Scruff's Corner

WOYWW 138

2012-01-25T11:24:00.000Z

Yes folks, it's that day again. Not much going on on the Scruff's Corner desk this morning (see post below) so I'm taking the time to sort out my wedding stationery albums and am also redesigning my brochures ready for tomorrow.

He did take a break from about 2 am and I'm just waiting to see if I can turn it on.....I daren't incase he hasn't managed to sort it lol

If you want to know more about these mad crafters who post pictures of their desks on a Wednesday then take a trip over to Julia's Stamping Ground for more information.

Thanks for dropping by.

What a day!!

2012-01-25T00:05:00.002Z

What makes insignificant little geeks sit in their lonely abodes and spend the days writing viruses? I picked one up, on my lap top, this afternoon and my poor son has been sat for nine hours so far trying to sort it all out for me!

I was having a mooch around the internet this afternoon trying to look for wedding stationery colour trends for and all of a sudden my lap top went stupid. However, the virus showed itself as a system checker and it was only when I couldn't get rid of it by running task manager and shut down that I realised something was wrong.

I'm up to my eyes in stationery orders at the mo and have the first in a series of wedding fayres starting on Thursday evening and am having to redesign my invitation album all at the same time, so this I can definitely live without, you little grot!!

Of course it goes without saying that I haven't backed up any files and both my C and D drives appear to have been trashed :( Luckily though, hubby did my accounts for me at the end of October and he still has a copy on his machine and when we had my old lap top fixed just before Christmas I never wiped any of the files off it so it is still how it was on the day I knocked it off the arm of the settee and DD2 hasn't wiped anything from it either. DS appears to have managed to save my Party Nights folder which has all of my wedding work, photos etc in it so I think I should be ok once he can sort it for me. He is busy clearing everything off it now ready to reinstall Windows in the morning. I shall make do with working on this one until after Friday and then start sorting out my folders etc.
....and after all that it hasn't worked :( He has run spyware, malaware, and heaven knows what other 'aware and is no further forward than he was when he started. The newest report is that the files appear to be hiding behind whatever the virus has dumped onto my machine. It looks as though it might have to go into the poorly lap top hospital which isn't good really as I have three wedding orders on the go and the files are on that machine.

I think I might just go and sit in a corner, bury my head in my hands and cry *sob*

Anyway, I did manage a couple of quick challenges this morning

These stamps are from the same Seedee set I used the other day for the dress card I made. I don't know what any of the papers are today as they are all from my pink snippet file. The gems, button and ribbon are all from my stock. The challenges I'm entering the card into are as follows
Pollycraft - Warm It Up (as in teapot ;))

DCM - Kitchenalia

Colour Create - pink, green and a handmade flower

Secret Crafter - food and drink

Passion For Promarkers- recycle (the ribbon on the flower is from a blouse)

Delightful Challenges - distress / vintage

Thanks for looking, see you tomorrow :)

Going Buggy

2012-01-22T11:49:00.001Z

Well here we are at the start of another week. Does it seem a heck of long time since Christmas when in fact it was only four weeks ago!!

It is terribly windy outside which is blowing rain clouds over occasionally so I plan to spend the majority of the day in my craft room :)

So my first card of the week is for the new Going Buggy challenge. Enfys' challenge is to use

GREY, WHITE AND RED or Black,White and Red. I've used the black colour combination however my border does fade to grey (there a song in there somewhere :))

The flower 'paper' is actually a Stampin Up wheel which I have had for a couple of years and keep forgetting I've got it. I have a few of them and I could do with getting them out with the rest of my stamps. The red scripted paper is from Pink Petticoat,the flowers are Prima, the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards and the gems, brad and ribbon are from my stash.

I'm also adding my card to the Cute Card Thursday - their challenge is music and dance

Di's Snippet Challenge #4

Something blue.....

2012-01-20T15:23:00.000Z

I was playing with some blue papers the other day, making my DT card with the lovely blue freebie paper from Funky Hand, when I decided to make a start on an album for the sister of a very special friend of mine. Carol was 50 the week before Christmas and wanted an album to put her birthday photos in.

I've used the sketch, again on it's side, from Kathy's Waffle Sketch File image is a See Dee stamp from years ago, it is one of my favourite clothes stamps but I always forget about it, and am going to add my page to the following challenges

Pixie's Crafty Snippet challenge as the small pieces of paper are Funky Hand snippets (I must be heading for a turn on the roundabout now :))

Anything Goes Challenge blog and their challenge this week is Anything Goes

Funky Hand - January Blues

Secret Crafter - Anything goes with blue

Sir Stampalot - Monochromatic

Thanks for looking!

Snippets

2012-01-20T13:10:00.000Z

I'm hoping that Di might let me have a go on the slide as well as the swings now I have managed another Snippet card

I turned these bits (without the images)

into this card

with the addition of a Prima flower and a diamante.

Feathers

2012-01-20T13:02:00.001Z

I posted this picture of my desk and have had quite a bit of interest in the feathers (and the mucky screen - thanks Di, it has now been cleaned :))

So yesterday afternoon, with a lot of sticky gluey fingers the feathers turned into this commissioned fascinator.

It's made onto a headband covered with ribbon. I hope my client likes it :)

Flower power

2012-01-19T23:27:00.000Z

Before I posted the little notebook to Kath yesterday I made a card to put in with it to say thank you for joining in with our blog hop. Kath let me know this morning that she had received her parcel so I can post it here. I meant to do it this afternoon but I got side tracked and forgot lol.

The flower is made with one of the doily dies by Spellbinder, a bit of Tattered Florals die by Tim Holtz and Sizzix Daisy die #2. the flower and frilly borders are cut from my left overs from my DT notebook and the card blank was from Lakeland years ago. I thought I had used them all but I keep finding them. The brad and lace are from my stock.

I shall add it to Di's Snippet challenge my first one of the week (sorry Di :))

Tfl

What's on your workdesk Wednesday

2012-01-18T14:53:00.000Z

is here again and it's to go for a nosey around the desks of crafters from all over the world. Don't know what I'm wittering about then take a trip over to Julia's fab blog, The Stamping Ground for all the details.

I shall try to do better this week, I spent far too much time reading the blogs I visited last week and didn't get round many blogs at all. This week I shall visit quickly and make a note of the blogs I want to revisit then I can do it all at my leisure :)

Thanks for visiting.

Kathy's Waffle Sketch File

2012-01-18T14:05:00.000Z

Our new sketch challenge is live on the Kathy's Waffle Sketch File blog and as usual it's a goodun :)

I love this sketch and I used it for my DT card by turning it on it's side.

I used paper from the First Edition Hideaway pad and the sentiment is from a Debbi Moore stamp set.

We would love it if you could join us for our challenge this month.

I am entering my card into the following challenges

C.R.A.F.T challenge Celebration
My Time To Craft Your Favourite Embellishment (mine are flowers and ribbon :))
Pollycraft Challenge Blog BINGO I chose the first vertical line - Ribbon, sparkle and flowers
Anything Goes Challenge Blog Anything Goes

Thanks for looking and we look forward to seeing what you come up with.

The winners

2012-01-17T11:32:00.000Z

The overall winner of the free papers Funky Kraft Stash and Steam Funk is Totty Teabag so well done. You will need to contact Anice to sort out your prize. The answer, by the way, was varnished.

The winner of my little notebook is Kath- The Reluctant Blogger

I will get it in the post in the morning Kath.

Sewing box

2012-01-17T08:25:00.000Z

My prize from Craftseller arrived on Friday and it is abolutely fabulous and oh so posh :) I had great fun sorting out my sewing stuff and throwing away the Quality Street tin! lol

Isn't it just lovely :)

Less Is More

2012-01-16T13:24:00.001Z

Why are simple one layer or no layer cards so scary to make? I find it far easier to chuck papers at my cards and hide bits with ribbon or flowers or something :)) having said that I do like the more simple cards rather than cluttered and I really, really stuggle with distressing and things like shabby chic although I do like to see that sort of thing, I just can't do it!

