Game On!

 Quickie post this morning - spent a couple of hours yesterday making some CAS cards for myself to send at Christmas but then had to give in and go back to bed - humungus headache, sneezing past myself, coughing fits making my throat feel like someone was pulling barbed wire through it and then to top it all off, had a couple of hours of being violently sick!

 No idea what THAT was all about - still have a bit of a queasy tum, the sneezes, a cough and a teeny headache this morning but don't feel anywhere near as bad as yesterday - am hoping that as the day goes on I start to feel a bit better - or at least don't relapse back to the way I felt yesterday!

 

But it may be a day snuggled on the sofa with the duvet I think.

That's the medical report finished.......... LOL

 

On to the card 

Made for a boy who is as footie mad as me! Stepper card, covered with spotty paper from my stash, LOTV image matted and layered onto black and white card, PC generated sentiment with some black and white twine, all finished off with a couple of 3d football stickers and a pair of football boots!

 

Challenges -

Crafty Catz - Male Card

Tuesday Throwdown - Team Spirit

Creative Card Crew - Fancy Folds

Deep Ocean - Sporty and Outdoors

Paper Playtime - Anything Goes

Thanks for calling - am off to feel sorry for myself!x

Girly Girl!

My goodness hasn't it gone COLD??? Have got the heaters on high out here  - the house is not a bit warm either as we've been out all day at a meeting then a presentation lunch - it takes a while for the rooms to heat up so my excuse for being out here is - it's warmer!!!

Been a few days since I last posted but have made half a dozen very quick Christmas cards for my own stash over the last couple of days......... (I am starting to get sick of myself being so smug and organised....LOL)

This card though was part of a very large commission which I happily deposited with the lady today. Sorry the photo is a bit iffy - light here has been dreadful the last couple of days!

The recipient, Molly is a little over 2 years old and loves her teddy bear! So thought one of 'Lil's little fairies' complete with Ted guarding an exciting sparkly parcel fitted perfectly!

She's cute isn't she? Love her pom pom head band and her 'wand' - do you think she's trying to turn Ted into something more exciting?!

Highlighted with promarkers and liberal doses of glittery stickles, I put a metal Christmas tree charm across the top on some pinky/lilac thread and then mounted onto silver matt card.

I added a silver die cut in the top corner and threaded some sparkly gems and beads onto silver twine. The white gauzey stuff with 'snow' on it I've had in my stash for eons as I have the lilac and silver foiled backing paper.

The sentiment was PC generated and the inside co-ordinated to match.

Challenges -
Hooked on Crafts - Christmas - no red or green
One Stitch at a Time - One for Christmas
That Craft Place - Recipe - Gems/Charms/Diecuts
The Crafty Pad- Christmas is Coming
Crafty Ann's - Christmas
Lil's Little Fairies - Christmas Card for the Girls

Thanks for looking - the last couple of weeks of meetings, typing minutes and attending Presentations combined with all the travelling is starting to catch up with me now! Am beginning to wilt a bit - so will have a quick trawl through blogland and then I think my duvet is calling! x 

Pink Snow!

As promised I spent yesterday making Christmas cards. I finished off all the commissioned ones and whilst the desk was still full of christmas stuff thought I'd better at least make a start on doing some for myself.

This is an absolute FIRST for me - Christmas Cards in October? Unheard of... and after me moaning about all the christmas stuff in the supermarkets a little while ago too!!!

Normally I'm like a mad woman (well madder than usual LOL) at the beginning of December when I realise that unless I get my skates on it'll be shop bought ones to send! I know it would be far less expensive to buy a pack of cards to send but if I did that, what excuse would I have for buying all those scrummy Christmas papers and lovely stamps????????

Back to the cards -
For a change I thought I may do some CAS cards this year and experiment with what some would call 'non traditional colours'.

Here is the first to share

I stamped a variety of snowflakes onto a piece of white Linen textured card using a pigment ink stamp pad called 'Really Raspberry'. It was a cheap stamp pad and I love the colour! The stamps are all freebies from Christmas sets given away with magazines over the last couple of years.
The sentiment is also an old foam backed stamp but it's one of may favourite christmas greeting ones as I think it shouts 'happy'!

I punched a border out of some dark pink cardstock and stuck it underneath some fuschia pink polka dot paper, then added white ribbon. The polka dot piece was then glued onto the stamped card and layered onto more of the dark pink.

