Another obsession!

I'm gonna blame Bev for this new obsession of mine - distress inks... thanks very much sweetie!
I had no interest whatsoever in these inks until I saw Bev colour an image with them at Newbury - well I just had to have some to have a play with - I bought several reinkers rather than the pads to try, no prizes for guessing whats coming next - yup you've guessed, had to buy some of the ink pads, some cut n dry foam, now on a mission to collect the set - I just love working with them, need some more practice tho!



Anyway onto my card which I am entering in for 3 challenges - its the only way to go these days with so many challenges about.

The challenges are:-
- Just Magnolia, distressing
- Sunday Sketch and Stamp, wasn't too keen on the sketch at first but it's grown on me
- Dutch Dare, to use lace

I used images and a sentiment from the Lazy Summer Magnolia kit, MME Bloom & Grow papers and of course distress inks. I don't usually do messy, if you look at the state of my craft room when I have got my stash all over the place you may not agree with me there but generally I like everything neat and tidy so this wasn't too easy for me. I used a Heidi Swapp distressing tool for the edges on the green layer but could only bring myself to distress the edges on one layer, didn't want it to look scruffy - daft thing is I love it when I see all the other distressed edges out there in blogland. I used cut & dry felt to tint the edges of the other layers and am really pleased with how this turned out.

Lazy Summer Magnolia

Here's one of my much awaited Lazy Summer Magnolia stamps, coloured with distress inks. I find it so relaxing painting with these inks, although I need lots of practice with them, tried another one tonight which ended up in the bin as the colours bled.
I love this image, conjures up images of summer - wonder when it will get here??
This weather is definately making me think we should have booked a holiday abroad this year, there's still time tho!
I'm going to enter this card to the Just Magnolia challenge this week, which is a great sketch.

Another late night!

I've had a lovely relaxing day today, colouring some of the lazy summer magnolias with distress inks, postie delivered a couple more ink pads for me today so I had a bit more choice! None of the images have yet made it onto a card but I hope to do that tomorrow.



I also had a delivery from SU! today, so have been playing with some new stash this evening. I've got some birthday BBQ invites to make, (still got a few more to make tomorrow) I got the inspiration from one of my blogging buddies Sarah Jane, you can see her invite here, thanks Sarah Jane, just what I needed.
I had to have the Cheers stampin around which I inked onto white cardstock and coloured with various pens and accented the salt cellar and ice cubes with glossy accents. The wording on the front is from the Sincere Salutations set.
CS - Whisper White, Brilliant Blue
Ink - Basic Black, Brilliant Blue
Stamps - Sincere Salutations, Cheers stampin around roller, wording on inside of invite from a Royal & Langnickle set from the Paper Mill.
Tools - punches, 1" circle, scalloped oval & large oval.

Am off to bed now, can just about keep my eyes open as I finish this post.

Last minute again...

Here's my entry for this week's Copic Colour challenge, using a Miss Anya that was waiting patiently to be inked up. The colours this week are R35 Coral, YG63 Pea Green and YR04 Chrome Orange, I didn't have any of those, boy do I need to go shopping! I used R32 Peach, YG03 Yellow Green and YR02 and a handful of others that are back in the rack now, trying to tidy as I craft atm..... ha ha how long with that last! I've made this card at the breakfast bar as there's no clear worktop in my craft room, guess what I'm up to tomorrow? I've been browsing the internet tonight, defo gonna have to get some more copics, notice the price of them has gone up quite a bit lately :-(

I'm going to enter this card for the Sketch & Stash challenge this week, as I've used the sketch. My copics and the swirl punch are my new stash, had them since the beginning of the month - is that still considered new? paper and stamps I've had for a while and not used tho!! but don't tell Barry....

OMG where has the last week gone?

I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted! My feet haven't touched the ground, nothing exciting though believe me..... School finished on Wednesday and I had hoped things would slow down after that! I spent Thursday and Friday in work, Saturday clearing up the house and all day Sunday stripping wallpaper in the hall stairs and landing. I had a well earned day off yesterday, I was even too tired to make a card, until the evening, when I thought it was time I caught up with a few challenges.



