Happy New Year...

I have not been very well over the Christmas period and although I received the most fabulous craft stuff on Christmas Day I've not been fit enough to try much of it out. I also had problems with my computer too so blogging and challenges have had to go by the wayside.

I'm beginning to feel more myself now and am really looking forward to taking up the new challenges beginning next week. I have managed to do some blog hopping in between feeling rough and have seen some fantastic work around and I really can't wait to join in again.

Anyway I'd just like to take this opportunity to wish everyone, everywhere...

a

very, very

Happy New Year!

The Incredible Shrinking Card...

Has anyone else ever done this? You start out with what seems like a good idea for a card and something doesn't look right so you change it and the card gets smaller as you chop bits off and mess around.

Well that's what happened to me this morning - I started out with good intentions for the challenge at http://quickutzchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ but things just didn't gel. However, I did manage to end up with a small (4" x 4") acetate card and a gift tag so all was not lost.

I must be getting better at card making as in the past the whole lot would have ended up in the bin.

Something tells me (cards to neighbours not posted - presents not wrapped - food not bought) it may be time to take a break from blogging and get ready for Christmas!!

So if anyone is still finding time to check out my blog I wish you and your family a very, very...

Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Year

Hope you will come back and visit me again after the festivities.

Ann xxx

Criss Cross Cards...

The challenge this week at http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/ was to make a criss cross card using a tutorial available at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials.

I completed two criss cross cards as I needed two special cards to put money in for my daughters. One card is in green and gold using the fabulous Cuttlebug Christmas tree die and embossing folder. The other is in pink using the snowflake folder and a Sizzix snowflake die (my cuttlebug die has still not arrived). I do wonder if this is a good time to name and shame the company who have still not delivered my cuttlebug folders ordered at least 6 weeks ago. I can't even remember what I ordered properly now.

Seeing as it's Christmas I will say no more on that!!




I decided not to do the band that can be used around these cards and kept my cards fairly simple.

One of the diagonal flaps opens and the other is fastened securely at the lower edge to create a pocket.


I used eyelets and threaded ribbon through to make the loop to pull out the tag.

I kept the inside very simple using a peel off message on both tags.

I haven't fully decided yet whether to clip the money gift to the right hand corner or make a kind of voucher on the computer. I think I will probably go with the voucher and make a couple of different ones along the lines of 'One meal out' etc. We'll see!!!

The Cuttlebug challenge blogspot is totally inspiring and the design team come up with some new and really inpiring projects each week. Do take a look - it really is worthwhile.

Christmas Notebooks...

Both my daughters love special notebooks and quite a while ago I bought two plain note books with the intention of altering them into something a little bit special as stocking fillers for Christmas.

My intentions are good, in that I bought them ages ago, but only today actually got round to changing them. I used fairy stamps by Joanna Sheen stamped on to white card and then embellished the images with gems from my stash.

I love silhouettes and these fairy ones are especially nice as they lend themselves to having gems or glitter added so easily.

I used ribbons to make page markers and added fairy charms to the ends to give the ribbon weight to hold it in place. As the challenge at http://www.dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/ is to use a charm I am entering my books for that challenge.

The inner page of each book is stamped with a quote from a clear set of stamps by Cloud Nine designs...

As anyone with grown up daughters will know it's a very true saying!

Having said that there are times when I so wish they were back in their frilly dresses!!!

Monochrome Christmas Village...

Just a quick card today as guess what? I am busy getting ready for Christmas!!! Surprise - surprise!

I love the Christmas Village cuttlebug folder and have found it works very well with some of my smaller stamps. I have wanted to try this Santa and his sleigh stamp by Rubbadubbadoo for some time and the challenge of 'monochromatic' at http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ seemed to be the ideal opportunity.

Sorry that the photo is a little blurred - I did my best considering the lighting conditions.

Contemporary Christmas...

Hope this is contemporary enough for the challenge at http://www.mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ where crafters are being asked to design a 'contemporary' Christmas card.

I already had this image coloured and didn't want to waste him so quickly put this card together. A happy accident came about when the gap between the two striped paper triangles was toooooooooo white and to change it I decided to put ribbon but as a change and because there was nothing to fasten it to I added red star shaped eyelets and threaded the ribbon through. Then I tied in huge bow at front. I like the effect and it's certainly something I might do in the future - perhaps even planned!!!

If anyone is wondering why on earth I am still blogging and entering challenges so near to Christmas - the reason is that it keeps my sanity - well almost!!!

