Let's cuddle up

This is my second post this morning. Please scroll down for a review of my new Daylight Lamp.

I'm still working on getting my Christmas cards finished. Checking out some of your blogs it's good to know that I am not alone in this. I've used a free Fizzy Moon stamp which was given away as a Sainsbury's special extra gift with Quick Cards a little while ago. I've used some free papers as I wanted to use the bunting which I cut out of one of the papers. The card is Kraft and the green and red are Core'dinations. I used the MS holly corner and border punches, The image is edged with DI Forest Moss and coloured with Promarkers. Lots of glitter for the bobbles and snows. Punched Woodware holly leaves and a poinsettia and a Craftwork Cards sentiment to finish.

Challenges:

Kaboodle Doodles Bundle up for Winter

My Mum's Craft Shop Keeping warm

Stampin' for the Weekend Friends

2 Sisters Holiday

Allsorts Pennants or bunting

Daylight Lamp

Now this is something you will want to put on your Christmas list. It's the new Foldi lamp from the Daylight Lamp Company and you can view all the details here. I was asked it I would like to review this lamp and post on my blog about it and I am delighted to be writing about it. The lamp has 30 daylight LEDs. This picture shows the strength of the light along with the cloth case. As the name suggests it folds into the case making it an ideal lamp for taking out and about with you when crafting away from home. It's also ideal for crafting in hotel rooms where the light is usually from lamps.

The lamp gives up to 8 hours of bright white light on batteries and unlimited light once the USB is connected to your laptop. You can also buy an adaptor to use it on the mains.

Now that it is getting darker earlier and some days can be quite gloomy in the Winter I am finding this lamp invaluable, particularly for colouring fine detail. When not in use I can easily fold it away.

So if you would like to know more please check out their website here. The price is normally £69.99 but there is an offer of £7 off at the moment.

Starry, starry night

Here's another Christmas card to cross of the list. Still plenty more to make. I know I have been making them all year but I have sold several and ave some for sale in some local shops too. The problem this year has been the fact that I have been away for most of November too when I would have been making the final cards normally. I have used very little purple for my Christmas cards this year so thought it was time for a purple one. Speaking of purple, which you know I love, I found some purple potatoes in Sainsbury's so just had to buy a pack to try. They are supposed to make very good roast potatoes and amazing purple mash.

Right, onto my card which has been made using one of the last Christmas LOTV stamps. She has been coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers and has some lovely glass glitter added to the fur. Papers are Wild Rose Wintry Christmas edged with chalk ink. I used my new MS holly border punch and some organza ribbon. The card is Core'dinations embossed and sanded. The star was cut using a Sizzix die and glitter card. The star buttons are from Walmart in the USA.

Challenges:

Cute Card Thursday Great sketch

Lili of the Valley Anything Goes

Moving along with the times Ribbons and bows

Totally Papercrafts Christmas

Craft your days away Buttons or bows

Dutch Dare Use at least 3 of ribbon, image, patterned papers, layers, rhinestones, brads, buttons

There's a new challenge starting soon, Hotshot Crafts and they also have some follower's candy to give away when they reach 50 followers. Currently they are at 49 so head over there and start following them.

Green and gold snowman

I'm back with a second post for today. Please scroll down for my Christmas decoration. I've used a very unusual colour scheme for a change based on the SN FB challenge this week and I must say I am liking it. The image is SN of course die cut with my new Nestie, labels fourteen and coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. Papers are Dovecraft Christmas Fancy and Forever Friends. The snowflakes are Kars wooden ones coloured with a Sakura gold star pen with my 2 new MS snowflake punches and gold glitter card. Glittery gold ribbon and pearls from The Hobby House to finish.

Challenges:

The Sugar Bowl Gayle's fab sketch

I love Promarkers Anything Goes

Charisma Snowflakes

Sweet Stampin' Punches and dies

Crafting when we can Borrow a sketch

Dream Valley Sparkle

Paint fusion decoration

Good morning everyone, and what a cold and frosty start to the day. After being away for most of November, with my holiday to Florida and then Craftaganza, (3 day Crafter's Companion workshop in Darlington), I feel out of touch with everyone so I'll be catching up on some blogging later today. I'm still playing catch up with the ironing and want to get some cards made today too.

