Cover Up.

I thought I'd share a little something that I made for a gift. 

I picked up some little notebooks in the reduced basket in the local chemist last year, I wish I'd taken a photo of the original, it already had a little fold over cover in a matchbook style with a nice strong magnet fastening.

I just felt that by covering it would make it look nicer and slightly more classy that the black and white polka dots it came with.

Now, I don't know about you but I love to look round the Pound shop, a while back this hair accessory  caught my eye, the jeweled flowers are in fact rather lovely but I can't imagine that the flimsy comb that it came on would ever be strong enough to hold it in anyone's hair. 

The Kraft card looks good with the black embossed card, I can't remember what I used to highlight the embossing, it may have been a gold ink pad or some gilding cream, I did make it a couple of months ago so I've forgotten.

I'm using this notebook for the following challenges:-

WLTC, Mixed media,

Altered Eclectics, Mixed media,

RCS, Mixed Media.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Eight

I thought I'd share another card from a few weeks back designed and cut using the ScanNcut. I'd originally planned on making a football card as the recipient is a keen player, my ideas didn't work but as I'd got black and white cardstock on my bench I decided to just go with it. The embossing and inky stitching add a little interest.   

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

TTCRD, Anything goes,

TT262, For a child,

BZ.September, Teens and tweens,

CYP279, Anything goes,

RFC281, Cards with numbers.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Put A Sock In It!

In reality, I put a pair of socks in it lol!

A little personal joke with my nephew means that I always give him a pair of socks at birthdays and Christmas and now that he is getting older, I tuck some money inside them instead of putting them with his present.

I made this box to put them in, the panel with the greeting on slides up to allow the narrow box to open.

I wish I'd thought to take a side view photo.

I'm using this for the following challenges:-

CUYL7, Box,

SPHD19, Male,birthday,diecut,

PDELP, 3D project.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Anything Goes!

I know, I know, it's a bit like buses here today, see none for ages then several turn up at the same time!

These cards are all for the new challenge at

 Lavinia where the theme is

 "Anything Goes"

I've been playing with my latest crafty buy, Brushos.

If you've seen some of the amazing creations that many of the Lavinia ladies have made using them you will be forgiven for not realising that I'd used them in 4 of today's creations.

I've a lot to learn and if you were a fly on the wall when I made this collection, you would have (in the words of Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman) "Peed your pants" I was ooing and ahhing, gasping and holding my breath, amazed at the gorgeous colours appearing on my paper and my hands and the area surrounding my craft mat. 

LOTS of baby wipes and paper towels were used in the creation of these items !

For the first two items I simply shook the tiniest amount of powder onto my mat, so tiny that I didn't realise there was any there until I touched it with my damp brush, I then just used it to paint my stamped  Hanging Lanterns.

I just LOVE the strong colours that can be achieved!

It's a good job that Tracey couldn't see what I was doing with my stamps for the next two items, I took my experimenting to a new level for me, Eileen was in my ear saying "Go for it" well actually she wasn't but I know that she would have been egging me on lol! 

I tried spraying my stamp with water and adding a sprinkle of powder, this didn't create what I wanted as the water was too wet if you get what I mean, the stamping just spread it's way into an unrecognisable splodge on the paper.

Then I remembered my bottle of glycerine, I added a tiny drip to my craft mat, added a light spray of water and painted this onto my stamp, I then sprinkled my stamp with different powders and brushed across the stamp with a dry brush. I love the look, especially on the first one here, I made the mistake on my second one of spraying the edge of my card after which caused the pigment to start to bleed, won't make that mistake again! I'm looking forward to experimenting some more. I've yet to try some of the techniques that Eileen demos on YouTube.

I wonder if she has any tips on how to remove the colours from my stamp lol! 

The last card was made after my tidy up, stamping one of my favourite images for a man's card, the Large Deer. "Happy" was cut using the ScanNcut.

If you fancy joining in with January's challenge, you can make anything you like using your Lavinia stamps or dies, it isn't necessary to have a blog to enter as email entries are accepted. You could be lucky enough to win a £40 voucher to spend at Lavinia.

I'm entering the following challenges:-

LRS132, Something old something new,(Brushos, piercing wheel)
ESC121, Something old something new, ""  ""  ""
CUYL5, Kraft,
LIM203, Family.

Thanks for stopping by,
Happy New Year!
Julie.x

Celebrate With The Southern Girls!!!

Can you believe that the Southern Girls are starting our

 100th Challenge!

So Team Trace and Team Lou have joined together to

celebrate the occasion!

