Some Upcycling

Hi folks,

It's lovely to be back in Blogville!  I've had a couple of weeks out, last week I was off work sick for the best part of the week, a combination of a lingering cough and stress (mostly work related).  Although I think if I'd felt 100% I'd never have let the stress get the better of me.  This week I probably should be stressed but I'm not, I've had to work late for the last 3 nights and tonight I didn't get home until after ten, but I'm better able to cope with it now I'm feeling better thankfully.

Anyway enough personal waffle - sorry!!!  I have to say I'm a bit of a hoarder and I never throw away any bits and bobs that I think I can incorporate into a card and with Iona and I having had birthdays recently I saved quite a lot of our cards to upcycle.  Here are four cards I made out of just one birthday card I saved.  The Birthday card is full sized and the Thank You ones are mini cards.  Unfortunately I didn't get a 'before' shot!  For anyone interested the original card was an 'Emily Button' one from M&S.

 

 

 

I've just added a few different elements such as ric rac, ribbon and buttons to the fussy cut recycled card off-cuts and I've faux stitched the papers and layered with kraft card to accentuate the homespun recycled look.  The Happy Birthday sentiment stamp is from a Kanban set and the Thank You one is from Papermania Chronology.

 

 

I hope you are all well and I'm looking forward to catching up with all your blog posts soon.

 

Shona xx

Lucky Black Cats

Hi there,

Well that's the end of a very busy working week.  Things are so hectic at the moment that I don't have much energy left for crafting of an evening.  I do however dip in and out of my ever growing stash of craft magazines for inspiration and hopefully I will manage to find time to make one or two cards over the weekend with any luck.

It was while browsing through an old Papercraft Inspirations magazine I got the idea for tonight's card which I made for my friend and fellow crafter Fiona's birthday earlier this week.  The layout and template are both from the magazine and I thought it would be perfect for cat lover Fiona.

The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary and I've added faux stitching and whiskers with a Micron pen.  The sentiment is a rub-on from Kaisercraft and my very simple card is finished with a ribbon bow and gems, all from Papermania.

I hope you have a fantastic weekend whatever you have planned.

Shona xx

Birthday Owls

Hello,

Over a week has passed since my last post.  I've been so busy lately and everyday life seems to be getting in the way of my crafting.  I've spent most of the last week getting 'stuff' organised for selling in order to do a car boot sale today.  Unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worse so we took a rain check (literally) and are holding out for an indoor table sale at the end of the month.  I had a really enjoyable evening baking last night with my aunt (most of you will know she suffered a stroke at new year) and our combined efforts resulted in a humungous Victoria Sandwich cake which we took up to the Stroke Unit this afternoon when we went to pay a visit to the nurses and see how everyone was getting on since my aunt left there.  I'm pretty sure she'll never be able to make a cake entirely on her own again but it is nice to be able to do things like this together and have her pass on her tips and advice to me.

Tonight's card is one I made a couple of weeks ago for a friend's daughter who loves owls and Russian dolls.  Her mum asked if I would make a Russian doll card for her so I thought I'd go with owls for mine!

 

 

The Woodware stamps and papers were both magazine freebies a while back and I've layered up the papers and sentiment with dark brown cardstock.  The owls were paper pieced using several different papers from the pack and the bunting was made using a Stampin' Up punch, baker's twine and Papermania foam letters.  The number 3 was cut out using a template.  Looking at the photo now I wish I'd inked the edges of the 3 and bunting with some brown distress ink, I think it would have stood out more, but hindsight is a wonderful thing!  The card is finished off with turquoise and brown pearls.

 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

 

Craftin’ Boutique Challenges –#7 Anything with an Owl

Sister Act Challenge - #24 Anything Goes

Penny’s Paper-crafty Challenge - #144 Anything Goes

 

 



Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Good evening fellow crafters!

Yes after Iona's birthday last weekend it's my turn today and it doesn't end there as tomorrow is Rab and I's anniversary!  I don't have a crafty creation of my own to share with you tonight but I'd like to share the card that Iona made me with you all, I really love it and I know she put a lot of thought into it!  Sorry about the quality of the photo it's that dreaded mirri card again :(

 

 

I'm chuffed to say I got some wonderful crafty presents from family and friends so I'm itching to get playing with my new stash!

 

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend whatever you are up to.

Shona xx



Happy Birthday Iona

Hi there,

Just a very quick post tonight, it's been a very hectic 2 weeks since going back to work and my last post.  Our daughter Iona was eight yesterday and she had a wee party at the cinema and Burger King on Saturday and we had a family lunch at a local Chinese Restaurant yesterday, she had a fab time at both.

