Saturday 28 February 2009

HOW TIME FLIES!

Today's post is a quicky! Tomorrow my friends eldest Daughter will be 7, and I really don't know where the time has gone. I started my full time job as a cake Decorator just over seven years ago, when my friend Steph went on Maternity leave and now her tiny baby is a gorgeous seven year old!
Phoebe's card has been made using Tilda with Lilacs and Tilda's swing (both from Magnolia). I have also added a 'Happy Birthday', which is a High Hopes stamp, and a number seven, stamped using the Penny black number set. I finished the card with a couple of Prima Obsession flowers and a Dragonfly charm.

Have to dash, we have a stall a the 'Max Paper Craft' show, in Sunderland tomorrow and there is plenty still to be done, hopefully ending with a hot bath and an early night, but I think I will just have to dream on that one, lol!

Thanks for looking, Katie.

Friday 27 February 2009

SPECIAL MUM

How time flies! Already its the end of February and Spring has nearly arrived (yeah!). Along with Spring, the month of March brings Mothers Day. I have been busy all week working on a few Mothers Day and Easter themed designs. Today's crafty morsel is a little gift box, designed with Mum in mind, but lets not forget Mothers day can be for Grans, Aunties and role models too!
I made the base and lid the same. Using double sided card stock, I have cut 2 large scalloped circles, and 2 long strips (one slightly wider than the other). For the base, the wider strip of card was scored, cut and glued into position. The lid was made the same way, after I had cut a window into the remaining scalloped circle. Once the sides of the lid were glued into place, I attached a piece of acetate for the window, and glued into place inside the lid.

I chose the Sarah Kay 'Spring Blossoms' stamp from Stampavie for the decoration. She is a real cutie, and the wispy - whimsical style of the image seemed perfect for Mum!
The image was stamped in black ink and water coloured to match the card stock, then cut out and stuck to the lid of the box. I finished with a co-ordinating ribbon, and just need to fill it with something tasty - maybe some chocolates!

There will be more with this wonderful stamp to come, I think I must have inked her up about a hundred times- lol!

Thanks for looking, Katie.

Tuesday 24 February 2009

FORGETFUL!

It has to be said that I sometimes am a little forgetful, and find myself making lists for almost everything I do! Shopping lists, lists of jobs that need doing, even when packing for holidays I have to write myself check lists. I find them stuffed in my pockets and my bag ends up overflowing with little notes and reminders! This is why today's craft creation has been made - To help my memory! (I'm only 26 might I add, I don't even want to think of my mental capacity in another 26 years, Lol!).
I recently bought a chipboard house shape from a craft fayre and thought it would be perfect for a memo board. I covered it in decorative paper and stuck a 'post-it' style note pad to the centre. Sweeping Tilda seemed an ideal choice of decoration as my memos tend to be housework related and the Prima mulberry paper leaves were added for colour. (I also thought it looked sweet that Tilda was sweeping them up!)


I cut my 'MEMOS' wording using my Sizzix machine and added another touch of brightness with a turquoise Prima Obsession flower and Urban Cosmos Brad. I finished my memo board by adding 3 strips of self adhesive magnetic tape to the back, this way I can have my reminders on my fridge, somewhere I'm bound to notice!

Thanks for looking, Katie.

Monday 23 February 2009

SOMETHING NEW!

I had a crafting day with my Mum on Saturday, she came over to my house for Lunch and then we got stuck into my bag of new Magnolia stamps! I decided to try a different style of card which I have seen so many amazing examples of on other peoples blogs, and that was to decorate the inside of the card as well as the outside.
I was a little unsure of what I was doing to start, but once I chose my stamps (Sweetheart Tilda and Love Muffin) and settled on my colour scheme (Chocolate and Raspberry seemed a yummy choice!) the inspiration just flowed, and I am so pleased with the results.


I decided to keep the outside fairly simple as there was going to be extra decoration inside. I stamped the Love Muffin onto a white rectangle of card and water coloured it. I then inked the edges in brown and layered it on my chosen papers, finishing with a sheer ribbon bow tied around the bottom. I then stamped, coloured and cut out Tilda and using 'pop dots' sat her on the cake. This was then added to my card which i had covered in decorative paper and finished with Prima flowers and a Chipboard Button.

Inside the card I decorated both sides, using the same stamps and paper as I had for the front.


I stamped another love muffin, and layered it onto my papers, and facing that I inked the edges of a spare piece of white card for the sentiment and again layered this onto my chosen papers. I finished with a circle (cut with nestabilities) stamped with Tilda's face.



Definitely a new technique for me, but one I enjoyed and can see myself doing again and again (time permitting of course...lol)!

Thanks for looking, Katie.

Thursday 19 February 2009

CHEER UP!

You know how people always say how wet it is in Manchester, well at the moment its living up to that comment! The past few days here have been dark and dreary, I just cant wait for spring and a little bit of sunshine -fingers crossed ;) ! With that in mind I have made a couple of cards with a uplifting vibe!

