Crochet Bag..

I've finally finished this bag which I started probably over a year ago.  I downloaded the pattern from the website for The Art of Crochet which I subscribe to.  The wool is Debbie Bliss Fez for the bag and Rialto for the flowers.  My Dad gave me John Lewis vouchers so used or I would never have afforded the wool.  Now that I've finished the bag I can get on with making the squares that go to making the throw.  You probably remember seeing the ads, the instalments come every month with four balls of wool and instructions for each square, but also loads of other patterns from garments to coasters and toys and instructions for other stitches.  I'm really enjoying doing it, very relaxing at night. 
Thanks for looking. xxx

First attempt at Parchment Craft

I've been wanting to try this craft for a couple of years but thought I had to buy lots of tools and equipment to achieve something worthwhile but I bought a starter kit from Pergamano to get me used to using an embossing and 2-split perforating tool and realised my attempts were ok. Then I purchased a couple more perforating tools and a fine mesh grid. I searched for some patterns online and found a brilliant site - http://www.amanda-craft.com.tw/ She has some truly gorgeous and amazing free patterns for download.  The concept of being able to make a miniature bag from parchment paper with the tools I had inspired me to give it a go. So below is my first attempt, from her page of free patterns http://www.amanda-craft.com.tw/patterns.aspx?Id=2

I have found this so theraputic and relaxing to do.  I don't like the blue brads that hold the bag together, but will change these when I find something more suitable.  Ideally it is supposed to be held together with plastic needles, so I might invest in these in future.  The flower was copied from a design in the Pergamano Starter Kit Insruction Book.
Thanks for looking x

Dad's Card...

I thought it was about time I did another post on here as it was looking a bit neglected and there is also a couple of challenges that I can actually enter my card into.  I have been doing some crafty stuff; making a braid to attach the scoring tool to my Hougie Board (so it doesn't get lost in the mess) and also doing some crochet.

Anyway, here is the card.  Apologies for the photo and background as I quickly took it on my phone last week before I sent it and forgot to take one with the big camera. Then I spent 3 hrs this afternoon trying to upload it, thought it was cos I'd taken it with said phone so ended up taking a pic of the laptop screen with the better camera so the quality isn't good.

I used the Hougie to score the diamond card.  Background paper was Funky Vintage from Dovecraft. The images were stamped onto card using Vintage Photo and Faded Jeans and coloured using a waterbrush.  The background was lightly stamped with some of the images and edges inked in same colours. The 'Dad' was stamped using an alphabet set from See D's.

 I would like to enter this into;

 The Glitter Geeks challenge: Male/Father's Day 

Crafty Sentiments: Father's Day Cards

Thanks for looking.

Cake....

I have made this card for a couple of Challenges.  Thanks to all the DT members for their inspiration as I always find it difficult to know where to start!

What I used

The cupcake stamp was a freebie from Molly Blooms that came with Simpy Homemade magazine which I coloured with Promarkers.

The backing papers were from another craft magazine, afraid I don't know who designed them.  All the rest I've had for ages in my stash.

Challenges

Willow Sketchie Challenge No 3

Moving Along With The Times - Have Some Cake
where Shell has chosen the theme this week

The sponsor at MAWTT this week is Bows and Berries Digital Stamps

http://www.bowsandberries.co.uk/

Make it Sassy

Well it's another week over again and hope everyone has enjoyed the sunshine. 

Over at One Stitch At A Time the challenge for this week is Make It Sassy and it is also Christmas Club week.  The image is a digi stamp from the Stitchy Bear Store and is Kelley Kid's Chrissy Christmas Pixie.  I must admit this is the first time I have ever used a digi stamp and they have some gorgeous images in their shop.  I'm not too happy with what I've done with the image and don't feel I've done it justice but I was rushing it as I wasn't able to do any crafting during the week.

What I Used

5 x 7 card

Papers from Hot Off The Press

Image coloured with Promarkers

Ribbon, sentiment and glitter from stash

New Baby

This week at One Stitch At A Time the theme is New Baby.  It is being sponsored by The Stamping Boutique. I was making a card for my friend at work who has just become a Granny for the first time so this challenge tied in nicely.  Thanks to all the DT's cards for the inspiration.

What I Used

5 x 7 Ivory Card

Bright Pink card for mat and 'shadow' on stork: textured cardstock from American Crafts

Striped backing paper: Spring Fever Collection, free from Scrapbook Magazine, edged with Martha Stewart punch.

Storks cut using Cricut & Nursery Rhyme cartridge.

Edges inked with Brilliance in Pearlescent Coral, and also glittered.

Baby feet brads from Anna Griffin Kit.

Ribbons, buttons & flowers from stash.

I would also like to enter this into:

Crafty Sentiments Glitter it Up, (glitter on baby feet, round storks and on flower)

Thanks for visiting my blog and any comments are much appreciated.

