Rosie...... oh Rosie..... I'd like to paint your face up in the sky.....

Hi all

Well... does anyone else remember Don Partridge with that song?  It's been going around in my head while I've been making this card!  And yes, I'm THAT old! LOL

This is a card I've done for the Sugar Nellies Facebook Challenge (Week 1) - the criteria was to only use green and blue!  Sooooo difficult for the pink queen here....   But I managed to put lots of glitter on which kind of made up for the lack of my fav colour!

Rosie is from the Fairy Glen Sugar Nellie collection over at Funky Kits.  She's an adorable image and I'm sure she'll look better in pink when I get the chance! LOL!  I coloured her with Copics - glittered her up.... used a nestie shape for the image... and sponged the edge of the shape to give some definition.  I then used some paper from my stash (GCD Ella Blue - may be out of production now cos I bought the pad cheap a while back)... and put the whole lot onto a bazzil pale blue back.  I used some lace, some seam binding... some pearls from my stash.... then made some flowers using a sizzix die called (surprisingly enough) 3D flowers!  I'd distressed the edge of the green DP so I added stickles to give MORE glitter!! LOL!   Then lastly, added some punched, (and glittered) butterflies! Oh and a big thing for me, I actually chose the paper BEFORE I coloured the image!

I was so out of my comfort zone on this one not being allowed to use pink... and with all those embellies.... very unlike me!  Anyway, hope you like the finished result!

Can I just say welcome to my lovely new followers - it seems my tutorial went down well with you - I'm so glad because I was so nervous doing it!  Don't think I'll ever be an internet phenomenon..... LOL.... but hey, I'm happy with it!

Big Hugs
Christine x

Challenges: Moving Along with the Times #132 - Things with Wings
Flutterby Wednesday - Things with Wings
Deep Ocean Challenge - Sparkle and/or bling
Try it on Tuesdays - Do you believe in Fairies
My Mum's Craft Shop - Favourite Colour
Anything Goees - Anything Goes!

YESSSSS!!! I did a video tutorial!

Hi Girls

Go easy on me please, because this is my very first venture into video tutorials and YouTube in general...  but I would love it if you take a look and let me know what you think!

I had to split the tutorial into two parts... (didn't realise they have a max but can't colour any quicker!)  So here is Part 1 (which shows the shading of the denim jeans)

then Part 2 which shows the shading sponging around the image...

As I say, be gentle, because it's so difficult to colour around a camera.... (that was between me and the image!) - and to do it quickly and not go over the lines (which I did in places!!)

Big Hugs
Christine x

Look what I've got!!!

Hi Girls


Wowww look what arrived in the post for me this morning!! This wonderful marker pen storage unit was made by Steve who is husband of our lovely blogger buddie Vixx...... isn't he clever? They're for sale on her website Vixx Handmade Cards - she very quietly put them on her sidebar the other day - and I happened to notice and ordered one! I can only say it's super-fantastic..... I only emailed her about it last Wednesday - and he made just what I wanted - a 4 cubbie x 3 cubbie unit over the weekend - mailed it to me from Essex on Monday and I have it today! What fabulous service!!

I wanted to share it with you and I know we all struggle for storage units for our luscious pens and this wonderful man is an answer to our prayers! LOL! If you look carefully to the right of the unit, you can see a pink box that contains all my 'uninked' stamps - OMG!

Now this is a set of shelves that my lovely OH made for me last week too! I needed to keep my nesties and unmounted stamps somewhere that wasn't shoved at the back of my desk..... and this is what we came up with between us! So much more space.... I'm getting all excited! And talking of excitement, is it only me that would get excited about these two wooden boxes below that my OH brought home from work the other day (they were going to be thrown out..) - I think he knows me very well now - he saw my eyes light up when he brought them in! I don't know what I'm going to do with them but ooooooooohhhhh aren't they sooooooo useful!

And a bit more excitment.... I managed to do a video this afternoon of the shading I used on the Daisy card..... I was asked a few times on the DC forum how I'd done it - so decided to give a tutorial a go!  Be gentle with me when I upload it as it's my first!

Big Hugs
Christine x

Die Cut Dreams Sympathy Challenge #106

Hi Girls

Hope you're all well......

Well it's Monday and it's time for another challenge over at the Die Cut Dreams Challenge Blog!  Your White on White Creations were stunning for the last challenge - we had such a fab time checking them all out!  Such talented crafters out there!

