Bee Happy ~ Sunny Sunflowers!

The weather has been so horrible and dreary lately I thought I'd try and cheer myself up a little thinking of Summer .......Here is the result.

Hope it cheers you and makes you smile ....... roll on Summer!

The Hero Arts Stamps used are the Woodgrain Pattern and the Floating Leaf Pattern ..... I've used Tea Dye on the Card and Walnut Stain on the mock Fence.

I've layered the little Bee so it had double wings and I've applied glossy accents to them to give a little interest ........ the Bee has been attached with foam pads to give dimension ........ I inked the stamp with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and shaded with Scattered Straw and Dried Marigold.

I've used the Martha Stewart lattice border punch so it gives the appearance of a little Fence and used a Ribbon slot hand punch at the edge and threaded a little green ribbon through it.

The Sunflower is a Quickutz Die ....... I've embossed some lines into the petals and embossed around the centre so that it popped ..... The petal shades are blended Distress Inks and Adirondack Butterscotch .... I coloured the centre with Espresso Adirondack and then went over it with my Walnut Stain Distress Ink ....... The ink on the leaves is Versamagic Tea Leaves.

If you've visited me before you know I love to mix my media ..... Inks, Stamps, you name it lol!

Recipe List:

Hero Arts ~ S5100 Woodgrain Pattern

Hero Arts ~ S5055 Floating Leaf Pattern

Inca Stamp ~ 432-A Bee

Stampin' Up! ~ Whimsical Words Sentiment

Quickutz Sunflower Die Cutter

Martha Stewart Lattice Border Punch

Distress Inks ~ Tea Dye, Walnut Stain, Scattered Straw, Dried Marigold and Spiced Marmalade

Adirondack Ink ~ Butterscotch, Espresso

Versamagic ~ Tea Leaves

Ribbon from my stash

I've found that this also fits into the Challenge over at Daring Cardmakers 'Here Comes The Sun' so as I haven't entered any Challenges for a while I'd enter this one.

Many thanks for looking

"That's One Versatile Stamp!" ~ Using Up Hero Arts Stamping Bits....

When I stamped 'Fields of Gold' I had some Ink still on my craft sheet so rather than waste it I stamped the Silhouette Grass onto a few pieces of card ......... I just love how versatile this stamp is and you can create such different looks from it.

I've stamped the base card with my Stampin' Up! Canvas background stamp and stamped with the Silhouette Grass over the top ..... I used Hero Arts Soft Sand Shadow Ink with the Silhouette Grass and Antique Linen Distress Ink with the Canvas.

I've used a blending tool with Antique Linen on the edges of the Silhouette stamp card and added small clear beads onto the grass.

The Butterflies wing tips have been lightly brushed with the blending tool and I've attached little pearls to the centres.

I've used my Floral Accent Wizard Dies to embellish and touched the embossing sections with the blending tool ...... I've also attached pearls to the corner bits.

Recipe List:

Hero Arts ~ S5316 Silhouette Grass
Hero Arts ~ K5192 Dots
Hero Arts ~ LL807 Messages
Stampin' Up! ~ Canvas Background
Distress Ink ~ Shabby Shutters, Scattered Straw, Broken China and Antique Linen
Hero Arts Soft Sand Shadow Ink Pad
Spellbinder Wizard ~ Floral Accent Dies
Quickutz Frame Die Cutter
Beads, Pearls and Embroidery Ribbon from my Stash
Foam Pad (Dimenstionals) to add dimension.

Many thanks for looking

Fab Blog Birthday Candy Over At Kath (All That Glitter)

Kath (All That Glitter) has some Fab Blog Birthday Candy ..... All you have to do to enter for it is leave a Mr Linky Link on her Blog, along with a comment and also place a link on your Blog .... To visit either Click the Pic or HERE

Many thanks for looking

Mainly Flowers ~ January Challenge Card

First of all, please don't look too closely at the text stamp ....... it's not your eyesight, you are seeing double ... I haven't quite mastered the stamp-a-ma-jig yet ...... when I did my test piece it stamped beautifully but unfortunately I didn't have anymore of the vanilla card to have another go ....... note to self ... Must Practice More!

