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Monday, 31 October 2011

I just can't resist ....

... joining in a Circle Journal group. A new group starts today on CBC forum, so here is my 'When I was 21' journal which is going in the post today and will go round to each member of the group before being returned to me. I look forward to seeing and ready what others contribute.

Throughtout the CJ I've used retro papers from DCWV - they seemed to fit the era of when I was 21!

Front cover:

Welcome:

Rules:

My pages:


Sign in:


I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Come and get it: anything goes
Crafting when we can: anything but a card
Dream valley 19: anything goes
Lollipop crafts 55: anything goes
Paper playtime 59: anything goes
Pollycraft 117: anything goes
The paper shelter 37: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Charisma cardz 43: anything goes
Posted by at 9 comments:

Saturday, 29 October 2011

A busy day and a commissioned card

It was our church's minimarket this morning and these are pictures of my tables (you can get a closer look if you click on the pictures):



It's been a busy day (in fact, a busy few weeks) - we then went over to see mum for a chinese take-away. When I got home I needed to make a commissioned 90th birthday card, so I got out some decoupage and matching paper that I bought some time ago - there's also a matching lined envelope, which is a nice finishing touch - and used this with papers from Basic Grey marjolaine, a stitched ribbon, a craftime sentiment and gold numerals that have been altered with a purple copic.

I've used three different patterned papers, so this is for Critter 88 and also for Basic Grey 56: anything goes.

I used the sketch for CPS 241:

Colours are for Birthday sundaes 32: purple, green, white, black, also for Use it Tuesday 18: one or all: orange, black or purple (the unused items are the decoupage and the matching paper that I've had for ages).


This is also for:

Creative craft world: numbers and/or add a sentiment
Creative Belli 129: 1, 2, 3, 4 - 1 sentiment, 2 numbers, 3 patterned papers, 4 decoupaged flowers
Raise the bar 81: sew what -stitching
Pals paper arts 117: CAS ribbon
Lollipop crafts 54: embellish it
Paper pretties 177: embellish
Cardmakin mamas 32: cut it out - die cuts (the decoupage)
Posted by at 23 comments:

CHNC challenge 44: for someone special

It's time for a new challenge on my CHNC blog, so for Challenge 44 I'm asking for a Christmas card for someone special.

Today has always been special for me - it was my dad's birthday. Sadly, he died nearly eight years ago (actually on mum's birthday on 29 November) - so 29 October is still a special day for me, one to reflect on memories of the past and to think particularly of my mum who still misses dad.

I think a lot of us crafters tend to leave the 'special' people to last when it comes to making cards, so my challenge to you this week is to make a Christmas card for someone special, so that it doesn't get left till the last minute. You might want to try and make more than one (I'm going to try, but not sure whether I'll succeed this week).

On this special day of memories of dad, the card that I'm showing now is, of course, for my mum, so I'm linking this for Totally Gorjuss 104: I remember.

I've made a double twisted easel card (the first time I've made one). I've kept the design simple, letting the paper do most of the work - the main paper I've used is a 12 x 12 winter scene by Best Creation - you can see the whole paper here. It just goes to show that even a 12 x 12 paper with a scene can be cut and used for cardmaking.

The paper was already sparkly and glittery, but I added some stickles crystal ice on the base of the card.



Below is the back view where you can see that I used some g.c.d. snow day paper from their chill out collection - this was also used for the triangle on the front, which has the computer generated sentiment on it.
I'm also entering this for the following challenges:

Allsorts 127: Christmas easel card
Our creative corner: fancy folds
Jingle belles: not a creature was stirring
Meljen's 82: Christmas
Crimbo crackers 1: anything goes
Fab's big Christmas October: something shiny and/or snowflakes
Ooh-la-la 91: let it snow
Crafts and me 58: winter blues
Pink gem 33: cold and frosty
Winter wonderland: CAS Christmas - minimum embellishments
Sew many challenges 72: background paper - use two different background papers
SPCC 123: colour: pool party, very vanilla, wild wasabi
Stamp, scrap & doodle: monochromatic
Party time Tuesday 39: anything goes
The paper shelter 37: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Lothian crafts 19: anything goes

I haven't been showing much on my blog in the last few days, partly because we have been in chaos with decorating being done (all finished now, thankfully) and partly because I've been preparing for selling at our church's minimarket today, so I'm not going to be around much either today.

Big apologies to those who so faithfully visit and leave their very welcome comments that I just haven't managed to get around the blogs this week and leave comments. I'll try to do so soon, but I do have a busy weekend coming up.

