A Gift Bag for a Man... and More...

Do you know how Max calls me ? "The Bag Lady" lol... Yes, I have made another gift bag, this time it is for a man. I must say I always struggle a bit when I have to make something for a man but now thanks to Nicecrane Designs I have found the right images for any male project ! The sets are called "The Roosevelt Bears" I and II and the images are so quirky and fun ! Here is what I have made with one of them...

Recipe : Papers from K and Co - Car and Corners : Dies from Marianne Design.

My gift bag will enter the challenges :

- "Father's Day" with Anything Goes Challenge,

- "Transport" with Simons Says Stamp,

- "Male Theme" with Polka Doodle,

- "Man or Boy" with The Sisterhood of Crafters

and "Masculine" with Creative Creations.

I have also made a tag to match the gift bag I made the other day...

Recipe : Papers from Anna Griffin - Heart and shells : Dies from Marianne Design - Image : "Gabrielle Ray - Vintage Photos II" set from Nicecrane Designs - Sentiment from Papercupcakes Stamps.

My tag will enter the challenges "Vintage" with Craft and Me and "Here Comes the Summer" with Craft Room Challenge.

And last but by no mean least, I have coloured a Vintage Shaped Library Card from Nicecrane Designs. I love reading and I visit my local library regularly. The book I am reading right now is "Labyrinth" from Kate Mosse. The library card will remind me when I have to return the book and I can use it as a bookmark too !

Happy Crafting !

Alice in Wonderland

I was asked to make a gift bag with an "Alice in Wonderland" theme. I didn't have any image of Alice but I found just what I needed at Nicecrane Designs... The image I have chosen is from the set "Alice and L.M. Atwell". Here is what I have made...

Recipe : Papers from K and Co - Corners and tea cup : Dies from Creata - Sentiment from Create with TLC.

My gift bag will enter the challenges :

- "Anything but Square" with Creata Challenge,

- "Anything Goes" with Bearly Mine Challenge,

- "What a Wonderful Dream..." with Altered Alice,

- "Anything Goes" with Through the Craft Room Door

and "Use your Dies" with Scrap it Girl.

Happy Crafting !

A Card and the Story of Punky Dunk and the Goldfish...

Yes, I have made a card - at last - but I must say I didn't really enjoy making it and I am not really pleased with the result... Anyway, here it is...

Recipe : Papers from Marianne Design ("Victorian Vintage" Collection) - Digital image from Nicecrane Designs (from the set : "Children Paintings - E.Vernon") - Flowers : Dies from Crealies - Leaves : Die from Creata - I made the little cherub with clay, then rubbed a bit of Perfect Pearls and ink on it for the distressing.

My card will enter the challenge "For a Girl" with Deep Ocean Challenge and the challenge "A Bit Vintage" with Whimsical Designs.

I have also made another little story book using the images of the new set "Punky Dunk and the Gold Fish" from Nicecrane Designs... I just love this little cat... And if you would like to colour him, there is even a set of black and white images of Punky Dunk !

 

Recipe : Papers from First Edition - Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts - Sentiment from PaperCupcakes Stamps.

Happy Crafting !

Guess what... Two more Gift Bags !!!

Yes, I have been at it again ! I just can't stop decorating gift bags, I don't feel like making a card right now... Here is the first one I have made...

Recipe : Papers from DCWV - Digital image from Nicecrane Designs, it is part of the "Sweet Kid" set - Corners and Leaves : Dies from Creata.

My gift bag will enter the challenge "Anything but Square" with PaperTake Weekly and the colour challenge with Creata. Here is their photo inspiration...

And here is my second gift bag...

Recipe : Papers from Anna Griffin - Image from Nicecrane Designs, it is one of the images from the "Gabrielle Ray Vintage Photos II" set - Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts - Shells : Dies from Marianne Design.

My gift bag will enter the challenges :

- "Summer Scene" with CupcakeCraft Challenges,

- "Splish, Splash, Splosh" with LEJ Designs,

- "Ribbon and Lace" with Rhedd and Rosie's,

- "Use Flowers" with Card and Scrap,

- "Summer Feeling" with Alota Rubber Stamps

and the challenge "Violets and Greens + Ribbon and Flowers" with The Ribbon Reel Challenge .

