tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31211323627505107242024-03-14T10:03:30.755+00:00☞Defensive Magical Theory☜Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-70548566774388422872014-09-07T20:07:00.001+01:002014-09-07T20:11:22.879+01:00Happy Halloween!! (Sort of)<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello!</div>
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Yes, it's me, I'm still alive! Sorry I haven't blogged in a while, I haven't really done anything particularly blog-worthy; well, I have but I can't show you it because although it's for someone else, I'm making the same thing for my sister as a present and I don't want her to see it!</div>
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Anywho, on to today's project which is a little treat or gift bag I made using one of the new <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Latest_LOTV_Stamp_Launch.html">LOTV</a> stamps coming out tomorrow in our mini release.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7EIpdky5pmw/VAyjfXd3P0I/AAAAAAAABV8/nR1Rl9PJmQE/s1600/Halloween1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7EIpdky5pmw/VAyjfXd3P0I/AAAAAAAABV8/nR1Rl9PJmQE/s1600/Halloween1.JPG" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
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I 'recycled' an old LOTV bag for this and simply cut a piece of the black spotty paper from <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Paper-Pad---Father-Knows-Best.html">Father Knows Best</a> and some orange from my stash big enough to cover the logo on the bag. I then tied some black, orange, green and purple ribbon from my stash around the handles.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V2IABtZy1CQ/VAyjfpYCXyI/AAAAAAAABWA/9Am1OfgEwck/s1600/Halloween2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V2IABtZy1CQ/VAyjfpYCXyI/AAAAAAAABWA/9Am1OfgEwck/s1600/Halloween2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V2IABtZy1CQ/VAyjfpYCXyI/AAAAAAAABWA/9Am1OfgEwck/s1600/Halloween2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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Aren't they adorable! I love the ghost with his little eyes!</div>
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I coloured the image with Amber, Apricot</div>
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Arctic Blue, Black, Burnt Sienna, Cocoa, Cool Grey 1, Cool Grey 5, Forest Green, Grass, Holly, Indigo Blue, Lemon, Oatmeal, Pine, Pumpkin, Royal Blue, Sky Blue and Soft Lime Promarkers and added some weeny googley eyes to give it an extra halloween-y feel!</div>
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Hope you like it and don't forget to check out the new launch tomorrow at Noon!</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-68670040231007623612014-07-17T00:40:00.001+01:002014-07-17T00:40:29.612+01:00Gorgeous New LOTV Goodies!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello everyone! Hope you're all OK?</div>
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Just popping in to show you my latest card which uses lots of gorgeous new Lili of the Valley papers!</div>
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Most of the papers on the card are brand new this week and are from the five gorgeous new Summer and Autumn NitWit paper pads available from LOTV for only £6.50 each until midnight on Sunday along with all of the older NitWit and Raspberry Road pads too!</div>
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<a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Latest_LOTV_Stamp_Launch.html"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r2_Y1b0Ikws/U8cGZ5cIVqI/AAAAAAAABU0/R_B5GQzlXIk/s1600/july14paperpads2outnow.gif" height="143" width="400" /></a></div>
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So, here's the card I've made:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lP4pZy1h5zQ/U8cG7g4OxQI/AAAAAAAABVE/jouMrcSy_e0/s1600/Annabel1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lP4pZy1h5zQ/U8cG7g4OxQI/AAAAAAAABVE/jouMrcSy_e0/s1600/Annabel1.JPG" height="330" width="400" /></a></div>
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When I saw the cute little cloud papers in <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Paper-Pad---Up--Up-and-Away.html">Up, Up and Away</a> I had to make a little outdoor scene and this image was perfect! The gorgeous image is from LOTV's <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Art-Pad---Set-26---Here-Comes-Annabel.html">Here Comes Annabel</a> Art Pad and the little bird in the tree is from the same image I just chopped him off the top of the tent!</div>
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The floral papers on the base are from <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Paper-Pad---Pastel-Dreams.html">Pastel Dreams</a>, the yellow papers on the base and for the sun are from <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Paper-Pad---Country-Meadow.html">Cottage Meadow</a> (which is definitely my favourite). </div>
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The grass was cut with a Joy! grass die using papers from <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Paper-Pad---Bonnets-and-Bowties---Solids.html">Bonnets and Bowties - Soli</a><a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Paper-Pad---Bonnets-and-Bowties---Solids.html">ds</a> and the tree was cut with a Marianne tree die with papers from <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Paper-Pad---Pressed-in-Time.html">Pressed in Time</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9vqi4IPg7YI/U8cG8cTHJ_I/AAAAAAAABVI/lTDpmm93NOw/s1600/Annabel2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9vqi4IPg7YI/U8cG8cTHJ_I/AAAAAAAABVI/lTDpmm93NOw/s1600/Annabel2.JPG" height="309" width="320" /></a></div>
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I made the sun using an X-Cut Star die and punched the sentiment from LOTV's <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Art_Pad_-_Set_8_-_General_Sentiments.html">General Sentiments</a> Art Pad.</div>
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I also added a little sentiment to the stopper using LOTV's <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Set_26_-_Simply_Sophisticated.html">Simply Sophisticated</a> stamp set and stuck two little pearls on from my stash.</div>
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Hope you like the card and don't forget to grab the gorgeous new pads while they're on offer!</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-39086059982871331052014-05-22T23:24:00.004+01:002014-05-22T23:33:58.440+01:00Tea and Books<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello! Hope everyone's alright?<br />
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Well, Buzzy has gone back home again after his little <a href="http://defensivemagicaltheory.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-mystery-of-missing-pup.html">adventure</a> last week; Mum got back from Paris on Wednesday but was so tired she just got on the train without saying she was back home so she got the message from the vet saying the dog was missing before I had chance to tell her he was fine!<br />
I cried quite a lot down the phone at her because I hadn't had a proper cry since he went missing so it all just came out! She kept saying she was really sorry that I'd had to go through it all without her and that I couldn't have done any more to find him.<br />
But he's fine and he's home and quite glad to be back I think because he was beginning to miss it and the cat was apparently missing him the whole time too!</div>
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Anywho, I thought I'd show you all my first ever paper pieced patchwork block!</div>
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It's using two different block patterns from the fantastic website <a href="http://www.fandominstitches.com/">Fandom in Stitches</a> who create and share geeky themed pattern blocks for nerdy sewers and they are so amazing!</div>
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So here's my first block:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EPYAcAnuYuU/U352oRL6XEI/AAAAAAAABTI/Pi-0Pj1bW4k/s1600/TeaAndBooks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EPYAcAnuYuU/U352oRL6XEI/AAAAAAAABTI/Pi-0Pj1bW4k/s1600/TeaAndBooks.JPG" height="395" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you can't tell it's a tea cup on a pile of books! The blocks I used were numbers 9 and 27 from their <a href="http://www.fandominstitches.com/2011/05/harry-potter.html#POD">Harry Potter Project of Doom Quilt</a> which is incredible and one that I plan on attempting to make at some point!</div>
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I wasn't quite sure I made the right choice for the background fabric when I'd put it all together but I thing it looks quite good (It's meant to look like wallpaper!) and it was much easier to put together than I thought it would be except for getting the angles right when folding the fabric back on itself and worrying I was going to pull the stitches out when taking the paper off the back!<br />
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(What is paper piecing? Here's an <a href="http://sewhooked.com/2008/10/28/paper-piecing-step-by-step/">explanation</a> and tutorial from Jennifer from FiS)</div>
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When I (eventually) make the full quilt I'll definitely be using a much lighter fabric for the background. I have about 50 other blocks that I would love to make from Fandom in Stitches they're all so gorgeous but my next one I think is going to be a Captain America quilt using their shield <a href="http://www.fandominstitches.com/2011/05/comicsgamestech.html#comics">pattern</a>.<br />
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Hope you like it!<br />
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Erica<br />
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-56283632854169861182014-05-14T19:21:00.000+01:002014-07-17T00:45:48.208+01:00The Mystery of the Missing Pup!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello everyone! Hope you're all alright? Just thought I would share a little news with you today.</div>
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I've mentioned him before but in case someone doesn't know who I'm talking about, we have a family dog called Buzz who is a Jack Russell cross, he lives with my Mum and I'm looking after him for a couple of weeks while she's in Paris.</div>
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This is he and isn't he adorable?! =D</div>
