Spread a little sunshine as you go by....

Now I don't know the protocol for this, but I was given this award by the lovely Lorraine at Lorraines Creations, without specific instructions on how many I should award. She has kindly given it to all her followers, so I would like to do the same. In fact, at the risk of getting my "wrist slapped" I'd like anyone passing through to take it as well! Thats not to say I don't appreciate those of you that take the time to follow my blog, because I really do!!! But I think everyone is in need of a little extra sunshine at the moment, and if you feel your life is quite full of sunshine right now great, take it anyway, and share it with someone you feel might not have quite enough.
Spreading the Love As Always Gina x x x

A Fab creation and a Pile of Scrap!

Morning Bloggers! 2 offerings for you today.

The 1st is my attempt at Digital Tuesday Challenge#52, "Scrap It" which basically involves you rummaging through you scrap box and unearthing some of those little bits of treasure you couldn't bear to throw away(because your going to use them for something else, but never have) plus a digi image of your choice. I "lucky dipped" for the 1st item, a piece of bright yellow card, and rummaged from there! I printed my image (Daydream Tilly fom Digital Doodling) twice, onto the yellow card and onto whitecard. I then cut out her trousers and hair, and glued them onto the white base image before colouring as nornal. Then I found the remnance of a piece of green 12x12 card and trimmed it to make the base card. The scraps of buttercup backing papers and butterflies are from Crafter's Companion Flower Fairies, Buttercup cd. A scrap of ribbon and a bit of bling, not bad for a pile of "rubbish".

The 2nd card is this weeks entry for Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge#13, tone on tone/and or green. I have delibrately not used green, because I nearly always do haha! So I chose my next favourite colour "chocolate". The image is my new pressie from Prairie Fairy called "Tryouts". I chose it as my prize for winning the Button Bonanza she runs on her site. They must think I'm crazy choosing an xmas image in spring, but I don't have many "seasonal" images, and they look like contestants for "The Xmas Factor"(sorry bad pun). I've added the little sprig of mistletoe and just coloured with matching tones. Couldn't have a reindeer without a red nose though.

Hope you like them, love as always Gina x x x

P.S. congratulations to Lorraine at Lorraine's Creations, for winning her 1st prize yesterday. Excellent!

Gosh! Where to start?

Thought I'd killed "puter" last night! All my pics where disappearing! Becuase I'd joined a Forum and done a Blog Hop in the same day? Told you I'm a technophobe haven't I? Anyway, found my way to help forum and it seems everyone else was having the same problem, so it wasn't my fault afterall PHEW! Anyway once the "puter" had had its medicine everything was working again and guess what? I've won a prize! I got picked on Praire Fairy's Button Bonanza and have been awarded a free digi image from their store WOOHOO!
I'd next like to thank everyone for their kind comments this week, your all awesome! I'm a bit of a lone wolf, so it's lovely to have found so many wonderfully creative people. OOW the card!
Yesterday (when "puter" was working) I joined a blog hop at Critter Sketch Challenge. What fun! Got loads of inspiration, and the challenge was to get you creation in by 10.am this morning (after doing full hop), but because of the imaging issues last night they've extended the deadline til tomorrow 10am instead, so pop over and check it out. There are also lots of candy prizes available along the way, COOL!
I've uesd Leatherlook(and feel) background paper from assorted paper pack by Crafter's Companion, the Swirl and Stripey layers are from my favourite papers of the moment K&Co's Blossomwood collection, as is the narcisus flower I've cut from the reverse side of the swirly paper. Some lace from my stash and a couple of sparklys, and what is going to be my all time favourite image "Lou" from Stamp'en with CJ coloured with copics. This ones for the DT at Critter Sketch Challenge. You Rock!
love as always Gina x x x

