Extra, Extra!!

For the Little Extra challenge this week there is a sketch for you to have a go at...

'We don't mind how you use it - bend it, stretch it, shirnk it or turn it on it's head - as long as we can see the original plan in there it counts and we'd love to see how you use it.'



I made this....



Paper is Chatterbox and Bazzill, Die cut shapes are cuttlebug - made using the new machine that my oh so fabulous sister bought me for Christmas and Birthday *grins*, Brads are from Rachie's shop, Ribbon is Papermania and the tie through the button is a piece of Mum's net curtain (the off cuts!)

I don't like Mondays.....

Josh is super extra poorly today, he has a sickie bug that started on Saturday and is still raging today :( I didn't get a chance to do any listing on eBay yesterday - nevermind, there is always next week :) and the house looks like a army of tiny destructo-gremlins wandered through it.... (nope, that will just be Jared then :))

But, I did make this.... Jase took an order from a guy at work to make a Valentine's card for his gf. 'I would like a dancer, the world, a moon, hearts, stars and the name 'Chandra'' aaaaaaaaghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh lol.

So here it is :)



The world is on there but cunningly used as the background paper as a big blue and green globe may hvae looked slightly out of place....

and.... made these for the magazine last week...



....didn't really think I would show you, did you :) Just to say it was a stamped project!!!! :)

Heavy Metal

It's Friday! So it is time for this week's dare....

Huge apologies for going MIA this week, I have struggled to find time to be on the PC due to;
a). Burning Crusades being released
b). see above ^^

grrrr.

This week's it is Saffa's turn for a dare....

HEAVY METAL
..no I don't mean rock music! I would like you to make a card on any theme you like with the rule that it must include something metallic...that's all! You could use wire, charms, foil or even metallic pens.

So after toying with a few ideas, most of which involved sneaking an Iron Maiden reference onto the card and were not too sensible, I made this;



Paper is K-Ology Hannah, Flowers from Dunelm Mills, Ribbon is from Little Silver Hat and metal bits are a clip, mini brads, a screw brad all from Carolyn's and a tap washer (!) from our tool box.... Inking and a printed sentiment.

Oh and cos I could not fit any Iron Maiden reference on the card that would have been in any way befitting of the card, I will add this instead here :) and so I give you a rock genius (IMO).... enjoy lol!



There are more amazing cards made by the Design Team here I look forward to seeing what all of you create....

Top Toppers...

Sunday again and listing day... here are all the toppers that I have made... :)

Through the Round Window...

Or the square window, or the arched window, or any shape window you like!

This week it's Rhi's turn to set the dare 'I dare you to make a card with an aperture in it, it can be any shape you like and can be see through or have something covering behind it. It could be a ready made aperture card or lots of small windows punched out, diecut or handcut or one large window. It could be a shaker card and can be for any occasion.'

and Rhi even gave us a fabby clip of vintage Playschool to inspire - and I made this...



...Die cut flowers, behind a bazzill frame. I added acetate behind the frame and then mounted it with foam pads - well actually fun foam with ds tape on both sides as I have run out of foam pads... handy as you can cut to the exact length you need. This meant that I could attach the flowers with brads :)
Paper is Scenic Route and Dream Street...

The other girls have made some fantabulous (strange, blogger says fantabulous is not a word?! lol) cards, they are all on the blog... Once you have checked them all out, have a go yourself!!

Away now to prop eyelids open with matchsticks, the boys decided that 05.00 would be a fun time to get up this morning and I did not go to bed too early last night (actually it was this morning).... Josh was star of the day (again!!) on Tuesday and received his award in Assembly this morning - all very fab but being tired and holding a 2 yr old for over half and hour is not the best..... Thank you Rhi for a really fun dare, I have some ideas for some shaker bits and pieces so may get to work over the weekend...

Raid your Wardrobe part 2...

So this is the original idea that I had although, I was going to use more denim.... Inspired by the fact that I usually live in jeans, I used... denim and stripy paper by Paper Adventures, a jeans button - you know the type that you buy to mend your jeans but never get around to it (in my case anyway!) some American craft buttons, paper string from Ikea, and some die cuts for the flowers/stars - can't decide which they are! Lots of stitching (by hand) and some inking....

Imagine....

This weeks little extra is based around the word 'Imagine' and it was actually a toughie for me... Dad is and avid collector of Penguin books and all that kept coming into my head was the rather uninspiring picture on the front cover of a John Lennon book that he has in his collection. can't remember the name of it but it was a strange piccie indeed.

Anyway, once I had managed to get that out of my head, I produced this little number;


The heart was a bit of (to quote Bob Ross) a Happy Accident... Jared monster had obviously loosened the lid of my glue and it spilt all over it... Yes I know that all things such as glue should be highly out of reach but Jared is the most wonderful child and once he has got an idea in his head would scale Mt Kilimanjaro or thereabouts to get what he 'needs'. So as I was too lazy to make another faux chipboard heart, I used the glue, sprinkled some embossing powder on it,heated it and all turned out okay :)

and the rest....

Printed Background, wings are from a fab template that Em linked to, Flowers are from Tescos, Wilkinsons and Rachies Shop, Some Sizzix circles and hardware, brads, eyelets, ribbon and a photo turn from stash! and inking to finish.

Top That!

Yes, it's that eBay time of the week again...Only made a couple of toppers this week;





There was a question from Nicola on CBC - 'What is on your desk at the moment?' so here is mine - I could not determine what was on the desk so took a piccie instead *insert embarrassed smiley* Will have to take another piccie once it has been tidied :)



The rest of my toppers are here :)

Raid Your Wardrobe!...

