Sugar Bowl challenge #18 Kathy's sketch

There's a fab sketch by Kathy for this weeks Sugar Bowl challenge

I've coloured this SN "Poise" image with Distress Inks, then heat embossed with clear embossing powder to give it a shiny, glossy appearance. The papers are a mix of K & Co and Prima, lace raffia is from Hobby Crafts, lil sentiment is Pink Petticoat "tiny tags".

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

luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

Anyone for Anya challenge #2 sketch

For the second challenge over at Anyone for Anya, there's a sketch to follow:-
here's my lil card. This sweetie image arrived on my doorstep yesterday, she's so adorable, her name is Megan, a Wild Sprout from the Greeting Farm, she's been coloured with Copics. The papers are a mix from my scrap box of papers. The sentiment is Pink Petticoat, Tiny Tags.
While we're on the subject of Miss Anya, I thought I would pop on some piccies of recent cards I've made using these fab lil Diva's

Again using bits of papers from my scrap box for the card below, Fairy Tink has been coloured with Copics, her wings a touch of Glamour Dust, the senitment is K & Co.
For this card I followed a sketch over at Club Anya. The papers are Basic Grey "lemonade", Fairy Tink has been coloured with Distress Inks, Glamour Dusted wings, ribbon from my stash.
This is a bit of a contrast from the others, I don't often used black but really pleased with how this one has turned out. The pp are Basic Grey "Ambrosia" Miss Anya has been coloured with a mix of Derwent Inktense water colour pencils and Copics. Flowers have been Glimmer Misted, Leone Em Ash Branch Punch and some gems to finish with.

Oakey doakey, that's it from me today folks. I hope you all enjoy your Bank Holiday weekend, as usual the weather here in South Wales is dismal to say the least, not sure what we're going to do over the next couple of days....kids back in school the end of the week...wooo hooo!! and I'm back in work on Wednesday after having 6 fantastic weeks off.

ttfn xx vicki xx

Some wonderful awards

I've been so lucky to have received these fabby awards from two lovely ladies.

This first award was passed onto me a while back and it's from Teri, I must apologise to Teri for taking so long in posting it on my blog, it's a lovely award and thank you so much for passing it onto me Teri.

Teri also gave me this "Royal Thing" award too. My lovely friend and fellow SFTW teamie Nancy also was kind enough to pass this award onto me too, thanks you so much girls, I love it
You have to list 5 things that you love, so here goes:-

1. Of course it has to be my wonderful, if slightly barmy family, love these guys to bits....
2. Well cardmaking has to come a very close second
3. I know I've said it before but I can't resist buying Kipling handbags
4. I love to unwind in my craft room, with all the lovely papers and goodies to drool over...lol!!!
5. Peanut M & M's.....I could eat them by the truck load....

Nancy also gave me this lovely Circle of Friends award some time back, so I do apologise Nancy for taking so long in posting it, but thank you so very, very much for thinking of me.......(((hugs)))
I would like to pass these three awards onto all the lovely blogging friends followers of my blog, to say a huge thanks for all your wonderful support and comments you very kindly take the time to leave me.......loads of luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

Stampin for the Weekend - Challenge #13

Hiya folks...wow!!! what an amazing week we had last week with such fabulous entries for our colour challenge over at Stampin for the Weekend, thank you to all those who entered.

Our very own Kimmi has come up with this weeks theme and she has these gorgeous Whiff of Joy stamps on offer for the lucky winner. So without further ado, this weeks SFTW challenge theme is "Babies", we'd love to see what you come up with this week.
Here's is my card, would you believe I've had these Forever Friends stamps for months and this is the first time they've been inked.....shame on me...lol!!! The sentiment and spotty paper are Stampin Up and the lil frilly tag is Magnolia, some buttons and lace from my stash to finish off with.

Erin is our Guest Designer again this week, so please pop over and check out her wonderful creations. The rest of the SFTW gang have come up with some crackers again this week, all their links are on my side bar, so why not check out their blogs and say "Hi" while your there. I hope you'll be able to join us for this weeks SFTW challenge, it could be you that'll win those fab stamps....oooo I wish I could enter.....lol!!!

