Mod Snowflakes

Good morning all.

The clamping and squishing procedure went fine yesterday...straight in and out no messing! Didn't get much done with my domestic goddess hat on so guess what I'll be doing today?

A simple Christmas card to share today...well in theory anyway!

Die is Mod Snowflakes background from Poppy Stamps...it must have taken at least 30 passes to get this cut using the thinnest of card! I tried both the GC and my trusty old Wizard...no joy. I uttered a few naughty words..this didn't help! Then I added a magnetic mat which helped a little but got ruined in the process. I ended up using a craft knife to finish it off eventually. 

I emailed the supplier twice about the problem and got no reply so yesterday I eventually phoned them and they're going to replace it with one which they will test first or give me a refund...but I have to send the dud back at my expense! Not great customer service so just as well their prices are keen to start with! Hopefully I just got a duff one as I love the die.

Sentiment is from Penny Black cut twice and layered up for dimension. Topper is attached to base with foam tape and is finished with some gems from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Rudolph Day - February

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

ABC Christmas - d is for die cuts

Holly Jolly Christmas - non traditional colours

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes

Mema Craft's - red and white + one

CHNC - cut it up

Completely Christmas - add texture

Tall Stories

Good morning all.

Yesterday was one of those days when I didn't achieve a lot...although I did manage to finish a DT project and make a card after the football finished. A disappointing match for Liverpool but it's only a game!

Domestic Goddess mode again today, I don't know how my lot manage to make so much mess and create so much washing in such a short space of time! Then this afternoon I've been invited to the torture chamber for the old boob clamping procedure...oh joy of joys! One of life's necessary evils though.

I'm joining Erika at Snappy Crafts again today to show a golden oldie...I've gone back to 2008 this week for my wedding card.

Made using the Glitter Girls Tall Stories board, Centura Pearl paper and card. I can remember making this on the actual wedding afternoon before going to the evening reception...talk about cutting things fine!

I think we'll be having another quiet weekend here, hope you enjoy your's whatever you're up to.

Me & You

Good morning all.

Another lovely day yesterday weatherwise...just not very productive! Every time I set off to do something I was interrupted by something or someone else!! Did manage a little time in the craft room but need to go back today and finish what I was doing....trying to get all my March DT work done so I can concentrate on playing.

Scraping in at the last minute with my February page journal!

Pages were roughly painted with gesso then I used aquatints to paint. I then went looking for my heart stencil only to discover I don't actually own one! We'll have to do something about that me thinks!

Stamps are mainly from Unity Stamps with the little background features from a Penny Black set, stamped in love letter memento, black archival and picked raspberry DI. Pink hearts are dies are from Memory Box. You die is from Simon says Stamp. I finished the pages by misting them with water then letting some of the drops run...not sure this shows up very well on the photo though.

Challenges entered:

Unruly Paperarts - heartfelt

Country View Challenges - drips and drops

Inspiration Journal - February

Spectrum Noir - red

Simon Says Stamp Monday - anything goes

That's Crafty - be my Valentine

Artistic Stamper - love

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - think pink

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes

Happy Birthday to You

Good morning all.

Yesterday was perishing but we had glorious sunshine all day. The days are certainly lengthening again...it's still daylight here after 5pm. Spring must be on the way!

We've got parent's evening tonight...I really mustn't forget to go! It may be our last one as Lora is talking about going to college next year instead of 6th form.

It's theme week at LIM and we're being asked to show things with wings, here's my offering:

The mini stamp is a freebie from Craft Stamper magazine, stamped in versamark and heat embossed with detail white EP then die cut with a scalloped nestie. I then used DIs to colour....squeezed lemonade and spiced marmalade. The mesh die is from Couture Creations. Sentiment die is from Words with Honey, stamped onto a Spellbinders pennant die. Stitched rectangle die is from Spellbinders. Gold cord and sequin are from my stash. The blue dots in the background are punch waste.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - things with wings

CASology - mini

 

CAS Colours and Sketches - colours

ShowCASe your Style - birthdays

Shopping our Stash - out of a jar

 (embossing powder..I think this jar is going to last forever, it's still nearly full after several year's use!)

Making Moments Matter

Good morning all.

Making a little bit of headway with my journal and finally managed to do the front pages.

After painting the pages with gesso I stuck a few strips of torn paper and some washi tape on the right hand side. Textured paste was used on the sunrise stencil from Splodgeaway, after drying I coated both pages with gesso again. I used DI to ink the pages (tumbled glass and squeezed lemonade). Background stamps are from various sets and stamped with either peacock feathers DI or black archival ink. The three main sentiments are from Unity Stamps and have been stamped onto tissue paper. Celebrate is a die from Couture Creations. Numbers and hash are from Jellibean.