This is my first ever Christmas decoration and my first attempt at paint fusion. We had a wonderful class with Sheena Douglass at Craftaganza. We made the 3 circles in class using Sheena's stamps and paint fusion. I haven't painted since school and I was never very good at it then but I am really pleased with this for a first attempt. I finished it off this morning by distressing the edges and spraying with Spray and Sparkle and attaching the ribbon and circles at the back.

Challenges:

Cafts 4 eternity Christmas decoration

CRAFT Unusual Christmas

Incy Wincy Trees

Fairy Sparkle

This week at Totally Gorjuss we have a lovely new sponsor. Yes it is the very talented Sylvia Zet from Wee Stamps. I love these stamps and the DT were so lucky to be given an image to use. Mine is Winter Fairy and she was a joy to colour. I used Promarkers and Flexmarkers and added a touch of Sakura Gold Star pen and lots of glitter.

I haven't made an easel card for ages. I used a Kraft card blank and Marianne Merry Little Christmas papers, lace, gold holly leaves from stash and Marianne die cut poinsettias with pearls. If you would like to win some of Sylvia's gorgeous digis then come and play.

You may have noticed I haven't been around again. As you read this I will be back from a 3 day crafting workshop run by Crafter's Companion in Darlington. I'll be back to normal blogging again as soon as I have recovered from my 2 trips. I hope you have entered my candy. Please see my candy page.

My Squiggle sketch

Time for a sketch challenge at Squiggle Stamps, designed by me.

I used another of the cute penguin images, which has been coloured with Promarkers. I added lots of glitter and glossy accents to the custard on the pudding. I hope you'll come and play with my sketch this fortnight. Remember you can use any image though using a Squiggle image means you get 2 entries.

Nativity

This week should have been my challenge at Winter Wonderland but as I am  having fun at Craftaganza I swapped places with the lovely Squirrel who has taken over hosting our challenge this week of Nativity. I chose this cute LOTV image which I coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. I used a Sakura gold star pen on her wings as a change from glitter. I used my MS star border punch, Woodware star punch and a star gem. The sentiment is Crafty Bitz I think. I'm looking forward to seeing all your Nativity cards this week.

Look what I made!!!

Here I am in the hotel at Craftaganza. What a lovely time we are having. We are divided into 6 groups, each having a different tutor. We had 3 workshops today. In the first one we made a book and in the last one we made a Christmas decoration using paint fusion. In my photo you can see the lovely necklace and bracelet I made. I've never made any jewellery before but am really pleased with the results.  I just have to finish off the other 2 items at home as we ran out of time in the classes. The book and the paint fusion were also new techniques and great fun. Looking forward to 3 more workshops tomorrow and then some fun tomorrow night with a a quiz and some other entertainment.

Help - I'm stuck

Yes, I had time to make another card last night. Only about another 24 Christmas cards still to make! I didn't have too much time so used one of the cute LOTV die cuts for this one, adding Sakura Rose Star to the cat's hat for some added sparkle. This is such a cute image and not available as a stamp I don't think. I used my new Sew Easy tool and floss and it took me back to my embroidery days. I shall definitely be trying this out again. The papers are last year's Dovecraft, sparkly snowflakes from America as is the Doodlebug cupcake twine. I found the stamped sentiment in my stash, think it is a Crafter's Companion one. Talking of which, my case is packed but I'm still in my PJs so need to have a shower and pop the last few items in the bag and off to Darlington we go. We're taking the laptop so I may have a little time for blogging tonight. Then it's a packed 3 days and evenings at Crafter's Companion Craftaganza. I'm looking forward to meeting up with Lynsey, Lisa and Jacqui and also meeting other crafters who I only know through blogging and Facebook.

Challenges:

Forever Friends Christmas is Coming

Kaboodle Doodles Baby it's cold outside

Whoopsi Daisy Christmas

Pollycraft Christmas Fun (As this is a 4 week challenge I hope to enter again with a Pollycraft image)

At last, I made a card!

