My Crafty Cupboard

No Cards - Scrapbook Pages Instead!!

2012-02-15T23:28:00.001Z

I haven't made a card this week, half term, but have been very busy digitally scrapping our old family photos for an album for my brother's birthday next month. When our parents passed away 5 years ago I was lucky enough to have all the family photos for safekeeping which meant my brother can't see them. So I have been rather busy scanning them in so that they can all be saved and passed on digitally. These are the 8x8 pages I have done so far. I really want an A3 printer now, so that I can go bigger!!

I have room for 20 pages and the hardest part is knowing which photos to leave out!!

Just For You!

2012-01-28T14:49:00.003Z

A fun card for my PB friends!

A little card using:

Margaret Sherry image - free in Cardmaking and Papercrafts this month

Basic Grey dp -Euphoria

Cardcrafts sentiment strip

Another Digi Scrap Page

2012-01-27T23:03:00.000Z

Something to look at - I've been messing around with some holiday photos from 2010 tonight although I've made a little mistake (can you spot it?). I've also made a little card for some of my PB friends but will have to wait until tomorrow to photograph it in daylight - my card photos are pretty rubbish at the best of times and at night they'll be even worse!!

Until tomorrow then,

Go Bananas!

2012-01-24T22:07:00.001Z

I had so much fun making this 8inch square card at the weekend for my daughter's birthday today. She's 23 but loves monkeys so I thought this image and sentiment from a set of Inky Antics stamps would be just the job! He's coloured with Promarkers and glittered. She is also a big fan of orange too. I distressed all the edges and inked them with Wild Honey distress ink. The monkey border and the flower were cut on my Cricut. I made the flower from palm leaves! The bananas are cut freehand. The dp is from Basic Grey.

I'd like to enter this into several challenges just because I really like it!! I'm glad it's staying in the family, you know, I sometimes hate having to part with my cards, they're like children!! lol Are you like me, I stand them on the sideboard before they get sent so that I can see them, lol - (Or am I just dotty - you decide?!!)

I'd like to enter this in.....

Sketch Saturday #191

Secret Crafter - Food and Drink

and

Totally Papercrafts - Make your Own Flowers

That's all folks ........

Welcome - New Home Card

2012-01-22T17:14:00.001Z

Here's the card I made to go with the new home shadow box present for a work colleague. I used my Pilkington Town stamps from Stamps Away. I stamped a row of houses and lightly coloured these with a grey Promarker. I stamped a part of the image as a focal point and used colour on this part. It was then triple embossed with clear powder and mounted on a Nestie circle. The sentiment is from LOTV. I found a bit of red ribbon left from Christmas to finish it off. All the window tops are glittered but they don't show too well in the photo.

I'd like to enter it in this week's Totally Gorjuss challenge - #115 Welcome.
and
The Stampman's Challenge - Use Red

My New Scrapbook Pages!

2012-01-20T17:57:00.001Z

Here are a few of the pages I have made so far using my Craft Artist digital scrapbook software.

On holiday in Derbyshire

My daughter's Graduation Day

Whitby in October 2011

Tuscany August 2011

I hope to make them into scrapbooks eventually when I have an A3 printer. At the moment I can print A4 sized pages and 8x8 pages which can be made into photobooks. The program is great, easy to use, I can make all these into greeting cards too!

Challenge Time - phew just made it this week!

2012-01-20T15:54:00.000Z

Still trying hard to keep up with a least one challenge each week although my last project missed out - I finished the shadow box on Monday but didn't get round to uploading :(

Anyway, I made this card for a friend this week too - I forgot her Birthday at Christmas. I made it as she was coming to school this Wednesday then I forgot to take it so it will have to wait until next week now. Does anyone else forget as much as me!! It's mainly layers of Bazzill card cut using circle nesties. The paper is from My Mind's Eye, a friend gave me some of hers) and the sentiment is from a new set of postmark stamps from LOTV. I've added loads of glitter glue and crystals. The butterfly is a little Kanban stamp on acetate which I've glittered.

I'd like to enter it for this week's Sketch Saturday Challenge

and

Sweet Stampin' - all that glitters!

Well, still keeping my resolution intact - just, lol!!

Digital Scrapbooking!

2012-01-20T15:34:00.001Z

This is fast developing into my next craft passion - digital scrapbooking!! I treated myself to a piece of software by Serif - 'Craft Artist Premium' and can't stop playing! This project is a little 6x6 shadow box which I made for a work colleague as a house warming present. The main image and the label is decoupaged and being a shadow box I managed to add a real button and some ribbon. What I need now is an A3 printer so that I can print out all the scrapbook pages I've made so far. I need to save up a bit first though!! lol (and cut down on my craft spends!!)

Lili of the Valley Prize Draw!

2012-01-13T18:32:00.002Z

http://ideastoinspire.blogspot.com/

Hurry, ends Sunday !

My New Year Resolution!

2012-01-08T19:40:00.000Z

Hello campers!

Happy New Year everyone, Gosh... it's so long since I've been here! I really don't get much time to post my cards and crafty makes lately but at the start of this new year I've decided to try and make a supreme effort to post a card each week!! (We'll see :) !! )

I have made loads of cards since I was here last and will try and show some of them later in the year. Anyway for now I have had to make a card for my Auntie's birthday so I thought why not make a challenge card, so here it is:

I have used:

Papers from My Mind's Eye (Spring Paper pad - free from a magazine), Image from a free stamp set from Cardmaking and Papercrafts magazine, coloured with Promarkers and Glossy Accents. Flowers from my craft cupboard, the yellow felt ones are recycled from a card I was given! The ribbon is from a Marks and Spencer party cake which we had (or which I mainly ate all myself) at Christmas!! Sentiment from Kanban. Pearly doodles and pearls to decorate.

I'd like to enter it into 3 challenges this week.

1. Sketch Saturday #189 for the sketch

2. Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Let Them Eat Cake ........ (I did, I put on 10lbs this Xmas

holiday!!!) .. for the image.