Critters Sketch for Codi

Second post today. I did miss spell Peel offs by accident and daren't change it incase it breaks a link.... so thats my excuse for blogging again so soon!
Now bear with me because there will be a list with this card as I had to follow a recipe to meet the needs of this weeks Pollycraft Monday challenge#37, and the layout is from Critters Sketch Challenge#7
Now the recipe is Ria's 4321 recipe;
4 papers- I've used background/Joanna Sheen/Fantasy Florals cd and 3papers from "Papercraft 4 you" collection8 by Mary Hughes
3 embellishments- I've used large purple flora doodle, small purple heart sticker, brass finish butterfly (and word but didn't now if sentiment counted as embi)
2 ribbons- I've layered a strip of purple 3mm gross grain over a strip of 6mm organza
1 image- I've used Codi stylin' from Pollycraft.
Phew! List finished!
Love as always Gina x x x
P.S. I'm off to join the Easter Blog Hop at Critters Sketch Blog see you there!

Pell Offs!??!

This is my attempt at a challenge set by the lovely folks at "Bah !Humbug!" Their challenge is quite straight forward... to use peel off stickers.
Now for some reason many of us crafters run a mile when the words "peel offs" are mentioned, but they can be really useful if your in a hurry. This card took me all of 5minutes. A few scraps of festive paper, a greetings peel off, 5 bauble peel offs stuck onto scraps of paper and cut out, and the border peel offs are actually the waste from a chain link border peel off.
If you think I've used the words "peel off" rather a lot, its my attempt to de-sensatise those who struggle, you know, like stroking a spider when your terrified of them! And if your an avid peel off fan, congratulations! There are some gorgeous outline stickers available these days, not to mention the different alphabets to use on scrapbook pages or to make up your own sentiments.
Well they've all finally left the house so I better get the vac out before I start crafting again;c
Thanks for all your lovely comments on yesterdays card (brilliant joke Stef Hahaha!)
love as always Gina x x x

It's Your 1st....

Hello folks, and hope your having a happy, sunny sunday!

This card is for 2 challenges. The 1st is " Catch the Bug Challenge Blogs" new "Scrappy Sketch Sunday". Phew! That was a mouth full. They are letting their most hyperactive DT member loose to set sketches for the rest of us hyperactive crafters who can't wait for "monday" challenges haha! The layout is by Scrappy and the image is from Bugaboo Stamps, and is called "CB elephant"isn't he a sweetie?
The other challenge is Bee Crafty Downloads challenge #27. It's their 1st birthday, so the theme is "Birthday".
Congratulations to both Scrappy at Bugaboo, and the crew at Bee Crafty for their joint 1sts.
Love as always Gina x x x

When Life Sucks!

Late post today. The sun came out and so did I, but i'm in now and alls quiet on the children front, so a chance to craft at last!
I've been on the Bugaboo Stamps blog, playing their DT blog hop. What a wonderful way to introduce us to their new DT members. And then of course it's challenge time.
Todays challenge at Catch the Bug Challenge Blog is a colour combi. You have to use Kiwi, Coral and Banana ( and some of the DT want a bit of ribbon).
For my card I've used Brenda Pinnock Sucerie papers, with sentiment stickers and brad by DCWV vaccation collection. The image is "Scarlette Scarf" from Bugaboo stamps. I think it was Elanor Rosevelt who first said "if life gives you lemons, make lemonade" a philosophy I've tried to live by all my life.
Enjoy! love as always Gina x x x

Pirate Party

Evening all! I've made this card for 2 more challenges, using todays Freebie from Pollycraft "Ethan the Pirate"
The 1st challenge is a sketch from Moving Along With The Times challenge#39
The 2nd is Prairie Fairy Fun Friday challenge week#12, which is to make an easel card (hence the blurry 2nd photo)
If you don't know how to make an easel card its a lot easier than it looks. Just take a square card, open it out, then fold the front in to the centre line and crease. This forms the basic card. Make a card front the same size as the original card, fold the easel shape up and stick the card front to it (only the bottom half) and then it should fold flat to fit in an envelope. Put a raised element on the base of the card to hold the upright section in place when open. I used a row of fish. This element only needs to be 1mm high, but its up to you what you use.
I hope that all makes sense enough for you to give it a try.
The backing papers and stickers are from Die Cuts With a View, vaccation collection.
Love as always Gina x x x