Yes, last night I finally had some crafting time and managed to make a start on this card which I finished off today. It felt so good to be back in my craftroom again after my holiday. I've used one of the new LOTV stamps teamed with Forever Friends papers. I've used some of my new goodies on this card, Tim Holtz distressing tool, Wonky Square Nesties and MS snowflake punches. I coloured the image with Promarkers and Flexmarkers, added some punched ivy and holly leaves and red roses to the snowflakes.

Sorry I haven't got round to much blogging yet. The holiday ironing is almost finished and the house is nice and clean again. I'm packing again to head off to the Crafter's Companion workshop tomorrow but things will be back to normal next week when I will be making Christmas cards like mad as I have 3 orders plus my own to get finished. In the meantime I hope you will enter my candy which can be found on My Candy page.

Challenges:

ABC DT A Christmas card

By the cute and girly Christmas girls

Crafty Calendar Winter Wardrobe

Sparkles Christmas Angels

Fab n Funky Baby it's Cold Outside

Lili of the Valley A Christmas Card for Someone Special

Moving along with the times Let it Snow

Wags n Whiskers Christmas themed

CES Snowflakes

The Crafty Pad Festive cheer-red and green

Lisa's Birthday card

Whew, another busy day, catching up after my holiday. I spent the morning cleaning and ironing and all afternoon on paperwork, finances and e-mails. Can you believe I got home from hol last Friday afternoon and still haven't had time for crafting yet. I have managed a little blogging time but feel out of touch with what's going on. I thought I would share this card with you which I recently made for my crafting buddy, Lisa's Birthday. The image is Whiff of Joy, coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. I added some narrow ribbon to the trellis punched paper, Wild Orchid flowers, leaves from Crafty Emma's. The metal flower is from The Works.

Challenges:

Craft Your Days Away Embellishment bingo (ribbon, flowers, pearls)

2 Sisters Let it Sparkle!!

Flutterby Wednesday Open

The Ribbon Girl Pink and white

Love cars

Hi everyone. If you missed my post with my holiday news and stash please scroll down to yesterday's post. I have managed to find somewhere for all my lovely new goodies. I just need some time to use them. I spent about 2.5 hours ironing until I couldn't bear to iron another thing so thought I would share this layout with you which I created just before I went on holiday. The photos were taken on previous visits to Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida. I used the MS PATP cherish set and made some wheels with the large fan punch. The cogs were made with a Tim Holtz embossing folder and Kraft Core'dinations. The ones on the left were heat embossed and the others were sanded and distressed. The flag charm is from The Works. I would like to enter this into the Anything Goes scrapbook challenge at Scrapbook Sisters and Make a Gift/Anything But a Card challenge at Fussy and Fancy.

I'm back from my hols with some new stash and candy

Thanks to all those of you who left me comments over the last 2 weeks whilst I have been away on holiday. I hope you enjoyed my daily posts which I had scheduled. The above is some of the crafty stash I bought. Here's the punches I bought.

And here's the scrapbook stash I bought.

We had a great holiday in Florida. We spent the first night in Orlando and then travelled to Key West for 3 nights before coming back to Orlando for 10 nights. We had a suite in Key West which was fabulous and was opposite the beach where we walked one evening and watched the sunset. We did some Christmas shopping in Orlando, hubby bought 2 pairs of shoes and several clothes. I only bought 3 tops and a pair of jeans, spending my money on crafting bargains instead as you can see.  I just have to find somewhere to put it all now, lol!

We did a behind the scenes tour at Disney's Magic Kingdom, which was  a 2 mile walking tour and fascinating. We also spent time at all the Disney theme parks. The weather was gorgeous. Now I'm back to lots of washing and ironing. You know you're back when you have to go food shopping at Sainsburys, which we did this afternoon. I've missed visiting you all and obviously 4 of my followers weren't happy as they have left me but the important thing is my faithful followers are still here.

I'm off again on Wednesday until Saturday for a Crafter's Companion workshop in Darlington so please bear with me until normal service is resumed. I couldn't go away and buy myself some lovely goodies without bringing some back for one of my followers so if you would like the chance to win this.........

then check out my candy page where I shall shortly be posting this candy.

