Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine

Hello everyone - New Year's Eve! 

I'm back sharing another card that is featured in the 100th edition of 

Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine.

Again a 10 minute card using Pink Paislee - Vintage Vogue and Lacey Circles.

 A close up shot for you...

Simple speedy design.  It is nice to sometimes make a batch of cards like this, 

pop them in a box so you are ready for any occasion including Valentine's... it's not that far off, look how quick Christmas came and went!

Thanks for visiting today, are you all seeing the New Year in with a party, a meal or tucked up in bed?
I will be at home raising a glass to my lovely friends - thank you all.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

  

Hey Jude!

Today Blogland friends I would like to share a tiny project with you.

I received this Christmas gift from my friend Jude.

It is a Marks and Spencer gift voucher held within a perspex frame which can be used as a tree decoration. 

As you can see, it came with a little message....

So I set about making a simple little decoration and here it is...

Oh yes it features Bella! 

I've used Foliage and the flowers are created from the very sweet die templates that come 

with the Square Bracket Edge Box.  The technique is reverse stencilling - 

keep your eyes peeled as I will be demonstrating this soon.

I want to say a big THANK YOU to Jude and also HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

It is indeed her birthday today and I wish her a truly happy day.

Keeping it in the Family!

Hello friends.

I think my 24/7 crafting has finally rubbed off on my eldest son! 

I grabbed my camera when he announced he wanted to make a Christmas card for his Nan and Grandad.

These photos were taken on the morning of Christmas Eve at a time when he would normally be in bed, hence the rather dishevelled look and he is still in his PJ's! 

He is operating the Grand Calibur™ perfectly...

 And here putting the finishing touches to his design...

I love seeing him being creative.  It was a shame he left me to do all the clearing up though!
I'm back tomorrow, this time it will be me doing the crafting!
Bye for now.

Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine

Hi everyone,
I've been a busy bee with publications recently.  When I receive a commission it takes a while for it to appear in the magazine but I still get a wonderful thrill when I open it up and see my designs.

This time I designed cards for the 100th edition of Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine -
'10 Minute Makes'.

The theme is Retro Vintage and I love that they have staged the cards with lace table cloths and angel cake!

There are 7 cards each featuring Pink Paislee Vintage Vogue, die cuts, chipboards etc -
it does make card marking really speedy - in fact about 10 minutes!
I'm sharing one of them with you today....

Here is a close up...

It features Lacey Circles which work very well with the circle die cuts.
I shall be sharing close up pictures of the other cards soon.
I'm beginning the countdown to New Year now.. I'm missing Christmas and poinsettias!!
Take care Blog friends.

A Dog's Christmas

I'm devoting today's post to Bella's first Christmas.  

I am ridiculously soppy over this puppy so I forewarn you now! 

Investigating her stocking..

Spending time with Harry (my sister's dog)...

I think he is so tolerant of his little puppy cousin! 

And finally ...the three loves of my life! 

Apologies for the interruption to craft - I will be back tomorrow with something creative! 

Thank you for all your comments about how you've spent your Christmas, I love reading them.

'See' you tomorrow.

Classic Poinsettia Card and Crimble Pics!

Happy Boxing Day dear friends!

I think it is still okay to share a Christmas card with you??

Today's creation is using Labels Twenty Two to create an aperture mounted up on foam pads.

I then layered Holly Motifs and added a tiny Layered Poinsettia to the middle.

Some light inking and a stamped sentiment and it's complete.

I hope you all had a good Christmas Day?  Did we all eat a little too much??

I indulged in the traditional turkey followed by Christmas pudding, mince pies ...

and in the evening more food including a very beautiful pork pie topped with cranberries...so festive!

I'm back tomorrow and sharing some more of my Christmas photos, I think Bella may feature in quite a few!

Bye for now and thank you so much for stopping by.

Vintage Best Christmas

It's Christmas Day! 

I've been saving this card as it features a tiny chipboard element that says '25 Christmas Day' 

so appropriate!

