Creative cottage Challenge # 19 Touchy feely

Good morning to y'all hope you are well and that you have got sunshine where you are - It's scorching here and we've seen no rain although plenty has been promised from the weather man !

So it is wednesday and of course that means that it is time for the Creative cottage challenge. This week was the very talented Becky's choice and she has chosen the theme "touchy feely" and wants to see lots of texture on your cards.

I quite enjoyed this one and went out of my comfort zone to create a new card shape (new for me - that is) there is a fab tutorial here if you want to try one.
I have used papers from the creative cottage kits Sunny days and Summer mornings paper packs for my card which I embossed with my cuttlebug swiss dots folder and my bigshot and inked the edges with some brown ink for a worn grungy look and added some rafia and stickles for more texture.

It was actually a very simple card to make as all you need is a few extra embelishments (these are from the Daisy chain farm kit) once the paper is on and a sentiment or two and bobs your uncle !

I hope you like it - pop over to the Creative cottage challenge blog to see the other fab DT creations and get loads more inspiration.

Thanks for looking and leaving comments, I love to read your feedback x

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges;

The ABC Challenge - Zig zag card

((hugs)) Suzie xx

My 1st DT card for Cooking It Up With Katie challenge # 21

Yay the day is finally here - the day to show you my 1st DT creation for Cooking it up with Katie.

This weeks recipe is

Pick a sketch challenge from another blog (make sure the sketch is still open when you post your entry)
Use some Yellow
Do a little stitching (real or faux)

Our sponser this week is the lovely Melissa from Meljens Designs and she has, very kindly, donated 4, yes 4, images for the winner of this fortnights recipe challenge.

So onto my creation I have used the sketch over at Creatilicious Challenges as seen below

Isn't it a lovely sketch I'm quite sure that I will use this one again.

My DP is from October afternoon - a double sided sheet. Love it when I can do this saves so much time and effort matching papers and trying to co-ordinate them and although I love to spend hours looking through my papers sometimes this can take longer than actually making my card !

I hand stitched the border (that's why it's wobbly !) but I do like the look and it is, I think worth the effort.
The flourish is a sizzix die cut on my bigshot and the buttons are from stash. The curly wire is from a faux flower (the stem) and I just wound it round the pointy end of my piercing tool to make the twirls.

That gorgeous flower is, of course, Prima - one which I won from a blog hop I participated in a while ago.

Of course the star of the card is that super summery image from Meljen Designs - isn't it absolutely gorgeous - I love sunflowers x
You can purchase Meljens designs from Whimsy Stamps - there are loads and loads to choose from you will def be spoilt for choice !

I hope you'll stop by at Cooking it up with Katie and see all the other DT's fab creations and that you'll also play along with us - I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs to see your creations x

I would like to add this card to the following challenges :

Creatilicious Challenges - sketch
One Stitch At A Time - Ribbon, lace or a bow
Creative Card Crew - Die cuts
By The Cute And Girly - Warm summer days
Dare U 2 Digi - Great Outdoors

Thanks for stopping by and for all your comments - they make me feel all warm and fuzzy !!

((hugs)) Suzie xx

Creative cottage Challenge # 18 - NO CARDS ALLOWED

Good Wednesday morning to ya - I hope you are well today.

I am here this morning to show my DT project for this weeks creative cottage challenge, which this week is Tracy's choice.
She, rather wickedly, chose no cards allowed - which I always struggle with !

After hours (and hours) of um-ing and ah-ing I finally decided on a little cupcake box and used this months totally gorgeous freebie from the creative cottage and although I struggled too decide what to make I am quite pleased with the result and I might just go and buy myself a cupcake and give the gift box to myself !!

I do hope you like it and that you will join us for the challenge - can't wait to come see your creations x

((hugs)) Suzie

Fab week, fab news and fab weather !!!!

Hello everyone I hope you are all well.No card today - check back tomorrow - but I was having withdrawal symptoms from my blogging buddies so thought I'd nip on and let you all know that I am still alive !!

Last week a nasty sickness bug swept the family and it really knocked us for 6. We are now all feeling better and I am full swing into a fab new week with loads of fun things to look forward to.

Tomorrow, wednesday, is another amazing Creative cottage challenge and also it is my 1st challenge as a DT member for Cooking it up with Katie !!!!!!!!!


