Wednesday 30 March 2011

It's Yelow at Crafts and Me

Morning Peeps,

I know my third post of the week, and yes it's certainly been a busy crafting week,  and I have two more posts to come on Friday, both being blog hops. I am so worn out I definitely need an early night.

Now Teresa has tasked us to create something with "Yellow".  Gosh if you had read my Simply Sassy post a couple of weeks back you'll know that Yellow isn't me, but onward and upward as they say but.....I have to say I really like what I have created this time, perhaps yellow is growing on me.


I have used the crafts and me stamp, "Pansy Sisters" by Sara Burrier and I thought this would make a lovely Mother's Day card.  This is the first side step card I have done, believe it or not.  Don't know why it took me this long to get round to doing one, it was dead simple too.  The only thing though is it's hard to photograph and do the card justice. 


I have added some stamen to the middle of the pansys which really gives it dimension, just a little idea I had.


Here's a better view.  I used my copic airbrush to make the yellow flowers as I didn't possess any, lol.

Materials Used:-
Image by Crafts and Me, "Pansy Sisters" available HERE
Medium - Copics
Martha Stewart Border Punch & Leaf Punch
Magnolia Swirl Die
Magnolia Tag Die
Ribbon and Pearls from Stash
Stardust Stickles

I have entered this card into the following challenges:-
Claudia and Company - Use 3 out of the 4 colours (yellow, lavender, green)
My time to craft - Mum's the word 
Cupcake Craft - flowers for mum 
House of Gilli - Flowers and Pearls 
Kaboodoodle - Spring has sprung 
Stamps R Us - Spring 
 Dream Valley - Mother's Day
Sparkles Forum - Spring 
A Gem of a challenge - Anything but square 
Fairy Fun Friday - spring 
Totally Gorjuss - spring has sprung 
Stamping with the Dragon - Bring on spring

Don't forget we have our first Crafts and Me Bllog Hop on Saturday evening running for two weeks, many pirzes, so see you there! 

 

Tuesday 29 March 2011

A Sketch at Bearly Mine & a Sneak Peek at My Tidy Craft Room

Morning Peeps,

Tuesday already and time for a sketch this week at Bearly Mine designed by Maria. And I thought as I have now finished tidying my craft room, I'll give you a sneak peek but don't look at the decor. This is the last room on the agenda, so just imagine wooden flooring and nicely painted walls and probably a blind, lol.  Enough waffling and onto my card.

I was meant to have a "Happy Mother's Day" tag popping out the right hand panel but I stuck the panel down forgetting completely about my tag, lol. 

Thought I'd just show you a close up of the flowers and fabulous chipboard swirls, link below. 

The beautiful papers are one of my favourites at the moment at Bearly Mine Designs, this is the Vintage Lace.  I have also used this on my post on Saturday, so scroll down if you want another peek. I also photographed this card on the Easel so you can see that beautiful lacey edge.

Now onto my foamboard copic storage, which I orginally saw on Donna's (Bearly Mine) blog. 

I'm really pleased with it and it's quite sturdy too. 


I made this one first but wasn't happy with the edges as I used my craft knife so thought I'd make a slightly bigger one so this one became my acrylic paint, puff paint, liquid pearl storage, plus there's space for more. 
 Don't know about you but I had a storage box overfilled with different coloured odds and ends that just never got used, so I made a 12x12 foamboard unit and separated the colours and I have to say that for the last 6 cards I have used I have reached for the odds and ends and haven't cut a new 12x12 piece of bazil cardstock.  Aren't I a good girl!

My nice tidy room inspired by Elaine from A Technophobes Blog, thank's Elaine, I do feel much better.


My new copic/distress ink/prisma pencil storage sat nicely on the desk and the 12x12 under the desk to the side.  As it's bits and pieces it's still messy in my book.

The drawers to the right are see through and I don't like looking at what's inside as again it looks messy, so I have slotted paper in with the contents listed on the outside.  The boxes on the shelfs, contains ribbons, cardstock, stamping cardstock, Sizzix Dies and all my Stamps in CD cases.


This is the wall behind me.  I have a unit housing wood back stamps, but not many, paper and 12x12 bazill cardstock.  My printer on top and my sewing machine on hand.


 And hubby put up the final piece in my tidy up today, my magnetic boards filled with Marianne, Magnolia and Nesties.  Absolutely love this, and guess what, there's room for more, lol.


