My Glitterpot Goodies

I had a fabulous weekend away. I stopped at my friend Sarn's house for 2 nights and we went to The Glitterpot on Saturday morning to have a crafty session with some fabulous friends from our cardmaking forum.

We all get on so well together it is like one big family. I have met some of the girls before but the majority were new faces.
What a great place to meet them! The shop is stacked with gorgeous stuff. More stamps than I have ever seen in one place before and loads of other items.

One of the nicest things is the shelves with tons of card samples and they  let you take photos of them, even if some blokes in the shop think you look like nutters for doing so !

These are all the items that I purchased. I had saved up money from my birthday especially for this trip and went over slightly (oops!) but was very pleased with my purchases. I had specific items that I wanted to get, most of which I did but one of them I couldn't get. I think I more than made up with it with the other items though!

I didn't have much opportunity to make cards over the weekend. We intended to do some on Friday night and there was a powercut at Sarns house for 2 1/2 hours. It was so funny as we were making a coffee and literally just as we said we were going to craft the power went. The timing was impeccable LOL. It was a nice chance to have a chat so it wasn't the end of the world. I made 4 cards at the Glitterpot which I will upload soon and then Saturday night we were going to and we were chatting, swapping stash and Sarn stamped some images from her fantastic collection for me (thanks honeybunch xx) The time just dissappeared and I was quite tired anyway and had a long drive the following day.

I've done 400 miles and was really proud of myself for driving such a long way. I had the new  Prodigy Cd on repeat and was happy as larry driving and would have no hesitation to do it again.

The best thing about the weekend was meeting up with someone who I get on so very well with and has become a wonderful friend who is a fantastic person to know. I am very lucky indeed to have met someone who I get on so well with ad love to bits.

Wohoo - I've won another prize

Well thye say things happen in 3's and that is certainly the case for me.

Just as I was logging off my computer on Friday I had an email from Clare Curd to say that I had won a competition on her site Stamping Chic. for a card I submitted in a challenge. To say I was ecstatic is an understatement. I have also had one of my cards featured on her site here

So that is now 3 lovely things I have got to come, one from Di Hickman, a Whiff of Joy stamp and my goodies from Clare. I have no clue what it is but I am so happy to have won I couldn't care less!!

Going away for the weekend

Woohoo, the day I have been waiting for for months has finally arrived.

On Saturday we are having a crafty session at The Glitterpot and I am driving down to my friends house as she has very kindly offered me bed and board for 2 nights. It's at least 3 1/2 hours drive from here and I'll need to stop for a sarnie and a peepee so make that about 4.

I have packed all my stuff, need to dry my hair, have breakfast, make my packed lunch and then I'll be off.

The best bit is I will be meeting up with some lovely people who have been cyber friends for years and especially with Sarn who is a relatively new recruit but we really got on so well. The second best thing is we are going to a fabby shop and I've got pennies to spend. Woohoo!!!

Hopefully I might even get some carsd made as I have done no crafting this week at all.

See you soon Sarn

I've won a blog challenge !!!

Oh how delighted am I to have won a blog challenge with one of my cards ? I never think my cards are good enough so to win a prize is just amazing.

I submitted a card for sketch # 23 over at Just Christmas & Birthday Cards and having visited to see the new challenge this week have discovered I have won. I am so pleased and have to pinch myself a I can't believe it.

365 Cards day 12 & Stampin Chic Sketch

I am loving black and white at the moment, mainly because of the new papers from Clare Curd at Papermania. There are just so many to choose from in the big pad and there are the positive and negative too.

I have used the sketch # 2 on Clare's challenge site Stampin Chic which I have rotated to suit the word art that I had already printed. The theme is from Day 12 at 365 Cards to make a card for the big move.

The wordart is by Bethany Harty. I think this may have been one that she designed for Scrap Orchard as I can't see it on her blog. It is a fabulous resource and Bethany is always producing great WA to use. She has a great blog and a really chatty style, I subscribe to it and never miss a post. Big up respect Bethany, you are wonderful :) I did a bit of doodling around the edge as it looked a bit stark, do you like my little question marks ?

