Monday 10 November 2008

Spot and dots

Well It's Monday again and time for this weeks challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenges.
This weeks Theme is spots and dots. You may make anything with as many or as little spots and dots as you want.
Our sponsor this week is Ooh La la Creations who is providing a great Christmas CD for the winner. So why not pop ovr and have a look.
For my card this week I used lot's of spotty and dotty paper that I have had as freebies from magazines in the past and the ribbon is from PM.
I am trying to use up all my bit's of paper to try and clear some space in my craft room and these bit's were just perfect for this challenge.

Sunday 9 November 2008

My first Necklace

Here is my first necklace that i have attempted using the crochet method. I think i really need to do some reserch on how better to do it, but i just played around with this as though i was crocheting with cotton or wool.
Again I used the green 28 gauge copper wire and a mixture of seed beads for the decoration. i really do need a lot more practice as i couldn't give this as a gift as it's very rough. i think a trip to amazon for a good book is in order for some techniques

Another bracelet

I have been productive today. Here is another bracelet that i have just completed.

The wire is green 28 gauge pure copper wire and the beads are from my stash. I also found some findings in my stash that i think i got free with a magazine a while ago.

Something new for me

While waiting for the stickles to dry on some commissions I have at the moment I decided to have a go at making some jewelry which i haven't attempted since i was a teenager. A friend of mine Paula inspired me and even provided me with a few bits and bobs to get me started. I'm not ver good at the moment but i'm sure practice will make them a little better (daren't say perfect lol).
The first a set of very simple earings using some pearl effect beads that i had in my stash, didn't want to start my first peice too difficult.

My second lot is a set of crochet wirework jewelry. Not nearly as good a Paula produces but not a bad first attempt. The wire is a light gold 0.200mm using a 3.75mm crochet hook and interspersed with lime green seed beeds that i had in my stash. I started first with the ring, then today i made the earings (although the only wires i had were silver which doesn't match too well but it is only a prototype for me). The i decided to venture into making a bracelet. As i had no findings I used a lime green been from my stash to make a fastening. All in all I'm quite pleased with my first attempts and am now sourcing places on the internet to buy more stash to play with. Looks like this might be a new hobby for me.



Apologies

I have to apologise for not posting for a while. Firstly i took a week away with my family walking in the peak district and then i totally lost my mojo and have had very little interest in crafting. This could be because my craft space is such a mess at the moment that i just can't find anything, and also because i have been feeling pretty rough with a cold and just haven't managed to get any motivation together. But today i decided to kick myself up the bum and do something about it, so now all i've got to do is tidy my craft space and get to work.
When i looked at my blog this morning i also realised that i hadn't shown my DT card for this weeks cupcake challenge. I could have sworn that i had made a post and dated it to show on monday but obviously this didn't happen so not sure what went wrong. So I know it's a bit late as the challenge finishes today but here it is.
It was my turn to do the challenge this week and i chose an inspirational picture
And here is the card I came up with using the picture for insiration

The papers are all that i found in my scrap box which i distressed by scrunching up the blue paper and tearing the pink and yellow paper. I then put some cardstock through my cuttlebug and chalked over the embossed design.
Ok so i promise i will get back ontrack very soon and get posting again

Thursday 23 October 2008

look what i got....

..... in the post today.  This is the blog candy that I won from Jay jay.  Isn't it great.  Already started having a play with it

Pretty in pink

Nikki has some great blog candy at the moment and for this i have made this card fro breast cancer awareness which is what Nikki is doing the blog candy for.
DP: creative imaginations.  Doodled around flowers to make them stand out and  papers edged with fine glitter
Image: Tilda Pink ribbon Stamped with Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid
Embellishments: mullbery flowers. flower buttons from Jay Jay.
Sentiment: free from magazine

my received birthday cards





As Promised here are all the cards I received for my Birthday.  Thank you everyone for making my birthday so special

let it Snow

I made this card a few days ago but this is the first chance I have had to put it up on my blog.  It is a mixture of 2 challenges.  CPS sketch #87 and Saturday challenge which is Blue, white and a little bit of snowflake.

DP: dovecraft winter wonderland.
Ribbon: Dovecraft
Sentiment: Studio G
Snow flake: sizzex die stamped in centre with studio G snowflake and embossed with clear glitter embossing powder

Wednesday 22 October 2008

Happy Birthday to me

It's  My birthday today and I can't believe another year has gone by and another year closer to my half century.
I was woken this morning by my OH and DD with my cards and my pressies.  A new watch from OH and a New Desk Lamp for my crafting table from my son and daughter.  No crafting goodies though and after al the big hint for ~woj and high hope stamps and some promarkers.  Never mind will have to save up some money to go and buy them myself lol.
I've had 17 cards from my blog/forum friends so far and it's so exciting.  I have never had so many cards and from so far and wide.  I will take photo's of  them later and the pop a slide show up they are all great.  Do have to contact post office though as one came yesterday with not enough postage so have to pay the differnce and their fee.  but don't mind as i can't leave someones hard work at the post office.
Right better make sure my DD is ready for school and take her.
Bye for now.

