My Guy Ian

Hello my friend! It's already mid week, and I am so behind in challenges :) There are quite some interesting sketches and challenges this week, but I only managed my first card of the week! Booo!


So this is a short post today, maybe at least I get to colour another image today! :) hint hint.. a little girl in Kimono.. does that tell you something.. who is she?? :)







But today I ahve a guy for you, exactly My Guy Ian, from the latest Club Anya release; by the Greeting Farm. Boy.. this set has made boy cards almost fun to do.. if at least I had more choice in embellishments that are good for such boyish cards!! Sigh.. But buttons, sack fibre and dewdrops do the trick everytime! I used Stamp with Fun sketch this time :)





I coloured the image with my Copics, and matted images and panel after I distressed all edges.



I used Weathered Wood and Frayed Burlap for the "dirty look" around the edges, and Aged Mahogany for the reddish edges. Papers are from Cupcake from Basic Grey. They are bright, fun and can be also adapted for boyish cards, as you can see. I find these very handy for the parties the kids get invited to, from their classroom peers. Round sentiment is Stampin 'Up, and the one on the image is partly from the My Guy Ian set, and the "l8er" is one I did with rub-on alphabet.







Self adhesive ribbon and buttons from my stash. Dewdrops are from Roses on Paper, as are the Papers, Distress Inks and Memento Ink. If you like The Greeting Farm stamps, Summer is one of the online stores that has them flying to your home anytime!







Have a happy rest of the week, and I hope to come here again soon :))
Smile!!

Thanks for looking

Blessings
http://craftingmagic.blogspot.com

Oh my!!! What a lovely surprise!!

I was just told by super talented Dawn that she featured me on Inspirtional!!! Wow.. that WAS a boost! Thank you Dawn, you made my week!!! Head over there, (click on the blinkie on my sidebar) to see my featured cards :)



Thanks for looking

Blessings
http://craftingmagic.blogspot.com

A Maggie at last!!

Happy Sunday everyone!!

I do hope each one of you took some moments to thank the Lord for this week today, and to ask for His Blessing on you, your loved ones and the entire world. Maybe while we're relaxing and having a good time with our family/ friends.. there is someone of our Blogging friends in another part of the world struggling for life or for safety. God be with you all.. wherever you are . x

Just a quick post to share with you this card. I had lots of releases and challenges this month, and I didn't have time to play with my Maggies for quite some time. Last week I had made these handmade flowers with the help of Rach's tutorial and didn't have the chance to use them. When I saw them, I immediately thought of vintage and Magnolia. So I combined these two with Friday's Sketcher sketch for this week, and Cupcake Craft Challenge.. which is distressing.

I used Distress Refillers for my entire colouring (and managed to spill quite a blob of Frayed Burlap on my image.. but I vanished it.. doesn't show, doesn't it? :))SSshh.. I am learning tricks from Harry potter himself! lol

Also distressed papers and background with Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint and Frayed Burlap.

These are the scrunched flowers. I wished I had some Shimmerz glimmer spray, but they are quite lovely all the same. They are not perfect, but it's my first time I did them, so please be kind! :) I used Papermania Signature Regency papers. They coordinate perfectly.Then I added some ribbon and lace for vintage touch, more punched flowers, gold dewdrops and gold rub on sentiment. It came out quite classy don't you think? :)

I left the inside plain, at least I let the design of the paper show, and only added another rub on sentiment and pieces of lace in the corner. It's light coloured texture leaves space for writing on it directly. Have a happy week my friend, and hope to hear what you think of this creation. thank you for taking the time to let me share my work with you.

Should you like this card you can find a lovely assortment of these Magnolia stamps, Distress Inks and lovely embellishments like these dew drops at Summer's Store, here.

Friday Sketchers' sketch

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Blessings
http://craftingmagic.blogspot.com/

Make a Wish.. Joni's Rule of 3!

Happy Saturday my friend! I hope that you'll have a lovely weekend! This week was very hactic for me, the week before school tarts.. lots of preparation involved. So now I was looking forward for some play time to recharge my batteries :) I decided to play with Club Anya's challenge, set by a lovely and gorgeous lady.. talented Joni. Wilson.



She named her challenge : Joni's Rule of three.. She chose three colours: Black, White and Pink.





We're also allowed only three types of embellies.. that was hard for me!! Joni!! I'm a multi embellish girl!! :) But I made it .. JUST IN YOUR HONOR!! I used ONLY ribbon, flower and dewdrops. Joni Wilson..You're so sweet. x










I used my loyal princess for this card, isn't she cute? If you like her, don't forget that Summer is one of the online stores from where you can get these babes. For those who are new to these stamps; they are The Greeting Farm stamps. I used Sketch and Stash sketch, the princess stamp and the black & white cs for this challenge are my neglected stash I brought up! I don't use Black & white very often.. and I have loads!

