It's a joint effort!

Good morning and welcome to the blog today.

Well, didn't they do well?

My grandsons and I set to to make this Advent calendar - the Tivoli unit from Tonic Studios.

They chose the colours, the papers and kept me right about how much 'snow' I should use and where it was to go. 

I think they did a great job cutting out the decorative panels for the drawers and helping with the numbers too.

It's now ready for them to take home today so I need to nip out and buy some yummy mini Lindts to pop into the drawers. 

Tonic Studios - Tivoli unit

                                        Nuvo paint - Cherry

                                              Advent drawer Deco set

                                                           Forever Memories matt adhesive

Papers - My Mind's Eye - Wonderful Winter

Ornaments from my local garden centre

Snowtex

Viva Decor - Inka Gold - Indian gold paint

Sideways views

The children just love getting involved in doing projects like this. Things do get a tad messy but that's part of the fun. I hope they will enjoy this calendar for many years to come. 

Little gift package

 Hi again. I thought I would squeeze in another post today before the bold boys get home from school.

They are going to help us decorate - not sure that was the wisest decision, but it will be fun!

Each year I try to make up a little gift for visitors or to take with me if I call on someone and I have to say that the fabulous punch boards I received from Oyster crafts were just the ticket.

I've made quite a few of these - they are quick to do and make a very simple gift look a bit more fun.

This gift box set contains Lindt  Lindor choccies but it's equally good filled with Ferrero Rocher chocs as well.

I'm taking this one with me to my daughter's on Saturday evening. We're all set to watch the Strictly final on the BIG screen. Oh, I can't wait - it will be an experience for sure.

WeR Memory Keepers gift box punch board

My Mind's Eye 'Wonderful Winter' papers

First Edition - Stocking Filler papers

Stamping Up snowflake (courtesy of my cyber pal Linda)

Ribbon from stash

Bowdabra

Do you have a special Christmas ritual? I'd love to hear about it. :)

Winter Fairy

Hi and welcome today.

I treated myself to some gorgeous Wee Stamps yesterday drawn by the lovely and talented Sylvia Zet.

This one features the Winter Fairy image, isn't she lovely?

I was dismayed to discover that I hadn't any vintagey traditional papers in my stash! I have so much Christmas stuff but nothing hit the spot at all. I finally uncovered my last pieces of MME 'Happy Holidays' 6 x 6" collection so though it isn't the backing paper I would have chosen it was the only one that I left. :) Needs must!

Image - Winter Fairy - Wee Stamps

Papers - My Mind's Eye 'Happy Holidays'

Holly Berry and Striped Sun Kissed Fleur stamps and dies - Heartfelt Creations

Sizzix - Tim Holtz - Pinecone and branch die

Spellbinders - Ironworks - Motif die

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Vintage photo distress ink

The image is coloured with Promarkers - sorry I put them all away and forgot to note down which ones I used.

Crystal glitter - Art Institute

I've decorated the inside to complement the front and added a greeting cut from a HOTP Cardmaker's Christmas Card quotes pad that I unearthed in my search for a backing paper! 

A sideways view to show the layers

I hope you enjoy this card today. Thank you for joining me and for any comments you leave. 

Don't forget there's a free digi bundle to be won from Charmed Cards and Crafts. Just leave a comment under THIS POST to be in with a chance of winning a bundle of your choice! :)

Have a great day!

Alicia loves reading

Hi and welcome. I've another Alicia Alva digi for you today. Don't forget you can purchase Alicia's digis here.

Image - Alicia's Little shop - Alicia loves reading

Papers - My Mind's Eye 'Blink of an eye'

Sentiment - Lili of the Valley

Swirls - Memory Box dies

Seam binding and metal corner from stash

The image is coloured with Promarkers

Skin - ivory, blush, vanilla, oatmeal, baby pink

Hair - Burnt Sienna, caramel, sandstone

Jeans - French navy, aegean, sky blue

Top - Gold, saffron

Chair - Umber, walnut, terracotta, ginger, blender pen

Outline - Tea green

A sideways view to show the layers

I hope you are managing to find some time to relax as we hit the busiest time of the year. 

Happy crafting and I'll see you soon.

Alicia Colouring

Hi and welcome to the blog today. 

Much to my surprise I was asked by the lovely Alicia Alva if I would make a couple of cards using her brand new digi stamps. How could I refuse? So today I'm posting the first of these fab images.

You will find her in Alicia's Little Shop

Image - Alicia colouring - Alicia Alva digis

Papers - My Mind's Eye - Everyday Flair

Sentiment - Inkadinkado - children's sayings

Eyelet edge - Stamping Up punch

Doily - English Tea Party - Cheery Lynn

I've coloured the image with Promarkers and Prisma pencils

A sideways view

I look forward to seeing a lot more images from this talented lady. I'm sure you do too.

