Merry Christmas Everyone!

It has soon come around and again we are in estive spirit, for those who may no longer be with us in body enjoy your party in the sky.

Merry Christmas Crafters!

Kerry

Whiff of Joy Blog Hop 30th Nov - 5th Dec.

Today is the first day of Whiff of Joy's Blog Hop, but that's not all from December 1st you have a chance to 'open the advent calendar' and win prizes too!  Pop over to Katharina's Blog HERE and have some fun!

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Penn!

Apologies my fellow bloggers, but it seems real life sometimes consumes you and does not really want to let go, but here I am for a few moments or too.

Firstly, I would like to congratulation two of my university buddies on finally tying the knot after 9 years together.  As they added, having the little Baby arrive kind of sped up things and here they are now Husband & Wife.  As with crafty tradition their gift from myself and my DH was hand crafted.

The papers are from my own stash.

Stamped Image is from LOTV and coloured with Distress Inks.

For added effect I used icicle stickles and some fun braid.

I also decorated the inside of the card to comliment the front.

With a few more 'events' in my diary I will be crafting a few more goodies too, so hold on.

My mug!

I have not long joined the Docrafts creativity club and as part of your welcome gift you get a mug.  Just so the dear husband didn't get any ideas, ith permnant marker I clearly stated that this mug was mine!

As you can see it's a bit messy too! 

Back to University.

I've decided to go back and study, like the first time around and £19,000 debt wasn't enough.  Nope I want out of this country and a career change too!  My first degree well everyone does Psychology and a Desmond two two was quite respectable despite the lack of studying, this time it's a first class or nothing.

The subject?  Environmental Science, was always good at science.  The Open University is great as it allows study part time while we all have to work full time just to stick Petrol in the car thats gets us to work, crazy ey! 

So i'll be a lot busier than at the moment, but I'll still try and find some time to relax by participating in blog challenges and stuff.

Best Fishes with Oliver's Orchard

Mr Citylink man came and collect the skis, they are now on their merry little way to Scotland, oh yes, that is part of my mum's eternal junk. Just a hockey stick to go now!

Now, the lovely people over at I<3 Promarkers  are giving us all free reign with 'Anything Goes'.  Mine goes a bit like this, after having my feet eaten by loads of tickling little fishies and nearly screaming the shopping centre down with laughter, it gave me a thought of inspiration.

'Best Fishes' on your birthday

Now this stamp is from Oliver's Orchard.  On a lovely warm summer's day fishing for tiddlers ready to put in your glass jar and take home.  I love the fact that the shoes are hanging in the tree.

The papers are from making memories, photo corners from We R memory keepers, felt ribbon from papermania, image was coloured using my trusted promarkers.  All backed onto a 5 x 5 kraft cardstock card.







Even the inside is decorated, just to finish it off.  It makes a change to make a boy themed card as really everything is almost cute and girly.

TOMIC: To Faux Stitch or not to Faux Stitch

It's great when your parents know how to buy on eBay but haven't got a clue when it comes to selling - in comes useful daughter!  Yes, that is how I have spent most of the morning, packaging and waiting.  Although I did obviously squeeze in some room for a card.

Down at The Official Magnolia Inspiration Challenge Blog , which is only 8 challenges old, it is stitch or Faux stitch which begs the Shakesperian question: To Faux stitch or not to Faux stitch?  I Faux stitched.

My stamp was chosen from the Raising the ceiling Collection, gave myself two colours Pink and Black, then got crafting.

Papers are from Dovecraft 'Funky Vintage', Coredinations and The Paper Mill Shop.  A square card was used in creating the easel shaped card.  Spellbinders large Classic squares & Large Scallop squares were used to frame Tilda.

                   

A dragonfly charm was added the the pink bow to compliment Tilda and well, it looks pretty.  Tilda was carefully coloured using Promarkers and you can see the light source was central.

The flowers were plain white, with a bit of distressing they become a lightly mottled grey and with the pink and white tea roses went well to accent the die cut swirls.  The base part of the card also has a swirl and flower with the sentiment 'best wishes', by keeping it simple, you are not drawn away from the main feature of the card.