Coloured Princess Anya with Copics, and lots of Stickles :) That gorgeous flower came from Germany- from my lovely friend Sonja :) Thanks sweetie .. I love it.. and yes I still have another one:) I decided to sew it to the organza ribbon bow's centre.






The iside is based on the same colours, and in the same style. When I was taking the photos I realised that I didn't glue the pink panel straight!! Bah.. but now it's staying that way :)



Also, my friend Katherine left me some love.. a lovely award. Thank you hunny xx

The terms of this award are: 1.Make a reference to the award and publish it on your blog

2.Share 5 things you like to do.

3.Pass it on to 10 blogs.



4.Inform each blog





My 5 things I like to do (there are more)

Watch a good movie

cardmaking

have some quality time with the kids

chocolate and coffee spiced with some DT chatting :)

reading a book that keeps me hooked>




What is difficult is to choose only 10 friends.. I'd like to offer it to Summer and my BnW and Roses on Paper friends.. they bear with me everyday.. so this is for you girls for all the cyber knock outs I send you ! LOL




Peta, Lim, Susan , Iris, Jodi, Anki, Jacque, Lynda, Lils, Kathrin

To visit these lovely ladies, you can find their blogs on my sidebar :) Go and leave them some love and see their lovely creations.




Girls.. You're all so Special xx









Copics I used.




Happy weekend again, and thank you for your online smiles you leave me :)




Thanks for looking

Finally!

Hello friend




Does it ever happen to you that you start a project, and doesn't get to finish it day after day?? Sometimes I am able to finish a creation in a day or two.. other times; like in this case, a project takes me 4 days to finish! Sigh!!

I don't blame myself, cause taking care of a bunch of kids 24 hrs is no joke, especially in Summer holidays and the week before School starts. I am dreaming of colours, stationery, copybooks and plastic wrappers.. I've been seeing them lying all around all week! Duh!


Anyway finally I finished my card with tis cutie patootie.. isn't he darling??








He is another gorgeous design from the new Fall Belles 'n Whistles release. Look at that cute boy's expression while he is handing one of his precious treats to the scarecrow!! I can't get over that cute innocent look! Innocent, selfless love is the sweetest thing on earth!

I didn't have Halloween papers or embellies, but I used Lime rickey paper from Basic Grey to coordinate with the orange,black and blue green colour scheme I used on this card. Halloween is very new in Malta, so I made it sort of a thank you/ friendship/ Halloweeny card! :)

I used the present sketch at Midnight Madness Challenge - Week 20. It was a bit hard at first, but I was determined to give it a go :) Then I also kept in mind Simon says Challenge which this week is using real/faux Stitches. (like our Roses on Paper challenge)

Both sentiments are Studio G clear stamps,the round one is stamped on a scrap piece of card stock.I cut it round with a nestie, and then traced the outward curve on a glittered black cardstock for some bling. I used the same cardstock to mat the image and the other panels. I colored the image in Copics (sorry i forgot to take the photo of the numbers used this time!!).








The inside is kept simple, yet I think it did a lovely effect. I added some faux stitches there as well, and embellished with some flower embellies and a punched out flower.

Have a happy week (weekend is very near now), and thank you for finding the time to come here, read all this and spend some time on my little space. Thank you for all the support and love you leave me here. I can never tell you enough how much you make my day. God bless you!





Thanks for looking

Blessings
http://craftingmagic.blogspot.com/

Oh this was a lovely surprise!

Hello everyone!

I had a lovely surprise this morning when I checked my emails. I recieved an e mail from a friend telling me that my card was chosen on Midnight Madness as the weeks's masterpiece.
Thanks you girls.. I'm so happy and humbled; but I'll be wearing this lovely badge with pride! Thanks again x






Thanks for looking

Blessings
http://craftingmagic.blogspot.com

RoP DT- Stitch it Up!!

Hiya there!!


As I told you some hours ago, I'm back for another Roses on Paper challenge.. it's already our 21st!! Phew.. time passes so quicly! This time it was my turn to decide the challenge. To tell you the truth I had in mind to design a sketch for all of us, but then having Club Anya release, and now Belles nd Whistles Fall release; I didn't manage. So I chose Stitches as a theme.






Yes mate, Stitch it Up!! is what I went for. I want to see your sewing-machine in action on your creations. You don't have it or you prefer faux stitches.. do it! Anything you want, rub ons.. stickers? Any stitches.. I want to see :) For the deets about which stamps you can use for this challenge, the fabulous prize and some inspration from the Dt to get you going.. visit our challenge blog post HERE








Also this is the last challenge you can participate in if you're interested in a Guest DT call that Summer will be doing sometime this month for Belles 'n Whistles Store. Again consult the RoP post for all the information you need:)

I have used Tania Baking for this challenge. As you might know she is one of the lovely designs Summer released for Fall. I love her concentrated look, how lovely she looks in that apron.. and that bowl.. what do you think it contains? :)) Mmm cake mix maybe?







