Hugs & Kisses

Yesterday I was lucky to get to our local Craft Shops rummage sale (well the bank manager was even luckier lol!) - and bought some rubber stamps that were reduced in price. Been playing with them this morning and thought I'd show you this one, the others will follow!

It's one of the Crafters Companion Humphrey stamps, which I thought would be good for anniversary cards (perhaps). It stamped lovely and is so easy to colour. The pink background paper was stamped using an indigo Blu stamp with a versamark clear pad and embossed in clear embossing powder. The blue ribbon was a piece I found on my desk left over from another project, although it wasn't quite long enough so cut it in half and put the two ends at each side (just don't tell anyone there's a gap in the middle - hopefully they won't notice!!!). I used a pale blue pan pastel to edge the topper, just to give it a bit of depth.

Thanks for popping by to have a look, may I take this opportunity (in case I don't get another) to wish you and yours a very happy and healthy 2013 and look forward to sharing more of my creations with you. Take care xxx

Lead By Example

In November of last year I was lucky enough to be asked to join the DT of The Cupboard Trilogy and here is my first entry into their latest challenge - #7 Lead By Example. It's very simple, you just have to look at the design team samples, choose one and make a card/scrapbook page using the same layout, of course you can add to it, turn it around etc, but we still need to be able to see the original in the layout (if you get my drift?). There's a lovely prize for one lucky winner, so well worth having a go.

The card I've made is an 8x8 covered in a light blue rose background, the bottom half of which I stamped with an Indigo Blu harlequin stamp using a pale blue distress ink, as well as a grey versafine. The topper is made using a Kanban stamp (stamped twice onto two different sized ovals) coloured with promarkers and then mounted on top of one another. A white ribbon coloured with the same colour promarker blue pen and ruffled slightly. The greeting is stamped using the Art Deco stamps from Docrafts and a spellbinders die. Nothing too difficult, but leaves you plenty of scope to elaborate on.

I hope you like my card and leave me a comment and why not have a go at the challenge too. http://thecupboardtrilogychallenges.blogspot.co.uk. Thanks for stopping by and good luck xxx

Christmas Wreath

Thought I'd share this with you, as I've just finished it (surprisingly in time for Christmas!). I'd seen ready made ones in the shops, but thought too expensive, then I saw one on Pinterest and I was off. With a little help from a wire hanger and a glue gun and several burnt fingers later here it is - proudly hanging on my front door. The photo doesn't really do it justice, as it looks a bit misshapen, but it isn't and I'm not sure about the bow!!!!

Well, this may be my last blog this side of Christmas, so I'd just like to take this opportunity to wish all of my followers a very Happy Christmas and an even happier new year. Hope you stay safe and healthy. Thanks for all your lovely comments over the past few months and look forward to sharing more of my creations in 2013. Xxx

Last Minute Rush

Talk about leave things to the last minute! Men! Had OH brother ask me on Saturday if I could do three cards for his kids (two grown ups and one for his granddaughter) no rush he says but can I have them by Wednesday? Yes I said, no problem. Then he asks could you do one with a pregnant lady in silhouette on it (or better still a couple), Yes I said course I can. Then I locked myself in a cupboard and cried (only joking)

Anyway, to cut a long story short and with a little help from my crafting friends (especially Danielle Spencer and Joan M Doherty) I made the first card for his daughter who's expecting her baby on Christmas Day. I took the image from the Internet and coloured it with promarkers, I printed the message he wanted "this Christmas you will give the greatest gift of all...." And on the insert it reads: 'the gift of life" onto some green backing paper (looks a mucky grey in the photo!).  Used some gilding flakes on the flourishes and added a red ribbon. Not sure if it's Christmassy enough, but hopefully he'll like it - not sure if I do or not????

The second card I've uploaded is the one for his granddaughter Molly. It's her Mum who's having the baby so I thought I'd make her something a little different, so decided on a shaker card. I just love this stamp he's such a cute snowman :). I was really pleased how this one turned out and it didn't take me too long - unlike this blog! Well if you haven't fallen asleep by this stage or lost the will to live! then leave me a comment and I look forward to reading them later. Thanks for popping by.

Oh PS by the way lucky enough he found one from my stash for his son so that was a relief lol!

Friendship is a Grand Calibur

Thought I would share with you a card I've made this evening using my new spellbinder extendable trellis die and a few other dies i had in my stash already. I must admit the trellis die proved a bit difficult to cut (especially in the middle) but perseverance won through.

