Happy Birthday Sarah

Today is wonderful Sarah's birthday ... happy birthday hun, hope you have a great day! ... and this is the card I made for her. I have used the gorgeous Busy Baking from LOTV and coloured with Copics and cut out using a Nestie circle die then added to base with DST. The base is made following the sketch from the Just Cute Bears Challenge 18. I have added various layers of paper from the DCWV Linen Closet Stack (I love this!) one of them cut using the Stampin' Up! Scallop Boarder Punch. Organza ribbon and ric-rac ribbon (from Dies to Die for) wrapped around and roses added to finish. The large one is by Prima and available from Dies to Die for and the two smaller are from Wild Orchid Crafts. Elzybells greeting stamped and gem stones added to finish.

STAMPS: Lili Of The Valley, Elzybells Art Stamps. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, Anitas, Die Cuts With A View. ACCESSORIES: Nestabilities dies, Stampin' Up! Scallop Border Punch, ribbon by Ribbon Oasis and My Minds Eye Wild Asparagus, Prima Marketing Fairytail Roses, roses from Wild Orchid Crafts, Papermania Hampstead gems, Copic Markers: E31, E33, E34, E35, E51, E53, C00, C01, C03, C05, B0000, B32, BG10, BG11.

My Balloon

Finally ... a card! I bought a couple of these very cute Pure Innocence stamps a while ago and have been meaning to ink them up and yesterday I finally did! This one is called my Balloon. I have stamped her out and coloured with Copics adding glitter to the band on her dress. The background of the image has been inspired by a technique used by Crissy Armstrong. I have then cut her out with a circle Nestabilities die and added to base with 3d foam pads. The base is a sheet of DB 'Gumdrop' CS followed by a strip of DB 'Lilac' CS which has been punched using the fab MS Loops punch from Dies to Die for here. I have then wrapped around purple ribbon and Scrappers Floss abd added a button to the front. Elzybells 'A Little Hello' Message stamped and added to the layer. Elzybells have a massive sale starting today too see here for details. Apologies for the photo ... it is a really drissly day here in Surrey.

STAMPS: My Favourite Things, Elzybells Art Stamps. CS: Craftwork Cards, Doodlebug Designs. ACCESSORIES: Nestabilities dies, Martha Stewart Loops punch, Anita's ribbon, Karen Foster Scrappers Floss, Silly Monkey Crafts button, Copic Spica At You glitter pen, Copic Markers: E0000, E000, E00, E25, E27, V000, V00, V01, V12, V15, V17, B0000, B000.

Birthday Candy Winner

Thank you to all that entered my candy and left me lovely messages for my Birthday. I had a lovely day thank you. Well my Blogger seems to not letting me copy and paste so I cannot add the Random.org generator on here but without further ado ...

The winner is:

No 20: The Glitter Fairy

Congratulations! If you could e-mail me your address I shall get your candy out to you asap! Thanks again to all the entered.

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.