Happy Feet???

Well, after watching Kirstie & Phil's perfect Christmas, my eldest daughter Emma and I decided to have a go at making these little penguins out of marzipan (instead of the usual marzipan fruits... ) The ones pictured are Emma's - which turned out so much better than mine! That's because she has 'more patience' she told me... But I taught her all she knows!! hehe! We made a whole army of them, but are now finding them difficult to eat... something about their little personalities.... the one in the middle at the back looks really worried in case it's his turn next! Anyway, just thought I'd share...

Hope you are all having/had a special holiday time - my youngest daughter flies back to Bermuda tomorrrow..... yeah yeah yeah, to the sunshine.... but we'll miss her!

Bye for now
Hugs to all
Christine xx

Happy Christmas one and all!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas - thank you for your help and encouragement into the world of blogging... what a warm welcome you all gave me!

And may I just raise a glass and say 'Here's to 2011!!'

Hugs
Christine x

(Probably) My last card for this year!!!

Hi everyone

Just wanted to show you this card that I made for my darling OH - it's a lovely image from Digi Stamp Boutique called Zoe & Henry's Christmas Kiss - and I've got to say, I love these images! They're so good to colour and make me feel all warm and happy inside when I'm doing the colouring! Can't ask for more than that can we?

Hope everyone is nearly ready for the festivities - my youngest daughter is due to fly home from Bermuda today - arriving tomorrow if the airports permit - we're keeping our fingers crossed! I'm wrapping presents today and generally getting sorted before both daughters arrive to spend Christmas with us!

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple of weeks - but somehow December passes far faster than any other month of the year..... do we all agree? hehe

Bye for now (from a very chilly Yorkshire....)

Hugs

Christine xx

PS - I've entered this in the I Love Promarkers Anything Goes Challenge - one of my first!

Busy... busy... busy........... and it's COLD outside!

Morning all from a very cold Yorkshire!

Well here's my latest card - doing loads of these as they're for us to send ourselves! Image is from Digi Stamp Boutique and is called Christmas Doodles - really nice for when you want a small image with little shading...! I've used my nestibilities for the scalloped edge, then mounted onto red card stock.... Then I used my brand new Sizzix TimHoltz Embossing folder...... which is YUMMY as the embossing is soooooo deep! I've mounted THAT onto a further white matt, then it all goes onto plain white cardstock! I like the effect, but would love to know what you think! Of course, Rudolph wouldn't be Rudolph without his red nose - so I used my glitter accents to make it shiney and then added some nice glitter onto his bell and collar! I LOVE my glitter - what would a world be without it?

Anyway.... I haven't been over the doorstep much this week - only yesterday - so getting a tad fed up of this 'seasonal' weather! And as my OH is working all weekend - I guess I won't be going anywhere till next week either! Furthest I get is the end of our drive - with the snow shovel of course! hehe

I've put on a little photo of what we're facing!! When i opened the curtains this morning, these were hanging outside the bay window! So, as I don't want to turn to ice......I'll happily stay in!

Bye for now - keep warm!

Christine x

No card - but I'M A HAPPY BUNNY!!

Hi All

Just needed to share - my local hairdressers has been selling my jewellery and knitted brooches in her shop - and I went yesterday for a cut and colour, and was presented with £134 for what they'd sold so far!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? And they wanted to order more - and more of the knitted brooches because they had taken orders for them!! YAYYYYYYYY!!

Sorry, now I can calm down now I've shouted from the rooftops (well ok, from my blog...hehe)! I took my Christmas Card samples in to see if there was any interest to order personalised ones, and have to go back tomorrow. And I'm STILL nervous! What's the matter with me? LOL!

Anyway - it's a bit BRRRRRRRRR here - hope you're all OK and have a wonderful (if cold..) weekend. We're off to the St Nicholas's Fair in York tomorrow - but first have to go to the hospital for my OH to be checked out on the treadmill while they monitor his heart. He has tachicardia (sp?) - and had one or two problems early October - but thank goodness, they've calmed down now - but typical that they're only now doing the test!

