Madcap Manor

Hi, guys! it's time for another Dream Valley Challenge i can't believe how quickly the last fortnight has gone! Our Challenge this time is a recipe: 1 image, 1 sentiment, 3 papers and 3 embellishments Our terrific sponsor is Lacy Sunshine The DT was very fortunate to be given images for this Challenge and I used a very cute image, Honey Bee Enchantress My embellishments are the bee, the baker's twine and the button. The papers are from a magazine freebie that's been hanging about my craft hovel for a couple of years. The bee and the sentiment came from the same pack. Buzz over to see my teamies' creations, then have a go! But, please, do list your image, sentiment, papers and embellies - some of us are getting on in years and our eyesight isn't what it was!! (ok, ok, I'm only 60!!! But I still appreciate it when the details are written down!) We are also having a DT call if you're interested just add DT when you upload your card for the

Hi, guys! it's been quite a day - my gorgeous grandchild and her parents paid us a flying visit and we went out for lunch. I'm here to tell you that Spag Bol with long spaghetti is more suitable for face-painting than eating. Lillie got it everywhere!!! Once she gets home I suspect she will be straight into her bath! We also picked up a new printer, since my old one died yesterday. Which would not have been too bad, except that I spilled a cuppa over a (coloured!) printed image for another DT card, and when I tried to reprint, nothing happened! It's been a Comedy of Errors at the Manor recently! However, now I'm here with my DT card for My Time to Craft and our theme is Spring Flowers . Think tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, crocuseseses - roses or sunflowers, though pretty, are right out! I used Daffodils by Lili of the Valley. The papers are from the Snippets drawer, the gems are from Hobbycraft. Gather a posie of your Spring Flower images and join in the fun!

Hi, guys! At CRAFT Challenge this week we'd like to see your DIY embellishments! Our two sponsors are: Robyn's Fetish Sweet n Sassy I used Daisy Days by robyn's Fetish. The papers and ribbon are from stash. I used Crealies dies to cut several flowers, layered them, then added a gold brad in the centre. The leaves are made with a large Woodware punch and the sentiment is by Penny Black. Sorry this is late - I have been sorting the house ready for a visit from my Granddaughter this weekend, and there was an awful lot of 'Stuff' that had to be cleared out of the reach of little hands!!! Go and see the ingenious embellies that the DT has made, and have a go yourself! Who needs ready-made embellishments when you can make your own? love Mags B x

Evening, all! A friend is having a tough time, so I made a card to cheer her up. (Isn't that the best thing about being a cardmaker? You can make personalised cards for your friends!) The cuddly kitty is from the Chubby Chums stamp set by Paper Smooches. I coloured her with Copics and added Glossy Accents to her eyes. The papers are by LotV/Nitwits, the Perfect pair paper pad. I used a Lawn Fawn Stitched Circle die to cut into the quilt paper, then glued a ring cut with the same die and one that's a size bigger for the border. I added the paper and the kitty on dimensional foam. The sentiment comes with the stamp set, I gold-embossed it on a scrap of card. (Eeeek! My hubby has just made me jump and shriek - no, no, nothing naughty, he just lifted his beer glass, which stuck to the coaster, then the coaster suddenly dropped onto his computer desk with a loud clang! Scared the life out of me lol!!!!!) I hope you all have a good week, and thanks for looking! love

'March winds and April showers Bring forth May flowers.' Since it's April, the new challenge at My Time to Craft is Umbrellas Fortunately, I haven't needed an umbrella in a while, as we've had gorgeous sunshine and mild weather for several days now! However, it never does to underestimate the British weather's ability to turn cold and wet in the summer! I have used an older stamp, 'Winter Wonderland' from Sugar Nellie for a winter birthday card. She is coloured in Promarkers, and I added Pearl Pen to the falling snow. The papers are Frosty Christmas by Lili of the Valley. There are 3 glittered snowflakes cut with a Lawn Fawn Stitched Snowflakes die The gems and stars are from stash. CHALLENGES I'm entering: Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 supplied the wonderful sketch: Go and see what my teamies have made, and join in the Challenge! Thanks for looking and have a great weekend! love Mags B x

Good morning! I hope you're all well and looking forward to a fun weekend! Not long to go now! Thursday brings another C.R.A.F.T Challenge and this week it's our regular Christmas theme. Our sponsors this time are: Stitchy Bear and Yours or Mine Papercrafts I used a lovely image from Stitchy Bear by Kaz Kraftz called Christmas Candle . I printed it several times and decoupaged the holly and also the flame. The berries have been Glossy Accented and there are gold Stickles on the candle flame and the middle of the poinsettia. Papers are by Lili of the Valley from their Classic Christmas pad. I used a Grand Spellbinders die for the card base, and Classic Circles for the two paper layers. For the card base I cut two scalloped circles and scored the back one half an inch down from the top, then glued that flap to the front. I added some white card to the inside, and fussy cut one of the smaller images that come with the candle set. Skate over to the CRAFT blo

