Just a Little Reminder

From my last post you will have seen that I have recently moved house, and I haven't blogged for a very long time.  The main reason, other than time, was that my craft things were packed, but I had been passing my crafting time away with a new craft I've stumbled on called Decopatch.  With my life in boxes I found it very easy to decopatch as it takes very little time and you need very few items.  I have decopatched a Cat, and Home ornament, and a horse.  But it was my sisters birthday, (months ago) and I was strapped for money with the house, so I rang my mum and asked her what she thought of my idea.  My sister works as a receptionist and I was sure that she would be the type of person to have post it notes all over her computer screen and desk, so I came up with this little idea.

I took some basic wooden pegs and decopatched them using, and added my own decorations to them that I thought would be to her taste.  I like this craft as you get to rip up paper and glue haphazardly, there is no need for accuracy or concentration.  Once the glue was dry I used ribbon, buttons and gems in my craft stash and a hot glue gun to secure them to the pegs.

Samples of the pegs

Awaiting their Reminder

Pretty in Pink

I'd like to enter these into the following challenges:
Crafty Creations Challenges - Lets get Krafty http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/challenge-239-lets-get-krafty.html
Pennys Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - Anything Goes http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-144.html

Missing You

I haven't blogged for months, but here is a card I made two weeks ago for one of my friends who is moving away.  This card taught me that I need to get back in the swing of things as I spent way too long making it.  I don't usually make busy cards, however I hope it works well.  She loved the card I hope you like it.

I used bits and pieces I had laying around, as I have just moved house and I haven't had time to get organised yet.  However this this card uses a Gorguss stamp, from Do crafts, and the die is from Spellbinders Nestabilities, Majestic Elements.  The back ground comprises three pieces of paper cut into three squares and I have paper pieced the girls dress.  I dressed up the card with double sided sticky lace, and plain white ribbon, decorated with a pre cut sentiment, Miss you and embellishment flowers.

I'd like to enter this card into:

CRAFT Challenge - Paper piecing http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/challenge-224-12th-of-september-paper.html
Crafty Creations Challenges - Lets get Krafty http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/challenge-239-lets-get-krafty.html
Papertake Weekly - Childs play http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/child-play.html
Pennys Paper Crafty Challenge Blog - Anything Goes http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-144.html

Good bye and Good luck

One of my colleagues is leaving this week, and although I haven't known her that long she does make me laugh.  Obviously that's not the only reason we work together, but nevertheless there will definitely be less laughing when she leaves us.  She is an animal lover with all sorts at home, including donkeys.  This card is designed around her little old lady Mia, who is a 14 years old shitzu. Mia is such a dote, and I knew that she had to be the center piece of the card.  Hope you like the card, and I hope she does too!

 

 

For this card I used:

 

The shitzu digi stamp from Just inked

Craftworks square card 15x15cm

Spellbinders Nestabilities: Labels Twenty Nine

Especially for you, Me to you papers

Silver mirror card stock

Flower embellishments, pink and white

White pearls

Pink Ribbon

Good luck peel off sentiment

Sentiment tag from Especially for you, Me to you paper pack

Paw charm

 

 

I'd like to enter it into the follwoing challenges:

 

Only Digis http://charismacardz.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/challenge-23-digis-only.html

 

Lets get Sketchy http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/challenge-226-lets-get-sketchy.html

 

For a Girl  http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/challenge-53-for-girl.html

 

Challenge 115 http://sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/challenge-115.html

 

Anything goes http://hobbyhousechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/challenge-1-anything-goes-midway.html

 

 

 

 



Fairy Fun

This is my second card this weekend, I must be neglecting something or someone.  I have made this for my sisters birthday coming in a couple of months, she isn't aware I have a blogg so no issues with posting it now.  It took quite a while to pull it all together, as I my initial vision didn't quite work out but nevertheless, here we are, hope she likes it.

To make this card I used:

• Craftworks square card 15cmx15cm
• Hot Diggity Dog papers by Andrea Jayne
• Lili of the Valley Stamp, Birthday Fairy
• K & Company sentiments to go
• Promarkers
• Glossy Accents on the Fairy wings 
• Pink Card Kandi
• Gingham Blue Ribbon
• Pink Flower Stock
• Make and Create Pink Flower Embellishments  

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

• The Paper Craft Crew Challenges http://www.papercraftcrew.com/ - The Graduation Card Sketch #43
• I Love Promarkers Challenge http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-169-anything-goes.html - Anything Goes
• Lilli's Little Fairies Challengehttp://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/spots-and-stripes.html  - Stripes and Spots
• CRAFT Challengehttp://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-208-23rd-of-may-colour-combo.html  - Colour Combo, Blues and Browns
• Cute Card Thursday Challenge http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-270-tie-it-up.html - Tie it up
• Deep Ocean Challenge http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-52-ribbon-and-lace.html - Ribbon and or Lace

Pretty in Pink

Hey, well it has been some time since I have had a chance to post anything, I have made very few cards of late, and took pictures of even less.  However I sat down last night and used a stencil that I had bought over a year ago but had misplaced.  It was one of those moment where I knew I had bought it however, couldn't place it at all.  But low and behold it was lurking in my ribbon box that I had got round to sorting this week.  I have only ever used this technique once, and was quite impressed with the outcome, and despite my first thoughts its not actually that messy.
I choose the colour scheme Pink, as two of my friends have had baby girls in the last week.  Hope you like the card, I am not sure about the ribbon I have used and its application to the sentiment tag, but it was getting late.

