Why I have been so quiet

I know I said last week I would be back with a another card the next day but I was struck down with a two day migraine. Never had one that bad before and it really wiped me out.

So once I was over that I then had a set of  wedding invite's to make for my cousin's wedding in August, where I am to be one of eight bridesmaids!!!

Here they all are ready to be collected. Louise loved a design that was a sample on a tattered lace launch and this is my version.

I have used centura pearl card for both the gold and the white shimmer.

Tied together embossing folder.

Tattered lace bows.

Cosmic shimmer olympic gold acrylic glue for the gold pearls.

Inkylicious wedding words stamps.

Metal embellishments off eBay.

Each invite consists of 23 liquid pearls which makes a total of 1702 pearls!!!

Think I can class myself as an expert at using those now.

Nearly as good as Creative Expressions demonstrator Julia Watts!!

So there you go, I've been a busy girl behind the scene's and would like to thanks my best friend Kath for coming over and helping so I didn't go too mad with all the repetition.

I have a card to share with you either later today or tomorrow and I'd love your honest opinion on it.  It's not my usual style and I'm just not happy with it and don't know if it's just me or not.

so thought I'd let you decide,

Crafty hugs

H xxx

So where have I been?????

Good afternoon everyone. I'm sorry it's been 4 weeks. I went to Mexico for the first two and must have caught a cold on the flight home as first I had neuralgia then a full blown cold.

It's finally on the way and today I have a couple of things to share.

I have a HUGE addiction to anything by the wonderful Sheena Douglass and am slowly building up a great collection of her stamps. Sadly she launched her latest lot of embossing folders when I was sat waiting for my delayed flight at the airport on the way to Mexico so wasn't able to buy her 4 day deal but have slowly added some of her folders to my stamp collection and Hubby kindly set the sky box to record her shows whilst we were away.

And so, on a Thursday my BFF's Kath and my Mum meet up to make cards and what's nice is that even though we all use the same colours, techniques and supplies we all end up with different cards.

Here are our cards.

This is Mums.

Here is Kaths.

And here is mine.

All are created on an acetate card base, layered with patterned vellum then distress ink coloured card that has been embossed or debossed with Sheena Douglass grande florals embossing folder.

The flowers were made by embossing a piece of vellum with the petit florals flder and painting them with twinkling H2O's.  The large distress inked panel has also been spritzed with a mica spray.

I love how they are all different.  

Tomorrow I have a card made using a different embossing folder, which creates a very different look to the soft pinks of these cards so until tomorrow,

Tootles

H xxx

Blimey I'm back again!!

Yep I'm back again and this time my card features a different Visible Image stamp.

I've used a wide selection of Visible Image stamps here.
The main one is Jake Skates, with a couple from Max Rocks and a couple from Molly Rules.
Jake is coloured with Derwent Inktense pencils.
Coloured inks are all distress inks.
And finally the small images are the stamped images done ink shrink plastic.

I am entering this card into the the Visible Image challenge blog.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you in a couple of weeks as I won't crafting,
See you soon,
Hugs
H xxx

1st Visible Image post of the day

Yes you did read right this is post one of two.  I have 2 cards to enter into the Visible Image challenge.

Here are 2 photo's. 

The reason I have done two is the centura pearl card does not photograph well.

The beautiful verse is by Visible image and can be found here and is a bargain at only £5.50

The quality of their stamps is probably the best I have ever used and I've used alot of stamps.

The silhouette is cut on my silhouette.

I would normally give you more details but I've got to rush and get this next blog post and get on with all the other jobs I have to do before morning.

Challenge entered

Visible Image - anything goes

HUgs

H xx

Time for Inkylicious fun

My aim today was to share a card I made yesterday along with the digi sentiment I created for you all to download but being me I forgot to take a photo of the card!! Yes I know, bloody typical.

So instead I have a different card to share. This one is also made with Inkylicious stamps, just not the same stamps. I will re-make the other card and share that in a day or two.

