Joy

MUG RUG

2012-01-13T07:59:00.000-08:00

Hello
Well, this took a lot longer than I thought it would. I have been admiring many quilted mug rugs, mainly on US blogs. they are a little bigger than coasters, so there's room for coffee and some biscuits or 'cookies'! I saw this one on Marin and Colousa's blog and just had to copy it. I did intend to make several, but this one was so fiddley and my hands are better served to laying bricks than piecing one and a half inch triangles! I only managed to make one, though I do now have a glut of HSTs ( half square triangles! lol! I hand quilted 'in the ditch' ( in the seams ) which was hard going at the intersections, so next time I will use the sewing machine! The colour isn't true, in IRL the 'blue' is actually teal and blue mix. I may make some more, hopefully, they'll get easier and I'll get quicker at making them!! Hope you enjoy looking at my piccies. Thanks for visiting I'll be greatful for any comments you may leave
hugs Joy xx

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2012-01-01T04:30:00.000-08:00

Hello,
hope you had lovely Christmas and got lots of crafting goodies. I am well on the road to recovery, but have to be careful lifting and stuff. I managed to do a little hand sewing and have resurrected my 'ocean wave' blocks which were in the loft. so here are a couple of piccies of work in progress. I had intended it to be a full size scrap quilt, but it may end up being a throw! The fabrics are 'vintage' Jinny Beyer and are discontinued. The centre squares appear to be plain and quite stark, infact they are a pale beige with a tiny leafy pattern.
Thank you for stopping by.

Hope you have a Happy and Healthy New Year
Hugs Joy xxx

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas

2011-12-13T02:41:00.000-08:00

Sorry I wont be around till the New year, just had a little spell in hospital where I had keyhole surgery to repair a hernia and it wasn't as straightforward as planned. Though the op went well and I shall be fine. I am very bruised and battered and still suffering quite a bit of pain and getting little sleep. Have not been able to think about crafting sewing etc. Bailey has been on holiday for a week and is back hope with me now, it's such a joy to have him, though he's grown and with one flying leap can land right on my tum!!! I have to protect myself with a pillow. hope you all have a lovely Christmas I will visit your blogs and see you in the New Year
hugs Joy xxx

Bailey

2011-11-04T06:41:00.000-07:00

I must apologize again for having nothing crafty to show you. I do have a new addition to our family, Bailey, I'd like to share with you. After spending a couple of weeks searching, I brought this little darling home yesterday. He is an eight week old Border Terrier and has totally won my other half over as he didn't want another dog after we lost Jude last year. I promise next time I promise I post I'll have something crafty to show you, if I can find the time lol. Thanks for looking
hugs Joy xx

Six months and six stone!!

2011-10-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

Hello

Sorry, nothing crafty to share with you, but thought you might enjoy these piccies of AJ ( six months already! )and his new friend Lucy, my daughter's Chihuahua, which she adopted a week ago. Lucy is also also six months old and has settled in very well,considering the stressful time she has had. She just loves to torment AJ who is the most laid back dog ever!! Sorry for the quality of photos, they were taken on my daughters mobile.
Thanks for visiting, I'm off to look for my mojo xx

Quilts!

2011-10-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

Hello
Sorry I've been a bad blogger, my mojo has deserted me, though I have been enjoying attending a Patchwork group, I joined a couple of months ago and last week we put on our first exhibition. It was held at Falmouth cricket club, where we meet every Thursday. The exhibition ran for 2 days and was a resounding success. We raised £400 for Bats a small local charity. The local paper did a brilliant review with fab photos. Running true to form I left my camera at home, so my DH brought it when he came to collect me and I hurriedly took photographs. These are just a few, it was difficult to get a decent photo of the larger quilts through there being little space as most were hung in the corridor of the club and the smaller exhibits in the changing rooms!! Leaving the main room free for sales tables, raffle and scrummy cakes and beverages.
Thanks for taking the time to look
hugs Joy

Xmas Stitchery

2011-09-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

Being messy

2011-08-10T00:17:00.000-07:00

Hello
Hope you are safe in your homes and businesses, during these dreadful times.

This is a piece of kitchen roll I was using to blot some work and I liked the way it was looking so added some drippage and colourwash sprays, finaly black and white acrylic paints with a credit card and bottle tops. Not sure how I am going to use it yet, but I quite like the look of it. Hope you do too.
Hugs Joy xx

Everything's blooming

2011-08-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

Hello
Been too busy to do any crafting this week, but I'd like to share some photos of our garden with you. This year it's been an abudance of colour, my husband took these piccies a few weeks ago. Through the arch you get a glimpse of my craftroom and in the foreground is our small fishpond. Thanks for stopping by, hope to have some craft to show you soon.
hugs Joy

Final 4x4 page

2011-08-01T01:59:00.000-07:00

Hello
My final page for the 4x4 swap. I used an image from Itkupilli, borders from crowabout, acrylic paints, sponge, bubblewrap and an old credit card on 300gm watercolour paper.
thanks for stopping by
hugs Joy xx

4x4 swap 2

2011-07-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

Hello

This is my second 4x4 page for the LTd swap. I sprayed and stencilled the background with sailboat blue colourwash, absolutely love this colour. Then I used bottle tops and credit card ( old one) to apply acrylic paints. The darling images are from Rian designs. I stamped and cut the hearts from scratch newsprint paper that had got all inky from previous makes. I grounded the images using a stubby and a charcoal pencil. Back soon with my 3rd and final swap. Thanks for visiting
hugs Joy xx

4x4 swap

2011-07-29T01:48:00.000-07:00

Hello

Angie, at Lots To Do Revisted forum is hosting a 4x4 swap. The theme is to use something new, we have not used before. This week I downloaded some lovely collage sheets from Rian designs, the little cutie is from the 'Dress up' set. The house is from one of Dyan's Dylusions collage sheets. For the background I used acrylic paints, colourwash sprays and a little stenciling. I have another 2 to make as there are 3 in the set, back soon, thanks for looking
Hugs Joy xx

Sports day

2011-07-22T07:51:00.000-07:00

Hello
I have a card and a photo to share with you. The photo was taken last week at my youngest grandson's sports day. We were all so proud and a little surprised when we learned Byron won his medal and became 'Victor Ludorum,' translated, means champion of sport. He won all 5 of his events and we never knew he had it in him. Byron has never showed signs of competetivness, especially in sport. So I'd like to say 'Well done Byron, you're a star.' The image on the card is by kenny K and coloured with copics.the text is computer generated. I folded part of the card to create a pocked in which I tucked some money. Thankyou for stopping by
Hugs joy xx

couture collage canvas

2011-07-20T03:55:00.000-07:00

Hello

My friend Hilda gave me some back numbers of Somerset studio magazines. In one of them was an article by Julie Nutting who created the most amazing couture collage. I googled Julie and discoverd she has a book out of the same name. I duly bought it and was blown away. Julie takes you through stages of creating her girls, drawing, cutting and decoupaging them and their clothes.she also teaches you how to do the collaged backgrounds. After practising drawing the leggy beauties I gave uo trying to design my own and so traced my girl, then copied her on my printer, cut her out from text paper. I did her clothes the same way. After applying my scraps of scrap book papers, I painted on some Gesso, I also painted the edges with a mixture of raw umber and Gesso, then, stamped the background with pink flowers but it looked a bit too splodgy, so I sponged over them and stencilled white daisies instea. The pink still shows through but I think gives it added interest. I doodled more flowers with the finest black Pitt artist pen I had. I adhered my girl to the collaged background, decoupaged her clothes and held my breath while painted her hair and shoes. I then added a hairband and one of Zorana's little birds which I printed of the computer. Hope you like. Thanks for visiting,
hugs Joy xx

Distress to impress....

