Goodbye 2012!

Hello crafting chums, are you still sober??
Whatever you have planned for tonight or if you have already celebrated New Year, I wish you all a Happy New Year and a big thank you for following my blog.
I have over the last year really got into the crafting blog land! I have made some great new crafting buddies all over the world and re-connected with my dear cousin Lynn. A huge thank you to Lynn for introducing me to both crafting and blogging and a thank you for your continued support and encouragement.

I am pushed for time today but wanted to do a bit of crafting and decided to challenge myself to the 10 minute Craft Dash. This is not a 'holiday' card in terms of Xmas but I am going to give it to my hubby onight as we are staying in a dinner together so it is his New Year card. I have only just come across this challenge and I think I may become hooked! I read yesterday Pauline's tips and tricks for the 10 min craft dash and used them today. (See below for a few little things I learnt today when making this card!)

First here is my card which took me 9 mins 43 seconds (6 seconds quicker than my last go here, but this time I didn't get the middle of the card done). I had the idea ready and got all the things I needed to make it before I started (well, I thought I had!).

I have again followed the sketch I used yesterday from Retro Sketch and will enter this into this challenge. Today I went for a super CAS take on the sketch.

I will enter this into the joint challenges at CAS-ual Fridays and Pretty Pink Posh's 10 min craft dash.

Now for my list of things I learnt when making a card in 10 mins:

• if you want to use a corner chomper-GET IT OUT!
• if you are not going to wipe down the stamps whilst making the card-avoid getting your fingers inking (see the little red mark on the sentiment-dirty fingers!!)
• If you want to cut and mount card-get pieces you have already cut another time. I was lucky today as I managed to trim them all first time round but this is rare.
• Try to avoid the tiny gems like I have used on this card-I always have problems positioning them.

These are the things I will remember next time I make a 10 min card, which I might do very soon, as it is fun!

If you have made it this far then thank you and if you are not a follower of my blog, why not follow me? I would love to end my year with 50!!

Have a great New Year and see you in 2013!! 

Feeling Any Better?

Here in London it seems there are a lot of poorly people and from reading your blogs it appears it is not just us Londoners!
So I am back today with another 'Get Well' card.

The inspiration for this came from this picture at Inspired By

I actually saw this photo whilst looking at Mynnette's blog for inspiration (check it out). The photo reminded me of those white sparkly fireworks that look like they are falling from the sky. I had this idea in my head but didn't take it any further until I saw this funky sketch at Retro Sketches

This card started as a New Year's Eve card and the stamped image was meant to be fireworks-I just repeated stamping, in different colours, a Kanban Crafts stamp, that I thought looked like an exploding firework. But I couldn't make the New Year idea worked so changed track. I decided this bright pattern might cheer a poorly person up. I had problems with the button and twine until I decided to just stick the twine to the back of the card and cover this with card stock. I stamped my 'handcrafted by' stamp onto this card stock and made holding the button in place easy. I must try to remember that little technique as I have a feeling it could be quite useful.

I am much happier with this card than the one I made yesterday-it made me smile!!

Hubby and I are having a repeat of yesterday afternoon-I create cards in one corner of our spare room and he creates music on his Apple-Mac, the other side of the room. We compare notes now and then, have a cup of tea and a chat then go back to our creating! It really is the most perfect way to spend an afternoon together, both doing something we love and sharing it with each other. He always praises my cards whatever they look like (sweet) and I say his music is great (mmmm!!)-support is what we need, truth is not always necessary!!

Hope you got to spend your Sunday with the people who are special to you x

Tea or Soup?

Hi fellow crafters,

Hope your weekend is going well. I have had a fun day crafting. I have a CAS card to share. I actually did some paper piecing. I had done some earlier in the week when making a card for my DT and surprised myself how much I enjoyed it. So today gave it a go again, making a card inspired, firstly by this picture at Paper Smooches Sparks challenge:

I was inspired by the soft blue used plus the very sharp lines of the frame. I have tried to replicate these lines in my card but to soften it used the baby blue from the vase. I have used all Paper Smooches stamps in my card and some that I have been itching to ink up.

I stamped the question mark but now realise it is too big and I should have just used pen but a few mistakes make us human right? I am not too happy with this card but I enjoyed doing it and one to add to my stash for when needed.