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On Tuesday evening, just before I finished work my housemate Lee rang me to say that a couple of hours before another housemate Nathaniel had been walking Buzz when he had completely panicked for no reason and bolted out of the little park he was in. He ran straight through traffic along a busy road which meant that cars were beeping at him which scared him and made him run off again. Nathaniel kept running after him but even though he has little legs, Buzz is ridiculously fast and Nathaniel couldn't catch him.</div>
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Lee and Nathaniel looked for him for a couple of hours before telling me just in case they found him and they didn't want to worry me if they didn't have to. I got back from work and immediately started to look for him around the last place he was seen, Lee, Nathaniel and his girlfriend Francesca were all out looking for him too and when our other housemate Joanna got back from work she started looking too.</div>
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I looked for about four hours then went home and made some posters to put up and went back out again, getting home about 12. We'd called the Dog Warden, all the vets near where we live, the RSPCA, I told two Police Officers I saw but they can't look for lost dogs unless someone reports one running loose.</div>
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I got up early the next day to start ringing all the vets within 10 miles to see if he'd been taken to them and while I was on the phone I got a call from a lady asking me to ring her. They'd found him in their neighbours garden late the night before and had taken him to the vets where they'd scanned his microchip. Unfortunately the details on the chip are for Mum but she isn't at home but the lady who found him had taken him for a walk and seen one of the posters I'd put up.</div>
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I burst into tears when she said she had him and then found that they were only about eight streets away so he'd almost managed to circle back on himself from where he was last seen.</div>
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I've never been so happy to see him in my entire life! I burst into tears again when we picked him up, he was so happy to see me and Lee who came with me although he did look quite ashamed of himself!</div>
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We've been having lots of cuddles since I got him back and had a nice long nap after we got home. We've been for a walk but I didn't let him off the lead in case he got spooked by something again. He's fast asleep at the moment, he's so tired after his little adventure. Lisa at work said I could take him to work for the rest of the week which I might do because he'll have been scared and lonely last night until he was found.</div>
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I'm so glad he's home!</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-8801056268611925362014-04-28T20:59:00.001+01:002014-04-28T21:00:05.772+01:00Papertake Weekly White +1 Challenge<div style="text-align: center;">
Evening everyone! Hope you're all alright?</div>
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Can't believe it's been a month since I posted anything! There isn't anything amazingly interesting to report unfortunately except that we have two new housemates, Joanna and Nathaniel, and I've FINALLY swapped rooms with my housemate Lee! I think I've mentioned this before but if I haven't I'll explain in full at a later date! Basically, he and his girlfriend Issi had the big attic bedroom but now Issi has moved down to Bristol and Lee is waiting to go down as well he's saving a bit of money by moving into a smaller room so I get the attic room, hooray! It's fabulous and it has it's own bathroom (which in a shared house is so unbelievably fantastic!) and there's so much more space for crafting in!</div>
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I didn't think it would be particularly difficult moving my stuff up one flight of stairs but it's essentially moving house all over again but only taking everything up one flight of stairs!</div>
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It was a nightmare! Lee and Issi had a month to sort everything and I ended up moving in at 7pm the night before our Joanna was meant to be moving into my old room! But I got everything moved and it's basically sorted and I'll show you all a picture of my lovely new crafting space soon!</div>
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But anywho, it's on to today's card! Yey! =D</div>
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I've made this one for this week's <a href="http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/white-1.html">Papertake Weekly</a> challenge of 'White +1' and I've chosen my favourite colour combination of white and red.</div>
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I've used a little 4x4 card for this one and then simply used my new Spellbinders 'Feathers' dies with First Edition 'Family Ties' papers, stamped a sentiment from the <a href="http://www.clearlybesottedstamps.com/products/my-cup-of-tea">'My Cup of Tea'</a> set by Clearly Besotted onto white card die cut using La-La Land 'Folding Banners' dies, mounted everything onto foam pads and that's it!</div>
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I don't know why I love red and white together, I just think it looks gorgeous!</div>
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Anywho, hope you like it!</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-16403549028191150872014-03-29T11:45:00.000+00:002014-03-29T11:45:00.864+00:00A Recipe to Take Note Of!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello! Hope you're all alright and having a nice weekend so far?</div>
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I'm at my Mum's again this weekend to help her (hopefully) finish sorting and organising her new craft room; she's got to the point where she can't really move anything without someone to help and she needs more bookshelves up etc, etc so I'm back again! It's also Mother's Day over here in the UK tomorrow</div>
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It's my last 'Biggest Fan For March' post today for <a href="http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.uk/">Bugaboo Stamps</a> *sniff sniff* but it's been really good fun and I really enjoyed taking part in the challenges.</div>
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Well, this week it's a 'Recipe' challenge hence the first half of the title of this post, and I decided to make a little sticky note holder, hence the second half of the title! (I was clutching at straws a bit with this one! Ha ha!)<br />
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The Recipe is 4 Layers, Ribbon, Flowers.</div>
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And here's what I made (Please ignore the grey 'smudge' in the pictures, it's actually the shadow from the flower!):</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lSK_vB4pko0/UzXngJxkO_I/AAAAAAAABRw/eN4QLCfBn74/s1600/Recipe1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lSK_vB4pko0/UzXngJxkO_I/AAAAAAAABRw/eN4QLCfBn74/s1600/Recipe1.JPG" height="400" width="261" /></a></div>
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I used <a href="http://www.bugaboostamps.com/Stella-Tidbits--Drown-Your-Troubles_p_1776.html">Stella Tidbits - Drown Your Troubles</a>, which I actually laughed at quite loudly when I saw it! =)</div>
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I used Matchmakers 'Brights' 12 x 12 Cardstock Stack from DCWV for the holder; the four layers I used were pink, orange, purple and aqua and if they look more luminous that 'bright' that's because they are! They definitely didn't look quite so day-glow on the website I bought them from!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XlmFI-YHDUk/UzXnf2oTCrI/AAAAAAAABR4/Js0JQJXK3gY/s1600/Recipe2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XlmFI-YHDUk/UzXnf2oTCrI/AAAAAAAABR4/Js0JQJXK3gY/s1600/Recipe2.JPG" height="320" width="281" /></a></div>
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I coloured her with Promarkers (oddly enough!): Apricot, Arctic Blue, Azure, Emerald, Gold, Honeycomb, Lush Green, Magenta, Maroon, Mulberry, Sky Blue, True Blue, Plum and Pumpkin.</div>
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As I've said before, I don't really do flowers so I decided to just add a little one in her hair to make her look nice a tropical!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pX1D4HF8XAs/UzXngFMZtUI/AAAAAAAABR0/rN55CG_VOMQ/s1600/Recipe3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pX1D4HF8XAs/UzXngFMZtUI/AAAAAAAABR0/rN55CG_VOMQ/s1600/Recipe3.JPG" height="320" width="186" /></a></div>
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I wasn't sure where to put the ribbon so I snuck it onto the spine of the cover to make it a little more interesting!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jXGmGMDHl5w/UzXnmsAP5mI/AAAAAAAABSI/-yitisSby3c/s1600/Recipe4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jXGmGMDHl5w/UzXnmsAP5mI/AAAAAAAABSI/-yitisSby3c/s1600/Recipe4.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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I even stuck come magnetic tape to the back so it could live on the front of the fridge!</div>
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Anywho, hope you like it!</div>
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Back to shifting boxes for Mum!</div>
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Erica</div>
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=)</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-41626342799243246372014-03-27T20:17:00.004+00:002014-03-27T20:17:46.885+00:00Rocking Horse for Baby Ella<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello!</div>
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Hope everyone's alright? I've just got a very quick post today to show you a card I made a little while ago for my landlady and landlord who had a baby girl, Ella, a couple of months ago.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IoyT0WlsSSo/UzSEkiUJ9EI/AAAAAAAABRc/wvsINryLJWw/s1600/RockingHorse1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IoyT0WlsSSo/UzSEkiUJ9EI/AAAAAAAABRc/wvsINryLJWw/s1600/RockingHorse1.JPG" height="398" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used the adorable little <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000250.pl?WD=horse&PN=Stamp%2d%2d%2dRocking%2dHorse%2ehtml#aST480">Rocking Horse</a> stamp from Lili of the Valley (of course!) which is my favourite of the baby stamps. The papers are from 'Animal Antics' by First Edition and have lots of really cute little animal and baby type designs.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P-NEvmKV4LA/UzSEj0Lvs6I/AAAAAAAABRY/0IwjZ3Taw6s/s1600/RockingHorse2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P-NEvmKV4LA/UzSEj0Lvs6I/AAAAAAAABRY/0IwjZ3Taw6s/s1600/RockingHorse2.JPG" height="400" width="395" /></a></div>
