Goldie Locks at Dies to Die for

Morning folks! It's Tuesday and that means I'm here with my inspiration post for Dies to Die for.  I'm very late getting finished and barely have any time so this will be a brief post with no drivel from me lol.

This week I coloured up an older Elisabeth Bell stamp called Goldie Locks.  Tracy has these older ones on sale in the shop, so it's worth having a look and picking up a bargain.

I used the lovely A Day in May collection of papers by Pion Design and coloured her with distress inks. The card is lovely and subtle but sadly it's looking a little washed out in the photos. I've distressed, inked and stitched all my papers.

I popped a Heart Doily from La-La Land Crafts behind her . On the other side is a little stack of banners cut with MFT's Jumbo Fishtail Banner Stax.  I dotted a few of MME's Dots, these are Necessities - Wood and they really do look like wood, sooooo cute.

I popped a few Prima roses to give it a little pop of colour. I also added some satin ribbon and some white lace from The Ribbon Girl and a beautiful butterfly made by Kay Fatula  of Kays Kreative Korner

Well that's all from me this week, this humid weather is really knocking my mojo recently, but I'll be back on Friday to share some more inspiration.  Stay cool and have fun! : ) x x

Singing Marci gets a bit of Hollywood Glam

Good Morning everyone, I hope you all had a lovely weekend and if you are in the UK you enjoyed the beautiful weather we had.

This week at La-La Land Crafts our theme is Anything Goes.  Easy I hear you say, well you would think so but it's been so hot and humid here recently that I must admit the mojo and the motivation have been severely lacking lol.  So lacking a single idea of what I wanted to make, I turned to Pinterest and started making myself an inspiration board, you can see it here.  I clicked when I saw some Hollywood Glam boards, this I thought would be just the thing for Singing Marci, and there it was, my Mojo, alive and kicking even in the sticky heat.

So from the board I took the black and gold with a touch of the red and white and lots of sparkle and shine. I used the new lattice border and doily border and covered them with gold embossing powder for that Old Hollywood Glam feel. 

I coloured her with my Copics to match the theme, I've listed the colours I used below.

Copics:

Skin: E11, E21, E00, E000, R20

Hair: E50, E51, E40, E42, E44

Outfit and Microphone: YR20, YR21, YR23, YR24, W9. W7, W5, W3, W1, R59, R46, R35

Of course since it's Hollywood we had to have some film in there too, so I added some Tim Holtz  film strip ribbon and a film strip sentiment stamp and die from Whimsy. The wonderful gold bling was a gift from the wonderfully sweet Irina Blount, I'm so lucky I have the BEST DT bosses :)

I added lace, rosebuds and some beautiful gold organza ribbon all from The Ribbon Girl. The lovely square diamante embellishment is from The Handcrafted Card Company, it was just clear but I did one of my favourite tricks with Copics and coloured the centre gem to match the card. The red and black roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts. I used lashings of black stickles on my musical notes to make them sparkle.

I used the following La-La Land items on my card.

Singing Marci

Lattice Doily Border Die

Lattice Border Die

Heart Treble Clef Die (just the notes)

These all are (or will be) available at Dies to Die for in the UK.

Well that's for today, I'll see you again tomorrow with my regular Dies to Die for post, have fun! : ) x x 

I Do

Evening everyone, my goodness it's so warm here, I get in from work and I literally just flake out.  I have a lot of crafting I need to get done, but it's so hard to find the motivation in this heat and humidity.

Even so I managed to finish a (very rare for me to take on) commission for a wedding card.

I used Lili of the Valley's 'I Do', such a sweet image and perfect for my kind of vintage style card.

I coloured it with Distress Inks and finished off with some Glamour Dust and liquid pearls. 

Papers are Pion Design, From the Heart II. I used the new La-La Land Crafts Lattice Doily Border behind the image LOVE this die so much. You'll be able to get it at Dies to Die for soon. I popped a couple of the La-La Land Heart Doily die cuts at the top of my card. All my papers and die cuts are edged with Tea Dye Distress Ink, and papers have been distressed with a Tim Holtz tool and as always I have hand sewn them with Top Stitch thread.

