Tuesday, 17 May 2011

Tilda with flower pot card


This was the Tilda stamp that made me give into temptation after I had made a little pact with myself not to buy any more until I had inked up and used all of the others that I have bought.  I spotted it on a few blogs and it was a case of needing it, not just wanting it - you're with me on that one, right?  If you scroll down a couple of post you will see when I inked it up and added a little bit of grass and a butterfly that has been in my collection for almost 20 years.  I'm really pleased with how this one has turned out and I'm liking the bright summery colours at the moment!


Here's what I've used:

Magnolia stamp - Tilda with Flower Pot, coloured with pro markers
Pink paper by Anna Griffin
Flower paper by My Mind's Eye
Martha Stewart scallop lace heart punch
Happy Birthday stamp by Stamps Away
Tape ribbon (don't really know the correct name for it) - recycled from a sewing kit that it was wrapped around
Buttons and pearls from stash


I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

A spoonful of sugar - anything goes
Anything goes challenge - Bingo (I chose Ribbon, flowers and Punches)
Claudia and Co - girl's birthday card
Cupcake craft - in the garden
Creative cowgirls - anything goes
One stitch at a time - anything goes
Pear Tree designs - use a stamped image
Divas by Design - anything goes
Thanks for looking!

Amanda

Saturday, 14 May 2011

Craft Your Days Away #20 DT card


Is Blogger playing now? Don't know about you, but I really missed my daily fix of catching up with all of your new crafting makes. Looks like Blogger is still catching up posting some of the posts that were "lost".

Anyway, onto today's challenge at Craft your Days Away and we have the results of our DT call over on the challenge blog.  Today's challenge has been set by DT member Lesley who has chosen a great challenge for you:

White + One Colour

Pop over to the challenge blog to see what the DT have made to inspire you for this challenge and to meet our new DT members.  Our sponsor for this challenge is Heart Song Designs - they have some beautiful images in their digi shop but I especially liked the Cupcake Tier image that I used.



I've kept my card fairly plain and simple for this challenge and chose Lilac as my "+ one colour" and not a speck of glitter in sight!  Here's what I've used:

Image - Cupcake Tier by Heart Song Designs, coloured with pro markers
Polka dot paper - Back to Basics by Dovecraft
Embossed white card using Cuttlebug embossing folder (with a lilac ink pad lightly brushed over to add a dash of colour)
Ribbon and button from stash



I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Fabulous Friday - Use ribbon or twine
Fab 'n' Funky - Buttons and Bows
Divas by Design - Anything goes
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Penny's Paper Crafty - Anything goes
Sew Many - Anything goes
Make it colourful - dotty background

Thanks for looking, fingers crossed - hope this posts okay Mr Blogger!

Amanda



Sunday, 8 May 2011

My newest and my oldest stamps working together


My newest Tilda stamp arrived yesterday from Sunrise Crafts  - Tilda with Flower Pot (yes, I gave into temptation again!).  I ordered it on Thursday so I was almost lurking behind the front door on Saturday morning ready to pounce when the postman called!!!  I was having a play with my stamps this morning and looking through my folder of stamps when I re-discovered two of the very first stamps I ever purchased in a teddy bear kit nearly 20 years ago.  This was when I first dabbled with rubber stamping - before I got the bug BIG TIME!  The little tuft of grass and butterfly probably haven't been stamped by me for over 15 years but they are perfectly sized for Tilda's and I think I'll be using plenty more of them from now on.


So, Tilda looks lovely all on her own but I always struggle with drawing something for her to stand onto.  I don't really like to see her floating in mid-air so I usually just draw a straight line - but not any more!


I made a little mask by stamping onto a repositional note and cutting around her foot area.


Who would have thought that this 20 year old, tuft of grass stamp could make such a big difference?  (They were originally a foam mounted set but I ripped the foam off and mounted them onto E-Z mount to use with my acrylic blocks).


Do you agree with me that Tilda looks so much better now that she has something to stand on?  The butterfly finishes the little picture off perfectly too.  Okay, so it may be obvious to some of you to do this - but for me it was a bit like a light-bulb moment this morning and I'm just glad that I can make use of some of my older items too!

