Cute Santa set - Digi Stamp Boutique DT

Hello everyone :o)

The new Digi Stamp Boutique Christmas release is now available from Lili of the Valley.  Grab them now, as NO digital products at all will be available from the end of September, LOTV have made the difficult decision to stop selling them due to increasingly complex EU rules around VAT.  The good thing to come of this, is that LOTV will be selling real stamps AND papers again, which will be fabulous, but I'm really going to miss Digi Stamp Boutique!  Have a look on the FB page for full info - lots of digi bundles and bargains to be had at the moment.

So, you may have noticed that Lili of the Valley sort of 'inherited' me from the Digi Stamp Boutique DT... so here's my first card for the new release, using the fab Cute Santa set and a sentiment from the Christmas Greetings Bundle.  I coloured Santa with copics, adding some Glamour Dust for sparkle.  The papers are digi ones from Northern Whimsy, the stitched oval and snowflake dies are MFT dienamics, and the pearls and card candy from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges
Crafty Gals - 3 or more layers
The Merry Christmas Challenge - anything Christmas
The Holly & Ivy - anything Christmas
Cute Card Thursday - dies & punches

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Papercraft Challenges - special occasions

Hello!  Sorry for the long gap... I've been busy but not sure that excuses quite such a long gap between posts.  Hopefully I'll be around a bit more now.

I'm here with my DT card for Papercraft Challenges, where our theme is 'special occasions'.  We're sponsored by Dr Digi who kindly provided images for the DT to use.

I made this for Morgan's 16th birthday, which is happening at the end of this month, and I'm totally in denial about!  I mean it's just not possible that I'll have a 16yr old soon, is it?!  The image is called Slam dunk Duncan, coloured with copics in his favourite Chicago Bulls colours with some neon yellow touches, as he likes a bit of neon.  The papers are old Doodlebug ones, and the '16th' sentiment is a Digi Stamp Boutique one available from LOTV HERE (or will be, when the site's working properly again!).

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

A Bit More Time to Craft - anything goes

Craft Rocket - boys/ men

Always Happy Birthday - birthday

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Everybody Art GDT - just words

Hello everyone :o)  

I'm here with my Guest DT card for Everybody Art, where our current challenge is 'just words'.

I'll hopefully provide a link to the printable text soon - it's from the Digi Stamp Boutique shop on Etsy, but doesn't seem to be available there yet.  I printed the text onto linen card (from Crafter's Companion), the papers are Bo Bunny, butterfly could be either Prima or Bo Bunny, I'm not sure.  The swirly die is a Memory Box one that I cut into two pieces.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Cheerful Sketches - fab sketch

Aud Sentiments - for the girls + a sentiment

Sorry for going quiet again, we've been to Wales for a week (Llanbrynmair, not far from Snowdonia) and had a lovely time... not got round to sorting out photos yet, but I'll pop some on Instagram when I get chance.  We did get quite a bit of rain, but the scenery was just gorgeous, and the best bit - no wifi in the cottage, so we actually got to spend time together, even with the teenage one lol.  We've discovered that we all like playing badminton, which is odd considering I've never enjoyed playing any sport really... just need to find some local courts now.

Pav's got this week off too, and we'd planned to do some day trips and maybe go to the cinema, find a badminton court.  But unfortunately within hours of getting home at the weekend, Pav's back gave up and he's not been able to do anything since!  He has an issue with one of the discs in his back, it's ok most of the time but flares up every now and then... it's probably down to all the driving this time, last time it went he'd been shoveling snow off the drive.  He needs an op at some point, but hopefully he won't need it just yet... fingers crossed it'll improve with a few days rest.  He can't even get in/ out of a car at the moment, so I don't think we'll be going far this week!

