Happy news

Hello there,

A much more uplifting post than my previous two.
My niece Lucy gave birth to her second daughter, Millie Rose at 12:01 on New Years day. Although it's not confirmed, we think she was the first baby to be born in the country this year. Millie had a traumatic entry into the world when it was discovered that the chord was wrapped around her neck three times and mum Lucy had internal bleeding. An emergency Ceasarian was performed and Millie was born with no problems at all, thank goodness. We were really pleased, and very impressed, when Lucy managed to get to mum's funeral a week later and brought Millie with her. It really did lift everyone's spirits on the day.

Ofcourse I made a card.
I used a gorgeous paper from Lemoncraft, Tiny Miracles
The backing paper is pink with stars and I used a second paper with dots for the letters and daisies.
The tags are made with unnamed dies and the daisies are punched.
The letters are dies from Yvonne Creations.
Finished off with some very slim ribbon that started out as hangers on a blouse.

Thanks for popping in x

Spring Baby

Good morning,

I made this card in readiness for my daughters friend. Her baby was due in 2 weeks but Laila was born just before midnight last night so I can share it now. This will be her 6th baby, the other 5 are boys so I expect this one will be a very spoilt princess.

I wanted to keep it girly but delicate using the palest coloured flowers. I think it`s an age thing but I like to see babies in soft delicate colours and lots of white.

I`ve used Pink Petticoat papers, Swiss dots and Brocade in pale pink.
The sentiment is PC generated to make it personal and cut out with a SB Floral Oval.
The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.
I cut the leaves using a Memory Box die and pale green Vellum.
The butterfly is another Memory Box die using pink and white vellum.
I finished off with some perfect pearls and a stick pin from my stash..

Thank goodness for scans, in my day we had to wait to see the sex of our babies. At least we can be prepared now.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

New baby girl

Hi There,
Another very quick post from me I`m afraid, to share a card I made using my latest buy from Lili of the Valley.

I adore this stamp and I`m sure ,with a bit more time, I can do alot more with it. Having said that, I am pleased with this card.
Dp is Pink Petticoat Gingham & Swiss dots.
I`ve coloured the image with markers and added a touch of glamour dust to the stars and hearts. I then cut it out with Spell binders Floral Oval die.
I`m trying to use up my peel off corners ( who uses these anymore?) but thought they looked fab on this card.
I`ve finished it off with some punched leaves and flowers from my stash and added some flat back pearls and a couple of pearl hearts.
The sentiment is by The Stampman stamped and embossed in detail silver EP. To make the banner I simply left enough paper at either end to roll around a cable needle and added a small dab of quickie glue to hold it in place.
I think that`ll be it from me for a couple of weeks. It` going to be more graft than craft for the next two days and then we leave home early on friday to begin our holiday. Missing you all already ;-)

Thank for popping in...Lynne

Christening Card

Good Afternoon All!

My great niece is going to be Christened on Sunday so ofcourse I had to make a card ( as you do). I also noticed that this week, over at The shabby tea room it`s anything goes week, so I`m entering my card for that.
Now that I`m a `Lady of Leisure` I`m hoping to get back into the challenge routine, fingers crossed.

I`ve tried to keep it as soft and delicate as possible with very pale pinks and just a touch of glitter.
I used Vintage Rose DP from Pink Petticoat.
The stamp is one of my favourites from Lili of the valley. I made the sentiment on the computer and then carefully stamped the image alongside.
The die cut is Floral Oval from Spellbinders and the swirl die cut in the top right hand corner is a Cheery Lyn die.
The flowers are from my stash, as is the piece of lace.
I cut two small hearts from some white glitter card using a Sizzix die and added a pearl heart to each.
Finished off with a touch of Glamour Dust for some sparkle.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 163

Good Evening All!
We`ve been enjoying some gorgeous weather in the UK this week. A bit on the chilly side but beautiful sunshine and just enough of a breeze to get the washing dry. It doesn`t take much!

This week at Simply Less is More the ladies want us to use MASKING or STENCILLING on our cards.
I use masking quite a lot but I`m not so keen on stencilling. Takes me back to those home make over shows from the 90`s. However I have been taking a keen interest in embossing with paste using masks and stencils. That`s as far as I`ve got mind you, I haven`t bought any paste and most of my stencils are a bit fussy for CaS. So...I wasn`t going to bother this week but then I had an idea. I had a vague recollection of seeing a tutorial for home made embossing paste on line, so I had a quick look and there it was. Actually there were two recipes and I`ve mixed them up a bit. One was to use Pollyfilla and colour with chalks and the other was to use flour and colour with acrylic paint. I opted for the Pollyfilla one because I don`t want to attact weavils in my craft room ( I know, barmy) and I had to use water colour paints because thats all I had, but it worked a treat and I`m chuffed to bits with the result. See what you think.

