Sunday 30 August 2009

Fun on You Tube

Good morning, No card to share just yet. I would just like you to look at these funny guys over on You Tube. Really good, the don't take themselves too serious and that 's why it's so funny and entertaining. I posted one of their songs in my sidebar and another link on this post for the song from Enio Moricone from The Good, the bad and the ugly. Have a laugh! You just got to think of it. Great characters! Enjoy your Sunday -the last in August 2009-.

Saturday 29 August 2009

Got cake?

Hello,
I haven't posted for a few days, because I 've been really busy at work and I 'm just too tired after these long 11.5 hour shifts.
I made this card with the Cricut. I love using the basic shapes on the Plantin schoolbook cart.
The cardstock is from DCWV and the designer paper is from Memory Keepers Nonsense White-Out collection. I inked the edges with more white ink and jumbo java from VersaMagic Dew Drops.
The image is from Inkadinkado Birthday set. The sentiment is from G Studio for only 99 pence!
Stamped in Jumbo Java and colored with Whispers, Stickles and Sakura gel pens.
I popped the images with 3D-foam. The ribbbon is from Hobbcraft and the brad is from Pipoos.
I added more Stickles to the background paper to give a bit more Birthday sparkle. I also inked the cardstock with Adirondack Latte ink, so it 's a bit less girly and I can use for a male birthday.

Tuesday 25 August 2009

Smirk cards

Hello,
Made a stash of real small cards. Made them so my mom can give them to the little girls in church. They all love her and cling to her, so I thought they would like a card from her, maybe to encourage them when they restart school in September.
I like these little image from Smirk which I bought at the Range. Just discovered they have quite a lot of craft stuff of good quality.
I used Papermania cardstock and sanded it. I used Dew Drops Brilliance ink and colored it with Whispers Strokes.
The brads and eyelets are from MakingMemories. The fibers are from Avec an the ribbon from Hobbycraft.
The cardstock is from DCWV. I used the Cricut to cut the card shapes. I used a honeybee stamp from a set I bought at Tesco. I heat embossed it and used chalk to color the background.The buttons are vintage. I used some twine to tie them onto ribbon from Hobbycraft.
I used Sakura Glaze pens to color the images. Now I just need to cut little envelopes with the Cricut.
Hope you like them.

Trick or treat

Hello,
Another Halloween card with the same images from the Crafty Secrets Halloween Fun set.
Supplies:
-Basic Grey Ambrosia paper
-Coordinations cardstock in 3 shades
-Cuttlebug folders
-clear embossing powder from Heat it up!
-ink: VersaMagic midnight black and VersaMark, Brilliance crimson copper Dew Drop
-Distress ink dried marigold and tea dye
-Copics
-Prima flowers
-ribbon from Hobbycraft
-button: John Lewis
I just noticed I forget to add the tread from which the spider hangs. I 'll add it with Edding55 fine point marker. I also stitched some of the papers and used the X-cut corner rounders.
I have heard of an ultra fine embossing powder which is a lot better for fine detailed stamps. I am on the look out, though I haven't got a brand name. I close up you can see that it might do the job a lot better than the powder I used.

Sunday 23 August 2009

Boo!

Hi there,
Just finished this funny little Halloween card. I made it with my new Crafty Secrets stamp set.
I combined 5 little stamps to create this scene. I really like this cheeky little girl.
First I stamped the image in VersaMark and Midnight Black VersaMagic and heat embossed it with clear powder. I colored the image with Copics and tried to match the colors with the background paper which is from DCWV. Then I used Distress Ink dried marigold and shabby shutters to "dirty" the white bits of paper. I used green cardstock from Coordinations, sanded and distressed to layer the image. The orange paper is from the Basic Grey Ambrosia pad. I used a Martha Stewart punch to create a border. The flower is from Marianne Design and the brad from Basic Grey Lime Rickey. The ribbon is from Hobbycraft.
A close up view shows off the Orange Peel Stickles I used on her hat and the brad. The letter rub-ons ore from Doodlebug Simply Sweet. I also used the Spellbinders deckled rectangles to die-cut the image.
I 'm having so much fun with these stamps. Already have another image stamped and ready to be colored.
Thanks for looking.