3. Sweet Stampin' ....... Spots and Dots .... for the papers.

Off to wash up the dinner things before Sherlock starts now. It's great to be back, let's hope I can keep visiting!!

Mo Manning and an apology!!

2011-10-16T11:57:00.000+01:00

Gosh!! It's soooo long since I was here - I'm sorry for neglecting my little blog but I just haven't got round to updating it lately. I am still here and crafting away, I have loads of projects to upload as well as all the holiday photos. I had a fantastic summer holiday in Tuscany and an equally fantastic week in Derbyshire this summer. I've been busy crafting away too but am now back in the rut of school and work and the time just flies by. I have big apologies to make to my lovely Penny Black friends (you know who you are!) as I've missed so many Birthday celebrations lately. I do intend to make up for this soon - I've just been a rubbish friend this year!!

Anyway, before I go again here's a little card I made using a Mo Manning digi stamp 'Celebrate'. I used my trusty Promarkers and loads of glitter! The dp is Basic Grey ( a piece I had laying around) and the sentiment is LOTV. I cut the banner on my Cricut and used Wild Orchid Crafts flowers to finish it off. Hope this will keep you going for a day or so, will try and post a few more this week. So sorry again,

New blog background and baby Harry!

2011-06-25T12:50:00.001+01:00

New blog background and....

A4 card for school to celebrate the birth of baby Harry. I loved how this one turned out - I used my Cricut New Arrival cart and the little babies are Elyzibelles stamps (so sad that they've closed down). Background from Papermania,Wild Orchid flowers finish it off.

Arty Farty Angel Cradle

2011-06-22T21:38:00.000+01:00

Here's another crafty make , this time an Arty Farty Angel Crib for a different work colleague. This was the first time I have made this type of cradle. It was a bit easier than the large cot but the box was a bit fiddly. I made a pair of baby shoes to go inside and then used my Cricut to decorate the outside box and the ends of the cradle.

Arty Farty Cherish Basket

2011-06-20T19:09:00.000+01:00

Here's tonight's posting!

I made this from an Arty Farty template (Cherish) for a work colleague - to go with the socks. This one was quite easy to make. I added loads of lace around the basket stand. The hood and apron were run through my swiss dots embossing folder to add some texture and the box is made from Kanban embossed white card. I was really happy with this one and my friend had a tear in his eye when I gave it to him! I've made another for the other friend's baby which is a different pattern. I'll post that tomorrow. Off to make a card now.

Yummy Cupcakes!

2011-06-19T21:38:00.001+01:00

I have so neglected my little blog and my followers over the last couple of months, really sorry. We lost my lovely Mum in Law last month and I just haven't got round to adding to my blog. I haven't been idle mind you, I've made loads of cards and other things so will try and add a few each week until I'm up to date.

Well here's today's offering. We have had two new babies at work and I have made cards and cribs which I'll upload another day but in the meantime this is what I've been doing today. I used 10 pairs of Mothercare socks which resulted in 5 cupcakes each. They are just rolled up with a flower in the top and plonked in a paper cake case - you can find how to on You tube. I made the boxes, they're a bit rough but I was tired by the time I finished . They'll do for school tomorrow anyway. I'll add the cards etc over the next week - I've still got loads to make!!

Catch you all later!! :)

The ribbon's squiffy 'cos the glitter on the flower was still wet at the time!

New Home Announcements

2011-04-30T09:29:00.000+01:00

This is a set of new home cards for my aunt who is moving, using these digi stamps from digisparkle. I added the sentiment with the computer. I used my Promarkers to colour them and highlighted parts with glossy accents. I printed the insides on the computer ( it took ages to get it all lined up!) and made a wallet to put them in.

Mother's Day Card

2011-04-25T19:17:00.000+01:00

I made this frame card for my hubby to give to his mum for mother's day this March. It's from a template from a My Craft Studio Cd. The word mum is cut with one of my favourite carts - Storybook. The small flowers are Nellie Snellen punches. My friend Pauline gave me the large one. The picture is of her children, my hubby and his sister.

I've put this picture on too of Harry and his Mum taken about 2 months ago as she is sadly very seriously ill at this time and probably won't recover. We have had a none too happy Easter holiday as we are just waiting to hear the news we are dreading. I love this picture as she looked so happy when we saw her at the end of February. She is and always will be a lovely lady very dear to our hearts.

Arty Farty Wedding Cake

2011-04-25T19:05:00.000+01:00

I've made another cake, for my friend Angie this time. It's an Arty Farty template and for this one I made an acetate box for a change, I used Wild Orchid Crafts flowers in her favourite colours to decorate with hearts from Hobbycraft. I've bought the new round cake template so shall be trying that for the next one I do.

Decorated Candle and Box

2011-04-25T18:36:00.000+01:00

My first attempt at a decorated candle for my friend's wedding. I managed to get a piccie of her cake on it too. I've not tried this before and found it a little tricky to get a nice smooth finish with my heat gun. It was just a plain IKEA candle before.

Wedding Card for Angie and Paul.

2011-04-24T23:08:00.000+01:00

This is the 8x8 card I made for my friend's wedding from me and the family. I was pleased with how this came out. The backing paper is from Graphic 45's wedding/bride collection. I used the colour of this as the theme throughout. I started with a layer of gold miri, a layer of textured card and a matt of cream card edged with Martha Sterwart punch around the page punches (woodland bird and branch). The next layer is the backing paper which I stamped and embossed with a creative expressions flourish and holographic WOW powder. I used versamark ink to highlight around the edges and embossed these as well with the sparkly powder. The next layer is a cream frame cut on the Cricut. The middle piece is a computer generated sentiment cut with a Nestabilities Beaded Ovals die and mounted on gold mirri (I drew around the die and cut it out to make this gold layer as the oval was the biggest die) This is then mounted on foam on a Spellbinders Lattice Pendant diecut. I cut some corners and layered butterflies on my Cricut. All the edges are inked with Tattered Rose distress ink. I added a few pearls here and there. Inside, the verse is printed on cream card and the corners are the Martha Stewart punch.

