New Distress Inks...yum!

I've been playing with the new Winter Distress Inks this week. I love each colour, can't decide which is my favourite of the three, I keep changing my mind.  Anyway, after watching a video over at Simon Says Stamp I was inspired to make a Christmas Garland to enter one of Shimelle's challenges which she set both on her blog and as part of the Pretty Paper Party

The sentiment stamp on the middle of the banner is the latest New Design Club stamp from Clarity Stamps and the other one is the freebie from the current Craft Stamper. Click on the pic for a closer view.
Shimelle also challenged us to share a Christmas mini album we had made. This is one I made in a class a few years ago and yes there are still photos to be put in...how shocking!
This was the first time I had taken a class to make a mini-album. I loved learning how to assemble the pages as I was very much a novice. The MME papers and embellishments used were just fabulous. Also loved the little bell on the front.

Well I must go and get on with some boring old housework. My eldest is not very well this week. Turns out he has a chest infection. The doctor actually made a house call yesterday evening, something I didn't think they did anymore? He has to have a weekend of inactivity so he gets out of cleaning his room, much to his delight. He is parked in front of the X-box with his brother.

Hope you all have a good weekend

x

What I've been up to

I have a few things to share today. I was at a crop on Sunday and we had been challenged to make a Christmas card with a 3D element to take along with us. Here is my card

The image is Knitted with Love by Sugar Nellie, papers are Papermania and the rosette I made by pleating a strip of paper and gluing a button on top. You can just see the sparkle on her hat and pom poms which are covered in Stickles.

I am entering my card into

Make it Monday - always anything goes

I also managed to do a couple of scrapbook layouts for Shimelle's Pretty Paper Party. My friend Jo is also doing the class so we were able to help each other with ideas. Shimelle's prompts get you to use papers in a different way and work out of your comfort zone.

This page is Prompt 5 which was a sketch and you had to mess up your papers, either by distressing or tearing them.

The next page is Prompt 4 which was to mix papers with dots and stripes. I found these long forgotten papers, it was the closest I could find to dots and stripes

I am so far behind with the prompts but am loving every minute.

Finally here is this week's page for my He-art Journal. This week you had to do a page themed around food or drink you love.....what can I say, you gotta love cake!!



Thank you for stopping by, hope you like what you see
x

Sugar for the Weekend

Here is my card for the current Sugar Bowl challenge

This image was a Sweet Ebony one from Sugar Nellie ages ago. I coloured her with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. 

I also made a candle using Titania the other night but must apologise for the por photo, I couldn't get the light right at all and you cannot see the shimmer paint I used for her wings.

I am entering the candle into Simon Says - photo inspiration

Also want to share my journal page for this week, the theme was Heart to Heart

Hope you have a good weekend, I'm off to Zumba!!

A very sad day!

Sadly a fellow crafter, Katie Renz lost her battle against cancer this morning. You can read Katie's first post about her diagnosis HERE. I have followed her story since then and was very saddened to read her husband Kevin's  post today. Katie has three young boys and earlier this year Lori Boyd from By Lori Designs designed this digi stamp for her. The image is being sold to raise funds for Katie and her family, you can read about it and purchase the image HERE
Anyway, I actually had coloured the image last night and had this card ready to send to Katie and her boys

My thoughts and prayers are with Kevin, the boys and all their family at this very difficult time.

Rest in peace Katie

x 

Countdown to Christmas!

I really need to get some Christmas cards made so here's another one I can score of the list. This beautiful image is Little Christmas Angel from Whimsy Stamps. I coloured her with Promarkers and Flexmarkers and spent ages trying to get the pleats shaded correctly but without luck - need a lot more practice there.

 The papers are Papermania Festive Frolics and the snowflake is die cut and embossed with Tinsel embossing powder, The brad in the centre is Stampin' up!
I am entering this card into the following
Quixotic Paperie Sketch challenge
Crafty Catz - anything goes
Samuel Taylors - Christmas
Stamp Insanity - chill out (blues)

that's all from me today, I have so much to catch up on with Shimelle's scrapbooking class and a ton more cards to make. Hope you have a good weekend and enjoy Bonfire Night
x

I need a Sugar boost!!

Day off today and I am so tired, feel like I've been hit by a truck. I planned to tackle my Christmas shopping but ended up just browsing and only bought one gift. Just a quick post to show you my card for the current Sugar Bowl challenge which was a sketch and a clean and simple theme

Not very keen on this card, think I'm just having an uninspired day as I don't like the journal page I did either! The image is Sugar Nellie Bambino, papers are Prima.
Here's the journal page for this week's He-art Journal, you had to use stickers. Not very exciting I know but I'm sharing it anyways

Early night for me I think
thanks for stopping by
x

Cute Card Thursday

I found some long neglected stamps the other day and had a lovely evening colouring them in. This image is from Whiff Of Joy and is by Elisabeth Bell.