2011-07-10T02:40:00.000-07:00

That was the name of the class I attended last Saturday at my local scrapbook shop. Though I enjoyed the class very much, the papers and colours wer'e not my choice. We distressed first layer of paper by screwing it andinking with distress ink and roughing up th edges before sewing on to card. Then we stitched down the next piece of paper using stranded cotton, covered brads in fabric, used tape to frame the photo and stuck down a piece of very stiff hessian. We cut a flower from a sheet of paper and used some adhesive BG letters for the sentiment. The photo is of my son Wayne and his girlfriend Kirsty, a ticket is tucked behind the photo for adding some journaling. An added bonus of this class was I got to meet up with an old friend I hadn't seen for almost 10 years and we have agreed to meet regularly and craft together.
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs Joy xx

Mixed Media tag

2011-07-08T05:22:00.000-07:00

Hello I've been playing with mixed media stuff again, it is so much fun. Though I have an awful lot to learn. Try as I might I still don't get things right. I've been enjoying Kate Cranes DVD's ( link on right) Kate guides you through everything from start to finish, simply and slowly explaining everything. This large tag from Inkylicious, was created following Kates instructions using Dylusion's acrylic paints and some Golden fluid acrylics. The collage pieces are from Tumble fish studio and stuck down with gel medium. I had small texture stamp which I lightly covered with paint and stamped on to the background. I think I over did it with the bottle top stamping, but no matter, I am still quite pleased with it. It's given me the confidence to do a much larger journal page.
Thanks so much for visiting
Hugs Joy xx

Tags and a card

2011-07-05T04:39:00.000-07:00

Hello
3 more hug tags to share with you and a friends birthday card. I tore strips of paper for the tags and glued and stitched them using my mini machine. Stampotique stamps were coloured with copics, then cut and glued to the backgrounds. I edged tags with black soot distress inks and used a charcoal pencil and a black pen to outline the images. I printed the words on the printer, cut them out and out lined them with a black pen. The card was simple, stamped with black soot on to white card and mounted on to blackcard and paper from my stash.
Thanks for visiting my blog, I always appreciate your comments xx

File folder

2011-06-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hello
Hope you are enjoying the fantastic weather we're having.
I have signed up for Robenmarie Smiths fab 'Mixed media Mayhem' class. Roben shows us how to make a journal using tabbed file folders. She also teaches us how to make mailart with these folders. I picked up 50 tabbed folders from Staples, but I found the size (A/4) a bit big for my first attempt. So I cut this one from a sketch pad and it took me umteen layers of paint, sprays and gesso before I said enough is enough and stopped. I stitched the sides on my mini machine ( was to lazy to get out my main one - will do next time! ) and will stuff something in it and probably add it to a journal page. Next time I'd like to make a mailart folder, put something inside stitch across the top and mail it to someone!!
Thank you for stopping by, I'd love to have your feed back
hugs Joy xx

Hug tags

2011-06-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

Hello
We on 'lots to do forum' take part in making these 'hug' tags and Hilda our leader puts them together in little booklets, then sends them to a member who needs a hug.
After gesssoing the cards I stencilled through punchinella with colourwash spray. When dry I applied some more gesso and repeated the procces. I had a heart stencil which I'd cutfor my Graffiti journal using the Cricut, so used this to spray through, patting with kitchen roll to lighten it. I stamped through the heart with a cript stamp. I used oil pastels to outline the hearts giving them a shadow effect. The little hearts were also colour washed and stuck down with glossy accent. 'hugs'was printed on the computer and 'embedded' on to the tags using oil pastels. I love the effect I get when using these pastels and look forward to incuding them in my journal pages.
Thankyou for stopping by
hugs Joy xx

Birthday card

2011-06-09T07:38:00.000-07:00

Hello
I really enjoyed making this card for a friend. It's clean simple compared to all the inkyness I've been engaged in lately. The stamp is one of my all time faves from paper bag studios. I stamped SU script using a well used black stazon (I didn't want it too dark ) on to a piece of pretty card I found in my stash. I stamped the image with Ranger's black soot, which is a lovely true black. I hand stitched the edge and stuck down some lace, mounted it on black and white paper. I am quite pleased at the result which is unusual for me to say the least!
Thanks for visiting
hugs Joy xx

Front cover

2011-06-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

Hello
This is the front cover for the pages I did in an earlier post. First I used my Cricut to cut the 3 hearts on the right and stuck them down before brushing Gesso over the whole cover. I then painted it with acrylic paints which I had diluted with a little water.
Then I splodged on some more Gesso and dribbled on more acrylic paints. I used a toothbrush to flick on white acrylic and finally sprayed with colourwash through a circle stencil.
I cut the heart out of watercolour paper which had been sprayed, then stitched on my mini Janome.
'Graffiti' was cut on the Cricut and my OH asked ' What's Gaffi? Doh! I was so concentrated on getting them down, I hadn't noticed 2 were missing!! I shaded them with a grey oil pastel and sponged the edge of the cover with black soot.
'of my life' was computer generated using a typewriter font.
I'd like to point out in the photo on the right is a shadow! Not me being to liberal with the ink!
Thanks so much for stopping by. I appreciate any comments you care to leave
hugs Joy xxx

Journal page

2011-06-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

Hello

Been sat in the garden doodling, not very good at it, this is as good as it gets! One flower on the first page of 'She had 3 hearts' journa! An online class I'm doing with Christie Tomlinson. That girl is such an inspiration, as is Martha Lever who's fabulous doodled flowers I saw on her blog. I Gessoed the page and sprayed 'stream colourwash through a stencil, stamped Tim Holtz sentiment, then took the bull by the horns and doodled on my page after adding more Gesso and fixitive, - still managed a smudge, so had to go in with my pen again! I then distressed the whole thing with frayed burlap.
Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely weekend in glorious sunshine
hugs Joy xx

Graffiti journal pages

2011-05-31T07:46:00.000-07:00

Hello
Some of Dina's on line 'Graffiti of my life' journal pages to share with you. I sewed the binders for the signatures by hand, I did intend to use the machine, but I stuck them all down so they wouldn't fit under the machine without bending them! I practiced some of my calligraphy on one of the pages, of course I had to use my favourite page so I'd be sure to cock it up!! Hey ho I'll live with it! I still have the covers to do and add the inclusions ( I am so slow )then bind it all together. So I'd better get cracking. I am so inspired by all the wonderful art journals out there, I have signed up for more workshops!!!
Thanks for stopping by, back soon
hugs Joy

Skinnies

2011-05-26T06:13:00.000-07:00

Hello
I'd like to share with you some skinnies I've made for a swap Hilda has been hosting on lots to do revisited forum. The theme Hilda chose was 'Arty' so we could practically do whatever we wished. I had downloaded some Alice in Wonderland images from the Octopode factory and thought they'd be ideal, they are so cute! As I am fairly new to mixed media and art journaling, I decided to use mixed media for my backgrounds. The images were coloured with copics as the water colours caused the printing ink to bleed. For the backgrounds I used acrylic paints, colourwash sprays, pan pastells and rubbers stamps. The quotes I found on line and printed them in a typewriter font.
Hope you like them, I had a lot of fun making them. Thanks for stopping by
hugs Joy xx

Introducing......AJ

2011-05-17T02:05:00.000-07:00

Hello
Thought you would like to meet this little cutie. His name is AJ, a Newfoundland puppy, he's almost 9 weeks old and belongs to my grandson Aaron who's not long returned from Afghanistan. Aaron will be able to take him back to Colchester in a couple of weeks and AJ will come home again when he is deployed.
Taking the photos wasn't easy as AJ is so black the detail is lost and when he did decide to sit and pose, I wasn't ready!! So he moved off again! It was hard work especially as he was a toe nipper!
Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoy the piccies xx

All eyes on the treat drawer ( with Millie 15yrs )

Crashed out!