Dimension Fourth MIce

2011-04-24T22:44:00.000+01:00

Here's a little 6inch square card made using Autumnal: Gold and Brown stamps from Dimension Fourth. I stamped the mice on the corn image (aren't they cute) coloured them with Promarkers and used glossy accents on the corn. I used distress ink around the edges and mounted it on gold mirri. The card itself is stamped with leaves and embossed with copper WOW embossing powder and then coloured with distress inks then rubbed over with ink using cut and dry foam. I printed the sentiment directly onto the image using my Xyron Design Runner.

Bugaboo Easel

2011-04-24T20:53:00.000+01:00

Sentiment and image a download from Bugaboo Stamps coloured with Promarkers and glossy accents. The flowers are Nellie Snellen punches and the leaves are Martha Stewart. This was for my Headteacher who has been getting a bit stressed with her male colleagues of late!!

Simple Sympathy

2011-04-24T20:45:00.001+01:00

A simple card for a colleague who lost her father recently. I made the topper using a selection of clear Meadow Breeze stamps from Inkylicious and Tim Holtz distress inks. I coloured the background using a mask for the sun and hills and Inkylicious ink dusters (brushes and distress inks - a lot easier than using a brayer) The mounted sentiment is from Kanban and the top one is printed directly onto the cardstock. I love these stamps, they are so easy to use.

Just Peachy!

2011-04-24T20:36:00.001+01:00

A simple Cricut card for my friend who returned to work after her cancer treatment. It says inside ......to have you back! I cut the sentiment and peach using my 'Just Because Cards' cartridge. I used my little Martha Stewart butterfly punch and doodled (not very well) the trails.

21st Birthday

2011-04-24T20:31:00.000+01:00

This is another Kenny K Download. I paper pieced the image using My Mind's Eye papers and finished it with Promarkers and glitter. The letters are cut on my trusty Cricut and the sentiment is from Kanban.

Table Numbers

2011-04-24T20:22:00.000+01:00

This is a set of table numbers I made for a friend's wedding. I made ten of them in a gift box. I used Centura Pearl card in Ivory ( it has a lovely gold shimmer) which I cut along with the numbers on the Cricut. I embossed a flourish on each side with pearl embossing powder using a stamp from Creative Expressions. I used gems on the antennae.

Time for Some Cards!

2011-04-24T20:14:00.001+01:00

About time I posted a few of the things I've made during the beautifully sunny month of April! I'm just going to add some short descriptions otherwise I'll be doing this for ages. Hope you don't mind.

This is a birthday card for a retired friend. The pyramage image and backing paper is from my 'You're Never Too Old!' CD. The sentiments are from Craftwork Cards.

This A5 one is a Jolly Nation decoupage sheet and backing paper for a friend's husband who was starting a new job in the City. I used my Cricut for the letters.

This is the 8 x 8 square card I made for my Brother last month. I scanned a page from my one of my Rupert annuals (we're both big fans and have had annuals since we were children - we buy each other one for Xmas every year now!) I decoupaged the characters and used a font like Rupert to make the greeting and my Cricut to make Brother. The sentiment is from a Kanban set I got from QVC. I used glossy accents on the balloons.

Cheryl's Birthday

2011-03-31T18:11:00.000+01:00

Firstly apologies to my little blog for not visiting you much this month - I've made a few cards so will try and get them up in a couple of weeks over the Easter holidays. Meanwhile here's a quick one I made for my friend's daughter using inspiration from Grace's beautiful card here.

The paper was free in a magazine and the lettering is all done with my Storybook cartridge on my Cricut. I hope Grace doesn't mind but I thought her card was beautiful.
Sorry this is short and sweet but I'm off to my diet class now - I've lost 2stone 2.5 lbs so far - I had 2 pancakes at school this afternoon so am hoping they didn't weigh too much, lol see you all soon,

World Book Day 2011 !!

2011-03-04T13:22:00.001Z

Me and Mr Twit at school!

It's that time of the year again when I have to bite the bullet and fish out a costume for World Book Day. Being our school Librarian I just have to go in something good so.... this is this year's effort! My gorgeous daughter just happened to have a crocodile suit (like you do) so here is:

The Enormous Crocodile (literally) - a great story for kids and grown-ups too! Good job I've been trying to stick to my diet! Now.... what shall I go as next year?!!!

Blog Candy Closed - We have a winner!

2011-03-01T22:19:00.000Z

Hello all, thank you to everyone who entered and those who have decided to stay - I'll really try to visit your blogs more often, there are such a wide variety to choose from. I've done the random number generator thingy and it's come out with No 17 so that means my little parcel will be winging it's way to:

Caroljenks

Well done Carol, you are a lucky lass - I won't be able to post tomorrow as I'm off to visit Cadbury World with our Year 3 class (not the place to go when you are on a diet!) but I'll try to post it either Thursday or Friday if you let me have your address.

So sorry to everyone else - I wish I could send it to everyone.

Thanks again

It's Candy Time! - Now Closed

2011-02-28T23:59:00.002Z

Hello everyone, hope you will all like this! To celebrate 5000 hits (and it must be well past time for a treat) I thought I'd give you a chance to win a little selection of crafty goodies. It's a bit of an eclectic mix but I'm sure you'll be able to use all of it. There's a paper pad, pearls, brads and flowers. A little roll of ribbon and a sheet of Penny Black Stickeroos (for my PB friends!). I've included a Sugar Nellie (Hamish with Tractor) and a Magnolia (Edwin Fishing) stamp and a little set of Basic Grey flourishes. If I can think of any more I might just add it in so that'll be a surprise!

I'm off to find out how to make this stay at the top of my blog now. This candy will close on Feb 28th and I'll draw a lucky winner using the random generator.

