Friday 31 August 2018

New home, new cat


Well An Officer and a Gentleman was absolutely fantastic yesterday, one of the best shows we have ever seen on stage, and we have seen a lot. It was full of 80’s power ballads and we came out with St Elmo’s Fire singng in our heads. Isn't this an idyllic Summer scene. My friend asked me to make a card for her daughter and family who moved house yesterday. They are going to get a cat so I was asked to include it on the card. Mind you when the 5 year old son was asked what colour cat he would like he said a blue one!  The image is one of the digi printables from LOTV, papers are Jen Hadfield everyday. I bought this from a friend who is having a craft room clearout. Of course I needed more papers!  The sentiment is from LOTV and I added some Hobby House flowers and a Bo Bunny border.  This image is also available as a printed art sheet from LOTV. I would like to enter the Summer challenge at Crafteezee and anything goes at Simon Says.

Thursday 30 August 2018

Waiting for Santa


I can't keep up with all the cute new digis and toppers from Pink Gem but when I saw this one I just had to use it straight away.  This is one of the printables which come with extra layers for decoupaging.  I wanted to keep my card flat for posting so I just used the main image. I searched through my papers as I wanted the backing paper to match his hat and finally found this sheet in an old Crafter's Companion Scruffy Little Cat pad.  The sentiment comes with the image. I diecut a 5 part tree sing an Elizabeh Crafts die and added a layered snowflakes using MFT dies.  I don't know if the white glitter card I used for the tree and snowflake shows very well but it makes a lovely sparkly card.

I would like to enter the holidays challenge at Crafteezee and the anything goes challenge at Simon Says.

We are of to Ipswich today to see the matinee performance of a new musical An Officer and a Gentleman. It is at selected theatres before heading to the West End. I hope the lead actor is as handsome as Richard Gere. 

Wednesday 29 August 2018

Dream Baby


This is the second baby card I made for Papercraft Inspirations where I was asked to create rainbow baby cards. I made a soft rainbow sky using chalks. The sweet image is from a Stampin'Up set. The papers are Bo Bunny Damask and I paper pieced the moon. I used 3 different star punches from Hobbycraft, some ribbon from Crafty Ribbons, pearl hearts and a MFT banner die.

Tuesday 28 August 2018

More Hobby House


I seem to have a little phase on certain images and so today I have another Hobby House topper for you. These are always coloured so beautifully.  I have used First Edition Merry Little Christmas papers from last year.  I love these papers. So far this year I have only bought one small pack of Christmas papers from Hobbycraft. There don't seem to be many out yet and those that are out are not very inspiring. I shall continue using those I have and I love using non Christmas papers from Christmas cards too. The tree was cut from white glitter card using a Dee's die which comes n 5 sections (not to self, must use this one more often). I added a LOTV sentiment and a wooden snowflake coloured with a white Wink of Stella pen.  I would like to add this to the holidays challenge at Creative Inspirations and the cutest snowmen at Christmas with the cuties.

I had a good day yesterday, getting several cards and a couple of small plaques made but no scrapbook layout. I also spent some time on a jigsaw we started on Sunday and read my book. I do love a good thriller and am currently reading The Widow by Fiona Barton which is very good.

Monday 27 August 2018

Summer fun


I really am trying to work my way through my toppers. I still have plenty more to keep me going for quite some time. This one is from The Hobby House. I used some old LOTV papers again, Up, Up and Away. They are so useful for 7x7 cards like this one. The sentiment stamp is from Little Claire. I used MFT stitched sun and cloud dies.

Challenges
Crafteezee Summer

Hubby is out for the day today as the Powerboat Club are part of the Lions Gala Day. That means a crafting day and I am planning to get a lot made including some Copic colouring and hopefully a scrapbook layout.

Sunday 26 August 2018

Wheeeeeee!


I have used one of the old LOTV art pads for my card today and also some old LOTV papers Snow Princess. You can still buy them as digi papers from Nitwits. Now I did something I am sure you have all done at least once, diecut one of the papers, placed it behind the image, added more diecuts and almost completely covered the diecut edge of the paper! I used a Lawn Fawn border die, Joy tree and Memory Box stitched snowflake dies. The sentiment is one of the new ones from LOTV.

We are going out for breakfast this morning and a walk. It is supposed to rain this afternoon so maybe a movie and start a new jigsaw this afternoon. Looking forward to the new drama, Bodyguard tonight.

