Inspiration Station

90 Years Young!

2012-01-27T09:36:00.005Z

Hello lovely bloggers on this bright and brisk Friday, it's a
beautiful day out there! Thought I'd show you the finished
90th card I was making, the person collected it last night so
the photos are a bit grainy, I was faffing around with it as you
do and before I knew it time ran away with me and 15 mins
before he arrived I was still gluing things! eek!

Thought I would make an easel card as I wanted to put lots
of embellishments around this lovely photo of the lady in
question, as I mentioned before, she used to work for
Wedgewood so I used these lovely papers from Papermania.

Little close up, the 90 was embossed with Mirror Gold
embossing powder, although it started out as white
embossing enamel I overheated it and burnt the
edges! so ended up with this colour, hee hee. All sentiments
were created on the PC and distressed with TH vintage
photo apart from the Remember which is Inkadinkado,
Life's Journey, butterflies and border punches are MS although
the photo frame was cut with scissors, the edges were
then finished off with some liquid pearls in White Opal.
Hope she likes it, TFL, Sue xx

Candy.........

2012-01-25T16:07:00.005Z

........for the eye! ( and a little prize for the best Quote!)Hee hee,
Thought I would give you all a treat to brighten up this
dreary rainy January day! Hope you like my choice of
sunshine for this day, the handsome Ryan Gosling :0))))
He will be appearing on my sidebar, move over Brad
and George, any suggestions as to what he might be saying
to us crafters? the best one will be printed as the heading!
I think he could be saying....
"Let's go Craft Shopping, I love it when you spend all my
money!" mmmwhaaaa
or
*Wow, You always look so gorgeous
when you are covered in ink and glue"
A girl can dream, it's free! Happy Days, TFL, Sue xx

WOYWW

2012-01-25T12:15:00.004Z

Hello lovely bloggers, I hope you are all fine and dandy;
It's that time of the week again :0), at least I have time to
post my desk on the right day this week! As you
can see, it is and has been a very productive desk and
still the conveyor belt of all things creative is happily
in motion :0)xx If you want to have a little looksie
at all things creative on a larger scale then hop on
over to our leaders blog Stamping Ground
where you will find every possible nook, cranny and
item of crafting that this universe has to offer, oozing
from our lovely crafting buddies desks! So, firstly I
am in the middle of creating a 90th Birthday card
with these lovely Papermania papers, as the lady in question
used to work for Wedgewood, I thought these lovely chalky
blue and white papers would work perfectly! next on the
desk is a half made "New Home" card I am making for a
friend. In the background is-shhhhhh, I have to whisper
this...new stamps :)))))))) Portobello Road gorgeous images,
which I am sure will get inked to within an inch of their
lives, I also have two new pads, I really do need more papers!!!
Cough! one pack is Wild Rose Studio, Letters from Paris
(will come in handy for Valentine cards) and also by WRS
faded florals, (which will errr......just come in handy)! :0)))
Now, over to the right is one of my Christening boxes that
I make, all nicely finished and ready to be delivered, I can't
take credit for the beautiful Calligraphy, I have a very nice
man who waves his magical Mont Blanc Wand and
produces this wonderful writing :0) xx TFL, Happy
Crafting one and all, Sue xx

Exciting News! and a sneeky peek!

2012-01-20T15:24:00.011Z

Lavender papers are from the Floral Design CD available here
at Katy Sue Designs :0) x

Commissioned card for 70th Birthday

Inside, I used this beautiful butterfly peel off, fixed to papers
and acetate. Sentiment done on PC and layered onto mirri card.

Front of Box to finish off and continue the beautiful theme.

Here is another card made with this CD using one of the
die shapes, decoupaged the lavender and added some
gorgeous flower soft from their diamond range called
Amethyst. Bouquet tied with raffia.

Sorry about the picture, it's a bit grainy; This card was made
using the Clematis flower, again from this amazing CD,
decoupaged and added some of the elements from a new
Die Cut Dimensions Butterfly pack which is sooooo pretty,
if you love butterflies, you will love all the elements in this
pack. This new product is being showcased on Monday
on the Create and Craft channel at 9.00 am, whoo hoo, so tune
in! You may even see some of my cards, how exciting!!!
I will post my designs using this new product after the show
on Monday, you can just see the corner of one of my cards
in the piccie above, Have a Wonderful weekend,
TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Exciting Desk!!!

2012-01-19T10:29:00.008Z

Hello lovely bloggers I hope you are all fine and dandy and your
crafting cup overfloweth! Unfortunately I missed WOYWW
yesterday so thought I would post my desk today as it is full of
exciting goodies :0)x
Coops, that wonderful crafting goddess who has the most fabulous
cards over on her blog, (go take a peek); she is the one responsible
for my crafty shopping trip! after seeing her fabby funky card using
the new Portobello Road goodies from Papermania, I just
had to have them, (I had resisted once too,! I can resist anything
but crafting goodies and crisps). I think they Rock!!!! just one
little moan though, there are not enough papers in there! 25!!!
whats going on Papermania your pads were the biggest stack
of them all!!!
So, on to my desk, in the background we have a new baby card in
the shape of baby knickers :0) we have a cute little stamp that I
bought last year and didn't get around to inking , so am looking
forward to having a little play with that one! The quote says "Your
kisses make me feel funny all over" hee hee, how cute! it's from
Inkadinkado.
The Christmas cards that are just behind the stamp, don't know if
you can see them? they are of two mature ladies out in the snow,
I just thought they were great, it reminded me of my Mum and her
sister Margaret, (Auntie Marge) they were always out shopping
together, so that brought back fond memories :0)x
The lovely little die cut chipboard trees were a must by for
Valentines day cards, can you see the little card I have created in
the bottom left, it has hanging hearts and I thought I would
put a little sentiment saying "Grow with Me", what do you
think? Also on the desk we have some lovely buttons :0)
oooh I just love buttons! these little Union Jack ones
are soooooooo cool! Finally a 12 x 12 lust-have pad
from Papermania with oodles of beautiful blue and white
papers :0)

Oh! not finally? here is that fluffy wuffy puddy tatt who
is constantly up to no good! and, who decides at the most
inconvenient moments to park herself wherever there is
a spare bit of desk space (which isn't often) vying for

for my attention; normally just after she has worn poor
old Milton out!

Here he is, all worn out, I think he may have been a bit cold that
day too! can he get any closer to that rad? :0)))))
TFL, Happy Crafting everyone, Sue xx

Funny Faces Heh Heh Heh! :0)

2012-01-11T10:53:00.005Z

Hello lovely bloggers and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous
2012 to you all, I hope you all had a wonderful time: here is
the front of my Happy New Year Card that I have sent out to
friends and family who frequented these parts over the festive
season and were duly fed and watered, then asked/bribed to pose
for a silly photo with those moustaches and props that I made.
What do you think? Who was the winner of the funniest face?
The collage was made using a free download from tinternet
called Picasa and it does some amazing stuff!
TFL, Sue xx

This Angel is Sent to Bless.........

2011-12-24T08:45:00.011Z

.....your Christmas home with Kindness, Love and Faith!
A little card for all you lovely crafters out there, to all my
followers old and new, thank you for all your kind words and
inspiration, I want to wish you all a Wonderful
Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2012, I hope your
Christmastime is filled with Good Friends, Good Food,
Good Wine and Good Times :0) xx
I still have lots to do, wrapping and cooking!
hubby has been moaning because I have found lots of other
exciting things to be doing! like these fab props I made last
night .....

they are so easy, I found a template on google and printed,
then drew onto firm card and stuck felt and furry fabric
to make these moustaches, the sticks are bar b q skewers,
make sure you take the pointy bit off as this is quite sharp
especially for little ones, the glasses are old cinema 3D
ones that I just poked the plastic out; there is card ones
too that you can print. I will pop these along with the silly
hats and antlers into a big bag and people can pick a prop
for their photo, I will post the photos in the new
year....I also made these Nordic place cards last night..

The bag on the right is filled with Lavender from my garden, mmm
can you smell it :0)
and finally some cards, here are a few of my last minute
creations.....

Ooooooh I just adore this stamp, have coloured him with
water colours

This lovely stamp again, as this was for a boy and a girl I
stamped this image twice and cut one out and used foam
pads to 3d it, so we have a pink coat and a green one :0)

Bauble is from punch with wooden stag, I used the punched
snowflakes to ink stencil on bauble, papers from
DCWV Christmas glitter stack

I got the idea for this one from the lovely Mandi over at
Enchanted Occasions she runs a less is more challenge
which I struggle to do as you can see, it did start off all
white, then I had to add snowflakes and twine and glitter,
bell etc; hop on over if you want to play along.

and finally I made this old favourite from punches which is so
simple;
So that just leaves me to get the sherry out and start
wrapping, have a Wonderful time everyone and see you all in the
New Year, TFL, Sue xx

Amazon Christmas.....

2011-12-20T17:38:00.010Z

Hello Blogland,
Well just thought I would post you this little piccie of Belle today,
she wasn't sent from Amazon you see, she has been with us
for about four months now; although I am thinking of posting
her somewhere near the Amazon!!! far far away from the Christmas
tree that is shedding it's pine needles every time she starts tapping
at the baubles!!! ahhhhhhhhhhh I can hear you all saying!!!!
I had a little play on print shop programme and produced this....

I suspect quite a few people are having an Amazon Christmas!
they are sooooooo good!
here is a piccie of my tree before it goes bald,
bit like the ones on corrie last night! Here's the fireplace all cosy and festive.
and my Dickensian window! ha ha, it's amazing what a bit of black insulating tape and some fake snow can do! Can you see my little poem I made last year, you can see how
I made it here ....... (last year!!! OMG! it was three years ago, WOW!
Christmas Belle who would not wear the hat!!!
and not forgetting....... the long suffering

cutie pie Milton!........ when are you sending her off!
TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

WOYWW

2011-12-14T18:25:00.008Z

Hello lovely bloggers it's that time again, think it has come
around doubly quick this week, what with all the festivities,
decorating, shopping, socialising, writing cards, wrapping
shopping, crafting etc etc! you know how it is;
Yes, of course you do!
Well here is a little snoopy doop on my desk today; bit of a
dumping ground really, apart from those lush mmmmmm
Wasabi peas, hot, hot, hot! my latest snackeroonie :0)
if you want to have a little looksy at all those other crafters
creative mess hop on over to Julia's blog where all will be
revealed! here is a couple of cards that have passed through
the mess on their way to pastures new.
.
Ooooh this beautiful Charlie's Ark Stamp, have made quite
a few of these but they have not had time to stop for a photo
shoot! this gorgeous little stamp is available here

Those lookie likie Robins, complete with Santa hat,
Gingham ribbon and sparkly heart, :0)xx

Here they all are looking very surprised, don't know why?

and lastly a little furry Stocking, happy WOYWW one and
all TFL, Sue xx

WOYWW

2011-12-07T15:07:00.014Z

Hello lovely bloggers and welcome to my desk on this windy
Wednesday; if you want to share your creative goings on please
hop on over to Julia's blog. As you can see I am getting in the
Christmas mood with my Robin cards, OH YES THEY ARE!
wait until you see the finished effect, they really do look like Robins!
hee hee I think the one on the left, fell out of his nest!
I shall soon have him straightened out.
Now last weekend our Art group held an exhibition in our
local Church and I thought I would share some of my paintings
and some from our talented Art group too, I hope you enjoy my
little blog exhibition, it's free too

Watercolour - Venetian Spectrum

Watercolour - What's New Pussycat?

Paper Rose, I drew and coloured this with my Polychromo's
it was done on some handmade paper which I made last
year on an Art trail!

Painted on Acrylic - Cheese on Toast

Watercolour - Ballerina

Here is some of our Art exhibited

Those colourful boats sold

Love this Mad Hatter

The tiger is done in pastels on a kind of velour fabric, it
really gives the impression of soft fur, the lady that did this
also does pet portraits and I need to give her a big Shout!
because she is sooooo talented, you can find her here

Hee hee, this goat picture should be called "Before the Kids"
don't they look all loved up? there's my little pussycat :0)

TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Mabel Lucie Attwell

2011-12-06T16:28:00.014Z

Hello lovely bloggers and happy Tuesday to you, I hope you are
all happy crafting with the heating on! brrrrrrr; fffffff freezing!
Hooray! I can now show you the cards I have made with a new
CD which has the most beautiful illustrations from the talented
designer Mabel Lucie Attwell, her gorgeous images have been brought
back for us crafters and is available from the fabulous Katy Sue Designs
I really had lots of fun with this CD, the amount of different
images and papers that are available on this CD are just
amazing....well take a looksie for yourself and see just how cute
and fun they are...

This little pop up card is from the design kit 7

How cute? and so easy to make too!

This one I added glossy accents to show the wet umbrella,
they are soooo cheerful, this one reminds me of my aunts
farm when I was little, I am sure my mum used to make
me wear a plastic scarf that folded up to about an inch
and came in a little bag? do you remember
those? :0))))))))))))))))))))))

Are you smiling yet? this one has got to do it!

This one is a digi which I watercoloured, every image
on the CD is also on there as a digi!

Ooooh, one of my favourites, love this bubble backing paper!

Inside shows the pop up, so easy again to make, I made a
little mirror and bathmat to compliment the scene.

Oooh another favourite, this is also a digi which I have
watercoloured; Grinning from ear to ear now? knew you
would be! and a few ahhhs too?

and finally these papers are great for school cards.

