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

Floral festivities

Today I've been learning how to make a festive hanging basket.  It was my Christmas present from Anna and we've had a fabulous day.  Look at the beautiful setting, it was at The Wheatsheaf at Oaksey.

Nikki our tutor, made random look so easy!

Anna & I with our finished baskets, they were huge - now how am I getting that back to Manchester!

After the workshop it was time for lunch, which was spiced fish and chips.

Followed by chocolate & orange mousse with a hazelnut and chocolate biscuit - delicious.

 After that it was back to Anna's to open Christmas presents.  Look at my cute new slipper socks, they've a gorgeous pink flower on the back too and little pearls - I love them.  You remember that the dress I'm wearing was given to me by one of the ladies at Craftaganza and so the giving continues as I've left the dress with Anna.



So of course we crafted, so here's a couple of cards.  This one was inspired by challenges at:

Papercutz - challenge #71, snowflakes

Chicken soup - the 6th day of Christmas - baubles

Stamp with fun - Christmas

ABC challenges - J is for Jewels

Supplies used:

All items from Papertrey Ink

Card - plum pudding and Hawaiian shores

Stamps - fancy flourishes, Christmas tags 2009

Ink - plum pudding

This card was inspired by challenges at:

Pink Elephant - winter wonderland

Cupcake Challenges - non-traditional Christmas



Supplies used:

Paper - My Minds Eye

Stamps - Christmas Tags 2009

Punch - Martha Stewart

So that's my adventures over for a few days and I'm heading back home at silly o'clock in the morning, ready for getting back to work.

xxx

New Monthly Challenge

Oh my, is it really the 1st December?!!  PANIC!!  When on earth am I going to find time to get my Christmas shopping done!  Oh well I managed to find time to get my card made for this months Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge.  As always there's a sketch with an optional element of Christmas.

I turned the sketch 90 degrees.  This is the fourth card I taught at Craftaganza, so I'm hoping to see lots of entries this month, even if they're all very similar or exactly the same as my card.  Remember the winner is a random draw, so everyone has a chance of winning.  The fabulous prize this month is a £50 voucher for the Crafter's Companion website.  I think Sara is feeling extra generous because it's not long until Christmas.

Supplies used:

CD- Popcorn Cosy & Warm

Popcorn die cut decoupage

Die cuts - Nestabilites

Punch - Martha Stewart

All items available from Crafter's Companion.

If anyone is unsure on how to enter the challenge then just leave me a comment here and I'll help you out.

Have fun and I look forward to seeing your cards or projects.

Here's today's snow update.  There's still loads of it and it's been snowing again this morning!  My card is still on the and will need to be cleared before I can go anywhere!

One more card for you today, it can also be seen in Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine.  I love the colours on this card, it's what you need to brighten the day.  I'm entering this into the challenge over at:
Moxie Fab World - the birthday card challenge
Fab 'n' funky - birthday - happy birthday girls x

Supplies used:
Echo park -  walk in the park
Plus some bling and twine

Keep warm.
xxx

Die Cutting Madness

Well I made it to the office today, in fact I was there before 9, which means a very early start!  I felt like I was packing forever, as I'm not home until Sunday.  As well as my clothes I had to pack lots of craft bits and pieces, ready for Craftaganza :)

Talking of Craftaganza, Kamala and I sat last night and became die cutting queens.  Prepping for 80 delegates takes some arm power but we're getting there.  Why did I think it was a good idea to use so many die cuts!!

I also have to tell you about my fabulous dinner tonight, pancakes made from rice and lentils filled with potato curry - I love you Kamala.

Here's a couple of little cards I've made.  How great is this for a teenager.  It was inspired by challenges at:

A Spoonful of Sugar - Anything Goes

Fab 'n' Funky - go with the flow

Supplies used:

Stamps - clearly hand stamped

Inks - versamark, distress inks black soot and barn door.

Spray and sparkle - iridescent

This card was inspired by the challenge at:

Papertake Weekly - cut it out

Supplies used:

Stamps - clearly hand stamped

Paper-  SWALK CD2

Punch - Martha Stewart doily lace

Colouring medium - Copic Ciaos

Right I'm off to bed to rest my winding arm as there's more die cutting to be done tomorrow.

Good night.

xxx

Muffin Tops

No not my muffin top, although it's creeping back!  But real muffins.  Tonight I've been baking and I've made mincemeat muffins.  Thank you so much to my lovely friend Debbie for the recipe and her advice whilst I was out shopping.  Yes she's on speed dial for when I'm making big decisions on sugar in Sainsburys!

I'm hoping the girls at crop on Saturday are going to like these:

I didn't add the frosting as I thought they might go soggy before Saturday, but they still passed my taste test.

Just one card to share with you today.  This one was inspired by the challenge at:

CRAFT - vellum - yes that really is vellum that I've printed on under the stamped flowers.

Suplies used:

Stamps - Clearly Hand stamped

Vellum

CD - SWALK - volume 2

Punch - Martha Stewart

xxx

Adorables Sneak Peek - Day 2

I'm excited to bring you another sneak peek of the Adorables by Jayne Nestorenko.  Today I've used stamps from the Playing set.  I wanted to show that the images can be used as individual elements as well as making scenes.  See what Bev has done over at the Crafter's Companion News, Views & Inspiration Blog if you want to see the stamp with the scenic elements.  The patterned papers are all from the Adorables CD.

I also made a mask so I could add some Spray & Sparkle Iridescent to the fur on her coat.  I'll try and pop a step-by-step up next week to share how I do this.

For this card the additional bits and bobs are from Crafter's Companion.

Punch: Martha Stewart double loops around the page punch

Die cuts: Making Memories slice - cartridges, Noteworthy and Mistletoe

Copic Ciaos used were:

Face - E00, E21, RV10

Hair - Y21, YR31

Coat - YG00, YG03

Fur - RV000, RV02

Boots - E33, E35, E37

I'm entering this card into the challenge at:

Caardvarks - sketch challenge

Whilst I had my crafting stuff out I decided to play with some felt and made this card inspired by challenges at:

Cute Card Thursday - material girl

Clean & Simple - Sketch #106

I'm surprised I managed to keep all that white space on the card!

Bits & bobs used on this card:

Stamps: PTI - daily designs, handwritten

Card: PTI - white, raspberry fizz, chocolate brown

Paper: PTI - 2009 bitty dot basics

Felt - hobbycraft

Buttons & twine - PTI

Flower Dies - cuttlebug

A little more excitement in my life, I've won a prize over at Tuesday Taggers - thanks girls :)

Thanks for popping by and don't forget to leave a comment on any or all of the days of my sneak peeks. The more days you visit the more chance you'll have of winning the prize which is a choice of 3 SWALK stamps, the co-ordinating CD and of course some Collal 3D glue gel because once you've tried it you can't craft without it!

xxx