At last, another challenge and some beading

Where did that week go? My feet didn't touch the ground and so didn't get much crafting done, but what I did manage went wrong!!



Here is my entry for the challenge this week on PTW which is based on one of Katharina's fab sketches, I just love working with these! Thought I would use the opportunity to make another Christmas card, seeing as its only 10 weeks away, so I'm told!
Image is from Funstamps, coloured with Sakura Jelly Roll pens, I found my silver glittery one -yaaay I am sooo happy. BP, text embellishment and brads from Dovecraft, rest from stash. Just couldn't resist adding the crystal effect tinsel around the top - well got to start getting in the Christmas spirit LOL...



I did manage to fit in a bit of beading this week, above is an Xmas bauble I beading recently, going to make some more of these, but have a play with the pattern. I had nearly finished a necklace a friend ordered, just finishing the last row when the thread in the core row must have snapped! Ever feel that someone's got it in for you? I was very good and didn't lose my temper but spent the next hour cutting it up and sorting out the different coloured beads GRRRRR!!!! Must make a start on the replacement!

I finished knitting a waistcoat recently, I'd couldn't decide what size to knit but opted for the medium. Since starting it tho, I have been to WW and lost 2 stone so should have gone for the small. When I tried it on my daughter commented that it made me look like I had put my weight back on - needless to say it has been unpicked and I need to start that again also!

Here's hoping for a better week!

2 challenges in 2 days!!! + 2 challenges in 1 card

Here is the card I made last night for Fridays Sketchers this week.
This is attempt no ??? can't remember how many went in the bin! Apart from colouring in the image, I enjoyed making this card. I couldn't find the right pink, then I couldn't find my glittery sakura pen, still not found it, suppose a tidy up may unearth it...

Just realised, while bloghopping that this card fits the challenge over a Dutch Dare this week which is to make a Christmas card.

Image is Maggie the Christmas Fairy, from Funky Kits - coloured with Pro Markers and Marvys. Wings glittered with Glamour Dust.
BP is DCVW Christmas Multistack. Pearlescent card from The Range, embossed with CB snowflakes folder. Other card from stash, mainly from The Paper Mill.

Hoping to get another card or two made this evening - and ought to tidy up my craft room - who knows what I will find.... I may not have made many cards lately but have still been buying goodies, which don't seem to have found a home yet!

My 1st challenge for ages - CCT

Here is my entry for the CCT challenge 31 which is
'This week we would like to see some buttons and bows on your cards.'
I used 'Emmy with Basket' stamp from Cuddly Buddly, coloured with watercolour pencils. I added small buttons, topped off with stickles, to the dress and the middle of the bow on her hat. Image mounted onto CS from stash, embossed using Floral Fantasy embossing CB folder, then onto K & Co paper. Ribbon from stash to fill in the space on the left side of the card.

Found my mojo!!

Sorry for the long absence, lost my mojo and had a few issues to deal with, but hoping to be back up to speed now.....
Here is a card I made for a friend who reached her 'bus pass' birthday recently.

She is a lovely lady, who loves to party. The stamp is one of a set 'God Created Man Before Woman' I bought from Craft Fairy at Newbury earlier this year. I really must use some of the other images. BP from a DCWV block, numbers cut using Sissix Lollipop dies.
Gonna try and make up for lost time this weekend and get some challenges done, so hope to be back soon.

Return of the absent blogger.....

I'm back......
Finally, here are some of the cards I made as samples for the show I was at on Saturday. I was demonstrating medallion stamps, a technique I really enjoy and haven't done too much of lately, especially since starting blogging and joining in the wonderful challenges that are out there!




I love working with medallion stamps, as each time you use them, you get a different result. The above cards have been made using the same stamp, but with different elements cut out. The stamp is called Petite Holly, it can be used as a Christmas stamp but as you can see from the second image, if you cut out the larger leaf it could be used all year round, for any occasion.




These 2 cards have also been made using the same stamp, same coloured card, same coloured embossing powder and same layers cut out but as you can see look quite different as only one of them has been glittered.




The 2 images above, as before have been made using the same stamp, with only one of the finished medallions being glittered.

