My Time To Craft - GDT - 'Masking'

Good Morning! I can't believe we are nearly at the end of June already... where did this month go?  it's my 5th and final week of my GDT Spot with 

My Time To Craft

I want to say a HUGE Thank you to Shell and the Team for having me on board this last month! I really enjoyed the themes and had lots of fun!

So without further ado... the theme for this week is.....

'Masking'

so either use a mask in some way (colour through, emboss with etc) or as most of the DT girls have done join two or more images together using the masking technique!

I hadn't actually done this technique before with 2 stamps.... so this was a whole new technique for me... and I have to say it was a huge learning curve!! LOL - lots of mistakes were made... and it's far from perfect... so don't look too closely!!

I won this cute Holy Edwin Stamp in some candy from the lovely Claire and I thought he would be perfect for the masking technique... as he is fairly easy to cut out for the mask!! :-))

I also had this lovely Spruce Trees Stamp that I chose as my prize from Simon Says Stamp last year... so it was nice to finally get around to using both of these stamps.... I don't get much time for stamping nowadays and I do miss it....

I stamped Edwin onto a big piece of card... stamped him again and cut him out!! then placed the cutout Edwin over the one in main image using removable sticky tape...the first time I did this I cut him out of card but it was too thick and so when I stamped the Fir Trees over him... I was getting gapping all around Edwin.... so I had to redo him onto some thin paper which worked a lot better as a mask!!

I created a Sky Background and Moonlit Foreground with Distress Inks... and added some Black Diamond Stickles to the Fir Trees... love the effect as it adds lots of depth and the trees really twinkle!!

I coloured in Edwin using Copics.... kept the embellies very simple adding some lace and flower... I toyed with the idea of putting something more on the moonlit ground... but quite like the open space... so decided to leave it be... :-)

Stamps: Holy Edwin and 'Heartfelt Creations - Magnificent Spruce Trees'
Paper: from stash
Lace and Organza Flower: The Ribbon Girl

Hope you can hop on over to the MTTC Blog and see lots more gorgeous inspiration from the Team!

I would like to enter the following Challenges:-

Simon Says - 'Anything Goes' 

Inky Chicks - 'Anything Goes' 

ABC Christmas Challenge - 'M for Men or Mice' 

Well last week was lovely here in Manchester up until Thursday, then we had two days of torrential rain!! :-(   so I'm hoping it will have brightened up by today!! I'm enjoying Wimbledon this year.... quite a few injuries and shock exits though!  

I'm hoping to finish a couple of crafting projects this weekend... and I've got a Miss Marple that I taped last week.. so will watch that with my daughter one evening!  and I'm also really enjoying reading at the moment which is good as it relaxes me!!!  ;-))
Hope you all have a lovely weekend!
Take Care

Love and hugs

'Use a Sentiment' - LOTV

Over at the LOTV ideas to inspire ... they now have a monthly challenge 

I thought I would join in and enter... as I have just bought some of LOTV's lovely new Pre-Coloured Art Pads... and also some of their Everyday Grunge Sentiments... so a perfect opportunity to try them out on a card... :-)

the theme this month is 

'Use a Sentiment' 

it has to be a LOTV Sentiment... and you can either make it the main feature of your card or else use it alongside a LOTV image...

Image: LOTV - Pre-Coloured Art Pad 7 - Just For Girls

Sentiment: LOTV - Set 39 - Everyday Grungy Messages

Papers: My Mind's Eye - 'Honey Cake'

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

Leaves: Papermania Punch - Leaf Midi

Dies: Memory Box - 'Corner Bow' and 'Precious Hearts'

Gem: from stash

I didn't colour the image - it's a pre-coloured Topper!

Image: LOTV - Pre-Coloured Art Pad 7 - Just For Girls

I would like to enter this card into:

LOTV Monthly Challenge - June -  'Use a Sentiment' (LOTV)

Did you see any of Wimbledon today? I managed to watch some this afternoon and really enjoyed it... fingers crossed for Andy Murray this year! and let's hope the weather behaves!! it's been dull with sunny spells here in Manchester today but at least we didn't have any rain! :-)

Hope you all have a good week!

Love and hugs

My Time to Craft - GDT - 'Spots AND Stripes'

Hello! Hope you are all well... where did the last week go? Lol - it seems to have gone by SO quickly!
 it's my 4th week as Guest Designer with

My Time to Craft

and the theme this week is 

'Spots AND Stripes' 

(you have to use both)

I decided to go for a Less is More style card... and also a change from square shape... I've digitally coloured the penguin image to match the papers... and added some Stardust Stickles... so a very quick card to make but I think it's kinda cute!!