Anyway will be back soon
Christine x

Just a simple one...

Morning girls..



Lastly in this little 'run' of posts.... is this lovely little Santa - an image from Digital Stamp Boutique called Christmas Doodles. It wasn't a complicated card - I just printed the image and coloured with copics (oh and a bit of glitter)... added a little sentiment on the PC - used a nestie to cut out the shape - then mounted onto red with the corners rounded... then all onto some kraft coloured card - with a bit of rafia and a bell tied onto the corner! Hey Presto, a simple-easy-to-put-together one! (Oh how I like those every now and again...)



I'm off to the doc's this morning as I've been having visual problems - I think they're a kind of migraine - that have given me a kind of flashing arc in my sight. They only last 20 mins when it happens but I've had four over the last four days - and it's kinda scarey!



Bye for now

Christine x

Second card tonight...

Hi - I'm here again...

This card was prompted by Christine over at Nanaseaside - whose lovely card reminded me that I needed to use this stamp that I bought when I was with her at the Harrogate show in September! Ah well.... ty Christine!

It's from Clarity Stamps - sorry I don't have the link - but as Christine said, Barbara Grey when she demonstrates it makes it look so much easier than it actually is!! And believe it or not, I've used silver embossing powder which looks gold (!) because I didn't take the photo in daylight..

Sooo, the image was stamped with versamark - then embossed with silver. I then stamped the image onto a sheet of copier paper, cut out the O and used the rest as a mask. I placed the mask over the silver image, then used a brayer to create the colour in the sky. With me so far? Barbara explained it so much better! The tree and star stamps were also from a little set by Clarity. When all that was done, I mounted it onto silver mirri card, then used a piece of card that I'd embossed with the swiss dots which was ALSO mounted onto mirri card - and put both onto my ACTUAL card..... (still with me? hehe), then used my MS punch for snowflakes that I (of course) glittered!! Errrr I think that was all!

Anyway - hope you like! I have another card, which I'll wait until the morning to post as I'm off to bed now....

Hugs

Christine x

Another week gone by!

Hi All

I can't believe another week has gone by without me posting! I'm busy card-making - Honestly! I just have to get loads done for the orders I take for personalised cards - so don't get a lot of time to post - although I do get through the blogs I follow as hopefully you'll see my comments!

Anyway - onto today's image - it's one from LOTV called Angels with Crib. I stamped it with Memento Ink and coloured with my Copics. Then I used a corner punch to round the corners, and then distressed the edges with scissors. I added stickles glitter glue onto the distressed edges and sprinkled with prisma glitter... and also added glitter onto the angels wings and some red stickles onto the holly on her head. Believe it or not, there are snowflakes on the main part of the card - made with my snowflake embossing folder through the Cuttlebug - but although they're lovely in real life, the camera hasn't shown them up too well! I've added a diamante to each snowflake too. I distressed the edge of the snowflake card too - then put that onto blue card. Now....... i THINK that was all!!

This was a nice card to work on - as it didn't take too long - the design 'came to me' as they often do while I was in bed last night..... weird! Good job I have a pad of paper by the bed to do a quick drawing!! lol

Anyway - hope you like it - I would love to hear your comments (as always!) There is nothing like seeing what fellow crafters think of your card - it means a lot to get a seal of approval!

Apparently snow due on Thursday here in Yorkshire this week - hope we don't get too cold!!

Bye for now

Will be putting another couple of later...

Hugs

Christine xx

My darling OH gets in on the act.....

Hi girls
Well..... I had to post this one.... My lovely OH Barry painted this watercolour a couple of years back - so I've scanned it, and printed it onto hammered cardstock - then mounted onto silver mirri card, and onto a deep blue to bring out the colours. And OF COURSE - I've added some glitter highlights to accentuate the frost and snow...... What do you think? I don't want him to get big headed - but i THINK I've got competition here......... right? And he can COOK!! hehe! (I rent him out occasionally........ lol)

We've put some together for him to take into M&S (where he works), to sell in their staff room for charity. Seems all the women there take cakes in etc, so he decided to do this. I think they'll go well.. but he's not allowed to put a price on them, so hope people cough up!