I've used Classic Scallop Edgeabilities® and Classic Postage Stamp decorative insert to create the deep red strip next to the vintage ribbon bow.

Again, very simple but I think this is one of my favourites.

Today I am going to be at my sister's.  Her home is the perfect setting for Christmas - this is how it looked last year...

Isn't it stunning - it doesn't look real does it?  She is so lucky to live in such a beautiful home.

Tomorrow I will be cooking for 10 in my very much smaller home!

I don't mind - just as long as everyone brings their own chair! 

Have a wonderful Christmas Day and eat plenty - calories don't count at Christmas!!

Back tomorrow... xx

The Gift of Friends

It's Christmas Eve! 

Over the last week or so I've sent a little gift out to all my fellow Spellbinders Design Team members.

(I do hope they've all arrived, if not they could be seeing them here first!)

They are little wooden hearts featuring the word 'Friends'.

I popped each one into an organza gift bag and added a stamped Labels Twenty Two.

The word 'Friends' doesn't quite do these lovely ladies justice - despite them all being thousands of miles away I know that each and every one of them is at the end of an email whenever I need them. 

It is so lovely to have the support of this talented team.  

I wish them all an amazing Christmas and a fantastic creative New Year.

A big heartfelt THANK YOU for making my time on this team truly LOVELY and memorable!

Because it is a special day I have more to share with you.

These chocolate gifts are decorated with felt flowers made using Spiral Blossoms One 

and the leaves are from Layered Poinsettia.

When I started my 'life of craft' I was lucky to meet two very special ladies, Jude and Louise. 

They introduced me to new products, events and numerous way to spend all my money on craft!  

They've been there when I've been up and down and I'm blessed to know them.

As this blog post is all about friends I must say with a big THANK YOU to all my new Blogland friends.

I love your comments, I read each and every one and I appreciate all the time it takes. 

Next year I have lots of projects and events planned and I do hope you will join me on my creative journey.

I will finish with a reminder...hang up your stockings tonight and remember he will not visit unless you are tucked up in bed and fast asleep! 

I'm back tomorrow - yes, on Christmas Day!

Vintage Christmas Tag Card

It's Friday or we can call it Christmas Eve-Eve!

I think it feels just right having Christmas at the weekend.  

Anyway, I'm digressing..let's see what I've got to share with you today....

It's more vintage Christmas and this time a tag card.

Again, a simple design using Classic Scallop Edgeabilities® to create a pocket for the tags to slot into.

Pretty bit of lace and using the sentiment already printed on the Bo Bunny - Father Christmas Collection paper makes it super quick. I adore the trinket!

I'm back tomorrow - Christmas Eve!

The Gift of Pudding!

Today I'm sharing with you some little gifts that I sent out to American friends this year.

I'm hoping the post has been kind and delivered them in plenty of time! 

Marks and Spencer Christmas Pudding - yum yum!

I only wish I could have sent the clotted cream and brandy butter too because 

it just adds those essential extra calories! 

The puddings have been simply adorned with bakers twine and Labels Twenty Two stamped tags.

Thank heaven for microwaves!  

Are you a pudding or mince pie (or both) eater at Christmas?   

I truly admire those people who make their own, I bet they are delicious.

Back tomorrow dear friends.

Vintage Happy Holidays

I'm back with a vintage Happy Holidays card today.

The construction of this card is really simple which is good as they are supposed to be 'Quick Makes'!

I've used a Tear Drop Circle, Layered Poinsettia and Classic Petal Edgeabilities®.  

Some light distressing, inking and a few chipboard elements and you're done! 

For me this is my last shopping day before Christmas as I head up to London for work tomorrow.

I've made lots of lists and keep re-writing them, it sort of helps! 

I do hope all your Christmas plans are coming together.

I'm back tomorrow with something else..haven't decided just yet - it's a surprise for us all!

Christmas Configurations Box

Hello friends.  So here it is!  

This is what I created at Pickleberry Papercrafts - Christmas Configurations Workshop.

It isn't really finished, I would like to add a few more bits and pieces but I wanted to share some photos with you first.  It was an absolute joy to make, fiddly but joyful! 

