Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge Blog

As it's time for the Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge Blog it must be the 1st of the month again and this week it really feels like winter is here with all the wind and rain.  However before we move in top Christmas we have our Crafter's Companion birthday to celebrate in October, so this month the challenge is BIRTHDAYS.   I've had these SVGs from SVGcuts (Happy birthday To You set) a while but not got round to cutting them with my beloved eCraft machine, but now I'm completely hooked.  I love the K-card (or sometimes called a lever card) and it literally took minutes to cut and assemble and how cute is the little cupcake that can be filled with a gift or choccies.

An inside view

How cute are all those buttons?

A cupcake that's syn free - my kind of cake

The flower file that comes in this SVG set is definitely going to be a favourite and I can see it popping up on all kinds of projects!

The papers are from Fist Edition papers and can be found in places like The Range.

Don't forget to come and enter at the challenge blog, there's a great prize up for grabs.

I can't wait to go and see all your fabulous work.

Love ya

Ginger

xxx

Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge

Well that's July gone and welcome to August.  I don't think a year has ever gone so fast!  So with it being the 1st it is time for the monthly challenge over at the Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge Blog.  This month the theme is Best Friends and what could be better than sharing a cup of tea with a special friend.  With that in mind it was time for Edna-May my eCraft machine to work her magic with the Tea for You and Me files from SVGcuts.com.  I love this teacup, it just needs filling with some teatime treats.  How fabulous is it that's it's all constructed from Core'dinations and then decorated with some patterned paper.

There's even a file to make the spoon with!

The card just needs a little teabag popping into the vellum pocket (yes the eCraft will cut vellum).  I need a posh one in a little bag with a matching little tag on a string

How cute is the 3D lettering in that message panel

There's also a teapot in the set, so I might challenge that next.  Gwyneth will you help me!!

So back to the challenge.  There's a super prize up for grabs - a £30 Gift Voucher, to spend on the Crafter's Companion web site! All of the important information on how to enter is over at The Crafter's Companion Monthly Blog Challenge.  I can't wait to see your entries.


I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:
Secret Crafter - Bright & Cheerful
One Stop Craft - Just Good Friends

Things I've learned in July:

You can make pizza from instant mash potato

Anna is such a wonderful house guest she could stay forever

Making marbled paper using shaving cream is too much fun

Thanks for popping by.

Love ya

Ginger

xxx

Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge

As it's the first of the month it's time for a new challenge over at the Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge Blog.  This month the challenge is "Summer" and for me that means bright colours and the little creatures you see around in the summer.  So I called upon my eCraft machine (Edna-May) to make a summery set of birthday cards.  Everything is cut on the machine using most the Jen Allyson designs SD card.  That includes making the 5" card blank (yes you can make your own card blanks!!), the frame and the cute little creature.

Supplies used:

eCraft Sd cards - Jen Allyson designs, Jen Allyson celebrates

Card - Core'dinations core essentials and Tilly Dot

Ribbon - satin

I'm looking forward to seeing what everybody creates for the challenge, it's open all month so let's get ready for summer and join in the challenge.

Thanks for popping by.

Love ya

Ginger

xxx

This weekend

Yay for the weekend and for me it's going to be a good one as I'm off to visit my fabulous friend Anna.  I'm having an adventure on a train due to the fuel "crisis" (give me strength!!).  I just didn't fancy the hassle of worrying about fuel all weekend.

I know I haven't shared much recently but that's because I've been out dancing lots and the crafting time I've had I've been finishing invites and playing with my eCraft and making a super project ready for the Craftwell Spring Bunny Blog Hop, that takes place tomorrow (11am here in the UK).  Here's a little sneak peek of my project.

Please drop by tomorrow and leave a comment as there's a chance of winning a £20 Crafter's Companion gift voucher!!!

Right got to dash, I've got lots to do before catching that train.  See you soon.

Love ya

Ginger

xxx

Happy Mother's Day

Good Morning

I know I'm a little early for Mother's Day but as I'm away dancing at the Cheltenham Balboa Festival this weekend, I thought I'd share this card with you.

