My new banner

Well I thought i had got my banner sorted. It looks ok on my computer and on other computers in my house but I have just had a message that it is too long for the screen. Just out of interest I would like to know if anyone elses computer is showing it too long. If so it looks like i am going to have to play again to get it sorted. This is sooo frustrating

Update: I have now made my banner smaller as other people are seeing it run off the screen. Didn't want it this small but can't think of anything else to do at the moment.
Thanks for those that replied

Shout Out to SheetLoad

I recently stumbled upon a great blog Sheet Load that has a monthly e-zine, that has designs, cutting guides and instructions to make 9 cards and get the best from your sheets of paper and cardstock. The April issue is now out, and you can also download back issues.
Why don't you pop by and take a look

New Look

Well what do you think to my new look.
I was getting bored with my old look for my blog so this morning decided to design a new banner and change the layout of my blog. It did take a while to get the banner to the right size but eventually i got there. I have even (with a little help from a friend) managed to get a signature into my posts, which i have wanted to do for a long time but didn't have a clue how to do it.
Now all I have to do is find a more flattering photo of myself as i hate the one i have on here now.

Scrummy Stash Alter it Challenge

Scrummy stash are doing a challenge for Altered art so i had a look around my craft area and found this frame that i got free with a magazine. I then looked through my scrap box to see what materials i had to play with. I found a nice scrap of backing paper that was just the right size for the frame. The hardest part was getting the twisted cord to stick to the frame but eventually it stuck and then i could go on and search for some embellishments to set it off right. Using sequins, glitter flowers, fabric flowers and butterflies, this is the final result.
Now all i have to do is find a nice picture to put in it.

Dottie Challenge

I have recently joined the forum on Charmed cards and crafts, and one of the challenges on there is by Louly for her Dottie collection. Here is the card I came up with tonight. The flower is the template on the GG bookatrix board. Backing paper free with one of the craft magazines. Cuttlebug Dry embossing, Dottie is coloured with sakura stardust and pencil crayons, buttons just old ones out of my button box. I really do love this one and am pleased how it came out.
Thanks lou, your Dottie is just so gorgeous.

Relax

After taking a visit to see Nikki today, I decided to have a play with the papers that i got from her.

As i han't yet had a go at the paper world challenge, I decided to use the sketch on there to do this card. I have used one of the Dotty's again as i Love them sooo much, using normal felt tips used as a wash with my aquabrush to colour. I love the paper i used with this and i think it goes really well with Dotty picture.

Thanks to Nikki, I now have lots of new papers to play with so watch this space.......

Just to let you know

Nikki is doing a fantastic blog candy for her 15,000 hit's.
Well worth a look

Sparkle and Shine

Well after a few days of not doing any crafting, today i decided to get going again, and yet again went through the blogs for inspiration. This card i have made using the challenges on both Daring cardmakers and Papertake Weekly.

I used Dottie, designed by Louly , using sakura stardust pens as a wash to give it glitter.

The background papers are a handmade paper, from creative papers, and mulberry paper finished off with a brad and a ribbon.

I really enjoyed making this card, and it inspired me to do a few more. I will try to post those over the next few day.

PWC Sketch Challenge

I needed to make a card for my brother in laws birthday next month but as with all male cards inspiration was very thin on the ground for me.

I decided to try incorporating a male card into the papetake weekly challenge sketch and this is what i came up with.

I used the papernations golfer and backing papers and i am quite pleased with the way it came out

CPS #57 challenge

Well It's been a while since i have posted but i have been so busy with the family I haven't had much time to make cards over the past week or so.
Today I decided to try and get back into the swing of things, so I have started with the CPS #57 challenge, and here is the card i made from the sketch.
The backing paper and mulbery flowers i used were from a PIF i recieved. I layered the backing paper onto some glitter cards and then stamped a sentiment using a see d's stamp and sakura stardust pen, and layered this onto a peice of card embossed with the cuttlebug. I then punched a couple of eyelets onto the card to thread a ribbon through. The card was then finished off with gems to give it a bit more sparkle

My goodies from the craft show at the NEC Birmingham

Well Today I had an early start off to the NEC in Birmingham for the hobbycrafts show. Armed with a bit on money and no bank card so that i couldn't buy more than i could afford, these were my goodies that i returned home with

This lot only cost me £10 and was my best bargain of the day

And this is what i got free for subscribing to cardmaking and papercraft magazine.

