'Tis The Season

Hi everyone, how's your Christmas preparations going?

I managed to get my tree up at long last, and have been experimenting with my camera, in an effort to get some artistic shots.

Not absolutely sure I've got what I want here, but at least there's room for improvement.  I think I've got a little too much glare on the glass in the foreground.  But the 'bokeh' effect of the tree in the background is nearly there.  I'll keep trying.

~ Edited ~
From the photo above, I've taken part of the bokeh effect on the tree, and made some digital designs in Photoshop
I used several brushes, and effects to create several different designs that I might use for background papers.  It's also got me thinking about what else I can do.  I'll keep you posted.

Let me know what you think.  Do you design digital papers, and how do you do it.  I'd be interested to know.

Vintage Christmas

Hi everyone.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend so far. I'm absolutely shattered after starting full time work again last week.  I'm working at John Lewis in Peterborough, and with all the Christmas shoppers I haven't stopped. 

I'm still trying to get on with my Christmas cards, but took a break today to put up my christmas tree, and I must say it looks beautiful.  I'm going to take some photos using my Canon DSLR so I can experiment a bit more with the techniques I'm learning.

Anyway back to my card.  I don't very often make vintage looking cards, but I'm so inspired by some of our Scandinavian friends I thought I'd give it a go. 

I used Close To Cocoa and Bashful Blue ink with the Lovely As A Tree stamp set from Stampin' Up!  The base card is Very Vanilla.  I also used a corner stamp from Stempleglede which I adore.  I've distressed the edges of the card, again something I don't usually do. 

The snowflake was made using the Winter Wonderland Cricut cartridge which was kindly lent to me by my lovely friend Louise.  I urge you to take a look at her blog, she makes the most amazing creations.  Thank you Louise, I'm loving this cartridge, and might buy it myself yet.  I added some sparkly glitter to the trees, and pearlised dots to echo the scrolls.  Thank you for taking the time to visit, and take care.

Truly Scrumptious Challenge 22

Hi all

Wednesday's challenge from Truly Scrumptious is here again.  Doesn't time fly.  This is the last one for this year, but we will be resuming again in the new year.

This week we have a super sketch, and would like to see you use some vellum on your creations.

I've used a super cute Manga Christmas image.  Coloured with alcohol markers in christmassy green and red.  The cardstock is from Stampin' Up!  My vellum element is the snowflakes.

Crafty Calender Winter Sparkle

Hi everyone.

I was asked by Georgia to be guest designer in the Crafty Calender Winter Sparkle challenge for December. Of course I was happy to oblige.  Here's the card I designed for this challenge.

It's got shimmer and sparkle.  The white shimmery patterned paper is from Stampin' Up! and can be coloured any colour you wish by using ink and a brayer.  It's fantastic.  I just lightly coloured the edges this time with a sponge dauber.  The patterned paper is from last years Winter Wonderland collection by Dovecraft.

You can see the shimmer and sparkle dazzling on this photo a little better.  I punched out a couple of snowflakes and added a snowflake charm and some knotted tulle from my stash.  Hope you like it and thank you for visiting.

Truly Scrumptious Challenge 21

Hello everyone

It's time for another challenge from our team at Truly Scrumptious . 

This week I've designed the sketch for you, and as an added extra I want to see a sparkly flourish on your cards.  So get out those diamonds, sequins and glitter or anything else sparkly you have and lets see it.  It's perfect to get you in the Christmas party mood. 

I've made an easel card.  This is my favourite type of card design at the moment.  I've use a sugar Nellie image, and coloured her with alcohol markers.  The card and paper is from Stampin' Up! as is the scroll stamp and sentiment circle.  I've added some gorgeous sparkling crystals for my flourish.  The ribbon keeps the card propped up in the correct position and the snowflake charm is from my stash.

 There's more gorgeous cards from the rest of the team so why not pop along and take a look.  You could win a fantastic prize if you join in.

Thought For The Day

Truly Scrumptious Challenge 20

Hi crafters

Its time for another Truly Scrumptious challenge.  This week we have a sketch by our fabulous Dawn.  In addition we want to see texture on your cards.   

I created my texture in a number of ways.  The most basic technique I used was to tear paper to create a rough edge which showed the white paper core.  Another technique used was to scrunch up a strip of paper, unscrunch it, and run the ink pad over it to give definition.  Both these techniques require no special equipment.  Another technique was to use one of my embossing folders, which created a more uniform texture, which again I inked the edges and sprayed lightly with mica mist.

The stamped Magnolia image was coloured with alcohol markers, and the grosgrain ribbon created yet more texture.  The papers are new from Stampin Up.  I added a couple of punched snowflakes and some silver studs to finish. 

Why not pop along to Truly Scrumptious and find out what the rest of the design team have done, then have a go at the challenge yourself.

Thanks for taking the time to look, I'd love to hear your comments.

Take care, and happy crafting.

This Little Kitty.....

Hi all

Remember the nursery rhyme This Little Pig?  Well I'm talking kittens now,  I have five kittens who are ten weeks old.  So here's the story....

THIS LITTLE KITTY HAS A NEW HOME

Lucky little kitty.  This one has now gone to it's new owner, who has named her Poppy.  She's an adorable tri color fluffy cute little girl, who now has a doting owner.  Initial reports are that she seems to be making herself at home already in her new pad.  It's always sad when you've seen them being born, and brought them through their first few weeks, only to see them leave your life and move on to new adventures.  But alas we cannot keep them and this is the last litter for us now, as the three females we own, have all now been spayed so I'm a little sad.

