Joining in at Swirlydoos

Check out the fantastic sketch by Angelica over at Swirlydoos - I loved it! The theme was also to use a tutorial from their forum and the colours red, brown and white.

 I used a photo of Viki taken on Christmas eve when we were all trying on our Santa hats and aged it Sepia style.  I used the My Minds Eye papers from the Christmas kit from My Limited Edition - determined to use everything from this kit over the next week to join in with some fab challenges (you wouldn't believe how many kits I have under my desk that have hardly been touched - shameful)!  The flowers on the page were made by following their tutorial Passion Daisy - didnt quite have the punches they used but I think they came out pretty close (oh and I didn't have any brown designer paper so used Cream so this layout may not even qualify :O(  )

Well here is the sketch followed by my take on it

Thanks for looking
Polly x

Beautiful You

I loved the current sketch over at the challenge site Once Upon A Sketch and knew straightaway what papers and flowers I was going to use :O).   I decided to journal about my feelings as a mother to my very lovely daughter Viki and created a little tag book to write what I wanted to say about the joys of motherhood. 

The paper is by Prima and was inked and distress with Vintage Photo and I then lightly inked over a brick mask with Old Paper and Vintage Photo to created a faded brick wall.  The resin shutters were lightly inked with Old Paper and I added lovely delicate lace under the 'frame' to make the page more girlie.  Little Prima flowers were added to the Cheerie Lyn flourish and added butterflies from the Tim Holtz butterfly die and a Martha Stewart butterfly punch.  I created the little tag book with my Magnolia tag die (cutting the tag on a folded piece of card)

And here is my take on the sketch............

Thanks for looking  Polly xx

The Color Room challenge - sketch and colour palette

Although I said I was giving up on attempting art journalling I am still trying to be a little random and messy with my spray inks.  So seeing this scrapbook sketch over at The Color Room (and using the colours fushia, raspberry, white and sunflower)  I decided to have a another go at creating a 'random'!!! background for the layout.  3 backgrounds went in the bin straight away but this one I hung on to and once I started placing bits and pieces here and there, its kinda growing on me :O)

I've used a couple of photos of Heidi Mae finding a snail in the garden - and believe me Urrgh is the right word for them! Slimy horrible things!!!  Anyway here is the layout

Thanks for looking Polly xx

A Christmas Card in Pink!!

After spending money on 2 on-line art journaling workshops plus Kate Cranes art journalling dvds I've decided that its not for me.  Basically... I just struggle with it!!!  I can't be random, I can't be messy, my mind just goes totally blank when faced with inks and paints.  So for now I am going to carry on admiring the works of Kate Crane, Dyan from AFTH, Roben Marie Smith and all those other artists who just totally wow me with their art journalling and for now do what I enjoy and that is scrapbooking and colouring those lovely stamps that the stamp fairy keeps bringing me :O)  So I have joined an on-line colouring class to improve on my colouring with Polychromos pencils.  That should keep me busy and quiet - they give you homework !!!
This card is for 2 challenges

Totally Tilda Challenge - Christmas with no reds, no greens and no blues 
Crafts 4 Eternity - a sketch to follow

Well a christmas card with Tilda on and no reds, greens or blues was easy - PINK!!  The sketch was a delight to work.   Christmas paper is from a pad I bought in the sale at The Range, Tilda has been coloured in with Polychromos pencils, used a couple of snowflakes dies and a few little pearls and here is my card...

Thanks for looking  xx

Child of Mine - layout for Sketchabiities

Really enjoy joining in with the challenges over at Sketchabilities and their sketch for this weeks challenge which kept me quiet for hours apparently!!! :O)

I have used a plain cream background and papers from my limited edition pack from My Creative Scrapbook - all slightly distressed and inked with Vintage Photo.  The photo is of my scrummy daughter Viki taken earlier this year on a girlie night out :O). I have used a Martha Stewart corner punch to create the patterned circle, added lace, diecut leaves, lovely little fabric flowers and some large lush ribbon flowers, a heart, some precut butterflies, a doily, a Magnolia tag and here it is.......

