wishing you lots of merry

The Caardvarks challenge is just about to end, so decided to give it a go. Challenge - Create a card based upon one of the Crew Caards. Create your best, NEW scraplift card. The Crew was treated to new SRM Stickers to use for their designs.

So this is Tanis' lovely card;

...and here is mine; unfortunatey I haven't got any SRM stickers yet, but will definitely be on the lookout for some!

PP - K&Company, Imaginisce & Brazzill Basics

Stamp - Hero Arts; Ink - Brilliance Dew Drop

Letter stickers - American Crafts

Glitter stickers & Adhesive Pearls - Papermania

Have a Happy Day

So I decided to make a girly card this morning and do something a bit different. Inspired by the gorgeous designs by Andrea who is on the DT for Meljens Designs (and lots more), and here's how it turned out;

PP - K&Company, My Mind's Eye, Basic Grey & Making Memories

Sentiment Stamp & Adhesive Pearls - Papermania

Ink - Brilliance Dew Drop (Coffee Bean)

Ribbon, Felt & Thread - LCS

Lovely Little Apron

I love this gorgeous digi from Meljen's Designs which I had to use as soon as I got it at the weekend!  Both cards were for my Aunties and just love how they turned out :) I especially like the flowery paper and looks like I forgot to add a button on the second card - oops. Do you like how I'm holding the card and having the photo taken just as I'm about to meet her - lol - my mum dropped her phone after taking the pic - but it was fine after she put it back together. At least it was in the daylight for once, second picture was a bit dark though - TFL! x

 Papers - Imaginisce, My Minds Eye (flowery),

Bo Bunny (background) and Brazill Basics (embossed blue)

Digi's: Lovely Little Apron & Tied Tag - both Meljen's Designs

Stamp - Papermaina (sentiment - make a wish) Ink - Brilliance Dew Drop

Letter Stickers & Rub-ons - American Crafts

Button - from Lucy :)

 

Couple of random photos - A pretty coffee at work last week;

illy coffee & hersheys syrup - yummy

and a picture of my cat:

My remote, you're not having it!

happy birthday!!

I used some neglected stash on this card, this patterned paper and tag book were among the first things I bought from a local craft store about a year ago!

PP - Anna Griffin Inc

Tag - K&Company

Letter stickers & rub ons - American Crafts

Other - String & Machine stitching

It's my little brothers birthday today - Happy Birthday Seanie! I made him this card over the weekend - you can see it was quite late as lack of light!  Both cards were made for Caardvarks - Clean and simple challenge. I wanted to make a really simple kraft card for the CAS challenge but haven't got any so tried something different using tags - TFL!

PP - K&Company (Poppy Seeds)

Tag - K&Company

Stamps - Hero Arts

Ink - Brilliance Dew Drop

Letter stickers - American Crafts

Ribbon - Paper Mania

Other - String, Machine Stitching & Googly Eyes

Sean: yeee! thanks for the card n' cashmoneyzz!!...card was great! hip hop hurrayy..with that hippo with jigga man eyes! made me laugh!

A card for Lucy

Last week I wanted to make a card for Lucy as need to post some money for some papers she had for sale, I drew a lot of ideas for different pocket cards as wanted to conceal the cash and not just put it inside the card.

I used paper from K&Company cut to size and added a cream coloured strip which I had stamped with a sentiment. I used my sewing machine to zigzag stitch along both sides of the strip of paper. After fixing the green paper to the butterfly paper with double sided tape (just along the bottom edge as the machine doesn't like sticky tape!), I stitched all around the edge of the butterfly paper which included going over the green piece.

I used a die cut label from Spellbinders Nestabilities label 1 with my Cuttlebug and stuck ribbon all the way round and added a bow with glue dots. I stamped thank you under the ribbon. I then created a pocket on the reverse with two pieces of the same colour card buy sewing them together along 3 edges and then sticking them with double sided tape to the back of the die cut.

Thanks again to Lucy for the gorgeous paper :) xxx

Strawbeary Fairy

I won some Meljen's Designs digi images this week! Spent ages trying to choose 3 yesterday and received them this morning, Thank you!! My shortlist was sooo long I'll have to go back and buy some very soon :)

I've finished the patchwork card today using one of my prize digis, and just looked to find one of the challenges it related to, Cooking It Up #27 - Button Up , My Furry Friend in Patchwork! unfortunately I've missed the deadline - oops! Will enter in Kort 'O' Mania  - Challenge #23 'Use sewing on a card', and also Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - "What'eva". Well here's my card anyway;

Papers - Bo Bunny, Core'dinations,

Digi image - Meljen's Designs-Strawbeary Fairy,

Buttons - My Mind's Eye, Gems - Papermania,

Other - Glossy Accents, Sewing machine, Thread, String

& Rexel Derwent Pastel Pencils.

kids cards

I started a couple of cards yesterday for a little ones in our family and both are very similar to cards I have already made. Ran out of thread before I could finish them, so had to make a quick visit to Hobby Craft to get some more (shortest visit ever as usually in there for hours!). They are both using images from Meljen's Designs which are perfect for kids cards as they are just so adorable!

