A Hint Of Magnolia

Cards For Men

2012-02-27T09:00:00.001Z

We have a sketch for you this time at CFM from Starry Nights Divas. Our sponsor for this challenge is Digital Delights, who are offering a great prize from their shop.

Thanks for looking

Happy Anniversary

2012-02-25T09:00:00.001Z

White on White is the new challenge theme at Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge; our regular sponsor Heather's Hobby Heaven, is offering a $15 voucher to our lucky winner.

I've been wanting to try a book card for some time now, but never got round to it until now. Keeping to one colour is really quite a challenge, so this was not an easy card for me!

Thanks for looking

Ribbons and buttons

2012-02-22T09:00:00.000Z

This is the card I made for this weeks 'Buttons and Ribbons' challenge at My Mums Craft Shop. Our sponsor for this challenge is Sew Sweet - so much scrummy stuff to look at!

Once again I've used some old but good stash, this time its MME; it's really pretty paper and a lovely soft palette. I'm sad to see the end of it, but it needs to be used.

Thanks for looking

Guest Designer at Anything Goes

2012-02-21T09:00:00.001Z

This is my second project as GD at Anything Goes. For the challenge we were asked to alter something like a box, bag, tag etc.. I made a mini book of photos of our daughters various hair colours and styles; the pages are made from letter sized manilla envelopes which fold and stick together to form the spine.

Here's a quick tutorial on how I put the pages together.
Seal the envelopes - I used 11 but you can use as many or as few as you choose. Trim a sliver of both short ends - essentially making a tube.

Score and fold all the envelopes at 3"

Apply DST to the short side, ensuring that you leave a gap of about 1/4" from the fold - this is essential as it allows your book to expand.

Remove the tape and stick the pages one on top of the next - a long page sticks to a short page for each leaf.

Decorate your pages, adding folded papers to form flaps coming out of the long pockets.

Add paper covered chipboard covers.

Thanks for looking

Eyes down

2012-02-18T09:00:00.001Z

We're playing crafty bingo this week at Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge and our lucky winner will get to choose 3 digi images from our fab sponsor The Stamping Boutique

I've been really busy lately making mini books, after finding a youtube by the fantastic Kathy Orta. I've made many mini books in the past, but have always used my BIA to bind them. The BIA is great, but where it falls down for me is with thicker / embellished books. The beauty of most of Kathy's albums is that they are bound differently and allow you to make really fat books without them looking like crocodile mouths!

For the challenge, I've taken the top right to bottom left diagonal on the bingo board and used glittered papers, a vintage floral image, and ribbon.

Thanks for looking

Pearls and Swirls

2012-02-15T09:00:00.002Z

This weeks challenge at My Mums Craft Shop is sponsored by Emerald Fairy and we want to see your pearls and swirls.

For my card, I made my own wax resist paper, cut a birdcage from the metal of a tomato puree tube, I stamped my image and used perfect pearls to colour it, finally, my birds swirly wings are glossy accents.

Thanks for looking

She Loves You

2012-02-13T00:01:00.001Z

Love is in the air this week at Cards For Men, so we want to see your creations for the man in your life. Our sponsor for this challenge is Freshly Brewed Designs, who are offering a lovely prize to our winner.

Thanks for looking

Love

2012-02-11T09:00:00.000Z

Once again, it's new challenge time at Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge - for this week, we want you to use red, black, white and texture. Our regular sponsor, Digi Doodle is giving one lucky winner a $10 voucher to spend in the store.

For my card, I used a mask to emboss my background card, sticky backed flock, which I embossed with a folder and stuck to chipboard heart die cuts. I added gold ink to highlight the texture on the hearts.

Thanks for looking.

Must Be Love

2012-02-08T08:00:00.002Z

We're getting loved up this week at My Mums Craft Shop. Our sponsor this week is Whimsy Stamps - I love their stamp and die combinations; I want them all. For my card, I used their bunting die to mirror the heart bunting held by Tilda. I'm also using old stash again, this is by GCD; I bought it to make a mini book, but never got around to it, so expect to see it on a few cards!

Challenges Entered

Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Twine

It's a Magnolia Challenge - Valentine card

Magnolia Down Under - Love is in the air

Just Magnolia - Valentine card

Magnolia Mania - Anything Goes

Magnolia-licious Highlites - Vintage /Shabby chic

Simply Magnolia - Hearts & Love

Magnolia-licious Challenge - picture inspiration

Thanks for looking

Ribbons and Lace

2012-02-04T13:01:00.001Z

A great new challenge starts today at Lets Ink It Up - Ribbons and Lace. Our sponsor this month is the fantastic Lili of the Valley, and our lucky winner will win a £10 voucher to spend in their store.

For my creation, I started with a mint tin (I make no apology for buying it for the tin rather than the mints!) I embossed the foil from a tomato purée tube, then embellished with a lace rose, ribbon, trim, a bit of chain and a charm. I had in mind a bit of an Alice in Wonderland feel, and I think its achieved without being overtly themed.

Thanks for looking

Hugs and Kisses

2012-02-04T09:00:00.001Z

Hi all,

It's new challenge day at Secret Crafter's Saturday Challenge and for this challenge, we are sponsored by Crafter's Companion . This weeks winner will get a £10 voucher to spend with them.

The theme of the challenge is Hugs and Kisses. I cut my shaped easel using a Grand Nestie, in such a way as you only cut half of the die; so easy and obvious that I never thought of it until I saw it demonstrated on Create and Craft!

Thanks for looking

Hey Punk

2012-02-01T09:01:00.000Z

We want to see your Fab 'n' Funky creations this week at My Mums Craft Shop and, as if you'd need any further incentive, our sponsor for this challenge, Forgotten Scraps, is offering our lucky winner a $10 voucher to spend in their store.

Thanks for looking

Seeing Red

2012-01-30T00:01:00.001Z

This card is another that just came together - I had an idea in mind, but then I got playing with some new Papermania stamps and went off at a happy tangent. Great card for a male - mail get it? Ahem - well our challenge for this week at Cards For Men is 'Seeing Red' and our sponsor, Letraset, have a great prize for our winner.

http://www.letraset.com/

Thanks for looking

Hello Tilda

2012-01-28T00:01:00.000Z

I love the way the colouring turned out for this Tilda, and once I'd chosen my papers, it seemed to come together fairly quickly - I love it when that happens. I made this for our Ribbons challenge over at Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge, where our sponsors for this week are Heathers Hobby Heaven and Whimsy Stamps.

Thanks for looking

Flower Power

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000Z

It may be too early for real spring flowers, but that doesn't mean it's too early to see them on cards. This weeks challenge at My Mums Craft Shop is Flowers - our sponsor for this week is Some Odd Girl who are giving a great prize to this weeks chosen crafter.

This is a mix of new and old stash - new patterned paper, old book paper. I made the flower from a drinks can, which I cut with a spellbinders rose creation die and embossed. The charm is from a broken necklace.

Thanks for looking

Stuffed!

2012-01-21T00:01:00.001Z

We have a food and drink theme this week at Secret Crafters, sponsored by The Stamping Boutique who are offering a great prize of three digi images to the chosen winner.

For my card, I chose this Stamping Boutique image of an overindulged rabbit!

