Sunday 20 November 2011

Challenges...

Another fast week has gone by and it is Sunday again!  I have entered this card in the following challenges.  I have used one of my favourite Ladybugcraftsink Ruby stamps, this one can be used for almost any occasion, just add the "I am thinking of you..." and you can chose the occasion.  I liked the idea of Christmas and have coloured Ruby in promarker pens, chalked around the edges, and used a lovely Docrafts snowflake vellum.  I glittered snowflakes on to plain vellum and used a snowflake punch to cut them, finally adding red gems in the centre.

Ladybugcraftsink blogspot - fairies
CES Challenges  -  snowflakes
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - snowflakes
Creatalicious Challenges - Christmas and make sure it sparkles
Flutterbywednesdays - open but use a fairy, butterfly or angel
Moving along with the times - snow
2 Sisters - Let it Sparkle
Wags'n'Whiskers Rubber Stamps - Christmas Themed

Thank you to the above blogs for offering challenges and taking time to allow us fellow crafters to have more fun!

Sunday 13 November 2011

Some Challenges


I have been making a few cards recently,what with the dark nights here and my crafting goodies from the recent Hobbycrafts at the SECC.  Taking photos in the dark nights are not so easy to achieve though.  This card is a lovely rich pink colour and the ribbon a rich dark pink, not the purple shade in the photo!  I love these stamps, they came free with a crafting magazine recently and have been used many times.  I have entered in the following challenges:-
Ladybugcraftsink blogspot - love and marriage and anything goes (as well as a bloghop too)

Monday 7 November 2011

Ladybugcraftsink Blog Hop - have a look...

Well then, the SECC Hobbycrafts came and went, whoosh!  I had the full day on the Friday to browse, all by myself, although bumping in to many crafting friends along the way!  On the Saturday, my bruised feel and aching back returned with my favourite wee 12 year old, Bethany, we had a great day.  The hall got a bit busy at one point and the wee soul was getting a bit crushed, we disappeared for lunch and then back again for round two!  She bought the inkylicious brushes (so did I) and had some fun with these and her new inks on Saturday night, George Bowie's GB Experience on Clyde 1 (dance music) and crafting, we had a great old time!  Unbelievably, I headed back again on the Sunday and met up with one of my most precious friends and her daughter, my friend had been critically ill earlier this year, and thank God has made it through, she is still very weak, and on dialysis 3 times a week, also now a wheelchair user, but my goodness, she looked brilliant.Keep getting stronger, Myra.  I taught her to cross-stitch years ago and she has not as yet moved over the the papercrafting yet, but I am working on it!.....

I am unsure about fellow crafters, but I was a bit disappointed with the exhibitors who were able to attend this year, no Create and Craft, Kameo Cards, and the larger well known companies, their familiar faces were missing, Crafters Companion, Debbi Moore (without Debbi), Glitter Girls to name a few. The lovely Barbara Gray of Clarity Stamps was great, always friendly and so full of enthusiasm, a real gem.  I felt the NEC was the winner and Scotland was left a bit deserted, just my opinion though.  A wee thought, my local independent craft shop, Craftworld in Hillington, they managed to provide continuous demos and a selection of great products at the SECC, and also attended the NEC too, well done to them!

Sorry for prattling on, just a note to say that I have stopped playing with my goodies I purchased and managed to get to update my blog.  I pleased to see that Kerry from Ladybugcraftsink (http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/?zx=f3c403824520947e )  has a blog hop starting tomorrow, and if you have time, take a look - her DT team always seem to make such beautiful cards each week, worth making one of your favourite blogs.  A weekly challenge is also held each Tuesday as well!  Kerry has a beautiful selection of stamps (http://www.ladybugcraftsink.co.uk/christmas-30-c.asp ) to purchase, both in high quality polymer and also more recently, images being available in digital format as well.

Hope you are all warm and cosy crafting on this cold foggy evening, Christmas is coming......