I'm pleased with this card after the initial shock of stamping and colouring straight onto my card blank lol I even got the chalks out to colour it as I didn't want my Promarkers seeping through to the back of the card.

The image stamp is by Elzybells (no longer trading which is such a shame)
sentiment stamp - Papermania
chalks
tiny gems on the flowers - Anita's

I'm entering this card into the challenges
Less Is More where the subject ONE LAYER CARD, with the subject of BIRDS and

Daring Cardmakers where Zuzana would like

MIRACULOUS SOCIAL NETWORKS

dare for you.
I would like to see Facebook, Twitter, Skype, You Tube ... on your cards.

You can use funny sentiments, colour scheme, fonts, style, layout or PC image.

This is the start of my first week catching up from distasterous week last week. My chest is still very sore and my ribs hurt from coughing but I have quite a few things to do. I have another couple of cards to make today as they need to be in the post asap, a fascinator to start and a couple coming this afternoon to discuss their wedding stationery....another lovely day.
Thanks for looking.

Flower power

2012-01-16T13:10:00.000Z

As I mentioned last night, I made a card yesterday using both of the new downloads from Funky Hands, Funky Kraft Stash and Steam Funk they work brilliantly together :)

What do you think? I have used Nesties for the 'flower' and the centre flower brad and diamantes are from my stock.

Don't forget to call back later today when I will let you know who has won the downloads from the weekend blog hop and my little notebook giveaway.

Back later.

Funky Hand Blog Hop....

2012-01-16T09:00:00.001Z

Welcome to the second Funky HAnd Blog Hop.

We Are All Absolutely thrilled to be Able to tAke pArt in this hop which is celebrAting the lAunch of the newest digitAl pAper downloAds by Anice of Funky HAnd. There Are two totAlly new And totAlly Funky! sets of pApers by the nAme of SteAm Funk DownloAd

And Funky KrAft StAsh downloAd.

The hop runs from 9 Am SAturdAy 14th JAnuAry until 12 midnight SundAy 15th. The winner of the Blog Hop prize will be Announced on MondAy 16th. Also, As well As commenting on the blogs if you wAnt to go onto the Funky HAnd FAcebook pAge And comment on the Blog Hop post there, you will get your nAme Added to the teA pot twice (if you Are right of course!!) A winner will be chosen from All of the correct replies And will receive BOTH downloAds so you don't even hAve to choose one. I will pick A winner too, from my comments And you will receive my little Altered notebook with the big flower on the front.

So ok, let's get hopping, you will need to collect A letter from eAch of the Funkettes, leAve us A comment And move onto the next blog.Once you hAve collected All the letters, reArrAnge them to mAke A word And hop bAck to Anice's blog And leAve her A comment contAining your word. (Bet you cAn't guess whAt my letter is ;))

If you hAve come strAight to my blog then you need to go bAck to the stArt which is Anice's blog Funky HAnd Thoughts where you will hAve reAd the rules. You should hAve Arrived here from Amanda's blog And when you hAve left me A comment you should heAd onto Debs' blog.

ThAnks for plAying Along And Above All, hAve fun!

This post will stay at the top until the winners are announced on Monday so you will need to scroll down for new posts.

Funky Fifteenth

2012-01-15T23:01:00.001Z

Yes folks, it's new challenge time again on the Get Funky! challenge blog and it's Our Lou who has chosen the challenge for you and shehas chosen

January Blues.

so in more detail..

Its an anything goes month but you must use BLUE!!

Don't worry if you have nothing blue and funky because our super boss lady has made a

wonderful FREEBIE

so everyone has the chance to play along with us. Please pop over to the Get Funky blog and take a look at the fantastic project Lou has made for this challenge.

When you have popped over to the Get Funky blog please nip over to Kathy's blog and take a look at the wonderful projects she made for the release of the new downloads from Funky Hand, that lady is truly an inspiration. :)

I've made another project with the new papers by combining both downloads and they worked really well together. I shall save it for tomorrow's blogging though when I come back with the winners of the blog hop.

tfl

Another quick one

2012-01-14T19:35:00.000Z

to add to the Snippet Challenge!

I absolutely love the simplicity of this card!
Papers - Hideaway 6 x 6 paper pad from First Edition
Flowers - Prima
Sentiment - Craftwork Cards
Brad from my box

Thanks for looking.
See you tomorrow.

My favourite......

2012-01-13T22:23:00.000Z

LOTV stamp is the challenge over on the Lili's Little Fairies blog which is the second challenge on the Lili Of The Valley's new challenge blog. This is the first time I've taken part in a LOTV challenge and I'm not even sure how I came to find it but I did and as I had a wedding card to make so I thought I would enter.

I don't own many LOTV stamps but this has to be a favourite, it is just so cute.

I don't know where the pink and silver paper came from as it's from the snippet box again (sorry Di, you'll be sick of the sight of me this week :))
The frame and small pink flower are Nesties and the large heart is a new one from Memory Box. I can't say I am over impressed with it at the moment as I have to layer it with card 'shims' in order to get a decent cut so it doesn't fall to pieces when it's being removed from the die! The image has been coloured with Promarkers and the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.

I shall be back in the morning for the Funky Hand blog hop, I hope you will join us :)

Thank You!

2012-01-13T01:34:00.000Z

It's my turn to show my card for our Get Funky! December challenge (it seems a long time ago now!) which is to make a thank you card. There is still time to take part in the challenge but not much as it finishes tomorrow. There is the freebie paper too if you don't have any Funky Hand products and it's available here

I love this download and it definitely makes for a very quick and simple card.

Make sure you pop back here on Saturday morning to see news of our first BLOG HOP of the year to launch not one but two fantastic new downloads created by our wonderful leader, Anice. The winner will receive a copy of each download so you don't even have to make a decision as to which one you would like!

Thanks for calling by.

Nellie the Elephant

2012-01-11T14:57:00.000Z

The theme at Passion For Promarkers this week is to be "inspired by a song" so I decided to go with my super cute elephant stamp by Penny Black and as per my title, I thought of Nellie the Elephant.

Image - Embrace 2892K by Penny Black
Paper scraps - Sweet Owl by First Edition
Promarkers
Ribbons and gems from stock
Flower die - Sizzix Flower Daisies #2

My card is also being entered for

Di's Snippet Challenge

Papertake Weekly -Die Cute Special, use a die cut somewhere on your card and also make it cute

Penny Black @ Allsorts - Love and hearts
Delightful Challenge - have a heart
Penny Black's Saturday Challenge - to case the following card

Thanks for looking.

What's on your workdesk Wednesday

2012-01-11T14:21:00.000Z

This is my first visit of the year to Julia's Stamping Ground to show my desk and see what others have on theirs today. I took my photo last Wednesday morning then forgot all about it. This isn't the same picture though, lots has happened on my desk since then!

Sorry about the pants photo but the light is terrible here today.
This is my first time up after being in bed since Monday afternoon with this dreaded flu bug, as I have some cards to make. As soon as I'm done I'm heading back, I still feel awful :( I will take my lap top with me and have a pootle round the other blogs taking part today.

Back soon

Less Is More

2012-01-08T23:29:00.000Z

I've never taken part in this challenge before so I hope I've done it properly! The girls over on the Less Is More challenge blog are asking for Predominantly Purple on our work and this is mine. I've had this stamp for years but don't use it very often!

Stamp is by Inkadinkadoo # INK8353
Sentiment stamp is by Debbi Moore
Paper (I think is by Nitwits - it's from the Snippet drawer again, Di!)
The little purple gems are from a Papermania wheel

I think I'm coming down with this rotten flu bug which is going round. My whole body is really painful to touch, I have a temp and I'm barking like I don't know what. One of my brides has it and she came over twice during the week and again this morning when I started with it. Oh well, I will soldier on :)

Take care and thanks for visiting.

