Flutterby dreams

It's been a bit of a funny day today. The power was due to be off in the offices all day for "essential line works" so without computers I decided to have a day off and go to Peterborough........there were a few essential I really needed from Sir Stampalot........OK lame excuse, but what else do you do when you are in the area ?

When I got back at 4ish they told me the electric never went off once and when they rung the electricity people they said the works were cancelled this morning because of the rain. Of course nobody saw the need to tell all the customers of the change of plan.

Now a card for this weeks Tuesday Taggers who have the theme 'Bugs'. I confess I was not sure if butterflies fitted that category, but as some of the DT have used them on their projects I guess the answer is yes. And they are sponsored this week by The Craft Barn who are offering a stamp to the winner.

This card is one I created last week for my demo at Sir Stamplaot using a new butterfly die from Marianne Design which I cut from DP through the Big Shot. I then traced round the cut butterfly and cut out a solid one from glitter paper to make the butterfly more dimensional. I used the same card design to make a couple more for birthday cards but added a broach pin to the back of the butterfly so it could be taken off. Not very practical I know, but fun for the day I thought.

I stamped onto pale yellow bazzil with Hero Arts F5042 Leaf Flourish and H2365 Old French Writing using Hero soft sand and the sentiment is Penny Black 4075 For the Stars using versafaine sepia and embossing with detail clear. The border is Martha Stewart 3 dot scallop and I added eyelets down the side after scoring a 'spine' and tied cord.

Easter chocolates

Hope you all had a good weekend. Judging by all the news I have read about the NEC round blogland, I am thinking there is an awful lot of new stash being pushed around craft desks today.

No NEC visit for me, but I still had a crafty indulgence at Stampalot pawing over yet more new goodies.........you only have to take your eye off the ball for a couple of days and new stash has arrived. So leisurely shopping without the frenetic crowds plus a new Japanese hole punch.

I have resisted buying a new one for weeks since my old one........probably my first 'big' craft purchase many years ago.......gave up the ghost punching more than one sheet. Little did I know when I bought it that the price would come down by £10.......and that what I spent on the original one would be like a drop in the ocean compared with future crafty buys. But needs must.

I have one creation to share which you today which is for this weeks Cupcake Craft Challenge which has the theme of "Spring or Easter - with lots of chocolate" I was tempted to use brown on my card as the chocolate element, but I am still besotted with this new Kaiser Craft DP and wanted to keep my card light and bright, so the chocolate is in the form of a bag of them.

My main image is Penny Black 4076K Gift of Flowers which I stamped several times to decoupage, colouring with a mixture of Prismacolor pencils and Promarkers. The circle sentiment is Hero Arts A4981, the punched border Martha Steward doily lace trim and flowers, pearls and leaves added to embellish. The bag was simply made with a scoreboard and the same image from the card decoupaged and placed on the front.

Butterflies, birds and bees

Good Morning peeps, hope you are all having a good weekend.

Just in case any of you have missed all my subtle hints, our Stampalot challenge starts on Thursday 1st April when a fantastic prize will be on offer. And there is still chance to enter for the Hero Arts Goody Bag, so if you have not already added your name here's where you need to go.

I have one quick share for you which is for this weeks Penny Black challenge which has the theme "Butterflies and Bees" not sure where the birds got to though eh Kath ? But a lovely theme all the same.

The main image is another of the new releases Penny Black 4042K Daisy fields. The background is stamped (after first stamping off the excess ink) with Hero Arts K5313 Silhouette Ivy using Tim Holtz bundled sage, then the main PB image inked up with Tim Holtz worn lipstick, spritzed with water then stamped over the ivy. The mat was cut with Nesties through the Big Shot and layered over another of the gorgeous new Crate Paper DP's.

Some ribbon laced down one side, gems and two butterflies stamped with Penny Black 3819D Polka Wings onto iridescent vellum and coloured with chalk inks. The swirl is a Sizzix die run through the Big Shot.

