Di Hickman - April Sketch # 5

Di has set a lovely cubic sketch for us this week. Although I've stuck pretty much to the sketch, I've altered it slightly. Rather than 4 even squares, I've used blocks of different sizes and a stamped greeting to be the fourth element.



Materials:
White 5 1/4" square card.
Papers: BasicGrey Phoebe.
Flowers: Prima.
Buttons: Stash.
Ribbon: Debbi Moore.
Stamped greeting: Tim Holtz.
Inkpad: Stazon.
Glitterglue: Stickles.
White pen: Sakura.

2 Sketches 4 You - bonus sketch

I managed to make the bonus sketch for 2 Sketches for You again this week which was set by Savitri.



Materials:
White A5 card.
Stamped background: Rhonna Farrer, Autumn Leaves.
Papers: BasicGrey & Paper Adventures.
Blooms: Prima, Aunty Sarah's, Bazzill.
Die cut Oval: Sizzix.
Alphas and Swirl: Tim Holtz Grungeboard.
Paint: Reeves.
Ribbon: Ribbon Mad.
Pins: Ebay.
Gems: Stash.
Inkpad: ColorBox.

2 Sketches 4 You

Kazan set this week's sketch #25 over on 2 Sketches 4 You to follow.

I wanted to keep this card really simple as it's for a 16 year old lad.


Materials:
White 5 1/4" square card.
Paper: K & Co.
Chipboard/Denim alphas: Thickers.
Wings & Star: Tim Holtz Grungeboard.
Paint: Reeves.
Fine pen: Stabilo.

BasicGrey Challenge

This week sees Challenge no. 32 - Christine's sketch.


Materials:
White 5 1/4" square card.
Papers: BasicGrey Figgy Pudding 'Red Ryder'.
Rubons: BasicGrey Boxer.
Chipboard Frame: Cosmo Cricket Blackboard.
Brads & Ribbon: Stash.
Scalloped punch: Fiskars.

BasicGrey Card kit.

I was in my local TK Maxx the other day having a browse and a mooch at the goodies (as you do!) and I came across a BasicGrey cardmaking pack for a fiver! Bargain I thought, a pack of quick & easy cards to make to boost up the collection. So I bought it, took it home and made these 8 cards... Easy peasy and quick, quick, quick!

All the cards, envelopes, diecut papers and embellishments were included along with an easy to follow instruction book on how to make the cards. Great for a beginner and quick and easy too.

These card packs would be fab for a child to make I'm thinking. (Ok, I know what you're thinking, I've just said fab for a child and I made them up! Say no more - no need!)

Indigo Mill

Just remembered that I haven't uploaded my projects from the last Indigo Mill DT day at Steph's mum's house. Silly me!

I made a load of cards from offcuts/leftovers from LOs made by the rest of the DT and a couple of LOs myself.

Sneaky peeks

Just a couple of sneaky peeks of a couple of cards I've made recently... I don't want to reveal the whole picture just yet though.

Daring Card Makers

Kathy's turn to set the DCM dare this week as follows: "I have loads of enormous paper flowers that I have bought and never used. So I want to see some really big embellishments on your cards. Bonus points for outsize blooms!"


Materials:
White A5 card.
Papers: BasicGrey Granola.
Sentiment: Chatterbox.
Blooms: Dunelm, Aunty Sarah's & Prima.
Alphas: BasicGrey.
Ribbon: Costco.
Gems: Kirsty Wiseman's Patti's Pretties.
Fineline pen: Stabilo.
Inkpad: Pretty Colour.

Inspirational Card Sketches #13

Over on Inspirational Card Sketches, for Dawn's 13th sketch she gave us a circle to work with.

I drew a circle using a compass on the reverse of some paper and then tore it out to create my circular base. All other pieces of paper came from offcuts.


Materials:
White 5 1/4" card.
Papers: BasicGrey Urban Prairie.
Flowers: Prima.
Gems: Kirsty Wiseman's Pattis Pretties.
Fineline pens: Stabilo.
Chipboard: Sassafrass.

Kathy's sketch 2009 #9; A little bit of lace

Kathy's latest sketch is all about a central accent with a little bit of lace. I used up all old stash to make my card this week.


Materials:
White 5 1/4" square card.
Papers: Making Memories Cosmopolitan Collection.
Lace: Stash.
Chipboard accents: Adornit & Maya Road.
Flowers: Stash.
Letter stickers: Making Memories.

2 Sketches 4 You - bonus sketch

Ewonne set the bonus sketch over on 2 Sketches for You. I like the simplicity of this sketch so decided to use it as a frame with a bit of doodling.


Materials:
White 5 1/4" square card.
Chipboard frame & circle: I think it's from Sassafras but as the packaging is no more, I can't be sure.
Blooms: Dunelm & Aunty Sarah's.
Ribbon: Stash.
Pins: Ebay.
Fine line brown pen: Stabilo.
Letter stickers: Making Memories.