Now all i want to do is have a play with what i have bought

sketch this card #44

Here is my card for Sketch this card #44
I used my cuttlebug to die cut out the flowers down the side backing them with hand made paper from creative international. the paper has pressed flowers in it. The sentiment is a stamp from the see d's blooming friendship kit, and i used a couple of the flower dies from the cut outs with a brad to finish the card off

My Paperworld sketch #6

Finally got this added, as blogger was playing up again and not letting me post pictures.

This is the card i have made for the My Paperworld sketch #6 challenge. I made a few cards before I was happy and just ended up doing a simple cardThe paper and the border are the freebies out of one of my magazines and the flower is a diecut i made on my cuttlebug, finished off with an eyelet in the centre. The stamped sentiment is from one of the stamps in a kit i bought when i first started cardmaking, but i can't remember where from. I think i must be losing my crafting mojo as i don't seem to be very happy with anything i am making at the moment, but maybe after i have been to the craft exhibition at the NEC Birmingham tomorrow i may get some inspiration again

Thanks for looking

Today's Card

I made this card for this weeks CPS challenge and after making realised that it also qualified for the mid week challenge on Daring cardmakers

The mid week dare this week is another one by Mel - these are a few of my favourite things. What you need to do is use one of Mel's favourite things on your card (embroidery cotton/thread, buttons, felt or fabric) and combine it with one of your favourite things.

I used the backing paper that I got in my PIF from Nikki, matted on to some pink card, and then stamped the sentiment. I used embroidery thread (one of mels favourites) on to stitch peeloffs mounted onto white card. The butterfly is my favourite.

I love this card and by using a mixture of the sketch from cps and the challenge from DCM I think it works really well

Thanks for looking

Papertake weekly challenge - Frame card

This week PW are doing a great challenge with a tutorial for a frame card.

I used one of the stamp prints that was sent to me in my PIF, after colouring with my watercolour pencils. The background paper is papermania and ribbon bordering from my ribbon stash. the flower is die cut on my cuttlebug from funky foam and i've embelished the card with gems.

PIF Blog Candy

Please could Sammi, Tracy, and karen please e-mail me your addresses so that i can send out your blog candy. Thank You



This morning I recieved this lovely blog candy and card in the post from Nikki (thanks Nikki)

Now it's my turn. So the next 3 bloggers to leave a comment on this post will receive some goodies from me and in turn then PIF 3 bloggers on their blogs. Sorry UK only.

CaardTrip Challenge

This card i have made for the Caardvarks challenge. The challenge was to make a card with a transportation theme.

I thought this was a great opportunity to try out the stencils from this months papercraft inspriations magazine and this is the result. the backing papers are some hand made paper i had in my stash, the wheels on the care are buttons that is silvered the centr to look like hub caps. I had fun making this one

Daring Cardmakers Take a Break

Here is a card I have made for this weeks Daring cardmakers challenge.

The dare involves creating a card incorporating a tea bag or coffee satchel - just perfect for days when somebody may need a quiet rest and break.

The alphabet and paper was printed out from 'Now that's Funky' Cd design coffee with pals. The note on the front i printed out from a design i did in psp. I used a green tea t-bag to keep them healthy lol.

It took me a while to decide what to do for this card but i think in the end it turned out well.

Beaded Card

I made this card after being inspired by a project set on an msn group.
I started with an aperture card and then backed the outer apertures with glitter card. The beads were threaded on to wire and stuck to the inside of the aperture.
I finished it off with peel off borders a gold elastic thread bowed and a silk fabric rose.

Nikki's Blog Candy Challenge

Nikki Challenged us to use something we all have hidden away in our stash somewhere....patterned paper you don't like! So this is what i have come up with:

The backing paper i have never liked and hadn't got a clue what to do with is from a book of papers i bought from papermania. i added some ribbon to match the colours in the decoupage and the backing paper, which i think works quite well and the decoupage is also something i had bought a while ago but then when i got it home wasn't really sure that i liked it. I think i only bought it to give me a few more masculine pictures to use on cards. The greeting is a rub on that i had in my stash. I mounted it all on a holographic card to try and make it a bit more interesting. It did take me a while to get some inspiration for this card but i don't think it turned out too bad in the end