Bitten by the Bug...

... a Mima Bug to be exact!! Have you seen Kirsty Wiseman's new Buglet range? They are super cute and come in both digi and polymer cling stamps. There are also some very fabby sentiments to co-ordinate with the Buglets. Have a peeksy over HERE.. you won't be able to resist. Don't say I didn't warn you. I accept no responsibility for enabling... I have a hard enough time from stopping myself.

Of course Mima is just my very favourite {at the moment!!}. How sweet is she?!.. and her little teddy.. cuteness overload!!

I've been on a mission to use up scraps of papers and half used paper pads that are fast taking over my stash area and these Papermania papers have been sitting here, unloved,  for.ev.er!! I matted them with blue and pink cardstock and machine stitched them all together {saves a fortune in adhesive!!}

I trimmed Mima out and mounted her on 3D pop dots on top of a white {heart} doily. To embellish I used some Wild Orchid flowers, ribbon and pink pearls. The sentiment is by Waltzingmouse Stamps and is from the Fancy Phrases set.

Copics:

Skin - E13, 11, 01, 00

Dress/Hat - R85, 83, 81

Teddy- B12, 00

Eyes - B14

Challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Grin and Bear it (use a bear)

House of Gilli - Ribbon and Pearls

Make it Monday - Anything goes

Simon Says Stamp - Mother's Day/Girlie

Paper Playtime - Anything Goes

Pile It On - Cute

Sentimental Sundays - must include a Sentiment - Cute and Cuddly

Bee Crafty - Hearts

Sugar Creek Hollow - Stitching 
7kids Challenge - Pink & Flowers

Thanks for popping in! Have a wonderful Tuesday

Sandie

xXx

More Whiff of Joy Previews...

Hi everyone!! I've not blogged in a few days as I'm currently in a battle of wills with the 'flu. I think I'm winning today...

Whiff of Joy are having a DIGITAL release on April 1st and we are very excited about it. Also being released are some more of Whiff of Joy's dies... and you will not be disappointed with them!!!

First up is Dancing Couple, Charlotte & Charlie. Don't they look so elegant?!

Challenges - 

Moving Along With The Times – Precious Metals

 Stamp Insanity  - Punch It Out

 Meljens Designs - Punches

Crafts and Me - anything goes

Next up is little Nora - Prima Ballerina :) Oooooh, the cuteness!!!!!

There is only a few more days to wait until these fabby digis will be released. I do hope you are enjoying all the previews on the DT blogs are Whiff of Joy's Facebook Group.

Challenges - 

Wee memories -  Anything Goes

Do You Stack Up? - Sparkles and bling bling 

Dutch Dare Card Challenge - Celebrations

Crafty Creations -  in stitches

For Fun Challenges - flowers plus sentiment

 Simon Says Stamp - Mother's Day/girlie

Whiff of Joy - April Preview

Hi!! Today is the first day of the previews for Whiff of Joy's April release and this month we have something different -  all the images are digis!! Yay!! 

For anyone struggling with storage space for stamps (i.e. ME!! lol) digis are just wonderful. I love my stamps, I love stamping but there is the added bonus of being able to resize your images to suit whatever project you are working on when it is in digital form.

The image I used is called Super Henry, PERFECT...  for little boy cards/projects which I know a lot of card makers struggle with. I coloured my image using copic markers. My papers are Basic Grey Marjolaine, and teal cardstock from The PaperMill. The sentiment is by Create with TLC. All the embellishments are from my stash - flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts. 