Saturday 22 August 2009

Halloween Greetings

Hi,
Woke up to a cloudy but beautiful Saturday morning. Watched a movie after my late shift yesterday; the "Changeling" is a real good movie, a true story with Angelina Jolie in the lead role. A must see, a stunning performance from Angelina.
This morning I also received 4 stamp sets from The Stamp Attic, 3 from Crafty Secrets and 1 from Woodware.
I 'll show you my first Halloween card of the year.
Supplies:
the autumn embossing folder from the Cuttlebug, creme chocolate Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels, paper by Basic Grey Offbeat, dried marigold Distress Ink from Ranger, the little girl and the leaves and dark red papers are from Memories in the Making ATC Collection Fall, beige text paper by Marianne Design, Prima flowers, vintage button and felt butterfly from stash, ribbon from Hobbycraft, Boo! sentiment from Halloween Fun from Crafty Secrets, Jumbo Java VersaMagic ink, clear embossing powder, Martha Stewart punch, deckled rectangles from Spellbinders.
Just showing a closer shot of the same card.
Now that I got my Halloween Fun stamp set from Crafty Secrets, I'll be making a few more cards for fall time.

Tuesday 18 August 2009

You make me smile.

Hi, I made this fun card with a kid in mind. I liked all the cool animals in this stamp set from Artemio. I stamped the image in different colors of Dew Drop VersaMagic ink and colored just a little with Copics to give dimension. The paper is from Basic Grey Lime Rickey. I used a Fiskars punch to cut the little label after stamping and embossing. The flowers on the label are from another Artemio set and so is the stamped border. I found these sets by chance at Emerald Crafts. I love shops that sell unusual things. I try and dig them out. The small brads are from Basic Grey. The border punch is from Martha Stewart. The green cardstock is from Coordinations and I used the Swiss dots folder to emboss in the Cuttlebug. The sentiments are all from Hero Arts. I love this card, makes me feel like a child again.

Monday 17 August 2009

Another Feeling Yucky

Hello,
Just had some good news. Got an e-mail from The Stamp Attic and she has got my favorite stamp in stock: the feeling yucky set! I'm going to have some others of Crafty Secrets too. Just expanding the collection. I'm very glad she stocks the range. I wonder if anyone will ever stock the JustRite stamps. I have 3 sets but only one size round wooden stamp holder. Again a very thoughtful present of mother dearest. She has to send them over from Belgium, so it 's not cheap for her. I have been on the JustRite website and they do some lovely stuff. Now I have their PDF catalogue. If anyone wants to stock, I 'll be at your shop...
Here 's the card I finished tonight. I started yesterday, but then went to town and got some buttons and lace trim from John Lewis. Spotted some new ones I didn't have.
The paper is from Basic Grey Porcelain. The pink splattered paper I made with Glimmer Mist in Vintage Rose from Tattered Angels. The sticker is layered on paper die-cut and embossed with Spellbinders. The sentiment and button row is stamped in Rosebud Vintage Ink from Ranger. Just the thing to have, it is scented!
The sentiment is clear embossed. The 2 little kids are from Crafty Secrets Feeling Yucky stickers.
The felt flowers are American Crafts', the chipboard heart too. I added the stickers and then put Anita's 3D glaze over it. The button is from Autumn Leaves and the trim from John Lewis. The sentiment and button strip are raised with pop-dots and 3D-foam. I took a picture of the 4-sided stamp from stampington.com Somerset studio. I 've looked on their website but they don't stock it anymore.
Good evening and thanks for looking.

Saturday 15 August 2009

Sarah Kay

Hello,
It has gone late so quick. Been enjoying my Saturday. We went to Luton and surrounding area, my sweetheart loves guitars and wanted to test a few at Coda Music. Later on we popped over to Hitchin where I dropped in at Crafts Ambrosia. Tiny little shop, but I managed to buy a couple of items that I haven't come across before. A four-sided wooden stamp from Somerset Images by Maureen Blackman, it's called English Vintage, a set from Inkadinkado Road trip, a scented rosebud ink pad from Ranger -it really smells of roses-, and of course Basic Grey Mellow paper pad. Yeah, I'm always on the hunt. This card is made with Basic Grey Porcelain paper and cardstock from Co' ordinations.
The image is colored with Copics and Sakura white gel pen. The image is die-cut with Spellbinders. The cardstock is embossed with the Cuttlebug.
The paper is stitched to the card. I used Marthe Stewart punch for the edge. The lace trim I got from my mother. The organza ribbon is from Paperchase. I also used pastel green and yellow Flowersoft around her feet.
On the inside of the card I used more of the same paper and one label is inked with Tim Holz Tattered Rose Distress Ink and then sprayed with water. The green label is Olive Vine from Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist. The Sentiment if from Crafty Secrets.
Good night and thanks for looking.

