Scaredy Cat - just like me!

I love playing along to challenges where you receive a free stamp just for entering so I absolutely love the Designed 2 Delight Challenge Blogspot.

Thsi week I received the adorable Scaredy Cat image which I loved working with.

Heres my entry:-

I simply coloured the image in using my promarkers and then created a circle frame for the image using a K & Co paper from their seasonal pad. I then matted this patterned circle onto black card to make it pop and then stuck this onto a card blank covered with a different patterned paper from the pad.

I added some glaze detailing on the pumpkin and cat and then finished off with a ribbon and printed sentiment flower (the flower is printed from the internet but really does look like proper glitter - I could use glitter as I am also entering this card into the Double Delights Challenge. I have posted off the card and hope that the service men and women get some delight from it.

If you were not lucky enough to get this stamp for free like me (I'm so jammy) then you can still buy it from the Designed To Delight Digi Stamp shop HERE .

Hope you like it.

I Hate Tonsils!

Hi everyone,

Well my little lad has been poorly for a few days now but last night he gave me a real scare and I had to rush to an emergency doctor. It turns out the poor little mite has got tonsilitus (don't think thats how you spell it but you know what I mean!!). Hes feeling a bit better now as hes got antibiotics but still's nit right.

As much as I love crafting my kids always come first so I have'nt had much time for any crafty challenges.

I did however manage to squeeze a couple whilst he was asleep.

Heres my entry for Meljen's Challenge # 25.

The challenge was simple:- 1 ribbon, 2 flowers, 3 brads.

I used one of Meljens fab new flower releases which can be found HERE and decided to keep the whole design very simple (a bit like me!!!)

I coloured two of the flowers using promarkers and used 3d foam to attach to the card which I had already placed a piece of velvet ribbon onto to form a stem & leave. I then hit a bit of a problem as I could only find bright orange brads so decided to experiment by colouring them with the promarkers and it worked.

I then finished the card off with a greeting sentiment sticker and faux stitching detailing acheived by a fine liner pen.

Its not my usual style but I still quite like it - hope you do too.

Everything's Coming Up Roses!

Hello crafters,

Well another day and another challenge entry. Well two challenge entries rolled into one actually.

I decided to try a different challenge blog and came across Fab N Funky's "get the Photo vibe" challenge. The cake in the photo is just amazing. You just have to check it out!!!

Well I drew my inspiration from the beautiful roses so here's my entry:-

I am also entering this card into the monthly competition over at Card Making Downloads. Last time I came third so theres no pressure this time then!!! I expect at least second - only joking - I don't care if I win - its just fun making all my creations!

This card was so easy to make. I simply used a printable download Pot of Roses from http://www.card-making-downloads.com/ designed by Joanna Barnsby from Tinker N Co. I printed the sheet onto white pearlscent cardstock and then cut out the background panel and stuck this to the inside of a  square cardblank.

Next I mounted the front pot section onto the front of my card and cut around the design to form a shaped card blank.

Finally I added the decoupage layers and used a Sakura sparkle pen to add a touch of shimmer to the roses and finished with a pretty pink organza ribbon bow.

I think this cards just oozes elegance (which is a first for me!) and I love it.

Hopefully you all do too. If you do please vote for me. Although I don't care whether I win or lose, I really would love one vote.

Thanks xxx

What A Great Digi Stamp!

I always try and enter the Stretch N Bubbles Challenge each week as not only is it great fun, you also get a fab free image to play along with for the next week. This week the image I received for FREE to play along with was Dance Off.

Heres my card made using this gorgeous digi stamp:-

I decided that as the animals were dancing I would give the card some movement by making it into a rocker card. I simply cut out a large circle from patterned card and folded it in half. I then cut the coloured (promarkers) image into a circle using Nestabilities die (somewhat obsessed with them this week it appears!) and then mounted this onto a larger circle. I edged the large circle mat with ric rac ribbon to add texture and hopwfully interest. 

This circle then got mounted onto the centre of the rocker card base.

To finish I added colourful letter stickers spelling Rock And Roll and a peel off greeting.

I'm not entirely happy with this one as I feel it just needs a little something else but its not that bad - I don't think.

Hopefully you all like it.

If you were'nt lucky enough to get this stamp for FREE like me you can buy it from the fabulous Stretch N Bubbles Shop.

Tag It! - Another Crafty Challenge

OK when I first started crafting I used to just make cards. It then progressed to me also starting scrapbooking. Finally recently I have started making the occassional gift for people but I have never ever made gift tags so the Tag It Challenge from Creative Inspirations seemed a fab challenge for me.

Heres my entry:-

I loved making this tag and I am now offically addicted to Tags! They are so quick and easy to make and really do look fab for putting a finishing touch to a present. This one is destined for a present for my little girl's friend.

I used a FREE image from Ai Vault (found via freedigistamps) and added the words "a gift for you" around it using photoshop.

I then coloured the image using my promarker pens ad cut it out with my Sizzix Big Shot and a nestability label die. I cut a larger label from blue cardstock and mounted the digi image onto this.

Finally I finished the tag with organza ribbon, sparkly glitter Petaloo flowers and gems.

Hope you like it.

Sweet Little Girl - Challenge

Wow I got really excited about the Die Cut Dreams Challenge this week.

