Mmmm what is happening this week?

Hi, I'm back after a lovely weekend away with my boys.  We had a great time in Sterling.  My eldest had a great birthday weekend playing rugby, swimming, shopping and the cinema and my youngest finally got his trip to Build a bear!  We now have a new member of the family, a cuddly stuffed bunny!  At least this one doesn't need feeding. 

On to this week and I'm afraid that I will be somewhat quiet on my blog as I have a demo coming up at Howden's Garden centre in Inverness on Saturday 10 till 4.

Plus I am also at the Papeterie in Aberdeen on Sunday 11 till 4.  Now the Papeterie had special events on all this weekend coming as it's their birthday!!

It should be a fun packed weekend so I am looking forwards to taking part in the celebrations.

I am hoping that my mojo will be in full flow this week with two parcels of goodies on route from Personal Impressions for both demo's...what will I be doing?  I can't wait to get cracking on my samples which of course I will share on here next week too.  I think it's going to be a busy fun filled week.

Also this week the lovely ladies over at the Sugar Nellie blog are hosting a Sherbet Pips week.  Lots of yummy sherbet cards on show and well worth a visit.

Finally this week and how excited are we all........

Today Tim starts his first on-line classes, whoop, whoop!  Unfortunately as I have other commitments I won't have much chance to take part....boo!  But the beauty of the class is that you can go back at anytime and work at your own pace, which is what I will be doing.

A fun packed week ahead so it only remains for me to sign off and tackle some housework and tidy this craft room before all the fun starts later in the week.
Have a great week and "happy crafting!"

Happy Mother's Day

To all you mum's in cyberland I would like to wish you a

"Happy Mother's Day"

I am spending time with my boys today so I thought I'd leave this with you. 
A few weeks ago I was asked by one of my crafting buddies (who is 6 years old!) if I would do a little crafting at her birthday party with her and a few close friends.  How could I not?! 

As Mother's day was fast approaching this was what we made;

The girls were a delight, such a great little group of listeners, they did really well and all went home with beautifully finished cards and bags.
I think I should teach smaller ones more often.
I also got sausage rolls and jelly beans!  Nomm, nomm.  Oh and cake to bring home.  I really enjoyed myself.
Have a great Sunday and I'll be back soon.

Pigging sick!

A couple of weeks ago my dad went into hospital for an operation, all went well and he is now recuperating at home.  I sent him this get well card...

The image is by Meljens Design and has been coloured direct to card with prisma pencils.  I am so loving this technique working with kraft plus the less is more theme.
He is a very cute pig.

Why the pig?

My parents are Harley bikers and the are members of "HOG"  Harley Owners Group....hence my father gets lots of piggy things from me, well I can't afford to get him a new Harley bike!
I also sent him one of these...

Big fat balloons

It's a walking pig balloon which is apparently fab.  He has even been named!  Just proves a point, balloons can be enjoyed by any age.

Get well soon Dad.  xxx

Happy birthday Teen!!

Oh my where does time go?
Today I find myself with a teenager....move over Kevin you have a rival!
Now I couldn't let this day go without a special card so here it is....

The image is so him and is from Mo Mannings digi range for teens.  The papers are by Sassafraslass "Monstrosity" Mash and Take note.  I have coloured with copics and stitched by machine.

I would like to enter this into the Anything goes challenge and Cards & things challenge.

My boy does love his X box very much...don't most boys? 
In honour if his birthday I thought I'd share this sketch from Youtube with the wonderful Ronnie Corbett.  My two found this very, very funny as did I and we now often call the X Box an egg box. 

Enjoy!

My Blackberry Is Not Working!

Mote tagtastic fun!

