Vanessa Arbuthnott

Octopode castle ATC

I was lucky enough to win a paper stack designed by Vanessa Arbuthnott today. I guess it was a giveaway from one of  cardmaking magazines, but there was no note in the envelope.


I haven't come across her before, but the papers are lovely!


The pad has 6 different designs in blue tones and, of course, I couldn't wait to have a play with them. I think my favourite was the ATC with the Octopode castle stamp, it seem to go so well with the paper.

Roll Up, Roll Up to the Circus..

I bought the July edition on Making Cards Magazine just because of these circus themed papers. They are designed by Nancy Watt and called Fun at the Circus  - they are very bright, aren't they?


Something a bit different I thought from the usual, flowers, butterflies and  cute & cuddly stuff around at the moment. The Bunting works well with the Big Top theme to the papers too.

The Cat Collection Part 2 .....

A few more birthday cards with cats on them - the first features  one of my oldest and most favourite stamps called 'Tabithas Portrait' by Anita. I just love the look in the eyes and the way it is slightly off centre - plus it looks a bit like my cheeky boy Moxxie!

The Cat Collection Part1 .....

 As a cat lover , I thought that I would make a collection of birthday cats featuring felines! I have lots of  different cat stamps and papers and also need to make some cards for the men as well, so would combined the 2 together.

Inspired by my 3 moggies Millie, Moxxie and Pangur I made these 3 cards - look out for more in some future posts on my blog!

Shabby Chic Cards

A couple of birthday cards made with bits and pieces with a shabby chic feel to them. 

I make cards for the local Suffolk Cancer Campaign and they have just put an order for  lots more cards for their fundraising stall at various summer fetes, I hope they do well with them!

Rain stopped play ....

 What a bit of a wash out yesterday - no jubilee picnic lunch, but the friends Jubilee party tonight is still on! Anyway it was a good excuse to sit a the table in the lounge, crafting away with one eye on the Pageant.  

 I did feel sorry for all those people standing for hours in the cold wind and rain by the Thames and hope they got home soon to warm up!

An excuse to

I'm feeling quite pleased as I have sold a few cards through eBay. Not for much, but enough to justify treating myself to a a new swirly die from Marianne Creatables that I have been hankering after for a while!

Now I have a very long weekend to have a play with it, was hoping to go in a Jubilee picnic, but the weather is not looking good at the moment.

One of my cards that I sold!

Quick off the mark with Teddy Bo

This cute little teddy bear stamp arrived free with my copy of Simply Cards & Papercraft Magazine this morning and I was inspired to use him straight away by this weeks Totally Papercrafts sketch Challenge (closes Friday).

I thought Teddy Bo looked like he is waving to you so teamed it up with a Hello You! sentiment from Craftwork Cards

Still More Patriotic Cards!

Really getting in the Jubilee mood now with these red,white and blue cards. They are  made using the fab Portobello Road papers and stamps with a bit of bunting added.

The Union Jack ribbon I found at the great Halfpenny Home haberdashery which is just down the road in Needham Market - I can recommend a root around in the shop which is a treasure trove of buttons, ribbons and yarns!

Another Card from the Goodie Bag

Grey and white with a bit of sparkle and glitter!

Wellington & the Docrafts Goodie Bag

I only went to The Range to get a copy of the Creativity Magazine but the new Wellington Docrafts Goodie bag fell into my basket too. 


So, guess what, last night was spent playing with the contents and making several of these cards.After doing some (essential) housework I'm hoping to spend more time crafting today . 


The only thing I wasn't sure about were the bright yellow flowers that were in the bag - they just are too garish to go with the papers!

Feeling Patriotic

Papermania led the way with their Portobello Road range and now there are loads of lovely patriotic papers around to help celebrate the Golden Jubilee, Olympics or just being British!


I just had to buy Crafts Beautiful Mag  today because of the Jubilee stamp, yummy papers with bunting and street party ideas - and I'm not even going to a street party!!

Birds of a Feather...

Wasn't sure what I needed to finish off this card  - but I think the white bow in the corner seems OK!

Bird image is from Making Cards Magazine and the scalloped card and sentiment are from Craftwork Cards

Why Alizabethy???

On my previous post, Elizabeth asked about my blog name Alizabethy. I really wanted a unique name that would stand out and be easy find and there are quite a few Dawns around. My daughters name is Alizabeth but she is known as Libby so I combined the 2 -  hence my crafting name of Alizabethy! 

I am really please how this card turned out - an Inkadinkado stamp of a bird bath layered on a paper doily over the western Romance roses paper with a bit of pink ink for distressing the edges

Even more Nostalgia Cards!

I loved these new Spring Jubilee papers from Cardmaking & Papercraft Magazine and had to rattle off a few more shabby chic cards from them. 

Don't tell anyone, but I also had a letter published in the same mag talking about an old issue that I found. I had no idea that I have been card making for at least 7 years, but it might help to explain that large amount of stash that I have acquired over the years!

Feeling a bit Nostalgic....

.....So I dug out the sweet  Western Romance and All about Me Webster's papers that were free with Simply Cards & Papercraft Magazine a while ago. I found some neglected stamps and whipped up these cards. 


What better to do on a wet bank holiday than a bit of crafting. I've enjoyed a quiet house with hubby at work and kids round their cousins. 




Even all 3 cats are having a snooze. So no distractions, an ideal crafting situation!!

T Shirt Cards for the Men in My Life!

I picked up a bargain sheet of Mens T shirt die-cut toppers made by Kanban for only 99p from eBay.


Men are so hard to make for aren't they, especially those who don't like football, sport or fast cars. 


I thought these would be good for those teenagers and young men in the family, after all, they all wear t shirts constantly.


I also used up lots of scraps of paper, matching them to the different colours of the t shirts. 


I'm now off to take daughter to the Mini-farm they are holding in the centre of Stowmarket today, she is looking forward to feeding the goats, stroking the pony and holding a chick. Afterwards we will probably take a picnic to Needham Lake and feed the ducks.

Cat Face Buttons

I impulsively bought a set of buttons in the shape of cat faces off eBay - and then thought, What the heck do I do with them???


I looked at some of my cat stamps (and I do have a lot!) and thought that the heads are similar size to those in an  Inkadinkadoo set and by experimentation, came out with these two cards. They also used a couple of backing papers that have been cluttering up my stash.

You're So Sweet - Adam Pescott!

These new free stamps from this months Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine are just soooo cute! Designed by Adam Pescott, there are 9 different stamps in this set called 'You're So Sweet'.


I just had to use them straight away and teamed that cute dog wearing the chefs hat with some cookery themed papers by Kaisercraft. I have stamped some more images and I am looking forward to a colouring session with the promarker pens.

Another Small Dent in My Stash!

I have just made these 3 cute cards  - but have only used up 2 sheets from my ever growing pile of papers. But the purple paper I have had for years, so there is a small feeling of satisfaction over that! 

Really I cannot justify buying any more papers for at least 10 years, but they keep producing yummy designs that I just cannot resist, is there any treatment for this addiction???

Congratulations to the blog winner

Well done to No 12 - Applejack who was the number drawn out of the hat - I hope you enjoy your candy bits and pieces!


Now that the weather is warmer and that the flowers are starting to bloom, I have been in the mood to make some cute baby cards!


Eldest son treated me to the latest Docrafts goodie bag as part of my Mothers Day present and I have had a lot of fun using these cute Forever Friends die cuts to make them. 


I also got some lovely smellies, basket of flowers and box of chocolates from youngest daughter, so felt very spoilt.