It's So Rewarding

Hey Hey Hey, I got an award, my first in fact, And here it is, drum roll please......

Thanks Heather

The rules for this award:

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs you've nominated.

Now who shall I choose, there are so many fantastic blogs out there, and I've only seen a teeny weeny few, shame on me, but there are only so many hours in the day. And as much as I'd like to, I just can't sit here blogging all day, I have so many things I'm neglecting. Besides I get a numb backside.

Any way, back to business, I am awarding the following crafters:

Charli - You deserve it girl.
Emma - Fantastic Blog.
Hazel - Yes, it most definately IS art.
Tracey - You wee craft daft Scottish lass.
Jo - Love your stuff.
Steph - Cool cards.
Lyn - Love your ATC's

Congrats to you all. You are just great.

Take Care

Debbie xx

Magnolia Maniac

Well I'm still at it, this is my second post today. My super hubby made a tasty curry for tea, yum yum, but as I had taken over the dining room table, there wasn't much room to eat. I did manage to clear a 12inch square area, just enough room to put my plate down, a sight familiar to a lot of you I would imagine.

I think I am turning into a Magnolia Maniac. I can't seem to do anything else at the moment. SO, I am challenging myself to use another brand of stamp for my next card. I wonder what I can find in my stash to inspire me. I love doing unusual cards. I think I'll have a go at the Fun Fold Card in a previous post. Now I need to hunt down some complimentary stamps, and a sheet of 12"x12" paper. That shouldn't be too hard. The difficulty will be deciding just what to use!!! In the meantime I will leave you with yet another Tilda card. This time green with orange. I love the zesty zingy colours. It's a real summery card.

I covered the balloons with diamond glaze into which I sprinkled a little extra fine holographic glitter. It really sparkles in the light, you can't really see it in the photo, but take my word for it, it's gorgeous.

As the card says Make A Wish, here's mine, I wish I could craft all day in my own little room. Sadly I can't, but I'll keep working on it.

Bye for now

Debbie xx

Friday Sketchers #8

The sketch:

The Result:

This was the fab sketch challenge of Beatrix from Germany for Friday Sketchers. I only bought this stamp yesterday so was dying to try it. You all know what it's like when you've bought something new. Anyway, I'm really into green at the moment. If you look back at the last few posts, you'll see green with almost everything. I thought I would try it with lilac this time. I think the result is great. Keep up the good work all you crafters, you're doing a great job.

See ya

Debbie xx

Sir Stampalot Samples

I was asked recently if I would make some sample cards for Janice at Sir Stampalot with two baby Magnolia stamps, and as I love these stamps, how could I resist. I am so proud to think that they are good enough to be displayed in the shop in Peterborough, and gave myself a well deserved 'pat on the back'. Well here they are, hope you like them too:

The papers I used were mainy by Doodlebug from Capture The Magic. I used Flowersoft for the first time sprinkled onto the tag shape, and I must say I like the result. Loads of ribbon, a few peeloffs, and teeny tiny baby Tilda of course.

On this card I used my new punch, it's so clever, it can punch fancy edged circles, ovals, squares and borders. It was easy to work out how to use, and I love the effect. You could even use the shapes for doilies and put mini cakes onto them. Mmmmmm, I might try that later!!!

Again Doodlebug papers from Capture The Magic with the letters cut by my good old Cricut Expressions.
Lastly this is my favourite card of the batch. Can you see it's a little Edwin flower in a pot. I think it's something different that you wouldn't think of for a baby card. Rather modern I thought, I just love it.

Take a look at Sir Stampalot, they have loads of Magnolia stamps, and a whole lot more, and best of all, they do mail order, so you don't even have to live nearby.

Bye for now

Debbie xx

Fun Fold Card

Jacqui (aka Cats Whiskers) from Never Too Old To Craft found this clever little video on YouTube showing this 'Fun Fold Card tutorial' from which she made her card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge She's such a clever girl. Take a look, it's fab. I'm going to try it for myself. Thanks for the tip Jacqui.

Fathers Day

Hi All

Thanks for visiting. Below is the card I made for my lovely father for Fathers Day. It was a very quick one too, and surprise- no stamping at all. I made the origami shirt from some Doodledug paper, following instructions from a magazine. The stripe paper was a freebie from another magazine, can't remember which one now, sorry. A small strip of bazzill put through an embossing folder, some silver peel off letters, three eyelets, a tiny gem, and 'voila' finished. I'm very pleased with the result. And as I have a father that wears shirts practically all the time, I know he was just a pleased to receive it as I was to give it.

Take care

Debbie xx

KitKat

I just thought I would post a photo of my younger son's kitten. It was one of a litter born in March, to a cat owned by my older son. My eleven year old son wanted to keep one, so we agreed, on the understanding that he looked after it. Well he's doing pretty well so far I have to say. He named her KitKat.

When our Shih Tzu, Daisy chases her around the garden, KitKat makes a run for cover, and dives into this garden pot. I just managed to snap this photo before she moved again. So cute.