I'll show you another kitty tomorrow.

God bless you little Poppy, and may you have a long and happy life.

xx

Firework Fiesta 2009

Hi everyone.

Well what a brilliant evening I had yesterday. My hubbie and I took our daughter Sophie and her friend Becca to the local Firework Fiesta. It's held every year, with the profits going to local charities.  It's an amazing extravaganda, with the local radio station, a funfair, plenty of food stalls, a monstorous bonfire, and of course a spectacular firework display.

This year my main reason for attending was that I wanted to try out my Canon 450 DSLR which I bought in July to take shots of the fireworks, which I haven't done with this camera before.  I took my tripod, read up the techniques on the internet, and set my camera settings up before I left home, changed my lens, charged my battery and thought that if I could only get one good shot, it would be worthwhile.  I've never managed to get good photo's of fireworks on any of my previous camera's. 

Anyway, here are the photos, I haven't changed any of the colours at all, although this is an option I might have a little fun with sometime.  I did crop and sharpen them in photoshop though.  I'd love to hear what you think. 

I'm really pleased with how these turned out. I have learned a few things for next time though. I think I would not use a zoom lens next time, so I can get more background in and possibly more drama against the black night sky.

I did take a couple of hundred photo's all told, but these are by far the best ones, and I can only improve....but sadly I'll have to wait a whole year before the next one, aaahhhh!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed looking, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs Debbie xx

Hiya

I've been browsing through old photos today, finding out what's on the umpteen discs I've got, and trying to organise them a little better.  So it's inevitable that I would come accross photo's I'd forgotten about, such as the one below......

Perfect for this time of year, this photo was taken of my daughter Sophie, several years ago (pre-DSLR).  In this instance I thought the dreaded 'red-eye' could stay.  I just love Halloween, but the children have banned me from dressing up and going out with them this year.  Instead we are going to a local firework display.  I'm taking my new Canon DSLR camera in the hope of trying it out on some firework shots, and as there is a fun fair too, hopefully I'll get loads more I can use for scrapping.

Truly Scrumptious Challenge 19

Good morning all, and thanks for dropping over today.

Well I have my design team card for Truly Scrumptious today, as we kick off a brand new challenge.  It's a sketch challenge, with the additional requirements of three flowers, three brads, three gems or pearls.

I thought I'd make a cute little baby card using this adorable little bunny stamp.  The inking is very simple.  Stamped using Close To Cocoa from Stampin' Up!  I decided to colour only part of the bottle at the top as I wanted the quality of the stamp image to show fully.  It's matted and layered on card and paper from Stampin' Up!

The sentiment was computer generated using Photoshop.  This is a handy technique well worth kowing and means you can add that personal touch to your creations if required.

So why not hop along to the Truly Scrumptious blog to see what the rest of the design team have made, then have a go at the challenge yourself.

Thanks for visiting.

Miss Anya is Sixteen

Hi all

I hope you are all well, and busily crafting away.  Well today I'm showing you two cards made for my twin niece's who were sixteen just sixteen days after my own daughter Sophie turned sixteen, did you follow that ok?

Well, when I saw them in July, they seemed so grown up, and obviously have an interest in clothes shopping.  I knew I had the perfect stamps for their birthday cards....

I used Stampin' Up cardstock in Chocolate Chip, Pixie Pink, Whisper White Basic Black and Lovely Lilac.  I coloured with my favourite markers, using die cutters and punches for the shapes.

Ingredients:

Stamps ~ Miss Anya

Cardstock ~ Stampin' Up!

Inks ~ Stampin' Up!

Embelishments ~ From Own Stash

Truly Scrmptious Challenge 18

Hi everyone, and happy Wednesday

Well, it's time for another challenge from us at Truly Scrumptious, it sure does come round quick. We have another fabulous sketch for you, from Mina this time, with the additional theme of autumn, perfect for this time of year.

I've chosen a typical autumnal image with traditional autumn colours. Coloured with alcohol markers the image is teamed with cardstock from Stampin' Up! The decorative paper was overstamped with the leaf stamp from the Lovely As A Tree stamp set from Stampin' Up!

The flower was made by my own fair hands, and the buttons, sentiment and punched shapes are all by Stampin' Up! I love the colours of this card, despite it being very different from my usual choice. I'm pleased with the result. Hope you like it too.

Why not pop on over to Truly Scrumptious, and take a look at the rest of the design teams cards, then have a go at the challenge yourself.

Thanks for looking and happy crafting.

Mojo Monday Week 108

Hi all

After a few weeks of putting most of my energy into my Stampin' Up! business start up, I am now ready to get get back into crafting generally, and join in a few challenges again. As much as I'm enjoying using my Stampin' Up! stash, I am also missing my usual supplies.

So with that in mind I've joined in the Mojo Monday challenge this week. It's a super sketch that I've used to make a Christmas card for my grandson. It's a bit early for me to be thinking about making christmas cards, I usually leave them until the last minute. This year however I'm trying to get a bit more organised, I've even started christmas present buying. Lets hope it continues.

So here's my card then.

Coloured with markers I've used traditional colours for this cute little elf carrying lots of presents. It's bright and cheery, and just the thing for a little boy.

Thanks for dropping by

Supplies:

Cardstock - Stampin' Up!

Stamps - Peachy Keen Snickerdoodle Elf

Brad - Stampin' Up!

Glitter - Stampin' Up!