A Spring wedding card in green and ivory ..............

There is a bingo game challenge over at Papertake Weekly - choose any straight or diagonal line and make a card/project to include the items chosen.  I made a wedding card and used diecuts, glitter and free (LOTV die cut image)

For this easel card I used an LOTV diecut image and added stacks of Stardust Stickles.  My backing papers were the gorgeous Pion Lily of the Valley from my lovely friend Jean  - I used cream tiny ric rac, iced lime seam binding, pale lime 15mm satin ribbon, gorgeous 16mm cream vintage style fine cluny cotton lace and white/ivory mulberry flowers with just a touch of pink from the pink pretty blossom flowers.  The circle with hearts was cut with a Nestie and the corners were cut with a cuttlebug die - I hope I don't wear it out, I've used it loads since I got it.  The leaves were cut from green card with my MS punch  -  I also made a matching box (not shown here - why not? because I forgot to take a photograph of it :(  silly me) 

Lace, ribbon, seam binding, mulberry pretty blossom, stickles, tiny ric rac are all from here

The Ribbon Girl are sponsoring PTW this week and there is a £10 gift voucher for the winner to spend in the online store, so go and check out the rest of the Design Team and get cracking with your card - you've got a whole week to join in!

See you soon, Mary G x

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See you soon, Mary G x

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

Winner of Papertake Weekly Blog Hop Prize

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

Calendula - the flower of October .....

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

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

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