Passion...........................

Red hot variety ????? actually its a challenge over at Passion for Promarkers. Its their first one and as lover of promarkers I was really pleased to find it - thanks to Sarah who I met of ILWS and she is one of their design team - don't think I have ever spoken to a designer before so lucky me!!. Check out her blog as I love the way she always includes the colours...

The challenge was a free for all with colours and sketch so plenty of variety to work with!. I used an Anya image kindly sent to me by Tricia with papers by the Craftwork at a bargain price form the Art shop in Stroud at 25p - and that was the actual price and not the usually halved price reported back to any non crafter who asks!!

I coloured both flower, rectangle nestie scallop & ribbon with the Maroon marker to try to match (the ribbon was a fluorescent pink!). Buckle is SU hodgepodge and brad is I think doodlebug. The larger flower is one I cut out from the papers and simply bent around my fingers.

Lots of pricking and faux stitching - I love doing this and think it works especially with the stitching on the papers . I mentioned before I like to decorate the inside of cards so repeated the image on the inside.
and created a simple frame with charm from my stash for any type of sentiment. Just now wonder who I can give this too!!!

Colours used were

Cool aqua - it rolled at the last minute - so much for being arty!! plus

Skin: Ivory,Blush,DustyPink

Boots: cool grey 1/3/4

Hair/Bag: Sandstone/Cinnamon/Cocoa

I have to go and buy some more markers as typical for the next challenges I have one of the colours but not the both..... a trip to Swindon me thinks as there is a shop there that stocks them.

Off to iron uniform.... well actually to get it out, look at it, and decide that yes it will be fine if a out a heavy book on it all night......

Dog Days

Just wanted to share a non crafty post. Earlier this year I took my DD (on right) & her friend to Westonbirt Arboretum, which is just down the road form where we live. They were hosting an event "Dog Days" and held a regional heat for Scruffs - the crufts equivalent for non pedigree dogs. We took my MIL dog Buster (most of us in the family apart from one, would love a dog - but we have to make do with being nice uncle aunts & cousins to Buster).

Buster is just one and a super licky, friendly, affectionate dog - but not one you could say was blessed in the intelligence department... as these photos testify!

He didn't quite get the idea of dog agility and wee'd on the post after knocking it over! DD took him around so at this point I turned away and disowned him ....

Had to be helped through - and ye they moved the tube for him and yes DD did crawl through to show him ... all he did however was go around to meet her and lick her nose ....

and finally DD jumped but Buster stopped and stayed there. Some owners got asked would their dogs like to join the local agility club ..... guess you can't make out if we where one of them!!!!

And finally me trying to be arty!!

Enjoy the sun

Dilly x

Day Two Of New Me!

Yes, I have been good and made a few cards today - I know the weather has been beautiful but I am really fair skinned and do the white, red , possibly a bit beige then white again. So have spent a few hours in my garage, watching Britain's got talent and playing craft!!. I now have a number of cards that I can do the automatic posting thingy as I know I have a busy time at work next week!.

I have made my Dad (85!) a card in advance & intend putting in a couple of vouchers for his local garden centre and art shop.

I used SU papers & Stamp with brads from stash & its really annoying me that one of the larger green ones is not equally spaced....... And the card is a "double diamond fold that I saw on SCS here

Off now to unpack the weekly shopping that husband has just done....... wish me luck he has got food that we can

1) eat

2) do something with

3) recognise (he buys all the reduced stuff - we had to have spam fritters and asparagus last Sunday for supper!!!!!)

Hugs

I said I was going to be good

And here is my first card for ages!


I have been nicely reminded about the second challenge over here. There are some lovely cards & inspiration and a really lovely colour choice. I went for;

Card: Bordering blue, vanilla, ruby red, sage thingy ( my age I can't remember!) Chocolate chip
Stamp : A rose is a rose
Ink: Versa mark, sage, hunter green, ruby red & cameo coral

I also have a thing about the inside of cards - so had a go at decorating that as well.

The light in the garage isn't too great but the bush just outside is a ready made card holder. I will have be careful later as this bush had really sharp thorns when the berries come on it. Can you tell I'm no gardener as I have no idea what its called only the scratches!

Hope your day is good

A happy crafter I have a space!!!!!!!

Can't quite believe its been that long since I got along to blogging again. To be honest every time I logged on and looked at my fav blogs & site my lack of actually doing anything blog wise was like the "elephant in the room" !

I've found I spend so much time admiring everyone elses creativity and wishing I could think of things that I never get around to doing anything at all. I compulsively ( and yes it is my disease) want, need and buy lots and lots and lots (if huband reading this - all at remarkably affordable/bargain prices), loving rearrange storage boxes, stroke lots of paper that all I end up doing B***er all.

