Not Too Shabby!

Hello there, did you think I'd run away? 

Crafting has had to take a back seat lately, there's been so much going on and I don't know how you find it but the longer it is between playing,

 the harder it is to get creative. 

I have to say that when I saw the theme for the new Challenge at Southern Girls

, I panicked a little, you know me, I'm a CAS kinda girl, and the theme chosen for our

 Team Lou is

"Shabby Chic"

As usual we have some brilliant sponsors for this one,

I used Isabella by one of them, 

Emerald Faeries.

I also used a Marianne Craftable die, not the entire die cut but segments cut from Vintage Frame.

Have to say though that despite my fears, once I got into it I thoroughly enjoyed using the theme! I found myself using paint to distress the kraft envelope that I used as my base layer, I roughed up some of my edges with a nail file and broke out the Mega flakes, just a shame I couldn't find my flitter glue! I also managed a first thanks to Colette and my lucky win at Cosmic Strawberry last month, I used a doily!

You could be seeing a few more

 Shabby Chic Makes

 from me some time soon!

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

CCC71, Twine,

CM, Diecut,

DOC87, At least one flower,

BZC, Lace,

CMC56, Doily,

ES107, Distressed,

ALBC, Distress it.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Bloomin Jug

A quick post to share a card made using one of the new 

digi images by LCI  

"Bloomin Jug"

 I coloured the image using Polychromos and added some pearls and tiny Swaovski Crystals.

a bit of embossing, piercing and a diecut complete the card.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

LIM182, CAS Anything goes,

SSS3, Embossing.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Embrace Your Lumps And Bumps

That was a close one, I've been so busy that I forgot that today's the day for a new theme at Southern Girls.

For this fortnight's challenge Lou wants us all to 

"Embrace Our Lumps And Bumps!"

Mine aren't all on show here lol!

I couldn't possibly share them all!

Anyway, I made this tag book as a birthday gift for a friend, it's decorated simply with washi tape and tiny hearts.

The lovely die cut on the front is by Marianne Createable, one of the sponsors this time. Please check out the challenge blog for full details of all of the sponsors this time!

I made the envelopes for my tag book using my wonderful new gadget, an "Envelope Punch Board" by Stamping-Up.

My oh my, if you think it's only for making envelopes, think again. I can't wait to get time to play properly with it and share some of the other things you can make using it.

I'm using this book for the following challenges:-

TTCRD, Anything goes,

Use It Tuesday, Brown lace,

CDD20, Tags,

MIM168, Anything goes,

SCH74, Tags or boxes.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

The Land Of Make Believe.

It's time for a new challenge at Southern Girls,

"Make Believe"

This one foxed me for a moment, that was until a rather gorgeous little girlie asked if she could read me a story, handing me a book of fairy tales.

So I've made her a book mark. (I've yet to give it to her)

The image is "Whispy" by Saturated Canary, one of this fortnight's sponsors, she was a real dream to colour. Please check the challenge blog for full details of all the sponsors.

I made the bookmark to sit over the page, adding magnet spots to each side to hold it in place.

I'm using this for the following challenges:-

CBD, Anything goes, back to school,

CFAC60, Back to school,

CCC238, Back to school,

FBW251, Open, fairy,

LRW201, Back to school.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

I Spy With My Little Eye.........

"Something beginning with F"

That's the theme for this fortnight's challenge at

 Southern Girls.

As usual the girls have found some great sponsors for you, you can check out  the challenge blog for the full details.

I used a Filigree die by Marianne Designs, cutting the diecut in half and placing it behind the frame, created with both xcut and nestability dies. 

The image is Inky Impression's Clothespin Fairy, coloured using Copics.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

FBW247, Winged,

Cuttlebug Mania, Girlie,

TTCRD, Anything goes,

MIM152, Anything goes.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

No Spooling

It's time for a new challenge with the Southern Girls and as usual, Trace has lined us up with some great sponsors.

Check out the challenge blog for full details.

The theme for this one is

"No spooled items".  

The little bird house and bird are cut using Marianne dies, Marianne are one of this fortnights sponsors. 

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-
TPS 120, Swirly girly,
MIM148, Anything goes,
CCH149, Without stamps,
FAS54, Sketch.

Thanks for stopping by,
Julie.x

Upper Cut And Punch It Out With Southern Girls.

Evening, I had a really bad start to the day when I realised that I'd got my dates wrong and I'd missed my DT, team Lou challenge at Southern Girls , I'd planned to spend time with the lovely Chris from team Trace today anyway and borrow a few of her dies especially for this fortnight's challenge what a good job I had because all of that chatting,cutting and laughing was just what I needed to lift the spirits and when I returned home it didn't take too long to come up with tonight's card. 

"Thanks Chris"

The image I have used, "Kitty with a bow" is by Inky Impressions,one of this fortnight's Sponsors, the dies I borrowed from Chris are by another of the sponsors, "Marianne Designs" but do check out the challenge blog for full details of the challenge, sponsors and rules.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

CCC23, Digi,

HAF173, Banner,

DBD, Happy Birthday,

FNF175, Birthday,

WS60, Shaped card,

DOC53, Girl,

CVC4, Die cuts,

MDD, Dies,

MIM144b, Anything goes.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

PS. Chris, check out the gorgeous bird houses ;)