Sweet Daisies

Morning Everyone,

Can't believe it's Monday already and thank goodness it's a bank holiday here in the UK.  I'm worn out painting, and no, not the usual craft kind that I like, but the hall, stairs and landing, and with all the cleaning of paintwork and tidying up afterwards I am shattered.  Second coat and then it will be all done awaiting the arrival of the new carpet.  I then have 5 doors to get painted in the week as we start the preparation in the kitchen.  A woman's work certainly is never done!

Well my DT card today uses this oh so sweet image called "Sweet Daisies" from Little Darlings Rubber Stamps. I used the Tim Holtz Distress Markers, just love using these for vintage style work.  I have added some shabby white frantage around the edges and also distressed with the walnut stain distress ink pad. Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you what the theme is that Sandy has set for us this week, oops, I certainly would have been sent to the naughty corner for sure, lol.  Well, it's "Keys".  Sandy has some fabulous keys in so many different styles, so if you haven't peeked you really should.

Before you look at my card,  I have used a soooooo new hot off the press gorgeous beyond words lace, that it isn't listed in the store yet.  I know Sandy is doing her best to try and get it listed today, so don't forget to check the store later as you won't want to miss it.  It's available in the ivory, which I have used and also in white.

 The gorgeous papers are Maja Design's latest release, Sofiero, they are all so pretty.

So here's the key I have chosen to use and there is a little sunken circle to place a bead or diamante in but I chose to add a little ickle wild orchid craft rose, aren't those two tone roses beautiful. You'll also notice to the left a Melissa Francess keyhole, sooooo cute and went perfectly with the filagree key and you can see the lace a little closer, OMG, I am so in love with it.

In the top left you will notice a Melissa Frances Butterfly and I have put a prima "SWEET" sentiment typo lightbulb, sooooooo cute, and just to the right here are some gorgeous flowers, and only a few of what Sandy now has to offer. You will see all the links in the thumbnails at the bottom of the post as usual.

Hugs Tracy x

Legend of Princess Alvilda - a female pirate

Hi everybody and welcome! 

It's Louise here with you today.

This week our theme is "Once upon a time" and that is just a lucky strike isn't it?

I seem to have been telling stories for a while now ;) 

I immediately knew I wanted to make a somewhat cool card because I had already chosen my fairytale.

It's the legend of Princess Alvilda. I doubt that you have heard of her.

As the Pirates of the Caribbean movie was launched I watched it just because Johnny Depp was starring. Okay, so come on - so did you right?! ;) And then I was soooo sold! That movie is like the bestest...ever ;) Johnny isn't the only one doing an awesome job portraying his character, so is Kiera Knightley. I must admit I had no idea there actually were female pirates so I started searching and they weren't many of course. BUT there were some and o boy! All texts about these woman said they were some of our first feminists. Alvilda was a viking princess whom was known to defied every man who crossed her path. She immediately fascinated me as I live in the county she did once here in Sweden. 

Most historians agree that Alvilda did exist once however the stories about her has been proven to be somewhat more of a fairytale. 

I found a text about Alvilda in a book written by Anne Wallace Sharp "Daring female pirates" as I was looking into this and of course I had to share a short version of the legend with you all.  

Alvilda's father was the king of Gotland and she was his only daughter. Once she became of age he locked her up in the tower of their castle! There she was guarded by poisonous snakes and lizards. The first man to get past these animals alive to ask for Alvilda's hand was the only one worthy enough the king thought. However he had also stated Alvilda had to agree to marry. It's not known how many men died trying to get to Alvilda. The only one who was successful in his attempts was a prince called Alf, of Denmark. However Alvilda didn't want to marry and her mother ended up helping Alvilda escape and she also managed to talk some servants into coming along. These servants are also supposed to have been against the marriage. Together they managed to steal a ship and made it to the sea. She eventually was known as the terror of the Baltic sea. She mostly targeted Denmark. Historians believe it was a form of revenge. The Danish king ordered Alf to exterminate the pirates and he was eventually successful. Although the ladies did put up a good fight the were outpowered in the end. As Alf was about to execute the captain, Alvilda's helmet fell off and exposed her long hair. Alf couldn't bear the thought of killing her and again proposed marriage. Alvilda eventually caved and said yes because this time she had no other choice. This was years later after being independent for a long time. 

