Candi Tree

Apologies in advance for the wonky photograph, not sure what happened there. Might have to take Mark to task over this!

 

Today's cards have been made with Craftwork Card's Candi Happy Christmas, stamped in black ink.  I coloured both trees with Promarkers, then added some dimension with extra buttons, a star, some glitter glue and some Glossy Accents. I've listed the Promarker colours at the bottom.  I chose some corresponding card stock to mount them on.

 

 

(Promarker colours - Mulberry, Cyan, Turquoise, Plum,Pine, Lush Green, Poppy, Gold, Burnt Sienna, Cool Grey 5)

 

Today I've had a great time scrap booking with the Scrapbags.  I've managed to complete two layouts for Emily's book, which is miraculous.  After Christmas I must take stock and see how much more needs doing as I will only have 6 months to finish it (eek!).

 

Tomorrow the four of us are going to see Breaking Dawn Part 2, getting slightly excited now!

 

Hope you are all having a fab weekend.  Thanks for visiting.

 

Michelle x

Candi Christmas Wreath

 

Good evening.  I trust you have all had a pleasant weekend.

 

The card I want to share with you today is stamped with the Candi Christmas Wreath stamp from Craftwork Cards.  I stamped it in a black Versafine ink and coloured it in using Promarkers (Mulberry, Turquoise, Cyan and Plum).  I have to say that it took ages!

 

I cut it out (also took ages) and mounted it on some white card, which I backed with SU's Tempting Turquoise - a perfect match, then adhered it to the main card.  I added a Christmas sentiment (Craftwork Cards) and made a purple bow at the top.

 

 

Again, I have used non-traditional colours which I definitely prefer, but I do think this would look great in red, green and gold - I'm just not sure I can face all that colouring in again!

 

Well, I've finally started a little bit of Christmas shopping, from the safety of my sofa!  Must start writing some lists now and getting organised - I can deny it no longer.

 

Have a good week and wrap up warm.  Thanks for dropping by.

 

Michelle x

More Pretties

Here's another card from my weekend of playing.  Purple is my favourite colour, so I particularly like this one.  Again, it is very simple.  I have had a lot of fun stamping and colouring, getting back to the basics and to what drew me to card making 16 years ago (although my style has changed considerably!).

Ingredients

Stamps : Thanks a Bunch by Marion Emberson

Promarkers : Bluebell, Purple and Violet

Cardstock and gems from stock

Hope you have had a good Monday.  We have had to succumb to the heating tonight.  Gosh isn't it getting chilly?!

M x

Pretty Flowers

Here's one of the cards that I made this weekend.  Quite a productive weekend actually,  I am feeling like I have my crafting mojo back - I just want to keep making cards and do nothing else! Sadly, work looms tomorrow - but hey, it's half term in 5 days - hurrah!!

Ingredients

Stamped image : Thanks a Bunch by Marion Emberson

Promarkers : Magenta and Poppy

Embellishments : Ribbon and button from stock

Hope you like it.  Come back soon for some more cards.  Have a good week.

M x

More Flowers

Another card from last weekend.  Again, I have used some of my new stamps from Marion Emberson and coloured in the image with Promarkers.  I'm rather partial to my Fiskars' edge punches at the moment, as well as a touch of ribbon.  The colour scheme is not my usual choice, but I really like it.

Ingredients

Stamp : Sunshine and Flowers by Marion Emberson

Promarkers : Amber and Fuchsia Pink

Ribbon : From stash

Scalloped Edge Punch : Fiskars

I'm really hoping to make some more cards tomorrow.  Apart from the usual washing, ironing, shopping etc, we have nothing planned this weekend, which is nice after a really hectic, difficult week.  Heigh ho - one more week until half term! 

Happy crafting!

M x

Lots and lots of goodies!

Good morning!  How are you all?  I'm fine and feel nice and rested after yesterday's exertions lol! So after doing a bit of housewifely duty by doing some ironing, I have been taking photos of my lovely purchases.

My first photo is of the lovely and talented Julie Hickey from Craftwork Cards.  She is such a star, so friendly and helpful, always ready for a chat.  Craftwork Cards is always the first stand Mum and I stop at, whenever we go to a stamping show. 

I wasn't actually going to buy anything from Craftwork Cards this time, but as you can see from the photo below, I changed my mind.  I think I must be one of few who don't actually like their Warren the Rabbit images, and I'm not so keen on Frosty the Snowman either - I don't really do cute.  But I was taken the colours of the papers and card stock that go with Frosty - love the contemporary colours.  Also bought some delicious new Candy - gorgeous metallic, holographic colours.

