Friday 31 May 2013

When is an S not an S'?...

 When it turns into something totally different! lol

 Hello all you Peachy Keen Challenge lovers!
Today we have a sketch for you to play along with.


I was going to do a DL card at first, but as usual, my mind wandered to 'what if'.
'What if I rotated it and made it the side panel of an 'S' fold card'?
Did that but I didn't like the LO, so I turned the 'S' fold card on IT'S side and ended up with a step card!
Funny how things turn out, isn't it! LOL

For my sample, I used the stamps from the ever so cute PKSC-16
The faces on the flowers and the bee are from my VERY favourite faces stamp set, Erkle and merkle

Here's another photo to show the folds. you can see that it was an 'S' fold card turned on it's side and another card adhered to the back to make the stand.

 I coloured the stamps with Copics. 
The flowers on the bottom were punched out and sponged with Wild Honey distress ink.
The die cut clouds were sponged with Brilliance Sky Blue.

 I do hope you are going to play along with us.
We love to see the fabulous creations you always come up with, time and time again.

Here are the details....
 Create a card or layout of your choice following the sketch provided.
We'll be awarding "TOP PEACH" to the player who uses their Peachy Keen Stamps this  week and  our two runner ups will receive a spiffy badge to display on their blog!

   Guidelines:
- Design must be new
- Link up by 6/5 - 11:59 pm EST

Please pop on over to the Peachy Keen blog to see what my amazing DT friends have created!

Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

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Tuesday 28 May 2013

Just one more....

....Before I play with the brand new release from Peachy Keen that arrived in my hot little hands today!!!
( The sneak peeks start on the 1st June)

OK, I did a birthday, with love, thinking of you and now a thank you.
Think that's most bases covered! LOL

Again using the Clearly Besotted gorgeous 'Happy Everything' stamp set.
The cute butterflies are from 'Butterfly Additions and coordinating dies.
The stamp was embossed with Stampendous Detail White embossing powder.
The sentiment is once again from  'Floral Sentiments' by My Creative Time.
Coloured with Copics.

Now off to play with my fabulous bunch of super duper PK stamps that you will love for the summer .....when it finally arrives!
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Monday 27 May 2013

Oh Baby!

I'm eagerly waiting for my new Peachy Keen stamps to arrive so I can start sneaky peeking you all.
The problem with being in the UK is, the time it takes to get my stamps.
All the other design team pals have got there's of course 'coz they are in the US.
Although, one of them lives out near Florida and I think she has a wait and a half too!
Anyway, I wanted to make a card, so got out LAST months new release add on set,

Isn't she cute?


Here's aside view so you can see the type of card I used.
As usual, chucked the packet away without taking a note of the name of the cards!
Really!! I need treatment! Duh.
Sufice to say, they are scored along the bottom so they stand up like a tent card
 and have that beautiful cut-away panel on the front..
I used Forever Friends 'Pink Parfait' DP for paper piecing.
(I placed a piece of coordinating paper behind the cut out on the front).
Copics to colour her skin and the 'ground'.
Flowers from Astbury garden centre craft shop. 

Well, I'm off to see Alfie in a minute. 
(Won't be happy 'till I've seen for myself that he's over his convulsions).
 
Back soon!
Hopefully the PK release will be in my hot little hands tomorrow!
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A productive day and a worry.

UPDATE ON ALFIE!
He's home and he's fine! Yeah!!

Hello everyone.
Hope those of us in the UK are enjoying this Bank Holiday Monday!
The weather is supposed to be rubbish in Macclesfield today, 
but up to now, it's quite warm and sunny. Long may it last!

I spent Sunday in Derby with my good friends, eating, crafting, craft shopping, eating, crafting, laughing and oh yes! ..crafting! lol

When we get together, the 'hostess' usually spends all her time fetching and carrying and getting no crafting time. We don't mind that at all. It's just so nice to have friends round.
Well yesterday I wasn't hosting, so managed to make FOUR cards!! Wow! That's almost a record for me!!
Here are the fruits of my labours! lol......

 Remember the card I did yesterday?
Here are two variations using the same method and stamps.

 I did this one with borrowed Black SU! embossing powder which is rubbish!
It makes the Copics smudge. Ridiculous.
Won't be buying THAT any time soon!
It's only saving grace is that it showed me how nice it looks embossed in black as well as white.


