Packing and prepping

As I'm off to a demo first thing tomorrow morning and then when that's finished I'll head off to my lovely friend Annas on my way to Bristol on Saturday, I've got to spend most of this evening prepping and packing.  But before I do, I made a quick card that was inspired by challenges at:

A Passion for Papertrey - hip to be square

Fab 'n' funky - black and white with a twist of one more colour

Supplies used:

Stamps - PTI sign language

Ink - PTI true black

Spotted paper - PTI bitty dot basics

Floral paper - DCWV

Ribbon - PTI raspberry fizz saddlestitch

Button - from my button tin!

Tools - scallop square nestabilities and 1" square punch

So now I'm off to pack my bags.

xxx

Sock Monkey

A little while ago I won some free digi stamps from Meljen Designs and one of them was the cutest little sock monkey.  So today I decided he needed an outing so here he or she is on a couple of cards.  This one was inspired by challenges at:

Card Patterns - sketch #83 (I flipped this on 90 degrees)

Stamp something - fall colours

Stamptacular - season's change

My time to craft - looks like Autumn

Tuesday taggers - here comes Autumn

Supplies used

Digi stamp - Meljens

Stamp - PTI - faux ribbon

Paper - Scrap-a-gogo greeting kit

Copic Ciaos used for sock monkey:

Monkey - E31, E33, E35, E37

Monkey face - E00, E02

Hat - BG10, BG15, E000

This card was inspired by challenged at:

Stamp with fun - sketch

Cupcake craft challenges - pink and brown

A spoonful of sugar - spots and stripes (the stripes are in the corrugated card)

Papercutz - little critter

 Supplies used

Digi stamp - Meljens

Stamp - PTI - fancy flourishes

Corrugated card - inspire me papers

Paper - October Afternoon

Sticker - Scrap-a-gogo greeting kit

Felt flowers - making memories and Marianne designs die cuts

Copic Ciaos used for sock monkey:

Monkey - E31, E33, E35, E37

Monkey face - E00, E02, RV10

Hat - RV10, RV13, RV21

Outline - W1

So on a Wednesday evening this little monkey has made me a happy monkey.  Really I should have been getting ready for some demos, but I'm waiting for a delivery from the office. This weekend I'm all over the place, demonstrating for Crafter's Companion:

Friday - The Craft Shop UK Stalybridge

Saturday - Cadbury Garden & Leisure, Nr Bristol

Sunday - Melbicks Garden & Leisure, Nr Birmingham

Monday - Inspirations by Cardcraft Plus, Nr Preston

 

If you're nearby please pop in and say hello.

xxx

Going for Gold

I loved doing these projects for Cardmaking and Papercraft.  I think it could be my favourite commission yet.  The brief was to make Christmas gifts using the technique of gold leafing.  I've not really used gold leaf before but I'm now a complete convert.  It's super easy to use and gives a luxurious effect.

I always get a buzz when my projects make the front cover of a magazine.

Here's the notebook and matching bookmark which would make a great Christmas gift and as such I'm entering it into the challenge at:

Moxie Fab World - Holiday Gifting

 The step by step was on the frame.  This one I'm entering into the challenge at:

Moxie Fab World - home decor

To finish off the set I made a matching greeting card.  This one I'm entering into the challenge at:

The Shabby Tea Room - pearls and pastels

The Crafty Pad - Christmas sparkle

Moxie Fab World - Jolly Holiday Greetings

Supplies used:

Frame - IKEA

Patterned paper - Prima

Die cuts - Slice Mistletoe and Vintage Findings

Gold leaf

Easy metal size primer

Quickie glue pen

Pink paint

For a detailed "how to", you'll need to get your crafty little hands on issue 84 of Cardmaking & Papercrafting

xxx

We have a winner

The lucky winner of the £30 CSN stores voucher is ...

Congratulations Ziggy (ziggy2407).  Send me an e-mail and I'll let you have the code for your voucher.

A big thank you from me to everyone that entered.

Just one little card for tonight.  I'm loving embossing at the moment and this card was inspired by challenges at:

Clean & Simple stamping - FTL 109

Totally Gorjuss - Christmas

Dutch Dare Challenges - Operation Write Home

Supplies used:

Coredinations cardstock

Sizzix embossing folder

Stamps - PTI faux ribbon

Circle punches

I'm still getting over the weekend, so off early to bed tonight.

xxx

What a weekend!

