Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #204 - Get Inky/Messy!!

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog.  So pleased that you dropped by!

It's time for another Challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers and the Theme this time around is to get Inky or Messy!!  Chanya is our host and, as always, you may create whatever you like as long as it meets the current Theme.
You may be pleased to know that we no longer have a Challenge limit, so you can enter as many other Challenges as you like.

Well, as usual, I have created a card.  Actually, I created a number of cards or, I really should say, I created a number of backgrounds using Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals, but most of them were a total failure!   Just couldn't seem to get the process right.  I simply ended up with  these big blobs in the middle of my paper but, I am happy to  say, that I did manage to get a couple I liked, one of which I am sharing here.

This was, actually, the first background I did .. and didn't really like at first.  Wasn't sure what kind of card I wanted to make either so, I put it aside, and tried again, and again, and again .. four times again, as a matter of fact, LOL!!  Finally I made another one that I quite liked and did start making a card with that one but, even that, wasn't working out for me.  So, I went back to the first one and, all of a sudden, it just came together!  

When I had a closer look at it, I really did start to like the different shades in the background and, once I started to build up the card, I was liking it more and more.

At first, I wasn't sure what to use for the cluster but then I remembered a card made recently by Lisa of A Mermaid's Craft.  She used a Chloe Stem Die by Memory Box on her card and it looked gorgeous and I remember thinking that I have that die but have never used it.  So, I got it out and voila! .. I love it!!

The die below is the Garland Threads Die by Altenew which I purchased just recently from
Megs Garden.  I really love that too!!

I didn't even use any prills this time!  Didn't think they were needed.

Tried to capture the shimmer on this photo, but it is really difficult to pick up with a camera.

In the end, I am really happy with my summery, shimmery card and I also know just the person to give it to!  All good!

Would love for you to pop on over to take a peek at the lovely creations by my Teamies.  I am sure you will be inspired to join in with Challenge!  Would love to see what you create!!
To check it all out, and to link up your entry simply follow the link below.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #204 - Get Messy/Inky!!

Thank you so much for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!!
Take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg

Fairly Clean and Simple.

Hello and welcome!!  So pleased you decided to come by!

Just a quick little post today to share another of my cards.   Not a lot of embellishment on this one so it was really quick to make. 

The black and white paper is from Maja.   I love the subtle florals on the background .. so pretty!  The top layer is by Kaisercraft from a collection called Rose Avenue.  Again, I love the subtle, faded  graphics and script.

The lovely chipboard flourish is by Little Birdie and I simply left it raw.

The bloom is the Puffy Paper Flower available from Megs Garden.  
I have to say I didn't purchase this bloom.  It was chosen as part of my DT consignment so I received it for free but, I also have to say, that I have purchased this flower in the past as it is one of my favorite go to flowers.  I really love the shape and size of it and, as I get them in white, I can spray them any colour I wish to match my card.  In this case I used Peacock Feather Distress Spray Stain.
  

I had quite a number of other embellies on my workbench such as, leaves and gauze, gems and twine, etc., which I had intended to use on this card.  But, when I got to this stage, I decided I really liked the look of it and left it as is.  Did have to add those prills and microbeads of course!  Can't do without those!!  LOL!!

Fairly clean, and really simple to make and, suitable for any occassion!
I like it .. hope you do too!!

Thank you so much for stopping by, I really appreciate your visit!
Have yourselves a wonderful day!
Take care and God Bless.

Birds and Blooms!

Hello everyone and welcome!  So pleased you decided to stop by!


So, here I am to share another card with you.  Cards are about all I'm creating at the moment.  I do want to make a little journal with my new Eileen Hull Journal Die which I won from Anne Redfern last year.  Haven't yet decided what kind of journal I wish to make so, it's still up in the air at the moment.  Hopefully though, I will get it done sometime soon.

In the meantime, here is my card.
It was made with some old papers from Maja and some new ones from Kaisercraft. 

The flowers I have used on this card are from Megs Garden.  I usually buy my flowers white and then colour them with sprays to match the card I am making. 

The chippie flourish is from 2Crafty Chipboard.  I lightened it by daubing with White CLoud Versa Magic.

