Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge #31 Handmade Embellishments. And an announcement.

Happi Sister Starla, set us the challenge this week to make our own embellishments. Those who know me will already know that's something I love to do. I used Girl With Basket, and instead of DP's I used Daisy Days (part of a set of images) as my background - available at the store. I've a sheet of embossed card (Tim Holtz) and my handmade is a quilled flower. 

I'm sad to say it looks as if I've not coloured her skin at all, I used putty and ivory promarkers and vanilla as her blush for her cheeks and little knee's.....you'll just have to use your imagination.

 Flower close up. 

Please pop to the challenge and join us this week, we'd love to see your handmades too. You don't need to use a Happileigh Scrappin' image to enter, but if you do you get two entries for the prize draw. Additionally, those using a Happileigh image will be entered into a separate prize draw. 

Now for the Announcement 

This is my last ever post, due to health issues and other circumstances I've leaving blogland. I have to say I've enjoyed my few months entering challenges and being part of Design Teams, and in particular being part of Feline Playful. Life happens though doesn't it, and 'a girls gotta do' and all that. 

Byebye and take care,

 to all my Blogfriends. 

Amber's Crafts & Stuff #18 Embossing.

A nice simple challenge for us this week at Amber's...Embossing. So show us your embossing techniques, whether that's dry or wet embossing, what do you like to do? You can see what the rest of the Crafting Pals did this week here. The winner this week will be invited to join us as Guest Designer during an upcoming challenge, we love to have you with us.

 I've gone with my beloved House Mouse again, coloured with a mix of blendable and watercolour pencils.  I so used to love those sweets/candy, when I was a kid.  I used to look for the not so lovingly worded ones to give to my brothers lol. 

This embossing folder is a new one I have,  by Tim Holtz, and my seam binding  and dew drops are from The Ribbon Girl. My die-cut label is cuttlebug. The cardstock and the sheet of white mulberry paper overlaying the card is from stash and the pin is handmade by little ol' me.  

A Close-up 

Some Challenges ...

Jac-Inks Papercraft Challenges -   Die-cuts Plus Texture

Shopping Our Stash -  Use something you've been hoarding or your newest products (new embossing folder & hoarded dew drops) 

 Use It Tuesdays -  Animals (Hoarded supply is the dew drops...been hanging on to those babies, have trouble breaking out the seam binding too)

Forever Friends -  Not Square

KB Cute Monday - Something Cute

Ellephantastic - Celebrations

Paper Creator's Crafts   - Special Occasion 

Sweet Stampin -  Cute & Cuddly 
Quirky Crafts - No patterned papers; make your own

The Crazy Challenge #75 Summer

I'm delighted to announce I'm on the Design Team for The Crazy Challenge. This week the Theme is Summertime, so show us your summer related projects, we've shown you ours here . Our Sponsor for this week is Hobbisimo.

We have such a glut of strawberries at the moment that I just had to use this little fella for my summer themed card....boy is he stuffed lol. 

A Close up of the image and my hand made flowers. 

Please hop over to The Crazy Challenge and see the lovely work the other DT members have to show you. 

If you'd like a Guest DT spot, simply add GD after your name when you enter the challenge. 

My Receipe:-

Image ... House Mouse Designs

Sketch ... Tuesday Trio 

Colourants ... Water Colour Pencils 

DP's ... Craft Creations

Die-Cut ... Nesties decal rectangle

Flowers ... Handmade 

Butterfly Gems ... Stash

Some Challenges ...

Tuesday Trio - Sketch 

Dream Valley Challenges -  Summer theme

2 Sisters - Summer Fun

Crazy 4 Challenges -  Summer Themed 

Sweet Stampin -  Cute & Cuddly 

Totally Gorjuss - Summertime 

Card Makin' Mamas - summertime

Digi's With Attitude! - anything goes challenge

Art Impressions Stamps Challenge -  Use something from your stash (butterfly shaped gems) 

Dutch Dare Card Challenge - Summer fun

Creative Belli -  handmade embellishments

There's A Critter In The House.

Happi Sister Vicki chose this weeks Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge, and she asks that you bring your critters on over to us ...whatever the critter, large or small. Pop to the blog and see the inspiration the other Happi Sisters have this week. 

Leigh merged two photo's here for me so I can show my stepper card's folds - clever isn't it. Thanks again Leigh. 

