Madcap Manor

 This is tough for me, because there are so many techniques I enjoy! It's a bit like being asked 'What's your favourite book?' To which my answer is always 'The one that I'm currently reading.' Anyway, I love using patterned papers on my cards, but rather than use a sketch I decided on paper piecing for a change.  I used an old  Woodware  stamp by the brilliant Francoise Read, it's called 'Large Patch Tree' and unfortunately is out of print.  But check out the other stamps she has designed, so many are great for paper piecing. One of the good things about paper piecing is that it's so easy to make 2 cards at once. I used 2 green patterned papers, a scrap of red tartan paper, and some red card.  I stamped the tree on all the papers and fussy-cut them out.  Then I went around the cut edges with a black marker to hide any imperfections in my cutting!  I stamped the image again on 2 4 x 6 inch pieces of white card and assembled the trees like a q...

No, that's not 'Three Kings of *Leyton* Orient' which is a soccer team from North London that several of my friends follow!!! The current challenge at Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge is to use THREE of something. Well, call me old-fashioned, but one particular Christmas 'threesome' sprang to mind! The images are by Francoise Read for Woodware and I have had them for ages - unfortunately, they don't seem to be available any more. I coloured the Kings with Promarkers, I hope you can tell that one King is African, one is Caucasian, and one oriental. They have all been cut out and mounted on foam pads for dimension. I added Glossy Accents to the gifts and gold Stickles to their robes and crowns - and to the Star over Bethlehem. The papers are from Hobbycraft, I think it's their 'Vintage Christmas' collection, but don't quote me, as they are all loose in my 'Christmas box'. I cut the tan paper to look like hills and used Dis...

Good morning! It's the weekend, huzza! I hope you're all having a bit of crafty 'me-time'. It's time for another challenge at My Time To Craft and this week the theme is 'Kraft.' Use it for matting, embellies, your image - anything! I had never coloured on Kraft before and I was a bit anxious how my inks would look on the darker background, but 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained' and with the help of This video by Kimberly Brown I had a go. The Kraft is from a Papermania stack, it has a very pretty mottled appearance and a distressed grid pattern in white. The image is by Francoise Read for Woodware and is from the 'Flower Doodles' clear stamp set, I stamped in Versamark and embossed with opaque white powder and coloured with Spectrum Noirs. The sentiment is LotV, matted onto the Kraft and glittered round the edges. The corner flourish is a Memory Box die that I got at Ally Pally and I glittered it, too. Papers are 'Bonnets a...

This is one of half a dozen identical cards I made when I had no Internet, using Nativity, a Woodware stamp by Francoise Read. Mine is an acrylic stamp, part of a set which I have had for about 4 years but it now only seems to be available as a wooden one from Woodware I heat embossed the image in gold.  I used Promarkers but I can't find the list :( - sorry! The mat is gold card, the paper is by Bearly Mine, but it's a snippet so I don't know which collection. I layered it onto blue card because more gold detracted from the emphasis on the image. The haloes have been edged in gold stickles and that's all the embellishment I used. I'm entering Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge where the theme is 'Use something more than six months old.' I'm going to love you and leave you, lovely bloggers, because I have managed to come down with tonsillitis and a nice warm bath and an early night with a bad book are calling me! I hope you're all d...

Hi, all! It's Wednesday, huzza! The weekend is in sight! Think of me on Saturday, when I go with 2 other middle-aged ladies to Somerset, where we'll be camping for a week at a Christian Conference called New Wine. I have camped (though not for years!) but never attended a conference like this. It's the opposite for the other ladies! Wish us luck! Back to today, and a card I made after doing some more colouring of dark skin with my Speccies. This is by Francoise Read for Woodware stamps, and I love him, he's having such a great time! I apologise for the wonky photo, the light today is abysmal. The colours are much brighter irl. The papers are snippets from Nitwits Tour of London set, I love these blues! I used a Nestie to cut the lad out but for once didn't try distressing round the edges, as I thought he'd need a lot of space for the marvellous tricks he's about to do!! The baker's twine is from The Ribbon Girl and the buttons are from my bu...

Evening, all! Who's enjoying Wimbledon? Normally it just seems like a procession, but this time the upsets have made it really interesting! Come on, Murray! I made this card for a young lad who is besotted by science - specially biology! So this chameleon, from the Woodware stamp set 'In the Jungle', seemed right. It's not an animal that appeals to me much in real life, but this one is just so cute! I used a nestie to cut him out then drew round the edge of the die on pearlised charcoal card by Papermania and cut out the narrow mat. He's coloured with Speccies, and there are stickles on the fly's wings and Glossy Accents on the ridges of his crest. I distressed the edge lightly with Scattered Straw DI. Papers are Paislee Road by Prima. The tags are Lili of the Valley. The leaves and flowers and butterflies are all made with Woodware punches: I used scraps of multicoloured, shiny green and copper paper. I hope the young man will like it - the card's ...

I do like this image of the Holy Family. It's by Francoise Read for Woodware - I have all 3 of her books on stamping, she has a great gift for explaining techniques. Promarkers again: Tan, Cinnamon, Powder Blue, Azure, Leaf Green and Emerald. The halos have been glittered. I need to cover the insides with dp to hide the Promarker bleeding, then I'll have finished all my generalised cards for family and friends! I expect there will be one or two more Chrimbo cards in the next few weeks, but now I can make non-Christmas cards without feeling guilty! The partridge casserole was delish, btw - I made it like a coq au vin and it worked really well! I love it when a recipe comes together!!! Thanks for looking, and have a good weekend. luv, Mags x

Ironically, one reason I lost last week was because I was producing Christmas cards! I made 14 of them in 3 days - phew! The first is a Woodware stamp, embossed in gold, from the Nativity set by Francoise Read. I used Tan and Burnt Sienna Promarkers. The trusty CB produced embossed white card and the gold holographic frame. White ribbon from Hobby craft, stickles on the halo and edging all the papers. The next has the same background, as you can see, but with a poinsettia pot (which I've had for ages and it's lost its packaging so I can't say who made it.) Promarkers are Tan, Burnt Sienna, Lipstick Red and Crimson, and Emerald for the leaves. There are stickles here and there, too! The snowflakes are Marianne, punched from silver holographic card. I reckon I only need to make another 12 cards and I'm done! Then my main problem will be finding a pressie for my old man. If mens' cards are tough to make, finding mens' presents is even worse! Thanks for looking, and...