Blog Candy Alert

The lovely Dawny P at pink piggy has some gorg blog candy up for grabs. Head on over and enter yourself to be in with a chance to win. I love dawns fresh style of cards, I only wish that I could achieve the same results, but mine always seem to have so much clutter on them.

I hoping to get some of my halloween cards posted in the next couple of days before I go away. I am going on a cruise, and cant wait for a relaxing time, and almost forget about Christmas. Can you believe the shops in Newcastle have Christmas decoations up already. ARGHHHHHH

Super Gorjuss Halloween

This is a break from my Christmas cards - Halloween is fast approaching and I will be away on holiday, so I have to get a move on and out before I go.

This card actually happened by accident. I bought some new 300gsm card to print on - Printed some pp pattern on it. I then went to fold the card an couldn't find my bone folder and so used my finger (big mistake or maybe not) the ink smudge across the top. I then had a brainwave for a halloween card, so I smudge all the other edges. I also used one of my gorjuss images that I have'nt ink up yet.

My spider was a button that I put on then end and the two holes inspired me and decided it would be a brill creeping crawley. I am really please with how it came out.

Hope you like.

Elzybells notecard

A little note card, that I did for my partners mum, she likes to craft like me, but she loves to do more scrapbooks. I love these elzybells images, and I keep meaning to more with them, but I am working my way through a mountain of Christmas cards at the moment. Just a quick post today, but hopefully will get more of my Christmas cards on here as time goes on.

These are some thank you cards that I did for a friends wedding. They went over to Rhodes to get married, and had loads friends and family over there, but they also recieved loads of well wishes from people who could not attend. There are two versions of the cards, one for people who attending the ceremony as a momento of the day. The other is for people who could not attend but sent them their love. Hope you like. The photos dont really do them justice I dont think.

Sorry!!!!!!

I have been really bad lately and I have not done any postings or cards to show. But I have a new computer now, and hopefully will be able to get more on top of things now!!! will post the wedding cards tomorrow, and some great photo's I took when we were at Cragside, in Northumberland the other week.

tc clairlou

Elzybells Challenge

I decided to enter my first challenge. I always look at these challenges, and think I would love to take part, but then something comes up and I never find the time. This challenge was great as I already knew what I wanted to do, and had the materials to do it. It is not very complicated or original, but I wanted a sketchbook so I could scribble all my ideas down when they (more often than not) pop into my head, and then forget them.

I found this book at paperchase, I love all of their stuff, and I bought one as a Journal when I was up in Scotland, which surprisingly I have kept up to date with. I then seen these blank version, and I knew it would be perfect for what I wanted, and I love the fabric on the front. I had loads of ideas in my mind of how I wanted to decorate this, and then the Elzybells release day came, and I had birthday money, and I thought they would be perfect.

I wanted to keep it simple, as the new inks would have a dramatic enough effect on the material, and speak for themselves.

A couple of things today........

Elzybells release day today.  I have been on the computer at work, waiting for midday, so that I can place my order.  I was so excited to know that they were stocking kraft card, as I have been looking everywhere for it.  I have now placed my order, and I cant wait to get them, so I can start and have a play.

It was my birthday last Friday, and I used the money that I got to purchase the above, but my better half and brother know how much I love my crafting and were also very generous.  I got a 500gb portable hard-drive from Peter my boyfriend for my digi-scrapbooking that I download, and sometimes bring into work to have a play around with on my lunch hour  (although I think the main reason is, so I can clear my stuff of his precious mac and he can claim it back as his own).  It is amazing, I was so scared to touch it, as finger marks show everywhere on the red casing.  I also got a case for it to go in, and a bigger bag - actually it is the papermania satchel, so now I can take everything with me when I am on the move.  I already have the trolley, but sometime it is a bit to much to take places, when I only want a few things.

My brother bought me the new gorjuss stamps, I haven't cut them up yet, as I am waiting to get time to sit down and do a few hours so I can make some gorjuss cards.  He also bought me the martha stewart doily punch!!!  I have been wanting this forever, and have already had a play on some scraps of paper.

