Sunday 31 March 2013

Do What You Love

Happy Easter Sunday peepscicles!

Hope you are not eating too much chocolate. How much is too much though? I think it is down to the individual person to decide how much is too much for them.

For example, some peeps can eat more than one Cadbury's Creme Egg - I would struggle, I can just manage one, but they are lovely (for my lovely followers who live in beautiful far away places that do not know what a Cadbury's Creme Egg is; it's a chocolate egg filled with white and yellow soft fondant, they are very very sweet and only available for a short time). I like to put mine in the fridge, for some reason, when they are really, really cold they don't seem so sickly.

Also, how do you eat yours? I bite the wide part of the egg off first, scoop out the fondant with my finger (clean of course), then eat the rest of the chocolate. I usually buy about a dozen of them, and put them in a lovely bowl with lots of little Lindt chocolate eggs and bunnies, so we can dip in whenever we want.

Okay, nuff of the chocolate for now. As promised in my last post, here is another card I did for the March issue of Crafts Beautiful using one paper pad.



What you need...

Papers: Cara Marie 12"x12" Handmade Speciality Pad - K and Company (or any paper collection that has matching die cuts and embellishments)
Button: brown
Crystal gem: clear
Parcel string
Garden twine
Adhesives

What you do...

Die cut a label from embossed kraft card and mount onto the left side of a 12cm square blank, trim any excess. Wrap garden twine around the card a couple of times and tie in a bow at the right. Mount the phrase die-cut over the twine with foam pads.

Layer a die-cut flower and attach to the lower right corner. Thread the button with frayed parcel string and adhere to the centre of the flower. Finish with a gem on the sentiment.

There we have a very quick, simple, but effective card. As I mentioned in my last post, this K and Company collection is no longer available, but any paper collection that has lovely large motfis and die-cuts will do just as well.

I'd be so chuffed if you wanted to make a card exactly as I've done it, using the same papers, stamps etc. But I also post my makes to give you inspiration on sketches (card layouts), colours, themes, patterns and so on. If I have inspired you in any way, I would love to see your makes. Post me a link to your blog so I can pop in and have a look!

Well, that's me for the nonce. Enjoy the rest of your Easter Sunday, and thanks for visiting xxx
  
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Friday 29 March 2013

Life is Sweet

Aft'noon peeps!
Hope you are all having a lovely and peaceful Easter so far.
Today I have another card that I did for Crafts Beautiful for the March 2012 issue.




What you need...

Papers: Cara Marie 12"x12" Handmade Speciality Pad - K and Company (or any paper collection that has matching die cuts and embellishments)
Punch: corner rounder
Button: brown
Parcel string
Glitter dots

What you do...

Cover the bottom half of a 12cm square blank with brown floral paper and round the two bottom corners. Attach the Life is Sweet die cut to the top half and three die cut flowers in the lower left corner. Finish with a few glitter dots on the butterfly and a button tied with frayed string on the large flower. Ta da! A very quick and simple, yet gorgeous card. Great for those last minute makes.

It may be hard to get hold of this paper collection now, but you could use any paper collection that has lovely die cut phrases and large floral elements. The whole idea was to use one paper pad that had everything in it and would, of course all co-ordinate perfectly. I have another card from this set to show you in another post.

After mentioning Bazoo and the laser stare thingy in previous posts, I would like to show you a photo of Bazoo or 'HypnoCat'. This was taken not long after we moved in and she was sat on the stairs with the 'I'm just going to sit here and stare at you through the stair spindles and I will not move if you wish to go up the stairs' look.

It is very rare you can get a photo of Bazoo without the radioactive glare in her eyes.

Ready???


All I can say is be afraid, be very very afraid.

I will leave you with this image and hope you have not been too traumatised and will be able to sleep tonight. Until next time......xxx

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Thursday 28 March 2013

Bottom's Up

Well hello me ol' chums!
Hope you are all fit and well on this bright, breezy and cold March day.
As I mentioned in my last post, it was His Lordship's birthday yesterday, and by order of the cat (with supervision) I had to do him a card from her. So with Bazoo's laser eyes upon me, I came up with this...



