A bit of sauciness and some ATCs!

Hi All

Hope you are enjoying the weekend, despite the weather. Haven't really felt like doing much today but did a little bit of crafting. Had a go at the challenge over at Cupcake Crafts this week which is to make a 'gift card' so I have made a money wallet for a man. This saucy Santa from Sassy Studio is fab for a gift for a man....don't know about you, but I always struggle with buying gifts for men, so often need a money wallet for cash or vouchers! Lol! I have added a little bit of stickles just because it needed something, even if it is for a man! Inside I have just made a little pocket so a gift card, voucher or notes will easily fit into it.

The rest of my time today was spent making ATCs! I haven't made these for a while but over on my Christmas Challenge blog I am shortly going to be holding a Christmas ATC swap so let me know if you would like to take part. Used to love swapping ATCs so looking forward to holding a swap and Christmas themed is even better! I made 8 ATCs so have just picked out four to show you up close and one photo of all 8 so as to not bore you with loads of photies! Lol! My first ATC I would also like to enter into the challenge over at Bah Humbug which is ‘Here come the girls!’-make something girly! Not that I need a reason, but I have used pink papers, pink speccies, pink gems and glittery ribbon to make this ATC super girly!

My next ATC is using another image from Sassy Studio. I have used some old Papermania papers and coloured her in using Promarkers. I have also added a little snowflake that I cut on my friend's Cricut machine!! I think I fell in love with her Cricut when I had a play the other day...has gone on my Christmas list ;)

My third ATC is using a gorgeous Penny Black Mimi stamp. She is such a sweetie and looks so angelic with blonde hair! I tried to just keep to blue and silver for this ATC, using a little lace and gems as finishing touches.

And finally, my last close up of an ATC I have made is one using one of my penguins I made using my friend's Cricut machine on Tuesday. We had loads of fun playing around with it and I have lots of penguins and owls...you know they are my guilty pleasure....to make up so watch this space! I have used some Papermania papers and ripped a little to attempt to make a little bit of snow!

And here is my piccie of all 8 ATCs that I made today. Hope you like them and if you would like to be involved in the Christmas ATC swap then please get in touch and I will add you to the list. All of the details will be posted on my challenge blog and this blog on Thursday 1st September!

That is it from me today. I am back to work in a week so not sure how much crafting I am going to get done this week.....hoping to take part in a few more challenges before my holiday ends! Enjoy the bank holiday everyone!

Hugs

Arline

xx

A Design Team and a Christmas ATC Swap!

Hi All

Just a very quick post from me today. Had a manic day as it has been GCSE results. Our school did really well and our English and Media results were really good so I am chuffed and very, very proud of all of the pupils I have taught over the past two years...their hard work definitely paid off...well done!

Anyway, onto a more 'crafty' post! Just a couple of announcements really. Over at my Christmas Crafting challenge blog, the design team have just been announced and I would love it if you could pop on over and have a mooch onto their blogs...their work is fabulous and I know they would love it if you'd like to say hello! As well as the excitement of a new design team, we are going to be celebrating with a Christmas ATC swap! On 1st September I will announce the new challenge and all of the details about the swap. If you would like to take part then please leave a comment on this post, the post on the challenge blog or e-mail me at christmascrafting@hotmail.co.uk so that I can pop you down on the list. If you are reading this not knowing what an ATC is, don't worry, I will post exactly what one is, with some examples, on 1st September!

I really hope you will come and join in the fun with the Christmas ATC swap!

Hugs
Arline
xx

Crafty playtime!

Evening everyone,

Well...I'm not sure if my mojo has returned but I have enjoyed crafting today. Again, I have had a play with some of my older craft products and some products I have had for a while but not played with...shocking!

My first card from my craftathon today is this 'thank you' card for the Lili of the Valley challenge. I have used this fabulous LOTV stamp....so cute and I really enjoyed colouring these two little girls having a cuppa! I'm not keen on the ribbon that I have used...think it possibly would have been better without...needed some of a similar purple colour to the background paper but never mind! I'd also like to enter this into the Sketch Saturday challenge which is this fabulous sketch...great one to work with...really enjoyed it thank you ladies!