Thanks for looking

Tilda in cute wellies

2012-01-18T00:01:00.002Z

I love blue and red together- more in clothing than cards, but still it's one of my favourite combinations. My Mums Craft Shop want to see your favourite colour combo this week and the lucky winner of this challenge, sponsored by Bugaboo, gets to choose digi stamps from the store.

Thanks for looking

Boys and their toys

2012-01-16T00:01:00.001Z

I've made this card for the new challenge at Cards for Men; this week we are sponsored by Hope Jacare who have given a prize of three great digi stamps from their store.

More stash bustin' again, this time only about four years old. I've really loved this paper by Crate paper, it's great for mens cards without being drab. I've used an image from out sponsor; I printed it twice, left the main image uncoloured, then used a nestie to cut a pinked circle from the other image, which I then coloured.

Thanks for looking

Let's Ink It Up

2012-01-14T13:01:00.002Z

Welcome to the first challenge of the New Year at Let's Ink It Up. For this month, the theme is 'Anything Goes', so really let your creativity go and show us your art, you don't even have to use a stamp for this challenge. Our sponsor for this challenge is Scor-pal, who are offering a great prize of a Scor-buddy and mat.

For my piece, I had the idea of a sewing themed wall plaque and had fun using a vintage pattern, book pages, zips and tape measures, and apart from the grungeboard wings and flourish, it's all recycled.

Challenges Entered

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Red letter day

Sugar Creek Hollow - Embossing

The Stampman - Use Red

Paperplay - In Stitches

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes

Thanks For Looking

Tilda in blue and green

2012-01-14T00:01:00.002Z

This week we want to see what you put with blue at Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge. One of our regular sponsors, Digi Doodle is offering a fab $10 voucher to spend in their shop, so show us what you do with blue!

This card uses another ancient paper - I am making a hole in my stash honest, granted it's a pin hole but it's a hole nontheless!

Thanks for looking

Here Come The Girls

2012-01-11T00:01:00.001Z

It's new challenge time at My Mums Craft Shop, and for this week the theme is 'Here Come The Girls'. Our sponsor for this challenge is Sassy Cheryl, who is offering a great prize to one lucky winner.

For my card, I've chosen a bright and cheery colour scheme, but kept the layout fairly simple. The yellow paper has been in my stash forever - probably about twelve years. I wonder if that makes it antique in paper terms!

Challenges Entered

Just Magnolia - Anything Goes

Magnolia Down Under - Anything Goes

Simply Magnolia - Celebrate

Magnolia-licious Highlites - Anything Goes

Paper Sundaes - Saturated Colour

Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog - Celebration

Thanks for looking

Kiss The Cook

2012-01-07T00:01:00.001Z

'Let them eat cake' is the challenge for this week at Secret Crafter, so even if you're still stuffed from Christmas, you could craft cake rather than eat it!

Thanks for looking

Something New

2012-01-04T00:01:00.003Z

The first challenge of the year is now open at My Mums Craft Shop and this time, the theme is 'Something New'. Our sponsor for the challenge is Jelly Park, who are offering a fab prize.

My 'Something New' is stamps brought by Father Christmas and postage stamp dies, which I've combined to make a calender for my husband - the stamp doesn't really show up that well on the photo unfortunately. I

Challenges Entered

Simon Says Stamp - Something New

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Something Old, Something New

Thanks for looking

Off Road

2012-01-02T00:01:00.002Z

The first challenge of the New Year at Cards For Men is a favourite subject for me - Recycling. As if I don't have enough stash, I constantly feel the need to go looking for everyday materials to use in my crafting. You know its gone too far when you buy a product for it's packaging alone!! For this card, I've used a map of southern France, which I bought from a charity shop for 10p, and also a great find, the card for the cogs is a Whiskers cat biscuit box. Fortunately, we do have a cat, and a wipe with a wetwipe removes any residual smell and you're left with some really nice kraft card which has a waxy finish; I haven't tried it yet, but I think it will emboss, sand and distress really well, as the wax will resist the ink.

Our lovely sponsor for this weeks challenge is One Stop Card Crafts, who are offering a great prize to this weeks lucky winner.

At One Stop Card Crafts we have a big range of ever changing discount card making and cardmaking craft supplies.We are always adding to our range of craft supplies which are ideal for making handmade greeting cards, do-it-yourself invitations scrapbook pages, altered items and much more.

Our card making craft supplies include free UK postage* and our popular discount scheme and quick service means our customers keep coming back for more.

Our prices are very competitive and this makes us an ideal place to buy your cardmaking supplies online.

Thanks for looking

Noel Wreath

2011-12-24T00:01:00.001Z

We're having an 'Anything Goes' theme this week at Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge. This is my project; every year at our house, we have an advent challenge - some days it's a game or puzzle, some days its a creative challenge, and this is one of them. The challenge was to buy a non christmas decoration from a charity shop, costing no more than £1, and make it into a christmas decoration. I bought the plain wreath for 50p and went to town with some grungeboard, grungepaper, dies and inks.

Thanks for looking

Blog Hop Winner

2011-12-22T17:54:00.000Z

The lucky winner, picked by Random.org, of the Cards For Men draw for my hop is...........................#18, Rose. Please follow the link from the CFM blog to choose your prize Rose. Congratulations and thanks to all who left such lovely comments.

Show me the money

2011-12-21T00:01:00.002Z

Our theme for the week at My Mum's Craft Shop is 'Anything Goes', so I thought I'd share a card with a bit of a bonus - cash! I've made this for my nephews birthday; I saw these mini Lynx sprays in Home Bargains and thought I could incorporate them into a card. I folded the card so that it had a spine and made a notch to hold the spray, then I covered the outside of the card to cover the notch.

Thanks for looking

Craft Up Your Life

2011-12-17T00:01:00.002Z

This is my final project as GDT member for Craft Up Your Life - I feel really honoured to have had the chance to participate. The challenge this week is a recipe - 5 pearls, 1 button, 1 flower and stitching and here is my take on the challenge.

Thanks for visiting

Time for Calendars

2011-12-17T00:01:00.001Z

The theme for Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge for this week is Happy New Year or Celebration. Every year I make calenders for family and try to do something different every year (not least because my Aunt keeps them up year after year) This time I've used nesties to make an easel and kept it simple and elegant.

Thanks for looking

Warm Wishes Edwin

2011-12-14T00:01:00.001Z

The theme for us at My Mums Craft Shop this week is 'Cute and Funky' Christmas. I've gone for tracitional colours, keeping it nice and bright. I thought Edwin looked so cute in his santa suit too. Don't forget to visit MMCS and see what the rest of the DT have been creating.

Challenges Entered

Simply Magnolia - Christmas

Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Accessory stamp

Thanks for visiting

An Oldie But Goodie

2011-12-13T00:01:00.001Z

I'm sad to say that this is my last project as a GDT member for An Oldie But A Goodie the challenges have been fun and I've thoroughly enjoyed taking part. This time the challenge was 'Christmas Animals'

Thanks for looking

Winter Birthday

2011-12-11T12:03:00.001Z

I was asked to make a card for a customers Grandfather whose birthday is 29th December and it had to be cute - luckily, I had this lovely snowman coloured already, plus the perfect papers, I just hadn't got around to putting it all together.

