New Year Thoughts and Wishes

Hello friends

New Year's Eve...already!   Felt like only minutes ago I was putting up the Christmas decorations.

(the tree being naked for a week!)

I have so many reasons to celebrate this New Year being on the brink of 

opening the studio/shop but I thought it would be nice over the next few days to do a 

craft/life recap of 2012.

Best put that kettle on...this looks like a longish blog post!

January 2012

My eldest son Mitchell, turned 18.

It was Spellbinders Blog Frenzy and I created a teapot frame.

February 2012

Very important month...I heard that I was to be on the Spellbinders Design Team for a second year!

I also went a little bit 'book crazy'....

All of these are created from Nestaboard using matching Grand Die Templates

I am running a class to create a Nestaboard book in January and I have a couple of spaces left

it will take place in the New Studio! The details are here or feel free to email me.

March 2012

I flew to Arizona for the Spellbinders Retreat - new flowery luggage.

Met Donna Salazar.

Stumbled upon making tags...!  Many many tags followed.

April 2012

Friday Die Day was born!

I joined the Design Team of Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L and my very first project

was a Spring themed envelope gift bag.

And because chocolate is never far from my thoughts I designed

a new wrapping for Easter Eggs.

So that's the first third of 2012.  I will be posting the other months over the next few days.

A little shop update...the plaster is beginning to dry!

 Before plaster....

After plaster.... with a lot of condensation!

It is now time for me to wish you all, my dear friends, a wonderful, happy, healthy and 

most definitely creative New Year.

I heard this quote recently....

"Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book.  Write a good one. "  

Love, thanks and best wishes to you all.

Forever Friends

Hello friends

A predominantly brown card today -

(that would signify me being browned off with this weather!)

I managed to fit in a quick 'Bella walk' yesterday before the rain came down again,

all pets are looking decidedly fed up too.

But on a cheerful note...craft!  

Today's card is the final one I created for Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine this month,

again I've gone for the useful Labels One and married it up with Jewel Flowers and Flourishes.

The patterned papers - Kaisercraft - Marigold are really very striking, I'm glad I've got some left over!

A big thank you to those of you who emailed to ask whether I will be taking part in the 

Spellbinders Sneak Peek.  (This is where you get to see some of the fantastic

new dies that will be appearing at CHA).  Because I took part in the Summer Sneak Peak 

I am not scheduled for this one but I can assure it is a very exciting and also I have new projects 

to share with you very soon...once I've been given the green light that is!

Have a lovely Sunday, roast pork tonight - yum!

Take care.

A Rose

Hello friends

It is the weekend and I'm impatiently waiting for plastered ceilings to dry!

In between I still have lots of other work to do but I feel like I really should be wielding a paintbrush now.

Today's project is a scrapbook page featured in this month's edition of Scrapbook Magazine.

It is a sketch challenge, you start with this....

and end up with something like this!

I chose to turn the sketch around.

The papers are Authentique - Lively and are all quite busy with patterns.

I enjoyed creating a border/frame, distressing and inking.

I adore the brown birds on a branch paper.

I created the background from Grand Big Scalloped Circles and added Bitty Blossoms 

and Foliage.  Classic Triple Scallop Edgeabilities in green patterned paper and 

tiny little stickers are dotted here and there too.

Have a lovely weekend, be brilliant if it stopped raining - 

I keep checking my toes to see if they webbed yet!

Take care friends.

Life is Better With Friends

Hello friends

It is Friday and yet...where is Friday Die Day???

I'm going to recommence FDD in the New Year, it has been a little hectic with 

Christmas and stuff.  Also do you have to keep asking yourself what day it is?

I'm completely out of sync so this Friday did creep up on me!

I am hoping you will forgive me, at last count I had completed 37 Friday Die Days but

there is still so much more to come....

Next I must give a mention to Patricia who is poorly - I do hope you get better soon,

it isn't nice to be unwell but it's even worse at Christmastime.

Today's card - again featured in this month's edition of Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine.

The papers are Kaisercraft - Marigold and I've chosen to use the ever useful Labels One

combined with some of the 'Collectables' in this paper range. 