The 'ribbon' is just a scrap of paper with some penmanship around the edge. The house is a die cut that I drew around on glossy black card. I only wanted a basic outline so this was perfect for me. I added some white gel pen and a heart from my stash, if you cherish your home it should have a heart in it I think. I was in 2 minds about whether I should make this heart red or not, I wasn't sure if it would be too bright. If you leave a comment I would ne grateful to know what you would do, I'm never sure and went for the safe option I think. Maybe the red would have been a bit more daring ?

The cute little key I am most proud of. It is a little printed key with Rangers Glossy Accents on it and a little silver jump ring. I was going to add a tag but I think it would have overpowered it so left it without.

ICS, Cuttlebug & 365 Cards Challenges

I've got another 3 challenges in one card with this tag shaped beauty.

The layout is courtesy of sketch #  8 over at Inspirational Card Sketches. I have never created a tag shaped card before and thought it would make a nice change. It also game me the oportunity to punch a gromlet for the 1st time with my Cropodile Big Bite. I am pleased to say that it worked 1st time and was so easy to set. The size of the card is just under A5 so it's a nice size. I have made myself a little template so I can do this type of card again with all the measurements already worked out. All the papers used were scraps so another bonus! The patterned papers are from the Laura Ashley collection by Dovecraft and the pink card was a Brenda Walton K & Co leftover.

Cuttlebug challenge #23 is to be creative with punches. I purchased some ribbon threading punches in November 2007 and have only just used them. They are the type where you punch the paper so it's got a funny threading shape in it and then you punch the shape out, in this case a circle. I used offcuts of a rose patterned vellum used on a project a few days ago. I threaded these on a thin strip of black card and then embellished the centres with Papermania gems. Two of the papers were embossed with the Swiss Dots folder and the Divine Swirls.

365 Cards Day 21 was to make a card inspired by the song 'Lean On Me'. The sentiment is a word art download I have had for some time. I always download these things with good intentions but rarely use them. I printed a few off on a thin sheet of A4 card so I will have a few for making cards. I rally should do that more often so they are already to be used.

This is the first week that I have been able to complete ALL the 365 card challenges. I still have 4 of the earlier ones to do which I fully intend to go back to.

365 Cards Day 20 & Forum Challenges

Todays challenge, Day 20 on 365 cards was to make a card that was hardly decorated on the outside and the sentiment etc was to be inside. Sarn's challenge on the forum is to make a Baby Girl card. As ever I have combined the two challenges.

In terms of not decorating the front I had a massive booboo on as I had cut an aperture in the card front using the stamp Cuttlebug die and then used the swiss dots folder to emboss the card. I matched the pattern up and there was one line of dots in the middle that had been squashed so I used an embossing tool to push them back out, then promptly PUSHED the tool all the way through one of them. I was absolutely gutted! I inked over the top lightly but it still showed up and all the rest of the card had been done so I put some ribbon over the top. Pam, I am sorry I failed at this one but feel happier that I was able to rescue it. 

 A Papermania button completes the ribbon as it looked daft without anything on it.

The inside has an embossed image from the same Cuttlebug pack that the stamp die comes from and is raised on 3d pads so it pokes through the window on the front. The sentiments are rub ons from DCWV and Poundland. 

I wasn't sure about doing a card like this and was happy with it until I poked the embossing tool through the hole. I wish the Cuttlebug folders would fit an A6 sized card blank in properly and then we wouldn't have this problem.

365 Cards, Papertake & JC & B Challenges

I think I've done quite well with this card as I have combined 3 challenges together! Day 19's challenge at 365 Cards was to make what was an obvious birthday card without adding the actual sentiment. The challenge at Papertake this week was to make a card with something edible on it and I used the sketch from Just Christmas & Birthday cards.

The backing paper is from Lets Make Cards. The stamped image was from a forum buddie and is by Clevercut. I have coloured it in using a combination of Sakura pens, Whispers pens and the icing is Woodware puffy paint that you fluff up with a heat gun.

The chipboard tag, bubble stickers and black elastic are all miscellaneous from my stash.

Just heard back about my car, it is now ready for collection but I've got a bill of £600 to pay, crikey......

