Look what I've got...

....from my lovely friend Jo
Thank you very much, it is really appreciated. I'm going to revel in it for 24 hours before I pass it on! LOL

Knickers!

I came across this blog via Glitter Monkey's blog whilst blog hopping last week and found the template for this fab card. I decided it would be a perfect 'Good Luck' card for a friend who opened her first salon on Tuesday doing hair, nails and spray tanning. She is also selling my jewellery, tiaras and cards. It should be two separate cards but I used the templates on both sides of mine.

This is the front (obviously) LOL

And this is the back!

Papers and paper frills are by Doodlebug. I will have another one to show later as it isn't quite finished.

The next card was ordered by a friend.Papers are K & Co and Craftwork Cards. 60th were cut on the Robo and the backing was embossed using a Cuttlebug die. All finished with a piece of navy and white gingham ribbon.

I will be back later as I have a load of cards to make so feel the challenge templates might just come in handy. :)

Tagged!

Jo has tagged me with the Middle Name Game! These are the rules:-

1. You must post the rules before you give your answers.
2. You must list one fact about yourself for each letter of your middle name. Each fact must begin with that letter. If you don't have a middle name, just use your maiden name.
3. After you've been tagged, you need to up-date your blog with your middle name and answers.
4. At the end of your post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and need to read your blog for details).

My middle name is Eleanor (after my maternal grandmother-I used to hate it as a child but quite like it now!)
Emotional and even more so as I'm getting older-I can cry at anything :)
Love spending time at home with my family.
Elderly mum too (see Jo's blog :)) I had my third child at the age of 36 and was considered a 'mature' mum!
Am a SAHM who is lucky enough to craft for a living
Nearly my birthday LOL
Older bride too. DH and I have only been married for three years but have been together for eight.
Really glad that I got to the end of this ;) It was blooming hard with the letters I've got.

Now I need to tag seven people so I tag Samm, Louise, Hazel, Rhi, Lisababe, Jo, Andrea sorry girls!!

I love my hubby.....

...........so I might just save this card for him for Valentine's day :) I've made it this afternoon for the DCM dare which was from Jo "My dare this week is 'Foiled!' -I would like you to utilise some plain old aluminium (aluminum for our friends across the pond!) foil from your kitchen :). You can scrunch it, die cut it, emboss it, ink it, coil it, cover chipboard - or anything else that you choose!"

The copper card was embossed using a Cuttlebug folder and mounted onto a piece of ivory card. The large heart is chipboard covered with tin foil. I got one in one of the lovely kits from the Scrummy Stash cafe and use it as a template. The card was finished with a red heart shaped brad and a greeting from a Letraset rub on pack.

Cuttlebug embossing folders

Leigh has posted a "Just for fun" challenge on the Just Bex forum and here is what she said "Ok so a while back, a few of us vowed to do something inspiring with the little cuttlebug folders we have gathering dust. here is a wedding card I made this week using one." I made a couple of cards a while ago which fit the brief.
The folders were used on the first one 'as they come', on the second card I used Bazzill card and just rubbed over the embossed square with an emery board!

First Birthday

I made the following card last night for a friend's granddaughter's first birthday. I really love making acetate cards for special birthdays as it isn't something you can buy in the shops.

Papers are K & Co, as are the 3D stickers. The card is finished with Bubblgum brads by Doodlebug and a couple of diamantes. I scanned it instead of photographing it and after I had packed it I realised I didn't have a pic of it open, doh! I shall enter the card for the blog candy offered on Anna's blog
Will be back later as I have a couple more challenges to catch up on and it's DCM day but first I must do a bit of housework and go to the post office. Why does life have to get in the way of crafting? LOL

Wanna scrap?

I managed two this morning, both for challenges on the JB forum The first is for a challenge set by Sue "So RIBBONS is the theme of this challenge not a few!!! LOTS we want you to create something using LOADS OF RIBBON hence the title RIBBONS GALORE - lets face it you can never use enough!"

The photos on the page above were from my parents' golden wedding anniversary/renewal of vows in October last year. Papers used were Je T'aime by My Minds Eye (I adore this paper at the moment) the 50 years was cut from Bazzill Bling using a Robo template downloaded from UK Scrappers last year. I have forgotten which clever person made this template but if it was you then I am very grateful-thank you. I put one of the readings from the ceremony inside the seed stick book with the date on, and the page was finished with one of these amazing flowers from this clever lady

It isn't as good as the ones she makes but I'm quite pleased as it was my first time. I added a bit of bling to the flower centre and the large photo.

