Grrrrrrrrrrrr Blogger

Good morning Peeps and thank you to everyone for your visits whilst I have been without my computer. I'm not sure which way is up still as my craft room is still in disarray although I can see some forward movement and at least I got my computer back into action again yesterday, so needless to say I now have a weeks worth of catching up to do.

And on top of that it seems blogger has decided I have to use the new interface and has removed the option to revert to the old one. Suffice to say I absolutely hate the new interface, there is so much white space coupled with everything being spread around a much wider area that my already dodgy eyes are playing havoc with me and at the moment it won't take much for me to pack up blogging altogether.

So all I can share with you today are a couple of cards made a week or two ago as the uproar my craft room means I haven't made anything for well over a week now.

The top card is a Stamplaot sample and to create the background I use distress inks, one colour at a time onto an acrylic block and spritzed with water to create a random patchwork effect, stamped Woodware JGS273 in vintage sepia and embossed with detail clear and added Frantage aged spice around the edges.

The second card uses one of Ruth's A Passion for Stamps images which has been paper pieced, an embossed panel and a Cheery Lynn lattice panel at the bottom over the matching DP.

Have a good day everyone.

Going round in circles and candy

Before I tell you about our new theme at  Allsorts  a little reminder that I have a weekend candy on the go, all you need to do is leave a comment over the weekend either here, on tomorrows post or yesterdays which also has a picture, to be in with a chance of winning.

At Allsorts Debs has us all going round in circles this week so I thought I would share another of my Christmas wreaths (instructions here) which I created for the demo day at Sir Stampalot a few weeks ago.

The Christmas rose in the centre was stamped with Woodware JGS256 onto Studio 490 Modelling Film, coloured with Aquamarkers and then heated and moulded into shape. D0n't know if you have tried this film out, but it really is something a little bit different and real fun to work with and unlike shrink plastic stays the same size but allows you to mould it when warm. And if you don't like the finish, you just warm it up again.

For this one I used the gorgeous December 25th DP's from Kaiser, I really do think these are one my favourite Christmas DP's for years, there is something about the rich traditional colours that never fail to please.

Have a good weekend everyone.

A real mixture

Well, how is everyone this Sunday morning ? I have just one card to share having been very, very good, done as I was told and yesterday made just one card and no blog hopping.......sorry peeps, I will be round to see you all soon. I found that if I lowered my daylight light so I was sort of working above the gaze that seems to work OK and I promised myself if my eye started to hurt I would stop and leave my card !!!!

I am being a bit naughty and combining three challenges here as realistically I can't spend any longer crafting just yet.......but I have managed to use some of my new goodies from Sir Stampalot so you can all see what super new stuff they had delivered this week.

The challenges are Friday Sketchers who have a nice sketch by Jeanette, Tuesday Taggers who want to see 'Red, Gold and Green' and Creative Card Crew who would like to see 'String, Hemp, Twine, Rope etc' on projects.

The image is one of the new Rachelle Anne Miller images - Scarecrow RM064, stamped in versafine black and embossed with detail clear and coloured in with my brand new Copics which I absolutely love and am getting on with really well. The little board round her neck - yes she is a lady scarecrow - is blank, so I wrote in the name I have given her - Raggy Annie and diamond glazed over.

I stamped her hat and the patches again onto some scraps of Junkitz DP and decoupaged them and also cut out some squares from the same paper to create the background. I added a band of hessian and some raffia which I thought went well with the rustic feel of the card. The layered flowers are from a new Woodware punch from Stampalot called Sakura which does a multi stamp of five flowers in various sizes for layering up. The sentiment it Stamps by Judith SK-LG-207 available from Stamp Addicts.

The red panel has been run through the Bug and lightly sanded and a stamped and coloured a second image onto Shrink Plastic which is placed just above the sentiment.

Allsorts challenge 24

Good morning everyone and as it's Saturday this means it's Allsorts challenge day again and this weeks theme is set by Debs who has chosen "Furry Friends". The DT have all been treated to an image to use from this weeks sponsors Wild Rose Studio.

It is so good to see so many of you joining in with us every week and the inspirational team really enjoy visiting all your projects and of course as well as a prize every week, there is also the Top 5 who get to display our special blinkie on their blogs.

