Top Tip Tuesday C&S!

Morning! Well what FAB entries we had with the last challenge!  It was grate seeing such a variety of projects - all so inspiring in their own way! The winners are posted over on the TTT blog, pop over and take a look!

Anyway I'm here with the new challenge, its one that we all love

Clean & Simple 

The wonderful Samantha has done a tutorial over on the TTT blog and the team have some wonderful tips! so please pop over to the blog and take a look!we also have some wonderful sponsors this week;

Simon Says Stamp is offering a $20 gift voucher to spend in their store!!In business since 2002, Simon Says Stamp is striving to offer you the best selection of Rubber Stamps, Altered Art, Scrapbooking, Artist Trading Cards, and Paper Crafting Supplies in the world. We stock over 100,000 items in our warehouses so that we can offer you quick service and one stop shopping at a great price!Happy customers are the heart of our business.We work hard to find and deliver to you the latest in stamping and paper crafting supplies! Attending classes, workshops, and sales meetings around the world, our goal is to keep our product offerings fresh and current. Make us your one stop easy shop - and we'll deliver right to your door! 


Bugaboo Stamps

One lucky Random winner will win 7 Digi images for their choice



Ooh La La Creations 

Ooh La La Creations is offering you any 1 of their CDs!
We live in France. My daughter and I design the CD's.
I started crafting about 20 years ago with glass painting and decorated furniture then started making cards for friends and family. We decided to design our own CD's as there was not much craft materials around when we moved here. We use living Artists for all of our CD's now and have recently shown our CD's on Create and Craft TV

SO onto my creation, I did use Samantha's lovely sketch! you know one of those times where you know what you want to do and how and then it doesn't quite go as you planned..... 

Yes this was one of those, I wanted to stick to two colours and I had in mind what stamps I wanted to use... it was the cutting of the centre part that was done 5 times before i gave up and said enough was enough! 

The stamp set I believe is woodware, its a set I brought a few years ago - one of those, oh thats nice and ohh I could do this that or the other with... but often gets forgotten about! But when It comes out it does do what I want it to... eventually! 

The sentiment is from the Whimsy Stamps Spring Letter Seals - I love these little words that come with the stamps so many uses! Thats all i can tell you really! So I would like to enter this card into the following challenges; 

Stemplesonne - Anything Goes

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by! Hope to see you again soon! 

x

Top Tip Tuesday - #68 A Sketch!

Morning all, you must be able to tell now that nothing is scheduled on my blog at the moment, have got my self behind with the house stuff and not and time to sit and get a post written in time! Im here with this weeks TTT challenge! But first up I would like to thank each and every one of you that joined in for our 1st challenge of 2012, WOW over 600 entries you must have all been feeling the 'anything goes'.  Please pop over to the TT blog and check the side bar to see if your a winner!! 

OK on to our sponsors this week! 

Stamp & Create

Top Tipper Prize of

 $25.00

Stamp and Create is an on-line store based in the US. We ship worldwide with reasonable shipping prices. 

We specialize in Rubber Stamps and Scrapbook supplies. Some of the companies we carry are: Wags 'n Whiskers Rubber Stamps, High Hopes Rubber Stamps, Whiff of Joy, The Greeting Farm, Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, Stampavie, Whimsy Stamps, Emerald Faeries, Basic Grey, My Mind's Eye, Echo Park, Ribbon, Charms, embellishments, dies, and more!

and

Karens Doodles

...with a prize of 3 Digital Images of the winners choice.

Karen's Doodles has a fantastic selection of designs, Digital and Rubber stamps.

Look out for some of Karen's fab images in our DT samples :)

and

Sew Sweet

The Lovely Emma from Sew Sweet is offering 1 lucky entrant

a £10.00 voucher to spend at her yummi shop.

Sew Sweet stock a huge selection of Wool felt, buttons, ribbon, divine twine, Handmade personalised gifts, findings and more.

And here are the FAB sketches from our wonderful Lisa! - You can do one or both! Cant wait to see what you all create! 

Sketch 1: Layers

Sketch 2: Clean and Simple

 


You may rotate or flip the sketch, add a few extra embellishments or elements but please ensure the original sketch is clearly visible in your finished creation.

