Monday 30 March 2009

A Spoon Full of Sugar -challenge 45

It's challenge 45 for us at A Spoon Full of Sugar and we have a wonderful sketch this week which has been designed by Lim.I have used a Tilda image and papers from Making Memories 'fresh anthology' pad. Instead of the flowers I have added a cutie butterfly which is one of my new easter stickers along with the 'spring' sentiment that I got from Poundland at the weekend! Our sponsor this week is Denise from Whimsy Stamps and has kindly donated 2 stamps for the winner - 'Rainy day Emma' and 'Baseball Connor'.
We have the very talented Debby as our guest designer this week and boy is her card fabulous!

Blog candy with a twist!!!

I saw this on Cathy's blog and thought I'd get involved it's as the title says A blog candy with a twist!!
The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice! For you. (There is a possibility it will be a purchased item instead of homemade, or both).This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2. What I create will be just for you.

3. It'll be done sometime in the next month or so (or sometime this year!).

4. You have no clue what it's going to be.

5. The catch? Oh, the catch is you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog (then come here and post)
6. The 1st person on your list should be the person who's list you are adding your name to ie, I will give candy to Cathy to,

SO ... any takers?


1. Cathy

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

If you see your name on the list please email me your address so I can get your candy out!


Friday 27 March 2009

A very colourful girly!

There is a lovely sketch over at Papertake Weekly, this is the card I made using it. This is the first outing for this stamp, it's one of Mary's designs from Sugar Nellie.
This card is made using the again lovely sketch from Whiff of Joy. Think this is one of my favourite cards, it's just really pretty!The Dutch Dare are asking that we make a gift box, well this is a bag in a box, I got the instructions from Splicoast Stampers. Hollie's little friend Luke wants to get her an easter pressie so I have made this for him and I'm going to fill it with alsorts of yummies! I am also entering this for the Lili of the Valley 'easter challenge'. And finally, Hollie's nursery have been having colour themed weeks since starting back in January, this week is the last week and is 'Rainbow'week!! Today they had a sponsored 'How many different colours can you wear day' so here is Hollie in her unco-ordinated outfit. I counted 31 colours (different shades of the same colour count!) and that was without the tights and bracelet that I had made her!! They don't show up but she has lots of different coloured ribbons in her hair!This is the little bracelet that I made for her to wear (again aplogies for the awful pic it was the best out of the 10 I took!!!)

Thursday 26 March 2009

Charisma Cardz -challenge 12

Firstly I would like to thank everyone who joined in last week and made some wonderful cards using my sketch. I was so worried it was the first time I had done one, and I will have a go at another 1 soon!
Over at Charisma Cardz this week we would like you to make a card or other project using or showing your 'favourite things'. Now this shouldn't be hard for anyone, the hardest bit for me was fitting it all on!!
For my card I've used 'some' of my favourite things!! One of my favourite Sugar Nellie images (Penpal) some of my favourite papers (Papermania sweet nothings) flower, ribbon and button! I could've added gems, glitter etc but had to stop somewhere lol!!

Our sponsor this week is Sally-Ann of Grab-a-doodle-do and we have her fabulous Libby download for the winner, if you already have this Sally-Ann will exchange it for another design. The winner also gets to be our Guest Designer for the next 2 weeks!!

The girls have made some gorgeous examples again this week so don't forget to pop along and take a look.

I'm a Guest Designer for Cute Card Thursday!!!

I am so thrilled and excited today, as I have the honor of being the Guest Designer over at Cute Card Thursday for the next 2 weeks!! There was a design team call a few weeks back and because of the huge response people were given a 2 week slot, and now it's me Wooo....Hooo....
The theme is 'Family Affair' to make a card for a family member. Now I could've made a Mother's day card but I made them for other challenges, so although this is obviously for my Mum, it's actually for her birthday which is next month.
I used some letter stencils that were freebies you sent off for from one of my mags. I drew around the letters onto DCWV pocket full of posies card which is glittered but doesn't show in the piccie. I then added more glitter, some prima got flowers in pinks and purples and added the various sized gems. I'm not sure what I am going to do for an envelope yet as it's A4 folded in half length ways, I'm sure I'll work something out!!

Thanks ladies for having me.

Wednesday 25 March 2009

Born to shop!

Well it's just come over all dark here and the rain is falling, crikey it was cold and windy this morning doing the school run! The sky is lovely and brigh out of 1 window and black as you can get out of another!! It's also just started to hail again, oh how I hope it stops before we have to pick Lillie up!
My card today covers 3 challenges, I've used the fab sketch from Dutch Dare, Stamp Something want us to 'Think spring' and Secret Crafter would like us to use our favourite colour! Well I'm going through a bit of a green phase at the moment and have recently got a couple of green paper pads to play with, so I'm going with green!!