I chose this cute little mouse who definitely looks to be in Christmas mode. I coloured him with Promarkers and added diamond glazed. The DP's are from K&Co's Winter Wonderland 12 x 12 Christmas pad. I ran one panel through the Cuttlebug using the snowflake folder and mounted it onto a red mat edges with my Fiskars threading water punch. The snowflakes are also cur with a punch and red pearls added to the centres. The sentiment is from Woodware FRCL128.

Everybody Art Challenges

Good morning folks, it looks like being one of those days when I don't know if I am on my ---- or by elbow ! Just completed my card for this weeks Everybody Art Challenges which is a great sketch by Tina, went off to take a piccy of it and what do I find, I had already done one yesterday, so as I can't decide am posting both.

And if what was enough, I found I had even screwed up on my card for my own challenge coming up at Allsorts this Saturday.......now you would have thought taking so much time to prepare my theme I would at least have remembered what it was...... and the worse bit is, I only realised when I went to post it ready for Saturday. So a second take on that as well.

Back to this challenge, both cards totally different. The one with the birds which is yesterdays take is using Daisy Bucket DP's and a background brayered on to gloss cardstock using Tim Holz dried marigold, spiced marmalade, fired brick and mustard seed. I masked the sun for the initial brayering, then after removing the mask rand over it again with the mustard seed. The image is Penny Black 3837H and the sentiment from Woodware FRCL128 stamped onto white shrink plastic. The border is Fiskars and gems added to finish.

My second attampt is using Hero CL105 stamped with Hero shadow in soft apricot and green. The PS's are My Minds Eye and the border Martha Stewart doily lace. I ran one of the panels thought the Bug using the daisy folder to match the daisies on the image. The greeting is a section of Hero E4509 placed iside a tag cut on Cricut fabulous finds (I think - I borrowed the cartridge and ran off a stock of buckles and tags). Enblellised with some flowers, ribbon and brads.

Penny Black chellenge

Good morning one and all, the wind has dropped and there is actually come sunshine today, rather cold still but at least bright. I had a trip to Sir Stampalot yesterday, first outing in two weeks apart from hospital etc., that is........so where else would I go on my first outing ? Oh food for the family I hear you say, goodness me no, what's the point in wasting valuable time doing that when I can order out to Tesco. And afraid I seem to have come home with new stash, some new Hero, Penny Black and Magenta stamps and the most yummy book of DP's from K&Co Winter Wonderland range. So hopefully some playtime with my upcoming DT projects that I will be sharing with you shortly.

This card is for this weeks Penny Black challenge, not entered last two weeks as the crafting has been limited, but feeling almost back into the groove now and this is what I have come up with for their 'Autumn Breezes' theme.

I first stamped around the edge of my mat cut on Cricut Storybook inking just the small branch of Penny Black 3982K Golden Leaves.......very apt I thought, with versamark and embossed with detail clear. Next I distressed the edges with Tim Holts Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade and just a touch of Aged Mahogany. I then stamped the larger branches with Brilliance Thyme and embossed with detail clear.

The border section was punched with what seems to be a new EK punch Dotted Wave........how on earth I managed to get that into my basket yesterday I have absolutely no idea, but seeing it's here felt I have to use it. The leaves are cut with a Woodware punch and inked and embossed with detail clear to give them some shine. The fibres under the borders and some string mesh I picked up at a garden centre and DP's are My Minds Eye.

Friday Sketchers

Well it's Friday, bank holiday ahead and the weathers is distinctly British.......at least it is here in the Fens, blustery, cloudy and rain looming. But according to the optician this morning Monday is going to be lovely - I certainly hope he is right.

Today there is a fab new sketch from Claudia over at Friday Sketchers, there was also the addition of a colour combo - Blue and Orange.......which I remembered after I had made my pink card.......something of a common trend amongst some of this week it seems. Luckily when I re-visited their blog it sad the colour theme was "optional" so I have stuck with my pink card girls.

My image is one of the fabby new cling stamps from Hero Arts CG105........when Andy (Mr Sir Stampalot) said try them out I was hesitant, but they are great and I am really impressed with the quality and of course they work out rather cheaper than wood mounted. I stamped simply with Hero soft blossom onto linen cardstock and matted up following the sketch with My Minds Eye and Doodlebug DP's. Border cut with Martha Stewart doily lace, leaves with L-Em and flowers with Woodware punches respectively.

