Kiki Without Her Puppy!

I have made this card using some gorgeous products available from Die to Die for for my very good friend. First is the very cute CC Designs Puppy Kiki stamp but have used just her head! I have coloured her in with Copics and cut out using a Nestabilities die. I have added her to the base with 3d foam pads. The base is little strips of paper from the MME Quite Contrary Little Miss Muffet collection - Purple Plumes (both sides) and Beautiful Butterflies. I have then stamped the greeting from the Wild Rose Studio Cute Greetings set. The beautiful buttons have been added with Scappers Floss and these are also by MME (from the Bloom & Grow button pack I believe) but Tracy doesn't have these in stock at the mo, look out for them though 'cos they are so cute!!

STAMPS: CC Designs, Wild Rose Studio. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, My Minds Eye. ACCESSORIES: Nestabilties dies, My Minds Eye buttons, Karen Foster Scrappers Floss, Copic Markers: E0000, E000, E00, E34, R20, R81, R83, R85, YR21, Y21.

Happy Father's Day

Sorry for the lack of blogging again folks, as well as the usuall night shifts I have been re-organising my craft room ... again. I haven't finished yet but am getting there. So here is the card I made for my dad for Father's Day. I used the For Men collection by Wild Rose Studio available at Dies to Die for. I have stamped the Time For A Pint stamp and coloured with Copics. Cut out and mounted to Doodlebug 'Blue Jean' CS. I have then added to a white card blank which has been layered with more CS and then a sheet from the For Men Paper Stack. Elzybells message stamped and popped behind the image. Pebbles In Candy Dots added to finish.

STAMPS: Wild Rose Studio, Elzybells Art Stamps. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, Anita's, Doodlebug Designs, Wild Rose Studio. ACCESSORIES: Pebbles Inc Candy Dots, Copic Markers: E0000, E000, E00, E50, E53, E55, E57, E77, E79, B32, B34, Y15, W01.

Have you seen the sad news about Elzybells? I just wanted to wish Elizabeth all the best for the future and it was a pleasure being part of such a beautiful company.

I hope you are all well and enjoying the summer we are having at the moment!!

Making Memories Desktop Carousel

Does anyone know where I can find one of these please? I believe it was discontinued a couple of months ago but if anyone knows where I can still get hold of one (preferably in UK) I would be so so grateful.

UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who took the time to answer me and search etc. After much much much searching I have found that they are no longer available in the UK apart from the odd ones in the shops. Thanks to Amanda I have found a very simular one from the Great Little Trading Company. Thanks again for your help!

Michelle xx

Thank You

I have made this card for my Nan & Grandad to say thank you for the birthday gift they gave me. I have used a gorgeous image by Crissy Croll (a BIG thank you goes to Caz for the link). I have been inpsired by the sample card and coloured her in using Copics and cut out and added on top of a rectangle cut using a Nestie die with the greeting printed from my PC; both have then been added to base with 3d foam pads. The base is a sheet of Elzybells Light Kraft CS added to a white card blank followed by a strip of MME So Sophie Gracious Greenery paper added on top. Ribbon wrapped around and tied in a bow with a button added. Gem stones (PM Aqua Capsule Collection) added to finish.

STAMPS: Crissy Croll Tiddly Inks. CS: Craftwork Cards, Elzybells Art Stamps, My Minds Eye. ACCESSORIES: Nestabilities dies, ribbon from stash, button by Doodlebug Designs, Karen Foster Scrappers Floss, Papermania Adhesive Gems, Copic Markers: E0000, E000, E00, E57, E55, R20, BG11, BG32.

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.