Craft Journal

For those of you who like one of the hottest trends in scrapbooking; namely chipboard...

I've written my first article for Craft Journal. Why not pop over and have a look at this site where you will find a link to a fabulous online retailer who has designed a totally unique range of chipboard accents and words.

You'll also find some fabulous inspiration and links from the Craft Journal website. So what are you waiting for? Pop over and have a look!

Going Ribbon Mad!

I bought the gorgeous January ribbon kit from Ribbon Mad. The colours and selection of ribbons were absolutely fabulous, and there was so much in the organza bag that they came in.

I made up my scrapbook page using the Bubbly Funk January sketch and some DCWV papers and used some of the ribbons and the journalling tag from Ribbon Mad's January kit as they just seemed to go perfectly with what I'd chosen for my LO.

Emma at Ribbon Mad asked me to email her a jpeg of my LO, which I did and it's now on her site in the gallery {here}

I can't wait until the February ribbon kit arrives from Emma and I see what sketch Caroline has put together for us to create with. Watch this space....

I know it's early, but...

Look what Will bought me for my birthday!

I LURVE, LURVE, LURVE Radley bags and he treated, nay spoiled, me with this...





It arrived today and as I chose it, it wasn't a surprise so he says there's no real point wrapping it. Couldn't agree more!

Isn't it just gorgeous? It's about 15" wide by 10.5" tall.

I LOVE that man of mine! mwah! xxxx

Thank you

A HUGE thank you goes to Danny at Customer Services for Radley I have a bit of a thing for Radley handbags etc and was a bit disappointed with one of my bags where the stitching came undone and the lining started to fray.

I was bought a new Radley bag for Christmas 2006 and it developed the first of these faults within a few months, which I repaired myself. The fraying problem happened within about 6 months of having it. As it was bought from John Lewis in Peterborough, which is about 30 miles away, I took the lazy option and left it in the bottom of my wardrobe and used one of my other Radleys. Shame really as the bag is gorgeous!

Before Christmas I was given the number of Danny in Milton Keynes Customer Services. I spoke to him and we agreed that I could send my bag bag for them to have a look at and if it could be repaired then they'd have a go for me. I left it until after the Christmas post rush was over and posted it out to him last Thursday.

Imagine my surprise and total delight when I got home from work yesterday and found a brand new replacement bag, courtesy of Radley.

If you ever want a leather handbag of great quality (I have a few Radley bags and accessories all of which are great!) I cannot recommend this brand highly enough. Their customer services has proven to be second to none!

Thanks again Danny! Can't wait until my birthday on Saturday as I have two more bags waiting to be unwrapped!

Daring Card Makers Catch Up

Playing catch up now my mojo has returned home!

Hide and Seek
Hi there, It's me, Kathy, here to set the challenge this week. Okay, for my dare we're heading to the playground for a game of Hide & Seek I'd like you to make a card which has a hidden component of some sort.
The hidden part could be a tag, a concealed photo, message or something along those lines, maybe a pull-out or pop-up.
Anything goes as long as there's something extra for the recipient to find on your card that's not immediately visible when they open the envelope.

I made this card in time for the dare but never uploaded it. Yep! It's got peel-offs which I absolutely HATE with a passion, but as it's for my friend who'll be 65 soon I actually thought they'd go quite well (So hope that doesn't come across in the wrong way!!) There is a little message on the back of the tag to her. I'm being very good at the mo as this is all made using stash. The paper I have had so long that I haven't a clue where it came from. The hearts and the flower are embellished with a little dimensional glaze to give it the raised effect.



Sending in the Substitute
Today's Little Extra was going to feature a tutorial by the fabby Jo which we hoped would inspire you to get creating. But poor Jo's been poorly all night and hasn't been able to upload it, so we'll just have to hang on a bit longer for that one - it'll be something to look forward to though. Hope you're feeling better really soon, Jo.

Tempting Template
In the meantime here's a card sketch for you to play with. Remember, you can twist, shrink, stretch and even turn it upside down - as long as we can find the basic plan in there use this sketch in whatever way you like.

