Result!

Does anyone know where weekends go?

Nothing exciting going on, just the usual list of errands and "stuff". The really fun bit over the last couple of weeks has been doing a spot of house-hunting with my cousin, who's finally decided to take the plunge and buy himself a house. Obviously we offered to step in and help - well you just have to, don't you! He's pretty keen on the one he saw on Saturday and took us along when he went for a second viewing yesterday. Fingers crossed it all works out for him.
Obviously as it was lunchtime and we were already out it would have been rude not to indulge in a pub lunch before coming back home. After that Hubby watched the GP and I got on with Emily's book
Yes I know I've been "getting on with Emily's book" for a while now - but.....this morning I actually finished it. I am not going to do any more tweaking, I am not going to add any more flowers, ribbon on glitter, I am not going to make a box for it, I am not going to think up any more ways to give myself more work. It is finished. Really finished. Honestly, it is.


This is the card I made to send to our eldest niece to say "Well Done" on getting such good results in her "A" Levels.

Papers are by My Little Shoebox, the word is Robo cut, I think the owl is from 2 Crafty but I'm not sure. MS border punch, red "hearts" ribbon and the little bow on the owl's head from my stash.
The flowers, orange ribbon and the heart pin are all from the fab Flower Kit from Creative Treasures. I was just about to reach for some beads to cover the point of the pin (I've mentioned before how I worry about these things!) when I realised that if I placed it all together correctly the sharp point of the pin could be safely hidden under the word, which meant I didn't have to do battle with superglue - what a result!

This kit is called "Hot and Spicy" and is stuffed full of flowers in hot colours plus some great ribbons, buttons and pins to go with them, it's a wonderful kit and really great value for money too - a fab way to boost your flower collection!

Just waiting for the last Stickles to dry on Emily's book then I'll take some pics and share them on here.
Thanks for visiting

The Anniversary Waltz

It's Keryn's turn to set the challenge on the Daring Cardmakers this week and when she asked us to make Anniversary cards I had a whoopdedoop moment!
This was because just a few days earlier an order for two personalised Anniversary cards had popped into my mailbox - what a result! (Thanks, Keryn lol)

Please check out the wonderful cards from the Design Team over on the Daring Cardmakers Blog, if you follow the links to our personal blogs you always find out more info about what we used to make them. As always we'd love it if you'd join in with our dare - so if you do, just add your link to the message thread and we'll come and see what you've made.

So, here's my card for this week, the first of the anniversary cards I need to make (hopefully it'll spur me into actuion and I'll get the other one done soon too!)

Basic card is a 14cm sq gatefold
Papers Bella Bella from MME, Robo-cut monogram, hearts and flower Cuttlebug dies, Prima Artful Flowers, tiny gems from Anita's gem wheel, lace, ribbon, glittered brad, other flowers from stash.


This was much more of a struggle than it should have been - do you get days like that?
Today I need to make a "Congratulations" card as our eldest niece Aimee got her A level results yesterday and scored three A's so will be on her way to her first choice Loughborough Uni next month.
Hope all your kiddiwinks did equally as well!
See you soon

S is for ....Thursday

My turn to add a project to the fab Crafty Ideas Resource that Bubbly Scrumptious is!
Bub Scrump is the blog for the Bubbly Funk shop, where you'll find all sorts of crafting treasures including the wonderful Monthly Kits that I work with.

Thursday is "my" day and this week I've a little wall hanging to share, which I've made using the August Kit and as usual, some of my own stash. Here are some peeks of what you'll find if you wander over to Bubbly Scrumptious today


I had a lot of fun making this and I'm thinking of doing more to make personalised mini-calendars for "you know what"
Right, I really really need to get my DCM card off the drawing board - time is getting short!
Thanks for visiting

Little Bit Excited and An Awkward Little Wotsit!

Well, actually quite a BIG bit excited!

Over on UK Scrappers there's a wonderful mini-book event going on. Every day a fabby new mini-book idea to try and there are some wonderful and ingenious books to see and learn how to make.

Every day I've been checking in to see the new minibook and save the projects to try when I've got some spare time (yeah yeah), today I logged on and saw my own project - and that's why I'm excited

I've been like a "cat on hot bricks" over the last few weeks, because I had word from Caroline (Bubbly Funk) that MaryAnne (Boss at UKS :)) had asked if she could use my Havana "Flip It" Album during the series.
You can see the article and download the project HERE and if you're a member over at UKS I'd be really grateful if you'd leave a message on the dedicated Mini Book Message-Board - this is my very first time to have anything published on there so I'm not only excited, but very apprehensive too!

