Happy Birthday Charlotte ........

An 18th Birthday card for Charlotte - I made this card following this weeks sketch over at Papertake Weekly - please pop over and check out the rest of the Design Teams creations - they are stunning!

All of the background papers have been machine stitched on to kraft card.  The sentiment was computer generated and I printed it out in dark pink to match the card.  The numbers were cut from white card with Sizzix dies then embossed and fixed with sticky pads to make them stand out - the edges were distressed with Tea Dye ink  - for a bit of sparkle, I then added some swirls of Zva crystals

I distressed my flowers (brown rose, pink/white rose, pretty blossoms and rose buds) with snow-white ink, then added some 18mm zig zag cream cotton lace and gorgeous Pink Twinkle ribbon

Mulberry flowers, Pink Top Stitching Thread, Zva crystal flourishes, Twinkle Ribbon and 18mm Cream Cotton Lace are all from The Ribbon Girl

Oh by the way, there is a fabulous give away on the Ribbon Girl blog this week - you could win a mega bundle of ribbons and embellishments plus a $20 voucher for Jacque Larsen  digital paper pieces!

From a drinks mat to a pretty flower ......

This 4inch mini card features a sparkly brad, stardust stickles and a sparkly flourish - my favourite embellishment (after ribbons and flowers is anything that sparkles) a flower which was die cut with a Sizzix die from the back of a drinks mat then covered with another flower shape cut from pink card which was embossed prior to assembling.  The top flower is a flat pink bloom plus a jewelled spacer (The Hobby House) and lastly, a brad from stash.  The background papers were stitched to kraft card and the strip across the middle is pleated paper, again, stitched on the sewing machine using white top stitch thread.  A portion of a Zva clear crystal flourish, a scrap of 25mm cream cotton lace and some natural button twine plus a tiny tag with a Papertrey Ink stamp finished the card.  All of the paper components including the actual card were distressed with Tea Dye distressing ink.

The matching presentation box features a strip of ivory crepe paper over co-ordinating paper, topped with a 15mm pink satin ribbon, fastened with an 18mm clear acrylic button tied with natural button twine.  I added a blank kraft tag cut from a scrap of kraft with a Papertrey Ink die.  I applied sticky tape then pink grosgrain ribbon around the edge of the box. 

I will enter this into the Cupcake challenge to use something recycled
and into Pollycraft Monday Challenge - use your favourite thing

I'll be back tomorrow with my Papertake Weekly card,

See you soon, Mary G x

A fishy tale ................

For this 'under the sea' birthday card, I used the super cute Hanglar mermaid which I coloured with Copics - I tried to merge the aqua and pink colours to be more 'fish-like' then I highlighted her tail with Stardust Stickles, and when it was dry I added lots of Glossy Accens to make it shine!  I cut her out and placed her on a background of blue striped paper plus some of this gorgeous new aqua crazy mesh - I slipped in an anchor charm behind the mesh and stuck it down with more glossy accents.

I tied fuschia pink ruffle edge sheer around the card and added some fuschia tulle to continue the 'fishing net theme' and an 18mm acrylic sparkly button tied with ivory button twine.  I used my new Magnolia flower die to make the flowers, I used two sizes of die then finished with a pink brad from stash.  I was very impressed with the die, it gave a lovely sharp finish and it was easy to get the 'holes' clear, unlike some other makes I have tried in the past.

A close up of the tail and crazy mesh - the sentiment was computer generated - the crazy mesh, tulle, ribbon, button and button twine are all from Ribbon Girl

This weeks challenge over at Papertake Weekly is Happy Highlights  -  please highlight part of the image or paper using something like glitter, glossy accents or decoupage - why not pop over to the PTW blog where you will be inspired by the fabulous projects from the design team.

See you soon, Mary G x

Buttons, bows, blooms and bling .......

The new Papertake Weekly challenge is to make a project using buttons, bows, bling and blooms - wow, just up my street!  Please pop over and check out the super projects from the DT girls - I'm sure you'll be inspired to get cracking and search through your stash for suitable embellishments!

