Happy Stampers Event

Went to the Happy Stampers event in Port Sunlight yesterday. It was great - enjoyed it even more than the first one I went to in May. I went with my friend June. Naturally, we headed to the Clarity stand first and being quite near the front of the queue there weren't so many people around then and so I had chance for a quick chat with Barbara and was at the front when she started her first demo. I had wanted to buy the new 'letter box' set but they didn't have it as it's still a Creat and Craft Exclusive. So naturally, I had to buy some others instead!! Always lovely stamps so no regrets. I also bought a new brayer as my current one seems to be going off. I bought a few other stamps, some chipboard shapes, papers, magazines and ribbon. I spent a little more than I planned but no regrets - a lot of it was stuff I was planning to buy and nothing that I won't use. I'll be sure to tell you when I'm using something I've bought at the show! Watch out for new samples. Oh, and I won't be posting for a few days at least as I'm off to Hove for a memorial service then have a (gulp!) job interview on Tuesday. Will let you know how it goes...

Bit of an odd one!

I love how this card turned out - better than I thought. I've made it as a thankyou for a friend in church so it has a bible verse on. Dee's Boutique is a great site to get free Bible verse digi stamps which is where I have got this from. I've printed it over another freebie scrapbook paper but can't remember where that came from. I added dimension to it with a Spellbinders polka dot frame which I've distressed with walnut stain. The bottom paper was a freebie from a magazine, I think it was 'Making Cards'. Again a little distress ink was added and some fake stitching. I've added a flower, card candi and a creative expression black gem swirl. Hope you like it too.

Autumn Card

I've actually changed this cards since I photographed it but hopefully you can use your imagination. I have since cut it off the black just leaving that as a matt then added a matt of gold and mounted on a red card. It really has warmed it up. However, it was produced for a craft magazine submission and I've now posted it. The backing is actually acetate that I have put a layer of crystal lacquer on which I've added some alcohol inks to then put a layer of tissue paper on - it's called faux crystal I think. Sue Wilson shows the technique on her DVD. The front was then stamped with black leaves. I've added a sentiment and a ribbon on the front. Hope you like it.

Craft Stamper Entry

I decided it would be a good idea to start entering some cards to magazines to show off my work. Partly it's because I'm hoping the prizes might stop me spending so much on crafty stuff!! (Yeah, like thats going to happen!). Anyway, this is one for Craft Stamper magazine using their freebie stamp from the last edition. I hope they like it. I combined in with the Clarity stamp large stamp stamp. The birds were from the Inkylicious 'wings and things' set and the words from the Hobbyart landscape sentiments set. Colours used for the background were the distress inks scattered straw and stormy sky. I then stamped the images in Adirondak Pesto apart from the stamp outline which was in black. Hope you like it - look out for it in print!

Crab Apple Crafts Bithday Bash

Thankfully I remembered by chance that it was my local craft shop's birthday do yesterday. I went up and it was wonderfully busy - so good to see. The shop is owned and run by Nigel and Rosemary Merry. They had several demonstrations under way including Kay from Indigo Blu. I stayed for a while and enjoyed my free cup of tea (resisted the cake!). I'm glad I did stop by as I found some rhinestone and pearl swirls on sale in the shop - hooray! I'd run out and although I've managed to find a site that sells the Creative Expression ones I was going to have to wait for them. Although I was surprised to see Rosemary on Create and Craft this morning - what a busy weekend for her! I'm looking forward to the Happy Stampers event next weekend at Port Sunlight - I'll be sure to post about it afterwards.

Guess what? Warren works with Quick Cards Tis the Season papers too!

I was supposed to be doing constructive things this afternoon (Sunday) but have ended up making cards again! I went looking for some more papers to match up to them and found that the free set called 'Tis the Season' that came with Quick Cards last month also work with the lovely Warren. Hope you like thse too!

Below are a selection of cards I made in my crafty session a couple of days ago. I have loads of vintage Christmas stuff - I bought 2 large scrapbook pads last year in the sale and recently bought a Papermania kit so loads of stuff to work with. There will be more like these to come....

Penny Black Tree Christmas Card

I stamped this quickly when I bought this stamp (last year I think!) and added a greeting but then left it. I decided to use it up so added some chipped saphire distress ink around the edge, some glitter, and some pearl drops to the image. I then matched up some Dovecraft blue papers which I matted on silver. I've added some black stitching with a pen around the edges and Mel Heaton's trick of filling the blank area with clusters of 3 dots. I wanted to try out a different layout - not sure I like it but hope the recipient likes it!

My mum's 70th Birthday Card

I wanted to go all out on this card for my mum but ended up making one like I've done before! I started a different card but didn't like it and scrapped it. Mum love's the colour purple and although it looks a bit blue in the photo it is actually a lilac colour. I've used core dinations paper as the background matt. I half embossed some white card leaving the bottom plain so I could stamp the greeting. I cut some panels of a purple patterened paper and added some clear micro beads over the top. These were matted on the purple card and put over the embossed area on foam tape for depth. The 'Happy Birthday' was stamped with glue then I added some silver gilding flakes. I also used the flakes on my die cut 70. I used ironworks spellbinders for the central layer. I added a pearly swirl and also some glue pearl dots round the edge and on the spellbinders. Lastly there is a crinkly edge organza ribbon with a creative expressions dazzler button at the centre. I'm pleased with the result although wanted to do something a bit more special for mum but I know she'll love it no matter what!

Freebie papers and toppers from Creative Cardmaking Magazine

Bought this mag on Saturday and just love this selection of freebies by Craftwork Cards. They also had a bag of card candi too! I just had to make a few cards while I was feeling inspired! I've added a bid of aged mahogany distress ink, ribbon, other card candi but generally it's just the freebie stuff. Love the pinky and green colours. Loads more to use so will probably post more pictures when I do.

The last one was my attempt at a project in the magazine. It's supposed to look like a wreath but I'm not convinced! Still think it's OK so someone will get it this year!

70th David Brown Tractor Card

This is a commissioned card for a vintage David Brown tractor enthusiast (no, really!)...

I found this image via Google and decided it would be good to use for this card. I used some free paper (when don't I?) from a collection by 'Simply Homemade' magazine. They had a watercolour affect and I have found them very useful. I stamped the 70 using a Dimension Fourth set. I added some floral Clarity stamps to the bottom edge of the card just for a bit of interest. I've also added some rafia - as it's for a bloke I decided ribbon wasn't good.

An unusual Christmas card

Just had to try out the new Holiday Tree Spellbinder Die....

OK so I grabbed the first piece of card just to give it a go. And when I had cut it I just had to use it. I found the stripey paper in a Christmas selection from a magazine freebie set from last year. I added some pearls, ribbon and a large brad. I used Ironworks motifs for the other bits.