This image comes with it's own greeting of Hang In There, but I did this one myself as I wanted it as just the beginning of a sentence. This will be going to a young friend who is bedridden...she says she's hanging on when I ask how she is. I tell her to look for a small moment of joy in each day. Just bird song or a butterfly on your window can be enough to lift you - I know from my time being bedridden too.

My  Raffia lace was part of the candy I received from Debra at dj designs. I was so delighted with it and for once I'm not being stingy about using it...love the way it looks on a project. That huge ric-rac is waste from a cardstock pack; and the butterflies are stickers.

  I adore this little fella...hanging on by his fingertips, but seeing joy in the cute little blue-bird. He's coloured with pro-markers. Not sure where I had my butterfly charm....if anyone recognises please let me know.

 Close Up of the greeting.

As always, it's not required that you use a Happileigh Stampin' image to play with us, but you get two entries if you do...that's two for one chances to win some of Leigh's fantastic Digi's. There are always freebies available in the Shop and while you are there you can check out the new releases...you can see them on the challenge blog too.....remember you get a free image with every 3 images you buy. 

Receipe:-

Image ... Hang In There, Happileigh Scrappin 

DP ... Basic Grey (striped) Craft Creations (other) 

Fancy Trim ... Basic Grey 

Die Cut ... Nestie's Fleur di Lis

Colourants ... Promarkers

Raffia Lace ... Candy Stash

Butterflies Sticker ... Stash

Charm ... Stash 

Sentiment ... Computer Generated 

Challenges ...

Crafty Pad - Lots of Texture

Craft Your Days Away  -Fancy Folds 

Marks Finest Papers -Die-Cut as a background mat 

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge -include an animal

Fabulous Friday - recipe challenge use 2 of three: ribbon/trim; charm; rhinestones/pearls (Trim & Charm) 

Polkadoodle -   stickers or transfers

Aud Sentiments Challenge - Sentiment with at least two words

Ambers Crafts & Stuff #17 Shades Of Grey

Amber's Challenge went live a little late this week, but better late than never I always say. Our challenge this week is Shades of Grey. This is another of my Baptism cards, made for a female friend this time. The DP I've used is part of a digital pack I won from Digi's with Attitude, my very first win not so many months ago. 

I made my grunge flower with black card that has a white inner core, then added glitter paste to the white edges. 

Please pop by and see the inspiration from the other Crafting Pals here, and join us with this weeks challenge with any kind of project you like....so long as it's shades of grey.

Receipe:-

Image ... Gingerloft

Printable DP's ... My Grafico

Emboss Folder ... Tim Holts

Ribbon ... Marianne Designs 

Die Cut ... Marianne Designs Creatables

Flower ... Hand Made 

A Few Challenges ...

Aud Sentiments Challenge -Sentiment with at least two words

Pixie Dust Studio -  use black and white

Creative Belli -  handmade embellishments

Divas by Design -die cuts/punches 

Paper Shelter Challenge - lots of dots

Deep Ocean Challenge -Cards

Shopping Our Stash -use something you got in a swap/RAK/won (won my DP)

Creative Stamp Friends - Dots

Kaboodle Doodles - Celebrations

HLSC29 Frame It Challenge.

Our Challenge at Happileigh Scrappin' this week is set by Chris who chose Frame it, and asks - what does that mean to you? Frame the whole project or frame an image. It's up to you so long as there is a frame somewhere in your creation. 

I've made this 12 x 12 Scrap Page of my beautiful Niece Emillie. Sorry for poor quality of photo, it was bedtime before I had this finished and the energy saver light bulbs we have just don't make for good lighting. I've had a rough week and didn't think I'd get this done at all, but so love it finished. I've used a coloured Digi image by Leigh which is called Victorian Mirror - you can find it at the shop here  by clicking on the cottage button in the shops toolbar.

 The true colours of the lovely frame digi show up better on this scanned image, I added gemstones to the flower centres. Leigh has coloured versions of all her digis - wonderful if you just need to get a really quick card made (or like me had time and energy constraints) ....and also great if you are a beginner at the colouring game and like to have a guide image to show you where to shade and highlight.

 My lipstick border is from an advert in a magazine...I simply cut it out (two copies in fact to make it that long). I cut a couple of bags and lipstick and nail varnish bottle from my scrapbook papers, embellished with mini flower gems.