My style is definately very cutesy so with this "Sweet Little Girl" challenge I could'nt wait to begin. However as the name of the game is challenge I decided to do something a little different and rather than using my usual pinks, lilacs , pale blues etc which I always seemed to use (prior to my challenge addictition!) I decided to go for brighter colours instead.

So here it is - my entry:-

Sorry the photo did'nt come out too well but my camera is flashing low battery and I can't find the charger at the moment as its buried under a geap of stuff from our decorating! (which is going ok).

For this card I used two different FREEBIES (I love freebies and it never ceases to amaze me what generous people designers and crafters are - theres some fab freebies out there!).

I can't actually remember where the cute little girl comes from (sorry as soon as I remember I'll let you know) and the cupcake comes from Beckys Place.

I used photoshop to put them both together to make one digi stamp and then coloured it in using my - wait for it - Promarkers!

I then matted this onto die cut frames (Nestabilities - one textured with a spotty Papermania embossing folder). I covered a square card blank with some Dovecraft paper from a Cupcakes pack (bought from QVC - I'm so predictable!) matted onto matching green cardstock and finally added a ribbon and glitter detailing for the final look.

I really like this card. The colours are really different for me and I feel it fulfils the Sweet Little Girl brief perfectly.

Hope you like it too.

OK - Challenge Time!

Right I apologise now for not posting for the last few days but I'm gonna make it up today. I have 6 challenge cards I've made over the last couple of days so heres No 1:-

OK this entry is for the Pollycraft Autumn Colours Challenge - # 61. I decided to use slightly paler autumnal colours for a bit of a change and I'm really pleased with the finished result.

I used a Pollycraft FREE image which was offered on their blog a few months ago and coloured her using my trusty Promarkers. 

I then printed off four co-ordinating papers from Kanban's The Seasons Collection CD Rom (purchased from QVC) and used these to piece together a patchwork design background. 

I then matted the coloured digi stamped image onto two different colour co-ordinated cardstocks and mounted onto my card base. To add a touch of interest I cut out some of teh leaves from the left over pieces of backing papers and added these to the image using a mixture of tape and 3D foam. I finished the card with a large organza ribbon bow.

Hope you like it.   

Recycling - I'm going all green in the name of a challenge!

Hi everyone,

I'm really excited as Treehouse Stamps Challenge is Recycle.

Now for ages I have admired papercrafted items for the home which I have seen on blogs and in magazines but have never quite had the courage to actually do something like that for myself. But this challenge was exactly what I needed.

It happened to coincide with me finishing a tub of gravy granules so I decided to use this container as the item I was going to reuse. 

I covered it two co-ordinating My Minds Eye papers & added glitter strips by using double sided tape with Martha Stewart glitter (I love this glitter its so fine and sparkly).

Next I used my Sizzix Original flowers die to cut flowers out of more My Mind's Eye papers and used green art straws which I picked up for the bargain price of 99p from my local The Works store several months ago for the stems. I simply sandwiched the straw between two flowers securing with double sided tape.

I cut the straws to different lengths to add a bit of interest and embellished the flowers with little bits and bobs from my craft stash including buttons, fabric flowers, die cuts, gems etc.

I'm really pleased with the end result and my creation will be sitting proudly in my dining room after the plastering and decoration is completed.

My little girl has now placed an order for her bedroom as her her friend and my friend as well so needless to say I'm really hooked on this recycling/decoration lark now.

If only there were 48 hours in every day!

Sadly I've just realised that I've missed the shut off date for the challenge so cannot enter it but I'm still really pleased that I found the challenge as its made me broaden my crafting horizons!.

Hope you like them.    Who would have thought that a humble gravy granule tub could look so good! I'm off to raid my cupboards to see what else I can reuse!!!

Tash gets in on the act!

Hello everyone,

Sorry for the gap in postings but my house is full of wet plaster, which, with a 3 year old and 7 year old is no fun I can tell you. Thankfully so far no walls (or children!) have been damaged but its the turn of the lounge today so all that could change!!!

Well my little girl has been eagerly looking at my challenge creations and decided that she wanted to take part too so we chose the Meljens Challenge #24 which had a Back To School theme.

As Tash went back to school last week she bought home several different books which needed "decorating". She chose her Maths Homework Book and decided that the FREE Meljens "Easy as 123" image which can be found HERE would be great.

She coloured in the image (I even let her borrow my promarkers although I watched over her like a hawk!) and then she matted up the image onto bright coloured paper. She then stuck this to her book front and added some co-ordinating heart stickers to finish.

Here's the picture:-

Shes really proud of it and so am I!

3 Challenges In One - another first for me!

OK well I have broken all my previous records now and have made a card incorporating not 1, not 2, but 3 challenges in one card.

Heres the entry:-

The first challenge is for Delightful Inspiration. They provided absolutely adorable Sew Beary Much digi stamp for me as a thank you for entering their last challenge. If you missed this (and other great stamps) you can buy it at the Designed 2 Delight Digi Stamps shop HERE

The second challenge is for Double Delight Challenges #11. Their challenge is to use the fab image together with sewing on your creation.

Finally the last challenge is a sketch by Sketches by Carly #11 This is the first time I have used a sketch to inspire a card but am really pleased with the results.

