Merry Christmas To All, And To All A Good Night!

Well, here we are - Christmas Eve and time to begin the celebrations.  I'm sorry for my absence of late - I've been having trouble with my arthritis and it has made it very difficult for me to craft this time.  But I've had some good news today - I shall be getting new drugs in January and we are very hopeful for their success.

But I couldn't let the evening pass without saying a Very Merry Christmas to all my wonderful followers and to all those in Crafty Blogland who pass by.  Thank you all for your support and encouragement throughout the year - it has meant so much to me and has spurred me on to keep creating.

I shall be back as soon as I am able in the New Year, refreshed, renewed and ready to go. 

In the meantime, I hope your holidays are peaceful and happy and that 2011 brings you much joy.

Happy crafting.
Hugs
xx

Mo's Dream Team Project of the Month Blog Hop!

Whoooo-hoooo! It's time for another Mo's Dream Team blog hop and guess what?!  I'm hosting this month's hop and I'm very excited! 

Because we've recently had such beautiful weather here in the UK (not!) and because we're in for another spell of the same, this month I have chosen the theme 'Let It Snow'.  Yup, I wanted my teamies to come up with some snowy creations and I'm sure they've done me proud!  There's certainly been plenty of the white stuff to inspire us over this side of the Pond!

So, kicking off this month is my project:

Image: Mo's Digital Pencil, 'Snowman'

Papers: October Afternoon, Good Cheer collection

Could there be a more perfect image for this theme?  Here's Mr Snowman, his snowy buddies and some snowflakes for good measure!

This is my very first shaker card and I'm quite pleased with the results.  The shaker dome is actually the packaging from one of my rolls of double-sided tape, which is a perfect size for my largest circle Nestie - how cool is that!?  After covering the front of my card with my chosen papers, I cut out the circle and pushed the 'dome' through.  Then I filled it a little with .... stain removing powder! Yup! It was the only snow-like substance in the house and, actually, it's perfect.  Slight draw back in that it has made the dome a little dusty but, hey, it's snowing!

This closeup shows you just how fine the powder is and there's Mr Snowman in his warm hat and gloves, happily surrounded by snow.  No wonder he's smiling - the weather in there is perfect for him!  He was coloured with my Copics and, this time, the 'glow' (difficult to see but definitely there) was added with pale blue pearlised chalk.

Right, on with the hop and next stop is the very talented Debbie and I know there'll be something snowy and gorgeous waiting for you.

Just in case you should get lost along the way, here's the full hop order:

Peri (me!)

Debbie 

Heidy
Mina
Elaine 
Arielle
Lori
Kerttu
Shirly
Jak
Happy Hopping!



xx

Oldies But Goodies at Karen's Doodles

Oooh, it's Thursday again (would you believe it) and time for another Oldies But Goodies showcase over at the Karen's Doodles Challenge Blog.  My OBG Teamies and I have been digging through our Karen's Doodles images and have found some old favourites to inspire you.

If you've read back a couple of posts you'll know I'm very, very tired at the moment and could sleep almost anywhere during the day, although not in my bed at night!!!  Maybe I should take a leaf out of Bigsby's book:

Image: Karen's Doodles, 'Bigsby Wreath'

Papers:  October Afternoon, 'Good Cheer' collection (you guessed right! - These have been my favourite Christmas papers this year!)

Doesn't Bigsby look all warm and cosy?  I kept the card itself quite simple because of the vibrant colours I've used for Bigsby - so there's no matting and only a little layering and some simple embellishments.

All the colouring, even the 'glow' this time, was done with my Copics.  I wanted a really warm glow in the centre of the wreath and I'm quite pleased with the result.  I applied some highlights with a white gel pen, just to lift it a bit but there are no Prismas here this week.

I wonder what Bigsby will be up to next week?  You'll have to pop back and see.

Don't forget to check out the Challenge Blog and see what my Teamies have been working on.  While you're there, why not enter our challenge, which is 'Silver and Gold' this week (one or both) - we love to see what you create.  And don't forget, by entering you're in with a chance of winning up to three Karen's Doodles images of your choice.

Happy crafting.
xx

Do I Know It's Christmastime?

Whew! What a week!  I've been suffering big time with the old RA - bloomin' thing is active again and causing havoc!  So I've been a bit slow in making stuff and slower still in my (yet to happen) Christmas preparations.  Oh dear! You'd think I didn't know it was all happening in 9 days (eeeek!). 

