Saturday 24 December 2011

Noel Wreath

We're having an 'Anything Goes' theme this week at Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge. This is my project; every year at our house, we have an advent challenge - some days it's a game or puzzle, some days its a creative challenge, and this is one of them. The challenge was to buy a non christmas decoration from a charity shop, costing no more than £1, and make it into a christmas decoration. I bought the plain wreath for 50p and went to town with some grungeboard, grungepaper, dies and inks.

Thanks for looking

Thursday 22 December 2011

Blog Hop Winner

The lucky winner, picked by Random.org, of the Cards For Men draw for my hop is...........................#18, Rose. Please follow the link from the CFM blog to choose your prize Rose. Congratulations and thanks to all who left such lovely comments.

Wednesday 21 December 2011

Show me the money

Our theme for the week at My Mum's Craft Shop is 'Anything Goes', so I thought I'd share a card with a bit of a bonus - cash! I've made this for my nephews birthday; I saw these mini Lynx sprays in Home Bargains and thought I could incorporate them into a card. I folded the card so that it had a spine and made a notch to hold the spray, then I covered the outside of the card to cover the notch.


Thanks for looking

Saturday 17 December 2011

Craft Up Your Life

This is my final project as GDT member for Craft Up Your Life - I feel really honoured to have had the chance to participate. The challenge this week is a recipe - 5 pearls, 1 button, 1 flower and stitching and here is my take on the challenge.
Thanks for visiting

Time for Calendars

The theme for Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge for this week is Happy New Year or Celebration. Every year I make calenders for family and try to do something different every year (not least because my Aunt keeps them up year after year) This time I've used nesties to make an easel and kept it simple and elegant.

Thanks for looking

Wednesday 14 December 2011

Warm Wishes Edwin

The theme for us at My Mums Craft Shop this week is 'Cute and Funky' Christmas. I've gone for tracitional colours, keeping it nice and bright. I thought Edwin looked so cute in his santa suit too. Don't forget to visit MMCS and see what the rest of the DT have been creating.
Challenges Entered
Simply Magnolia - Christmas
Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Accessory stamp
Thanks for visiting

Tuesday 13 December 2011

An Oldie But Goodie

I'm sad to say that this is my last project as a GDT member for An Oldie But A Goodie the challenges have been fun and I've thoroughly enjoyed taking part. This time the challenge was 'Christmas Animals'

Thanks for looking

Saturday 10 December 2011

Holly Hedgehog

We're looking at 'All Creatures Great and Small' this week at Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge - you can even include aliens! I've chosen this lovely Penny Black hedgehog - she looks like she's having a good christmas doesn't she?!
Thanks for looking

Wednesday 7 December 2011

It's Santa!

Our challenge this week at My Mums Craft Shop is 'Traditional Christmas'. Our lovely sponsor for this challenge is Amber Ink, so it's well worth entering your creations.
This is my card - I love a proper Santa, and I think this one, from Magnolia, is just perfect. I've kept the card pretty simple and I wanted plenty of the DP showing just because I like it so much.

Thanks for looking

Monday 5 December 2011

Snowy Tilda

It feels like it's taken ages to finish this card - in reality I only started it Friday, so not that long really, I kept doing a bit whenever I could fit it in rather than all in one go. It started with another candle box (which went much more smoothly this time, and in one go) and evolved. Again, I've used papers I've had for a while and wanted to get used. I'd like to be able to say that in using up these papers I'm clearing some of my stash, in truth new stash keeps popping up to replace it - no idea how.....honest!



Challenges Entered
TOMIC - Shaker box
Paper Sundaes - Red & die cuts

Thanks for looking

Cards For Men Blog Hop!

Another year is almost at an end and Cards For Men is celebrating two years of challenges with a blog hop. The theme is the number 2, you can interpret this in any way you'd like, and we have lots of inspiration for you on the blog We'll draw a random winner and top 3 as usual. You can get all the details and lots more ideas from the Design Team over at the main site. Here's what I made:

Also, we are having an Anniversary Blog Hop. You can get the full list of blogs over at Cards for Men. If you arrived here from Sandra's then you're on the right track.  If not, hop over to Cards for Men to start at the beginning. At each stop there'll be a word to collect and a candy draw. I've got a fantastic 4 images from Meljen Designs to give away.


