Out of the ordinary

After taking a look at Wild Orchid Crafts challenge this week i decided to take part, this took me out of my comfort zone as the challenge is fancy folds, you had to include at least 2 folds on your card, if you look back at my cards you will see i very rarely do anything but single fold.

I took an 8"x8" card blank and turned it into a zigzag fold. The stamp is 'bloom & grow' by Helz cuppleditch which ive stamped onto splodge Away elegance high res card stock, this card really is amazing for stamping and colouring with any of the brand pens it is so smooth you can't fail to get good results. Ive coloured with promarkers then ive edged all the edges with adirondack ink 'meadow' using my splodge Away mat and ranger blending tool. The papers are a mix of making memories and stamin' up again they have all been edged using the same ink. Ive added flowers from wild orchid crafts, the ribbon is from my stash, ive also added a few dew drops. To finish the card ive edges the main image with gold stickles and highlighted parts with glossy accents, id accidentally got a spot of ink on my image so had to disguise it by drawing a bee, so not all was lost.

this card has been entered into the following challenges:

wild orchid challenge - Fancy folds

Change of style

I was asked to make a card for a 5 year old boy, quite an easy one for that age its when they get older and are very particular at what they like it then gets difficult. This isnt my usual style of card, but i had fun making it non the less.
I plugged in my cricut and used every day doll cartridge to cut out the astronaut and space rocket, i then chalked and inked it to give it some dimension, the name was cut with the george cartridge. The backing paper is October afternoon, everything has been edged with stickles in silver and diamond, the name and number is coated in glossy accents and the sentiment was printed on the computer.

Im adding this card to the challenge here come the boys

Last night we did go out and had a lovely bar meal and as a bonus there was a band playing so we got added entertainment, but i paid for it this morning i had a bit of a thick head but nothing a lie in didnt cure.

Work for me tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday but im off Thursday and think i will have a bit of retail therapy, but i will also get a little crafting done as ive got some design work to do by the weekend.

Vintage LOTV

Another gorgeous LOTV card today, i made this while hubby was watching the football so i didnt feel guilty that i wasnt sat keeping him company. There is so much distressing on this card that it gives it a vintage feel and the colours ive used adds to the vintage theme.

 Ive coloured the image in with promarkers and cut it out with a nestie then distressed the edges with walnut stain. the papers ive used are MME again all the edges are distressed with walnut stain. Ive framed the image with lots of wild orchid crafts flowers and the ribbons were from a seller on facebook. Ive added time holtz tags and a butterfly cut from the cricut , a string of pearls finishes the butterfly. ive also added a string od clear beads around the image to complete the frame. Everything is finished off with edges smothered in gold stickles.

Im going to have a mooch around the net and see what challenges this will fit.
im entering this into Passion for promarkers - Cut it out, ive used a die cut butterfly

I believe in fairies

I love Thursdays as thats the LOTV challenge day, this week was a sketch to follow. I made this  this morning before i went to work and will put it on ebay later as i have a surplus of cards and need to disperse of some.

 I have used a combination of MME, websters pages and Basic grey papers, they have all been edged in walnut stain distress ink and stickles, ive coloured the image with promarkers, the twill bow was also inked in walnut stain. Ive framed the image with a string of mini pearls and edged with distress stickles. the flowers are wild orchid crafts, the mini cameos were from ebay the sentiment stamp is also LOTV. Because the weather is so grey and wet ive struggled to get a decent photo i must of taken about 40 and i only got 2 out of them that were any good, i hate this dull wet weather.
Im also entering this into I love promarkers challenge, the theme is flowers.

                                           

Im working on Saturday, but im hoping for a nice night out with hubby and friends on saturday night, i cant remember the last time i had a night out things have just been too hectic the last few months. Sunday ive got no work and can play in my craft room and get inky and messy, thats if things go to plan. Have a nice weekend everyone x

Spots

I managed to finish the card that i started yesterday morning, by the time it was finished i was seeing spots before my eyes. I paper pieced an Autumn Leaves flower stamp then i hand doodled a frame around it and matted it on several pieces of polka dot paper, i also added red ribbon and a bow but it was still missing something when i matted it onto my pearlescent card base, i added another doodled frame but still it needed something more so i used a red promarker to dot the base card and viola that was all it needed,. I haven't made a simple card in a couple of weeks, by simple i mean a card without a cute image and heavily embellished. I only wished i could of stayed at home and crafted all day ,  what i need is a dream job in the craft industry, in a shop or working with product and manufactures, demoing all day or creating at home..........a girl can dream, maybe someday!
Im entering this in the following challenges
Simon says stamp - Anything goes
Make it monday - linky party