Totally different cards here! lol
I grabbed some card blanks I'd had hanging around for ages and the navy and white stripes cried out for a nautical theme to me.
The only problem was, our lovely hostess Pauline, didn't have any nautical type stamps!
OK, plan B. 
Off to the craft shop at Byrkley Park Garden Centre

Pauline, bless her, found a solitary remaining magazine with a massive stamp set in it.from Clear Impressions, called 'Sea Breeze'.
This is the magazine although it doesn't do the stamp set justice in this pic.
Well, it was Karma obviously. The set is A4 (letter) size. HUUUGE.
Some of Pauline's gorgeous red ribbon and some Copics loaned by Sandra. 
Thank you Sandra, combined with my embossing folder, that I have, as usual, don't know the name of.  Duh!

The beach hut and banner are also from the set.
There are loads more not even touched yet!
Loving that banner!!
Kept these simple as I'd forgotten my tool kit and only had these two A6 cards with me.
Still, all in all, I'm chuffed with my labours.

Now for the worrying news. Got home to find out my gorgeous little 3 year old grandson Alfie had two convulsions while I was in Derby!
He was in hospital with my son when I arrived home.
I rang BJ, (my son) and I spoke to Alfie who was by this time as right as rain 
watching Postman Pat on the observation ward..
They spent the night there. Hopefully they will be home later.
They are not the first convulsions he's had but hopefully, he will grow out of them.
I just hope it's down to his temperature, as I think he has a cold.
I will know more later.

Thanks for listening and have a smashing Bank Holiday!

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Saturday 25 May 2013

Copics with Clearly Besotted stamps

Love Stephanie's beautiful stamps and dies.
(Love her beautiful prices too)!

Take a look at her blog HERE! Amazing!

She's a lovely lady and has been so helpful when in my enthusiasm, 
I bought the same stamp and die set twice! What a NUMPTY I AM!
All is sorted and I have more gorgeous stamps on the way too!

Anyhoo, I digress.
I've been playing this afternoon with heat embossing and colouring with my Copics on coloured cardstock.
Here's the result.
I've done this on Kraft to good effect.

The stamp set is 'Happy everything'. 
It's from Clearly Besotted Stamps, HERE.
I added the odd dot or two with my white gel pen from Peachy Keen..
I embossed the flowers with Versamark and Stampendous Detail White embossing powder.
I'm quite pleased with this effect and shall carry on experimenting with different colours of CS and Copics.

I'm entering this card in these challenges.
Charismatic Cards 
Dutch Dare Card Challenges
Have a FABULOUS Bank Holiday weekend!


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Wednesday 22 May 2013

A sympathy card

We just lost a neighbour that we'd known for almost 30 years.
She had lived a long life and thankfully passed away quickly without pain.

Here's her card...


In this view, you can see the sheen on the Centura card.
I cased THIS card that I found on Pinterest.

Stuff:
Centura pearl 'gold' CS from my favourite craft shop at Astbury Meadows Garden Centre in Congleton.
Clearly Besotted 'Leafy Accents' stamp and die
Ribbon,  pearls and flower from my stash

Let's hope I don't have to make another one of these any time soon!

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Saturday 18 May 2013

Fancier than usual!

Hello there! 
Is your weather as rubbish as ours?
Gloomy, wind, rain, hailstones, cold, one day of lovely sunshine, then gone?
Yeah? Thank that stupid Jet Stream, it's at it again! Hmphh!
Luckily, it can't dampen our spirits for crafting!
Here's a case in point....
This one, is about my mark when it comes to being fancy.
Kraft card stock, Background stamped with Market Street's Doily stamp and a peel off on vellum.
Job done! Simple. (The doily is a diecut I did with my pal Jackie's X-Cut die).
Now I'm climbing out of my comfort zone a little here.
I use Spellbinder dies all the time, but these new fancy frames etc are scaring me a little.
I used the Spellbinders  'Elegant Labels Four' and the 'Enchanted Labels 28'.
 Both from Sunrise Crafts.
Sponged with Memento Rose Bud and Angel Pink


 The card I used for die cutting is Centura Pearl.
I took this picture to show you the lovely subtle gold sheen that you get when the light hits it.


I'm sure I could have done a better job of this card, but my courage won't let me add anything extra just at the moment, so this will have to suffice! LOL

Have a great weekend WHATEVER the weather!

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Friday 17 May 2013

Grey, black and white


I'm loving everything doily lately and this gorgeous stamp from Market Street Stamps
is one of my favourites. 
It's in the 'Market minis' section, but there's nothing mini about THIS puppy!
That's a 6"x6" card!
Look at that detail! (Brought right out with Hero Hues Chalk Snow White ink).

