Friday 28 May 2010

It's a Fairy Fun Friday!

I swear there are 3 Fridays in a week!!!
It only seems like yesterday that I posted LAST Friday's sample.
Where DOES the time go?
This week's challenge is a colour one, using this picture as your guide.


Here's my interpretation......

I wanted to use this teapot and 'mug' so much for this challenge.
I know it's very similar in a way to the image, but it's deliberate. I 'saw' this layout straight away and decided to go with it. This tea set is SO adaptable. (Available to purchase HERE). The 'mug' started out as a cup. I just stretched it to make it longer. That's the beauty of digi images, you can squeeze 'em, stretch 'em, add bits, take bits off etc. When I use this image again, I think I'll make my teapot into a coffee pot. The possibilities are endless.
Hop on over to the Fairy Fun Fridays blog to see what the other DT members have created. They have done an amazing job again this week.

Thanks for calling by Viv xxx

Thursday 27 May 2010

Thanks Grandad!

 I love this image from Prairie Fairy!
I first saw it used by my fellow DT member on Cards For Men, Patricia. (She used it for her entry in the Fairy Fun Fridays Tent Card Challenge).
I've entered it into a couple of challenges.
Delightful Sketches
I Love Digi
I hope it qualifies, 'coz the challenge is a card for Dad.
(I thought I was doing it for the previous challenge, use a charm,  but I'm a day late for that. Duh)!
The papers are from my Papermania Capsule collection and the image is coloured with Copics.
The gorgeous image is from Prairie Fairy and is called 'Me 'n my Grampa'.
Next time I colour this, it will have wooden planks across the back, (like a shed).

I'm off to see the Haematolgist this morning to get my results from the bone marrow sample he took.
I went for my first radiology appointment on Monday. It was a preliminary one to mark out where they will 'shoot'. It all seems pretty straight forward, so I've no worries.
I'll be back tomorrow with a new Fairy Fun Friday challenge.
Have a super day. (It's chucking it down here)! I don't mind, the plants need the water.

Thanks for calling by Viv xxx

Monday 24 May 2010

It's a Peachy Keen day!!!

We have another terrific challenge for you today over at Peachy Keen!
"Create a recipe card for your favorite picnic/BBQ salad or side dish"!
Well, they're not called challenges for nothing and this WAS a challenge!!!  I'm a... 'can't cook, won't cook' type of person, so this was making my hair curl I can tell ya! Well, I'm no quitter, so I dived on Firefox and looked up free summer recipes. (Didn't want to infringe anyone's copyright, did I)! Yay!! Got one.
(Got loads actually, but wanted to colour in my fave cherries and strawberries again).
Hmm, got the recipe, now what! Think Viv, THINK!! Hmm, picnic = picnic basket. 
Found the perfect one HERE.
Printed some red gingham paper from Pink Petticoat and that became my 'tablecloth'.
Stamped out lots of Peachy Keen's cherries and strawberries, (PK-239 Faceless Fruit).
Stuck a cocktail stick on the back of one of each, then stuck another over it. That way, it looks the same whichever angle you're looking from. Plus, I could poke the cocktail stick through the gingham paper and make it look as if the fruit was sitting up in the basket. Now, I don't have a PK lemon, so I had to be creative with the MELON! I just coloured it lemon, then drew in some segments. Sorted!
I'm REALLY pleased with my picnic basket. (My paper engineering is coming on a treat)!

Here's the front of the basket with the all-important recipe!
Side view so you can see the 'fruit' sitting up...............

And the back view with my melon lemon LOL......................

I really enjoyed puzzling out how to do this and I will definately stay out of my comfort zone a lot longer now I've got this under my belt.
Please hop on over to the Fabulous Peachy Keen blog for all the details and see all the scrummy recipe projects the other MEGA talented DT members have cooked up for you! You are warmly invited to join in with the challenge and I can't WAIT to see all those mouthwatering recipes.
Have a fabulous week!!

Thanks for calling by
Viv xxx

Good luck!!

That's the theme this time at Cards For Men.
 Our sponsor this week is..............



They have the most cute digital (and rubber)stamps. 
You must give them a visit. You'll be glad you did!
For my card, I've used the cute 'AJ with sign' image. I love AJ, he's dead cute! Remember the Racing Car AJ I did HERE? LOVE that card!


Isn't he cute! I've coloured him with Copics and backed him with Bazzil card and SU DP. I've popped him with foam pads to add a bit of dimension.
(The words on both 'signs' are from my PC).

Hop on over to the Cards For Men blog for all the details and check out the AMaze-ing DT cards!  
They've outshone themselves this week. I do hope you join in with the challenge. I look forward to seeing all that creativity and of course there's a great prize on offer!

(I've entered my card into these challenges).......
Dare you to Digi Stamp
Doodle Palace
Sweet Sketch Wednesday

 Thanks for calling in
Viv xx

Friday 21 May 2010

Fairy Fun Friday's challenge #20

 Oooh! We've actually got a bit of summer going on 'over here'! Clear blue skies, temps in the 70s.
It looks set to last all of another two days! That's basically IT for summer here.*sigh*.
Our seasons seem to blend into each other these days. I remember when I was a girl, Summer meant sun all day and any rain we had, fell at night. Winter was Winter, with LOADS of snow and frost, Spring was fresh and .....oh that's enough of that, let's get onto something a LOT more interesting, like the  Fairy Fun Fridays challenge #20!
This week's challenge is.....Make a TENT CARD.
I've never made one before, but they are SO easy and very effective.

