Teddy Bo Tuesday

This week's new releases from Teddy Bo have a bit of a Spring Cleaning theme going on, which is exactly what I  need to be doing in my craft room, as it looks like a bomb's gone off in it at the moment.

I've had one of those days, you know the ones - there is something you desperately need, and you're absolutely certain where you put it the last time you used it, but then you go to get it and it's not there. You search high and low, look in all the cupboards and drawers, open up all the boxes and rummage through, pull everything out, spread them on the desk, once that's full you use the floor, and still can't find it.

You have a break for a coffee and a think, suddenly inspiration strikes, you head back up to the craft room, but no, wrong again, it's not there either. In the end you give up, wait until your husband comes in from work and tell him that you can't find it and you've looked everywhere, he says, where did you have it last, you tell him, he asks if you're sure, you reply, definitely, he goes and looks and it's not there, he turns around and looks in the one place you haven't looked, because you know there is absolutely no way you would have even dreamed of putting it there, and whilst he is looking, your adamantly telling him that he is wasting his time as there is no way in the world ever, that you would have put it there - and lo and behold, that's exactly where he finds it!!!

Why do men have the knack of being able to do that, it is so maddening.

Anyway crisis over, but the craft room looks like a herd of elephants have trampled through it. Big clean up today I think!

So onto today's card - this started off being a bit of a clean and simple card, but then I had a brainwave and decided to make some matching embellishments. 

 I made a little feather duster, cut up a J-cloth to make a wash cloth and a sponge to make a..... yes, you've guessed it...sponge LOL! Of course, there had to be a little bit of bling on my feather duster, after all doesn't everyone have a diamond encrusted feather duster? 

Image - TBEA_183 coloured in Photoshop

Stripey paper in WORK - Echo Park digi papers - Life is Good

Insert papers and sentiment-Papercraft inspirations free download.

Gemstones - MeiFlower

Now check out the rest of this week's new releases

there is still time to grab some bargains as the sale runs until Monday 6th February.

Now go and see all these images brought to life by my fantastic teamies over on the Teddy Bo Blog.

Also a reminder that there is not long left now to enter our Anything Goes challenge, you have until this Sunday 5th February Noon GMT. The lucky winner gets to choose 10 Teddy Bo and Co digi images of their choice.

See you soon,

Colette xx

Wedding Invitation samples - Part 2

Following on from yesterdays post here are the final two samples I made, these two don't use any designer papers at all just plain card stock and paper.

Pink and white Cardstock – papermilldirect.co.uk

Pearl paper - stash

Wording – computer generated – font Invitation

Corner die – Marianne Creatables – Anja corner – craftsulove.co.uk

Rolled roses – Marianne Creatables – as above

Ribbon, gems and diamonte heart – meiflower.co.uk

White and Navy card stock – papermilldirect.co.uk

Embossing folder –  Sizzix – Ornate Swirls

Die – X-cut nesting dies – Doorplate large- Crafts U Love

Navy Ribbon, gems and diamante embellishment– meiflower.co.uk

See you tomorrow for Teddy Bo Tuesday

Colette xx

Wedding Invitation samples - Part 1

Today I have a few wedding invitation samples to show you using some Clipart Fairy papers. I have put these together for Mei from MeiFlower, as she has samples on show around her stall when she is at the craft shows.

I have done the stationery for quite a few weddings in the past and I have vowed never again, unless my own daughter ever decides to get married of course!

To be honest I wasn't going to post anything over the weekend as I  have the chesty cough/cold bug that is going around at the moment and I'm not feeling too brilliant, but it was one of those occasions where an idea just pops into your head and you can't get rid of it until you have made it. The problem was that one idea developed into another and then another and in total I ended up making five samples. Three of them are here today, the other two will be up tomorrow.

Paper  – theclipartfairy.com  – Ice Queen paper pack

Fancy Font  – JellyKa - Love and Passion - dafont.com

Teal Satin ribbon, White organza ribbon, pearls and pearl slider – meiflower.co.uk

(By the way the Teal ribbon is on offer at the moment a 23 metre roll for only 99p)

Papers – theclipartfairy.com  – Tri-Flap kit one

Initials – Font -Chopin Script – dafont.com

Dies – X-cut nesting dies – doorplate large - Crafts U Love

Ribbon, gems and heart slider – meiflower.co.uk

Papers – theclipartfairy.com – Modern Heritage CD

Frames  – X-cut Nesting dies – Square Parenthesis – craftsulove.co.uk

Initials were printed onto card in a very pale grey colour and then the crystals were arranged over them.