Under the numbers I've added some tissue printed with some Happy New Year music.

Challenges entered:

Unity Stamps - colour inspiration

Frosted Designs - get messy x 2

Our Creative Corner - tic tac toe (paints, stamps and stencils)

Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

Sweet Stamps - anything but a card

Simon Says Wednesday - add a little texture

Craft Stamper - take it make it stencils

Sneak Peek "New Beginnings"

Good morning all.

A bit of a yukky day yesterday but still no snow, very cold though. A good day to stay home and craft, so that's what I did! Managed to finish off a few projects which were half done and cleared some space on my desk.

It's my turn to do the tutorial on the Imagination Crafts Inspiration blog this morning. 

My third tutorial today, please be kind again and  pop over and check it out, then leave a comment and let me know what you thought :)

Here's a sneak peek just to whet your appetite.

Merry Christmas

Good morning all.

We had a beautiful sunny day yesterday but very frosty and cold. More food shopping done with a trip to the local butchers and farm shop then a delivery from Tesco. No doubt the cupboards will be bare again in a day or two!

A quick Christmas card to share today, I think I may be making a few of these!

Die is from Poppy Stamps, cut from a white card stock snippet which I've stuck to another piece of card with some double sided tape. Some words are inlaid with green ones cut from snippets, the rest are glittered. Topper is attached to the card base with foam tape.

Challenges entered:

Simply Create Too - anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

As You Like it - CAS or fussy 

I'm going through a CAS phase..love these simple Christmas cards, flat for posting yet still pack a punch and so quick for bulk makes.

CRAFT - clean and simple

ABC Christmas - d is for die cuts

Papertake Weekly - bingo (die cut, free, glitter)

Die Cut Divas - word, quotes and sentiments

Mema's Crafts - red, white + one

Sparkle and Sprinkle - anything goes with loose glitter, flock or EP

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

12 Tags of 2015 "February"

Good morning all.

Domestic Goddess duties all fulfilled...today I can play!

I eventually managed to set some time aside at the end of last week to make my February tag.

As in January I've had to do some improvisation...and of course after finishing I found loads of things I could have added! Ephemera is from Melissa Frances. Nos 1 & 4 are burlap stickers which I've swished with barn door DI. Words, arrow and heart charm are from TH. Frame is cut from a Spellbinders die as are the two felt hearts and the ampersand (not sure which way up it's supposed to go lol). Lace, ribbon and photo corner are from my stash.

Challenges entered:

12 Tags of 2015 -  February

A Vintage Journey - special numbers ( 1 is my birthday and 4 encompasses hubby and 3 kids)

Bloggers - use metal

Fun with Shapes - shabby chic

Fussy and Fancy - tic tac toe (charm, die, lace)

The Vintage Challenge - love is in the air

Unruly Paper Arts - heartfelt

Golden Oldie Friday

Good morning all...surely it can't be Friday already!!

I had intended crafting last night until I realised Liverpool were playing football...worth watching too when they won with a late penalty. Washing and housework on the agenda today...oh joys.

As it's Friday again I'm joining Erika at Snappy Crafts to share a golden oldie today. I'm also going to join Bibiana with her Throwback Thursday challenge #6, theme anything green.

This is one of my earliest blog posts from March 2011, you can find the original post here. Following one of the sketch challenges and using up old HOTP papers with a LOTV image. This obviously pre-dated my promarkers and uses watercolour pencils.

I do love these HOTP papers and I think the last of the book finally went in the give away pile during my recent tidy up.

Enjoy your weekend whatever you're planning.

Shades of Blue

Good morning all.

Another gorgeous sunny day yesterday which turned nasty after dark and blew a right hoolie overnight! After a very lazy morning I did manage to make a pan of soup and some gluten free muffins.

A simple birthday card to share today...could be male or female and would suit any age I think and of course you could customize the colours too.

Die from Poppy Stamps cut with black card and stuck to teal card. I've used snippets of various shades of blue to cut out the circles and these were then inlaid in the black outline. The largest circle has been die cut in white three times and layered up so it stands proud of the card. Sentiment is from LOTV. Topper is attached to the base card with foam tape. A few gems finish the card off.

These dies are a great way to use up your scrap mountains!

Challenges entered:

Creative Card Crew - birthday card with sentiment

Cuttin and Stampin - anything goes

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - anything goes with a die

Sweet Stamps - happy birthday

ABC Challenge - d is for die cuts

Amusing - die cuts

Come and Get It - birthdays

Die Cut Divas - words, quotes and sentiments

Moo-Mania - circles

Whimsy Inspiration - use a sentiment

Crafting for all Seasons #96 "Dies and/or Punches"

Good morning all.

