Going Crackers!

I've always wanted to make Christmas crackers but as is the way at this time of year, time always ends up being in short supply.  This year though I have finally done it!  I used a couple Crafts U Print sheets which were a doddle to make up (the red one is cup262682_33 and the blue one is cup262684_33).  I used some 20mm wide orgnaza ribbon in various colours to tie the ends having first placed some little Christmas chocolates and a couple of £1 Lottery scratchcards in each one.

I'm going to enter this in the Rudolph Challenge - not a card but hopefully as it's Christmas related it will be allowed!

Crafts U Print Snow Globe Sets

Recently I've rediscovered Crafts U Print - it's a brilliant site for inspiration and seems to have something for everyone, no matter what the occasion or interest.  I purchased 2 of the snow globe kits  and really liked the end result.  Each sheet came with a large snow globe card with pyramage, 2 folded gift tags, 3 small toppers (which I made into single gift tags) and a set of pyramage designed to be used as an ornament which I made up into 2 small cards instead - these will be perfect for the children's school friends.  Liberal use of Stickles and a bit of inking around the edges of the layers was all that I needed to add and they were really quick to make up (once I got going!).

The reference numbers for the above are Skating Rudolph - cup356908 and Polar Bear - cup356905.

Another one for Sarn's (Stamping For Pleasure) Rudolph day challenge I think (sorry Sarn, please don't drop down with the shock!)

Mulberry Wood Christmas

This gorgeous little fella is from the Crafter's Companion Mulberry Wood collection - I think I've developed a soft spot for racoons!  The card was very simple and used a pyramage image, spotty background card and an offcut of some foiled card.  The die cut greeting is from Hunky Dory (which was included with the Hunky Dory magazine).  For once I've made it in time to enter Sarn's Rudolph Day Challenge - anyone would think I didn't make many Christmas cards!

This is my daughter's Christmas card (obvious really!).  I bought the sheet from Crafts U Print and have to say I've been impressed with both CUP and the sheet.  The card size is 'large DL' which is basically A4 folded lengthways (instead of horizontally to make an A5 card).  I managed to source some envelopes that were the right size, although that took some time.  I think I will have to investigate making my own.  There are lots of smililar sized cards on CUP and I quite like them.  I did little more than make the card up (using a textured green cardstock to make the card blank) as per the instructions; I added a little bit of Stickles glitter glue on the penguins hats as you have to have sparkle for Christmas!

I'm going to print off some of the other designs I've purchased from CUP and get those made up too.

Engagement Card

My nephew recently got engaged and this is the card I made for him.  It uses the Fizzy Moon decoupage pad and papers with a matching Fizzy Moon chipboard (Celebration).  The sentiment is from Craftwork Cards (it reads congratulations, I struggle to get clear images of silver/gold foiling)  The hears are from the chipboard set also.

Fizzy Moon

This card uses a Fizzy Moon chipboard which was layered onto glittered card.  I punched some flowers out of the same card and added pink gems to the centres.  The butterfly sentiment is by Craftwork cards.  I threaded pink organza ribbon through the punched eyelets in the scalloped card border and tied it in a ribbon.  It takes ages to thread the ribbon but I love the effect and it's my favourite way of using these card blanks.  The card was sent to a dear friend of mine who had a birthday in the middle of August.

Cute Bears Decoupage

During my clear up and clear out session, I found some cute bear decoupage sheets.  I think my daughter chose them to make a birthday card for me as one design had been used, but several more remained.  I went for very simple cards with them.  The first 3 were just matted and layered using scraps of co-ordinating cardstock and placed onto small white square card blanks.  The 4th one (the orange one) actually used a layer from the roses card which I felt wasn't really needed and made a nice card on it's own.  Again it was simply layered up with co-ordinating cardstock and patterned paper and I added some coloured gemstones to add a little something.  Once of the cards (the first one) has now been sent off to my brother (from the children) for his birthday today.

A New Desk

Deep within the garage has been a desk that has gone unused for 11 years since my hubby stopped working for himself and rejoined the 'employed' ranks.  After we moved we had no where for the desk to fit so it just stayed in the garage.  After one hard weekend of garage sorting out, I finally found a place for it to go in the play room/dining room/conservatory/craft room and I now have a place to sit and create.  I made loads of cards when it was first moved into it's new home and I have to say that I love sitting at my desk.  When my mojo deserts me I can gaze out onto the garden.  If it gets too hot (are there any conservatories that don't?) my desk is right by the door which, when opened allows a nice breeze (and the door opens onto a shaded area so no really hot sun all day).

I have also been having a really big clear up of my stash - amazing how much better that alone can make you feel.  Some has gone onto e-bay, some went to car boot sales and some of it just went into the bin!  I can't believe I actually used to like some of the stuff I came across.  I have lots of folders each neatly holding varios topper and decoupage sheets, my Big Shot is within easy reach and the printer is just an arm stretch away.

I haven't taken a picture of my desk yet but as soon as I have one I shall post it randomly in the middle of something else.  Meanwhile, I shall enjoy sharing some of my creations over the next few days.

Little Cupcake

I made this card for my daughter's friend who will be 8 during the summer.  Although you can't see it from the photo, it's actually a stepper card (from a pre-scored card blank, I haven't mastered the art yet but I'm getting there!).  The image and papers are from the 'Fairy Cakes' decoupage pad by Helz Cuppleditch.  A simple card that will hopefully get me back into the swing of things.

Simply Stampin' Challenge

It's been a while since I've entered a blogland challenge but yesterday I was in the mood and found this sketch on http://simplystampinchallenge.blogspot.com/ which seemed like a lovely way to try to get back into things.

Here's the card I came up with which is for my niece's birthday at the end of the month.

I used a stamp from the Stampin' Up set Summer by the Sea and stamped it simply in sepia ink (Versafine) onto white card. I used my nesties to mat the image and used paper from the Hanoverian collection by Papermania (which is one of my paper collections) for the background. I think the brown card was part of a Stampin' Up set but I can't be sure! I found flowers, card candy, button and some ribbon in my stash and used a Stampin' Up scalloped oval punch to layer a Craftwork Card sentiment oval on.

As it's been a long time since I've used a sketch for a card design I've followed the sketch just about to the letter - experimentation will come in time!

Happy Valentines Day!

Long time (again) without any updates. Lots of reasons and excuses but here I am posting once again. I don't really 'celebrate' Valentines Day - I find it strange that there should be one particular day a year that my DH should buy me flowers or chocolates. I think it means more when it happens on a completely random day because he thought of it and not becuase some supermarket is trying to flog roses and meals for 2! However, I did buy my children a bar of chocolate each and made them a card and, for once, I even remembered to take a picture! It's taken me ages to get the photos edited as I've bought a new laptop since I last posted with updated software and my old brain just doesn't cotton on to these things as quickly as it once did. Got there in the end though so....drumroll please....here's my first post for 2012 and my first in over 6 months. Hopefully it will be the start of many and not the end of it for the year.

Just a brief note of how the cards were made - Me To You decoupage. The pink one has some glitter stuff on the heart (magazine freebie) and I've used Glossy Accents on the nose of the blue one. The paper is from a Me To You 12x12 pack. The mat was cut with a nestie and embossed using Crafts Too Daisy and Swirl embossing folder.