I stitched Pion papers to kraft card for the background, and stamped up one of my new Magnolia mini stamps (Tilda in the  Garden) which I coloured with Copics then cut out;

Blooms: white pretty blossoms from Ribbon Girl and Burgundy Rosebuds from stash

Buttons;  A single oblong shaped pearl button from a pearl mixed bag

Bows: Posie Vintage Style Seam Binding with natural button twine.

Bling: Part of a Zva clear crystal flourish

I think that's everything!

Thanks to Jan at Middlesbrough crop who showed us how to make the miniature step card.  The hearts were cut with nesties and all edges were distressed with tea dye ink.  The inside of the card has been decorated with matching papers and another heart for the message to be written and there is also a matching glassine bag which has been decorated  with the Posie seam  binding.

 

This photo shows the 'step' better - I will be making more of  these (in fact, my sister Jackie who usually dislikes cards with flowers (after spending a lifetime as a florist working with 'real' blooms) has asked for a similar card for her birthday in February !!) 

Pearl button, Pretty blossoms, Seam binding, Zva flourish and Button Twine are all from Ribbon Girl

and finally, I would like to thank everyone for leaving such nice comments on my vintage style cards - Andrea says my head will swell! 

I love making them and as I am rather 'vintage' myself, I think I have found my niche!

See you soon, Mary G x

A pink and blue birthday card .....

I really enjoyed making this mini pink and blue birthday card for the new Ribbon Girl pink and blue colour challenge - please pop over to the Ribbon Girl blog to see the fabulous projects made by the very, very talented Design Team - you'll be blown away!  We'd love you to enter the challenge and there is a £10 LOTV voucher given by the very generous girls from Lili of the Valley, plus a collection of vintage style cluny and guipure lace, mulberry flowers, satin ribbon, tiny ric rac, pom pom trim, loopy trim, pale blue spot organza, sparkly buttons and rose petal seam binding - all available from the Ribbon Girl online store and more than enough to decorate a dozen or more cards!

 

The background papers and the image (cut from a sheet of paper) are from Pion and I machine stitched them to kraft card. I added cream cluny traditional fan pattern lace and dark rose-pink pure silk ribbon.The mulberry flowers are  25mm and 30mm pink/white roses, 20mm pink rosebuds, small pink rosebuds and a selection of punched Martha Stewart leaves and Magnolia doohickey branches.

To add an extra touch of luxury to this special vintage style card I added a Zva pearl flourish.  The sentiment was stamped in cocoa brown ink onto a tiny tag - both from Papertrey Ink.

I made the box to fit the card and added more of the delicious cluny lace right around the edges

The lid of the box was covered in more Pion paper, very fine cream vintage style cluny lace, tiny pink pom pom trim and more of the deep rose pink pure silk ribbon which was twisted then tied into a bow

Cluny lace, silk ribbon, Zva pearl flourish, mulberry flowers, fine cluny lace and pom pom trim are all from www.ribbongirl.co.uk

The challenge will remain open for two weeks - we'd love you to join in

See you soon, Mary G xx

My favourite LOTV stamp ................ and inspiration from Lucy

This weeks challenge No. 2 over at Lili's Little Fairies is 'Your Favourite LOTV Image' and I've used mine here - the three little angels are so cute and I made quite a few Christmas cards with them.  I coloured them with Copics and highlighted with Stardust Stickles.    The background papers are  Pion and I used the sewing machine to stitch them.  Leaves and greenery punched with my favourite Martha Stewart punch - which is getting very difficult to press down, I hope it isn't going to break!

Ribbon Girl are giving a prize of lace, flowers and ribbons and LOTV are giving a £10 voucher for their online store.  Andrea and I were both delighted to be invited to be Guest DT this week. 

The vintage style cream fine cluny flower edge lace, the Zva clear crystal swirl, 30mm Mulberry rose, buds and Pretty Blossom flowers are all from Ribbon Girl.

