Happy Birthday

Good morning folks

February is a very busy month for teenage male birthdays. Now these are not my favourite cards to make so tend to be very boring (to me). In order to make them more interesting (for me) I decided to paper piece this stamp from Woodware -

I paper pieced the design with papers from First Edition's Travel Notes.

I have also used - 

• Woodware's huge Happy Birthday
• Travel notes paper pad from First Edition
• matt black card and Kraft card from Crafter's Companion
• canvas embossing folder from Crafter's Companion's textures range
• white Spectrum Noir pencil
• walnut stain and tea dye distress inks
• Spellbinder's 5x7 matting basics A

A close up of the embossing.

Very simple but I like the effect.

Thank you for stopping by

Lesley

Shine bright

Good morning everyone

I hope this Sunday morning finds you happy and well. I thought I would share another of my DT makes for the Verity Rose launch - 

I stamped her onto Neenah card and then coloured her with Spectrum Noir pens and Sparkle pens - 

• hair - EB8 and TN7
• skin - FS3, FS6, TN2 and PP1
• chair - BGR1, BGR3, EB8, CR8, CR10, CR11, olive jade and crystal clear
• clothes - CR8, CR10, CR11, blue topaz, starry sky and crystal clear
• sky - IG1

I have also used - 

• ivory centura pearl (for the card base)
• red card stock
• Verity Rose paper pad
• Verity Rose lace ribbon set
• Die'sire half doily from the Downton Abbey range
• Die'sire essentials circles and scalloped circles
• Moonstruck and Starlet die cut toppers set from the Verity Rose range
• Tonic layering squares

I would like to enter this card into the following challenge - 

http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.co.uk - anything goes with a stamp and a die

http://www.ribbongirls.blogspot.co.uk - anything goes with an image

Sara will be back on our screens today at 11am, 2pm and 6pm. I do hope you are able to catch one of the shows.

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Meet Starlet

Hello again

Yes I know I am spoiling you with all these posts but I have so many to share with you all. 

Today I would like to introduce Starlet, one of the beautiful girls in the Verity Rose range - 

I have stamped her onto Neenah card and coloured her with my Spectrum Noir pens and Sparkle pens - 

• hair - TN7, TN8 and EB8
• skin - FS2, FS3, TN2 and PP1
• clothes - PL1, BP2, BP6, IG1, IG2, IG4, IG6 and crystal clear Sparkle pen
• sky - TB1

You can really see the Sparkle pen at work in this photo.

I have also used - 

• ivory centura pearl (for the card base)
• pink core'dinations
• Verity Rose paper pad
• Starlet accessories stamp set
• Starlet accessories die set
• Verity Rose lace ribbon set
• Tonic layering squares die set
• Tattered Lace stepper card die set ( matting and layering dies)
• Die'sire lace border 6
• pink sparkler gem from the Hobby House

The camera is from the Starlet accessories stamp set which I have cut out with the Starlet accessories die set and then coloured with my Spectrum Noirs.

Sara has another show today at 12pm so why not join her for some more fab demonstrations and lots of lovely samples.

Thank you for stopping by

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Mum's rule

Happy Saturday morning folks

There is a new challenge today at Fantasy Stampers

Mum's Rule

The design team would love to see all your projects for Mother's day which on March 6th in the UK. 

This is my DT card for the challenge - 

I have used an utterly adorable stamp called Fairy Sweet from Penny Black and coloured her with my Spectrum Noir pens -

• skin - FS2, FS4, FS9, TN2 and CR2
• hair - GB1, GB4, GB6, GB9 and blender
• wings - IG1 and LV1
• clothes - CR3, CR5 and CR6
• flower - JG1, JG3, LV1, LV2 and LV3
• ground - BG1 and BG3
• sky - IB1

I have also used

• Mulberry Kisses paper pad from First Edition
• grey centura paper
• Tonic layering squares die set
• Spellbinder's blooms 3, marvellous squares and sentiments 3 die sets
• Xcut flower doily border punch
• pearls from my stash

I do hope you will be able to join in our challenge this fortnight. Please remember we are a stamping challenge so please make a stamp the focal point of your card and no digi stamps please.

Thank you for stopping by today

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Introducing Verity Rose

Hello again

Yes I know, two posts on one day. My posts are a little like buses as the saying goes!