Inside, pop up again, she is too cool for school!
I hope you enjoyed these beautiful images and my cards,
I just have to add, that they were showcased on
the Create and Craft Channel today too, whoo hoo!!!
TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

I Love WOYWW ......

2011-11-30T18:04:00.008Z

so will you, hop on over to Julia's blog if you want to play along,
you get to see what all those other crafters have been making,
stamping, inking, baking, sewing etc etc, you need to go take
a look.....here is my desk today, I also love fabric, what do you think
of these remnants I bought, aren't they just crazy cool ,the frog
one is for my frog loving friend Sharon, :0) hee hee, not really,
she despises them, I was going to make some place mats and
thought she may just get this froggy one when she misbehaves!
now also on my desk, top the right you can see my lovely up-cycled
Nutella jar, mmm I also love Nutella..... :0) it a great supplement
when there is no choccie in the house ......

spread a little (lot) on a digestive biscuit and, well,
mmmmmmmm, try it and see :0)))))))))))))

I also love letters, they make wonderful quotes,sentences
romantic poems wonderful words and books, they come in all
shapes and sizes. I also love painting......

so painted this for one of my German student who kindly
introduced us to this wonderful stuff :0)))) thank you Larissa!
Now you can also see my glue pot that I keep forgetting to put
the top back on, so it's rather gunged up and sorry for itself as
is the brush! last but by no means least you can see a rather cute
little baby card perched against the wall, well this is by a British
illustrator from Mile End named Mabel Lucy Attwell, you can
find out more about her here, the good news is that she is coming
back to the craft world via Katy Sue Designs, see details here
although the items are not available to the public until 6th
December, I have been having a little play with the new CD and
designing some cards and I must say they are the cutest! it is
also being showcased on the Create and Craft channel (671 sky)
on the 6th December 10.00 am.
Phew! think that's everything, now hubby gets fed :0)))
TFL , Happy Crafting, Sue xx

I LOVE U ......

2011-11-28T13:17:00.004Z

Hello lovely crafters, Happy Monday to you all,
I hope your fingers are not too cold to craft!
the temperature has definitely dropped as my knees
are not working like they do when it's warm!
not to mention a few other things!
Well thought I would make hubby a Christmas card with
that lovely Charlies Ark stamp, available here
as you can see I have written my own little message in
the heart shape :0) xx

I stamped the imaged with Staz On London Fog and then used a
grey Marvy Le Plume II water colour pen to write my message.
Just think of the possibilities, Merry Christmas could go in
there, Happy New Year and lots more! Image has been coloured
with water colour paints, I have used my branch punch to form
the heart shaped around the image, just by building up layers.
Snowflakes from punch with little red diamantes for centre.
Flowers ribbons and papers from stash. Sentiment from pc
with eyelets either end to fasten.
TFL. Happy Crafting, Sue xx

I LOVE SNOW!

2011-11-21T21:36:00.005Z

Hello to all your lovely bloggers, I hope you are well, I just had
to show you this stamp, isn't this the cutest? Oooh I loooove it!
definately going to be my favourite this Crimbo!
It is from the Charlie's Ark Range of stamps available from
Katy Sue Designs . I have stamped my image using Staz On,
London Fog and then painted it in water colour. Teal blue
card and ribbon (my fav colours too) :0) xx snowflake punch
and MS snowflake border punch, pearl dots and butchers twine
from stash. I have also added stickles in Crystal and for the
heart I have added Ruby Flower Soft from their Diamond
Range. Now over on the Flower Soft blog the challenge
this week is called Winter Blues and they want you to make a
winter themed card using blue in some way, so I think this
card fits the bill nicely, you could win some of their beautiful
fluffy puffy stuff in Polar White & Delphinium Blue, just the
ticket for Christmas cards and my lovely stamp, hee hee, so as
the saying goes, "You've got to be in it to win it"! so head on
over there and take a peek and join in the fun.
TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

WOYWW

2011-11-16T13:59:00.011Z

Hello lovely bloggers, I hope you are all fine and dandy and
busy with all your lovely creations.
Firstly, I couldn't play along last week on WOYWW
(hop on over to Julia's desk and have a little looksy at her
work in progress and while you're there, take a look around
at all those other creative work spaces too)!
last week as I had a wonderful day out in Cambridge to visit
the Fitzwillian Museum ......have you ever been there?

It's wonderful......

....with so many amazing things to see...

plus this exhibition was on

I would certainly recommend it!
Now, WOYWLW (Last Wednesday)! was this

I made this pressed flower card and laminated it.
I wanted to show you it, it was so easy to make.

I picked these Forget Me Nots from my garden
around May time and put them in my little ol' flower press.

Spelt out MUM with them on one side, then printed off some
little pictures and put them into heart borders
I
It's for my friend who lost her Mum in February,
the Memorial Service Sheet had a picture of these beautiful
flowers. I hope you are inspired!
TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

WOYWW and some,,,,,,,,,

2011-11-02T14:48:00.045Z

Hello my lovely bloggers, I hope you are all busy crafting away on
this beautiful day :0) I have quite a few things on my desk today
and also lots of things that have been and gone through the week.....
.....so starting with .................

all of these lovely Tequila Girls painted and ready to be
put onto cards, I think this has to be the most requested
card of all time now.........
can you see my new Vintage Typewriter stamp from
Creative Expressions in the background, ooh I am
itching to have a play with that one!)
Here are two of those girlies I made earlier.....

I would also like to give a Great Big Shout! to the lovely and
wonderfully talented Jan, AKA Lunch Lady Jan
please pop over to her fabulous bloggeroonie and see all
the lovely fabric goodies she makes, here are the ones she
made for me, well I ordered one scrummy Tote bag and
liked it soooooo much I ordered another one! and she
threw in my lovely bunting to boot! so I have a little festive
corner going on already, how fab is that?

Now, I must also add that her delivery of my order could not
have been any faster than if I had asked for it to arrive
yesterday! that's how fast it was; really! so if you feel like
treating yourself or your friends or family they make a
beautiful prezzie, ideal to carry your cream cakes round to
your friends houses :0)
So hop on over and take a peek at her gorgeous fabrics and all
the lovely things she makes.
Now just trying to get in on the act is my little Butterfly Garden
I made.....

Most of the papers are from K & Co and the punches are
various hearts and butterfly all mixed together with a lace
panel background and a wired organza ribbon, what do you think?
Next to pass through the conveyor belt (my desk) is another of the
Ballet slipper cards which is also proving quite popular, this
one is a bit smaller than the last...

Deep breath whooooooooooooooooo are you all still with me?
I Hope you all had a spooky creative Halloween, we had
friends over for dinner, one was a bit off colour though, as
you can see, so we decided to close the curtains and eat all
the sweets ourselves! IS THAT WRONG???

See how I turned my friend into a pussycat!

Impressed? just a twitch of the nose and
Voila! : *) xx
Now in the background there you can see one of my
paintings, I only finished it on Sunday, here is a
close up....

arrrrgggg....lots of faults................

......but you have to say right that's it, otherwise you are
faffing about forever! It's for my friend who is now a
pussycat!
and Finally! We celebrated our 18th Wedding Anniversary
last weekend, ahhhhh, I received these beautiful tropical
flowers from hubby :0)))))))))))))))) so he's in my good
books this week :0)

Wow, they were just beautiful, then we headed up to my favourite
place for inspiration....

To go and see.......

So we took the tube to.....

....Westminster

Walked along the South Bank.....

Big Ben Rocks at Three...

..made our way to

...Tate Britain for a bit of Culture

photographed our Inititals for future project

made our way back over Lambeth Bridge

..along the embankment again

Big Ben Rocks at Six!

...to Waterloo Station to see a brilliant production
of the Railway Children, the set is actually on the station
platform, it was really amazing when the Steam Train
pulled in, Wow who thinks up these wonderful ideas?

Saw this great sculpture of the Artist Terrance Cuneo who
painted steam trains and was also commissioned
to paint Queen Elizabeth II Coronation
then headed home past the London Eye

St. Pauls

and then our train home

Well I hope you had a fun journey, we certainly did,
Thanks for looking, I hope you are inspired, Happy Crafting
Sue xx
PS you need to hop on over to Julia's blog to play along :0)

Flower Power and my 15 minutes of fame!....

2011-10-27T10:19:00.019+01:00

and here is my 15 (well 16 minutes of fame)!
My Card ooooooh!! Create and Craft Rocks! hee hee

Selection of cards I made with Katy Sue Designs Floral Designs
CD, Floral Sentiments and Flower Soft, what an array of colour!
.....hello lovely bloggers, I hope you are all fine and dandy! Long
time no see! well I have a very good excuse don't you know,
I have been busy designing a selection
of cards for Katy Sue Designs, those lovely people up there in
the Great North of our Land who are the founders of that magical
fluffy puffy stuff better known as Flower Soft, and using their new
Floral Designs CD too, ooh have I had some fun with that :0))
The CD has all these beautiful different flower designs (and more)
which you can decoupage and which are also compatible with your
Spellbinders die cutting templates how fabby doodle is that!
Here are some of the cards I made and a little ole piccie of one
of my cards being showcased on none other than the Create and
Craft Channel, how Grand! with the lovely Noreen doing her bit.
Even hubby was grinning from ear to ear with excitement!

Beautiful Poppies

Little close up of that fabby Flower Soft in Black Ultra Fine,
it really brings those flowers to life.

Sunflowers (Sorry about the bad piccie)

Close up of the beautiful Lavender which I have decoupaged
and have added the beautiful Flower Soft from the Diamond Range
called Amethyst.

The CD consists of matching backing papers too.
There will be plenty more where these came from as I
have already made another two in the Lavender for
friends as requests.
Hop on over to their site and check out all their other
great card making and scrap booking goodies, there are
also lots of product ideas for you to see.
Thanks for looking, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

A New Concept in Card Making...

2011-09-25T13:53:00.011+01:00

Hello to all you lovely crafters out there a Happy
Sunny Sunday to you all, I hope you are well!
Thought I would show you my new design in the
card making world, I haven't seen this done before!
It all started when I was asked to do an anniversary
card for my friends husband, they were celebrating
13 years of marriage and were going on a trip on
the Orient Express!
So I Googled Orient Express and thought that these
papers and colours matched some of the upholstery
on the one of the carriages on the train!
Then her husband also asked me to do an Anniversary
card for her!!! so thought I would do a matching pair
(as they would be opening them together whilst away,)
that when put together completed the picture...get
my drift?...So this is the other one...

... this is both of them.....

...and when they come together......they look like this....

What do you think?

My friend said that when she was opening her card
she thought he had given her his one!!
Hee hee, how funny is that?
Papers are from K & Co, punches MS deep edge
scroll heart border punch and Large Vintage Dove
and Olive Branch. Happy Anniversary stamp by
Inca, Husband and Wife stamp by Hobby Art all
stamped and heat embossed with PSX Old Gold
embossing Tinsel, ribbon and flowers from stash.
Thanks for looking, I hope you are inspired,
Happy Crafting, Sue xx

WOYWW.....

2011-09-21T09:53:00.035+01:00

.....Ruby Slippers;

(Ruby Slippers before glitter....drawn and coloured
a with a red felt pen)
Hello to all you lovely creative
bloggers out there; The reason for this little
Thank you card being on my WOYWW is because
I spent a couple of days with my friend, we had two
lovely days in London, taking in the sights and also
going to the London Palladium where this production
is showing.

What a Wonderful Wizardly production it is too;
I would highly recommend it!
The following day we visited the site of the 2012 Olympics
in Stratford, a place not far from where I grew up and
which I worked in and around for 22 years! My very first job
was in Stratford in a little office fresh from secretarial
college and where I stayed for 11 years, I really do
have fond memories. It brought a lump to my throat
to see all the changes and developments which are
taking place there, it is mind blowing to see
the transformation; I would never in a million
years or in my wildest dreams, thought
that this would ever happen here!!!
Well I think it just goes to show that anything is
possible! Don't you?

A Sign of the Times! (View Tube)

The main Olympic Stadium......

This piece of helter skelter art? Or Orbital Tower
will be used as a viewing point and is costing no
less than 19million pounds! blimey, (What recession?)
here is a link to your 2012 Olympic Guide

Aquatics Centre!

Ye Olde Stratford Bus Station!

Westfield Shopping Centre, Stratford City!
the week before the opening; A long long way away
from The Mall Shopping Centre where I used to
lunch many moons ago! There was no Tiffany's
store to browse, that's for sure! hee hee
On the second day we headed up town again to
visit the National Portrait Gallery they had the
BP awards, Wow, the standard of work was truly
amazing;

Then on to Giraffe to meet up with friends for dinner
and cocktails!

and for those of you who (like me) Love, love, love
London here is my little collection
of piccies along the way:-

The Wonderful St Paul's Cathedral

and this fabulous stained glass design has given
me inspiration for colours on a card!

The Writings On the Wall!

The famous lions at Trafalgar Square................

Conjunctive Composition!

The Strand

And something we all rely on to get our cards
and parcels to and fro........
So getting back to crafting.... this little card was
made for....yes you guessed it, A Beautician!

Stamped with Papermania decorative corner stamp
in Versa Color Brown, Sentiments done on PC and
gems and pearls added to swirls.

Inside, again sentiment done on PC.
This little Party girl has been out on the tiles again!

Digi image from Bugaboo Stamps papers from
k & Co recycled. Coloured with water colour
paints and added Stickles Stardust!

finally made this Toastmaster card, from my own
design, papers from stash, gavel from tinternet.
Thanks for looking, happy crafting to you all, Sue xx

Everything is beautiful at the Ballet...