The challenge this time is to make a card to send for a sad occasion....  it's a Sympathy Card.  Not cards we like to create, but cards that are needed and often appreciated by the person they are sent to.

So onto my card - I have used the Loopy Daisy from Stamping Bella image - and have decoupaged the flower head to give it some depth.  I've coloured it with my markers, and just added a small amount of glitter (wouldn't be me without glitter now, would it?)  The sentiment was done on my PC, and again 3d'd over the flower stem.  I added a white satin ribbon bow - then matted and layered onto bazzil dotty cardstock.  Just a few gems in the corner and it was done.  Very simple, but I hope, effective.

Why not pop over to the blog and check out my fab teamies creations - then we look forward to seeing your card!

Big Hugs
Christine x

I've not fallen off the face of the earth.......

Hi Girls

Well here I am (eventually I hear you say?) with another card!  'Bout time too!!  Sorry about my absence from posting.... my lovely OH had a few days hol after working very hard over Christmas - so we took some 'quality time' together.... nothing exciting - just a few lunches out and pottering in each other's company...  we both enjoy our 'together bubble'...  so cardmaking was a lower priority!!  That said - I did manage to get some extra shelves up in my craft room....  but we WERE together making them!! (Me bossing the job of course.... hehe.. you know how it goes?  'up a bit....... down a bit....  stop....  DRILL!')  So now my endless nesties have found a fab new home in CD organisers on my new shelves! YAYY!!

He's at work today, so I'm sitting here on my own, with SuBo on Spotify - singing at the top of my voice..  I'm sure I could sing as good as her ........ "I dreamed a dream........"  cough, cough, splutter!  Actually her rendition always brings tears to my eyes... but that never takes much!

OK I'm waffling (well I have no one to talk to today!!).  Onto my card!  This one was inspired by the lovely Lisa over at Wishcraft...  when I saw her creation using Daisy a week or so ago I was so impressed I really had to make!!  And I have her to thank for the RAK when I couldn't get hold of the rubber as it seems now not in production, she very kindly let me have one of hers...  thank you Lisa!

Anyway, I coloured Daisy using a mixture of copics and promarkers...  I did try not to use pinks as Lisa had used pinks on hers and I didn't want to copy too much... so I chose lilacs and lavenders ...... but I have to say, they look pink to me.... sorry Lisa!  I used my square nestie to cut the image, and sponged around the edge while the nestie was still attached with a shadow blue on a make up sponge! The paper is from the Kaisercraft Bubblegum Hills collection and is called Candy Confetti....  ooooh and it's so lovely to use!  I did an embossed panel of daisies from Bazzil pink.....  which also forms the base of the card.  I've added a little bow from fine string, and some buttons from my stash.  Oooh and i SO NEARLY forgot to mention...  I added just a little bit of glitter too!! LOL!

So there you go.... I'm back!  Btw, I have been having lots of trouble commenting on some of your blogs in the last few days.... even though I've not been posting cards, I have kept up with my commenting..... but think Blogger is misbehaving!  So if you normally get comments from me and haven't....  It's not been for the lack of trying!

Oh and some exciting news too...  I was contacted by a lovely lady over in the States the other day who asked me to do some cards for her as she'd come across my blog....  so I've also been busy fulfilling that order!  How exciting to think my cards are going world-wide!! LOL

Sorry for my waffling......  hope you like Daisy as much as I do. 
Thanks for any comments which I love to read..
Hugs
Christine x
Have entered this card for Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Spots and Stripes

Die Cut Dreams Challenge # 105- White on White

Hi Girls

Well it's that time again..... time for a new challenge over at Die Cut Dreams.... and this time the theme is White on White...  which I have to admit, I love to do.

I think my card is self-explanatory, it's so simple... but here's what I used:

• Crafts Too Embossing Folder - Hearts
• Shapeabilities - Fancy Tags 2
• Woodware Punch for flowers
• Tiny pearl gems
• White Linen and White Glitter card

The sentiment is PC generated in a mock silver shade.

This fortnights challenge is being sponsored by Crimson Cloud

who are giving the winner 3 packs of die cuts. Why not check out the site to see what goodies they have in store at Crimson Cloud. You collect loyalty points with any purchase and they have a sale at the moment too.

I hope you like this card - check out my teamies creations over at the Die Cut Dreams Challenge Blog - then I look forward to seeing your creations!

Hugs
Christine
PS - I am entering this card in the Less is More 'Just One Word' challenge

Hope you all had a wonderful day...