So on to today's card. Sadly the camera hasn't picked up the mica powder bubbles on the kraft card but trust me it looks really good.

Items used 

Blowing Bubbles stamp by Inkylicious

Ink dusters by Inkylicious

Distress inks in yellows and oranges, plus gathered twigs DI for the stamped image

Die cut label is design #26651 in silhouette studio glittered with silk glitter

Bubbles rubber stamp by Creative expressions

Mica powders

Ribbon

Silk card

Kraft card

Perfect medium ink pad

Silhouette machine with pen holder

Glossy Accents

Technique

I began by loading each colour at a time and blending them across the corners, leaving a panel running diagonally. Next stamp the image using gathered twig Distress Ink. Mat and layer the completed topper onto brown then white paper. I used a piece of white paper and coloured the edges with gathered twigs to match the colours I used for the image. I did this with the larger matting an layering later on.  One your piece of kraft card stamp the bubbles background stamp in perfect medium or any other embossing ink. Dust with mica powders in yellows and oranges.

Finally mat and layer bubbles layer onto the 2 colours.

Finally using your silhouette put the sentiment into the deign on the software. Write it on your kraft card in black or brown ink, cut out the layers, add glitter to the thin border layer and mount both onto the card. 

Finally add glossy accents to the bubbles blown by the child and allow to dry.

Thanks once again for joining me and I'll see you again soon,

Hugs

H xxx

Hello again

Well I've made it to my second Blog post,  woo hoo.  Today I'm blagging from my phone as I've done too much housework and need to rest. As I'm laid up I thought today I would share some photos of my dogs and anything else I find interesting on my phone. 
So first up here are my fur babies.
First up is Ember who is not so much a baby any more as in the first photo. Oh turns out you can only add one photo! How ridiculous.  Well I suppose that's it for tonight lol.
I will get on the laptop tomorrow and bombard you with photos how about that??
See you tomorrow,
Hugs
H xx

New Year, New Start and BIG New Addiction

So you all thought I disappeared off the face of the earth but no, I just wasn't in the best head space. 

Now I feel in a better place. Some things in life are worse, some better.

Last year I became a great Aunt to lovely little Isabelle and yes I am too to be a great Aunt thanks.

She was born 8 weeks early but has pulled through and is a strong little girl just like her Grannie was.

My Dad followed by his dog was diagnosed with cancer. Both have had operations and are getting there. Dad is on chemo and  Bess is recovering from her large operation. Mum and Dad's big holiday of a lifetime has just been postponed for a year.

We sadly lost our Grandma Mort in May and had hoped to buy her house and move to a bigger home with a garden but that wasn't meant to be.

We also had to say goodbye to our top dog Zara. We knew she was going to last many more months but she surprised us by taking a sudden nose dive so it was a quick dash to the emergency vets as we were not going to have her suffer.

We lasted 6 days before we had to another dog as it just wasn't right with just 2 dogs.

And so Ember arrived aged 9 weeks old. She's labrador cross blood hound and has the biggest ears ever and a long whippy tail behind. She's adorable and worked her way into our hearts with hours.

Photos to come.

My style of crafting has changed over time and as I said in my title I have a new big addiction.

I am addicted to Inkylicious stamps and ink dusters.

I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and since it's taken a good hold I have struggled with concentration. Whether it's films, a talk or colouring my minds wanders terribly. A real butterfly brain which is why I'm loving inkylicious stamps and stamping in general. I can get my topper ready in 10-15 minutes compared to anything around an hour.

So onto talking about my blog and my new years resolution.

My new years resolution is to have fun with my crafting and to concentrate on the playing rather than the having to make a complete card, and so I want to go back to documenting my cards/projects on my blog.

So I'm going to try and blog twice a week unless I'm on holiday which may be happening soon so don't think I've given up on my resolution already.

Since the start of the new year I've made a few cards inc my first same sex wedding card which was at the time my favorite card. My latest card is now my favorite!!