Thankfully, tonight's project killed three birds with one stone, so to speak.  You know how it is - three siblings, got to have the same but different so no-one feels left out.  So, with this in mind, I set to and made these three cute little stockings, as tags/money holders for my three nieces:

I'm so pleased with how they turned out.  Three the same but very different, a bit like my nieces in fact!  (No, they're not triplets but they are all my brother's children!)

This one's for the eldest - a bit more sophisticated than the others, perfect for a 20-year old.

This one's for the middle one, who's almost 19.

And this one's for the youngest - 15 years old and still in her pink phase!

The pink one above is also a gift holder - a universal gift voucher, shall we say? (Yup, money!)

So, two tags and a gift done - that just leaves the rest of the gift shopping, the food and the decorations.  Wish me luck!

This is my entry for the following challenges:

Paperplay - 'Holiday Tags'
Scrap-Creations Challenge ' 'Make It a Tag'
Everybody Art Challenge - 'A gift'
City Crafter - 'Use Kraft card'

I'm going to eat, make lists and then fall asleep - perhaps if I dream hard enough, the dream fairies will come and finish everything off for me? 

Happy crafting.
xx

Oldies But Goodies at Karen's Doodles

Thursday again, Crafty Bloglanders - and another week closer to Christmas!  At some point I should really give some thought to buying presents but the weather is so cold and the ground so slippery that I can't contemplate venturing out on a shopping trip at the moment!  I shall be making plenty of money wallets, just in case!

And Thursday means another 'Oldies But Goodies' showcase over at the Karen's Doodles Challenge Blog, where my Teamies and I bring out some of our favourite but older Karen's Doodles images to inspire you.

The snow is still with us, although it is gradually thawing a little.  However, the nights are so cold that the melting snow is simply turning to ice and it's like a skating rink outside.  Bet this little one wouldn't mind though:

Image:  Karen's Doodles, 'Skating Fun'

Papers: October Afternoon, 'Good Cheer' and 'Very Merry' collection

What a great image this is for a cold winter's day!  I love the movement - and with the little dog running out of the frame, I get the feeling she's moving quickly!  The DPs were chosen because they were some of the last scraps I had of these favourite papers and I wanted to use them up together.  I might just have to buy some more, even though Christmas is almost upon us and they won't be needed for another 12 months. 

I coloured her up with my Copics and added a little extra shading and background with my Prismas.  I appear to have made the dog cross-eyed though! Poor thing!

So, pop over to Karen's Doodles Challenge Blog and see what my talented Teamies have created for you this week - don't forget to leave them some love.  And while you're over there, why not check out this week's challenge, which is really simple this week: Christmas!  Show us your Christmas creations and you could be in with a chance of winning up to three Karen's Doodles images of your choice.

Happy crafting.
xx

NEWS!

Just a bit of news, dear Crafty Bloglanders.  I've been holding on to this for a week now and I don't know how! 

Just after my OH left for Oz and I was feeling all alone and blue, I came home to find a wonderful e-mail waiting for me.  I am a runner up in this year's 'Card Designer of the Year' competition.  The competition is run by Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine and I'm going to be published tomorrow, 9th December, and I'm so excited. 

On top of that, there are also some lovely prizes on their way to me - how brilliant is that?!

I nearly didn't enter because I didn't think I stood a chance and it was all very last minute before my courage failed me completely! 

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

Happy crafting.
xx

Decorating The Tree?

Just a quick post tonight, dear Crafty Bloglanders.  I'm pleased to report that my OH is now safely home and my darling MiL has been discharged from hospital to a nursing home.  Although she is by no means back to her old self, her sheer determination and general loveliness appears to have brought her through this latest terrible time and we are just so blessed to have her with us still. 

So, of course, this means life is now well and truly back to normal - I have my OH by my side (big yaaay!), we're both back at work (humph) and Christmas is running towards us at great speed. 

Speaking of Christmas (and who isn't at the moment?), have you got your decorations up yet?  I know that our US friends see Thanksgiving as the time to start decorating and there are many people in the UK who like to have their decorations up by now but for me, well, Christmas Eve is soon enough!  Honest! I love doing my tree on Christmas Eve, but I do bow to pressure and give in about the 20th these days.  When Darling Daughter was young, doing the tree on Christmas Eve just added to the magic of Christmas morning, when she firmly believed the Tree Fairies had been in the night, as well as Santa!  Aaaaah!

But how many of us end up like this little lady?

Image: Phindy's Place, 'Miss Chrissy Tree'

Papers: Yup, October Afternoon, 'Good Cheer' collection (I sooo love these papers)

Isn't she a darling?  She looks just like our friends' middle daughter, who I can imagine ending up just like this if left to it! 