What you need...

Stamps: Nine Lives - Penny Black; Li'l Grumpies Occasions - Smeared Ink
Card stock: white
Embossing folder: Spots & Dots - Cuttlebug
Ink: Tuxedo Black - Memento
Promarkers: Ice Grey 1, Ice Grey 3
Washi tape: black/white stripe, red/white diagonal stripe - MT; He Said Decorative Tape (He Said She Said Collection) - Teresa Collins
Baker's twine: red
Button: black
Adhesives

What you do...

Create an 8cm x 11cm top fold blank in white card. Emboss a piece of white card 7.5cm x 10.5cm with Dots & Spots.

Cut three lengths of washi tape and fix to the card from the top right, folding the ends over to the reverse. Cut a notch from the end of each one and then rub gently to allow the embossing to show. Attach centrally to the blank with foam tape.

Stamp the cat and sentiment onto white card and colour in. Trim and mount over the washi tape at the upper right corner of the blank.

Wrap baker's twine around the base of the card several times and tie in a floppy bow at the left. Finish with a button threaded and tied with baker's twine.

It's only an iddy biddy card, but ever so cute.

Anyone who is owned by a cat or has been owned by one will know this pose very well. It's the 'I'm listening to every word you are saying, but I choose to ignore you never the less' pose.

Bazoo does it very well. Infact you know when she is ignoring you from another room, you can feel the vibes - whoooOOOoo! If she isn't wearing this pose, she's doing the Hypno-cat laser eye thingy.

Oooh! Don't forget this month's Blog Candy ends on March 31st! Good luck!

Right, me lovelies, I'm off for a cuppa tea. Thanks for popping by xxx
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Wednesday 27 March 2013

You're Old

Hello peepsicles, hope you are well ;o)
Today is my lovely Simon's birthday. He's had a great day and received some lovely pressies and cards, one of which is mine. I wouldn't exactly say it's 'lovely', it's more, er.. to the point. It's a good job he has a fantastic sense of humour.
Without further adodoo....




What you need...

Stamps: Li'l Grumpies Occasions - Smeared Ink
Card stock: white, turquoise, lime
Ink: Tuxedo Black - Memento
Promarkers: Cool Grey 1, Lime Green, Marine
Washi tape: lime, turquoise - MT
Brad: black
Baker's twine: black
Adhesives

What you do...

Create a 12cm x 15cm tent fold blank in turquoise card. Mount a slightly smaller piece of white card onto it, lining up with the fold. Tear off two strips of turquoise washi tape and one lime and attach from the top of the blank down the centre.

Stamp the Li'l Grumpy and sentiment onto a piece of white card, colour in and trim. Mount onto lime card and trim leaving a narrow border. Tear a strip of turquoise washi tape, attach to the upper left of the image, by folding over sandwiching the image panel in between, then insert a brad. Mount the panel centrally near the top of the blank with foam tape.

Wrap baker's twine around the base of the card a few times and tie in a floppy bow at the right. Finish with a small torn piece of lime washi tape just above.

I think he's really cute, as are all the Li'l Grumpies. I especially love his little sticky out tummy button (I think they all sport them). I've been really lucky to get hold of these stamps in unmounted rubber, but I believe you can download digi images from the Smeared Ink website.

By the way, Simon isn't so old - he's only 43. Bless him.

Tomorrow I will post up the card Bazoo sent him for his birthday ( I made it, but only with her guidance).

Okay me sweeties, I'm going to sign off and have a glass of the bubbly I bought for the birthday boy. thanks for calling in and nighty night xxxx

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Tuesday 26 March 2013

Hello! Konnichiwa!