2 Skeches 4 You Kazan 22 & 365 Cards Day 17

This is the mother' day card I have made for my MIL for sunday. I have used Kazan's sketch 22 over at 2 Sketches 4 You for the layout and Day 17's challenge at 365 Cards to use 3 buttons and 3 bows

The bottom paper is a printed vellum by Folia which I got from a wicked little craft shop in Stratford upon Avon. The sheet was mahoosive and it has lasted forever. It is so fab as you can't see adhesive through it and the colors are so rich. The top is black card with a white core that has been embossed using a Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and sanded back a little to highlight the dots. The black ribbon is recycled from a box of Thorntons choccies, the red 'bows' are HOTP ribbon, the heart buttons are Papermania.

The rose image has been recycled from a shop bought card, the special Mum sentiment was printed out by moi ages ago and the other sentiment was from a Lets Make Cards pack and matted onto black to make it pop more. I had a small amount of the black ribbon left so added it to the top of the card with a heart shaped gem. I was n't sure about it but Paul likes it and it's his Mom the card is for.

CPS 107 & 365 Cards Day 18

Now, I am not a lover of green. It stems back from school uniform and having to wear a bottle green jumper, but it is one of my least favourite colours. Looks good on trees and grass and that's about it. So, imagine my horror when the challenge on 365 Cards day 18 was to make a completely green card. My mojo went hiding and I couldn't coax it out! I then thought about the Peny Black stickeroos that I had with the frogs on and started from there.

I chose sketch 107 at CPS for the layout. I rarely make DL sized cards as sometime it can be hard to balance embellishments but if I have a sketch to follow I feel a lot braver. The papers are DWCW Blossoms and Butterflies pad. I love the silver foiling on these but unfortunately they don't scan in well and it looks almost black :( 

The stickeroo has been placed on white cardstock and I trimmed down a Kanban pearlescent frame to suit the shape of the sticker. The rub on sentiment is partially glittered and came from a huge sheet at Poundland. 

Even though green is for me a hard colour to work with I quite like this card.

Things are looking up :)

Well after the nightmare that was Monday I am happy to report that things are looking up.

I took my car in yesterday to have the brake problems looked at and to get serviced. Needs MOT in April so at least not everything has come at once. I won't have the car for a couple of days but at least it will be fixed and safe to drive.

I have started taking my new BP tablets and have stopped drinking coffee as I'm sure that I was drinking too much and this has probaby not helped. I think you are only supposed to have 2 a day and I was drinking waaaaay more than that. I'll still have my yummy Nespresso pods as a special treat though, I can't give them up, NO way ..... LOL

I have just found out that I have won some lovely little stamps from Di Hickman's Friday Freebie so I am dead chuffed about that. It's really cheered me up and I'll have some lovely post from the USA to look forward to now. Yippee !!!

Are You Chocolate or Vanilla ?

Just going through my email this morning and there is a little quiz that Mel Hains has stumbled across. She produces some absolutely fabulous Digital Freebies and I am an avid collector as one day I would love to get to grips with scrapbooking both digitally and in paper form.

It's only a small quiz and although I would have immediately said I would have been chocolate this summary does match my character quite well.

You Are Vanilla

You are a delightful, friendly person. You are optimistic about life and people. You are enthusiastic and energetic. You enjoy everything you do. You are cooperative and flexible. You get along with people from many walks of life. You're not a show off. Instead, you're more likely to help other people shine.

Are You Chocolate or Vanilla?

Go On, Take the quiz. You know you want to ! LOL

365 Cards Day 15 & Cuttlebug Challenge 22 & Clare Curds Limited Supply Challenge

This card was made using the sketch from Day 15 over at 365 Cards and Challenge 22 at Cuttlebug Challenge to use glitter with a rubber stamp.

The backing paper is another of Clare Curds Signature Range by Papermania. I love the swirly ones in there and there are loads of black & white ones. The swirls are a rubber stamp which was inked with Versamark and ultrafine glitter was poured on. I am absolutely covered with glitter, oh what fun :) I have entered this card into a challenge on the blog to only use 1 sheet of patterned paper. That's 3 challenges in 1 Card, an all time world record for me!

