Playing With Ribbon

A birthday card for my husband .............

2012-02-28T11:00:00.002Z

My husband likes nothing better than watching a cricket match, listening to a match on the radio, sitting in the cricket ground watching his home team Durham, reading a Wisden or looking through his vast collection of sport autographs and so on - so this LOTV image of the little cricketer was perfect for his 64th birthday card! (my hubby used to have hair a bit like that colour many years ago - not now!!)

It pains me not to use flowers and sparkly bits, but I made do with a red brad I found in the brad jar which I thought looked just a little bit like a cricket ball! My only other embellishment was some natural/brown saddlestitch from here. I used a LOTV round sentiment stamped in cocoa brown ink and cut with a scalloped nestie. The numbers were die cut with a Papertrey Ink die.

My card is based on this weeks' challenge sketch over at Papertake Weekly, where there is a fab prize up for grabs - please try and make time to pop over and check out the fabulous work by the DT - you've got a whole week to make your project based on the sketch and enter the challenge.

Romantic pinks, reds, hearts and doilies ....................

2012-02-24T09:27:00.001Z

The Ribbon Girl is sponsoring this weeks' Just Magnolia & hAnglar stAnglar challenge which is: Romantic Doily - Andrea and I were thrilled to ber invited as guest DTs and this is my card - thanks for asking ladies! I used various background papers in pinks/reds matted onto dark browncard. The doily was die cut then lightly distressed with tea dye ink, the tags stamped with a LOTV sentiment then distressed with tea dye ink, as was the edge of the image and the lace.

the lovely image was coloured with copics and I added stardust stickles to the pink heart. A magnolia doohickey swirl and a red rose plus some white lace

I used 30mm red roses and some Stardust Stickles from my stash, then added a 25mm shocking pink satin ribbon with an 18mm round acrylic button tied with chocolate brown button twine plus a hollow heart charm

Lace, ribbon button, twine, Stckles, charm all from here

I woud like to enter this card into Simply Magnolia challenge of pink & red

There are some lovely prizes to win over at the Just Magnolia & hAnglar stAnglar challenge, a fab collection of ribbons, flowers, pins and charms etc from Ribbon Girl and also a gift voucher for

Jacobi - and the projects from their Design Team are beautiful

See you soon Mary G x

Get crafty with kraft ..........

2012-02-21T18:38:00.000Z

My DT card for this weeks Papertake Weekly challenge (Get Krafty) is this 4 inch mini card on kraft card featuring these very interesting papers with birds on which were free downloads from the very generous and talented Astrid - thanks Astrid!! I hope you like what I've done with them? The papers were stitched to the kraft card using cream top stitch thread. I added 16mm vintage style fine cluny lace and limoges blue seam binding. some pink pleated satin, part of a Zva pearl flourish, pale blue tiny ric rac. I cut the part of the paper that had the birds on it with a nestie label die, then did another piece from a blank coaster and distressed the edges with tea dye. Lastly, I added blue and pale pretty blossoms anda couple of small pink roses with some brown mulberry leaves. The edges of the little card were distressed with tea dye ink.

I made a matching box and decorated it with vintage style cream lace, limoges blue seam binding, pale blue tiny ric rac and some gorgeous crepe paper - looks like ribbon doesn't it? The little kraft tag was cut and stamped with Papertrey ink die and stamp in cocoa brown ink.

I added some little left over pieces of Zva pearl swirl to the lid and glued the lace to the sides of the box lid with 6mm red sticky tape

Pleated Satin Ribbon, Zva Pearls, Ric Rac, Seam Binding, 6mm Sticky Tape, Vintage Style Cream Lace, Mulberry Flowers and Leaves and Blank Coaster are all from The Ribbon Girl

I hope you will have time to check out the mega talented PTW Design Team projects - I don't know how they keep coming up with such fabulous work week after week! It seems to get better every week!

see you soon, Mary G x

Pink, brown and cream birthday wishes .......

2012-02-19T08:40:00.001Z

A birthday card for my little sister who celebrates her 61st birthday this week - I made a 4 inch easel card with a drawer underneath - it took me quite a long time to make and Andrea and I had great fun figuring out how to make this type of card without a template or instructions. Well, after much measuring, cutting, scoring folding and glueing, I was as pleased as punch and will make more (in far less time than this one took me! and I hope my sister likes it too! I used Pion papers (my favourites) for the card and also for the inside and outside of the 'drawer'. All paper edges on the card were sewn with pink top stitching thread. I added a little bit of Liquid Pearls to the top left corner of the card, but will have to practice a bit more to get my 'pearls' evenly sized.

The shaped plaque which holds the mulberry flowers was die cut from a blank coaster with a Labels nestie and I distressed the edges with tea dye ink then stamped in cocoa brown ink with a Papertrey Ink stamp. I used 17mm cream vintage style cluny lace, pretty pink loopy trim and narrow chocolate brown velvet ribbon on the top and bottom of the easel card then made a nice bow with 32mm pale pink pure silk ribbon then added a white leaf pin and a pink teardrop pin.

Mulberry flowers, silk ribbon, velvet, loopy trim, cream lace, lquid pearls, pins, blank coasters are all from the Ribbon Girl online store

I love that gorgeous handle (from stash) which is a 7 gypsies but seems to be discontinued - unless anyone can point me in the direction of more? This is my DT card for the Ribbon Girl 16th Colour Challenge of Pink, Brown and Cream - please go and look at the fabulous projects by the very talented DT ladies - I know you'll be impressed and I hope they inspire you to get crafting!

There is a fabulous prize of silk, satin, organza, pleated satin, mulberry flowers, leaves, gingham, and vintage style lace from The Ribbon Girl plus a £10 Voucher from the very generous girls over at Lili of the Valley (who incidentally are launching a brand new range of stamps available from 20th February - don't miss them!)

I will enter this card into the Deep Ocean Challenge of Pink and Brown

Dies to Die For Challenge - Anything Goes (with a die cut)

See you soon, Mary G

Black and White and Red all over .....

2012-02-14T11:00:00.002Z

I love this colour combination - it reminds me of that old joke 'what's black and white and read all over? ..... a newspaper!'

This is my card for this weeks Papertake Weekly challenge ' Black and White and Red all over' ....... the image was part of a vintage style newspaper background paper and I cut it out then mounted it on a black nestie shape.

I used 15mm red satin ribbon, black crazy mesh to add more detail, a diamante heart then I cut a white doohickey swirl but to be honest, it took longer to find the best place for the swirl than the rest of the card put together - finally I was happy with it looking like this. The sentiment is computer generated and all paper pieces were stitched with black top stitching thread to add to the colour theme.

I hope you have time to pop over to Papertake Weekly to check out the awesome DT projects and we look forward to visiting your blogs to see what you come up with!

Satin ribbon, diamante, mesh, top stitch thread are all from here

See you soon, Mary G x

The Terrible Twos ...... no, she's as cute as a button .......

2012-02-13T09:50:00.001Z

Inspired by the Just Magnolia & H S challenge this week, I have made this number two birthday card for my great neice who will be 2 years old on 17th February - she's a gorgeous little girl and has such a sunny smile!! My card began as a computer generated number 2, then the fun started when I had to cut the white card and the dark pink card with a very sharp craft knife - could have done better, but not too bad I think.

I coloured my image with copics and added stardust stickles - she looks as if she is balancing on that lace lol. I used white 30mm zig zag lace plus a doohickey swirl and a heart branch cut with magnolia dies. The pearls were part of a Zva self adhesive flourish

I added pink/white mulberry roses, buds and pretty blossoms plus leaves cut with my MS punch. Lastly, I added a couple of butterflies from a decoupage sheet which I embellished with more stickles.

I am entering this into the Just Magnolia & HAnglar Stanglar Challenge 'pink, pearls, lace'
and Lets Craft and Create (use flowers)

Lace, Zva Pearls, Mulberry Flowers are all from www.ribbongirl.co.uk

see you soon Mary G x

Be my valentine ..............

2012-02-07T11:37:00.003Z

This weeks challenge over at Papertake Weekly is 'Anything Goes' - optional extra is to add a heart or do a 'love' theme' sponsored by Lili of the Valley - this is my DT card and I've added a heart and gone for a valentine theme. The background papers are all from Pion - I hate cutting into the double sided papers 'cos I don't want to cut up whatever is on the reverse side - nail biting!! but I do like them! The central 'heart' image which was cut from a Pion tag. All of the papers were stitched to dark purple card with pink top stitching thread. I used 18mm cream vintage style lace and a Zva clear crystal flourish together with some beautiful wide mauve taffetta ribbon which ties really nice bows and goes perfectly with the papers and background card.

I added green leaves cut with my good old Martha Stewart punch, a pink/white 30mm rose, purple pretty blossoms, pink rose bud, small and medium purple two tone rose buds plus a couple of burgundy rose buds (these were from my stash) which pick out the red of the central heart. The purple 'leaves' are actually petals taken from a Magnolia flower cut from the dark purple card - I think it ties everything together.

I made a box for the card featuring the same lace on all edges, plus the mauve ribbon on the top, more vintage style lace, a purple mulberry pretty blossom and a magnolia flower cut from the dark purple card and highlighted with stardust stickles.
I'm entering this card into Charisma Cardz Challenge 'Vintage'
Deep Ocean Challenge 'Love'
ABC Challenge 'Pairs' (2 hands, 2 burgundy rose buds, 2 purple pretty blossoms
Scr@p Cards Challenge Blog

Taffeta ribbon, mulberry flowers, Zva Crystal Flourish, Cream Vintage Style Lace are all from The Ribbon Girl online store

My valentine and I have been married for just over 40 years and I'm sure he'll like this card!

Keep warm in this freezing cold weather and I'll be back soon

Mary G x

Happy Birthday Charlotte ........

2012-01-31T11:30:00.009Z

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 ......

2012-01-30T11:59:00.002Z

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 ................

2012-01-24T14:05:00.000Z

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 .......

2012-01-17T11:44:00.000Z

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 .....

2012-01-15T07:30:00.005Z

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

2012-01-12T07:11:00.002Z

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 .......

2012-01-11T09:58:00.001Z

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 ..............

2012-01-10T10:00:00.005Z

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 ..............

2012-01-03T09:00:00.019Z

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

Happy Birthday Andrea .......

2011-12-29T06:00:00.002Z

Happy Birthday Andrea!!

I've made you a pink and black birthday card using a Lili of the Valley image which I coloured with copics. I used spotty pink organza ribbon and sections ofa zva clear crystal flourish

The flowers are a 30mm pink/white rose, 20mm pink rosebud, white pretty blossoms and 13mm pink/white roses while the leaves are made with my new Magnolia leaf dies and my Martha Stewart punches. Ribbon, Zva and Mulberry Flowers from here

The sentiment is a LOTV stamp cut with plain round nestie on scalloped black background

I hope you enjoy your day crafting with the girls down in Middlesbrough

love from Mam xx

A mini vinage style winter wedding card and box set ..........

2011-12-27T11:00:00.015Z

I based this vintage style mini card project on the sketch over at Papertake Weekly - please pop over and take a look at the wonderful cards made by the design team

This winter wedding card and box set is for Clare and Joseph who are being married on Friday. The card is a vintage style mini card using a portion of a LOTV die cut on kraft background.

I went overboard with embellishments and used ivory tulle and white crazy mesh to compliment the bride's veil on the die cut, a die cut swirl and a beautiful diamante snowflake stick pin.

I wanted to use pale pink pure silk ribbon but it was too wide for my mini 4 inch card, so I hit on the idea of twisting it - it worked a treat, then I added dusky rose tiny ric rac, some cream cotton lace and some mulberry flowers which were distressed with tea dye ink. The background papers were all machine stitched to kraft card.