My next card today is for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge which is 'Shabby Chic' this week...I hope I have achieved this! I really enjoyed inking the edges with my distress inks and highlighting the embossed frame with them too. I also ripped the edges of the paper in order to give it that distressed look. I love this little image of Mimi from Penny Black...I usually colour her hair brown but how lovely does she look as a blonde? Doesn't even look like Mimi! Lol! Couldn't resist putting a little bit of glitter to highlight her angel wings, just to finish this card off. I'd also like to enter this into the Deep Ocean Challenge which is to use 'light blue' this week.

My next card I'm still not sure whether I like or not. I have used an old Magnolia stamp which I think is great for anniversary or wedding cards....although watch this space as I am thinking of turning them xmassy! I have had a go at making my own aperture in order to frame the image inside of the card but not sure if it works or not...what do you think? I kept it quite simple, using some old Papermania papers, some pearlescent card and a little bit of lace. I'd like to enter this into the Cute Card Thursday challenge this week which is to make a wedding card and for the Allsorts challenge this week which is to include a frame on your card...hope I have achieved this and it can be entered into the challenge. Jury is still out with this one....

The image for my final card today was one I really loved making! I bought these stamps last year but didn't get chance to use them and was so pleased to have the time today to have a real play with them. All of the elements are individual stamps so that you can make the scene up yourself. Not sure what the make of the stamps are...if anyone wants to know then just leave me a comment and I will it out for you. I coloured the sky using my distress inks, used the masking technique to get the fence between the houses and then used lots of 'crystal' stickles to give it a little bit of sparkle...ok a lot of sparkle...I couldn't resist! It was quite a big scene once I finished, so I kept the card really simple, using some snowflake paper as a background and a simple silver ribbon and bow just to finish it off (this does look better in real life...photograph hasn't picked the ribbon up very well!) What do you think? Hope you like it as much as I liked making it! I'd like to enter this into a challenge I've never had a go at before which is the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge which is to 'create a scene' this week.

Think I might have brightly coloured houses, balamory style, next time I have a go at this!

Hope you have all had a lovely weekend and thanks for looking!

Hugs

Arline

xx

An afternoon crafting...

Hi All

Back with a few cards today. Wasn't sure what to do today as just felt like snuggling up on the sofa! Think I have lost my crafting mojo at the minute, I have had a busy week so haven't had much time to craft, but even today I didn't feel like what I created was very good...hope it comes back soon :( To try and find it I decided to get some old bits and bobs out of my craft cupboards to inspire me!

My first card is using some of the gorgeous House Mouse Decoupage from Joanna Sheen. These are gorgeous little images and I am thinking of cutting some more out whilst watching The X Factor...really looking forward to that coming back tonight...that and Celeb Big Brother....in my element! Lol! Sad I know! Anyway, back to my card, I decided to use some of my large scalloped cards up by making some easel cards with them. My Mum made one out of the ones she had the other day and it looked really nice so I had a go! Loved these cards when I bought them but have struggled to use them. I have kept the bottom of the easel card quite simple, just used a little bit of lace and made a bow out of the lace too to make a stopper for the top of the card. I have also popped a quote from my favourite Christmas poem, 'Twas the night before Christmas...', as I thought it went really well with this little image of the mice in their house on Christmas Eve. I added a little bit of stickles to give it a little sparkle and have distressed the edges using 'brushed corduroy' distress ink...I was going for a 'wood' effect but not that happy with the results. I inked the edges of my quote to make that a little bit distressed too. I would like to enter this into the ABC Christmas Challenge which is 'Q for quote' where you need to include a quote from a Christmas poem or song this week, the Totally Papercrafts challenge which is 'Christmas in August' and finally into The Crazy Christmas Challenge which is 'Anything Christmas Goes' and take a look as they have started a monthly Christmas challenge as well as there original Crazy Challenge.