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I coloured her with Promarkers but unfortunately can't remember which!</div>
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Hope you like her!</div>
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Erica</div>
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=)</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-21778010383930676762014-03-22T11:45:00.000+00:002014-03-24T11:49:10.851+00:00It's Photo Time at Bugaboo!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hi everyone, hope you're alright?</div>
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First day of Spring on Thursday so I'm hoping the weather's going to get a bit better because I really want to get some gardening done; I bought some lovely new perennials yesterday so I'm hoping to get them in this weekend!</div>
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Anywho, it's time for a photo challenge over at <a href="http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/march-photo-inspiration-challenge.html">Bugaboo Stamps</a> and this week the inspiration is...</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KodA4I7FvC4/UyzFsQTfYtI/AAAAAAAABQs/a6tl6GPWCVg/s1600/March2014PhotoInspiration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KodA4I7FvC4/UyzFsQTfYtI/AAAAAAAABQs/a6tl6GPWCVg/s1600/March2014PhotoInspiration.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
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...and here's the card I made...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2GXparnBbjE/UyzITTIctnI/AAAAAAAABQ8/fGwKyfIK3qU/s1600/LionPhoto1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2GXparnBbjE/UyzITTIctnI/AAAAAAAABQ8/fGwKyfIK3qU/s1600/LionPhoto1.JPG" height="337" width="400" /></a></div>
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Isn't this little guy so adorable?! He's called <a href="https://bugaboostamps.3dcartstores.com/lion-topper_p_2071.html">'Lion Topper'</a> and he is so gorgeous you just want to scratch his ears!</div>
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I decided to keep it quite simple and use three different papers from a Lily Bee Design 'Memorandum' pad and popped them on foam pads with the middle strip slightly lower than the other two.</div>
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I fussy cut the lion (almost losing a few whiskers along the way!) and mounted him on to more foam pads to make him extra dimensional.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eOJJTkQs9tU/UyzITE6P-9I/AAAAAAAABQ4/mRCZYANJLmY/s1600/LionPhoto2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eOJJTkQs9tU/UyzITE6P-9I/AAAAAAAABQ4/mRCZYANJLmY/s1600/LionPhoto2.JPG" height="252" width="320" /></a></div>
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I coloured him with Promarkers in Caramel, Cocktail Pink, Mustard, Raw Sienna and Sandstone.</div>
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I made the sentiment in Word using the 'Chalkboard' font which I think is a standard font on the Mac and popped the lion on top so he was peaking over the edge!</div>
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Hope you like him and don't forget to check out the fabulous DT inspiration over at Bugaboo!</div>
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Erica</div>
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=)</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-85763343140870408932014-03-21T22:33:00.001+00:002014-03-21T22:33:57.652+00:00A Little Bit 'Supernatural'<div style="text-align: center;">
Hi everyone! Hope you're alright?</div>
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I realised the other day that I'd completely forgotten to show you the Christmas present I made for my sister.</div>
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Now, <strike>we're both a weeny bit obsessed</strike> quite like a programme called <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460681/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Supernatural</a>, my favourite character is called Dean played by the gorgeous Jensen Ackles and my sister's favourite character is Cas (pronounced 'Cass' not 'Caz'!) played by the equally gorgeous Misha Collins so I decided I'd make her a mini Cas doll for Chrimble.</div>
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I'd never made anything like this before so it took a while to figure out how I was going to make both Cas and then his clothes but I think I managed to pull it off quite well.</div>
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On the plus side, it did mean that I got to stare at this lovely man for quite a while to figure it all out!</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i3KA2_NTNWg/UyimGN_QHfI/AAAAAAAABPg/2UwHe0A0ppM/s1600/399px-Castiel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i3KA2_NTNWg/UyimGN_QHfI/AAAAAAAABPg/2UwHe0A0ppM/s1600/399px-Castiel.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: http://www.supernaturalwiki.com/index.php?title=File:Castiel.jpg</td></tr>
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And here's the little guy himself!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TARALTKaJWQ/Uyy95U9G15I/AAAAAAAABQc/czEXGIsYDiE/s1600/CasFront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TARALTKaJWQ/Uyy95U9G15I/AAAAAAAABQc/czEXGIsYDiE/s1600/CasFront.jpg" height="400" width="228" /></a></div>
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Isn't he so cute! I'm so pleased with the way he came out and I didn't think his hair was too far off.</div>
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I decided to leave out his suit jacket this time as I didn't know if the trench coat would go on over the top.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CuWi4WthDBo/Uyiottam5KI/AAAAAAAABPs/1DJev_xNCmQ/s1600/Cas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CuWi4WthDBo/Uyiottam5KI/AAAAAAAABPs/1DJev_xNCmQ/s1600/Cas2.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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showing off his coat tie and collar...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0AQH-CDtFFI/UyiouHvXNwI/AAAAAAAABPw/rsnuSRK4l6o/s1600/Cas3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0AQH-CDtFFI/UyiouHvXNwI/AAAAAAAABPw/rsnuSRK4l6o/s1600/Cas3.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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...his cute little tie...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c_L-UWV1e2s/UyiouaFKCxI/AAAAAAAABQA/6jUNei1qTDI/s1600/Cas4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c_L-UWV1e2s/UyiouaFKCxI/AAAAAAAABQA/6jUNei1qTDI/s1600/Cas4.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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...he even has little cuff buttons!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jo4OnRrf5jk/UyioukfS5bI/AAAAAAAABP4/81XmA6kr5zo/s1600/Cas5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jo4OnRrf5jk/UyioukfS5bI/AAAAAAAABP4/81XmA6kr5zo/s1600/Cas5.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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I didn't think to sew his hair down all the way round before sewing him together and turning him inside out so it ended up a bit ruffled and sticks out at the back.</div>
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I did really enjoy making him so I'll definitely be doing others like this but I think, as this wasn't as horribly boring or time consuming as I thought, I'll be including more little details next time.</div>
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Hope you like him!</div>
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Erica</div>
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=)</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-45630138688976974182014-03-15T12:05:00.002+00:002014-03-15T12:34:18.550+00:00Bugaboo BINGO!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello everyone, hope you're all alright?</div>
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Just a quick post today for this week's challenge over at Bugaboo Stamps as I've got to show a potential new housemate around later! </div>
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This week it's BINGO!</div>
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<img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V_I9dP4VCFo/UyQ-_uVF11I/AAAAAAAABPA/oWMjyt5_gYA/s1600/20143MarchBingo.png" height="320" width="290" /></div>
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And here's the card I made:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9qenIakKjM/UyQ_nyoBKuI/AAAAAAAABPQ/TqmV45RlJqw/s1600/Bingo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9qenIakKjM/UyQ_nyoBKuI/AAAAAAAABPQ/TqmV45RlJqw/s1600/Bingo1.JPG" height="400" width="295" /></a></div>
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I used the left hand column of the BINGO grid; ribbon-text paper-scallop. I used dotty ribbon from my stash, text paper from LOTV's <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000250.pl?WD=candles&PN=Paper_Pad_%2d_Candles_and_Cake%2ehtml#aPP011">Candles and Cake</a> pad and Spellbinders A2 Curved Borders One for the wavy scalloped bottom to the paper. The red backing paper is also from the Candles and Cake pad.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_iBkXje6ynY/UyQ_mv_glRI/AAAAAAAABPI/FtFxYle4sRE/s1600/Bingo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_iBkXje6ynY/UyQ_mv_glRI/AAAAAAAABPI/FtFxYle4sRE/s1600/Bingo2.JPG" height="320" width="262" /></a></div>
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I used the one of Bugaboo's wonderful Stella digis for the image, <a href="http://www.bugaboostamps.com/Make-it-Snappy-Stella-Birthday-old-fart_p_2303.html">'Make it Snappy - Stella Birthday Old Fart'</a> and coloured here with Promarkers Aegean, Amber, Apricot, Berry Red, Blush, Bright Green, Carmine, Cyan, Grey Green, Honeycomb, Leaf Green, Maroon, Marine, Mulberry, Oatmeal, Plum, Poppy, Pumpkin, Salmon Pink, Sunflower, Tea Green, Turquoise, Warm Grey 4, Warm Grey 5 and Yellow.</div>
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I also added some Glossy Accents to her glasses and the balloons to give them a bit of shine.</div>
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Anywho, hope you like it, I'm off the finish tidying!</div>
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Erica</div>