Lucy has been inspiring us to get crafting with some photos on her blog - this clean and simple card is what I was inspired to make after seeing yesterdays photo of the bookcase, thanks Lucy - I've entered this into Deep Ocean Challenge Blog - Lots of White

See you soon, Mary G x

Yes, it really is St Nicholas walking through the snow .......

I don't usually make Christmas cards in January, but this is a new year and I will be making a couple every month so I have more than enough when the big day arrives.  Here is another vintage style card using fabulous Pion papers, Rose Petal vintage style seam binding, dusky rose mini ric rac and 12mm cream picot cotton lace.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink stamped with cocoa brown ink onto kraft card.   (To everyone who knows Andrea, don't worry, I have bought her some more papers to make up for all the sheets I have 'borrowed' from the ones I bought her for Christmas :-)

The papers were stitched with the sewing machine and I added mulberry rosebuds from my stash plus some tea-dye distressed white pretty blossoms and greenery made with Magnolia doohickey dies.

I decorated a glasssine bag for the card, but would post it out in a sturdy mailing box.

 The Ribbon Girl is giving a prize on the ABC Christmas Challenge today so I was invited to be a Guest DT and this is my card.  If you enter every fortnightly challenge you will have 25 cards ready for next Christmas!!  I will be joining in for sure!  Why not pop over - there are some fab prizes to be won and wonderful Christmas cards from the Design Team and Guests
I have entered this card into the Christmas Card Challenges Blog - a card using lace

Ribbon, lace, blossom flowers, ric rac all from Ribbon Girl

Wish upon a star ..............

This is my DT card for the 'die cutes' challenge over at Papertake Weekly and I used my Magnolia swirl die and cut the mat for the image from a nestie.  The cute little bear image 'Linda Fairy' is a digi download from the Stamp Fairy and I coloured her with copics.

The sentiment is Papertrey stamps and I used fuschia and black ink to make 'star' stand out.  The ribbon is fuschia  faux silk which ties the most gorgeous bows.  I embossed some white paper with a star embossing folder to bring everything together

I added a flat pink blossom  and put some fuschia pink tulle behind it, then finished it with a pink brad from stash, plus a star charm tied on with some pink and white Divine Bakers Twine.

Why not pop over to Papertake Weekly to check out the inspirational projects made by the Design Team and as usual, there is a great prize on offer.
I am entering this card into the One Stop Craft Challenge - embossing,  diecuts, flower

Faux Silk, Divine Twine, Charm , Fuschia Tulle are all from Ribbon Girl

See you soon, Mary G x

Vintage Style Mini 'New Baby' Card and Pouch Set ..............

The challenge at Papertake Weekly is to make a project for something new, eg a new baby, a new house or similar, or to use something new on your project -  so please pop over and be inspired by the excellent projects made by the ladies on the Design Team.

I chose to make a 4 inch mini card and pouch set for a new baby and couldn't resist using more of Andrea's new Pion vintage style papers (I'll buy you some more Andrea, promise!!) I absolutley love them and they just inspire me to keep making more cards and boxes/card pouches - I've got so many ideas going round in my head!! I should have bought myself some for Christmas when I ordered Andrea's lol.  All paper edges were inked with tea dye distress ink

The ribbon is rose petal vintage style seam binding, 16mm cream fine fan pattern cluny lace and pale rose pink tiny pom pom trim. I used a Pion printed tag and added a Pink Petticoat sentiment printed onto Safmat.  I tied a pale green button from the Pastel Mix selection with natural button twine, then added some white pretty blossom flowers with green leaves punched with my MS punch.  The Pion papers were stitched by machine to the kraft background and the final item was a portion of a Zva pearl flourish!

The little paper bag pouch looks so pretty with the lace, seam binding, fine cluny lace and sentiment.  The edges of the bag were distressed with tea dye distressing ink to age it.  If I was mailing the card, it would be carefully packed in a sturdy 6inch cardboard box. 

All ribbons, lace, twine, buttons, mulberry flowers, pom pom, Zva flourishes and the 6mm double sided tape I used are all from The Ribbon Girl online store.

See you soon Mary G x