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Ted teacher thanks - Digi Stamp Boutique DT

Hello :o)

I meant to blog this earlier in the week but forgot as usual!  This is the card I made for Dex to give to his teacher, who has done absolute wonders for his confidence this year... he's one of those children who quietly works away, getting top marks without making a fuss and absolutely not pushing himself forward for anything.  His teacher has been brilliant at giving him a bit of a push, telling him his writing skills are amazing and that he'll be an author one day (not sure he actually wants to be, but that's beside the point lol), so much so that he started working on the school newspaper and has been given the 'Editor in Chief' position for next year... he was so pleased with himself!

I've used a sweet ted called First Day at School, along with the Teacher Thanks set, both available from Digi Stamp Boutique at LOTV.  I coloured Ted with copics, the grid paper is a really old one from Doodlebug, the dies are all MFT die-namics, and the 'lined paper' was stamped with a large MFT background stamp in Stampin' Up 'soft sky' ink.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Cute Card Thursday - too cute

Addicted to Stamps - make your mark

Simon Says Wednesday - anything goes

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Hippo Tons of Fun

Hello again :o)

You may have already noticed that Digi Stamp Boutique have now moved to Lili of the Valley HERE... Sally-Ann decided to concentrate on drawing her lovely images, and released some very cute ones to celebrate the launch.

This one is Hippo Tons of Fun and I coloured him with copics.  The papers are Doodlebug, the stitched mats and the little tags are all MFT Die-namics dies, and I added some enamel dots and baker's twine from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Simon Says Wednesday - use a die/ punch

Dies R Us - birthdays

Crafting with Dragonflies - animals

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Sweet Stampin' - occupations or hobbies

I'm playing catch up with my blog posts, so this one should actually have been blogged on Saturday and I'll post my card for Papercraft Challenges tomorrow (should be today!).

Our theme at Sweet Stampin' for this week is 'occupations or hobbies'... I needed some teacher thank you cards for a customer, so I thought they'd fit the challenge nicely.

I've used some fab printable sentiments from Digi Stamp Boutique... now you may have noticed that Digi Stamp Boutique have recently moved to LOTV HERE, but Sally-Ann's printable goodies (including this particular set) are available through her Etsy shop HERE.  The papers are Doodlebug and the apple was from an old Digi Stamp Boutique set, the shaped frame die is MFT die-namics.

We've had a couple of lovely days away in Wales over the weekend... Morgan was away on a week-long trip to France with school, so we thought we'd surprise Dex with a little holiday as we knew he'd be missing Morgan.  It was Pav's birthday on Saturday too, so it was perfect timing... and we had birthday cake for breakfast lol.  We're all going back to Wales in a couple of weeks for a full week away, so we'll get to explore it properly then (first time we've been this weekend)... we were in Llangrannog this time and it was just gorgeous!  Morgan came back yesterday morning (exhausted, and with a very smelly bag of washing!), he's had a great time, but I spent the whole day trying to poke him awake so he'd be able to sleep at night lol.

Then yesterday afternoon we ended up at the children's hospital with Dex, because he was having abdominal pains towards the end of school, plus a temperature and refusing to walk as it hurt too much!  It's really not like Dex to make a fuss, so school were concerned it could be appendicitis.  Doctor at the hospital said it could be the beginning of it, but he didn't think it was, so just to keep an eye on things really... he's been fine today, so fingers crossed it won't turn into anything.

I'll be back tomorrow... thanks for popping in :o)

Sweet Stampin' - summer brights

Happy Saturday :o)

Our theme over at Sweet Stampin' for this week is 'summer brights'... my (teenage) son needed a birthday card for his friend, so I've gone CAS for this one.  It's always safest with those male teenage creatures to go for super simple, just on the off chance I inadvertently add something embarrassing (worst crime ever....).

There are lots of card blanks in my stash, from the 'old days' when I often bought them instead of just cutting them myself... I recently found several packs of tall, thin cards, 21cm tall and just under 7.5cm wide, they've got a fab ribbed texture too, and really suit CAS designs I think.