I added some flowers cut with a Magnolia Die, I can't remember the name of this one at the moment, I've had it ages, and popped some flat back pearls from The Ribbon Girl in the centres. The lace which I've almost hidden is also from The Ribbon Girl.

I stamped a sentiment from Impression Obsession's Life Stuff sentiment set on the centre piece from the Heart Doily and added some more flat back pearls.

The beautiful  ribbon is Fluted Edge Sheer in Vintage Ivory from The Ribbon Girls and the gorgeous embellishment in the centre of the bow is from The Handcrafted Card Company.

I decorated the inside fairly simply with a sheet from the same collection, this has plenty of space to write a personal message to the special couple. The shape of the card is made with a Martha Stewart PAtP punch set.

I was so happy with the way this came out that I decorated the box I made for it too!

I do hope you like it and I hope the recipients enjoy it, that's all from me folks.  Don't forget I have candy on my blog that's up for grabs. Thank you all so much for visiting and leaving such lovely comments lately,  I have been a bit remiss about leaving comments recently as I've been snowed under with stuff to complete, but I will try and find some time to leave some love soon.

Take care! : ) x x

July release Day 2 at La-La Land Crafts

If you're looking for my Dies to Die for post, please scroll down.

Hello! It's me again back with my second post of the day and my second day of showcasing the new La-La Land release stamps and dies.

Today I used:

Surfing Luka

Lattice Doily Border (I used a piece of this folded over the corner of my card to look a bit like a net).

Birds

Wheel & Anchor 

and one of the older dies

Wave Border

I coloured Luka up with Copics, and took his skin a little darker to give him a bit of a suntan.

Copics:

Skin: E11, E21, E00, E000, E93, E95

Hair: E50, E31, E33, YR21

Clothing and Surfboard: B99, B97, B95, B93, R59. R29, R27, R24, E30, E31. E33

Papers are from Authentique - Anchored

I popped Luka on some foam, and angled him in the layers of the wave border so it looks like he's surfing the swell. I did add a whole coating of glossy accents to the surf board, to make it look shiny, but if doesn't show up well in the photos, it looks really good in real life,........honest!

If you're in the UK or Europe, you can get your La-La Land Crafts fix at Dies to Die for.

Don't forget to jump over to the blog to check out the rest of the wonderful creations, and if you're on Facebook, you can join in all the fun in our Facebook group

Right that's all from me, I'll see you next week : ) x x

Opal the Optimist at Dies to Die for

Happy Tuesday!!  Hope you are all doing well and if you're in the UK I hope you're enjoying the hot weather that we've been having lately.  This is my first post for today, my inspiration for Dies to Die for,  I have another to come later and while you're here, why not enter my Blogversary Candy?!

Today I had a play with one of the delightful Uptown Girls images. This is Opal the Optimist. I coloured her with Inktense pencils. Papers are MME, all inked and hand stitched.

I popped a Cherry Lynn clock behind her, set to 5pm to go with the ticket sentiment.

The bow is made with some lovely soft brown tulle that was a gift from a friend.  The gem is from the Handcrafted Card Company.  The flowers are by Prima. The little hearts are Prima Sugardots. I made a little flag banner stack in the top left corner.

I decorated the inside to complement the front.

Items used:

Opal the Optimist

Cheery Lynn Clock
Jumbo Fishtail Banner Stax

The Fun Life Tickets 2

Ticket Die

Prima Roses

Well that's it from me, I'll be back later with another make!

TTFN : ) x x 

La-La Land Crafts July Release Day 1

Good Morning everyone, it's a happier than usual Monday today because even though I'm busy at work while this post goes live, we have a new release over at La-La Land and it's very exciting.

It's a slightly smaller release this time, (but that just means it's not so long to wait for another one), but though the quantity of dies and stamps may be slightly less than last release the quality will definitely have you ooohing and aaahing.

For my card today I got to colour up Catching Butterflies Marci, isn't she pretty?!  I matched her up with some of the new dies, Lattice Doily Border, Lattice Border and Fancy Butterfly.  