Work in progress

2011-05-12T07:51:00.000-07:00

Hello
I wanted to share my latest on going project with you. I have been having so much fun. I've enrolled in Dina Wakely's 'Graffiti of my life' online class and I love, love, love it. It's a mixed media class using acryclic paints, colour wash sprays, Gesso, lots of painting spraying, stencilling, flicking paint ( even got some on the window ) OH was livid!! He he! Splodging on paint with oodles of water and watching colours run into one another is so exiting! Dina shows us how to make an eight page journal, with collage sheets which are stitched then cut out and added to the background pages. A few pages have found their way to the bin, all par for the course! I have yet to make the covers and sew it together using waxed thread. I also need to stick down my collaged hearts and add some journaling to my pages. Dina wrote some verses from her favourite songs, I like that idea, I may do that and also add some quotes I like. I will be back soon with the completed journal, Hope you like what I have done so far. Thank you for visiting my blog, I truly appreciate your comments.
hugs Joy xx

background pages

stitched collage sheets

Hearts cut from collage sheets

Inserts (addins) made from old book papers, music sheets and tags and signature strips

She Art Girl

2011-05-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

Hi
I wasn't going to blog this as she is nothing like the gorgeous girl I envisaged!! I first saw Christy tomlinson's She art girls on my friend Hilda's blog and wanted to try and create one. Having no face, I thought it would be easy. Hilda gave me some tuition and I duly made a mixed media background using paper scraps, acrylic paints,sprays, stencils, including sequin waste and bubble wrap. The background is way too dark for my liking so I dabbed on white acrylic paint with bubble wrap to brighten it. She has had 3 changes of clothes and the black splodges on her feet are supposed to be elegant boots! I can't count the mistakes I made, worse was putting her final dress on with mod podge and finding it rather lumpy, stupido had used glass bead gel instead so had to scrape it all off and cut yet another dress! The photo doesn't do it justice, it's much worse in real life!! Can't wait to make another. Thanks for stopping by xx

Friend card

2011-04-26T04:45:00.000-07:00

Hello
Hope you all had a lovely Easter.
Here is a card I made for a friend. It is similar to the 'Shari Carrol' card I made preivously. This time i used a Tim Holtz stamp with the Hero arts background. Coloured with distessed inks after spritzing with water.
Thanks for visiting
hugs Joy xx

Hydrangea card

2011-04-19T04:39:00.000-07:00

Hello
I had fun making this card, using my fave Copic markers. I especially enjoyed getting all messy with my paints and sprays on Gesso'd water colour paper, to which I added some glass bead gel medium and a gold oil pastel.
Thnks for stopping by
hugs Joy xx

ATC Swap

2011-04-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

Hello
Hilda over on Lots To Do forum is hosting an ATC swap and the theme is 'Stitching' by hand, machine or faux. I love stitching on cards, so I have done 2 by hand and 1 by machine. I cut up Zorana's collage sheets which I down had loaded on to card and arranged them on her wonderful backgrounds. I hope the recipients like them. I so enjoyed making them.
Thanks for stopping by
hugs Joy xx

Birds

2011-04-02T07:26:00.000-07:00

Hi
I have joined a small group of crafters who meet once a fortnight for an afternoon and over the past couple of sessions we made some backgrounds using various techniques. Then on our last meeting we tore 'em up, distressed 'em and stuck 'em on a piece of 6x6 mountboard then we stamped 'em and generally did our own thing! It was great to see how different they all were and each of us preferring each others! This is how my turned out. The birds were painted by Zorana and I doctored them a little using charcoal and a white pen. The cage was cut on the Cricut
Thanks for stopping by
hugs Joy xx

Birthday cards

2011-03-28T05:01:00.000-07:00

Hi it was my birthday last Saturday and here are the gorgeous cards I received from my wonderfully talented crafty friends! Thanks to all who sent them, you made my day! xx

A card and a journal cover

2011-03-25T05:20:00.000-07:00

Hello

Saw this card on Shari Carrol's blog and knew I had case it. The stamps are Hero arts, SU and Darkroom door. I used distress inks on water colour paper. The splodgy flowers on the right were spritzed with water before stamping.

My first Art journal cover, using Dylusions sprays, acrylic, paints, glass bead gel medium and wax crayons. Wasn't sure about this as It was quite big, so I cut it to size ( may use the other bit for the back!) I covered mount board with some Kay and Co paper I thought would suit, made a little banner and added some letters which I cut from Dylan's downloads.
I plan to make this journal a sampler for various techniques I want to try. The pages are 'work in progress' Thanks for stopping by and I'd appreciate your honest opinions - honest I can take lol!
hugs Joy xx

Piglets

2011-03-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hello
as promised here are the photos of the day old piglets taken a couple of weeks ago. I have had computer problems and couldn't upload them to blogger till now. Originally there were eight but unfortunately one was too weak to survive. I'm pleased to say the rest are thriving. The breed is Gloucester old spot.

The two little lambs are also doing well and were about two weeks old when the photos were taken.
Thanks for visiting xx

Backgrounds

2011-03-14T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hello, thought I'd share a couple of background pieces which I sprayed with the amazing Dylusion sprays onto water colour paper, the first one turned out all green again! I like the second one very much, which is why I'm showing you them, before I mess them up with my new found passion Art journaling. I'm no good at art, and I can't journal! So it may be interesting! I've have been blown away peoples art journal blogs and can't wait to make one of my own. I have a set of acrylic paints but all I can do so far is splodge and it's not at all as I'd like it to be. Just haven't got the art of blending yet.

I bought some patchwork fabrics at the weekend, going to make some cushions!! Don't think the photo shows them at their best!

Thanks for stopping by will have some little piglets for you to look at next time
hugs joy xx

Just for fun tag

2011-03-07T08:48:00.000-08:00

Hello

This weeks challenge over at Just for fun is mixed media so I hope this fits the bill!
I've been playing with my new colour wash ink sprays from Dylusions and just love them. haven't quite got the hang of them yet as I'm a bit heavy handed so the orange has disappeared and the greens have taken over, but I quite like the colour. I also tried the ghosting technique with my alphabet stencil. The circles are made with a bottle top dipped in acrylic pain. The House is a download. I stamped hearts and flowers on to text from a book which I sprayed with inks, and cut out. They are part of a lovely set of stamps from Aud design. The text is computer generated. I aged the silver key with a black copic marker. I really enjoyed making this tag and can't wait to delve into my new acrylics!
Thanks for stopping by

Hydrangea card

2011-02-16T03:06:00.000-08:00

Hi
A card I have made for a cyber friend, Alison, who's birthday it is today

The Hydrangea stamp was one of the first I ever bought, and I was never happy with the results of my colouring, till now! Due to my copics I have managed to get it somewhere near the colour I want! Stamped on to smooth white card with Adirondak pitch black die ink. The little sentiment is from Stampin up. I had fun creating the background, I always wanted to try the 'faux linen' technique after seeingthe technique done by Sue on C&C. Instead of distress inks I used alcohol inks on glossy card and sanded length ways and width ways. It still looked a bit too pink! I didn't have any blue ink, so I used a blue glimmer mist and the result was stunning, just what I was looking for. I put it though my trusty old Cuttlebug' using the script embossing folder. ( had a nightmare with my Big shot last week - mega paper jam!!) I sanded a it very lightly to expose more of the script and voila!
PS I have taken a photo of the background as I thought it a shame to hide it behind the image
Thanks for stopping by I do appreciate your visits
hugs Joy xx

Final grunge pages

2011-02-15T05:32:00.000-08:00

Hi
Feeling quite pleased with myself! As I have completed my grunge pages for Hilda's swap over at lot's to Do. I really enjoyed trying some of the different techniques and I thinks some maybe more 'grungy' than others. I have also rekindled my love affair with distress inks. The first page uses an image I've had for 'ever' and not used. The background paper is My Minds Eye 'lost and found' these are delicious papers. The numbers are grunge board diecuts and a couple if letters cut on the Big shot, inked and sprayed with glimmer mists.
The second, I got one of my chipboard alphas and triple embossed it with clear EP, finally adding some black, gold and copper, then stamping into it with a word stamp. I was very pleased with effect and am looking forward to doing more using this technique. The background is sticky back canvas, one of Tim's masks and antique linen. aged mahogany and frayed burlap. The die cut letters are Tim's 'Once upon a time' set.
Thanks for visiting my blog xx

Your number's up

Fun with letters

Birthday calendar and card

2011-02-06T04:22:00.000-08:00

A special lady and dear cyber friend has a birthday today. Her name is Hilda and looks after us over at the bestest and wonderful 'Lot's to do revisted' forum. We met back in the good old days on Dawn Bibby's forum.
I printed pages for the book from a down load I found on Capture the moment blog. I distressed them a bit with aged mahogany and frayed burlap. The card I used is SU's crumbcake and the Papers for the covers are My minds eye and the flowers is - guess? You're right! Tis another of Tim's Sizzix dies.!!! Sandwiched between the pages is a piece of card which I punched with a Fiskars edge punch. Finally I put it all together with my BIA!

