About Me

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My name's Alison but for reasons too long to go into I'm known as Cockney Blonde or CB for short. I've been rubber stamping for several years but now spend most of my time either knitting or crocheting. However, with the advent of a New Year I have bitten the bullet and am tackling my usually hated pastime of sewing. I've even bought 'Sewing for Dummies' to guide me on my way. I've been with my hubby Dave for 24 years and between us we have 4 kids and 5 grandkids. We also have 2 cats and a dog, the latter features as my 'photo' image. I used to be able to blog daily but these days I struggle to blog weekly. Hopefully now we are settled into our new home in the country, I can get back to a daily (well almost) update from the room I now have to share with hubby. No more personal crafting space for me!!! Thanks to all the blogs and sites I follow for all your brilliant inspiration, and thank you to everyone who finds the time to comment on my blog.

Friday 30 September 2011

The Craft Barn Calendar - March


Good Morning Everyone. Its another glorious day here in West Yorkshire. I just hope it continues for my trip South next weekend when I am staying with my oldest and dearest friend near Hastings.

Before I get onto telling you about my March Calendar I just want to share with you the fact that I won the £10 voucher for last week's entry. I was so chuffed but I can see I'm going to be spoilt for choice in the Craft Barn shop.

So, this is my March page for The Craft Barn Calendar challenge week 3. The remit this time was to use green and flowers. I'm doing a month a week and then binding all my pages together with my Bind-It-All.

For this page I've used a background stamp by Personal Impressions inked with Adirondack Lettuce and then overstamped a La Blanche floral image with Memento black and coloured with copics. The fabby leafy ribbon was some I picked up at Harrogate and I've overlaid it with a narrow pink ribbon.

I hope you like it and here's the link:-
http://thecraftbarnblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/12-week-calendar-challenge-week3.html

Thursday 29 September 2011

Merry Christmas


Evening Peeps, this will have to be a quickie tonight as I've been trying to upload this card for the past 45 minutes and now my bed is calling. Not sure what's wrong with my PC at the moment but its taking forever to do anything.

Anyway, I've used the current Less Is More Challenge for this card, simply stamping the Poinsettia image, colouring with copics and then mounting onto black CS. Then finished off with the sentiment.

Hope you like it and here are the links, x

Less Is More - Sketch
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-34.html
Allsorts #122 - Keep It Simple
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-122-keep-it-simple.html
Simon Says - Anything Goes
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/simon-saysanything-goes.html

Wednesday 28 September 2011

Autumn Mums


Phew! At last I can upload a card. Between work and the PC playing silly beggars I've had great difficulty getting on my blog. Anyhow here I am with this week's freebie image from the Designed 2 Delight team. I was also able to use my latest challenge win, some DP from a 'My Minds Eye' stack called 'Six by Six' kindly donated by Crafty Emma's Store. Lovely colours for this time of year too. Although having said that, have you seen the weather today??? What's going on??? It has been blooming gorgeous here in West Yorkshire and so hot too, luverly.

I've used copics to colour the image and I've threaded ribbon through the lace to join 2 pieces together. The sketch is from the current Sketch Saturday challenge.

I hope you like it and before I go off to catch up on some of my blogging pals here are the links for the challenges:-

Delightful Inspiration - Designed2Delight Image
http://designed2delight.com/blog/2011/09/fridays-image-challenge-autumn-mums/
Sketch Saturday #174 - Sketch
http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-174-24th-september-sponsored-by.html
Paper Sundaes #88 - Anything Goes
http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/2011/09/paper-sundaes-challenge-88-anything.html

Monday 26 September 2011

A Whole Bag of Bother


I am so proud of myself for making this wee bag for my little Scottish Grand-Daughter. The fact that it was a kit designed for children says it all as far as I'm concerned, lol.

Perhaps you will recall that I have said in the past how much I hate sewing....... So what on earth possessed me to buy a sewing kit. Perhaps it was the fact that a child could do made me think I should be able to. Anyhow, after many expletives I finished it and I think it is lovely, even if I do say so myself.

Our little Rose loves bags as I think most little girls do, but she also adores dinosaurs. The bag itself is quite sturdy given the main body of the bag is a stiffened felt. The little dinosaur's tummy is stuffed with some wadding to give some depth.

Just thought I'd share this with you and if you're interested I got the kit from Samuel Taylor where they also do other kits in this bag range and also in cushions and soft toys.

