Nanny's Birthday Book

One of my work colleagues asked me to make a special book for her. It was to be from 2 little girls for their Nanny's Birthday.

I was provided with loads of photo's of the 2 little cousins and set to work. It was decided that there should be some with them together and also some separate. Tash came up with the idea of handprints from each of the girls and I have left a page alongside so they can do their individual messages to their Nanny which would be a special touch that all Nanny's would appreciate I think.

She liked the same coloring as the previous book I made so I used the same paper for the cover. I added the chipboard circles and brads to wrap the closure round as this was a great mistake that I made on the first one. I just didn't anticipate the difficulty of keeping the book closed !

The patterned papers used inside are from various manufacturers and I used a sprinkling of Primas to embellish the pages.

The matching box and front of book were embellished using die cut lettering from Ellisons Curlie Girlie and Sizzlits extended cuts Wingo Zingo. The paper was a self adhesive irridescent film and the alphabets came out much better using this thinner medium.

I have done a Slideshow of all the pages below.

Di Hickman Challenge September #4

I made this card for my friend Dervla as she left to have her baby. The 'Guardian Angel' is there to watch over her and Baby G in the final few weeks and was made using wire & various beads I have gathered. One of my forum buddies had made and Angel of Love and I thought I would have a go at something similar. I made a few of them and they will probably be appearing in other cards.

I used one of Di Hickman's templates as inspiration for the layout. I don't usually tear small pieces so that was a little different for me. Both pieces of card are from my scraps box and I used a Cuttlebug folder to emboss the swirls and ran a silver inkpad over the top to highlight.

The backing paper is DCWV Peeking Posies and has a subtle glitter in the centre of the flowers. The ribbon at the back was left loose so I could hang the tag from it using a heart shaped paperclip from Paperchase. The tag is from HOTP to which I added some appropriate rub on sentiments from Let's Make Cards and attached it with a Papermania Brad.

Exploding Baby Box

My good friend and work colleague Dervla was leaving to have a baby and I was asked to make a card for everyone to sign.

I'd already decided that I wanted to make something very special for her and came up with the idea of putting a baby bootie inside an exploding box. This would then give plenty of flaps for my colleagues to write their sentiments in.

I made the bootie first using a template obtained from the By Donavan site. The finished bootie then dictated the size the box needed to be. I embellished the edge of the bootie with border outline stickers and a Papermania brad. The sentiment was added as it looked a little plain and the baby when born will have a surname of G.

The box was made to a finished size of 5 1/2" square and required the use of many pieces of card to get the required shape. I used a piece of mountboard for the base to make it substantial and all the pieces wer then mounted on that.

The layers were individually decorated. The base has peel off borders around each edge. The top cream layer has been corner punched with a corner adorner punch. This performed really well even though the card was very thick. I used this cut out shape to stencil through with a gold gel pen to the green layer to add a little interest.

The embellishments used inside were a mixture of items from a QVC TSV kit (baby tag with HOTP nappy pin, pram,angel tag, cutie tag,) Lisa Bearnsen QVC kit (clear quotes, B embellishment on lid) Prima flowers Pink Petticoat downloaded image.

Dervla said she wasn't going to cry - but she did ! I said I hadn't done my job very well if she didn't. She absolutely loves it, so does James to proud Father to be. I just wanted to make something special for 2 lovely people and I am very much looking forward to meeting Baby G.

As a result of making this box I have now been commissioned to make another one so i guess I'll have to cost this one up !

I have made a slideshow with all the images of the card below.

Just Bex November # 2

A recent challenge on Just Bex was to make a card following a template and for an extra point you needed to use something starting with D.

This card was again made from raiding my scraps, a touch of ribbon, a rub on sentiment from Let's Make Cards, a die cut flower from Papermania and a diamante gem.

Really like this sketch, nice and simple but well balanced.

Di Hickman Challenge November #2

Another RAK card and another of Di's templates.

I have again used some scraps from my box as I have got so many and feel I NEED to use them as it is a waste otherwise.

I'm in a bit of a pink & purple phase at the moment. I think it's because the weather is so miserable and I need cheering up and bright colours are a good antidote !

