Ol' Nick

Hello,

Oh dear, October is going fast. The leaves are falling quickly now. The forecast for Sunday is stormy winds and pouring rain, so that will be the last of the fall colors. Sigh...

I 've been making 2 similar cards this week. Christmas cards again. I think they have come out really nice.

A lot of effort went into them. 5 layers of card on Ol' Nick. I 've outdone myself.

Supplies: 2 different white card sizes, plain card from craft supply and Papermania, patterned card from My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas bought at The Range, Cricut Christmas Cartridge for Santa, Doodlebug Sugar Coating and Velvet Flock, Copics, Sakura glitter gel pens, Tim Holz Distress ink Tattered Rose and Tea Dye, Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels, ribbon from Joy! Crafts, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Liquid Applique from Marvy Uchida.

So chuffed when I found the Apllique in the Market Gallery, they only had 2 bottles. I had seen its usage on Linda's Works of Heart blog and I so wanted to buy it, but couldn't find it in the UK.

Be sure to check out those 2 shops if your after a bargain or something special if you live in the UK. You might not always be lucky, but sometimes it's a deal.

A closer look:

And some detail:

Shimmery shine, I wish you all a merry weekend.

Glittered Baubles

Goodevening,

Hope you had an enjoyable weekend. I just finished another Christmas card. A lot of stamping and cutting came into this one. I was almost going to give up on those fiddly hooks...

Supplies: Basic Grey Wassail paper and stamp set, ink by Tsukineko Brilliance and Versamagic, Copics, Making Memories brad, Glitz It glitter, Cricut Expression and Christmas cart for the sentiment cut in 1", FaLaLa ribbon from Making Memories, olive vine Glimmer Mist, Cuttlebug bubble folder, cream card and snowflake sequin from stash.

Just a close up view of all the glitter. Yum!
Thanks for looking and I wish you all a good week. Last one of October and almost Halloween...

Tea for u - teabag holders

Goodevening,
I like to share my next project with you. I 'm making some gift bags to put little teabags in.

The gift bag is cut with the Cricut Plantin Schoolbook cartridge.

Supplies: Papermania cardstock, K&Co Cut N'Paste paper, JustRite Monogram stampset, Versamagic embossing pad, Artemio gold embossing powder, Paperchase organza ribbon, vintage blue button, 99p store button covered in embossing powder, twine from craft supply, paper distresser.

A close up on the embossed detail. The circles have also been cut with the Cricut, as my punches come in half an inch increments, what would have been to big for the little tag.

6 Reindeer cards

Hello,
I managed to finish these last 3 cards last night, although it was after midnight. I was almost going to give up, because I was too tired. I 'm glad I didn't. Today I 've started somrthing else. I 'm using the Basic Grey bauble stamps from Wassail...

I used Doodlebug Kaleidoscope paper and ribbon from Hobbycraft. All other supplies are the same as before.

On the final card I decided to tie the ribbon. I 'm quite pleased with myself. More Christmas cards for my stash. They'll be going to friends and colleagues. I want to give our patients something too, but I'm not sure if I can have 77 cards ready by Christmas...

Dancer, Prancer and Blitzen

Goodmorning,

I found some time to finish some Christmas cards I started last night.
Thanks to Regina from BBTB, I picked up the Christmas cart from Cricut again. I got it last Christmas togheter with the Expression, but obviously too late to make seasonal cards.
So it is the first time I 'm cutting these cute reindeers.
I also used the A Merry Little Christmas set from JustRite. I found the set in Belgium when I went to pick up my mom. They sell them in Pipoos, but only do the round 1 5/8 " wooden stamper.
Shame, but at least they have them. Can't find them in the UK.

Supplies: DCWV the Christmas Glitter Matstack and Text Prints the Paper Stack, Christmas cartridge from Cricut, stamps from Just Rite, ink from Tsukineko, brads from Making Memories, Woodware punches, leaf and berry sequins from Guttermann, snow sequin and red ribbon from craft supply, white gel pen from Sakura.