Talking of coughing... I still can't stop... Anyone know any miracle cures? Getting really fed up now!

Big Hugs
Christine x

And now a modern one!

Hi All

Hope everyone has had a good weekend. I'm still full of this cough and feeling very chesty - I've not been over the doorstep! But I think it's the only way to get rid of it...

Now... this card is moving totally away from the digi images - but was bought in March this year, before I'd discovered them! It's a Penny Black stamp - called Fantasy - which I bought at the Harrogate papercrafts show, and had in mind to use for Christmas. I saw it used with the Liquid Pearls ............ and I loved it, so have had a go this weekend. What do you think? Materials used are pretty self explanatory, but are Bazzil, Versamark Pad with white embossing powder, shaped corner rounder, then Organza ribbon. The Liquid Pearls are used to on the dots! I've hand written the sentiment to it could be personalised for those people that I sell my cards to.

What do you think? Would love to hear your comments... When I used the Liquid Pearls, I thought of Sarah over at Stressed Stamper - yes YOU Sarah.... who has the most massive collection of stickles and liquid pearls that I've ever seen!

Had a bit of good news yesterday too - the place that's selling my jewellery and knitted brooches rang me for MORE! Apparently they're selling well! I'm SOOO chuffed!

Nearly bedtime for me now

Take care all

Christine x

Here comes Santa.....

Good Evening Ladies

(Cough, Cough)- can't get rid of this cold and now it's on my chest! I'm rattling a tad like a snake when I breath.... ah well......

Right...... onto the card! This one is using the LOTV image Father Christmas - which has got to be one of my all time favourite images. It really puts me in the mood for thinking about Christmas. I've used my copics again to colour and for the shadow.... added loads of glitter for the snow and on his hat etc, used a corner rounder, then mounted it onto red card. The DP is from Memory Box Mistletoe Collection and again, that's mounted onto more red card. The sentiment was a freebie from Bizzy Becks and I resized it until it fit one of my nestibilities. I used my Martha Stewart holly punch and added a few red stickles dots for the berries. Then... i played with the bling button on photoshop to create the sparkly bits - I get a bit carried away with that! Right......... i think that was it...

I'm meeting a friend tomorrow and going to see the Crafts for Christmas show at Harrogate (if I'm up to it that is...) - was really looking forward to it, so hopefully I'll manage to get round before oxygen is required! hehe! Thanks for all your get well wishes - you're a lovely lot!

OK.... back to the settee and my hottie bottle

Bye for now

Christine x

Got this from Christine..

Hi Girls

I just received this from Christine over at Nanaseaside - such a lovely lady - thank you Christine!

So now, I have to follow the instructions... Three things that are different about me.... hmmmm..

now........ let me think........ ......... ok, what about these.....

1) errrr ..........I lived on the Isle of Wight for seven years and loved it....

2) hmmmmm......... I'm a very soppy individual - I cried watching Coronation St last night....

3) really struggling now...... ahhhh.... a good one.... I've met up with some of my fellow bloggees... I even met up and went to stay with a lady in America who I met on the internet through our love of cardmaking.... that was over 10 years ago, and we've stayed the best of friends and have visited each other lots since!!

Now....... five people to send on to

Nic at Coops Cluttered Corner

Sarah at Stressed Stamper

Mags at Madcap Manor

Lizzy at Lizzy's Crafty Place

and

Emma at Crafty Emma's

There are loads of lovely blogs that I follow and who give me tons of inspiration - but I couldn't put them all on here!

I'm on with another Christmas card design at the moment - though struggling cos of this cold/cough..... so it may be a couple of days before I get in on here. Anyone know of a good remedy for a really really bad cough? I sound like I've been smoking 40 a day - and I haven't touched one since I was 30! Answers on a postcard please.... LOL!

Take care all

Hugs

Christine x

Sunday's offering...

Hi Girls

Well, the fun I've had with this image!!! Ain't she gor-juss? I coloured her about a week ago, but have been waiting for just 'the right' DP. And I found it! It's a Graphic 45 paper that I bought from Art from the Heart - just right for what I wanted.