Allsorts M&S crafty meal deal

Before

(M&S foil dish, kitchen foil, old book, pearls from old card)

After

One of our new teamies, Helene has set the theme at Allsorts this week and would like to see how we interpret "Rags to Riches". So many of you joined us again last week and it seems you have decided that Allsorts is the in place to be seen lately and we really do appreciate you wonderful support.

I admit to being a bit baffled at first, but when it eventually dawned on me it came together quite well. The flower image is Penny Black 4042K Daisy Fields stamped with black styazon onto acetate. On the reverse I dabbed Adirondack alcohol inks(always the reverse as stayzon and alcohols inks don't mix), then I smeared Diamond Glazed over the top and laid on a piece of ripped book with music notes. I added more Diamond Glaze and laid scrunched up kitchen foil over the whole piece........new foil I might add, I thought it was taking the recycling a step to far to use some that covered last nights dinner in the oven.

Another sheet from the book is punched with Martha Stewart Arched Lattice and shaded with Tim Holtz rusty hinge to act as the DP and the punched flowers also made from a book page and spritzed with Glimmer Mist Flower Power. The leaves and butterflies are punched from the M&S foil dish and coloured with the same alcohol inks as were the pearls.

And I am being a bit cheeky here and entering it for this weeks Tuesday Taggers as it seems to fut their bill perfectly.

Easter bunny basket

This one seems to have taken me forever, spent ages on the DS trying to create the basket with a variety of Cricut cartridges. It's not quite what I had in mind shape wise, but I've faffed enough for one day I think.

The Crate Paper DP is more of the new stock at Sir Stampalot which seems to be walking out of the door quicker than it arrives. Not surprising because it really is yummy, the colours are beautiful, it's double sided and the texture lovely.

I stamped Penny Black 3868J Portraits onto some of the patterned side, cut them out and stuck to the plain panels, the cut out some of the butterflies on the patterned side and decoupaged them adding some glitter. I created the handle using Martha Steward eyelet lace and attached with brads and flowers cut with a stencil through the Big Shot and ribbon on the corners.

My basket fits two challenges Stamping for the Weekend and Everybody Art Challenge who both have the theme Easter.

Blooming roses

Well whatever happened to Spring ? After a promising start to the week we have rain again.........hubby tells me that's good as we needed it to wash in the fertiliser he spread on the paddocks Monday. I know he's right, but oh for some warmer brighter weather.

I have created quite a quick and simple card following the sketch at Inspiration Card Sketches, but have twisted it a bit which hopefully they won't mind and it still fits the challenge OK. The rose image is Penny Black 3815J and I have coloured the roses with my new Prismacolor pencils drawing on the pastel shades of the Scrapbook Walls DP. I made three roses from the same DP and added a border and corner punched with Martha Steward Eyelet Lace. To embellish, some pearls, punched leaves and Diamond Glaze to the stamped roses.

A Special Blog Buddy Class - Is anyone interested in filling a space that has just come up on Saturday 5th June ? It's something I have organised by special request just for blogging friends and will consist of a whole day's class at Sir Stampalot (normal £25 class fee plus just for this special day, lunch on the go as well) where myself and Chris will be bringing everything along to make some special projects.......they are so special that we have not even decided what they are yet ! Our VIP group are coming from far and wide so if you want in, mail me a.s.a.p. as it will be on a first come basis.

Finally, there is a one last Hero Goody Bag on offer over at Stampalot Challenge blog so don't forget to add your name to be in with a chance of winning.

Yummy new DP's

I'm back again, trying to keep my promise to myself to stay busy and positive, do some crafting and blogging. So for starters a card for this weeks Penny Black challenge which has a sketch designed by Carole.