One for Stampalot

Morning all, just sharing a quick card I've done for Sir Stampalot. DP's are My Minds Eye ........ yes, I'm still in love with them........ layered over ripped bazzil. The flower in the centre was cut from acetate on Cricut home decor and edged with gold Krylon, a small flower punched for the middle and a brad inked with versamark and embossed with detail copper to match the DP.

Some cord and a bead have been wound round and a swirl from Inkadinkado 97632 offstamped with Brilliance chocolate. The greeting has been stamped witht the same ink using Woodware FRCL 128. That's it folks, off to that craft shop at Peterborough for some indulgence now.

Stamping for the Weekend

All sketches this week and you get to choose at Stamping for the Weekend - what a treat, so I have opted for Donna's sketch.

I stamped my main image - Hobby Arts FL1824G using versafine black and detail clear embossing powder and coloured in with my new Promarkers ........ well after buying all 92 got to get my use out of them and more importantly get the technique right ........ lots of practice required here still me thinks.

DP is from Scrappy Cat and top border cut with MS embossed scallop. The green buds are cut from Cricut Storybook, inked with Brilliance thyme and embossed with detail clear. Flowers have been done exactly the same but using Brilliance orchid and a touch of crimson, although the look very pinky in the photo they aren't that bright in reality, it's probably the reflection because they are embossed and shiny. I have also used the crimson to stamp the greeting which is a tiny section of one of the circle greetings from Woodware FRCL128.

Creatice Card Crew

Number two is for this weeks Creative Card Crew challenge where Linda has selected the theme "Black plus one other colour". So I have opted for straightforward monochrome using JudiKins klimt cube 67221, stamped with versafine back and embossed with detail clear. The greeting is Woodware FRCL128 and the circles cut on the cuttlebug using nesties. The border stamped with Stayzon is a really pretty one with such fine detail, but unfortunately I have absolutely no idea of the origin.

Two in one for childrens card

Decided a bit so stress free crafting must be good for me ........ can't sit about doing nothing just because I have to rest ....... so have combined two into one.

This weeks Cupcake challenge is using Ida's favourite combination of pink, blue and yellow which she asks are combined to make "cards for kids", fitting in very well with Everybody Arts Challenges theme to use numbers of your project.

This lovely little elephant image is Woodware FRV004, which I have stamped three times onto white cardstock then again onto pink, blue and yellow bazzil using versafine black and crystal embossing powder. The three coloured images have then been cut out, the elephants ears lifted and decoupaged over the base images. I stamped across the base card with Art Impression G3130 in the same three colours using Brilliance ink pads. The numbers were cut on Cricut jasmine and mounted on a flower with ribbon underneath to give the impression of a rosette. DP is My Minds Eye and I added lace across the bottom.

Cute Card Thursday 60

This weeks challenge over at Cute Card Thursday is "Letters and Numbers" so have created a birthday card for a special little girl who loves elephants.

The image is Woodware FRV004 stamped with brilliance violet and embossed with detail clear, then stamped a second time and decoupaged. The elephant actually has a lollipop in her month, but I have replaced this with a little flower. The letters were cut on purple card using the cricut and double embossed with UTEE. Border is a fiskars punch and DP is Doodlebug and the button brad Laura Ashely.

Three Clover Designs

I'm on a roll here, another challenge sorted, this time Three Clovers following a nice sketch and I've used another of my new cuties, this time a Sarah Kay design, a sweet little girl on the farm (this takes me back more years than I care to remember).

The image has been stamped and embossed in black and detail clear then pained with Brilliance ink pads and more detail clear added (you need to add the powder as you go, otherwise the ink is too dry and will not hold the embossing powder) to give a nice gloss finish to the image. DP's are My Minds Eye (again I know), the greeting Woodware FRCL28 stamped onto circles cut with nesties. Mat for image also run through the cuttlebug using Swiss dots folder.

Friday Sketchers 50 and Cute Card Thursday 58

Good Morning everyone, it's a beautiful day here in the Fens, hope it's as good where you are and lets hope it lasts for the weekend !