These cards are easy to make, it just requires a bit of patience for punching and layering.
I 've got 3 more reindeers and sentiments ready, but I 've run out of the text paper. So I might be using some Wassail paper or something from K&Co.

Or I might keep the reindeers and use them for a Christmas layout. We'll see..
Thanks for looking, got to go, working tonight...

Forest fruits

Hi there,

I finally got to uploading some of my scrapbook layouts. This is the very last one I did. We had spent a Saturday in August out in the New Forest. We were at the Rufus Stone and it was a very hot day. Part of our walk took us through open heath land rather than the shady forest. At least we had a better summer this year as the last 2 haven't been great at all.

I am over the moon. My DH came home during his lunchbreak with a gift for me. They had asked him to re-arrange and tidy up the reception and he could take another Bisley 15-drawers  cupboard for me. I don't care it's a bit ruffled and grey, suits me just fine for all my craft stuff. I've got now 2 standing next to each other and I've stacked Ikea wooden boxes on them that hold my stamps. Finally a space for everything. Yipee!

I used Boxer paper from Basic Grey and ledger paper from Making Memories. Some rub-ons from Boxer and ribbon from FaLaLa. The creme cardstock is from DCWV.

The stickers are also from Boxer and just a few bling stars, heart and dots from my craft supply. I use the Canon Selphy to print my photos and this gives me the option to create journaling spots.

Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

The Creepy Inn

Hello,
I'm playing along with the Bitten By the Bug challenge. I must say that this was a hard one for me. How do you fit the sign in? 

I made mine into a Halloween card. It actually gave me an excuse to use the new Eerie paper from Basic Grey.

Supplies: Orange paper fro DCWV Spring glitter stack, Eerie from BG, cardstock from craft supply, Doodlebug bonbon mini rub-ons, swirl stamp from G Studio, purple glitter from Doodlebug Sugar Coating, black Distress embossing powder from Ranger used over 3D Gloss and heated to make it bubble, Olive Vine Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels, Glitz It Sparkles for the eyes, Tsukineko ink black and jumbo java, paperdistresser, Cricut Christmas and Stretch Your Imagination cartridges.

A close-up look where you can see Mr. Spider creeping in through the window and he's dressed up like a real fella in his glam jacket.

Hope you like it and thanks for looking.

Birthday Girl

Hello,
It's been awfully long, I know. I 've been so busy at work, getting ready for the health and safety audit... But congrats to us, our clinic passed with the highest score of the region; 96.8%. Well done all you nurses! Full steam ahead for next year! Told you we would come on top, Terry!
Quickly posting a birthday card I made for my sister, she'll be 38 tomorrow. Hope you don't mind me telling, Caj. Lots of love and many more to come, dear sister of mine.
Supplies: Doodlebug Birthday Girl Ring Toss, Orange card from DCWV Spring stack, Copics, Stickles, Liquid Pearls, Cricut Doodlecharms and Storybook cartridges, Hobbycraft ribbon, black Identi-pen, flower brad from Making Memories.

Inside of the card: the little present will hold a gift card.

Thanks for looking. Will be uploading some scrapbook pages I 've made and I'm in the middle of making a mini book for the DH about his music and guitars. So more to come, hopefully soon.

Wing it!

Hello,

Here 's another little card (5x5") I made

with some of the leftover goodies from the scrapbook.

I really like these Wild Saffron papers and they are very good for autumn.

I again used the turkey from the Stretch Your Imagination cart,

but this time in its normal look and now he 's running for his life...

I 'm still trying to find out where I bought the leaf punch.

 I 've had it for many years and it doesn't even have a brand name on it.

I won't give any further explanation on the supplies, because most of them I used in the mini scrapbook.The exception is that this time I used some bits and pieces of the chipboard to pop-up the design, rather than foam or dimensionals.

Just trying not to waste...