Hopefully the linky thing will work, please enter your details and it would be nice if you became a follower so that I can check out your lovely blogs too. Good luck everyone xxxx

P.S. Don't forget to pop a pic of this candy on your sidebar please :)

Arty Farty Cherish Cot

2011-02-26T13:45:00.000Z

As I've had a little time off school this week I thought I'd better start on the numerous things I have to make. This is the first cot out of the four/five I have to make for the first baby due in April. I have until June and August for the rest! The parents know it will be a boy, in fact out of the five, two know the sex of the baby - I liked to wait for the suprise personally especially as they are first babies! Anyway this is a blue cot - I used my Arty Farty template (easy to make but a the mobile is a little fiddly). I used Papermania Rose Garden paper as it's a pretty blue and rose pattern (you don't say, lol). I've added some beads to the front side and only used acetate for the front of the box to save using all my stash! It looks plain now but I'll add a name plate to the end of the cot, a label and some ribbon on the box when the baby arrives.

I have a Blog Award :)

2011-02-25T21:25:00.001Z

Aren't I lucky, the lovely Catherine at Catherine's Handmade Cards has given my little blog an award. Thank you for thinking of me Catherine. This is an award which highlights blogs that are quietly posting and off the beaten track so to speak. Now in order to accept this I have to pass on a little something for someone else.

So......

1. You have been tagged, do you want to accept?

2. Create a post on your blog and post the love blog photo.

3. Link back to the person who gave you the award and say if you accept.

4. Choose 3-5 of your favorite blogs to tag, link these in your post too and tell the lucky people they have been tagged.

I would like to give my award to the following beautiful blogs:

Cynthia at Cynthia's Card Creations

Karen at Pickwick Papercrafting

and Jordiegirl here

Well...... if you have found this post then I am really happy to have tagged your blogs.

Less is More - Challenge - Spring #2

2011-02-24T23:15:00.001Z

Less is More No 2

Thanks for all the comments on my last card, I appreciate all the constructive ones - I didn't like that card much either although I was pleased with the colouring. This is the one I did first before that one - I didn't like the painting on this one or my handwriting so left off before I'd finished it so it's a bit less fussy. What do you think, I'm really not that pleased with either and reckon the daisies would look best on their own!! I do love the stamp though!

Less is More - Challenge - Spring

2011-02-23T20:57:00.000Z

Here's my card for this week's Less is More challenge. I've used my stamps from Sheena Douglass again. This is a lovely stamp sheet with both daisies and poppies on it. This time I've used my distress inks to colour the daisies and glossy accents on the centres. I used an embossing board (Majestic) by the Glitter Girls to emboss the shape and stamped into it. I've added a diecut 'Spring'. I'm not too sure about this but I didn't have a stamp. I tried writing it with a black pen but my handwriting isn't that good and I wanted it to be flourishy to match the sentiment. In the end I gave up and I went for a blocky diecut for contrast instead!

Less is More - Challenge 2 - One layer

2011-02-17T22:06:00.002Z

Here's a really quick card which I've made for the Less is More challenge this week. I've used this technique before but you have to try out different cardstocks as it only works with some types. My card is truly a clean and simple card, very clean in fact as I've coloured the image using bleach! The poppies from Sheena Douglass were stamped and embossed in gold and then painted with neat bleach which lightens the card. The effect is better in real life - it's quite amazing to see it work and you never quite know how light it will go. I've just added a few little glitter dots in the corners.

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - Frame It

2011-02-13T21:27:00.001Z

This is a small 5" card for a friend who is a bit down at the moment. I liked the sentiment and think it might cheer her up. I have used a Bp from Papermania and a Spellbinders Lattice Die. I drew around the die to make a backing plate on which I stamped the sentiment from Creative Expressions - Simply Sentiments. I mounted the frame on foam pads and edged both with Antique Linen distress ink (It's whiter and paler in real life - blooming camera!). I edged the aperture with stickles and added 3 flowers and 3 glittery spots.

I'd like to enter this for the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - Frame It.

Off to watch Colin Firth win all the Bafta's now - he's related to me by marriage but unfortunately I haven't had the honour of meeting him :( I shall have to make him a card! You really must go and see The King's Speech it was brilliant.

Lili of the Valley Challenge 84–Sketch by Dawny

2011-02-12T12:43:00.000Z

This is a card for my SiL's Birthday (on Valentine's Day) which I'd like to enter in LOTV's weekly challenge. I enjoyed using Dawny's sketch for this one and am pleased with the result. Instead of Promarkers I've used Aqua Markers on watercolour card to colour the image of 'Rosy with a cake'. I wasn't too happy with the card itself as it went bobbly with the pens being used directly on it. It was recommended by Sheena Douglas too - in fact this was my third attempt at colouring, I tried distress inks first. Will post the other 2 tries later.

I made the flower embellishment from Bazzil card - put 3 flower punched shapes through a ribbler about 10 times and separate each layer into 2 before scrumpling up and fixing with a brad.

Recipe:

Lotv stamp - Rosy with cake

Bp - Basic Grey - Eva

Aqua Markers

Bazzill card

QVC base card (120 scalloped cards for 11.99 - excellent value)

Paper cellar - rafia lace

Ticket - Whimsy stamp and die

Fiskars and Nellie Snellen punches

Pearls and stickles

Free Brand New Copic Ciao's - at Bearly Mine - Prize Draw

2011-02-10T22:00:00.001Z

Bearly Mine are offering a set of Copic pens to one lucky prizewinner drawn on Feb 17th - I've got my fingers crossed - have you?

Less is More Challenge#1 - Pink, white and black

2011-02-09T21:08:00.000Z

A CAS card using some free stamps from a magazine which I've had for ages. I used Distress Ink - Tattered Rose - to colour and my Design Runner to print the sentiment. I have been invited to a wedding in April so will be sending this off forthwith. I couldn't resist a few pearls to cheer it up a bit!