The image is from Just Inklined, and right now she is free from their website. She is called Maude Merry Christmas! I coloured her with my trusty copics - and I've got to say thank you to Peri for the shading she did on this image on her website... which helped me enormously.... at first I tried to colour her boots black... but it lost the laces etc, no matter how many different shades of gray/black I used. Then I dug out my Martha Stewart Holly punch for the embellies.... lots of glitter on the berries, and of course, her hat and glasses.... a touch of diamond glaze for her glasses, and I was on a roll! I bought the ribbon at a local remnant shop - just lush enough for this card I thought.... then finished with the ticket - one that I altered that I got free from Caz at some point or other...

Anyway - I'm full of cold today, and feeling sorry for myself - so thought I'd just put this up on here cheer myself up! Hope you like!

Christine x

Simple Snowman... (or should that be Simon??)

Hi Girls

Here's a very simple card for today - not too much colouring (as you can see!!), so quite easy to produce. Soooooooo how come 'simple' cards are sooooooo difficult to design? This one felt like laying an egg....... it actually HURT! I wander around for hours with pieces of card in my hand, or searching to the back of cupboards for embellishments I KNOW i've got somewhere, or ribbon that may just be the right shade ..... my poor OH doesn't know what I'm up to! He just knows to nod when I put what I think may work under his nose.... (especially when he's playing a computer game.... sometimes I'm not actually sure he SEES what I put there! lol! He's too concerned with shooting the next monster or whatever that is going to pop out at him!

Anyway - it's done now... and believe it or not, is on a navy blue background - though in the photo it looks nearly black. I used an image that came free from PapierSalat Blog - and did what little colouring there is with my copics. Then I hand wrote the sentiment.... that was SCARY! Then I distressed the edges of the image with scissors (new technique for me - first time I've used it... ) I used my snowflake embossing folder for the background and put it all on navy blue cardstock. I finished it off with a snowflake charm from PinkGem Designs, held on with a bit of 'eyelash wool' that I've had in for years... I'm still not sure about the whole thing - think that's because I see such wonderful creations on all your blogs... but there you go..... it's done.

It's going to be cold here in the next few days...... and I've not been too well with diverticulitis again - so think I'll be getting a few more cards done after I've 'battened down the hatches' to stop the wind getting in tomorrow! LOL!

Bye for now - and as are friends say in the US - Happy Hump Day!

Christine x

Here I am again....

Hi again


Well on this windy Yorkshire morning, I thought I would spend a little time at the computer and upload another of my LOTV images... this time Decorating the Tree. You can almost feel that little boy's excitement as he decorates! I used the usual copics for the colouring and shading, then bedded on card corner rounded - before mounting on a nestie! Think the glitter card behind maybe a little too much - but what the heck!


Talking of glitter..... I have learned how to add the 'starry bling' on my glitter in photoshop which makes it SHINE! Wowwwwww now I can't be kept away from the button! I want to 'bling' everything! So next time you see a photo of me - you'll probably see that starry bling on my hair........ my teeth...... my cheeks..... probably anything that shines!! But you'll know the truth..... hehe!!

Happy Friday everyone!

Hugs

Christine x

More....

Hi Girls

Well I'm really getting going at the Christmas cards now.... This card uses a Lily of the Valley image - Skating Along

What a lovely image to colour - I used my trusty Copics of course..... then gave the shadow with my cool gray pens. I rounded the edges with a corner rounder - then matted and layered onto DP with a base of Bazzil dotty (can you tell I love that dotty card?)

I used my floral poinsettia punch for decoration with a bit of red glitter glue in the centre, then finished the whole image with glamour dust! Yessssssssssss I could put glitter everywhere .... the image just cried out for it!

Well hope you like - I'll be adding more later tonight - or maybe tomorrow. I've been concentrating on getting them done rather than blogging them - well that, and trying to make curtains for my lounge.... oh and getting a man in to clean the stain off my carpet left after my daughter threw (accidentally) her pudding (complete with double cream) over it last Sunday! The carpet is only two months old........ (sniff...)