I used the 'sun ray' stencil from MFT, with Distress Inks in Squeezed Lemonade, Ripe Persimmon and Festive Berries.  The sentiment is a stamp from this set from Digi Stamp Boutique, embossed in detail white on black card and popped up on foam pads... and that's it!  Sooo simple but approved by the teenage one :o)

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Simon Says Wednesday - anything goes

Craftaholics R Us - sunshine

Cute Card Thursday - CAS

Seize the Birthday - anything goes

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

You Rock set - Digi Stamp Boutique DT

Hello :o)

You would not believe how long it took to photograph this card... I'm not sure I believe how long it took to photograph this card!!  Occasionally I like to prove to myself (again) just how useless I am at getting photos of anything that isn't square...

It's only got the front folded in half, nothing remotely complicated, but I was quite pleased with how it turned out.  I used a new set from Digi Stamp Boutique called You Rock, which comes with the Father's Day text that I've added.  The papers are foiled ones from a Craft Sensations pad (from the Range), I added some sparkly gold dots and a MFT die-namics bow die and that's about it.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Simon Says Wednesday - frame it

Craftaholics R Us - kraft

Cardz 4 Guyz - Father's Day

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Male sentiments - Digi Stamp Boutique DT

Hello everyone :o)

I actually have a few cards made for a change, so hopefully my blog won't be empty this week!...

Today's card is a quick and simple one, using a new set from Digi Stamp Boutique called Male Sentiments - Distressed.  I made the 'Grandad' text quite big (the card is 6 x 8") and added the 'Father's Day' sentiment from this set.  The dog is a Marianne Design die, and the background was made by dabbing various distress inks onto a MFT watercolour backdrop stamp and then stamping several times.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Always Fun - for a male/ dad

Crafty Cardmakers - for a man/ boy

Crazy 4 Challenges - masculine cards

Simply Create Too - for a male

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Sweet Stampin' - bunnies or bears

Hello everyone :o)

I'm here with my DT card for Sweet Stampin', where our challenge for this week is bunnies and/ or bears... now I do have a real soft spot for bears, but thought I'd use this sweet bunny again instead.

Isn't he just adorable?  He's called Heart Bunny, and is a clear stamp from Digi Stamp Boutique HERE.  He comes with lots of sentiments, but I've used one from this set.  I coloured him with copics, the papers are... ermm... actually I've forgotten, I'll have to check later!  The stitched squares were cut with an MFT die-namics die, little sparkly dots from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Allsorts - happy birthday

Crafty Friends - B is for (bunnies, birthdays, bling)

Alphabet Challenge - D is for dots

As You Like It - favourite pink or blue and why (I'll be completely honest and say I could easily have chosen either, I like both, but probably reach for pink a bit more often, particularly for more 'girly' cards)

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

NEW Special Dad - Digi Stamp Boutique DT

Happy Saturday :o)

Just popping in with some quick cards I made this afternoon, using a fab new set from Digi Stamp Boutique.

This set is Special Dad - Square - perfect for quick Father's Day makes.  I printed the images on linen card, added Glamour Dust around the inner circle for a bit of sparkle and shimmery silver dots, for a bit more sparkle lol.  The papers are digi ones from Raspberry Rd, found in my printed stash (I have lots!), and everything is matted on silver mirri card from Hunkydory.

I'm entering my cards for the following challenges
MAWTT - sentiment only, no images
Simon Says Wednesday - for the boys
Brown Sugar - masculine/ father's day

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Everybody Art - hidden message

Hello everyone :o)

Ooh, isn't it hot?!  Too hot for me really, but I'm not complaining (yet lol), we've had such a loooong winter it makes a nice change to feel the sun.

So, I'm here with my Guest DT card for Everybody Art, where our theme this week is 'hidden message'... eek!

