Off to the NEC

What a day!  Office, warehouse, office, warehouse and that was before setting off to the NEC!!  Ah well, it all turned out fabulously in the end and we had a good set up.  Best of all we got together for dinner and you can see how it started!

And this is what followed!

Just a snack then!

Here's one of the pieces I've made to go on my eCraft display for the show.  I love the fact that I can cut these cute flowers in and size I want.  This time I went small and opted to use Tim Holtz Kraft Core, it works so well with these flowers, as you can see the kraft core on the back.

Apologies for the reflection, taking a photo of a frame is a little too technical for me!

Supplies used:

eCraft electronic die cutter

SVG files- Laina Lambs spiral flowers (2peas in a bucket)

Card - Tim Holtz Kraft Core (Crafter's Companion)

Embossing folder - swirls (Darice at Crafter's Companion)

Now Sarah from Beader's Companion is quite taken with it, so I'll have to keep an eye on it!!

Inspired by challenges at:

Just us girls - #108, decorate/alter a frame

Papertake Weekly - anything goes


Also the inspiration for flowers in a frame came from Kolette Hall on her Just Giving class and Big Picture Scrapbooking.

Another thing that has made me smile today is the fact that over at Creative Inspirations, I've made their top 3 for my Halloween goodies.  Thanks for choosing my project.

So on that bit of news I'm off to bed as I'm sure it'll be a busy day tomorrow.

Love Ginger

xxx

Happy Halloween

Seeing as I've got all the sweets and my lovely little cauldron I thought I'd better carve some pumpkins to let people know we've got treats for Halloween.  Believe it or not I've got to 41 years old before tackling a pumpkin!  But with the help of my eCraft it was a doddle.  I cut out a bat and a pumpkin face and used them as templates.

Such fun.  We've had lots of trick and treaters, all of them dressed up, so I've happily handed out lots of my spooky treats.  A few left for us too, even better.


With so much spooky fun there's just one little card to share with you tonight.  I've gone completely clean and simple, but I'm loving the touch of felt that I think lifts the whole card.  I love the fact that the dies and the stamps work so perfectly together.

Supplies used:
Card - kraft (PTI)
Stamps - delightful dahlias (PTI)
Ink - true black (PTI)
Dies - PTI


Inspired by challenges at:
Daring cardmakers - fantastic felties
Stamptacular Sunday - borders and frames
Clean & Simple stamping - #164
Charisma Cardz - anything goes


As I'm off the the NEC for the craft show on Wednesday it might be a quiet blog week for me but I'll update when I get back if I don't get chance whilst I'm away.


Love Ginger
xxx

It took a week!

Yes this little card took nearly a week to make!!  I made the wood paper on Monday after watching Make It Monday #38: Brayer & Impression Plate Techniques over at Nichole Heady's blog.  Then I was busy getting spooky and making samples for my demo at Coleman's Craft Warehouse yesterday.  So it then sat there until today!  But with the help of my new Sizzix stamp & die-cut set (thank you Fiona xx) I knew exactly where I wanted to make.

Hero Art dies and Sizzix matching dies, what's not to love.

I even cut the paper up to make floor boards.  Inspired by the technique I made my "wallpaper" using a Sizzix embossing folder with sweet blush ink.  It's a great way to add further dimension to your cards.

Supplies used:

Card - Kraft, vanilla cream, ripe avocado PTI

Ink - dark chockalet, sweet blush PTI

Stamps - Think of you (from UP, Up and Away) PTI, chair and chandelier Hero Arts/Sizzix

Embossing folders - Woodgrain PTI, pattern Sizzix

Dies - Sizzix

Inspired by challenges at:

Make it Monday - #38 brayer & impression plate technique

Sweet stampin challenge - anything goes

Totally Gorjuss - I remember (the stamps remind me me of the lovely Fiona)

The Craft Pad - Friendship (this card is off to  a friend of mine)

As I was out all day yesterday I didn't get chance to post my Music Saves my Soul.  

So here's my offering for this week.  As a kid I loved Suzi Quattro!  So as it's nearly Halloween, here's Devil Gate Drive

I never had enough pocket money to buy records but loved this when it came on the radio!

Right I'd better go and tidy my craft room as it's back to work in the morning and a busy, busy week.

Love Ginger

xxx

Even Spookier!

So with all the Halloween treats that I've made I needed something to pop them in to.  So with the help of my eCraft machine and some files from SVGcuts.com I decided to have a go and make a cauldron.  I love what you can make from card:

So to get this you just

Cut some pieces of card

A little bit of embossing with my trusty Big Shot (I think I might need to treat myself to some new cutting plates!)

Loving this new Darice cobweb embossing folder

And of course I wouldn't be without by Sand It Gadget or my Dust Buddy

So what does it make?  This fabulous cauldron, that's sturdy enough to stuff (and I mean stuff) full of all your Halloween treats.