Dimension

Morning Bloggers! Sunshine here at the moment so smiles all round!
I've made this card for 2 challenges today;
1. DP2 challenge#24 , a sketch by Cathy
2. Cute Card Thursday challenge#105, who would like some "Dimension" in our project.
The image I've used is called "Monique" from Mo's Digital Pencil, and I've coloured her with Copic Cioa markers. To get some dimension I put the image through my cutlebug with a jigsaw die (after colouring, trust me it makes sense) then cut her out as normal. When fixing to base card I set the puzzle pieces at different levels, some flat, some on 1mm pads. I think you can see the effect. I have aslso decoupaged some of the small anenome flowers on the triple border, though they are harder to spot. The anenome papers are from Dot's Heirloom paper book, but I don't know if they are still available, which is a shame as they are quite unusual and replicate Dot's original embroidary work.
Went scrapbooking last night at Craftden, haven't been for ages! Really enjoyed myself and will show project later when I manage to get a good photo. Any hints greatfully recieved as 12x12 layouts seam quite tricky to capture properly.
love as always Gina x x x

Fab Dezina Teddy!

Mornin' folks! This trying to only blog once a day is killing me....
Here's one I made yesterday but saved to blog this morning. It's my entry for this weeks Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge. The idea is to make a differant card every week til December, so you don't have that last minute panic in November (or December for some of us ha ha). For week#12 our theme is "Wide Borders "and "Word Confetti " I've tried to keep it minimal but I prefer clutter (see my house ha ha). I found out some Christmas caption stickers and mounted them onto black card, so they would match the thick outline on the teddy. Then used the colours from the stickers for the card. Had to break up the red border though because the combo was hurting my eyes, so I stamped an outline image to match the sentiments. The Teddy I just couldn't resist using. How lumpy and snuggly is he? You can find him as a freebie this week at Dezinaworld. They put a free digi stamp on every wednesday, and only ask that when you make something with it you let them have a look. How cool is that?
For anyone out there like me, that turned around one day and found they'd suddenly acquired a stack of cards they'd made for no-one in particular, put them in celo bags and take them to the nearest charity shop! I did that yesterday and boy did it feel good. I wasn't sure if they'd want them, but apparantly they can't get enough. According to the gentleman that accepted them "they sell themselves". Just check that any images you used are covered by an Angel company or are copyright free(most are but its wise to check).
Right I'm going away now to try not to blog again today (hahahahaha!)
Love as always Gina x x x

A little something...

Well 2 little somethings to be accurate, just of one card. This is my take on this weeks It's A Crafters Companion challenge. The theme is to make a gatefold card, and the object for inspiration is a piece of red and white polka dot paper, chosen by Rachel.
I took the vivid red as my element, and instead of lots of little dots, just 1 big one. I also tried to copy the regular pattern of the dots with robins (but I forgot to close my card so they didn't match up derrr). The Robin stamp and Mrs Tiggy-winkle are from the Crafter's Companion Beatrix Potter collection, both on Mrs Tiggy-winkle set.
If you want to join in with this challenge you don't have to use Crafter's Companion products, just follow the set theme. So why not pop over and give it a go?
Hope you like it. Love as always Gina x x x

I'm Honoured!

I'd like to say thank you to Lorriane at Lorraines Creations for this lovely award. I feel truly honoured that some one who has only known me for a short time thinks I'm worth knowing.
So, now I have to pass it on to 5 people I think are lovely too!

1. to Wendy at Digital Doodling , who even though she's been poorly lately can't resist working to make us smile.

2. to Sj at Sj's Little Musings , for daring to be different, and always having a lovely smile on her face.

3. to Fabrizio at Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge , for reminding us Christmas Fun isn't just for Christmas

4. to Fab's friend Vince at Crafty Moments , for his amazing design work (they get shown on T.V. you know)

5. finally to CJ at Stamp'en with CJ , for the image she gave us today that really made my heart sing out loud!