She was coloured with Copics and quite a good bit of shading was done with my Prismas.  I'm still working on folds and pleats - getting there slowly but I get so frustrated.  Some days it just works, others I really have to work hard to almost get there!  Oh hum!

The little tree border was all cut by hand, as were the stars.  I don't yet own many Christmassy punches so I have to improvise!

This is my entry for the following challenges:

Raise The Bar - 'Trees'
Secret Crafter Saturday - 'Christmas'

Right, off to bed now with my Kindle - I'm just reading Patricia Cornwell's new book, 'Port Mortuary' and I'm enjoying it very much.  I adore my Kindle - so much easier to handle than a book, particularly in bed!

Happy crafting.
xx

Just Inklined to Blog Hop!

Happy Monday morning, Crafty Bloglanders! It's time for another Just Inklined blog hop and this month we're stitching you up!  Haha! Yup, the theme of our hop is 'Stitching, real or faux' and I know my lovely Teamies will have been hard at work to bring you some wonderful inspiration.

If you've arrived here from the marvellous Mina's blog then you're on the right path. If not, jump back to Debbie's blog and start from the beginning because you won't want to miss anything along the way!

This one is my Daughter's friend's Christmas card - sshhh, don't tell!  D's friend loves pugs and as soon as I saw this sweet little image, I knew it had to be done!

Image: Just Inklined, 'Pug in a Box'

Papers: 'Christmas Eve' digital papers by Jazzy Patterns, available here

Sentiment Circle: Pink Gem Designs, available here 

Isn't he sweet?  I hope I've got his colouring right.  He was done with my Copics, a combination of E50 and all the warm greys.  The background was done with my Prismas, of course and the box was paperpieced.

As I was colouring the background, I realised it had naturally formed a triangle and the idea for a tree shape was born!  I wasn't sure it would work but, actually, I think it's quite fun!

The original image I coloured was too small, I decided, so I've cut him out of his box and used him on a matching gift tag - what a cutie!

As well as the Hop, this is my entry for this week's Daring Cardmakers' Challenge, which is to use the colour turqoise.

Right, that's me done! Your next hop will be to my talented Teamie Cathy - she'll have something wonderful for you, as always.

Happy crafting.
xx

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ............

............... 'tis cold, dear Crafty Bloglanders - temperatures are struggling to remain at freezing and are dropping bitterly at night.  My OH arrives back home from Oz tomorrow evening and is in for a terrible shock!  I'd better make sure to have a pot of something warming on the stove!

Still, it's not quite so cold as where this little fellow comes from:

Image: Mo's Digital Pencil, 'North Pole Employees' - set of two stamps (see here for my post using the other one)

Papers: October Afternoon, 'Good Cheer' collection

I love this set of stamps - they're perfect for colourful children's Christmas cards, in particular.

He was coloured with my Copics, of course, and the background was added with my trusty Prismas.  I could have done more to define the bottom of his tunic because it looks a bit flat but sometimes it's hard to tell until the photograph has been taken and you're rushing to get it posted!  Maybe next time!

This is my entry for this week's The Pink Elephant challenge, where we are being asked to use the colours 'Blue, green and red' - there's plenty of all three here, and a couple of others for free!

Anyway, I've crafting to finish as tomorrow I shall be doing the big crafting tidy up in preparation for my OH's return.  You know what it's like, while the cat's away the mouse will get out all her crafty stash and spread it liberally over the front room!

Happy crafting.
xx

Where Have All the Colours Gone?

At this time of year, I'm more used to seeing an array of golds, russetts, greens, browns, coppers, reds - I could go on - but whenever I look outside my window at the moment, there is only a blanket of white, with the odd bit of drab green poking through.  Who stole all the lovely autumn colours?  The snow is very pretty but there's only so much white a girl wants to see! 

So, in order to introduce some of those beautiful warm autumn colours, I've designed today's card, which is also my entry for the following challenges:

Stamptacular Challenge: 'Fall Colours'
Sweet Sketch Wednesday: Sketch, see below

Here it is, my little bit of autumn:

Image: A Day For Daisies, 'Holiday Mail'

Papers: Scenic Route (strips) and Pink Petticoat (gingham)

Isn't this the sweetest image - I love A Day for Daisies images but I have to be in the 'right place' to colour them as they are so delicate.

I've kept the colouring (Copics of course) very simple - just a hint of shadow and light (probably all in the wrong place!) and with a rich orange as the focal point.  I've used Scenic Route papers, which come printed in very handy strips of pattern, perfect for cutting up for something like the stripes here. 