As you can see from the cake Iona absolutely adores Moshi Monsters and asked if I would make her a 'Poppet' card for her birthday.  I'm glad she was pleased with the result, she told me I must never throw it out because she loves it, that made it all worthwhile :0)

I found the image in the form of a colouring page online and coloured it with my Promarkers before giving it a spritz of Spray & Sparkle.  The papers are from the Papermania Spots & Stripes Brights Capsule Collection, as are the buttons.  I've added faux stitching to the papers using a pokey tool and a fine tipped pen.  I've added some letter stickers from Carole's Crafts, pearls from Hobbycraft and finally the number was part of a goody bag I received as a challenge prize.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin Challenge- Spots & Stripes
Crafty Creations Challenges - #237 Use a Number
Dream Valley Challenges - #64 For a Child
Sister Act Challenge - #22 Anything Goes
I Love Promarkers - #183 Use a Number

Monochrome Christmas

Good evening,

Help, my holidays are finished it's back to work for me tomorrow and back to school for Iona too!  She is excited, I'm less so but at least it will be a shortish week.  We had a lovely afternoon at the swimming pool today to round off our holiday.  It was a bit more of a leisurely day than yesterday.  We made an early start then travelled down to Royal Deeside and got there in time to see the Queen and Royal Family going to church at Crathie.  Iona was made up and waved her little saltire flag, bless.  We covered a lot of ground yesterday and I must say although I enjoyed the drive I was shattered afterwards and had an early night.  By the way for those that read my last post the weather was kind to us on Saturday so we went along to the Highland Games in Nairn and had a fantastic afternoon.  We didn't see an awful lot of the field events as we spent most of the time at the massive funfair.  Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera with me so I've only got some photos on my phone which aren't the best :(

Anyway, tonight's card is one I've made following a black and white theme.

The capsule collection papers and stamp are all from Papermania, the sentiment is a freebie from Netty.  The corner die is by Memory Box and the snowflake dies are by Die'sire.  I've also used a punch for the smaller snowflakes.  Some gems and pearls finish it off.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Divas by Design – Christmas in August
Crafting by Designs – Anything Goes
CHNC Challenge Extra – August
CCAYR – August, Fussy & Fancy

Somebunny Thank You

Hello again,

Yes second post from me today.  I'm filling my boots so to speak before I go back to work nest week.  Only three more days before I have to return boohoo.  Anyways, for those who read my blog earlier I'm happy to say I now have an oven on order, it won't be with us until the week after next but I don't mind I'm just pleased to get one that will fit where the old one will come out of :)  This afternoon we visited Loch Insh by Aviemore, unfortunately the weather wasn't on our side this time and it was wet and a little cold so we just had a short walk around the loch side then cheered ourselves up with cake and hot chocolate!  Fingers crossed the weather will be better tomorrow as we are planning going to Nairn Games, a nearby Highland Games with a big funfair.

Ok, onto my card.  Both the papers and stamp were freebies from Quick Cards Made Easy, both of which are excellent quality for being freebies.  Apologies for the poor lighting in the photograph, I normally take my photos in the kitchen as it has good light with minimal shadow but unfortunately my kitchen lighting has blown (everything is packing in just now) so I experimented in different rooms and this is the best I could come up with.

I've coloured the stamped image with Promarkers and die cut it with an X-cut scalloped circle die, mounted on a lacey circle Spellbinders die cut, I've used one from the same set for the sentiment which is a freebie from Netty.  The leaves have been cut with a Sizzlits die from Stampin' Up and I've used a mix of paper and resin flowers.  The little heart shaped brad was part of a challenge prize as was the card candi.  The mesh strip and lace were both purchases from my Elgin trip.  An adhesive felt shape, button, pearls and gems finish off my card.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Cutie Pie Challenge - #50 Thank You
Fussy & Fancy Challenge - #95 Bingo Board (I used button/lace/die-cut)
Crafty Sentiments Challenge - Dies and Punches
Robyn's Fetish Challenge - #172 Lots of Layers
Sister Act Challenge - #20 Anything Goes
Creative Corner Challenges - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-crafty Challenge - #140 Ribbon and/or lace

Good Luck

Good morning,

I'm going to so miss the almost daily blogging when I go back to work next Tuesday.  I'll also miss being with Iona and getting the opportunity to get out and about and do things together.  Yesterday we didn't venture off anywhere but we met a friend and her daughter for lunch then I set the wheels in motion to get a new built in oven sorted out.  The old one is past it's economic life now having had several new elements recently.  Who knew it would prove so difficult in somewhere the size of Inverness but a lot of places will only supply and fit as part of a whole kitchen, and one very well know retail chain lost a sale as the member of staff that dealt with me was virtually clueless.  I've found somewhere now though and I'm confident we'll get a solution soon.  I miss my oven soooo much!

Anyway enough waffle!  Today's card is one I made for Lesley who is the manageress in The Craft Shop at Howden's Inverness (hubby works in the garden centre part of the shop).  Today is her last day as she's leaving for pastures new, she is going to be the area demonstrator for Personal Impressions which I'm sure she will make a great success of.

 

 

This is a teeny wee card for a change and I've just used 3 colours, green, black and white.  The papers are all from the Chelsea Green capsule collection from Papermania and I've added faux stitching using a Letraset fine tipped pen and my pokey tool.  The four leaf clover was made using a tiny X-cut scalloped heart die and I've doodled some hearts on it then added a button tied with paper cord to the middle.  A couple of gems and letter stickers from Carole's Crafts finish it off.

 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

 

Crafting By Designs Challenge – Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments Challenge – #87 Anything but a Birthday Card

Allsorts Challenge - #219 Stitching

Bearly Mine Challenge – #99 Anything Goes

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge – Show us Stitching

Challenges for Everybody - #26 Anything Goes

Crafty Ribbons Challenge - #57 Use 3 of Something (I used 3 papers and 3 colours)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



A Quick Cupcake Card...

