Madcap Manor

Hi, guys! Happy Leap Day! Our new challenge at Dream Valley is Mother's Day . We have the fabulous Digi Stamp Boutique as our sponsor this week, do go and have a look at the delightful, charming images they have! I used Alyssa Relaxing - isn't that the perfect image for Mother's Day? Champers and bubble bath! I apologise for the wonky photo! I used Cotton Candy Stickles on the bubbles and Glossy Accents on the bottle and glass. The papers, ribbon and gems are from stash. The sentiment heart is a Paper Smooches Sweet Hearts stamp, I used Apple Mama Elephant Pigment Ink, then covered it with Clear Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents. Have a look at the gorgeous creations at Dream Valley, you'll be inspired! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Good morning and Happy Saturday! Our new Challenge at My Time to Craft is deceptively simple: make a One Layer Card In its purest form a One Layer Card has the image, sentiment etc added directly to the card base. This can be stamping or die-cut insertions. Often, though, the one layer section is a separate piece of cardstock, decorated and adhered to the front of the cardbase. NO additional paper is allowed, whether patterned paper or washi tape or cardstock! Embellishments should be used very sparingly. For more detailed rules look Simplicity One Layer Challenge . Here's my card: it is inspired by the amazing Kristina Werner I used Distress Inks on watercolour paper to colour Pricilla, a Saturated Canary stamp from Little Darlings Rubber Stamps. (Sorry there's no link, Google doesn't show it!) This is my fourth attempt, watercolouring is not as simple as it looks!! I used my craft mat as a palette and squashed the Ink pads on it, then used an ordinary p

This time of year can be so tough for those of us who have lost their Mums, so this week at CRAFT Challenge our theme is Mother's Day OR Female Our lovely sponsors: Lacy Sunshine Crafty Ribbons My card uses the adorable Lil Fidget by Lacy Sunshine, I saw the image last year and had to buy it at once! Soooo cute!! I coloured her in Copics and added purple stickles to the flowers in her hair and Wink of Stella Clear over her wings. The papers are First Edition's Floral Pavilion , the square piece is actually canvas and has a wonderful texture. The flourish is made with Cheery Lynn's Mini Fanciful Flourish die . The flowers are by Prima, and the heart brads are from stash. The chipboard sentiment heart was a magazine freebie a long time ago! Have a look at the inspiration my teamies have left on the Challenge blog, they are a very talented bunch! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Morning, all! Our Challenge at CRAFT Challenge this week is Christmas Our sponsors are: KennyK A Day for Daisies I used a cute KennyK Snowman image. The papers and bakers twine are from stash (both so old that I don't remember their provenance!) I used some little snowflake stamps and Stormy Sky Distress Ink around the image. The snowflake is also from stash, I coloured it with Faded Jeans DI and added clear glitter on top. The sentiment is by Lili of the Valley. Have a look at my teamies' creations and be inspired to join in!! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Hi, guys! This last fortnight has sped by - it's already the middle of February! And it's Dream Valley time! Our Challenge is to use sparkle and bling and embellies - nice and easy! Our terrific sponsor is Live and Love Crafts -go and see the gorgeous vintage and shabby chic items on their website! For my card I used an old image from Hanglar and Stanglar, which sadly doesn't make stamps any more. :( The papers are also very old, by K & Co: I added Stickles to the middles of the flowers, and to the girl's bouquet. Her sash and bows have Wink of Stella brushed over them. The gems are from stash and the sentiment has been gold-embossed. The ribbon also has a soft sparkle to it! The flowers are by Wild Orchid Crafts. Go and see the blingtastic creations that my teamies have made, they'll inspire you! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Hi, guys! Happy Saturday! And if you have to work today, I hope everything goes really well for you! We have a new Challenge at My Time to Craft! and it's a really good one: Check It Out! In other words, use checked, gingham or plaid paper on your creation. I used a gorgeous image from Julia Spiri who is a new designer to me, I came across her via recommendations on Facebook and I love her sweet images! This is 'Little May'. I love her long eyelashes! The papers were all from an old booklet, free with a magazine. Just like last year, my New Year's Resolution is to use up old papers before I buy any new ones! Last year I managed 2 months of my stash diet - I wonder how well I'll do this year?! Anyway, back to the card. There are two checked papers: the yellow one is a Prince of Wales check, and the green strip is a plaid. I used Memory Box dies Chloe Stem and Chandra Stem and some Prima flowers with central brads on one side of the image, and a b

Morning, all! We have another great challenge at CRAFT Challenge - Make Your Own Embellishment . Our lovely sponsors this week are: Sassy Studio Designs and Melonheadz Doodles I used a sweet ready-coloured image from Melonheadz Doodles called Mary Mary Quite Contrary She is so cute! I used papers from Nitwits Collections Perfect Pair - Lili of the Valley is no longer producing paper pads of Nitwits and other designs, sadly, but the digis are still there! My Embellishments are the three pinwheels, made out of squares of 1.75 inch paper, with a button from stash glued in the middle. The lace is also from stash and the sentiment is by W Plus 9 from their Greetings and Salutations set, stamped in Memento Luxe Espresso Truffle Pigment Ink. Go and get some inspiration from my teamies' gorgeous DiY embellishments and join in the fun!! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Hi, guys! This week at CRAFT Challenge we have an inspiration picture. Take inspiration from the animals, or colours, or anything else from the picture - and don't forget to let us know what it was!! Our lovely sponsors: Bugaboo Stamps Digital Paper Craft I used the sweet Girl with Rabbit from Digital Paper Craft to make an Easter card. From the Inspiration Picture I chose the colours (green, brown and yellow) and the bunny. The papers are Spring Drop by First Edition, you can just see the cute bunnies in the background in my rather naff photo! The ribbon is from stash and the sentiment is from the All Occasions Sentiments set by Clearly Besotted. Now have a go! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x

Hi, guys! It's Dream Valley Challenges time! This fortnight our theme is Valentine's Day - I can't get my head round the fact that it's already February and Valentine's Day is only 2 weeks away! We have 2 lovely sponsors: Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps Angie's Cards and Digis I used the cute Little Lila holding flowers by Angie's Cards and Digis. The papers are from an anciet paper pad (copyright 2012) by Raspberry Road called 'Love Lives Here' which was a magazine freebie. The baker's twine, sunflower charm, flower and button are all from stash. The sentiment is stamped in Mama Elephant Apple pigment ink and the stamp is from the Label Love set by Altenew. My Dream Valley teamies, as usual, have made some fabulous examples to inspire you, do go and see! Thanks for looking! love Mags B x