Blooming Marvellous - new Passion for Promarkers Challenge

Our new challenge at Passion for Promarkers starts today with a gorgeous theme of Blooming Marvellous as chosen by our fab Lisa!

I've used a fab Lili of the Valley image from this year's Christmas release and coloured up with a mix of Promarkers and Trias.  I based my colours on these gorgeous Pion papers from the Vintage Autumn pad and did lots of distressing .

The quatrofoil backing die I think is Stampin Up and the rest of my dies for the flowers and mistletoe are Marianne - Poinsettia Die 1 - LR0121, Mistletoe Dies - LR0245.

Polka Doodles are sponsoring us this week and the lucky winner will win a gorgeous digi from them.

Do come and play along with this week, and take a look here at the gorgeous makes by my PFP teamies for some inspiration if needed!

I'm entering my card into the current Lili of the Valley challenge which has a theme of Merry Christmas!

Hugs, Juliexx

Sketch N Stash New Challenge - with Mo's Winter Delivery

My card today is for our new challenge starting at Sketch N Stash today with the fabbie sketch below.  I don't often do animal cards, but a squirrel was called for and Mo's Digital Pencil just happened to have the perfect specimen.  The image is called Winter Delivery but for me it's more an Autumn Delivery!

I coloured a great part of him with the fine nibs on my Promarkers, and Trias, and I have to say, I'm rather pleased with the outcome of his fur and bushy tail. I also chose a red squirrel as apparently we have quite a few of these in our new garden, (no news yet, grrrhhh!).

My papers are part of the enormous pile of 12 x 12 pads that we carted home from California this time last year, which is rather appropriate as the card was for the birthday of our host in San Fran, my niece's hubby - go Team Squirrel!!

The skeleton leaves are a Marianne Die set (LR 0156) and the remaining leaves are cut with punches.  The tag is cut with a Magnolia die and this perfect sentiment is from Paper Trey Ink!  The little pennant tabs were cut with a Stampin Up punch.  

We have two awesome sponsors for this fortnight's challenge as below:

A day for Daisies

&

 Crafty Devils

Prize £10

My lovely SNS teamies have made some fabulous cards to share with you so pop on over here and show them some love!

I'm fitting in another crafting day at my best matey's, Lesley of Grenouille Greetings, today.  Don't know if we'll get another one in if we ever manage to move this side of Christmas!!  Have a great day whatever you're doing!

Hugs, Juliexx

She's Leaving Home Today!!

Yep, my gorgeous girlie, Holly is moving into her new home today, sob!  She's decided to stay in London when we move up north, so she can keep her work going and also stay near to her boyfriend.  I'm so proud of her for taking the plunge, but know what a big deal it is for her to be doing this,  

My card is made with all sorts of Marianne dies which complement each other perfectly  - the full list is below,  My papers are from the Autumn Vintage Pion pad which I love, especially for the sky, and the rest of my bits and pieces are from my stash.  The curved borders were  cut with a Spellbinders die and the sentiments are Stampin Up.

Marianne Dies Used:
House - COL1327
Tiny's Pine Trees - CR1287
Tiny's Village and Fence - CR1288
Horizon Pine Trees - LR0283
Hugs, Juliexx

Mo Blog Hop - It's all about the Fairies!

It's the third Thursday in the month already which means it's time for our monthly blog hop with Mo's Dream Team.  This month's theme has been chosen by our awesome  Alexandra and that is Fairies! Alexandra is the start of the hop so pop on back there if you want to join in our hop.  Otherwise, you should hopefully have arrived from the lovely Gretha's blog.

  Mo has a wealth of fairies in her digital store so we were spoilt for choice.  I've actually used a series of new images which haven't yet been released into the store and they are Fairy Snowmen - how  cute!!

The only one I've not used from the series is the one holding our snowy friend's head but couldn't quite fit that into my design!

I added the friend sentiment from LOTV into the middle of the biggest snowball - I like the idea that they are actually making the snowman/their new friend!

As you can see, I've gone to town again with my frantage - below is a little close up of this on the die-cut SNOW ( a die from PTI) and the icicle edging ( which is actually a 'goo' punch from Martha Stewart!).

A close up below of our gorgeous Fairy Snowman all finished below.

And a final pic of my finished card.

Your next stop on the hop is to our lovely Debby but the full order is below should you need it.

Alexandra, Anneke, Kaly, Gretha, Julie, Debby, Alice,Vili.

As always, there are two $5 gift vouchers to spend in Mo's shop hidden along the way so don't forget to comment on each of my teamie's blogs as the lucky commentor could be you. 
Have fun hopping!!
Juliexx

My final card using that Marianne Flower Frame (for now!!)

I was going to make a few more of these cards with the Marianne Flower Frame die but I think this is my last for now!  This time I've teamed the frame up with  the Marianne Skates Die, ( I love the detail you get when you emboss the paper after cutting).  I've also used some Ivy from a birdhouse/ bird set and the small snowflake from the Chalet set - full catalogue details are below. 

The centrepiece of the ribbon is a from a vintage strip of Christmas ribbon and the gold leaves were cut down from a much bigger gold spray of leaves. The sentiment is Lili of the Valley and cut with a Spellbinder's Tag Die.