For some odd reason I always have a mental block working with circles, but am reasonably happy with what I have come up with, well at least it's growing on me. I cut a circle with a Nestie then sponging with Tim Holtz Spun Sugar and Dried Marigold distress inks created a pinwheel effect over which I stamped Penny Black 4041J Purple Folds. I stamped it three more times, cut out two and coloured with a mixture of Marvy pens and the same TH inks then dabbed all over with Versamark Dazzle Frost and spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearl which blended the colours and made the pieces pliable to shape before layering them onto the main image.

The Crate Paper DP's are from their yummy new range which somehow found their way home from Stampalot with me at the weekend. Do check them out because the designs and colours are just divine and the quality and texture lend themselves brilliantly to the Martha Stewart punches. I stamped Penny Black 3857H over the corner of the reverse DP and a sentiment which is from an unmounted Hero set. Some ribbon and a pearl pin made up with a hat pin from Spellbound (link on sidebar) to embellish.

Candy for my wonderful friends and followers

I promised some Blogaversary candy and at last I have got it together. It's a year ago this week that I sat down at my computer one Sunday morning, a bit bored after a great demo'ing session the previous day, saw an icon that said "Create Blog" and ten minutes later Floral Fantasies had been created.

I was amazed how easy it was and I was not prepared at all, I had no blog name planned as I thought the process would take days.......so some quick thinking about the projects I created........floral.......fantasy.......and there was was my blog name. And a year on I have met some wonderful friends both in person and in the cyber world, have an amazing number of followers of my blog and as a special thank you to each and every one of you some candy. Here's what's included.

1)4 Personal Impressions Spring animal stamps 2)sheet of wedding, stamps 3)sheet elegant ladies stamps 4)sheet leaf and flourish stamps 5) set swirl stamps, fashion stamp 6) K & Co DP pad 7)Fiskars fancy circle punch 8)flower blooms 9)ribbons 10)roses 11)embossed cards and envelopes 12)Adirondack dabber,

Good luck, please add your name to Mr Linky, add a piccy of my candy to your blog to help spread the word and if you are not already a follower just sign up. If you don't have a blog please leave a comment with your e.mail addy and you will be included in the Random Org., draw on Monday 5th April.

Spring Daffodils

Good afternoon everyone, I do hope you are having a good weekend. As some of you know I did a demo day at Sir Stampalot yesterday and apart from having a great day I had such a wonderful surprise...........Clare- Littlebear Crafts travelled all the way from Rugby to visit us. I had no idea she was coming and was utterly lost for words at first......then it sunk in and I could not have been more surprised.

Unfortunately when you are deep in demo mode with an audience waiting to see what you do next, it's not easy to chat too much........probably just as well as we would could have talked for England, but it really was fantastic to see you Clare. Thank you so much for coming and to your lovely husband for driving you and dear little son who was an angel.

On to this weeks new challenge at Rosie D's where I am continuing with my Think Spring theme and this time I would like to see projects with the colour combo:

Green, Yellow and White

I would love to see more of your interpretations of this lovely time of year and as always your project can be anything crafty so long as you have made it yourself. And one lucky winner will receive a MFT stamp set from this months sponsor Sir Stampalot.

You might remember that a few weeks ago I told you I made something with daffodils using the images provided by Digital Ink who were the sponsors for that challenge, only to remember that the theme was Just for Men. So this week I have the opportunity to share with you what I made with those images.

I printed the daffodil image out several times so that I could decoupage them after colouring with Copics. The box was cut from Cricut Wild Card and the papers used on the box and easel card is from Polkadoodles Back to Nature CD and I added acetate to the window of the box. The border is Martha Steward embossed butterflies and the corners Sizzix dies run through the Big Shot.

Spring for Allsorts 43

Saturday's here again and another challenge at Allsorts and hopefully this post will pop up as scheduled and I will be at Sir Stampalot sharing my passion for getting messy with Tim.......in my dreams at least, just his inks in reality.

Amanda has chosen the theme of Spring this week and it really does look like it is almost with us now at long last and I actually saw the first daffodil showing colour in the garden yesterday.

