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