Challenges entered

Wild Orchid - Easel Card

Just Magnolia - White or snow/snowflakes

Dutch Magnolia Chickies - Punched or Nestabilities edges

Passion For Promarkers - Celebration

Winter Wonderland - Let It Snow

Top Tip Tuesday - Let it snow

Allsorts - It takes two

Penny Black at Allsorts - Happy Birthday

Ladybug Crafts - Snowflakes and Sparkle

Thanks for visiting

Holly Hedgehog

2011-12-10T00:01:00.002Z

We're looking at 'All Creatures Great and Small' this week at Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge - you can even include aliens! I've chosen this lovely Penny Black hedgehog - she looks like she's having a good christmas doesn't she?!

Thanks for looking

It's Santa!

2011-12-07T00:01:00.001Z

Our challenge this week at My Mums Craft Shop is 'Traditional Christmas'. Our lovely sponsor for this challenge is Amber Ink, so it's well worth entering your creations.
This is my card - I love a proper Santa, and I think this one, from Magnolia, is just perfect. I've kept the card pretty simple and I wanted plenty of the DP showing just because I like it so much.

Thanks for looking

Snowy Tilda

2011-12-05T13:16:00.000Z

It feels like it's taken ages to finish this card - in reality I only started it Friday, so not that long really, I kept doing a bit whenever I could fit it in rather than all in one go. It started with another candle box (which went much more smoothly this time, and in one go) and evolved. Again, I've used papers I've had for a while and wanted to get used. I'd like to be able to say that in using up these papers I'm clearing some of my stash, in truth new stash keeps popping up to replace it - no idea how.....honest!

Challenges Entered

TOMIC - Shaker box

Christmas Inspirations - Folds

Paper Sundaes - Red & die cuts

Simply Magnolia - Sketch

Thanks for looking

Cards For Men Blog Hop!

2011-12-05T08:30:00.001Z

Another year is almost at an end and Cards For Men is celebrating two years of challenges with a blog hop. The theme is the number 2, you can interpret this in any way you'd like, and we have lots of inspiration for you on the blog. We'll draw a random winner and top 3 as usual. You can get all the details and lots more ideas from the Design Team over at the main site. Here's what I made:

Also, we are having an Anniversary Blog Hop. You can get the full list of blogs over at Cards for Men. If you arrived here from Sandra's then you're on the right track. If not, hop over to Cards for Men to start at the beginning. At each stop there'll be a word to collect and a candy draw. I've got a fantastic 4 images from Meljen Designs to give away.

Meljen's Designs is a lovely stamp company owned and illustrated by Melissa Jenkins. She illustrates whimsical rubber and digital images inspired by her kids and family. Meljen's Designs has new releases along with a new challenge every Thursday, freebies every Monday and a Guest Designer each month at the Meljen's Designs Blog. Please visit the Meljen's Designs line of stamps at the WHIMSY STAMPS STORE to browse and enjoy Melissa's wonderful images!

To be in with a chance of winning this you just need to leave a comment at the end of this post. A random winner will be drawn on 19 December 2011.

Each stop will have a word which you should collect to make a festive phrase. My word is Year. At the end of the blog hop you should have 9 words, work out the phrase and leave it in the comments back at Cards for Men. The blog hop will run until midnight on 18 December 2010 and a winner will be chosen on 19 December 2011.

Your next stop is Alan. If you lose your way you can go back to Cards for Men to get the full list. Good luck everyone.

Oh Christmas Tree

2011-12-03T17:49:00.001Z

We have a photo inspiration challenge this week at Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge.

I opted for a triangle card to mimic the tree, and of course it has to be gold and sparkles!

Thanks for looking.

Christmas Angel

2011-12-03T17:42:00.000Z

We have a new challenge for you at Lets Ink It Up. We want to see your Christmas creations. As an added incentive and because it's Christmas, we have two prizes up for grabs from this months sponsors -

Simon Says Stamp have kindly donated a store voucher to the value of $20

Paper Pretties have given two lovely stamp sets.

Here is my DT card - simple, but I think really pretty

Thanks for looking

Playing

2011-12-02T13:15:00.001Z

This card is the result of a 'see how it goes' play session. I wanted to use some scented candles and I also wanted to use up this cardstock - I like it, but I've had it a while and it needed to go! Although the box was pretty simple, it took 3 attempts - schoolgirl errors with measuring. I'm glad to say, the cardstock is now used up, and I know the recipient, my Great Aunt will love it.

Challenges Entered

7 Kids Challenge Blog - Christmas non traditional colours

Deep Ocean - C for - Christmas & candles

Craft Your Passion - 'Tis the Season

Dutch Magnolia Lovers - Back In Time

Just Magnolia - Anything Goes

Dutch Magnolia Chickies - Die cutting

Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog - Christmas Wishes

Magnolia Licious Highlites - not a card

Thanks for Looking

Snuggly

2011-11-30T09:06:00.000Z

We have a very apt challenge this week at My Mums Craft Shop - 'Keeping Warm'. I thought this Penny Black image fit the bill perfectly, they just look so warm and content. With a challenge prize of a £10 voucher to spend at My Mums Craft Shop - what could be better?

Thanks For Looking

Angelic

2011-11-26T08:26:00.002Z

The theme for this weeks for Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge is Borders and Flowers - I've used one of my favourite backgrounds (at the moment) some vintage sheet music I bought from a charity shop; I have a big book of the stuff and because it had no cover, I got it for peanuts!

Thanks For Looking

Fly Away

2011-11-23T08:54:00.000Z

Winged Things is the theme of this weeks challenge at My Mums Craft Shop. We're sponsored by Emerald Faeries who are offering this weeks winner 2 images from their store, so show us your winged creations!

Thanks for looking

You Rock

2011-11-21T12:50:00.000Z

The new challenge for us at Cards For Men this week is 'Fancy Folds' sponsored by Whimsie Doodles, who are offering a $10 gift certificate to spend with them.

For my card, I've chosen a central stepper and of course, given the stamp theme, it had to be grunged with Distress inks!

Thanks For Looking

Secret Crafter

2011-11-21T12:41:00.000Z

This week we're asking you to follow a sketch, set by Jane, over at Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge. For my card, I used a sheet of music, which I inked and scrunched and spritzed, then added a leaf stamp motif which I heat embossed.

Thanks For Looking

Play On

2011-11-20T11:36:00.000Z

The theme on Challenge Up Your Life for the next couple of weeks is Music. For my card, I chose not to use DP, but instead used a page from a music book - I used the same paper for my flowers.

Challenges Entered

Just Magnolia - Ribbons

Craftyhazelnuts - Music

The Craft Garden - Christmas, no red or green

Creatalicious - Christmas with sparkles

Crafty Creations - Recycle - vintage music paper

Deep Ocean - Vintage

Thanks for Looking

White Out

2011-11-20T10:57:00.000Z

I've gone quite minimal on this one, although I did have a play with a dotty Creative Expressions mask to make the background. I embossed the card using the mask, then ran a Versamark pad over the mask so I could clear emboss the dots.

