Sugar Bowl challenge 63

Ok then, who stole my last fortnight?!

Hands up?

I seem to be taking three steps back at the moment for every step forwards, do you get days like that?

With my kids breaking up for the holidays, various things on at school and my car breaking down!!!

It's all going on.

Anyway on to the reason why you've popped over here, Sugar bowl time again.

This time it's my sketch again with the theme "make your own flowers".

The sketch this time is a nice simple one so you can have time to play with your flowers, I look forwards to seeing what you come up with too.

Here is mine:

I have used:

Digi image Flora

Papers from g.c.d studio Paris Nights.

Spellbinder Nestabilities Petite oval small and Lacey circles for the flowers.

Sizzlit die corner flourish.

Lace, brads and ribbon from stash.

Crochet flowers by my mum!

I have also used my copics and Black soot/Antique linen distress inks.

Yikes I've given black hair a shot! 

I wanted to keep it to the black and cream theme after such a bright entry last challenge.

And to the sketch:

As I said earlier a nice easy one for you to dress up or down as you please.

Now onto the prize:

The winner will recieve their choice of 4 Sugar Nellie stamps,

however if we get over 100 entries then that increases to 6 lovely new rubber stamps. 

So bring along a friend to play, the more the merrier!!

Hope you find time to play along over the coming fortnight especially with school holidays looming.

That's all from me for now but remember to come over to the party on the 1st and 2nd of July to see all the new releases of lovely rubberness!

 You know you want too.  :)

Party time!

With a huff and puff......that's me got my tent up ready.

 

 

Will you be joining our Carnival of colour?

Come along and check out all the new releases from

Sugar Nellie

on our grand blog hop this 1st and 2nd of July.

Look forwards to seeing you there.

 

Teachers gifts

So my eldest finished school for the summer last week and had a few thank you's to dish out.

What to give is always the question,

just a wee token of our appreciation.

For all his staff we send this card and of course a big box of sweeties.

Then for the staff who have be a great support throughout the year a variety of alcoholic beverages....

hick! 

Thanks to Gill at the The BeeDeck Gift Company for helping me out with cellophane and beautiful big bows which I used to wrap up the bottles with. 

Check out her beautiful nappy cakes and specialised gifts and balloons.

I also made a couple of milk cartons for those who, I have it on good authority like sweets.

Plus I've added a wee ceramic pin to the tags as a keepsake.

For another member of staff who like to read, a bookmark and book voucher for some well earned chill out time over the summertime.

I shall be repeating the bookmark and voucher for my youngest teacher too when he finishes this week.

Which as always I have yet to sort.

I like to keep everything "fresh", LOL, last minute would be more appropriate!

Beavering away!

I haven't disappeared, honest.  I'm just beavering away on the QT!

Got lots to do at the moment and will update you when I can.

Decorating, fitness week at school, teachers gifts and orders mean not much time to play.

 

Today I want to share with you my Father's day cards for my father and my FIL.

My youngest took the pressure off for his dad by creating at last count 4 cards!!

I think he is going to have the bug too.
I did try and post this last week but blog land was playing up so this is the first opportunity I have had to come back and try again, so here goes....

I love this pop up shape of card and it's so quick and simple to make. 

I have given a link to instructions in an earlier post if you want to have a go.

One father is mad about Harley's and the other about music and the violin.
The Harley papers are by EK Success as are the embellishments and the threads are just from my stash.
I have used Spellbinder nestabilities labels 14 and 1.
The metal violin and ribbon are from my "local craft shop"  Papercraft's Boutique.
Finally, I have used Black soot distress ink to finish and the music paper I picked up from a book store.
I've got teachers gifts to show next so I'll be back soon.



Less is more.

I was going to post this tomorrow but as it is the closing date for this challenge I thought I would play safe and do it tonight instead. 

Sorry about the picture on this one...it appears a bit squint but it isn't at the bottom....strange.

I can't have been holding my mouth right!!  LOL

(An excuse I always use when things don't go to plan)

Back to the Less is More challenge and it is a one layer card with the challenge "in the frame!

This is what I have created:

The stamp is from SU and I have used my Marvy pens for ink.

Spellbinder die Small deckled rectangles to emboss.

Pearls from Zva Creative and purple seam ribbon from my "local craft shop for local people!"

I usually do lilly's on my sympathy cards and keep them quite neutral...so a change is as good as a rest,

or so they say!

Are you all organised for Father's day on Sunday?

For once I think I am although I haven't got my hubby anything from the children just yet but plan to tomorrow. 

My youngest has made at least four cards for his dad so I have only needed to do for my own and my FIL.

