From the Heart ........

Good morning everyone,

A nice early(ish) post today ....... which probably means it was scheduled!!!!
I'm currently running around like a headless chicken doing what we ladies do best ...... multi-tasking,  doing 10 jobs at once and still managing to get ready for an afternoon out.  It's a good job I've got the house to myself this morning.

It's January 21st which means we have a brand new theme over on the IndigoBlu Challenge Blog.
Before we go into all that though ....... Congratulations go to .....  

 Sheila 

the lucky winner of the mahoosive prize that was on offer for the final challenge of 2013.   Check out the Winners button over on the blog to see Sheila's pretty winning design (she's used one of my favourite stamps .... the lovely Wild Flowers)

It was really nice seeing which of the IndigoBlu stamps have made it onto all of your 'favourite' lists. I don't know about you,  but my favourite changes everytime there's a new set of stamps out!
Enjoy all your goodies Sheila, I'm sure you'll have a few more IndigoBlu favourites very soon.

We've decided this year, as well as the winner,  the DT are going to choose a Top 3 each month to show how much we appreciate all your fab entries.   There's a new 'I Made the Top 3 at IndigoBlu' badge  along with a badge for the winner, which we hope you'll all display proudly on your blogs if you're chosen.
So ..... if you entered the challenge last month, pop over to the Blog and see if you're one of our first Top 3.

The challenge rules are still the same, and as always there's a great prize for the winner so get out your IndigoBlu stash and create something fabulous.

This month's theme is ......

FROM THE HEART

Here's my inspiration piece for you .......

I've gone for the pretty Love is ...... rubber stamp,  a beautiful heart that's full of detail.

The layout of the card is quite a simple design.  I started by cutting some kraft card to the sizes that I wanted (the finished card is approx 8x6), then I used my Distress inks to add a touch of colour around the edges - Tea Dye and one of my current favourites - Aged Mahogany.  I then did my usual trick of flicking water over the inked card, let it sit for a couple of seconds, then mopped up the excess using some kitchen roll.

Next I used the IndigoBlu Script Background stamp to add some detail to both sides of the larger piece of kraft card

I stamped using Versamark ink then added a Fine Detail Embossing Powder.  I also added a few splatters of black ink too for a bit more interest .......

and attached a piece of ivory organza ribbon across the card before any mat and layering.

The heart was also embossed in white then I stamped the two flowers from the centre again onto Kraft card, this time using a red Archival ink.  These were then cut out and attached using hot glue for a bit of dimension.

You can see how detailed the heart is, and because I used a fine detail embossing powder none of it has been missed ...... so pretty.

The sentiment is from the stamp set Grand Tour II and has been stamped using the red Archival again and then cut out using Nestabilities dies

Once everything was put together I finished it all off with an organza bow and a cute little wooden heart button .....

What do you think?  Valentine's card perhaps ....... I think it's definitely 'From the Heart'

If you fancy taking up the challenge, you have until 8pm on February 20th to get your entries in and be in with a chance of winning a fab prize.  I can't wait to see what you all come up with ........ good luck!!

Thanks for popping by.  Enjoy the rest of your day.  I'm off to a craft workshop this afternoon, with the lovely ladies from Ballaugh again.  I'm not teaching this time so I'm looking forward to an afternoon where I can play ...... I hope I've packed everything!

Cheerio for now

LindyLou

xx

Frosty .... the snowman

Good morning! 
Happy Sunday to you.

I can't believe I haven't blogged since Wednesday ...... it's not totally my fault though.  I've been having a spot of computer trouble ....... after Lauren decided to pour red wine over the keyboard on my laptop!!!!!!!
Not on purpose obviously, but still ..... not the best thing to do.  I hate seeing good wine go to waste! 
I think it's slowly sobering up .... poor thing.  There's just 3 or 4  keys that don't work now instead of the whole left hand side.  With any luck by the end of the weekend it'll be fully functional again - I need my trusty old laptop!

I'm keeping up with the one Christmas card per week ...... in fact I have prepped 4 more of the one I made last week (go me!!!).  They just need putting together when I get a spare 5 minutes .......... probably sometime in December (that's if I can remember where I've put them by then!)

I'm taking part in the Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge again ..... well I couldn't not now could I, after receiving an Honourable Mention on last weeks challenge (it was my first time entering too!).  I was over the moon ...... it was 'happy dance around the craft room' time again.

Here's the latest festive make .......

This week's theme is .........

Use a Snowman or Snow People

My cute little snow guy is from Inkylicious, coloured in using Copic Markers.  He looks so happy with his pretty little Christmas tree ......

The sentiment is from the same stamp set, you also get some pretty little snowflakes too, and the trees in the background are a Clarity stamp

I've added a touch of colour to the sky using Stormy Sky Distress ink, and added some dots of fine glitter for falling snow...... brrrr!

I've a busy week coming up ..... on Tuesday we have a brand new theme on the Blog Challenge over at IndigoBlu (my lips are sealed until then).  The DT have also started a new feautre on the IB blog, a regular step by step post.  Each week one of the DT will post a project with detailed step by steps and pictures to follow, using the fabulous IndigoBlu products, not necessarily the new stuff either.  It's my turn on Wednesday, please feel free to pop over and see what I've been up to.  

Also, my lovely postie brought me a rather nice parcel on Saturday ...... full of brand new stamp designs from IndigoBlu ....... Kay's been busy again and there's lots of fabulous new rubber stamps for me to play with, I mean work with.  If, like me, you love the IB style, you're going to want, no NEED these ...... I'm saying no more!!!!

I've got another birthday on Friday ...... Chris this time.  He's back in Sheffield though so his cards are all done and sent. Just got his present to sort out ..... thank goodness for the internet!

