Little Notebook

Birthday {party hat} blueprint

Birthday {present} Blueprint

Oooh oooh!! New toy alert!!! New Tim Holtz stamps from Stampers Anonymous!!  Gorgeous set of four new blueprint style stamps!  Had to play, couldn't help myself!!

Coloured with ProMarkers... Sky Blue, Artic Blue and Cool Aqua,  and Lime Zest and Lime Green.  The papers are HOTP and the Cardstock is Stampin' Up (Island Indigo & Lucky Limeade).

Birthday Elephant

Sometimes, when inspiration is playing a game of hide and seek you need to just take things back to basics.  I know that style and techniques evolve and it's easy to get into the routine of making things in a similar why.. and I think that's true of this card. I've been kind of stuck for inspiration recently - which is why I've started playing around with Art Journalling techniques - and thats really helped as I've had to look beyond the crafty supplies in my immediate reach..  and in doing so I found an old HOTP pad of paper.. Nice bright colours.. and that's what inspired me to make this card!   I really need to use/donate/sell the majority of my 6x6 and 8x8 pads.. (to make room for new, obviously).. so I will be continuing to search through the mountains of paper I have.. who knows what I will find.. or how it will inspire me?!

2nd attempt!

Felt a wee bit happier with "random" on this one!   More practice needed!

Art Journaling: First attempt!

I love the look of art journalling but I have a real problem with random and abstract! 
But I'm sure, like with most things, patience and perseverence will win the day!
So here it is.. my first attempt!   Using lots of lovely Tim Holtz goodies I am now well and truley covered in ink and glimmer mist!



The paper is Tim Holtz Travel collection. Inked with adirondack inks and sprayed with Tattered Angels glimmer mist.   Tim Holtz stamps, and Stampin Up white craft ink.  New Alterations "Wanted" alphabet die - you can never have toooooo many alphabets!!
I used my trusty Heidi Swapp edge distresser (what a brilliant little tool that is!) to rough up the edges.. now I just need to make a mini book and make this the cover!

This has been great fun to do.. interesting that you can really do no wrong.. you just keep going until you are happy, remembering that sometimes less is more!! and not getting too hung up about random!  There are loads of new techniques to be learned with art journalling.. loads that would give new life to your existing craft stash!  
So.. watch this space as I experiment some more soon!

Cupboard Trilogy Challenge #9

Hello!  Here is my DT entry for challenge #9 A mothers love.. over at the Cupboard Trilogy Challenge blog.

This is a lovely theme to do a challenge for. What better than to make a card for all those wonderful mums out there! 

 

I hope you like my card and I look forward to seeing yours over at TCT Challenge Blog.

 

 

The flowers are stamped on cardstock and vellum - coloured with promarkers.

 

Just Practising

As I've no inspiration at the moment I thought I would practice some colouring with my ProMarkers.  It's been ages since I used them.  Need more practice.. it's quite relaxing!

The Cupboard Trilogy Challenge #8

Well that's us in the 8th month of Cupboard Trilogy Challenges and this month it's a "Sprinkling of Red and Romance"

Here's my DT Entry

 

I used the gorgeous new papers from Stampin' Up!

 

Why don't you pop on over to the Cupboard Trilogy Challenge Blog and let your creativity go wild!

Papa's Taxi

Choo Choo

Oh, I've been so bad...

...why have I been so bad??  Because I haven't posted anything in ages!  It's not that I've not been crafting.. I do have a lot less free time now that I've started my new job.. but it's all good.  I've been busy making lots of cards but not always taking pics of them (really do need to get a better camera!)

Here are some recent makes.  I've also been busy on what started out as a crochet granny square and is now about 4 sq ft in size! I'm going to keep going until it can be used as a throw for a bed.  It's great fun and really relaxing to make!  I'll take a pic soon... just to prove that there are no idle hands in this house!

 

 

 

All thoughts are now turning to holidays... want to do some special holidays this year.. about time we treated ourselves! So lots of googling ahead...!  oh I do love looking for holiday venues!

 

I'm off to do my nails now.. Leighton Denny Crushed Grape I think!  I just love that colour.. and I'm not sure Jailbird is a good idea for work, although I do love it!!   What do you think??

 

 

Cupboard Trilogy Challenge #7 Lead By Example

Happy New Year everyone! What better way to start the new year than with a new challenge at the Cupboard Trilogy!   It's hard to think we are now in our 7th challenge month!  I love this one.. the DT spec was "Lead by Example" which pretty much means anything goes!   Here is my entry.. I hope you like it and it inspires in some way.. colours, layout, textures etc...

So why don't you pop on over to the Trilogy Challenge and see all the DT entries.  Can't wait to see all the lovely new creations, please just remember to mention which DT entry inspired you!

Last craft of 2012

Well, my mojo has well and truly decided that it would spend the christmas holidays somewhere else.. maybe it needed a break!   This is the first thing I've made since the last of my christmas cards and tags. 

 

Wishing everyone a happy new year and looking forward to 2013!

Made with Swarovski crystals and glass beads.

 

Exciting times at the Cupboard Trilogy!

