My first stationery set

Hiya folks, well so much for me keeping on track with my blog hey!!!!  But the good news is that I have been  busy making lots of cards and will be popping them on my blog over the next few days or so.

I've been wanting to make a stationery box for so long now and after watching many videos on You Tube, voila.  I thought I'd also enter this into this weeks "Vintage" theme over at Just Magnolia.

Below is a picture of the entire set, which comprises of the stationery box, notelet set, box of gift tags and a matching birthday book.  It did take me forever to make, just because I always do things the difficult way and never make life easy for myself......lol

The inside of the stationery box holds the birthday book, large paper clip bookmarks, tags, postage stamps, a small address book and pen.

The papers are Anna Griffin, Tilda has been coloured with Copics which are available from the lovely Tracy over at Dies To Die For.

Thank you for popping by my lil oasis and for all the lovely comments you kindly take the time to leave.

luv 'n' crafty hugs

xx vicki xx

The wanderer returns

OMG!!!!!!!!!  I can't believe how long it's been since I was here last, almost forgot how to upload a post .....lol!!!!  Well where do I begin ?  Firstly humungous apologies for not being around for the best part of four months.  It all started back in March when we had an awful ordeal with our eldest son, some of you know what happened but I am glad to say that he is back on track and we are all so very proud of him.  Then I decided to decorate the house from top to bottom......hhhhmmmmm.....big mistake cos we are nowhere near finished.  Plus I've only got and landed myself with doing Art GCSE at work, (working as a Art Technician at a local secondary school) and that has taken up quite a lot of my time lately but I am really enjoying it.

Now I've not made any cards since the end of March, I've got a few to show you from then, so I'll begin with these Magnolia's.

The Prima flower and Martha Stewart order punch can be found at the best online craft store that is Dies To Die For.

I am hoping to get back into the swing of things now and I really must send a massive apology to Tracy over at Dies To Die For for not being much of a DT support also loads of love and huge hugs to her too xxxxxxx.

Rightyho, I will do my best to catch up with all your wonderful blogs, mind you it may take me a while so bare with me.

lots of love and crafty hugs

xx vicki xx

A few CC Designs....oh they're so cute...

Hiya folks, hows you all doing?  I've been playing with some more deliciousness that the lovely Tracy over at Dies to Die For sent me, thank you so much my luvly...mwah.   OMG!!!!  just pop over to Tracy's blog and check out all the new scrummy new goodies she has available at Dies To Die For.

For the card above I've used:-

Stamp - CC Designs - Miss Rosalie with Roses

Papers - Bo Bunny - Love Bandit

Martha Stewart Punches

Flowers -Prima E-line Pinks

Stampin Up sentiment

COPICS

Glamour Dust

For the card above I used:-

Image - CC Designs -  Balloon Emma

Papers - Bo Bunny Persuasion

Martha Stewart Deep Edge punch

Stampin Up sentiment and Crystal Effect added to the Balloon

For this card I used:-

Image - CC Designs - Flower Power

Papers - Prima Watercolour Rainbow

Martha Stewart border punch

Stampin Up sentiment and crystal effects

COPICS

Glamour Dust

Thanks for popping by my lil oasis and for all the lovely comments you kindly take the time to leave, I really do appreciate them, but I must apologise for not being that good at visiting you all lately, seems like I'm spending more time crafting than blogging lately....lol!!!!

take care all, luv 'n' hugs

xx vicki xx

Tres Chic cont'd

Hello to all and a very happy Monday.  I hope you all enjoyed your weekend.  We had a fabulous one, what with it being Tom's 18th etc, he had a really great time,  so did his dad, lots of celebrating....lol!!!!

Anyways back to the cards and remember I made a couple of cards a few posts down using these fabby Pink Cat Studio Fashion Stamps, available from Dies To Die For well here's the other four that I made the same day but am only now getting around to posting.

Goodies used were:-

Stamps - Pink Cat Studio 

Papers - My Minds Eye, 

Spiders Web, 

Oooh La La Just Lovely

Abbey Road Orange Crush 

and Lucky Me

Martha Stewart Punches

Prima gems

EK Success Retro Floral Punch

Sorry for the quick post, got a lot going on at the mo so must dash.

ttfn, see ya soon

luv 'n' crafty hugs xx vicki xx

My lil lad is 18 today......omg!!!!!

