BellaDonna by Simply Betty Stamps

A little aside before I show you today's card - I was featured on the Craftwork Cards blog yesterday! Tina Boyden from their Design Team features makes by CWC fans every Thursday and I was lucky enough to have a few projects on there this week. You may have seen them on my blog already but please pop over and leave some love on the CWC blog! Thanks! Mo xxx

Here is my first card using a Simply Betty digi Stamp! The young girl in this design is called Belladonna and my daughter thinks she looks like a pop star! I tend to think she's a bit emo with a good measure of teenage angst thrown in too!


I've used free papers from Pixel Scrapper - check out the link down the side of my blog for some fabulous free papers, digi kits, photoshop bits and peices too! These are from the Purple basics kit which I got as my free download for signing up to the site!!

Base card is purple A4 cut down to approx 6x6" square and basic black card for matting and layering. I've used my favourite purple star card candi from Craftwork Cards and my EK Success Starry Night corner punch. With my digi stamp, I have coloured her with Watercolour pencils and used a water brush to even out the colour. I've added stickles in purple, midnight blue and fruit punch for effect.

The sentiment here links the card up to this month's challenge over at The House of Bears! They are having a  literary based challenge using quotes from Little Women. I chose the quote 'Dont try to make me grow up before my time...' I felt it fit quite well with this rebel girl digi! I'd also like to enter the card into the My Craft Creation challenge which is Spots and Stripes.

 

The last bit i'd like to show you on the card is the bling!!! This was a bargain find yesterday. I was in Glasgow looking for shoes and ended up in Poundland on Sauchiehall Street to get some things to keep my toddlers occupied and I found strips of 'Body Gems'!!! For £1 i got a strip which contained 10 of the same swirls and I've used one here. Of course, buying only one wasn't an option - i've bought two in black and two in clear crystal so as you can imagine these will be all over the next pile of cards I make!!
There is the option of cutting the strips into individual peices or indeed keeping as a full strip perhaps down the edge of a scrapbook page or larger card.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges.
The House of Bears - Little Women quotes for inspiration
My Craft Creation - Spots and/or stripes
Through The Craftroom Door - Anything Goes
Make it Monday - Always Anything Goes


I hope you've enjoyed today's offering.
I am happy to report that I will be attending a craft fair tomorrow in Edinburgh and I hope to find lots of new bits to share with you next week!
Thanks for visiting! Would love it if you left me a comment!
thanks
Mo xxx

Tsunami Rose Designs Challenge #22 Friendship

Hi everyone, i'm back today with my latest creation for Tsunami Rose Designs. This was the first 6x6 mini wall hanging that I created. You might remember that I had a blog post last week with three other mini wall hangings - this is the one that started the craze!

This has been made with a page from a 6x6 chipboard album that has been covered with birdcage paper from the Victoria Park paper pad by LilyBeeDesign. All the printed ephemera is from the Tsunami Rose Shop - you will find all the links you need below!

I have used printable ephemera from the sample sheets in the stop this month and adhered to the board. I've also then added lace trim along two sides, some paper flowers and some bling along the other sides.

The bingo card was printed twice, the flowers fussy cut and attached using 3d foam and then covered with Glossy Accents.

I hope you like my project this week - I can see many more of these in my future!!!
Why not join us over at Tsunami Rose for the new challenge and see what my design team mates have created too!

Thanks for visiting
Mo xxx

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Down the Memory Lane 1 Year Anniversary Celebrations!

Exciting blog post today! My Tsunami Rose Design Team mate, Nupur Patel is celebrating the first anniversary of her own blog - Down the Memory Lane!!! She has a whole fortnight of celebratory posts and has asked crafters from across the world to create something to help her celebrate - and I am honoured to say that she asked me to contribute!

I decided that it had to be something special - more than just a card - and when I opened a drawer I found a chipboard plaque! I decided on a wall hanging and then decided on a Gorjuss theme! The plaque is approx 12"x6" and has black organza tied on for hanging. There's a tag on there so I can personalise this later - possibly for my daughter once we get her room organised!

I have used the DoCrafts Gorjuss Ultimate Die-Cut pack and 12x12 papers pack. I used black acrylic paint to cover the edges and Mod Podged some papers on the plaque. I've used the die cut decoupage of the girl known as 'I found my family in a book' - one of my favourite Gorjuss Girls! Some other tags, frames and images from the die cut pack are also included on there.

