Basic Grey Birthday Card

I love these Basic Grey papers almost as much as I love this inkadinkadoo stamp - it is one of my most used stamps, especially for 21st birthdays. I used black detail embossing powder, pleated pink angel hair behind the dress and added a little gem and a hanger and layered to the BG papers with some buttons and ribbons added. A quick and simple card.

UK Stampers Challenge

On the UK Stampers Forum there is a challenge to 'define your space' by making something for your craft room or space. I made this little door plate from 2 pieces of circular chip board and an ice lolly stick. My favourite saying stamp is on it Life is short - do what you love. I would like to have used more stamps on it but the papers didn't really need them.

Scrapwest Challenge - Bling

This week the challenge was 'Bling' I struggled for a while thinking of diamonds,bling bling chains and pink but eventually came up with this which is ok. I made the background paper with marvey metallic inks which were brayered and added some gold webbing spray. I added stickles to the image to give the 'bling' effect and some sparkly wrapping paper and buttons. (you need to click on the image to see it more clearly)

For DymphieM - the circle is a bangle covered in stickles and glued to the image.

Talk Crafts Swaps

Yesterday was such lovely day for me. The postie arrived with 2 swaps and both are beautiful. I received the lovely jewellery swap from Glynis - had to take it off to photo it and its beautiful. I also received this lovely canvas, an image transfer from Adrienne and its fabulous. Cant believe the left side is all an image transfer. These are so much nicer in real life and I'm delighted with them.

Where do you belong??

You Belong in 1998

With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

What Year Do You Belong In?

leftovers

I have still lots of these bits of alcohol inked papers from Crafteire, they come in so useful for quick cards. I've used this as a male birthday card, simple and handy!!

Painting

I went to visit my brother over the weekend and was delighted to see this painting on his wall which I painted over 2 years ago for him as an xmas pressie. I still love looking at it.

Crafteire ATC SWap

To all of you very kind ladies who gave me ATCs at Crafteire - I finally have mine complete. I will give them to you at the next crop :), I'll post to those who wont be there.

Scrapwest Challenge - Happy Day Memories

Yes, I am very late but sometimes everyday life interferes with my playtime. I had a lovely weekend shopping for wedding dresses with my sister so it kinda took priority over any crafty work. This week's challenge was Happy Day Memories. The background is a page from an old book I received from Sabrina which I dry brushed with gesso, tore the edges and added some stamps and embellies. The lovely little angel on the flower is my gorgeous daughter on the day of her Christening, the way she lay on her blanket always reminds me of a little angel. It is one of my most treasured memories of her as a baby.

Talk Crafts Image Transfer Challenge

Havn't been here in a while as I have had a hectic week or two. Last weekend I spent Saturday and Sunday at a lovely crafty retreat at Magpie Crafts in Coleraine. It was a lovely weekend with lots of lovely like minded people all there for the craic. I made some mini books, ATCs, Art Girlz and sampled (and purchased) the newly launched Vivienne Hancox stamps which are beautiful. While I was there I finished off this swap for JP on the Talk Crafts Challenge. Unfortunately, it hasn't arrived with her yet but fingers crossed. I love this image of the little girl.

I am adding my replacement card in the event that this doesn't arrive in the post tomorrow - very similar but different image.

Scrapwest Challenge - My Craft / My Stuff

Another week another challenge. This week's challenge was My Craft so I am hoping to use this as my banner when I figure out how to do it. I have used some pages from an old book, bits of scrap paper and images, Hero Arts stamps and Inca stamps. I then covered the whole lot with colorbox pigment inks and addes some mica and embellies. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else has done.

Alcohol Splash

Was there ever a time when you had lots of work to do and you would do anything but that work? Well, tonight is like that for me. I have so many card orders to complete before the weekend I dont know how I will get them done. I'm distracted. Over on the Talk Crafts Forum today there was some talk about the spin and splash toy with alcohol inks. I went on a mission and found a very basic manual one to try out. These are my efforts. I love alcohol inks and their vibrant colours but this technique is magical. Lots more practice needed - but not tonight.....

