Sweet Wishes...

And here's the finished card that you saw the makings of in my last post, it's for sketch 121 over at Card Patterns.  I've had this Basic Gray cardstock from Stampin Up for a while now and finally cracked it open today.  I had to, my Kraft cardstock is running low, 12 sheets of 12 x 12 gone in a flash must be time for a change.

I've coloured the image with chalks and Promarkers.  I have to admit shading isn't my strong point but I can see an improvement which keeps me happy!

Making Memories Packaging Tape

Fiskars ShapeCutter

Pink Doily

Pink Petticoat Cakestand Digi image

Flatback Pearls and Glitter

Seam binding

WOYWW - 108...

Phew these weeks are flying past much too quickly for me!  Well this is my desk today.  A pile of cards waiting for inserts, envelopes and cello bags - I hate that part of the procees, don't you?  My Pink Petticoat colour swatches.  A scribbled sketch, some paper tape, handmade flower and a doily - the bare bones of the card I'm currently working on for this week's Card Patterns sketch - hope to post the finished card tomorrow.  Off over to Stamping Ground to link up for WOYWW and will be 'round to have a nosey at your desks this evening.

Home Sweet Home...

Don't know about you but I can't stand this heat!  My craft area is in the conservatory (south-facing) and so when it's hot like this the crafting has to go on hold - it's unbearable in there. 
Here's a little New Home card I created for a challenge over on the Docrafts website.  Just thought I'd share it here too.
I've used a Craftwork Cards Scallop Square card blank and trimmed off the two sides for a different look.

Stampin Up Patterned Paper
Xcut Border Die
Craftwork Cards Colour-Me-Oval
Computer Generated Sentiment
Stampin Up Word Window Punch

A Tag from Scraps...

Phew it's a scorcher today!  I took a welcome break from the heat to make this tag.  Tags  - another great way to use up scraps.  It's for the challenge over at Let's Craft and Create - Tag It! 

I tried machine stitching in red rather than my usual white/cream - and I think I like it! 

Paper and Kraft card scraps: Pink Petticoat

Embroidered Brad:  LLB Retro Rose

Sizzlit Flower Die

Websters Pages Trim

Scrapbooking and Crafty Find...

Page 1 of my 'Celebrate Life' album is done!  To help me get over my hatred of having my photo taken I've posted the page here for you all to see...  Together with the front and back covers.  I've used patterned paper scraps for the stitched patchwork page border.  Another great way to use up those scraps.

It was library day for me today, and I always have a rummage in the neighbouring charity shops and usually come back with something.  Today's find was...

beaded belts!  A bargain at £2 a piece.  The chains are old and tarnished but the beads are lovely.  Tonight I'll be removing the beads ready to make pendants, earrings and bracelets.

WOYWW - 107

A first for me - joining in with WOYWW over at Stamping Ground.  A chance to have a nosey around other crafters desks and craft spaces.  The most welcome addition to my desk this Wednesday is a new Cuttlebug A plate.  My Cuttlebug hasn't been embossing perfectly since I used a Sizzlits die in it.  There was an area in the centre that didn't emboss no matter how many paper shims I used, even after replacing the B plates.  Just before I splashed out on a new machine I thought I'd try replacing the A plate, it arrived today and lo and behold it's working perfectly again!
The other bits and pieces are for my 'Celebrate Life' album, really must get a move on with that.   Off now to have a nosey.

Summer Stamp Storage

Doesn't time fly.  I was going to enter this project for  'The Four Seasons' challenge over at Let's Craft and Create and just realised I've missed the deadline, the next challenge is up now - Tag It!  but I'm going to show you my stamp storgage box anyway.
I wasn't using my acrylic stamp sets very much because they were tidied away so well, in a file, in a cupboard, behind a chair - too much trouble to get them out each time I wanted to use them.  So, I needed a storage solution that could happily sit on my craft bench. 