And lastly, this is the back of the door.  Housed with a shoe hanger containing all my cricut cartridges.

I have to say it's so lovely crafting in a tidy room, where everything has a place!

Ingredients for my card:-

Vintage Lace papers by Bearly Mine Designs available HERE
Image by Hanglar and STanglar
Bazil white and Kraft Cardstock
Chipboard swirls from Make It Crafty HERE
Corrugated card painted with acrylic paint and edged with Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Lace, pearls and Seam Binding from stash
Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts
Stardust Stickles 

I have entered my card into the following challenges:-
Cupcake Craft - Flowers for Mum
House of Gili - Ribbon and Pearls
Incy Wincy - Sparkle and shine
Lexis - Ribbons but no bows or knots
The Kraft Journal - Flowers and must include Kraft Cardstock
Oh La La - Mothers Day/Special Friend
Crafty pad - For the Mum's
Creative Inspirations - Mother's Day/Mum
Dream Valley - Mother's Day
One Stitch At A Time - Mother's Day or Babies

Monday 28 March 2011

Posh Bookmark

Morning Peeps,

It's my turn to post on the Simpy Sassy Inspiration Blog, and if you haven't visited for a while, what are you waiting for, hop on over, the design team have been working relentlessly to bring you inspiration for all your Sugar Nellie Simply Sassy Stamps, so grab a coffee and hop on over HERE and have a browse.

Right, onto today's inspiration and I chose to make a Posh Bookmark.  I have used "Romantic Dreamer" which comes as a set of two, along with "Lost in Thought".  If you didn't know already Krista drew these characters based on the characters of the book Twilight, which incidentally is the book in the picture below.  I have read them all now and thoroughly enjoyed them, thanks to my son for getting me into them....


I cut the shaped panels on my Cricut using the Stroybook Cart.

I used 3 layers and then used both the circular nestie and oval nestie and applied some perfect pearls around the edges.


I have coloured her using copics and prisma's.



A few flowers and voila, clean and simple for me don't you think.

Ingredients:-

Image "Romantic Dreamer" by Sugar Nellie availabele from Funky Kits HERE
Panels cut on Cricut using Storybook Cart
Papers by Nitwits
Martha Stewart Leaf Punch
Perfect Pearls
Flowers and Ribbon from Stash


We have a hop this Saturday, well actually I'm in two hops on Saturday, 10:00 is the start of the Simply Sassy hop, followed by a hop by the Crafts and Me team in the evening. 

Thanks for stopping by, I'll see you tomorrow with my Bearly Mine Design Card.

I have entered this bookmark into the following challenges:-

A Gem of a challenge - Anything but square
All Sorts - For a special lady (daughter)
CES - Diecuts
Karber challenge - Based on a Book
Wee Memories - Anything Goes
Daring Cardmakers - Inspiration from Books
DigiDoodle - Ribbons and Bows
Ambers Crafts - Die Cuts
Scrapbook Sisters - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Anything but a card

Hugs Tracy x

Saturday 26 March 2011

Yikes, it's Backgrounds at Make It Colourful

Morning Peeps,

If things are going to plan I am having a lay in, although not too long I hope, too many crafting things to get done.  I really need to try to go to bed earlier, I'm crafting to the wee hours, well a girl has to take advantage when her hubby is on nights, and as he gets home at around 6:20am I am woken, well with a cuppa, so that's my nights sleep, so hopefully as I don't have to drag myself into work I'll be catching up on some Zzzzzz's.

Right, onto today's card.  Well Zoe has tasked us at Make It Colourful to "Backgrounds".  This can be skies, landscapes, watercoloured, shaded, dotty etc etc.  Not sure why I chose to join in as I have only done a dotty background once before, but I got a bit carried away lol, but I did like the outcome.  I have used the Make It Crafty Open Window stamp, HERE, absolutely fell in love with this window which can be used for Spring and Summer scenes, but as we are appoaching Spring and the weather in the UK is absolutely glorious mine is a spring card.  We are also being sponsored by Magnolialicious.  Woo hoo, so I know all you Maggie fans will be wanting to join us this week and to mark this ocassion I have used "Longing Tilda" which you can purchase from Magnolialicious HERE. I stamped Tilda and then masked her off and added the open window.


This is just like our office at the moment, lol, windows open, except were working and not leaning out chatting, more's the pity.

