It's been a while!!

Well hello!

I know, I know, it's been a while since my last post. Still on with the renovations of the bathrooms, nearly there, just painting and tiling left to do. At least the messy plastering is done. After living with layers of dust for the last 3 months, I've finally managed to have a spring clean this week. Waaayyy! So in honour of this great achievement here is a few piccies of my sparkly, shiny, dust free craft room.

I love my room. Bright, colourful and a bit kitch. It overlooks the back garden (which is nice and secluded) with a lovely big Tulip Tree. I get the sun most of the day and it's wonderful seeing everything coming to life. My room's not usually as tidy as this, no matter how hard I try to keep everything neat and my work desks tidy, I end up with mountains of stuff piled up and then can't find anything. Now it's all fresh and plaster dust free, I'll try to keep it that way. (Yeah, right).

In amongst all work going on in the house, I've been very busy with commissions for Crafts Beautiful, so I've not had much time to make personal cards. Here is a peek of my projects in the May issue of CB, which is out now. The cut out and keep is centered around stitching on cards and the 7 ways with... is very fruity! Oo-er!

Crafts Beautiful has had a mini makeover and the new look and layout is just fab. Projects really jump out of the page at you, and I love the mix of fonts used in the headings and introductions. Well done CB! The magazine theis full of yummy projects, hints, tips, ideas, articles and giveaways. For more crafting ideas visit Crafts Beautiful. Check out the forum too, it's full of lovely crafters and a great place to swap ideas or just have a natter.

Hopefully, I should be able to get a few personal cards done now. So as soon as I've created a few, I'll post them up.

Hope you all have a fab weekend, happy crafting peeps! xx

At last a few cards!!

Well, hello peepsicles! It's been another hectic week. Dust from all the renovations is still mounting up, I think I'm learning to live with it now.

This last few days I have viewed some absolutely wonderful blogs, come across some lovely people which I intend to keep in touch with via our blogs. The blogging crafting community is a really friendly place to be in, and I'm happy to be part of it now.

Commissions for Crafts Beautiful are coming along very well, just about to post my next lot off, hope they like!

I managed to take some piccies of recent cards I made, so here they are :)

This is the card I made for my Mum for Mother's Day. Usually I go for the whole retro flower theme, but I saw these stamps on the Crafts U Love site and just had to have. I luurrve the 'blah blah' one. The stamps are 'Gossip Club' and 'Blah Blah' from the Golden Oldies collection by Art Impressions. I coloured in with Promarkers and the paper is from my huge and much looked at and adored American Crafts paper collection. I love the colours!

So, I decided to do the same for Simon's Mum, but I used pale blue card instead of the yellow. It's amazing that by just changing a colour, you make exactly the same card, but it looks so different.

This one made me laugh so much, the stamps are 'Edna' and 'Don't have time' again from the Golden Oldies collection by Art Impressions available from Crafts U Love. The paper I used on this one was from the Petal Pushers collection by Bo Bunny, I kept the card simple and just finished it off with a yellow ribbon. I did this one for my Nan for Mother's Day, wonder what she'll think, har har!!

Now we come to a card I did for my Uncle Roy. Every year I tend to do him a card that's a bit daft or hasn't got an image of a boat, racing cars, golf, fishing, tools! Last year I did him one with Snoopy dressed as Joe Cool, the year before I did him one with a super hero on it (the superhero was attached by a thin piece of acetate, so he bounced about and looked like he was flying), I think I've even done him a card with a pair of birthday underpants on!!

This card this year is quite sedate really, you can't go wrong with kraft card, muted tones and a bit of string. The patterned cardstock is Kraft Funday - Happy Days, and the stamps are Kraft Funday - Everyday Fun by My Mind's Eye. I made a simple rosette, stamped the 'FUN' onto a piece of scrap card, cut it out and placed just under the spotty border, stamped 'celebrate' in the bottom right corner and finished with a button, string and garden twine.

I hope you like my designs, the photos don't really do them justice, but hey ho! Off now to type up my commission, then I'm going to start on the next one, and later I'll make a tuna lasagna for tea - sounds weird, but it's lovely, you do it with a creamy white sauce - going to make some flapjacks tomorrow, nom nom nom!

Thanks for looking and ta ta for now! Colette xx

The Versatile Blogger

I would like to send a big hug and thanks to Heike for The Versatile Blogger award. It's made my day. Please do check out her fabulous blog at http://heikescardsandcrafts.blogspot.com/, a very talented crafter indeed.