Penny Black

2012-01-08T00:20:00.000Z

The new challenge on the Daring Cardmaker's blog is a colour challenge and it's a lovely one. I decided on the colours for my image before I had actually seen the pallette, Mystic Meg eat your heart out!! (If only it worked with the lottery numbers)

My colours are slightly brighter but they're not too bad. I used last weeks Sketch Saturday sketch too but only because I thought it was the new one, DUR! I will make a card tomorrow with the new sketch as we have a few birthdays this month.
Image - Penny Black
Promarkers
Heart paper - Pink Petticoat
Other papers from the snippet box
The 'ribbon' was tied round some tea towels from Asda lol

See you tomorrow

UM stamp storage

2012-01-06T18:58:00.000Z

Di was asking this morning how people stored their unmounted stamps and I thought I would stick my two penn'orth in and show mine as it works really well for me.

My son was chucking out his cd stand last year so I decided that I would have it and hubby djs so we get loads of cd cases as he prefers to store his cds in cardboard sleeves as he can get more in his case. I pull the middles piece out that the cd clips onto and it gives you two sides to stick the stamps to. I just use a labelling machine to label them. I still have loads to do but we bought my daughter a matching one when we bought this one so I have plenty of space to fill.
Tfl

Papertake Weekly

2012-01-06T09:01:00.003Z

Papertake Weekly have the theme of "Anything Goes, with the option of a new theme, so it could be a new baby, a new beginning or just something new from your stash" this week and I had a couple of birthday cards to make so I decided to join in with the challenge. Oh the joy of having internet during the day (I didn't haven't it at the shop so had to cram everything into an evening)

The Art Deco lady, by Kanban, is my new 'option'. I bought it before Christmas but it stayed in it's bag until Wednesday. I think she is quite elegant so I just kept the theme to black and white with the addition of silver mirror card (which looks black on the photo!)

I used an assortment of dies and punches to create this card

Martha Stewart border punch
Quickutz shoe and handbag dies
Cuttlebug flowers

The sentiments were on the sheet.

I am also entering the card into Di's first Snippet Challenge as the mirror card was from the 'snippet' mountain.
Incy Wincy Designs - anything goes
Secret Crafter - anything goes
Pile It On - anything goes
Pollycraft Monday - Punches

I have a real mish mash of a day today as I need to make some DT cards and I have a photo album and a fascinator ordered so I want to at least start them.

Back soon, thanks for looking.

Sad or what!

2012-01-06T01:07:00.000Z

I hope everyone has escaped any damage from this terrible wind we've been having. It wasn't as bad today as it was yesterday but it's still blooming windy and I'm really glad I don't have to work outside!

I have so many off cuts now I thought it was about time I got them sorted so I knew what I had and whether or not I needed to cut into a new sheet of paper/card! (Heaven forbid ;)) So I started sorting all the bits out one evening over the Christmas break, as you do lol and finally finished at about 1.30 am. The stupid thing is that I have only made about three cards since I sorted them and didn't even open the drawer as I still had some bits on my desk.

The big, over stuffed folder at the front is full of white and ivory card, as is the bottom drawer of my desk.......I'm sure it breeds when I'm not in here!

I played along with the Snippet Challenge with Jules as often as I could but I will be making an even more determined effort this year to play along as I'm sure once I start sorting boxes again the off cuts mountain will grow. Di from Pixie's Crafty Workshop has taken over the Snippet challenge from Jules.

Take care, back soon

My news!!

2012-01-05T01:56:00.000Z

I had a really good end to the year and a really good start to the new year as I found out last month that I was one of nine runners up in the Papercraft Essentials Papercrafter of the Year. I wasn't allowed to say anything until the magazine was published on 22nd December......and then I forgot! I was so busy with Christmas card that it totally slipped my mind.

Anyway, here is the piccies and the work I submitted

and on the day I bought the mag I also bought this months copy of Craft Seller only to open it to find out that some jewellery I made had been published and my entry was chosen as the winner and I've won a beautiful sewing box (I can finally throw the Quality Street tin away LOL)

I made a key ring and a pair of earrings with some free beads from the front of one of the editions of the mag and I had some other green beads on my desk which were left over from another project, so I decided to make a matching necklace :)

Thanks for looking and I will be back shortly. I've decided to make this post a sticky for a couple of days so you will need to scroll down to see my recent work.

Promarkers

2012-01-03T08:36:00.000Z

Jules is giving away a set of Promarkers on her blog Always With A Heart, courtesy of Handy Hippo and this is what she says

How do you fancy increasing your stocks of Promarkers?

"Oh, yes please" I hear you cry.

Well .. .. even better than increasing your stocks .. .. .. how about choosing which colours you would like to add to your Promarker collection?

To celebrate single Promarkers now being available to buy from Handy Hippo you now have the chance to win a fantastic prize .. .. .. ..

20 SINGLE PROMARKERS OF YOUR CHOICE

Back soon when I've done some work :)

Seating plan

2012-01-03T00:15:00.000Z

This is the seating plan I made for the New Year's Eve Gala dinner on Saturday where the theme was diamonds and tiaras and the colour was black and silver, hence the decoration. The champagne bottles an tiaras were cut from a very sparkly glitter card but the photos haven't picked up the shine.

I hope you like it, thanks for looking :)

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T17:18:00.000Z

I just want to wish everyone a very happy and safe evening as we are off out now. Hubs is working and I'm going with him but we are staying over. Number one son and friend are cat sitting and number two daughter is working.

See you all tomorrow with my news :)

My top 9

2011-12-31T00:41:00.000Z

I realise that I said I would be back with my top five Christmas cards but it has taken me until now (on and off) to choose and can't get down further than nine, so here goes

I hope you like them all. I will edit later to list all the materials used.
TFL, I will be back tomorrow with my news as I would like to see out the old and see in the New Years on a high :)

Passion........

2011-12-30T09:04:00.001Z

..For Promarkers set the theme of "Celebrations" for their last challenge and as we have birthdays on Christmas day and Boxing day in our family it was easy to fit this challenge in with my last minute makes. I did a few different celebratory cards but am only entering the first one into the challenge as none of the others use Promarkers on them.

My first card is for hubby's nephew who was eight on Christmas day.

Image is Skateboard Ian from the Greeting Farm, paper is by Kanban (freebie) and MME, the rub on letters are Doodlebug and the rest is from my craft cupboard.

Papers are Sweet Love by First Edition, sentiment stamp is from a set of Kids Quotes by Inkadinkadoo, greeting is from Craftwork Cards, flowers are die cut and premade paper roses and the ribbon is from my craft room.

The guest book was a last minute commission which came in two days before the wedding!

Quote is from a set by Stampendous (I just love them) and everything else is from my stock. I found the ribbon (it reads Health, wealth, happiness, fertility, long life) and the tiny silver stick on hearts when I was sorting through a drawer a couple of weeks ago...I don't know how long they had been there but I unearthed other stuff too which will make an appearance over the coming weeks :)

The last card was for my dad who was 75 on Boxing Day.

The big numbers are made using Word as I showed in a tutorial a while ago, I have 'misplaced' my large numbers since I put them somewhere where 'I would know straight away where to look!!' Papers are by MME again.

As well as the Passion For Promarkers challenge I am going to enter my cards in the following challenges

Secret Crafter - Anything Goes

Jules Crafty Snippet challenge #51

Thanks for looking. I have a table plan to make today for one of the Holiday Inn, Doncaster for their New Years Eve dinner tomorrow evening so must crack on. I'm hoping to come back later and show case my five favourite Christmas cards, oh, and I have some really good news to share.

Through the window

2011-12-30T00:14:00.000Z

The week 50 challenge on the Polka Doodles blog is

The theme for this last challenge of 2011 is:

Through The Window...

and this is what I came up with (this is my first Polka Doodles challenge so please be gentle with me!)

All the paper elements on the card are magazine freebies but I can't remember if the window etc are from Polka Doodles too as I threw away the strip from the bottom of the page! I did manage a few more cards from the papers though

Image and sentiment from Pink Petticoat

Image from Forever Friends, sentiment was generated on my lap top.

