Shopping My Stash Challenge!!

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I mentioned the other day that during March and April myself and Rachel would be challenging ourselves to shop from our own unused crafty stash and not buy new goodies for the next 60 days.... I didn't really spend anything in January as my mojo had completely disappeared but I think I made up for it in Feb with orders from SU, Simon Says Stamp, Re-stocks and Dies from Clearly Besotted, small Oyster stamps, Papertrey Ink and Winnie & Walter orders and buying the basics for Metal Stamping so when my CC bill arrived I nearly fell on the floor....

I knew I had a bit of unused stash but what I didn't realise was how bad it really was (this is only Stamps & Dies btw and excludes the SSS order as it's not yet arrived!!) I was actually fairly disgusted and embarrassed with myself when I saw how much stuff there was.. So here I am declaring my obsession.... this is the proof......

I know, I could nearly open a shop.... And this does not include the stack of Sizzix dies I am going to list for sale (on Facebook Page -  Die Cutters UK - For Sale Or Swap initially) as most of them are new alphabets!

So for the next 60 days with an exception of my budget for Clearly Besotted Orders ( neither of us can go without those!!) I need to shop from my own stash and not buy any Stamps, Dies etc etc.....

Furthermore, if I decide I really don't love any of these items.. I will be listing them for sale so make sure you check out my Items For Sale page!

I'll have a tally of how I am getting on once I have sorted them all out... Is anyone else wanting to try this challenge??? Yeah, I didn't think so!!!!

Congrats!

Morning LIMettes... we have a fab sketch for you this week over at Less Is More and this week it's designed by Chrissie.

For my card this week I decided to make a little scene using the kite and cloud from Clearly Besotted's Sky's The Limit set.  It's finished off with the Congrats word die. 

 This week I feel like I have taken 10 steps backwards with everything ... looking forward to a better week and trying to get on with my life.... 

Hope you have a great weekend.. I'll be half way to pick my Grandma up from Wales as you are reading this... fingers crossed not in the rain!!!

My Friend

Morning.. If you have seen the brand new Papercraft Inspirations mag you will have seen the project I tested.  The card was so much fun to make I thought I would share it with you!

I have kept the card pretty rustic using some fab lace and twine from the Ribbon Girl! I used a small stamp from the Geometric Style II from Clearly Besotted to decorate the doll and a simple sentiment from LOTV!  I used the burlap texture plate from Papertrey Ink for the back ground.

Hope you like it!

Thanks For Being Fab!

Morning.. I have a really quick card for you today... Been a tough couple of weeks with a few bits going on and my mojo has taken a massive nose dive .. I really am struggling to create at the moment and have done very little crafting... I hate the feeling but I'm just taking it one day at a time..

Yesterday was my 1,000th post .. that really feels like a crafting milestone.. the last 3 years has gone pretty quickly too!!Thanks to everyone for their continued support... you are all amazing!!

Anyhow last week I got a really lovely surprise in the post so this is a quick thank you card... Just hope it has arrived as I need to blog it today to enter the spring challenge at CBS !

Inspiration:
Clearly Besotted Stamps: #10 Spring

Card Recipe:
Image: Fresh Flowers from CBS
Die: Thanks from CBS
Coloured in with Stampin Up re-inkers Wisteria Wonder and Pear Pizzaz

That's all from me for the moment... better get on with work...

Dad... Clearly Whimsy Stamps April Release BLOG HOP!

Morning... Welcome to the Clearly Whimsy Stamps April Release BLOG HOP!   All 9 new clear stamp sets AND 8 coordinating die/die sets are now available to buy from the Whimsy Stamps store! 

 Today we are excited to introduce you to the final stamps sets and die of this month's release - two FAMILY WORDS stamp sets and a coordinating WONDERFUL WORD die! Hop on over to the Whimsy blog to take a peek at the new products. 

The DT are holding a blog hop to celebrate this month's release.  The hop starts today (Wednesday April 23rd at 8.00AM EDT) and ends on Sunday April 27th at 12.00PM EDT.