2011-09-02T10:58:00.007+01:00

Hello lovely bloggers, hope you are all fine and dandy on
this supposedly rainy day!!! errr not!
Here is my finished card for my beautiful German
Student Rosalie, ballet shoes were decoupaged
pink papers and ribbon from stash, distressed sides
and inked with TH antique linen, stickler sparkle
around all the edges, for her name I used doodlebug
rub-ons.

Here's the inside, just smaller ballet shoes to continue
the theme.

and finally the little flap of paper unfolds so I can write
a nice long letter! Single rose bud at the top (as her name
is Rosie)! with a touch of tulle underneath.
Thanks for looking, have a fan dabby dosey weekend,
Happy Crafting, Sue xx

WOYWW & Y!

2011-08-31T13:19:00.012+01:00

Hello blogland, hope everyone is happily crafting away, I still
get excited even after eleven years of card making when I am
full of ideas and they come together, are you?
Obviously when they don't it's really frustrating and also when
you are all out of ideas too!!! Do you feel that way too?
Here's what I have been working on today, WOWWW.......

This little 60th card for a friend. These pretty papers are
from Prima, Sweet Fairy collection. Flowers from stash and
sentiment from pc, really simple but very pretty;
(no kitten in sight, she is in the dog house so to speak!) the
little minx knocked a whole cup of tea out of my hands as she
leapt at me which ended up over the bed so as not to scald
anyone, which led to me changing the bedding, quilt,
pillowcases, pillow protectors, mattress protector, cleaning
the mattress and carpet, in fact everything!!!
She ain't looking so cute today!

Anyway just to the left of my 60th card you will see these
pretty little ballet shoes, well I am in the process of making
a card for a beautiful German student who had been staying
with me a few weeks ago, she was only 12 and is attending
the famous John Cranko ballet school in Stuttgart, it
was amazing just watching her practise, I felt very honoured
and totally in awe of such poise and posture. She had four
years of just building her muscles and feet strength before
being accepted here. I intend to decoupage these pretty
little shoes and then add some ribbon, I will post the
card when I have finished.
Also not on my desk but in the bathroom! I have been busy
cleaning some errrr well quite a few of my stamps, naughty

naughty, can you see how long they have been building up
for? Well as I was cleaning them I saw the Easter ones!!!
Oh dear, that is really really bad, I do give them a little wipe
with the baby wipes, but some were really gunked up with
embossing inks! eeeeek, then I noticed a Valentine one!!!
Bad really bad! not only for my desk space but also my
poor stamps! They are all washed and cleaned now and
from this day forward I will try and clean them as I go along!

This is another 21st card I had to do too, for a friend's
Grandson, he is a Community Support Officer, do you
like his Hi Vis 21, I also tried to match the colours
of his uniform. The 21 key template was from tinternet,

It glowed in the dark too which looked really cool!

and finally......Yesterday's desk, Tuesday is my art afternoon
and this is what I painted in water colour....

I can't take credit for the originality of the picture as I
copied it from an art magazine, but it's my take on it!
Click on piccies for a close up!
Thanks for looking, happy crafting to you, Sue xx

Glamour Puss!

2011-08-26T18:02:00.005+01:00

Hello lovely bloggers, well little Baby Belle went to the vets
today for a check-up and her injections.....as he was sifting
through her fur, what did he find?............No Fleas just
GLITTER!!! ha ha, it was so funny, he said, "She has some
kind of glitter or sparkle on her fur", I said "Oh that's where
I've been making cards on my desk, she lept up and had
been laying on it"!
Well move over Glitter Girls, we have a new Glamour
Puss on the horizon!
Here is the card I was making when the little minx
decided to leap onto my desk, had to be just as I was
putting glitter on the 21!

Quite like the mixture of Black, Gold, Silver and
Red!

Have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, Happy Crafting,
Sue xx

WOYWW and New Kit on the Blog!

2011-08-24T16:23:00.003+01:00

Hello lovely bloggers, hope you are all fine and dandy today,
I thought I would show you whats on my work desk today,
WOYWW , as you can see it's a complete mess but in between
all the creative chaos (who am I trying to kid)? there is a special
little furry friend I would like you to meet, she is a new addition
to our family and her name is Belle, well I have an array
of names for her at the moment, Baby Belle as in the cheese, so I
am going around the house singing ba ba ba, ba baby Belle! yes
I know I am mad!! Belles Belle, Belly? mischief moo!, minx,
terror, to name but a few. Well she seems to enjoy the creative
chaos that is my desk, room, home and is loving all the buttons,
ribbons, paper and string she can play with too :0 ) She
seems to be settling in quite nicely although Milton, the big
white fluffy Boss Cat is Not Amused!

Here she is looking at the DoCrafts Website, we were looking
for some inspiration for this pop-up card I made

and I am really pleased with the way it turned out.
I also made this, the digi download is really popular with the
women folk out there, can't think why? The image is from
Bugaboo Stamps they have some fab digi images go
take a peek!

Can you see the blurred sentiment, well it was a happy
mistake as the "Glitter Girls" say, it must have got stuck
in the printer and came out a bit blurred but I thought it
was quite appropriate after one too many! so decided to
leave it like that!

I also made this one today too (I was on a roll)!

The backing paper and frame were all hand made by my
own fair hands and also the fishing rod and sign, the fish
I copied from tinternet and cut out and added some
sparkle, the net I made with a little bit of tulle and
timber brown staz-on to age it.

So after all that crafting there is only one thing left to do ...

....... take a cat nap zzzzzzzzzz
Oh and if there is limited space on the desk.....

...spread out a little!
Happy Crafting, TFL, Sue xx

Card from one of my Watercolour Paintings...

2011-08-15T15:34:00.011+01:00

Hello beautiful crafters, a very happy Monday to you
all. How are you all? busy I expect judging by the Christmas
cards some of you have already made!!! Wow where
is the year going??? I hope you are all happy crafting
and inspiring others with your wonderful creations;
Today I thought I would show you a card I have made from
one of my watercolour paintings. It is of our wonderful cat
Milton, he is such a loving cat and a very handsome one at
that, don't you think? He is the Lord of our Manor :0) xx
This picture is from an old post which you can find here:-
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u2ad_yuTr48/S-7OA2aPqzI/AAAAAAAACPY/YA1t1CcRNDQ/s320/bag3.jpg

This is my drawing which I then painted with watercolours,
because of his white colouring I thought I would paint him
in a beautiful mix of lavender and pink colours.
As I was quite pleased with the finished painting I decided
to reproduce his face onto one of my bockingford paper cards.
and this is the finished product, what do you think?
It does replicate my watercolour picture so well due to the
texture of the card.

Here is the back of my card.
Something for you to think about as an alternative card.
Thanks for looking, and happy crafting, Sue xx

On Your Wedding Day

2011-07-16T22:07:00.014+01:00

Well a Big "HELLO - Blog Land", long time no see, I have
missed posting sooooooooooooooo much, but have just not
had the time! I decided to do an art course and have been
really into that for the past year and a half, so my spare
time was taken up with painting and putting together a
port folio for my exam, which I passed. Hooray!! I am with an
art group now which is "as and when" and leaves you to
your own devices so to speak which is a lot less intense,
although my work production has not been as great.
so in between all that I have still been making cards
and trying to view all of your wonderful blogs for inspiration.
I will post some of my art if anyone is interested??????
Well I can't believe this is my first posting since Crimbo!!!!how bad is that,
am I the worse blogger in the land? Er, YES!
Thought I would post this little Wedding Card I made for a
friend, I hope you like it :0) xx

Piccie of the inside which shows each page stamped
with different heart design stamps, the one on the
left is from the Range I think as it does not appear to
have any brand name on it so may have come from
their bargain bucket! the one on the right is from
PSX called Vine & Rose Heart, stamped with TH
Vintage Photo, sentiment is from PC.

Heart on left is Santa Rosa PSX another golden oldie!

The "On Your Wedding Day" stamp is also from Santa Rosa
PSX and I really love this stamp, it was one of the first ones
I bought when I started card making. Ink used TH Victorian
Velvet.I have personalised it with the Bride and Grooms
names along the top done on PC and also the date which is
along the side where the white ribbon is. The wedding
definition is photo-copied from a dictionary and then
distressed with TH Vintage Photo.Lace is from stash.
I have cut a normal square into the heart shape. embellished
with paper roses and pearls from stash. I have just seen over
on Simon Says blog that they are trying to get 1000 entries
into their "Anything Goes" challenge this week, so I am
linking this card to that, so if you fancy some fantastic prizes
and also help them break the record and make their wish
come true why don't you enter; Nothing ventured, nothing
gained!! xx

I also made these cards for the Mother of the Bride and
Mother of the Groom, I really enjoyed designing these
to match the colour of their outfits. All card from stash
and designed and made by me

Thanks for looking, I hope all my lovely blogging buddies
are well and busy and happy crafting, Sue xx

Oh Christmas Tree!

2010-12-23T11:09:00.005Z

Well seeing as I have finished hubby's card with 1 day to spare,
I thought I would share it with you all! HOORAY!...... it was

inspired by this one by Terry, wow what a fab job she has

made of her tree!!! I hand drew and cut out my template

for the tree and then placed it onto a square card with the

fold at the top. Punched a hole at the very top then

threaded the ribbon to hang it from. Wow there are an

array of so many stamps on this that it would take me

ages to name them all so if you would like to know just send

me an email, all stamped and distressed with TH Vintage

Photo, I have used shrink plastic for the wording at the top

and made some little holly leaves and berries, then added

some crimbo Dress It Up! buttons; candy cane, robin, snowflakes

mittens and heart. Heart and Dove punch MS.

Hope you like it and hubby come to that!! TFL Sue xx

Eat, Drink & Be Merry!

2010-12-22T17:29:00.003Z

Hello lovely bloggers, the days just seem to be running away
with me, I have been admiring and am completely inspired by
all of your work, you are all such a talented bunch!
I have been creating but have had little or no time
to post them, I will try and be a better blogger next year, I
hope Santa does not hold it against me and decides not to leave
me any crafting goodies this year!!!
I wish all of you a Wonderful Christmas and a Healthy and Happy
and Creative 2011! xxSuexx

Pretty Polly!!!

2010-11-05T13:35:00.005Z

Wow have you seen these fantastical Big Ben landmark tights

they are just fab! they have some other great designs here

at my tights.com including, Paris, New York along with other

designs, go take a peek! TFL, Sue xx

Magical Christmas.....

2010-11-03T16:02:00.007Z

Hello to all you lovely crafters! Well this is my first Christmas
Card for 2010. After seeing all the lovely creations over on Simon
Says Challenge I just had to play along, Simon Says are you All
White! which means everything on your card has to be White
apart from your image which can be coloured! I have used this
beautiful little image by Leanne Ellis, it is a fundraiser stamp

and 100% of the profits go to Breast Cancer, it's available here

at Funky Kits. I have painted my image with water colours then

drew around the image on the front of the card and cut out an

aperture with my craft knife. I have set the image inside the

card but once the card is closed wanted it to look like she was

daydreaming out of the window, she is set onto a lovely doily

and I have used lots of stickles Star Dust to make her sparkle.

For the front of the card I have punched these fab branches

to look like a snowy wisteria growing up the front of the house

just outside the window and also punched these lovely snowflakes

from glitter card and added some crystal stones to the centre.

I have also added lots of Star Dust stickles to the branches but it

has not shown up that well!

Finally I have stamped and embossed the sentiment with

Colour Box MetaleXtra pigment ink and embossed with Stamp n

Stuff Kaleidoscope embossing powder then heat set.

Punched my little eyelet and added a LLB Tassel. I am also

entering this card into the ABC Christmas Challenge this week

which is W for Winter Wonderland. TFL. Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Imagine, Create, Inspire!

2010-11-02T13:01:00.010Z

Hello to all you beautiful bloggers out there, I hope your day is

a happy creative one, I made this little tag today which is made

from some handmade paper, that I actually made!!! Whooo hoo

I went on a paper making course in the summer, only for a couple
of hours and produced a few sheets of beautiful paper from

tea bags, leaves and things you would never ever think of putting

into your paper! I then distressed it with an Antique Gold embossing

pad from Encore!

Little close up of that cherub!
I added some different scraps of paper and hessian fabric,

flowers, ribbon and embellishments, all from stash and

hey presto!

The sentiments have been created on the computer.

Hope you like it and it gives you some inspiration,

TFL,Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Clayton's Bookmark...

2010-10-29T14:11:00.009+01:00

.....and Card!

Hello Blog land, yes it's me again, well my creative fingers have

been really busy so has my brain, does anyone else get this where

there is not enough hours in the day to complete all the different

ideas that are flowing through your brain and you don't have

enough hands either???? well that's my problem at the moment

hence my craft room looking like a bombs hit it!! Hee hee,

Here is a little bookmark I have made today with this beautiful

image from Sugar Nellie,

isn't it gorgeous? It is for a neighbour who had a little boy

I think about 3 months ago now!! tutt tutt, nothing changes,

well I have finally finished this little gift and card for him. He

can probably read by now!! Now this book mark has been made

using lots of different card stock from my bits and bobs box so

I have no idea where they are from!! Sorry! My image has been

water coloured with paints, ribbon is from stash. The design is

from Marlene's sketch over at the Sugar Bowl so I will enter it

into that Challenge which also has the theme "One for the boys"!