Well I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend,
loads of luv xx vicki xx

Sweet 16........Anyone for Anya 1st Challenge

The first challenge for the new Anyone for Anya blog is Sugar 'n' Spice. I've made this card for my son's girlfriend, (there's a piccie of the both of them a few posts down)Becca's Sweet 16th Birthday which is in two weeks time, so this new challenge gave me the inspiration and motivation to make a start on her card.

Lots going on with this one as I decided to make a tri-fold card and box, it took me most of the day, but it's done now, thank goodness...lol!!!

The papers are MME "Magnolia"...hey check out the stitching on all pages and the box as well...I ran out of DST....so I had no choice other than to sew...me and my impatience couldn't wait until morning to finish the card..kinda pleased with the stitching though considering I am stil scared on my sewing machine.....lol!!!
Miss Anya's have been coloured with Distress Inks, the flowers are a mix of Primas and roses from Wild Orchid Crafts, the swirls are a Quickutz die all of which have been Glimmer Misted. MS Butterfly punch from Tracy at Dies to Die For, Leone Em ash branch punch from The Glitter Pot, lots of gems from my stash.

Above is a piccie of the card and box, same embellies as before
And here is what the inside looks like, apologies for the pants photo....more Miss Anya's, more Prima's and even more stitching... organza ribbon and charms from my crafty stash. sentiments were printed on the computer, I think that's about it.

Thanks for popping by my lil oasis and for all the lovely, kind comments you've take the time to leave, as always I really do appreciate them......mwah......

luv 'n' hugs
xx vicki xx

Creative Inspirations Friendship challenge

The theme for this weeks Creative Inspirations challenge is "Friendship". The papers are a freebie download from Summer Driggs' blog, sorry I can't remember which kit is was from though. The frame is a Sizzix die. Tilda has been coloured with Distress Inks, a Brenda Pinnick sentiment, some flowers and pearls to finish off with.

Thank you all for the lovely comments you've been kind enough to leave, I really am grateful for each and every one. Take care all, loads of luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

Do you love Stampin Up products?????

Well if the answer if yes, then why not pop over to Julies blog. She is such a fabulous organiser/demostrator. I have been part of her Stampers 10 club, that ran for 10 months and has just finished but I'm joining in with her next one because the service and "customer" care she offers is second to none. She is starting up a new club in October, so if anyone is interested in joining, please pop over to her BLOG and show your interest. I honestly can't praise her service enough and she is one luvly Yorkshire Lass too......lol!!!

ttfn xx vicki xx

Sugar Bowl sketch challenge

There's a lovely sketch to follow for this weeks Sugar Bowl challenge, so thought I would have a lil go. I've coloured this lovely SN "penpal" image with Distress Inks, the papers are K & Co. MS Butterfly punch, Leone Em Ash Branch punch which I now have to stamp on to get the darn thing to work, thanks Tara for the tip.......lol!!! Yesterday my girls and I popped into Hobby Craft and I picked up loads of flowers, bits' n'bobs including the lace raffia, the flowers have been Glimmer Misted btw.

My daughters and I have spent most of the day in our lil craft room, cor what a mess we have made, so I'm off to cook dinner then have a good tidy up.....may even make a card or two... but I should really catch up on some blogging as I've not visited many peeps this week...sorrrryyyyy!!!

TTFN xx vicki xx

Friday Sketchers challenge

Hiya luvly bloggers, hope your all ok.....the weather, once again here is yuck....so me and my girls are going to have a creative day today, they're painting at the dining table, well more paint has been splattered on the floor so far....lol but at least they're having fun and not arguing.

Anyways, here is my card for this weeks Friday Sketchers. The papers are BG "Wisteria" and the lil Gorjuss Girl image has been coloured with Copics. Once again my lil tissues flowers have found their way onto a card, but this time I used both my scalloped circular punch (the blue flowers) and the medium retro floral punch (for the purple flowers), me thinks I'll be making a few more of these, I'm getting to like them a lil more now.

Well I'd better check on the girls, hope you all enjoy your day, thanks for popping my my lil oasis.

luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

Just Magnolia -Sketch Challenge by Rach

Just Magnolia has another lovely sketch, courtesy of Rach, for this weeks challenge.

