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Jun 26, 2021

Harlequin, Stripes and Flowers 'Thank You' Card

Hello and welcome! 

Another week has flown by and I am back today with a new card for this week's Allsorts challenge! It's my turn to host and I selected the theme of Patterned Papers! Hope you'll play along with us for a chance to win, in fact there will be two prizes this week. I'm making it easy too, if you don't have any patterned papers, you may get creative and find a pretty page in a magazine as an alternative, or you may even make your own DIY patterned paper using inks,stamps, stencils etc. 


This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!


It's a total coincidence that I used harlequin patterned paper on my card and only noticed when I prepared the post yesterday when I saw our  prize was the harlequin bouquet stamp :-) This paper just stood out to me when I dug through my box of papers. 

The floral stamp I used here is by Penny Black from the set Blooming Garden. It's been stamped using Memento Tuxedo ink and colored using Copic markers. I did stamp/cut out the flowers twice to adhere with foam tape for a 3D effect.


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The "Thank You" sentiment is an oldie by Stampin Up. The colorful striped paper is also by Stampin Up, really old as well and I have no idea what brand the harlequin paper is. 

The herringbone (?) type "stitching" is a stamp from an old Whimsy Stamps Faux Stitching set and I tied some natural jute twine around the card. To add a little more interest I rounded the bottom corners with an old Creative Memories corner rounder punch. I'm surprised this punch still works so well, as I have newer punches that are no longer usable! This punch was actually my very first papercraft tool I've ever purchased (along with those decorative scissors), when I first started scrapbooking a long long time ago! And you can bet I pretty much used it on every photograph back then! LOL.


I used a glitter brush on the flower centers but it doesn't show up too well here. While it does sparkle some in real life, there is not much sparkle left in my brush pen and I really need to get a replacement soon!

Thanks so much for visiting!! Hope to see you over at the challenge blog! 

 

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(All using Blooming Garden)






I'm linking up here:
Themes:
Penny Black Saturday - Use PB stamps // Daring Cardmakers - Into the Garden // Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned Paper // Creative Sketchy Girls - Ribbon, Lace or Twine // Fab n Funky - Anything Goes // Paper Minutes - Thank You // 


Jun 19, 2021

Hedgehog Cuteness with a Button and Bow

Hello and welcome! 

It's time for my weekly card share for Allsorts challenge. This week Kath is hosting and she would like to see "Buttons or Bows" but with an option of "Anything Goes", so do feel free to link up any new crafty makes for your chance to be entered into the prize drawing. 

This week we're giving away a £15 Voucher from Stamp Addicts.  Sarah from Stamp Addicts will be on TV again during The Craft Store's Family Favorites event on Thursday 24th June at 7pm (UK times).



This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!



I decided to make a sort of clean and simple- ish card today, using a cute hedgehog stamp from Penny Black's set "Sweet You"




I stamped the image using Versafine Onyx ink and then colored with my Zig Clean Color markers and fussy cut using Cutterbee scissors.

A die cut mask was used to ink up some hills with Shabby Shutters Distress ink. A Lavinia stamp (Lavender) was used behind the image for a tall grass impression before adhering the image.

On the top portion of the card I used Tim Holtz's Rays stencil with Tumbled Glass distress ink and then stamped the sentiment from the Penny Black set Happy Wishes using Versafine Onyx ink.



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I was looking for some accent designer paper in my box of straps and found the simple striped paper and then added a small piece of "script" designer paper.
 
Following Kath's optional theme of "Buttons or Bows" I added a button with some May Arts jute twine tied into a bow. 



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Thanks so much for visiting!!


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I'm linking up here:
Challenges:
Stamping Sensations - I Love... (Penny Black Hedgehogs) // Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Use PB Stamps // Aud Sentiments Challenge - Use a Sentiment // CCEE Stampers - Outdoors // Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes // Krafty Chicks - CAS // Simon Says Stamp - Animal Antics // Colour Crazy Challenge - Coloring // Crafty Catz - Animals // 
Always Anything Goes and Link Parties:

Jun 12, 2021

Butterflies and Distress Inks in Purple and Blue

Hello and welcome! 

It's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge. We have another wonderful theme this week, with Wendy being our host, and she wants to see "Butterflies or Bugs", so hope you will join in this week for a chance to win a prize from Craft Stash, in fact we have two prizes this week, a beautiful  Woodware stamp set and a Tattered Lace die. And remember you may always join in up to 3 times for more chances to win!