Hiya folks, happy Friday to you all.  I've not posted any cards at the mo, I will be back lately as I've made loads over the last few days.  Just wanted to wish my lil boy Tom a very Happy 18 th Birthday, I can't believe how quick these years are flying by, seems not that long ago that I was celebrating my 18th, crikey do I feel old now......lol!!!!!   Here's a lil piccie of Tom with the lovely girlfriend Becca,  I must get a more recent piccie of these two together, think this was taken last Summer and Tom has aged since then.....hehehehe!!!!!!!

Today is kind of bittersweet as it's also 14 years ago today that my mum passed away.  Usually when it's the lead up to Toms' birthday I get really upset, I think this year is the first year that I feel normal, maybe because it's such a special birthday for Tom, I know it's been 14 years since my mum passed away but I think it's something you never get used to, no matter how long its been, you just learn to cope I suppose. March is my worst month, what with the Anniversary of mums death, plus Mother's Day, it's also my mum & dad's wedding anniversay on the 18th and mum's birthday on the 26th, so far I'm doing ok but roll on April.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, 

take care, luv 'n' crafty hugs 

xx vicki xx

TGF New Releases at Dies To Die For

Hiya folks, are you a lover of those cutie beauties from The Greeting Farm, well if so, tomorrow sees the release of a brand new set of stamps and Tracy at Dies To Die for has very kindly sent me these to play with aren't they adorable, thank you so much my luvly...mwah.

For the card below I've coloured the "Amazing Duo" with Copics, then covered it with Tim Holtz "rock candy", the sentiments are also TGF,  the papers I've had for yonks not sure if they are DCVW, the stars were cut using a sizzix die.  I've entered this card into this weeks FRIDAY SKETCHERS CHALLENGE,  great sketch btw.

OMG!!!! I just love this one so much, isn't she adorable. Her name is Amelia and she's available to purchase tomorrow at Dies To Die For. Again I've coloured her with Copics, then heat embossed clear embossing powder over the entire image to give it a glossy look.  The papers are My Minds Eye, Oooh La La Summer Days and Abbey Road.  I've also heat embossed the Stampin Up sentiment. Then finished it off with a fancy ribbon thingy....lol!!! Martha Stewart border punch available from Dies To Die For.  I've entered this card into this weeks Ribbon-tastic challenge over at CUTE CARD THURSDAY .

And this lil fellow is so sweet, his name is Oliver  he'll also be avaible tomorrow.  Again I've coloured him with Copics, the papers are Basic Grey "Archaic", Stampin Up sentiment.

Well that's it for me today folks, don't forget to check out the new TGF releases tomorrow at Dies To Die For.  Hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend,

luv 'n' crafty hugs

xx vicki xx

Anyone for Chocolate

Hello and a happy Saturday to you all, just a quick post today as we're off out in a mo.   Thought I'd show you this lil treat pouch which I've made using one sheet of 12 x 12 BO BUNNY "Abbey Road Dot"paper and the flowers are Petaloo Flora Doodles available from Dies To Die For that the lovely Tracy sent me recently.  The label is a stamp by Stampin Up.

Hope you all enjoy your weekend, I've got lots of cards to show so maybe back tomorrow.

ttfn xx vicki xx

oooooopppppsssssss!!!!! Updated to say really sorry I was in such a rush to post this earlier that I forgot to put a link to the tutorial.  Monica has made one using 6 x 6" paper, I just used a 12 x 12 sheet instead, sorry folks

Tres Chic

Hiya peeps, I've finally got around to playing with this fabby girly stamp set that the wonderfully lovely Tracy over at Dies To Die For sent me a while back and boy it's taken me long enough, huge apologies Tracy (slapping my wrists).  The set is by Pink Cat Studios, I've paper pieced the dress in the card below with the most delish papers from My Minds Eye and would you beleive they are actually Halloween themed papers but  they're double sided with this damask style print on the one side, have to say that I love these.....yummy!!!!  The list of goodies and where to buy them from is at the bottom of this post.  These cards fit this weeks Fab 'n' Funky "Black & White" Challenge and it's the first time for me to play along with this challenge blog. 