Copics - E35, E33, E31, E30. YG23, YG21, YGOO, G24, Y02. B00, B12, B14. C5, C3

Challenges - 

Whiff of Joy - Anything Goes

Wild Orchid Crafts - Die cuts and/or Punches

Make it Colourful - Blend Yellow and Green together

Meljens Designs - Punches

Paper Crafting Journey - Use a Digi - Optional Up In The Air Theme

Southern Girls - Add An Animal

Stampin' B's - Masculine Card

Crafts and Me - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations -  In Stitches

Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenges - Sketch

Sisterhood of Crafters  - Masculine

Thanks so much for dropping in today. Don't forget to check out what the other Whiff of Joy DT ladies have come up with using these wonderful new images. You'll find the links on the sidebar :)

Have a great day

Sandie

xxx

Tickled Pink Challenges - Off the Scrap Desk

Hey everyone! Well it's only one more sleep until I head off to the NEC and I can't wait! Before I go I want to share a couple of bookmarks I made recently (as in TODAY!!, LOL) for the Tickled Pink blog challenge, which is to use something not intended for crafting and Tickled Pink Facebook challenge, which is to make a corner bookmark. I combined the 2 challenges but in the interest of fairness I made 2 - a His 'n' Hers, lol.  :)

The first one is girly and pink! 

I used Fairy Kira digi, which I printed out really small. It was a great idea at the time, but in hindsight, it wasn't my brightest of moments!! lol. I was cross-eyed trying to colour her in, ha! Once I did manage to get it done I added star dust stickles to her wings.

My papers are Prima's Annalee and I've inked them with Victorian Velvet distress ink.  To embellish I've used a Tim Holtz adage tag, Doodlebug's Bubblegum alphas, Crafting Expressions bead, some organza ribbon, a 2 tone rose and a charm I bought at the NEC last November. The border has been done using a MS punch

Challenges - 

Paper Take Weekly - It's a Mom thing, or Just Be Girly

Tuesday Throwdown - Anything But A Card

Make it Monday - Anything goes

Crafty Pad  - Use a Digi

Gingerloft  - Die Cuts or Punches

Simon Says Stamp - Mother's Day or Girlie 

For this next bookmark I went more grungy and I  used Valentine Luca - printed out at less than 3" tall...

My papers are a mix of Basic Grey and Graphic 45. The print paper is from my kids school newsletter - I've scrunched it up, inked it and stapled it onto the background paper.

To finish off I used some Tim Holtz metal, pearls and packaging twine.

Challenges-
Simon Says Stamp & Show - A word

One Stitch At A Time - Something for the Boys

A Gem of a Challenge - Anything But Square

Secret Crafter - Anything But a Card
Shannon's Sentiments  - Unusual fold
Sugar Creek Hollow   - Anything Goes
Sisterhood of Crafters  - Masculine
Stampavie and More - Masculine

Thanks for dropping in today. I will be back on Friday - with sneak peeks ;)
Have a great day
Sandie
xXx

Basic Grey & Whiff of Joy Challenges

Good morning and happy Saturday. We have a new challenge starting today over on Basic Grey Challenges. We would like to see you use something recycled on your creations. 

As always we are being sponsored by our one only sponsor Simon Says Stamp and the prize is a wonderful $25 credit voucher!!

My papers are Basic Grey Hopscotch 6x6 and my recycled items are the Kraft card & button. I never throw out any item of clothing until all buttons have been removed, lol. 

My image is called Baking Tray of Love and it's one of the new stamps designed by Elizabeth Bell for Whiff of Joy's recently released Spring Kit.  I am also entering into Elizabeth Bell's World challenge which is to create a recipe card. I printed the recipe for sugar cookies on kraft card that I recycled and made it into a removable tag. I punched my borders using MS Vintage Lace punch and machine stitched all my papers.

