Just to say

A few weeks ago I came across Trudy's blog and she commented her only mail was ever bills.Trudy included her name and address and said she would love to hear from people via good old snail mail .  With this in mind inside the card it says HELLO and it's on it's way to Victoria .

Daring Cardmakers - Other reasons to send a card - not birthdays or christmas.
Feeling Sketchy - challenge 73 - shown above.

Wedding Cake

Tuesday Morning Sketches - Sketch 223 -shown above.
City Crafter -  challenge 180 - Photo above for inspiration .I didn't add the beige colour ,I don't think it would have worked on this card.

I can't decide if I should add my 'Congratulations' sentiment across the bottom ,would it be too much . I think a tiny edge of black around the oval might have  been a good option. The image is from Birdie Brown.

chipboard trees

TO THE LADIES I MET IN REGAL CRAFT CARDS ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

As you can see my cards look nothing like the one on the counter .We all interpret things differently which is what makes all our cards unique.
You will need some chipboard or thick card and paper of your choice . My shapes are 1cm at the widest end and  a 1/2cm at the narrow end ,cut them in lengths of 5cm , 4.5 , 3.5 , 3 ,2.5 . I cut an extra shape at 2.5 for the trunk. Cover all the pieces with paper and decorate .

Bling on a box

 The temperature hits 24 today so I guess it's time to put away my boots .My feet are quite ugly and I hate sandal season but it has to be done. I was very patient yesterday and gave myself a pedicure then I watched a very old episode of Midsomer Murders until the varnish had dried.I carried on with my legs and they are now exfoliated and smooth ready for some fake tan ( much to my husbands horror).

I had quite a girly day in all and covered this box with flowers , lace ,buttons and lots of bling .This little box hold the spare needles for my sewing machine. The glue gun was out in full force for this one.
My pampering continues today with a trip to the hairdresser for a little beautyfying. I'm not usually so self indulgent but last week was horrid -a trip to the dentist -lots of drilling for crown preparation ,an injection in my foot for an inflamed tendon (too much exercise is bad) and finally a trip to the cancer specialist about a lump on my back which is cancerous and will be removed next week ,I'm hoping it hasn't spread.

On the plus side I won prizes from Tuesday Morning Sketches , Southern Girls and top three at Incy Wincy.

Crafting with Dragonflies - challenge 14 - Make your own flowers - I hand cut 12 petal shapes for each flower and inked the ends. Some are on plain white card and others on swiss dots card.
Creative Craft Cottage - challenge 9 - Say it with Flowers
All Crafts challenge  -Anything but a card -A little box with recycled curtain lace ,shirt buttons ,old pearls from a necklace and lots of other bits.

Christmas Reindeer

I'm still in Christmas mode after yesterdays Christmas Pud .

Incy Wincy - Red and White challenge .
Tuesday Morning Sketches -  222 shown above -
ABC Christmas challenge - Add a Reindeer

Plum Pudding

Crafting With Dragonflies- challenge 13 - Card with Nature/ Trees or Leaves -With Christmas just around the corner I couldn't resist a festive feel with holly leaves.
Creative Craft Cottage - challenge 8 - Anything goes.
Christmas Cards All Year Round- October challenge - Getting Ready For Christmas - Making the pud.

Teacup just for you

I'm always surprised that people ask if I have any cross stitch cards - the answer is usually no so I've been busy in the evenings and this is the first one made up and ready to go.

Monday quick post

After last weeks disaster with the glass paint I thought I'd have another go with this little bird . I left him overnight to dry so no mistakes this time.

A happy accident

Disaster averted -I spent some time carefully adding glass paint onto acetate -the finished results were like shiny fruit drops -not an air bubble in sight . Being my usual impatient self I decide to clean the acetate with a baby wipe and accidentally touched the paint on the pink flower removing the top layer which had almost set. Trying to add a second layer of paint is not a good idea so I used the baby wipe to dab over the surface on all 3 flowers. Once it was dry and this time I did wait I added a coat of gloss to bring back the shine.The colours may not have the depth but I'm still happy with end result.I cut out the panel myself on the base card and on  a second piece so that the acetate is sandwiched between.

Southern Girls -  challenge - Shine

A Krafty Christmas

                                                           

I quite like Kraft and red together . I covered the whole card first and then using 3 snowflake stamps and one star stamp I did  a  random pattern on a separate piece of paper. I used silver peel off stickers coloured red with a Promarker pen for the edges and then added a little bling . Merry Christmas stamp from Kaisercraft .Very Nordic.

Feeling Sketchy - challenge 72 - sketch above
Perfectly Rustics - challenge  - Use Patterned paper -

O'Christmas Tree

The paper is from Pebbles and called sparkle ,it's had to see but some of the stars have glitter on them . The sequins are the same colour as the paper.The tree was easy to make and it's a great way to use up scraps .

Lets Create and Craft - challenge 81- Trim the Tree
C.R.A.F.T - challenge 229 -Christmas
Crimson Cloud -  Christmas Card in traditional or contemporary colours.

Stitched Stems

Stitched stems ,mandala flowers( a magazine freebie I've had for ages ) cut out and stuck to chipboard ,a sprinkle of glitter and a bow .

UnstampaBelles challenge 28- Stitching - you can still join in as the challenge is open until November 1st.
Everybody- Art - Challenge - 249 -Ribbon
Craft-Dee-Bowz - October - 06 - must include a bow .

