BOO!!

Happy Halloween!! Are you having a spooktacular weekend? (Sorry :) ) We don;t really celebrate halloween but the kids love to be dressed up and we were invited to a neighours party, and couldn't go without a card. Naturally! So here are a couple of spooky themed cards I made.

This first one is made with Basic Grey "Eerie" papers (that I won from Scrapwhispers) and a squiggle Stamps image. The trick or treat sentiment came from Basic Grey Eerie stickers. And this next one, again made with Eerie papers and stickers, but the image this time is from Sugar Nellie. I loved colouring him in with an acid yellow face (though its not too clear on here). Not sure why but thats my favourite part of this card. LOL. I just wanted to share.

hope you have a defrightful night... sorry I mean delightful..... Mwah ha ha ha! :)

Yoo Hoo!

Hello! I have been dying to share this post with you all week but have had to wait til now because I've been away to Mum and Dad's. We got back yesterday. Anyway, last Saturday I got to meet up with some online friends, Georgina and Rosey. We have been talking online for around 2 years and have now finally got to meet face to face and have a mini crop together! It was fab that all of our timings just fitted. Me being at my family home, Georgina being home that weekend and Rosey being over from Singapore.

So here we are! L-R: Me, Rosey, Georgina. I was so nervous... well, more nervous excitement I think, about meeting with these ladies. We know so much about each other and we speak so often on the forum pages and via email. We also grew up around each other, even worked in the same building without knowing and we came together on an American website. Seriously, you just couldnt make it up.

This is Georgina, and Rosey. They are both so lovely!! Very easy to talk to and they were both full of tips and inspiration. So down to earth and very, very sweet & kind. Georgina let me loose with her Copics (Thanks, G!!!), had lots of tips to share and even gave us goodie bags! (there was also a sweet gift for DD. Her very own Goodbyn, which she has not left alone since!)

And Rosey showed me how to do shading and helped me out with a couple of scrapper block moments. She also showed me how to reduce my bag of rubbish when I am crafting. There were no scraps left, apart from the backing from double sided tape!! It was honestly, the smallest bag of rubbish ever!!! Rosey also bought some food from Singapore and some homemade fruit slices which were delicious! Here are the cards we created between us. I managed 4 tiny ones (4x4"). It was my first time using Copics and I am sold! I NEED these pens! I hope santa is listening, LOL.

We had such a great time. I really hope that we can get to meet again. These ladies are just so fantastic, I am so happy to have them as my friends.

So Georgina, thanks once again for organising it all and doing all the leg work! And Rosey, thank you for the treats from Singapore. They went down well!! And I am very sorry for getting you lost on the way back to mine, even if it was the scenic route :)

I'm looking forward to the next crop!!!

All about me in a Whisper

There are so many BOM challenges out there at the moment which I am loving because I am trying to get some pages of me done to pass down to my kids, so they can get to know the other sides of me other than just Mum. This fortnights challenge for All about me is to scrap a life turning moment. Of course I alrady had this topic for my DT challenge with Butterfly crafts, but I have more than one turning point. A huge one is when I became pregnant with DD. I was never maternal, I didnt even really like kids that much. So when I became pregnant I went into a state of shock and panic, thinking all kinds of things and the one I kept thinking was that I wasn't good enough to be a mum. As soon as I held my little girl in my arms I knew then that I was going to be ok. She needed me and if I am honest I needed her. I was in love from the second I saw her and it changed me into a far better person. I am also going to be entering this layout for the scrapwhispers challenge which is to create a Book Of Me layout. I'm off for a week to visit my family so this will be my last blog post for a while, but I will be back soon to share some more. I am so excited for this weekend when I get to meet some very special oline friends for the first time! I can't wait! (See you tomorrow ladies!!!!) :) Enjoy your week X

Almost no adhesive box of notelets

I've made this little box set as an early christmas present for my Grandma. She still loves to send cards and letters so I thought this would be ideal for her and after she has finished with the cards she can send the box to someone with a gift inside. This box is made from one piece of 7x10 cardstock and it holds 5 cards and envelopes of 4x4" size. I've just realised I've added this photo on its side! DOH! I'll try and rectify it..... This is how the back of the box looks. Then all I have done is closed it with some sticky fixers that I would usually use to close cellophane bags. I will do a proper tutorial when I can work out the measurements again. I did this completely off the cuff and so I am really happy with how it turned out. Look out for the tutorial later this week!