Right, that's it for me - I'm off to colour this new image in now.  Time for you to hunt through your stash for a tuft of grass stamp!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Friday, 6 May 2011

In the Garden - my new digi stamp


I've made a card with my new digi stamp this morning, which is by Leanne Ellis - I just love her range of digis.  They are available from her Etsy shop HERE and the one I've used is called "In the Garden".  The sun is still shining in my little part of the UK which probably influenced my yellow colour scheme.   I ordered myself some bits from Sunrise Crafts yesterday and I've just realised their website has the same yellow colour - maybe that was the inspiration.  Can't wait for the order to aarive - I gave in and had to buy one of the new Tilda stamps amongst a few other bits.

Here's what I've used today:

Digi stamp - In the Garden by Leanne Ellis, coloured with pro markers
Polka dot paper - Digi freebie from Summertime Designs
Other papers - Kay and Co
Butterfly punch - Tonic punches
All other bits and pieces from my stash



I am going to enter this card into the folowing challenges:

Flutterby Wednesday - open challenge
Divas by Design - Anything goes
Claudia and Co - Butterflies
Craft your passion - Anything goes
Stamp with fun - lace or ribbon
Everybody Art - I used their sketch


Thanks for visiting me today!

Amanda

Wednesday, 4 May 2011

Look what I made!!!


Okay, so I know that it is only a small tote bag but I MADE IT and I'm really pleased with how it has turned out!!!  It makes a change from my hand sewn teddies or just getting out my sewing machine to repair things.  The theory is, now that I have a little craft tote I can keep all of my bits 'n' bobs to hand, but nice and tidy (yeah, right, you all know I'm making that part up!).

As I only finished it on Monday and it is still on display I thought this would be a good time to share with What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday (or work chair in my case as I do not have a work desk - I craft where ever I find a space!).

I bought the instructions and fabric from the NEC Hobbycrafts show in March from Mandy Shaw's stand - she had some lovely stiched goodies, patterns and haberdashery on her stand.

Look inside - there's lots of lovely little pockets to keep my stash tidy (ha, ha!):


Here's the instructions that I used - you can buy the complete kit from HERE and make your own.  I also bought Mandy Shaw's new book last week - lots of inspiration to make "little and pretty" things.  (I purchased my book from Amazon which was a much better price than buying direct).


Also, still out on the table and on my mental To Do list is this cushion bought from my trip to Dunelm this weekend - no prizes for what my next sewing machine project is going to be!  While I was there I just had to have a little detour around the small craft section.  I picked up a couple of packs of mini alphabet stamps for a bargain price of 99p, a reel of red double sided tape which is the best I've found and some lovely glitter paper - the kind that gets you covered in glitter bits everywhere.




Thanks for having a look around my workspace today,

Amanda

Monday, 2 May 2011

Dancing Willow



First of all I want to say a big Hello and Thank You to my newest followers - I will try to get around to your blogs as soon as I can.  Hope you like the new background - I felt it was time for a change from the pale blue.  I'm liking my gingham at the moment - hence the background I've gone for!

Today's card is a fairly flat one so that it can be posted easily - I always worry about sending heavily embellished cards through the post in case it arrives to the recipient ruined.  Also, in the UK we are charged more postage if the envelope is more than 5mm thick so this one just fits under that.  Add to that, I think I may be going through a bit of a "clean and simple" phase at the moment - I keep trying to stick more flowers on but my hand just won't do it!!!

I made it for the Craft Your Days Away current challenge {Music and/or Dance} and then I realised that we had some sponsor images to use (see my below post).  Don't forget that we are having a DT call with our current challenge over at Craft your Days Away!

The stamp is Dancing Willow by Whiff of Joy and I have coloured it with pro markers.  The paper is from an old set by DCWV but I thought that it went perfectly with the images - dresses, handbags and shoes, what more do we girls need for a night out dancing and partying?  I've used flowers from a sizzix die, a MS deep edge punch and my nestabilities for the main shape.


I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Mami doodles - let's get girly
Paper cutz - Anything goes
Wags 'n' Whiskers - use a die cut/punch
Little Miss Muffet - use a die cut/punch

And lastly, for all UK bloggers - have a great May Day bank holiday and enjoy your day off work! 
Fingers crossed for sunshine!

Amanda

Saturday, 30 April 2011

Craft Your Days Away new challenge and DT call



We've got a great new challenge today at Craft Your Days Away and we are also having our first ever DT call!  Mel has set the challenge for the next two weeks and it is:

Music and/or Dance

We are sponsored by SJ Little Musings for this challenge and the images that I've used are called Acceptable in the 80's - which have a great retro feel.  {Can anyone else remember recording your favourite songs onto a cassette tape from the radio chart show?  I used to have a little microphone that I patiently held by the radio - someone always walked into the room halfway and ruined my recording.  Looking back, the sound quality was awful anyway but I never cared!!!}. 