Then matted onto the card base using 3d foam pads.
I finished it all off by adding some crystal gems to the centre of the snowflakes for the traditional bit of Christmas 'bling'!

Challenges
Sassy Cheryl Show Me Thursday Challenge
Ooh La La- Christmas Sentiment
Stamptacular Sunday - No Rules
ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Up to you
Shopping Our Stash - Out of a Jar (my gems)
Totally Papercrafts - Christmas

Have a nice day whatever you're doing! x

Paper Piecing

Quickie post this morning as I'm planning on spending the day making a start on my Christmas cards... ok ok stop pretending to faint - I can be organised SOMETIMES!!! 
I LOVE blogland! Mostly because I've made so many 'friends' but also because I see something someone else has done and think -'Ooooh I wouldn't have thought of doing that' - or - 'I've never tried that'.
So here's one which combines a bit of both thoughts! Made it a wee while ago after visiting the lovely Jules.

I am not adventurous at all when it comes to stamping on patterned paper but Jules manages it to perfection.

Armed with several stamps (as I didn't have one complete flower and stem stamps that would have been suitable!) and some leftovers from my Ella paper pad (and yes I have still got some of it left despite my best efforts....) I set about imitating one of Jules' lovely creations.
I am pleased with myself at the result and am now wondering why I never did this before! I stitched all the papers and managed the paper piecing OK too-  popped a couple pf pearls in the centre of the flower heads.

I thought the stamped flowers looked a bit plain on their own so added some grasses and a tiny bee... and of course HAD to add a teeny bit of stickles to the bee's wings! Finshed off with a cream organza bow.

Challenges -
Gem of a Challenge - Flowers
One Stop Craft - Anything Goes
Cupcake crafts - Paper Piecing
Charisma - CAS
Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes

Off to get out the Christmas stamps - and do a little trawl through blogland with my coffee!  Have a lovely day! x

Nice Day for a ......

White Wedding!
Have been doing a few commissioned cards this week - in between the Christmas ones, I had a couple of orders for other things - so to take a break from 'Kiddie Kristmas' (will share later!!) I set about a wedding order.
This was one of those cards that I enjoyed doing and suprisingly was pleased with the result!

I used silver grey pearlised card as the base after fiddling with pale blue and pink - the grey seemed to give the card 'depth' whereas the other colours did not give as much definition as I wanted.

I used a Martha Stewart punch around the page set and cut two different sizes out of white linen textured card. 

The paper roses were made using a Marianne Die and I sat for a long time rolling and glueing!

The silver flourishes are also a Marianne Die and I used a X-Cut leaf punch, highlighting the embossed bit of the leaves and the edges with a Silver Leafing pen.

The two large hearts were PC generated and printed onto the same linen card. I have an extreme fondness for this sentiment which I have seen used several times and think it is a nice change from the usual wedding greetings.

I assembled it all together and layered the smaller card onto the larger piece with 3d foam pads and then layered the whole thing onto the silver card base again using 3d foam pads. 

After adding some Liquid Pearls onto the roses I finished it off with some small crystals in the corners and randomly on the two hearts and then glued the gorgeous rhinestone and crystal heart (another Imagine DIY purchase!) onto the sentiment heart.
 
No wedding keepsake should come without a box so made one to match!
I am sitting though and wondering if I should add a wee bit of sparkly to the rose edges? What do you think?

Challenges -
Creative Crafts - 3 of something (Hearts)
Pan Pastel - Wedded Bliss
One Stitch at a time - Song (White Wedding - Billy Idol)
Anything Goes - Make your own Emellies (
Fashionista - Anything Goes
Gem of a Challenge - Flowers
Totally Papercrafts - Make your own Flowers
Emergency Crafters - Recipe- gems, flowers, die cut shape
Crazy Challenge - Handmade Flowers

Will be off to have a trawl through blogland once I've got my coffee - have a nice day whatever you're doing! x

Eek!! A Week!!

Cannot believe it's an entire week since I posted anything... have been visiting blogs and making but sitting here realised I haven't put one solirtary thing on the blog this week!
In my defence, I HAVE been busy doing boring stuff like going to meetings and compiling two different lots of AGM papers and reports for both Club and County.......... which has seriously annoyed me as I wanted to play with paper PROPERLY instead of just typing and printing.........
I have though given myself a little bit of time each day to get on with some cards - I have a few to make for a lady who orders Christmas Cards for her great -grandchildren every year so have just one more left to do and then I shall get the camera out and share.