I got a really good deal on Promarkers - 10 for £15.00, so I bought two lots to take advantage of the offer.  I won't be buying anymore for a while now so why not?

Another must have stand to visit was Sugar and Spice - I am such a fan of Marion Emberson, as I am sure I have mentioned once or twice!  So it was nice to meet her and say hello.  I bought a couple of sets of her stamps - alphabets, as well as a retro flower punch that I have wanted for a while, some silver Glamour Dust, and some crystals and a couple of packets of buttons.

These masks were  a bit of an impulse buy, but I thought they would be really handy for journalling, using Distress Inks and spray inks.

I bought some journalling spots and tags, some plain Manila tags, memo and bingo cards, as well as a script stamp from Paperartsy.

Some more Glamour Dust (crystal), some calendars and a memo stack, some glue pens and some Pinflair glue (everyone is raving about this, thought I would try it out).

The Craft Fairy is a such a great stand to visit - lots and lots of beautiful ribbon, in every colour you can imagine.  It was really hard to choose.  They are so reasonably priced too - about £1.30 for 3 metres. 

Any finally (well nearly!), two new Nestabilities, some magnetic sheets, Promarker fine nibs, a new acrylic block, some Diamond Glaze and even more buttons.

Well, that's all the purchases that I made for me.  As you can see, I had a really successful day.  My only disappointment was that Art From The Heart wasn't at the show.  I had intended to buy some more spray inks, a pack of Moleskin Journals and some pre-printed images.  I also wanted to take some photos of their beautiful artwork for inspiration, but it was not to be.  I have made an internet order since I have been home, so I am sure the products will be will me in a matter of days.

My final, final purchase at the show wasn't for me, it was for my mum, for her birthday in November.  She was umming and ahing between two designs of Martha Stewart Punch Around The Page punches - they were a really good price from Stamposaurus, so I bought one for her and she bought the other.  I'm really glad because she wanted them both so much, and now I don't have to worry about what to get her for her birthday.

If you have stayed with me until the end, thank you!  Hope you haven't been too bored.  It was so exciting to spread all my goodies out this morning and see what I spent my money on.  I won't be having anymore splurges like this for a while now - got to think about Christmas (urgh!).  Just need to find some time to have a play!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, take care.

M x

Good morning!  Well, this is the last day of my summer holiday, so regular postings will now go out of the window!  Here are three more cards to share with you, all for birthdays in September.

 Ingredients

Card, embossed frame and sentiment : Craftwork Cards

Ink : Versamagic Spring Pansy

Ribbon : Craft Fairy

Glitter Glue : Stardust

Ingredients

Card blank, sentiment, Candi : Craftwork Cards

Flowers : Prima

Paper : Sugar and Spice by Dovecraft

Ingredients

Card blank, Candi, Digi Smooth cardstock : Craftwork Cards

Cardstock : From stash

Stamp : Time for Tea by Beth Gunnell (free with Quick Cards Made Easy)

Nestabilites : Large Classic Oval and Large Scalloped Oval

Promarkers : Duck Egg, Walnut, Lime Zest, Sky Blue, Meadow Green, Canary, Peach, Rose Pink

Sakura Glitter Gel Pen

I think it will be unlikely that I will get any more cards made today which is a pity.  My day will be spent getting myself and the children ready for tomorrow - checking bags, pencil cases, PE kits etc.  Making sure shoes are polished and phones are charged and locker keys are found.  I'm trying to eliminate the panic tomorrow - would like the morning to be calm, particularly for Emily - so no dramas would be good!  I'm off to chivvy Edward to get dressed (how is he going to get ready on time tomorrow??!!) so that we can walk the dog.

Have a fun day.

M x

Cheers!

Just enjoying a glass or two of champagne to celebrate my 17th Wedding Anniversary.  Mark is cooking a sumptious meal (his choice, I suggested a takeaway) of scallops to start and posh sausages and puy lentils for the main course.  I've had quite a chilled day.  Haven't done anything special but it has been lovely all the same.

I've been trying to break the back of all the birthday cards I need for September.  They pretty much all have to be different as most of them are for people I work with.  I also have an order for three special cards to complete in the next week (typically I have left this until the last minute).  I have really enjoyed my card making today as I don't feel under any pressure.  I'll be showing you these over the next week - they are awaiting scanning.

