Little Miss Muffet Mid Challenge Inspiration

Good morning!  And isn't it a frosty one over this side of the world!  I've just had a lovely bowl of porridge to warm me up! 

We have some more fabulous Inspiration for you over at the Little Miss Muffet Challenge blog today.  Have you seen all the images that were released this February?  There really are sooo many beautiful images and even better, some of them are now available in rubber! 

Don't forget there's still a week left to get your entry into our current challenge which is Fancy or Lacy, OR if you use a Little Miss Muffet Stamps image then the theme is Anything Goes.

For my card today, I used one of the new Hatter sisters, Sophia Maria Hatter:

Isn't she lovely?  I made a bit of an assembly mistake with this card when I was sewing the pieces together.  I had meant to put the green at the top and the orange on the bottom to give more contrast to her hat, but when I sewing the music strip on, I totally forgot and sewed it upside down.  Ah well...

The papers are a mixture from October Afternoon, Crate Paper and Echo Park I think.  The big flower is by Prima and the other embellishments are from Making Memories.  The sentiment tag is from Maya Road and the sentiment is from Amy R Summer Sentiments.  The lace is from The Ribbon Girl.

Here's a close-up of Sophia Maria Hatter:

And here are the copics I used:

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Party Time Tuesdays:  Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday: Stitching
Squigglefly: Spring is in the air (plus use fibres, eg ribbon or lace)

Top Tips
When using your sewing machine to sew stitching on cards:
- never sew through double sided tape as it will make your needle sticky and cause it to drag and snap (I've broken a fair few needles) or move out of alignment
- you can start and finish in the same stitch hole by using the hand wheel on the last stitch and moving your card to position the needle directly over your starting hole
- if you sew around your cards, you don't need to use very much double sided tape.  I use just one small piece to anchor my card before I sew

Have a lovely day!  I'm off to do loads of housework and run some errands.

Arabella Chickie in Glyfada, Greece

Fabric and Papercraft!

Good morning!  It's Tiddly Tuesday time!  We had so many beautiful entries into our Sparkle challenge, it was fabulous!  It's so fun to see so many Wryn cards out there!

Today it's time for a new challenge at Tiddly Inks and our theme this fortnight is Fabric Fun!  We want to see any kind of fabric on your Tiddly Inks project... it could be ribbon, lace, netting, a piece of fabric... you decide.

Head on over to the challenge blog to check out my teamies fabulous fabric creations!  

Oooh and guess what?!  Christy has been busy again and there is another scrumptious new Wryn today!  Check her out here.

Here's my Fabric Fun creation...

The fabric for this one came from our curtains (again)... the offcuts from hemming them have been super useful!    This time I used part of the overlay as well as the base layer.  I have also included a cute wee felt flower from Sew Sweet.  The papers are from Crate Paper and the image is Wryn - Grow a Little Love (coloured with copics).

Here's a close-up of Wryn:

And here are the copics I used:

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Hooked on Craft Challenges: Hearts
Love to Create Challenges:  Add stitching
Stamp and Create: Valentines/Love

That's all from me for now folks!  I really need to make a start on my day.  It's freezing cold and horribly windy here in Athens today.  There were even a few flakes of the fluffy stuff this morning!

Ciao!

Arabella Chickie in Athens

Card Envelope Boxes

Hi Guys!  This is just a quick enabling post...

A while ago I purchased some envelope boxes from Tracy over at Crafteezee so that I could post some of my more embellished cards and not have to worry about the bows getting flattened or the raised bits leaving indents in the card etc...  Let me tell you, they have been fabulous!

Tracy now has a new larger size of envelope box for larger cards!  Have a look and go here to find out how you can buy some or even win some!


Have a lovely evening!

Arabella Chickie in Glyfada, Greece

Teenage Dream

Good morning!  It's Monday again which means we have a new challenge at Pollycraft for you!  Last week's challenge was easy... Ribbons and Buttons.  This week it's a little bit harder...  I struggled and struggled with it...  (maybe the pink is a bit bright for me?). The lovely Sheena has chosen the challenge theme Teenage Dream!  Head on over to the Pollycraft challenge blog to see the fabulous cards my teamies came up with!  

Our sponsor for this challenge is Letraset who are giving the lucky winner a 5 pack set of Promarkers! 