This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!



My starting point for the card was once again the current sketch from MFT. While I'm not so much following sketch challenges any longer, MFT sketches do usually appeal to me and I've been following them once again  in the recent weeks and I try to use them as an inspiration. 



I made my inky background using Distress inks Wilted Violet and Blueprint Sketch following Loll's Splash Watercolor background technique. 

The focal butterfly is part of the Penny Black stamp Gathering Together, you can see the rest of this beautiful stamp stamped on the large circle die cut using Spun Sugar Distress ink. I inked the butterfly with the same distress inks and then fussy cut using Cutterbee scissors which I'd say are a "must have" for any type of fussy cutting. Following the MFT sketch I cut out another (smaller) circle, inked the edges and adhered it onto the larger circle. My circle dies are an old die set by Nestablities. 





The script stamped in black (using Versafine Onyx ink) I used on the top left and bottom right is an oldie from Whimsy Stamps, and the "Thinking of You" is from My Favorite Things, unfortunately also retired, but this stamp set is similar in style.

A close up below....


It's hard to see, but I used my Wink of Stella clear glitter brush on the butterflies, and I really do need to purchase a new one as it's running out of glitter! 

Before adhering the card front to the base, I ran the Blueprint Sketch ink pad along the edges.



Some of Today's Products Used:



Thanks so much for visiting!!


Recent posts you may have missed:


I'm linking up here:

Stamping Sensations - I Love (Butterflies, Inky Backgrounds, Purple and Blue Combo) // MFT - Sketch Challenge // Penny Black Saturday - Use PB Stamps //  Aud Sentiments Challenge - For the Girls // Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes // The Paper Funday - Sparkle // Crafty Sentiment Designs - Anything Goes // Everybody-Art-Challenge - Dies // Path of Positivity - Anything Goes // We Love 2 Create - Anything Goes

Always Anything Goes and Link Parties:


Jun 11, 2021

Fashion Over Forty: White and Navy for Summer

Happy Friday! 

Well it's surely been a while since I posted a "Fashion Over Forty" post. I really did plan on it, I even had these pictures taken some weeks ago, but somehow I never got the chance to actually write up the blog post, at least I didn't make it a priority as there always seemed to be something more important occupying my life and my mind. And with summer weather being here I like to spend more time outside. The battery life on my laptop doesn't hold any longer than about 20 minutes now so I can't use it outside and I just can't seem to do any blogging on my I-pad pro. I probably could use a replacement for my laptop, but I'm the type of person that holds on to things until they are officially broke and no longer work. My current laptop is 12 years old and even though it does have its flaws, I don't see the need for a new one just yet. 


This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!


This outfit was actually inspired by Nancy's and Shelbee's upcoming "Good Buy/ Goodbye" monthly blogging series. For this month they have selected the theme of "Nautical" and I knew I wanted to join in as I love Nautical colors! Shelbee and Nancy will share the submitted photos sometimes midmonth  (each month with a new theme), so if you'd like to take a look what other's have shared, you may want to follow them.




So when I think of "Nautical" I always think of white and navy, especially stripes. Not that I needed reason to wear this T-shirt as it's one of my late Spring and especially Summer go-to's. Yes, it's an oldie (from Gap) I've had for several seasons now, and I can't see myself parting with it anytime soon. I just love the color and the style so much! 

Below is Gap's current Navy/White striped t-shirt in organic cotton, you might like it as an alternative. Personally I am not a fan of the high crew necks like on the T-shirt below (they feel too constricting to me), but some of you may prefer it. The shirt on the right side is another option from Old Navy

 



And I also found this striped t-shirt in a linen blend at Nordstrom Rack in limited sizes for a looser fit.




These white AG Prima jeans you may remember from this post back in April. They were a Poshmark purchase and are my current favorite style of jeans (I have them in blue denim as well.) They are a cigarette style, meaning something along the line of skinny straight. 

This exact pair is the crop style, which actually fits me more like an ankle lengths which is what I was after when I purchased them. 
If you're looking for a pair of white denim, Nordstrom Rack has several to choose from, not this particular pair, but maybe Poshmark is an option for you as well if you don't mind pre-loved items.


You might like these Kylie Crop by Paige as an alternative. 


