Cute Christmas with Mo Manning

I'm about to embark on my marathon Christmas card making session, and ive still got many left to make so when i saw some gorgeous mo manning images at Harrogate i knew they would help speed my process along.

I dont normally go for pre coloured images but i knew i could add to them and make them my own, i added a little more colour, white highlights and lots of stickles. Not having to colour them speeded up my card making i now know i will probably get all my cards done this side of christmas instead of next christmas!

I just had to share this with you, i picked it up from home bargains and it only cost 1.69, its begining to look a lot like Christmas in my house!

Anniversary with Lilli of the Valley

I love this Lilli of the valley stamp and always tend to use it for weddings/anniversary cards because it is so classy, and suits any age frame.

This time the occassion was a golden wedding anniversary. I coloured with distress inks, using my splodgeAway mat as a paint palette., the papers are MME and lots of pearls and stickles were added.

Ive been crafting tonight and have made a couple of quick christmas cards using some Mo Manning images but ill wait till tomorrow to show you them.

SplodgeAway and Indigo Blu combination

Whilst at Harrogate i purchased some of the Idigo Blue mega flakes (morris Dance),  i wanted to try using them in conjuction with SpaldgeAway masks, my fist attempt was lovely i used them on Kraft card but the Mask is a new design and is not released yet so ill have to leave that one for another day. Last night i tried again this time using a current mask, can you beleive the peice of card i covered started of as white linnen card.

First of all i secured the mask to the card and applied the flitter glue, then carfully removing the mask i applied the mega flakes (remember to wash the mask ASAP) the next step was to splodge on some dylusion inks after a few moments i soaked up the excess ink with kitchen roll then using versafine ink i randomly stamped a backgound, i then took a black promarker and coloured over the card avoiding the flittered pattern. I added the white zentangle pattern with a white posca pen. i then also flittered the aztec christmas tree and matted everything in co-ordinating colours. Making this was such messy fun, give it a go with your masks. 

Christmas with SplodgeAway

On the SplodgeAway blog it time to follow a sketch, and make it a christmas themed project.
 I had a lovely SplodgeAway mask to work with (available here) and made a simple contempory card, i stuck to traditional colours and added my trademark sparkle.

Dont forget you can still enter the SplodgeAway monthly Challenge here

Shop till you drop

As promised here are pics of the stash i bought whilst at Harrogate, i swear next year im taking a tote on wheels as i wish i had bought lots more card packs as the prices were unbelievable but unfortunatly my hands and arms protested.

I bought bits and bobs, i was on the look out for pan pastels and knew oyster stamps stock them online at a great price, non of the other prices came close so will order them.I didnt have a shopping list i just bought things that caught my eye but always keeping an eye on the cost to make sure i couldnt get it cheaper from my own local craft shop.

I dropped by to see my online friend Monica who hosted the Stampin' Up stand it was great to eventually meet face to face, we discussed a few business queries i had and im pleased to say i will shortly be able to offer Stampin Up products should any one want them.

Today i took my daughter clothes shopping and whilst out on my travels i picked up a few crafty products from Wilkinsons, ribbons and rafia from the christmas isle and also i got some shaving brushes to use with inks, i saw my friend Jayne using them the other day, and knew i need them and at only 60p each i jusdt had to , i will buy more one for each distress colour.

Ive still yet to find a home for it in my craft space.

Dont forget the SplodgeAway challenge here

Sparkle and Gems

Come and join us for our first monthly challenge at SplodgeAway, the theme is Sparkle and Gems a real easy one to start with, enter for your chance to win a selection of SplodgeAway goodies. 

this is my take on it, i stamped the trees on easy ink card, used my SplodgeAway mat to blend spiced marmalade distress ink and then added stickles to selected branches of the tree, then i matted onto gold mirror card and added a few gems .

Yesterday we had a great day at Harrogate and got some bargains so i will share all that with another post later.