Here's my card using the rocking chick Luna Bitterfrost - Guitars Rock:

I followed this week's sketch from Sketch Saturday (see below).  The papers are a mixture of whatever I could find on my desk in brightish colours!  The sentiment is a rub on from Pebbles.  The swirly bling is from Prima.  I coloured Luna with copics and added Stickles to her guitar and hair (I tried Spica pens first, but I find the sheen is just a bit too subtle for me).

Here's the sketch:

Here's a close-up of Luna:

And here are the copics I used:

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday: Sketch
That Craft Place Challenge: Anything Goes

We hope you can join us this week!

Have a lovely day!

Arabella Chickie in Glyfada, Athens

Paris Inspiration

Good morning!  I'm up early this morning... I'm sure we are well over our jet lag, but for some reason we keep waking up around 5.30am... usually I keep trying to go back to sleep... Today I decided to get up.

This morning I have some Little Miss Muffet Paris Release inspiration to share with you in the form of another lovely Hatter sister...  Meet Miss Elisabeth Louise Hatter:

Isn't she lovely?  This is another one of those smaller cards (11cm x 11cm) made to fit in a gift box that I gave to my sister in law.

The paper is from October Afternoon and the ribbon is from The Ribbon Girl.  The chipboard is from Crate Paper and the button is from Doodlebug.

I have to confess I have not used any of the gorgeous Paris Release elements from Make it Crafty and Whimsy Stamps on this card as I made it before the goodies arrived.  Do head over the Little Miss Muffet Challenge blog to check out some more fabulous projects from my teamies though.  You'll definitely see a few of the Three Company Release products on some of their cards!

Here's a close-up of Miss Elisabeth Louise Hatter:

And here are the copics I used:

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
2 Sisters Challenge Blog: Anything Goes
Hiding In My Craft Room: Bring on some Spring
Just Some Lines: Girly Girl

Have a lovely day!  I'm planning on spending it at my newly cleaned and tidied craft desk!

Arabella Chickie in Glyfada, Athens

A thank you apple!

Hello and welcome to our new followers!  I can't believe we are nearly at 100!  I have a candy planned for when we finally reach the triple digits, so watch this space!

Did you see the adorable new girl over at Pollycraft yet?  Her name is Celeste Amberglow and she is gorgeous!  Now that I'm back at my craft desk and have tidied it up a bit I have had a chance to play with her!

Here's my card:

I followed the February sketch from I{heart}2Stamp...

The papers I used are a mixture from My Mind's Eye, Crate Paper, October Afternoon and Webster's Pages.  The brads are from My Mind's Eye.  I have coloured the image in copics and added a bit of twine and a bit of foam tape.  Simples!

Here's a close-up of Celeste:

And here are the copics I used:

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
I{heart}2stamp: Feb SFYTT
Shelley's Images: Make it a triple (use 3 of something - here I have used 3 brads from MME)

That's all from me for now...

I hope you have a lovely day!

Arabella Chickie in Athens, Greece

Fancy Anniversary

Good morning!  It's time for a new challenge at Little Miss Muffet Stamps and our challenge to you is to create a project using the theme Fancy or Lacy.  This could be a tough one for some people, depending on your style.  It's definitely a bit out of my comfort zone!  Head on over to the challenge blog to check out the projects from my amazing teamies!

If you haven't already done so, then please join us on the new Paris Inspiration Blog hop.  There are some amazing projects from the DT there and great prizes to be won!

Here's my Fancy and Lacy card:

It's really not that fancy is it?  I told you that it was a bit out of my comfort zone!  At least there is some lace there!  I gave this card to my parents in law for their wedding anniversary which is the day after ours (except theirs is a lot longer!).

The only paper I recognize on there is the pink one from Webster's pages... not sure where the other two are from!  The image is from the new Paris Release and is called Le Baiser Volé  or The Stolen Kiss.  I have coloured it with copics (see details below).  I think the brad is from My Mind's Eye and the gold button is from Crate Paper.  The lace and pearly fancy button are from my local junk shop in Whangarei.  The brown flocked velvet rub on is from Prima and the tag is from Maya Road.  The sentiment stamp is from LOTV.

Here's a close-up of the lovely couple:

And here are the copics I used:

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

Crazy Amigo Challenge: Use a tag

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge: No embossing

Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Celebrations

Lollipop Crafts: Anything Goes

Make My Monday: Victorian Romance

Have a lovely day!