The ovals were cut using an x-cut die, which are ok, but currently waiting for my grand oval nest abilities to arrive. I like the colour scheme I've used on this one, even if I say so myself lol although I think the centre of the flowers look a bit too green but I'll check in the morning in natural daylight (if we have any at the moment).

Well it's getting late and I can hear my bed calling. Thank you for popping by and pleeeease leave a comment (I can take criticism as well). See you soon xxx

Just Messing Around

Have bought several crafty bits and bobs recently, (should really have been Christmas shopping but what the heck!!!!) but not had the time to use any of them (could that be karma?) But tonight I made the effort to get to my craft desk and have a play and here's what I came up with.

Using a mask, which I had already and then a combination of background stamps from Indigo Blu (Harlequin, Honeycomb and Script) and Wow stamps and the new colours in my pan pastel collection, oh and the dragonfly from an Imagination set I had fun. Even the pink border was made with the Wow foliage stamp and pink pans!

Hope you like it enough to leave me a comment. Thanks for popping by :).

Flutter by Sophie

Here's a card I've made for my great niece who's six tomorrow. It started out as a simple card and then turned into something more epic (isn't that always the way???).

For the front I've used the Boo stamps that came free on a mag - which have been quite useful - then for the lettering I used Clarity's letterbox stamp and for the number the papermania set! All coloured in with promarkers.

For the inside I spelt out her name using Fourth Dimensions alphabet stamps and mounted the butterflies on to acetate. And there it is, started yesterday, and completed it tonight after spending most of the day Christmas shopping with my Mum, now I'm off out to see David Essex - rock on!!!!! Thanks for popping by and for leaving me a comment xxxx

Lady in Red.....

Couldn't post this earlier, but here's a card I made for my lovely niece Claire, who's birthday is today. Just been round for a piece of cake and a cuppa, it's tradition in our family that no matter how old (or young) you do not escape blowing out the candles, so my 43 year old niece did us proud by blowing out her candles with one puff lol!

Anyway getting back to the card. Just for a change it's an 8x8 card, layered with black textured paper and then a sheet from the Papermania Black & white Capsule collection, topped with a red embossed sheet and cut out from a grand nestability. The Art Deco lady is from the new Docrafts range (you may have seen her in another of my blogs (art Deco número three), but how different she looks in another colour. I used black and red glitters to enhance her dress and made the embellishment from feathers, the roses are made from modelling clay and the wire is twisted round my pokey tool with stars glued to the end.

My niece loved it and hope you do too. Leave me a comment

A bit of luck!

Had a brill weekend so far made at least five cards - that must be a record for me - but still got to make a birthday card for my niece, so hopefully will get that done later!

Anyway, what do I mean by a bit of luck? Well, I was hunting around for something for a card I made last night when I opened a drawer and found loads of toppers including this one, all coloured in and ready to go - must have made them last year, but never got round to doing anything with them.

Well a bit of distress ink around the edges and a touch of glitter and voila, a pretty easel card. I'm afraid the photo doesn't do it justice - but think you get the gist?

Well I suppose I'd better go and get dressed now as it's gone midday! Time flies when you're having fun and left alone to enjoy it lol x

All I want for Christmas is......

More Pan Pastels please Father Christmas, love you x. If only it was that easy :).

I loved making this 8x8 card using my pan pastels to make the centre section, although can't take all the credit, got the idea originally from two crafting friends Zoe Russell and Barbara Daines (hopefully they'll still be my friends when they see this - my cards are nowhere near their standard, but thanks for the inspiration ladies x).

It was quick and fairly simple and hopefully someone will buy it next week at the Craft Fair! (We live in hope)

A Touch of Gold

Here's a card that I made last night, using a glue pad, a rubber stamp and some gold leaf. Pretty pleased with the outcome and think that it works well with the black and gold paper. Hope you like it enough to leave a comment. Thank you xxx

Nativity

Didn't start out to make this card, but suddenly I remembered I'd bought the stamp last year and guess what never used it! Well there isn't many ocassions where you can use a Christmas card throughout the year - well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it lol.

I just stamped in on to white card, coloured it in with promarkers. Stamped a few random stars and one larger one and embossed them in white and then used my pan pastels (I've only got pastel colours - at the mo) but it sort of gives a subtle shade to it. Added a bit of sticklers for a bit of bling and there you go another Christmas card for your perusal. Hope you like it - it's got almost a childish quality to it!