Thanks to MaryAnne and all at UKS for putting together this wonderful Summer Mini Book Event, and for featuring my book as one of the projects.

Now a Work in Progress

I'm in the middle of another Display Album project atm. It's not been going as well as it should. Funny how you can make things that are fundamentally the same, but instead of getting easier they just won't co-operate!
So this one has been on the go, off and on, for the last couple of weeks. I'm making it for youngest niece Emily's birthday and time's running out so I really need to get it finished this week.
Maybe showing a couple of photos of the Little Beggar (the book, not Emily, she's a sweetie!) will spur me on!
Here is the unfinished cover - looks a bit sparse, doesn't it? hehe

Inside, one side looks like this - again, there are still some empty pages to deal with

The pages on the other side are covered with paper and that's it. They will be the pages for Em to add her own photos so I need to make all the bits that hold the photos. I've got some pics of Em to print out and add to the side with her name on.
I'll e back in the next few days with a progress report!
Thanks for visiting today, please leave a comment, I do love to read them!

Crafty Templates More for August

First, a quick plug for my Card sketches over on my other blog - I uploaded a new one over the weekend and would love it if some of my crafty friends would have a go using it. You can find it HERE

I've just realised that I didn't put my other Crafty Templates cards on here last week, so here they are. To be honest I don't think I did Leo's fab templates justice because I made these cards in a hurry at the last minute - sometimes the last-minute throw-something-together thing works and sometimes it doesn't, I guess you can't win 'em all!

I love the giant flower template and I'm hoping to use it again soon - the flower embellishment in the middle, as well as the paper and card come in the Crafty Goodies Kit which you can also buy from Leo. I just used some rub-ons and glitter glue from my stash.

The Patchwork Parcel template is great fun, the template has its own lovely big bow, but I thought I'd use a ribbon one so that I could swing the patchwork layer over to reveal a hidden message
Again the papers are from the Kit, along with the orange ribbon.
Other Supplies: Rub-ons, MS edging punch, tiny square punch, gel pen, Bosskuts Star tag die

Until today I'd not sat at my craft desk since last Thursday - my mojo went MIA and I had to force it back into action with a pointy stick. It's always a relief when I manage to actually make something when creativity has been lacking - still I've not only started a project but just about got it finished too - which is quite a shock to the system, I can tell you!
Here are a couple of teeny weeny sneakie peekies!











That's all for now. I'm going to have to make more stuff before I come back, so don't hold your breath!

Lacy Days of Summer

Over on the Daring Cardmakers this week it's my turn to set the dare and after last week's tricky Flip-flop, or Swing" challenge I'm making it nice and easy this time and just using one word as the starting point for our card-making!

"LACE"
You're free to interpret "Lace" in whatever way you like;
you could use the actual word on your card, use a lacy stamp, cut a lacy design or maybe use one of these dictionary definitions to inspire you:

1. a net-like ornamental fabric made of threads by hand or machine.
2. a cord or string for holding or drawing together, as when passed through holes in opposite edges.
3. ornamental cord or braid, esp. of gold or silver, used to decorate uniforms, hats, etc.
4. a small amount of alcoholic liquor or other substance added to food or drink.

I have to say, the girls on the Design Team have surpassed themselves this week and the cards on the DCM BLOG are absolutely stunning, they surely can't fail to have everyone itching to join in.

I made a completely different card to the one I was intending when the postie arrived fairly early yesterday morning bringing a box of glorious new papers by the Black Market paper Society. On opening the box all other plans vanished and the only decision was whether to use the Ebony and Alabaster set, or the Vintage Romance ones.

It had to be the latter because as soon as I saw them I knew they'd look perfect with the Artful Flowers and the gorgeous cream lace that has a gold thread running through it
I managed to get two different sorts of lace on to this card plus a tiny bit of actual lacing - which will be a real nuisance to whoever receives this card - I think if I do this again I should give the card a "fake" front as it's a total pain to thread/unthread this for opening and closing the card.