I'll be back tomorrow with a card for you, hopefully, x

BLOG CANDY WINNER


Woohoo! We have a winner. As you can see from the above piccie Mark was not convinced this was something to get excited about, lol.

Yep! He's coming round a little as you can see from him delving into my box of  folded names.
* * *  CONGRATULATIONS * * *

FootAhead

You have won my blog candy. Please can you email me privately with your snail mail details and I'll get your goodies in the post.
alison.wilkinson1@talk21.com

Well done again and thank you to everyone who joined in the fun. I may just have to have another blog candy giveaway to celebrate exceeding 50 followers, x

Sunday 25 September 2011

Blog Candy Update

Hiya Folks.

The draw for my Blog Candy has now closed. I have popped all the names on pieces of paper and folded them and popped them in a box. Unfortunately my Son has had a poorly day today, not helped by the travelling from Scotland, so once he is up and about in the morning I will let him make the draw.

Sorry for the delay and see you all tomorrow, x

Friday 23 September 2011

BLOG CANDY REMINDER

Just a quickie reminder that my blog candy giveaway will finish on Sunday tea-time. We're off to Scotland tomorrow just for an overnighter to see all our wonderful grandees. On our return I'll check my blog and then pop the names in a hat. I think my son will enjoy picking out a winner.

Hope you all have a good weekend. I may be back before bedtime with a post but if not see you all on Sunday, x

Thursday 22 September 2011

Poppies Part 2


As promised here is Part 2. There will be a Part 3 as the poppy is coloured and ready to go but it will become a bookmark and I'm not showing it until I know its been received. So you'll have to wait on that one.

I've used the same Penny Black image and copic colours as my previous post  http://cockneyblonde.blogspot.com/2011/09/poppies-part-1.html but this time matted onto black and added the 'Friends' sentiment by PSX.

I also decided to go for a DL card and punched the edge with a MS punch and added the ribbon, just because, lol.

I hope you like it and I'm entering it into the following challenges:-

Less Is More #33 - Anything Goes
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-33-1000-challenge-anything-cas.html
Penny Black Saturday Challenge #169 - Friendship
http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/penny-black-saturday-challengeweek-169.html

Poppies Part 1


I expect you've guessed from the title, I have more than one poppy card to show you. This is done Clean and Simple style for the current Truly Scrumptious challenge and also to fit in with the Less Is More people.

I lurve poppies and this one from Penny Black is a beauty. I've coloured it with copics E29, R27, 29, YG63, 67 and simply used my nestabilities to matt and layer.

I hope you like it and here are the challenge links:-

Simply Less Is More #33 - Anything Goes
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-33-1000-challenge-anything-cas.html
Truly Scrumptious #66 - Clean and Simple
http://trulyscrumptiouschallenges.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-66clean-simple.html



The Craft Barn Calendar - February


Good Morning. I hope the sun is shining on you all like it is here in West Yorkshire at the moment.

Here is the post I mentioned last night before I had to go and get some shut eye. It's my February page for The Craft Barn 12 Week Calendar Challenge. This week it was to use red and embossing.

The CS is Bazzill which I have overstamped in Memento with a heart peg stamp by 'Judith' and the Hero Arts Hearts filament. The tree is also by 'Judith' which I have embossed in white and then added heart shape buttons.

I'm sorry but I'm not sure who makes the two text stamps but I've stamped in Stazon onto vellum, torn the edges and then fixed with gold brads.

Hope you like it, x
http://thecraftbarnblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/12-week-calendar-challenge-week-2.html

Wednesday 21 September 2011

A Bra-Less Birthday


Evening Peeps. I did have 2 things I wanted to post this evening but as usual the PC is on a go slow so the other one will have to wait until morning, I need my bed.

A friend asked me to make a quirky/funny card for a 70 year old, I just hope this doesn't offend... I had the sentiment, sorry but not sure who makes it, and fortunately my good friend Diane of Inky Meanderings has a selection of 'I Brake For Stamps' images and this one fitted the bill perfectly. I coloured her ladyship with copics as follows: E00, 21, 93 (skin), C2, 3 (hair), E41, 43, RV23, 25, 29, YG00, 06.