Image from Digi Stamp Boutique and sentiment from Pink Petticoat

Stamped Christmas tree image is from Wild Rose Studios and the die cuts are from a download by Nitwit Collections

I like this set of papers so much that I have been onto the Polka Doodles web site this evening for a nose and was thrilled to see that they can be bought as a download..........guess what I bought :)

Daring Cardmakers

2011-12-29T22:35:00.000Z

Good afternoon everyone, I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas and that Santa was kind to you and your family. It feels like an eternity since I last updated my blog but I've been so busy that I have just avoided the internet full stop! I get easily distracted so better to leave alone lol Well actually, I have dabbled a little bit but only to buy a couple of bits of crafty sale stuff.......it would be a shame not to when the store owners have spent so much time uploading everything ;)
So now I can finally get the rest of my Christmas/ birthday/ wedding items uploaded and into the challenges I'm not too late for lol
The DCM challengers wanted to see 'Spots and Stripes' for their challenge, of which I have two cards

Image The Digi Stamp Boutique
Papers Magazine freebies, but I think the second one is by Polka Doodles

Thanks for looking.

Funky Hand Sale!!!

2011-12-29T12:43:00.002Z

Not long now, ends today

Keepsake card

2011-12-10T00:00:00.000Z

I had a request for a Christening card for a baby whose 'birth congrats' cards I did in August! I decided to fish out my trusty old Bookatrix board which I haven't used for a long, long time. It was a success as my client loved it!

Short and sweet I'm afraid tonight but there will be more tomorrow as I am having a mammoth card making session tomorrow and no doubt I will be entering a few challenges along the way too :)

Take care my friends and sleep tight. Oh and huge huge to those of you who have had to endure that awful weather from yesterday....I hope everyone is ok. xx

Flippin' men!

2011-12-08T08:16:00.000Z

Although I have quite a few of these sheets left I tend to forget I have them and don't use them very often. My friend mentioned the other day that it was the 60th birthday this week of the caretaker down at the school I used to work at. I don't usually send him a birthday card but I thought of this image as soon as she mentioned it :)

The image is from the Flipping Men series by Jak Heath and I added a screwdriver and hammer charm because he is into diy in a big way. As soon as anyone mentioned at school that they needed shelves up or whatever he had started the job before they had finished speaking lol

I'm entering this card into the Papertake Weekly challenge as their remit is

So onto this week and as it’s the first one of the month we have our usual

Anything Goes theme

with the option of adding something dangly ……

. but remember this is only an option and if you don’t want to dangle then you don’t have to dangle :)

Right, I'm off to do some colouring for a while then I really must do something else in my tip of a work room/studio.

Thanks for looking

Kathy's Waffle Sketch File

2011-12-08T00:01:00.000Z

December 11, Take 5 The new sketch is now available on the Kathy's Waffle Sketch File blog and true to form it is definitely challenging! I often look at Kathy's sketches and come over all faint lol, then it takes me ages to come up with something worth showing in public. I suppose that is what these challenges are for though....no point whatsoever in doing them if they are easy every month!!
So here we go, the sketch

and my card

I think the papers are by My Mind's Eye but I'm not sure. The lovely little robin is a pre-coloured image from The Twelve Crafters Crafting cd from Funky Hand, the sentiment was done on the computer and the sparkly brad is from my craft box.
Tfl xx

A change....

2011-12-07T23:16:00.000Z

from me today. I actually got a break from making cards in order to complete another order :)

A pale blue and crystal funky key ring with some lovely sparkly diamante numbers and a set of wine glass charms

These look so pretty in real life. Instead of using different coloured beads or flowers I opted to make them all the same and just add a different coloured bead in the centre. I'm back to the cards now so I need to get my finger out, otherwise we will be using my Christmas cards next year lol.

Take care and tfl.

We wish you a merry....

2011-12-06T10:15:00.000Z

Christmas! I think that should read, "Bah Humbug", I'm just about all Christmas'ed out. I seem to have made so many blooming Christmas cards and I still haven't started on the family ones!!! Oh well, not to worry. I made these last week for the school fayre

The papers are all pieces from my "left overs mountain", yes, I have a separate box for Christmas scraps and that doesn't seem to be going down either, lol. I might just go and add these to Jules' Snippets as they definitely fit the challenge.

The makers I recognise are Funky Hand, Pink Petticoat and Papermania. Most of the images are from the new Twelve Crafters Crafting cd from Funky Hand and the top image of Santa and Rudolf are from the very talented Sally-Ann at Digistamp Boutique, everything else is from my stash.

Just a quick reminder, there is still time to take part in my Christmas/Birthday challenge over on the Get Funky blog I have asked for a Christmas AND a non Christmas project this time but there is a slight catch....they both need to be made with Christmas paper. You must use a Funky Hand element on them and Anice has made a lovely freebie paper if you would like to use it.

Right, I must go and do something now although I have been out and tidied my mum's flower shed as she is coming over this morning to do my table centre for Christmas day....and you literally couldn't get through the door. We had just been plonking stuff in there as we came across it and there were two shelving units parked in the doorway. I had to take them out so I could get in to sort it lol

Back later, thanks for looking.

All done!

2011-12-04T21:50:00.000Z

Finished, packed and collected by my very beautiful (and very happy) bride this morning for her wedding tomorrow......and then they are off to Mexico for a week. How I wish I was going with them - well maybe not on the honeymoon but I could certainly hack some warm sunshine at the mo, I hate winter!!!

Although the colours on here look like a dark grey, they were actually sage/olive green and ivory and looked really lovely together. The orders of service were just paper versions without a card cover. I did 190 favours, 190 place cards, 100 orders of service and the seating plan. I was still making changes at 8 o'clock last night as people were backing out of the wedding and were being replaced with others!

DH and I are going to York for the day tomorrow and then on Tuesday I still need to make some semblance of order in my little studio/craft room and make a start on our personal Christmas cards. Each year I say that I am going to start in January and make them throughout the year but I never do. I have real difficulty getting my head round doing Christmas before I have been on holiday in August lol.

Right on to do some more posting while I'm watching Beyonce.....by God that girl can sing!

TFL.

Progress

2011-11-30T00:38:00.001Z

The favour boxes are finished and boxed ready to go

all 190 place cards are all cut and folded, the guest's names are typed up ready to be printed and mounted tomorrow before being stuck onto the place cards so all I have left to do is 100 orders of service and a seating plan and it is all being collected on Saturday ready for the wedding on Monday!! I'm going to bed now just in case it's the last chance I get until Saturday :( (oh and I have a school Christmas fayre to do on Thursday. My mum was going to do it but I think she is going to be too poorly still. She is back at the doc's in the morning for her x-ray results.......I wonder if the doc fancies doing it if my mum can't lol)

Night and thanks for reading.

My poor fingers.....

2011-11-28T09:10:00.000Z

Good morning from me on this rather dank and miserable morning!!

My poor fingers are so sore this morning. Why?.....because while I sat watching TV last night I tied 190 bows!!

Later today they will be attached to 190 pillow boxes which I am making up at the moment. I then have to cut, fold and print 190 place cards but I have a big problem. The wedding is next Monday and I still don't have a guest list to work from to add the guest's names to the place cards and seating plan!! I really love my work and couldn't imagine doing anything else now but it can be so frustrating at times lol

Right, onwards and upwards, the favour boxes won't finish themselves.

TFL xx

How did you spend......

2011-11-27T12:24:00.000Z

...your Saturday? This is how I spent mine!!

I filled and finished, including cutting the reindeer and snowmen

44 bags of reindeer food

14 bags of snow girl poop

40 bags of snowman poop!

By the time I had finished I was almost losing the will to live lol They are going into a local beauty salon, a town centre salon and a local school Christmas fayre. This is the second batch I've made as I sold some through the shop, some more at the handbag auction and I've sent some down to my lovely mum in law in Somerset.....and yes, they sell really well.

My house is still not sorted and it's driving me mad! I keep doing an hour then having to come and sort out orders so I just seem to be bitting an bobbing. The upside is that I'm having a real good sort out whilst emptying boxes and drawers. I sent a box full to school with a friend and I have a lot of stuff which will be going on a sale page on here over the next couple of days. I actually have storage space now where there once was craft stuff and it won't be replaced with new, just with existing stock as I get organised :)

I'm off to see my poorly mummy for a while now.

