IBSIC # 6....A Sketch and Blog Candy....

Hello there, welcome back to week #6 of the IBSIC, this week Joanna has designed a sketch for us to use. Also, you've got the chance to win some blog candy, so make sure you enter !!!!

Here's the card I created using this week's sketch.

I punched out some patterned papers using a 1-1/4" circle punch and trimmed the top half off, I then stitched along them to give the look of bunting. I stamped the branch from the Sweet Aviary set onto the circle and on some separate white card one of the birdcages which I cut out and used foam pad to give it some dimension.

Supplies

Stamps- Sweet Aviary, Birthday Wishes

Papers- Prima, Cosmo Cricket, Making Memories.

Flowers- small mixed flowers, tiny green leaves.

Inks- SU So Saffron, Certain Celery, Pool Party.

Tools- Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle, SU 1-1/4" circle punch.

Thanks for looking and hope you are inspired to have a go at this week's Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge.

Happy Crafting

xxxxDebxxxx

Retro Sketches #8

Hello there, I'm back today with a thank you card using this week's sketch from Retro Sketches.

Isn't it a great sketch ? I'm a sucker for anything to do with banners, so when I saw it I got straight into my craft room to create, here's my take on the sketch.

I stitched around the Pink Paislee paper and cut out some felt hearts and flower using the Spellbinders Home Sweet Home die set and added some buttons. I adhered some twine and made the banner using the felt hearts. I then stamped an IBS frame and die cut out using the Spellbinders Label 18.

Supplies
Stamp- Inspired by Stamping Small Fancy Labels 18
Papers- Pink Paislee Spring Jubilee
Spellbinders- Label 18, Home Sweet Home
Other- felt, buttons, twine

Thanks for taking the time to look, also thank you so much for all the lovely comments you have been leaving recently, I really appreciate each and everyone.

xxxxDebxxxx

A Knitted May Day Mouse .....

Hello, I hope you all had a good weekend, I'm back today with a cute little May Day mouse. It's from May's edition of Simply Knitting and there is a whole set of them to knit, this one is one of the May Queen's attendant.

I hadn't got any 3mm needles but they came free with the magazine with the pattern booklet so all I needed was some leftover wool and I was away, she only measures 11cm and is so sweet. What do you think I should name her, do you think she looks like a Meg ?
Over the last few months I have seen so many people using washi tape, well better late then never I have finally got round to getting some.

I saw these little beauty's in Paperchase, last week, I just love that shop and can spend absolutely ages in there browsing all the notebooks, pens, papers, stickers and the list goes on........They had a whole stand of these gorgeous little rolls, the two large ones at the front are fabric, so are very tactile.
Well. that's me done then for today, I'll be back soon, hopefully with something using my new tapes.

xxxxDebxxxx

Crafty Friends Challenge #2....Use Two Die Cuts.....

Hello my lovely friend's, I hope you've all had a good week and ready for the weekend, I'm off to Birmingham tomorrow to celebrate my friends 40th birthday, we are having afternoon tea at the champagne bar, I'm getting quite a regular there, lol.
Last week Mona was taking part in the Nina B Designs blog hop and she used the Spellbinders "Home Sweet Home" die set, which I fell in love with,  my local craft store had them in so decided to treat myself, the house die is so cute.

As part of the blog hop they are joining in the Crafty Friends Challenge which is to use two dies, so thought it would be a good time to use my new Spellbinders.

I also used a sketch from Retro Sketches, thanks Kirsty for the heads up on this great sketch blog, the sketch is from one of the previous challenges but was perfect for my house die.

I embellished the house with some lace, felt and a button, I die cut the felt using the heart and flower which is also from the "Home Sweet Home" set. I added a cluster of flowers over the flowers on the PP paper to give some dimension.

Supplies

Stamps- IBS Birthday Wishes

Papers- Pink Paislee Spring Jubilee

Pretties- IBS Flowers, lace, leaf punch, felt
Other- Spellbinder Home Sweet Home

Have a good weekend.
xxxxDebxxxx

IBSIC #5.....pink, kraft,cream and a doily.....

Hello, welcome to week 5 of the Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge. This week's challenge is using this photo for inspiration and to create a project using pink, kraft, cream and a doily.

Here's my card, I also used a sketch from PageMaps as inspiration.

I started by making a square base card from ribbed kraft card, I inked the doily with TH Antique Linen to take away the stark whiteness, I also inked all the edges of the paper and cream card, stitching down the long edges. I added a bow using kraft colour seam binding, buttons and a flower.