I am entering this card for 2 challenges:-
- Passion for Promarkers - colours are Rose Pink and Lime Green
- Friday Sketchers - a great sketch to work with, one I will use again I am sure.

I used Goth Girl from Gorjuss Giirls set 2, but covered the skull & crossbones hairslide with a flower brad. The papers are from a HOTP citrus pad that I've had for ages, I thought the colours matched well. The flower made from scraps of paper using SU! 5 petal flower punch, the flower centre is a glue dot covered with micro beads. The pink layer has been stamped with Kelly Pancinni border stamp and versamark ink, you can just about see it, then run through Swiss Dots CB embossing folder. Ribbon is fron stash, swirls cut from off cuts of card. Finished off with 3 sticky gems which I thought picked out the colours of the card.

Am off to get a shower now, going into work today - last day hopefully until September :-) Hope to catch up on blog hopping and challenges over the next few days.

Miss Anya & Copic Colour Challenge

Here's my entry for this week's Copic Colour challenge, by the skin of my teeth again.... looking forward to the pace of things slowing down a bit after tomorrow!
I've made a couple of image wallets for 2 avid crafters at school, and thought I would use the sketch on Copic Colour challenge this week. Great layout, one I can see me using again, although I didn't have any text to add that fitted in the space by the time I had added my flourishes :-( and it was too late to faff about on the computer making text to get the challenge in on time!
The backing paper is a freebie from a magazine, loved the bright colours, needed them after the dreary weather we have had today, let's hope the sun makes an appearance sometime soon.

I've not had much time to visit your blogs lately, hope to put that right over the next few days... and fit in a few more challenges. Am away to my bed now, catch up soon.

Thank you cards and pressies

Only another 2 more days to go until the end of term. I like to give the Year 6 children who have been office monitors a little something at the end of term, something being chocolate!



I made these little bags using envelopes, scored at 0.5" along all sealed sides, decorated using the So Swirly Jumbo roller and Lovely Lilac ink. A strip of card punched using a Martha Stewart punch, Thanks stamp from Cuddly Buddly, mounted onto punched circles and scalloped circles using SU! punches.

It's always handy to have a couple of thank you cards as well, so made these using 2 of the stamps from the 'A Little Bit of Happiness' level 1 hostess gift set.



I really like using this set, watercolouring the images using SU ink pads, then mounting the stamped image onto a strip of colour co-ordinating card.

If you would like to own these lovely stamps contact me to arrange a workshop, I'll have a bit more time on my hands over the next few weeks....

Birthday card for a teenage footballer

Having 2 teenage boys, I often have to muster up a birthday card for a boy at short notice. Today was one of those occasions, fortunately I found some inspiration in the latest copy of Making Cards. Been a bit naughty today and treated myself to some new craft stash - like I need it...... and a couple of craft magazines, well it is my wedding anniversary, 22 years, I don't feel old enough to have been married that long!

Anyway on to the card..... most of the boys cards I make end up with a footballing image, so I like to try and make it a bit different in some way, I think this can be classed as that, I had fun trying to fold it flat to go in an envelope tho!



I'm trying to use up some old stash, so out came Dovecraft Masculine papers, football peel offs. I am really pleased with how this turned out, as I ended up with scraps of paper strewn over my desk I decided to decorate the back, this is what it looks like....



I've got lots of idea buzzing round my head for making girlie cards, you know shoes, handbags etc etc watch this space, but not tonight as am just off to get a shower then out for a meal, really looking forward to it as I'm starving!

Wedding Wishes

Here's another card for work......



Someone who helps in school is getting married over the summer holidays, its been a countdown for the past year, and she has been rubbing it in that she's off to Mexico for her honeymoon, well she was before the outbreak of swine flu!
I wasn't sure what to do, it had to be a large card so lots of people can sign it. I couldn't find an image suitable for a wedding card so settled on iris folding glasses. It's been a while since I have done any iris folding, quite enjoyed making this, apart from cutting up all the little bits of tape to hold the bits of paper in place! Hope they like it and that all goes well on the big day and beyond.....

