Uhmm....Recycle what???

Hi Everyone,

Sorry if you were expecting a post from Karita. It's Sandy here. Friday is the day Karita posts her weekly inspirational project, but as she at the moment is snowed under with her work for the next Magnolia Ink Issue, I convinced her to take this week off. 

That did imply though that I had to come up with a recycling project myself...You see I had it all figured out.. Since I usually post on Saturdays myself, and tomorrow is Saturday and the 1st of the month when our new challenge goes live, I was counting on not having to make a recycling project... Hehe; that didn't quite work out for me, did it? :-)

It's not that I'm not a friend of the environment, I am, but when it comes to recycling & crafting...well I find that a bit difficult. There are simply too many NEW beautiful products I like to use.

As Tina and Becky had already used corrugated cardboard in their recycling projects, and that was my only idea I was a bit stumped. I was standing in the kitchen, looking around what I could possibly use when hubby came around. I asked him and he pointed to the nectarines standing on the kitchen counter.

Yeah so there they were in all their glory in a plastic tray with an ugly red plastic ribbon...Great...NOT!!!
...but wait...what about the net???

So this is what I used for:

I shaped it like a flower; it worked out great as the net was elastic, and added some Maya Road Tulle Trim behind it, a few roses, some lace and Pearl String. If you're wondering what that white stuff that looks a bit like frost in the net is, it's Snow-Tex. :-)

You might recall that last week our theme here on the blog was "Christmas with Summer papers". As I already then had had the FabScraps Christmas papers delivered, I was very tempted to use them instead...but that would have been cheating, so I did stick with the theme. This week I finally got to have a play with them though. :-) This is the beautiful sheet "Little Children".
 
Here's a close up of some of the details:

 In the large picture, you can better see the effect of the Snow-Tex on paper, and I also used one of the new Christmas charms, Santa's Sled. To decorate I used some red berries from my stash, the Jute Fabric and Baker's Twine. The sentiment is from LOTV and also for this one, I used the fruit net, together with some Jute Fabric and Cheese Cloth.

That's all from me for today; hope to see you tomorrow, when our September challenge kicks off!

Oh...one more thing...yesterday I was busy entering the new Pion Design papers " Silent Night"  onto the system (YES I have both the 12" and 6" complete collection in stock and available for ordering), so I didn't get around to announcing the Merry Monday Winner.
A winner has been drawn though and that lucky person is....

Sanne from "Sannekreativ". Congratulations!
Please contact me by noon Sunday with your address, so I can send you the Prima Vintage Trinkets.

Hugz,
Sandy

Shoebox Memories

Hi Girls (...and boys?!)

Recycling week and it's my turn again. I, Elin, absolutely LOVE to recycle stuff! As a matter of fact; I recycle all the time in my crafting. This time I used a shoebox that came with my 4 year old's new shoes last week:

Boring carton right?? All brown and ready for the garbage most people would say.
But hey wait...what happened???

 Yes; it's the same box! I added a bit of white gesso on the edges first, then used Riddersholm Design's cool retro papers: Fleamarket "Notes" on the top of the box and Fleamarket "It's Time" on the bottom. 

I used my favorite stamps from Inkido: Carte Postale and Post Card to spice it up a bit. As you can se I also used Gesso around the edges on my papers and on a stencil with the word "memories".

In an attempt to keep this post sweet and simple, I used a die to make a frame and the gorgeous picture is from Pion Design: Ladies.

There's still time to join in on our monthly challenge....

With love,

What's Cooking at Live & Love Crafts

Hi everyone, Becky here today with a card to show you. As you know this week we're bringing you a recycle theme, and well to be honest I can't recycle objects. I do look at some things and think 'what can I use this for', but that is as far as inspiration will take me, unlike my team mates here, they are so talented. So I'm bringing you a card, and my 'recycled' is some corrugated cardboard off some packaging. I'm sure if you're like me then the postie will bring you 'presents' in those brown boxes too ;)

I've used Maja Designs Summer Kitchen, I think the gingham check goes lovely with Kitchen Tilda, who incidentally is one of my favourites ;) I've used Distress Markers to colour her in. The edges have all been distressed with Walnut Stain, and I've used a Doohickey Die.