The circular paper is a textured wallpaper sample pinched from Homebase some time ago. I ran an inkpad over the fluffy edge where it was torn. The dotty paper on the panel is from my scraps box and I have no clue what make it is as it was a notelet from a forum buddy. The flowers are a Sizzlits Cut & Emboss with a gem in the centre. When I got this die I went through a load of my scraps and cut loads out ready to use in future projects.

The sentiment is from a Cuttlebug folder and I had a section left that I saved and cut the individual letters out. This was also edged with an inkpad.

I am really pleased with this card made almost entirely from scraps.

Di Hickman Challenge October #2

Catching up on Rak cards and template challenges at the same time. Used Di Hickman's template to make this card.

The backing paper is wallpaper from my scraps box edged with a bit of a Brilliance inkpad. The central circle is a scrap of card overlaid with a Papermania die cut which I embellished with a bit of Glamour Dust. The circles alongside are Cuttlebug folders which I ran over with a black Stazon inkpad to define the shapes. I embellished the centres with a Sakura pen and a bit more glitter.

Hello Daddy !

I had been commissioned by my friend Dervla, who is very heavily pregnant with her 1st child - to make a card from the baby to it's Daddy for when it pops, due sometime within the next month.

James is one of the most excitable people I know so I wanted to make it a fun card. They do not know the sex of the baby so I suggested we use green and yellow, also Dervla is Irish so has an affinity for green.

The backing paper is HOTP, there are an assortment of dies in this project. The circular lettering is a Cuttlebug alphabet. They cut perfectly EVERY time and after the recent problems I have had with a Sizzlits extended cuts alphabet not cutting properly then I don't think I will use another brand now, it's just not worth the hassle. Alphabets are bloody fiddly anyway and you want to be certain that it will cut 1st time. Sorry, rant over ! Anyway this font is very adaptable as you can use the letters or the circles over another colour as I have done here.

The Daddy lettering is hand cut from glitter card using a font I printed out. The star on the exclamation mark is a fluke as whe I was cutting out the circles next to it was a star and the bottom of the mark looked boring so I replaced it. It adds a bit more impact ad I think works better !

The pram and baby gro are Quickutz which I am ashamed to admit I have had for a long while and not used. The nappy pin, bottle and head are Sizzlits. I have never been able to get a good clean cut with these dies until I got a tagalong and the roller action makes a huge difference compared to the old lever style Sizzix die cutter.

I made a matching box for this project using more die cuts, the sentiment is another Sizzlits die. I also used sparkly star shaped gems. Inside the box I used lemon tissue paper and have put a packet of silver stars and nappy pins to scatter into the box.

I love this card, I loved making it for 2 very special people and I can't wait to see Baby G

Wedding Card & Di Hickman Sketch Oct #4

This card was made for my work colleagues wedding and I used a Di Hickman card sketch for the design.

The patterned paper is from a Dovecraft pack I bought at the NEC, the sparkly lilac is Paperchase wrapping paper. The stamped image is highlighted with Sakura souffle and glitter pens. The ribbon is from a great stand at the NEC, 10 rolls for £10 and the peel off is Papermania.

I was very tempted to pit something above the writing, there is a lot of blank space on this for one of my cards - but I'm pleased I resisted the urge as it looks more sophisticated for it!

Bookatrix Wedding Card

One of my colleagues getting married at the weekend and I was commissioned to make a card by my friend Dervla.






She chose the style of the card and I have made it using the wedding colours of lilac and sparkly white.

I used sparkly and irridescent papers throughout and edged the pages with Papermania peel offs. I used one of my favorite stamps for the image on the card and embellished with mulberry flowers, ribbons and Papermania heart shaped gems.















The matching box was lined with lilac tissue paper and embellished with more peel offs.

70th Birthday Book

I had been commissioned by one of my work colleagues to make a special book for her Step Mom's 70th Birthday. Karen has asked me to make a few things for her recently and each item has surpassed the last and I've got a reputation to uphold now!

I had the idea of making it a book with photo's of the people it was from and a space for them to write their own sentiment alongside.

The 6" square mini scrapbook started life as brown and pink and as the recipients favourite colour is purple that just wouldn't do. The trouble was, I didn't have any paper big enough so I used self adhesive irridescent film for the main cover, and used a strip of some gorgeous silver and lilac glittered wrapping paper that I bought from the NEC last year. Through out the project the only glitter is from this paper, I was absoloutely covered by the end !