I coloured her in Copics, and cut her out. Then I embossed an oval Core 'dinations cardstock and popped her on. Before that, I rounded the nestie with lace and stitched it up. All the panels are also stitched. I used sketch Saturday's sketch for this one, and Basic Grey wants embossing, so there you go.. three challenges in one!! Yay!





Remember that RoP challenge can also be combined with others, as long as the work is new, and that you link back to our blog. Papers I used for this card are Wisteria Basic Grey. I hope this will stitch up your mojo and get your fingers running! I'm so looking forward to see what y0u come up with..epecially you who come often on my blog. It's double the fun to see you joining as well!!






Good luck, and have a stitchy- er sorry- happy week!!


Thanks for looking

Blessings
http://craftingmagic.blogspot.com

Mimosa goes Scrumptious!

Hello my friend!

I hope you had, or you're having a wonderful weekend!

I had a lovely time to play and do some more projects :) It's time for another ROP challenge soon. Tomorrow actually. I hope you'll join us on ROP challenge blog. It's my turn to challenge you this time.. and I have another fun challenge for you. So tune back tomorrow for that.

Today i want to share with you my first card with Mimosa, one of the lot of gorgeous Bildmalarnas that arrived not long ago at ROP. You should go and see them here. there are such lovely designs. Other than being cute, what I also like of them is that they come like in a sort of mini scene.. they all have something either in their hand of are sitting on something etc.. And have you seen the new Christmas ones? Fun!!

I followed Truly Scrumptious lovely sketch, and keot in mind Stamp Something's challenge for this week.. your favourite colours. Pink and green is one of my very favourite combos, so I chose those. I coloured Mimosa with Distress inks this time, I don't want to neglect them :)

Then I added Crystal Lacquer to her umbrella and boots, I don't want her to get soaking wet :)

Then I cut the circle and hand cut a larger circle for matting. I distressed both with more inks (Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint for greens, and Fired Brick for pinks). I also punched some flowers and added some Primas. Basic Grey buttons and green flower centres added.

Last I made some black faux stitches and I decoreated the corners and added the "sweetheart" sentiment; both Studio G clear stamps.

Papers are: Basic Grey Urban Prairie and the green is Doodlebug lime pack.

I kept the inside simple, and based on the sketch as well. Big hugs, and see you soon with Roses on Paper challenge 21.

Thanks for looking

Blessings
http://craftingmagic.blogspot.com/

Thank You !!

...for being supportive and lovely in our Belles 'n Whistles Blog Hop yesterday :) I think you agree with me when I say it was a Yummy treat for all of us! You rocked us all with your comments and boy.. you are the Best!!





Now you can order the stamps from HERE.





I'm sure after all those treats ans wonderful stamps your tummy feels heavier, and your wallet lighter ;)


Have fun with the gorgeous BnW stamps!! I'm off to colour some more!! :)


Thanks for looking

Blessings
http://craftingmagic.blogspot.com/

Belles 'n Whistles Fall Release Blog Hop

Whooppee!!! Finally the wait is over! Welcome to the
Belles 'n Whistles Fall Release DT Blog hop!!

I am so honored to be here today presenting you another set of Marvellous stamps designed by none other than Elisabeth Bell! I totally adore her images, and boy.. did Summer choose some fabulous images for this release!!

If you just landed on my blog from Susan, then you can read on! :)
If you came on my Blog just now, you'd better start the journey from the

Belles 'n Whistles Blog

I don't want you to miss anything, on any image, as we are presenting you a different image each :) Read carefully ALL the details there, you never know what Surprises each blog may hold! :)

If you're still reading, I'll assume you've already read the deets and started on your Hop, and you know by now that you have to comment on each blog for the final prize :)Not for the comment in itself (to have a lot of comments..) but I honestly would love to know what you think of this lovely image!

So without further suspense.. I present you..

Warm Apple Pie

This is just one of the six new stamps being released today!

**** The stamps will begin selling on Saturday, Sept 19 and will begin shipping the following week.**

Mmmmm... Apple pie!.. it's my favourite dessert this one, and I couldn't resist having a real Apple Pie near to Celebrate this Beauty!

Do you like it? yes?

Do you want it? Nooo !!! lol

I will eat this all by myself lol.. so if you don't hear from me again this week.. you'll know I'm sick with all the pie!! :))


Okay.. back here! Do you like this lovely Babe as much as I do?? I fell in love with her from the moment I first saw it on Elisabeth's blog! She is such a beauty,and is dressed in so much a special way; that I wanted to make her a special card.