I've used White Jute Ribbon and White Jute Twine, there's also a couple of Idea-ology Memo Pins behind the Kort and Godt flowers.

As always I've added some subtle sparkle with Glamour Dust.

Pop over to the new products here, Sandy is constantly adding new stuff as she gets them, believe me you will love them, Sandy has been showing us sneak peaks, I can't wait until they're available.

Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday,

Hugs,

Becky xx

Recycle This

Hello Everyone,
Sandy here doing my weekly post on behalf of the lovely Tina. Before we get to Tina's beautiful project, just a couple of reminders:

There's still time to enter the August Challenge and be in the draw for a £25 Store Voucher.
The August challenge is to create a project based on this sketch by DT Member Elizabeth.

...and remember there's also a secret prize from Live & Love Crafts to be won for one lucky person who tries out GDT Kirsty-Anne's Carrot Cake Recipe (or your own! :-))

For your chance of winning these stunning Vintage Trinkets from Prima...

...please enter the Merry Monday Draw here.

We try to have a different theme here at the Inspiration Blog every week and this week's theme, suggested by DT Member Elin is "recycling".

....and out of this ugly piece of cardboard:

...Tina made this gorgeous Birthday Calendar:

Tina used the following materials from Live & Love Crafts:  

"Little Sweeties", From Grandma´s Attic - Pion Design
 Jute Ribbon
Hortensia Flower, Papercraft Scandinavia
Vintage Trinket Crystal Pins- Maya Road
Organza Roses Trim (15mm wide), Maya Road
"Sweet Sage" & "Blush Pink" Shabby Seam Binding 

Many thanks for looking.
Hugs from Tina & Sandy

Pssst...one more thing....have you seen the NEW stunning Christmas Collection from Pion Design?
It's called "Silent Night" and is due in stock Friday this week!!!
...and if I'm not mistaken Friday happens to be payday, right?! :-D

Merry Monday #3 & a Customer Project

Hi Everyone,
Sandy here. If you're in the UK, I hope you're enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend though the weather is not exactly what we had hoped for... On the other hand; it's great for crafting and doing some blog hopping. :-D I try to get around as much as I can visiting my customers' blogs as I really enjoy seeing what you make with the products you buy from Live & Love Crafts. So far you've also been very helpful sending me e-mails with links to your projects, so thank you!!!

 Today I'd like to share with you a card made by one Live & Love Crafts' customers, Daniele Haddon. This is Daniele's DT card for Sugar Creek Hollow, a great challenge blog I can warmly recommend if you enjoy making vintage, shabby chic and/or primitive inspired projects.

Daniele used one of the beautiful sheets from Pion Design's "Rose & Ocean of Roses" from the Studio of Memories collection. The shabby seam binding is the popular colour Ash Rose, which was combined with a piece of Pearl String. The image is from a Day for Daisies.
Please take a moment to visit Daniele's blog, The Musings of a Chocoholic; she makes gorgeous vintage cards!

If you've visited the Live & Love Crafts' Store lately, you've probably noticed that loads of new products have been added (and there are more on their way...:-)), amongst those several embellishments such as vintage trinkets & flowers from Prima.

As you all know, Live & Love Crafts is specializing in vintage and shabby chic craft supplies, and my goal is to bring you the best products and brands available together under one roof so to speak. Maya Road and Melissa Frances have been part of the portfolio since opening, but I felt that one piece of the puzzle was missing, and that piece, Prima, has now been added. :-)

This week's Merry Monday prize are these beautiful vintage trinkets from Prima.

This set is called "Romance Novel".

Please enter your details in Inlinkz below and remember you need to be a follower of this blog in order to be eligiable for the prize. 

Before I leave you, just a quick reminder that the Bank Holiday Weekend Offer ends today at midnight.

Happy Crafting!