I used some ribbon to cover the join of the 2 papers, and the sentiment on the front is Papermania peel offs.

The main pages are a photograph of family member with partner and a plain section to write on. these are all matted on various purple papers and embellished with Prima flowers.

In the middle of the book there are 2 poems to celebrate a mother.

I had intended to use gems for the middle of the flowers, but the book was getting so fat that I had to reduce the thickness. I had originally inserted lengths of ribbon between the covers of the book to tie it, but they were straining against the thickness so much that they would not hold it. The box had already been made and the thickness was as big as I could make it with A4 card so I couldn't make another so I came up with the idea of using a long length of ribbon to double wrap the book and this kept it together and small enough to go into the box. The box was embellished with peel off and I used a length of lilac organza ribbon to tie a bow for presentation. Karen was delighted with it and they were having a get together at the weekend for her birthday. I told her if her Mom doesn't cry I haven't done my job properly!

Below is a slideshow of the all the photos of this project

I've got a new car !

Took a car for test drive last Saturday and picked it up yesterday.

I am now the proud owner of a Silver Peugeot 206 'Y' reg and it looks a bit smart, but best of all it has power steering.

Just got to get used to the difference in the responsiveness, that will take me a little while I think but will test it out this afternoon as we are going to Sister in Laws in Shirley so it'll give it a bit of a run out.

Bets of all, much lower insurance group than my old car and much more reliable.

Mark's Leaving Card

I made a card for a work colleague who is leaving for pastures new. As it needed to be signed by the members of staff I decided to make a folding card so there were more areas to write on.

The front of the card was made using an Sizzix Extended Cuts alphabet Wingo Zingo. I must admit I used this for the first time and so far am not impressed with it as it didn't provide an even pressure an the letters. It wouldn't cut through some of the card at all and I had to experiment with different layers. Will need to persevere with it I think.
The masculine papers are a combination of Papermania, Dovecraft and DCWV.

The central photo is one that was taken at a recent birthday party and I decided to put springs behind his head and hands so they wobble about. It was such a funny photo and he was so animated. My hubby thought he looked like Stephen Hawkins but Mark loved it !

Happy 25th Birthday Tash

It is a very good friend of our's birthday today and this is the card I have made for her. We were supposed to be seeing her tonight but that got cancelled so we will be giving it to her on Monday morning.

The papers were from my Crafts Beautiful sub gift, the flower is a new one bought today by Petaloo, the big brad is HOTP and decorated with one of their rub-ons. The bracelet is looped through the card and can be worn.

The buckle is an embellishment I bought from Ebay and can be removed as it is there only for card decoration.

Been to Hobbycrafts at the NEC

I went to the NEC today all on my own !

It was only the 2nd time I have driven on the motorway and the 1st on my own and I really enjoyed it. Having the Sat Nav makes a massive difference as I can concentrate on my driving more as I don't need to worry about maps or anything. However there was a traffic jam on the M42 for about 20 minutes and we came to a standstill. I couldn't believe I had to stop the car on a motorway. It was a bit weird to say the least doing stop start, stop start in 1st gear. It was like reliving driving into Birmingham city centre for the 1st time yesterday - the traffic was appalling....

I was very good buying wise. I renewed my subscription to Crafts Beautiful magazine and got a great storage tote and loads of goodies, wicked gift loads of stuff I can use in it. I also ended up with 4 of their goodie bags and got absolutely loads of freebies from them.

Picked up some bargains in the way of ribbons, A4 plastic storage boxes, Penny Black stickers and some Papermania bits and pieces.

Got some nice stuff from Debbie Moore, some beautiful little acetate images and some deep embossing powder. Also got some large Heidi Swapp flowers and a couple of bits from the Craftwork Cards stall.

I couldn't believe how much it cost to park though £8 !!!! And how big are those car parks ? I was a wee bit worried that I wouldn't be able to find the car so had used a couple of things as landmarks and they led me straight back to my car. I was well chuffed !

Ali's 50th Birthday

This is the most ambitious project I have done so far and I am so amazingly proud of what I have made.