Because this is for a wedding I went to town on the box and tried to make it very pretty so it would be kept for a long time. Mulberry rose, silk ribbon, etc plus clear crystal Zva swirl with a little kraft tag.

A photo of the card inside the box

To the inside of the card I added this lovely passage from Corinthians which begins 'Love is patient, love is kind .....

I wish Clare and Joseph all of God's many blessings and a lifetime of happiness

Lace, silk ribbon, Zva crystals, diamante stick pin, ric rac, tulle, crazy mesh and mulberry flowers are all from Ribbon Girl

I am enterng this card into Totally Gorjuss challenge 'for someone special'

See you soon, MaryG x

A Happy New Year card with spots and stripes ....

2011-12-26T15:30:00.001Z

We had a lovely Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, cooking, eating, singing carols - I got some fab presents and Santa brought me three new Magnolia dies and I've used two of the branch dies on this card which I made this morning while hubby was at a football match. The image was coloured with Copics and I've used some cherry blossom Pion papers (which I gave to Andrea as a Christmas gift - but we share all our crafting supplies lol) I cut the image with a nestie but before I took off the die, I distressed the background and over the actual die with tea dye ink which left a lovely little border. Th square background paper has been mounted onto kraft card, then onto a kraft card, if you know what I mean. The lace is cream cluny traditional fan pattern and the ribbon is peach satin bands

I used the same tea dye distress ink to colour a 30m white rose, white pretty blossoms and a couple of white rosebuds then added a pearl hat pin (it was too long so I stuck it through though the ribbon to secure it, then cut it short using strong wire cutters)

I will enter this card into the Magnolia Inspiration Challenge Blog (the challenge is 'happy new year') and also into the Daring Card Makers challenge to use spots and stripes (I have used striped and spotted papers from Pion Design behind the image)

Lace, ribbon, hat pin and all Mulberry flowers are from Ribbon Girl

See you soon Mary G x

Birthday wishes in white with one other colour .......

2011-12-21T09:35:00.001Z

Inspired by the current Just Magnolia challenge 'White plus one other colour.....' I have made this card in white and lilac. The image has been coloured with copics and I have used white and silver striped organza ribbon and 32mm white cotton lace over a fairly plain lilac/white spotted backing paper.

I used my magnolia leaf die and our new swirl die and distressed all edges with purple ink, plus a 30mm mulberry rose coloured with the same ink, some pretty blossoms and rosebuds.

I added a silver colour charm suspended on a piece of plum purple Divine Bakers Twine and then some stardust stickles

The final touches were one small clear sparkly gem on the little Hanglar girl's dress and a sentiment from Papertrey stamped in purple ink

Striped Organza, Cotton Lace, Divine Twine, Charm and Mulberry Flowers all from Ribbon Girl

See you soon, Mary G x

Vintage style Christmas mini card and box set ........

2011-12-20T07:47:00.002Z

There's a new challenge over at Papertake Weekly - Last Christmas (card of the year) - and this is my take on it - a mini card and box set - this is especially for my sister who dislikes flowers on cards so this one has a couple of green leaves and some stamens coloured red with a Copics pen! I used some 32mm cream vintage style very fine cluny lace, black stripe twill, 7mm red satin, part of a Zva clear crystal swirl and some cream mini pom pom trim, all from Ribbon Girl. It's amazing how much stuff I can cram on to one of these little 4 inch cards! All the edges were distresed with Tea Dye distress ink.

The lid was enhanced with more black twill and cream lace plus Venetian Red Vintage Style Seam Binding and small silver jingle bells

I made the tags with a Papertrey die and rubber stamp and as usual the box is made to measure. All the background papers (Authentique) are machine stitched onto kraft card and the 2 and 5 are tucked behind the ribbon.

Please pop over to Papertake Weekly and take a look at the fabulous projects by the Design Team - I bet you've got time to get one more card made before Christmas for this challenge and there's a great prize as usual!

See you soon, Mary G x

Red black and cream ........... it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2011-12-18T07:00:00.007Z

This is my DT card for the Ribbon Girl Red/Black/Cream colour challenge. I made a vintage style 4 inch mini card and matching box using papers from Authentique, cream cotton lace, cream and black check ribbon and 7mm red satin ribbon. The tag is made from kraft card using a Papertrey die and sentiment stamp. The button is a flower shaped sparkly acrylic button tied with ivory button twine

I machine stitched the pieces of paper to a kraft background and added Zva clear crystal swirl - there is a lot going on in this card set, but I thoroughly enjoyed creating it!

Another view of the box to which I added a small red polka dot button and a kraft tag stamped with a Papertrey sentiment.

I hope you will have time to pop over to the Ribbon Girl blog and be inspired by the fabulous projects made by the mega talented Ribbon Girls! We're keeping the challenge open until Saturday 7th January and there are some fab prizes to win!

Red Satin Ribbon, Black/Cream Check Ribbon, Flower Button, Button Twine, Zva Clear Crystal Flourish and Cream Cotton Lace all from the Ribbon Girl

See you soon, Mary G x

Vintage look sparkly mini card and box set ........................

2011-12-14T07:05:00.001Z

During our Mother/Daughter crafting time at the weekend, I followed Andrea's lead and tried my hand at making tiny 4 inch cards and I thoroughly enjoyed making this little vintage pink and sparkly set.

This card and matching box took longer to make than the 14.5cm card I usually make, but I think it was well worth the extra effort.

I achieved the vintage look by distressing everything with straw/brown distressing inks. The background paper (a digi download) is machine stitched onto kraft card and the little tag is cut from a scrap of kraft using a Papertrey die then stamped with a Papertrey sentiment.

I cut up a Zva clear crystal swirl and added a couple of pieces to the card. I used mauve scallop cotton lace, posie seam binding and pale pink mini ric rac, then added 25mm and 13mm pink/white mulberry roses with white rosebuds and rose leaves (all distressed) with green leaves cut with my Martha Stewart punch (which seized up at the weekend, I hope I haven't worn it out !!)

I spent ages making and decorating the matching box - as you can see the top of the box is just as pretty as the actual card (which has machine stitching) and even the sides of the lid and the inside of the box have been decorated - I think it would make a lovely little keepsake box.

I will enter this set into the Cupcake Challenge which is to make something sparkly
and into the Pixie Dust Challenge (Sparkle and Bling)

See you soon, Mary G x

I'm Dreamin' of a Pink and Blue Christmas ........

2011-12-13T12:06:00.002Z

This is my DT card for this weeks Papertake Weekly Challenge - I'm Dreamin' Of A (My Favourite Colour) Christmas and as you can see, I've made a pink and blue Christmas card lol

The snowman image and the background papers are digital downloads by Mary Fran from Nitwits.

I used a nestie for the scalloped mat and then added lots of Stardust tickles (edited to say this should have said 'Stickles' but Stardust Tickles sounds quite interesting don't you think? lol), pink 25mm Berisford Satin Ribbon and a snowflake charm tied on with some pink and white Divine Bakers Twine

I hope you will all pop over to the PTW blog and check out the delicious array of colours used by the DT and hope you have time to enter this challenge with your own favourite colour.

The prize this week is a gorgeous stamp 'Christmas Kiss' from Whiff of Joy

see you soon, Mary G x

A Finnish Star with Fairies and Flowers ......

2011-12-10T13:01:00.001Z

For many months I have kept a link to Debbi's blog where she showed her readers how to make this Finnish star - well, inspired by this weeks LOTV challenge (pink, white and silver - my favourites!) I set to and created this 3-dimensional beauty! Bad light prevented perfect photos, but not bad considering we've had the lights on all morning it's so gloomy.

I used double sided pink patterned paper 'Rose Coloured Glasses' and added a LOTV diecut with 2 little fairies (I thought it was rather apt as the current LOTV challenge blog will close and a new LOTV challenge blog begins in the new year and will be called Lili's Little Fairies (and can I just take this opportunity of wishing Jacqui and Bev the very best of luck with the new challenge).

Once I had made the star itself (the instructions were spot on Debbi, thank you) I added the LOTV image on a scalloped mat of pink card, then embellished with pink and white roses, pretty blossoms and leaves, cut white leaves with my Martha Stewart punch then added a ribbon bow made with our new striped organza white and silver ribbon. I used stardust stickles on the white leaves and the fairies, then added some raindrop shaped sparkly gems on the points of the star. I will be making more of these, they are so pretty.

Flowers, roses, rose-leaves and ribbon are all from here. Gems and stickles from stash.

(Please don't forget the Ribbon Girl Blog is having a sumptuous red ribbon giveaway on Sunday!)

see you soon, Mary G x

Go as you please with the option of something dangly .......

2011-12-06T11:55:00.001Z

The new challenge over at Papertake Weekly is go as you please with the option of something dangly and this is my DT card - please pop over and take a look at the marvellous projects the other DT ladies have made, you will be so inspired to get crafting!!

I have used another LOTV die cut (so quick when time is limited) which I cut with a round nestie and matted onto lilac scalloped

I added some gorgeous lilac cotton scallop lace, mauve rose seam binding and lilac Twinkle ribbon and dangled a christmas tree and a reindeer charm. The sentiment is a Papertrey ink stamp.

The flowers are 30mm soft purple/white rose, purple two tone and white pretty blossoms, plus white leaves and branches made with Magnolia doohickey die and my Martha Stewart punch, both liberally covered in Stardust Stickles.

I made a matching box and decorated it with the same paper, ribbons and flowers. I was really pleased with this card and I made it especially for one of my neices who now has two little girls!

Lace, twinkle ribbon, seam binding, mulberry flowers and charms are all from Ribbon Girl

See you soon, Mary G x

Anything but a Christmas card ......... how about a decorated candle?

2011-12-03T15:54:00.003Z

This weeks LOTV challenge is 'anything but a Christmas card ..... mmmmmm, what could I make for this challenge, a birthday card? a thank you card, a box? no, I decided to try and make a decorated candle which had been lying in the cupboard since last year. Andrea and I usually spend Saturday afternoons crafting together, but she is in agony with her back, so much so, we had to ask the out of hours Doctor to visit us today and prescribe various types of pain relief - she's now a little bit more comfortable, and I expect she will fall asleep soon with the cocktail of pills he's given her. So I had to craft on my own which wasn't quite the same - get well soon Andrea, love from Mam xx

I stamped the LOTV image onto white tissue paper then coloured it in with Copics. I chose darker colours as I thought lighter ones wouldn't show up so well. I cut out the image as close as I could and laid it on the candle - amazingly, due to static I suppose, the paper clung to the side of the candle. I cut a strip of grease proof paper and put it over the stamped tissue then firmly held it tight at the back.

Now, there was one teeny weeny problem, the heat gun we have had for years and years was chucked out a year or so ago, so I had to try the hair dryer - and it worked! I used the highest heat, and wafted it about until I could see the wax change colour - I think next time I will just heat straight onto the tissue paper. I had a couple of dribbles, but they smoothed down OK.

After I had added my favourite Stardust Stickles to my image, I decorated my candle with some 38mm cream guipure lace 7mm shockin pink satin ribbon, rose leaves and 30mm pink two tone mulberry roses, all from here.

This candle will be a little gift for someone but I will make sure they know that if they were to light it they must remove all the lace, flowers, ribbons etc, and take great care if it burns down past the tissue paper, as it may burn.

See you soon and don't forget to pop over to the Ribbon Girl blog on Sunday when I will announce the winner of the Pink and White Colour Challenge and also the Reindeer Give Away!!

Mary G x

Fat ball thief caught on camera ..... and the reddest robin ...

