In Harmony

Magnolia vs Stampavie

This week we have another sketch by the "Boss" Donna, it is a great sketch to work with and there are some fantastic cards by my fellow DT members on the blog to give you a head start. Just remember you have to use at least one Magnolia or Stampavie Stamp on your creation. To see the sketch an join in the Challenge click
Here

Another sheduled card again this week as we have company, so I am not sure I will be able to get up here in time. These two Lucia's just cried out to be used together, they have been coloured with Copic Markers then cut out and 3d onto the backing oval. The picture in the oval is from Cute Companions CD which has been cut with the oval nestie. The backing paper is by Dovecraft, the snowflakes have been punched and the gold snowflakes and red gems added. The sentiment charm is from stash.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

No Patterned Paper

This week we'd like to see your creations with no patterned papers that we most often like to use ~ so get creative ~

As always its entirely up to you what you create - card, atc, altered art etc.... As long as you include at least 1 Penny Black Stamp

We have another fabulous prize this week which I thought you might like, a gorgeous embellishment kit from the Poppicrafts . To be in with a chance of winning our prize just leave a comment with a link to your work and the winner will be chosen at Random and will be announced next Saturday. Just click Here to join in the challenge and see the DTs great cards for your inspiration.



A very simple and quick card today, I love this little PB Shepherd boy I wish they stll produced these stamps. He has been coloured with Copic Markers with a Sukura Clear Stardust pen added to the spots on his headress. The Labels were cut with my new Labels nesties, The Navy strip behind the image has been embossed in the snowflakes Cuttlebug Folder. The sentiment is from Elusive Images Christmas set. Ribbon and brads from stash.

Winter Wonderland

Lili of the Valley Challenge 10

We have a great Challenge for you this week on Lili of the Valley Challenge

Sprinkle and Sparkle

We want to see lots of Glitter and Sparkly stuff on your creations, so come on and join us there are some great DT cards to give you some inspiration and the Winner this week will be joining the Design Team for 2 weeks. Just click Here to go to the challenge site.

If you havn't any Lili of the Valley stamps now is the time to invest in some they are running 2 great offers at the moment 3 stamps for £10 and free P&P within the UK. Just click Here to go to the web shop and check it out.

Don't forget it is not necessary to use Lili of the valley Products for our challenge




I have made a pop-up card this week, all the Papers and Diecuts are from Lili of the Valley, aren't they cute. I have added loads of Glamour Dust to the bears and Igloo, unfortunately it doesn't show up very well in the photo. I added a little piece of card behind the two bears in the front folded it in half and stuck onto the base. A thin strip of acetate was glued behind the igloo and a star attached to the end. Although this is something else that doesn't show on the photo it looks really effective IRL.

Whiff of Joy and Stampavie

Whiff of Joy Challenge

Thanks for joining us last week, I think you all enjoyed working with Heathers fabulous sketch. This week we want you to "Think ouside of the Box" and create

Anything but a Card.

A box, Calendar, Candle, Bookmark etc the possibilities are endless.
The only rule is you must use at least one Whiff of Joy Stamp and have fun. So just pop over to the Challenge Blog and come and join us. Click Here to play



I am sure that most of you are like me and absolutely snowed under with Christmas preperations and card orders etc. So I hope you will forgive me for a really short post and quick project this week, I would normally have liked to have a card to go with this candle, but the hours run out. I have used the lovely new Herb and his Girlfriend stamp from Whiff of Joy for the candle and have coloured them with Distress Inks, H20s and a little hint of stardust pens on the swirls. The frill around the bottom was punched with my beloved Martha Stewart Doyley Punch.



Stamp with Stampavie



We have a great Sketch again on Stamp with Stampavie, there are some lovely cards on the Challenge blog by my fellow Dt members so click Here to check out the challenge and join us this week.


There are still two stamps in this new collection that I just cannot use, no matter what ink I use, I have tried all the suggestions posted on the blogs but have just given up now. So I am back to using this one again, she has been colourd with Distress inks and H20's as usual, sorry the photo is so bad, she is much more dazzling IRL. Papers are Basic Grey, the white strip is again punched with MSDP the ribbon is from Poppicrafts brilliant Christmas Kit, Flowers from Prima, Sentiment Magnolia Gold Corner and Flower Middle from Eggstravaganza.