There are a few conditions to accepting the award:-

• To thank the person who gave it to you and include a link to their blog.
• Select 15 blogs that you have either recently discovered or follow regularly.
• Tell them you have nominated them for the award.
• Tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

So, here goes, this is my list of talented, versatile crafters :)

http://jennifer-lou.blogspot.com/ - Jenny
http://anniescardsandchat.blogspot.com/ - Annie
http://bootsblogspot.blogspot.com/ - Jo
http://spyder-spyderscorner.blogspot.com/ - Lyn
http://wedgieswonderfulworld.blogspot.com/ - Wedgie
http://luckydawns.blogspot.com/ - Dawn
http://jenzbitznbobs.blogspot.com/ - Jenny
http://arlinesallsorts.blogspot.com/ - Arline
http://creationsbycopse.blogspot.com/ - Karen
http://craftymagpieshop.blogspot.com/ - Sarah
http://crafty-or-dafty.blogspot.com/ - Becks
http://www.sparklingblackrose-craftmylife.blogspot.com/ - Elaine
http://nikbee-thedayseye.blogspot.com/ - Nikki
http://craftfairydesigns.blogspot.com/ - Craft Fairy
http://clare-buswell.blogspot.com/ - Clare

7 thingies about me:-

1. I am very much a night owl.
2. I do yoga (well not for a while MUST start again).
3. I love going to The Vernon Arms on a Fri night for a meal and a glass (or two) or red wine.
4. I adore pretty papers - especially from Basic Grey, Bo Bunny, Cosmo Cricket etc. I tend to buy two of each, one to use, one to look and stroke (VERY sad indeed).
5. I love fancy dress.
6. Next year I'm getting some chickens (I've already picked names for them).
7. Next year we are getting a two man inflatable canoe (living near the Norfolk Broads it'll be brilliant - though won't be venturing out to sea on it).


Thanks again Heike for the award, much appreciated :)

I'll be posting some more cards soon, probably tomorrow if I get time. Take care all!

Colette xxx

My first award!!

I had a lovely surprise this morning when I checked my blog. Luckydawn has given me my first award - The Liebster Award. You award it to five wonderful and inspiring blog sites with less than 200 followers. Of course you let them know you have an award for them to collect, and don't forget to thank the lovely person who sent it to you! You can then post the award logo on your blog! Hope I've done everything ok:)

Here is my list of winners:)

Arline - http://arlinesallsorts.blogspot.com
Karen - http://creationsbycopse.blogspot.com
Jenny - http://jenzbitznbobs.blogspot.com
Jane -  http://doodlesandscrapsofme.blogspot.com
Wedgie - http://wedgieswonderfulworld.blogspot.com

I wish I could give more awards, there are some fantastic blog sites out there. I've created a list of blogs I follow, I will keep adding more as I discover more!

I want to say a big thank you to Luckydawn, a lovely lady I had the chance to meet in person, when I visited family up in Skipton, North Yorkshire. Thank you Dawn!!!

Phew! What a month!!!

Hello Peeps!

What a month it's been. In amongst commissions for Crafts Beautiful, we've had all new radiators, new boiler and central heating system put in and we're trying to do up two of the bathrooms. Madness, utter madness...

Why do we put ourselves through it? Probably because we've been here nearly two and a half years now, the central heating needed doing and the bathrooms were crap ('scuse the pun, it's the only way I can describe them). Plus, we couldn't do one room with out the other due to the way the plumbing is. There's all new plumbing to be done, stud walls to build, plastering, tiling, painting, new flooring the list and expenses go on and on and on.The house is constantly dusty, with trails going in and out of each room. I'm sooooo itching to have a spring clean!

Despite all this, I am quite enjoying it really. We don't plan to move again, so we feel it's more for 'us' in this house. I've put getting my chickens on hold until next year now, and the canoe (another story).

Anyway, here's a sneaky peek of my projects in this month's issue of the magazine. Sorry about the quality of the pictures, the scanner decided to throw a wobbly (probably fed up with being covered in a perpetual blanket of dust).

  

   

For more crafting ideas visit Crafts Beautiful, or buy the magazine, there are loads of fab ideas and inspiration for Easter projects, with loads of hints, tips and articles, April 2012 issue out now.

I'm going to go now, I've got some filling and sanding to do (I feel more dust coming on), hopefully I'll get chance over the next couple of days to take a couple of piccies of recent cards I incredibly found the time to conjure up. Bye for now! xx

Snow and Cedric

Well, woke up this morning to find SNOW!!! Yippee! (such a big kid). So, I got dressed, and went out to feed the birds and I had the sudden urge to build a snowman. I would like to introduce you to Cedric (I name everything). I think he looks a happy chappy. I must admit it was great fun, I haven't built a snowman in years.