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=)<a href="http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/bingo-challenge.html">http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/bingo-challenge.html</a></div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-14829000468900542014-03-08T11:59:00.000+00:002014-03-08T12:02:10.854+00:00Feeling 'Lucky' at Bugaboo Stamps!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hello everyone! Hope you're all alright?</div>
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Very sorry for the lack of posts this week, my Mum moved house on Monday so I've been helping her finish packing and then helped move.</div>
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It all went quite well, we managed to fit everything in which was a bit of a squeeze because she moved from a three bedroom house to a two bedroom bungalow! The neighbours and the removal people didn't think everything was going to go in but it has and when it's all unpacked and everything's in it's proper place, Mum's having a house warming so she can show everyone that it all fitted! =)</div>
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We were a bit worried that the dog and the cat were going to be a bit freaked out by the move but they both seem to be fine; the cat wouldn't come out of Mum's room for the first few days but she's fine now and the dog was so exhausted bless him, he usually has a nap in the middle of the day but because there was so much going on he couldn't find anywhere to sleep! </div>
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Anywho, on to today's card which is my second as Biggest Fan for March at Bugaboo and the theme for this week's challenge is <a href="http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/march-theme-challenge-feelin-lucky.html">'Feelin' Lucky</a>' and I decided to do a good luck card for a new home!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8f3nurgXqVs/Uxd-_ADkz8I/AAAAAAAABOs/oN7eO6IQFVo/s1600/Luck1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8f3nurgXqVs/Uxd-_ADkz8I/AAAAAAAABOs/oN7eO6IQFVo/s1600/Luck1.JPG" height="400" width="287" /></a></div>
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I used Bugaboo's <a href="http://www.bugaboostamps.com/AKV-moving--car_p_2707.html">'A Kid's View: Moving - Car'</a> which I thought was so cute, I love the tree on top of the car!</div>
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I thought it was also a great opportunity to use the X-Cut 'Build a Scene - London' die set I bought at the HobbyCrafts show in Birmingham last year and haven't used yet!</div>
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I cut the skyline from Coredinations <a href="http://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/shop-by-brand-c2159/coredinations-c5951/core-essentials-pads-c5953/coredinations-6-x-6-cardstock-super-assortment-so-mod-p13080">'So Mod</a>' and <a href="http://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/shop-by-brand-c2159/coredinations-c5951/core-essentials-pads-c5953/coredinations-6-x-6-cardstock-super-assortment-elements-p13074">'Elements'</a> 6 x 6 card packs and the fence is a Memory Box 'Wrought Iron Fence' die.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XwP4YaqVdMc/Uxd-_AU0KdI/AAAAAAAABOo/C-o2J0H1yvE/s1600/Luck2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XwP4YaqVdMc/Uxd-_AU0KdI/AAAAAAAABOo/C-o2J0H1yvE/s1600/Luck2.JPG" height="320" width="267" /></a></div>
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I coloured the image with my trusty Promarkers in Apricot, Azure, Bright Green, Burgundy, Caramel, Cool Grey 5, Crimson, Forest Green, Ice Grey 4, Oatmeal, Poppy, Raw Sienna, Sandstone, Sky Blue, Sunflower, Tea Green and Yellow.</div>
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Mum's car looked a little bit like this on Monday, piled full of things, including plants!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PaRW5V-i1gc/Uxd-7k2cOPI/AAAAAAAABOg/mxMEHTDyAvo/s1600/Luck3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PaRW5V-i1gc/Uxd-7k2cOPI/AAAAAAAABOg/mxMEHTDyAvo/s1600/Luck3.JPG" height="197" width="200" /></a></div>
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The sentiment is (of course!) from Lili of the Valley, from the '<a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000250.pl?WD=scroll&PN=Stamp_%2d_Scroll_Sentiments%2ehtml#aSTAMP_20M">Scroll Sentiments</a>' set.</div>
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Hope you like it and don't forget to check out the gorgeous inspiration from the Bugaboo design team for the challenge!</div>
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Erica</div>
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<br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-53647719629736700222014-03-01T11:59:00.000+00:002014-03-01T12:11:26.288+00:00I'm 'Biggest Fan for March' at Bugaboo Stamps!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello everyone!</div>
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Hope you're all alright?</div>
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I have such exciting news! I've been picked as the <a href="http://www.bugaboostamps.com/">Bugaboo Stamps</a> Biggest Fan for March! Eeeeeeeee!!!! =D</div>
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I was so excited when I got the e-mail, I sat and squealed for ten minutes!</div>
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It means that I got some lovely digis (yay!), I get my lovely face(!) in the Bugaboo newsletter and I can be a guest for the challenges throughout March! =D</div>
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I've decided that I think I'm going to be brave and do all of the challenge so here is my first project as a guest and it's for the first challenge of '<a href="http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/march-anything-goes.html">Anything Goes</a>'. I decided to use the fabulous '<a href="http://www.bugaboostamps.com/Gus-Birthday--Optional_p_1291.html">Gus Birthday - Optional</a>' to create a little (or rather, large) sweet jar.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bkc-bC0iO7k/Uw0XGy0YG2I/AAAAAAAABN4/GMaw0MF6TXM/s1600/BFFMAnythingGoes1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bkc-bC0iO7k/Uw0XGy0YG2I/AAAAAAAABN4/GMaw0MF6TXM/s1600/BFFMAnythingGoes1.JPG" height="400" width="252" /></a></div>
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I filled an 18cm (7inch) Kilner jar with three bags of fruit Mentos (minus a few that were accidentally eaten!) and I used the sentiment that comes with the Gus digi which is brilliant and one that I definitely stick too!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KLJuZVI_3i8/Uw0dFKkVxxI/AAAAAAAABOQ/SC3n0blvo_M/s1600/BFFMAnythingGoes2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KLJuZVI_3i8/Uw0dFKkVxxI/AAAAAAAABOQ/SC3n0blvo_M/s1600/BFFMAnythingGoes2.JPG" height="400" width="307" /></a></div>
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I coloured Gus with Apricot, Canary, Cool Grey 2, 4 + 5, Cornflower, Ivory, Lemon, Lipstick Red, Midnight Blue, Oatmeal, Pastel Beige, Poppy, Sunflower, Warm Grey 3 + 5 and Yellow Promarkers and mounted him onto some <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000250.pl?WD=candles&PN=Paper_Pad_%2d_Candles_and_Cake%2ehtml#aPP011">Candles and Cake</a> papers from LOTV die cut using Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Rectangles Large.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lnoZFynwtKg/Uw0XDKtsntI/AAAAAAAABNw/VPQ7S7w1cH0/s1600/BFFMAnythingGoes3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lnoZFynwtKg/Uw0XDKtsntI/AAAAAAAABNw/VPQ7S7w1cH0/s1600/BFFMAnythingGoes3.JPG" height="320" width="279" /></a></div>
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I added some of the striped papers from Candles and Cake to the inside top of the jar to cover the label and I tied some yellow and green ribbon around the jar as well that you can just see in the corner of the photo.</div>
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Anywho, I hope you like to project and don't forget to check out the lovely Bugaboo DT to see their gorgeous creations for the challenge!</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-27763851183552273192014-02-24T18:39:00.001+00:002014-02-24T18:39:15.544+00:00New Product Launch at LOTV!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello everyone! Hope you all had a lovely weekend?</div>
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Just thought I'd pop in quickly to let you know about the <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Latest_LOTV_Stamp_Launch.html">new launch</a> at LOTV.</div>
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We've got six gorgeous Raspberry Road 8 x 8 paper pads...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jq7X7dQEfIM/UwuQ8PEteAI/AAAAAAAABNI/JmKo0IqaVMM/s1600/newpaperpads2outnow.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jq7X7dQEfIM/UwuQ8PEteAI/AAAAAAAABNI/JmKo0IqaVMM/s1600/newpaperpads2outnow.gif" height="145" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8bELCQZId_U/UwuQ-awANgI/AAAAAAAABNQ/o5sMGae4cEw/s1600/newpaperpadsoutnow.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8bELCQZId_U/UwuQ-awANgI/AAAAAAAABNQ/o5sMGae4cEw/s1600/newpaperpadsoutnow.gif" height="145" width="400" /></a></div>
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...five adorable Art Pads...</div>
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...and an A5 set of family sentiment tags!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7SIgZ3bqKaY/UwuRcDyGFaI/AAAAAAAABNg/E8efkU8jXNc/s1600/newfamilytags.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7SIgZ3bqKaY/UwuRcDyGFaI/AAAAAAAABNg/E8efkU8jXNc/s1600/newfamilytags.gif" height="143" width="400" /></a></div>
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They've all been so popular already so make sure you <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Latest_LOTV_Stamp_Launch.html">pop over</a> and get yours before they sell out!</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-25926175258842953122014-02-17T20:49:00.000+00:002014-02-17T20:49:35.362+00:00Love is in the Air at Tiddly Inks!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello!</div>
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Hope everyone had a lovely weekend? I didn't manage to get much done on Saturday but on Sunday myself, Anne, Andrea and Jon from LOTV all went to the Craft and Stitch trade show at the NEC in Birmingham for a look around and in the evening it was the British Craft Awards! Sadly we didn't win in our two categories but it was the first time we'd been nominated so it was fantastic just to be there!</div>