I used a Dreamweaver brass stencil. The sentiment is from two sets, Personal Impressions Double Sayings and Flourishes Tag Lines.
The colour of the paste is not as strong as I`d have liked but all in all, for a first attempt I think it`s turned out pretty good.
Now I know how to do it I`m going to be using this method quite a lot I think.

Thanksfor popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 156 take 2

Hello again, yes it`s me. Two days running, I think I`,m on a roll lol.

I`ve come to the conclusion that I love a good, simple sketch. It`s so much easier when someone else has done half the work for you. And the sketch this week at Simply Less is More is a good, simple one. So much so that I`ve come up with a second card.

 This time I made a baby card. I embossed the base card with a CB Swiss Dots EF.
I made a banner to fit and stamped the Congratulations onto it (Flourishes Tag Lines)
The tag is punched from a Woodware punch and stamped with a Chevron b/g stamp from Lawn Fawn in very pale baby blue. I then stamped ` it`s a boy ` in Versafine black.
I stamped the heart by Avery Elle in Canary ( Versacolor) and embossed in clear EP then cut out with Sizzix heart die.
I`ve added some pale blue flat back pearls and some yellow Bakers Twine to finish.

Here is a close up of the tag.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 155

Hello All!
I hope I find you well today. Don`t you just love it when a plan comes together? I`ll explain.

It`s theme week at Simply Less is More and this week it`s to make a BABY card. I had no time over the weekend to get into the craft room as I was holding a little party for my dads 82nd birthday on sunday. Ofcourse monday means back to work which leaves little time to craft but Tara`s new venture  Make the Day Special Stamp Store 
opened its doors and I found some time to place an order ( it would have been rude not to). Over the past couple of days I`ve been toying with an idea for my LiM card with the intention of having a crafty day today. Then the postman arrived with my package from Tara this morning and everything fell into place. I`d ordered the Valentine stamp set from Avery Elle because it has some lovely heart stamps and by sheer good luck the hearts fit my Sizzix Heart Dies perfectly. This is what I came up with,

I made a panel slightly smaller than my base card and ran it through a Darice EF, leaving a small space for the sentiment.I backed the panel onto some pink card leaving a slim border.
The hearts are stamped with Versacolor Orchid and embossed in clear EP to give some texture and shine then placed at irregular intervals with some silver thread.
The sentiment is by Personal Impressions stamped in Memento Black.

Don`t forget to check out Tara`s new store. She has some fabulous US stamps at really reasonable prices.

Thanks for popping in..Lynne xxx

Baby Boy

I can`t believe it`s nearly a month since I last posted anything. My poor blog has been sadly neglected.
I recently set up a seperate facebook page to showcase my cards and have generated some orders for cards from that, so that has been keeping me busy. I just need to get into some sort of routine for posting and I`ll get back to normal ( whatever that is) :)
I was asked by Alans boss to make a card for her, soon to be born grandson. What do you think,

I love this stamp from Lili of the Valley, it`s so versatile and such a bonny baby. Coloured with promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens and cut out with a nestie label 4 die.
The backing paper is some I downloaded ages ago and can`t remember where from, sorry. I made a banner using yellow card and gingham paper from Pink Petticoat using a square nestie corner for the fishtail.
The stars are cut from lemon glitter card with a X cut die and the teddies are buttons from a local store.
The sentiment is PC generated. A touch of Glamour Dust here and there finishes it off nicely.

Back soon I hope.
Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Baby Banners

Hi All.
I hope you are well. The weather here is very springlike at the moment. I doubt it`ll last but it`s really nice to see some sun.

One of the girls at work had a baby girl last friday so ofcourse I had to make her a card.

Sorry for the rubbish photo.
I made a 6x4 card then made a panel slightly smaller and scored the diamond pattern with my scoreboard.
I made the little banners from scraps of DP by cutting strips, folding them in half and the cutting the fishtails using the corner of a square nestie. I hung them over some pink twine then stuck the two sides together.
I`ve added some flat back pearls to the crossover on the scoring. The sentiment is computer generated, the frame is Waltzing Mouse Vintage labels, stamped in orchid Versacolor then cut out with a labels 4 nestie.

As the banner is made from snippets I`m entering this one into Pixies Crafty Snippets # 61 
Now that the sun is shining I hope I can spend some time in the playground. I want to seesaw with Darnell.

Thanks for popping in ...Lynne xxx

Twins are twice as nice

Morning All!

One of the lads at work has just become the proud Daddy of twins, a boy and a girl, perfect. Naturally I had to make a card.

