Ship ahoy!

Another of the new precoloured digital simply print sheets coming on 7th Feb from LOTV. This is my favourite of the cards I made so far.  The papers are Amy Design Vintage Vehicles again. I remembered I bought a Joy compass die recently and thought it was perfect for this card. 

Challenges

Creative Inspirations New 

Simon Says layer it up

Pingu

If you saw my robin last week I mentioned that when I was making it I had a brainwave and that was to use the same idea but to make a penguin. I made him using the same dies as the robin (see last week's post for instructions). The only difference was cutting a white oval for his body instead of the redbreast. 

I must admit I am really pleased with these and my snowmen and will be sewing several more in readiness for Christmas sales.

I would like tot enter this into the B for birds challenge at ABC Christmas.

LOTV sneak peek

Something rather different is coming from LOTV, fantastic vintage images which are great for male cards. These are the precoloured digital simply prints so nice quick makes too. I went for a distressed look using some Amy Design vintage vehicle paper, green burlap, a LOTV sentiment and some Tim Holtz mini gears.

Challenges

Creative Inspirations New 

Simon Says layer it up

Bon voyage

The last of four cards made for Papercraft Inspirations with a travel theme. The papers are Trimcraft simply creative around the world. I used a Hobbycraft plane die, MFT stitched scalloped basic edge die and Hobbycraft star punches.

Off to the Sincerely Yours craft show today. Looking forward to seeing Faye and Tracy at Dies to Die For where I shall probably buy some dies and maybe some stamps. Nothing in particular I need will just be nice to see what is new and meet up with some crafty friends.

Embossed snowflakes

The last embossed card this week using products I haven't used for a couple of years I should think. I like to look back on some of my makes on Pinterest and when I saw a couple of cards I had previously made using this lovely Sizzix snowflake die and matching embossing folder I thought it was time it was used again. The Crafter's Companion 6x6 embossing folder also hasn't been used for some time. I added some snowflake ribbon, sprayed the snowflakes with spray and sparkle and added a sentiment I found already stamped up.

Challenges

Winter Wonderland embossing
Simon Says layer it up

More butterflies

Another embossed card today using a Crafter's Companion embossing folder. I wanted to keep the design simple and thought it was an opportunity to use my favourite butterfly die. I don't get to use it much as it is such a big die but it is perfect for this card. It is a Magnolia Doohickey die. I found the sentiment in my stash and added some pearls.

Challenges

Noor! Design UK anything goes 

Allsorts butterflies

Off into the city today as we are both having a haircut so no crafting today.  Join me tomorrow for a Christmas card.

Robin Redbreast

When I posted a pic of some of my new sewn snowmen I said I had some other ideas I wanted to try which I never had time for last Christmas. One of the things I wanted to try was a robin. I found several examples on Pinterest, some front view, some sideways view. I prefer to use dies wherever I can as it makes it much easier to cut everything uniform and is also a good way to use more of my dies. 

I started with a brown diecut stitched circle suing a Lawn Fawn die. The stitched holes show faintly on the felt which is useful for a sewing guide. I then cut a red circle the same size, cut it in half  and used a MFT stitched basic edge die to round the top edge. The wings and feet were cut with Spellbinder heart dies.  The eyes with a small circle die with black brads. I tried cutting a triangle for the nose but didn't like the stitching but then I had a brainwave. I backed a small piece of felt with Stick It and cut a small heart, cut off the top of the heart and removed the backing and the Stick It works perfectly on the felt. 

I shall be making several more of these and I then had a further brainwave of something else to make which I shall post another day, maybe next week.

I would like to enter this into the B for birds challenge at ABC Christmas.

Deepest Sympathy

I decided to get out my embossing file and have a play with some of my embossing folders which don't see the light of day very often. I used First Edition Mulberry Kisses paper and a Darice embossing folder. The sentiment is from Inkylicious and the butterflies were cut with a Crafts Too die. That's anoher card for my stock which is building up nicely.

Went out with friends for a carvery last night, which was delicious. Today will mainly be spent crafting as I have some magazine work to do and several part made gifts on my desk.

Challenges

Noor! Design UK aything goes 

Allsorts butterflies

Thank You

I have been very busy making gifts for my first hospital shop next month and also working on a couple of magazine commissions.  I also want to make some more cards, particularly other occasions and was sorting through my Hobby House toppers and thought this cute Wee image would make a lovely thank you card.