I've also started to organise my crafting area too, little by little.  I've got an A5 Notebook and I have written down all the colours of my inks, ink pads, Glimmer Mists, Promarkers etc to avoid duplication when I go to stamp shows (in readiness for Ally Pally at the end of September!).  I've also noted down my Nestabilities, Cuttlebug embossing folders, clear stamp sets etc.  It's jolly useful and reminds you what you have.

Here are a few Christmas cards that I made recently.  They are all the same design, just different colour combinations.  As usual - all products are Craftwork Cards.  (Sorry the cards are a bit wonky - you just can't get the staff these days!!).

Hope you are all enjoying the weekend.  I have to say, we had better weather 17 years ago!

M x

Summer Holiday Tasks - Update

Well, the summer holidays are at the halfway point and I thought it was about time to take stock and see how I am doing with the goals I set myself.

1. Complete my Me in my MoleskinE journal.

I've pretty much finished the actual book (more photos to come soon) and only have the tags to do that go in each page pocket. I'm really happy with how it turned out and can't wait to share the rest with you.

2. Make a start on my Christmas cards.

Well, up until this morning I hadn't made any, but this afternoon I have made 8 cards so far, and now feel on a roll to make some more. Edward thinks I am completely nuts to make them in August, but I know there is a method in my madness! Will share them with you over the next few days.

3. Tidy my craft area/make it work for me.

No, not happened yet!

4. Finish my new Flower Garden blanket.

In hindsight I think this was a tall order. However, it is progressing nicely. I made a plan of how it is going to look (it took me an hour and a half to do it!), using my Promarkers. Counting up all the hexagons was scary - I have to make 713 in total!! I have already made about 300, so still plenty more to do.


The thing that is slowing me down, is blocking out all the hexagons. I can only do about 13 at a time and have to leave them overnight to dry. It's definitely worth it as they sit better, flatter.

This is how far I have got in joining them up. It hasn't taken too long but I am glad I made the plan as I have to refer to it constantly.

5. Make more cards/be adventurous.

I haven't really done this yet either, but there is still plenty of time. It's typical though don't you think, that when you have lots of time to be creative, the ideas seem to dry up.

6. To enter a card on a challenge blog.

This has also not happened but I have been looking at the Less is More challenge blog and may give it a go soon. This week's challenge is a One Layer card using ink - sounds interesting, so I may give it a go.

So, I suppose I am quite pleased with how things are going. What I didn't want is too feel under pressure with the tasks I have set myself. If I don't achieve everything it doesn't really matter as long as I feel like I have done some of the things I wanted to do.

Hope you are all having a great weekend.

M x

Flowers

Inspiration came from an article in Papercraft Inspirations (issue 87, June), a magazine I bought by mistake! The article featured the Four Flowers stamps by Hero Arts and was written by Angela Poole. I based my card on one of her designs, tweaking it here and there.

I used a cream scalloped base card and stamped on cream card stock, using raspberry pink to accent. The inks were Marvy Matchable dye inks and I used accent beads in the centre of the flowers (stuck on with Glossy Accents). The stems of the flowers were coloured with a Promarker, highlighted with a black Sakura gel pen. The pink flowers are raised up with 3D foam pads. I inked the scalloped edge with the pink dye ink for a bit of added interest.

I really love this card, even though it took me ages to make it. I wasn't sure exactly how it was going to end up, but am pleased with the effect. I will definitely be making another one, but will vary it and use a different colour combination. The stamps are versatile and I think they will feature in a lot of cards to come.

I have five more working days left until the end of term and I am already planning what I am going to do with my time. I have signed up to an online journalling class with Kirsty Wiseman here and am itching to make a start. I also have plans to make lots of new cards, and I may even give Christmas some thought. I don't generally mention the "C" word so soon, but if I don't make the cards over the summer holidays, I will not have the time once I am back at work.

The main focus of the summer holidays is to slow down. Life has been pretty tricky over the past nine months and stress levels have risen quite high. I am looking forward to a slower pace of life, maybe sorting out some menus for family eating (that has gone to pot too), reorganizing my craft area and taking the dog for a lot of walks, and generally to have a nicer time.

Hope everyone has had a jolly weekend, despite the appalling weather.

Take care

M x

And the end of another busy week . . . .

