Thank You Butterfly

Just a litle thank you card I made for a dear friend!  I thought it appropriate to post it on my wedding day, as she sent me a wonderful wedding gift!  It's a bit different to my usual colour schemes, but I just love this green paper by Dream Street Papers.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (butterfly, sentiment); Notecard - Hero Arts Summer; Paper - Dream Street papers; Button - Hero Arts Summer; silver thread; sewing machine; white crocheting thread.

My Wedding Flowers

Just a quick pre wedding post, the big day is tomorrow and I am SO excited and nervous.  

I just though I share with you a sneak peek of my amazing wedding flowers.  My mother has grown many of these from seed and arranged them for me in antique teapots.  I am thrilled.

Don't they look stunning.

Lots of autoposts set up for the coming days, loads of cards and fun from Caardvarks and my favourite company!!!  Can you guess?

See you soon, happy August,

Love Lucy X

I ♥ Hero Arts Blog Hop

I don't think I've kept it a secret that I ♥ Hero Arts.  They are, without a doubt, the best and most generous company ever.  So when my HA buddy Ashley set up a Hero Arts blog hop, I HAD to get involved, even though I should be making wedding menus!

Here is my Thank You card - dedicated, of course, to Hero Arts.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (of course!!!) (butterfly, sentiment); Paper - Papertrey and Core'dinations; Frosted Lace Stickles; Pearls - Papermania; Machine stitching; Beads.

My Hero Arts story...

I first came across Hero Arts when I bought the (brilliant) book 'Simply Cards' by Sally Traidman about 15 months ago.  I hadn't even heard of Hero Arts and was very new to cardmaking.  But as soon as I saw her amazing designs, I was hooked.  A year down the line, and I still am.  I only buy Hero stamps - nothing else matches the quality.

I am sooooo thankful to Hero Arts.  Before buying Sally's book, I had rejected stamping, it was too hard.  Thanks to Sally, I realised stamping could be easy, and very rewarding.  And when I found the HA blog... nothing could stop me!

I am also thankful to Hero Arts for introducing me to the best group of friends a girl could want and the huge pile of wedding congratulation cards I have received over the last week, from all over the world, is proof of how great these friendships are.

So THANK YOU Hero Arts.  You have made me the most loyal Hero Arts customer ever.  I am truly grateful for everything you have done for me and my cardmaking.

Click HERE to join in the Hero Hopping Hysteria!

Monochromatic Monogram Card...

A birthday card for my friend Katie, made for the current Hero Arts challenge - monochromatic cards.

Supplies: Stamps, Notecard and Ink - Hero Arts (background, sentiment); Spellbinders die cuts; K&Co Chipboard letter (as template); Core'dinations Whitewash cardstock; machine stitching; acetate; buttons - unknown source.

I added the white dots using a white pen, inspired of course by the fabulous Jennifer McGuire (here).  I will try using Perfect Pearls soon...

Goodbye Owls...

When I saw Jennifer McGuire's new 'Thinking Inking' class today, I knew I HAD to make an owl card, using the reverse of the stamped image.  I just LOVE her cute owl cards here...

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (letters, owls); Paper - K&Co (Mira); Buttons - Hero Arts Summer; Branch hand cut.

I used buttons for the eyes, with goggly eyes on top.  I love the way she has inked the edges of her owls, but I am lacking the distress inks for this!  My wish list is growing and growing :)

P.S.  I am testing out my Auto-post function, I do not normally post at 4.00 a.m. :)  I have a lot of auto posts set up ready for my wedding related absences!!!

Dates for Your Diary!

Well, there's LOADS of fun coming up in the next few months at Caardvarks.  As well as our usual challenges (and we've got some GOOD ones coming up...), we have...

the first ever Caadvarks Blog Hop, sponsored by Core'dinations.  They sent us loads of goodies to play with, and have provided some FABULOUS prizes.

Check back here, or at Caardvarks on 17th August when the fun begins.

I might even do a giveaway!!! :)

Then, in September, we have Sketchfest, sponsored by Studio Calico, a week long event featuring a new sketch challenge every day.

I hope you will be able to join in the fun, but until then, get prepared for an AWESOME sponsor for our regular August challenge...

And finally, check out my wedding shoes!!!  

They make me happy :)

Basic Grey Birthday

This is a card for a lovely friend of mine.  I just love this Basic Grey paper and wanted to make a card that really showed it off.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (letters, sentiment); Paper - Basic Grey; Pearl - Hero Arts; Ribbon - Creative Impressions; machine stitching.

I've been busy tonight making Caardvarks projects too.  So many fun things to come next month!!!

I'm a Hero Hostess!!!

OK - I am SO excited - I am a Hero Hostess for the next 3 months.  I've known for a few days, but not been allowed to share the news.  Finally it was announced on the blog today!  YAY.

So to celebrate, and to participate in this week's challenge at Hero Arts, I made this card.  It's based on the fabulous pom-pom owl featured all over the HA website at the moment.  It seemed appropriate for this fun week!

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (owl, letters); Gems - Hero Arts; PP - K&Co; embroidery floss, embossing powder, goggly eyes.

There are 7 other hostesses too - click on their names to view their amazing work:

• • Cathy Andronicou
  • Lin Brandyberry 
  • Tiffany Ervin 
  • Tracey Kuzniak 
  • Virginia Lu
  • Sarah Moerman
  • Kathy Racoosin

What a great evening - and thanks to everyone for the lovely emails and messages.