Crystals, metallic cord and double heart charm – meiflower.co.uk

I always try to make wedding invitations quite simple because when you have to make lots it can be very time consuming. The one with the initials in crystal looks simple,but making up the initials took a while and I don't think I would use this idea if I had to make more than about 20.

I'll see you tomorrow with the last two.

Colette xx

Polkadoodles Template Challenge

This week the challenge on the Polkadoodle blog is

Tantalizing Templates

and we want to see your projects using a Polkadoodles template, either digital or plastic.

For my card this week I have chosen to use the cupcake template from Paper Boutique Vol III. This comes in pink as well as the green and also a blank version that you can decorate yourself.

I decided to use the green version.

The "chocolate" stars have a coating of glossy accents and I've tied some string and a button across the front to finish it off.

Pop over to the Polkadoodles blog and check out the inspiration from the rest of my teamies.

You have until Sunday 5th February Noon GMT to get your entries in, we would love to see which template you choose to use.

D'arcy's Diaries New Releases

The two weeks since the launch of the D'Arcy's Diaries store has flown by and I can't quite believe it is time for a new release, but it is, so lets take a look at what's new in store this week.

I've had a little play with one of the images and these are what I have come up with.

This is a gift bag and matching card. The bag is basically a pinch bag, but I have added a flap over the top and a pocket on the front. I thought this would be a good place to put a gift card or a gift of money. The card fits perfectly into the bag and there is also room for a small gift.

Image DD_008 Coloured in Photoshop

Digital Papers - Echo Park - Springtime 2

Scalloped circle dies - GoKreate

Ribbons and metallic cord - MeiFlower

Buttons - stash

I am entering this card into these challenges

C.R.A.F.T. -  Recipe* (Digi Image, Ribbon, Buttons)
Do You Stack Up? - Inspiration Picture* Ribbon
Penny's Paper-Crafty - #71 ribbons and buttons 
Die Cuttin' Divas - must include a Die-cut -#49 Buttons Bows and/or Bling

 This card shape was cut with a die, and I decorated the metal butterfly with stick on gems.

Image - same as above

XL Window #2 Die - GoKreate

Papers - Shery K/My Graphico - Charming

May your day be perfect - digital stamp/ticket sentiment - Deborah Moore

Ribbons, butterfly and gems - MeiFlower

I love the D'Arcy images they are so easy to colour and a pleasure to work with, I just wish I had more time for crafting, if anybody finds that elusive extra hour in the day, please send it my way LOL!

I am entering this card into these challenges

Sassy Cheryl's - #99 Light Blue & Brown

Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge - (must use digi) - Anything Goes

MyGrafico - Tickets Anywhere for Someone Special

Pop over to the D'Arcy's Diaries blog and check out the rest of the fabulous

inspiration from my brilliant teamies

Back tomorrow with Polkadoodles,

see you then,

Colette xx

Teddy Bo Trio and Blog Hop Winner!

It's Tuesday again and that can only mean one thing, it's Teddy Bo new release day and also time to announce the blog hop winners. So if you joined in with the hop check here to see if you are a lucky winner.

The randomly selected winner of a Teddy Bo and Co digi image of their choice and my blog candy is...........

Karen at  http://mycraftycupboard-karen.blogspot.com/ 

Karen if you can contact Gayle at support@teddybo.com to claim your digi image and email me with your address (address in my profile) with Blog hop winner in the subject line I will sort out getting your prize to you. 

Thank you to everyone who played along, I hope you enjoyed our first blog hop.

Now onto this week's Teddy Bo Cards.

I asked Gayle to draw me the image I have used this week, it is loosely based on the war poster featuring Kitchener, which says - Your Country Needs you - but I asked Gayle for the wording to read - Your Birthday Needs you - as my plan was to add some text at the bottom to make the card

suitable for a young boy.

Here's how it worked out.

I added a background of my own to turn the image into a poster.

image - TEDDYBO_174 coloured in Photoshop

Papers - Echo park - Little Boy

Green cord - MeiFlower

button - stash

Once finished I thought to myself, if I change the papers and wording I could use the same image and make a card suitable for a teenager.

This is how that one turned out.

Image as above

Papers - Shery K - Party Time papers

Yellow cord - MeiFlower

Buttons - stash.

Feeling quite pleased with myself and admiring my handiwork I thought to myself once again, if I change the papers and wording again I could make this suitable for an older teen/young adult.

This is the result.