Thank you for joining me today. It's good of you to stick with me even though I'm not blogging every day. I did explain all that a while back, so no need to repeat it here. It's a lot less stressful posting as I'm able, so not too much kick back from the fibro. Long may it stay that way! :)

I hope you have a lovely weekend and I'll see you soon with more from Alicia and the Stamp Basket. 

Over and out!!

Snow couple with birds Christmas Card

Well last night was another great evening with my daughters. They treated me to a fabulous meal and then on to a showing of Breaking Dawn 2 as a birthday treat.

I think I'm still recovering - what on earth will we do next year now that it's all over???? Still, it was a great excuse to celebrate my birthday in style. Another year older and I'm still in denial that I'm an OAP. How could that have happened???!!! Well, the outside is most definitely the worse for wear but I still feel like a young woman inside. It's a pity we are not reversible - I could stay young for yonks then. LOL

Onto today's card ...

At last I've found a wee space to show you one of my 'buys' from the NEC. I don't like snowmen, I adore them - you will know that by now if you follow my blog, but I just fell for this wee couple on the Stamps and Memories stand and had to bring them home with me. :) 

Stamp image - Snow couple with birds - Impression Obsession

Papers - My Mind's Eye - Wonderful Christmas

Snowflakes - Marianne design dies

Sentiment - Clearly Besotted - Signature Christmas

Ribbon from stash

Rhinestone cluster - Stamps by Chloe 

I've coloured the image with Promarkers

Snowmen - Tea Green, Pastel blue, Fresh Meadow, Olive green, blender

Snowlady clothes - Budding rose, Dusky pink, March Hare, Pastel Blue, Cornflower, Indigo

Snowman clothes - Olive, Pear and Lime green

Birds/ branches - Sandstone, cocoa

Additional colours used - Berry red, Gold, Pumpkin

A sideways view to show the layers

I hope you enjoy this one today. I loved making it! :)

Thank you for joining me and I hope you have a super day whatever your plans. 

Flowers galore!

Hello and welcome to the blog today.

Today is it my pleasure to showcase some of the brand new quilling dies from Crafter's Companion. 

The dies are on release from Crafter's Companion and are available right now! :)
For my first project I decided on a Christmas wreath even though I made this back in August! :)
The base is cut from a circle of chipboard and covered back and front with patterned papers. 

I've used a variety of dies on the wreath the main ones being

Die'sire Leaf 1

Stamen (hidden by the large pearls :) ) 

Dahlia

Camelia - large and small

Rose - large

Die'Sire Enchanted Spring

Papers - My Mind's Eye - Wonderful Winter

The flowers have been edged with diamond stickles.

A sideways view

I also used wooden embellishments from my stash. The bells are coloured with gold Promarker and the snowflakes with brushed corduroy distress ink and then glittered using Art Institute crystal glitter.

There have been some incredible samples using these dies and taking a minute or two to visit the DT blogs will give you a taste for the projects you can be making in no time. :) 

If you struggle with quilling at all, or are not sure where to begin pop along to the Crafter's Companion blog where Leann has a You Tube tutorial that will make the job a breeze!

Snowy greetings

It's a new month and we are careering towards Christmas so time to get those cards done and dusted and have a bit of fun on the way. I've actually been making Christmas cards since June but they weren't for me, so my own little pile is looking a tad forlorn. My daughter nabbed all the rustic ones and other tiny ones I'd made, so it's down to business and what better way than with this adorable snowman from the gifted pen of Gayle Cook (TeddyBo, FairyD, Wonderland and D'Arcys Diaries fame). 

I LOVE snowmen and I just couldn't resist this wee character.

Image - Snowy 2 - TeddyBo 

Papers - My Mind's Eye - Wonderful Winter

Snowflakes - Marianne Design

Red cardstock - Real Red from Stamping Up

Glitter - Art Institute crystal glitter

Sentiment - Clearly Besotted stamps - Signature Christmas

The image is coloured with Promarkers

Ice Grey - 1 -5, Black

Reds - Burgundy, berry and poppy red

Greens - Holly, Forest and Leaf

Browns - Walnut, Cocoa, Caramel, Sandstone

Blender pen

A sideways view to show the layers

Apart from the colouring, this card took very little time to make, which is always a bonus at this busy time of year. I hope you like him as much as I loved working with him. :) 

I've entered this one into the 'Anything Goes' Challenge #44 at Teddybo. :)

Reindeer 'Holiday Cheer' set

Hi and good morning, welcome to the blog this morning.

I've been playing with my Hero Arts/Sizzix framelits set again. These wee characters really bring a smile and when I was making them last week, my grandson was sitting beside me doing his homework. I'm sure he wondered to himself who on earth could be so contented cutting out lots of little reindeer sweaters to put on cards - or maybe not - he's well used to me by now. :)

Reindeer, trees and sentiment from the Hero Arts/Sizzix 'Reindeer' set

Papers - My Mind's Eye 'Wonderful Winter' paper pad (I've had this for years and never get tired of it - still lots more to use up too!)