I used the following to achieve this card:

Craftworks cards 15cmx15cm Square
Pink gingham ard
Pearlised white paper
Pink pearls
"With Love" Hartcage rubber stamp company
Flower stencil from Imaginationcrafts.co.uk
Studio G chalks, pink on the inside petal, red on the outside edge
Make and create pink and red ribbon set
Kars corner punch

I paper pieced the flower from the stencil with the Gingham and pearlised card and chalked it appropriatly, and inserted the ribbon in between to become a feature in the card.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Anything goes Challenge  http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  - Handmade Backgrounds
Charisma Cardz http://charismacardz.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-20-here-comes-summer.html  - Here comes the summer
Cute Card Thursday- http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-270-tie-it-up.html Tie it up
Deep Ocean Challenge http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/challenge-52-ribbon-and-lace.html  - Ribbons and or lace
Papertake Weekly http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/if-paper-fits.html - Paper Piecing

Thumper's not just for Easter

Well Happy Easter to you all.  I'm not religious or into chocolate so I am grateful for three days off work.  Actually I was guilt tripped into thinking I had better cook dinner for the family so the cooking process has began and I have a spare moment to share this card.  I saw the stamp used in this card as a magazine freebie and just had to buy it.  Its a set from Bunny to Love by Michael Abrams, I had no real purpose for this card and therefore used a generic sentiment to ensure its future multipurpose use.


For this card I used:

• Stamp: Bunny to Love
• Spellbinders Nestabilities: Stately Circles
• XCut Circle Nesting Dies
• Make and Create Pink Flower Embelishments
• Sweet Memories papers
• Green Gingham card stock
• Purple organza ribbon 
• Purple paper stock

I paper pieced Thumper's clothes, the Sweet Memories 

papers are becoming somewhat of a favorite of mine these days, 

teamed with green gingham card.  I really like the patch work on his trousers. Just wish I could stop the shadows from appearing when I take my photos.  Enjoy

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge: Make it Cute
http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/challenge-73.html
Charisma cardz challenge: Happy Birthday
http://charismacardz.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/challenge-12-happy-birthday.html
I Love Promarkers: Spring is in the air
http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/spring-is-in-air.html
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog: Anything but Square
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
Simon says: Anything goes
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

Very Honoured Indeed

Well I'm back to work tomorrow after having a week off and I am feeling a little sorry for myself, however I thought this might be a good opportunity to distract my mind temporarily.  Whilst I was off, the lady who takes my card class took ill, she is okay now, hopefully on the mend.  I saw the text and thought the class was going to be cancelled, however much to my surprise the message asked if I would mind taking the classes that week?  I love my little card class, its great to get away from all the business talk that I am surrounded by day in, day out or the usual family dramas that undoubtedly occur from time to time.  But apart from my escapism, the main reason I go is to make a card that I haven't had to think about.  Sometimes I get very frustrated with myself when I'm crafting at home, as it can take me hours, which I don't usually have and I'm not always happy with the outcome.
But I was delighted when I was asked to divvy up a few cards, teaching and talking to people is part of my day job, so that part of the class wasn't going to be an issue, it was the actual cards that I had to get on with.  I took the decision to go with a birthday theme and to introduce a few techniques I'd seen in some magazines a few months back.

I knew I wanted to incorporate beads in one of the cards, that could double up as a simple bookmark.  So here is the card that I came up with

Stamping never used to be a technique that I enjoyed, but lately its all I appear to do so I decided that I would move away from the stamping and just use dies and punches to achieve the second card.  I was really pleased with how this next card turned out so I tried it in two different colours.  

 In pinks and reds

In greens

I still cant decide which I prefer, but my husband has decided that the green one will be used for his sisters birthday, so I think perhaps I should make my decision from that.  Hope you like, please tell me what you think!

Cupcake Crazy

Well my it's my niece Melissa's birthday at the beginning of next month, I'm back to work on Monday and I'm sure that it's going to be chaotic, I figured I best get her card out of the way now instead of rushing it.  She runs a cupcake business, and has the biggest  Me to you bear collection I have ever seen.  I kept these papers and toppers as I knew it would be great for her card many moths ago, so here it is, I hope you like it.