A Variation on a Theme

Was a bit fed up tonight, so made another version of the Christmas Baubles card. This time I used the paper piecing technique (think that's what it's called?).

I found some 6x6 pearlescent paper which I stamped the baubles on using a Stazon on ink pad (that was after I stamped them first with a versafine ink pad and found black smudge marks over the white card - oops!). Anyway, I then stamped them where I wanted them on the card and then placed the cut out ones on top, using a bit of pin flair to raise them slightly.

Instead of red gems, I used diamond glaze to accentuate (I like that word!) the berries.

I think this card is OK, but the freehand line around the edge looks a bit amateurish - must try harder next time.

Well till the next time - thanks for visiting, see you again soon x

Love and laughter

Well another weekend bites the dust, but hope it's been a good one for you all. Here's another card I've made that I'd like to share with you.

I started out playing with my pan pastels using them to make a background, which I then stamped the flowers on and cut them out (this was the same piece of background as the teddy bear card - Baby Pans)

As I was looking for a piece of card to mat the Teddy on, this piece of lilac glitter card fell out and inspired me to use it with the flowers.

I used a small square spellbinders die to cut out three apertures from the glitter card and mounted it on yellow card. Then I used a panel of the yellow card to stamp the verse and tied a lilac ribbon and bow around it. I wasn't sure if it needed something else, but decided to leave it alone - still not sure now - but sometimes less is more as they say.

Anyway, I hope you like it and appreciate you popping by to take a look. Thanks for leaving me a comment - I love reading them all xxx

Christmas Baubles

Here's an 8x8 card (that's unusual for me!), using the docrafts Urban Christmas stamps.

I masked the holly leaves so I could stamp them three times and then coloured them using the pine promarkers. I stamped the baubles and then coloured them too with promarkers and then covered them with diamond glaze. The text stamp I think came from another stamp set (can't remember which one sorry!). Added some gems to the berries and drew a freehand line around the edge, mounted it on to red card and that's it.

A fairly easy card, but very effective - hope you agree.

Thanks again for popping by and if you're a new follower, welcome x

Baby pans

After a busy week at work I needed to get into my craft room tonight and chill a little ( well the room was a bit cold as well, but think you know what I mean - a little me time!!!).

Late last night I watched a demo on C & C, I think it was a lady from Indigo Blu, but I didn't catch her name, but she was using pan pastels and she made a background by putting dabs of colour on a piece of smooth card until it was completely covered and made a background and then stamped over it with an image to give a beautiful effect. Thought it was a lovely idea, just a shame I didn't get to see the end of the demo cos I fell asleep and woke up to the next programme!! Typical!!!

Anyway, I remembered the technique tonight and gave it a go and here is the card I made. It didn't start out as a baby card I stamped a flower at first, but then I remembered the teddy bear stamp and as they say the rest is history :D. The square behind the teddy, the teddy itself and the letters are all done in the same way, I hope you agree that it does look quite good, even if I say so myself. Ooh forgot to say, the letters are sprayed with the CC iridescent glitter spray and that seems to enhance the colours even more.
Thanks for visiting, really do appreciate all your comments x

Simples!

Here's a small easel card I made last night, after I was able to get into my craft room aka my sons bedroom, after he had gone back to his flat after staying for a few days.

I used the free stamps from a magazine that I got recently (sorry can't remember which one) and stamped them onto a scalloped square (nestability) coloured the images with promarkers, added a bit of glitter glue and ta da - here it is!

Hope you like it x

Art Deco Número three!

Ok, you're probably getting bored with these now, but thank you for coming to visit my blog to view this third card in the series (you'll be even more pleased to know there is only one more left to show and that will probably happen sometime during the week!)