The image is from LOTV coloured with Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens.
Cut out with a nestie oval and matted onto a scalloped oval in lemon.
The gingham DP is by Pink Petticoat.
I added a strip of lemon card which I embossed with the Swiss Dots folder and also some stars cut out with a X Cut nested die and also using the Swiss Dots.
I`ve added glitter to the scales to give it a bit of sparkle.
Normally I would have added flowers but  the stars seemed more appropriate for the boy
.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Less is More # 78

Hello Everyone.

I bet you thought I`d been abducted by aliens didn`t you?

I`ve had the week off work and to be honest I`ve been so busy I haven`t had time to post anything. Got quite a few cards made but I can`t share them just yet. Hopefully next week I`ll have plenty to show.

This week on Simply Less is More is sketch week and a super, easy, peasy one it is too.

Even I can`t complain at this one.
I`ve been saving my pennies up and this week treat myself to some new dies including an Alphabet set from Die- namics. This sketch was made for using these dies. Look at what I`ve been playing at.

I`ve followed the sketch except for the sentiment because it just wouldn`t have made sense otherwise.
All the card and papers (except the base card) are out of my scrap boxes.
I`ve used an MS punch on the girl card and a Fiskars punch on the boys.
The sentiment is computer generated using Amazone font.

I`ve done two stupid things this week. First of all I decided last sunday to rearrange the loft. It took two days, in oppressive heat, and now I can`t find or get at anything. I really need to put it back how it was but I have neither the time nor the inclination at the moment. That`ll teach me!
Secondly, I was up with the lark this morning, got all dressed up and put me posh perfume on and trotted off to a papercraft fair. The problem with that is...it`s tomorrow. Duh!
I think I really need to get back to work and some sort of routine. It might just sort my head out, but then again...

Before I go I`d like to welcome my newest follower Carol. Thank you Carol for choosing my little blog.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

One stamp...two very different designs

TGIF Folks!

It`s the start of two whole weeks off work for me yaaay! We`re away monday to friday next week but then I`ve a week to myself with, hopefully, lots of crafting. I can hardly contain myself lol.
I`ve made a couple of cards this week showing how versatile LOTV can be, both really cute but so different. What do you think?,

 For the boy one I`ve used Pink Petticoat papers, gingham and pinstripes in turquoise. I`ve added some ivory teddy ribbon that I bought years ago locally and forgot I had and some pale yellow buttons.

The girl card is the one I`m really pleased with. It almost came together by itself.
I scored the panel on my scoreboard, added the image and the flowers and then decided it needed something else. These flat back pearls were calling to me and they fit the bill perfectly.
These ones are going into the fundraising box.

Right I`d better be off. I`ve got lots to do before our week away. Why do we always insist on cleaning the house from top to bottom when we go away for a few days? We need a holiday just to get over that lol.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

More Snippet Makes

Good afternoon All!

I`ve been at the snippets box again, this time I`ve been making baby cards. I will be entering these into Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge. This time though,without the added novelette lol.

The images are from Lili of the Valley stamps coloured with Promarkers.
The papers are all from my scrapbox and I can`t remember who makes them.

I do want to share this with you that someone posted on Facebook the other day. I apologise in advance to any one who may be offended but I thought it was hysterical.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

St Lukes Charity Card Challenge ...Furry Friends

Good Morning to you all.I hope I find you well.
As it`s the 1st of the month that means it`s a brand new challenge at St Lukes Charity Card Challenge. We have a fun challenge for you this month to let you all get over the trauma of one layer month lol.

                                                   Our little Furry Friends.
include an image, charm or papers which feature something cute and furry- dogs, cats, teddies or even a furry monster.
My card features something that some of you might consider to be little monsters but these ones are really cute.

 I`ve used this gorgeous stamp from Crafters Companion Beatrix Potter collection called Appley Dapply`s Nursery Rhymes coloured with Promarkers.
I used Pink Petticoat DP from the Vintage Roses set for the background.
The image is cut out using a nestie circle matted onto a Spellbinders Fleur de Lis motifs circle.
Some punched daisies with gem centres and computer generated sentiment cut out with a lacey oval die to finish. 

We have another fabulous prize for you this month for the outright winner, this terrific Text It background stamp from Waltzing Mouse,

 How cool is that?
Don`t forget to check out the rest of the DT inspiration over on the main blog and also you can donate your card to sell at one of the summer fairs that Tara will be joining to raise funds for this wonderful cause.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx 

Less is More # 69 Recipe

Good afternoon all. I hope you are all well and enjoying the lovely late spring weather. Last week I couldn`t stand being in the loft as it was so cold but this week it`s too hot. I can`t win, not that I`m complaining, honest.

This week at Simply Less is More, the challenge is a recipe, NOT A SQUARE or a rectangle either.
We are asked to make a shaped card. I used to make loads of oddly shaped cards when I first got into cardmaking but have concentrated on more regular square or rectangle ones lately so it was a nice change to do something different.
My plans to make a pile of baby cards last week didn`t come to much as I couldn`t get motivated for some reason so for my card today I`m sticking with babies.