White, white, white...

Yeah I found another cuttlebug challenge site!!! There I was looking at some cards on a friend's blog and I found she had created a card for the Cuttle Bug Spot at http://thecuttlebugspot.blogspot.com/ so off I went to investigate. Their challenge this week is use WHITE!! This is not as easy as it sounds although the sentiment can be in black and as the team designer's have used some black ribbon on their cards so have I.

My design uses the Happy Birthday embossing folder at the top of my card and Swiss Dots for the bottom half. I will always be grateful to my friend Irene for the tuition she gave me on how to do this double embossing easily. Thank you once again Irene - it is so easy once you know how!
The sentiment 'Party Girl' is from a set by Studio G.
The gem stones from the word happy are going to be removed (carefully) - I just don't think they belong - keep reminding me of two eyes and I really don't think the card needs them.

New Award...

I was delighted to receive the above award from my great friend Irene at http://alloccasionscards.blogspot.com/.

The rules for the award are...

Link the award back to the person who gave it to you.

Nominate 5 blogging friends and leave a message on their blog to let them know they have been given an award.

Write down 5 things on your blog that you are addicted to.

Five things I am addicted are:

1. Paper Craft and Rubber Stamping.

2. Entering Challenges

3. Blogging

4. Buying stash for crafts

5. Ebay

My 5 nominees are:

1. Beryl at http://bikshome.blogspot.com/

2. Elaine at http://elainesden.blogspot.com/

3. Wendy at http://craftblog.craftybutterfly.co.uk/

4. Ann at http://craftblogspiritofcreativity.blogspot.com/

5. Jude at http://crafts-international.blogspot.com/

Please do visit these amazing blogs where you will find some really great art work and inspiration for your own cards.

Small art...

Well today had to be small art as like everyone else I was certainly small on the amount of time available. A trip to Argos to buy Christmas lights ended up being a major shopping spree and I returned home with all manor of things that I never knew I needed. Why did I buy a laughing Santa? Is hysteria setting in?

Anyway I have loads of presents to wrap so my small art for the challenge at http://artygirlzchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ is a gift tag made using a Wizard tag die and my new Cuttlebug tree embossing and cutting die and folder. The tree with the holes has gold gems added but they are not showing up very well.

Ah well only another - phew too many to think of - presents to wrap now!! Hmm have a feeling they may not all get handmade gem embossed tags on them. LOL!!

Feeling under the weather...

Not me fortunately, but eversince seeing the challenge of 'underneath' at http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ I was thinking along the lines of under an umbrella. I don't know why really, but I ended up with this card to keep in my box for the next time a friend needs cheering up.

The stamps are from a clear set by My Favourite Things and I absolutely love them. The whole sheet of stamps has the most perfect sayings for making cards like this and lots of accessories.

I stamped the central image and the boots on to pink paper and then paper pieced them on to the main stamping. The rest of the image was coloured using Derwent Inktense and Lyra Aqua Colours.

I was thrilled to find just the right colour of pink ribbon in my stash for the bows and as the challenge at http://wednesdaystamper.wordpress.com/ is bows this week my card fits the criteria for that challenge too.

Oh Christmas Tree...

I can't seem to stop working on a Christmas theme! This card was made using the fantastic sketch this week at http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/. As soon as I saw this I loved the rounded corners on each piece in the layout. I think this is a sketch I will be using again and again.

The papers used are from the English Paper Company and being on the red, green and gold theme are perfect for the challenge at http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/.

To bring the colour scheme together more I chalked the card my Christmas tree image is stamped on and paper pieced the trees with the same green paper used for matting and layering. As the challenge at http://tandastamps.blogspot.com/ is 'oh Christmas Tree' I think my small Anita's Christmas stamp fits this theme well.

In the original sketch there is a flower at the top left corner. A flower would not have worked with my design, but I was really pleased to remember my holly leaf punch that I bought recently and as one of the papers has holly leaves on I think this works well. It also means I can enter this card for the challenge at http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ where this week the challenge is to use punchies.

Yeah a quadruple whammy!!!

I finished the card off with gems to decorate the tree. Found I only had 3 of the red, but actually the mix of colours is growing on me.

Cuttlebug Christmas tree...

The challenge at http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/ this week was to make a Christmas/Holiday item that was not a card. I had already bought a green metal Christmas tree from a local charity shop that I wanted to set about altering so this challenge was an ideal opportunity to make a start.