Mmm, glass of wine, don't mind if I do

My card for this week's challenge at Totally Gorjuss was made for a male friend's Birthday. The images and sentiment are from a Fiskars set of stamps. It took a little while to get the arrangement just right but I really like the result. As our challenge is Swirly Whirly I thought the swirly grapes and leaves were just perfect. I coloured the images with Promarkers and used a Sakura Green Star pen for some shimmer. For a change I used an MS corner punch I hardly ever use these on their own which is a shame as they are effective. The swirls were made with a Crealie die. The leaves were made with an X cut ivy leaf embossing punch but I thought they look like vine leaves. We are sponsored this week by Simon Says so hope you will be able to join in the challenge.

On my way home

I'm sure many of you will have realised by now that I have been away on holiday. If you are reading this on Friday 18th November then I will be back on British soil after (I hope) a lovely holiday in Florida. I hope you have enjoyed my daily posts that I spent ages scheduling before I went away. What a good job I had lots of Crafter's Companion sample cards which I hadn't shared before. My card today is the lovely Lottie, Humphrey's sister. This is such a sweet stamp, which I coloured with Spectrum Noirs. I used Core'dinatins which I embossed with Swiss Dots and then sanded. I added some Sizzix die cut swirly corners. The card shape was made with a Grand Nestie.

I hope that Mr Blogger has been good by publishing all my scheduled posts. I have another scheduled tomorrow for my Totally Gorjuss DT card.

I am going to be busy sorting out all that lovely washing and ironing, surely the worst part of any holiday, before heading off to Darlington on Wednesday for Crafter's Companion Craftaganza. I'm really looking forward to the 3 day workshops and meeting up with some of the DT and other CC crafters. As you can see it is going to take me a while to catch up with all your lovely blogs so please bear with me.

Flower Shop

Something different today. An 8" card made using the Tulip decoupage set from Papermania. Stamping is by far my favourite method for making cards but decoupage is very popular so I do make some of these to sell. I used an MS border punch and an X cut butterfly punch. The hydrangea is from K&Co.

Snowman Baubles

Another sample but this time using The Snowman Walking in the Air CD. I cut out the baubles and added Spray and Sparkle before hanging them from this fold back card. I used the MS zigzag border and snowflake punches.

Bedtime story

You my have seen this card on TV as it was another sample for Crafter's Companion. This is such a cute image. Backing paper is from Humphrey's Corner CD and for a change I made a base card from coloured Centura Pearl. I kept the design simple just adding some Sizzix die cut corners.

A flower from Humphrey

I thought I would share a decoupage Humphrey card with you today. The papers are some old Papermania ones. I used the MS cherish PATP set and another MS border punch, ribbon and some Wild Orchid flowers.

Christmas Traditions

This week at Totally Gorjuss we have a wonderful challenge of Christmas Traditions. I had so many ideas for this but in the end went with Father Christmas. I used one of the Humphrey's Corner stamps coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. Isn't this such a cute image? Papers are HOTP, as is the sentiment. I kept this fairy simple and just added some star pearls from The Works and a bow. We are sponsored by Crafter's Companion this week so hope you'll join in the fun.

Anything but a card

Time for another challenge at Squiggle Stamps and this time it is anything but a card. I used 2 of the new digis which I resized small enough to fit on gift tags. The tags are from Hobbycraft, images coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers with some Sakura blue star on the pressie. The holly was made with a Woodware punch and card candi. These tags are a great way of using scraps of paper. I hope you'll come and join in the fun for a chance of winning a great Squiggle prize.

A Christmas Mouse

It's my good friend Lynsey's challenge this week at Winter Wonderland and she has challenged us to use a Christmas Mouse on our projects. I love this sweet Gillian Roberts mouse and haven't used him/her yet this Christmas so it was time for an outing. I teamed him with Wild Rose papers and some sanded Core'dinations. The image is coloured with Promarkers. Holly made with a Woodware punch and some card candi. I bought the gorgeous organza ribbon at Ally Pally.

Fuschias and butterflies

I hope you are enjoying seeing these Crafter's Companion samples, some of which you may have already seen on TV. This is quite a simple card using some Reddy Decoupage, a Nellie die and a butterfly embossing folder on Centura Pearl card. A couple of X Cut punched butterflies to finish.