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Hopefully we'll win next year!</div>
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Anywho, on to today's card which is for the '<a href="http://tiddlyinkschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/challenge-126-love-is-in-air.html">Love is in the Air</a>' challenge over at Tiddly Inks.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ia20x65C9ig/UwJw0-gtNhI/AAAAAAAABMg/VNQSBkD6Xvc/s1600/TILoveIsInTheAir1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ia20x65C9ig/UwJw0-gtNhI/AAAAAAAABMg/VNQSBkD6Xvc/s1600/TILoveIsInTheAir1.JPG" height="391" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used the gorgeous '<a href="http://www.tiddlyinks.com/products/Catch-My-Heart.html">Catch My Heart</a>' digi which I've had for a while but haven't got round to using yet, so this challenge was perfect. The papers are brand new papers from the 'Heartfelt' pad from LOTV which won't be available on the website until Monday 24th.</div>
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The papers behind the image were all cut from the 'Heartfelt' pads with Spellbinders 'Classic Hearts'.</div>
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I was going to 'quarter' the card alternating two red and two white hearts but the points of the hearts aren't exactly 90 so it looked little off. I just layered them over each other underneath the image instead and it doesn't look too bad.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TN6l6p4MHC0/UwJw3kGJYhI/AAAAAAAABMo/Lf2J7z4tp74/s1600/TILoveIsInTheAir2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TN6l6p4MHC0/UwJw3kGJYhI/AAAAAAAABMo/Lf2J7z4tp74/s1600/TILoveIsInTheAir2.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've coloured her in Antique Pink, Apricot, Arctic Blue, Buttercup, Cocoa, Crimson, Dusky Rose, Oatmeal, Poppy, Powder Blue, Tulip Yellow and Walnut Promarkers. I also added some glossy accents to the puddle but it doesn't show up very well in the photo.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vHIcPGEugVo/UwJws6OBKjI/AAAAAAAABMQ/nh2KMitLHGc/s1600/TILoveIsInTheAir3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vHIcPGEugVo/UwJws6OBKjI/AAAAAAAABMQ/nh2KMitLHGc/s1600/TILoveIsInTheAir3.JPG" height="315" width="320" /></a></div>
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I used a sentiment from LOTV's '<a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Set_29_-_Vintage_Sentiments_-_Just_to_say.html">Set 29 Vintage Sentiments - Just to Say</a>' which was stamped on to one of the papers from 'Heartfelt' and then layered onto two more.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KdqIuh9C-7U/UwJwzoT758I/AAAAAAAABMY/lx0SOPeTwPg/s1600/TILoveIsInTheAir4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KdqIuh9C-7U/UwJwzoT758I/AAAAAAAABMY/lx0SOPeTwPg/s1600/TILoveIsInTheAir4.JPG" height="145" width="320" /></a></div>
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I added a few Memory Box 'Puffy Clouds' as the top looked a little bare and where cut from the same papers from 'Heartfelt' as the sentiment.</div>
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Hope you like it!</div>
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Erica</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-56979391985753633172014-02-14T19:13:00.002+00:002014-02-14T19:50:10.540+00:00A Bit of Monster Love!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello everyone!</div>
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Hope you're all alright?</div>
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Quick post today for the latest challenges over at <a href="http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/february-theme-challenge.html">Bugaboo Stamps</a> and <a href="http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk/">Papertake Weekly</a>. As it's Valentine's Day the Bugaboo challenge is 'Love' and Papertake Weekly's is 'With a Heart' where you have to have a heart somewhere on your project.</div>
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Now, I don't do Valentine's Day, not because I'm single or think it's a conspiracy between sweet companies to get you to buy chocolate but because I don't think you should show someone how much you love them on the same day of the year that everyone else is doing it. It should be little things you do throughout the rest of the year that show them.</div>
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But anywho, enough of my skeptical-ness on to today's card! And here's what I've made:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVpk3eLPKw0/Uv5qe5g1U7I/AAAAAAAABL4/Dhw_NyJKdV0/s1600/LoveMonsters1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVpk3eLPKw0/Uv5qe5g1U7I/AAAAAAAABL4/Dhw_NyJKdV0/s1600/LoveMonsters1.JPG" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used Bugaboo's '<a href="http://www.bugaboostamps.com/Love-Monsters_p_3649.html">Love Monsters</a>' which is new this week and they are just so adorable! It was a bit interesting colouring them in because I ended up printing the image 5cm wide so it would fit in the aperture and the aperture would fit on the card.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jeoXXAlpYcY/Uv5qSGLRLGI/AAAAAAAABLw/kklL9AUXXaA/s1600/LoveMonsters2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jeoXXAlpYcY/Uv5qSGLRLGI/AAAAAAAABLw/kklL9AUXXaA/s1600/LoveMonsters2.JPG" height="320" width="316" /></a></div>
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I used Berry Red, Burgundy, Crimson, Hot Pink, Ivory, Lipstick Red, Poppy and Red Promarkers to colour them. They are all different shades of Red but unfortunately it doesn't show up very well.</div>
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The aperture was cut with Spellbinders Standard Circles Small.</div>
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The little embellishments are from Lili of the Valley's '<a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Set_22_-_Love_Sentiments.html">Set 22 Love Sentiments</a>' which I stamped in Tim Holtz Fired Brick Distress Inks and used the third impression to get a slightly faded look to them. The stitched border was stamped in the same way using one of the stamps from Visible Image's '<a href="http://www.visibleimage.co.uk/stamps/feminine/thesewingroom.htm">The Sewing Room</a>' set.</div>
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Hope you like it!</div>
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Erica</div>
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P.S. As you can see from the sidebar, I won the August colour challenge over at Bugaboo but I didn't actually realise that until the beginning of this year! I e-mailed and the lovely Tammy said I could still claim the prize which was so lovely! I bought quite a few Chrimble digis but one of the ones I bought, I used on this card <a href="http://defensivemagicaltheory.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/bugaboo-birthday-challenge-number-two.html">here</a> =)</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-39423072247997023782014-02-12T21:29:00.000+00:002014-02-12T21:32:22.050+00:00Happy Birthday, Mum!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello!</div>
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Hope everyone's alright? We're having some horrible weather here in the UK at the moment, it hasn't been too bad here up North but there's been lots of flooding in the South although it does look like it's coming this way! I went into town after work today and it was only raining a little bit when I left but it was chucking it down and so windy when I got into town that I was nearly blown into traffic! I was very glad to get home and get into my nice warm pyjamas!</div>
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We had a bit of an exhausting weekend as myself and my sister were helping my Mum pack up everything in her house because she's moving at the beginning of March. She moving into a bungalow just down the street and myself and my sister obviously don't live there any more and she doesn't need a three bedroom house to herself.</div>
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I got a bit upset when we took apart my old bed because we'd lived there for about 15 years so it was quite sad that I didn't have a proper bed at Mum's anymore! =( I don't know what I'll be like on moving day, I just be in tears the entire time probably!</div>
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In other news! We (LOTV) were on Create and Craft TV on Monday with lots of lovely new Art and Paper pads and they were so popular C&C had to cancel the afternoon show because there wasn't enough stock left!</div>
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I'd sent <a href="http://defensivemagicaltheory.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/something-different-with-lotv-sneaky.html">my little topiary</a> to Dawny to take on the show as a sample because it used two of the new pads and she said lots of people at C&C were commenting on it and I've had some lovely comments from customers too which is really nice! =D My Mum recorded the show and keeps showing the bit with my tree to everyone who goes round!</div>
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It was also Mum's birthday yesterday (21 again!) so I thought I'd show you the card I made her from myself and my sister.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CMgBK7_3Y4I/UvvkqNmihgI/AAAAAAAABK0/t6ntL3pPnj0/s1600/MumBDayTI1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CMgBK7_3Y4I/UvvkqNmihgI/AAAAAAAABK0/t6ntL3pPnj0/s1600/MumBDayTI1.JPG" height="391" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used Tiddly Inks' '<a href="http://www.tiddlyinks.com/anna-belle-birthday-wishes/">Anna Belle Birthday Wishes</a>' digi stamp, the papers are '<a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Paper_Pad_-_Perfect_Pair.html">Perfect Pair</a>' and '<a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Paper_Pad_-_Promises.html">Promises</a>' from LOTV, the sentiment is also LOTV '<a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000250.pl?WD=simply&PN=Set_26_%2d_Simply_Sophisticated%2ehtml#aSET_20026">Simply Sophisticated</a>' the butterflies are Cheery Lynn 'Exotic Butterflies Small', the banner is La La Land 'Folding Banners' and the oval behind the image is Spellbinders 'Floral Ovals'</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_x2b-edZOv4/Uvvkm_Y2KMI/AAAAAAAABKs/hpQuLFL-ZfQ/s1600/MumBDayTI2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_x2b-edZOv4/Uvvkm_Y2KMI/AAAAAAAABKs/hpQuLFL-ZfQ/s1600/MumBDayTI2.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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I always have the urge to colour TI images with red hair and I don't know why but this time it worked our great as my Mum has red hair! I coloured her using Apricot, Aubergine, Blush, Bright Green, Ginger, Leaf Green, Lime Green, Lime Zest, Maroon, Oatmeal, Pear Green, Plum and Yellow Promarkers.</div>