Both teams are using the digi images of Lacy Sunshine, one of this challenges sponsors.

I am using Tilly Dinosaur.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

CCC277, Embossing,

Double Click, Happy Birthday,

FabNfunky 239, Die Cuts,

CSD, Diecuts.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Not Too Shabby!

Hello there, did you think I'd run away? 

Crafting has had to take a back seat lately, there's been so much going on and I don't know how you find it but the longer it is between playing,

 the harder it is to get creative. 

I have to say that when I saw the theme for the new Challenge at Southern Girls

, I panicked a little, you know me, I'm a CAS kinda girl, and the theme chosen for our

 Team Lou is

"Shabby Chic"

As usual we have some brilliant sponsors for this one,

I used Isabella by one of them, 

Emerald Faeries.

I also used a Marianne Craftable die, not the entire die cut but segments cut from Vintage Frame.

Have to say though that despite my fears, once I got into it I thoroughly enjoyed using the theme! I found myself using paint to distress the kraft envelope that I used as my base layer, I roughed up some of my edges with a nail file and broke out the Mega flakes, just a shame I couldn't find my flitter glue! I also managed a first thanks to Colette and my lucky win at Cosmic Strawberry last month, I used a doily!

You could be seeing a few more

 Shabby Chic Makes

 from me some time soon!

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

CCC71, Twine,

CM, Diecut,

DOC87, At least one flower,

BZC, Lace,

CMC56, Doily,

ES107, Distressed,

ALBC, Distress it.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

It Clearly Says Birthday!

 I can't say that I was over the moon with this card,

I didn't think it looked so bad but then it's like the camera really doesn't lie, it looks a bit off balance now that I can see it here.

Well maybe not off balance but a little bit.... well, hanging there. It's too late to worry about it now as my son gave it to the recipient last week but if I ever decide to make another, I will sit the flower slightly lower.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

OSAAT219, Anything goes with a die,

CC19, Use acetate.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

p.s. If you've not stopped by my blog this week, you may not know that sadly

Ladybug Crafts have a closing down sale.

Texture For Team Lou!

It's time for a new challenge with the Southern Girls today, and this time the theme is 

"Texture!"

As usual Lou and Trace have lined us up some great sponsors, the gorgeous

 Fairy Magic is by All Dressed Up 

One of the sponsors this time, you can  find out the full details of all of the sponsors on the challenge blog.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-
CIOCB, Embossing and Stash (buttons),
CCC68, Embossing,
CMC53, Birthday Party,
Eureka 102, Wings,
SNS August, Anything goes, glitter.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Ruby

I'm going through a CAS stage, I appreciate that it's not everyone's cup of tea but it makes me happy! 

I'm not saying that it's 100% original, I did trawl Pintrest for ideas and was inspired after seeing a card with hearts from design paper to create this card.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

Cut It Up, Inspired by a song,(two hearts by U2)

YNS15, Sketch,

AI141, Emboss,

MCC, 2 or more die cuts,

LRW249, Embossing.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie .x

Krafty Corners.

I've been having a major up load of my cards and thought I'd take some time out to share this simple make. The Kraft corners are actually self adhesive photo corners from Paperchase, I just had to have them lol!

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

AI141, Emboss,

MCCB, 2 or more die cuts,

AALD37, Word dies,

LRW249, Embossing.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Blog Hop With A Difference.

Good morning all, what a great day to craft but then isn't every day?

I've been asked by the lovely Chris from

 Here's One I made Earlier, 

to take part in a blog hop with a difference, it's all about us crafters getting to know one another, giving a little insight into what makes us tick and showing you around a few of our friends spaces.

 I got to know Chris when we both attended the same Scrapbooking group a few years back. Chris has amazing talent in the scrapbooking department, I however used to sit and chat and sing, not much crafting was ever done by me!

So here goes, a bit about me and a few photos to help explain. I'm hoping that I don't bore you too much!

Q 1. What am I working on at the moment?

At the moment I am doing my best to work through the bits that are cluttering up my work bench.

When LCI had the Eunice and Ramsey release a while back, I somehow managed to print out several pages of the lovely "Ewe and Me" digi by mistake so they have been turning up not only together but also seperately on my cards lately. Here's a couple I made the other day!

I do rather love Eunice and Ramsey! it's a good job as I've still one page of them printed still to use!

Q 2. How does my work differ from others?

I don't really know, you tell me lol! I know I like a clean look. Saying that I love what others do, for instance, I love how some crafters are able to put lots of elements on their cards and make them look amazing, this is something that I struggle with so I've just stopped beating myself up about it and have found a clean style that works for me.