Hubby had to take the photo as I couldn't lean over the desk without creating dark shadows :O)  (any excuse for him to get behind the camera)

Thanks for looking  Polly xx 

New Tilda stamp

Treated myself to just 2 of the new christmas Tilda stamps and whilst hubby was off Friday due to a tummy bug I was sat practising colouring with Polychromos pencils :O).

So Tilda was coloured in with Polychromos pencils and then embossed with clear transparent powder.  I then popped here in the freezer for about 10 mins, then gently bent it in places to create a few light cracks which were then lightly inked over with Vintage Photo to create a aged look.  I've used papers by Tinsels & Twig - the Girls Paperie from The Hobby House, a Cheery Lyn flourish die and good ole punched flowers by UK Success.  All were inked around the edges with Vintage Photo and here it is....  (not a brilliant photo I know)

For once my card can be entered into more than just ONE challenge :O)

Dutch Magnolia Lovers - Sketch

Creatalicious Challenges - Distress Your Edges

Emerald Faerie Garden  - Christmas Red

By the cute & girlie - Christmas Girls

Thanks for looking

Polly x

Sketchabilities 57

Over at Sketchabilities there challenge is to follow a sketch using 3 photos!!! Eeks not done one of these before!  So this is what I came up.

It's been a long time since I've done a scrap page of hubby Steve but I liked the flow of photos taken of him in the giant chess garden at Burton Agnes a few months ago.  So out came some papers from My Limited Edition kit and I set to :O).

I've used my Martha Stewart trellis punch, all 3 sizes of my trusty EK Success flower punches, leaves from a sizzix  die, scalloped circle and a few pearls for the middle of the flowers.

Thanks for looking

Polly x

 

Joining in with Hannah & Friends sketch 116 challenge

As soon as I saw this sketch I couldn't wait to join in with the card challenge over at Hannah & Friends!  Love it and already using it again to make a vintage card!  And I got to use my first digi stamp Penny from Saturated Canary !!

I have used 2 of the papers by  My Minds Eye Lost & Found 'Blush' available from Grimsby Crafts - these have to be my favourite todate!!  Penny has been coloured in with Polychromos Pencils and blended with Sansodor, the border is a Magnolia lace edging diecut, flowers and pearls are from my ever increasing stash - think thats everything :O)

Thanks for looking  Polly x

Sketches in Thyme Design Team Call

Decided to try and enter the DT call over at Sketches in Thyme - know there are so many talented scrappers so not holding my breath :O).  Enjoy scrapping so much thought it was worth trying for.

Again the challenge is a sketch, I have used a black and white photo of my lovely daughter Viki, my title is My English Rose because to me she is and here is my take on it........

 

I have used papers from the IMAGINATIONS range and distressed the edges with a pair of scissors.  I have used my Weathered Clock die by Tim Holts, a Martha Stewart round the edge punch, some flowers that were in my Limited Edition kit from My Creative Scrapbook and ribbon and lace that have been in my stash for ages!!  Oh and a very lush diamante flourish that I cut into 2.

Think that is my final post for today lol.  Thanks for taking the time to look

Polly x

Time for Magnolia Mania

Its not often that I get the time to play with any stamps but yesterday saw me inking up a couple of stamps that were new or just a fave. 

Over at Magnolia Mania the challenge was again to follow a sketch so here is my take on it......

Tilda was coloured in with Polychromos Pencils and blended with Sansador.  The papers are by Girls Paperie available at The Hobby House.  I have used the Tim Holtz die - Weathered Clock, EK Success flower punch, Sissix flourish dies and the sentiment is by Inkadinkadoo.

Thanks for lookings

Polly x

Time for a challenge at Zoe Bunny Crafts

A few posts today from me as yesterday was my day for playing :O)

This is a card made for Zoe Bunny Crafts which was to follow a sketch by Debbie.  Here is my take on the sketch....

I have used my new Gorjuss girl stamp which I bought a while ago from Grimsby Crafts and only just got round to inking up - she was coloured in with Polychromos pencils and blended with Sansador.  The papers are the hello luscious range by Basic Grey which were distressed with a pair of scissors, flowers punched with EK Success, Nellie Snellen flourish die cut and the sentiment by Kaisercraft.