Thanks for reading.

Funky Hand Sale!!!

2011-11-23T12:15:00.000Z

The biggest discounts ever on Funky Hand branded products

PRODUCT	PRICE	PRODUCT	PRICE
Download - All I Want For Christmas	only £1.99	Download - Tis The Season Wordbook	only £2.79
Craft CD - Twelve Crafters Crafting	only £9.68	Craft CD - Happy Happy Birthday	only £9.68
Our Betty Stamp - All A Girl Needs	only £4.55	Our Betty Stamp - Celebrate	only £4.55

What are you waiting for? :)

Daring Cardmakers

2011-11-23T00:14:00.000Z

I make umpteen of these every year but only as they are ordered, the images are still as popular as they were when they first came out a couple of years ago.

I thought it was apt as the DCM challenge this week is

The theme for this week's cardmaking is
WATER
You could make a card with a watery theme (lakes, rivers, fishies, boats etc), or maybe you'll find a way to actually use some water in the making of your card eg colouring with watercolours.

I can remember my nana and grandad having a tin bath in front of the fire and my mum said that when she was young they had an oven like that too and they used to put their jamas in the oven in winter to warm them before they got changed!! I'm so glad that we have progressed since then lol

Materials used

Image, sentiment and backing sheet - La Pashe

Holly - Funky Hand

Ribbon - Ribbon Oasis

Charm & Christmas tree from stock

TFL

Still messy!

2011-11-22T23:39:00.001Z

I am slowly but surely sorting out the mess which used to be my house! I'm trying to get the contents of an old two bedroomed terrace house (the shop) into a three bed semi or rather one room in a three bed semi :)) I suppose I'm quite luck really as my wonderful mum in law has just taken delivery of a box of jewellery etc in Somerset, my mum is doing a school Christmas fete on 1st December, I have a cabinet in a beauty salon near my home and a cabinet and shelving unit is going into a town centre hairdressers later this week. I have a friend coming tomorrow to sort through some of my stuff for the craft club at school and a pile of stuff which is going for sale on my blog later this week. Without those I think I would really be in the mire as my space is filling up really fast but I am taking this chance to downsize my craft stock! My desk and chair are now in contact with each other for the first time since last Thursday so that's something as I really must work tomorrow as I've some orders which need doing.
I had a busy few days and had a jewellery party on Monday evening. I made the gift wallets on Monday afternoon and they all went!

The papers are all 'snippets' from work done for Anice's appearance on Create and Craft at the launch of her Christmas cd, Twelve Crafters Crafting. I shall head over and add them to the following challenges

Jules blog

Papertake Weekly- Christmas Crackers/anything festive

Passion For Promarkers - Swirls & Sparkles (I have swirly trees and lots of glitter/glamour dust)

Supplies used

Papers - Twelve Crafters Crafting, Funky Hand

Images - Pink Petticoat, Funky Hand, magazine freebie, Cuddly Buddly

Thanks for looking

The mess so far...

2011-11-17T22:57:00.000Z

the big move has started and boy, what a mess already lol
The living room!

The Craft Room/Studio

Watch this space tomorrow evening, it's bound to get worse lol

Twelve Crafters Crafting....

2011-11-15T09:00:00.002Z

,,and a partridge in a pear tree :)

It's my first time setting the challenge over on the Get Funky! challenge blog and my remit for this month is

1, A Christmas project using "Traditional colours" meaning red, green, gold, silver etc not the lilacs or blues etc which are around at the mo

2, A non Christmas card or project using Christmas papers please.

The Design Team have all used the fab new addition to the Papercraft Series of cds, Twelve Crafters Crafting. If you don't already own it, ask Santa for it in preparation for next year's Christmas projects, you won't be disappointed!

I made a gift card wallet using Christmas Cheer

and a birthday card using Xmas presents

Please make sure that you stick to our very simple rules and as always, the lovely Anice has designed a freebie paper for those of you who haven't already got any Funky Hand goodies and that can be found here FREEBIE

Don't forget to pop back regularly to see what my very talented teamies have been up to.

Thank you all and good luck.

Jackie xx

Sad news

2011-11-14T01:01:00.000Z

and that is that I'm shutting my shop this week as it hasn't worked out as I wanted it to. As I'm going to be busy for most of the week I shall be scheduling some posts as I have done quite a few orders in the last few days.

All of the above cards have been made with the Twelve Crafters Crafting cd from Funky Hand.

I will be back later in the week with my Create and Craft projects from last Wednesday and a tutorial for my flowers (see the blog hop post below).
Thanks for looking.

Jules Crafty Snippets...

2011-11-10T00:41:00.000Z

I made the cards last week but haven't had the time to blog them so I thought I would add them to Jules Snippets blog again this week.

Items used

Papers - 12 Crafters Crafting - Funky Hand, Nitwit Collections,mag freebies, MME

Elements - Nitwits die cuts, buttons, gems and ribbons from my stash

Ribbons - from my stock

Tfl

Weekly round up

2011-11-07T00:18:00.000Z

and a start with some challenges! I've had to make loads of stuff this week and have been really, really busy and coincidentally I have been able to match some of my 'makes' to some of the challenges in Blogland :) So here we go

Papertake Weekly

The blank card and sentiment are from Craftwork Cards, bling and ribbon are from my craft box and I'm not sure where the trees are from but I think they were from a craft fayre somewhere. The photo hasn't picked it up properly but they are cut from black glitter card and they are gorgeous irl.
Thanks for looking.

Sketch challenge

2011-11-06T15:29:00.000Z

Have you seen Kathy's new sketch over on Kathy's Waffle Sketch File? It is fab, as always!! The girls have made some brilliant cards too so why not hop over and join us?

See you later!

Funky Fall

2011-11-04T22:40:00.000Z

It was my turn today to add my card to the Get Funky! challenge blog which I duly did at about midnight last night then promptly forgot to add it on here!

As always, Anice made one of her lovely downloads as an Autumn freebie paper which can be downloaded from here I chose to use the freebie on my card this month.

Here is my card

I made my own template for the apron. (When I make a template for anything I usually end up surrounded by printer paper as I tend to cut and alter quite a bit lol) Anyhow, I cut a separate pocket and 'stitched' it with a black Sakura glaze pen. I cut out and coloured the tools which had been printed from the Colour Me Happy cd and stuck them into the pockets with a bit of ds tape. i added ribbon ties anda type written sentiment and that was that :) I hope it's ok.

Thanks for reading

Do me a favour!!

2011-11-02T09:22:00.001Z

I have a wedding a week on Friday where I am doing the table centres, favours and the post box. There is a black, red and white theme to the tables as the groom is a Doncaster Rovers fan!! The table centres are fish bowls with red water, black bear grass or onion grass and white roses. They look really nice and I will post photos when I set them up at the venue.

Up until now, this is as far as I've got with the order....the favours.

As you can see, the boxes are red and white and they contain heart shaped Belgian chocolates in red, black and white on a bed of white tissue paper.

Back on Thursday after the Alzheimer's 'do'. :)

Fascinating

2011-11-01T01:22:00.000Z

Not really, I just wasn't sure on a title.

I'm actually scheduling the next two posts this week as I am up to my eyes in Christmas makes ready for the craft sale at the Handbag Auction for the Alzheimers Society on Thursday evening. I thought I had quite a few Christmas cards left over from last year and when I got them out on Saturday there were......7! I spent Saturday stamping, printing and colouring then today it was colouring and matting and printing my card backs then tomorrow I will be putting them together.

I also made the following fascinator, well I added sage feathers and diamantes to the flower. I've taken an order for a black one too but that won't be done now while Friday! The lady doesn't mind though, she doesn't need it till the 11th.

From this

to this

The lady was really pleased with it as I had managed to match the sage feathers perfectly with the sage colour in her outfit, yay :)

thanks for looking

And the winner is....