Laura's sketch 24

Laura set the sketch over on 2 Sketches 4 You, and it's a lovely sketch too.

I made a square card for my take on the sketch but changed the orientation of the backing strips by 90 degrees.


Materials:
White 5 1/4" square card.
Papers: BasicGrey Urban Prairie.
Bloom: Dunelm.
Chipboard sentiment: WRMK.

Daring Card Makers - Games & Toys for Boys

I made this card for the DCM dare this week, but looking at it now I realise just how basic it looks. I could have made this card when I first started, so my apologies to all for hurting your eyes!


You know why I think it looks so bad...? Because I used peel offs - pet hate of mine as anyone who knows me will know. Thought I'd challenge myself to use them. Now I know why I don't like them! Sorry to anyone that is a peel off lover, but they're just not me!

Materials
White A6 card.
Papers: Dovecraft.
Pens: Sharpie & Stabilo.
Inkpad: Pretty Colour.

Di Hickman - April Sketches # 3 & #4

I'm a bit behind with Di Hickman's sketch from last week, so here are both last and this weeks...

April Sketch #3


April Sketch #4


Materials:
Sketch #3
Red 5" square card.
White oriental print paper: Debbi Moore CD printed onto white linen paper.
Bloom: Aunty Sarah's
Quote: Chatterbox.
Gems: Stash.
Pen: Stabilo.
Sketch #4
White 6"x4" card.
Card: offcuts from stash.
Ribbon: Indigo Mill.
Stamp: Studio G.
People fabric: KI Memories.
Ampersand: WRMK.

Happy Birthday Dad / St George's Day one and all!

Have a wonderful (72nd) birthday Dad. We love you loads and are thankful for all that you do for us.

To everyone else... Happy St. Georges Day from a true English girl!

If you're English, be proud and spread the word of our Patrol Saint's day.

You can get the piccie above (free) from here

Clever clogs

I've not long been back from Jacob's parents evening. I am SOOOOO proud of my boy! He's currently in year 8 and is sitting his SATS (for internal marking) a year early, in 2 weeks time.

Talking to his teachers, they all say the same thing...

He is a very bright boy.
He is a pleasure to teach.
He adds so much interesting conversation and suggestions to the class.
He is too talkative at times.
He needs to get down on paper what he has in his head more.

He's also now on track to attain a total of 6 GCSEs by the end of his year 9 - TWO YEARS EARLIER than normal.

You cannot imagine just how HUGELY proud we are of his achievements. He has/is/continues to work hard and to push his own boundaries - a fabulous achievement for such a young man! In the subjects where he is working to 'Extended' criteria, he is becoming more and more determined to break through that target and hit 'Advanced' - the highest target available to the students.

We are two pumped up proud parents tonight, I can tell you! Just wait until his Grandparents hear how well he's doing.

Hmmm... just a thought.... this school report may cost me dearly in the treat stakes me thinks! HAHA

2 Sketches 4 You - Sketch #23

Out of synch and slightly late, but better late than never, eh?



Materials:
White 5 1/4" square card.
Papers: BasicGrey & wood grain.
Stamp: Stamps Away.
Alphas: Making Memories.
White pen: Sakura.
Glitter pen: Sakura.

2 Sketches 4 You - Sketch #24

Kazan set the sketch challenge this week. I had a card to make for a 70th birthday, so used this sketch as it was really plain, simple and very easy to adapt to a man.


Materials:
Cream, 5" x 7" card.
Papers: BasicGrey Granola.
Letter stickers: American Crafts.
Shaped edge: Bazzill Just the Edge.
Fine pen: Stabilo.
White pen: Sakura.

Over on BasicGrey Challenges... This weeks challenge is is a firm favourite for a lot of people (including me), so for this weeks challenge we would like to see some paper piecing in your creations :), please remember though that you must use at least one item from BasicGrey somewhere in your creation, and most of all have fun creating


I pierced 6 holes in each corner and then using 6 strands of embroidery floss, I stitched my papers to my card base.

Materials:
5 1/4" square white card.
Papers: BasicGrey Eva.
Stamp: Little Claire.
Ink pad: Stazon.
Flowers: Prima.
Glitter glue: Stickles.
Watercolour pencils: Derwent Aquatone.
Fine pen: Stabilo.
Embroidery floss: DMC.

Rosie-Dee's Challenge

It's my turn again to set the challenge over on Rosie-Dee's and I've chosen St. George (being an English girl!) 23rd April is also my dad's birthday. Do you know... every year they celebrate my dad's birthday by getting the flags out! HAHA!!


Why not pop over to see what this image above is all about?

x

Pay it forward

I think this is such a lovely idea.