I have made another easel card, it's one of the new shapes that I find so elegant and easy to work with. Plus they do stand so nicely. The background for the main image which is Penny Black 4036K has been created by masking and colouring with Brilliance inks orchid, thyme and yellow and spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearl before removing the masks to stamp the image.

The larger piece was stamped randomly with one of the butterflies from Penny Black 30-048 using using versafine and detail clear embossing powder. I then distressed with Tim Holt worn lipstick, mustard seed and peeled paint........as the brilliance inks do not work well with this technique I experimented with colours and found these actually match the brilliance colours really well. Again I spritzed with the same GM.

I stamped and cut out more of the poppy flower heads, coloured with Brilliance orchid and decoupaged, adding some swirls and leaves. The border punch is Martha Stewart 3 dot scallop.

And don't forget, if you not already entered for this weeks Stampalot Candy of a Hero Arts Goody Bag you still have time.

Owl be getting messy fingers

Funny how things turn out, must be second sight because I spent a lot of time last week getting my DT work done early and am I so pleased I did because I am really struggling to create anything half acceptable this week let alone blog. Sorry folks, I am trying I promise and will visit soon.

I heard from the hospital yesterday and they hope to be able to do my ultrasound and scan next week, but the sigmoidoscopy can't be done until the middle of April because of the huge backlog they have due to their ongoing virus issue and department closures. I tried speaking with them to see if I could go to another hospital, but they can't refer me outside the GP's catchment area and the cost of the scans/tests privately is astronomical.

Clearly it does not look like any quick answers for me, but life can't stand still and I have to try and get positive with some sort of normality back into life, so I have decided there is no point cancelling my demo day at Stamplaot tomorrow. If you are in the area between 10-4, do pop in to say hello and of course feast your eyes on all the goodies the new shop has to offer. I intend getting messy fingers indulging myself in inks and the like and sharing some of my favourite background and stamping techniques. And afterwards an Indian with Sir and Lady Stampalot, so something good to look forward to.

On to my card which is for this weeks Polkadoodle where the boss Nikky has set the theme and given us a sketch with a wicked twist - "Use four shapes which MUST interlock/mat and layer over each other in some way" and use blue and brown. I can tell you it had some of us scratching our heads for a day or so.

I have used the Mr Twitty section of the new Paper Boutique CD. This section is all blues and browns, so hopefully I am safe. Mr Twitty has been decoupaged, the mats all cut with Nesties through the Big Shot. The border is Martha Stewart arched lattice and the corner a Sizzix die. Ribbons and buttons added to embellish.

Poppy and butterflies

Good Afternoon peeps, a share of a card I made for Sir Stampalot using some of the new Penny Black stamps and new colours of distress inks which I think fits this weeks Penny Black challenge of Spring. And this weeks ABC challenge is "Q for Quotation" so I am hoping the French quotations behind the poppy head counts here.

The other day I alluded to not feeling too well so to explain my absence in blogland lately, I had what I thought was a minor problem, but Monday evening my GP sent me to hospital and it seems it's not quite as simple as I hoped. I need to see yet another specialist, have scans and tests, but typical NHS, the whole hospital is on some sort of alert due to a rampant virus. No visitors have been allowed in the hospital since last week apparently, so I was sent home again yesterday afternoon as wards are closed, all admissions expect emergencies cancelled and as a result even urgent appointments are backing up.

I am trying my best to lose myself in crafting, but inevitably the headless chicken syndrome has kicked in and what I am producing leaves a lot to be desired, hence what I am sharing today was created last week. Afraid I can't get my head round blogging so apologies to everyone.

So my card, I created the background by stamping the butterfly from Penny Black 30-048 with versamark and embossing with detail clear, then distressing with TH distress inks Wild Honey and Bundled Sage and an overspray of Glimmer Mist Pearl to bleed the colours.

