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Tuesday 27 November 2012

Midway Reminder - Snowflakes

I'm back with a midway reminder for our Snowflakes Challenge using another clear box. This is the one I told you about last week...I made it for a magazine and used an image I meant for the Christmas Delight release but forgot and put another one in doh! Story of my life really lol.

Anywho, here it is....


I used the mid sized square clear box covering the front and back with green Bazzill and made a belly band to fit around it. The pp has been in my stash since the beginning of time lol.


From the side you can see there are 4 cards and envelopes inside




This is the forgotten image....do you like? 




I'd like to enter the following challenges:

The Paper Shelter - Christmas
Copic Marker Europe - Christmas Card
Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes, must be Christmas
Cute Card Thursday - Snowflakes
Simply Create - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Do you fancy winning the image? It hasn't got a name so all you have to do is leave a  comment with the name you think suits it best and I'll choose the winner and post it on here Monday December 3rd. Make it a good one...mind you anything's better than the one's I make up lol.

 Rocky and Ruby are in Doggy Daycare today which means I can craft in peace woo hoo!!!

The sale 70% off cling stamps is still on and Christmas is getting closer (too close!) but you still have time to get a few stocking stuffers for your crafting buddies or yourself.

Catch ya later x

Thursday 22 November 2012

Thump thump...thump thump...thump thump


Nicole had an appointment at the hospital yesterday for blood tests and an ultrasound. Ben videoed the ultrasound on his phone and Whatsapped it to me....Cue the tissues lol. It's been a lot of years since I've heard a baby's heart beat...23 to be exact...and it was the most amazing thing and brought back memories of the scans I had with my three. My grandbaby's heart beat was so strong and rhythmic and that's when I fell in love...silly huh. We're at just over 15 weeks and now we can talk about Nic's pregnancy time is going by a bit quicker :-D

Today's card was for my SIL in Dublin ... the last of my run of cards of November 4, 5, 6 & 7!!!!


I've used Celebrate from Floral Delight Too...colored with my Copics. I love these papers from MME's The Sweetest Thing :-D


Lots of Glamour Dust


I used my Die-namics Pretty Posy die and crumpled the flowers before layering them and adding a wooden flower button. I prefer this look to crisp and smooth as it adds a bit of dimension and I feel  a bit devilish adding a crumpled flower to an otherwise pristine card lol. 




I tucked the computer generated sentiment under the image after die-cutting it with Die-namics Fishtail dies


A peek at the inside...did I mention I love these papers lol???

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Creative Moments - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Use at least 2 different patterned papers
The Paper Shelter - Birthdays
Cute Card Thursday - Girls Only
Simply Create Challenges - Must be digital or papercraft/follow/anything goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

I'm trying out Power Hoop this morning at the suggestion of Suzy Q...not sure exactly what it's all about apart from using a weighted hoola hoop. Now I loved playing with my hoola hoop when I was a kidlet but somehow I think I might change my mind after today lol. Wish me luck and if I survive I'll tell you all about it!

Have a great Thursday....catch ya later x

Tuesday 20 November 2012

Last....

but not least!!! All I can say is I'm glad I'm the boss cuz I can get away with murder lol!!!! Apologies to all my fabulicious Ladybugs for being late today. Not sure how it happened...I WAS on schedule to have my project ready yesterday but it all went pear shape :-( I do have a project in reserve but when I looked at it I realized I'd used an image not yet released hmph! I might use it next week and have a little mini competition to win the image...

Thank you to everyone who entered Sally's In The Office/Stationery Challenge ... it proved to be well, challenging lol. We didn't have as many entries as we usually do BUT I was so happy when 1/3 of the entries used an LCI image woot woot!!!! So a BIG thank you to all of you LCI image lovers and make sure you check out the Challenge blog to see if you've won a prize :-D

Today's challenge is brought to you by Lovely Ladybug Diane which is perfect for this time of year...Snowflakes. To make it a bit more challenging for the Ladybugs I gave each of them a clear box to use. I bought these a few years ago for the website and came across them recently. They are funtastic and can be used for many things and the Ladybugs have been busy creating lots of inspiration for you. It wasn't all smooth sailing...one Ladybug had a strop ( 1 1/2 actually) and one was so engrossed in making her project she forgot to check what the challenge was so there's no snowflake to be found but all is forgiven because the end result is stunnalicious as is Ladybug Strop's!!!

The boxes come in 5 sizes so I'm sure there's one to suit your needs:


4 1/8" x 4 1/16" x 1" - 45p each
5 5/8" x 5 1/2" x 1" - 60p each
4 7/8" x 6 5/8" x 1" - 60p each
6 1/8" x 6 1/16" x 1" - 70p each
4 1/2" x 5 7/8" x 1" -  60p each

This is what they look like before they've been pimped!