I've used some ZVA creations adhesive bling and purple mulberry paper flowers. The Marianne Creatables Chinese Rose die allowed me to make rolled roses from a printed vintage french book page which was then sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists in Fully Purple and Black Cherry.

The whole thing was then coated in Silver Spray and Sparkle to finish.

Many many congratulations to Napur and her blog! Why not pop over and have a go at winning some amazing blog candy while browsing the other featured artists!

Mo xxx

Mini Wall Hangings

I have been a busy bee the last few days! Got a few things coming up that i've been creating for and the first is a raffle donation!! The Wishaw Breastfeeding Support Group are having a pamper night in a few weeks time to raise much needed funds to continue to offer support to new and breastfeeding mums in my local area. This is a cause close to my heart, I have breastfed all four of my children and I know how important a good support system is in the early days or even if it is your third or fourth - having someone there to chat to or ask questions is so important!

I was approached by one of their committee members and asked if I would be willing to donate a prize for the raffle... I have made 4! I have three to show you here just now, the final one is a DT project that will be revealed here in a few weeks time and it was after making that first one I knew what I would make for the donation.

These are made using a 6x6 board book with the two metal rings to bind it - rather than making a book, I took each board individually and strung it with organza ribbon to make a mini 6x6 wall hanging.

This first uses papers and mini blooms from the Craftwork Cards Bohemian GoodyBag. I have covered the board in the glittered papers, put more of the papers through my cuttlebug with the Tim Holtz tattered floral die and added lace, beading and a pink gem for the centre of the main flower. A Craftwork Cards sentiment finishes the piece.

This next board uses papers from the Craftwork Cards Dolly Mixtures Collection - the Cheryl Papers and tickets. I've also used some of their kraft flowers which I coloured with promarkers and distress inks.Some crushed card candi, twine and liquid pearls finish this board.

The final board is slightly different and uses papers and die cut decoupage from the DoCrafts Gorjuss Girls collection. I've added some black lace, beading and bling, along with mulberry paper roses. Rolled roses were made using more of the Gorjuss papers and then this was sprayed with silver Spray and Sparkle.

All that remains is to make some gift boxes or gift bags to hold them and hope that they will be loved by the winners! I hope the night is great success and they acheive all they set out to do!

Perhaps you will join me tomorrow for a celebratory blog post!! All will be revealed in the morning!
See you then,
Mo xxx

Tsunami Rose Designs Challenge #21 - Theme Cards

Well, the sun has been out the last two days - it may be too much to ask for another day of sunshine but we live in hope! Here today is my DT project for this week's Tsunami Rose Designs Wednesday Challenge - #21 Cards. This month we are using printable ephemera samplers from TRD and this week had a love theme! hope you like it!

I have used burgandy papers from DoCrafts Gorjuss 12x12 Paper Pack and some black corrugated card for layering. All the black and white images and sentiments are from the TRD printable ephemera sampler. 

I've added black lace, black beading and some black crochet lace to the card. The burgandy flowers kept their stems but were wrapped into a bouquet using black organza ribbon and a bow.

A couple of large black buttons finish the card. 

Hope you like it! All your Tsunami Rose links are below - please

Mo xxx

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Big News!!!

Ok.... this is the news you've been waiting for!!!
Well... two bits of news so lets get started!

So, yeah, the DT that I applied for last week has accepted me and I am on the first Design Team for the brand spanking new PunkyouGirl Challenge Blog!!!!

The very talented Jacki Daniels of Scullduggery (Cards by Jacki) is the founder of this new dark themed challenge blog - think Gothic, Punk, Emo, Gory, Fantasy, Steampunk - wherever your imagination takes you when you think of the dark side of crafting!

So join us as we lead up to the first challenge which starts on the first Friday of June and promises to be fabulous! Come and have a look around the blog, check out the instructions and have a look at the awesome sponsors who'll be helping us out with prizes, and most importantly - come and Meet the Design Team!

Grab the blinkie too from the home page and get ready to join in the fun!!