I just love it.

Here's the full ensemble.  As you can see I got a little carried away and made chocolate bar wrappers, sweet bag toppers and even a little cobwebby lamp to go with my triangle treats from yesterday and the cobweb cauldron.

Now all we have to do it hope all the chocolate and sweets don't get nibbled before Monday night!

Supplies used

eCraft SD cards - Jen Allyson celebrates, year of celebrations

SVG files - cauldon and chocolate bar wrappers, party on Elm Street (SVGcuts.com), lapm and pyramid boxes (Lettering Delights)

Card - Core'dinations, including Black Magic

Sparkle - Spray & Sparkle iridescent


I'm popping this into the challenge over at:
Sir Stampalot - Food Glorious Food
Charisma Cardz - anything goes

So if that's Halloween done, I'd better get working on Christmas!

Love Ginger

xxx

Starting to get Spooky

As it's nearly Halloween I thought I'd get crafting a few bits and pieces.  I've had a fabulous time with my eCraft, from making the boxes to decorating them.  Don't you just love that from a piece of card and a few sweets you go from this:

 An empty little box

To something a little more tempting

With the help of eCraftShop Pro you go from screen to ...

... all cut out to ...

... these cute little decorated boxes filled with sweets.

How cute is the teeny tiny little spider?

As you can see there's a few more bits but I'll share those tomorrow.

Supplies used:

eCraft SD cards - Jen Allyson designs, a year of celebrations

SVG files- pyramid boxes (Lettering Delights)

Card - Core'dinations

Sparkle - Spray and Sparkle iridescent


These were inspired by challenges at:
Creative Inspirations - Colour challenge, black, orange and purple
Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - #96 hubble bubble, toil and trouble
Allsorts - Halloween

Now what can I cut out next!!

Love Ginger

xxx

Music Saves My Soul

The lovely Marcea shares her favourite tracks on her blog every Saturday.

This week I've managed to get my butt into gear and join in.  I knew which artist I wanted to pick but choosing a track was the difficult bit.  As the girls who were away with me last weekend know I'm loving Imelda May just now.  Any girl that can wear yellow and completely pull it off has my full respect!  Not only that she has the most amazing voice and I love her energy.  Here she is on Jools Holland singing Tainted Love.

I've been crafting most of the weekend and also managed to fit in a couple of walks.  I've got lots to share with you but for now here's a little Gorjuss card.

Supplies used:

Card - Core'dinations vintage collection (Crafter's Companion)

Embossing folder - Cuttlebug Welcome Baby cut and emboss set

Die cut - Gorjuss

Scalloped die cut - eCraft (Jen Allyson designs card)

Stamp - enjoy the ride (PTI)

Inspired by challenges at:

Charisma Cards - #42 embossing

One stop craft - #154 no designer paper

I hope everyone has had a great weekend.

Love Ginger

xxx

Here's Humphrey

Although stamping is still high on my list of loves, I have rather fallen for this wee chap in decoupage.  It's so well die cut it's a delight to put together, no pips and no cutting off extra white bits.  So that's one Christmas card made then!!

Supplies used:

Card blank - Craftwork Cards

Humphrey die cut decoupage - Crafter's Companion

Patterned paper - erm found at the back of thee cupboard

Stamp - holiday tags 2010 (PTI)

Die cuts - vines (eCraft swirls & flourishes), frame (PTI)

Inspired by challenges at:

Daring cardmakers - sketch challenge

Totally papercrafts - #89 layer upon layer

So as I'm off all weekend I'm hoping that I'll get plenty of time to make some more Christmas cards.

Have a great weekend.

Love Ginger

xxx

Feeling inspired

Ssssssshhhhh.  If I just sneak back into blogland, maybe no one will notice that I've been missing for a little while (I know .... again!!)!!   So life has been pretty busy and what little spare time I've had I have managed to keep creating, just not photographing and loading it up here.  However lately I've been inspired by the Make it Monday videos over at Nichole Heady's blog for Papertrey Ink.  I've had a go at making my own Washi tape and also making my own thick chipboard accents.

This week the technique is layered mats and frames.  I had a great time cracking out my PTI supplies and making this card:

Now all I need to do is find a book to send to a friend so I can send them this card!

Supplies used:

Card - pure poppy. true black (PTI)

Patterned paper - beautiful blooms (PTI)

Ink - pure poppy, fresh snow, true black (PTI)

 Dies - mat stack 3, limitless layers 1 3/4" (PTI)

Border punch - double scallop edger punch (Martha Stewart)

Ribbon & twine - The Ribbon Girl 

I was also inspired by the challenge over at one of my favourite blogs:
A Passion for Papertrey - sensational silhouettes

So I was tempted to post so much more tonight but let's start slowly!!

Thank you to anyone that might pop by.