Wish I looked this good when I went shopping lol!!!

Tuesday 24 March 2009

Backtracking a couple of days!

I would've added this post yesterday but this blasted pc was sooooo........ slow that I ended up just shutting it down. It was driving me crazy!!
Firstly apologies for the AWFUL pictures, I am so fed up with taking dark pictures, I know the light is bad but boy it must be really bad in my house and I'm sure my camera is past it. I have my eye on a new camera and am determined to have it before I go on holiday, just need to make sure I have some spending money left!! You may be able to click on the pics to see them better?
I got the girls to each draw a picture of anything they liked on pre-cut paper that I had given them. Then I layered them up on coloured paper and adhered them to a z fold card that I had mad by sticking 2 square cards together.
Hollie (4) did the first pic. Lillie (6) the second pic. and Tia (nearly 9) the last. They made 2 of these, one each for their Nannie's.
I think they look rather good and something nice to keep!

Here are the cards my girls made me at school and nursery.
This is the card Hollie (4) made at nursery, a fab daffodil if ever I saw one, there was another one but I'm not sure where she has put it! She was so excited about it, I told her to hide it up as I didn't want to see it until Mother's Day and she did!This is Lillie's (6) card, some very pretty snowdrops!They also made a little gift, this is her first attempt at sewing!
Matthew had cooked me breakfast ready for when I got up, Lillie desperately wanted to help and bring it to me in bed, to be honest I'd rather sit at the table! We then went and had a look round the market/boot fair glad we did I got some crafty bargains for 50p each!!! We had a little while at home and then headed to my mum and dad's for a roast! My sis was there with her boys, it seems like we hadn't seen them for ages so it was nice to have a catch up and the girls to see their cousins.
Then home to watch Ray win dancing on ice, wow was he fabulous, the females usually fly better than the males but not this series, Donal was good but Ray was so elegant!

A Spoon Full of Sugar -challenge 44

It's Easter for us this week at A Spoon Full of Sugar!! Yes we are asking you to make Easter cards, gifts etc. Can't believe it'll soon be here, doesn't seem that long ago we were celebrating christmas!!
I decided to make a DL card for a change, I've used a Tilda image kindly sent to me by Lisa, some new easter papers which I added a little gem to each egg as they looked a little bare and my new lace look adhesive border (oh how I wish I'd bought more!).
Here is the prize this week which has been kindly donated by Byrony.It was my turn this week to ask someone to be our guest designer, I asked my dear friend Becky as I love her work, and wow her easter card is just gorgeous! To see this and the wonderful easter 'parade' of cards pop on over to the blog, you will be delighted that you did!

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Getting back to Becky I am entering this card for her Sketch and Stash challenge. I couldn't believe my eyes again when I saw the sketch, for I had the elements of my card all cut and laid out ready to be assembled, but it was lacking something hence why it wasn't finished! Becky's sketch was almost the same!! So with the addition of the pink panel and the lace border my card was done! It happened the last challenge to, surely it can't happen for a third time?!

Saturday 21 March 2009

LOTV -with Love and an award.

Here is my card for the Lili of the Valley challenge, this week they have a lovely sketch to follow, although I have slightly moved the sentiment, hope that's ok! (stamped it a bit high really, but too late now). I'm really liking this colour combo at the moment to.
I've been kindly given the following pretty award from Sandra of Sandra Dry Designs, thank you that's so sweet of you!
BLOG CANDIES
Jacqui has a gorgeously scrummy blog candy to help celebrate the release of the new stamps over at WOJ.
Sally-Ann also has a fabulously yummy candy to celebrate having some of her wonderful images turned into stamps and for recently becoming a member of a Design team.

Friday 20 March 2009

Daring/Friday Sketchers card

I've made this card for Matthew's mum. I've used the sketch from Friday Sketchers and it also fits the 'Cos I'm a woman' theme over at Daring Cardmakers.We've got his mum and dad coming tomorrow for tea as we won't see them on Sunday. I think we'll be having chicken considering we bought loads when shopping last night!! Our local Somerfields is closing to be reopened in 3 months as Morrissons yipppee!!!!! They are doing big price reductions throughout the store each week, and there are some real bargains to be had, helps if you know a couple of the workers who give you the tip off!!! Last week for eg. we got £7.99 bottles of wine for £1.04 (I use it to cook with!), this week for eg. we got big boxes of washing powder for £1.14, Oil of Olay for just over £1 and a £5 box of Black Magic for 62p great for Mothers day!! Needless to say I house is like a shop, I swear we could open one up with the amount of food, clothes and cards I have, not mentioning the kids toys Lol!!!
Have a good weekend.