Get the camera out..........mmmmmmmmmmm.......... I did try so so hard with this card to get a decent picture but I cannot master taking pics of pearlised card at all - had a little blue cloud above my head as each attempt was looked at and discarded- in the end I gave up!
So this is what you get...not the sharpest but you get the general idea!

Stamped the greeting and the grasses in a light purple. The ink pad is a very very old Whispers one and I was surpised it hadn't dried out! The grasses stamp is a Hero Arts one (I think!). Clear embossed the greeting which )as the pic leaves a lot to be desired!) you can't see very well!

Embossed a frame round the greeting, tied some lilac gingham ribbon round the card and mounted it onto purple card then layered onto the tent card base with 3d foam pads.

Punched out a tiny butterfly and finished with a couple of purple pearls.
Was quite pleased with the finished article - it's a pretty card I think and the soft lilacs are a really nice shade - sometimes purple hits you in he face!

Challenges -
Southern Girls - Tie a Ribbon round it
Craftymess - Anything Goes
Lady Anne's - Anything Goes
The Cupboard Trilogy - Things with Wings
2 Sisters - Anything Goes

Thanks for commenting, appreciate it - now got myself a cup of coffee and am away to see what you've all been up to! x

Blingy Duplicate!

Finally managed to do a card for LIM - been an age since I've been able to submit anything but here's one I made earlier and not shown before which fits the challenge... well I think it does - I think there's enough white space and hope it's CAS enough for the ladies over at Less Is More!

With the challenge this week being 'silver', the card really is a take on a couple of similar (but more fussy) ones I did for golden weddings and one I just made because I had a scrummy vintage bronzey coloured button from Mum's button box... so the design is basically the same for them all just different colours and the odd layer here and there!
Think that this is one of those quick designs that you could mass produce for a variety of different anniversary type occasions by merely changing the colour of the embossing and ribbon, so it's likely that I'll do a ruby one and maybe sapphire and just put them in my stash.... am always asked for specific anniversary cards when I don't have any! 

I used white pearlised card and the stamp was a real 'cheapie' from Viva Decor, which I found in a bargain bin at a craft shop.
I really like it, hence all it's use over the last few months!

I used WOW embossing powder to emboss and because it's so fine it's perfect for the detail on the flourishes.

The stamped piece was mounted onto silver mirri card, then glued to the base card and I confess to using....... peel offs.......(aghhhhhh!!!) for the anniversary sentiment. (I found them whilst looking for my tiny little wooden blocks of number stamps - I cannot remember the last time I used a peel off!!!) 

The broad grey satin ribbon is from my stash and the beautiful blingy embellishment is from Imagine DIY and happily they hide the join!

We've had a lovely sunny day here - not warm, but blue skies.... so am feeling a bit more upbeat today! Strange how grey skies make you feel down and blue ones make you feel happy isn't it?!!
Thanks for looking and if you've left me a comment you've added to my smiley day!! x

Normal service....

has been resumed! Well as normal as possible anyway - back to the NORMAL weather - rain, rain and more rain..... honestly, stepped onto a plane yesterday in gloriously blue clear skies and temperatures of a mere 31 degrees, stepped off several hours later to a torrential downpour, black as pitch and a temperature that was stuggling to make double figures!
Taking into account the amount of washing I've done today I am convinced that numerous fellow travellers put their clothes in my cases when I wasn't watching... did I REALLY wear all these clothes?????? And joy of joys, I now have the ironing to look forward to!!! 
Do I sound slightly irriated by the fact that I am now here and really want to be back there??? Well you're right!!!
Before I pop off to have a proper look at what you've all been up to whilst I have been acquiring this lovely golden brown sun tan, (and a few inches round the middle with all the fab food....), I thought I'd better share a make with you.

I found these last few scraps of 'Paris Nights' paper in a drawer and managed to squeeze enough out of it to decorate the front and inside of a card.This has got to be one of the most gorgeous papers I have ever used - it has the most amazing sheen and a beautiful texture.

The stamp is a Papermania one which once again I confess to never inking before. I used some cream textured card and then cut it out with a nestie, mounted it onto a scalloped piece of the Paris Nights paper before layering onto the card. I cut out a corner in black and a die cut frame in the same cream card and stamped the sentiment with Versamark Onyx Black.

