Seasons Giving Blog Hop ...

Hi Everybody,

Happy New Year to each and every one of you and to start this off to a really good year I am taking part in the Seasons Giving Blog Hop. This is the fifth year and I have taken part in this for the last three.

It is my way to say a big "Thank You" to everyone who visits my blog and leaves me a lovely comment  ... and then returns time after time.

So I am giving away some pretty "Goodies" of things that I like to use regularly on my own designs.

In this pack there are 2 packs of flowers, with 5 assorted packs of white pearl bling.

I have also added some Guipure lace so that you can create a lovely card for that special someone.

And all you need to do is join the group of followers and then leave me a comment to let me know that you have visited

A winner will be chosen from the comments and announced on Friday 6th January and I am happy to send the gift wherever you are

Enjoy the hop and many of them are also having a "Give Away" and they would love for you to leave them a comment too.  There are some really talented bloggers for you to visit and thanks again for being one of my lovely followers. 

Lawn Fawn

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Reverse Confetti

Taylored Expressions

Paper Smooches

Neat & Tangled

Technique Tuesday

Clear & Simple Stamps

Richard Garay

My Sweet Petunia

JustNick

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store

Sunny Studio Stamps

Inchie Arts llc

Scrapbook Update

Buttons Galore

 Latisha Yoast

Julia Stainton

ChariMoss

Cristina Nunez

Wanda Guess

Vera Yates

Amy Tsuruta

Mary-Ann Maldonado

Lori Craig

Lydia Fiedler

Jenn Shurkus

Lisa Henke

Dina Kowal

Libby Hickson

Emily Leiphart

Cindy Lawrence

Kelly Klapstein

Erica Houtghton

Elise Constable

Julee Tillman

Lee Murphy

Lisa Arana

Giovana Smith

Karen Baker

Lindsay Amrhein

Dana Joy

Marcie Sharp

Megan Hoeppner

Alicia Thelin

Asia King

Debbie Seyer

Yvonne Van De Grijp

Tenia Nelson

Michelle Woerner

                         Christina Griffiths  You are here ...

Lori McAree

Barbara Anders

Jill Hawkins

Veronica Zalis

Leigh Penner

Margie Higuchi

Amy Coose

Melody Rupple

Karen Letchworth

Heidi Ramsey Blankenship

Jennie Harper

Jodi Collins

Jessica Frost-Ballas

Gracie Chavez

Stephanie Klauck

Savannah O’Gwynn

Terre Fry

Neva Cole

Maria Levine

Misti Oblander

Ceal Pritchett

I hope you enjoy your trip around the blogs and I will see you again tomorrow ....

Hugs xx

New car ....

Hi Everybody,

No card post today but I have been busy just the same. Since we have Ruby it is difficult trying to get her into the back of a two door car. And so we decided it was time to change it for one that was a little more dog friendly.

Griff  has been looking for a few weeks now for something to exchange for our Peugeot 307 CC and has eventually found a Ford Focus that fits the bill. Today we have been to Liverpool to collect it and I had to say a fond farewell to my lovely blue convertible. I have had that car for ten years and it was much loved for the excellent service it has given me.

The new car is silver and if it is as good as the other then I will be happy. We took Ruby with us and she settled better in the Ford than she did in the Peugeot. And for being so good all morning we took her on the beach this afternoon and let her off the lead to run free.

She loves it and there was no one else out there but us. It was very cold but Ruby ran up and down the beach chasing her ball .... ears flapping in the wind. She has now run out of steam and is conked out on the sofa having a snooze.

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx

DCE - Build A Rose Die Set

Hi Everybody,

Here we are again with another sneaky peak at next weeks Die Cutting Essentials magazine and the freebie that will be with it. 

This will be issue 19 and the free die is called Build A Rose.

In the video I have tried to show some of my ideas for this die set 

It will be "Live" on my YouTubeChannel today for you to view and I hope that you enjoy it.  I have tried to keep the ideas easy to follow

The magazine will be on sale 5th January in selected supermarkets and craft stores and also at WHSmiths.

You can order it direct or take out a magazine subscription at MoreMags.com

There are some fabulous free gifts coming in the future with all the magazines that I cover.

So why not choose your favorite and settle down when it comes through the letterbox for a good read each month... and always be sure to get the gift that goes with it

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Water Colour Wednesday-Mother-To-Be

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is for  the ladies in waiting in your group of friends and it is from the pen of Mo's Digital Pencil 

You can chose to make this image with any shade of skin that you like as there is an Ethnic image also and it is a quick and easy one to colour

Add in a caption to suit your recipient and you have a really appropriate card

The backing paper I have used is from a paper pad that I bought from the Poundland shop and there are some really pretty patterns in the pad

Well worth a pound of anybodies money.

I have coloured this image with Spectrum Noir pens so strictly speaking not really a water colour but I am allowed to cheat once in a while ....

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Tuesday Tutorial - Botanical Flutters+Tag

Hi Everybody,

Just a quick and easy card for todays tutorial as I am sure that many of you are not in cardmaking mode over the holiday season.... too many others things to be doing.  So this is using just two sets of dies and one embossing folder to create this pretty card for any occasion

Spellbinders Supplies:

• S$-640 Botanical Flutters
• S4-642 Twisted Floral Tags
• SEL-007 Blistered Embossing Folder
• PL-001 Platinum Die cutting machine

Other Supplies:

• Cream/ Turquoise card from Papermill Direct
• Silver Mirror Card from Craft Stash 
• Hummingbird stamp set free with SC&P 153

Instructions:

To create the card base simply fold an A4 sheet of  cream card in half along the short side and then cut in half to give you two cards.

Cut a smaller panel in turquoise to leave a small border around the edge.

Cut another slightly smaller panel in cream and emboss this

Cut the parts of the die that you wish to add to your card.

I used the two butterfly pieces and the bird

Add small foam pads in strategic places to the back of these pieces

Using the loops on the butterfly pieces link them together

Stamp and heat emboss your sentiment and cut one of the tags

Add foam pads to the back of this for dimension

Add the tag to the embossed panel and add in the looped butterfly pieces along the bottom edge.

Place the bird at the top of the tag

Add all this to the turquoise panel and then add to the base card

It creates a card with just a little dimension that will fit into a standard envelope

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx