Morning, well actually its really still Monday (and I'm watching Who wants to be a millionaire) but am trying to see if I can use the post options thingy (very technical I know!).

I have just completed a card challenge for the very first time on the http://docrafts.co.uk card making forum on the theme of "party" so thought I would put on here as well. There are a number of firsts for me with this as I have used my Christmas Nestabilities for the first time as well as a Friskars border punch and my bargain Sizzix alphabet set. Backing card is DCWV (I think) checked card from paper mill a long time ago, feathers trimmed from daughters boa (sshh don't think the space is too noticeable...) Key charm which you can't see too well from stash. Tilda coloured with promarkers
Top - lime green & blossom
Jeans - cornflowers blue
Boots - lavender & blossom
Hair - yellow, satin & vanilla ( i don't seem to be able to get an effective blonde - "nice & easy" is much better!!)

I tried to get a weaving effect but was too raised so not sure about that!.

I'm wondering how long it takes other people to make cards as I spent probably about 2 hours doing this and it seems a lot of time for not very much (although very enjoyable!!)?

Back again after picking No 2 son (by 3 minutes!) and have just been warmed up with a great turkey curry courtesy of No 1 son. Was spicier than any of us normally have so will have cured any cold bugs which may have been lurking!. This is the last of my 3 cards made today. I used DC papers and 4 Magnolia stamps. I made the tag by hand cutting basic shape and overstamping with a Magnolia word stamp that I purchased from ebay. I used henna & cinnamon promakers as ink as I don't have a brown ink pad. Tilda was coloured using my favourite colours at the moment of Ruby & vanilla, lime green & cinnamon. Brown ribbon was from a box of Thorntons chocolates (now sadly eaten:( !). Not too happy with the balance of the card as I think its "too bottom left" and there is too much space at the top but will keep so I can say I have already done three cards for next year!.

Thank you to Rhonda http://bumblcreate.blogspot.com/ for the award - I have never had one before - so thank you again!!

How Lucky?

I have been really lucky this month and have won some fab blog candy - Big thank you to Lisa - Crafting Diva and also to the Whiff of Joy peeps, can't wait to receive the stamp and have a play.


Have had a lovely day today and have sat and crafted for three hours whilst watching Ballet Shoes on TV. As a result I am super early in starting my 2009 Christmas cards and have completed 3. Ok to be really honest I am soooooo late now for 2008 I will have to save for next year.

I used my ATC as a topper for this card and used DC backing papers and had another go with my Big Bite ( or should that be bitten???). I seem to have difficulty using this as I always seem to squash the brads ... might not know my own strength

Again I used DC backing papers and Magnolia stamps from this years Christmas range. I used promarkers to colour in .
Lime Green - Baubles
Ruby/Vanilla - Dress & Stockings
Ruby - Baubles
Hair - Satin & Cinnamon
I know this is a really simple card but I am quite pleased with the way its turned out. I think I spent about 20 minutes trying to place the dam things!!

A finding a common theme in my crafting - lots of mistakes - how come glue and tape gets stuck to your backside when you haven't even moved?

Got to go and pick no 2 son up now so back later

Hurrah!

I have found it !!! My Missing magnolia stamp turned up. Having turfed out all my craft boxes to no avail (but plenty of fun rediscovering things I have bought!) I went back to the first box and found it stuck to the pack of some packaging. I can hear my mother now "where did you have it last"............

Here is this weeks Tilda & Friends ATC challenge on the theme of Merry Christmas. I used Backing papers by docraft and stamped 3 Magnolia images . I'm really loving the Silent Night music stamp. Coloured in using pro markers and stamped up a Dovecraft sentiment ribbon and hotfix gems from my stash.

Looking forward to two weeks off over Christmas - hope to do some serious crafting (well a couple of hours at least!!)

Big thank you to Lynn & Zonda for the stamped images they sent me - they are all ones I haven't got and was very kind & much appreciated.

Take care

How long?

Can't believe I haven't been able to get my crafting things out!. Its been well over a week and I really wish I could win the lottery and stay at home and craft all day. Work has been just so busy and I have had to do some silly hours just to keep afloat. I have bought so much Christmas "stuff" this year with the intention of making my own cards and now that's out of the window. Wonder if Woollies has any cards left????

I really like taking part in the atc challenge over at http://tildaandfriends.blogspot.com/ and this weeks theme is "frosty" so have abandoned the supper dishes and had a go. I used some stash blue card and some sizzix alphabet letters along with a tiny snowman by Magnolia which I bought off ebay. I also used my very first set of nestabilities to cut the circles. I found I didn't have all the right adaptors to use in my Big Shot so built the plates I had up by using a small stack of postcards. It worked so feel quite the "handy Andy" - mmm might be showing my age using that phrase!!

Better go and attack the dishes now .... I must be one of the very few that don't have a dishwasher....... well actually I do but its never been plumbed in.... now thats a long story!

Tilda & Friends ATC

Don't you just hate it when you can't find something?
I wanted to use a particular stamp on my red & green Tilda atc challenge but went to my "Magnolia" box and it wasn't there. It was the only that wasn't and I have absolutely NO idea where it could have gone. As all my craft stuff is in the cupboard in my bedroom and I only ever craft on my bed (not much room in my house!) it can't have gone far and I don't recall it ever turning up under the duvet with me!!! I know this will bug me for ages and I can feel a load of drawer tidying - although why it would be with the pants & socks I have no idea - not unless I have turned into my mother ????????

I used Tilda with presents with background papers by Docraft. The ticket stamp is also from Magnolia and coloured in with ruby & forest green promarkers and my new glittery Sakura pen (I seen this mentioned on blogs so asked in my local craft shop and I think its yummy!!). I'm really like the weekly ATC challenge http://tildaandfriends.blogspot.com/and am liking the discipline of having to something. Not sure what that says but !!!

Have fun

Blog Candy

Showing how new I am to all of this blogging lark I've just discovered Blog Candy - which seems a really nice & friendly idea. I can now attribute the amount of dust in the house down to the fact I am discovering even more lovely blogs!!!!

Here are some links to nice people's candy
http://craftsbykim.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-candy-with-christmas-spirit.html

http://bevscrafts.blogspot.com/2008/11/whiff-of-joy-blog-candy-from-katharina.html

http://katharina1704.blogspot.com/2008/12/december-3rd.html

http://clairebsd.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-blog-candy-giveaway.html

Back later as going to have a play with this weeks Tildas & Friends ATC

Having made myself feel even more guilty with my last post ,I have stopped ironing the school uniform - hoping its going to be cold tomorrow so only iron the collars and hope the jumpers don't come off ! I have sat down and had a quick play using papers from Docraft (I think?) and three of the Magnolia Christmas stamps I have recently indulged in. Used promarkers ruby & vanilla to colour in with - I really like this combination & have seen it used on quite a few blogs - its so good being able to get inspiration as I find I struggle with colours and my wardrobe is testament to this!!!

I thought I had some raffia and wanted to put this on the top with a bow but couldn't find it - so no change there. In the end I used some brown paper folded & scrunched but not quite what I wanted to do as I think the bow is too formed. BUT I have now completed my first Christmas card!!!

Have just seen a a challenge that I could enter this on the High Hopes Stamp Challenge so will have a go. The DT quality is so good I do feel a bit of a newbie but you have to start somewhere !

Have a good week



x

Not been a very productive week for crafting as have been soooo busy at work. Had to spend a lot of the weekend doing dreaded house work and all the time mind kept drifting back to wanting to make some Christmas cards . Well if I'm honest I need to start my Christmas cards - I have bought lots of nice papers and stamps and all I seem to have done is put them in a box, get them out again, have a stroke, have a bit of an ooh & an aah then tidy them back again. Does any one else do this?? The way this is going I will be buying the cards (again!)...........

Been busy at work - some very early starts and late finishes so had no time to do any crafting until tonight. Wanted to find out what the the Wednesday challenge at http://tildaandfriends.blogspot.com/ as had my first attempt last week. The challenge is on the theme of warm & cosy. I don't really have any suitable stamps so decided to do the reverse ! Papers are by Docraft, Colours promarker Pastel Blue & grey. Very friendly blog check it out!

I also had a lovely surprise when I checked the blog as I had been lucky enough to have had my name pulled out of the "bobble" hat and win a Tilda stamp. Big THANK YOU and also to Lynn for being so kind!

Cup of tea for me now!

Really enjoying having a go at making some ATC's. Used one of the Tilda printed images I got off Ebay and the background paper was from a discontinued Sissix pad - As a newbie to ATC's not sure if its OK to leave "bits" dangling over the edges but as its only for me shouldn't matter!!

Having spent about 4 hours driving to South Wales & back with my daughter for her sport what did I decide to do when I got home?. Well, it was get back in the car and make a trip to a reasonably local craft shop which I found out stocks some of the Magnolia range. Had, a lovely time, a very nice chat and bought a sweet Tilda from the Pink collection and also my very first stampavie - a trendy girly carrying some presents. However in my enthusiasm to get to the shop I forgot to get any petrol so drove the 15 or so miles constantly watching the dial that told me I had no miles left! Managed to get home but no have no idea how I am going to get fuel tomorrow as the nearest petrol station is definitely too far..
Had a try at making some cards, one for my sister-in-law, papers are from Dovecraft and ribbon and gems from the bottom of one of my craft boxes. The Tilda card is made with papermania papers and coloured with Whisper(?) pens but felt it was hard work putting it together just wish I was a bit more creative - maybe this is a good excuse to go and be inspired by other crafty blogs.....

Couldn't sleep so had a play using a Tilda & her horse stamp from Magnolia. Really enjoyed colouring so stamped another six and will make some cards to give to my friends daughter who is mad about horses!. Only hope she doesn't get tired of the same card.....

Best try to get some sleep as have a long drive to Wales tomorrow

Have taken the plunge and had a go at with my first ATC using the lovely Tilda Stamps. I have only just discovered these stamps having seen some wonderful cards on other peoples blogs. Unfortunately my bank balance has now taken a hit as I have also found the Magnolia web shop! I am now building a small collection and have been dropping some really unsubtle hints to my family for Christmas present ideas!

I used distress ink for the background and coloured in using pro markers. Used some decorative brads from my stash and applied some clear sparkles to Tilda's hat Have also tried to link to here http://tildaandfriends.blogspot.com/ for one of their challenges - hope its not too basic please remember it is my first attempt !

Feel so inspired by the ATC blog will try to do some more tomorrow!

Here It Goes.......

Well, after many hours looking, reading and being inspired by other "crafty" bloggers I have finally taken the plunge and have a go.
I guess the next step is to make something.......