I will also enter this into the following challenges:

Less is More-drinks

Hot Shot Crafts-CAS (a new challenge to me and what a cool name!)

Daring Card Makers-paper piecing-a challenge I have not been entered for a while (hello Sharon-how are you??)

Happy Stamping x

CAS-Colour and Sketches #5

Happy Thursday and that means I am back with our weekly challenge at CAS-Colour and Sketches.

Before I go into the details, I wanted to say that I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas Day. I hope your day was filled with love and cheer!

O.K. back to our challenge. We have a sketch for you this week:

I kept to the basic layout of the sketch but rather than stick to the exact shapes I made a super CAS version of this. My take on the sketch just felt more 'me'-what do you think?

Now Christmas is over, I thought I had better get a few Valentine's cards on the go. I only have one Valentine, my hubby, but I like to have a choice and I can always use the others at some time in the year!

I have again used my PTI linen impression plate on the centre and background white card-you can just see this in the photo. I just love this sentiment from the 'stronger love' Verve stamp set. The hearts are a mixture from this set from Verve and the 'my guy' set from paper smooches.

Take a look at the challenge here and check out the cards our fab DT have made. Then why not join in the fun-we are looking forward to seeing your take on the sketch. Have fun and happy stamping x

Meet me under the Mistletoe!

Happy Christmas Eve!

The presents are all under the tree and I am ready for the Christmas cheer to begin!

For my husband's pressie I have got him tickets to see a concert. Today I decided I would make him a Christmas card to put the tickets in. I was expecting to spend my time doing this but then he called to say he would be home early! I remembered the '10 min Craft Dash' at CAS-ual Fridays and decided to give it a go. This Christmas my favourite stamps have been the Merry-Kiss-Mas set from CAS-ual Friday store. I have found they have really suited my style. Therefore they seemed the best set to choose when making a card in 10 mins-something I don't think I have ever done!
I got my idea ready in my head, collected the supplies I needed and set my timer. Because I went with a red card I had to decorate the inside-oops! And  I did it......inside and out in 9 mins 49 seconds!!! I must challenge myself to this more often, it sure makes you focus!
This is a first for me. And all before hubby got home.
I have to say I am rather chuffed with myself!

Here is the front:

And the inside:

And CAS-ual Fridays are running this challenge alongside the Pretty Pink Posh 10 min Craft Dash. I will enter my super, quick card in both of these.

Have a Merry, Merry Christmas xx

And my last Calendar topper-Time to celebrate!!

Here we are, a few days before Xmas.  I hope you are all ready and now can relax with your loved ones.

Don't forget that we have a fab giveaway going on at our new challenge site Inkspirational. Check it out here  to be in the running for a some extra crafting goodies from Santa!!

Today I am sharing my very last Calendar topper with you. Yes, they are finished in time and I am sorry if you are bored with seeing them! To be honest I am fed up with making them. Please remind me next year if I mention I am doing them, shout across the land, sea and air-NO DON'T DO IT!!!

I have the last April for you and, as it is for my Mum and Dad, I went with a Golf theme-they are addicts! I used the same idea as I did for this topper and managed to use some more of my huge stash of DSP!
It is a different style for me but it is fun to change things now and then. I used the colour combo at Colour Q.

Well, crafting buddies, I wish you all a Christmas filled with love. Relax, have fun and see you in a few days x

Winter Solstice

Yes, today is the shortest day of the year, so I am quickly popping in whilst there is still some daylight around!

I have the topper of one of my calendar gifts to share with you today.
I based it on this sketch from Retro Sketches

I flipped the sketch and came up with this:

Most of stamps are from CAS-ual Fridays.

I will also be entering this into the 'star' challenge at Casology.

My Internet connection has hit the Xmas booze a little early and is playing up so I will only be popping in and out when it sobers up!!

CAS-Colour and Sketches #4

It is already week 4 of our challenges at CAS-Colour and Sketches. And this week we have a colour challenge for you. We would love to see what cards you can create using the following colours:

We have used Stampin' up colours but you don't have to-just use the closest shades you have.