So over the next days and weeks I will add photo's of the cards I've made so far and also pop some photo's of our little muchkin Ember the puppy aka Ears!!

So it would be lovely to see if anyone reads this so if you do please let me knwo I'm not talking to myself. I do do that but pretend I'm talking to the dogs,

Hugs

H xxx

I've been colouring!!!

Long time no see huh??

Today I needed to make a card for my Mum's friend and just had to use this new image by Sassy Cheryl called Better than a thousand words.

Coloured with copics

First Edition Summer breeze papers

Kanban light green textured mirri card

spellbinder butterfly circle

Sentment is stamped and by an american company but I can'r remember who.

Clouds made following my clouds tutorial

"waste" butterflies from the large circle fluttering around.

And guess what?? I'm going to enter it into the Sassy Cheryl challenge

Hugs

H xxx

Thank you for your lovely comments yesterday

I got some lovely comments the other day about leaving my DT job and I just wanted to say a huge thank you for them as they really lifted my spirits.

I also want to let you all know that I am selling both my Black Cat Cougar electric die cutter and my Big Shot Pro manual die cutter. They can be found on ebay here.

Hugs

H xxx

Good afternoon everyone

Hiya guys. Today I have a couple of reasons for my blog post. 

1 - who won my blog candy

2 - changes to my design team work

and 3 - a card to share

So first off I'm so sorry I'm late in picking my blog candy.  I've been recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and have been struggling with the symptoms.

The winner of my blog candy picked by my dogs Zara and Leah is .......

Sue N !!

Could you please contact me hun with your postal address for the goodies and your email address for the Teddy Bo gift voucher.

So onto reason number 2

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know that I'm posting less and less. With the medication for my disc degeneration and now the fibro my body won't allow me sit at my desk for very long now so cards are getting made less and less.

Mike has also been going through the mill at work and has had to work more and more hours. You know that point when you want to say "stop the world I want to get off" well that time has come. Not the whole world but the craft world so I am on holiday from my DT responsibilities at Teddy Bo until at least January.

and finally number 3.

"Hanging" digi stamp by Doodle Dragon Studio's

Coloured with copic's for the frog and bullrushes

Glossy accents for the water droplets and waves, and pan pastel for the water.

First Edition Up up and away papers

Ribbon from stash

Circles cut with this die. Bargain set of 20 circle dies for £16.99

And I think thats all for now,

Hugs

H xxx

House Mouse Blog hop

Last month I was asked if I would like to be a guest designer for House Mouse during their blog hop.  Need I say I accepted???

The image we have all used is the House Mouse image of the little House Mouse Juggling leaves off the Joanna Sheen "Tumble" rubber stamp sheet and the papers we have all used are from the Summertime Designs freebie kit "Falling for fall" which you can all download for yourselves here.

The STAR prize for the blop hop is this amazing set

of all 4 Autumn House Mouse stamps

Also

Each DT member also has a fab individual prize of pretty Autumnal ribbons/twine and a gorgeous selection of leafy charms so there are  9 – Yes….. 9 chances to win!!!

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is become 
a follower of the Joanna Sheen Challenge blog and then leave a comment on this blog hop post and on every member of 
the DT’s blogs on their blog hop post.   

On sunday 7th October each DT member will pick a winner by random.org from their comments and announce their winner on their own blog on Monday 8th October.  

I will announce the lucky winner of the STAR prize on this challenge blog on Monday 8th October

Don't forget to check back on all the DT blogs to see if you're one of our lucky winners.

As I said before - there is a twist!  All week I will be showcasing other crafters cards who have all kindly agreed to make a creation using exactly the same stamp and papers as the rest of the DT.  

I hope you check back throughout the week to see all the different designs!  

I decided to do a photo frame with a twist and that was to have the "photo" done onto velum so that it could be used as a luminary.

I used the papers supplied (which are really lush) and die cut all my leaves from various papers from the kit.

Thank you to the lovely Brenda for lending me her leaf dies.

