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Tuesday 31 January 2012

Framed

A friend and I were experimenting with brayering a background, something new for both of us.  We brayered different scraps to paper to see what happened on different types of paper and I have used one of them in the background in the frame.  I have had the embossed frame hiding in my stash for over a year but I knew it was waiting for something special - it was just the right size as a background paper for the frame.  I took out the rubber stamps and chose one from each of the three sets I selected and created this silhouette picture.  I have added three spots in two opposite corners; they were punched from scraps of black card.  Voila ..






I have entered this for the following challenges:
Bizzy Becs Store Blog:  Anything goes
Card Makin Mammas:  Something old
Crafts 4 Eternity: Clean and Simple
Sundays with Chrissy:  Beat the Mid Winter Blues
Digi Doodle Shop:  Anything Goes
Crafty Catz:  Things with wings
Pile it On Challenge:  Just Because
Pixie's Crafty Workshop Snippets Challenge #5
Stampin for the Weekend:  Embossing
Stampin with the Dragon:  Anything Goes
My Sheri Crafts:  New things
Crafty Boots Challenge: Inspired by a song title   (Sunrise, sunset for Fiddler on the Roof)
Totally Gorjuss:  KISS



Monday 30 January 2012

Red and black

Another variation on the first valentine I blogged earlier in the month.  I mounted red paper on the card blank, leaving a little white border, and then cut out the heart with my Craft Robo and the black borders were cut with my Cuttlebug.  I then stamped the sentiment.  The black card came from my off cuts stash box and the rubber stamp is part of a set I bought about a year ago as it had a different range of sentiments.



I have entered this in the following challenges:


Allsorts Challenge:  One or more hearts
Anything Goes Challenge:  To the one I love
Craft-room challenge:  Valentines
Crafters Companion:  Love is in the air
 Lets Craft and Create:  Valentine
Oldie but a goodie:  Have a heart
Paper Sundaes:  Valentines
Simply Create Too:  Love is in the air
Totally Gorjuss:  KISS
Wags 'n Whiskers:  Valentines/Love card

Friday 27 January 2012

White on White

My Mother will be 90 next week and I have made this white on white card for her with just a couple of accents in silver - card candy for the centre of the flowers and a sentiment stamped and embossed in silver.  I have used offcuts of vellum that have glittered patterns and a Martha Stewart paper punch for one of the layers.  I have made a patchwork of various pieces of embossed white card,a small length of white ribbon and lastly the white petals of the flower are cut out of white offcuts with the Tattered Floral die.


I have entered this for the following challenges:
Sweet Stampin Challenge:  White on white
Crafty Boots Challenges:  Inspired by a song title  (Whiter shade of pale)
Simon Says Stamp and Show:  Show a song title  (Whiter shade of pale)
Creative Inspirations:  Anything Goes
Bizzy Becs Store Blog;  Anything Goes
Diecutin Divas:  Buttons, Bows/Bling
My Mum's Craft Shop Challenge: Flowers
PaperCrafting Journey: Floral
Pixie's Crafty Workshop: Snippets Challenge #4
Sentimental Sundays:Die Cuts
Southern Girls Challenge :  White on White
Moving along with the times:  Blooming Marvelous
The Stamping Boutique:  Die cuts

Thursday 26 January 2012

Teddy Bears Picnic

The song Teddy Bears Picnic always reminds me of when my children were at playschool and we had the annual Teddy Bears Picnic.  I was tidying my stash when I found a box of stash that hadn't seen the light of day for at least a year.  The image used on this card was in that box and layered that up on some paper stock and then mounted on a piece of pink card that I had run through the Cuttlebug using the Happy Birthday folder.

I have entered it in the following challenges:

Crafty Boots:  Inspired by a song title  .... (Teddy Bears Picnic)
Simon Says Stamp Challenge:  Show a Song title .... (Teddy Bears Picnic)
Card Makin Mammas:  Something Old .... (The image came out of a lost stash box)
Crazy 4 Challenges:  Child's Birthday Card
Creative Inspirations:  Anything Goes
2 Sisters Challenges: Embossing
Charisma Cardz:  Pretty in Pink
Crafters Cafe Blog Challenges:  CAS
Truly Madly Crafty:  Anything Goes
Ready Teddy Go:  In the Pink

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Black and White

I love black and white cards and was thrilled when I learned it was the topic for the card group that I go along to.