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Right, I'm off to make myself another cup of tea and either cuddle up in bed with Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' or do some Distress Ink colouring.</div>
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Hope you like the card!</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-63471837612297082572014-02-05T19:26:00.000+00:002014-02-05T19:26:33.353+00:00Something Different with an LOTV Sneaky Peek!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello everyone!</div>
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Thought I'd share something I've been fiddling with over the last few days and something that I've been meaning to do for a while but never managed to get round to making!</div>
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I was planning on making this topiary tree with a different set of papers from Lili of the Valley months ago but kept thinking up other things to do so when I saw all the new goodies we've got coming out I had to use them to make this project!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4uG51z8-D0/UvJ_ea6g7xI/AAAAAAAABKM/3VObNnyUvzg/s1600/Topiary1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4uG51z8-D0/UvJ_ea6g7xI/AAAAAAAABKM/3VObNnyUvzg/s1600/Topiary1.jpg" height="640" width="337" /></a></div>
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The papers are from two brand new Raspberry Road paper pads from <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/">LOTV</a>, 'Timeless Victorian' and 'Pressed in Time' which will be available on the website on the 24th February but you can get your hands on them on <a href="http://www.createandcraft.tv/homepage.aspx">Create and Craft</a> on Monday 10th!</div>
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The fabulous Dawny P from our DT will be on at 9am and 3pm (UK time) with 6 new 8x8 Paper Pads and 5 new Art Pads and they are all absolutely GORGEOUS!!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nfhhwjxbr0s/UvJ_hEDURBI/AAAAAAAABKU/BEZ7eYFga6Q/s1600/Topiary2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nfhhwjxbr0s/UvJ_hEDURBI/AAAAAAAABKU/BEZ7eYFga6Q/s1600/Topiary2.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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The base for the 'foliage' is a polystyrene ball and the 84 (yes, 84!) roses were cut with the Chinese Rolled Rose die from Marianne Designs.</div>
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There were a few gaps between the roses so I filled them with curls of floral wire.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nkhCe0O2ULE/UvJ_h94JKxI/AAAAAAAABKY/33BYe25uNlU/s1600/Topiary3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nkhCe0O2ULE/UvJ_h94JKxI/AAAAAAAABKY/33BYe25uNlU/s1600/Topiary3.jpg" height="400" width="322" /></a></div>
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I put floral oasis in the bucket so there was something to stick the trunk into and I covered the top with moss to hide it! The twine around the top of the bucket is from my stash, the sentiment is from LOTV's <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Set_30_-_Vintage_Sentiments_-_Occasions.html">Set 30 Vintage Sentiments - Occasions</a> stamped onto some of the 'Pressed in Time' papers and cut with Spellbinders Back to Basics Tags.</div>
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I've started making another one with another of the new pads called 'Heartfelt' and it's just a gorgeous as these two!</div>
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Hope you like it!</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-87000795022671306342014-01-24T12:55:00.000+00:002014-01-24T12:55:52.007+00:00Bugaboo Birthday Challenge Number Two!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello!<br />
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Time for the second Bugaboo birthday challenge I'm entering this week and this time it's Thursday's challenge 'Just Kidding Around' which is to make a birthday card or project for a kid.<br />
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I decided to go with the 4th birthday theme and made a nice bright 4th birthday card!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSm07-LjI3o/UuG2R4-7BwI/AAAAAAAABJY/Qf5tqM5oXs4/s1600/4thKids1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lSm07-LjI3o/UuG2R4-7BwI/AAAAAAAABJY/Qf5tqM5oXs4/s1600/4thKids1.JPG" height="400" width="397" /></a></div>
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I used Bugaboo's <a href="https://bugaboostamps.3dcartstores.com/tall-birthday-cake_p_2793.html">Tall Birthday Cake</a> on this card which I fussy cut and coloured with Aegean, Amber, Berry Red, Bright Green, Cyan, Leaf Green, Poppy, Pumpkin, Sunflower and Yellow Promarkers.</div>
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The papers are Bo Bunny Very Vintage Double Dot and I cut a circle off centre from each background square using Spellbinders Standard Circles Small and swapped them round.</div>
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The '4' is from LOTV's <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000250.pl?WD=alpha&PN=SET_41_%2d_Stitched_Alphabet%2ehtml#aSET_20041">'Stitched Alphabet'</a> set and the 'today' is from LOTV's <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000250.pl?WD=babie&PN=Stamp_%2d_Babies_A5_Companion_Sheet%2ehtml#aSET_20040">'Babies Companion Set'</a></div>
The 'Happy Birthday' sentiment is from Lili of the Valley's <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000250.pl?WD=simply&PN=Set_26_%2d_Simply_Sophisticated%2ehtml#aSET_20026">'Simply Sophisticated'</a> set which I curved slightly on the block when I stamped it to fit the shape of the banner which was cut with La La Land's Folding Banners die.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0jF5DRIYcA/UuG2TCgRIlI/AAAAAAAABJg/EPKK1U7kSR4/s1600/4thKids2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0jF5DRIYcA/UuG2TCgRIlI/AAAAAAAABJg/EPKK1U7kSR4/s1600/4thKids2.JPG" height="140" width="320" /></a></div>
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I put the cake and banner on three lots of foam pads because of the extra layers in the banner and I wanted the cake to look as if it was sitting on the sentiment.</div>
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This is one of those cards that I'm rather proud of; I had a horrible feeling it was going to look a bit plain but I really like it. Hope you do too!</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-73241536250680353962014-01-24T00:27:00.000+00:002014-01-24T00:27:17.599+00:00Happy 4th Birthday Bugaboo Stamps!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello!</div>
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Quick post today as it's nearly bed time and I've finally finished this card!</div>
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Over at <a href="http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.ca/">Bugaboo Stamps</a>, they're celebrating their 4th birthday with a week of challenges which ends on Saturday. I had planned on doing all five of the challenges but unfortunately haven't had time but I have managed two!</div>
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The first one I have for you is the first challenge from Monday which was Tic-Tac-Toe</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LahAXCI96H0/UuGrayCj8II/AAAAAAAABI0/UFoEd6q3lXw/s1600/TicTacToe.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LahAXCI96H0/UuGrayCj8II/AAAAAAAABI0/UFoEd6q3lXw/s1600/TicTacToe.png" height="294" width="320" /></a></div>
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and I chose to use the diagonal going from top right to bottom left; Bugaboo Image - FREE - Ribbon and here's the card I made:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gsiy3kquMcg/UuGullFGlHI/AAAAAAAABJI/FCpR_PskCiE/s1600/4thBingo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gsiy3kquMcg/UuGullFGlHI/AAAAAAAABJI/FCpR_PskCiE/s1600/4thBingo1.JPG" height="400" width="398" /></a></div>
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I've used one of Bugaboo's Sunbonnet stamps and this is <a href="http://www.bugaboostamps.com/Sewing-SB-thimble_p_158.html">Sewing Sunbonnet Thimble</a>. I love these Sunbonnet's they're so gorgeous! I coloured her in a while ago so I can't quite remember which Promarker colours I used.</div>
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The lace ribbon is from my stash and the papers are <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Paper-Pad---Beach-Bliss.html">Beach Bliss</a> from Lili of the Valley. I die cut her out with Spellbinders Standard Circles Large and Small and used X-Cut star dies (the 'FREE' in the grid) to cut two stars in the turquoise and tan papers and stuck one the right way and one the wrong way up to make a sunbeam pattern behind her.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MUj67noqgYY/UuGuje9cj6I/AAAAAAAABJA/bifCg-UUpOI/s1600/4thBingo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MUj67noqgYY/UuGuje9cj6I/AAAAAAAABJA/bifCg-UUpOI/s1600/4thBingo2.JPG" height="161" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also followed a very useful <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlMHVqdaKxM&feature=share">video</a> on YouTube on how to tie a double bow with a bow maker and it's come out quite well considering I don't own a bow maker and was using two pins and a pincushion!</div>
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I'm also entering this into the latest challenge over at Papertake Weekly which is <a href="http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/bow-dies.html">'Bow Dies'</a> where you add a bow and use a die or just do one or the other.</div>
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Right, I'm off to bed and I'll have the second of my entries for the Bugaboo birthday challenges tomorrow.<br />
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Hope you like the card!<br />
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Erica<br />
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-86720675599341980832014-01-20T21:00:00.000+00:002014-01-20T21:00:23.399+00:00Crazy Sale at LOTV and Tiddly Inks CAS<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello everyone! Hope you all had a lovely weekend?</div>
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First off, we've got a CRAZY SALE on for 48 hours over at LOTV! There are 140 stamps at 3 for £10 so make sure you pop over and get yours before the sale ends!</div>
