Thursday 31 March 2011

Slightly earlier than expected..

Nope.. not the laptop. I think that's going to be tomorrow - but I couldn't help but have a bit of a play today whilst Truly isn't too well. She's being lethargic, and is sat here in my craft room with me, along with Holly, and actually - it's really odd her not behaving like she has a rocket up her jacksy!

Anyway.. whilst I was sat here with her, I had a look on a site my friend Sharon told me about, and there was a challenge on there.. so I thought I would have a go. Now, I haven't taken part in any challenges for the past year, but I enjoyed this one, so may just have a go in a few more!

Anyway.. enough waffle - here's my card.

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And here's a closer up view.

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It's just a simple card but I wanted to try out a couple of different things - the background is stamped by myself and coloured to match my theme, and the flowers were shown to me by Jody at Unicorn Crafts yesterday.. simple but lovely.

I didn't really know what to do with the greeting, so I coloured a peel off with turquoise ink and used that. Not happy with that bit, but hey..

I want to enter this into the Copic Creations Challenge.. I know it's late, but hey.. I joined in.

Hope you like it.

(sorry about the quality of the piccie.. I sent it from my mobile!)

Nearly home....

Well... it's been over two weeks now and my laptop still isn't home.. I don't like using my old lappy because the battery is no good and it needs to stay plugged in.. not very mobile that is, is it? But alas, mine should be coming home tomorrow... so I'll wait in and mug the fella when he arrives!

I will be posting some more cards on here soon - I've got a nice collection of men's cards that I've made this past week for my DH's birthday.

I would do it today... but I'm caring for my poorly little Truly puppy... she's not very well at all today, or yesterday for that matter - so it's off to the vets with her later.

I promise more posts soon!

Friday 25 March 2011

Chocky Wocky Choo Choo....

You know sometimes when you make something, and then you sit back and think 'how sweet is that'... well, this happened to me this week. (And that's not something that usually happens to me!)

But.

I'd been perusing an old magasine I'd had in my craft room, and came aross this little beauty -

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Obviously, I've changed the look of it, and because it was for my recent demo's, I've used Forever friends and items from the Docrafts range, but my... how sweet does it look?

Here's the engine..

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and here's the wagons..

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And the best thing about having it at my demo's, was the Mini Eggs that were inside it.. they went down a treat.

We also did a Stampin' Up version of this train, using Baja Breeze and white cardstock at Craft Class on Tuesday.. and for the Instruction sheet, I called it the Chocky Wocky Choo Choo.

Sorry it's a short and sweet post today.. but I'm packing my bags ready to get up the demo early in the morning. If you're passing, come by and say Hi.

Happy crafting everyone!

Thursday 24 March 2011

Ahoy there...

What a lovely week it's been so far hasn't it?? The weather has been really Spring-Like and the daffy's in my garden have come out at last. They were looking a bit short and squint the other week, but they've shot up and are bloomin' lovely! My tulips in my tubs still haven't come out yet, but there's still time I guess.

Onto today's card, and I'm using the lovely Forever Friends again. This Retro collection is just so sweet, and the colours are really appealing - so me!

This card is my inspiration card from the Creativity magasine - we are asked to show items from the mag when we're out in the stores, so this is one that I chose to do. BUT. I had to do it a little bit different from the one in the mag.

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The background that you can see on the card was made using the embossing folder that comes with this range of products. But in the mag, Sheila has used Whitewash Coredinations.. and could I find mine?? Nope! So, I resorted to inking up the embossing folder with blue ink and then running it through my Big Shot.

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As you can see, it gave the background that little bit of bluey-whitey-sorta-fadey colour.. but I think it looks nice and it goes with the rest of the card.

I hope you like it too.

Wednesday 23 March 2011

Beep beep.. coming through...

Oh my, oh my, oh my... Retro Forever Friends... how sweet!!

Forever Friends is one of those brands that have been around for years, and I'm sure will be there for lots more.. and I just love these little guys.. so much in fact, that another docrafts demo, Nikki, and I started the Forever Friends Challenge Blog a few years ago when Docrafts bought out their range of FF products. I still love them just as much as I did then, so this Retro set is just up my street. (pardon the pun with it being a travel scene!!)

Here's a little close up of today's card.

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I got asked quite often at the demo's I've done, how I did the clouds.. it was very simple. I cut a piece of card with a scallop top and rubbed ink over the edges.. again, I'll do some tutorials as soon as I can.

The bus and the car have been masked to create the dimensional look, but to add to it, I've stamped the image a couple of times and layered them up.

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I hope you like this card as much as I do.. It will definately be added to my little ever-growing collection of Forever Friends cards that I've kept over the years.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Tuesday 22 March 2011

Oh Goody!