I coloured her with my Copics and used some different colours today.

Skin: E11, E21, E00, E000, R20

Hair: RV93, RV06, RV12, RV99, R81

Clothing: E11, E97, E93, YR61, YR68, RV06, RV12

Net: W0, W1, W7

Love her funky hair colour.

I have to say that I'm loving these new lattice dies and have already started making a wedding card with them, they are so delicate and pretty, and like all La-La Land dies, they cut really easily and come out clean.

The new butterfly dies are also very pretty, and a bit more intricate, they're a lovely size for cards too.

You can see all the new release stamps and dies below, aren't they fab?, click on them for a link to the store.

If you're in the UK/Europe, you can get your La-La Land stamps and dies at Dies to Die for.

Now pop across to the blog to see the rest of Team Mondays makes, there are some really drool worthy creations there, in fact there's inspiration for you every day this week as all 3 teams are showcasing this new release, prepare to be amazed!

That's all from me today, I'll be back tomorrow with more fun with the new release as well as my regular inspiration post for Dies to Die for.

Until then have fun! : ) x x

Yuki & Serenity at Dies to Die for

Good morning! It's Tuesday...again...I don't know about you but the weeks seem to be whizzing by for me.  Looking at my DT diary I seem to be busy right up to September, but I do have a little holiday booked then and shall be taking a week off!

For my card today I chose to use a LDRS Saturated Canary stamp called Yuki. One thing I love about this stamp is that I've seen her used by various people and she always looks really different depending on how she's coloured up, colours, medium etc.  Since she has a Japanese name I decided to go with an Asian skin and hair tone and matched her to these beautiful papers by Bo Bunny, called Serenity. Totally not my usual type, but oh my I just love them.

  I coloured her with Copics to match the papers, she has a great outfit that can take several different colours without looking like she's just thrown up on herself lol.

Skin: E50, E51, E53, E93, V95

Hair: W9, W7, W5, W3, BV 23

Clothing: BG13, BG11, BG10, BG0000, R59, R46, R22, YG99, YG95, YG93, YG91, W9, W7, W5, W3.

I added a touch of glamour dust to the lace ruffle on her skirt.

The black frame she's on is cut with the 2nd largest dies from the Simply B Scallops set.The lovely brad on the bow is MME -Lush. Sadly the black ones are out of stock now, but you can still get them in Pink, Green, Brown or Blue.

I thought that the Cherry Blossom Branch die from La-La Land Crafts, was very in keeping with the papers and I cut 2 in black card stock and popped them down in opposite corners, adding a few little self adhesive pearls.

All that was left to do was to pop a few flowers on et voila! I really LOVE the way this turned out, just goes to show it's always worth stepping out of your comfort zone now and then and working with something a little different.

Enjoy the rest of your week, I won't be here again till Monday, but I can assure you I'll be beavering away behind the scenes creating for La-La Land Crafts new release next week, very exciting I'm sure you'll love it!

Bye for now!  : ) x x

Heart Key Marci - Pearls & Pins at La-La Land Crafts

Good morning (or afternoon or evening, depending on when you read this and what part of the globe you're in).  It's Monday so I'm here again for the Team Monday girls with my inspiration for La-La Land Crafts. 

This week our theme is Pins and Pearls, well that makes me a happy bunny, because I'm sure you know by now if you follow my blog that I do love me a pearl or two : )

La-La Land items used:

Heart Key Marci

Heart Doily Border Die

Heart Doily Die

Bird Cage Die

Butterflies set 1 Die

I chose some very pretty Prima papers called Lyric from a pad that has actually been in my drawer for months.  I decided to colour up Heart Key Marci with distress inks for a change as I thought they would really suit these pretty vintage style papers.

Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye

Hair: Black Soot

Clothes: Tattered Rose, Spun Sugar, Black Soot

Key: Pumice Stone, Spun Sugar

I used Heart Doily Border Die behind a spellbinders labels nestie, I cut it down a little to fit and used it top and bottom.  I cut 2 x Heart Doily die and tucked them behind on the top right of the card. You can see the Bird Cage peeking out from the top left, I added a bow to the top of it and a rose and placed a small key charm underneath. I used one of the butterflies from the Butterflies Set 1 and cut it twice and used one on either side topped with a small black rose.