Friday 24 August 2018

More vintage


I enjoyed making the last vintage card so much that I decided to make another using a different Inkylicious stamp. The backing paper is from Crafter's Companion vintage Wedding pad. I distressed all the edges and used a new Cuttlebug embossing folder I bought from somebody on Facebook. I embossed Core'dinations and sanded it back. The ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons. I used clear Spectrum Noie sparkle brush pen on the wooden stars and added twine to the cardboard buttons which I found in my stash.

Challenges
Dies R Us You're a star

Thursday 23 August 2018

Love penguins


I treated myself to a Mama Elephant stamp set which I have wanted for ages as it has dinky penguins and snowmen. I used three of the stamps for my card, coloured with Copics. The backing paper is a digi one from LOTV. I kept it simple using CC designs heart banner and a Die-versions sentiment die.

Must do some housework this morning then into the City for lunch and a haircut for hubby.

Tuesday 21 August 2018

Baby at the fair


This is one of two cards I was commissioned to make for Papercraft Inspirations. The theme was rainbow baby cards and I was asked to use a Hunkydory stamp set with Bo Bunny papers. I coloured all the images with Copics, used MFT pierced banner and stitched scallop border and stitched cloud dies. The sentiment is from Stamposaurus. 

Challenges
Penny Black and more at Allsorts I spy something beginning with B (baby card, bear, balloons, bow, blue, brown, big wheel)

Happy Birthday to my Mum today.

Monday 20 August 2018

Vase of flowers


Complete change of plan yesterday. There was a fun run where my Mum lives, the town was cordoned off until 10 so she couldn’t get the bus. By the time she rang it was too late for us to go and collect her and do what we had planned for the day so we have rearranged for her Birthday tomorrow. We went to a vintage and collecter’s street fair instead which was good. So on today’s card. The lovely image is from one of the LOTV art pads. Although they are no longer available they have some lovely art sheets which are great for those who don't like digis. Very useful being precoloured of course. I used a stitched square die from The Works. The papers are Teresa Collins paper stories. I used a Doohickey lace border die, one of my favourites yet not used for a while. The butterflies were diecut with a mag freebie, hardly used for some reason.  The sentiment is from Pink Gem.

Challenges
Crafteezee Summer 
The paper Shelter punches and dies 
Crafty Calendar dots and/or stripes

Sunday 19 August 2018

Reach for the moon


I made this card to give to one of the neighbour's daughter as she achieved 3 A* grades at A level and is going to Cambridge to study. She has worked very hard for it and I wanted to congratulate her. The sentiment is from Inkylicious. The papers are MME lime twist and I used three different Hobbycraft star punches and put them through the crimper.

Challenges
Simon Says back to school
Crafty Calendar dots and/or stripes

We are taking my Mum out today as it is her Birthday on Tuesday but she preferred to go out today. I can't say where we are going as she will read this like she does every morning and it is a surprise. 

Saturday 18 August 2018

Who's got a curly hat?


I have a midway reminder post today for our four week challenge of use mainly pink at A Gem of a Challenge. I used one of the cute new Christmas images for my card, isn't he cut. Coloured with Copics and teamed with some old Wild Rose papers.  Iadded a spotty buton to his hat, coloured some wooden snowflakes with a pink sparkle Spectrum Noir brush pen and added some ribbon from Crafty Ribbons. Come and enter the challenge and you could win two digis of your choice.

Challenges
As you like it black and white plus one (I chose pink as I think it goes so well with black and white and I love using more unusual colour combos for Christmas)
Christmas with the cuties add some sparkle
Crafty Calendar dots and/or stripes 

Thursday 16 August 2018

Christmas wreath


I was commissioned to make a Christmas wreath for the latest edition of Crafts Beautiful so a rather different card from me today. I used Nitwits 'Twas the Night papers. The frame was cut with a large Go Kreate frilly squares die. I diecut lots of Memory Box stitched snowflakes to create the wreath, adding red pearls to the centres and a Gorjuss bow.

Wednesday 15 August 2018

Dance in the rain


It seems a while since I made a vintage card. I love making them and they sell well so I shall resolve to make more of them.
Stamps - Inkylicious
Paper - Crafters Companion vintage Wedding
Burlap - The Range
Flowers - Wild Ochid
Wooden leaves - Hobbycraft
Ribbon and lace - Crafty Ribbons
Dew drops - Thetford show
Rustic heart - The Ribbon Girl
Other - DI Vintage Photo

Challenges
Penny Black and more at Allsorts I spy something beginning with B (brolly, brown, burlap)
Simon Says distress it

Tuesday 14 August 2018

3 for the price of 1


Sorry I haven’t visited your lovely blogs but Sunday night I had an upset stomach and was up half the night. Of course we were up early yesterday morning for the hospital shop. Thankfully I was fine just very very tired. Had a really good day for sales and a very early night. Slept for 10 hours and woke up feeling much better. Back to normal today I hope and will make time for some blogging. Thanks for all your lovely comments on my elephant yesterday which sold in the morning. I need to find time to make some more. I really love the new squares digis from Pink Gem and what could be better than one snowpeople but three. I teamed it with some MFT grid papers and added some Memory Box stitched snowflakes. The banners were cut with a MFT die.