The book was inspired by an article in Papercraft Inspirations and is called a meandering book. The original project was made using a single piece of 12" x 12" cardstock cut into a particular design using a template supplied in the magazine. I had a go at this and decided for this it was going to be too small so made one using the same design but with 5.5" square pages instead of 4"

The idea was that each family member would have a photo on one of the flaps and there is a tag behind each which has special birthday sentiments that each person wanted to have included. There are also photos with her husband and behind these poems and a sneaky tag from me. There is also a fold in the very centre of the card which hides a sentiment from all the family.

This was a very special project for someone I know so it made it a more personal thing to do. When I first made the size of card I thought it was going to be too empty but by the time the papers were added, then the photos and tags it became a lot fatter and we struggled to close it. You wouldn't believe how heavy it turned out in the end. I made a box for it and wrapped it in tissue paper for presentation.

The fastening was made using a velcro square which is hidden under the flower '0' in the 50. I have beaten my previous best for Prima usage - 90 on this project not including the other flowers on the front !

I have been told it made Alison cry for ages and she won't take it out of the house so no one can see it unless they come round.

Please see below a slideshow with all the photos of it. The ribbons that are sticking out are where the tags are hidden.

Happy 40th Birthday Tina

It was my next door neighbour and very good friend Tina's 40th Birthday last Sunday and I made a folding card for her.

I had never seen this type of card before until I joined the Just Bex forum and it was one of the challenges for September.

Unfortunately I was unable to complete the challenge in time to get some points but it goes to show that some ideas do stick in there !


The card was made using papers and embellishments from the recent Crafty Bitz TSV from QVC. In fact it has to be a world record for me as it was delivered on the Friday and I started using it the following day.

The birthday sentiment on the front is a Cuttlebug embossing folder, the number stickers are Papermania and the present die cut is from a Let's Make Cards kit.
Inside the rub on quotes are from DCWV and the Birthday Rules sentiment is from a HOTP book and I chalked it to add colour.

I really enjoyed making this card and think it is a style I will be making more of in the future.

It amazed me how quick it was to put together once you had chosen all the elements.

I've Passed My CPC

I've got some absolutely wonderful news.

I've passed my exams and gained my CPC which is a Certification of Professional Competence in Road Transport & Haulage.

For 3 whole weeks my life revolved around a 2 week course and revising for 3 exams I sat on the 7th September and on Thursday night I got the results I have been waiting for. I passed all 3 papers on the first attempt which is rare as the numbers to achieve a pass are so high.

This is now a stepping stone into a much more responsible role and the ability to go into transport management.

For a woman in a predominantly male profession it is vindication of all my hard word and a massive confidence boost.

I am very proud of what I have achieved, but still can't quite believe it.

RAK Card

This card was made for a forum friend who is going through a tough time at present. I found this sentiment as a free download on Melanie's blog and thought it was appropriate to her. (Check out this blog, there are some wonderful word art freebie's on here)

The backing paper is a freebie from a magazine. The sentiment is printed on photo paper and matted onto silver card from my scraps box. The stars are from the Prima Christmas baubles and I highlighted the large stars on the sentiment with a fine glue pen and glitter.

Di Hickman Challenge October #3

This card was made using the latest template from Di Hickman. The butterfly image is a decoupage that I downloaded from a very talented lady called Valita Reynolds quite a while ago. I've had it printed on semi gloss photo paper for about a month now and made it for a forum friend.

The image has 5 layers in some places but I have used low profile 3D foam tape to reduce the bulk for posting.

The black and gold cards used for layering are from my scraps box, the vellum I have had for about 3 years and never used ! The large flower is Papermania, the small one is a Prima. The gems are from Paperchase and the sentiment is a DCWV rub-on.

This is a very sophisticated card for me, not my usual style LOL. Also there is a lot of blank card I really had to fight the urge to put something there ! But I think it looks a lot better that I didn't !

Christmas Gift Tags

Another challenge on Just Bex is to make 3 gift tags, and you could do it 3 times to get a maximum of 3 points.

This first batch are from some Margaret Sherry decoupage that came free with one of the magazines last year. I have recently gone through all my free papers to pull out the Christmas ones to try and start using them so this was a good place to start.

I may use these on Christmas cards yet, I haven't decided.

These ones are simple Christmas Tree die cuts wrapped with tinsel.

