Thursday 29 September 2011

Frillie Millies - Holly

I was looking through the design papers on Pink Petticoat and came across this gorgeous digital stamp!! Isn't she gorgeous?!! She is called 'Holly' and is from Frillie Millies Collection.




This is the 'Less is More' Sketch that I have used for their Challenge.

I printed the Sentiment onto the card and added 3 pearls. Image is mounted on card and outlined with Sakura Clear Star Glitter Pen. I have to say it looks really simple but it gave me a few problems. first attempt I printed the image onto the card but then when I coloured it bled through. The sentiment wasn't in right place and I went totally over the top with the glitter pen and poor Holly looked a right mess. But pleased with how it came out in the end and think I might actually do more Less is More cards!!!



Image: Frillie Millies 'Holly'-  Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: 'Tiny Christmas Treasures' - Pink Petticoat
Colouring: Copics, Spectrum Noirs, Sakura Glitter Pens, Skars Glitter for snow
Pearls: Bunny Zoe's

I got my tooth sorted thank goodness :-))  The dentist managed to fit me in and restore it. Can't believe how hot it is here in Manchester!!! Actually looking at my thermometer it is hotter than our supposed Summer!!!! Glad I didn't put my fan away!! 

Nearly time for my Candy Draw! and Wow! just seen I have 98 Followers - Thank you! You all Rock!! it would be nice to get to 100 !!!! :-))  A big welcome to all my new followers and if I haven't visited you yet, I am really sorry and will get back to you real soon. I seem to have been pushed for time this week with one thing or another and the end of September seems to have come round so quickly!!! where did September go !!!! Anyway, I will draw with one of the Random Selectors about midnight on 30th September. It seems the only fair way. 

Back to my card and .....

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:

Christmas Stampin' - 'Clean and Simple' (ends 29th September 2011) 
Less is More - Challenge 34 - 'Sketch' (ends 30th September 2011)
Paper Sundaes - Challenge 88 - 'Anything Goes' (ends 1st October 2011)  
Sentimental Sunday Challenge 74 - 'Step Out of Your Comfort Zone' (ends 1st October 2011)
Truly Scrumptious Challenge 66 - 'Clean and Simple' (ends 4th October 2011)
Crafty Creations Challenge 137 - 'Clean and Simple' (ends 4th October 2011)

Hope you are all having a good week!
Love n Hugs
Sue xxx

Monday 26 September 2011

Tag - You're It - Award!

I was 'tagged' by my lovely Blogging friend Teresa of My Crafty Heart. Do pop over and visit as she is an amazing artist. I am to write ten things about myself and pass this tag on to five other Blogging Buddies.


I've chosen people who already have Blog Awards as I know some people don't like them. No pressure to participate or pass on though!
But having said that ....  I'd really like to pass this tag onto: 

Angela - Angela's Craft World
Astrid - Astrid Creative
Sussie - Lotus Blog
Clare - Littlebear Crafts
Leanne - LEEARTS


Now I have to tell you ten boring (sorry, interesting!) things about myself!


As I can't think of many more interesting facts about me - I am going to take inspiration from Laurie's website when she did this, and do my Top Ten Favourite Stamping Items. Hope you find it interesting.


1. Favourite Rubber Stamps are Lili of The Valley as they set me off stamping. Also love Elisabeth Bell and Molly Blooms!!


2. Favourite Digi Stamps are Teddy Bo/Bea, Wee Stamps and Bugaboo.


3. Favourite Colour Combos are Coffee and Cream, Shades of Green, Red and Green Xmas.


4. Favourite Embellishments are Velvet Ribbon, Flowers, Pearls


5. Favourite Colouring Medium? in no particular order .... Promarkers, Copics, Spectrum Noirs and Prismacolor Pencils preferably used altogether !!!! as I always do !!! LOL


6. Favourite Design Papers are MAMBI, DCWV, Basic Grey, Cosmo Cricket, First Edition to name but a few.


7. Favourite Crafting Online Stores are Handy Hippo, Wild Orchid Crafts, Bunny Zoe's, Crafty Devils Papercraft. Links are on Sidebar.