2011-12-01T09:30:00.000Z

Apologies for dreadful photos - taken a few minutes ago through the kitchen window (which could do with a bit of a scrub lol) but I spotted the fat ball thief and grabbed the camera which was on the kitchen table! The naughty squirrel picked it up in his paws and chewed through the green net

he jumped down, ripped off the netting and proceeded to feast on the fat ball!

and our little robin (who is the most beautiful colour - don't you agree?) just looked on in amazement!

again, sorry for the quality of the photos, but it's not often there is a camera handy when I see something interesting!

See you soon, Mary G

New sketch over at Papertake Weekly .......

2011-11-29T13:38:00.001Z

This card is for my great-nephew Jack and my DT card for this weeks Papertake Weekly sketch. I used another of the LOTV die cuts matted onto red card. The ribbon is Berisford 25mm small check black and white gingham and I added three small red polka dot buttons tied with natural button twine. I made the sentiment on the computer and matted that onto red card also. The background papers were from a pad which Andrea bought for me.

Please pop over to Papertake Weekly to have a look at the fabulous work by the Design Team and you have one week to get your entry in - you could win a fab prize!!
(take note little sister, not a single flower, rosebud or leaf and not a drop of stickles!! it could practicallly be described as 'clean and simple' lol)

See you all soon, Mary G x

Tilda with hearts ...........

2011-11-27T19:24:00.001Z

Tilda looks so pretty holding her string of hearts, I've coloured her in pink copics and am especially pleased with her socks, I remembered to leave some white up the front lol! I was inspired by this weeks Just Magnolia challenge, and I have used red card for matting and my background papers include pink and white.

I have used our new flat blossoms and added sparkly gems to the centre

I finished the card with stardust stickles (as usual) and used pink silky crush ribbon and pink and red heart pins, all available from ribbongirl

See you soon, and don't miss the Christmas Challenge and the Reindeer Giveaway over at the Ribbon Girl Blog

Mary G x

Feasting on berries ....... under green trees ...... and a new Christmas challenge

2011-11-24T21:55:00.002Z

There is a new 'Jingle all the way to Christmas' challenge over at the Ribbon Girl blog and inspired by this weeks Penny Black Saturday Challenge 'Green + Trees' I made this cute Christmas card using this gorgeous Penny Black stamp (which I bought from Tab who has loads of stamps for sale) which I coloured with copics, I die cut some trees with my new Marianne Christmas Tree die, then smudged some white ink on them. I put on plenty of Stardust Stickles.

Apologies for the awful photo (taken at night) but you can see the gorgeous Penny Black hedgehog - the holly leaves and berries were part of the image, but I cut them off and placed them on the corner of the card. I used red silky crush to tie a bow and more stickles to enhance the cute hedgehog feasting on holly berries - speaking of which, it seems every holly bush or tree around here is covered in gorgeous red berries - the birds will do well!! I will enter this into the Penny Black Saturday Challenge before it's too late .... Red silky crush is from here

please scroll down to see the advent calender made by my little sister Jackie

I made this tree ornament from felt cut out with a nestie. Before the two sides were stitched together I glued on silver flat cord, tiny ric rac then stitched on flower and heart shaped sparkly buttons - I finished it off with one of our chunky felt holly leaves with bead berries

Silver flat cord, felt, ric rac and buttons are all from www.ribbongirl.co.uk

This tree ornament was made with white card using a fleur de lys nestie, silver corners and loads of gems. I finished it with green hat pins with red open weave ribbon at the top and bottom, and used flat silver cord to make a hanging loop. The edges were covered in lots of stardust stickles.
Green hat pins and red open weave ribbon are from www.ribbongirl.co.uk

My sister Jackie doesn't have a blog, but she made this fabulous advent calender for one of her grand-daughters Faye (she'll have to make another one for her new baby grand daughter Nicole!). Made of fabric and felt, it is her own design and it took her ages to make as every part of it has been hand drawn and hand stitched, including Santa and all of the little present bags, each has an embroidered number, a ribbon with a bell or charm and every one is attached with press studs to withstand handling over the years. I love it and I'm sure it will last Faye for years and years! Thanks for sharing this with us Jackie!

See you soon Mary G x

PTW have gone Christmas Crackers .......

2011-11-22T13:53:00.000Z

This is my DT project for the new Papertake Weekly Challenge 'Christmas Crackers' .... you don't have to make a cracker – but you can if you want as some of the DT did. No, they just want to see your Christmas faves – so Yule rules this week. If it’s festive, then it’s fine :)

I used an A3 piece of card and scored and folded until it resembled a cracker when opened. The edges were made with a nestie and I decorated with 9mm red and white saddlestitch ribbon.

The inside was made with a LOTV sentiment and a couple of Magnolia snowflakes to which I added plenty of stardust stickles and a couple of large gems. Do pop over to PTW to check out the fab creations by the Design Team and if you enter the challenge you could win three stamps from Digital Delights!

and talking of delights, tomorrow evening I am going to see John Barrowman at Newcastle City Hall - can't wait!! I hope he doesn't mind me pinching this photo from his website!!

See you soon, Mary G x

Hello Dolly ...... and a new colour challenge ....

2011-11-20T08:55:00.001Z

I fancied making a rag doll for a Christmas gift and this little dolly (approx 20 inches tall) is the result - I particularly like her arms which are attached using large pearl buttons using a very long doll making needle, so they move, and best of all they stay just where you put them. I am still not sure about her features which as you can probably see, have been unpicked and re-stitched more than once - poor dolly!

Her hair took ages to make - almost a full ball of black cotton dk yarn, which was wrapped, cut, stitched then firmly stuck and stitched to the head - her bunches are tied with 7mm pink satin ribbon which is stitched to the side of her head. I decided she looked better with a fringe so cut the front of her hair after she was all finished! I added pale pink small polka dot buttons to her shoes which are made from felt. Ribbon, Lace, Buttons and Felt are all available from the Ribbon Girl online store

Her dress is embellished wiith 15mm pink satin ribbon and 18mm white cotton lace, and her pants are trimmed with broderie anglaise which although you can't see very much of them are made from pink spotty fabric. The pattern and all the fabric, including the body fabric, is from The Fat Quarters which is a 15 minute drive away and well worth a visit - the staff are so friendly and helpful

This is my DT project for Colour Challenge No 13 PINK & WHITE over at the Ribbon Girl blog - it will run for two weeks so you have plenty of time - there is some fabulous inspiration from our amazing Design Team - do pop over and have a look and I look forward to seeing all your gorgeous pink and white projects - you could win a great prize of one of our pretty pink mini ribbon kits

and a £10 voucher generously donated by Laila and Lisa to spend in the LOTV store - and they've got a gorgeous range of new stamps, just out!

See you soon, Mary G x

When is a card not a card ...............

2011-11-15T21:58:00.001Z

When is a card not a card ....... when it's a gift card holder

This is my DT project for this weeks Papertake Weekly challenge. Please pop over and be inspired by the fabulous DT projects - and the prize this week is a £10 voucher to spend in the Ribbon Girl online store I used a diecut LOTV image enhanced with plenty of Stardust Stickles, the die ccut images are so handy when you're in a bit of a hurry!!

I adhered the image to the card via a flap and underneath made a little pocket to hold a gift of money

I was pleased with the end result becaue the card can still be on show as any normal card would be.

I used red and white pencil stripe ribbon, 18mm white cotton zig zag lace, a small red and white polka dot button and some natural button twine - all from http://www.ribbongirl.co.uk/ (and my sister will be very impressed that I made a card without using any flowers on it!! lol)

See you soon, Mary G x

One layer - leaves .................

2011-11-13T21:01:00.002Z

This card is for the current Less is More challenge - one layer, leaves

I scored the lines on my card, then stamped directly onto it with a Papertrey Ink image and sentiment using Hawain Shores ink. To be honest, the only other leaf stamp I had was a holly leaf!

The only embellishment is a 7mm Berisford satin ribbon

(don't miss the Christmas Embellishmnt Give Away over at the Ribbon Girl blog!

Lest we forget .....

2011-11-13T08:07:00.000Z

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."

Welcome Baby Nicole ...............

2011-11-09T07:42:00.003Z

My niece Joanne had another baby girl, Nicole Amy, who arrived on 1st November. After a few worrying days in the high dependancy unit, I'm pleased to say that the baby is now well and at home with her Mum, Dad and sister Faye. I thoroughly enjoyed making this pink and sparkly card and decorated it with Zva crystals, pink and white mulberry flowers and pale pink silky crush ribbon.

I used a LOTV diecut square for the image and chose pink patterned papers and card

I used loads of Stardust Stickles and a gorgeous Zva crystal flourish which I cut into pieces and incorporated into the flower arrangement. The green leaves and fronds were cut with Martha Stewart punches and the mulberry flowers were a 30mm pink/white two tone rose, 13mm pink/white roses, pink/white pretty blossoms, 10mm white rose buds

The inside was decorated to compliment the front

I made a box which I also decorated to match the card, and added a bow of the same ribbon,a mulberry rose and another piece of the Zva flourish

I was really pleased with how this particular card turned out
Ribbon, Zva Crystal Flourish, Mulberry Flowers are all from http://www.ribbongirl.co.uk/
I'm going to enter this into the LOTV bright and sparkly challenge. See you soon, Mary G xx

Blue and Pink Christmas Card .................

2011-11-08T07:52:00.000Z

My pink and blue Christmas card is unusual but I think it looks pretty. The image stamp and sentiment are both from Lili of the Valley and I am entering this card into the 'bright and sparkly' challenge over at LOTV challenge.

The image which I coloured with copics was stitched around the edge then I added loads of Stardust Stickles, a piece of blue twill stripe ribbon, and some gorgeous aqua and silver sparkle ribbon.

I finished with an arrangement of pink/white 30mm rose, 10mm rose buds, pink/white pretty blossoms, rose leaves, white paper frond cut with a Magnolia doohickey die and some green leaves cut with my Martha Stewart punch. Last embellishment was some stick on gems in the corners. This is my DT card for Papertake Weekly - the challenge this week is First Christmas (card of the PTW year!!) so please pop over and feast your eyes on the gorgeous creations by the PTW ladies - and do enter this weeks challenge and you will have another card finished ready to add to your Christmas card box!

Image and sentiment - LOTV

Mulberry Flowers, Twill Stripe Ribbon, Sparkle Ribbon - all from http://www.ribbongirl.co.uk/

See you soon, Mary G x

Red and orange, clean and simple .......

2011-11-06T20:24:00.001Z

I made this card for the Less is More challenge 'red and orange' and it is clean, lots of white space, and simple, just an embossed Christmas tree (using an embossing folder which we've had for a few years and never used) mounted onto an orange and then a red background with a tiny piece of red twill stripe ribbon and stamped the sentiment straight onto the card - then I went just a little bit overboard with the sparklies .....

I do like it, and was oh so tempted to add a gorgeous bow but I restrained myself lol!

See you soon, Mary G x

Anything goes with the option of sparkle ........

2011-11-01T12:00:00.013Z

The challenge over at Papertake Weekly is anything goes with the option of sparkle, and as I love sparkle, glitter and bling I went to town on this card and co-ordinating box!

ps Can you see that large clear stick on gem trying to make a bid for freedom down at the bottom right hand corner? I stuck it back on, and wished I had noticed it before editing the photos!

I coloured the image with Copics pens then glittered with Stardust stickles, added some white traditional fan pattern Cluny lace and some 12mm silver lame ribbon (which I coloured with a Copics pen to tone with the backing papers - which means you can have glittery ribbon in any colour you fancy!)

My usual flowers consists of 30mm and 13mm white mulberry roses with white pretty blossoms. I tied a double bow with Wavecrest Seam Binding and added a snowflake charm and a silvery blue star pin.

Continuing on with the 'sparkle' theme, I added parts of a Zva sparkly flourish to my hand-made box (my box making skills are improving every day!!)