Debbie xx

Friday sketchers #6

The Sketch:

The Result:

I enjoyed this challenge. I used my new baby Edwin stamp, I think he's adorable. I love the colour combination, I'm really into the greens at the moment. Green goes with any colour at all, think of a cottage garden, a multitude of colour all set off by green. I have used soft shades of blue and green this time to compliment the baby theme. I adore the mini buttons on Edwins babygro and I also used one for the 'o' in 'boy'. I would love to hear what you all think.

Materials used:

Bubble Blue Plaid paper - Doodlebug Design Inc
City Streets paper - Sandy Lion
Mint Dot paper - Bo Bunny
Mini buttons - Dress It Up
All available from http://www.capturethemagic.biz/

Bazzil Cardstock & Baby Edwin stamp available from http://www.sirstampalot.co.uk/ They have loads of Magnolia Stamps, and more arriving every week.

Ribbon from http://www.craftfairy.co.uk/ Really good value ribbon.

Give Blood

I gave blood yesterday for the first time. I have to say I feel quite proud of myself, but at the same time, ashamed that I have not done it before now. Anyway it was easy-peasy, so I'll do it again next time. After my son was involved in a motorbike accident back in April, and had to have a operation to pin his broken bones back together, I thought that I should do something about giving blood. I would urge every one of you to think about donating. It is a quick, painless process, and can save many lives. Go on, be a donor and help somebody today, after all, you might need someone to help you one day.

Magnolia Challenge #23

THE CHALLENGE : SWIRLS:

To do what you like, as long as it involves swirls, and of course at least one Magnolia stamp.

THE RESULT:

I started painting the swirls using H2o's with a water brush water brush through a stencil but then decided to go freehand. I'm pleased with the result. The H2o's give the background that lovely shimmer. I added the dots to give that extra interest. I chose Tilda and added a parcel to which I added glitter to the bow, and added this with foam pads to raise it up a little. I then added the Little Pincess stamp, punched the holes in the side, added ribbon, and the little flower embellishment is actually a little hair clip found in Claries Accessories. It just goes to show you don't have to always use craft embellishments, look around and see what you can find.

Bye for now.

Debbie xx

Friday Sketchers #5

THE SKETCH:

THE RESULT:

This is the card I made for the Friday Sketchers #5 challenge. I enjoyed the challenge so much last week, I couldn't wait to join in again this week. I hope you like the finished result.

I used my embossing folders on the pearlised card. I love the way it catches the light. I kept the colour scheme simple, using just shades of pink with a little green thrown in. Of course it would not be complete without a blossom or two. The papers co-ordinate so well as they are from the same range. Thanks for taking the time to look, and feel free to browse the rest of my blog.

Take Care

Debbie xx

Joseph

Hi All

Well, we finally went to see 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' today in Oxford. It was a dream moment for my daughter Sophie. She had waited nine months for this moment, after she appeared as part of the choir in the Kings Lynn leg of the tour. It was worth the wait just to see her face, MAGIC!!!

Take Care

Debbie xx

Tilda

Hi All

Here are the cards I promised you yesterday, suffice to say I did manage to locate my camera.

Take Care

Debbie

Night Shift Crafting

This week my husband has started to work one in three night-shifts. This means that not only am I having trouble sleeping, but looking on the bright side, it also gives me the opportunity to craft into the 'wee small hours' if I want to. Only don't tell him that, he thinks I do enough already. But of course it now means I can do more hours without neglecting him and he won't even know I am tired in the daytime, because he'll be catching up on his sleep. Win, win all round I say. Seriously though I have been making some cards today, and plan to upload them tomorrow once I have located my camera.

Last night I was looking around at some of the fantastic blogs out there, and came across Ana Wohlfahrt's blog - Ink A Stamp . She is very talented, and there are some wonderful cards on her blog, I recommend you visit. She has used ribbons to great effect, so that's what I've been experimenting with today.

Thanks for all the fantastic comments I've had for the Friday Sketchers #4 challenge, Lots of people have said they love the little frogs. I'ts good to pay attention to the little details and find that they are appreciated by other people.

I've been thinking for sometime of setting up my own craft club. As I live in quite a small village with few facilities, I thought it would be a good idea to take things one step further. I am thinking of starting on a small scale, but have not put any solid plans into place yet. Has anybody out there done any thing similar that they can tell me about? I'd love to know your stories, or just let me know what you think to the idea.

We're off to see 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' on tour, in Oxford on Thursday. My daughter performed in the Kings Lynn leg of the tour back in Septemer 07. She fell in love with Craig Chalmers who is cast as Joseph, and wanted to see the show from the audience, instead of the stage looking out at the audience. So the treat is really for her, incidently she is planning a career in entertainment when she leaves school, and for the last three years has attended a performing arts school on a Saturday. I've got to save my photos onto disc so I can free up the memory card, just in case we get a photoshoot opportunity, so I'm off to hunt down my camera now.

Take care

Debbie xx