Madcap Manor

Hi, guys! I hope you're all well! We have had an exciting day - the new washing machine has been delivered! We really know how to live a glamorous life here at the Manor! Even more exciting is our new challenge at My Time to Craft! which is a lovely CAS sketch. So versatile! I used it to showcase a pretty paper from Modascrap which was included in the June kit by Simon Says Stamp. The gold card also came with the kit. I added Spectrum Noir sparkle pen to the swags on the balloon and the flowers, and some sequins from my stash. My teamies have made some gorgeous cards, go and see how one simple sketch can be interpreted in so many ways! Thanks for looking, and enjoy your weekend! love Mags B x

Good morning, all! Phew! It's already a scorching day here in S-E Herts, so it's a little odd to be posting Christmas cards for The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge. Our challenges are always Anything Christmas Goes. I made 2 cards with decoupage sheets from Hunkydory that I've had for ages! I added silver mats and a silver-embossed sentiment. I used silicon gel to adhere all the layers together. I love this old-fashioned pillar box, it reminds me of one that stood outside my grandparents' house in Newcastle-upon-Tyne! Both images have touches of silver foiling - so pretty! My teamies have made some gorgeous cards to inspire you, go and see!! Thanks for looking and have a good day! love Mags B x

Good morning, my lovelies! I hope you're all keeping well. I am a bit stiff and achey from going on a March in London on Saturday - it was an incredible day, but now I'm aware that I'm not as young as I was!!! On to our new Challenge at Dream Valley which is All Things Bright and Beautiful . And the Challenge runs until July 28th so there is plenty of time to enter! I used more supplies from a Love from Lizi kit. The paper has glossy leaves and is gorgeous! I cut the toucan from gold card and layered it on some white paper, and there is a 'nest' of shiny fine thread behind it. The butterflies show better irl, they were made with a Martha Stewart punch. Go and see the bright and beautiful creations my teamies have made! Thanks for looking, and have a great week! love Mags B x

warning! Picture-heavy post! Hi, guys! I hope you're enjoying good weather and are looking forward to a relaxing weekend! I have been making cards from kits recently, it saves so much time knowing that everything is co-ordinated! This is from the April kit by Love from Lizi and it's full of encouragement! Bicycle! Camera Shaker Fearless and Fabulous Seeing the beauty in every day I am living with purpose I am seeing the possibilities Smile This is me!

Hi, guys! I hope you're all keeping well. Our new Challenge at My Time to Craft is to Make a Stamped Background. It can be made with rubber stamps or digis. I am determined to make better use of the card kits I subscribe to, so I had the Everything Together stamp set from the May 2018 Simon Says Stamp kit and decided to use the solid flower and leaf stamps for my background, with some Hero Arts dye inks. Inspired by our Jedi Master Shell's card for our Circles Challenge last month, I die-cut the centre of my piece, matted it on card, and replaced it using fun foam. The sentiment is from Simon's Uplifting Thoughts stamp set and reads 'There are so many beautiful reasons to be happy.' I added a ribbon from stash and gold stickles to the centres of the flowers. Do go and see what my talented teamies have made, the variety is very inspiring! Thanks for looking, and have a great weekend! love Mags B x

Good morning! I hope you're all keeping well! We have a new Challenge at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge which as always is Anything Christmas Goes. I have been sorting my craft hovel (again!) and dug out a lovely filigree leaping stag stamp which came with a magazine last year. I embossed it in Antique Gold embossing powder from Altenew, which is gorgeous, and decided to go for a more shabby chic look than usual. I fussy-cut the image and layered it on a circle of blue vellum and a doily, edged with a string of pearls. The gold-embossed sentiment is from the magazine stamp set. I used Vintage Photo to distress the edges of the cardbase and the paper, which is from stash. The Lace and stars came from an old kit from Crafteezee and the ribbon and flower are from Wild Orchid Crafts . I added Glamour Dust to the wooden stars and the dewdrops are from stash. I also used a lot of Glossy Accents to glue everything in place, as I'd mislaid my glue gun! Now I'...

Hi, guys! Today we have a Blingtastic Challenge for you at Dream Valley. I might have gone a bit Over The Top with my card..... This adorable image is Sweet Blossom by Whimsy Stamps. I coloured her with Copics and added Gold Stickles to the centres of the flowers and the bodies of the butterflies. I added sequins from my stash. The papers are from stash: I used a Martha Stewart punch to make the green border and added some navy Nuvo Crystal Drops and a gold glitter Peel-Off from Love From Lizi to trim the join. The baker's twine has blue glitter threads. The heart is die-cut from gold glitter card, and the sentiment die-cut is made with gold mirri card. Finally I added some Wink of Stella to all the blue flowers on the bp. Do you think that's Blingy enough??? Our fab sponsor is Dies to Die For which is a treasure-trove of crafty goodies!! Have a look at the fab inspiration left for you by my teamies on the blog and get out your blingiest, shiniest, sparkli...

Hi, guys! I'm so sorry this is late, I thought I'd scheduled this! The best-laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley! Anyway, at My Time to Craft our new Challenge is Holidays. That's not necessarily Christmas, but Easter, or summer holidays too. I went for summer! The images and sentiment come from an old Simon Says Stamp kit. I coloured and fussy-cut the ice lolly and flip flops, and added glossy accents to the lolly. I embossed the sentiment with SSS steel blue embossing powder, it's very shiny! The paper is from an old paper pad by Echo Park, and the orange twine is from Lawn Fawn. Go and see the inspiring creations my teamies have left for your perusal on the blog! Thanks for looking, and have a good day! love Mags B x