My first card is a get well soon card, with such miserable weather I'm sure we all know someone with a bad case of the sniffles!
I have used High Hopes 'Nurse Elizabeth Jo' and the matching 'Get well Wishes' sentiment. She is a real cutie and I'm sure she would bring a smile to any face! The card has been layered with Prima decorative papers in 'Urban Cosmos', and a large paper flower with a 'Urban Cosmos Chipboard Button' for the centre.

My second card I cant help but grin when I see.

It just his face, he is the cutest Lion I ever saw, less 'Predator' more 'Push-over'! His name is 'Leo', and is another wonderful stamp from High Hopes. I think with his cheeky grin and the addition of the High Hopes 'Large Sunny Face' stamp, this card just beams SMILE!


I hope they make you smile too, Thanks for looking, Katie :)

Wednesday 18 February 2009

SPOTLIGHT

How busy can one person be? I haven't had the chance to blog all week and feel sooo guilty! But I am back now and glad to be. Colette is away on a short Holiday this week, visiting her Brother Dave who lives in London. I know she will be having an amazing time and her trip is the inspiration for today's card!

Dave managed to get them tickets for 'Dancing on Ice' one of Colette's favourite shows, and this was the reason I chose Magnolias 'Skating Tilda' for my card.


She looks so graceful and super cute. I decided to put her in the 'spotlight' (which i made from a scrap of white card and cut to the right size), and sparkled her up - in true Star Skater Style!

Hopefully I will be back later today with more, until then Thanks for looking, Katie.

Tuesday 10 February 2009

TWO QUICK CARDS!

I always tell myself that I'm going to spend a day stocking up on spare cards ready for those unexpected times when you need one. I've still not done it, and so Saturday was a mad dash to make a 21st Birthday card for a party I had been invited to!


Completed in under 30 minutes, I was so pleased with myself, and quite impressed with what I had created!


I chose 'Stylish Tilda' and opted for a vintage style of card, with tattered paper (from Prima), Tilda coloured with Distress Inks, Ivory flowers and a brass charm.


I can see myself using this style again and again!

I also made a card for my Husbands little brother, who was 9 on Friday. He is a huge Manchester City Fan (I'm constantly told somebody has to be!) and 'Sporty Edwin fitted the bill nicely.

I made a small matching money wallet to fit inside his card, we chose to give him money as he was saving up to buy a new footy game for his Wii!


Thanks for looking, Katie.

CONGRATULATIONS!

A big congratulations to Paula (http://ponderingsofpaula.blogspot.com/) who won last weeks A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge which Nutcrafters sponsored. The prize of Cowgirl Candice and Howdy Pardner stamps, as well as some prima flowers are on there way, and be sure to have a look at Paula's winning card and her lovely blog.

Sunday 8 February 2009

COMING SOON

I always get soooo very excited when we order new stock and this week was no different. After we cleared our shelves with the January sale we made room for some new arrivals from Magnolia, hopefully to be here next week.

Below is a sneak peek at a few of our new comers: Tilda with Puppy, Sweetheart Tilda and the adorable Love Muffin (which is the perfect size for Tilda or Edwin to sit on).



These and a few others are from the wonderful new Love collection, although Love inspired they are suitable for all manner of occasions.


We have also delved a little deeper into some of the older Magnolia collections and arriving with the new will be some old favourites including: Tilda with Lilacs, Tilda with Basket and we have also added a few of the scenery stamps after many requests, including this lovely swing!



I can't wait for them to arrive so be sure to find plenty Tilda themed projects here when they do!


Thanks for looking, Katie.

Friday 6 February 2009

FROGGY GIFT

I don't think I've ever sent my Husband a regular Valentine, and this year will be no exception!


Cute and cuddly with a touch of quirky is the way I normally go, so a good contender will be High Hopes 'Froggy Gift'. Although not necessarily designed for a Valentines theme, he is so adorable and teamed with the High Hopes 'Kiss Toads' sentiment, he seems the ideal choice for my off-beat Valentine!

This card has been made with a 6x6 red card blank, and layered with Prima decorative paper and a spare piece of plain card which i embossed.

Froggy gift has been coloured with water colour pencils and the card finished with a few prima flowers.

I'm sure he would make excellent cards for other occasions, especially boys birthdays (slugs and snails and puppy dogs tails...)- just a touch of imagination and your off!

Thanks for looking, Katie.

Wednesday 4 February 2009

A SPOON FULL OF SUGAR CHALLENGE

YE-HAW! We are once again sponsoring the fantastic Spoon full of Sugar challenge.
This week the challenge is to design a card following this great sketch by Tina.

Our card has been created with the stamps we are offering for the prize: High Hopes 'Cowgirl Candice' and 'Howdy Pardner' sentiment.




This is such a fun stamp and suitable for Children and Adults alike.
Candice has been coloured with water colour pencils as has the other stamp used: High Hopes 'Watering trough'. To follow the sketch, she has been mounted onto Prima double sided card stock in 'Angelique - Angel Breathe' and 'Whisper 2 - Adored'.







To add an extra bit of Cowgirl splendor, we have attached a Cow boot charm onto a strip of ribbon for a final decorative touch!




The winner of the challenge will be announced next Tuesday, so Keep checking and good luck to everyone who enters!

Thanks for looking, Katie.