Papermania two in one!

Challenges/Dares that is. I've managed to combine the Daring Cardmakes challenge from Tuesday (This week we are looking at the 3rd Anniversary and traditional and modern gifts for the 3rd Anniversary is:-Leather or crystal/glass) with Di Hickman's blog sketch from WednesdayDH is working tonight and is DJing at a civil partnership function so this is the card I made for him.

Backing paper and squares are cut from the Exquisite Paper Collection 6 x 6 pad by Papermania, flowers are by Prima with little pearls in the centres ( a la DCM dare-glass!) tiaras and hearts are Quickutz cut from mirri card and the sentiment was generated on the pc.

I've made a couple more cards this week but can't show them yet as they are for the next four weeks sketches on Di's blog. Wait till you see them, they are fab!!

I am in the process of finishing 108 place cards for a wedding order then I need to make a birthday card for my great nephew who will be 3 on Tuesday and make a 30th birthday card for an order from a friend who wants anything to do with kayaking for her son!!!

Page Plans

I've just completed my card for the Page Plans weekly sketch so I thought I'd better upload it before I forget! I've also finished the few Father's Day cards for the shop so I can kill two birds (well three) with one stone :)

The papers and flower are from the My Mind's Eye kit I bought last week. They are just gorgeous :) The sentiment is a rub on and I finished the cards with self adhesive pearls.

The stamps are from one of the mini sets by Tanda Stamps and I have to admit it's the first time I've used them although I bought them last year *oops* The papers are from the Basic Grey 6 x 6 boxer pad.

My last card is one I made on Saturday for a couple of business acquaintances who got married on Sunday. DH DJ'ed at the reception.

The stamp is by Elzybels and a bit of colour was added using Sakura glitter pens.

Monday, Monday

.........and boy can we tell it's a bank holiday here in the UK. What a miserable windy day. I shall cheer myself up a little later with a bit of beading me thinks :) DH has gone to work today and is having a day off later in the week so hopefully we will be able to get out for a while. We might just head to the coast for fish and chips and a donut..............how very British LOL

I've done another couple of challenges over the weekend as I needed a couple more Father's Day cards. The first is from Friday Sketchers Sketch 3

and Stamp Something whose remit was The challenge this week is "Faux Something." We'd like to see you fake us out with your clever faux creations! There are so many different techniques out there, give one a try. Check out the samples made by our design team for some inspiration. We tried faux stitching, faux silk, faux leather, faux linen, faux ribbon and faux metal. My "faux something" are the chipboard letters spelling the word "DAD" They are cut from two layers of card topped off with a layer from one of the K & Co mat pads. The other papers are Three Bugs, page frill is Doodlebug and the star is Cherry Arte.

The next two cards are to pop round to the shop in the morning. Both images were coloured with my Prismas and Sansador and the little rugby player charm is made from shrink plastic. The papers and ribbon are all from my scrap box.

Daring Friday

Only just!! I finally managed to get the dare card done on the same day as the dare is posted :)

It's Sue's turn to set the challenge this week...............I’m sure that most of us girlies had a bead box when we were little and if you were like me, would spend hours sorting and swapping them with friends. Come to think of it, things haven’t changed that much because I still have a box of beads and I’m hoping that you do too.For my dare this week I would like you to make a card that incorporates beads somewhere in the design…..it’s as easy as that!It can be one bead, lots of beads, big beads, and small beads, whatever you like as long as there’s at least one on your card somewhere.

I was playing around with my new Prisma coloured pencils and Sansodor and this is the first image I coloured. The paper is from my new 3 Bugs pad which came the other day and I bought the fishy beads about three years ago and opened them this evening for this challenge! The 'wave' (not scalloped :)) page frill is by Doodlebug.

Have a great weekend.

Yesterday............

....all my troubles seem so far away :) I won't sing any more, the weather is glorious and I'd hate to make it rain!
Last night I realised that I hadn't made a birthday card for DH's niece who's birthday it is on Tuesday so had to be quick as it had to be in the post this morning. Thanks to Di Hickman's sketch for this week I managed it.

Paper is from the English Paper Company and the die cuts are Quickutz and Sizzix with the cake being paper pieced.

I had a client come to collect some jewellery yesterday evening so I can show it here now.