The DP is a Prima stack 'Annalee' from Crafty Emma's Store. The green die cut behind the image is actually a self-adhesive sheet from Kanban which I have run through the D'Vine Swirl cuttlebug folder.
 I created a library pocket behind the easel to house a tag for my friend to write her sentiment.
I was so pleased that several challenge blogs are asking for dies/punches this week as I had great fun playing with my new Shapeabilities (Harrogate Show, Oyster Crafts) 'Twisted Metal Tags and Accents'. I can see this being used loads.

I also used my McGill punch to create the leaves.

I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:-

Delightful Challenge - Girly Girl
http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/2011/09/girly-girl-at-delightful-challenges.html
One Stop #149 - Girlie
http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-149-girlie.html
Simon Says - Dies to Die For
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/simon-says-dies-to-die-for.html
Corrosive #133 - Punches/Dies
http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/2011/09/punches-andor-dies.html
Ooh La La #89 - Punches/Dies
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-89.html

Blooming Marvellous

Good Afternoon All. Hope you're all well and enjoying some dry weather. I won't say warm cos its not very...

Just a quick post for now to show you this card which I am entering into the current Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge and also the Delightful Inspiration Challenge. The latter is a progressive challenge enabling you to increase your digital image library. If you want to know what I'm on about click on the challenge link below.

I used DP 'A hint of Pink' by Dovecraft for my layers which were matted onto black CS. The image I've coloured with copics, easy peasy and used another sheet of the DP which I've edged with my MS round the edges punches. Then some black and pink brads to finish it off.

I must apologise for the poor piccie, I think my camera must be on the wrong setting. Off to rectify it.

Hope you like it, x

Tuesday Morning Sketches - Sketch
http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/2011/09/tuesday-morning-sketches-112.html
Delightful Inspiration - Designed 2 Delight Image
http://designed2delight.com/blog/2011/09/fridays-free-image-challenge-happiness-blooms/

Tuesday 20 September 2011

A Birthday Recipe

Evening Peeps. Before I get onto tonight's card here's a reminder about my blog candy giveaway. You've got until Sunday to leave a comment under the blog candy post. See the piccie in my side bar.

Also, we've just found out we're going to be grandparents again in the Spring. Our kids don't half keep churning them out, lol.

Okey dokey, I've made this card for a friend who has a birthday next week, using 2 of my purchases from Harrogate, the LOTV image and sentiment. I just fell in love with this image which was in beautiful shades of blue at the Show. However, to fit in with this week's LOTV challenge I have used red, green and white. I thought most people may go for a Christmas look so I decided to be different. The teeny tiny flowers are a fab buy from Bury market at the weekend.

I've used copics to colour as follows:-
E00, 21, 93 (skin)
E15, 18 (hair)
YG03, 63, R32, 35, 37, Y26, W1, 2, 3 and blender

The DP is 'Rhubarb' by Memory Box from Crafty Emma's Store.

I hope you like it and I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:-

Lilli Of The Valley #112 - Red, Green and White
http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-112red-green-white.html
Sketch Saturday #173 - Sketch (on its side)
http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-173-17th-september-sponsored-by.html
Cute Card Thursday #182 - Anything Goes
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-182-anything-goes.html
Crafty Sentiments - Happy Birthday
http://craftysentiments.blogspot.com/2011/09/happy-birthday.html

Sunday 18 September 2011

Weekend At Burrs Country Park


Evening Peeps. We're home from our weekend away in our caravan at a beautiful site in the middle of Burrs Country Park in Bury. For all those caravanners out there I would recommend this as a place to stay. It is a well-maintained site and of course you've got the famous Bury Market nearby. The above photo shows the market place in days gone by. Aren't those trams fabulous.

These photos are all part of a display by Bury Council contained within sealed seating in the country park. The Country Park is the site of the old Burrs Mill and the cottages above would have been to house the mill workers. The area was actually home to 3 mills and part of the production was of cotton and then latterly paper and glue.

This is the old Burrs Mill from which the country park takes its name. Across from where we were standing was the old remnants of the Midden. For those who aren't sure what that is it was the old latrines which were available for the use of the cottage residents. There was a 'soil master' whose job it was at night to clear out the waste and take it for use as fertiliser. I'm so glad things have moved on, what a job!