I have been waiting a while to show you this fab new range from Crafter's Companion. This is Verity Rose and will be launched tomorrow on Create and Craft by Sara Davis and Lorna Horrocks. This is one of the cards I made for the launch - 

I made this pop up box using my Ultimate Pro, centura pearl card and one of the six characters in the range - Moonstruck. I coloured her with Spectrum Noir pens and Sparkle pens - 

• skin - FS2, FS3, TN2 and PP1
• hair - BG4 and BG8
• eyes - BG4
• lips - CR1
• clothes - amethyst, soft jade and crystal clear
• chair - amethyst, olive jade, smoked quartz and crystal clear
• sky - moonstone

I also used - 

• Moonstruck accessories stamp set
• Moonstruck accessories die set
• Moonstruck and Starlet die cut toppers set
• Verity Rose paper pad
• purple core'dinations
• Moonstruck embossing folder
• fancy flourishes die set (from Sara Davis' signature collection Butterfly Lullaby) coloured with olive jade sparkle pen
• ribbon from the Ribbon Girl
• sparkle gem from the Hobby House

The owl is from the Moonstruck accessories stamp amd die sets which I have coloured with smoked quartz, crstal clear and EB1.

The embossed detail.

Sara's shows begin tomorrow (Saturday) at 9am and I have listed the other show times below. I do hope you can join her and Lorna for a show.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenge - 
http://www.ribbongirls.blogspot.co.uk - February challenge use any image 

 Thanks for stopping by

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Aquablend Rosie

Good Friday morning

Today I wanted to show you another of the cards I made using my Aquablend pencils - 

I have used Scruffy Little Kitten Rosie stamp (from Crafter's Companion), stamped her onto watercolour card and coloured her with my Aquablend pencils - 

• hair - nutmeg, tabacco and umber
• skin - canteloupe, honeycomb and coral
• clothes, brolly and butterfly - soft red, cherry and blue marine
• sky - sky blue
• ground - dove grey

I have also used - 

• white centura pearl
• blue and navy core'dinations
• flutterby butterfly embossing folder (from Crafter's Companion)
• Tonic layering circles die set
• Flit and flutter die set (from Sara Davis' signature collection Butterfly Lullaby)
• silver gems from my stash

Sentiment from the stamp set.

Thank you for stopping by today

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Aquablend pencils

Hello Folks

Today saw the launch of the Aquablend pencils from Crafter's Companion. This is one of the cards I made for the launch shows - 

These pencils are fabulous and are so easy to use. They blend together beautifully and the results are fabulous. For this card I stamped A little bit sketchy - flower power onto watercolour card and coloured the flowers and leaves with the Aquablend pencils - 

• azelea, hyacinth, oregano, papaya, sorrel, wheat, sky blue and bamboo

I have also used - 

• butterfly corner embossing folder (from Sara Davis' signature range - Butterfly Lullaby
• matt black card and purple core'dinations
• sentiment from Inspirations magazine issue 9
• Die'sire essentials ovals

My team mates in the design team have had so much fun with these pencils. If you look on the Crafter's Companion website you will be able to see all their projects.

Sheena will be back on Create and Craft TV at 9pm tonight so why not tune in to see what magic Sheena can perform with these fabulous pencils.

Thank you for stopping by

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Jeepers, creepers

Hello folks

Today's card(s) are more of those difficult to make teenage cards.

I have used Woodware's Sneakers stamp which I have paper pieced and coloured with my Spectrum Noir pens - 

• IG1, IG2, IG3, BG1 and IB1

I have also used - 

• paper from Docrafts (sorry lost the packaging)
• Tonic layering squares die set
• tumbled glass distress ink

These are the same cards but made using different papers and pens- 

• BG1, BG2, BG3 and IG1
• Tim Holtz collage paper pad
• antique linen distress ink

The sentiment which comes with the stamp set.

Thank you for stopping by today

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Clean and simple

Hello folks

Well I'm back from my little break feeling full of beans and raring to go. However I am not off to a good start. Before I left for my break I thought I had scheduled my post for this morning but it seems I was wrong nor can I find the post anywhere so I am having to rewrite it (I'll probably find it once I have finished the rewrite!).

As it is Friday it is time for a new challenge at Winter Wonderland and it is also my turn to host the challenge too (not such I great start - luckily the post for Winter Wonderland went ahead). This week myself and the rest of the Icicles team would like to see your clean and simple projects (these do not have to be Christmas in nature this month). Our sponsors this week are 

and

This is my card for the challenge -

For my card I have used a digi stamp from Crafty Sentiments called Lady Bird and Butterfly which I coloured with my Spectrum Noir pens -

• hair - TN1, TN2, TN3, TN4, TN5 TN7 and blender
• skin - FS2, FS4, FS9 and CR1
• clothes - PL1, BP2 and BP6
• ladybird - DR1, TN1 and TN2
• butterfly - TN1, TN2, TB1, TB3 and CT4
• flowers - CG2, DG3, JG6, PP3, PP5, PP6, BP3, CT2, CT4, GB5, OR1, HB1, HB3 and IG1
• ground - BG3 and BG5
• sky - IB1

I have also used - 

• purple core'dinations
• LOTV sentiment from fairy sentiments (set 90)
• bow from Docrafts

I do hope you can join our challenge this week. Why not pop over to Winter Wonderland to see what my Icicle teamies have created for the challenge.