I'm meant to be making a 70th card but totally drawn a blank on what to do, so have started another card with a patchwork effect in different pink papers, but I ran out of time so this one will have to get finished in the week.

Get Sketchy 53

Last challenge I tried yesterday and finished just before going to bed, was for Get Sketchy to use the below image;

Here's my take on the sketch;

Patterned Paper - K&Company (Roam), yellow bg - from local shop

Card - Core'dinations

Stamps - Hero Arts, Ink - Brilliance Dew Drop

Cuttlebug - Celebration stamps

Other - machine stitching

The colours are brighter, especially the yellow but my photo's are coming up quite dark, I'm only using my phone and I'm no photographer but you get the general idea of it! Hope you like it xxx

Sketch and Stash Challenge 43

Another challenge started today on the Sketch and Stash blog, which uses the image below and you have to mention a new or neglected stash used on the card.

Here's my card, in which I used a digi image from Meljens Designs which I have been dying to use. Hope you like it :) xxx

Patterned Paper - Making Memories & Bo Bunny

Digi image - Meljens Designs (new)

Pens - Promarker, Pastel Pencils - Rexel Derwent

Rub-ons - American Crafts

Letter stickers - Making Memories

Punch - Fiskars, Other - machine stitching

Sketch and Stash Challenge

Have entered a challenge at the last minute on Sketch and Stash Challenge Blog which I found through a Meljens Designs DT post.  So I have made a mini card based on the image below;

Patterned Papers - Making Memories & Bo Bunny

Card - Core'dinations (new)

Stamps - Hero Arts, Ink - Brilliance Dew Drop
Cuttlebug - Swiss dots embossing folder (new)

I know I will not get anywhere in the challenge but it was more to see if I could make a card and using a drawing in a very short amount of time. If I had had longer on this, I would have machine stitched and maybe used buttons.

Bank Holiday

In my previous post I said how I hadn't made a card in ages, well I made one today finally. It's bank holiday weekend and the first one my husband has had off work in ages. On Friday night his mum came over for dinner and a glass of wine. Yesterday I had my hair cut first thing and then looked for new glasses in town. My Mum came in to town to help me decide and we stopped off for a coffee. Also we went for a lovely walk at Delpre Abbey with the dogs and met our friends Louisa and Craig, their dog and baby Max. It's been tipping it down with rain all week so was nice to have some sunshine! Sat down to have a coffee and it started to rain, so had to give that a miss and have planned to go for a pub lunch tomorrow with them! So today we are having a chill day, with the fire going (not sure why i'm chilly) I'm attemping to make cards while Jon sorts a nice roast dinner for us.

Anyway here's my first card, which I have entered in Meljens Designs Challenge#22, it's very simple but hopefully this will get me making some more! So I'm off to try - Enjoy your weekend!

Girl and dress digi image - Papercraft Inspirations

Stamp - Papermania, Ink - Brilliance dew drop

Patterned Paper - Bo Bunny, Card - Core'dinations

Buttons - American Crafts, Green Pen - Promarker

Other - String

Great giveaway by Lucy

For reaching 500 followers, but certain she has more!! Such a fantastic blog, so many great ideas and even handy videos which have taught me loads! Please go and take a peek...

Not made a thing

Ok my husband keeps saying to me go and make some cards.. even told me to go to Hobby Craft and buy few bits and bobs and I did and still haven't made anything. Had a good clean up of all my crafty things so am more organised, well as much as I can be on a small table in the living room. I was day dreaming earlier about clearing out our spare room and making it a craft room... hmm.. well could nick some of it surely, how often do we have people staying over!?? Another day eh!

happy 1st birthday

Got a gift this week, my mother-in-law brought round her tin of vintage buttons for me to use. Says to give her any back that I don't need - ahhh but I want them all!!! My husband asked her to :) which I thought was lovely of him. Shame I didn't have them for Lucy's Button challenge could have made something with a lot more on it instead of the few I entered, oh well there's always next time :)

Been glued to the computer all day, not good should be making cards! Need to make some boy cards; birthday and new arrival but need some paper, so have made another little girl card while I'm thinking what to do. My printers playing up not printing certain colours even though we've just replaced the ink ahhh!