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<a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Special_Offers.html"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fIkzAb_r7eM/Ut1lwavomEI/AAAAAAAABH0/_drbst94DCU/s1600/crazystampsalelowres.gif" height="145" width="400" /></a></div>
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I managed to do a bit more crafting this weekend and made a card for this week's <a href="http://tiddlyinkschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/challenge-124-clean-and-simple-cas.html">Tiddly Inks</a> CAS challenge.</div>
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I used their '<a href="http://www.tiddlyinks.com/cast-a-spell/">Cast a Spell</a>' digi stamp and when I saw it I immediately thought of Elsa from Disney's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294629/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Frozen</a>. I saw it over Christmas with my sister and our friend, Steph and it's absolutely amazing! It's hilarious and heartbreaking and there are a couple of twist that you don't see coming that completely flip the usual Disney dynamic on it's head; it's brilliant!</div>
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So here's the card I made inspired by the film:</div>
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And here's Elsa herself.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZvZhPOSwE0/Ut1rig7-NaI/AAAAAAAABIM/O30A5MO1R5g/s1600/258px-ElsaPose.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZvZhPOSwE0/Ut1rig7-NaI/AAAAAAAABIM/O30A5MO1R5g/s1600/258px-ElsaPose.png" height="320" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
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I coloured her as close to the original as I could with my awful Promarker skills in Sky Blue, Arctic Blue, Powder Blue, Pastel Blue, Oatmeal, Blush, Satin and Ivory.</div>
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I improvised her dress detail and the flurries from her hands a little with a quickie glue pen and Glamour Dust glitter.</div>
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The snowflake paper is LOTV <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Paper_Pad_-_Frosty_Christmas.html">Frosty Christmas</a>. I cut the snowflakes from the white background, which is mounted on to foam pads, with a Memory Box Crystalline Border Die. I then stamped three different snowflakes in Versamark on the card and embossed them in clear fine detail powder.</div>
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The sentiment was made on the computer using the <a href="http://www.dafont.com/st-nicholas.font">St. Nicholas</a> font from dafont.com and is a line from the film.</div>
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If you haven't seen Frozen, you should! It's brilliant and it might even beat Tangled to my favourite 'new Disney' film which means it must be good!</div>
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Anywho, hope you like the card!</div>
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Erica</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-14182832474927981212014-01-18T17:21:00.004+00:002014-01-18T20:12:13.133+00:00Well...The Pattern's Not Going to Plan Is It?!<div style="text-align: center;">
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Please don't yell, I'm really sorry I haven't posted anything in quite a while! So much for blogging for a couple of weeks and then not blogging for a couple of weeks! I knew as soon as I said it it would all go to pot!</div>
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I'll just do a 'quick' catch up with some news and then hopefully everything will get back to normal!<br />
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I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year? Ours was quite quiet and we all got some lovely things. I got home from Mum's a couple of days before I started work again and found three inches of sewer water in the basement!<br />
Three weeks, three plumbers and some people from Yorkshire Water later, they finally managed to find what the problem was! The public sewer pipe in the ginnel ('alley' for those not from Yorkshire!) behind the house was blocked so it was coming straight back into our basement. They've now pumped the water out and hopefully, as it was the public pipe not any of ours, Yorkshire Water will be paying for the clean up and to re-do the eroded pointing in the basement so the landlord and lady won't have to pay for it!<br />
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Two of my house mates moved out at the end of last year, Tom went at the end of September because he's been saving for his own house and Issi left about a week after to move down to Bristol. Helen, a friend of Lee and Issi's moved into Tom's old room for a few months but she moved to Switzerland a few weeks ago.<br />
Lee, Issi's boyfriend, is moving out in April to be with her and our other housemate Stefan will be moving out at around then as well so there'll just be myself rattling around the house for a while until the landlord and lady find new people!<br />
Quite looking forward to being on my own for a little while, at least the house will be clean and tidy AND I get Lee and Issi's attic room when he moves out so I'll have soooo much space for crafting and I'll be able to start making quilts properly as I don't really have the room at the moment. I'll also have my own bathroom which I'm so happy about!<br />
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Right! On to something crafty!<br />
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Over at <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Latest_LOTV_Stamp_Launch.html">Lili of the Valley</a> we had our first launch of the year last week which included the gorgeous Jack, Patch and Puss and the seriously cute James the Bear who's my favourite of all our characters!<br />
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This stamp is one of two favourites from the launch and he's called 'James - Peeping'<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h0mmZ3NaIqE/Utq3lyKn6lI/AAAAAAAABGA/rSB3ElXwsXs/s1600/NewYearNewStashJamesPeeping1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h0mmZ3NaIqE/Utq3lyKn6lI/AAAAAAAABGA/rSB3ElXwsXs/s1600/NewYearNewStashJamesPeeping1.JPG" height="396" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've coloured him with Tim Holtz Distress Ink pads, Brushed Corduroy and Peeled Paint. I've never used Distress Inks before and this was only the third image I coloured and he's come out really well!<br />
The paper is Echo Park 'A Walk in the Park' and I've used Spellbinders Standard Squares Large and Fleur De Lis Squares to cut out James, the apperture and the frame. The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley's <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Stamp_-_Scroll_Sentiments.html">'Scroll Sentiments'</a> set.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vTlgPBi4pQE/Utq4FZS7MnI/AAAAAAAABGI/wKf56w-dTko/s1600/NewYearNewStashJamesPeeping2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vTlgPBi4pQE/Utq4FZS7MnI/AAAAAAAABGI/wKf56w-dTko/s1600/NewYearNewStashJamesPeeping2.JPG" height="318" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm entering him into this month's challenge at <a href="http://withoutwordschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/january-spots-andor-stripes.html">Without Words</a> which is 'Spots and/or Stripes' as well as this week's <a href="http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/new-year-new-stash.html">Papertake Weekly Challenge</a> which is 'New Year, New Stash' where you have to use something crafty that Santa brought you for Chrimble; unfortunately Santa didn't bring me anything crafty for Chrimble (except the extension table for my new sewing machine, hooray!) but the Distress Inks are new to me so that's what I've chosen.</div>
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Hope you like the card!<br />
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Erica<br />
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=)</div>
Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-70181588412180655942013-10-23T19:09:00.001+01:002013-10-23T19:09:29.279+01:00We're on Create and Craft!!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello!</div>
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Really quick post today just to say that Lili of the Valley are on <a href="http://www.createandcraft.tv/tvSchedule.aspx">Create and Craft TV</a> tomorrow!! YEY!!</div>
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<a href="http://pinkpiggywiggy.blogspot.co.uk/">Dawny</a> from our Design Team will be on live from 12 noon on Thursday 24th October with loads of gorgeous exclusive products and fantastic inspiration so make sure you tune it!</div>
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I'm in the middle of writing a much longer blog post which will be up at some point!</div>
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Erica</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-2712657768009465592013-09-30T22:03:00.002+01:002013-09-30T22:05:38.269+01:00Look...I've Actually Made a Thing!!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello!</div>
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I might have said this before but I seem to have a pattern for blogging; I'll blog for a few weeks and then not blog for a couple of weeks and then blog for a couple of weeks...etc, etc. so I've decided to make it part of the 'plan' so that way I can only ever blog more than I do normally!<br />
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I've actually made two things and half made a third but the second is my sister's birthday card and the half made third thing is her present as it's our birthday next week, I'll post those on our birthday because knowing my luck if I post them before, Robyn will actually look at my blog for once and see what I've made her!<br />
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Onto today's card which is for the latest challenge over at <a href="http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk/">Papertake Weekly</a> which is a <a href="http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/sketchie-free-for-all.html">Sketchy Free For All</a> using this sketch:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Hh6b05s-wo/Ukng9OnGiOI/AAAAAAAABD0/jmX5MZ8IIb8/s1600/sketch+%2384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Hh6b05s-wo/Ukng9OnGiOI/AAAAAAAABD0/jmX5MZ8IIb8/s320/sketch+%2384.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You can basically do whatever you like with the sketch as long as the sketch is still in there somewhere so I decided to just turn it 90° clockwise so the image was along the bottom.</div>