Here's a lil looky at the whole stamp set, lots of lovely girlyness

 

delish goodies used for these cards are:

Papers - My Minds Eye "The Spider's Web" - Haunted Parlour

Stamps-  Pink Cat Studio - Fashion Stamps Plate 2

Martha Stewart Punches

Prima E Line Crystals 

EK Success Retro Flower Punch 

All available from Dies To Die For 

If your anything like me, i.e. paper drooler, stroker etc, then check out the gorgeous new papers from Prima, My Minds Eye, Bo Bunny plus loads of other delishiousness HERE.  Mind you, you may find yourself having to purchase two sets, yep one to use one to stroke......lol!!!!  Have to say that the new Prima papers are exquiste, stunning, super delish, gorgeous.......I could go on and on.....

I've made four other cards using the Pink Cat Studio set but I'll show them another day.  Must dash loads to do before the school run.  ttfn xx vicki xx

For my friend

Tracy over at Dies To Die For has some gorgeous new goodies available.  These Bo Bunny Papers are so delish and how about this cutie beautie image, isn't she sweet.  She's from the new CC Designs and I've coloured her with Copics then added lots of Glamour Dust here and there.

Papers Bo Bunny Persuasion - My Sweet
Image CC Designs "Darby and Bumbles"
Martha Stewart Monarch Butterfly Punch and Floral Band Punch
COPICS
All available from Dies to Die For

Tracy also has taken stock of the stunning  new Prima papers, I gotta tell you they really are super delish, as are the new Prima blooms why not have a lil looky yourself.  Plus there are so many gorgeous new goodies that she's just added too.

See ya soon with a few more bits 'n' pieces to show, 

take care all, 

luv 'n' crafty hugs xx vicki xx

all loved up

Hiya peeps, gosh where on earth do these days get to, can't believe how long it's been since I last visited Blogland or posted anything for that matter.  Hope your all keeping happy and well.

Here's a card with a matching box I made for my boss to give her hubby.  She asked me if I could make him a Valentines card, so I dug out the gorgeous Pink Petticoat "Just an Old Fashioned Girl" CD, I absolutely love the papers on this CD but don't use it often enough.  I've distressed the edges of the papers and added gold embossing powder here and there.

I shall be back soon with some more cards to show. 

ttfn xx vicki xx

lovely new goodies at Dies to Die For

Hiya my luvly crafty friends, just thought I would let know about a few new crafty goodies the wonderful Tracy has in stock over at Dies to Die For.

Aaaaaahhhhhhhh, just check out this adorable lil puppy, Pepper & Friends is now available at Dies to Die For, you can get everything from stamps, ribbons, brads, papers, chipboards shapes, stickers, decoupage and more  in this lovely range.

Also the new release from The Greeting Farm, "Amazing Duo", "Easter Anya",  "Soldier Ian", "Sweet Tooth" and many more from The Greeting Farm range are available, why no pop over and have a lil look.

Plus Tracy has a wide range of Copics and Tim Holtz Distress Inks,  While your there don't forget to check out the Special Offer and Mega Winter Sale items too and keep a look out for all the scrummy new arrivals,

ttfn, luv 'n' crafty hugs xx vicki xx

High Hopes and an award

Hiya folks, I made these two cards last week but what with all the goings on around this jinxed house I completely forgot about posting them.   I've used all the scrummy goodies that the loverly Tracy over at Dies to Die For sent me, thank you once again my luvly.

Images are - High Hopes "Pickles Balloon Ride" and Missy B Designs "Trees"

Papers - Doodlebug

Flowers - Prima "Mini Me"

Stickles

Copics 

available from Dies to Die For

Images - High Hopes "Heidi & Madison" and Missy B Designs "Trees"

Papers- Doodlebug

Stickles

Copics

Nesties 

available from Dies to Die For 

I've received this fabby award from my wonderful friend and fellow DT member over at SFTW, thank you so very much Kimmi for thinking of me to pass this award onto, right back at you my luvly...mwah.