The image on the birthday card is a Stampotique original. Lurve there stamps! I Coloured it with ws wax crayons and ws paints. The stamped flowers and sentiment are from Papertrey ink. The large flower embelishment is from Prima and the other flower you see is a tag from Darkroom door.

2011-02-06T03:32:00.000-08:00

Hello
Here is a tissue box cover I made for a friend who has received it now! I knew she loved the BG wisteria papers and as it would match her decor I used them to decorate the box. Again I used those fab Sizzix die flowers and distressed all the edges with frayed Burlap,

Two more grungy pages Kaisercraft 'up, up and away kit ( including stamps) from QVC and Sizzix flowers were used for the balloon page. I did a bit of sponging with pumice and frayed burlap distress inks for the 'hills'!

The charming image for 'feeling blue' page was a free download, sorry I can't recall from where. I used my CB and nesties, MS lace doiley and those Sizzix flowers again!! Papers from stash and distress inks.
Thanks for stopping by xx

Come fly with me

Feeling blue

2011-01-28T04:11:00.000-08:00

Hello

A couple more pages for the LTD grunge book swap. darkroom door 'vintage automobiles' was the set of stamps I used for the 1st page. After stamping with black stazon I inked the edge with Adirondack cloud dye ink. Then used UTEE and the cracked glass technique, took 3 goes to achieve the look I wanted! Finally I stamped some of the verses' with expresso and the others with versamark and gold EP though the embossing doesn't show too well in the photo

For the second page I used an adorable Mabel Lucy Atwell stamp from the Artistic Stamper. Love this image, it reminds me of my childhood reading those beautifully illustrated books. The image was stamped with Stazon timber brown and coloured with adirondack dyes inks. The Sentiment is one of Tim's 'Good thoughts' the flowers are also one of Tim's dies which I cut on the bigshot and inked with the same inks as before.
thanks for stopping by

'The wheels go round'

'So the saying goes'

More grunge pages

2011-01-19T05:48:00.000-08:00

Hi
Here's another couple of pages. The first is titled 'Vintage memories' The stamp is from a Paperbag Studio set called giggle. I used distress inks to both stamp and colour the image. I also used them to stamp the background using a flower stamp from Darkroom door. The paper flowers are from Prima and leaves were punched with an a L-Elm leaf punch.

Second is titled 'Wish you were here' and when I saw this 'advert' stamp at Tanda stamps and me here in Cornwall I thought it would be perfect! I used Caran DE Arche wax crayons to water colour the image on 300gsm waterford paper, mounted it on to a background on which I stamped SU script and 'postcard' with distress inks. Added a grungeboard heart and a Prima flower and Voila! Four down six to go!
Thanks for stopping by
hugs joy xx

A little bit Grungy

2011-01-15T01:57:00.000-08:00

Hi

Over at Lots to do forum Hilda is hosting a Grunge page swap. We have to make 10 5x5 pages,mounted on mount board, keeping to a theme which Hilda has set. The first 2 I've chosen are relatively simple, 'Create you dreams' and 'Journey in time' For 'dreams' I've used distress inks, a Magnolia die and Stempleglede stamps and flower die, oh and I ripped up a bit of corrugated card.

Journey is stamped with stamps from Darkroom Door 'Venice collection' and water coloured using Daler Rowney paints on Waterford classic 300gms smooth paper.

Only another 8 to go!! AAarrrghh!
Thanks for looking xx

A couple of gifts to share

2011-01-13T10:24:00.000-08:00

I was overjoyed and honoured to receive these beautiful Christmas gifts from two of my lovely friends, Hilda and Zoe on the LTD forum. The metallic friendship frame which Hilda created with it's lovely verse ( click on picture to read it ) is so beautiful.
Zoe's gorgeous (recycled Body shop) box is exquisitely decorated with flowers she made from friendly plastic, no less!!! Zoe filled it to the brim with more flowers, ribbons etc. I shall treasure these gifts always. Thank you ladies xxx

3 cards

2010-12-17T07:01:00.000-08:00

Hello

3 more Xmas cards and I'm all done (I hope) recipe is as before ( if you scroll down) just a couple of tiny changes. Can you tell I'm in a bit of a rush? My hubby is due home and my lounge is looking like a hurricane has hit!! So I must quickly tidy up before he gets here. Thanks for stopping by
hugs Joy xx

Herb and my first Easel card!

2010-12-16T07:19:00.000-08:00

Hi
A couple of Christmas cards to share, the first is Herb from WOJ stamps I love this snowman enjoying his cuppa. I stamped him with memento onyx black ink and coloured him with copic markers. The papers are a digi download from the Nitwits collection, 'simplejoys'

Sorry I can't remember where I got the stamp for the easel card, it's one I bought last Christmas, again coloured with copics and papers are 'simplejoys' digi download. 'Merry Christmas is a Magnolia stamp. There were others but being the ninkumpoop I am, forgot to photograph them!! Thank you for stopping by
hugs Joy xx

More Christmas cards

2010-12-03T06:59:00.000-08:00

Hi

A couple of xmas cards today , Cute and cuddley Santa is a Kenny K download, coloured with Copics. Background paper is from stash and card is Crumb cake from SU, love this card and I also used some Bazzill (red). The sentiment was cut with Nesties on the cuttlebug.

Tilda is an image from Magnolia stamps, coloured with Copics. Background paper is Olivia from BG, card is SU Regal rose and ribbon SU Razzleberry. I also used some stickles on both cards. Thanks for stopping by, have a lovely weekend
hugs Joy xx

2010-11-30T03:40:00.000-08:00

Hi
After seeing Steph's card, I hot footed it over to the Hero Art's blog and cased this card using the 'leafy wreath' stamp. I stamped it using Adirondack currant on to ivory card which was 'lightly' stamped with Victorian Velvet distress ink and a large SU background stamp. Background card is SU Rich razzleberry and Bazzill dark brown. The gems and May arts ribbon leaves I got from the Craftz Boutique. Thanks for visiting xx
hugs Joy xx

Favourite technique for LTD

2010-11-25T05:28:00.000-08:00

Hello
Thought this Kenny K digital image of Mrs Claus would be the perfect Xmas card to cheer my Grandson Aaron who's spending Christmas in Afghanistan. I am entering this card in Hilda's LTD challenge blog, which is to use 'your favourite technique'! Mine is colouring using my fave Copic markers, The background paper is from Magnolia and 'ho ho ho' cut on the Cricut
Thanks for looking
PS just noticed I've forgotten to give her some lipstick so I will rectify this before posting, can't be bothered to go through the palaver of taking piccies again!!
hugs Joy xx

2010-11-21T05:43:00.000-08:00

Hello

Hope everyone's enjoying their weekend. I have made a couple of very easy xmas cards, using SU's Baroque motive stamps and Adirondack earthtones inks. Meerry Christmas also SU. A bit of matt and layering, add a pearl gem and voila! Done! Thanks for looking
hugs Joy xx