 We used lots of techniques - so I've learned some clever new ideas.

Some chose to use tape around the edge of their boxes, I went with inking - Tea Dye - of course! 

Many thanks to Jennie for writing 'Merry Christmas' on my little chalkboard!

And look - little snowballs in a jar! 

Some close ups including the cute little tea light with houses and the old cigarette card adorned with 25.

 I love my reindeer with antlers.

I found this little keyhole in my odd box and thought it went well.

It's on display ready for Christmas and out of Bella's reach!  

I'm on a search for more little items - I'm sure I can squeeze them in.

Back tomorrow - be great if you could join me.

Vintage Jingle Bells

Oh my goodness isn't it approaching fast now!! 

I've still got quite a few Christmassy projects to share with you including a set of cards that was featured in Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine Quick Makes.

This is the first of four - Jingle Bells.

I love the vintage look and Bo Bunny (Father Christmas Collection) ticks all the boxes!

This is simply made using Classic Ric Rac Edgeabiliites for the card edge, light inking 

and then layering up the elements and adding a twine bow. 

And look!! Not a poinsettia in sight! 

I've realised a lot of places have sold out of the Layered Poinsettia but if you are quick there is still a set available at Pickleberry Papercrafts. You could be super organised ready for next year!

  

Tomorrow I'm going to show you my Christmas Configurations Box that I created at 

Pickleberry Papercrafts - I just need some daylight to get some good photos for you all.

Bye for now.

Poinsettia Notebook

This time next week....!

I still have a few gifts to buy and I need to do all the wrapping.  I have my own little tradition of putting on a Christmas film, surrounding myself with the gift wrap and tags and spending far too long 

making the corners neat!  Do you have certain Christmas preparation traditions?  

Today I'm sharing a notebook.

The shape is created from Creative Book Pages and so is the decal in the bottom right corner.  

The covers are made from a cardboard box!

My ever popular Labels Twenty Two and Layered Poinsettia are here again 

together with Lace Doily Accents - I cut and embossed two strips and placed them back to back.

Once I completed my design I used a Zutter Bind It All for the spine.  

I was a little scared of this machine at first but I'm getting the hang of it now!  

I think we could be nearing the end of poinsettias..but I have lots of other things to share with you.

Thank you again my lovely loyal visitors and for all your thoughtful comments.

Right..must get gift wrapping!

Poinsettia Easel Card

It's Saturday dear Blog Friends!

I still love that 'Saturday feeling', it feels like no other day of the week even though 

we still have to do the homely chores!

A mini polka dot Layered Poinsettia is featured today on an easel style card.

I've used Labels Twenty Two for the upright section of the card and 

Ribbon Tags Trio Three for the sentiment with a tiny strip of pretty lace.

Again, these are not Christmassy papers but they lend themselves so well and, of course, 

my distress inking, good 'ol Ranger - Tea Dye!

I'm going to share a little known fact with you today, 

each time I'm at my computer preparing blog posts I have a companion....

She sneaks up onto my bed and has forty winks!

Bye for now, back tomorrow.

Take care all.

Scrapbook Magazine

Hello friends,

Today I'm sharing Scrapbook Magazine Issue 60 with you!

I've created a layout which is featured in their Four Ways Challenge section.

The papers are so pretty - Fancy Pants 'St Nick' collection.

The page kit is available from Scrap Angels and the details are here. 

I used a photo of my mum as a little girl, her coat was missing a button which prompted me for the title

'Cute as a button' and I also placed a button the layout.

I've used Labels Eighteen, Spiral Blossoms One and lots of elements from the page kit to create the layout.

Here is a close up shot - I enjoyed making the stocking banner and the tiny row of Christmas trees.

It's Friday - what are your plans for the weekend?

I'm looking forward to Sunday as I'm going to Pickleberry Papercrafts for a 

Christmas Configurations workshop.

I will be sharing my project with you beginning of next week.

Bye for now, have a lovely weekend and thanks for stopping by.