Challenges Entered

Passion For Promarkers - White on White

Penny Black at Allsorts - All Creatures Great and Small

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Green & Trees

Christmas Stampin' - Photo

Winter Wonderland - What a Cutie

Crop Stop - All White

Dutch Dare - All White

Thanks For Looking

Trimming Tilda

2011-11-16T14:35:00.000Z

This card is for My Mums Craft Shop, where this weeks theme is Mix and Match papers. I love this Tilda with her stocking feet and quirky hair, she looks so cute.

Challenges Entered

Creatalicious - Christmas sparkles

Magnolia Down Under - Sentimental

Cute Card Thursday - Red

Thanks For Looking

Oldie But A Goodie

2011-11-16T14:07:00.000Z

This is my second card as guest DT for Oldie But A Goodie - the theme this week is 'Let It Snow'. I've had this image coloured and ready for some time, so I'm glad to have had the opportunity to use it finally.

Challenges Entered

Sweet Stamps - Non Traditional Christmas Colours

Craft Your Passion - Let It Snow

Dutch Magnolia Chickies - Christmas Card

One Stop - Ribbon and Lace

Thanks For Looking

Guest Designer at It's a Magnolia Challenge

2011-11-13T11:19:00.001Z

A few weeks ago, I won a GD spot at It's A Magnolia Challenge the theme is Buttons and Bling.

Challenges Entered

Sparkles Forum - Angels

Cute Card Thursday - Red

Crop Stop -Colours of your flag (Wales, Red, White, Green)

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Christmas Goes

Stamping Scrapping Central - Christmas

Simply Magnolia - Anything Goes

Thanks For Looking

Seeing Spots

2011-11-13T10:40:00.000Z

The theme this week for Secret Crafter is Spots and Stripes, so here's my take on the challenge with another not traditional Christmas colour scheme.

Challenges entered

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes Christmas

Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Christmas

Christmas Challenges - Sketch

Papertake - Christmas

Thanks for looking

Sugar and Spice

2011-11-13T09:47:00.003Z

This is rather late -oops! This week, the challenge at My Mums Craft Shop is Sugar and Spice, and we got to work with images by Saturated Canary.

Challenges Entered

Saturated Canary - Autumn Colours

Crafty Catz - digi image

Dutch Dare - Punches & Dies

Cooking It Up With Katie - Fancy fold flowers

Digital Tuesday - Anything goes

Craft Your Passion - anything goes + brown

Paper Sundaes - Digital Images

Thanks For Looking

Cards For Men

2011-11-07T14:54:00.000Z

This is my first card made for the design team at Cards For Men. We all struggle with men!! so a little card inspiration can really help. This card uses a digital image, from Karens Doodles, I've not really used many digi's before, but am really warming to them, I have to say the fact that they don't take up any room is a real big plus. I did intend to colour the image, but then chose my papers and decided it looked good without.

Challenges Entered

Basic Grey - Anything Goes

Penny Black at Allsorts - All Creatures Great and Small

Karen's Doodles - Black and White plus 1 other colour (grey)

Thanks For Looking

Spellbinders Storage

2011-11-06T16:35:00.000Z

I thought it might be useful to share the books I make to store my Nestabilities and other thin metal dies; I've had a look around the web and it seems quite a few people store them in the original packaging, but apart from the first few I bought, the packs are heat sealed and have to be cut apart which renders the pack useless. Anyway, this is what I do.
The pages to hold the dies are made from magnetic sheets - I found magnetic dry wipe boards, first from Home Bargains, but now my branch has run out, I'm using these from The Works. Each board will make two pages with a large chunk (technical term) left over. I save the pen holders for future projects (you never know!) and my husband uses the pens for work so nothing is wasted!!

At first my plan was to just bind the magnetic sheets together as they were, but then I thought they'd be more secure if they were inside something, so I bought some CD sleeves which cost about £1.99 for 50 at Wilkinsons. To stabilise the sleeves and to provide a strong place to punch my binding holes, I use acetate - for this I use packaging acetate from boxes and such, like the dies themselves are sold in. I stick the acetate to the sleeves with extra sticky tape (the red one) I ran out today, so I've had to use regular double sided.

My covers are art board off cuts, covered with designer paper, and I bind it all together with BIA wires then add my magnetic pages and dies. I store the books flat to reduce strain on the binding.

So far I've made 6 of these - two for Spellbinders dies, one for Nellies & xcut, one for Marianne's, a longer one for longer label dies and one to keep my coloured images ready for making into cards. It's a system that works really well for me; my dies are organised and well kept as well as being accessible.

Thanks for looking.

Flaky Friends

2011-11-05T21:04:00.000Z

I was lucky enough to be asked to be a Guest Designer at Challenge Up Your Life for November and December - this week, the challenge is Friendship. How cute do these two look making their snowman?

Challenges Entered

Bah Humbug - Snowman

Cardmakin Mamas - Die Cuts

Charisma Cards - Cutesy

Crop Stop - Create a snowman

Thanks for looking

Blue For You

2011-11-05T20:31:00.000Z

This is my first card for the Secret Crafter Design Team! The challenge is to use flowers, ribbons and lace. There's some great inspiration over there so why not take a look and show us your take on the challenge.

Challenges Entered

Allsorts - Anything but square

Crafty Hazelnuts - Bright colours

One Stop - Number 3 (3 flowers)

Crafty Ribbons - Bingo (buttons, ribbon, embossing)

Thanks for looking

Let's Ink It Up

2011-11-05T20:04:00.000Z

We have a new challenge starting today over at Let's Ink It Up This time we want you to share your favourite technique with us. This challenge is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp, who have generously donated a $20 store voucher.

Our second sponsor for November is Technique Junkie, who have donated a 3D and Fun Folds papercraft CD.

The technique I'm sharing is making my own background papers, using distress inks and resist technique. I started with plain white cardstock, stamped and heat embossed in clear, then added more images with the distress inks, before using more inks applied with a blender tool. Finally, I sprayed my paper with Perfect Pearls mist.

Challenges Entered

Just Magnolia - Anything Goes

Dutch Magnolia Chickies - Favourite Magnolia Stamp

Winter Wonderland - Glitter - wings

Sparkles Forum - Angels

CES - Song or Film 'There must be an Angel by Annie Lennox'

Top Tip Tuesday - Make your own background

Thanks for looking

Buttons & Bows

2011-11-02T08:46:00.000Z

I was lucky enough to be asked to be Guest Designer for November/December at An Oldie But A Goodie. The theme for the next couple of weeks is Buttons & Bows and it's a great opportunity to dig out your old stamps and breathe new life into them.

Challenges Entered

Basic Grey - Anything Goes

Ribbon Carousel - Anything Goes

CES - New Beginnings

Sweet Stampin - Anything Goes

Card Makin Mamas - Cut It Out

Thanks For Looking

Thank You

2011-11-02T08:13:00.001Z

The challenge this week at MMCS is a Thank You card - something we'll all need with Christmas coming up. This is my card, and you can see what the other members of the team have been up to by following the link.

Challenges Entered

Deep Ocean - Sweet

Creative Craft - Fancy Edges

Tuesday Throwdown - Thanks

Stampavie & More - Anything Goes

Papertake - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking

Get Spooked

2011-10-26T08:32:00.000+01:00

We're getting spooky this week over at My Mums Craft Shop. I've gone with a triangle card for this one, just because the shape is a bit like a witches hat. So pop over and see what the rest of the DT have been up to - if you dare!!!!!

