Inspired by Marie Antoinette

This week's challenge on Daring cardmakers:

'I want to see your Vintage Parisian/Palace of Versailles creations as this week's theme is Marie Antoinette'.

I looked on the internet for pictures of Marie Antoinette and was going to lift and use one of them, such as this:

 

and then I remembered a spare ATC that I made when I entered a swap, so I thought I'd use that because it is vintage style and, I hope, appropriate for the challenge.

I used a card blank that already had a swirly lilac pattern on it and then added a piece of Papermania Chatworth vintage collection - the paper was too pink, so I distressed it with a mix of dusty concord and chipped sapphire DIs.

This is also for:

Kaboodle 108: shades of purple

Bling it on March: birthdays and shades of lilac

Crafty creations 159: vintage fashion

Little red wagon 122: use a vintage item

Pattie's 38: vintage

Sugar creek hollow: vintage inspired by a photo

Creative inspirations 152: anything goes

One crazy stamper March: birthday wishes

Stampin' sisters in Christ 128: create a card in variegated colours

Suzie's 365 photos 61: grass

This is probably the most boring (and terrible) photo I've submitted for Suzie's 365, but here it is anyway - day 61: grass:

I'm busy with getting ready for tomorrow's card sale, so I just took this in a hurry - might try later to get a better one.

My 5th blog anniversary

I can hardly believe that I started this blog five years ago today! Since then I've done a lot of crafting and made a lot of lovely blogging friends.

I am so grateful for those who take the time to visit and leave me comments - the blogging crafting community is very precious.

I was going to do something special to celebrate - offer some celebration candy - but with everything going on in life the date has crept up on me and I haven't organised it. I will do soon!

March is a very special month

Crafts by Carolyn forum is celebrating its 10th birthday in March. If you haven't yet done so, why not click on the link and pop in and join in the fun.

Each month this year one of the members of the forum is choosing a challenge for Time to Create and it's my turn for March. So I thought it would be a good idea to celebrate CBC's birthday by making a project with TEN items - I say 'project' because it could be a card, a LO, something altered ... whatever.

I've made a card to start the ball rolling. Not counting the card blank, I've used TEN items:

A piece of K & Co sparkly sweet paper
A piece of Pink Petticoat Wild Blossom paper
A piece of lilac ribbon
A ready coloured digital image (Dottie fairy from Charmed cards & crafts)
Two craftime lilac flowers
An aqua butterfly
Three aqua pearls

I'd love to see you come and join in the fun. I joined CBC forum in August 2004 and still love being part of a very special crafting community.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

Flutter by Wednesday 192: open + fairy and butterfly
Daisy doodles 54: colour your world
The sisterhood of crafters: getting digi with it
Just some lines: girly girl
Ladybug 55: pink and girly
Creative Mondays (Always crafting) 2: anything goes
Crazy challenge108: anything goes
The pixie cottage 110: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Party time Tuesday 57: anything goes
Ribbon carousel 42: anything goes
2 sisters 80: anything goes
Make it Monday 78
Inspire me Fridays 47
52 cardpick up week 8

Suzie's365 photos day 59 + 1!!: extraordinary

Update since writing the post below: We've been back to the hospital - John does not have a DVT - it's just the after effects of the cellulitis he had recently - such a relief!

When you see the photo of my mobile you'll think that's pretty ordinary, but when you see the time of the call, you'll understand that it was 'extraordinary'!! A friend accidentally rang my number at 7 o'clock. I was still in bed, but, fortunately, was actually awake, but the mobile was in the other room - didn't get there in time to answer the call, but did then speak with my friend a few minutes afterwards.

So the day started in a bit of an extraordinary way ... let's hope the rest of it is quite ordinary (although we're waiting for a call from the hospital to tell us when John needs to go to the DVT clinic).

So here is my take for Suzie's day 59 + 1, showing the missed call:

WOYWW 143

Update since writing the post below: We've been back to the hospital - John does not have a DVT - it's just the after effects of the cellulitis he had recently - such a relief!

I know that most visitors to my blog for WOYWW think that I'm always neat and tidy because I do tend to clear up quite often and put things away between crafting sessions.

Well, today (officially 'yesterday' now) turned out different to what was expected and we spent most of it at hospital with John having a suspected DVT in his leg.