I had coloured lots of these Giraffes in advance so I simply cut around it.
The card base is made from a Spellbinders Lacey Circle Die.
I`ve added a piece of blue gingham across the middle and placed the giraffe with foam pads.
The sentiment is by Personal Impressions.
Both the giraffe and the gingham are from Pink Petticoat.

I`m quite pleased with this one but if I get some time I might have to have another go.

Ruby is coming to see us soon. She came back from hospital last night for the weekend after having a full week of Radio therapy and a new variation of Chemo. Honestly, that child is amazing. Nothing gets her down at all.

This is Ruby last tuesday after her first R/T session and halfway through a five hour Chemo session. I really don`t think I`d feel up to painting anything after all that.
Where Ruby and her family live is classed as `deprived` but as with anywhere there are good and bad, mostly good I hasten to add.
On thursday one of the neighbours asked which was Ruby`s favourite Disney Princess as her young daughter wanted to draw Ruby a picture. That in itself made Mum Cheryl cry but..it was all a ruse. Unbeknown to anyone, a couple of neighbours went to every house in the street collecting to buy her a present for when she came home. Cheryl rang me this morning in tears, apparently you can`t move in her livingroom for dressing up clothes, dolls, bags everything including cutlery and a placemat. All from the Disney shop which isn`t cheap.
It just goes to show how kind and thoughtful people really are and I can`t find words to thank them enough.
I think I`m going to cry again now.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Less is More # 68...Baby or Child

Good Afternoon All!
I hope I find you all well and managing to stay warm in these chilly temps. The weatherman says it`s going to get warmer during the week. About flippin` time too I say.
I`d like to welcome my new follower too. Thank you for choosing my little blog to take a look at.

I was only thinking during the week that I ought to get some baby cards made for the fundraising box and also for St Lukes and lo and behold, the gods were listening.
The challenge at Simply Less is More this week is to make a clean and simple card for a baby or a child.Yaaayy!

I started yesterday with these two,

 The Giraffe is a digi from Pink Petticoat coloured with markers.
I printed the gingham, also from Pink Petticoat, straight onto to some card and cut a panel the same height but slightly narrower than the card and placed it using foam pads
I made the bow a double layered flat one this time for a change and added a heart gem in the centre.
The image is cut out with a nestie oval as is the sentiment which is computer generated.
I thought a pink one and a blue one is a good start.

Then I thought there might not be enough `white space` for Mandi and Chrissie`s exacting standards ;) so I made this one this morning.

The stamp is by PSX now out of business. I tried for years to get my hands on this stamp. I adore it.
It`s such a beautiful image and gives a really clean crisp finish. I eventually found this one at Bladerunner and could have cried when I found it. How sad am I? And then I`ve hardly used her.
Anyway, I`ve stamped the image and coloured her with markers adding a little Glamour dust to the moon and star. She`s cut out with a Spellbinders Fleur de lis square and mounted onto a square card using foam pads.
I`ve added a small bow and a tiny rosebud to finish.
No sentiment because I thought it could be either a birth or christening card.

I might have to play for a while longer with this baby stamp to get my stocks built up. I`ve lots of ideas in my head and none of them are particularly clean and simple. I`m thinking layers...lots of layers lol.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Oh Boy!

Hello All!
A quick post from me today. Our nephew and his partner have a baby boy due anytime now so I have a card in readiness.

I`ve used Pink Petticoat DP, gingham and pinstripes, both in Duck egg blue.
The lacy border is  Spellbinders Grand classic Lace.
I added a ribbon and made a loopy bow with a heart shaped gem
The sentiment is computer generated in Amazone font.
Three small gems in the bottom middle for balance and that`s it.
I love making elegant baby cards, so different to anything shop bought.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Clean & Simple Baby Card

Hi All!
It`s my neighbours grandaughter`s 1st birthday tomorrow. I can`t believe it`s a whole year, I must be getting really old lol.
Anyway you all know that I very rarely do cute and this card is no exception. Still pretty and girly though I think.

 Apoligies once again for the poor picture. It`s quite bright outside and even with my lamp on the piccy isn`t very good. I really should get lessons in photography.
Main panel ran through the Cuttlebug with Swiss Dots EF. Both sets of paper are from Papermania Summer Bloom pack. Main DP is punched with Martha Stewart Doily punch. Spotty DP punched with scalloped heart punch from Woodware.
I`ve added a ribbon to the card and a bow to the heart and finished off with a heart shaped button and some silver thread.
The sentiment is computer generated and cut out with a nestie labels 4 die.

Right that`s it for me. Going to hand the card over so baby can have it first thing.
Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx