Twas The Night Before Christmas

Well it's been a while since I blogged but I'm back (hopefully!).....

I have had two family members in hospital and moved one half of my Business into new premises AND it's "that" time of year so getting back into my craft room is a major achievement and one that I intend to make more time for.

Anyway, just a quick post to let you know I haven't gone missing totally 😆

Here is a quick, simple card I made for the MAWTT challenge blog, the theme was an element from the "Twas The Night Before Christmas" poem.  I used part of a baby Groovi plate with red parchment for the main picture, a red bow, foiled sentiment, gold star brads and a deckle edge card.

I really enjoy the Groovi plate system, must make a note to use it with more projects.

Promise not to leave it too long before my next post.

Happy crafting

xx

MAWTT - Sentiment As The Focal Point - No Images

Wow, where has the last month gone?  I definitely lost that and now have to play catch up with myself!

It's time for the Moving Along With The Times Team A Blog Challenge and the theme set by Christine is "Sentiment as the focal point - no images) so here is my DT entry.

A really quick and simple card with a "non perfect" look that matches the sentiment.  I hope this shows you guys that are beginner card makers / crafters all projects don't have to be perfect or full of embellishments etc - a simple card with slight imperfections will be loved just as much (if not more) by the person receiving it and they will appreciate the time you have taken to make it.  

Don't be too self critical, just enjoy the craft process and a bit of you time making things, at the end of the day crafting should be fun and relaxing.

Well, I have lots of crafty projects to work on today but before I make myself comfortable in my craft room a large cuppa is called for so off to put the kettle on, until next time..............

Happy crafting xx

Things Beginning With The Letter B.......MAWTT

Cuppa on my craft table ready for getting inky and messy today but before I start picking out ink colours, papers and other goodies this blog post was calling me.

Here is my latest make for the Moving Along With The Times Challenge, it's Diane Louise's turn to choose the theme and she chose "Things Beginning With The Letter B" so I couldn't resist doing one of my favourite candle makes with a "Bouquet" of lavender.

Those of you that know me are aware I adore painting these and have completed so many of them, however,  over the last couple of days it is just what I needed to do, something calming I could lose myself in that wasn't paper crafting or jewellery making so I do hope you don't mind a little bit of self indulgence.

Please pop over to the challenge blog to see all the other DT inspirational makes and while you are there why not enter yourself, go on give it a try.

Well I have finished my cuppa so now its time to play and see what gets created today so until next time...............

Happy crafting x

Exciting News!

Can you see what is different about my blog today?

Well, I am so excited to share my news................... I am so proud and honoured to say that I have been invited to be part of........

Team Mama

which is the Design Team for Mama Makes and Bakes, a fantastic Company that manufactures polymer stamps. If you click on the badge on the right of my blog it will take you to their shop where you can see all of the stamps that are available.  Here are just a couple of my favourite sets.

You can also follow Mama Makes on Facebook

Really look forward to making samples for Mama Makes future shows on Hochanda and will be posting them on here which I hope will provide inspiration and show the versatility of these stamps.

Off now for a Sunday afternoon walk in the breezy sunshine so until next time..........

Happy crafting xx

Age As A Focal Point MAWTT

Welcome to my latest post for the Moving Along With The Times Design Team Challenge and it is Carole's time to host for Team A, she has chosen "Age as a Focal Point" 

Why not join in the fun, we love seeing your entries into the challenge, just click on the link above to take you over.

Here is my contribution for the DT inspiration but please pop over to see all the other DT members makes. 

The card is an 8" x 8" plain white blank, I have used a backing paper called "Publications" from Daisy D's and edged it with gold gilding wax, the sentiment and the car are from the Remember When collection by Sheena Douglass and have been stamped in sepia on cream card, edged with gold gilding wax then matted onto brown card and stuck on using foam pads.  The wooden numbers have been given a distressed look then mounted using foam pads.

I hope you like it, a quick and simple card for when you are in a hurry (if you forget like me).

Off to have a craft table clear up so until next time...............

Happy crafting xx

Love Canvas and More

Honestly don't know where the time goes too!

Its been a few weeks since I blogged so thought I better catch up and share a canvas along with a few other cards and projects that I made as a DT Member for Craft Buddy / Dawn Bibby Creations that were made using the Summer Treasures Chest one day special on Hochanda.