Co-ordinating dotty paper for the background and then diecut petals and leaves to make the flower on the top.  Some of the petals were embossed.  Finished off with a greeting stamped on white card and layered onto another diecut black shape.  Siiiiimples!!!!




I have entered it into the following challenges:
2 Sisters Challenge Blog:  Embossing
CAS-ual Fridays:  Black and White
Pixie Dust Studio Pixie challenge: Going dotty
Sentimental Sundays: Die Cuts

Monday 23 January 2012

One






A glittery number one cut from glitter card means this card will be entered for the following challenge:

CRAFT:  Use number

As it is a child's birthday card and has butterflies on it means I can enter it in the following challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenges:  Childs Birthday
Moving along with the Times:  Things with wings
Stamps R Us:  Just kidding around

Finally it has a birthday sentiment on the front and I have used my Cuttlebug to cut it out so I will enter it into the following challenges too:

Birthday Sundays:  Birthday with sentiment on the front
Sentimental Sundays:  Using  die cuts

Saturday 21 January 2012

Dancing

Something a little different this time and with the theme dancing and music in mind.


I have covered the white card base card with an offcut of purple paper on which I have mounted a printed black silhouette of a ballet dancer.  Using a patterned paper I have cut a frame with my Craft Robo and then mounted that over the silhouette image.  Finished off with a peel-off greeting.

I have entered this card for the following challenges:

Bizzy Becs Store January challenge:  Anything goes
Crafty Cardmakers:  No Floral embellishment
Cute Card thursday #200:  Music and Dance
DYSU Challenge #55:  Patterned Paper
Lollipop Crafts #63:  No Embellishments

Friday 20 January 2012

Hearts






This a very simple card.  A border punch with hearts used on the opening edge and so have put a red insert in the card so that it shows through.  The two hearts were made using a Cuttlebug die and mounted on a piece of white card that was in turn layered onto a piece of dark red card.  Some red velvet ribbon is threaded through on the left hand side.  The greeting is simply stamped in red.

I have entered this in the following challenges:


Aud Sentiments Challenge:  Use the word Love
Charisma Cards :  Clean and Simple
Crafters Companion 20:  Love is in the air
Crafty Creations Challenge #153:  Valentine theme
Creative Card Crew #2:  Seeing Red
Really Reasonable Ribbons #40:  Valentines Day
Scrapbook Sisters 67:  My Sweet Valentine
Sentimental Sundays #85:  Ribbon
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop #6:  Be my valentine

Thursday 19 January 2012

Valentine

I cut a lovely back swirly heart with my Craft Robo and then combined with a ribbon bow, some red glittery backing paper and finally some borders cut with my Cuttlebug.



I have entered this in the following challenges:

Crafters Companion Challenge #20:  Love is in the air
Crafty Creations #153 - Valentine Theme
Creative Card Crew #2:  Seeing Red
Designed2Delight:  Heart
Ladybug Crafts Ink #52:  Bows
Scrapbook sisters Card Challenge #67:  My Sweet Valentine
The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop #6:  Be my valentine
Really Reasonable Ribbons Challenge #40: Valentine's Day theme
Going Buggy:  Black, red, white
Incy Wincy Designs:  Bold and Bright

Balloons

I had fun co-ordinating the paper colours, with the image and the card used to layering up the image and the greeting.



I am entering it in the following challenges -

Because it has an animal on it:
Pile It On Challenge #3:  Fuzzy Friends
Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog:  Animals
The Squirrels and the Fox:  Critters

Because it is a child's card:
Stamps R Us:  Just kidding around

Because it is my favourite colours (purple and yellow) and has spots:
Celebrate the Occasion:  The Occasion with Polka Dots
My Mum's Craft Shop Challenge: What's you Fave (colour)
Pixie Dust Studio Pixie Challenge:  Dotty
Pink Elephant:  Favourite Colours

Because I am using scraps of card and patterned paper:
Hiding in My Craft Room #29:  Super Scraps Saturday
DYSU Challenge Blog #55:  Patterned Paper
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #3:  Snippets

It also fits these challenges:
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #59:  No floral embellishments
Gingerloft Challenge GL31:  Anything goes
Lexi's Creations Challenge #56:  Anything goes
Sassy Cheryl's Digi Stamps Challenge #98:  Bright and cheery




Wednesday 18 January 2012

CAS

Clean and simple cards are quite difficult to right ....... the balance of white, image, location and colour is a tricky one.

