Creative Play Time

Good evening all,

I was hoping to have had some crafting time today but unfortunately life got in the way!  I was away in Portugal last week - and had an amazing time!  We arrived home on Friday to find that we had a dishwasher leak and the kitchen floor was flooded - not great seeing as we had plumbers out a couple of days before we went away!

Then yesterday we went to see Trainspotting 2.  I loved the original -  certainly a cult classic of mine.  And the 2nd one - 20 years after the original - was amazing!  So much so that I cannot wait to see it again!

This morning I went shopping and treated myself to a new organiser.  I have had my beloved Filofax for many years and there are so many new and gorgeous versions on the market - though the one that I fell in love with has debossed butterflies over it!

So... that's why I haven't been able to craft.  I need to get busy though as I have a list of things to do and some gorgeous Paper Artsy stamps and stencils that arrived from Country View Crafts before I went away!

This evening I am sharing a card that I made before I went away.

I made a batch of the blank backgrounds a few weeks back.  I used a doily stencil from TCW and Prima soft paste through it (I love this paste - so light and fluffy!).  I then left these to dry until I needed them.

When ready, I coloured the stencil background using distress inks.  In the past I have added Paper Artsy Infusions to the paste beforehand and it has given a wonderful spectrum of colour on the background.

The main image is from the Crafters Companion Time Traveller collection.  It is stamped and coloured using alcohol markers, then cut out and added to the card blank.

To finish I have stamped a greeting and coloured seam binding ribbon.

It was really fun to make this.

Anyhow.... back to the real job tomorrow!!  I've hot a very busy week and an incredibly busy February ahead..... and lots of secrets to share!

Thanks for looking......

A Special Birthday For A Very Special Person - My Mum!

Today is a very special day - it is my mum's birthday!  It is a big one too.... 

I am whispering this so she doesn't hear - but we have a very special gathering planned shortly that she doesn't know about!

I wanted to make a special card for mum.... here is the finished design:

To start the card I embossed grunge paste through a doily stencil.  Once this was dry I lightly added distress ink to keep the design subtle.

Next,  I added scraps of tissue paper and papers.

I distressed a cheap plastic frame using inks and Treasure gold then added a picture of Mum to it.  This was the focus of the card.  I then added loads of embellishments and bling until I was happy, trying to keep teh colours subtle.  I even managed to add a number!

Once I finished the card I realised that it was too dimensional to put in an envelope.  So I decided to make a box envelope for it....

Sorry for the rubbish photo!

The envelope is1 inch deep and made using A3 Crafters Companion card.

I embellished the envelope with flowers, feathers, pearls and beads.

I was really pleased with the envelope as I didn't follow any instruction and actually used my head to calculate the measurements! lol!

Hopefully mum loves this.... and loves her 'bigger surprise' even more (which is a secret I will share later!).

Thanks for looking......

Monster Party!

Ok- I confess.... I am a little bit obsessed with the Paper Artsy Zinksi Art monster stamps!

I have been rather poorly over Christmas and New Year and so as soon as I have some energy I stamped some of those cute critters and coloured them using watercolours.

Here are the cards that I created:

I used up scraps of paper and ribbons and just had fun!!

Even better - I still have lots of monsters cut out ready to make more!

Hope you like my creations......

Welcome.... Little One

A month ago today I became a proud auntie again.... this time to my sister's little girl.

I was lucky enough to be at the hospital when Alice was born and was one of the first people to hold her - and it really was love at first sight.

Here is the card that I made for my sister and her partner:

Apologies for the bad photograph but I forgot to take a proper photograph!

The background paper is from a retired Stampin Up design.

The image is from a new Stampin Up set called Moon Baby - I actually couldn't resist this and fell in love with it as soon as I saw it.  It was stamped and coloured.  The moon also had a wash from a Wink of Stella pen.

Really cute stamp for a very cute little girl!

Thanks for looking......