Well now that I've got you here, may as well tell you what I used to make it. Once again it's an 8x8 card covered with black mirror card and then some terracotta coloured card, which I have had in my stash for years, probably because it's not one of my fav colours. (But that might change now!). I embossed it with the 8x8 embossalicious folder from Die'sire.
The stamp was coloured in with promarkers and glittered with the 'pee wee' glitters.
The embellishment was made using the Glitter Girls emboss to impress board - something else I've had and never used lol (do we see a pattern forming here????). I was going to use feathers but didn't have the right colour.
I've really enjoyed crafting this weekend - good to have some 'me' time at last - think we all need that don't we. Anyway girls (and guys) thanks once again for visiting and for all your comments xxxx

Incidentally, if you haven't seen the other cards (as I had trouble with sharing on Facebook/blogger for the first one, check them out through the older posts x)

I'm entering this card in to the Visible Image inspired by Autumn challenge http://www.visibleimage.co.uk/default.htm

Art Deco número two

Finally got round to making a second card this evening, again using one of the new Art Deco stamps.
Kept this one relatively simple. Embossed some 12x12 paper (well it was cut down to 8x8 to fit the card!) using the Art Deco embossing folder from Die'sire.
I coloured the image with blue promarkers and using my fancy cut corner scissors (twice in one day, that's more than I've ever used them before lol) mounted it on navy card and whilst I was looking for the card, the 'angel hair' fell out of the box - sometimes it just all comes together!!!
I cut a couple of flourishes from a Marianne creatables die and coloured them with 'tumbled glass' distress ink and added a few gems. Oh and I used some blue 'pee wee' glitter, it gives such a lovely sparkle.
It's certainly a pleasure using these stamps, certainly don't think these will get lost at the back of the cupboard ;)

Art Deco Número Uno

I was lucky enough to get hold of the new Do Crafts range of Art Deco Stamps today and wow they are amazing.

Here's the first card I've made so far. As usual an 8x8 black card blank topped with a piece of Lucy Cromwell paper, I used my Art Deco scissors to cut the corner (had these for years but never really used them, think they may now come into their own!). The 'happy birthday' is a stamp that comes with one of the other sets and the feathers and embellishment I had in my stock already. Incidentally the ribbon is coloured with promarkers to match the dress.
This is one of those cards that I feel really pleased with and hope you like it too.
Thanks for popping by and thank you even more if you've left a comment, they really do make it worthwhile. Stay warm and keep crafting :D

Not Sure???

Here's a card I've made for my sister for her 60th but I'm not sure - not exactly one of my best or am I being too critical because it didn't take long to do???

I used one of my new 8x8 embossing folders and then coloured it with pan pastels the numbers and flowers I had in my stash. Used a background stamp and a Kanban stamp to give it some interest and then die cut the butterfly.
Would really be interested to know if you would give this to someone, or would you be pleased to receive it????

Liquorice Allsorts!!!

That got you all going, thought you were going to see a really pretty card in sweetie colours well ha fooled you!!!

As I mentioned earlier in the week when I blogged my cousins card 'One Man and his Dog', it's also his sisters' birthday this week so here's a card I've made for her too. That's where the alsorts come in. I've used micro beads (Cor don't they get every where even if you're really careful) and I've used the creative expressions pearl pva glue! Both for the very first time, but I think I'm pleased with the results.
It was going so well until I put it altogether and stuck the backing papers down and realised the card blank was the wrong way and didn't open right to left (like a book?), but rather bottom to top (like a calendar) but I don't think anyone will notice do you - not if we don't tell anyone!!!!

Anyway, hope you like what you see and thanks in advance for leaving a comment xxxx

10 Saturdays to Christmas Part II

Thanks to a suggestion from a fellow blogger (thanks Jo), I made a couple of additions to one of my cards and here's the updated version.

Surprising what a little bit of distress ink, a hand drawn line around the edge and a couple of stockings and it looks like a different card, oh and I changed the gold card to red mirri card on the topper, think it ties in better. Hope you like it enough to leave a comment (again). Thank you x

One man and His Dog

Wow, this is the third card I've made this weekend and I thought I would share it with you.

I've made it for one of my cousins whose birthday it is tomorrow (you know forward planning and that - made it about an hour ago!!!). Anyway, he is a dog lover and hope he will like it. Not a lot he can do if he doesn't cos he's not gonna get another one (well not this year lol).

He's a really lovely bloke, one of life's gentle giants and doesn't get much out of life. He's certainly one of the good guys.

Well enough from me, time for a quick cuppa and off to bed - yippee another week at work and I wonder what that will throw up - just can't wait :(. Take care you all and I'll be back soon. Just realised it's his sisters' birthday on Thursday so had get myself busy tomorrow, at this rate OH will forget what I look like lol x

10 Saturdays to Christmas

What a horrible thought! It comes round quicker every year (lol). But hey ho, here are two Christmas cards I made yesterday from a pack from Docrafts. I love these images.

I haven't yet stuck the one with the girl in the bed down, cos I think it needs something else, any suggestions?

