Sunday 30 September 2007

CMU - Challenge - Shoes

Well I can't believe it's that time again! Jules set the last challenge (Doors and Windows) for which there were some amazing entries, in the end we chose Juliet as the winner (well done Juliet!) so she'll be setting the next challenge (if she wants to).

Back to this challenge which has been set by Debbie............SHOES! Fab ay?
As i'm on the CMU DT I always make an example card so heres mine.



Actually, it's more of a boot than a shoe, but I think that'll be OK! It's not the look I was going for, the intention was to make a Crirstmassy shoe that Mrs Claus might wear, it's ended up looking more 'Sex Kitten'! Ho hum, never mind it'll do.

I used my boot template frome Crafty Templates for this card, the Paper is...guess what.....Basic Grey! And to give it a Christmassy look I used some white Marabu along the top, I got completely covered in feathers, the lengths we go to for our art ay?

If you fancy a go at this challenge pop along to Card Makers United to join in with the fun.

Friday 28 September 2007

Tagged

Woo Hoo! I've been tagged by the lovely Marlou and this one looks like fun, here goes......

4 Places I have worked
Phoenix Graphics department
Hull Daily Mail (page set up)
Words and Pictures (type setters)
and my current job as a Teaching Assistant

4 Places I have lived
Sorry, only 2
At parents in Hull, England
And at my current home in Hull, England

4 Places I have visited
France
Greece
London
Spain

4 Favourite foods
Pasta
Asparagus
Anything Chinese
Garlic Mushrooms
(now i'm hungry!)

4 Places I would rather be
Somewhere hot and quiet (bliss!!!)
In bed snuggled up with my novel
A top seafood restaurant
On location, watching the stars making a blockbuster movie

Now I have to tag 4 blogging buddies (in no particular order)
Karen
Patsy
Juliet
Mellie

Thursday 27 September 2007

DCM - Vroooom!

It's a wheelie good mid week challenge this week from DCM, here's the brief............ Cars, Boats, Trains & Planesis the theme for our Little Extra challenge this week. A good chance to stock up on kids cards and make a few of those poor, unloved "cards for men", maybe? How about "congratulations on Passing your Driving test" or "Got your Wings" for newly qualified pilots? - ok so we may be reaching a bit far with that one, but you never know! Basically, what we'd like you to do is put some transport on your cards this week, how you do it is up to you!

I used my Sizzix car and bitty people dies for this one, believe it or not it's a fairly easy card to make. I designed it ages ago now but have been making them ever since.

Wednesday 26 September 2007

Technique Thursday - Buttons

I've been playing with my 'Go Braless' stamp again! I could really get into stamping if i'm not careful! I coloured it in with My Sakura gellie glaze pens (sp?). The design is based on a sketch from 'Sketch This Cards'. The paper is BG Phoebe and yes, I've used more velvet ric rac!

The theme over at Technique Thursday is to use buttons, there are only three but I think it still counts.

Tuesday 25 September 2007

DCM - Charity / UKS Autumn


I had a bit of a guilty feeling after my little cheat for DCM the other day, you see I entered some altered art instead of a card and they are called Daring Card Makers after all! So, because i'm a good girl at heart I've made a card for the challenge. It uses three leaves from a necklace that I found in a charity shop. I heat embossed them in autumny colours they look quite good don't they?

Monday 24 September 2007

Caardvarks- Chipboard

I'm not sure if this is allowed for the Caardvarks challenge but heck, I like living on the edge! The challenge was to use chipboard (on a card me thinks), I've used mount board and made it look like chipboard so i'm half way there!

These are some more ribbon dispensers (I have a lot of ribbon!). My mum gave me these mini marmalade jars ages ago and i've been making plans ever since. They make absolutely perfect ribbon dispensers and they look so cute on my craft desk. I got Holly to time me making one and it took 10 minutes from beginning to end!

I cut the chipboard flower with my Sizzix Daisy paper sculpting die, poked a hole in the jar lid (even my cropodile has it's limitations) then punched a hole in the centre of the flower and attached it to the lid with an eyelet. The sides of the jars are just decorated with strips of paper and ribbon/glitter.

I then filled my jars with ribbon and poked the end of the ribbon up through the lid.



Here they are again, sitting on my craft bench next to the fab glitter rack that my wonderful dad made for me.

Sunday 23 September 2007

Di Hickman - Card Sketch #3

Here's my take on this weeks sketch from the fabulous Di Hickman.
As ever, I turned it around. I've used BG paper, a white funky foam flower and my new red Ric Rac - I think i'm hooked!

