Lastly... Christmas Trees

You can't have christmas cards without christmas trees!!

I have to say my favourite card here has to be the second one... using last years Basic Grey Figgy Pudding papers (I can't believe I actually cut into that paper... I saved it last year because I couldn't bare cutting into it LOL....I have non left now!) The quote is a Penny black stamp which I glittered up the word heart.

Right I think I need a lay down after all this blogging!!

I have been making some fantastic things recently thanks to our stampers 10 meet ups and some craft workshops via Michelle our fantastic SU lady... I've made waterfall mini book, gift bags and boxes, hand made bows (although they didn't turn out very well LOL) post it note holders, tea light holders... the list is endless!!!

I made some FAB things yesterday at my last Stampers 10... but I can't show you those yet as I want to make a few more as gifts if I can!

Snowflake Christmas Cards

Yep I also have an addiction to snowflakes... every year I have to buy more snowflake stamps or dies or punches... you can never really have enough snowflakes!!

The large snowflake is the new Cuttlebug cut and emboss snowflake die... I think this has to be my most used snowflake die EVER... I really love it, it's a traditional snowflake... it looks fab in the doodlebug velvet & glitter card stock!

I did make quite a few pink and purple Christmas cards this year... I know those colours aren't really traditional colours for Christmas but I think they look fab and you know me and pink!!

Owl Chrimbo Cards

Well it's been a while since I posted anything... the reason for this is that pretty much every spare moment I've had to craft lately has been on christmas cards and seeing as I like to try and make every one different (roughly about 150 this year) I haven't wanted to put any photos on my blog encase those that receive them spot them first!

Now that most of the cards I've given out have been received I feel I can show some now! Although I forgot to take pictures of over half of my cards... I always do this :(

Firstly here are a few of the owl cards I made... yes I have an addiction to owls at the moment... think you might have already worked that one out LOL.

The large owl is a Penny Black owl... isn't he cute?! Then I've used the cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder with the lovely co-ordinations paper and the swirl is a Sizzix Sizzlit die cut using the Doodlebug glitter card stock.

Hoppy Birthday!

Well nearly another month goes by, pretty scary how close December is now! I'm still plodding on with my christmas cards but I don't think I am going to manage to achieve the whole amount... I have loads of family and special ones to make yet and really struggling to get inspired.

Here's a card I made for a Paul's step mum who is a frog fan, I used the Stampin Up stamp set Unfrogettable and the word window punch so that the little frog can be moved across the card. The flowers are cut in felt using a flower die in one of the Cuttlebug alphabet sets.

I made some fantastic gifts at Michelle's Christmas craft workshops but I can't show you these until after the weekend as some of the ladies in our Stampers 10 will be making them tomorrow!

Off tomorrow for a crafting weekend with the girls, really hoping that we might be able to actually make a few cards this time as last time we got together for a weekend we achieved a lot of talking and drooling over the Stampin Up cattys and not much else LOL!

Get Well Soon Nan

Wow November already... scary hey?! Where has the time gone?! 48 days until christmas... not long and actually quite scary how quickly it's come around and I so wanted to be organised with my chrimbo cards this year!! How many have you made?! Me I have now made 34 which is pretty good going considering I've not had an awful amount of time but I have over 100 more to make ... gulp!

Sorry I haven't been around much, just don't seem to have enough hours in the day to get everything done and I have been feeling quite stressed recently!

This card is for Paul's nan who had a stoke last week, it's her second stroke in about 5 years, she's still in hospital and her speach is quite slurred at the moment and she's been asking for her husband who passed away 4 years ago :(

I needed to make something quick and simple to let her know we are thinking of her as she's quite a way from us and we can't get down to see her.

Yes more owls... I seem to be addicted to owls at the moment, this little fella is a Hero Arts stamp and the branch is a Hero Arts set too. The scalloped oval is a nestability set and the little flowers are cut from felt using one of the cuttlebug alphabet sets, Olivia I think. Yummy bo bunny spotty paper... love this colour, I have to admit I found it very hard to cut into this!!

Loving Owls At The Moment!