This is another view of the chimney but this time after the mill had been demolished. The chimney, by the way is still standing.
 These last 2 piccies are self-explanatory but what a fab selection of images from the archives.
There's plenty to see on your walk around the Country Park, great for dogs, and there is an outdoor pursuits centre with kayaking. Of course there are a couple of brill pubs and we were lucky to be joined on the Saturday evening by my friend Neet of Hickydorums Blog and her hubbie Chas, and of course we had to try out one of the pubs....Yummy! Food to die for!

Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with a card and don't forget my blog candy, x

Saturday 17 September 2011

Craft Your Days Away Guest Designer Project


Hello peeps, I hope you're all having a good weekend. We're away in our caravan this weekend, so hopefully this scheduled post will appear after the scheduled Blog Candy post so by now you will have spied the above project in amongst the goodies. This is my project for my first Guest Designer spot with the Craft Your Days Away team.

My remit was to create something pink, brown and blue..... Oh boy! Pink and brown was easy but to incorporate blue and the right shade of blue not so easy.

Anyhow, while I was trying to find some inspiration I happened to open a new box of a certain brand of t-bags and voila! These little boxes are ideal for projects as the lid is incorporated so no messing with measuring and cutting and folding.

I covered the box with DP by Bo Bunny called Love Bandit Luv U Deerly and trimmed the edges with broderie anglaise and polka dot ribbon, the latter from Meiflower.

The stamp I've used is a Craft Stamper freebie, stamped in Memento black and then coloured with copics in RV21 and B24. I used the blender on the pink to fade it in. I also used the B24 to deepen the blue on the blue pearl brads and also to deepen the ribbon.

I edged the nestie shapes with Versacolor Old Rose and Versamagic Sahara Sand. The little blue gems are from The Hobby House.
Finally I decorated the envelopes with Hero Arts Fanciful Heart Filament using Tombows in Brown and Pink. The brown ribbon on the cards is also from Meiflower.

I think this would make a lovely gift for someone, 6 little cards with decorated envies in a matching box. If you win the blog candy you may want to keep it for yourself or you may want to give it as a pressie. The choice is yours. Whichever it is I know I will be making more of these. I just need to drink more tea, lol.

Click on the link below to hop on over to the Craft Your Days Away Challenge Blog and see what they're all about.
http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/

My First Blog Candy Giveaway


This is so exciting, my first Blog Candy giveaway. Please feel free to copy the piccie to your sidebar and don't forget to tell your friends about the giveaway. I'm offering these goodies to celebrate my first Guest Designer spot with the Craft Your Days Away team. You can just spy my project in the midst of the goodies which will be included in the bulging envelope. More about my project in my next posting.

Anyhow, I'll select the winner of the Candy from comments made to this posting. You don't have to become a follower but if you do that would be lovely. I'll leave the Candy up for a week and will draw a name from a hat on the evening of Sunday 25th September.

Good Luck, x

Wednesday 14 September 2011

The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge - January

 http://thecraftbarnblog.blogspot.com

Evening Peeps. Click on the link above or the piccie in my sidebar to see what this challenge is all about. The Craft Barn are challenging us to make a calendar over the next 12 weeks. This is my submission for the January challenge which was to use Blue and crackle. I struggled with the latter challenge and eventually settled on restamping the 'January' and embossing several layers of clear UTEE which I then cracked. Finally I cut out the text box and overlaid it on the underlying stamp.


I created the scene by swooshing adirondack inks with baby wipes after created a moon shaped mask. I then stamped the trees many times to create a forest effect and finally used a white pen to create little snowflakes, although these aren't visible on this piccie.

I'm creating my calendar pages on A5 folded cards so that I get 2 months to a card. For example I'll use the front halves for the first 6 months of the year and the reverse for the second 6 months. I'll then stick them together which will hide any brad backs I may use and finally I'll bind the set with my bind-it-all.

I'm going to try to keep up with this challenge as I think its a brill way to make a calendar.

I hope that makes sense to you, x
http://thecraftbarnblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/calendar-challenge-week-1.html

Tilda by Candlelight


Hello Bloggers, hope you're all well and enjoying a little bit of sunshine. Its so much more pleasant out now that the wind has moved away.

I'm sorry but I don't have the list of copic colours I used on this little cutie as its one I coloured a while ago. However, I can tell you that I have layered her on DP from Basic Grey Jovial stack. Beautiful rich deep colours and I was chuffed to bits to be able to blend in a ribbon and use my new bow maker.