Paper Piecing

Well this week didn't go as planned, i was originally off work until Thursday but i got a call yesterday to go in for a shift today. Monday we were at my uncles funeral and yesterday i went shopping for spring/summer clothes for the kids (that's if we ever get any sun) today was meant to be a full day of craft but things never pan out the way you plan. So this morning ive got a start on a card ready to complete tonight, ive stamped and paper pieced flowers and ive doodled a frame around it, you'll have to come back tomorrow to see the finished card. Adios ive got a work to do :)

Getting messy with ink

Today I quickly gave the front room a quick tidy and Hoover because I was eager to get crafty with the goodies I bought yesterday. Hubby was really kind and tackled the kitchen, washing and made the dinner (you gotta love them x)

I started by embossing with the new splodge away mask,then came the messy part with the inks I used Tom holtz distressing inks in various colours to ink the background using the splodge away may. Once I was happy with the blending I scrunched up wet kitchen roll and randomly dabbed across the surface this gives a lovely effect,then came the stamps a mix of inks and voila,but I didn't stop there I then took my versa magic ink pad and swooshed it across the embossed part then I lightly dusted it with mica powders, to finish I distressed the edges. To be honest I didn't really like the large image in the centre but that didn't matter as I knew it would be covered with the stamped image I was using on my card.



As the background has a masculine look I wanted a male image so chose the LOTV stamp again this was painted with distress inks. I finished the card with lots of ribbon knots and sticklers the greeting is an old kanban one. This card is getting put away for the kids to give to their Dad on fathers day.
Cupcake Inspirations - ive taken my inspiration from the colours used
Stamping for the weekend - Sparkle and shine

Shopping at suzicraft

Today I was up bright and early and got ready to go and spend some time at suzicraft (my local craft shop) there was a class on teaching to colour with spectrum noirs been taught by Annette lee so is stopped for a while and chatted and watched in between shopping for more goodies. Good news that the new splodge away card was in the shop this is the perfect stamping and printing card and the easy ink card takes your distressing inks so smoothly it works a dream with the splodge away mat, also they are in the process of making masks so I've brought a few of the prototypes away with me to have a play. I cant wait untill these hit the other retail shops then you will see why i have been raving about them.
Whilst there i couldn't help putting a few other things in my basket, I always wish to have a never ending amount of money when craft shopping as I want (no I need!) everything on the shelves.
I hope to have a few crafty days this week so I should have lots to share with you.

Fun with textiles

last night i decided i would make cushions for Ashleighs bedroom. Ive had the material since her birthday in march but never got around to using it, but at last i got the inspiration much to Ashleighs delight.
I made 4 square, i oblong and one bolster, i dont know why i didnt start earlier because it was a quick job, i just need some stuffing so i can make her hanging hearts and a door stop. It made a change from paper crafting but i could never give that up its my first and foremost hobby. Today im home poorly from work, im just hoping i dont have the dreaded sick bug that is doing the rounds, i havnt got time for that. On a good note im not back in work untill next Thursday so ive got plenty of time to get better and have a mega craftathon.

Do the conga

Here is a card ive made using Humphrey's corner birthday conga, ive had this stamp set for a long long while but have never inked it up, i think it felt a little neglected as this afternoon it fell off my shelf, i think it wanted inking up so who was i to say no!

I had no idea where this card was leading i just coloured it then chose my papers which is the opposite from what i would usually do, i normally always chose the papers first then colour the image to match.

The papers used are a combination of websters pages and My Minds Eye, edged in spun sugar distress ink. The image was coloured using promarkers, the added flowers are a selection from wild orchid crafts, the tickets are Tim Holtz that ive crumpled and inked. ive also added a few pearls and lots of dew drops to form a swirl. As always its all edged with diamond stickles as are the balloons and confetti.

Im entering this card into the ribbon girl challenge - pink orange and aqua, ive used these colours in my colouring and some of the papers.

I had a lovely early finish from work today and had intended going craft shopping but hubby was waiting for me to go grocery shopping and by the time we got home i was wet hungry and tired so that put paid to my fun shopping, not to worry im off on Saturday so i have rearranged to pay suzicraft a visit then.

Birthday Bunny

Here is the finished card from the picture i showed yesterday, Ive cut it out using a nesti and used the out of the box technique that i saw over on Bevs blog (if you havnt payed her a visit yet its a must her cards are amazing).
Ive gently dusted the image with a colorbox inkpad in parchment colour, i think it gives it a soft hue.