Almost identical to he last one I know, but want to get ahead so I can make them for the sake of making them instead of panicing at the last minute and losing my mojo! I have coloured a few lions to make some similar cards so I have some in stock as lots of kiddies birthdays coming up!

Papers - Bo Bunny

Digital Image - Meljens Designs

Coloured with - Promarkers & Pastel pencils

Buttons, Foam letters & Rub-ons - American Crafts

Ribbon - Hobby Craft

Other - double sided tape, glue dots, Glossy accents,

string & machine stitching

hey, cutie

I've seen other people using Glossy accents and after reading a thread on Hero Arts Flickr group last night decided to get some.  I didn't think my local craft shop Hobby Craft would do it as have looked before, but this morning I found it! I've also been reading about Copics and Promarkers and how they are similar. There's less choice of colours with promarkers, they are cheaper but cannot be refilled like Copics. But they are available in Hobby Craft and they were half price so I bought a couple of packs.

Here's my first attempt. I love this cute lion - thank you Meljen Designs for this great digi freebie!

Papers - Bo Bunny

Digital Images - Meljens Designs (Lion) &  Hero Arts - Special Delivery

Coloured with - Promarkers & Pastel pencils

Buttons - American Crafts

Ribbon - Papermania

Other - double sided tape, glue dots, Glossy accents,

string &  machine stitching

Nautical theme

With a nautical theme from my Isle of Wight break still in my mind, I made this birthday card.

Card - Core'dinations, Hobby Craft

Paper - Making Memories, Bo Bunny

Buttons - My Minds Eye

Stamp - Papermania

Ink - Brilliance Dew Drop - Coffee Bean

Other - String, Pastel Pencil & Machine Stitching

I attempted to give inking edges a go, but I think my brown ink is too dark, so instead used a pastel pencil. I rescued the pencils from my parents recently, I had them when I was at school!!

holiday inspired

Been away for a week with my husband, my mother-in-law and her partner to the Isle of Wight. Lovely sunshine first two days, sat out and had a bbq. Rest of the week was on and off rain. Just a few pics of us in a place called Godshill (I always forget to take photos when I'm anywhere and only using my phone). Had to have a cream tea while we were there - was very yummy!

 

Back to work today and gorgeous sunshine sitting in the office with no air-con on (cos people won't have it on - whyyyyy!) my fan blasting away - 27degrees today inside the office!

Anyway back to cards.. I was inspired to make a boat themed card when I got back, well quite a few cards over the weekend, I'm hoping the card making bug is back!

Paper - Making Memories (Just Chillin), My Minds Eye

Buttons - My Minds Eye

Other card - Hobby Craft

  

   

Paper - Making Memories (Just Chillin)

Vinyl - Papermania

Stamp - Papermania

Ink - Brilliance Dew Drop

Other - Machine stitching

 Paper - Making Memories & graph paper

Stamp & Ribbon - Papermania

Ink - Brilliance Dew Drop

Button - American Crafts

Border Punch - Fiskars

Labels 1 - Nestabilities Die

Will enter a couple in Lucy's new challenge to use buttons.

baby Max

Been trying to make a card for my friends Louisa & Craig for the arrival of their baby boy Max. Is it too simple?

I haven't been shopping for supplies in ages, my husband had a look through my cards the other day and was reading all the lovely comments I've had. He said they are too blue, but mostly been baby boy related for a reason. But I really should buy more papers etc and get some new inspiration, lost my mojo a bit.

Been making little notecards for Louisa to give as thank you notes and to include baby's birth details on the back. Had printer problems, gaps in the printing, not taking paper, running out of paper and now out of ink - ahhh! My printer won't let me run the cleaning program to fix the gaps in the printing until I replace the ink, need to get to the shops! Made what I can and had to go with the really basic option, so may be too plain?! I'm trying not to have any dimention so they won't have to pay lots on postage. May make a few different ones if I can get the printer to work.

wedding card

Paper - Bo Bunny;

Letters & Buttons - American Crafts;

Gems - Papermania;

Ribbon, Card, Embroidery thread - Hobby Craft

After cutting the paper to size, I used the sewing machine to make a border around the edge of the pattered paper and pulled through the ends to make it tidy. Then arranged the self adhesive letters onto the paper. Next threaded the buttons and used glue dots to fix, also used these to stick on the ribbon bow. Finally stuck the gems to top and bottom corners and then fixed the whole thing to the front of the card with double sided tape.

