The Craft's Meow Preview - Baggin' Some Rays

WOW - it's been a fun few days and today we have the final preview for you from The Craft's Meow. This set is called "Baggin Some Rays" by Michelle Bertuzzi.

Once again I've used DP from My Mind's Eye Hazel paper pad also available from The Craft's Meow -four out five of my preview cards used this paper pad! I wish you could see this in 3D - the center panel is raised and then the gorgeous patterned "sun" is too. Add the fabulous "ceiling rose" button I found in my stash and there's a lot of depth here which gives it added interest.

If you want to check out more of the images in the set you can see peeks of the DT work at The Craft's Meow Blog. And of course our new release fun includes chances for you to win.....THREE lucky people will be randomly selected to win this gorgeous set from comments left on the DTs blogs - you have until 10pm Pacific Time to leave your comments and winners will be announce in tomorrows post over at our BLOG. Good Luck!

All the new stamp sets will be available in The Craft's Meow store on July 1st and we'll be celebrating with a team Blog Hop....

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Woe Is Me!

Recently I sent a friend of mine a card just a tad late for her birthday - OOPS! But when I saw this cutie from Mo Manning my first thought was "woe is me" and I thought she'd be FABULOUS for a belated birthday card - LOL. This is "The Damsel" and she's available HERE. I just love her wandering around in mum's shoes and coat with her nightie on - it reminds me of dress-up days with my sisters when I was a kid.

I used this week's Sketch Saturday sketch for the layout but twisted it around 90o anti-clockwise. The ticket sentiment is from Just INKlined - available HERE - I used the blank one of the set and popped my own sentiment in before printing out.

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The Craft's Meow Preview - It's a Banner Day

It's our third day of previews from The Craft's Meow and today we are showcasing "It's a Banner Day" by Nina B Designs. These fit perfectly with the Spellbinders Banner Basics 3 dies and I know I'll have a HEAP of fun with these ones I get the dies. But they CAN be used without the dies as many of the DT have shown.

Sentiment is from TCMs Celebrating You set (available HERE) and my DP is from the My Mind's Eye Hazel paper pad also available from The Craft's Meow.

If you want to check out more of the images in the set you can see peeks of the DT work at The Craft's Meow Blog. And of course our new release fun includes chances for you to win.....THREE lucky people will be randomly selected to win this gorgeous set from comments left on the DTs blogs - you have until 10pm Pacific Time to leave your comments and winners will be announce in tomorrows post over at our BLOG. Good Luck!

All the new stamp sets will be available in The Craft's Meow store on July 1st.

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The Craft's Meow Preview - Life is a Carnival

It's day 2 of previews for the July release from The Craft's Meow and today's set is "Life is a Carnival" by Nina B Designs. This is such a fun set and when I saw this DP by Basic Grey I knew it would be perfect. To me a carnival is full of bright lights and colours, the smell of fast food and the laughter of people. I've tried to capture some sense of the carnival with glitter and colour.

If you want to check out more of the images in the set you can see peeks of the DT work at The Craft's Meow Blog. 

All the new stamp sets will be available in The Craft's Meow store on July 1st.

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The Craft's Meow Preview - Lovely Birds

Yay it's time for use to start previewing the gorgeous new July release stamps sets from The Craft's Meow. Today we are showcasing "Lovely Birds" by Nina B Designs. I have taken the gorgeous bird bath stamp, one of the birds and the sentiment from the set and stamped them onto a background I had stamped using just my acrylic block and ink - a technique I was recently reminded of by my fabulous friend Chris! My DP is from My Mind's Eye Hazel paper pad also available from The Craft's Meow.

If you want to check out more of the images in the set you can see peeks of the DT work at The Craft's Meow Blog. And of course our new release fun includes chances for you to win.....THREE lucky people will be randomly selected to win this gorgeous set from comments left on the DTs blogs - you have until 10pm Pacific Time to leave your comments and winners will be announce in tomorrows post over at our BLOG. Good Luck!