Am off to bed now, catch up over the weekend.

Annabella's school days

Day off today, and what a beautiful one it is, well at it is here in sunny Gosport.
Just been and had my hair cut, got a mate coming round later for a catch up, then the nasty bit, trip to the dentist for treatment :-(.

In between times, I've got a bit of catching up to do..... A few weeks ago, Gina put out a request for testers to try out her newly designed stamps, here are a couple of cards I made recently with the stamp I was sent. Why not check out Gina's blog Handcrafted , to see some of her great stamps.




It was quite funny that Gina sent me Annabella the school girl, as I work in a school. I used traditional school colours in both of these cards, and some of my new stash. The blue colours were the uniform at the previous school I worked at and red is the colour at the school I work at now.




I am going to be a bit more creative with the uniform on the next one I make, which is under construction at the moment. It is a double tag card which I saw being made at The Range of Saturday, think I must have missed some of the instructions as my card doesn't look like the one made, will check out Clare's blog as I know she has made one and see if I can work out what I've done wrong, if not I'll be on the phone to her later!

Think I am gonna have a sit on the garden now with a cuppa and browse my SU catty, I've got an order to send off, so just checking to make sure I've ordered everything I need! If anyone out there needs any stash, just give me a shout, if you are local I can add it to this order the P & P will only be 5% of your order total. Am into the garden now, before the sun goes away!

See you later....

When the sun is shining.....

It did make a couple of appearance today, I saw it from the office window! One more (very busy) week to go and then no more school til September.

Flicked through my new filing system to see what challenges took my fancy tonight and this is the card I came up with combining 3 of them, what a result? Well I think so anyway.



I am entering Copic Colour challenge, as I used YG03, had to substitute B45 for B24 and Y28 for Y06, obviously need to buy more copics....., the layout is from Friday Sketchers and the theme at Roses on Paper is Summer & Vacation, which I shall be on from next Thursday, lets hope summer returns by then!

I used some of the scrumptious papers from DCWV Citrus stack, adore these papers, they are so bright and colourful, Miss Sun Anya and bling from stash. Just sat looking at the card as I type this and realise I haven't added glossy accents to her glasses, it will have to wait til tomorrow now as I'm off to bed now.

Miss Anya goes lilac.....

I've been asked to make a girly card, so thought Miss Anya straight away! Combined with some lovely paper I have just found in my paper mountain and some gorgeous mirri card, I hope this fits the bill.



I used the sketch over at Sunday Sketch & Stamp, just need to add the sentiment but not got the 'Good Luck' wording, am off to browse various online shops for a round Good Luck, if anyone knows of a nice one, please let me know.

Still no Magnolias, its not funny anymore :-( and to add to my frustration, they are not replying to my emails. Beautiful stamps they might be, but customer service doesn't seem to be a high priority, they've had the order (and payment) since the end of May. Perhaps I'm just being impatient but you know what its like when you are expecting new stash, any wait is too long!

Sorry to bend your ears, rant over, am off to chill in my craft room.... may be back with a creation or two later.

My first attempt with distress inks

I have never used distress inks before but after seeing Bev use them at Newbury, I had to have some! Here is my firt attempt using them, it was very theraputic painting with them, think I need to get some more colours.....



I'm going to enter this card for 2 challenges the first is Just Magnolia, a sketch this week by Mina. I used my Butterfly Tilda stamp that I got at Newbury, still not received my summer kit, grrrrr..... I dug deep for this Papermania double sided paper, really like the colour tones, which pick up the colours in the main image.
The challenge at Creative Inspirations is to use gems and/or pearls, more Newbury purchases, lovely Kaiser craft pearls, an absolute bargain, had to get them in all of the colours LOL!! Flower punch from XCut, MS border punch, SU tag punches and sentiment, image coloured with distres inks and twinkling H2Os.