Alvilda was a pretty cool woman me thinks ;) 

So my choice of image was easy, it was one of the pirate Tilda's that was released a couple of years ago by Magnolia. She is colored with my distress ink pads on 300 g watercoloring paper. The pirate ship card is cut out using my Silhouette Cameo and then I altered it a little adding more sails to it. I hardly don't think Alvilda's ship was this cute though ;) I added some truly cool charms to it. LOVE that skull with the rose! I also added some of the utterly stunning sea shells. And well, what do you know? I couldn't stay away from the flowers this week either ;) I cant tell you how happy i was to find out Sandra now stocks them!   

As always all the products I've used can be found in the Inlinkz gallery at the end of my posting. 

I hope you will like my make :) 

Lots of love 

You are the greatest...

Once upon a time... 

there was this girl who admired her teammates' coloured images soooo much that she had to try it for herself ;) LOL ok ok that was lame.. I know :D But seriously, today Elin brings you something you don't get very often: A distressed Maggie!

I've made a fairytale card for my little niece this week, as she (or her mom) was an angel and gave us loads of used clothes for my youngest one. This is our way of saying "Thank you", along with a girly girly package with new clothes. So here it goes:

I have used the lovely Sofiero papers for this card, and one of my new favorite dies has come to use: the La La Land banner. The Maggie came from my good teammate Becky who wanted me to test out a few different types of papers for distress, and I have to admit that I do enjoy colouring every now and then. 

The flowers are from K&G, and since we have a fairytale theme this week, I found the cute ballerina/fairy charm to be perfect for a 4 yr old girl ;)

Text strips as always, I LOVE these and can't see myself getting tired of them any time soon ;) On this card it says: Thank you, hugs to you, you are the greatest... or something like that.

 On the tag, I have used a stamp from K&G saying: 

"How good it feels to have a friend like you"

Several laces and ribbons have been used, so if you like what you see, please take a look at my material list underneath. Just click them to go right to the LLC store and you can have them for yourself ;)

Hugs & Kisses

Elin

Once Upon a Time...In Real Life

This week at Live and Love Crafts our inspiration theme is "Once Upon A Time".  I thought about the typical fairy tales and books I've read but decided to go with a real life story.  My friend Nancy said this picture of her and her mom was taken in 1950.

I've used papers from Pion's "Alma's Sewing Room" and hated covering it up but it still looks so pretty.  I've distressed everything including the Vintage Box Lacing Chocolate border die.  Also added the resin pieces for some texture.  Aren't they gorgeous?!

I made a shabby chic bow using some seam binding from LLC, added some brown tulle behind the bow and popped a vintage pearl in the center of it.  You can hardly see it but there's some jute fabric layered underneath the photo starting 

I'm sooooooo excited that LLC is carrying Wild Orchid Crafts flowers now.  LOVE THEM!!  They go so well with the Kort and Godt rolled flowers that I've added a Melissa Frances pearl to.  Oh and don't you just love the bark hearts?!!  YES!! 

I really enjoy making these huge bouquets on cards.  Sometime I have to yell at myself to back away from the table.  It's done!  LOL!

Well I hope you have a wonderful weekend and manage to get in some crafting time.
Thanks for checking in today. 

Hugs,

Eulanda

Ribbons Fairy

Hi everyone! It's Alyce here today and I am sharing my latest card for the Fairytale theme this week! :) Have you seen all the gorgeous new Saturated Canary images? I thought they were so beautiful and whimsical...perfect for the theme and perfect with all of the yummy embellies from the store ;)

This is the sweet Ribbons Fairy, and I have paired her with some of the beautiful green Sofiero papers. I think it looks so pretty with all of the pinks :) The little strips on the right hand side are cut up from the bottom border on the Maja Designs papers. The I Love You sentiment is also from one of these bottom strips.

If you would like to see the copic colours that I used, please pop over to my blog. I really hope you have enjoyed my card and you can see all of the bits and pieces that I used down in the links below :) Thanks for stopping by!! xx