Oh I missed my What's on your Workdesk Wednesday yesterday but in my defence you can't see my desk just now.  Time for a quick tidy after posting today before cracking on with my ironing! 
In truth my craft room needs more than a quick tidy. 
My husband has got me some fabulous map tables to go into my craft space but first I need to paint them and make room for them.  I will keep you informed of my progress but don't expect it to be fast.  I have a demo coming up in Inverness next weekend so I am waiting with anticipation to see what I will get in my wee box of goodies for then.  That will come first.  Me thinks I may need to have a bit of a clear out to make space too.  Time to be brutal!
Back to today and I have the last of my tags from the Elgin demo, this technique proved to be popular on the day;

To create the tag background I ran Weathered wood ink pad direct to the tag and then embossed it with clear embossing powder then heat.  I took my distress tool with Walnut stain and covered the entire tag wiping back off the embossed areas when finished....this seems to create a sort of leather effect...it's really "sick" (as my kids would say) or "awesome" (Americanism) or "neat" if you are me!
I distressed the edge of the tag and added more stain before stamping with Marion Emberson stamps "Birds and trees"and "Just because".  The bird and the leaves are added separately.  Finally I added ribbons from my stash to co-ordinate.
I think I could really get into this tag art....I can see the appeal.....a convert for definite. 
Another post done and dusted now down to the fun part of clearing up.....boo, hiss!

Busy as a little bee

No time for me to WOYWW today I'm a busy little bee with a deadline to meet.  Will hopefully post another tag for you tomorrow if I get all done I need to today.

Happy crafting. x

Tagtastic fun!

Oh I'm a little late today.  In my defence I've been making Mother's day cards for my local shop for local people!  Better late than not at all.  All done and dusted now just drying ready to be dropped off this evening. 
Today I have another tag for you and this technique is the first one on the link I posted yesterday, Tim Holtz instructions on working with Distress inks.
Here is my take on that idea.....

I have used an Inkssentials manila tag together with Distress inks Walnut stain, Gathered twigs, Vintage photo and Broken china.  The background stamp is by Hero arts "Happy", the leaves by PI Marion Emberson "Just because" and the sentiment is also from Marion "Birthday kisses".  The flower die is Spiral blossom 1 by Spellbinders shapeabilites as is the butterfly. 
I distressed the tag and the flower then added gold embossing powder around the edges of both.  The butterfly was embossed with powder after embossing it in the calibur first so that only the raised area is gold.  I then added some stickles over the top and some black bling to finish it off.  The ribbons again were added to co-ordinate from my stash.
I loved playing with this tag and can't wait to have a go at Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012 now.  I know it has already started but I need to catch up on a few things first before I can play.

Tag you're it!

Before I share with you my tag this morning I want to just mention a little "sweetness" going on this week.

The Sugar Nellie blog this week at 9 a.m. each morning are running a special feature week with the latest Ribonita girls.  Pop on over and see what the design team have been up to.  You won't be disappointed.

Back to today and I have a tag for you;

With this tag I stamped the dandelion and seeds with clear embossing powder from Marion's stamp set "Birthday kisses."  I then added Victorian velvet and Crushed olive distress in to my craft sheet and sprayed it with my mini mister I then placed the tag down on to the inks and moved around to cover in ink.  Dry the ink carefully so not to remove your embossed dandelion then rub kitchen roll over it....it will remain clear.
You can see Tim explain adding ink to a tag technique plus another one I will show you tomorrow here.
I then have taken Walnut distress ink and added around the edge, I also stamped the spots from stamp set "Build a tree".  The grass has been added at the bottom as per previous cards using green distress inks Crushed olive, Pine needles and Peeled paint. 
Time to take 3 fragments and stamp dandelions on then stick with glossy accents to the left top of the tag.  An idea-ology tag "wish" has been covered with ink as has the sentiment "a dream is a wish" (Find joy everyday set) then stapled to the bottom of the tag.  Finally ribbons have been added.
It's great fun playing with the inks in this manner and every tag will be different.  Be warned mind....if you don't like to get messy you won't like it....but to me that's all part of the fun!

All tied in knots!

My boys are away playing rugby and I should be making some Mother's day and birthday cards or even ironing but I thought it would be more fun to update my blog.  Blogging is most definitely addictive!