The papers are a mix or October afternoon and die cuts with a view, the text paper was plain but ive colour tinted it with Tim Holtz distressing inks , the sentiment is LOTV. Apart from the ribbon and the gems thats all the embellishments ive added as i didnt want to over do it with flowers as its for my cousins little boy, he will be 1 on Saturday, i will add his name in chipboard in the top left corner. The inside is decorated with same papers.

My First Mention

Since i started blogging again in February i decided to start entering challenge blogs and today i found out i had been mentioned on Papercraft Star..... i have won a comet award for my card April Showers, although ive not won any goodies it was enough just to be showcased and mentioned, it may not be a big deal to those in the challenge circles who are often winners but for me its a first so just for this short time im going to shout it from the roof tops IM A WINNER!

Not quite finished

Last night I had just sat down to start card making, i Managed to colour in a lili of the valley image then my phone rang, it was my sister asking me to go to her house to mind the children as her other half had an accident and needed to visit A&E. He had cut the end of his finger so that put paid to my crafty evening, here is the image and hopefully I'll have the finished card to show later

die cuts

I managed to make another card yesterday but i schedueled this post in case i didnt get chance to craft today.

I received a parcel of gorgeous diecuts from my blog friend Karen, as soon as i opened them they screamed USE ME!

So i obliged and i set to work straight away, i didnt plan any thing in my head i just went with the flow and this is the end result.
The image is lili of the valley coloured with promarkers, ive pleated ribbon around the nestie die cut mat, and added wild orchid flowers to complete the frame. The little picket fences wer in the parcel as were the trees, ive added green and pink stickles to represent leaves and blossom. All the papers are from My Minds Eye.

Collaboration

So Yesterday didnt quite go as planned, i had intended to craft all afternoon but my tiredness got the better of me and i snoozed on the sofa for a couple of hours, i must of been really tired to sleep for that long.
That meant work i didnt do yesterday had to be done today (its a good job i had a day off), i had to do the christening card, it was so frustrating finding an image, it was still difficult combining something for the varying ages. i looked through my stamps and decided on a collaboration of different stamps.

Ive, used the baby from lili of the valley and the boys on the bike and scooter is from woodware,
I masked the baby and then stamped the boys i love the finished look and hope my customer will too.

Ive coloured the image in promarkers, The papers are My Minds Eye all boys stack, all edges are inked and stickled, The stars are cut on the cricut and the flowers are wild orchid crafts.

I will have a browse around the various challenges later and see where i can fit it in. The greeting is computer generated and the circle sentiment is pink gem.

work to do

well im sat here surfing the web, and watching TV but that wont get any work done, ive got my cousins little boys 1st birthday card to make and a christening card for 3 boys of all differing ages ranging from a baby to 9 years old, this is challenging finding an image to suit the age range.
I also have cards to make for a few eBay customers who purchased through eBay but now contact me direct, i can see me having a few late nights this week, i shall be back with photos as i plod through my to-do pile of work, Its a good job this is happy therapeutic work, i cant see me being this enthusiastic over the ironing or house chores lol. I hope your all having a lovely resting weekend x

It's a first

so i introduced my promarkers to my very first saturated canary image, the image is gorgeous, its so cute.

Im happy with the colouring but im not happy with the finished card, i was making this very late last night/early morning as i seem to be hit with the cant sleep bug. The lighting for night isnt the best in my craft room, so the papers dont quite go with the colours in my image, i think if i hadnt inked the clouds it would of been a better match. Never mind we all make mistakes, ill just have to colour her again. watch out for attempt 2 and 3 in the coming weeks.
The papers and quote are all We are memory keepers, the flowers and bead trim are all wild orchid crafts.
im back to work later today so no crafting for me till later, again in the poor light :(

April Showers

over on Lili's little fairies challenge this week the challenge is transport, that is using anything that can be used as transport fairy wings, cars, boats skates etc i chose a lili of the valley image that was free with one of the crafting magazines (i cant remember which) im sure the bunny flying with an umbrella is still transport even if its not conventional.
I coloured my image with promarkers, and then inked the cloud back ground (again!)

Ive used a mixture of pink petticoat and My Minds Eye papers they are all matted onto bazzill card, and the edges have been coloured with colorbox egg plant ink pad.

Ive used Wild orchid flowers, the sentiment is also lilli of the valley, the cabochon is from my old button box . As its April and its done nothing but rain on and off i decided to include a few rain drops on my image, i used stardust stickles for the rain and also covered each edge with them.