I very much value the comments that are left on my blog posts, but over the past couple of weeks I've noticed some persistent trolls or spammers or whatever they're called - I can see that it is just innocent advertising, but I could do without it. I doubt it is going to make any difference saying anything here because these people don't even bother to read the blog posts. If the problem goes on I might have to consider using comment moderation. In the meantime, if I don't have a chance to delete them (which I am trying to do as quickly as I can) please just ignore them.
Posted by at 32 comments:

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

WOYWW 125

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for WOYWW - if you don't know what I'm talking about (is there anyone left that doesn't know?!) click on the link to Julia's blog and join in the fun.

Today I'm not showing my worktop space, but a new unit that I've got to house my Really Useful Boxes. Up until now most of my RUBs have been housed in the big cupboard in my craft room, which has meant that when I want something out of one of the bottom boxes I've had to move others to get to it, which isn't good for my back.

So, after much deliberation, I ordered a purpose-made unit to house the boxes. This had to be put together - loads of screws and bolts - I was helped by the lovely girl who comes to do our cleaning.

Now I can get to any box without moving the others because there are shelves in between. And now I've got room in the big cupboard to put other things that used to be on surfaces.

When I get time I need to sort out the boxes into an order that is more helpful (atm I haven't a clue which is where), but that will have to wait till next week because I'm selling cards at our church minimarket on Saturday and need to prepare for that - in fact, I need to alter some more notebooks and make some more sticky-note holders.

We've got the decorator in atm doing our lounge and inner hall, so we are in a bit of chaos (when aren't we?!) and we must be mad because we're going to have our bedroom and my craft room decorated in a couple of weeks' time which will mean clearing my stuff!

Hope I'll be back later with some crafting.
Posted by at 14 comments:

Sunday, 23 October 2011

Sparkly robin

Today's Christmas card challenge for week 47 is a recipe 2 designer papers, ribbon and a bird, so I've used two Anna Griffin papers, one very sparkly one and one that has a flocked finish - lovely to touch. The papers were mounted on to a gold 7 x 5 card blank, with the addition of an AG die cut silver foiled sentiment and a bow. The glittery padded robin is a Poundland sticker.

This is also for:

Christmas crafting October 4: little robin red breast
Christmas inspirations 35: die cuts or punches
Alota 69: Christmas
Corrosive 135: flying things
Try it on Tuesday: taking to the skies
Designer's challenge: cute critters
Take time for you 52: brown + another colour
PanPastel UK 5: glitter and glitz
Posted by at 13 comments:

Interesting statistics!

I love visiting Jules' blog on Sunday and seeing what she's been up to and what everyone else has been doing with their snippets. This week, Jules asked:

'Have you ever looked to see what the most viewed post is on your blog?

Do you fancy sharing your most popular post? to find it simply go to your dashboard and click on 'stats' ... 'posts ... 'all time' and at the top of the list will be the post that the most people have looked at.

I thought I would join in and do this - I've never thought of looking before - I discovered that my blogpost that has the mosst views is Digi Purple Christmas from nearly two years ago. It's had 553 pageviews, which is over 200 more than the next popular post. The strange thing is that there were 29 comments, whereas I've had lots of other posts that hae had many more comments than that. I can't help but wonder why Digi Purple Christmas got so many viewings.

If you haven't looked at your own statistics, it's quite interesting to do so.
Posted by at 2 comments:

Sparkly and vintage Christmas

It was Lizzie's turn to set the challenge for today's Christmas card for the Christmas gang and she supplied this lovely sketch for us to work with:

All my papers were from my offcuts box, so this is for Jules' crafty snippet challenge 42 and also for ABC Christmas: U for unused stash because I've used some lace that I bought quite a while ago from a market stall, a piece of very sparkly glittery ribbon and the lovely candlelabra stamp by Papermania, which I inked with versamark and heat embossed with detail silver. The sparkle is for Christmas stampin all year long: spark-ka-lay!

I love Christmas cards made with a combination of blue and silver, so I'm linking this for Stamp dreams 104: favourite colour combination.

This is also for:

Winter wonderland: a vintage Christmas
Alota 69: Christmas
Phindy's Friday 78: blue Christmas
Fab's big Christmas: something shiny and/or snowflakes
Crafty ribbons 4: ribbon and lace
Bunny Zoe 17: lace it up

It's my turn to set the next challenge for the Christmas gang (to make a card to be shown on Sunday 6 November) and this is my challenge:

'I'm asking you to use either something recycled or something you got as a freebie (with a magazine, or in a swap or RAK etc) - you can, of course, use other materials as well.'