Seam Binding, Cluny Lace, Snowflake Charm, Mulberry Flowers, Star Pin and Zva Flourishes are all from http://www.ribbongirl.co.uk/

I was pleased with the end result and will put this in my Christmas card pile for someone special.

See you soon, Mary G x

Sparkly Pink Fairy Christmas Card ....

2011-10-30T13:20:00.001Z

I followed Bev's sketch at this weeks LOTV challenge to make this very pink and sparkly Christmas card!

The image was coloured using Copics and liberally glittered with Stardust Stickles - the white circle and pink background were cut with a nestabilities die.

I used white 18mm zig zag cotton lace and pink ruffle edge sheer ribbon to tie around the card and I hung a snowflake charm behind the bow with a piece of candy pink divine twine. The flowers used were 30mm pink/white Mulberry rose, pink/whiter pretty blossoms and pink/white semi open rosebuds. The foliage was cut from green card with Martha Stewart punches. I added the sentiment matted onto pink card with plenty of Stardust Stickles and lastly added a couple of silver filigree corners.

I made a box from white card and added co-ordinating papers to the top and sides plus more of the pink ruffle edge sheer ribbon.

I was really pleased with how this card turned out - I even decorated the inside of the card and stamped the image again but didnt colour it in this time and I was especially pleased that my box-making skills are improving! Less 'oops and oh no's and trips to the recycling bin, and more 'oohs and aahs'

I will now enter this into the LOTV challenge, and also Totally Papercrafts, see you soon

Flowers, lace and ribbon are all from http://www.ribbongirl.co.uk/

Sentiment from Pink Petticoat

Silver corners from WOC

Mary G x

Flowers for you ....... and a clean and simple card

2011-10-26T07:00:00.003+01:00

This was my DT card for this weeks Papertake Weekly challenge which is a sketch. Humphrey is so cute with his bunch of roses! I decided on a bright sunny colour and added 18mm white zig zag cotton lace, 25mm large check golden yellow gingham ribbon and a couple of heart shaped pins (all from Ribbon Girl)

The image was coloured with copics and I added plenty of Stardust stickles.

Instead of my usual bouquet of mulberry flowers, I made my own with toning paper, added one small flat paper flower then finished it off with a flower shaped acrylic button tied on with lemon Divine Twine (both from Ribbon Girl). The flower was then liberally sprayed with sparkle from Crafters Companion. I added some stick on pearls to finish the card.

This is my entry for the Simply Less is More challenge, (to use polka dots) and I used polka dot paper which was cut with a die for the christmas ornament ........

and small red polka dot buttons as holly berries. The holly leaf die and the sentiment stamp are from Papertrey Ink. The only other embellishment is a 7mm red satin ribbon and a bit of doodling with a fine black pen!

Mary G x

It's 25th so it's time for a new 'Jingle all the way to Christmas' challenge ....

2011-10-25T09:00:00.003+01:00

As it's 25th of the month there is another 'Jingle all the way to Christmas' challenge over at the Ribbon Girl blog and this is my card:

I used a LOTV image which has been coloured with copics and smothered in Stardjust Stickles!

I added 30mm white zig zag cotton lace and 12mm silver lame ribbon - the flowers are a 30mm purple two tone rose, 20mm large white rosebuds and white pretty blossoms. Lace, ribbon and mulberry flowers are all from the Ribbon Girl. A doohickey swirl and a nice sentiment from LOTV complete the card. I will enter this card into the Totally Gorguss challenge 'Pastel Christmas'

A close up of the LOTV image

So please pop over to the Ribbon Girl blog and take a look at the fabulous projects made by the mega talented Ribbon Girls DT - we hope they inspire you to get cracking with your Christmas crafting and you could win a really nice prize, see above, if you enter the challenge which runs for two weeks until 8th November.

A cute Sugar Nellie ......

2011-10-24T10:54:00.002+01:00

I love my new Sugar Nellie stamp - I made this card for the challenge over at the sugar bowl challenge blog, 'clean and simple' following the sketch.

I coloured her with copics and added loads of Stardust Stickles

I usually add as much stuff as possible to my cards, but to comply with the 'clean and simple' aspect, I only used one small paper flower with one purple two tone pretty blossom (from The Ribbon Girl) and I cut two leaf and heart branches with my Magnolia die. Then the whole card was lightly sprayed with irridescent sparkle!

See you all tomorrow with a new challenge at Papertake Weekly and the Jingle all the Way to Christmas challenge at the Ribbon Girl!
This card has also been entered into the PanPastel Challenge

Mary G x

Tilda is in the pink .............

2011-10-23T17:51:00.003+01:00

Here is a Christmas card in a non-traditional colour - yes, it's salmon pink! I've coloured the Magnolia Tilda in with pink copics and used loads of stickles to make her glitter. I've gone to town on this card and even stitched around the image and frame!

I didn't need any excuse to get out my brand new Magnolia heart branch die to enhance my flower arrangement (small rose and some white pretty blossoms), and even managed to squeeze on a gorgeous snowflake cut with my new Magnolia die (I got a mistletoe branch and the snowflake in one pack - it'll be beans on toast for the rest of the month lol!!) The background paper looks like sheet music, but toned in with everything.

I used 38mm white guipure lace and pink twill stripe ribbon to finish the card, plus some self adhesive clear sparklies and a light spraying of irridescent glitter from Crafters Companion - looks even better in real life! I popped one clear gem into the middle of the delicate snowflake, it really is very pretty and I can see it will be used lots.

Guipure lace, twill ribbon, pretty blossoms all from Ribbon Girl

I will enter this card into the Just Magnolia challenge which is to use pink - I think this fits the bill!! Also into A Gem of a Challenge .

Wedding acceptance ... and a beheaded sunflower .....

2011-10-20T12:21:00.001+01:00

I wanted to make an acceptance card for a wedding invitation and thought I might make it to suit this weeks LOTV challenge - bingo - choose any line so I chose ribbon, flower and jewels. Actually, when I looked at the new challenge at LOTV which is set every Thursday before I started my card, I was gobsmacked to see I had made the top three! wow, I am thrilled to bits and immediately got my badge to put in the side bar.

I used this really cute die cut square from LOTV, and cupcake paper and added a bit of Stardust stickles to the bunnies and the cherries and cake stands etc. I added a swirl cut with the doohickey die, fuschia ruffle edge sheer ribbon on top of silver glitter mesh plus a pink/white two tone 30mm mulberry rose, a pink crown pin and a pink heart pin (ribbon, rose and pins all from Ribbon Girl) and you can see I love pink almost as much as I love anything that glitters!

I decorated the inside to complement the front and added our acceptance note

I typed the sentiment myself to make the card more personal and you can see the sweet cupcake paper here (sorry can't remember which pack it is from) but I thought it was relevant as I'm sure there will be yummy food at the reception

and here is the poor beheaded sunflower - my hubby managed to empty the pots on the back patio yesterday afternoon when the wind had gone down, and I passed him the scissors with the request to cut the flowers so I could pop them in water ................... I should have asked him to leave a stalk ...... poor flower!

See you all tomorrow,

Mary G x

Warm wishes ............

2011-10-19T07:28:00.001+01:00

Well I got the weather wrong yesterday, as it seemed calm and cloudless when I got up but a while later it was blowing a gale again and showered most of the day - hoping for calm weather soon to get the big pots on the back patio emptied and refilled with the rest of the winter pansies and primroses.

These three little cuties from LOTV are gorgeous aren't they? I kept the colouring very simple, just coloured the spots and stars on their little frocks with Copics in various greens to tone with the background paper, and added loads of stickles to the holly wreaths on their gingerish bonde hair. The 'warm wishes' sentiment is also from Lili of the Valley

The image was matted onto red card then white and added a big, beautiful red silky crush ribbon and bow and I even managed to tie the bow using Andrea's patented method - she must have shown me hundreds of time and I've no idea how it worked this time, perhaps I've got the knack at last lol! I added a silver filigree corner and some clear stick on gems from stash, plus plenty of Stardust Stickles. You can't have too much bling on cards, especially Christmas cards!

The flowers today are a small poinsetta and white steph (WO) and some white pretty blossoms with green leaves (Martha Stewart Punch) and holly leaves in various greens cut with a tiny die from Papertrey Ink.

I made this card for the current 'Warm and Cosy' Lili of the Valley challenge here

Back tomorrow, and if you haven't popped over to the Ribbon Girl Blog yet, the challenge is Lilacs and Greens, and at Papertake Weekly it is Spooky Hues

Bye for now

Mary G x

along came a spider, and sat down beside her ......

2011-10-18T12:00:00.005+01:00

So glad to see the gale force winds have died down - much chillier this morning, but clear and calm, let's hope it stays that way. Another little treat bag today - this time with the addition of legs - both from Papertrey Ink dies. The eyes are a small circle of white card with a black dewdrop stuck on. On the handle I used tiny orange ric rac; 5mm orange and white gingham; narrow satin and purple loopy trim, all from here

'Spooky Hues' is the new challenge over at Papertake Weekly this week - please take a minute to check out the fabulous work by the PTW Design Team - the prize this week is a halloween themed mini ribbon kit from

See you all tomorrow

Mary G x
Edited to say that I prepared this post early this morning and left it to publish at 12 noon - it was calm etc at 7am but as I write this it is lashing down with rain and the wind is howling!!

A little gift bag ...................

2011-10-16T09:01:00.003+01:00

This gift bag was cut with a die from Papertrey Ink - I used green card then added white guipure lace and orchid microdot ribbon - this would make a wonderful wedding favour if made in appropriate colours and filled with some yummy chocolates!

The lace, ribbons, purple two tone pretty blossoms and 30mm two tone purple rose are all from Ribbon Girl, as is the plain orchid satin ribbon on the handle. The leaves are from my Martha Stewart punch and the sentiment is from LOTV

I made this little gift bag for the Ribbon Girl Colour Challenge No 12 which begins today - please pop over and look at the fabulous creations by our very talented Design Team - you could win either a green or a lilac mini ribbon kit.

Mary G x

Tarte au citron, a sleepy westie and a bunch of roses ........

2011-10-15T14:12:00.000+01:00

Inspired by the Great British bake Off on BBC 2, I decided to try the Tarte au citron using the Mary Berry recipe which was featured in the September '11 Good Food Magazine. I had already made one papercraft project so thought I could take some time out to bake something yummy for tea-time

175g plain flour, 100 cold butter cut into cubes, 25g sifted icing sugar - made into fine breadcrumb like texture in the Chef then added one large egg yolk and one tablespoon of cold water - pulsed to amalgamate

Followed the instructions for rolling out the pastry, lined the loose based tin, pricked with a fork, put in some greaseproof paper and my baking beans (mine are actually dried marrowfat peas, they last for ages) and baked for 15 minutes then removed peas and paper and returned to oven for further 10 minutes then left it to cool while I made the filling.

5 large eggs, 125ml double cream, 225g caster sugar, finely grated zest and juice (150mls) of 4 unwaxed lemons. I poured the juice through my conical sieve to remove the pips. I had measured everything correctly, but when I poured the filling into the pastry case, I had too much filling - or was my pastry case not high enough? I'll make it higher next time! I poured the excess filling into a dish and baked it in the oven with the flan.

The finished tart - I sifted icing sugar over the top and left it to cool - looks nice but can't taste until tea time. However, Haggis always lies as close as he can to the oven when any food is being cooked, just to make sure he gets a taste, but as you can see, it took so long Haggis lost interest and snoozed in a patch of sunlight!!

My little sister Jackie brought me a gorgeous bunch of pink roses when she came for her regular Friday evening visit - aren't they gorgeous? I have one more card to make this afternoon then I'm going to get the sewing machine out - see you tomorrow for the Ribbon Girl Colour Challenge!!