My next page is another from our wedding. This was for another challenge on Just Bex but this time it was set by Lis. For this one she says "Lets get you in the mood for valentines... ...this next challenge is a nice easy one. Your theme is LOVE You can choose to make a card (1 point) or alter something (2 points) or a LO (3 points) but the word Love needs to appear on your project please". I'm getting there slowly with our wedding scrapbook album. We have about 300 photos from our day including our 'proper' wedding album so it's quite difficult choosing which ones to use.

I think the patterned paper is Creative Impressions. The large heart is cut using Sizzix heart dies #1 and #2 and the back of a notepad. I then cut the same shape in cream card and stamped it with small gold hearts using a Hero Arts stamp. Ribbon is from Ribbon Oasis as usual. The small heart is cut from gold mirri card using a Sizzix Primitive heart die. The word love shows up better on the next two pictures. :)

Papermania and Prima flowers have been used to finish my page off.

I spent this morning scrapping whilst waiting for a parcel to come so I could start a wedding order I was almost disappointed when the postman rang the bell!!

Princess Katie!

Lisa set this challenge over on the Just Bex forum

Anyway...please use your imagination and creativity for this next challenge. I was like you to make a card with 1 or more blooms, BUT you are not allowed to use primas, silk flowers, ready made chip boards, punches or dies....get the just of this challenge? And just sticking flowery parper or card stock down is also not allowed. It needs to be something that we can see you've created.

I just love this photo and have wanted to 'scrap' it for ages but wasn't sure how to show it off. Katie's friend took the photo last year on her mobile phone and her dad has always called her his princess. I bought the spotty paper yesterday from Pink Petticoat and knew I had to use it with the photo and this is what I came up with.

The journalling is on a pull out tag behind the photo.
Materials used are Papermania card, Playboy ribbon was a freebie with the Playboy bedding she got for Christmas, flower was embossed onto silver mirri card on the Majestic keepsake board and cut out by hand, the metal 'Princess' word was a gift from my Secret Santa on Crafts by Carolyn for Christmas 2006!! (I have been waiting for a 'special' photo so I could use it!) and the large brad was in a kit from Scrummy Stash Cafe Die cuts are Quickutz and Ellison Thin Cuts and the flat back gems are from my craft box.
Off to do another quick LO for a different challenge then it's a quick burst of housework before I settle in my craft room for the rest of the day :))

Blush!

I have just been directed to the Pink Petticoat blog by my fabby friend Jo and was absolutely amazed at Liz's post...........thanks Liz and thanks to Jo too for pointing me in that direction :) I'm a happy bunny! Liz has my runner up card on her blog, yay!

Another quick one....

.....for hubby to take to work tonight. He has two functions this evening but as one is a corporate 'do' he only needs one card for the other one-a male birthday party.

This is what I came up with.

The stamp is by Anna Griffin and it has to be one of my favourites. I think it is very simple but very effective. It is just stamped onto white card using a black Versafine ink pad then mounted onto a piece of black pearlescent card. I'm not sure about the paper as I have thrown the label away but I think it might be from one of the Doodlebug 'Let's Kit Together' kits. The ribbon is just a piece of grosgrain from my ribbon box and the white brads are from Crafts by Carolyn.

Kathy's Dare!

As you may have gathered from my title it's Kathy's turn to set the dare over on the Daring Cardmakers blog and here is what she is looking for.

Okay, for my dare we're heading to the playground for a game of Hide & Seek. I'd like you to make a card which has a hidden component of some sort.The hidden part could be a tag, a concealed photo, message or something along those lines, maybe a pull-out or pop-up.Anything goes as long as there's something extra for the recipient to find on your card that's not immediately visible when they open the envelope.I knew straight away what I wanted to achieve but didn't know what image to use on the card front! After stamping and embossing quite a few images this is what I came up with, I hope you like it.

I'm not sure what happened with the scan of the first image but the photo anchor is pink! The main stamp on the front of the card is from the Doodlebug Wedding set, the pink brad is also by Doodlebug, white organza ribbon is from Ribbon Oasis, lips stamp is Anita's and the photo anchor is Papermania.