If anyone wants to know more about the Christmas gang and join in with us, please get in touch with one of us - there is a list on my sidebar.

Posted by at 31 comments:

Saturday, 22 October 2011

CHNC challenge 43: make a scene

The weeks go by so quickly - today sees the start on challenge 43 on my CHNC blog - it's hard to believe that we are already well into October and getting nearer to Christmas.

This week I'm asking you to 'make a scene'. My cards for the challenge are very simple. I've used some more of the stamped images that I made when I borrowed this snow scene from a lovely crafting friend - this was inked with versamark and heat embossed with detail silver. The background snowflake paper is Craft Creations.

This is also for the following challenges:

Alota 69: Christmas
Sparkles forum Christmas challenge 9: Christmas song: I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Aud sentiments 39: winter theme
Phindy's Friday 78: blue Christmas
Jingle belles: softly falling snow
Ooh-la-la 91: let it snow
Fab's big Christmas: something shiny and/or snowflakes
Bah! humbug 42: with men in mind
The crafty pad 143: monochromatic
Posted by at 2 comments:

Friday, 21 October 2011

Another pink notebook

Another pink notebook, this time with an offcut piece of unknown paper from my scraps box and a couple of butterfly stickers.

This is for:

Paper cutz 114: in the pink
Lollipop crafts 53: no sentiments allowed
Flutter by Wednesday 176: open, with butterflies
Corrosive 135: flying things
Try it on Tuesday: taking to the skies
Posted by at 13 comments:

Patchwork pals

Over two years ago, in a moment of weakness (mmmm another one!) I bought a Patchwork Pals kit from QVC because I thought I would be able to make some quick Christmas cards with it. Well, I didn't use any of it till after a year had gone by and I've still got loads of it, none of which has been used for this year's Christmas cards. So I thought it was about time to use some of it, spurred on by ABC Christmas challenge: U for unused stash'. This time, I remembered to take a picture of the stash before putting the card together, but in the end I also added a matching piece at the back of the card to hide where I'd wrapped the sparkly ribbon (this wasn't part of the PP kit) and also the 'with love' sentiment.

So this is the card:
The piece on the back covers up the ribbon that has been wrapped round.

This is also for:

Alota 69: Christmas
Sparkles forum Christmas challenge 9: Christmas song: Let it snow
Aud sentiments 39: winter theme
Phindy's Friday 78: blue Christmas
Jingle belles: softly falling snow
Ooh-la-la 91: let it snow
Fab's big Christmas: something shiny and/or snowflakes
Southern girls 30: stripes and polka dots
Karen's doodles: animal antics
I did it 77: if I could talk to the animals - I'd tell him it looks as if he's having fun!
Posted by at 26 comments:

King of the jungle

The king of the jungle has got his crown on! This is another post-it notes holder.

This is for:

House of Gilli 18: pick 3 from black, white, green and orange
Papertake: spooooky hues (colours of halloween)
Paper pretties 176: black, white plus one colour
Paper crafting journey 21: black, white and orange
PaperPlay 42: use black
Mami doodles 36: black and orange
Raise the bar 80: orange and black
Sukkersott 142: orange, black and white
Craft your days away 31: halloween colours
I did it 77: if I could talk to the animals - I'd tell them how handsome they look
Crafty cardmakers 54: cute, with a dark twist - halloween colours
Cats corner 61: halloween - I've only used halloween colours (because I don't do halloween), but the project does include a couple of rather big cats!
Cuddly buddly 17: best friends

Posted by at 27 comments:

Lavender and lace

'Lavender and lace' sounds like an old movie, doesn't it? It's Allsorts challenge 125.

The components of this card were sparked off by the bingo challenge this week for Totally Gorjuss 102:

So you need to pick a line...vertical, horizontal or diagonally, or if you're adventurous all four corners.

Lace

Ribbons

Bows

Stars

Buttons

Pearls

Flowers

Swirls

Bling


I chose the diagonal line starting from the left hand corner - so I included lace, buttons and bling, but couldn't resist a bit of ribbon thrown in to the mix!

Papers are Forever Friends hugs and cuddles.

