I'm still here!!

Good grief where does time go? It's been 7 months since I last blogged. Somewhere during that time my cardmaking mojo seems to have vanished, the last card I made was for Lola's 2nd birthday and guess what I haven't even made a single Christmas card either!! 
Even though the ole cardmaking mojo is awol, I have been having a go at something else and it's all thanks to my wonderfully talented friend Tracey Drage-Baillie. I have been messing around with beads and I'm actually enjoying myself, even though in the beginning my mantra was "I am not getting into beads!" ha ha ha I can tell you that no matter how much I repeated my mantra it didn't work and I have enough beads now to open a small shop!


I have been making bag/key charms, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and recently stumbled across Macrame. 

 

The top one is made using black cord with metal beads, the middle one is black leather thong with purple crystal rondelles and the last one is made using green cotton thong and 12 beautiful green Swarovski beads, all three bracelets have a sliding knot that will adjust to most wrist sizes. 


Hope you like them as much as I enjoyed making them. Thanks for popping by and I'll try not to leave my next post as long. Bye for now xx

Happy Birthday Jayne xxx

Hi there everyone, well I'm finally back again!! It was my friend Jayne's birthday last Thursday, I knew how much she liked my other Napkin Card, so much so the cheeky bugger left me a comment on the one I have in a photo album on Facebook. I had said to my mum that I wasn't in any rush to made one of these again but when I knew my buddy was wanting one for her birthday, how could I not make one for her. I knew how much she would appreciate one and how much she would treasure it.

So here it is.

Jayne is an amazing person and is an inspiration to me. We became friends through work a few years ago, when I worked in Normanton and even though we both no longer work there, we have remained the best of friends. Not long after I was transferred to Leeds, Jayne was diagnosed with MS, then not long after that I was diagnosed with the breast cancer and no matter what Jayne was going through she was always there for me. She is a fantastic friend and I am honoured to have her for my friend.

So last week was her birthday, her and her daughter Amelia where raising money for MS by holding a "Cake Break". I've never heard of a cake break before but it's where you make loads of cakes and biscuits and people pay for a cuppa and cake. So naturally Jayne and Amelia invited me but with what happened in August last year I've not travelled any distance on my own. So for me to go it would mean getting a train to Leeds then another train to Normanton but I had to go as I knew how much it would mean to Jayne if I went. So I managed to keep it a secret from her, it was wonderful to see the look on her face when she opened the door to me, even if she nearly wet her pants laughing at me when I told her I ended up in Wakefield and had to get a bus from there to Normanton!! I bet she's still having a sly giggle about it!!!

Here's what I used

Image - Tilda with hearts coloured with Copics.

Papers - Magnolia

Flowers - Are a mixture of Magnolia and Joanna Sheen.

Martha Stewart Punch around the corner.

Bling and everything else from stash.

Verse was printed out on Safmat from Letraset.

I'm entering into the following challenges.

Papertake Weekly - Bloom & Grow

ABC - Unusual Fold

Crafts 4 Eternity - Flower, Ribbon & Bling

Thanks for looking xx

Special Friends

Ever wondered to yourself "Why didn't I just keep my mouth shut!" that's just how I've been feeling since I came up with the idea of doing a charity craft day to raise funds for the Little Feet creche that is at our community centre. My dad is the treasurer for the community centre, my dad and the ladies that run the creche have held various events like prize bingo, a jumble sale and a car boot, all to raise funds for Little Feet. What made me decide to do something to help was after the poor turn out at the jumble sale, Mum & I got a phone call from dad asking us if we would have a walk up because no-one had turned up, needless to say mum & I weren't too happy at having to go as we were having some crafty time and you know what it's like when us girls just want to craft lol. So anyhow when we got back to our craft room I had a chat with mum and decided to try and raise some money for the creche but where to start??
So I had a chat with my wonderful friends Janet (ClarkyJ) and her mum, we sat down and came up with the idea of a charity craft day. I had a good ole sort out of the surplus craft stash I had. Last week I paid a long overdue visit to The Stampman to see Jill and Ian, they are really lovely people you're always made to feel sooo welcome, when we got there we got a lovely surprise because Janet (ClarkyJ) & Michelle (Midnight Crafter) were both there. While we were having a good old natter Janet mentioned to Jill that I was doing this thing for the crech and guess what Jill did! Gave me loads of decoupage and I really do mean LOADS!! So Jill I can't thank you enough for your kindness I trully appreciate your help.
Since the craft day was decided I have been worrying if I had enough craft stuff to make all the kits up that is needed but why did I worry because on Monday (9th) I spend the day with Janet & her mum and we managed to make up, wait for it.....over 100 kits and there's still stuff left over!! So all I need to get now is some foam pads etc.
I've not even had to advertise it because when I met up with Cllr Karen McIntyre who is the Community Development Officer at the community centre, there was a group of ladies there and they are all coming, a couple of Janets crafty friends are also coming, so all in all I have about 15 people coming!! I'll also be doing a little tutorial on colouring with Promarkers and Copics.