Thursday 19 March 2009

3 cards, lots of challenges

For my first card I have used the sketch from Friday Sketchers and the challenge over at Stamp Something is 'something green'.
Next up is my card for My Time to Craft who's challenge is 'nature' (thanks for the images and idea Becky!) and I've also used the sketch from Sketch Saturday! and last up, my favourite card! This is my entry for the Colour Create challenge which is 'red and green' also it fits the 'green' theme over at Whiff of Joy and I've also used the sketch from Truly Scrumptious!That's it for now! Thanks for looking.

Charisma Cardz- challenge -My 1st sketch!

At Charisma Cardz this week's challenge was down to me, so for the first time ever I attempted a 'sketch'the sketch is so simple yet can you believe I really struggled to make my card!?! Mojo had taken a short time out and this was the best I could come up with at the time (sadly time ran out and I didn't get chance to make another, better card!).
The image is 3d'd and one I've had made up since way back, I think it's kind of funny, poor little fishy!Anyhow our prize this week is a $30 gift certificate to be spent at Jessica Lynn Original's (click name to be taken to website).
The girls have done a wonderful much better job than me with the sketch so pop over and take a look. I'm so looking forward to seeing my first sketch being used.

I'm also entering my card for the Cupcake Craft challenge which is to use brown and 1 other colour, I've gone for brown and blue.

Tuesday 17 March 2009

A Spoon Full of Sugar - challenge 43

Our A Spoon Full of Sugar challenge this week is called ' Little Gem' we would like to see gems on your card/work.
My card is a very simple one this week but I think a pretty one!! I have used one of the WOJ spring kit images, along with freebie papers from a magazine.We have a lovely prize of a Magnolia stamp - 'Sporty Edwin' which has been very kindly donated by Colette and Katie of Nutcrafters.
Our guest designer this week is Lena Katrine and wow is her card gorgeous! Pop over to the blog to see it and all the other beautiful cards from my team friends.

Saturday 14 March 2009

Some more challenges

This card is for the Truly Scrumptious challenge as I followed their sketch, also my entry for the Secret Crafter challenge which is 'Have your cake and eat it'.Here is the bag-a-lope that received the plees from some of my Charisma friends for instructions on how to make them, hence the tutorial!! I made this for the DT challenge that Carly set us, which was to alter an envelope, think I managed that quite successfully!!
I am also entering this for the Lili of the Valley mother's day challenge, as I have made this to put either a scarf or some jewelery in.Off to watch the rest of Let's Dance, really think Paddy and Keith should win they are just brilliant together!!

Sugar Bowl -Mother's day

Thought I would make something a little different for the Sugar Bowl challenge this time, the theme is Mother's Day. I have made a little gift box, which I followed Katharina's tutorial for.

'Basic' Bag-a-lope Tutorial (gift bag made from an envelope)

My basic Bag-A-Lope instructions are made using an A5 end opening envelope.

Step 1
Trim flap from envelope at the open end.

Step 2
With the opening of the envelope at the top, score in 1.5” from the right, left and bottom edges of the envelope.

Step 3
Score from inside corner to the outer point of the bottom corner squares.

Step 4
You can now decorate the front of your gift bag, staying inside the score lines (for the purpose of this tutorial I just doodled with pens, you can add dp panels, stamps etc).

Step 5 (Optional)
If desired, use decorative scissor or corner rounder to scallop the top of your gift bag.

Step 6
Crease the score lines and open up the envelope into a bag, I put my hand inside and gently work with the creases to form the bottom, the bottom corner squares will form into a point on each side.
Step 7
Apply adhesive to the flaps and stick to the bottom of the bag.

Step 8 At the moment the sides will be 'bulging' just gently push them in and crease the other way part of the way down.Step 8
Punch holes at the top of the bag for the ribbon.

Step 9
Finish decorating the bag as you wish.

This bag is very basic for the tutorial. I take no credit for the design of these bags, this is an idea that I saw on another forum, thought it was fabulous and have now made many of these bags in different styles and sizes. I have been asked several times how to make these so thought I would try making a tutorial for them, hope you can follow it and apologies for the awful pictures, I am having real problems with taking decent pictures at the moment.


You can make the bags with any sized envelope and any size as long as you score the same amount at the bottom and sides. (I think you can make them with a normal envelope, just seal it down and cut the end off so it opens, just think you will get a few more lines, but don't take my word for it!)

Here are some more examples :these were made for teachers thank-you's the elephant candle holder is what was inside the bags!For this bag I added a top, by cutting a piece of paper a teeny bit wider than the bag, cut the edges with decorative scissors, feld it in half and taped it to the top of the closed bag.This one I made for my sister, I simply feld the top over then puched a couple of holes and tied closed with the ribbons.