Ok so onto my card.  I chose to attempt sketch 1.  Last week I thought I was doing really well and it all went a bit wrong I had a block and that was it, I hope you like my card!

Yes I know what your saying... She's obsessed with that stamp! YES I AM, and Im happy to shout it! Its the beautiful Pippi Longsocks from Funky Kits! Trust me - you WILL be seeing more and more of here, I think she may be my obsession of 2012! 

I coloured her using my copics and added some polychrome pencils to add depth! 

Wings - BG000 Plus Stardust Stickles

Skin - E02, E00, E000 and R20 for cheeks

Frog - YG23 and YG09

Hair - E79, E37, E15

Skirt and Top - B95, B93 B02

The papers are all from my scrap box that has finally come home!! (along with another three draws and my big shot and all my dies!) Things with the house are at a bit of a stand still as we need to get a radiator moved in the room before we can finish it and get the kitchen done, so I will be making the most and crafting!!! 

I would like to enter this card to the following challenges;

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Sugar Nellie Facebook Challenge - Green, Blue and White

Try It On Tuesday - Do You Believe In Fairies? 

Thanks for stopping by and see you soon! 

x

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes - Week 2!

WOW - we are only half way through this weeks challenge and what an amazing turnout we have had so far!!  I guess you like our

ANYTHING GOES
challenge!

There is still one week to go to enter the challenge, however, we wanted to showcase the creation that half way through who has

CAUGHT OUR EYE!!

The mid-challenge 'Caught Our Eye' winner, who wins a Guest Designer Spot is:

Audhild
with this absolutely AMAZING creation!!

Thats just the front of it, make sure you go and visit her blog to view inside of the box - AMAZING!!

Congratulations!!  Please contact us at toptiptuesday@hotmail.co.uk for the details of the
Guest Designer information and also to get the code for your badge to show on your blog!!


We also have some fabulous 2nd week inspiration


From StampFairy Design Team

Jackie

Dora

How gorgeous are those??!
Remember, there is still a week to go of our ANYHING GOES challenge - please click here
to take you to the current challenge to add your creation, which is open until Monday 16th January.

From the TTT girlies

Top Tip Tuesday #64 - A gift....

Morning all, well as I'm still posting you may have guessed that were still in the old house, still no news other than we have till Thursday to exchange.... chances of that happening... 50/50 at the moment, I will be glad once I know if I'm going before or after Christmas, we still don't have a tree up and my eldest is asking where it is! Her other question is 'how will father christmas know where were living?' I had to tell her that I will text him on Christmas eve to let him know... Hubby just raised his eyebrows when I said this... well what was I meant to say?!

Anyway I'm here to share with the the FAB challenge over at Top Tip Tuesday this week, I know its the turn of the other team but I decided to play along as I needed to keep my mind off of packing my house up too soon - although there is a lot to pack! and so this week we are looking for your;

Gifts.... 

This can be something you have made to give as a gift or an image of something/someone with a gift.  

We have three wonderful sponsors this week;

Simon Says Stamp

Simon Says Stamp are offering a $20 gift voucher for their store! 

Robyns Fetish 

Robyns Fetish are offing four stamps of the winners choice from the store! 

Di's Digi Downloads

Di's Digi Downloads are offering 1 prize of 5 digi stamps! 

Wow there are loads of prizes this week! How amazing.... join in and maybe you could grab yourself an early Christmas present! 

 Now I will tell you I struggled to do this challenge as I wanted to make a gift for a special friend... But I make cards and not much else, I'm not one to spend hours trying to make something that I know I'm not going to be happy with at the end! But I have seen so many people making the gorgeous candles at the moment I just had to give it a shot! 

I did have to do this slightly different to the the tutorials I have seen, due to the move I don't have any tissue paper or a heat gun, so I improvised and used a Kleenex tissue that I split the layers down so it was one sheet thick rather than three! I then used my old hairdryer to heat it up! It did go slightly wrong, I had planned on using the sheet as one and slowly heating the candle to make it stick but before I started the tissue ripped and so I had to cut it into sections and then I spilt a glass of water on the side - Note to self, no drink and crafting at the same time! 

(Please note if you haven't decorated a candle before you will need to cover the candle with baking paper before heating your image (placed on the candle baking paper over the top and heat!) and please please please watch your little crafting hands as it hurts if you burn them as I have found out!!!! )

This is how my design started before being put on the candle! 

