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