I am also entering this into YNS (Your Next Stamp) challenge

blog as they asking you to create a bookmark! So head on over

to these fab blogs and check out the goodies on offer and join

in the fun!

A little close up of the pram with Clayton's name popping out

on the heart.

TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Double Double, Toil and Trouble.......

2010-10-28T14:33:00.008+01:00

.......Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble.

Hello lovely crafters, I hope your hands are busy and your
creativity is overflowing. I thought I would make a Halloween
card today as it is nearing that Spooky time of year again!
Don't you just love this little Tilda with that cobweb between
her hat and broom.
I have coloured her with my water colour paints and am
really pleased with the effects of the three colours together,
purple, black and orange. The bat and pumpkin in the corners
are just sequins from a pack. The little book of spells I made
up from some purple glitter paper for the cover and inside some
white card which I have handwritten spells and added two
punched stars.

This is the black backing card I made by just drawing the web
with stickles Stardust, what a fab effect don't you think?

I also made the orange backing paper by printing Shakespeare's
Double Double toil and trouble onto it from the Computer/

here is a little close up of Tilda's book of Spells!
I hope you all have a Spooktacular Halloween, TFL Sue xx

Just a Note!

2010-10-27T15:23:00.003+01:00

Hello lovely bloggers I just had to give this little Tilda an inking

she has been sitting there waiting patiently playing a little tune

every time I see her; so I have followed this fab sketch by

the lovely Jacque over on Friday Sketchers. Tilda has been

water coloured with paints and Le Plume II water colour pens,

all papers are K & Co recycled apart from worded paper which is

K & Co Life's Journey, lace, flower and pearl heart from stash,

sentiment done on computer onto music paper from photo bucket.

Think that's it have a lovely Wednesday, TFL, Sue xx

17th Wedding Anniversary Card

2010-10-26T19:32:00.010+01:00

Good Evening to all you lovely crafty bloggers, thought I would
share with you the wallet card I made for Hubby for our
17th Wedding Anniversary!!! I was surfing the net as
you do and found this beautiful poem which in turn
inspired this card.....

Front of wallet (which I made from a piece of A4 craft card)
stamped with the swirl stamp from PM Summer Bloom in
Collection with Jet Black Staz On, heart border punch is from
Fiskars and the pretty heart punch is Martha Stewart.
Distressed with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo

Hearts on inside are drawn freehand and cut out from two
complementary papers, fixed with eyelets and tied together
with string.

All wording printed from PC with the words I wanted to
emphasize in Red.

Here is the beautiful poem,

Back of card insert.

TFL, Sue xx

Fabulous Fifty!

2010-10-25T18:12:00.003+01:00

Here's my card for the Papertake Weekly challenge this week
which is stick a number on it! this fab image is a digi
download from Bugaboo Stamps they have some really fab
fun images and if you play along will get the chance to win
7 images of your choice!! What are you waiting for???
I watercoloured my image and added stickles Star Dust to
her party outfit! Isn't she fabulous Dharling!!!
This leopard print paper is from an old
DCWV pad but the front has come off so don't know which
collection, Sorry! I drew around a template for the 5 and o
and cut out with scissors, heart punched from same paper.
Here's a glittery close up! Ooh that looks painful, eat your
heart out Felicity Kendal
Think that's it, Happy Crafting, TFL, Sue xx

Pretty In Pink!

2010-10-25T15:42:00.005+01:00

Hello Blogland, hello to all my lovely patient followers too, sorry

it's been so long!!!! Well this weeks Just Magnolia Challenge has

got to be one Not to miss! October is Breast Cancer Awareness

Month and as some of you know the lovely Jacque who is a

member of the design team is also celebrating beating the disease,

"What wonderful news", she is one amazing lady and her cards

are the most beautiful creations! So please do join in the fun,

there are lots of goodies to win and also over on Jacque's blog

she is offering the chance to win some pink sweet stuff too!

She wants everyone to be made aware! so please remember

"The Best Protection is Early Detection"!

Onto my card ingredients, this little lacey lady is so pretty

don't you think? I have used watercolours to paint Tilda, papers

are from PM Rose Garden collection. Roses, lace and ribbons from

stash. Sentiment computer generated butterfly stamp from

Time Out Holland??? or my local craft shop!!! hee hee,
Here's a little close up, still can't see all the sparkly dust

on her!! never mind!

I hope you are all fit and well, happy crafting to you all.

TFL Sue xx

Things to make you smile :o) !

2010-06-27T12:40:00.007+01:00

Hello Blog land sorry for my evasion but my hands have been
busy, I will post the cards I have been making next week!....
Meanwhile, back at the ranch!!!........
"COME ON ENGLAND"!!! we have everything crossed and
may the best team win!
Thought I would post some piccies I have been
taking along the way.....
We visited our local Goat Farm.....

...where they also breed Alpacas for their wool, it is the

softest wool too! Smile!...........

"Hey! who turned the lights out? this one looked as though he

was from the seventies!

Does My Bum Look Big In This?

Now you see me....

...now you don't!

http://www.farminguk.com/alpacas/alpacas.asp

This is one of their goats, I think he was creating his own

Totem Pole!!! hee hee. Here is a link to the farm, it has

a Tea Room now too!

http://www.springstep-dairy.co.uk/products.htm

also please visit this wonderful blog, I am always inspired

and warmed by Martha's lovely creations

http://raining-rubber.blogspot.com/

enjoy the rest of the sunny weekend, Happy Crafting,

Sue xx

Niece to meet you!.....

2010-06-07T10:18:00.004+01:00

Hello all you lovely bloggers, hope you all had a fab week last
week, well the weather was just gorgeous and I managed to
wash everything in sight...quilts, pillows, cushions, tablecloths,
etc; anything that could be washed, was...... and dried, in no
time, thanks to the lovely weather!
Thought I would share this little piccie of our gorgeous little
Niece

who we met for the first time on Saturday, this is Seven

month old Cassie and this is her face after I fed her!! hee hee,

you should have seen the state of me as well, it looked as though

we had both been tangoed!!!! Have a lovely day, TFL, Sue xx

Grace Kelly....

2010-05-29T20:34:00.011+01:00

Style Icon....hello crafty bloggers a happy rainy Bank

Holiday to you all, it goes without saying, when there

is a BH in England you can guarantee rain!! Well no card

today I have been out sightseeing, shopping and absorbing

lots of inspiration for my cards! well that's my excuse

anyway. On Wednesday I visited this fab exhibition at

my all time favourite museum the Victoria & Albert and

what a wonderful place to spend the day

how fabby do it this pile of bricks then!!!! the entrance

well....."entrances you"!

just look at this gorgeous creation, nice colour combo

for your cards ladies?

so this is just as you enter, you can imagine the amount
of inspiration in this place you must go if you haven't been!

I also did a bit of elephant spotting, they have some fabulous
designs, there are over 250 scattered around London this link

explains the reason behind it.

Now whilst shopping I saw this Ted Baker dress.............

and have been dreaming about it ever since..ahhh....happy sigh! but it's £199.00 and I am trying to justify buying it!!! also the fact that I am only 5'2" and it will make me look even shorter!!! mmmmm but it's gorgeous!!! so today...you know I have a ring thing at the moment...I bought this.............

from Miss Selfridge, lots of peachy colours seem to be in at the moment! I also got this one.....

.
from Topshop...just to satisfy my butterfly thing. I did buy a beautiful dress as well but I don't want anyone
to see it yet!!! it's hubby's 40th in August so....it might be for
his party, haven't decided yet!! Well I have my sister and family here for the weekend, so eating, shopping, drinking and being merry, is the order of the w/e, I hope you all have a fabby BH, TFL, Sue xx

Chocolate Ice cream and Making.....

2010-05-24T11:36:00.009+01:00

...daisy chains, (see necklace and chocolate mush)...

Picking Dandylions.......

and making wishes......

Hello crafter's and a very happy Monday to you all, we had

the pleasure of the company of our beautiful little niece this

weekend for a sleepover and what a fab, fun, time we had, here

are some photos I took and then made into a little book as a

keepsake reminder of her stay with us....

The card is a small 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 aperture card, I folded

an extra smaller piece of white card and taped to the

inside to hold the photos which I stuck on with glue dots.

Added the cotton daisies to the front and corners of the pictures.

Enjoy your day, TFL, Sue xx

Dish of the Day!!!!

2010-05-21T14:16:00.008+01:00

No Cooking Required!! ha ha, Have you seen that new

Sports presenter on GMTV? Well I dreamt about him last

night!!! I don't even like sport!!! Why do you think

that was? I can't think for the life of me!! hee hee

anyway thought I'd show you my finished Star Wars card

Front....

Inside......

added a little pop up 40, sprinkled some gorgeous stamp n stuff
in kaleidoscope, this embossing powder is so fine and just sticks
to the paper and me and the cat without a hint of glue in sight,
so great for the galaxy backdrop, silver star peel offs added too!

I cut out this 40 from PC template in black card using a craft
knife, can you see the card I made to make my 40 "pop up"? I
would have normally cut this feature into the card but
this was an after-thought so made this separate one and
stuck it on, it works just as well! Also printed backdrop
to match the one from the film, with the name and date
of his birthday etc;

My finished horse card, complete with pink ribbon and card
and some lovely diamante studs around the horseshoe.
Also made this yesterday...

pink champers bottle, all from my own template. For the
foil top I used silver foil and stuck pink tissue paper to it,
wow what fun that was and I love the effect!
Happy Friday everyone, TFL, sweet dreams!! Sue xx

Girls Aren't Complicated......

2010-05-19T17:09:00.005+01:00

hee hee, I love this little saying, found it on the Internet and

thought how appropriate for the Magnolia Challenge this

week, which is...One for the Girls....

I love this little image, probably one of my favs, along with

all the others, hee hee, fav papers too, PM Rose Garden

water coloured my Tilda and used my "One and only COPIC"
EOO skin white, for her face, oooooh I need so many more

they just glide on and no blobs or fussing. Do you like her

little tie dye top, I know they are back in fashion so gave

it a little colour mixture. This lush ribbon just goes

so well, found it on my "recycle pile" from an Easter Egg.

Hearts punched and added gems. Larger heart stamped

with rose stamp (no name sorry)!

The beading came from the "recycle pile" too, it was the

chain for my glasses which broke, so this is part of it! ha ha.

Little heart charm from stash, butterfly MS.

Think that's everything, TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

WOYWW

2010-05-19T12:14:00.009+01:00

Hello to all you lovely crafters, happy Wednesday to you all and

what a glorious day it is too!! Here is my desk today, a few things

going on, no baby cards this week! This little Tilda is my work

in progress for the Magnolia Challenge this week, better

get my skates on! (nice stewed cup of tea to the left)!

Her little cheeks are as rosy as the paper!
The fabric hearts are going to be filled with lavender

to make little heart pillows

The horse and horseshoe I have done in Photoshop, this is

going to be made into a a card for a horse lover

and finally, this was tucked underneath......

this card is for a 40th Birthday for a Star Wards fan, I got the

image from the internet and have highlighted certain areas with

Glossy Accents, I am really pleased with the result.
Now for my "Bargain of the week"...........

...is this fabby book on Water Colours, 50p! Whoopee!! Thank you

very much! Come and share your creative mess with the world

of bloggers here, TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Hooray....

2010-05-15T17:21:00.012+01:00

...Put the flags Out!!

Hello to all you lovely crafter's working away on a Saturday,

although it doesn't feel like work! cause we love it soooooo

much!! Right? Right! Here is a little card I have made for a

neighbour who has been waiting 11 months for his wife

to return! and she finally arrived on Friday!

so made this little card with the saying at the top as I

thought it appropriate.

Here it is in the making.....Hooary????

Papers are from that lush PM Rose Garden, can't get

enough of those. Think I might have to decorate the

bedroom with them!! ha ha, don't think hubby would be

too pleased waking up to all those roses around him somehow!

Shame, might have to convince him it would be like bringing

the garden inside!!

Stamped letters are from Hero Arts stamped with Fushia

Pink Staz On. Scored at the top as you can see and fixed

to ribbon with ds tape. I have used 3d foam pads on the

back of the flags for effect. Sentiment done on P.C.

Now I have just been informed by a reliable source (Thanks

Haze x) that over on Daring Cardmakers Blog their challenge

this week is called A Bunting we will go and that's want they

want to see on your cards, so am going to enter this card.

Now whilst I'm here I must show you all this fabby doo

idea that I found whilst blog hopping and I have tried

and tested it and it is the easiest thing to make and must

be shared...

So what you do is find an old favourite T that you have

had since way back when that you can either no longer

fit into or just not the appropriate attire any more!, but

you just can't bear to part with it, right!!! See below...

Then turn it inside out and sew along the bottom of the T.
Turn back to right side and cut off arms including seams and

also neck, pull bottom of T holding onto new arm holes and the

seams will automatically roll under.

Voila! a fabby, trendy piece of nostalgia for you to hoard

or carry all your craft shopping about it in!!

Oh look who popped into view, can't miss a photo of my little

Milton!!

As I was saying, Voila, holds lots and lots of things too.

TFL, enjoy your weekend, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Crazy In Love!

2010-05-12T14:06:00.008+01:00

Hello, back again with my finished project; Get those sunglasses

out ladies!! and I don't mean for the sun! - here is the mess too,

ha ha

this was my only tidy desk as well!! as you can see, different mug

too, didn't have time to wash the other one up!! tee hee, thanks

for all your lovely comments, it did make me laugh that nearly

everyone commented on my crisps!! there are a lot of crisp

lovers out there!! uh huh!