 I have coloured her using copics and only a couple of prismas.  I created the dotty background around the window using my copics and colourless blender and the same technique using the pinks in the background of the window itself.


Now look at these gorgeous flourishes that Zoe has designed.  Laser cut and very intricate.  I have left them butt naked with a dash of walnut stain here and there but you can colour them using your copics, or acrylic paint or even emboss.  I'll leave the link to these in the material listing at the bottom of the page.
Oh, another flourish, couldn't resist.  I best get my next order in before you all hop over as I believe Zoe has 25% off at the moment.

Thought I'd just try to show you the lovely lace effect from the Martha Stewart punch around the edge, isn't it gorgeous.  This card look fabulous on the windowsill with the light shining through.

Materials Used:-

Open Window Rubber Stamp - Make It Crafty HERE
Laser Chipboard  Flourishes Diecuts - Make It Crafty HERE
Stamping Cardstock - Make It Crafty HERE
Magnolia Longing Tilda - Magnolialicious HERE
Medium - Copics/Prisma pencils
Gorgeous Yummy Papers are the new Vintage Lace Dreams - Bearly Mine HERE
Corrugated Cardstock
White Acrylic Paint
Lace and Pearls
Seam Binding
Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts
Vintage Distress Ink
Stardust Stickles
Springtime Sentiment is Hanglar and Stanglar

I have entered my card into the following challenges:-

Totally Tilda - Chipboard (swirls)
Magnolia-licious Highlites - Easter/Spring Extravaganza (full size image)
Just Magnolia & Stanglar - Bingo (flowers, gems, ribbon & lace)
Little Miss Muffet - Brads, Gems or Pearls
Let's ink it up - Diecuts and Punches
Meljen's - Punches
Paperplay - Distressing
Creative Beli - "C" Embellishments (corrugated card painted and chipboard)
Freshly Brewed - Two or more embellishments
A spoonful of sugar - Ribbon/Pearls/Flowers
Scrap Creations - Spring has sprung
Jac-inks - Masking
Stamping Vacation - inspired by little house on the priarie (love that program and Tilda in her window is definitely that)
Stamps R Us - Spring
Totally Gorjuss - Spring has sprung
Crafty Catz - Pearls and Swirls
Polkadoodle - Spring

Friday 25 March 2011

Fragile Heart

Morning Peeps,

Yayyyyyyy, my mojo is back.  Good job really as I have so many DT cards to do and lot's of exciting stuff coming your way, including a few blog hops, woo hoo!  As a result I am a boring little bunny beavering away in my craft room. I still have my stamp collection to sort out and then the boring job of listing everything on Ebay, but I must say I am loving my tidy craft room.

Right, as it's so late and I need my sleep this is a quick post.  I have used the Crafts and Me "Fragile Heart" by Hannah Lynn.  I just love these flowing hair stamps, really great for all levels of crafter but you can really get to grips with your colouring and I have given her some pink shades of hair.  Isn't she beautiful.


I have used the "Cherish" Martha Stewart Punch around the page.  This looks lovely in reality as you have all the sea through holes.

A close up of this beautiful stamp. 

Materials Used:-

Fragile Heart available HERE at Crafts and Me
Martha Stewart "Cherish" and Love Heart Punches
Papers by Tim Holtz
Lace and Pearls from stash
Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and 99p Shop
Sentiment is from Whimsey Stamps

I'll be back tomorrow with my Make It Colourful DT card. 

Next Saturday is a two hop day for me, one for Simply Sassy, see below add, and one for Crafts and Me, so you'll be needing your coffee and biccies. Watch this space as they say........



I have entered this card into the following challenges:-

Colour Create - Pastels
Stamp Insanity - Punch it out
Scrapbook Sisters - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - It's a mom thing/or just be girly
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
The Shabby Tearoom - Bingo (diecuts/punches, flowers, gems)




Monday 21 March 2011

Believe in your Dreams

Morning Peeps,

Hope everyone had a fab weekend.  Mojo still hasn't returned but I'm sure it will once I have finished my mammoth sort out in my craft room, which I am pleased to say is nearing the end. I made by storage unit today using foamboard for all the scraps of 12x12 cardstock.  I had a huge storage box filled with odds and ends which overspilled and I never used to go in it. How wasteful!  So I have thrown out alot and I mean alot and made a storage unit for easy access to the colours so I will be using up my scraps before cutting into another piece of 12x12 cardstock.