And Some More

Crafteire - Survived

Well, I have recovered - just about. I had a fantastic time last weekend at Crafteire in Tullamore. It's lovely to meet up with such like minded people. I enjoyed meeting all the old faces from crops and some new from the forums. A Big Thank You to all those who came to my classes, it was lovely to have people appreciate my work and want to photograph it. I hope everyone learnt something new from it all. I've posted some of the piccies of the alcohol inks cards and beaded accents and I would like to see some of your creations posted here too.

I'm off this weekend to a Craft Retreat in Coleraine at Magpie Crafts - something different and new and hopefully new crafty friends too. I'll let you know how I get on.....

Scrapwest Challenge - Me, Myself, I

I found this challenge, well, challenging. However, it was time.............. my first LO was born. I had so many ideas of what I could do but I received these lovely Basic Grey papers as a gift and they were crying out to be used. They really are beautiful papers and I hope to use them a lot more, so watch this space. My LO was inspired by a song I heard on the radio - Because of You - and it made me think of how much we take for granted, our happiness for example and all we have achieved in life. My new hubby has helped me to be who I am today - a very different person to what I used to be and most of all HAPPY. So, my title is, Because of You, I am, Me,Myself, I. Thank you Kevin. (I wonder if he will ever read this blog LOL)

Mah Jong Tile Swap

Over on the Talk Crafts Forum there are some great challenges and swaps going on at the minute. For this swap I was sent 3 Mah Jong Tiles to decorate and put on a card. I used alcohol inks to decorate them and added a pear stamp on the top. They are then layered onto black cardstock which was stamped with bleach and then layered again onto some wallpaper. This card went off in the post yesterday to complete the swap.

I made this card for my friend Jackie who had asked me out with some of her friends and family on an Angel Night. For her, when she asked Angels to help in times of need she said the same people always came to help her. I was delighted to be considered one of the 'angels'. We had a lovely meal and great craic and I also met with the other people in her life who were important to her. This is a Thank You card for her.

Swirl stamp is from the Art Girlz collection and the beautiful image is from Crafty Individuals Ephemera Collection.

Tape Transfer

Here is a belated Birthday Card for Laine - sorreee Lainey for being late - I have done an image transfer on packing tape, stamped some images on the paper below and used glossy accents to stick the tape to the paper. They are quite addictive when you start - I've been scouring magazines for images I might use..

Another Booklet

I have no idea what this book is called but it folds into a 4" square. It's amazing how much you can actually fit into this tiny book. Look out for these at 'Crafteire'.

Scrapwest Challenge - Turning Japanese

This week I was setting the challenge for Scrapwest and had a lovely star book started and decided to use it as the challenge 'Turning Japanese' It is a small booklet measuring 4x4 and I loved making it, I think I will try one a little more extravagant the 'next time'.

Easter Craft

Its been great having a few days off from work and being able to get some crafting done. I had a large card order to complete and now that it is done, I have some time to play. I've been preparing my classes for Crafteire too so I'm looking forward to that, less than 2 weeks to go everybody.

While making some 'beaded accents' I thought I'd treat myself to a new necklace, I love the colours in these nuggets.

Tag Books

I have been playing about with some tag books which I was asked to decorate. They have sat for a while and I'm still not sure I know what to do with them. This first one was coloured with colourbox inks using a baby wipe but it turned out very bright yellow and purples, (Not the look that I had planned) I decided to tone it down a bit and coloured the whole piece over with coffee and I'm much happier with the look. The second picture is another tag book but shaped slightly different. I covered the background with some lovely hand painted paper I bought in Venice and had to use it. I also made each tag with a different type of transfer I had been trying and I'm happy with the finished product.