The original tree had an awful green glittery star on the top that kept shedding glitter everywhere. The ornaments on the tree were quite nice ones that gave the impression they were made out of fimo, but I wanted to change it all to something different.



I began by cutting out the baubles. I would have liked to have used the cuttlebug bauble die and embosing folder, but mine hasn't arrived yet so I used a Sizzix die to create the bauble and then embossed it using the swiss dots folder. I made 16 of these in both pearlescent cream and gold double sided card and then attached them to the tree with gold thread. I then added a cream organza bow to each one.

The green star at the top just had to be disguised so I made my own star topper by cutting out stars in both the cream and the gold card and then embossing both using the swiss dots folder to match the baubles. The completed star was then attached to a circular diecut with a gold star brad.

I think it looks pretty good on my new desk - did I mention my new desk? LOL!

Not for those of a nervous disposition...

It's my daughter's boyfriend's birthday today and guess who left making a card till this morning? Good job the challenge at http://www.daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ is 'ten minute card' - well actually it's 'ten minute Christmas card', but hey they might let me off for not reading the instructions properly!!!

Over the last month or so Lee, daughter's boyfriend, has been obcessed with a dreadful scary game called Resident Evil and as our Wii machine is downstairs I have been exposed to seeing more zombies than is good for anyone's health. Lee's card just had to have at least one zombie on it!!

This was a really quick to make card. I found the image using google - added a greeting to it and printed it out on photo paper. Then a little bit of matt and layering on to suitable matching card stock and the job was done. Not sure whether it was under or over 10 minutes, but it was pretty close.

Now to wrap his pressie - heh heh - I have been teasing him that I don't know what to buy and would he like a rubber stamp?

Guess who is going to wrap one of mine up for him to open - his face will be a picture!!!

Our Creative Corner Sketch...

I made this card using the fantastic sketch by Julee Tilman at http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/. The examples by the design team over there were stunning and I loved the idea of having ribbon tags at the top of the main image.

I used a sheet of burnished gold medallion peel offs by Dovecraft to both create the central image and embellish the corners and borders on the card. The peel offs are mounted on to heavy weight vellum and then layered using foam pads to create the medallion.

Embossed Special Christmas Card...

Another card using that gorgeous set of silhouette stamps from Stamptivity. I'm really proud of this one as it uses 5 different stamps on the same piece of card and not one blotch or slightly wonky bit of stamping - an amazing feat!!!

The red frame around the central image is embossed with a holly border using the Fiskar's Shapeboss, which I love. You can't see it very well in the photo but in real life it is very effective (honest). The challenge at http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ this week is embossing so this card is perfect for that.

I am also entering my card for Suzanne's challenge at http://suzannelily.wordpress.com/. Suzanne is very much aware that most of us are very busy finishing off our preparations for Christmas and so she made her challenge one that most of us might be thinking about anyway. She wanted us to make a card `That has a sentimental thought behind it `.

My card is for my Mum and the sentimental thoughts behind are perhaps too deep to express here. Perhaps the photo of the inside of the card might express some of my thoughts for me.

Snowy Christmas...

My very first card made at my new desk - did I tell you I had a new desk - lol - well maybe once or twice!!

I really can't seem to stop making Christmas cards (or buying yet more stamps on a Christmas theme). I really must stop now, but this Christmas silhouette stamp was just too hard to resist. It's part of a clear stamp set by a company called Stamptivity. The stamps in their range are just gorgeous. The corners and the sentiment I've used are part of the same set.

My card fits the challenge at http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ where the theme is 'Snow Somethings' and also the challenge at http://lotstodocallenges.blogspot.com/ where the the theme is Christmas.

Materials used:

• New desk
• white and black card
• Cuttlebug swirls embossing folder
• Stamptivity Christmas stamp set
• ultra fine glitter and gems (not easily to see in photo)

Further Desk update...

So sorry for boring you all with this, but some friends have asked for photos so here you are. I still have a lot to do. The wall behind the desk looks so bare - I need shelves! I still need to find the best home for so much stuff (who bought it - it wasn't me!!).

I also need to build the chair!! Not easy crafting stood up all the time!!!

Even with no chair as you can see I have some projects on the go and will be joining in challenges again quite soon. I'll have to do a few each day to catch up - lol - no problem!!!

Desk update...