Friday 14 August 2009

Shimmering chandelier

Hello,
I 've tried to make something unusual. Not so long ago I bought the Cricut Home Decor cartridge. It has some lovely images, like this chandelier. It may be intended to decorate walls, but I liked it for a card and I wanted it in lilac. These chandelier images seem to be in fashion, together with damask and velvet or flock. I 've seen a bit of it since last Christmas and Marks & Sparks follows the trend, although they do pink and black.The chandelier crystals are decorated with Stickles Gold an Silver Ice. I 've used Basic Grey Euphoria paper and stitched to a white card. I then stitched a piece of lace from John Lewis to the card. I embossed a piece of acetate with the Swiss dot folder in the Cuttlebug and also stitched it to the card. I used acetate to give more shine to the chandelier. The 'Greetings from' scrap is from Mamelok Press and layered on the same lilac paper from Basic Grey as I used to cut the chandelier. The little angel scrap is from Crafty Secrets Valentine scraps. I just added some Papermania cream pearls ans some Hortensia flowers from Prima and voila....ready.
I just want to share to more pics from my garden. Look who was playing hide and seek!
Though they didn't hide much. This year we 've got a lot of babies from all different species. These are Goldfinches and haven't got their red head yet. But aren't they cute! This one is the smallest and just kept falling asleep. They don't even fly away when I hang out the wash, they just sit there bobbing their little heads. Hope they're all safe in their nest tonight.
Have a good evening and thanks for looking.

Thursday 13 August 2009

Birthday boy

Hi,
The day 's gone by so quickly. I 've had a good time crafting. I made 2 cards and a half, LOL. still waiting for the last one to dry so I can proceed.
I'll show you something else while we wait.
Another card made with a Morehead stamp and again the little boy.
I wanted to make some boy cards, because I don't often do. The boy is stamped in black Staz-on on handcrafted paper from cotton rag. He is colored with aquarelle pencils from Caran d'Ache and some Stickles used for his eyes, shirt and shoes.
The cardstock is from DCWV, sanded and the corners rounded. The text paper is from DCWV too and the patterned paper is from Sizzix Little Sizzles. The sentiment on the front of the card is from Hero Arts and heat embossed with silver powder.
I used the same papers on the inside and the Happy Birthday stamp is from a set from Inkadinkado and again heat embossed with silver powder from Artemio. The ribbon is from Hobbycraft and is sold by the metre or part.
Thanks for looking .

Boy, oh, boy

Good morning, It 's a lovely day and I 'm enjoying a day off. The last 2 days at work have been really hectic. Two 11.5 hour shifts do make me tired. As I'm getting older, I realise I'm getting more tired after a days work. Just a year ago I used to do a lot of overtime, but don't ask me now... I would like to share a card I made with Morehead stamps. I used to do decoupage with these cute little children and I still have some decoupage papers lying around so maybe one day. My mother sent me several stampsets from Morehead. I decided on making this little man into a card for a boy or a man.
I stamped the image with black Staz-on onto a handmade sheet of recycled cotton rag. I bought it at Paperchase and they are made in India. You can easily tear the edges to fit to size, that's what I did. Although the "paper" has got frayed edges and come in A6 size.

I colored the image with aquarelle color pencils from Caran d'Ache and I just used a wet brush to blend the colors. I inked the edges of the image with Old Paper Distress Ink from T. Holz. I used Papermania cardstock and cut the card with the Cricut's Plantin Schoolbook cartridge. The designer paper is from Basic Grey's Boxer collection and the rub-ons in the corners too. I distressed the edges with a Tim Holz paper distresser -present from my mom, too-. Mothers always seem to know what their children 'need', mine certainly does. Love her to bits. The little flower stamp is from G-studio and the 'forever'-sentiment is from Royal Langnickel. I tore out the sentiment and popped it up with some 3D foam. Hope you like it, see you later.