We had a fabulous time at the cheese festival but all that cheese leaves you with a cracking hangover!  OK, that could have been the copious amounts of local cider that I had!  The weather couldn't have been more perfect and there was a great group of us, in the fabulous setting of Cardiff Castle.  Role call from left to right, Stevie, JP, Emma, Neil, Denise, Ian, Debs, Rob and me.

Here's Jo & Ian with the biggest cheeseboard I've ever seen.

We went a did a masterclass where we got to mix and match different cheeses with different drinks.  It was worth going to just to discover Marks & Spencer Pink Port!

We found some people playing conkers and they very kindly let us join in.

There was so much more, as we went to Cardiff Bay after the festival.  But as it was rather alcohol charged I'm not sure some of those photos are for sharing!  I can tell you that there were cocktails, a gay stag do (good luck Christine and Linda), a meeting with some people from Essex, much dancing before an adventure to get back to Tonypandy!

We made it back home today via one of my customers and our local Italian restaurant.  As I've not crafted for a few days I felt the need to make a couple of cards before I went to bed.  I'm loving white on white just now.

This one was inspired by challenges at:

Chicken soup - recipe #13

Colour create - all white

Charisma cardz - anything goes

Supplies used:

Nestabilites

Swiss dots embossing folder

Cuttlebug butterfly die and embossing folder

Stamps - everyday button bits from PTI

This one was inspired by challenges at:

Allsorts - plain & simple

Get sketchy - #57

Supplies used:

Sizzix embossing folder

Stampin' up butterfly punch

Stamp - giga guide lines by PTI

Hopefully my hangover will be completely gone by tomorrow and my body will no longer ache.  I'm definitely getting too old for a big party night!

xxx

Home from Home

Whilst I've been up at the office I've been staying with my lovely friend Debbie and her fabulous family. Last night after the little ones had gone to bed we decided to craft and the place where there was room for both of us to craft together was the kitchen floor. It's OK Debbie had cleaned the floor just that morning, so no glue or ink to be left on the floor.  I love it when I stay there as it's really like being one of the family.

Here's the cards that I made. This one was inspired by challenges at:

Twisted cards – sketch and big

CREATIVE INSPIRATIONS – 2 or more stamped images

Supplies used

Paper & stickers – Scrap-a-gogo greetings kit

Stamps – PTI

Flowers – Wild Orchid Crafts

This one was inspired by challenges at:

2 sketches 4 you - Laura's sketch

 Supplies used:

Paper – Scrap-a-gogo greetings kit

Stamps – PTI

Flowers – Wild Orchid Crafts

 

This one was inspired by challenges at:

Sunday sketch & stamp – sketch

Papertake weekly – animal magic

Allsorts – 3 punches

Supplies used:

Paper, acetate & brad – Scrap-a-gogo

Stamps – PTI and Woodware

This last one which I used my scraps for ended up being one of my favourites:

Moxie Fab World – Tuesday Trigger – those hexagons just led me to this paper and the card was built from there

Card Patterns - sketch #82 - I turned this on 90 degrees

Supplies used:

Paper & stickers – Scrap-a-gogo greetings kit

Card candy – Craftwork Cards

Not bad for a few hours sat on the floor.

Tomorrow I leave the North East but drive past home and carry on to Cardiff where I'm spending the weekend. Now that's going to be a drive and half but worth it as we've got a great weekend planned.

Don't forget about the £30 giveaway for CSN stores, just leave a comment on yesterdays post.

xxx

Amazing Giveaway

I'm so excited about today's post.  The fabulous people at CSN Stores have contacted me to offer a give-away for one of my lovely readers, for a £30 gift certificate to use in any of their UK websites.

CSN Stores have amazing online stores where you can find anything from wardrobes and lighting, through to my favourite site where they sell cookware and baking products.  Although I don't bake often, as I'd eat everything, I am rather partial to this glorious cake stand, any cakes would look beautiful on it.

To be in with a chance of winning the £30 voucher just leave a comment below.  I'd love to know what you'd be looking to spend your voucher on if you were the winner.  The winner will be drawn at random on Monday 27th September.