My tip for Top Tip Tuesday is

- highlight dry embossing by lightly patting embossing ink on the raised design, then add clear embossing powder to heat emboss.

Challenges Entered

Top Tip Tuesday - Trick or Treat

Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Black

Passion For Promarkers - For A Child

Addicted to Stamps - Halloween

Sentimental Sundays - Halloween

Thanks for looking

Look at the Stars

2011-10-24T16:22:00.000+01:00

look how they shine for you- this has been in my head all week! Hopefully now the card is made I can change the record. I don't like to blow my own trumpet, but I LOVE this card - I love the image, the colours, the PATP punch, and the embellishments. The flourish and the label are brand spankin' new and only arrived this morning; I was so lucky to win $25 to spend at Simon Says Stamp from Just Magnolia so I bought 4 Memory Box dies - they are sooo lovely. The stars were a Hobby Craft bargain from years ago and are really for flower arranging, bit I removed the wires, put them away and forgot about them until I was searching for something else and re-found them.

Challenges Entered

TOMIC - Bingo (top left to bottom right -metal spacer, lace punch, leaf doohickey)

Paper Sundaes - Sparkle, Flowers & Distressing

Passion for Promarkers - Stars

Winter Wonderland - Vintage Christmas

Christmas Stampin' - Sparkly

Thanks for looking

Unwind

2011-10-23T12:34:00.000+01:00

The restful colours of this Crate paper seemed perfect for Yoga Tilda. To continue the theme, I de-stressed (sp) the edges (get it!) and added some watch bits. The zipper rose? I made myself; I had a look on youtube for tutorials, but the ones I saw weren't quite what I had in mind, so I had a play and this is one of the results.

Challenges Entered

TOMIC - Let's Get Sporty with a Sketch

Magnolia-licious Challenges - Colour challenge

Crafts4eternity - at least 1 metal Embellishment (zipper rose)

Fab n Funky - Distressed or torn

Clear It Out - Trims

Thanks for Looking

Get Well Soon

2011-10-23T10:16:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, I saw this brill tutorial on Stempeleinmaleins What a lovely idea? So I started thinking I'd probably throw my first attempt in the bin, but it went so well and grew into two get well projects.

Challenges Entered

Magnolia Down Under - Getting Punchy

Its A Magnolia Challenge - Gift Box/Bag

Magnolialicious Highlites - Get Well

Just Magnolia - Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

Totally Papercrafts - Layer Upon Layer

Crafty Ribbons - Ribbon & Lace

Little Darlings - Use Scor-pal

Flutterby Wednesday - Butterflies

The Sweet Stop - Sketch (left hand card)

Whimsy Stamps - Make your own flowers

Thanks for looking.

The Count

2011-10-21T10:49:00.000+01:00

I had fun with this card - I haven't made a shaker card for ages. It also gave me the opportunity to use a bandage I got from the chemist, which I dyed using distress inks - by the time I'd finished, my hands looked like I'd been digging coal.

Challenges Entered

C.R.A.F.T. - Autumn/Fall

Crop Stop - Halloween

Paperplay - Use Black

Crafdting For All Seasons - Halloween

Little Red Wagon - Fall

7kids - Halloween

Stampavie and more - Halloween

Truly Scrumptious - Shaker Boxes

Creative Card Crew - Halloween Fun

Papertake - Spooky Hues

Dutch Magnolia Chickies - Halloween

Magnolia Mania - Small Scene

Magnolia Down Under - Sketch

Fussy and Fancy - Black, Border Punch & Bling

Cupcake Crafts - Buttons and Bows

Thanks for looking

Let It Snow? no thank you

2011-10-20T14:08:00.002+01:00

It's so lovely to look at snow, but I'm not a fan. So the best place for it is on a card!

Challenges Entered

The Sweet Stop - Sketch and recycle (fence)

Top Tip Tuesday - Layers

Just Magnolia - Distressed Edges

Anything Goes - To The Letter

I Love Promarkers - Cute

Ooh -La-La -Let It Snow

Thanks for looking

Fancy a cuppa?

2011-10-19T09:51:00.000+01:00

The theme this week at My Mums Craft Shop is food and drink, so I thought I'd make something other than a card and this is what I settled on. The mug is just card wrapped around a cylinder until the glue dried, then I added the circle base and curled card handle and decoration. I added 2 'options' sachets and put some mini marshmallows in a cello bag.

Challenges Entered

Ladybug Crafts - Pink, circle, chocolate

My Time To Craft - Punches and dies

Top Tip Tuesday - Layer It

Tuesday Throwdown - Shaped Card

Stamp with fun - gift

Thanks for looking

Hubble Bubble

2011-10-16T10:57:00.000+01:00

I've had this card floating around in my head for a few weeks, and I had the shadow box all cut and ready but that was as far as I'd got - then it all seemed to fall together at once - maybe a bit of Halloween magic?

Challenges Entered

One Stop - Halloween

Craft Your Days Away - Halloween Colours

CES - Forever Autumn

ABC - B for Boo

Simply Magnolia - Halloween

Cute Card Thursday - Trees/Leaves

Deep Ocean - Fall Colours

7 Kids - Halloween

Crop Stop - Falling Leaves

Cupcake Crafts - Halloween

Sparkles Forum - Halloween

Challenge Up Your Life - Halloween

Crazy 4 Challenges - Something for an upcoming Holiday

Our Creative Corner - Totally Transparent (recycled packaging acetate-window)

Alphabet Challenge - Soon to be Halloween

Card Making Mamas - Halloween

Fussy and Fancy - Halloween

Totally Papercrafts - Acetate (window)

Thanks for looking

Think Pink

2011-10-15T22:53:00.000+01:00

We're at the halfway mark over on Let's Ink It Up so there's still time to enter and maybe win a great prize.

Lavender and Lace

2011-10-14T16:40:00.001+01:00

I love a non traditional colour scheme for Christmas cards, and I thought this Tilda looked so pretty in lilac.

Challenges Entered

Colour Create -Lilac, grey, white & optional snowflakes

Charisma Cardz - In Stitches

Just Magnolia - Distressing - (inked edges & sanded, embossed card)

Aud Sentiments - Winter theme

ABC Christmas Challenge - Unused Stash - Verse Stamps by LOTV used for first time

Bearly Mine - Easel Does It

The Stamping Boutique - Someone Special (in greeting)

Fun With Shapes - Sketch

Creatalicious - Distress your edges

Thanks for looking

Three French Hens

2011-10-14T15:52:00.001+01:00

If any bird should be singing at Christmas, surely it would be a hen - the pressure is totally off them for once! These three happy chooks make me smile, and they're surely belting out the 12 days of Christmas.

Challenges Entered

Passion For Promarkers - Christmas Critters

The Sweet Stop - Sketch

C.R.A.F.T. - Recipe - 1 ribbon, 2 shapes & glitter

CES - Seeing Red

The Paper Shelter - We Love Animals

Cards For Men - Make us Laugh

Jingle Belles - A Caroling We Will Go

Christmas Inspirations - Bird or Flowers

Sparkles Forum - Christmas Songs

Thanks for stopping by

Warm and Snug

2011-10-12T17:09:00.000+01:00

I think this new release Tilda looks so snuggly in her PJ's, all ready for Santa.