 Image: Pink Petticoat - 'Ice Christmas'
Papers: Pink Petticoat - 'Dots' and 'Stripes'
Tag: Digi Stamp Boutique - 'Simple Tags'
Pom Pom Trim, Dew Drops and Blue Ribbon: The Ribbon Girl

hope you can pop over to My Time to Craft and see the rest of the Team's gorgeous creations! :-)

I would like to enter the following challenges:-

Fab'n Funky - 'Animals'

Stampin' For the Weekend - 'Anything Goes'

 CHNC Extra Challenge - June - 'Anything Goes Christmas'

 Is there anything good on TV this weekend? I watched the first part of The White Queen last Sunday... but wasn't very impressed :-(  did you see the loft she was in? it looked like it had been fitted out with Ikea... LOL... there was also some ivy on a wall and it looked suspiciously like a plastic garland bought from Florist!! I suppose it might get better.... after all....I didn't like Mr Selfridge at first!! ;-)
Thanks for all your lovely comments! Hope you all have a lovely weekend!
Take Care

 Love and Hugs

Divas by Design - 'Distressing'

Good Morning! ... Ooh I'm mega excited today as it's my first DT card with 

'Divas by Design'

this week it's Team A's turn and our theme is....

'Distressing'

so we would like you to get your distressing tools, inks etc. out on your creations... it doesn't have to be a card as long as you follow the theme of distressing...

We are sponsored this week by the wonderful Lili of the Valley

and I have used one of their new pre-coloured Toppers from the Coloured Art Pads

and this wonderful image is from Art Pad 1 - Vintage Boys

isn't the image adorable! ... I thought this cute wee boy and his doggie would be perfect for a Birthday Card for my Dad... it's his birthday at end of July. My dad loves anything vintage and nostalgic and so these Prima - Almanac papers are perfect... so many wonderful little tags and old adverts etc. with this pad... I love it!! 

the lovely Brass Embellishment was a gift from lovely Ira - thanks so much hun...I've added a little clock with bird from the papers and it just seems perfect for this card! :-)

I've used a Tim Holtz Distressing Tool and then Tea Dye Distress Ink on all the edges... I really enjoyed making this card! I'm not very good at distressing but I'm quite pleased with how this came out! 

Image: LOTV pre-coloured - Art Pad 1 - Vintage Boys

I hope you can hop over to the main Divas by Design site and see my Teamies gorgeous creations! 

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

A Gem of A Challenge - 'Father's Day/Male' 

Creative Card Crew - 'Metal' 

Top Tip Tuesday - 'Masculine' 

Dream Valley - 'Father's Day/Male Theme' 

Lexi's Creations - 'Father's Day/Special Male Birthday' 

I've got a hospital appointment this morning and so will catch up with you all later! 

and the forecast is rain! :-(   so not looking forward to going out!! LOL

Thanks for all your lovely comments!

Love and hugs

Happy Father's Day!

Hello... I'm squeezing in another card before bed... LOL!! This is a card that I made for my daughter to give her Grandfather for Father's Day...  I let her choose one of the LOTV pre-coloured images from Art Pad - Vintage Boys. The papers are gorgeous and have lovely sheen to them... but it doesn't really show up in photos! :-(

Image: Art Pad - Vintage Boys

Papers - Kaisercraft - 'Hunt & Gather'

Dies: Memory Box - 'Precious Hearts'

Nailheads - JosyRose

I've kept it quite simple ... my daughter likes Less is More and so she was very happy with it! and I'm sure my dad will love it... in fact I think it will make him smile as he has just got a new recliner that looks just like this... and the district nurse has told him to keep his legs up all the time, bless him!! :-))

Pre-Coloured Image: Art Pad - Vintage Boys

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:-

Craft your Passion - 'Father's Day/Masculine' 

Tammy's Scrapin Corner - 'Anything Goes Manly/Father's Day'

Crafty Sentiments Designs - 'Card/Project for Male' 

Papertake Weekly - 'Hello Boys' 

A Gem of A Challenge - 'Father's Day/Male' 

Totally Gorjuss - 'For Dad' 

Lexi's Creations - 'Father's Day/Special Male Birthday' 

Creative Craft Challenges - 'We Love You Dad' 

Top Tip Tuesday - 'Masculine'
Just Inspirational Challenge - 'Photo Inspiration' 

Thanks for visiting and for all your lovely comments! 

