Panda's Paper Playtime

A Snippet Card at long last

2012-06-01T07:30:00.000+01:00

Since my fall I have been unable to get around so decided to dedicate some time to sorting my mountain of paper snippets into a workable order. I bought clear pockets with a foldover flap and sorted my cardstock snippets into colour groups, red, yellow & orange, pink, green, blue, purple, white, black, brown and metallic. Then placed file hangers in the draw and put one folder per hanger. I then sorted all the printed paper into, men/boys, girls/ladies, christmas and neutral (gingham etc) and placed these in the hangers after the cardstock. Well so far this system is really working, I have made three cards all from the snippets draw and it was so easy to find the bits I wanted.

Onto the card, I have used a new image from Di's Digi Downloads, I bought this one and the girl version so expect to see this one soon. Coloured with my trusty copics and no glossy accents in sight lol.

Ingredients

Image : "Babesaurus" Di's Digi Downloads

Papers: Nit Wit Baby Boy

Dies: MFT postage die

Mat: Elegant edges cut on cricut

Brad: Eyelet Outlet

Sentiment: "Onsie Twosie" Taylored Expressions

Cardstock: Walmart

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Robot Balloon Boy

2012-05-31T07:30:00.000+01:00

As soon as I saw this image I fell in love, I love robots especially cute one and this one is pretty cute. I wanted to make matching backing paper so I changed the colour of the image and randomly placed on a square and printed onto paperchase kraft paper. I wish I had added more robots now as it does look pretty uniform but I still like the look. I wanted a cas card so I added two chevrons cut with MFT dies and using stampin up cardstock. I think it still needs something else but will add that once I know who is going to be the lucky recipient.

Ingredients:

Image: Birdie Brown

Papers: Paperchase kraft card printed with robot by birdie brown

Cardstock: Real Red and Pacific Blue by Stampin up

Sentiment: Pollycraft

Pollycraft - So Sad

2012-05-28T07:30:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone, pollycraft is closing and this is such sad news, I have bought quite a few of their digi stamps over the years and have loved colouring them so when they announced a closing down sale I had to get some. I bought 20 digis for £3.99, what an absolute bargain so if there are any you need I would get them now.

For this card I used Celeste Amberglow owl always love you, coloured with my copics to match these fab papers from Raspberry Road. I had an idea in mind for this card and for once it actually looked like I thought it would lol.
Cardstock is from my stash and the border is a MFT die and then I found a matching mat on my cricut elegant edges so very happy bunny.

The sentiment was stamped in brilliance chocolate ink but it didn't show up as much as I wanted to so I drew over it with chocolate copic spica much easier to see now.

Ingredients

Image: Pollycraft "Owl always Love You"

Brad: Stash

Cardstock: Papermill

Papers: Raspberry Road " Whoo Loves You"

Martini...anytime, anyplace, anywhere

2012-05-26T08:00:00.000+01:00

Now does anyone else remember the adverts with Joan Collins and Leonard Rossiter, I can remember watching them and laughing as a child just like I can remember the gold blend ads. In fact I can remember the ads better than the programmes lol.

Anyway enough rambling onto the card. I have used one of the new MFT stamps I bought in Florida and she was so easy to colour in, think next time I might try a bit more shading but still happy with her. I used glossy accents on the glass but gave it a coat of copic clear spica first so it sparkles in irl. I stamped the greeting, from the big sentiments set (also mft) on a piece of matching patterned paper and when I put it on the card it looked lost so I used distress inks to make it pop . Would definitely do this again although it doesn't seem to match in the photo lol.

Ingredients:

Image and Sentiment: MFT Stamps

Papers: Design House Digital "Time for Tea" by Sarah Schmutz (freebie)

Cardstock: Papermill

Waste not Wednesday

2012-05-19T07:30:00.000+01:00

Normally when I get home from Florida I don't get chance to play with my new stuff before I am back at work but this time there was a bank holiday so had an extra day to play. I have used an image that I coloured when it first came out but never made into a card, love these bears too. Papers have also never been used, shame on me, I have so much I don't even know what I have. The fishtail has been cut with my new dies and the embossing done with the Stampin up lattice embossing folder. Love this folder and first saw it on Lisa's blog so only fitting I use it for her challenge.

