Thursday 31 December 2009

Cole Mini Book.

I made a mini book full of pictures of my beautiful nephew Cole.
 



This is my favourite page, I used blue tones to tie in with the beach photo.
I decided to keep it quite simple and just matted the photo onto dark blue card tied with pale blue ribbon and a bow which I matted onto paler card.
I then embellished the page with two lines of buttons in similar tones.



Again I decided to keep these pages quite simple so as not to detract from the georgeous photos.
On these pages I used red and black mirror board as the backgrounds and embellished with Laua Ashley velvet rub ons.
I kept to black, gray and red to give a striking page with the black and white photos.

Wednesday 30 December 2009

Happy New Year!




Don't forget to make New Year cards! This is an ideal opportunity to use up all your left over Christmas/winter stash!

Tuesday 29 December 2009

Christmas Table.



I like to take lots of unusual pictures at Christmas to show what Christmas means to me and my family.


For us the table decorations are a main focal point as my mum spends alot of time making sure both the table and food are perfect over the festive period.


So I decided to dedicate a page of my Christmas scrapbook to the Christmas breakfast table.

I used a rich red background paper.


The title is made of muddled up red/white letters on white/red squares which I applied a little wonky and messy.


The four pictures are arranged in a square and matted onto white and gold vellum.




Monday 28 December 2009

Candle Christmas Cards



This book is such a great go to book for those last minute cards that you've forgotten to make, and I'm embarrassed to say I forgot quite a few again this year.




I particularly liked this candle card which I made in several colour schemes.

This card is great because all it uses is colored card and some sequins (which I always have in my craft stash) and only takes about ten minutes to make.

So I recommend this book highly as it's full of loads more fantastic cards.

Christmas Tree!


This is my Christmas tree. This is the first year I've had a tree up in my own house.

Alot of the ornaments are odd (which I really like) as it's a tradition in our house to collect decorations from important places we've been, and my mum gets us a special decoration every year for Christmas.
Thanks Nan for giving us this gorgeous tree.

Graduation!!!!!!!!!!!!


This is a photo of me at my graduation a two weeks ago in the frame that my Mum and Dad bought me as one of my graduation presents.

(sorry about the reflection of me taking the photo!!!!)
I was so lucky, I got lots of lovely graduation cards and gifts.
We had a great day up in Newcastle and the ceremony was lovely.
I felt so proud of myself in my robes, and had a lovely hood of blue silk and white fur.

Sunday 27 December 2009

Braying Cards


These cards were made using a fantastic techniue called braying.
To try this yourself you will need a soft rubber brayer and some kaleidoscope ink. Mine in these cards is blue breeze.
How to: Take your brayer and roll it repeatedly onto the ink pad, then roll it onto your sheet of paper.
This looks amazing when combined with black outline stickers as in these cards.


Another way to use this technique is as a background, as in the following card.



Give it a try. x

Monday 21 December 2009

Brad Tree

This is a great card to use up any odd brads that have been littering your craft room for a while.

Step 1:
Just take a plain card blank, I chose a white textured card.

Step 2:
Ink the edges with a chalk/ink pad. I used silver chalk as this looked best on the textured card.

Step 3:
Choose which brads you want to use and position them into a christmas tree shape. Make sure you save a star for the top.

Sunday 20 December 2009

Snowmen Cards!



I just love that feeling when you know it's winter, it's cold outside, Christmas is coming and hopefully so is the snow. This week we had to start using the de-icer on the car!!!!! This cold weather has inspired me to make some snowman cards which are ideal for Christmas cards and also winter birthdays (which are so hard to make for without being too festive). These cards were made using ready-made toppers, I know it's cheating but as Christmas nears I find them perfect for quick makes for people you've forgotton (not that I've forgotten anyone again this year.........) My top tip at Christmas is to always have a handful of spare cards for when that friend you've not seen in a while pops round to give you theirs.

This snowman is so prettty flying like a Christmas angel. I decided to use Blue icy tones here to tie in with the chilly colours of the snowman and his blue scarf. I love using silver mirror board on my Christmas cards to add some festive sparkle. The 'let it snow' greeting comes from the heart as I'm desperate to build my first snowman of the year.


This card is made in a similar style to the first but here I used a Forever Friends greeting and some extra special swirly paper which looks to me like snow blowing in the wind.



I decided to use a swirly Christmas vellum greeting on this card to match in with the swirls of the background paper.



This card was the last in my snowman batch and as I was starting to feel a little cold I decided to use some warmer colours. The pink and brown is quite retro and the felt snowflake brad is so touchy feely and adds a touch of dimension.