Well this is my offering for January using the Challenge pack sent by Mainly Flowers with Januarys Stampin' Up! order .......... and yes, a challenge it certainly is for me, as these are colours I probably wouldn't put together, so it stretches my imagination a bit and makes me think outside the box so to speak .... not sure about it but I think it's slowly growing on me.

Joanne has given me the colour info which is as follows .... So Saffron, Elegant Eggplant, and Very Vanilla Card and Old Olive Designer paper.   Unfortunately I didn't have any of these Stampin' Up! Ink shades so I have used Adirondack Eggplant and Shabby Shutters Distress Ink.

Recipe List:

Stampin' Up! ~ Flight of the Butterfly Stamp Set & Punch

EK Success ~ Corner Punch

Martha Stewart ~ Embossed Scallop Border Punch

Japanese Hole Punch

Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirl Embossing Folder

Many thanks for looking

'Dirty Snowbear' ........ "Will you please come in!"

I'm afraid this isn't Craft related but I just had to share this Pic with you ........ I've been to work this morning and we had quite a heavy Snowfall while I was out ...... This little monster loves the garden .. Sunshine .. Snow but refuses to go out when it rains .... but can you get her back in again .... she's at the age when she answers back and you end up having to chase her around the garden.

Looking at the picture though you'd think that butter wouldn't melt.

She's very dirty and looks like a mop at the moment ..... thank goodness she doesn't smell lol!   I'm waiting for this weather to clear and warm up a little so I can clip and bath her ...... Roll on Spring.

Hope she made you smile and thanks for looking.

'Fields of Gold' ~ It just had to be!

You wouldn't believe it but as I was creating this card, ipod playing in the background, all my pieces coming together, beads sewn onto the grass and this song suddenly plays ..... 'Fields of Gold' by Eva Cassidy ..... Well, this just had to be my title ....... (I know there is only a little gold but it gives me another idea for a Card) Hubby came upstairs so I showed him what I was doing and asked him "What song do you think just played" .... He knew straight away ..... same wavelength or what!

It's the theme here in the UK for Cancer Research and as it always reminds me of my Grandmother and my Mother-in-law who we lost due to cancer, it always brings a lump to my throat and gives me pause for thought and reflection.

So this is for both of you with lots of love.

I've used an old Mojo Monday Sketch cause it was just soooo good.

You won't believe it but the beads are from a naff pair of tacky Summer Flip Flops (Only worn on the beach) which had a funny looking flower thing made from sequins and beads .... well they went in the bin but I kept the beads and sequins.

I've used a plain white Chiffon Ribbon and wiped it over my Broken China and Shabby Shutters Distress Ink Pad so it would sit with the stamping ....... The edges of the Card and the Butterflies have been smudged with a Memories Soft Yellow Ink pad for HA Shadow Stamps ...... Of course I had to finish off with a little stitching.

Recipe List:

Hero Arts ~ S5316 Silhouette Grass

Hero Arts ~ H5227 Fancy Designer Flourish

Inca Stamp ~ In431-a Queen of Spain Butterfly

EK Success Diamond Lace Border Punch

Distress Ink ~ Shabby Shutters, Scattered Straw and Broken China

Memories Soft Yellow Ink Pad

Beads, Ribbon and Embroidery Ribbon from my Stash

Many thanks for looking

Hubby's Birthday ~ 'Rugby' Card

It's Hubby's Birthday today so I can now share with you the Card I made for him this year!

I've used my favourite HA Stamps of the moment and used a Teddy Rugby Die Cut Topper I created a little while ago.

The Sentiment is from a Cuddly Buddly Set which I've used with my circle nesties.

I don't know about everyone else but I must admit I find Mens Cards increasingly difficult as time goes on ....... I don't know why but I just can't seem to get inspired as I do with the Ladies Cards ....... He liked it anyway so thank goodness!

Recipe List:

Hero Arts ~ S5316 Silhouette Grass

Hero Arts ~ S5208 Designer Woodgrain

Cuddly Buddly ~ Sentiment Stamps Set

Sizzix Grass Die

Quickutz Rugby Ball Die

Wooden Die Block ~ Teddy Bear

Adirondack ~ Espresso Ink Pad & Embossing Powder

Bazzill Basics ~ Brown
Ribbon from my Stash

Many thanks for looking

Small Wonder Butterflies and Mojo Monday Challenge

I haven't entered very many Challenges lately but this one caught my eye over at Mojo Monday and I just had to play along with this Fab Sketch ......... think I may also have to visit their archives to see what other Fab Sketches they've had.