Thank goodness! As we near the end of term, work is just getting more and more frantic. This week I have been making props for our Year 6 production on The Wizard of Oz, backing display boards, mounting work, painting a rainbow and making an Emerald City for the display, not to mention dressing up as a Victorian school teacher. It doesn't look like it's going to ease up anytime soon. I've got a list as long as my arm of jobs to do on Monday. Two more weeks and counting.

I never got round to posting some photos of my birthday presents. This first one is from a friend at work who knows me so well. Unfortunately they have all gone - boy could I have done with some of these yesterday!

Mum and Dad, as well as contributing the lion's share to my laptop, also gave me some more Promarkers to add to my collection. The colours are lovely. I'm going to need a new storage box for them soon, as I can't get the lid on the tin I'm currently keeping them in.

My parents also gave me four packets of Candi, some fancy edge blank cards and a storage box for the Candi - all from Craftwork Cards.

Mark and the children gave me The King's Speech on DVD and a couple of packets of Thorntons chocolates, as well as a contribution to my laptop of course. Can't wait to find the time to watch the film, as it is fantastic (and the chocolates didn't last long!).

Hope you are all having a lovely, relaxing weekend. Ours is very busy - just what I need after an exhausting week, but heigh ho!

M x

Puppy Photos

I thought it was about time I put some more photos of Chloe on my blog. My goodness how she has grown. She is now twice the weight she was when we had her weighed at 8 weeks, and suddenly she seems all legs.

The first couple of photos are when she was about 10 weeks old and she looks like such a little thing - sort of chubby yet tiny.

She has a thing for shoes, any shoes, she's not fussy. She likes to pair up my Crocs in the flower bed (slightly OCD methinks!).

And this is her at 13 weeks, she is thinner and sleeker, and definitely leggy. As you can see, she loves her comfort - cushions and crocheted blankets. She particularly likes my Rowan Cashsoft blanket that I made last year.

She's not been very well this week, has behaving out of character, so tonight we took her to the vets and it would appear that she has a bladder infection. So now she is on a course of antibiotics for a week and we have to go back next week for a check up. At least she has no problems taking her tablet - pushed into a little bit of cheese, it didn't touch the sides. So different from giving tablets to a cat - what a palaver that was. Of course going to the vet is a licence to print money. I hope this isn't the start of things to come.

It's half term this week and all my grand plans of card making haven't exactly come to fruition, although I have made some today. I haven't got pictures yet as our main computer is down so I can't scan them. Hopefully I'll get some decent photos tomorrow.

I downloaded a blank Promarker colour chart from the Letraset website and had fun colouring in the squares of the colours I have. I have 66 pens including a blending one. Still loads to get!! Although after the vet bill, not for some time!!

The other day I felt the urge to do some painting. I used to love painting when I was doing my O and A Level art and I haven't done any for ages. I am inspired by Dyan Reaveley at Art From the Heart (here ) also a blog called Luna ( here ). I've only drawn the image so far and painted the background, but I will show you soon.

I hope you are all having a lovely week, nice that the weather is picking up. Back to work on Monday and another stressful week of my daughter doing her GCSEs. I know I haven't mentioned much about that but yes, we are in the throes of them, and I will be so glad when they are over. There are four next week - 2 maths, 1 history and 1 Italian - wish us luck.

Take care

M x

Freebies

Here is a card I made using paper that was a free gift with a scrapbooking magazine, and the stamp was also free with a card making magazine. Normally I'm not that keen on the free gifts that magazines tempt us with, but both these caught my eye. Of course, the magazines themselves are ones that I always buy, so I wasn't lured by the free gift alone!

The stamped image is coloured in with my trusty Promarkers. The little green circles are Candi by Craftwork Cards - really like their new range of printed Candi - these have little flowers on them. I cut the circles using my Cuttlebug and Nestabilities, and the scalloped border was done with a Fiskars border punch. Oh, and a little bit of glitter glue here and there! A very quick and simple card to make. Hope you like it.

Hope you are having a restful day.

M x

Stuff I hope everyone had a relaxing Mothers' Day on Sunday. I can't say my weekend was relaxing in the slightest - we had so much to pack in that we were absolutely exhausted by the time Sunday evening came along. Having said that, it was quite a nice weekend, but I am looking forward to this one, which will hopefully be quieter. My children bought me a beauty voucher (Emily's idea, bless her), some Promarkers and a box of chocolates, so I felt very spoilt. I also had a cup of coffee and a biscuit brought to me in bed. This is the card I made for my mum. It's the first time I have had a go at an easel card (don't think it's clear from the photo), and I really enjoyed it, although it took me a long time to get it right. All the materials are from Craftwork Cards - you know I am such a big fan. It was good for me to have a go at something new, as I have been feeling that my card making has been stagnating of late. I have been making the same design, just in different colourways - it's all those 50th and 80th cards I've been making recently, I just went for the easy option. I'm feeling happy with my reading choices at the moment. Fiona Walker has released her new book in paperback and I snapped it up in Tesco on Saturday evening and am a good way through it already. The trouble is that I would rather read it than go to work, so am feeling a bit resentful at the moment - roll on Friday at 2pm when we finish for the Easter Holidays!