For my card I have used MME "Magnolia" papers (how appt....lol!!), Tilda has been coloured with Distress Inks, her wings have been Glamour Dusted. The flower thingy-ma-bob was made by taking my scalloped circular punch and punching several pieces of tissue paper, sponging some ink over the surface, then scrunching them and fastening them together with a flower brad...easy peasy....not sure if it looks ok though, but it's something a bit different......lol!!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, fingers crossed that we have some decent weather.

Luv 'n' hugs to you all
xx Vicki xx

Stampin for the Weekend Challenge #12

Well hello folks and a happy Friday to you all. Today's Stampin for the Weekend challenge is a nice easy one for you all to join in with as it's a colour theme, Pink & Grey.

here's what I came up with

The papers are HOTP, The cutie lil Sugar Nellie image has been coloured with Distress Inks. I've used my MS Flourish Punch, a few blobs of liquid pearls, Prima flowers and Roses (from Wild Orchid Crafts) Autumn Leaves "ticketed" sentiment and my Leone Em Ash Branch Punch. Does anyone else have any problems with their Ash Branch Punch??? Mine just doesn't punch through any cardstock will only punch through paper which is so annoying as I don't use it as often as I'd like too.

Our sponsor this week are Windrush Cards and Crafts,

Alison is very kindly offering the lucky winner this cute Happy Hoppers "The Spot Light" stamp

We also have a new Guest Designer, Erin will be joining us for the next two weeks, welcome aboard Erin, I hope you'll enjoy your GDTM , it's great to have you with us. The rest of my lovely SFTW teamies have created some beauties again this week, so why not check out their blogs to see their creations.

Whatever you have planned this weekend, I hope it's a good one.
Take care all, luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

WOJ Sketch challenge

Hiya peeps, gosh I am on a roll this week, not made so many cards in ages....lol!!!! There is a fabby sketch, designed by the ever so talented Rach, for this weeks WOJ challenge, so I thought I would give it a go.
I bought this gorgeous WOJ stamp some time ago and this is the first card I've made with her. She has been coloured with Distress Inks. The papers, ribbons, sentiment and oval shapes are all Stampin Up. The corner punch is from The Hobby House. Dew Drops from my stash and woo hooo!!! my lovely MS butterfly punch (from Dies To Die For) arrived yesterday so of course just had to use it.

I shall be back with a card tomorrow because it's Friday and a new SFTW challenge.

luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

Birthday Wishes

I followed Dawny's sketch over at Anyone for Anya to make this card. This cutie lil image has been coloured with Copics and her wings glittered with Glamour Dust. The papers are Bo Bunny, Stampin Up sentiment and oval punches. Ribbon and Dew Drops from my crafty stash. Just a quickie post from me today...need to catch up with the dreaded......(cover your ears and eyes...lol) houesework...yuck!!!

luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

Just Magnolia "friends"

This weeks Just Magnolia theme is to make a friendship card, so this is my lil offering.

I've coloured this delightful lil Tilda with Distress Inks, the papers are MME "Bloom & Grow", Brenda Pinnick sentiment, flowers, ribbon, eyelets and charm from my stash. Apologies for the pants photo, no matter which direction I faced this card I could get a nice shot, oh well that's my fault for being so impatient and not wanting to wait til morning for the natural light....lol!!! I hope your all ok folks, I'm hoping to spend some quality time in my craft room, seems like yonks ago that I had a good long play with my goodies. ttfn, luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

A few holiday pics

Hiya folks, just thought I would pop up some piccies of our lil holiday in Newquay, West Wales.






Eventhough the weather wasn't the best, we still had a wonderful time together.

Below is a piccie of our eldest son Tom and his lov-er-ly girlfriend Becca...oh young love....lol!!!

I just had to share this piccie with you all.....loh eck Ryan is gonna go mad...pmsl...My youngest daughter Yasmin decided to use Ryan's head for practising putting bobbles in.....hehehe!!!!! he is such game for a laugh is our Ryan.
Well thanks for popping by my lil oasis, ttfn xx vicki xx

Stampin for the Weekend - Challenge #11

Hiya peeps, hope your all keeping well. Friday is upon us, so that means it's time for another Stampin for the Weekend challenge. Firstly I'd like to thank all who entered last weeks challenge and made some wonderful cards with my lil sketch.