How I made this card:- I coloured the image using promarkers (again) and mounted this onto a piece of green glitter card from Die Cuts With A View. I then covered a square card blank with patterned paper from Brenda Pinnack Sucrie range (I think - its been in my stash for a while). I then cut out a circle of co-ordinating pink paper (again from Brenda Pinnack Sucrie range) using my We R Memory Keepers magnetic circle cutter (I love this - its so easy to use and cuts perfect circles everytime - after a little practise!). I cut this circle just a little over half and puched a design around the edge using a Martha Stewart corner punch (I saw this technique in a magazine and thought I would give it a try). I then stuck this onto the card according to the sketch. 

I then attached my Digi Stamp topper to the card with my trusty double sided tape (what would I do without it?!) together with a photoshop generated sentiment "Sending you SEW many Birthday Wishes" although used a fineliner pen to write the word "SEW" in faux stitching. Fabric flowers were also added according to the sketch.

Then came the tricky bit. I have always admired stitching on cards and scrapbook pages but have never attempted this myself. I would have dragged my brand new and unused sewing machine out of the cupboard (a crimbo prezzie from two years ago) if it had'nt had been for a pile of stuff from our hallway and lounge sitting in front of the door ready for the imminant decoration taking place so decided to think of alternative methods. 

I punched small holes in a square pattern using my Crop O Dile Big Bite and then sewed narrow ribbon through the holes in a cross stitch design. I secured the ends with double sided tape. I'm quite pleased with the end result. It really adds texture to the finished card and I will definately be doing it again and grabbing my sewing machine and threading it up to do "proper sewing" on a project soon.  

 Hope you like the end result.

Tea anyone?

OK time for another challenge entry. I really missed making them whilst I was forced to tidy (I don't mind 10 minute tidying for my space but anything else just takes up valuable crafting time in my eyes!)

This entry is for Stretch N Bubbles Challenge #15. It uses the great freebie stamp Chip supplied to me as a gift for entering their last apple challenge.

I thought long and hard about this one but then inspiration struck me. I am going to be holding a coffe morning on 24th Sept to raise funds for Mcmillian Cancer Research as part of their fundraising campaign so decided to make invitations for my neighbours, friends etc.

So heres my entry:-

As green is the charity's main colour I decided to use this quite heavily in my design with green accents, ribbons, colouring etc. I hope you like it. More importantly I hope it gets lots of people to come so that we can all raise loads of money for this worthwhile cause.

I used promarkers to colour the image (of course) and the paper I have had in my stash for ages. I think its from Brenda Pinnack and was purchased from QVC. I also added some bling with some Martha Stewart glitter applied onto some double sided tape and some gems. I made the sentiment Coffee? using Photoshop.

I love Stretch N Bubbles stamps. Chip used above and loads of other fab designs can be found HERE.

If you can help to raise money for the fab MacMillan charity or donate some hardsome cash (every penny really does make a difference) then please do.

OMG - I Won!!!!

Hi everyone,

Sorry for my short break. We are getting ready to have our house replasted throughout downstairs so I have been under instructions from hubby to get everything tidyied up ready for work to commence! I love my life!!!

I'm having a Victor Meldrew moment - I can't believe it!. I came third in the first challenge I ever entered. It was over at http://www.card-making-downloads.com/ and I won with my Swing Milly triple fold card I pictured on this blog . My entry pic now sits very proudly on their front page for all to see - wow! I recieved 6 votes and came third out of 25 entries which I am absolutely stunned by. I also won a £5 voucher so I'm chuffed to bits. I'm just trying to work out which items to buy with my winnings - it a tough choice!
Thanks to each and every one of you who voted for me.

OK I'll be back soon to post some new challenge entries.

Happy crafting xx

Why QVC - Its So Not Fair!

Oh no - QVC have had loads of craft on today including an amazing TSV featuring adorable Kanban stamps. I HAD to purchase it - it was such a bargain!!!!

Plus I had to get the fabolicious brilliance ink pads as well. They've got so many uses - Dawn showed me!

So much for not spending any more money on craft!!!! I did manage to resist several other Kanban kits though so I did show a little bit of self control - I'm sort of proud of myself. Maybe I might use their 30 day money back guarantee - or make sure I use them loads as soon as they arrive to justify in my head the purchase!

It's Christmas Again!

Ok its a good job I've concured my Christmas fears as the challenge over at POLLYCRAFT this week is Christmas with no red or green.

Now making Christmas cards at this time of the year is still a bit of a challenge for me but I gave it a go and this is my finished result:-

Now Pollycraft's digi stamps are just so adorable and I found to my horror that I did'nt own any Christmas themed ones (and the ones I did have just could'nt be adapted to fit the festive theme without including red or green somewhere in the design).

 I almost bought several (but after having a shopping basket totalling over £27 and trying not to spend anymore money on craft at the moment  I managed to resist the urge and hunted on my hard drive to find an alternative image instead). A FREEBIE to the rescue again. This image comes from Colouring Book Tuesdays which I found via the freedigistamps.blog.

I coloured her in using my promarkers and added golden wings and halo thanks to a metallic Sakara pen. I then simply matted this image on cream and gold cardstock mats adding a little mirri card border for festive sparkle and then added a peel off message. In my new bid to use up my peel off stash I also added some golden stars all over the card.

I think she looks very swish and adorable. Hope you like her too.

Now I only have about 69 Christmas cards to make!!!!.

