Saturday, April 30, 2011

Did you miss it?!


What a dress!!
What a day!
I'm not a royalist but I did have my tissues out yesterday.
Catherine and William both looked stunning and happy.
The flowers were understated but wonderful and the trees in the Abbey gave it a lovely feel.
Loved Catherine's sister's elegant dress the bridesmaids and pageboys and her brothers speech was well delivered.
Even the Queen in "buttercup" matched the gold braid on the men's uniform beautifully and it's not everyone that can carry off yellow!
My only disappointment is I would have loved to have heard Harry's best man speech....I bet it was a cracker!
I'd like to wish them all the very best for the future.  x

With all the excitement yesterday I didn't get any crafting done
....just baked some cakes instead
...to have with my tea and watch the TV.
Diana your boys did you proud!  x

Oh and there's already a copy dress up on Esty this morning.....not as beautiful as the real thing but more affordable for us "commoners!"

Friday, April 29, 2011

Royal Wedding

The last Royal Wedding I was staying in a caravan park with my brother and parents in Yorkshire, playing by the pool whilst all the mums sat in the three TV rooms the dads watched over us all.  It was a beautiful summers day.
Quite bizarre when you think of all the "pomp" going on back then and how it all turned out for Diana!
Such a shame that she won't get to see her son all grown up marry today with is beautiful bride.
What will Catherine be wearing that's what all us "girlie's" want to know?  :) 
I'm sure she'll look stunning....
I'm thinking she'll go for simple and elegant.

Here's hoping that Prince William and Catherine have a much happier marriage and a wonderful day today.
They do make a lovely couple.
So whatever you are up to today raise your glasses and give them a toast....if you want to of course...I shall have a nice cup of tea and cake ready!
Might even push the boat out and have some champagne!! 
But I hate to admit it on here...
I'd prefer a good cup of tea or a nice glass of wine over champ's any day of the week.


It is also my brothers partners birthday today and she likes simple and elegant cards.
This is what I came up with:


I have used:
Cuttlebug flower embossing folder, black seem binding, back bling and Craftworkcards embossed circles.


So whether today you are partying in the street, at friends, working or even just at home with the box on, have a good one.
Who knows what the future holds!
Let's hope it's bright for the future King and Queen.
 Will the monarchy become more popular?

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble!

I know, how many Spell type titles can I come up with?!
Today is the last!
I will show you the remained of my work from the weekend gone, first up:


For this card I have used:
Spellbinder dies:  Labels one and Labels fourteen Nestabilities then Floral doily Motifs and Accent Shapeabilities.
Card stock Nocturne Colorbok pearlescent.
Hero Art stamp set Anytime messages.
Bling from Zva Creative and ribbon from my stash.

And next:

For my bag I have used:
Spellbinders:  Grand big scalloped circles, Fleur de lis square, Classic circles and Big scalloped circles small Nestabilities then Fancy tags two and three Shapeabilities.
The same card stock and Hero art stamp set as above and pearls also from Zva Creative.
Ribbon again from my stash.

The technique has been shared by the wonderful Becca On Amazing Paper Grace.
To get the half cut for the handle you only put the part of the card through the Calibur that you want to cut.
I love this bag and at 7 1/2 " it is big enough to get all number of gifts inside.

Remember at the beginning of the week I told you that one of the lovely Elgin ladies Toni made me a gift after the mornings demo?
Here it is:


Toni I love your Easter ribbons and the bag is fab......and with chocolate eggs inside what more can I add other than thank you very much. x

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Spells R Us!

The above title says it all, constantly putting "and there's more" isn't very exciting even if it is spot on.
So you've guessed it there is another Spellbinder card from me today.


I have used:
Spellbinders:  Grand Scalloped ovals, Grand ovals, Labels fourteen and Labels eight Nestabilites, Fancy tags three, Floral doily Motifs and Parisian Accents Shapeabilities.
Card stock Nocturne Colorbok pearlescent.
Hero Arts Finding joy sentiment.
Zva creative bling and ribbon from my stash.

Top tips!!