PRIZE ALERT ... One lucky hopper will win 2 new release stamps sets and 1 coordinating die! To enter the draw, simply leave a comment at EVERY stop along the hop!

Simonne Clay
Heather Pulvirenti

Jen Nelson 

Debbie Eastman 

Deb Routledge 

Amy Kolling 

Rosemary Dennis 

Pop's Morfitt (Guest Designer) 

For my card today I used the males word from the set to create a fathers day card.  I simply stamped each word in different colours of shadow inks.  It's finished off with a star charm, some twine and a little stitching!

Hope you have a great Wednesday...

New Direction?

Morning... Back to work today after more than a week off .. it was so hard to get out of bed lol! It's day 2 of the....

This week clearly whimsy are releasing 9 new clear stamp sets and 8 coordinating die/die sets, and they will be available to buy from the Whimsy Stamps store Tomorrow. 

Yesterday we introduced COFFEE BREAK and HAPPY HELLO, and today we are excited to introduce you to HAPPY TRAVELS and IN THE GARDEN stamp sets and dies! 

Hop on over to the Whimsy blog to take a peek at the new products. For my card, I used the Happy Travels set and stamped the sign image before cutting it out and adding it to the card.  Perfect for someone off on their travels or another journey!

We have hidden a fabulous prize of a $15 GIFT CERTIFICATE at one of the stops on today’s hop! We will draw the lucky winner from the comments left here and on today’s design team posts (listed below), so be sure to visit everyone and leave a comment to be entered into the draw.

Pop's Morfitt (Guest Designer) 
Simonne Clay 
Rosemary Dennis 
Deb Routledge 
Debbie Eastman 
Amy Kolling 
Jen Nelson

Hope to see you again tomorrow for our RELEASE DAY HOP and the final reveal of our last set of products!

Hello!!

Morning.. Today I have a sneak peak for you of the ...

Over the next 3 days the design team will reveal the new April 2014 Clearly Whimsy Stamps products. Whimsy is releasing 9 new clear stamp sets and 8 coordinating die/die sets this week, and they will be available to buy from the Whimsy Stamps store from Wednesday 23rd  April 2014. 
Today we are revealing the COFFEE BREAK 4x6 and 3x4 stamp sets together with their coordinating die set, PLUS the HAPPY HELLO 4x6 stamp set and coordinating Hello large word die. 
Hop on over to the Whimsy blog to take a peek at the new products. 

 For my card, I used the fabulous Hello Die and sneaked in the Star die from the Coffee Cup die set :-)

 We also have a fabulous Guest Designer.... welcome Pop’s Morfitt and Pop's will be joining us for the entire 3 day release event and sharing her wonderful creations featuring our April release. Welcome Pop’s! 

PRIZE ALERT ... We have hidden a fabulous prize of a $15 GIFT CERTIFICATE at one of the stops on today’s hop! We will draw the lucky winner from the comments left here and on today’s design team posts (listed below), so be sure to visit everyone and leave a comment to be entered into the draw.

Amy Kolling 
Debbie Eastman 
Deb Routledge 
Heather Pulvirenti 
Rosemary Dennis 
Jen Nelson 
Simonne Clay 
Pop's Morfitt

Hope to see you again tomorrow for Day 2 of our release sneak peeks! 

Have a great Bank Holiday Monday!!

Feel Better Soon...

Morning... Happy Easter everyone... I've spent some of the last week crafting although not much to be honest and trying to fill the gaps in my card box as I have a Farmers Market coming up in a couple of weeks. This is one of the get well soon cards I have made.  Kept it really bright and cheery!!

Card Recipe:
Image: Kidoodles from Stampin Up
ProMarkers (yes I know.. not used these for a while lol)
DSP: Stampin Up

I had a lovely couple of days with my visit to Wales ... the weather was gorgeous and wish I could have stayed a little longer.. Although I have to go back next Saturday to pick Grandma back up... just hope the weather is as nice :-)

Have a great day..

