London's Calling - Castle Guard Edwin

Hello Sweet Readers,

I'm not feeling very well today, so this post is going to be very brief. I hope you miss my cyber chatter! LOL!

There is a new challenge starting today at the

Magnolia-licious Challenge

Blog!

The new challenge is

Anything Goes

Here is my card:

As I began pondering this card, first choosing the stamp, I had the song lyrics to England Swings stuck in my head! I couldn't get them out! I'd wake up and there it was. I'd be brushing my teeth, and there it was! I kept thinking about Edwin's rosy cheeks and that line in the song that says, "...and the rosy red cheeks of the little children..." Even though Edwin isn't a Bobby, I kept thinking if there was a way to put him on a bike for the line of the song about the Bobbies riding two by two! Oh yes, I had it bad! It took me four days to do this card. That song (scientists call when that happens, a brain worm) was there - over and over and over! LOL I couldn't get it out! It really did help the card evolve, though, One example is that my paper selections had to be British in design. Mostly, though, it was Edwin. It's all HIS fault that that song never left my head!

I fell in love with this stamp as soon as I saw it. I did much research in order to find out the appropriate colors. I knew the bearskin cap was black, but I didn't know that the color and placement of the plume(s) determined the regiment. I chose to use a red plume on the right side which means that my little Edwin is one of the Coldstream Guards. I also learned that the slacks were a very dark navy. In photos, they looked black. The info I read stated they were dark navy. I didn't want to make a mistake, so I contacted a very knowledgeable friend who confirmed that they were truly navy blue. Thank you, Chris.

I used a metallic gold pen to accentuate the gold elements found on the actual uniform. It adds a nice shine to the painted image. I also used some red ric-rac that I had in my stash along with some Frantage, dies, and some British themed specialty paper. I also found a castle charm to finish it off!

Here is a closeup of my Edwin, the Coldstream Guard:

I wanted to make his bearskin hat look like bearskin, so I added some black specialty paper I had and fuzzed the fibers. I think it makes Edwin look just adorable.

Here are the products I've used which are available at the Magnolia-licious Store

Castle Guard Edwin

Castle Doohickey Die

Romance Doohickey Die

So Wrapped Lovely Heart Folded Doohickey Tag

Magnolia Doily Flowers Doohickey Die - these are currently out of stock. Check w/ Diana as to when they are back in stock.

Magnolia Heart Swirl Doohickey Die - these are currently out of stock. Check w/Diana as wo when they are back in stock.

Memory Box Precious Hearts Die - these are also currently out of stock.

I have a favor to ask. I've noticed that many of you who leave comments do not have my blog listed on your blog favorites list. I would love if you might add me, please.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful week!

XO,

Chris

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

ABC Challenges - X for Xtra Special - ends 10/31

Cutie Pie Challenge #55 - Cute and Tag-Tastic - ends 10/26

Magnolia Down Under Challenges #219 - Anything Goes - ends 10/25

Crafty Ribbons Challenge #66 - Anything Goes w/Ribbon - ends 10/23

Midweek Magnolias - Song Birds (My song is England Swings - see above) - ends 10/23

Magnolia Tilda and the Shaped Card Challenge

Hello sweet readers,

I hope this post finds you well and ready to jump in and join the current challenge at theMagnolia-licious Challenge Blog. Here is your chance to get those creative juices flowing and create...

A Shaped Card!

You can free form a card or use your dies. Just avoid the square and rectangle! Make sure your card features our little Miss Tilda and you'll be good to go!

For my card, I chose Magnolia Tilda from the Little London Collection which is available at Magnolia-licious . At the time of this post, Diana is waiting for her new shipment to arrive. They should be here any day. Just check with her to find out when they'll be in. With Diana's prices and store credit, it's worth the wait!

Here is my card:

Here are the details:

Dies Used - Spellbinders and Go Kreate
Flowers are from my stash
Paper is Pion
Pearls are Kaiser
Ribbon, Frantage, and embellishment are from my stash
Image has been colored with DIs
Glitter on the flower pistil - Yellow Kindyglitz

The inside of the card has also been finished with Pion papers and related embellishments.

I hope you will leave a comment for me. I so love reading your reactions. Know that Diana will select one name from those gals who leave comments on the Design Team blogs. That lucky gal will receive a special surprise from Magnolia-licious. Shhh - don't tell, but Diana gives great prizes! LOL

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you liked my inspiration card! I hope you will come back very soon!