10 Minute Tidy - Part 8

Well another day, another 10 minute tidy post. I'm really impressed that I have stuck with this challenge. I think it helps that it is only for a short period of time but you still see results. It also gives me enough time to also do some precious crafting in my "me time" when the kids are asleep.

OK at the beginning of this year I did try and tidy up my craft room after finding an organisational challenge on the internet. The only problem was that it called for you to empty your craft room and not bring anything back in until everything had a "working" storage solution etc. I duly started taking items out and placing like with like items into seperate boxes ready to reinvent my space. The only trouble was that I have so much stuff in my craft room that even after several boxes and four weeks later the room was nowhere clear and you could'nt get into our spare room for all the stuff or "rubbish" as my husband calls it (hes so supportive of my hobby!). Hubby got so hacked off with not being able to get in the room (hes obsessivly tidy - bordering on OCD!) that he dumped the whole lot back in my study or shed and told me not to clutter the room again! Therefore this is the reason that I currently have 7 fruit boxes stacked on my floor full of perfectly grouped items which currently have no home.

Unfortunatly these boxes are an ideal place to "dump" stuff on top off when they also have no home (or I'm too lazy to put them back in their right place" and so the mountain you see below was born:-

Now I promise I did do 10 minutes of tidying but it obviously needs a lot more work as heres the after shot (part 1)

I know it still looks like a tip but at least the piles gone down quite a bit and I can start to see the contents of the first box!

Craft Room Organisation Challenge Part 8(a) -

Found:-  a set of Pastels promarker - yummy more for my collection

Black Bags filled - Half - I'm being ruthless and only keeping decent sized bits of paper and cardstock instead of hording loads of tiny scraps (making a total of 3 and a half black bags full)

Stay turned for part 2 of Part 8 (if you get me) later on.
  

Autumn's Here

Another card, another challenge entry. Well actually one card, two challenge entries to be precise.

Designed2Delight Digi Stamps  provided a free autumn wreath digi stamp to everyone this week even if you did not enter last week's The Cat's Meow challenge.

You can also double the fun by using this digi stamp with the additional challenge set by Double Delight Challenges. This week their challenge was easy - use Fall colours (or Autumn colours for all us Brits!).

At first I was a little stumped but with Christmas still ringing in my ears after the last challenge I decided to try and do something a little out of my comfort zone. So heres my efforts:-

Now you may have guseed from previous pics but usually I love using patterned paper and filling all the space on my creations but for this particular image (which can be found HERE)  I decided to make the card look like a door by simply drawing on panels using afineliner pen.

I then coloured (using promarkers of course) the digi stamp and cut it out. Using my Crop A Dile I punched two small holes at the top of the wreath and threaded co-ordinating ribbon through. I then stuck this onto my "door" and added a small ribbon bow at the top of the hanging ribbon to add to the wreath look.

Finally I added a stick on gem "door handle" and a matted message which reads "Happy Harvest".

I'm really pleased that I stepped out of my comfort zone as I think the card looks great (and so different to my other creations!). Hope you like it too.

Its going to be sent to my farmer neighbour as he starts his harvesting of his crops. The joys of country living!!   

Oh No Its the C Word - A Real Challenge For Me!

I know that us crafters are supposed to be super organised when it comes to Christmas but every year although I say I'm gonna get my cards made in plenty of time it does never seems to work so my usual style is to leave them all to the last minute (think Dec 22nd) and then realise I've left it to late.

Imagine my horror then when I saw the new challenge set by STAMP SCRAP & DOODLE. Christmas - ooooooooooohhhhhhhh noooooooooooo.

But fresh with my challenge bug I decided to tackle my fears head on and make my very first Christmas Card for this year. I did get some strange looks from my kids and hubby but I've done it and it feels good (only another 70 or so to go - the joys of large families!)

Well heres my entry -

I used a FREE Dustin Pike snowman digi stamp which was coloured in with Promarkers. I just love using the ivory pen to add a soft touch of white to images such as this snowman. This stamp was then mounted onto green and red cardstock using 3d foam.

I covered a square card blank with snowflake paper from the 2009 Smirk Christmas range (the whole pad was still unopened in its celephane!) and then mounted a layered strip of christmas lights card (from Hot of The Press) across the centre.

After adding the stamped image I finished the card off with red holograpic peel offs and a Merry Christmas greeting made from individual red peel off letters.

Hope you like it.

I have to admit that I had become a bit of a peel off snob. This is the way I first started my cardmaking and although having a stash of 100's of different sheets have hardly used them in the last few years of my cardmaking.

In my new bid to use up my existing crafting stash I have dug them out (actually found some of them during some of my 10 minute tidy sessions!) and decided to get using on my projects.

10 Minute Tidy - Part 7

Hello everyone,

Well I hope all you mums and dads are ok after your little ones going back to or starting school or nursery today.

My little girl became a Year 3 today - I can hardly believe it - where has that time gone and even more monumentous my little boy started nursery (and managed to stay by himself witout crying) - me on the otherhand was in floods of tears watching both of them go in!!!!

Anyway back to the serious business of 10 minute tidying (not that my children aren't serious business (its just that once I start talking about them I could you all for hours and days and weeks - you get the picture so I'll bore you all instead with photos of the latest tidy tastic challenge)

I said I was going to tackle a larger area  (this could have something to do with the fact that I seem to have run out of smaller arears!) and so as promised I bring you the glory of my window wall before the 10 minute tidy fairy came along..........   