Do you like the sunflowers?  I'm so pleased they worked.  These are simply circles punched out of pale yellow Bazzill, cut into spikey petals, layered up (two circles per flower) and a nice big brown brad for the centre.  I love these brads - can't remember who makes them but they have a lovely velvety finish, just perfect for the middle of a sunflower. 

I must say, I'm hugely enjoying being on holiday - I've done lots of crafting at a leisurely pace (rather than the frantic 'got to get it done' mode I'm usually in) and I've had time to try out some new digi companies too, which is always nice.   I shall be able to post daily for the next couple of days! Yaaaaaay!

Happy crafting.
xx

Hanging The Star

Well, what a week it has been! The weather has been dreadful - around 9 inches of snow in my garden - and temperatures are very low and getting lower!  And this means, of course, that Rentokill couldn't guarantee to make it to carry out the treatment today so (big sigh of relief) we've rescheduled and I haven't had to pack everything away! Yaaaay! Thankfully, I got to find out just before I started the final push towards packing boxes of books, DVDs, etc., and moving furniture so, other than having had a good opportunity for a clear out, I've not had to live in chaos for the past two days.  I can't tell you what a relief it is.  We still have it to do again mid-January but there will at least be two of us to go at it then!

There's more good news from Australia too - my darling MiL will be discharged from hospital on Wednesday next week and although she will not be as mobile or independent as she was before all this started, she is happy and feels well and we are so grateful to have her still with us.  She is so determined and strong, I'm sure that's what has got her through an horrendous four weeks.  Bless her!  And thank you to all of you who expressed such warm wishes - they have been passed on.

Finally, I came home to some exciting news yesterday but .... I can't tell you about it for another week and it's going to kill me keeping the secret!  Watch out for the announcement.

Anyway, on to today's post, which I hope I am just managing to sneak in before one of the challenges ends tomorrow! 

This will be my entry for:

One Stop Craft Challenge: 'Christmas Cuties'
Scrap Creations Challenge: 'Anything Goes'
City Crafter:  'Blue Christmas'
Cute Card Thursday: 'The Blues'
DP2 Challenge: 'Glitz and glimmer'
Friday Sketchers: 'Sketch challenge' - see below

Cool sketch, eh?

Image: Mo's Digital Pencil, 'Hanging the Star'

Papers: October Afternoon, 'Very Merry' collection (background); recycled brochure cover (triangle)

Isn't this the sweetest little image?  Absolutely adorable in a way that only Mo knows how.  I just want to cuddle her and kiss her plump little cheeks.  

This was a little bit of a challenge to colour, in that it seemed obvious that the light source should come from the almost overhead, slightly to the right, not my usual choice.  There were interesting shadows to capture on the face too, which I hope I've mostly managed.  This little one was coloured with my Copics, with background added with Prismas. 

(I threw a strop today with my Prismas - the more I have to sharpen them, the more I realise that the leads are badly broken inside the pencils, obviously done when shipping.  I'm really cross because on the colours I use most I'm getting maybe half a pencil's worth of good lead.  Not a happy bunny!)

Anyway, back to the card.  Using MS Publisher's preset drawing shapes, I 'drew' and printed several stars in various sizes and coloured them with my Copics so that there was a hint of light source on these too.  Then I covered them in some very fine lemon/iridescent glitter before popping them on the card.  I added just a tiny touch of the glitter to the star in the image, too.

I thought I was being tremendously clever using the old brochure cover for the triangle and, in fact, there's nothing wrong with it at all - it's lovely heavyweight paper.  But looking at the card through the lens often gives a different perspective and perhaps I should have used a different colour/pattern.  But, hey, 'tis done now and I'm not going to beat myself up about it!

So, off to link up then back to a bit more crafting in front of the television.  Need to decide whether chocolate counts as a meal or whether I should actually cook something for myself tonight! 

Take care if you're affected by any of this (or any other) bad weather - keep warm and safe.

Happy crafting.
xx

Kisses For My Sweet

Just a quick post before bed beckons!  I thought I might be too late with this card but, thankfully, I have another 17 hours to submit it for the current Copic Creations challenge, which is 'Shading your paper-pieced pieces'.  As many of you will know, I love paper piecing and I nearly always try to add more depth by shading, either with Copics or with my Prismas. See what you think to this one (with apologies for the bad photography, again!):

Image: Mo's Digital Pencil, 'Kisses For My Sweet' (comes with 4 small 'accessory' images!)

