Finally Back Crafting

Been a busy few weeks, then been poorly with a bug and then a cold - but all better now :) and have finally managed to get some scrapbooking done and have uploaded the pictures of my Nanna and Grandad's canvas - I made for their Diamond Wedding Anniversary as they didn't have a family picture on the wall. So here is the canvas.

I started painting the canvas cream, then free-handed the branches using brown paint - I mixed a bit of pearl paint in to give it a bit more texture and painted it quite thick. I then used my die to make lots of rolled flowers and cut some leaves by hand

Supplies: 'Rolled Flower' Die-namics Die, Papers from Stash, Cream Acrylic Paint, Brown Acrylic Paint, Pearl Acrylic Paint, Gems, Corner Punch

I would like to enter this in the following challenge...

Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Challenge 64 Anything Goes

Right best go get my bag packed, away for a few days XOX

To the one I Love...

Happy Weekend :) had quite a productive day and managed to get the first coat of paint on the canvas for my nanna and grandad - so just need to decide what I'm actually going to do with it, I think I'm going to order some new papers and get my rolled flower die out.

Anyways here are this year's Anniversary flowers, I'm glad I took pictures on the first day cos I think I managed to kill them but I'm not exactly sure how lol. And then we had a lovely meal at Gusto - Garlic Pizza Bread, Tiger Prawns in Creamy Tomato and Garlic Sauce, Seabass cooked with lemon and herbs and in Sea Salt with Garlic Potatoes all followed up with a Nutella and Mascaponie Calzone mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm want it all again lol.

 

I was abandoned yesterday cos Ian and his mate went up to Manchester to see the wrestling (yes dear lol) so I went round to Emma's so had a night of pizza and dough balls and episodes of 'Don't Tell the Bride' (Emma is getting married next year). 

And today I managed to get a couple of scrapbook pages planned - will have to stick them all together tomorrow or monday, really need to start going on my scrapbooking and my resolution to try and use up my paper scraps - I've got several boxes full and I won't have much storage once I have a job and we can get a house. So anyway I managed to get Ian's Valentine's Card finished - and unfortunately I'm safe sharing it this early cos he's already seen it - that'll teach me not to put it away straight away lol. Something different for me cos there's no stamped image - Ian said he likes it though, but I'm not so sure lol

And a close up of the 3d heart - my first attempt and I think there's going to be a few more appearances on cards and pages.

Supplies: 'Crazy Love' Paper by Bo Bunny, Mini-Ticket Die by Whimsey, Love Mini Ticket Stamps by Whimsey, Heart Embossing Folder, Heart Die by X-Cut, Heart Pin, Red Card, White Card, Red Ribbon, Red Ink Pad, Shimmer Chalks by Pebbles Inc

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges...

Allsorts Challenge Blog - One or More Hearts

Anything Goes Challenge 59 - To the One I Love

The Pink Elephant Challenge 132 - Photo Inspiration

Right off to get some tea and then thinking a film before bed. Tomorrow I best get back on the wii cos I haven't been on it for a few days because I've been over at Ian's, and then try and get some scrapbooking done in the afternoon. XOX

Top 5 Cards of 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Thought I'd start with a quick post of my favourites from last year, first up cards...

 

Birthday card, love the My Minds Eye paper and the gems, glitter and gloss

Anniversary card for my boyfriend - love this card and layout (so much that I also used it on a scrapbook page) I used pretty forever friends papers, gems of course and then a duplicate photo of the flowers my boyfriend had got me for Valentine's Day last year :)

Valentine's card, featuring cute little Magnum and some black and white papers that I love

 New baby card for Ian's cousin's to celebrate the arrival of their little girl, Evie, lots of embossing using my new Cuttlebug

 

And lastly a 30th Birthday card for one of our friends - love all the shimmer and glossy accents

Hope you like these, what are your favourites? XOX

Jubilee Day

Another scrapbook page, I've been on a bit of a roll with them and makes a nice change swapping between cards and scrapbooking and it means I'm finally getting some boxes of photos sorted. So anyway this will just be a quick post cos I think my hair dye has only got another 10 mins to go and I need to suss out what is wrong with Blogger that it won't let me do my design team comments :S fingers crossed can get it working again.