Meljen's Designs is a lovely stamp company owned and illustrated by Melissa Jenkins. She illustrates whimsical rubber and digital images inspired by her kids and family. Meljen's Designs has new releases along with a new challenge every Thursday, freebies every Monday and a Guest Designer each month at the Meljen's Designs Blog. Please visit the Meljen's Designs line of stamps at the WHIMSY STAMPS STORE to browse and enjoy Melissa's wonderful images!
 



To be in with a chance of winning this you just need to leave a comment at the end of this post. A random winner will be drawn on 19 December 2011.

Each stop will have a word which you should collect to make a festive phrase. My word is Year. At the end of the blog hop you should have 9 words, work out the phrase and leave it in the comments back at Cards for Men. The blog hop will run until midnight on 18 December 2010 and a winner will be chosen on 19 December 2011.

Your next stop is Alan. If you lose your way you can go back to Cards for Men to get the full list. Good luck everyone.

Saturday 3 December 2011

Oh Christmas Tree

We have a photo inspiration challenge this week at Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge.

I opted for a triangle card to mimic the tree, and of course it has to be gold and sparkles!

Thanks for looking.

Christmas Angel

We have a new challenge for you at Lets Ink It Up. We want to see your Christmas creations. As an added incentive and because it's Christmas, we have two prizes up for grabs from this months sponsors -


Simon Says Stamp have kindly donated a store voucher to the value of $20


Paper Pretties have given two lovely stamp sets.

Here is my DT card - simple, but I think really pretty


Thanks for looking


Friday 2 December 2011

Playing

This card is the result of a 'see how it goes' play session. I wanted to use some scented candles and I also wanted to use up this cardstock - I like it, but I've had it a while and it needed to go! Although the box was pretty simple, it took 3 attempts - schoolgirl errors with measuring. I'm glad to say, the cardstock is now used up, and I know the recipient, my Great Aunt will love it.


Challenges Entered 
7 Kids Challenge Blog - Christmas non traditional colours
Deep Ocean - C for - Christmas & candles
Craft Your Passion - 'Tis the Season
Dutch Magnolia Lovers - Back In Time
Just Magnolia - Anything Goes
Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog - Christmas Wishes

Thanks for Looking 

Wednesday 30 November 2011

Snuggly

We have a very apt challenge this week at My Mums Craft Shop - 'Keeping Warm'. I thought this Penny Black image fit the bill perfectly, they just look so  warm and content. With a challenge prize of a £10 voucher to spend at My Mums Craft Shop - what could be better?

Thanks For Looking

Saturday 26 November 2011

Angelic

The theme for this weeks for Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge is Borders and Flowers - I've used one of my favourite backgrounds (at the moment) some vintage sheet music I bought from a charity shop; I have a big book of the stuff and because it had no cover, I got it for peanuts!


Thanks For Looking

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Fly Away

Winged Things is the theme of this weeks challenge at My Mums Craft Shop. We're sponsored by Emerald Faeries who are offering this weeks winner 2 images from their store, so show us your winged creations!

Thanks for looking

Monday 21 November 2011

You Rock

The new challenge for us at Cards For Men this week is 'Fancy Folds' sponsored by Whimsie Doodles, who are offering a $10 gift certificate to spend with them.
For my card, I've chosen a central stepper and of course, given the stamp theme, it had to be grunged with Distress inks!
Thanks For Looking

Secret Crafter

This week we're asking you to follow a sketch, set by Jane, over at Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge. For my card, I used a sheet of music, which I inked and scrunched and spritzed, then added a leaf stamp motif which I heat embossed.

Thanks For Looking

Sunday 20 November 2011

Play On

The theme on Challenge Up Your Life for the next couple of weeks is Music. For my card, I chose not to use DP, but instead used a page from a music book - I used the same paper for my flowers.

Challenges Entered
Just Magnolia - Ribbons
The Craft Garden - Christmas, no red or green
Creatalicious - Christmas with sparkles
Crafty Creations - Recycle - vintage music paper
Deep Ocean - Vintage
Thanks for Looking

White Out

I've gone quite minimal on this one, although I did have a play with a dotty Creative Expressions mask to make the background. I embossed the card using the mask, then ran a Versamark pad over the mask so I could clear emboss the dots.

Challenges Entered
Passion For Promarkers - White on White
Penny Black at Allsorts - All Creatures Great and Small
Winter Wonderland - What a Cutie
Crop Stop - All White
Dutch Dare - All White
Thanks For Looking

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Trimming Tilda

This card is for My Mums Craft Shop, where this weeks theme is Mix and Match papers. I love this Tilda with her stocking feet and quirky hair, she looks so cute.

