All that Glitters

As expected this week has been super busy, but after a trade show, that's what you want.  It has meant that my crafting time has been extremely limited.  The Make It Monday challenge over at Papertrey Ink this week was glittering buttons.  So as I was so short of time I wondered if Spray & Sparkle Iridescent Glitter Spray would work and it did like a dream.  No real mess either, perfect!  So with all those glittery buttons about I made a set of 6 cute cards.  I was also inspired by challenges at:

Allsorts Blog Challenge - It's your choice

Cute Card Thursday - winged things

How cute are those glittery buttons?

Supplies used:

Card - spring moss, melon berry, stampers select white, dark chocolate, aqua mist by PTI

Stamps - everyday button bits, round and round, masculine motifs, up, up and away by PTI

Inks - spring moss, melon berry, berry sorbet, lemon tart, dark chocolate by PTI

Glitter - spray and sparkle iridescent by Crafter's companion

Dies - Mat stack 4, layerz 4

Buttons - PTI

Having worked 13 days without a day off I decided it was time for an evening of dancing last night.  I had the most wonderful time at Easington Welfare - they have the most gorgeous dance floor.  I had loads of great dances and it's so nice to stay out late but then have no hangover on a Sunday, just sore ankles!!

I gave my beautiful new red shoes their first run out last night and not only do they look gorgeous they feel fabulous too.

So if a girl is going out in a black dress and beautiful shoes surely she needs a pretty flower to match.  Seeing as I didn't have one I managed to rustle one up quick smart.  It's even sewn together, so for that reason I'm entering it into the challenge at A Passion for Papertrey - needle & thread

So I guess that was the weekend.  As I worked Saturday I've still managed to fit a lot in but could still do with some extra hours in the day.

Let's see what this week brings.

Love ya

Ginger

xxx

Here, There & Everywhere

I've been on one of my little whirlwind tours and as usual had a great time.  So Derby, Reading, Stokesley, the office and tonight I've made it back home.  I had a great weekend dancing.  As always Jean and the All Jazzed Up crew run a fabulous weekend with the best teachers, Mickey and Kelly were totally amazing.  I have so much to work on with my dancing I'm going out to practise tonight - thanks Les.

So just a quick card from me tonight, yet again inspired by the celebrations over at Papertrey Ink, where it's all about butterflies today.  Seeing as I seem to be putting a butterfly on every card at the moment, this challenge was right up my street.  I was also inspired by challenges at:

Allsorts challenge blog - free and easy

The Crafty Pad - something beginning with "B" - butterfly

Supplies used (all Papertrey Ink)

Stamp - Signature series: Butterfly mini stamp set

Die - Signature series: Butterfly mini die

Card - stampers select white, dark chocolate

Ink - dark chocolate, spring moss

Paper - happy spots

Just a couple more things that have made me smile.  I've one a prize over at A Passion for Papertrey and it's a stamp set I don't have!  Also I got a mention from Papertrey Ink on the card I made for last weeks Make it Monday.

Let's hope that the next 2 weeks are equally as good, especially as I've got my big trade show, down in Birmingham.  So if I'm a little quiet on my blog please bear with me, I'll be back soon.

Love ya

Ginger

xxx

Little Letters

Carrying on with the 5th anniversary festivities over at Papertrey Ink, today was all about Pinterest.  I've been trying to avoid  it, on the grounds I know I'll get completely sucked in and lose hours just looking at pretty things.  So today I've been inspired by the image Erin Lincoln pinned and gone all pink and red.  These little beauties took longer than they look but it was still fun.

I was also inspired by challenges at:

Creative inspirations - lots of love

Simon says stamp - love is in the air

Fab 'n' Funky - Love is in the air

Dutch Dare card challenge - red, pink & white

Cute Card Thursday - pink valentine

Supplies used

Card - Core'dinations, Neenah

Paper - distressed dots PTI

Die - PTI

Ink - pure poppy

Well I'm supposed to be off to Derby in the morining, I didn't get there on Monday due to the snow.  I'm hoping it doesn't stop me tomorrow!

For the weekend I'm off dancing (weather permitting), I really hope I get there, I need my Balboa fix.

Have a great weekend.