The irridescent tinsel is from Boots, the red and green was from hair scrunchies that I took apart.
I spent 50p and got yards and yards of the stuff.

These ones were made from a pack of cheap Christmas cards I got in the January sales. The images were chunky and bold and I thought they would be nice to decoupage. I have added a bit of bling to the holly for berries.

The girls on the forum have made some lovely ones so far which are great for special people. The ones I have made are quite basic, but suitable for the bunch of people who don't even bother looking at them and certainly wouldn't realise they have been hand made !

Swing Card

Another Just Bex challenge to make a 'swing' card. One of the members Sadie had uploaded drawings and instructions of how to make this style of card and it was really easy to make as long as your measurements are accurate.

I have often admired this style of card thinking it would be difficult, but it isn't at all, and it looks fantastic. I think I may be making more of these.....

The paper is DCWV 2006 stack, more red from my scraps and Papermania stickers for the sentiment and snowflakes.

The snowman is another freebie scrapbooking printable.

Friday Night Challenge - Santa Baby

Friday Night Challenge for the 19th October on Just Bex was to make 5 cards with Santa on them.

This card was made using DCWV paper from 2006 stack. The image was from an old Christmas Card and the red paper was from my scraps box, which I am desparately trying to use some of.

This card was made using a Cuttlebug embossing folder which I inked in red to highlight the embossing. I coloured in his hat with a glitter gel pen. The white trim is applique embossing fluid which is raised and has a nice shine to it. The beard is a glitter snow writer pen, but I didn't think it was glitter enough so added more ! Santa is layered onto one of those Kanban pop out frames.

The paper is from a scrap paper kit from Home Bargains last year and is holographic.

The top and bottom edge of the card have a dotted line using the gel pen but it hasn't scanned in as shimmery as it is in real life.


This card was made using DCWV 2006 pad again, Papermania ribbon. The santa image is cut from a magazine advert.





This card was made using another Cuttlebug image, a large embossing folder for the background paper highlighted with silver ink. The sentiment is a recycled Christmas card matted onto a silver scrap of card.


Cuttlebug embossing folder has made an outing on this one as well, highlgted with a blue ink. Santa is a layered Sizzlits diecut, the sentiment is an old card and the patterned paper is from some gift bags I spotted in Asda yesterday. I have lots of little pieces so you will see it popping up regularly.

Loving doing these challenges, getting my Christmas cards made early for a change.

Big Challenge Polka Dot Spots

It's Big Challenge weekend on Just Bex and there are oodles & oodles of challenges. I don't think I will have time to be able to do them all, but I am having fun just the same and getting some more Christmas Cards made.

This challenge was to make a card with polka dots or spots on.

The paper is DCWV 2006 stack, the letters were cut from a magazine article and the snowflake is from an old Christmas card.

Old & New Challenge

Recent challenge on Just Bex is to make 2 projects, one using old paper that you don't like and don't want to use - the other using new paper (that you probably don't want to use either !lol)

Now I ABSOLUTELY HATE pointsettias, I honestly don't know why but I cannot stand them. Last years Christmas DCWV stack had this image x loads of sheets. I had managed to get rid of some of them in a paper swap, but was still haunted by the remaining 2 every time I dipped into this pad.

I therefore decided that I would make a card with them for this challenge and ged rid once and for all. I used one as the base and the other I painstakingly cut out and decoupaged with the leaves at different heights to show better dimension. At one point I actually wished I'd got another sheet as it felt a bit stingy with 2 layers, but I think it has worked really well and you can see so much depth to it.

I accented the veins in the leaves with my Sakura fine tipped glue pen and glitter.

I'm in 2 minds whether to put a sentiment on it or not as I think it might spoil it if I do.

For the new one I have used a lovely design from the new DCWV Christmas stack, it's a totally different kind of paper for me but I really like it.

The sentiment is a freebie scrapbooking printable I've collected from goodness knows where. It is printed on photo paper so looks a bit shiny. The flowers are more of those lovely Primas, with glitterglue and gold glass beads in the centre.

I really like how fresh this design looks and very modern.

I am enjoying doing these challenges as it really makes me think about different styles and designs and I am sure some of it must sink in somewhere :)

Memorial Bookatrix

One of my colleagues had asked me to make a very special bookatrix but it needed to be waterproof as it is being used as a memorial plaque at a service next week. Family from the UK & Australia are attending and she wanted something special to commemorate the special people who died.