Oh and some faux stitching around the edges too! 

Christmas in July.

I finally finished my large Lickle Ted cross stitch and it is now mounted in a lovely red 8x8 aperture card.  Carrying on the theme of Christmas in July is I <3 Promarkers challenge for this week, it also coincides with Wild Orchid crafts and LOTV new releases out on 25th July.

My bargin ebay purchase from the Lili of the Valley outlet store was used, 3 cute polar bears hiding in and around their igloo!  Out come the stickles He He!  I went all pastelly and girly for this one, papers are from Dovecraft and Papermania, sentiment stamp found in a bargin bucket and of course my trusted Promarkers.

I also matched the inside the card with the same decorated paper, added some faux gems and a snowflake embellishment to accent the card.

Looks like they are upto no good or playing hide and seek?  Stickles crystal and blue were used and it got quite messy!

Oh the weather outside if frightful............

LOTV: Pink N Blue

Ha ha!  Finally back on blogland.  My disappearence was down a) visiting the family b)big clearout of the loft aka the craft room c) a pile of washing.

Using my free gift, 20 Lili of the Valley Images, with my Papercraft Inspirations magazine I set upon this weeks LOTV Challenge , theme Pink & Blue, two very complimenting colours.  I had the idea of a type with an added dimension, so I made a window step card, inspired by a card made for Hunkydory.

My card started off life as a 5.5" x 5.5" square card, turn it around add a folded consatina and it stands sterdy.  The flowers are handmade by myself and have been inked using Distress ink pads.

I used Spellbinders Dahlia die for the aperture and acetate for the 'window'.  I love this image and with a bit of help from Bev Rochester and her Youtube tutorial I create a cloud background and a grassy foreground.

Here is a side view of the card, just to give you an idea of the depth and dimension.  The edges of the 'window' have been stickled twice, complimented with a small 'Happy Birthday' sentiment.

Adios Amigos Hasta Manana!

Day 8 in the Big Brother House.

Oh yes, that what it feels like!  Okay some of it was self inflicted (overtime) but I have just spent the last 7-8 days in work.  Went to a wedding do last night and now back in work.  Grr does it never end?

However, this week I'm just admiring the cards and challenges due to wait for it......another week load of shifts at work, but don't be despaired I am currently 3/4 way through my cross stitch Work In Progress of lickle Ted in a christmas suit.

Happy 12th Birthday to my Sister Kay too!

Daisy Chains & Butterflies.

You can tell I have been back at work, as I am falling behind on my personal goals to do at least a blog challenge a week.  I have finally finished and photographed my LOTV card from DT Donalda's Sketch over at Lili of the Valley, also going to include this one for the lovely people over at I <3 Promarkers .  In saying that I feel that this is my best card to date, even if it did take me three days to make!







I love the pastel colours and I am so surprised that everything went so well together.  The cardstock is Papermania Capsule and from my own stash.  I distressed the edges using the blade of my craft knife, sewn most edges and then stickled.

Lotv Daisy Chain stamp was used, how adorable is the bear?  Do you remember making daisy chains in the summer?  I do.

Promarkers used ; Bear - Sandstone, Ivory and Blender pen.  Girl - Cinnamon, sandstone, Vanilla, Cornflower, Pastel Blue, Primrose, Cobalt blue.  Grass - Forest Green & Pear Green.











The Velvet Butterfly compliments the cards overall atmosphere and is from Papermania's Henbury Lane Collection.  Happy Birthday Sentiment is from Pink Parfait by Forever Friends.





Now for my latest trial and error technique, I had some flourishes thstw ere die cut and had the outline left on the sheet so, I taped the sheet to my cardstock used my Zig glue pen and traced the flourish, lifted the outline and sprinkled extra fine blue glitter over.  That is ho I achieved the glitter swirls on my card.  Impressive!

The cream bobbly ribbon was 49p from the Works in my town and I have glued and half sewn this to my main element.  To be honest I feel well proud of this card.

Trying to catch up with the world of blogging now.  Adios Amigos!

