Its been a while...

Well I've not been updating my blog for a while as i had no internet access til about five hours ago (thankyou Virgin Media!!!!!) so I've not been being ignorant.
I have some pics of some bits I've been doing since I last updated this blog. However, they're on my phone so I've got to print them out then scan them into the computer, so they will be in a later post.
The weather has changed so drastically, I really actually enjoy being inside crafting. I've done a couple of cards but not really done anything else at the moment. I find that when I'm outside, I enjoy taking pictures of nature as she changes. It feels like summer was over too quickly for me to really enjoy it. Then my son, Alex went back to school and then Hallowe'en appeared. All the leaves have fallen off the trees, and the leaves are on the floor...
It fascinates me no end.
Will add the pictures on a later post, thought I'd let you know what was going on. see you :)

New cards, old cards and new stash

So here are the photos I was trying to post earlier. I really hope you like. :)

This the Padded Paws card that I mentioned in my post last night. This is for a friend of mine who took one look at it and loved it (huge appropriate smile and everything).

The other cards are ones I've done over the last couple of years and I'm proud of them. I will add them to later posts as well :) I've given some to a fellow blogger Leigh the charity crafter.

Seeing that I'm making cards with decoupage on, I needed expandable envelopes. So a trip to The Range with my trusty friend, Kirsten, was in order. I love The Range as they're absolutely fabulous for the different ranges of papers, cards etc. I usually spend a bit in there, but was so proud of myself to only come out with 5 items.

Here's the stash I bought:

*Computer is playing up so I will add these pictures in my next post*

Kirsten is great to go there with, as she looks around with me and I can indulge in my "explaining what everything is for and why I want it" lecture. My family tolerates my crafting, and will get a slight glassy look ( the "ohmygosh, she's going on about crafting look") when I go on about it :)

(love you guys!!!!!!)

I'm loving these particular papermania ranges at the moment; the Capsule Collections, Daisy &Dandelion and Clare Curd's Its a Mans World. The colours used mean that they go with anything; I've used the Its a Man's World papers with the dotty mini buttons from the various Capsule Collections, and the look amazing together.

New cards, old cards and stash :)

Hey all!

I've had one of those weeks (so far) where I get inspiration at the most random times. I was making a card for a friend and finished it earlier today. Take a look and let me know what you think.




*it seems my comp isnt playing ball at the moment so i will add all the pictures in a later post*


Products I used:



From the Creativity Goody Bag:

Padded Paws diecut decoupage pack, Lee Holland
Padded Paws cardstock stickers, Lee Holland
Padded Paws diecut greetings, Lee Holland
Butterfly Dimension stickers, Papermania
Light blue mosaic gems, Papermania



Other materials:


Green 6x6 Core'dinations (I think it's from the Earth Tones card pack)
White A6 cards, Anita's
White A6 expandable envelopes, Anitas
White Foam pads
Double sided tape, Poundland



The card itself is a simple idea, one that I used from the ideas sheet that comes with the Goody Bag. I'm so glad I didn't chuck it away a while ago. This was all from a Goody Bag from a few months ago.

Well all this had me looking through old cards that I've made over the past couple of years, and thought I'd add them on this post. I look at some of them and think, " That bit is wonky" and "I didn't cut the pieces right there". I showed a couple of pictures to a friend of mine and she was impressed. :)

Some of these I gave to a fellow blogger Leigh, the charity crafter. I'm actually proud of them now. I guess we're all our own worst critics when it comes to our own pieces of art eh?

(I know you're nodding in agreement, you know at least once you've thought this :) )

I hope you like it all. I will add more to my next couple of posts. :)



Check them out:





I like to check out other cardmakers' blogs when I'm lacking inspiration. I have Clare Curd on my friends list on facebook and see her link to her blog via there. Not won any blog candy before so here's hoping

*crosses my fingers*.



Also here's the link to Clare Curds' Blog candy.



Check it out at: http://clarecurd.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-candy-night-1-embossing-folders.html.

Flowers for grandma :)

Grandma has quit smoking so Alex (my five year old son) and I decided after a phone call to cheer her up with some flowers. (I find real flowers just don't last that long.) So I bought Alex the Craft Planet goody bag, which is where most of the bits for the flowers have come from.

Take a look:

The items I used:

Double sided sticky tape, Poundland

Glue, Anita's tacky glue,

Flowerhead bases: Flowers, Papermania shaped cards

The stems: Bright coloured pipe cleaners, Craft Planet

Decorations:

Flower punch
My Minds Eye papers for the punched flowers

Metallic leaves & other metallic shapes, my pink craft box

Green ribbon, local haberdashery

From the Craft Planet Goody Bag:

Foam shapes, various colours

Googly eyes, various sizes

Pompoms, various colours

We took them round to give to Grandma and Alex said, " These are for you to cheer you up", which had the desired effect. She smiled at my little boy's sweetness. I'd wrapped the flowers up in a brown paper bag to keep them from getting broken. They're in a vase at Grandma's and Grandad's house. Looks quire nice on their mantlepiece. Nice one Alex!!!!! :)

Also, if anyone reading this lives near a B&M's or a Home Bargains, they have some fantastic little drawer sets for your desk or bigger ones for the craft room.