A lovely layout taken from Midnight Madness sketch for the week, gorgeous embellishments, and some rich, deep colours for Miss Belle. I used Urban Prairie from Basic Grey papers, and coloured her with Copics.

















You can also see some of my fish-ies there!! :))

Then I mounted the image on mini foam pads. I cut the nesties (two different sized ovals, and a bigger scalloped oval). I distressed the smallest with Scattered Straw Distress Ink,and the middle nestie with Black Soot Distress Ink. I popped the image on them and worked on the rest of the sketch.

As you can see the sketch has five dots on the left hand side. For four of them I used Basic Grey Rhinestones, and for the fifth I made the flower arrangement.




Another option is that you add the flowers individually. Five flowers for five dots! :) A pink organza ribbon with bow was added on the right hand side; with a flower embellished with spacer, Basic Grey brad and heart charm.











Sentiment is Whiff of Joy. I kept the inside plain, but used some element stickers from the Urban Prarie 12x12 paper pack sheet. I hope by now you want this babe for yourself, she's a wonder to colour! I'm sorry that I'm no good to your wallet.. but I know you won't be disappointed. If you already purchased Belles 'n Whistles stamps, you know that even the packaged stamp is a beauty in itself! And maybe by now you need an Apple pie as well. No problem; here comes the recipe as well.. just for you to do!!!








Copics used


Have fun, and I hope you'll be back soon to see more of these beauties on my blog! And also on the rest of the team's blogs. Now you must go to Peta's Blog, for another lovely Yum Yum surprise!! :)

Have a Lovely Yum Yum Apple-ey Day!!


Now.. sometihn yummy for your tummy!!

Delicious Simple Apple-Pie

Pastry

1 cup plain flour

1/2 (half) cup self-raising flour

1/4 cup cornflour

1/4 cup custard powder

1 tablespoon Castor sugar

125g butter, chopped

1 egg, separated

1/4 cup water

1 tablespoon Castor sugar, extra



Lemony Apple filling

7 large apples

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind



1. Combine sifted flours, custard powder and sugar in large bowl, rub in chopped butter with fingertips or in food processor, until ingredients are just combined.



2. Add enough combined egg yolk and water to mix a firm dough. Turn dough on a lightly floured surface, knead gently until smooth. Cut dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, refrigerate for 30 min.


3. Remove top piece of plastic from pastry. Use remaining plastic to help turn pastry into pie plate. Carefully press pastry into pie plate, do not stretch pastry. Carefully remove remaining plastic.


4. Trim edge of pastry with sharp knife. Reserve scraps.


5. Spoon cold filling evenly into pastry case, (filling instructions further down) brush edge of pastry with lightly beaten egg white.

6. Roll our remaining pastry as before, cover filling with pastry. Press edges together firmly, trim with knife. Using fingers, pinch edges to make a frill.

7. Roll reserved scraps between sheets of plastic wrap, cut leaf shapes from pastry, if desired. Otherwise add thin almond layers to decorate. Sprinkle pie with extra sugar after brushing the pastry with egg white. Bake in moderately hot oven for 20 min Reduce heat to moderate, bake further 20 min / until pie is golden brown

Apple Filling:

Peel apples, cut into quarters, remove cores. Cut each quarter in half lengthwise. Place apples into a large saucepan with water, bring to boil, reduce heat, cover, cook for about 5 min or until apples are just tender. Transfer apples to bowl, gently stir in sugar, cinnamon and lemon rind. Cool to room temperature.

Voila!! I hope you'll try that out, and let me know the results!! Yum Yum!!








Thanks for looking

Blessings
http://craftingmagic.blogspot.com/

Special Announcment- Oh I'm so excited! :)

I'm sorry I was away for some days this week. School will start on the 29th here, and having quite some kids here, it takes me some time to settle doen uniforms, copybooks, stationery and all the stuff they wil be needing! If you missed me.. I'll try and be a better blogger next week. And boy I have every reason to do so!!


And now on to the exciting news I have for you:
Tomorrow it's Belles 'n Whistles release time again!! Yippee!!

We will be having a lovely special DT Blog hop - showing you Belles´n´Whistles Wonderful YUMMY Fall collection, designed by Elisabeth Bell. All the DT members are so excited - and I am sure you´ll be as excited as we are once you see the beautiful new stamps! They are YUMMY in every sense!! lol

We´ll start with the hop tomorrow 9 am CEST (Central European Summer Time) at the Belles´n´Whistles blog. More details can be found there tomorrow that time - just make sure you´ll be there! You have the rest of the day to participate, to give time to all with different time zones. The more.. the merrier!

You'll find the list there for the Hop.. and some candy for you to win as well, no? What fun it will be!! I hope to see you there.. and here!! :)
good night!!



Thanks for looking

Blessings
http://craftingmagic.blogspot.com