I am very proud to be picked as one of katies team and soooo excited to get stuck in.
The challenge blog is currently a bi-weekly but is soon changing to a weekly challenge so stay posted.
I do hope you will pop back tomorrow to see both my new DT challenge creations and also that you will join in with us too x

On Thursday I am off - hat and all - to Ladies day at Newmarket with the girls so keep your fingers crossed for some winners for me. I look forward to this child free day all year, we have such fun - even if we don't win and end up comsuming way too much pimms and champers. So even if I pop on Friday I may be a bit bleary eyed !!

Last but most certainly not least I thought I'd add this picture of my F.A.B (fast and boisterous) son Issac (age 4) ,proud as punch, with the carrots he grew himself in the garden - somedays they drive me crazy (um everyday actually !!) but I do realise how lucky we are to have them in our lives.



I hope you all have a fun week too. Don't forget to check back tomorrow x

((hugs)) Suzie xx

2 Sketches 4 You sketch # 55

Good morning to you I hope you are enjoying the summer sun where you are we certainly are here in the UK !

This morning I am sharing my entry into the sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 you for this week.
I loved this weeks sketch and enjoyed making this card - it was def a messy one and I love getting my hands dirty !

I used Bazzill basics kraft for my base and bazzill bling for my embossed panel. This was embossed with my cuttlebug swiss dots folder and my bigshot.
The squares were diecut with my nesties and bigshot and I used my new stamp (Impression obsession ornate heart cube) for the heart print isn't it a lovely stamp ? There are 4 on the cube and they are all gorg.

I added some letter stickers to the last square, these are just from stash, and inked them all up with some black ink and a sponge dauber for a distressed feel - I also added a little pink to the centre of the hearts and the letter stickers too.

The lovely lace is another new addition from Wild orchid crafts I got it in a bright white too - love the vintage feel it adds.

The flower is made with cheap copier paper inked up with black and cut with my Dahlia nesties and a roughly cut circle of the pink bling just to tie it all together - The brad which I used to fasten the flower was a green sparkly one and I used my black copic to colour it - I was thrilled when the sparkle still shone through and I love the 2 tone effect it gives - a happy accident !

I inked up the edges of the card too and stuck it all together with my pinflair glue gel - once you've used it you'll never go back to stinky silicone - and thats about it - job done !

As well as the 2 sketches 4 you challenge I would also like to enter this into the following challenges;

The Crafty Pad - Embossing
Crafty Cardmakers - Inky fingers (def qualifies I was very inky !)
The Pink Elephant - Colour challenge - Pink and Black - (I'm hoping I can use my Kraft as a neutral?)

I hope you like it
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Cooking it up with Katie challenge # 20

Well thought I'd have some craft therapy today to cheer me up after Englands Dire performance yesterday.
So I cracked on with the cooking it up with Katie challenge - although I am a little late this week x
This week Katie has asked us to use the following ingredients

Make or Alter an embellishment (hand cut a flower, airbrush a pearl to make it another color, anything like that) Add some Sparkle
Use a Die Cut

So I altered my flowers with my H2O's, which haven't seen the light of day for about a year - forgot how much I like the sheen they give. I also added some of my new diamond sparkles glitter - most of my downstairs and outside also got a good covering - oh and me and the kids of course !
So the diamond sparkles and, I think, the H2O's count as the "sparkle".
I added the glitter to the edges of my middle panel too and also highlighted my image with it.
For the diecut I used my nesties to cut the image panel and chalked it up while the die was still in place which enhances the embossing.

As well as Katies challenge I also used the sketch at Sketch Saturday for inspiration
Here it is

As you can see I flipped the sketch to suit me.

The lace and the sparkly gems are from my craft stash and the green ribbon is from an old shirt !
And the image is a digi freebie - not sure where from - if you know leave me a comment and I'll give credit x

As well as the challenges mentioned above I would like to enter my card into the following:

Crafty Creations - Shine (Glitter/H2O's/gems)
Crafty Pad - Embossing (middle panel embossed with cuttlebug swiss dots folder and my bigshot)
The ABC Challenge - Xtra dimension (image raised with pinflair glue gel and flowers curled)
Cute Card Thursday - Reuse/recycle (green ribbon reused from old clothing)
I Love Digi - Emboss it (middle panel embossed)
Crafty Catz - Go Digital (Digi image)

I hope you like it - thanks for popping by x
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Creative cottage challenege # 17 - Teri's pick

Good morning to you all - I hope the weather is good where you are x
As it's Wednesday it's time for another Creative cottage challenge card and this week it is the lovely Teri's turn to pick what the challenege should be.
She wants you to create a "summer surprise" so come on lets see your summery creations.
This week I have used the "home sweet home" kit available here. Aren't the colours soo yummy - I imediately thought of ice cream - mmmmmmmmmmm strawberry and vanilla.