Hello!

Yesterday was another good day weatherwise.  We had a few things to do in the morning but after lunch we headed East to the coastal village of Findhorn on the Moray Firth which has a lovely beach.  Iona was rather disappointed that all the beaches we saw around Ullapool the previous day were stoney rather than sandy so I thought it would make her day.  I wasn't wrong and she had a whale of a time as you can see!  We obviously had the best of the weather as when we came home you could see it had been raining.

Todays card is a quick one I made a week or so ago for a birthday, I didn't so much forget about it but it crept up on me quicker than expected if that makes sense. 

The topper and sentiment are by Kanban and are from a sale bargain set I picked up in my local craft shop.  I have matched the colours and spots in the photo to the papers which are all Me To You Spring Chic.  These have been layered with gold textured cardstock, again to match up with the topper.  I've finished off the card with a big bloomer from the Papermania Parkstone Pink Capsule Collection topped with a heart-shaped button, some spotty organza ribbon, capsule collection buttons and various gems and pearls.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Crafting By Designs Challenge – Anything Goes
Creative Corner Challenges – Eat, drink and be merry!
The Paper Shelter Challenge - #124 Use that ribbon!
Sister Act Challenge - #19 Anything Goes

A Red and White Christmas One...

Hi folks,

What a fantastic day out we had yesterday.  It was hubby's day off and this is the last week of the school holidays up here so we decided to make the most of it and get out and about.  We wrote down 4 locations and then checked out the weather forecast for all of them and plumped for Ullapool, a harbour village, in the North West surrounded by hills and mountains.  It was a good choice, the sun was shining and the scenery was stunning.  On the way home we opted for a different route that meant going a bit further North then coming inland through Sutherland on single track roads.  I really enjoy driving so it was good fun for me!

Today's card is another Christmas one I put together a couple of days ago and was quick to do as it's mostly die-cutting, I find with cards like this that getting the cardstock out of the intricate die is the most time consuming bit of it!

The papers used are Papermania Home For Christmas 12x12's, which I got as a present last Christmas from one of my pals.  The scalloped heart die and border punch are by X-cut and the other is Winter Birds by Marianne.  Some gingham ribbon, card candi and gems and that's about it.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

CHNC Challenge - #137 Picture Inspiration
CHNC Challenge Extra – August
Crafting By Designs Challenge – Anything Goes
CCAYR Challenge – August, Fussy & Fancy

Stripes

Hi folks,

It's another showery day here in the North of Scotland so a day for indoor pursuits including cardmaking yippee!  I've finished two of the cards I was working on and did some die-cutting for another few in the pipeline.  I've also been trying to have a clear out of my ever expanding collection of craft magazines (I can't resist the freebies) so I have masses of crafty ideas swirling round in my head just now lol.

Todays card is very CAS, even by my standards, with only one backing paper! 

The paper is from the Papermania Spots and Stripes Brights capsule collection as is the yellow button.  The circles and star have all been die cut using X-cut dies and the star has also been embossed with dots.  The sentiment was made using plastic letter stickers from Carole's Crafts and the image is from clipart.  A couple of card candi and some paper cord finishes off my card.

Funnily enough my daughter Iona loves this one and would like me to make something similar for her birthday.  And there was me thinking pink and girly with a mermaid or something equally feminine but hey I'm just her mum what do I know!

I wish to enter my card into the following challenges:

The Paper Shelter - #123 Punches & Dies
Sister Act Challenge - #19 Anything Goes
The Crazy challenge - #151 Anything Goes
Penny’s Paper Crafty Challenge - #139 Dry Embossing
Challenges for Everybody - #26 Anything Goes

Sundae Service

Hi folks,

Another late night post from me but I have a few things on tomorrow so thought I'd get ahead by doing this now.  Rab and I have just been watching The Last Boy Scout.  I can't believe it's around 20 years old and this is the first time I've seen it, it's not my usual kind of film but I quite enjoyed it and I did some colouring while it was on too!  Tonight's card is one of about four I had under way but this is the only one that's come to fruition so far!!!

The image is 'Sundae Service' from Sugar Nellie (yes again!!!) and has been coloured in with Promarkers to match the Kaisercraft 'Butterfly Kisses' papers.  The heart-shaped doily is by Dovecraft and I've added some of my daughter Iona's star stickers by Kars (I did ask first!).  The sentiment is a freebie by Netty that you can download from her blog.  The card is finished with pink cotton lace and gems.  All dies are by X-cut.

I wish to enter my card into the following challenges:

Sugar Bowl Challenge - #106 August 2013
C is for Challenge - #3 Fresh & Bright (I used bright colours and refreshing ice cream)
I Love Promarkers - #180 Use a Doily
Gem of a Challenge - #92 Summer
Sister Act Challenge - #19 Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge - #219 Stitching

Winter Wonderland

Hi folks,

Well the rain eventually went off yesterday and I got most of my ironing done in dribs and drabs but best of all we had a surprise last visit from my friend and her daughter who were heading back to Bahrain after being home for a few weeks.  I can't believe how quickly their holiday went in but it was lovely to see them and it will probably be around a year until we see them again.