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For this card I have used:

• A square 15x15cm paperworks card
• Purple card stock
• Especially for You, Me to You papers
• Especially for You, Me to You topper
• Blue corrugated card
• Spellbinders Nestabilities, Stately Circles
• X-cut nesting dies, Circles
• Sharon Bennett 2010 Cupcake stamp using paper peel technique with above papers
• Nitwit collection, Hey Cupcake, Happy Birthday stamp
• Purple organza ribbon
• Anita's purple gems

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

I Love Promarkers: Ribbon and Bows
http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/ribbons-and-bows-at-i-promarkers.html
Penny's Papercrafty Challenge Blog: Ribbon and Die cut
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/pennys-challenge-118-ribbons-and-diecuts.html
Papercraft Crew: sketch #33
http://www.papercraftcrew.com/

The Tale of Tom Kitten

So I've had a lot on lately and its really spoilt my creative flare, and after a lot of working away I have finally been able to produce something I'm happy with.  There was no real need for this card, which may have been perhaps why I managed to create it with such ease.  I bought the Tale of Tom Kitten Stamps over a year ago, the animal lover in me, and my passion for the enchanting Beatrix Potter stories urged me to buy them.  I used to have a rabbit called Mrs Tiggy-winkle, who was best friends with my sisters rabbit, Peter, neither are still with us, but that was at least 15 years ago.  So let me know what you think of this creation, I'm just happy I have my crafting eye back.  

For this card I used:

• 15cmx15cm Craftworks card
• Green plain card
• Teal pearlised card
• The tale of Tom Kitten Stamp by Crafters Companion
• Winter Wonderland Me to You papers
• Pat Pend large Butterfly punch
• Inspirations butterfly punch
• Anita's Gems
• Make and Create White flowers embellishments
• Spellbinders Les Papillions Two
• Spellbinders Decagons

Id like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Creations Challenges - Green
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/212-welcome-new-design-team.html
I Love Promarkers - Anything but Square
http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/challenge-158-anything-but-square.html
Moving Along With the Times - The Birds and the Bees
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-birds-and-bees.html
Papercraft Crew - Sketch #32
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-birds-and-bees.html
Totally Papercrafts Friday - Punch It
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/challenge-157-punch-it.html

Love is in the Air

• For this card I used Carftworks Square card. 
• I used pink Gingham paper and folded the paper into a concertina, sealing the two edges with double sided tape.
• Centred in the circle I placed a white heart from a punch, and smaller heart punch was used to create the pink gingham small heart, affixing with small sticky tabs
• The centred circle was then placed on Christmas "From Me to You" backing paper with double sided sticky tape
• I used a "With Love" stamp from Hertcage Rubber Stamp Company using Versafine Onyx Black Ink
• The "From Me to You" backing paper was then mounted on to red card
• Which was then centred on the white card   

I would like to enter this card into Penny Black and More's challenge Love is in the air http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.co.uk/

I initially made this card for a friends cake business for Valentines. I used

• A Craftworks card one the edge with petal points
• The girl holding flowers is a stamp from Sharon Bennet 2010 embossed using Personal Impressions Enhanced Pearl Red 
• Onto 'This and That' papers by Lori Whitlock and stamped using a With Love stamp from Hertcage Rubber Stamp Company using Versafine Onyx Black Ink
• Mounted onto red card  
• Backed with Je t' Adore paper by Making memories and punched using a Martha Stewart punch along the right edge of the paper 
• Mounted onto red card again
• Finally the Je t' Adore paper was used with a small heart punch six times to fill the petal portions of the card

I would like to enter this card into Penny's Papercraft Challenge Embossing Wet or Dry http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-111-embossing-wet-or-dry.html

Creating the love that they deserve

I have lots of crafty materials in my house, in fact it is the only type of shopping I enjoy.  There are so many beautiful items on the market that I simply could justify buying despite my abilities to put them to good use at some point.

  

At Christmas I made a number of cards for friends and family, as I do every year.  Unless I am with the recipient when they open the cards, comments aren't made and efforts aren't recognised, however its a busy time of the year so who knows.  My mum always likes her card, but then its her place to.  This year shortly after Christmas a friend approached me with the idea of complimenting her cake business with a valentines card to match her proposed theme for this year.  She had a number of ideas and would like to offer a cake and card combo.  She sent me a few pictures of what she had planned and left me to devise a few ideas.  

Initially my thoughts were, seriously, do people still buy cards? My husband and I do not entertain the commercial nonsense of Valentines, anyone who knows us can understand our reasons behind it however we are aware that its the sociably accepted norm.  In my head men buy the cards for their wife or girlfriend in a garage, and men aren't really into the receiving of cards.  So my target audience was already floored.  How do you prevent these men from picking up a car whilst filling up their fuel tank?  My husband has a Facebook account, and so do many other men I know, therefore I conducted a survey to see who really bothered with Valentines and what they wanted from their Valentine.  Bar a few single women the consensus was that people didn't bother, or thought it was a waste of money, or finally, and this amused me, they only bought a card as they felt they had to as their female partners would be upset.  So based on this opinion alone and the materials I had to hand I decided to sit one Sunday evening and try out a few ideas.

I've sent them over to my friend and I guess it is just a matter of time before we see whether they are a success or not?  Perhaps I'm surrounded by cold hearted lovers in my life, but please let me know how important Valentines is to you, after all it wasn't until the 15th century when it evolved into a occasion for lovers to express their love for one another! Nowadays all I hear is groaning about the price of a stamp, never mind the weight of a handmade card!