Image - as previous

Papers - Men In Mind - Clipart Fairy

Glass of beer die - Cottage Cutz

buttons - stash

After all that thinking my brain hurt, and the only remedy for that, was a glass of wine and a bar of chocolate!

Felt much better afterwards LOL!

I am entering my cards into the following challenges;

Crazy 4 Challenges - #C4C120 A Child's Birthday Card  > Card 1

The Crafty Pad - "Let's See Something for The Boys!" > Take your pick

Marks Finest Papers -#91 Birthday Card > Take your pick

Make it Monday - always Anything Goes > Take your pick

Sew Many Cards -  Circles > middle card

Stamps R Us -  Card for Kids >Card 1 or 2

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Check out this weeks new releases

Go to the Teddy Bo Challenge Blog for a full list of Blog Hop winners and while you're there check out the fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team. 

There is also still plenty of time to enter our Anything Goes challenge which still has almost a fortnight to run, you need to get your entries in by Sunday 5th February Midnight GMT.

Hugs
Colette xx

Blog Hop and Candy from Teddy Bo!

Teddy Bo Tuesday First Birthday Extravaganza!

  

Please click here to go to my bloghop post

This post will remain at the top of the blog until the end of the Blog Hop.

Clipart Fairy January Workshop

Yesterday I spent the day at this month's Clipart Fairy workshop. Once again we made six cards, and if you like the look of any of them then they are available as both interactive and Ready to Print versions.

 All the cards come with matching inserts, and the interactive versions have lots of other bits and pieces too.

Gabriella Big Flower

Big Hearts Kit 1

Creative Easel Top - Tic Tock 3

Rosie Rag doll

Tri-fold Card

Under the Weather

Although it's a very busy day, it's also very enjoyable, and we still find time to chat, don't we Donna!

Just a quick post today as I'm not feeling too good, full of this cold that seems to be doing the rounds.

See you soon,

Hugs

Colette xx

Valentine Coupons

No Polkadoodles card from me today as it is not my teams turn, so instead and carrying on my Valentine themed post from Tuesday, today I have a Valentine Coupon book to show you.

 The book contains twelve coupons and on each one there is a little message saying what you receive when you redeem that token. They can be used in any order, and you can put basically anything at all you want on them, as innocent or as raunchy as you like. Some of mine contain nice simple things, like a kiss, a cuddle, one day with exclusive use of the TV remote, breakfast in bed etc., but there might also be one or two that mention chocolate sauce ;-)!!!

TEDDYBOBEA-098 coloured in photoshop

Papers Echo Park digital papers - Yours Truly

Filigree heart Die - Memory Box

Silver glitter paper - Hobbycraft store

Metallic cords and gems - MeiFlower

If you like the image but don't do colouring then check out the store this Tuesday for the coloured version of both the one above and Teddy Bo cupid from my last post, and the 25% off sale is still running until the 6th February, so plenty of time to grab yourself a bargain.

If you have a few minutes to spare pop over to the Teddy Bo Challenge blog for this weeks instalment of Fairy Tale Friday, which involves a black cat, bruised kneecaps and cupid!?!?!?

I'm off to a Clipart Fairy Workshop tomorrow, so I will be back on Sunday to show you all the fabby cards we made.

See you then,

Colette xx

Teddy Bo Tuesday

It's been very cold here the last couple of days, so I haven't left the house, just stayed inside in the warm and crafted.

Here is my card using one of this week's new graphics. I asked Gayle for Teddy Bo as cupid, but for some reason Gayle had brain freeze and drew him without wings. So I sent her a picture of exactly what I wanted and she came up with the goods.

I made a spinner card, spin the wheel and wherever the arrow points is what you get.

Unfortunately I didn't have enough room to add, wild, unabandoned, passionate love making, including the use of chocolate sauce!!! LOL! so had to do with kiss me, hold me, hug me, love me ;-(

TEDDYBO-171 coloured digitally

 Echo Park digtal papers - Yours Truly

Pearl brad - Hobby House

Ribbon and ribbon slides - MeiFlower

What's new in store?

and don't forget there is still 25% off the digital products, go grab yourself a bargain.

if you would like it then here's the spinner, just right click and save as.

I do have a slightly raunchier version, it only has two choices and they both have chocolate sauce in them, one also contains whipped cream!!!. If you want it, email me,( my address is in my profile) put spinner in the subject line and I will send it to you.

Head over to the Teddy Bo challenge blog and check out the wonderful inspiration from my teamies, plus there is still a week left to join in our birthday blog hop, and our month long Anything Goes challenge has three more weeks to go, so plenty of time to get your entries in.