8. Favourite Die Cuts are Nellie Snellens and Nesties but I have yet to try others ;-)


9. Favourite Punch. Papermania Leaf Punch which is so easy to use unlike some others.


10. Favourite Ink for Stamping is Memento Tuxedo Black. Also like Mementos and Tim Holtz colours for Ink Dusting with my fabulous Ink Duster Brushes!!

The internet is really playing up this evening and so I will hopefully catch up with you all tomorrow.  Had a bad day. Tried to get an appointment at doctors about my sinus problems and they can't fit me in until Friday. And a rather large chunk of filling and tooth just came out of one of my teeth tonight while eating a Penguin Biscuit!!!!

Anyway, main thing is I'm not in any pain at the moment but sharp edges are catching on my tongue!! It's my last surviving molar at bottom back though, so I really hope it can be saved. I have a bad history with my teeth and I know that soon I am going to end up with falsies!! I've had failed root canals, extractions and 'dry socket' and can't describe the pain!!! I rarely drink alcohol any more, but I actually took to the Vodka bottle.  I spent £2,000 or more on them few years back (on my teeth I mean, not the bottles of Vodka!!!) If  I have to have this tooth out - well Yikes, I might end up having to eat pureed potatoes and semolina!!! Baby Food! Yuk Yuk! LOL

Still one has to keep smiling, doesn't one!

    =   

I Wish I'd Looked After My Teeth

Hope you all had a fab day and evening!
Take care!
Hugs Sue xx

Saturday 24 September 2011

Autumn Shopping!

Hi all, thanks for all your lovely comments! and hope you are all having a good weekend! I love the Fall colours and so thought I'd make an Autumny card with this gorgeous Teddy Bea Stamp called 'Shopping Daze' from Teddy Bo Co.  Isn't she cute? My daughter isn't big on bear images but loves this one!


The gorgeous papers are from Nancy Watt Collection and were freebie with 'Making Cards' Magazine a couple of months back. I have paper-pieced on image with the dotted paper and used the Gingham paper to make border. I made this card up as I went along, so was fun to make. Sentiment was made on computer. I have added a bit of bling but it doesn't show up too well! but around the image and around the border I have used Sakura Glitter Pen in Lime Green and it does give it some nice sparkle. Buttons are from my mum's Sewing Basket! Thanks Mum! Flowers and leaves are from Wild Orchid Crafts.


Colouring: 
Green: Copics G82, G85
Bear: Tan Promarker and Prismacolor Pencils
Reds: R49 and Spectrum Noir Red 1


Inside is decorated with some paper that was amongst my free digitals downloaded from Papercraft and Cardmaking magazine - it's called 'Walk in The Woods' Crisp Leaves.

Had a lovely Saturday. Watched some Miami Vice episodes from 80's with my daughter. And just generally chilled out and ate too many cakes!  And tomorrow is Downton Abbey - Woo Hoo !!! can't wait !! and doesn't Matthew look hot in his uniform!!! (swoon, swoon!!!) (hot flush - turn on the fan!) - they SO better not let him die.  If they kill off my Eye Candy I will be writing to Julian Fellowes Tout Suite! ROFL

And .... started reading this book ... Fall of Giants by Ken Follett. It's MASSIVE !!!! but I read Pillars of the Earth and World Without End and really loved them. I am slow reader so it will probably take me a while !!!! ;-)) 


I am so glad they have fixed that photo slideshow thing in Blogger. I didn't like it at all. When commenting you couldn't zoom in and I kept clicking the back button by mistake and going off the web page - it drove me nuts!! It should at least be optional !!! 

Enough waffling and back to my card. 