I made a door hanger for this challenge for my little one.  We had new doors recently and I won't let him stick his name plate to the new door - so now that his door is "named" again he's quite happy.  I used the pre-coloured images this time because they were just right for what I wanted, but they also comes as a line drawing.  The only thing that I did to the images was to dirty up the front of the shoe with a bit of distress ink.  How many little boys do you know who have pristine, white pumps?

Now, if you are interested being on the DT with us pop over to the challenge blog for all of the info, but basically you will need to enter this challenge and then post another picture with one of your favourite creations (this doesn't have to follow the challenge).  We are a friendly bunch of crafters and are looking forward to expanding our DT!

I am going to enter this into the following challenges:

Inspire me Fridays - anything goes
Ai Factory - anything goes


Thanks for looking

Amanda


Friday, 29 April 2011

Red, white and blue - Grace


After the Royal Wedding today how could I not make something in red, white and blue?  I was literally glued to the TV all morning watching the wedding, obviously waiting to see what Kate would be wearing and she didn't disappoint - I thought that she looked very elegant in a stunning dress.  I loved watching the parades and all of the horses.  It reminded me that I too had a landau horse drawn carriage for my wedding day (only had one horse though) - something I now have in common with the future queen!!! It is times like this that it makes you proud to be British. 

On today's card I have used Grace by Sugar Nellie.  I had been looking for this stamp for ages and then I saw on Jenny's blog (My Inky Hands - see side bar) that they were available as digis from Funky Kits.  The images are so lovely and very easy to colour as lots of the shading is already done.  I've coloured the image with pro markers and the papers are a free download from Summertime Designs.  I've coloured some Mulberry flowers with promarkers and added some little stamens in the centre.  The border punch is by Martha Stewart and the leaf punch is "Grass" by Woodware.  The 3 little brads are to cover up where my pro markers bled when I tried to colour the buttons.  I was ready to throw the almost finished image away and then I though the brads would make good buttons! 

I've kept the card fairly plain because of the reason I am sending it.  It is going to the lady whose taught me to make teddy bears; a small group of us meet at her home to sew teddy bears!  She creates the most amazing ball joint dolls and makes fantastic wigs and clothing and I thought that she would like "Grace".  However, she is going through a very tough time at the moment - you can read her blog here if you want to.



I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Hanna and friends - I used their sketch
Moving along with the times - Anything goes
Fab n Funky - Red, white and blue
Amber's Crafts - use a digi
The paper variety - polka dots
Sweet stamps - sympathy
Tuesday throw down - add brads
Crafty cardmakers - red, white and blue
Make it Monday - Anything goes

That's it for today - back tomorrow with another creation!

Amanda

Tuesday, 26 April 2011

Tilda with Christmas Presents


I've hardly done any crafting this past week - the weather over the Easter break has been absolutely amazing and so we have spent much of the weekend in the back garden.  We had a new fish pond last autumn and so we have had to do some finishing-off work and have planted around the pond too.  I'm really pleased with it; I just hope the heron doesn't visit us again!  Even Monty, my agorophobic cat, had a little walk onto the patio - he couldn't go on the grass though - he completely freaks out!

So, with the weather so warm, I had to cool things down a little by making a Christmas card.  I haven't used my Tilda's for quite a while too and I love this Christmas one.  (Might be time to buy a new Tilda stamp or two!)

Here's what I've used:
Tilda with Presents stamp by Magnolia, coloured with Pro Markers
Marianne doily die
My new Christmas Fancy papers by Dovecraft - half price sale bargain!
Cat's Life Press - circular sentiment stamp
Flowers, ribbon and jewels from stash


I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Sketch and Stash - free sketch challenge (I used sketch #11 and my new papers)
Party time Tuesdays - Anything goes
Wee Memories - Anything girly
Sparkles - Anything goes
Delicious doodles - Anything goes

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

Thursday, 21 April 2011

Milk carton tutorial


Just in time for last minute Easter chocolate gifts - Here's the tutorial that I said I'd do on how to make the "milk carton" gift boxes like I made in my last post.  Like I said, they are so really easy to make and I couldn't believe that I hadn't had a try at making one sooner.

