A Dare...

The dare for this week over at DCM was to use gold on a card. Now I just don't 'do' gold, not on my crafts or in my house or on jewellery or anything really but I've been making an altered wooden tree to go on the hearth during the Christmas season and the living room colours are cream so the tree really needed golden snowflakes. Whilst I was making the golden snowflakes for the tree I pinched one to go on my card and I think it actually looks alright. It's 10:30 and it's dark so I had to take a picture on my desk (obviously I had to clear a space to get a 6 inch card into first!!) so the picture is rather naff but I tried to get the glitter to sparkle.

If anyone can leave me a few hints about taking pictures indoors in the dark please leave me a comment!!

Thank you to the forum friends who have asked after my back. It's a LOT better then it was but still hurts if I move or bend the wrong way or move quickly unexpectedly. I'm getting out for more walks but the weather is so horrible - wet and cold - that I'm worried that I shiver and start it all off again so we are going to try indoor walking in the shopping centre. Hopefully if we go through the day it won't be too busy and I can just walk along at my own pace and sit down when I need too. (My Mam has just read that part over my shoulder and said who was I kidding - not too busy 5 weeks before Christmas!!) Anyway, we'll see tomorrow when we try it out.

A few bits and bobs...

First off, can I tell you how much I love my new Cricut Expression? It is fabarooney, it behaves itself, it does exactly what I tell it to, it looks neat sitting on my work bench, I love the 'click' when you close up the lid and it's little clunky noises when you press its buttons. In general it is fantastic and I am so pleased that I spent this months ISA savings money on buying it!!

I have some cards to share too, now the weather in my little part of the UK is pretty gruesome at the moment - think dark through the day so that we have our lights on all day, rain, rain and even more rain and add in a little bit of fog and mist as well as being very cold and you can understand why my photographs are not of the highest quality. My back is still not fixed either so I can't really bend over to line up my camera (it's mending, but not mended yet).

I used up left over bits and pieces for this card with a little fairy that came from a kids craft CD I bought at a book fair.

This card is my favourite at the moment and I don't really want to give it away but it's for an order. I used up some ancient K&Co paper that I've had for a couple of years as well as a digital piece from the Funky Junky Christmas kit. I used my Cricut for the star, scroll (love this shape) and tag, lots of inking and my black pen for fake stitching on everything.

This is the first card made with my new Sugar Nellies stamps. I think he is so sweet - I can see him being used on many a Christmas card this year!

I wanted to share my Christmas hanging banner too although the photographs aren't any good really but we did the best we could, hopefully we'll get better weather at the weekend and I can retake them.

I used a bunch of wooden hearts that I bought at the Art from the Heart stand back at the Harrogate show a while ago, covered them with a lovely thick Christmas text paper that I found in my cupboard (I'm sure I don't buy half of the stuff that I find in my cupboards - I wonder if I have a little stash shopping elf like in the Elves and the Shoemaker?), added a load of chalk ink and sanding and then painted some chipboard letters and attacked them with walnut ink, chalk ink, sanding and some rather lovely crackle accents. Have you noticed my rather fantastic Matalan snowman who sneaked into the picture. He's back in the corner of the living room now, waiting for December 1st so that he can begin to decorate our home.

Lastly, if you are in or around Harrogate this weekend, why not call to the International Exhibition halls and visit my friend Kim and the Fat Quarters shop. They've started to sell the Melly and Me patterns (the pattern I use for my fabric bunnies) and she's just lovely :)

It's Pudsey Day...

It's Children in Need day today, I hope you've donated :)




If you like my fabric bunnies that I make then be sure to check out the It's A Creative World blog tomorrow for details of a super prize draw!!

When I checked my comments this morning I had a comment from a lovely lady asking me to point her in the right direction for Trish Jones Designs - somehow I lost the comment, but if you click on the button down the right hand side of my blog then you'll get to Trish's site :)

Not much going on here because my back is still hurting, but at least I can feel it getting better now.

Little Extra...

The little extra challenge over at DCM was to use parcels on a card, whilst this weeks main challenge was to use corrugated card. I managed to use even more of my 10 year old roll of corrugated card and some of my new Doodlebug stamps to make another Christmas card.

My back is still very sore from when I hurt it on Friday, yesterday I went to the doctors and I have torn some of the fibres in my muscles running up the side of my spine. So I am taking it very easy and taking a multitude of drugs, hopefully I'll be back to normal next week.

I have done a spot of internet shopping whilst being at home and some of the delightful Sugar Nellies are heading in my direction, hopefully they'll be here by the weekend :)

Only 6 weeks to go...

Not long until Christmas now :) I think I should start to buy some presents for other people, because on Saturday I bought my new Cricut Expression. I've had a bit of a play and I think he's fab! Our weekend away at the NEC craft show didn't go quite as planned as I managed to hurt my back whist travelling down on the Friday night so I'm not feeling too good but we still enjoyed ourselves. Dad came with us too so we had a really nice Indian meal at the restaurant we used to go to when we lived down there.