Hero Arts "Big Week"

If you haven't already, head over to the Hero Arts blog.  They are having a big celebratory week, preparing for the launch of their new improved website.  They have tons of giveaways going on too - well worth a visit.

Click HERE and join in the FUN.

Back tomorrow with a card to share.  Happy Monday!

Hello Cupcake!

My lovely friend Kelly Booth sent me this amazing book 'Hello Cupcake' as a wedding present, so today, my sister, Emily and I had an "attempt" at making the Panda cupcakes.

Here is how they SHOULD look:

Look at those claws... and those amazing eyes!!

And here are ours.

Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Not bad for a first attempt we think!

We laughed a LOT!!!

Thank you Kelly - this book is amazing.

And I am sure I will get better and better!!! (I hope so anyway!)

Gift Voucher

It's been impossible to buy anything for my sister's birthday - I can't get anything heavy, and she's very particular about jewellery.

So, I made her this voucher as an alternative to a gift card.  The Trafford Centre is our local shopping centre, there are hundreds of different stores there so she has freedom to choose what she wants.  It's a bit of a joke, but is better than giving money.

Supplies: Frame stamp - Hero Arts; Ink - Versacolor (sky blue).  Computer generated text.

Emily's Birthday Card

Before I go on, Emily: NO PEEKING!!!

It's my lovely sister's birthday on Saturday, and for the first time in years, I am actually going to be able to hand her her card in person!!!  She's over from Canada for the summer, and is staying with me on Saturday for my "hen" party!

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (butterfly, sentiment, curly letters); Paper - Basic Grey; Versamark and Versafine; Clear embossing powder; Glossy Accents; Glitter.

I can't wait to see her... 

Vacation Cards

Hero Arts' current challenge was perfectly timed for me.  I needed to make a couple of cards for some colleagues who are taking a load of school kids to Peru tomorrow.  They are going for a month, to carry out some community projects, and do some rainforest trekking.  I am totally in awe of them!   

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (animals, plane); Sentiment - Computer generated; Paper - Bo Bunny; Buttons - Hero Arts; Machine stitching.

Thanks for visiting my blog and thanks for all your lovely comments.  :)

Gallery Idol - Voting Round 1

So Round 1 of Gallery Idol has begun, and voting is now live.  Here is my card - the theme is weddings!

Supplies: Stamps, Notecard and Pearls - Hero Arts (butterfly, sentiment); Paper - Papermania; Die Cuts - Spellbinders Labels 1 Nestabilities.

 

There are some amazing cards over on the Papercrafts site - we'd all be very grateful if you would vote.  Click here to be taken to the website.  You have to register to vote, but me and the girls would really appreciate your support.  Voting closes July 9th.

Thank you. X

More Caardvarks Cards...

Here are my other Caardvarks design team card made using ShortCuts acetate card blanks.  I love working with acetate, and I enjoyed mixing different shiny textures with the acetate base.  On this one, I included glossy accents on the cupcake, and embossing on the background.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (cupcake, sentiment, background); Pink Card Blank - Hero Arts; Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 1 Dies; various embellishments.

This card is just a simple card to showcase this gorgeous Basic Grey paper and my favourite butterfly.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (butterfly, sentiment); PP - Basic Grey; machine stitching.

Hope you are playing along with the challenge.

Caardvarks Sketch Challenge

The new challenge is up at Caardvarks.  YIPPEE.

And I had SO much fun playing with the products from the sponsor company.  ShortCuts make cardblanks of different types - and they are super easy to use.

This is a gift card holder I created using their ready made card.  It was originally ivory, so I inked it with distress ink and decorated.  Such FUN!

Supplies: Stamp - Hero Arts; Paper - Basic Grey; Ink - Tim Holtz Tattered Rose Distress Ink, Versafine; Butterfly punch and machine stitching.

This is the card I created using the sketch for the current challenge.  I love Brenda Walton products.  So pretty...  And the frosted acetate card blank is so easy to work with.

Supplies: Paper and sticker - K&Co; Stamp - Inkadinkado; Buttons - Hero Arts.

And finally for today, this simple card.  I stamped the clouds with Versamark, then heat embossed with blue powder.  I love the different effect that's created.  The birds are also heat embossed.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (clouds, birds, sentiment); Versafine ink; Embossing Powder - Heat it Up.

So the challenge is to create a card using the sketch below:

The 2 winners (yes 2!!) of this challenge will win a $15 gift certificate for ShortCuts.  And also, if you buy anything from their online shop (here) during the course of the challenge, you will get a 15% discount if you enter the code "Caard15" at the checkout.

I have the rest of my cards to share tomorrow - so until then, be sure to check the Caardvarks blog for more details.

Giveway winners...

I still have prize packages for the following 2 people:

MMG

Who wrote on 15th June:

I saw that this morning -- congrats! I am continuously stunned and amazed by your work! Thank you for the endless inspiration!

MMG - I have sent 3 emails now - have you received any of them???

And I haven't heard anything from Cynthia, one of my runners up:

Runner Up Number Three:

Cynthia B.

Who wrote on 16th June

Congrats on being featured! You do beautiful, beautiful work. So pretty and detailed. And how cool was it to work w/ Jennifer McGuire?! So excited for you, and judging from your work here, you totally deserve the honor...WTG!!

If this is you, please leave me a message telling me how to contact you.

Animal Birthday Fun...

My fiance loves animals - so I made him this card for his birthday on Monday.

Just a bit of fun... :)

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (animals, sentiment); PP - Doodlebug, Bo Bunny; letters hand cut.

p.s. I know this looks like a child's card... He's actually going to be 30!!!  But he's VERY young at heart! 

:)