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!!