Robin Redbreast

Yes it's another Crafter's Companion sample today, made some time ago. I used papers from the Snowman CD, a robin topper, MS PATP set, Sizzix swirl corner die, Crealie swirl die and some Wild Orchid roses.

Primrose Fairy

Another Crafter's Companion sample from their recent launch of Flower Fairy Reddy Decoupage. I tried something different for this one and wove ribbon to match the colours of the Primrose Fairy. I added some leaves from Joanna Sheen and some daffodils from Wild Orchid. Unfortunately the daffodils stick up rather a long way and they looked a bit squashed on TV! Still the card looked lovely.

Happy New Year

This is the last of my SWALK samples which I never got round to blogging before. Papers, sentiment and faux ribbon and slider are from the CD. The stamped image is coloured with Spectrum Noirs. I used Woodware and Fiskars punches for the stars and a Sizzix die for the balloons.

I love Mince Pies

I'm sharing another recent sample for Crafter's Companions with you today. This was part of the recent SWALK Winter Cheer range using papers from the CD and one of the cute stamps sets. All coloured with Spectrum Noirs.

Totally Gorjuss Squiggle Penguins

It's those Squiggle penguins again but this time I have used them for the sketch challenge at Totally Gorjuss where we are sponsored by Joanna Sheen. I've used last year's Papermania papers and an MS simple scalloped punch. The sentiment is Craftwork cards with a lovely charm added. The snowflakes are epoxy stickers I bought in America.

U R A Star

This was one of the samples I made recently for Crafter's Companion. We were asked to make card using the new Darice embossing folders and Kraft Core Core'dinatins. I used backing paper from the Popcorn Pals CD.  The stars were made using Sizzix dies and the Core'dinatiosn was all sanded. I added some foam letters and ribbon from Crafter's Companion Christmas selection.

Purple Wedding

I was asked to make a Wedding card in purple and black. Well black just didn't look right so I used this deep purple paper from Craftwork Cards with some lilac and gold paper. The image is a die cut from LOTV. The flowers were pink so I coloured them with Promarkers. Added some lace, a large flower from Crafty Emmas, MS punched hearts and purple roses. The corners were cut with a Sizzix die and I used the punched out hearts too. The bride's dress was purple and the couple loved the card.

Disney pals in NYC

I've had a little break from Christmas cards doing some layouts for my scrapbooks. Scrapbooking is much more difficult than cardmaking I find, but so satisfying and I do feel I am getting better at it, trying out different techniques.  My first efforts are not much better than my first cards I made.

We went to New York a coup of years ago and as we love Disney had to visit the Disney shop in Fifth Avenue. These images made me smile so I knew I had to create a layout with them. I used Black Magic Core'dinations for the background, sanding it to show the blue through. I cut the diamond paper to give it a zigzag edge and used the diamonds I cut off on the other side of the page, adding a bit of doodling. I used a Marianne die for the star circle. The lovely ribbon was wrapped round a pair of PJs I had last Christmas. As soon as I saw it my first thought was that will be good for a scrapbook page or two so expect to see that used again as I have lots of Florida Disney pages to make.

Dancing in the Snow

Good Morning everyone, a rather gloomy day here in Norfolk. It's the 1st of November and that means a new challenge at Crafter’s Companion and our challenge this month is Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow. I had an 8" card to make for an order using The Snowman so I used one of the digis from the Walking in the Air CD as I could make the image nice and big for the card. I coloured the image with Spectrum Noirs. Papers are from the SWALK Winter Cheer CD. I used the MS simple scalloped border punch, Marianne snowflake dies and MS snowflake punch, all cut from glitter card. To finish I added some ribbon, sentiment from The Range and a snowflake charm tied with Baker's Twine.

Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge Cold and frosty

The Cutie Pie Challenge Use a charm

Marianne's Design Divas Dying to Diecut

Dream Valley Anything Goes

This would be a great challenge to combine with the Go Dotty Challenge over at Squiggle Stamps where there is a fantastic prize of £20 to spend at Squiggle Stamps online store.