:) :) :)

Ok I am officially a VERY VERY happy bunny, on Wednesday I went to see a great friend of mine who is a crafty friend and she passed onto me a wonderful item ... A Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter as she has upgraded and ... she has lent me some cartridges to allow me to get started too, how wonderful a friend is she!  And ... I'm on leave now until Sunday 11 December so I have time to play too!  Yes a VERY VERY happy bunny!

TGF Heart Journal ~ week 19 ~ Chaos

The theme this week for The Greeting Farm Heart Journal is 'Chaos' and this got me thinking about how quite often whats going on inside my head feels like and often is chaos that I have to make sense of so that is how my page came into being.  I have used a wonderful digi stamp from Charmed Cards and Crafts from their Let It Shine collection as this summed up my feelings in picture form and then I just jotted down some of the thoughts that swirls around in my head!  But I did have to add my antidotes too! lol.  Enjoy.

Once again thanks for joining us on our Journal journey. xx

I would also like to enter this into the following challenge:

Fab 'n' Funky #101 ~ Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments ~ A recipe

This week over at Crafty Sentiments the lovely Hazel is our host and she has provided us all with a recipe which goes like this ~ 1 ribbon, 2 images and 3 papers.  So I set to and then realised that I had actually ended up using 3 iamges (whoops lol)  I have used the stamps 'Primrose and the snowman', 'Christmas Fun' and 'Sledging', thought they all went together nicely to give a fun in the snow sort of theme to the card and they are all available at the Crafty Sentiments Design Store.  Used copics to colour and added several different colours of glitter.  Papers are I think Papermania and matted onto some gold holographic card.  Finished off with a gold snowflake charm on my little piece of ribbon.

Well thats what I did with the recipe, dont forget to check out what the rest of the talented ladies on the DT got up to and then why not join in with the challenge yourself?  Go on You know You want to! and we'd love to stop by and see what you do.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz #110 ~ Snowmen

Totally Papercrats #94 ~ Christmas

Totally Gorjuss #108 ~ Sparkle

Crazy 4 Challenges #115 ~ Snow

Paper Sundaes #97 ~ Winter wonderland

TFL

New stamps and a masculine card

Ok I treated myself to some new stamps on Tuesday while I was in Dorchester after a training session for work!  Its the new papermania Urban stamps I only got 2 of the 4 sets (for the time being!lol) at first I was a bit dissapointed when I inked them up as the ink didnt seem to hold to the rubber and I wasnt getting a good stamped impression then I remembered reading an article in the December issue of Papercraft Inspirations about conditioning your new rubber stamps which basically involves rubbing an eraser over the stamp before use, so I tried this and now they are stamping beautifully!  So I had some fun with them and the result is my card which is a bit vintagey and a bit steampunikish but all in all I really like it.  Ria likes it so much she is doing a version of it as a piture for a friend for christmas so will let you see her version when its finished.  Anyway on to my card I have used the stamps and papers from the DCWV Natural stack and my image is a digi stamp which is available at Crafty Sentiments Designs and is called (Jack) ~ Lets go out, and he is coloured with copics as is the little peeloff sentiment.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Sketch Saturday # 182

Sweet Stampin' ~ Birthday

Cupcake Crafts #169 ~ Teenage Boys

Creative Card Crew ~ Monochromatic

Fab 'n' Funky #100 ~ Happy Birthday

Crafts and Me #62 ~ Shabby Chic/vintage

TFL

TGF Heart Journal ~ week 18 ~ Mothers &/or Fathers

Well for this weeks TGF Heart Journal I have gone with the Mothers part of the theme and added and thier daughters as I really wanted to use the photo of the 4 generations of my family and when Ria and I were looking at it we worked out that there is 1 great grandma, 2 Nans, 3 Mums, 3 Daughters, 2 granddaughters and 1 great granddaughter!  I also used some vintage Christmas postcard paper from Bo Bunny as the picture was taken at Christmas and I wanted to convey the passage of time too.  Hope you like it.