Mini Holiday scrapbook

Hello again.
I know it's been a while since I 've posted, but I 've had a nice holiday with my mum and the DH (and he's been a real sweetie...) Yesterday we drove mum all the way back to Belgium and returned the same day -had to miss one nights' sleep-, but a least she's safe.
I promised to share some of the scrapbooking I am doing. Although I've been scrapping 12x12 for a while, I feel only now I'm really getting into it. This year I 've made 4 mini books and this is the one I did for mum to take home as a memory of her holiday with us.

Supplies: 6x6" chipboard, K&Co Wild Saffron designer paper, tag pad, fabric brads, embossed stickers, self adhesive paper ribbon and chipboard alphabet. DecoArt metallics festive green paint, flowers from Prima, Petaloo Flora Doodles and American Crafts, lace from John Lewis, leaf punch and Martha Stewart border punches, acetate page, Cricut Plantin Schoolbook and Storybook cartridges, twine, distress ink and VersaMagic ink by Ranger, Sakura marker, Copic Ciao, Basic Grey files assortment, rub-ons from Three bugs in a rug and Royal & Langnickel, Cropadile and eyelets from We R Memory Keepers, bookrings, vinyl stickers by Papermania.

2nd - 3rd page

3rd - 4th page

Both pages have tags with additional pictures to pull out.

Page 5 - 6:

Page 5 with a journaling tag and page 6 acetate overlay cut with the Cricut. Just added a calendar from the Selphy photo printer.

A picture of my mum in Bath on the other side of the overlay and an accent tag for the robbin on the other page.

7th - 8th page:

A journaling tag about the little robbin and some mini photos with a popped-up picture of robin.

Page 8 and 9 are the final pages with a pocket to hold extra pictures and a journaling tag with a message to my mum.

A close-up of how I hold the extra pictures together. I also added some mini tags with some reminders of the places and dates we 've been.

My mum loves her little book and I enjoyed making it. Hope you like it too, thanks for looking.

I hope you know how much I care

Hello,

One last card to share. I finished this one yesterday and was on special request by my mum for my eldest sister, who 's going for an op. So the items are chosen by my mum, with a little help of course, or we still wouldn't have a card. Decisions, decisions,...

Supplies: paper by Basic Grey June Bug, green Coordinations cardstock, Cuttlebug Swiss dots, Spellbinders Deckled rectangles, Stamps: Whiff of Joy and lace rubberstamp -forgotten the brand-, Hero Arts sentiment, ink by Tsukineko and Ranger, Copics, Stickles and Anita's 3D glaze, flowers by Prima and Hero Arts, yellow ribbon and button brad by Memory Makers, Pearl Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels, lace from John Lewis.

I machine stitched the lace onto the card, although it was hard to do because of the embossed dots the card kept jumping left and right.

Hope my sister will like her card and I wish her love and a speedy recovery.

Turkey season

Hi,

As I promised, another autumn card. Just had to use the Stretch Your Imagination Turkey. When would you otherwise put a turkey on a card? It had to be a super ridiculous one with long legs. My other half says it's a cross between a flamingo. Could be right if the legs were pink...

Supplies: paper by K&Co Wild Saffron, cardstock by Coordinations, black card from stash, Cricut Stretch Your Imagination cart for the card, turkey and autumn, Cuttlebug dots, Woodware 3" and 2.5" inch punches, Stick it 3D transparent dots, Copic Ciao, Jumbo Java ink by Tsukineko, Basic Grey precision file set.

The scalloped card is cut with the Cicut in 5" using the same cart.

Hope you like my crazy card and thanks for looking.

Thinking of fall

Hello, I am finally back with more to post. I managed to squeeze in some time to craft. I promised my mum to make a mini scrapbook of her holiday here, so she has something to look back when she goes home. So I'm sorry if cards will be off the menu for the next week. Autumn has started and this is what I made:

Supplies: paper by We 'Re MemoryMakers Nonsense collection, orange and green card from stash, Doodlecharms Cartridge Cricut, Copics, Brilliance ink by Tsukineko, Martha Stewart border punch, Fiskars tag punch, paper distresser, Xcut large corner rounder punch, black Sakura Identi-pen.