I didn't manage to do any crafting last night :( and don't think I'll have any opportunity tonight :( :( as we have a friend's son staying for a sleepover as they have no childcare arrangements for the morning.  Iona is very excited about it so I doubt if there will be much sleeping going on!

Here's a quick wee card I made a couple of nights ago...

I don't often go for DL cards but I thought it would look good with the elongated topper.  The topper, papers and sentiment sticker are all Me To You Winter Wonderland and have been layered with matching Coredinations cardstock.  I've also used the same cardstock for the die cut snowflake which was made with a Die-sire set.  I've added a charm from Hobby House tied with American Crafts twine.  An organza ribbon bow, pearls and gems finish off my card.

I wish to enter my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz Challenge - #194 Pastel Colours
Christmas Cards All Year Round – August Challenge, Fussy & Fancy
Robyn’s Fetish Challenge - #171 Add a Charm
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra – August
Creative Craft Challenges 2 - #16 Tic-Tac-Toe (Green/Gems/Charm)
Crafty Ribbons Challenge – #56 Anything Goes With Ribbon

Poinsettia Girl

Good Morning,

It's an extremely wet morning here in the North of Scotland so that means a day indoors doing housework and maybe a spot of baking.  I have a huge pile of ironing so just as well it's not good enough weather for an outing!

Today's card is made using another of my Sugar Nellie purchases from the weekend, this time the stamp is 'Poinsettia Girl'.

I've coloured the image with Promarkers then given it a spritz of Spray & Sparkle for a bit of subtle glitter.  The papers I've used are freebies from Quick Cards Made Easy a while back, they haven't photographed very well, in real life they match the image better.  The sentiment is from a Paula Pascual set and the large flower die is from a set by Sizzix from Stampin' Up.  The Poinsettia die is by Spellbinders.  Gems, pearls and two kinds of ribbon finish the card off.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra – August
Sugar Bowl Challenge - #106 August 2013
Christmas Cards All Year Round – August, Fussy & Fancy
Sister Act Challenge - #18 Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge - #151 Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter Challenge - #123 Punches & Dies

Blue for a Boy...

Hi folks,

An unusual daytime post from me - can you tell I'm on holiday woop woop!  I'm still mainly crafting at night so we can make the best of the days.  Unfortunately Rab isn't on holiday so we are just having trips out here and there.  On Saturday we went East and visited Brodie Castle which has a fantastic play park that Iona loves.  We then carried on to Elgin to Papercrafts Boutique where I purchased not one but 3 Sugar Nellie stamps one of which, called 'Callum', I've used on this card for Iona's Cheerleading Coach who recently had a little boy.

I've coloured in the image with Promarkers as usual then sprayed it with Crafter's Companion Spray and Sparkle for a little glitter.  I've then die-cut the image and a mount from blue pearlised card using X-cut nesting dies.  The gingham cardstock is just from a single sheet from the local craft shop and the patchwork paper was part of a challenge prize.  The sentiment is by LOTV and was stamped using Versamagic chalk ink.  The card is finished off simply with die cut nappy (diaper) pins made with a Sizzlits set, buttons and a mesh/net band (I never know what this is called lol).

If the weather stays dry we are planning visiting Nairn beach this afternoon for a walk, sandcastles and shell collecting and maybe some ice cream and crazy golf!

I wish to enter my card into the following challenges:

Inky Impressions Challenge - #119 Button It
Sugar Bowl Challenge - #106 August 2013
Crafty Catz Challenge - #194 Pastel Colours
Sister Act Challenge - #18 Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge - #151 Anything Goes

Snow Angel

Hi folks,

I'm rather late posting on here again tonight.  I've been running around all evening getting my OH ready for Belladrum  which is a music festival held near to Inverness.  He was semi organised but the weather has taken a turn for the worse so we had to track down wellies as well as the beer, water, etc he had planned on taking!!!  Fingers crossed the weather improves for the weekend or it will be a bit of a wash out.

Tonight's card is another Christmas one.  I actually made it a couple of evenings ago but I hadn't got around to uploading the photo.  The digi stamp is from The Paper Shelter and is part of a challenge prize I won a wee while back.  Iona and I both had a copy to colour in which we did while watching Beethoven the 5th!

I hadn't realised I'd made the image so large until I tried to fit it on a card, it didn't leave much room for anything else!  Anyway, the rather large image has been coloured with promarkers and then sprayed lightly with glitter spray for a slightly shimmery finish.  The papers I've used are all Boofle by Docrafts and everything has been layered up with kraft cardstock.  I've also used kraft for the Paula Pascual sentiment and the punched snowflakes.  The snowflake corner die is by Memory Box.  The card is finished off with various buttons tied with paper cord and some pale blue gems.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Creative Craft Challenges 2 - #15 Colour Challenge Blue & Brown
Sister Act Card Challenge - #17 Anything Goes
Crafting For All Seasons - #57 Christmas in July
The Paper Shelter - #122 Anything Goes
Inky Impressions Challenge - #119 Button It
Allsorts Challenge - #217 Kraft It
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra - August

Another Silver and White One...