 It doesn't show, but the strip of paper I used to divide the two area's is glittered, I cut it with decal scissors. I can't remember where I bought these gorgeous shoes die cuts...somewhere on e-bay. I added alphabet stickers to spell out Emmie.

Hop over to the Challenge Blog and see the wonderful creations of the rest of the Happi sisters, and check out the new releases, and this months freebie, available when you buy 3 or more images. 

You don't need to use a Happileigh Scrappin' image to enter the challenge but you'll get two entries if you do, and as there are beautiful free images available at the store, you have no excuse do you lol.  

Recipe:-

Image ... Victorian Mirror, Happileigh Scrappin'

Scrapbook Papers ... Mimosa pack - Do-craft

Emillie ...Made with love by Paul & Kay

Die-cuts & gems ... Stash.

Some Challenges ...

Emerald Faerie Garden -  All things Girly

Annabelle Stamps Challenge - Say it with frames.

Stamp Something - Use a digi.

Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Anything goes.

Paper Play -  Anything but a card.

My Mum's Craft shop -  something old, something new (Old stuff - Shoe digi's and gems; new stuff - Scrapbook paper) 

Going Grey With Scrap-Creations -  Anything But A Card 

Karen's Doodles Netherlands -  For a Teen 

Oooh New Boots- Amber's Crafts & Stuff #16 Red, White & Blue

Our Challenge over at Amber's Crafts & Stuff this week is Red, White & Blue, you can celebrate the holiday with your project, or as I have, simply use the colours. Remember we like to see all kinds of projects at Amber's, so feel free to make a household item, jewellery of whatever you can think of...so long as it follows the challenge theme. 

This week we have a sponsor and was given this great Boots Image to play with, by Pattie. Please hop over to her Etsy site and take a look around at all the fun images she has here 

Having a sponsor means the winner will get a prize this week - 3 digis from Patties Creations - if you use one of Patties images on your project you will get two chances to win.  

A close up of my coloured image.

 I used promarkers and Sakura Glaze pens for this. 

My sheer red with hearts ribbon is Ribbon Girl, the blue is from my stash.

The Vintage looking button is one I pulled off a garment (previously made by me) before disgarding it. 

Receipe :-

Image ... Pattie's Creations

Colourants ... Promarkers & Sakura Glaze

Ribbon ... Ribbon Girl (blue from stash)

Button ... Stash/recycled

Die cut ... Nestie Fleur Di Lis Square

Some Challenges ...

Crafting for all Seasons - red white and blue

Digistamps 4 Joy - red white and blue

Divas by Design - die cuts/punches

My Mum's Craft shop - something old, something new (image & red ribbon new/ blue ribbon & button very old)

Penny's Paper-Crafty - red white and blue

Celebrate the Occasion - Red, White & Blue (sorry may not qualify as not celebrating)  

The Stamping Boutique - No design paper

Tuesday Throwdown - Red, White & Blue

Use It Tuesdays -   Red, White and Blue (blue ribbon & fancy button vry old)

Die Cut Dreams - Red, White and Blue

Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge #28 Stars and/or Stripes.

Our Challenge this week over at Happileigh Scrappin' is Stars and/or Stripes. As you can see I went for the stripes option. My card looks like the cuckoo in the nest next to the rest of the DT who have used red, white and blue for the most part lol. Still, not everyone celebrates American Holidays and the challenge caters for us too. 

This is a photo of the card, but the colours are true above. 

My image is called Birdhouse and you can find it at the Happileigh Scrappin' Shop. I've used it before as a New Home card...I made a shaped card that time, you can see the post here. I paper-pieced it that time too....it is so much fun to paper-piece. My tiny buttons are yellow and lemon...the lemon are looking a little green poor things lol.

I did a little shading with a mustard, and pear green promarker

...not showing up too well in the pix. 

The sentiment was written by Dorcas, I needed it to fit across my page so didn't use the actual one she did...just pinched the wording. You can find Dorcas' original sentiment and her other great and fun freebie sentiments on her blog  link in her side-bar.

My seam binding, and cute striped buttons are Ribbongirl.

The Flower is cut with the centre tiny of the nestie Fleur di lis

and then glittered up on the edge with snow-writer.

 What do you think of my great new watermark. Leigh made one for all the team to use on our DT projects.

You don't need to use a Happileigh Image to join us, but if you do - and why indeed not when there are freebies available - you will be given 2 entries into the draw. Also, not to be forgotten, for every 3 images you buy at the store, you will get one free. 