For this card I have used a Kaiser craft image with little birds on branches and a simple greetings stamp.



I have entered this for the following challenges:


Charisma Cardz Challenge #1:  Happy Birthday
Sassy Studio Designs  Challenge #107:  Let's Celebrate
Less is More-Week 50:  One layer card with birds
Quirky Crafts Challenge #2:  Silhouettes
Lollipop Crafts Challenge #63:  No embellishments

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Anniversary

I love using the Cuttlebug to make white on white cards.  They are so clean and simple and if you get it right they breathe elegance.

I printed the message and greeting on the computer and then embossed the lower half on the white card with the Divine Swirls embossing folder.  I added a little blue flower embellishment and then put a ribbon round and tied with a bow.  I mounted this piece of card on some pale blue card and then onto the base white card stock.  The flower and ribbon came from my crafty stash and the white and blue card came from my card offcuts box.


I have entered this in the following challenges:

Aud Sentiment Challenge #45:  Sentiment and scraps
CRAFT Challenge #137:  Celebrations
Craft Room Challenge:  Clean and simple
Crafts and Me challenges:  Anything goes
Sassy Studio Design:  Let's celebrate
Digi Doodle Shop Challenge #90:  Embossing
Heart Song Inspirations Challenge #31:  Glitter and/or white on white
I brake for challenges:  I Brake for Simple
Lexi's Creations Challenge #56:  Anything goes
My Time to Craft Challenge #171:  My favourite Embellishment...... (the little flower)
TPE131: Favourite Colour  .....  (blue)]
Sentimental Sundays:  Ribbon

Monday 16 January 2012

What a star!

This time I have used a digi image for this card.  I have used the debossed side of the cream card that I embossed in my Cuttlebug and it has been layered on a sheet of red paper.  I have used my Nestabilities to cut out the image and then cut out a scallop of sage green to layer it on to.  A simple greeting and a red star complete the card.


I have entered it in the following challenges:

ABC Challenge:  H for Happy Birthday
Aud Sentiments:  Inspiration: Sentiment and scraps
Totally Gorjuss Challenge #114:  Be a star
Card Patterns:  Sketch #148
Charisma Cardz:  Happy Birthday
Colour Create Challenge #87:  Red, cream and sage green
CRAFT Challenge 137:  Celebrations
Crafts and Me:  Anything Goes
My Mum's Craft Shop Challenge #39:  Here comes the girls
DTBST #107:  Let's celebrate 




 

85

I was asked to make a card for someone who will be 85 and at the time I was asked I had been watching a You Tube video to help me learn to make elements for cards using my Craft Robo.  So all the parts of this card have been designed by me and cut using the Robo using up my stash of paper and card stock; a first for me.  This has to be the best year for keeping my resolution.  Maybe it is more successful because of the choice of resolution rather than my will power!!


I have entered it in the following challenges:

Crafts and Me:  Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers:  No Floral Embellishments
Crazy 4 challenges:  Monochromatic in blues
Die Cuttin Divas:  Blue, Silver and White
Gingerloft Challenge #GL31:  Anything Goes
Hiding in My Craft room:  Super Scraps Saturday
Hooked On Craft Challenge #15:  Try something new   (designing my own shapes on the Craft Robo)
Lexis Creations:  Anything Goes
Paperplay challenges:  In Stitches  (they don't show up very well in this photoi as they are silver on the darker blue)
Pixie's Crafty Workshop:  Scraps/snippets
Secret Crafty Saturday:  Anything goes with Blue
Top Tip Tuesday:  Anything Goes
Truly Madly Crafty Challenges:  Anything Goes
Crafts 4 Eternity:  Colour challenge
Creative Craft Challenges:  Resolution   (using up my scraps !!)

Sunday 15 January 2012

Betsy Watering

Once again I have got out my new Promarkers and my new Betsy Bluebell stamps and created this card.  I used some from card and paper from my box of stash .... certainly beginning to make inroads into the stash this month; great for my resolution to use some up.  I ran one of the pieces of card through the cuttlebug so that it meets the theme of one of the challenges too.