The fabby distressed seam binding I found on Etsy and this was my last piece of pink :( 

The pearls, pearl topped pins and floss are from my stash. The button is from the jar I put all my scavenged buttons into ;) 

Copics:

Skin - E00. 02, 21, 51

Hair - E13, 25, 27

Top - R81, 83, 85

Dress- E70, 71, 74

Cookies - E51, 53

Baking Tray - C1, 3, 5

Challenges:

Whiff of Joy - Anything Goes

Art Impressions Stamps Challenge - Punches or Die Cuts

Digi Doodle Shop's Best -  Anything Goes

Do You Stack Up?  - Add a Bow

Crafty Creations -  Mother's Day

Truly Scrumptious - Tags
Totally Gorjuss - Button It

Paper Take Weekly - 3 of Something (papers)

Pink Elephant - Buttons, lace and ribbon

Stamps R Us - In the Kitchen
Stamp Something - Something Sweet
The Outlawz Copic Challenge - must use Copic/Promarkers - Mother's Day / Spring

Thanks for dropping by today. Have a wonderful Saturday

Sandie

xXx

It's Friends of Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz time!!!

Good morning and welcome to the Friends of Waltzingmouse blog waltz. This month the theme is .. St. Patrick's Day/Irish, as it's St. Patrick's Day today, lol.

If you want to waltz along with us and you haven't yet linked up your project, head to the link list thread in the WMS Forum to link up your creation. There is also a thread for chatting about what you've seen along the way.

This month a random commenter will be chosen from the Waltz chat to receive a prize.

The very talented Ms. Mouse (Claire) has designed a free digi image, which is compatible with Spellbinders Labels Five dies, for anyone who wished to use it and I fell in love with it so I used it twice....

... and I made  a cute card/candy gift set.

For both the card and the candy jar I used the free digi image, which I coloured using copic markers,  and the Pic-nic patterns background stamp. I filled the jar with jelly snakes.. and for anyone who doesn't get why I used snakes you need to Wiki "St. Patrick" ;) 

For the card I added some green & mustard cardstock. 

Challenges
Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight Challenge - Make your own designer papers
Fab 'n' Funky -  green/St. Patrick's Day
For Fun Challenges - green/St. Patrick's Day
Sisterhood of Crafters  - St. Patrick's Day
Alota Rubber Stamps - St. Patrick's Day (include the colour green)
Crafty Hos' - Green, Gold and White
Pile It On - Green and Orange

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy the rest of the waltz!!

Sandie

Tickled Pink & Sugar Nellie Challenges

Hi everyone!! I have a couple of cards to share that I made for challenges but first I'd like to mention that there is new challenge just posted on Inky Impressions

Also - Vicki has some wonderful candy on her blog. Be sure to check it out!!

My first card is one I made for Tickled Pink Challenges and the theme is Black, White +1 colour of your choice. It's no secret that Black, White and Pink is my favourite colour combo when it comes to this theme. 

I used both Valentine Luca and Fairy Kira and trimmed them out. I coloured Luca using only greys - first time I tried this and I really like the effect. I did the single rose and the bow on the box in pink for some contrast and to match Kira.

My papers are a mix of My Mind's Eye 'Meadowlark' and Rusty Pickle 'Pirate Princess' and they've been inked with black soot distress inks, painted with white acrylic paint and machine stitched. 

Challenges

Digital Tuesday - include a digital element -  It's A Magical World

Paper Playtime - Challenge Choice #2:  Use Pink & Glitter

Nettie G's Digital Gems - Use 5 papers (at least 3 patterned, 1 solid)

Stamp-N-Doodle - At least 2 things starting with "G" (I used Glitter and Gems)

Aly's Sunday Challenge - Anything goes

One Stitch At A Time - Glitter & Gems

7 Kids College Fund Challenge - Pink & Flowers

Sugar Nellie's Facebook Challenge. I started this card for last week's challenge but mojo was hard to pin down when I did manage to get a few minutes to work on it -  so I adapted it for this week's challenge which is Embossing, heat or dry. I also used the sketch over on The Sugar Bowl.

 The papers on this one are from the Restoration collection by Crate Papers. I embossed one of the papers using the Swirls folder and then sanded it back. These papers are wonderful for sanding, so thick - not at all flimsy!!

The image is called Star Dust. I coloured her using copics and then added loads of Star Dust glitter. My flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. The lace and pearls are from my stash. 