The pumpkins and leaf border are cut with the Cricut and then colored with Copic Ciao's and Brilliance ink. The ink for the cheeks, I applied with a small paintbrush and inked the 2 tags.

The Doodlecharms cart has many seasonal/occasional images and resembles in that way the Stretch Your Imaginations cart. It is the latest cart I bought and it was in reduction at Hobbycraft for £34 a steal, normally they are £70-£60 and I would NEVER buy them from Hobbycraft. Provocraft has got new carts and the Child's Life is grabbing my attention. Will be on the Christmas wishlist, amongst the A and C set from the Copics and a whole lot of Martha Stewart punches and Basic Grey papers. I 'll need to be extra good for the dear santa hubby...

Keep looking another card coming up soon.

All creatures great and small...

Hello,

Finally back! I've abandoned my blog and cards for a while. My mum is now here and I 've been to busy shopping with her. Evening comes and I am just too exhausted. Next week my other half has annual leave too. Will be even more busy!

Oh, I 'm a really bad photographer...

I like to share a really easy card with you. The card is made with the Cricut and has a nicely scalloped edge. I just used leftover pieces over different colored card and machine stitched them together. I added some ribbon from Hobbycraft. I cut a tree from the Stretch your imagination cart and layered the leaves several times and added Stickles. The scalloped border is also cut with the Cricut. I then added some puffed stickers from Paperchase.

I am in the middle of making autumn-inspired cards, maybe I will finish them tomorrow and post the pictures. I also made a scrapbook layout from our recent trip to the New Forest. I need to find a way now to take a decent picture of these big pages

Coming soon...

Hello,

Just quickly share this second card I made this week to send to my mum. Only one more week and we 'll be collecting her from Belgium to stay with us.

She 's already finished her packing. Says a lot...

Supplies: paper - Memory Keepers Nonsense Collection stitched to the card, the car is cut with the Cricut Doodlecharms in 2 colors of card. I colored the car a darker yellow with Copics, Silver Ice Stickles, ink - Jumbo Java from Tsukineko, flower - American Crafts, sequin - Beadshoppe, brad - MemoryMakers, felt butterflies - craft supply, rub-ons - DecalDry.

7th Anniversary card

Hello,

I know, it's been a while. I 've been really busy at work and trying to get everything organised, for next week Saturday my mother is coming over to stay a fortnight with us. It 's been more than 2 years since she's been and we 're all looking forward to our holiday. We are going to Wales, but she doesn't know it yet.

Wednesday we celebrated our 7th anniversary, though we both had to work, we tried to make it really special. I made this card for my love and he spoilt me with a lovely dress from East.

Supplies: paper: MemoryMakers Ledger pad, Marianne Design - ink: Jumbo Java from Tsukineko - chipboard: DCWV Spring collection - rub-ons: Doodlebug and Flair design - "seven"-border diecut with the Cricut Graphically Speaking cartridge - white ribbon: craft supply - white Sugar Coating from Doodlebug.

A close up view of the lovely ledger paper from MakingMemories. It has this romantic text that fits really well with the intention of the card. The inside of the card is also decorated with paper and rub-ons.

Hope, a sympathy card

Hello,

Just finished my late shift and I 'm not ready for bed yet. I need to unwind first, so I'll share a card I 've made for a colleague who 's recently lost her mother. Really feel for her as she also just got married and then lost her mom.

I made a bit of an effort with this card, but I think it paid off.

Supplies: paper: Basic Grey Porcelain,white card: Anita's, olive cardstock: DCWV, ink: Ranger and Tsukineko, Pearl glimmer mist from Tattered Angels, stamps: Crafty Individuals and Tesco for the little rose, rub-on from DCWV's Rub0on quote stack, flowers from Prima, flourish is die-cut with the Cricut's Storybook cartridge.