The label is from a stash I got from a craft fair a couple of years ago and shoved in a drawer to be forgotten about until yesterday! 
That's one advantage of tidying your craft room, you find stuff you forgot you had! 
There are 120 labels in the pack and  if I remember correctly, with a mixture of all the colours.
They are also available HERE. Sadly, they are sold out in the 120s.
They are really handy as a quick topper.

Well, that's it from me for now.
Back soon with another card before the day's out, hopefully.
  
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Friday 10 May 2013

You're so sweet

Happy Friday everyone!
Well, I woke up at daft o'clock with a headache. 
Went back to sleep after a nocturnal visit *cough* to you know where.
Woke up again at even dafter o'clock and paid another visit. 
Think me kidneys have been having a party, 'coz I certainly haven't!
Headache still there. Managed to sleep 'till 6.30am. Woke up with a golf ball in the back of my throat!
Hacking cough to boot and I'm gettin' proper fed up of this virus now!! 

Got up brewed a cuppa and set about feeling better by making this card!

  I love that bee to BITS!
He, the sentiment and the beehive are from PKSC-16
The embossing folder is by Provocraft. It's called Cricut Cuttlebug Honeycomb.
Ignore the Cuttlebug part, it works in all machines.
(Mine's a Big Shot).
I cut some of the honeycomb out and put orange card on the inside of the card to give the effect of honey inside the cells.
I used foam pads for the hive, the sentiment and the bee.
The Hive and the Bee were coloured with Copics as per usual.
I sponged Spiced Marmalade distress ink on the sentiment, cut out with a Spellbinders Hexagon die.
BTW!! Peachy Keen are having a sale right now!
You have until Sunday night to get 20% off all new releases!!

Well. That's it from me for now.
Apart from this thick throat, I'm feeling better than I have all week, so, you never know, I might make another card yet with this embossing folder before the day is out!

Have a fabulous weekend!!!
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Thursday 9 May 2013

What a cow!!

Ha Ha! That fooled ya!
I'm actually referring to my latest card.
(You knew that though, didn't you)! LOL

Here it is...
Now, who as well as me, thinks I should have put that little cutie on an action wobble!
It only occurred to me once I'd put the 'Rock me' on there. DUH!
My cute little moo cow is from PKSC-17
(Scroll down the link and you'll see all the details on the PK Stamp Club.
It's amazing value)!!!
I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder and embossed both the base card and a piece of Black CS.
I cut a few hexagons out and glued them inside the debossed parts of the honeycomb.
I coloured my little moo with Copics as usual.
The sentiment is stamped on a die cut from the Spellbinders Nesting Hexagons.
 
 I got the idea from Catherine Pooler,  HERE.
Thank you Catherine!

Ok, I'm off to nurse my cold again. It was fun making this card, it helped me to forget how crap I'm feeling at the moment.

Back soon!
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Tuesday 7 May 2013

I'm being CAS today!

Are you enjoying the wonderful sunshine? I am! 
I feel like a bag of rags with this virus, but the warm sun is helping me feel a little  better.
Shame it's all going to change again tomorrow. Rain and strong winds back! *Sigh*.
Ahh well, I enjoyed summer while it lasted! LOL

I've made a couple of cards with Stampin' Up! Crumb cake CS. I love that stuff!

This one was for one of the Peachy Keen Release challenges over on the ning site, 
You can still enter if you want. There's a $25 gift certificate to be won. 
You have until 9th to play along. 

Do you think it's a little TOO CAS?

Ok, onto CAS card #2.
This is for my eldest grandson.
He'll be 23 on Thursday! OMG!!! I'm OLD!


The Happy birthday is a Woodware Clear Impressions stamp.
The grandson is from a Dovecraft set called 'Family Tree'.

That's it from me for now. Going to sit in the sun while I can and read my Kindle.
Maybe the sun will kick this virus's bum!!

Thanks for dropping by and a very warm welcome to my new followers.
Have a lovely day.
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Monday 6 May 2013

What a party that was!!