The good thing about going out and messing around in the snow, is coming in to a hot cuppa and a blazing fire. Perfect. Everyone gets so surprised when the weather is bad in February, but it is still the middle of winter.

Talking of February, St Valentine's Day will soon be upon us. I'm not really into the whole mushy stuff, so when Crafts Beautiful asked me to do a Valentine set of cards, I was up for the challenge. This is a pic of the project from the February 2012 issue. Actually, I really enjoyed doing these and I love the hearts, wings and crown theme.

Here is a sneaky peek of one of the projects I've done for the March 2012 issue. For more crafting ideas visit Crafts Beautiful. The magazine is packed with fabulous projects of all kinds of crafting, not just card making. There is a wonderful quilling project by a friend, Claire Willis, a very talented young lady. To see my other project and Claire's quilling, you'll have to buy the mag, out now!

I'm off now to get on with another commission (Bazoo has just come into my craft room and massacred one of her many stuffed mice - they all get a turn eventually, last night we massacred, in order, grey mouse, ball, white mouse, ball of wool and back to grey mouse. Grey mouse gets most of her wrath). It's quite hard to concentrate when the cat is in torture mode, at least she isn't interested in the real thing.

Enjoy the snow, watch your step and don't slip! Will post again soon, Colette xx

Could it be spring?

Greetings all!!

I'm just sat looking out of my craft room window and the sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky, the birds are singing, the fact that all the trees in the back garden are bare makes you realise it's still winter. Spring is definitely on it's way though. Is it just me or do birds sound different when spring is round the corner?

I have been busy with more commissions for Crafts Beautiful. Plus we've got loads of people coming round to give us quotes on new central heating, radiators and new bathrooms. All these things to think about at the mo, my brain aches. You know what I mean, when it hurts to think, or to put it another way, you can't be bothered to think.

It was my Dad's birthday yesterday. I did him a fab card, I used the new Portobello Road collection from Papermania. It was very British, the main focus being on Big Ben. I placed it on the card at an angle (well it is leaning). Both my Mum and Dad really liked it. Forgot to take a photo - oops - slap wrist!

I have a friend who has just started a new job at the vets where I take Bazoo, so I've done her a Good Luck card with a black cat on it (very apt). Very bright and funky. Also, someone we know is going travelling round the world for a year, so I made her a Bon Voyage card. I remembered to take a couple of piccies this time!

Here I used papers from My Mind's Eye - Good Day Sunshine collection, First Edition - Animal Antics pad and K & Company - Greenhouse by Carolyn Gavin. The aeroplane is from a Cuttlekids die set, the flowers and fence are from a K & Company die cut pad which matches the papers. The Bon Voyage is stamped onto canvas all wonky like.

I used the same K & Company papers and die cuts as before, the black cat is a Judikins rubber stamp and I used the Tim Holtz - Scallops - On the Edge die. A few brads, ribbons and a rub on....ta da!

The photos really don't do them justice, they are so bright and funky in real life. I know the Carolyn Gavin collection is really hard to get hold of, I had to get mine from the US. The Judikins stamp was still available from Stamping Mad last time I looked.

The whole thing about crafting and looking at other people's work, isn't necessarily to copy like for like, but for inspiration and to use what you have or is available and put your own twist on it and enjoy!!

Happy crafting!!!

Happy New Year!!

Hi everyone! Happy New Year! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. It's been a while, as like many people, I've been busy leading up to and during the Christmas period.

My resolutions are:

1. To build up a stock of cards for the coming year

2. To make my Christmas cards throughout the year (saves panicking at the last minute)

3. To get into a better work routine at home

4. To get back into my yoga and meditation

5. Leave weekends and evenings for hobbies and other pastimes

6. Try to get an early night once in a while

Hmmmm!

I've got a few commissions for Crafts Beautiful in the pipeline and I've just sent one off, so that has been keeping my busy, though I love it!! Check out his month's copy (Feb issue) it's jam packed with loads of fantastic projects. If you're like me and not the most romantic person in the world, in this issue I have a fun, quirky set of Valentine cards that aren't slushy or soppy. Perfect!

I have also got back into my needlework, and I am thoroughly enjoying it (resolution #5). I've missed doing it so much. Knitting is another thing I've been partaking in over the holidays (resolution #5 - again). Simon is now the proud owner of a stripey beanie hat! Here are some pics modelled wonderfully by Spongebob. I'm going to knit him a matching pair of gloves next. The wool is Soft Tweed by Patons. It's a 50% wool mix and is really soft and cosy. You can get it in some nice manly colours too.

Here are a few pics of cards that I did for Christmas (not part of the stock - resolution #2).