Friday 18 December 2009

Gingerbread men....

At the moment I'm just loving using gingerbread men (and candy cane) embellishments in my crafting. They're such a fun and envoke memories of making gingerbread men and houses with my mum when I was younger.

So I decided to give you  a recipe for making your own gingerbread men, I found it on BBC food and  it is just a great recipe.

Ingredients

200g/7oz self raising flour

10g/2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

55g/2oz butter

55g/2oz dark brown sugar

2 tbsp black treacle

1 tbsp golden syrup1

finely grated orange zest

To decoratesweetened dried cranberries


Method
1. Heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.


2. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets with butter. Sift the flour, ginger, cinnamon into a mixing bowl.

3. In a heavy-based saucepan, melt the butter, sugar, black treacle and golden syrup over a low heat. Do not allow to boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the orange rind.

4. Pour the butter mixture into the flour and mix thoroughly to form a soft dough. Roll out the dough to approximately 4mm/¼ inch thick and cut 10-12 large people shapes or 25 small shapes, re-rolling the dough when necessary.

5. Using a palette knife carefully lift the gingerbread people onto the baking tray and decorate with the dried cranberries. Cook for 6-10 minutes until just set and beginning to brown.


Try it yourself.

Wednesday 16 December 2009

Giveaway!!!!!


If any of you live in the US, check out http://groggyfroggy.blogspot.com/ . This lovely blogger is giving away a fab free gift of a lovely Christmas display and a santa egg (sounds wierd but really nice). All you have to do to enter is join to follow the blog, and post a message about it on your own blog. I'm so sad I can't enter though as you have to live in the USA. Good luck!!!

My Craft Room!

Yes I am a very lucky girl because in the new house I have my very own craft room. Luckily it came with a massive inbuilt cupboard for storing all my crafty bits and pieces.

So the purpose of this post is to share with you my clever storage system......... mushroom crates. These blue, plastic baskets can be obtained from any greengrocer or corner shop, and they stack together neatly. They're the perfect size for A4 papers, decoupage, embellishments, envelopes, well just about anything. Use luggage tags to label whats inside.



And for your brads, buttons, sequins etc why not try empty sweet jars and/or small wicker baskets. They're ideal as you can see exactly whats inside. And if like me you have a craft desk they make it look pretty!!!



Hope these ideas help. x

Tuesday 15 December 2009

Earings!!!

Just a few pairs of my handmade earings to give you a few ideas. I used these as table presents for my sisters when they came round for a meal last week.  I tend to start by deciding on my colour scheme, then I pick my main bead before deciding on the particular design and subsequent beads to finish the project off. All you need to have a go yourself is round nosed pliers, earing findings, beads, and head pins. Try it yourself!!!!

Monday 14 December 2009

Jolly Nation 3D Box Cards

Jolly Nation have done it again, these new 3D box cards are amazing!!!!!! Not only are they a masterpiece that will be treasured by the lucky recipient, they fold flat for posting too. The kit comes with 9 different designs from the ever lovable Jolly Nation range and include the luxury bath lady shown below, as well as 70's and 80's dancers, gardening and TV remote guy. At RRP £8.99 this works out at approximately £1 per card, but there are lots and lots of left over borders, greetings, and pictures to make more cards from, so this kit becomes good value for money. The contents include: 9 3D decoupage sheets, 9 box card blanks and envelopes, and accessory sheets containing borders, greetings and corners. (You could also try making a template from the card blank and give making your own 3D box cards a try......)




This is my first try at a box card and I just love the result, I'll post pictures when I've finished the other eight and of any cards I make with the leftovers.

Sunday 13 December 2009

Forever Friends



At the minute I'm just loving all the forever friends products. Here are some of my cards made using the FF Christmas decoupage and Christmas stickers. (I also used Anitas glitterations, Daisy and Dandelion papers and Craft Companions Stick and Sparkle). There are loads of Ff products out there in two ranges Christmas and everyday. Try bringing these lovable characters into your crafting.

Tuesday 8 December 2009

Crafters Companion Sprays.

Product Focus: Crafters Companion Stick and Stay

Stick and Stay is permanent and repositionable. You just spray position and leave for a perfect bond. For me this is my favourite adhesive because it's so quick and easy to use. I recently used it on fabric for a patchwork effect scrapbook page and the bond was still good. Stick and Stay is  acid and lignin free, so it can be safely used with your precious photos too. At RRP £5.99 it's definitely worth buying. 

