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Wednesday, 30 July 2014

Good morning peeps.  Thanks for stopping by and if you've arrived here from our Becky’s blog, then you are in the right place because today we are holding a Lili of the Valley design team blog hop to celebrate the launch of our gorgeous new Christmas products

This 2014 collection is the most adorable mix of 22 cute character stamps – there’s new vintage boys & girls, snowmen, penguins and angels.  In short, there’s something for everybody in this little lot : )

You will be able to buy everything on the website from midnight on Friday August 1st (UK time) along with our new Christmas paper pads and some useful clear stamp sets (Christmas sentiments, carols and mini images and also some everyday recipes which are brilliant)

The LOTV design team are all joining in and you know how it works me darlins.  You just need to ‘hop’ from one blog to another following the links and leaving a comment on each card.  Along the way you will hopefully pick up lots of ideas and inspiration for different ways to use the new images

As always there are fabulous prizes up for grabs on this hop.  We don’t know where they are hidden of course, so do make sure you that you visit and comment on every blog. 

We will let you know tomorrow evening which were the ‘lucky’ blogs and the winners will be drawn at random from all the comments that were left on those blogs

We have a full set of the new Christmas image stamps to give away;

1st prize is the 12 angels, penguins and snowmen

2nd prize is the 10 vintage children

2 awesome giveaways : )

So what did I do then? 

Well here is my card – I kept it very simple - and the image I used is called

Here’s another newbie – this is one of the new sentiments.  I'm not sure what this set is called yet but keep your eyes peeled for it because there is every Chrimbly sentiment you will ever need on here and in different fonts and styles as well. 

Friday, 25 July 2014

Good morning peeps and I hope you are all OK today and managing to stay reasonably cool!! 

A few weeks ago, Lydia from Splitcoast Stampers emailed me to ask if I would like to be one of the Dirty Dozen.  Well of course I said yes please!!  So for the next 6 months, you’ll find me over there.  To be honest, I never realised what a fabulous source of info and inspiration that website is - it is amazing, and I’m so glad I agreed to do this. 

So this is for my first month and the theme is to use any of the past themes from the last 10 years, or you can case another dirty girl’s card. 

My card uses the Best Buds theme …

… and here it is. 

I also chose this card as my own fave for this month.  I love it because of the colours, the gorgeous papers and sweet image.  I rather like the layout as well. 

The image is LOTV Milly - Me & My Dog.  I have to confess that I cannot for the life of me find the list of Copics that I used, I'm ever so sorry.  If I do come across it I’ll amend this but I have a sneaky feeling that I’ve chucked it out : )

Thursday, 24 July 2014

It features a Bildmalarna image and this one is the sweet Mimosa Guitar.  I’m not sure that I’ve ever coloured one of these images before but they are just gorgeous, and I coloured her with the following Copics -

In fact, I thought that as it had been slacking for soooo long, I would use it twice : )

So that’s my card for today. 

It’s been so muggy these last few nights that I bet none of us have slept properly.  I have a fan going in our bedroom all night which annoys the hell out of his Lordship because he says it gives him a sore throat.  I guess it’s better than the headache he would get from me moaning it if wasn't there though.  It has to be strategically placed so that not one iota of breeze blows on to him. 

Anyway last night I had one of those eureka moments.  Now this is how dim I am at times peeps cos really it is plain common sense.  I used a wet flannel to dampen my skin and then the breeze from the fan chilled the wet skin right down. 

Yayyy, result. 

I was cool at last, or rather cool enough to get some zzzzs. 

Talking of dim, I am not without intelligence (no, really lol), but there are times when I do the daftest things.  If you’ve followed this blog for a while you will know this fo sho!! 

So the dope struck again last week. 

I decided that I would get an electric mincer …

.. this bad boy here from Lakeland (not cheap but a mincer is for life and not just for Christmas, I do believe).  The reason I got it is that doing this diet (a stone of flab gone up to now, wooohoooo), I’ve got a few recipes for stuff that used mince.  I am a really fussy mare about mince and I never quite trust what’s in it from the supermarket.  Plus you can make sure that there is zilcho fat involved if you do it yourself. 

So we got it home and I decided to make some burgers. 