I don't know how it all stayed on there either!!!

And now - big drum roll please - ta-dah.........

Now before you say anything I did not choose the net curtains - I inherited them from the previous owners of the house and am ashamed to say that before I could take them down I had filled up the space with my crafting stash so just left them there to save my precious booty getting faded by the sun.

This area is still very much work in progress as I hope to come up with a fantastic storage solution for all the unmounted stamps, punches etc  I have later on when I can see exactly how many I have and how much room I have to store them etc, etc. But for now I'm quite pleased with the result. Its certainly a lot lighter now with natural daylight coming in through the window again.

 Craft Room Organisation Challenge Part 7 -

Found:- 1 complete sets of Sizzlet alphabet dies in their cases unopened! (in addition to the 3 sets found yesterday)

Quickie Glue Pen

Memento Ink Pad

Promarker Blender Pen

Black Bags filled - Half (making a total of 3 black bags full)
 
Oh the joys of a tidy workspace - I can now see exactly which Martha Stewart punches I have and drool over them whenever I wish xxxxxx

Another Challenge - Stripes

Well another challenge that I loved making a card for and I have to say adore the finished card was this one:-

Meljens challenge #23 was simply STRIPES. It can be found HERE. 

For this challenge I decided to use one of her FREE dog images from her blog and coloured it in using pro-markers. I then matted and layed onto stripy paper from My Minds Eye (which came FREE with a magazine I bought a while ago) and co-ordinating cardstock.

I then covered a square card blank with the stripy paper and a different co-ordinating paper (again from the FREE pad) and mounted the image. I added some co-ordinating paper flowers and message block (again FREE in the paper pad) and some matching ribbon to which I tied on a cute little doggy charm (just like the one in monopoly!). 

Finally a peel off greeting finished the card.

Hope you like xx   

Free Up A Freebie - A Challenge suited to me or what?

Well, I'm sure that Glitterbabes Challenges this week was written just for me!

As I have said I am trying desperately not to buy anymore crafting stash and accordingly have been on the hunt for freebies to give me my crafting "buzz" instead.

So I knew I just had to enter this weeks challenge of FREE UP A FREEBIE and SPARKLY!

Here's my entry:-

Sorry the pictures not too great - camera is playing up  - I think all the sparkle blinded it! (actually I think its more about the person behind the lens!!!). 

I decided to use their Bra Free Image together with the Baby Chick image to make this "Thanks for all your support" card.

I chosse some Papermania patterned paper which matched the swirls on the bra (and which I have had sitting around for ages) and added glitter to several of the swirls to "bling it up".I then mounted this paper onto black glitter cardstock before matting onto a white  square cardblank.

I colured both images using - you've guessed it - Promarkers (what a worthwhile investment they were!) and cut them out, cutting the wings of the chicken so that he could hang onto the bra. I then matted and leyered these onto black and white glitter cardstock mats cut out using my Sizzix Bigshot and Spellbinders dies. 

I then added the computer generated sentiment and matching pink ribbon bow together with additional bling of pink glittery gemstones to the bra itself.

Hope you like it! 

A Miricle has happened - maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks!!

I meant to post this great acheievement yesterday but did'nt get round to it so thought I would bore you all today with my small (but to me very large) achievement!).

Yesterday I went to our local The Range store which stocks a massive amount of crafting goodies. I went in there to pick up the latest Creativity magazine from Docrafts as for the £2.50 cover price it is a great magazine, full of inspirational projects to try. Plus this issue has two free gifts (stamps and an embossing plate which is fab and stored in my neatly tidied cutting dies baskets!) and too look at rugs as we need one for our lounge and for our hallway.

Normally I would think nothing of picking up the mag and then adding more items into my basket without really thinking. It 's very rare that I could ever leave this store without spending at least £30 just on crafting goodies but yesterday I done it. I bought the £2.50 magazine, browsed the crafting isles drooling over the lovely new releases and some old and familar favourites but I did it! I just got the magazine!!!! Wahoo - I can do this no craft spending lark - I can, I can, I can!

Sorry just had to share this monumental occassion with you.

Luv xxxx

10 Minute Tidy - Part 6

Morning everyone,

Well I done another 10 minute tidy session yesterday and despite talking about tackling a bit area I settled on the small area on top of a roller cart as for some reason (probably my two kids) I was feeling very tired.

Heres the before shot:-

And after:-

Again I know not a massive change but at least I know exactly where my cutting dies now are and can get to them easily so hopefully they will be used more often now (although this challenge blog lark is teaching me that you don't actually have to have loads of flashing (and expensive!) crafting bits and bobs to create some great cards and projects.

Also on the plus side I re-discovered some absolute gems of dies that I had forgotton I had.

Craft Room Organisation Challenge Part 6 -

Found:- 3 complete sets of Sizzlet alphabet dies in their cases unopened!

several beautiful red ribbon roses

fineline peel off borders

Black Bags filled - one quarter (making a total of 2 and a half black bags full)  

Circles, Circles Everywhere

Time for another challenge entry. This time the challenge is for TREEHOUSE THURSDAY CHALLENGE #65 and the theme is Circles.