I was SO tired last night that I slept through the Neighbours party!  very unlike me as I'm a light sleeper!! but it did disturb my dad... so I've been bit worried about him today... he's been very tired. Is it peaceful tonight? No!! LOL - we have a Music Festival at a Park nearby and it is still going at 11.45pm...thump, thump, thump.... I'm hoping it will end at midnight... but they usually have fireworks!!!!!! so it could go out with a bang!!! Gosh this used to be such a peaceful neighbourhood!! We have Beer Festival at the local church in couple of weeks time!!!!!!! that was very noisy last year!! :-0

I hope you all have a lovely Sunday!
Take Care
Love and Hugs

My Time To Craft - GDT - 'Triptych'

Good Morning! gosh... I can't believe it's weekend again already... where did the last week go!!!  it's my 3rd Week as GD with

My Time To Craft

I'm so loving the themes.... and this week we want you to make a card that is....

"Triptych"

 Now I did have to Google this theme.... I had heard of Triptych with regard to Altar Pieces in Churches.... they were made with three panels, sometimes with carved wood and illuminated paintings on the inside... the Tri of course meaning 'three' - and they can either be displayed open or else folded and tied with ribbon or clasp...  as this was my first attempt at this I kept things fairly simple.. :-) and I'm so sorry - I forgot to photograph it folded and tied with ribbon!!

As some of you know already... I'm very into Genealogy/ Family History and so decided to use a photograph is of my Gt Grandmother Ada Jane Yeates... wasn't she beautiful...she was born in Penrith, Cumberland, England in 1867 to Thomas Yeates and Annie Bell... her father Thomas was a Watch/Clockmaker and Jeweller... there were several generations of the family that carried on the family business... and you can still find Yeates Grandfather Clocks and Watches for sale at Auctions today :-)

I've used Raspberry Road Papers and elements from a set called 'Always Forever' - they are just perfect for vintage creations.. and so, so pretty... I love the elements that you can add... I've decoupaged the teacup, jewellery and roses... it doesn't really show up in the photo but it does look nice in real life! :-)

and for the back of the Triptych - I've gone for a wood effect - I first distressed some white card with a Brown 'Courdroy' Tim Holtz Distress Pen.... and then ran it through a 'woodgrain' embossing folder... then I made three panels with chocolate brown card and ran them through another Sizzix Folder from 'Country and Flowering Foliage' Set. So I'm hoping it looks a bit like carved wood... then you can just fold and tie with a ribbon! 

I must have a go at more of these... there are so many wonderful ones you could make... for New Baby... or for special Anniversary... or Wedding.... I think they make lovely keepsakes... perfect for putting photos inside! 

There are other shapes that you can use too... you could keep it very plain with just 3 rectangles and you could also do one with an image going over all three panels... so many ways of making these..

If you put 'triptych templates' into Google images... you will find some examples of different shapes... and also some handy templates for cutting out... 

and please do visit the MTTC Blog here then you can see lots more fab designs from the rest of the team..... :-)

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:-

Crafts & Me - 'Vintage' 

Crafty Catz - 'Let's Go Pink' 

I'm scheduling this late Friday and think the Neighbours are gearing up for one of their 'parties' !! groan!!! I'm not feeling too good either... think I'm coming down with something! :-(
So I'm getting my ear plugs out now! LOL
I hope we get some peace this weekend... but at least I can stay in warm and cosy... perfect weather for crafting... might even try and squeeze in a Christmas Card! :-)))
Take Care and hope you have a lovely weekend! 

Love and hugs

Lace, Ribbon and Pearls...

Hello... I hope you are all well... and big hugs to those who are not feeling good...

I thought I would join in with the Bingo theme this month over at Heck of a Challenge and I 've chosen the row of...

Lace, Ribbon, Pearls

which of course are perfect for a girly card... so I've used one of my new LOTV pre-coloured Toppers and teamed it with some lovely papers that were a Birthday Gift from my lovely friend Ira... Thanks hun! the darker purple one has metallic foil pattern on...it's very pretty but doesn't show up very well in the photos..

Image: Pre-coloured from LOTV Art Pad 7 - Just For Girls

Sentiment: LOTV - Happy Circular Sentiments

Papers: Gift from Ira

Ribbon and Pearls: MeiFlower

Lace: My Crafty Heart

I do love the new pre-coloured Art Pads from LOTV :-)  I don't always have time to colour images at the moment... so these are very easy to use and I think they look fab teamed with some nice papers and embellies... 