Thanks for looking

Polly x

Photography Course in Robin Hoods Bay

We've been looking forward to this weekend for what seems absolutely ages - by 8.30am Saturday morning we were already on the road to Whitby armed with our new cameras and tripods.  Afer a rather expensive ham sandwich with chunky chips served up in a flower pot!!! yes a flower pot!! we explored the shops and then headed back to RHB to our Bed & Breakfast The Manning Tree.

Sunday we were up bright and early and on the beach at RHB by 9am.  Our course started at 10am so with a hot cuppa, a presentation to watch, theory papers to fill in and learn (which to be honest went straight over my head), we were off putting all we'd learnt that morning into practise.  Keith our tutor was brilliant - we were all novices but he still managed to give us the attention we needed with our cameras.

Afer 3 hours of camera practise these are just a couple of shots I came up with using large and shallow depth of field, moving my focus point from centre to left, macro shots etc

and the winning photo of the day was my shot of this flower lol....

Both hubby and myself had a brilliant time and already looking at attending Part 2 of the course early next year.

Thanks for looking

Sketchy Thursday

Wow, can't quite believe that I have got myself so organised but I have prepared 4 layouts for my Thursday and Fridays classes of scrapbooking!!.  All commissions from work are upto-date so some well earned time spent on joining in with another challenge over at Sketchy Thursdays.

Their challenge for their GDT spot in October is to follow a sketch but also to use the colours in the photo.  This is the sketch and colours....

and here is my take on it. 

I have used a photo of a beautiful fountain that I took whiltst visiting Burton Agnes ( a gorgeous stately home in North Yorkshire) and lightly sepia'ed it !!  The papers are a combination of Crate's Paper, Bo Bunny and Websters and all have been distressed and inked with Vintage Photo.  The flowers and butterflies are made with Tim Holtz diecuts, Martha Stewart Lattice punch was used on the 2 borders and the title was cut with Story Book on the Cricut.  Think thats it lol.

Thanks for looking

Polly x

Let's Capture These Sketches - sketch challenge

Over at Let's Capture These Sketches there challenge is to follow a sketch so just had to join in with this one!

I have used papers from the Madeline Colection by Prima,  some Prima ribbons, some Prima flowers, oh and the packaging that the Prima flowers came in!!!  I have added a diamate swirl, some butterflies from Tim Holtz die cuts and the leaf flourish is a Cherry Lyn diecut which I have now misplaced!!  Hope that when I was cleaning up my table it didnt drop in the bin like my mobile phone did once!!  Anyway here is the page with a photo of my beautiful daughter on it.

Thanks for looking

Polly x

Something new

I was very lucky to get Julie Nuttings 'Collage Couture' as a belated birthday pressie and I have to admit on opening the first page was totally hooked!!  I have drawn and designed not only Julie's examples but some of my own 'croquis' and dresses!

I made a couple of little ones as practice then went on to making this one using diecut flowers on the background

Just need to practice on mixed media backgrounds - so must learn to be spontaneous and messy!! 

Thanks for looking x

New challenge over at Our Vintage Affair

OOooh we have a new challenge over at Our Vintage Affair which I thoroughly enjoyed creating and hope you will too!!!  Its all about TRIANGLES!!!

So after pondering what to make I came up with an idea to make a bunting for my craft room door!!  Took 4 hours to make but I love it and funnily enough so does the hubby :O)

I used different Melissa Frances paper which I have had for ages, some white ruffled ribbon, ready-made roses in brown, beige and burgundy, used my new Spellbinders Pennant dies that I got a while ago whilst in Whitby, my new T!m Holtz Rosette die that I got from Grimsby Crafts and set to work.  And here it is....

Well hope you like it and it has inspired you to have a go and joining in with us.  If you pop over to OVA you can check out our the DT's gorgeous creations and also our very talented GD for this month - Paula Tidman.

Thanks for looking

Polly x

Stampotique Challenge - Red, Yellow and Orange

Over at the Stampotique challenge blog their theme,  along with using their own Stampotique stamps, is to use the following colours:- Red, Yellow and Orange. 
So armed with Dylusions stamps, Dylusions Inks, paper towels and little paint top lids I started working on getting messy!!!  And this is the background that I came up with.. a little doodling was added too...  Certainly need practise but for a 1st attempt with the inks and paints not that bad....?!?!?!