Challenges

Stampin' Sisters in Christ - use something you Treasure

Let's Ink It Up - NO DIGI and Embossing

Gingerloft - Use flowers

Creative Craft Challenges - Lace

Tuesday Throwdown - Lace

Totally Gorjuss - Pearls and Lace

Well that's it for me for today. Be sure to drop back tomorrow as it's the 17th of the month and that means it's Friends of Waltzingmouse Blog Hop time!!! You can check out the deets HERE!!

Have a wonderful day
Sandie
xXx

DT Whiff of Joy - I Serenade You ;)

Morning and happy Friday!! TGIF!! I have a quick DT card to share today that I made for Whiff of Joy, using "I Serenade You" Gnome. 

This image is just perfect for the 'Just a Note' sentiment, don't you agree??!! 

My papers are from the Restoration Collection by Crate Paper and I've distressed them all using my little pink Heidi Swapp edge distresser and then stitched them all down. The ribbon and pearls are from my stash and the felt stars were sent to me by my good friend Dee2. 

Copics - 

Skin - E00, 02, 21, 51

Pants/Hat - BG05, 07, 09, 78

Shirt - YR00, 20, 21

Shoes - E42, 43, 44

Guitar - E31, 33, 35, 37

Challenges - 

Papertake Weekly - Lemon Zingy

Crafty Sentiments  - Just For You

Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Pearls

Do You Stack Up? - Layers

Freshly Brewed - 3 or more patterned papers

Paper Pretties - ribbon

Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

Stars and Stamps Midweek Throwdown - no glitter - polka dots

Creative Card Crew - No Flowers

Thanks for popping by!!

Sandie

xXx

Just Magnolia Challenges.. just about..

lol, I really am chasing my tail this week. I made some challenge cards over the weekend and on Monday but I didn't get around to blogging, so this is another one I'm entering into challenges in the dying minutes. 

Love love love this Tilda and her pretty Spring basket. The theme on Just Magnolia is Anything Goes with the optional extra to add glitter and I've added glitter to the image, the flowers and the sentiment. My papers are Basic Grey Hopscotch and they've been machine stitched. The flowers are all from Wild Orchid Crafts and the ribbon was in one of my kits from Crafty Emma's Store. 

Copics Used - 

Skin - E00, 02, 21, 51

Hair - E13, 25, 27

Pinks - R20, 21, 22

Blues - B12, 14, 16

Browns - E42, 43, 44

Challenges -
Wild Orchid Crafts - Anything Goes

For Fun Challenges - Spring

Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

Bunny Zoe's Crafts  - Spring - flowers Everywhere!

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

Card Cupids - Anything Goes

Crafty Pad  - Use Ribbon

Sparkles Forum  - Pink, Brown and Blue

Stampin' Sisters in Christ - use a Stamped Flower

Back tomorrow with a Whiff of Joy DT card!!

Sandie

xXx

Tickled Pink Challenges.. LATE!!

It's been one of those weeks.. kids home from school with tummy bug.. dealing with tummy bug myself...  hubster is away...  and I forgot to link up my challenge card for Tickled Pink.. argh!!!!

This is Valentine Luca, he's a tall one.. tall, dark and handsome!! ..if not a little bit cheesy with his 'hey! sweet thing' sentiment, loll. I used to have jeans like those.. long long time ago, and they were sooooooo tight that I'd have to bend over backwards to get the zip up!! Ahh those were the days.. couldn't do it now, I'd pass out from lack of oxygen!! And as for the muffin top.. not pretty!! LOL!!

My papers are from the Offbeat Collection by Basic Grey. These are really bright and funky papers, love 'em!! The sentiment is from Waltzingmouse Stamps 'Fancy Phrases'.

