Penny Black Miniatures

Hi peeps, I just wanted to put these few cards on quickly. I know I've been the world's worst blogger, not visiting you all nearly as much as I should, and I'm not going to make my usual excuse about time running away (even though it is) cause I'm sure you're all in the same boat. One day I might get time to just sit blogging, hmmm, how long till I retire?!!!

I'm making a whole batch of these two miniature cards for my daughter to take to work to give to her friends. They measure 3 1/2" square and are so quick to do (I like that). The stamps are both from a Penny Black Critters set, cute ain't they?

I'm really into my Prisma colour pencils again and have been adding loads to my collection, I've only got another 35 to get to have

the full set. I just love the depth of colour you get with them (oops, sorry if I'm repeating myself, I'm sure I've said that before, but it's so true). The little sentiment stamp is one I had from a HoTP TSV I got

from QVC ages ago. It

was just the right size. The base card has a nice linen texture to it. So there you have them, more clean and simple.

Nearly forgot this one. It's another slight variation of my previous Elzybells cards. Just a different layout. The snowflakes I love. I found some fab Diamond Dust Twinklets on Joanna Sheen's website. They give such a wonderful crunchy, sparkly effect to the punched snowflake, I can really recommend this stuff.

Long Time No Post

Hi folks, it's been such a long time since I last posted. I've been trying to get my Christmas cards finished. I've done quite a few of the same card this year instead of trying to do lots of individual ones.

Here's a few I've done recently:

Ok, I know this isn't a Christmas card, but I thought I'd show it anyway. It was for my sister's birthday.

Clean and simple has become my favourite style and I think this fabulous image by Rubber Romance fits the bill perfectly, a very elegant lady don't you think? The background text is also a RR stamp and I matted the main image onto a nestie scalloped rectangle. The sentiment is from Clare Curd's signature range.

This next one is done with Elzybells stamps. The Eskimo has be

en coloured with Prisma pencils. I added some cotton wool balls to look like snowballs (I decided that I didn't really like them, so took them off and replaced with a snowflake).

Another clean and simple. I bought this tree stamp at the NEC, I really love it, especially with the sparkly glitter on the branches (sorry if this doesn't come across well on the photo).

I used a Marvy LePlume pen for the image and then added some very fine glitter with a Sakura glue pen. I mounted it onto some black card and then onto some lovely textured cardstock. The sentiment is from HoTP which was from a QVC set. This is so quick and easy to do, I love doing this one.

And finally, I've got myself a new toy. I've wanted one of these for ages and really stressed over whether a Cricut or Silhouette was the best one to get. I've seen so many comments about how hard the Silhouette is to use and that it's cutting ability limited. I finally took the plunge and bought a second hand Silhouette from E-bay. I got myself a new blade and cutting mat and it's like brand new.

It set up like a dream and I have to say that I have found it really easy to use. I've cut silver and gold mirror card, Coredinations and SU cardstock with no problems at all. I love this machine

My new baby:

And this is what I've done on it. I got to admit to blatant plagiarism here. I pinched the idea for these from Julie. I have long admired Julie's cards, she is so talented. If you get chance, follow the link to her blog and take a look. You'll be wowed by her creations. I really wanted to have a go at doing something useful on my new machine (up till now I've just been experimenting with what it would cut and how to use it). I cut the letters out in gold using my Silhouette, the font is called College Halo. First, I did them in gold only, but I wasn't keen on this, the card looked a bit bland, so I cut the letters out again to layer up. The gorgeous snowflake was a free download from the Silhouette blog. I did try a bit of ribbon on the bottom but it didn't look right, so again I pinched Julie's layout by adding some pearls (I hope she doesn't mind).

Well, now you know what I've been up to. That's it for now. Hope you're all getting on well with your Christmas cards and I hope to catch up with some blog hopping soon. X

Forever Friends - Congratulations

Don't you just love it when one of your lovely family members rush in and say 'have you got a card for .............'. This card is the result of just such an occasion. My daughter's off to a wedding reception tonight and sprung it on me just before she went off to watch Birmingham play Sunderland that she needed a card. I'm really flattered that they think my cards are good enough to send to their friends, but a bit of notice would be nice!!!