Well I made this card and I have to say I found it VERY hard to part with it... I just love the colours and I am in love with my little owl stamp! But I made it for a friend who's feeling low at the moment and I just wanted to send her a little card to make her smile.

Papers are last years craftwork cards chrimbo pack... I am so proud of myself for actually using some of these papers up as I bought them last year at Ally Pally and I only managed to use one piece last year because they were pink and too nice to use!

I have been trying to make christmas cards ... with a small amount of success... but I needed to play with my new owl stamp!

My baby owl is a Hero Arts stamp and the sentiment is part of an Hero Arts set that Becky very kindly gave me as she had lost one to the set and had to re-buy it! :)

I'm really into owls and birds at the moment, flowers have taken a bit of a back seat temporailly of course...

My other bit of news is that my craft room has just got bigger... YAY!!... OK I know that is going to sound weird because how can a room get bigger I hear you ask?! Well I had a lovely little futon in my craft room, which seemed to spend more time having stash piled up onto it than actually using it....

Well I noticed yesterday that it had mould growing underneath it on the cushion.... YUCK... luckily I caught it early so it couldn't spread but it had to be evicted from the craft room... I wanted it to go anyway but my other half was suggesting I sold it before we moved it... so finally I got my way and it's no longer in my craft room!!

So now I have all this room ready to be filled with units to store my goodies.. I have it all planned in my head what I want... just need to explain to my other half that the extra space does not mean he can have a larger wardrobe as I need shelving units for stamps and I also want another table so that when I have my crafty friends over we can all sit round a table rather than me getting squashed up on a small garden table!!

Oooh I am sooo excited!

It's been a while...

Well it's been a long while since I posted anything... sorry I have't been about much I've either been racing around with very little time to play or when I have sat down to play I've been having one of those moments where I don't like what I make and just sit there at the craft desk not knowing what to make! I've managed a few scrapbook LO's but looking at those now I'm not 100% sure...

Anyway three cards to start my blog up again... the little SU froggie is actually on actetate so he bounces but it doesn't really show up on the photo.

The owl stamps are from pink cat studio, I'm really into owls and birds at the moment so be warned because you might be seeing more birds and owl cards! :) The dotty circles were drawn on using a circle template that I bought from Scrap Revolution and the paper is fancy pants which again I struggled to cut but I have a spare (PHEW!)

The 50th card was for my Uncle, more bo Bunny paper used... I seriously need to stock up on Bo Bunny dotty paper!!! The cat in the 0 is one of their pussy cats called Bobbie... he's a real cutie and as you can see a complete poser! :)

I really need to get my christmas head on to make a start on the 120 christmas cards I need to make... I am so behind but I've lost my mojo again :(

Clare's Bo Bunny Birthday Card

I’m loving the dotty Bo Bunny papers, I just have troubles actually cutting into the paper, I keep pulling the sheets out to use… the sheet goes near the cutter… then I question what on earth am I going… I can’t cut this gorgeous paper… quickly I back off give them a stroke and then back in the ‘not to be used’ 12x12 box!… Please tell me I’m not mad and have a serious paper issue!

But this time I was brave and did the deed… I cut into the only sheet of turquoise Bo Bunny spotty 12x12 paper.. Did I feel better for it?! NO! But then I noticed that CTM still have many sheets in shock so I feel relief now that I can get more to stash away…

So here’s where that precious Bo Bunny paper went… on Clare’s birthday card…. I‘m in a turquoise and brown mood at the moment…

I’ve been wanting to try out my new Stampin’ Up goodies from the US for a while, the cake stamp is from the Fun & Fast set (Page 54).

Stampers 10 Make & Takes

I keep forgetting to post piccies of the things I've made at my Stampers 10 make and takes...

So here's last weeks...

A christmas gift bag using half a 12x12 sheet of paper... hmmm I'm loving this colour combo!

Here's last months which was a pocket tissue box holder... fantastic idea for gifts!

I really enjoyed making this and they are so easy to make!

Exciting Bargain Of The Week!