Just wanted to say Hi Girls.... hope you all had a wonderful day with your nearest and dearest yesterday.....  and......... 

RESULT!!!  The hinting worked....  !!!

We've been for a nice walk today, and a lovely pub lunch (just soup and a roll - honest), and are now set for doing a bit of exercise on the Wii dance game!  Wish me luck!

Big hugs to all my best blogging buddies.....
Christine xx

Happy Christmas to all my blogging friends...

Hi Girls

I just wanted to drop by to show this card that I made for my wonderful man.....  I gave it to him last night, so I can show it now.  I'm one very lucky lady to have him by my side, especially this past week when I've not been too good.......  he - along with my daughter Emma - have been there for me every minute when I've felt so scared.  But hopefully things are on the up now (after another root canal treatment yesterday) - I am not going to tempt fate, merely say that I haven't had to take any painkillers today....

My card is using a DigiStamp Boutique image, I think it's called Cute Reindeers..  it's a lovely image.... and I've done the wording after being inspired by Kerry (Pickle) who makes such fantastic cards.  The DP is from The Clipart Fairy... it's called Let it Snow.  Colouring and glitter etc as always - and a touch of Glossy Accents on their hooves made them come alive.  This is my first easel card....  and was so easy I couldn't believe it!

So there you go....  HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL - I'll still be around commenting...  but probably no more posts.  Thank you all for following me this year and for my listening to my moans and groans.... and my ups too!!

I've got lots of good friends via blogland...... and I feel so lucky!

Big Hugs
Christine xxx

Hi Girls - just a quick update..

No card today I'm afraid.... Just to let you know that I've not been too well so not been commenting - though this morning, cos I was up at 5 am in pain, I've been having a gander through all your blogs of the last few days, and am not going to attempt to comment on all - so will say to one and all.......  WHAT A TALENTED LOT you are!

I had to go back to the hospital yesterday to the opthalmologist, who have decided not to do a biopsy of an artery (at least for yet - don't want to tempt fate).  They don't think it's the temporal ateritis that the GP first thought.  Phewwww...  but it still leaves me with the pain, and because the consultant yesterday told me to stop taking the steroids the GP had put me on, I think the pain has flared up over night.  I'm still thinking it's what the dentist said last week, this myofacial pain dysfunction syndrome and am treating it with heat, massage etc.... though resting my jaw from eating at this time of year is a TAD difficult!

So there you go....  latest update on my saga!!  'Thanks for all your lovely messages and good wishes after my last post.... you can't imagine how much it helps when you're in pain to read from my lovely blogging friends..  and I hope you're all nearly ready for the big man at the weekend.......
Big Hugs
Christine x

At last... I've finished (I think..)

Hi Girls

Well at last, I've finished my Christmas cards and got them all posted!  It seems like it's been a mammoth task this year, don't know why, but now they're done I can relax.

My card today uses one of the Digi Stamp Boutique's Cute Robin Collection which was nice and easy to do.... some colouring and shading, then some glittering and layering!  I had to make eight of these, so they needed to be easy!  Just looking at the photo now, it looks like I've got it uneven on the red glitter paper, but honest - all sides are even on the real thing!  I think it's the angle the pic was taken.... at least I hope so!

To catch you up on things in Christine world (for those interested) - I've been to the dentist yet again today as I keep having pain in my mouth and terrible pains up the side of my head..... and saw a different guy today as my normal dentist was off.  I've not slept properly for a few nights again now and am getting p*****d off to put it mildly!  ANYWAY, the upshot is that this guy thinks I have ..... now wait for it......  myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome...... which apparently is not toothache - but mimics it as it's muscular at the top of the jaw... and i have to put heat on it, rest it (some hope as it resting means not eating!), take painkillers and massage it.  It's something to do with the lactic acid in the muscle causing a lot of pain.  SOOOOO I'm a bit fed up to say the least.  The other thing he said was not to worry about it (soooo easy said...) as the emotional stress makes it worse!  Then later today I went to the docs as I had to have a routine blood test cos my iron is low - and the nurse there told me my blood pressure had shot up........  Well, I've been in tears most of the rest of the day so now my mouth hurts HORRIBLY!

Sooo I'll just shut up now and go get my lavender bag and stick it in the microwave - then strangle myself with it!!  Anyone know a good field and a guy with a shotgun???  Think I need it!! LOL

Big Hugs to you all....
Christine xx

Don't you just love Santa???