The rest of the Team  have some wonderful projects to share with you, pop over to the challenge and take a look. 

Receipe :-

Image ... Happileigh Scrappin' 

DP's ... Craft Creations Summer Meadow range

Ribbon & Button ... The Ribbongirl

Paper lace (coloured green with Promarker ... Stash

Grunge flower ... Home made

Sentiment ... Dorcas Designs Freebie

A Few Challenges ...

Crafty Pad - Bold and Bright or soft pastels

Dream Valley Challenges -  Ribbon

Quirky Crafts - Recipe theme box

(3 backing papers, digi, Ribbon and/or Lace (paper lace-coloured green)

Marks Finest Papers - Make It Sparkle (glittered up Flower)  

Our Creative Corner -  Your Style (elaborate folds)

Totally Gorjuss - Ribbons & Lace 

Word Play Weekend Challenge -  Home/House

Alphabet Challenge -  "H" for half-dozen  (tiny buttons)

Fairy Knoll - Sparkle. (on my flower)

Art Impressions Stamps Challenge -  Handmade flowers.

Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge #27 Bright Colours - Oranges, Yellows, Reds

I'm thrilled to announce that I'm a brand new member of the Happileigh Scrappin' Challenge Design Team.

The Challenge this week is to use Bright Colours - Oranges, Yellows, Reds, and for my very first DT project I've made an ATC using the delightfully cute Sea Turtle which you'll find by popping over to the Happileigh Scrappin' Shop. 

I've coloured him using Promarkers - slightly shaded my background with a aqua blendable pencil (blended with a dry stubby thing). I've added sand coloured Flowersoft...well as sand, some Basic Grey fibres as water plants and scattered a few undersea themed beads about - not forgetting the little mini faceted gems I've added to some of the air bubbles. 

You don't need to use a Happileigh Image to join us, but if you do - and why indeed not when there are freebies available - you will be given 2 entries into the draw. Also, not to be forgotten, for every 3 images you buy at the store, you will get one free. 

The rest of the Team  have some wonderful projects to share with you, pop over to the challenge and take a look. 

Some Challenges ...

Creative Inspirations Paint - Bright Colours

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge - Under the sea.(Top 3 Award)

Delightful Challenges -Anything goes

Southern Girls -  Anything goes.

Divas by Design -  anything but a card

For Fun Challenges - summer or bright colors

A Spoonful Of Sugar -  Splish Splash

Ambers Crafts & Stuff #14 Vacation, All I ever Wanted

The week at Ambers we want to see your Vacation related projects - a card about Travel or your Favourite Vacation or a scrapbook page. I haven't been on vacation for many, many years (difficult when there always seems to be a least one member of the household housebound ...do I hear the sound of violins lol) and as,  quite frankly I still haven't got my scrapbooking into gear yet - I've made a card that reminds me of holidays (vacations) when the kids were little. We used to go in a big family group and there was always one of the males amongst us getting himself buried in the sand. 

I've made this masculine because, as I said, in my experience it's the males of the species who like getting buried up to their necks....personally I think it's because it gets them out of trooping off the buy the ice-creams and soft drinks lol. 

This is from a new set of House Mouse Decoupage I've just had..you'll be seeing it a lot I'm sure. The images are so large and full, just lovely...I felt this one cried out to be an easel card. 

 The easel stand, with matching greeting....as if you need to tell a man to 

take it easy on vacation eh!! ...or is it just the men I know lol. 

Close up of my lovely manly buttons, 

with a little Basic Grey fibre for added interest. 

Pop over and see what the rest of the DT have made this week, right here. Remember you can make any kind of project you like for Ambers Crafts and Stuff...so long as it follows the theme for the challenge.

My Receipe:-

Decoupage ... House Mouse Designs

Fibre ... Basic Grey - figgey & Two Scoops

Die Cuts ... Marianne Creatables and Nesties

Card-stock & Buttons ... Oh so old Stash.

Some Challenges I'd like to enter ...

Anything Goes Challenge - Here Comes Summer 

Top Tip Tuesday -  Open Challenge

Bows 'n Berries - Masculine.

Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge - Father's Day / masculine

Hooked on Crafts - Anything goes.