All the new stamp sets will be available in The Craft's Meow store on July 1st.

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Guest Designing for Kenny K

I was rapt when I got asked to fill a GDT spot over at Kenny K's Krafty Girlz challenges. I have loved Kenny K's images since they first hit the stamping world and just wish I had more time to work with the ones I have already. But one day....

This week the challenge is "Red, White and Blue" and I've used Brooklyn Babe for my card - isn't she just FABULOUS! You can check out what the rest of the Kenny K DT have come up with and check out all the rest of the challenge details on their blog.

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Make It Colourful Celebration Time

Make it Crafty is turning ONE!!

Woohooo – The celebrations have begun at Make it Crafty!!!

We are excited today to be sharing this celebration with Quixotic Paperie who are celebrating their second birthday and were the very first company to take on the Make it Crafty line of stamps, laser cut embellishments and now the Make it Colour blending card.

To celebrate we thought, rather than a blog hop we would set a CHALLENGE using Make it Crafty products!! To get inspired, hop on over to the Make it Colourful Challenge Blog where you will see the amazing creations our fabulous DT’s have created for this event! PLUS you find out all the details on how you can play along and all the news about the PRIZES, blog candy and specials that are on offer!! And keep checking the Make it Crafty blog HERE for more fun during July.

Quixotic Paperie have a little something for you too!! Make sure you pop on over there to enter your name for a chance at MORE Make it Crafty Goodies!!

Our challenge has five categories with a grand prize for each category....

1. Merge as many images as you can

2. The most creative combination of images

3. Rubber stamps only

4. Chipboard Only (no image)

5. Colour using the MiC Logo colours – blue/mustard/yellow and brown

I came up with two cards for category 2. Creative combination of images

I came up with the idea for this one when I was talking to someone about the fact that I had tickets for the midnight session of the final Harry Potter movie on the day of it's release - yup I'm a HP tragic - LOL. My scene has two "teens" sitting around daydreaming and chatting about THEIR movie hero - Jacob from the Twilight movies. Why is this unusual??? How many teens have fairies as friends - LOL.

Now here's the first card I started for this challenge - and it nearly didn't make it onto my blog as I was a little worried poor ol' Aussie Santa was coming across all wrong and I put it away and got on with the previous card - LOL. My original merging had Vixie a lot smaller and it made Santa look a bit like a dirty ol' man! So I made her a little bigger and gave him brown hair so maybe I've gotten away with it - what do you think - LOL.

Images used...

First card - Sophie Daydreaming, Vixie, Rise and Shine, Comfy Chair, Team Jacob poster from the web.

Second card - Aussie Santa, Vixie, Kissing Booth

Lasercuts...

Butterfly Leaves, Love Hearts Swirls, Fancy Ribbon Slide

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Good News!

I just have a bit of good news to share. As you may know I've had the honour of being a GDT member over at Make it Colourful this month - well the good news is I've been asked to stay on!!! When Zoe emailed me I thought about it seriously as I do have a few commitments at the moment. But the DT gals over there are gorgeous people and amazing crafters, I LOVE the fun images and embellishments from Zoe's store Make it Crafty and the challenges are often just that - challenging - and I do love a challenge. So once I popped all these things on the mental plus side of my list how could I refuse!!!! And then I realised I was now on FOUR Australian based DTs - woohoooo - Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi - LOL. But it just goes to show what a global community cardmaking is with gals from all over the world sharing fun and inspirational times on these DTs with me! So watch out for some more fun from me at Make it Colourful!

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Sending You Well Wishes

When I saw the the Mini World Magnolia's I realised they would be fabulous with many of the Just INKlined landscape images. This is my second card to mix the 2 together and I'm really happy with the result. This is the Wishing Well and is available HERE. With little Tilda perched on the edge it shows it can work as a background as well as a central image - you gotta love that!