The Peachy Keen release party last night was a total blast!!
Frantic? yes! Fun? You betcha! Challenges? Oh yeah! Prizes? Of course!
If you missed the party over on the PK ning site, 'The Peachy Keen Connection', You can still play along with the challenges.
Pop on over and check us out. If you aren't a member, please join us.
It's free and it's fun!
Well, I thought I'd make a card that comes from the new release.
(Well, it'd be rude not to, wouldn't it)?
Please go to the Peachy Keen Store to check out all the PKSC sets.
They are incredible VFM!  (value for money)

Isn't that little lamb CUTE!!
She's from the new Stamp of the month, PKSC-17.
I used PK-100 'Large Polka Dot Print  for th etop halk of the background.
I embossed the bottom half with a Cuttlebug folder put through my Joy Trouvaille machine.
(It's the skin coloured Dutch version of the Grand Calibur).
It may be ugly, but it works for me! 
I embossed the bassinet with the SU Basket Weave EF.
The doily is English Tea Party by Cheery Lynn.
I colured everything with Copics except for the polka dots.
They were stamped with Memento Rose Bud.
The lace, (from my stash), was adhered with red line tape to make sure it didn't come off.
I hope you liked my project and if you would like to see loads more from this release, please have a wander round here, or, if you are viewing this from my blog, (and I hope you are), *smile* please visit the Peachy Keen blog for umpteen more fabulous projects using this CUTEST of stamp sets!
Thanks for stopping by! 
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Saturday 4 May 2013

Oh Baby!! A Peach of a sneak peek!

Oh my!! Cuteness overload!!
This is the last sneak peek before the reveal party this evening (5th) on the 
(There will, as usual, be chatting, challenges, prizes and lots of fun)!
It all kicks off at 6pm CDT, (That's midnight to us 'over here').

For my sneak peek, I've used PK-209 
(One of the add-on sets to the soon to be revealed PKSC-17)

Isn't she CUTE!!!
 I coloured her with Cpoics and mounted her on a Spellbinder's frame.
(The sentiment is also from this set btw).
The flowers are from my ever growing stash.
The DP is from a 6"x6" pack by Docrafts and is called 'Boofle'.
Her pompoms and buttons are made with Cosmic Twinkles.


 This card was an experiment!
 
 I saw a technique on Youtube for partial die cutting and wanted to try it out.
I made the card and it worked beautifully but I wanted something in the pink corner.
I decided to scan an image I'd already stamped from PK-209. 
I reduced it in Publisher to fit the circle.
I'm pretty pleased with the result. 
I just hope I can remember the steps, so I can reduce others and get double the cuteness! 

Well ,I hope you pop on over to the Peachy Keen blog to see what my DT friends have to show you. 
You know, and I know, you won't be disappointed!

I will hopefully see you at the party tomorrow evening!

Have a great weekend and if you're in GB, have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend!!

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Friday 3 May 2013

I'm late, I'm late!!

ARGHHHH I almost forgot the most important post of the WEEK!!!
I got my time mixed up with those in America and I'm sitting here blythley surfing away, when it dawned on me I hadn't posted my Peachy Keen Challenge card!!
DUMMY!!!

Here's the deets...
Create the 3-Dimensional project of your choice using flowers.
Guidelines:
  • Design must be new
  • Design must be 3-Dimensional and include flowers.
  • Link up by 5/8 - 11:59 pm EST
  • You don't need our stamps to play along, but only entries using Peachy Keen Stamps can earn Top Peach!
  • Sorry, any entry that does not meet the guidelines for this challenge will be automatically removed without notice.
 There is a $30 gift certificate for one lucky winner too!!

Well, without further ado, here it is...
 It started out life as a Bisto gravy granule tub!
Addition of some plastic straws and a glue gun, and VOILA!
(My 3 year old grand daughter is getting this for her bedroom.)
The flowers were all made with the Peachy Keen/Cottage Cutz die and stamps
I sponged the flowers with distress inks for some depth.
A small amount of DP and a little edging of ribbon and there were are!

You will be enchanted with what my DT friends have produced for you!
Please pop on over to the Peachy Keen blog, to see them, give them some love and hopefully, join in with the challenge!

Bye for now, and Good Luck!!!
OH!! Don't forget to come back tomorrow for my sneak peek of the new Peachy release!!!


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Get well

I love pink and green and I love this image from Precious Moments.
I was lucky enough to win 6 foam PM stamps off Ebay about 5 years ago and I haven't used them  half as much as I should!

I have no idea what she's called, as the stamps are white foam and have no names on them.
I coloured her with Copics and mounted her on a Spellbinders frame.
The pink edge is Spellbinders too. (Moroccan motif border).
The leafy flourish is made from a MFT die.

I'll be back tomorrow with my sneak peek card for day 3 of the latest Peachy Keen release sneaks. YEAH!!
For all the wonderful  sneakies so far, please hop on over the to the
 Peachy Keen blog. You will NOT believe your eyes!!! 
There will be a PARTY on Saturday evening (6pm CDT),
 to celebrate this KERR-YUTE release.
See ya tomorrow!!!


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