Well off to get on with the rest of my day - who knows might get some more crafting done?? Catch you all later xxx

Two for the sidebar!!!

Hello everyone

I am really thrilled to have received two awards from a fellow blogger Zoe (zoeblingcards), The Sunshine Award and The Lovely Blog Award. (These are the first I have ever received)

Both of these awards come with some rules:

I am to publicly thank the people who gave them to me.
I am to share some information about myself
I am to nominate some of my favorite blogs
I am to comment on their blogs to let them know I’ve awarded them.

The One Lovely Blog award asks me to share 7 facts about myself while the Sunshine Award has some specific questions for me to answer. The Sunshine Award questions will effectively cover the 7 facts about me.
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite animal: Monkey/gorilla
Favorite number: 6
Favorite drink: Gin & Tonic with ice and a slice
Facebook or Twitter: definitely Facebook
Good book or good movie: Book
Giving or getting gifts: Giving (but depends who is receiving)
My passion: I have to agree with Zoe on that it has to be my family and crafting
Favorite day: a day of crafting
Favorite flower: Daffodils (as it means Spring is on it's way!)

Well, hopefully I haven't bored you, now it's my turn to nominate these awards to some bloggers that have not only inspired me, but also supported me when I've needed it and we all need a bit of that at sometimes, so without much further ado I announce:

1.http://jaydeeliciousdesign01.blogspot.com
2. http://howdeedodees.blogspot.co.uk
3. http://jr-crafts.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks once again Zoe, really means a lot xxx

Enjoy - pan pastels

I know it's a bit late, but just wanted to share this card with you. The main ingredient for this card would be the pan pastels. I used them for the background with versamark ink and for the topper I stamped the image, one of Imaginations' stamps, in memento ink and then coloured the whole image with pans and then used a rubber to take away the colour from the central flower. Diamond glaze for the dewdrops (think I may have got a bit carried away with these!).

I would like to say thank you to Jo Rice of JR Crafts who inspired me to have another play with my pans after looking at her blog tonight and hope she doesn't mind me pinching her ideas. Cheers Jo x

Yeoman of the Guard

Here's a card I made yesterday, but light wasn't good enough to take a photo. I made it using another Docrafts stamp which was reduced at The Range (should be on commission for them!). It's easy to colour and was thinking might try it as a Christmas card with green and red around his hat? What do you think?

The blue and red background on the left hand side was made by using glossy card and distress inks and a folded baby wipe. Saw someone do the technique on C&C and actually remembered it. Will definitely be doing that again.

Well another for my stash, got a stinking cold at the moment so don't feel like crafting at the moment, but hopefully will feel better tomorrow!!

Let me know if you would use this as a Christmas card, if it was done in different colours, be interested in your opinions. Thanks for popping by, see you soon x

Oranges and Lemons

First creation of the day, a baby card. Used a set of stamps from a docrafts set I bought recently at The Range reduced in their sale.

For a change it's a C5 size card. The image is coloured with pro markers and for a change to using distress inks, I used pan pastels to colour the edge, with a border stamped with Versamark to accentuate the colour (blimey that's a big word for Saturday lol)

The letters are funky foam. Someone gave me a large tub of them, which lost it's lid a long while back and I curse them every time they fall over and spill their contents. I sprayed them with Spray & Sparkle to add a touch of bling.

Haven't made this for anyone in particular, but it will go in my stash, just in case!!!

Congratulations

Here's a card I was asked to make for someone's anniversary. The stamp was bought from Dimension Stamps at Alley Pally and coloured in with promarkers. Think this is one of those stamps that I will be using quite often. I Added a bit of diamond glaze to the bottle and Sakura clear gel pen to the bubbles.

Mounted it onto Silver Mirri card and voilà. Hope you like it, And even more so hope the people that are receiving it like it LOL.

Off to have a couple of hours crafting, other half gone fishing so some me time (hopefully). May be back later with some more creations. Enjoy your day and see you later x

Before and After

Here are the before and after pics of my craft area. I owe a lot of thanks to my friends on Lower P&P Group, who spurred me on to take over my sons bedroom (he has left home I hasten to add). And I did leave his bed in place (altho I'll have to clear it off of the bags and bits that I haven't got room for, on the occasions when he does come home lol!).

Think you're agree that it's certainly an improvement, but unfortunately, it didn't stay that tidy for long!

Ho Ho Ho !!!!