Ingredients

Image: Digistamp Boutique

Paper & Buttons: Nit Wit "From the Heart"

Cardstock: Stampin Up "Real Red"

Embossing: Stampin up Lattice

Dies: MFT Nesting Fishtail

A Different Style for me

2012-05-18T07:30:00.000+01:00

I like to try different styles not just cute but this one is very different, I have always loved the flapper girls and glamour of the 1920's so when I saw these images it really envoked a sense of nostalgia. Now before you all think wow how old is she, my Nan was married in 1922 and in her wedding photo she is wearing a drop waisted dress and coat. I loved that photo of her and Grampy that hung on the wall in the best room, along with the tinted photo of her eldest 2 children as toddlers. Did everyone's Nan have a best room or is it only mine, as a child it was my favourite room as it held all her treasures, the glass cabinet full of presents bought by her children and grandchildren, the photos of my dad on the piano as a boy and on his wedding day, I seem to have wondered off on a wonderful revisit of my childhood lol.

Anyway back to the card, I have used a Debbie Moore stamp and coloured her with copics, these papers were an experiment in colourising and could be called snippets in a very generous sense. Backing card was from the snippets box and the two dies from MFT were my recent purchases.

I made this card before my fall last week as I haven't been able to get into my craft room since. It does make you realise how messy/small a room is when you can't get in on crutches lol.

Ingredients

Image: Debbi Moore

Paper: Forever Frineds Black & Gold, Docrafts Digital Designer

Dies: MFT Stamps

Cardstock: Papermill

WOYWW - Week 154

2012-05-16T07:30:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone its that time of the week again yes WOYWW, the brain child of Julia pop on over to her blog for a look around the worlds crafty desks.

Not a lot has happened since last week, the fall was a lot worse than I realised and once the shock wore off very painful so apologies if I didn't get to your desk. I managed to break my nose so couldn't wear my glasses as it was so swollen and typing is a real pain when you can't see lol. I have stitches in my big toe where I tried to separate it from its friends and a damaged knee so all in all a bad fall. Anyway you aren't here to listen to me moan so on to the desk. The only crafting I have done is to colour one image, this has taken a whole week and I didn't realise how difficult it is to move in my craftroom until you are on crutches lol.

Ok so the desk, I still haven't put away any of my purchases from Florida, they are all still in the blue bags. The sheet of images are some of my new digis from Pollycraft, there is a bundle offer on either 10 images for £3.49 or 20 for £4.99 so guess which one I got lol. You can also see my new Spring distress inks, I ordered them whilst still in Florida and they were waiting at the sorting office when I got home, only trouble was I couldn't get to them so had to wait for hubbie to get them for me and it was agony knowing they were there. And finally the strange tool is used to remove the backs from buttons and it works like a dream much better than using my scissors.

Thank you for looking

WOYWW week 153

2012-05-09T11:06:00.001+01:00

Hi everyone

It's that time of the week again for a snoop around the worlds crafty desks. I managed to visit and comment on quite a few of you last week but sadly didnt make it to everyone. Wanted to say a huge thank you for all the visits and comments I received. Check out lovely Julia's blog for the start of this journey.

Well it is back to reality this week, arrived home from Florida on Sunday to a very wet, cold and windy Britain. Certainly different to the weather we had left. We even had to put the heating on to. Anyway enough of the rambling and onto the desk lol.

So what can we see this week, it's not tidy that's for sure and I have been stamping and colouring since I got home. I had so many ideas that mojo went into overdrive lol. On my lappie there is a ready to assemble card just waiting for the glossy accented balloon to dry. Have been merrily cutting up scraps using my new dies. Saw a tutorial on Debby's blog for using a grey marvy marker to go around the edge of cut out pieces and must say that it works a treat, thanks Debby.

Edited to add: I took this picture last night before a nasty fall and hospital visit so apologies if I don't get to visit you all this week.

So Long, Farewell....

2012-05-07T08:00:00.000+01:00

It has been a bit of a sad time at work lately with lots of folks leaving and hopefully this will be the last card I have to make for a while. I made this for my manager well he was until I changed roles at the beginning of March. We didn't get along to well at the start but I must say we do now. He makes me laugh, not always with him but he still makes me laugh, he challenges me and makes me think and he has also made me realise that I am capable of a whole lot more than I thought.