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A Question or Two

Why is it that we love to share many of our highs and lows with people - even strangers - but when it comes to some very important issues we hide away as if they are something to be ashamed of??? Recently someone close to me was diagnosed with depression and anxiety - and the first reaction was fear and shame. But WHY?? This is something that we don't choose for ourselves and yet we struggle to seek help! I have been remiss in my blog visiting because I have been spending my time supporting and helping this person through this very difficult situation. WHY is it soo hard to seek help when this can lead to such despair - or worse?? Do we even blink an eye at phoning for a doctor's appointment when we have a sore throat or hemorrhoids and yet it's considered embarrassing to need help with a psychological health issue?? The medical professionals we dealt with were amazing - so kind and generous once we made that initial appointment - and it has made the world of difference.

I guess I feel the need to raise some awareness about this - and about many other mental diseases that can affect our family and friends. Things like this not only affect the person involved but ripple out and affect everyone who cares for them. I was very lucky that when I did reach out for support for myself that I met with nothing but understanding and friendship and I thank those people with all my heart. I know how much it helped me which meant I could then pass on that strength and support to the person in need. There IS light at the end of the tunnel - but I'm sure the road won't be smooth.

I have also been thankful for my crafting therapy - it's amazing how soothing being creative can be.

Thanx for "listening" - I'll be back soon .....

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A 21st Card

I have been lucky to find friends in my life who's children also get on well with my own - it makes it so much easier to plan get togethers - LOL. This card was made for one of my BFs daughters to celebrate her 21st birthday recently. 

Here in Australia ice hockey isn't a huge sport - in fact until recently the city of Melbourne only had one undersized ice rink for the whole population!! But Jacinta (birthday girl) fell in love with figure skating in her early teens and then progressed to ice hockey. So it seemed only fitting to make her 21st card in her team colours using this fabuous Kenny K image - GO PIRATES!

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For Teacher by Mo Manning

I just adore this little guy from Mo Manning - it's always great when a boy image catches your eye because boys can often be forgotten among the variety of cute girl images out there. This little guy is called "For Teacher" and you can find him HERE. There's also a curly haired boy version and 2 cute "For Teacher" girls.

These images were released to coincide with the end of the school year in The US. But here in Australia we are only halfway through our school year. But these cuties are also great for birthdays, mother's day, father's day etc etc etc.

I've used this week's fabulous Sketch Saturday sketch for my layout. 

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Magnolia Down Under Challenge #101

This week over at Magnolia Down Under Challenges we are asking you to use acetate in your creation. I cheated a bit and used an actetate box that I "tarted" up with some gorgeous Magnolia products. I've used Tilda and sentiment stamps, Magnolia DP, several Doohickey dies and some Magnolia flowers - and of course what box wouldn't be complete without chocolate!!! Though I admit there should have been a couple more Lindor balls in there - LOL.

If you're looking for more inspiration using acetate check out the rest of the MDUC DT's projects on our blog.

Make It Colourful

This week over at Make It Colourful Challenges you are being asked to Reflect Colour. I've reflected the golden glow of the treasure onto Syren the Mermaid's hair and skin. Don't ya think it adds to the richness of finding a pirate's treasure me hearties - LOL.

Our sponsor this week is Whimsy Stamps and I've used their Ocean Floor Background stamp by Meljen and merged it with Make it Crafty's Syren of Pearls image. The "seaweed" is created using Make it Crafty lasercuts - these ones are called round leaves and you can find them HERE. 

Now to tell you a tale of (almost) disaster - LOL. I tried to use my liquid pearls to create a pearl necklace on the ocean floor - but alas my pearls "bled" together to form a big glob - next time I'll form alternate pearls and let dry before filling in the gaps! When I attempted to "wipe off" the pearls they left a pearly smear which looked awful - nooooooooo!!! In an attempt to salvage my project I "globbed" liquid pearls all over the sandy ocean floor - and I'm REALLY happy with the result. The texture and sheen remind me of sunlight reflecting through the waves and onto the sand - they add a fun "watery" element.

Now I'm not exactly sure if this was the sort of colour reflection Zoe was after so check on over at the Make It Colourful blog HERE to see what the rest of the DT have done.