We had another lovely day yesterday...surprising since it's half term! No baking got done...hubby set off with good intentions then decided to sort out all the cupboards and pantry which somehow always seem to be heap lie on...I'll give you three guesses who causes the problem!! I managed a pan of stock and then did a Cottage Pie for tea. Spent most of the rest of my day sorting out computers and hard wiring the internet connection to all the main computers and gadgets...fingers crossed things seem to be better!

It's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Dies and/or Punches. We're looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Tiffany Doodles who gave the DT images to work with.

I've used Shy Bunny and re-coloured the print to brown to match my papers. Papers are Milton & Co. Square dies are from Spellbinders. Flower die from Marianne Design. Bow and gems from my stash

.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the other girls, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - bingo (ribbon, free, blooms)
{PIN}spirational - photo inspired (I used colours)
Crafting Muskateers - cute
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes with patterned paper
Robyn's Fetish - square cards
Brown Sugar - use a bow and a die cut
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - anything goes, add a bow

Journey, Explore, Discover

Good morning all.

I had my regular trip to the hairdressers yesterday with a bit of crafting and cooking in the afternoon. Not sure what today holds yet, think we need to do some baking as we decided not to buy a load of cakes and biscuits at the weekend...and it won't be long before the natives revolt!

An Artist Trading Block to share today.

Using one of my old stamp blocks...after removing the stamp I've painted the block with black gesso. Paper is from a case of 12x12 papers I got ages ago from Costco. Die cuts are all from Couture Creations, all cut twice and layered to give dimension. I've left the back plain.

I need to spend a day removing stamps from the rest of them now!

Challenges entered:

Recycle, Re-Purpose & Re-Invent - anything goes 

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything goes

Die Cut Divas - words, quotes and sentiments

All Crafts Challenge - anything goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

2 Creative Chicks - anything but a card

Altered Eclectics - anything goes

Guest Designer STAMPlorations sketch #28

Good afternoon all.

As my card was a top pick in sketch challenge #25 the lovely Shery from STAMPlorations emailed and offered me the opportunity to guest design today...of course I very quickly said yes!

I'm very new to Shery's stamps having found and joined the stamp club in December but so far the service has been second to none and delivery is very quick considering it's crossing the pond!

Here is my card:

Base card is old gold pearlised card stock, the white layer has been paper pricked down the edges with a ruler (first time I've used it for what it was bought for!) and attached with foam tape. 

I've used stamps from the Bloom Sketches set. I've stamped and heat embossed (with white detail EP) the flower three times, coloured with distress ink pens then layered it up. I think this is probably the first time I've actually coloured with these pens and I've had them since they were new out! Perhaps I'll get them out to play again soon. The sentiment was also part of the stamp set.

Card was simply finished with some gems.

You don't need to use Stamploration products to enter, although they love it when you do. Pop over to the shop blog for more details of this challenge and the monthly challenge and of course to see the inspiration from the Design Team.

Challenges entered:

AAA - orange u r CAS

Penny Black and more - anything goes

Scribble and Scrap - anything goes

Stamping Sensations - anything goes

Sweet Stampin - inspired by a song (you are my sunshine)

Enjoy, Smile & Love

Good morning all.

It's been a beautiful weekend, lets hope the nice weather continues. Hubby popped a dozen pink roses in the trolley yesterday when we were out grocery shopping...the old romantic!

 It's one layer week at Less is More this week, theme of love...eek! Here is my offering:

Stamps are all from Unity Stamps. The red heart image has been stamped in red memento then heat embossed with clear EP, the image has then been masked off and the pink hearts have been stamped, then the sentiment. Frame has been embossed with a grand nestie. I've added a pink sequin to the smile to finish off.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - one layer, love

Addicted to Stamps - embossing heat or dry

Addicted to CAS - masking

CASology - love

CMCC - challenge #58

I'll be back later with a guest design card for STAMPlorations.

Imagination Crafts "February Mid Way Inspiration"

Good morning all.

Hubby managed a card yesterday but sadly no flowers or anything...mind you I don't buy for him!
A quiet day at home with an afternoon spent crafting, the results of which you'll see in due course.

 Here is my mid month inspiration post for Imagination Crafts.

Our theme is always anything goes and the winner will receive a £40 voucher to spend in the Imagination Crafts Shop.

A fairly simple card today using a panel card, stencil and sparkle medium.

A Pink Vintage panel card, Rose Duo Stencil along with Antique Pink and Sage Green sparkle medium. Antique pink SM was added first and allowed to dry before reapplying the clean stencil and adding the sage green for the leaves and stems. Panel is simply matted and layered onto black card then mounted to the card base with foam tape.

I haven't added a sentiment yet as I think this could be used for many occasions.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see my team mates inspiration, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Crafts 4 Eternity - twos (2 roses, 2 colours of SM)

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - anything goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Through the Purple Haze - flowers