Thanks again for stopping by on our journal journey. xx

Crafty Sentiments ~ Use some metal

This week over at Crafty Sentiments its Jo who is our host and the challenge is to use 'metal' which isn't as difiicult as it sounds at first, I mean there are brad, eyelets and charms for starters.  I used a brad but then I took it a bit further and looked around the room at what else I had that was metal and there sat in front of me was a coke can and yes I used it!  After washing it out and cutting it with an old craft knife and some kitchen scissors I had some small panels which I then run thru the Big Shot using a snowflake quikcutz die and hey presto I had me some shiny snowflakes but they looked a bit flat so I put them back thru the Big Shot in an embossing folder and now my snowflakes have texture too!  For my image this week I have used 'Warm Wishes' from the Primrose Winter collection which is available at the Crafty Sentiments Designs Store and I coloured her with my copics added some glitter to the snow and fluffy bits, matted the image onto some silver mirriboard then placed that on some deep red cs which I embossed with snowflakes, the ribbon and brad are from my stash.  For anyone not yet had a go at crafting with a coke can I can recommend it just be careful as the edges can be a bit on the sharp side.

So now its over to you, show us what metal you've got and don't forget to check out what the rest of the wonderful DT have been up to too.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Creations #144 ~ Recycle, recycle, recycle

Crafty Catz #109 ~ Snowflakes

Friday Sketch #5

Stamp Scrap and Doodle Saturdays ~ Embossing

TFL

And now for something totally different!

This is actually Ria's project but if I wait for her to put it on her blog we'll be waiting forever! lol  She had a sewing machine for her birthday and kept putting off using it for the first time (nerves! lol)  Well over the past couple of weeks she has slowly been using it with a little help and encouragement.  We had spotted some awesome bags on a market stall that were made from old denim jeans and she wanted to have a go and we found instructions in a magazine so off we went and got some funky material for the lining and strap and bit by bit she has made herself a bag out of an old pair of her jeans and this is the end result that was finished this afternoon just in time for her to walk down with it!

and here is a pic showing the lining better, its called Mexican Day of the Dead.  When we went looking for material we were going to use some blue jeans but as soon as she saw this she knew it was exactly what she wanted and had some black jeans to use.  We are both really pleased with how it turned out.

We would like to enter it into the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers #56 ~ Recycle

Crafty Creations #144 Recycle, recycle, recycle

Fussy and Fancy #50 ~ Make a gift/anything but a card

OSAAT #89 ~ Anything Goes

TFL

Mr Snowman

Yay! another Christmas card done, I've had a great weekend crafting!  Thats the way I like it, I'm sure there are plenty of other things I should have been doing but they will all still be there tomorrow! lol  This time I have used 'Primrose and the Snowman' which is available at Crafty Sentiments Designs coloured with my copics and some stardust and glitter added to the image and the leaves.  Papers again I'm not sure about and gold cs and the flower is from my stash.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenge:

Creative Inspirations #138 ~ Sketch

TFL

Sledging Fun

Another Christmas card made, daren't think about how many still to do! lol  I have used 2 wonderful images called 'Sledging' and 'Christmas Fun' and they are both available from Crafty Sentiments Designs coloured them with copics and a tiny bit of sakura stardust, matted them onto some gold pre embossed cs wrapped some ribbon round and added some buttons, the background snowflake paper I have had for a very long time and I'm not sure what make it is anymore, possibly Papermania.

I would like to enter this card into the following challeges:

Cupcake Crafts #168 ~ Twos company

Stamptacular Sundays #139 ~ Boy oh Boy

OSAAT #89 ~ Anything Goes

TFL

Playing around

Ok I've been playing around with coke cans today!  Now I have already tried cutting them with my nesties and that was successful and then I used alcohol inks to colour the cut piece and I liked the effect so today I was wondering what else I could cut with them and quik cutz dies work too and after doing that I embossed the cuts outs and was pleased with the results (you'll have to stop by on Tuesday to see the results of that!) so I had another go at embossing and here is the end result.  A quick, simple and I think effective card, hope you like it.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers #56 ~ Recycle

Crafts and Me #61 ~ 'Simples'

TFL

Went a bit mad with the glitter (and not a lot else!)