Here's mine..........
I'm really pleased with how it's turned out. I got the instructions from HERE. (Thank you Dena).

I thought my special fairy, a freebie for those entering the DT call (and now available to purchase HERE), would be perfect for 'dangling'.
I've sparkled up her wings with Stickles 'Star Dust' and coloured her with Copics.
I actually printed her out twice. I reversed the image on one so I could colour and stick her together, so if she twirls, she's looks the same both sides.
She's attached to the card with nylon 'invisible' sewing thread. (Well, NEARLY invisible in this instance).
The base card is Bazzil and the DP is from My Mind's Eye. (It has a gloss on the diamond pattern which is lovely when it hits the light). The flowers and brads are from my stash and the sprigs of leaves were made with a McGill punch. I fastened the two sides together with eyelets threaded through twice with ribbon to mimic a bow.
Please take a few minutes to visit the Fairy Fun Fridays blog to see the amazing creations by my amazing team-mates! Why not join in with the challenge too? There's always a fab prize on offer and we DO love to see all your fab creations.

Trawling through my Challenge blog list, I noticed that this card would qualify for entry into two challenges.

Copic Creations
Papertake Weekly Challenge

Well, I'm off to spend this glorious day shopping then visiting my adorable grand-daughter.

Thanks for calling by
Viv xxx

Monday 17 May 2010

DT call!

Donna's Den of Crafts and owner of Cards For Men, is starting a new challenge  over on her blog, Donna's Den and is looking for a design team. If you are interested, please hurry on over to get all the deets and register your interest. Good luck!
 Viv xxx

A study in brown

This is the latest digi image from Elisabeth Bell!! Isn't she just fabulous!!! She reminds me so much of my wonderful 'Daisy' stamp. (It must be the pose). I coloured her almost the minute I downloaded her!!
I've done another one in 'normal' colours, IYKWIM. My only bug bear with this card, is the ground.
I dropped a clanger when I was trying to create a shadow of where she is sitting and duffed it up a bit.
Well, I was a bit miffed to say the least but there was no way I wasn't using it, so hopefully, the two largish flowers are acting as a kind of camouflage. Apart from that little hiccough, I'm really pleased with how she turned out.
I've made her especially for one of my a lovely friends, who's birthday is imminent. (I hope she doesn't come on until she gets it in the flesh). Shhh. As it happens, it fits a couple of challenges...
Creative Card Crew  ( a sketch) and Stamp Something. ( A theme). Wish me luck!!

 Thanks for calling by
Viv xxx

Friday 14 May 2010

Fairy Fun Friday Challenge #19

Hi everyone!!! Glad to 'see' you, as always.
This week's challenge at Fairy Fun Fridays, is FLOWERS! How easy is THAT!
Print 'em on, stick 'em on, use DP with 'em on. Make 'em, buy 'em. Whatever you fancy. Just put 'em on your project.
Here's my card........................


I'm so in love with this little fella/girl. It's the sweetest image imaginable and I just HAD to do another card with him/her. I suppose she's really a her, but she looks so much like my fur-baby, I can't help myself.
The flowers are by Papermania. The DP, ribbon and sentiment are courtesy of SU. That dee-lightful image is called 'Bunny Love' and can be found HERE.  Do NOT think I've lost the plot, it IS called Bunny Love. Blame Roberta! She saw the little bob-tail and assumed it was a rabbit. Ha Ha!

Now, you really have no excuse for not playing along with us have you? Everyone has flowers!
Hurry on over to the Fairy Fun Friday blog and  see the fabulous samples by the other amazing Fairy Princesses and join in the fun. You stand to win a great prize, so what are you waiting for! Hop on over there for all the details.

Thanks for calling by Viv xxx

Tuesday 11 May 2010

A new Peachy Keen Challenge!

 Whoo hoo! Today we have a sketch to play with.......


(I love sketches, they provide most of the brain work when mine doesn't). LOL
 This sketch has so many possibilities and I'm sure you will all come up with something amazing if you play along with us.

Here's what I made..............


(In my opinion, the best well made stamps on the market). 
She's a delight to colour and can be used in so many different ways. There are 6 stamps in this set which makes it REALLY versatile.
( For instance, I could quite easily have put the smiley face in the balloon and the 'happy birthday' where the pink pearls are). I could have put a pocket on her dress, or the flower maybe?
I chose to keep it fairly plain today but used my Sakura pen to create the spots.
The 'Love', 'Precious' and 'Wish' are acrylic stickers that I've had and never used 'till today. I thought them most appropriate for a little birthday girl. I created the border with a MS punch.
I hope you like my take on the challenge and that you will play along for the chance of a fab prize offered on the Peachy Keen blog.....
Rush on over there and check out the amazing samples made by the rest of our fabulous DT.
Their creativity always leaves me speechless.