I just want to let you know that Max is back from hospital : the surgeon said he was lucky not to damage his tendons, he will need some physio at some stage though... He isn't in too much pain but he can't do a lot right now and he hates it... A big thank you to those of you who sent me words of comfort, it was very much appreciated !

Happy Crafting !

A Kewpie Gift Bag and the Story of Punky Dunk and the Mouse

I have made another gift bag using one of the black and white images from the set "The Kewpies" from Nicecrane Designs. I had not done any colouring for a long time and I quite enjoyed it. The sentiment is from the set "The Kewpies - Baby Quotes" from Nicecrane Designs too. Here is my bag...

Recipe : Papers from Marianne Design ("Victorian Vintage" Collection) - Lace from The Ribbon Girl.

My gift bag will enter the challenges :

- "Lots of Layers" with Creative Moments

- "Baby Theme" with V's Sweet Ideas

and the challenge with Sketch Saturday as I have used their sketch for the front of my bag. Here it is...

Now let me tell you about the story of "Punky Dunk and the Mouse"... When I saw the images of the set at Nicecrane Designs I knew straight away what I was going to make with them : I have a friend who is as mad about cats as I am and I am sure she will love this little story book... And don't worry about the mouse : she is a smart cookie and nothing bad happens to her ! It's more than I can say about the mice Sukie brings us !!! Here is the little story book...

s 

It was not easy to take a photo of the inside but this will give you an idea...

 

Recipe : Papers from Anna Griffin - Cat and Mouse : Dies from Joy Craft - Flowers : Dies from Crealies - Hessian ribbon from The Ribbon Girl.

My little book will enter the challenges :

- "Anything Goes" with Simon Says Stamp,

- "Dies and Punches" with That Craft Place Blog,

- "All About Cats" with Come and Get it Challenges,

and "Add a Die Cut" with The Ribbon Girl.

Max and I spent the afternoon and the evening at the A & E of two different hospitals : he badly injured his right hand while working in the garden... They have kept him in (at the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham) because of the seriousness of the injury... Max is left handed but we still need both hands don't we ! He hates hospitals so my heart aches for him... I do hope it will soon be sorted out... I don't really feel like crafting today but I will try, it will keep my mind busy for a bit !

Happy Crafting !

A Kewpie Notebook...

There are some new sets of images at Nicecrane Designs, and one of them is the "Kewpies Vintage Postcards"... I have used one of the images of the set on a little notebook I have made - using once more my beloved Bind-it-All machine !

Recipe : Papers and Sentiment from HOTP - Flourish, Butterfly, Leaves and Flowers : Dies from Marianne Design.

My notebook will enter the challenges :

- "Anything Goes" with Through the Craft Room Door,

- "Ribbon or Lace" with Deep Ocean Challenge (you can just see the lace behind the flowers !),

- "Handmade Flowers" with Papercraft Star,

- "Ribbon or Lace" with The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge,

- "Get your Dies Out" with Marianne Design Divas

and the challenge with PaperTake Weekly as I have used one of their sketches for the cover of my notebook, it is the Sketch 38 . Here it is...

And just for fun, I have made another gift bag using one of the images from the "Four Seasons Bookmarks" from Nicecrane Designs, I just love those images...

 Happy Crafting !

A Birthday Set...

I was asked to make a special card for a birthday. I often make a box to put the card in, but this time I have decided to put the card in a gift bag ! I have used one of the images of the new set "Four Seasons Bookmarks" from Nicecrane Designs. The illustrations are from A.Mucha and they are gorgeous... So first here is the card...

Recipe : Papers from K and Co - Flowers : Die from Tim Holtz - Birdcage : Die from Prickly Pear - Bird : Die from Leane Creatief - Corners : Die from Marianne Design - The borders were made using a stamp from The Waltzing Mouse.