From trial and error I have found out that if you cut an scalloped oval die and fold in half it isn't quite symmetrical for a card and I like it to be right!  (But that's just me).
So the best way to get a perfect shape is to fold your card in half first and tape with low tack tape to the mid point of the die thus the shape matches perfectly.

That's all for now, catch you again soon....more sunshine in Bonny Scotland today so really should be out gardening instead of crafting.  Boo!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

And more


Late posting today I've been busy getting my boy sorted for school and it is such a lovely day it seems a shame to be in on the computer. 
Guess this post is going to be quick then so I can get outside and get some sun with the kids, I can hear the beach calling.
The above card is another on the same theme from my Elgin demo.
I have used:
Spellbinders Petite ovals and Fleur De Lis Nestabilities, Fancy tags 2 and 3 Shapeabilities.
Card stock (great VFM) Nocturne Colorbok pearlescent.
Hero art stamps Anytime messages.
Zva creative pearls.
Ribbon from my stash.

More again tomorrow I'm off now to get sand in between my toes!

Monday, April 25, 2011

And there's more...

Sorry I didn't get back to you yesterday too busy having fun ironing!!  NOT.
And enjoying time with the family.

This next card I thought of a fella Sugar babe Ali....it's a WOW (white on white) card for you.  x


I have used:
Spellbinder dies:  Shapeabilities Floral doily accents and motifs then Fancy Tags 2.
Card stock (great VFM) Nocturne Colorbok pearlescent.
Stamped sentiment from Hero Arts find joy.
Bling from Zva create.
Embossing folder dots and white seam binding from my stash.
 
I think I might also be a convert to WOW cards now!
 
I'd also like to mention another Sugar babe Elaine who has a birthday this month and has been giving away oodles of candy...such a generous lady.
Elaine thanks for the lovely comment about the tutorial....it would have to be a picture one and not a filmed one as I would not know where to start with that...techno phob here too, LOL. 
I will be doing a class in a couple of weeks with a similar card to yesterdays in Elgin and after that I will put instructions on here for you....so watch this space.
 
Enjoy Easter Monday everyone...now where did I put that chocolate...is it too early?

Sunday, April 24, 2011

I want to put you under a spell!

But it's Easter not Halloween?!
Hope you are all enjoying your Easter Sunday, the Easter bunny is late starting today up here in Scotland but as all the rest of the house are out playing rugby so it really doesn't matter just yet. 
What lovely day we are having the sun is out the sky is blue...remind you of a song? 
Up until the part about no clouds to spoil the view as that would be asking a bit too much.

On to today and dependant on how I get on with my chores, boo, I'm hoping to post again later today but more about that later.
Yesterday I was demoing in the lovely House of Sugar Papercraft's Boutique in Elgin...initially for the lovely group of ladies who had purchased a Spellbinder Grand Calibur from the store then later for the general public.
To all my morning ladies thank you very much for a lovely time...it went so fast but I hope you now will enjoy playing more with your machine and don't forget to let me know how you get on.
At this point I would also like to say a special thank you to Toni, who after the demo in the morning rushed home with her purchases, then came back with one of the projects she had made containing some yummy Easter eggs....keep watching my blog this week and I will show you what she made me.
I was made up.  :)

On to the demo and Karen asked me to do a Spellbinder demo to show how to combine the dies and different techniques using the Calibur.
The inspiration for this range of cards came from someone both Karen and I admire.....drum roll.....the wonderful Becca over on Amazing Paper Grace, her card creations with Spellbinders products is AMAZING but don't take my word go and have a lookie yourself.
Anyway this is my own take on this style:



For this card I have used:
Spellbinder dies:  Grand Big Scalloped Circles (Grand Nestabilities), Classic circles (Nestabilities), Parisian Motifis and Fancy tags 3 (both Shapeabilities).
Sentiments from Hero arts Anytime messages.
Card stock (great VFM) Nocturne Colorbok pearlescent.
Pearls from Zva creative.
Ribbon from stash.

The pearl card stock works so well with this style of card simply colours with a lovely finish leaving all the work to the die cuts and was such a bargain on the day.
Normally I'm not a big pearlescent fan as it doesn't like my printer but I do think, and it is only my opinion, that on this occasion it works creating elegant and classic cards with out much work!
I know it ain't every one's cup of tea but after playing last week I am now a convert and watch this space as I may throw a few more of these into the mixing pot.
The hardest thing is deciding which dies to use and in which order.
The beauty of the Calibur is so much cutting can be done in one go creating more time to craft on other projects!