The panels for the poppy image Penny Black4036K were created with masking using the same inks and GM, then removing the masking tape before stamping the image. The border is Martha Stewart embossed butterflies and I used the tiny punched out butterflies to scatter around the main panel.

New Hero candy to be won

A really quick post to let you all know that I have posed the winner of last weeks Hero Goody Bag on the Stamplaot Challenge Blog and there is more candy be won again this week. So please pop over and join in the fun.

Sorry for my lack of activity the last week, I have not been feeling too well......not really something I can share at the moment. As a result motivation none too good and Mr Mojo noticeable in his absence. So not much been happening in the way of crafty activity and even less on the blogging front, but hopefully I will put that right soon and meanwhile thank you all all for your support, it means a great deal to me.

Spring daffodils

Good Morning everyone, this is a really quick post before we head of the The Smoke to spend the day with two of our boys.

When I saw the sketch at this weeks Friday Sketchers I though they must have second sight because what I had been working with matched perfectly. It is one of the new stamps that landed at Sir Stamplaot this week Hero F5352 Sweet Daffodils. It's only a small stamp, but such a pretty shape. I stamped three times with versafine black and embossed with detail clear, the coloured with Twinking H2o's and decoupaged the flowers.

I used some more of the new Magnolia DP's, this one has daffodils so matches perfectly and used Martha Stewart eyelet lace to punch the border and added ribbon and gems.

And don't forget tomorrow I will be doing the draw for more Her Arts candy, if you have not entered your name yet there is still time here.

Allsorts challenge 42

Our teamie Lisa has come up with a great colour combo for the theme at Allsorts this week - Black, Pink and White.

Before I go into what I did with my card I need to explain the strange shadows which are not defects on the card as it looks.......it was sun, yep we had two days of sun earlier this week with real shadows. Wow, it was wonderful.

The layout of my card is a style I often use, but I feel it lends itself well to this type of image which is one I really love from Rubber Stampede 3942 Woman in Repose. I stamped her very simple with versfaine black and added a touch of pink watercolour to remove the stark whiteness of her face. Down the side if the card I stamped Hero G3316 Harlequin and Hobby Art GR1341 Shakespeare Sonnet and round the edges with JudiKins 3347F Doodle with Hero shadow ink blossom.

The border is punched from Kaiser DP using Martha Stewart doily lace trim and the roses made from the same DP which is double sided. I added some tiny roses, punched leaves, ribbon and pearls to embellish.

Polkadoodles 10

Before I tell you all about the new challenge at Polkadoodles I need to remind you that we have more Hero candy on offer here. So it you have not already added your name there is still time before the draw on Monday.

My Doodly teamie Fliss would like to see projects to celebrate a milestone age birthday or anniversary. The new Paper Boutique is selling like hot cakes and every time Nikky takes it to C&C it's a sell out and I have used it as the basis for my DT card this week.

I also combined some stamping using the Back to Nature stamp set. First off, I stamped the swirl and flower round the edges of a piece of white cardstock with versamark and embossed with detail clear. I then distressed with one of the new Tim Holtz Victorian Velvet and and Bundled Sage, two of the lush new colours. The flowers were stamped onto the green and pink papers, cut out and layered onto a 'stem' made with a Sizzix die run through the Big Shot. I added cord, punched leaves and pearls and a 21st birthday sentiment from the same CD.

Hues of green and purple

Good Aftrenoon peeps, hope everyone is having a good day. Not a lot of sunshine today, rather dull but at least not as cold. Could Spring be here ? My hubby was reading something on the tinernet this morning which said most spring bulbs and flowers were four weeks behind this time last year. Judging by those in our gardens that sounds about right, most are very reluctant still.

I have a cold - woke up with the sneezes and by mid morning it was in full swing, guess I am in the fashion as lots of peeps have them. It's my bloggaversary at the end of the month and was planning getting some candy thank yous up today, but not that organised so hope to get it up here later this week.