Ive entered this card in the following challenges:

Lili's little fairies - transport

simon says stamp - April showers bring spring flowers

papertake weekly - april showers (or water water everywhere)

papercraft star - umbrellas

On to a very sad note my uncle Harvey passed away last night, it was a blessing for him to be out of pain and suffering but heartbreaking for the family, thanks to everyone for your kind words. RIP Harvey 1939 - 2012 forever in our hearts xx

Thank you

I've made a couple of thank you cards in preparation to give to the nurses who are caring for my uncle in his final days, he has been in hospital since 24th February so we've built up a bit of a bond with them. I've made them quite simple inking and embossing with very little embellishments.
I'm hoping to post a little more often once things get back to normal, thanks for the emails of support and for listening to me ramble on x

Special delivery

I was asked to make a baby card for a friend who's daughter is expecting a baby boy any day now, so I inked up a lili of the valley stamp I've coloured it with promarkers. I've used a spell binder die for the circle and inked everything in walnut stain, the papers are first edition and they have been edged with walnut stain and stardust sticklers. Ive added a star button from my stash box and the flowers are wild orchid crafts. I've left a space for a sentiment as she would like the name and date of birth etc on it.
I was up real early this morning as I couldn't sleep so i occupied my mind with card making, I will have another to share with you tomorrow
Ive entered this card in the following challenges:
stamping for the weekend- teddy bears
simon says stamp - use your favoutite tool (ive used my cuttlebug)
Lili's little fairies - ribbons bows and buttons

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone, i hope you havnt eaten all of your choccy eggs already.
Im sorry its just a quick post from me today, things are still not good, im spending all day from 10am till 8pm at hospital because time is precious its draining and heartbreaking but it has to be done.
iIhavnt got any creativity to share today so i thought i would share a blog giveaway i found over on The Ribbon Girl you can win a gorgeous bling kit go and check it out, you have to be in it to win it.

Penny black

It's been a while since inking up this stamp, but it will always be an old favourite. I've coloured it with promarkers, the papers are old and I can't remember they could be making memories. Flowers are wild orchid crafts and as always edged in sticklers. not much else to share as my spare time is spent at the hospital,
Im entering this card in the following challenges:
I Love Promarkers - springtime
cupcake inspirations -

new lili of the valley

Im so excited i received my new lili of the valley stamps today, i was at work 7 till 12 and waiting in my craft was was an envelope of loveliness, i got one of the new releases and few of the older ones plus a set of sentiments. i couldn't wait to ink them up.

I used "Happy Together" and made a 6 x6 card in no time ive been making a lot of 8 x8 so this seemed to be finished in half the time.
I coloured the image in with promarkers the background was created using a combo of promarkers and ink pads, the clouds were done using a scalloped template., i then matted it on textured pearlescent card, available from suzicraft, the background papers are from October afternoon and making memories, ive used wild orchid flowers ribbon, pins and a cameo cabochon for embellishments. the sentiment is also lili of the valley. all the layers are finished of with a sparkle of stickles. m entering this card into Lili's little fairies challenge - anything goes

Im off to the hospital shortly so will probably craft some more when i get back to occupy my mind.

Birthday rosette

I made this card for a wonderful person........ Tom along with his partner susan is the owner of suzicraft and today happens to be his birthday.last night I set to work on his card, I had to sit and think for a while as its a mans card the ideas don't flow so easy. I remembered seeing a card made on create and craft in the spellbinders hour and thought I would do something loosely based around that idea,ad I don't possess any of the dies used I had to improvise.i used the cricut and cut out 3 O's from the winter woodland cartridge I then embossed them and inked them before entwining them, I then threaded a paper strip through them. To finish it off I made a Rosette and used an inkadinkadoo sentiment. The papers are we are memory keepers. I'm so sorry for the poor picture it was taken last might on my IPhone.
Happy birthday Tom!
I've enjoyed my day off today I took my daughter on a little retail therapy before we popped into the craft shop, I did of course have to buy myself a few goodies. The day was just what was needed to take our mind of the the sad situation we have.

Freebies!

Would you like to own these goodies? Simply join in the April challenge on the Suzicraft forum. Really Easy.....simply add a card into the forum for each week in April...any card...Christmas, general, easter, ANYTHING! Please feel free to add this onto your facebook pages, blogs, etc x

The prize includes

spectrum noir pens, marriane swirl die, stamps from various companies, 5 packs of 8x sheets of pearlescent card, mirror card, hat pins, reels of ribbons, bows and much more.