I started the this project by masking off an area to one side of the canvas, then used texture paste through a stencil onto that area, down the side of it I stuck a piece of hessian. Once all that was dry I painted the round canvas all over using black gesso along with all the other components apart from the lace heart embellishment.  The following day I dry brushed all the embellishments and raised areas on the canvas with gold metallic paint, arranged them onto the canvas until I was happy then glued them all down.  The lace heart was coloured using a light red alcohol pen then dry brushed with the gold metallic paint and stuck into place.    Really happy with this one, something a bit different, hope you like it too.

The treasure chest was just that, a really gorgeous selection of goodies from lace through to beautiful flowers and everything in between.    

Below are a few of the samples I made for the shows.

A pretty gift bag.

There was the most stunning paper pad included, this page was my favourite and looked great with the copper metallic paint which was used to completely cover the periwinkle flourish diecut. Copper embossing powder was used with the script stamp from the Vintage Dreams stamps set and also on the little wooden butterfly.  An old library card was dragged through the paint to create the broken lines.

Elegant and understated were two of the descriptions I have received for the next canvas and I will take both of those.  Two of the laser cut corners were painted with silver metallic paint and stuck down at alternative corners, then three of the flowers from the kit were strategically placed at different heights and stuck down. A crystal leaf embellishment was then adhered next to each flower.    

A quick and simple but elegant Birthday card.

This card was made using the distress oxide inks and sparkle pens, I won't tell you much more but keep a look out for a video from me on how to achieve this look.

Off to sit in the sun with a well earned cuppa, my sketchbook and pencil so until next time..............

Happy crafting xx

Steampunk Lady

Just spotted this little lady on the shelf ready to be put on a canvas, poor thing I had forgotten to blog about her tut tut.

The quote is so me!!  

The background was done with muted distress oxide inks,the stamp is from Indigoblu and the embossing folder run through using co-ordination cardstock and the cogs are from Crafter's Companion.  

I will get round to framing her one day but for now, she is back in her spot on the shelf.

Off for a nice cold drink so until next time.................

Happy crafting x

Playing With Distress Oxide Ink Pads

Gorgeous sunshine outside but I needed to tidy up my craft room, no idea how it gets in such a mess all the time, it's not me surely 😉✂

Anyway, you know how it is, you start to put things away and inks and stamps on the table keep catching your eye.............   the next thing you know you have picked up a few tags, a kitchen roll, the water spray and a few more bits, instead of tidying you are crafting!

These two tags are the result.

I started by blending some of the Distress Oxide inks together on the tags, spritzed them with water, waited a few seconds and then rolled the kitchen towel over the top. The process was repeated until I was happy with the backgrounds.

Next I used Dawn Bibby Creations stamps with a black archival ink pad. The first tag is using a stamp from the Exotic Flourish Stamp Set and the second tag uses ones from the Floral Messages set.  After heat setting the ink a water brush was used along with a piece of kitchen paper to blot the colour away removing the distress oxide ink from within the flowers.  

Finally, some ink was scribbled onto a craft mat, picked up with the water brush and painted back into the flowers and also for the word Love on the first tag.

Quite happy with the results, these will be used on a couple of presents I need to give over the next week or so.

Craft room still needs a tidy but making things are so much more fun!

Until next time........

Happy crafting xx

Midnight Owls Crystal Art Canvas Kit

Its not very often I am totally absorbed by one large project but I have to say my family have had a lovely quiet week as my spare time has been taken up working as a member of the Craft Buddy Design Team on this gorgeous Crystal Art Canvas Kit called "Midnight Owls" in readiness for the Craft Buddy Weekend Special on Hochanda Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th June.

All the Crystal Art Canvas Kits are pre mounted onto a wooden frame,  a faux frame is part of the canvas so it can be hung on the wall as soon as it is finished. This picture measures approximately 50cm x 40cm.

This complete craft set includes:

1 x crystal art template
1 x magic pencil
1 x tray
Bags of resin gems

The picture below shows just one of the owls in the picture.  As you can see the picture is made up of squares which each have a letter or symbol on, these correspond to a specific colour of crystal very similar to painting by numbers.  The crystals are individually bagged in separate colours making it really easy to get started.

The next picture shows the first six crystals in place.  I find it easier to transfer each colour of crystals into a grip seal bag or jar which is then marked with the relevant letter or symbol.  Use the magic pencil to lift up the coloured resin gems and place them on the corresponding dots. 