A bit of Scottish Tartan

Wow ,this photo looks nothing like the real thing . The flower and red on the ribbon are dark cherry red  not this bright tacky colour .  The camera hasn't picked up on the white background paper of swiss dots ,it's just visible below the bow.Down the spine of the flowers I popped some glitter and lots of bling in the middle. I may try and take another photo when the sun has gone in ,it's very sunny today ,all the rooms bathed in sunlight.

More Flower Power

I really liked how my card came out yesterday so here is one more in different colours .I have a feeling this won't be the last .I've been trying to decided what sort of flower it is and I'm thinking poinsettia so a red Christmas flower would be good.

Flower Power

I love this patterned paper ,sadly I don't remember who makes it . It has faux stitching ,glitter and some clear embossed flowers .

Crafts 4 Eternity - challenge 145 - Clean and Simple
Happy Campers - challenge 22 - Show Us Your Flowers
Papercraft Stars - challenge 165 - Photo Inspired -I've used all the orange  and beige tones from this pic.

hello kitty

The Lollipop Ladies- challenge 77 - Macaroons and Ribbon -I've picked this paper as it shows all my favourite macaroon  flavours -lime,lemon,lavender and strawberry .I added self adhesive spotty ribbon and a felt cat to complete the challenge.

Just for you

                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                       
I love all the colours in this paper ,sadly the design is a bit big and it's not really suitable for card making.

Just Inspirational -  Feathers - real or stamped .

Birthday Stars

Feeling Sketchy - sketch 71 - Shown above with the option of using just  one colour or two .I went with grey and white.

Just little bugs

Papercraft Star - challenge 164 - Inspired by pic at top .

Parade Your Crafts - challenge 5 - Fall

Christmas is coming

I made the chipboard shapes myself as I don't a fancy machine to do all the hard work. You will need some chipboard and paper of your choice . My shapes are 1cm at the widest end and  a 1/2cm at the narrow end ,cut them in lengths of 5cm , 4.5 , 3.5 , 3 ,2.5 . I cut an extra shape at 2.5 for the trunk. Cover all the pieces with paper and decorate .The sentiment is a sticker.
If you have a machine Simon Says have some lovely Christmas dies, here is Lucy's creation.

Creative Craft Cottage - challenge 7 - Cardboard or Chipboard .
Totally Gorjuss- challenge  204 - Anything with a Star .

A stitch in time

I'm guest designer over at UnstampaBelles for October and challenge 28 is all about stitching . The top one is hand stitched  from a pattern by Erica Fortgens the bottom one  is done on the sewing machine and a great  way to use up scraps.

Come along and join in the fun ,the prize this month is from Blue Edge Crafts.

Be mine

I used sequin waste and a  cherry red stamp pad to create the background . I used a square aperture card,the punched hearts are on the inside. I used 2 different stamps for the box and the sentiment.

Lets Create and Craft - challenge 80 - Ink Technique.
Challenges 4 Everybody - challenge 30 - anything goes.

Christmas gift tag

 back of tag




































Papercraft Star -challenge 163 - Inspired by the photo - metal or shapes - I used hobby foil in bronze and 2 shades of gold . ( I know the bottom crown looks green but trust me it is gold. ) to make my tag.

In the Pink

I'm not the brightest bulb in the box ,it took me a while to get it almost right . I originally did a row of a stitching down either side but that's something else I'm not very good at so I stuck the white border on instead . This card is based on Merry's creation which I really liked.

Crafting With Dragonflies - challenge 11 - Use your scraps -at least 5 papers. I've used  7 designs.

Southern Girls - challenge 78- The World in  Mono .I think I can be excused the white strips down the sides.

Creative Craft  Cottage - challenge 6 - Round Like A Record .My punch went into top gear for this one.

Let's Craft and Create - challenge 79 - Colour Me Happy  -  Pink - Makes me think of Strawberry icecream , Candy Floss .The older I get the more pink I find in the wardrobe ,it's a bit scary .

1st Birthday

Sorry about the wonky photo. This card is winging it's way to Portland ,Oregon . I know lots about this little girl and her family but will probably never meet them.I love all my Internet buddies who share their lives ,good times and bad . I hope I will be making another card for this precious little angel next year.



Shopping Our Stash - challenge 120 - Kids - The pink paper I've had about ten years and it's perfect for my girly card . All the other  elements are at least a year old.
Through the Craft Room Door - Sept 24th - 30th - Anything Goes.
Mema's Crafts - September challenge - Ribbon/lace and or flowers. I've managed all 3 with my lace at the top ,flower brads and pink spotty ribbon across the bottom .

cards for the charity box

Stickers and stitching

My aim this year was to use my stash for card making . Over a 10 year period I have bought ,won and been given all manner of ribbons ,stickers ,stamps ,paper all of which takes up space . I started this card with a scrap of peach coloured paper and some brown ink . The leaves are from Starform Stickers and are stitched with gold thread , the side boarder is on the same sheet. A sticker sentiment covered by a transparent sticker frame completes my card.

(PIN)spirational Challenge 75 - Above  - Fall inspired picture.
ABC challenges - 45 - Fall

Use your scraps

Another scrap card for challenge 27 at UnstampaBelles . These scraps are 2.5 inches long and the width of my ruler which is 3cm . I've used stickers for the sentiment .

new arrivals

UnstampaBelles- challenge - 27 - Use up your scraps and old stuff. The Quickmate alpha sheets are over 10 years old ,I have them in 4 different fonts . A few scraps of black and white card were perfect , I don't have a scallop punch so I drew around a chipboard shape for the body and free cut the ears,face and white topknots . Embellishments and paper from my stash .Last month  my card was chosen as Design Team Favourite so in October I will be guest designer .