Challenges Entered
Creatalicious - Christmas sparkles
Magnolia Down Under - Sentimental
Thanks For Looking

Oldie But A Goodie

This is my second card as guest DT for Oldie But A Goodie - the theme this week is 'Let It Snow'. I've had this image coloured and ready for some time, so I'm glad to have had the opportunity to  use it finally.

Challenges Entered
Sweet Stamps - Non Traditional Christmas Colours
Craft Your Passion - Let It Snow
Dutch Magnolia Chickies - Christmas Card
One Stop - Ribbon and Lace
Thanks For Looking

Sunday 13 November 2011

Guest Designer at It's a Magnolia Challenge

A few weeks ago, I won a GD spot at It's A Magnolia Challenge the theme is Buttons and Bling.

Challenges Entered
Crop Stop -Colours of your flag (Wales, Red, White, Green)
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Christmas Goes
Simply Magnolia - Anything Goes
Thanks For Looking

Seeing Spots

The theme this week for Secret Crafter is Spots and Stripes, so here's my take on the challenge with another not traditional Christmas colour scheme.

Challenges entered
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes Christmas
Papertake - Christmas
Thanks for looking

Sugar and Spice

This is rather late -oops! This week, the challenge at My Mums Craft Shop is Sugar and Spice, and we got to work with images by Saturated Canary.

Challenges Entered
Saturated Canary - Autumn Colours
Crafty Catz - digi image
Dutch Dare - Punches & Dies
Cooking It Up With Katie - Fancy fold flowers
Digital Tuesday - Anything goes
Craft Your Passion - anything goes + brown
Paper Sundaes - Digital Images
Thanks For Looking

Monday 7 November 2011

Cards For Men

This is my first card made for the design team at Cards For Men. We all struggle with men!! so a little card inspiration can really help. This card uses a digital image, from Karens Doodles, I've not really used many digi's before, but am really warming to them, I have to say the fact that they don't take up any room is a real big plus. I did intend to colour the image, but then chose my papers and decided it looked good without.

Basic Grey - Anything Goes
Penny Black at Allsorts - All Creatures Great and Small
Karen's Doodles - Black and White plus 1 other colour (grey)
Thanks For Looking

Sunday 6 November 2011

Spellbinders Storage

I thought it might be useful to share the books I make to store my Nestabilities and other thin metal dies; I've had a look around the web and it seems quite a few people store them in the original packaging, but apart from the first few I bought, the packs are heat sealed and have to be cut apart which renders the pack useless. Anyway, this is what I do.
The pages to hold the dies are made from magnetic sheets - I found magnetic dry wipe boards, first from Home Bargains, but now my branch has run out, I'm using these from The Works. Each board will make two pages with a large chunk (technical term) left over. I save the pen holders for future projects (you never know!) and my husband uses the pens for work so nothing is wasted!!

At first my plan was to just bind the magnetic sheets together as they were, but then I thought they'd be more secure if they were inside something, so I bought some CD sleeves which cost about £1.99 for 50 at Wilkinsons. To stabilise the sleeves and to provide a strong place to punch my binding holes, I use acetate - for this I use packaging acetate from boxes and such, like the dies themselves are sold in. I stick the acetate to the sleeves with extra sticky tape (the red one) I ran out today, so I've had to use regular double sided.


My covers are art board off cuts, covered with designer paper, and I bind it all together with BIA wires then add my magnetic pages and dies.  I store the books flat to reduce strain on the binding.




So far I've made 6 of these - two for Spellbinders dies, one for Nellies & xcut, one for Marianne's, a longer one for longer label dies and one to keep my coloured images ready for making into cards. It's a system that works really well for me; my dies are organised and well kept as well as being accessible.
Thanks for looking.

Saturday 5 November 2011

Flaky Friends

I was lucky enough to be asked to be a Guest Designer at Challenge Up Your Life for November and December - this week, the challenge is Friendship. How cute do these two look making their snowman?

Challenges Entered
Bah Humbug - Snowman
Cardmakin Mamas - Die Cuts
Crop Stop - Create a snowman
Thanks for looking

Blue For You

This is my first card for the Secret Crafter Design Team! The challenge is to use flowers, ribbons and lace. There's some great inspiration over there so why not take a look and show us your take on the challenge.