I'd like to enter this for a new blog challenge called Less is More. It's their first challenge and the theme is pink, white and black

And..... while I'm here look out for something sweet happening on this blog at the weekend ;) Shh.......

Funky Hand Wobble Card - Thanks

2011-02-08T22:18:00.001Z

My new Funky Hand Cd arrived today and I couldn't resist having a quick play! I used it to make a thank you card for a friend who has given me some craft stickers. The base card is printed from the cd using the new template feature, the image is a Heather Ellis download which I've paper pieced with paper from the cd and coloured with Promarkers (how do you folks keep in the lines!) Prima flowers mixed with Wild Orchid Crafts roses and Nellie Snellen punched leaves embellish it along with a few pearls and stickles. The ticket is a stamp from Whimsy Stamps and the sentiment is from Elzybells (now closed :( ) I've added a couple of punched butterflies to fill a gap.

Funky Hand Challenge - Going Round in Circles!

2011-02-05T14:05:00.001Z

Just made this card for my friend who's had the cancer op - to cheer her up now that she's home. The image (coloured with Promarkers) is one of my adorable new stamps from 'My Favourite Things' by Heather Ellis. They are easily becoming one of my favourites too, so much so that I have 7 digi images and 3 stamps!! Itching to play with them all - I need more hours in the day! It's mounted on circles cut with my Accent Essentials cartridge on the Cricut.

I'd like to enter this in the Funky Hand Circles challenge - I love Anice's papers, this one is a free download from their site (available only for the challenge) and I have just ordered her new cd, my second, 'Craft The Year Away'. Should be 'craft your life away' - I do that a lot, lol!!

I've used pearls and stickles to decorate and I made a rosette flower from the paper I had left over, the sentiment came with the stamp.

xxsue

One card, two challenges.

2011-02-02T20:32:00.005Z

Trying to keep up with at least one challenge every couple of weeks this year! I've made this card for my friend's daughter's birthday and would like to enter it into two challenges this week. It's a pop - out card (instructions here). The image is a Penny Black stamp called 'The Sensations' and I've used my Promarkers and some Papermania gems to decorate. The flowers are from Prima and the leaf punch is a Nellie Snellen Branch. I've used brads and ribbon from American crafts. The sentiments are from Craftwork Cards - I love those long thin ones. I didn't use any backing paper on this one, just Bazzill card.

I'd like to enter it for:

http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-challenge.html: Say it with Flowers

and

Cupcake Craft Challenges:Old McDonald had a Farm

Calendar Easel Card

2011-02-02T19:01:00.004Z

This is the easel calendar I made for my headteacher - the sentiment fits her exactly! The digi image is from Bugaboo stamps. I used Promarkers and glossy accents to colour. It's all mounted on different card mats.

I Love Promarkers Challenge #49 - Keep it Sweet & Simple

2011-01-24T21:42:00.004Z

I have made this little 6x6 square card to cheer up another friend who is going to have a breast cancer operation (her second)tomorrow. She's had all the chemo and thankfully all that's left is to remove the offending bit and the see how she goes from there, fingers definitely crossed for her. I thought as I love colouring with promarkers I'd try another challenge card. The theme is to keep it simple. I've used another LOTV stamp mounted on octagonal scalloped nesties. I inked around the image while it was still in the die with tattered rose distress ink. I covered the card with lemon card embossed with a papermania hearts folder and added a white mat scored with my scorepal. The flowers are punched and pearls and stickles finish it off.

I'd like to enter it fot the I love Promarkers Challenge Blog

One card - two challenges.

2011-01-15T16:26:00.005Z

Well, I'm on a roll now. I thought this year that as I have cards to make I should be more thoughtful and look for challenges to enter instead of just crafting away merrily in my own world! So as I have a very dear friend who is going to hospital for quite a big operation in the next couple of weeks I thought I'd make her a card which I can enter into a challenge. I've used a digi image from Bugaboo stamps which is most apt as being a nurse herself she probably won't make the best of patients and don't say but I think it looks a bit like her!! I coloured her with Promarkers and highlighted parts with Glossy Accents. I found my tumbled glass distress ink pad today- yay - I knew I had a blue one somewhere and have combined it with some brown bazzill card and spotty papers to make this card.

For this A5 card I have used:

Digi image and sentiment from Bugaboo Stamps (I reprinted the sentiment to fit)

Promarkers ( I really do love them!)

Paper Pizazz Vintage 8x8 papers

Brown Bazzill cardstock

Martha Stewart Deep Lattice punch

Hobbycraft and QVC flower punches

Nellie Snellen - Branch punch

Papermania and Hobbycraft dots and gems

Diamond Stickles, spotty ribbon and Glossy Accents.

I'd like to enter this into 2 challenges:

The Allsorts Challenge Blog : Week 86 - Teal and Brown

and

I Love Promarkers : # 48 Punches

I've made a calendar too, I'll try and upload that tomorrow - that's all for now folks..

Cupcake Craft Challenge #124 - Something New

2011-01-14T19:31:00.003Z

To go with the card below this post I thought I'd make a little birthday gift for my teacher friend Laura. I knew she uses post it notes a lot in class so I decided to make her a little post it and notebook set. I have just been given some lovely new My Mind's Eye papers by another very generous crafty friend which I have used on this project. I cut it to size and used Distress Ink - Brushed Corduroy around the edges. I used faux stitching to highlight the different papers. The notepad has a Prima flower, gems, pearls and ribbon from my stash. I also used my new Nellie Snellen branch punch for the leaves. I used my Design Runner to print Laura's name on a strip of card. The post it holder was decorated with Wild Orchid Crafts flowers, gems and ribbon and the same birthday sentiment as the card from LOTV. I just had to get the Diamond Stickles out to finish them off!

I'd like to enter this in the:

Cupcake Craft Challenge - #124 Something New

I've used my new papers, new punch and new stamp.

