Brayer class

The class I went to on Wednesday was fun, i brushed up on my Brayer skills, played with lovely stamps and had lovely company. You now can be sure you'll be seeing lots more brayered backgrounds. We made a complete card and backgrounds for many more, but you know me I came home and jazzed mine up with stickles (the blue/green one) Then I made another when I got home using some of the backgrounds, the plum/blue coloured one has a clarity stamp as the background and a crafty individuals bird and inkadinkadoo butterfly stamp in the foreground. 

I am going to be busy the next couple of weeks with design work for splodgeaway and prep work for a couple of classes and a demo day I am doing at suzicrafts, how will I fit in cards for my blog and fit in my day job!

Yippeeeeee!

What a happy girl i am, i had my first weigh in last night and im so happy to report that ive lost 4lbs, i couldnt be any happier, start as you mean to go on and all that! hopefully that will be the first loss of many to come, and i will back to where i like to be best.

Onto a crafty note, when i arrived home from work today i had a package waiting for me they were my art impressions stamps, ive wanted them for an age but something else always emptied my craft purse before i got them. so anyway i decided it was time to give in and buy them.

I had an hour to spare before i was heading out of the door to take a brayer class, and this was the card or should i say picture card i came up with. Its not your ordinary folding card it has a stand up frame on the back so it stands like a photo frame.
I stamped and masked the plantpot first then added the gate before adding lots of foliage to finish the scene, i then coloured with distress inks and adirondack. I used my scalloped edge to create the cloud background, then i matted all the layers and edged in stickles.

The class i went to tonight taken by Annette Lees was fun, i brushed up on some brayering and stamping techniques and created some lovely pieces i will share those tomorrow when the lighting is better for photos.

Quick makes - Contempary Pinwheels

Argghhhhhh! this is the third time ive tried to upload this  to blogger, the gremlins must be about.

Yesterday i had 20 minutes before i went to work and had an urge to make a card, i know i didnt have time to make a special over embellished card they take me anywhere from one to several hours, i needed something quick, si i came up with these pinwheel cards, 2 in just 20 minutes. Ive used spring drop papers, a little matting and layering, liquid pearls and stickles.

Tonight im off to slimming world in the hope of a loss of a couple of pounds, then ive got a really early start at work in the morning, in the evening im participating in a brayer class at Suzicrafts so i very much doubt i will have any thing to share with you unless i get a real urge again to make a quick card, i know they dont take much thinking about but at least i get my paper craft fix, any other crafter will understand, non crafters will be ready to admit me to the addiction clinic. LOL!

Traditional

Yum! Yum! im writing my blog right now and im absolutely stuffed, i just tucked into a traditional Sunday roast, ive been sticking to my slimming world menu all week and even my dinner today was very little syns. I would normally have breakfast and then pick and snack all morning then come lunch time i hardly touch my dinner because im too full from all the snacks, but not today, no snacks passed my lips so maybe thats why i totally enjoyed it and im full up too. I happy to knowing it was mostly syn free and the scales should be happy on Tuesday.

Another traditional are the cards i made last night, i was asked for 2 cards for older more traditional gents, no over the top embellishments, more plain (i know plain, i do plain, but id rather do over the top. Lol)

I unwrapped the set of free stamps that were with the current creative stamper magazine, and inked up the motorbike, but not before id brayered my background on splodgeaway easy ink card, i stamped the image in versafine and added glossy accents and stickles, lots of matting and layering on bazill card stock. 

This card has the exact same image but ive also added some patterned paper by Jillybean soup, and the crest saying dad has been covered in glossy accents. The greeting stamp was also from the free set. The ribbon on both cards is by we are memory keepers.

Humbled

I know I've harped on so much about my local craft shop Suzicraft, but I have good reason too. You will not meet two nicer people they go out of their way for you and not just because it means money in the till they genuinely do care for their customers every need, whether your a customer old or new when you walk in the door they offer you a drink, they will order special items and they have the best prices around. They have come a long way since they started trading as a market stall many years ago, they were there in all weather, now they have the bricks and mortar shop they deserve.  They have been open 7 months and they are going from strength to strength. They offer regular classes and craft days, they have invented an innovative new product which will be big (watch this space) the design team for said product has been put together so we will be going live soon. Im grateful to be on the design team and honoured to be given the opportunity to teach some upcoming classes at the shop, they've given me so much encouragement and support, I am humbled by them and their commitment to the business, customers and friends. Thank you Susan and Tom this card is for you
Ive used SplodgeAway easy ink card and used a brayer and assorted foam applicators for the background, the stamps are a mix of stampin up (trees) and the flowers, butterflies and birds are inkadinkadoo. The sentiment is personal impressions.

Another win and messy play

So yesterday didnt quite go to plan,i didnt get any cards to show you on here.
 i went to the crafty coffee morning and then ended up staying all day, lots of fun was had i did make a card but left it at the shop as it was for my design work. I did have so much fun, and whats more is there was home baked cakes including cadburys chocolate cake and i resisted all of it, my head must be in the slimming world zone as any other time i would not of hesitated to have a piece, and another lol.
When i got home i checked out all the challenges and noticed id won another award over at papercraft star,

 my prize was a digital download, and i chose vintage adds as i thought they would be perfect for some of my splodge away design work.
I set to work on a card as soon as my download came through, it was originally going to be one of my SplodgeAway design cards but i couldt wait to put it on the papercraft star blog to show everyone what amazing downloads The House Across The Bay have to offer.

I used a splogdeAway mask and distressed and spritzed through it,(im  mot sure my fingers will ever come clean)  i then printed out my downloads inked the edges and matted them onto my minds eye papers. the clock and metal letters spelling styling are by making memories. The twine i inked to match my papers and the washer is from my stash. Everything has been edged with paprika stickles, ive added lagoon ice stickles to the garments.

Im entering this card into the following challenges

Papercraft star - mothers day
papertake weekly - anything goes

Crafty Coffee Morning

Im sorry for the lack of posts over the last couple of days, i have been crafting away but it was on secret design work so i cannot share it yet. I will have things to share tonight as Im going to Suzicraft today to join in the fortnightly crafty coffee morning,
Lots of ladies and gents get together and craft away sharing ideas, have a laugh, eat cake drink coffee and generally have a great time. The cost is 5.00 and that includes all materials, use of tools, stamps etc and endless tea and coffee and there is always some cake about, but none for me i started my slimming world journey again on Tuesday, 2 years ago i lost 3 stone and was at a perfect size for me i was happy and confident but i stopped going and its all gone back on so i want to be back to where i was happiest.
Im sure ill get a couple of cards done today (laughing and giggling permitting, that Susan is so naughty for distracting you) so i will be back tonight to show you my makes.

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