Please feel free to tell your friends about the draw, anyone can enter.

 

With all that excitement it's got my creative juices flowing and here's a couple of cards.  This one was inspired by challenges at:

Daring Cardmakers - All up in the air

Crazy 4 Challenges - sketch challenge

Sweet stampin' challenge - stitching - you may have to look very closely but I promise you it's there around the edge of dotted paper

A Spoonful of sugar - anything goes

Cupcake craft challenges - transport

Pink Elephant - recipe, aqua, designer paper, embellishment

 

Supplies used on this card include:

Balloons & buttons - Kaisercraft chipboard

Patterned paper - PTI

Stamp - PTI

Next up this simple card but I'm loving the texture on it.  It was inspired by challenges at:

Clean & Simple - FTL 108

Cardvaarks - clean and simple

The Crafty Pad - embossing

 

For this card I've used

Nestabilities - circles

Cuttlebug embossing folders

Ink - ocean tides PTI

Buttons - Kaisercraft chipboard

Thanks for popping by and don't forget to leave a comment enter the prize draw for a gift voucher at CSN stores.  Good luck.

xxx

Going Up North

Today I'm off up to the office for a couple of days, so before I leave here's a couple of cards I wanted to share with you.  I have had my Papertrey Ink supplies out again - they just make crafting so easy - I like easy!

This card was inspired by challenges at:

The Playdate Cafe - colour challenge - red, turquoise, leaf green, black, white

Charisma Cardz - sketch

MelJen Designs - recipe, 1 ribbon, 2 flowers, 3 brads - I promise there's two flowers, they're just layered on top of each other!

Totally Papercrafts - happy birthday

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - anything goes

Supplies used:

Stamps - PTI wishing you

Inks - PTI ripe avocado and pure poppy

Scalloped card blank - craftwork cards

Patterned paper - PTI Beautiful Blooms

Brads - Bazzill

For this next one I've gone a little bit Christmassy.  It was inspired by challenges at:

Penny Black Saturday - sketch

Just us Girls - colour challenge, red, green and black

Cute Card Thursday - tweet or flutter - I went flutter with my little bird

Stamptacular - grid challenge - spot the grid paper in the background

A Passion for Papertrey - hip to be square - I can see at least 3!

Supplies used:

Stamp - Penny Black in a pear tree

Ink - PTI ripe avocado

Patterned paper - PTI, beautiful blooms, 2008 bitty dots basics, 2008 bitty box basics

Lots of adhesive gems and some black stickles and of course some gingham ribbon

See you in a couple of days.

xxx

Tuesday Taggers

I mentioned the other week that I'd won a challenge over at Tuesday Taggers.  So in addition to the fab voucher for The Craft Barn that I won, I also get to be their Guest Designer this week - how exciting.

This week the theme is Anything Goes, so there's no excuses for not joining in.  They have a great sponsor this week, it's Ribbon Oasis.  So just upload your card to the challenge and link to the challenge blog and Ribbon Oasis to be in with a chance of winning. 

Here's the card that I made for this challenge.

Everything has come from the Beatrix Potter A Winter's Tale card kit that's launching today at 9pm on Ideal World.  The rub-ons on this kit are totally fabulous - it's the greeting on this card.  Look how crisp it is.

Then I have a little tag to share with you.  This was inspired by challenges at:
Ooh la la - sentiment
CREATIVE INSPIRATIONS - tag it
Stampin' for the weekend - tag it
Creative inspirations - pink and black
CPS - sketch #185

It's simply made with ribbon and then topped with a sentiment from Papertrey Ink, Wishing You stamp set.
Thanks for popping by.
xxx

Busy busy

One day I will meet myself coming backwards!  Yesterday I started the day in Cumbria, I've went to crop in Altrincham before coming home to prep for my demo in Derby today.  The wedding on Friday was beautiful and I'll pop some pictures up next week as soon as I catch my breath.  In the mean time here's a couple more sneak peeks of the Beatrix Potter card kit.  I love these scenes, the artwork is delightful.

This card I'm popping into the challenge at:

Totally Gorjuss - wild thing

Moxie Fab World - Christmas card 

Just Inspirational - Christmas Card

Papertake Weekly - photo inspiration and it was the colours that inspired me

All of these were made from the card kit with just adding a tape runner.  I'll have made a decent start on my Christmas cards at the rate I can make these babies!  Don't forget to take part in the Beatrix Potter challenge over at Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog, there's some great prizes.