Marianne Dies Used:

 Flower Frame - LR0322

Skates - LR0247

Ivy/Birdhouse - LR0206

Snowflake (from Winter House set) - COL1327

I've been suffering the last few days with a heavy cold, wish it would just go away!  Still no news, either on our move - beginning to wonder if it will even be before Xmas at this rate!

Juliexxx

More Christmas cards

I've been using my Marianne dies again, including the Flower Frame which I think will be a firm favourite.  I've also used the smaller frame that comes with it for my sentiment.  I used the same vintage lady images and this time picked out the red in the images with this fabulous flocked paper from Stampin Up.

I've used another style of Poinsettia Die this time and also these lovely  Holly leaf flourishes.  Full catalogue details can be found below.

And then just a picture of the three cards together!

 Marianne Dies Used:

Flower Frame - LR0322

Poinsettia 1 - LR0121

Holly Branches -LR0244

You may be able to purchase the dies I've used via the following online stores here in the UK:

Dies To Die For 

Crafts U Love

Hugs, Juliexx

Marianne Designs - the Best News!!

I had an amazing surprise email the other day asking if I'd like to join the Marianne Designs Design Team!  Of course, I said yes in a heart beat, and this is my first official card, using lots of my Marianne dies!  (The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that I have started giving the catalogue numbers of the Marianne dies I have been using recently!)

 

Who knew that when I bought this Flower Mirror  die a couple of months ago, I would  be using it for the first time as a design team member for this awesome company!  The die also comes with a really cute smaller oval frame.

This poinsettia die has been in my stash for quite a bit longer than the frame but still a favourite, especially for this time of year.  You may also be able to see that I have used  Marianne Mistletoe Twigs and Mistletoe Berries dies. 

 My final Marianne die is a the little Christmas tree on the bottom right, one of my first ever Marianne purchases!  You can find full details of all the dies I've used below.

Flower Frame - LR 0322 - bought from Crafts U Love (they stock a huge range of Marianne goodies!)

Mistletoe Twigs - LR0245

Mistletoe Berries - LR0189

Poinsettia - LR0122

Tree - LR0136

Hugs from Happy Ol' Me!!

Juliexx

Passion for Promarkers - my choice of theme - Use Lace

Hello bloggers - we have a  new challenge starting today over at a Passion for Promarkers and this week it's my turn to choose the theme!  And I think I've been very kind and chosen a nice easy theme of Lace. 

I've chosen a new image from the wonderful Mo Manning - called Pignon, and I've Christmassified it!(New word of the day!!) The sketch is from Mojo Monday and my papers are a My Mind's Eye pad from last year. 

 I've added some chunky white Frantage to the toadstool caps and  my sentiment is from Magnolia. My lace is some I had before I ever started making cards which was about 8 years ago now, so it's been knocking around a lot longer than that!  The outer corner dies on my card are from Marianne (LR0143) although I've hidden them a bit with the red snowflakes! And the large felt/wood toadstool is from my stash and I don't where it came from but I love it anyway!

We're being sponsored by Letraset for this challenge with a yummy pack of Flexmarkers up for grabs!!

My PFP teamies have made some awesome cards using Lace so check them out here!
I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Mojo Monday - Sketch

Juliexxx

Sketch N Stash new challenge

Hey folks!  It's time for a new challenge over at Sketch n Stash today using the fab sketch below.

I've gone to the fab Mo's Digital Pencil for my image - Winter Fairy Manty (click on the name to take you to the image in Mo's store).  I've coloured him with my Promarkers and then turned to my dies for embellies!

This little sentiment is from Cosmo Cricket and the twig and pine cone die set is from Marianne (catalogue number L0286).  The leaves are cut with a Tim Holtz die and the rest is from stash.  Ooh and my papers are mostly My Mind's Eye.

We have two fab sponsors for this challenge as below:

Sponsor - Crafty Individuals

and

Sponsor - Sparkle N Sprinkle

Prize - 4 Images

Now all we need is all you lovely crafters out there to come and join in our challenge - check out the fab makes of my SNS teamies here for more inspiration!
Hugs, Juliexx

Twinkly Christmas

Sharing some more quick Christmas cards - I was just about to say not a die in sight and then realised that the sentiment is cut with a Sizzix banner die!  That's the only one though!  The stamp is one I've had a while and it's from Penny Black.  I've embossed it with Aged Copper Frantage and what I like about it is the verdigris  tones you get with it - you might be able to see this more clearly in the pic below.

I used some corragated card on some and glittery ribbon on others  - another few to add to my stock!

Oh and the sentiment is from Lili of the Valley - love it!!

Hugs, Juliexx

Season's Greetings!

Couldn't resist this little lovely from Mo's Digital Pencil - such a great image!  She's called Season's Greetings (and comes with the sentiment!) and I love the sense of her holding on for dear life before being blown away in a snow blizzard!

I've teamed her up with some new Joy Craft papers - Winter Wonderland - from Noor Designs UK.  I also got the Winter word die from here -  this is going to be a new favourite - love the font and style!

I've also used a Memory Box snowflake wreath, Tim Holtz On The Edge snowflakes and some Impression Obsession trees.  The rest of my goodies are from stash, including lots of Aged Aqua and Chunky White Frantage! 

I'm taking a break from packing tomorrow to visit best matey, Lesley, and to see all her wonderful US purchases!!  Then catching up in the evening with my M&S mateys!  

Juliexx