So getting back to my card this fab stamp Drucilla, is a

Kraftin' Kimmie available here at Bunny Zoes, isn't she

wonderful, looks a bit madly in love to me, I pity the poor bloke

who that love voodoo doll is for!!! Hope he doesn't have a

rabbit!

I have water coloured my image, papers are from K & Co recycled

range, ribbon from stash, heart image also comes along with this

stamp, little bead hearts from £1.00 shop.

Words stamped with Hero Arts "letters" using Black Staz On.

I have used this fab sketch by Kellie over at Tickled Pink Stamps

Monthly Challenge Blog and will enter this months challenge,

why not hop on over and play along.

TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

WOYWDsW

2010-05-12T08:57:00.012+01:00

Hello crafty blog land, well I can't believe it's that day of the week
again! where does the time go, I have so many things to make and
there are just not enough days in the week or hours in the day!!!
Quote from self! :- You have the same amount of time as Einstein!!!
ha ha ha, Well he was obviously more organised than me, disciplined,
bigger brain etc; I could go on!
Anyway getting back to my desks....note the plural, thought I'd show
you around my room this week, you can see just how messy I am and
why the cat can't come and play any more, there just isn't any
room for him!!ha ha.

Desk 1- Pretty tidy I'd say!

Desk 2- mmmm bit more mess

Desk 3 - mmmmm dumping ground - I can't find anything

here!!!
Now getting back to desk 1, this has the Work In Action on it,

you can see I have my cup of VIP Tea to get me through the

morning; How big is that mug? well I bought it for hubby and

then figured it was easier to bring a big mug up than keep going

up and down the stairs for another cup!!! More time to craft!!

Zooming in on my bargains of the week. This gorgeous Life's

Journey Set from Inkadinkado, how much?........£3.99

WOW WEE - it retails at £15.99, blimey made up for my

expensive Copic!! Have you heard of Home Sense, it's an

outlet of TK MAXX only a bit more organised, they have lots

of Arty and Crafty Stuff as well as fabby doo things for the home,

shhh don't tell everyone or there'll be nothing left!!

Now I seem to have a ring thing going on at the moment

I spotted this gorgeous Enamel ring in Boots yesterday and

well, it just screamed "I'm Gorgeous" how can I resist, I

did think mmm could by me a rubber stamp for that?? does

anyone else do this?? I used to be such a fashion victim!

now it's mmm shall I get rubber or buy those new shoes?

then I think, No, who's going to see them in my craft room!!

ha ha ha!!

and last but not least, did you spot this crisp packet?

they are from yesterday, bit early for crisps, even for me!

I have a really bad addiction to them!! tut tut, well this

flavour is mmmmmmmmmm mouth watering.

So there you have it, I will be posting my little card

which I'm working on later today, can you see those fab

colours, blue, pink and green, with that crazy Kraftin

Kimmie Image, and also paying a visit to your creative

corners, TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

P.S. If you want to play along, (I think you should let the

world see your creativity) visit our lovely leader here!

Ruby Wedding Card

2010-05-11T18:57:00.007+01:00

Hello all your lovely crafters, busy with your nimble fingers

creating magic. hope you are all well. I thought I would

share this Ruby Wedding card I made for a commission

It was from her friends at work, they wanted these photos

of, the Church they were married in, the wedding pic (centre)

and to the side the actual Aisle they walked down ahhhhh.

I photo shopped to edit the shape and size etc;

The little poem down the side was from the Internet.

They also requested a little money wallet for her collection.

All of these hearts I have punched twice and each one has

a small punched heart with a letter which put together spells

"Ruby Wedding". On the reverse is the white heart which I

tinted with TH tattered rose, so each person could sign their

name and add a small message. Before fixing the two hearts

together I placed the long strip of ribbon in between to form

the heart chain, which is attached to the card.

Here is the front, all papers were from the PM signature

collection. Ribbon, Roses and card from stash.

Here is the whole ensemble with the eleven hearts tucked

into this side ribbon which I fixed under the papers before

sticking down. TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

From Both of Us....

2010-05-10T11:29:00.005+01:00

Hello everybody and a very happy Monday to you all.

Over at Magnolia this week it's their special monthly challenge

which is being sponsored by Simon says Stamps, they are asking

for two or more Magnolia images on your card, well as I don't have

any background stamps yet! (I love, love, love that Magnolia tree)!

I have used these two cuties for my card. I have coloured my

images with my Le Plume II pens this time are they just

the cutest? The papers are from DCWV Garden Party which

are just gorgeous all glittery and embossed which saved a bit

on the background stamping. I really do love this blue think

its my favourite shade

this is from a K & Co. recycled pad.Ribbon and ribbon rose are

from stash, the sentiment has been printed from PC and

mounted onto the hardboard oval (sorry can't remember where

from) and embellished with these blue metal roses.

Have a fabby day, TFL, Sue xx

Friends are the brightest flowers.......

2010-05-09T19:21:00.013+01:00

.....in the garden of life..

....hello everyone and a very happy Sunday evening to you all.

I thought it was about time I made a card after all that sewing!

So I have made this one for my friend Fiona, aka Fi Fi la Flea!

I love this little image by Leanne Ellis,

it is a fundraiser stamp and 100% of the profits go to

Breast Cancer, it's available here at Funky Kits.

This week over at the Sugar Bowl that v.talented lady Marlene

has produced this amazing sketch, what a fab one it is too!

I have rotated it as I preferred the large flower to the left.

I have water coloured my image then used TH distress inks-

aged Mahogany (love, love, love this)! and tattered rose to

distress all papers. Papers are from DC and are from a Wedding

Pack, I thought those gorgeous roses matched the one in

her hair! There was also a little extra theme to the challenge

which was to add something recycled onto your card so I used

this large flower which came off (fell, not pulled)! a silk bouquet

I have. You can see this got a bit of an inking too!

Can you see....I have slipped a little tag into that right hand

corner....shhhh no one will notice (it's not part of the sketch)
but I really wanted to used this stamp (which was way too big)

for my tag, so I stamped half on one side..

and the other half the other side... see!

Stamp from Hampton Art Stamps

added these two pearls at intervals and then my little

hand made with love charm on the end.

Sentiment printed from PC, ribbon and doily from stash.

Think that everything, enjoy the rest of your Sunday,

TFL, Happy Crafting, Suexx

WOYWW

2010-05-05T11:17:00.013+01:00

Hello and a very happy Wednesday to you all, well doesn't time
fly!!! I must have been having some fun along the way!!Hee hee
Here is my desk today....

Firstly can you spy my fabby fabric with the cats on? and.....
this is what's on the floor next to my desk, two bargains
of the week, this pillow which has the little split at the top, I
got for £1.00 from the Range, I just need the wadding from it
and will make Milton (a.k.a. Snooze Monster) a nice new bed!!
Will he be grateful? No, he will probably sniff at it and just jump
right back onto our bed!! I will make it anyway!!
Next to the pillow is this extremely gorgeous fabric from
Laura Ashley, they have a sale on at the moment and this
was reduced from....wait for it!..... £35.00!!! to £5.00!!WOW
with an extra 10% off!! Whoopee, don't know what I'm going
to do with that just yet, but as soon I get my hands to work with it
I will let you know, you can't miss a bargain like this now
can you girls! ...Now next on my desk is another set of baby cards,
this time Birth Announcement with a thank you note inside, I
have printed these off and just need to fix inside, then they will
go, (all 25 of them), plus those envelopes with matching pink hearts,
to their new owner.

Here's a little piccie of them, isn't she a cutie!
Next is a finished needle and pin book I have made with some
other beautiful LA fabric I have. I have been hand stitching on
and off for the last couple of weeks and finally finished it this
weekend! Hooray, here it is in stages......

Firstly when I cut out the fabric length I wanted to make
sure that this fab rose was directly on the front of the book!
I found this gorgeous ghost flower button too after rummaging
through my button box!

Then pinned all the lace and inside fabric together and
cut out 4 lengths of felt with pinking shears for the inside
to hold all the needles and pins.

This is the cover which I cut out from some very stiff card
and covered with some wadding!

Can you see that gorgeous card on my window sill? it's from
that very talented lady Maya, (go and visit her blog if you
haven't seen her work, it's just amazing)! what a gorgeous girl
she it, "Thanks Maya" it has pride of place in my posh easel
when I'm not photographing my cards.

So, getting back to my needle book, here is the finished
item....

Voila!!!
Finally, last but by no means least did you see this little
chap upside down on my desk? hee hee hee

Well he had a nasty fall from the window sill in the kitchen!
I do love him and every time I wipe the window sill down he
goes for a Burton!!! and falls right into the washing up bowl,
but today however, he hit hard terrain and his little sign broke,
so out came the glue and hey presto it's fixed, I might give him a
little touch up with some paint and pens as he is looking a
bit battered and bruised!! Phew must learn to clear my
desk before Wednesdays, how do writers sit at their computers
all day, typing away??? Hope you had fun looking and are
inspired, TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

What to do with your drooping roses!!!

2010-04-30T17:57:00.011+01:00

Ooh er Missus!! Well I just get so frustrated when this happens
to my new bunch of Roses, I know they are only supermarket
£3.99 jobs but as they are food for my soul I try have to have my
two vases filled nearly every week! So when this occurs after
just a day or so rather than take them back, out come the scissors
and just like Morticia Addams I chop their little heads off!

Voila!

These I think I left to dry out a bit in the vase first; Don't they
look fab already! So once they are completely dried out,
(I place them on top of my radiator cover shelf, on a paper napkin
or kitchen roll), make sure none are rotting, you will be able
to tell by the colour and if they don't appear to be drying very fast!

Then place them in a pretty dish, this one is from good old
Woolworth's a few years back, I miss Woolies!!!

and this little one is from Ikea about a couple of quid! So,
they can adorn any room and give off a natural perfume
and when that runs out I have been using this......

oh it's gorgeous, really really Rosy smelling mmmmm.

Now for a card! hee hee, here is just a simple one I made
yesterday for my friend birthday on Monday

I have made a similar one here if you want the instructionies!!
Have a fab weekend, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Classic Cottage Chintz

2010-04-29T17:41:00.013+01:00

Hello everyone, hope you have had a productive day today, here

are the lovely Chintzy fabrics I bought on Tuesday aren't they fab!

This is a picture of my old Peg bag! I bought this in Hawaii in 1993

and I do think it has seen better days don't you? although I really

can't bear to throw things away like this, as every time I hang my

washing on the line it brings back such wonderful memories...........

but it has to go.....so here is the new one I made today

With my new chinzy fabric.....

a lace doily that I stitched with ribbon to try to read Pegs!!

don't know if it looks like it though? and then threaded

the ribbon through the outline holes and tied a bow...

I then stitched it on by hand using a green silk thread that
is used for embroidery, as I wanted it quite thick I used all
six strands....

then finished off with some wide green ribbon for the pulls
either side, well I'm quite pleased with it. That sewing
machine is getting a little airing! hee hee
Here is WOYGTT...What's on your Garden Table Thursday!!Lol
I went outside to eat my sandwich at lunch time and where was
Milton!!!

chilling with Zesty the budgie!! ha ha!,,Ooh what a life!!

Here's a close up of that snooze monster!!
Hope you have a lovely evening, TFL, Sue xx

WOYWW

2010-04-28T18:15:00.008+01:00

Hello everyone, happy Wednesday to you all, I thought I would
share with you today what has been on my work desk through-
out the day (well some of it)! firstly I made these...............
.....little "Thank You" baby cards, 20 of them, I didn't make
them all today, but finished them off and they are now winging
their way to their new owner.

All boxed and ready for their journey to South Glam!
I also took a picture of my purchases yesterday, firstly
this little beauty caught my eye...

Oooh this is going to be fab for Summer and a steal at £3.00!!

I also splashed out and bought my first...............ever...........
COPIC MARKER!!! Dun Dun Dun SHOCK HORROR!!!
is this the road to financial ruin???
Well I only bought one but at £6.83 each!!!
So there you have it..I also purchased some fabby fabric
all chintzy and gorgeous but my hubby has arrived home
and wants his dinner!!! so off to the kitchen I must go.
TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Oooh Look Who's Made her little Nest.....

2010-04-23T14:52:00.009+01:00

outside our little Nest!!!

Whilst we putting our flag up today, look what we spotted in

amongst the budding Wisteria tree........oh I was so excited I

rushed outside in my dressing gown and started to take these

pictures...enjoy

Can you believe the plastic twine and bag in there?
Click picture for a closer view.

Can't wait for those little birdies to hatch, hopefully before the
Wisteria is in full bloom and covers it all up!
TFL, Sue xx

A Very Happy St. George's Day

2010-04-23T09:35:00.005+01:00

Here is a plain and simple card to celebrate St. George's Day,
this beautiful Rose stamp is an oldie but a very much loved
and used one, it's from Rubber Stampede and I have inked
it with Timber Brown Staz On and stamped directly onto
this gorgeous red card stock from The Paper Mill Shop (saves
on colouring), cut out and mounted on 3d foam pads.

This poem is called -The True Dragon by Brian Patten

St George was out walking
He met a dragon on a hill,
It was wise and wonderful
Too glorious to kill

It slept amongst the wild thyme
Where the oxlips and violets grow
Its skin was a luminous fire
That made the English landscape glow

Its tears were England’s crystal rivers
Its breath the mist on England’s moors
Its larder was England’s orchards,
Its house was without doors

St George was in awe of it
It was a thing apart
He hid the sleeping dragon
Inside every English heart

So on this day let’s celebrate
England’s valleys full of light,
The green fire of the landscape
Lakes shivering with delight

Let’s celebrate St George’s Day,
The dragon in repose;
The brilliant lark ascending,
The yew, the oak, the rose

Have a fabulous Friday,TFL, Happy crafting Sue xx

More Fun with Fabric!