First Impressions

This is a late entry into the latest challenge over at All About Me. This challenge is called Pigeon-holed. Do people see you as something you're not? Do you feel like you should be a certain way? Are you mis-understood? The journalling on this layout reads:

"On first impressions, people generally think I am a snob, posh, unapproachable, when that really couldn't be further from the truth. I am friendly, chatty, down to earth, with a great sense of humour! I guess its just the way my face falls"

In this photo I know I do look a little harsh but that really is just my face, lol!!

I tried to make the flowers on here look a bit feathery by added the contrasting colour leaves to the black flowers. Adding diamonds and Pearls just were for the sake of the snobby part of the title. And today I have no idea on which companies made these papers, apart from DCWV, All Dressed Up (flowers) & Rock Star.

There is only 2 days left on this challenge, so another is due very soon!!!

Challenge 21 - Butterfly Crafts

Here is my first design team entry for Butterfly crafts challenge blog!! The challenge for this fortnight is "the moment that changed your life". For me it would be too easy to say that after I became a mum it changed my life. Which don't get me wrong, it did change my life in more ways than I can count. But for me it was the journey of how I got to be a mum that was important. I am a huge believer in fate and destiny and all things happen for a reason. So when I quit my dead end job at the age of 20, it started me on a path that I would never believe I would have been travelling. I set me off for my first job abroad, on a campsite in Germany, where noone spoke a word of English and I didnt speak German. I was alone there, but it was a challenge I threw myself into and never looked back from there. It also led me to do a HND course in European travel and tourism management, a logistics course in Copenhagen, Denmark, a job as a mountain guide in Austria and finally to 4 summers and 2 winter seasons in Spain. It was there that I met the man who was to become the father to my children. It gave me confidence and made me stronger. I have met some amazing people and done some incredible things.... most of all I found ME!!!!! For this layout I used a mix of Prima & graphic 45 paper, some lace ribbon, and gold wire threaded with plastic red and black beads, attached with green gem brads. the journalling is written on the Prima paper but it makes it a little hard to see. Go on over and check out the challenge. Its a fab one for a Book Of Me! I can't wait to see what you create!

Starting tomorrow!

Just to say that the first of the Winter DT challenges is up tomorrow over at Butterfly Crafts. Come and join us!! It will be loads of fun! Hope to see you there!

Scrap whispers Recipe

The new challenge on Scrap whispers this week is a really fun one. Its a recipe to follow. For the challenge you had to use 1 piece 12x12 cardstock, 1 piece 5x7 patterned paper, 1 piece 3x9 pp, 1 piece 8x8 pp, i journalling tag, letter stickers, 5 flowers and ribbon! I chose this photo of the Boy storming around the garden with his little bubble mower. He was so deep in concentration, pacing up and down. I just love this photo! And you guessed it some more MME bloom and grow papers were used (I do have other papers, I swear! :) ) I added some rickrack and punched some flowers from some Basic Grey june bug paper (see, told you! ). This challenge is up til saturday night. Give it a try??!

A pirates life

Morning all! I have been a bad little blogger recently. I've had a virus so I've not had much energy for creating but my mojo is creeping back in. So here is a card I made for friends little boy who is just nuts on Pirates. Everytime I see him he is dressed as one and talkin' arll piratey! So this stamp from Pink Gem designs was ideal! The papers I used are MME (suprise, suprise) wild asparagus, I hand drew and cut the tree and leaf shapes and then I went to the kids sandpit (again) and dunked the card in so the sand would stick to the double sided tape. The letter stickers are basic grey and the Pirate image was coloured in with normal colouring pencils (I really am getting lazy!) :) Pink Gem Designs have got some of the most cutest stamps around and there are some gorgeous christmas ones..... x

Alpha Challenge

On Scrapjazz there is an alpha challenge going on. We are on letters F, G, &H. Here is a layout I did for the letter F. It was to create a layout with a frame, flowers, felt and with a theme of Favourites. Well these are 3 of my favourite people, my Grandma, DD and the Boy. I took a sketch from a very talented lady called Davinie Fiero. I loved her layout with the grid stitching so I thought I would have a go. 3 days later it was done. Yes! 3 days!! Because Davinie had obviously had the sense to use a sewing machine, but I started pricking paper and hand sewing. Still, I am thrilled with the results! Don't tell her, but this layout is going into a frame and Im going to give it to Grandma, just because!

