Monday Morning Coffee and Friends

Hi!  It's the start of a new week!


This card is made with Stamping Bella "Uptown Girls Clarissa and Camille share a café".  Yet another image that is so much fun to colour!


I was left with a blank space on the left of the card so I looked to the coffee cup for inspiration. Just some simple little layered punched circles..


I'm going to enter this card in the "Penny Black and More" challenge "One for the Girls". 

Gorjuss Sunday!

Hi!  It's a cold, wet day here today. Lots of rain, and it's trying to snow.  Being out in that makes me appreciate the warm cozy craft room all the more!


I'm still looking through my forgotten supplies.. and I found one of my all time favourites!   I just love this little girl from Gorjuss!  I've coloured her with Distress Markers. 
The papers on the card are by Prima (the Rondelle collection).


For my inspiration for this card I checked out the Stamping Sensations challenge - Anything Goes with a die.   So to embellish this card I chose some Sizzix flowers and a flourish (I can't remember what make the flourish is - oops!)

I used Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tissue Wrap (Terminology) to make the top layers of the flowers then scrunched them. The flowers are held together with some brads (which I've had for ages!)

Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

Hey, It's Saturday!

And what better way to say hello to the weekend than a really big Cheers!

Having spent a lovely afternoon with the crafty girls colouring in I thought I would make a card for today.  I've been busy with my Tim Holtz Distress Markers colouring this one.  She's called "Opal the Optimist" from Stampingbella. 

I love Stampingbella images, they are so fun to colour!  And the level of detail is great.

I love the watercolour effect with the Tim Holtz markers, they are super to work with and the colours blend so well together.

I'm going to enter this card in "A Gem of A Challenge" where the challenge this week is "Female Birthday".  The challenge closes on 22nd January so why no pop over and have a look!

Have a lovely weekend!

Temptation..

I know I said less than a week about that 2016 would start off being all about using what I already have... but...  OMG!  I'm starting to have a look at some of the 2016 CHA sneak peaks and here's what will be coming soon from Tim Holtz.  You just know this will sell out here so quickly!

Click here to go to Tim Holtz' page with the CHA2016 Sneak Peaks.. 

Swing Monkey

Hi!  It's Friday!  First working week of 2016 now complete and it's time to relax.  Still continuing with water colouring for the moment I thought I would have a go at this Whipper Snapper stamp called Swing Monkey.  I've used Tim Holtz Distress Markers to colour him.

I'm entering this card in "Anything Goes" at the Brown Sugar Challenge Blog.

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Dandelion 'Love'

Hello! It's Thursday already! Where is this week going?


I've had this stamp for ages and never used it.  It's called Dandelion 'Love' by Emma Thomson.  I think the rabbits on this are so cute!   I've used Lyra Aquacolor crayons to colour this one.   When I put the card together I had a blank space to fill.  What better than a (Sizzix) Daisy (#2)?  Ok, it's not a dandelion, but it's close!

Here's a close up of the bunnies!

I'm going to enter this one in Crafty Gals Corner "Anything Goes" Challenge.

Tatty Button

Hello!  I ventured into a cupboard in the corner of the craft room and found loads of things I had forgotten I had!   Including some Tatty Button stamps.   I've kept this card simple, minimal layers and limited colours.   I've used Tim Holtz Distress Markers to colour her.

 

Colours used:

Barn Door

Worn Lipstick

Frayed Burlap

Walnut Stain

Tattered Rose

Weathered Wood

I think Tattered Rose works well for a skin tone, with Worn Lipstick as a blush.

I'm going to enter this card in the Anything Goes Challenge at Crafting By Designs.

Birthday Beagle

The challenge ...  to make a male card and it has to be anything BUT square!  I found this challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz.  I had to try it as I'm very much in the habit (when I am crafting!) is to make all my cards square, and to avoid anything other than female birthdays or general good wishes.  So I thought I would give this a try with Birthday Beagle from Whipper Snapper.  Coloured with Lyra Aquacolor crayons.  And using a teepee card as a base.

The teepee is made from three 10cm x 10cm squares of cardstock (Stampin' Up! Island Indigo).  The balloons are on thin strips of acetate so they can move. I used a Signo Uniball white gel pen just to highlight his nose and the shine on the balloons.

Jump for Joy!

Another old Penny Black stamp - "Jump for Joy". I've not used this one in ages!

The greeting is Stampin' Up! "Endless Birthday Wishes.

Paper is from Penny Black "Beau Jardin" and the cardstock is SU" Rose Red. 

Although this is just a watercoloured image, I have been practicing with some new watercolours (well, I got them a wee while ago, but haven't had time to really play with them).

They are Nicholson's Peerless (Transparent) watercolours.  If you've not used them before, and you like to watercolour, they are definitely worth trying.  The come in a pack of sheets of a special fabric paper which holds concentrated water colour which is soluble as soon as it comes into contact with water.   The colours are intense.

I got the bonus pack too (well, you can never have too much of a good thing!)

I'm entering this card in the Lemon Shortbread "Anything goes" challenge.

Cheesecake Wish

I've been busy looking through stamps that I forgot I had!  I found this little guy "Cheesecake Wish" by Penny Black. 


I'm entering this card in an Anything Goes challenge over at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends.