Karin & Eric were stamped onto Neenah paper and coloured in with Polychromos Pencils and blended with Sansador.  I masked off Erics right hand on the original stamped image and then stamped it again and cut it out as I wanted it to look like he was holding Karins hand (sweet eh)!

Thanks for looking  xx

New challenge over at Our Vintage Affair - Birds

A new scrapbook challenge over at Our Vintage Affair has just been announced - a sketch to follow with the added theme of Birds. 

We are sponsored this month by

Nikki Sivils  papers are so vibrant and colourful and I have to say,  I thoroughly enjoyed playing with them for my layout.  The winner will recieve a collection of these cute papers from the range 'My Friend Birdie'

Here was the sketch the DT worked to

And here is my take on the sketch (I flipped the sketch over) -  this is GD Heidi playing in the garden.

I hope you will join in with the challenge.

Thanks for looking

Stampman Challenge - anything T!M HOLTZ

Had a little spending spree yesterday at Tilly's in Immingham and was able to pick up quite a few fab things including lots of Tim Holtz goodies!!  Although I've not used any of them for the challenge over at The Stampman I have loads of ideas and sketches already planned and can't wait to get stuck in!

The challenge over at The Stampman is all things Tim Holtz so I decided to use a couple of the dies and stamps I have.  I found a chipboard frame and covered it with cream card and then inked it with
T!M Holtz Old Paper and Vintage Photo.  I then stamped T!M Holtz Papillon script over it and again inked the edges.  I used the T!M Holtz Hanging Sign and Birdcage dies, inked, added gilding wax, flowers, pearls and lace, a couple of butterflies, a vintage photo and here it is....

Thanks for looking Polly x

Craft Room Challenge - Butterflies

Over at Craft Room Challenge their theme is Butterflies so with a plan of 1 hour to play in the craft room I decided to see if I could make something in that time and join in.

I cut out 2 hearts in greyboard and covered them with some scraps of designer paper that I have had in my stash for quite some time now,  added pink lace to the underside of both hearts and added a large white frilled lace to the larger one. I used a Nellie Snellen leaf die, some butterfly images printed onto acetate, one of my favourite 'Love' quotes, some roses and a piece of pink ribbon and here it is......

Thanks for looking  Polly x

Birthday Goodies

Just a few fab goodies that I got for my birthday today.  My lovely hubby got me the Fujifilm Finepix HS20 camera and the pink Bind-it-all machine and my lovely daughter Viki got me the Tim Holtz Papillon stamps which I have been drooling over ever since they came out (love butterflies - just ask the scrapbook ladies)!!

So off to play I go!! 

July challenge now open at Our Vintage Affair

Over at Our Vintage Affair our July challenge has now been announced - the theme is Weddings!  Very appropriate as July seems to be the most popular month for brides to walk down the aisle here in the UK!

I decided that as the criteria for the challenge has been changed slightly - cards or altered items can now be included in the entries - I wanted to decorate a candle!

I found a lovely vintage image of a bride on Google images and set to work figuring out how to transfer the image onto tissue paper!  I sprayed a light coat of temp. adhesive onto a piece of card and carefully laid the tissue paper onto the card.  I then trimmed it and popped it into the printer and voila!!!  It worked!!  Be careful when removing the tissue from the card as I actually tore a couple!  Then it was just a question of placing it on the candle, wrapping it up in greaseproof paper and heating it gently with my heat gun.  And here it is ...

I hope you will pop over to Our Vintage Affair and see what the other DT's have made and hopefully this will inspire you to join in with us.

Thanks for looking x

A Girlie Tag using my new Tim Holtz die

Whilst in Skegness on Saturday we came across Cutting Edge Crafts - quite by chance I hasten to add lol -  and just had to have a little browse.  30 mins later hubby had bought me a Zutter Bind-it-all machine for my birthday and I treat myself to a Tim Holtz die - the tag!  Its brill!!  Wish I'd bought it months ago instead of some of the other dies that I've got!  I've used one of my favourite quote stamps from when Sue had Paper Paradise, scraps of paper, a Tim Holtz sewing room die and a garden fence die and here it is...