Sweet Tilda

2010-11-19T05:11:00.000-08:00

Hello

I have made another card using the fabulous Magnolia stamps. I stamped Tilda on to solar white classic card with memento tuxedo black, then coloured her with Copics.I used Adirondack mushroom and denim inks on the edges. Tims alteration flower and Magnolia Doohickey leaves were cut using the Cuttlebug. I also added some stickles. The background papers are from Basic Gray and Doiley lace punch from Martha Stewart.
Thanks for stopping by
hugs Joy xx

Box of Xmas cards

2010-11-12T05:34:00.000-08:00

Hi
My friend Marilynn is a Stampin Up demonstrator and yesterday at her home, I made this little set from a download by Jenny More, also a Stampin up demonstrator, here in UK. The stamps, card and embellishments needless to say,are from SU. The card and ink are from of their new colour range and is called concord crush. I just love it and have obviously ordered more!! I must apologize for my lack of photography skill, it was difficult to get it all in the frame, there are six in the set and measure 4" square.
Thank you for dropping by and looking
hugs Joy xx

Christmas card and a Birthday card

2010-11-02T03:08:00.000-07:00

Hi
A couple of cards today. My blogging friend Claire has a son who has a very important birthday soon. He will be thirteen, so I have made him this 'Snoopy' card. The stamp is from Stampabilities and the 'Happy Birthday' from Clarity Stamp. Coloured with Copics and Promo's and I sponged the edge with adirondak mushroom and cut with my nestability die..

The Christmas card I cased from Verve stamps blog. The snowflakes are SU and they are embossed using mushroom ink pad and clear EP. The 'let it snow' is stamped with Versamark and embossed with detail white. Bazzil provided the Kraft card which I punched with a MS punch.
Thankyou for visiting
hugs Joy xx

Magnolia Christmas Card

2010-10-31T03:40:00.000-07:00

Hi
Hope you're all enjoying the weekend, whatever the weather!
I'm so happy to be colouring my Magnolia stamps with Copics again. I stamped Tilda with Memento black onyx on to smooth ivory cardstock. Background papers are Capella from Basic Grey. Circles were cut with Nestabilities on the Cuttlebug, lovin' the lacy circle used on the 'Merry Christmas' which is stamped with Versamark, then embossed with detail silver powder. I also used my MS Lace Doiley punch. The antique mistletoe is from Prima and other embellishments are from stash.
Thanks for dropping by xx

Card for my Daughter

2010-10-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

Hello
My DD has spent yesterday in hospital, having a minor operation. She is well, though off work for two weeks. So I made her this little card. I'm so pleased to be stamping with Tilda again I've missed her. I stamped her on ivory smooth cardstock and coloured her with Copics. I waited before colouring her face as I had some more copics on order. They came minus the one I needed most! I forgot to click on 'add to basket' so need to re-order it! Honestly that is so typical of me.
The background papers and flower are from Prima and I used Bazil card stock. The leaves are punched from glittery vellum, also from Prima and sprayed with 'cherub pink' glimmer mist. The swirly thing is a revolution die attacked with Stickles Crystal and the lace is from The Craftz Routique.
Thankyou for visiting and kindly leaving a comment xx

Tag

2010-10-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hello
Inspired by a card made by Rachael Jackson in last months Craft Stamper, I made this tag. I stuck bits of scrap paper and splodged some Gesso on to water colour paper. Left to dry and then painted on some Caran De Arche ws crayons. Stamped Crescendo images and sentiment, then added a torn flower, which I coloured with the ws crayons and hey presto done - A lot easier than brayering I tell you!!
Thankyou for stopping by and being kind enough to leave a comment xx

Plain and simple

2010-10-17T05:42:00.000-07:00

Hi

Theme theme on Lots to do forum this week is 'plain and simple' so here are a couple of Christmas that fit the bill. I think I'm getting the hang of these now with only a small few going into the card grave yard! He he! Like before I used Clarity stamps, Big and Juicy ink pad, silver and clear embossing powder.
Thanks for stopping by xx

Byron

2010-10-15T05:53:00.000-07:00

Hi
This page is of my youngest Grandson Byron when he was eighteen months old. Made from Daisytrail digi kits and produced in SBA 2. There is so much in these kits to play with. It's the first time I've added stitching - it looks so real. Thanks for visiting xx

First scrapbook pages

2010-10-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

Hi
Another Daisy Trail digi page. I tried my hand at blending, so the Azura became part of my background paper. Good eh?! There is so much to this digi scrapping and it is soo addictive. I really should be getting on with my christmas cards lol.

Xmas cards

2010-10-07T02:31:00.000-07:00

Hi
A small bit of brayering, some embossing and stamping of trees - simples! Wrong! Every time I got the embossing right I'd cock up on the brayering and when I got that bit right - the trees looked a mess ( as if a hurricane had hit)!! Hence there are fewer in the second card.
Recipe: Silk art card, Clarity stamps,versa mark, gold embossing powder, Big and Juicy mountain meadow, stickles.

Hi
My first digi page.This is one of my favourite beaches where I enjoyed many walks with Jude and occasionally I braved it and had a dip in the ocean. The beach stretches about 3 miles and looks out over St Ives bay in the west and Newquay is east of the lighthouse. Thanks for looking xx

Brayering

2010-09-29T06:24:00.000-07:00

At last I have done some brayering and have had a modicum of success. I have lost count of the times I have tried brayering, going through a whole pack of silk board card. Doing a wheelie and flicking never seemed to work for me as it did Barbara ( queen of the brayer. Mine always looked so messy with lines! So I am pleased with my results for this card. I stamped my image on to glossy card and coloured the shepherds with Copics then embossed them and the star using an EP pen and clear powder.
I used speedball brayer and adirondack denim and latte inks. Being too impatient for my 'verse' stamp to arrive I printed it on to glossy card and cut out the window and layered the pieces together adding even more brayering - well I was on a roll now wasn't I? Lol!! Next I'm going to try hills and mountains with torn paper, so I may be gone sometime!
Thanks for stopping by
hugs Joy xx

Cruise photos and a card for Sophie

2010-09-28T03:04:00.000-07:00

Hi
I don't usually put photos on my blog as I like to keep it solely for crafting, but I'd just like to add these few that were taken by the ships camera crew on 'dressing up' nights and the lovely P&O ship Azura. We spent 16 fab nights on board cruising the Med and arrived back in UK last week. The food for the trip weighed 300 tons!! and it looks like I ate most of it lol!! This was our first cruise and we loved every minute of it.
Soon I will be busy scrapbooking some of the 600 plus piccies Glen ( hubby) and I have taken and will put just a few on here.

PS I've looked a bit more closely and see white bits on our clothes- they are not on the original photos, so I think my scanner is in need of a clean again lol, sorry!! Joy xx

Below is granddaughter - Sophies birthday card. The image is a Kenny K's digital, coloured with Copic makers and mounted on Bazil and BG papers, The sentiment is a freebie by Banana frog in the current issue of Craft Stamper, cut out using nesties.
Thanks so much for stopping by xx

hug tags

2010-09-01T01:42:00.000-07:00

Hi
These are a few hug tags I made for LTD revisited forum for when someone needs a hug and to let them know we are here for them. Our administrator Hilda kindly puts them in a little booklet and mails them. My little tags were mostly done on the computer and backed on to kraft card. I used my cuttlebug, do dads and Elm punch for the embellishments. The image is called Heidi from a free download, sorry I can't remember from where. Thanks for stopping by xx

A Beautiful card

2010-08-12T03:39:00.000-07:00

Hi
So far this year has been a very sad one for me and my family. Losing my beloved pets, then my lovely mother in law. I had a fall and broke my foot and was in plaster for weeks. Then, last week my dear bother passed away. So yesterday I was very moved and pleased to receive this beautiful card from my very kind and talented friend Ann from Lots to do forum. It is such a beautifully constructed card I will treasure always. Ann's blog is somewhere in cyber space. Ann has permitted me to put it here so I can share it with you. Thank you Ann for your gorgeous card and kind words xxx