Arabella Chickie in Athens, Greece

Nora Claire Hatter

Good evening!  It has been a cold, grey, wet and miserable day here in Greece... not nice for venturing outdoors at all!  I hear the weekend is going to be good though, so that is something.  Finger's crossed I will not be required to cook for a dinner party at the boss's house!

This is just a quick post to introduce you to Miss Nora Claire Hatter from Little Miss Muffet Stamps.  She is part of the brand new Paris Release.  By the way, have you joined the blog hop yet?  There are some fabulous prizes, not to mention fabulous projects from my teamies!

This is just one of the many cards I made before I left on holiday... It is a small card (11cm x 11cm) to fit into a card gift box.    The papers are from Crate Paper, Webster's Pages and one other.  The chipboard butterfly is from Make it Crafty (I love these chippies) and the red button is from Doodlebug Designs.  The plastic rose and the crystal charm are from Making Memories (I think).  The seam binding ribbon is from The Ribbon Girl.  I cut the green circle with my Slice machine and stitched around the papers with my sewing machine.  Nora Claire Hatter is coloured with copics (see details below).

Here's a close-up of the lovely lady... I tried a new mixture of blues for her hat and I quite like the tone of it...

Here are the copics I used:

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

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge blog: No embossing

The Stamping Boutique: Stitching

Always Crafting, Creative Mondays: Anything Goes

That's it from me today folks!  

Have a lovely evening!

Arabella Chickie

13,500 words and counting

Slowly, slowly.

A couple of not so productive, but still wonderful weeks, with some lovely friends coming for coffee (now that they expect me to be sitting in my little spot at Cake and pop in for a chat...) but I could hardly complain.  Such lovely company.

I gave myself a stern talking to on Tuesday and took myself off to enjoy a delicious slice of syrupy orange cake and the most warming, steamy latte and the words started to flow again.  A  meagre 2000 words to get back into the swing of things but I felt the smile creep across my face as I wandered back home.

  I worked out that i could brainstorm my characters on the walk in the chilly Voula morning air, which made it so much easier to get started right away and have some idea of where they were headed.

One of the main chaps has been given the axe as he was dreadfully dull and I just couldn't get inspired to write anything about him...

So on it continues!

Bookie bird in Voula, Greece

I Ruff You

Hello!  It's Tuesday and that means it's time to share some Tiddly Inks love!  We are nearly over our jet lag... hopefully will be 100% by tomorrow.  I haven't quite found my mojo yet, so I busied myself this evening sorting our my ribbons and putting them all on my Ribbon Ring storage cards.  I'm always trying to find new ways to organise my craft space!  It just gets out of hand so quickly!

Here's a Tiddly Inks card I made before I went on holiday using the adorable Silver Valentine.  Don't forget you still have one whole week left to get your Tiddly Inks creation into our current challenge which is Sparkle it Up!

The papers are from Pink Paisley and Crate Paper and I have coloured Silver with copics (see details below).  I made the sentiment using alpha stickers and rub-ons.  The seam binding ribbon is from The Ribbon Girl.  The chipboard photo corners are from Crate Paper and the brads are from Making Memories.

Here are the copics I used:

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Cards for Men #4: Valentines' Day or Love
Creative Mondays: Anything Goes
Hooked on Craft: Hearts
iCopic Weekly Challenge #70: Animals
There She Goes: Animals
Touch Twin Challenges: Animals

That's it from me for now!  I'm heading off around blogland to see what everyone has been up to lately!

Ciao!

Arabella Chickie in Greece

I'm late for a blog hop!

Hello!  I'm so sorry I'm late posting this for the blog hop today at Little Miss Muffet Stamps!  My husband and I just arrived back in Greece at 7.30am this morning from Sydney... a long trip!

To keep up the celebrations from our big Three Company release - we're having another blog hop!! Come hop around with us "in Paris" this week with a continuation of the new releases in a Blog Hop!! Leave a comment as you go for extra chances to win! You have until February 27th to complete the hop and we'll post the winners on February 29th.