Next week is countdown to school finishing and what to do for teachers gifts, decisions, decisions!

Ideas on a postcard to......!!

Sugar Bowl challenge 62

Doesn't time fly when you are having fun?!

Its time again for another Sugar Bowl challenge and this time the sketch is from the wonderful Marlene with the theme "Summer".

Here is mine....

beware you may want to get sunglasses on...

WARNING...

this card is bright!

I have used:

Sugar Nellie stamp Boho Chic with my copics pens. 

"Birthday" stamp is from Walzing Mouse.

Papers are from K & Company Berry sweet..could you get more Summery and bright?!

I made my flower using TH Alterations Sizzix Tattered Florals. 

Glitter from Stickles Star dust.

Stitching on machine and distressed with TH tool, wire and pearls from stash.

And the sketch:

As you can see I have rotated the sketch to fit my stamp.

I have kept the card quite simple with such LOUD scrumptious papers.

And to the prize.....drum roll.....

One lucky crafter will win the BRAND NEW, very cute Sherbet Pip stamps, all five of them.

If you follow the Sugar Nellie blog you will have seen a wee peep of these new lovelies

...can't wait to get them.

Happy crafting and have fun creating!!

It's a challenge!

So I needed to make a birthday card for my niece last night and I thought I would combine it with a challenge so here it is:

For this card I have used:

Card stock, bling and lace from the lovely Cathy, the papers are from MME Penny lane, aren't they scrummy?

The stamp is Lilli of the Valley Rosie with cake and coloured with copics.

The ribbon is from stash, distress ink spun sugar and the glitter is Stickles star dust.

I have entered this into the Lilli of the Valley challenge blog for anything goes this week and also into the CPS Card Sketch.

I really enjoyed this challenge as I don't normally do pink and glittery.

But I do have a niece who likes nothing more!

It starts!

I've finally started my clear out in my craft room....this could be on going for quite some time.  Yikes!

I have a pile of stuff to go to a well know auction site, but I thought as some of it is brand new, it would be possibly worth doing as candy?! 

It has not been as well loved as it should have been.

I feel it is therefore my duty to hand over to a more responsible crafter.    

Crafty stash needs to be loved and played with.

Whilst doing so I thought I would quickly share with you a recent party I did for a friend and her 8 year old daughter.

Now she likes to craft so her mum asked me if I could do a craft party for 10 girls and this is what we made:

I used papers from Papermania and the Papermill in Aberdeen, as I had plenty. 

The request was for it "not to be pink" so I went lilac instead.

The dies are Tim Holtz Tattered Florals, SU butterfly and the cake is from Walzing Mouse download templates.

The stamp on the butterfly is also SU, pearls from Zva Creative and the rick rack is from my "local shop for local people!"  (Papercraft's Boutique)

We also added a wee bit of glitter....all kids love it!

The box was filled with sweeties for them to take home as their goodie bag.

I think a good time was had by all and they proudly left with their creations.

Anyway this is not getting my room sorted so I better crack on, argh where to start next....

I may be some time!

Sew that's all from me!

The final selection from the weekends demo for you and it's sewing all the way.

I love these new stamps from Personal Impressions, don't you?

Very ON trend.

I have used:

Stamps:  Andy Skinner , PI Vintage Sewing and Lace & Thread.

Card:  American craft textured card stock and water colour card.

Ink:  Coloured with distress inks Black Soot and Scattered Straw.

Seam binding from stash.

For this card I have used:

Stamps:  PI Vintage Sewing and "Stitch" from Andy Skinner  A stitch in time.

Paper:  TH Idea-ology Kraft resist pad.

Ink:  Distress ink Black Soot and Rusty Hinge.

Embellishments:  Idea-ology Ornate plates and brads, Pearls by Zva Creative,

Seam binding, thread and lace from stash.

That's all for now folks...I'm away to catch up with a few Sugar Nellie addicts at the HOS today....happy crafting!

Gorjuss

And there's more...

Today is the turn of the new Gorjuss girls and two of my favourites are

"I found my family in a book"

and

"Ruby"

First up is Ruby and she has been coloured with Copics.

The card is made with Spellbinder Nestabilities Grand Big Scalloped Circles and Labels 8.

Stamps:  "Ruby" from the Gorjuss range and wording from Andy Skinner "Words Up".

Distress ink:  Tea dye and Fire brick.

Paper:  White card stock and TH Kraft Resist from the Idea-ology range as is the grunge heart.

Next:

Again coloured with my copics.

Stamp:  Gorjuss "I found my family in a book!"

Paper:  White card stock and TH Kraft resist.

Spellbinder dies:  Grand Nestabilities Grand Scalloped Ovals and Petite ovals small.