Scrapwest Challenge - Card Lift

This is my version of Lynn's Card. Thanks to Lynn for allowing me to use her card. You can check out her blog at www.stamperosity.blogspot.com

Scrapwest Challenge - Card Lift

It seems such a long time since I last posted, I have been really busy finishing swaps and challenges which I cant post just yet but will do when they are complete. This week's challenge was to card lift or scrap lift from someone else's work. I found this lovely card by Lynn in St. Louis over on Splitcoaststampers and made a birthday card similar to it. I love the design and hope to use it again.

This week's Scrapwest Challenge was 'Inspired By....' My piece was inpsired by Beryl Taylor's Book - Mixed Media Exploratons. I love this book and flick through it regularly for inspiration.

Gel Transfer on Wood Chip

This is a card using the gel transfer method onto a wood chip. I find it easier doing the transfers onto wood as I cant rub the wood away (which I do with the paper)

Necklace

I bought a new book last week 'Contemporary Bead and Wire Jewellery'. There are some lovely ideas in it, instructions are not too clear but you can get enough from the pictures. This necklace was similar in style to one in the book. I think I need to buy some more beads though after seeing some of the lovely designs in the book.

3x3 Book with metal foil

This is the lovely 3x3 book which I made at the class yesterday, it still has to be finished but I like the style of it. I have used metal foil on the corners and for the letters. (need a bit more practice!)

Mixed Media Class

I went to a class yesterday at The Card Crew in Belfast. Marion Coupe from Magpie Crafts in Coleraine took the class and it was a great day. I met some lovely girls - all very talented - and I enjoyed my day. This was my attempt at the mixed media canvas. We also had time to make a lovely little book with some more metal foiling.

Scrapwest Challenge - Playtime

This week's challenge was 'Playtime' which sounds easy. I had so many different ideas of what I could do.......... and none of them are what I produced on paper, as always.

Birthday Card for Brayergirl's blog

Brayergirl (UK Stampers) is celebrating her 1st birthday blog. I made this happy birthday card which has a lovely friendship quote on it.

Those who find a faithful friend, find a treasure.

My Mother's Day Card from My Daughter

My daughter spent quite some time last night doing 'something'. After a loud crash and several questions this is what she produced. I'm delighted with her. She is 12 and does not like card making but tried to making something she thought I would like. Well, I love it. THere is an alcohol inked background, a domino with alcohol inks, edged in gold and stamped, the ribbon is fed through a slit in the side of the card and they are all my favourite colours which dont show up too well in the photo. I think she is brilliant.

Scrapwest Challenge - Mother

This week's Scrapwest challenge was 'Mother' with a St Patrick's day emblem or motif. This is my contribution whis is a collage of stamping and vintage images on a background dyed with tea.

Male Birthday Card

I still struggle making male birthday cards. I made this earlier for a male friend's birthday, he likes card making so he will be interested in the detail of the card. I stamped into bleach for the script backgrounds.

Talk Crafts Image Challenge

This month on Talk Crafts we had this lovely lady to alter - I have given my efforts the title of 'A Woman of Substance'

Talk Crafts Image Challenge

Each month on the Talk Crafts Forum a new image is released for members to alter. Last month was Reggie - he was very cute and this is what I did to the poor boy. Let me introduce Reggie and Fido (who is my dog Ben)

A cute baby boy card for a friend.

Friendship Card

Another card order, the verse is from a vintage friendship sheet I got at the Scrapstore.

Pattern of Friendship

I had a few card orders to make this week. I got my delivery of the BG Stella Ruby papers and they are lush. This is my first attempt at cutting them up.

Scrapwest Swap Map

This is my Scrapwest challenge for last week. We were given a sketch and also a swap from another team member and I received some lovely papers from Annamarie at the Scrapstore. Thanks Annamarie. I dont normally use blue colours but I do like these.

Before The Kiss

This is my submission for this weeks Scrapwest Challenge. Each week the team of designers are given a theme to work to, this week is 'You're Beautiful'