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Just over a week to go the the October SECC

Well, time is flying by - the Hobbycrafts and Creative Stitches shows are almost here, just over a week to do and I can't wait!  It seems ages since the last event at the SECC at the beginning of March, too long a gap until the next event at the end of October, I think the organisers show even this up, one every six months,  I have had a look at the exhibitors and pleased to see Stephanie will there, my absolute favourite, Barbara Gray of Clarity Stamps and I have noticed Debbi Moore on the list, never seen Debbi in the flesh so hopefully that will be a nice experience.  Hopefully the favourite regulars will all return and the recession will not stop us all from meeting up agai

Tuesday 11 October 2011

New SWALK Range...

I was having a wee scout about fabulous blogland out there and notice that Crafters Companion have a blog hop this week with an opportunity to win the fantastic new range of SWALK stamps and a CD too!  Their Design Team have created some beautiful samples too, so, if you can get yourself away from your hands on crafting then have a happy half hour in blogland....

Sunday 11 September 2011

Been a while...

Been a while, is an understatement, I was shocked to see that my last entry was in August and we are now in mid-September, I certainly didn't keep the "I'll keep the blog up to date promise" now, did I? Ho, hum! I wonder if I am like fellow crafters, in that I find myself with a very short deadline to make a specific card, you know the "I wonder if you could make a card for my friend, her birthday is tomorrow" line, which seems to be heard very frequently. I then find myself creating a very quick masterpiece (I do try you know...), and then in the rush I forget to take a photo of it, and it's gone, no proof of this for my blog, so I think what I am trying to say is, remember to take a pic the same way you remember to take the sticky off the double sided tape, we will see....
Anyway, back to a challenge I would like to enter and a very nice weekend for my cardmaking hobby, otherwise known as, bank balance drainer... I am very fortunate to have my local craft shop, Craft World, within a reasonable driving distance, and they were having a demonstration weekend this Saturday and Sunday, we were spoiled, 14 demonstrations in all! We had demos on glitter, Tim Holtz, docrafts, marianne creatables, colouring mediums, lovely stamps, we had loads to look at and loads to resist buying (I did try, honestly). Learned a lot of new tips and of course, our friendly crafting community all seemed to get together as well, so was able to have a good catch-up with my friends as well, and...we even had coffee and muffins for sale as well, pretty good going I think for a lazy Saturday.
Now, one of the demonstraters was the lovely Kerry who offers us crafters a wonderful selection of stamps, and can I say, they stamp absolutely beautifully every time, they are a high quality polymer stamp and just a dream to work with. Her stamps can be purchased from her website ( http://www.ladybugcraftsink.co.uk/stamps-9-c.asp weekly blog challenge (http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/) is held each Tuesday, this week's topic being "anything goes" as well as a bloghop too. It was Kerry who introduced me to Glamour Dust and I love it, the above card being one of those examples, can't wait to really get cracking on the Christmas cards, I will certainly be a Glamour Dust babe, it will be everywhere, and hopefully some will stick to the cards. I would like to enter this card in the LBCI challenge, I was thinking I need one of these lightboxes to make my pics look better, and in sure MacGyver style, I found a guy on the net who has made his own out of a photocopy box, that should be some interesting fun for me at the weekend, I can see the box being crushed and put in the recycle bin as I am not the most patient person in the world, trust me!
I have entered my card in the following challenges...
Ladybugcraftsink blogspot - Anything Goes
Creations by Gill M - Cute as a Cupcake
Crafting when we can - Anything Goes
One Stop Craft Challenge - Food and Drink





Thanks for looking...

Friday 29 July 2011

Challenges...

Nice to see the sunshine recently and inspired to make some flowery cards. I had picked up a packet of small sized cards from Craftwork Cards and they are ideal for making wee cute ones, I think these will be perfect for some nice Christmas cards I have in mind. The sentiment is a new stamp I have bought by Marion Emberson, I have to say I adore her stamps. Excellent quality and stamps clear each time, great value and pleased to see Marion hosting recent craft shows on QVC. Her blog at sugarandspice blogspot worth a look. I have entered this wee card in the following challenges:- Ladybugcraftsink blogspot - summer birthdays Thanks for looking...