My card will enter the challenge :

- "Lots of Layers" with Crafts and Me,

- "Tie it Up" with Cute Card Thursday,

- "To Die For" with PolkaDoodle,

- "Happy Birthday" with Allsorts Challenge,

- "Anything Goes with Ribbons" with Crafty Ribbons

and "Monochromatic" with Sparkles Forum Challenges.

Here is the gift bag...

And I have added a little bookmark...

Happy Crafting !

Another Gift Bag...

I know, I know, I am making a lot of them but I have so much fun with those bags and I have had a few orders so... Here is the last one I have made... I have used a digital image from Nicecrane Designs, it is from the set "Born to Be Wild" and the images are so cute and funny !

Recipe : Papers from Crafty Bitz - Hanging Heart and Flowers : Dies from Die-Namics - Heart and corners : Dies from Marianne Design - Sentiment from Papercupcakes.

My gift bag will enter the challenges :

- "Green and Yellow" with Make My Monday,

- "Lots of Layers" with Crafts and Me,

- "Blooming Lovely" with Rhedd and Rosie's

- "Flowers" with Everybody Art Challenge,
- "Favourite Two Colour Combo" with As You Like It (I looooove yellow - it was MY colour when I was little - and I think it looks so nice with green !)

and "Anything Goes" with Bearly Mine Challenges.

And now here is a tag I have made, using another image from "Charming Children Illustration II" from Nicecrane Designs.

Recipe : Papers from Dovecraft -Heart : Die from Marianne Design - Sentiment from Cuddly Buddly - Sticker from Crafty Secrets.

Happy Crafting !

Playing with Beautiful Vintage Images...

The lovely Ignacio from Nicecrane Designs has asked me to be part of his DT. I am over the moon : his shop is full of gorgeous vintage images... What a joy it will be to play with them ! Here are two projects I have made using images of two new collections Ignacio has just added. First a card...

Recipe : Digital image "Charming Children Illustrations I" from Nicecrane Designs - Papers from K and Co - Flowers : Dies from Crealies - Butterfly and Leaves : Die from Marianne Design - Sewing Elements and Corner : Dies from Die-Namics

My card will enter the challenges :

- "Pearls" with The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge,

- "Flower Power" with Simon Says Stamp,

- "Girls, Girls, Girls" with Joanna Sheen Challenge

and the sketch challenge with Sketchy Colors (I have just noticed that I have put the flowers on the wrong side... Grrr...)

And here is a gift bag - I just love making them -

Recipe : Digital Image "Charming Children Illustrations II" from Nicecrane Designs - Papers from K and Co ("Wild Raspberry" Collection) - Corners : Die from Marianne Design - Hanging Heart : Die from Die-Namics - Sentiment from Cuddly Buddly.

Happy Crafting !

Monochromatic...

I have been playing with the new set "New and True" the lovely Ignacio from NiceCrane has just put in his shop. They are illustrations from old books and they are really beautiful. I didn't want to ruin the image I wanted to put on my card with my colouring - lol -  so I have just printed it in black on a vintage paper from Joy Crafts. Here is the card...

And here is the tag...

Recipe : Flowers and Leaves : Dies from Crealies - Heart : Die from Marianne Design - Hanging Heart : Die from Die-Namics - Sentiment from Cuddly Buddly.

My card will enter the challenge "Earthtone" with Oozak and the challenge "Monochromatic" with Sparkles Forum Challenges.

Happy Crafting ! 

A Cat Angel... or an Angel Cat ?

I read somewhere that "Cats are little angels with fur"... I'm not sure about my cat - who can be a little devil at times - but this image from Seneca Pond is the right illustration for the saying...

Recipe : Papers from HOTP - Corners and Heart : Dies from Marianne Design - Cat : Die from Joy Crafts - Sentiment from Cuddly Buddly.

My gift bag will enter the challenges :

- "Animal Antics" with Incy Wincy Designs,

- "Lots of Layers" with Cupcake Craft Challenges,

- "Corners or Borders" with LEJ Designs,

- "Your Favourite Embellishment" with Fab'n Funky Challenges (It has to be corners, I put corners on nearly everyone of my projects),

- "Think Pink" with Crafting for All Seasons

and "Layers" with Card and Scrap.

