild Orchid. Everything was going really well with this card until it came to an envelope for it! Numpty I am, I completely forgot about the depth of the flowers, so I had to quickly scramble together a box to fit the card in!!

I love making girly cards, especially baby ones, lace, pearls, ribbon, sparkly bits etc... but boy's cards I really do struggle with. As Sam is seven now I wanted to create something quite plain and simple and 'un-girly'!! I thought this image of Edwin was ideal and have to thank my good friend Andrea for this one.

Well where has the lovely hot weather disappeared to?? Typical British weather eh, freezing one week, boiling the next!! Ah well!!

Thanks for looking !!