2010-04-22T20:15:00.005+01:00

Just made this fun card with some little pieces of fabric and some

paper off cuts, don't you think its amazing what you can do with

these little bits and pieces, that's why I hate throwing anything

away, there is always a use for it!!! The craft paper for the

the boat I have used part of a stamp from PSX Santa Rose

Journey and stamped first class, the little birdie at the top has

been made from my Cosmo Cricket papers and also the sea

waves, available here, sentiment hand written courtesy of

David Gray! he he, Sorry about the bad picture quality the

sun has gone to bed!! TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Happy Birthday Queenie!

2010-04-21T19:35:00.009+01:00

Well can you believe our lovely Queen is 84 years young today?

So in honour of our Queen and Country I have made an English

Lavender Pillow with a Union Jack on the front, very Chintzy it

is too!

I thought I would have a play with a difference today, as you

can see by the mess, it's fabric time, I intended to cover this

box, same as the Magnolia covered one (see last post)

in fabric with a Union Jack on the top, well that's

how it started!!! Then I liked it so much I thought I

would use it instead to make a little lavender pillow,

all stuffed with my vintage (2005) home grown, organic

Lavender, I cut and dry it every year from my garden

and store it in these old Sweetie Jars!! mmmmm wish you

could smell how lovely it is. All this fabric is either Laura Ashley

or old remnant's from curtains or pillows I've made, plus a

pair of old stretchy jeans cut up too!!!

Here's a little close up of these gorgeous fabrics and braid.

This is the back with silver heart used as a weighted button.

TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Just Magnolia Challenge Blog is One Year Old!!!

2010-04-18T15:51:00.007+01:00

Wow can you believe that? I always knew there would be some

beautiful creations, I never knew that there would be so many

though! with so much inspiration too! So I had to have

a go at this one, they also have a blog hop going on over there

this week so pop on over and play along. I have had this beautiful

Princess Tilda for a while and have been itching to give

her the old sprinkling with fairy dust!!! and you just can't have

too much of that now can you. This little stamp is my fav at

the moment!!! famous last words!! I decided to cover

this little box I had and use Mina's fab sketch on the lid.

The papers are from PM and this is my third pack!!!
they are called Rose Garden and are just beautiful!I have coloured

my Tilda with water colour paints and added stickles Star Dust

all over to make her sparkle.

I punched small holes around the oval and threaded ribbon,

then placed small diamante stones in between the gaps and also

on the bow at the bottom. Flowers are from stash, leaves have

been punched and the memories tag is also from the PM pack.

Lace and trim also from stash. Heart pearls from Artwork. The

lace border around the edges has been done with Martha Stewart

Doily punch.

Think that's everything, I hope you all enjoyed your Easter

Break and had lots of lovely choccie!!!

TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

My Little Chickadee!

2010-03-19T08:58:00.004Z

Aww how cute, holding this fluffy chick, this stamp is called Hey

Chickie and she is a Wags n Whiskers rubber stamp available

here. This card I am entering into three challenges,

Papertake Weekly Challenge Which asks for Lilac and Lemon

Wags n Whiskers Which asks for W & W stamp plus make your own

flowers and finally

Sketch Saturday with this fab sketch which I have rotated.

I think this little cutie fits all the briefs! Papers are from a pad

I think its an old PM one? Sorry, coloured my cutie pie with

water colour paints,

home made flowers are made with organza

ribbon and button, ribbon, lace and other flowers from stash,

sentiment is again I think PM, Have a lovely Friday and a great

weekend, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Bloomin' Nice....

2010-03-18T14:14:00.006Z

Hello to all your lovely bloggers, hope you are all well and creating

lots of hand made goodies, I have been having a little play today

with the papers I won in Nikki's candy and have come up with

this...the papers are the gorgeous Cosmo Cricket Joy Ride, I have

made the flower by cutting strips with my fancy scissors

and wrapping them in circles which I reduced in size as I went

along, then stuck them all inside each other, the back of the large

bloomer is from a large daisy punch. The heart leaves have been

drawn freehand and cut out. Tag is distressed with TH Vintage

Photo, sentiment from PC button from stash. Not my usual style

but it's the beginning of spring so thought I'd produce a large

bloomer! Hee hee, might even show it at Chelsea! TFL Sue xx

Two Card Tuesday, whooo....

2010-03-16T17:33:00.007Z

Hello and happy Tuesday to you all, I hope you are embracing this

glorious weather! although I must say it is quite deceiving, there am

I opening all the windows, next minute I had to put my heating on

as I was feeling cold!

I have made two cards today for two separate challenges the first

one is for the Sugar Bowl Challenge 31 following Judy's fab sketch

with the please include being Stars. So here is my little Rock

Star, with added stars, now this little rubber stamp is definitely

a Sugar Nellie but he doesn't appear to be on their website any

longer, can someone help? I can't think why, he is gorgeous!

I also forgot to put my base paper on before I stuck these two

pieces down, duh! I did try and lift them off but gave up as I

did not want a distressed look this time! Hee hee. I have water

coloured my image and used some eyelets for the centre stars

and the four corners, I have even got out some shrink plastic

(I forgot what fun this is) so I stamped and cut the corners of

this fab green shrinky stuff

then heated to make this little tag, tied with string,

which you can see got caught up because the hole was

too small but I like this effect ha ha so left it! the stamp

is from Dovecraft.

Keep Rockin sentiment was done with doodlebug rub-ons.

Now my next card is for the Digital Tuesday Challenge 50

which asks for something for St.Patrick's Day or lots of

Green! so here is my little take on this fab challenge,

This cutie little pie is called Lillian and she is a free
digi download from the lovely Scrapfairy blog here
those fabby four leaf clover flowers have been made
with my heart punches, large and small and fixed
together in the middle and I have cut the stalks out
freehand, how fab are they didn't even have to
look too hard for them ha! the little ditty (as they
say) I found in a Children's Big book of Stories and
Nursery Rhymes, I was reading some to my niece
on Sunday and came across this one!........ just to
let you know I had forgotten how horrible the
story of Snow White was!!! the Queen first tried
to strangle her, then sent the huntsman out to
kill her and bring back her heart and liver (which
he killed a bear and brought that back, and she
ate it)!!! Crikey!! then poisoned her, blimey
just because she was jealous of her beauty!! Scary
or what, who wants that weight on their shoulders!
anyway getting back to my card, water coloured
the lovely Lillian, I was itching to paint her pink
maybe next time, Think that's everything, have
a lovely evening, TFL, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Magnolia Sketch with my....Goodies Galore!

2010-03-10T14:52:00.007Z

Wahoo, well look at all this lovely stash, I didn't know where to

start when all this arrived from the lovely Nikki at Bunny Zoe's

my fab candy win had so many lovely things. So I thought the

best thing to do was to make a Thank you card to start with,

then use each stamp for a different challenge, I can now enter

so many more Hooray!! So a big Thank you Nikki also for your

adorable card, please click for a close up!. Here is my card (hope

you have received it by now)? I have followed Bev's fab sketch on

the Just Magnolia Challenge Blog, isn't this Tilda a little cutie,

you will find her here along with lots of other fabulous crafting

goodies! Papers are from Papermania Rose Garden collection

and are my faves at the moment, I just love all these Chintzy

Roses and Lushy Loo colours too! I really didn't want to cover

this paper up so I used a fab wide organza ribbon for the side

panel so the paper can show through, the bottom panel is

made from Cosmo Cricket paper punched swirls with x cut

punch. Butterfly is MS, flower with pearl centre from stash,

I have also punched one of the small roses with a small heart

shape punch which I have dangled from Tilda's hand. Tilda

has been coloured with my water colour paints, sentiment

from PC, Think that's everything, happy Friday to you all

and Happy Crafting, TFL, Sue xx

K......razy for these fab images..

2010-03-02T13:23:00.005Z

ooh don't you just love em!!

Made this card today for the new challenge 19 over at

Kraftin Kimmie's blog, which is buttons and bows, well

think there's ample on here! image has been water coloured

I have added some eyelets to the torn pieces of paper

and placed some Broderie Anglaise underneath then tied

with ribbon just like her corset! All papers buttons and

ribbon from stash, sentiment made on PC. Happy Sunny

Tuesday, TFL, Sue xx

P.S. You can get these fab stamps from the lovely Nikki here xx

Happy Days!!!

2010-03-01T17:23:00.003Z

Hello everyone, just can't believe my luck I also won the Challenge
on Kraftin Kimmies blog with my Pirate card, check out this
blog and join in the fun....well what a fab week last week was, I said
to hubby things happen in threes so go and do the lottery and
guess what........I didn't win! ha ha ha well I still feel
like I've won the lottery anyway, thank you all for your kind
comments and congratulations messages, Happy Crafting to you all,
Sue xx

I Won, I Won!!!!!

2010-02-26T17:27:00.003Z

Hooray, ooh I'm soooo excited, can't quite believe it but I won
all that fabby-do candy from the lovely Nikki at Bunny Zoe's
Blogoversary Candy, deep breaths, deep breaths, ooh squeal,
squeak, Wow I am looking forward to the postie delivering those
wonderful goodies think Christmas has come really really early,
now I may have to prepare some ready meals so I can stay in
my craft room longer! Thank you so much Nikki xx

"OOh aah, me hearties....

2010-02-23T21:46:00.011Z

HOW MUCH FUN HAVE I HAD????? This card was just a

delight to make, the image is a Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp and

this little character is called Billy Blyth, there is a great

challenge going on over at Kraftin' Kimmie's Blog (Create a

Scene) so I shall be entering this card into it.

There are some fab stamps in this Pirate range and I just love

them all!! I got my stamps from the lovely Nikki at the fab

Bunny Zoe's Craft shop and also that great skull charm,

which arrived the very next day! Whoopee!

I have made an easel card just so I could super embellish it!

The map has been made from DC Funky Vintage papers which

I have distressed using an emery board, lighter to scorch

and burn the holes (How much fun)!! and the smell mm

burning paper,

reminded me of our old coal fire! I added some thin gold paper

from a chocolate bar wrapping (extra energy needed)! hee hee,

placed it under the holes and between the card stock panels.

The trail has been made using red dashes with different locations,

Blood River, Serpent Pass,

Skullduggery etc; Do you like my little buried treasure

booty, all sorts of embellies plus the two gold coins were

stamped with the skull and cross bone stamp onto shrink

plastic, punched out with a small circular punch and

heated, these came out fab! The compass and flags were

printed from the computer, I have hand drawn the little

Pirate Spyglass and distressed it, all distressing has been

done using Tim Holtz Vintage Photo. Billy Blyth has been

water coloured and a little silver link has been added for

his earring! Plus I gave him a bit of eyeliner!! Think that

everything, hope you enjoy following the trail and you
>

find your pot of gold! TFL, Happy Crafting, Ooh I

have just seen over at A Spoonful of Sugar they

are asking for cards where you have used distress inks,

well this certainly has been inked and distressed, so I am

entering it into that fab challenge too, Sue xx

Happy St. Valentine's Day...

2010-02-13T17:14:00.010Z

....Hello and happy Sunday to all you romantics; Love is in the air,
everywhere I look around....breakfast in bed? Yes, Cornflakes with
hot milk mmmmmm! I got me a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and a
gorgeous card too xxxx

This is my Valentine Creation for hubby,

I just love this Simon & Lola image by Rachelle Anne Miller
from Funky Kits it is perfect for Anniversaries, Christmas and
now Valentine's Day, I have coloured it with my water colour
paints and have used a great sketch by Tiet over at the
Sugar Bowl and will enter it into their challenge 29 which asks
you to also include three flowers, two brads and one button.
The flowers I have made using my off cuts of paper, I shall be
making lots more of these, especially on my Mothers Day cards,
they are so simple to make and use up those odds and ends of
paper, I think they look quite cool too! Papers are from MME
Life Stories, the Cherish tag is also part of this Kit which I purchased
from Bunny Zoe's Crafts whom I must mention as the service
was so prompt, my goodies arrived the very next day; she
also has some fab charms and my gorgeous personalised stamp
which I blame Debby for!!! after seeing her newly acquired goodies
I just had to have one!!

so go and take a peek at both of these sites where you will no

doubt be inspired.

Right, one last thing to show you, we have been for a walk this

morning around some beautiful fishing lakes nearby, so with

Swiss Army Knife in hand.... this is my creation

S + P in a heart,

ahhh.......
and this is hubby's creation!!! well Tottenham were on and we had
to rush back!! Who says Romance is dead?

Have a lovely day, TFL Sue xx

Flower Pot Card...

2010-01-22T11:29:00.006Z

Hello and happy Friday to all you crafty card makers out there,

thought I would share this card that I made, it is in the shape of

a flower pot...the base card is an A5 single fold card, I opened it

out and scored along the top of the card about 5 cm down and

folded over to make the rim.

You can also see I have made a template and cut around it
with my craft knife (one side only) and folded it open to make
a stand when the card is glued together.

The papers are from K & Co, the flowers are from Prima,
all ribbon and lace from stash.