Anyway, bye for now - hugs to all and I look forward to your comments as always.

Christine x

Getting in manufacturing mode.....

Hi girls

Just thought I'd share with you the first of my Christmas cards this year that I make for 'special orders'.... I end up doing lots of different samples that people can order from, but make a few of each so that I'm not frantic in November. I learned the first year I sold Christmas cards, that the worst thing to do it wait until you have the orders! It's a mad panic then to get them ready.


Anyway - this is a nice easy one to get me in the mood! All I used was a glitzy spray with lots of mica onto plain brown card. I let it dry then punched out circles - then coated the top of each circle with 3D pearl white paint in a sort of dribbly effect. I punched little holly leaves and put them on the 'pud' when the 3D paint was still wet. To finish off the pud, I added some little berries to the holly with stickles, then sprinkled some prisma glitter onto glue applied with my quickie glue pen. As they say....... 'simples'! All that was needed then was to matt and layer onto copper mirri card with 3D pads, then onto copper glitter card - then all onto white dotty bazzil, which in turn went onto kraft coloured card! Phewwwwwwww .... but I like the effect! I decided it didn't need a sentiment on the card front... but the inside says 'so bring us some figgy pudding.....'


Anyway...... different type of card to my normal digi images (which are also in a bit of a production line at the moment), but hope you enjoy all the same. Let me know what you think - I love to read your comments.


Have a good weekend all

Bye for now

Christine x

I'm still around......

Hi All

Well I've had my head down making more jewellery for my outlet - and more knitted brooches, so haven't had much time for card-making lately! But, it was the little girl next door's birthday today, and when I saw Mo Manning's Ruby digital image, it reminded me so much of Abby when she dresses up that I had to do it for her!

Hope you like her. I've just used Bazzil pink swiss dotty for the base, then a nestie to give the shape. I coloured the image with my copics, and added glitter (of course!). I corner-rounded the image, sponged some pale pink around the edge, then mounted it onto the background. Lastly I added some retro-flowers. I kept it very simple, as I didn't have a lot of time to produce the card....

I'm now getting on with my Christmas cards - I do so many that I tend to keep them quite simple too.... will show you when I get them done! My desk is surrounded by Christmas puddings at the mo! (not real ones!)

Hope you're all keeping well, and I'll try to keep up with my blogging more, I promise!

Hugs

Christine x

My first award

I got a lovely surprise on Sunday when I was sent this award by Sarah at Stressed Stamper - thank you so much Sarah! So I'm now passing it on to some of my favourite blog-ees....... Enjoy!

Nana Seaside

Coops Cluttered Corner

Jak Heath

Pauline's Card Cupboard

LOTV'S Ideas to Inspire

Bloggabella

Paper Possibilities

Quixotic Cards

Stuff

Pinkpuds

Madcap Manor

Send this award on to those blogs you love to follow and get inspiration from. Even though I've not been too active on my blog lately - I still love looking through all that I follow - I do it first thing in the morning and it sets me up for the day!

Bye for now

Christine x

Sorry not been around......

Hi all

Just a quick apology for my lack of posts.... but I have a good excuse! We've had a bit of a frantic week working up to my daughter flying out to Bermuda last Wednesday...... you know how worried I was, and how I'm going to miss her (even though I still have my other fabulous daughter living close-by!)...... well she's there now and appears to be having a fabulous time so far! She was going for a cruise round the Island today, and is actually starting work tomorrow. She is an accountant and is working for Deloitte over there for a couple of years -her office looks fabulous (pictured) - as does the whole Island! She's told us how incredibly friendly everyone is there, and seems to have found friends already - some that have joined at the same time as her. Sooo now she has to hunt for accomodation.. hopefully she'll get somewhere big enough to put her Mum up when I go visit!

Anyway.... I've just about got used to the fact that she's not a few miles down the road now and am really glad and proud she's happy over there! I've also put a pic on here of her favourite teddy from when she was little - who appears to have missed going in the suitcase! He had his little bag ready too.... so I've given him a tissue and cuddled him up to a large Piglet to be looked after till she gets back for a visit at Christmas!