The flowers are from shop bought silk flowers that I have dismantled, sometimes you get absolutely loads and they work out far cheaper than the craft ones. The buttons are from my stash as is the sentiment. The 'ribbon' is a piece of white core black card which has been embossed using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and sanded back to highlight the dots better.

365 Cards Day 16 & ICS Sketch # 7

Had a bit of a nightmare of a day today. 1st my graphics card in my computer packed up so Paul has had to take the one out of his and put in in mine :) Good job he's got his Macbook Pro now.

2nd, got a problem with the brakes on the car, had to book it into the garage tomorrow and they are going to do the service at the same time.

3rd, went to the doctors to get my blood pressure checked, admittedly I haven't had it done for a good while (my fault she adds sheepishly....) It is very, very high and doctor is extremely concerned. I had been put on tablets immediately and got to go back next week to be checked. It's taught me a lesson to put my health first and not to put things off. My ex employers made it extremely difficult to take time off for appointments but being made redundant took that problem away so I need to stop making excuses and get a handle on this now. (Don't worry, I've told myself off big time !)

Anyhoo, I visited 365 Cards this morning and challenge 16 is to incorporate sunshine in your card. The little sunflower image was recycled from an old calendar and is my favourite happy smiley sunflower picture. I posted a card a couple of days ago and said I call them happy flowers, this little image is exactly what I mean by that. I used the  sketch # 7 over at Inspirational Card Sketches. I have missed the deadline because of my computer problem, but I don't stand a cat in hell's chance of winning anything anyway so it doesn't really matter. I'm not the best card maker in the world, but I love what I do. There would be no point otherwise would there?

The card blank and sun die cut are from Let's Make Cards magazine, the patterned paper is from the new Clare Curd signature collection from Papermania. Some of the designs in this pad are just gorgeous ! The glittered chipboard letters, cardstock alpha stickers and brown textured card are all DCWV from the QVC drawer sets. In hindsight I think I should have mounted the image on a contrasting card to make it pop out from the paper a bit but I had already stuck the most sticky of 3d pads on the back and they would not budge so it will have to stay as it is I am afraid. 

2 Sketches 4 You & 365 Cards

Another double challenge card thankyou to the inspiration from 365 Cards and the wonderful sketch from Laura Davis.

Day 13's challenge at 365 Cards was to make a card using only Blue, Red & Yellow with white. I have to admit, they are colours that I would never have dreamed of putting together and I'm not entirely sure about this card. I've left it blank for the time being but it will probably look better with a sentiment , not sure?

Anyhoo I have used Laura's sketch # 21 over at 2 Sketches 4 You as the layout. The blue paper is a current freebie with a UK magazine Crafts Beautiful. The blue and red ribbons are from my stash. I love the red spotty ribbon with the pretty border, it is one of my fave's. The small flower is a Prima and the button is Papermania.

The yellow flower has been recycled from my living room. I have recently changed the colour scheme and had some bright yellow and orange flowers which came apart really easily and I now have a fabulous source of large and medium size blooms and there were loads of layers in each one. Quite a bargain really! The flower sequin was in my stash from ages ago, the spotty brad is Queen & Co. and the red gems are Papermania.

CSAD #194 & 365 Cards Day 14

It's Friday Friends over at Card Sketch a Day and this is the card I have submitted for sketch # 194. I have also submitted this for 365 Cards Day 14 where the challenge was to make DIY flower embellishments from paper.

The rose paper is a vellum that is very richly coloured by Folia. The oval is a K & Co Brenda Walton embossed cardstock. I particularly liked that it has little hearts embossing and felt it would be a nice touch with the sentiment which is clear DCWV sticker mounted onto white and then burgundy cardstock. The flowers are HOTP swirls using rose HOTP paper in pinks and reds to pick up the colours used. I have accented the centres with clear gems. The ribbon is recycled from a boxof Thorntons choccies (yum yum)

365 Cards Day 3

A very good friend has asked me to make a card for a 60th Anniversary as he couldn't find anything special in the shops.

