Monday 31 May 2010

Bank Holiday Monday

I love Bank Holiday Mondays especially now that I don't work in retail and have to work them lol. I have been playing already this morning and I can feel a crafting day in the making. There are quite a few special birthdays in my family this year and it is always difficult to keep the ideas fresh so decided that i would add an image to this one. Have used a stamping bella image, nitwit papers and doodlebug border oh and of course my cricut. I printed the papers in smaller scale and paper pieced the cupcake and her dress. The glitter looks a different colour on here but is a perfect match in real life.


Ingredients
Image: Stamping Bella "Cupcakeabella"
Papers: Nitwit "Butterfly Kisses Too"
Border: Doodlebug "Sweet Treats"


Whiff of Joy Spider Mouse Henry

When I saw the post on Bev's blog I couldn't wait to get my hands on this fab digi stamp. I love the Henry mouse images by Whiff of Joy but being a digi stamper rather than a stamper I haven't bought any so far. I am hoping that this first digi stamp will pave the way for more from Whiff of Joy.

I have coloured Henry with my trusty copics and used pink petticoat gingham and little checks for the background with some candy dots to finish. Haven't put a sentiment on yet but will be using this for my godson's birthday next month.


Ingredients
Image: Whiff of Joy "Spider Henry"
Papers: Pink Petticoat "Little Checks" & "Gingham"
Card: Paper mill

Challenges
Crafty Catz: One for the boys

Thursday 27 May 2010

Wow - I have posted everyday this week

I have been trying to use some of my neglected stamps and stash and this card is made with both. I used Dexter bear from Sugar Nellie that I am ashamed to admit I bought about two years ago and this is his first inking, and also shrink plastic. I had forgotten how much fun this product was, felt like magic when it started to shrink, not particularly pleased with my colouring on the shrink plastic but will be practising.

I love these papers and have used them loads and loads, perfect colours for soft and gentle cards. Used the last of my Kanban pearls as well, really handy pack but 10 of each isn't enough for me lol, wish they did packs of the single colours.


Ingredients
Images: Sugar Nellie "Dexter Bear"
Cardstock: Bazzill Bling
Papers: Nitwit "Bear Necessities"
Pearls: Kanban

Gorgeous Candy - Lili of the Valley

Just a quick post to let you know Lili of the Valley are offering a full set of their 12 new releases as candy, just pop on over to the challenge blog. I don't know about anyone else but if I don't win will be ordering at midnight on the 1st june

Amanda

Wednesday 26 May 2010

WOYWW - First Timer

I have spent quite a long time looking at all the lovely craft spaces that are featured each week on this blog and finally decided to take a few pictures of my craft space to post on my blog.



It's a fairly clear desk as I seem to tidy away after every crafting session now I have a place for everything. I always leave my ATG gun on my desk as its much easier for it to be accessible than stuck in a draw.




The cupboards were in my old house and have been stored in the spare bedroom for eight years, lol never was a quick worker, and then I decided that they would work well in here. They were pine but a few coats of paint and I think they look great, in fact they wouldn't have worked any better than if I had bought them for this use. They hold loads as well and everything is easy to see and even helps me think outside of the box and use stuff I wouldn't normally use.



The desk is my old computer desk and works perfectly. I used to struggle with the space to craft until I moved the shelves and stacked them on top of each other now I have a large workspace which when I am crafting is completely covered.


I originally intended the ikea pots for my copics but found that I couldn't find the colour I wanted to went back to the copic storage system. I then thought about using for my prismas but the same was true so decided to use them for pens that I don't use as often and remind me that I have them as well.


This Ikea cupboard hides a multitude of sins, including my paper and card addiction, stamps, tools, ribbons and everything inbetween and I will save these piccys for next week (need to have a sort through before I show this to anyone and by anyone I mean my hubbie lol).


Well thats my craft area, if you haven't already I would pop over to Julia's blog to see WOYWW.

