Oh wow! My first Award

I'm so excited! I received my first award today from Zoe at http://a-personaltouch.blogspot.com/. Thank you so much Zoe, I really appreciate it.

There are so many people I'd like to give this to, there are so many talented people around. Three people who's blogs and work I really enjoy are Lorraine, Kerry and Lainy, so I would like to pass it on to them.

If the Shoe Fits

Well the bank holiday lived up to expectations weather wise. What a rotten day it was yesterday, I didn't venture out of the house once. We even had the heating on over the weekend! Let's hope it improves and we don't have to suffer another summer wash out.

I have the week off this week (yippee), one of the perks of being a school secretary, so I'm hoping to spend lots of time crafting (although I should probably be cleaning the oven instead).

This is a card I put together this morning, a real quick one. The background paper is Pink Petticoat, quite a favourite, I love the dramatic black and white and I think it's a very stylish paper. I cut the layering out with Nestabilities dies. The shoe is a Sizzlit die, which I embossed to give a shiny surface. Finally, just for a bit of interest, I added some glass beads and a bow.

" 100 " Posts - Blog Candy

Kath, http://kath-allthatglitter.blogspot.com/, is celebrating "100" posts and is offering some fab Blog Candy.

Go check out her blog, it's fantastic, so inspirational. One that I will be visiting often.

Cuddly Buddly Robbie

I haven't had much opportunity for cardmaking or using the computer recently. My youngest is just about to take her 'A' levels and has had exclusive use of the desk and computer for the past week or so. Today, she went in to do her first exam, so I made the most of it and managed to do a card and up-date my blog.

'Robbie' is one of my new stamps from Cuddly Buddly http://cuddlybuddly.com/. I really like these cute images created by Kim MacFarlane, and how brilliant to have a stamp for the male members of the family.

I tried to make the card as masculine as possible considering the stamp is on the cutesy side so I chose some HOTP papers in a muted colour. The faux stitching is done using HOTP rubber stamps. I think I went a little over the top with them, but it was their first outing as well. The buttons are Sizzix die cuts.

Charley

With the fantastic weather we've had this week, cardmaking has taken a bit of a back seat. Today I got home from work and decided to have a go with my new stamp 'Charley' from http://cuddlybuddly.com/. I used my Primas to colour in the image and then for the background I decided on my Swiss Dots embossing folder and then used a Nestabilities die for the mount. The flower is from Poppicraft. I think she's very cute. I must have a go with the two 'Robbie' stamps I bought at the same time. (About time I had something to make some male cards - I do struggle a bit for them.)

Bella

First time out for this bella. I coloured it with Prisma Premier pencils and Sansodor. The background papers are DCWV and I added a couple of Prima flowers and Sizzix photocorner. I used my Fiskars scissors to cut the corners, but I'm not entirely happy with them, too big I think. The computer generated sentiment was done using the 2peas font.

That done, I'm off to enjoy the sunshine (have to make the most of it while you can).

Blog Candy

Michelle over at http://www.cardgrotto.blogspot.com/ is celebrating reaching 40,000 hits since she started her blog back in August 2007. To say thank you to everyone that has visited she is offering some lovely blog candy. All you need to do is go and leave her a message and post a message on your blog also. Go take a peek, it's well worth a visit, Michelle's cards are great inspiration. Well done Michelle.

Mini Magnolia Challenge

'Craftie' over on the Do-Crafts website came up with a great idea for a Mini Magnolia Challenge. The theme was Spring Flowers.

I used DCWV textured card for the background and then scalloped square and square nestabilities. I stamped the Tilda and then masked her to create the look of her lying in the Tulips.

I used my Prisma Premier pencils and Sansodor for colouring, and finished off with a few Prima flowers and a sentiment done on the computer.

Thanks to Craftie for the challenge.

Sugar Nellie

I have used my cuttlebug embossing folder for the background of this card. Not had much chance to play with my new ones yet. The card I used is pearlescent so caused a bit of glare when I photographed it. The flower was made from the Fold Back Flips template from HOTP. I really enjoy using this although the cutting out can be a bit fiddly. I watercoloured my Sugar Nellie 'Maggie' Stamp and then decoupaged her dress.

Yesterday I decided to get out my bellas and have a play with one I haven't used yet, Spabella. I used Bazzill card for the background. (I put the Bazzill card through the computer to do the sentiment.) The ribbon is from Poppicraft. I used my EK Success punches for the flower and added a button to finish off. The image was watercoloured and mounted onto card, I then used my scallop scissors to cut around the edge (unfortunately I can't afford the rectangle nestabilities set yet). Voila, finished.