This is also for:

Art impressions 37: use lace in your creation
Crafty ribbons 4: ribbon and lace
Bunny Zoe 17: lace it up
Fairytale 26: sympathy cards
The crafty pad 143: monochromatic
Crafy Ann 52: clean and simple
Posted by at 12 comments:

Thursday, 20 October 2011

Red and gold Christmas

Meljen 81 challenge is asking for 'red and gold', so I've used a red 7 x 5 card blank, matted with Anna Griffin papers - one with gold glitter and the other with red flocking. The sentiment and gold bow are AG and the 3D sticker is Forever Friends, which is for this week's Forever Friends 'anything goes'challenge. Heart buttons are from stash.

Everything for this card is more than a year old, so it is just right for ABC Christmas 'U for unused stash' - and, sadly, once again I forgot to take a photo of the supplies before making the card - d'oh!

This is also for:

Alota 69: Christmas
Just some lines: reminds me of a song: All I want for Christmas is you
Paper playtime 58: say it with sentiments & use buttons and bows
Stamping with the dragon: buttons and bows
PanPastel UK 4: add 2 buttons
Cupcake 164: buttons and bows
Aud sentiments 39: winter theme
Whoopsi Daisy: free and easy
Lothian crafts 19: anything goes
KB cute Monday 31: anything goes
Posted by at 21 comments:

Black and gold glitter

For challenge 21 Quirky crafts are asking for a recipe of black, gold and glitter (or there is the option of 'something spooky', but, as I don't do halloween, I opted for the recipe).

So this is another Christmas card using a 7 x 5 black card blank, layered with a piece of Anna Griffin glittered paper, topped with a gold bow and the Rubber stampede 'angel collage' stamp inked with versamark and heat embossed with detail gold powder, held in place by four golden brads.

This is also for:

Alota 69: Christmas
Crazy 4 challenges 109: create something for an upcoming holiday and incorporate some heat embossing
Just some lines: reminds me of a song: Hark, the herald angels sing
Lollipop crafts 53: no sentiments allowed
Use it Tuesday 17: metal (the brads - hoarded supply)
Stamptacular 134: you choose
Whoopsi Daisy: free and easy
Lothian crafts 19: anything goes
KB cute Monday 31: anything goes

Posted by at 10 comments:

Seeing spots at Christmas

This week's Christmas stampin' all year challenge is 'seeing spots'. I've used Cosmo cricket deck the hollies mitten weather double sided paper for these five cards. The snow scene was stamped with versamark on to stardream card and heat embossed with detail black powder (the stamp was one that I borrowed from a dear crafting friend at the beginning of the year).

This is also for:

Paper pretties 176: black, white plus one colour
PaperPlay 42: use black
Some odd girl: black and white image
Ooh-la-la 91: let it snow
Alota 69: Christmas
Crazy 4 challenges 109: create something for an upcoming holiday and incorporate some heat embossing
Just some lines: reminds me of a song: I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Lollipop crafts 53: no sentiments allowed
Stamptacular 134: you choose
Whoopsi Daisy: free and easy
Lothian crafts 19: anything goes
KB cute Monday 31: anything goes
Posted by at 9 comments:

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

Musical monochrome

For this card I've used two La Blanche foam stamps, using only part of the sheet music one for There she goes 126: partial images.

This is also for:

Lollipop crafts 53: no sentiments allowed
Craft room: black and white
Simply create 54: shades of black
The crafty pad 143: monochromatic
St Luke's October: let's hear it for the boys
Sweet stampin': for men, for males, for grumpy significant others
Whoopsi Daisy: free and easy
Lothian crafts 19: anything goes
KB cute Monday 31: anything goes
Posted by at 17 comments:

Butterflies notebook

Another altered notebook - the background is a lovely piece of foiled card and the 3D butterfly stickers were from Poundland (as was the notebook - 4 in a pack for £1 - can't be bad!).

This is for:

Lollipop crafts 53: no sentiments allowed
Flutter by Wednesday 176: open, with butterflies
Corrosive 135: flying things
Try it on Tuesday: taking to the skies
Craft room: black and white
Paper pretties 176: black, white plus one colour (silver)
Simply create 54: shades of black
The crafty pad 143: monochromatic
Cuddly buddly 16: anything but a card
Whoopsi Daisy: free and easy

Posted by at 22 comments:

Going round in circles with a hippo

Another altered notebook using a piece of unknown glittery paper from my offcuts box (yes, I'm still using snippets, but the box is just as full as ever - lol!) and a textured sticker from Poundland - isn't he sweet?!

This is for:

Lollipop crafts 53: no sentiments allowed
I did it 77: if I could talk to the animals - I'd tell him how lovely he looks
Karen's doodles: animal antics
Posted by at 17 comments:

Another sticky note holder

Another sticky note holder made with the scoring done on my Hougie board. The card was rescued from the cover of a stationery pack and the flower is a felt one from Poundland.