My next card is using one of my favourite Pollycraft images. It is of the little scamp 'Chester' eating Christmas Pudding. I think he is such a cutie and love working with him. He reminds me of a very special boy I know and think this card may be going to him for Christmas! I have again made another easel card and have used some old Christmas paper that I have had for a few years now! I have also distressed this card using my ink again around the edges (and the corner where I was going for a 'bite' out of the stamped image...not sure it worked!), I have torn the edges of the sentiment as well as sanding the background paper so it is a little faded in places, not sure the camera has picked it up very well. Apologies for the amount of pictures, I couldn't photograph this one very well and then my little Charlie cat decided to come and lie exactly where the best light was...you can spot him in one of the pictures! Lol! I have used a sentiment from Digital Delights which I love and thought went very well with cheeky Chester! I would like to enter this card into the Pollycraft challenge which is 'Distressing' this week, Cupcake Craft Challenge which is this fabulous sketch, the I Love ProMarkers challenge which is to make an easel card and finally for the Winter Wonderland challenge this week which is a card for a man or a boy. The ProMarkers I have used on this image are Tan, Blush, Sandstone, Pear Green, Holly and Henna.

My final card for today is using one of my lovely new images from Digital Delights. I was lucky enough to win a few images from them and this is my fave. I was hoping to use him for the 'Light it up' challenge at WW last week but didn't get chance to make him in time :( so I just had to use him in a card when I was crafting today! He is sooo cute tangled up in his fairy lights! I have also used pink and purples for this card and really like it so think I might try this colour combination for Christmas cards again. Again, I have used some papers that I have had in my cupboard for ages and used some lace, gems and pearls to finish it off. I would like to enter this into the Papertake Challenge this week which is 'Bingo' where you need to use three things off the bingo board....I have chosen the bottom line where you needed to include lace, gems and then you had a free square so I have also included some pearls. I would also like to enter this card into the Christmas Challenge with Sketches which is this great sketch, the Bah Humbug challenge which is to use 'Something New' (my digi stamp) and finally the Christmas Stamping all year long challenge which is to use 'Non-Traditional Colours-no red or green to be seen!' A few new Christmas challenges for me this week. Was fun joining in!

That is it for now. Hoping my mojo is going to come back overnight as I am hoping to do a little more crafting tomorrow. Don't forget the current challenge over at Christmas Crafting is 'Cute Christmas', would love to see you joining in and thanks for everyone who has joined in so far!

Thanks for looking!

Hugs

Arline

xx

Bit of baking and lego fun!

Hi All

No cards today but some more baking and pictures from a lovely day out today. I was really happy to see that 'The Great British Bake Off' was back on Tuesday night and really enjoyed watching the first episode...looks like it is going to be a great series once again! Watch it on BBC2 at 8pm on Tuesdays. It made me want to bake on Wednesday so here are the results! Below you will find some small mince and onion pies that I made, although pastry has never been my thing so I have to own up to it being ready roll...(hanging my head in shame)....my Mum always says I have too warm a hand to bake pastry and that's why it never works!? Should really try to overcome this though....they were still yummy anyway, despite the pastry being a little thick!
My hubby absolutely loves scones but only the plain variety so I had a go. I usually only make cheese scones so was something a little different. They went down well and Dylan, my friend's little boy seemed to like them, he had two without any butter or anything! Lol! Think I need to continue to work on trying to make huge ones like in the shops though...these were a little bigger than normal as I put in a little baking powder as well as dipping the cutter in SR flour each time I cut out a scone....tip from a recipe book I have.

Finally, I went a little biscuit mad! I just made a simple biscuit recipe and used a few of my cutters to make different shapes biscuits....some went to my friend and her children yesterday, and some more went to my friend and her little boy Dylan today! Not sure what the verdict was, I liked them, just been polishing some off with a cup of tea whilst watching the launch of celeb Big Bro! I know some of you may despise the show but I love it! Looking forward to watching that.....although think Jedward might get on my nerves very quickly!!