Mary G x

A make up bag and plans for a pincushion .............

2011-10-14T07:27:00.001+01:00

I'm sharing my little make up bag with you this morning - made in the same fabric as the needle case, and trimmed with 7mm satin ribbon and a flower shaped sparkly acrylic button, both from the Ribbon Girl. The outside is a fat quarter from here and the wadding and pink and white striped lining are both from John Lewis. The patterns for both items are from the Tilda 'So Pretty Homestyle' book

I found the bag straightforward to make, except for the zip which caused me no end of problems - I think next time I try this I will make a rectangular shaped bag which I think will be much easier!

Well it's almost the weekend and I have plans to help plant up some new pots for the front of the house with pansies, primroses and spring bulbs, also for more sewing and card making - I ordered some new LOTV stamps and they popped through the letterbox yesterday and I have been looking around for some wooden rings which I need to make some pin cushions - suddenly realised I could use wooden curtain rings if I unscrewed the little hook!! So many plans, so little time ............ see you tomorrow (oh and please pop over to the Ribbon Girl blog on Sunday when our new colour challenge begins!

Mary G x

A new baby card - and the River Tyne at Night .....

2011-10-13T08:29:00.001+01:00

This card is for Sue and Joe who now have another grandson - congratulations! Following the coffee and cream theme over at this week's Just Magnolia and HS Challenge I coloured the hanglar image with copics and matted it onto plain brown cardstock. I used oloroso seam binding and cream traditional cluny fan pattern cotton lace - both from Ribbon Girl.

The Hanglar baby boy was coloured with Copics and then loads of Stardust Stickles to make his wings and his hat sparkle!

I found two flat flowers in the stash drawer and added a jewelled brad ring (not sure what its called) which I remember buying from The Hobby House at last years NEC show, and a pretty jewelled brad from my stash, naturally I added just a little Stardust Stickles to make the flower shine!
I will enter this card into the Just Magnolia challenge Anything Goes with the option of Coffee and Cream

We went out for a meal to our favourite italian restaurant last night and walked along the quayside on the Newcastle side of the Tyne - Andrea took these photos with her phone, but the quality is not bad at all

The Sage - it looks like a massive ocean liner and isn't the reflection lovley - to anyone who hasn't seen this in real life, during the day time the Sage looks like a gigantic slug, the roof is rounded shapes of grey glass.

Most of you will recognise the Millenium Bridge - looks spectacular at night!

See you all tomorrow

Mary G x

Mid October in my garden .....

2011-10-12T07:29:00.000+01:00

You might have noticed I am trying to be disciplined and blog every day - so no projects today but I thought I would show the back garden before the trees lose all of their leaves - we have a lot of evergreens so the garden never looks dull, but the recent strong winds and rain have encouraged the autumn leaves to drop fairly quickly and we'll soon have a mountain of them from the big trees behind the hedge

Just look at his gorgeous sunflower growing in the pot which contains our yellow climbing patio rose- I didn't plant the seed - it must have been dropped by one of the birds after they had been to the bird table

This beautiful red begonia was a gift from our friends Sue and Joe for our ruby wedding anniversary back in July - still going strong even though it is mid October! I'm hoping we can save the corm and replant next year

We're making the most of these pots and will enjoy the flowers until the first frost - then we'll replace them with the pansies and primroses in the blue box

Wow, just look at this crop of berries - enough to keep the birds going for a while!

I'll be back tomorrow with a baby card

Mary G x

Winner of Papertake Weekly Blog Hop Prize

2011-10-11T12:30:00.002+01:00

The winner of the £10 voucher to spend in the Ribbon Girl online store is you

Magagi

Please contact me to arrange your prize

and there is a new challenge on the Papertake Weekly blog which is to make a card using 3 shapes

- here is my card

This cute image is from LOTV and I coloured her with Copics. The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat, printed onto Safmat before sticking to plain white card matted onto a scrap of the striped paper from the semi circle.

I used a square for the background, a semi circle at the left hand side, and a rectangle in the centre - also added my favourite magnolia doohicky swirle and made a pretty little paper flower by punching plain white paper then adding a two tone purple pretty blossom and tied a lovely bow with the 25mm orchid large spot satin ribbon - flower and ribbon both from Ribbon Girl

So what are you waiting for - pop over to Papertake Weekly to see the awesome projects from the Design Team and to find out if you have won a prize in the birthday blog hop!

Mary G x

A little sewing project ........

2011-10-11T08:39:00.001+01:00

I fancied sewing something so had a look through our fabric and fat quarters and chose a pink flower fabric from here for the outside and a pink and white stripe cotton fabric from John Lewis for the inside.

It's a while since I stitched anything apart from stitching on cards, but got the hang of Andreas sewing machine and was quite pleased with my first effort. The pattern is from a Tilda book and I finished off this little needle case with a sparkly flower button and a scrap of 7mm pink satin ribbon, both from Ribbon Girl. Inspired by my needle case, I attempted a make up bag, picture later in the week ....

I'll be back later with details of who won the Papertake Weekly Challenge Blog Birthday Hop prize from my blog and a new challenge for you!

Mary G x

Gently falling snow ......................

2011-10-10T07:24:00.003+01:00

'Let it Snow' is the current LOTV challenge and I used one of their very useful die-cuts showing a bird house with snow gently falling for this Christmas card in traditional clours

I added Stardust Stickles to the snow on the image, a 38mm gold glitter mesh ribbon and some 12mm gold lame ribbon (both from the Ribbon Girl)

The background paper was left over from last Christmas and I used a LOTV stamp for the sentiment which was cut out with a nestie. The white Christmas rose and tiny leaves are from WO and the red berries, small roses and pretty blossoms are from Ribbon Girl. The last embellishment I used was a few self adhesive gems - I do like a bit of bling and shimmer!

I will enter this card into the

LOTV 'Let it Snow'

Hannah and Friends 'Glimmer, Flowers, Dies'

The ABC Challenge 'Anything Goes'

and here's a sneaky of my little sewing project - more tomorrow

Mary G x

Calendula - the flower of October .....

2011-10-09T20:23:00.002+01:00

This weeks challenge over at Daring Cardmakers is flower of the month - Calendula and Cosmos - I decided to make a card based on calendular (pot marigold) and coloured up my image with Copics (not promarkers as previously written, I think I've been reading too many blogs this evening lol .......)

I added plenty of Stardust Stickles to the centre of the flower.

As this wasn't a 'less is more' type of card, I managed to squeeze on loads of bits, including a medium orange polka dot button, some Berisford orange delight satin ribbon in two widths, 5mm orange gingham ribbon, tiny orange ric rac, orange and white Divine bakers twine, cream guipure flower lace and a gorgeous bronze colour dragon fly! (all available from Ribbon Girl) and three self adhesive pearls from stash.

I've had a busy but enjoyable weekend card making and sewing - it's a while since I sewed as you will see when I put the pictures on! I'll be back tomorrow with my card for the LOTV challenge and a sneaky peak of one of my sewing projects.

Mary G x

Hello (in Japanese) .... I hope .....

2011-10-05T19:03:00.000+01:00

The challenge over at Daring Cardmakers is to make a card which features foreign language - I am just hoping that this Japanese writing is acceptable (I just noticed the word European ...... oh dear) and that it is the right way up!! I looked up the Japanese word for Hello on the internet, and hopefully I have spelled it correctly. The papers are Tea House by Dovecraft, and the ribbon is Posie Seam Binding from The Ribbon Girl.

Mary x

ps please scroll down for the Papertake Weekly Birthday Blog Hop

Papertake Weekly Birthday Blog Hop .... and a new challenge ....

2011-10-04T12:00:00.043+01:00

Humphrey is plodding through the snow to wish PTW a very happy birthay - he's all wrapped up with his warm coat and scarf - he's so cute - (I know it isn't snowing yet, but it soon will be and I couldn't resist using this image from the new Christmas collection available from Crafters Companion )

I cut around the image with my new deckle edge die and matted it onto elephant grey/blue card, then onto a white background to make it stand out from the patterned paper.

The Papertake Weekly challenge this week is anything goes with the option of using punches - I punched a large snowflake which I covered in glue then glittered annd added an 18mm sparkly button and tied it on with ivory button twine.. Then I made the very pretty snowflake lace border, using a Martha Stewart punch. I used the pieces which were punched out to decorate the card - the rest of them decorated the floor, the sofa, the dog - you get the picture? While I was finishing off the bow of white satin ribbon I accidentally tore the corner of the punched snowflake lace but found making the lace very fiddly - it took a couple of attempts before I achieved a piece long enough for my card so wasn't inclined to remake the whole card!! Sparkly button, button twine and white satin ribbon all from here.

Papertake Weekly celebrate their birthday this week with a blog-hop and there are super prizes to win from Sir Stampalot, Lili of the Valley, The Ribbon Girl, Dies to Die For plus manhy other prizes which are shown on individual blogs.

The prize on my blog is a £10 voucher to spend in the Ribbon Girl online store

You should have arrived here from Jo's blog and the next blog to hop to is Andrea

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning on of the great prizes is to leave a comment on each of the blogs you visit, and of course, enter this week's challenge!! but most of all, have fun

Mary x

A christening card - and a baby elephant ..............

2011-10-02T22:44:00.001+01:00

Here is a christening card using the gorgeous LOTV stamp which I coloured with copics. I added white guipure 38mm lace beneath the image and the magnolia swirl was diecut from plain white card.

I finished the card with stardust stickles, and white silky crush ribbon, adding narrow purple satin ribbon and 5mm Berisford orchid gingham to the knot in the middle. Lastly, I threaded plum divine twine through an 18mm sparkly button and tied it to the bow - this card is for the LOTV Thursday Challenge 'button it'.

The ribbons, lace, twine and button are all from http://www.ribbongirl.co.uk/ I found it very difficult not to add a whole load of flowers, but restrained myself!

It was very rainy this afternoon, so I had a go at making a 'less is more' card - not my usual type of card at all - this week the challenge is to make a card based on the colour of your eyes - mine are greeny grey so here is Humphrey's baby brother, Jack (from the new Christmas collection). I got the shaped cards from the papercraft exhibition at Harrogate a few weeks ago. I used green copics sparingly, added loads of stardust stickles to the wings, mounted the image onto green card and added a scrap of celery twill stripe ribbon.

Some PTW news and another Christmas card ............

2011-09-27T15:03:00.000+01:00

I was gobsmacked and chuffed to bits when I was invited to join the Papertake Weekly Design Team recently - thank you ladies - I am so looking forward to making all those projects and progressing and improving my papercrafting skills! (and of course, best of all, I can be like Andrea now and say 'oh sorry, can't help with the ironing/shopping/housework etc today - I've got to finish my project for PTW lol .....)

The card above is my first project and I used a LOTV stamp coloured with copics (I will try and remember to write down the numbers from now on lol). I made a flower arrangement using leaves punched from green card with my Martha Stewart leaf and branch punches. Following a tip from Bev, I decanted my glue into a small screw top jar and use the handle of a crochet hook, (how naughty am I?) and I feel much more in control of the sticky stuff!. The snowflake was punched from white card and I added glue and glitter plus a stick on gem in the middle.

Recipe:

White 16mm Grosgrain Ribbon; 12mm White Cotton Lace; 13mm and 30mm White Mulberry Roses; White Mini Rosebuds; 15mm White/White Pretty Blossoms; Image and Sentiment Stamps are from LOTV

(Mulberry flowers, lace and ribbons are all from the Ribbon Girl)

The card was finished off with Stardust stickles and I can't remember where the papers were from, sorry

Hope you go and visit the Papertake Weekly Challenge Blog and I'm looking forward to seeing all of the entries from the sketch this coming week!