The squirrel is a bit of an in joke and as soon as I saw it I knew how I would use it. I used a sketch saturday sketch, ok not this weeks, not even last weeks but I still used a sketch lol. It was a bit more difficult to get the angles right than I first thought it would be but once I had finished it I knew I would use it again as it is very effective.

Ingredients

Image: "Barclay" Pollycraft

Papers: "Freedom ain't Free" Summer Driggs

Cardstock: "Cherry Cobbler" Stampin up

Candy: Craftwork Cards

Wedding Acceptance

2012-05-05T07:26:00.000+01:00

I was asked by one of my friends in work to make a wedding acceptance for her, she had looked in the shops but nothing matched what she wanted to say, she has a wicked sense of humour and is well know for her "odes". In fact if she doesn't read one to you when you leave you would think she didn't like you. I still have mine from when I worked with her last year lol.

She wanted a funny image and I immediately thought of this one from Just Inklined, as it has humour but a bit of glamour as well. There is an ode on the inside but haven't shown that here.

Ingredients

Image: Just inklined from the cd

Cardstock: DCWV

Last Stash Video

2012-05-04T08:00:00.000+01:00

Well this is the last stash video I have for you, I hope you have enjoyed looking at all the stuff I bought. I do seem to have gotten a lot this trip lol. This final video has my Walmart bargains and as you will see from the tag line hubbie thought it was time to hide the credit card....only joking he doesn't know where I keep them lol.

thanks for looking

WOYWW - Week 152

2012-05-02T14:08:00.000+01:00

Hi All

I tried really hard last week to visit and comment on all the entries but unfortunately the call of the Florida craft shops was too great so apologies to anyone I didn't get to. Check out all the other desks at Julia's blog

This week I have moved into the dining room lol, I attended a copic colouring class at MFT Stamps in Eustis and have found myself colouring ever since. I had to buy some colours to attend the class as all my copies are in the UK and I must say I had a blast on the day.

On the table is a set of images from the colouring class that I am finishing, some trials of the stamp set from Taylored Expressions and some baby wipes lol.

Thanks for looking

MFT Stamps Second Haul

2012-05-02T08:00:00.000+01:00

Edited: Sorry not sure why it wasn't public but it is now

Hi Everyone
I have been buying again, this time I visited the MFT shop in Eustis Florida and was like a kid in a candy shop. I had an amazing time there and was made to feel very welcome and I even booked a copic colouring class which I went to last saturday. If you are ever in Florida I can highly recommend a visit, the shop is in a gorgeous part of Eustis and surrounded by great little shops, next door was a coffee house and I enjoyed a latte after all that shopping lol.

Thanks for looking

Happy 1st Birthday

2012-04-30T08:00:00.000+01:00

Today is my friends little boys 1st birthday and I wanted to wish him a lovely day filled with presents, cake and cuddles. He is an adorable and funny little chap and I love spending time with him and hearing his laughter and wonderment at the world around him. He loves bright colours so although normally I would have gone for pale colours I thought he might like something brighter.

Ingredients:

Image: "I Love it" Mo's Digital Pencil

Papers: "Toyshop" Nit Wit Collections

Cardstock: Blue - Stampin up, Orange - Coredinations

I also bought him a present and made a box for it but the box was as much for his Dad as it was for him. His dad has just become the proud owner of an ipad and he has waited quite a while for one so when I saw a toy version I had to buy it for Ethan as what little boy doesn't like to copy his dad. I made the box for it too, was originally going to make it in the white and silver but as I only had two sheets of white 12 x 12 I tried it in orange first and then decided I liked it more and it was more fitting for a kid than a duplicate of the original would have been. I cut the apple from the "Savoury" cricut cartridge and all I had to do was discard the butterfly and additional leaf and voila an almost perfect match, also used the "robot" cartridge for the wording on the card and box.

Inside the box

Taylored Expressions - Stash Haul

2012-04-28T08:00:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone I ordered online from taylored expressions and had it delivered whilst on holiday at our home in Florida. I was very pleased at both the service and free postage and will be buying again when we visit later this year.

This is my second video and really enjoyed making it so expect to see a few more lol.

Thanks for looking

A Fishing we will go....

2012-04-26T08:00:00.000+01:00

I had a fair few female cards to make so of course my mojo wanted to make male cards, so I went with the flow and created this and as soon as I finished the inspiration flowed for the girly cards. Maybe I should just learn to listen to the inner me lol.