Hi Folks,

Tonight's card is another silver and white one, this time it was made for my nephew's wedding yesterday!  We had a super time at the wedding which was held in an country house hotel just outside Inverness and we wish the happy couple well for their future together.  The groom is from Rab's side of the family and it was nice to meet up with my sister in law's partner's family for the first time!  Len is one of seven so there was no shortage of new folk to meet lol!

My card is quite similar to the one I made recently for the Silver Wedding Anniversary we were at last weekend but I've gone for a stamped and embossed image this time instead of a die-cut.

 

 

The stamp I've used is by Indigo Blu, I've been hankering after something like this for a while.  I love this stamp range and I'm pretty sure this won't be my last purchase!  I stamped the image using a Versa Mark clear pad then heat embossed with silver Papermania embossing powder.  I've done the same with the LOTV sentiment too.  I've kept it quite simple with some die cut hearts made with a Stampin' Up Embosslits set then added a silver organza bow topped with a large gem.  White pearls and silver glitter dome stickers finish it off.

 

I think I've had enough of the white and silver CAS look for a while, I've been shopping in Hobbycraft today and bought loads of bright embellishments so expect to see something very bold and colourful from me next!!!

 

I wish to enter my card into the following challenges:

 

Crafty Ribbons Challenge – Anything goes with ribbon

Creative Creations Challenge – #15 Anything goes

Crafty Sentiments – Bling it on

Bearly Mine Challenge - #96 Anything goes

Penny’s Paper-Crafty - #137 Bling it on

Sister Act Card Challenge - #17 Anything goes

Pan Pastel Challenge - #30 Embossing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Christmas in July

Hi folks,

Well that's another working week over and just one week left until I have a fortnight off work woop woop!  Rab is off next week to look after Iona as her holiday club is now finished and I know it is going to be hard tearing myself out of bed and heading to work next week knowing they are both off without me boo :(

Today's card is another for my Christmas stock, I've been neglecting Christmas lately but I've had a few weddings, birthdays, etc to craft for and they've taken priority!

I've used Papermania Home for Christmas papers, distressed and finished with faux stitching and I've teamed them with a Forever Friends Topper mounted on a die cut scalloped oval.  I've also added a sentiment sticker by East of India from John Lewis, mounted on die cut circles and added a die cut snowflake using my new Die-licious set of dies.  Some pearls, card candi and buttons finish off my card.

I wish to enter my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - 134 Stitching Real or Faux
Crafting for all Seasons - #57 Christmas in July
Crafting By Designs - Christmas in July
Robyn's Fetish Challenge - #169 Christmas in July
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra - July

Silver Wedding Anniversary

Hi folks,

Wow, what a hot day we've had up here in Inverness.  My car was parked in the shade this afternoon but it still registered 31C when I got in it after work!  I had Iona's pal round for tea and a play date after work so they kept themselves entertained and I got some time to myself for a change. 

This is a card I made last week for a friend and her husband's Silver Wedding Anniversary.  She is my oldest friend, even though we aren't the closest now we always enjoy catching up with each other and recounting memories.  The party was fantastic and the happy couple renewed their vows in a Humanist ceremony.  We all really enjoyed ourselves and even Rab was up dancing!

I've used a Marianne 'Winter Birds' die as the focal point of the card and have mounted it on white iridescent cardstock and white and silver paper which have both been layered with embossed silver cardstock. The heat embossed sentiment is by LOTV and I've mounted it on a die cut scalloped circle and I've finished off the card with silver grey organza ribbon, die cut hearts made with a Stampin' Up Embosslits set, glitter dome stickers, white pearls and glitter number stickers.

I hope it starts to cool down soon or sleeping may be a problem.  This may not be the last you see of me tonight!!!

Shona

I wish to enter my card in the following challenge:

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - use 2 or more die cuts

Daydream Cassie

Hello!

It's stupid o'clock and I'm just back from a Silver Wedding party with Rab and Iona (card to follow later) but I've a busy day planned tomorrow so thought I'd take the opportunity to post just now.

Tonight's card is one I made to try out some of my new My Minds Eye papers.  I've hankered after these bad boys for a while and even though I'm trying to cut down on buying stash, I just had to have them!

The papers are Miss Caroline Dolled Up and I love the bright colours and patterns on them.  I've coloured in a Sugar Nellie stamped image called Daydream Cassie with Promarkers to match the papers and I've added different toning shades of cardstock for layering and the lacey circle die-cuts.  I've added faux stitching with a fine Letraset pen for added detail.  The sentiment is by LOTV and the die-cut picket fence is from Marianne.  The card is finished off with turquoise spotty organza ribbon layered over mesh, pearls and a mix of several kinds of buttons and flowers - resin, paper, ricrac, etc.

I wish to enter my card into the following challenges:

Sugar Bowl Challenge - #105 Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz - #28 Girly
I Love Promarkers - #177 Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - #16

40th Birthday Card

Good evening,

It's another lovely evening here in Inverness, the sky looks like it has been threatening rain since Sunday but I'm pleased to say the threat has been the worst of it so far.  Just as well the weather held my pal had a barbecue on Sunday to celebrate her 40th birthday it was a fantastic end to her busy birthday weekend.  A few of us went out for drinks (and karaoke!) on Friday night then she was whisked off to the Scottish Open Golf Tournament at nearby Castle Stuart on Saturday then the big Barbie for friends and family on Sunday.  She really made the most of turning 40 and as they say life begins now so she's started as she means to go on!