I have this in the following challenges:

Made Especially for You:  Machine Embossing
Penny Black:  Love and Hearts  (heart on the watering can)
The Pink Elephant:  Hearts   (heart on the watering can)
Pixie Dust Studio:  Put your heart into it .... (heart on the watering can)
Passion for Promarkers 131:  Inspired by a song .... (In an English country Garden)
House of Gilli:  Anything Goes
Creative Craft Challenges:  Resolutions    (using up my scraps of stash)
My Mum's Craft Shop Challenges: Here come the girls
Designed2delight:  Heart   (heart on the watering can)

Saturday 14 January 2012

With Love

In my quest to use up more scraps I chose this piece of card from my Mariposa matstack.  I found a scrap of ribbon, an old sentiment that has be in my sentiment box for at least a year and some scraps of backing card to use to create layers.


I have entered it in the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge #45:  Inspiration  .....  (scraps of ribbon and backing card for layers)
Bearly-Mine Challenges:  Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #59:  No floral embellishments
Creative Craft Challenges:  Resolutions  .... (to use more scraps)
Lets Craft and Create:  Butterflies
Lexis Creations:  Anything goes
My Time to Craft Challenge #170:  Hugs and Kisses
Simply Create Challenge #4:  Layers, Layers and more layers
Crafts and Me Challenge #66:  Anything Goes
Gingerloft Challenges:  Anything Goes
House of Gilli:  Anything Goes
Bizzy Becs:  Anything Goes
Truly Madly Crafty:  Anything Goes



Friday 13 January 2012

Child's birthday

This card was inspired by Celebrate the Occasion blog who have a challenge for a child's birthday.  I am still managing to keep up with my resolution to use up scraps and so rummaged around in one of my boxes of saved card images and found this little chap.  I then rummaged around the paper/card stash box and found a paper to layer it with and then the backing paper that I then ran through the Cuttlebug using the Happy Birthday folder.


I am entering it in the following challenges:
Celebrate the Occasion Challenge #45:  Child's birthday
CRAFT Challenge #137:  Celebrations
Crafts and Me:  Anything Goes
Dare to be Sassy Challenge 107:  Let's Celebrate
Digi Doodle Shop Challenge #90:  Embossing
Gingerloft challenge #31:  Anything Goes
House of Gilli:  Anything Goes
The Crafters Cafe:  Happy Birthday
Made Especially for You:  Machine embossing

Pink Butterfly

Another one from the butterfly camp using the Marianne Creatables die !!!!!  A really simple card to make using the stamp die from Cuttlebug and a range of black and white papers and card from my stash box.  Some pink glitter card from the stash box completed the materials.  I mounted them all onto the square base card and made sure that the square in the bottom right hand corner was plain black card.  I have stamped a greeting on it in silver and done faux stitching in silver around the edge.  Voila!!

I have entered it in the following challenges:
Crafts and Me Challenges:  Anything Goes
Delightful Challenges:  Pink, Black and Silver
PaperPlay challenges:  In Stitches
2 Sisters Challenge Blog: Things with Wings
Craft-Room Challenge:  Clean and Simple
Dream Valley Challenges:  Anything Goes
Lets Craft and Create:  Butterflies
House of Gilli:  Anything Goes


Thursday 12 January 2012

Snowflake

Yesterday when I was planning my card for the CHNC Challenge I knew exactly what I wanted to do, cut all the backing papers and rummaged in my stash for the Christmas image I wanted to do.  I laid it all out on the card and knew instantly that it didn't work ..... back to the drawing board and I did the card I blogged about yesterday.

I woke in the middle of the night last night and then couldn't get back to sleep because I knew precisely which card I needed to recycle.  All I could see in my mind was the large red snowflake but I don't think I would have been flavour of the month if I had got up and rummaged through the stash to found it and then gone downstairs to make it!!!!

So here we have the final card with some paper I bought over 5 years ago and a piece of silver card that I ran through the Cuttlebug, topped by the big red snowflake!!!!





I have entered this in the following challenges:

CHNC Challenge 54:  Recycle
Pile it On #2:  Manly Card
Creative Card Crew #1:  Snow Day
Cards for Men #1:  Recycling
Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #97:  Let it Snow with a sketch
Tuesday throwdown:  Baby it's cold outside
Crafts and Me Challenges:  Anything Goes
ABC Christmas Challenge:  Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenge #23:  Anything Goes
Gingerloft Challenge GL31:  Anything Goes
Lexi's Creations:  Anything Goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters:  Let it Snow Winter Card




Wednesday 11 January 2012

The first of Christmas

I really didn't expect to be making a Christmas card so soon but as I have a pile of cards to recycle and CraftHazelnut's challenge was for something recycled for a Christmas card, I thought I really shouldn't put them away before making something.