Right I'm off to make like an Easter bunny...hoppity hop hop!
Enjoy you day. x

Friday, April 22, 2011

Happy Easter folks


It's Good Friday today...fish and chips for tea!
As it is Easter I wanted to share my little egg I made to take to Aberdeen.
This idea was from Simply Sassy blog  but unlike their design I wanted to make mine a little grungy and more aimed at boys.


I have used plain card stock inked with Distress Inks Vintage photo and Peeled paint.
The tag and ticket are from the Tim Holtz Idea-ology range fragments and adage tickets and the skull is from the plain grungeboard range.
The stamp is from the Andy Skinner Gothic range....I think the barbed wire is just fab and can see it appearing on a lot of my teenage boy cards. 
The sentiment is from Hero arts Anytime messages.
I was lucky to get this to Aberdeen in one piece as my two boys wanted it....could have had something to do with the fact it had chocolate in the middle though!

Anyway that's all for now, my configuration box is a WIP as I'm waiting for little bits and pieces to be delivered so I will show you it soon...it is distressed but not as you know it. 
Good luck to the ladies in Aberdeen who after seeing mind decided to give one a go,
I'd love to see them finished next time I'm through.

Finally, if you are in Elgin on Saturday I will be demonstrating with the new Grand Calibur and Spellbinder dies...
pop in and say hi...
but make it after lunch as in the morning I have something special planned for a few ladies!

I'd just like to finish how I started and wish you all a fantastic Easter weekend.....
eat, drink and be merry....
I hope the weather is good where you are and you get plenty of chocolate from the Easter bunny.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Sugar bowl challenge 58

I have one more item to show you from the weekend but today we are taking a break in the proceedings to do our regular challenge over on the Sugar Bowl blog
This time the sketch has come from the wonderfully talented Marlena and my take on it is:


With the the theme "BUTTONS".
And the sketch is:


I have used Ella's Umbrella from the Mary Hall range over from the House of Sugar coloured with my copics.
The word stamp is from Personal Impressions Mix and Match.
Card stock is from Memory box gossamer and pink card from stash.
Distressed using my Tim Holtz tool, stitched on my machine. 
Seam binding from the House of Sugar.
Finally the buttons are made using the fabulous punches from Epiphany crafts, I love this system as you can match your buttons to your papers.  Oh, and we all like to match!!
I thought this stamp makes a great "Get well soon" card for a friend a little under the weather.

Now on to the important bit look at the prize this time around:



Hero Arts stamp set "Finding Joy" and Spellbinders Nestabilities Fancy tag 2.
What a yummy prize don't you agree?
As I always say at this time "You've got to be in it to win it!"
Good luck and happy crafting. x

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

All manly!

Today I want to show you my man's card.
"Something for the weekend Sir!"
I know it's only Wednesday but it is a long weekend this weekend so although it is only "hump" day (the middle of the week) the weekend isn't far away.
And for those of you who's mind was elsewhere tut, tut!  LOL.


For this card I used AC textured black card and Tim Holtz Idea-ology Vintage Shabby.
Stamps from Andy Skinner Flight of Fancy.
Martha Stewart punch Scalloped dots.
Other Tim products are the button and Black soot distress ink.
I have finished with black seam binding and thread from my stash.
The card is 12" by 4" folded every 4" with the opposite diagonals taken off each end.
Sorry the images aren't the best with these photo's, note to self try harder next time not to wobble!

As we've had something for the boys, how about now something for the girls?
Now this was my favourite item to make and I must admit,
I think I might be making myself one at a later date. 
I have seen grungeboard being used for bracelets on u-tube so I thought I'd take it one step further.