Behind my frame I've taped some pink Melissa Frances Pink Pouf ribbon.  This is a little expensive, BUT I have to explain that it's on elastic, so for most uses you can just stretch it (unless you want it REALLY poufy) and a little goes a very long way.  I've used mine quite a lot and still have a fair bit left.

The pearl pins are a mix of Trinket Pins and Hat Pins you can always colour them with your Copics if you can't get the colour you want, I do this a lot with pearls and gems.

I used a mix of different size flat back pearls, these are the non-adhesive type, which are a bit more fiddly to put on but at least stay put when don't, I do find that however hard I bash the self adhesive ones down, I always seem to lose one or two eventually.

I edged all my die cuts with Tattered Rose DI, and all my papers with Black Soot. Distressed the straight edges of my papers and hand stitched with Top Stitch thread as usual.

Well that's all from me today, the next La-La Land post I make will be for the new release, how exciting is that?! Do pop over to the blog and have a look at the other makes we have for you, they are soooooooo pretty this week.  If you love creating with La-La Land stamps or dies, do join in the fun on our FB Group page :)

For now I'll be back tomorrow with my regular Dies to Die for post : ) x x

Whimsy Stamps July release BLOG HOP!

Welcome to the ...
Whimsy Stamps July release BLOG HOP!

The Whimsy Stamps DT and GDT have been sharing some amazing creations made with the new July release stamps and dies over the last couple of days, and today we are celebrating their release with a GRAND BLOG HOP!

The hop starts today (Wednesday July 9th at 12.00PM noon ET) and ends on Friday July 11th at 12.00pm noon ET.

If you would like to hop along with us today, please CLICK HERE to start the hop at Iris's blog.

Here is a complete blog hop list in hopping order:

Iris Wiechmann
Bridget Curnow (GDT)
Jacque Beddingfield
Sue Hughes (GDT)
Simonne Clay
Linda Levoir (GDT)- That's ME!
Ann-Marie Sinfield
Mary Johnson (GDT)
Ellie Stover

PRIZE ALERT ... We have hidden a fabulous prize of a $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE at one of the stops on today’s hop! To enter the draw, simply leave a comment HERE and at EVERY stop along the hop by 12.00pm noon on Friday July 11th.

For today's project, I have inked up Little Apple Blossom Summer Icecream by Elizabeth Bell, and coloured her with a mixture of Distress Inks and Inktense pencils.

I've paired her up with some gorgeous papers from the latest Maja collection, Coffee in the Arbour I think these papers look so summery, don't you?

I distressed my straight edges and inked all edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and hand stitched them as always with top stitch thread.

Some lace, satin ribbon, seam binding, a brad, flowers, an ice cream charm and a beautiful butterfly from Kay's Kreative Korner to finish the card off.

If you're in the UK or  Europe you can get your Whimsy stamps fix from Tracy at Dies to Die for

Now it's time for you to continue today's hop! Don’t forget to leave a comment at every stop along the hop to be entered into the draw to win a $25 gift certificate.

Thanks so much for visiting today. Happy hopping!

Nurse Nightingale

Good morning!  Well Tuesday has rolled around again and I'm here with my regular Dies to Die for post and my 4th card of the week *phew!*

I needed to make a card for a friend at work who was leaving clinical teaching to go back into nursing.  I thought that Nurse Nightingale was perfect for this.  Sadly she's now out of stock, but the good news if you're a Kraftin' Kimmie fan, is that all Kraftin' Kimmie stamps in the store are all on sale and most are around half price!  Grab a bargain while they're still in stock!

I coloured her in Copics and I'm sorry that I don't have the colours today, I was rushing so much to get this card done in time that I didn't have a chance to note them down. I paired her with the gorgeous Shoreline Treasures collection by Pion Design. These papers are so lovely and you can use many of them for more than just seaside or summer themes. I paired the Pion paper with some Kraft.