This picture is of the finished project which is absolutely stunning and definitely has the WOW factor as it sparkles in the sunshine (I need to brush up on my photography skills as the camera didn't pick this up so really doesn't do it justice). 

Being totally honest, this technique is a relaxing and therapeutic craft activity, suitable for aduls and children (ages 6+) alike.  The result is a stunning piece of rhinestone art, which you can mount on your wall, or give to a loved one.

I am totally in love with this particular craft so will be watching the shows to order one for myself and yes, probably a couple of others to take away on holiday with me as its so portable and doesn't take up much space, unlike the many other crafts that I love doing. 

Its got to be tea time now, kettle is going on so until next time................

Happy crafting xx

Latest Journal Page

Nothing better than a cuppa in the craft room!

A wonderful afternoon was had making this journal page using cheery colours on a very dull, rainy day with a nice big cup of tea (no cake though as I'm "trying" to be good).

Out on the table were Dylusion inks, paints and journal along with floral stamps and sentiments from Dawn Bibby Creations and a Lisa Horton (Creative Expressions) doodled borders stamp set,  bit of a strange mix maybe but I was confident it would all work together.

Hope you like it, I'm pleased with how it turned out and best of all it was a relaxing afternoon crafting.

Wonder what will be on the craft table next time I do some art journaling?

Until next time........

Happy crafting xx

Fantasy Papercraft Collection Card Samples

Just taking 10 mintues to sit here in the sun with a lovely cup of tea and no there is not cake or biscuits as I am really trying to be good.

Anyway, while pondering I realised a new blog post was required so here it is....

Last week on the craft table was the beautiful Fantasy Papercraft Collection from Dawn Bibby Creations & Craft Buddy.   Making sample cards with this kit was such a pleasure as there was so much in it to choose from including concept cards, foiled toppers, foiled card, twister pop up cards and more.

    

         

These are just a few of the cards I made for Dawn's shows on Hochanda, I hope you like them.

A bit of art journaling for me tomorrow maybe and then a craft room tidy up needs to happen before I begin my next project.

As I can now see the bottom of my cup and the teapot is empty work calls so until next time.........

Happy crafting xx

Fairies MAWTT Challenge

Bright and sunny here today and time for the MAWTT Challenge.

It was the turn of Janice to set the theme and she chose Fairies which I am sure is going to be a popular theme.  Here is my card, which I am afraid was a quick one as this month has been so busy both in my work and personal life.

It was made using the gorgeous, non-shedding glitter card from Dawn Bibby Creations, distressing inks, sparkle pens, heat embossing and some stamps that I had in my stash. 

Why not pop over and have a look at the other DT members cards for inspiration and enter at the same time. 

Hope you all have a great Bank Holiday weekend and that the weather is kind.

Off for a much needed cuppa so until next time........

Happy crafting xx

MDF Lanterns

Last week I had great fun working on the mdf lanterns for Crafty Buddy Ltd / Dawn Bibby Creations (as a member of their Design Team)  which were for the one day special launched at 8pm last night (Thursday 24th April 2017) on Hochanda.

There are four different designs available which you can see in the pictures below, the second picture shows the swirl design in pieces as it is delivered. There are also full instructions included in the pack.

This next picture shows how I decorated the first lantern in an "old gold" distressed look finish.  Firstly it was base coated with black gesso, then painted with Dylusions post box red acrylic which was sanded back when dry, the gold gilding wax was dry brushed over the top.  Dawn Bibby Creations periwinkle posy dies were used to cut the flowers and leaves, the swirl embellishments were cut from dies out of Dawn's Natures Bouquet die set.   

The next lantern I again painted with black gesso then two coats of the Dylusions post box red acrylic paint. I drilled holes around the cutout circle from the base that holds the battery powered candle and used little chains to add a fringe.  When the lantern had been put together gold gilding wax was then dry brushed over the top and I added a length of chain to give that Chinese Lantern look, just love this one hanging in my apple tree. 

Why not pop over to the Dawn Bibby Creations facebook page and the Craft Buddy Ltd facebook page to see more inspiration on decorating the lanterns from some of the other fantastic Design Team Members.

Time now to put the kettle on, make a cuppa and plan my next project so until next time.............

Happy crafting xx

Dawn Bibby Design Team

I am so proud to announce that I am part of the Dawn Bibby Design Team and get to work with some fantastic quality, gorgeous products that Dawn Bibby Creations with Craft Buddy will be bringing via Hochanda.