I'm probably not the first one to discover that a soap powder tablet box is just the right size to hold 4 x 6 inch acrylic stamp sets.  Not sure if all soap powder boxes are the same size but this one is from Asda.  I haven't decorated the lid as I'm planning to cover some more and stack them.  I'm washing everything in sight now trying to empty another box ready to cover.  When I do I'll do a tutorial!

Pink Martini 12 x 12 Papers
Stampendous Alphabet Stamps
Stampin Up Hodge Podge Hardware

Sew Special ATC

The current theme over at the City Crafter Challenge blog is to make an ATC (Artist Trading Card) . I've never made one before so it was real fun for me.

I've since learnt there are only a few rules for an ATC...


1. They should be 2.5" x 3.5" in size, the same size as a playing card
2. If you are going to trade your card, make sure you have your info on the back of the card.
3. You are not suppose to sell them, they are FOR TRADE ONLY!

Wasn't sure where to start at first but I thought to make it easy I'd use a favourite theme of mine - sewing!  Everything just flowed from there.  Now I've got the hang of it I'll be making a few more.

KandCo Margo Tag Pad
Creative Expressions Vintage Sewing Stamps
Distress Inks - Brushed Corduroy and Antique Linen
Button and pins from stash
Machine Stitching

Father Christmas

I did get my head 'round making a Christmas card, probably helped my the miserable weather.  It's for the 'Father Christmas' challenge over at DCM.  This week there's a prize from Crafty Emmas Store for one lucky random winner!  Still one day left to enter and there's lots of Father Christmas inspirtion from the DT over on the DCM blog.

Still using up my old paper stash, this one is Basic Grey Dasher.

Other Supplies:
Pink Petticoat Sentiment
Father Christmas stamp - freebie from Quick cards
Holly leaves from Lynda
Bakers Twine - The Ribbon Girl
Woodware Button
Machine Stitching

Another Bloom

I just can't stop making blooms.  I made this one with pink bias binding and the spark was the 'Pink Lemonade' Challenge over at the The Shabby Tea Room to use Pink, Green Neutrals and Flowers.

I used the same method as here but instead of using ruffled ribbon I ruffled the bias binding myself with a  running stitch along one side.  I created the frame with some scraps of Amy Butler Sola papers that I'm eeking out -  love the muted colours.

Other Supplies:
Stampin Up Cardstock -  Crumb Cake and Pink Pirouette
Sentiment from Pink Petticoat Pretty Potties Collection
Machine Stitching

More Dad Stuff...

I saw a tutorial over on the Fiskars blog to make a plant decoration, which got me thinking.  Why not make a  plant gift tag for Father's Day.  I've cut out the flower and leaf shapes using a Fiskars template and stuck the assembled flower on to a wooden kebab stick.  I'm going to write my greeting on the leaf.  Looks good in the Chilli Pepper plant don't you think?

And here's the matching card.  I'm entering them for the Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy challenge over at Cupcake Craft Challenges.
Glad all the manly 'Dad' stuff is done, I can get back to making pretty cards again.

Cardstock:  Bazzill London Fog and Stampin Up Crumb Cake
Papers: KandCo Denim and Cand P magazine
Cotton Twill (tea dyed): Stampin Up
Jumbo Brad: Stampin Up
Versamagic Chalk Ink- Wheat

Machine Stitching

Imagine That...

I was lucky to be one of the 3 random winners over at DCM last week.  The prize was an acrylic stamp set from Imagine That.  My prize popped through the letterbox today together with this beautiful card from Lythan.  I'm going to enjoy using this stamp set - you can never have enough sentiment stamps.

This week's challenge over at DCM is Father Christmas and the team have excelled themselves with their fabulous cards - be sure to check them out on the blog. 
Not sure I can get my head around Christmas just yet, but I'm going to try!

Dress Up A Jar

The City Crafter Challenge this week is 'Dress Up a Jar'.  Just the excuse I needed to organise my vintage button collection.   Now they're all in a dressed up jar! 

Just need to organise the rest of my button collection now.