The lady was thrilled with them. She is going to a wedding next week and has the most stunning lilac dress and wanted jewellery to match.

Right, back to work now as I have a client coming at 10. Whatever you are up to this bank holiday weekend, have a fab one..................I'll be working on and off.

Thanks for looking.

Blog Candy

Look what I've got through the post!

I would like to say a huge thank you to Kath for all this wonderful candy. As well as the Brenda Pinnick album there are papers, chipboard letters, embellishments, flowers, buttons, ribbons and fibres! Wow, it's fab.

I also got a couple of little bits yesterday from A Card 4 U

3 Bugs paper pad, Just Dreamin kit from My Minds Eye and some Bazzill card. Oh and some card bags (my mum wanted a corner rounder which was £4.50 and it was free p & p over £25, so naturally I had to make the order up! LOL) Prisma pencils and blending stumps were from ebay :) I am very pleased with my little lot but I know it will stay in the drawer for a while for a couple of reasons..............1. I am too busy to do any proper crafting (I mean which hasn't been ordered) an 2. i have loads of paper pieces still which I'm trying to use up.

Have to go back to work now as I have appointments right through to 5 today. If you come to look, please let me know by leaving a comment even if you don't like my work. It's just lovely to see where my visitors come from :)

More, more, more!

First up is the sketch challenge from Di Hickman's blog last Wednesday...........slightly late but it's here ;)Blooms are Prima and Papermania, paper is K & Co and the white card has been Cuttlebugged, ric rac and ribbon from stash.

Next is the Daring Cardmakers challenge from last Friday which was set by Mel and she said 'I've based my dare on the book by Graeme Base called 'Animalia' (just because that book happened to be sitting near my desk when I realised it was my turn for the dare this week).
So, all you have to do is create a card featuring an animal.'

Paper is Sugared by Basic Grey and one of the wedding pads by K & Co, lovebirds stamp is by Pixiedust on ebay and the greeting is a rub on. I'm not sure if birds are classed as animals or just birds so just in case they're not, there are a couple of giraffes on the paper! LOL

And the next one please is another lovely template. This time it's from Friday Sketchers

Papers this time are Basic Grey and Dovecraft, paper frills are by Doodlebug, flowers are Prima and the image was stamped by my lovely friend Jo at Only Joking

I've also managed a couple of challenges from Just Bex Challenge 4 was set by Sarah and was to make a gift bag from a brown paper envelope. This is my first attempt but will definitely give this another go It also fits this week's challenge on the new Stamp Something blog which says For this week, create a little something to say thank you. It's a phrase we say all the time, but sometimes you just need to show people you really mean it. It can be a card, a gift, a scrapbook page or what ever. Just a little something to say thank you!

And last but not least, a couple of cards from Leigh's template challenge on JB.

I missed the challenge weekend by a mile but with the help of the templates etc I've managed to get a couple of anniversary cards made for the shop tomorrow :) Papers again are Papermania and K & Co, flowers are Prima, sentiment is a Lettraset rub on and everything else is from my stash.

So now back to jewellery making and wedding stationery and I will need to get to bed before the dreaded one o'clock like last night as I am at the shop again tomorrow.

Back soon, thanks for looking. xx

Card Sketches and templates

I think I've mentioned before how I love sketches :) and as I have a pile of cards to make today, I thought I would take advantage of all the new sketches/templates posted on some of the challenge blogs and forums. The first one I finished at 12.45 this morning!It was Chris's turn this week to provide the sketch and it is brilliant as usual. Have a hop over to the Page Plans blog and see some of the DT cards, they are fab!

This card is part of a three card order. One to a granddaughter and two to the little girls from the dogs. This is the first. The paw was copied ruffly (sorry!) from a paw print rubber stamp and enlarged on the photocopier. Papers are Basic Grey, English Paper Company and DCWV, the name is spelt out in silver coloured brads and the sentiment was done on the PC.

I will be back later as I have quite a few cards to make as I have a day off from the salon, then tomorrow is my last day as my friend will be back at work on Wednesday.

TFL xx

Exploding box

I managed this whilst looking after a friend's salon this week. It was ordered by a friend of a friend whose son had been travelling with his girlfriend and missed Christmas, Easter and their birthdays, hence all the different themes running through the box :)

Assorted bits and pieces and assorted papers are from my stash!