I did decide after taking the picture to colour the reindeer, I did that using my copic marker, you do need to be careful when you get close to the edges of the image as I did find the colour would bleed out.  But it didn't show too much after it was put on the candle, you also need to cut as close as you can to the image as it mean you need to heat less.

I used a wonderful stamp set from Woodware called Winter Wonderland. It has sat in my stash this year, as its a bunch of lovely images its one that comes out time after time, you can make something as detailed or as simp as you want from it! 

I have spent a few days searching for the right image(s) to use to decorate the candle, I tried to colour various images wanting something Christmasy for a friend of mine (this is a little something to thank her for all her help recently!). But everything was too detailed or I found when colouring that it would bleed too much and so I thought this set was perfect as its mainly silhouettes, I have to say I think I was on a mad one the day I purchased the candle (its a 70 hr church candle so quite big!)! 

I decided that I would make it look a bit more gift like by wrapping it, I did 'attempt' to make a hexagonal box for it to go in, but after attempt two I 'threw' my paper out the pram and have up! I think I was seriously trying to push my own boundaries today by doing that.  

So yes, it simply got wrapped in some cellophane that looks like its snowing! I thought it fitted the candle rather nicely, as you can see i also added a handmade gift tag just to finish it off and so it was ready to give! The ribbon was from my stash and I thought a little red bow finished it nicely, made it look more Christmasy! 

I have to say I'm quite impressed with what I created, even if i do have very burnt hands from my hairdryer.  Im even considering adding a bit of glitter to this one to 'jazz it up' a bit! but it shows that anything is possible when you have limited bits and pieces - and trying something new isn't always that bad! 

I would like to do another candle but not sure how soon, my hands were covered in wax and a bit sore by the time I finished and so I think it may be a 'wait till the new house' job! 

I would like to enter this candle into the following challenges;

2 Sisters - Christmas 

Crafty Calendar - Cold and Frosty

Di's Digi Designs Challenge - All White Except the Image

Just Some Lines - Handmade gift 

Secret Crafter - All creatures great and Small 

Fairy Tale - Gift 

Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes

Art Impressions Stamp Challenge - Try Something New

Digi Doodle Shop Best - Nature

Well I hope you like what I have created and that I have inspired you to maybe try decorating a candle yourself... if you do, let me know would love to see some more of these beauties! maybe you could also join us at TTT this week? after all its a perfect gift for someone special!! 

Please pop over to the TTT blog and see the amazing creations by the DT girls and the FAB tutorial! if you have a moment leave them so love to let them know you stopped by! Also if you have a moment, I would love to hear what you think about my first attempt at decorating candles!!! 

Hugs to all and hope to see you again soon! 

xx

Top Tip Tuesday #63 - Let it Snow

Morning all, well I wasn't expecting to be sat here today (well it was meant to be yesterday but i completely forgot to type this up - Sorry Girls!), hoped that I would be running around like a headless chicken,but I'm not complaining, need to chill a bit! Feeling a bit sad that I haven't got any christmas decorations up - and I'm not sure if there is going to be time to get any up before the big day! (in fact I know there is no time, we are hoping to move on the 21st December!)

Well I'm here to share this weeks challenge at Top Tip Tuesday, this week we are looking for your snowy creations, if you go to the TTT blog you will see a wonderful tutorial from Bettina, how stunning is that snowflake?! I so have to find the time to make one!

So come on everyone..... 

Let it Snow! 

So our sponsors this week are;

The Crafty Pad Designs

The Crafty Pad

Prize - 2 Digi Images Debbie at The Crafty Pad Stamp Designs says... The Crafty Pad Stamp Designs is proud to sponsor Top Tip Tuesday.  I own and run The Crafty Pad Stamp Designs. We offer a variety of digi stamps. Weekly challenges are held at The Crafty Pad Blog.

And

3 images of your choice from Limited Runs

Nikki from Limited Runs says...