Christmas card

2010-08-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

Hi
At last I have made a Christmas card! It's a bit smaller than I intended, but after binning so many of my first efforts I decided to trim up this one - I just can't keep my inky fingers away. So I have not used the smaller set of baubles - I'd be here to Christmas 2011 if I did lol. After seeing the very talented Barbara from Clarity demonstrating these beautiful bauble stamps on Ideal World and me having a good supply of Copics, thought I could do that! Not! But, I'm not giving up on the mega sized card that Barbara made so watch this space, even though you may have a long wait!! I stamped the image with Adirondak eggplant and coloured using copics and Promarkers. I stamp the edge with Versamark and embossed with clear EP and sponged with eggplant and raisin. Then added some stickles and glitter to a couple of the baubles. Thank you all for stopping by xx

Bloomin

2010-08-05T06:54:00.002-07:00

Hi
A birthday card for a friend, using PTI stamps, various pigment inks and a few gems. Sentiment from Magnolia, card from Stampin Up, used my Cuttle bug to cut fancy tag and corner. Easy but fiddley cutting out those flowers. Thanks for looking xx

A card for Byron

2010-07-31T07:05:00.000-07:00

Hi
This is a card I made for my grandson's 10th birthday last week. The image is a digital down load which I printed on to matt inkjet card and coloured with Copic markers. Papers were from stash. Circles were cut using my Nesties. I apologize for quality of photo. I really need to hone my photography skills, or lack of, lol! Thanks for stopping by xx

A Little Hanging

2010-07-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

Hi
Here is my third 'Home' swap for the Lots to Do ( revisited) forum. It started off as a postcard and grew into a little hanging. Stamps used are from Magnolia and coloured with WS crayons on water colour paper. Embellishments are epoxy ones I've had for ages and never thought I'd use them but I think they suited this purpose quite well. I also got out my mini sewing machine and added some stitching. Sorry the photo is not up to scratch, looks a bit blurry on the right but it's fine in reality. As usual I'm a tad late - deadline is today - Oops! but dear Zoe our lovely host as forgiven me. thank you Zoe and thank you all for visiting and leaving your comments, they are always appreciated
hugs Joy xx

Mini Tags Banner

2010-07-11T01:43:00.000-07:00

Hi
Hope you are enjoying the weekend.
Here is my second 'new home' make for Lots To do swap, I really enjoyed decorating these mini tags from Maya road. I painted the tags with a 'pearl' ink dabber and then covered them with papers from my stash. I cut the words on the Cuttlebug and added a few gems etc. Finally I threaded blue ribbon through to make it into a banner - the most fiddly bit to do! Then tied on a couple of lilac ribbons and added some buttons.Hope you like it, thanks for stopping by. Hugs Joy xx

A card and a tag

2010-07-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

Hi
Lots to do forum have moved house and has a new name - Lots To Do Revisited! To celebrate some of us are making three items to swap, the theme being 'New Home' We can make anything we wish so my first is a simple tag, inspired by one I saw in CraftStamper. Cut on my Cricut and cuttlebug (nesties) using SU card which I inked with distress ink - milled lavender. The SU flourish is stamped with dusty concord. The cottage is from Clarity stamps and coloured with Copics. Flowers were punched from Magnolia paper. One down two to go! Deadline is middle of next week! Hope I make it!

The card I made for my son's girlfriend Kirsty, The stamp is from Hero arts and I've had it for yonks and now and again I get it out, it is one of my fave stamps. I coloured her very simply with Copics on SU whisper white and sponged milled lavender around the edge. Matted her on to SU card. The word feminine an the embossed corner is from Clarity stamps. To finish I added some lace from The Crafty Boutique.
Thanks for stopping by xx

Two Tags

2010-06-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

Hi
Finally! These are the remaining two tags in a set of three for a swap at Hels forum. It sure took me long enough and I was worried I'd miss the deadline! Just made it!
The pink one was inspired by a stunning card I saw on Isa Norris's blog and I have practically cased it. I used distress inks, then streaked on some gesso with a brush with had been dipped in water, stuck on some torn book pages and gesso'd these the same way. Stamped the diamond pattern ( from Aud ) the added the embossed image of a bottle which is one of a set - sorry I can't remember where from. Then I stamped and embossed with gold the little images from Banana Frog also their word which you can hardly see in the photo. The card I used was whisper white from SU and Kraft from Bazzil.

The blue tag was coloured with distress inks and stamped with a little 'script' stamp and a grunge corner from Stemplglede. I tore and glued on some distressed book paper and also used some for the scroll. Then I stamped and cut out the bottle and stuck it down with silicone gel. Then finally added a piece of lace.
Thanks for stopping by xx

Under my umberella

2010-06-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

Hi

This is a card I made for a forum friend. I coloured Tilda image with w/s crayons on water colour paper and applied Martha Stewart glitter to her umberella and glossy accents to her wellies. (which I had too stamp again as I 'd stuck my fingers in 'em before they were dry - I always do that!!)
The happy birthday sentiment is from Stampin up, other stamps are from Magnolia. The splodges were cut by my own fair hand after seeing the Quickutz dies on Rach's card . I also added glossy accents to them, keeping my paws well away! Edge punch by Martha Stewart, die was a Spellbinders tag and papers from stash.

Thanks for looking xx

TAG

2010-06-14T03:45:00.000-07:00

Hi
This tag is the first of 3 for an inky/messy tag swap on Hels forum. I stamped Maribel on SU whisper white and added Rock Candy crackle paint which doesn't show up too well in photo. The background is Kraft card from Bazzil which I sponged with distress inks. I also used a little 'script' stamp sorry, I can't remember where it's from! I punched out the flowers and leaves and added the gems which came in a kit from Prima

Thanks for stopping by xx

Hi everyone

2010-06-03T06:25:00.000-07:00

A couple of cards and a Grungebord bangle.....

It's been a very sad time these past weeks, losing my delightful kitten cat Toffee who was approaching 15 years. she quietly slipped away one Sunday afternoon, very peacefully. Almost 2 weeks later my beloved dog Jude who had been diagnosed with cancer of the, had so many fits and was so distressed, I had to take her to the emergency vet who put her to sleep. She had so many toxins in her body and because of her illness she would not have responded to treatment. Then a week later my mother in law who had suffered a stroke sadly passed away peacefully in her sleep, she was ninety four and was a dear and loved buy everyone who knew her. So I haven't felt much like crafting, but this past week I spent time in my craft room and made a couple of birthday cards for friends It's been very therapeutic, thanks for visiting xxx

Let's go Dotty

2010-04-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

Let's go dotty is the theme for 'Sam's Dotty swap on Lots to Do forum. Each postcard, tag, fatbook page and atc must contain some dots, spots or circles. So I used some spotty paper from Basic Grey and I used my swiss dots folder to emboss the background of the atc, only it isn't showing up too well. I inked whisper white card with distress inks and punched out the flowers, then 'dotted' them with Glossy accents to look like dew drops. (please click on 'enlarge image' to see ) Tilda images are from Magnolia and the cottage is from Clarity stamps. I used Caran De Arche ws crayons to colour the images on 300gm water colour paper Thanks for stopping by xx

A Bangle and a Tag

2010-04-21T07:12:00.000-07:00

Hi
Thanks to all of you that left such lovely comments on my last post after I'd been absent for so long.

The bangle which I cut from Grungebord and rounded the corners was sponged with walnut stain distress ink and then stamped with script using same colour, I then stamped the SU scroll with black soot and embossed with clear EP. Because it looked too masculine I gently wiped over the whole thing with distress ink barn door and added Stickles fruit punch to the scroll. To finish I punched a hole at each end with my crop o dile and attached hitch fastener.