I would like to enter the following Challenges:-

Bearly-Mine - Challenge 19 - 'Button it Up' (ends 26th September 2011) 
Creative Craft Challenge - 'Buttons and Bling' (ends 26th September 2011) 
Papertake Weekly - Challenge 66 - 'Creature Comforts' (ends 26th September 2011)
Scrap Creations - 'Anything Goes' (ends 26th September 2011) 
Tuesday Throwdown - Challenge 67 - 'Fall' (ends 26th September 2011) 
Hanna & Friends - Challenge 112 - 'Anything Goes' (ends 28th September 2011)
PaperPlay - Challenge 38 - 'Autumn Leaves' (ends 28th September 2011)
Digi Doodle - Challenge 76 - 'Autumn Colours' (ends 28th September 2011)
Craft Us Crazy  - Challenge 17 - 'Goodbye To Summer and/or School' (ends 29th September 2011) 
Delightful Challenges - 'Happy Fall Y'All' (ends 29th September 2011)
Ready-Teddy-Go - Challenge 2 - 'Autumn Colours' (ends 30th September 2011)
Dream Valley - Challenge 16 - 'Buttons' (ends 1st October 2011)

Take care and hope you have a lovely Sunday!
Hugs Sue xx

Pride and Joy

Here's a card I was asked to make for a Male 60th Birthday. We all know 'One For the Boys' Cards are 'A Hard Theme' and you never know what to put on them but in this case I was quite pleased to hear that the guy loves Classic Cars and so I chose this fab image from Lili of The Valley called 'Pride and Joy'. I also personalised the number plate! 


I've kept the design fairly Clean and Simple. No Design Paper! So chose some nice gold card and embossed it with Swiss Dot Folder. Sentiment and Number 60 were made on computer and mounted on nesties. A wavy border and some nice gold velvet ribbon and a manly bow!!! And that's it really, quite simple. I decorated inside too with nice stripey paper to match and personalised it with printed date of birthday.


Colouring: Promarkers
Bear: Vanilla and Tan
Helmet: Tan and Cinnamon
Scarf: Honeycomb and Pear Green
Car: Ruby
Sponge: Ivory and Lemon
Rabbit: Warm Grey 1, 2 & 3
Metal: Cool Grey 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Goggles: Glossy Accents
Shampoo: Stardust Stickles

Thanks for visiting my Blog and for all your lovely comments! And a big welcome to all my New Followers! Will catch up with you very soon! I can't believe that I've got 89 now! Not far off 100!! Wow! 

Feel a bit better today, my cold is lingering but I don't feel as tired :-)  and it's been sunny here in Manchester today! Yay!  and the weekend starts here!

I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges:-

Scrap Creations - 'Anything Goes' (ends 26th September 2011) 
Fab'n Funky - Challenge 91 - 'A Hard Theme!' (ends 27th September 2011)  
I Love Promarkers  - Challenge 84 - 'Include a Number' (ends 27th September 2011)
Creative Inspirations - Challenge 130 - 'Let's Celebrate' (27th September 2011)  
Truly Scrumptious - Challenge 66 - 'Clean and Simple' (ends 3rd October 2011) 
Oldie but a Goodie - Challenge 27  - 'One for The Boys' (ends 3rd October 2011)

Hope you all have a fab weekend!
Take Care!
Hugs Sue xx

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Trimming The Tree

Hello all and Welcome to my New Followers! I coloured up this image a couple of weeks ago and thought it would be perfect to make a card for the 'Red, Green & White' Challenge at Lili of the Valley this week.  The gorgeous stamp is called 'Oh Christmas Tree' by Lili of the Valley


 The lush foil paper is from Me and My Big Ideas. Ribbon and Charm are from Bunny Zoe's. Flower and Holly are from Wild Orchid Crafts. Ivy was done with X-Cut Punch. Sentiment was made on computer. 