I teamed her with Lily Bee Double Dutch papers. The dies are Joy leaves which I chopped into smaller pieces and MFT stitched scalloped basic edge.   I found the sentiment in my stash and added some Viva pearl drops and rose from Wild Orchid.

Challenges

Simon Says add a sentiment 

Noor! Design UK anything goes

Off for a facial and back massage this afternoon and than a Costa coffee and shopping at Tesco.

Going places

Well my stamp organisation didn’t happen yesterday as we decided to take advantage of a dry morning and go to Sheringham. After a coffee stop we parked and then had a look around the shops, particularly the charity shops and the small market. There is a small papercraft shop there which only carries pretty basic stuff but I was pleased to find a pack of small red brads which I need for my handsewn snowmen’s noses. If you haven’t seen them check out one of my blog post‘s last week. We had a look at the beach but it turned rather cold so after some lovely homemade soup we headed home just before the rain.

I have another of the good luck travel themed cards I made for Papercraft Inspirations to share with you today. I used the MFT up, up and away set coloured with Copics.  The smaller balloons were cut from patterned paper. I used MFT banner dies for the sentiments and Lawn Fawn puffy clouds dies.

Challenges 

MFT colour challenge 

Simon Says add a sentiment 

As you like it favourite die (I love all my stitched and pierced dies and this card uses some of my favourites - clouds and banners. I use banners and bunting a lot and the banners are very useful for adding sentiments.)

 A day at home with a roast dinner later. Looking forward to Call the Midwife returning this evening. Along with Vera we have a good evening's TV to look forward to.  And talking of TV we are absolutely loving the box set of Downton Abbey. It really is one of the best series we have ever watched and all the better for never having seen it before. I love not having to wait a week for the next episode and even better going from one series to another when we want to.  Enjoy your Sunday.

Cool in blue

Yes another snowman! When I saw our challenge at A Gem of a Challenge was cool in blue I immediately thought of making a snowman card. Of course you can make any card you like as long as the main colour is blue.

I coloured Chilly with birdhouse with Copics and used some Hobbycraft papers, MFT stitched scalloped basic edge die, fun flock, white pearl pen, Me to You sentiment and a lovely snowflake bunting die Lynsey bought me for Christmas from The Works. Two of my favourite things, snowflakes and bunting combined, love it.

Challenges

ABC Christmas B for birds 

Creative Inspirations new (die)
Simon Says add a sentiment
I am planning to sort out my stamp files today, seeing if there any I want to sell and relabelling the files with my new Brother label printer. I have already labelled my boxes, distress inks and die files. 

Wrap up warm

I am doing well so far with making some Christmas cards. I bought this Woodware stamp at the last Sincerely Yours show in Thetford and didn't get to use it for last Christmas so I thought I should use him before I go to the next show on 28th Jan. He has been coloured with Copics. I experimented with some different colours as I have some colours which are real favourites and others hardly used. 

The papers are Bo Bunny Altitude. I used a MFT forest border die and various tree dies. The sentiment is part of the stamp set and was cut with a MFT tiny tag die.  I used fun flock on his hat bobble.

Challenges

Stamping Sensations cold and frosty colours 

ABC Christmas B for birds 

Creative Inspirations new (stamp)
Simon Says add a sentiment

More gifts

On Tuesday we went to Prima Rosa, a lovely vintage tea rooms and gift shop where I am lucky enough to have some of my gifts on sale. I changed some of the stock and took these wooden blocks I just made. These are proving very popular on my stall so I am hoping they will sell well there too. I was delighted to find my fairy door I took in has sold so I took another two of those in, a pink and a lilac as they are the most popular colours. 

These are painted with Rustoleum  chalk paint and then stamped with Inkylicious stamps. my favourite is make a wish.

I would like to enter the add a sentiment challenge at Simon Says.

More snowmen

What's better than a snowman stamp? A stamp with lots of snowmen! I could't resist buying this new stamp from Dies to Die For. It is Newton's Nook frozen fellowship coloured with Copics. I wanted to make my first card with this stamp a cas one so simply diecut using a MFT wonky stitched rectangle and backing it onto some snowflake paper from Making Cards. That's one for the Christmas box.

Challenges

Creative Inspirations new (stamp)

Snowmen

Last year I had several ideas for sewing projects but never had time to get them all made for Christmas. I am determined to get ahead with Christmas makes this year and have been experimenting making some felt snowmen.  I tried different ways of sewing the head and body together and am happy with these ones so shall be making more of them in various colours.