So, just one quick card, don't really feel in the mood with this cold and it's for Everybody Art Challenges which this week has a recipe "Two flowers, two DP's and two buttons".

Good old Penny Black 4040K Sparklers again.........can see this one becoming a real favourite.........could it be anything to do with the fact it's not unlike Stampendous P107 I wonder ? And the card is a similar take on one I did at the weekend using masking, this time with Tim Holtz distress inks dusky concord and shabby shutters, spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearl to blend the colours and stamped the image with Versafine imperial purple. The sentiment is Penny Black 2905H The Best stamped with the same ink, then I very lightly dabbed the same two TH inks with a sponge to give a shadow effect around the writing. I also stamped some dragonflies with Penny Black 3395D.

The background DP is from stash so no idea of the make and the green spotty one punched with Fiskars threading water is from the new Polkadoodle Paper Boutique CD. Two buttons and ribbon added to the centre of the two flower heads to embellish.

Exciting Stampalot challenge news

Well here I am at last as promised, been a long slow haul getting anything done today and been really busy at the office, typical Monday and has taken me forever to get this post ready.

But I know that you are all waiting to see who the winner of last weeks Hero Arts Goody Bag is........well to find out you have to go here............yes at last we can introduce the Sir Stampalot Challenge Blog. And that's where the new candy will be on offer for the coming week.

But before you head off, please join me in welcoming the very talented Design Team who have all been at boiling point wanting to share their news with the world so here they are - in alphabetical order so they don't squabble - not my fault my name starts with a 'B':

Brenda

Chris

Clare

Francesca

Lorraine

Pinky

Sally

Tracy

Please feel free to list our new logo above and I do hope you have all noticed a slight change from what we planned.........the challenge is going to be every month starting on 1st April.

Even more Penny Black

How's all you peeps today ? Hope you all had a good weekend, the weather was beautiful here, still hard frosts at night - minus eight last night again, but at least it's drying up a bit with the sunshine.

Before I launch into my cards, just to let you know I will be a bit late posting this weeks Stampalot candy winner because there is other news I need to share with you. So that post will go up later today, just as soon as I can get my rear into gear, but there is a new Hero Goody Bag on offer and all those who comment from this post onwards will be included in the next draw.

I have two cards to share, one for this weeks Penny Black challenge who are looking for "Easel cards" and it also fits this weeks Cupcake challenge who want "Flower Power", then Stamping for the Weekend are going "Monochromatic". I thought about combining them into one, but I have so many new goodies still to play with as well as needing to do samples for my upcoming demo day at Sir Stampalot decided on two...........whilst I am on that subject, dates for your diaries:

Saturday 13th March - Chris and Lou will be strutting their stuff

and

Saturday 20th March - yours truly will be getting messy with inks and Penny Black.

The first card an easel one which I cut our on the Cricut. I started by creating a background for my main image by masking a piece of cardstock and inking an oblong with Tim Holtz distress inks mustard and broken china and spritzing with Glimmer Mist pearl to make the colours bleed. The main image is Penny Black 4040K Sparklers stamped with versafine blue. The DP is an old piece from my stash and the swirl a Sizzix die run through the Big Shot. Lace and brads added to finish.
The second card has a resist background created with stamping Penny Black 3857H Footnote with versamark and embossing with detail clear then distressing with Tim Holts Victorian Velvet.......have you guess I rather like this new one ? I then stamped the main image Penny Black Daisy Fields stamped with the same ink and embossing powder. I overstamped here and there with Penny Black 3395D.

The border is Martha Stewart garden trellis with some Sizzix leaves cut from some of the new Magnolia DP's threaded through and flowers added. I stamped down the edge of the card with the same stamp used for the background and the sentiment is a section of Penny Black 4075F.

Hero Arts Candy

Candy Closed - New candy at top of my blog
Click here to check out how to enter this weeks Stampalot Challenge followers Hero Arts Candy.