And this is what mine looks like after...


I've used the 6 1/8" x 6 1/16" box which was the perfect size for the hankies I bought at Poundland! I found some 12 x 12 Craftwork Card cs I've had for yonks in pink and lilac with glittered snowflakes/flowers. I cut the pink at 3" deep and the lilac at 2 1/2" then tore one edge to look like snow and wrapped them around the box (I used one strip of 12" for each color then another 6" of each for ends to meet). I stamped snowflakes directly onto the acetate box AFTER I'd finished lol so I had to figure out how to stamp without taking everything apart. I removed the hankies and put 4 paper pads inside to give me a solid surface to stamp on :-D


I printed Let It Snow Delight, colored (do you like my pink and lilac striped scarf and hat?) with with my Copics then cut it out. I added Fluffy Stuff to the hats, Glamour Dust to the earmuffs and scarf and Judykins glitter to the snowballs and snow BEFORE I adhered it to the box. I learned from past experience to do this as it's VERY difficult to remove glitter from acetate :-S


In hindsight I think I should have used white trees but I'd already stuck the trees down when I realized. I added pale pink and amethyst 2mm & 3mm Swarovski crystals to the trees for a bit of bling.


I added a handle by punching a hole in the sides of the box with my long neglected whatchamacallit (I'm looking at it but can't remember it's name... big hole punch...pink handles??) and the ends of the handle and fixed it in place with giant brads I made with my other long neglected whatchamacallit... i-top tool! Does anyone have one of those? I'm sure Ladybug Laurie has one somewhere lol. 


Look...isn't it fabulicious!!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Anything But A Card - A Stitch In Time:use any time or stitching element (I've stitched)
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes
Hooked on Crafts Challenges - Christmas (no red or green)
House of Gilli - Diecuts
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Totally Stampalicious - Non Traditional Christmas Colors
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Diecuts/punches

This would make fabuliciously inexpensive gift for a teacher.....box 70p, hankies £2 (I bought 2 packs but used only 5 of the 6 hankies) plus scraps of paper = £2.70! To see some other fabtastic ideas check out the other Ladybugs projects.



The sale is still on and we have sold out of a few stamps BUT they are now available as a digital download. These are Coffee Nikki, Dogwalker Nikki and Buttercup with Bird.

I think that's all for today. I'm off to finish a few more cards I abandoned and hopefully with have them to show you later this week.

Thanks for stopping by.

Catch ya later x

Friday 16 November 2012

Happy Birthday Nicole!!

November 16, 1984 at exactly 12:58am Nicole Elizabeth entered the world. I am finding it hard to believe she is 28 today...'specially as I'm only 34 rofl ;-D And of course my baby is having a baby of her own :-D Who would have thunk it???

I started her card yesterday...'started' being the operative word! I shuffled more papers and embellishments than I care to count but just couldn't get a groove going. The image I wanted to use wasn't doing it for me so in the end I opted for a Cupcake Cutie...Make a Wish and I'm so glad I did! I just love these little cuties and I especially love embellishing the frosting! When I was shuffling everything about  and getting no where I went onto the MFT blog for a bit of inspiration and and came across a card Jodi Collins had made which I've followed but added a MFT fishtail for a bit of added interest...


I stamped Make A Wish on PTI cs and colored her with  my Copics. I stamped the case of the cupcake on pp and cut it out so it coordinated. 

I can't get enough of MFT dies at the moment. They've had a new release recently and I have a wish list a mile long...maybe Santa will see it ;-D
You can just see the beginning and end of the Fishtail die in the floral pp....I've also used the Pretty Posy Die and Mini Tab Quartet for the sentiment.


You can't really tell but I've added Glossy Accents to the candle and Glamour dust to the flame, her shoes and dress


This is the AMAZING Fluffy Stuff! It looks almost good enough to eat lol. Before I fluffed it with my heat gun I sprinkled a pinch of GD...again you can't really see it but IRL it looks sparklicious :-D




I found an MFT die I hadn't used {shock horror} so added a border to the inside...it's the Wonky Scalloped Border...love it!!!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Anything Goes Challenge - Stitching (Real or Faux)
Celebrate the Occasion - Must use a Cupcake!
Craft-Room Challenge - Punches & Dies
Paper Pretties - Buttons
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes

I thought I'd show you a picture of Nicole's first scan...this is Baby McLeod! I'm afraid I'm going to be one of those Grandma's that will be boring everyone with pictures of my grandbaby...whether they want to see them or not ! In case you're wondering that's it's LEG sticking up lololol. Nicole's next scan is at 20 weeks on Christmas Eve so everything should be a lot clearer and defined. She's still really tired but hopefully that will end soon and she's starting to get a bit of a bump. She called me the other day from work to say she felt the baby move!!!!! 