Colouring: Copics
Skin: E00, E02
Hair: E25
Reds: R42, R49
Greens: G82, G85
Browns: E31, E33, E35
Skars Glitter and White Flock


The gorgeous inserts are from Bearly Mine Designs

Off to do some more magazine sorting. I am trying to photograph any articles that I want to keep, so I can throw them out. Done over half of them now. But honestly sometimes I feel they are replenishing in the night when I am asleep!!! LOL Sick of the sight of the blooming things! Can't wait until they are all gone then I am buying no more !!!! Of course I will end up buying them for the gorgeous free gifts!!! :-))

I have been feeling SO tired this week.  My daughter came in the other day and when I said 'Hi' - she laughed and said that I am like Depressed Ross off Friends!!!! Mmmm.... Oh well hope it hasn't been coming across on my Blog or my Comments LOL. 

I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges:

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 182 - 'Anything Goes' (ends 21st September 2011)
Lili of the Valley - Challenge 112 - 'Red, Green & White' (ends 21st September 2011)  
Moving Along with the Times Challenge 116 - 'Sparkle' (ends 21st September 2011) 
Christmas Stampin' - 'Photo Inspiration' (ends 23rd September 2011)  
Christmas Crafting - Challenge 3 - 'Christmas Sparkle' (ends 30th September 2011)

Hope the week is going well for you all and hope it's warmer where you are as it's blooming cold here today in Manchester! Glad I don't have to go out is all!
Love n Hugs!
Sue xx 

Saturday 17 September 2011

My Little Garden

Hi all, no card tonight. I wanted to post my card but the photographs that I took this morning are appalling!!! There was storm and bad light. Going to redo them tomorrow and I really hope they come out better!!!

In meantime, thought I'd show you a few piccies of my little garden. Now I know it's not the biggest garden in the world, and it's a bit higgeldy piggeldy, but it is lovely to sit out in on a beautiful day such as this. I took these photos on Thursday when I think the sun was having a last hurrah before Autumn!


We have quite a few holly bushes which are about 15 years old and suddenly they've all got berries on this year!! I will be sorted for decorating the Christmas Pud this year then!!! LOL


This is one of the holly bushes and I think the other bush is a form of Cotoneaster. It gets lovely golden, brown autumny leaves.


This is the old trunk of a dead tree. It used to be a gorgeous Cherry Blossom but we had to chop it down as it got too big. Now we have clematis climbing up over it.


Finally here are some gorgeous lilies that my mum bought recently. They are past their best but love the colours - like Oranges and Lemons!!

I really miss gardening. Can't do it anymore cos of my spine problems and arthritis. Used to grow loads of stuff from seed and have hanging baskets etc. But at least we still have some nice stuff in our garden that is low maintenance.

Went to Cinema with my friends this evening and we saw Jane Eyre - it was really good! very atmospheric! Really tired now though, so time for bed methinks.

Hope you all had a wonderful Saturday!
Take care
Hugs Sue xx

Saturday 10 September 2011



I received this sweet award from Tracy - Thanks Hun! Please go visit her at  Country Mouse and give her some love. 
The conditions for accepting this award are that I give answers to a list of questions and pass it on to 10 deserving bloggers. 

Well here goes with the questions
Q1) Name your favorite colour? - Deep Red     
Q2) Name your favorite song? - One? Yikes! Well went to iTunes and Most Played is 'Any Colour You Like' - Pink Floyd.
Q3) Name your favorite dessert? - Black Forest Gateaux (which most of you know by now LOL)
Q4) What annoys you at the moment? - How hard it is for Young People after leaving school. Student Loans to pay back, unable to afford Housing even when working damned hard etc. They have so many pressures, and it should be the best years of their lives!!!   
Q5) Your favorite pet? - I don't have any at moment (sob, sob!!) but Danny whom we lost in March was the most adorable Tibetan Terrier and was part of family for 14 happy years! 
Q6) Black or White? - Black 
Q7) Your biggest fear? - Worms!!!! My brother put one down my Wellie when I was about five and I never got over it LOL 
Q8) Best Feature? - Eyes

Q9) Everyday attitude? - Live every day as if it is your last!  
Q10) What is perfection? - Realising your mistakes? 
Q11) Guilty Pleasure? - Chocolate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Q12) When you're upset you? - Eat Chocolate AND Black Forest Gateaux - LOTS!! :-)                                                                                                                                                         
I know I'm supposed to pass this on to 10 people but I am SO tired!! please forgive me if I give this to all my Followers!