So anyway this is me last July at the fair after the Jubilee in Buckley by Ian's (as you can see from the umbrellas in the background it was a lovely typical July Summer's Day). I'm really pleased with the layout cos it's the first I've done in a long while with no plan at all I just decided on things a bit at a time and stuck it down before moving on to the next bit. Only thing I wish I did was stick the bunting a bit higher up but hey-ho lol. Atleast there's lots of sparkle :)

And a close up of the flowers, love the pink background showing through - reminds me of a field full of flowers

Some of the fab felt from Kerry - sooooooo easy to cut even by hand :)

And of course it wouldn't be a proper scrapbook page without a bit of sparkle

Supplies: Letter Stickers by Studio Calico, Rolled Flower Die by Die-namics, Card by Papermania, 'Hey Birdie!' Papers by Kaisercraft, Double Dot Ribbon by Bo Bunny, Flowers by Prima & Petaloo, Felt by Ladybug Crafts Ink, Epoxy Dot by Ladybug Crafts Ink
Extras: Gems, Black Ink Pad, Black Paint Marker

Phew think that's everything lol.

I would like to enter this layout in the following challenge...

Scrapbook Sisters Challenge 3 - Flags and Banners

Right off to see if the dye has done it's job - fingers crossed cos I'm off to a wedding down in Norwich on Friday lol XOX

Alphabet Challenge Blog DT - C for CAS

That time of the week again, time for another challenge over at Alphabet Challenge Blog - this week is C for CAS (Clean and Simple fortunately this is a style I use quite a lot so it wasn't quite as scary as some of the other challenges have been lol. But it's good to try new things too, and it's been good for giving me a kick start back into scrapbooking.

So anyway here is my Clean and Simple layout, it is based on the card that is on the right side bar. I had used some of the pictures of last year's Valentine's Flowers for the card and loved the layout so much I decided to try it for a full scrapbook page - keeping with the theme I used the photos of this year's Valentine's Flowers :) I have to say I love the way it's turned out. Shows the flowers off so much better than the original uncut-down photos.

I added some wording to the heart as a bit of journalling

Supplies: Card, Sugar-Coated Card & Rub-ons by Doodlebug, Purple Ink Pad

Right day off for me now...

XOX

PS don't forget to head on over to the Challenge Blog and see what the rest of the design team have been up to

Alphabet Challenge Blog DT - W for White (plus one other colour)

I'm so glad that by the time you read this it will be Friday - work has been a nightmare this week and so can't wait for the weekend but yay only one more full week in work and then the bank holidays commence :) and off out for a meal Friday night so got something nice to look forward to

And yes it's time for another challenge over at Alphabet Challenge Blog this week the challenge is a nice easy one - W for White (plus one other colour) I had a few baby cards to get made as my cousin has just become a Dad for the first time. A little girl (in case you hadn't gathered from all the pink) called Evie :) we went up to see her on Tuesday - she's soooo tiny and sweet :) and Anyway onto the card...

I had made a card a few weeks ago using squares of embossed card to make a patchwork effect. I decided to adapt this and leave gaps to show the white, and got to make use of my new square nesties - REALLY don't know how I survived without them - they make it soooooooo quick and easy :)

Supplies: 'Baby Girl' Stamp by Lili of the Valley, Sentiment Stamp by Ladybug Crafts Ink, Papers by Me and My Big Ideas, Pink Coordinations Card, Sugar-Coating by Doodlebug, Square Nesties
Extras: White Card, Pink Ink Pad, Copics, Promarkers

Make sure you head on over to the Challenge blog to see what the rest of the design team have been up to and also to meet the 2 new design team members. XOX

WoW

Yay I can finally upload pictures properly again (thank you Ian - mwah) and yay I got my Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge card finished this week (have missed loads recently - very naughty of me lol) anyway this week's challenge is White on White - have to say I love other people's white on white cards but I've never really liked my own and tend to avoid the theme. But I have about a million new baby cards to make this year and want to try and keep them all different so I don't get too bored of them lol. This one is for Ian's cousin, who has just had a little girl 'Evie'. There was also a couple of Embossing Challenges which I think is perfect for white cards. I used a couple of my embossing folders and created a patchwork effect. (the flower is white but has come out creamy) added lots of glitter to the image and some shimmer chalks (though they haven't really shown up on the photos). 