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Tickled Pink Stamps is Sponsoring Cute Card Thursday

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring a really fun challenge over at Cute Card Thursday - you need to use your birthstone colours! Can you guess what my birthstone is - LOL - Ruby of course!

I just couldn't go past using Vampire Lilith for this challenge as I love giving her ruby red eyes. And who says she only has to be for Halloween??? This could make a fun Valentine's or birthday card too - for the right person!

I've used a mix of DPs and the black trellis was cut using my Stampin' Up die. The sentiment was computer generated.

Check out some more inspiration from the TPS DT HERE and play along for a chance to win some TPS prizes.

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Mo's Dream Team Blog Hop

It's the third Thursday of the month so do you know what that means???? Well I guess my post title kind of gives it away - LOL - it's Mo's Dream Team Blog Hop time! This month our lovely host is Heidy who has asked us to make our own flowers. Heidy's blog is the start of all the fun but if you are already hopping you should have arrived here from Alice's blog.

For my card I used the appropriately named "Flower Girl" and you can find her HERE. I used Magnolia Doohickey dies to create the base of the flower, the small flowers and the swirls. The rolled flower in the centre of the main flower was made using my MFT die. With so many gorgeous punches and dies around these days it was hard to decide which ones to play with for this challenge! 

Your next stop on the hop is Mina's blog - where I'm sure there will be more floral fabulousness for all! And don't forget to check out our Dream Team Blog for regular inspiration using Mo's gorgeous images.

If you get lost along the way here's the complete hop list - and you'll find the links on my left sidebar under Mo's logo.

Heidy (Host), Alice, Debbie (me), Mina, Kerttu, Elaine, Lori, Jane, Julie

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My 2nd Emerald Faeries Card Class

As a part of the Emerald Faerie Garden Design Team we get to run "card classes" over at our ning group HERE. This week I've done a step by step class to creating a shaped easel card. You can find my class HERE - but if you're not a member you will have to join first - but trust me - it doesn't hurt and there's lots of fun things to do over there! 

This cutie is called Ally and Beeble and you can find them in rubber or digi  HERE.

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Lil Tom Boyz Release Day Blog Hop

Well after a bit of a hiccup due to Da Boss Lady being very sick it's time now for our  release day blog hop over at Tickled Pink Stamps for this fabulous collection of Lil Tom Boyz Pinkettes. They are now instore in both rubber and digi format.

If you're not already hopping it all begins at Awesome Amy's blog - so head on over there. Otherwise you should have arrived here from Amazing Angela's blog.

For my hop card I used the super cute August - she so reminds me of my childhood - out in the garage helping my dad. And I have photos of my own kids doing the same with their dad. Even the baby toys with the shapes and the plastic hammers were a fave in our house. I think it's such a fun thing to experience - and something you can't find in a video game!

Your next stop on the hop is Fabulous Eulanda's blog - but if you get lost along the way you can find all the links on the TPS blog HERE. Good luck with the prizes up for grabs too!

xXx

Present in a Tea Cup

Today I have a fun little project for you - a teacup to hold a little present in. The template for this is from My Time Made Easy and comes in PDF and various cut files - it's called Grab a Cup and is available HERE. I've cut mine using my craft robo.

I was inspired to make this by the Mad Hatter from Just INKlined (available HERE). I wanted to use him on a tag so I printed him out smaller than I would normally. The tickets on the tag are also from Just INKlined (available HERE). I decided to use the tea-cup template to create a gift to hang my tag onto - and it was a great excuse to play with something new - LOL.

The birthday sentiment and frame is from The Craft's Meow.

I'm also entering this at Altered Alice Challenges where they have a Mad Hatter Tea Party going on...

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Make it Colourful - Blues

This week we have a relatively easy challenge to play along with at Make it Colourful - a fabulous challenge that's all about colouring! This week we want to see blue - and lots of it - in your creations. Our sponsor this week is another of my favourites - Tiddly Inks.