Hugz, Sandy

Vintage Summer Christmas

Hi, it's Becky here with my card for the Christmas without Christmas papers here at Live and Love Crafts. When I first saw this theme I was a little daunted, but once I got going I couldn't stop (in fact I scheduled this post on 18th August, how is that for organised).

I set myself the challenge of using The Vintage Summer Basics from Maja Design, and I didn't want to use a Christmas Sentiment, I felt that was cheating, lol. The papers are 1922, 1933, 1916 and the snowflakes have been cut from 1945. I love this collection, I colour with distress inks and the colours match perfectly. The edges have been distressed using a Tim Holtz Distresser Tool and then machine sewn.

The Poinsettia's have been cut out of Tim Holtz coordinations, as the colours are the same as the distress inks, I've then sanded them a bit using a Tim Holtz Sanding Grip. I've used a Mini Round Brad to fasten each of the Poinsettia's in place. 

I've used some of the scrumptious Ash Rose Shabby Seam Binding and tied a double bow. There's a Vintage Tag with Chantilly Lace. 

I've also added Glamour Dust and Liquid Pearls. Tilda with a Cute Lamb has been coloured with Distress Inks, and I've coloured the lamb in to look like a dog, well sort of. 

I hope that all of our projects this week have shown you how you don't need to use Christmas DP to make a Christmas Card. There's still a few days to enter our sketch challenge, just click on the link on the right.

And, click here to go to the shop as there's 15% off this Bank Holiday weekend, just enter the code 'Bank' at checkout, this is available until midnight on Monday 27th August.

Hugs,

Becky x

Betty & Maja

Good Evening,

Sandy here again. This week we have a really fun theme here at the Inspiration Blog; Christmas with Summer Papers. The DT members have used a mix of different papers, but what's evident is that Maja Design's Vintage Summer Basics Collection as well as Pion Design's Studio of Memories Collection contain many papers that can be used for Christmas projects. Another Maja Design collection with papers suitable for Christmas projects is "Life in the Country". I've used both "Read a Book", "Kitchen Garden", as well as "Scent of Wild Flowers" in the past, but today I felt like red, so I went with "Summer Kitchen".

I used both the front and the back of the sheet; love gingham for Christmas and I think it goes so well with the candy cane. Same thing with the Baker’s Twine. The adorable image is “Betty with Candy Cane”from Whiff of Joy.

Yesterday Karita shared what her favourite product is of all the new products that have just arrived at the store, namely the kraft Mini Paper Bags & Tags from Melissa Frances. My favourite though are these Vintage Pearl Brads from Creative Charms:

They are available in white (as seen above) and in pink.
I bought some of these a couple of years ago when on vacation in the States and I've been looking all over the place for them ever since. As you can see, I couldn't resist using one straight away. :-) 

The stunning Drop Pendant is new and from Blue Moon Beads.
The Swirl is a Magolia Doohickey from the "Leaf & Swirl" Set.
 The flowers have been coated with Twinklets Diamond Dust, my favourite sparkly Christmas product, and of course I also used some Stardust Stickles (this is my all year around favourite :-)). While I'm at it, let's continue with the Ranger products; around the images I applied "White Opal" Liquid Pearls,
 all edges were treated with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and the metal corner was painted with Gesso first and then a layer of "Picket Fence" Crackle Paint. Finally I also used some white Pom Pom Trim and Pearls from Melissa Frances, as well as some Cheese Cloth.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend and please stop by tomorrow for Becky's Christmas project!
Hugz,
Sandy

Celebrating the UK Bank Holiday Weekend with 15% off

Good Evening Everyone,

Sandy here. Finally Friday it's here and for us in the UK it's a looooooong weekend as Monday is a public holiday. :-) How great isn't that, and here's another great thing:

 We're celebrating the Bank Holiday Weekend with a 15% off everything at the store!!!

I've been very busy over the last days adding the many New Products that have just arrived, but remember to also check out the Summer Sale Section with loads of products already heavily discounted; 15%-35% and now on top of that 15% off!!! Well; you do the maths... :-D

Wishing you all a great Bank Holiday!