I picked up one of the little plastic blue 3 drawer stacker drawers for my craft table. Needed one to put my little bits in so I dont lose them. I'm well known for putting things down and not remembering where I put them. I find it SO frustrating from time to time. I know they're in my room, but i cant for the life of me, find where i put the damned things.... :/

a total bargain!

Hey all!

Well I'm still working on the "Around the Houses" CJ LO, but while looking round Nuneaton town after dropping my son off at school, I checked out a couple of charity shops. I always look in charity shops, I always find a bargain even when I'm not looking! :)

So while checking out the items, I saw a set of blending chalks. Normally they're around £12, but this set

was only *pauses for dramatic effect* 75p!!! Practically brand new! So I snapped it up ASAP! I was so shocked at the price!

I think it will be fantastic for my forever friends and my The Greeting Farm stamps. The ideas that come to mind while I look at them. I also dont think I've seen a set with dayglo colours. :)

Othe LOs from the "Around the Houses" CJ

Heres a pic of the finished first part of the " Favourite Things" CJ. I added the little rosette as well as the title afterwards. I think the title really suits the subject!


I was also impressed with layout, as it looks simple and clean as well as quite smart








The products i used:





The background: Red Core'dinations card





The papers: White paper with a random design stamped on it.





The Inks: Stazon black ink and Clearsnap petal pad, brown





The Title: White chipboard letters (not sure of the make as i misplaced the packet)





The Corners: Xcut Silhouette corner punch





The Transfers: Hampstead by Docrafts/papermania





Templates: Rosette by papermania











Baking has been a newer thing with me, in the fact that I wasn't very good at it. My friend made the mistake of buying me a cake book for last christmas, after I tried some internet cake recipes. She was one of my "tasters", (I really mean guinea pigs! ;)) before christmas last year.





I took these butterfly cakes to my local crop a few months back and the group liked those along with my victoria sponge cake. However, there was enough left to take home to my family, who were happy with both the butterfly cakes and the victoria sponge cake. I mean that before I went home, there was only crumbs left!














'Bucket List'



This is the second LO for the member CJ "Bucket List". I had to scrap two things i thought the participant had to do, for example spend time pampering themselves.

The two things i decided the participant should do were, "pamper yourself" and have "some me time". I used two recipes for home made beauty products. I know that this member didn't have lots of time to herself with family and work commitments. So I thought this would be totally appropriate. Plus all the things needed for the recipes were all things she either had at home or able to buy from the supermarket.

The products I used:

The backgrounds:Henbury Lane A4 paper pack

The top layer: Vellum A4 pack

The Title: Papermania black glitteration stickers

The Images: Me Time Anya, The Greeting Farm digi stamps

Pens: Promarkers:

For Bath Anya: Hair yellow (Y657), hair band: Antique pink (R346), Skin: Blush (O729)Bubbles: Amethyst (V626), Bath:Mint green (G637).

For Me Time Anya: Bathrobe (including hair towel) Amethyst (V626) & Lilac (), Face pack: Caramel (O727), Hair: Spice (O346)

Brads: glittery and black papermania

I really like Promarkers for the fact that I'm able to colour over and over and the colour doesn't get wrecked :)

And I can add shades by just going over the area.

aww im just gushing about Promarkers sad eh? ;)

Will be adding more of my LOs later. I'm also going to be adding some of my cards and I'd like to know what you think of them ok?

Other LOs from the "Around the Houses CJ on UKS

Hey all!

Thought I'd put the rest of the "Around the Houses" CJ LOs on here. The ones I've done obviously. Some I'm really proud of, and some I wish I'd done more, but still it's my work. We're our own worst critics :)

So here are the other LOs in chronological order (aka the order in which I did them)

and the members' CJ titles.

So the first one is "Favourite Things"

For this page i used:

The background: Red Core'dinations card

The papers: Plain white paper with stamped image printed randomly over it

The clear stamps: Hampstead clear stamps, Docrafts

For this layout i used:

The papers: Hampstead 8x8 paper pack, Docrafts

The stickers: Hampstead roll of patterned stickers, Docrafts

Clear sticky gems papermania

The stamps: Daisy and dandelion the cook (i cant remember the name :()

Clare Curd Stamps butterflies and flowers

The Ink: Stazon inkpad

Crayons: Papermania watercolour crayons

Punches: Xcut silhouette corner punch

When I find the other LOs I will add them on here as it seems I've put them on another disc :)

Look at me all "organized" :)