Challenges
ABC Christmas R is for robin

Monday 13 August 2018

Another ellie


I really love this felt pattern from LOTV and this is the latest one I have made. I make them at 125% and add a hanging ribbon. This one will be on my stall at the hospital today. 

We had a lovely day out yesterday. We started at a lifeboat day and I bought 3 jigsaw puzzles for £3 each on the animal charity stall. I also bought one of the books on my reading list for 50p.   I have so many books to read and always have a book on the go. As soon as I finish one I choose the next one to start. Then we saw a sign for a seaside them flower festival in one of the next villages so off we went and then we ended up at the coast at Cromer. Had a lovely walk round there and then came home, finished a jigsaw and cooked dinner. 

Sunday 12 August 2018

More snowmen


I promised another Card-io card today and here it is. This time I created a sunset behind the trees. I used a MFT hill stencil. To create the sunset I use a dry baby wipe and uild up the colour using yellow, ornage and burgundy small ink pads. I then stamp the trees and snowman and I added some fun flock for a change. I used a stitched square die from The Works, MFT lamppost and a sentiment die.  The paper is from an old pad.

Challenges
ABC Christmas Q is for quote

If the weather is good today we are off to the Mundesley Lifeboat Day at the coast. Enjoy your Sunday x

Saturday 11 August 2018

Sparkly decorations


I bought these MDF decorations at Doncaster and I am pleased I have the ready so early. I didn't want to make them too fancy. I used various sparkle brush pens, Zig Acrylista pens and white emulsion on the snowman. I hope you can see some of the sparkle. I added some little wooden decorations to the signposts. The snowmen were decorated with glitter heart enamel dots and pearls.

Off to set up the hospital shop today as we are planning a day at the coast tomorrow if it isn't raining and we are in the hospital shop on Monday. I won't be taking these until September though.

Friday 10 August 2018

Walking the dog


A change from Christmas today with a card I made for a friend's daughter's Birthday. She is 15 and has two dogs which she takes to dog shows including Crufts. I just bought this stamp from somebody on Facebook and knew it would be perfect for her. I don't think she will be wearing this outfit at the moment though. Her favourite colour is blue but I added a pop of red with the mug to match the paper which is First Edition Wanderlust.  She has been coloured with Copics and I used a MFT mini cloud stencil and chalks for the sky.  I found the sentiment in my stash.  I liked the simplicity of it but wanted to add something and remembered the dog wash tape and that just finished it off nicely.

Challenges
Penny Black and more at Allsorts I spy something beginning with B (blue, bow, butterflies, Birthday)
All Dressed Up anything ADU goes

Thursday 9 August 2018

Snowman in the forest


I must say the Christmas cards are coming along well, as are the decorations I am making. I am sure I am further ahead than usual this year. I usually make at least 2 Card-io stamps at a time and I will be sharing the other one with you on Sunday. All of the stamps are Card-io. I used MFT Winter trees, layered snowflakes and rolling hills dies and a Lawn Fawn stitched circle die.

Challenges
ABC Christmas Q is for quote

Wednesday 8 August 2018

Christmas owl


This is the last of my makes at the moment using the new LOTV felt downloads. This one is a Halloween owl in the picture that comes with the pattern but I turned mine into a Christmas decoration. He was quite challenging especially cutting all the pieces rather than diecutting. I didn't think his feet looked right and discovered I had stitched them on upside down so off they came and I cut some more. He looks much better with his feet this way. I added a little bell to his hat and the Christmas ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons.

Tuesday 7 August 2018

Snowman plaque


Back today with another make using the same LOTV downloadable pattern as yesterday's post. Again this is 70% size but this time I cut the snowman from felt. I covered the MDF plaque with some old Bo Bunny papers and coloured 2 wooden snowflakes using a Zig Woodcraft pen and then adding sparkle using a Spectrum Noir clear brush pen. I added some pearls to the felt, first time I have tried that and was pleased they stuck perfectly. I thought he need a scarf so I cut one from patterned felt.