Having already created one shaped card for thier monthly challenge I decided I could easily tackle this circle challenge!. I almost purchased a stamp of theirs to use on the card but then remembered that I'm not supposed to be spending anymore money on craft stash so found a freebie of a cute mouse from them I had stored on my computer. I think he's so cute.

Heres the card:-

I simply cut out a scalloped circle card blank (using a photoshop shape as a template) from blue cardstock and matted onto this a pale lilac flower shape (again using a shape from photoshop as a template).

Next I printed the adorable mouse stamp and coloured him in using promarkers. I then used my newly found circle cutter to cut the stamp into shape and cut a slightly larger circle from blue card to mount the stamped image onto.

I mounted this section onto the centre of my card and finished with some sparkly gems and flowers. I also added some faux stitching using a fineliner pen to the edges of the card and Petaloo flowers for a bit of added detailing.

Hope you like it!

10 Minute Tidy - Part 5

Morning crafters,

Well true to my word I carried out another 10 minute tidy this time tackling one area on the top of my desk.

Here's the before shot:-

And after the 10 minute magic - voila..................

I know its not a massive change but at least now I know exactly what I have up there and no bits of paper flying down everytime the door is opened.

I think tonight I'm gonna tackle a bigger area - wish me luck - I may never be seen again!!!!!

Craft Room Organisation Challenge Part 5 -

Found:- circle cutter (I now realise that I have 2 of these!)

Silicone Glue

12p (wahooooo)

Black Bags filled - one quarter (making a total of 2 and a quarter black bags full)

Another Challenge - Another Apple!

Hello again,

Well its time for a new challenge over at Stretch N Bubbles. This time you have to use a gorgeous little stamp image of a worm in an apple. Its FREE to everyone this week (normally you get the image free for this week's challenge if you entered the previous weeks but for the 1st challenge of every month its free to everyone). You can find the stamp and the challenge HERE.

Heres my entry:-

 

I don't think this photo does this justice (even though I do say so myself!). It really does look lovely in the flesh.

Hot on the heels of my shrink plastic earrings below I decided to make my daughter a charm to go on her school bookbag complete with a matching bookmark. The charm is attached to the bookmark with a ribbon which can simple be undone to take the charm off and then the ribbon tied back up to form a pretty bow on the bookmark.

As well as the digital stamp I used American Crafts co-ordinating paper and cardstock, thickers vinyl glitter alphabet stickers and of course coloured the digi stamp image in using promarkers.

To make the charm I simply printed the image onto printable shrink plastic and shrunk it using a heat gun. I then added some Cosmic Shimmer watercolour paint to the apple for a touch of shimmer and shine and then threaded this onto the bottom of some clear jewellery thread and added some co-ordinating beads. I then tied this onto a keyring blank and added a few more strands of beads and some pretty ribbons.

I used my Crop A Dile (again - told you a worthwhile purchase!) to punch the holes in the bookmark where the ribbons go.

Hope you like it - my daughter loves it so thats all that matters to me.   

An Apple A Day - A very fruity challenge

Well another day and time for another challenge.

I was a bit stumped when I first came across the TREEHOUSE SEPTEMBER FREE DIGITAL IMAGE AND CONTEST challenge.

A digi stamp of an apple seems quite hard for us here in the UK to play along with. Never one to shy away from a challange (well not since I started this challenge blog lark anyway) and with the prospect of a whole month's worth of free digi stamps as a prize I decided to give it a go. Inspiration suddenly hit me (its ok I'm not hurt!)  and I decided to put the newly discovered again shrink plastic and jewellry kit to good use.

When I think about apples I think either a) An apple a day keeps the doctor away or b) An apple for the teacher. Well if you have met our doctor he certainly is not the type I would want to give a card to & definately not a pair of earrings - as he's most definately male!) so I then remembered that its my daughters teacher's birthday coming up soon (both her and I share the same date - 25th September - although I like to rub it in that I was born a few years after her!!)

So the idea of some apple earrings on an apple shape card was born. Here it is - hope you like it:-

I firstly printed two identically sized apple digi stamps onto the shrink plastic (which I had lightly coloured first using Photoshop Elements) and cut each apple out. Next I punched large holes in each using my trusted Crop A Dile (actually I rarely use it but now I am a challenge queen I am sure it will be used almost all of the time from now on!) in the top of each image and used my heat gun (another impulse purchase which I hardly ever use - until now as I am a challenge queen ...... well you get the picture!!!) to shrink them down.

The kids loved watching the apples shrink in size but I was a nervous wreak as the heat gun was obviously hot but everyone (including the apple soon to be earrings escaped unscathed).

I then attached earring hooks to the newly shrunk apples. This was slightly difficult with no tools but I managed and am pleased with the results. Finally I painted the apples with a coat of Cosmic Shimmer watercolour paint in a Sunset Red shade to add some shimmer and sparkle.

I then set about making the shaped Apple card. To do this I resized the apple digi stamp using Photoshop again and added some text onto the apple which reads "Happy Birthday to a wonderful teacher". I printed this image onto red cardstock and cut it out. Next I matted this onto a folded sheet of strong white cardstock and stuck the apple onto the top of the card (making sure that the rounds of the apple were touching the crease line on my card blank). I cut out the shape leaving the leaf and stalk sticking up from the card blank to form my shaped card. I then printed the apple again - this time onto green and brown cardstock to paper piece the leaf and stalk in the correct colours.