Finally the insert card has two eyelets for the ribbon loop
to pull the card out, I have co-ordinated it to match the pot
and also made a space for the sentiment to be written.
Thanks for looking, happy crafting, Sue xx

Guest Designer at Making Handmade Cards

2010-01-16T11:14:00.007Z

Hello and a happy Saturday to you all, I was asked to be a Guest
Designer by the lovely Jo at Making Handmade Cards and would
like to show you the two cards I have made with their fabby
E-Kit papers, the papers used on these two cards are from their
Flower Train Design kit which you can purchase here, I have
kept them as simple as possible and used the basic card-
making ingredients as the papers are just gorgeous,
I have torn several different size circles to achieve this
Vintage Rose effect embellishment, scrunched up and inked
edges, the centre brad is from Dovecraft.

Inside card, heart is drawn freehand and cut out with deckle
scissors as is the white card to write your sentiment. Velvet
Shocking Pink ribbon is from stash.

For this card I have punched and cut out the all of the

sentiments, which are printed onto the papers, using my

medium size flower punch, the fuller one is made up using

several layers and finished with a pearl bead in the centre.

They have a various range of great e-kits to choose from and

if you subscribe to their free Making Handmade Cards Newsletter

they are giving away a gorgeous E-Kit absolutely free!!!

TFL Sue xx

Soup-a-de-Duper...

2010-01-15T10:31:00.005Z

Hello everyone, I thought I would share my lovely Winter Soup

recipe with you, it is so easy and simple and you can put all

your own favourite ingredients in if you wish. This recipe

evolved from all my left over veggies from the Sunday dinner,

a few items I had left in the fridge and the wonderful sweet

tasting Butternut Squash from my dear friends dad who had

a bumper crop this year.....don't you think the colours are

amazing? no additives all natural ingredients and it tastes as

good as it looks. This one had 10 different vegetables in... I

chopped 2 small onions, half a swede (or 1 small one), 2 parsnips,

2 large potatoes, 1 large Butternut Squash, 2 leeks,

2 fresh tomatoes, 2 sticks of celery, 2 carrots and finally a small

tin of sweet corn, I then added 1 pint of Knorr vegetable stock

(1 cube) and added some black pepper, put all this in a casserole

dish and cook on gas 150 for 1 1/2 hours. Get some nice fresh

bread or crusty rolls and enjoy. TFL Sue xx

A Very Happy 2010!!!!

2010-01-14T17:02:00.009Z

Hello to all you lovely crafty bloggers, I hope you all had a fantastic

Christmas and that Santa was very generous to you, here is a little

poem I found that I would like to share and to wish you all a very

Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year.....

also here are a couple of Christmas cards I made that I didn't have

time to post as I had all of mine and hubbies family this year which

was full on busy, think we have only just recovered!!! but really

worth it, we all had a great time, lots if eating, drinking and being

merry......

Firstly these two little Tilda's were made for two Sisters, one a

Pink fan and the other a Purple fan, coloured with my water

colours. Papers, flowers and ribbons from stash, holographic

peel offs used for their names...

and finally these beautiful stamps are from a company called

Art Journey www.artjourney.nl I have stamped these onto

some paper doilies then added some ribbon and a little silver

bell to give the effect of baubles, the star stamp is from rubber

stampede and I have used Encore! ultimate metallic in Gold.

This fab company have some gorgeous original stamps, you must

have a peek at their site; they are based in Holland, I found

their website easy to navigate and they arrived in no time at all,

fantastic service and value for money, what more could you ask for!

TFL Sue xx

Star of Wonder....

2009-11-30T10:24:00.005Z

...star of Night, Charlie caught his pants alight!! ha ha do you
remember that one??Lol..

Hello and Happy Hurricane Monday to you all, well it's blowing

a gale here and surprise its raining too!!! I thought I would enter

this card into the Just Magnolia Challenge this week, well I know

it's not exactly the same as the sketch!!!.....but I gave my star

six points hoping that in some way it represents Martine's

sketch?? ha ha oh well I'll enter it anyway.. So this little cutie is

from the Christmas Collection, the star is cut out from a paper

doily which brought back memories from long ago, snipping little

bits out here and there to form the pattern on the inside,

(similar to snowflakes).

The other two stars have been made with a punch, papers are

from K & Co and WRMK, Christmas Merry. Riibbon flowers,

silver beading and all other embellies are from stash,

TFL and have a Happy Crafting Monday Sue xx

Is it a Card? Is it a Wall Hanging??..

2009-11-24T15:53:00.008Z

Here is a little close up of these cuties, it's a gloomy day as
you can probably tell from theses piccies!!!

...in fact it can be both!

I used an old curtain ring and stitched the ribbon through
it. I have used two ribbons for this effect.

Here is a before and after picture, as the tag is so

big it's hard o make out the sketch!

..Hello and happy Tuesday to you all, here is a card I made
today which I think will be Hubby's Christmas card. Don't you
think this little Sugar Nellie image is just adorable?

you can purchase it along with lots of other fab stamps

from Funky Kits . I am going to enter this into the

Sugar Bowl Challenge 24 which is this fab sketch by the

very talented Marlene, (if you are ever stuck for inspiration

just pay a visit to her blog)! she also asks for Zig-Zag to be

somewhere on your card. So for this card I have used DP

Basic Grey, Archaic, I have hand drawn all of the hearts and

hand drawn the zig- zag pattern then cut them out with

Pinking Shears, I have also used these on the three strips of

paper across the middle of the card. Ribbons, heart pearls

are from stash, smaller hearts done using a punch and then

distressed with an old emery board, sentiment if from FF,

stamped with Memento in Cottage Ivy, I think that everything,

Happy Crafting and TFL Sue xx

Two Easy Easel Cards!

2009-11-19T17:45:00.010Z

These two fabulous digi images can be purchased here at
Crafters Kitchen they have been produced in memory of
Layton, a gorgeous little boy who at 16 months old lost his
life to Meningitis. It is £4.00 for both. Please, please
buy these as not only are they fab images, all the proceeds
go to Meningitis Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign. Even if you are
not a crafter you can still purchase these, download them and
print them off for all those little people in your life to colour in!

Hello and happy Thursday to you, whats left of it!!
Well what do you know, two cards today and of the Easel shape,
I have seen loads of these and have been meaning to have a go.
So here they are, what fun to make and as there is more card
that means more to decorate!! Hooray!!! here's a little close up...

Friendship, even though I'm a cat lover, this pair look like they
are the best of friends. Coloured with my Watercolour
palette, papers and ribbon from stash, Friendship stamp from
Studio g, "Just for you" sentiment computer generated. Plain and
simple!

Again I have water coloured the image, Navy card from stash.
Snowflake DP is from PM A Winters Tale, Linen, fab papers in
this pack. Button and ribbon from stash, I have punched all of
these hearts and used doodlebug rub-ons for the Merry Christmas
then distressed the edges with Versa Color, Rose Red ink pad.
Snowflakes punched from iridescent glitter card and gem
stones on corners and heart from Make Me!

Think that's everything, enjoy the rest of your evening,
TFL Sue xx

Wedded Bliss!

2009-11-17T11:14:00.017Z

The heart reveals the sentiment then the tag to write your
message sits behind this.

Hello and Happy Tuesday to all you lovely crafters. Well thank
goodness the wet and windy weather seems to have left us!!!
Me and Hubby were actually doing some gardening on Saturday!!
Hail, Wind, Rain, Mud, you name it, it was thrown at us, I even
managed to get a few thorns in my fingers for good measure!!
Madness I hear you cry! but we had spent a small fortune at
the Garden Centre the previous weekend and thought lets just
get them in, it's now or never! What I did find funny though,
was one minute the road was covered with leaves and looked
a real mess, the next it was like God had taken a huge broom
and swept the whole lot away, as if by magic!
So back to this Wedding Card, it has taken me ages and I have
been working away at it in between other projects, as you can
see by the date on the card, it was over a month ago, but
hopefully it was worth waiting for!!

Here is a front back and side view of these lush papers.
I have threaded a wide ribbon through this lace to get
that lovely ruched effect.

So the papers I have used are from the gorgeous PM signature,

A Christmas Carol Linen pack.

All lace ribbon embellies are from my stash. Stamp "On your

Wedding Day" is by Santa Rosa, stamped with Versa Color in

Sand Beige and heat embossed. All edge distressing has been

done using the same ink pad.

Here is the card open fully the tag sits behind the sentiment.

Behind the heart flap are the Bride and Grooms names and

the date of their Wedding

Butterflies MS, punched twice once with plain white and the

top with same PM papers, also MS doily punch used, leaves

and hearts also from punch. The tag that sits behind panel

has been cut out from a template I made, all the same papers

have been used for this too. The Mocha pearlised card is from

my local craft shop,

Little close up of the inside, I have added a little scroll too

where I have written a little message for them.

think that's everything, Happy Crafting to you all TFL Sue xx

Remembrance Day in Britain

2009-11-11T15:54:00.005Z

LEST WE FORGET

November is the time of the year when we wear a red poppy in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for us during wars.
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month marks the signing of the Armistice, on 11th November 1918, to signal the end of World War One.
At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years continuous warfare.
Remembrance Day is on 11 November. It is a special day set aside to remember all those men and women who were killed during the two World Wars and other conflicts. At one time the day was known as Armistice Day and was renamed Remembrance Day after the Second World War.
Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday in November, which is usually the Sunday nearest to 11 November. Special services are held at war memorials and churches all over Britain.
A national ceremony takes place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London. The Queen lays the first wreath at the Cenotaph.
Wreaths are laid beside war memorials by companies, clubs and societies. People also leave small wooden crosses by the memorials in remembrance of a family member who died in war.
The "Last Post" is traditionally played to introduce the two minute silence in Remembrance Day ceremonies. It is usually ' played on a bugle. (In military life, 'The Last Post' marks the end of the day and the final farewell.)
The sounding of "Reveille" (or, more commonly, "The Rouse"), ends the two minute silence, followed by the recitation of the "Ode of Remembrance."
A poem called 'For the Fallen' is often read aloud during the ceremony; the most famous stanza of which reads:
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
Fourth stanza of 'For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon (1869 - 1943)
Poppy Day
Remembrance Day is also known as Poppy Day, because it is traditional to wear an artificial poppy. They are sold by the Royal British Legion, a charity dedicated to helping war veterans.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...

2009-11-11T12:46:00.011Z

...ooh I think that was one of my favourite Nursery Rhymes, I

even remember a magazine I used to get as a little girl called

Twinkle....does anyone else remember it?

Right on with my card, I just had to enter into the

Magnolia Challenge this week as I love distressing my cards,

it is second nature to me,

I love anything shabby chic and vintage too.

This card has a little star appearing on the front too and she

comes bearing gifts! This little Tilda and the envelope she is

sitting on are another two of the new Magnolia Christmas

stamps which I have water coloured and also used Tim Holtz

Vintage Photo distressing ink.

The little musical page is a PI stamp, stamped with Timber

Brown Staz On, ooh I just adore it, I think I might be using

this little one on a few cards!

Just wanted to show you this fab paper tearing ruler I use

for a great neat (if it can be neat) torn look! Its from Plaid

and although they are American based there are some outlets

in the UK.

This charm embellishment on the side I have made using Stamped

Spotty heart from Anita's stamped with Black Staz On and cut out,

I have punched two stars and smaller heart and used an

eyelet to hold them all together the string is knotted in the

eyelet and fixed at the back of the heart with the large brass

vintage jingle bell on the end. Smaller stars are punched from

gold mirri card. Ribbon and lace from stash, papers are from

D & D a Winters Tale which I have distressed around the edges

using an old emery board I have also used it on the large gold

star. Think that's everything, have a lovely Wednesday everyone

and Happy Crafting, TFL Sue xx

Santa's Little Helper!

2009-11-06T11:28:00.006Z

Ooooooooo I just get so excited when the Postie delivers some

new stamps, especially of the Magnolia kind!!! So after bursting

out a squeal of excitement and Mr Postie looking at me as if

I needed to get out more often Lol, (only fellow crazy

crafters will have experienced this excitement)!!! I quickly inked

up this little cutie and set to work in creating this little card...

sorry about the picture quality it is a bit overcast today, I even

waited until today to photograph it because it was even duller

yesterday, but if I wait for the sun to break through!! who knows

when it would get published? So for this little card I have used

the new Magnolia, Santa's Little Helper Stamp and Noel, stamped

with Black Staz On, Nyars Swirl stamped with Timber Brown

Staz On and used the stitching stamp for the outside border

stamped with Versa Color, Boysenberry! (apparently a cross

between a Raspberry, Blackberry and Loganberry)!! Well I never!

Papers are from D & D Christmas Collection A5 pack,

A Winter's Tale, I have also used some fabby doo fabric

which I bought last year from Hobbycraft, they are John

Louden Quilting and Craft Bundles and they come in some

great colours. I have used this for the heart (Which is

an Anitas stamp), stamped with Black Staz On and then

cut out, I have also used a patch behind the label. All

images coloured with my water colour palette. Fairy

heart lights are from Craft for Christmas pack, silver

Christmas Tree charm is from Syntigo, wreath is made

from wired Christmas decoration from the Range, all

ribbon, string, lace and buttons are from stash, I think thats

everything...

Here's a little close up of that cutie..ooooooooooo Happy

Friday everyone and Happy Crafting, TFL Sue xx

Love Blooms and Grows.....

2009-10-23T10:35:00.009+01:00

....in a heart Well-tended.

Hello to all you wonderfully talented bloggers out there, I

thought I would share with you the card I made for Hubby for

our 16th Wedding Anniversary which we celebrated last Friday.