Saturday 23 July 2011

Lili of the Valley....

Apologies, so long in updating my blog, time flies by so fast. I made this card, along with a few others for my friend who was asking if her friends could make some cards for the MS Society, glad to do so. I had purchased the lovely Lili of the Valley toppers at the SECC craft fair, these are so nice to use. This was a quick and simple card but I really liked the colours. I'll try to keep updating the blog, probably spend too much time looking at other blogs....

Sunday 12 June 2011

Ladybugcraftsink Challenge and Blog...

Been a while since I have added to my blog, life just seems busy all the time, although I have been making some nice cards, just not listed on the blog as yet. One of my favourite blogs, Ladybugcraftsink have a challenge this week of a male card (http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/challenge-31-its-all-about-males.html), so I thought I would enter this card. Do we all find making cards for males so difficult, anything pink or purple seems so much easier!
The Ladybugscraftink are also running a blogaversary, (http://ladybugcraftsink.blogspot.com/)so well worth having a look at the website, Kerry is almost at her target of 200 followers, so go on, give her a hand...

Monday 2 May 2011

May Bank Holiday...

What a lovely sunny weekend we have had, I really like the idea of four day weekends! Another one at the end of this month as well, yeah!
I have made this card for Bethany who will be 12 tomorrow, I hope she likes it. She likes stickles so I have used these around the flowers and the butterfly, I have also added a wee metal handbag to go with the Lili of the Valley topper which has the cute little girly bear shopping for shoes, ideal for a young lady who just loves being fashionable. I have also used my new circle nestie and scallop circle, really like these. Craftwork Cards came to the rescue with their new sentiment tags, they offer different shapes and I think this shape is my favourite of the lot. I have entered this in the following challenges... Ladybugcrafts ink challenge - topic of fashion (and blog hop as well) Moving Along With The Times - anything goes
PaperCutz Challenge - anything goes
Totally Gorjuss Challenge - 3, 2 1, (three flowers, 2 papers and 1 image
Sarah Hurley Challenge - Butterflies/things with wings

Saturday 23 April 2011

Anne's Card...

Anne's Card
These cards have been made using the wonderful cute cards which Lili of the Valley have available, they are excellent value for money and good quality card, ideal for adding glitter and gems. (http://www.liliofthevalley.co.uk/acatalog/__New___Cute_Squares.html). I have punched the butterfuly using a Martha Stewart punch and added a few gems to these, whilst also adding Craftwork Cards silver card candi to give this a shine and their new sentiment tags. We made a variation of this card in one of my card classes which the wonderful Caroline takes and I hope she likes my use of the Lili of the Valley cards.
This is Anne's card which has been entered into the following challenges... Delicious Doodles Challenge - anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - anything goes

Bethany's Card...

Bethany's Card
Well been a while, time just disappears. I have made quite a few cards and will list them over next few days. This card has two variations, one by me and the other by Bethany. This was made using one of the Lili of the Valley toppers, a Martha Stewart butterfly punch with diamante gems and Craftwork Cards candi. We are going to enter them into different blog challenges, we're curious to see who likes them and who is the winner! No matter what, as always we had a nice time "playing". Hope everyone is well and having a nice Easter and enjoying the sunshine... Bethany's card has been entered into the following challenges....
Ladybugcraftsink Challenge - Anything Goes (blog hop Tuesday 26/4/11 - have a look!)

Monday 14 March 2011

Challenges....

Time just flies by and before I know it, deadline for challenges appear. I have made a few cards this week, and just finished this one. I have used one of my favourite Ladybug Crafts Ink stamp of Robyn, I love this because I can glitter her umbrella. I have entered this in this week's Ladybug Crafts Ink challenge (http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/) which is on Spring colours, there is a lovely floral paper underneath but as I always say, a new camera is needed. I have used glamour dust on Robyn's umbrella and glossy accents on the puddle and raindrops, and my new nesties too!
Thanks for looking...