For once I've had the time to find a few challenges that it will fit

Make My Monday - Vintage plus a colour scheme of brown, cream plus pink or blue
Sentimental Sundays - Anything goes
Craft your days away - Vintage
One Stop Craft Challenge - Tag you're it

Well off to make another tag LOL

Thanks for looking  Polly x

Our Vintage Affair - Flower challenge

Over at Our Vintage Affair our layout challenge for July is to follow a sketch and to also include at least one handmade flower - yummy!!!

Here is my take on the sketch

Don't forget to hop over and see what the design team have created - we hope you will join in with us.

Challenge 2 over at Bildmalarna

Over at the Bildmalarna challenge site their 2nd challenge is 'Blue' so rather than a card I decided to decorate a photo frame that I have had in my stash for quite some time now :O).  In fact I have 3 of these frames, 3 gorgeous grandkiddies so perfect for each one of them! 

This is Daisy who we had the whole weekend - thoroughly enjoyed having her except for the 4:30 wake up call from her - and what is on the tv at that ricdiculous time in the morning - NOTHING!!!

My Bildmalarna stamp has been coloured in with Polychromos pencil and blended with Sansador, the butterfly and lace edging is from my new Magnolia diecuts and the paper is by Prima. 

Thanks for looking  Polly xx

Creative Scrappers - challenge sketch 160

I'm a big fan of Creative Scrappers and although a follower and avid watcher I never seem to have the time to join in with their challenges - but our little break to Robin Hoods Bay last weekend must have done the trick as I got myself organised and played!!!

Their sketch was by the talented scrapper Amarilys so I got out my Limited Edition kit from My Creative Scrapbook and got scrapping!!  This photo is of my daughter Viki and her friend Claire on a night out a few months ago.  The papers are by Stella Rose and as usual are perfect for distressing and inking.  The butterflies are from a fab blog called What a Beautiful Mess' .   And here it is....

I printed the butterflies onto acetate to get that lovely feel of translucency to them

Thanks for looking  Polly x

Sunday Sketch & Stamp challenge

And my last card for today is for the Sunday Sketch & Stamp challenge - another lovely sketch to followby the talented Lisa!!! 

I have used papers from Wild Asparagus by My Minds Eye and all these have been distressed with a pair of scissors.  The lovely Bildmalarna stamp has been coloured in with Polychromos Pencils and blended with Sansador.  The flowers are from The Hobby House (as was the stamp) and as was the lovely velvet ribbon :O).  And here it is....

Well thats it for now - thanks for looking

Polly x

The Sugar Bowl Challenge

This is my 2nd card (an easel card for a change) for the challenge over at The Sugar Bowl - another lovely sketch to follow.  The papers I have no idea as I have had them in my ever increasing stash for ages.  The lovely Bildmalarna stamp is from The Hobby House and coloured with Polychromos pencils and blended with Sansador.  The lovely flowers are from The Hobby Houseand the leaves are from Marianne diecuts.  And here it is.....

Thanks for looking

Polly x

Create for fun challenge

A day off today so after a morning of housework, shopping, etc I had time this afternoon to make some cards for 3 challenges that I wanted to enter.

Over at Create for Fun there was a lovely sketch to follow so here is my take on it.  I have used papers from Prima, a Gorjuss Girl stamp both available from Grimsby Crafts.  The papers were distressed with a pair of scissors, Gorjuss Girl was coloured in with Polychromos Pencils and blended with Sansador, the leaves are from a diecut as is the ribbon.  And here it is....

Thanks for looking

Polly x

My apolgies for being late with blogging our current challenge over at Our Vintage Affair

The theme for this challenge was chosen by our extremely  talented Loreta who not only came up with the fantastic sketch to work to but also the theme.  We are also sponsored again by   

The Craft Barn

with very generous prize of a £20 voucher to spend in their store!! So onto our challenge!! The theme this month is to use 2 stamps as the background and also to follow this sketch. 
 

And here is what I created 

 

 

Hope you will pop over to OVA and join in with our challenge

Polly x

BildMalarna - Challenge 1

Ordered one of these cute stamps off the internet in the week so today with it being a long weekend for us both I decided to treat hubby to lunch at the restaurant next to The Hobby House and do a little craft shopping for afters!!  Bought 4 more of these stamps :O)!!!!  What with Sassy Stamps and now these - feel another addiction coming on!!!