Ryan has a game in Dundee (1 1/2 hours away) tonight so hubby and Steven are going to watch him leaving Nicole, Ben and I enjoy Nic's birthday dinner. She's requested Butternut Squash Risotto (YUMMY) and since she's craving anything with tomatoes I'm surprising her with my Tomato Soup En Croute and a birthday wouldn't be a birthday in our house without an M & S cake!!

That's me for today....I hope you all have a fabulicious weekend and get some crafting done....maybe even enter our In The Office Challenge. The entries so far are fabtastic with 1/4 of them using an LCI image...we love that!

Catch ya later x

PS You can get Make A Wish Cupcake Cutie in the 70% off Cling Stamp Sale!!!!

Tuesday 13 November 2012

In The Office - Midway Reminder

I'm a little bit late today. I had planned on making my card for today yesterday but ran out of time and when I woke up this morning my back decided to play up on me and I'm now leaning forward and to one side!!! It's made crafting a bit uncomfortable but I managed to make a card to remind you of this fortnight's In the Office Challenge.

Here's what I made...



It's been a long time since I've stamped an image as I've been loving all the new digi releases but it reminded me why I got into crafting in the first place. I stamped Jack & Robyn's Bless This Tree (which you can purchase in the 70% off sale) with MomentoTuxedo Black in and colored it with my Copics. The pp is MME's Winter Wonderland 6 x 6 pad...gorgeous! The notebook page die was a gift from Mary J last year and the Baker's Twine was a gift from M Pee 2 years ago!


I decided to go subtle with the sparkle (not like me at all) and instead of glitter used my Wink Of Stella glitter pen on the baubles, lights and Robyn's slippers and bow.


You know I love my felt...this snowflake is so pretty with the pearl


I was looking for my snowflake charms when I came across these bells I bought at the SECC from Mei Flower years ago....I KNEW I needed them lol.


I carried the notebook page die to the inside of the card. Hmmm...looks like I need to press the cs down on the front!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Dream Valley Challenges - Anything Goes
Great Impressions - Holidays
Penny Black and More - Any Die Will Do
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge - Decorate inside of card
Crafty Bloggers Network - Christmas Anything Goes

My back is twinging a bit as I sit here so I'm going to lie down on the floor for a bit before tackling dinner. 

The Ladybugs are loving your entries for this challenge so keep them coming!

Thanks for stopping by today

Catch ya later x

Sunday 11 November 2012

PC Christmas Fayre (or is it Fair)


Happy Sunday Peeps! It's a lovely day here in Scotland...not often I can say that lol. 

Can't decide whether it's Fair or Fayre so sticking with Fayre until told otherwise lol. I had fun at my first Christmas Fayre yesterday which was at a high school about 10 minutes from my house. There were lots of tables selling everything .... jewellery, baby clothes, books, dvd's, candy, prom dresses and Party Lite (who tried to recruit me at the end of the day but me thinks I've got enough on my plate at the moment lol) Here is my table...






This was my first attempt at mincemeat pies and they were pretty tasty if I do say so myself lol and they got the thumbs up from everyone that tried them :-D I forgot my dish to display them on so had to use a piece of stonewear. I have another couple Christmas Fayre's this month and will probably make more...they're so quick and easy!

It was Suzy Q's 40th birthday on the 4th (hubby 5th, mil 6th, sil 7th phew!) and I knew 6 months ago what I was going to do for her birthday card. Have a look and tell me what you think....


LOLOLOL...this picture was taken at Nicole and Ben's wedding and as soon as I saw it I earmarked it for her card. Her expression was perfect for the sentiment :-D


A little bit of celebratory bunting


LOLOLOLOLOL


MFT Pretty Posy flower with wooden button


I think I chuckled the whole time I made the card and Susan laughed when she opened it :-D

It's a great time to start your Christmas shopping with out 70% off cling stamp sale. You can buy 3 stamps for less than the price of 1 so you can treat your friends and yourself!


One last thing...Ladybug Susan has some candy to give away. She's trying to reach 50 followers so all you have to do is follow and leave a comment with a chance to win her candy with a twist! The twist is she has 26 followers at the moment so has 26 items in her candy giveaway but she'll add one item for every new follower until she gets 50 so you could win 50 items of crafting goodies!!! I am proud to say I was Susan's very first follower and apart from making fabulicious cards and projects she's a fabulicious Ladybug and friend. Grab the badge and spread the news!!


I have a date with my ironing board tonight...Strictly, X Factor and CSI should help me get through the mountains of clothes.  Serves me right for not doing it straight away hmph!

Catch ya later x

Saturday 10 November 2012

70% Off Sale Starts Today!!!!