LOTV & A SpoonFul of Sugar.

Good Morning and what a lovely wet & dismal day it is going to be!  Got a plumber sorting out a leaky sink at the moment, fingers crossed everyone.

Onto one of my favourite blog Challenges, A Spoonful of Sugar.  It's Ribbons and bows time, out come my Lili of the stamps again!  Wahoo!

LOTV Bunny Balloon & Birthday recipe stamp, simple colours that are bright and bold as well as happy!

Gorgeous little grey bunny!  Coloured using Promarkers ; Cool greys 1 -4, Poppy, Burgandy, Blender Pen, Rose Pink, Dusky Pink, Lilac. 

Crystal stickles for the icing on the cake!  A single red ribbon gives extra detail.

Lili of the Valley's Birthday Recipe Stamp, background is Shades of Orange Blending Box using a blender tool, embellished with two black gems.

I definitely enjoyed making this card as my practice sessions using the promarkers seem to be paying off,  especially the shading.

Right off to see what the plumber has done.  Tarra!

Yo Ho, A Pirates Life For Me!

First night back at work after a week off feels like Chinese water torture, however I made it through the night unscathed.

Definitely in a better mood today, so I thought I'd have an entry in Lili of the valley's Weekly Challenge, #101,   the theme : Bring on the music.   I love DT Donalda's example with one of LOTV newest releases of stamps, of which I may have been party to purchasing some on release day *looks all innocent*.

Talking of which I used one of the new Boy stamps *Pirate Bear* how cute is he?

Promarkers used ; Forest Green, Pear Green, Cornflower, China Blue, Cinnamon, Sandstone, Vanilla, Pastel Biege and Coral.  Background was distressed inked using Antique Linen and Tumbled Glass.

Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me!

Yes, that is the song from Pirates of the Caribbean - Top Films.  I kept the card quite simple, added the words Yo Ho, Ahoy with Loopy Lou from Doodlebug Design and some hessian string.  Papers are from a selection from Dovecraft.

Can you tell I have been practising using Adobe Photo Elements?  Yes, I have been using online tutorials to take better pictures as well as editing and watermarks.  All the links are saved in my favourites - memory like a sieve!!

Anyway Keep Crafting Tarra!

Back to Normality with Just Magnolia.

It's been a crazy few weeks, with summer colds and my 30th Birthday.  Tonight I am back in work so I had time to make a little project for this weeks challenge over at Just Magnolia.   When I first glanced at the challenge I thought, what the hell is paper piercing?  Then a second look it actually said paper piecing * slaps hand against forehead *

With about an hour spare I thought I've not got the energy to make a card so I decidied upon an ATC-style project.  I was given some vouchers for my birthday and treated myself to an oriental Tilda wearing a geisha outfit, as I had bought a load of oriental papers back from Japan a few years ago.  I choose some cherry blossom paper for her outfit, brown for the edges and a rich red for her flowers all from The Far East Mat Stack from DCWV.

Here came the fun part, I first stamped Tilda onto 300gsm watercolour card as my base, colouring her face using promarkers and her hair using watercolours.  Then stamped on every sheet of patterned cardstock, then sought to cut very delicately around the edges.  The key to cutting is to allow the paper to move and NOT the scissors!!  A lesson well learnt!

 

Assembling Tilda was very much like decoupage but without the height of silicone glue or foam pads.

Promarkers used for Face & Skin : Ivory, Satin & Pastel Biege.

 

The background paper was part of a selection brought back from a Trip to Japan in 2008.

The DCWV Cardstock is textured and gives an extra dimension.

Until Next Time Tarra!

Summer Cold and Runny Noses

The second cruise was exciting and exhausting, pics to follow.

However, myself and my Dear Hubby have been battling against the good old common cold, sounding like dogs with frogs in our throats and we could both win the coughing for England contest.  With this I have not felt like crafting which gets me down a bit so instead I ordered the summer club stamp set from Magnolia and 3 new LOTV stamps to cheer me up!

Tarra for now

A May Magnolia.