Monday 10 August 2009

Thank you card for my friends

Hello,
Today I want to share with you a card I made to thank some friends of mine. They 're always so sweet and thoughtful. They gave me a treat with some fresh picked green beans and blackberries from their garden. So I made this little card for them. Of course with my all time favorite paper from Basic Grey. I think I could work for that company. Havn't seen a single paper of theirs that I did not like.
So this one 's made with the Granola collection and some Coordinations cardstock which I embossed with the Cuttlebug and then inked the edges with Jumbo Java from VersaMagic. Nurse Anya is stamped in VersaMagic Red Brick and colored with Copic Ciaos. I also colored the background and used the colorless blender over it. Just added 3 gemstone stars for some bling.
I have used the rectangle Nestabilities from Spellbinders to die-cut and emboss the image. The tag is punched with Fiskars' punch. They have got these really easy squeeze punches. The sentiment is from Hero Arts and heat embossed with white powder. The flowers are from Prima and the button is vintage.
I have to sizes of white cards I use for making my cards. These square ones are from Anita's and my rectangular ones are from Royal and Langnickel, who produce really good quality crafting stuff. On other occasions when I want a colored card, I use the Cricut and some 12x12 scrapbooking cardstock or papers.
Hope you like it,
Thanks for looking.

Sunday 9 August 2009

Time for some sweetness

Hello, Hope you 've all enjoyed a nice sunny Sunday. What better than to end it with some yummy ice cream. These 2 cards cut with the Cricut. I used DCWV's cardstock and the Stretch your imagination cartridge. The paper is from Papermania's Retro Floral. The vellum quote are from Flair designs. I added some Stickles to the ice cream and inked the cone and the paper edges. The buttons are from my mum's old stash again. Yes, I do like her old stuff and I am going to beg her for more. The rub-on is from Tesco. The chipboard heart is from American Crafts. On this card I reversed the lay-out a bit. The brads are from office supplies. The rub-on is again from Tesco and the vellum sentiment from Flair Design. I bought this vellum booklet from Lakeland, but sadly enough they have ceased stocking craft supplies. I like browsing different and unusual shops for craft items, but it seems so many in Britain are discontinuing the business. I have got a Hobbycraft quite near, but they are quite limited for the crafts I do. All other shops I visit are more than an hour driving distance. OK, I can shop online from them, but it is not the same as rummaging with my own 2 hands. I can get lost in those shops for hours with new ideas running through my head. Luckily my love is a very patient man... Thanks for looking and enjoy the evening.

Saturday 8 August 2009

Saturday evening

Hello, Sharing another card with you today. I've just had 2 busy days at work and finally have tomorrow off to relax and do nothing. I' ll just squeeze in a quick and fun card I made with the Cricut and some stamping. . The card and flower are cut with the Cricut Plantin schoolbook and Accent Essentials. The cardstock is from DCWV and the paper is Basic Grey's Sultry and K&Co Wedding Collection. The sentiment is from Hero Arts and stamped in Brilliance Pearlescent Olive. The dragonfly and butterfly are from Tesco's and stamped in Pearlescent Orchid. The striped ribbon is from Crate Paper and the shiny ribbon is from Joy! Crafts. The flowers are from American Crafts and the brad from Basic Grey. Just added some gemstones from my stash, some Stickles and ... ready. Hope you like it!

Thursday 6 August 2009

A birthday card for mum

Hello, Just like to share a birthdaycard I made for my mum. I 've made this card with K&Co Cut 'n Paste collection. I just cut out the little girl from one of the papers and then layered her on top of some other papers from the pack and used Xcut Large corner rounder punch. The flowers are cut with the Cricuts' Accent Esssentials cart from the same paper and DCWV cardstock and then sanded. The plastic flowers on top are from American Crafts and also had a good sanding to make them blend in. The brads are from Memory Makers. I used raffia for the stems and some ribbon from Hobbycraft. The Happy Birthday stamp is from G Studio and came in a set for just £1, it is stamped in Crimson Copper Brilliance Dew drop. The little girl looks like an image from an old Betterfood biscuits packet. I added some Sakura clear glaze to her lips and eyes, so they would shine. Hope you like it and thanks for looking.