This award comes with a condition, and that condition is that I list 10 things that give me pleasure, here goes then:-

My wonderful hubby and four children

My bestest friend, Leigh

My lil crafting oasis

Spending waaaaayyyyyy too much on crafting goodies

Buying handbags

Buying cosmetics, perfumes and nail polishes

Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate

Yankie Candles

Having a Monday and Friday off work

Visiting all of your wonderful blogs.

I'm supposed to pass this award onto 10 people, but that is impossible, so I'm gonna cheat and pass this award onto all you lovely lot, so please feel free to receive this award, my way of thanking you for all the kind comments you take the time to leave me.

luv 'n' crafty hugs

xx vicki xx

High Hopes and thank yous

Hiya lovely blogging buddies and how are we all today.   Before I tell you about these cards, I just wanted to say an enormous thank you for all the wonderful comments of congrats that were left in my previous post, you've all made me feel so incredibly happy, you truly are such lovely girlies and thank you very much.

For todays cards I've used some of the gorgeous goodies that the fabby Tracy over at Dies to Dies For sent me to play with......(mmmmmmmmmm loving these papers), thank you luvly (((hugs)))

Stash list:-

Image - High Hopes "Match Makin Maynard

Papers - My Minds Eye

Sentiment - Stampin Up

Heart shaped Nestabilities

Stickles

Copic Ciao Markers

Martha Stewart Deep Edger Border Punch - Lattice Heart

Ribbon, twine and gems from me stash

Well we are having a nightmare here, again. We're just about getting back to normal after those pesky squirrels ate through the water pipes in the loft resulting in three bedroom ceilings gushing with water and one ceiling completly falling down when would you believe it water has been flooding our downstairs toilet.  Turns out we've had a burst pipe for goodness knows how long and all the water from the both upstairs bathrooms has ended up coming through the downstairs toilet, there's water everywhere.  Rang insurance company they're sending someone out to dry the walls, floors etc but in the meantime hubby has pulled up the laminate flooring and the walls tiles....I tell you, it's like the house that blimming Jack built, there's always something going wrong here....boooo hoooooo....I've had enough.....anyone fancy doing a house swap....lol!!!! and to top it all my car is playing up and hubby's car only came out of the garage yesterday and the same problem is back this evening so it's going straight back to the garage first thing in the morning......why do these things always happen at the same time.....ok whinging over with....

Anyways, I shall pop back soon in the meantime luv 'n' hugs to you all

ttfn xx vicki xx

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! my card is in the new Magnolia Ink magazine

Can you imagine the surprise I got this morning when my Magnolia Ink magazine arrived.......blimey I was not expecting that.  The postman had just arrived while I was making a cuppa early this morning, as I'm flicking through the magazine, still in my pj's and drinking my tea, there it was......my card, I gave an almighty yelp, practically choked on my tea before showing my hubby and kiddies.   Talk about being gobsmacked, not to mention totally chuffed to bits.........pmsl!!!!!

and here's the card in question, I know I haven't long posted this on my blog with all the details a little further down, if your interested.  The papers are a mix of Stampin Up and Basic Grey, not Papermania as mentioned in the Magazine though.

Well that has so made my day, week, month even maybe year.......sorry just had to share my excitement with you all, hope you don't.  I'm still in shock and grinning like a Cheshire cat......hehehehehe!!!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, happy crafting. 

Luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

pink 'n' brown trio

Hiya folks, hope your all ok.  OMG!!!!!!! I received the most gorgeous goodies to play with from the lovely, not to mention fandabbydozy Tracy over at Dies to Die For, thank you so much chick, I really enjoyed getting crafty with this lot.  As you can see I got a bit carried away with the pink/brown colour combo, well it is one of my favs, as you may have gathered from my blog...lol!!!

For the above card I used:-

Penny Johnson "Butterfly Bear"

Doodlebug papers "Prints Charming"

Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Pendant

(Thank you so very much Tracy)

Prima Pearls

Stickles

COPICS

For the above card I used:-

High Hopes "Pickles Balloon Ride"

 My Favourite Things "Bling Bet" alphabet stamps

Doodlebug Papers "Sweetheart Baby's Breath",

Martha Stewart   Floral Vine Deep Edge Punch

COPICS

Stickles

And the above card comprises of :-

High Hopes "Heidi & Madison" 

Doodlebug papers "Prints Charming", "Sweetheart Baby's Breath", "Cherry Chocolate Paisley"

Spellbinders Nesties

Prima Pearls

COPICS

Stickles

Glossy Accents,

Sewing Machine, sentiment stamps and Spellbinders Tickets Stubbs Die from my stash.