Can't believe how long it took to put together. The desk was finally finished at 10 o'clock. My daughter and her boyfriend were absolutely shattered.

These Argos furniture packages should contain Government Health Warnings! Anyway it is gorgeous and now I have the fun job of deciding what to keep where, etc. Bliss!

Also got to decide where to store the piece of wood we had left over - just incase we find out at a later date it should go somewhere.

There may be a card made on the new work station later today or I may just spend the day 'looking and stroking' - lol!

Rica's blog candy...

My very talented blogging friend has just been accepted on to the design team at the Basis Grey Challenge blog and to celebrate she is offering this fantastic candy to one lucky winner on the 24th December.

Do go to her blog at http://ricas-haven.blogspot.com/and leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning and while you're there check out her gorgeous creations - they really are special.

Today's project...

Now you are probably thinking 'That's a strange card!' - hmmmmmmmm well it's the picture of my new desk for my new craft room and yes I am so excited about this. I have been staring lovingly at the picture all week and today is the day to fit it all together.

Will it end up looking anything anywhere near like the picture?!! Max if you are reading this please can you send Jimmi across the border - I need him!

And when I've finished the desk I need to start on the chair - I may not be doing any card making today - or maybe a little while longer than that.

Wish me luck!!!

DESK UPDATE - OMG - 20.50 and still not completed - nightmare to put together!! Daughter and her boyfriend have been working on it for about 6 hours now. It would have been easier to go to woodyard and build from scratch.

My very own cuttlebug folder....

The challenge at http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/ was to create your own cuttlebug folder. There are some fabulous examples on the blog and also a link to a very good tutorial by Betty on how to do this.

It was a real tester, but a very interesting and rewarding one. I have used a wide range of items to emboss with in the past, but I never thought about creating my own cuttlebug folder before. I must admit that before I got to the finished card I did a lot of experimenting with different thicknesses of card to make the folder and also tried out lots of different types of card and paper to do the embossing on.

Below is a picture of the folder I created to make this card. I haven't got many dies that have the caperbility of cutting through very thick card so I used a Sizzix paddle punch (five years and at last I've used it!) to cut out the hearts and as you can see in the phote both the negative and positive part of the die cut are used in making the folder.


I also did a couple of number folders and a star one, but they've not got as far as the completed card stage yet - one day!!!

Materials used:

• acetate to create folder
• thick card - I used the packing board from a Kanban pack of card.
• Sizzix Paddle punch
• pink double sided pearlescent paper and card by Kanban
• adhesive pearls from stash
• Penny Black stamp
• Hearts cuttlebug folder (not made by me!)
• pink ribbon
• silver sentiment peel off

As my card is really full of 'lurve' specifically 'hearts' it is also ideal for the challenge at http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/.

Cuttlebug Christmas Trees and more...

I can't seem to stop making Christmas cards and seeing as I bought a new cuttlebug set (in a sale - yeah I love sales) this week I just had to have a play with it.

The set is called 'combo tree tops' and it includes both a cutting die and an embossing folder. The trees I've used are the die cut ones. I love the spindly tree and I couldn't believe how well this cut as the branches are really quite fine.

The trees are mounted on white paper embossed using the swiss dots folder - what would we do without that one?

I'm also in the middle of another cuttlebug project for the challenge at http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/. I wonder if you can guess what I'm making!!!


Hmmmmmmm you might find clues at the challenge blog and if you haven't visited there yet you must have a look. It's full of ideas for anyone who likes using their cuttlebug.

In the frame...

Another paper pricked card, but this time with a central frame made by using two octagonal Wizard dies together to make a frame rather than a mount. This card is for the challenge at http://tandastamps.blogspot.com/ and also at http://artygirlzchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ as both these two challenge blogs have frames as a theme this week.

Materials used:

• red card and gold mirri card
• white paper
• Ornare pricking stencil
• Wizard octagonal dies
• Holly leaves punch
• gold sentiment peel offs

Ribbon box...

Yes, Chrissie and Irene you were right it is a ribbon box! I've seen them on people's blogs and for sale already full of ribbon and always thought they looked good. However, I never really had enough spools of ribbon to bother before. I usually buy my ribbon in lengths and not on a reel, but after the great sale at http://www.artymiss.co.uk/index.html and 20 spools of Dovecraft ribbon falling into my shopping basket I found I had enough to fill my box!

