A quick birthday card

It's one of my friends birthdays tomorrow so I just sat down and made this card



I already had the image stamped and coloured. It is one by Hannah Lynn. I found some matching papers, Prima Botanical collection and added a few embellishments to finish the card off.

I hope she likes it

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Christmas card craft off

I stumbled across a Christmas card craft off being held by Money supermarket.

After seeing the fab prizes I thought I would give it a go.

So first off here is my entry and a short tutorial will follow



So now for the short tutorial

First take a sheet of card big enough to fit your card blank

And choose two Tim Holtz distress inks in complementary colours




I chose broken china and weathered wood.



I started with the weathered wood, using an ink tool I smeared the ink over my page. Next I took the broken china and highlighted the edges.

Next I chose some Christmas stamps. I picked one by inkwell stamps and one by chocolate baroque, both free with issues of craft stamper



I stamped my background (which I seem to have forgotten to picture)

Next I chose a pre-made flower (my tutorial can be found here) I inked the edges and sprayed with tattered angels mist to add a touch of sparkle.



Next I wanted to add a bit of interest so took an old book page and gesso'd to dull the print



Then I inked with distress inks as per my background

I then chose some suitable letters for my sentiment



I found a pre-cut doily which I also inked, and stuck all to my card for the finished look.

Here it is again


Thanks for looking and fingers crossed for me :)

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Past, present and future

Well it looks like another month has gone by and so comes another literary challenge set by the bears at the house of bears. Blog is here
So this months challenge was to take inspiration from the Christmas carol. It took me a while to think of an idea, when I suddenly came up with the idea of visiting my past, present and future on one journal page
I'm still playing around with this page but here is my entry for the bears!



So my past first I decided to cover the page in all the usual things you think you want to be when you grow up.
My present is me at 24, my current roles and how I'm still happy to dream about improving on those.
And my future, well unlike Scrooge, who had a friendly ghost to show him his future, mine is very much unknown.
Thanks for popping by :)
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Woyww

Well it's Wednesday and this week I've finally managed to remember to get a post sorted for woyww Click here for the awesome blog by Julia at stamping ground.


So onto my desk, what's on my desk this week, well not a lot to be honest



I have a rather naughty kitten who thinks my craft space is a great play area and most of the time when I craft he likes to get involved


Well at least he had fun!

As this is a crafty post I thought I better include so of the things I managed to get on with once the cat left me alone! Christmas cards... At last












Well off to work now and will explore some desks later, thanks for looking :) x

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Forever is a long time

but I wouldn't mind spending it with you.

Here is my entry for the bears next literature Challenge. This month you had to chose your favourite cubhood (childhood) book. Either one that you still enjoy today or one that you remember well and use it as inspiration for your project.

I chose Judy Blume's, Forever. This is still one of my favourites




It's about a teenage girl, Katherine, who believes that she has found love forever and so agrees to take her relationship further with Michael.

This book reminds me of the feeling when your a teenager and you really do believe love is forever. So taking inspiration from the title and thinking of my husband, who I hope will be mine forever I created this page




I used old book pages for the background, then followed a technique from craft stamper using chipboard shapes and tissue paper to create texture.

I gesso'd on top and finished off with a light pink wash.

Thanks for looking and I hope you pop over to the bears blog to take part.


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A beary scary challenge

My good friends at the house of bears have set a fantastic book challenge this month based on Dracula. Click Here
Here is my entry




I created a crazed monster and used the colour red as specified by the bears.
My first entry since coming back from holiday so it is a little on the short side :)

Thanks for looking.
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New toy

My wonderful hubby got me this



And wow what a great present it is! So far I have mainly sat and played around with the features and cut random shapes :)

You get a free gift card in the box and after looking at the images to download I came across this one




An idea suddenly hit me




Perfect for my coca cola world, Las Vegas layout!


Just a quick post for now as I'm off to play with my new toy :)

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Art journal pages

I started the first page last week, Damian copied the bunny and drew it in my journal, I then journaled on the page covered with a layer of gesso and the painted, inked and texture pasted over the top

I was feeling pretty fed up so this crazy bunny is telling the world to shut up



The second page i printed the image from the Internet and have journaled 'please leave me alone' as sometimes I just want to be left alone!


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Doodle the day away

Well after seeing numerous books and tutorials on zentangle, It got me thinking how hard can it be, it's just doodling with a fancy name and there was no way I fancied paying out £7 for a book on how to doodle.

So here it is after a long afternoon of not much to do, my first attempt at a zentangle (doodle to me)

My colleague who is not craft minded at all said I was clever so it's got to be good, right?




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House of Bears second challenge

The bears have held their second challenge, Click here

The challenge was based on Maya Angelou. I found a wonderful quote from her about love

'love recognises no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope'



Looking forward to the next challenge bears!