Tonight Dawn has launched a One Day Special which I, along with other Design Team Members have  been lucky enough to work with.

The clock sample was my absolute favourite make.  The round canvas are a dream to use, I will be doing a tutorial on this one over the next week or two.

Here are a few more images of samples that I made over the last 2 weeks.

I hope you like them,  I certainly enjoyed making them.

Need to order some more of the canvas and the ODS so until next time...... Happy crafting xx

How To Make The Crystal Card Art and Crystal Art Kits

A very quick post to let you know I have completed my first YouTube video, it was for Two Cats Crafts on how to make the Crystal Art Kits, I hope you enjoy it.

I will be doing more "How to.." video in the near future so if there is anything you would like me to cover please let me know.

Craft table is calling so until next time.........

Happy crafting xx

Rainbow or Rainbow Colours

For the latest challenge on (MAWTT) Moving Along With The Times blog the subject was rainbow or rainbow colours.

I used the stamps that came free with Issue 38 of Creative Stamping magazine, the set was called Whatever The Weather.  The stamped images were coloured with distress ink pens and ink pads.

Please excuse the photo, not the best quality but lighting was awful.

Why not pop over to the MAWTT blog and look at the cards made by the other DT members or enter the challenge yourself.   Looking forward to seeing all the entries.

Until next time........

Happy crafting x

Previous Makes

Morning All

Sitting at my desk with my morning cuppa looking at photos of some previous projects and thought I would share them with you.  Maybe some of you have seen them already but it will bring my blog a bit more up to date.   New makes will be posted more regularly as they are made or worked on which will be so much easier for me.

Here goes:-

I'm not brilliant at knitting but like to have a go, this was my first little hat made for Innocent Smoothie.  They put them on the bottles of smoothies which raises money for Age UK.  Some of the hats that are made look amazing and so detailed, somehow I think mine will stay quite plain but hopefully they will still help the cause.



Let me introduce Oscar the Owl, he was made for my craft room chair but now resides on my shelf so he can supervise what I do, he also has a green brother which I made for my youngest daughter.   Oscar was made using a Corinne Lapierre kit and his brother using the same pattern and some green felt bought from Corinne.  I have my eye on a few other kits from Corinne, they are so easy to make up and the felt is so soft.



This one is a wedding cracker made from parchment, the cracker groovi plate, lace and paper from a Simply Vintage pack and a few added embellishments from my stash.  I loved making this one, it was made for a Glue Dots show I demonstrated on Hochanda late last year.



These are a few images of Zauberperle 3D beaded ornaments I made for the relevant shows on Hochanda, these are so much fun to make and look stunning.  There was so many other designs and colourways but will leave those for another day.
     

This was one of my favourite makes from about 3 years ago, the ladies that came to the workshops I run for this loved them.   As you can see I did mine, which was their finished sample to look at on the day, in traditional colours but a few ladies painted theirs in blue, silver and purple which was lovely.  The kit is from Tando and started out as plain greyboard.



A page from one of my art journals using Dylusions sprays and stamps along with a few freebie stamps from magazines that worked well with the theme I wanted.



The last photo for today is a candle painted with Pebeo Deco acrylic using one of the Sheena Douglass paintfusion stamps.




Well I hope you liked them and I apologise now that there was so many but felt I needed to get them blogged.   The photos are not brilliant, I really do need to up my photography skills, but at least they show what I have been up to.

It must be time for another cuppa now so until next time...............

Happy crafting xx

Ring O' Roses

Morning all.

Its time for challenge 38 at the Moving Along With The Time Blog and the theme for Team A, chosen by Wendy, is Ring O' Roses - you don't have to use roses as any flowers will be ok.

This is the card I made

I wanted something ready for Mothers Day (it's ok, my Mum doesn't use a computer so won't see it), she likes cards that are pretty but not fussy so hoping this one will fit the bill.  

This design was coloured with promarkers, edged with gilding wax and a few pearls added, the sentiment was stamped using one from my crafty stash, edged with gilding wax and a few small gems as you have to have a bit of sparkle! 

Please take a minute to pop over to MAWTT and check out what the other Design Team Members have made for this challenge and while you are there why not join in, you never know you might win a surprise 😉 

Well, I hope you liked my card and thank you for reading my blog.

Kettle is now going on for a cuppa (doesn't matter what time you are reading this as I am always drinking tea!) so until next time.....

Happy crafting xx