A close-up of the glitter

Supplies: 'Baby Baby' Stamps by Ladybug Crafts Ink, White Card by Lili of the Valley, Flowers by Petaloo, Sugar-Coating by Doodlebug, 'D'Vine Twirl', 'Stylized Flowers' & 'Venus' Embossing Folders
Extras: Promarkers, Copics, Gems, Pink Ink Pad

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges...

Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge 19 - White on White

Paper Cutz Challenge 83 - Anything Goes

Sarah Hurley Challenge 34 - Embossing

PaperPlay Challenge 11 - Embossing

Right off to pick a film to watch before bed XOX

Chickie Time Again :)

Back again, thought I'd do a quick post before I do my pre-post for tomorrow - can you believe it's Friday tomorrow already. Really don't know where the week has gone. Early finish in work tomorrow yay :) and then off to Ian's friends tomorrow night for pizza mmmmmmmmm,  and then hopefully some time to get some crafting finished over the weekend :)

Anyways onto the card, I got to use another of my chickie stamps (told you I'd gone a bit mad buying them in the sales and there's still another couple that I haven't used yet lol) I knew I wanted to use this stamp for a Good Luck card - as sort of cheering you on sort of thing. And it just had to be pink!! Love it and love the textures of the different ribbons too - especially combined with the glitter on the image and the gems along the top

Supplies: 'Cheerleader Chickie' Stamp by DeNami Design, Rub-Ons by Doodlebug, Paper by Papermania, Paper Ribbon by My Mind's Eye, Double Dot Card by Bo Bunny, Sugar-Coating by Doodlebug
Extras: White Card, Pink Ink Pad, Gems, Ribbon from Stash, Promarkers, Copics

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges...

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Putting on the Glitz

My Time to Craft Challenge 128 - Going Round in Circles

Right off to do tomorrow's post now and then going to try and get some more of next week's DT project done XOX

Love You Bearly

I'm back, well the good news is that I haven't got a chest infection - instead the doctor thinks I've got one of those yucky viruses that is going round so I have got to rest, take paracetomols, keep fluids up and 'have a couple of duvet days' (her words not mine!!! I love it) my breathing does feel a bit easier today just wish I could stop coughing.

Anyways a little card to share while I'm waiting to get some more done :) How cute are the little bears - the stamps were free with Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine - how cool - love free stuff that you can actually use. Got to use my nesties again, I love them they're just sooooooo quick and don't keep having to cut everything smalled and smaller until it's even. Still only got the 2 sets I got with my Christmas money so I'm thinking that it must be time to treat myself to some more lol.

Anyways coloured the bears up with my promarkers, the flowers up with the copics, added some glitter to Rosie's bow, glossy accents to the roses. As the image is quite small I kept the layout quite simple and used paper with a small pattern too, and some gorgeous velvet ribbon for a bit of texture.

Supplies: 'Bently Bear' Stamp free with Cardmaking and Papercraft, 'Forever Friends' Papers, Ribbon by Anna Griffin, Sugar-Coating by Doodlebug, Red Card by Doodlebug, Nesties

Extras: White Card, Red Ink Pad, Fineliner, Glossy Accents, Copics, Promarkers, Gems 

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges...

Scrapbook Sisters Challenge 22 - My Valentine

For Fun Challenges - Hearts

My Time to Craft Challenge 127 - Hearts and Flowers

A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge 138 - Lets See Some Love

Right well think I'm going to get some dinner and then under doctor's orders I will be heading back to my duvet lol XOX

Baby Bumps

We had some lovely news this week, our friends, Steph and Neil, are expecting their first baby they'd just been for their first scan. I wanted to make them a congratuations card and got to use my 'Expecting Nikki' stamp that I won in one of the challenges :) yay. I have to say I was cursing this card, the card I'd stamped the image on was really thick and it was a right pain to do the stitching - all by hand (my own fault - I was too lazy to get the sewing machine out lol). But yep anyways this is the card - I went a bit mad with the glitter oops but I'm sure Steph will appeciate the sparkle.