This is for:

Heart song inspirations 20: use flowers and/or felt
Creative Belli 128: flowersoft, felt or chunky glitter
The crafty pad 143: monochromatic
Posted by at 6 comments:

Tuesday, 18 October 2011

The frog and turtle

'The frog and turtle' sounds like a wacky name for a pub! Anyway, there's a frog and a turtle on this post-it note holder - the holder itself was made by using my Hougie board to score lines for the folds to surround the post-it notes.

The card I used was recycled from a stationery set (it was part of the cover) - too good to waste.

This is for:

The pink elephant 121: scoring (sorry, you can't actually see it, but scoring was used with my Hougie board to create the wrap-around to house the sticky notes)
Die cuttin' divas 37: scaly, cold-blooded reptiles (the turtle)
Cuddly buddly 16: anything but a card
The crafty pad 143: monochromatic
Posted by at 11 comments:

A little bird told me ...

This week's Less is more challenge 37 is 'cocktail' - I was going to make a card featuring a cocktail drink and then I decided to make one featuring a cockerel instead. I've used a Woodware stamp by Jennifer Garant that I received quite a while ago as part of a prize for winning a Woodware USA challenge.

One layer Wednesday 68 is asking us to 'get triangular' - the shape of the cockerel.

The theme for this week's Daring cardmakers is 'A little bird told us ...' - the challenge is being sponsored by The Ribbon Reel - so I'm also linking for that.
This is also for:

Stampin' B 132: use a bird on a card
Sketchy colors 89: white, turquoise and yellow, with this inspiration photo:

Posted by at 7 comments:

Gold and glitter

Yet another card made with AG materials. This time it's another one for my CHNC challenge 42: baubles or anything hanging. If you haven't yet discovered my Christmas challenge blog please click on the link and have a look - it would be lovely if you could join in - it's time to think seriously about making those Christmas cards before time goes and panic begins to set in.

This is also for:

Top tip Tuesday 56: layer it up
Alota 69: Christmas
Aud sentiments 39: winter theme
The crafty pad 143: monochromatic
Jingle Belles is A caroling we will go: Baubles, bangles and beads
Sparkles forum Christmas challenge 9: Christmas song: Baubles, bangles and beads
Crafty Ann 51: inspired by a Christmas song: Baubles, bangles and beads
Just some lines: reminds me of a song: Baubles, bangles and beads
Ooh-la-la 91: let it snow - lots of golden snowflakes
Fab's big Christmas October: something shiny and/or snowflakes
Posted by at 17 comments:

More jolly holly

Yes, it's another card made with Anna Griffin materials - simply put together, but I like it. This time I layered up on to a 7 x 5 card, matted with some tartan paper from my offcuts box.

This is for:

Lexi 51: just a sentiment
Top tip Tuesday 56: layer it up
Alota 69: Christmas
Jingle belles: a caroling we will go - inspired by any holiday song - The holly bears a berry
Just some lines: reminds me of a song
Crafty Ann 51: inspired by a Christmas song
Posted by at 26 comments:

Jolly holly

Another card made with Anna Griffin materials.

This is for:

Crafting when we can: it's Christmas ... almost
Paper players 68: CAS Christmas in red and green
Lexi 51: just a sentiment
Top tip Tuesday 56: layer it up
Alota 69: Christmas
Posted by at 7 comments:

Monday, 17 October 2011

Simply red and green Christmas

Simply red and green Christmas using Anna Griffin materials:



This is for:

Crafting when we can: it's Christmas ... almost
Paper players 68: CAS Christmas in red and green
Lexi 51: just a sentiment
Posted by at 10 comments:

Let it snow

The card blanks for these cards were free with a magazine (can't remember which one - quite a while ago) - all I had to do was to add the sentiments and the lovely 3D stickers - 5 cards to sell for Tearfund as a pack.

These are for:

Ooh-la-la 91: let it snow
Jingle belles: a caroling we will go - inspired by any holiday song - I'm dreaming of a white Christmas (not!)
Just some lines: reminds me of a song
Crafty Ann 51: inspired by a Christmas song
Aud sentiments 39: winter theme
Fab's big Christmas October: something shiny and/or snowflakes
Beary sweet 36: double or nothing - 2 of something - two trees on each card and two bears
The paper shelter 35: we love animals
I did it 77: if I could talk to the animals (I'd tell them how cosy they look!)
Ruby's rainbow 14: cute and cuddly

Posted by at 22 comments:
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