Monday 28 February 2011

Challenges...

I have been desperately trying to get some crafting time this weekend, and only just made it. I have entered this lovely wee card into the following challenges, and definitely into the Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge as I have used the lovely Robyn in the puddle stamp. This can be purchased from Ladybug Crafts Ink ( http://ladybugcraftsink.co.uk/wellies-robyn-188-p.asp) Their challenges run from a Tuesday until a Monday, this week has their blog hop in line with release of their new stamps. The current challenge asks for two papers, one image and three flowers. I adore glitter and just always feel that the umbrella cries out for it. The stamp is from Ladybug Crafts Ink and the paper is from Docrafts in their new range. I have used stickles around the side of the paper and also around the image, as well as a few sprinklings on the flowers, which I have purchased from Wild Orchid Crafts, ( http://www.wildorchidcrafts.com/ ) their flowers are absolutely stunning. This card has also been entered into the following challenges, thanks for looking...
Critter Sketch Challenge - use a sentiment - http://critterchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Sketchy Colors - use pink and beige - http://sketchycolors.blogspot.com/

Saturday 26 February 2011

A week to go...

Well, only one week until the craft show in Glasgow, looking forward to going along and seeing all those tempting goodies! Bethany and I will be there bright and early, and stop for lunch when the going gets tough, normally about midday, when for some reason, the halls fill up! I do prefer the October show, as all the Christmas goodies are there - but wouldn't miss the March one. One of my recent discoveries, and I love it, is Pinflair Photoglue (http://www.joannasheen.com/craft-supplies/glues-and-sticky-things/glues/pinflair-foto-glue-single-50ml-tube/) , it's brilliant (on my top list with my glamour dust). I have for ages struggled with lining up my papers using doublesided tape (fingerlift tape) and, you know, with one eye shut trying to get it in line. However, I bought some of the Photoglue, well, it's brilliant! Put it on, line it up, down it goes and after a wee shuggle, all is straight, and one of the best things, any excess glue just rubs off, voila! Needless to say, I will be stocking up on this. (I think the Collall photoglue is very similar, though I haven't used it). I love using the Pinflair Gel Glue for decoupage and adding embellishments (and holding my shower head together, honestly....).

Monday 14 February 2011

Love is in the Air - Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge...and others too (phew)

Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge - Love is in the Air...
I am entering this card into the Ladybug Crafts Ink challenge http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/?zx=f3c403824520947e) whose topic this week is "Love is in the Air". I have used the lovely Ruby stamp available from Ladybugcrafts Ink and coloured her with promarkers and added Glamour Dust to her wings. I have punched some lovehearts and added them around the card. My printer ran out of ink (surprise!) and I had to handwrite the sentiment! I used a red Sakura gel pen and tried my neatest writing, hope it works!
I have also entered this card into the following challenges..
Papertake weekley Challenge (http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2011/02/have-heart.html) - Have a Heart
Many thanks for looking...

Thursday 10 February 2011

My wee pal Bethany...

Unfortuantely I haven't been crafting too much recently, with one thing and another, although always find time to have a quick look at my favourite blogs. Kerry's Ladybug Crafts Ink is one of my favourites, and I had my friend's 11 year old daughter (I borrow her as much as I can...) on Wednesday for a "crafting night". I had offered her a choice from my stamp box and she promptly chose Ladybug Crafts Ink Ruby Fairy, which I might add I had only purchased the week before and never got round to using, so Bethany, who just loved the image, chose Ruby. (for sale from (http://ladybugcraftsink.com/daydreaming-ruby-133-p.asp) We sat together, chatted, ate choccies (not too many) and crafted. Here is her creation and, thanks Kerry's guidance, her introduction to Glamour Dust. (Kerry told me about this at a demo day and I promptly purchased and use it loads!). Bethany loved it too.
I had a wee box of the alphabets, only 99p and a great buy, and I broke off the individual letters and we spelt out "Happy Birthday" she patiently stamped and stuck them on (pure admiration for her patience)., and lo and behold her lovely card. I suggested taking a pic and as the current challenge was "a card for a child..." this fit the bill perfectly. I emailed her card and (thank you Kerry and your Design Team) Bethany's card was posted on blog with lovely comments. Let me just say, Bethany is thrilled and I actually think we are more chuffed to have this recognition that the challenge win gift! So, thanks Bethany for being a great crafting buddy, and to Ladybug Crafts Ink team for making a wee girl's day, much appreciated. (p.s. Bethany and I are going to the SECC in four weeks, our girls' day out and can't wait...).