Challenges Entered

Bunny Zoe's - Lace It Up

TOMIC - Seated Tilda & Doohickey

CLP - Sketch 41

Winter Wonderland - Autumn Colours

Just Magnolia - Anything Goes - Coffee & Cream optional

Magnolia Mania - Stripes

Top Tip Tuesday - DP & homemade flowers

Tip - make silver charms gold by inking with versamark and then embossing in gold powder

Little Red Wagon - Just The Ticket

Paper Sundaes - Fave Colour Combo ( Browns/Creams)

Thanks for looking

Blessed

2011-10-12T10:47:00.002+01:00

This is my first Design Team project for My Mums Craft Shop and this weeks theme is 'Reminds you of a Song' - mine is Blessed by Elton John. I do hope you'll visit us and see what the rest of the fab DT have come up with. This week we are sponsored by Prairie Fairy, who are offering 4 free images to the winner.

Challenges Entered

Oldie But A Goodie - Wings

Top Tip Tuesday - Use DP and handmade flowers

Tip - save the acetate from packaging- It's ideal for using as windows etc in cards as well as for strengthening between layers on flimsier cardstock.

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Wings

Papertake - 3 Different shapes

Thanks for looking

Boo!

2011-10-10T10:00:00.000+01:00

After our warm and sunny week last week, autumn seems to be back with a vengeance here, so it seemed appropriate to be working on a Halloween card this weekend. I think Tilda looks so sweet, if a little bemused, all dressed up and ready to spook.

Challenges Entered

Top Tip Tuesday - Sketch

Tip - If I cant find right shade of card for die cuts to embellish my cards, I use promarkers on white card instead to get exactly the right colour.

I love Promarkers - Spooky

Paperplay - Autumnal

7 Kids - Fall

Crop Stop - Dainty Doily

Stamping for the weekend - Colours of Autumn

Fussy and Fancy - Fall or Halloween

Crafty Ribbons - Pretty Spooky

Crafting For All Seasons - Fall Flowers

Little Darlings - Fall or Halloween

Magnolia Down Under - Halloween

2 Sisters - Halloween

Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Fall

Dutch Card Lovers - Halloween

Totally Tilda - Halloween

Cupcake Crafts - Halloween

Thanks for spooking!

What's Cookin'?

2011-10-07T14:56:00.000+01:00

Cake without the calories!

Challenges Entered

Magnolia Mania - Sketch

Cute Card Thursday - Time For Cake

C.R.A.F.T - Bright Colours

Dutch Dare - Special Fold

All That Scraps - Anything Goes

Anything Goes - Die Cuts/Punches

Thanks for stopping by

Got Bling?

2011-10-05T16:26:00.000+01:00

A couple of years ago, my mother in law received a black and white Christmas card - she was outraged! ' why would anyone send a black and white Christmas card? It's awful!' I was so glad I hadn't gone monochrome that year!! I actually think black and white can look really elegant; traditionalists probably wouldn't agree, but each to their own.
It's not showing too well on screen, but I have gone a bit mad with the bling with this card - I made my own paper and added Perfect Pearls Mist, used stickles on the die cut poinsettias, then a few diamanté to finish.

Challenges Entered

Just Magnolia & Hanglar - Sketch

Cupcake Craft - Black & White Christmas

Creative Card Crew - Easel Cards

Papertake - Anything Goes

The Cutie Pie Challenge - Bingo - Glitter, 2PP(made my own) Flowers

Dream Valley - Monochrome

Sparkles Forum - Sparkles

Thanks for looking

Too Cute To Spook.

2011-10-04T12:11:00.001+01:00

I loved making this card! I think because it's a favourite colour scheme of mine, not only in craft, but in home decor and clothing. I was also pleased to be able to use the lace, which was a charity shop find a couple of years ago - it's been too 'precious' to use until I had a word with myself!

Challenges Entered

It's a Magnolia Challenge - Autumn

Magnoliahaaste - Embossing Folders (woodgrain)

Dutch Magnolia Chickies - Autumn

Simply Magnolia - Autumn Colours

Magnolialicious Highlites - Sketch, orange & octagon

Anything Goes - Die cuts/Punches (tattered florals &embossed leaf)

Papertake - Anything goes & something punched (Leaves)

Thanks for looking

Tilda and Edwin Halloween scrapbook

2011-10-03T13:45:00.000+01:00

I haven't made a mini book for a while, so this project provided the perfect opportunity. I used the Cricut to cut out the treat bag in patterned paper and chipboard; the pages are also shaped but without the handles. The cute diamanté bat cost 59p! It was a brooch, but I pulled the back off and attached it with Glossy Accents.

Challenges Entered

Magnolialicious Challenges - Halloween

Secret Crafter - Halloween

My Mums Craft Shop - Dress Up

TOMIC - Halloween (anything but a card)

Tando Creative - Halloween

Thanks for dropping by.

Make A Wish

2011-10-03T11:37:00.000+01:00

My goodness - more pink! Unlike the previous card, this one seemed to just fall together, and I really like how it turned out. I did plan on it being an easel card, but in the end I decided on a PATP mat to emphasise the pink rather than the white.

Challenges Entered

C.R.A.F.T. - Photo inspiration

Magnolia Down Under - Pink, White & Gold

Deep Ocean - Happy Birthday

Birthday Sundaes - Ribbon

Magnolia Mania - photo

Crafters Companion - Pink & Green

Thanks for looking

Pink, Pink, Pink

2011-10-02T15:13:00.000+01:00

I've gone all pink and sparkly with this one!! This was a slow burner for me; I really like the pink holly paper and it went well with the dots then I added the doily and Tilda but was less than taken with it all. So I left it, I find it hard to move onto something new when I have a card on the go, so it just sat there for a couple of days taunting me with it's incompleteness. Today I took the bull by the horns - added the die cut flourish and it all started to come together at once and I'm quite pleased with it now.

Challenges Entered

Magnolia Mania - photo inspiration

Crop Stop - Stamped Sentiment 'plus' friend.

All Sorts - at least 5 flowers

Winter Wonderland - How Charming

CES - Pretty Girls/Gorjuss

Christmas Inspirations - Birds or Flowers

Paper Sundaes - Lots of Layers

Sparkles Forum - Christmas Song - Hark the Herald Angels

Thanks For Looking

Tag It

2011-10-01T21:39:00.000+01:00

Boy has it been a busy week.
I was honoured to be asked to be the Guest Designer over on Craft Your Days Away this week, for the theme Tag It. I opted for a pop up tag card, and made my own distressed ink/ embossed paper.

Challenges Entered

2 Sisters - Fancy Folds

Crafty Hazelnuts - For a male

Card Makin Mamas - Folds

Clean and Simple - Loopy

Dutch Dare - Bingo (Ribbon, Flowers, Die cuts)

Your Next Stamp - sketch

Crafts and Me - Flowers

Paper Pretties - Sentiment as focal point

Thanks for looking

Hope

2011-10-01T20:08:00.000+01:00

This is my first project for Lets Ink It Up This month the theme is Think Pink, since this month is Breast Cancer Awareness month and our sponsor for the month is Mad For Markers, who have kindly donated a Copicendium and a stamp of your choice

I made a little book for writing inspirational quotes in to maybe help a loved one and show they are in your thoughts.