I took an order yesterday for three cards to be delivered on Monday and my desktop is littered with challenges and templates so I shall now see if I can use some for the cards. I have mum and dad coming for lunch tomorrow but should be able to craft tomorrow evening too and the salon isn't open on Monday so I get all day to catch up with my work....................then play :)

See you soon.

Happy birthday to you!

This week's Little Extra at Daring Cardmakers is

Paper or Clocks
Another Midweek challenge based on the traditional and modern gift lists for Wedding AnniversariesThis time we've chosen the 3rd Anniversary, so you have the choice ofPaper or Clocks to inspire your card making this week - which is nice and easy don't you think?Remember, your card doesn't have to be an anniversary card, it can be for any occasion, we're just using the themes for inspiration purposes!

It's a friend's birthday tomorrow and she is off to Malaga for a week (lucky so and so :)) so I took her birthday card and pressie round today. She opened her pressie (but not her card) and was really chuffed. I made her a pink Swarovski phone charm as she loves all things pink, hence the card! Bodice is Stampendous, patterned paper is Pink Petticoat and ribbon is from Ribbon Oasis feathers and flowers are from my stash. Sentiment was generated on the pc and made to look like a clock with the hands being cut from the top half of the Eiffel Tower die by Quickutz.

I may be awol for a few days as I'm looking after the salon while Caron is sunning herself in Spain. She stocks my cards and jewellery so it's the least I could do and I'm about to sort some of my work to take with me. I also want to take some stamped images to colour so I have some in reserve.

Right, got to go now as I have to go and spend some money on beads (purely in the line of business you understand! LOL)

Back soon, take care and thanks for looking.

Another day.....

..............another (dollar :)) thank you card! This time I've used the new Page Plans card sketch 7 and I'm really pleased with the result.Spotty paper is by Junkitz, blue and pink card is Bazzill and the flowers are Prima. The blue corner card has been run through the Swiss Dots embossing folder by Cuttlebug and edged with pink ribbon. The greeting this time is the flower centre attached with a large pink spotty brad.

More fab news and a thank you....

....card!

Anyway, my news first. I did the challenge on the Page Plans and won!! How fab was my weekend. All that and wall to wall sunshine makes Jackie one very happy lady!!! :)

My customers seem to be a really polite bunch at the moment. I made the following card on Saturday, posted another one out this morning and a friend ordered one to be collected on Wednesday. Oh and I'm also making another 100 as part of a wedding stationery order.

This card was again made with last week's Page Plans sketch. The papers are Papermania, flowers are a mix of Prima and Papermania held together with a sugar coated brad by Doodlebug and the sentiment is Quickutz Olivia.

Thanks for looking :)

Guest Book

The guest book is from an order sent out during the week and I really enjoyed doing it.

I found it quite difficult to photograph though as the background on the book is silver mirri card and it kept reflecting my image, which is why I took it outside!! It's a hen weekend guest book and the girls are going to Edinburgh for the weekend hence the Scottish flag. The glass was cut from acetate and the edges were glittered using iridescent glitter. The details of the weekend are on the tag attached to the ribbon.

Take care and enjoy the sunshine.

I've won, I've won

Who's a lucky girl then.............I've just logged on only to find out that I am a winner of blog candy over on Kath's blog Whoo hoo, I've won a Brenda Pinnick album, thanks Kath and Brodie :)

Rock a bye baby

I came into my studio last night to make a birthday card for DH for work tonight, two thank you cards and a birthday card for a teenager and this is what I ended up with!

I'm not sure where the idea for this one came from but I'm really pleased with it and it also fits the first challenge on a brand new blog called Stamp Something and this is what they were looking for OK, now to the challenge! This whole endeavor is a first for all of us, so in keeping with the theme of "Firsts," our challenge this week will be "First Somethings." Challenge yourself to try something entirely new. Attempt a new layout or color combination or a new technique or fancy fold/card style that you've been wanting to try but have been putting off. You could also just keep with the theme of "Firsts" and make a card for a first birthday, a first baby, a first house, a first car, or any other first you can think of. Keep it as simple or as complicated as you'd like.