When Life Gives You Lemons

Morning LIMettes... It's theme week over at Less Is More and this week we want to see cards that "Make Your Smile" .... I wanted to change the sentiment on this to "Add Tequila and Salt" but the printer was playing up lol...

Card Recipe:
Stamps & Dies:Feeling Fruity from Clearly Whimsy Stamps
Linen texture plate from Papertrey Ink

I'm hoping to get loads done today... fingers crossed :-)

Hoppy Easter

Morning... Happy Friday .... Can't quite believe that I've been off for a few days.. it has gone to fast.  I'm on my way to sunny Wales today to drop my Grandma off at my Uncles caravan for a week so early start for me!
Today card uses this super cute Hoppy Easter stamp from LOTV...

Card Recipe:
Image: Hoppy Easter
Scallop Die from Clearly Besotted
Card Stock & Re-inkers from Stampin Up

Fingers crossed the weather will be ok for me today... camera is packed and looking forward to a walk along the beach later!

Have a great day....

Bon Voyage

Morning.... wow it has been a busy week... so much for doing nothing! I still haven't had a full day of crafting and I'll do some today but I am going watching James Blunt tonight with a couple of friends at the Manchester Apollo.

I have a Bon Voyage card for you today ... I don't really get to make many of these but someone is leaving at work to go travelling so I thought it was perfect!

Card Recipe:
Planes: Simon Says Stamp
Cloud Die: Memory Box
Typewriter Font from Memory Box
Map Stamp from Stampin Up

I have some Expedit units being delivered from Ikea today as they stop selling them very very soon and I have planned to move my studio up into the attic bedroom in the next few weeks so want them all to be the same height. Not sure where they will get put before then though! Better get moving .... Lots to do starting with hanging the washing out :-)

Good Friends Make You Beautiful....

Morning... It's time for another blog hop over at Lili Of The Valley and today we are all using the same stamp as we re-visit some of the older fairy images.   You all know the score, just ‘hop’ from one blog to another following the links and leave a comment on each post, we’ll have a couple of winners and you will each be able to choose 2 of the small fairy stamps as your prize

Here's a list of all the blogs taking part....

Ideas to Inspire

Anne

Becky

Elise

Fleur

Jen

Lou

Mary J

Mindy

Pops

Here is my creation using the super cute Fairy Friends...

I also used one of the fab Quotes ... Perfect for this little stamp...

Hope you have a great Wednesday...

Footprints....

Morning... I'm so tired today.. had 3 late nights in a row and I'm getting far to old for it....  Last night was worth it though.... Went to see the fabulous Gary Barlow with couple of friends from Cambridge at the MEN arena.. We were lucky enough to get our seat moved to 7 rows from the front due to some lighting being in our original seats...  Here is a little photo we took last night....

Anyhow, enough of the swooning.. I have a little card for you too.... A really quick baby card for a friend going on Mat leave this week from work...

Card Recipe:
Baby Die from Clearly Besotted
Footprint stamps are really old... 10 years so not sure where they are from
Dotty paper from Anna Marie Designs

I've got Keiran today whilst Lizy is at work and the sun is currently shining so I think we will go for a walk. Vicky is round tonight for some much needed crafting too...

Butterflies For Grandma

Morning.... Today is my Grandmas 87th Birthday and of course I had to make her a little card... I seem to always use shades of purple for her cards.. even when I try not too!! Soft Purple Shadow Ink has to be my favourite!

Card Recipe:
Happy Birthday Die from Simon Says Stamp
Butterflies from Best Of Butterflies from Stampin Up
Hero Arts Shadow Ink in Soft Purple
Papertrey Ink Linen Texture Plate Plate
Pool Party Card Stock from Stampin Up

I'm off to see Gary Barlow tonight with my Friend Hels.. looking forward too it.. especially as they moved our seats from right at the back in the high heavens of the MEN to 7 rows from the front due to the placement of a "Lighting Rig".

That's it for me today.. I've got orders of wine charms to post off and general bits to catch up on before tonight..

Have a great Monday...

To A Great Pear!