To be honest, they were not very nice because I didn't put in enough seasoning but hey ho, we live and learn and anyway, I’m digressing. 

So the dope here didn't read the instructions properly and bunged all the moving parts into the dishwasher.  See that lovely shiny silver bit on the actual mincer?  Well it is now dull and grey.  I could have cried because to be fair, I am usually very verrry careful about stuff like that and I do generally look after me stuff!!! 

So I rang Lakeland to ask if they sold anything that would restore it to it’s gorgeous shiny self again.  They didn’t - there isn’t anything unfortunately – so I asked the nice lady if I could buy some spares.  She said she would see what she could do but she couldn't promise and she would get back to me. 

That was last Thursday and today, Mr Postie has brought me some a parcel of lovely shiny new parts.  My machine now looks as good as it did before I ruined it, and better still there was no charge. 

Wooohoooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! 

Now in this day and age where most companies do not know how to even spell customer service, I am truly impressed. 

So a massive huge big up to Lakeland – they have restored my faith in human nature and I think they are completely and utterly awesome. 

So on that happy as Larry note (whoever he is), I’m off. 

Have a fabulous day, stay cool and I’ll see you soon as soon.  Huggiest of hugs to all xx

Tuesday, 15 July 2014

It’s that time of the week when we head on over to the Papertake Weekly challenge and this week our theme is

Buttons, Bows & Bling

and it’s ever so easy – you just need to include one, two or all of them in your work. 

Simples!! 

And here’s …. 

… what I did. 

Now if you’re thinking that you haven't seen that image before, then you would indeed be right because it’s one of the brand new Lili of The Valley Christmas images.  You are sooo going to love this cute little lot and if you keep your eyes peeled on the DT blogs over the next few weeks then you’ll see lots of other sneak peeks as well. 

The bow was made using a Creative Expressions Craft Dies by Sue Wilson – this is Finishing Touches Collection - Classic 3D Itty Bitty Bow.  And I topped it with a Wooden Star Button from The Ribbon Girl. 

That sweet curvy sentiment is also a LOTV newbie so keep your eyes peeled for those as well.  I thought it mirrored the Spellbinders Curved Borders 1 perfectly. 

If I made this again, I would add an extra white mat behind the green to make it stand out more. 

So there we are all done for today. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed my sneakie peekie and don’t forget to check out the other Papertake girlies cos there’s some fabulous stuff over there. 

I think you may be surprised at my card today because it was one I did when I fiddling with the shabby chic /vintage thing a few weeks ago and here …

... it is.  And not an image in sight!!! . 

One of the designers whose cards I just adore is Klaudia and my card here was inspired by a card that she did.  So I must say thank you to her first for the inspiration I have gotten from looking at her beautiful work xxx

The papers I used are the gorgeous Lili of The ValleyAntebellum and I inked and distressed them to within an inch of their lives.  They can take it lol!! 

The sentiment is from the LOTV Set 58 - Pretty Grungy - Good Times set.  I stamped it straight onto the paper and then punched it out.  It looks like it is at a very dodgy angle in this pic but it isn't IRL – it’s just how it looked from the angle I took the pic!! 

I used a mixture of home made paper flowers which I made using Tim Holtz Tattered Florals and others which I got from Mary at The Ribbon Girl. 

The leaves are Tim Holtz Bigz Garden Greens and I die cut them from white card then used some Distress inks and Cosmic Shimmer spray on them so that they looked a bit variegated. 

I was quite pleased with how this turned out and it’s given me the confidence to try another card like this s0 watch this space!!  I think I can see an improvement from my last attempt which I’m happy about. 

Right I'm off to do some more colouring - I can’t say what of just yet but it is seasonal, ho ho ho (hee hee heeee).  Then I have to finish, nay start, the grey wicker heart wall hanging thingie which I bought months ago for our bedroom wall.  It needs a bit of tarting up with some floral what nots and ribbon or lace then it can be hung up. 

Dicky Mint is at work today and I did my housework (yawwwwwn) yesterday so that I can have a whole day to craft.  Well, that's the plan but Sod’s law that it won’t pan out like that – it never does : 0)

Have a great day whatever you are doing and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

I also used some DCWV hessian paper but I have to say I am not at all fussed on it if I’m being honest.  I couldn't get it to cut very well through the die cutting machine and it didn't guillotine well either – sorry, I’m just sayin peeps!!! 