I thought these colours were quite masculine. I need a few cards for men in January so these colour combo gave me the motivation I needed to get stamping for the boys!

And this is what I came up with:

I have used the 'Grunge Me' stamps from PTI and memento inks-Danube blue and Dandelion. I masked off a rectangle area and just got stamping. I then embossed some navy card and used foam pads to place it on the card.

So, what do you think-suitable for a guy?

Why not pop over to our site here and check out the challenge and all the fab cards our DT have created using these colours.

Looking forward to seeing your cards!

Goodbye April!

Want chance to win some goodies? Then, pop over to the new challenge site Inkspirational ,where I am on the DT, and set yourself up as a follower and 'like us' on our facebook page to be in with a chance to win.

As some of you know I am working my way through making 2 Calendars as gifts. And today I have the topper for April but, unfortunately, only one April down, one to go!

I have been creatively stumped on this month for a while now. I wanted to focus on 'April Showers' and had lots of general ideas floating around in my head. But, try as I might, nothing concrete came to mind. Then yesterday I decided to throw this idea 'out in the rain'......oh dear, bad pun I know!

I decided to focus on who the calendars were for and just do a topper that suited them.
So today's April is for my Uncle and Aunt who own a car garage. I got the idea of hills from my cousin Lynn, who suggested I take a look at her card here as a good way of using up patterned paper. I followed her idea of hills and added a car climbing. Not any old car...a Porsche!!

I used the colours from the challenges at Paper Smooches Sparks. The car is a Paper Smooches stamp from the 'my guy' set. I surprised myself by really enjoying hunting through a, very neglected, stash of Stampin' up paper. And Lynn is right, this is a great way to use DSP. Here I have used paper that has never made it to any of my projects before!
I am going to use the same idea of the other 'April' topper but look for a suitable colour challenge to inspire me to use more patterned paper. Hopefully I will share this with you before Christmas!

I will also enter the 'Anything Goes' challenge at Each Card a Party!

Happy Stamping x

And the Calendar Continues!!

Happy Monday crafting chums!

As some of you may know I am making a couple of Calendars for Christmas presents and need to do a topper for each month (never again!!). Yesterday I thought I had better get down to it although I wasn't feeling too creative. March needed to get done and as Easter is in March next year this is the theme I went for. Now, I was faced with another problem-my Mum (who one of the calendars is for) made the passing comment that she was not so keen on my CAS cards and liked it when I added ribbons etc. Yikes my CAS brain was facing a challenge!!

I struggled all afternoon and got out every piece of crafting tool, ribbon, paper, card, buttons etc. The room was a very 'un-Sandie' state (I am a tidy freak!).

However this is what I came up with:

I guess looking at it now, it is still pretty CAS. I honestly tried out lots of DSP but couldn't get anything to work.
I am still not happy with it really, however it was a challenge and as such I am going to enter it into the following challenges:

Eclectic Ellapu-anything goes
Live and Love Crafts-anything but a card
Stamp up your Life-anything goes

Only April to do!!

And before I leave you, Lisbeth, one of my fellow DT members on Inkspirational, has some blog candy to give away, so pop to her blog here to see how you can win some extra candy for the holiday season.

Lovin from the oven!

I hope you are all having good Sunday and not getting too stressed as the big day approaches!

I have a very simple card for you today that I made last night in about 15 mins. Yes, a very quick card but it was very satisfying and relaxing to make. I was inspired by the challenges at:

-Addicted to CAS- 'sweet' is the buzz word this week and it gave me chance to use my first ever stamp set that has not been dusted off for about 18 months. I don't remember where it is from!
-Just Us Girls-a colour challenge this week-pink, green and white. I thought this was quite refreshing after all the Xmas colours and ideal to use for the icing on cakes.
-Addicted to Stamps-a bingo challenge this week. When I had stamped and coloured my card, I felt it needed just that little something. Then remembered I had seen this challenge earlier in the week-so I added a pearl to one of the cakes and viola, I was happy! I used the bingo combo-of green, anything goes (markers) and pearls.

A really quick card to do but enjoyable. I have had this digi for ages from Create with TLC and hadn't used it, so all in all a successful little 15 mins!!

Have a great day x

White on White Christmas.

