My 2nd Baby Billie Guest Designer card

Yes it's already Tuesday again which means that I am posting my second card for the new Ladybug Craft Ink Baby release. Kerry asked if this week we could make a boy version of the image I showcased last week. I put away all my pink things and got out the blues! It's funny how we associate certain colours with boy and girl babies. I had such fun with my patchwork I have been making that I decided (I must be mad I  know) to take the time to make some more. This time I used some really cute first edition papers called animal antics.Just look at that sweet giraffe ;0)  If you want to see how I made my patchwork for my last GD card do have a look here.

So with out delay here is my card for today.

Shhh don't read too loudy you may wake Billie ;0)

This time I made a gatefold card.

Here is the sweet image which I coloured with my Promarkers and highlighted with my Prismacolor pencils.
Again I paper pieced the little blanket and glittered the lace edge.

Here is one of the flaps with my "hand" stiched aka inked stitching. Can you see those sweet giraffes...my son would love this ;0)

You can also see my Memory Box baby washing line die has been used again and also my new MB marshmallow cloud dies. I loooove these.

A close up of the flap above
and here is the inside below.

Thank you for all the really lovely comments you left me on my last baby card. I put the names into the hat and pulled out 2 winners who each win my Shh Billie is sleeping image.

Well done to

Caz 
and
Joey 

Please email me at the address on my blog and I will be delighted to email you your sleeping Billie digi stamp.

I am back again next Tuesday with my mid way reminder card for the Ladybug Girls O Baby Challenge. Remember you have a whole month to enter your cards.

Next Tuesday I will be showcasing my second digi and it will be for a little girl again.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Make it Monday Linky challenge
Stamping for the weekend Button it up
Ready Teddy Go Spring has sprung #22
My Mum's Craft shop Spots/stripes
Cupcake Craft lots of layers #242
Cards for Men Fancy Folds #10
Forever Friends pastel colours
Whimsy stamps anything goes #59
Papertake Weekly The sound of music my inspiration for my card is the John Lennon classic "Beautiful Boy"
Bearly Mine Lucky dip #86 I have chosen die cuts , faux stitching and pearls/gems as my lucky 3.

I would also like to mention the fab giveaway over at the generous Ribbon Girls blog, do pop over, their twine candy is just gorgeous.

Remember there is another chance this week to win my sleeping Billie image, just leave a comment and I will again put all the comments into the hat and pull out 2 lucky winners.

In the meantime I will be back later this week to share my photos from my trip to Ightham Moat and the Bluebell wood...I had such a great day and the scenery showed the  English Countryside at its very best.

Thanks for visiting,

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

Beautiful blossoms

I love my tiny garden and I really don't think I would have the time to manage anything bigger than my little outdoor space. I would need to have days with 48 hours in them! I only have one "large" specimen out there and that is a magnolia. We prune it hard after it has flowered in the spring to keep it relatively small and not to overpower the rest of the garden. Although I miss having big trees out there I can more than make up for this in my neighbourhood. I live in a London suburb and it is very leafy in my area and there are gorgeous trees everywhere.

I noticed how much glorious blossom there is around at the moment so I took my camera out for my walk round to my local shops over the bank holiday weekend to capture some photos.

This is a cherry tree in our road

and this beauty is just around the corner.

I am amazed at just how gorgeous these frillies are

It is not  just the trees which are showing off their beautiful blossoms. I also spotted others on my walk.

I was also amazed by how many shades of green nature has.....

the horse chestnut above is showing off its "candles" where my beloved conkers will ripen.

Such lush new leaf growth on this beech hedge above.

As I walked I was quickly inspired as to what card I would make when I got home. All those blossoms make me think of Cicely Barker's Flower Fairies. I bought a new fairy stamp at The Ally Pally Stamp show  last month  and decided it was time to ink her up and use some of my new stash. I also would go for really girlie pinks, just like that wonderful blossom I had seen. Here is my card creation

Those who remember the "small" new stash I showed you from Ally Pally may remember seeing the metallic gilding wax tubs. I bought 3 colours and here I have use the "pearl moon" colour to rub over the pink card which I embossed using a Spellbinder embossing folder. It gives a lovely sheen to the card which you can just make out in the photo. The fairy is a Lavinia stamp which I bought at the show. I lightly coloured her wings with my Promarkers and then added lots of glitter and Glossy Accents to them and to the moon. I can see me using this lovely stamp for lots of occasions including Christmas.  I also added Stickles to the stars. You will spot another new die, Memory Box's precious stars. I have the precious hearts dies and these are just as cute. Even my matting card is glittered. It is my niece's birthday on Sunday and although she will be 29 she still loves pink and fairies and I thought she might enjoy receiving this card. 

I used this great sketch on "A die for a Sketch Challenge blog" for my card. They are celebrating their first birthday and are also hosting a blog hop

You will also see some more of my "sewing" around my card. Don't be deceived, it is actually made by using a Sue Wilson piercing ruler which I also bought at Ally Pally. I pierced all around my card and I then created the "stitching" with a silver gel pen. I think it looks pretty realistic and no sewing machine was harmed in the making of my card ;0) 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

A die for a sketch Birthday hop

Lavinia Stamps Challenge Pastel Colours #3

Stamping Sensations Embossing

Ribbon Girls add a button

Pan Pastels Fairyland #18

Cupcake Inspirations #209 I was inspired by the fairy and the pink and mauve colours.