Embellishments:  TH Idea-ology Adage Tickets.

Distress inks:  Tea dye and Broken China distress stain.

I have made the top card using the largest die from the scalloped circles putting two dies together and scoring at the top, not everyone has A3/A2 sized card at home.

The second I have made into a traditional frame with a strip of card on the back....for a change.

That's all from me today, enjoy your day. x

WOYWW

Did I already mention in my earlier post that I was in "chat" mode today?

I must be.

Anyway thought I would share what I am going to be up to today once I can "step away from the 'puter!

Sssh don't tell anyone as this is my next SB challenge card, it's a secret!

The reason why I am working on my computer desk rather than my craft desk, well, cough,

could be because I can't get on my desk!

I know you want a picture, don't you?

Hangs my head in shame, yes, my desk really is a muddle most of the time. 

You can't see the worst of it by my strategic photo snapping!

On the upside it's all lovely new stash that I have received from good friends and a couple of stamps picked up at the weekend...waiting patiently to be played with....well it would be rude not too.  :)

Why not check out other folks desks over with Julia.

You know you want too, LOL.



And there's more!

Another day and more samples for you, so let's get cracking....

This first card is one of my personal favourites from the weekend.

I have used the new "fantastico" distress stain to colour the craft paper and the butterfly....broken china has got to be my most favourite colour just now...I'm a bit of a teal girlie!

The job is done in no time with the bottles of stain, which work like the old style paint daubers but are of course inks and totally matching all Tim's other ranges, great for covering larger areas in super quick time.

Do you think I REALLY like them, LOL....

I'm looking for things to stain!!!  :)

I have used:

Card:  Black textured card from American craft and Tim Holtz Kraft resist (inc butterfly).

Ink:  Black soot distress ink and Broken china distress stain. 

Embellishments:  Tim Holtz Adage tickets, Tissue tape, Stickles Star dust and wire from stash.

Spellbinders:  Shapeabilities Parisian accents.

Punch:  Martha Steward DEP Scroll heart.

Next to a simpler card:

Following a recent trend I always like to include a simple card that even a true beginner could achieve with the correct equipment. 

Having said that there are a lot of us crafters out there who are also following the "less is more" trend of cards, why? 

I think they can look classy, elegant and stylish plus quick to make which means we get to make more!

I have also found the when selling cards, and this is only generally, people who do not craft prefer them.

The photo has made the "heart" quite dark which is not so in real life but I'm afraid that is more down to my photography skills than any other reason.

Anyway I'm starting to waffle so we'll move on to what I used:

Spellbinder:  Small deckled rectangles, embossed only!

Stamp:  Andy Skinner Word up.

Ink:  Black StazOn, Fire Brick distress ink.

Paper:  Cream and TH Kraft resist.

Embellishments:  Idea-ology Fragments and Adornments. 

Red seam binding from stash.

Finally today more fragments for you...did I mention I love these too?!!

One for the men:

This is an easel card that I have used in the past but it showcases the Martha Stewart PATP (punch around the page) sets beautifully.

The main issue I have found with fella crafters and PATP's is that we are in such a rush to get them out and play...the instructions are binned,

 and this is the one product you need to keep them for.

Why?

Well in order for the PATP to work you have to work with certain sizes of paper the edger had to fit within the corners exactly. 

Start with your corners and work along to the middles matching up the patterns on the punch. 

I find that works best for me.

For those with the punches and no instructions the sizes are as follows:

3.25", 5", 6.75", 8.5", 10.25" and 12".

I hope that helps, sorry it's in inches but I prefer them.

Gosh, I'm on my soap box today! 

Better get on to what I have used:

Paper:  American craft textured brown and white, TH Kraft resist (can you see the trend!!)

Punch:  PATP French scroll.

Spellbinder:  Nestabilities Fleur de lis square.

Stamps:  Andy Skinner Words up.

Embellishments:  TH Idea-ology Fragments Square.

And the size of square I used was 5".

Anyway folks that's all for now....as I'm in waffle mode today I better sign off....or you'll be nodding off!

Down and dirty!

Back again today with the start of my work from the demonstration Saturday gone in Inverness.

Firstly I am starting with a bit of grunge...down and dirty...inky...mmm, what else could we use to describe it?!

I saw this idea for a box card over on Shari Carroll's blog, although mine is very different the basic structure of the card is the same. 

This is a 3D card that folds flat to post providing you don't add lots of embellishments.  Whoops!

Then I am not posting it.  :)

I loved getting all inky producing this card but be warned when you wash off the crushed olive it leaves a lovely yellow tinge!  All part of the fun.  LOL.