Love ya

Ginger

xxx

Just a note

I know I said I wasn't going to post today but I had a lot running through my mind so to help me relax I decided to have a go at Make It Monday over at Papertrey Ink.  The technique this week was stamping on the both sides of die cuts.  I used the butterfly from Love Lives Here.  I was just going to layer 2 together so you could see the underwings but it looked a little flat, so the butterfly ended up being four double stamped butterflies.  Two are folded in half and sandwiched between two flat ones, it make a great 3D butterfly.  Thanks to Erin for this technique.

Supplies used (all PTI)

Card - raspberry fizz, stampers select white

Patterned paper - in bloom

Ink - true black

Stamps - love lives here, take flight

Dies - mat stack 4, standard, layerz and mega

Right I really am off to bed now.

Goodnight

Love ya

Ginger

xxx

A few little ones

The birthday celebrations are still in full swing over at Papertrey Ink and today Nichole share a free download of some digi images.  So of course it would have been rude not to snaffle them, but better than that, I've actually used them!

As I was late in from work tonight (not long until the trade show now!) it's just a couple of little cuties tonight.  In truth I couldn't decide which design to use, so I picked 3 of them!

I was inspired by challenges at:

Card positioning systems - day 5, Laura Williams

Fab 'n' Funky challenges - use a digi image

So with the bosses back from the states it's all systems go and busy, busy, busy, although I did take 5 minutes today to catch up with the lovely Louise Welsh when she popped into the office to drop off some samples.

No crafting for me tomorrow, but don't feel too bad for me, I'm off to see Strictly Come Dancing the Live Tour up at Newcastle.  I just hope it's as fabulous as last time.

Good night

Love ya

Ginger

xxx

Happy 5th Birthday PTI

Today is the start of the celebrations over at Papertrey Ink for their 5th anniversary.

The design team shared lots about themselves today and it was great to read their stories.  Their work constantly inspires me and their blogs are definitely on my go to places especially when I need a creative nudge in the right direction.  So a massive thank you from me to each of the design team and everybody behind the scenes at PTI.  Papertrey will always hold a special place in my heart as is led me to one of my best friends (J xx).  So today Nichole set the challenge to choose one of the projects highlighted by the girls and to draw from it.  For me it had to be Jessica Witty's beautiful card, with so much white space.  I've looked at this card several times but never been brave enough to go there.  But today I have embraced all that white space!

I also tried it with cutting the quatrefoil die rather than embossing it

Then inspired by the challenge at:

Dutch Dare Card Challenges - photo inspiration

I changed the colours slightly

Supplies used (all PTI)

Card - stampers select white, orange zest, raspberry fizz, hibiscus burst, aqua mist, spring moss

Ink - versamark, orange zest, fresh snow

Stamps - delightful dahlia, tiny treats birthday

Dies - delightful dahlia, cover plate - quatrefoil, double ended banners

Other - buttons, white embossing  powder

I also decided to do some colouring and what better than Strawberry Kisses Flower Power, how cute is that kitty!

I was inspired by challenges at:

My Time To Craft - A is for Adorable

Papertake weekly - sketch #64

Simon Says Stamp - Animal Antics

Cute Card Thursday - Buttons and bows

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - valentine colour challenge

Sir Stampalot - In the Garden

Supplies used:

Stamp - Strawberry Kisses Flower Power

Paper - Echo Park - Be Mine Collection

Colours - Spectrum Noir

So I'd better get to bed as I have to go to Derby today, let's hope most of the snow has disappeared.  As far as I'm concerned I only like snow when it's up a mountain and I have my skis on!!

Have a great week.

Love ya

Ginger

xxx

Something for nothing

Don't you just love making something for nothing.  This pretty little flower vase is actually an old coffee jar decorated with adhesive vinyl cut on my eCraft machine.  I've had a quick play with vinyl on the eCraft before but only to see if it worked.  Today I actually had a project in mind.  When I pop to Tesco I always have a quick look to see if the flowers are reduced and yesterday there was a bunch for 75 pence reduced from £5.00, at which point I decided I was worth it!!  So my little vase has daffodils in it so I needed another small vase, so coffee jar to the rescue, once it had been tarted up a little.
This project was inspired by challenges at:
Cupcake Craft Challenges - recycle
Creative Inspirations -  make a tag
Colour create - light & dark brown with white or cream
Allsorts challenge blog - Free & easy
ABC challenge blog - I is for in Pairs (& not Paris as I first read!!) - my pairs are the heart, the scalloped heart and the flourish shape

Supplies used:
eCraft - no tabs, pressure 1

Image card - Jen Allyson designs - category 1, image 10, Jen Allyson Celebrates - category 2, image 13

Font - Apple Chancery

Vinyl - acquired!