Today I am taking a break in my demo samples to share with you a wreath I made up whilst chilling one evening last week. 
I picked up a metal heart ring at Papercraft's boutique in Elgin having had a moment!  The light bulb in my head went on and I had to have the ring.  Now the usual occurrence is that the said item bought then makes it's way home to my craft room to be lost for ever more....only to be founds months or years later to be looked at thinking...."why did I buy that?!"  This was not the case this time.  I promptly got it home and set to work that evening.  Not at all like me.
Here is what I did;

This is such an easy wreath to make although it does take a lot of ribbon.  Guess I could have used less but I like it looking quite messy.  I did wonder about adding something more like a butterfly or flower but I do like the less is more approach in my home...for one it means less things to dust!

To all my crafting buddies who were lucky enough to get to the SECC for the craft event this weekend I hope you had a great time and picked up lots of yummy bargains.  One of these days I will make the trip down to Glasgow for a wander myself and maybe meet up with a few folk.

It only remains for me to wish you all a happy Sunday, enjoy whatever you are up to.

Find joy in everyday!

I did promise you yesterday that I would post my favourite card from last weekend.  I know I shouldn't have favourites but I do.

For this card I have used Distress inks Stormy sky,  Broken china, Peeled paint and Pine needles together with stamps from PI Marion Emberson sets "Find joy in everyday", "On your Special day" and "Create a tree".  I masked a Spellbinder circle to create the sun and also used a Spellbinder Ribbon tag to add the sentiment.  The ribbon is white seam binding which has also been coloured using my distress inks.
Once I'd created the picture I then cut it into four parts and re-assembled on a black background.
As Alexander would say "simples" squeak!

I have a wee man to myself this weekend as my husband is working and my eldest is busy so I am away to have some quality time.  Let's hope he fancies a bit of crafting at some point!  Mind you I think haircuts might be in order first.  He keeps saying to me "mom you're always crafting!" 
Mmmm I'm not an X box expert or into gaming gadgets, give me paper any day of the week "thank you!"

Aviator.

Hi, yesterday it was my husbands 50th birthday....he's feeling old this week!  LOL. 
I saw this new stamp at Sugar Nellie and thought it was just the ticket for him so I thought I'd share it.

The stamp is called Aviator, how cute is he?  The papers I have used are by Making Memories "Sam" and I have also used Spellbinder circle dies and star plus Martha Stewart edger punch Traditional scalloped.  I have coloured him with copics and used my Distress inks Weathered wood, Peeled paint, Crushed olive and Pine needles to create the background.
I am entering this into Cards and Things sketch challenge.

I think I will save my favourite card from the weekend till tomorrow...I'm so bad! 
Late blogging again today as I had a school assembly to attend this afternoon to watch my "ant!"  I also had a couple of cards that needed making this morning.  Now I'm away to play catch up before starting tea....let the weekend commence.  Have a good one!

Sugar bowl time again. 79

Hello back again with another Sugar bowl for you.  This time it is my sketch with the theme SPRING, ever hopeful that we've seen the last of the bad weather and snow with sunny days on the horizon!

My take on the sketch;

I have used "So What" from the Simply Sassy range at Sugar Nellie.  The papers are by DCWV The preppy princess stack.  The flower is made using SU punches and the sentiment by PI.

And my sketch;

Now don't be put off by the pentagon, I just wanted to use something different to a square or circle, when in reality we usually always have a square, circle or oval.  It is your interpretation anyway at the end of the day and a sketch is only for guidance.
The prize.....Up for grabs are 4 Sugar Nellie stamps of your choice going up to 6 if there are more than 100 entries.

It only remains for me to say "you've got to be in it to win it!"
I hope you have fun with the challenge.

Tweet, tweet! What's on your workdesk Wednesday 144?!

It's that time again and it's what's on your work desk Wednesday?

First my next card from the demo at the weekend.  I had lots of fun making this one. 

I am liking this style of making up your own scenes just now.

For this card I first hand drew some clouds on paper and attached them to my white card with low tack tape.  I then created the sky using Stormy sky distress ink removing my cloud masks when finished.  The Marion Emberson stamps are from the PI sets Birds and trees plus Build a tree and the sentiment is from Find joy in everyday.  I created a stencil with the tree stamp so I could colour the green without marking the sky and used Distress inks Peeled paint and Crushed olive.  I also used the same two greens for the grass with a stamp from the Birthday kisses stamp set.  The frame was cut and 3d foamed over the image and a Spellbinder shapeabilities fancy tag was added with a sentiment also from Find joy stamp set.  Phew!
It is much easier just to show you how to rather than try and write out basic instructions, LOL.  :)

Now on to the fun bit and my desk...what state is it this week...no better I'm afraid...

