Birthday Candy

I cannot believe it's been so long since I last posted, BIG apologies, life has just been getting in the way of crafting recently. Thank you to those who still visit my little grotto, I do appreciate it. My Birthday is on Tuesday and to share the love I thought I would give away a little bit of fat free candy.

Up for grabs is a DCWV The Natural Collection 8x8 pad, Do Crafts Hampstead 6x6 pad, Hampstead gems, Hampstead Sweeties, a Snag 'em Stamp, a Gillian Roberts stamp, 2 Pearl Wheels, a bunch of beautiful blooms, 2 designs of pins and a selction of charms.

All you have to do is add your name to Mr Linky (if you don't have a URL you can use http://cardgrotto.blogspot.com/) then add a link on your blog (if you have one) and I will pick a winner on Saturday 29th May 2010, open worldwide. Good Luck! xx

** THIS CANDY IS NOW CLOSED, THANK YOU FOR ENTERING **

Just Cute Bears Buttons & Bows

Oh My Goodness ... I managed to take part in a challenge! I haven't done that for like forever!! I have made this for, as the title suggests, the latest Just Cute Bears challenge of using buttons & bows. I have used another of the LOTV Busy Bears stamps, this one is called Deckchair Dreaming. I have coloured him in with Copics and added highlights with my Inkessentials pen. Added the base with DST. The base is first a layer of 3 Bugs In A Rug Snips & Snails Little Prince paper and then a strip of Inch Worm paper on top which has been wrapped with SU! Linen Thread. I have then added a button and the bow is made from the thread. Message stamped to finish.

STAMPS: Lili Of The Valley, Woodware. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, 3 Bugs In A Rug. ACCESSORIES: Stampin' Up! Linen Thread, button from stash, Copic markers - E25, E27, E33, E34, E35, E37, E53, R000, G21, G24, B93, Y15, N1, N2.

Window Box

Hello there, I hope everyone is having a nice Bank Holiday weekend? shame the sun has gone away though. here is the card that I made for Nan for her Birthday. I have used the very cute LOTV Busy Bears Window Box stamp and coloured with Copics before cutting out with a Nestabilities circle and mounting to base. The base has been made using the MS Baby Girl Multimedia Pad and then a punched strip on top using the MS Botanical Scallop border punch (which is currently on offer if you follow the link) and wrapped some ribbon around. I have then stamped the greeting from the Elzybells Tags - Floral Circles set and added some Basic Grey Opaline too. Some beautiful flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts (sprayed with Glimmer Mist) added to the side of the image with some leaves punched using the MS Frond Branch punch.

STAMPS: Lili Of The Valley, Elzybells Art Stamps. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Anitas, Martha Stewart, Bazzill Basics. ACCESSORIES: Ribbon by Tesco, Basic Grey Opaline, Nestabilities dies, Flowers by Wild Orchid Crafts, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Martha Stwart Botanical Scallop Border punch, Martha Stewart Frond Branch punch, Copic Markers - E13, E17, E33, E34, E35, E55, G20, G24, YG63, YG67, B0000, B000, B00, C00, C00, C1, W00, W1, R81, R83, R24.

Another Belated Birthday

This one was for the lovely Ruth who's Birthday I also missed ... I'm so sorry. As I know that Ruth likes cats I have used the very cute LOTV Thomas with Birthday Cake stamp and coloured with Copics and cut out. Mounted to base with 3d foam pads. The base is a sheet of Bazzill CS added to a white card blank with a piece of MME QC Little Miss Muffet Purple Posies Paper (the back) and then a punched border using the MS Punch Around The Page - Loops punch on top. I also added black ribbon and wrapped in a bow at the front and added a Prima Flower E-Line White 5 petal flower which I coloured with a black Copic and added a gem stone to the centre. Message (from the Elzybells Tags - Floral set) stamped at the bottom.

STAMPS: Lili Of The Valley, Elzybells Art Stamps. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Anitas, Craftwork Cards, Bazzill Basics, My Minds Eye. ACCESSORIES: Ribbon by Ribbon Oasis, Prima Flowers, Papermania Adhesive Gems, Martha Stewart Punch Around The Page Loops Punch, Copic Markers.

Belated ... everything!

Apologies for being MIA again ... I have been in hospital again and also on the dreaded night shifts - I am doing two sets a month at the mo (not out of choice!) and so I don't seem to have a 'normal' life at the moment. Consecuently I have missed some of my lovely friends birthdays and although I have been visiting your lovely blogs I haven't had time to comment ... I'm so sorry.

Right well on to the first of the Birthday's I missed ... this card was made for the lovely Vicky. I have used two images from the CC Designs Swiss Pixies Kit. I stamped the fence first then added the oh so cute laying pixie on top - both coloured with Copics. I have then rounded the corners off with a punch and added to a white card blank which has been mounted with pink CS and more white CS. Message (Amy R Birthday Sentiment Set) has been stamped and cut out with a Nestabilitie Label die added on top of ribbon (which was originally white and coloured with a Copic).

STAMPS: CC Designs. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, Bazzill Basics. ACCESSORIES: X Cut Corner Rounder Punch, Nestabilities die, Ribbon by Ribbon Oasis, Copic Markers, Copic At You Spica Pen.

Happy Easter!

Better late than never huh? Well I have been on nights and finished this morning so I do have an excuse for nearly missing all of Easter. I made this card for my friend Ruth which is actually the only card I managed to make this year .. I had visions of so many more lol never mind ... I have used the very cute CC Designs April stamp and coloured with Copics; cut out and added to base with 3d foam pads. The base is a sheet of MME QC Mary Mary - Best Of Friends Paper - Play (both sides) - can you tell I LOVE this paper?! I have then stamped the sentiment (Elzybells Eggstravaganza Sentiments) and popped behind the image. Gem stones added to finish.