Morning....  I have a really quick card for you this morning using the fabulous Feeling Fruity clear stamps from Whimsy.  I love how simple these are for a quick fun card!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Feeling Fruity from Clearly Whimsy Stamps
Pear Pizazz Card stock and ink from Stampin Up

I spent about 5 hours in the hair dressers yesterday having a bit of a change in hair style and colour after having the same hair for near enough 10 years... I'll try and get a pic up later when I'm more awake as yesterday was a really long day in the end!

Have a great Sunday

In The Shadow

Morning LIMettes... What a week this has been... I'm really glad its over and now I'm off until after Easter so hopefully I can catch up on crafting and everything else... Possible give the house a good spring clean and cleanse.. My weekend is starting off with a trip to the hairdressers and then round to Rachel's later for a good chin wag and crafty session..

Anyhow, that's enough waffling, this weeks challenge at Less Is More is One Layer Card Week and the theme we have for you is

Shadow Stamping

Now this was a completely new technique to me and there were about 20 failed attempts at a card on my desk last night :-( In the end I went for using a white ink then over stamping with another colour or two!

Card Recipe:
Image: Pretty Petals Plus from Clearly Besotted
Sentiment: Waltzing Mouse Stamps
Hero Arts Inks: Unicorn White ( this is fab), Pool, Soft Pool and Soft Purple Shadow Inks

I have been taking out my stress sorting out everyones orders for the wine charms this week too...If you have ordered they will be in the post early next week.... Here are some of the ones I have made this week...

If you would like to order then check out my page here!

Hope you have a great Saturday...

Thanks...

Sorry I've not been around much this week... I'm off work next week so it's been a little chaotic and I've not done much crafting.  This card was originally my second card for Less Is More but I decided it was just a bit too turquoise!

Card Recipe:
Stampin Up Gorgeous Grunge
Thanks Word Die from Clearly Besotted
Silver Colour Shine from Heidi Swapp
Island Indigo and Tempting Turquoise

I also finally figured out how to fix the photo problem when uploading to blogger.. My settings in Picasa Web were set to auto enhance.  I uploaded a card last night that came out lime green on the post so I had to do some investigation!!!

This year has just flown by and I can not believe we are mid April already... Time to sort it all out and get something moving in my life I think... Decided I'm done with moping around!
So for all of you that have supported me over the last 3 months, this card is for you!!

Don't forget you can find me on facebook.. Just click on the logo

Hope you have a great Friday

Sentimental Trees

Morning.... so my CBS  order arrived promptly as always yesterday and I couldn't resist using the Design A Tree set first last night... Not sure what happened to the photos though.. they looked fine in my editing programme but when I have added them to blogger they have gone a funny colour :-(

Here are a couple of cards I using the set... The sentiments are from other CBS sets

And the second one

Card Recipe:
Image: Clearly Besotted Stamps Design A Tree
Sentiments: Clearly Besotted A Little Sentimental, Home Sweet Home
Papertrey Ink Impression Plate Rustic Burlap

Right that's all from me for the moment.... Have a great Wednesday...

Sweet Wishes

Morning... A quick card for you today using the fab Clearly Whimsy Stamps release last month!!

I have used the Sweet As Candy sets for this card and stamped the candy swirls as a back ground using Hero Arts shadow inks! The edge is finished off with some distress glitter.

Card Recipe:
From Clearly Whimsy Stamps
Sweet As Candy - Sweet Images stamp set
Sweet As Candy - Sweet Sentiments stamp set
Hero Arts Shadow Inks ink Bubblegum and Soft Granite
Smoky Slate Card Stock from Stampin Up

I'm hoping I will have a card for you tomorrow.. not managed any crafting for nearly a week now :-( Don't you just hate it when life gets in the way...

To-wit to-whoo

Morning.. I have something a little different for you today... A shaped card made from a cute Sizzix Bigz die... I picked this up originally to make some little felt owls, but thought I would try a little card with it...

Card Recipe:
Sizzix Bigz Owl #2
DSP My Minds Eye

I spent yesterday making some order for more of the wine charms.. If you are interested in ordering any then check out this page..

Right, that's all from me today....