Anyway, the clean and simple look had to be choice for this card. The card base is a nice pearlised texture so I matted a piece of ivory/gold coloured card which has been through the Wizard in a Cuttlebug Heart folder on top. I was lucky to have a piece of ribbon in my stash that matched (it's beautiful ribbon from Anna Griffin). The stamp is from the Do-craft range of Forever Friends stamps, which has been coloured with Prisma pencils.

Have a good weekend everyone.X

Season's Tweetings

Famous last words, heh, 'More Time to Blog'. I don't think so. I don't know where the time has gone or what I've been doing since my last post, but apologies for lack of visiting and uploading.

Here is another Elzybells card, as you know I love these stamps and this is yet another favourite. The background is done the same as my previous Reindeer card, an Elzybells snowflake stamp using Versacolor, Polar Blue. The sentiment is also from Elzybells. The image has been coloured with Prisma pencils. The snowflake is a Sizzix die and I've covered it with Diamond Dust from Twinklets, this is fab stuff, it looks all crusty and sparkly. I found this on Joanna Sheen's website, it's crushed glass and imo much better than any glitter. I've done a little close up, but don't think I can do it justice on a photo.

Sorry the photo's are a bit dark, I couldn't find a light enough spot now that the days are drab and miserable.

I did something a bit different with this next card. Not a single stamp in sight. I found this vintage car stencil amongst my stash and dug out the 3D relief paste I bought yonks ago and never used. The glitter is from Art Institute and gives a lovely sparkle. I wanted to do a DL size for a change, so added the side panel which was done with a Lace stencil. I mounted both onto some gold mirror card, I'm quite please how it's turned out.

More Time to Blog

Now that's summer has passed, such as it was, I'm hoping to be a better blogger. I've been very bad at posting and visiting others, I will try better, promise.

Here's a couple of recent cards I've done:

This is a miniature Clarity Stamp which I've used to create a reflection scene. It's very easy to do if you own a brayer. Just ink up your stamp and roll the brayer up and over it like so:

Next, position your brayer in the centre of your card and roll the image onto the card creating your reflection. You then re-ink your stamp and position this above the reflection (many of you have probably seen Barbara do this at the Exhibitions).

I then added some background leaves from a Tapestry set of stamps. For the refection of the leaves just ink the stamp and blot it onto a piece of scrap paper to give a more faded look.

I used Pine Needles Distress Ink for a bit of shading and also to create the water (I'm just loving Distress Inks at the moment, nearly got the whole set).

I used a Rollergraph to create the leafy background, using Graphite Black Brilliance Ink on the white card and White Versacolor ink on the black card.

Again, I used my Scor-pal on the black card for a grid effect, but I don't think it shows on the photo and nesties to mount the image. This card was great fun to do.

Next, a simple Elzybells Christmas card. I really like the Elzybells stamps, they're so easy to use and I love the simplicity of them.

I've recently dug out my Prisma pencils after a phase of Faber Castell watercolour pencils. I'd forgotten how great they are and what great depth of colour you can get from them. The background card was stamped with an Elzybells snowflake stamp using Polar Blue Versacolor inkpad and I've just distressed the edges a bit. The snowflake die cut is from Sizzix with a Papermania brad added. I decided to get my sewing maching out for a bit of stitching around the main image and added a bit of glitter for the snow.

Hubby is at work today so I've got a few hours to play with a few more new Elzybells stamps I've just got.

Hope you have a good weekend. X

Christmas

Hope you've had a good weekend and enjoyed the wonderful weather we've had. I did intend to get some cards done, but I just couldn't resist just sitting in the garden and making the most of it.

For this card I have used one of my favourite Elzbells stamp coloured with Distress inks. The background card is DCWV textured card, half of which was put through the Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder and the other half coloured with distress ink with a piece of ribbon through the middle. The large snowflake is a Sizzix die and the small snowflake is from Hobbycraft. Sorry I can't remember where the sentiment is from.