And there are several more white denim jean styles available at Nordstrom Rack. 



My navy wedge espadrilles style shoes were purchased last year at the end of Summer from DSW. They are by Grasshopper and my second pair from this brand. This exact pair is no longer available from DSW but I did find them on Amazon. Super comfortable and I find them to be true to size or size down if in between sizes. 






I actually remembered to put on some bracelets this time :) The wider one was a souvenir I picked up in Myrtle Beach and is ocean themed, the two smaller bracelets came is a set from Target. The exact one is probably no longer available but they always seem to have some fun styles of casual bracelets to choose from. I love the multi colored metals for a casual look.

I am also wearing a necklace as well as earrings but they're hard to see. I'm wearing my silver infinity necklace (similar options), which is my current everyday necklace. I did switch out my everyday small diamond studs with sand dollar style earrings similar to these  but don't have a picture showing them. 



This straw crossbody bag I got last summer and it's my summer "go-to bag". I love that it can be carried as a clutch (the strap is removeble) as well as a shoulder bag, and then of course my preferred way - a crossbody bag! It's no longer available directly at Sakroots (where I got it from) but I did find it at Peltz Shoes. 




Thanks so much for visiting!

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I'm linking up here:

Saturday: Dare to Share

Sunday: Style Splash linkup // Sunday Showcase (first Sunday) //  You're the Star Blog Hop Link Up @ Stonecottage Adventures



Wednesday: What's Up Wednesday? (last wed. of month) // The Queen in Between Style Six // Straight A Style // Jersey Girl, Texan Heart // Fashion Frenzy at Seeking Sunshine and Rosy Outlook // Is This Mutton? Wow on Wednesday // Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday //  Welcome Wednesdays //  Classy Flamingos 

Thursday: Fashion Files at Doused in Pink and Curly Crafty Mom // Your Own Twist Linkup with Shelbee and Monica (3rd Thursday/month) // Elegance and Mommyhood // High Latitude Style // Mummabstylish // Thirty Minus One // Mutton Style // Thursday Favorite Things //  Little Things Thursday // Traffic Jam Weekend @Being a Wordsmith // Slices of Life (Encouraging Hearts and Home) 



Jun 5, 2021

A Little Bit of Magic with Lavinia Stamps

Hello and welcome! Another week has come and gone, and we have a new theme at Allsorts challenge!

It's Tracy's week to host and she chose the fun theme of "Magical Worlds", so get out those fairy, gnome, dragon, mermaid, alien, etc. stamps and create something fun! We have a prize from Lavinia Stamps to give away this week, a beautiful Lavinia Fairy as well as a stencil from Lavinia, so hope you'll get a chance to join us!



This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!


I started collecting Lavinia stamps a few years ago and have several fairies now along with some of their florals and trees, the one I used today is probably one of the first I purchased. This one is called Fairytale




My design was inspired by this week's MFT sketch. I simply die cut circles in various sizes using sticky notes, stuck them to the card front and started inking. I used Antique Linen, Victorian Velvet, Seedless Preserves and Blueprint Sketch Distress inks.

Before removing the sticky notes, I splattered a bit of water onto the background for the fun distress ink/water reaction, then removed the sticky notes. 

The fairies were all stamped using Versafine Onyx ink. I also used the "Spiral of Spells" stamp, also from Lavinia along the edges of the card for some magical words. The small fairies are 2 of the Three Dancing Fairies and then I stamped the stars (also from Lavinia) to fill in some of the white circles.



The white on black sentiment is from Penny Black's set "Blooming Sentiments", stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed using white detail embossing powder

Before adhering the the card front to the base, I ran the Blueprint Sketch ink pad along the edges for some definition. 

If you are in the UK you know you can find Lavinia stamps directly from their shop. And there are now several US retailers who sell these beautiful stamps as well. I purchased mine from Del Bellos Designs and ASC Supplies (both Etsy Shops) and now there are also some private retailers selling these stamps via Amazon as well. 





Thanks so much for stopping by today!

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I'm linking up here:

MFT sketch  // Aud Sentiments Challenge - For the Girls // Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes // Krafty Chicks - Stamp Act // Crafty Gals Corner - For the Ladies // Fab n Funky - Girly // Crafty Sentiment Designs - Anything Goes // Double Trouble Challenges - Anything Goes //