The fabulous black crystal swirls were a present and I really didn't want to use them! The large floral piece at the top of the oval is from the same swirl pack and I used some tiny black pearls on the stamped image for some of the chandelier 'droplets'.

The cream lace is from my stash and I made two rolled paper roses from the remainder of the paper.




Challenges -
Simon says Stamp - Glimmer and Sparkle
Card Mania - Handmade Flowers
Lollipop Crafts - Something Old (paper and stamp), Something New (Black Crystals)
Cards Galore - Anything Goes
Paperplay- Shine On
Charisma Cards - Bling/Shiny
Craft Us Crazy - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting me - off for a coffee and a trawl through blogland! x

The view from here!

Just a very quick post as I'm getting ready for dinner..... here's what I am currently waking up to every morning!

see you in a couple of weeks!

The silliness of Supermarkets

I HATE supermarkets with a passion, so much so that it's normally OH who does the shopping. It's a rare occasion when I actually do a trolley dash but I force myself to push the wire thing with the wheels that never go in the direction you want them to when I need all the bitty stuff us women like to take on holiday with them - you know the stuff I mean - all those 'I'll buy it and take it just in case' things....... my bathroom cupboard already has several items of the 'buy it and take it just in case' items and still I buy more......
so - it was on one of the rare recent 'avoid the people who insist on having conversations in the middle of aisles' outings that I saw................... CHRISTMAS CRACKERS/WRAPPING PAPER/SHORTBREAD IN TARTAN AND RIBBON FESTOONED TINS etc etc

Come on - give me a break - I haven't even had my SUMMER yet...... why do supermarkets do it? Does anyone actually buy Christmas stuff now? If you do, can you remember where you've put it at Christmas when you actually need it? I've heard about avoiding the Christmas rush but THIS IS RIDICULOUS - it's only SEPTEMBER!

I was so inspired by the baubles and tinsel I made this christmas card - actually it had nothing to do with being inspired by the silliness of the supermarket and more to do with Maureen sending me two of these latest stamps from Wild Rose Studio.....

I adore, adore, adore the Annabelle and her big hat collection - every single one of them... I resisted buying them all (have a couple of spas to pay for over the next two weeks - LOL) but dipped into the piggy bank and bought two - and of course one simply has to have the matching papers dahling!

I coloured with promarkers, distressed round the edges and added a bit of glitter. Some of that white stuff that froths up when heated onto the post box and a white gel pen to highlight.

Stitched the backing papers which were both matted onto dark green card.
The tiny Christmas envelopes were in a pack I have had when I ventured into the world of flowersoft about 10 years ago -  (I couldn't bear to touch it actually, but kept the bits I'd bought that went with it!), I just cut them out individually and put them onto the bottom of the card.

The flowers were from my stash, and the gorgeous deep green leaves were a present from Alessandra. The red pearl and the crystal gem drops also from stash and I finished it all off with a dark green satin bow.

Challenges-
Ruby's Rainbow - Pearls/Flowers/Glitter
Fashionista - Anything Goes Christmas
Jingle Bells - Going Postal
Stampin 4 the Weekend - Start Christmas Early ( as the supermarkets do....LOL)
Craft Your Passion - Bling/Ribbon/Distress
Corrosive Challenges - Animal Companions

Thanks for visiting - hope you like the first Christmas Card of 2012 - am off to put all the 'things I bought just in case' into the suitcase!  x

CAS

Have no idea where the last couple of days have gone!  Promised myself some 'me' time today and happily played away in the craftie space once I got home from a shopping for a few last minute bits and pieces...
Finished off two rather OTT fancy creations, which I'll share at a later date and also remembered to pop on some ribbon to this one!

I am not a 'fussy and fancy' sympathy card  kind of person at all. Although I have seen some beautiful intircate and heavily embellsihed sympathy cards I alwasy think that you wouldn't have the inclination to aprreciate them whilst you're feeling so very sad. So I opt instead for plain basic ones - after all it's the thought that counts!

This was another quickie card made for my stash box - I have none whatsoever that actually say' with sympathy' - have a few that could be used as sympthy cards but none with the actual sentiment, so thought I'd rectify that by making a couple.
I used autumnal colours as that's what the weather is currently like here!
I masked off a rectangle with some post it's, and then used some of my fave colours from the DI drawer - Barn Door, Wild Honey and Dried Marigold.