I hope you have fun on the blog hop and good luck with winning the amazing prizes on offer, and don't forget to click here to enter my Teddy Bo blog candy.

Hugs

H xx

Teddy Bo sketch time

Hiya folks and welcome to a brand new challenge 

and brand new graphic's over at Teddy Bo.

We have 4 line art images and 2 pre-coloured images.

I have chosen to go with one of the pre-coloured images.

For the next week's although it's an anything goes challenge we would love you to enter using the sketch below. If that does't fit in with your project then that's fine. It's optional.

And here's my card using Nicole's sketch.

 TEDDYBO_220 pre-coloured

PP is Bo Bunny Whoo-ligans stripe

Spellbinder star circles in red shimmer paper with black glitter background.

Fiskar's border punch across the middle with a strip of black glitter.

Artist board and paint brush handmade using string, tooth pick and glossy accents.

I hope you find the time to join us for our challenge and don't forget to enter my 

blog candy that ends on thursday at midnight.

Click here to enter my candy.

Hugs

H xx

Good Evening Teddy Bo fans

So have you entered my Teddy Bo first birthday blog candy?

If not click on this link when you've finished reading this post.

I fancied doing something different this week and wanted to do something I've 

never done before.  So whilst wandering Pinterest I found this card  - 

http://www.kraftingkreations.com/2011/12/luminary-easel-card-and-tutorial.html

I liked the idea but wanted to work it so it was the same size as my usual ones so 

using just the idea I came up with this card. I'm not sure whether this will be a 

Christmas card or not so I have left it sentiment free. It doesn't show in the photo but her dress and hat are green.

In daylight

With the lights off and just the battery powered tea lights to light it up.

TEDDYBEA_162 coloured with prisma's and copic's.

This card is made using various scraps of papers etc.

Light up with battery powered tea lights.

Hugs

H xx

Good Evening Teddy Bo fans

And welcome to another Teddy Bo Tuesday.

Here are the newly released images and I bet you'll be just like me and not be able to pick just one favourite.

Did you know as well the sale continuing at The Teddy Bo Store (25% off), you still have plenty of time to enter my Teddy Bo blog candy.

Details of  the draw can be found here.

I am still adding to the candy with some yummy new goodies that will arrive in the next few days thanks to my wonderful friend and boss Gayle.

So pop over to the blog to feast your eyes on the great creations from my team mates,

Hugs

H xx

Blog Candy Anyone?

On the 4th October not only is it Gran's 90th Birthday 

but it's also my Teddy Bo first birthday!

So to celebrate I have some blog candy to share with one lucky reader.

So here is what's on offer

foiled paw print card in various colours

shiny paw print papers

4 paw shaped apature cards in 2 colours

a selection of bear coloured card candi

a selection of gems

4 meters of bear coloured ribbons

a Teddy Bo 8x8 patterned papers book

Teddy Bo and Bea clear stamps

and

a £10 voucher for www.teddybo.com

to spend on digi stamps!!

So how do you enter?

I need you to do a couple of little things. First become a follower if you aren't already, either write a blog post about my candy or display it in your sidebar of your blog or share the photo on Facebook and answer this question

If you could be any of the Teddy Bo characters(Teddy Bo, Teddy Bea, Olifant, or Jolly) who would you be and what would you be doing?

It might be something as boring as doing the washing up or as wild as skydiving.

The winner will be chosen by my hubby so that no favouritism is shown to my batty friends. Yes I do mean you mean Mandz!

Winner will be chosen on the 4th and announced on here and on facebook,

So what are you waiting for????

Hugs

H xxx

Have you taken advantage of the sale at Teddy Bo?

You 11 days to get your Teddy Bo goodies and at 25% off you can afford to treat yourself, your friends, your team mates etc etc etc.....

And with the sale ending at midnight on a Tuesday you can get the new release images in the sale too!!

Just click on the sale logo and get taken to the shop.

My Teddy Bo card for today is one of three cards I need to make for 

Hubby's Gran's 90th Birthday.