...was the challenge from Lythan this week!

'This week I want you to get some inspiration from your clothes. Look through the wardrobe, drawers (or washing piles in my case). Are there any patterns that inspire you? A certain way the clothes are put together? You can echo the patterns in some way or even scan your clothes in! OR use something that would go on clothing on your card.'

My initial idea involved a whole heap of denim and lots of stitching but time was against me :( So I give you this card....

Inspired by my love of pink - I do have a number of pink garments :) so not inspired by one piece in particular and I used a zip as these are most commonly found on clothes...

Zip from a charity shop, 'lush' Blush Basic Grey and giftwrap paper from Paperchase, Cuttlebug cut chipboard flower with hand writing, letter stickers are from QVC, flower was free with an order last year, I think from Papermaze. clip from Carolyns, photo turns from Skybluepink, Brads, eyelet, wire and ribbon all from stash! A little bit of doodling and lots of inking to finish.

This week, the wonderful Gillian joined us darers as a Design Team member. Woohoo! It is so fab to have her on board with us, she makes the most amazing cards and scrapbook layouts. *Welcomes Gillian*

As usual all the Design Team have made the most fantabulous cards. They are all here. Have a go at raiding your wardrobe and let us know what you create!

24....

Woohoo Jack's back and series 6 is as fab as ever in a completely over the top yet fantastic type way... I think the series starts over here in a couple of weeks so no spoilers, just to say ... Me likey. Lots. :)

Quick cards...

A little update to show you two fairly quick cards that I made for two of my cousins partners...

Garbage...

This week's little extra was inspired by a load of old rubbish!

You could use a bit of ribbon from a cracker, paper from a paper hat, a piece of leftover wrapping paper, a bit of card/paper/ribbon from a box of chocs - as long as it's something saved, or scavenged it's allowed!

Of course, it does not have to be Christmas leftovers, I am sure that you all have bits and pieces lovingly saved from being chucked out in the rubbish!!

So inspired by wonderful Kathy, I have made a faux chipboard present using a leftover mince pie box.... The paper arrived in the post on Saturday - not bought, I hasten to add, still trying to get to the bottom of where it came from! Punched scallop circle, hand cut yellow circle and sizzix small circles. White paper ribbon is also left over from Christmas, checked ribbon is from a dept store in Newbury, I forget its name at the mo.... oh and a peel off :)

There is also currently a challenge on the CBC forum to use up leftover bits and pieces...

The most Important...

The most Beautiful, The most Magical, Saggy old cloth cat in the whole wide world...

Of course I'm waffling about Bagpuss and our Bagpuss actually sat still long enough today to be photographed... so here he is :)

There was a blog prompt today that I noticed on 2peas asking if any scrapbook resolutions have been set this year... Not a resolution as such but Jane did issue the Daring Cardmakers with a little stash challenge (I say little but it is is actually pretty huge!)...

'For the month of January - you don't buy a single thing new for your cards- everything you use has to come out of your stash. No rushing out to buy the perfect charm, matching paper, brads etc, you have to use what you got and NOT BUY ANYTHING !! how does that sound ? Anyone going to take me up on it ?'

...and so as I have been really good so far this year and not bought anything (yet!) I am up for the challenge *gulps*

Will let you know how it progresses... off to collect Josh from his first day back at school and then will try and see if Indy (our other cat) is up for photo posing...

Topperific, Toppertastic, Topperazing...

...You get the general idea!! As it is Sunday and my usual eBay listing day, I thought I would offer a few toppers for sale and here they are!!

It's all about the bling (and beads!)

Yay! It's Friday which means it's time for a new Dare!

Lynda's fabulous Dare this week....'Bling and Beads. You can use micro beads or threading beads. Any sort of bling: glitter, sequins, crystals brads etc. Have fun!!'




I used... More Blush papers by Basic Grey. Faux hardware is a sizzix die and the heart is a sizzix sizzlit die, outlined with a selection of little beads, all glued with Glossy Accents, Lace is from Bath Market, Paper String from Ikea, Ribbon from Little Silver Hat, Flower, brads and eyelet from stash!

The buttons may looks very carefully sewn on but I cheated (slightly!) I threaded them all in one long length then glued them with more Glossy Accents! (they came from my wonderful find in a charity shop and are a lot more shiny IRL to add a bit of blinginess)

All the other gorgeous creations are here check out the other wonderful cards made by the design team and have a go yourself! Can't wait to see what you all come up with!!!

Covergirl!!

I am very lucky to be asked to create cards for Papercraft Inspirations Magazine and this month, one of my little pieces of art is on the front cover!!!

I can't imagine that I will ever grace the front of a magazine so this is pretty fantastic! Actually, no, it is very fantastic :) Here is the photo that I took of the creations...

- not a patch on the wonderful professional ones in the Magazine!!

It's your Birthday...

Claire!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

We had a fabby time and Claire and Jamie's for New Year, as per usual there was singstar and guitar hero action...

and real guitar action from Jim...
and once the children were safely snoring, a leetle bit of drinking, mostly involving cocktails... apparently you are supposed to be all dressed up in order to appreciate them (well so it said in Claire's 'how to make cocktail book'!) So in honour of the occaision , I even wore a dress (I did have jeans underneath and Priscilla asked why I had my slippers on lol..... They're Crocs!!)

For your enjoyment, I shall give you the best and worst (IMO) I did not try the first one as it would take a braver person than me....

I give you 'Gorilla Snot'
and one of the best... a 'Pink Fluffy Polar Bear'
and Jamie made his own with blue stuff and tequila...