Just noticed on reviewing the post that they don't look too different on screen but do IRL - promise!!

I have not added any greetings for the time being. I will add some further detail on the card, probably some dry embossing at a later date, but time was in very short supply last week when I was prepping for the show! Apologies for the shine in the pictures, but I put the cards in cello bags and sealed them before taking the photos :-( doh

Hoping to get back to more regular postings now.... see you soon

AWOL......

Sorry, sorry, sorry, been a bad blogger lately. Things have been so hectic here, at home and work, having lounge replastered, so the rest of the house upside down!! Very busy at work, start of term madness that just doesn't seem to be letting up!!

I have managed to fit in a bit of crafting, I am demonstrating medallion stamps at a local craft fair on Saturday, so busy preparing examples, and trying to find a clear space in my craft room. I will post some samples later on in the week hopefully :-)

I am still surrounded by boxes of stamps and punches I am selling on behalf of my friend's MIL, the pile is slowly diminishing! My pile changes on a daily basis - I am trying to be restrained but..... kid and sweetshop springs to mind LOL!!

Finishing projects!!

I haven't had much time to make cards over the last couple of days what with going back to work, but I did sit and finish off a couple of beading projects at the weekend. The blue and gold necklace is the third one I have made, when I finished the other 2, people have wanted them - I am working on third time lucky, I might get to wear this one LOL.... I really love the blue bracelet, a pattern from Bead & Button, as it is really flexible and lovely to wear and the beading in the middle is my first attempt at beading round a crystal rivoli, I had nearly finished it and the rivoli popped out, so I had to re-do it!
I have also spent a lot of time over the past couple of days sorting through stacks of craft stuff - my friend's MIL has decided to give up crafting - what I hear you all cry .... so I am going to try and sell some of the stuff for her. Of course I get to have first lookee, there are so many lovely things there!! Some of the stamps are brand new and I have never seen so many punches even in my local craft shop!!

Charlie building snowman - PTW challenge

Here is 'Charlie building snowman', the other Whiff of Joy stamp I bought recently. I have used it to make my card for this weeks challenge over at Paper Take Weekly, which is a sketch by Katharina, the owner of 'Whiff of Joy' Why not take a look right now here, there were some new releases last week but you'd better hurry as they don't stay on the shelves very long!
I have coloured the image with watercolour pencils and used a black gelly roll pen to colour the top hat, eyes, mouth and buttons. I used Snow Writer on Charlie's hat and various areas on the snowman to give some depth and gave it a light dusting with Glamour Dust. Image mounted onto mirri card, just can't resist a bit of sparkle and shine for Christmas cards. Background paper is from Dovecraft, silver layer embossed with Cuttlebug Snowflakes and card finished off with white organza ribbon. I have left a border at the top and bottom to add appropriate names when later on in the year. I am doing quite well with my Christmas cards this year, I am usually making Xmas cards up to the last minute, so hoping to be a bit more organised this year ROFL!!!

Whiff of Joy stamps & Sketch Saturday challenge

Yaaaaay, my Whiff of Joy stamps arrived yesterday, so I wasted no time in inking them up - well one of them anyway!! I coloured the image with my new Promarkers, but unfortunately the image smudged and was quite streaky so I had to start all over again - this time using my good old Marvys..... The card I stamped onto was quite shiny so I guess that had something to do with it. I added Icicle Stickles to the snowballs and snow, then layered the image onto silver sparkly card.
The scrummy papers and snowflake brads are from Dovecraft - think I am going to be using quite a lot of these (especially as Barry bought me 3 more packs when he went to the Range this evening) I asked him to get me a pack in each colourway - there was only the one colour so he bought the rest of the packs on the rack - earning himself a few brownie points !!
Blue card embossed with Cuttlebug Snowflake folder. I am pleased with the way this has turned out after the false start.....
I took several photos but couldn't manage to get one without the shiny bit to the left of the image, when I turned off the flash the colours looked quite dull.

At long last....... PIF

I have finally got my act together and sorted out my PIF, in response to the wonderful PIF I won from Jilli back in June. The first 3 replies to this post will receive an assortment of stamped images.
Good luck.