Since having a new crafting space, (have taken over my sons bedroom - well almost) here are two Christmas cards that I have made.

Both are 8x8 cards, using Kanban stamps coloured in with promarkers . The difference with these cards is that I have covered the images with Glossy. accents, which makes them look like a sticker.

On the second one, with the red glossy background I stamped a border stamp (yet again a Kanban stamp) using Stazon. I even mitred the corners!!!! (Amazing what you can do when you haven't got a tele blaring in your ears lol) I hope you like these cards and will leave a comment. Love to hear what you think.

Happy 90th Birthday Mum

We've had a lovely couple of weeks helping my Mum celebrate her 90th birthday, afternoon tea at a lovely hotel by the seaside last weekend arranged by her grandaughters and yesterday my two sisters and myself hosted a meal at a local restaurant for the whole family. Today it's a piece of cake and a cuppa round my sisters to mark the actual day and then a lay down in a darkened room to recuperate lol!
I don't usually make a card from a kit, but I think this one from Docrafts was ideal. It's from the Lucy Cromwell collection and it was such pretty colours. Decoupaged it, added a bit of glitter and some flowers and voila, Mum loved it bless her. Hope you do too and that you'll leave a comment - would be interested as to how/what you would have done differently.

46 years of Wedded Bliss

Is there such a thing as wedded bliss? I don't know about, even the most perfect people can get on each others nerves at sometime or the other don't they? However, that's how long my sister Jan and her husband Bern have been married tomorrow - what an achievement! It hasn't been easy, cos life isn't easy, but they're two very special people who care a lot about anybody and everybody bless them. I know they appreciate the cards I make so hopefully they'll like this one too! (mind you they wouldn't say if they didn't lol).
It's a 8x8 scalloped edge card (believe me I do have other size card blanks in my stash!!!!) using some of the Happy Days paper that came in a Goody Bag. Wasn't sure I liked this paper when I first saw it, but think it works well and the colour combinations are a little different. Believe it's self explanatory, but if anyone wants to ask any questions leave it as a comment and I'll get back to you. If you've got this far, then please leave me a comment, even if it's just to say Hello! Thanks for popping by. Hopefully you'll come back another day too xxx

Christmas Noooooooo!!!!!

Well even if I say so myself, I'm not a great lover of Christmas, but as it's given me my mojo back and given me a reason to make a card I'm quite happy lol :)

It's an 8x8 card and I've cut a circle out (I used a grand nestabilities die) but obviously you could just draw round a circle. I then used my new Spellbinders dies 'Foliage 2' and cut out three different shapes with three different colours of green paper. Stamped the Christmas message and built up the leaves around it. Mounted it on some red glossy card and then green 12 x 12 paper from the Do crafts goody bag and added a red ribbon ( which incidentally I brought from The Works - good value). Cut out the red corners from the lace doily accents die set and voila I'm back with vengeance (well I had better because I have a birthday card to make for my Mum for her 90th, an anniversary card for my sister and brother in law, a 21st birthday card, a 60th birthday card and a general birthday card all by next weekend - so watch this space!!!!!!!

Zoe Ella

Here's a card I made for the arrival of 'our' first grand-daughter. She arrived safely on Thursday 23 August and we managed to get up to Derby to see them this weekend. She's such a cutie, bless her.

I hope you like the card, it was an 8 x 8" matted with Lucy Cromwell papers. I used a Martha Stewart punch on the pink paper to the left and then threaded white ribbon, which had been coloured with promarkers to match the colours in the central topper. (unfortunately you can't see much of it - but will use this technique again). I also hand embossed using my hougie board to make the trellis pattern.

The circle frame was cut from the grand nestabilities scalloped circles. The flowers were cut with a spellbinders die and I used an embossing tool to give them a bit of a curve and shape. The flourishes were a new marianne creatables die.

A couple of candi dots for the centre of the flowers and a bit of bling and there it is. Finally finished at midnight, the night before we went to see them! Why do I always leave things to the last minute?????

Lovely day for a bike ride!

At last a chance to do a card - I just don't seem to have had the time or the inclination to do any crafting this week what with one thing or the other, but as it's my nieces' birthday tomorrow and we haven't gone out anywhere today I managed to produce this. What started out as a simple idea in my head, ended up something completely different (nothing new there tho!!!).

I used my grand nestabilities scalloped circles to cut the base card and then another two slightly smaller with a complimentary pearlescent card using a mask (the name of which escapes me at the mo!) distressed inked it with antique linen.

