OMG doesn't time fly!

Crikey, just realised I have not posted since 1st Jan!  and that's with having the computer in a much easier place to use and upload photos - sorry folks (well, Alison, as nobody else reads my blog, and Alison has been nagging me today to update it!).

It's not that I haven't been making cards, in fact I've been much better than normal at getting them made, I just now need to get back into the habit of blogging them too.  I also think I need to get back to colouring as the ones I've made recently have all been done with decoupage and pre-done images.

For now I'm just going to show one of the cards I've done (will give me something else to blog tomorrow if I don't have anything else made).

This card was made using the Fizzy Moon pad I got cheap from The Range - really pleased I got this as it's allowing me to get ahead with Christmas cards for 2013 (yes I know I should have my mouth washed out with soap for that but hey ho).  The sentiment stamp is one of my many Lili of the Valley stamps.  I think I have too many stamps and always want more, but have not used even half of the ones I already have - perhaps I should make that my resolution (from now - I have already bought some new stamps this year) - no more buying new stamps until I have tried to use all of the ones I have.  I think I could probably stamp an image every day this year and still not use all of the stamps that I have, but I couldn't possibly part with any of them as I know that the moment I do, I will find a use for the one that's gone!

I have had a really good crafting time this afternoon with Alison who gave me a wonderful and totally unexpected present of the Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 28 - they are so gorgeous and I can't wait to find a use for them, in fact just as I'm typing this an idea is forming.....

Anyway, I'm rambling so I shall leave you for today - see Alison, I did as I was told!!!

Happy New Year!

Well, I should have posted these cards yesterday, however Virgin broadband was being very temperamental (thank you Virgin for now having sorted out the problem).

I went to the Range recently, not to buy craft stuff, but it would have been rude not to have a look around & they had loads of stuff reduced, so when I stopped hyperventilating at all the loveliness, I narrowed it down to a couple of items.  I bought a set of clear stamps with penguins on and a paper pad of Fizzy moon which had four decoupage sheets and then some gorgeous papers (some of which are glittered - which fits in nicely with my love of all things shiny!).

So the other day when there was nothing of interest on the telly, I set about constructing the decoupage.  The first one I did as one decoupage, but then I decided that I could make better use of the sheets if I used layer one of the decoupage as a topper and then just constructed the rest, this gave me 7 complete toppers, I then cut out the front from the paper pack and gave myself another topper - not bad for £2.50!!

So far I have only turned 2 into cards, but I'm getting there, hope you like

The papers used were from the paper pack, the embossed circle with the snowflake is a cuttlebug embossing folder, the snowflake corner is a Memory box die, the tag is one of my new diesire dies from Crafters Companion, all the other dies were given to me as part of the Christmas card and present swap over on the DoCrafts website by Marilyn - thanks Marilyn!

Anyway, I have to be off to go and make my dearest darling daughter's birthday card.

Hope you are having a wonderful New Year & only upwards from here!

Down to earth with a bump!

Well, after my lovely weekend, this week has been a great example of falling from a great height.

My lovely, wonderful 16 year old daughter (well, she's nearly 17) announced first that she was dropping out of college, and then that she was leaving home - this was done from the doorway with backpack already packed.

I felt so gutted, I have tried to make her the centre of my world, whilst at the same time trying to teach her the independent skills required to go out into the world. I know I should see this as the ultimate consequence of the way we have tried to bring her up, but I was kind of expecting it in a few years time.

Thankful she has not tried to go it totally alone, she has moved in with her boyfriend and his parents, so at least there are adult influences, and they are staying here over Christmas (Christmas eve and Christmas day). I wouldn't be her mum though if I wasn't worried whether she's eating enough, getting enough sleep, being good and polite blah, blah.....

So I haven't done a lot of crafting this week, as I've just been feeling a bit low. Daughter did phone last night to see how I was and let me know that she's okay - perhaps we can have a better relationship now that she has a bit of distance (I do so hope so).

Anyway, must go and get ready for work - back soon!

Posted with Blogsy

Oh such a perfect day!

Well, actually it's been a perfect weekend, I've had such a brilliant time.

