Miss Anya - Rain, Snow & Shine

Well forget about the rain and snow cos it certainly has been shining and a scorching weekend. I hope you've all taken full advantage of this weather and had a fab weekend. I've spent most of it in the garden, digging, weeding and planting. My daughters went to the beach today with their grandparents, so I was able to carry on and get loads done. Hubby didn't come home this weekend (he works in London throughout the week), it was his friends stag night or should I say stag weekend so he stayed to join in the celebrations, eventhough yesterday was our 11th wedding anniversary, some of you may remember our 10th anniversary when I went to London to watch Mama Mia, gosh how quick has this year gone by already....phew!!!!

Anyway back to the cards, my lovely new Miss Anya's arrived last weekend, I ordered them direct from the Greeting Farm and they only took a week to arrive, fab service me thinks....lol!! I did order the original Miss Anya's from there too.

I've used DCWV pp, Miss Anya has been coloured with Distress Inks, ribbon from a local haberdashery store, flowers and brads from my stash and the sentiment is Autumn Leaves "ticketed"
Miss Anya here has again been coloured with Distress Inks and had a touch of Glamour Dust added here and there. I've used some scrap bits of papers together with some vellum, square brads and Prima Flowers.

Today is my lovely fellow Stampin for the Weekend DT member Nicola's birthday and this is the card I sent her, she lives in Spain so I'm not too certain if it has arrived yet. I've coloured Miss Anya with Copics, pp are Basic Grey, Cuddly Buddly circle sentiment, cuddlebug embossing folder and Prima Flowers.

Oh well the half term is over, didn't that just fly by, kiddies back to school tomorrow YAY!!! that just leaves me with a huge pile of ironing (oopppppsss, sorry for that lil nasty word there...lol!!!) to plough through tomorrow....ooooohhhh I can't wait....not. Then I'm back to work on Tuesday..booo hooo!!!

Thanks for popping by my lil oasis and many thanks again for all the lovely comments your kind enough to leave...mwah....

luv 'n' hugs

xx vicki xx

Huggable Hank

awwwww...I just love this lil guy...look at his expression isn't he just so adorable.....lol!!!

I was a bit of a pain to Tracy at Dies To Die For, cos I kept on asking when was he due in stock, so apologies Tracy but I just couldn't wait to get me lil mitts on him...lol!!! Thank you also for the fabulous service you offer too.

Well as the title suggests, this is Huggable Hank and he's by High Hopes. I've coloured him with a mix of allsorts of mediums, from Copics, Derwent watercolour pencils, Karisma shading pencils and Karisma water colour pencils with Sansador, I dunno, I just can't get along with the Sansador way at all, the colour just doesn't seem to "move" around the image for my liking, i'm awaiting the arrival of some Koh I Noor pencils so I'll try them with Sansador next and see if I get on any better. Papers are SU. Here he is again, slightly paler in colour this time but still used the same mediums to colour him. Basic Grey Archaic papers, some dewdrops and I'm not sure the name of the sentiment tag sorry.

I also ordered High Hopes "Warm Wishes" (another adorable dragon blowing out the candles on his birthday cake), from Tracy too, I've made a few cards with that image and what a doughnut I am as I forgot to take piccies and have given the cards out...doh!!!!

My MIL is taking my daughters out for the day so I am hoping to sort out my craft room.....boy oh boy is it in one heck of a mess, this time I really am too ashamed to take any pics, trouble is I keep buying crafting goodies and I've run out of spaces to put everything, so all my new stash is still on the floor....pmsl

Whatever your up to today I hope you all enjoy yourselves. luv 'n' hugs

xx vicki xx

Fairy Tink & Fairy Chloe

aawwww aren't these lil fairies just the cutest images. I ordered them a few weeks ago from Tracy at Dies to Die For and haven't really had much chance to play with them until this week.
I've used my Copics to colour the image, the check pp was very kindly given to me as part of a gorgeous RAK from Tara, many thanks again, the ribbon is American Crafts .

Again coloured with Copics the papers are a mix of allsorts from SU, DCWV and MME, liquid pearls. SU sentiment. SU Boho Blossoms and Five Petal Flower punch, EK Success Retro Flower Punch.

On Monday it was Michelle's birthday and this is the card I sent her, unfortunately I was a lil late in sending it as she received it the day after her birthday, apologies Michelle. BG paper, dew drops from The Glitter Pot, SU sentiment.