I used distress inks to colour the backround of the tag and stamped swirls which I embossed with cosmic shimmer EPs. the flower from Darkroom Door was stamped with Versa mark and embossed with detail white EP

Thanks for looking xx

A little box of drawers and a card

2010-04-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

Hi

I made this little box of drawers and card for a friends birthday and after I posted it I remembered I had not taken a photo, so Zoe kindly took some and emailed them to me, thanks Zoe photos are great.

One of my favourite stamps is Maribel by Stampelglede. I have stamped her on stambord and coloured her with distress inks, mounted on to K&Co paper that came in a 12x12 pad. The tutorial for the box by the talented Kirsten can be found here The flower is a punch form EK Success , sprayed with glimmer mist and edged with Stickles, I also added a few MS micro beads and a chipboard heart. The drawer knobs are Tims hitch fasteners from his Ideology range. I know Zoe loves it and it is one of my favourite makes and not too difficult to do

The stamp I used for the card is from Stampers anonymous a which I embossed in white detail EP and sponger over with worn lipstick distress ink to show up the white and the heart is Tims grunge board die cut and ink with teh same ink and I went over the pattern with gold stickles
Thanks for looking xx

Some new stuff and an apology

2010-04-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

Hi friends
Sorry I have been away from my blog for so long, I've been finding it hard to craft and blog since my mother in law came to stay last September, I look after here every 2 weeks, she is 94 and can't do anything for herself and for awhile I didn't know what had hit me and felt I didn't have a life of my own. But, things have improved and I have a lovely lady come each morning to get her up, washed and dressed and I am more relaxed and enjoying my craft once more and I'd like to say thank you to my wonderful forum friends ( you know who you are ) who have been a great support. I have managed to do a little bit of crafting, forgive me for not going into the details but you wouldn't believe how long it has taken me to upload these pictures and get them the right way up. The tag I made at a friends last week and finished it today, I like the way it turned out, also a couple of birthday cards and some Xmas cards I remembered to photograph. I tried to upload them all in one post, but couldn't figure it out so did it in two! Please feel free to comment and I will come visit you xx

2010-04-08T08:27:00.000-07:00

A couple of Xmas cards

2009-11-19T05:23:00.000-08:00

Hi here are a couple more Xmas cards, using Magnolia stamps I got last year - am waiting for the new stamp club ones to arrive. The Santa Tilda is coloured with copics on SU whisper white and snowflakes are Cuttlebug. The background papers are ones I've had ages from K&Co. The sentiment is from Memory makers and the snow and silver glitters are from Martha Stewart. Love them!

Tilda with Robin is coloured with water soluable crayons from caran d'Ache, my old favourites, been neglecting them since discovering Copics, but I think they have a softness which the pens don't! Papers are BG Wassail and card is from SU and Bazzill (kraft.) Spellbinders Fancy Tags were cut in two, cuttlebug snowflakes and stars and Happy Holidays sentiment is from K&Co. Lace was from stash. Hope you like them I had fun making them. Thanks for looking xx

A Card for Nana

2009-11-16T01:51:00.000-08:00

Hi
Yesterday was my MILs 94th birthday and I made this card for her. I have had the 'chocs' stamps for a while and not used them. As MIL ( we all call her Nana) loves her choccies I thought it ideal for her card. I'm sorry it's not a good photo as the card is brown, white and pink! Not as black as it looks in the photograph! I stamped on to whisper white and used Copics to colour the image. I used my Cricut and Cuttlebug for die cutting and MS doiley lace punch. I also used a SU stamp for the 'Happy Birthday'sentiment. Nana also enjoys watching footie on TV so my son's present made everyone smile - he gave her a Man U blanket to cover her legs whilst watching TV and she loved it!!
Thankyou all for stopping by xx

Sunday Stampers

2009-10-31T09:45:00.000-07:00

Hello
Here is a card I made for this weeks Sunday Stampers 'Halloween'. challenge. It's ages since I took part in a challenge and only just made it in time. Image is Tilda by Magnolia, the die cuts are Quickutz and Cuttlebug. I used water soluble crayons to colour the image. Thanks for stopping by xx

Canvas

2009-10-25T06:28:00.000-07:00

Hi Here is a canvas I made for a friends' birthday - a bit late but I think she's forgiven me. I sponged on distress inks of frayed burlap, blue china and milled lavender, then I stamped on a stemplglede grunge corner using Stazon timber brown which I also used to stamp the script from SU. Maribel is stamped on to stampbord and coloured gently with weathered wood, frayed burlap, blue china and worn lipstick with a water brush. I used EK retro punches and grunge paper for the flower which was also coloured with distress inks and sprayed with gold glimmer mist. The little swirly die cut is on the cricut home accents cartridge which I'm loving but forget to use, which is typical of me! Lastly the little embelishment was from a kit I got yonks ago from QVC! Thanks for taking the time Too visit, I do appreciate all your comments xx

A couple of cards

2009-10-16T02:44:00.000-07:00

Hi

Sorry I have been absent from blog world and anything else computery. Had a bit of a family crisis and then just as things were getting back to normal I lost my internet connection. I have done very little card making these past few weeks but managed to finish these 2 cards wich I started weeks ago.

The noel card is made using a lovely tree from Flourishes - a US site I stamped it with a colourbox inkpad in dark brown, sorry I don't have its correct name, it was in one of those stacking thingies. Backgound paper is BG wassail as is the die cut 'noel' I also used some stickles crystal on the tree, please click on picture to see it clearer.

Card no 2 is Anya from the greetings farm and she is coloured with Copics. the corrurgated card is from a local craft shop, love it! Flower is Prima Belle Fleur, I forgot which papers I used but the card is Papertrey 'enchanted evening' and Bazzil dark brown. Thanks for stopping by, I am looking forward to seeing what you have all been up to xx

A Card for SIL

2009-09-12T01:55:00.000-07:00

Hello
I made this card for my sister in law using BG wisteria papers and coloured with Copics, I managed to colour my new top with a deep pink blob as well - hope it comes out in the wash. The image is a Gorgus Girl from Sugar Nellie, matted on to gold mirri card sorry, I can't remember whos' corner stamp it is, I've had it for so long. Corners punched with my new Chomper corner rounder ( love it! ) The flower is Belle Fleur from Prima. Hope everyone is enjoying this gorgeous sunshine and that you all have a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by xxx

First Christmas Card

2009-09-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hi
Love this image of Herb enjoying his cuppa ( from WOJ) . I have coloured him using my copics. The papers are BG Wassail. I die cut the snowflakes with my Cuttlebug to which added some gold stickles. 'Joy' was in a set from Flourishes and I used my Cricut and Nesties for the circles. Border is a MS lace doiley punch. Now, I have had a dickens of a job trying to load this picture, I will proceed to try again! Success! apparently Blogger didn't like my first choice of photo - told me it was a bad image! So you'll have to put up with this one, which isn't as bad!! Thanks for stopping by xx

Keepsake box

2009-08-31T02:14:00.000-07:00

After seeing Stephs' wonderful keepsake boxes here, I was inspired to make one. Steph kindly gave me permision to case hers, but as I didn't have the right ingredients, I decided to use the gorgeous BG wassail papers, die cuts and SU chocolate chip card to make a stocking filler. I bought an inexpenve bath bomb already in red foil so the papers were a pefect match The template is a download from PTI designed by the extremely talented Lauren Meader. I still intend to case Stephs though as they are fantastic! Thanks for calling, hope you are all having a wonderful bank holiday and that you have better weather than me! lol. xxx