Am off to finish off the ironing now, got last bit of school uniform to do :-( still only 1 more weekend, then 6 weeks off, for me and the kids - yippee!!!! Lots of crafting time.

1 challenge in 2 cards.....

Yes, you did read the title right, I've made 2 cards for the Just Christmas & Birthday sketch challenge this time round. I started making a birthday card, enjoyed using the sketch so much and having been to a demo this afternoon where they were making Christmas cards decided I should start making some more, to try and avoid the last minute rush and maybe even sell some more this year!

One of the Gorjuss girls from set 2 made an appearance on this card, would love set 3 but having spent loads already lately, will have to wait a while..... Images coloured with PMs. DSP, Sweet Always from SU, brown CS, Coredinations Chocolate Box, loving this cardstock don't know why I didn't buy it ages ago, so treated myself the the Whitewash set this afternoon - to use when and if my Magnolia summer kit arrives - still not arrived today!



I wanted to use this snowman stamp for my Christmas version of this sketch, didn't realise he was so large tho, so played around with the sketch a little, artistic licence, isn't that what they call it? Just thinking now as I look at the card, if I had made an A5 version rather than a 6 x 6 I could have had snowmen on each horizontal line, mmmm... may try that one later.




Got lots of ideas buzzing round my head at the mo, got a couple of cards to make for work, saw some lovely cards with different folds at the demo at The Range today and some challenges to complete, what should I do first? Should be able to manage them all if the weather stays this awful tomorrow as won't be setting foot out of the door!

No crafting today.....

No crafting today, although I did spend some time in my craft room - take a look at the picture below and you'll see why!!!



I am usually organised, neat and tidy in other aspects of my life but when it comes to crafting it all goes to pot! I always end up with every piece of my work surface covered with stash, and moving into the kitchen to take over some of the worktops there, I've already staked claim on a worktop at the back of the kitchen for my cricut and sizzix machines!

Is it just me or are there other untidy crafters out there? Please put me out of my misery.

I didn't manage to get any crafting done today as Barry had the day off work and we escaped to the New Forest.We had lunch in Burley, then off to Lymington for wander round, had coffee in Beaulieu then returned home via Lyndhurst to stop off at Emerald Crafts, got some more stash, like I need it! but was pleased I did as when I got home I discovered my Magnolias still haven't put in an appearance, will be on postman watch again tomorrow!

Daisy meets DCWV Citrus

Escaped to my craft room tonight, thought I would enter The Sugar Bowl challenge. I decided to ink up one of my new lovelies, Daisy, which I bought last weekend. coloured her in with PMs and Copics, then set about finding co-ordinating papers from DCWV Citrus stack.



Was beginning to panic as time marched on as I thought it had to be added by midnight only to realise at the last minute I've got another week to enter..... what a numpty! Probably just as well as I've just realised that I haven't added the 3 embellies at the bottom and it could do with maybe a bit more bling?

Day off tomorrow, will be stalking my postman, still not got my Magnolias boo hiss, reckon someone has hijacked them. Anyone else still waiting for theirs, please don't let me be the only one!

Off to make another card now, well don't have to be up early for work...

Miss Anya hits the shops

Going to enter this card for 2 challenges, Spoonful of Sugar and Sketch & Stash, will be back to add deets later but gotta dash, got a train to catch....

What a tiring day, not used to these early starts and sitting in a classroom environment, only for a morning, makes me appreciate how the children at school must feel!! After a weary spell around tea time I'm full of beans again now, think I may go and make a card but first need to finish my posting from this morning. I loved making this card following the sketch on Sketch & Stash challenge this week, dug out my recently purchased (but buried under other recently purchased stash!), lovingly stroked Bloom & Grow papers, Miss Anya coloured with my copics yaay, I'm just loving them.... All the other goodies used here are from my recent shopping spree at Newbury except my much used scalloped oval punch. If you look closely you will see swirls punched on vellum using another new punch, gonna need a new bar for my punches soon, better make sure Barry has his trainers on this time when he starts drilling LOL!