Isn't she gorgeous? I coloured her with Promarkers and Flexmarkers, the papers are MME Stella Rose. The Digi Bells are having a Guest Design Team call so I was planning to enter this card. However when I went to link it up and read the post again, they had given a sketch to use and I forgot!!! Never mind, maybe next time. At least I rediscovered all my lovely Elisabether Bell images.It's one more thing in my day today that has not gone to plan. Should have known when this morning I put redcurrant jelly on my toast instead of jam that it was going to be one of those days!!
 I am entering the following challenges
Cute Card Thursday - sketch
Charisma Cardz  - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Here's my latest journal page, this weeks' challenge was just to use two main colours

thanks for visiting, hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend
x

Odd Girl birthday celebrations

Some Odd Girl are celebrating all month and there are still goodies to bewon. Check out this post to join in the fun

A little bit of Clarity!

Here is the card I made with my brayering attmepts the other week. The stamps are Clarity Stamps Split Tree. This is really my first Christmas card, think I may use this idea for some more but I need lots of practice as the mistakes are jumping out at me

The snowflake is made using Marianne dies and I have covered them with Tinsel embossing powder so they are nice and sparkly but it doesn't show up so well in the photo.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up!
I am entering this card into the following challenges
Midnight Madness - sketch #126
Make It Monday - anything goes
Ooh La La Creations  - Let it Snow
Christmas Inspirations - Die Cuts
Crafting When We Can - Christmas
Christmas Stamping All year Long - Christmas

Bye for now, thanks for visiting
x

My First two Shimelle pages

Day off today and I had some lovely crafty time while the boys played quietly - bliss!!!
Shimelle's first prompt was to create a page using strips of patterned papers. This is a great way to use up scraps. Here is my LO

The papers are a mix of Rusty Pickle and Basic Grey and were all scraps. The second prompt was to use patterned papers as your base instead of plain cardstock. I used a kit that I got at a bargain price from TK Maxx  and here is my page

I haven't added a title yet as I was struggling to come up with something and couldn't decide what colour lettering to use- any suggestions welcome.
My final piece of crafting today was my latest journal page for my He-Art Journal. This week was "think of a number"

Wish all my days off were as pleasant as this one has been. It's my birthday tomorrow, maybe I'll be allowed crafty time again :0)

thanks for stopping by
x

My first ever scrapbooking class

Yip I have signed up for Shimelle's Pretty Paper Party. I am hoping it will inspire me to scrap some of the photos I have piling up. The first task was to take a photo of favourite papers.

I just love these, they are Ella Blue from GCD. Definitely too pretty to use lol! Shimelle asked us to share what kind of paper person we were and this description below best fits me I think

The Pattern Contender: Most crafters agree that many patterned papers are beautiful, but Pattern Contenders face an extra battle. They believe some papers are so beautiful, they can’t be used in just an everyday project.Given the choice of taking a pair of scissors to their favourite patterned paper or the Mona Lisa, they might find themselves in one very heated dispute with the authorities at the Louvre! For Pattern Contenders, it’s a constant battle to find a paper that is lovely enough but not too lovely for the crafting project at hand.

I hope to be back soon to share my first page from the class

Mojo, where are you????

Charmed Cards Mega Candy entry

Chek out Charmed Cards and Crafts new blog for detail of their Mega Candy competition. Here is the card I am entering

This image from Charmed Cards and Crafts is Quiet Time from the Boy Oh Boy collection of digi images. I coloured him with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. The papers are Basic Grey Marrakech Sentiment, cardstock and buttons are Stampin' Up! and the punch I used is a Martha Stewart one.

I am also entering the card into the following challenges
Make It Monday  - always anything goes
Deconstructed Sketch  - no 23


Finally here are my journal pages for last weeks He-art Journal over at The Greeting Farm. The theme was "watercolour" I used Nick Bantock Inks and spritzed them with water. The stamps are Paper Artsy. I haven't done any journalling on these yet though

Would love to know what you think

thanks for visiting

x

Sweet Little Baby

Seems to be a lot of people I know having babies just now. Here's a card I made to give to one set of new parents

The image is Bambino by Sugar Nellie.  I am keeping this short as Blogger is playing up. The card is entered into the following challenges
Sugar Bowl - sketch
Bunny Zoe- use lace

thanks for visiting x

Sweet, Sweet, Sugar!!

Here is my latest purchase from Sugar Nellie. This is Titania and she is one of many adorable images recently released. I coloured her with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. Her wings have been glittered but it doesn't really show in the photo. The paper with the scallop trim is also glittered.
I am entering the card into the following challenges
Simon Says - sparkle & bling - (next pic shows it a bit better)
Sugar Nellie Facebook challenge - photo inspiration
Addicted to Stamps - sketch

I have also shown below my latest journal page, the theme this week was Bloom & Grow. I used the Split Tree stamps from Clarity Stamps.