Field of spring flowers

Good afternoon peeps, hope everyone is having a good weekend. For the month of March I am hosting the challenges at Rosie D's and it probably won't surprise too many of those who know me that I have come up with the theme:

Think Spring

Spring is probably my favourite time of year.........I know I have told you all this before, but it really is with all the wonderful colours of fresh growth and blossoms and nature replenishing itself as if by magic. You can interpret the theme any way you wish, whatever this beautiful time of year means to you.

This month we have a new sponsor - Sir Stampalot who are offering one lucky winner two Stampendous stamps, ideal for all your Spring and Summer crafting.

Another box with an easel card on top, I'm on a bit of a roll with these at the moment and I like the idea of the card being an integral part. I created the box with a little opening drawer by folding and scoring - I find this the simplest way to make a box as you can adjust the size to suit whatever you want to do with it. I covered it with one of the new Cosmo Cricket DP's which is double sided so ideal for this purpose to get the colour contrasts.

The topper is my version of a fallow field full of spring flowers very like the one adjacent to our house with the obligatory fairies in attendance and the original rickety fence........no, my shrink plastic did not break, I did it intentionally when it was still hot. I started with a piece of watercolour card and created a hazy sun with chalk inks (tutorial here) then gently shaded the edges with Tim Holtz mustard seed. I have used a whole collection of stamps and inks so won't bore you with the list.

The fence and toadstools are made from stamping cream shrink plastic, the bunny border is Martha Stewart, the branches across the top a Sizzix die run through the Big Shot and flowers made with punches.

Allsorts 4 Men

Hello everyone, hope you are ready for the weekend and hopefully with time for crafting and to set you on your way we have a new challenge at Allsorts which is hosted this week by Kirsten who would would like to see "Cards 4 Men".

My card is quite a quick and simple one using Penny Black 2827K Song Bird, stamped with versafine back and embossed with detail clear onto linen cardstock which was cut on Cricut Storybook. I added a little watercolour to the image and added a gem for the eye. The branch is cut with a Sizzix die through the Big Shot and the sentiment is from an unmounted sentiment set from Rubber Tapestry. I 'think' the DP is My Minds Eye, but it was a scrap in my stash and the name already gone.

Pink Polkadoodles

This is my very first time to host the challenge since I was invited to become a Polkadoodler and I have come up with the them of Wings with some stamping......I know I am so transparent, but don't we all love wings and especially those of the flutterby version.

Myself and fellow DT members were so lucky to get to play with the brand new Paper Boutique CD before it was launched by Nikky on Create and Craft last week. There are some absolutely beautiful elements on it and if you have not ordered yours yet, then what are you waiting for because it's a must have.

As soon as I saw it I had to get to work with the Secret Garden section and based my creation around one of the templates which I cut out an decoupaged to make an easel card. I then made a small box with a drawer, covered it with papers from the CD and mounted the card on the top. The little trees and flowers are stamped onto shrink plastic using the BTN stamp set and coloured in with Brilliance ink. The fence is a Martha Stewart punch.

I have made a few of these easel card boxes lately as I feel they a bit different and make a lovely gift. I have been asked how to make them several times, so will do my best to get a tutorial together.

Challenge Andy

The lovely new Magnolia Spring papers arrived at Sir Stampalot yesterday when I was there.........a huge box spilling over with beautiful pastel colours, roses, harlequin patterns, bunnies, all so yummy. I must have been drooling so badly that Andy set me a challenge........go create with them and a new Martha Steward lattice fence punch.

So who I am to question such an order and here is what I have come up with so far. I have used the aqua and pink ones, but there is also a really pretty one with yellow daffodils and that will be my next one to get to grips with.

For the pink one I used one of the new Penny Black stamps 40-021 For Goodness Sake. I had to have this one as soon as I saw it, call me sentimental, but I remember a picture of myself as a little girl dressed just like that, right down to the hat, I think it was at a wedding. I stamped the image several times, coloured with Copics and decoupaged.