I nearly forgot, here is the matching tag I have made to go with the gift bag...

Happy Crafting !

Remembering My Childhood...

It's the theme of the challenge at Crafting By Designs and this image from NiceCrane was just perfect for me : when I was little I used to love playing with my dolls - I still remember their names ! My Mum taught me how to knit and I remember making little blankets for their beds ! Happy memories... Here is the card I have made...

Recipe : Papers : I have used scraps of papers left from a pad from Prima - Flowers : Die from Cottage Cutz - Leaves and centers of flowers : Dies from Crealies - Sentiment from Cuddly Buddly.

My card will also enter the challenges :

- "Favourite Die or Punch" with As You Like It (I just love the leaves dies from Crealies...),

- "You can Say That Again" with Southern Girls Challenge

and "Get Out Those Scraps" with Hiding in my Craftroom.

Happy Crafting !

Cats Again...

You know by now how much I love cats and I could not resist those images from SenecaPond... I have used them on a tag and on a gift bag... Here is the tag...

My tag will enter the challenges :

- "Anything That Flies" with Make my Monday,

- "All About Animals" with Creative Craft Challenges 2,

- "Things with Wings" with Simon Says Stamp,
- "Cats" with It's All About the Vintage

and "Anything Goes + Verse" with Word Art Wednesday.

And here is the gift bag...

 

My gift bag will enter the challenges :

- "Anything Goes" with PaperTake Weekly,

- "Something Old and Something New" with Crafty Creations (Something Old : the papers from HOTP - I've had them in my stash for ages - Something New : the images from Seneca Pond)

and the challenge "Anything Goes" with Divas By Design.

Happy Crafting ! 

Let's Do Cute...

I have chosen two cute images I found on Etsy for the card and gift bag I have just finished... It's not really my style but I must say I have enjoyed making them... Here is the card...

Recipe : Papers from K and Co - Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts - Sentiment from Cuddly Buddly - Leaves : Die from Marianne Design.

My card will enter the challenges :

- "Happy Mail" with Simon Says Stamp,

- "Inspired by a Song" with Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge (it's the song : "I'll be there for You " - Theme from Friends by Rembrants - See right side bar if you would like to listen to it),

and the challenge with Paper Take Weekly as I have used their sketch for my card. Here it is...

And here is the gift bag...

Recipe : Paper from Anna Griffin - Flowers and leaves : Dies from Crealies - Heart : Die from Marianne Design - Sentiment from Cuddly Buddly.

My gift bag will enter the challenges :

- "All About Babies" with Simply Create Too,

- "Anything but a Card" with Polka Doodle,

- "Maybe Baby" with In the Pink Challenge,

- "Use Kraft" with A Little Bit Crafty,
- "Anything Goes" with Die Cuttin Divas 

and "Anything Goes" with Crafting Musketeers.

Happy Crafting !

Longing for the Summer...

I suppose that like most people in the UK I am really looking forward to having a bit of sunshine and warmth... It's still cold here and I wonder when I am going to take my lighter clothes out of the drawers !!! So I have chosen two "summery" images for my card and my tag... Just to cheer me up a bit !!! Here is the card...

Recipe : Papers were downloaded for free, sorry can't remember where from... - Digital image from Etsy - Shells and heart : Dies from Marianne Design - Corner : Die from Joy Crafts.

My card will enter the challenges :

- "All at Sea" with Cupcake Craft Challenges,

- "Lots of Layers" with Cutie Pie Challenge

and the challenge with Cupcake Inspirations as I used the colours of their photo inspiration on my card... Here it is...

And this is my tag...

Recipe : Papers from K and Co - Butterfly : Die free with a magazine - Flowers : Wild Orchid Crafts - Image from Etsy.

My tag will enter the challenges : "Orange and Cream" with Sketchy Colors and "Anything Goes" with Bearly Mine Challenges.

Happy Crafting !

Another Christmas Gift Bag...

I had so much fun making the last ones that I had to make another one ! Here it is...

Recipe : Papers from Dovecraft - Digital image from Etsy - Flowers and Leaves : Dies from Crealies - Ticket from Vectoria Designs - Corners : Die from Joy Crafts.