Good heevnin me ol' lovelies!
I know I haven't been around for a few days, I've been busy with a commission for PaperCrafter (was Let's Make Cards). This means I haven't done any creations, so I thought I'd show you a sweet card that I did as part of a set for the June 2011 issue of Crafts Beautiful.
The theme was oriental with a modern twist. As some of the cards used stamps, I wanted to create one that involved paper piecing.
I came up with a really cute Geisha and here she is.....

 


 


I loved creating this card, I know she looks really complicated, but she isn't really. You can still download the templates for her kimono at www.craftsbeautiful.com

What you need...

Stamps: Floral Elements (10001042) - Artemio
Papers: pink, turquoise patterned
Card stock: raspberry, white, black
Ink: Onyx Black - Versafine
Embossing powder: Detail Clear - Stampendous
Promarkers: Hot Pink
Pens: Red Glaze - Sakura; black, red fine liner
Punches: scallop, border; circle, 2", 1.5"
Decorative pins: white
Seed beads: assorted
Invisible thread

What you do...

Make an A6 tent fold blank in raspberry card. Punch a 2" circle in black card and one in white. Cut the black circle in half and snip small sections out of the straight edge to create a fringe. Attach to the top of the white circle.

On the bottom half, draw eyes and eyebrows in black and a heart with a small line through it in red for the mouth and highlight with the Glaze pen.

Punch three 1.5" circles in black and one in pink paper. Fix the pink onto a black circle, slightly off centre, then attach all three circles to the head.

Tie a bead onto a length of thread, add eight more and tie onto a pin, repeat. Thread beads onto both pins and use tape at the end to secure. Arrange the pins to the side of the head and secure at the back with tape.

Download the template from Crafts Beautiful and cut the kimono and sleeves from pink paper and the waistband and kimono trim from turquoise. Stick the waistband, then the sleeves followed by the trim to the kimono. Join the head to the body with a 1cm wide strip of white card, securing on the reverse.

Punch a scallop border along both edges of a 10.5cm x 5cm deep piece of black card. Trim 0.5 cm from the bottom edge of the front of the blank and attach the scallop border, keeping in line with the back of the card.

Attach the Geisha to the card with foam pads, tucking the bottom behind the scallops. Print, stamp or rub-on a sentiment onto white card, trim and mount onto turquoise paper. Adhere to the bottom right of the blank.

Stamp and emboss three flowers, colour with Hot Pink, cut out and fix to the blank.

The papers I used were from the Oriental Treasure Collection by Papermania which is no longer available (though you might be able to find the odd one out there in a bargain bin) but you could do any combination of colours and patterns for her kimono and use up any left over beads you have for the  hair ornaments.

A handy tip for the beaded pins - leave a good length of the thread after tying to the pin, thread through a needle and pass back through the beads and carefully trim off the excess. This will give a really neat finish.

It's Simon's birthday tomorrow, so I will post the 'cool' (and I think highly amusing) card I've made for him.

Toodle-pip! xx

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Friday 22 March 2013

Google Friends Connect :o(

Mornin' all!

This is just a quick post. Some of you may or may not know that Google is discontinuing its Google Friends Connect from 1st July 2013. This means you will no longer be able to follow a blog this way.


All of those hard earned followers you have spent so long in getting will be lost (apparently) so you won't be able to see the little avatar of who follows you and link to their blog. I have a list of the blogs I follow with links in the sidebar, so I can always keep up.

I've had the 'feed button' and the 'follow me by email' buttons on my side bar for some time. Another way you can become a follower is by Bloglovin. It's actually a great tool. Free and easy to sign up, and it is basically a massive directory of blogs.

You get updates of the blogs you follow, so you can pop in and see the latest post. I actually put the Bloglovin link in the sidebar before I found out about GFC being discontinued.

I know I have quite a few followers who follow me by email, feeder or just add my blog to their favourites bar and pop in every so often.

If you would like to follow me, I think the best way would be by email or through Bloglovin. I must admit, I'm not one for gaining as many followers as I can. My blog is about me, showcasing my makes and creations, tutes and other ramblings. Plus, I enjoy writing the posts!!!
 
