Blog candy by Carolines.

Carolines have some Blog candy up for grabs. I have been getting their catalogue for many years and I also have the project book. I think the company is a good introduction to rubber stamping.

Embroidered Xmas card

I've discovered a new technique of stitching on cards and love it, so therapeutic. Combined with my other great crafting love - teabag folding and I think the result is really pleasing.
I got a free template from 'Card Inspirations' website and have found the proper source which is Form-a lines.

I'm on a roll!

It's fairly rare that I complete more than one card a day so to celebrate am going to enter this one too to a challenge blog, this time 'Moving along with the times' (see HERE).
It just shows how easy the LOTV products are to use and how flexibly they go with other things of the same theme. For this card I dry embossed the back of the vellum with a pergamano tool and added brads by We R Memory Keepers.

Xmas card no.2

Here is my 2nd xmas card which is also for Lili of the Valley's blog challenge no.41 - see HERE.
I have used their Miki andKimi die cut sheet, background paper and sentiment with some papermania vellum, peel offs and glittery ribbon I had in my stash.

Xmas card no.1

I have completed my first card for this xmas, there's a sneaky peek below which can be seen in full on my DoCrafts Blog. Also can see am showing the front and back of the teabag folded medallion, as I found it very hard to choose between the two sides.

Something to smile about......

If you could see me now I would be silly smiling coz I just found out I won some blog candy from the lovely Leonie Pujol whhooohooooo. After a long hard week-end at work, is a lovely surprise for me. Had just watched a dvd with my hubby and was a bit disappointed. Brick Lane was a brilliant book but the film was a bit of a let down, well for me anyway. Then I get this lovely bit of news....well has cheered me right up and I look forward to receiving my goodies. Leonie presents on the Ideal World/Create and Craft channel currently and also has some more blog candy up for grabs HERE.

Tip for Tea bag folding

When putting together a Tea bag folded design try photocopying the initial folded element lots of times first. This saves a bit of time as you can see if the overall design will work before you have cut and folded it all.
You can also photocopy the templates and/or use a setting on your printer's software to print a multiple of times.

Here is an example from a design sheet have done today, where I have photocopied 3 slightly different elements lots of times and arranged them in a medallion.

Paper angels

I had to help put some paper angels together today at work. They were so lovely and I made a note of the company behind them - www.juriannematter.nl Take a look peoples.

Owl stamp crafting

Here are examples of two different ways I coloured in a rubber stamped owl design. I got the stamp free with an issue of Craft Stamper magazine.






The card was inspired by a Lili of the valley challenge (36). I used some very cheap colouring pencils by Crayola and was rather surprised how well they worked.

Penguins galore today

Erica Martyn showcased two new characters today on QVC and there is a competition running to name them. This reminded me of my Keyper toys called Kazoo (baby) and the adult is called Keyboard. I thought I would share a photo just took of Kazoo as I have given him a wash. My husband threatened me that if I didn't he would end up in a bin, how could he? I will look forward to the penguin products coming out hopefully soon??

Matryoshka doll card No.1

I have been wanting to make a card using Matryoshka Dolls imagery for ages, and now I've done it I probably won't be able to stop.
It started with a really cool article in Quick & Crafty!'s Xmas special 2008 magazine (issue 53). Then a few months ago I bought some gift wrap in a local gift store that had the dolls on. It is credited with - The Medici Society Limited. I also have got a greeting card bought from paperchase with a badge on it. There seems to be so many products out there too, whether for crafting or gifts and home ware.....just so much inspiration.




I have used decoupage technique for the doll and matted some Tea-bag folded medallions using paperchase paper and HOTP card stock. For the greeting I put a free magazine topper onto a piece of paper from Anita's essential a5 pad. The blank is from a qvc Xmas kit.

Another anniv. card

I have had to make another anniv. card in a hurry, so chose to work from an idea had back in March. It is for a golden wedding anniv. and uses foil type paper on a gold card blank.

Lili of the valley crafting

I made some small embellishments recently using 'Jolly Holly' Teabag Effect papers by LOTV.




I am into week 7 without being able to use my printer fully. This is due to it being incompatable with the new software my hubby put on the pc. In a way is a good lesson to teach me - to use up my stash. On the other hand I can't do lots of tea bag tiles on one sheet of paper so am being wasteful. Roll on the day when get compatability back.

Precious cards

Here are two precious christmas cards I wanted to show that I am also inspired by at the moment. My late grandmother gave them to my late grandfather. I think they are beautiful and also show some great techniques!

Anniversary cards

I have made two wedding anniv. cards in the last couple of weeks on top of getting married myself!

One was a special 'Ruby' anniv. one. I was lucky to have a flat backed jewel in my stash that had fallen off a christmas tree decoration. It turned out to be perfect for the card I thought.

The other is a general celebratory card. I haven't decided who's getting it yet. It started out as a go at the 'Moving along with the times' challenge blog HERE, but I changed my layout from the sketch.

Dovecraft Retro Floral Prints idea.

This picture shows one of the papers from Dovecrafts Retro Floral Prints Designer Paper Pack. An uncompleted teabag folded medallion has given me the idea to use it as a photo corner!



Some of the papers were available to download HERE

Sticker backing sheet design - sunmed.

I was playing with some sticker backing sheets, helping make cards for some leavers at work and came up with some various designs. I like framing a basic teabag folded medallion at the moment as you can build up layers to make it a bit more interesting. This is one idea...