So.... onto the second bit of news! My Tsunami Rose Design Team mate, Nupur, is celebrating the 1st birthday of her blog - Down the Memory Lane! She is having a fortnight of guest posts and projects to help celebrate the anniversary and Crafters Week and she has asked me to make something for her to show!
I will be posting my project next Friday May 24th but from today onwards you can check out some amazing designs on there and she has BLOG CANDY!!!!

There are 5 chances to win, come and check out the birthday post, follow the instructions and you might be a winner!!! And remember to come and check out my project next week!

So many exciting things going on! I may be a bit quiet the next few days due to some other commitments but I will be back with my next project very soon!

Mo xxx

Tsunami Rose Designs Challenge #20 Tags, Tags, Tags!

It's Wednesday again!!! Here's my DT post for Tsunami Rose Designs. 

This week's challenge is themed 'Tags, Tags, Tags!' and we are using Sampler sheets of Tsunami Rose Printable Ephemera which you can get for only $2 or as a free gift with your purchases this month from the TRD zibbet shop - all the links you need are at the bottom of this post - come and have a look at her beautiful papers, journal kits, sentiments and ephemera -stunning designs!!

Well, here is my project - I've gone with a card again... I think i've only ever done one tag on its own as a stand alone tag - this is something i might work on the next few months, making tag art.... I do have a Pinterest board with lots of tags and I know there's loads of inspiration out there. Anyway, i made a tag and popped it onto the front of a birthday card - and I even put another tag on the inside too!

I have used images from Tsunami Rose Designs along with a sentiment too - these can all be found on the ephemera samplers found in the shop on the links below. I have used some vintage seam binding on the tag and a white doily in behind it for another layer. Some lace and beading along the bottom of the tag for texture.

The background paper and paper flowers on the card are from Ephemera's Vintage Garden - these are printable papers found on the blog and they have a shop for even more beautiful printables.

The tag on the inside is using a sentiment from the same sampler pack and paper from the Tsunami Rose Damask Madame 6x6 paper pack and more sema binding.

Sorry for the quick post from me, some of the kids are still icky! Normal service should resume soon! I hope!

Mo xxx

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What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday #206

Ok, so here it is - the riot that is my workdesk!!!
I have stuff everywhere, cupboard wont shut, drawers wont shut - massive cleaning up to be done today!
Cant even get my cuttlebug back up where it belongs next to the cricut!

The little black pot was a pink a pot - i've painted it and hope to decorate it... hopefully today if the kids give me a chance!

I do have some fabulous news to share with you all in the next few days and i'm so excited about it!!!
Two lots of news in fact!!!
I do hope you will join me later today for my Tsunami Rose Designs DT project and my big news reveal later in the week!

In  the mean time, pop over to Julia's blog at Stamping Ground to see what's on crafty work desks across the globe this morning!

Mo xxx

PunkYouGirl Challenge Blog DT Call

While looking after poorly babies today, I was blog surfing and net hopping and exploring the blogs/lives of fellow crafty folks and came across a brand spanking new black and pinky purple challenge blog called PunkyouGirl! This is a dark themed monthly challenge which, when I saw it, I knew I had to enter the current challenge! And then... when I saw they had a Design Team Call in progress I knew I wanted to try out for it!

Of course, i'm cutting it very fine in that the deadline for applying is now less than 2 hours away.... and I made the mistake of visiting the blogs of those who've already applied... and I feel completely inadequate - the entries so far are stunning and far darker and more appropriate than I think many of my blog posts are...


However, I will submit my work and hope for the best!

here's what i've to do - hopefully it will explain this slightly different blog post than my normal!

How to apply
Write a post on your blog with a brief bio about yourself including any design teams you are already on and 3 of your favourite makes
Put a link to this blog in your post and help spread the word about our arrival
link your post in the linky thing at bottom of this post making sure there is way of contacting you on your blog I will not just leave you a comment
you do not have to be on any Design teams at present we all have to start somewhere

the DT call is open until Saturday May 11th and I will contact all chosen with in a week (I hope)
so if you enjoy playing on the dark side and can commit to all the above then please have a go
Thank you and good luck


Well, I'm Maureen, I'm a stay at home mum to 4 kids - 18months, 3yo, 7yo and 12yo - and I have been crafting in one form or another for years. I have always drawn but after having my first child discovered card making. This went on the back burner for a bit after having my now 3 year old but now that the younger ones are up a bit, I'm finding more me time and loving crafting again. I like to think I can turn my hand at anything crafty - I like to challenge myself to step outside my comfort zone and joining my first Design Team has really pushed these boundaries! I used to be very much a 'clean and simple' card maker but working with the Tsunami Rose Designs DT has allowed me to play with and develop new techniques and styles - I am now in my second month working within this team.