 I do like to create some interest with my

 trusty pattern makers tool!

I always resort to using it instead of a sewing machine, sometimes with a pen, it's easy to squiggle some stray threads lol!

 I've also got a bit of a thing for bunting, not the kind that requires a die but one that I've developed myself that involves hand cut triangles, inky stitching and rather more baker's twine than is probably necessary.

Oh, and tiny tags, tiny tags are a must have in my world. Hand cut generally!

Q 3. Why do I craft?

That's easy, if I didn't craft I wouldn't be me! I'm the person that at the bottom of my bag has a box with needles and thread, a crochet hook, a packet of Sharpies, odd bits of ribbon and buttons and a phone full of photos that anyone  would think belonged to a mad woman, snaps of odd things to inspire me to create at a later date. 

I'm lucky enough to work with pre-schoolers and share my love of craft with them which would also explain away the two potatoes and bag of wine corks that are at the bottom of my bag. (We did printing a few weeks back)

Q 4. How does my creative process work?

I have no idea, I can go to bed thinking about something I want to create, spend the whole night tossing and turning, making it and remaking it in my head then in the morning I can wake with a completely new idea and go with that. 

If I'm struggling, I like a wander around Pinterest, not to lift ideas but to find that spark to set my creative juices flowing again!

Well, are you still awake?

If there's anything else you'd like to know, feel free to ask!

 Please take the time to visit my friends and next Monday, they will be sharing their crafting secrets and friends

 with the rest of us too.

The Crafty friends I nominate to join in with the hop are:-

 "The lovely B of Floral Fantasies!"

 I started following B way back, not long after I started my blog. B inspired me to buy my first "Speedball Brayer" I may not have ever mastered it but I gave it a go! 

"The Lovely Sally of  Scallywags"

Sally does amazing colouring and is always willing to share tips and advice, she's brilliant at CAS and has also started blogging another of my loves, crochet.

Last but by no means least is my lovely friend
"Nancy from The Fibre Bubble"
Now what can I say about Nancy, she has an amazing way with words. I found her purely by accident many moons ago, her talent for writing just draws you in, in fact the very first post of hers I read was an amazing tale about her dear mum and her hanging basket tomato plants, I clicked on "become a follower" even before I'd seen any of her wonderful card making, she writes the sort of posts that have me openly laughing aloud!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Bloomin Jug

A quick post to share a card made using one of the new 

digi images by LCI  

"Bloomin Jug"

 I coloured the image using Polychromos and added some pearls and tiny Swaovski Crystals.

a bit of embossing, piercing and a diecut complete the card.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

LIM182, CAS Anything goes,

SSS3, Embossing.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Sketch Saturday Guest.

Morning, I'm a guest on the Sketch Saturday Design team today as Kerry is sponsoring them for the month.

Have to admit that I love this sketch, it's one that I can see me using many times in the future.

 

The image that I have used is 

Bloomin Jug from the new

" Bloomin Fabulous" release.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-
SplendiferousC, Pennants and fishtails,

CC239, Flowers,
CK 49, Stitches, (Faked lol!)
ASIYH11, 3 times a lady, (3 roses)
CWD30, CAS,
TSOC, Birthday.

Thanks for stoping by,

Julie.x

I Love This Image!

Not a chatty post from me tonight

I just wanted to share my card using the fabulous new image from Ladybug Crafts Ink!

Bucket O Blooms

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

PCC 13, Anything goes,

TG242, Pink and green,

CFTC5, Summery flowers,

CCC, Flowers.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

And One For A Boy!

Good evening, I'm finally sharing the card I told you about last weekend.

Another simple design, this one inspired by the remnants on my desk.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

CCC64, Birthday,

Ladybug Crafts, Boys, use dies,

MSCC136, Stars,

CFAS79, Don't be square,

CM45, Anything goes boys.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

A New Theme For The Ladybugs!

Morning!!!!!!

It's Tams turn to host the new challenge today and the theme that she's chosen is 

"Father's day Card or card for a man"

The Ladybugs are all using 

"Beer Belly Man"

I thought I'd use him in a different way, just use his arms.

That's the great thing about Digi's, I just sized my images really large, reversing one of them. Using word it's easy to manipulate the image, hanging it over the edge of the page so that only the arms are shown on the card to print out.

I created a gatefold card, using a square nestability to remove  a section from each side.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

CC, Manly men,

OSAAT, Digi,

PIO23, Use patterned paper,

TCP, Men,

TCCB201, Crop it.

Before you go, take a look at what's coming up in two weeks time! More ladybug excitement! 

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x