So, here's what you'll need:
  • a ruler and pencil
  • a scoreboard or scoring tool
  • 1 sheet of A4 card (I used the hammered card from The Papermill Shop)
  • some kind of adhesive - I prefer the red double sided tape as it is a dry adhesive and once it is stuck down, its not going anywhere!
  • some scissors 

Turn your card to "landscape" and (on the wrong side/back of the card) measure on the long edges at 7cm, 14cm, 21cm and 28cm.  I have pencilled my lines in so that they can be seen in the photo but really you only need to make a little dot to mark each measurement.  Score these 4 vertical lines:



Next, down the short edges, mark the following measurements: 1.5cm, 7cm and 16cm.  Score these 3 horizontal lines, as shown below:



Next, across the top of the card, measure at 10.5cm and score a small vertical line just until you reach the horizontal line below (this is where the tucked-in bits are at the top of the carton):



Repeat this step at 24.5cm:



You can only just see in this picture that I have scored (with my ruler and score tool) where the two sides panels tuck in.  You don't have to do this but it does help the card to have a smoother finish at the fold lines.  So, score two lines down from the 10.5cm mark and 24.5cm mark to make triangles in each of the boxes below:



The squares on the bottom row will create the bottom flaps on the carton.  Cut up from the bottom of each score line, stopping at the point where they cross with the other line.  Trim the edge of each flap so that it folds in easier (as marked with orange pen below) and completely cut out the small rectangle on the bottom right hand side:



Trimming a little angle off each of the cut lines to create the bottom flaps:



Fold across your score lines now, horizontal and verticals.



Apply strong double-sided tape down the flap on the right hand side and stick to the other side, creating a 4 sided tube.



Now, fold in the flaps at the bottom of the carton and stick together with d-s tape.  Make sure that the carton retains its square shape - if you stick these off centre your carton will be out of shape and won't fold correctly:



Time to create the top of the carton now.  Push the small scored lines inwards (at 10.5cm and 24.5cm):



Fix the top of your milk carton together - the best way I've seen is to use these little bulldog clips.  You could also use brads or the d-s tape (but this would ruin the carton when it was opened).



Now comes the fun bit - decorate as desired! 



Hope you enjoyed my tutorial!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda


Sunday, 17 April 2011

Milk carton Easter box


One question ..... why have I not made milk carton boxes before?  They are sooo easy, are made from just 1 sheet of A4 card and they look really great!

I've seen quite a few of these boxes while I've been wandering around Blogger and found some measurements on a video clip last night and had to start making it straight away.  I have a feeling that I will be making many more of these now so I will do a bit of a photo tutorial and add it to my blog as soon as I can.  I'm going to fill this box with mini Cadbury eggs and give it to my youngest's friend for Easter.

The image is a digi from Meljen Designs and I've coloured it with pro markers.  The papers are from Dovecraft and I've just used my nesties to cut out the circles. 


I am going to enter this box into the following challenges:
Bee Crafty - Easter & use a digi
Little Claire's Designs - Animals
Crazy 4 Challenge - make an Easter gift
Our Creative corner - Easter 3D project
Ooh La La - Happy Easter
Die Cut Dreams - Easter
Papertake weekly - truly dimensional

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

Saturday, 16 April 2011

Craft Your Days Away #18


Time for a brand new challenge over at Craft your Days Away.  Challenge 18 has been picked by DT member Jackie and it is:

EASTER

Remember, it does not have to be a papercraft project - as long as it has been crafted by you, and fits in with the theme then that's okay. 


We are sponsored for this challenge by Meljen Designs who provided the DT with some digis to play with - they are just the cutest ever and just perfect for Easter cards.  I chose to use this sweet little bunny digi - the rest of the DT have used equally sweet digis - why not take a look on the challenge blog?  I've coloured the image with pro markers and have used some old, but much-loved Easter papers from DCWV.  I've used my new Nesties (Labels 2) that I bought on a recent trip to the Secret Crafter shop in Halesowen.  I've tried to keep the design clean and simple and didn't really want to "over do it" on this card.