Now don't get me wrong I do like a bit of bling every now and again so I tend to use my glitter in small amounts but this time the glitter just took hold!  The end result is a very sparkly card which was very difficult to photograph at its best!  The image is from a sheet of preprinted acetate that I bought at a craft show about a year ago (or it might have been 2!) along with lots of different colour glitters.  I framed the image by using a Nellies Multi Frame and then debossed the remainder got out my glue pen and went mad with glamour dust.  Hope you like it.

and also a closer look at all that glitter!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

ABC ~ D is for dazzle

Fab 'n' Funky ~ Baby Its Cold Outside

Totally Gorjuss #107 ~ Swirly Whirly

2 Sisters #66 ~ Let it sparkle

Just Us Girls #111 ~ Red Green & White

Thanks for stopping by. xx

A bright thank you

I just love this paper pack its by Raspberry Road Designs and is called 'Annies Room' it was a freebie a couple of years ago when I first started collecting digi scrapbook kits.  I love its versatility as it works for most things and most seasons.  I have frequently used it in the past for christmas cards and no doubt I will again this year!  But for now I have made a thank you card with it and an image that came free a while ago with the Creativity magazine and this is the first time I have inked it up.  I have added the image to the card on foam pads for some added dimension.  The beaded dragonfly and flowers are from my stash and I used some pink peeloff letters for the sentiment.  I think I like this even though it is quite busy for me! lol it is certainly bright!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Sunday Sketch & Stamp #81

Stamptacular Sunday #138 ~ punch it, my leaves and triangles are punches and I've used my nesties for the circlesTuesday Throwdown #75 ~ Lots of circles ~ scalloped circle, plain circle and spots on the paper
Mad for Markers ~ Anything Goes ~ I have used copics W3,5,7 RV21, 23 Y08 & YG95

TFL

TGF Heart Journal ~ week 17 ~ Soul Food

Ok the theme this week for the TGF HeArt Journal is 'Soul Food' and the story behind this one is that when visiting my mum and dad earlier this year we had popped into a cafe for a quick cuppa and there on the counter was this piece of Gypsy Tart, (this is a traditional Kentish dish) now I havent had Gypsy Tart in years and I mean years so the next thing we were on the phone to my aunt who is the Gypsy Tart queen asking nay begging for a Gypsy Tart while we were there and she was very good and sure enough made a divine Gypsy Tart.  Basically it is pastry case filled with evaporated milk and muscavado sugar whisked together and then baked in the oven til set, it is delicious but very difficult to describe the taste apart from very sweet sort of butterscothy, toffee yummy need I say more?! lol not good for someone trying to lose weight as I have put on a couple of lbs just thinking about it! lol  Then we went on to Ria's choice well hers is a Choco Cheatza which is a concoction we came up with one evening while we were having a girlie night in infront of the tv and it consists of a square wrap base covered in choc spread, sprinkled with marshmallows and then put under a hot grill til the marshmallows start to melt and brown - very yummy and great fun and yes we have made them again and again!  I also had a very crazy notion while I was devising the page that I would use canvas and colour it using coffee - yes I did say coffee! lol well I didnt have paint in the right colour and thought the canvas would soak up too much ink! just finished it off with a couple of stamped sentiments using espresso ink (of course!) Had great fun with this one.

Thanks for joining us on our journal journey xx

Crafty Sentiments - Spotlight Technique

This week over at Crafty Sentiments Heather is our host and she has chosen a technique for the challenge and its 'Spotlight'.  Now this is the first time I have tried this technique, seen it done and thought 'thats effective must have a go' but thats as far as I ever got! lol  So no more dilly dallying!  For my card I have used a cute new digital image that is available now at Crafty Sentiments Designs and its called 'Snowman Globe'  for my coloured section I used copics and then added 3d crystal lacquer and a slight sprinkling of glamour dust.  I was hoping this would give the impression of a snowglobe when it has just been shaken and the glitter is floating about, I like what I acheived.  For the rest of my card the papers are MME and I added some gold ribbon and bows and stamped the sentiment in gold on a Crafty Cutters Vintage Label die cut also availbable at Crafty Sentiments Designs.

and a close up of the spotlight bit to show you the effect

Well thats what I made using this great technique, dont forget to check out what the rest of the amazing DT got up to this week and then come and join in our challenge, we look forward to stopping by to see what you create.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Totally Gorjuss #106 ~ Christmas Tradition

2 Sisters #65 ~ Anything Goes

Paper Sundaes #95 ~ Digital Image

Sketch and Stamp #74 Old stash is the papers and new stash is the new digi image.

TFL

Christmas card time is upon us!