Saturday 22 September 2007

Charmed/ DCM Challenge

Hi fellow bloggers, I've been a busy bee this morning killing two birds with one stone again (sorry birds) the Charmed challenge was set by Sarah, she said........Okay so the challenge is to decorate a paint tin or a milk tin...you know those old school milk tins??? any shaped tin as long as it isnt a small one anyways you can do what ever you like with it, it has to has some form of ribbon or fibre on it and that is it the rest is up to you. You can do it on what ever you like...
POINTS: COMPLETING THE CHALLENGE: 20 POINTS

USING RIBBON OR FIBRE: 5 POINTS
ADDING AND DECORATING A LID: 5 POINTS
ADDING AND DECORATING A HANDLE: 5 POINTS
INCLUDING WORDING OF SOME SORT: 5 POINTS
ADDING BUTTONS: 5 POINTSTOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE: 45 POINTS.
TO EARN THE POINTS THE CHALLENGE MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN THREE WEEKS
So here is what I chose to use.........
A hot chocolate tin (poor me I had to empty it.... yum!) and a candle tin from Oxfam (DCM Challenge- to use something from a charity shop)

This is what I turned them into, I joined them together to create a nifty little ribbon dispenser with a button box lid! I think I've earned all the challenge points, it's got the ribbon, the wording, the buttons and the lid is decorated with the smaller tin which is attached to create the handle, it also makes a handy little button tin! This is what it looks like on the inside.
And then there's the arty shots.......I HAVE TO ADD ARTY SHOTS!!

Thursday 20 September 2007

Oooooh!!! Surprise Parcel!!!!!!

Don't you just love, love, love surprises? I got these fab Marabu-Painter pens in the post today, it really brightened up a particularly crappy morning.
I entered a glass painting competition ages ago and i'd completely forgotton about it until today when I recieved this fabby little runners up prize, lucky me ay? here's the card I submitted, it's glasspaint and glitter on acetate with gold foil behind, oh yes and it has a book mark too.

Tuesday 18 September 2007

Another Stamp!

Crikey! I've been stamping again! this is just not like me, but I do enjoy it and these Dolly Mamas stamps are just soo funny and cute. And it's not for a challenge! I'm off to check my temperature.

Monday 17 September 2007

Di Hickman Sketch

Well I've been over to Di Hickmans for some inspiration again and she always comes up with the goods she's given us another fabby sketch to play with.

I turned the sketch around for my card. I used BG Mellow papers and my new red ric rac.

Sunday 16 September 2007

CU Challenge - Windows and Doors

Well, the lovely Jules set the challenge this time around over at Cardmakers United. she wants you all to use a window or a door in your card, fabby challenge ay? Now, before anybody shouts at me....I know! this is an old card I haven't made it for the challenge but I am on the DT so I only have to show an example! I actually made this card earlier this year, it was a lucky card for me because it won me £100 worth of crafty goodies. If you fancy a go at this great challenge pop on over to Cardmakers United

Saturday 15 September 2007

DCM - In A Word

I'm on a roll! two in a day, that's quick for me. Another Christmas card too! I just don't do Christmas cards, then again maybe I do! Here's the DCM challenge....This week I dare you to use a Word as the main focal point to your card. It can be a name, a greeting or just a word that inspires you. You can use other text but only one word as a main embellishment. So dig out your dictionaries, die cutters, alphabet stamps, rubons or download a funky font and show us what you can do! The design team have come up with some fabulous creations to inpsire you.

DCM- Big and Litlte

What a week! It's Saturday and here I am with the mid week dare! (slap wrist) better late than never ay? (I seem to be saying that a lot lately lol).
Here's what we had to do.....................Big & Little We'd like you to use items in pairs of Big and Little - so you need to have both sizes on your card ie big & little buttons, big & little die cuts, big & little hearts, big & little circles etc The theme of your card can be whatever you like this time, so that's nice of us, isn't it?
So as you can see, I used a big heart and little hearts for this one, I broke into my CMU design team stash for this one;- Pebbles inc - Baby Blue Stripes and Baby Blue dots from Craft Magic UK for the card shape I used the Romance - Barking dog template also from Craft Magic UK.

I like to keep a lot of my cards blank (without a greeting or sentement) practical as I am, it broadens it's range of uses.

Tuesday 11 September 2007

Go Braless!!

I've been having a play with my new Dolly Mamas stamps and this is my first attempt. I love the phrase, it really makes me giggle. Only thing is i'll have to be careful who I give it too!T

The paper is from my DCWV glitter matt stack. I seem to be stuck on this shape of card since making my DCM Christmas card.

Monday 10 September 2007

Di Hickman-Sketch

Here's my take on this week's sketch from Di Hickman. I've turned it around, backed a card with Basic Grey-Urban Dot and added eyelets and ribbon. Thank goodness for my Cropodile!

Sunday 9 September 2007

Caardvarks - Sticker Shock

I'm really enjoying these Caardvark challenges, and this one has been my favourite so far because it got me using my stickers, also you might have noticed that there is no Basic Grey in sight! yes I know, shocking isn't it. Here's what they had to say at Caardvarks.....Welcome to Sticker Shock! I think you know what's coming...yep, use *stickers* on your card front! We want to see them every which way - get creative with stickers!