Bye for now

Christine x

Not card related - but what'd you think of these?

Hi Girls

Sorry I've not been around lately, but we've just had a few lovely peaceful days away in North Wales then the Peaks, and while we were in
Bakewell I bought a lovely crocheted flower brooch (from an arts and crafts centre) - the brooch is perfect for a winter cardigan/coat, or handbag! Sooooooooo as you know, I love being inspired - and I decided to have a go at making them! I had a pattern that came to me from my sister - so I bought some wool and here are the results! I'm hoping to have a stall at a local craft show in the near future - selling my cards (of course!), the jewellery that I make, and now these brooches. Do you think they'd sell well? Would love your feedback!

I had to really scratch my head to remember how to knit - it must be at least 20 years since I've cast on a stitch! And that was the problem - I could remember how to cast on - but couldn't for the life of me think how to get the first loop! Ah well,,,,,, it came back eventually!

Bye for now - look forward to hearing your comments as always....
Christine x

A quickie!

Hi

Just wanted to post this very quick card - you know when sometimes you need to do something that doesn't take too much colouring or shading? Well this provided it! It's a design from Pink Petticoat - but careful if you go to buy it, make sure you click on the right item (very easy not to), as I made a mistake and ended up with an image I didn't want! Ah well, not to worry. I love this image - very simple, but I think very effective!

I've not been blogging too much lately as I'm busy making jewellery for an order I've taken - I do Swarovski and silver bracelets, earrings and necklaces. So I've had to get down to it! Saves life being boring huh?

I spent a lovely day on Saturday at the Harrogate Papercraft show and spent far too much! But the highlight of my day was meeting Christine (Nanaseaside) - and we had a lovely chat and a wander around! Nice to meet fellow bloggers. And to Sarah (StressedStamper) - sorry I didn't get there on Sunday too - was absolutely worn out after Saturday! Anyway - I eventually treated myself to a Cuttlebug - so my Wizard is now redundant! It took up far too much room and needed a stronger hand than I have! The Cuttlebug is much easier to work with and fits neatly away! I need to get the jewellery finished now so I can play with it!!

I'm also now on the countdown to my youngest daughter emigrating for a couple of years..... so emotions are running high! If you see tears on my blog in the next few days - well until 29th when she ACTUALLY goes...... just pass the tissues will you? Well........ Mum's are allowed....... aren't they?

Hugs to all
Christine x

Back to blogland.......

Hi All

Firstly, sorry I've not been around for a few days - I've had that dreadful tummy bug that's been doing the rounds, only it decided to stay at my house for a while without moving on too fast! Knocked me for six and for the first few days this week I was laying on the settee all day watching daytime TV. Not all bad though, I lost half a stone while being poorly, so it did have it's up side! Not a recommended way to lose tho... Then yesterday we had a big family gathering for them all (my two brothers and their wives, my honorary brother, a niece & hubby, a nephew & new wife, and a great-great niece) to say bye-bye to my daughter for a while - who, by the way, got her results on Friday and she is now a fully fledged CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT! So that was lovely news before she goes off at the end of September to pastures new.. :( Anyway, lots of cleaning done etc etc, before the family descended - so that took care of Thursday, Friday and then yesterday, we had a wonderful day...

Listen to me, making excuses for not being here! So onto my card...

Today I used SpringHuggabugg from Christy Croll at Tiddlyinks - what a lovely image to colour - such lovely clean lines. I used my copics to colour, and my prismacolour blue pencils to for the shadow - then sponged some Adirondack Lights pink sherbert around the edge, after I'd made a mask with some post it notes - (yes, cheating I know!)

The background paper is from my Basic Grey Green at Heart pad, then I added a ribbon, and a heart charm that I got from Pink Gem Designs. And then girls, all that was left to do was add........ GLITTER!

Anyway, hope you like. I would love to hear your comments so please do say hello and let me know there are people out there.... And I'll be back in blogland this week - then, we have the Papercraft show next weekend in Harrogate!!!! YAYYYYY can't wait!