Lots to do Challenge

2009-08-21T01:55:00.000-07:00

Hi
Made this just in time for this weeks LTD challenge which is to do anything we like! So I have had this peg kicking around for a couple of years and thought it time to do something a little different, other than cards. I applied some gesso ( which is still on my finger nails!) all over the peg which I had pulled apart, and left to dry. Then went around the edges with a Dabber ( cloudy blue) I used ds tape to stick down my PTI papers and tied a bow. Stuck on a few BG buttons and an EK success punched small flower! 'Notes' was printed off my computer on whisper white. Check out the LTD challenge blog it's run by Hilda and Sam, a couple of very talented ladies. Also take a look at their Technique Zone - here Thanks for stopping by and thanks for all the kind well wishes for my grandddaughter Dainelle xxx

A Card for Danielle and Sunday Stampers

2009-08-17T10:44:00.000-07:00

Hi
I needed to make a card for my Granddaughter Danielle who just spent the weekend in hospital and as this weeks SS challenge is 'blue' and I had already decided on the SU blue papers, I was able to combine the two. My gorguss girl is stamped with Memento and coloured with copics on whisper white. The little doo dads were coloured with Memento summer sky, large flower is EK Success punches and the border punch is Martha Stewart - which was part of the candy I won ( below ) and I love it!! Thanks Steph. Stitching was done on my Janome mini. Thanks for stopping by xx

Sunday Stampers Grunge rose

2009-08-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Hi
This weeks SS challenge theme is roses. After seeing the gorgeous roses made by Hels and Linda and helped byWendy Vecchis brilliant tutorial I decided to have a go. I didn't appear to have the right size six sided flower but then found an Autumn leaves one that served the purpose. I coloured my rose with aged mahogony and sprayed it with gold shimmer mist - though after I thought copper might have been better. The rose sat alone for a couple of days as I couldn't think what to use it for and I was running out of time for the SS deadline. I would have like to put in on a box lid but thay would have taken ages, instead I made a card with the sweet image of Maribel from Stempelglade stamped on to glossy and 'water' coloured with distress inks. The frame 'Home Accents' I cut on my Cricut using BG Kraft and then inked a little with aged mahogany and brushed cordroy. the leaves were die cut too. The striped background was Cosmo Cricket and the pink one, My minds eye. When I took this photo my OH grabbed his camera and took one too -I think he was impressed!! Doesn''t happen too often these days! I am really pleased with the way this card turned out hope you like it too xx

Magnolia Candy ( Closes August 20th )

2009-08-14T01:37:00.000-07:00

Hi
Kim has some lovely Magnolia Candy up for grabs to celebrate her new Magnolia blog If you haven't visited Kim before and are a fan of Tilda and friends you are in for a treat. Good luck all xx

Lovely Award

2009-08-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

Hi
My friend Zoe passed on this wonderful award to me. Thanks Zoe I am so chuffed to recieve it - it has not been a good couple of weeks for me and my family and it's nice to know I have such good friends like yourself in blogland xx

I now have to list 5 snippits of info about myself:

I have four step grandchildren and four grandchildren making eight fab grandkids

I am a yoyo dieter and I'm on a diet again!!

I have taken up Nordic pole walking and love it when I find time to do it!

I have a diploma in anatomy, physiology and aromatherapy.

I onced crashed a car ( when learning to drive) into a car showroom window causing thousands of pound worth of dammage! ( put me off learning to drive for years ) I eventually I passed my test aged 40!

Now I'd like to pass this award on to all my special blogging friends who have helped me so much with their inspiration and wonderful tutorials - please feel free to pick it up and pass it on to your blogging pals xxx

2009-08-07T02:31:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my luck!!! Look at all this delicious candy I have won after leaving a comment on the very talented and very generous Stephs blog, check it out - here. I am utterly gobsmacked as it was only a couple of weeks or so ago that I won her equally delish 'slice of cake'! I haven't done the lottery for years, but I think I'll give it a try this weekend - you never know!! xx
Footnote: IT'S ARRIVED! WHOO WHOO! Thankyou Steph that was so generous of you and so quick! It was even packed in a plastic box that I will use for storage! I am over the moon xxx

Copycat!

2009-08-06T05:27:00.000-07:00

Hello
I have unashamedly cased this card from one I saw on the Pink Petticoat site. The image and papers are downloads from the site. I coloured the image with chalks and added Stickles. The card is for my sister in law who has just moved house. The little house charm is from my stash. Thanks for stopping by xx

Papertrey blog candy ( closed)

2009-07-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

Those girls Steph and Kate have some fab candy from Papertreyink up for grabs just look what you can win. Don't you just love these stamps and papers? Just hop on over to Passion for Papertey for your chance to win. Good luck

Piece of Cake!

2009-07-27T00:41:00.000-07:00

Hi
I was lucky to win this fabulous piece of cake that Steph exquisitely made over on 'A Passion for Papertrey' blog! Isn't it delish? I was one of the lucky eight to recieve a slice along with the choccies and beautiful cards, there was even a teeny weeny card inside and some little die cut butterflies plus another card - second image - to send out with the cake! How generous of her - thanks again Steph. You can see the whole amazing cake here. If you are a fan of Papertrey as I am you will love this UK blog.

Mega Blog Candy ( Ended)

2009-07-12T02:12:00.001-07:00

Hi
My friend Hels is going under the knife as I write to correct the carpal tunnel syndrome in her right hand. So, she'll not be crafting for a few weeks! But she as given us the chance to win some fab candy so please go visit her awesome blog and find out how you to enter so that you may win -

8"x8" Canvas Board, 2x 5"x7.5" BIA Clipboard Wood covers, 6"x6" Crafty Individuals Background Papers-Book4, Scrapbook In A Tin, Set of Stitchels Dashy Dot stamps plus Kling On Cushioning to mount them on to, Box Artists Charcoal Pencils & Blocks + Paper Stump, White Acrylic Paint, 3 Mini Canvas's, 2 resin Keyholes, Chipboard tagbook, Ribbons and Beaded Fringes, Paper Ribbon roll, Hardware Keyrings and Handles, Mini Glass Bottles, Maya Road Birdy charms, Bottle Caps, "2Crafty" Chipboard Dragonfly, Metal Mini Clips, Distress Stickles-Milled Lavendar, DewDrop Ink Pads in Rocket Red Gold, Sky Blue and Coffee Bean.

good luck xx

Miss Anya

2009-07-10T05:51:00.000-07:00

Hi
Today is my sons' girlfriends birthday and this is the card I made for her. the image is Miss Anya from the Greetings Farm. I used kraft card stock and whisper white from SU, BG wisteria papers and buttons, I coloured the image with copics on Manga paper. Die cut with nesties 'labels'. Flowers stamped onto wisteria with distress ink and punched out with retro punches from EK success and leves were cut using Accent essentials on my Cricut. Oh, and last but not least I added a little heart charm which hung from a brad with little silver links that were so fiddly I used a pair of tweezer and a little sharp knife - cutting my finger in the process!! Luckily the blood did not reach my card! Thankyou for stopping by xx

Lots to do challenge

2009-07-06T01:58:00.000-07:00

This weeks Lots to do challenge is to use apiece of stamping. So I chose the beautiful Maribel image by Stempelglede.
After several attempts at colouring her on glossy card I am rather pleased with the result! I used pigment inks - versacolor and distress to colour her and used distress inks for the background. The flowers were stamped ( Stempeglede grunge) with distress inks on grunge paper and punched out with retro flower punches. the swirly thingy was cut on my Cricut using Accent Essentails, which I don't use enough! I had a hard time photographing her and this is the closest to how she looks in real life. thanks for looking xx

A couple of cards

2009-06-30T07:37:00.000-07:00

Hello
Made these cards over a week a go but have been unwell so just got round to blogging them.

The little Ellie image is from Magnolia and is for a dear friend who collects elephants. Ellie is coloured with Copics, papers are from the Marekesh range by BG, 'Giggle' from Paperbag Studio and I also used one of my new Peony nestabilities.

Next image is Dahlia from the Greetings farm also coloured with Copics and the background papers are by Sassifraslass, other trimmings from stash, Thanks for stopping by xx