Crafty Day out

Im so excited tomorrow i am heading to Harrogate craft show with 2 of my craft buddies sue and jayne, My purse will be full and i will sniffing out bargains and new products, we have been looking forward to this for ages and the day has nearly arrived, only 1 more sleep!
I do know i want/need  a few things but i also know i will be like a kid in a sweetie shop and will want every thing in sight, ill have to keep it in my mind to pace myself. I will also be popping to meet a lovely lady Monica on the stampin up stand, we have been in contact with each other since about 2009 and i will get the chance to meet each other face to face, she knows i will give in and become a stampin up demonstartor, its just a question of whether i have enough pennies left to do it tomorrow or if i have to wait a couple of weeks to build up my pennies again.
I will do a  post to show you the lovely goodies i aquire .

New SplodgeAway monthly challenge

Ive added a new button to my blog, you will see in the top bar a page titled SplodgeAway monthly challenge if you pop by on Sunday our first monthly challenge will be going live, youve got to be in it to win it.

Give A Hoot!

Its the final alphabet challenge over on splodgeAway blog and first up is my take on "by the Yard"

Wow where has the summer gone? We’ve spent the whole of the summer on our SplodgeAway alphabet, and this week sees the last letter Y, and the challenge was by the yard, so I’ve use ribbon and also faux stitching.

I started by taping the star SplodgeAway mask (available here)onto Easy ink card, and using the Splodgeaway mat I applied several distress inks in autumnal colours, I used spiced marmalade, shabby shutters and walnut stain.

For the owl, leaf and phrase I used my cricut and give a hoot cartridge once assembled I heat embossed with clear powder to give it a glossy coat, once the card was assembled and the American crafts ribbon attached I used a white POSCA pen to make the faux stitching.

 I love the new mask, to me it gives the impression of a quilting pattern and I know it will be very versatile for many projects.

Thank you for joining us through the summer and I know weve got many new exciting things coming your way on the blog including some challenges and give aways, be sure to pay us a visit again real soon.

Cute!

I was on an early finish from work on Thursday when i heard a ping on my facebook page, it was a message from a friend she was all of a panic, it is her grandsons christening on sunday and realised she had forgotten to ask me to make her a card. Normally i like as much notice as possible but she needent of worried i was in a crafty mood and was already creating something for the splodgeaway blog so it was no trouble moving that aside and creating a wonderfull card for her.

I used a few precious moments images and coloured them with promarkers, the papers are graphic 45 and i added a little walnut stain and gold glitter.

Baby, its cold outside!

Here is another Splodgeaway card, using the word mask, i used sticky backed canvas to cut out the hat and mittens on the cricut (winter woodlands cartridge)  then using  promarkers i coloured over the canvas, using Splodgeaway easy ink card i embossed the mask with a cuttlebug then distressed using walnut stain distress ink, then i used the sewing machine to stitch the edges, (top ti...... dont try to sew through all your layers you will snap or blunt your needle, just sew the one layer and then use adhesive to attach to the other layers, you still get the same effect)
Using a small snowflake i stamped in black around the sides and also on the hat amd mits, and you know my cards wouldnt be complete with out a sprinkle of sparkle via my trusty stickles.
Tomorrow i will be back with a christening  for 3 lovely little boys.

any one for ice skates?

Today im showing another of my cards that appeared on create and craft  with splodgeaway and it seems this one caused quite a stir in the shop, Sue sent me a message asking if the skates were a die, they are in fact cut on the cricut winter woodlands cartridge. ive promised i will cut a whole load out and take them into the shop for the girls to use.

The word ice is one of the new SplodgeAway masks and you can find it here (if its not there ring the shop they may not of updated the site yet), ive crumpled the card and inked it with a little touch of tumbled glass and a lot of walnut stain. The skates wre cut out of white card and i used promarkers to colour the lace, heel and blade, i then blended walnut stain over, i added highlights with a white POSCA pen, i would highly recomend this pen for using as a highlighter, i wouldnt be with out mine. i added a bow and a little hessian for texture, (if you want your organza ribbon wrinkled simply heat with a heat gun)

Christmas with SplodgeAway

Today on create and craft tv was a splodgeaway show, it was all about Christmas, now you know ive raved on for many months about the amazing splodgeaway mat, but also the masks are pretty amazing too, and dont think they are for card makers only!!! oh no, this time for my demos ive used a few of the new masks to make some Christmas decor items, you may of caught a glimpse of them if you watched the show.
the poinsettia wreath, Christmas cracker village house and candle.
The whole team done an awesome job, well done everyone. Pop on over to the SplodgeAway shop to order your mat and masks, Tom karen sent you.