For this I have used:
Tim Holtz textured/plain grungeboard and the swirls are from the plain elements set.
Stamp from Andy Skinner Gothic set.
Inks:  Distress stain Broken china and Distress ink Vintage photo.
Perfect pearls mist Sunflower Sparkle and Perfect pearls Sour Apple.
Hitch fasteners also from Tim Holtz Idea-ology range as is the centre button.
Finally the flower is cut using Spellbinders Nestabilities Big scalloped circles.
The width of the strap is in fact just a ruler width...I like to keep it simple, and the length is just the length of the grungeboard, as I said "simples"(squeak)...fitting my wrist just perfect.
So guys what else can we do with grungeboard?
Answers on a postcard to..........or just leave me a comment and I'll get back to you!


Tuesday, April 19, 2011

And there's more!

Another day and more to show.


This idea for a pop up tag card came from the lovely ladies over on the Simply Sassy blog with instructions to follow here.  The Sassy blog is a great blog to follow as they have great ideas and lovely tutorials to help.

I have used stamps from Andy Skinner A Stitch in Time, black StazOn. 
Ranger distress inks Fired brick and Spiced Marmalade.
Button and Idea-ology fragment from Tim Holtz range.
Spellbinder circle nestabilities (top of tag).
Seam binding, threads and sewing machine charm from my stash.

This card is really easy to make with just a bit of scoring to do, it also folds flat so good for posting unless you are like me and pop on embellishments! 
I don't do flat! 
Well not often.  LOL.

On to my next card:


For this card I have used my wonderful Grand calibur and die Grand Scalloped Ovals scored in half plus Nestabilities Labels 14.
Distress inks Stormy sky and Vintage photo.
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Grungeboard Elements plain for the wings with Rock candy Distress stickles.
Stamp sentiment from Andy Skinner Flight of fancy.
Ribbon from stash.

I thought the sentiment went really well with the wings and could be used as an inspirational card to offer someone encouragement. 
You can send a card for all manner of reasons can't you?!
I also like the fact that it can rock and we discussed this die at the demo day and thought it would also make a great New baby card with a Rocking horse theme...watch this space!  LOL.
Must now go and get some work done catch you tomorrow.




Monday, April 18, 2011

And there's more!

Had a great laugh at the crop yesterday and congratulations to Jo for winning the "Wedding card" challenge as it is the Royal Wedding this month.  Still waiting for my invite!  Do you think they've forgot?  LOL.
I have to admit the crop didn't start well for me and after a lovely crafty day on Saturday I think my mojo was needing a kick start!
Still I made a few cards to add to my box the first of which I have followed the challenge over on Less is More.  The challenge this week is to use acetate on your card.
Here is mine:


I have used black and white AC textured card stock.
Acetate from Personal Impressions.
Martha Stewart punch Deep edge flower bed.
Stamp Hero arts Treasure the moments.
Bling from Zva creative and seam ribbon from Papercraft's Boutique.
Thanks for the guys over on Simply less is more for another great challenge.

Now back to my demo and this is another of my cards:


I wanted to keep the background quite simple on this card as all the work is in the butterfly unfortunately in this photo you are not getting the true glimmer of the wings...but take my word for it...they do!

I have used:
Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Grand big scalloped circles.
AC textured white card stock and Tim Holtz Idea-ology Vintage Shabby.
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Grungeboard Elements shapes and Adage tickets.
Other Tim products:  Distress stain Vintage photo, Distress inks Spun Sugar and Vintage Photo, Distress stickles Vintage photo and Rock candy.
Ranger Perfect pearls Pink Gumball with Versamark.
Andy Skinner stamps Gothic.
I have also used from my own stash a dollie, pink wire, white satin ribbon and a silver flower charm.

With the butterfly I have first covered with distress stain followed by Spun sugar.  After that I have added perfect pearls and then stamped with the distress ink...finally adding a wee more ink around the edge and some stickles for a bit of bling!
That's me for today, I'll have more tomorrow.


Sunday, April 17, 2011

It's crop day!

It's that time of the month and our local girlie get together to craft, laugh and eat cake!
But what to do today...loving the new challenge over on Less is More to use acetate so might have a go at that one.  Decisions, decisions...or I could start my next month on my 365 day calender challenge.
Too much choice!