So I came back home this evening to the state of how things had been left from crafting yesterday - I've been trying to make as many cards as possible, particularly Easter ones, ready to sell at church on Friday evening. Rather than tidy up and start again I went on this evening to make a couple of cards and add to the mess.

So here is my craft space with things all over the place:

Last week I started out with good intentions, visiting other WOYWWers, but I'm afraid that life with all it's ups and downs got in the way, not to mention the need to get lots of cards made ... so I didn't get to visit many blogs in the end. I'm not sure how well I'll do this week as John's got to go back to hospital tomorrow or the next day and I need to make up for lost time today (yesterday!) and make more cards for Friday evening. But I'll visit as many as I can. And a big THANK YOU to everyone who visits me and leaves comments - it is very much appreciated.

Get well soon

The sketch for Perfect sentiments 20 is for a 'get well' card:

My card is also for the recipe on Creative Belli 137: 1 ribbon, 2 designer papers, 3 colours (green, grey and lilac/purple) and 4 rhinestones.

The circle and square are chipboard - I've had these for ages, so it's good to use them at last. The card blank is stardream and is a smokey grey colour.

The lilac/purple papers are scraps - another for Pixie's crafty snippets 9.

This is also for:

Phindy's Friday 94: get well cards
Challenge up your life 63: get well soon
Sassy Cheryl 104: are you seeing spots?
Raise the bar 93: purple, green + one other colour (grey)
Paper sundaes 109: circles
More than favors Wacky Wednesday 65: circles

Suzie's 365 photos day 59: grey

I had a peep this morning to see what Suzie's prompt was for today ... and then we were out all day at doctor's/hospital (see previous post) and so I wasn't able to take my photo earlier.

'Grey' made me think of my favourite 'grey' - Basic Grey - I love Basic Grey papers, so here are some of them for Suzie's day 59 (and there are lots more apart from these):

For fun

It's been a tiring day. It started off with a doctor's appointment for John which led to a trip to A & E because the doc thought the swollen leg could well be a DVT. We eventually got back home just after 7 and have got to go back to the DVT clinic either tomorrow or the next day to confirm whether it is DVT or not. So all my plans for cardmaking went out of the window today - and John is much more important - but I'm just making a couple of cards now to help unwind.

This card is for the recipe on For Fun challenges:  1 senti as the main image, 2 different ribbons and 3 brads or buttons.

The papers are Forever Friends spring time, other bits, including doiley, from stash and another stamped image made with one of the PM moments of faith stamps, coloured with copics. The buttons were from Poundland - I like these because they are not too raised, so should escape having to pay the extra postage for large letter stamp.

I've used the sketch for CRAFT 143:

This is also for:

Deep ocean 20: spring
Top tip Tuesday 71: stitches
Card and scrap 26: use buttons
City crafter 98: extra! extra! - use two or more ribbons and 9 or more words
Ribbon carousel 42: anything goes
The pretty little ribbon shop 7: anything goes
Crafts and me 72: shades of spring
Fairytale 35: spring

Simply Santa

Yes, I know, I should be making Easter cards ...

but here are three simple Christmas cards - background papers are Anna Griffin, Santa glittered stickers from the 99p store.

These are for Dare to be sassy Thursdays 113: Christmas red and green.

These are also for:

Jingle belles: stuck on you - stickers
52 Christmas carddthrowdown embellishment challenge 2: stickers &/or rub ons
Winter wonderland: glitter and bling
Desert island 25: I chose 2 or more patterned papers, sparkle/bling and stickers
Art impressions 52: clean & simple
Let's craft and create 39: less is more
Make it Monday 78
Inspire me Fridays 47
52 cardpick up week 8

Honey & hugs for Easter

This is for Scrapbook sisters 72 sketch:

Papers are Papermania honey & hugs, stamped image is once again Funstamps lily cross coloured with copics. Stitched ribbon and gems from stash - the gems are aurora borealis - they look dark on here, but as the light catches them they are lighter.

This is also for Sweet stamps 54 bingo - I chose die cut (nesties), ribbon and bling.

This is also for:


Love to create 4: stitching
Dilly beans: in stitches
House of Gilli 27: Gilli goes green

Dottie fairy

I've used a pre-coloured image from Charmed cards and crafts called Dottie fairy.

I've used the sketch for Creative Inspirations 151:

Papers are My mind's eye, the strip of paisley paper is from Poundland, various gems and a large bloom that I've had for ages.