LOTV Challenge 79 - Lena's Sketch

2011-01-11T19:25:00.004Z

Lili of the Valley Challenge Blog - Sketch No 79 - Lena's Sketch

I thought it was about time I entered a challenge this new year and this looked like a super sketch to use. I had a birthday card to make for a friend and I just love this LOTV fairy stamp but instead of the usual girly pinks I thought I'd use browns and gold for a change.

Recipe:

Stamps: LOTV On Tiptoe, LOTV Circle sentiment- coloured with Promarkers

Bp - Papermania Victoria and Albert,

Petite Circle Nestabilities

Corners - Cricut Straight From The Nest Cartridge

Wild Orchid Crafts Flowers and Stickles

Gems from stash

I really loved using this sketch, thanks Lena.

If you have a spare half hour.....

2011-01-07T20:47:00.003Z

.........then check out all my blog posts for January. I've added all the things up until this week which I've made lately instead of blogging!! Life has been so busy - no time for challenges. I have a few more cards to add which I have made this week but I'll do them at the weekend. Meanwhile here's one more Christmas card - a quick design with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and a Cricut glittered tree! See you at the weekend. Hope you all enjoy looking through my crafty cupboard. ( I really do need a real crafty cupboard actually - I hadn't realised how much stuff I had until I had to clear the dining room for Xmas dinner - shocking!!!) lol

Lili of the Valley 30 minute card!

2011-01-07T20:40:00.004Z

My daughter asked me yesterday 30mins before she was going out if I could make a card for her friend's 21st Birthday! I threw this one together so it's all a bit squiffy and the image colouring isn't all that neat! No time for glitter or silicon glue so... no flowers :( I don't even know yet if she liked it!!

Free bp from My Minds Eye

Left over ribbon

Nellie Snellen oval die

Craftwork Cards sentiments - I love these long ones.

Winter Photos and a Winter Birthday Card

2011-01-07T20:31:00.003Z

Ice on a pumpkin

I took some photos when we had the hoar frost and snow just before Christmas and as I had a winter birthday card to make I used one of my photos for the card. The swirls are cut on the Cricut and the flowers are those Nellie Snellen punches again.

Round Lili of the Valley Birthday

2011-01-07T20:24:00.002Z

I used my Cricut to cut out a round card and mats for this Birthday card. The image is from Lili of the Valley stamped and coloured with Promarkers. This time I used a Prima flower! The sentiment is another from Craftwork Cards, these are so handy.

Retirement Word Book.

2011-01-07T20:08:00.006Z

I made this word book as a retirement card for a teacher in my school who left at Christmas, our school uniform is blue so I chose this as the theme. I used my Cricut Plantin' Schoolbook cartridge for the letters. Wild Orchid flowers embellished it. I bound it together with my Bind it All and used Crafty Ribbons around the binding wires. I had to make the box out of two pieces of A3 card as the card was so long when it was finished!! I inserted white panels so that all the staff could sign it.

Party Boy Birthday

2011-01-07T19:59:00.003Z

This is the card I made for the teacher I work alongside of and this is what he's like. The image is a digi download from Kenny K downloads called 'Let's Party' which I coloured with Promarkers. I cut the sentiment on my Cricut.

Cricut Birthday - Songbird

2011-01-07T19:52:00.002Z

A friend's card which I made using my Cricut Songbird cartridge. I used distress inks to highlight around the bird and the bp which is by Brenda Pinnick. Nellie Snellen punches again for the flowers and a Craftwork Cards sentiments.

Lili of the Valley Birthday

2011-01-07T19:43:00.003Z

I can't remember where I sent this one - if it was yours I hope you liked it!!

I bought this stamp at the NEC - isn't she cute! I coloured it with Promarkers and cut her out with my oval Nestabilities. The bp is by Papermania and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. The ribbon came from Crafty Ribbons - they have a great assortment and the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.

Get Well Soon

2011-01-07T19:37:00.003Z

Our school cleaner broke her foot before Christmas so I made her this card. The image is an Elyzebelles stamp which I was given by a lovely cardmaking friend - Pauline many thanks. This lovely stamp shop has now closed down :( I used Nellie Snellen flower punches for the embellishments.

Belated Birthday Poppies.

2011-01-07T19:29:00.002Z

Another card I forgot to make on time so I used a textured rub on, for quickness, for the main image from QVC and my little QVC punches for the flowers. If you like these punches I've seen them sold by Docrafts individually instead of in a set from QVC.

Kanban Birthday

2011-01-07T19:21:00.004Z

This is a birthday card for a work colleague - I got this set of Kanban stamps from QVC - I think she is so elegant. I coloured her with Promarkers and matted her onto gold mirri card on which I stamped the oval. Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I found some peeloffs for the corners which matched the Art Deco feel.

New Baby - Tina Wenke

2011-01-07T19:12:00.006Z

This card was for another of my husband's work colleagues who had a baby girl (10lbs 3ozs!! - my daughter was 10lbs 2 ozs and I thought that was big!!) - there are babies everywhere - that's one of each in his department. This one uses a stamp called 'In a Nutshell' by Tina Wenke and the sweet baby Sissix embossing folder.

Having a baby congratulations.

2011-01-07T19:04:00.002Z

I used a Pink Petticoat Lola image for this card and paper pieced her dress. The sentiment is printed with a Xyron Design Runner - which I love but am not too good at getting straight! This is one of 3 which I have had to make for school - this year there will be 4 new babies in our staffroom so there'll be plenty more cards to make soon!

Art Kure Stamp - Christmas in Lower Slaughter .

2011-01-07T18:58:00.003Z

This is the card I made for my brother. We grew up near this village and I was so pleased to find this stamp made by Art-Kure. I used Distress inks to colour the image and added glitter to highlight.

Here's Christmas Part 5 - Cricut Cards

2011-01-07T18:50:00.003Z

This one is a 6 x6 square, the ones below are little 4inch cards.

These are the cards I made for my crafting friends using my Cricut 'Winter Lace' cartridge.