I was inspired to raid the back of my cupboard to complete the DCM challenge for this week which was to use corrugated cardboard on a card. I've had a roll of this red corrugated card in my cupboard for more than 10 years!!! So I thought I would use some of it on this card, I'm so pleased at how it came out that I'm planning on making a few more :)

(Pink Petticoat paper, red corrugated card, doodlebug ho ho ho tag stamp, Craftfairy ribbon, Making Memories word brad and little silver bells)

Kate has designed some new doodles that are in her shop now and she joined up with Jacque Larsen this time - fabarooney!! I couldn't resist using the teapot - it reminds me of Beauty and the Beast!

(Kate Hadfield doodle, Amy Wolff digital papers, CK Tailor Sloppy font, Craftfairy spotty ribbon)

I've also been playing with some of the kits from Trish Jones Designs - I loved these flower doodles

(Popsicle Meltdown papers and Discover Flowers doodles by Trish Jones, Making Memories phototurns, Papermania brads, Waterfalls font)

(Popsicle Meltdown papers and Discover Flowers doodles by Trish Jones, Cricut cut leaves, Paperchase acrylic jewels)

Christmas cards...

I wanted to share some of the Christmas cards that I've been busy making this week, mainly for friends' children (poor photographs but it's 11:00 and obviously dark again)

I've tidied my desk now as tomorrow night I'm going to the cinema with a friend and then on Friday straight from work we're off to Birmingham, first for a curry at our favourite Indian Restaurant in Lutterworth on the Friday night and then to the craft exhibition at the NEC on the Saturday. I'm collecting (and paying for!!) my Cricut Expression, so expect to see lots of cards made with it next week as long as my arms have recovered from having to carry it from the exhibition hall to my car!

Trish Jones Designs...

I've been playing and having a fab time :) I had a nosey around Trish's shop and this kit leapt out at me so I used it for a couple of cards yesterday (had to wait until today to take photographs though)

The only things I added apart from white card and my black pen was an acrylic jewel from Paperchase and the white letter stickers by Doodlebug, all the other papers were from the kit. I cut the numbers by hand and the fake ricrac with my paper cutter, the flower was made with my EKSuccess retro flower punch. I can see this kit being used over and over again because the colour combinations are fab :) and it just happens to fit the bill for the DCM challenge too so I'm off to post my link over there too!

November already...

I have no idea where this year has gone, it doesn't seem two minutes since Easter, but here we are into November already and I'm counting down the days until Christmas :) Today whilst out shopping I came across this:

Isn't he just the cutest indoor snowman you've seen?

I've been crafting this weekend and my news is that I am now designing for Trish Jones Designs. I've spent some time looking her online shop and downloading some kits for projects that I'll be working on this week.

The DCM challenge this week is to use hand cutting somewhere on your card.

I made this cute paper pieced penguin Christmas card and all his body parts were hand cut and then doodled around the edges and he was assembled with foam pads to make him stand out.

A Flying Visit...

I'm just dashing out the door to go to work but wanted to remind everyone that there is still time to donate to Breast Cancer Awareness over at It's A Creative World via our Just Giving page and today is extra special as there are loads of prizes being given away during the day and everyone is able to download these fantastic pink doodled flowers by the talented Kate Hadfield.

I'm hoping to use them to make a few cards tonight :)

Exhausted...

We've spent most of the day lowering the work benches in my workshop today as they were just a bit too high and my shoulders were aching after sitting here for a while. Of course it's not that easy as everything from on and under the desks had to come out and both computers had to be disconnected and then reconnected whilst crouching under the desk. We had no internet after putting it all back together but worked out that two of the wires had got mixed up when putting it together so it's fixed now.

Today I was tagged by the lovely Anne:

1. If you could have £100 worth of scrapbook paper or assorted embellishments, which would you choose? I'd choose lots of lovely Christmas papers in 8x8 or 6x6 size and then zillions of chipboard and acrylic shapes to play with.

2. If you had to choose between using only stamps or rubons, which would you choose? Stamps for sure, I'm a bit of a skinflint and would much prefer to buy stamps that I can use over and over again rather than one off rub-ons.

3. If you knew how to do both awesome cards and layouts but could only do one for a whole year...which would you do? Cards - no contest really!

4. Would you rather own a scrapbooking store or have your own scrapping room at home...(can't have both he he he) If I won the lottery I would have my own little crafty emporium but for now I'll settle for my lovely workshop

5. And last but not least, what is your CURRENT cardmaking or scrapping style. Oh my goodness, I have no idea. Do I have a style? I suppose clutter free with nice straight lines?

I tag:

Joanne

Annette

Maria

Caz

and anyone else who fancies having a go!

Back to school tomorrow, but only 8 weeks until the next holiday which means Yipppeeee!! only 8 weeks until Christmas!