Thought I'd better get cracking with my Christmas cards as I always seem to be doing them right up to the very last minute!  So for this card I have used the adorable digi stamp Herbie the Bear which is available over at Crafty Sentiments Designs  I have coloured him using copics and then a touch of sakura stardust for sparkle.  Have used corrugated kraft card, red cs and white cs which I also embossed with snowflakes, added some snowflake brads and some red flowers to which I added some stickles.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Sunday Sketch & Stamp #80

OSAAT #87 ~ Use a digi

PaperTake Weekly ~ First Christmas  (christmas card or card for a first christmas)

Digital Tuesday #136 ~ Anything Goes

Crafty Creations #143 ~ Kraft/brown, white/cream + 1 other (mine is red)

Crafty Catz #108 ~ Use a digi image

TFL

Billy's going back to school

Ok so I know its not back to school time but I just adore this stamp of Billy carrying his books to school and couldn't resist using it and thought it worked really well with the glittery alphabet paper from the First Edition Paper pad 'Hideaway', the dotty paper is from the same pad.  Billy has been coloured with copics as has my peeloff sentiment which was then placed on a Crafty Cutters Vintage label die then just added a few brads and a border.  Both Billy and the Vintage label die are available at Crafty Sentiments Designs.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Our Creative Corner ~ Masculine card (no traditional colours) I felt the blue/green and splashes of orange weren't really trad.

Sketch Saturday # 180

Sweet Stampin' Challenge ~ Picture Inspiration

Crafts and Me #60 ~ Birthdays

TFL

TGF Heart Journal ~ week 16 ~ heart 2 heart

For this weeks theme over at TGF for the heART Journal it is Heart 2 Heart so they want to see lots of hearts and maybe also have a little herat 2 weart with yourself!  Well I'm not a great one for lots of journalling I never really think I've got anything interesting to say!  Anyway I knew that I wanted to shape my page this week so I called on Ria's skills as my heart shapes were not looking heart shaped! then for my extra hearts I added some playing cards which got me thinking a bit more and led to the small amount of journalling that I have acheived which I did in white gel pen.  I am actually pleased with the way it turned out.

Once again thanks for joining us on our journal journey. xx

Crafty Sentiments - New Baby

Tuesday means Crafty Sentiments Design challenge day and this week Axa is our host and her challenge is 'New Baby'  I took this opportunity to have a go at a telescopic card which I saw over at SCS and I have to say this was fun to make.  My papers are some digi ones I had stored on my pc but I'm not actually sure where they are from or who made them I have had them for so long and not used them before (I do know they were freebies!)  For my image I chose the adorable Luke and coloured him with copics I teamed him up with a sentiment from the Lucy and Tiddles set Both these sets are available at Crafty Sentiments Designs along with Lucy and Rattle. Then I added a button, brads, some ribbon and funky fibre.

Telescopic card closed

Telescopic card open

Well thats what I have done, go check out the amazing work that the rest of the DT have made, your wont be disappointed and then join us for the challenge we'd love to see your gorgeous creations.

Oh and don't forget the special promotion going on at Crafty Sentiments Designs for a limited time only when you buy a Crafty Cutters border die you get a free stamp.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz #107 ~ Anything Goes 

One Stop Craft Challenge #156 ~ 3's 3 scalloped circles, 3 plain circles

Allsorts #128 ~ Anything but a square

2 Sisters #64 ~ Ribbon

TFL

Orange & Black

Now I dont often use orange in my card making but Orange & Black was the colour combo thrown down for the challenge this fortnight over at Mad for Markers and as Halloween has passed I really had to stop and think about how I was going to get my orange in!  Well it happened in the form of Jade from TGF this has to be one of my all time favourite stamps, so that was the easy part I used W 7, 5, 3 1, C 7, 5 black, YR 68, R 00, 11.  Now to find orange papers so I hunted through my 6x6 papermania pads that I bought when I was starting out and found both papers so I stitched the panels to some paler orange cs which I also used for the Vintage Label die and the fancy hearts border, both by Crafty Cutters available at Crafty Sentiments Designs.  The sentiment stamp is also TGF then I added some punched leaves, flower, button and fastenator.

I would also like to enter this into the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts #91 ~ Stitch It

Friday Sketch Challenge #4

Quirky Crafts #23 ~ Attitude

TFL

Crafty Sentiments Designs Promotional offer

Ok I have some news for you!  Do you love border dies? Yes? and do you like snagging yourself a bargain too? Yes? well then take yourself over to Crafty Sentiments Designs because for a limited time only when you purchase a Crafty Cutters Border Die you get a FREE stamp  and yes I did say FREE so what are you waiting for?