I've made a few cards this week, shall pop them on my blog over the next couple of days. I hope your all enjoying the kiddies being off school, such a shame the weather is so bad, well it is here in South Wales, keeping my fingers crossed that the sun will come back out soon....

Thanks for visiting my lil oasis and for all the lovely comments you take the time to leave, I appreciate each and every one, thank you

luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

Launch candy Part Two

Well it's all getting very exciting now as there are only TEN more days left til the launch....wow!! TEN more days only til STAMPIN FOR THE WEEKENDS launch. As you may already know part one of the launch candy was shown last week.......so here's part two of the launch candy.

Sooooo if you would like to be in with a chance of winning this scrummy lot, all you need to do is to enter our first challenge on Friday 5th June.

Up for grabs are as follows:-

Paper roses in blue, pink, purple and white

3 packs of pearl brads

Sugar Nellie - Fragile Beauty rubber stamp

Designer Extreme Vol 1

Creative Fusion Christmas (2 cd set)

Luma Thorn Trump and Egbert rubber stamps

Bumble Bee rubber stamp

Charms

Bead Spacers

All you have to do to win this gorgeous Launch Candy is to turn up on Friday 5th June and take part in our first challenge........We'd also like to ask you to put a note on your lovely blogs letting all your friends know that we are a new challenge blog and will be launching June 5th.

If your not already a follower, please pop over the Stampin for the Weekend and feel free to follow us, that way you wont forget our launch date and you can take part for your chance to win.

Looking forward to seeing you all there

xx vicki xx

Happy 10th Birthday Georgia~May

...aaawwwwww...my lil girl is 10 today, she's growing up way too quick and it's making me feel old...boo hoo...lol!!!!

So here's a couple of cards that I've made for her. This one is from myself and hubby. I bought these foam stamps from QVC quite a while ago and this is the first time I've used them. I love these papers by MME "Magnolia" range, even got my sewing machine out for this one too This card is from Georgia's sister Yasmin, thought the image was very apt for those two, again it's from the same set as above from QVC I found this image very daunting to colour due to the intricate detail, not done the best job but it's ok for Georgia. The papers are also from the Magnolia range of MME. The swirly background to the image are stamps from Anna Griffin,

This card was giving to Georgia from my lovely "Taffy" friend Clare, thank you so very much again Clare, Georgia loves it.

Well I'd better get a wriggle on, got a house full of girls waiting for me to make them pancakes before we go swimming....oh I don;t like swimming and dreading it, but I'm sure once I get there we will have loads of fun.

Enjoy the Bank Holiday

luv 'n' hugs

xx vicki xx

a BIG wedding card...

Oh this card has given me nightmare's and I've dreaded making it simply because of the size of it. A work collegue of my hubby's aksed me back in March if I could make a wedding card from himself and his bride tobe on display at their wedding reception for all their guests to sign, we're invited to the wedding so I guess I'll be signing it too, that'll be strange....lol!! I did offer to make a proper wedding guest book but they preferred to have a card with a nice verse from themselves. Anyways they wanted a BIG card...oh eck I thought. So I've taken two A3 sheets of hammered white cardstock, scored and folded in half, then stuck them together so in effect I had four A4 sides to decorate......now do you see why I had nightmares.....lol!!!! You wouldn't believe the amount of papers I bought to decorate this card. They wanted a particular shade of green, so I bought tons of patterned green papers, spent a small fortune only to realise that I already had these papers amongst my stash....typical....lol!!!

The inside of the card needed to be quite plain in order for the guests to sign

A few Prima flowers, some spacers and charms for decoration.

Another close up of the box

Phew....am I glad this one is finished. I only hope they will like it, especially as we will be there on their big day...I'll be in trouble other wise....lol!!! The wedding is taking place in London so another lovely weekend for me away from the kids...yay!!!!

luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

Stampin for the Weekend - Launch Candy

As you all know there is a new challenge blog

STAMPIN' FOR THE WEEKEND

due to launch on 5th June!!!!!

This challenge blog is to get you thinking and take you out of your comfort zone. We;d like to offer you some different challenges and get your creative juices flowing to come up with some different cards and projects that you wouldn't necessarily sit down and do yourself!!!