I'm off to Derby now for a demo day, so enjoy your Sunday.  I know I will, I love going put and getting to meet other crafters.

xxx

Beatrix Potter - A Winter's Tale

I have another sneek peak to share with you.  Today it's Beatrix Potter - A Winter's Tale.  I've loved playing with the CD, stamp set but my favourite is the card kit.  I don't know how much detail I'm allowed to share with you but I can tell you it's gorgeous and the cards in it are super sturdy.

As the cards are decorated front and back I'v cut lots of them in half to make them go even further - I like good value for money!  For this bag I've used one card and then added die-cut decoupage to it with a matching tag.  The bag was made on the Ultimate Pro - cool hey.  It means you can make really sturdy bags from card rather than paper.
I'm entering this into the challenge at:
Moxie Fab World - all wrapped up



As you'd expect we've got lots going on over at the Crafter's Companion News & Inspiration Blog plus there's a special Beatrix Potter challenge over at the challenge blog with great prizes to win.  If you don't have any Beatrix Potter product don't worry we've put up a free download so that every one can play along.  We wouldn't want anybody to feel left out.

Let me know if you've joined in so I can go and have a look at your card or project.

I'm off to crop now and then on Sunday I'm off the Craft Central in Derby to do an in-store demonstration.  A busy weekend but I'll be back soon with some pictures of the wedding and a few cards I've been working on.

Have a lovely weekend.

xxx 

Shiny new toy

My lovely new I-pod Nano arrived yesterday and I love it.  Yes, it's red!!  I told you I was in a red phase at the moment.  It's only about an inch and a half square, so teeny tiny.



I even had my name put on it.

So with a happy smile on my face, as my necks so much better, I've made a couple of cards from this months Scrap-a-gogo Greetings Kit.

This one was inspired by challenges at:

CPS - sketch #184

The Shabby Tea Room - fresh living

This one was inspired by the challenge at

Waltzing Mouse - sketch #14 - but I was too late to enter it, oh well, I still like the card!

We're off to a wedding tomorrow, so I'll be back on Saturday with some exciting news.

xxx

Fabulous Friend

I'm really lucky to have lots of fabulous friends but at the top of todays list is Gwyneth.  Not only has she treated me to a hot stone massage but I had my dinner there too.  So I'm fed and completely spoilt, total bliss.

I do have a couple of cards to share with you today.  This one was inspired by challenges at:

The Crafty Pad - rainbow- Cameron's ChallengeOne Stitch at a Time - rainbow - Cameron's Challenge

A Passion for Papertrey - punch it

I got my brayer and a Big & Juicy ink pad  (Happy Birthday) out to make the background for this card.  The white piece is raised with the bird images recessed into it.  I got the idea from the box frames that I've been doing some work on lately.  I made the white strip with a 1" squarepunch.

Stamps - PTI sign language, everyday button bits (sentiment)

This one was inpsired by challenges at:

Chicken Soup - recipe #11

Friday Sketches - sketch #119
The ABC Challenge - D is for Distressing
Cupcake Craft - sketch challenge

The patterned paper was made using cosmic shimmer sprays.  The base card was stamped in worn lipstick distress ink and then more ink was added using cut 'n' dry foam.  It's great as it allows you to build up the depth of colour.

The lovely butterfly is a Cuttlebug die with matching embossing folder

Stamps - PTI - spiral bouquet.

If ever I haven't expalined something or you have a question then just leave me a comment and I'll get back to you.

I hope you're as relaxed as me.

xxx

It's nearly crop time

Another busy day here but I managed to find time this evening to finish the second layout for crop this Saturday.  So again I used the Sakura Park papers from Kaisercraft.  I did add some chipboard letters and extra clear gems to finish this layout.
The finishing touches were inspired by the challenge at:
Tuesday Taggers - Diamonds are Forever - well there's lot of diamond style bling on this layout.


I'm loving this pocket card, I really enjoyed decorating the outside to match the inside.  It's funny where a trigger can take you:
Moxie Fab World - Tuesday Trigger - this trigger just had me set about making a totally girly project with a bit of red thrown in.