I always enjoy my time with Janet, she is one talented lady and her ideas for things always amaze me. I also received a little something on Monday from the totally talented Michelle (Midnight Crafter), do you want to see?

Isn't it beautiful! You can find out what Michelle used to create this mini masterpiece on her blog here.
So thank you to my special friends Janet, Margaret, Michelle and Mr & Mrs Stampman, for all you do for me and for all the support you have all given me, especially since I was diagnosed. I love you all dearly and I'm trully blessed to have you all in my life xx

Emerald Faerie has blog candy!!

Isn't that fantastic candy!! I love my Copic Ciao's but would sooo love some Sketch.

The conditions of entry are quite simple & easy to follow-:

1. Become a follower
2. Leave a comment
3. Grab the candy button for your blog & link it back to her blog

Pop on over to Deb's blog and have a peek at her cute Emerald Faeries, you will simply fall in love with them. You can visit her blog HERE

For My Brother

It's my brother's birthday today, I had no idea what to do for his card and then I remembered about a stamp my friend Heidi had sent me, thank you Heidi you're a lifesaver! You can visit her fab blog HERE.
So this is the card I've made for my lil brov. Couldn't use a Magnolia because he think's they're strange looking even though I've explained why they don't have noses or mouths. I think he'll like this one though.

Here's what I used:
Stamp - Lilli of the Valley (thanks Heidi) and is coloured with Copics
Papers - Hampstead by Papermania.
Sentiment - Craftwork Cards.
Ribbon, bling and boat charm from my stash.

I'm entering this into:
Try It On Tuesday - Something old, something new. My something old is the ribbon and boat charm, they're that old I can't remember where I bought them, the something new is the LotV stamp that lovely Heidi sent me.
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes.
Divas By Design - Anything Goes.

Welcome Baby

Well look at me, I'm ahead for once! I've made this ready for when my friends baby son say's "Hello World". The only thing is he isn't due for another couple of months, I sooo can't wait to send this to my friend because I know she will be over the moon with it. Do you want to see??

Isn't the little white heart just perfect for this card? If you would like some of these or fab lace and ribbons, as well as other brilliant crafty goodies, pop on over to Lovin' Ink. Top quality goodies at great prices.

Here's it is with the ribbon undone

and here it is unfolded.

So all I have to do now is sit and wait for baby, then I'm going to add his name, dob, weight etc inside using the fab Safmat. I might even bling the inside up a little bit more but will add the babies details first.

I'm going to enter this into the following challenges -
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - For a baby
By The Cute & Girly - Anything Goes
Papercutz Challenge - Anything Goes
Pear Tree Designs - Free For All
Crafts4Eternity - Anything Goes
Stamp Something - Something with wings
Stamp With Fun - Lace or Ribbon
Dream Valley Challenges - Flowers

For Mummy x

It's my brothers partners birthday tomorrow and can you guess who got the job of making a card for Lola to give to her mummy?? Yep me! Making cards for Neill and Ruth is always a job and a half, because shame on them they're not keen on Tilda! It's been a shock to the system for me because this is the second card running without Tilda on it, think I better call the doctor. I've been messing with painting with the Distress Inks and I've a bit to go yet but I'm kind of enjoying myself just messing.
The papers are Koishi by Basic Grey and inked the edges with Walnut Stain, the image is Rosey Posey by Lilli of the Valley, the sentiment is computer generated and printed onto the fab Safmat by Letraset, the heart that is with the flowers is another fab goodie from Lovin' Ink, finally the flowers, leaves and bling are from my stash.
Please if you get a spare moment or two pop on over to Lovin' Ink, Janet & Michelle have some wonderful products on sale, I highly recommend everything, check out the lace, leaves, ribbons, buttons, buckles, alterables and oh I could go on and on and on!! I LOVE LOVIN' INK!!
I'm entering this into Sketch Saturday