A lovely friend of mine lives near one of the QVC Outlet stores... and they were selling the PINK Crop A Dile Big Bite with all the extras for just over £12.00 each!! OMG how excited was I when I read that she had picked up 3 to offer to her friends... I've never moved so fast! LOL

What a bargain.... I'm still surprised at how much was knocked off the original price... What a saving as they retail on their own for about £30... I wanted one but didn't want the orange one (sad I know but you know me I love pink!) The packaging had been opened but apart from that everything else was just as new!

So I am now a very happy bunny!!

So ladies if you live near or know someone who lives near the 2 QVC Outlet Stores in Warrington & Shrewsbury get down there quickly to pick up a bargain!!

The Winners!

Sorry ladies for the delay in announcing the winners, I'd had a bit of a stressful week...

Thank you to all those that entered and left messages for the blog candy.

The winners are Julia & Mollymoo Creates... so ladies if you could email me your addy so I can get your goodies off in the post!

Happy Blog Anniversary to me.. Free Blog Candy!

Well actually it was yesterday but close enough lol!

Wow a whole year of being in the blogging word... To celebrate I'd like to offer 2 stash prizes... So if you'd like to be in with the chance of winning some lovely blog candy (no piccies but I promise you they will be nice goodies... I don't do horrible prizes)

So if you want to be in with a chance of winning.... just leave me a message... Closing date will be Monday 28th, names will go into a hat and I'll pick two names at random and I'll announce the winners!

Hmmm Loving My New Stampin' Up Stamps...

I've kinda lost my mojo recently but last Sunday I had the whole day to myself to play with all my lovely new goodies... here's a little thank you card I made.

I just LURVE this paper, it's by Crate and it came from CTM... Lucky I was sensible and bought two sheets of it, but I found cutting into it very very hard, it's just so pretty... so pink... so me :)

The flower was stamped using one of my new Stampin Up sets 'Doodle This' (Page 94 of the US catty)... I have wanted this stamp set since it was released and now I've found someone who I can buy from the US si I'm a happy bunny!

The glittered centre of the flower is a tip I picked up from Kirtsy Wiseman when she came to demo at CTM the other week ... Remember those sticky round foam pads that you buy and then wonder what you are going to do with them? Well it is just one of those glittered up with Doodlebug pink glitter! It's so simple but ever so effective!

Blooming Fantastic Weekend

Nikki, Lorraine, Nici, Maggie, Clare, Becky

Linda, Me

Ooooh what a weekend I've had... We had a little crafty get together last weekend and I am still trying to recover from it lol!

Our friend Linda was invited to the QVC Make and Take event in London so she flew down from Scotland ... so what a perfect excuse that was to have a crafty weekend with a few friends ... we've been excited about it for weeks!

I stayed round Becky's house Friday night and managed to drool over her new crafty goodies, play with her doodlebug velvet flock, admire her stunning cards and make a card... then down to the cellar to sleep!! :)

Saturday was a quick trip to Artbase (as it was on the way and would be rude not to stop by!!) and then off to Essex to meet the girls at Maggie's house!

Saturday afternoon we had a Stampin Up party... we had a make and take which was the only card we all made the whole weekend as the rest of the time we spent chatting and laughing... my sides hurt by the time I got to bed from laughing!!

We sat up until around 3.30 am, I was wide awake... even then when we went to bed we couldn't get off to sleep because we kept laughing although not sure why... I think it started

Sunday we spent the morning going through the Stampin' Up USA catty and drooling over Clare's recent USA order, in the afternoon we did a little shopping at Sugar & Spice and then a quick demo of the roller stamps before we said our goodbyes!

What a fantastic weekend although we were all knackered by the time we got home! Hope we do it again soon ladies!

I'm Back... I hope!!

Hello!!

Long time no post... past month has been very stressful and crafting has kinda gone out the window, just not felt up to it... but have managed to still buy a few crafty things!

In the past month we've had a car accident to deal with, the stress of chasing the insurance company after the car being written off, being without a car has been a big stress, we've been given an old banger to poodle around in locally but we can't use it on a daily basis.

Works been very stressful, been working through lunch breaks and coming home with headaches a lot recently then my Uncle was rushed into hospital last week with a suspected heart attack, which turned out to be a problem with his disc in his neck, he had an operation friday and hopefully is on the slow road to recovery.