The edges of the Magnolia DPs' have been distressed with one of the new Tim Holt Distress inks Victorian Velvet.......do check the new ones just in stock, there are some beautiful subtle colours. The leaves and flowers around the image are all Art Impression stamps. Then I used my Martha Stewart bunny border punch to match the bunny on the image and also those on the Magnolia DP. The sentiment is Hobby Art and ribbon, cord and a peg to embellish.

For the blue card I created a shaped easel card (inspiration in the current Magnolia magazine) using Cricut Sorybook. I created a background using Brilliance inks and Glimmer Mist pearl, overstamped with Penny Black 2410 Penmanship using TH distress ink Weathered Wood the stamped Penny Black 4042K Daisy Fields with versafine black, embossed with detail clear and coloured with Copics, cutting a second image out and decoupaging the larger flower heads.

The new MS lattice fence punch came into action to create a 'back to back' effect across the middle and also corners. The oval 'prop' on the bottom of the card is Penny Black 3857H Footnote stamped onto the same background as the main image, cut out with Nesties through the Big Shot. To finish I added tiny flowers, buttons and cord.

Poppies

For the first time in I don't know how long I was able to take a picture in the sunlight and even got a little shadow to prove what a lovely day it is here today.

I made this card following the sketch at Everybody Art Challenges and although I don't like combining more than a couple of challenges very much, I found this fits four of those I take part in....... Tuesday Taggers has the theme "Swirls and Curls", the theme this week at Cupcake is "Round and Round" and Creative Card Crew want to "Celebrate".

The main image is from my new stash from Sir Stampalot and I just love this one, Penny Black 4036 Poppy Poem. I stamped it several times with versamark and embossed with detail clear, coloured with Marvy pens then cut out three layers making each a bit smaller so I could layer them. I then inked them with versamark frost and spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearl to make the colours blend and shine.

The Kaiser DP is from one of the new 6x6 pads with rich reds and black and some sheets are beautifully foiled plus at the back of the pad I discovered there are die cut sentiment mats and borders. The corners are punches with Martha Steward double loop, the swirl is a Sizzix die run through the Big Shot and the butterflies punched from some glitter paper. I added red and black swarovski crystal to embellish and the sentiment is Hobby Art GR223.

New Hero Candy up for Grabs

Candy now closed - new candy at top of my blog

It's that time of the week again folks and another chance to win some Hero Candy from our wonderful sponsors Sir Stampalot.

Again a huge thank you to everyone who took part last week and for all your wonderful comments. Also a special thank you and big welcome to all my new followers, I really do appreciate your support.

Mr Random Org., has picked the following lucky winner from last weeks entries:

Anne from the UK

True Random Number Generator

Min:1 Max:355 Result: 293

Unfortunately last weeks winner did not get in contact so in line with the rules, the numbers have been run again and we have a new winner:

Sandra from Germany
True Random Number Generator
Min:1 Max: 424 Result: 117

Congratulations to you both, please mail me from the link on my profile, with your full name and postal address so I can get your candy off to you.

For those of you who are new, I am running a weekly candy draw until the Stampalot challenge starts on 1st April. Each prize is different and no clues as to the contents, why spoil the surprise, all I can say is that they contain as the name suggests Hero Arts products.

So what do you have to do to be in with a chance of winning, not much really:

• Just link to follow and leave a comment on this or any new post between now and midnight GMT 7th March. If you leave comments on different posts, then each will be entered, so more chances to win !!

and

• Add the goody box picture above to your blog with a link back here to help us spread the word. Each week I will do the draw using Random Org., adding all the names that have entered that week and post the winners here. Then the whole process will start all over again.

Please note that winners must make contact with me before the next weeks draw takes place, otherwise the previous draw will be re-run.