I have had those cute little resin birds for many years.  I won these from a sweet lady called Sandie Edwards (I believe she is Sandie Bolt now).  She owned a site called Delightfully Crazy and she was a great help to me when I first started sharing my creations.   Sandie stopped blogging a few years ago and, unfortunately we have lost touch, but I still think of her often and was crazily delighted (LOL!!) when I rediscovered these little birds in my stash.

Finished the card off with a twine bow and some prills and microbeads!!

I have been hearing so much about all the crazy weather around the world and it is affecting us here too.  The last three days the temperature has been above 40degrees.  That is centigrade which is around 100 in fahrenheit!  Have been virtually hugging the airconditioner and will be so glad when it's over.  Hope the weather, wherever you are, is being kind to you and that you are having yourselves a lovely day.

Thank you so much for dropping by.
Take care and God Bless.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #203 - Bling's the Thing!

Hello everyone and welcome!!  Lovely to see you here!!

Its time for the first Challenge of 2018 over at Crafty Cardmakers and I am happy to say, I will be staying on for another Term.  Thank you Lin!!  I thoroughly enjoy working alongside all of the lovely ladies on this Team.  They are so creative and their inspiration certainly helps to keep the creative juices flowing!!

The Theme for this Challenge is Bling's the Thing and Lin (our fearless Leader) is our Host.  As always, you may create anything you like as long as it meets the Challenge criteria.

The papers I have used for this card are a mix from Maja (the dark blue) and Kaisercraft.

Added a row of tiny pearls to the pretty piece of lace attached to the side of the top layer.

The chippie is by 2 Crafty Chipboard .  I daubed it with Cloud White Versa Magic Stamp Pad to lighten it and then attached a large glass bead.   Usually these beads live at the bottom of the vase when I have fresh cut flowers to display.  They make it easy to keep the arrangement steady and they also make the flowers last a bit longer.  I have thought for a while that they could look nice on a card too so, when I was looking for that extra bit of bling, I popped one on and, luckily, I like it!!

The bloom is a paper Azalea which is available from Megs Garden, and was originally white.  To give it that gorgeous bright blue colour, I sprayed it with Peacock Feathers Distress Spray Stain.  Although you can't really see it, the stamens I used also have some glitter on the tips.

For a little more bling I added some gem flourishes to the flower cluster.
The leaf die is Flourish #14 by Cheery Lynn.

It is quite difficult to pick up the bling when you are photographing but, it does sparkle quite prettily in real life.

I invite you to go over and take a look at the gorgeous creations by my Teamies.  I'm sure you'll  be inspired to play along and link up your own creation.  Would love to see what you come up with!

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #203 - Bling's the Thing!!

Thank you so much for stopping by.
Take care and God Bless.

My first post for 2018

Hello everyone and welcome!  

Sorry I haven't been here for a little while but I took a bit of a break over the holidays just to recharge the batteries, so to speak.  So, as this is my first post for 2018, I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year and hope this year turns out to be your best one ever!!

It's taken me a while to get back into feeling creative again.  This card I am about to show you took ages to complete but, once I got a taste of crafting again, it just took off like a rocket and now I've got six of them waiting for a blog post!  LOL!!  It really was nice to get back into my craft room.
The papers used on this card are from a 6.5" x 6.5" paper pad by Kaisercraft  called Rose Avenue. A really pretty collection with pale blues and pinks  with a bit of green thrown in as well.

A few bits of pretty lace for interest and texture and I cut the top layer of paper with a Tim Holtz MM die.

I very rarely use such large flowers on my cards but I really love this one.  It's made by Little Birdie and I really love the almost grungy look of it.  A great contrast, I feel, to the delicate papers behind it.

There is a bit of gauze tucked in underneath the cluster and, of course, I had to add some prills and micro beads.

I do love those pretty papers and I also love the bottom layer peeking through the die cut.  Adds such a lot of interest I feel.

Before I go I would like to thank all of you for all the encouragement and support you gave me in 2017.  For all of the visits, and for all of the lovely comments I received, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I really do appreciate it all.  Thank You.

And, thank you also for your visit today.  I love that you came by to take a peek.
Take care and God Bless.