I still love colouring though... and when I do get a bit of spare time then I really appreciate it... :-)

I would like to enter this card into:

Heck of a Challenge - Bingo - (Lace, Ribbon, Pearls)

It's a bit cooler here today... in fact it looks a bit thundery at the moment!! I'm just going to have some Rum 'n' Raisin Ice Cream and then might do a bit of crafting... if I don't fall asleep that is... I'm so tired this week... seem to have had lot of little jobs to do... ordering stuff online... then sending it back!! :-(  

I bought some Trousers and I measured myself and everything... they arrived yesterday and honestly you could fit two of me in them!! I would say that is good but I know I've not lost weight...LOL ... so I know it is their sizing that is wrong!!! 

Thanks for all your lovely comments! I will be back with another card soon... :-)

Take Care

Love and hugs

My Time to Craft - GDT - 'Fairytale'

Good Morning.... it's my 2nd week as Guest Designer with the lovely team at

My Time to Craft

and the fab theme this week is

'Fairytale'

So we want you to make anything to do with Fairytales... Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella... etc... it doesn't have to be a card... as long as you follow the Fairytale theme!

I chose to do Alice in Wonderland... and I found this very cute image at Crafts and Me by the wonderful Hannah Lynn... isn't she gorgeous?!! she's called quite appropriately.... 'The White Rabbit'.  I've used some gorgeous Pink Petticoat papers and gone for a patchwork effect...

 Image: Hannah Lynn at Crafts and Me - 'The White Rabbit'

Papers: Pink Petticoat - 'Isabelline'

Stamp: LOTV - 'Little Stitches' 

Tag Shapes: Digi Stamp Boutique - 'Simple Tags'

Sentiments: computer generated

Gold on Watch: German Glass Glitter 

I've used Promarkers and Copics

a bit of paper piecing...

and finally I've added some sparkles on the watch with Gold German Glass Glitter although it doesn't show up on the photos which is shame! :-(


I really enjoyed making this card... I put on one of my favourite tracks by Stevie Nicks - 'Alice' for inspiration... and it really did seem to help... so I might try crafting with music again... a different song for every card! might be interesting? LOL

I would like to enter the following Challenges:-

Papertake Weekly - 'Anything Goes' 

Digi Haven - 'Anything Goes' 

Stampin' For the Weekend - 'Cute' 

Natalie and Amy - 'Fantasy'

Joanna Sheen - 'Spots and Stripes'

Ah well this last week has flown by... I'm hoping for a restful weekend... I might sit out in the garden and read my book for a while today... and then Sunday will watch Poirot in the evening... it looks really good cast!
Hope you all have a lovely weekend! :-)
Take Care....

Love and Hugs

My Time To Craft GDT - 'Bookmark'

Ooh I was very excited when the lovely Shell asked if I would like to do a GDT Spot over at...

My Time to Craft

so of course I said Yes!! so I am with the team for the month of June! Yay! ... and here is my first creation.... this week's theme is....

'Bookmarks'

so we would love you to join in the challenge this week and make a bookmark... either corner or traditional...

As it is the 200th Anniversary of Pride & Prejudice this year... I thought I would honour the wonderful Jane Austen... so I've used a picture of the authoress and one of her wonderful quotes! and of course I will be giving these bookmarks to intolerably clever people!! ;-)

I've used some gorgeous Raspberry Road Papers and Elements Pack called Antebellum...  and then just added some ribbon... I do love the flexibility of these packs... they are wonderful for bookmarks... you can add everything digitally and keep things nice and flat... 

the font on the middle bookmark is called 'Jane Austen' and has been made based on her actual handwriting... I know it's not the easiest to read on the screen.. but I love it - it's SO cool !! 

Did you see the wonderful documentary - Pride & Prejudice: Having a Ball?  they re-created the Netherfield Ball ... it was really interesting... but I have to say the dances looked very complicated... I'm not sure that I would be able to remember all those steps? I can only think that they learnt them from childhood and it all became second nature... I can't imagine myself doing any of those dances at all... I think I would have been a bit of a klutz in the Regency Ballroom!!! LOL

I would like to enter my Bookmarks into the following Challenges:-

Simon Says - 'Anything Goes' 

Totally Papercrafts - 'Anything Goes' 

Well the weather brightened up here yesterday... so hopefully it will stay nice for a while! I hope you all have a good weekend! I will catch up with you soon...

Love and hugs