Sitting Pretty - Spoonful of Sugar Challenge

Spoonful of Sugar Challenge - Sketch by Michelle

Thank you everyone who joined us last week there were some fabulous entries to our Blooming Marvellous Challenge, this week we have a great sketch by our very own Michelle for you to follow. Our Blog Page also has a fabulous Christmas make over so pop over and see the brilliant cards by my fellow DT members and have ago at using Michelles fabulous sketch, just click
Here. Have a good week everyone.

Tilda is all dressed up and waiting to open her presents on Christmas day, she has been coloured with Peeled Paint, Fired Brick, Tattered Rose and brushed Corduroy Distress Inks, with Poppy Red H20's added on her socks and Ribbon. The giant bauble she is sitting on is also a Magnolia stamp which I stamped once onto card and again onto Basic Grey paper, and paper pieced. The hearts and holly are another Magnolia and have been attached to the card with Pinflair Glue Gel. The flowers in the corner have been stamped with Stemplglede Retro Flower stamp in Fired Brick ink then punched with a retro Punch, Father Christmas charm was found on e-bay. Another Magnolia for the sentiment.






The lovely Kathy - Distressed Stamper- has passed this beautiful award on to me, Thanks so much Kathy it means a lot coming from someone whos work I admire so much. I should pass this award on but I find it so hard to choose so I am giving this to all you lovely people who visit my blog and brighten my day.

Busy Weekend

Magnolia vs Stampavie

*Week 4* Get the Feeling...

This week we would like you to get as much Texture going on in your work
There are many ways of doing this, Material, Embossing, Flock etc
So get the feeling going in your work this week. This is the challenge Donna has set for this week. To see the great Prize on offer and get some inspiration from my Fellow DT Members just click Here



Another Tilda from the Magnolia Winter Club Kit, isn't she pretty in her new dress - I bet she got it for Christmas - sitting on a glass of champagne (also from winter kit) ready to celebrate the New Year. She and the glass have been coloured with Copic Markers and 3d onto a strip of Embossed and Sanded Brazzil card. The flowers are punched from Retro Flower Punches and just glittered with Glamour Dust here and there. The Ribbon is from Raspberry Ribbon, paper and sentiment fron Little Yellow Bicycle.



Sketch Saturday


Another fab sketch from Jo this week on Sketch Saturday, thanks Jo you amaze me how you keep coming up with such brilliant sketches, and the DT as usual have given us some great inspiration just click
Here to see the sketch and join in this weeks challenge



I couldn't wait to use Herb and his little feathered friend from Whiff of Joy, the stamp was waiting for me when I got back from Darlington, didn't take me long to get him inked up did it. He has been coloured with Distress Inks and H20's and the swirls have been coloured with Sakura Stardust Blue Pen. Papers are Basic Grey, glittered ribbon is from this months Raspberry Ribbon Kit, Flowers Prima and gold filigree snowflakes from Eggstravaganza. The sentiment is also a Whiff of Joy stamp.



Last but certainly not least I have been given another award, this one is extra special because of the sentiment behind it, The fantabulous Bev has passed this award on to me and 4 others and I am so honoured to be included with them. Desire from Doing Life was the originator of this fabulous award, what a wonderful idea it is.



Here are the RULES for presenting this, hopefully soon sought after award:

Pick 5 bloggers that you consider as your best blogging buddies and deserves this award for their contribution towards the blogging community, no matter what language.
State the name of the author of each blog as well as a link to each one's blogs.
Each blogger (upon acceptance) of this award should do a post and show the award on their blog and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award.
Link to Desire's Doning Life Blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
Show these rules.
So, with great difficulty I have narrowed this down to:
Dawny,Donalda,Jo,Kathy,Lynn

Whiff of Joy Designer Call

Time for another Whiff of Joy Guest Designer Call. And what would be more fun than combining it with a little sketch challenge? ;)



IMPORTANT: All information regarding the GD Call is published on the Whiff of Joy Group on Papercraft Planet. Please click HERE for the details!

Katharina decided to to hold the actual GD call at the new Papercraft Planet platform, because we can collect all the entries there in one photo album, which makes it easier for Katharina to see all your creations. So if you are interested in becoming a GD for Whiff of Joy Stamps, head over to Papercraft Planet, join the Whiff of Joy Group and get all the details of what you have to do :)

I am back

I am back from my Jaunt to the wilds of County Durham, OMG what beautiful scenery there is up there, I would love to go back there and visit some of the wild and wonderful places I passed on the train.