XO,

Chris

It's "W"-ednesday at Magnolia-licious with Batty Boo!

Hello sweet readers,

OK, who stole September? I blinked and it was gone! I think there are time robbers lurking out there! LOL

Well, it's "W"-ednesday at theMagnolia-licious Challenge Blog! I chose to use a Wee Stamp called "Batty Boo." I just fell in love with this image. It is just so stinkin' cute! You can find this stamp at Magnolia-licious. The link will take you directly to the stamp! It is sooooooo cute! You won't be disappointed getting it! Diana has a fabulous price on it, too!

Want to see my card? Well, here it is:

You likey? I likey! I got away from the orange, purple, and black Halloween colors and went for the brown and deep golds of Autumn. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw how the colors of the painted image just stood out. I hope I can remember that for future cards - doubtful, though! LOL I used a Spellbinder's die for the circle and Go Kreate dies for the card shape. I had the black alphas in my stash. The two little bats are old, old, old mini buttons. I added some Kindyglitz to the pumpkin and little monsters. The paper is from We R. The flowers and leaves are from my stash. The banner has been elevated on pop dots.

The Little London Collection is currently available at Magnolia-licious. They are just the cutest ever! You know that Diana ships worldwide AND has the best prices! Take a peek at her store and see all the goodies she has to enable your crafting addiction! LOL

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you like my Batty Boo card! Oh, and if you are the reader who stole September, since you can't give it back, would you please let us have October for a bit longer? LOL

XO,

Chris

Magnolia-licious No Patterned Paper Challenge

Hello sweet readers,

Before I go any further, I have a winner from my Magnolia-licious Bling It Up Challenge Post. Sorry about the delay. I have had some computer issues lately. The winner is #2 -

NICOLE

Nicole, please e-mail me with your address so I can send your special gift as a token of my appreciation for leaving a comment on my blog!

I have a very quick post to share today. The current challenge at the Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog is to create a card with NO patterned papers. This WAS a CHALLENGE for me. So, I thought I'd challenge myself and see what I could come up with. I stink! LOL First of all, the challenge wasn't NO patterned papers, but NO DESIGNER PAPERS! Of course, I only read what I wanted to read. **clue #1**

I hunkered down and put my creativity to use. I sat and pondered what I had in my supplies that I could use instead of patterned paper. I considered using embossing folders. That would have been an easy one. I wanted a challenge! I considered painting the background. That would have been too much work. I gave some thought to stitching a quilted design on cardstock and applying that to my card. Another idea with too much work and would have no room for error. Then, the idea came to me! I have velvet paper that wouldn't be patterned paper. I decided to use that! Well, I must have had a "senior moment" because I was so tickled that I could create a card without patterned paper that I didn't think about the actual paper I DID use as being "Designer" papers. **hanging head in shame**

Stop laughing! So, I promptly went to work choosing Autumn colors and the "just right" punch for the pattern. I carefully measured distances so that the strips would NOT be going upwards and downwards. I made sure that the adhesive was not on the velvet. I went into my stash and found the copper leaf stickers as well as the border I used along the bottom. I had NO idea the colors on the strip of trees matched the colors of the velvet strips I had already glued to the card. Mind you, I still have not realized that I was using Designer Paper! I selected the best Tilda for the design - Tilda with Two Rosettes. I carefully painted her and popped her up on pop dots. Then, I had to find the Autumn Wishes stamp from my stamp collection.

I had the card finished and was sharing it with my husband when the 20 watt bulb in my head flickered for just an instant, and I realized I HAD USED DESIGNER PAPERS! Ugh! The deed was done. I blew it! I blamed my faux pas on the fact that I had eaten too many vegetables, and my brain cells were on overload trying to figure out what I had done to my brain by eating food that was actually good for me. *sigh* Here is my card:

So, there you have it - the story behind the card! Oh, the cardstock I used for the base of the card is a lovely cream color but it looks white. The bows in Tilda's hair have been treated with Stickles. Tilda has been elevated on pop dots. The punch I used is by good old Martha.

Thank you so much for stopping by. The photo is a little dark, but if I try to lighten it up, I lose the closeness to the actual colors.

XO,

Chris