Christmas Stitches

Well recently I have been given the fantastic opportunity to make some samples using the fantastic Sharon Duncan CDs.

The cd I was given first was Christmas stitches which contains a great mix of festive backing papers and toppers.

I couldn't wait to get started so I printed out the red snowflake backing paper and some of the Father Christmas toppers and made a cute little milk carton shaped sweet holder.

I think these would make a great alternative to the traditional advent calendar .

My next little make was a traditional decoupaged snowman card.

A few hours later I was sat fussy cutting the santa image to make another decoupaged card when my youngest looked at what I was doing and said rather excitedly ooh you making a pocket mummy, well I thought I wasn't but it really was a great idea so that's what my next project became.

 

Got my promarkers out today

Well another week another quick post from me.

I was trying to tidy my craft items and came across my trusty promarkers.  I haven't done any colouring for months and was a little apprehensive about starting again (so I picked out an image that I had previously coloured so I had a reference picture)

I printed out one of my favourite digital stamps from Anonymous stamps the walking boot and added a beautiful digital background from my trusty craft artist.

I think the final card topper has turned out ok.

Would love to know what you think.

Little monsters

Hi it's me again with another simple card.  I saw a similar idea on pinterest and thought I would make my own version.

I started with a 6"x6" card blank
I then added a layer of black that was just slightly smaller than my base card
Next I went to my trusty inkscape and created the shape for the monster ( this basically meant taking a rectangle and adding a semi circle to the top.  I also made various size circles to use for eyes, and then finally some more circles of varying sizes  that i welded together  to make the teeth for the monster.
I scored the largest piece at approx halfway up and matted this onto the black.
I then stuck the teeth to the underside of  flap to give the effect of teeth
To give the eyes dimension cut out and layered up five of the smaller black circles and to give a final dimension covered them in glossy accents.
The glossy accents was also used to add some dimension to the face and body of the lil' monster.

I think you will agree this is a simple but cute card for a girl or a boy.

Another day another crafty make

 

Well it's been another very busy week in our house.  I love the school holidays, but it takes alot of effort to entertain the boys.

Today's card is a very simple one by my standards (not many diamante on this one).

I started with the basic shaped card element from one of my favourite designer's Birds Cards, and then created a shaped matting layer from one of her background files.  I loved the look so much I made it in a couple of colourways.  (My favourite by far is the black/white/pink)

I would like this card design to be considered in the following challenges:

Creative Moments - #96 Always Anything Goes (Week 1 of 2)
 Fab 'n' Funky - #316 Anything Goes
The Crafty Addicts -  #22  Anything Goes/Use Die-cuts (Week 1 of 2)

Another sparkly card

Well not been on here for a couple of days (family stuff, and they have to come first)

Today's card is yet another sparkly number I love making cards using diamante.  For this card  I took an image from My Craft Studio with the words Mr and Mrs on and cut it out of both black and white card-stock, then matted the white onto the black to give the element a shadow effect. I then got out my 4mm clear diamante and stuck them over the word element of the Mr and Mrs cut out (each stone is stuck on individually).  I then printed a free bride and groom image on the right hand edge of an 8"x8" (I think this was a free image from the papercraft inspirations website).  The final step was to stick the Mr and Mrs cut out on the left hand side of the card.

I was really happy with the final result, I would love to here what you all think of it.

I would love this card to be considered for the following challenges:
The Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes/Emboss It!!
Inspiration Destination - #98 Always Anything Goes 

Sparkly Pink for a Guy!

Well as a few friends know I make cards as I was asked if I could make a card for a man that was pink, glittery and sparkly.  Sure I can do that was my immediate reaction, but then the reality set in, what sort of themes for a man would lend themselves to being made in pink.

Never fear good old Birds Cards free background cutting files will help me out.  I know she did one that was like a brick wall so I downloaded the file, the only problem was that it was for a square card so using my trusty inkscape I managed to increase the size of the wall to A4, then I thought what guy doesn't like superheroes so I made an explosion in the center of the wall and added the words sorry you are leaving, I combined the explosion with the wall background and cut it out of white cardstock, which I then layered of the top of some pink glitter card. (this card is starting to look very pink)  The final touch was to add the recipients name which I created using the font Pacifico cut out of white cardstock with a matting layer of pink and highlighted with clear 4mm diamanté.

I think you will agree it ticks all the boxes I was given.