Answers to a few questions that have been posted as comments recently:

When I print my digi papers I use glossy photopaper from Costco as it's cheap and fantastic to work with.

I use photoshop elements 5 to resize all my bits and pieces

The stamps that I used way back with the fat ladies and the yachts are different to the Magnolias but still called Tilda and came from Panduro

And to the three ladies who left me comment on Friday morning but they haven't been published - I'm sorry I deleted them by mistake and couldn't remember who you were. That will teach me to come on my computer when I've just crawled out of bed, I pressed the wrong button :(

A Quick Catch Up...

Just catching up quickly on a few things from this week. It's been great being on holiday but I've still been super busy and my shoulder is aching from sitting at my desk for too long.

First is the little extra challenge over at DCM, I was completely inspired to open up my new packet of cuttlebug mini embossing folders.

This one was for the CPS sketch and I finally managed to use some of the lovely black and white papers from Pink Petticoat that I got a while ago.

The final one was for the Sketch This (cards) blog and I think it's my favourite out of the three. I'd forgotten I had a whole pack of these papers in 6x6 size but I found them when I was hunting for something else.

This little gingerbread man was one of the posts over on It's A Creative World with step by step pictures if anyone wants to have a go, it's easy peasy and needs no sewing.

This very pink card was over there too last week, I like it because it's so simple and I emailed the photograph to my lovely Mommy to tell her that I love her.

Lots more to share but that can wait for another day xx

NeeNah - NeeNah - NeeNah...

I've been playing with the vehicles set of Kates doodles again. They make fabaroonie cards for boys. I was asked to make a card for a 3 year old who loves fire engines and 'NeeNahs' - I guess if you have a 3 year old boy in your family you will understand the fascination with emergency vehicles.

(MAMBI paper, Kate Hadfield Doodles, American Crafts Foam Thickers number, Pixie alphabet stamps, Papermill white card, Colorbox charcoal chalk ink)

I printed the fire engine in quite a large size so it would fill up most of the card and added the road so it would have somewhere to drive along.

I printed a second image out and cut different parts of it out (wheels, windows, ladder, shutter, lights, bumper etc.) and used sticky foam pads to give a raised effect and add dimension to the flat image.

I added a number 3 sticker and spelled out his name with alphabet stamps. I'm sure it will be just perfect for a fire engine themed birthday party for 15 three year old boys!!

Smile...

Two people last week gave me the 'You Make Me Smile' award and I must apologise as I had forgotten. I'm not too sure who actually reads my bloggie blog - so if you do and I made you smile then consider yourself an 'awardee'

A busy weekend...

I've been celebrating being on half term holidays by being super busy it seems. I've been crafting like crazy but most of it I can't share yet, but these things were just for me.

First up is my contribution for the Daring Cardmakers Blog challenge for the theme circle of friends. I used polka dots paper (circles) and a bumble bee with doodled dashes to show where he'd been flying - in circles! and it's a card for a friend who is 'the bees knees'.

(Paper - Lettering Delights, Bumble Bee - Jacque Larsen, Font - Typical Writer)

And then, because I liked the bumble bee so much I used the ladybird from the same set to make a birthday card, I've had a special request for cards so this is one of them.

(Paper - The Shabby Princess, Ladybird - Jacque Larsen, Paperfrill - Doodlebug, Font - CKTailor Sloppy, Ribbon - Pandura)

(Paper - The Shabby Princess and Pink Petticoat, Cupcake element - The Shabby Princess, Paperfrill - Doodlebug, Font - Typical writer)

(Paper - Lettering Delights and Pink Petticoat, Paperfrill - Doodlebug, Heart element - Meredith Fenwick, Font - Typical Writer)

The two smaller cards are for the same special request and they will be going in the post this week.

Saturday was spent doing a spot of hairdressing for my Mam in the morning and then shopping in Newcastle in the afternoon, the shops are starting to look quite festive so we had several detours to visit Christmas departments.

Today we went for a walk in the woods looking for signs of Autumn I took my big girls camera with me and Mam took my little one and we spent a happy hour wandering through the trees, we spotted one squirrel but we made so much noise stomping through the leaves that we scared him off and he was away jumping through the branches before I had a chance to snap his photograph.

Back on the sketch trail...

Yay - only two more days until half term. I am so looking forward to a few extra hours under my duvet and lots and lots of crafting. I have a huge list of things that I want to do by the end of the holiday!

My new Magnolia stamps arrived on Friday and I finally got around the playing with them. The first card is for the CPS sketch blog which I haven't joined in with for quite a while and the second one is just because I wanted to and I've left space to add names and sentiments as it's for my 'last minute oh my goodness I forgot' card drawer!!

I'm waiting impatiently for the new Sugar Nellie stamps to be released, roll on November!! but I'm filling the waiting with online shopping, last night I bought some fab Christmas Doodlebug stamps - like I need more Christmas stamps!