Well I know I haven't done any cards lately but I have some wedding thank you cards to do, and then make a start on all my Christmas card designs.  Can you believe it is here again already!!

Blog Candy

There is a fabulous blog candy prize available on craftypagan's website to celebrate her recent design team position for Sugarnellie.  This is the first blog candy that I have ever entered and it was mainly because of the yummy picture that she used to illustrate the treat of the sugarnellie stamps she is offering as the prize.  fingers crossed for my entry.  and if you want to have a go, all you need to do is go to her bog here and follow the instructions.  Good luck.

1st Birthday

It was my boyfriends nephews first birthday last week, and I was really pleased with the card that I did.  Most of the time when I have an idea in my head that I want to do, it never comes out how I imagine it.  So O.K. this card was not designed in my head, it was inspiration taken from Kerryjos Blog,  I loved what she did with the Sweet Safari kit from Sweetshoppe Designs, that I just had to have a go myself.

I dont know what size Kerrys card was - but I was using the new 8x8 cards from craftworkcards, so I had more space to play with.  I loved the animals, so I stuck them on, and then made the monkey swing from one of the letters.

I designed in the inside of the card, in photoshop, so it was all flat, and all I had to do was print it out and stick.  I created a little pocket on the inside, so that a gift voucher could fit inside.  I also used the inside design of the card, for the envelope.

Ingredients 

Cardstock and paper: - 8x8 card and Envelope, Co-ordinations Brown Card Stock, Epson Glossy Photopaper (this was for the letters and the animals), HP premium matt paper

Kit: -   Sweet Safari from Sweetshoppe designs

Extras: -  Lime Green and Brown Stickles, Ribbon from local craft shop (I think it is american carfts range).

Hope you like .

Thanks for Your Support

My Poster thanking people for supporting us. I loved the penny black stamp, and saw loads of cards with the same sentiment, and thought it was great. The background and other images, were from a free Breast Cancer Awareness Digital Scrapbooking Kit, from a scrapnart newsletter It think. I have some cards which are similar to give to my family and friends. The poster was mainly for work colleagues.

The image was stamped, and coloured with watercolour pencils. I then scanned it in, and blew it up in photoshop, and added the paper, elements and text.

lotsalove

Koh - I - Noor ~ First Attempt

I treat myself and bought some new Koh-I-Noor woodless pencils, blending stumps and solvent, as I am always looking at the brilliant cards on Elzybells blog, and love the kraft card designs. This is my first attempt and colouring with them. I still have to get the hang of blending them, and the face really isn't that good. More practice needed I think. Luckily it is the Bank Holiday Weekend, so I have plenty of time (Hopefully) to get crafting. Although I am going on holiday to cyprus next weekend, and I really should sort my case and clothes out.

We'll see how it goes.

lots of love

Race for Life

Not a card a creation yet. In this post, it is about the Race for Life Event that I did at Saltwell Park, Gateshead, for Cancer Research. It was a great day, full of fun. The weather forecast was heavy rain, and wouldnt you know it - it was blazing sunshine, stupid me forgot the sunscreen and I got sunburnt on my shoulders and chest (not great at a Cancer Research Event).

I ran with my Mum, her best friend Susan, and my Best Friend Lynsey. Between us we managed to raise an amazing £466. I was so please that we managed to raise that much for such a fantastic cause. I am definatelt going to do it next year. Need a new idea for the fancy dress aspect of it.

lots of love

Blog in a Box

Yipeee - I told you I would get round to doing something eventually - not much card making yet, as I have been messing around with my blog in a box.  I got it from Sweet Shoppe Designs, and as a first time user and blogger, I found it really easy to set up.  I have to go and make some cards now so that I can post them. Yippeee

My First Blog!!!

My first blog!!!! Argggh I have no idea what I am doing but hopefully I will get the hang of it in a while.