What a fab Goodie bag this time from Docrafts!

I have made quite a few cards from the Goody Bag as it's Party themed, and the colours of the products in there are fab! There is also a great set of stamps - cakey's - that is just sooo yummy-looking.

Here's one of the cards I've made

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I have used outline stickers for the main image and then coloured with water coloured pencils. I kept the colours quite pale because I was using the lovely pale pink gingham papers that are in the kit.

For the edges, I've cut the flowery border in half and created an edge to the card.

And here's another...

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This is the cakey stamps that you get in the Goody Bag.. isn't it lovely??? I can see SOOOOOO many uses for the stamp as I just love it. I have adapted it slightly to what it should look like.. but I'll show you how to do that another day.

These two simple cards went down really well at the demo's they've been at (yes.. they're shy. lol.. they only come out every so often!!).

This week, I'm in Doncaster at the Range.. so if you're passing anytime between 10am and 4pm, then call in and say hello.. hopefully we can inspire each other!

Monday 21 March 2011

Whoops...

Hehe... what happened to yesterday??

Sorry for the delay in posting the remainder of the card, but I hope you've enjoyed looking at the little birds for the last couple of days.. lol.

I did say that I would share a little technique with you... but I haven't had chance to do a tutorial for it.. but I promise that they'll be here soon. But, the technique I've used is reversed stamping, and I have a much better way of doing it than with the brayer. I'll try to get some video's, or photos, done soon - mainly because I've been demoing a couple of 'different' cards that my lovely ladies are wanting tutorials for.

Anyway - without further ado.. here's the card I promised to show you yesterday.

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The stamp set I've used is one that Docrafts are doing as their charity stamps for this year. A donation from each set sold goes to Cancer Research, so they're very worthy stamps..

You can see the set HERE and read about the Craft for Life appeal 2011.

I, personally, am loving this stamp set.. the birdy is sooo useful for many cards, and there is a beautiful bird cage on the set too... as well as lots of lovely greetings and frames!

I hope you think it was worth the wait.. lol.. and I promise I'll be back tomorrow with another card..

Happy Crafting everyone!

Saturday 19 March 2011

More pampered pets

As I said yesterday, I absolutely love this range of paper products. Apart from the fact that they are dogs and cats that I quite like (!), the colours of the papers are just lovely - they're quite pastel and go together really well.

Here are a couple of projects that I came up with.

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This card uses the card blanks that come with this range. I've added some of the die cut elements and a decoupage image. Here's a little close up.

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Now, you see this...

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This was a technique that I came across by accident on the net the other week - and I loved it.

This is the full card.

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I've taken the die cut cat and stuck it onto the front of the white panel, then when it's dry, run it through an embossing folder. The one I've used is another little addition from this range of Pampered Pets. It's all flowery and viney, and it looks just great!!

Right.. I must go and make a move and get some work done! But before I go, I want to leave you with a sneak peek of tomorrows card.

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Check back tomorrow for the finished card and a little technique I've been covering on my demo's this last few weeks.

See you soon. xx

Friday 18 March 2011

As time goes by...

LOL.. gosh, I can't believe it's this long since I've been on here blogging.. I've done a few alterations to the blog in the background, but even that was a few weeks ago!

I am a bit up against it at the moment, to be honest - I've had a fairly busy few weeks with one thing or another, and then my laptop has just gone back to the menders.. I don't mind, but it's only a few months old.. so I'm back on this little workhorse, my old fujitsu laptop, but the battery is no good, and the charger doesn't fit and keeps falling out! Oh great fun eh?!

So, what have I been upto?

Well... I've had demo's over the last few weeks - in Derby, County Durham, and this week in Southport. So, I've had lots of samples to make.. and here are a few of them.

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The Pampered Pets range is lovely lovely lovely.. but then it has dogs on, so I could be accused of being a bit biased!

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Here, I've cut out a scalloped circle card with a die, and layered up some pretty papers and a topper from this range.

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And here's another.. the little Westie.. isn't it the cutest.

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A card like this was made by Clare, and featured in the Creativity magasine, so I used the same type of layout, as we're told to do, and created this card above.

I hope you like these two projects.. I'll go and preschedule another post for tomorrow with a few more cards from this range..

Call back soon!

Tuesday 1 March 2011

March Stampin' Up Frenzy...

I can't believe it's the 1st March already.. this year is going so quickly..

But, because it is the 1st of March, Stampin' Up have got a bit of a frenzy going on with some stamps and wheels being offered at a reduced price.



you can check out the special offers HERE.. Enjoy! I know I am!
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