Finally I punched two small holes (the crop a dile gets used again - see a worthwhile purchase!) in order to hang the earrings from the card. And voila - a card and gift all rolled into one!.

I'm so pleased with the result considering this is my first jewellery making experience (and I don't usually do shaped cards!).

!0 Minute Tidying - Part 4

Morning everyone,

Well I've been in a tidying mood as my Son's nursery teacher is visiting us today so its not so much of a shock when he start's on Monday. I don't know who's more nervous about it - him or me!

Anyway I choose a small area yesterday for the 10 minute tidy project which was behind the door. Another fabulous place to dump bits of papers, ribbons, embellishments etc which I had part used for projects and it appears a dumping ground for all sorts of things - well no more. Here's the pics:-

And after the 10 minute tidy fairy has visited (I lie sadly there's no such thing as a tidy fairy - I've been wishing for her for ages but she has never visited - I've even remembered to say please everytime but still no sign!)

OK I know the shelves behind need a lot of work but don't worry they will get tackled very soon - I promise!

Craft Room Organisation Challenge Part 4 -

Found:- Printable Shrink Plastic

Jewellery making kit (minus any tools - not sure where they are in the mountain of stash but sure I'll find them soon)


Black Bags filled - three quarters (making a total of 2 black bags full)

Yippeeee I can see more floor!!!!

Summer Lovin and The Cats Meow - A double Challenge

Well I have just come across two challenge blogs which link together so this one card entry will be entered into both the challenges.

The first challenge is from Designed2Delight digital stamps. They tell you which image to use (if you entered their previous weeks challenge then you receive the digi stamp free). I could'nt resist buying the Cats Meow stamp for this weeks challenge as he reminds me of a acat I once used to have (Sweet Dreams Ollie xx).
This weeks challenge can be found HERE

Heres my entry:-

The second challenge is from Double Delight Challenges. Thier challenge was to use the "Cats Meow" stamp from Designed 2 Delights and use summer colours.

Now to me summer colours are anything bright and cheerful so I hope my card fulfills the brief!.

I coloured the digi stamp with Promarkers (what did I do before before they came along - answer - no stamping!!!) and then matted and layered the image onto blue glittery cardstock and then textured orange card. I added some mulberry flowers where the flowers were on the stamp and then covered my card blank with the same card I used to matt the image onto. Finally I added a touch of ribbon for the final detailing.

Hope you like xx 

10 Minute Tidy - Part 3

Hello everyone,

For my next 10 minute tidy session I decided to tackle my craft room floor (well half of the floor really as the other half will be another project very soon) - oh my what a daunting prospect!

Heres the before shot:-

Told you I was a messy crafter did'nt I!!

And now after the miracles of 10 minutes of tidying - ta dah......

I'm well impressed by this 10 minute tidying thing - I still cannot believe what a difference such a small amount of time makes. And the really good news is that I have kept the areas I have already sorted and tidied still clean and tidy (which for me is an absolute first!!!!!)

Craft Room Organisation Challenge Part 3 -

Found:- more gorgeous sheer ribbons

Small Mini Canvas

Plain red childrens T-shirt ready to customise

Black Bags filled - one quarter (making a total of 1 and a quarter black bags full)

Happy Birthday - Another Challenge I could'nt Resist

After a couple of more taxing challenges I decided to enter the challenge over at Meljens which was simply "Happy Birthday".

But me being me decided that as I usually make girly cards to make a masculine Birthday Card for the challenge so here it is:-

I used another FREE stamp from sliekje which can be found HERE. I coloured the image with - you've guessed it - Promarkers and then used my computers graphics package to print a star shape onto American Crafts patterned papers. I then matted this star shape onto blue card to create a small border and stuck this onto my card blank. A "Happy Birthday to a Star" greeting star and smaller co-ordinating punched star finish this creation.

Hope you like it. I think its simple (a bit like me!!!) but effective   

Oriental Challenge Card

Another first for me - I have never made an oriental card in my life - until now!

I came across the Glitterbabes Blog after reading about it on another crafters blog. The card she had made for the challenge was so beautiful it inspired me to have a go. So here it is, my entry in all its glory (or not so depending on opinion!):-

I love it!!! I used some papers from a Dovecraft Oriental Promise paper pack I bought from QVC along with with some petaloo flowers also from QVC. The main image is a FREE image from HERE (make sure you grab all her other freebies too as they are all as cute as the others). Matting and layering was done using black and red pearlescent papers and final touches were added with stickles glue.

Please Help - Fundraiser on behalf of Alison at Stretch n' Bubbles

Hi everyone,

Its me again. I just had to post again to draw your attention to a really moving story I have just read on the Stetch N Bubbles Blog

It sounds just like my own father who had his stroke at just 47 years old and had to give up work. Luckily we had the healthcare covered by the wonderful NHS but I know just how hard it was for all of us to come to terms with what had happened and for Mum & Dad to survive on his small company pension.

So please if you can purchase the amazing digi set offer shown below

Available HERE

Also like the blog says if you could also send a card I know, from personal experience that it would be much appreciated.