Then today we have had a lovely day out at Legoland in Manchester with my friend, her partner and son Dylan. It was a fab day, lots of fun was had, even after Dylan and his Mum were a little bit travel sick! Hubby's driving I think! ;)

This is probably my fave photo of the day. This was right at the end before we went into the shop and left but this photo is fab of Dylan sitting in a huge pool of lego busy building!

Another picture of Dylan just before we went into the lego factory. In the factory Dylan got a special Legoland brick which had a ninja and 2011 on it which he was chuffed with (and we met Professor Brick-a brack!).

This was a fantastic car made out of lego bricks that Dylan loved sitting in...think he would have driven it home if he could have!

Spot Darth Vader in the next photo?!? Lol! Had to take a picture of the 'big boys' by Darth Vader before we left. Hubby on the left and Dyl's Dad on the right. Bless them....they were very disappointed though as there were no Darth Vader lego keyrings or Batman lego....better luck next time boys!

And then my final photo is of my new lego keyring of Hermione Granger! I love Harry Potter and she is my fave character so was chuffed with my buy :)

That's it for now! I have been neglecting my paper craft over the past few days...as we were away over the weekend and had a busy couple of days since we got back so I have missed most of the challenges I usually join in with....should be back to normal this weekend though!

Hope I haven't bored you too much with my photo heavy post!

Hugs

Arline

xx

Attempt at sugarcraft...

Hi All

Hope you are all well. We have returned from our spa break today...was lovely, really relaxing and didn't want to come home! Had a nice anniversary yesterday, apart from a disastrous meal out but I won't bore you with the details! Lol! Got back this afternoon and was going to do a bit of crafting but wasn't in the mood so thought I'd have a little play modelling with sugarpaste! I have been getting back into my baking recently and really want to have a go at sugarcraft. I have been buying a few bits and pieces and am going to the show at the NEC in November (as well as the papercraft show...going to be an expensive weekend!!) so had enough to have a little play! So below you will find my first attempt ever....trying to justify the quality a little! Apologies as this post has lots of piccies! Thought I would share with you what has gone well and what hasn't from the start as I start this new craft!

My first little project was a snowman. First of all I must mention the fabulous Ann Pickard who is often on Create and Craft. All of these designs are hers and I have tried to follow her instructions in order to make these little Christmas cuties....practice makes perfect I guess! So I used her techniques of making cones for body and arms and then a double cone so that his nose didn't fall out and just a disc for his scarf to keep it simple. I would ideally like to have done a different colour but was messing around with orange, black and white so just kept with that for the majority if what I made. What do you think? Honest opinions please....any tips anyone can give me would be gratefully received!

The eyes and buttons are painted on using a cocktail stick and licquorice paste...another tip from Ann.

My next little project were Christmas trees....not as successful as my snowman...had a go at the scissor technique that Ann suggested but think I need a bit more practice with these...looks like a 5 year old went made with the scissors and some plasticine! Lol! A tip she mentioned was to put icing sugar on them to make them look Christmassy...when I make a decent one I will have a go!

My next project was the one I was most excited about having a go at....little penguins! Although they aren't perfect, I'm pretty pleased with them for my first attempt. Hubby has given this one the name of Elvis as he has a little quiff at the top of his head! Lol! His eyes went a little wrong so need to practice those but thought he was cute all the same!

I had another go at a smaller penguin and was happy with the result but again the eyes went a little wrong again....made them too long! What do you think?

I then had a little go with some flower cutters that I have. Made a few black and white little flowers.....though they might look nice as a whole batch of cupcakes! Think I can do a lot better than this but not wholly dissatisfied with them....just cut them out of the sugarpaste and then used a cocktail stick to give them a bit of dimension....can't see it very well on the picture though.