I have used another forgotten Digistamp Boutique image, I bought the set in January and this is the first time he has seen paper, also got the papers at the same time...naughty me not using stuff ;). As everything on this card hasn't been used before I am entering Lisa's Waste not Wednesday challenge.

Ingredients

Image: "Stan Fishing" Digistamp Boutique

Papers: Karen Funk " For the Boys" Freebie

Cardstock: Papermill

Challenge:

Waste not Wednesday - Lisa

WOYWW - Week 151

2012-04-25T13:29:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone I am back with another WOYWW this time I am in Florida so my workbench is the kitchen table. I brought my baby circuit over to leave in the house so I can have something to craft with whilst on vacation. So I packed three carts I have never used and decided to try the paper lace first and I will be using this a lot when I get back. I have also picked up some paint samples to try cutting as it is a great way to practice sizing.

I managed to visit everyone who came after me in the list but unfortunately had a flight to catch so missed quite a few of you out, so my apologies to you and I hope to catch up with you all this week in between all the crafty shopping.

If you are wondering what I am going on about check out Julia's blog and have a look around the craft spaces that are posted.

Thanks for looking

MFT Stamps - First Stash Haul Video

2012-04-24T15:20:00.000+01:00

Welcome to my very first stash video. I ordered online from MFT stamps and thought I would show you what I bought, please be gentle with me as it is my first video and I also thought i would film the journey from my front door to the dining room to show you a bit of our home in Florida but forgot to speak lol.

Thank you for looking

Fishing for Compliments

2012-04-23T08:00:00.000+01:00

Not for the card I might add, I have a few fishing fanatics in my family and I tend to buy every image I see with something fishy on it. This one was on the "The Next Big Thing " CD and I didn't even need to search. Coloured with my copics and a few bits of glossy accents and it was finished. I bought a few packs of kraft paper (90gsm) from paperchase and this is the first time I have tried printing on it, the colours are duller than if printed on white but it gives it a lovely vintage feel, even used it for the insert.

Ingredients

Image: Fishing Bait " The Next Big Thing" Cd

Papers: Air Force Blue Chevron " Pink Petticoat" printed onto paperchase kraft paper

Embossing: Herringbone Cuttlebug Folder

Embellishment: Fish button from stash.

Cardstock: Papermill

Congratulations and Jubilations

2012-04-21T08:00:00.000+01:00

I have made this card for a lovely young lady at work who recently announced she is expecting her first baby, I was so pleased for her and wanted to let her know and what better way than with a card. Her favourite colour is fuchsia so pink petticoat to the rescue, I have used one of the new colour collection range and even paper pieced her dress.

I bought this stamp in the Elzybels closing down sale and have only used her once before so I am entering this into Lisa's Waste not Wednesday Challenge. Also the ribbon bow was from a box of chocolates so recycling as well lol, of course it meant I had to eat the chocolates so as to free the ribbon but it was a small price to pay.

Ingredients

Image: Elzybells

Papers: Pink Petticoat

Cardstock: Fresh paint from Target

Embossing: Lattice from Stampin up

Challenges:

Waste not Wednesday - Lisa

A New Digi Designer

2012-04-19T08:00:00.001+01:00

Well to me anyway. I saw a gorgeous card on Mina's blog and had to go and have a look at the artist and wow her creations are just amazing. I decided on the set I wanted and before I could sign in it was gone, I contacted her and she said she would put it back on and she did but it went straight away again and I thought I am not meant to get this set lol. I contacted her again and this time she added six so I had a chance and because I had to wait she included 2 free digis, I was so touched by the gesture as it was totally unexpected and I contacted her to say was she sure lol. Please stop by and see her gorgeous creations I know you won't be disappointed I know I wasn't, I am not connected but I am a very satisfied customer.

Anyway onto the card made with the first of the images I bought, I have used the Nit Wit Gratitude papers for this and matched her clothes with copics and had a blast colouring her in. I tried to distress the edges with ink but must admit I am not keen on this, think I am essentially a clean and simple crafter, not that I am tidy when I craft though ;) The camera seems to have changed all the colours but they do all match in real life.