Wow I thought this would be difficult, but now I'm feelin guilty about the people I haven't given it to! Nver mind, catch you all if there's a next time.
Loads of love to eveybody, as always Gina x x x

P.S. For anyone who needs to know, the background paper on my last post is from Joanna Sheens Fantasy Floral cd.

To My Bestest Friend, Thank you!

I'd like to start today with a huge thank you to my bestest friend for nagging me into the world of internet crafting, without whom I would never have come across this wonderful image. Hubby laughed out load and said "that's you that is!" She is actually called "Lou" and is from CJ at Stamp'en with CJ, but she is so who I used to be (before kids and life and stuff got in the way). I even have several celticstyle tatoos in green, but not on my face(yet), none of which I had done til I was 43, so I geuss I was hanging on to "me" even then. So this one's for ME, and all of you out there hiding the inner YOU so as not to embarass the kids. And incase your wondering, when I 1st met my mum-in-law I was wearing; khaki vest top and mini skirt, silk scarf as a bandana, jesus scandals and a sting of bells in my belt loops, and it was 28years ago last week!
I'm going to enter her in this weeks Digital Tuesday Challenge "Happy Spring" cos it is and I am.
Love as always Gina x x x

He's no angel!

This little sweetheart is my entry for todays challenge over at Critter Sketch Challenge Blog. The theme is "Inspiration" and the inspiration today is a picture of Donald Duck. We have to make something using only the colours in the picture. I don't normally work with primary colours, but I'm quite pleased with this little offering. The image is a freebie from Cuddly Buddly Crafts called "Reluctant Angel", and I love him! With the bright colours I think he makes a great teen card. I cut out apertures in his wings and added a piece of mesh. I think he looks awesome. What do you think?
Love as always Gina x x x

Pretty in pink!

This one's for hubby, aaahhh!

I'm entering this card in Ooh-la-la Creations Challenge#50. The challenge requirements are simple, a button, a bow and some bling!

I've used the rose and daisy background paper from their "Watercolour Memories" cd as my inspiration. It just felt dreamy and romantic, so I naturally thought of hubby(ha ha ha). The image is a copyright free from The Graphics Fairy, and I've made the doilylike border with a fiskars punch. I used wrinkly ribbon on purpose, because it made me think she might have been sending a hair ribbon she'd been wearing to an admirer. Very subtle blinging on her hair net, and a teeny tiny button on the handle of her fan(if I'd had some pink feathers they would be on the fan as well).

Hope you like it, love as always Gina x x x

P.S I think I've worked out how to link from text(here's hoping it works)

I know, I know...

It's not my fault the telly's so bad on saturday nights! I went blog hopping and found this challenge! It's on a site called "Critter Sketch Challenge Blog", and this is my last minute entry for Sketch Challenge #5. The image is from Vince at Crafty Moments and is from his Little Monsters download. Check him out, he makes some awesome cards and projects.
Promise I'm done now. Love as always Gina x x x

Morning Campers!

Morning everyone! Sunshine mmmmmm!
This is a quick card I've made for a challenge at "Ooh-la-la Creations Challenge Blog" which I just blogged into this morning via DP2. It's time up at 6pm today so that's why I've had to be quick.
The image and greenleaf backing paper are from their new Cd, they let us have a few free samples on their blog so I've used them. Check them out they're gorgeous! I thought they lent themselves to a nice masculine card (it is Father's Day next isn't it?). I stamped a frame(Joanna Sheen) cut it out and put acetate behind it before mounting over the watercolour print.
Hope you like it . Love as always Gina x x x

You wanted Green!

Hi folks! Running with the theme of trying to combine challenges, this is my offering for;
Sketch Saturday week #95
Digital Tuesday Challenge#50
Lena set a sketch of concentric squares with border for this weeks Sketch Saturday Challenge, while over at Digital Tuesday we are challenged with "St Patrick's Day" and/or "Lots of Green" (entries must include a digital image). The image I have used is by CJ at Stamp'en with CJ(see blog list) called "Miss Patty". She appears to be dressed in Irish costume, though she is from the Cowgirl collection. I think she looks very mischievous.
Love as always Gina x x x

3 challeges, 1card!