Mary x

New Jingle all the Way Challenge .......

2011-09-25T07:59:00.002+01:00

Over at The Ribbon Girl Blog we have a new monthly challenge which will begin on 25th of every month and inspire you to get all your crafting organised for Christmas.

It certainly got me in the mood for making Christmas cards and here is one I made yesterday and which I will enter into the Lili of the Valley Challenge 'aqua, white and glitter'

A Christmas card in aqua and white - the background paper was plain white card stamped with a Papertrey Ink snowflake stamp using hawaian shore ink to match the copics I used to colour in the gorgeous Lili of the Valley image.

I cut the circle and the scallop mat with a nestabilities die and I added some 22mm guipure lace. The sentiment stamp was also from Papertrey Ink. Plenty of stardust stickles were added to the wings, snowflakes and the scarf to make them stand out.

I used 30mm, 25mm and 13mm white mulberry roses plus mini rosebuds which also got a dusting of Stardust Stickles, then Berisford 25mm peacock blue satin ribbon plus a snowflake charm tied on with aqua Bakers Divine Twine which completed the card. Roses, buds, ribbon, lace, twine and charm are all from Ribbon Girl.

------------------------------
Don't forget that the Ribbon Girl monthly colour challenge still has another week to run, so if you haven't entered yet, there's still time and I can't wait to see your Christmas projects - cards, knits, sewing, crochet, felt, anything you fancy - and of course if you use ribbons, buttons, lace or bling on it, then so much the better!
Mary

Red Poppy Birthday Card ....

2011-09-19T18:45:00.001+01:00

I have often admired this lovely poppy stamp on Kath's blog and she kindly gave me the name of it and whereto buy one (Delicate Blossoms by Hero Arts which I bought from the Glitter Pot - I was really pleased with it and coloured it with Copics. I mounted the stamped area onto black card with a strip of black and white spotted paper behind it, plus some gorgeous red ruffle edge sheer ribbon from Ribbon Girl.

The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat and was printed onto Safmat then adhered to card.
I finished the card with stardut stickles on topof the black flower centres - I will enter this card into the challenge 'anything but square' at Totally Gorjuss

Mary

Cute LOTV boy putting up his Christmas Tree ......

2011-09-18T20:57:00.000+01:00

I coloured in this cute LOTV boy putting up his Christmas tree at the Middlesbrough crop a week past Saturday, but only made it into a card this afternoon. I used Papermania and Echo park papers, plus a doohicky die swirl (my favourite)

I added a 30mm white rose, 13mm whitee roses, white pretty blossoms, some shiny red berries (all from Ribbon Girl) holly leaves from WOrchid.

Lastly I added a sumptuous bow made from 38mm red faux silk - feels and looks gorgeous!, with a large clear acrylic round button and a christmas tree charm tied to the button with dark green button twine - again, all from Ribbon Girl.

I will enter this into the LOTV challenge 'red, green, white' and also into Lets Craft and Create

and now I'm off to watch Downton Abbey!!

Colour Challenge No 11 at the Ribbon Girl Blog .....

2011-09-18T09:26:00.001+01:00

There's a new challenge over at the Ribbon Girl blog - the theme is browns and greens and this is my DT card. Please check out the other projects made by the mega talented Design Team - this month we are joined by our new teamie Tab and we welcome back our lovely Guest Designer Jane.

I used a Molly Blooms stamp (available from our friend Jean) and coloured Maid Molly with prisma pencils. The frame is craft card cut with a nestabilies die and I used 25mm cream satin ribbon for the bow. I finished my card with 30mm, 25mm and 13mm roses and pretty blossoms, all from Ribbon Girl.

The prize is a Limited Edition Halloween Mini Ribbon Kit

a £5 voucher to spend in the Ribbon Girl online store

and a £10 voucher kindly provided by the lovely Laila and Lisa of Lili of the Valley to spend in their online store - and they've just introduced their new Christmas collection so you will be spoiled for choice!!

Gardening God's Way .......

2011-09-16T19:27:00.000+01:00

Our good friend Joe popped this through our letterbox this afternoon - I thought it was so nice that I would like to share it with you just in case you hadn't read it before.

GARDENING GOD'S WAY

Plant three rows of peas:

Peace of mind

Peace of heart

Peace of soul

Plant four rows of squash

Squash gossip

Squash indifference

Squash grumbling

Squash selfishness

Plant four rows of lettuce:

Lettuce be faitful

Lettuce be kind

Lettuce be obedient

Lettuce really love one another

It would be no garden without turnips:

Turnip for meetings

Turnip for service

Turnip to help one another

Water free with patience and cultivate with love

There is much fruit in your garden because you reap what you sow

To conclude, we must have thyme:

Thyme for God

Thyme for study

Thyme for prayer

Spicy Red Tomato and Fruit Chutney ..............

2011-09-14T13:14:00.000+01:00

The recipe for spicy red tomato and fruit chutney is:

1.5kgs of ripe red tomatoes

250g onion

250g cooking apples

200g sultanas

100g ripe plums

100g chopped dried dates

750g white or brown sugar

425mls white or brown vinegar

1 level tablespoon of salt

1.5 level teaspoons of ground black pepper

1 rounded teaspoon of ground ginger

1.5 rounded teaspoons of allspice

2 or 3 large cloves of garlic

0.5 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

or more if you like it hot hot hot!!

Place the tomatoes in two large bowls and pour boiling water over them and leave for 5 to 10 minutes. Carefully drain off the hot water then stab each tomato with a very sharp little knife and peel off the skin - a messy job but worth it for a nicer texture of chutney.

I used the mincer on my Kenwood Chef to prepare everything so it was quick and easy but if you like to chop, just finely chop all of the fruit and veg - if you have just decorated your kitchen, use a knife and chop - I managed to add red splodge marks to everything within reach but still quicker than chopping by hand lol

When everything has been chopped or minced into the pan, you can add the spices

then the sugar and vinegar

when everything is in your largest pan place on a medium heat until it begins to boil, turn down to a reasonable simmer and stir often so it doesn't stick.

After a couple of hours (may take longer) the chutney will have thickened to jam consistency and the colour will change to a dark brown (the wider the pan the quicker it will be ready, so if you have a preserving pan use it)

While the chutney is cooking, wash the jars (I filled 12 of the small 8oz jars from The Jam Jar Company) rinse well and place in the oven to dry/sterilise - at least 15 minutes at 250deg. Turn off the oven and leave them to keep warm, meanwhile, place the clean lids into a large bowl and pour over boiling water. Leave for 10 minutes and extract with tongs upside down onto clean kitchen paper to drain. Dry with more clean kitchen paper and leave on a clean cloth.

I always ladel the chutney from the big pan into a Pyrex jug so it is easier to pour, and I always use a jam funnel which helps to avoid splashing with near boiling chutney, because it will burn you!

Top up the jars to almost the top, then place a wax disc on top of the chutney (the wax melts to help form an airtight seal) then carefully screw on the clean lid - use a cloth as the jar will be very very hot. When the jars have cooled slightly, tighten up the lids once more

When the jars have cooled label them now if you wish or wait until you want to decorate as a special gift for someone, and place them in a cool cupboard for at least two weeks, preferably a bit longer, so the flavours mature - this home made chutney makes a really nice gift for your friends and family. ps I hope I haven't missed anything out - please tell me if I have, as I would hate anyone to go to the trouble of making it only to find it doesn't turn out well!!

Mary x

A Happy Bearthday Card ....

2011-09-05T20:47:00.001+01:00

I made this boy birthday card is for the Lili of the Valley challenge sketch here - I coloured the very cute bears with prisma pencils. The green button, apple green divine twine, celery green twill stripe ribbon and black dewdrops are all from the Ribbon Girl - I had to restrain myself from adding piles and piles of flowers lol and instead went for a strip of paper lace which I made with a Martha Stewart punch - several attempts were needed before I got a perfect piece and the floor was littered with the punched scraps!!

And don't forget ladies, Lili of the Valley are launching another set of Christmas stamps tonight 5th September at midnight .... don't miss it!

Mary G x

Tilda brings some sunshine to a rainy Saturday afternoon .......................

2011-09-03T22:45:00.001+01:00

It was such a rainy Saturday afternoon that I used sunshine colours for this card. Tilda holding a gift has been coloured with Prisma pencils and blended with Sansodor using paper stumps. I added stardust stickles to her hat, dress and most of the mulberry flowers.

I found it a bit difficult to get the colour just right on her face using Prisma pencils, but will keep practicing. The background papers were from an October Afternoon pack and I actually sat at the sewing machine and stitched around all the edges - just shows what good progress I am making with my hip replacement!

I used Copics pens to add just the right shade of golden yellow to these Mulberry flowers (30mm rose, 10mm semi open rosebuds, white pretty blossoms - the white gyp is from Wild Orchid - then I added some gorgeous cream traditional fan pattern Cluny Lace and 15mm Berisford golden yellow double faced satin ribbon. (Mulberry Roses, Rosebuds, Pretty Blossoms, lace and ribbon are all from Ribbon Girl)

This card is for Just Magnolia & hAnglar & sTanglar Challenge - Anything Goes (I didn't make use of the option to use circles on this card)

Mary G x

Molly Bloom is in the pink .................

2011-09-01T11:37:00.000+01:00

This is a 60th birthday card for my friend Catharine. The actual card was cut with a Go Create die as was the background paper which is from an October Afternoon pad.

I used 'Molly Sitting' (rubber stamps are now available from our friend Jean at 3D Jean which I coloured in with prisma pencils blended with Sansador - I normally use copics - but I quite enjoyed using Andrea's new pencils, similar to using watercolour pencils.

I added 7mm fuschia satin and 12mm white cotton lace, plus 30mm pink/white roses, 10mm rosebuds and 15mm pink/white pretty blossoms, all from Ribbon Girl. I watched Bev's video on how to fix flowers and have decanted my crafters pick glue into a small screw top jar - much easier to get some out with a pokey tool than try to squeeze it out of the tube. The green leaves were punched with my Martha Stewart punches.

A challenge card by Angela .....

2011-08-27T16:57:00.000+01:00

Angela would like to add this beautiful card to the Ribbon Girl challenge but doesn't have a blog - Angela I'm so so sorry I forgot to add it in so I am putting it on my blog and adding it right now (and I've slapped my wrist twice for forgetting!!!) Mary x

Do you like sparkle, glitter, twinkle, shimmer, bling? ....... then read on to find out how to win some .......

2011-08-14T15:21:00.002+01:00

Hello, over at the Ribbon Girl Blog we're back with a new challenge today to end the Birthday celebrations for the Ribbon Girl. The challenge is very simple:

Create a new project that features ribbon

We would love to see all kinds of projects - cards, papercrafts, cakes, crochet, knitting and fabric crafts etc

Please create a new project - no backlinking, mention this challenge in your blog post and of course there is no need to use ribbon from The Ribbon Girl but it would be lovely if you do :) The challenge will run for 2 weeks and will end on the evening of Saturday 27th August (UK time) - so please, pop over to the ribbon girl blog now and have a look at the great prize on offer - all products featured are available from our online store: http://www.ribbongirl.co.uk/

Mary x

Lots of buttons - and a cute piccy of Haggis

2011-08-08T21:05:00.000+01:00

Don't miss the new game over at the Ribbon Girl blog - Andrea has put a new party game on as we're still celebrating our birthday ....... you could win 6 packets of small polka dot buttons in colours of your choice ....... and isn't this a gorgeous photo of Haggis? I think I'll use him as my blog photo ..... by the way, I've just added the most beautiful metallic mesh glitter ribbon in gold and silver plus some fabulous petite crown pins in very pretty colours over at the Ribbon Girl online store Mary x

Blog Hop Winner ............