Yippee, Friday is here! And a bigger yippee as I think this is my last Christmas card-although I won't confirm that as I had thought I had finished but then realised, alas, I had one more to do!

I did however have some exciting inspiration for this card.
First I had been seeing quite a few gorgeous Xmas cards made for the 'white on white' challenge at Make My Monday and wanted to join in. Plus I loved some of the cards made for the 'bauble' challenge at Addicted to CAS, so yet another excuse to play. These are 2 new challenges to me and I am enjoying taking part. Then finally, today, the latest fab sketch at CAS(E) this sketch inspired me to get moving.

I apologise for the shadows in the photo but it was difficult to get the light right, the dark nights and gloomy days are making it more difficult but I hope you get the idea and can see the sparkly paper. All of the die cuts, linen embossing plate and sentiment are from PTI.

CAS, glittery, bright red, pearls, silver string and my beloved linen impression plate-I love my last Christmas card and hope you do too!

And today I got one more month of my calendar topper made, so 8 months down, 4 to go!!

                    

CAS-Colours and Sketches #3

Today I am back with our 3rd challenge at CAS-Colours and Sketches. And this week we have this funky sketch for you:

I needed to make a thank you card for my Dad you recently installed a new shower for me and put up some shelves. So I have a 'manly' version of this sketch for you-super CAS-just how I like it!

The sentiments are a mix of Paper Smooches stamps and the dotted stamp is an old one from PTI.

I was pretty happy with the clean look to this and am hoping my Dad likes it!

The DT team have done a fab job with this sketch so pop over and have a look at their designs:

Jacqueline

Loiuse

Kylie

And then play along with us. I am looking forward to see your take on the sketch.

Have a great day x

Mistletoe and Holly.

Its a gorgeous day here in London. Sunny, fresh and with frost on the grass. I love weather like this.
When we are blessed with a day like this it is best to get outside and enjoy it. I am therefore going to make this quick!

I am trying to crack on with my calendar and today I have my December topper to share with you. The initial inspiration for this came from this photo I spotted at Inspired By

I liked the idea of the hanging wreaths but altered mine to be mistletoe after I saw Virginia's card here on the Cas-ual Friday Flickr group. I just loved Virginia's card and had to 'case' it, adding another mistletoe bunch, some ivy and changing the colour scheme but you can still see how much Virginia's card inspired me!

I am also going to enter this into the 'red and green' challenge at Speedy Fox and Friends.

5 months left to do!!

Merry-Kiss-Mas Hubby

Happy Sunday Crafting chums,

Today I had everything ready to decorate the tree and house for Xmas. Yesterday we got the tree, I spray painted wood branches, cones and basically anything I could get my hands on. Callum-my hubby-had to keep moving otherwise he would now be a metallic silver!).
But then last night I was ill and my plans were not looking like they would go ahead. Callum did a fab job, ironing, getting dinner prepared, buying new Xmas lights and starting the decorating. Finally after I had slept all day I got up, put my new Michael Buble Xmas c.d on and tried to get creative. Between the two of us we got it done and we are super happy with the end result.
Callum is now having a Whiskey Mac cocktail whilst I came up and suddenly had an idea for his Xmas card.

I was inspired by the 'nice and knotty' challenge at Cas-ual Friday and the Xmas colour combo of Black, white and metallic at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge. This combo seemed ideal for a guy but I really hadn't meant it to me for Callum but when an idea pops in my head I have to go with it. And here we are:

Now, I know, you may be thinking a bow for a guy?? But believe me, he has seen me pull my hair out trying to make so many bows, that he will appreciate this one.......plus to make it into a knot only took me a few hours more!
I used my new Cas-ual Friday stamps for the sentiment. I so love the CAS look of this, although it has the super over sized bow, it still looks CAS to me.
Well I am off to give this to him now so I am hoping it will make him smile and realise how blessed I feel to have him as hubby-in sickness and in health!!

Summer Chill.

Today I decided I needed a break from the Christmas Theme. I went as far away as possible and had some inky fun in the sun!
I am making a few calendars for gifts and need to do a different topper for each month. Today I went for August. The idea for this came from this photo from the challenge at Runway Inspired:

As soon as I saw this photo I knew I had to join in with this challenge. I just loved the bright orange and was struck by the winter mix and summer colours, her flippers (they are flippers aren't they?), goggles and it looks like she has a sun on her head. So there was quite a lot here for me to play with....well in my mind anyway!!