Tonight's offering is a quick card I made for her, I wasn't organised enough to make anything too elaborate but I couldn't bring myself to buy a mass produced shop bought one either so this is what I came up with.

I've used a Lucy Cromwell topper as the main focus of the card and the sentiment and the cupcake paper is from the same range.  The spotty paper is a freebie one and the other is from the Parkstone Pink Capsule Collection by Docrafts.  I've layered everything up with blue and pink cardstock and the doorplate die I've used is by X-cut.  I've added glittered number stickers which I bought from Tesco a long long time ago and I've coloured them blue with a Promarker to match the rest of the card.  The card is completed by glitter dome stickers, lilac spotty organza ribbon and pearls in two shades.

I wish to enter my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Ribbons Challenge - #52 Anything Goes With Ribbon
Creative Craft Challenges 2 - #14 Numbers
Happy Campers Challenge - #19 Bling
Sister Act Card Challenge - #15 Anything Goes

Me To You - Thank You

Hi there,

Well it's been a busy old day.  My daughter insisted we went to the Next sale this morning, nothing unusual there except she wanted to go as soon as it opened at 5am!!!  We didn't make it for then but weren't far behind at 5.40am.  Now considering I was out for a few hours last night for my pals 40th getting up that early was no mean feat!  Iona is getting very keen on fashion and had some Next vouchers to spend and luckily she got a few things she wanted and made the early start worthwhile!  After that we came back home and went to bed for a couple of hours and got up at a more reasonable time for a Saturday morning.  In the afternoon we took Auntie Winnie to a Strawberry Tea at the nearby Sheltered Housing and sampled some lovely homebakes and I even found some backing papers to buy on the bric a brac stall!  This evening we went to the Moscow State Circus which was really enjoyable, I'm just glad we left it until tonight as the weather is now much cooler.  The big top must have been stifling in the heat.  Iona really enjoyed herself and this has gone down as one of her 'best days ever'.  Needless to say she was very tired tonight and actually asked to go to bed which is a bit of a novelty!

Anyway, I've blethered enough so onto my card.  This is a Thank You card I've made for the ladies on the sheltered housing social club committee who have been so kind to Auntie Winnie since she took the stroke at New Year.  They have been fantastic with visits, cards, phone calls, etc and at their AGM this year they made her a honorary member.

Almost everything I've used has come from Docrafts.  The only extras are the card blank and twine.  The decoupage, papers, brad and sentiment are all from the Me To You (Tatty Teddy) range and I've added pink capsule collection cardstock for the matting and layering and the die-cut doiley which was made using an x-cut die.  Some white organza Anita's ribbon and capsule collection gems complete the card.

I'm yawning away while posting this so sleep is next on the agenda, goodnight all xx

I wish to enter my card into the following challenges:

Crazy Challenges - #149 Without Stamps
Love to Create Challenge - #73 Ribbon & Bling
Cutie Pie Challenge - #48 Cute & Cuddly

A 1st Birthday Card

Good evening,

Well, what a fantastic Summer's day it has been here.  Unfortunately we spent quite a lot of time in the car travelling to Whitehills in Aberdeen-shire to visit a little girl, who appropriately enough is called Summer, who will be one on Wednesday.  There are no real family ties to me as she is on my Aunt's in-laws side of the family but Iona says she's her little cousin and who are we to argue!  Anyway, the drive was worth it to see both Summer (and the rest of the family) and have a lovely walk along the beach and collect some shells.  Apparently I picked up one that is very lucky known as a 'Johnny Groat' so I'd better check my lottery numbers after this lol.  Oh, and I managed a quick stop off at Cullen Crafts to pick up some lovely new crafty supplies, you know I think I was running short...

Tonight's card is for Summer's first birthday.

The images are by LOTV and I've coloured them with Promarkers before die-cutting them using the out of the box technique.  It was the first time I've tried this technique and I was a bit nervous about trying it out so late at night in case I had to go and colour again from scratch if I went wrong but I held my nerve and they came out ok thankfully! I've mounted them on pink and turquoise coredinations cardstock and I've used X-cut and Spellbinders dies for this.  The papers used are all by Papermania and they are a mix of Me To You Spring Chic and I think the floral one is Lucy Cromwell, I'm not 100% sure as it was given to me by a crafty pal.  I've trimmed the card with heavy cotton lace and Dovecraft ric rac as well as a spotty organza ribbon bow topped with satin buds also by Papermania.  Some pearls and gems and a sentiment produced on the PC finish it off.

I wish to enter my card in the following challenges:

Ideas to Inspire - Pretty in Pink Challenge
Ladybugs Crafts Ink Challenge - Birthdays
Created With Love Challenges - #48 For The Girls
Whoopsi Daisy - Lets Get Girly

Christmas Sketch

Hello,

Honestly where has the weekend gone?  I had a half day on Friday so in theory the weekend was longer but in reality it has just flown!!  Again in theory (theory is great lol) I had plenty of time to prepare a card for the Monday Sketch Challenge over at the Docrafts website but in the end I had to settle for something CAS in order to take part as time is slipping away and it finishes tomorrow.  Mind you I think it is quicker and easier to make a card from a sketch as the whole thought process for the layout is taken out of your hands although I did opt to rotate the sketch so I suppose I had a hand in the process!