2011-08-07T22:27:00.002+01:00

Congratulations Marjorie - you have been picked as the winner of the prize on my blog!

Please contact the Ribbon Girl with your address so we can get your gift mailed out to you ......................... everyone else, thanks for the lovely comments you left us - we have so enjoyed running our ribbon shop and supplying all of you lovely crafty ladies (and gents) with ribbons and lovely accessories.

ps If you like playing games don't miss the Ribbon Girl Blog on Monday 8th August - there will be a little game to play and a nice prize to win!

Mary x Sunday 7th August 2011

Ribbon Girl Birthday Blog Hop

2011-08-01T08:59:00.001+01:00

Today the Ribbon Girl is celebrating it's birthday with a fantastic prize filled blog hop!

There is a prize to be won on each blog simply by leaving a comment on every blog that you visit, each prize has a rainbow selection of ribbons, pins, buttons and charms. All the blog hop giveaways will end on the 7th August

If you joined the blog hop at the start then you should have come here from the lovely Jacqui, if you've just arrived then you can go to the start of the blog hop at The Ribbon Girl blog but leave a comment here first so that you are entered to win my giveaway!!

If you get lost off here is the full list of all the Ribbon Girl DT members who are joining in with the blog hop

Mary - That's me!

Thanks for joining in with the Ribbon Girl birthday celebrations, keep checking on this blog all this month for lots of giveaways and prizes as we continue to celebrate for the whole of August!!

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our lovely customers who love the Ribbon Girl as much as we do and to welcome Vicky to our permanent Design Team - we are so lucky to have her join us now that her guest designer spot has ended.

Posted by Mary

Ruby Wedding Card .... and news of a give away ....

2011-07-27T08:18:00.000+01:00

My husband and I celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary on Sunday gone, and I made him this card using this lovely Lili of the Valley diecut.

I added some gorgeous pink mulberry blossoms, large rosebuds, 35mm and 25mm roses and 25mm rose leaves, which you can find here in the next day or so plus my Martha Stewart branch punch was put to good use again. I tied a bow with 100% pure silk ribbon in Rose and finished the card with some sparkly stick on gems

Now I don't know about your other half, but mine always changes the lyrics to that old Peggy Lee song 'Mr Wonderful - that's you' to 'Mr Wonderful, that's me' so I put the song inside the card - he is wonderful by the way and I wouldn't swap him! I cut the number 40 with Papertrey Ink Paper Dies and used the leftover rose patterned paper from the front of the card.

Andrea and I have been very busy this weekend with family celebrations and also our lovely friend Sue came over to the UK from New Zealand and spent a couple of days with us, but if you pop over to the Ribbon Girl Blog this evening you will find a give away of one of our RED mini ribbon kits .

New colour challenge No 10 over at the Ribbon Girl blog ......

2011-07-17T09:54:00.000+01:00

There is a new challenge at the Ribbon Girl Blog using shades of AQUA - you could win one of our new aqua mini kits and as usual, the very generous girls at Lili of the Valley have given a £10 voucher to spend in their online store (just in time for 25th July when they launch their new Christmas stamps!)

If you need some inspiration to get you started on a project, you'll be amazed at the fabulous creations the very talented Ribbon Girls have made - absolutley stunning so please pop over and feast your eyes!

New Mini Kits ..... and you can win a Christmas kit!

2011-07-10T07:58:00.000+01:00

Following our very successful special collection ribbon kits, we have just launched our new Mini Kits at only £6.50 each which will be available in red, orange, green, fuschia, black, aqua and Christmas. If you pop over to the Ribbon Girl Blog you could win a Christmas mini kit - all you have to do is leave a comment there and a link on your blog.

A get well soon card for Catherine ......

2011-06-21T13:54:00.000+01:00

This card is for Catherine who is having surgery on Thursday - the image was coloured with Copics and cut with nestabilities then layered onto toning card. I doodled around the edge of the image with a fine black pen, then as a contrast to the darker colours, I used ruffle edge sheer ribbon in white.

I made a floral arrangement with a large rose, some rosebuds, gyp and white blossom, then added just a touch of Stardust stickles - I couldn't help myself! I do like a bit of bling.

I tied some plum purple divine twine through the hole in this silver dragonfly charm, so I could tie it around the blossom stem then slot the stem through the knot in the bow so I could get the look I wanted. Some self adhesive lilac coloured pearls finished the card and I pray that Catherine will soon be healed.

I will enter this card into the Stamping Sisters in Christ Challenge to make a card that you doodle on; also for A Gem of a Challenge - make a card with flowers and a charm

Ribbon, twine, charm are all from the Ribbon Girl

Ribbon Girl Colour Challenge No 9 ..... Pink and Cream

2011-06-19T00:27:00.000+01:00

I got to choose the colour for the Ribbon Girl colour challenge this month - PINK & CREAM. I used one of my new LOTV girlie stamps - this is Milly - Flower Power and I coloured her with copics and added stardust stickles to the flower centre. I can't wait to use the other new stamps in the girlie range - they are all very cute.

I added a strip of ivory faux silk ribbon plus a lovely bow (this imitation silk ties the most gorgeous bows) and a length of cream Cluny Lace in traditional fan pattern. I cut a magnolia doohickey swirl from cream card and last of all made a flower arrangement using various Wild Orchid roses, buds, gypsophalia and some green leaves cut with my Martha Stewart punches. Last thing to add was some self adhesive pearls.

The prizes for one randomly selected winner will be a £10 voucher generously donated by Lisa and Laila of Lili of the Valley to spend in the LOTV store and either a Pink or a Cream/Whiite Special Selection Ribbon Kit from the Ribbon Girl online store

The challenge will run for two weeks from 19th June and I look forward to seeing your entry - and you don't have to use our ribbons and accessories but we'd love it if you did! Happy crafting.

Girl on a big red toadstool ......

2011-06-10T09:53:00.002+01:00

This is my entry for the 100th LOTV challenge -anything goes I know I can't win a prize 'cos we're sponsoring this week :) lol but I just wanted to enter a card in their 100th challenge). I used one of my new die-cuts (I don't think the actual rubber stamp is available yet from LOTV) and teamed it with green backing paper and a strip of 30mm cotton lace from here. I added a happy birthday sentiment which I stamped, handcut then mounted onto red backing paper, then hand cut again.

I added 25mm Berisford red gingham and a large mushroom charm (both from here)

I didn't have a suitable flower so I punched two with a flower punch then added 7 sparklies to make a centre and some green leaves - quite effective I think. I really enjoyed making this card and I love using red and white.

...I've never seen an elephant fly .................

2011-06-09T23:07:00.001+01:00

Here is the very cute and cuddly Lottie with wings from our new CD (and rubber stamps) of Humphries Corner stamps and printables from Crafters Companion. The background paper was also from the CD. I distressed around the image and the sentiment with brown ink and used some of our very fine natural colour cluny lace, posie seam binding and part of a pearl flourish to add a touch of richness. I finished off with a nice selection of flowers, leaves and corners from Wild Orchid.

I made this card for the St Lukes Hospice challenge - the challenge this month is to make a card including wings or anything that flies - when you have made and entered your card, you then pack it up with an envelope, in a clear cellophane pack to keep it clean, and post it off with an envelope so the card can be sold in aid of the hospice funds - great idea isn't it - thanks to Ciara for letting us know about it and we hope you will all join in and help raise some cash for this very worthy cause.

I was inspired by Sasha to make this card for my sister's 42nd wedding anniversary on 7th June - I have to say I'm useless at this less is more malarky and was soon sticking flowers ribboons and charms on to my card!!

I tried really hard to make my floral arrangement look pretty (my sister is a florist!!) The heart charm and seam binding both from http://www.ribbongirl.co.uk/ and flowes are from Wild Orchid.

Friends are like bras ...............

2011-06-02T23:15:00.001+01:00

I was so tickled to find this saying on the internet 'friends are like bras - next to your heart and there for support' :) This card is for two challenges, the PaperTake Weekly sketch and the Just Magnolia 'Friends' challenge. edited at 23.23 tonight to say I dilly dallied around so much I have missed the deadline for Just Magnolia! no blue frog, collection closed - that'll teach me to get a wriggle on and get my card in on time :(

The papers are 'off-cuts' from Andreas digital papers from the Sweet Shoppe - she got them ready to start a new project and they were just lying on the desk and I thought she didn't want them - after all, a crafter would never pinch another crafters paper would she? I coloured the image first, then looked for paper and they seemed to match so well I couldn't resist them. I used a fine black pen to make the imitation stitching around the image.

The stamp is new from hAnglar and I coloured it with Copics - I looked at the examples in their shop for ideas for the colouring and ended up using pinks and greens.

The ribbon is Siam Pink seam binding from here and I added some green leaves from an ordinary leaf punch as my Martha Stewart leaves and branch punches are temporarily lost in a draw (that means I've tidied them away and can't remember where they went) The flower is from Wild Orchid and the glitzy tiny flowers are from my stash. I made this card in two sessions over two days and have spent the rest of the time admiring it lol! I don't get any quicker I'm afraid.

Lilac and Pink Colour Challenge

2011-05-15T09:21:00.004+01:00

This is the card I made for the new Colour Challenge No 8 over at the Ribbon Girl Blog - this months colours are Pinks and Lilacs - there's a fab prize of a collection of ribbons, lace, felt and embellishments from the Ribbon Girl shop plus a £10 LOTV voucher from the lovely Laila and Lisa over at Lili of the Valley - and if you missed the launch of their new boy stamps, get yourself over now before they're all gone!

I wanted to make a pretty thank-you card for the Marie Curie Hospice where my late brother-in-law received such wonderful care in the last months by the very caring and devoted staff and I decided to attempt an easel card with heaps of flowers, bling, ribbons etc. As we're still crafting out of plastic boxes while the building work continues, I spent most of the time walking back and forth looking for just the right paper or embellishment! I used one of our new Molly Blooms stamps - this one is 'Molly Sitting' which I coloured with copics and carefully cut out. I added Stardust Stickles to enhance Molly's dress and I used a nestie to make the lacy background, then embossed a circle of white card with roses using a cuttlebug folder and used digital papers (Christmas Kitsch) from Sweet Shoppe designs. I love our new rhinestone and pearl flourishes and choose the very sparkly rhinestone flourish for the front of the card.

and spent ages arranging the Wild Orchid roses, blossoms and rose-buds with punched foliage from Martha Stewart punches and also added 25mm satin ribbon. I must say that I am having more success placing my flowers and leaves now that I am using incredibly tacky glue from Wild Orchid - it allows me to move everything around until I'm happy with the result.

I used one of the straight lengths of diamante from the rhinestone flourish to make the 'stop' on base of the easel card and added more Wild Orchid flowers (pretty blossoms and rose buds) plus some leaves from my facvourite Martha Stewart punch. The sentiment is from Papertrey Inks.

I had such fun making this card, and those who know me won't be surprised to learn that it took me nearly a full day to complete and the rest of the day to admire! lol

Honey Bee

2011-05-04T23:21:00.002+01:00

Here is a round card using aTeddy Bo as a honey bee image coloured with copics.

I cut a white circle with a Nestabilitie die and placed it on another die cut circle of flowery october afternoon paper, all matted onto dark brown textured card. The wings were sparkled with lots of Stardust stickles.

I went to town with the flowers and foliage and used my new sweetheart blossoms, some roses and some tiny rosebuds, all from Wild Orchid, plus some leaves I punched with two Martha Stewart punches.