Tuesday 21 October 2008

Nikki's Card Creations: Blog candy!

Nikki's Card Creations: Blog candy!

papercrafts*byrach: My Whiff of Joy candy give away!!!

papercrafts*byrach: My Whiff of Joy candy give away!!!

Monday 20 October 2008

Crafty Monday

Today was my usual crafting morning with my friend Sandra.  We had decided we were going to make wallet cards ready for the swap we are doing on Trimcraft.  We made the wallets then decorated them using the sketch from Sketch Saturday.
DP : Dovecraft Retro Flowers, Velum found in stash
Image Penny Black coloured with pearly watercolours

Cupcake Challenge 10

This week On Cupcake Craft Challenges we have a great sketch by Donna.  There are some great cards by the DT so why not pop over and have a look.
I have used a mixture of handmade mulberry papers for this card and the image is a magnolia image I have has sent to me in a RAK.  I have used watercolours to colour it and then spritzed it with water to make the colours blead a little
Donna's Sketch

Penny Black ATC


The challenge this week on Penny Black Saturday Challenge, is to make an ATC.  It's a while since i have made one of these so thought I would give it a go.
DP: free from magazine.
PB image sent to me in a Rak coloured with watercolour pencils and blending pen.

Friday 17 October 2008

Jilli's blog candy

Jilli has some great blog candy for her blogoversary

Friday Sketchers

The sketch this week On Friday Sketchers  is by Heidi.  Here is my take on the sketch.
DP: PM pink flush and Ornate Oyster
Image: Tilda coloured with brush markers and koi brush
Flowers and brads from stash

Paint The Town












I really enjoyed making this card.  At Daring Cardmakers this week they are asking us to use paint on our cards.  So here is my attempt.
I painted the background with pearly watercolours to make it look like water.  I then stamped out the mermaid and all the accessories from the woodware Little Mermaids and also painted them with pearly watercolours.  It's a shame the photo doesn't show the card at it's best as it is very shimmery

the craft table blog candy

Martine has some great blog candy on offer 

Mothers & Daughters Inspiration

On  Mothers and Daughters Creations the challenge this week is an Inspirational Picture.  I love doing these and here is my card that I came up with using the picture as inspiration.
DP: Dovecraft Hint of pink
Image: An image i had sent to me I think it is Magnolia.  I have rubbed over it with a blush chalk.
Background behind image I have hand drawn with sakura stardust

poppets blog candy

Poppet is celebrating her new blog look at Poppet's Place with some fantastic blog candy

Autumn

Cute card thursday's challenge this week is an autumnal theme.  As I'd been using autumnal colours in my last card, I already had the papers on my table so decided to use them again.The image is one I sent me in a swap. and it is coloured with watercolour pencils.

M is for Male

I have decide this week to have a go at the ABC Challenge.  This weeks letter is M for Male. Backing papers: handmade mulberry papers.  Not sure the manufacturer as they came in a lot of papers I recieved a while ago.

Image: Edwin coloured with watercolour pencils.
Embellishments: buttons from my button box.  Cut off old clothes a long while ago.  Lollipop stick from my daughters crafting box

DT call for Sassy crafts

Emma at Sassy Crafts Online shop is looking for a new DT, so I thought I would give it a go.  She asked us to show on our blogs 3 specific pieces of work.

1: A stamped project
This was quite an easy one as most of my work is stamped.  The hard part was which one to choose.  Finally I chose this one.  The image and the sentiment are stamped.
2: My favorite piece of work.  I think at the moment my favorite piece has to be this one.  I can't really tell you why but i just love it.  I think it coculd be the colours and the K&Co backing papers that draw me to it.
3: A project that contains 4 square, 3 small and one large.
Here is the card I finally came up with.
I decided to make something bright and cheerful as all we have had recently is rain and i needed some cheering up.
DP was sent to me in a RAK, Ribbons from stash.  Tilda image coloured with watercolour pencils.

Wish me luck everyone I need it and it will be going to a public vote to choose the winners so if you ever pop over to Emma's site think about me and vote he he.
Would be a great birthday preasent for me 2 as it is my birthday the day after the closing date of the 21st oct.

Thursday 16 October 2008

Artfully Ila: High Hopes Candy Hop

Artfully Ila: High Hopes Candy Hop 

I've Been featured

I am so excited.  Lou at Dotties World has chosen my cards this week to be featured on Customer Thursday.
I Love the Dottie and George downloads  They are just so cute and there are scenario's for almost any type of card.  Lou is just so talented.
Thank you Lou You have made my day