I have cut a snowy image from a card and mounted it on some red paper.  I have then used my Fiskars Mini-Boss to emboss some holly leaves in the corner.  I have then used Stickles on them and added holly berries used Liquid Pearls.  Finally I added a greeting at the bottom.



I have entered this in the following challenges:

The Sisterhood of Crafters:  Let it snow/Winter card
Creative Card Crew:  #1 Snowy Day
ABC Christmas challenge:  A for Anything Christmas
CHNC Challenge #54: Give it a new lease of life
Tuesday throwdown: Baby its cold outside


Tuesday 10 January 2012

Butterfly



Have I told you before I just lurrrrve the Marianne Creaetables butterfly, no ..... I am sure I have!!!  I took some paper from my stash; it is a lovely grey with a cream and brown flower design on it.  Another rummage around the stash found the patterned card that toned well and could be used for the butterfly.  The reverse of the card was not patterned and became a layer for the greeting and also punched as three little circles for the bottom left of the card.

I have entered this card in the following challenges:

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #38
The Paper Shelter Challenge 45:  Anything goes
Pixies's Crafty Workshop:  Snippets #2
Craft Room Challenge:  Clean and Simple
Aud Sentiments Challenge:  Sentiment and Scraps
Lets Craft and Create:  Butterflies

Sunday 8 January 2012

Love is in the air

Continuing a series of cards using my new Promarkers and the Betsy Bluebell stamps from Penny Black.  This one definitely gives the feel of love being in the air with those little hearts floating around.  I used some Glossy Accents on them to make them stand out. I used some background papers that I have had for several years now and think that now I have got into stamping that I will be able to use up more of these types of papers.  I also used some plain coloured photocopier in  two different colours to create a contrast.  I also used some wide ribbon that came on a parcel this Christmas and finished it all of with four small brads that have been in my stash for a couple of years.






I have entered this in the following challenges:

My Mums Craft Shop Challenges:  Something New
The Paper Shelter Challenge 45:  Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday Challenge 198:  What's New
Sassy Studio Designs #106:  Something New
Delightful challenges:  Have a Heart
Pixies Crafty Workshop #2:  snippets
Stamps R Us Challenge:  What you got for Christmas
Aud Sentiments Challenger # 45:  Sentiment and scraps
Crafts and Me challenges:  Anything Goes
Card Makin Mammas:  Happy New Year
Simply Create Too:  Layers, Layers and More Layers  ...... (it has 5 layers)
Dream Valley challenges 23:  Anything Goes
Gingerloft challenges 31: Anything Goes
Penny Black Allsorts: Love and hearts
Heart Song Inspirations challenge 29:  Anything goes
Let's Craft and Create:  Anything Goes


Saturday 7 January 2012

Betsy

I am so enjoying using my new Christmas crafty goodies of Promarkers and Betsy Bluebell clear stamps.  Combine these with some of my sentiment stamps, paper and card stash of many years and success for these challenges.  Just think, if I can use up even more stash then there will be room for more!!!!  Plenty of layers for this card; little Besty is the fifth layer!!



I have entered it in the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge 45:  Sentiment and Scraps
Card Makin Mammas:  Happy New Year (or using something new)
Crafts and Me challenges:  Anything Goes
Cupcake Craftroom:  Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday Challenge 198:  Whats New
Sassy Studio Designs Challenge :  Something New     ......(Promarkers and Besty Bluebell stamps)
Heart Song Inspirations Challenge 29:  Anything Goes
Lady Bug Crafts Ink Challenge 51:  Use your new stash
Lets Craft and Create:  Anything Goes
Pixie's Crafty Workshop #2:  Snippets
Simon Says Stamp and Show:  Something Old, Something New
Simply Create Too challenge 4:  Layers, Layers ad More Layers   ..... (5 layers)
Stamps R Us challenge:  What you got for Christmas
The Paper Shelter Challenge 45:  Anything Goes
Totally Gorjuss Challenge 113:  Its a sketch


Genealogy

It has been a while since I have had the genealogy folders out and was totally unprepared for what I found when I went to a Family History meeting the other day. 

We had been asked to take along a will of one of our family members and so I took grandfather's will along.  It must have been at least two years since I had looked at the will, after all I had already noted down the married names of grandfather's sisters and surely I need not look at it any more.