Hi there...
It's a bit late for me to be on the computer, but I wanted to upload this before my bedtime.  It's been a windy day here in Yorkshire today, and I'll be quite happy to get all cosy and snuggly in bed and close all the nasty gusts out!  I hope no one has suffered any damage....especially in Scotland!

Onto my card....  This is a lovely Sugar Nellie stamp called Old St Nick - and I may be a bit odd, but I do love colouring red!  From what I read on others' blogs, I'm in the minority.  Anyway, I've coloured him in using my promarkers... then obviously (!) used my glitter for his fur trimming (which isn't showing too well - photoshop has let me down...), and glossy accents for his shoes and belt, and a little bit on the bells on his brimming sack of toys.  I've used a large oval nestie for the shape, and drew round it and cut for the extra red frame.  I've used a sentiment from Whimsy Stamps called Holiday Ticket Sentiments, and added a red (bright red, not as photo shows sort of orange!) ribbon and bow... then a Marthat Stewart Holly punch with a few red gems for berries.  The DP is from Kaisercraft from their 25 December collection.

I still have Christmas cards to make and am still enjoying making them.... think that will wear off soon though... LOL!  Hope you're all doing well with your Christmas preparations - we're going to have a lovely weekend putting up the decorations and wrapping presents....  also going into Harrogate to see the lights and hopefully hear a brass band playing carols.... then I'll know it's the season proper!! LOL

Big Hugs to you all
Christine x

Challenges:
Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Try it on Tuesday: The Big Guy
Addicted to Stamps: Christmas Card
Cupcake Inspirations: Challenge 139 Photo Inspiration
Creative Card Crew: Tis the Season
Crafty Ribbons Challenge: Traditional Christmas Colours
Colour Create: Red White and Green
Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes
Passion for Promarkers: Mega Christmas Challenge - Celebrations

Die Cut Dreams - Challenge #104 - Calendar

Hi Girls...

Well here we are again, time for another challenge at Die Cut Dreams..... this time the challenge is to make a calendar page for January 2012..

Now I'm not known for making things other than cards, so I did scratch my head.... but then just decided to 'have a go'!

I used one of my beautiful Gorjuss Girls, this one is called Waiting (bought from Samuel Taylors at Embsay... ), coloured her with my copics and promarkers... then cut her out and 3D'd her with foam pads onto an oval nestie (classic ovals large). I used a 'Delicate Vine' Memory Box die and some silver mirri card for the decorations.... and made my own calendar for January on the computer using an old fashioned typewriter font. All this was put onto some matching bazzil - then onto more mirri card.... well I had to make up for the lack of glitter, didn't I???

Hope you like my calendar.... Why don't you pop on over to the Die Cut Dreams Challenge Blog and check out my lovely teamies creations.... they're sure to inspire you to have a go at entering! And it's a lovely way to think about the New Year, and this time the challenge is open for four weeks so you have plenty of time to come up with a fab creation!

This challenge is Sponsored by Die cut Dreams

This week it´s Susie Sugar's turn to sponsor this challenge and the Prize is 30 sheets of 5.5" x 5.5" fancy edged designer papers.

Perfect for your 6" x 6" Tilda cards !!!

( Please Note; Colours and designs may vary slightly from the photo)

Big Hugs
Christine x

Just had to show you this...

Well this is why I wasn't around yesterday........ just had to show you this pic....

We went off to Stratford on Friday night to meet up with Barry's daughters and families who live in Bournemouth.... we all stayed overnight in a Travelodge, then had a FAB day out yesterday.... This was in front of a lovely warm log fire where we had our lunch.  Doesn't he just look so proud of his family.......?  And those little boys call me Nanny Christine........  awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.......

Big Hugs, and will try to get back to commenting properly today..
Christine xx

OK, so I got distracted....

Just thought you may like to see what's been distracting me....  after being inspired by Viv from Daisy-Mae Blog, I decided to make a few bookmarks for some special people... and here are a couple of them!

Those of you who know me well, know I love jewellery making also...  so I decided to give it a go.  Beads, findings and metal bookmarks - all from Ebay and my stash.  They look fab hanging over the end of your favourite book, and they don't just look pretty... they are practical too!  I feel an addiction coming on....

We're off today to meet up with Barry's daughters and their families.... including his two lovely grandsons (can't wait).... so I won't be commenting till Sunday.

Bye for now
Hugs
Christine x