I saw this on Debbie' blog and now, I'm paying it forward too. The first three people to leave a comment will receive a hand made gift from me! (I don't quite know what it's going to be yet, but I promise I will make you something nice). Please make sure I have a way of contacting you - i.e. your email address / bloglink.

The only thing you have to do to participate and carry on the kindness is to post the "pay it forward" image onto your blog and offer up a handmade gift to three more people.

Spread the word of generosity and kindness to others through your blog and we will try to make the world a much nicer place.

My busy, busy boy!

I never imagined the day when my kids would sit exams. Jacob has already sat is KS1 and KS2 and now he's preparing to sit his KS3 SATS in about 3 weeks time. I know that they're normally sat in year 9 and he's only in year 8 but his school accelerate the kids if they're able and he's sitting his at the end of this term. Looking through his revision guides, I realise that there is so much that I still remember of his maths and science but so much that I've forgotten too. My fave subjects at school were maths and science and he seems to be taking after me - often coming top in his group in both subjects (YAY!! My clever lad!)

I know it sounds so sad, especially if you don't love maths (and there are loads out there that don't - my DH being one of them) but I may find myself swatting up on his revision guides when he's finished with them to refresh the old grey matter that has become my splodgy brain!!

He is so chilled about the whole exam process - he has a fantastic school with fantastic tutors willing him on and both Will and myself here at home to support him too.

Wish him luck! Obviously I'll let you know how he gets on (if I remember! hehe!)

Craft Journal

What is this gorgeousness above I hear you cry?

Well, I've written and uploaded a new article to Craft Journal today all about it. It's one of the loveliest products that wasn't made for scrapbooking or cardmaking that I've found recently.

Why not pop over and have a look at what it is for yourself?

Rosie-Dee's Challenge

Last week I set the challenge of Butterflies over on Rosie-Dee's. These are my cards...



Materials:
Cream 5"x7" & White 5 1/4" square card.
Cardstock embellishments: Crate Paper - Indigo Mill
Trim: Indigo Mill
Hessian Ribbon: Opitec
Black fineline pen: Stabilo

BasicGrey Challenge 30 - Chocolate Soft Centres

Here is the challenge...

As it's Easter on Sunday, we thought we would have a challenge inspired by all those lovely chocolate treats you will be scoffing into hehe, so this week we would like you to take inspiration from your favourite Chocolates :), so say your favourite chocolate is Mint chocolate, well you could then base the colours of your card on this so your card would be Brown and Green :), sounds scrumptious doesn't it, I can't wait to see you chocolate inspired creations this week, but please don't forget to use at least one item from BasicGrey on your creation.

To explain.... my fave choc combo is Turkish delight - lovely, smooth milk chocolate enrobing a gorgeous pink bar of turkish delight.... schlurp!!!

And here is my card...


Materials:
White 5 1/4" square card.
Papers: BasicGrey EVA.
Rub on: Basic Grey SUGARED.
Flower: Prima
Candy Dots: Pebbles Inc.
Glitter Glue: Stickles.
Ribbon: Freebie from Marie.
Journalling spot: Fancy Pants.

Patti Picklicious

I made a couple of cards using the free downloads that Kirsty Wiseman kindly offered out a while back to complement her FAB Patti Picklicous CD that's now available.




Materials:
White 5 1/4" square card & white A6 card.
Papers: Kirsty Wiseman - Patti Picklicious.
Red Flower: Dunelm.
Ribbon: Stash.
Pins: Stash.
Corrugated card: Recycled box.
Gems: Stash.

Di Hickman - Card Sketch April #2

Di set a lovely sketch to follow this week (sorry Di, I've missed a couple of weeks - been a bit busy!)

Here's what I made for it...



Materials:
Cream 5"x7" card.
Black flocked 'sticky backed plastic' from Fablon. (don't you just think Blue Peter when you hear those words!)
Ribbon, Turquoise ribbon flower: Indigo Mill.
Turquoise braid: stash.
Gelly Roll Clear Star pen: Sakura

Daring Card Makers - Hide & Seek

This week the dare is hide and seek. I would like to see a hidden message or element on your cards. For a double dare include both! I tend to make very straightforward cards as a rule so this was a challenge for me but I have to say there are some great tutorials out there if you are stuck for ideas. I can't wait to see what you come up with this week.

So this was Jozza's challenge to us all, and this is my card..




Materials:
White A6 card.
Papers: JillyBean Soup from Indigo Mill.
Ribbon: Stash.
Black beads: Patti's Pretties from Kirsty Wiseman.
Inkpad: Pretty Colours.
Stamp: Studio G.

Rosie-Dee's Challenge

My turn again over on Rosie-Dee's to set the challenge.

Your sneaky peeks for the week....