Copics Used

Skin - E00, 02, 11, 21, 51

Jacket - G20, 21, 24

Jeans - B91, 93, 95

Shoes& Hair - E42, 43, 44

Shirt - E40, 41, 42

Tie - E07, 09

Challenges -
ABC - P is for Pearls
Stamp Something - Use a Digi
Wild Orchid Challenges - Anything Goes

I also made a card for Tickled Pink Christmas challenge - I'm afraid to look in case that's too late too, lol.

I've used Lil Christmas Frankie and he was given as a freebie by Kellie.. thanks!!! 

The papers on this one are a mix of Pink Paislee and Basic Grey offcuts that I had in a box. I added some vellum and used frosted lace stickles to make it appear as if there was snow on the vellum.. I think it worked??! The die cut tag is attached to some pine green scrappers floss and mounted on a 3D pop dot.

Copics used - 

Skin - E00, 02, 11, 21, 51

Greens - G20, 21, 24, 85

Reds - R24, 27, 29

Greys - C8, 5, 3

Challenges
Creative Card Crew - No Flowers
 Sweet Stamps - Parchment or vellum
Tuesday Throwdown - Use your scraps

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Aly's Sunday Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Have a great day! The kids are back in school today so I get the pleasure of cleaning the mess they've created.. the joys, eh??! 

Sandie

xXx

Music Saves My Soul Saturday.. on Tuesday ;)

 

Yay, I finally get time to play along with Music Saves My Soul Saturday Tuesday. This is the brainchild of Marcea and if you fancy playing along all you do is post your favourite song at the moment on your blog and link up on Marcea's blog. Easy peasy!!

Here's mine...

Basic Grey & CES Challenges

Morning!! I'm so thankful it's the weekend. No school runs, uniforms, lunches, finding lost shoes, lol.. etc. etc. etc... My only gripe for this morning is that I have 2 littlies wanting breakfast in bed, and yes, I am making it for them!!

This fortnight the challege on Basic Grey Challenges is Wings, while this week on C.E.S Challenges it's St. Patrick's / Good Luck.

Have you seen the fabulous Gnomes from Whiff of Joy?? They are just the bees knees, I  love them. So fun and a joy to colour.

My papers are Basic Grey Origins matted with brown cardstock. I coloured Good Luck Gnome with copics and added a little star dust stickles to the shamrocks. The sentiment is from the Fancy Phrases set by Waltzingmouse Stamps. 

I punched out the butterflies using MS punch, inked the edges and added some stickles to them. Love how the stickles soaks in the colour of the ink. The ribbon is from an old Raspberry Ribbons kit. The doily and pearls are from my stash. 

Challenges:

Friday Sketchers - Sketch

Card Makin' Mamas - something green

Fairy Knoll feeing a little green (use green)

Crafty Purple Frog - things with wings

Rubber Cafe - faux or real stitching

Cooking It Up With Katie - Spring, yellow, flowers

Thanks for visiting. Don't forget to pop over and leave my teamies a little love on their blogs. 

Have a wonderful day!

Sandie

Whiff of Joy Challenges and one for Sugar Nellie

Morning!! TGIF!! It's a chilly one here today. Freezing fog is so pretty to look at though :)

This fortnight the challenge over on Whiff of Joy Challenges is Blooms & Buttons. The DT have some stunning samples up which inspired me to enter.

My image is from the new releases, and she's called Spring Leap. She really does give the feeling of Spring.  I've coloured her using copic sketch markers and then used circle nesties trimming around the feet first.

My papers are Basic Grey Origins, matted with Ivory Linen card. The border has been done using Martha Stewart's Antique Lace punch. To embellish I used Wild Orchid Craft flowers, Prima bling and buttons from my stash.