The use of all the pink was inspired by Flutter by Wednesday 181 (plus a fairy):

This is for Digital Tuesday148: make it sparkle (the gems look much more sparkly IRL).

This is also for:

Make my Monday 38: flourishes and diamonds
The cheerful stamp pad 37: land of fantasy
Daisy doodles 54: colour your world

Clean and simple Easter

This is for Try stampin' on Tuesday 54 sketch:

 A simple card using two small offcuts of Papermania Honey & hugs paper and a piece of sticky flowered ribbon. The stamped image is Funstamps lily cross coloured with copics, cut with nesties and distressed with shabby shutters DI, as were the pieces of paper. Just the addition of the stamped sentiment and the card was finished.

This is also for:

Less is more 56: don't scrap it - use left over bits and pieces
Pixie's crafty snippets 9
Art impressions 52: clean & simple
Let's craft and create 39: less is more

Summer lovin' in Paris

Having seen a challenge I wanted to enter and paid and downloaded what I needed, I nearly forgot to make the card in time - so busy with making Easter cards. Anyway, I did remember in time, so this card is for the three companies team up Paris challenge.

The theme is 'love'. The following had to be included:

1 Whimsy stamps sentiment - the 'summer lovin'' heart
1 Make it Crafty product - the Cafe de Paris digital image that forms the background of the card
1 Little Miss Muffet stamps product - the bicycle that I printed and carefully cut and coloured

I coloured very roughly with copics trying to keep the picture looking a bit like the one featured on Make it Crafty.

I'm also entering this for:

Freshly brewed February: love
Charisma cardz 7: love is in the air
Joanna Sheen 3: love is in the air
Polka doodles 8: summer fever
2 sisters 80: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Make it Monday 78
Inspire me Fridays 47
52 cardpick up week 8

All colours of the rainbow for Easter

This card uses all colours of the rainbow for Paper pretties Monday challenge, also for Crafty Ann 59: bold and bright and Ribbon carousel 41:

Papers are Forever Friends spring time, the sentiment and chick etc from Poundland, the bright funky felt flowers from the 99p store and ribbon and lace from the market stall. The ribbon is very zingy IRL - when the light catches it either looks really bright pink or golden.

I used the sketch for Tuesday morning 134, but, unfortunately, forgot to link in time, but still want to acknowledge it:

This is also for:

Squigglefly 8: spring is in the air
Crafty bloggers network 15: spring time
Crafts and me 72: shades of spring
Fairytale 35: spring
Hiding in my craft room 35: bring on some spring
Cards und more 48: glisten and sparkle
Crop stop 59: is it blooming outside? - flowers
Cutie pie 12: flower power
Moving along with the times: lots of layers
The paper shelter 52: add a sentiment
Aud sentiments 48: include the word 'happy'
Lothian crafts 23: recipe - ribbon, flowers, 3 layers and lace
Victorine 28: lace
Mark's finest papers speedy fox and friends 96: lace
Little Miss Muffet 29: fancy or lacy
Blog a doodle: let's see lace and flowers
Truly madly crafty February: ribbon and bling
The pretty little ribbon shop 7: anything goes
2 sisters 80: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Make it Monday 78
Inspire me Fridays 47
52 cardpick up week 8

Shades of purple for Easter

Challenge 108 on Kaboodle calls for shades of purple:

The card is based on Inspirational card sketches 152:

Papers are from my offcuts box, stamps are PM moments of faith coloured with copics, flower with pearls from the 99p shop.

This is also for:


Squigglefly 8: spring is in the air
Crafty bloggers network 15: spring time
Crafts and me 72: shades of spring
Fairytale 35: spring
Hiding in my craft room 35: bring on some spring
Cute card Thursday 205: winged things
Little darlings 18: pearls
Cutie pie 12: flower power
Moving along with the times: lots of layers
The paper shelter 52: add a sentiment
Aud sentiments 48: include the word 'happy'
2 sisters 80: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Make it Monday 78
Inspire me Fridays 47
52 cardpick up week 8

Easter bunny

I made quite a few Easter cards the other day, but they were all 'serious' ones, if you know what I mean, so I thought today I'd make some fun ones. So I'm starting with this one which is for the sketch for Everybody art 81:

Colours are for Dancing in pajamas TCP198:

The paper is Pink petticoat wild blossoms backed by a piece of Forever Friends spring time. The bunny with eggs came from Poundland and the flower border and other flowers were from Hobbycraft.