Before I ramble some more I will show you another card from the weekend...this was the next favourite which again surprised me 'cause to be honest it probably was my least...can I say that?!
You know when you have an idea in your head and it looks better there, LOL...well I thought that with this card, but the ladies loved it...
think it was Charlotte' favourite too.
I prefer moments when you have an OK idea and then put it together, step away and think...
actually that has worked much better than I thought...but then I'm like that!
Why make life easy!!
On to the card:


For this card I used:
Card stock:  American craft and Tim Holtz idea-ology Vintage shabby.
Ink:  Distress ink Walnut stain, Distress stain vintage photo and Perfect pearls mist Sunflower sparkle.
Tim Holtz products: Grunge board Elements plain shapes, fragment charms and brads.
Andy Skinner stamps Antiques.  PI stamps sentiment Mix and match.
Bling from Zva wheel.
Martha Stewart punch:  Deep edge flower bed.
Spellbinder Nestabilities:  Petite ovals small.
I have also slipped in a magnet to close the card.

Can you guess my idea behind this card?
I wanted the front to look like the entrance to a home...then you open it and go inside.
It is a 6" card and rather than folding directly in half I scored an inch one side and five the other.
Right that's me for today...I'm off to get ready to go and do some more crafting....
I'm having a great weekend, hope you are too.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Demo fun

It's late, back home and I've just finished baking for tomorrow's crop...note to self don't bake when tired...me thinks the flapjack won't be it's usual self tomorrow but I've had the thumbs up on the muffins!

I just wanted to pop on tonight and say a big thank you to all the lovely ladies over in Aberdeen today for being so kind about my cards. 
Hope you all had as much fun as I did and don't forget to get out your inks and powders and have a play!!
I'd love to hear how you get on with all your new toys....happy crafting!

It always amazes me which card comes out favourite on demo day, it's never which I expect, and the girls over in Aberdeen definitely voted the "less is more" card as "the one" today.
So here it is:


I have used Spellbinder Nestabilites Classic Rectangles Large to emboss the card, Tim Holtz Idea-ology fragments, Vintage Shabby papers and Distress ink Spun Sugar, Hero Arts Treasure the Moments greeting and a wee bit of pink seem binding from my "local craft shop!"  (Papercraft's Boutique).

I also met the lovely Debbi too, who was teaching a Promarker class in one of the other rooms at the Papeterie...that girl can colour in!  Wow.  I would have loved to have sneaked in and done the class with everyone but I think I might just have got into a bit of bother!
Oh and Ali "hi" back at you!
Kirsti sorry you didn't get chance to visit today but hope your day went well. x
That's all from me tonight...I'm away for a wee night cap before bed....
getting up early in the morning to get organised for tomorrows crop...
I just don't know what I'll be doing! 
CRAFTING!!

Friday, April 15, 2011

All packed

....and ready to go. 
Off to the The Papeterie in Aberdeen bright and early in the morning...can't wait to get crafting!
Got a few things to show you but I'll let the girls through there see them first.
We're going to be getting down and dirty tomorrow with a lot of ink and distressing!
I've also got the new Andy Skinner stamps to play with and of course my Grand Calibur.
If you live over that way do pop in and say hi, if not I'll be sharing what I've been up to this week later.

Oh and on Sunday I've got the local crop.....gosh all things crafty this weekend!
Yaah, my kind of weekend.
I've been told by my kids that they're having a boys weekend with their dad....I wonder if they realise he will be working them hard...apparently they're starting with the cars....which will be hard as I will have one.

The weekend starts here so whatever you are up to, have a good one.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Beavering away!

Yesterday I was beavering away getting ready for Saturday and my trip to Aberdeen but at the end of the day the boys had the football match on and I needed a little something to help me unwind so I decided to join in with the Simply Less is More challenge which is to create a one layer card with the sentiment as the focus.  "Jikes!"
Anyway this is my attempt;


The sentiment is from Inkadinkado, and I think it is a lovely phrase...I have inked with a little of Tim's Distress ink Red brick, embossed with Spellbinders labels 14, I have added a wee bit of Zva bling, red seam binding and a wee footprint charm.
What a great way to end a day...maybe the football needs to be on more often!
Why not follow the link above and check out every one's cards in the challenge...
"Simply less is more" cards to see.
Happy crafting.  x

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Back in action

After a few days away with the family I am back to my crafty room with a lovely selection of goodies to play with from Personal Impressions....want to see?