Hope you enjoyed learning wee bit more about me!
Love n Hugs
Sue xx

Holly

Hello all, and a big welcome to my New Followers! This is a Christmas Card with the Simply Gorjuss Stamp 'Holly' and she is part of my CANDY!!! So if you haven't entered already, why not have a go and you could win her and lots of other Christmas Goodies!


This was a kind of experiment with the dark background to Holly and it's not quite right!!! I did it with Prismacolour Pencils but maybe next time I will try with dark Distress Ink to get a more subtle effect!! I also put Glossy Accents on the Holly and not sure if I like that either!!! LOL. My daughter didn't like the card but my mum loved it !!! I was going for a kind of dark 'fairytale' style card, heaven knows why! must be my age !!!! LOL  The gorgeous paper is Cosmo Cricket 'Mitten Weather'. Poinsettia and Holly are from Wild Orchid Crafts. Pearls from Bunny Zoe's. Gold wire from stash.


Colouring:
Skin: E00, E02
Hair: E53, E57, Y11
Red: R24, R29
Green: G82, G85
Prismacolor Pencils for Shading


I bought the Christmas Digi Inserts Set from Bearly Mine Designs. I saw them on Laney's Blog, so thank you Laney for the link. They are gorgeous! Still experimenting with paper to print them out on etc. but they are great if you are in a rush and they look so yummy. I have put some Clip Art of Candy Canes in the left hand circle and some text in the right hand circle.

I am so tired last few days. Went to dentist on Wednesday and picked up a cold !!! Makes me laugh they have all these signs saying 'don't come in if you have a cold!' and 'please use the disinfectant hand wash before entering!!' and I always go in healthy and come out with a cold !!! LOL I suppose there are so many people in Waiting Room and it is warm and stuffy! and cold season has started!! Don't feel with it so am bound to do this post wrong !!!

Anyway, back to my card:-

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:-

Craft your Passion - Challenge 74 - 'Anything Goes with Twist (Flowers)' (ends 11th September 2011) 
Bearly-Mine - Challenge 18 - 'Flowers, Flowers, Flowers' (ends 12th September 2011)
Scrap Creations - 'Winter Wishes' (ends 12th September 2011)  

Thank you for visiting and for all your lovely comments!
Hope the sun is shining where you are - it's lovely here at the moment!
Love n Hugs
Sue xx

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Sue's Christmas Candy!

On 30th September, I will have been blogging for One whole year! Can't believe it has gone so quickly.  I have made so many wonderful friends during that time, so this is some Thank You Candy! and also hopefully a Welcome to some New Followers.


I have put together some Candy with a Traditional Christmas Theme as by the time I draw the lucky winner at the end of the month I'm sure you will all be thinking about making Christmas Cards! :-))

Included in this candy are some of my favourite things. The Wow 'White Flock' is fabulous as snow or fur trims, especially nice if you mix some of the Kars 'Rainbow White' Glitter with it - makes it sparkle. The Simply Gorjuss 'Holly' stamp is adorable! Hope you like my selection...

The Candy is:-
1 x Popcorn The Bear 'Snow Love' Stamp Set
1 x Simply Gorjuss Rubber Stamp 'Holly'
Kaisercraft 6 x 6 'Belle' Paper Pad
Red & Green Velvet Ribbons
Kars 'Rainbow White' Glitter
WoW! Embossing 'White Flock'
5 x Large Red Poinsettias (WOC)
5 x Large White Poinsettias (WOC)
10 x 25mm White Tea Roses (WOC)
10 x 25mm Red Tea Roses (WOC)
20 x mixed Red & White Carnations (WOC)
Holly Leaves, Red Berries & White Berries (WOC)
7 x Silver Christmas Charms
White Lace (WOC)

All you have to do to enter is:-

1. Become a Follower if you are not already.

2. Place a photograph of my Candy in your sidebar linking back to my main blog,
    here at http://suescrafthaven.blogspot.com/

3. Leave a Comment

If you do all three things, then you are sure to be in with a chance of winning. This is the first time I have done a Linky Collection so hope that I don't mess up LOL!!! and just in case I do, please do be sure to leave a Comment as well as linking! Thanks!