We will of coursehave some of the oldie challenges, because lets face it the oldies are great too!

So to get your juices flowing, here is a picture of some of the Lauch Candy we are going to be offering for our first challenge winner.

To make it a little more personal, Kimmi decided to give a little something back to you fabulous bloggers! So these are items Kimmi has chosen herself, including the naughty choccies!!! Soooooo... You could win (if you are the lucky crafter) the following items:-"Country Garden" rubber stamp by Sugar Nellie

24 yards of assorted colours of Dotty Grosgrain Ribbon

A selection of Kimmi's dangling charms, ready to put on cards

Pitch Black Adriondack Ink Pad by Ranger (ideal for sentiments and embossing, needs to be heat set),

8 x 8" Classical Handmade Papers

1x Forever Friends Elements pack

1x Anita's Glitterations Gold Strip border stickers

1x Anita's Dimensions stickers - flowers

Box of Thorntons choccies

Bag of celebrations

All you have to do for a chance to win this gorgeous Launch Candy is to turn up on 5th June and take part in our first challenge. We'd also like to ask you to put a little note somewhere on your lovely blogs letting all your friends know we are a new challenge blog and will be launching on June 5th.

If you're not already a follower, pop over to Stampin for the Weekend and please feel free to follow us, that way you won't forget our launch date and you cand take part for a chance to win.

Happy Crafting

50th birthday card

Well what a dismal wet Friday it is here in South Wales. Sorry for not being around much this week, have been busy with around the house, work is hectic and I've been making some bits' n' bobs for the lovely DT's that I'm so lucky enough to be part of.

Anyways, this card is made for the same lady who asked me to make her grandson birthday card and box a couple of posts below. It's for her sister's 50th birthday. The papers were downloaded from Shabby Princess (Moody Blues collection), The Rubber Romance image has been coloured with Copics and shopping bags paper pieced with the same Moody Blues papers, Prima flowers, gems and ribbon from my stash, sentiments we printed in Word.

Whatever your all up to this weekend, I hope you have a good one.

Take care all,

luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

wonderful awards given to me

I'm so lucky to have received these wonderful awards from such equally wonderful friends for which I'm ever so grateful and I'd like to pass the awards back to these lovely ladies.

Firstly I've received this award from Clare, Sue and Jill.

Jill and Sue also passed on this award to me, thank you ladies so much.
I've also received this gorgeous award from the very lovely Sue, I'm chuffed to bits that you ladies thought of me to pass these fabby awards onto and right back at ya ladies.

ok now to choose who I'm going to pass all of these awards.

Jo for asking be to become part of her design team for Tinker & co

Donna and Kimmi for choosing me to be part of thier design team at Stampin for the Weekend

I'd also like to pass these awards onto my fellow DT members over at Stampin for the Weekend, these lovely ladies are:-

Claire

Nicola

Poppet

Ida

Amy

Jennifer

Vanja

Thank you all so very much for taking the time to visit my lil oasis and most of all for leaving such lovely comments, I always appreciate each and every one. Huge thanks also for all the messages of congratulations that have been left on me becomming a DT member for Stampin for the Weekend

loads of luv 'n' to you all

xx vicki xx

secret crafter challenge

This weeks challenge over at The Secret Crafter Saturday challenge blog is to use brads or eyelets......I mis-read the challenge and used both..lol!!! The stripey paper is My Minds Eye and the embossed cardstock was part of a gorgeous RAK from Michelle, I've been wanting to purchase the Whitewash co-ordinations cardstock for a while but was lucky enough to receive it from Michelle and have to say it is fab. The Gorjuss image has been coloured with Copics the background I've used different shades of pastel blue shimmer chalks, the oval sentiment is a stamp and punch from SU. luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

Some fabby news....

There's a brand new challenge blog launching on the 5th June and guess what.....I made the design team....woooo hoooooo!!!!! I'm so excited and really chuffed that Donna and Kimmi choose me to be part of their team, huge thank yous ladies.

I'd also like to congratulate all the other members of the design team and they are:-

Claire

Poppet

Ida

Amy

Vanja

Nicola

Jennifer

Check out Stampin for the Weekend on 5th June for our exciting and very first challenge, we are all so looking forward to seeing what you talented ladies can come up with.

ttfn xx vicki xx

Just Magnolia - In Stitches challenge

The challenge this week over at Just Magnolia is to create a card with some form of stitching on, whether that be hand sewn, machine or faux.....

and guess what...I've finally got out my new sewing machine that I had back in February and not used until now...yay!!! it's taken me a while but got there eventually, mind you it took me longer to thread the blooming needle than what it did to make this card....lol!!!