Take care
Amanda

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Just Because - Scrap card

Well after my crafting session on Saturday my craftroom looked like a tip. I decided that all I usually do is collect all the scraps and put them in the scrap box never to see the light of day again so this time it would be different. How I hear you say well I challenged myself to use all the scraps of patterned paper on my desk and to make just because cards. I kept the layouts real simple so that I didn't have to print more paper and I kinda like the clean and simple look. I am always inspired by the creations I see in blogland and I have always admired the clean and simple but elegant look of Kerrie's cards and am even inspired to get my prismas out again.


I love this image and have bought quite a few by Clip Art & Scraps as they are so lovely to colour and very reasonably priced. It never ceases to amaze me how many talented artists there are out there. If you haven't checked out My Grafico before and especially this designers work pop along now but I warn you you won't leave without spending.

Ingredients
Image: My Grafico "Happy Fishing" by Clip Art & Scraps
Paper: Summer Driggs "Fathers & Fedoras"
Stamp: Studio G


Monday 24 May 2010

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

I started making this card yesterday and I tried to match the colouring to patterned papers but no such luck so I decided to do something completely different for me and use no patterned paper only cardstock and my trusty cuttlebug. After I made this card I was bloghopping and saw that the Secret Crafter challenge this week was for no patterned paper and I decided to enter the challenge. This is a first for me as I usually try to match the challenge and make a card that follows the directions I have never just made a card and it fits a challenge but will try that again.


Ingredients
Image: Pollycraft "Star"
Cardstock: Papermill
Embossing: Cuttlebug " Spots & Dots" & "Tiny Bubbles"

Challenge: Secret Crafter

Sunday 23 May 2010

What a Gorgeous Weekend

Morning All
The weather here in the UK has been gorgeous, hot and sunny it even feels like summer. But it is strange how even after one day I am wishing it was a bit cooler lol. Yesterday I got to spend the whole day in my craft room and made quite a few cards, mostly for friends that I can't post until they receive them but I really enjoyed myself.

The first card I am going to share is for the Forever Friends Challenge which is to use green & pink. I don't know about anyone else but I feel in love with these bears in the eighties and every card I sent had one on it lol. When the first card set came out I was first in line to buy but I must admit I haven't made as many cards with them as I thought I would, so hopefully this challenge blog will help with that.

Ingredients
Image: Forever Friends Die Cut Decoupage
Papers: Raspberry Road "Forget me Not"
Stamp: Studio G

Challenge: Forever Friends

Thursday 20 May 2010

Woohoo a Card

Sorry its been a while since I posted, I know I know excuses excuses but have been really busy with work and mojo went on a little holiday, it isn't back yet but I have cards to make so just have to get on with it.

This card is a little unusual for me as it doesn't have a coloured image on it, I know shock horror, disbelief. I have made one very similar before but in silver and white and I must say I prefer it in this shocking pink and gold colourway.

I wonder if everyone else is like me and just goes with a tried and tested formula most of the time or if every card you make is different.

I have just bought my first distress ink pad to try distressing the edge of my cards and being the cowardly custard I am I went for antique linen lol. Don't expect to see any distressed cards yet though as it will be some time before the order arrives all the way from the USA.

Anyway enough of my wittering on here is the card, see I said it was simple.





Ingredients
Paper: Pink Petticoat "Pretty Doodles" in Bubblegum
Card: Cream stardust (really sparkles in real life)
Pearls: Heart Pearls from Katy Cards
Ribbon: leftover bits from a new top that I coloured with copics.
Gold Card: DCWV Metallic stack.

Thursday 6 May 2010

Inspiration - love it when that happens

Sometimes a card ends up exactly as you imagined and hoped and this is one of those. I love Nitwit papers and stalk her shop on a weekly basis for all the lovely new stuff she brings out, and last weekend I discovered not only a sale....yeah...bank manager says nooooo....but that she had designed a kit as a guest designer and it featured toys lol. I love this kit, every paper, every image is just perfect. As I had spent quite a bit in the sale I thought I would wait to buy the toystore kit till payday but the Scrapbook Graphics homepage said it would only be on sale for a month, so I had to buy it didn't I.



Ingredients
Image & Papers: Toy Store "Nitwits for Scrapbook Graphics"
Cardstock: Papermill

Challenge: Sketch Saturday