Grungy Monday #1

I was excited when I read a retweet (from Mario Rossi) about Grungy Monday Challenge on Linda Ledbetter's Studio L3 blog. Each week you can explore the techniques & products of the genius that is Tim Holtz. This being the first it is Grungy Monday #1 and we were to take inspiration from 12 Tags of Christmas 2008, Tag 10 and make it your own.
I have not been collecting Tim Holtz/Ranger products for very long so it was definately a challenge considering I didn't have half of the products used but wanted to have a try anyway.
To start with I didn't even have a tag or a flourish mask for the background but improvised & cut my own tag using a cricut (hence the two holes at the top) & also cut a similar style of flourish.  The background was made using Distress Ink Pads (don't have bottle of distress reinker) in Vintage Photo & Brushed Corduroy with the masked part then coloured with Fired Brick; brushed with Perfect Pearls in Heirloom Gold then flicked with water droplets as Tim did in his tutorial.  The reindeer stamp I had was too small so I abandoned the Christmas theme & used a bird one instead, coloured with Promarkers; Fired Brick & Vintage Photo inkpads mixed with Perfect Pearls.  The strip was Idea-ology Tissue Tape in Nostalgic.  The flower I had already made using gilding flakes.  Button & metal embellishment from Crafty Bitz 'Memories' ATC kit.  Sentiment from K & Co Embellishment kit coloured the same as the background.

So, I even surprised myself how much I was able to improvise using the products I did have.
Thanks for visiting my blog and any comments are much appreciated.

One Stitch At A Time Challenge....

Once again I don't know where the month has gone, and am entering the One Stitch At A Time Challenge at the last minute.  The theme this month is Something For The Boys.

What I used

4 x 6 deckle edge card, edges inked with Ranger Distress Ink in Vintage Photo

HOTP papers edges inked with Vintage Photo

Holly wreath cut using Cricut Create and the Christmas cartridge

Berries using Ranger Distress Stickles in Fired Brick

Sentiment Strip bought from Lakeland (about 7 years ago)!

Anything But Square

This week at One Stitch At A Time the Challenge is Anything But Square and it is also Christmas Club Week.  Here is my cute Snowman. 

His body came already cut from a kit I got from QVC.  I inked his edges with Ranger Distress Ink in Faded Jeans. I cut out his hat and scarf from free papers designed by Jayne Bentley that came with a craft magazine. He got a shiny red nose using cardstock with Glossy Accents, his googly eyes were from Woodware and the ribbon on his hat and heart gems were from my stash.

Lemon and Lilac....

Well, here's another challenge.  This week at Crafty Sentiments Designs the challenge is to create something using mainly Lemon and Lilac.  This was a bit of a challenge for me as I really didn't have many 'lemony' items or paper but got there eventually.

What I used

7x5 lemon card

Backing papers from don't know where, edged with Martha Stewart border punch.

Die cut, cut using Cricut with Cindy Loo Cartridge,

and lemon paper cut from same design using the shadow feature.

Paper flowers, (which is my latest craze to make by hand)

Brads and ribbon from stash.

Thanks for stopping by.

My First Challenge

Well here goes, I'm finally having a go at entering a challenge.  I am making this for the One Stitch At A Time  Christmas Club and the theme is As You Like It.  Hope I've set up that link ok being the first time I have ever done this.  I thought it was a great idea to be making Christmas Cards throughout the year as I always leave them till the last minute.  My resolution this year was to start them in August so now I will be ahead of schedule.  After packing away all my Christmas stash I got it all out again (obviously) to make this card.

What I Used

White A5 cardstock

Papers from stash (can't remember where I got them as I've had them so long)

Free present stamp image from a craft magazine coloured with my new Promarkers

Stamped sentiment from freebie

Ribbon and gems from stash.

What Happened To January!

Where has this month gone, so much for me blogging every couple of days!  After we got New Year out the way I was tidying up all my Christmas Card making stuff, then the horrible housework after the tree came down, then back to work.  So hopefully now that I'm a bit more organised (maybe), I will be able to do more cards.

A New Year!

Welcome to my new blog.  I had hoped to post this on January 1st but didn't quite manage it, only half an hour or so late though.  I have decided to start a blog to hopefully give me the incentive to do more craft projects and take part in some challenges that I've seen on other blogs.  I am also working on a website to try and make a wee bit money to be able to buy more crafty stash.

I was in my element on Christmas Day as I got Tim Holtz idea-ology papers, they are just scrumcious and almost too good to cut up.  I also got Distress Ink pads so looking forward to having a play with them.  I only had one beforehand and luv them, so easy to use.  Also very happy as I got Hobbycraft vouchers from my Dad, looking forward to choosing some goodies with them. Right, I'd go as I've had an exhausting day, cooking another turkey dinner.  Sorry, I haven't any pics to add to this post as it is a tad late.  It also looks like I have to change the timezone!!