I've used lots of new things on this card, the image for one and it's been coloured in again with Copics, the scrummy BG "wisteria" papers have been slightly distressed and edges inked with distress inks, Prima flowers, Autumn Leaves "ticketed" sentiment stamps, spacers and charm from The Hobby House as is the scallop corner punch, dew drops were from the very lovely Michelle, who sent me a wonderful surprise bundle of fabby goodies this week, which I wasn't expecting and really made my day, thanks so much Michelle. Then of course it's the zig-zag stitching around the papers. I really enjoyed making this card, dispite how long it took me to thread the needle.......lol!!

xx vicki xx

playfull petals

Just a quickie thank you card that I made using some of my new SU goodies. The papers are from the Tea Party designer paper range and as the title suggests the stamps are Playfull Petalswhich have been coloured with SU inkpads, the senitment is from the Oval All stamp set which has been cut out using my Oval All punch.

ttfn xx vicki xx

Happy 1st Birthday card & box

This card I made for a lovely lady at work, Reine. She asked if I could make a 1st birthday card for her grandson, Cole, the family like to call him Buster and she asked if I could put that on the card. Reine is known as "Nanny Tat's" by Cole. Now for all you non Welsh folk, tat's or tat-ta's is what we say when we take our little toddlers for a walk and Cole always refers to his nan now as Nanny Tat-ta's because whenever she looks after him she always takes him for a walk.....oohhhh bless..... So here's a close up of the verse, which I found on the net and just added the necessary wording to make it more personal.

I really enjoyed making this card eventhough it took me most of yesterday. The Magnolia horse and Alota images have been coloured with Copics. The papers are freebie downloads from either Epson or Canon Scrapbook, I can never remember, sorry.

Thanks so much for visiting my lil oasis and for all the lovely comments you take the time to leave, I'm ever so grateful for each and everyone,

luv 'n' hugs xx vicki xx

Wedding Cards

Stephen's cousin is getting married this coming weekend and his mum asked if I could make a wedding card from them, I get kinda a nervous making a card for my mil, she can be quite a difficult customer, also we tend to argue as I don't like to take any money from her and she doesn't like me to make her cards without paying me.....so she doesn't ask me very often purely for that reason......lol!!!!The above card is from myself and the rest of "The Cody Crew" i.e. hubby and our children. I love these papers from SU but can you believe they are being discontinued, how very dare they....gggrrrrrr.... so I've made sure to stock up...lol!!!

This is the card I made for the in-laws to giving the happy couple. I've stuck with the same papers becuase I liked the colours. The theme of the wedding is based around the beach. They live in West Wales, a beautiful part of the country btw. I didn't have anything in my stash to do with the beach so I just went with the colours of the sand and sea. I have to say a massive thanks to Kerry for the info she passed onto me regarding the font, thanks luvly xxx

My mil seemed quited pleased with the card when I handed it over to her, with trembling hands I have to add. Her comments were " ooooo that's nice " which made me laugh, then we had a little debate regarding money...... lol!!!!

I hope you've all had an enjoyable bank holiday. My in-laws took Georgia & Yasmin out for the day, which gave me ample opportunity to catch up with some orders that I've had, plus I've had to make some sample cards for the kids at school. We are having another card making session in the lunch hour tomorrow and I've promised to take in some of my crafting gear and help them make Fathers Day cards, should be fun...mmmmm... I hope.....lol!!

ttfn xx vicki xx

just magnolia challenge

Here's my entry for this weeks sketch challenge over at Just Magnolia. I haven't followed the sketch strictly as I've used rectangular image rather than the oval shown on the sketch, so not sure if it's gonna count.

I've made this card for my brother-in-law, who's birthday was also yesterday. The Magnolia image has been coloured with Copics, I've used my Stampin Up spiral punch for the edge of the image, cuttlebug embossing folder, Stampin Up oval all sentiment and oval punch, SU round tab punch, brads and charm from my stash.

Just a quickie post from me today, shall be back soon with some more cards.

TTFN xx vicki xx