Had gotten so fed up of myself and my excuse of having no crafting space (everything in afore said storage boxes under bed & in former clothes cupboard(charity shopped clothes to make room for craft items....) that I spent a weekend clearing the garage out. After 8 trips to our local dump - (the man at the wood bin asked me if I wanted a cuppa I was that familiar by the end of the day) and a few happy hours therapeutically smashing former flat pack furniture with a hammer that I finally had a space for a very old and bowed desk that could house some of my craft stuff. I could never call it a studio or a craft room. I simply have a desk in my garage but boy oh boy do I feel lucky. Its a space of my own that admittedly is very cold at night (no heating), I do have to clean every time I use as its soooo dusty (A Victorian Cotswold stone wall) and concrete floor and in

winter I know I will have to bring in my card & paper BUT ITS A SPACE :)))))) that I can leave messy if I want. I have only only photo to share at the mo as the rest of the garage was really awful ( I also keep my tumbling & ironing in there as well ) but will pluck up the courage to take a few more later.

On the top are all my ribbons & flowers in good old Ikea glass jars & the wicker basket hides all my SU stamp sets. Hidden as it has somehow filled up over he last couple of months.... not admitting to number but a lot less than my friend & upline Jane!

From the left some of my more used sizzix dies/Nestabilities/Cuttlebug folders. On the the little shelves ( which are as bendy as they look!) which are all SU related and hold my ribbons/brads/Buttons and the last little hole up there is for O&S (odds & sods!)

On the desk itself the blue draws house my clear stamps, some pen markers then my bday prezzie the ink caddy thingy with gaps to fill, some storage boxes with not sure what t do with stuff but need to hide it away things! My tool box, one side SU & the other all my other essentials of the moment and my lovely scor-pal.

I'll "do" the cupboards later as this is really probably too long a post.

Have decided to "do better" and will be back later & more regularly with a card

Have a lovely day

Dilly

A quickie post today from me as have been preparing for an stall at my local school Indulgence Evening. I would love to come away with a workshop booking as haven't held one yet . I don't work near where I live and all my children have either left school or are at senior school

so don't have a great amount of contacts - but here's hoping - I can't keep buying all the SU stuff myself - my family really do need to eat!!!!. I have used Fun & Fast notes set and make up a little handbag box to fit - I sort of made it up as I went along so don't have any measurements to share - if anyone is interested leave me a message and I will do again

I have prepared some flyers to publicise a workshop at my home making this so will hand them out tonight - Again hope I get some interest .

Better go & wish me luck!!

How bad am I????

I have not blogged for ages and this time its not due to work but I have been having real problems with Blogger. I haven't been able to get to all of my "Dashboard" and parts of it have been un editable ( ok not a real word!) and I have no idea why its now working. My technical expertise has been shaking the computer and slamming the lid occasionally (hope no-one from my IT department reads this......)

Whilst I haven't been blogging I have however become a StampinUp demonstrator and am quite excited. I have bought some stuff but am yet to host a workshop - need to find a friend!!. I have also attended some team training down in Fareham last Saturday and it was a great day. Learned lots, met some nice people, laughed lots, and made some lovely stuff. Thanks to Amanda for great organisation.

As part of the day we where given "homework" and this post is my effort!. We have until tomorrow night to submit so I can't believe that I have completed well before a minute to go.... wish the rest of my life was this organised!!!!

We were given Certain Celery, Whisper White & yellow (not sure of the SU colour) card & some of the lovely So Saffron ribbon from the Mini catalogue and were allowed to card one other colour card only. So no embellies or papers ( which was great as I don't possess any...... yet.....!)

I made a tag card and used Brocade Basic stamp set which I substituted in my SU starter pack and I think its a very versatile set and am loving using it

I also used Close to Cocoa , Certain Celery, & More Mustard ink. I really love the way everything co-ordinates & tones so well. This is fab for someone like me who struggles with colour

I enjoyed doing this and was surprised how quickly it was to do - I just hope that I don't get a "D".......

Have a lovely Sunday.

Dillly x

Colour Create Challenge

Hi, another quick post as working from home so this is my lunch time!! Apologies for the picture colour as I think the light was poor along with my photography skills!.

This is my go at the challenge over at http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/ with the theme of Blue & Brown. Papers are K&Co "Roam" and a mixture of Copic & promarkers on the Leanne Ellis stamp ( I love these stamps of hers). Sentiment is Scrappy Cat and used some of my rather large stash of Swarowski hot fix gems (gymnastic costume making days!!)

I'm really pleased with the inside of the card as I used my Leone Em ash branch punch for the first time. I miss cut the white card and then wiggled for England around to cover it up and it came out OK once sponged & edged! Just need to find some one to send it to!!

My Stampin up parcel arrived this morning so itching to get to open and have a play!

Hugs

Sketch Saturday

Been away with work this week so haven't had chance to post this which I did do over the weekend. Papers are from a retired sizzix set. The image is a Rachel Anne Miller one that I purchased when I went to the Tag workshop at Cricklade the other week. Well its rude not to buy stuff isn't it??? My mother would be proud of my manners........ I had a go with some copics but am struggling to use. Need to quickly finish off another card started at the weekend so I might be able to post two days running!!!