I used a Japanese screw punch to put the holes down the alternate sides of the box as it was big enough to have two rows of ribbon. I found after threading the first row of spools of ribbon that we had a major design fault. There was enough space for the ribbon to roll back and come unthreaded!

It might have been okay when both rows were in place but I decided to take no chances and put a card support in as shown in the photo below to hold the ribbons in place.



Just got to decide how to decorate the box now.

No patterned paper tags...

I don't need any more Christmas cards, but I can't seem to stop using Christmas images and so for the challenge at http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ ,which is 'no patterned paper, I decided to make a couple of gift tags.

The image is from the Penny Black clear rubber stamp set 'Christmas Critters'. I think this has been one of the best value sets I have ever bought as I have used it so much. To create the top of the bauble I used just the top part of a Joanna Sheen bauble stamp I have in my stash.

What could it be?...

This is something I am in the middle of making - something I have always liked the look of!

What could it be?

Answers in the comments box please!

Snow...

This card is for the challenge at http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ , where the theme is snow. It's also for my daughter, Shelley, who absolutely loves the stuff. I think I should say at this point that she is 20, but that didn't stop her jumping up and down yesterday and ringing all her friends to tell them that there were huge snowflakes falling.

I rather like snow myself as long as you don't have to get to work or travel anywhere it's pretty cute as is Messy Rabbit. I absolute love the Messy Rabbits stamps by Joanna Sheen. This character is just so lovable and is taking the country by storm. I've heard rumours that he is going to be even bigger in 2009 so watch this space or you might be better taking a look at him at http://www.joannasheen.co.uk/.



Materials used:

• white card
• blue vellum for overlay
• silver mirri card
• fiskar's snowflake border punch
• snowflake die
• gem brads from stash
• Messy Rabbit in big baggy jumper stamp
• clip art by PC Crafter
• silver sentiment and border peel offs
• white organza ribbon
• silver letter peel offs to create name
• Adirondack ink and watercolour pencil crayons for colouring
  

A Card with a hole!...

My friend, Irene, at http://alloccasionscards.blogspot.com/ has been doing the most beautiful cards using paper pricking stencils to decorate the corners of her cards. Seeing her beautiful work led me to dig deep into the back of the craft cupboard to find stencils that I bought years ago.

Unfortunately I didn't have any of the lovely corner ones that Irene has been using, more items to go on the wish list, but I did have quite a few large stencils.

I decided to use this snowy scene one. The challenge at http://www.dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/ is to have a hole somewhere in your card and I thought this particular template would lend itself very nicely to creating an apperture card.

I used the Wizard octagonal die to cut the frame for the apperture and the text was computer generated on to white paper and then attached to the inside of the card. As a finishing touch I embellished the corners of the inner with gold corner peel offs and attached a gold organza bow to the front of the card.

Cool Blog Award...

Yeah Elaine has given me this great award for having a cool blog - isn't is just gorgeous. I can't wait to pass it on to 10 people (as instructed) - it's just so pretty.

Well there are just so many cool blogs out there that I could go on forever but I'm going to pass this on to blogs that I visit every day and these are (in no particularly order - oh I must stop watching silly TV programmes)...

Rica at http://ricas-haven.blogspot.com/

Irene at http://alloccasionscards.blogspot.com/

Max at http://maxscraftcreations.blogspot.com/

Sue at http://creativitylady.blogspot.com/

Suzanne at http://suzannelily.wordpress.com/

Ann at http://craftblogspiritofcreativity.blogspot.com/

Chrissie at http://chrissiescreations.blogspot.com/

Edna at http://www.ednasplace.blogspot.com/

Wendy at http://craftblog.craftybutterfly.co.uk/

Anne at http://cardmakingtranquility.blogspot.com/

Oh dear I've had to leave so many out - so sorry to any friends missed - please feel free if you are visiting my blog to pick up the award anyway! I'm sure no one will mind and if you're a friend of mine you're bound to be cool anyway.

Snowmen with a splash of pink...

There seems to be a lot of challenges this week involving snowmen, which is great cause I love snowmen and have loads of snowmen stamps to choose from. This card is a special one for my daughter who is a pink fanatic. It's also perfect for the challenge at http://www.daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ where they are 'dreaming of a WHITE (and splash of pink Christmas!)'. I think I may have got a bit more than a splash here, but as my daughter says 'you can never have too much pink'!

The card is also great for Cynthia's challenge at http://rainbowladyschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ and the challenge at http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/ as both these challenges are about snowmen.