This card is going to Glen & Claire, hope they have a perfect day, the weather is beautiful today which certainly helps. Can't wait to see them later!

butterflies birthday card

Finding hard to get going on any cards, I have baby and wedding cards to make, so made this quick card to try and get into it again :)

hummingbird bakery

More yummy cakes from our friends at hummingbird bakery in the illy office today!

happy anniversary

It's our 3rd wedding anniversary, so I made this card. Did it quite quickly, but it was about the message I wanted to write inside the card :)

father's day

This is the card I made for my dad this morning!! I couldn't get myself going on the card yesterday, but found this site where I managed to get the car image for free :) so thank you to Meljen's designs for that! I haven't used any digital images before as I haven't had any suitable programs on my laptop and sometimes have issues with my printer, not sure why. Anyway I managed to get a program called open office from someone at work a couple of weeks ago which is very similar to ms office, so thought I would give it a go. This is my card;

Cardstock: Cor'dinations & Hobby Craft;

Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny & Making Memories;

Digital image: Meljen's Designs (freebie pack);

Button, Letters & Rub-ons: American Crafts;

Other: String & Sewing machine.

a few giveaways..

Been away from all of this for a while, need to get back into it. Was so busy with the baby shower for my friend and then went away with my parents and Grandma to a place called Sitges near Barcelona. Got lots to do, been trying to get my mojo back to make some cards so been online a bit today, whilst on I found some great giveaways...
http://thiscrazylife-michelle.blogspot.com/2010/06/sweeter-than-me-designs-giveaway.html they are beautiful, been looking at rings recently and these would be perfect if they would fit my tiny little fingers that is, can never get them to fit! They are all so pretty how would you choose? Would be great little pressents!
http://thiscrazylife-michelle.blogspot.com/2010/06/able-mabel-giveaway.html
lovely material on these products, would prpobably buy for a gift for my friend who's expecting a little boy any day now!!
http://thiscrazylife-michelle.blogspot.com/2010/06/sweet-pea-totes-giveaway.html
These bags are gorgeous, must get the ebook to learn how to make these!!

my weekend

Yesterday I went to see my friend Louisa, took her her copy of the baby shower invite, which she loved. She immediately got out her baby record book that her sister bought her and said it will be kept forever in here! (she still has my first card on her fridge!)

on the inside;

Louisa your baby boy is on the way

So let’s get you prepared for the big day,

With a big girlie party on the 30th of May

Especially for you, what do you say?

A little get together will be such a treat,

In honour of you and someone

we just can’t wait to meet!

Bottles and booties and bibs and more,

There will be food and games

and gifts galore!

The place to be is at your mum‘s,

7pm sharp for lots of fun

So please accept this invitation to

Celebrate you becoming a fantastic mum!

Went for a walk with her dog, then on to lunch and after went shopping for baby things - was a lovely day with my friend, was only meant to pop and see her in the morning whilst her partner was at work but didn't get home til gone 4.30pm. Where my little cat Tia was waiting for me on the wall outside our house as I got out the car.

 

Last night she was knocked over by a car, poor little girl. A neighbour came and and got us, there son saw it. Jon brought her in, her brother came down the stairs and just walked passed her wanting to go out. Will be getting out some photo's and making a scrapbook. Perfect little cat so friendly and I will miss her everyday. She was my alarm clock she would wake me up every morning by coming a sitting on me for a cuddle. Buried her in the garden today - so so sad. Got to watch her brother now, make sure he's ok. The dogs know something's up and are coming to us for lots of cuddles.

baby shower invites

I'm organising a baby shower for my friend Louisa who is expecting a boy and due 17th June. I haven't actually been to one but hope it will be fine! I emailed her mum and boyfriend a while ago to see their thoughts. Got a list of people she wanted to invite and went to see her Mum and made arrangements. We're having the party at her Mum's new house (mine's too small unless we had a bbq!) which she's doing up so think she will like having everyone over :)

Used the same idea as the baby card I made recently (as had some lovely comments on Flickr) and printed the inside of the invite. Ran out of bits couple of times and had to pop to Hobby Craft for more supplies! Posted them all by hand and asked everyone to get a picture of them under the age of 5 for one of the games we are hoping to play - Guess who! I put a note in the Grandmother-to-be's card asking for a few pictures of her son so that we can make copies and have a game of make the baby, cutting out parts of the Mum & Dad-to-be when they were little.

Supplies: Cardstock; Core'dinations;

Patterned Paper; Doodlebug Designs:

Stamps; Hero Arts; Ink; Brilliance Dew Drop;

Ribbon: Papermaina & Hobby Craft; Other: Sewing machine

I have made the following one for the Mum-to-be;

Just need to decide on how to change the wording on the inside of the card for her. Would have liked to use the lettering on all the cards but would have worked out expensive.

I want to make announcement cards and thank you cards with a similar theme and give them to her as one of her presents.