True followers are precious and I think they will always follow you by any means and I love mine :o)
 
Ta ta for now and I'll be back soon with another 'make' xxx
 
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Wednesday 20 March 2013

Kot Kot Kot

Aft'noon me 'ol luvvies!

Hope you are all keeping fit, well and warm :o)

Now then, this is another Easter card I would like to share with you (it's making me giggle even before I upload the piccy).

Using the Picoti Picota stamp set from Artemio, I stamped the chicken that looks like it has the 'thousand yard stare' onto Post-it notes and cut out to create a mask. I then stamped it out several times so it looks like a whole flock (sorry, gang) of chickens. I stamped a solitary chicken in front of them pecking at some food.

It looks like the flock of chickens is just about to storm the poor chicken that is on its own. I won't keep you in suspense any longer, here it is...





What you need...

Stamps: Picoti Picota - Artemio
Die: Big Splash Border - Memory Box
Punch: corner rounder
Card stock: white, bright pink, lime
Ink: Tuxedo Black - Memento
Promarkers: Cool Aqua, Cool Grey 1, Lime Green, Magenta, Mandarin, Summer Sun
Button: aqua
Baker's twine: aqua
Post-it notes

What you do...

Create a 14.5cm square blank in bright pink card and round the right side corners. Stamp the chickens onto white card, colour in and trim, rounding the right corners. Mat onto lime card, again with the right corners rounded.

Die cut the Big Splash Border in white card, attach to the bottom edge of the chicken image and adhere to the blank.

Wrap baker's twine around the card three times, thread through a button and tie in a bow.

Ta dah!

I love the chickens eyes. Even though they haven't got an expression, they do look like they are waiting for the command to charge - probably from the chicken at the bottom of the gang.

Masking is a good way of building up an image to look like there is a group, such as balloons, trees etc. Obviously it is more difficult with an intricate design (unless you like to sit for a week cutting it out).

Sometimes you need to do several masks (not good if you are doing an intricate design - best allow yourself about a month). Where the image may overlap two or more, plus the Post-it note can lose some of its 'sticky' because of the ink.

Another reason to have a few cut out is that the back of the mask can pick up ink from an image that wasn't dry and will transfer on to where you are stamping, ruining the whole thing (another good idea why not to take on an intricate design). Keep several on hand so if you need to discard one, you can carry straight on with your project.

Did I tell you I luuurrrvve chickens???
That's it from me for now, heading off to make a brew and have a bite to eat. Thanks for dropping by xx


Tuesday 19 March 2013

Have a Spiffingly Good Easter...

Mewnin' my lovely peepsicles!

Hope you are all well. Soon the first day of spring will be upon us, but we have more snowy weather forecast here in 'ol Blighty :o(

The best thing to do is stay indoors where it's warm and do some creative messing about (or crafting as it's commonly known)

Yesterday I made another Easter card, again with a comical feel and bright zingy colours. Here it is, ta da da da da da dah........




What you need...

Stamps: Claudine Hellmuth Doodles, Claudine Hellmuth Nature - Ranger; Cheree the Chicken - The Rubber Stamp Gallery
Embossing folder: Spots and Dots - Cuttlebug
Card stock: white, lime
Ink: Tuxedo Black - Memento; Key Lime - VersaMagic
Promarkers: Cool Aqua, Gold, Hot Pink, Lime Green, Magenta, Mandarin, Pumpkin, Summer Sun
Buttons: yellow, orange, pink
Crochet cotton: white
Adhesives

What you do...

Create a 10.5cm x 14cm top fold blank. Ink the embossing folder with Key Lime and run a sheet of white card through and trim to 9.5cm square. Adhere to the blank in line with the fold.

Stamp the chicken, cloud shape, large circle, dotty border and three flowers in black ink and colour in. Cut out and attach to the blank as shown.