Well I was not happy on Monday I can tell you. 

On Sunday, Rich and I sat discussing the weight loss thing – he is on the diet as well – and he fessed to having had a Freddo bar AND a ruddy Ripple this last week.  Well I told him that that was his weight loss down the Swanee fo sho.  And then proceeded to feel vey smug because apart from going out last Tuesday, I have stuck religiously to the diet. 

So Monday is our weigh in day.  Guess who hadn't lost a single bloody ounce and guess who had lost 2lbs? 

So the tables were well and truly turned and it was his Lordship's turn to feel smug while I just felt thoroughly hacked off. 

Not a single drop of vino has passed my lips in weeks, no cakes, no choccie, no biscuits, no nothing. 

I could have cried. 

I was probably being paid back for being a smug old smart ass.  That will teach me I guess.  Next time I will just smile sweetly and say well done dear for having all the choc and 25 portions of pudding and a huge plate of ribs with JD sauce (while I just had steak and veg) and still managing to lose weight while I have lost nowt, yadda yadda. 

I’m not at all bitter, (cry cry) !!! 

I haven’t told him but I had a sneaky weigh in this morning and there’s a 1lb gone – woohooooo : ))))

Right I’m off. 

I’ll see you soon as soon, have a great weekend and huggiest of hugs to all xxx

Monday, 7 July 2014

This post is going out at 7am on the 7th day of the 7th month – lucky seven if you are superstitious (I am a bit!!).  But as it happens, if you are after some new Lili of The Valley stamps then you are indeed in luck.  Before I get to me project, check out the pic above and if you want more details, then bob on over to the Ideas To Inspire Blog and check it all out. 

What a lovely way to start the week with some good news. 

And doesn’t it make a change!!! 

Ok now for today’s project and here …. 

… it is. 

I’ve made a window box using our beautiful Antebellum papers and apart from the leaf vine and grass, everything here is made from the pad. 

I really like this pad – it ticks so many boxes, pardon the pun!! 

Can you imagine that wood on a vintage Christmas card?I whispered that last bit – oooh it’s a bit too early for that sort of festive talk!! 

The actual window box was made using an Eileen Hull Window Box die which is made by Sissix.  Isn't it fab peeps : )

Not only that but it’s so easy to put together – I LIKE that. 

I made a blind using a MS Doily punch and the teeny flowers were made from the middle bits of a Susan Tierney Sunflower Thinlits die – they're the tiny little brown bits you can see in the middle of this flower here …. . 

Now before you think that I have wayyy too much time on my hands to sit and shape every one of those tiny things, the way I did this was to die cut it (they are all together on one die – you can see what I mean on the pic), but before I popped them out, I positioned the die over a moulding pad (or you could use an old mouse mat) and I popped them through with a small embossing tool.  They shape as they drop out – easy peasy. 

Did you watch the tennis?  Talk about nail biting and tense.  I have to admit that I would have liked to see old Roge win if I could have chosen and indeed if you had been near our house as this awesome match was going on then you would no doubt have heard old fog horn Lil here cheering him on!! 

It wasn’t to be. 

But for all of us tennis fans, above anything else, it was one of the best finals I’ve seen in many a year – truly a fantastic game of tennis. 

Right, I’m off to do the dreaded weekly weigh in – it’s just a short hop to the bathroom lol.  I’ve been good apart from (there’s always an ‘apart from’) going out for dinner on Tuesday and even then I had diet Coke and only a few chips (she say, polishing her halo!!). 

Yes, this really is me.  Not very pink I agree but maybe a little bit piggy xxx

I'm Dawny P.
I'm a freelance designer, craft tutor and demonstrator and I live in Chester with Richard, my partner of 15 years and our cat, Saffy.  I'm mummsy to Nickie and Emma and Grandma to Kyla & Thea who are the light of my life. 
I've always been a crafty girl and before making cards, I did pottery for many years and I had my own ceramics workshop. 
I do have a proper job and I work full time but apart from demo work and classes, I also run a card club in Ellesmere Port which I started in October 2008. 
As you can probably tell, life is pretty busy.  And if that wasn't enough, we also breed birds of prey!! 

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