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What's under your bed? Journal page

Well I have finally stared an art journal after much persuasion from the bears at the house of bears blog, follow link to the right to see their blog --->
Here is my very first page, had great fun with this. Had a few moments where my brain tried butting in but was given good advise from the bears. If your brain starts working just grab something (stamp, inks, mists) and add them to the page!
So here it is, What's under your bed? I won the cute and quirky monster stamp from eBay and thought he would be perfect for this. It's based on the stage when you are too scared to look under the bed for what might be lurking under!








I used acrylic paints including gesso, inks, mod podge, tissue paper. Mesh, recycled images, masks.
Great fun! Looking forward to more pages!
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House of bears - secret garden challenge

My good friends at the House of bears blog have set their first ever challenge. They are setting challenges based on their favourite books. This challenge had the theme of the Secret Garden.

After having many ideas in my head I really struggled with bringing my ideas to life.

Here is my finished ATC.






I went with the idea of when Mary first opens the gate to the garden and sees a magical over grown place.I made a brick entrance way using chipboard. Inked the back of the ATC in overgrown garden colours, stamped over this with 'weeds'. And finished off with some acetate and over grown trees. The butterflies I added to symbolise that although the garden looks dead it is in fact full of life and just awaiting love and attention.

I have called this ATC 'if you look closely enough, you will see that the whole world is a garden'

Thanks for popping by x

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WOYWW

What's on your workspace Wednesday Blog

Welcome to my very small work space. After moving into our flat in December it only took 4 months to convince hubby to make the second bedroom into a craft space for me. In a rush to get things set up I got the best desk I could afford at the time. Unfortunately it is a bit small and there is no space for crafty friends!
Any way here it is.




As you can see I was in the middle of a scrapbook layout, to the back is my iPad with an inspirational scrap lift. I always keep my iPad handy when crafting for ideas and blog posts.
To the left hand side are all my handy tools glues, scissors and trusty kitchen roll.
To the front are my new Tim Holtz stamps which I was considering using on my layout
And here is the finished product




Thanks for stopping by and looking at my desk x
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Explore

Another layout made using the June kit from Papermaze, only have two sheets of paper left now so surely going to run out soon?

Anyway here you go, still catching up on photos from 2009!



I added glossy accents, twine, buttons and mesh

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It's five o'clock somewhere

In Florida we spent a lot of time at Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville. We loved the cocktails, the food, the music and chilling outside on these cool chairs!




I've used a free 6x6 paper pack for my patterned paper and made my own clock too.
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Croptastic day

The bears over at House of bears Blog invited me to have a crafting day with them.

They provided a kit, a sketch and the following rules.

* Repeat stamping on layout
* distressing
* document something mad
* journal on tags

Here is the sketch I was given




And here is my layout









I'm actually quite surprised I stuck very close to the sketch I usually use it as a guide but go way off into my own little world!

I also managed to get another layout done







Overall a great day, thanks bears!!

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Beautiful Orlando

My most recent layout using the June kit from Papermaze. I really loved this kit and am now coming towards the end of supplies. Lucky thing I ordered the July one to keep me busy






Just noticed a tiny bit of red in the first picture, this is the backing from double sided sticky tape and not actually part of the layout!

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Playing with Dylusions inks

I recently got a couple of Dylusions spray inks to play with.


Here is the completed tag I have made, I'm now extremely tempted to complete my set of inks! Off to persuade hubby that it would be a good investment :)




p.s does anyone have an idea how to remove ink from grubby paws, I have washed them three times so far and I'm still covered!


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Make it vintage - scrapology challenge

I decided to take part in scrapology latest challenge - make it vintage link can be found here


Here is my attempt




I stamped the water can image, coloured with spectrum noir pens and then distressed with good old distress ink. Background paper was sent to me with one of my recent orders (lovely freebie). To finish I added a few flowers and a happy birthday sentiment.

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Sweet 16 mixed media layout

After seeing a tutorial on Csi I just had to give it a go
Tutorial can be found here,
http://csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com/forum/topics/mixed-media-tutorial-your-next-layout


I have scrap lifted the layout and made to suit my picture from my 16th birthday.








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Csi challenge #27

I loved the colours in this weeks challenge



I thought they would go perfectly with my picture taken at Santa Monica beach, California

Here is my layout and a few close ups











Evidence used trees, flowers and grass. I made the palm tree myself using corrugated card and distress inks.

Testimony - a picture of the outdoors and arched title.

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Csi scrapbook challenges #26

I recently discovered the csi scrapbook challenges on someone's blog and was intrigued. I fancied giving this weeks challenge a go
Here is the link to this weeks challenge
http://csicolorstoriesinspiration.ning.com/forum/topics/case-file-no-26-case-closes-on-july-8-2012
Evidence used, scallops, crown accent, fleur de lys, icing (I used gesso)
Testimony used, royal family journaling - king, and scallops used near journaling spot.
Here are a few pictures of my attempt. I very much enjoyed my first csi challenge and will certainly be participating again sometime!












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