Well I had a wonderful time crafting and catching up with friends and eating too much. I didn't think I was going to be able to make it but thanks to Sara (from Crafters Companion) giving me so much support I got there and boy am I pleased I did, I feel so much better for having made the effort. We had 3 classes each day, the tutors were all fantastic and I learnt so much, my first days classes were with Sara Davies (Crafters Companion), Kay Rutter - Sukura Pens, Michele Marsden - Redhot Bed, The second day the classes were taken by Noreen Mckee - Flowersoft, and the last two were with two of my lovely, generous, inspirational and fantastically talented friends Wendie Rhodes and Jayne Nestorenko.

The event was held in a beautiful hotel and the food and rooms were out of this world. Sara put on a quiz evening with loads of prizes and lots of laughs. I have already booked for next year. Have just got Mum settled in an am now ready to start blog hopping and catching up with all you lovely people who left me messages whilst I was away.

I also had a great welcome home from Rach with this fantastic Award, thanks so much Rach it means a lot coming from you, don't you think this is the most elegant award and it has such a great sentiment behind it and here is what it says:

This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships!These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind blogger's aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight blogger's who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Now I have to Choose 8 people to pass this on to
Chris
Donna
Tracie
Carole
Annie
Andrea
Jeanette
Becky

I must add a big thank you to Louise and Donna who also passed this me award on to me.
Post update:
I have just found out I have been given this award by Kim, Oh wow I so admire Kims fantastic work and feel so chuffed that she has passed this on to me. Thank you so much Kim. I also received this from the fantastic Zoe from Silly Monkeys Challenge Blog, Thank you so much Zoe you are a little sweetheart

Here are the rules:
1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 5 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs you have nominated.
I would like to pass this award on to the girls mentioned above.

Christmas Box - Lili of the Valley

Our Four Legged Friends - Lili of the Valley Challenge

We would love to see your creations featuring animals this week, cannot wait to see what you come up with. There is a great prize again -

A set of Baby Diecuts and Matching Papers - Donated by Lili of the Valley.

If you would like to see the prize and view the Dt cards just click Here



I have made a box for this weeks challenge, the details of how to make the box are on Double Dutch Challenge, thank you girls. It is so easy to make and only uses 1 sheet of A4 card but is a great size for those little presents. I have used dark green BC from Papermill and papers from Lili of the Valley, the two little Reindeer are also unmounted stamps from Lili of the Valley and have been coloured with Distress Inks, Antique Linen and Tea Die with Red stickles for his nose.
The lovely Christmas Ribbon is from Poppicraft and the large Snowflake is from Imaginise. Still away so if you are reading this my delayed post worked. TFL

Joyful Song and Silent Night

Whiff of Joy Challenge - Sketch by Heather

Another Sketch for you this week from our very own Talented and Clever Heather. I know you all love sketch challenges so hope to see lots of entries this week. Thank you everyone who joined in last week your cards were superb. I am sure lots of you will be using your new Whiff of Joy Lizzie and Herb stamps this week , cannot wait to see them, if you haven't ordered your stamps yet don't forget these stamps will not be repeated again once they have gone thats it, so if you don't want to lose out pop of to the Whiff of Joy shop the link is on my sidebar and see the fantastic offers Katharina has on these stamps.
Click Here to see the sketch for this weeks challenge and to check out the great DT cards.

I am hoping this has worked I am not very techi and have had to shedule the posts this week as I am off to Crafters Companion Craftaganza in Darlington, not looking forward to the travelling but cannot wait to meet up with loads of friends I havn't seen since last year and of course to do loads of crafting, will tell more when I get back on Saturday.
Now on to this weeks card: I have used the cute Little Lizzie stamp for this card and she has been coloured with Distress Inks in just 3 colours, Tattered Rose, Antique Linen and Tea Dye, I thought I would try masking again for this one, I stamped Lizzie first then masked her and stamped the Magnolia Silent Night background stamp over her. The edges of the image and all the papers (which are from my scrap box) have all been sponged with Frayed Burlap Distress Inks. The Snowflakes are a sizzix die set. Sentiment from WOJ.