Use a computer and printer to create the sentiment and fix to the lower section of the blank. Finish with buttons tied with cotton for the flower centres.

I wanted to make the embossed pattern stand out a bit, not too much to distract from the main images, so I used the technique where you apply ink onto the embossing folder. Using the Key Lime chalk ink just gives enough definition without overpowering. The photo's don't really show it up that much, because it is so subtle. I like!

The Rubber Stamp Gallery has lots of handmade (usually to order) stamps. They have some really unusual and quirky images. As I love chickens, I couldn't resist Cheree with her 'I'm not impressed' face. This card would be perfect to send to the Bah Humbugs! of the Easter season.

I'm going to sign off now, I have a couple of lads here servicing the central heating and I've got my next PaperCrafter commission to start. Thanks for popping in. xx


Sunday 17 March 2013

Happy Easter

Happy St Patrick's Day to all you lovely Irish peeps! Hope you are having a lucky and Guinness filled day!

A special Irish hello to June & Stephen :o)

I have another Easter Card for you, this one is a bit more comical.
  


What you need...

Stamps: Picoti Picota - Artemio; Claudine Hellmuth Doodles - Ranger
Card stock: white
Promarkers: Cool Grey 1, Lime Green, Magenta, Mandarin, Summer Sun
Ink: Tuxedo Black - Memento
Washi tape: lime - MT
Baker's twine: orange
Rub-on sentiment
Adhesives

What you do...

Tear three strips of washi tape and stick to the right side of a white 12cm square top fold blank.

Cut a strip of white card, 12cm wide and stamp a standing chicken on the left and a running chicken on the right. Stamp some eggs behind the running chicken. Stamp the chickens so they are off the edge of the card. Colour in and attach to the blank, overlapping the washi tape.

Stamp, colour and cut out the scallops. Adhere under the chicken border on the right. Wrap and tie baker's twine around the card along where the scallops and chicken border meet. Finish with a sentiment.

I wanted to use bright colours again to really add impact on a white background. I adore this stamp set, it's so funny and it's not just for Easter. The images are perfect for anyone who loves chickens. I love the chicken's face on the left, it looks like it's wondering why the other is legging it!

Hopefully, I'm getting my chickens around May time - I'll keep you posted and let you know when I get my 'girls'.

So my lovelies, that's me for now. Thanks for visiting xx


Saturday 16 March 2013

Easter Bunny

Mewnin peeps!
Hope you are all having a fab weekend so far. Pudding club went very well last night. We have probably upped our calorie and cholesterol levels one hundred fold! Simon and I are not really pudding people any other time, so we will soon recover.
Okey dokey me 'ol chums onto another Easter card.




What you need...

Stamp: Bunny Behind - Crafty Impressions
Card stock: white, lime, turquoise, pale pink, bright pink
Dies: Framelits Ovals - Sizzix
Embossing folder: Swiss Dots - Cuttlebug
Punches: daisy, hole
Ink: Tuxedo Black - Memento
Promarkers: Pink Mittens, Icicle, Cool Grey 1
Baker's twine: pink
Button: pink
Rub-on sentiment
Adhesives

What you do...

Create a white 11.5cm x 14cm top fold blank. Cut a 10cm x 13cm piece of white card. Die cut an oval in the upper right corner and emboss with Swiss Dots.

Stamp, colour and cut out the bunny. Mount onto a piece of turquoise card, along with some grass cut in lime card and a white cloud. Trim so that it slightly bigger than the die cut oval, and attach to the card blank. Wrap and tie baker's twine around the bottom of the white embossed panel and attach centrally onto the blank with foam tape.

Punch out three daisies, one in pale pink, one in bright pink and one in turquoise. Use the hole punch to make the flower centres in white. Hand cut two leaves in lime card. Assemble the flowers and adhere to the lower right of the oval.

Apply a rub on sentiment to a piece of white card, trim into a banner and attach to the top left of the card, overlapping the edge slightly. Finish with a pink button threaded with baker's twine.