Bye for now

Christine x

PS - I've also added a pic of my two darling daughters and myself yesterday - I'm so proud of them both - so couldn't resist putting their pic on here! Clare is the one in the middle who is off to Bermuda later this month........ But just think of the hols I can go on!! x

My Friday Offering...

Happy Friday girls! Here is my latest offering - again it's a Mo Manning image, this time it's Sorry Shanna - and I love her! She has such a lovely 'sorry' face... she's just perfect! I coloured her with my copics (d'oh!!), then shaded her around the edge of the shape with Adirondack Lights - Pink Sherbert. It's the only pink that has a touch of lilac in it to shade with that I can find. The DP I've used is from http://www.fancypantsdesigns.com/ and it's from their Key Lime Pie Fancy range - it's called Heavenly. Not sure where I picked it up from but it was in my stash... I used Nestabilities for the oval shape, then used a Martha Stewart punch for the long edges. Then I used an EK success retro daisy punch (yes Peri, I got one!), and finished the flowers with some bling from Stamping Bella, then some ........... guess what............ GLITTER! (Tho you can't really see it on the photo...... )

I went to Art from the Heart in Harrogate this morning, as they had emailed to say they had a new range of Prima Marketing papers in........ they were FAB-U-LOUS..... and of course girls, I had to BUY! But then again, it'll save me fighting to get near their stand at the Harrogate Papercraft show in September - I had the whole shop to myself today to wander around at my leisure! And these Fairyland and Jack & Jill papers........... to DIE for! MMMmmmmmmmmmm think they may stay in my stash for a while for me to stroke....! Would seem so cruel to cut into them, wouldn't it?

I've also added a pic here of a fairy I made recently - just to show that I can turn my hand to make more than cards at times.... thought you may like to see! She's so easy to make with soft netting and a wooden bead.... I also use some, hmmm, is it Angelina Fibre? The stuff you iron between two sheets of paper and it comes out welded together and flat and fabulous! Anyway, hope you like - I always love to hear your comments!

Better go now, shopping to do - and it's sunny outside!

Take care and have a good weekend

Christine x

Well I've been busy again......

Hi all

Well with all the rain we've had here in Yorkshire today, I got plenty of chance today to get out my colouring and enjoy!

I've made this card with my daughter in mind - she's off in September to live in Bermuda for a couple of years, and I'll miss her!!! (sniff, sniff - pass the tissues!) Anyway, it's a massive move for her and it will be an incredible opportunity which will lead who knows where??! And I can holiday there!!

Onto the card before I blub all over the place....! I used Mo's image Bye Bye Girl, which I bought in luscious rubbah a little while back, so I stamped her with Memento ink then coloured with my trusty copics. I highlighted her ladybird backpack with diamond glaze, then gave each little black dot a white highlight with my signa white gel pen. I think it makes them 'pop' - don't you? Then I gave her a shadow with a cool gray copic, then shaded the edges with Versachalk in Wheat (thank you Paulabella for that tip!) I used my nestabilities to cut out the shapes and emboss. Then I wanted to match it to the right DP - my falldown! But I chose this CosmoCricket Jitterbug 'PeggySue' paper, and used both the front and the reverse so that it all matched! I think it works... The sentiment actually comes with the stamp - but I chose to reproduce it on my PC, so I could have the shape that I wanted. I'm entering it into the Stamping Bella challenge and also Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge (Thank Heavens for Little Girls) too!

Hope the sun is shining where you are.....

Happy cardmaking!

Christine x

My first challenge card!

Hi!
Well it seems to be taking me a week to produce a card again at the moment - but I've been really busy for the last few days, don't quite know what doing, but know I've been BUSY! lol! I've started on a 'walk a mile a day' regime - to try and improve my fitness, which at the present moment is zilch, so that's been taking up a bit of my time, and housework/gardening/lunching out has taken up the rest! Oooh and a nice visit to a craft shop in Harrogate too yesterday where I bought some more copics - well.......... a girl can never have too many of those, can she?