I used Lawn Fawn stitched circle dies and was pleased with how easily they cut the felt. The hats were cut with a Tim Holtz snowman stamp and die set.  I realised brads made perfect eyes and noses. I found some star and heart brads amongst my brad collection and they make lovely buttons. On the red one which was the first one I made I did use buttons. I cut and fringed a strip of felt to make the scarves, I shall be making some of these for myself as well as to sell. 

Launch day

Yes today is launch day for the new Jasmine and Oliver stamps. They will be available as rubber, digi and precoloured digi toppers. I have used the lovely Jasmine magazine stamp coloured with Copics. I wanted to make a clean and simple card so I simply added some washi tape.

Challenges

Creative Inspirations new (stamp) 

As you like it anything goes 

Allsorts no patterned paper 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts new (stamp)

Camper van travels

This is another of the cards made for Papercraft Inspirations. I was asked to make two good luck cards with a travel theme. The VW camper is a Marianne die which I bought a while ago and had never used. I used various scraps of paper to make a psychedelic camper. I also used MFT rolling hills, Joy bunting and Nellie Snellen flower dies.

I would like to enter the patterned paper challenge at Simon Says.

Today we are popping out and about. We have some things for the charity shop and need to get some shopping.

I do like to be beside the seaside

I made this for a male friend whose Birthday was on Thursday. We have enjoyed many beach walks with him and his wife and Norfolk has a lot of beach huts and of course Cromer is famous for its crabs. I used a topper from Making Cards, paper is Kaisercaraft salty kisses. I used a Clearly Besotted wave edge die and the diecuts are Bo Bunny.

I would like to enter the patterned paper challenge at Simon Says.

I won a Facebook competition for a local restaurant to sample their new menu this evening. We get a glass of Prosecco on arrival, food and entertainment. Should be good.

Trying something new

I sometimes look for gift ideas on Pinterest and have seen several different wreaths and hearts made using ribbon or material and even saw one using serviettes. I really wanted to have a go and decided to use ribbon bows. I bought a polystyrene heart from Hobbycraft and sorted through my ribbons to find a good variety of purple ribbons to use. It was quite therapeutic to make and I am really pleased with the way it turned out. It looks lovely against my craft room wall so if it doesn't sell I have just the place for it. Of course if it does sell I shall make more. Like most makes it looks so much prettier in real life.

Challenges

Allsorts new (new technique)

Noor! Design UK anything goes

Adventure awaits

This was a fun card to make for Papercraft Inspirations. I was asked to make two bon voyage cards and was sent some 12x12 papers. Trimcraft Simply Creative around the world. I cut the globe from one of the papers and used various dies. The labels on the suitcase were from another of the papers.  I also added some wide jute ribbon.

Baking

A very kind crafting friend received a pack of Hunkydory toppers for Christmas and messaged me to ask if I would like some. When I saw they featured the cute characters which were previously LOTV and Sugar Nellie stamps I said yes please. They are so cute and most of the images I haven't seen as stamps including this cute baking image. Of course as they are pre coloured they make quicker cards too which is very helpful when making cards to sell.

I made a 7x7 card as this is a large topper. The papers are Craftwork Cards and I used various dies including a new Taylored Expressions baking border. The other baking dies are First Edition and the stitched scalloped border is MFT.  The sentiment is an old one.

Challenges

Simon Says new (topper and baking border die) 

Allsorts new (topper and baking border die) 

Creative Inspirations new (topper and baking border die)

Oliver texting

Sharing another of the new images launching from LOTV on 15th January. Oliver texting was previously available as a digi but will also be a rubber stamp from 15th. There are lots of young boy images and older male images on the market but Oliver really fills the gap between them.

Image - LOTV Oliver texting

Medium - Copics

Papers - Maja Denim and Friends

Dies - Lawn Fawn pierced rectangle, MFT stitched speech bubble, Mag freebie sentiment

PUnches - Dovercraft and Hobbycraft stars

Other - crimper, enamel dots

Challenges

Squirrel's not so random challenge celebrate 

As you like it anything goes 

Noor! Design UK anything goes

Magazine commision

Yesterday was the first day for a few years that I didn't post on my blog.  I expect to post most days this year but I haven't had much time to craft lately with the Christmas break and doing other things.  I stepped down from paper Creator DT a couple of months ago so am now only on two Design Teams, Pink Gem and LOTV. I have decided to stick with just those two for the moment unless something else really interesting comes along. I have also decided to take on less magazine commissions for a while. I have so many things I want to make and so many unused stamps. I am also determined to get more scrapbook layouts made and make Christmas cards all year round too.