I am entering my card into the following challenges

Digital Tuesday - include a digital element - #143 Romantic Cards

Paperminutes - #200 Party time- Anything Goes

Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge -(must use digi) -Anything Goes

Lexi's Creations -  Anything Goes

Make it Monday - always Anything Goes

MyGrafico -  Love and Valentines 

Truly Madly Crafty Challenges -  Anything Goes

Have a great day

hugs

Colette xx

Birdies and Bunnies

My hubby was planning to clean the pond this weekend, he likes to try and do it before the frogs turn up and make babies, last year he was too late, as by February we had tons of frog spawn, and he doesn't like to disturb it.

He decided to get up early Saturday morning and get stuck in, only to find that the pond was frozen solid and didn't thaw all day.

He's hoping to have better luck next weekend as it definitely needs a good clean.  In the Autumn my grandson Will was playing out in the garden with his friend Harry and all Will's wrestling figures, boys being boys, for some reason they decided it would be great fun to throw them into the pond, all 20 of them! my hubby only managed to rescue about four of them so there are still 16 wrestlers laying in the silt at the bottom of the pond, cold, wet, lonely and uncared for, at least they have each other for company LOL!

Goodness knows what state they are going to be in when they are rescued,

they'll probably only be fit for the bin!

My hubby ended up cleaning the fish tanks instead, at least they are indoors where it is nice and warm!

Anyway onto today's cards. I have been playing with some more Clipart Fairy goodies

and have made three cards.

Card number one uses the Book-a-Easel Pages - One Big Flower  this is an interactive set, so you need to have a program for re-sizing the pages. There is a matching graphic to go with the pages, but I used a bunny from Bunnie Stiches Shab-b-ness 5, there are five other colours of bunnies to choose from.

Each page is edged in glamour dust, and is shaped and layered, the sentiment is computer generated.

I usually make these up as Easel cards, but I decided I fancied a change with this one and made it into a tent card instead. 

Gingham Ribbon, gems and flower ribbon slider are from MeiFlower.

I decided to photograph it at an angle to try and show the shaping and layers, not sure it worked though.

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I also made two cards using Spring has Sprung papers and Summer Birdy graphics. There are 48 papers in the set for only £3.00 and 6 birdies in the graphics set for only 65p, great value for money.

Card  number two, is a simple square shape, plain and patterned papers have been printed onto card 

then matted and layered to make up my design.

I used spellbinders dies for the frame and sentiment circle, sentiment is computer generated.

The daisies are made with Die-Namics Upsey Daisies dies.

Bird charm, metallic cord and pearls, coloured with Azure Promarker, are from MeiFlower

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Card number three, uses papers and graphic from the same sets as card number two.

I have used the GoKreate XL windows 2 for the curved shapes

GoKreate scalloped circles for the frame

Spellbinders circle die for the mat

and the same Upsey Daisies die as above for the daisies.

Gems are from MeiFlower

I love the birdy images, they are just soooo cute!

I hope you've enjoyed looking at today's offerings.
Enjoy what's left of the weekend.
Hugs, Colette xx

Polkadoodles Vintage Challenge

This week it's my team's turn for the Polkadoodle challenge, although we have been hi-jacked by Fliss, who's daughter is celebrating her 21st birthday, Fliss wanted us to make cards in the style her daughter likes which is

Vintage or Retro

I have sort of made a vintage card, at least it has vintage cars on it, does that count LOL!

Everything comes from the Not for Girls CD, I printed one of the plain papers straight onto card to give me my background and then everything else was layered on top. I also used some grosgrain ribbon from MeiFlower and some brads and a mini bulldog clip which I found in my stash to finish it off.

Have you seen the new Polkadoodle magazine that is available for pre-order, it comes with an A6 set of polymer stamps and 10 A4 papers. The magazine has 12 step by step tutorials and inspiration on how to use your kit. Check it out here.

Head over to the Polkadoodles blog and check out the fabulous inspiration from the rest of my teamies and you have until Sunday 22nd Noon GMT to get your challenge entries in.

D'arcy's Diaries Open for Business

You may have noticed the D'arcy's Diaries Logo in my side bar, well today is the day folks, the grand opening of the D'arcy's Diaries store, brought to you straight from the pen of the Teddy Bo creator Gayle!

D'arcy's Diaries

You may have already noticed quite a few of these images about as I know the DT have been having fun playing with them and spreading them around blog land. You may even have seen a couple of the images on cards on my blog a week or two ago, that was a bit of a sneak peek,

but now they are out there in the big wide world for everyone to own, and you won't be sorry, the images are beautiful and such a pleasure to colour, and I'm sure you will come to love D'arcy as much as I do.