Hope you all have a great weekend, start of the school holidays here so hoping the weather improves.

hugs

x

Saturated Canary - first challenge

You know how much I love my Simply Sassy stamps? Well, the artist responsible for these images has launched her own range of digis and started a challenge blog HERE

Here is the card I made to enter

Isn't she cute?
I am also entering this card into the following
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
Craft Your Passion - anything goes + ribbon

I had a lovely afternoon with some like minded ladies at a crop yesterday and here are the LO's I did

Thanks for visiting

x



Sweet Baby Boy

I was asked by a friend to make a card for a Naming Ceremony she was invited too. It gave me the perfect excuse to use the most adorable baby image I've ever seen from Sugar Nellie. He is called Bambino.

I also got to use my new Magnolia Vintage Tag die and the papers are from DCWV.
Image is coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers.
I am entering this card into the following challenges
Sugar Bowl - sketch
Simon Says - anything goes

thanks for visiting x

More lessons from Barbara Gray

Here is another card I made following the Classroom with Barbara Gray, lesson 2. It ain't perfect but I'm on a learning curve.
I am entering this into the following challenges
Tuesday Morning Sketches  - the sketch
Paper Play - Autumn leaves
Fab n Funky - any difficult theme

thanks for visiting and for any comments you may leave
Have a good weekend x

My next Journal page

The theme from The Greeting Farm for this week was "Cut & Patste". You had to cut a face from a magazinge/newspaper and then draw the body on yourself. Oh no thought i, cannot draw to save self!!! Also could not see a decent face to use. Then I had an idea. Instead of some random person's face, why not have the face of a friend? My friend Hels was the featured artist in Craft Stamper this month and there was a wee piccie of her on the top of the page. I've known Hels for quite a few years now and she is such a talented lady. She is a lover of all things Tim Holtz so I decided to use some of the techniques I've seen her use on my background. I used various Distress Inks, blended them all together and then splashed the page with water. The stamps are Tim Holtz and the papers I used for her hat and dress are also tim, Retro Grunge stash.
I hope she likes my little homage to her, please go visit her blog and see her amazing creations.
I am entering this into the following
She's Gone Digital - Art Journal pages
Crafting For All Seasons - Fall Colours
Anything Goes challenge - anything goes
Sweet Stamps - anything but a card
Thanks for stopping buy x

 I would like to thank the very talented Kellie Winnell for giving me the following award

Here are 12 questions that I need to answer:




Q1) Name your favorite color?  I love greens, browns and pinks but I would say I have a real weakness for anything teal

Q2) Name your favorite song? Current favourites  any track on Adele's 21 album. My all time favourite is Patsy Cline - Crazy (my karaoke track, lol)
Q3) Name your favorite dessert? Sticky Toffee pudding with custard or cream

Q4) What annoys you at the moment? That my house is dirty/messy & I have a mountain of ironing to tackle

Q5) Your favorite pet? My cat

Q6) Black or White? BLACK

Q7) Your biggest fear? Cancer, I have always had this fear that I’ll get it or someone I love will. I don’t fear death itself as when it’s your time, it’s your time. But the thought of having a strung out and painful one is my biggest fear.( this is Kellie's answer but is also true for me, I HATE cancer and know people who have suffered, it is a horrible disease)

Q8) Best Feature? do I have one??  I suppose I am blessed with good skin

Q9) Everyday attitude? hhmmmm………..really depends on how much sleep I’ve had. (again Kellie's answer but applies to me too)

Q10) What is perfection? I don't think there is such a thing

Q11) Guilty Pleasure? crafting supplies, shopping, bargains, something sweet. (again, Kellie's answer rings true for me too plus wine and chocolate)

Q12) When you’re upset you? Sometimes I cry, other times I yell and sometimes I just bottle it all up!

Now I have to pass this on to 10 other blogging buddies so here goes
Elaine
Annika
Kim
Tracey
Angela
Mina
Cass
Claudia
Erika
Hels

thanks again Kellie, hope to go get some crafting done now and hope to have a card to show tomorrow x

I Believe in Angels

Simon Says Stamp challenge this week is to be inspired by a song title. Mine in "I Believe in Angels" by Abba. This gorgeous image is from Sweet Pea Stamps. I have coloured her with Promarkers, the papers are Basic Grey and the swirls are Grungeboard which I coloured with a PM as well. Sentiment is Stampin' Up!
Here's a closer look

I had problems with her hair- a lesson learned about switching the ultra fine nibs between colour families lol!I have since ordered some more.I also added some white gel pen dots around the image, something I saw my blogging buddy Coops doing. It's not as effective as when she does it, practice required!
I am also entering this card into the following challenges
Flutterby Wednesday - use a butterfly, fairy or angel on your card
Bunny-Zoe monthly challenge - sketch

thanks for visiting, hope you have a lovely weekend
x