A couple of months ago I got a copy of the 1911 census for grandfather and was surprised to find him as a visitor in a house in Fairlight, Hastings, Sussex and it said at the age of 36 he was retired!!!!  I wish !!  In 1901 and at the time he wrote his will, he was a draper in Glasgow and I knew he had come to Kent in 1919 (from a newspaper cutting about his death in 1947).  Why come to Kent and start breeding Romney Sheep and become well known for it?

I digress; not surprising because I am up against a brick wall for filling in the details between 1911 and 1947. 

I took out the copy of the will at our meeting and started to look at it prior to discussing it with my colleagues.  I turned to the attached codicil and then was surprised to see that the surname of one of the witnesses was the same as the surname of the family he was visiting in the 1911 census, but it wasn't the same first name of any of them.

It just goes to show that we can acquire different resources over a period of time and don't always look to see where they fit in the picture of the information we already have.

One day, one day, my wall will come tumbling down.

Friday 6 January 2012

Anniversay in blue

Time to do something simple again and a friend's anniversary looms very near.  I went back to my trusty Cuttlebug and a favourite embossing folder, dies, a Martha Stewart punch and some ribbon from my stash.  A simple card from a simple recipe .....



I have entered it in the following challenges:

Less is More:  Just one word
Pile it On Challenge: Anything Goes
 Totally Gorjuss Challenge 112:  Happy
Crafty Boots Challenge:  Celebrations
PollyCraft Monday: #121: Punch It


Thursday 5 January 2012

With thanks

Yet another from the Betsy Bluebell stamps I had the Christmas coloured by my new Promarkers.  I found something from my old stash of papers and then using two offcuts of card cut with a Cuttlebug die.



I have entered this in the following challenges:

Creative Inspiration #144:  With thanks
Craft Challenge #136:  Thank You
Hiding in My Craft Room #27: Freestyle
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge:  Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs #127:  Anything goes
Pile it On #1 of 2012:  Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show:  Something Old, Something New
Craft Room Challenge: Anything Goes
Heart Song Inspiration #29:  Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers week 130: Thank you

Congrats

I really like clean and simple cards; there is something about them that almost makes them elegant.  This is another of those cards that speaks for itself and so it was just one simple word on the front.


I have entered this card in the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge #45:  Scraps
By the Cute and Girly Challenges: New Beginnings
Digi Doodle Shop Challenge:  New Beginnings
Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #96:  New Beginnings
Less is More Challenge #47:  Just one word

Promarker Giveaway

There is a fantastic giveaway on the Always with a Heart Blog:  20 Single Promarkers of your choice courtesy of Handy Hippo.

She posts this:

Hi Everyone

How do you fancy increasing your stocks of Promarkers?

"Oh, yes please" I hear you cry.

Well .. ..  even better than increasing your stocks .. .. .. how about choosing which colours you would like to add to your Promarker collection?

To celebrate single Promarkers now being available to buy from Handy Hippo you now have the chance to win a fantastic prize .. .. .. ..

20 SINGLE PROMARKERS OF YOUR CHOICE



Yes that's right .. .. you choose your own 20 colours !!! 
Woo hoo!!!


but please note this prize draw is only open to UK residents (sorry!)

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Thanks a Bunch

Still playing with those new Promarkers and Betsy Bluebell Stamps!!!!  I have also used some old dp and an embellishment that has been tucked away in the stash for a long time.


I have entered this in the following challenges:

Craft Room challenge:  Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations:  With thanks
DYSU Challenge #52:  Rainbow Colours
Paper Sundaes Challenge #101:  Something Old, Something New
Passion for Promarkers Week 130:  Thank you
Simon Says Stamp:  Something Old, Something New
Heart Song Inspiration Challenge #29:  Anything goes
Hiding in My Craftroom #27:  Freestyle
Lets Craft and Create  Challenge #35:  Anything goes
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge:  Anything goes

Tuesday 3 January 2012

In the green

I am on a roll with colouring my new stamps with my new promarkers.  I thought I had been quite careful in choosing the shades that I have but can see that I shall need to expand my range at some point.



I have had a dig around my crafty stash and made up several kits of supplies around different dp that I have.  This particular kit is mainly shades of green but cried out for some orange as a contrast colour.

I used a Martha Stewart punch and my Nestabilities on this design.