For this card I have used:

Paper:  Tim Holtz Kraft resist 12" pad, American craft black textured card stock.

Stamps:  Andy Skinner Flight of Fancy and Word Up.

Inks:  Ranger distress inks Crushed olive, Vintage photo and Black Soot.

Spellbinder nestabilities:  Labels 14.

Embellishments:  Tim Holtz Tissue tape, Game spinner and Sprocket gears. 

Wool from stash.

The next card is a redo from earlier in my blog...I know tut, tut, but it does show lots of inking and stamping so is a good technique card for a demo.

Plus it isn't identical at all. 

You can find the instructions to make this style of card here.

This time I used:

White smooth card stock.

Andy Skinner stamps A Stitch in Time and PI Vintage sewing.

Staz-On black ink with Distress inks Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet and Tea dye.

Button from Tim Holtz range and wool/sewing machine embellishment from my stash.

Phew....did you get all that?

That's all from me today...happy crafting, whatever you are up to.

x

Oh I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!

Is it me or are the months passing at a pace?

It was that time again on the first of the month for the 365 day calender and, erh, well, as you can see I'm a wee bit late. 

My excuse......I have been a busy little bee! 

Honest!

Firstly I would like to say a big "THANK YOU" and "HI" to all the lovely crafty ladies that visited me on Saturday in Howden's Garden centre at Inverness, I had a great time making cards and hope you all enjoy playing with your new purchases.

Then on Sunday we had our local crop in the village. 

It was lovely to see three new faces at the crop Paula, Lynda and Sandra who travelled from Nairn.

Thank you also to Jo for the T-shirts, a little boy got very excited when I showed him them.

Finally, more big thanks too go out to Tracy for my lovely little owl on my calender page....mind you...it cost me today!!!  (And you know why!!)

I had a lovely afternoon crafting and this is what I made:

Products:

Distress inks:  Crushed olive, Peeled paint, Walnut stain and Vintage photo.

The tree trunk I printed from the computer and created a stencil and the leaves I cut by hand in 3 shades of green.  The lettering was done on my cricut with stone script.

The stamps are from PaperArtsy.

The owl is from Sizzix...and he is so cute.  Tracy thanks for making him up for me. x

Why not pop over to The Kathryn Wheel and have a look at everyone else's diaries. 

It is amazing how different they all are even though we are all following the same challenge.

Finally for today I will show you my May completed, sorry it's a bit squint....it was getting late when I took the pic.

Did anyone notice I have used the same stamps!!!  Tut, tut.

I just love them,

 but I promise a totally different theme for July,

you'll just have to pop back and see.

Happy crafting,

catch you again tomorrow. x

Sugar Bowl challenge 61

Yep,  it's that time again, the next Sugar Bowl challenge for you all.

This time the sketch is by the lovely Kiki and the theme is love/marriage.

This is my take on it:

And the sketch:

I have used the new digital image from Sugar Nellie called Summer.

The papers are from My Minds Eye Stella and Rose, Mabel "Little lady" fine flowers.

The dies I have used are Spellbinder Nestabilities Long Classic Scalloped rectangle large and Tim Holtz Tattered Florals.

Ranger Distress ink Tea die and stickles star dust.

Pearls from the lovely Cathy in a recent RAK. 

Doilies, brads and bead spacers from stash and image coloured with copics.

I loved this sketch, thanks Kiki for such a good one.

I'm also not normally a fan of orange and teal together but I think it works.

Very summery for a Summer lady!

I love this image, did I mention that already?  LOL.

The card is going to my mum for her birthday..using the them "love"...."with love on your birthday!"  x

But enough of my chat..."what's the prize I hear you cry?"

It's pick "n" mix time, your choice of six SN stamps.

And here it comes again....you've got to be in it to win it!

Good luck everyone, have fun with the sketch and happy crafting.  xxx

Happy birthday!

Well, I have been meaning to post all week I have photo's to show

....however time has been against me and I just haven't got on here.

Yesterday was my birthday and I promised you some candy....arh well,

it's sat here waiting for me to get off my backside and sort out...I will do.

I also have the items I made at the Aberdeen event to show you, what a great day out was had by all.

Oh, and I had a kids craft party at the beginning of the week, again to show you.

So what else have I been up to?

I've had demo's and classes plus on Saturday this week you can catch me at Howden's Garden Centre in Inverness from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.

Do pop along if you can and say "hi"...I shall be getting a bit inky!!!  (It's a clue!)

Tomorrow is the next Sugar Bowl challenge so I am away to catch up on there, ready for a new lovely sketch tomorrow...back soon with lots to show you!