Still in the process of unpacking after the busy weekend crafting.  Distress inks waiting to go away as is my heat gun.  Samples waiting to be completed and sent off to my line manager. 
I also have a few big family birthdays over the next week so really should be cracking on with some personal cards.

Why not pop on over to Julia's blog to see what other like minded crafters are up to.  Every week I promise I will go along and check out lots of other blogs, I tend to start with folk who leave comments with me and work back...one of these days I will get around everyone.
Enough waffle from me....have a great Wednesday whatever you are up to.
I'm away to be a "lady wot lunches!" 
Then I must get back and crack on with some more cards....housework?!  What's that?

Are you a purple girl or a pink?

Whether you are a purple or a pink girl I've got a couple of crafty bits for you today.  Personally I'm a blue/green girl with teal being my favourite colour at the moment, but enough about me.
The first card....

With this card I have used my Spellbinder Big scalloped circles nestabilities die to create a stencil which I attached to the front of the card.  I then used Distress inks Seedless preserve and milled lavender over the top to create the scalloped circle shape starting dark around the outside going lighter to the middle. 
The Spellbinder shapeabilities butterfly die was cut and embossed in my calibur and left in the die again to stencil the ink on the embossed area only.  The body of the butterfly was then added to the card and wee bling applied over the top. 
The black butterflies are from Marion's stamp set On your special day by PI and the sentiment is from Find joy everyday. 
A very simple card to create with the right tools.

The next item is a wee purse with a cellophane insert filled with sweeties.

This purse is created using an A4 sheet of card cut 4" wide.  I then scored 4" in from either end to make the front and back of the purse, followed by scoring the centre point between the two 4" marks so that it will fold up into an envelope if need be. 
I have used Victoria velvet and Spun sugar distress inks to cover the white card stamping with water to create a blotchy effect.  The flowers are from Marion's stamp set Find joy everyday, I inked the stems and leaves with a journalling pen and added bling to the centre of the flowers.  The cover in black card was punched with Martha Stewart traditional scalloped edger punch and attached with tape at the back and Velcro at the front.  The wire adds a handle to the purse and the little embellishment is from Spellbinder shapeabilities Ironworks motif.  The ribbon is from my stash.
Inside I have put a bag of chocolate Easter eggs but you could do what you want.

More tomorrow!

Get those fingers dirty!

Back again today with more inking.  I would have been on earlier but I had to make a quick stop at the "local craft shop for local people!"
(Another project I'm working on that I needed a few more bits for!)
As for the next card from my demo....here it is;

For this card I blended Distress inks together and masked the sun.  However I started by Distress embossing the foliage from Marion's stamps Find joy every day with Shabby Shutters distress powder.  The sun is Distress ink Mustard seed then the sky is Fired brick, Festive berry, Ripe persimmon, Spiced marmalade and finally more Mustard seed.  All of which are blended together using the distressing tool.  The sentiment is again Marion's stamps On your special day by PI.  The butterfly is from Birds and trees again my Marion which is cut twice and layers with paper from Tim Holtz Idea-ology paper stash kraft resist pad to which I've added a wee bit of Diamond stickles on the edge of the wings. 
Top tip!!  I also realised by swiping the distress tool across the foliage from right to left it created a slight shadow....I quite like the effect....of course I meant to do this and didn't come across by a happy accident!  Cough, cough!

Today I also have the last of my pictures from the Show in Birmingham and it is some work by the lovely Andy Skinner.  I love is mixed media style of work, it's very masculine and steampunky, if that is indeed a word! 
Why not let me know what you think?

He also happens to be a very nice chap and I had a lovely chat with him on both days at the show.  I'm looking forwards to later in the year when he will be up in the area to teach.