Make sure you leave comments along the blog hop because there will be another TWO random winners selected from the design team blogs to get the following exclusive digi pack!! Oh-la-la... gimmie some winners!! :D

Here's the complete blog hop list:

AJ
Arabella - you are here
Our guest ... CélineCleota
Frea
Leah Ann
Mette
Peggy
Sarah
Shirley
Barbara
Vicky
Trina
Little Miss Muffet Challenges

For my project today, I stepped out of my comfort zone and made a notebook cover...

This beautiful young lady is aptly named La Jeune Fille a l'Eventail and is part of the new Paris Release collection by Little Miss Muffet Stamps.  I have coloured her with copics (see details below) and fussy cut her. The embellishments are from a variety of companies including Tim Holtz, Making Memories and The Ribbon Girl.  The wee Eiffel tower stamp in the background is from Penny Black and the Post Card stamp is from hero Arts.  The papers are from Crate Paper. 

Here's a close-up:

Now head over to our wonderful guest... Céline's blog to check out her lovely project!  And don't forget to leave some love to be in to win!

Here are the copics I used:

I would like to enter this notebook cover into the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations Paint: Polka Dots

One Stitch at a Time #101: Use a digi or no image

CES Challenges: Spots and Dots

That's it from me for today!  I hope you enjoy the blog hop!  I'm thinking about heading off to bed for a nap to try and get over my jet lag!

Ciao!

Arabella Chickie back in Greece

A Little Bit of Paris Release Inspiration

Hello there!  It's almost time for our holiday over this side of the world to come to an end... we are heading back to Greece on Sunday... I must admit I'm not that excited about heading back to winter and chaos!

Did you make it round the Three Company blog hop yet?  If not, you still have until Sunday to do so and while you are there... check out the Love challenge and enter for a chance to have your card published in the upcoming Whimsy Stamps Magazine!

Today we at Little Miss Muffet Stamps have a few more inspiration projects from the new Paris Release to share with you.  Jump on over and check out the amazing creations from my teamies!

 My card uses the adorable new Agent Eclair:

Isn't she Oh so Paris Chic?  I have coloured Agent Eclair with copics (oops, I forgot to record the numbers... sorry!) and teamed her with a mix of papers... I think My Mind's Eye, Pink Paisley and I'm not sure about the sewing themed one.  The chipboard flower is from Crate Paper and the glass domes are from Webster's Pages.  The ribbon is from The Ribbon Girl.

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

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog: Anything Goes

My Craft Spot Challenge #44: Girly Girl projects

Simon Says Stamp and Show: Anything Goes

Stamps R Us: Anything Goes

Have a lovely day!

Arabella Chickie in Sydney, Australia

Three Companies Team Up Blog Hop!

Hello again!  This is my second post for today, but it's an exciting one!  If you are looking for my Tiddly Tuesday post, please scroll down.

So, have you been following the lead up to today?  Did you guess who the three companies teaming up are?  If you guessed  Whimsy Stamps, Make it Crafty & Little Miss Muffet Stamps then give yourself a pat on the back!  Yay!  

Not only is today a release day, we are joining up with Make it Crafty and Whimsy to bring you a fantastic collection of images, sentiments and even matching embellishments to get your creative minds flowing with ideas!  There is inspiration, a blog hop, challenge and HEAPS of prizes!!  We also have extra inspiration for you at the Little Miss Muffet Challenge blog.  :D   And in our super exciting news, we are releasing nine of the new images in rubber form in addition to all the digis and freebies!!!

PRIZES & SURPRISES & A CHALLENGE!!

To get started in the excitement, the first stop on the hop is the inspirational ANN. Make sure you comment along the way for a chance at winning a few extra goodies and once you reach the end, we'll share all the details on the prizes you can win and we even have a fun challenge you can enter which could win you a feature in the upcoming Whimsy Magazine! Wooohoo!

Now since I couldn't join in with this fun as I went on holiday before all the bits and pieces arrived in our mail boxes... Here's just a wee sneak peak for you that I borrowed from some of my teamies' blogs...  Head around the blog hop to see these stunning cards in full detail.

Did we just hear you scream?
"I LOVE THESE PRODUCTS AND I WANT THEM NOW!"

haha - they are awesome right? The ideas exploded!!
Well they are available RIGHT NOW!!
Whimsy Stamps Store | Make it Crafty Store | Little Miss Muffet Stamps Store

--------------------------------------------------------------

Arabella Chickie in Sydney, Australia