Hugz,
Sandy

...and here's a celebration card by DT Member Elizabeth:

 Card Ingredients

Papers: "Stains", Fleamarket Collection, Riddersholm Design

 Magnolia doohickey's: Tilda Lace and Leaf from the Leaf and Swirl Set.

    Embellishments: Gardenia Flower, Papercraft Scandinavia

Heart Brads, Inkido
Heart Pins, Inkido
Vintage Findings Pearl Centers, Maya Road

 Aqua Pom Pom Trim, Melissa Frances

 

Vintage Angel

Good Morning all :) 

Finally it´s Friday, so that means it´s my, Karita's, turn to share some inspiration with you all. And we are still continuing with this week's theme here at the Live & Love Crafts' Blog, and the theme is Christmas with Summer papers :)

Here´s my Christmas card made with summer papers. Not a usual card from me ;)
For a change I wanted to make something different... :)
On my card I used Pion Design's - Small Leaves12 x12 from the Studio of Memories Collection. The beautiful angel is also from Pion Design.

Some feathers, pearl string and flowers. You can find that beautiful Resin Blossom from Maya Road at the Live & Love Crafts' Store.

I also used some pearls from Melissa Frances and I painted the metal corner with Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint - Picket Fence.

Here you can see the inside of the card. 

Okay, that´s all from me for now :)
Wishing you all a crafty weekend :)
Hugs, Karita

Pssttt... one more thing... have you noticed that there are lots of New Products at the store?  :)
Here´s a little sneak peek for you..

You better be fast if you want to have these to yourself ;)

Melissa Frances Mini Paper Bags & Tags

Merry Monday Winners

Good Evening,
Sandy here to post the Merry Monday winners. 

Unfortunately; last week's winner did not get in touch, so today I've drawn a new winner.

Merry Monday #1 Winner Jane Johnson
Merry Monday #2 Winner Chris Gates

Congratulations Jane and Chris! 
Please contact me by noon, Sunday at the latest.

MERRY MONDAY PRIZE #1

 1 meter brown Jute Ribbon
1 yard cream Pom Pom Trim, Melissa Frances

5 yards "Golden Latte" Shabby Seam Binding

"Latte coloured" Hortensia Flowers (5) , Papercraft Scandinavia
1 Set of Resin Blossoms (5 flowers), Maya Road
1 set of "Dark Chocolate" Vintage Pearl Pins, Maya Road

MERRY MONDAY PRIZE #2

 

5 yards of Maya Road's brand new Sparkle Silver Twine Cording
1 set of Silver Jingle Bells (18 pieces, 9.5mm diameter)
1 set of Maya Road Vintage Trinket Crystal Pins (5 Pins)
- 1 Bottle of "Diamond" Stickles Glitter Glue, Ranger
5 Christmas Charms from Bildmalarna:
- Christmas Sock
- Christmas Tree
- Praying Angel
- Lantern
- Snowflake

Thanks n' Hugz,
Sandy

Paperbag: Christmas in August

Hi Guys,

It's Elin here; this week we are playing around with a real challenge:
making Christmas cards with Summer papers!

Here in Norway some of us have these HUGE paperbags for disposal of food, and these disposal bags are just great for cardmaking. This is my first shot at one of these these and here's my result:

 I used Maja Design's Read a Book from the Life In The Country collection.
The paperbag is brown, so I used Gesso on all edges before punching.The gorgeous Gardenia got a touch of Distress Tea Dye on the edges. As usual, I also used Jute Twine and Cheese Cloth on the front. The bow is also made with Cheese Cloth :)

I used dies to cut out the panels, and some Norwegian stamps. On the edges I used Snow-Tex (- have you seen all the new great Christmas products that have just arrived at the store???) to give it a hint of winter.

The bow tied on the inside is made with the Creamy Organza Ribbon. I also used several Vintage Stamps to play around with on the background.

You can find loads of great products for cards like this at the Live & Love Crafts Store, so why not take a peek and be ready for Christmas in time!

Well that's it from me for now.
With love,