First I had to select my stickers, I chose K and Company- Brenda Walton stickers to start with, then realised I had the exact same paper to match, how weird is that? I didn't know I had matching stickers and paper, I certainly didn't buy them together! Then as if by magic I found my K and Company brookfield stickers to go (which also went pefectly!) Isn't it amazing how much stash we have without even realising we have it!
Anyway, the card. I was inspired to use the tabs on the side by the tab stickers in the Brookfield pack, so that was the three page design sorted out.
On the front I used K and Company butterflies and a flower which I stuck onto scrap paper first, cut out and partially stuck into position, curling up the leaves and petals for a 3D effect. The 'My sweet Grandma' is a Brookfield sticker too.
On the second page I used the 'you are my sunshine' Brookfield sticker mounted onto some K and Company paper which I disstressed with Tim Holtz- Brushed Corduroy.
The third page - the one i'll write on, is another K and Company paper and yes you guessed it, another Brookfield sticker.
I'm really happy with the results of this card because although I went sticker mad, I don't think it screams stickers.

Saturday 8 September 2007

DCM- Tearing Purple Holes for Christmas

Well, I finally got a new card on my blog YIPPIE!!!!. And it's all thanks to the new Friday dare from DCM. Here's what we had to do...... the time has come for our first Christmas card dare of 2007. But as loads of you have already shown some fab Christmas cards on your blogs, we thought we'd make things a little more Daring, interesting, tricky or downright mean - depending on your point of view!
So, we'd like you to make and show a Christmas card which incorporates the following:
Some Paper Tearing
The colour Purple
AND
It has to have at least one hole somewhere in the design!

So here's what I came up with. I've used a purple ribbon and a purple strip of paper- which I have torn. I made the Christmas trees on my Silhouette, they have holes for baubles. I made the frill on the top of the card by punching six circles then punching a hole in the middle of each before attaching them to the card.

Friday 7 September 2007

So, so tired.

Isn't it strange how I feel bad when I haven't had chance to show anything on my blog? It's silly really, I suppose it's because I worry that my visitors will stop isiting me!
I started work again on Wednesday after having six whole weeks of relaxation, I feel like i've had the stuffing knocked out of me! I've tried crafting but end up giving up half way through. Not to worry though, it's Saturday tomorrow and I promise there'll be something new to look at. While i'm waffling can I just say a big thank you to all you peeps who visit my blog it gives me such a confidence boost and also thank you to those who have sign my fab new guestbook (it's been moved to the bottom.

Thursday 6 September 2007

Check out my new Guest book

Please, please, please sign it. I don't want to keep seeing my 'ugly mug'. Isn't it cool? I think it's great that i'm going to get to see you all and where you come from.

Wednesday 5 September 2007

More Crafty Templates Designs

It was my first day back at work today (oh where did those six week disappear to?)So I haven't had chance to make anything today, instead, I've brought out some more designs using one of this months new templates from Crafty Templates. This template is called 'Cute Purse' so of course I had to make my purses cute, well, I don't normally do cute but once I got started with my funky foam I just couldn't stop. The purses do actually open up so that you can write your greeting inside.
You might recognise the robin design from my last post, again, I used the free robin template from the Crafty Templates blog.

Tuesday 4 September 2007

DCM/CPS Challenge- You big Softie

This weeks DCM little extra was.......We want you to use something soft on your card feathers, velvet paper, fluffy fibresall that soft, strokable stuff counts for this one and that's it, easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy. This came in perfect time for me because I've just bought this fluffy, white Marabu and was wondering if i'd get chance to use it!

So here it is!
I used the new Robin template from Crafty Templates to create my felt robin which comes off to become a Cristmas tree hanging.


I also followed this weeks sketch from CPS, these sketches are just so handy!


All the paper is from the Basic Grey Dasher range.
If you would like a Free robin template pop along to the Crafty Templates blog.

Monday 3 September 2007

Some designs for Crafty Templates

This month the Crafty Templates design team were given some scrummy stash from Craftspirations to play with. Couple the beautiful paper with two gorgeous Crafty Templates and here are the results.
The templates I used were: Antique Purse and Antique Shoe.
Watch out for the rest of my Craft Templates creations coming soon.

Sunday 2 September 2007

DCM- Three Die Cuts

Here's this weeks DCM dare.....So... a trio of Welsh Barbers means that on your card you need to have 3 die cuts!( Dai is a common Welsh nickname for David and as there are a lot of Dai's around they are known by their jobs so a Welsh barber would be known as Dai Cuts. I'll get my coat.) Nice and easy, it still took ages to get it any good though, my mind was blank today. Anyway here it is, I've used; 1. A scalloped frame (Sizzix) 2. Cuttlebug lettering 3. Sizzix Daisy.

Saturday 1 September 2007

Cardmakers United Challenge - Recycled


Well, two weeks have passed and it's that time again. This time the challenge over at CMU is to create a card using something recycled. As you can see I've had a lot of fun with this one. My card is made of an actual beer can (mad I know!) and I didn't even cut myself once! I even cut out the letters to create the word brother from the can and then added the ring pull for a finishing touch. I'd better just say though, that I won't be selling this card, I just made it for fun, I realise there could be a bit of a copyright issue (lol).