This outside of the pocket card and was inspired by the challenge at:
Chicken Soup - recipe #10 - those handbags had me searching through my stash for the handbag charm I knew I had somewhere and started this whole card off!

The inside was inspired by

ICS - sketch #83

Stamp with fun - sketch #76

Penny Black at Allsorts - punch away

She's a Penny Black stamp - evening glow and I used my Copic Ciaos to colour her:
Skin - E00, E21, RV10
Hair - Y21, YR31
Dress - R27, R29
Stool - C3, C5, C7
Gloves and shoes - 100
Pearls - Prima
Punch Martha Stewart
I used my very last scrap of paper to make this card and was inpsired by challenges at:
2 sketches 4 You - Kazan #61
One Stop Craft Challenge - fashion throughout the years

I found some 7 Gypsies texture rub-ons and added black velvet to it.  It's that piece on the right and was so easy and not messy to do.

The stamp is an old one that really belongs to my lovely friend Anna and I "coloured" it with my Copic Ciao's and glitter:

Skin - E00, E21, RV10

Hair - E08, E11
The message stamp is Papetrey Ink from Just the Ticket set.


Thanks to all those who've wished me a speedy recovery for my neck, it's much better today and I'm going to have a hot stone massage tomorrow, just to help it on the mend.
xxx

We have a winner

As promised at the beginning of last week a draw has been made from all of the comments to win the blog candy I offered.  So drum roll please ....

and the winner is StamperSue.  Sue send me an e-mail with your postal address and which 3 SWALK stamps you want and I'll get your stamps, your CD and Collall glue off in the post to you.  Congratulations Sue.

After all that excitement I thought I'd better get me finger out and get ready for our Altrincham crop this coming Saturday.  Well that was the plan but everything is taking a bit longer than usual as I've strained my neck, but it's on the mend so I'll be back to full speed very soon. 

This months kit is fabulous Kaisercraft papers and the colours are red, black and white.  As well as the patterned papers there's white card, red, white and black ribbon, lots of paper flowers and black and red adhesive pearls.  So you're in for a treat girls.

Here's one layout to wet your appetites, which was inspired by the challenges at:

Twisted sketches - scrapbook #6, fabric - I've used ribbon

The Pink Elephant - favourite colour and favourite embellishment, for a girl who changes her mind by the minute it's a tough one, but I'm in the red zone at the moment and my bows are never far from a layout or a card

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - #100, sketch

I'm hoping to have a second layout to share with you tomorrow along with a card made from the scraps.  I like my kit to go a long way.

xxx

Adorables CD

As well as the stamps we've been showing you this week, there's also the Adorables CD.  So you've seen some of the backing papers but this whole project is made with elements from the CD.  This is this first time a Jayne Nestorenko CD has had the same images on it as the stamps, so non-stampers you can still play.  I made a little box with a drawer in it and then made an easel card decorated with decoupage in a beautiful frame to pop on top.  I filled the drawer with thank you notes and matching envelopes, great for those thank you letters after Christmas.

For a step-by-step tutorial on how to make the box with the drawer on it, pop over to the Crafter's Companion website.  It's in the membership section but it's free to sign up and there's loads of free downloads and tutorials over there, so well worth a visit.

The punch is Martha Stewart.

If any of you make this box drawer let me know and I'll pop over to you blog to see what you've done with it.

As it's the weekend I've been doing quite a bit of crafting, some of which I can share with you and some that I can't just yet.  So here's the cards I can share.  This one was inspired by challenges at:

Clean & Simple - sketch 107

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - just a note

This one was inspired by challenges at:

Stamp with fun - wedding

Moxie Fab - offset scallop gallop

This last one was inspired b challenges at:

ICS - sketch #82

Stamp Something - spots and stripes

Ooh la la - stripes

The supplies used for this set of cards include:

DCWV Linen Closet patterned paper

Waltzing Mouse Vintage lables 10 stamps

PTI Giga guidelines stamps

Half just the edge cardstock strips - I'm loving these for when you don't have an edge punch with you.  You get 20 6" borders cut out of gorgeous Bazzill.  I've got the white ones and the brown ones.

I love having a day when I just get to craft and chill out - bliss.

xxx