My image is from Creations by Penny and I coloured it with my watercolour pencils - I like the textured look they give - think it makes it look less flat (do you know what I mean ?)
My Pearls were once again coloured with my copics to make them match perfectly - the 2 small pearls on the sentiment strap were coloured with my copic spica (glitter ones !)

My sentiment is from my Kelly Panacci birthday set and the chipboard quote is from an old set - think it was K & Co, the ribbon is from a reel of Anita's everyday ribbon x

I hope you like my card and that you will pop over and check out the other DT creations - you will not be disapointed.
I hope to be popping over to your blogs to see what you've created too x

I have also entered this card into the following challeneges :

Creative Card Crew - Want an easel card.
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Creative cottage challenge # 16 - Pearls and swirls

Hello to the sunshine - it's about time ! and hello to you, thanks for dropping in x
This week over at the Creative cottage challenge blog it's my turn to set the challenge and since we've all been making fathers day cards I thought I'd opt for something pretty and girly.
So this week we want to see your cards with "pearls and swirls".

For my card I have used the Birthday wishes kit available here.
I printed the papers onto pearlescent paper which gives a beautiful effect which you can't really see in the picture.

I've used another pink cat studio digi stamp - there are so many beautiful stamps to chose from over there.
I've printed it then used the beyond the border technique over at Stamp TV to die cut it - click on the link to have a look it's fab.
I have used watercolour pencils to colour my image and liquid pearls to accent then added it to another larger diecut (nestabilities). The swirls are sizzix and that cute little butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch which I added some stickles to.
The flower is from my trusty craft cupboard.

I hope you like it - please come and play along at the creative cottage challenge blog - I love to see all your creations.

((hugs)) Suzie xx

Cooking it up with Katie challenge # 19

Well I have managed to get a bit if crafting done - while the children were in bed and hubby was reclining on the sofa comfortably with the aid of a load of pain killers ! (he had an op this week).

So here it is - I LOVE this stamp. My sister bought it for me years ago for christmas and it is still one of my fav's.
For this easel card I have stamped the image with versamark and then coloured with chalk which I think gives a really romantic feel - I wish I could take better photos - some things just get lost in translation.

The flourish stamp is one from a HOTP kit and the sentiment stamp is a Kelly Panacci. I stamped the flourish with a 3 colour brilliance inkpad then added some embossing with my embossing pen and some sparkle gold emb' powder - this is again lost in the photo but looks fab.
I have the lovely Katie over at Cooking it up with Katie to thank for the embossing - I rarely get out my embossing powders and heat gun but for this weeks challenge she has asked us to include the colour green, embossing and ribbon - so thanks Katie for making me dust of some old stash x

The pearls, from stash, were the wrong colour so I used my copics to match them up - simples !

As well as the challenge over at cooking it up with Katie I would like to add this card to the following challenges:
Crafty Creations - Stitching - added by hand - don't have a fancy machine :-(
For Fun Challenges - Chalk popping
Stamp Something - Something summer (summer colours and summer flowers)
Paper Play Challenges - Something old (stamp and embossing stuff !)

Thanks for looking - I hope you like it - it was a joy to make x
((hugs)) Suzie xx

A little cheat - but couldn't stay away !

Hello to you and thanks for dropping by.
I am cheating a little as I am posting an old card today - one I made a while ago and never blogged !
We can all blame my hubby for this as he had an operation this week so I am playing nurse rather than playing with my crafting goodies ! But hopefully he'll be on the mend soon so I can get back to playing !

This simple card uses one of my fav stamps - who doesn't love butterflies ? I've had it ages think it was one of my 1st purchases, but I've no idea who the manufacturer is - sorry !
The paper is from the K & Co paper pad Berry sweet - love the bright and zingy colours in this and that lovely sentiment - another of my fav's is a do crafts wood mounted stamp.

Hope you like it and can forgive my cheating !

((hugs)) Suzie xx