After yesterday's 3 challenges in 1 blog, I thought I'd try 3 challenges in 1 card, so here goes!

This is my entry for this weeks challenges at:

Cute Card Thursday Challenge (anniversary)

MAWTT Challenge 38# Clare W's Sketch

Prairie Fairy's Friday Fun (complimentary colours). The options for this challenge are colour combinations; Red & Green, Blue & Orange, Yellow & Purple.

I chose blue and orange for my combi, over stamped in black. The Sarah Kay image is coloured with copics to give a sepia effect, and the oval frame is from a Joanna Sheen stamp set. The anniversay theme is "1st Kiss". I met my husband 28years ago on my birthday 6th March, our 24th Wedding anniversary is coming up in April.

Sharing the love as always Gina x x x

Evening Post

This one is for Chunky Monkey who's off school this week with a "nasty bug" he caught.
I'm entering this card in DP2's challenge #23, where we've been asked to use "at least 3 punches", and a Mo's Digital Pencil image.
I love this cheeky monkey image, and I thought it went really well with the 3 Fiskars punches. 1st: leaf corner punch. 2nd: small leaf border punch. 3rd: bugs corner punch, and the bugs that were cut with the punch I glued in the top corner as another feature.
I really like this card, hope you do to. Love as always Gina x x x

Second post

I know! But I'm home with sick child so I've nothing better to do.
This is my take on "Fab's Big Christmas Challenge week#11". This week we're using "pleated paper and cardstock stickers. I originally used plain paper, but didn't like it. So I stamped it with a holly leaf and used same leaf to edge plaid paper to tie them together. the deer and greeting are both cardstock stickers. I think it looks like the deer is leaping over a picket fence.
Love as always Gina x x x

Bee Crafty Downloads Challenge 26

Morning everyone. Todays blog offering is my entry for "Bee Crafty- Downloads Challenge 26" the theme of which is Spring. I've gone for the bright happy colours we tend to associate with the season, and the feeling that love is in the air (or should that be hare...groan..). The image is a freebie they have given us to work with, coloured and cut out ( I know it's becoming a habit) the ground area sprinkled with a little Spring flower soft. The buckle and ribbon border is made by punching (or cutting out) a cardstock flower, cutting 2 slits slightly smaller than the ribbon width, and carefully threading the ribbon through. Saw a lady doing this on T.V., simple but very effective I think.

Enjoy the sunshine! Love as always Gina x x x

Dezina Dynasty

I made this card with today's free digi image from Dezinaworld blogspot. I've printed the Ginger Jar image onto a textured paper, then highlighted areas of the design using Sakura Gel pens. The flowers are punched from the same paper, but glazed with a white inkpad and clear embossing powder. Blue and cream faux pearls to finish.
love as always Gina x x x

3 Genreations x x x

Morning folks, this is my entry for this weeks Scraproom Blog Challenge week#11. The challege is to follow a sketch designed by the brilliant Julie Bonner(you can check her out at "Starting now..." on my blog list. I will learn how to link properly honest!). The Papers are all from K&Co's Blossomwood collection, and I've added little spots of Stardust stickles to the poppies. The flowers are punced and layered, with a simple brad for the centre. Hope you like it.
love as always Gina x x x

Sparkly Things

Todays blog is my entry for this weeks Pollycraft Challenge*36 "Sparkly Things" set by Emma W.
I've matted and layered sparkly purple paper, on black gloss card, onto purple pearlescent card stock. Then I coloured and cut out "Star Fairy" image from Pollycraft, added some more glitter and stuck her onto the pre-layered card. On the complete image she is holding strings with stars on the end, and there are stars on the end of each branch. I've replaced these with sparkly purple gem stones, and glittery purple thread. The flora doodle flower comes with a glitter seed bead centre, but I added a bit of purple stickles to the spots. Phew! I hope thats enough sparkle for you Emma. Thanks for the challenge.
love as always Gina x x x

One of those days...