Despite the rain yesterday, I still managed to be in the spring mood to create a card using my Magnolia stamp.  It's great when an idea floats into your head and you think, yep that colour and that colour with that piece of this and that, then you come to do it and you just can'r get it right or it's not how you have the image in your mind.  Well, that is what is happening to me at this moment in time.  Bring out the band for CONFUSED dot com.

However, pulling my brain together (somehow) I managed a simple-ish card.

 

Parenthis shaped card, covered in paper from my own stash.

Spellbinders Scalloped Ovals Large.

Colouring medium Promarkers:

Skin = Coral, Dusky Pink & Blush

Clothing = Duck Egg, Cool Aqua, Pastel Blue, Cinnamon & Sandstone.

Hair = Umber, Walnut, Shale, Sandstone & White Sakura Pen

Paper Tea rose flowers from Hobby craft, pink stickles to glitter egdes.

Two handmade tissue paper roses spritz with cosmic shimmer mica mist.

Liquid Pearls for around image.

This card I would like to enter into the Just Magnolia Challenge 105 Anything goes with optional real or faux stitching.

Need a Holiday to recover from the last one!

Thank you to all those whom have posted comments, I appreciate your time for stopping by and the lovely and wonderful things you've had to say.

I know I have been M.I.A this week and the same will happen next week. Why? Well this week just gone was the mother-in-law's 80th Birthday, so The dear hubby and I took her on a taster cruise to France. This is a lady who has never had a passport nor been out of England.

We boarded the Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas from Southampton for 3 days (to Le Havre & back). Ordered a bouquet for her room and a cake for the Dining room, Whisked her on a trip to olde gay Paris and treated her to ice skating shows and theatre productions. I think she will sleep soundly this week, although for us it was stressful and tiresome so timing is perfect for next weeks cruise on the Liberty of the Seas with our Publican's wife and few fellow pub goers!

 

Forward of the ship docked in Southampton.

Stirngs, the ice show in Studio B.

Haha! Couldn't resist!

Independence of the Seas  own Orchestra in the Theatre.

Signing off til next weeks cruise update!! (oh and some RCCL scrapbooking too!)

Enjoying the sunshine.

Had a lovely day at the seaside, went to Fleetwood & Blackpool.  The temperature gauge was showing 21 degrees, the sun was out with a gentle sea breeze.  Popped into Craft Central at Freeport oulet village and came out once again several pennies lighter, although I did get two cute sets of stamps from Oliver's Orchard.


Then the Hubby and I ventured down to The Promenade for not-so-fish and chips, more like pie, chips & gravy of which we both devoured and enjoyed.  Oh and not forgetting our favourite 2p machines in the amusement arcade.

First attempt at a Circle Easel Card.

Found a great guide to an Easle card from Debbie P's Place at http://debbiepsplace.blogspot.com/, following this guide I attempt to give it a go.

Using another one of my Lili of the Valley stamps, this time 'Gift Wrapped' & Birthday Circular sentiment stamp.

 

I chose to colour the bunny brown using promarkers, to compliment the Yellow-themed card. 

The reason why it is Yellow is because I came across a lovely little blog by Crafty Cardmakers and there they run blog challenges too, but having sometimes the lack of creativity they put forward a 'recipe' of what must be in / on the card to count.

The latest recipe, #43, consists of the Use Yellow as your MAIN COLOUR, Add Ribbon, Use Stitching Faux or real & Use Rhinestones/Gems.

Checklist:  Yellow as main colour      Tick

                   Used Ribbon                     Tick 

                   Faux Stitching                   Tick

                   Used Gems                       Tick

Side on view of card, stopper used is a flower created from Marianne creatable dies.

Bottom Half of card, a fineliner pen from Letraset was used for the faux stitching.

Full front on view of card.

This card has been made for the Crafty Cardmakers Blog Recipe Challenge #43.

My LOTV Stamps.

Having purchased lots of LOTV stamps, I have been trying them out one at a time.  This time 

around it was 'Little Acorn' and a Circular sentiment stamp.   I think this stamp is one of my top 3 if not my favourite.  