I wanted to do something with linking 2 hearts together so started by cutting 2 heart shapes with a Fiskars template and sewing lace to them. The card is a pearlescent champagne colour I used a HOTP gold lace vellum, backed it with a pink DCWV cardstock and added a strip of textured card from a QVC Dawn Bibby kit which has Happy Anniversary foiled with an oil on water effect. The sentiment mat also came from this kit and I cut it into a heart shape to match the theme.

I wanted to incorporate Pearl's name as I thought this would make it more personal so I made a layered flower with 3 assorted Primas,  a pearl headed pin, a pearl shell button and tied a tiny ribbon through the holes. This makes the card fit in with Day 3's trio challenge at 365 Cards. I am loving how much more creative this blog is making me with my card making. I love being able to combine their challenges with the card sketch sites and it is spurring me on to make more cards. Pam, thank you, you are a goddess !!

Various bling has been added to fit in with the Diamond Wedding Anniversary theme and all alphabet peel offs are courtesy of Papermania.

I love this card, I am very proud of it. It has a lot more depth than I would normally put in a card. I always feel a piece of me goes into every card I make, I call it a smile in an envelope. As a complete romantic I am honoured to have been asked to make such a special card and hope they appreciate the love that has gone into it.

Kreativ Blogger Award

I have been given a Kreativ Blogger award by the extremely talented Joanna at Handmade by Asia Wu. I hadn't realised it had been given to me until I was going through some old posts on her blog and found this. I realised that I had somehow missed her comment, so many apologies for how late I am picking this award up Joanna.

So there are certain rules attached to this award and they are as follows :-

1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Write six random things about yourself.
3. Tag six people at the end of your post and link them.
4. Let each person know they've been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
5. Let the blogger know when your entry is up.

6 random things about me are :

1. I was originally born in Leeds but moved to Birmingham when I was 13. Although I've got quite a strong Brummie accent now I immediately get my Yorkshire accent back when I speak to Northern people.
2. I've got more patterned paper than I'll use in a lifetime of cardmaking so why do I still buy more ?
3. I haven't bought a card for the last 5 years. I think my hubby would kill me with all the supplies I have if I did !
4. I use exclamation marks too much !!!! Always have, always will :)
5. I don't own any Basic Grey or Stampin Up. I want to succumb but I know it waill be expensive so avoid them both !
6. I can't throw anything away which relates to cardmaking. Once it's in my stash it will stay there even if it hasn't been used. I just can't bring myself to get rid of them.....

The people I would like to nominate for this award are

Sarn

Kerrie

Jenny

Becky

Valerie

Clare

All of whom are very special people who are tremendously creative and some of the nicest people I have the pleasure to call friends.

So thankyou very much Asia Wu and I shall now pass this award to my friends above.

365 Day 5 & TECC 58

I have made this thankyou card for a very special friend using the sketch 58 from Taylored Expressions and Day 5's challenge from 365 cards to make a thankyou card that can be easily reproduced.

The cards are preprinted K & Co Amy Butler kit, as is the sentiment panel with rub on wording. The other cardstock and alpha stickers are DCWV. The little flower is a Prima and the gem is Papermania.

This is a completely different card for me as I don't 'do' paisley but I quite like this design as it is a bold colouring. I'm really pleased that I was able to colour match with other items I had in my stash.

I can't wait to meet up at the end of the month, not long to go now :)

365 Cards Day 10 & Friday Sketchers 41

I love this card so much, it is so bright and happy. I have always loved sunflowers and call them happy flowers. How can one be sad when greeted by such a wonderous sight? One day I would love to see a field of sunflowers.

I made this card using day 10's challenge over at 365 Cards to make a card using a photo. I utilized sketch 41 at Friday Sketchers for the layout. The majority of the items are DCWV, all the patterned papers are from the summer drawer set I had from QVC, the brown card was from the same box has has been embossed using a Cuttlebug folder. The swirls are self adhesive Doodlebug with gold micro glitter applied. The brad is Papermania and the tag is from my stash.

I think I will find it difficult to give this card away.....

Sketches by Tamara 85 & 365 Cards Day 11

I have made this card for a forum buddies birthday using sketch # 85 from Sketches by Tamara and Day 11's challenge at 365 Cards which was to use at least 5 papers and 5 embellishments. I used 8 different papers, 4 embellishments and 22 gems.