The papers are Papermania Noel which I've used to death but still love as they are slightly glittery (the photo doesn't do them justice) and I've lightly distressed the edges by running scissors along them (a tip I picked up on Create & Craft even before I ventured into cardmaking but don't try this with sharp decoupage scissors or the like!).  The topper is also from the Noel collection and I've added some baker's twine and buttons from the Brights Capsule Collection.  To finish off I've added some card candi and gems.

It's really late now so I'd better catch some ZZZZs before work tomorrow!

Shona xx

Paper Pieced Bird

Hello!

I've been back at those gorgeous My Minds Eye Quite Contrary papers again this evening and have used no less than eight different papers on tonight's card!  I had quite a lot of off-cuts left from my last card I made with them so thought I'd put them to good use.

I have pierced the backing papers with a pokey tool and added faux stitching with a Sakura Micron Archival pen then matted and layered everything on to bright pink card.  I stamped the Papermania  Urban stamp directly on to the green patterned paper background circle then again on three other papers which I then cut out and paper pieced together.  I really love this technique and it's a fab way to use up leftover scraps of paper.  The sentiment topper is also from the same paper stack which came free with a magazine ages ago.  I've used more of the papers to die-cut a butterfly and flower.  I've also added two ribbon flowers.  I've finished off the card with pearls and some gingham ribbon topped with a button.  The dies I've used are as follows - scalloped rectangle and scalloped circle - x-cut, lacey circle - spellbinders, butterfly - magazine freebie.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Creative Craft Challenges 2 - A Stitch In Time
Cutie Pie Challenge - #47 Paper Piecing
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Clear It Out Challenge - Paper Piecing/Scraps
Heck of a Challenge - Bingo (Ribbon/Die-cuts/Bird)

A Get Well Card

Hello,

Well it's a much more sociable time I'm posting tonight!  Mind you if I'd been able to find my 'get well' sentiment stamp last night it could have been another late one!  As soon as I came home from work tonight I went on a search but I found a magazine freebie sentiment pack first so I settled on that to save any more lost time!  Note to self - must tidy and sort through ever growing crafty stash asap!!!

My offering tonight is a get well card for a neighbour who took ill recently while having a few days away caravanning.  Unfortunately the poor soul ended up in hospital away from home.  I chose this design as he is into motorbikes.  The stamp was passed on to me by a friend and I'm so glad I had it to hand.

I've just stamped onto plain white card then distressed the image with Tim Holtz Weathered Wood Distress Ink to match the backing paper, which is another from the Gorjuss Ultimate Die-cut pack.  I've created the other background by embossing Coredinations cardstock with a Docrafts Tri-boss Cogs folder, then sanded lightly to expose the lighter core underneath.  The freebie sentiment was also distressed with the same ink and I've added some tiny 'Gorjuss' buttons to finish off.

I wish to enter my card into the following challenges:

Stampin for the Weekend - Anything Goes
Challenges for Everybody - #23 Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create - #25 Anything Goes

Thank You Teacher

Hello,

Oops I'm getting later again!  Tonight's card is a Thank You card for Iona's teacher.  Unfortunately this is the third teacher she's had this year as there have been a lot of movements around the school with more to come after the summer holidays.  It's not just a problem in Iona's school it seems to be pretty widespread around the area.  I just hope things are a bit more settled when she moves into primary 4 in August.  She met her new teacher yesterday and seems quite pleased with her lot so it's all good at the moment.

 

 

For my card I've mainly used the Gorjuss Ultimate Die Cut pack from Docrafts with two papers, the decoupaged image, striped border, heart and the frame the thank you is stamped on all being taken from the pack.  The spotty buttons are also 'Gorjuss' and were a freebie with Creativity magazine as was the Thank You stamp.  The Teacher sentiment is from the Pretty Grungy Relatives Sentiment Set from LOTV  and I've finished off the card with more plain buttons, gems and a grosgrain ribbon bow.  The circle and scalloped circle dies I used are by X-cut.

 

 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

 

Sentimental Sundays - #160 For Girls

Pollycraft - #1 Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments - Girl Power

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Teddy Bea Tag

Hello again!

Wow a few consecutive days of blogging, things are on the up!  Tonight I have a tag rather than a card, which I've made for the June Tag Challenge over at Docrafts.  The June recipe is Lemon and Peach with Flowers.  I have to say I'm enjoying the tag challenges the limited space on a tag is so fun to fill!

I've used a ready made kraft tag and added two different patterned papers in the recipe colours.  I've chosen a Teddy Bea stamp which was a magazine freebie about a year ago and I've coloured the image with Promarkers to tie in with the colour scheme.  The papers, flower, buttons and tiny gems are all from Dovecraft.  the larger gems are Papermania and the ribbon bow was part of a challenge prize.  The colours are very sunny and cheerful and I hope we have loads more days like this to come in June and beyond!

I also wish to enter my tag into the following challenge:

Robyn's Fetish Challenge - #164 Tags

Something a Bit Different!