It was inspired by challenges at:

My Time Made Easy - sketch challenge #52

Creative Inspirations - Something for Mum

Papertake weekly - for the girls or Mum

Supplies used:

Card - Core'dinations whitewash (Crafter's Companion)

SVG - rambling rose (My Time Made Easy)

Paper - first edition new leaf

Stamp - daily design sentiments (PTI) 

I love that flower and they're so easy to make.  Just card, ink, an SVG and of course Edna-May my eCraft machine.

So where have I been for the last couple of weeks I hear you ask?  Well work has been exceptionally busy but that's a good thing.  Also I've decided that all occasions in life should be spent on a ski slope, so I headed back to Morzine and Chalet Thalassa for a week of skiing and great fun with amazing company for my birthday!

Since I've been back, I've had a planning trip to IKEA (there will be many more) with the lovely Leann Chivers, made leek and potato soup, and finished 70 wedding invitations for my wonderful little sister.

I'm off to Cardiff and Bristol today and Birmingham on Monday to visit some customers.  Plus I'll get to see my lovely friend Anna this weekend, in between dancing.  Yes life if full to bursting at the moment but would I have it any other way ..... not on your nelly!!

Have a great weekend.

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

Happy Crafting

I'm having a complete guilt free crafting day and it's bliss.  I've made a couple of cards and I'm working on a couple of projects that I can't share with you just yet.  So this day of relaxation is fabulous but it does mean I'll have a busy day tomorrow, I might even go and do some house hunting!!

So here's what I've made today.  I decided it was long overdue that my Speccies had been out, so I grabbed this cute Strawberry Kisses Stamp and inspired by the following challenges here's what I came up with:

Inspirational Card Sketches - #148

Daring Cardmakers - wishi washi - I'm loving making my own washi tape

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Let's see those animals
Sundays with Crissy - beat the mid-winter blues - for me that's donning my boots and going out walking, hence the boot stamp

The flower is cut on the eCraft from Core'diantions Tim Holtz Kraft Core - it's one of my favourite ranges for making these little flowers

Stamps - Strawberry Kisses Together from Crafter's Companion, Sentiment from Through the Trees, back ground basics twinkle by PTI

Dies - Nestabilities from Crafter's Companion, Banner from PTI, 3d flower Laina Lamb spiral flowers SVG from 2 peas in a bucket

Pens - Spectrum Noir (forgot to write the colours down!)

Paper - distressed dots by PTI, Kraft Core

Card blank - Craftwork Cards

This second card has more of a vintage feel.  I've used some of the goodies that my gorgeous friend Dougie sent me for Christmas.  She always sends me crafting presents that are so beautiful that I can barely stand to use them!  I've been inspired by challenges at:

Crazy 4 challenges - layer it on

Totally Papercrafts - pearls and lace

Papercraft Star - Victoriana

I love this sentiment, it just makes me smile.  Those little flowers are gorgeous, they're resin but have a flock to give them a soft finish.

Supplies used (lots!!)

Paper - pacific vineyard by PTY

Card - ripe avocado, vintage cream by PTI

Punch - Martha Stewart around the edge

Printed die cuts - Farm House range from October Afternoon

Resin flowers - Maya Road

Stamps - Lock and Key by PTI

Ink - dark chocolate and pure poppy from PTI

As it's Saturday, I want to play along with 

over at Marcea's Blog.  My offering for this week is Miss 600, I really need to get this bought.  Thank you to my lovely friend Archi for bringing this band to my attention, it's just my thing.

So now it's back to doing some crafting - what joy!!  I hope you're finding some time to craft too.

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

SWALK 3 Sneak Peek

Wow, who stole the rest of January!  I'm super busy at work what with a trip to Paperword in Frankfurt and getting ready for CHSI (Stitches) - the UK craft trade show.  This Friday I'm at Inspirations by Cardcraft Plus in Preston, so I'm busy getting ready for that too.

We've also got a brand new launch this Saturday, it's 6 more gorgeous SWALK stamps and I'm so excited as one of the stamps is the iconic SWALK kissing couple and that's the one I've used in my Sneak Peek.

I've also been inspired by challenges at:

Papertake Weekly - have a heart

A Spoonful of Sugar - let's see some love

Try it on a Tusday - Hearts & Flowers

Supplies used:

All items available from Crafter's Companion

SWALK stamp - a little kiss

Cardstock - Cored'inations Ebony & Ivory pack

Embossong folder - Cuttlebug script

Flower & scroll die - Marianne

Copic Ciao's

Faces & skin - E00, E21, RV10

Hair girl - Y00, Y21, TR31

Hair boy - E50, E31, E33

Girls clothes - RV29, R46, C1

Boys clothes - C1, C3, C5, C7

Gingham ribbon

I'm so in love with Cored'inations cardstock.  As you can see on the card above I haven't even used any patterned paper!