I finished off the card with satin ribbon, very fine cream cluny lace, black narrow ric-rac, a black and white spotty button and a bumble bee charm, all tied together with natural button twine (all from here)
I will enter this into the Papertake Weekly challenge (anything goes, option of circles) and also Stamp Something, anything with wings plus edited to add Wild Orchid, white plus 2 colours plus roses (forgot to include the WOC challenge have done it today 8th May)

Molly and Haggis ......

2011-04-29T15:27:00.001+01:00

Our 2 year old Westie Haggis was a little star when we tied red, white and blue ribbons to his harness for his pre-wedding walk and he was as good as gold while we were glued to the television for the big day - wasn't her dress gorgeous? and they looked so happy ......

I had great fun inking up my new Ballerina Molly Molly Blooms stamp which I coloured with Copics - if you like Molly Blooms we've just added a whole lot more of them to the Ribbon Girl shop. I added a wide celery-green silk ribbon to go with the green in the October Afternoon pink and green background paper, then a silver coloured charm (ballet shoes) tied on with candy pink Divine Twine - all from Ribbon Girl. The sweetheart blossom and the ornate silver corner is from Wild Orchid and the swirl is cut with a Magnolia Doohickey die

I added stardust stickles to her dress and hair ribbon.

The inside of the card was decorated to compliment the front and I managed to squeeze just a little bit more stardust stickles on and another Magnolia doohickey swirl. The happy birthday sentiment is from Lili of the Valley and the pink stick on gems are from http://www.3djean.co.uk/

Big birthday wishes from Sailor Boy..............

2011-04-23T19:48:00.004+01:00

So sorry my DT red/white/blue card is so late for the Ribbon Girl colour challenge No 7 but better late than never, so here is my offering with the new HAnglar sailor boy stamp which I have coloured with copics. I followed the sketch from this weeks Just Magnolia and HAnglar & Stanglar challenge and will enter my card in their challenge

He is rather large to fit into a circle, so I had to cut him out and have put him on top of a circle cut from a map. I was itching to add some flowers, but as it is a man card I thought it better to add a nice red heart pin which I made into a flag by stamping the sentiment, inking the edges and curling it a bit then glued it to the pin.

For a boy-type ribbon I used white saddlestitch ribbon with black stitching and added a bronze boat charm fixed to hang from a small red polka dot button tied to the ribbon with ivory button twine.

All of the papers I used were matted onto white before assembling my card. (sorry, other than October Afternoon and My Minds Eye I'm not sure which other books I took the papers from) The white background for my map circle was made with a nestability die. The saddlestitch, pin, charm, button twine and the polka dot button are all from http://www.ribbongirl.co.uk/

ps did you know we have put some items in our 'SALE' section at the ribbon girl shop - if you need coloured stickles, wide ric rac, centre spot grosgrain, striped buttons, reversible spot ribbon and mini glossy accents - pop over now so you won't be disappointed!

A Perfect Wedding Day .........

2011-04-11T12:53:00.000+01:00

It's been rather busy recently preparing everything for a family wedding in just three weeks, due to health problems all of the arrangements were done at break-neck speed, and the bride and groom (who is very, very ill) thoroughly enjoyed their special day, the weather was fabulous, the ceremony was perfect and the receptions (day and evening) were very enjoyable. The bride's neices made two excellent buffets, one for the day time and another for the evening and around 150 friends and relatives had a great day!
Andrea has been very poorly with a chest infection (she's getting a bit better now, thanks ti penicillin), so I was allowed to gillotine, stick and tie paper, ribbons and embellishments!! Quite a few went into the bin, but practice makes perfect!!

I did a three-tier cake, but the bottom tier was actually polystyrene which I iced and decorated like the the other two. All of the flowers were silk and the ribbon and silver and white cord were from http://www.ribbongirl.co.uk/. My sister (Jackie) made the top arrangement and we added in some pink crystal stalks and pearls.

The separators between tiers started life as empty plastic ribbon spools - I cut some big circles on the grand calibur using nestabilities and glued about 6 pieces of thick paper together and stuck top and bottom of the ribbon spool. The silk flower heads were all cut off the stalks and I glued them in - I used 22mm guipure lace on the bottom separator and the entire cake had tiny hearts cut from icing sugar dotted around at random.

The bride's bouquet was made by my sister (Jackie) and I was allowed to wire and gutta the individual flower heads and leaves - wow, my finger ends were so sore!! We think the bouquet looked as good as fresh flowers and the bride loved it.

The handle of the bouquet and the large bow was made from pale pink faux silk again from the ribbon girl.

The bride's mother's corsage was made with the same flowers as the bride and the cake, and was trimmed with 15mm satin ribbon, as were all of the carnation buttonholes.

My hubby (who was also the Best Man) printed out the photographs on Sunday and mounted them on purple/pink/lavender cardstock and we put them in this plain album which we tied with 25mm satin ribbon, plum purple divine twine and an ornate heart charm - all from http://www.ribbongirl.co.uk/

Well be taking it easy for the next week or so!

Rainy Day George .......

2011-03-20T08:00:00.003Z

Meet George - one of our new range of Molly Blooms rubber stamps - they are really cute! George has been coloured with Copics and matted onto green card. The background paper is October Afternoon and the ribbon is twill stripe in Celery Green. I tied a bronze umbrella charm onto the bow with natural button twine. I don't do many boy cards and would rather have stuck on some lovely flowers and pearls but I finished the card with some pale lime green polka dot buttons and button twine instead! Molly Blooms stamps, ribbon, charm, buttons and button twine are all from here. I am entering this into Totally Gorjuss Challenge 'Button It', Creative Card Crew 'Something Green'; This is my DT card for Ribbon Girl Colour Challenge No 6 'Green and Yellow' ; For Fun Challenges - A Bit of the Green

Some little mice for Mary ......

2011-03-14T07:16:00.004Z

I made this card for an old friend, Mary and just had to try out one of my new Lili of the Valley stamp from their new Spring Animals range. I coloured the image sparingly with Copics and enhanced the 'icing sugar' with stardust stickles. The stickles and cluny cotton lace in traditional fan pattern is from here and the flowers and metal corner are from Wild Orchid. The leaves were punched with my Martha Stewart leaf punch and branch punch.

I also added open weave ribbon in fuschia plus a teapot charm held in place with a teardrop pin (Mary loves her tea with 5 teaspoons of sugar in it, and yes, she still has her own teeth!!) all from Ribbon Girl then finished with some stick on pearls

The inside of the card was decorated and I used one of the lovely LOTV 'recipe' stamps for my message. I will enter this into the Totally Gorjuss challenge calling for a card with lace and pearls and Wild Orchid Challenge - a project with punching or diecuts.

Birthday card for my sister

2011-02-28T19:10:00.002Z

This is a birthday card for my little sisters' 60th birthday. The background papers are from Clip Art Fairy and I coloured the Magnolia image with copics. The inside of the card was also decorated.

The flowers are all from Wild Orchid, as are the small pearl hearts which I've used on each corner. The leaves have been cut with my Martha Stewart Punch. The diamond swirl is from stash and the cream lace, peach sheer ruffle ribbon, Stardust Stickles and May Arts string/loop ribbon are all from Ribbon Girl. I will enter this for the Wild Orchid Challenge 'anything goes' and The Pink Elephant Challenge ' Buttons, Ribbon, Lace'

Love ......

2011-02-20T11:30:00.001Z

I distressed all edges with antique linen distressing ink and used an MFT die from Dies to Die For to make the doily from brown kraft card. The backing papers are from the Floral Fantasy digital range from Bearly Mine mounted onto brown kraft card.

I coloured the image with copics, the gorgeous metal corners and pink roses are from Wild Orchid. I punched leaves with my Martha Stewart leaf punch and branch punch and added some Stardust Stickles, pink satin ribbon, and a pink crown pin keeps the butterfly charm (from stash) in place. NB: Ribbon Girl will have a large selection of charms available in the next few days. Stickles, Ribbon, Pin all from Ribbon Girl

This card is for the Ribbon Girl Colour Challenge No 5 (pink/cream/brown) and I am also entering this card into the Just Magnolia challenge 'love you'

have a wonderful day .......

2011-02-20T09:54:00.002Z

I love this little hedgehog lying on a bed of flowers ...... he looks as if he's just had a huge meal! I stamped him onto kraft card and coloured him with copics. The image was mounted onto white then navy plain card, then I stuck it onto more plain kraft and adhered to a plain white card. (I have to say that Andrea was most impressed at my restraint - I usually go for 'more is better' approach to cardmaking and I love adding as many embellishments as possible.

All it needed was a tiny piece of peacock blue ribbon pencil stripe ribbon and a small piece of natural button twine to finish, both from http://www.ribbongirl.co.uk/

This is for my husbands umpteenth birthday on Tuesday and I am also entering it into the Penny Black Saturday Challenge

note: considering the weather this morning is GREY, wet and miserable, I am amazed that the photo has turned out so well (taken in the back garden first thing this morning by Andrea still wearing her pj's)

Take it easy ........

2011-02-16T19:22:00.000Z

I made this card using the Just Magnolia sketch by Mina and will enter it for the challenge. The backing papers are from a Christmas pack, sorry I can't remember which one and plain green card from stash. Copics were used to colour the cute little image who is taking a rest in the garden (you can tell she's in a garden because her stool is ever so slightly crooked (ahem, my fault - I will try harder next time)

I punched leaves from the green backing card with my Martha Stewart leaf and branch punches - I love these little punches. The flowers are from Wild Orchid and the green satin ribbon and white cotton lace is from the Ribbon Girl, as is the Stardust Stickles.

The gorgeous butterfly is from our stash, but I see it has lost one of the little gemstones - not to worry, I put plenty of stick on green gems around the scallop oval which I cut on the sizzix using a nestabilities die

Cupcakes and Seam Binding Give Away ...

2011-02-15T21:25:00.000Z

15th February 2011 - Over at the Ribbon Girl blog there is a chance to win the gorgeous cupcakes (above) made by our very talented friend Gail together with 4 packs of seam binding - better hurry, the winner will be chosen on Saturday evening because the Ribbon Girl Colour Challenge begins on Sunday 20th February!

Inspired by violets .....

2011-02-06T21:37:00.002Z

6th February - At last, I've found time to make some cards!! I coloured one of Andreas' Hanglar stamps with Copics at the Durham crop last Friday night - this little gardening girl with her cart and gardening equipment has been mounted on some green card which tones with her boots! The background paper is by Wendy at the Clipart Fairy.

I added some 22mm guipure lace above the strip of green card and added some 25mm mauve satin ribbon. I added quite a lot of Stardust Stickles to enhance the image. Lace, ribbon and stickles all from Ribbon Girl

Violet coloured flowers from Wild Orchid have been placed on top of green leaves made with my favourite Martha Stewart leaf punch - I also used the leaves as 'corners' and enhanced them with a violet coloured rhinestone. I will enter this card into the Daring Cardmakers challenge and also the Just Magnolia and Hanglar & Stanglar challenge 'with ribbons'
Oh dear, it's so long since I made a card, I've just noticed I didn't shape the ends of the satin ribbon before photographing the card lol!

Ribbon flower

2011-02-04T16:53:00.001Z

This is my first attempt at making a ribbon flower - this one is approx 2 inches across so would make a nice hair ornament if I stitch a clip onto the back of it. This is made with silky crush (ribbon girl is still waiting for more stock of 'champagne silky crush, but pink, blue, white and teal are all available from stock), gathered up and tightened, then I cut 4 'petals' from the same ribbon and stitched them to the back, added a few pearl strands then finished with some oloroso seam binding and a little cream button which I covered in Stickles Stardust. I hope to make a few cards at the weekend and some more flowers small enough to add to my cards. Ribbons, buttons and stickles all from http://www.ribbongirl.co.uk/