I also had wanted to play along with the 'make you mark' challenge at Addicted to Stamps basically because I haven't done any colouring for ages and I do find it relaxing when I have a go. Plus I was struck to see a 'Endless Summer' theme challenge at Southern Girls-forgetting that a lot of you crafters are in the middle of Summer. 

So there was a lot that was drawing me towards getting down to my 'Summer Fun' August calendar topper and here we are:

I used promakers to colour the image. The stamps are from verve and Little Claire Designs.

6 more months to do before Xmas, yes I know I need to get a move on!!

Thanks for popping by and have a chilled Saturday night x

Happy Holly Days!

Today I am celebrating the arrival of my new CAS-ual Friday 'Merry-Kiss-Mas stamp set. I have been waiting for this to arrive and when Mr. Posty popped it through my letter box yesterday I got inky straight away!
I have been admiring all the CAS cards I have seen using this set and this is what I came up with:

As I was super excited I stamped the inside:

I just love how this card turned out.

You can't see the gems on the mistletoe so well but they are there and really do sparkle! I am going to enter it into the 'sparkle' challenge at Casology and the 'sparkliscious' challenge at Ladybug Crafts Ink
And my very traditional colours were inspired by the 'red and green' challenge at Less is More

Now you go and celebrate Friday!!

CAS-Colours and Sketches Challenge #2

Today is our second challenge at CAS-Colour and Sketches and, as it is the first week of the month, we have a colour challenge for you.

Here are this week's colours:



Remember if you don't have the exact colours just use a colour as close to these as possible. I have used light green twine as I don't have 'lucky lemonade'-but it is pretty close!
I decided to go all Christmassy this week and keep it traditional.

I used a Green Grass rubber bow stamp for this. First I stamped it and cut it out. I then stamped it directly onto the card stock after stamping once on scrap, to give this faded look. The solid, cut out bow, I have raised on foam pads, although it is hard to see from this photo. And to finish up a little green button and twine bow.
So, a pretty traditional Xmas card to add to my stash.

All the DT have made great cards so why not pop over to their blogs and get some inspiration. Please leave us a comment, we love to hear from you.

Kylie
Louise
Jacqueline

I can't wait to see what you create. Happy Stamping!

Time to use my stash!

The first week of December begins and the countdown to Christmas is now on!

I am nearly done with the Christmas cards. I am beginning to write them out to see how many are left to make. But I still need to make 2 calendars-a bit of a task as I do a different topper for each month and so far only about 4 months done!
CAS-ual Fridays 'tag' challenge this week enthused me to get going with all the pressie tags I need to make.

I decided to raid my stash of ribbons, card from last years Xmas cards, that I die cut into shapes and a bit of stamping! The tags are actually luggage tags from the pound shop! Pretty resourceful! And as I had one pressie to wrap for my Aunt I am seeing today I decided to match it to this.

First, here is the pressie with one of the tags:

I think I have to thank Lynn for sending me a video of how to tie ribbon bows as I am getting so much better (yes, I say this myself!!).

And as I was making this tag, I decided to get on with a few more. The stamp actually says 'you made the nice list' but difficult to see here.
I think the next lot of tags I make will be more stamping but these were fun to make and it is nice to do something a bit different now and then!

I will also enter them into the 'Anything Christmassy but a card' challenge at Totally Paper Crafts and  the ribbon challenge at Crafts and Me

Thanks for popping by x

A funky CASE of me!

Happy Sunday,

Today I have a card that is based on this sketch from this week challenge at CAS(E) the Sketch



When I saw this sketch I immediately liked it and I was making this card and decided to case myself. I wanted to make a funky version of it and went with the animal print on the handbags. I embossed the card stock using the wrong side of it to make it look like animal stripes rather than wood grain-what do you think, does it work??

I added some sparkle which doesn't look too sparkly here but IRL it does!

I am also going to enter it into the 'girly' challenged at Digital Tuesday and Paper Pretties

Have a relaxing Sunday x