Grandma is one of those ladies that make you 

want to be just like them when you're their age.

Isn't she amazing and so perfect for a Grandma?

TEDDYBEA_216 coloured with copics

Glamour dust on her pom pom, 

glitter pen on her ruffled dress and brolly.

First Edition Isabelle paper

Martha Stewart deep edge punch

Flowers made with Cheery Lynn roses dies.

Just need the sentiment which I haven't been told what to write.

Off to get my goodies together for my blog candy,

Hugs

H xx

Woo Hoo A Teddy Bo SALE

Have you seen the amazing images flying from Gayles pen???

They are so brilliant and now you can stock up on some of these goodies in the 

Teddy Bo Sale.

There's 25% off all digi's and best thing is you don't need to put

 in a discount code it's already done for you.

I'm sorry I don't have a card to share today. 

Got lot's of things going on and need three Teddy Bo cards 

for Hubby's Gran's 90th Birthday next month, and stupidly I've said I'll make and decorate a cake for her even though I've never decorated a cake!!

Although I don't have a Teddy Bo card I thought I'd share a card I made for an order last week.

Hugs

H xx

I'm batty about you

Hiya guys. Once again I'm struggling to blog. I don't where the time goes!!

Oh well, never mind.

Now I don't know the boss has been on (rumours have it she's on the potato vodka)

but her images for this weeks release are AMAZING!!

Don't believe me?  Here look

All these are available right now in the shop.

Whilst you're wandering around cyber space why not check out what my teamies have been up to with the new images here.

Plus we are still running our 

Anything Goes challenge.

You have until Sunday at Midnight to enter.

I have used TEDDYBO_213_06Part of the Halloween set.

Coloured with copics.

Spellbinder nestabilities dies.

Purple paper stamped with a swirl stamp as I don't have any halloween papers.

His frame and the black part of his sentiment is black velvet papers.

Bats on the sentiment are done in black glitter.

Good Evening Guys

To say I am excited would be an understatement. 

Gayle has drawn the best-ist EVER Teddy Bo and Bea images.

 See Look!!

How AMAZING are these?!?!?

Quick run to the shop, and if you need any extra inspiration check out what my teamies made with the new images by clicking here.

Today also see's the start of a brand new challenge. Our theme is 

Anything Goes

So get your Teddy Bo or Fairy D images and have some fun. But make sure to enter our challenge. If you don't enter you'll never know if you could win.

I won my very first Teddy Bo challenge just over a year ago, and I never thought I could win. And now look at designing for the best company with girls who are the best in the business.

I chose to step outside of my comfort zone (as in no fur) 

and use one of the FairyD images.

Fairy D image  - Celtic Fae-emb_001

Coloured with glitters

Box was an old perfume box covered with shimmer paper

I couldn't find my black glitter card for matting my image 

so I used thin tape to act as the mat

My red glitter was rubbish and not dark enough so I coloured it with a red copic,

once the glue dried.

I'm really pleased with how this turned and hopefully

 my MIL will like when I give it her tonight

Thanks for dropping by. I will try and remember to post photo's tomorrow 

of the cards I made recently at 

my local Stampin Up demonstrators Christmas card class. 

Big hugs

H xx

Good Evening Teddy Bo Fans

How quick has this week gone by?? It's not so long ago I was writing my last Teddy Bo post.

So today I have another card made with the lovely Teddy Bea.

TEDDYBEA_214 Little Ballet Bea

Coloured with copic's.

I've added glamour dust to her skirt, flock to her pompoms and gems to the centre of her flowers.

Paper is glittered and embossed velum by Papermania

Spellbinder Floral Ovals

Heart ribbon from stash

Butterfly was off a wedding favour I went to the other week

If you need to stock up on all the latest images then here's a link to the store

Don't forget you still have time to enter our challenge which is 

Black, white and one other colour

Thanks for popping over to see me and don't forget to check out my post on tuesday using one of the best-ist ever Teddy Bea theres ever been.

Hugs

H xx