Life is like a Butterfly

I cannot believe I am actually going to write this, but I have been chosen to be a part of the winter Design Team for Butterfly Crafts!!!!! I cannot tell you just how excited I am, 1) to have been chosen and 2) to be working alongside some of the most talented ladies from across the world. I am so honoured and totally bursting at the seams!!! Our first challenge kicks off on the 15th of this month, so please head on over and join in the fun!!!! Woo Hoo!!!! :)

A first on Cute Card Thursday

I did this card to celebrate a first pass driving test for this weeks Cute Card Thursday challenge. The challenge this week is all about first's. I used some BG Sultry paper, DCWV retro stack paper, Smirk images and I just drew an L shape and coloured it in with Sakura Gelly Roll pen. thanks for looking Kel x

Sleigh Bells Ring

Thats the title of this weeks challenge for Winter Wonderland. And now I can't stop singing it! You may have noticed I am terrible for getting songs stuck in my head! In real life I am always singing random songs..... Anyhoo, back to the card! I love this little fella, Bently Bear. I got a pack of free stamps with a card making magazine and he is so darn cute! (The stamps are fab quality to work with too.) I mixed Basic Grey Wassail paper with MME Wonderful Winter and a little sentiment I picked up from Lakeland years ago (when they were doing craft stuff). The challenge only started today so still plenty of time to join in ....

Think Pink!!!

I am joining in the big campaign to get us ladies to feel our boobies and be breast aware, as October is Breast Cancer Awareness month! A special Jazzer friend is battling this disease and it just brings things home that bit more. Pink is everywhere right now and Candy Shoppe Designs are challenging you to "Think Pink". For this challenge I have created a notebook. I covered an 8x8 sized bare book in MME pink paper, took a panel of white card and wrapped a large piece of pink lace around it, added pink ribbon, buttons and then made my own lollipop flower out of scraps of paper and vellum. After I made the flower I was suprised at how much it was looking like a booby!! I added the "Inspire" title for our Jazzer friend. She is inspiring and has amazing spirit and positivity! I have decided to auction off this notebook with all proceeds going to Breast Cancer Campaign. Once I have all the details I will let you know. X

October Sketch

A little while ago I was asked to take part in the October Sketch Challenge for Scrapjazz. Along with some other very talented ladies, I created this layout from the Sketch. The photos are of DD on her first pony ride at a farm. She was scared but then very relieved that he didn't start running! I used MME papers - Bloom and Grow (can you tell I love MME?? :) ) the little bird on the 'wire' and the tree were handcut from scraps I had laying around. I wanted a country feel to it not only because of the pictures but because its the October challenge (of course). You can read all about it and see the other interpretations of the Sketch here. If you give it a go, let us know. We would love to see it!

A spoonfull of ... Christmas!

A spoonfull of Sugar are hosting a Christmas challenge this week. I'm really enjoying making my christmas cards this year. Its just great to get the inspiration to create for Christmas this early! For this card, I used Hamish with teddy on a sleigh from Sugar Nellie, My Minds Eye Wonderful Winter papers, some skinny ribbon and a button. The sentiment is from Papermania. He has only been coloured in with normal colouring pencils, but I think he looks really cute!

Snowy Sprinkles

This morning I got this wonderful stamp through the post. I only ordered it last thing tuesday night from Pink Gem Designs. As soon as it hit my mat I couldn't wait to get stuck in. Once the Boy was having his afternoon nap I could play. Isn't she just so adorable! I put her together with some My Minds Eye Wonderful Winter glittered papers, stickled her wings and cuffs. The ribbon and tea rose are from my stash. I'm really looking forward to creating with her again!

Scrap whispers sketch challenge

At last I can share this with you! I have had a heck of a time downloading my photos from my camera the last couple of days. Nancy provided us with a great sketch to follow this week on Scrapwhispers. It included using 3 photos 3x5" in size. Something I'm not totally comfortable using. I am a 6x4 girl normally. or at a push a 5x7". But I am really pleased I gave it a go! The photos are of DD climbing on things at the park. She loves to climb. She has never been a girly girl, always running and jumping about with the boys. So the first thing she does at the park is climb to the highest point she can. The added requirement was to use a stamp on your layout. I used Mindy's Zoo stamp collection as they just seemed to sum up the whole layout. The rest of the layout is made up of MME bloom and grow and chipboard alphas. The journo spot is from papermania. Theres still time to enter the challenge and be in with the chance of winning a fab prize from Rosey! Oh, and its my turn for the main whisper challenge.... but sorry you'll just have to wait for the big reveal for that one! :)