Vintage/Distressed Christmas Cheer

I'm on a bit of a roll with this stamp. Three cards in one afternoon, that's a first for me.

Gave this one a bit of a vintage/distressed look. I used:

Papermania Bauble Decoration stamp

Distress inks: Fired Brick, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain

Just for Fun Crackle Stamp (I've had this for year and only used it a couple of times but I like the effect so may use it more often).

Gold embossing powder

Ribbon from stash

Tim Holtz distressing tool

Brilliance Graphite Black inkpad

Clear embossing powder

Gold glitter glue

You may not be able to tell from the picture but the crackle is done in gold embossing powder which gives a nice sheen. I've also distressed around the edge of the card and added black ink and then embossed it. I finished by adding a bit of gold glitter to some of the dots.

Here's a close up of the gold glitter dots and distressed edge.

More Christmas Cheer

Told you I love this stamp.

A couple of variations, different coloured ink, ribbons and crystals. I think the black and gold is my favourite though.

Christmas Cheer

I just love this stamp from Papermania, it's going to be used for a lot of my Christmas cards this year. It's such a big stamp that all that's needed is a bit of matting and layering, a few crystals, a bit of ribbon and, hey presto, job done.

Here I decided on black, white and gold. I used Onyx Black Versafine ink pad for the stamp, added some crystals from stash and gold ribbon from Hobbycraft.

Oriental Lady

I've had this little Oriental Lady stamp for ages and not used it, simply because I wasn't sure what to do with it. It's from Clarity Stamps minature range and because it's so small I thought it would get lost on a card. However, I was determined to do something with it and here it is.

You probably can't tell from the photo, but the black card is scored into a grid pattern (got a new Scor-pal so was having a little play with it). The centre of the black card has been cut out to give a sort of window look and the small square with the image on placed centrally inside. The leaves came from a Tapestry stamp set I have (again never used until this card) which I think give a nice framed effect. I just added some Weathered Wood distress ink around the edges and added some gold coins (from a Habico set of stamps) and gold ribbon. I edged the black card with some gold leaf. Now I've managed to use her once I think she will be making another appearance, I think maybe a reflection next.

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you all have a great bank holiday. x

Pyramid Card

Doing a bit of blog hopping I came across this tutorial for a Pyramid card. It's so simple and something a bit different. The papers I've used are Pink Petticoat and the image is Parisbella coloured with Faber Castell pencils. Hope you like it.

The card from a few more angles:

Good Luck

I think I will apologise now bloggers coz I think I'm probably going to bore you to death with this Pick a Petal set from Stampin Up coz I love it.

The sentiment is also Stampin Up - Sincere Salutations, another great set which you will probably see a lot of.

A bit of paper pricking, nesties and a bit of ribbon from stash to make a simple card.

Hope you're having a great week and enjoying today's sunshine. Tat's for now.

With a Stem

I decided that it would look better with a stem, so here it is. Looks more like a flower now don't you think?

Stampin Up Pick a Petal

Good afternoon fellow bloggers. I hope you're having a good week so far.

Got a bit of crafting done today, I was itching to have a play with my two new sets of Stampin Up stamps - Sincere Salutations and the other set, Pick a Petal (I love this set, the possibilities with it are endless. If you get a chance have a look here for lots of cards samples).

I have say that I'm just loving using the Stampin Up stamps, they're fabulous to use, a perfect impression every time, no panic about stamping straight onto your card, it's a perfect impression every time.

I also used a Cuttlebug Swiss dots folder and Stampin Up Scallop border punch. The ribbon was from Poppicraft and the card and paper was just bits of scrap. I only intended to just have a little play with the stamps to start with (hence using scrap paper), but was pleased with how it turned out so decided to show it. The only thing I'm not sure about, should I have added a stem to the flower, what do you think?

I would just like to say thank you to Jules for the great service she has provided for the Stampers 10 club over the past 12 months and I can't wait for the new club to begin in October, looking forward to lots of new Stampin Up goodies.