I have entered it for the following challenges:
The ABC Challenge:  G for Green
Cupcake Craftroom:  Anything goes
Digi Doodle Shop Challenges:  Anything goes
Heart Song Inspirations Challenge #29:  Anything goes
Hiding in my Craftroom Challenge #27: Freestyle
Lets Create and Craft Challenge #35: Anything goes
The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge:  Anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #67:  Anything goes
Robyns Fetish Challenge #88:  Anything goes
Incy Wincy 127:  Anything goes
Pollycraft Challenge #121:  Punch It

Monday 2 January 2012

Something Old, Something New

The New Year is always a good time to try and use up some of the old crafty stash to make way for the new - or should I have been using it all year round so I have space before Christmas?

I have caught the dreaded winter cold and am lacking energy to do anything more than the basics and then sitting doing some crafting.  I had some lovely goodies for Christmas including the Betsy Bluebell stamps by Penny Black and then some Promarkers.  I only had a set of 5 before Christmas but now have a lovely selection to choose from.  I have a feeling that one can never have enough shades  LOL.  I have used some old dp, ribbon and flowers to complete the card; so, 2 new things and 3 old things.  I am sure I will be doing more than this one and it will be a great way to use the crafty stash and learn how to do the shading with my new Promarkers.


I have entered this card for the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp:  Something Old, Something New
The Squirrel and the Fox Challenge 8:  Something New
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #70:  Something New
Paper Sundaes Challenge #101:  Something Old, Something New
Creative Inspirations Challenge #143:  Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz Week #50:  Anything Goes
My Mums Craft Shop Challenge #37:  Anything Goes
Digi Doodle Shop Best:  Anything Goes
Secret Crafters Saturday challenge:  Anything Goes
Lets Craft and Create Challenge:  Anything Goes

Sunday 1 January 2012

Little Boy Boy Blue

I was asked to make some baby boy cards and this was my favourite.  I was given some new embellishments at Christmas and the little teddy with "Boy" round his neck was one of them.  All the rest was stash taken from my stock boxes.  I really need to make more like this so that I use some of my stash up.  May be that should be a new year's resolution?  Hang on a moment; I never make those resolutions 'cos then they cannot be broken!!!


I have entered this in the following challenges:

The Squirrel and the Fox:  Something new
Joanna Sheen Challenge:  Celebration
4 Crafty Chicks: Crazy Egg challenge #70:  Something new
Paper Sundaes Challenge #101 - Something Old, Something New
Crafty Boots Challenges:  Celebrations
Bearly Mine Challenges:  Anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #66:  Anything goes
Creative Inspirations Challenge #143: Anything goes
Charisma Cardz Challenge #50:  Anything goes
My Mums Craft Shop Challenge #37:  Anything goes


2011 Review

I thought I would do a small review of my blog for 2011.  I see from several of the blogs that I follow that bloggers use it as a way to showcase their favourites from the previous year.

I have only been blogging since early autumn and really must thank Hazel of My Crafty Outlook for the help she has given me along the way.  I really don't know how she blogs so many cards and enters them for so many challenges along the way.

I have decided to pick my top 4 items this year; one for each of the crafty hobbies that I have.

 
Sheffield Park autumn 2011
I love walking in Sheffield Park at any time of year; it is always so peaceful.  I can sit and relax and take in the scenery and listen to the birds sing and maybe even hear a steam train over on the Bluebell Railway closeby.

Snow
A friend on the Crafts by Carolyn Forum sent me some samples when she was doing some cuts from her Memory Box die.  I just love the way I could put four of them round a square and it left the space for the greeting.

Blackwork
Whilst I enjoy doing cross stitch and other forms of embroidery I do enjoy doing blackwork the most, particularly if I am combining both black and gold.  I love this pin cushion so much that I cannot bear using it and getting it dirty.  It sits safely in my work box so I see it every time I open the box and it never fails to amaze me how something so simple can be so effective in its design.

Matinee Jacket
Finally, a matinee jacket that I knitted for my new little granddaughter born in early November.  I am so blessed to have two little granddaughters in this country and next year am looking forward to a new grandchild, although tinged a little with sadness as my son and his wife, who are expecting the baby, live in Hawaii.

It is difficult to find the time for all my crafting and also find time to take part in my other hobbies and voluntary work, so I find I tend to sit and knit small items for babies and toddlers.  I get a lot of my wool from Recycling groups in the surrounding area and then knit and crochet items for Kids Company.  I usually take a large consignment of knitting to their offices twice a year.