The stamp I've used is from an unmounted sheet of rubber that I bought ages ago and I really can't remember who it was by, but it contains the most fantastic snowmen. The little sign in the snowman's hand says 'S'mores' - I'm not sure what they are, but I'm guessing toasted marshmallows. If anyone can help with that or the name of the stamps I'd be very grateful.

Materials used:

• Pink glitter card (lots of!)
• white card
• silver mirri card
• Wizard standard circle die
• snowflake die and punch
• gems from stash
• silver letters and sentiment peel offs
• pearlescent water colour paints
  
  

Black letters...

Suzanne at http://suzannelily.wordpress.com/2008/11/26/weekly-challenge-make-a-card-using-letters/ has just started a weekly challenge and this week the instructions were:

'make a card using letters as the main feature
can be the whole card or letters on the base of a standard card - you chose '.

I decided to go with this unmounted NOEL stamp. I love the way this stamp has silhouettes of the Christmas story behind the letters.

I stamped the image twice so that as well as the central square of letters I could also cut each letter out and layer these on top using foam pads to give a more 3D effect.









As the card is mainly black it is also ideal for the challenge at http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ who are celebrating 'Black Friday', which sounds like a frenzied day to be shopping in the US, by challenging everyone to use black on their projects.


Materials used:

• black and white card
• acetate
• black corner and border peel offs
• gems from stash
• unmounted stamp from 'My heart stamps for you'

Change of blog name...

Some of you may have noticed that I've ditched the great long silly name I had for my blog. I never really liked the other name. It was thought up when I was in a great rush to start blogging and everyone seemed to have all the really good names.

I don't think this name is perfect - but I daren't have 'addicted to rubber' as it might tempt a few very unwelcome visiters!!

and my new title does celebrate the fact that very soon I will have a CRAFTROOM!!!

So excited about this - I just can't wait!!!

Quotations...

'God has given us Memories that we might have Roses in December'

I love this quote by JM Barrie and was really pleased to find a PSX stamp on ebay that had it on. I didn't actually set out to make a sympathy card - I just wanted to find a beautiful rose picture that would work with the stamp, but as I made the card I realised that the quote was perfect to send to someone who had lost a loved one.

I stamped the quote onto cream card and then overlayed this with vellum - the quote is far easier to read in real life than in the photo - honest! I love the way vellum softens the effect of both coloured and patterned paper.

My card is just right for the challenge at http://lotstodocallenges.blogspot.com/ where this week they are thinking about 'quotations'.

Materials used:

• soft gold card
• cream card
• PSX quotation stamp
• vellum
• rose painting image
• cream organza ribbon
• gold mock brads

Pawprint free acetate....

I seem to be getting a lot of people asking me how I manage to do acetate cards and keep them finger print free. Well, I don't think any of my cards would stand up to examination by the teams at CSI, but I do give them a little polish with a soft cloth carefully after completing and if any major disasters have occured 'Sticky Stuff Remover' used wisely brings them up a treat.

I don't know whether anyone else has done this but if you put a peel off on acetate and then decide it's not quite right it does leave a quite nasty mark, but this can be removed quite easily with the wonderful 'Sticky Stuff' remover. Actually, not that I would do this of course, but if you attach something in the wrong place with DST and have to pull it off the acetate can still be rescued with this marvellous product.

Thanks...

Happy Thanksgiving Day to everyone.

The challenge at http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ is on a Thanksgiving theme, but as here in England we don't celebrate Thanksgiving we could also make a card or gift to say 'thanks' to anyone.

I decided to finish this acetate card that has been half done in my box of projects for quite a while. I'm still not happy with it, which is probably why it didn't get completed in the first place, but my daughter saw it and said she liked it and I should finish it. So here it is!

The stamp is by Inkadinkado and the stamped image has been coloured with Sakura stardust pens.

Another cup of coffee...

This is another card made using the HOTP book 'Shaped Cards'. I made it yesterday, at the same time as my other card, but I wasn't totally happy with it.

Today, I've added a black peel off to the top of the cuttlebug embossing and roses to the corners which has improved the look of it, but I still don't like it as much as the pretty gentle pink card.

One thing I am really pleased about it the way I managed to get a really wide piece of cuttlebug embossing to give the impression of a table cover at the bottom of the card. No way would the piece fit in my machine, but using a rolling pin on the folder worked great. I would definitely recommend that for anyone wanting a wider than normal piece of embossing.