Been having a lot of those days lately, you know, the ones where your sure you've forgotten to do something. I'm blaming hubby! I spend all year complaining that he works to hard and should take some time off, and then it's March and he's home all the time using up his holidays and leiu time. Come April he'll never be in for 11 months! It's not that I don't love having him around, it just trashes what semblence of a routine I have, and I lose track of what day it is and what I'm supposed to be doing. Some one tell me it's not just me!
Any way, back to the important stuff. This card is made with an image I bought(yes actually paid for) from Sj's Little Musings. She's called "Caroline" and I couldn't resist those stripey socks. The background paper is from K&Co's Blossomwood collection.
Enjoy! Love as always Gina x x x

OMG!!!!!

I swore I'd never use that title, but I now know why others do! I just had to share with you this beautiful card my youngest son made for me last night. I had to stay down stairs and pretend that I didn't know he was raiding my craft stash and felt pens(actually copic markers). He is 11years old, and has a few problems that means he has quite a short attention span(unless wired up to a computer game of some description), so the fact that he spent a whole hour working on this project makes my heart smile.
He chose the Fairycake image from Sj's Little Musings I'd printed out to use earlier this week, coloured it himself with my copic pens and then carefully cut it out. He is righthanded but uses scissors lefthanded, so this is a pretty difficult process for him. He then chose a card from my black glitter stash to glue her to. I've included the envelope because he wrote on it with a tube of stickles, and I know as fellow crafters you will appreciate how difficult it is to keep the pressure even enough to write like this. I know I'm being mushy, but I love this card to bits, and I think I will frame it for my wall.
Sharing the love as always Gina x x x

Just Hangin' Around...

Finally got out in the garden today, but not as fit as I thought I was, so after an hour digging the muddy ground I gave in and found "Bugaboo" had set a new challenge. It's quite a simple sketch, and you don't have to use their images, but they have some freebies available so you might like to give them a try. This little Ragdoll Angel is a freebie they gave out yesterday. So sweet, I couldn't not use her(not sure about the grammer there?).
Love as always Gina x x x

1 challenge and 1 thank you

2 cards today. The little girl with dolly card is made with a free image from Dezinaworld blog site, I just layered her on some William Morris paper from Joanna Sheen. Doesn't she make an adorable card for Mother/Grandmother etc. So a big "THANK YOU" to the gang at Dezinaworld.
Card No.2 is a lovely image from The Prairie Fairy called "A little friend". I've used him for this weeks Prairie Fairy Friday challenge, which was to incorporate some tissue paper into your creation. I chose some gold tissue paper left over from christmas, and scrunched it up before gluing it to the main card to form a textured backgound. The foxglove backing paper is from Joanna Sheen's Country Cottage cd. 2 strips of the scrunched tissue and a few sequins to finish.
Hope you enjoy them, love as always Gina x x x

Welcome to your new home

Morning everyone, todays blog is my entry for this weeks "Moving Along With The Times" challenge#37. This week Clare has set the challenge around "moving House", and the only rule is no square cards(I'm guessing that includes rectangles too). She wants us to dig out templates or just use more unusal shaped cards. Neat idea! So, seeing as I was leaving my comfort zone I thought I'd go the whole hog. I added a Challenge for myself, and chose to use bright, primary colours(not something your likely to see very often, I tend to prefer subtle!)

I've used a "colour My World" Cupcake Template to make a Toadstool House, cut out door, windows and chimney stack, and made flowers for spots using 2 sizes of flower punch, with red brads for the centres. The little (3inches high) image at the door to welcome you is Pollycrafts "Codi gift", even shrunk down to this size the detail looks good.