I fell in love with this bunny as soon as I saw it. You can buy this super cute stamp from http://www.craftsulove.co.uk/miscellaneous_stamps.htm and it is only £1.29.

I thought it would be interesting to have the bunny image sat behind a raised section of card. It took a while to get the position just right, but I am really pleased with the way the little bunny turned out. Introducing a small amount of bright colour with the lime, turquoise and pinks, really makes an impact. Hope you like :o)

Well, that's me for the nonce. I will be back soon with another make. I've just realised that by the time I post this, it will be afternoon - oh well, it was in the a.m. when I started.

Take care and thanks for dropping in. xxx






Friday 15 March 2013

Celebrate

Hello me lovelies!
How have you all been?
Just before I show you my latest creation, I want to say a big hello to Sue in Barrowford. I now know you know my Uncle Roy and you follow me ye olde blogge!
I haven't got a photo of the card I sent to him for his birthday as I sent one that featured in the 7 Ways With Fruity Motifs in the May 2012 issue of Crafts Beautiful (you can see the whole feature in the April 2012 post with the title 'It's been a while').
However, I have scanned a copy....so here is Uncle Roy's birthday card :o)


I loved doing this fruity set. I remember reading about someone that makes and sells applique crafts on Etsy, using my apple and cherry designs from this feature to make fruity bunting.

Righto, on with today's card. I have started doing some Easter cards and unusually for me I have created this one with stickers again. I got them last year because they were so cute and didn't get chance to use them.





What you need...

Papers: Cotton Tail 6x6 Paper Pad; Cotton Tail 4x6 Albums Made Easy Pad - WRMK
Stickers: Cotton Tail Embossible Designs Stickers - WRMK
Dies: Framelits Circles - Sizzix
Button: powder blue
Baker's twine: pink

What you do...

Trim the sides from a top fold cream scalloped blank so it measures 11cm wide. Trim a piece of the plaid note paper and attach towards the top of the blank. Die cut a circle in plaid paper, attach the bunny sticker and adhere to the right of the card.

Trim a length of the egg border sticker and attach to the card just under the bunny, making sure to cover the edge of the paper. Tie a double length of twine in a bow and secure under the bunny.

Cut out the sentiment from the 4x6 phrase paper, cut a notch at the right and glue the button tied with twine on the left. Attach to the left side of the card. Finish with a butterfly sticker above the bunny, as shown.

These stickers are so cute, and because they are embossed, it gives a bit of dimension. Infact, the whole Cotton Tail collection is cute, but the layout will work with any Easter themed stickers and papers.

So that's me for now. Off to the Pudding Club tonight, I've made a Lemon Meringue Crunch (like a Lemon Meringue Pie but it has a biscuit base) hope it tastes ok.

Thanks for calling and catch you all soon. xxx

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Crafts Beautiful April 2013

Good afternoon peepsicles!

Brrr! It's a bit chilly out. Just been out to top up the bird feeders. Poor things couldn't find the ground feeders yesterday because of the snow. They were pecking about and all they got was a mouth full of cold wet stuff. Well, they are happier today :o)

Tally ho! Onto the sneaky peek of my projects in the current issue of Crafts Beautiful. I don't know whether I'm still happy with the way the magazine scans. The problem is, print from the other side of the page seems to come through. Sometimes tweaking a bit helps, but then it can make it worse. Oh well, here it is anyway....




Of course, the best way to see them and all the other gorgeous projects in this issue is to get a copy. You can even download it to your phone.

In this issue my projects centre around stencils and different techniques you can use. You don't have to buy expensive plastic stencils, you can make your own using punches and dies. I had great fun doing this set, I love the wabbits and the sheep.

For more crafting ideas visit Crafts Beautiful. You can also download my sheep digi stamp and templates from the website along with free papers and other templates from this and past issues.

I think that's enough of me for the nonce. Take care, keep warm and I'll be back soon. xxx