Anyway whilst bloghopping for challenges the other night I found that there is Challenge site for these lurvely stamps - Challenge 1 Anything Goes - so I made time this afternoon to have a go and create something other then a card and this is what I made! 

A little door hanger for the little grandkiddies! 

I coloured little Mimosa 'from me to you' with Polychromos Pencils and Sansador, the petals were diecuts from Nellies Multi frames, a leaf flourish, daisy stamp, a piece of ribbon and... think thats it!!!

Right off to link to the challenge!  Have a good weekend

Polly x

My Creative Scrapbook Limited Edition Kit

I've had this lovely scrapbook kit now for well over 3 weeks and in all that time I've made .... 2 layouts!!!  So busy with wedding invitations, wedding wish bracelets and favours that every evening has been spent doing them.  But last night I manged to finish them both off...

My little grandkiddies Heidi, Daisy and Elie are just adorable and I can't stop taking photos of them when we visit.  They are such a dream to photograph.

Both layouts have the papers by Pink Paislee - Butterfly Garden which have been distressed and inked.  Even though you get beautiful Prima flowers in the kit I tend to prefer making my own even though they are not a patch on them - just like the fact that the page is all handmade if that makes any sense.  Just waiting for inspiration to hit for the titles!

Well thats it from me - invites await to finish off

Thanks for looking

Polly x 

New challenge over at Our Vintage Affair - Napkin Fold Card

A new challenge has started over at Our Vintage Affair - to create a vintage / shabby style Napkin Fold card!!  These cards do take a little time to create but the end result is just so worth it.  Just google Napkin Fold card and the cards that pop up are just stunning!  If you fancy joining in with the challenge StampARTIC have a very easy tutorial to follow.

I have used My Minds Eye Wild Asparagus paper for my napkin fold card and made a removable closure that slides off the card.  And here it is.....

and this is the card opened out

This is definitely a card that I will make again - in fact ... I am working on one now for a wedding!!!

Hope you will join in with the challenge

Thanks for looking

Polly x

New stamps and just enough time to enter a challenge

Just found some adorable new stamps whilst window shopping at FunkyKits the other night and very sneakily treat myself to one.  These stamps are just adorable!  I ordered SIMPLY SASSY Oooh La La and she arrived this morning to the sound of  hubby muttering 'A package addressed to you - hmmm thought you said you weren't buying anymore craft stuff'!!!

So in between wedding invites, name places, menus for 3 different weddings I spent a little time making a card for The Sugarbowl challenge.  There challenge was a sketch with a vintage/distressed feel to it  - my favourite style!!

Used design paper from the Melissa Frances 6x6 paper pad which I got from The Hobby House, Oooh La La was coloured in with Polychromos Pencils and here it is....

Thanks for looking

TTFN xx

New challenge over at Our Vintage Affair - 3 laces

Over at Our Vintage Affair we have our May layout challenge starting - with the theme being lace!!!  3 different laces to be used in your layout.

I have used a lovely butterfly paper by Kaiser called Flutterbye, distressed and inked the edges with Vintage Photo.  I have just cut out the wings on the butterflies so that I can stand the wings up and curl them over slightly to add a little dimension ( I taped white paper behind the butterflies).  I have used a lace doily and added more lace to it around the outside.  My flowers have been made with the retro flower punch and in the centre of the largest flower I made a little lace flower to pop in the centre.  A few foliage die cuts were also used and here it is.

And here is the sketch designed by our own very talented DT - Elena to use.

I hope you will pop over and join in with the challenge - the challenge ends at 10pm on 20th May 2011. 

Our Vintage Affair - Pearls and a sketch

Over at Our Vintage Affair we have a new challenge - use lots of pearls and a sketch to follow.

Here is the sketch...

And here is my take on it....

I have used INKIDO papers Rosehage Engel Avis and Rosehage Ros Linduk - beautiful quality papers.  The flowers are full blooms also from INKIDO but I removed the bud from the middle and replaced it with 4 little pearls so I ended up with 2 flowers instead of one! 

Our sponsor this month is INKIDO and their prize is a collection of their newest papers - so please pop over to OVA and check out the prize and also see what the DT's have created. 

Thanks for looking

Happy Easter

Polly x