The covers are made from mountboard, which I covered with canvas; the canvas had been embossed using a cuttlebug folder, then I highlighted the raised pattern with distress inks. The heart is a chipboard, again embossed with cuttlebug, then heat embossed in silver and white. Finally I made the rolled roses and added the 'hope' button.

Challenges Entered

All Sorts - Flowers

Crafts4eternity - Anything Goes

Fairy Fun Fridays - Pink and Distressed

Fairy Tale Challenge Blog - Mini Book

Fun With Shapes - Shabby/Vintage

Charisma Cards - Love (heart)

Dutch Dare Challenge - Bingo (ribbon, flowers, die cuts)

Pals Paper Arts - Heat Embossing

Papercrafting Journey - Die Cuts/Punches
My Sheri - Think Pink
Hiding In My Craftroom - Pink
More Than Favours - Breast Cancer Awareness

Thanks For Looking

Altered Ribbon Reel

2011-09-28T12:07:00.000+01:00

This Christmas tree ornament started life in the bin! My daughter was throwing it out, can you believe? I often annoy myself with the way I look at packaging in terms of what can I do with it rather than what it contains. I also regularly but stuff just for the packaging - sad but true; and I know I'm not the only one!!!

Again, I made my own backing paper - text background on white card, overstamped and clear embossed snowflakes, overstamped lilac and blue snowflakes and finally the card was coloured using distress inks and a blending tool.

Challenges Entered

Allsorts - Keep it Simple

Dutch Magnolia Lovers - No Designer papers & 2 stamped images (made own paper, angel tilda on front and back)

Magnolialicious Highlites - Altered Project

Stamping For The Weekend - What A Cutie

Craft Room Challenge - Anything Christmas

Top Tip Tuesday - 2 or more ribbons/lace/twine/fabric (lace)

Messin' with inks again

2011-09-27T08:43:00.000+01:00

On Sunday, I bought two new colours of Distress inks - Aged Mahogany and Barn Door, so yesterday, I had a play with them; I stamped and heat embossed snowflakes on white card, then went to town with the inks, then I spritzed with water followed by Glimmer Mist. I also used the inks on my altered beer mat - I cut the aperture with a nestie, then inked it, passed it through the swirls embossing folder ans highlighted the embossing with gold embossing powder.

Challenges Entered

Magnolia Down Under - Fancy Folds

Totally Tilda - Decorate a Beer Mat

Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Distressed

Stamping Scrapping - Red

Amongst the leaves

2011-09-25T16:31:00.000+01:00

How cute is this Tilda? She just looks as though the autumn winds are about to take her hat.

Challenges Entered

Magnolia-licious Challenge Blog - Colour Combo

One Stop Craft - Easel Cards

Paperplay - Autumn Leaves

Just Magnolia and hanglar- Fall

Simon Says Stamp - Dies and Punches

My Mums Craft Shop - Boys and Girls

Paper Sundaes - Anything Goes

Groovy!

2011-09-23T12:59:00.000+01:00

I don't have a great deal of this Crate Paper Bliss left, which is a shame as the colours are lovely and it bridges the gap between girly and trendy. Still, I have had more than my moneys worth out of it and at least I've used it rather than letting it gather dust - I'm trying to use rather than hoard, but it's an uphill struggle!

Challenges Entered

It's a Magnolia Challenge - Use 2 Magnolia stamps (Tilda and greeting)

Dutch Magnolia Chickies - Bingo (Buttons - made of felt, flowers and glitter - on small flower centres)

Paper Sundaes - Felt ( flower stalks and buttons)

Magnolia Down Under - Picture Inspiration

Magnolia Mania - Dots (Embossed oval)

Passion for Promarkers - Sketch

Crafts and Me - Stripes (paper)

Guest Designer at Top Tip Tuesday

2011-09-20T09:09:00.000+01:00

Last week, I was thrilled to win a Guest Designer spot on Top Tip Tuesday; the theme was ' a card for a child'. Why not pop along and see the lovely creations the Design Team have come up with?

Thanks for Looking

An Altered Book

2011-09-19T15:58:00.000+01:00

I got this book yesterday in one of my favourite shops (Home Bargains) for 39p - its a great one to alter because it's really thick so you can get something substantial in the void you make in the middle. The tealights are scented and cost £2 for 24. I thought it made a really pretty but inexpensive little gift.

Challenges Entered

Addicted to Stamps - Stitching

Craft Your Days Away - Pink, Brown & Blue

All Sorts - Alter/recycle

My Mums Craft Shop - Happy Birthday

Crafts and Me - Add a Charm

Simply Magnolia - Shabby Chic

Just Magnolia and Hanglar - Sketch

Thanks for looking

Autumnal

2011-09-18T15:47:00.000+01:00

This card started with the idea of wrapping twine around a frame, and the bunch of raffia to resemble straw. I added the embossed punched leaves, but felt I was missing something.... enter paper pinecones. The ticket greeting seemed so appropriate; 'Inspire beauty in all that surrounds you'. Thanks for looking.

Challenges Entered

Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Fall Colours

Bunny Zoe's - Sketch

Little Red Wagon - Twine

All That Scraps - Fall

CES -Embellish me more (twine, punched leaves, button, raffia)

Mmmm Chocolate

2011-09-16T16:46:00.000+01:00

Easy on the punching with this one! Another simple colour scheme, using a really subtle embossed backing paper which I inked for definition and to give that old cookbook feel.

Challenges Entered

TOMIC - Chocolate, brown & cream

7 Kids - Holiday Goodness (Festive Truffles recipe)

Paperplay - Punches and dies

Anything Goes - Vintage/shabby chic

Deep Ocean - Lace

Winter Wonderland - Girly Christmas

White Wedding

2011-09-15T18:01:00.000+01:00

I know, I know, with all the punching I'll be complaining of repetitive strain injury before long! Ahh the price of craft. A fairly simple colour scheme with this one, but I think it needs to be simple and elegant for a wedding - so I used tone on tone DP but in opposite colours. I'm also loving the seam binding, it makes such lovely bows - I'm having to stop myself getting it in every colour!!!

Challenges Entered

Totally Tilda - Wedding

Magnolia Down Under - Sketch

Magnolia-Mania - White and....(pink)

Simon Says Stamp - Inspired by film/song (White Wedding - Billy Idol)

Die Cut Dreams - Flower Power

Heart 2 Heart - Die cuts - flowers and spellbinders

Marianne Design Divas - Flowers - english rolled roses

I'm so excited!

2011-09-14T16:00:00.000+01:00

I'm so pleased to tell you I've been accepted onto the design team for Lets Ink It Up The blog is relaunching, and challenges restart in early October. The rest of the team are

Suzanne - DT Leader

I hope you'll take a look at their blogs, just to whet your appetite for what's to come.

Keeping it simple

2011-09-14T11:43:00.000+01:00

No punches or rolled roses, what's going on?
I've gone for a simple look with this card because it's aimed at a teenager - and teenagers don't do fussy - well mine doesn't. So instead of lots of embellishing, I let the image and funky papers be the main focus. It gets the teenager of the houses' approval at any rate -well a grunt was heard and I took that to be approval!