I've used Grommet Tags across the centre with some black pearls.

It started off as a very geometrical layered card and then I popped the flowers behind.

I still have some festive photos to share and this one features a rather
special ornament ...

Darcy chose to spend many hours in the tree over Christmas!

Have a wonderful weekend - I hope to bring you some more shop/studio progress photos soon.

Take care.

Back With a Favourite!

Hello friends

I'm back and I'm probably a stone heavier!  I've had a wonderful Christmas Day

and Boxing Day with my family.  I was spoiled with goodies, my boys

did me proud with lots of gifts including 'It's a Wonderful Life' DVD in colour!  

Bella was rather protective of her stocking..

at last count she had 5 new squeaky toys and half a dozen bags of treats!

Christmas dinner was at my Sister's lovely home, her and her husband created a feast! 

Such a lovely couple of days.

Now a craft project....I created this card for this month's edition of 

Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine using Kaisercraft Marigold papers and collectables -

out of all the cards I made for the magazine this month - this is my favourite.

The die cuts are from Jar Labels - I've yet to use this die set on a jar! 

Instead I keep going back to it for the useful tags and shapes - I used this die set on my 

Summer and Autumn card classes.

Today I'm back down the shop/studio to make a start on cleaning ready for painting, 

my deadline to have everything finished is 18 January...I like a challenge!

Take care friends - how did you spend your Christmas?

Update, Bella and My Christmas Wish To You..

Hello friends

That's it - only one more sleep!
Yesterday I managed to grab some photos of the new studio/shop -
this is the insulation going up in the kitchen.

 The plasterboard up in my craft room.

 And a wet plastered ceiling in the shop/studio.

I am wishing for a sudden heatwave to dry everything out.  There is nothing I can do
but wait - I'm not very good at that!  Plastering is a messy business and I'm itching to start cleaning
to get ready for painting.
Anyway enough of that...back to Christmas!

To keep today's blog post festive I asked Bella to pose for a nice Christmas photo 

but she sort of looks a little grumpy - I'm thinking if she could talk she would be saying:

"Take this ridiculous Santa coat off!"

I chose to go in search of another appropriate photograph and decided on this one. 

I bought these little tree decorations last year and today I send out this image across the blog waves....

My Christmas wish to you all is to have a truly wonderful Christmas, 

enjoy this very special time of year when everything is brighter and happier and 

may Santa put lots of crafty goodies in your stocking! 

I'm back on the 27th - just going blog awol for a couple of days as I realise everyone is very busy.

In an emergency I can be located under a pile of gift wrap, Quality Street and Twiglets..mmm heaven!

Take care dear friends.

Christmas Eve Eve!

Hello friends

Is it really going to be Christmas Eve tomorrow!!?

I've finished all the gift wrapping - a tree looks so much nicer with parcels beneath it.

This Christmas has crept up on me (hence why I was making the Christmas cake last night...

just a tad last minute!)  I know that sounds silly because I was actually designing Christmas cards back in the Summer but I just kept telling myself it was a long way off and then before I knew it Christmas was here!

I visited the shop/studio yesterday, the plasterboard for the ceilings is up and already it looks transformed. 

 The workmen were very busy working in semi-lighting due to having to take down all light fittings 

and the weather being so wet, dull and grey.  

It was impossible to get a decent photo but I will go back and take some as I want to 

keep a catalogue of the progress and share it with you.

Today's card isn't new but it's festive.

It features Layered Poinsettia cut from glitter card and Holly Motifs.

The papers are Cosmo Cricket - Odds and Ends.

I distressed and inked the papers and used my little sewing machine for that extra

handmade touch.

I'm back tomorrow, thank you so much for taking time out to read my blog -

I appreciate that right now is such a busy time for everyone.

Take care.

Best Wishes with Bitty Blossoms

Hello friends

This month's Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine dropped through my letterbox yesterday...

yippee it means I have some more projects to share with you!

I was asked to create four cards using the very lovely Kaisercraft - Marigold papers.

I chose to use Bitty Blossoms with some twine and stamped tag, my usual inking of edges too!

The decorative corner and floral die cuts are some additional items available  from the 

Kaisercraft - Marigold collection. 

