Anyone else having blog problems?
I've had to revert to the old system which is no where near as friendly as the newer version.........and now I've lost my gadgets, argh!!
What is going on!!!! :(

So guys this was me playing around with a card for Kirsti's birthday (see pictures below).....I'd got a new stamp whilst in Howdens at Inverness and just had to try it out. I know Kirsti likes her altered items so it seemed like a perfect opportunity to work outside my regular comfort zone!
The stamp is PaperArtsy One penny plate 4 and I have used black soot Distress ink together with Glimmer mists silver,turquoise and raven from Tattered Angels. I also used blue and green pearl powders and Ranger glossy accents on the butterflies. The flower was made with white tissue paper and glimmer mist punched with my SU scallop. The swirls behind are made using a Spellbinder Shapeabilites fancy tag split in two, together with gingham ribbon and turquoise thread from my stash.....all put together with a jewel brad.
I really enjoyed getting mucky and must try this more often...same can't be said for my floor but atleast it is sparkling now, lol. :)

So who's in the DOG House!!?*
This design was from Papertreyink and was supposed to be a birdie house but I altered it slightly to create a dog house.
I have used Nitwit papers Tail Wags diamond orange paper and Paw prints. It is inked with Tim Holtz distress ink walnut stain and the greeting is from the Nitwit Spring Whimsy range of stamps, I have added a couple of pearls and cut out some of the paw prints to put on the roof. Finally the roof effect was created with strips of the orange paper cut with Martha Stewart edger punch new scallop.

Before I start today I want to say a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Kirsti.....have a good one x.
I'll show you her card soon.

Today final day of my Nitwits. Now this card design I bought out at CHA in Florida last year with my buddy Gayle....feel really bad as I can't remember who's design it was but I love the idea of a mini scrapbook in a card. The Nitwit papers I have used are Me Wow cats words, hearts plaid and paws mounted on American craft card and I have added Me Wow toppers, with Ranger glossy accents on eyes and noses. There really isn't anything more to this card. Honest. Well maybe a wee bit of Distress ink! I do love my inks. :)

How about another one as it is so "dreak" out today......is it really summertime?!

This is an A5 card again made with American craft card and Nitwit Spring Whimsy floral cream, hearts and diamond and the bunny is Spring Whimsy decoupage. The small flower punch is EK Success daisy chain edge...I love this as it reminds me of the lace my mum used on my clothes as a child. The greeting is from Hero arts and the card is finished with Distress ink vintage photo, red pearls and a black journalling pen.
Now I know decoupage can be a bit of a swear work in some crafting circles but I have to admit I find these quite cute and can see why folk do like to use this way of creating cards it is so quick and easy. :)
Anyway I'm thinking it might by the perfect wet day to have a craft room tidy.....it's either that or iron and I'm afraid that is always last on my list.

Another Nitwit.....for you, this one is a DL card and I have again used the rubber stamps from Spring Whimsy including the greeting. The card is American craft and Nitwits Spring Whimsy Dots and Hearts A4 papers. The image was coloured using promarkers and the frame made using classic ovals Spellbinder nestabilities. The Martha Stewart punch is the edger String lace. The ribbon and pearls are from Papercrafts Boutique in Elgin and as with all my nitwit cards it was inked using TM distress inks vintage photo.

On to today's Nitwit. The stamp is from the pack Spring Whimsy and it a cute bunny which I have coloured with Promarkers and cut out with Nestabilities Small deckled Rectangles and the card and backgrounds have been cut using Labels 8. The flower is by Colour me crazy jewelled florettes crystal and has been coloured with promarkers to match. The flowers behind has by made using a Martha Stewart corner punch, big toots for Becca over on Amazing paper grace for the idea to which I have added a bit of bling. The papers I have used are red from American craft and Cherry blossom dark and gingham from Nitwits. The Martha Stewart edge punch doily lace is in the background finished by inking with, you've guessed Tim Holtz distress inks tea dye and a black journalling pen.

Happy crafting to all my creative pals out there in cyber land....hoping to get a bit more card making done later today.
It is one of my blogging pals birthdays later this week, you know who you are!!! And I have been playing with inks and stamps, I will show you what I came up with later in the week as I'd hate to spoil the surprise be it good or bad :) lol!

Quack, quack I'm back...we didn't get all the way around plenty left for tomorrow as a little man's legs got tired. Bless!
Anyway onto crafting and the new range of Nitwits. These reminds me of the American clip art I used when I first started crafting....bring back happy memories.
The papers I have used American craft textured card to make a split 6" card, then I have mat and layered with Bear Necessities; heart paper, stitched hearts, strips and finally Girl topper all inked with TH distressing ink vintage photo. The greeting is from Hero arts and forgive me I don't know the name for the ribbon used but I would say it is string lace on the left.....please feel free to tell me what is it's official name as it is a new product to Papercrafts Boutique in Elgin and I was given a selection to play with. :) My brain and names don't work well, lol. Much rather be crafting instead.

Morning sunshine!! Well, it is trying to come out. Today I thought I would show you the start of my Nitwit cards but my youngest is chomping at the bit to start the village DUCK garden hunt......the joys of the holidays. Quackery, quack, quack!
Hopefully we will find all of them and then our way back. I may be some time!