I'm not very imaginative with this sort of thing, at all!  But I needed a card for Pav's step-dad, and I had a fun CD to play with that came with Making Cards magazine.  So I've used one of the dog images from the CD, placing that onto its own 'mini-card', then used a fab digi sentiment from the Large Birthday Sentiments set from Digi Stamp Boutique on the 'inside' and fixing the 'mini-card' onto the card front.  I added a little twill ribbon tab to make it easier to open, and wrapped bakers twine around the card front to keep the image panel closed.  I coated the dog's glasses with Nuvo clear sparkle pen, and added some little buttons from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Simon Says Wednesday - animal magic

Back to Basics & Beyond - use a craft CD or kit from a magazine

Crafty Friends - animals

Allsorts Challenge - fancy folds (not sure it qualifies as fancy, but t'is a fold lol)

CD Sunday - anything goes

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Large Thank You Set - Blue - Digi Stamp Boutique DT

Happy Saturday :o)

There are some gorgeous new watercolour effect sentiment sets at Digi Stamp Boutique this month, and I just couldn't resist using one for today's card...

I used the Large Thank You Set - Blue, and printed it onto linen card from Papermill Direct.  The paper is from a Craft Sensations pad - I'm getting quite into tearing paper now, go me! ;o)  It's matted onto Hunkydory mirri card and core'dinations.  I added some seam binding ribbon and made a bow for the first time in ages, something I don't usually do as I'm so rubbish at it... I do love a pretty bow though, so must push myself to do it more often!  The pearl brad is from The Hobby House.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Simon Says Wednesday - anything goes

Craft-Dee BowZ - anything goes with a handmade bow

Daisy Chain Challenges - monochrome

The Ribbon Girl Challenges - anything goes

I've got a night in with control of the remote tonight, as Pav's going out... Dex is angling to stay up with me though, so I'll probably end up watching a kids' film and eating too much chocolate lol.  Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Sweet Stampin' - sympathy/ thinking of you

Hello everyone :o)

I'm here with my card for the latest challenge at Sweet Stampin', where our theme is 'sympathy/ thinking of you'...

I used one of the pretty new printable sheets from Digi Stamp Boutique, this one is from the Quick Print Birds sheet.  The sentiment is a clear stamp available HERE.  The papers are from a Craft Sensations pad I bought in The Range (I went in for a pack of gems to match a card I was making, as I didn't have quite the right thing... came out with 7 paper pads and some sheets for Morgan's bed lol.  Got the gems though!).  The sheer ribbon is from my stash and the cardstock is Core'dinations plus white linen card from Papermill Direct.

I soooo wanted to use my sewing machine on this card... I was so close to being brave and going for it, the bloomin' thing terrifies me though!  It's a Janome Mini and I've had it for years, used it once or twice when I first got it, but the whole thing with the threading process, the bobbins, the scary pedal, put me off and it's just been gathering dust ever since.  So I'm putting this here to try and push myself into getting over my fear very soon!

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Try it on Tuesday - nature's beauty

Unicorn Challenge - use some ribbon

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Quick Print Butterflies - Digi Stamp Boutique DT

Hello everyone :o)

For today's card I've used one of the new A4 Quick Print Butterflies from Digi Stamp Boutique.

The sheet includes 4 butterflies on lovely watercolour effect backgrounds, plus 4 sentiments, for some very quick but pretty cards.  There's a sheet of birds available HERE too.  I've  kept my card quite simple, printed the sheet on linen card and added some patterned paper scraps, a Papermania sparkly dot and an MFT die-namics leafy flourish die, cut into pieces.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Incy Wincy - nature

Make My Monday - things with wings

Dex is spending the day at his friend's house tomorrow, so I'll be able to get a bit of colouring done without the guilt!  Love the holidays, but getting things done can be a challenge.  Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Simply Moving Home - Digi Stamp Boutique DT

Hello everyone :o)

It's the Easter holidays at the moment and Pav's off this week too, so my blog's a bit on the quiet side unfortunately... it's nice to have some time with all the family around though.

I needed a quick 'new home' card, so I've used an image from the Simply Moving Home A4 sheet from Digi Stamp Boutique.