The tree stamp has never seen ink until now (to my shame) and I bought it on a trip to the NEC two years ago! I used Brushed Corduroy DI on both tree and sentiment.

The stamped piece has been sat on the desk for a few days whilst I decided if I was going to leave it bare, add a couple of pearls (I stick pearls on everything given half a chance....), or add something else. In the end I opted to wrap a piece of scrap ribbon round it and then layer it onto a slightly larger card.

Challenges -
Ribbon Carousel - Sympathy
Creative card Crew - Tree
Creative Belli - Autumn
Lexis - Autumn Colours
Twisted Tuesday - Sympathy
C.R.A.F.T - Autumn  

Thanks for visiting and if you've left a comment, I really appreciate you taking the time!
Supposed to be our Club Finals Day tomorrow and the forecast is just dreadful - so I may manage some more time making messy before the big suitcase pack starts on Tuesday!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend. x

Bad Penny

Like a bad penny I've turned up again! I've also turned up the heater in the craftie space... my goodness it's been chilly here today - long sleeves, a cardi and socks have been donned this evening. Ah but only SEVEN more 'sleeps' till the big getaway! Well actually it's more like six and a half 'sleeps' seeing as how the flight is at some silly o'clock time but just think, I will be sunning myself in my favourite hotel, being spoiled rotten some 8 hours later! Are we there yet??????? LOL

Sorry - get back to the card...

I had some fun with stamps and ink for a change after being inspired on pinterest - I lurk about on there as you can get some fab ideas when your mojo has gone awol....

This is a layered card, made using linen textured paper.
The stamps are a mixture from Viva Decor, Personal Impressions and Hero Arts and the inks were also a hotch potch of different makes - Simply Red not by Mick Hucknall (!!) but a cheapie pigment ink bought in the bargain bin of somewhere or other, Wild Honey distress ink and Salmon Adirondack Lights.
Considering I just stamped using stuff laying about on the desk, it's not turned out too bad (well I think so anyway!).
The huge red button is from Mum's button box and the ribbon is from my stash.
The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Challenges -
My Mum's Craft Shop - Buttons
Paperminutes - No designer paper
One Stop Craft - No Floral embellies
Love to Create - Ribbon
Totally Stampalicious - Ribbon
Sparkles Monthly - Nature

That's it from me for today - am away to look through blogland before bed! x

Vintage again!

A warm welcome to all my new followers - it's lovely to see you and I hope you'll drop by often!
After a very busy and long day on Saturday I had a mega 'chill out' yesterday and spent all day making cards and finishing all the half done ones! This card fest produced a total of 6 completed ones so I was feeling very pleased with myself.
I also cleaned off all the bits from the desk so I am now sat here with the finished articles and a desk that OH says loos like we've been burgled..........
Here's one to share for today -
I finally got stuck into the 5th Avenue papers which must have been here for over 6 months...!
This was quite a quick card to make and was inspired by one seen over on Pinterest.

Covered some card with the papers then attached some pearls to the scallop at the top right. The heavy lace is from my stash.

I used a K and Co die cut tag and covered it with some of the papers, and added some more lace and a string of tiny pearls, finishing with some pink satin ribbon through the tag at the top and three more pearls to the top left.
I punched out a butterfly, gave it a quick dusting with Spun Sugar DI and some glitter and once in position on the card stuck a pearl flourish from the bottom leading to the pearl string on the tag. I added a small pearl heart button.
Stamped a sentiment in Vinatge Sepia on the bottom and then co-ordinated the inside with the same papers.

The 'flower' was made using more papers from the stack, cut out with varying sizes of scalloped edged nesties, distressed, misted with water, scrunched, secured together with a brad then given a glitter treatment! The leaves are from a Marianne die.

Challenges -
Come and Get It - (Pearls Lace, Die Cut)
Card Making Mama's - Heart
Digi doodle Shop - Handmade flowers
Paper Shelter - Tag You're It
Stamp and Create - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Blast From the Past - Challenge 106 - Die Cuts/Punches
Cupcake Craftroom - Pretty Pastels
Live and Love Crafts - Lace/Trim
Cards Galore - Ribbon/Lace/Button

Off for a cuppa and a trawl through blogland! x

Camera skills

How annoying is it when you cannot get a decent pic of something no matter how hard you try?!
I have been in front of 3 different windows in the craftie space, outside on the top of the recycling centre (well not ME, but I put what I wanted to photograph on the top of it...), laid down on the grass, placed on top of some real pretty cream lace, on top of plain white card, put onto dark card, taken on 'Auto' setting, 'Close Up' setting -  you name it, I've tried it and now I confess to being competely and absolutely defeated!

