Wildflower Walk

If you go down to Create and Craft TV today you may be in for a surprise! These new kits from Serif Craft Artist are simply delightful to work with.

Below are some of the samples I created for Serif :

Kits used are :

Wildflower Emporium

Rabbits Tea Party

Dawn Chorus

Punches and Stamps

They contain the most beautiful artwork featuring rabbits, hedgehogs, birds and more. The floral alphabets are so useful too.

To see more samples from myself and the Design Team visit Daisytrail 

Key to My Heart

Its been ages since I joined in with any of Tim Holtz's tag challenges, but I was so inspired by February's tag I started to make my own.  Its also been a long time since I played with mixed media and I've really missed it!

To make mine I used the same background technique as Tim, using various images to create a collage. These were all pulled together by dry brushing with white acrylic paint.

I then added a few brighter images and the ticket. The red heart on Tim's tag gave me the idea to use felt for mine, add some lace and the keyplate.

To finish I coloured some twine with Frayed Burlap ink and used it to tie on the key.

I am so pleased with the end result and am now working on a little canvas to match - pictures to come soon!!

I am entering the following challenges:

Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 - February

A Vintage Journey - Love is in the Air

Frilly and Funky - Be My Valen - twine

Cold but no Snow

Its a cold day here in the South although not as cold as I know it is for some of you. However, its still a good excuse to be inside crafting!

My card has a wintery theme. I have had this stamp by Sheena Douglass for about a year and have only just got round to using it!

I stamped the image and used Promarkers to colour it in. I'm not sure if you can see it but I used diluted Liquid Pearls to add a shimmer to the snow. After mounting the picture onton grey and polka dot card I added punched snowflakes with gems in the centre. It makes me feel cold just looking at it!

Keep warm and Carry On Crafting!!

I am entering the following challenges with this card

Sisterhood of Crafters - Let It Snow

Dream Valley Challenges - Anything Goes

Stamp and Create - Winter Wonderland

Handmade With Love

Last week I posted a picture of the magazine article I was featured in, so I thought you might like to see the cards close up. Firstly I am sharing this one below.

The digi images and papers are from a collection by Wendy Massey at Handmade Harbour. To create the card I coloured the image with Promarkers before adding a die cut fence and mounting the picture onto card and the corresponding papers. I really love this image (excuse the pun) and think it would make a perfect valentines card.

Later this week I will be sharing the second card in the article -so do pop back!

I am entering the following challenges

That Craft Place - Love / Valentines

Handmade Monday - Handmade Harbour

My Time to Craft - Love is All Around

In Print!

I was so excited to pick up my copy of Cardmaking Using Your PC today as my projects for the Handmade Harbour Design Team are in it!!

These wonderful images can be found on the free cd with the magazine or from the Handmade Harbour Digi site.

I will be posting close ups of my projects later!

My favourite 5 of 2014

I hope you all enjoyed a lovely relaxing and peaceful Christmas. I can't believe we are nearly into a New Year. With that thought in mind I decided to join Debby at A Scrapjourney and share my favourite makes of 2015.

So in no particular order

Merry Christ - Mouse

A popular little card in my shop and craft fairs this year. I was lucky enough to purchase a Cricut Explore this year which revolutionised my crafting.

 Happy Halloween

One of my favourite times of the year and a return to traditional creative stamping. I intend to do more in 2015!

DreamCatchers

I was lucky enough to join the Serif CraftArtist Design Team this year and this card made it on to Create and Craft television.

Autumn

I love Autumn and the colours it brings. This was a winner of a blog challenge too!

And finally.....

Owls

Another return to creative techniques using gilding flakes.

I hope you like my choices and maybe you will join in with the posting too!

Wishing you a Happy 2015!

Merry ChristMouse!

I can't believe its such a long time since I blogged - things are really busy with the run up to Christmas. Now all the craft fayres are done I have had time to start decking the halls.

The card I am sharing with you today is one I made using my Cricut Explore. It has been a best seller at Craft Fayres. I cut the mouse and before adding it to the card blank covered a torn piece of paper, sprayed with Silver Sparkle, to the bottom to look like snow.  I then die cut the snowflakes and added the fun sentiment.

I hope this makes you smile!

Challenges I am entering :

Brown Sugar Challenge - Red, White and Green

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - Christmas

That's Crafty - Anything Goes

Crafters Cafe - Christmas

Crafty Creations - Die Cuts

Cardz 4 Guys - Winter Critters

Preparing for Christmas Fayres

Things at Sparkly Fairy towers at the moment are extremely busy. I am getting lots of cards ready to sell during the run up to Christmas. It is always amazing too what you can find in your stash! Here is the use of a die I bought last year in a sale and haven't used until now.

I love the simplicity of this die, yet it makes such a beautiful card.  I'm hoping it might be a best seller!

I am entering the following challenges with this card

As You Like It Challenge - Your favourite Christmas style  - this is my favourite kind of style for Christmas Cards - crisp, clean and simple.

Christmas cards all year round - No patterned paper

Dies R Us Challenge - Christmas

The Red Red Robin

The weeks are hurtling now towards December so I am snowed under with Christmas makes. I also seem to be a bit pre-occupied with robins!! This is one of my latest cards

To make the card I used a Woodware stamp and stamped it three times on to different colour paper. Then I paper pieced the image to give a patchwork effect. I have to say I think they look rather sweet! 

And do you know why we see the robin on so many cards? In the 1800s, British postmen wore red uniforms in honour of the crown. Near to Christmas people would eagerly await the "robins" delivery of messages from loved ones. Artists became inspired to replace the postman with a red robin instead, delivering letters in its beak - and so the legend lives on.

I am sure I will have more robins to share with you soon!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Colour Challenge - Red/White/Green
Dream Valley Challenges - Christmas
Stamping Sensations  - Christmas
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - Make it flat

Were you scared?

Hopefully Sparkly Fairy followers you weren't too spooked this Halloween?  This is the last of my Halloween cards for this year as I need to concentrate on Christmas - and that is very frightening!

To make the card I created a background using Distress Inks applied with Cut N Dry foam and then water dropped onto it and mopped dry to give the mottled effect. The tree and wording was cut from A Cricut file and I simply added a circle of orange card for the moon.

Hope you like it!

I am entering the following challenges:

Deliciously Dark Challenges - Halloween

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - Halloween

Crafting By Design - Halloween

Die Cutting Divas - Halloween