Miss Anya - Just a Note plus a few more

It's been a long time since my last post, I know, I haven't had the dreaded Swine 'flu or anything nasty, I've been making myself do other things rather than sit glued to the computer blog hopping for hours on end. When I first took the plunge into the blogging world I didn't expect to get so hooked, I bet a few of you also think the same! I just can't keep up with all that's going on!!!

At least now school has broken up for the hols (hooray), so I have a bit more time to induldge (after giving the house a good old spruce up and the garden a bit more TLC if the weather allows).

I've made a few cards over the past few weeks so here they are:

For this I used:

Miss Anya stamp
Tom Boy downloaded papers

Sentiment from Clare Curd's Signature Range

Faber Castell pencils

Sizzix Photo corners

Ribbon and Pearl beads from stash

I've slightly decoupaged the flowers although you can't tell from the photo

This was a bit of an experiment. Not too keen on it really.

I stamped the background with a stamp from a Papermania clear stamp set and coloured them in with Distress Ink (Fired Brick) and then sort of tried to give it a bit of a distressed look. Not sure it quite works with this Elzybells image as she is so contemporary.

I also used Nesties, Clare Curd sentiment and more Distress Inks to colour the image (Walnut Stain and Mustard Seed)

I think this card fits into the clean and simple catagory.

For this I used:

SU stamps - Crazy for CupcakesSU papers
Paper pricked the corners

The image was coloured with Faber Castell pencils and then coated with Anitas' 3D gloss to give a nice shine, again you probably can't tell from the picture

Ribbon from stash

This card was made for my friends daughter who has just graduated from Uni and is now a fully qualified doctor. I wanted to personalise it with her name so did the sentiment on the computer. I stamped the image after.

So for this:

Stamping Bella image

DCWV textured card

Faber Castell pencils

Papermania Brads

EK Success punches

Stitching done on my cute little Janome Sew Mini

That's it for now folks, hope to be back shortly catching up with a few blogs. Tats for now.x

Forever Friends

Hi folks, sorry I haven't been around much lately, we just seem to be so busy at the moment, there have been so many birthday celebrations and a wedding to go to it's been a bit of a whirlwind. I'm looking forward to a few peaceful weekends after this one. I'll be round to visit you all then.

I've got a couple of cards to show you, and as you can see these little bears are a favourite of mine. I thinks I will get my money's worth out of these.

For this one I used:

Forever Friends stamp

DCWV Textured card which was run through a Cuttlebug folder and then sanded to reveal the white underneath.

Faber Castell pencils to colour the FF image

Nesties

Martha Steward punch

Ribbon from stash

Crystal Hearts from Papermania

And for this one:

Forever Friends stamp, Pink Petticoat papers, Sentiment done on the 'puter, SU border punch, Prisma pencils.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.X

Distressed Forever Friends

Hi everyone, hope you've had a good week. Glad it Friday at last. I'm off to London tomorrow on a Hen weekend so just wanted to post this card before I go.

I had a go at the distressed look as I treated myself to a Tim Holtz edge distresser and a blending tool. I don't think I was brave enough with this to give it a real aged look, I think I need to practise more. This is what I used:

Forever Friends stamp

SU sentiment stamp

SU Scallop Edge Punch

Tim Holtz edge distresser, blending tool and Distress Inks

K & Co Paper

Nesties

HOTP swirl stamp

Raffia and a piece of dried flower from stash

The image has been mounted on 3D foam so has caused a bit of a shadow at the bottom, so please just ignore that, it wasn't supposed to be there!

Hope you all enjoy whatever it is you have planned for the next few days.x

Mom

Hiyall, hope you all had a fab weekend and enjoyed the wonderful weather we had.

I'm really organised with my mom's birthday card this year, it's not till 02 July, but I don't know about you I usually leave family cards till the last minute and end up in a complete flap.