I am going to enter this card into the following challenges (and I've found loads this time!):

Crafty Catz - furry friends
Daring cardmakers - Spring or Easter
Inspire me Fridays - Anything goes
Stampin for the Weekend - Easter
Delightful Challenges - Easter
Creative Belli - Eggs or Bunnies
I love pro markers - I used their sketch
Sisterhood of crafters - Easter
Penny's challenge - Easter
Hannah and Friends - Easter
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Stitching



And, just before I go, I thought that I'd share this litte picture with you - of my very own Easter Bunny.  This is Benji (as in Beatrix Potter's Benjamin Bunny - not very original, I do realise!).  Benji is a Netherland Dwarf rabbit and he's a house rabbit.  He loves company and he is so tame because he is used to people.  He does go outside for a little play but we always have to watch him carefully because of cats or other things who would run off with him!!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

Lili of the Valley Christmas


I think that I am going through a bit of a Lili of the Valley phase at the moment - but they are so lovely, aren't they?  This is not one of my new ones but it is probably my favourite Christmas one of theirs.  I don't really send many Easter cards so I made a Christmas one instead - although Spring time has definitely influenced the colour scheme!

I'm having a problem printing any of my digis at the moment - printer is playing up!  So, that's another reason why I've been looking through my stamps again.  I'll buy some new ink cartridges later today and keep my fingers crossed that it will fix the dodgy printing!

I have coloured the image with pro markers and added a bit of Glamour dust glitter.  The papers are from a pad that was a magazine freebie - Vintage roses by Craft Work Cards.  The flowers are from Prima, I've used a Woodware Grass punch and the roses and buttons are from my stash.  I decided to be brave and stamp the greeting directly onto the card - after I'd made it all up.  Yes, I know that was quite foolish/brave of me but, it worked and no smudges (phew!).


I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Lili of the Valley - peach and green
Make it Monday - Anything goes
Stamp n doodle - girly
Woodware USA - Anything goes
Christmas Inspirations - Christmas scene
Crafty Hazelnut Christmas - Going round in circles

Thanks for stopping by today!

Amanda

Saturday, 9 April 2011

LOTV for C&S challenge


Here's my first try at the Clean and Simple challenge; this week they have a great sketch which was just perfect for a "man card".  I've used one of my new Lili of the Valley stamps again, which I've coloured using pro markers.

The papers are some neglected ones by DCWV which I had in a large kit from QVC and the sentiment stamp is from Whispers.  The "Dream" ticket is from Tim Holtz which I bought at the LOTV stand at the NEC a few weeks ago. 


I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Clean and Simple stamping - I used their sketch
Creative Cottage - white space
The paper shelter - anything goes
Some odd girl - clean and simple
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturday - clean and simple
Craft your passion - anything goes
Papertake weekly - anything goes
Crazy 4 Challenges - Brown, green, vanilla

That's it for today - I'm off outside to enjoy the lovely Spring British sunshine, while we have some!

Thanks for visiting!

Amanda

Thursday, 7 April 2011

Spring time get away card


Now that the weather in the UK is brightening up and the evenings are getting lighter, I'm starting to wonder why I haven't yet booked our usual spring time weekend away at the seaside.  Normally we go away for a weekend in April but I just haven't got around to it yet.  I also haven't sorted a summer holiday for this year (yet).  I'm usually the kind of person who is well planned and booked 12 months in advance.

Never mind, I'll have to get me seaside fix with these great beach hut stamps from Little Claire's.  The papers are by DCWV and the great spring colours went perfectly with my theme.


Here's what I've used:
Little Claire beach hut stamp, coloured with pro markers
Bunting stamp - magazine freebie
Sentiment stamp - HOTP
Papers, card and glitter card - DCWV
Marianne flower die with Card Candi

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Little Claire - Spring celebrations (spring colours and weekends away!)
Sweet Stop Sketches - I used their sketch
Delightful Challenges - Sun, sea and sand

****************
I just wanted to share this picture with you of Muffin my old cat.  At almost 19 years old he's too frail to be "King of the Street" like he used to be.  He just has a little potter around the back garden and then comes back inside to have a sleep.   Earlier on today he was having a little snooze on the lawn and I forgot all about him being outside.  When I realised a couple of hours later my heart skipped a beat when I couldn't find him.  I thought he'd managed to jump the back fence and I was imagining all sorts of terrible fights that he might be getting into.  And then, panic over, I found him at the bottom of the garden basking in the sun, behind a rugby ball, behind the rhubarb.  Can you see him?  His tabby markings mean he's well camouflaged!


Thanks for dropping by,

Amanda

UPDATE: Dora, your comment asking which magazine the stamps were from ... they were from issue 1 of Simply Homemade and they are by Molly Blooms.