I needed to give a large cream bloom a bit of a makeover to form the base of the big flower, it's been inked and stamped and edged with gold Krylon.
The larger Artful Flower wasn't quite big enough so I separated the petals of two matching flowers, then glued them around a punched card circle to build a bigger version, I added one of the smaller AFs to the stack and topped with another card circle filled with Glossy Accents and shiny black beads

Supplies: Vintage Romance papers (Black Market paper Society), Prima Artful Flowers, Cream Lace with gold thread (Charmed Cards & Craft) , Black velvety sticky backed lace trim (Ribbon Oasis), "Old Gold" eyelets and narrow brown ribbon form my stash
Coiled roses are tiny versions of those demoed on the Cosmo Cricket blog - yes, I'm addicted to them....

I had a ball making this one, I love using textures and having an excuse to go mad with luscious lace, ribbon and flowers is just heaven for me! I really hope other people will enjoy this little challenge as much as I did!
Please take a look at the other cards on the blog, they are fabulous and a real treat to the eye!

Today I'll be thinking about how to use the Ebony & Alabaster papers because they are glorious. Have you noticed that I'm getting better at actually using my stuff rather than just admiring and stroking it for weeks first? lol

Baby Girl and Big M

Over on Bubbly Funk's emag aka Bubbly Scrumptious it's my turn to add today's project. I've made a couple of cards this week using the current month's kit which is a mix of all sorts of interesting papers, shrink plastic, chipboard and other bits and pieces, the kit is called "His & Hers" because it contains stuff suitable for both male and female projects.

A couple of weeks ago I made a card for a baby boy, so this week I've made one for a baby girl and again used the shrink plastic in the kit to make my embellishment. Last time I used a stamp, but this time I'm showing a different way to add an image to the plastic. If you like the idea of using SP but like me don't have many large stamps to use then maybe this is something you could try too


Also in the August kit is a chipboard alphabet - I love this type because you get two of each letter plus the "negative" which you can use too. The set in the kit is all capital letters and I've made a monogram card with one of the letters.


I think these are just perfect for masculine cards, make a monogram, add some patterned paper and maybe a brad or three and you're all done! I'm really pleased with the "faded paint" look on this one - I used a few of my Cat's Eye ink pads to get the colours and "feel" I was after.

This one will be for my brother, if I haven't forgotten all about it by December! Not that he'll appreciate the effort of course; as I've mentioned before his company make cards/stationery stuff and he thinks all us cardmakers are stealing the bread from the mouths of his children! lol

Anyway, these projects can be found HERE, it would be lovely if you'd take a look and leave a comment there if you've a minute.
Thanks for looking

Crafty Wednesday

The new set of Crafty Templates are on the loose for you to buy and use in your crafting. I'm a bit late getting my DT cards up on my blog - I seem to be making a habit of sending my pics to Leo at the last minute just now - I'm hoping that the next lot won't be being finished off on the due-date, it would make a nice change not to be doing that!
Anyway, here's one of my cards using this month's set of templates

These monsters are soooo cute!
I decided to add some speech bubbles with "monster-speak" in them as one with the translation for those who don't understand lol

Crafty Templates are available HERE

I was taking a break from writing up my project for tomorrow (ok, so I was procrastinating again....), by checking out the messages on the DCM blog to see who'd been joining in with our latest challenge (I think this one has really sorted out the "men from the boys" hehehe) and found a fab acetate version of the Flip card on Julia's blog - plus a little dare of her very own called "What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday" - asking for pics of what your desk looks like today. As Julia's entered her card for the DCM I thought it only fair to join in with this! So here goes


It's actually tidier than usual as the project I'd just finished didn't call for lots of bits of paper. If you're up for a bit of fun, why not head over to Julia's BLOG and join in!
Go on, I dare you!

Lazy Saturday

My rellies have been staying with us for a few days, I don't get to see them very often so it was lovely for me to have them here.
Hubby took one of the days while they were here off work, and by some amazing luck it turned out a beautiful hot day - very surprising as the rain had woken us all up during the night because it was soooo loud! Anyway, the blue skies of the next morning were a very pleasant surprise and we didn't need to think up an alternative plan after all. We went over to Audley End, which is such a great place to visit on a nice day as the gardens are just fab to wander around - I'll sort out some photos to put on here later.