I'd better make a couple more samples.

xxx

Appley Dapply Nursery Rhymes Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the Crafter’s Companion Blog Hop to celebrate the release of Beatrix Potter: Appley Dapply’s Nursery Rhymes CD and stamp set.

If you have landed here from Leann's blog  then you are hopping in the right direction. If not then you need to pop over to the Crafter’s Companion News blog to begin.

As a DT we have had a great time creating with the new range from Crafter’s Companion and to celebrate the launch of this stunning new collection on Friday 21st January Crafter's Companion have decided to give you a chance to see some Sneak Peeks and also have the chance of winning a fabulous Prize:

The Appley Dapply’s Nursery Rhymes CD and stamp set, plus a pack of watercolour card and a tin of 12 Derwent Watercolour pencils!

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning this great prize is visit each blog in order, and then go back to the Crafter’s Companion News Views and Inspiration Blog to leave your link on Mr Linky. Along the way you will notice that each Blog will give you a letter - make a note of these as they will make a word which we will ask you for if your number is drawn by Random.Org on Thursday 20th.

PLEASE DO NOT TELL US WHAT THE WORD IS ON THE CRAFTER’S COMPANION NEWS VIEWS AND INSPIRATION BLOG, WE WILL E-MAIL YOU FOR THE ANSWER IF YOUR MR LINKY NUMBER IS DRAWN.

Here's my card, which was also inspired by challenges at:

Cupcake craft - something new

Papertake weekly - cold & frosty morning

Cute card Thursday - monochromatic

Stamp something - stamp anything

 

Supplies used:

Cardstock - core'dinations - whitewash and core colour

Patterned paper - Appley Dapply CD

Frame - Appley Dapply CD

Stamp - Appley Dapply stamp set

Colouring medium - Copic Ciaos

Punch - Martha Stewart

All supplies from Crafter's Companion

My letter is: R

From here, you're hopping over to Lynsey's Blog.  We hope you enjoy the sneak peeks and thanks for hopping.

xxx

I'm alive

After a friend rang me this week to make sure I was still alive I thought it was about time I updated my blog!  It's been such a hectic but totally fabulous time what with the Christmas party, Christmas shopping (oh I did buy boots for me too!), Christmas, then going skiing for New Year and then straight back to work, I haven't crafted for a couple of weeks!  I know shock horror, I've nearly forgotten what to do!  But luckily I'm at Anna's this weekend and my crafting mojo is being nurtured back to life.  So before we get to some cards here's a quick round up of the last couple of weeks:

The Christmas do was at Hardwick Hall with Jamie "Afro" Archer.  He was amazing and as you can see I managed to get myself right to the front!   If you want to see all the gory details of our night out then they're on the Crafter's Companion Facebook page.

Sara & I having a great out

Christmas day, Ian & me with the big cracker

Happy Days with my favourite ski guide

And why wouldn't you want to be there?



Dave & Gill & the glorious mountains

Me ready to hit the pistes



 A little apres

Two very lovely people, Lady Sperring and Howard 

The A team ready to hit the slopes, Tupes, Charlotte, Howard, Sid and little me.  I look like such a titch in this photo!



 Right, back to the crafting then.  Here's some of what I've been up to today.  This first card was inspired by challenges at:
Stamp' 4 the weekend - new and blue
Chicken soup - recipe #2

Supplies used:
Card, patterned papers and brad - Scrap-a-gogo kit
Stamp - Papertrey Ink - round & round
Flowers - petaloo
Ink - Papertrey ink - Hawaiian shores

This card is just a little bit bolder and was inspired by challenges at:
Charisma cardz - Happy Birthday
Crafty Pad - Happy Birthday

Supplies used:
Paper - PTI in bloom
Stamp - PTI round & round
Ink - PTI pure poppy, true black

Punch - Stampin' Up

I know it's a little late, but a Happy New to everyone.  Let's hope there's lots of exciting adventures in store for this year, I'm sure there will be.
xxx