2011-11-01T01:02:00.000Z

Well, I would like to say, on behalf of Anice and my fellow DT pals, a huge thank you to everyone who took part in our very first Funky Hand blog hop to lauch the super Christmas cd, Twelve Crafters Crafting.

Congratulations to our winner

CraftyBugMum

you will absolutely love the CD, it is just amazing

The Twelve Crafters Crafting CD isn't officially released until next Saturday 5th Nov but you are able to pre order it now ready for delivery to arrive on the day of release from my website www.funkyhand.com It's selling pretty fast so I hope we have enough stock to cover pre sales, launch sales and then the order for Create and Craft TV when we launch it on with live shows Wednesday 9th November at 8am and 1pm.

Funky Hand Blog Hop!!!

2011-10-31T09:00:00.004Z

Good morning and welcome to the first ever Funky Hand Blog Hop

We are all absolutely thrilled to be able to take part in this hop which is celebrating the launch of the newest of the Papercraft Factory cd’s by Anice of Funky Hand. It is called (if you haven’t already guessed) Twelve Crafters Crafting!

The cd is just to die for and is available to pre order from this morning but will be available to buy from the Funky Hand web site from Saturday 5^th November.The prize for the winning entry chosen by Anice is, of course, your very own copy of Twelve Crafters Crafting :)

The hop runs from 9 amSaturday 29th October at 9am and runs right until 12 midnight Sunday 30th. The winner of the Blog Hop prize will be announced on Monday 31st.

So what did I make with this wonderful piece of deliciousness I hear you ask!

All of the pApers, digi stAmps, pillow box And tAgs Are from the cd.

So ok, let's get hopping! If you hAve come strAight to my blog then you need to go bAck to the stArt which is Anice's blog Funky HAnd Thoughts or if you stArted with Anice's blog then you will hAve come here from Lou's blog.

You will need to collect A letter from eAch of the Funkettes, leAve us A comment And move

onto the next blog which will be Jules

Thanks for playing along and above all, have fun!

Seating plans & post boxes

2011-10-24T22:27:00.000+01:00

made as samples for yesterday's wedding open day.

Thanks for looking.

Weekly round up

2011-10-23T22:37:00.001+01:00

Monday was spent making an assortment of wedding stationery samples

Tuesday was gift card day as well as making my sample for this month's Get Funky challenge using Anice's fab freebie (which will be shown next week)

(sorry about the awful photos)

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were spent making my samples for the new Funky Hand cd which will be coming soon along with a chance to get your grubby little mitts on one...watch this space! Obviously I can't show them yet but they will be up here soon.

On Friday evening, all of Saturday and into the evening I made lots of new samples to take to an open day at the local Holiday Inn. If you came to say hello then it was lovely to meet you :) I forgot to photograph them but will do so tomorrow.

So to round it all up....judging by the pictures I didn't do much at all over the last seven days :)
Back tomorrow hopefully. Have a lovely week!

Alzheimer's Handbag Auction

2011-10-23T21:42:00.000+01:00

I have booked to have a stand at a charity auction in support of the Alzheimer's Society on 3rd November and am looking for support if anyone can offer it. I am collecting handbags, work bags, wash bags, make up bags...in fact any type of bag as long as it is in good enough condition to sell on the evening and make a couple of pounds for this wonderful charity.

I you have a bags which you would like to donate you can either contact me through Facebook or my email address is on my sidebar. Details can be found on their Facebook page.

Thanks for reading.

Kathy's Waffle Sketch File

2011-10-23T20:58:00.000+01:00

There is still time to join us in playing with Kathy's fabulous sketch over at Kathy's Waffle Sketch File

There are some fabulous examples of work on the blog, please go and take a look.

TFL

Funky Hand Sale!!!

2011-10-22T19:49:00.001+01:00

Sale now extended till Tuesday!

I can't believe it's a week since I last blogged, I don't know where the time has gone!! I will have time to update tomorrow evening.

I have got time to tell you, however, that there is a 25% off Sale over on Funky Hand at the mo. It is just the Funky Hand products which are discounted but just think of all those yummy cds with 25% off them.

Happy shopping, see you tomorrow. :)

Jules' Crafty Snippet Challenge - Week 41

2011-10-16T23:33:00.000+01:00

The rest of the week (well at least it felt like the rest of the week - they do take a while ;)) was spent using some of my snippets to make the following keepsake cards so again I have taken part in Jules' Snippets challenge

As well as using full sheets of card and acetate I have used off cuts of card and paper for some of the elements of the cots and prams. Flowers, lace and gems etc all come from my stash. I also used templates from Hasslecastle Creations.
TFL

Tight fit!!

2011-10-16T22:06:00.000+01:00

I had another 'different' order to complete yesterday......

I had to add bows and pearls or diamantes to these tights for a beautiful little girl. It has made a lot of difference to otherwise plain tights and a big difference to making cards!

Autumn

2011-10-16T00:20:00.000+01:00

It's Autum over at the Get Funky challenge blog as today is the Funky Fifteenth (well it was when I started writing this post! :)) It is the turn of my fabulous team mate Amanda to host the challenge and she says "Here in Scotland the weather (as always) has been lousy but we are seeing some really beautiful changes in the trees, there have been some really gorgeous coloured leaves blowing around in the wind. So with that in mind I have chosen Autumn as this month's theme, make of that whatever you will. Autumn colours, Autumn images, Halloween, whatever you like as long as I can see something Autumnal in there I'll be a happy wee panda!!" Take a look at her card, it is gorgeous!

If you don't have anything from Funky Hand you don't know what you are missing. However, Anice very kindly creates a free paper every month so you can take part in our challenge and this month it is

Good luck and don't forget to point us in the direction of your creation so we can come over and take a look.

Oh, and keep an eye on the Funky Hand web site as the new Christmas cd is due out in the next couple of weeks (the dates will be announced shortly). We received our copies yesterday and it is just fantastic.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, we are off to York tomorrow for a couple of hours.

TFL

Wedding cards

2011-10-13T22:55:00.000+01:00

Good evening, late again lol I've been meaning to write this post for the last couple of hours but got my nose stuck into an online magazine which had some really interesting articles in it, hence the late hour!! Here are a few more quick wedding cards for hubby to take to work with him!

All made again with a selection of left over paper pieces and assorted embellishments from my craft box.
Please don't forget that there is just time to take part in the Get Funky! challenge and to download Anice's free paper for this month as the new challenge starts on Saturday morning at 9 am.
There is also plenty of time to join in with Kathy's Fab Sketch challenge too, I hope to see you there.
Thanks for looking.

More snippets

2011-10-11T01:01:00.000+01:00

Thanks Jules for the encouragement to use up all my offcuts! Here are a few more cards which fit the bill.

I've used another selection of Hero Arts digis, Penny Black stamps and die cuts. Ribbons, flowers, charms and brads are from my stock.

Tfl

Jules Crafty Snippets...

2011-10-10T00:03:00.000+01:00

Challenge week 40 at Always With A Heart. As I'm now determined to use my 'snippets' (when the drawer in my desk is empty I have two boxes and two more drawers to use up!!) I thought I would join in with Jules' challenge.

Assorted papers including Bloom and Grow by MME and the first three toppers are actually ATCs which I received in a swap about five years ago. ATCs are not something which I've ever got into apart from this one swap. I kept losing them and finding them again and when I found them again recently I thought they were too nice to be left in a basket any longer and that someone else could appreciate them instead....I hope the 'swapees' don't mind as I can't contact them as I've lost their details.

Back soon, thanks for looking.

Baby cards

2011-10-09T00:13:00.000+01:00

More cards made with pieces from the paper mountain

I bought the pegs and some of the die cuts, and knitted the little bootees when I first started making cards about eight years ago and found them recently whilst sorting boxes to put back into my craft room after it was decorated.

Tfl

Funky Hand cards

2011-10-09T00:05:00.000+01:00

I just love my Funky Hand cds and store the 'scraps' left over from making samples in their very own plastic wallet. As I am now heavily into my 'make use of the scraps' phase I am surprising myself at how many cards I'm managing to get out of said oddments. The following cards have been made this week using mainly scraps from the Create and Craft shows last month plus a couple of other pieces left in the folder.