Hi, guys! I hope you all had a good weekend! Our new Challenge at Dream Valley is Let's Get Krafty - we would like to see you use kraft card or paper on your creation. Our sponsor this fortnight is Imagine That and I used the darling Ladybug Friends to make a get well card. I used Kraft to mat my image and papers. The papers come from a freebie pack - I keep trying to use freebie papers since I have so many, but I've scarcely made a dent in my collection!!! I used a Spellbinders Lacey Square die for the image mat, and a Martha Stewart punch to edge the horizontal paper - then covered most of it up with flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and leaves cut with a Spellbinders foliage die. The sentiment came with the image. Do buzz across to see my teamies' fab creations and then join in! Remember, though, that now we ask for no more than 9 extra Challenges besides ours!! Thanks for looking, and have a good week! love Mags B x

Good morning from a grey, wet S-E Hertfordshire! We had 3 glorious sunny days, then the weekend comes along and..... rain! So it's a good time to stay indoors and craft - in fact you could say it's My Time to Craft! (Oh dear, that was such a laboured joke!) This week we have a first-rate sketch, designed by Jo Isn't it a corker?! I apologise for the wonky picture! The image is an older stamp by Elisabeth Bell which seems to be out of print - though there are plenty of equally sweet digis on her site! I used Copics: I'm still learning the colours, which is why the pink is a wee bit bright. There is glitter on one flower in her hat and Glossy Accents on her watering can. The sun is from Hello Sunshine by Lawn Fawn I stamped in Ranger Dye Inks first with yellow then I inked just the edges with orange, and used Clear Wink of Stella to give some glitter. The sentiment is by Lili of the Valley and is embossed with Wow! Gold Pearl Embossing Powder . The gems a

Hi, guys! The new theme at C.R.A.F.T Challenge is to use colour only on your image - all the rest must be white. That includes papers, pearls, ribbon, lace - everything else! The image is from Whoopsi Daisy - isn't the little poodle adorable? I fussy-cut the image and glued it onto a mat made with the second largest of Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight . Then I layered onto another mat cut with the largest die. The background is embossed with Spellbinders' Splendid M-Bossabilities Embossing Folder The flowers were cut and embossed with another SB die, this one is the Daisy Heads set, which seems to be unavailable. I added glamour dust to all the embossed areas. Finally, the bow is made with sparkly organza ribbon from stash. Our sponsors this week are: Spyder's Other Corner Whoopsi Daisy Do go and see how inventive my teamies have been with their WHITE cards! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Good morning! sorry about the awful pun in this post's title, I just couldn't resist! Because our new Challenge at My Time to Craft is to Get Krafty! . That is, to use kraft paper or card on your creation. I used Neenah Desert Storm cardstock for my cardbas, which is cut to the American A2 size: 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches. The papers are by First Edition from the New Bloom pad. I covered the join with ribbon from stash. The strip of purple card at the bottom has been punched with the E K Success Postage Edge Stamp. The sentiment is from the Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments clear stamp set, I vandyked one end and mounted it on foam pads. The three flowers are from a Citronella pack by K & Co which I have had for ages! Finally I rounded the corners with my Corner Chomper, stuck down the topper, and drew two lines in the top left corner. Yes, this is another card inspired by Kristina Werner go and see the various ways that my teamies have used kraft! of course, 'kraf

Hi, guys! This week's CRAFT Challenge is this pretty, Springtime Inspiration Picture. Use it as the starting point for your creation: the colours, the flower, springtime - just please tell us in your post! I used a lovely image from Pattie's Creations called Daffodils Circle Scroll . Daffs are one of my favourite flowers, they add such gorgeous colour to days that are still so often cold and grey! The mat is cut with a Spellbinders die and the corners with a Whimsy die. Ribbon and paper are from stash. I added the sentiment in gold embossing powder. Our sponsors are: Pattie's Creations Digital Images and Sweet Pea Stamps For some wonderful inspiration go and see what the DT has made using the picture as inspiration! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Sadly, I've had to make Sympathy cards for 2 friends, and Get Well cards for 3 others. All have reached their recipients, so I thought I'd show 2. This uses Clearly Besotted Stamps and Lawn Fawn dye inks. Lawn Fawn's 'Penelope's Blossoms' stamped in Lawn Fawn ink. The banner is silver embossed. Very simple cards - which means careful placement! I drew faint pencil lines in the appropriate places and erased them when the inks were dry. I hope you're all well! roll on the weekend! love Mags B x