Thought you'd say yep, here we go:


Oh and one of these to take to demo's with me:


I'm loving these new configuration boxes by Tim Holtz...the possibilities are endless!
Can't wait to get all inky!
But I have to just mention these super stamps from Andy Skinner, don't you just love them?


And they're such great VFM.
I can feel another inky feeling coming over me, LOL.
Anyway I'm off to play....
what will I come up with?
Roll on Aberdeen demo this Saturday.
Oh and how lucky am I?!

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Sugar bowl challenge 57

It's that time again and today the sketch is from the lovely Maria Theresa and the theme "purple and green".
Here is my take on the challenge:


I've taken a less is more approach to this challenge, it seems to be a trend just now. 
I'm loving the colour combo too, so thanks very much Maria.
This is the sketch to follow:


I have used:
Stamp:   Hippie Love a stunning Simply Sassey Sugar Nellie stamp, can you tell she is one of my new favourites?
The papers are from Doodlebug.  Green and purple cardstock.
Dolie from the states.
Nellies multi frame MFD020 die cut.  Spellbinders Nestibilities round die.  SU bird punch for leaves.
Embossing folder cuttlebug flowers.
Coloured with copics and Rangers Glossy accents added.
Embellishments:  Pins, tape, heart,wire and flowers from my stash.

Up for grabs, or should I stay the prize for this challenge is Set 6 of the Simply Sassy stamps and a new Spellbinder Nestibilities die!
As I always say at this point "you got to be in it to win it!"
Happy crafting enjoy the sketch. x

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Happy Birthday

I'm so bad at sending my own cards for birthdays, it is so wrong when I'm always making them, slap wrists.
Today it is one of my friends Leigh's birthday from the Aberdeen crop and yet again the card is here waiting to be posted hot of the press so to speak!
So HAPPY BIRTHDAY Leigh
have a good one and if the postie is on form you should get your card tomorrow.
I decided to follow the challenge over on Less is More, keep it simple with a dash of red.


I have used Spellbinder Nestabilities lacey circle to make the flower, dots embossing folder from Cuttlebug, ribbon and leaf punch from my "local craft shop" Papercraft's Boutique, the sentiment stamp is from PI Mix and match, finishing off with a bit of bling and some Ranger stickles star dust.

Oh it's so hard to do "less is more!"
I have to keep telling myself  "step away from the card!"
Or even PUT IT DOWN!
LOL.
Anyway Leigh hope you've had a cracking day and I will try harder for next year. x

Monday, April 04, 2011

Giveaway

Nothing to show today but I have notice Laura has some candy up for grabs for her shop opening.



With runner up prizes (which I REALLY like) of:


Closing date to enter is the 18th of this month and I wish Laura all the best with her new venture.

Saturday, April 02, 2011

365 day Calendar challenge

It's that time again or it was yesterday.
I still had a few finishing touches to put to my calender for this month so finished it off last night.
For April I've gone for a very simple but apt look for our beautiful Scottish weather. 
Having said that the sun is now out this afternoon and we've got beautiful blue skies...shhh...don't tell anyone, it can be our little secret!
Anyway here is April from me:


Drip, drip, drip little April showers!

I have "dug out" some old papers for this one.
Papers:  Gingham Craft Creations, Creative Imaginations baby papers Sweet dreams...thought the stars and clouds worked with the weather theme.
Inks:  Tim's distress inks weathered wood and faded jeans topped with Glimmer mist turquoise blue.
Perfect pearls: True blue and duo blue-green.
Lettering from:  Scenic Route Bristol.
I finished my rain drops with glossy accents to give them a realistic feel. 
The rain drops were all cut and drawn by hand and to fit them all in I decided not to put this month in Sunday to Saturday line up....it just looked wrong!

You can see a link to more calenders over on Kathryn's blog.

This is also my March all completed as per my earlier posts:


My field of Tulips!
I'm really enjoying this challenge and it's great for remembering special dates and events that you don't always get time to scrapbook straight away.
Thanks for the fun guys and happy crafting....I'm off now to look at what other crafty calender girls have come up with!  :)