Along with several attempts at stamping centrally onto my nesties, I had a few to have a go at!

I went for a baby blue card, colouring the stamp  with £1 shop pencils - these were a bit waxy however the end result was good.  

Distress ink blending for the nesties edges gave a spring's sky effect, which was nice.  

I embossed a plain piece of white paper with 'swiss dots' and carefully rubbed a green chalked based ink over the raised dots.

Tying the ribbon was fun, I ended up tying two double knots before tying the bow itself.

I used two ribbons to give the card a bit of dimension, also the pale green complimented the embossed background paper and was a contrasting colour to the blue.

Finding the appropriate sentiment was going to be a task in itself, as I don't really have many 'baby' celebration stamps.  

Going through the sentiments stamps I had bought from http://liliofthevalley.co.uk, I spotted one that was open to interpretations well as a nice statement in itself - ' Wishing you a World full of Joy'.

So I measured up a nestie, cut it out, distressed the edges and inked up the stamp.  With my fingers crossed I hoped I had stamped as centrally as possible - success!

Another cute little card made by my own fair hands.  Aww!

So, I shall enter this card into the following Challenge Blogs:

1) Aly's Sunday Challenge-Hoppity Bunnies http://alyssundaychallenge.blogspot.com/2011/04/asc39-hippity-hoppity-bunnies.html

2)   LOTV Challenge Blog - Spring http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/

 

3) Little Claire's Challenge 4 - Spring Celebrations http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/04/challenge-4-spring-celebrations.html

 

Thinking Ahead to Mother's Day.

Olympia Craft Show was successful, purse was empty but bags were full!  Met Dawn Bibby, celebrating her birthday while exhibiting, Attended Claire & Phil's DoCraft Demo too.

With the launch of LOTV's new stamps I was eagerly waiting to add them to my basket and for them to arrive at my doorstep with much anticipation.  One particular stamp - Bunny cupcakes - caught my eye and the light bulb switched on! Mother's Day.

The card I designed used Claire Curd's sketch (a weekly challenge on the DoCrafts website).  I chose pastel pinks as my colour scheme as I had some lovely papers in my stash.

Trying out most of my Olympia purchases including spellbinders square eyelet die, spun sugar distress ink & Millions more promarkers!

 The flowers were punched using a dovecraft punch finished off with diamante gems in purple and clear.  Pink Mulberry paper, Glittery dotted vellum and spotted spring paper was used for the matting and layering

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Claire Curd's Weekly Sketch Challenge 22nd - 28th March 2010.

LOTV Challenge Blog #89  'Punch it!'

I <3 Promarkers #58 'Go Dotty!'

Stitch & Craft Show @ Olympia.

Every penny and every pound has been stored away for this weekend.  I am treating my mummy and two younger siblings to a day out @ Olympia, for the Sitich & Craft Show.

Hoping to pick up some new ideas as well as bargins, join in the demos and have a go at a workshop.   All four of us are attending Claire & Phil's Do Crafts Demonstration, theme is cupcakes, then Holly & Kay are booked in for Space Dyeing with Koolaid!!  I still have a big tub of strawberry Koolaid from a trip to NYC.

Camera is already in the bag for some pictures and I will post them in a gallery for sharing.  

A Simple Saturday Card.

Thank you all for the lovely comments in last weeks Promarker Stitching Challenge, it so nice to feel welcome.  This week's challenge is Green & Purple, and all I could think of was dragons?!?!  

 

I have decided that each card made for http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/ I will be donating to the Craft For Life Event. 

 

Craft for life is an event for Cancer Research UK supported by Docrafts, each card is donated and sold for £1 at Cancer Research Shops across the country.  Last year over £70,000 was raised from the Craft for Life event alone.  

This is how I would like to do my bit for charity, as 8 years ago I lost my Nan, Jean, to cancer.

I went back to basics with this card.  Simple matting and layering using my spellbinder die, curved rectangles, doodlebug present stamp, promarkers (obviously!), glitter glue and some fantastic organza ribbon in green & purple.

Easle cards all twisted ?