Here's Christmas Part 4 - Sheena Douglass Bah Humbug Stamps

2011-01-07T18:41:00.005Z

I loved playing with these stamps and my distress inks.

Here's Christmas Part 3 - Clarity Stamps

2011-01-07T18:31:00.003Z

Here's Christmas Part 2

2011-01-07T18:22:00.003Z

Here's Christmas! - Part 1

2011-01-07T17:43:00.006Z

Happy New Year

Long time No See!

I have finally got around to sorting out my photos on the camera and thought it was about time I showed you all the cards I made for Christmas this year - I made about 50 in all so here are the main ones. Hope you like them. It will take too long to explain how they were all made but if you have a question about any of them add it to a comment and I'll see if I can remember how I did it!!

Enjoy

2010-12-25T22:41:00.001Z

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE HOPING YOU ALL HAVE A PEACEFUL TIME

XXXXX

Penny Black Birthday Bears

2010-11-27T08:40:00.003Z

Here's a quickish card I made for my friend Debbie. I used my Penny Black bear stamps which I haven't had out for ages. I coloured them with Promarkers and stamped the letters using a set of Hampton Arts 'Studio G' 99p mini alphabet stamps which are just the right size. These delicious little stamps come in a range of different fonts too. I glittered the edges of these. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Penny Black Gossamer

2010-11-26T23:01:00.002Z

Another birthday card for a PBFC member. I used a PB stamp called Gossamer, coloured it with Promarkers, cut and mounted it on a mat from a Marianne Creatable die and then embossed the whole thing with clear holographic powder. I've got some WOW embossing powders from this company. They are the best powders I've used and are worth a look, their colour range is superb. Nellie Snellen punched flowers, Brenda Pinnick paper and a Craftwork Cards sentiment finish it off.

Well that's all for tonight, off to watch some cricket now - let's hope we do better than yesterday!

Birthday Butterfly

2010-11-26T22:53:00.003Z

I have to thank my friend Kaz for this design. I cut an aperture with a nestie and made a frame. The paper is from Papermania - Blueberry Hill. QVC punched flowers to decorate and a Marianne Creatables Butterfly finishes it off. Thank you Kaz for your beautiful birthday card, I couldn't resist using your design.

LOTV Engagement

2010-11-26T22:47:00.005Z

This is the little card I made for a friend who has got engaged to be married. I used Promarkers to colour the LOTV stamp and Basic Grey backing paper. My QVC flower punches were used for the flowers. I've noticed that Docrafts have brought out individual little flower punches which are exactly the same as mine if you like them.

And now some cards!!

2010-11-26T22:38:00.003Z

A Penny Black card for a PBFC member. The flowers are made using my Nellie Snellen flower and embossing punches. Bp from Brenda Pinnick.

The last night

2010-11-26T22:30:00.002Z

A gorgeous flower growing on a roundabout in Sorrento. It was at least 9 inches across!

You can just see the top of Vesuvius in the distance - so glad I dont live near it!

These are just a 'few' of our photos - I really must get round to making a holiday scrapbook.

Hope you have enjoyed seeing some of them.

Sorrento

2010-11-26T22:22:00.003Z

We spent two nights in Sorrento. If you are ever here go for a meal in the Foreigner's Club - the food is superb, to die for Tiramisu and the views are fantastic.

Amalfi

2010-11-26T22:14:00.003Z

We went down the coast along a really scary road to Amalfi for the day.

Isle of Capri

2010-11-26T22:04:00.003Z

View from the top of the chair lift over Capri Town

I didn't like this at first as I don't like heights!

We stayed for two nights on Capri and went on the chair lift to the top of the island. The sea was so blue here, not like the English Channel!!

2010-11-26T22:01:00.001Z

Pompeii

2010-11-26T21:52:00.003Z

Mount Vesuvius in the background

Mount Vesuvius

2010-11-26T21:47:00.002Z

We walked up to the crater (from the coach park two thirds up, I'm not that fit!!) and looked inside. This was amazing especially as I have an A'Level in Geology and never dreamed I'd stand on the top of a volcano!

Trevi Fountain and The Spanish Steps

2010-11-26T21:37:00.003Z

We threw our coins in like you do!

The Spanish Steps View from the top of the steps.

The Forum

2010-11-26T21:29:00.003Z

Yours truly - golly was it hot!!!!

The Colosseum

2010-11-26T21:23:00.002Z

2010-11-26T21:15:00.002Z

Another ceiling inside the Vatican

A fountain in St Peter's Square

Hubby!

Inside St Peter's Basilica

Summer Holiday in Italy

2010-11-26T20:59:00.003Z

Here are some photos from our summer trip to Italy - it was fantastic, we saw so much and took hundreds of photos, of course!

St Peter's- RomeThe Sistine Chapel

(The triangular roof below - no photos allowed in here)

Inside St Peter's Two ceilings in the Vatican

Apologies.......

2010-11-23T22:39:00.002Z

........to my awesome followers, thanks for sticking with me, I'm really going to try and update my blog at the weekend, I've just realised it's been over a month since I've been here :( I've started a diet, been on a holiday and made loads of new cards so will have a massive blogging session this weekend.

See you then!

LOTV Thursday Blog Challenge# 68 - Autumn

2010-10-12T18:52:00.006+01:00

A birthday card for a friend which I thought I'd enter into the LOTV Blog Challenge. The teddy with bouquet image is coloured with Promarkers and highlighted with Stickles and Glossy Accents. It's mounted on a Labels 9 nestie which I cut round with scissors to make the brown mat layer as the image is on the largest die. The backing paper is from a set by Joanna Sheen (lovely designs by William Morris). I used the little flower and leaf punches from QVC with Stickles glitter glue and a sentiment stamped from a set by Personal Impressions. The ribbon with Autumn leaves is from American Crafts.

Six new cards - uploaded.