Diamantes, sentiments, charms, ribbons and lace from my stock.
Now for the next lot!!

Oh dear!

2011-10-07T23:46:00.001+01:00

If you have your dinner on your lap make sure you put your lap top on the floor not on the arm of the settee or you might just be as unfortunate or stupid or.......(fill in your own word) as I was and this could happen

I wouldn't mind but I had only had the damn thing about two years! I can't use the key pad on a lap top, I always use a mouse and as the machine fell off the arm of the settee it landed on the lid and trapped the mouse between that and the keyboard...not good.

I had work to do so couldn't be without it, however for some reason when my son replaced his small flat screened monitor we kept it "just in case" so I could still use my machine. I have now replaced it and it is taking forever to replace all the passwords etc which were saved on the old machine and not written down. I bet I don't do it again!!

Kathy's Waffle Sketch File

2011-10-07T23:01:00.000+01:00

As Tuesday was the first Tuesday of the month it was release day for Kathy's new sketch.

And here is my first project

The cutie little cake on the card is from a set of Our Betty stamps by Funky Hand for one of the craft mags (which one escapes me at the mo!!) The sentiment is a Papermania stamp and the papers are from my left overs mountain.

Thanks for looking and we would love you to join us in our challenge.

TFL

Old Fart!!

2011-10-07T22:12:00.000+01:00

It was my turn during the week to add my project to the Get Funky! challenge blog and unfortunately it was down to me to lower the tone of the blog! Why? you may ask......well it was Anice's fault for putting temptation in my way (tee hee)

The sentiment is on the new cd, Happy Happy Birthday, as are the coloured image and the paper. I added the Happy Birthday using the writer section of the Papercraft Factory cds. I did make an 'unrude' card too but chose to add this one to the blog ;)

Again, the papers and images are from the same cd. Hop over to the blog and take a look at the fabulous work from my very talented DT mates.
There is still time for you to take part in the challenge which is Birthdays this month. The only specification is that you must use a Funky Hand product on your project and each month Anice very kindly adds a freebie paper to the web site just for those of you who would like to take part but aren't fortunate enough to own any of her fantastic creations :)
Goo luck and thanks for looking.

Daring Cardmaker

2011-10-02T21:33:00.000+01:00

Lythan is hosting the Dare this week and her challenge is for "your card to include a foreign language"
Perfect challenge for me Lythan. I needed to make two thank you cards to send to Greece and have been putting it off for a couple of weeks but this challenge gave me the kick up the bum I needed :)

The tulips are a Hero Arts digi stamp and this is my first ever attempt at CAS one layer digi cards!! I made two of these as they were going to two different places.

The photo on this card was taken on our last morning and is going to the girls in the photo. The papers and burgundy card are from the 'left overs mountain' and the flowers are Prima.

Lythan also said "This takes me back to one of the very first Daring Cardmaker Dares (November 10 2006 to be precise) which was a similar challenge. So why not also see if you have any cards to show from 5 years ago to see if your style has changed?"

This is the first card I blogged all that time ago!!

How things have changed lol. This card was actually runner up in the Little Rascals section of the Quick Cards Made Easy cardmaker of the year. I don't think I've used that stamp since.
Take care.

Exploding box

2011-10-02T00:53:00.000+01:00

I have had a run on these lately, three in the last couple of weeks and it must be about 12 months since I made the last one! I quite enjoy making the boxes as no two are the same as they are tailored to suit each individual. However, this one was ordered late on Tuesday afternoon for a birthday yesterday so it was a case of drop everything and get on with it. The lady came to collect it at about 8.45 yesterday morning and was so happy with it 'she could cry' lol

The papers are an assortment from the Papercraft Factory cds from Funky Hand. They are really. lovely and you don't have to just use the papers from one cd, they can be mixed and matched across all four cds.

Well that's all for now....it will soon be breakfast time!

Thanks for looking.

Fetch a Sketch

2011-09-30T00:36:00.001+01:00

Do you know, I think I might finally be getting the gist of this blogging lark which means that I have finally managed to blog most days! I have also managed another challenge, this time it's Fetch a Sketch which is owned by Jenny and Ruth, DT mates from Funky Hand.

I've used papers from Happy Happy birthday cd by Funky Hand which I had left over from another project.
Thanks for looking.

A classic look!

2011-09-29T00:18:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was time to change the shop window and this time I opted for a classic black and white look. I love black and white and I think up till about 10 years ago they were about the only colours in my wardrobe. I'm a bit more adventurous now but still have lots of black and white clothes.

Anyway, I digress

I decided to coordinate the table setting that are in the shop too and this is the outcome.

I do hope you like it :)

Whilst I've been editing my photos I have been watching Tantrums and Tiaras....are these people for real? I don't usually pass comment on anything like this but spray tanning and applying make up to a 15 month old baby? I am so far behind in the tv stakes it's unbelievable lol. I realise that this was a hot topic of conversation a couple of years ago but not being a great tv watcher I'm a bit out of tune, I mean, I watched my first (and last) episode ot TOWIE the other evening...yawn

I'm still filling up the stand in between orders and have a definite run on 18th birthday cards this month.

Fairy image is from The Happy Happy Birthday cd from Funky Hand.

Papers from Funky Hand and image Penny Black.
Bed time now.
TFL x

How cute....

2011-09-26T23:26:00.000+01:00

.....are these images by Lilli OF The Valley? The Cute Squares are really easy to use and definitely make for quick cards, just a few gems and flowers, a bit of ribbon and loads of Stickles and that's it....a lovely card!!

Gorgeous!

That's it for today. It has been the cash and carry run this evening and it makes it a blooming long day!!

Take care and thanks for looking x

Saturday

2011-09-25T15:55:00.000+01:00

My final project of the week was a total transformation....I suppose it could also be called an altered keepsake box as it went from this

to this

I bought the sparkly glitter card in the Range about a year ago, not for anything in particular but because it was a new delivery and I liked it and so it sat in a drawer up until now!! The only problem with it is that the glitter comes off and I ended up totally covered in it. It's for the same girl who the exploding box is for and her mum was really pleased with it when she came to collect it.
And that's the lot for now. I need to go and prepare dinner then it's shower and hair dried before the X Factor and a quick blog hop during.

Take care and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Friday

2011-09-25T15:45:00.000+01:00

I have been hoping all week to do a bit of weeding today as the weather forcast had said it was going to be 'nice!' Obviously their interpretation of the word is different to mine. The grass is wet as it has rained on and off all day and it is really grey. So Mr Weatherman...which part of the word nice am I not understanding?

The golden wedding invitations as mentioned yesterday were delivered and am posting a catch up as I've done a couple of bigger jobs inbetween some of the smaller ones.

They look really pretty with just the embossed flowers and gold gems.

I also made 20 thank you cards for DD to send out to people for her 18th birthday gifts....now getting her to actually write them is another story. We might end up sending them out with the Christmas cards!!!

DH needed a couple of cards for work this weekend too. As I've been replacing things in my craft room I have been tidying boxes and have come across lots of bits which (I think) I must have bought when I first started making cards over 7 years ago! I've used some bits for DH as they make cheap cards.

Image is from The Digistamp Boutique and the papers are left over from another project.

This image was stamped and embossed for me by my first ever crafting buddy, sadly we are no longer in contact so I don't know who it's by, but thanks anyway Pauline.

This card is made from bits and bobs I found in an old biscuit tin :)

The exploding box was made at the end of last week but I didn't have time to add it here. I haven't made one for a long time and then had two ordered at the same time.

Gosh, I'm shattered just adding all this lol

Now to round off the week!
Tfl.

Thursday

2011-09-23T00:59:00.000+01:00

I think there is a pattern emerging here but I shan't say anything incase I spoil things ;)

The stationery order I mentioned yesterday was delivered today

The picture just do these little beauties any justice at all, they are gorgeous. The card is a really lovely pearlescent card with the fine laser cut border and the hot foiled sentiment.