I was such a happy person when I finished this 'cos I thought it was sooo pretty and one of my better efforts at vintagey. My followers and friends will know that I am rarely satisfied with my creations - marks her report card - can do better!!! But this was one that I was pleasantly pleased with......... such a shame that my camera skills do not extend to a faithful reproduction!

But will describe it for you anyway - all the papers used inside and out are from Prima Botanicals pad.(Scrummy!!!).

 

Distressed, edges inked with Antique Linen DI and stitched onto cream cardstock.

I folded over the top right corner to reveal another paper layer and secured it with a metal bird charm.

 

Collaged elements (postcards, stamp etc) all taken from same paper stack.

The birdcage was painted with white acrylic paint, then I rubbed Weathered Wood and Peeled Paint DI over it and sealed it with some gloss Mod Podge.

I threaded some seam binding (coloured with Vanilla promarker) therough the top of the cage and secured with a flower.
The cream heavy lace is from my stash as are all the flowers - (which are in real life a soft peach colour hence my annoyance with the pic!). I added some glamour dust to the flowers and a pearl flourish.
I inked the edges of the tag with Dried Marigold DI, stamped the sentiment with Vintage Sepia, coloured the string with the same vanilla promarker and added a few more pearls. The tag is secured behind a punched, inked and glittered tiny butterfly.

Challenges -
Crafts and Me - Add a Flower
Crafter's Cafe - Stitching
Everybody Art - Vintage
Craft Room Challenge - Vintage
Crafty Cardmakers - Winged Things
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop- Lace and Pearls
Ribbon Girls - Pearls
Penny's Paper Crafty - Sew Charming
My Mum's Craft Shop- Anything Goes

It's been a nice day here, although not warm enough to be out and about without a jumper! But at least the sun is shining.... thanks for calling in - enjoy the rest of your day. x

Happy Monday! It's a gloriously sunny day here (summer has arrived at last!), so a quick post and then am off out to soak up some rays!
...... have you ever had an idea in your head then when you've put it all together it doesn't remotely resemble what you pictured in your head? This was one of those occasions.....
the 'man' card doesn't look anything like what I wanted it to but as I've constructed it, thought I'd better post it!

The Artemio stamps I bought a little while ago as I thought they were perfect for man/vintage cards - sadly my creativity hit rock bottom when I came to actually making!

The backing paper is by K and Co, the large compass/script collage stamp inked with several colours of Distress Ink and stamped direct to the backing paper, masking off the area where I was going to put the plane.

Plane stamped direct to paper with Sepia Versamark then stamped again onto a scrap of card, cut out and popped on with 3d pads.

Used Kraft paper for the suitcases, the sentiment is from an Inkylicious set and collaged some tiny postcards from a Prima paper stack.

I added a metal corner flourish, a TH disc secured with some string and a tiny camera charm which I tied to the handle of one of the cases.

Then I made the fatal mistake of thinking that the plane needed 'something'... couldn't decide what really and the glossy accents was in my opinion not a good idea...  maybe I would have been better stamping the plane in black ink rather than the Vintage sepia colour but hey ho too late now!!!!


Submitting this into the following challenges -
TIOT - Travel
Card Crafters Circle - For the Fellas
Squirrel and the Fox - 1 for the Men
Simply Create Too - So Old/Vintage
Hooked on Crafts - Cards for men

Hope the sun is also smiling down on you wherever you are! x

Anything but a Card and back to Messy!

Since my last post I have finished two cards which were looking sad half done on the desk! I also promised myself I would put the card making to one side for a  couple of days and do this project.

It seems a long time since I have completed anything that wasn't a card - I'm enjoying the whole card thing but also have acknowledged that I have missed the mixed media stuff and making something for no particular reason except for making sake!

I bought a Tando Mini Printer Tray at a visit to meet with Maureen at BarjanB recently. (Actually I bought rather a lot of stuff whilst dearly beloved was with Barry and Maureen's OH which left the coast clear for Maureen and I to mooch about in the shop!)

First, I painted the entire thing with acrylic paint. I used K and Co Flora and Fauna paper on the outer and inner cover.
I then randomly stamped over it with a Clarity 'crackle' stamp in Versafine Smoky Gray. It probably doesn't show up very well in the pic! and then inked the edges with Victorian Velvet DI.