Thanks xx

Time for another Challenge Card me thinks

Well I decided to go hunting for another challenge I could enter but this time I wanted to stretch myself a little further (this challenge blog lark does wonders to help your confidence). I came across the Die Cut Dreams Challenge #63 and knew I had found the one - Soft Shades of Vintage.

Now me and vintage just don't seem to go together. I got loads of beautiful K&Co and Anna Griffin vintage inspired papers which I absolutely love (to stroke and admire but never use!) but I never do vintage style cards - until now!!! But I decided that soft shades of vintage might be a good starting point to tackle my fears of this gembre.

So big drum roll please - here my's entry:-

 

I know that to the majority of you it will not be that "vintagey" but believe me this card is 100 miles out of my comfort zone (think cutsy, lovely images).

I used a die cut topper from a set I had purchased from QVC earlier on in the year which, although it does not pick up that well in the photo (must attend some photography classes!) features some vintage inspired swirls and patterns, and then cut out loads of flowers (using a Martha Stewart punch of course!)from different shades of a plainer piece of K & Co paper. After mounting the topper in the centre of the card blank with 3D foam I proceeded to stick all the punched flowers around the topper to form a wreath effect. 

Finally I just had to add some touches of Stickles silver glitter to the centres of the flowers and corners of the card.

Hope you like it.   

10 Minute Tidying

Hello again,

Time for another 10 minute tidying post again. I said I was going to do at least 10 minutes tidying each day and so far I've stuck to it - grand total of two days so far - yipeee!

This time I decided to tackle an area by my desk which tends to be my dumping ground when I get new stuff or the odds & ends left over from a crafting session etc.

Sorry about the photo I forgot I had turned the flash off for taking pics at the zoo yesterday!

Well after my 10 mins of tidying it now looks like this:-

Craft Room Organisation Challenge Part 2 -

Found:- more gorgeous sheer ribbons

brand new and unstarted pack of 20 fineliner pens in different colours (I can feel some faux stitching coming on in the next project!)
Black Bags filled - half (making a total of 1 full black bag)


At least one tiny part of my craft room is starting to look better - only about another 95% to go!!!!!

Another Challenge Entry

Wow I really have caught the challenge bug it seems. I love Pollycraft digi stamps but never knew they had a challenge blog - until now. You can find their challenge here:-http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/challenge-59-add-little-nature.html

Heres my entry to their challenge 59 - Add a little nature:-

This challenge gave me the opportunity to use one of the Twiddly Wings images I purchased ages ago but have never used until now! I'm such a horder!!!!

I coloured her in with - you've guessed it - my promarkers and then cut out green card grass to add to the bottom of the image to give a little texture. I also added a glitter flower from petaloo and glitter to her wings (I love shimy, sparkly things!) and was intending to puch a butterfly to stick over the bird image from the stamp but could'nt find my trusted Martha Stewart punch. Instead I adaped to more Petaloo flowers to form a perfectly co-ordinating homemade butterfly.

Finally I matted this image onto co-ordinating American Crafts cardstock and paper and put the whole card onto an 8x8 cardblank (from Craftwork Cards) adding some more Petaloo flowers for additional embellishments.

I don't know what's got into me as I've used a mix of colours again which I never normally put together but I think it works (hope you think so too).

Hope you like it.

10 minute tidying

OK, bet you did'nt believe when I said I was drowning in a sea of crafing clutter did you?

I know, I am an untidy crafter (actually I am just untidy fullstop - my poor hubby will vouch for that!!!). I just think why waste precious crafting time putting things away when I can be crafting - I can't help it - its a medical condition (well thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!!).

But as part of my commitment to having an organised craft room and to try and stop me spending loads more money on craft stash I have decided to try and do at least 10 minutes tidying everyday.

I am amazed at what you can achieve in just 10 minutes. I actually have some room back -  look at my desk top now:-

   

Craft Room Organisation Challenge Part 1 -

Found:- 29p in change

£2 winning scratch card

some gorgeous sheer ribbons

Seraphina Digi Stamp CD Rom

beautiful unopened pack of flower embellishments complete with gem centres

½ large bar of Mint Aero (yum, yum!)

Black Bags filled - half

I'm on way to organisational heaven!!

Yet Another Challenge Entry for today!

Well I must have had three Shredded Wheat today as I have completed another challenge entry - this time for Stamp, Scrap & Doodles

The challenge is to make a Get Well or Good Luck project. As my mum is currently poorly (Get Well Soon Mum xx) I thought that I could combine the too so obviously I plumped for the Get Well Card.

Inspired by my previous Card Making Downloads challenge I decided to make an easel card using a Tinker N Co Duckies set which I purchased HERE.

I started with a 15cm square card blank which I folded to become an easel card (never realised they were so easy to make before now!) and covered this with a selection of the gorgeous papers which come in the set. I used one of the quick card toppers to mount as the main embellishment which I then added a 3D layer to using the matching digi stamp which I coloured using promarkers (again - can't you tell they are a favourite of mine!) Used a flower punch to punch flowers for decoration. I matted and layered the printed "Sending You Get Well Wishes" onto the papers &  then had to use a Martha Stewart border punch (because I love them!) to create a pretty border. I mounted this whole strip onto 3D foam and stuck to the card to make the stopper for the easel part.

Finally I just had to add some co-ordinating ribbon and gemstones for the finishing touches (more favourites of mine!).

Hope you like.