I'm not one to use the freebie papers in magazines, but I really like this Blonde Moments paper, even though it is glossy. I cut two strips of heavily embossed watercolour paper and inked the edges in two colours of pink to tone with the papers. To tie in with the sketch, I cut into the design to overlap these two strips and then cut the top of the heart to tuck my tag underneath. The alpha stamps are from Stamps Away



Foiled
Hi all - Jo here to dare you this week. My dare this week is 'Foiled!' -I would like you to utilise some plain old aluminium (aluminum for our friends across the pond!) foil from your kitchen :). You can scrunch it, die cut it, emboss it, ink it, coil it, cover chipboard - or anything else that you choose!


I didn't want to use tin foil and was looking through my box when I came across this foiled paper from Kings I think. I've had it so long and have never used any of it so dusted it off for this dare. The hearts and the heart slider are cut with a Sizzix die. The chipboard swirl is an exclusive design from Bubbly Funk, the heart paper is embossed using a Cuttlebug folder. Both of these I've enhanced using metallic rub on paste in red and gold to tone.




As it's my 20th Wedding Anniversary in July, I may just save this for my DH, either that or mum dad can have it from the kids as it's their 50th in March.

Di Hickman Catch up...

My mojo has been off wandering recently but thankfully has now returned. I sat down last night with the deliberate intention of not switching on the happy (or very UNhappy lappy that I've had recently) so that I could get a bit of cutting and sticking in.

I managed to make 4 cards - 2 for Di Hickman's sketches and 2 for Daring Card Makers (which I'll blog in a mo).

For the January #3 sketch I made this...



All the papers were from stash. The ribbon was from Ribbon Mad and is one of my faves at the mo (so I've got 3 colours!). The slider was cut using a Sizzix die.

And for January #4 sketch I made this...



The paper was a RAK from Kathy. The slider was cut using a Sizzix die. The Happy Birthday seal was embossed using a Cuttlebug mini folder then cut around using scallop scissors. I then inked it slightly to add some definition to the raised surface.

I've received the sketches from Di for the whole of February and boy! Are you lot in for some inspiration to work from. I've already started making two of them, but you'll have to wait to see what they look like when the time comes to upload.

Bubbly Funk January Scrapbook Sketch

This page was made using the Bubbly Funk January Scrapbook Sketch. I've already posted two pages using this sketch (one of which I REALLY do not like!). I like the sketch so had another go at it when I came across this photo that I'd printed out previously. The gorgeous pink and mint ribbons came from Ribbon Mad along with the jounalling tag that I used too.



I'm pleased with this page!

Craft-Ed Portfolio Pages

As part of being a Craft-Ed Consultant, you need to put together your 'Make and Take' pages. These are mine...







I have one more page to do on the 'Birthday' theme, but I've still got to sort the photographs out for that. Maybe after this weekend....?

The other 3 new Make and Takes I haven't got yet, but I will soon and I'll upload them when I've done them.

Poorly sick!

Been a bit under the weather these last few days. Got the dreaded cold/feeling totally yuk virus. Started on Tuesday night with a mild sore throat. Got worse Wednesday, totally hitting me with the full blown symptoms within about half an hour on Wednesday night. Thursday was a struggle at work, bleary eyes and snotty nose, so I finished work early and went home to tuck up in bed.

Friday was just not going to happen. I took Freya to school wearning my pj's with a coat on top hoping no-one wanted to talk to me in the car park as I looked a right bloody site (puffy eyes, runny nose, no make-up - you get the picture). Came home, went straight back to bed and woke at lunchtime!! By 3pm I was ready for bed again but no, that wasn't happening either as I had to pick Freya up from school again. So we chilled for the rest of the afternoon and I chilled out for the rest of the evening. No energy - no being bothered!

So far I've gone through a whole loo roll blowing my nose and plenty of zinc and castor oil to stop it drying out and adding to the already Rudolph lookie likie that I'm sporting.

To cheer me up, Will ordered my birthday pressie today - I'm having a new Radley and bag for my collection (woo hoo!) and he booked the restaurant for my birthday dinner next week. {This} is where we're going. We've been there a few times before and the food has always been fantastic. So a table for 12 is in our name.

CAN NOT believe that my 40th is only a week away now. Certainly don't feel 40 I can tell you. I used to think that 40 was old until I approached it rapidly myself and now don't think that it is at all! LOL

I'll accept any healing vibes you've got going spare please! Need to be better for the first day of the rest of my life next Saturday, don't I?