Wednesday 5 August 2009

Cricut cards

Hi there, Just sharing 2 cards I made with the Cricut Graphically speaking cart and Plantin Schoolbook cart. The paper is from a big K&Co bundle pack and from the Wedding Collection pad which is double-sided and a lot heavier paper. The cardstock is from DCWV. The bottons are from Autumn Leaves French Twist. The ribbon is vintage from my mum. The teddybear is from Sandylion. I've collected a few of their stickers over the years. The corner punch is Carl from Carla Craft. I added some machine stitching and a sticker to one of the buttons. More stitching on this card and some brads from Memory Makers. The flowers are from American Crafts. The lace flower is again vintage. The sentiment is a rub-on from DCWV Quote stack. The paper is all from K&Co, I think they have lovely romantic stuff. Thanks for looking and have a nice day.

Tuesday 4 August 2009

My second Magnolia stamp

Hello,
Here is a card I made with the second stamp I bought from the Magnolia range.
I'm a bit strange when it comes to Magnolia, although I like the images, I'm witholding from buying more as if I'm afraid I'll loose interest in them. Weird but true.
This one is Tilda holding a tag, I thought of adding a message on the tag but I didn't in the end. I let the sentiment sticker do the talking.
Here 's a close-up so you can see how I colored her. I used Whispers and Sakura White gelpen. I stamped the image several times in VersaMagic Sahara Sand on different papers from K&Co and then cut out certain elements. The tag is cut with the Cricut Plantin Schoolbook. I added some Stickles to her bow and raffia on the tag. The buttons are vintage ones from my mum's stash.
The flower is a dimensional sticker from the same K&Co set, I just added some leftover ribbon and voila... my card is made. I wonder though if Tilda will ever smile as they never gave her a mouth. LOL.
Thanks for looking, have a nice day.

Monday 3 August 2009

Romantic card

Hello,
Just finished making this card. I kept the colors really soft to give it a touch of romance. LOL.
I used a ordinary white card which I embossed in the Cuttlebug using the Swiss dots. It took a bit of puzzling to get the whole length of the card done. The bottom edge I punched using Martha Stewart Simple scallop punch. I put a strip of paper behind the scallop that I distressed with Tim Holz Distress ink Tattered Rose and Tea Dye. The same Tattered Rose is used behind the vintage rose scrap. The frame behind the birds is done with Tattered angels Vintage Rose Glimmer Mist and I used a brayer to spread the bubbles out. I used my Spellbinders Nestabilities Deckled rectangles for the frames. The vintage beige paper, post stamp and the top rose are from Marianne Design Eline' Vintage. The scrap in the bottom corner is from Mamelok Press which I bought at "The Old Apothecary" in Lyndhurst.
The bird stamp is from Crafty Individuals and stamped in VersaMagic Wheat, then colored with Copic Ciao. The flowers are from Hero Arts and I sprayed them with Glimmer Mist Olive Vine and Vintage Rose. The brad is from Basic Grey Porcelain collection and I put Diamond Stickles over the top. The lace is really old and has changed color, making it perfect for my project. I got this lace from my mother who had saved it for many years.
Thanks for visiting, goodbye.

Sweet little thing

Hello,
Here 's a little card I made to celebrate the birth of a newborn. I used the Cricut and some inking and stitching. No stamping this time. I love the Cricut and there are a lot of fun things you can make with it.
I used 2 different cartridges: Graphically speaking and Stretch your imagination.
The cardstock is from Papermania and the double sided designer paper is from a lucky dip stash from Crafts U Love. I used some VersaMagic Jumbo Java to ink some edges. I also did some machine stitching to soften the look of the card.
The buttons are from Autumn Leaves French Twist, the brad is from Doodlebug and the felt flower from American Crafts.
Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Sunday 2 August 2009

A combination card

Hi,
I made a card using my Cricut for the shapes and flowers and also did some stamping with this lovely teddybear stamp from Ladybug. I also tucked a little tag behind the image that can be used as a bookmark.
The paper is from Basic Grey Sultry, the pastel pink checkered paper is from Sizzix Pastels pad, the image is stamped in Adirondack Latte and colored with Whispers. I added some highlights with Anita's 3-D clear gloss. The stick-on buttons are from Paperchase and the fibers are from Avec!
The sentiment and little flowers are from Hero Arts Thinking of you Messages and stamped in Aloe Vera VersaMagic Dew Drop.
Hope you like this card. Bye.