Today is the day folks...our super duper 70% off cling stamps sale...get yours while stocks last!!!

It's been known for there to be the odd glitch at the checkout I have a sale but fingers crossed all goes according to plan. If you do come across a problem I'll sort it asap. I'll be out most of the day at a high school Christmas Fair with my other job, Pampered Chef, but I'll be checking things go smoothly. Tonight I'll be at Ben Howard with Suzy Q and tomorrow I'll be pooped lol!

Happy Shopping :-D

Thursday 8 November 2012

It's Sale Time - Again!!!


I said I had some news for you (no it's not twins as one Ladybug suggested lol) and here it is...Starting Saturday November 10th you will be able to purchase all cling stamps at 70% off the regular price!!!!! That means you can buy Nikki, Jack & Robyn, Magnum & Lily for only £1.95 and BFF, The Wrinkley's and Sentimental numbers for only £2.10!!! 

It's the perfect time to get those little extra's for your crafty friends and family for Christmas and with savings as big as this you can get yourself a little present too!! Why not head over to the store now and get your shopping list started :-D

Apart from that exciting news I've got a card to share with you. The day after hubby's birthday it was my MIL's and believe it or not it was made, in the post and arrived at it's destination BEFORE her birthday woot woot!!!! Well you don't want to get on the wrong side of your MIL do you lol.

Here it is...let me know what you thunk...


I am having such fun with the new digi images from the Floral Delight Too range. I've used Bucket Full Of Roses and colored it with my Copics. After cutting the image out with my Nesties I've stitched it to a kraft cs mount. I've used pp from my gorgeous MME The Sweetest Thing paper pad, separating them with ric rac die cuts (can't remember which brand they are) and stitched the whole lot together. Have you spotted my new MFT bow die???? OMW...it is just the best thing ever!! There are two sizes of dies in the set....I've used the small one.


I've added Glamour Dust to the roses and bow and Glossy Accents to the water and Ladybugs


{sigh} Isn't it just gorgeous!!! I've cut the bow out in beautiful felt and added a wooden flower button on top.


Here's a peek at the inside

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Papelitos Challenges - Anything Goes
Make It Monday- Anything Goes

That's it from me for today. I've got a bit of tidying to do then hopefully get back into my studio for a bit of play time ;-D

Thanks for stopping by

Catch ya later x

Tuesday 6 November 2012

TLT - Sally's Challenge - Include Office Stationery

It's time again for another challenge here at Ladybug Crafts Ink...they seem to be coming around awful quick lately lol. Before I explain what our lovely Sally has in mind I'd like to thank all our entrants for Laurie's 'I Need A P' challenge...you were all fantastic and I'm sure glad I didn't have to choose the winner! Make sure you check the Challenge Blog to see if you were the Challenge Winner, The Winner using an LCI image or a worthy Top 3!

Sally's challenge is to include office stationery in your card or project. That could be staples, paperclips, bulldog clips, lined paper, elastic bands etc...you get the idea. If you can find it in an office then it will fit the challenge though desks, chairs and water coolers might prove challenging lololololol.

It was hubby's birthday yesterday and he likes plain cards (like his dinners...a typical Irishman, meat, potatoes and two veg!). Not too much pattern on the paper or too many embellishments so he got what he likes though I think it's a bit stark lol. I'll let you be the judges....



I used the fabulicious digi Magnum & Lily's Cupcake Surprise only to be told that I'd already made hubby a card using it hmph! I colored the image with my Copics and added Glamour dust to the party hats and candle flames and Glossy Accents to Magnum's nose and the cupcake icing. I cut some flags using Die-namics Mix & Match Banner dies



When I was searching for stationery embellishments I came across a box at the back of a cupboard I hadn't opened for years. Inside was exactly what I needed...my EK Success stapler and staples! Does anyone out there have one of these? It looks like a normal stapler but the staples are about 5mm deep and come in different colors and have different sentiments/images on them. They are pretty funky and fun to use


I used a mini bulldog clip from Stampin' Up!  



I'm not very good at sentiments and usually just write something boring and basic but I made up a little poem this time...I'm thinking I might offer my services to Hallmark rofl!


Here's one of the staples...pretty cute huh

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Here Come The Boys - Punches & Dies (Fishtail banner, Nesties)
One Stitch At A Time - Anything Goes
The Crafty Pad - Anything Goes
Cards For Men - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes 

I might have some news to tell you later in the week you won't want to miss so make sure you check back ;-D

Rocky and Ruby are in Doggy Daycare today so my phones are off and I'm going to concentrate on adding to my Christmas cards....I'm predicting 5 but that might be wishful thinking lol.

Thanks for stopping by...hope you have a fabulicous day

Catch ya later x