I admire easle cards for their dimension and presence and now........there's a twist!  This excellent video is clear and easy to follow.

First Blog Challenge Entry.

So many blogs, so many fantastic cards.  I've read about blog challenges and visited a few, but scared of entering / how to link / are my ideas any good?  So, blow it I had a free afternoon and found the most perfect blog challenge at http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/ . 

I have promarkers, that's a start!  The theme assigned for this week is STITCHING meaning stitching whether machine, hand or faux stitching must be present in your card design.  Alongside your use of promarkers is a must.

I used papers from American Crafts Summer Pad, Magnolia Tilda Stamp and fence Stamp, Flowers from local craft store, my sewing machine using a straight stitch and Woodland Folk sentiment stamp.

I really enjoyed making this card (all the bits of paper flying everywhere as well being stuck to the roll of easy lift tape!)  The DH is asleep as he's in work and I'm not! Ha ha!

Addicted to Cityville!

I gave up Farmtown and Cafe World as they were doing my head in, then came along Cityville.  ARGH!  Now I'm totally addicted to build my city, fill it with houses, businesses and community buildings.  

Three weeks ago I started and I am already on level 30, proud owner of a Hot Cocao Shop and Little China Town.

I'd thought I would share my virtual city with you, neat and tidy with gardens and foilage.

Another Sketch Challenge.

Another Tuesday has passed, so it must be sketch Challenge time again.  

This weeks sketch is to the right, it reminds me of a picture frame.  So I reached for the nearest stash of papers, baby blues & browns and set to work.

Over the last two week, two university friends have just had babys and I thought that a fitting starting point. 

The little birdies ar adorable and I even had a chipboard birdie too! 

Again, I used the pop-up technique by sticking the sentiment onto acetate, cut round and attatch it to both part of the card using glue dots.

So when the card opens the sentiment pops up.

I won at Bingo!

Thank you to nymber 56.  It must have been at leat 18 months since my last win and I didn't have to share either!  Bonus!

Going out tomorrow with Robyn, shopping!  Ah no I won't be spending my winnings as they'll partly go towards my car insurance and a few crafty bits at the Stitch & Craft next month at Olympia.

Do Crafts Clare's Sketch Challenge 8th-14th Feb

Since I bought my tickets for the Stitch & Craft show @ Olympia in March I got a free months subs to Docrafts Creativity Club! 

Docrafts Sketch layout 8th-14th feb2011

So I jumped straight in with having a go at the Sketch Challenge.  This is where one of the Docrafts DT draws a sketch layout and we use that layot and make our card.

So, I ventured through my stash and found my Dawn Bibby Woodland spring set, lovely pastel colours.  

Papermania sweet nothings backing paper, topper and borders from Dawn Bibby's Woodland Spring set, 2 Hand punched Tags with handwritten greeting and a good old go at using Distress inks around the edges.

First ever Blog Post !?!?

After a lot of encouragement and compliments from friends and family, I decided it was high time I shared my love for card making.

With Birthdays all over the place, I have to plan well ahead.  The next birthday in the diary is Robyn's 21st.  Something special was in mind for someone who is extreme not only with her hair but her lifestyle too, oh and Primani Queen hands down.

I've recently fell in love with Magnolia Stamps, Edwin & Tilda and had a trawl on ebay to find the stamped images I had in mind (I'd love to buy all the stamps but don't think the hubby would be impresses with the credit card bill!)  

Boutique Window and Tilda goes shopping BINGO!  Now i've never been a big fan of stamping nor the colouring in, so this called for a whistle stop tutorial on youtube. 

With Promarkers in hand I gave it a go and lets just say I was well chuffed.  Some cutting, matting and layering later with a few embellishments chucked in and some inspiration from many Magnolia mad blogs, my piece de resistance was complete.

I love the way you can blend the dark and light colours to create depth, direction of light and really bring the images to life.

One tutorial used a white sakura pen to highlight areas such as the cheeks.

In such excitement I have also subscribed to Magnolia ink for fresh ideas and new products.  Something to read in my breaks at work!


Ciao for now x