I have another card to show you today, made especially for the launch, I hope you like it!

This is D'arcy DD_02 - coloured in Photoshop in my favourite colours turquoise and lilac/purple

Papers - Nitwits - Promises Kit

Sentiment and oval frame - Kay Miller - Hopes and Dreams

Rolled roses - Marianne Creatables die

Foliage thingies - Marianne Creatables die - Leaves

Charms, metallic cord and gems - MeiFlower

Now although I have both a big shot and a Grand Calibur (Santa brought it), I actually cut each of the scalloped layers and the frame out by hand, as I didn't have dies in the size I wanted,

so if I never see another scallop ever  again, it won't be too soon!!! LOL!

Check out all the fabulous creations made by the rest of the DT here.

If you want a chance to win some candy, including a Teddy Bo digi image then go to this post HERE

I am entering this card into the following challenges

Anything Goes Challenge - Anything Goes at Anything Goes

Paper Take Weekly - Die Cute Special (Use a Die Cut & Make it Cute)

Shopping Our Stash - #34 All That Glitters, Sparkles Or Shines

Crafty Bloggers Network - Anything BUT Square

Make it Monday - always Anything Goes
Some Odd Girl - "Bling It Up" 
Little Darlings Challenges - #15 favorite color (my favourite colour combo)
My Mum's Craft shop - #39 girls
Top Tip Tuesday -  #67 Anything Goes

Woohoo! Teddy Bo first birthday Challenge and blog hop

This post will stay at the top until the blog hop is over, scroll down for other posts.

Can you believe it's been a whole year since Teddy Bo and Teddy Bea took their first tentative steps out into the big scary world of digital stamps and look how far they've come in that time. I have been there from the very beginning when we started out with a small DT of about six, (we've lost a couple along the way, although there are still four of us on the present DT),  the bears' popularity has gone from strength to strength and we now have more than double that amount.

Of course a birthday needs a celebration so hop along with the Teddy Bo Birthday Blog hop, 

 enter the draw for the fabulous Teddy Bo Birthday Candy.

and be sure to enter our month long Anything Goes Challenge, to win the fabulous Teddy Bo 10

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We've a lot to get through today so let's start off with my card for this week.

I have made a window card using one of this week's new releases

Now you're looking at this card and thinking that's not a window card, you are, aren't you?! go on, admit it,

well it is a window card honestly! it's just that the window isn't on the front of the card...

It's inside!

Peeking through the window you can see Teddy Bea giving Teddy Bo her heart, awwww!

Flip it over and the floral heart is framed beautifully in the window, clever or what!

TEDDYBO_166  - coloured in Photoshop

TEDDYBOBEA_089single - I removed the ring and replaced it with a heart
Paint splats and drips, made by me in Photoshop

Papers, floral heart, swirls, cherish word art - Kay Miller - Simple Pleasures kit.

Spellbinders Labels 22 die used for page tab

X-cut nesting dies ornate frame - window and frame.

Martha Stewart border punch

Pearl hearts and gems -MeiFlower

Card candy - stash.

Check out this weeks new releases and the 25% off digital graphics birthday sale.

And now it's time to get hopping........

Start at the Teddy Bo Challenge Blog and then follow each of the DT blogs in order.

Collect a letter  from each of the DT blogs . . . keep these in a SAFE PLACE  as you will need to re-arrange these letters at the end of the blog hop to make a mystery phrase!!!! Can't say any more !!!

Each DT member is offering a prize along the hop, so make sure you’re a follower and leave a comment on each of their blogs to be in with a chance of winning your choice of a Teddy Bo digital graphic.

 

Re-arrange your collected letters and leave a comment on the Teddy Bo challenge blog telling us what the mystery phrase is.

The blog hop will end on Monday 23^rd January (noon GMT), so you have a while to enter and hop along with us!

If you have arrived here from Nela's blog then you are heading in the right direction.

My Letter is

As I am the last stop on the hop you should now have all your letters, re-arrange them into a simple two word phrase and then head back to The Teddy Bo Challenge blog to leave a comment containing your answer, if this is your first stop on the hop head over to the challenge blog and start from there.

Good luck!

If you get lost, or if a link doesn't work (we are all on different time zones), go back to the Teddy Bo Challenge blog to get the next link.

I also have some extra candy. 

As well as the Teddy Bo graphic my winner will also get today's card, and some crafting goodies, including everything below and a few extra things not shown.

Happy Hopping!

Colette xx