Well, that's all from me today I have 13 family and friends birthdays over the next fortnight so I need to actually crack on with those....I don't get away with sending bought cards anymore! 
As well as that I have been asked for some Mother's day cards locally. 
Plus my lovely dad was in hospital last week so I really should do him a Get Well Soon card.  Isn't it bad when you make cards and family are the last to get?!
More tomorrow, happy crafting if you get chance.
Goodbye from a lovely bright and sunny day up here in Scotland.....is Spring finally on it's way?

A big thank you!

To all the lovely ladies who visited Papercraft's Boutique in Elgin I'd like to say a big THANK YOU!
I had a lovely day playing with ink, sorry I mean crafting...sharing inking techniques and styles. 
I hope you all had as much fun as I did?
Thanks also for your comments on here and Facebook, I really do appreciate hearing your feedback.
Oh and I enjoyed my glass of wine last night, hick!

Today I was going to be really good and crack on with housework and other exciting jobs....don't get me wrong I have pottered about but don't really have much to show for it.  I did however enjoy a wee catch up with Christel this afternoon, thanks for the lovely cake and chat...that's what Sunday's are all about. 
I'd also like to say thanks to my best none crafting pal Gill who brought around a wonderful coconut loaf this afternoon, nomn, nomn!

So what did we get up to yesterday?
I was mainly using Tim Holtz Distress inks and Personal Impression stamps.
Here is my manly card!

This is a simple looking card...first I added the ornate frame from Marion Emberson Birds and Trees with distress embossing ink and Distress embossing powder Mustard seed.  Then I created a mask and covered the frame.
The whole area of white card is then covered with Black soot distress ink using the Distress tool.  Once happy with the cover I used Hero Arts stamp "Happy" with water to remove some of the ink then sprayed with a mini mister to remove a bit more ink and add texture.
The card is then mounted on a mat of gold then black card, surrounded with gold ribbon and the sentiment added from Marion's set Find joy everyday.
I love the texture that the distress embossing powder creates together with the removal of some of the ink.  A none complicated card to show a couple of inking and stamping techniques.

Before I go a couple more pictures from Stitches and today from the Sizzix stand.  Mmmmmm!

Nice "Timtastic" products.

I love how the middle photo is set.

Loving all the new dies.

It would also have been so wrong to not go and have a look at the cupcake display....mmmmm good enough to eat, might be a chewy mind!

A late post for me today so better go and crack on with tea, homework and ironing...in that order, more tomorrow.

Mmm nice samples on Bramwell Stand

Whilst I'm beavering away in Elgin I thought I'd show you some more pictures.  This time from the Bramwell stand.
Got to love these altered paper bags;

How about some stamps?

Some samples now....

But these next two were my favourites;

Both beautifully layered and colour co-ordinated.  More from me again tomorrow.  Have a great weekend everyone and I hope you get some crafting time in.





I just love Tilda.

Hi folks back again with a couple more pictures from the show and today it's Tilda time!
I just love their papers and materials but especially the dolls....so cute.

And the doll.....

I'm loving this style and the stand was set up beautifully.

I'm away to finish my samples for tomorrow's big demo day in Papercraft's Boutique, Elgin.  Do pop by and say hi if you live locally.

My surprise!

White rabbits!

I did promise yesterday that I would share my lovely surprise from earlier in the week didn't I?  But first I wanted to thank everyone who left comments yesterday for my Anniversary, it was very kind of you all and I had a lovely curry out at lunch too.
What you want to know is WHAT was my surprise!

From my boss Jan at PI, thanks very much for organising it for me.  What a wonderful surprise.  I know I should already have this book but I have just never got around to getting it...needless to say it has already be read from cover to cover.  I was so excited!  Better still......look.....

OMG how lucky am I?!  I know....I had to sit down too!
I will treasure it and one thing is for sure I'll be ordering the second book as soon as it arrives in the UK.  Convert tick!

Back to Stitches how about a bit of Paper Artsy?

I'm loving this latest trend of matching die cuts to stamps oh I think I'm so going to NEED some of these!

And some lovely samples too.

Steam punk still seems to be big this year.

More from me again tomorrow.