If you stop by and look at my work please let me know. You don't have to comment if you don't want to......just say Hi! I am receiving hits from all over the world now and would really love to 'meet' some of the people who stop by. I will always leave a message by return.

Thanks for dropping by :)

My craft room

I don't think I've actually entered one of these blog candy posts before but I thought I would have a go at this one. I am really proud of my craft room. To some it will always look messy no matter what I do to it and it is definitely shrinking (!) but it is all mine and it cost us (Only Joking ) a lot of money so I could have it..............we had to have a conservatory built as this was the dining room :))

It doesn't actually look too bad to say that I've been working all week. I have to share the room with hubby. He has his desk and pc etc behind where I was stood to take this last photo. I keep trying to move him into the cupboard under the stairs with the coats and tumble drier, but he's not having any!!! LOL

Thank you

I received this beautiful card on Wednesday morning from Jo, a new blogging friend. It really brightened what was otherwise a grim, wet day.
Thanks again Jo, it made my day (and I bought those papers this morning *oops*)

Finally.........

I've got half an hour to update my blog!

First off is the DCM Little Extra - Now, as you are probably aware, both Lynne and Gillian sadly stepped down from the Design team recently, and all though the DCM team's door is always open for them, we thought it would be nice to pay a little tribute to them in appreciation for all their wonderful work during their time on the DCM design team. Lythan came up with an idea that we make a card in the 'style' of either Lynne or Gillian's cards. Or maybe pick your favourite of theirs and use an element from their cards on your own card. Everyone has their own style- we thought it might be a little challenge to try out a different style for a change! I decided to go with Lynne's 'style' albeit loosely! This was ordered by my friend Sue and her brief was just that...........brief!! A 'special' wedding anniversary card for Rob (her husband) and an equally special card for their son's birthday. I decided on the acetate card for Rob and the 'Lynne influence' is in the stitching, embossing and inking on the front (nowhere near Lynne's talent though). I ran some blue card through the Big Shot with a Cuttlebug folder and cut the hearts with one of the large Sizzix heart dies, I think it was #2. One was cut in dark blue and one in light blue and I just layered them one on top of the other and mounted them on the card. The acetate is from Joanna Sheen.

This was a card lift from one, made for a challenge, by the lovely Sue and this is it. Cute eh?

The next order I finished was for an exploding box.
Papers are a mix of Papermania, English Paper Company (who sadly are no more), ribbons are from Ribbon Oasis and the bits and pieces are from my many craft boxes.

I made the following card last night for another very good customer who likes the Sizzix figures. They are going to Barcelona next weekend for a friend's 30th birthday and this was the request....." Its my friends 30th and we are going to barcelona for weekend and thought a card with us 5 girls on the front with Happy 30th Birthday Becky and maybe barcelona here we come on the bottom or something. Our hair colours are me ginger, 2 long brown, 1 blond and 1 becky short brown. Just put us all in the same thing, like pink tshirt or something."

The orange and yellow papers represent the Spanish flag and the rest is self explanatory. The glasses are silver mirri card. Becky's badge is die cut 30 on a small red circle and covered with Glossy Accents.

I have another card to blog but that one deserves a post on it's own so I will do that one next then I shall do this weeks DCM dare as I have another card to make before I carry on with wedding stationery.

Another challenging day!

Why is it when you have something you really must do, it's harder to get your head round? I should be designing some new wedding stationery ready for a wedding fayre in a couple of weeks and what have I been doing?.............Colouring!!! Well I have actually been stamping, colouring, mounting and making cards for challenges! Tomorrow I do wedding stationery. LOL

So firstly we have the DCM challenge

Me and My Shadow

Hiya fellow darers, Jane here ! How are you all ? This weeks dare is a hard one !! Sorry everyone, but it had to be done !! :)
I want you to create not just one but TWO cards ! But wait........there's more ! I want both cards to contain the same embellishments and papers, ribbons etc- but arranged in a different way for a different occasion....the only thing being different is the wording....I'll let you have different wording ! (How nice of me eh?) I'm well aware this is a really hard challenge, and that I have thrown everyone into 2008 off the deep end....but go on- give it a go - I DARE YOU !

The stamp used on both is Hamish in kilt who I think is just adorable! He is coloured again with the shimmer paints from The Works (courtesy of Lisababe) (I know the darker blue is Phoebe by Basic Grey but not sure which one as I'd cut the bottom off :)) The lighter paper and star brads are from my stash and I think the round swirl brads were from one of the kits from Scrummy Stash Cafe Greetings were done on the laptop.