My cousin came over on Saturday and we'd all planned to head out for the day - but the weather was so lovely we decided we couldn't be bothered to make the effort and that a day slobbing out in the garden would be much nicer! I even managed to find enough stuff in the freezer to have a BBQ without needing to go out for a hasty shop.
We weren't totally lazy - the croquet, boules and koosh all came out to play during the day, but generally we did very little. Apart from being by the sea I'm not sure there's a better way to spend a sunshiney day - we're too far away from the sea here, and anyway, my rellies live across the road from the beach when they're at home and don't have a proper garden to sit in there, so being in ours was a treat for them.
I managed to get out of my chair for long enough to take a few photos



back soon with some August Crafty Template cards,
Thanks for looking

Flip-Flop or Swing

It should have been Jo's turn to set the challenge on The Daring Cardmakers this week, but their computers are down so Sue stepped in and challenged us to try making flip (or swing) cards. This is the sort of card with two folds, where the centre piece is cut out and flips, or swings round to give two different "views"
There are loads of templates and tutorials to be found on the net, and Sue has kindly sorted out a few of these to share over on the DCM blog.

I think its fair to say they're not as easy as they look - especially if you start by changing the sizes before you really know what you're doing - would I do that? Yes of course I would, and did I get myself in a right old pickle, yes, I did that too.
One day I will at least make a trial card according to the instructions given instead of going my own sweet way from the start! It would maybe call a halt to the pile of ruined bits of paper and card that I accumulated making this one!

My plan was to use this as a birthday card for niece Emily later this month, but I'm not sure I actually like what I've done, so may think again on that score. Or maybe I can alter this one so that I like it better.
I quite like the idea of the swing card, but I'm not convinced about my effort!

Supplies for this card - Fancy Pants "On a Whimsy"( yes, again lol), Cupcake and lettering are Robo cut, flowers Prima. Rub Ons - Scenic Route (but I won't buy these again, not one word came out right - hence the glitter glue!), Stickles Glitter Glue

As August is always a busy month we've indulged ourselves and invited two Guest Designers onto the Team this month. They are both amazing crafters and we're so lucky to have Paula and Anne-Kristine joining us. If you're looking for new inspiration these two fabulously creative girlies will really wow you with their work. Head over to the DCM blog to find out more, see their first cards and find the links to their wonderful blogs - both are real treats so make yourself a coffee so you can sit and browse to your heart's content!

Once this weekend is over I'm hoping for some blog-hopping time as I'm really missing my web-wanders atm. I'm loving having my family here staying with us, but it does mean less pc time!

Tart Tatin

Or Tart Ta Tin

It's my turn to put something on the Bubbly Funk emag, and this week I've been "tarting up" a little tin.

First I got out the alcohol inks - always a messy thing to do, but a lot of fun too
Then I used bits and pieces from the BF August kit and stuff from my stash to give my tin a whole new look.
More photos and info on how I did this project are HERE


Sorry this is a bit abrupt but we have visitors and we've been out all day - I'm actually supposed to be cooking dinner at this moment but have sneaked in here to do this, Don't tell anyone....

Quickity Quick

Haven't got much time today as we have visitors arriving tomorrow and even though I said "I'm not leaving everything till the last minute" a couple of weeks back, guess what?

So before I go and find a duster (I believe there are such things in existence.....), and that big purple and green thing which sucks up the dirt, etc etc I thought I'd pop in here to show the card I made yesterday. It was a rush order from Hubby's office and is a bit bigger than the cards I usually make being A5, or whatever that is in "card" size-speak. My fave size to work with is a 14cm sq, but as it turned out this card was the perfect size to fit 4 chipboard letters on!

The Monthly Challenges that up till now have appeared on the Bubbly Scrumptious emag now have a blog all of their own to star on. There will be a prize every month too - you can find the blog HERE
The August challenge is Monograms - you can use them in any way you like.
I'm going to link this card to the blog - though I'm not convinced you can use FOUR letters for challenge to use a MONOgram. I'm sure Joanne will have something to say about all that....lol lol lol

Before I head off I just want to say a big Thank You for all your lovely comments about my card for Friday's dcm Bejewelled fare - I'll get around all the blogs soon, but its been a bit of a hectic weekend and I've not had much computer time for one reason or another. I'll catch up - eventually!
Right, I really really must do some H****w**k now. Hope your week is off to a sunny and bright start.