I made the bookatrix pages as usual and laminated them. I hadn't got a clue whether it would work or not but I am really pleased that it did.

The floral embellishment is Prima Pointsettias and the other embellishments are Papermania brads. The green stick is so that it can be pushed into the ground and this is made from wooden dowel and covered with florist's crepe tape. This is stuck on the back with a liberal amount of glue from a hot glue gun.

1st Birthday Card

I have been commissioned by a colleague at work to make a card for a 1 year old and the brief was aeroplanes.

I bought the Cuttlebug die and thought I would have a go at making a larger version with Captain Jai flying it. (thanks you to computers and printers it was an easy task to make a template)

Items used were Papermania rub on's, scraps of card and paper and Cuttlebug die. The white plane looked a bit bland so I used little star peel offs to decorate.

I am really pleased with the result, I hope Sobia is too.

The Dreaded Lurgy

Have been suffering with a cold this week which has floored me to be honest. I've not had a good year with colds and flu, something that rarely happens. Over the last week I've alternated between good days and bad days where then symptoms seem better and then come back with a vengeance.

I've been drinking honey and lemon in hot water and that has really helped soothe my throat, but I hate the taste of honey !

On Wednesday I'd had so little sleep the night before that my husband told me I should stay at home as I wasn't safe to drive. It was only when he point blank refused to get in the car with me that I thought maybe I should go back to bed. I realised after having been asleep most of Wednesday that he was right, but it really hurt at the time.

All this lurgy has left me with no time for crafting so catching up this weekend.

Mary Poppins

Let's Go Fly a Kite, Up to the highest height... come on sing a long with me if you know the words.

My wonderful hubby bought tickets for us to go the theatre in London last Saturday and we had a wonderful time. I loved the film and have seen it many times, but the musical was just MAGICAL !

I was crying pretty much all the way through, some sadness (Feed the Birds gets me every time!) and sheer happiness at how wonderful the whole thing was.

There were loads of kids there and they were really well behaved, but y0u could tell the difference in the ages by the oohs and ahhs. The likkle kids loved it, the big kids were too cool to care either way. This big kid enjoyed every single blooming minute of it and at the end Mary Poppins flew over the audience, was not expecting it and it was truly wonderful.

We'd had a walk around Covent Garden beforehand and had a look at the little craft stalls. I was amazed at how expensive some of it was, purely for the benefit of the foreign tourists I think. We went and had some lunch whilst listening to classical music being played outside. It was lovely just to spend some quality time with my baby to celebrate out 6th wedding anniversary.

Unfortunately coming back on the train my throat was getting very sore. One of the manager's at work has had a pretty bad cold and it was looking like I was getting it too. By the time we got home I was just wanting to get to my bed, where unfortunately I spent most of Sunday.........

Sports Car

This is the card I have made for our friend Hazel who likes sporty cars.

I used a template from Papercraft Inspirations for the car with vellum windows.

The wheels are Papercellar chipboard circles with silver marker and I used HOTP big brad flower transfers for the wheel spokes and Paperchase gems for the middles.

The sentiment was just the back one in the middle but layered it twice to make it stand out better.

F1 Themed Card

One of our very good friends had asked me to make a card based on Formula 1 for his girlfriend.

I made the background paper by listing all the constructors and drivers in the current season and separating them with a car from a wingding alphabet.

I printed off various pictures of F1 drivers past and present onto photo paper and used a banner for the sentiment.

World Card Making Day + Di Hickman Sketch

Apparently the 1st Saturday in October is World Card Making Day - how cool is that?

Now I was extremely busy yesterday shopping in Birmingham with OH and we were in Starbucks having a caramel Frappucino (heaven......) and sharing a blueberry cheesecake and I found out that we were going out that night for a curry with some friends who couldn't make my birthday the week before.

All of a sudden my indulgent card making evening had disappeared ! I couldn't possibly pass up the chance to make a card for such a prestigious day so I started it before I went out and then carried on when I got home.

It just happened to coincide with the latest sketch challenge on Di Hickman's blog. Funny that !!

So I made the card to give to my husband to thank him for being such a kind considerate man and for giving me lovely birthday gifts and surprises.