According to my chart, from now until our 20th (China) there are no

representations i.e, silver, gold paper, wood etc;???

not happy about that! I did try to convince him that 16 years

represented the Tiffany store but to no avail!! Oh Well,

thought I would put a piccie of our Wedding Day on the

inside of the card as we were married on the 16th....
The large hearts have been created using punch as have the the leaves the smaller hearts and butterfly. The stem and pot I hand drew first and cut out. The sentiment running around the heart I made up (as I thought it fitted in with my Topiary theme and Anniversary), computer generated and cut out. The Roses, lace and ribbon from stash.

Gold heart is from a pack of buttons from Dress it Up!

The Happy Anniversary stamp is from Inca Stamps stamped

with Staz On in Timber Brown, Oh we look so young!!! ha ha

TFL and Happy Crafting Sue xx

May the Spirit of Christmas...

2009-10-07T10:30:00.003+01:00

...Fill your heart

...Oh another adorable stamp, there are so many

this year. This Sarah Kay one I know is going to be one

of my all time favourites. So, I have made a little door to

open on this card which reveals this beautiful image. I have

coloured it with my Le Plume II water colour pens.

The Gold braiding used around the door is a freebie from

latest Creativity Mag and the little stamped sentiment

is from the last issue. Stamped using Encore ultimate

metallic in Gold and heat embossed. Little gold flower

from stash.

These gorgeous papers are from PM are Silk Screened and

also double sided, lushy loo!

Little close up so you can see the magic dust sprinkle falling

from her wand!!Oooh I have also used Sparkles in Gold to

emphasize the Gold Tassel on the bottom of the curtain.

Christmas card No. 3 Yippee!! TFL Sue xx

Flower Power!!

2009-10-06T10:09:00.004+01:00

>

Chintz Overload!!!

Hello and a Happy Rainy Tuesday, it's about time too, my

garden is dryer than it's ever been and my poor plants are

gasping....Here's a little cutie, Tilda with the most beautiful

bouquet of flowers, this card reminds me of my Nan's

house all Chintz furniture and lace doilies!! I have followed

a fab sketch over at Ila's new Magnolia Challenge blog,

which you can find here if you fancy participating. Tilda

is coloured with my Le Plume II water colour pens, flowers

and lace from stash. MS doily punch and these beautiful

papers are from Making Memories, Vintage Rose Bouquet

Crackle. TFL Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Not a Halloween Card!!...

2009-10-04T17:39:00.006+01:00

I know the colours are the same and from a distance maybe

it could be mistaken for one... but I have made this card

for a Harley Davidson fan.....

Close up of this fab metal badge I got from Jolee's

Boutique. The T Shirt is a fab stamp I bought from

the NEC a few years ago, I have used it on so many

cards, especially great for stamping logo's and

messages on the front (I will post some of these another time)
the T Shirt stamp is shaped for the feminine outline but

I made a few alterations here and there and now it looks

like a mans one! Stamped onto black card and heat embossed

it with Colour Box, Metal Extra in Quicksilver, I love the effect

this has made on the T. Shirt, like a nice worn, smelly bikers

T Shirt Lol!! Silver paper embossed, think this really gives it

a great metal look, added eyelets to attach sentiment which I have

created on the computer. Other Harley images are from the

Internet. Little silver studs are just punched from silver mirri

card.

Inside punched star shapes and added silver 40's in peel offs.

TFL Happy Crafting Sue xx

Thailand Wedding

2009-10-04T09:52:00.008+01:00

Hello and Happy Sunday to all you creative crafters out there,

I thought I'd start blogging some of the cards I made and didn't

have time to publish, I did take photos of most of them but not

all unfortunately, they were put in the envelope and posted off

before I realised I hadn't taken a piccie!! oh well, 'C'est la vie....

this one was made for a couple whose wedding took place in

Thailand, no formula, I looked at some brochures with Thai

Weddings in and found beautiful pictures of exotic flowers and

gorgeous colours, so this is the result.

This card is tri-fold with a heart aperture, I have used different

colour flowers to create the heart shape and entwined it with

pearl beads. Punched butterflies and hearts, pearl hearts and

diamante stones PM, pearlised card and ribbon from stash.

TFL Happy Crafting Sue xx

Christmas Card No.2!!!

2009-10-02T15:24:00.008+01:00

Well this is another little Tilda cutie that I found, oooo

ooo.....I used to wonder what all the fuss was about!!

but now I'm hooked....as you can see I love this lovely

leaf punch too, I have even used the punched paper as

my layout paper on this card.

The paper for the tree trunk, the heart and the ground

is MME glitter book, beautiful papers in this book. Punched

used for heart and snowflakes. PM diamante stones in centre.

Sentiment stamp is from PM, stamped with Staz On

in Timber Brown. Image coloured with Le Plume II

water colour pens. Ribbons and lace (Snow) from

stash. Oh the little heart on the tree trunk is from the

wire stem of my flowers. Happy Friday to you all

and Happy Crafting, TFL Sue xx

Happy 17th Birthday Nicky Nacky Noo Noo!!

2009-10-01T14:43:00.006+01:00

Aww my gorgeous Niece is Seventeen on Saturday. I really don't

know where those years have gone but she is still a sweet beautiful

girl; Oh to be Seventeen! I think I can just about remember that far

back!! So this is the card I have made for her.

Small Red heart hand made paper is from paperchase, doily,

flowers, ribbon, lace and butterfly from stash, beautiful

h`Anglar is from my beautiful blogging buddie, Thank you

so much, coloured with water colour palette. Wooden heart

is from local craft shop, I have inked edges with Tim Holtz -

tattered rose - distress inks as well as edges of paper. Hand

made silver heart and pearl beads are from PM, name

doodlebug rub ons, happy birthday hand written.

TFL Happy Crafting Suexx

TransAtlanticSolo

2009-10-01T11:50:00.008+01:00

Talking of being 17 (the post above) this link
http://www.transatlanticsolo.com/index.php
takes you to a fab blog where Charles Pitcher is about to embark
upon a fantastic adventure, (if you can call it that)!
he is the Son of the Director who owned the Company
which first employed me when I was 17!!! I
thought you might like to have a read and get some
inspiration from him and his achievements so far.
He has already taken part in the world's toughest foot race
in March this year....The Marathon des Sables and is about
to cross the Atlantic Solo in a rowing boat!! Wow!!
Happy Rowing!! Sue xx

My First Christmas Card for 2009!!!

2009-09-27T13:26:00.027+01:00

Who's been to Church and lit a candle?.......

....here she comes......

Isn't she the cutest?

Ooh I just couldn't resist this little Tilda with her candle,
there is another stamp that is almost identical but I just
loved her tiny halo of flowers....
So onto this card, I have taken lots of photo's for a little
tutorial so you can see how it developed, I really don't
know what the outcome will be sometimes.....

Right, I really don't want to teach your grandmother
how to suck eggs so to speak, but lots of people are
really not aware of the time and effort we put into
our cards, some think that these images come ready
coloured and cut out and we just stick all these
ready made things onto our cards!!!!
NOT THE CASE!!! So here is my little Tilda,
Rubber Stamp stuck onto an acrylic block all ready
to be inked up with Staz On permanent ink. The
reason I have a 'New' sticker on this is, I have a few
that are not as wet, so rather than throw them out
I use them for any distressing or light stamping.
Here she is coloured-in using my Le Plume II
watercolour pens.

The idea for this card came when I was sorting
through my templates and found this beautiful Arch
shape, my original idea was of her looking
through the window (I will try that one next time)
then I thought I would have her coming through
the Church doors....

I cut the Arch shape out of the beautiful paper
that I would be using on my card (these papers
are My Mind's Eye signature Christmas glitter
Book and are a must)!!!
As my Tilda stamped image was not long enough
to reach the bottom of the door I used this blue
paper from Scenic Route. You can see that I have cut
the bottom of the white stamped image, just
leaving her feet, this is to give the impression that
she is walking onto the blue stone floor! I then added
to the outer stamped image distress inks from the
Tim Holtz range, Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap and
then Antique Linen.

Next the doors; I cut the Arch Shape in half and
drew lines from top to bottom on both doors
with my Le Plume II Dark Brown water colour
pen and then using a little water on my brush
blended the lines. Each door was stuck-on in two
places with ds tape and left to run along the door to
look like panels of wood going in the opposite direction.
I then used the same pen to enhance the detail
of wood in certain places, I also drew some
fine lines and wood knots with a fine water
colour brush.

This is so you can see how fabby doo this paper is,
don't know if the glitter shows up much?

Ok, the doors have had another coat of Tim Holtz
Vintage Photo distressing ink to give it a deeper
colour. Don't you think this double sided tape looks
pretty good!! ha ha

Here I am measuring where Tilda will be once
the front of the paper and doors sit on top of
her and where she will appear when the doors
open. Also the little sentiment I got from the
internet, "Bless us Lord this Christmas with
quietness of mind, Teach us to be patient and
always to be kind"! Just thought that was so
sweet.

As you can see I have torn the edges of the sentiment
as it was too big, I then edged it with these two
colours and they made this fab teal colour, (I think
I will be mixing those two again).

The door handles were made from the stems of my
paper roses, I twisted one end around my
finger to form the circle and twisted again
to secure, then punched two small holes in the door
with my eyelet gun and threaded them through...

twisted them again twice and cut off the
excess. Here is the back of the paper with the back
of the door showing, you can see how the door is only
fixed in two places either side.

How fabby doo does this door look!! I am really
pleased with it.

I have then attached some lace (secured only at
the back) to form my trellis for my climbing rose,
this is so I can glue some of my beautiful white
leaves underneath as well as on top.

Now I stick my Tilda and blue floor together
before securing to the card, the paper with the
doors is then finally attached to the card.

Now I can decorate the trellis with these beautiful
leaves I have punched, my paper roses I have twisted
together for form a climber, sequins, hearts and a little white
butterfly. (I know there are no butterflies at
Christmas)! The ribbon on the sentiment is from stash
as is the little silver bell and diamante star.
I have then finished off with some beautiful glistening
stickles in Crystal, around Tilda, my roses and butterfly..
If you look on the third and fourth picture at the top
of this post you will also see that I have painted in some
stones for the floor on the blue paper.

Here she is all lit up!
Phew is this a record for the longest post?
I hope you all managed to stay awake?
TFL, and Happy Crafting to you all, Sue xx

Scattered Pictures.....

2009-09-26T09:40:00.006+01:00

Hello Everyone, Happy Saturday to you all, I thought I'd show
you the last card I made, which was yesterday ha ha, (I still
have three months worth to blog OMG)!!!....anyway getting
back to this card. I recently met up with one of my cousin's
daughters, he died when he was only 38 some 23 years ago
and I have not seen her since she was three; to cut a long story
short myself and another cousin sorted through all our old
photo's from our parents and found some fab photos of her
Dad when he was a little boy, her Nan and Grandad who she
never met and her Dads sister (her Auntie) so she has found
a whole new family. My Mum, her Nan's sister, was the youngest
of 11!
I thought I would make her a lovely keepsake wallet card
containing all the photos we found and send it to her.......

Papers are K & Co, distressed with emery board and added
Tim Holtz vintage photo to edges and tags. Printed sentiments
from Computer onto Velum, the tiniest of eyelets I used on
the top tag to secure. Lace was threaded with ribbon and
string of pearl beads. Craft paper punched with Fiskers heart
border punch the butterfly is MS punch....

Flowers from stash, peeled back papers and inserted 'Family'
sentiment, again printed onto velum, distressed cream
card underneath, heart punch from Woodware.
Hope she likes it! TFL Happy Crafting, Sue xx

Laughter is the Best Medicine!

2009-09-25T10:12:00.003+01:00

Hello to all you lovely crafters!! I can only apologise profusely for
my lack of blogging! I know you are all probably sick and tired of
waiting!! so I thought I would start with making you all laugh out
loud at this fab video.....
.

..... hopefully you will come back soon to see some of my creations.
Happy Friday to you all and Happy Crafting, TFL Sue xx

Sweet Dreams! zzzzzz

2009-06-30T10:17:00.004+01:00

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday everyone. Ahh don't you think

this little stamp is the cutest? This is one of the stamps I won from

the very generous Mandi, how could you part with it?? Thank you

so much. I have water coloured the image, papers are from PM

signature Blueberry Hill and my local craft shop. Lace, buttons

and ribbon from stash. I am going to enter this into the

Colour Create Challenge this week which asks for Pistachio Green,

Aqua, and Powder Pink, with the optional extra of Buttons, well I

think this fits the bill just nicely. TFL Happy Crafting Sue xx

DL Wallet Card!

2009-06-29T10:04:00.007+01:00

Hello everybody, a happy Monday to you all, well what beautiful

weather!! just right for sitting in your cool craft rooms?? I have

a little DL size wallet card to show you today. I have seen a few

square wallet cards so thought I would have a go at a DL shaped

one! I scored an A4 piece of card on my Eazi score board, first

line DL second line A5 half fold, this allows for the flap to sit just

above the the second score line (purse like), this is just a bit

wider than a normal DL card so I also made a box to suit.

I covered the outside of card with this beautiful 12 x 12 paper

from K & Co (Daffodil), edged the flap with lace and added

two pearls.

Tied this beautiful gingham organza ribbon on the inside flap,

I also tied around wallet with bow to secure, (see first piccie)!

For the inside I have used this lovely co-ordinating paper

to cover the side pockets, centre page and back of tag.

This is the view of it standing and also the sentiment which

is on the tag. TFL Sue xx