I recall making this card some months back thinking Christmas was a long way off

but here it is with only a few sleeps to go!

Today I'm venturing down to the shop to see how the workmen are doing with the new 

ceilings and lighting ..pictures to follow.

If any of you fancy a little break from the pre-Christmas panics pop over to the 

Spellbinders website and using this link you can read the very interesting story of Stacey Caron -

President and Co-Creator of Spellbinders.  It is an incredible inspirational journey of 

determination through the ups and downs of building a business, a truly feel-good story and 

perfect for this time of year.  

Take care friends and wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Festive Friday Die Day!

Hello friends

It is Friday Die Day and I've made it a little bit different and festive. 

For the second week running it is not a tag! 

I may need to apply a cold towel to my forehead soon - what is going on!!?

Photos are a little shadowy - I think it forgot to get light this week, such dull rainy days.

I'm featuring Classic Scalloped Circles Large from the Nestabilities® range.

So often we return to our reliable 'Nesties' for shapes, mounts, apertures etc 

but how about doing something a little bit more with them...here goes...

You receive 6 die templates with this set - this is how they look cut/embossed.

 I have selected die template No. 3 (you always count from the middle outwards)

and cut/embossed an assortment of festive papers (Simple Stories - Handmade Holidays)

I'm still using up lots of scraps and this project is perfect for this.

 With each die cut, fold in half.  Use a bone folder to get a sharp edge.

 Then fold into quarters.

 You need 4 but I got carried away and made 8!

Apply a little adhesive down into the corners just to keep the folded flaps together.

 Align them to create a flower design.

 Use a die cut as a backing so you have a base to affix the 'quarters' to.

 Once in place tweak/lift up the layers.  I chose to ink the edges too.

 Rummage in your button jars/boxes and select one or two, tie a bow with bakers twine.

 I layered the buttons and stuck them in the middle with 3D Foam Squares.

 I decided to use my flower on a jar, an empty one but I do intend to put some nice goodies in there!

A close up picture. 

Simple to make, uses up scraps and buttons - do you have tons of buttons?  I swear mine breed!

How is everyone doing with their Christmas shopping/plans?  

I'm nearly there - I'm not sure how it all came together - maybe it was those little elves!

Have a wonderful Friday.

Take care friends.

It's a Blog Hop and more....

Hello friends

This week Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L have teamed up with Graphic 45 for a blog hop and

I was asked to submit a project.

Here it is...a little journal/notebook.

All the instructions and some step by step photos can be found here.

These Bird Song papers are oriental and very pretty but I also think I've made them look a 

touch festive in my project!

There is an opportunity to win some lovely goodies so be sure to pop over to the blogs

and leave comments - if you win it would be a nice early Christmas pressie.
Shop update...I went shopping for lights (boring but practical!)

And then I bought these....

far from boring and I cannot wait to use them in the shop window...mind buzzing with plans!

I'm back tomorrow for FDD - last one before Christmas....

Take care friends.

A Christmas Heart

Hello friends

Today's project is something I created a little while ago...

I have to say I'm feeling frustrated right now because I have so many things to 

share with you but I'm not allowed to...not just yet anyway!   

I have to wait until they are published and after CHA in January - 

then you will be inundated with new stuff! 

But today's project is one of my favourites.

It is a Christmas tree decoration created from Classic Heart and 

Layered Poinsettia.  I used cereal box packaging, cut twice and then adhered some music
script paper.  Inked the edges, punched a small hole and secured a little gemstone charm.
Attached a small strip of lace, patterned paper cut to a banner shape and then
the Layered Poinsettia - this was sprayed liberally with glimmer mist.
Tiny bit of twine and gemstone for the middle.

Also today something very very cute!
This is Brody! Awwww!!
Brody belongs to Kim and I featured him a little while ago when he was an even smaller pup.
Look at those eyes - absolutely gorgeous.

 And here he is looking festive under the tree!

Brody you are absolutely beautiful (don't let Bella know I said that!)
Kim - drop me an email with your address and a Christmas gift will wing its way to Brody.
Take care friends, I'm back tomorrow.