Still enjoying my saturday job at Capture The Magic, unpacking all that lovely new stash is like having your own large parcel of goodies... I unpacked all the new Doodlebug stuff last weekend and it's gorgeous, I want one of everything but I was very good and came away with no shopping for a change!

Fingers crossed things are on the up now and I can get back to playing with my stash... thanks for taking the time to stop by!

Coster Box For Linda

Here's my first coaster box that I made for a swap for my lovely friend Linda... She's a big Ozzy Osbourne fan so I just knew I had to make this with an Ozzy theme!! I'm quite pleased with how it turned out for a first timer!!

The papers are Doodlebug along with the Alphabet & the stiched heart buttons. It's the first time I have covered chipboard with paper and I was pleased with how it came out! The Swirls on the inside are Autumn Leaves clear stamps I use those stamps A LOT!!

The Winning Waiting For Santa LO

Here's my LO for a scrapbooking competition I entered a few weeks back... the theme was 'Celebration'... this page is what got me scrapbooking again after 9 months of not being able to do a layout!!

What is really scary is how I pulled out all my christmas stuff just to do this page, I love christmas but on a beautiful sunny May afternoon... there was me thinking christmas & snow lol!!

This is me aged 3... when I looked cute.. lol oh how things changed!

Background paper is Basic Grey and the lettering is doodlebug.

I was really shocked to see that I had actually won the competition with this... never expected that... very excited and given me that kick up the bum I needed to start on my albums again!!

New Stash + Exciting News!!

Well here's the stash that I bought last weekend... hmmm papers.... I haven't bought papers in a while as I'd put myself on a paper ban because I have too many that I can't bare to use lol I thought if I banned myself I could actually start using the old stuff so I can make room for the new but walking into the shop I broke my paper ban within seconds!!

How on earth will I use any of these? Aren't they just lush?!! My other half spotted the scrapbook sign and bought it without me knowing!! The black circle on the first piccie is a spinning thing (technicial term lol) to sit under your craft bag so you don't have to pick it up... I know it sounds really lazy but I've wanted one for a while and it saves keep getting up!!

Now the really really really exciting news.... I've got a Saturday job... at CAPTURE THE MAGIC... OMG I am soooo excited about it, if you've never had the pleasure of setting foot into this place you are missing out big time... it's a crafters paradise!

You can spend hours in there, well I know I do lol Everyone is so friendly and there is sooo much stuff you can buy... I am so looking forward to it!!!! Yippeee!!!

60th Birthday Card

Here's this weeks forum challenge which was to make a card with a number ... Just so happens to be Paul's mum's 60th on Monday so I had a perfect excuse to make this card!

I can't believe that I have actually cut into one of the gorgoeus Bo Bunny papers I bought from Capture The Magic... I just love the Bo Buny range and I found it really hard to cut into this as I only had the one piece! I cut the 6 & 0 myself using an old template.

I've had quite a good weekend stash wise... I went to see the new shop A Touch of Crafts in Bury St Edmunds & Capture the Magic on Saturday to do a little (cough cough) shopping!!! Hmmmm I bought some lush papers, I has actually been on a paper ban for the past few weeks prior to my little trip this weekend!!!

ooooh and I got the most gorgeous craft bag from CTM they have just got the K & Co Amy Butler ones in stock and it was calling me with the help of Alison!! It holds a lot in it even a 12x12 album... plus it has pink on it... what more could a girl want?!

Grandad's Special Little Girl - LO

Well I think the title says it all lol... a little tribute to my very special grandad, who's no longer with us any more and boy do I miss him :(

I've been wanting to do this Double Layout for a while and seeing as my scrapbooking mojo took over last weekend I thought it was a perfect time to get this done with a sketch from our forum.

I was his only grandaughter and he treated me like a little princess, we had a very special bond.

The two songs that he used to sing to me as a child were 'When you wish upon a star' and 'Grandad' the Clive Dunn one... lol makes me think of him every time I hear those songs!

Thanks for looking!

Pink Cupcake!