Love Ginger

xxx

CRAFT Challenge Blogaversary

I'm so excited that as part of my Guest Design spot at CRAFT Challenge, I get to be part of their 2nd Blogaversary with big giveaways:

This week at CRAFT Challenge  we are celebrating our 2nd Blogaversary in style. Our challenge this week is Happy Birthday! (to Us) to fit in with this celebration. Please link your project to InLinkz as per usual.
Here's the card that I've made to join in with the celebrations.  Don't you just love this little birdie from Robyns fetish digital stamps and more

Supplies used:
Digi stamp - a little birdie told me, Robyns fetish digital stamps and more
Cardstock - Core'dinations and Neenah Solar Crest Card
Patterned paper - Kaisercraft Hippy Girl 6 x 6 pad
Ribbon - Papertrey Ink
Stamp - Papertrey Ink, daily design sentiments
Button & twine - Papertrey Ink
Copics used:
Tree - E71, E77
Bird - BG01, BG05, BG10
Flowers - YR04, YR20
Grass - YG03, YG11

To celebrate we will also will be doing a Blogaversary Blog Hop with many sponsors and prizes on the way. To be in with having a chance of winning these prizes, you will need to leave a comment on our (G)DT's blogs, a winner will be chosen randomly at each stop.

We will also leave a word at each stop, with which we would like you to form a sentence. So, don't forget to collect a word on each stop as well! After you have collected all these words, form a sentence with them and enter your sentence in a comment on our CRAFT Challenge blog. We will obviously not allow comments to be posted during this week to stop any cheating, lol!

You should have started at CRAFT Challenge and come from Carol's Blog. If you did not, please go back to the stops before you have so far not passed.

My word is: Bash

My sponsor for the blog hop is Jo aka Trimgym, and the prize you can win on my stop is a choice of 1 paper pack or 3 digi's from her blog.

Just as a reminder, here is your route to follow. You should start and end at the CRAFT challenge blog.

Jo's digistamp blog

Carol

Claire (GDT) (you're here!)

Gemma

Jacky

Jo

Karen

Kerry

Kevin

Kim

Nikki (GDT) 
Sharon

Tigerlover (junior DT)

CRAFT Challenge Blog 

So, join in with us this week to be in with a chance of many prizes and we hope you enjoy the journey!
Your next stop is Gemma
Don't forget to leave a comment if you want to have a chance of winning the prize on my stop!!

Home Sweet Home

I had a fabulous weekend away with some crafting friends but it's oh so nice to be back home.  I really must get back into taking photos, I took none this weekend but I did make some cards.  Some I can't share yet as they're for Papercraft Essentials but some I can.

This one was made for the challenges at:

One Stop Craft Challenge - #141 ice cream

A Spoonful of Sugar - anything goes

I'm loving Core'dinations cardstock, especially with my new Sizzix embossing folders.

Supplies used:

Cardstock - Core'dinations

Embossing folder - Sizzix

Stamps - Papertrey Ink

Ink - Papertrey ink, dark chocolate and sweet blush

This next one is clean and simple all the way and was inspired by the challenge at:

Crazy 4 challenges - C4C87 chocolate, mines chocolate coloured

Supplies used:

Cardstock - Papertrey Ink, kraft, vintage cream

Stamps - turning a new leaf

Ink - dark chocolate

So it's back to work and another busy but happy week.

xxx

Another week!!

I can't believe another week has gone by since my last update!  Ah well it's better than a month I suppose.  That's what happens when you work all weekend, but it was very well worth it.  Thanks to Leann & Sara for their help & support, it made it a great weekend.

So back to being a guest designer over at C.R.A.F.T Challenge Blog , I nearly got my card in on time this week, well I would have done if I'd have attached it!!  

So the challenge this week is  'Alien/Space'.   

This week the sponsor is Truly Madly Crafty. The prize they offer is a £5 gift voucher code for their shop.

So here's my card, as you can see I'm loving embossing in my Sizzix Big Shot, especially as I have a whole new stack of folders to play with.  Plus because I use Core'dinations cardstock, it looks even more effective when you sand the design.  2 things I couldn't live without right now, my Sand it Gadget and my Dust Buddy.

Supplies used:

Digi stamp - Billy and rocket (Digital Delights)

Papers - Papertrey Ink

Cardstock - Core'dinations

Embossing folder - circles & dot set Sizzix

Copic Ciaos:

Face - E000, E21, RV10

Black - 100

Rocket (red) - R35, R37

Spaceman - C1, C3, C5 and C7

Silver - Pentouch silver pen

This weekend I'm off to Essex, via Manchester to go crafting for the whole weekend.  I'm hoping my crafting mojo is put into overdrive as it's been a little sluggish lately.  I've only got one lot of magazine work to do and then it's total play time for me.

Have a great weekend

xxxx