Supplies 


Stamps- Small Fancy Label 4, Small Fancy Label 18 (sentiment)
Papers- SU Beau Château.
Pretties- SU Kraft Seam Binding, buttons, Mixed Colours of Small Flowers
Other- Spellbinder Label 4, SU Pretty in Pink inkpad.
I hope you get chance to join in this week, why not take a look at Joanna's and Kendra's cards for more inspiration.
Have a great day and Happy Crafting !!!!!!
xxxxDebxxxx

My First Pair of Hand Knitted Socks.....

Hello there, thank you to everyone who sent  birthday wishes for Jodie, she had a great day and appreciated all  your good wishes.
Today I want to show you my first attempt at knitting socks, they aren't perfect but I love them. I can knit but haven't picked up knitting needles for years. My Nan taught me when I was a little girl and then when I had my babies I used to knit for them.
Anyway last week when I went to Birmingham, I popped into House of Fraser to see what bargains they had in the wool department. No bargains but I did see a Rowan How to Knit Socks kit, I've never knitted socks before as it always looked very complicated but I'm always up for a challenge.

I have really enjoyed following this simple sock pattern and with the help of YouTube on how to use DPN's, turning the heel and grafting together, I've managed to finish one and start the second one. I think I may have the bug and will definitely be knitting more.
Also I have been crocheting lots of little Nana squares for my Springtime Throw by Nicki Trench. I now have about 380 little squares so I have decided to start crocheting them together rather than have hundreds of little squares lying around. It is so good to see it taking shape and I love the vintage look of this throw and the colours are so pretty. I still have a long way to go before it's finished but it's well on the way now.

Thanks for taking the time to look.
xxxxDebxxxx

Happy Birthday Jodie.....

I can't believe that my baby girl has turned 22 today, I know it sounds like a cliché but it really doesn't seem five minutes since they put her in my arms. She was born on Easter Monday, so she was my little Easter baby. She's grown up into a lovely young lady and we are all very proud of her.

Here she is on her first birthday ...

and this is her now....

Here she is opening her presents this morning....

Look at her new phone cover with photo's of Yogi Bear, isn't that cute ?

Have a wonderful day, Sweet. !!!!!
xxxxMomxxxx

Let's See Your Craft Space.....

Hello there, today is the very last challenge over at Scrapbookers Anonymous, which is very sad. I have been part of the DT from the very start and have thoroughly enjoyed my time with them but life gets in the way sometimes so Theresa and Lea have made the decision to finish it now. It is the right thing to do as it takes up a lot of time running a challenge blog like this.
I feel as I know these two lovely ladies and have become friends so I will still stay in touch and be popping over to their blogs to see what they've been up to. The same goes to the rest of the DT, I will still be visiting all your blogs.  I have met one of the DT, Julie lives very near to me, when I realised this I invited her to Bromsgrove crop and now she is a regular there every month.
Back to the challenge, for the last one Theresa and Lea thought it would be fun to share your craft space or favourite craft supplies. I decided to show you what I use all the time and don't think I could craft without.You can check out my craft room here.

I look forward to seeing your photo's and don't forget you have untill the end of the month to enter April's Challenge which is to use brads and map paper, there are some great prizes to be won.

Have a good week and Happy Crafting
xxxxDebxxxx

IBSIC #4.....A Sketch

Hello there, how are you all doing ? It's Thursday, which means, it's time for another challenge over at Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge, this week it's a sketch designed by Joanna.

I don't know about you but I love working from a sketch, here's my card, inspired by this week's sketch.

I also love colour challenges and used the colours from this week's CR84FN of pink, peach and light blue.

Supplies
Stamps- Beautiful Ovals, Sweet Valentines
Paper- Pink Paislee Sweetness, SU Beau Chateau
Pretties- IBS Flower, SU Lace, buttons
Tools- Spellbinders Scalloped Oval and Oval dies, Martha Stewart heart border punch, SU tag punch.

I'll be back later today for this month's Inspired by Stamping Blog Hop.

xxxxDebxxxx

Easter 2012......

Hello there, I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend, it's back to normal now, with Hubby back at work. On Good Friday Mick, Paige and I went to Worcester for the day, we had a nice lunch at Cafe Rouge then Paige got herself an iPhone, I'm the only one without one now !!!!
Saturday was Bromsgrove Crop, it was great to see everyone especially Lisa who was over from Germany, I managed to get some cards made which I'll be showing you later in the week. Also, I did my card workshop, everybody seemed to enjoy it and liked the card.
Easter Sunday, we were invited to my Mom and Dad's house, it's so nice to get together with all the family, they love to have all the grandchildren around, Jodie was in Wales but the other 6 were there and my brother's girlfriend's teenage daughter, who joined in the fun too.
I made some chocolate nests to take round, they were delicious and soon disappeared off the cake-stand.

There were lots of chocolate eggs.

Mom and Dad bought me this pot mum.