Oh my I want to sticker everything now!!  I've started with Edna-May my eCraft but have lots of ideas for future projects too.  

Here's a picture of the snow last night - let's hope it clears up today!  It doesn't look like it's going anywhere just yet though!!

So with this much snow it means I'm going nowhere today.  So I'm off to work on my sister's wedding invites, cutting and embossing here I come!
Enjoy your Sunday.
Love ya
Ginger
xxx

A Vintage Affair

The lovely girlies over at A Passion for Papertrey have had me scratching my head since they launched their latest challenge.  Why making a card on a favourite book should be so tough I don't really know, but to be true to myself I can't just pick any book it has to be one that I really do love.  So eventually I settled on A Vintage Affair, by Isabel Wolff.  So here's the card I came up with. I was also inspired by challenges at:

A Passion for Papertrey - inspired by a book

Charisma Cardz - Vintage

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - diamonds or pearls - it's got to be pearls to add that extra something to a project

Card Positioning Systems - day 1 with Tami
Inspirational Card Sketches - #149

Supplies used (Papertrey Ink where not specified)

Card - kraft 

Paper - turning a new leaf

Stamps - background basics text style, sentiment from enjoy the ride

Ink - vintage cream, dark chocolate, vintage touch tea dye duo

Dies - filigree border, signature series dress form, layerz mat stack 4

Embossing folder - script by cuttlebug

So as if this week couldn't get any better, look what turned up in the post today.  A pair of gorgeous navy hand warmers lovingly knitted by the very talented Linda Hill.  Not only can she colour and paint to the most amazing standards, she knits too.  Thank you so much Linda, they couldn't have turned up at a better time, as it's a little chilly up here today.

I was also the lucky random winner over at Inspiration Card Sketches #148.  I'm a bit scared of next week as after a week that's been so good, it can only go downhill!!

So what does the weekend bring for you, for me it's more house hunting, a little bit of work and hopefully some time to craft.  Have a great weekend.

Love ya

Ginger

xxx

The Sleeping Beauty

Last night the ballet was amazing.  For me it's a total sensory overload, the music, the costumes, the dancing, I just love it.  I love the orchestra all tuning up and then setting the scene.  I always feel a little sorry for the orchestra as once the dancing begins I forget there's all those people in the orchestra pit making the music.  Scottish Ballet put a contemporary feel to a traditional ballet and it was clever, funny, beautiful and just left my heart dancing.

I love the 1940's feel of these costumes - so beautiful and pointe shoes to match





All the pictures are from the Scottish Ballet website


The costumes and the sets have set my creative mind racing so no doubt they'll be some cards inspired by my cultural night out soon.


More culture for tonight, after a hair cut I'm off to Kamala's for tea which will mean a fabulous Indian feast.  This week just keeps getting better and better.
Love ya
Ginger
xxx

Boxes galore!

What a fabulous week.  I received the most gorgeous gift in the post from my fabulous friend Archi, she's told me she was sending a little something.  Little!!  It's huge and a totally perfect gift.  It's a beautifully decorated box filled with 8 individually wrapped Green & Blacks chocolate bars, each with it's own little gift tag.  If you could pack love in a parcel it would look just this.  Thank you Archi, you have made my day.

Don't they look like beautiful books when they're stacked like this.

So of course I had to make some cupcakes!!  This is the last one as they were demolished in the office!

 I also got an honourable mention over at  Papercraft Star for my vintage inspired card.  Thank you xxx


Just a quick crafting post from me today as I'm off to the ballet to see The Sleeping Beauty by Scottish Ballet in Newcastle and even better the lovely Louisa is coming with me.  I told you I was having a good week.


So an eCraft plus some files from SVGcuts is just a dream recipe for making boxes.  Especially as these files were a freebie back in December (thank you Mary & Leo).  These boxes are made in one cut, so basically they take minutes to make.  The texture on the card comes from using Core Impressions that is already pre-embossed.  

I was inspired by challenges at:

Just Us Girls - 3D valentine's day

Allsorts challenge - one or more heart
Anything Goes Challenge - to the one I love

How cute is that flower?

Supplies used:

SVG files - one-piece boxes from SVGcuts.com, ramblin' rose from mytimemadeeasy.com

Card - Core'dinations Core Impressions My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Collection

Ribbon - satin ribbon darks pack

Thanks for popping by

Love ya

Ginger

xxx