Hi!  Not had much crafty time recently with all the Christmas prep and family stuff (some good, some not so good) but just a little reminder that if you are up for a challenge then pop over to the Trilogy.. let yourself go and join in our Frosty Winter challenge!

Making some tags.. just need to find some nice gingham check ribbon!

Cupboard Trilogy Challenge #6

Hi everyone! Another month passes by and we have a fantastic new challenge at The Cupboard Trilogy!   I only have to take one look out of the window this morning to see how appropriate this challenge  is - here in central Scotland it is most definately a "Frosty Winter".
So time to be inspired by these fresh clean mornings, lawns covered in sparkly frost and clear blue skies and see what you can create for the challenge this month!
Here's my design team entry. I hope you like it!

The snow effect is just a random sprinkling of Frantage Chunky White embossing enamel.

Cardstock and glitter card is Stampin' Up! The snow flake is sizzix.  I love the greeting - it's Hero Arts. The the houses are from the most wonderful Tim Holtz!

Felt hair clips and a little purse

No time to papercraft at the moment so I made a set of hair clips and a little purse in a spare 10 mins.

Felt Kitty

Not in the mood to papercraft so thought I would make a little felt kitty pin cushion.. inspired by a kitty I saw on Pinterest!

Actually, I think it looks more like  mouse!!

Felt Flower Brooch

I felt like making a brooch!!

 

Haven't had a play with felt for ages.. thought I would use the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die to cut these lovely flower shapes and see how they would look as a brooch.  Great excuse to get all the sewing stuff out!

So here it is!

A tag!

Apart from a bit of knitting this has been a craft free zone!  So much going on at the moment I've not had a minute.. and when I have tried to craft my mojo's disappeared (not good!).  I have made one little tag though..

Another scarf!

Had no real crafty time recently. Lots going on!  But did manage to make another scarf whilst watching TV! 

Been Knitting!

Got this amazing wool - it's a mix between a popcorn and an eyelash... and it's so soft - it's dreamy!

Started this scarf last night and finished it tonight.. 3 balls.. easy to knit! and sooooo luxurious!!

Tagging along!

There's no such thing as waste paper!  Just to prove it I've been using up some scraps to make Christmas tags!

Great fun to make!

 

Now what does today hold?  Not exactly sure yet.. but probably some prep for an 8th birthday party which is very close on the horizon!

Not a wedding, not a new home...

I really love it when a "different" kind of card pops up.. this was one.. the brief was "not a wedding, and not a new home..." well, I had the new home card in my head but wanted to play on it a bit.. so here we are with the message making the crazy paving path to the front door.. walking into a new life..

I realise something is missing.  So after taking the pic I added a little love heart between the two names.. sets it off perfectly!

More Christmas!

Well, I'm hooked on Tim Holtz, distressing and Frantage today!!  Brilliant fun!
Carrying on the theme of the card below I've made some more.. some the same (which I've not photo'd) and these two.. variations.  The christmas tree idea is inspired by a card made by Kath (see the give away offer below for a link).

 

Time for tea now!

'tis the season

All this chilly weather has got me in the christmas spirit!  So I thought I would have a play with things that I've bought recently but not had a great deal of time to play with yet.  And here it is.. using the gorgeous Tim Holtz Tattered Poinsettia die.

 

Loads of lovely products used on this..

 

I think I'll go and have some lunch now.. more time this afternoon to play some more!

Fantastic Give Away!

Good morning everyone! It's a cold, fresh and bright, morning here in West Lothian!  I think its the start of having to scrape ice from the car!  Brrr!   Still, I can't complain.  I'm sat here in my lovely warm craft room - still lots of boxes and things to pack away but getting there slowly (no point in rushing these things!) 
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know about a fantastic give away on the lovely Kath's blog! Click here to pop on over and have a look - Kath's blog is full of gorgeous and inspiring creations! ... and here's what you could win!

Cupboard Trilogy Challenge #5

Things are feeling a little bit spooky over at The Cupboard Trilogy Challenge Blog this month! Why don't you pop on over and have a look... if you are brave enough that is!!

Too cute

Meet Witchy-Wryn.. isn't she just too cute?  Coloured her with promarkers (still practising my blending!)

Halloween Goodie Bags

Sarah and I have been on a production line this afternoon! Halloween treat bags all made!

Back!

Sorry there have been no posts from me for a wee while - just back from holiday!  I did manage to squeeze in a little crafting (some Christmas Cards made) and I catalogued my pro markers against the colour chart!  I have so many doubles and trebles it's quite annoying! But now I know which I need to get to make up the full set!

Also just sent away a huge Stampin' Up! order so I can't wait for that to come!

Now some tidying up and post holiday washing to be done :-(

A special thank you

Busy Busy!

Most of today has been spent making the last of a card order then a model Viking Long House.. (don't ask!)

But then managed to get creative with a digi kit and make party invitations for Sarah's up coming birthday! 

No crafting this weekend!

Been a busy weekend - just back from a couple of nights away down in Shropshire, staying at a lovely old hotel set in beautiful grounds, at a family wedding.  Had a lovely time!

From a Tag to a Card

Decided to make a card from the little reindeer tag!

Also added some Frantage - Chunky White Embossing Enamel - great fun!