The little date stamp is by LOTV, a Harrogate purchase.

I hope you like it and I'm entering it into the following challenges:-

Just Magnolia #23 - Sketch
http://justmagnolia.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-23-sketch-for-you.html
Totally Papercrafts #83 - Cute with Buttons
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-83-cute-with-buttons.html
Pile It On #37 - Layer It
http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/pio-challenge-37-layer-it.html

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Autumn Fayre

 Here's my second card for the evening. I'm like a bus, don't see me for days and then I blog twice in an evening, lol.

Anyway, I've used the freebie image from the Designed 2 Delight team and coloured with copics: YG63, 67, Y26, YR12, 15, C3 ,5, R24, E15, 18

The DP is Fernbrae by Memory Box.

I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:-

Moving Along With the Times #115 - Sketch
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-115-sketch-for-you.html
Delightful Inspiration - D2D Image
http://designed2delight.com/blog/2011/09/autumn-harvest-friday-image-challenge/
One Stop #148 - Food and Drink
http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-148-food-and-drink.html
Sentimental Sundays #72 - Autumn
http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-72-autumn.html

Wishing you a Swinging Christmas in September


Good Evening Bloggers. How are we all? I hope those who have been in certain parts of the UK haven't had too much trauma from the wild weather we are currently having. Obviously its nowhere near as bad as over in America but even so there have been a few incidents according to the news.

At last I have a card to show you. This little cutie was coloured up yesterday at our Samuel Taylors Monday Group under the scrutiny of the ever so talented Diane of Inky Meanderings Blog. I've used copics in the RV, YR and BG range but for the life of me can't find the post-it with the details on....duh!

The background of the card has been overstamped with a Crafty Individuals snowflake stamp in Adirondack Shell Pink (I think). The DP is a bargain stack I picked up at Harrogate by Dovecraft.
This is the other side of the swing card this time using a fabbie sentiment banner by Bild Malarna, again purchased at Harrogate. The little snowflake charm is available from Crafty Emma's Store. Oh and the 25th Dec stamp is from the LOTV people, again at Harrogate.

I hope you like it and here come the challenges I'd like to enter it into, x

Copic Creations #57 - Pretty in Pink
http://copiccreations.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/challenge-no-57-pretty-in-pink/
Simon Says - Multifold Creation
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/thanks-for-all-your-fabulous-entries-to.html
Crafty Creations #135 - Anything but square
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/2011/09/135-anything-but-square.html
Oldie But A Goodie - Christmas in September
http://oldiebutagoodiechallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/1st-birthday-blog-hop.html

Monday 12 September 2011

Oops! I Done it Again.....


Yep, you guessed it, more sewing on another t-shirt. This time it was to cover up a suspicious red stain. Must have been blackcurrant cordial, lol. Anyway, I thought I'd share my latest t-shirt with you as I haven't any cards to share at the moment.

Here's a close-up of the main section.

And here's a close-up of the bottom part with the fabbie vintage button from my Mum's old button tin. 

Sorry I've been MIA but it was the Harrogate Show at the weekend and by the time I'd wandered around several times and met up and chatted with loads of internet and group friends I was cream crackered when I got home. Also I've been working on my GD project for the Craft Your Days Away Challenge Team. More of that at the weekend as I can't spill the beans until then.

If you check back at the weekend you may also see a link to some blog candy which will include the above mentioned GD project.

Until then stay safe in these dreadful winds, x

Thursday 8 September 2011

Christmas in Another Colour

Hello folks, yet another miserable day here :((

Here is the other Christmas scene card I told you about a couple of days ago but this time in teal. You can just make out the silver brad on the top right snowflake and the snowflake charm at the bottom is available from Crafty Emma's Store.

May be back later but if not enjoy the rest of your day and dig out those wellies, lol, x

Wednesday 7 September 2011

The Mice are having a Party....


.....while the cats are in their beds....tee! hee!

Good evening bloggers, another wet and miserable day here in West Yorkshire :((

This evening's card is made using this ultra cute image by the LOTV people, coloured of course with copics:
E93, 41, 43, 31, 33, 35, Y21, B93, R00, 27, C0, 1 and matted onto DP from Websters available at Crafty Emma's Store.

The wide red 'mesh' ribbon I have had since my early days of crafting and goodness knows where it came from but I took advantage of the mesh to weave the narrow yellow ribbon through.