I was up with the birds today and already completed my first card combining two challenges: Friday Sketchers who have a lovely sketch by Beatrix which is right up my street and Cute card Thursday which is entitled Mirror Mirror. And to share the lovely morning with you all I took my card into the garden and photographed it next to a Cytisus which is just bursting into an abundance of yellow flowers.

My main image is a brand new stamp (yesterdays jolly to Stampalot) Magenta 26032P. It has so many possibilities, but that's for another day and here I have kept it very simple stamping with versamark and embossing with detail gold on a background sprayed with GM's (gold and patina) onto a glossy card. DP's are My Minds Eye and the stick pin made up with beads, pin etc., from Spellboundbead. Pin, gold embossing and gold mirri card for the 'Mirror' element. Sentiment is Woodware FRCL28.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge 28

In anticipation of an early start tomorrow to go to Ally Pally, I am posting tomorrows card this evening. The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge is to create a scene and as I was planning on doing some more samples for Stampaddicts with the new JudiKins stamps that featured on their latest C&C show, I have used the rainy day girl as the main feature. Stamped with Stayzon and the park scene built up with Art Impression stamps inking with Marvy pens. The greeting is Woodware FRCL128, the circles cut on nesties and the girls brolly, hat and coat stamped onto Daisy Bucket paper.

Sketch Something and Cute Card Thursday 56 challenge

The Cute Card Thursday Challenge 56 is called Floral Fantasy, so I just had to take part. It asks simply that you use any type of flower on your card. I am combining my card with this weeks Sketch Something challenge where the theme is green, blue and yellow.

I have created a glimmer mist background using linen card as this picks up the mica elements of the sprays so well, using midnight, key lime and pineapple and a top coat of iridescent gold. The stamp is American Art Stamps Field of Daisies stamped in black and embossed with detail clear, coloured with Sakura pens and ultrafine glitter added when still wet. Birthday wishes from Woodware FRCL128, flowers, buttons, ribbon, gems and bazzil run through the cuttlebug using Swiss dots.

Cricut Cuttables to play with

I was recently given some of the new Cricut Cuttables products to try out which include stencil material, stamp making kit and Cuttlebug folder kit. All are designed to be cut on the Cricut and with the exception of the cuttlebug folder material which still needs some practice, I have to say I am impressed with the quality of the finished project, plus it opens up a whole new ball game to create exactly what you want.

In this card I have used the stencil material to cut the stencil from Home Accents and used with Glimmer Mists (kiwi, honey dew mist, lily pad and irri gold) to create the lilac and green background. The bird and branch image was cut from the latex type stamp material using Home Decor and Storybook, welding the images together on the DS. As the branch was a bit delicate I mounted the cut material onto easymount and was amazed at the quality of the stamped image. Here I used Brilliance lightening black and clear embossing powder and I like the way the slightly less intense black of this ink allows a shadow of the GM's to show though making the bird look thrush like.

The greeting is Woodware FRC128 cut with nesties and diamond glazed. I have stamped around the top with Art Imression F2044 and the bottom with Hero F5042 and the paper is My Minds Eye. All products from Sir Stampalot.

Friday Sketcher Week 47

This is my first card for the Friday Sketchers Challenge. I quite like the idea of having a template sketch as the thinking is done for you and all that's left to decide is what stamps and elements to use. On this one I have gone with Poppies a favourite from Penny Black 3949H (Sir Stampalot), coloured simply with Marvy pens, diamond glazed with a touch of stickles in the middle while still wet and lightly chalked. The background paper is Daisy Bucket, the corner swirl Magenta 1205C and greeting Woodware FRC128. Oval mounts are cut on the CB with Nesties.

Demo day

Just a few of the samples made using the K&Co and Carol Wilson products Colemans (local stationey chain) gave me to use at yesterdays demo. All are really quick and easy cards and as you can see in most I have managed to add a bit of stamping, in this one Penny Black 3948K stamped with brilliance olive and clear emboss powder. Also overstamped some of the paper with Hero F5042, again with the same inkpad. The circle is cut with nesties on my c/b stamped with woodward FRC129 and covered with diamond glaze.