I just love these cupcake stamps by Hero Arts.... I'm back on my favourite colour combo pink & brown...hmmmm yummy!!! I used a sketch from the weekly forum challenges for this card.

The happy birthday greeting is from my new Stampin Up set and the scalloped circle is the Stampin' Up scalloped circle... I know I have the scalloped nestabilities but the Stampin Up punch is a MUST buy!!!

The scalloped edging has been done by the Stampin Up slot punch, it's not avaiable to buy in the UK yet but I got sent it as a pressie :)

1St Trip To Jersey LO

Well here is my first scrapbook LO in about 9 months... I had totally lost my mojo but we have a competition on our forum which started my scrapbooking mojo and I have managed to make 5 LO's this weekend!!

I can't show you the one for the competition yet but I'll share the others with you soon!

This LO is of my first trip to Jersey to see my grandparents at Les Quennevais Park aged about one!. I used a sketch that had been set on the forum too which I found really helpful too! The flowers came from Sarahs Cards her Aunty Sarah's Bloomers are fantastic value for money!

Flower Birthday Card

This card was inspired by a challenge on the forum, the challenge was to use your old stash to make a card... I really enjoyed going through my old stamps and forcing myself to use something that wasn't brand new! I know we all get excited about new stash and sometimes the old stuff gets neglected...

The stamps are Hero Arts Peeking Posieis, I remember when they came out, I just had to have them because they are so pretty... I haven't used them in a while which is a shame because I really do still like them.

Papers are by basic grey I had a real tough time using this one as I have been keeping it for a rainy day!! the greeting is an old rub on.

I made this card with a lovely friend in mind and found it very hard to part with it because I really wanted to keep it... but she loved it so I'm happy!

Nestabilities Storage Tip!

I thought I'd share this with you... I love my nestabilities and used to store them in blank CD cases with magnetic paper inside. But I found that some of them weren't staying put in the cd case and would fall out which I found annoying!

Anyway whilst searching the internet I came across this idea and thought I'd give it a go... The folder is acutally for Quickuz Cookie Cutters, it's called a magnetic storage book... it will hold 8 sets of nestabilities perfectly in this little folder and the magnets are quite strong so no falling out!!! It's about A4 size and really slim so won't take up too much valuable craft space.

I bought mine from Crafts You Love, they have free P&P until midnight on Monday too... Am I tempting you LOL?! Here's the link just encase... it's right at the bottom you can get white or black http://www.craftsulove.co.uk/revolution_cookie.htm

RAK Card

You know you buy these 12x12 papers and then when you go to use them you don't have the heart to cut into them... (or is that just me LOL!!)

I'm into browns in a big way at the moment and love brown and blue together. I've had these papers for a while, they get pulled out and then put back safe again... but I'm being brave and trying to use some of my old papers as I have too many (could a girl ever have too many?!)

The papers are Pebbles inc bought from The Glitter Pot.

The sentiment is a Penny Black stamp, I really love their sentiment stamps, I have a few! The Dandilion's on the paper are glittered up using stickles but you can't really see it from the piccies.

13th Birthday Card

I find it really hard to make male cards, simply because when I buy my stash I am always drawn to the pink & girly stuff... I look at the stash suitable for men's cards and they just don't inspire me... So I don't buy it and then when it comes down to actually making a male card I go into complete panic mode... why can't I just use pink and flowers?! Although I do have an order for a gay pink card which is going to be very interesting!!

Anyway this card is for our Nephew, he's just started to get into music in a big way Iron Maiden is god apparently!! I got sent some wonderful templates by email a few months back that I had been meaning to try out and thought this was the perfect opportunity to try them!

Basically these templates start at 11 and go up to 100 and all you have to do is print the number onto card, it shows you where to fold the card and then you cut round the number... If anyone is interested in owning a copy of this please email me as I'd be happy to email you a copy :)

The 'Iron Maiden' is decoupaged although it doesn't show up very well... he opened it whilst I was on the phone and he was very excited about it, it's wicked apparently and he wants to frame it... awww bless him!!!
I was at my Stampers 10 group last night and had a lovely time, we all made a lovely pop up card, really impressed which how easy it was, I'll pop up a piccie of mine tomorrow!