Challenges -
iCopic Colour Challenge -  Cream, Green & Lime

4 Crafty Chicks - faux or real stitching

Cute Card Thursday - signs of Spring

Delightful Challenges - welcome Spring

Sassy Studio Designs - use green as your main colour

Shelly's Images - Layers, Layers - LOTS of Layers (use at least 3 layers)

Colour Create - take 3 fruit colours from the inspirational picture

Fab 'n' Funky - spring

Bunny Zoe Challenge - Spring Flowers

This next card is one I made for the Sugar Nellie Facebook challenge - Mint Choc Chip. It's not often I have an excuse to ink up my Gorjuss girls so I am loving the SN challenges right now.

The papers are Graphic 45 Steampunk and I've girlified them to within an inch of their life.. as you do :). 

LOVE the trims, must get more!! Again, to embellish - Wild Orchid flowers, Prima pearls and natural lace.

Challenges -

Do You Stack Up? - use anything with green in it

Rubber Cafe - faux or real stitching

Stamp Insanity - lots of texture

Simon Says Stamp - recipe - 1 image, 2 DP, 3 types of embellishments
Dream Valley Challenges - anything goes
Totally Papercrafts - Pearls and Lace

Thanks for popping by today. 

Have a wonderful Friday

Sandie

xXx

Inky Impressions Challenges - Easel Cards

Hi everyone and happy Wednesday. I do hope your day is going well. It's a beautiful Spring(like) day here .. it *almost* makes me want to Spring clean.. I did say *almost*!! Can we officially say it's Spring yet?? Traditionally in Ireland it starts on the 1st of February but meteorologists say it starts on the 21st of March, at the Spring Equinox.. so I'm thinking 1st of March would be a good middle ground, ha!!

Ok, enough babbling from me. The challenge for the next fortnight over on Inky Impressions is to make an easel card. I decided on "All Bundled up Lili" for this one, and I coloured her up in warm colours using copic sketch markers.

My papers are Basic Grey 'Nook & Pantry' matted with chocolate brown card. All have been machine stitched. I kept the embellishments pretty simple as the colour of the papers would just drown them out. Just a few flowers, pearls and a little ribbon was all it needed. 

Copics used:

Skin - E00, 21, 51

Pants - B91, 93, 95

Top/Socks - Y15, 17, 18

Scarf/Gloves/Hairband - R32, 35, 37

Shoes/Hair - E44, 43, 42

Eyes - BG05, 07

Challenges:

Paper Take Weekly - Anything goes with the option of something old (BG papers!)

Top Tip Tuesday  Favourite embellishments or/and technique (flowers)

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Flowers Everywhere

Craft Your Passion - Girly

Card Cupids - Shaped cards

Dream Valley Challenges - anything goes

Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - Easel Card

 

 Thanks for visiting me today. Please do pop in on my teamies to say hello. 

Have a wonderful day

Sandie

xXx

Waltzingmouse Stamps - New Release Blog Waltz

Howdy!! Well the day is finally here.. today Waltzingmouse Stamps is releasing 5 new stamp sets that are sure to be a huge hit. For the past 3 days the DT have been showcasing the sets - have you picked a favourite yet?? If you've arrived here from Carly's blog then you're on the right path, if not then you need to head back to Claire's blog where the waltz begins.

Today I have used Way out West and Back in the Saddle. I was in the UK for the previews of these sets and was just itching to ink them up. 

The first card is CLEAN AND SIMPLE!! Yes, I have delved into the world of no patterned papers or flowers and I kinda like it, lol.

Stamps - Way out West & Back in the Saddle

Inks - Momento Tuxedo Black, Close to My Heart Topiary & Brushed cordory distress

Card - The Paper Mill Cream Linen

Then I broke out the patterned papers and the sewing machine, lol. I can't get enough of the 'Pale Rider' stamp ;) Not sure what to call him but he reminds me of the Pale Rider movie and Clint Eastwood.

Stamps - Back in the Saddle

Papers - Basic Grey

Natural Jute, twine

Next on the hop is Bonnie

and here is the full list in case you lose your way

Claire
Anya
Lynn
Julia
Carly
Sandie {me!!}
Bonnie
Sarah
Belinda
Mona
Jennifer
Laurie