The idea for my image came when I sat and watched the movie Notting Hill one night - Hugh Grant's character lives in a house with a blue door - perfect - Tiddly Inks had the perfect image. And then it's revealed Hugh Grant's character was nicknamed "Floppy" at school - because of his floppy hair!!! So how perfect are these 2 images for this blue challenge based on Notting Hill - LOL. I have used Make it Crafty's "Racing Rick" which is available HERE and Tiddly Inks "Door of Dreams" which you can find HERE.

Lil Tom Boyz Preview Day 5 from Tickled Pink Stamps

Woohooo - it's Day 5 of our Lil Tom Boyz previews from Tickled Pink Stamps. You may have seen snippets of this cutie in the new Pinkettes DT badge but now you get to meet her. This is Pippa and I just love that her team name on her top is "Tickled" LOL. Of course her team colours had to be Tickled Pink!

I had her all coloured up when I decided to chop her poor wee legs off for my layout - but don't worry - she didn't suffer any pain! I ended up using her boots on my greeting tag - with one being popped up for extra fun - waste not want not - LOL.

As always you have a chance to win this cutie for yourself on the TPS blog HERE. And don't forget to check out all the other previews and amazing work by the Pink Ladies and the Pinkette DT. Release day is in only 2 days time - the countdown is ON!

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Lil Tom Boyz Preview Day 4 from Tickled Pink Stamps

Have you been over to the Tickled Pink Stamps blog lately - we're in the middle of the newest release of the gorgeous Pinkettes and today is Day 4. The newest range is called Lil Tom Boyz and for obvious reasons. Not all little girls love party dresses and glitz - some just love to get in the tool shed or join in the fun with their dads, grandpas and brothers - and even mums and sisters. This release is also bringing back fond memories to many of us of doing just that!

Today we have Lil Pinkette Truckie Bobbi to introduce to you. With her mass of unruly curls hiding beneath her cap and her patched pants she's looking like she off to have a fun day with her mates.

As always you have a chance to win this cutie - and any of the new gals - by just leaving a comment on our blog HERE. AND you can check out the fabulous work by some of the NEW Pinkette DT as well as some of the Pink Ladies. Release day is June 13th and we'll be celebrating with a hop and prizes - so hope you can come along in your not so good clothes and play in the dirt with us Tom Boyz!

xXx

Cupcake Princess Violet

Isn't this little gal the cutest with her whispy hair and sweet pose?? Her name is Cupcake Princess Violet by Mo Manning and she's available HERE. You can also find her gorgeous Cupcake Princess sister, Sienna instore HERE.

I haven't had much of a chance lately to play along with Sketch Saturday's challenges so I took the opportunity today. I mixed their gorgeous sketch with some delicious Bo Bunny DP - and of course Princess Violet - LOL. And once again I coloured AFTER making my paper selections - I think I may just be a convert to this way of crafting - it's only taken me a couple of years - LOL.

EDIT - I have had a request to list the copic colours I've used here - I keep telling myself I'll do this every time but it never seems to happen - LOL. Here goes...am pretty sure this is right!

Dress - R000, R00, R01, R02, R05
Sash - BG000, BG000, BG11
Hair - E40, E42, E42, E43, E44

My trick for colour selection is to ALWAYS use my colour chart and hold swatches of DP up to it to select colours and then choose lighter and darker values for depth.

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Just INKlined DT Blog Hop

Well it's time for the Just INKlined DT to get together for a bit of fun on our monthly Blog Hop. This week I'm the host and I chose something I just LURVE to use for the theme - FLOWER POWER. Now because I'm the host you're already at the starting point and ready to hop.......

I wanted to do something a little different for my flower power card - I know you were probably all expecting a huge flourish of flowers from me - LOL - but I decided to create my own. As I chose Gilmour (available HERE) as my image I decided to go with something less frilly and girly so I whipped up some rolled flowers. I love making these as they look great popped amongst other flowers or as the main feature - and they are REALLY easy to roll using a cheap quilling tool!