Thanks for popping by today.  Enjoy what's left of the weekend and I'll see you again next week.

Cheerio fo now

Linda

xx

A piece of My Heart ......

Happy Wednesday!

Finally ...... a spare 5 minutes to sit down and blog.   It's coffee and cake time while I catch up with you guys - the last of the Christmas cake is about to disappear!

This week is flying by again.  As well as all the usual stuff,  there was a birthday on Monday - all sorted.  Chris went back to Uni on Tuesday, so that meant an expensive shopping trip on Monday afternoon.  I have another birthday on Friday (Lauren's this time) and I haven't even started the cards yet!  And then hubby has organised another poker night round at ours this evening ....... cards all day and cards in the evening!  Better get some tidying up done though, I've still got stuff everywhere.

I've been so busy the last couple of days that I forgot my little old Blog's birthday (shame on me!).  Yes,  Life in the Craft Lane was 2 yesterday ...... Happy Birthday Blog!
It still amazes me that so many of you enjoy reading my crafty ramblings, and other stuff.  I really do appreciate you all taking the time to visit and leave such lovely comments.

I've squeezed in a little Blog Challenge entry again for this week's  Less is More challenge.
It's everyone's favourite this week ..... ONE LAYER CARDS (eekk!!)  and the theme is .....

Hearts

Here's my take on the challenge ......

I haven't done cute for a while, and this little stamp caught my eye (Lauren's already claimed the card to send as her Valentine's)

Both the image and the sentiment are from a Penny Black 'T' for Transparent set called Piece of My Heart which I've had for ages.  I've just stamped them using Black Versafine ink then coloured the hearts with Barn Door Distress ink and a waterbrush.

I'm definitley in a 'touch of red' phase I think, which all started at the weekend when I made my ATC's for the next swap over on Julie's Blog .........

Oh well, I suppose the coffee break is over.  I really should be back in the old craft room making those birthday cards for Friday ........ I'll be in BIG trouble if they're not there first thing.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.

See you again soon

Linda

xx

I've no excuse now ......

Happy Sunday everyone!

And Hi! to Toni, my latest follower, it's nice to have you along.
I hope you're enjoying the weekend.  Sunday for me started with a nice lie in and then blogging in bed, whilst a lovely full english breakfast was made for me.   The diet is definitely on hold this weekend, it's dinner out later - nom! nom!

My one Christmas card per week may not just be wishful thinking anymore ...... look what I've come across this weekend ........ a Christmas Card Blog Challenge .......

Merry Monday

You know I love my blog challenges .... when I get the time.  So, this year I'm really making an effort to keep up with my favourite ones.  I came across this one through Greta's blog which I follow, and it looks like fun ...... so I've no excuses now, there's going to be a touch of Christmas every week - I hope! 
Here's the first one of 2014 .....

Ribbon or Twine

A CAS design ....... let's not go mad shall we.  I thought I'd make use of the Alterations Movers and Shapers die that's been sat on my workdesk for months.  I just love the mini jingle bell on there ..... sooo cute!

I cut one from glitter card and the other from silver mirri, attached them using foam pads, added my festive satin bow ......

and found the perfect sentiment in my stash, to go with them ...... 

And there you have it ...... my first Christmas card of 2014 - whoo hoo!!
I'd better get it uploaded to the challenge now, it closes later today.   Can't wait to see what tomorrow's challenge will be .....  Christmas card number 2 coming up!!

Thanks for popping by today, enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

Winter Blues ......

Happy Friday,

What a busy week ......it doesn't take long to get back in the swing of things does it.   
The last bits of the festive fayre has all but gone ...... there are a few chocolates and part of a Christmas cake, so the diet's off for another week (that's a shame! ...... she says with her hand in a large bag of peanut M&Ms).

Things are pretty much back to normal in the old craft room too.  The place is a tip, the 'To Do' list is growing daily, new stash is piling up because I've no time to play with it, I'm busy with DT stuff, and Blogger is up to his usual tricks! 
Not only has my Blog background disappeared (ok, ok .... that's not blogger's fault!) but now it's taking ages to save anything, and I can't preview things.  When I do leave the page (after making my own copy of what I've just blogged), log back in again, everything is there SAVED!!!! Arghhhhhh!  It takes me long enough to blog as it is without the site playing silly beggers.

Oh yes ....... and the Christmas craft stash is still out too!  Does that mean I have to keep it out all year now?
At least I stand a chance of making my ONE Christmas card every month then .......  I did say the same thing last year and look how well that worked out in 2013!
I'll keep you posted on how I get on ..... don't hold your breath though, it may get December before I make a start ........ and I might just get fed up of stepping falling over the stash box too!

One thing I have managed to do this week is a card for one of my favourite Blog Challenges -  Less is More

To start off the year the girls have given us a Colour Challenge .......

Winter Blues

they want us to use shades of Blue

Here's mine ......

My shades of blue are Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans and Stormy Sky Distress inks, for the background with the text randomly stamped in Faded Jeans

Then the pretty flowers have been stamped over the top using the gorgeous Cornflower Blue Archival ink from the Wendy Vecchi range.
I love this stamp set - Rose Branch Border from Stampendous.  It's been in my stash for ages and never been used (like so many other things!)

The words are also from the same stamp set and have been stamped using another of Wendy's Archival inks - Watering Can

Some satin ribbon finishes off the front, and of course the inside's been done too ....

It's now in the post on it's way to my Mother-in-law for her birthday on Monday (two jobs done in one!) Hope she likes it.

It's also my day to post on the DT Blog over at Creative Studios if you fancy taking a look - more ideas using Sam's new stamp designs.

Thanks for popping by today.  I see I have another new follower too ..... welcome Kelly it's nice to have you along.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend.  Are you doing anything nice?
Cheerio for now

Linda

xx