Writing for Craft Journal

I've been accepted by Lisa to write articles for Craft Journal. Thanks Lisa!

I've got lots of things to think of to write about both for Craft Journal and another commitment I have at the moment that I can't quite tell you about yet.

Wow! Good job I like to be busy eh?

What's the recipe for your personality?

The Recipe For Rosie

3 parts Savvy 2 parts Warmth 1 part Shrewdness Splash of Tolerance Sip slowly on the beach

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

DCM - Me and My Shadow

Hiya fellow darers, Jane here ! How are you all ? This weeks dare is a hard one !! Sorry everyone, but it had to be done !! :)

I want you to create not just one but TWO cards ! But wait........there's more ! I want both cards to contain the same embellishments and papers, ribbons etc- but arranged in a different way for a different occasion....the only thing being different is the wording....I'll let you have different wording ! (How nice of me eh?) I'm well aware this is a really hard challenge, and that I have thrown everyone into 2008 off the deep end....but go on- give it a go - I DARE YOU !




Everything is from stash and has been there for a while. Even the green paper has been stamped and embossed for over a year just waiting to be used (it was stamped with a snowflake for Christmas 2006!) I cut the leaves with a Sizzix Thick Cut die. and used the shadow filled with the die cut sample that you get with the original die.

My aim with this dare was to go simple with a masculine touch - hope I managed it!

Di Hickman - January Sketch #2/DCM mid week

This is my interpretation of Di Hickman's sketch #2 for January.



I can claim a double whammy on this one as the Sizzix die used to cut the swirl is new. I didn't get any stash for Christmas, but I bought this for myself.

PP was a freebie from Kathy Bronze cardstock from stash. Flowers are Prima. Gems are from stash. Swirl cut using Sizzix extended cut.

DCM - New

The first dare of 2008 is set by Lynne.

For this weeks dare, I would like our cards to celebrate

'New'

So not only New Year, but maybe New Home, New Baby, New Job or maybe a card for someone who is starting a new chapter in their life.

This is what I came up with. I made it on time but never got it photographed in daylight. I only took my photos today.



Paper was a freebie from Kathy. Ribbon from Ribbon Mad. Blooms Bazzil and Prima. Alphas Sizzix Curie Girlie.
I'm hoping to sit down tonight and make this week's dare too.

Photos

I have some photos to take and upload but need daylight to do it. I've done the DCM Friday dare from last week and the midweek challenge as well as another couple of cards so hopefully I'll get that done during the waking hours tomorrow!

Goodnight!

Award

Kaz nominated her blog buddies for a 'You Make My Day' Award. Thanks Kaz.

You are meant to pass it on to your blog buddies. I am going to pass this award on to my friends with blogs and one person especially.

I would ask that you all visit Hayley and read about her battle against cancer. This is one amazing, very strong young lady with such a zest for life like you can only imagine. May she indeed Kick Cancer's Arse! LOL

Woo me!!!

You may remember I shared a card {here} with you just before Christmas last year as Di Hickman was having a call for card sketch team members.

Well to update you all - I didn't make the team! :-(

BUT...

I was offered a guest team slot for February!!! YAY ;-)

Can't wait until I get my first sketch emailed over to see what I can make of it.

Di Hickman - January Sketch #1

Di Hickman set a lovely sketch for the first of 2008. I can see me using this one time and time again.

Here is what I came up with:



My ribbons are from my drawer and could be from a couple of different suppliers. The flowers are Primas and the ribbons are from my tin. The letters are actually magnets that were a lovely pressie from my friend Caroline over at Bubbly Funk The stamped 'h' is from Amuse.

And here is what Freya made, sitting beside me, watching intently and interpreting the sketch to make it her own. My only help was with the swirls.



All pieces are from stash (hers and mine!) I think at 7 years old, she's done an absolutely FAB job, don't you?

Freya's card can also qualify for the DCM dare this week of 'New'

Joke of the day....