My daughter suggested we popped some roses in Gilmour's bag - what a cute idea - I HAD to go with it - LOL.

Now it's time for you to hop hop hop along and visit the floral delights Toni has on offer for you....

 And if you get lost along the way here's the hop order and all the links are on my left sidebar under the Just INKlined logo.

Debbie{me}, Toni, Karen, Cathy, Heidy, Joyce, Jeni and last but never least...Jak

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Magnolia Down Under Challenge #99

This week at Magnolia Down Under Challenges we have a colour challenge for you...

Purple, Peach and Cream

Now this sounds like a tricky challenge - and I must admit colour challenges aren't my favourite - but the gals from the MDUC DT have some gorgeous cards to inspire you - check them out on our blog HERE.

I found this gorgeous sheet of DP from Creative Imaginations which gave me a base for my card in these colours - and also set the underwater scene. The purple 'seaweed' was made using my new Magnolia branch die - I love that this die embosses some texture too! The sentiment is from CC Designs Stamps and the sentiment frame is from The Craft's Meow.

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Guest Designing for Make it Colourful

I have been very lucky to have been a part of some amazing design teams over the past couple of years and this month I get to add another group to my list. Zoe and the awesome gals from Make It Colourful have invited me along to be their guest designer for June - wooohoooo - what an honour! And boy does Zoe have some fascinating colouring challenges to play along with too.

This week Make It Colourful is being sponsored by the uber cute Some Odd Girl Stamps and we've been challenged to "Cast Your Shadows". I've used Make It Crafty's fireplace digi stamp and created a firelit scene. In front of the fire is Pressie Mae and Pressie Tobie - obviously waiting patiently for someone to come home so they can yell "SURPRISE". The flames from behind Mae and Tobie are casting shadows across the floorboards and creating warmth and depth. The lasercut flourishes are from Make it Crafty too - these are just soo much fun to use!!!

Now do yourself a favour and check out the rest of the MiC DT's cards for this challenge HERE - and then we hope you'll "cast some shadows" yourself!

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Tickled Pink Stamps is Sponsoring 2 Challenges

This week Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring the Paper Sundaes Challenge which is Vintage/Shappy Chic. We are also sponsoring the monthly CLP sketch challenge so I've managed to combine the 2 into one card - although you may notice I've flipped the sketch upside down to suit my image.

I've used the fantabulous Lil Victorian Steampunk Luca (available HERE) for my card which I've sent off to my BIL for his birthday today - can you guess how old he is - LOL. My DPs are a mixture from different companies and I have added a few little bits and bobs from Tim Holtz too.

Some of the other Pink Ladies are playing along too - and you can check out their gorgeous work on our blog HERE.

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Release Day Blog Hop from The Craft's Meow

Well it must be June 1st because it's release day over at The Craft's Meow for the five fabulous stamp sets we've been previewing over the past few days and we're celebrating with a hop.

You should have started at The Craft's Meow Blog where you can see the full reveal of each set - so head back there if you didn't. If you are already hopping along you should have arrived here from Amy's Blog.

For my card I've used the solid fuschia stamp and sentiment from Celebrating You and the Tag from Timeless Tags - these sets all work sooo well together as you'll see by the gorgeous sample the gals have produced for the hop. My DP is Graphic 45.

Now what's a release day without a prize - today Lisa is offering a Grand Prize of all 5 sets for one lucky person - woohoooo  - you gotta love that!

Your next stop on the hop is Heather's Blog - so what are you waiting for - hop hop hop along!

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Emerald Faeries Challenge #2

Well what a month it's been for our very first challenge over at The Emerald Faerie Garden - but as one challenge closes we have another FABULOUS challenge to get you into your crafting rooms and playing along.

Out next challenge is every gals best friend - BLING! I've use Boo and Snookie - available HERE - to prove that bling is not just for the girls though - after all - what self respecting fairy DOESN'T have fairy dust on their wings - LOL.

If you need more inspiration check out our blog and see what the other Emerald Faerie gals have come up with to add a little bling to your day!

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