Stamping with Stampavie - Sketch by Sandra

Joyful Song

Another sketch for this one. Sandra my fellow Dt member on Stamping with Stampavie has given us a fabulous sketch to work with this week. Thanks Sandra really enjoyed this one. Pop over to the blog and see the sketch and brilliant cards by the DT members, just click HERE

I have turned the sketch around for my card, the Cute Sarah Kay image has been coloured with Distress inks, Fired Brick, Tattered Rose, Shabby Shutters and Antique Linen, with Poppy Red H20 added to the bows. The papers are from stash again but I believe the spotty and diamond papers were from Craftwork Cards last year. I have again distressed the edges with Tea Dye Distress Inks. Rest from Stash

Blooming Marvelous - Spoonful of Sugar

This weeks Challenge - Blooming Marvelous

we would like to see you use flowers or a floral paper on your creations this week
We have a fab prize of two delicious stamps this week Kindly donated by one of our new sponsors Alota Rubber Stamps.

Click Here
to fnd out more details and to see the fab cards made by my fellow Dt members.



I am so in love with the new Club Kit from Magnolia cannot stop using these little darlings. They have been coloured with Distress inks in Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick, Broken China, Frayed Burlap and Antique Paper, I stamped and heat embossed the two snowflake stamps from the kit randomly on the background. The papers are from Craftwork Cards. The little tag is another stamp from the Winter Kit, The large flowers are Prima and the small roses from my stash, I wrapped some white wire around a pencil to give the idea of tendrils, and just added a small ribbon and button to the tag. Hope you like.

Let it Snow - Magnolia vs Stampavie

*Week 3* Tie that Sketch

This week we have a fabulous sketch by Donna for you to follow. Please make your work using the sketch as a guide, You can Rotate the sketch & Even resize the Elements if you would like, But do not move the elements around!
As long as we can still see the original sketch layout and it can be easily recognised then that is fine!

Donna has found a fanastic new sponsor for this weeks challenge CULTPENS and they are offering the fantastic prize below

Copic Ciao Set of 12 with FREE Wallet
Great value set with 12 markers and FREE Copic pen wallet. High-quality wallet of tough nylon with Velcro closures suitable for up to 24 pens or pencils - RRP £7.75 - see details here.
Three colour themes to choose from:
Skin: Contains YR02, R02, R20, R32, E00, E04, E11, E21, E35, E37, 100 + Blender.
Witch: Contains E00, E21, YR16, V06, Y08, BV08, R22, R85, C3, V12, E31 and 100.
School Uniform: Contains RV29, R59, Y17, C3, E53, YG95, BG09, YR16, YR23, E00, E21 and 100.
This Week The winner of the challenge will have a choice of which kit they would like.

So Don't delay hurray up and join in the challenge this week, especially if you have ever wanted to try Copics. My Fellow DT Divas have created some beautiful cards to get you started click Here to find out more.

It a great sketch this week, I found it so easy to follow but loved the result. I have made the base from Dark Blue Pearlised card, used my Martha Stewart Snowflake Border Punch on white cardstock, I stamped the Magnolia Winter background stamp with Royal Blue Versafine, then chalked the sky and the houses. Added Glitter Dust to the trees house and foreground and Ivory Flowersoft to the snowflakes. The cute Tilda Image has been coloured with Copics and cut and 3d onto the background. The sentiment is a Sizzix punch, I used white glitter card to punch this and the snowflakes. The rest from Stash.

Monochrome and Lapland News

PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE - MONOCHROME

Thanks everyone who joined us last week, cannot believe how many entries we had and I loved seeing all your creations. Don't forget to join us this week where our theme is MONOCHROME, my fellow DT members have been much more adventurious than me and they have some fantastic cards on the blog in colours I would never thought of using.

This great image is just like me when I am going partying over Christmas (WISH!!)
she has been coloured with Black Soot Distress Inks and Glamour Dust has beeb sprinkled here and there. The DP are by imaginise and the fab flower is from Poppicrafts great Poinsettia Kit. Corners are a Cuttlebug Die, Pearls and Ribbon from stash.

We had a great day yesterday at Lapland UK, Owen enjoyed every minute of it. We were so lucky with the weather it was still quite warm even in the early evening. Once it got dark the place was absolutely magical. These are a few of the pictures I took, unfortunately I was so engrossed I kept forgetting to take pictures.

Here are Owen and Richard helping Mother Christmas make Gingerbread Men, Doesn't he look cute in his chefs hat, they get to take home the gingerbread men, Owens only got as far as the car and had been eaten before we got out of the car park. He loved the ice rink for the first five minutes but soon got fed up with falling over so he came and stood with Nanny whilst Richard and Gemma had a great time showing off.

This is Farther Christmas's toy factory where they had to help finish off the rocking horses.