Not wanting to sound to excited but "Pollycraft have put out a DT call!" They've given us 2 freebie images to work with (for any one not just DT entrants), and we have 2 weeks to show what we can do with them. I'm going to have a go, why don't you?

love as always Gina x x x

Fab's Big Christmas challenge week #10

Hi again, couldn't wait to get on with Fab's challenge this week, triangular,stencilling or stamping. I sort of did all of these.

1st I cut a card shape with 3 triangles joined, so that it stands like a pyramid(a lot easier than it looks, just cut out a triangle, draw around it, then move your template along til you have 3). Then I masked a cicle in the middle of each triangle and stamped over with a large background stamp. I removed the masks and stamped a wreath in each circle, a bit of waterbrushing and a few red seed beads, and a sentiment sticker to finish. Not sure if masking counts as stencilling?

love as always Gina x x x

Aurelia in wonderland

Morning folks, todays image is "Aurelia" from Pollycraft's "Sweet Dreams Springtime Retro" collection. Isn't she just so chill? Some time ago I bought a pack of black glittered retro cards from Create and Craft (40 for a fiver, couldn't resist the bargain), but didn't know what to do with them. They suit Aurelia and her sisters perfectly.
I punched an aperture with a 31/2 inch scallop punch, coloured Aurelia in co-ordinating tones and glued her behind the aperture. I then added a few simple embellishments, metallic flower topped with a black gem flower, a real teeny button on her jacket, and to finish a black metallic "Dream" brad.
Hubby liked this one, so I must have done good!
love as always Gina x x x

Scraproom Blog Challenge week#10

Hi Folks, this is my entry for The Scraproom Blog Challenge week #10. The challenge this week is to create a layout using 5 diferent patterned papers. I decided to make it easy on myself and use 5 papers from the same collection, and choose a colour scheme so as not to go mad. I actually only had to use 2 full sheets because they are double-sided, and the rest from scraps. I used the blue section from K&Co's Blossomwood collection. The main floral in the background is Dogwood (I think) so I chose a photo of hubby and our dog Meg. He's not made keen on pets but she worships the ground he walks on, doesn't seem to care that I'm the one that cleans,feeds and cares for her, hold on, did I just describe my kids?

Hope you like it, love as always Gina x x x

2 Quick Cards

Morning everyone, 2 quick cards this morning because I couldn't decide what to play with 1st.
The little lady in blue is called Bethanie, and is one of Sj's Little Musings freebies. I've titled this one "not sure about the red?". I simply folded a piece of double sided card(pattern inside), coloured and cut out Bethanie and glued her to the front. Then tore around her so that the pattern showed through. The idea is to make it look like she's painting the wall.
The second card was even easier. I took a piece of patterned card and printed the sentiment straight onto it, then I coloured and cut out the sunshine image , added a bit of glitter and done. Both the sentiment and sunshine image are from the Springtime Retro collection I bought from Pollycraft yesterday.
Hope you like them, love as always Gina x x x

No blog monday

WOW! Just treated myself to a few Pollycraft images. Watch this space :-D
love as always Gina x x x

Design Team Dream

My best friend suggested this week that I ought to try out for some design team places, as I spend so much time crafting and blogging. I don't exactly know what the job entails, but I thought I might give it a try. Sj's Little Musing's had a DT call out in their freebie folder this week so I've sent an email, before realising that I haven't actually used any of Sarah's gorgeous images yet (derrr). Her images are doodled portraits of friends and family, and I just love them! So meet "Lily"

This pretty little girl comes already coloured, so if your a nervous colourer your sorted. I've cut out and glued her to a blank orange card, on which I'd stamped and sympathetically coloured a flower. I then cut around Lily again to form a shaped card, lined the inside of the card with a co-ordinating paper (brenda pinnock sucerie) and edged with another little floral stamp. The sentiment is an Anna Griffen stamp, on a piece of ripped card, inked with the same pen I'd coloured the flower with.