I am however delighted to be making cards for Crafts Beautiful magazine again this year and this one was made for the edition which was published yesterday. I love the Penny Black hedgie babies and made this one suitable for a boy or girl. The papers are from The Works, lace from Crafty Ribbons, flowers from Wild Orchid.  I coloured the image with Copics and used a Lawn Fawn stitched circle die. The wooden heart was covered with white Wink of Stella.

Challenges

Creative Inspirations new (baby) 

Dies R Us anything goes using a Dies R Us die (Lawn Fawn) 

Squirrel's not so random challenge celebrate

Simon Says something new (baby)

Allsorts Something new (baby) 

Penny Black and more at Allsorts New (baby)

Party time

We are back at A Gem of a Challenge with our first challenge of the year, Happy anything. I hadn't used this cute digi before, party time. Coloured with Copics of course. The papers are a mixture of Kaisercraft and oddments. I added a diecut sentiment which was a magazine freebie and coloured some wooden balloons with a dark pink Wink of Stella pen. I always think it looks more red then pink but as I wanted a soft red to match my colouring that worked well.

Challenges

Simon Says new (stamp)

New stamp launch

If you love LOTV Jasmine and Oliver stamps you will love the new release out on 15th January. hey will be digital and rubber. I have used Jasmine Glam for my first sample. She has been coloured with Copics, papers are American Crafts. I wanted to keep the design modern but with a bit of girly glam embellishment so added some lace from Crafty Ribbons,  Wild Orchid flowers and lilac pearl drops.

Challenges

As you like it anything goes 

Simon Says something new (stamp) 

Noor! Design UK anything goes

We had a change of plan the other day when we were going into the city to the sales so we are off there today instead.  Nothing in particular we want but I do have something to return from Christmas. I bought a half price coat on Wednesday and some odds and ends in other sales.

Sympathy

I think sympathy cards should be kept fairly simple and this is one I made a little while ago. I used a Memory Box Chloe stem die and added a velvet bow. The sentiment is from an Inkylicious set.

We are going to visit a friend this afternoon to see the new house her husband built now that it is finished with the flooring and fittings. We saw it part built so it will be interesting to see it completed.

Starting as I mean to go on

After a break from crafting over Christmas I finally got into the craft room yesterday.  One of my few resolutions for this year is to make time for more scrapbook layouts. I think I made this same resolution last year and the year before and failed miserably. However I am off to a good start so let's see how many I can complete this year,  I have lots of photos printed and all ready for layouts. Many of them are from holidays and this one is from last January's holiday to Florida.

Downtwon Kissimmee is a quaint little place with one main street consisting mainly of antique and collectable shops stuffed so full of interesting things. We always make a beeline for the vinyl records and did pick up a few bargains.

I used the January 1 sketch at Stuck?! for my inspiration. They have 2 sketches a month and I hope to make layouts for as many of them as I can this year. The sketch was a good opportunity to try out a Tim Holtz die I bought from somebody on Facebook about 6 months ago. It's a fun diamond pattern which can be used in so many ways. I used it as a random repeat pattern. The 2 lampposts were cut with MFT dies and I added a couple of vintage toppers from Studio Light.  The paper is Tim Holtz vintage shabby.

Ballerina

I actually made this card as part of the sketch challenge for  Quick Cards Made Easy. Unfortunately the magazine has ceased publishing so my card won' be used. he silhouette is a Inkylicious stamps and I used some older Spellbinder dies and a pearl pen around the image. The sentiment is from the LOTV fairy trio set. 

I would like to enter this into the anything goes challenge at Simon Says.

Happy New Year

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2018.

The last of five cards I made for Papercraft Essentials in the 5 cards for £10 feature seems an appropriate card for today. If you saw my previous posts you will know that I had to make the cards using a champagne glass die, gold glitter card and a pack of coloured glitter. I used to die to create two apertures and backed them with gold glitter card. For the purple glitter strip I attached a strip of double sided tape and sprinkled with glitter.

I would like to enter this into the anything goes challenge at Simon Says.