Here 's a close-up to show you the stamped rose background with the rub-on over the top.

I like how all the colors fit together and give the card a certain feel. I find it the most difficult type of card to make, because I am never sure about the colors and if I say too much or too little.

My colleague liked it anyway, but more I hope she'll be strenghtend by knowing that I'm thinking of her.

Water works

Hello,

Like I promised; won't waste the Doodlebug paper. Here are 2 cards I made with the leftovers.

Probably one of the last summer themed card of the year I 'll be making. Although... never say this for sure. It will depend on my mood and the sun. At least it was sunny today. I'm hoping for a bright and beautiful autumn. We 'll be heading off to the New Forest then. Love the colors and smells.

These cards are made using the Cricut's Graphically speaking cart. I was wondering what to make with the water theme. Thought it would be a nice summer card.

The cardstock is from an old supply I bought in Belgium. It 's a pastel stack with fading colors. I don't remember where I got the bright yellow from. The bubbles are also cut with the Cricut and layered 4 times.

These 2 cards are just slightly different and although I didn't take a picture, the inside is also decorated with stickers.

The ribbon is from Hobbycraft and attached with glue dots. I used stickers from my Sandylion collection. I have collected so many of these over the years, never intending to use them until now. They match well with the colors and the water theme and they are sparkly... What more can you want.

The buttons and rings are from Autumn Leaves' French Twist. I do like this little bag of buttons which I bought at Crafts U Love. The funny thing was that they had added these rings, no button at all. Unless you would sew it with a rope and knot. Here is a close-up to let you see.Hope you like it. I am now working on a scrapbook layout of our last trip to the New Forest. So that will keep me out of mischief for a while. Have a nice day, thanks for looking.

Happy Birthday Mini Quartet

Hello,

I finished these mini cards a while ago. They 're great fun to make. All the stamps come in one set from Inkadinkado. It also includes the little "Got Cake?" mammal, I used in another card. The paper is from Doodlebug Happy Birthday Boy. I would actually never buy this kind of paper, but it was the first -and the last time- I did buy a lucky dip paper bundle from Crafts U Love. It might be good for someone just starting to craft and if you don't know yet what you like making. But it has been good as it allows me to use some items I have in stock which I haven't really used for years -like the balloon brads-. Even the bright blue buttons from the 99p store, the 2-sided ribbon I got from my mother and the gemstones from the kids craft corner in John Lewis -what was I thinking?-.

The stamp set on the other hand I really like. I bumped into this set by accident. We went on a shopping trip to Bluewater and in a hobby store over there they had it priced for 2.35£?? That must have been an error, because they had no sale on. Just my lucky day! They also had quite a bit of the Basic Grey Papers and card making sets. So I ate my heart out...LOL.All the cards are cut using the Cricut's Stretch Your Imagination cart. The different patterned papers are then inked with Aloe Vera and Sea Breeze Dew drops VersaMagic. All images have been colored with Whispers and I also used some Lime Ice Stickles.Te light blue and green dotted ribbons are from Hobbycraft. The small buttons are from Autumn Leaves's French Twist.The fun thing about using the Cricut is that I can now also cut out the exact size envelopes to go with the cards, making it easier to send them. I like how the cards have turned out. I have started to "agree" with the paper, doesn't mean that I like it yet. As it is 12x12 size, I will be using the left over rather than throwing it away. I wish I knew who I could give my unloved craft stuff to. I 'm collecting it in a bag. I 've read on someones blog that there is a charity that makes cards for people in hospital, but that was in America. Should be one in the UK too.

Fun on You Tube

Good morning, No card to share just yet. I would just like you to look at these funny guys over on You Tube. Really good, the don't take themselves too serious and that 's why it's so funny and entertaining. I posted one of their songs in my sidebar and another link on this post for the song from Enio Moricone from The Good, the bad and the ugly. Have a laugh! You just got to think of it. Great characters! Enjoy your Sunday -the last in August 2009-.