My Mum's Craft shop spots and/or stripes I used fun stripey buttons

Penny Black and More Sew easy

Forever Friends pastel colours #61

Allsorts Challenge add some sparkle #205

Papertake Weekly anything goes

Divas by Designs anything goes

Simon says stamp things with wings

Natalie and Amy things with wings #9

Whimsy Stamps monthly challenge anything goes #59

Crafty Ribbons Challenge No designer paper #45

I would like to thank you all for your very kind comments you left me on my last post. You seem to like the GD card I made for Ladybug Crafts Ink new Billie Baby stamp release. I really enjoyed making it. I am working on my week 2 GD card as we speak and I show it to you on Tuesday. (A little insider info is that is a card for a baby boy this time and yes I have been making more patchwork! )If you missed that post do remember that you can win the image I used just by commenting  here. I will put all the names into a hat and announce the winner on Tuesday. Please make sure you leave any comments on that post by 8 pm on Monday night. 

After the most glorious May bank holiday weather we have some very strong winds to contend with today. I am sure that a lot of the beautiful blossom will be raining down today like magical fairy confetti. 

Happy Thursday,

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

Shhh Billie is sleeping, GD card for Ladybug Crafts Ink New Baby release

I am delighted to have been asked again by Kerry of  Ladybug Crafts Ink to be a Guest Designer for her latest release today. Kerry is just about to become a Grandma (or Glam Ma as she is going to be known ;0) in the next few days. Her daughter's baby is due at any moment and this new release is just perfect for her. It features the delightful Billie Bear, who you have all met before. This release is all about...yes you guessed it....new babies.


You can also win the image I have used today and there is a new challenge on over at the Ladybugs' Challenge Blog. I will give you all the details at the end of this post.

I received this sweet digi called "Shh Billie is sleeping" and I set to work brainstorming some ideas.

I tried several sizes and also decided that my Spellbinders Labels 17 dies would be a perfect shape to cut my focal with.

I also decided that I would try my hand at another new card shape for me.... a criss cross card. I have never made one before and there are so many tuts on You Tube that I was spoilt for choice.

The sleeping Billie also made me think of patchwork quilts and I also decided that it was time to play with my  handmade patchwork again.

Here is my basic criss cross
blank made and ready to decorate.

I chose pink matting card and I love using gingham for baby cards. As always I went for blue with the pink.


I decided that I could make my paper look like a patchwork quilt so I used my same patchwork technique and cut out lots of hexagons.

I used pink, blue and a very pretty Nitwits paper to make 3 sets of blocks.
Now it was time to make the pattern into a paper.

Here we go.....I had got my pattern working well.

This is one side of the criss corss finished. Now if you rememeber with my first patchwork papers I made I was not brave enough to add hand "stitching". Well this time I took the bull by the horn, well actually I picked up a black Memento marker, and I used a ruler to create a stitched effect.

Here we are......

So once I had my criss crosses made it was a case of making up my card and adding the embellies and my stamped focal image.

Here is Baby Billie all coloured up and you will see another 1st for me here..I paper pieced her blanket with a piece of paper from the patchwork.
Just look at the cute baby die cuts from my new Memory Box baby clothes line die.

I also made an insert for my card which I also decorated.

Are you ready for my ta dah moment..................................

Shhhhh don't wake her up she is fast asleep.... and here is a close up of the outside...

I hope you like her......I had great fun creating her, thanks again Kerry for asking me back. I am waiting to hear news of her new grandbaby at any moment ;0)

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Allsorts add some sparkle
Cutie Pie lots of layers #43
Pretty Little Ribbons Lace
Forever Friends Fortnight Challenge Pastel Colours #61
Make It Monday Linky Party #139
Papertake Weekly anything goes
Sentimental Sundayspaper piecing #153

Kerry's New Release is available on her website here  today.  There are no less than 12 new Baby Billies to choose from and they are all on instant download. They are the bargain price of £1.75 each but you can win the image I have used. Just leave a comment here that you would like to win Shh Billie is sleeping and your name will go into the hat. Kerry has been very generous and will allow me to pick not 1 but 2 commentators to win this sweet digi. I will announce my winners each Tuesday.
If you visit any of the other DT you can also win the images they have used. The more you visit the greater are your chances of winning.

There is also a new Card Challenge which starts over on their blog today. It is called Oh Baby and will last for the whole of May. It is an anything goes challenge as long as it is baby related. You can enter the challenge here.

As this is running for a month I am going to be back every week for the next 4 weeks with a different Baby Billie card on Tuesdays. Do come back next week to see what I made...it is one for a boy and you can also find out if you have won my Shhh Billie is sleeping digi stamp.

Good luck,

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

(PS I know that a lot of my non card making blogger friends leave me lovely comments. I will only put your names into the hat if you ask me to. Some of my friends would not really know what to do with a digi stamp..LOL!!)