Thanks for calling by
Viv xxx

Monday 10 May 2010

I'm outdoors today, with a freebie for you!

......well, not exactly, (the weather is too rubbish for a start) LOL
It's another Cards For Men challenge!! Whoo Hoo! This week, our sponsor is the very talented illustrator, Claire of Hope Jacare .


She has given the DT the choice of her images from her shop, or if preferred, this FREE image, to create something 'Outdoors'. Please feel free to take it. You may of course use any of your own images, but why not use this fab freebie!!
 (If you do use this image, please remember to credit it to Hope Jacare).

Here is a little background info on Claire.......
 "I'm a SAHM with three young children. I trained in Textile Design at the Glasgw School of Art and I love all things handmade, but especially papercrafts.  I love to doodle ... and my doodles are available to purchase as digital images through Shop Handmade."

 I chose to use the free image 'coz I thought I could experiment with colours and here's my take on it..........


I coloured this gorgeous image with Copics, wanting an irridescent look. Not sure I managed it, but I'll keep trying. (I think I should have sprayed it with some glimmer mist maybe)? I'll give that go and see how it turns out! 
I wanted to use page pebbles for the bubbles, but I can't find 'em in this doss house of a craft room! (I really MUST pull my finger out and get it sorted). Instead, I used a strip of 'gems' I DID find. Shhhh!
The DP paper is from a pack from 'Paper Potpourri', by Doodlebug Designs. (Thank you Kathy)!
It's fabulous paper and the pack contains six different stunning designs.
The DP behind it, is from Nana's Nursery, by DCWV. The base card is Kraft. LOVE that stuff!!

Please head on over to the Cards For Men blog to see what the other Fabulous DT members have created for you. They are amazing! .......

Donna, (our glorious leader and owner of Donna's Den of Crafts).
Patricia
Shirley

Please forgive me if I didn't get round to commenting on your previous entry. It's been a time of lots of hospital appointments  for tests and checks after the breast surgery. Thankfully, that's all done and dusted now. Just the radiotherapy and I'm all sorted! Whoo Hoo!!!

Thanks for calling by
Viv xxx

Friday 7 May 2010

This is my debut project.......

.....for my first week as a Prairie Fairy Design team member! I'm so pleased to be on this VERY talented team and can't wait for Fridays now!
Our very first challenge at Fairy Fun Fridays Challenge Blog, is 'RE-CYCLED'. This is always a challenge for me as I struggle to find anything to re-cycle with. It's not that I'm ultra green and don't have any packaging or stuff, it's more 'coz I can't 'see' the potential of castaway items. (Or at least I couldn't until now).

Here is my completed project, using that brilliant cartoon image 'Man O Man'.............
The DP is from the Capsule Collection by Papermania.


Here is how this pencil holder started out in life......

Well, almost.... I forgot to photograph the drum before I re-vamped it, so photographed a similar one.
(The actual one I used was an Aldi own brand). Luckily, this Bisto drum was in the cupoard! Doh! If I had a brain, I'd be dangerous!
I coloured my little man with Copics and framed him with Nestie scalloped dies.
Easy Peazy! He now sits on Hubby's desk.

I can't WAIT for you to see what the other fabulous DT members have created. Talk about CLEVER!!!
Please pop over to the Fairy Fun Fridays Challenge Blog and check them out! You'll be amazed...and delighted! Not forgetting that there's also a smashing prize on offer. Hop on over there where you'll find all the details.
Thanks for joining me on my debut posting.
Viv xxx

Sunday 2 May 2010

An update and a card

For those that didn't know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of March.
I was recalled after my latest mammogram and it was confirmed that I had a malignant lump.
To cut a long story short, I had surgery and the lump was removed. The surgery was pretty extensive as I was offered reconstructive surgery on both 'bits' to keep me even! BUT! I still have them both and they are no longer 'going south'! LOL
I got my results back on the 29th and I was pronounced breast cancer free! Whoo hoo!!
I DO though have lymphoma, which was picked up in surgery. Another fright!  I was told on the same day, (29th) that it is VERY low grade and I'll pop my clogs of old age before it becomes a problem and even then, if it did resurface, it would be sorted! I have to have radiotherapy and hormone therapy (Tamoxifen) and then that will, hopefully, be that. How lucky am I! Not just for coming through it relatively unscathed, but I've had the most amazing support from friends and family. I cannot thank them all enough for caring so very much.
If I hadn't attended my mammograms, who knows what the situation would have been a few years down the line.....doesn't bear thinking about does it? PLEASE if it's offered, go and get the mammogram done. You know it makes sense!

Onto brighter things! Here's a card I did using Prairie Fairy's cute lady elephant Elsie!.........(She has a boyfriend, Elwin)! Aww bless.
Recipe:
Copics
Pink Petticoat 'clouds' paper
'Grass' DP from DCWV, Nana's Nursery
Picket fence and flowers..Martha Stewart punches
Sentiment by me via the PC

(She's in the pink...just like ME)!!!

Thanks for calling by.
Viv xxx
>