STAMPS: CC Designs, Elzybells Art Stamps. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, My Minds Eye. ACCESSORIES: Papermania Adhesive Gems, Copic Markers: C00, C0, RV000, R81, R83, G21, G24, B0000.

Happy Birthday Dad

Here is the card I have made for my Dad's Birthday, it is pretty simple but I do like it! I have added a piece of Bo Bunny Grease Monkey Rivet paper to a white card blank then added a piece of Elzybells Light Kraft card on top with the edges distressed slightly. Cord wrapped around and then I have cut out a star using a Nestabilities die out of a piece of Bo Bunny Grease Monkey Tread paper and added on top with 3d foam pads. Button added on top. Message stamped from the Elzybells Mini Messages - A Little Hello set.

STAMPS: Elzybells Art Stamps. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, Elzybells Art Stamps, Bo Bunny. ACCESSORIES: Nestabilities, Cord by Tabby Crafts, Doodlebug button.

Diamond Wedding Anniversary

It is my Nan & Grandad's 60th Wedding Anniversary at the end of the month and while I was visiting Tobi Crawford's blog I saw this card and thought it would be excellent to re-create for my needs (thanks for the inspiration Tobi). I have used Bazzill Bling cardstock and embossed the bottom half with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, wrapped the middle with white organza ribbon and then added to a pearlescent card blank. The hearts are a Cuttlebug die (I think the one that came with the machine), I have added the bottom one direct to the card and the one on top has been added with 3d foam. Bow added on top with a rose and diamond pins (from Tabby Crafts) added through the centre. I hope they like it ... not a stamp or Copic in sight!!

CS: Craftwork Cards Pearlescent, Bazzill Bling. ACCESSORIES: Cuttlebug Heart Die, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Organza ribbon by Ribbon Oasis, Flower from stash, Pins from Tabby Crafts.

On Mother's Day

Here is the card that I made for my mum for Mother's Day. I have used one of the new very cute stamps by Stampavie. This one is by Tina Wenke and called Mouse with Sunflower, I have coloured her with Copics, cut out and mounted to a piece of MME Quite Contrary - Mary Mary - Best of Friends - Play paper, ribbon wrapped around and added to a white card blank. Message (Woodware - Tiny Greetings set) stamped, cut out and added to card. Basic Grey Pearls added to finish. Apologies for the blogging break, I have been on nights ... I hope you are all well :0)

STAMPS: Tina Wenke, Woodware. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, My Minds Eye. ACCESSORIES: Ribbon by Ribbon Oasis, Basic Grey Pearline, Copic Markers - E31, E33, E34, E71, E74, E77, E79, RV32, RV34, YG63, YG67, Y35, Y38, B0000, C1.

I'll Drink To That

Another Forever Friends bear used today ... they are so cute! This one is called "I'll Drink To That' and is another exclusive to The Glitter Pot. I have stamped him out and coloured with Copics adding a little glitter to the glass with my Copic Spica pen. I have then cut out and mounted to green Bazzill CS and mounted to base with 3d foam pads. The base is a strip of MME Quite Contrary Little Boy Blue - That's My Boy paper added to a white card blank and a piece of Celadon Green grosgrain ribbon added also. Elzybells message (can you tell this is one of my faves?! lol) added as well as little BG pearls to finish.

STAMPS: Forever Friends, Elzybells Art Stamps. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, My Minds Eye. ACCESSORIES: DTDF Ribbon, Basic Grey Opaline, Copic Spica At You glitter pen, Copic Markers - E50, E55, G40, B0000, RV000.

Lush

For this card I have used the very cute Forever Friends Balloon Bear which is exclusive to The Glitter Pot and have coloured her/him in with Copics; cut out and mounted to base with 3d foam pads. the base is made from a sheet of DB 'Dragonfly' CS with a layer of MME Lush Blue Large Polka Dot paper - this stuff really is lush ... those polka dots are all furry! I have then added some MME Lush Blue ribbon over the join. Sentiment stamped and cut out with a QuicKutz die.

STAMPS: Forever Friends, Elzybells Art Stamps. CS: Craftwork Cards, Doodlebug Designs, My Minds Eye. ACCESSORIES: My Minds Eye ribbon, QuicKutz Cookie Cutter die, Copic Markers - E50, E53, R00, BG10, BG11, B0000.

Organising ...

Towards the end of being off sick I decided to try and sort out my craft room (again!) and at the moment, apart from a few bits, I am quite happy with it (although wish it was double the size!!) so I thought I'd share a few piccies with you!

This is my main crafting desk, I have my Copics on here and my most used tools. To the side is a purple unit which holds more tools, adhesives, embellies and card blanks. My dies cutting machines are on top of this. On the windowsill is some more of my flowers in jars and the shelf above my desk also houses flowers. The white drawers (mini filing cabinet from Ikea) underneath my desk hold more embellies.

This is my computer desk. The drawers to the left hold stamps and the little tin on the top at the right holds my Cuttlebug embossing folders.

My 12x12 paper stackers and my Sizzix dies at the side.

This is my fairly new addition to my craft room and I love it! It is from Ikea again and the top shelf holds my A4 card and papers and two 6x6 paper holders too. The second shelf holds my unmounted stamps and the two bottom shelves hold my nursing text books. The drawer at the bottom holds my ink pads, chipboard and Xyron machines. Right at the bottom is my Ribbon boxes and a couple of ribbon reels.

I have added a new album at the side ---> with more piccies of what's inside the drawer units etc if anyone wants to have a look! I hope I haven't bored you!