Top Tip

If you don't have the right colour of pearl or gem for your project, use Promarkers to colour white/clear ones to match

Challenges Entered

Top Tip Tuesday - Birthday

Passion For Promarkers - Beary Special

Sweet Stampin - For a teenager & sketch

Tuesday Throwdown - Pearls

Santa Clause is Coming to Town

2011-09-13T11:08:00.000+01:00

My poor MS punches have been working overtime making this card! I even managed to use the corner punch on a circle. I used kraft for a vintage/ folky feel and kept to 'traditional' colours as I thought it would make it suitable for a male recipient - then I added the bow, the flower and the glitter, so that went by the wayside!

Challenges Entered

Winter Wonderland - Santa is coming to town

Christmas Card Challenges - Vintage

Christmas Inspirations - use glitter (poinsettia and Edwin)

Paper Sundaes - Finishing Touches

Dutch Magnolia Lovers - Christmas

Marianne's Design Divas - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking

Sweet Angel

2011-09-11T17:01:00.000+01:00

More messing today - this time in silver and grey. I used the Stampin up text stamp with grey ink, then over stamped with a free Stampotique star and embossed in silver, finally I distressed the edges with grey ink. I wanted the background stamping to still be visible, so my accent papers are silver angel hair paper and swirl embossed vellum. I'm also entering this card at Lets Ink it up for their Design Team call.

Challenges Entered

The Sweet Stop - Sketch

Secret Crafter - Inspired by a song (Jimi Hendrix, Sweet Angel)

Charisma Cardz - Inspired by a song (Jimi Hendrix, Sweet Angel)

Allsorts - Flowers and swirls (swirl embossed vellum)

Craft your days away - Make your own flowers

Crafty Hazelnuts - Swirls (swirl embossed vellum)

Catch the bug - punches or dies

Crafty Emma - Make it magical or spooky

Just Us Girls - Text me (background text stamp

Fairytale Challenge - Flowers and lace

Stuck on us - Die Cut flowers - marianne design dies

Thanks for looking

Paper Patchwork

2011-09-10T12:46:00.000+01:00

I love patchwork -although usually the fabric kind. I would use stitching a lot more in my cardmaking, but my machine doesn't seem to like sewing paper!
Once again, I used my new MS punches - wonderfully satisfying randomly punching paper - or is that just me? I also had a rolled roses fest last night, so I've a good stock of them to use up.

Challenges Entered

Just Magnolia - Sketch

Paperplay - use 2 or more stamped images (Tilda, Hearts and ticket)

Craft Us Crazy - Autumn colours and/or favourite embellishment (rolled roses)

Passion For Promarkers - Patchwork

Cupcake Crafts - Patchwork

Incy Wincy - Make your own flowers (rolled roses)

Lexi's Creations - Autumn

Stamp with fun - Autumn

Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Crop Stop - use Spellbinders (Scallop circle & inverted scallop)

Thanks for looking.

Getting Messy

2011-09-09T12:37:00.000+01:00

For the past few days, I've been having fun with my distress inks and embossing powders; I started with plain white cardstock, stamped the script with distress, stamped the fleur de lis with versamark and clear embossed it, then went to town with various distress inks and my blending tool.

I also did a combination of the above for my accent papers.

TOP TIP - With the more 'grainy' embossing powders, such as Metal Magic, heat from underneath. This prevents all the powder blowing away, and gives a more even finish.

My fingers now look rather nicotine stained - ahh the price of getting creative!

Challenges Entered

TOMIC - Make your own background

I (heart) promarkers - Metal embellishment or charm (frame embossed with Metal Magic also used metallic lace)

Truly Scrumptious - Decorate the inside

Stampavie and more - Pearls and lace (pearl headed heart pin, metallic lace)

Little Red Wagon - Use Die Cuts (frame & chipboard buttons)

My Mums Craft Shop - Layer it up

Anything Goes - Vintage/Shabby

Top Tip Tuesday - Easel Card

Magnolia Mania - Sparkle (Stickles on Tilda)

Magnolia Down Under - Frame it

Crafts and Me - Buttons and bows (chipboard buttons, hessian bows)

Thanks for looking

Windfall Tilda

2011-09-06T16:26:00.000+01:00

This week, I've had lots of new Martha Stewart punches, so I've been having a bit of a play - funny how things go in cycles, when I got my sizzix machine, I got rid of quite a few punches thinking my die cutting would be much more versatile, then I got my cricut and again thought that would replace the sizzix; although I learned with the punches not to let go of the sizzix! Now I'm back to buying punches and dies. Funny how we NEED it all isn't it.
I used a punch around the page to make the mat on this card, a Nellie Snellen die, border punch for the rosette, marianne rose die and a leaf punch.

Challenges entered

Just Magnolia - Anything Goes

Simply Magnolia - Anything Goes

Magnolia-licious Highlites - Fall Colours

Sketchy Colours - Purple, Brown, Beige - Purple in the paper, although it looks more pink in the photo!

Cute Card Thursday - Use at least one punch

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Shabby Chic

2011-09-03T18:31:00.000+01:00

This is my take on shabby chic - for me it's distressing, lace, florals and tatty ribbons with a soft colour palette.

Challenges Entered

Just Magnolia and Hanglar - Anything goes /circles

Simply Magnolia - Love is in the air (heart pins and with love sentiment)

Magnolia Mania - Swirl (die cut)

Top Tip Tuesday - What is shabby chic?

Deep Ocean - Hearts (pins)

My Mum's Craft Shop - 1,2,3 (1 doily, 2 pins, 3 looped bow)

All That Scraps - photo inspiration

7 Kids - easel cards

Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central - Anything goes

I love promarkers - anything goes

School Days

2011-08-31T17:46:00.000+01:00

One of the things I love about the way papercrafting has evolved over the years I've been creating, is the rise of the art of altering. I don't now look at everyday items without wondering if they could be repurposed, adapted or changed somehow. This little box is a case in point, it contained a lovely bottle of perfume, a mothers day gift from my daughter. After I'd sprayed and sniffed, the box went in my stash of 'useful stuff' for later.

So, here it is. I covered it with blackboard paper, added a kraft mat and bakers twine and embellished with a Tim Holtz adage ticket, library clip, flowers and brads. To sit inside, I covered a cheap notebook with kraft, added a few buttons, letters, ribbon flowers and a brad.

Challenges Entered

Cupcake Crafts - alter it

TOMIC - Back to school & metal

Totally Tilda - Back to School

Paper Sundaes - Magnolia

Simply Lilac?

2011-08-31T13:13:00.000+01:00

When I saw this colour combination challenge, I thought 'simple' - think again; I decided on a sketch, my patterned paper, but couldn't seem to match my plains and my ribbon, I must've gone through half my stash 'til I found the striped gauzy trim which seems to bring all the different shades together well.

Challenges Entered

Papertake - Sketch

Lovely Hanglar - Cream, lilac/purple

Just Magnolia and Hanglar - Bingo, pins, flowers, embossing

A Spoonful of Sugar - Party Time

It's a kind of magic

2011-08-31T12:55:00.000+01:00

Ok, I'm trying to extend my card repertoire beyond easel cards; so here's something new for me - a magic card, not sure where the magic comes in, but I'm showing willing all the same.

Challenges entered

Colour Create - Kraft, Red, white/cream