Monday 17 January 2011

Baby Boy Card for Challenges...

Hi there
I have made this Baby Boy card primarily for the Ladybug Crafts Ink challenge which ends on Monday 17th January 2011 at 9 a.m. (kinda close with the time thingy!). I really do need a new camera, as try as I do, the picture never does the card justice. I have added glossy accents to the bubbles, and added pale blue gems to the swirls on the card. I have also added blue chalk around the image and the sentiment, which I have written with Sakura Stardust blue pen, all of which don't show in the picture, boo hoo! The image has been downloaded from , Mo's Digital Pencil, (http://digitalpenciltoo.com/index.php/Babies.html) titled "Kai in a tub", the selection of images are outstanding and reasonably priced. I have only tried the digital thing a few times, unsure whether it is for me, I really do enjoy the inky stampy thingy!
I have entered this project in the following challenges...
The Crafty Pad Stamp Designs - (http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/2011/01/challenge-104-dt-call-reminder.html) - Something New (new baby)
Thanks for looking...

Saturday 15 January 2011

Go on, hop over to Ladybug Crafts Ink Bloghop...

My new year resolution of keeping the blog up-to-date will never happen, so I suppose I have to accept it as it is! Until Monday at 9 a.m., my favourite blog over at Ladybug Crafts Ink is running their weekly challenge as well as a bloghop too! (http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/challenge-10-baby-plus-new-release-blog.html). Give yourself a treat, take some time for yourself, and go over the bloghop, the design team are are so talented, and you can chill out and maybe catch some new ideas from their blogs. The current challenge is based on "baby", in line with the release of Kerry's new baby stamps, you can see them here, as well as Kerry's other stamps which you can purchase, http://www.ladybugcraftsink.com/baby-baby-245-p.asp, they are lovely. Her stamps cover so many topics and the quality is first class, love them! I have a few cards to share, hopefully get round to that soon, now I am heading to the bloghop whilst listening to my favourite dance tunes! Here goes...

Monday 3 January 2011

Happy New Year and New Challenges...

Happy New Year to Everyone,
Well that's it over for another year, where did the time go to. I hope everyone had a lovely time and managed to find time to rest, and of course craft!
I have made this card, with which I have tried a few new things. I have used, for the first time, watercolour card from Crafters Companion, it is really thick, but did the job. I stamped using Black Soot Distress Ink and tried to draw out the ink with a damp paintbrush, probably needs a bit more practice but looks okay! I used some Sakura glue pen on the umbrella and sprinkled with glitter. The glossy accents on the puddle and raindrops doesn't quite show so well in the photo (sadly Santa did not bring a new camera, boo hoo). I have gone around the image with grey chalks to give a slight frame. The white card blank is Craftwork Cards and I have to say, they are such stunning quality. I wouldn't consider using any other card blanks, and anyway, at the rate I make my cards, the two packets I have will last me a few years!
I have taken the opportunity to enter this card into the following challenges:-
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Song Title (Raindrops keep falling on my head)
Crafty Cat Weekly Challenge - chose a previous challenge topic (Challenge 57 - Spots & Stripes) - http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
City Crafter Challenge - Stamp it Out
Stamp Something - Glitter
Paper Sundaes - Something New
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
Oh, while I was browsing other blogs, I came across this one, Reasonable Ribbon blogspot, http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/ maybe worth a look as they are also offering some lovely candy...
Happy crafting...