Product Focus: Crafters Companion Spray and Sparkle Glitter Varnish

This spray combines a varnish with ultra fine glitter. I have used it on most of my Christmas cards. It's available in silver or gold and adds a perfect finishing touch. Apray and Sparkle is acid free and non-toxic, so you can use it with your photos safely, and it's safe for children to use too.  RRP £5.99.

If you're considering buying any Crafters Companion sprays check out their website where the offer of the minute is any 3 for £15!!!!!! (http://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk)

Monday 7 December 2009

Competition!!!!

Just quickly letting you know about a great competition on 'All The Things I Love' (link: http://bevscrafts.blogspot.com/2009/12/some-candy-for-you.html). The prize is some Wild Orchid Crafts flowers (roses, asters and arum lilies) and a Sarah Kay Noel Charity stamp. All you have to do to enter is leave a link to your blog (or just your full name if you haven't got a blog). Go on give it a try!!!!

Friday 4 December 2009

Free Daisy and Dandelion Papers On DoCrafts Website!!!!!

I just love Daisy and Dandelion and have brought several of their products, so I was delighted to discover there are free downloads containing these lovable dogs on the Docrafts website. There are two sets of backing papers and some decoupage to choose from. So join Docrafts and try it yourself!!!


This set is my favourite!!!!!!!!!!


You could also check out http://daisyanddandelion.blogspot.com/ for some inspiring ideas on how to use these beautiful products.

I buy mine from http://www.madaboutcards.com if I don't want to go out in the cold,or the Paper Mill shop when I'm out and about.

Give these cute characters a try.

Thursday 3 December 2009

Jewellery for Tor!!

Check out my very talented sisters fashion blog http://fabfrocks.blogspot.com/ the post is called keeping it in the family to see the beautiful necklace I made her to say thankyou for hosting a wonderful festive weekend for the family, and also for some hints and tips on what to wear for that special Christmas party. I've also made both my sisters some lovely pieces for Christmas but I won't post the pictures yet because I know they'll take a peek and ruin the suprise.

Wednesday 2 December 2009

Gatefold Glory

As all cardmakers can testify always making regular A5 cards can become a little mundane. So why not try a gatefold card instead?


How to make a gatefold card.

1. Start with an A4 sheet of card.


2. With a ruler find and mark the centre with pencil.

3. Fold one side in to meet the centre.


4. Repeat on other side.

5. Rub out pencil maerks and decorate (inside and outside).


Tuesday 1 December 2009

Vintage Christmas

Product Focus: My Mind's Eye Christmas cards sets........


My Mind's Eye Christmas cards sets contain 50 beautiful printed Christmas cards just waiting to be embellished. The front is printed with a pattern and the back with a complimenting block colour. They are ideal for quick Christmas makes when you've got too many cards to make, and not enough time to make them in. The designs are quite vintage looking with some distressing to the edges which lends itself well to more traditional or vintage looking designs. 













Monday 30 November 2009

Beauty in nature...

This page was made following a walk me and James took last summer. I wanted it to reflect the beauty and colour surrounding us in the pictures.

I used a flowered patterned background paper in muted tones to link in with the nature theme.

This flower is actually from a wallpaper sample I took from a decorating store, but I think it really suits this page and it became the main focal point because of its touchy feely texture.


I just love these papermania letters, They add a touch of vintage charm to the page.






Sunday 29 November 2009

Snow Scrapping

These pictures were taken on the town moor in Newcastle last year. I love snow because it makes me feel so Christmassy. Me and James (the boyfriend) went for a walk on the moor to enjoy the snow. Lets wish for snow this Christmas.



This page is made using silver glittered chipboard letters which look snowy with the blue and white patterened paper. I also journalled in silver pen to keep with the icy theme, and added snowflake brads to the bottom corners of the photos.




Friday 27 November 2009

Earings for crackers!



As I was browsing the internet for inspiration I came across this beautiful pair of earings on Gypsy's Ramblings (http://gypsysramblings.blogspot.com). I tried them myself and made up several pairs to put in Christmas crackers this year. I decided to make them in several different colours so everyone got a slightly different gift too.

Thursday 19 November 2009

Cute Companion Window

I made this beautiful card using free Cute Companion papers from Creative Cardmaking issue 9. I just loved the cute window image and decided to add a wintery background through the window by cutting out the window panes and adding a snowflake background paper behind it and also some glitter (well it is Christmas). I thought it would be fun to add Santas sleigh flying across the window.