Thank You card and visit

This is a card I made for a lovely lady called Audrey who is 87. I am very pleased with it as she was able to see the middle with her magnifier and appreciated being able to touch it, seeing as registered blind. Audrey taught me at primary school and I popped round today with my mum. She had some lovely flowers in her garden and the scent was wafting in on this hot sunny day.

Musings

So much going on and so little time, where does it go?

We rescued a little fox last night that had got trapped down by the front of the flat. I would've loved to have taken a photo of the little mite but I didn't want to scare it, as was leaping about enough as it was.
I do love foxes - they are so cute.

Today I would love to work on some cards for challenge blogs but if I do that I'll be all behind and got to go to work for three days. Is making me sad, I really don't know how people find the time to craft. All I have managed is to get Kirsty Wiseman's free download of butterflies which yo can see HERE
will see what can do with, may be nice for a scrapbook layout.

Have made a boo boo with my wedding invites, they require a large letter stamp which is gonna cost us a fortune to send. Have to go to the P/O later, just don't wanna, maybe dinner at my mums will cheer me up. Either that or a magnum or 3.

Some great BLOG candy can be found HERE.

Linking probs.

I still am having trouble linking to peoples blogs. Am getting frustrated now as feel missing out.

Half Price at Paperchase

Easter cards are available from paperchase for as little as 50p, what a bargain. Useful for inspiration and next years supplies. I wish I could avoid it but I am weak.

Storage tip from Clare Curd

Put the t.v. on whilst having a late lunch snack of nutella and crackers and came across some crafting previewed on QVC. Hurrah I thought as wasn't expecting any to be on today. Has been pouring with rain so after watching music videos for a bit was looking forward to the papermania show. They had the lovely Becks Fagg and Clare Curd from 'Creativity' magazines (by Do Crafts) demonstrating products. Clare had a brilliant way of storing clear stamps. You put them in cd boxes - GENIUS. The stamps self stick so is a really sturdy base for them. I seem to remember being able to get coloured ones...must investigate further.

New shoes

I love how my new shoes look......not so chuffed how they feel. Spent Good Friday hobbling about in em. Think more comfy with socks??

From the sick bed...

I have been staring at a roll of gift wrap from paperchase from my bed for months, so as have been stuck in it decided to finally cut into the stuff! Never mind the scraps on the duvet I started to bag up the first bits.

If you are into teabag folding like me I recommend buying little grip seal bags to put your shapes in. I got mine from Craft Creations for just a few pence each.

Yesterday partner was DIY ing all over the place and was tidying out his old tool box. Was going to throw these babies away but managed to grab in time:

This is the DIY was working on. I don't tell him enough that I'm proud of him for trying, but I am. Will look forward to the stairs being completed (and so will everyone else who struggles up and down this monster obstacle).

oh am a sad little bunny today. Got a cold bug from work (again!). Need to dose up good and proper.

Mothering Sunday card

This is the card I made for my mum this year. It has a tulip theme so think works well as a normal spring time card too.
I used a stamp by 7 gypsies, onto paperchase papers and heat embossed with clear powder from CaroLines rubber stamps.
The background papers are from 'The Bumper Book of Papers' by The Crafter's Paper Library. Available from Search Press.

Splurge at Stich and Craft

I went to the marvelous Stitch and Craft show at Olympia 2 yesterday. It was soooo bright outside I had me sunnies on, but at the same time as my scarf. What weird weather?

Anyway I had a quick dash round, specifically to pick up some of the new lili of the valley Teabag Effect papers. Lovely colours just wish I had enough cash on me to buy more but I was on a budget.

Nevertheless I just had to whip out the card for a special gift for mother's day. A fold up trolley just had to be had.

The hyperbolic coral reef was also a delight to see.

Celebrating me and mum

I love this first photo of my mum and I baking in the kitchen. I'm aged around 4 so this was probably taken spring of 1981 as you can see tulips through the window.

The second one was taken in my late teens. Mum is squinting coz of the sun.

Some 'Mothering Sunday' cards of old.....I have to say that or i'll get into trouble with mum.

I think I made most of them in my teens. I liked the one on the right the best as it was more of a collage using photocopies of artwork I was working on at college.

Craft shopping

My local craft/art shop is a lovely little haven. I picked up this gorgeous pale orange shimmery paper. I have used this type of paper before but not seen this wonderful colour shade. I hope can tell from the picture?

I also got some of the new Daisy and Dandelion range products from Do Crafts. I can't wait to get stuck in with them.

Jo's free blog candy

There is a blog by Jo Austin called 'The Life and Creations of a springer- lovin paper stroker...', where she is giving away free craft stuff. Hurrah we all need a bit of help in that department. I am giving it a go, fingers crossed. Have a look coz there is lots of ispiration out there on other peoples blogs.

This is the first card am sharing. It was submitted to the Lili of the valley challenge blog in November 2008. I believe it was Challenge no. 6 - Christmas Card.
I used their teabag effect papers. I really love the simplicity of this and also had some more ideas using the same image. The background paper is by K&Co and was in a QVC kit. I also used stickles glitter glue.

Hi everyone, I have been crafting since I was little, always making cards and things. I still love it and am especially into teabag folding. I make cards mostly and discovered scrapbooking about two years ago. I am always learning new tricks and have things up my sleeves...(yes why do bits of paper get caught missing up there?)

Just started...

Hi,
My name is JB. Am just starting to work out how this blogging works. Will look forward to sharing......
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