I've distressed all the edges of my paper and inked with DI in Walnut Stain and hand stitched as always with top stitch thread.

I fussy cut her out and popped her up on foam tape on a couple of sheets cut with a Die-namics Notebook Paper die. On top of that I've cut a couple of little banners with the smallest sizes of the Die-namics Jumbo Fishtail Banner die. The sentiment is from the Everyday Mini Postage Stamps sentiments by Whimsy and cut with the matching die.

The inside is decorated with the same paper range to complement the front...as you can see I wrote my message before remembering to take pics oops.

The wings at the top of the card are cut with the La-La Land Craft's Wings Set

Flowers, lace, ribbon and cheesecloth are all from The Ribbon Girl, the decoration on the bow is from The Handcrafted Card Company.

Well that's all from me today, I'll be back tomorrow with my 5th and final card for the week. Until then, have fun crafting! : ) x x

Yo-Yo Girl - Whimsy Stamps Release Day 1

I'm here with my 2nd post for today (get me!), if you're looking for my La-La Land Crafts post, please scroll down.

So....the reason I'm here for a 2nd time on a Monday? I got asked to fill a guest spot for the July release at Whimsy Stamps! How exciting is that? I was so happy to be chosen : )  So without further delay.......

Welcome to Day 1 of the ...
Whimsy Stamps July rubber stamp and die release!

Over the next 3 days we will reveal the new July 2014 Whimsy Stamps products. Whimsy is releasing 14 new red rubber stamps/stamp sets and 4 coordinating die/die sets this week, and they will be available to buy from the Whimsy Stamps store and selected Whimsy Stamps retailers on Wednesday.

We are thrilled to welcome Mary Johnson, Linda Levoir (that's me!!), Bridget Curnow and Sue Hughes as our Guest Designers for this release. Welcome ladies!

PRIZE ALERT ... We have hidden a fabulous prize of a $15 GIFT CERTIFICATE at one of the stops on today’s hop! The lucky winner will be drawn from the comments left on today’s design team posts (listed below), so be sure to visit everyone and leave a comment at every stop along the hop to be entered into the draw.

Today we are excited to show you the brand new Elisabeth Bell, Time for Tea Designs and Raindrop Echo Designs stamps and dies being released this month. For a full reveal of these stamps, check out the Whimsy blog! You really must they are just so gorgeous!

For today's project, I have inked up Time for Tea Designs' Yo-Yo Girl, drawn by the super talented Jo Davies.  I love her images! I coloured her with my Copics 

Skin: E11, E21, E00, E000, R20

Hair: E50, E31, E23

Clothing: R85, R83, R81, RV10

and paired her up with some more papers from the new Pion collection, My Precious Daughter and I have to say I really love the way this came out. I think this has to be one of my very favourite makes of this year! This is my card.

She's fussy cut and mounted with some foam tape on a Reverse Wonky frame from Spellbinders.

I used some beautiful lace and ribbon from The Ribbon Girl the large rose and the pearls are also from their shop. The little scrabble letters are from the Spell It Out stamp set from Whimsy.

 This beautiful gem is from The Handcrafted Card Company.  I coloured the gem with my Copics to match the paper.

I also used the Leaf Flourish die and Stitched Scallops die  from La-La Land Crafts.

I finished off the inside with some more paper and a border from the same collection.

This is the stamp I used

I'm sure Tracy will have this in stock at Dies to Die for very soon.

So now it's time for you to continue today's hop! Don’t forget to leave a comment at every stop along the hop to be entered into the draw to win a $15 gift certificate:

Danni Bindel
Linda Levoir (GDT)
Shelby Thomas
Ann-Marie Sinfield
Sue Hughes (GDT)
Debbie Eastman
Bev Rochester
Iris Wiechmann
Shannah Bartle

Be sure to visit the Whimsy blog again tomorrow for the second day of sneak peeks.

Thanks so much for visiting today. Happy hopping! I'm not on the hop tomorrow, but I do have another new release share on Wednesday, and I'll be back tomorrow with my regular Dies to Die for post.