Vintage Photo distress ink

Memories - Pine Tree Green and Cherry Red dye inks

Brown paper bag from my friend Joy (thank you). :)

Kraft card stock from Forget Me Not, Belfast (Craftwork Cards)

I deliberately made these into little 4 x 4" cards  - this format just seemed to suit the dies.

I've used various dies to cut the patterned paper. The background red paper was distressed and inked with vintage photo ink.

I die cut small scallop squares - 3 3/4 " from cream card stock and inked round the edges as inserts for the cards.

Of course I didn't have any envelopes to fit, that would have been too organised, so I made some adapted C6 ones - job done!

I really enjoyed making this simple set. It's destined for my youngest daughter as she loves cute and quirky. 

Thank you so much for calling in and thank you for the comments you leave. It really blesses me. 

Have a great day!

See you tomorrow with more rustic Christmas fun.

Bow legged cutie

Hello and welcome to the blog today. A great big mahoosive welcome to all the lovely peeps who have added their names to my followers. Thank you so much. 

 Today we get to meet 'Bow legged cutie'. She was in the $1 bargain bin and I just couldn't leave her there, now could I?

Papers - My Mind's Eye Six by Six - Everyday Flair

Sizzix swirls and tag topper

Martha Stewart doily punch

Spellbinders wavy rectangle die (sorry I've no idea of it's correct name as I discarded the packaging yonks ago)

Ribbon, pearls and button from stash

The image was inked inside the die with spun sugar distress ink and edged with a sky blue Promarker

The image is coloured with Promarkers and Prisma pencils

The inside of the card has been simply decorated

The centre border on the card has been edged with cut off strips from a 5 x 5" square doily to give the lace effect edges.

A wee view of the label

Stamping Up eyelet border punch

Sentiment - LOTV

I hope you are enjoying this week of Sassy images. Only one more to go and our week is complete though there will be a short intermission for a sneaky preview or two. LOL  I won't say how many more I am itching to colour in. I'll keep that as a surprise! 

Have a lovely day whatever your plans. 

Ellie's birthday

Good morning! Guess who I have for you today? This wee beauty is called 'Ellie's birthday' and comes from the gifted pen of Krista of Saturated Canary fame.

As you know if you follow the blog, I am trying to keep my cards a little flatter, but it's proving very difficult to do. I'm still a 'loads of layers' and bulky flower type of gal so I'm really impressed with myself at keeping this one nearly flat. :) LOL

Onto the card then

Image - Saturated Canary 'Ellie's birthday'

Papers - My Mind's Eye 6 x 6 'Blink of an eye'

Swirl dies - Sizzix

Cloud dies - Memory Box

Fish tail dies - Die-namics

Sentiment - Papertrey Ink

Backing card stock - Gems by Coredinations

Scattered straw distress ink

The image is coloured with Promarkers and Polychromos pencils

I found the 'cool' blonde combo that I like for the hair - caramel, sandstone and daffodil bloom (Spring release PMs)

The inside of the card has been decorated to complement the front

A sideways view to show the layers

I've entered this card into the Passion for Promarkers challenge this week which asks for 'Lots of layers'.

Thank you so much for calling in today. I appreciate the company. :)

New dies!!!!

Hello and welcome along to the blog today with a special hello to my two new followers. Thank you for joining me, I hope you enjoy your visits. I'm so excited - well you can tell I live a very interesting life can't you - I'm excited about a couple of new dies that I received yesterday from the Craft Barn. I must have scoured the planet to get the little tiny clouds die and whilst I was there the Valerian flourish just hopped into my basket as well as a couple of other bits and pieces.

It doesn't take much does it? LOL

I've used my Funky Kits 'Telltale' stamp again. I think she's utterly adorable. :) I also managed to resist buying a dozen Saturated Canary images and got away with only two. Now that's what I call being strong-willed!

Onto today's card

Papers - My Mind's Eye 'Blink of an eye'

Memory box - Puffy Clouds and Valerian Flourish dies

Craftwork cards candy coloured with spice Promarker

Pearls from the Hobby House

Sentiment - Papertrey Ink

The image is coloured with Promarkers and Prisma pencils

The inside is very simple decorated as I've really run out of the MME papers LOL, so I stuck an extra flourish inside to take away the bare look. 

A sideways view to show the layers.

I'm still trying to make my cards a bit flatter but it's a challenge to resist my WOC flowers and I can see me weakening before too long. :)

I hope you are having a great bank holiday and enjoying the festivities. All we need is for the weather to play it's part and we're sorted. 

Catch you soon!