Supplies: 'Expecting Nikki' Stamp by Ladybug Crafts Ink, 'Jazmyne' Papers by Bo Bunny, Sugar-Coating by Doodlebug, Circle Nesties
Extras: Ribbon from Stash, Promarkers, Copics, Thread, Ribbon from Stash, Lilac Ink Pad

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges...

Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge 12 - Plum Crazy with Stitching

Crafty Calendar Challenge 16 - New Beginnings

Scrapbook Sisters Challenge 20 - Add a Little Friend

Creative Inspirations Challenge 96 - Buttons and Bows

Right bed time now, and yay Friday tomorrow :)

XOX

Happily Ever After

Just a quick post as my eyes keep trying to close already, so much for my early night lol. Yay past half way through the week, though today has been one of those days and also I'm convinced that tomorrow is Friday (going to be gutted when it sinks in that it's not lol) even though know it's Wednesday today - it's OK I know I'm strange lol.

Anyways onto the card before I waffle on too long. I wanted to keep this card quite simple - yay more super-cute chickies (I did warn you I went a bit mad with adding them to my basket - well there was a sale on so what's a girl to do lol). Anyways yes wanted to keep it quite simple so the image takes centre stage. Found this scrap of hear paper that was just perfect with the grey and pink of the image. This was my first attempt at masking (the image is 3 separate stamps, castle, knight and fairy princess) I know they're not quite alligned but I'm happy enough with it. Added some glitter to the fairy and the castle and some glossy accents to the knights armour and voila...

Supplies: 'Princess Castle' 'Fairy Princess Chickie' & 'Knight Chickie' Stamps by DeNami Design, Paper by Doodlebug, Pink Card by Doodlebug, Sugar-Coating by Doodlebug, Pink Ribbon by Anna Griffin, Labels Nesties
Extras: White Card, Pink Ink Pag, Glossy Accents, Promarkers, Copics, Heart Punch, Heart Clear Ribbon from Stash

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges...

A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge 136 - Valentine

The Sweetest Thing - Sweet Sunday Sketch 101

Totally Papercrafts Challenge 50 - Add a Heart

Right bedtime for me before I fall asleep at the computer XOX

Alphabet Challenge - L for Ladies

I can't believe how quick this week has gone, and wow it's time for my second design team card.

This week the theme at Alphabet Challenge Blog is L for Ladies, I knew straight away I would have to use my Shopping Nikki Stamp and some girly girl colours, I also managed to get some ribbon in there and got to have another go with my new rolled flower die. Definitely been one of my favourite new buys.

As well as glitter and glossy accents for the shopping bags - if only they were like that in real-life (although having said that maybe glittery bags wouldn't be that practical if it was anything like the glittery paper that Ian wrapped my Christmas presents in - everything is still covered in glitter (and for once I'm not responsible lol)

Supplies: 'Shopping Nikki' Stamp by Ladybug Crafts Ink, 'Forever Friends' Papers, 'Quite Contrary' Papers by My Mind's Eye, Gems by Doodlebug, Glitter by Judikins, Rolled Flower Die by Die-Namics

Extras: Pink Ink Pad, White Card, Lilac Card, Ribbon from Stash, Promarkers, Copics, Glossy Accents

Sorry this is another short post, off to bed now (cheating and pre-posting but there's no way I'll be up early enough to post in the morning and get out in time for work) XOX

Birthday Wishes to my mum...

... if she sees this it's her own fault as I warned her not to go on here till after her birthday. This is her card off my Dad. The stamp was in the Candy that I won on Debby's blog woop woop so made up still, how perfect is it as it arrived the day I was planning my mum's cards lol. Lots of new things on this card as the circle was cut with my first set of Nesties :) and the flowers were made using my new rolled flowers die. I really don't know how I lasted this long without a die-cutting machine it just makes life so much easier, still working at getting the placement right but still made up with the results. I can't wait to get some more nesties. 