The topper is a whimsy stamp, coloured with promarkers. The die cut flowers are made from a pack of Back to Basics 6x6 paper I bought from Wilkinsons recently and a few pearls added to glam it up a bit.

Hope you like it and leave me a comment (I can take it if you want to make constructive criticism - what would you have done differently - be interested to know)

Thanks for popping by. See you again shortly xxx

I shall be entering the following challenges:
http://thecraftypad.blogspot.co.uk/ - to die for
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/shape-up-anything-but-sqaure-mawtt.html
http://Thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge - Circle card
http://craftyourdaysaway - challenge 52 anything goes

Flutterby Butterfly

I thought I'd share this card with you as I really like it and it was relatively simple to make. Hopefully you'll agree looks amazing (sorry probably a bit OTT there!).

It's an 8x8 (think I've forgotten about any other size card available!). I've mounted it with a sheet of Lucy Cromwell paper (which is embossed and sparkly), then I've used my spellbinders dies to cut out the frame and central part, where I've stamped the verse and embossed in silver. I embossed the circle frame with a dotty embossing folder and again, distress inked it with 'worn lipstick'. I've then cut out three various size butterflies and DI them (same colour) whilst still in the die (each one had slightly different patterned paper, but this doesn't show as much once you've distressed them*).

I then added them to the circle and here it is - hope you like it as much as I do. Thanks for looking and leaving a comment xxxx


*Please note no paper butterflies were hurt during the making of this card*

Blog challenge sketch

Why is it that when you have the time to sit and craft you're mojo goes and you sit at your desk and nothing inspires you? Well that was me this morning and then I remembered a challenge on Sheila's blog My Craft Creations which was to make a card using a sketch. Something I had seen but never tried. I then remembered a stamp that I bought last weekend, which I couldn't live without (that's why it's been in the bag ever since lol), part of a Goody Bag so I stamped it on to a spellbinders die and edged it with DI, coloured the central pocket watch with gold gel pens and then diamond glazed it to give it more dimension. Mounted this on to some green glitter paper that came in the Goody Bag. I also used the gel pen on the stripes on the rectangle and wrapped some metallic thread around it. Voila here it is.
So wish me luck as I'm gonna put into the challenge and see what happens. Wish me luck x

No flowers, no flourishes, no fuss

Thought I would show you the card I've made today using the craft stash I've bought this week (I'm sure it's an obsession and I really must curtail my spending, spent so much this week - but then I don't smoke, don't drink and don't go clubbing every night - and I'm not condoning anyone who does - but crafting is something I enjoy and it gives me a form of escapism from the trials and tribulations of everyday life, although compared to some my life is pretty simple.
Anyway, getting back to the card - it's an 8x8 scalloped card blank, covered in 12x12 sheet from The Goody Bag, along with the glitter card (not sure if this is the latest one from Docrafts, as there were too many to choose from in Hobbycraft). The stamp is another Whimsy one from Oyster Stamps, coloured in with promarkers, green and yellow ribbon and a little bow and hey ho one very pretty card. I decided I didn't want to put anything else on it - just liked it simple - hope you do too x

Shades of Grey

Inspired by Craft Your Days Away Blogspot challenge, I've made this card, obviously I haven't read any of the books (you little liar!!!) I'm far to prim and proper! (lol), but thanks to my friends on Lower P & P on Create and Craft Facebook page, I have now discovered Oyster Stamps and this little stamp called the Silver Fairy, isn't she lovely (hardly an Anastasia Steele) but then I don't live with a Christian Grey (not sure I'd want too!!! Well not all the time!) Hope you like it too and that you'll take the time to leave a comment. It really does make it worthwhile to read what you think of the blood sweat and tears that goes into some of these creations. Thank you very much x

We create our tomorrow.....

By what we dream today. Thats what the stamp says, so OK I'm dreaming I've won the lottery and don't have to go to work tomorrow. Ah dear, never mind dreaming over and back to reality.
I made this card this afternoon after watching a lady demoing the new spellbinder dies on C & C and picked up on the stamped border on the left hand side, the card's not quite to her calibre (excuse the pun - grand calibur) but to the best of mine given what I had available. If you need to know what I've used then leave me a comment or drop me an e mail and I'll happily answer any questions.
Hope you've all had a good weekend, long may the sun shine (about bloody time!). Take care x