The theme this week is "Days Gone By", where we would like you to create a vintage looking card. I have to say I really loved making this one. I bought some crackle accents a while back and having been bursting to use them, so this challenge was the perfect opportunity.

I've used K & Co papers, which have been a lil distressed and had the edges inked. Flowers are Prima and the Roses from Wild Orchid Crafts have been Glimmer Misted. The Sugar Nellie image has been coloured with Distress Inks, Crackle Accents applied on top, which took forever to dry. Raffia from my stash and the lil pin I made myself with some beads also from my stash. The sentiment is Stampin Up.

Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp and Heidi is offering a $25 gift voucher to the lucky winner.

My lovely teamies have made some gorgeous creations with this weeks theme, why not check them out for yourself. I do hope you'll be able to join in with our "Days Gone By" challenge over at SFTW, you could just be the lucky winner.

We had a lovely lil holiday and thankfully my house was as I left it. Tom & Ryan did really well at keeping it all lovely and clean while we were away. My daughters are still in West Wales with Stephens parents, our house is sooooo quiet and I'm lost without them but they will be home tomorrow. This week has been really strange, firstly we went away without the boys and now we are without the girls, talk about a split family hey....but the break has done wonders for me, just what I needed after the last few months.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend and the weather stays sunny for us all.
Luv 'n' hugs
xx vicki xx

For all those who don't already know, the very talented Donna is releasing a brand new disc, Designer Extreme Vol. 111. The launch kicks off with a fab Blog Hop tomorrow 15th August why not check it out, there's sure to be some candy up for grabs too.

Stampin' for the Weekend challenge #10

Hello peeps, a very happy Friday to you all. It's week 10 of our Stampin for the Weekend challenges and today is a very special day for me, as it's a challenge set by me in the form of a sketch. This is a first for me, never before have I drawn a sketch, so I thought I'd better keep it simple mainly because I am hopeless at drawing.....lol!!! But first check out the prize that's up for grabs, our sponsor this week are Sir Stampalot.
The lucky winner will recieve the fabby stamp set below.....

Ok so here it is, this weeks sketch challenge set my lil ole me...lol!!

But just look what my very lovely, not to mention ever so talented teamie Mum at SFTW Donna has done to my feeble drawing, doesn't it look so professional, thanks my luvly you did a brill job for me......mwah!!!!

And here's the card I made. I've used those scrummy Basic Grey "granola" papers. The image is from Sugar Nellie, which has been coloured with distress inks, then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. The sentiment and oval punched shapes are from Stampin Up. Flowers from my stash and the roses I always purchase from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I'd like to say a huge thank you to my lovely Stampin' for the Weekend team buddies for creating such gorgeous cards with my sketch, they have all done me so proud. Please check out their blogs and see for yourselves.

Well Donna and Kimmi have had a very busy week this week. There is even more exciting news to follow over at the Stampin' for the Weekend blog,our new stampin' family members will soon be revealed, I so can't wait to find out myself. We had over 100 entries for our DT and GDT call, wow!!! thank you to everyone who applied.

We are off to West Wales for a few days, well that is hubby, myself, Georgia & Yasmin. Tom and Ryan don't want to come, they're 17 & 15 and it's so not cool to go on hols with the parents....pmsl . It's the first time we have left them on their own....oh eck....I'm dreading what state the house will be in when we get back, especially as all I've done this week is ironing and spring cleaning.....I've warned them NO parties...pmsl. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

ttfn, luv 'n' hugs
xx vicki xx

for my daughters teacher

Well talk about a last minute creation. It was 11 pm the evening before the last day of term, when I realised I hadn't got anything for Georgia's teacher. So this is what I made for her, not bad really considering how late it was when I started and not to mention finishing them at gone 2am.
The lil notepad was made using my BIA machine. The papers are papermania retro florals. Tilda has been coloured with distress inks and Prima flowers to finish off the card.

Just to remind you all about the Stampin for the Weekend design team member and guest design team members call. We are now looking for 4 lovely creative peeps to join our happy lil crafting family on a permanent basis. Just click HERE to find out more.

Thanks for visiting my lil oasis. The weather here in South Wales is appauling, when is this dreadful rain going to stop. I hope you all have a lovely weekend, despite the rain.

ttfn xx vicki xx