Thank you for stopping by

Crafty hugs

Lesley

Wedding celebrations

Good morning folks

Half term for me and my family this week so we are off to North Wales for some R and R. I think we have earned it after what has been a very tough start to the year. Hopefully we have put all the medical issues behind as now.
Today's card is a wedding one, not something I make very often anymore. I wanted something non-traditional as this is the second time for both parties.

I heat embossed Woodware's curly love stamp with pearl lustre embossing powder and then coloured the image with Spectrum Noirs and Sparkle pens -

• PP1, PP3, BG1, BG2 and crystal clear sparkle pen

I have also used - 

• Woodware curly love stamp set and congratulations stamp set
• lapis pearl lustre cosmic shimmer embossing powder
• silver embossing powder (from Papermania)
• The Promise paper pad from First Edition
• Tonic layering squares die set and small dainty bows die set
• Tattered Lace centre stepper card die set (mats and layers)
• gem from my stash

Thank you for stopping by today

Lesley

Just one layer

Hello and a very happy Saturday to you

Today sees a new challenge at Fantasy Stampers and this fortnight we would like to see your crafty makes for the challenge - 

Just one layer

This is my card for the challenge - 

I must admit I found this challenge very difficult - I just don't do one layer!! All of my cards feature a least one mat and layer so I had to improvise and create false layers with my Spectrum Noirs until I was happy with the final result (a lot ended up in the wastepaper bin!).

I used the following ingredients - 

• Woodware's huge happy birthday and curly love stamp sets
• Spectrum Noir pens - IG2, LV2, TB4 and DR1
• red ink
• 5x7 card blank

The border was created using a small bubble stamp from the Curly Love stamp set.

The design team look forward to seeing your projects featuring Just one Layer. Please remember we are a stamping challenge and your project must have a stamped main feature (no digis please). Why not pop over to the blog and see what my team mates made.

Thank you for stopping by today

Lesley

Thank you freebie

Good morning everyone

Happy Hump day. I am on countdown to half term this week. Only 2 more get ups and then a wonderful week of R and R.

A thank you card today which features a free die from Cardmaking and papercraft magazine -

I have used - 

• On a high note paper pad from LOTV
• cream card
• brown core'dinations
• Thank you die
• Toinc layering square die set
• X-cut border punch
• pearls from my stash

Thank you for stopping by

Lesley

Flights of Fantasy - Niamh

Good Monday morning to you all

I was so pleased when Crafter's Companion decided to release some of the Morgan Fitzsimons Flights of Fantasy images in rubber stamp form. The one I have used today is Niamh - 

Isn't she gorgeous. She would make a really good thank card for a bridemaid wouldn't she?

I stamped her onto Neenah Crest card and coloured her with Spectrum Noir pens and pencils - 

• hair - GB8, GB10, EB5 and 098
• skin - FS2, FS3, TN2, CR2, 089 and 009
• lips - CR1
• wings - IG1, TB1, TB5 and 075
• dress - TB1, BGR2, BGR3 and 066
• flowers - TB1, IG1, GB3, OR2, DG2, DG3 and 065
• sky - IB1

As she is so beautiful I decided to keep the card as clean and simple as possible (a concept I struggle with).

I have also used - 

• white and blue centura pearl
• Spellbinder's 5x7 matting basics A and lacy ovals
• fluttering hearts embossing folder (from Sara Davis signature collection - love and romance, available from Crafter's Companion)
• ribbon and gem from the Ribbon Girl

The sentiment from the stamp set.

The embossing detail.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenge - 

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.co.uk - week 349 - clean and simple

http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.co.uk - anything goes with a stamp and a die

Thank you for stopping by today

Lesley

Driving along

Hello folks and a very happy Sunday to you all.

Today's card is one I made for my brother-in-law -

I have used Toot, toot (ST421) from LOTV which I have coloured with Spectrum Noir pens - 

• hair - EB8
• skin - FS2, FS3, TN2 and CR1
• clothes - FS1, FS2, FS3, FS4, FS6 and FS8
• car - DG3, DG4, BG1, BG2, BG3, BG4, BG6, BG7, BG8, BG10, IG1, IG2 and IG3
• ground - IG1 and IG2
• smoke - IG1 and IG2
• sky - IB1

The other ingredients used were -

• Travel notes paper pad from First Edition
• rust core'dinations
• LOTV's sentiments to fit scroll
• Die-namics mini tab quartet
• Tonic layering square die set
• Tim Holtz brad and cog

Tim Holtz cog and brad

The sentiment cut with Die-namics mini tabs die set

I would like to enter this card into the following challenge - 
http://www.ribbongirls.blogspot.co.uk - Fabruary card challenge

Thank you for stopping by today

Lesley