The birdcage stamp is from My Mind's Eye and the tiny pearls for the hanging I glued on by hand - (real fiddly and don't think I'll be doing it again in a hurry!). The wording stamp is by PaperArtsy.

The fabric rose edging is from my stash and I made the flower by ripping into circles more of the paper stack, spritzing with water, scrunching up and securing together with a brad. The 'rose' was put onto two fabric leaves and a pice of tattered fabric that I inked with the same DI.
The inside front cover was stamped with a mixture of PaperArtsy and Inkylicious bird themed stamps and some scraps of lace glued on. 

The 'tray' interior was then rubbed all over with the DI and stamped over again with the same crackle' stamp.

From the top -
Birdhouse and the Ivy is a Marianne die. Scattered Straw DI used on some string and then glued to make a 'thatched' roof! Popped a tiny mirror onto the back of the heart opening.

Silver wire wound round with three small blue beads to form what I hope looks like a nest! attached to a small crocheted circle.

Bird image from same paper stack. Word stamp from an Invoke set. Feathers, green fibres and a small speckled egg all from my stash.

Three small black dewdrops from stash and wording 'without wings' cut from an odd sheet of paper.

Egg stamp and egg wording from an Invoke set stamped onto 'duck egg blue' coloured card

Two scraps of lace and three scrabble letters from my stash.

There are a couple of challenges that my tray may fit -

MAWTT - Flying High
Totally Stampalicious - Anything Goes
Natalie and Amy - Anything Goes
Unique Crafters challenge - Altered project 
Tando Creative - Leaves and trees

Thanks for calling in - hope you liked my little creation as a change from my usual cards! x

Monday Second!

Promised another post and I've had my little mooch around blogland so before I pop off for the night here's another I made earlier.
Tell me are you fed up with these papers yet?????
Promise I only have one more made from this stack.. but there's lots left so don't be surprised if more appear over the coming weeks as I am absolutely DETERMINED to use it up!
Then I can start on the second drawer of 36........................................ LOL


This was the quickest in the world to make, just 3 different papers, cut to fit the card blank and stitched together --- (and here's the confession - they weren't complete sheets - I did throw some of the smaller ones in the bin but kept these - does it count as 'using up a paper stack' ????) 

The organza ribbon is a strange colour and I have no recollection of buying it but it blends perfectly with these papers (maybe once the rest of the ribbon is used up I will stop the obsession with using up the stack???). I wrapped some round the papers (covering up some of the stitching ..DOH!) then made it into a quadruple bow. 

The flower was made using scalloped nesties in varying sizes, spritzed each one with water then crumpled together and assembled with a brad to secure the middle and glued with a pop up dot onto the ribbon..

Sentiment stamp was a freebie from a craft magazine stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and I finished it all off with some blingy flourishes.
Quite like it so will probably do a few of these and leave off the sentiment so they could be used for any occasion.

Challenges
Stamptacular Sunday - Roses and Ribbons
Cupcake Crafts - Flowers
Love to Create - Hand Made Flowers
Fashionable Stamping - Hand Made flowers
Crafting for all Seasons - Stitching
Sentimental Sundays - Stitching and a sentiment
Come and Get It - 3 d Flowers
Crafty Catz - Ribbon and bows

That's all for now - am locking up the craftie space and going to make a dash for the house and hope that I don't get too wet! Thanks for dropping in! x

Monday First

First post tonight - got home after getting drenched (AGAIN) - Didn't anyone tell the weather that bowls is a SUMMER game, supposed to be played in SUN??? Cold and wet, green flooded so we all just came home, yet another competition abandoned - don't anyone say anything to me about global warming - I've put the heating on - it's like November!!!
It's been a couple of weeks since I managed an entry into the Less Is More challenge and I was pleased to get a card finished this week - the others from the last two weeks are lying here unfinished!
This week the theme was 3-2-1.
'All that you need to do is to incorporate 3 of something, 2 of something and 1 of something else!'
So here's my countdown ( or was it dusty bin... talk about showing my age...) card!

I initially intended to only use 3 stamps but ended up using four with the sentiment stamp!

The flower heads (which are 2 stamps from a Hero Arts set) were stamped in Tea Dye DI and then stamped over again using Antique Linen DI. The wispy grasses off the edge of the circle are also from the same set and the sentiment is a stamp that was just laying about on my oh so tidy desk and fitted into the frame!!