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And here's what I've made:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NI-po42msk0/Uknjvi6ZZiI/AAAAAAAABEI/y9iie883bhk/s1600/Sketch84TopHat1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NI-po42msk0/Uknjvi6ZZiI/AAAAAAAABEI/y9iie883bhk/s400/Sketch84TopHat1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used one of the new Art Pads from <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/">Lili of the Valley</a>, <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Art-Pad---Set-15---Furry-Christmas.html">Set 15 'Furry Christmas</a>' which has lots of gorgeous James the Bear and Jack, Patch and Puss images in including this gorgeous picture which you can also get as a stamp called 'Top Hat'. I think this is one of my favourite Jack, Patch and Puss images because it looks like the snowman is going, 'Yey! A top hat!' =)</div>
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I also used LOTV's <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Paper_Pad_-_Classic_Christmas.html">'Classic Christmas'</a> paper pad which is such a gorgeous combination of traditional red and green papers. I added a couple of little red pearls in the upper corner because it looked a little bare.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YRrylCXlKYk/UknjtgWzxEI/AAAAAAAABEA/GzKqaqKkJuE/s1600/Sketch84TopHat2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YRrylCXlKYk/UknjtgWzxEI/AAAAAAAABEA/GzKqaqKkJuE/s320/Sketch84TopHat2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was going to use the <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Basic_Stamping_Techniques.html">'Out of Box'</a> technique to cut the image out but it was bit fiddly as there were some very small bits that I wanted leaving over the edges so I just drew around the inside of a Spellbinders Classic Oval die and cut it out with scissors.</div>
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I used Spellbinders Floral Ovals for the backing oval for the image and the red oval behind is the same die with the floral bits cut of so it left a little perforated edge.</div>
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This was meant to be posted earlier but I got caught up watching Downton Abbey, I'm only on the third episode but I already love it! It been spoilt slightly by the fact that I know who died during the Christmas special because I accidentally read it in the paper and then my Mum told me someone else died that I didn't know about! =(<br />
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Anywho, hope you like it!<br />
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Erica<br />
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-48963485844909217262013-09-03T22:34:00.001+01:002014-01-20T21:54:18.675+00:00Two More Challenges in One and Some LOTV C&C News!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello!</div>
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Hope everyone is alright?</div>
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Some very exciting Lili of the Valley news first of all; our shows last Thursday on Create and Craft were so popular everything sold out which is fantastic! Dawny will be back on the 24th October at 12 Noon with more fabulous products and demonstrations. She was so brilliant the first time round even though she was so nervous, we're very proud of her!</div>
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Onto today's card which is for two challenges again, the <a href="http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.ca/2013/08/august-color-challenge.html">August Colour Challenge</a> over at the <a href="http://www.bugaboostamps.com/">Bugaboo</a> challenge blog, <a href="http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.ca/">Catch the Bug</a> which was to use this picture as inspiration:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nBW1CBWV6Ss/UiZOq2xgwCI/AAAAAAAABDI/De_KGEYE30Q/s1600/clip_image002_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nBW1CBWV6Ss/UiZOq2xgwCI/AAAAAAAABDI/De_KGEYE30Q/s1600/clip_image002_thumb.jpg" /></a></div>
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...and the new 'U for Unlimited' at ABC Challenges. I entered the ABC challenge for the first time last week and I made the Top 5!! Eeeeeee!! =D</div>
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I was scrolling down and saw my name and may have made a very high pitched squealing sound! =D</div>
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Anywho, here's the card I've made:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2y3MjBHk6IU/UiZQ2hX3gcI/AAAAAAAABDc/CPMoa5eXGto/s1600/CTB&ABCSunBonnetMeasuring1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2y3MjBHk6IU/UiZQ2hX3gcI/AAAAAAAABDc/CPMoa5eXGto/s320/CTB&ABCSunBonnetMeasuring1.JPG" height="319" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've used the gorgeous digi stamp <a href="http://www.bugaboostamps.com/Sewing-SB-measuring_p_154.html">'Sewing SB Measuring'</a> from Bugaboo Stamps, isn't she adorable?! I also bought three more of her and had to resist the temptation to buy lots more digi stamps with her on!</div>
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The backing paper is from the <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/Paper-Pad---Beach-Bliss.html">Beach Bliss</a> pad from <a href="http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/index.html">Lili of the Valley</a>, the pearls are from my stash and the frame I made with the Spellbinders Floral Ovals and then used Standard Ovals Large to cut the middle out.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5BLg4fNGSfA/UiZQ3SEegnI/AAAAAAAABDk/yoXCkbEsyQM/s1600/CTB&ABCSunBonnetMeasuring2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5BLg4fNGSfA/UiZQ3SEegnI/AAAAAAAABDk/yoXCkbEsyQM/s320/CTB&ABCSunBonnetMeasuring2.JPG" height="320" width="309" /></a></div>
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I think I managed to get the colours quite close to the inspiration picture and I coloured her with Marine, Turquoise, Cobalt Blue, China Blue, Slate, Antique Pink, Dusky Rose, Sunkissed Pink and Coral Promarkers.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEiH3F0SFbk/UiZQ0IjRbPI/AAAAAAAABDU/l4G3uGIfHpI/s1600/CTB&ABCSunBonnetMeasuring3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEiH3F0SFbk/UiZQ0IjRbPI/AAAAAAAABDU/l4G3uGIfHpI/s320/CTB&ABCSunBonnetMeasuring3.JPG" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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The dress form, stitching and sentiment are all from <a href="http://www.visibleimage.co.uk/stamps/feminine/thesewingroom.htm">'The Sewing Room'</a> stamp set from <a href="http://www.visibleimage.co.uk/default.htm">Visible Image</a> and I decided to just stamp the sentiment onto the backing paper instead of adding it as a separate element.</div>
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I stamped the sentiment first, masked it off and stamped the dress from, masked that off too and stamped the stitching around the edge.</div>
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Anywho, in the middle of watching Star Trek Into Darkness (I'm developing a bit of a thing for Chris Pine I think!) so it's back to the Enterprise!</div>
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Hope you like the card!</div>
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Erica</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121132362750510724.post-15810105515555999472013-08-27T22:02:00.002+01:002013-09-01T17:27:51.273+01:00Back to School Challenge at Tiddly Inks<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello!</div>
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Well it's been quite an exciting couple of weeks over at Lili of the Valley while we've been getting everything sorted for our appearance on Create and Craft and all of the fantastic products were shipped off to them today ready for Thursday! Hooray! =)</div>
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You can watch the fabulous <a href="http://pinkpiggywiggy.blogspot.co.uk/">Dawny</a> from our DT who will be on with Nigel at Noon and 4pm on Thursday over on <a href="http://www.createandcraft.tv/">Create and Craft TV</a>.</div>
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Right, on to today's card which is for the latest challenge over at <a href="http://tiddlyinks.com/">Tiddly Inks</a> which is <a href="http://tiddlyinkschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/challenge-116-back-to-school.html">'Back to School'</a>.</div>
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And here's the card I made:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VMFpKX3duKg/Uh0Ow5rdm4I/AAAAAAAABCM/qiC_kt5GlcU/s1600/BacktoSchool1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VMFpKX3duKg/Uh0Ow5rdm4I/AAAAAAAABCM/qiC_kt5GlcU/s400/BacktoSchool1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used the fantastically geeky TI '<a href="http://www.tiddlyinks.com/genius-and-extra/">Genius</a>' digi stamp and coloured him with Berry Red, Blush, Chestnut, Cinnamon, Cool Grey 3, Cool Grey 4, Crimson, Ivory, Sunkissed Pink, Tan and Walnut Promarkers.</div>
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The papers are from 'Memorandum' Tiny Tablet by Lily Dee Designs, the die I've used for the page is Marianne Collectables 'Tab with Text', the letters are some I've had for ages that I think I got from Samuel Taylors, the little 'brads' on the clips are <a href="http://www.craftworkcards.co.uk/products/2577/candi-mini-s-newsprint.html">'Newsprint' Candi</a> from Craftwork Cards and the corners, clips and brackets are all Woodware Chippies coloured with Fired Brick and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks from Tim Holtz.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--94eUdybDr0/Uh0P0Lf6LMI/AAAAAAAABCc/APHuDg7MYow/s1600/BacktoSchool2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--94eUdybDr0/Uh0P0Lf6LMI/AAAAAAAABCc/APHuDg7MYow/s320/BacktoSchool2.JPG" width="286" /></a></div>
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I was a bit worried about doing his hair because I thought it would look accidentally messy rather than purposely messy but it actually looks quite good, I probably couldn't get it to look like that again if tried but never mind! =)</div>
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Hope you like the card!</div>
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Erica</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13248403183920665021noreply@blogger.com10