Anyway, I decided to enter this one for Mo's sketch challenge. This is the first challenge I've ever entered, so hope I've stuck to the rules...! This image is soooo lovely to colour - and reminds me of how different sisters can be. I used bazzil for the base and one of the panels, then used a dotty panel which didn't actually have a makers name on it. The image is Mo Manning's Stepsisters - which I've actually stamped this time (I bought it before I discovered digi images!) I coloured with copics of course, and added the shadow to make them pop out. Then of course, I finished with the odd bit of glitterazi...... you've just got to, haven't you? The photography isn't brilliant on this one, not light enough really, but I normally photograph in daylight - this uses flash.

By the way, I invented a new word yesterday.... just wanted to share! I was trying to say that something had given me goosebumps and made me feel fuzzy at the same time, and the word came out of my mouth was 'guzzy'! Must be something to do with my age, but I reckon that's a BRILLIANT word for all of us that know the feeling I was describing!

Anyway - better go - Mistresses is on TV!
Bye for now
Christine x

Not so little fairy...

One of the five little fairies by Mo Manning on Digital Pencil Too. Fabulous images to colour. I used some of my favourite shades of aqua and green and a DP from Blonde Moments called Buurd Minasie Moo.. I coloured the image with copics and added some glitter.. then finished it off with some wired ribbon from my local haberdashers, and then a couple of Prima Forever Flowers that started life cream but ended up coloured with the copics! Hope you like. Now if only I could find a challenge that this card would fit the theme of! hehe
Christine x

Getting tidier...

Ok, well I've spent some time this afternoon putting my new racks up and filling them! Soooo if anyone ever sees me in any craft shop , or at the Harrogate show in September even NEAR the stamp pad section with my purse out and a dreamy look on my face, you have my permission to take me outside and shoot me! (And that applies especially now I'm moving into digi-images!)

Dick Van Duck

This is just to prove that not everything I do is pink!! (Although nearly all.......)

Dick Van Duck from Just Inklined just looked so in need of a party.... (or perhaps is suffering from the after effects of one?), I couldn't resist him! So I dug out my manly papers and got to work. I used some DP from We R Memory Keepers called Sunshine Stripes, but it has been in my stash for a while, so not sure if it's available any more. I also used plain cardstock that was from the Paper Mill Shop and again, has been in my stash for a while. I coloured Dick with my copics - apart from his beak which I used my prismacolours on. He was quite difficult to colour, as I wanted him to look white, so I just had to concentrate on using a very pale colour in his 'creases!' I also popped him out by using cool grey 1 and 3 as a shadow. Sentiment was done on the PC, and I finished him off with some glossy accents for the lenses in his specs - and, yes, I added some glitter on his hat! Well....... he WAS partying.... yes?

Not a lot happening in my world today - just some ironing and some tidying. Oh, and some washing...... then maybe some dusting....... Or shall I just go make another card??

Surely I don't look like this.......

Hi - Today I've used one of my very favourite (I know, I say it all the time) of Mo's images... Bossy. Isn't she just a horrible little girl?? And weirdly enough, I'm told that this card is reminds my other half of me??????? As IF I would say something like that????? I really CAN'T think what he's talking about!

I've coloured her with my trusty copics, and used card from my stash to matt and layer - then added a dotty DP, and some grosgrain ribbon. I've finished her off with some card candy dots and then used a sentiment that I've openly borrowed from one of Peri Hill's cards - (check out her website - she is truly inspirational!) Anyway, hope she doesn't mind!

We went to Howarth yesterday - I took my southerner 'other half' to see some Yorkshire heritage. The parsonage that the Bronte sisters wrote their books in is still there, and you can actually FEEL the history exuding from the walls. Even though it wasn't such a nice day, the place was full - and we had a nice lunch, then fought out way back through the traffic in Bradford -not recommended! (stupid SatNav - did it not know to avoid traffic??) Anyway - we enjoyed the day - then finished it off by going to see Toy Story last night. I must be a softie - as I had a little cry at the end......

Christine x