This is also for:

Squigglefly 8: spring is in the air
Crafty bloggers network 15: spring time
Crafts and me 72: shades of spring
Fairytale 35: spring
Hiding in my craft room 35: bring on some spring
Paper pretties Monday challenge: rainbow colours
Cards und more 48: glisten and sparkle
Crop stop 59: is it blooming outside? - flowers
Cutie pie 12: flower power
Moving along with the times: lots of layers
Little red wagon 121: chipboard (the stickers are chipboard)
The paper shelter 52: add a sentiment
Aud sentiments 48: include the word 'happy'
2 sisters 80: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Make it Monday 78
Inspire me Fridays 47
52 cardpick up week 8

Suzie's day 58: misty or tree

Well, it's not misty here today, so I thought I'd better take a photo of a tree, but first, I can't resist showing 'Misty' - she was a lovely cat that I had some years ago who sadly only reached the age of six because she became ill.

 And digitally changed to make Misty look more ... ummm ... misty:

And now here is my tree for Suzie's day 58 - it's an old lime tree at the bottom of our garden that grows so quickly that we have to have it cut down every couple of years. It looks really quite strange at this time of year, but come the summer it will be a mass of leaves and look far less ugly.

Suzie's 365 photos day 57: light

Here is my photo for Suzie's 57: light:

Cold toes, hats & mittens

This is for this week's Facebook Sunday's with Santa 'polka dots' challenge. The spotty paper is from the Papermania Christmas range and the scrpt paper is Arctic Frog phreezing phrases ski bunny, chipboard stickers from Poundland and ribbons were freebies with a magazine.

This is also for:

Little red wagon 121: chipboard (the stickers are chipboard)
Jingle belles: stuck on you - stickers
52 Christmas carddthrowdown embellishment challenge 2: stickers &/or rub ons
Desert island 25: I chose 2 or more patterned papers, polka dots and stickers
My Sheri 79: warm wishes
Crafty Ann 59: bold and bright
The pink elephant 136: print it - something with script on
The pretty little ribbon shop 7: anything goes
The paper shelter 52: add a sentiment
2 sisters 80: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 47
52 cardpick up week 8

Multifold Christmas card

Having made a lot of Easter cards yesterday (and I still need to make lots more because I'm selling cards for Tearfund at our WEF at church on Friday), I'm back to making Christmas cards!

It was Lizzie's turn to choose the theme for the Christmas Card Club challenge for today and she asked us to more a card with two or more folds. The CCC is a group of crafters who want to get ahead with making Christmas cards throughout the year rather than leave them till panic sets in, so one of the gang sets a challenge every fortnight. There's a list on my sidebar of all those involved - if you'd like to join us, just get in touch with one of us.

For my card I've used offcuts of My Mind's Eye glitter book papers - I love all of these and am determined to use every scrap possible! I used a lovely piece of ribbon that I got last year on a market stall and some chipboard stickers from Poundland (think I got them last year, or perhaps the year before). The Santa picture is recycled from a card received - there is a lot of glittery snow on the bottom of it.

I have to admit that I didn't score and make the card from scratch, it was a ready scored one. I've made some of these before and you will see in the photos that the folds don't sit down as well as they should - I've found before that after a time they settle down and look more presentable - but I didn't want to wait for this to happen because I wanted to be able to blog the card today for the Christmas Card Club.

I'm also linking for these challenges:

Pixie's crafty snippets 9 (no other papers were cut into - only offcuts)
Art with no boundaries Don't waste it 1: use your scraps
Pile it on 9: fun folds
Crafty creations 158: fancy folds
Desert island 25: I chose 2 or more patterned papers, sparkle/bling and stickers
Christmas card challenges week 13: music
Hippity ippity 15: music
Little red wagon 121: chipboard (the stickers are chipboard)
Jingle belles: stuck on you - stickers
52 Christmas carddthrowdown embellishment challenge 2: stickers &/or rub ons
Winter wonderland: glitter and bling
PanPastel UK 7: use a ribbon
The crafty pad 159: recycle it (the Santa picture)
The pretty little ribbon shop 7: anything goes
Aud sentiments 48: include the word 'happy'
The paper shelter 52: add a sentiment
Moving along with the times: lots of layers
Mami doodles 44: use 3 patterned papers
That craft place: anything goes
2 sisters 80: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 47
52 cardpick up week 8