I would love this card to be considered in the following challenges:

• A Bit More Time to Craft  #25 -  Always Anything goes

• Creative Craft Cottage Challenge #69 For the Men/Boys
• Emerald Fairies Challenge - Make It Sparkle

Dazzling Diamante

Anyone who knows me knows that I love anything that's glittery/sparkly,

So I took the Happy Birthday 2U  file from Birds Cards cut it out in white with a silver base layer and  then added some 4mm clear ab diamanté to the 2U element of the design.  I then stuck this onto a 6inch square card, I feel the result is simple but stylish.

I would like this card to be considered in the following challenges:

Artistic Inspirations Challenge 162 - Anything goes
Creative Moments - Challenge 99 - Anything goes/Circles  
Paper Creator's Crafts - Keep It Simple

How time flies

Well it's a sunny Sunday afternoon here in South Yorkshire (England) and I got to thinking about my little blog that I started many years ago.  I was shocked to find that it's been two years since I last posted on here.

It's funny how life passes by so quickly, and some things remain the same whilst others change dramatically.

I still love to craft and find it a great way to relax, although with the boys growing they are needing me more and so my 'me' time has reduced dramatically; but I wouldn't have it any other way, before long they are not going to want to be spending all their free time with their dear old mum.

Going forward I will be showing my makes and giving details of how I made them.

Delighted to have the opportunity to work with another new kit and designer

Well as you know I have recently been getting into my digital scrapbooking. I have joined a number of groups to help me improve my knowledge and hopefully find a style that suits me.

I answered a call for people to work with a brand new set of kits called Today I learn to by Buzinette you can view and purchase the wonderful kits here

Here is my first layout using elements from the various kits.  You can choose to purchase the papers, elements, brushes individually or as a bundle. (Links at bottom of this post)

My second layout is more traditional

I really loved the brushes and used them to create the background layer.

If you would like to pop along and purchase the kit for yourself here are the direct links

• Kit : http://digital-crea.fr/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=155_306&products_id=16946 
• Element : http://digital-crea.fr/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=155_306&products_id=16937 
• Papier : http://digital-crea.fr/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=155_306&products_id=16945 
• Brush : http://digital-crea.fr/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=155_306&products_id=16943 
• JC : http://digital-crea.fr/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=155_306&products_id=16944 
• Bundle : http://digital-crea.fr/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=155_306&products_id=16947 

Lovely kit from Didou Scrap

Well just recently I had the oppurtunity to work with a lovely mini kit from Didou Scrap, the colours are so fresh and summery.
The layouts are not part of the kit these are what I have come up with to show the beautiful papers and embellishments.

The kit goes on sale today and you can purchase it here

I know I have been quiet lately

Well here I am again, finally making time to post some of my recent makes which of late have been more focused on my scrapping.

All the above layouts were made using a template kit from designs by Christaly called Blessings Vol 1 if you wish to purchase the templates click here

New opportunity at Bee Tree Studios

Well, long time no post, couldn't be helped I've been ill, couple this with been a mum to two lively young boys and working part-time I've not had many spare minutes.

If you are a regular follower of my blog you will know how much I love my Craft Artist 2, and recently I have started learning about digi scrapbooking.  I love scrapbooks but don't have the space or time to traditionally scrap.  I have joined a number of facebook groups recently trying to learn more about digi crafting and it is on one of these groups that I saw my perfect creative roll.  It combined my new found interest of scrapping with digital (perfect).

I emailed Stephanie Bee Tree Studios and she loved my work.

So here is my first project for Bee Tree Studios, the kit I got to work with is called The Graduate.

Below is my first layout

I really love the colours of this kit makes it easier to scrap masculine pages

To purchase the paper pack click here
To purchase the embellishments pack click here

Below is my second layout

To see what the rest of the creative team made with the kits click here

Time to say goodbye

Well this post has been a hard one to write, in recent months I've been finding it hard to juggle my working/family life with all my DT work, and as a result my creative spark has been missing and I've found myself struggling to enjoy the colouring of my digi stamps, I've also put myself under immense pressure to come up with new ideas and have been very critical of my final results.

In order to relieve some of the pressure I made the sad decision to reduce some of my DT work, I put the names of the three teams in a hat (I just couldn't decide any other way as all the teams are fab) and let my youngest pull one out, the result of which is that this will be my last DT post for creative moments .  I would like to add that the team have been fab and couldn't wish for a better boss than Alex.

Any way enough of the sad news and onto something positive, this fortnights challenge was a little different.

Anything Goes/Bingo

Our sponsor for this challenge 

I loved this ladies art before I saw this challenges sponsor the hard part for me was just choosing one image

I loved this little cutie blowing bubbles.