I cut out the stamped image with a nestie then cut another circle from a piece of rusty coloured textured cardstock and stuck the stamped image over it.
The remains of the card stock was cut to fit inside a scored card blank and just positioned to the left of the stamped circle.

I finished the card with 3 bronze sparkly gems, a punched out butterfly and added a teeny bit of glamour dust onto the flower heads for some bling!
So my 3-2-1 are
1 butterfly
2 shapes - circle and the other bit!
3 gems. 
Sorry about the pic quality - light here is terrible!

Mission Accomplished! (Twice!)

Once again I am back to using up paper stacks - why do we buy so many papers? I have enough papers to stock my own shop but still I buy them... even worse I have lately taken to buying digi paper packs too so now my PC's hard drive is also full of patterns!
When I bought this particular pad it was a 'simply must have' - I absolutely loved it - still do which is probably why I only used about 4 pieces from the 48!
I have today made 3 cards using it (Ella Blue by GCD) AND I have not kept the smaller snippets - they went straight into the bin as they're other things I never ever use up - now I am feeling very smug 'cos I accomplished using paper I have kept for no other reason other than it was pretty!
Will share the other ones at a later time but here's one of today's makes:-

I was the Guest Designer over at Try It On Tuesday for their last challenge and their current one is to follow a sketch so I used the sketch as a base for this card.

All the papers are from the same stack and the inside is co-ordinated to match.
The background damask style paper is actually flocked so there is a lovely textured feel and it's definitely 'strokeable'!
The brown script paper is heavily linen textured and I used some gorgeous lace (a present from Alessandra) - two different widths and colours of organza ribbon for the bow and popped a couple of pearl pins (the brown larger one was a present from Sassy) through both lace and bow.

The vintage dress form stamp is by My Mind's Eye and is part of their Lost and Found series. Stamped using Versamark Sepia ink, cut out with a Marianne die and the last of my brown pearls popped onto the middle.

I finished with three paper roses - (yes Maureen I finally managed it after you explained I was trying to roll them from the inside not the out!) - which were cut using another Marianne die.
I am submitting this into the September challenge over at Unique Crafters in the Card class. 

Other Challenges -
LEJ - Vintage
That Craft Place - Vintage
Craft Your Passion - Power of 3
Created with Love - 3 of a Kind.

Off to get the washing in before the rain - thanks for calling in!x

Belated Celebrations

Have been away for a few days on the South coast - at last I saw sunshine in what has been a dreadful wet and grey Summer here! Weather was hot and sticky and I didn't moan once about the humidity level - 'cos the ice cream van was never far away!
Came home last night to yet another torrential downpour and this morning skies have resumed their normal grey colour..... so it's like I've never been gone! But only 29 days to go till the suitcase gets packed for a whole two weeks of sunny lazing about!!

Made two cards before my little break - may share both today but it depends on time factor-
first is based on one seen in a craft magazine and designed by the hugely talented and inspiring EMMA. I had the papers (more things bought - looked at - felt - put away....) which are Flower Garden by Tilda - and secured the mask from Barjan.
No excuse now not to use the papers!!

I suppose it may be deemed to be a little late for Jubilee celebrations but we still have the Paralympics to continue being proud and patriotic. 
This was my first time at using the mask to cut out shapes - my use of a craft knife for straight lines is not the best but the mask made it really easy and I managed not to cut off any finger tops.

Square piece of dark pink card from the paper stack, followed by the union flag design cut from the teal based floral paper, another shade of pink for the layering of the centre cross and then a smaller cross from another different sheet.

Flowers were made using my trusty nestie blossom dies and the rosette also made from the same paper stack.
PC generated sentiment and a couple of sparkly gems to the ends of the banner.

The gorgeous sparkly crown is from my stash from ImagineDIY.... hurt me to use it really!!! LOL
Same papers used to decorate the inside.

Challenges -
Cutie Pie - Borders and Frames
Hooked on Crafts - Let's Celebrate
Creative Inspiration - Sentiment as focal point
Paper Shelter - Anything Goes
Card making Mama's - try something new (using a mask)
Clear It Out - Inspiration/use your stash/Glittery (I used the papers from my stash, my glittery crown charm and my inspiration came from this pic -

So that's the first for today - have a few things to do, not least to catch up on what you've all been doing in my absence - have a lovely day! x