An Easter Egg Hunt, sorry about the quality of these photo's, as soon as mom said find the chocolate bunnies they were off and I didn't have chance to change the settings on my camera so were over exposed.

Here's my mom with her youngest granddaughter, Olivia, my daughter Jodie is the eldest, she doesn't look old enough to have a  22 year old granddaughter does she ?

So that was my Easter weekend......

xxxxDebxxxx

Bromsgrove Crop April Card Class....

It's Bromsgrove Crop on Saturday and at most crops I used to do a card class for anybody who wanted to do one, but the last few months with one thing or another I haven't been doing them.. Libby asked me if I'd start doing them again so hopefully it will be a regular thing, also I will start the challenges/sketches again.

So for all the ladies who have put their name down, here's the card I've created for this month's class including how to make the  fabric flower, also Lisa gets to learn how to do my bows !!!!

I've made this card for my daughter's birthday which is next week but the ladies will be able to stamp whatever sentiment they want.

All Supplies Stampin Up

Stamps-  Everything Eleanor, Something to Celebrate,  For my Family,  Tiny Tags.

Papers-  Beau Château,  First Edition.

Pretties-  Beau Château Fabric,Victoria Lace, Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Antique Brads.

Tools- Scallop Punch, Doily Triple Punch, Sizzix Little Leaves, Sizzix Circles, Tag Punch.

If you could bring a needle and white thread with you, that would save some time but don't worry I will have some, other things you'll need are your regular adhesives, distress ink blending tool, paper edge distress tool and pokey tool but I will have them if you haven't.

My card for this week's Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge is here.

Happy Easter

xxxxDebxxxx

IBSIC #3

Hello, I hope your week is going well, I can't believe the change in the weather here in the U.K. It was so warm and sunny up until Sunday and now we have snow !!!!
It's week 3 of the Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge and this week is a colour challenge using this stunning photo as inspiration.

Here's my card using the colours from the photo.

I stamped one of the tags from the Fancy Tags stamp set in Versamark ink and heat embossed using white embossing powder. I  inked over the tag with TH Shabby Shutters Distress ink and wiped over with a paper towel to reveal the white embossing.

Supplies
Stamps- Fancy Tags, Big Wishes
Paper- Pink Paislee Spring Jubilee, Prima Sweet Fairy.
Other- Cheery Lyn French Pastry Doily die, Tonic butterfly punch, TH Shabby Shutters, SU White Embossing Powder.
Pretties- Prima Say it in Crystals, light green seam binding, IBS Light Yellow Flowers

I hope you'll get chance to join in with this week's challenge, enjoy the rest of the week.

xxxxDebxxxx

Lunch, Theatre and Cocktails.......

I hope you all had a great weekend, I had such a lovely day on Saturday, I went to Birmingham with some friends, where we had lunch at The Old Joint Stock pub which I've mentioned before, it's a beautiful, grand 19th century building that was once a private bank.

*All the photo's were taken on my phone using the Holga photo effect, I love the vintage style of this photo app*

.
We then went upstairs to the Old Joint Stock Theatre to watch a show called Lullabies of Broadway featuring songs from the shows like Phantom of the Opera. Les Mis, Chess and Sister Act. It is a very small intimate theatre, holding about 50 people, with small drink tables and candlelight, such a lovely, cosy atmosphere and what a great amateur production, the singers were very, very good, I even got to dance on stage with the cast at the end of the show !!!!

After the show we decided to go for a drink and went to a " Gin Parlour" called The Jekyll & Hyde, what a great place, they did the most amazing Victorian Sweetie Jar cocktails served in a jar, I went for the Rhubarb & Custard which was made with tequila, Benedictine, rhubarb liqueur and wait for it.....custard !!!! I know it sounds revolting but it was delicious.

We also tried Candied Violet and Lemon Bon Bon, we couldn't tempt Di to try one and she stuck to wine.

We had such a good day and are now planning our next day out !!!!

xxxxDebxxxx

Scrapbookers Anonymous April Challenge....

 This month's challenge over at Scrapbookers Anonyomous is to use map paper and a minimum of 15 brads. I've made a card for this month's challenge using this week's sketch over at Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge again, this time, turning the sketch.

I've got some men's birthday's coming up this month so went with a masculine card which if I'm honest I don't enjoy making as much as the feminine cards where I can add flowers, lace and all the pretty embellishments but we can't forget the men in our life, can we ?

Supplies
Papers- October Afternoon, Cosmo Cricket.
Stamps- IBS Fancy Labels 3, Birthday Wishes.
Other- Nestie Label 3 and Stars, 7Gypsies metal arrow, SU Twine, buttons, SU Brads.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
xxxxDebxxxx