Firstly when I got up yesterday I found some inspiration to make a card, and it was finished by 9 a.m. - I was up early yesterday as I was going to a bag making workshop. That was where my day got better and better. I spent the day with some amazingly lovely women, chatting, eating amazing food and learning how to make a bag. For me there was more learning than most, I managed to cut one of my pieces wrong and didn't take enough material with me to correct it - thankfully one of the other ladies gave me some material so I started all over again. I didn't finish either bag at the workshop, but that's where its been the perfect weekend, as I came home with the skills and put them into practice this afternoon, finishing both of the bags while cooking a lovely roast dinner.

I can't imagine a better weekend, ever, it's been just BRILLIANT!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Beautiful box

Well, I had a great time yesterday and managed to make a whole project in one go!!!

I have to say that I really love Pinterest, and this project was one I found through browsing there, although the actual project is from Splitcoast Stampers and can be found here.  It looks quite complicated, but I have to say that it is really easy to make if you follow the instructions carefully (I should have followed them more carefully and ended up having to re-do a few bits, but hey ho, you live and learn!).

The backing paper and images are from one of my snowman CD's (think it's the Walking in the Air one), the images are stunning and the only thing I have to decide now is what to put in it, the individual trays are about 3 inches square by about 7/8 inch deep, chocolates or jewellery are the obvious choices.

I did have a ribbon on the box to tie it closed but it actually holds together just as well without, so I took it off, it also was making the box open slightly when it was tied.

One last mistake of mine for you all to learn from - when you adhere the image to the top for decoration, make sure you stick it to the side that doesn't have the box directly underneath, otherwise you won't be able to get anything in to the top draw of the box.

 

 
Anyway, hope you like this & see you soon.

Morning all

Well, it's not even 8 a.m. On a Saturday morning and I SHOULD NOT BE UP, but my scooter needs fixing so I've got to take it to the garage in a minute.

I have had the most crafty week I've had in ages, I made some lovely cards with Alison last weekend and have managed to carry it on throughout the week - I've even inked up a stamp and coloured it! and will probably turn it into a card today.

I thought I'd show you a couple of cards that I've made with the help of my new favourite toy, the ebosser

This first one I made last weekend when Alison was here, we were looking at one of the folders and trying to decide what you could do with it. I started with a 6x6 card base and embossed the lovely swirl onto it, I then used worn lipstick distress ink around the card, next I cut out two butterflies (diesire die) and inked these up too, I glued one to the card and glued the other on top but only glued the centre so the wings are free, I put gems down the body of e butterfly and small gems on the eye stalks. The sentiment shape was another diesire die! And I think the sentiment is a Kanban stamp.

This next card is a bit brighter, but is finally using up some card I've had for ages. The background is an embossalicious folder and again the dies are from the diesire range, they work really well, the sentiment is from Lily of the Valley.

Anyway, I'd better go and get ready - crafty afternoon ahead!

 

Posted with Blogsy

I'm back - again

Well, this post should have happened on Thursday morning, but I managed to hit the wrong button & everything I handwritten was deleted, I didn't have time then to re- post and then forgot to do it until now.

Thanks to my lovely friend Alison, who I spent a brilliant afternoon with yesterday crafting & helping her to spend money, I now feel like I'm getting back into Cardmaking - I actually managed to make 3 yesterday!! But I will save posting pictures of those for another day and just give you the details of one I made last weekend.

The stamp I used for this I've had forever and never used until now (hangs head in shame), I decided to stamp in versamark ink and then embossed with Wow ebony embossing powder - heated from behind it gave a lovely glossy finish. I then used some TH distress inks (I only possess 6) to create the ground and sky, then I used watercolour pencils and spectrum noir pens to colour in the buildings, tree and star. Then I mounted it onto some lovely sparkly blue card, then mounted onto a 5 inch square card blank that had been completely covered in a backing paper (again I've had this forever so couldn't tell you where it came from), The corner is the frostyville corner by Memory Box. It's a really simple card, but I'm quite pleased with it - it's nice to be making cards again!

Anyway, I'll try not to leave it so long next time.

 

Posted with Blogsy