I love her books, particularly the ones about horses, eventing etc (even though I'm not horsey at all!!). They are a bit racy and make me laugh - pure escapism.

Well three more days to go. Parents' evening at Edward's school tomorrow - our first one at his secondary school. I've also got to make some chocolate cornflake nest cakes for the children in my class, for Easter, so there's no time to relax just yet!

Enjoy the rest of the week.

M x

And another milestone birthday card I seem to have made quite a lot of cards for significant birthdays already this year, and it's still only March! This card is for a colleague at work and I was asked to make a large one for the whole staff to sign, so this one measures 20.3cms square. Although it's quite a big area to fill, which can be daunting at first, the size actually suits the the numbers very well, so that they are not squashed together. All the papers are by Crate Papers and the number templates and card candy are from Craftwork Cards. The flowers were made using a craft punch. I don't know if you can see, but the numbers are outlined with glitter glue, as is the background paper. I like a little bit of glitter to give the card a lift. The papers are very pretty and subtle. I've had them in my collection for ages and decided it was about time I used them. In fact, I feel like that about a lot of my craft collection. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by how much stuff I actually have, and I can never find what I'm looking for, or I've forgotten that I bought it in the first place! The problem is that there are four possible locations when I have stored it, so I spend more time searching than I actually do making the card - frustrating! Sometimes, I buy paper and then don't want to use it because it is too nice - what is that all about??!! Time for a change methinks. So, expect to see some more cards with the above papers. I've not put them away and am going to make lots of different cards to use them all up - watch this space!! Check out my new pretties from Craftwork Cards - newly rebranded Candi (although I don't like the "i" at the end!). They are so pretty with their little flowers and dots. They are about £2 per pack, but go a really long way. I've got quite a collection of these little circles and they are so useful. And if you don't have the right colour for your project, you can always colour white ones with Promarkers.

Yesterday I made a new type of card, for me anyway, I know loads of people have been making these cards for ages, but it was a first for me. It was a bit trial and error, but got there in the end. I can't share it with you yet because it's for next Sunday (hope you are not reading this Mum!!).

Anyway, got to go and collect my daughter from a sleepover. She went to see The Script at the O2 last night and I'm dying to hear all about it.

Hope everyone has a great week, and that we have more weather like last week.

Keep smiling! M x

More of the same

A couple more special birthday cards are needed in the next couple of weeks, and as I like this design so much (and because it is very quick), it seemed a perfect idea to use it. Even though the design is the same, so far no two cards have been alike.

For both cards, the papers are from stacks by DCWV and the beautiful glitter is from the Martha Stewart set I bought a few months ago.

I didn't have matching Card Candy for the blue card, so I used some white ones and coloured them with Promarkers.

Recently my card making has been a bit stagnant - making cards purely because I have to and not because I want to. I hate it when it becomes a chore. I am hoping that during the Easter holidays when I feel calmer and less stressed, I will get my mojo back. It's not a lack of inspiration, there is plenty of that about, I think it's more a case of life getting in the way.

Hope you all had a good weekend.

M x

Some summery cards

This first card is for my niece's birthday tomorrow. It's from a kit that I bought ages ago from QVC - I like the colours and the funky images. I'll be making more of these over the next few weeks (I hope!).

The next card was made for my colleague as a thank you. I used my new Promarkers to colour the flowers and added a little bit of glitter in the middle of each flower. I really like this card and will hopefully make some variations on this theme.

The last card (slightly wonky!) is a birthday card for my colleague whose birthday is in the summer holidays. I used some new papers (Blossom) from Craftwork Cards which are simply beautiful.

I've had a lovely first day of the holidays. Emily didn't finish until this afternoon, but Edward and I have had a relaxing time, which included a late breakfast in town. I did spend an obscene amount of money on stationery supplies for when he starts his new school - who knew a few pens and pencils could cost so much??!!

M x