I was looking to do something a bit different (she's not much into cutie cards), so looking for a bit of inspiration, did a bit of blog hopping and came across this card on Katarina's blog. Her cards are lovely and it's well worth visiting her blog. This is my version and this is what I used:

Anna Griffin papers

Anna Griffin Flower Basket stamp

Anna Griffin Alphabet stamps for the sentiment

Anna Griffin Ribbon

Faber Castell pencils

Nesties

Martha Stewart punch

I'm quite pleased with how it turned out, especially as I've had the Anna Griffin papers and stamps for ages and didn't know what to do with them. I think mom will like it (hope so anyway).x

Have a Happy Day

Ooops, has it really been that long since my last post! I've been back from my hols for over a week and I'd just like to say thanks to you all for wishing me a happy hol, had a brill time, lovely villa with it's own pool, feeling nice and chilled now.

I've been busy gardening since we got back, hence no blogging (well we have to make the most of the good weather when we have it, don't we? Unfortunately it looks like we're back to the same old British weather, didn't think it would last).

Anyhow, back to business, I've been wanting to have a go at making a card using nesties after seeing some fab ones on my blogging travels, so here it is, it was so easy and this is what I used:

Large Scallop Circle

Large Circle

Forever Friends stamp

EK Success Daisy punches

Faber Castell Pencils

Clare Curd Sentiment

DCWV textured pink card and deep pink cardstock

Ribbon and Pearl beads from stash

I really liked doing this one and I'm sure I'll do more as I think the nestie size and shape make such cute little cards.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday, can't wait till tonight to see the Apprentice final, Wednesday evenings won't be the same without my fav programme.

X

Cute Card Thursday 'Sport'

This is my last card until I get back off holiday, we're off to Tenerife tomorrow afternoon, whooo hooo.

It's my entry into this week's Cute Card Thursday Challenge. The theme this week is sport, which gave me the opportunity to dig out this Cuddly Buddly stamp. I stamped the football over a piece of white card for the background. The striped paper is PP and the border is a Fiskars punch. I coloured the image with Faber Castell pencils and finished with some grosgrain ribbon . A really quick card. Hope you all have a great bank holiday weekend. Sounds like you're gonna get some decent weather. Hugs.x

Elegant Lady

Hi all, hope you are all well. I've not been a good blogger lately, been so busy, work is hectic, we have an Ofsted inspection next week, so everyone like chicken with no head. lol.

Just wanted to upload these two cards before I forget after sending them of to their respective destinations.

First, the Elegant Lady card, I made this for my SIL, I think she prefers the more 'grown up' type card, so this is for her and this is what I used:

The Elegant stamp is from Clarity Stamps

Leaves are a roller stamp using a jumbo wheel

Sentiment stamp is HOTP

Ribbon from stash

I masked off the two sides of the card and rollered down the sides. I used some black holographic embossing powder (you probably can't see this on the piccie) and then sponged some 'Fired Brick' Distress ink on top of the leaf stamp.

The lady has also been embossed with clear embossing powder. Something a bit different!

This card is for my nephew, a typical male sort of card. This is what I used for this one:

SU Stamp from the 'Cheers' set
SU Scallop edge punch
Cuttlebug embossing folder
Ribbon from Raspberry Ribbon kit
Nesties

Hope you have a great weekend and the weather isn't too dismal, although it would be a good excuse to carry on crafting! Bye.X

New Home

Hi folks, hope your enjoying the weekend, the weather has been pretty good here in the Midlands today, so we've been working hard in the garden. I have to say it's looking gorgeous.

My S & BIL have just moved house, here is the card I've made for them, hope you like it. This is what I used:

PP Papers

Martha Stewart Punch

Ribbon from Poppicraft

Crafts Too (Woodware) House Punch

SU Scallop Punch

Beads from stash

The sentiment was hand written. I got the idea for this from Kath's blog.

An Award

Thank you to Sarpreet for nominating me for this award. The rules are to nominate 7 other bloggers, let them know and to list 7 things that other may find interesting about yourself (hmmm, this is a tough one). Anyway, I'm going to have a think about this one.

Miss Anya

I was lucky enough to get hold of the Miss Anya stamps from Angel Crafts before they sold out. I've been admiring these beauties on lots of other blogs and been dying to get my hands on some.

I used:

Whispers brush markers

Raspberry Road paper
SU Tab punch
Flower punches

Sizzlets swirl die

Ribbon and brads from stash