Papers and diecut letters: Papermania Rose Garden
Stamp: Vintage Sewing by Creative Expressions
Lace:  The Ribbon Girl
Paper Flowers: Prima
Crochet flower and corrugated card from stash

Denim For Dad

Same sketch as the last card but a completely different look.  Revisiting my paper stash again K&Co Rough and Tumble Blue Denim, perfect for those dreaded 'Man' cards,  I think it maybe discontinued now so best not use it all up!  The patterned paper is from issue 92 of Cardmaking and Papercraft and is available to download from their website.

Other Supplies:
Stampin Up Crumb Cake Cardstock
Stampin Up Jumbo Brad
Versamagic Chalk Ink- Wheat
Making Memories Alphabet Rub-ons
Machine Stitching

Bloomin' Lovely Day

Just want to thank you all for your lovely comments on my previous post, I'm feeling a lot better about 'The Denim Flower' now.  Unlike my previous card this one came together really quickly.  Funny how that just happens sometimes.  I'm sure it was helped by the fab sketch I used - Sketch 118 over at Card Patterns. 

I've been revisiting my stash of patterned papers, it's all part of my class 'Something From Almost Nothing'.

This mat pad was the very first patterned paper pad I bought, K&Co Amy Butler Belle,  and it's still one of my favourites.

I've also used:
Stampin Up Cardstock and Ribbon - Bashful Blue
Dovecrafts dotty brad
Pink Petticoat Sentiment.
Machine Stitching

The Denim Flower

I really struggled with this card and I'm still not sure about it.  The starting point for the design was the denim flower, I was so chuffed that I'd made it myself,  I was determined to use it on this card.  I changed everything around trying to make it work, hence the mess on my desk.

Now looking at the photo I'm thinking it's the flower that is the problem, it's too heavy for the paper design.  You live and learn!  Anyway, I'm still going to enter it for the Dies To Die For challenge over at Let's Craft and Create.  I've used the Tim Holtz On the Edge Brackets die.

Cardstock:  Stampin Up Crumb Cake
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey June Bug
Ivory Organza Ribbon
Vintage button
Denim Fabric Scraps
Tiny Brads
Tim Holtz On the Edge Brackets Die

I'd like to thank my  lovely blogging buddy Emma for this award she very kindly gave me a few weeks back.

I'm still struggling to think of 7 (interesting) things about myself so I can't pass it on yet.

Celebrate Life...

I mentioned a couple of days ago that I'd signed up for Shimelle's online class 'Something From Almost Nothing'.   The class focuses on getting more from the stash we already have.  There's lots of tips, prompts and tutorials that help build an album entitled Celebrate Life.  In lesson 1 you create the album cover - and here it is.

This week's City Crafter Challenge 'Back To Basics' to use paint and recycled cardboard was perfect for this project. I used white acrylic paint on the cardboard and metal oval frames.

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey June Bug

Metal Frames: Stampin Up Hodge Podge Hardware

Letter Stickers: Adorn-it

Border Die:  Tim Holtz On The Edge - Brackets

Denim Fabric Scraps

Buttons and Felt

I've been doing a little jewellery making - with buttons.  Just thought I'd share my first creation.  The jewellery findings are antique copper from The Bead Shop and the buttons are from my stash, some vintage some new,
Another creation I'd like to share is my felted bag.

A few weeks back I mentioned going on a feltmaking course at Tigerlily Makes whilst I was on holiday up in the Midlands.  Well, this is the bag I made, not bad for a first attempt.  In one day I learnt the whole felt making process and came away with a completed bag and the confidence to make felt on my own at  home.

For me the course was all the more special because I finally got to meet my long time blogging buddy Lisa Olson.  You may remember Lisa from her cardmaking blog Craftbugs.  Well Lisa now owns and runs  Tigerlily Makes.  If you've ever fancied having a go at making felt I can highly recommend Tigerlily Makes.  Lisa is a brilliant teacher, so encouraging and patient.
Check out the website HERE.

I'll be back tomorrow with some more papercrafting.