Nice surprise today as the Whimsey stamps I won in Alison's blog candy came - Can't wait until the weekend to use.

Have a good night (bit late but want to watch Sean Bean now!!)

Cute Card Thursday

Oh for a nice cup of coffee - machine at work has broken down so dependent on making our own. Now I know that shouldn't be too much of a hardship its only coffee & water but I really dislike the coffee I make - anyones tastes better than my own. I'm known for making awful hot drinks to the point where I'm not even asked ... wonder if I could get that to apply to the ironing or cleaning......... So as it was a long caffine free day yesterday I decided to make this card and imagine a nice hot latte!

Athttp://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/
the theme is a card with an animal on it and I was able to use my "cute" Pink Gem cat for the first time.

Papers are Basic Grey Bitter sweet and coloured with Pro Markers

Cat: Blush, Satin & Vanilla

Pot & Flowers: Blush, Blossom & Dusty Pink

Grass: Lime & Soft Lime

Brads are papermania with spacers & flowers from stash.

The sentiment is one I think from Elzybells and I used my Nestabilities ribbon tag

Still not getting the close ups on my camera in focus - not even with my glasses on............ Any advice anyone PLEASE!!!!

Hugs,

Tilda & Friends Birthday Celebration

A quickie post as off to work. Over at http://tildaandfriends.blogspot.com/ they are celebrating their 1st Birthday and the more people that join in the fun the more opportunity for some lovely rubber.

I took this picture in the fading light last night so looks nothing like colourwise what it is!! - I need some photography help - I just can;t seem to get a clear close up of anything no matter what buttons I press! I have a little Cannon ixus 75 so if anyone can help please please let me know!!!.

I coloured one of my Tilda favs with promarkers and used papers from a now discontinued Sixxiz pack and stamped a couple of sentiments from Hero Arts (ticket) and a Hobby Craft scrappy cat set. Tried to make a faux ripped out notelet by punching just off the edge with my Big Bite - a bit large for this task and slipped off my table a few times (don't want to admit to the cup of coffee also on the floor at the same time - and yes onto cream carpet.........)

Work calls :(

Whif of Joy Guest Designer Call

Over at Whiff of Joy there is a guest designer call. How exciting ! I really like their stamps and have indulged this week and bought another two - what an excuse to shop....... You have to follow a sketch by Katharina and below is my go!
I used papers by Imaginese and Basic Grey Bittersweet. I got to use my new Martha Stewart lace dilly punch for the first time - Yippee . Daisies are from my sewing basket and are actually silver and padded so I tuned them the wrong way and coloured the back with Promarkers to match the card. Brads and spacers from my stash


I coloured the ever so sweet Henry with pro-markers :-
Cup cake - soft lime, lime & carmine
Henry - satin, blush, ivory & blossom
and Stickled it to within an inch of its life !

Sentiment was one I created on the pc and used my nestabilities . On my birthday list is the large set of the circle as only have the small set and would like to have a little bit more flexibility as am rubbish at cutting out free hand - well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!

Have a good Friday ,

Hugs

Penny Black Challenge

This Saturdays challenge over at Penny Black Saturday Challenge is Get Well Soon
and it is entirely up to you what you make.....a card..an ATC or
altered image.

This is a timely challenge as "Auntie Mary" had a fall early in the week and had to be persuaded to visit the Doctors and managed to hobble in (village about 8 miles from nearest town) only to be told to get herself to hospital for an xray, She is in her late 60's and doesn't drive so the family all helped out and the up shot is she has broken her foot. So hopefully she will like the card and for the first time for ages I have a challenge card I can put to use!!


I used Papermania plain card stock with patterned paper from a K&Co pack. I used a Friskars circle punch - eBay bargain £4 and almost managed to make it join (hidden by embellies)! Florist rafia ribbon & pin from Hobby Craft; flowers from stash; charm was from a multipack off eBay. I coloured the image with Pro Markers :=

Bear - Ivory, Vanilla & Satin
Flower & ladybird - Rose pink & lime

Sentiment I made my self playing with Word (took ages and I forgot to save the File - Doh!

I don't actually posses any PB stamps and the images I have I was sent in a swap but am running out. Is anyone would like to swap some with me please let me know.

Off now to "Dog Days" at the local arboretum with MIL lovely cute, licky, friendly but not too bright cavalier. We are entering the owner & dog looky-likey so pig tails and brown and white clothes here we come ( well actually not me but darling daughter). Have made large flask of coffee as it will be a long day....... other half has miraculously "got to go to work" mmmmmm.....

Hugs

Some Boxes

Whilst blog hopping I found a tutorial for making an origami box (will try and find link and post later) and loved it as it was so easy and effective. I just wish I still had children at primary school so I could make for teachers presents. Apparently its SERIOUSLY not cool to do stuff like that "MOTHER" at secondary school. Will have to save for a thank you for something else!! Off now to practise being cool ..... note to self fluffy bright pink piggy slippers not a good start.......



Hugs