2010-10-03T22:13:00.002+01:00

Have just uploaded the last 6 cards - have been trying to keep busy as I've started a diet and am trying to avoid the temptation to eat!! It's so hard but it means more time for card making!! lol

Two simple PB cards

2010-10-03T22:03:00.004+01:00

You have to sit sideways to see this one - it's gone like this on it's own!!

Two really quick and simple cards using Penny Black stamps, Cuttlebug backgrounds and QVC flower punches.

Romantic A4 Birthday Card

2010-10-03T21:54:00.004+01:00

This card was a request for a romantic birthday card for hubby's friend to give to his wife. The main image is a La Blanche stamp coloured with distress inks. I stamped and embossed a flourish in gold in the corner below the flowers The bp is from Graphic45 - I love their papers. I've used Wiild Orchid Crafts roses to embellish it with loads of pearls and some lace. The sentiment is printed on the computer.

Wedding Card - No 2

2010-10-03T21:47:00.003+01:00

I made this card at a request for a wedding card for a colleague of my hubby. She wanted it the same design as this one but needed it to be pink.

An unwelcome visitor!

2010-10-03T21:42:00.002+01:00

I've not added any photos for a while but we managed to snap this little creature in between the rain showers. It's web stood out with the raindrops on it - I nearly walked into it!!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Don't be Square! Week 121

2010-10-03T21:30:00.005+01:00

I've made a quick card for another friend - I have loads of Birthdays this month so thought I'd make it a challenge card. The Penny Black Saturday Challenge this week is to make a non- square card so I used my Cricut to cut out this shape and the mats. The stamp is 'Stressed'. I used some flowers made with Nellie Snellen punches and a Craftwork Cards sentiment. Stickles and pearls finish it. This is a simple card as I don't think this shape needs over embellishing.

Lili of the Valley Challenge 67- Sketch by Bev.

2010-10-03T21:11:00.003+01:00

I've used this sketch to make a card for a friend's birthday. I'd like to enter it for the LOTV blog challenge this week. It was a great sketch as it meant I could use loads of lovely papers. The image is 'Tea Party' coloured with Promarkers and edged with Tattered Rose distress ink. I used three different papers from a Basic Grey 6x6 pad - Euphoria. The sentiment is from Craftwork Cards and the flower from Prima. A dovecraft jewel brad and pearls finish it off.

2010-09-26T19:07:00.002+01:00

I've just made ths tiny easel card from my Octagonal Scalloped Nesties and Bazzil card. The tree is a stamp from Crafty Impressions. The leaves are cut with a Cuttlebug die, run through a swirls embossing folder and the versamarked and embossed in gold. I've use Vintage Photo distress ink around the edges of the leaves and all the mats. The sentiment is from a Creative Expressions set of leaf stamps. I've stuck on some crystals and pearls and a glittered flower to finish.

New Baby - LOTV

2010-09-26T18:55:00.002+01:00

Two of my husband's colleagues were/are expecting babies and the first, a little boy, has arrived so I made this A4 card from his department. The image is from Lili of the Valley coloured with Promarkers and 'stickled'! It's mounted on my round Nesties. Sweet Baby is an embossing folder from Sizzix which I highlighted with blue shimmer chalk, gems, pearls and diamond stickles. A Craftwork Cards sentiment is mounted on a Nellie Snellen oval and gingham ribbon. The flowers are Cherry Blossoms from Wild Orchid Crafts and the leaves from Martha Stewart.

Truly Scrumptious Challenge No 41 (Blue and Green)

2010-09-26T18:39:00.008+01:00

I had to make a card for a friend's birthday which I had missed (what's new!!) so I thought I would make another challenge card. This time I've used a stamped image from a set of stamps I got from QVC. These are foam stamps made by La Blanche. They're white foam and the actual stamp seem like white polymer plastic but they give a lovely impression. I used watercolour paints and glossy accents to colour. I used my new beaded oval nestabilities to mount it and used a blue/green bp (part of the challenge extra) from Brenda Pinnock. The leaves are a Martha Stewart punch and the flowers are cherry blossoms and rosebuds from Wild Orchid crafts. I finished it with tiny pearls, a craftwork cards sentiment and stickles glitter.

2010-09-26T18:32:00.002+01:00

Here's the card I made for Uma's 30th Birthday. I die cut the 30 on my Cricut and used a flourish stamp from Creative Expressions to embellish it and also gold stickles. The bp is from Dovecraft and I used the same Tilda stamp as the last card with Promarkers. Three Prima flowers and a Craftwork cards sentiment finish it off.

Two Challenges.

2010-09-13T22:04:00.004+01:00

Close up of home made flower.

Whoo, hoo, I've posted a challenge card!! Not been here for ages what with holidays and then returning to work. I've made a few cards and have made this one at the weekend.

I made this card for my daughter's friend. The image is a Tilda stamp - coloured with Promarkers. She is sitting on a ribbon in which there's a knot (Truly Scrumptious extra) I used My Mind's Eye pink paper for the bp. The background card is Bazzill card which I've distressed around the edges with a craft knife and then inked with Distress inks - Dusty Concorde and Aged Mahogany. I scored some of the card with the knife and I like the effect the ink has in these cuts. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the border and a Wild Orchid Crafts rose in the corner with Martha Stewart punched leaves. I made the flowers on the right hand side using flower shapes which I cut on the Cricut. I inked these with the Distress Inks. I used pearls, stickles and a Cardcraft sentiment to finish. Only thing is it wouldn't go in the envelope!!

I'd like to enter it into two challenges:

Truly Scrumptious Sketch Challenge

(Use a knot)

and

Totally Tilda

(Make your own flower)

Penny Black Easel Card

2010-08-15T17:32:00.004+01:00

Easel card made from a Penny Black transparent stamp and Promarkers - can't remember which set (I have so many!!) mounted on rectangle nestabilities. The sentiment is cut on my cricut and the little flowers are my QVC punches. Paper from DCWV. Ribbon, pearls and stickles finish it off. I think this was Squirrel's birthday card!