~ ooOoo ~

Be sure to check out the Mega Winter Sale and Special Offers at Dies To Die For or you can check out the list of items on Tracy's BLOG.

~ ooOoo ~

Thanks for popping by my lil oasis, luv 'n' crafty hugs to all

xx vicki xx

Helloooooooooo ............ Gosh it's been a while .......

......  since I last visited Blogland.  A very belated Happy New Year to you all, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  We had such a lovely time, it was great to chill out and relax with my gorgeous kiddies and hubby.  To be honest that's the main reason why I've not been around lately, I realised over Christmas just how much time, not to mention money....lol, I spent last year crafting, so I've decided to cut back a lil on both accounts this year, hence the reason for me not being here that often. Mind you stopping buying crafting stash hasn't kicked in yet.....pmsl.

Anyways, here's a few cards that I made weeks before Christmas but didn't get around to posting them

For my cousin, from his mum (my Aunt), she wrote the verse herself, apologies for the poor piccie.

Edwin has been coloured with COPICS available now from Dies to Die For

papers are K & Co

I really love the colours and papers on this 4oth card,

Image - Rubber Romance - April Martini Girl from Dies To Die For

 scrumdiddlyumptious Papers by My Minds Eye - Spiders Web - from Dies To Die For

Penblwydd Hapus (Welsh for Happy Birthday), this was for an order for a work collegue.

Kraftin Kimmie stamp from Dies To Die For

Papers - K & Co

Martha Stewart butterfly punch - Dies To Die For

AT LAST MY FIRST CARD FOR 2010

This is my first order this year, the card was for an elderly lady and the brief was something floral, so I went with A Rose is a Rose stamp set from Stampin Up

Papers are also Stampin Up

Martha Stewart butterfly punch and deep edge punch from Dies to Die For

Stickles Glitter Glue - available from Dies to Die For

Well that's my first card for 2010 done...whooooo hoooooo, never thought I'd get back into crafting with the amount of time I've had away from it what with Christmas and the kids off school with the weather.  I have received some fabby DT parcels from the ever so lovely Tracy at Dies to Die For, thanks you so very much my luvly, so maybe I'll be back soon with some more cards to show.

On a sad note, I have decided to step down from being part of the Design Team over at Stampin for the Weekend,  it was a very hard decision to make, as all the girls have become such wonderful friends, but I just felt that I was letting them all down, especially the last few weeks where I haven't been able to commit to the challenges or commenting on the entries.  I'd like to say a humungous thank you to Kimmi for having me part of the fabby SFTW family and for all the hard work she does each and every week, your a lil gem...mmmmwwwahhhhh.

Cor what a long post, I seem to be making up for lost time hey........lol! 

Take care all, lots of love and crafty hugs

xx vicki xx

a couple of Mo Mannings

Hiya peeps, hope your all keeping well.  I've recently had a few orders, these being two of them.  I was asked to make a baby's 1st Christmas for a lovely friend of mine.  I got this gorgeous lil image from Mo's Digital Pencil, I've not used any of her images before but have admired her illustrations for a while now.  I've coloured Kai with Copics, the papers are DCWV.

Here's what the inside looks like and the box.

Another first for me is to make a Christening Card, I was totally stumped what to make until I saw this beautiful image over at Mo's Digital Pencil, I've coloured her with Copics and added some Glamour Dust.  I've had these papers for yonks, not sure who they are by sorry.  Flowers from Hobbycraft, Martha Stewart butterfly punch from Tracy at Dies To Die For.

And this is what the inside looks like. I was asked if I could put the baby's birth details on the card along with the Christening details, then I found this lovely verse on the internet.

Well I only have two more days left in work ...yippeeeeeee!!!!  My daughters break-up next Tuesday which is great for me, not for them though.....lol!!!! but at least it'll give me a few days to get more organised for Christmas. 