I would like to enter the holiday challenge at Creative Inspirations.

Monday 6 August 2018

Cute Rudolph


Well my day yesterday didn't go as well as I had hoped. I did spend much of the day crafting but didn't get as much done as I planned. I had a disaster when I went to print as two inks had run out. I changed the yellow, no problem. Then I opened the blue and it leaked, aargh. I had bright blue fingers and it stains terribly. I scrubbed my hands with cream cleaner and a lot of it came out and it gradually faded with each wash. I sorted that out and then carried on crafting. I thought I was doing well for time only to find my clock needed a new battery!

So what did I make? Well LOTV have a new range of printable downloadable patterns to make felt toys but the patterns can also be used in other ways and the DT were asked if any of us would make a few examples. I have used one of the Precious patterns Christmas softies. There is a reindeer, snowman, gingerbread man and a penguin. 

I printed the template and then copied it to 70% size. Cut out the templates and then cut round those on the different coloured card. I added pearls and a bow from Hobbycraft. The main paper is an old one and the banners were cut with MFT pierced banner dies and LOTV kraft Christmas digi papers. The sentiment is one of the new LOTV ones.

I would like to enter this into the holidays challenge at Creative Inspirations.

Sunday 5 August 2018

Sparkly unicorn


In amongst the Christmas decorations I have been making I found time to decorate this unicorn. I only bought one (MDF from The Range) to see what it was like decorated. It has been painted with Rustoleum cream chalk paint. I then coloured, the mane, tail and horn with various glitter brush pens and added some small flowers from Wild Orchid.

Hubby is out in Bedford today volunteering on the powerboat rescue so I have a day all to myself which will involve lots of crafting.

Saturday 4 August 2018

Three elephants


August is breast cancer awareness month and at A Gem of a Challenge we have a four week challenge to use more pink than any other colour. I used one of the new adorable squares precoloured digi toppers. There are a whole range of these, some for men and some for Christmas too.

I love to use the offcuts of striped papers by reversing the stripes.  The flowers are from Hobbycraft and The Range, the butterfly is from Poundworld.

Challenges
Crafteezee Summer 
The Paper Shelter anything goes

We are off to the Coast today where it should be cooler. The last two days and nights have been too hot for us.

Friday 3 August 2018

My name is Graham


I saw a scrapbook sketch on a Facebook page and it inspired me to make a layout. The photos were taken in America. The top one was in Mount Dora in a lovely cupcake shop and the bottom one in Starbucks. Now over here I find their coffee rather bitter, much preferring Costa or an independent coffee shop. Over there Starbucks are everywhere and the coffee is much nicer. However they do seem to have a problem with Graham's name. It is easier to say mine which they write as Maryann usually. We are often amused by what they put on the cups and this must be the worst interpretation of his name.  

I had an old Starbucks card which I added to my layout. The title wooden sticker is from The Works. The denim washi tape and the scalloped border are from America.

I would like to enter this into the holidays challenge at Creative Inspirations.

Some friends have asked if we would like to go for a walk on the beach late afternoon and then a meal in the cafe/restaurant there. It is a nice quiet beach we are going to at Cartgap.

Thursday 2 August 2018

It's that snowman again


Isn't it funny that I have used this stamp twice since I bought it at Doncaster yet I have other stamps I bought ages ago and haven't used yet. I decided to paper piece his umbrella and coloured the rest with Copices   I coloured the sky with chalks and used a new MFT mini cloud stencil. The papers are LOTV Nitwits 'Twas the Night. I used a stitched square die from The Works and Marianne snowflake dies. The sentiment is one of the new LOTV ones. I added some fun flock mixed with glitter on the snow and used a Viva pearl pen.

I am so glad the weather is a bit cooler as I feel more like colouring again. I have missed it and am really hoping the temperatures don't get so high again. The highest we recorded in our car one day was 36.5 and it was unbearable.  The garden has really benefited from some welcome rain at the weekend and start of this week.

Wednesday 1 August 2018

Shhhh unicorn sleeping


As unicorns are so popular I thought I would make a plaque using one of the precoloured Pink Gem digis. I added some clear sparkle to some of the image using a Wink of Stella pen. The paper is from an old LOTV pack and I added some strips of glitter washi tape. I coloured the rainbow hearts using Spectrum Noir glitter brush pens and a Wink of Stella pen. I must say I prefer the Spectrum Noir pens as they have a lot more glitter. I added some flowers from Wild Orchid and a few pearls.