This first project that I've chosen to show you, I said on the blog at the time that I was 'harnessing my inner goth'!!! This was a door hanger using a printable paper pack from Tsunami Rose and was a DT project for them at the start of April. I loved the colour combinations on the papers and chose the pink feather to help highlight the pink in the papers. The full blog post can be found here.

My next project is an altered mini board book! I have discovered that I love to 'alter' things - I cannot go shopping any more without imagining how an item would look with certain papers or colours or embellishments adorning it.... this has led to some questionable charity shop purchases recently... but I digress! I love Gorjuss - have been a follower of the Artist Suzanne Woolcott for a number of years now and I'm delighted that I can now use her images in my paper projects. As I mentioned, I like to try out new techniquesand this experiment came from seeing a youtube tutorial.

This final peice was my first steampunk style project. I love the romance and decadence that comes through in this genre. Mixing the mechanical elements - cogs and clocks and wheels - with roses and velvet and sumptious reds and purples - taking the vintage browns and the splash of colour. Distressed edges and soft ribbons and lace, dyes and inks and stamps and masks... pretty but edgy, dark but with the element of beauty.

I look forward to participating in the PunkyouGirl Monthly Challenge Blog - I would love the chance to work with the design team, creating inspiration and further developing my own skills.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post, if you have the time, there are so many other projects I would love to have shown you. I can be contacted via email at maureenjscott@googlemail.com

I look forward to hearing from PunkyouGirl!
Mo xxx

Bohemian Floral Altered Box

I have boxes, some are plain, boring brown ones, others are fancy Gorjuss tins, some are re-purposed ice cream tubs - this box was a Christmas gift box, it was black with red and gold images on both the sides and the lid. I use it to store ribbon rolls and it hides in the cupboard when not in use. I decided to pretty it up!!!

I took the lid, gesso'd around the edges and while it dried dug out my Craftwork Cards Bohemian Goody Bag (this is from last year but I loved it so much I bought extra plain and glittered papers in their January Sale!) I used Mod Podge to adhere a sheet of paper to the lid - it has a bird in a cage design with keys and musical notes in the background.

My hot glue gun was put into action to attach the lace around the edges of the lid - I chose a wide lace so it would cover the edges and hang down around the box - and then again to attach the pearl beading around the lid.

If you've seen my blog before, you may be aware that I love my paper flowers! I have been known to sit and make them - 'just cos' and some of the aforementioned tins are in fact full of blooms ready for the next project! These lilac boho blooms, however, did not come out of a tin!!! I sat watching some tv and created the mini blooms from glittered die cuts from the goodybag. The card candi attached is lilac with white spots and the tiny rolled centres have liquid pearls in too.

The rolled paper roses at the bottom left corner were die cut using Marianne Creatables Chinese Rose - the leaves are also from this set. Again they were cut from glittered boho papers. The top right corner has the same candi, crushed, with lavender Stickles in the centres. Crackle Accents was used on the key image at the top right near the candi for extra effect and some Lace stickles on the image of the bird printed in the cage.

The die cut birdcage comes from a new Craftwork Cards goody box and i've coloured it with a lilac promarker to match the papers, adding lace and lavender stickles to highlight it. The two glittery birds were cut from the glittered boho paper using a template also from Craftwork Cards. Some narrower decorative lace fills the gaps on each side.

The four sides of the box have been covered with more of the glittered paper stock - I was considering adding some dimension to the sides but this is still very much a used, practical item, it's full of ribbon as I type, so I think I will leave it as is.

I have ordered some lace to add to the corners where the paper meets on the sides - but mr postman hasn't brought it yet! I will try and post an updated piccie as and when it gets done! It may take some time... I have several projects on the go right now - cant wait to show you all! Stay tuned!

mo xxx

Tsunami Rose Challenge #19 Motherly Love

Well, sticking with the theme of Mothers, this week's challenge over at Tsunami Rose Designs is called 'Motherly Love' and the design team have put together some examples for you using Printable Ephemera from Tsunami Rose - beautiful tags, mason jars, images, sentiments all put together to provide the perfect elements for your projects. You can find all the links you need below.