The image was sat on my desk from playing with my new stamps the other day. It's another Maggie stamp and I thought it was perfect for a new baby card (I plan to make another one later in blue) The curtains were cut from Pink Petticoat paper, the 'wallpaper' is from The Funky One Bows and peel off are from my stash.
The second card is the one I came to make for DH. He is DJing a 50th birthday party this evening and always takes a card for the client.

The numbers are handcut again using a paper from The Funky One by Anice, the background has been Cuttlebugged using the Swiss Dots folder and the birthday cake is a Sizzlit die.

My last card for now is one of the thank you cards I needed to make.

Paper is from one of the new Papermania 6x6 pads, the stamp is Hero Arts coloured with pearlescent paints and tied with pale pink organza ribbon and the greeting is from Craftwork Cards. Sorry about the naff photo but it was taken at about 11.15 last night.

Now I need to make another thank you card and a birthday card for a teenage girl and then back to the stationery.

Whatever you are up to this weekend, have a good one. Thanks for looking.

Blog Candy

Michelle over at The Card Grotto has some fab blog candy on offer to celebrate receiving 40,000 hits on her blog (how brilliant is that) and she only started last August............if you saw her work you would know why.

Another dare, a sketch and er...another sketch

Well, I am more or less caught up with all the bits and pieces I need to do thanks to assorted dares, challenges and sketches etc.! So here are another three, the first one being the Daring Cardmakers
This week we have a team dare for you ....and we have been looking at Recycling once again. BUT there is a tiny twist! (you'd expect no less eh?) We want you to have a look at old shop bought greetings cards, wrapping paper or gift bags which you have received in the past and recycle any elements to make a card of your own.You could use them to make backgrounds, cut small focus pieces out, or use the flowers, ribbon and other interesting bits and pieces that are often attached to the cards.The card I used for the squares was part of the spine of a card I received about three years ago. I liked it enough to cut it off but didn't know what to do with it, thanks DCM :) Letters were cut on the Robo and the flowers are Cuttlebug.
The next one is for Di Hickman's sketch this week (which is quite good as I only did last week's yesterday!!!)

This is rugby Hamish, another one of my new stamps. He is coloured with my cheapy water colours and is just so sweet. Paper is K & Co.

My last card this time is for the Page Plans blog and is another sketch.

This is another one of my new stamps from Pixiedust and I love it. Paper is K & Co with a doodled border (!) and everything else is from my stash.

I still have two thank you and a teenager birthday cards to make (as well of millions of wedding related things :)) but I shall do those this evening and then have a blog hop, which I haven't done properly for ages. Thanks to those of you who have been kind enough to leave comments on my blog and I will be paying you a visit shortly :)

I'm now going outside to pull a few more weeds and take advantage of this glorious weather. The joys of working at home :)) Thanks for looking. xx

A dare, a challenge and one for luck

I managed a couple of challenges before bed last night as I have a couple of orders to do, but was too tired to blog. The DCM Little Extra on Tuesday was

This week we are hoping to inspire you with the modern and tradional gifts for the5th Anniversary, which is Wood or Silverwarewhich has been randomly picked- just to keep you on your toes ! :)Do with it what ever you wish, it doesn't have to be aniversary card, just inspired by the gift theme.

I only just got this one in before the new dare comes out today! Papers are from the Antique Cream 6 x 6 Papermania pad and the glasses are from a Thin Cuts die.

The next card is for the challenge on the Cute Card Thursday blog. This is the remit this week Gems and JewelsThis week our challenge is to use gems or jewels on your card, it's as easy as that!The pink gingham paper is from the 'Kate' pad by Making Memories and everything else is from my stash. The image is Penny Black and was stamped for me by my friend Jo a little while ago. I wanted to see if I could do them justice with my colouring before I succumbed and bought some and Jo sent me loads! I decided that they were too cute to use which is why they haven't seen the light of day until now. :)

And here is the one for luck! I bought some stamps last week and this is the first time I've had the chance to use them.

The image is another stamp by Pixiedust on ebay. Sally-Ann is a fab seller and I love her stamps. I coloured the image with my sparkly water colours from the Works (UK) and matted it onto pale pink card. The papers are this time I think are by Dovecraft. I've lost the front cover from the pack which is why I'm not sure LOL Ribbon is from RIbbon Oasis and the crystals are from my stash.

I still have some cards to make so hopefully I will be able to use a couple more challenges for those.

Thanks for reading, take care.