Incy Wincy Designs - Father's Day/Masculine

Squigglefly   Make it Masculine

Sentimental Sundays -  Father's Day or Masculine

Amber's Crafts & Stuff #12 Teen Celebration.

At Amber's Crafts and Stuff this week we are making projects with a Teen in mind. My teen project is my very first easel draw box, which I've made for the lovely daughter of a good friend of mine. She has the most beautiful red gold hair...which I've tried to imitate on the image. 

I'll be stuffing the draw with crafting goodies for her to make a few cards - it was orginally going to be chocs but there were just toooo many to fit....so she's getting a extra gift lol. 

The pin is made using some beautiful purple glass beads that Joan kindly sent to me a few days ago. The 'draw nob's' are also made with some of the beads she gave me.  My image is coloured with promarkers and the flowers and butterflies are highlighted with Sakura tira glitter pens, and glazed with the glaze pens. I used a couple of Marianne Design corners to 'frame' my image and made some roses with matching cardstock. 

Inside the easel. 

I

I hope you'll pop over to Amber's and check out the work the rest of the DT have made for your inspiration, and join us this week. 

My Receipe..

Image..Gingerloft

Colourants ..Promarkers, Sakura

DP's ...Craft Creations

Die's ...Marianne Creatable & QuicKutz

Stick pin & Roses ... Homemade

Teal Cardstock... TBA

Ribbon & Gems ...Stash

Challenges I'd like to enter :-
A Spoonful Of Sugar - Flower Power
Anita Be Stampin' -  Layer it On Me
Claudia & Co - Fancy Folds
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge -  Make Your Own Embellishments (Stick pin and Roses)
 Paper Minutes -  Something in Quadruplicate( 4 Roses)
Tuesday Throwdown - DIY  Embellishments (Stick Pin and Roses)
Happileigh Scrappin - Lots and Lots of Embellishments
There's Magic in the Air - Easel Cards
Allsorts -  Things With Wings

Amber's Crafts & Stuff #11 Vintage

 This week at Amber's the theme is Vintage, so if you have any project with an old fashioned or vintage theme, pop over and join us here . We don't have a sponsor this week but the winner gets a badge to desplay - love getting a badge, don't you - and their name will be put into the monthly draw for a gift. They will also be invited to be a Guest Designer.

I made a set of ATC's. I didn't go for distress, just a vintage feel. I wanted them to look like pages from a photo album so I chose pictures that I felt could pass of the kids at different ages. I've used printable papers and some little sticker frames which have been in my stash for ages. The Lacey Frame above is just photoshoped and not part of the ATC.

All you have to do now is hop over to Ambers Crafts and Stuff and see what the Design Team have been up to...before entering your own project, we'd love you to join us. 

Receipe:- 

Images ... Crafts U Print

Digital Papers ... The Lilac Garden

Sticker Frames... Lake Land

Buttons, bows and baby pin ... Stash

Challenges For 1st ATC...

Paper Take Weekly - Pale, Pretty Pastels

Creative Stamp Friends - My favourite colours (pink, pink & Pink)

DDH Challenges -  Anything but a card

ECP Challenges - Pastel Colours 

Polkadoodle - Anything but a card.

Paper Romance - Anything but a card.

Amber's Crafts & Stuff #10 Cats & Dogs.

This week Amber has asked us to make something with our Furry Friends in mind. I crocheted this fish toy  for my daughters cat. She hasn't been well enough to have him in her room for a cuddle for quite some time and they miss each other. If he finds an item of her clothing in the laundry (if I leave it unguarded after sorting to wash lol) he will drag it out and lie on it. Before we gave this to him, she cuddled it to get her scent on it for him. 

It's originally an idea I had for a soap saver for my grandson - I left this one open too so I can stuff it with cat nip (when it arrives through the post). At the moment it has a little bag of wadding inside a lovely noisy scrunchie celophane bag - another thing he delights in. 

Here's a few pix of him 'delighting' in his new toy. Taken with my phone so not good....as usual lol.

So the idea is to make anything you like with your furbaby in mind...scrapbook page, toy, or whatever you like with a dog or cat image on it somewhere, then pop over to join in the challenge here. You'll find more inspiration from the rest of this weeks design team. 

Some challenges I hope will accept me. ..

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge -  Use Orange Somewhere in Project

DDH Challenges - Anything but a card

Creative Cowgirls - Anything Goes

Scrappy Frogs - Anything goes