I've coloured him using Lyra Aquacolor crayons.  They are so fun to use and really easy to work with.

Hope you are all having a lovely day!

Anything Goes!

Hello again! 

I think I may have found some inspiration again!  And what better way to get new ideas than to take part in some challenges.

I'm starting off with "Anything Goes" and entering this card in the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday

Crafting From The Heart

Craft Your Passion

&

Glitter 'N' Sparkle

Papers used on this card are Penny Black "Beau Jardin".

A little bit of watercolouring

Here's a little Saturated Canary image watercoloured.  The papers are "Color Wash" by Pink Paislee.

I had great fun with this one as these images are just brilliant to colour. 

She's not perfect, as you will see from these close ups but I don't think it matters.

It's been a while!

Hi!  I'm not sure if anyone still visits here as I've been so bad at not posting any updates.  I would love to make a new years resolution to get better at posting regularly but sometimes life just gets in the way.  All of that aside, I hope you have all had a very happy New Year and are looking forward to a bright new 2016.


I have made one sort-of-resolution.. and that's to craft with what I have, to re-discover, and to try not to be tempted with so many new things.  I'm also promising myself a clear out, a de-clutter, some "life-laundry"!   I think the best approach is to start small, baby steps and all that!


My first task was to start tidying my craft space.  Being able to see the floor is a good start!  The craft bug has definitely taken hold of the younger member of the household.. but not papercraft, oh no.. she's taken up jewellery making and sewing!  So that could be quite handy when it comes to de-stashing all my beads, findings and cotton!  It also means we are a two-sewing-machine family!


Having only made Christmas cards recently it's always nice to get back into birthdays.  Here are a couple of recent makes.  The first is for a very special lady's 80th, and it the second is just me practicing with Tim Holtz Distress pens on watercolour paper.  The cupcake stamp is Tim Holtz Birthday Blueprints (I love these blue print stamps!)

Practising with the Prismas!

Best Thoughts

Hi there! I thought I would spend a bit of time colouring.  This is the first time I've used the SU! Hostess set call Best Thoughts.  I like the simplicity of this.

Wonderful friend

Still practising colouring.  This is one of the first stamps I ever bought (a long time ago now!) 

Twinkle Toes

Just walking in the rain

Mine's a pint

Scruffy Little Kitten

Robot #1

Footie fun!

You Make Me Happy

Trying to get my craftiness back!

Hi! I know it's been a wee while!  I'm trying to recover from work and a really amazing holiday in total luxury and get my craftiness back (and trying to de-clutter my craft room at the same time!!)

I'm going to try and post every day.. or nearly every day.  Bear with me while I use up lots of stuff that's lying around.. then I'll get on to all the new goodies!!

Elefun!

Hello! I've not made anything for ages but these dies from Sizzix for Craft Asylum are just so much fun!  The backing paper is Painted Blooms by Penny Black.

Loved making this.. hoping the recipient likes it too! 

Tracyx

Got the sewing bug!

Hi! Sarah and I have been caught be the sewing bee bug today! And now that we are a "multi-sewing machine" house we were both able to craft together!   Patchwork placemats to practice with today. Sarah chose love hearts and dots.. and I went more autumnal! 

Not perfect, but definitely unique!

So only one of my four mitred corners actually worked.. but I don't mind. I now know what I did wrong!  Gotta start somewhere! 

I am so rubbish!

oh dear, oh dear... I am so rubbish at posting regularly. I can't believe it's been so long since my last post.   I'm going to try and turn over a new leaf and post more often.  So just to say hello, I'm back, here are two recent makes!

I coloured this stamp using my chameleon pens.. still very much in practice mode! 

The stamp and fox die are from Taylored Expressions.

Hope you like them!

Some Christmas colouring!

Stampin' Up! Curvy Keepsake Box... not claiming these as my idea.. check out the many many variations on Pinterest.   

Soooooo much fun... and sooooo easy! 

Second attempt!

Chameleons: First Attempt & Initial Thoughts

Hi! Well, finally got some time to play with my new pens! What a week it's been so far.

This is my first attempt with the new Stampin' Up! Blended Bloom stamp.  And I have to say I'm really pleased with the results - the effect of the blending solution is amazing and truly does give a "One Pen Blend".  It gives a very smooth blend - it's not as harsh as other blenders. This flower is coloured using YO3 (Warm Sunset), with just a touch of OR4 (Seville Orange) in the centre.

So what do they feel like to work with?  Great! The tops come off easily, they are well balanced, and the blending time isn't long at all - shorter than it takes to blend with multiple pens. 

As for economy - no more going over and over light and dark to achieve the blend - the pens do it all for you so you must be saving on very expensive ink and blending solution!

And... all the parts are refillable/replaceable. 

Value for money? at £89.99 there is no doubt they are expensive but my initial view is that they are good value for money - they will last a lifetime! (as long as the refills are available!) 

Now.. enough typing.. time to play some more! 

I hope this is helpful! 

Tracyx

Chameleon Markers

New toy on the way!  Just ordered these new Chameleon Alcohol Markers.  

By using a blending solution which comes with each pen you get 1 pen which can do a whole range of shades from light to dark! 

Here's a link to the CHA 2014 exclusive premier... CLICK!

Wedding Card

Christmas Cards

Really needed to make a start on Christmas cards!!