The large red gardenias are from Crafty Emma's Store although the bottom one I have trimmed down to create a smaller version.

I hope you like it and I'm entering it into the following challenges:-

Fussy and Fancy #44 - Sketch
http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/2011/08/challenge-44-sketch.html
A Spoonfull of Sugar #163 - Party Time
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/08/challenge-163-party-time.html

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Always and Forever


The final one for today peeps. I was going to leave it until tomorrow to share with you but usually in my case something else crops up, best laid plans and all that....

I coloured Tilda and her bench with copics and felt sure I had kept a note somewhere of the colours but could I find it, could I heck, lol. Anyhow, I went for a change with the brown to blend in with the fabbie DP  'Mistletoe' by Memory Box, available from Crafty Emma's Store.

The ribbon is from my stash as are the red circle embellishments. According to the current CRAFT sketch the sentiment should be at the top, however I felt it suited the design of my card better at the bottom. I'll just have to take a chance on that being acceptable.

I'd like to enter it into the following challenges :-

CRAFT #118 - Sketch
http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/craft-challenge-118-sketch.html
Just Magnolia - Monthly Special - Anything Goes +/- Circles
http://justmagnolia.blogspot.com/2011/09/special-monthly-challenge.html
Winter Wonderland - Special Friend or Someone Special
http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/special-friends.html


Christmas Scene


Evening Peeps. Here's a really quick one for you this evening using an Inkadinkadoo Stamp. Stamped in black Stazon onto white CS, matted onto red and then mounted onto A6 white card. Although the piccie doesn't pick it out very well I've added some stickles to the roof tops and branches.

I've already done another one in a different colour combo which I'll show another time.

I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:-

The Play Date Cafe (PDCC97) - Black, White and a Splash of Red
http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/2011/09/play-date-cafe-pdcc97.html
Bah Humbug #35 - Christmas Sentiment/Text
http://bah-humbug-christmas.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-35-xmas-sentimentstext.html


Hope


Yes, that's the name of this beautiful image by those clever people over at Sugar Nellie. I've coloured her with copics E00, 21, 93 (skin); E31, 53, 51, 50 (hair); R20, YG00, 03, BG72 and Promarker Tea Green. Unfortunately I think I used a little too much on the lips cos she looks as though she's had botox, lol.

These gorgeous papers are Romantique by Prima available from Crafty Emma's Store and the green ribbon, also from Emma is MME. Pearls are by The Hobby House.
Here is a close-up of my handmade flower made from a scrap of lace, gathered with thread and then secured with a brad.

I hope you like it and I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:-

The Sugar Bowl #66 - Sketch + One for the Girls
http://sugarbowlblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/challenge-66marlenas-sketch.html
Moving Along With The Times #114 - Handmade Flowers
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-114-handmade-flowers.html
Allsorts #119 - Green and Blue
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-119-green-and-blue.html
Incy Wincy #110 - Make Your Own Flowers
http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-110-make-your-own-flowers.html
Kaboodle Doodles #83 - Ric Rac, Fabric or Lace
http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-83-ric-rac-fabric-or-lace.html
Craft Your Days Away #28 - Make Your Own Flowers
http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/2011/09/cyda-challenge-28-make-your-own-flowers.html

Monday 5 September 2011

Feline Hocus Pocus


Evening All. Brrrr, its been a chilly ole day here in West Yorkshire with loadsa rain too :(( I hope its been a little brighter for some of you.

My card this evening is made using the current free image from the Designed 2 Delight people 'Falloween Cat'. I wouldn't normally make Halloween cards but I set myself this one target every week to use the image set by this challenge blog. That way you earn yourself another freebie for the following week. Check out the link below to see what I'm on about.

I used very few copics to colour : C3, 5, 7, YG63, 67, YR04, 07, BV08 and the card and ribbons were from my stash. The brads and flowers were also from my stash. Note to self.....must stock up at Harrogate this weekend, lol.

BTW, the sentiment was also part of the freebie image.

I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:-

Designed 2 Delight - Falloween Cat Image and Sentiment
http://designed2delight.com/blog/2011/09/free-stamp-of-the-month-for-september-falloween-cat/
Paper Sundaes #85 - Sketch
http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/2011/09/paper-sundaes-challenge-85-sketch-by.html
Delightful Challenge - Halloween
http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/2011/08/boo-to-you-halloween-challenge-and-new.html


Sunday 4 September 2011

Tea For Two


Good Evening Bloggers. I hope you've all had a good weekend.