Good evening,

Tonight's card is something a little different.  I would love to be able to take credit for the design but it's one that I saw in Quick Cards Made Easy last October and is by Jane Millard.  I loved it as soon as I saw it and when I was thinking of what to make for my sister-in-law's birthday it sprung to mind immediately as the design is quite eclectic with all the different patterned papers and Audrey, my SIL is a very eclectic person, with a huge variety of interests and especially her taste in music!

I started by drawing the sunburst design on a 14x14cm piece of card, I then cut out the pieces and used them as templates to cut out the patterned papers.  The papers are all My Minds Eye Quite Contrary and were a magazine freebie stack a while back when I first started getting into papercraft!  It felt a bit like sacrilege cutting up such beautiful papers into small pieces but I knew they would give a lovely finished effect.  I inked all the paper edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and glued the pieces on to another 14x14cm piece of card which I then mounted on a square of kraft card.  I've also used kraft card for the butterflies, which were made using an Embosslits die from Stampin' Up, and for the scalloped circle.  I've added some faux stitching to the paper circle and a stamped sentiment, some ready made ribbon flowers and a handmade ric-rac flower.  I've also added various gems to finish off the butterflies.  I hope I've done Jane's design justice, I certainly had fun making it!

Shona xx

Father's Day!

Good Morning,

Yes, makes a change for me to be blogging at this time of the morning - it's usually the wee small hours as they say up here!  Poor Rab is working on Father's Day so I did the decent thing and got up to make him breakfast and drive him to work and we are all going out for dinner later.

Fittingly today's card is one I made for Iona to give her Dad for Father's Day, she chose the topper and papers and I came up with a design around them.

The topper is from the Wellington range by Docrafts, the papers are a mix of Boofle and Portobello Road, also by Docrafts as well as the brown one which was passed on to me by a friend.  Once again everything has been layered up with kraft card which I love right now!  The sentiment was made on the pc and the card has been simply finished off with Boofle buttons tied with paper cord and some raffia from Paper Cellar.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Polka Doodles - Week 24 Male
Crafting for all Seasons - #54 One for the Guys
Anything Goes - #94 Father's Day
Ready Teddy Go - #23 June Who's the Daddy

Penguins in Love

Good Evening,

I'm so glad to be on here, I've been so busy for the last wee while that blogging has taken a bit of a back seat again.  Although even when I don't have time to physically craft I'm still thinking up ideas for future projects and browsing through magazines for inspiration!  I'm sure I'm not alone lol!  Surprise surprise I'm still playing catch up with Snoflake's Challenge over at Docrafts so tonight's offering is another Christmas card which I'm also entering into the Noah's Ark Challenge I'm hosting also over at Docrafts.  My card has a digi image from Sugar Nellie I fell in love with and purchased ages ago but never used until now!  It was a joy to colour and is just sooo super cute!

 

 

I coloured in the image with Promarkers to match the colours in the papers which are magazine freebies from Raspberry Road and everything has been layered up with Papermania Kraft Card.  The sentiment stamp is from a set by Paula Pascual and I've kept it simple with an organza ribbon bow topped with a button tied with paper cord and two punched snowflakes topped with Card Candi.

 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

 

Charisma Cardz - #23 Use a Digi

Penny's Paper-Crafty - #131 1-2-3 Challenge

ABC Challenges - #32 I Heart Animals

Fussy & Fancy - #91 Button Up

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - #128 Die cut or Punched Shape

CWLC - #45 Anything Goes

Sugar Bowl Challenge - #104 Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra - June

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Home to Nest Tag

Good morning!

Ok so I'm much later tonight, we had visitors earlier so I didn't get crafting until late on.  Today's offering is a tag for a change.  It's for the monthly tag challenge over at Docrafts.  This months theme was pale blue and green with embossing and/or glitter.

I've used a ready made luggage tag from Tesco and embossed it with a dotty folder which was a freebie ages ago.  I've added a blue paper from the Papermania Home to Nest range and the topper and sentiment are from the same range.  I've added some butterflies made using an Embosslits die from Stampin' Up, buttons from the Brights Capsule Collection and some ribbon, baker's twine and tiny pale blue gems to finish.

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.  Iona has another Cheerleading competition on Sunday but at least this one is local but we have to be at the venue for 8am with Iona dressed, hair done and stage make up on so it will be an early start for a Sunday. 

Best wishes,
Shona xx

Forever Friends Anniversary Card

Good evening,

I'm glad to say this isn't quite such a late post tonight!  Tonight's card is one I made last night and it's for a work colleague and her husband to commemorate their first wedding anniversary on Sunday.  It doesn't seem like a year since Rab and I shared in their wedding day celebrations. 

The papers I've used are Forever Friends Timeless 12x12's which I've layered with textured gold card.  The image is actually a cardstock sticker from the FF Black and Gold collection as is the border sticker.  The sentiment is by LOTV and all dies used are by X-cut.  The ribbon bow was an experiment that I think I've just about pulled off - I've never used 2 ribbons together before, both of these are by Anita's.  I've added various gems and pearls to finish off my card.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Created With Love Challenges #43 You Lift Me Up
One Stop Craft Challenge #230 Furry Friends
The Cutie Pie Challenge #45 3-2-1 Recipe

Bye for now,
Shona xx