Crafting Clear-out Candy Alert!

Good morning to all my lovely followers and any new visitors dropping by.  I hope you're all ready for a great week-end whether you have special plans, a busy schedule or just relaxing.

I've just made my second Etsy sale so I'm very excited lol, even though I've sold a fair few card privately before, I'm always slightly stunned that people actually want to buy my work so it gives me a warm glow.  

Ok so onto the main reason I'm here.....I've decided that the time has come to have a good sort out of my crafting space.  When I first started making cards I bought stuff I thought I needed and over time I've added to it and will probably keep adding to it when I can afford and find the space.  I have a parcel of goodies due to arrive today and I really need to find space for it lol.  So I've been looking at some of my stuff and have decided that there's certain stuff I just don't use anymore.  This isn't because the items aren't any good, or that I don't like them, just that as I have grown and developed my style more, they don't fit in with what I use anymore.

 I have a lot of pretty designer paper, mostly by First Edition, lots of them are glittered or embellished and they are lovely papers, but don't lend themselves as well to distressing so I haven't used them for months.  They're mainly from 8 x 8 pads, some are almost full pads, I don't use them so rather than let them sit unused I am going to offer them as part of a giveaway.  They would be ideal for anybody starting out or somebody who loves bright designs and wants to add to their collection.

Also when I first started colouring images Promarkers were easily available and I didn't even know you could buy Copics in the UK at that time.  When I started more advanced shading and blending I couldn't get the effects I wanted, I tried a few Copics and was sold on the brush tip.  (of course you can buy a brush tip for Pro-markers too I discovered later after buying a bunch of Copics lol)

I personally cannot get the hang of blending with Pro-markers, it just doesn't work for me the way Copics do, but some people have amazing results with them and also if you don't do a lot of shading they're fab to colour with.  I use Copics now so my poor Pro-markers are sitting there unused, I'd love them to go to a new home where they'll be loved. They are barely used and should last a good while, some of the colours that came in sets haven't been used at all except to mark a colour sheet.

Finally I have some Punches and Dies that I just don't use anymore because I have so many dies now and they are taking up much needed room.  I'm sure somebody could give those a good home.

Soooooo today I will gather and sort and inventory everything and take some photos and I'll be back this afternoon with a Candy post.  There's quite a bit of stuff so I may even have 2 or 3 Candy giveaways for you, so watch this space! :) xx 

Flower Fairy DT Card for Crafty Catz

Woop woop it's Friiiiday again and I'm seriously glad for it, this week has been hectic and I'm looking forward to my weekend.  But Friday also means a new challenge at Crafty Catz.

This week our theme is anything goes, super easy right? :D  We're sponsored by Bugaboo who have a great prize for our lucky winner and I've used one of their digi images in my card this week.

I've manipulated the digi to form the sentiment for my card, this is one of the things I love about digital stamps, that you can resize and adjust them to suit your project.  I made this the right size and also removed the square frame that was around the original image as I wanted it shaped to match my card.

I combined the Bugaboo digi with a Wee Stamps one, this is Flower Fairies, there's 2 in the set, I was going to use the 2nd one on the inside of my card but I'm afraid I ran out of time...did I say I'd had a crazily busy week?

I coloured her up with my Copics and added some glamour dust for sparkle.  I added a little colour and sparkle to the Bugaboo digi too.

I distressed, inked and stitched all my papers these are Bildmarlarna - Welcome Lovely World simply gorgeous, I must get more, these were from Dies to Die For.  I added flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and some pearls, pearl string, cheescloth, ribbon and crystal spray.  I also added a little fairy charm from my stash.

The papers were so beautiful I decided just to use them to decorate the inside of the card without any added embellishment, the paper is light enough to write on clearly.

Well that's my card today, blogged very quickly as I don't have a lot of time to get this done and scheduled, but hopefully I'll have more time at the weekend.  Time allowing I'm having a big tidy up and clear out so I may have some candy this weekend albeit most of it will be pre-loved :)  

Do pop along to the blog and give the other DT girls some love, they've made some super cards this week oh and join in with the challenge...it's Anything Goes, so no excuses!! :) xx

I'm entering the following challenges:

Inky Chicks Use 2 different die cuts

Papertake Weekly Anything Goes

Check out my Giveaway here

Saturated Canary, Vintage Violet with a Twist of Lime

Good afternoon to all my lovely followers and those just dropping by, and a big welcome to my newest followers.  I'll admit I'm like a big kid and I always get really excited when I see that the number counter has gone up :)  

I am feeling quite a bit better today, I just need to get rid of this chesty cough now, but I did sleep more this weekend and feel more lively.

I have a card to share with you today, this one I made just because I love the image and that was enough to inspire me. I hope you like it.

I seem to have a thing for lime this week don't I lol, but it goes so well with these deep purples.

The image is Vintage Violet from Saturated Canary, I've coloured her up with my Copics.

Skin: E000, 00, 11, R20, 11

Hair: E50, 51, 53, 55

Clothing: V99, 95, 93, 91, YG06, 03, 00, W05, 03, 02, 0

I finished off the image with small small spots of Liquid Pearls in Key Lime (this one doesn't get out much lol)

Papers used are Pion, Almas Sewing Room....so beautiful...if only you could tell under all the embellishments lol.  I've used several die cuts the Clock is from Cheery Lyn, the Swirls are Doo Hickey, the oval frame is Spellbinders and the button border is from Memory Box (I actually forgot I had this one and it works great for this card, I must use it more often)

The large pearl brad and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts except the white daisy which is from the Ribbon Girl as are the pearl beads, lace and top stitch thread.

The small crystal brads, pearls and the charm are from Live and Love Crafts, everything else is from stash, including the buttons which echo the ones on her dress.

I decorated the inside quite simply with coordinating paper from the collection, it leaves plenty of space for writing a message so I didn't add a mat.

I'll be popping this into my Etsy store later today.

*This card has now been sold*

I hope you liked my share for today, I really enjoyed making this one and the image was a joy to colour.

I'll be entering this card for the following challenges:

2 Sisters Anything Goes

Crazy for Challenges Use Bows

Digi Designs Colouring Skills

Drunken Stampers Die Cuts

7 Kids ATG Twist of Marker

Chocolate Coffee & Cards  Flowers

Fussy and Fancy  Punches and Dies

Cute Card Thursday Pretty Ribbons

Creative Belli Ribbons and Pearls

Fab and Funky  Button it Up

Hope you're all enjoying your weekend and I'll be back soon :) xx