Hope you like her.

love as always Gina x x x

Maya's Sketch in Green

Hi everyone, this is a little card I've put together to enter in 2 challenges. The 1st is Sketch Saturdays challenge #93, which is a layout sketch designed by Maya. The 2nd is Prairie Fairie Fridays challenge, which was to use some green in your design in honour of St Patricks day ( I think I've covered that one)
The background paper is a linen patterned paper from Brenda Pinnock's Sucerie collection, over stamped with a tiny floral cluster. The 2 rectangular panels are cut from a sheet of striped K&Co paper (traditional collection), and the SMILES is cut from another sheet in the same collection. The topper is a Sarah Kay image I think is called picnic,but I can't remember for sure. I've inked and watercoloured it, overstamped the edges with the same floral cluster, and then glued a piece of organza ribbon in a pleated effect around the edge.
I'm quite pleased with the overall effect. What do you think?
Love as always Gina x x x

My Little Pollycraft Pony

Late post with todays freebie image from Pollycraft, but had a lovely birthday lunch with my friend, followed by an equally lovely stroll in the sunshine(even though it was freezing).
The background papers for this card are from a Papercraft 4 You pad , collection 2 by Mary Hughes . I used an Anna Griffen stamp around the frame which reads "SWEETNESS" and embellised with co-ordinating buttons/velvet ribbon and doodled stitching. The image itself is printed on dappled grey card and then watercoloured, with a matching sparkly heart sticker to finish.
Hope you like it.
love as always Gina x x x

Fab's Big Christmas challenge

Found a great weeklyish challenge while blog hopping. Fabrizio is planning on making a new christmas card each week as a challenge. This weeks is "alternative techniques". I'm usually quite traditional in my xmas cards, so prompted by hubby I've " done that thing where you cut the front out and fold the papers at the back in different colours" or iris folding as we crafters call it.

I embossed the tree with my Glitter Girls board, then cut it out to make an aperture. Instead of paper I used strips of ribbon, just working in a simple diagonal pattern, placed a piece of each ribbon to make a border, then finished of with flock sentiment sticker by Anna Griffen and a piece of broken earing to top the tree.

I think it came out quite well, what do you think?

love as always Gina x x x

"One for the Girls"

This is my entry for the "Moving Along With The Times" challenge#36, called One for the girls. It's a lovely sketch with which to make a project of your choice eg. atc, card, scrap page layout etc. Pop over and give them a try.
I've turned the sketch on its side to fit the Mrs Tiggy-winkle stamp I wanted to use (from the Crafter's Companion Beatrix Potter collection). The assorted papers are from a stash I've printed out from various Joanna Sheen cds. I've stamped and embossed the image with Debbie Moore's Fudge embossing powder, and then lightly watercoloured it. Finished with a stamped sentiment (also CC's Beatrix Potter collection) and a few tiny blue felt flowers with faux pearl centres. Hope they like it.
love as always Gina x x x

Pollycraft Monday challenge *35*

This weeks challenge requirement on Pollycraft's challenge blog is "distressing". I don't have a suitable Pollycraft image (yet) so I've chosen 2 vintage images from The Graphics Fairy site (all freebies)
I scrunched up the background paper, before scuffing with a sanding block, and then scrubbing over with a complimentary ink. The main image I ripped the edges with an Anna Griffen tearing ruler, and then scrubbed with the same ink. The flower is from my flora doodle stash.
Hope you like it. It shows just how I'm feeling at the moment, waiting to get out in my garden.
Love as always Gina x x x

Crafting at last!!!

Hello everyone, this is my entry for the Crafter's Companion challenge this week. Rachel set us a sketch to follow and the colour guide " cream and gold plus one other colour". I've chosen pale blue.

The blue border strips and the subtle print background paper are from CC's Beatrix Potter, Tom Kitten cd. I then stamped an image from the Tom Kitten stamp set and used a water brush to wash the image with a complimentary ink. The gold borders I punched with a Fiskars border punch, and the sentiment is from the Mrs Tiggy-winkle stamp set. (yes I did go nuts and buy the lot!)

Hope you like it. love as always Gina x x x