Tuesday 28 April 2009

Biscornu finished


I have really enjoyed completing my first biscornu and the kit from Polstitches was fab. The dragon floss was lovely to work with and I am pleased with the end result.




Monday 27 April 2009

Craftbubble Flower Tag

Had real fun making this - watercoloured the background and butterflies ( a Smirk stamp) and added ribbon, jewels and flowers from stash and then used a Zebra Jimnie Gel Rollerball to add silver swirls, border and lettering.


Now I really should go and finish the biscornu but I'll just have a quick blog browse first. XXX

Saturday 25 April 2009

'The Gargoyle'

I have just finished this novel and I loved it. Davidson plays with the whole concept of story telling and the role of the reader. It combines history, romance and mystery and is a real page turner. I really enjoyed his use of Dante's 'Inferno' and the recurring idea of making meanings over time in relationships and deeds. Some bits are a little gory but I think they make the characters real and add drama and black humour.

Next read : 'The Floating Book by Michelle Lovric.
Have a good weekend. XXX

Pink, Black and White - CC

Again I've been thinking about this all week but struggling. Eventually this afternoon this came together with my Hero Arts stamps and K & Co papers with a few stars from my stash.. Hopefully my friend will like it too. XXX

Smirking Cupcake



Have found it difficult to be creative this week - feeling grotty with a cold and Tilly has taken to sleeping less and wanting my undivided attention when awake - which is lovely but it doesn't give much time to crafting. Eventually found alittle inspiration from Smirk this afternoon.




Papers are from the 'Love and Friendship' stack, bow, jewel and sentiment are from my stash and the stamp is watercoloured using my paints. Are the pens like promarkers better, what do you all think? XXX

Friday 17 April 2009

Butterflies are lovely!

I have become fixated on butterflies this week and have made two ATCs using folded paper for the monthly swap on Craftbubble and a birthday card for my friend's little girl, who will be two.






I have used the 'Truly Srumptious' challenge sketchie for the birthday card - and have decided to enter it although I'm not sure if it's too simple. But all learners have to start somewhere, don't they?
I am in love with the stamps that arrived this week from Willow Designs, and I have used one for the card. I watercoloured the background and small details. Along with the image I used papers from the 'Blossoms and Butterflies Stack' (what else!). The gems are from my small stash and the stamp inside is a Hero Arts one.




I am off to have a play with the Winnie and Walter downloads as I have another two year old to make a card for. Thanks for any comments or suggestions. Have a lovely weekend. XXX

Tuesday 14 April 2009

One Layer Hedgehog for CupCake!

Had a lovely time playing the other day with my first Penny Black stamp and my watercolours - it had to be a hedgehog! I think I'll be using her lots. I decided to use her for this weeks one layer Cupcake Challenge. I have put her on a paper from the 'Blossoms and Butterflies Stack' and added a flocked 'For you' and some flowers from Sanook - they are fab. Hope you like it. I love looking at the DT cards. XXX




Spring card for Craftbubble

Following from the card I made the other day I decided to go with the idea of taking one of my spring photos and altering it and adding poetry for the Sping card comp on Craftbubble. I've teamed it with some 'Blossoms and Butterflies Stack' papers and flowers from 'Sanook Paper Company' and a butterfly from 'The Fruit Pixie'. I've called it 'Bloomed'. I really love Spring - it is so beautiful and vivid.

I've ordered some goodies from Willow Designs so I am eagerly awaiting their arrival. Off to do some sewing on the Biscornu tonight, I am really enjoying that. XXX

Sunday 12 April 2009

Colour Create Challenge 'Chocolate and Cream' and Happy Easter

Happy Easter. Had a lovely day - went for a wood walk this morning then had some crafting time this afternoon. We went to the Monkton Nature Reserve where there were lots of flowers in bloom and birds singing. I have used a picture I took this morning in the card I have made this afternoon for the Colour Create Challenge because the scene made me think of how nature is slower to change and therefore links us to the past. I have altered the image using a program which allowed sepia and the vintage cropping. I've used part of a Yeats' poem for the text which I printed on the background and put on a K&Co tag. The card is opalescent and the stamp is a dovecraft one. The Fiskars paper edgers give the frame I made a distressed feel.




The biscornu is developing too.





Hope everyone has had a lovely day - thanks for looking. XXX

Wednesday 8 April 2009

Gran's Birthday card and Cupcake Craft Challenge 34










Having a play around today with K & Company papers and came up with this card. The folding challenge on Cupcake Craft helped too. I really like the Hero Arts butterfly stamp which I have used in metallic silver - worked well with the blue - I wasn't sure it would show up. the verse is cute too -"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away."


Also made a little daisy box.

Tuesday 7 April 2009

Biscornu started



Started the biscornu from Polstitches today. It is a lovely kit and is coming together well - just wish I had more time, like everyone else. The flosses are really wonderful to work with.




Have also been experimenting with folds for the 'Cupcake Craft Challenge' and thinking duck blue and rose for 'Colour Create'.

Used the folding method to create two pockets in which to insert two items. Still thinking about it and where to go with it for the challenge - I did like the Dovecraft punch for the corner.

Hopefully tomorrow will be more inspiring.

Saturday 4 April 2009

Cupcake Craft Challenge







As I am new to card making and blogging I came across Cupcake Craft Challenges today and have been inspired to have a go. Looking at the site and other blogs I realise I am a real novice but decided to have a go with some of the stash I have acquired. So here is my attempt - what do you think?
I love the colour combination of the Papermania brads with the Emma Schonenberg papers:






Broach kit




DH gave me this kit yesterday for my B'day - had a spare moment today and I think it has turned out quite well. I would definitely be tempted to try other kits from this range. I might even get some more material and make a few as presents to go with cards.

Kit was from www.blankits.co.uk.

Thursday 2 April 2009

Latest read


Popped in to the library today to return 'Sepulchre' by Kate Mosse, which I recommend. I was in luck to find they had in stock my next read.
"A young man is fighting for his life. Into his room walks a bewitching woman who believes she can save him. Their journey will have you believing in the impossible."
So, we will see!


UFOs







Here are a few unfinished pieces. One is a silk paint and one is going to be a wall hanging 'A Stitch in Time'. Who knows when I'll finish them! I try and work when i get inspired - hopefully I will finish them one day - especially the wall hanging.

Wednesday 1 April 2009

Biscornu pack has arrived

I recommend Polstitches - I can't believe my Polstitches biscornu 'Amazing Grace' has arrived already. I am so excited. But I'm not allowed to start until friday as it is a birthday pressie from DH. It will be my first biscornu - how wrong can I go!

On Craftbubble saw a link to a french site with a cool biscofleur (http://lamaisondanael.forumactif.com/forum-f3/un-second-biscofleur-t4527.htm#40399)- sort of Tulip shaped biscornu - already thinking ahead!

Having spent most of yesterday setting this blog up I need to go and do some stitching to post! However I have realised how addictive blog hopping is!