See ya

A Thank You card and lots of colouring.....

I've had a lovely day practising colouring with my new copics, yep, at last I have taken the plunge and bought a set and I am loving them!! Can feel another purchase coming on soon, well you need to have all the colours don't you?!

I have been asked to make a thank you card for 6 people to sign. I was talking through the options I could do with a star card, then remembered I had a sample card at home which would probably fit the request, not sure what you call this style, but when I took it in and showed my friend placing the order, she wanted my sample.....



You may think it a bit strange to have a bloom on the top of the card, and a ginger cat on top of the box, this was a special request as the recipient of this card has a ginger cat called Hamish who she is very fond of. There is another layer to the cat still to be added, I have added Glossy Accents to it, so it is drying out, already managed to stick my fingers in it once!



I cut 3 pieces of card 20cm square and folded them in half in both directions and diagonally in one direction. Then I stuck the lower diamond of one of the pieces to the upper diamond of another piece, carried out these steps once more to end up with the 3 pieces of card attached to one another. I added some patterned paper to the folded sections of each piece of card on each side, added several blooms to the top face using a large brad to attach it to the card. Thank you was cut using Cricut machine and added to the lower face of the card.



There are 2 blank square on the front and 4 on the reverse of the card which gives each person a section to complete. I've got some flowers punched using the 5 petal flower punch, which I would like to add but will check with my friend to see which way she would prefer it, with or without additional blooms.

Had better be off to bed now, nite nite.....

Craft stash

What a beautiful day, can't sleep, it's far too hot, so after half an hour of trying to go back to sleep and laying there thinking about my new craft stash downstairs waiting to be played with, what things I hadn't bought and wished I had, I decided to get up!

I had a wonderful day craft shopping at Newbury yesterday. My friend Julie & I make a special effort to get up early, (we both like our weekend lie-ins!) so we can fit in a whole day of shopping. Here are some of the goodies that just had my name on them!!



And here are some more.....



Those of you who know me, will know I have been dithering about buying some Copic markers, (Stacey - I did it! Hope you got lots of lovely stash yesterday.) I've got Promarkers but just have this urge for Copics which I could no longer ignore! I bought set A, to have a play with, watch this space!
I met the very talented Bev, (I've been a follower of her blog for ages, so it was lovely to meet her) who was watercolouring a beautiful Whiff of Joy image with distress inks, she made it look so easy, am not so sure, but another colouring medium that HAD to be tried so I got some of those too. Thanks Bev, I'm sure I'll be back for some more, inks, stamps and charms....

BTW, is there anyone else out there still waiting for their Magnolia summer kit, everyone I saw yesterday has already had theirs, am I the only one still waiting? :-(

Am off to play now, will be back later with some creations...

Eeek, by the skin of my teeth....

Last minute again..... had a lovely evening, went for a meal at Pebbles, at Stokes Bay, and ended up having a few drinks, then sat chatting with Ellie and her friends when we got home, when suddenly realised I hadn't put my card for the Sugar Bowl challenge this week on my blog.



I haven't entered this challenge before, thought I was a bit more organised with my challenges this week due to my new system to organise them - well that lasted a long time didn't it LOL..... Had to give it a go this week, with the set of Gorjuss Girls 3 up for grabs, would be daft not to give it a try..... here's hoping!

CS - Creamy Caramel, Pumpkin Pie SU!
DSP - Sweet Always - SU!
Stamps - Gorjuss Girls 2 Sugar Nellie, sentiment Hero Arts
Inks - Memento Rich Cocoa, Promarkers
Embellies - Brads - Papermania, Flowers - Poppicrafts & Floradoodles, Bead cap & ribbon from stash
Tools - Crop a dile & circle and scalloped circle punches from SU!

Looking forward to my day off tomorrow, hope to fit in a few challenges and catch a bit of the sun. Looking forward to Newbury on Saturday, if anyone is going and fancies meeting up, drop me a mail....