Back again today with another card for you. For this card I have used beige and brown American craft textured card. The greeting is from Hero arts. The cream flower embossed paper is from Kay and Co Elegance Speciality pad, I love this pad of paper, it is so good just for classy cards and not only Weddings which it is aimed at. The Spellbinders used are Boarderabilites Classic Grand Lace for the strip across the card and the leaves. The flower is made using Nestabilities Peony, it has been embossed and inked with Tim Holtz Distress ink Walnut. The jewelry silver spacer is from my stash as is the brown brad.
I love the simplicity of this card and the fact it could be used for a whole range of occasions.
Happy crafting to you all and hope you are all enjoying the school holidays......!!

My next card from my demo selection is a re-run of a previous card inspired by an article from Annie's Attic. I love the simplicity of this card but the fact it looks (I think) quite classy. What do you think?
Anyway this is what I used:
Kay and Co Elegance Speciality mat pad
American craft textured card in black and silver
Spellbinders nestabilities labels 8 and Shapeabilities fancy tags
Martha Stewart punch Lattice
Kay and Co Elegance Grand Adhesions and finally a few small pearls

It's raining, it's pouring today, boo hoo, where's the lovely sunshine so we can get down to the beach? Hope this isn't going to be the norm over the holidays.....I like to get the kids out in the fresh air at some point during the day if only for my sanity!

Today I have two cards for you....the first is...surprise surprise a cupcake card. For those of you who know me, know I have a "thing" for cupcakes, mainly eating them....I know it is so wrong but they taste so good! LOL
Onto the card, the stamp and sentiments are from PI Cherry on the top, the papers from Kay and Co Classic K Bailey and American Craft. I have used Spellbinders round and scalloped round nestabilities and the doily effect was done using two strips of Boarderabilities classic grand lace. Inking was done with Tim Holtz distress ink vintage photo, buttons from stock and white/black journal pens to finish the look. Finally a "cherry on the top" wouldn't be a cherry if it wasn't shinny so Ranger Glossy accents just finished the look!
The lace background was used to make the cake appear to be sat on a plate covered doily....taking my back to my childhood where a tea party wasn't a tea party without mum getting the doilies out.


This is my little lady from Hero arts Four dolls set. I have used the patterned paper from Kay and Co Classic K Bailey and the plain paper from American Craft too. The sentiments are from PI Mix and match, cream satin ribbon from Papercrafts Boutique and the inking was done with black soot from Tim Holtz distress inks. Finally the punch used was Martha Stewart Wrap around the page deco shell....I love these punches, so clever. Oh nearly forgot I used promarkers to colour.

So friends and fella crafters this is my first sample from my demo day in Elgin Saturday gone....and I have to say my favourite....I love this stamp and colour scheme, aswell as having so much fun making the bunting. So onto business the cardstock is textured American craft, the papers are from Kay and Co Classic K Bailey 6 x 6 papers, the Spellbinder Nestabilities is Label One and the birdie stamp is from PI "Knotty and Friends, the sentiments are from Hero arts. I made the bunting with Nestabilities classic rectangle large. I used the smallest rectangle and cut it down, just the right side for a card. The stitching was with my white and black pens, colouring with letraset promarkers and the beak has Ranger Glossy accents on. Finally the bunting was attached with staples to brown paper string and then to card.
So that is me for today folk....enjoying the holidays and happy crafting!

So guys this is the last of my teacher gifts. Again I have used DCWV grade papers and shrink plastic with the school badge on, the ribbon is from Maya roads. The book marks were made with items picked up from a well known auction site and included with these was a voucher for Amazon to order books for over the holiday. The card and gifts are actually for the head and secretary of the school who often get overlooked at the end of term. As my eldest was leaving this year I thought it was only right to give a little token of thanks for all the support over my son's time at the school, inparticular over the last couple of years getting him ready for his move on.
Tommorrow I plan to start showing you my cards from Saturday's demo day :).
Hope you are all enjoying the holidays....and the best thing so far....not having to rush about on a morning.

Morning all...today was our official start to the school summer holidays up here in Scotland and my youngest did me proud not rising till after 9, normally unheard of in this house as my eldest always gets up early regardless, even as he gets older!
So today I have another of my teachers gifts, this one was for my youngest son's teacher for his first year at school. We had a collection for this teacher so I just wanted to send a little something extra. The card I made again with the DCWV grade papers, the ribbon is from Maya roads and the shrink plastic was used with clip art off the computer (whoops forgot to mention that yesterday!) In my defence as I am posting on the old system I can't see the picture I am talking about and I also don't now have a spell check, yikes!
The bracelet was purchased from Funky kits. I added owls and charms also purchased at my local craft shop in Elgin...also home of Funky kits.
So what to do now the holidays are upon us....hopefully a bit of crafting...but better be boring and get some jobs done first.
One thing is for certain......the xbox is going off soon. :-)

For some strange reason I appear to be having blog problems and have had to revert to the old style posting....which isn't as forgiving so bear with me.
This picture is of my eldest son teacher gift and card as they broke up from school Friday gone. The card was made using DCWV Grade school papers and the book was made with my zutter equipment and Deja Views My Precious Boy papers.
I was in Elgin demonstrating on Saturday so have a few cards to share with you.....over the next couple of days.
Here's hoping my blog is back to normal soon....I would be interested to here if anyone else is experiencing the same problems.