Challenges Entered
Allsorts - Anything but square
Crafty Hazelnuts - Bright colours
One Stop - Number 3 (3 flowers)
Crafty Ribbons - Bingo (buttons, ribbon, embossing)
Thanks for looking

Let's Ink It Up

We have a new challenge starting today over at Let's Ink It Up This time we want you to share your favourite technique with us. This challenge is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp, who have generously donated a $20 store voucher.

Our second sponsor for November is Technique Junkie, who have donated a 3D and Fun Folds papercraft CD.

The technique I'm sharing is making my own background papers, using distress inks and resist technique. I started with plain white cardstock, stamped and heat embossed in clear, then added more images with the distress inks, before using more inks applied with a blender tool. Finally, I sprayed my paper with Perfect Pearls mist.

Challenges Entered
Just Magnolia - Anything Goes
Dutch Magnolia Chickies - Favourite  Magnolia Stamp
Winter Wonderland - Glitter - wings
CES - Song or Film 'There must be an Angel by Annie Lennox'
Top Tip Tuesday - Make your own background

Thanks for looking

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Buttons & Bows

I was lucky enough to be asked to be Guest Designer for November/December at An Oldie But A Goodie. The theme for the next couple of weeks is Buttons & Bows and it's a great opportunity to dig out your old stamps and breathe new life into them.

Challenges Entered
Basic Grey - Anything Goes
Ribbon Carousel - Anything Goes
CES - New Beginnings
Sweet Stampin - Anything Goes
Card Makin Mamas - Cut It Out
Thanks For Looking

Thank You

The challenge this week at MMCS is a Thank You card - something we'll all need with Christmas coming up. This is my card, and you can see what the other members of the team have been up to by following the link.


Challenges Entered
Deep Ocean - Sweet
Creative Craft - Fancy Edges
Stampavie & More - Anything Goes
Papertake - Anything Goes
Thanks for looking

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Get Spooked

We're getting spooky this week over at My Mums Craft Shop. I've gone with a triangle card for this one, just because the shape is a bit like a witches hat. So pop over and see what the rest of the DT have been up to -  if you dare!!!!!
My tip for Top Tip Tuesday is
 - highlight dry embossing by lightly patting embossing ink on the raised design, then add clear embossing powder to heat emboss. 

Challenges Entered
Top Tip Tuesday - Trick or Treat
Addicted to Stamps - Halloween
Thanks for looking

Monday 24 October 2011

Look at the Stars

look how they shine for you- this has been in my head all week! Hopefully now the card is made I can change the record. I don't like to blow my own trumpet, but I LOVE this card - I love the image, the colours, the PATP punch, and the embellishments. The flourish and the label are brand spankin' new and only arrived this morning; I was so lucky to win $25 to spend at Simon Says Stamp from Just Magnolia so I bought 4 Memory Box dies - they are sooo lovely. The stars were a Hobby Craft bargain from years ago and are really for flower arranging, bit I removed the wires, put them away and forgot about them until I was searching for something else and re-found them.

Challenges Entered
TOMIC - Bingo (top left to bottom right -metal spacer, lace punch, leaf doohickey)
Paper Sundaes - Sparkle, Flowers & Distressing
Winter Wonderland - Vintage Christmas
Thanks for looking


Sunday 23 October 2011

Unwind

The restful colours of this Crate paper seemed perfect for Yoga Tilda. To continue the theme, I de-stressed (sp) the edges (get it!) and added some watch bits. The zipper rose? I made myself; I had a look on youtube for tutorials, but the ones I saw weren't quite what I had in mind, so I had a play and this is one of the results.


Challenges Entered
TOMIC - Let's Get Sporty with a Sketch
Magnolia-licious Challenges - Colour challenge
Crafts4eternity - at least 1 metal Embellishment (zipper rose)
Fab n Funky - Distressed or torn
Clear It Out - Trims
Thanks for Looking

Get Well Soon

Yesterday, I saw this brill tutorial on Stempeleinmaleins What a lovely idea? So I started thinking I'd probably throw my first attempt in the bin, but it went so well and grew into two get well projects.

Challenges Entered
Magnolia Down Under - Getting Punchy
Just Magnolia - Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
Totally Papercrafts - Layer Upon Layer
Crafty Ribbons - Ribbon & Lace
Little Darlings - Use Scor-pal
Flutterby Wednesday - Butterflies
The Sweet Stop - Sketch (left hand card)
Whimsy Stamps - Make your own flowers
Thanks for looking.