A Boy and his dad are at a chemist. They walk past the condom display and the boy asks, "Dad what are those for?" The dad replies, "Son they're for safe sex."
The little boy then asks why one box has only 3 condoms. The dad answers, "Because that is for high school boys. One for Friday night, one for Saturday night, and one for Sunday night."
The boy then inquires why another box has 6 condoms. The dad explains that it is for college boys. 2 for Friday night, 2 for Saturday night, and 2 for Sunday night.
The boy sees another box of condoms with 12 and asks his dad why. The dad says, "Son that is for married men. One for January, one for February.... "

Scrapbook pages

The design of these pages was based on the Bubbly Funk January sketch. The reason that I've made two is that I really didn't like the first one of me - I can see it getting taken apart so that I can re-use the photo again.

Layout template

I have made the most of my extended Christmas break from work and designed 3 templates on PSE6 this morning.

Would anyone be interested in having a go at making them up? I plan to upload one a month.

I will make mine up and if there is interest I'll upload the template to my blog.

If you want to have a go each month, please leave me a message so that I can gauge the interest.

Thanks!

Joke of the day....

Little Johnny is approached by the lifeguard at the public swimming pool.
"You're not allowed to pee in the pool," said the lifeguard.
"I'm going to report you."
"But everyone pees in the pool," said Little Johnny.
"Maybe," said the lifeguard, "but not from the diving board!"

Joke of the day....

Dear Diary....

My husband has not been happy with my mood swings lately, so the other day, he bought me a mood ring so he would be able to monitor my moods. When I'm in a good mood it turns green. When I'm in a bad mood it leaves a big red mark on his left cheek. Maybe next time he'll buy me a diamond.

Sincerely,

Bitchy!

Joke of the day....

The owner of a chemist walks in to find a bloke leaning heavily against a wall with an odd look on his face.

The owner asks the assistant, "What's with that bloke over there by the wall?"

The assistant says, "Well, he came in here at 7am to get something for his cough. I couldn't find the cough syrup, so I gave him an entire bottle of laxatives."

The owner says, "You idiot! You can't treat a cough with laxatives!"

The assistant says, "Oh yeah? Look at him - he's afraid to cough!"

Diaries - 2008

These were once plain, basic, black covered diaries. They're now slightly more feminine.

One is a week to a day to keep track of my crafty commitments etc, the other is a page a day for work.




Papers are DCWV, the blooms are from Dunelm. Alphas cut with Sizzix Curlie Girlie and the swirl is from Bubbly Funk.

Bubbly Funk - Secret Santa (2)

This is the lovely address book that I received from Karen in the Secret Santa swap.

Isn't it gorgeous?

Sneaky peek

This is a sneaky peek at my entry into Caroline's CJ for the swap over at Bubbly Funk



The theme is Black and White with one accent colour.

My daughter bought me this...

This is what Freya bought me for Christmas. We were in John Lewis when she saw this and sneaked daddy away from me to buy it. She bought it from her own money which only left her about £2 to spend on herself.

What more can I say...? I love it and will cherish it always. Thank you darling!

Joke for you...

No offense meant or to be taken by anyone reading this (especially if your name is Mick or Paddy or if you're Irish!)

Mick and Paddy reading headstones in a churchyard.

Mick says "Paddy! There's a bloke here who was 152 when he died!"

Paddy says "What was his name?"

Mick says.... "Miles from London!"



I will try to do a daily funny for you.

It's my blog's 1st birthday!

I started my blog exactly one year ago today, on New Year's Day 2007. I'm proud of myself that I've managed to keep it up an actually made 202 posts throughout last year.

My aim this year is to keep it up and to improve my work that I display.

Have a wonderful 2008 everyone, see you back here soon I hope.

xx

DCM - Team Dare Year End... 4 of the best

Hi All. Today we have decided to revisit your most favourite dares of 2007. The four top dares, decided by the number of comments you made on them are (in no particular order): 'buttons', 'ribbons', ...'and cut' and 'frames'. We would like you to use this week as many of those dares as you like to make your card in any theme and any style.


I managed to include all 4 of the best elements into my card. BUTTONS and a RIBBON on the FRAME which is set over a die CUT initial.



I've also never painted with acrylics straight onto a card to create a background so am pretty please with the result there too. Couldn't make it too monochromatic so I added a simple, red button to the bottom right hand corner. It's for Will's birthday on 3rd January.

I painted a bare chipboard negative 'W' with black acrylic paint and a slide mount with white acrylic paint. These were then both double coated with UTEE for the gloss effect.