My gift bag will enter the challenges :

- "Anything but a Card" with Make My Monday,

- "Anything Goes" with LEJ Designs,

- "Anything But Square" with Di's Digi Designs,

- "Kraft" with My Time To Craft,

- "Photo Inspiration Challenge" with Winter Wonderland

and the challenge with 2 Sisters Challenge as I have used their sketch to make the front of the bag. Here it is...

Happy Crafting !

A Tussy Mussy...

In victorian time a tussy mussy was used to carry flowers... Well, you could not carry flowers in mine as it is made with an empty toilet paper roll but it is perfect for a few sweets - or choccies !

Recipe : Paper from Bo Bunny - Flowers : Dies from Die-Namics - Cameo : Stamp from Waltzing Mouse - Leaves : Die from Joy Crafts - Flower buds from Wild Orchid Crafts.

My tussy mussy will enter the challenges :

- "Anything but a Card" with Allsorts Challenge,

- "Recycle" with Joanna Sheen Challenge,

- "Anything Goes with Ribbon" with Crafty Ribbon Challenge,

and "Anything Goes" with Crafty Emblies.

Happy Crafting !

Two Christmas Gift Bags...

I haven't started my Christmas cards yet but I have made two gift bags for Christmas... Here is the first one...

Recipe : Papers : Free with a magazine - Tickets from Vectoria Designs - Digital image from Mary's Montage - Corners and Heart : Dies from Marianne Design.

My gift bag will enter the challenges :

- "Anything Goes" with Through the Craftroom Door,

- "Stitching : Faux or Real" with Rhedd and Rosie,

- "Kraft" with Christmas at Sweet Stampin Challenges,

- "Anything Goes" with Simon Says Stamp

and the challenge with Christmas Challenges as I have used their sketch on the front of my bag.

Here is my second Christmas gift bag...

 

Recipe : Papers from Dovecraft ("Noel" Collection) (I have had them for a few years now...) - Tickets from Vectoria Designs - Corners : Die from Marianne Design - Gingerbreadman : Die from Tim Holtz - Digital image from Epattern My Front Porch.

My gift bag will enter the challenges :

- "Favourite Colour Combo" with Deep Ocean (That's Yellow and Brown)

- "Anything Goes" with Crimbo Crackers,

- "Favourite Colour Combination" with Bunny Zoe's Crafts

and the challenge with Sketch and Stash as I have used their sketch for the front of my bag. Here it is...

Happy Crafting !

The Wedding of my Beautiful Daughter...

My dear daughter Anne and her adorable fiance Francois got married on saturday... We had a fantastic time and the day was full of joy, emotion and happiness... Here is the only photo I've got so far, if you want to see more you will have to wait a few weeks as they are now going on their honeymoon in the States... Don't you think they were both gorgeous ?

A Ted on a Gift Bag... and on a Tag !

I had so much fun making a gift bag and a matching tag with this image from "By Digital Paper"... Here is the bag...

Recipe : Digital papers from Mary's Montage - Flower : Die from Die-Namic - Leaves and heart : Dies from Marianne Design - Butterfly : The die was free with a magazine - Corners : Die from Joy Crafts.

My gift bag will enter the challenges :

- "Cute and Cuddly" with Cupcake Craft Challenges,

- "Lace/Ribbon and one round shape" with Alota Rubber Stamps,

- "Anything but a Card" with Creative Inspirations,

- "No Stamp Allowed" with Crafting for All Seasons,

- "Card/Tag + Matching Bag" with Crafty Card Makers

and "Handmade Flowers" with Creative Card Crew.

Now, here is the matching tag...

The sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly.

My tag will enter the challenges :

- "Anything Goes" with My Craft Spot,

- "Bears" with Di's Digi Design Challenge,

- "Dies" with Card and Scrap,
- "Anything Goes + Verse" with Word Art Wednesday,

- "Say it isn't Sew" with Top Tip Tuesday,

and the challenge with Sketch Saturday as I have used their sketch to make my card. Here it is...

 Happy Crafting !