I also made a few cards and will post them at a later date.

Busy Bee

Brrrrrr! its turned so cold i hope your all tucked up cosy inside, its baltic out there, the driving rain and winds have decended on us in a bad way this morning, winter is definatly on its way.
Its Splodgeaway on create and craft again this week, thursday at 12 so remember to tune in, thats the reason ive not posted any cards this weekend, i received my design kit on Friday so ive worked flat out all  to get some samples done for the show. I know you will love this show there are some new gorgeous templates and this time not only have i made cards but ive made a few home decor items. i would love to give you a sneak peak but its more than my lifes worth, Tom would have my guts for garters.
well im off to have a run on the treadmill, (far to cold and wet to run outside) then snuggle up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee.

beach wedding with magnolia

I had a request to make a wedding card for a couple who are getting married in Greece, they are having their wedding there and then another reception when they come home.

I picked out the Magnolia wedding couple and made a beach background using the SplodgeAway mat and a brayer.

The archway is a marrianne die which ive cut twice to make the floral arch, ive added gems and stickles for a little bling, and decorated the inside too.

LOTV Teddy bears

I had a request for a get well card this was last minute, my sisters mother in law fell and broke her hip so my sister asked for a get well card to take to the hospital with her, i looked in my card box and found nothing suitable so with an hours notice i created this, the stamp was perfect as it takes only minutes to colour it, pink paislee papers and a few gems

Scraps only

Ive got so much patterned paper in my scrap drawers that its getting out of control so i thought i would try and use some of it rather than keep cutting into a new sheet of paper, so my challenge is to make as many christmas cards this year using only card and paper from the scap pile as i can, this is the first and i quite like the finished result, not only are they quick to make they are also on trend using the pennant, trendy style cards from me this year, i do think i will get them all made instead of resorting to M&S for some last minute buys.

Setting the scene using SplodgeAway

Ive been making a lot of scenery style cards lately and its all down to the fabulous SplodgeAway mat. When i take a look back at my blog i have many styles of cardmaking, many heavily embellished cards but since the invention of the new mat it makes it real easy to produce scenery cards using a brayer and foam aplicator, and all the time just a change of ink can make a world of difference to the look and feel of the card/art you acheive i have been playing about with some new stamps and different colour inks and, when you have a lovely art focal point you dont always need to add all the extras such as flowers ribbons brads jewels etc etc.

This is one of the cards i made, its for a friend who has gone through major surgery, just to let her know i was thinking of her during her op and recovery.

SplodgeAway and Adirondack

This week on the splodgeAway blog the design team are using Adirondack inks, ive used my adirondacks as watercolours, and the splodgeAway mat was used as a paint palette. for full details of the card pop on over to the blog.  Lots of the design team will be showcased this week and we have some new designers on the team too.

The Snowmen Family

Im gradually adding to the christmas card collection, so far i think ive got about 5 made, i know i need to get my foot on the gas and make a bit faster.

The background was created using adirondack inks and the Splodgeaway mat with a brayer. i stamped the snowmen onto splodgeAway Easy ink card and used the adirondack as watercolour just to drafg the colour across the image, i then matted and layered added a few flowers and lots of stickles, i will add a greeting later as it will be a personalised card.

Today ive spent a lovely few hours at Suzicraft and had a lovely malteser and banana cake courtisy of Kay (thanks Kay it was yummy) some of the design team were there and we were having a brainstorm session to think of new and upcoming designs for masks and templates there are a few suprises coming your way!