I wanted the paper piecing to have a sort of quirky fabric look (I probably saw something on Pinterest/ Instagram that put the idea in my head...), so I've used lots of paper scraps and cut slightly outside of the lines.  The border die is Lawn Fawn, sentiment stamp is Clearly Besotted, and I added a little twine bow and some Viva Pearl dots... I still think it maybe needs 'something' but I've no idea what!

I'm entering my card for the following challenges
Double D Challenges - twine
Daring Cardmakers - do something digi
Stamps + Fun = Creativity - clean & simple

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Everybody Art GDT - pink & green/ spring

Hello again :o)

I'm back with my 2nd post for today, this time with my Guest DT card for Everybody Art Challenge, where our theme is 'pink & green or spring'.

I've used a cute new fairy image from Digi Stamp Boutique... she's available HERE.  I coloured her with copics and added lots of Glamour Dust for sparkle on her wings and crown.  The paper is a scrap of a very old 12x12 Bo Bunny sheet, that I used because it has 'splodges' of green amid the pink... but then I seem to have covered most of the green bits up!  The sentiment is a clear stamp available from Digi Stamp Boutique HERE.  I added some Doodlebug enamel dots, and then because it didn't seem quite finished, I added a couple of punched butterflies too, with Doodlebug sequins.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Kreativeinkauf Challenge - fantasy figures

World Wide Open Design Team Challenge - anything goes (must be DT project)

Crazy Challenge - shine on (use glitter)
Inkspirational Challenges - mythical

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Sweet Stampin' - Easter

Happy Saturday :o)

Our challenge this week over at Sweet Stampin' is 'Easter'... I don't tend to make many Easter cards, but always need one for my in-laws, so here's this year's card.

This cute little bunny (and the matching sentiment) is a clear stamp from Digi Stamp Boutique, available HERE.  I coloured it with copics, and paper pieced the smallest egg.  The stitched square, scalloped frame and flower dies are all MFT Die-namics, and the enamel dots are Doodlebug.  I'm running quite low on enamel dots now... any ideas where I can get them (or something similar?) online?  So many of my favourite craft shops have gone, I'm not sure where to shop at the moment!

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Animal Friends - Easter/ spring

Dies R Us - frame it

Hanna & Friends - Easter/ spring

Sweet Stampers - spring/ Easter

Crafty Catz - anything goes + optional Easter

MAWTT - Easter

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Silhouette Flower set - Digi Stamp Boutique

Hello everyone :o)

I've made a quick card today, as I couldn't resist playing with some brand new images from Digi Stamp Boutique...

The Silhouette Flower set is available HERE and it's just gorgeous... I love silhouette images!  There are sentiments included, but I used one of the clear stamps from this set.  I tore a piece of paper (very unlike me!) from a Craftwork Cards pad, and rubbed gold gilding wax around the edges, added a couple of gold pearls to the flowers, and that's about it... super simple today!

Thanks for popping in, hope you have a lovely evening :o)

Sweet Stampin' - inspired by a song

Happy Saturday :o)

Our challenge over at Sweet Stampin' this week is 'inspired by a song'... I'm no good at these types of challenge, I just go blank.  But I had this card to make, and realised it could work for the song 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun'... which I suppose is cheating a bit!

I've used an image from Digi Stamp Boutique called Cocktail Imogen, coloured with copics.  THe papers are from an older First Edition pad, and the scalloped card base is cream (not a dodgy photo that should be white lol!).  The number dies are MFT die-namics, made sparkly with Nuvo clear sparkle pen.  The corner bow is Memory Box and the little corner die is Whimsy, the sparkly gold enamel dots are Doodlebug.  I do still need to add a personalised sentiment, but left that off for the photo.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges

Crafty Catz - anything goes + optional layer it up

Simon Says Wednesday - girl power

Fussy & Fancy - let's celebrate

Creatalicious - anything goes + optional girly

Hope all you mums have a lovely day tomorrow... hugs to all who find the day difficult xx I know how lucky I am to still have my mum - Father's Day is always a little bit sad for me no matter how much time goes by.

Thanks for popping in :o)