Its taken me an hour to get this post together. Why is it when you have stuff to do the computer decides to play silly beggars??? So eventually, after re-booting it, I am here, yay!

I've used the really cute Lilli of the Valley image combined with Websters DP for this easel card. The gardenias are from Crafty Emma's Store and the ribbons from my stash. Also, in keeping with a couple of the challenges I want to enter I've used 2 sizes of a scalloped nestie and a Martha Stewart leaf punch.

The copics used for colouring the image are:
E00, 21, 93 (skin)
E31, 33, 35 (hair)
C1, 2, 3, R24, 27, 29, YG63, 67, Y21, 26, 28, B93, 95, 97 and promarker dusky rose.
I hope you like it and here come the challenge links, x

Tuesday Morning Sketches - Sketch
http://tuesdaymorningsketches.blogspot.com/2011/08/tuesday-morning-sketches-109.html
Kaboodle Doodles #82 - Easel does it
http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/2011/08/challenge-82-easel-does-it.html
Crafty Creations #134 - Use at least 3 dies/punches
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/2011/08/challenge-134-dies-n-punches.html
Cute Card Thursday #180 - Use at least 1 punch
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-180-pinch-punch.html
Colour Create #78 - Red, Kraft, White/Cream
http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/2011/08/challenge-78-kraft-red-and-whitecream.html

I'm so excited


Just had to share this with my blogging followers. I've been selected as a Guest Designer for the Craft Your Days Away Challenge Blog.

If you want to see what this fabulous blog is all about just click on the link below http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/
or on the link on my sidebar.

I can't divulge any more info at this moment in time but my guest appearance will be around 17th September. Watch this space.....

Friday 2 September 2011

Juicy Plums


Another very quick upload and card before I retire to bed. A work colleague of my hubby's has very kindly given us 2 large loads of plums from her garden and so hubby asked if I'd make her a thank you card. Of course you never have the right image at the right time!!! A quick google search and I found this fab image courtesy of wallpaperstock.net. I've layered it up on the fabbie Webster Pages DP and hand-written Plum Crumble on the 'specials board', as that is what we have been making with them.

The flowers are from my latest delivery from Crafty Emma's Store and the leaves are from a Martha Stewart punch.

I hope you like it and I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:-

Charisma #35 - Anything Goes
http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-35-anything-goes.html
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/2011/08/anything-goes.html

I hate sewing!!!


Evening Peeps. I HATE SEWING!!! Yep. Anyone who knows me knows that I'd rather buy DH a new shirt than sew a button on. So why oh why did I decide on buttons for my embellishments??? All I can say in my defence is that I'd been up since 5am and my brain clearly wasn't firing on all cylinders, lol.

Anyhow, this is a plain white t-shirt that had a stain. Why is it you only ever spill stuff on white t-shirts??? Using a techinique I'd learnt at a workshop a while ago I used a foam jigsaw piece and lumiere paints to create the basic pattern. I then overstamped with a Hero Arts leaf and a Dawn Bibby Personal Impressions swirl, again using lumiere.
Here is a closer view of the neckline pattern with the randomly placed buttons.

Below is a not very good close-up of the unusual button. I have to confess that I hadn't planned the bottom jigsaw shape but butter fingers dropped it and made another stain.....so therefore had to overstamp it. A happy mistake I think.

I hope you like it. I intend modelling it tomorrow at our Victoria Stampers at Padgate workshop. We are having an open morning at Padgate Community Centre, Warrington, Cheshire from 10 - 1pm if you want to pop along.

I'd also like to enter this into the following challenges:-

Cupcake Crafts #157 - Alter It
http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/2011/08/cupcake-157-alter-it.html
The Shabby Tea Room #77 - Birthstones (mine is emerald)
http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/2011/08/week-77-birthstones.html
Charisma #35 - Anything Goes
http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-35-anything-goes.html
Totally Papercrafts #82 - Not a Card
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-82-not-card.html

I'm also having a try at the Design Team Call for the Lets Ink It Up Challenge Blog. This is a returning challenge which I am pleased to say is coming back to us very soon. Check out the link to see what its all about.
http://letsinkitup.blogspot.com/2011/09/overwhelming-yes.html