Here is my project for this challenge. I think I may be in my purple phase...

I have used a post card and sentiment from the ephemera sampler and some purple card stock, purple lace and purple card candi accents! I've also used mini glittered blooms from Craftwork Cards Bohemian Goody Bag with olive candi in the centres. The 'Happy Mother's Day' is also from the printed ephemera.

The background is using a spellbinders embossability in Paisley pattern with distress inks Worn Lipstick and Dusty Concord to colour it. I've edges the elements with purple stickles.

I love to stay and chat but children running riot and I think there must be a bug about!!! 

Come and join us for the Motherly Love challenge! You dont need to use TRD elements but we love to see what you can do with them!

Mo xxx

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Black, White and Purple Sparkly Mother's Day Card!

Well, I have been so inspired by the printable ephemera and beautiful papers from Tsunami Rose Designs, that I have made another Mother's Day Card to submit as my entry for the current Wednesday Challenge over at the Tsunami Rose Blog. This week is Challenge #18 - Mother's Day and you will see the DT projects that I've already made for the challenge there as well as here on my blog too.

Today's card is sticking with a theme! I loved the black and purple card that I created as part of the DT and have vowed to make more with these colours - given that they are my favourites and very under used!

The card also uses stash from one of my other favourite craft suppliers - Craftwork Cards. I have used black and white chevron print paper from their new Black Magic GoodyBox and Card Candi in colourway 'Saville Row'.

I used the chevron paper with the Marianne Creatables Chinese Rose die to make the paper roses in the bottom left corner and added Star Dust stickles on the flower and tag and lavender stickles around the sentiment. The purple patterned ribbon was in the bottom of my ribbon box!

I've been having a look at all the new blog challenges out there for the start of May and would like to enter my card into a few of them as well as the Tsunami Rose Wednesday Challenge.

Creative Corner Challenges #17 - Flowers and/or Mother's Day

Desert Island Crafter's Challenge - May 1st Itinerary using 3 (Roses), 7 (Glitter it), 8 (B&W +Purple)

Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - #88 Anything Goes

 Coffee, Chocolate and Cards - #38 Mother's Day

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - April - Favourite Colour Combo

Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes

The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog - #16 Mother's or for a female

Die Cuttin Divas - #113 Anything Goes

I hope you all enjoyed my card and hope you have a great weekend!

Mo xxx

Tsunami Rose Challenge 18 - Mother's Day Challenge

Well, I am reliably informed that it is Mother's Day in the USA on May 8th and as I'm part of the Design Team for Tsunami Rose Designs, based in Las Vegas, this week's DT project is for Mother's Day!

This month we are working with printable ephemera from Tsunami Rose which you can buy as a file and print as required, these are available here.

When Daisy sent me the file for this week's challenge... I was totally inspired and went a bit crazy and made TWO projects for this week!

My first card was a vintage inspired card using the central image and wording from Tsunami Rose. I used some background papers from the Shabby Vintage Goodybag over at Craftwork Cards and some ribbon and 3mm string beads.

The large flower here is made using the Tim Holtz Tattered Floral die from Sizzix Alterations, and the spiral cut roses are using the Chinese Rose by Marianne Creatables. The paper used for both was from a 6x6" paper pad called Floral Fantasy by Louise Tiler - a recent free gift from Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine.

I used Worn Lipstick and Vintage Photo Distress Ink Pads also from Tim Holtz to distress/colour the flowers and the central image where i've also added someRanger Glossy Accents to the lady and the flowers. Opal White Liquid Pearls finish the edges of the card.

This next card is a far more modern take and very much my style - purple is my colour and i love this card!
I have used a chipboard dress form from Craftwork Cards along with purple card Candi. The B&W damask paper is from Victoria Park 6x6 paper pack by LilyBee Design.

The tag and wording are both printable ephemera from Tsunami Rose and i've added black organza ribbon and purple mulberry flowers to finish the card.... along with star dust stickles and Dusty Concord distress ink!

I hope you enjoy these designs, why not join us at the Tsunami Rose Blog for this week's challenge - there's no need to use TRD products but we love to see what you do with them!

All the links you need are below, see you soon!
Mo xxx

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