My next card is for another challenge, this time over on the JB forum and this time it's a template.

Again the image was stamped and coloured with the paints. The paper is pink haze and was embossed in the Big Shot with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. Ribbon and ballet shoe button are from stash.

My final challenge was a Di Hickman template and this is it.

Another card for DH to give to a couple for whom he is DJing. I love this lily stamp but only 'rediscovered' it just before Christmas. Charms and paper from stash.

The following cards were made simply because I had the images painted, on my desk! Rubber stamps for both of these cards are from Pixie Dust on ebay, charms and ribbon are from stash and the papers again are from my scrap box.

The final image (as if you didn't know) is City Divine by Penny Black. Flowers are Prima and the brad is Doodlebug.

Today is my stationery day. I am actually waiting to start a wedding order. I ordered all the card last week and it came on Wednesday but part of the order was missing and I can't start it till the pink card gets here, as it's an important element in the design.This is my reason for being up an about so early on a Saturday-to catch the delivery man if he comes, so he doesn't put a card through the door thinking we're out. I did start blogging last night but it was after 11pm and I was tired. I actually sat and watched tv for a change. I still feel lousy after the horrid cold I've had for the last 9 weeks. I went to see the do last Monday only to be told that I have a severe chest infection and my right lung is filling up with fluid. He gave me antibiotics and I have to go back on Monday to see if I need a stronger dose. :(

I am now going to make another cup of coffee, add my cards to the relevant challenge places and blog hop for a while. There are some seriously talented people around out there and the diffent styles etc are so inspirational.

Enjoy your weekend, thanks for looking. X

It's raining, it's pouring

What a grotty day! It is cold and grey and very very wet and my poor little daffodil has finally shown it's pretty little face!It's now got a friend next to it about to open!

Now for a few cards made over the last day or so.

All the images have been stamped using black Versafine ink and coloured with my paints from the Works. Backing papers and card are all from my scrap box (es!)

Thanks for looking.

Papercraft Essentials

DH came home this evening with my copy of Papercraft Essentials and I was thrilled to see my 'runner up' card in it. Up until now I didn't know which of my cards had been chosen and I couldn't remember which ones I'd sent in!! Anyway, it is there (middle right), in print and I can't stop smiling.......it's like winning all over again (or should I say runner upping!!)and this is the card in the flesh

Paper and image are both Pink Petticoat (thanks Liz).

Double dare

This card incorporates the DCM Little Extra which states

We want to see your Crafty Christmas Presents ! Make a card using a new toy you had for Christmas, or in fact any crafty goodies that you received. Its a great chance to try out all your new toys/papers/embellishments! We'd love to see what crafty presents Santa dropped into your stocking....

and the second January challenge at Just Bex which is

Ok so a Card Challenge for you all to play along with. This is a new idea for a challenge so we will see how / if it works! This is all about using the shapes you are given somewhere on your card. They can be any size but you MUST use all the shapes somewhere. You can add additional embellishments etc as much as you like. So the shapes you have to incorporate into your card are

and here is my masterpiece!!

Santa didn't actually drop the stamp into my stocking but he did leave me an envelope with some money in so I could buy something I needed (so I decided that I needed some more of the Sugar Nellie stamps ;) ) This one is Dress up Maggie. She is coloured with the pearly paints from The Works. Backing paper on the corners is K & Co and the brads are Doodlebug. For the challenge on JB the four triangles are at the corners, two circles are the brads, two rectangles are the large image mat and the greeting and finally the three squares are the card, the image and the square image mat!

Scrap attack

Well I finally managed my scrap page for the first challenge of the year on Just Bex set by Sue

So our FIRST challenge for 2008 is a Scrappin' one We would like a LO - at least 8 x 8 - showing your 2007 highs or lows or whatever depicts 2007 for YOU

and here is my page

I'm still not a very confident scrapper but I do enjoy it (and I like buying paper!) but I'm hoping that confidence will come with experience. I've been scrapping properly for about 8 months now and love getting inspiration from all over the internet including page maps. The flowers are a mixture of Papermania and Prima, the 2007 is cut on the Robo and the wording is Wingo Zingo Sizzlit die. Not sure where the spotty paper is from.
I'm now going to try to do the next challenge and have a look at the little extra as I've a couple of cards I need to make.