Just a couple more pics of the penguins and snowman/trees together...

Think I might need to make my trees a little bigger or my snowman a little smaller!

Finally, just a couple of pics of all my little projects together. They don't look too bad all stuck together so I am encouraged to keep practicing and will keep you posted with how I get on. I made my own Christmas fruit cake on my own last year (using my Mum's recipe and a little bit of her know-how in the kitchen!) so am hoping to do the same this year and to decorate it fully...we will see how it goes!

That's it for now! Would appreciate your honest comments to help me improve my sugarcrafting skills! Hoping to do a bit of papercrafting tomorrow and enter a few challenges....had some new digi images, some I won and others accidentally fell into my basket so watch out for those ;)

Hope you have all had a lovely day and thanks for looking!

Hugs

Arline

xx

Speccies and a few challenges!

Hi All

Hope you are all safe and well after what is going on in our country...I cannot believe what has been happening over the last few days. Please take care everyone.

On a more positive note I have had a play with my new Spectrum Noir pens today and I love them! However, I haven't ordered browns or yellows which means I can't really do hair with the ones that I have....good excuse to buy some more at some point ;) This did limit the images I could do a little, so I had a play with one of my Snowman stamps and a Molly Bloom Santa stamp.

My first card today is for a number of challenges. Firstly, I would like to enter it into the Crafter's Companion challenge this month which is 'Glitter and Glitz'....I did go a bit mad with my stickles! I would also like to enter this into the Winter Wonderland challenge this week which is 'White on White', where colours, other than white, can only be on the image you use. I found this a but of a challenge at first but am really happy with the result! I'd also like to enter this card into the Cute Card Thursday challenge which is 'No designer paper' and The Crazy Challenge which is 'embossing'. Phew..that is a lot of challenges with such a simple little card! I was really pleased with my first attempt at blending with my new pens....obviously I am nowhere near as good as a lot of you lovely ladies..I definitely need lots more practice but am pleased with my first attempt :)

My next card today is a little bit different too. I would like to enter this into the Lollipop Crafts Challenge this week which is 'Monochromatic' and also the Papertake Weekly challenge which is to 'Grow Your Own' (include flowers that you have made yourself....I'm not very happy with my flower that I made out of card....I might have another go at making something for this challenge as it hasn't turned out as I wanted...!) I have used one of the new Molly Bloom Santa stamps here, he is such a cutie, and I have had a go at blending him with my grey Spectrum Noir pens....was happy with the result but definitely need more practice! This card looks really plain in the photographs but the white card in the background is embossed with little dots but my camera hasn't picked them up...does look better in the flesh I promise!

Now for a bit of colour! Red! The challenge over at Allsorts this week is to create a 'Red Card' where the colour red has to be the main colour. I enjoyed playing around with this colour and I wasn't sure with the result at first but it is growing on me. I have coloured in Tilda with my ProMarkers and have finished the card off with a bit of faux stitching, just to break up the colour a little bit. I'd also like to enter this card into the Cupcake Craft Challenge this week which is to include stitching (real or faux) on your card.

Another colourful card next! I am really loving my new paper pad so I have gone with the orange/pink colours again so I could use it! I have used a really cute image from Pollycraft, she really is a 'cupcake cutie!' The challenge over at Pollycraft this week is 'recycle' so you have to use items from around the house on your card/project. My image inspired me to use a cupcake case on my card as my 'recycled' item. I'd also like to enter this into the Spoonful of Sugar challenge this week which is to make a 'Happy Birthday' card.

Phew! That was a lengthy post! Hope you enjoyed looking....thanks for visiting my blog! I'm off to bed now...hubby was unwell last night so am hoping he gets a better nights sleep tonight and feels better in the morning. It is our first wedding anniversary on Monday-can't believe how quickly that has gone-where did the last year go! We are off to a spa for a few days and MIL and FIL are cat sitting for us...looking forward to it....sure I will be in blog land before then though!

Hugs

Arline

xx