I then slightly altered a fascinator by adding a few black feathers as per the clients request, so it went from this

to this

The lady in question didn't want any crystals or anything else adding, just a coule of black feathers to lift it a bit, very straightforward! I love days when I have jobs like the last two in because as they aren't huge jobs, I feel as though I've done loads lol

I had to bring the golden wedding invitations home with me as my printer decided it didn't like the card I was using. Luckily the trusty old knackered one in my craft room served me well yet again (even if I do have to do a head clean every time I need to print something in colour!!!)

Bed time now.

TFL

Daring Cardmaker

2011-09-22T01:26:00.000+01:00

It's ages since I took part in any challenges so I'm not even sure if any have closed down but one of the best and original challenges, The Daring Cardmaker's challenge blog is still going strong.

this week sees Kathy setting the challenge and as her theme she has chosen

How Many Candles? She would like you to make a Birthday Card with at least one candle on it this week

The DCM team have all used Funky Hand papers from the Happy Happy Birthday CD to make their cards this week so you'll see what it's all about, but of course you may not have any (yet), so you can use anything you like.

If you would like to try using a Funky Hand Freebie, visit Get Funky! where you'll find this months new Funky Fifteenth freebie available to download right now.

I have chosen an assortment of Funky Hand elements for my card just to show how all of the cds and stamps can mix and match!

My papers are from both the Happy Happy Birthday and the Dreams Come True cds and the cake image is an 'Our Betty' stamp which is part of a set which was given away by Papercraft Essentials a couple of months ago.

thanks for looking. xx

Kathy's Waffle Sketch File

2011-09-22T00:54:00.000+01:00

My card is now up on Kathy's Sketch File blog and she should have received it for her birthday so I can now post it up here!

I bought the stamp a couple of weeks ago as I really liked the sentiment and this is the first time it's been used. I can't remember who the paper manufacturer is as I had cut the name off the bottom, I really must stop doing that!!! lol The ribbon was part of a ribbon swap I took part in last year.

Wednesday

2011-09-21T22:39:00.000+01:00

Another assortment of cards for today but not quite as many as yesterday. It brings my total of 'makes' so far this week to 42....25 OoS and 17 cards although I can't show two yet as they are DT cards. Tomorrow I have two lots of invitations, one for a wedding and one for a golden wedding anniversary.

Today's cards:

Again I have used a variety of papers and embellishments including House Mouse at Joanna Sheen, Craftwork Cards, Pink Petticoat, Funky Hand, die cuts and lap top generated sentiments.

BFN

Tuesday

2011-09-20T23:45:00.001+01:00

More birthday cards for the stand (and still the paper/card mountain hasn't diminished any :))

Papers - Funky Hand, image stickers - Me To You, frame and sentiment - Craftwork Cards and all other bits and bobs are from my craft box

Image - LOTV, papers are left over from a previous project and flowers are Prima

Papers - My Minds Eye, image panel - Craftwork Cards

Papers - left overs and sentiment/image - Craftwork Cards

Paper - My Mind's Eye, sentiment panel - as before

left over papers, panel and Card Candy - Craftwork Cards, flowers - Prima

Stamp - I think it's from Stampendous but am not 100% sure, papers are leftovers, frame is cut from gold card and embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, flowers were punched. I'm putting this card through for the challenge over on the Sir Stampalot blog which is entitled "It's A Frame Up". The gold on my card is actually a framp which is supported with foam squares but it doesn't come across in the photo so I will try to get a better one tomorrow before I pack the card away.

Bye for now. x

Monday

2011-09-20T22:50:00.000+01:00

Well, I had another busy weekend. DH and I went to town on Sunday morning as I owed him a coat for his birthday which we managed to find then it was a quick dash home as I had work to do! I had a rush order come in at the end of last week which was one of my least favourites...orders of service for a funeral today! What makes the job even sadder than usual is that last month I was making wedding invitations for my cousin and the OoS were for the funeral of her fiance's mum.

So onto a brighter note, I spent all day making birthday cards for the card stand in the shop and these are what I've come up with so far.

Papers - Pink Petticoat, mirror card and the image is from Cornish Heritage Farms and is coloured with Promarkers.

Papers - Funky Hand and Cardcraft Plus, images - Pink Cat Studios, Promarkers

Papers and sentiment - Funky Hand, image - Papermania, Promarkers, small flower punches

Image, papers and sentiment - Happy Happy Birthday cd from Funky Hand, tag brad, ribbon and peel off sentiment from my craft stash.

Image, papers and sentiment - Happy Happy Birthday cd from Funky Hand, punched flowers from same papers, ribbon from my craft stash.

More Funky Hand papers and everything else from my craft box, Martha Stewart punch.

Thanks for looking.

Get Funky!

2011-09-19T22:24:00.000+01:00

Have you got 'Funky!' yet? My team mates come up with some really great challenges and some equally wonderful work. The only rule we have is that you must use a Funky Hand product and if you are unfortunate not to own any Funky Hand stuff yet, fear not...every month Anice very kindly designs a free paper which can be found on the web site ......what are you waiting for?

This month it's Jenny's turn to set the challenge and she is highlighting the new "Happy Happy Birthday" CD. She would like to see any sort of project with a birthday theme and a spreviously mentioned, as long as you use at least one Funky Hand product on your project you'll be in with a chance of winning a free download of your choice at the end of this challenge.

Every couple of days one of the design team add a challenge project to the blog and they often write up tutorials too. Kathy has made a stunning card and has also written up a tutorial on how to resize the papers to make a similar card to hers.

Don't forget to leave us a comment so we can come over and comment on your work please.

Thanks for stopping by :)

Get Funky

2011-09-12T00:31:00.000+01:00

It's my turn to upload my work to the Get Funky challenge blog for Paula's theme of At The Seaside and there are still a couple of days left to play.

The papers and image were taken from the Craft The Year Away cd (which is just fab!)
Thanks for looking

Playing catchup!

2011-09-10T23:56:00.000+01:00

Is the story of my life lol. One of these days I will either meet myself coming back or there will be a day when I have no work to do or orders to fullfill (Heaven forbid) My diary for this week so far reads as follows:

Sunday Wedding fayre

Monday Hubby's birthday

Tuesday Bridal exhibition at Harrogate (buying not exhibiting)

Wednesday My baby girl turns 18 and we somehow have approximately 50 people coming to a bbq

Thursday Wedding order and photos for my web site

Friday cards for shop

Saturday cards for shop

Sunday accounts

not bad eh?!?

So the week I went on holiday the following were delivered

Materials include papers by Pink Petticoat, Craftwork Cards, My Mind's Eye, assorted die cuts, oddments of ribbon and gem from my stock box.

Back to the ironing board for a little while. Thanks for looking and I will see you tomorrow evening.

Sketch File

2011-09-09T01:09:00.000+01:00

Well it's a new month (well it was) and we have a new sketch over at Kathy's Waffle Sketch File and you will be pleased to know that it is a lot easier than the sketch for August was, thanks Kathy lol

why not wander over there and take a look at the lovely projects which my fabulous team mates have come up with. Please leave a message so we can come and take a look at your work.

A taste of things to come!

2011-09-09T00:16:00.000+01:00

The Funky Hand DT each got a copy of the new cd, by Anice, which will be on sale on the Funky Hand web site on Saturday, and it is just fab. When I received my Craft The Year Away cd I didn't think it could be improved on but I was wrong, this one is just to die for!!

If you have any spare cash and feel the need to spoil yourself then look no further than these four cds. There is Dreams Come True, Colour Me Happy, Craft The Year Away and the new one Happy Happy Birthday. There are over 200 papers on the Birthday cd alone then you get digi stamps, templates, wordbooks and loads more!

I decided that I would use the cd to make my daughter's birthday cards as we are having a BBQ for her next week and this is what I came up with. The hardest part was cutting the stars out :)

Thanks for looking, take care.

PS there is still time to enter the Get Funky challenge and there is a freebie paper on the web site!