I've inked my new HA Silhouette Grass Stamp and also used one of my very 1st HA Stamps (Italian Poetry Background).

I've used Adirondack Espresso Ink with the matching Embossing powder ..... I don't know if you can see it very well but it leaves a glossy but rough effect .... great texture.

I've just noticed that the the Butterflies aren't showing their colour in the Pic very well ..... they are very dark but I've actually used Turquoise Tonal Pantone Markers and they are a deep Turquoise ..... if you click on the Pic you will see the colour clearer.

I used a clear embossing powder with the text stamp, blended distress inks and as I haven't stitched for a while it just added the finishing touch.

Recipe List:
Hero Arts ~ S5316 Silhouette Grass
Hero Arts ~ S5208 Designer Woodgrain
Hero Arts ~ S1832 Italian Poetry Background
Stampin' Up! ~ Canvas
Stampin' Up! ~ Whimsical Words Sentiment ...... I just thought Butterflies are just such small wonders
Inca Stamp ~ In415-D Swallowtail
Adirondack ~ Espresso Ink Pad & Embossing Powder
Distress Ink ~ Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint & Broken China
Clear Embossing Powder
Spellbinder Wizard Circle Nesties
Carl Corner Punch
Ribbon & Embroidery Thread from my Stash

Many thanks for looking

Best Wishes, Butterflies & Blooms

Just received my new HA Grid Pattern Stamp so just had to have a play ..... totally different colour combo for me.

I saw a great tutorial over at Inspirational the other week and just had to give these fab blooms a try .... the links HERE if you want to have a go.

I've used Dried Marigold Distress Ink on the Blooms using a pale orange cardstock I had in my stash .... the Butterflies have been shaded with tonal orange Pantone Markers.

The Black Flower centres have been punched with Woodware Sun Punches and I've added small black beads to the Bloom centres and also to the Butterflies.

Recipe List:
Hero Arts ~ S5216 Grid Pattern
Inca Stamp ~ in431-a Queen of Spain Butterfly
Stampin' Up! ~ Sincere Salutations Sentiment Stamp
Versacolour ~ Black Ink Pad
Distress Ink ~ Dried Marigold
Black Beads and Ribbon from my stash

Many thanks for looking

'Autumn Days' - December Make Take B

This is the second Make & Take pack from Mainly Flowers Stampin' Up! for December.

Again I didn't have the Stamp Set used but I've used the bits and pieces to create a totally different Card ........ Unfortunately the colours don't show up very matched on the Pic but the background card is Not Quite Navy and I also used the Not Quite Navy Marker.

I've used the 'Autumn Days' Set and the Sentiment from the 'Fresh Cuts' Set.


Just a short
Recipe List:
Stampin' Up! - 'Autumn Days' Set
Stampin' Up! - 'Fresh Cuts' Set Sentiment
Stampin' Up! - Not Quite Navy and Summer Sun from the 'Earth Elements' Marker Set
Pearls are from my stash

Many thanks for looking

Greenhouse Garden - December Make & Take A

This is made using the pack of bits and pieces from Mainly Flowers Stampin' Up! Make & Takes from December .... I just love Joannes version but unfortunately don't have the stamps yet so here is my version using the 'Greenhouse Garden' Set.

I stamped the background with Versamark and Versamagic ..... Shades are in the Recipe List and used Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip Marker for the Sentiment, Flower detail and the dot/dash border.

I used my new Martha Stewart Zig-Zag Border Punch for the side detail.

Recipe List:

Stampin' Up! - Greenhouse Garden Set

Stampin' Up! - Sincere Salutations Set

Stampin' Up! - Chocolate Chip Marker
Versamark Ink Pad
Versamagic Ink Pad - Niagara Mist and Sahara Sand
Quickutz Die Cutters - Butterfly and Dragonfly
Martha Stewart - Zig-Zag Border Punch

Many thanks for looking

Another Storage Idea ...... Can I have your small Yankee Candle Jars when you've finished with them lol!

Does anybody else lust after Yankee Candles? ....... Just thought I'd share another Storage Idea and show you what I do with the small Candle Jars when the Candle has gone ........ the Ribbons smell lush afterwards too!

Many thanks for looking