And my first attempt at rolled flowers :)

Glossy accents on the frosting and the jam tarts to make it look more realistic

Supplies: 'Hedgehog Birthday' Stamp by Penny Black, Gems by Doodlebug, Rolled Flower Die by Die-namics
Extras: Copics, Promarkers, Glossy Accents, Papers from Stash, Ribbon from Stash

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges...

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 134 - Card Buffet (I selected Patterned Paper, 3 Flowers, Ribbon & 3 Gems)

Creative Inspirations Challenge 94 - Photo Inspiration

Friday Sketchers Challenge 137 - Sketch

2 Sisters Challenge 22 - Flowers

Another short post as I'm still not feeling brilliant, I'm off to get some tea now XOX

Feeling Icky

Just a quick post cos feeling icky, felt like I was getting a cold all weekend, started to feel a bit better by this morning but now it seems to have settled on my chest so I've just been flicking through the telly guide and Never Been Kissed is on - not seen it in a while so as soon as I've done this I'm off to curl up in bed to watch that.

Anyways this is Ian's mum's birthday card, I'm using the same papers as on the last card I made, I love them though, all nice and warm - especially that red-ish one from the back ground.

Supplies: 'Add-on Magnum' & 'Magnum Add-ons' Stamps by Ladybug Crafts Ink, 'Pretty Please' Papers by My Mind's Eye, Sugar-Coating by Doodlebug
Extras: White Card, Turquoise & Red Ink Pads, Glossy Accents, Gems, Promarkers, Copics

And I got to use my cuttlebug to make a 'stamp' for the envelope, still need to work on lining things up but think it came out ok for a first attempt

Supplies: Cuttlebug Die and Embossing Folder, Shimmer Chalks by Pebbles Inc

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges...

Fab 'n' Funky Challenge 55 - Lets Get Warm & Toasty

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge 17 - Anything Goes

Will be back tomorrow hopefully with another card - managed to get a few planned so hopefully going to get a couple made tomorrow, and get to use some of my new stash - I've got one of those rolled flowers dies that I've seen on lots of cards lately so I'm looking forward to having a go with that lol. Will have to do my Ladybug Crafts Ink blog hop tomorrow too not had chance yet - coughing seems to have taken up most of this evening lol, anyways I'm off to bed now, Night all XOX

New Year, New stash

Yay I finally got to play with my cuttlebug :) (mainly so I could show Ian (who bought it for me) what it actually does lol. It's fab just been playing with the folders that came with it but I have some nesties on their way and have been looking for some dies but my shopping list is rather a lot bigger than my bank balance lol. Can't wait to get it out again itching to have another go and try it out with some different cards and things.

Anyways for this card I got to use my new cuttlebug and embossing folder and got to use one of my new DeNami Stamps - I love them those chickies are just sooooooo cute so I had to buy a couple of them lol, and there's even more on my wish list lol. Just soooooo cute I couldn't resist getting them. I've kept the card quite simple (so much for making busier cards lol) so no patterned paper!!!, but I got my shimmer chalks out that I've had for about 8 years (really need to replace them as running out of my favourites and most are starting to crumble now) and just rubbed the white over the image and embossed card, just gives a really nice subtle effect which makes a change from the half a tub of glitter which seems to migrate onto my cards lol 

And a close-up, you can just see the shimmer on the chickie card and the embossed card, it shows up alot more in real life (doesn't it always lol)

Supplies: 'Wedding Chickies' Stamp by DeNami Designs, 'D'Vine Swirl' Embossing Folder by Cuttlebug, Card by Doodlebug, Shimmer Chalks by Pebbles Inc, Sugar-Coating by Doodlebug

Extras: White Card, Ribbon from Stash, Copics, Promarkers

I would like to enter this in the following challenges...

Drunken Stampers Challenge 48 - NEW

My Time to Craft Challenge 121 - Brand, Spanking New!!!

I'm off to try and get some cards done now I think (thought best make the most of a day off as I start my new job on Tuesday and I'm away next weekend - think I'm going to have withdrawal symptoms especially as there's a few of my orders that should be turning up this week and I won't get chance to play with my new stuff sob sob ah well will be earning money to buy more lol XOX