Thanks for popping by my lil oasis, lots of luv 'n' hugs to you all xx vicki xx

Stampin for the Weekend - Blue & Brown and an award

Hellooooooooo, yes it's only me, I've climbed out of the black hole I fell into.....lol!!! So sorry for not being around lately and huge apologies to my SFTW buddies for letting you all down by not participating in last weeks challenge.  This weeks Stampin for the Weekend challenge is to create a Christmas card with the colour scheme of Blue and Brown. This is my lil card (apologies for the poor piccie) the Magnolia image has been coloured with copics, I've added "Fluffy Stuff" and glamour dust,  Papers are Basic Grey "Figgy", Spellbinders snowflake die has been covered with twinklets diamond dust, sentiment is Stampin Up.

Our sponsor this weeks is Simon Says Stamp, who are offering a $25 spending spree to the lucky winner. We also have two Guest Design Team Members, Kim Yu and Tanja joining us this week, plus all the SFTW girlies have created such beautiful cards so please pop over and check out their wonderful creations.

I received this lovely award a little while ago now from the fabby Coops, thank you so very much for thinking of me to pass this award onto my luvly and apologies for not posting it sooner.  Coops is one of my Do-Craft buddies, she has recently joined the wonderful world of Blogging, so please pop by and  visit her Cluttered Corner, her cards are so beautiful.

Well I hope you folks are more organised for Christmas than I am, OMG!!!! It's only two weeks away and I've not bought any choccies, nor have I finished shopping for pressies and as for making cards for peeps...mmmmmmm......lets just say that after spending a smal fortune buying stacks of Christmas stash, me thinks I'm gonna have to buy my cards this year cos there's no way I'll be able to make everyones now, ooohhhh the shame.....pmsl.

ttfn, loads of luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

OMG!!!! Have you seen the scrummy new stash at Dies to Die For..........

.......well if you haven't, you'd better hot foot it over there cos you won't be disappointed.  Tracy at Dies To Die For has just taken stock of the new Kraftin Kimmie stamps and wait for it................Mo Manning stamps are available too...whooo hoooo!!!!  Also there's new CC Designs stamps and Instyle Stamps not to mention some gorgeous new Martha Stewart punches.....to name but a few of the new stock Tracy has available.  Have fun filling your baskets.....lol!!!!

Would you like to join our lil family over at Stampin for the Weekend?????

Yes that's right....we are looking for new family members to join us at Stampin for the Weekend.

So if you would like to be part of our Design Team at Stampin for the Weekend, just head on over to our challenge blog for all the details.  You have until the 11th December to apply.  Good luck to everyone

xx vicki xx

My Mother-In-Laws 65th birthday

I've made this card for my MIL 65th birthday which is on Wednesday, for her birthday she and her hubby have gone to Cyprus for the week.....lucky pair....lol!!!!

I've used mainly Stampin Up products for this Easel card and box.  The lush papers are Bella Bleu, the images are part of the Golden Oldies stamp set, flowers from Hobbycraft.  I purchase my Stampin Up stash from Jules and if your interested she has a Christmas Wish List going on at the mo, so pop by her blog for more details.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend, luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

Stampin for the Weekend - Christmas

Hiya lovely peeps, hope your all ok.  Friday is upon us again which means another Stampin for the Weekend Challenge.  This week we'd like you to create a gift card and tag using a colour combination of LILAC & SILVER

Oh eck to be honest I kinda struggled with this challenge myself, so I must apologies to all my SFTW teamies for my card being so late.  Lilac is a colour I'm not to keen on and find it difficult to colour but this is what I came up with anyway.  The papers are a freebie download from Shabby Princess. Tilda has been coloured with Copic, I've heat embossed some silver swirls around Tilda. Snowflakes are  Spellbinders Create-a-Flake #1.  The silver mesh ribbon I got from the textiles department at work.

here's the inside of my gift card which houses a "Borders" gift token.

Our fabby prize this week has been donated by our very own Fiona.  Just look at these gorgeous Magnolia stamps that one lucky person could win.

Our two lovely Guest Design Team members, Lisa and Roselien have created some beautiful cards for this weeks challenge, as have the rest of my SFTW teamies, well done girls.

Thanks for popping by my lil oasis, hope you all have a lovely weekend. lots of luv 'n' crafty hugs xx vicki xx