Here I used Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly papers and embellished with two jingle bells and green ribbon. The colours are unusual, but work really well.

I made this from card scraps and mounted it onto a snowflake background, finishing off with a rub-on sentiment and a button tied with bakers twine. Ooo! and a pom-pom for the hat.

This is a stamp by Stampendous, one of my favourite images. The paper is from the Peppermint Twist collection by K and Company. I think the pink and green theme works well too.

Again, I used scraps of card to make the Santa, then stitched around the design. The alphabet is 'Vixen' by QuicKutz. The holly motif is by QuicKutz too. 

Kraft card is really popular and good for men's cards. The snowman stamp is from the Basic Grey Snowman stamp set and the greeting is from the Penny Black Let it snow set.

This is simply using die cuts and paper from the Peppermint Twist collection by K and Company.

As is this one.

This again uses the Basic Grey snowman set and the paper is from the Basic Grey Jovial collection.

Hope you liked browsing through my cards and waffle. Until next time, ta ta!

Busy, commissions, Christmas & wind!! (The weather, not me)

Well, It's been a manic couple of weeks. I've managed to finished the three commissions for Crafts Beautiful. It's packed up and ready to go, I'll post it off tomorrow. Between doing the commissions, I've been doing the housework, washing, ironing etc, blah blah. Plus, I've had a couple of fun filled trips Christmas shopping. I have finally finished, just waiting for a couple of items to come through the post. I'm really chuffed with what I've got everyone this year. Hope they like them! (If not, I'll have them back lol!!)

So, it's now back to making the Christmas cards, I'll just keep going until the last possible minute. Every year I keep promising to start them earlier. I think I definitely will next year. Maybe just keep doing the odd one in between commissions and other stuff. Though for distant relatives etc, I've cheated and bought some, ooer!

The main topic for today is wind. It's a bright breezy day here in Norfolk. The wind was a bit rough last night. I can tolerate any weather, but wind, it's seems to get me really grumpy. I think it's the noise it makes and that it can be so destructive. The worst is the really annoying wind and rain combo. I mean, if you go out and it's just raining, you can wear a hat, take an umbrella, you know. But, if it's a combo of both, then you've got no chance, you can't wear a hat because it'll blow away, your umbrella will turn inside out and you spend most of your time grappling with it, eventually it tries to take off with you hanging on the end (I'm not much of an umbrella fan at the best of times, I prefer a hat). Also with the wind, there is no point what so ever trying to make your hair look nice, whenever you arrive at your destination, you look like you've been for a ride in a tornado.

Well that's the lecture on the disadvantages of windy weather. Here are some of the Christmas cards I've recently made. It doesn't matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get the photography right, but then again, I'm a card designer not a David Bailey.

I used the Christmas Reindeer (CL540) clear stamp set from Hero Arts, Sizzix 'tis the Season phrase die and a Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder.

This was a quick simple card to do, perfect for sending to a male recipient. The paper and die cut are from the K&Company Peppermint Twist collection. I really love anything retro, and doing cards like this are my favourite.

This card was fun to do, I used the Jumbo Snowman (SSC1009) clear stamp set from Stampendous. It's great, because you can stretch and stamp him in different shapes. I used some American Crafts paper for the background and kept to the chocolate and aqua colour theme (reminds me of a hot cocoa on a cold day).

Off now to make a brew, and get on with some more cards. I've made about 55 so far, I'll post some more of them next time. Enjoy!!

Pumpkins

It's been a while since my last post. I've been really busy with the Crafts Beautiful commissions and trying to get my Christmas cards done as well!

Here are some pics of the pumpkins I carved for Halloween. Some are in daylight by the front door and the rest are after dark. They looked really good. We don't have many children in the village, so it was a fairly quiet night, but I still like to do the whole Halloween thing.

It was my dad-in-law's birthday yesterday. He loves birds and I found this stamp (Wading Birds 2) on a site called The Rubber Stamp Gallery. They have some wonderful and unusual stamps that they make to order. They come unmounted so you have to put them on some EZ-Mount, but the quality is brill. I've put a link to their site in the 'Fab places to visit' section. It's worth taking a look.

Dad loved the card, my skills with a camera don't really do it justice.

  

To make, stamp and emboss the image onto white card, colour in and die cut out. Adhere to a larger die shape black card, then mount onto aqua card and trim. Tie a length of garden twine, black ribbon and black bakers twine around a kraft card base (with the fold at the top) keeping the knots to the right. Fix the image over the cords with foam pads on the left. Add a button threaded with bakers twine to the bottom of the image. Stamp 'Happy Birthday' in black on the bottom right of the card and round off the bottom corners. 

Right, back to work. Happy crafting!