Closing date will be 11.00pm September 30th 2011 (London, UK time).

The Winner will then be announced shortly after.

The Candy is open to all, from any country!

Love n Hugs!
Sue xxx

Sunday 4 September 2011

Shabby Chic - 'Dawn with Cake'

Hi all, hope you are having a nice Sunday afternoon! I felt like doing some sewing yesterday (which doesn't happen very often!! LOL) so thought I would do a Shabby Chic card. I haven't got a sewing machine so had to do it by hand and it's my first attempt at Sewing on a card!!! I know it's not brilliant !! Do you think stitches are a wee bit too big? 


The gorgeous stamp is Nellie Snellen's 'Dawn with Cake'. She is such a cutie! Reminds me of my daughter when she was about 3. I have had this stamp for well over 6 months and so thought it was time I inked it up !!!! Backing paper is First Edition and hope you can tell - it is lovely and glittery.

The flourish is from Creatibles. Thank you Sussie for the gorgeous lace and pin!!! :-)) Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. Sentiment made on computer and pearls from stash. I've tried to keep the colouring subtle which is hard for me. Think you probably know by now that I like Bold Colours and style !!! LOL


Colouring: Promarkers
Skin: Blush and Pastel Pink
Hair and Shoes: Tan and Cinnamon
Dress: Cocktail Pink and Pastel Pink
Socks: Cool Grey 3, Satin, Blush
Cake: Vanilla for Sponge, Magenta and Ruby for Jam
Icing: Almond and Star Dust Stickle.
Cake Board: Cool Greys 2, 3 & 4
Candles: Cocktail Pink and Cool Grey 3. Flame Vanilla with Kars Glitter 

I was hoping to start my Blogaversary Candy this week, but some of the things were out of stock and delays at WOC. I think they are inundated with Christmas orders!!! already I've noticed Holly Leaves and other Christmas things all Sold Out!! I should have started earlier (groan) Anyway, will have it up very soon. I would rather delay it and get the stuff that I want for it. 

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:-

Passion for Promarkers - Challenge 115 - 'Anything Goes' (ends 5th September 2011)
Top Tip Tuesday - Challenge 49  - 'Shabby Chic' (ends 5th September 2011)
Oldie but a Goodie - Challenge 26  - 'Lots of Sparkle' (ends 6th September 2011)  
I Love Promarkers  - Challenge 81 - 'Anything Goes' (ends 6th September 2011)
Charisma Cardz - Challenge 35 - 'Anything Goes' (ends 7th September 2011)
Creative Inspirations  - Challenge 67 - 'Recipe: Set 2 Shabby Chic, Pearls & Lace' (ends 9th September 2011) 
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Challenge 163 - 'Party Time' (ends 12th September 2011) 
Creative Card Crew - 'Anything Goes' (ends 12th September 2011) 
Craft Us Crazy  - Challenge 16 - 'Autumn Colors and/0r Favourite Embellishments (Flowers) (ends 14th September 2011)

Ooh the sun has come out! I love this time of year and I'm glad it's a bit fresher. Oops sun has gone again now! Out again LOL!
Thanks for all your lovely comments!
Take care
Love n Hugs
Sue xxx

Thursday 1 September 2011

LOTV Christmas Giveaway


Only 5 more days until the release of the new Christmas Lili of the Valley Stamps!! To celebrate LOTV are giving away one stamp for the next 5 days over at their Ideas to Inspire Blog. 

So why not pop on over there and enter the draw! Having seen a sneak preview of some of them, I have to say they all look gorgeous !!! 

Good Luck everyone! :-)) 
Hugs Sue xxx