All the papers are freebies from magazines, the butterflies were from Poundland, the gems were a mixture of Papermania and Poundshop bargains and the sentiment was a self adhesive padded one one from the Rag Market in Birmingham. I only realised it was sticky today so I was really chuffed about that :)

Di Hickman March # 1 & 365 Cards Day 9

I have made a card for our friends birthday using Di Hickman's Sketch and Day 9's challenge over on 365 cards to only use scraps of paper.

The base card is covered with the left overs of a freebie sheet from Crafts Beautiful magazine. The lower spotted paper is from a sheet I made Paul's 40th card in December !! The blue strip was cut from a scrap which has dots on it butthey were very pale so I have added some bling to it. The slide mount was a horrible pattern so I have covered it with a scrap from my little box.

The ribbon is HOTP, all gems are Papermania and the little cupcakes are from Paperchase. The sentiment is from Lets Make Cards 

365 Cards Day 2 & Inspirational Card Sketches # 6

For this card I have used sketch # 6 over at Inspirational Card Sketches and have turned it round to accomodate the tag. I have also incorporated day 2 challenge at 365 Cards where you could use no more than 2 embellishments.

The starting poing was the tag as it was fairly decorative and aleady had a sentiment on it. The tag and the papers are HOTP and are from 2 different citrus packs. The flower is a Prima and the glittered brad is Papermania. I also used the clear glitter pen from Sakura on some of the flowers but it has scanned in really silver for some strange reason. Technology, can't live without it but why won't it do what it's supposed to?

365 Cards Day 1

The very 1st challenge on the new blog 365 Cards was a sketch, the main embellishment being circular I thought I could use one of the big flowers that were a freebie from a magazine. As it was already made up from before I had a choice of orange or green. I luvs, luvs luvs orange as it is such a happy colour do that was my obvious choice.

The papers are from the HOTP Citrus creative pack a is the sentiment panel. The sentiment is a rub-on from papermania as is the gem in the centre of the flower which has got 4 decoupaged layers. Fairly simple card as all the time consuming cutting out had been done ages ago.

Mother in Law's Double Challenge Card

It's my MIL's birthday on Friday 13th (argggh) and totally unlike me I haven't left it till the last minute to make her card.

The forum challenge this week is to make a card using a Penny Black animal. I have used a Stickeroo and picked the colour from the daisies for the papers and embellishments.

This card was also made using Sketch # 21 from Just Christmas & Birthday Cards. I have been lurking there for a while but this is the first card I have made for it.

The paper is DCWV, the flowers are Prima, Papermania brad, gorgeous bobbly trim, chipboard circles Paper Cellar with DCWV cardstock sticker letters. The sentiment is a seal I made using the seal generator site. 

Well that's the card done, just need to sort a pressie out for her now!

CSAD #187 & 365 Cards Day 6

Had a really busy week this week getting bsck to normal after having the Lounge, Dining Room and HSL carpets fitted. Have become obsessed with vacuuming the excess bits up and that is just not me! Have put back items and have been giving everything a good clean before it gets put away. It's been 7 weeks since we have watched TV and Paul was desperate to play on his PS3. 

I also needed relaxing time and I have today made a card for the 1st time in over a week! Just not had the chance to and I have missed it so much. I checked out Card Sketch a Day's Friday Friends challenge. Can you believe they are upto sketch 187? It honestly only seems like a few months since Susan started this blog, how on earth she keeps producing such good sketches is beyond me, but I thank her for it. I have also incorporated todays Challenge over at 365 Cards which is a new blog which only started this week. This challenge was to include some bling on your card, well that was an easy one for moi as I love a bit of sparkle me.

Anyhoo, the papers are from the Laura Ashley Contemporary collection from Dovecraft. I used my homemade Nestability style templates to cut the shapes out and inked the edges. The spotty paper was attacked on the corners by the rounder punch and then the hearts, to which I added some Papermania heart gems. The butterflies are punched out using a Anna Griffin punch to which more bling has been added. The sentiment is a DCWV Chipboard sticker and the beaded braid was £1 a metre from Birmingham Rag Market.