 I've started doing more paper crafts within the last Year and have found it to be very addictive and slowly it's been getting larger. Creating Digi's just happened to be a blend of using my drawing and computer graphix together to create "Limited Runs" which is my little digital stamp store. I've also started Freebie Fridays and will be doing this for a Limited time too. Each may be posted from 1 day to ??? (Limited Time Offer) May you all enjoy my digi's as much as I love to make them.  SO if your looking for some YUMMY cupcakes I've got over 50 Varieties to choose from and lots more with more always in the works.

So here is my little creation..... I can't give too many details on it as I used my mums pens to colour when I was over there last week, The image is from Mo's digital pencil, I love this little man at Christmas, I think he is fab for males birthdays, especially in the winer months, I used him last year for my father in laws birthday.

I decided to go 'away' from the traditional colours, but i do prefer him done in browns with reds or greens rather than purples!!! I used liquid pearls on the base of the image to look like snow, it looks shocking in the picture but docent look too bad in real life!!! The card blank is a scalloped 8x8 and the papers are all from my stash - I thought that i tied the purple in with the backing paper but again it looks more blue with the flash!!! ! The 'tis the season' is from a bo bunny paper pack i purchased just before the christmas rush started! 

I thought it just finished the card off, with so few supplies at the moment, i am using limited resources and can't wait to have my stuff back with me, I hear it calling me all the time! I may even get my own craft room at the new house, due to the kids maybe sharing for a few years, and we need a 'computer (make that craft and computer) room! 

Well there he is and I hope you like him, sorry I can't inspire you more for the 'snow' theme this week, but remember there is loads of inspiration on the TTT blog, please stop by and see the fab tutorial and let them know that you have been over to see! 

I would like to enter this card to the following challenges;

ABC Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafts and Me - Snow/Snowflakes

I hope to be back soon with some photos of the house, I can't wait to hear what you all think! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Top tip Tuesday Sketch!

Morning all, how are we today?! Well school run underway and thinking what needs to be done for the rest of the day - I cant believe my daughter had 13 days left at school before she breaks up - I swear they are on holiday more than I ever was! 

Well Im here to share with you the challenge over at Top Tip Tuesday this week! Well do we have a treat!? Oh yes! The wonderful Samantha has put together a sketch! 

Now how good does that look! Oh to have that talent! We would like to see what you create from the sketch - I must say I LOVE sketches now, at least they give me some direction! Remember you can use anything you wish to create your project - as long as we can see the original structor supplied! 

We have some FAB sponsors this week! 

The Crafty Pad Designs

They are offering 2 Digital images

Ohh La La Creations

Are offering one of their CD's

And our FAB new Sponsor...

Saturated Canary Digis

(adding the link caused another shopping spree!)

When I found out that we were being sponsored by the wonderful Krista I couldn't believe it, I was so excited when I found out she had opened a shop - let alone sponsoring us too! We were fortunate enough to be given a digi to play with I chose the beautiful Snow White - available from the shop here.

Isn't she beautiful!! I have to say once I got her i did have a panic! I had to try and think back to what the real 'snow while' looked like, then I thought - NO she will be unique! I even tried to add a 'shine' on the apple- it didn't work too well though! The top right corner I have used a small cut out from part of the backing paper that says 'I Love thee'.

Here she is up-close, she was coloured with copics - i was trying to keep them all in a nice order - hence why I have never listed the colours, but that has gone to pot now, so I will start listing colours soon, PROMISE! 

As you can see I added a bit of grey around the white spots on the headband to try and add more definition to it, I also used various shades of red.  She was die cut using my nesties. I did go round the edge of her with a TH DI to add more depth. 

I love this flourish, I have hardly ever used it and now I just have to make sure I have some cut in every colour and ready to go as and when, I used gems on it today to jazz it up a bit.

I have to say after everything taking so long this one bit got me - the flourish fits the nestie shape really well and the colour blended well with the DI i used!

I would like to enter this card to the following challenges;

Crafts for Eternity - Anything Goes

Sew Many Cards - Anything Goes

4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes

Charisma Cardz Challenge - Love (the sentiment says I Love thee)

Paper Crafting journey - Die Cuts

Southern Girls - Anything Goes

Inky Impressions - Punch or Die Cut

The Paper Shelter - One for the Girls

Scrapalicious - Anything goes

Whimsical Wednesdays - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekley - Anything Goes

Well I hope you like her and it would be lovely to hear what you think! 

Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you again soon! 

x