Today's card for the Simply Sassy Inspiration is a special card.  I saw the post on Michelle's post reaching out to all us crafty bloggers to put a smile on Haeli's face through a card drive.  If you havent read the post, Haeli is a 12 year old girl going through the trauma of a rare type of ovarian cancer and is currently under going chemotherapy.  So I decided to use "Hippie Love" available HERE from Funky Kits, and make her a really cheery card.  She is also into art so as I have recently had a sort out I will be forwarding a few crafting items to Haeli.  If any of you would be willing to send a card to Haeli I'm sure she would appreciate it.



I have distressed the edges and added walnut stain and stardust stickles.  I cut the flowers out from the paper and added some glossy accents and brads to the centres.  I also cut out a few quicktutz doodad flowers and dotted here and there.  She really is a flower power girl.

Ingredients:-

Hippie Love available HERE
Medium - Copics
Martha Stewart border punch
Lace, Brads and doily from stash
Liquid pearls for the centre of the doodads
Sentiment from Lili of the valley

I hope she puts a smile on Haeli's face.

I have entered her into the following challenges:-

Gingerloft - Diecuts or Punhces
Lets ink It Up - Die Cuts or Punches
Catch the bug - Card for a child or baby
SSDS - Spring has sprung
Sugar Creek Hollow - Anything Goes
Art Impressions Stamps - Punches/Die Cuts
Charisma - Die Cuts
Little Miss Muffett - Brads, Gems or Pearls
Sassy Studio Designs - Make your own embellishments
Scrapbook Sisters - Spring Flowers




Wednesday 16 March 2011

Photo Inspiration at Crafts and Me

Morning Peeps,

Half way through the week, yayyyyyy, mojo is slowing returning, but have planned to have a sort out in my craft room for the rest of the week, so a little rest from card making whilst I have a clean up and sort out, so let's hope I can find things when I do hit the crafting mat again!  I've just finished making my copic marker storage using foamboard, and I have layered some chipboard with magnetic backing so all my nesties are stuck to it, just need hubby to put it on the wall, ummmmm could be a long wait.  On with the rest of it, but it's going to be a long process.........

Oh and by the way we are now a WEEKLY challenge blog. With the recent additions to the team, Teresa has formed a digi team and a rubber team so we will be taking it in turns to run the challenges, so one week it will be the digi team and the next the rubber team, and with twice as many challenges there will be twice as many fabulous prizes.  And speaking of prizes this week's sponsor is Sweetpea Stamps who are offering $20 and, I know there's more, as Crafts and Me Challenge Blog is 1 year old, Teresa is doing an additional draw for 8 Crafts and Me digi images and if you haven't seen the range, boy are you missing something.  In addition to the challenge blog as always the team will be posting every day on the Crafts and Me Blog HERE for daily inspiration so don't forget to hop over and follow so you don't miss anything. 


This week's theme at Crafts and Me is photo inspiration chosen by Vicky along with some texture.  I have chosen the blues and for texture I have added corrugated card, ripped it and added some acrylic paint.  We are being sponsored by SweetPea Stamps, so come on over and join the fun.  Here's the photo inspiration:-



Well actually there's two photo's, you can take your pick or use a combination. 

Here's what I came up with:-



This is Flapper 2 by Lemon Shortbread available from Crafts and Me HERE


I have coloured her using Copics and Prisma's.


A close up of the flowers and bird.


A bit more texture, corrugated heart with a dusting of acrylic paint, and a distressed butterfly with pearls.

Ingredients:-

Image: Flapper 2 available HERE
Papers by Bearly Mine Designs
Lace from Bizzy Becs
Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and 99p shop
Little postcard and butterfly from Graphic Fairy
Pearls from Stash
Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Nesties for the ovals

I have entered this card into the following challenges:-

Anything Goes - Die Cuts
Flourishes - Butterflies
Scrap Creations - Anything Goes
Gingerloft - Flowers
Little Claires - Flowers
Our Daily Bread - Leather or Pearls
Totally Gorjuss - Flowers and Lace
CCEE Stampers - Monochromatic with Blues and Neutrals
Sassy Studio - Something recycled (corrugated cardboard)
Stampin B - Bling
Whoopsi Daisy - Pile on the flowers
Amber's Crafts and Stuff - Anything Goes