Ingredients

Image: "Maurine with Tea" MayzyArt

Papers: "Gratitude" Nit Wit

Cardstock: Papermill

Brads: Brad Mountain

WOYWW - First time in ages

2012-04-18T07:00:00.000+01:00

Hello All

Well it is the first time in ages that I have posted on WOYWW, those that haven't see it before it is where we all get to be really nosey and see others craft areas and storage ideas that we can pinch use. It was started by the lovely Jules and if you click the link it will take you to see all the other craft areas.

Ok so what is on my desk today, not a lot lol, been having a clear up as have visitors and wanted to be able to show them the room, I am not opening any cupboards though ;). Bit of paper piecing happening with some snippets left over from a previous card and this will even make my first christmas card if I get myself into gear.

I have recently sorted my copic storage, I saw a Really useful box with eggcrate on Jane's blog and thought oh that looks perfect. By the way check out Jane's colouring skills, my oh my to be that talented. I was in Florida at the time so sent hubbie to the DIY store (Lowes and Home Depot) and he managed to get a huge sheet for $12. I went on-line and found the 18L box which I thought looked a bit deeper and the site had the internal measurements of the box so hubbie was able to cut the eggcrate to fit the suitcase and know it would still be big enough for the box. When we got home it was a simple job to purchase the box, cut and silicon glue the eggcrate and voila one set of copic storage. Now I am not judging here but this particular simple job took 4 months lol. And before you all blame hubbie that is how long it took me to get the box lol. I used small dots that I coloured and numbered on the ciao. I have seen around blogland where they leave holes for the colours they don't have, I tried it but kept putting them back in the wrong holes and confusing myself. They are set out like the copic colour chart though and can be easily moved. The only drawback I have come across is that my eggcrate is quite tight in spots and the sketch sometimes get stuck and end up loosing their lids so I have to fish them out with tweezers, this is quite fun though. But honestly this is the best storage I have ever had, transportable and easy to see what colours go at a glance and I can't see me changing from it. I found that leaving the handles on the box also gives it a handy resting spot.

Finally I wanted to show you the fabulous panda that one of my buddies Tanya made for me, I saw this on her docrafts gallery and thought oh I love him and at the next playday she gave him to me and I thought I might cry, such a kind and generous gift.

Hope you enjoyed my whistlestop tour of my crafty space.

Wedding Anniversary

2012-04-16T08:00:00.000+01:00

I don't normally post stuff like this but I wanted to show you the fabulous roses my hubbie got me for our anniversary. He is not normally one to buy flowers and as it was our 20th anniversary I kept teasing him as to what big pressie he had got for me and I got the normal response "what do you want now then?", see he knows me so well. So imagine my surprise when these turned up a work, what made it even funnier was I got a phone call from reception telling me a parcel had arrived and as I had ordered a whiteboard eraser I sent one of the guys who works with me for it, and he appeared with this big bunch of flowers and he was bright red to boot. He said everyone was stopping him to ask who the flowers were for and it had taken ages to get from reception to my office lol.

He's a keeper isn't he.

Baking a Cake

2012-04-14T08:00:00.000+01:00

I bet the title of the post fooled you into thinking I was cooking....all I can say about my cooking is I can burn water lol.

Another set of freebie stamps this time by Adam Prescott and there are six different ones in this set and a really nice size too. I have had this paper in my stash for about 4 years and this is the first time I can remember using it...so ashamed...I think I have a problem lol. And I let go of another brad too must be sickening for something lol.

Ingredients

Image: Freebie with magazine

Papers: Kathy Hatch for Daisie Company

Brad: Eyelet Outlet

My Favourite Flower

2012-04-10T08:00:00.000+01:00

I think everyone has a favourite flower and although I don't like cut flowers...I know I am strange... I do love hydrangeas. Blue is my favourite but I still love all the variations too. I had lots of cards to make for birthdays in April but got distracted by this lovely flower on the "the next big thing" cd. It came as a digi stamp and pre-coloured and I have used the pre-coloured version here. This is a very CAS card for me as I wanted the flower to really stand out but I do like the finished article and so easy to put together. I decoupaged the flower to give it some dimension and a bit of ribbon and voila all done.

Ingredients

Image: Pre-coloured Hydrangea " The Next Big Thing"

Cardstock: Walmart (love these pads 30-50 sheets of 12x12 textured card for $5)

Ribbon: Buyology

Nailheads: Josy Rose