Would love to hear what you all think of her.

To enter the challenge click here, or to buy this digi click here

New challenge at Creative moments

It's new challenge time at creative moments this fortnight we are being sponsored by

I've been struggling of late with my crafty mojo, so when the idea for this came to me in the middle of the night I had to act on it.

The background was created in Craft artist and the digi stamp was added and the image was coloured using pencil

New challenge at Creative moments

Well it's the start of a new week and a new challenge over at Creative moments.

This fortnight the challenge is being sponsored by Digi Darla Designs

The theme was to make it Girly so I've done this by using lots of pinks and yellows which come from a fab digi kit called Abigail from Angie Hinksman designs.

All the background layers are created digitally and then printed out the digi stamp has been coloured in using a combination of promarkers and pencil and the final details have been added with glossy accents and sticklers glitter

To see more inspiration from the DT and your chance to enter click on the Creative Moments badge on the left.

New kits from Angie Hinksman

Well over the last week I have had the opportunity to play with some fab new digi kits from Angie Hinksman.  The two kits are called Abigail and Charlie and can be purchased from the Digi chick store.

For my first project I created a Mother's Day card for my boys for their nana.  I changed the colour of the hair and one of the tops so that they looked more like my boys 

The second card I made using a combination of both kits for their granny

I love both kits they are so versatile I feel some scrapbook pages coming up using some of the elements.

But in the meantime I have created a couple of cute treat boxes using Abigail and a bag transfer.

If you like the look of the kits pop along to the Digichick store

Artistic Inspirations challenge sponsored by Scribble and Scrap

These challenges are coming round way too fast, can't believe another month has flown by.

This weeks challenge is being sponsored by

Scribble and Scrap

and the theme is Anything Goes/ Easter Colors

I'm not normally a lover of flowers but for some reason this poppy stamp called out to me.

I as always started by creating a background in my trusty craft artist professional, I have a few papers but with two little boys around storage can be a problem more often than not they end up ruined by the boys. By creating the backgrounds myself I can also change the colours to suit my project.

I coloured the poppies with my promarkers, then the final piece was mounted onto some silver mirri and then added to a 6x6 craft card blank.

 
To see some more stunning work by the rest of the DT why not click here and whilst there why not enter, you never know you could be the winner

Creative Moments challenge sponsored by Aurora Wings

Today's piece is my DT piece for the Creative Moments Challenge blog.

This weeks challenge is being sponsored by Aurora Wings.

If you've not seen the stamps you need to go and take a look they are awesome.

For this piece I have tried to do the no lines technique (where you print the image out very faintly so you don't see the lines when you have finished colouring) I also for the first time coloured with pencils but not the  expensive ones these were a pack of 36 crayola ones like you would purchase for using with children.  

A little close up of detail.

Feeling a little Whimsy

Well a few weeks ago I told you how I had been chosen to be on Angie Hinksmans creative team.

Angie creates the most beautiful digital kits that I use in my Serif Craft Artist.  Her latest creation is called 'A little Whimsy', I love it.

The kit is full of bright primary colours ideal for scrapbooking the many photos I have of my boys and I'm really enjoying creating these pages.  I am a hybrid crafter so am combining my love of digital with real matting and layering and adding gems.  I just need to save now for an 8" x 8" album to put my completed pages in.

Here are a couple of layouts I made the other night, the kit has so many embellishments that remind me of the project life kits (which I love but cannot afford)

Although the kits are great for digital scrapbooking they can be used so many more ways and today I created this super cute little milk carton favour box

I'm also in the process of designing a transfer for a babies t-shirt and will upload picture when it is complete.

You can purchase the digi kit here


I would love to know what you think of my makes,


Bye for now

Ziggy

NEW Challenge time at Artistic Inspirations - Sponsored by Robyns Fetish

Well its that time again when I get tow showcase my latest creation for Artistic Inspirations challenge blog.

 This week we are being sponsored by


ROBYN'S FETISH

Robyns Fetish - 4 images for the winner

Anything for Kids

This week I have done something that is relatively new to me, scrapbooking.

I chose this fun bunny image and coloured it in using my spectrum noir pens.

I then set about creating my page in Craft artist using a beautiful digi kit from Angie Hinksman called
Eyecandy which you can purchase at the daisytrail shop.

The final step was to combine my digital crafting with some real embellishments for this I cut out the bunny digi stamp and also punched a border strip from some white card which  i then coloured green.

 What do you all think, I love the cuteness of the bunny and hope you can see the texture I've tried to add when I coloured him in.