Papers: Graphic 45, 'Christmas Past' collection

Isn't this an adorable image?  I loved it the moment I saw it but haven't been able to find the time to colour it until now.  As the image comes with the small 'accessory' images too (heart, mistletoe, bells and butterflies) it is easy to make this for any romantic occasion.  But, as you can see, I chose Christmas this time.

I paper-pieced all the clothes in this image, with the exception of the ruffles at the neck and the chap's shirt.  Everything else is paper-pieced and then shaded with Copics and highlighted with white. 

I'm really pleased with the background, actually - I had almost forgotten how to cut 'out of the box' so it was a bit of a risk but it paid off.  I chose four co-ordinating papers - I wanted to give the impression that they were standing on a carpet in front of a wall and I think it's worked.  The scallops are just because I went a bit mad with my punches! 

All in all, I'm pretty pleased with this one, although next time I will pay more attention to my light source as my shadows are all over the place! Still, it was late and it's never a good time to craft when your eyes are almost closed!

The house sorting is in full flow - Daughter and I really got to grips with her room and the study this weekend - and, actually, it was good to have a clear out.  In fact, watch out over the next few days - the result of my stash sorting might interest you.

Off to bed now - two duvets on as it's reaaaallllllllllllllyyyyyyyyy cold tonight! And they're predicting more snow overnight too.  OMG!  It'll be up to my knees! (Not really, a bit dramatic that, but it is deep!)

Happy crafting.
xx

Hopping Around at Karen's Doodles!

Happy Monday morning Crafty Bloglanders.  Hope all is well, wherever you are.  I'm posting for Karen's Doodles today as well as Thursday because the DT is hosting a blog hop today along with the weekly challenge. How exciting!

AND, just to make this hop pop, we've an additional twist.  Each team member will be 'displaying' a letter - visit each team member's blog and collect the letters. Once you have them all, unscramble them to reveal the 2 word phrase then return to the Challenge blog and leave a comment with the answer. A grand prize winner of a $20 gift certificate will be chosen from all the correct answers, in addition to our 3 weekly challenge winners. We will also be awarding random prizes of digi images chosen from the people who comment on each member's blog.

Right, so on with the hop.  If you arrived here from Lori's blog you are on the right track. If not, start at the Challenge blog for a list of the DT members in hop order.

This week's challenge is a sketch:

Great layout, eh?  Here's what I did with it:

Image: Karen's Doodles, 'Herbert Christmas'

Papers: October Afternoon, 'Very Merry' collection

Isn't this a super image?  I love Herbert and I like the idea of him walking down the street delivering parcels! This wonderful paper from October Afternoon is perfect for the job! 

I coloured Herbert with my Copics, adding a little shading with my Prismas.  I hate colouring with red (an occupational hazard at this time of year, though) - it's so unforgiving!  Still, not too many boo-boos on this one.  I love Herberts shiny red boots.

SO, it's time for you to continue hOpping and next is Tanja, who I'm certain will have something wOnderful for you. (Did you find the letter yet?)

Happy crafting.

xx

What a Lovely Pair!

Ah! that got your attention, didn't it, you naughty Bloglanders!  Today's post is just a quickie, as we're in the middle of the big clear up, in readiness for the house being treated for woodworm!  Arrrggghh!

I love it when a single project can fit so many challenges and today I've hit a minor jackpot! This is my entry for the following challenges:

Papertake Challenge: 'Punches and Nesties'
Creative Cottage: 'Untraditional Christmas'
Simon Says Challenge: 'Let It Snow'
Totally Papercrafts: 'Untraditional Christmas'
Scrapbook Sisters Challenge: 'Let It Snow'

Here it is, my lovely pair:

Images: Just Inklined, 'A Letter to Santa, Boy'; 'A Letter to Santa, Girl'

Papers: October Afternoon, 'Very Merry' collection

Dies: Marianne Creatables

I love this matching pair of images - what a great idea.  As you can see, each was coloured to co-ordinate with the paper, and, traditionally, blue for a boy, pink for a girl (how non-PC of me!).  The inspiration actually came from the papers - so similar and perfect for a pair.

As I have three sets of the Marianne Creatables snowflake dies, I tried to match up the die-cut snowflakes with the style of snowflake on each paper.

Each image was coloured with Copics and shaded with Prismas.  I liked the idea of them both having a green hat and gloves, though - again, to pull the pair together.  Then I added blue and pink glitter and Stickles as appropriate, to give a little snowy sparkle.  The snowflakes were all decorated with 'white' 3D glitter glue.

And just to finish - here's a close up of a couple of the snowflakes - aren't these dies fantastic.  So detailed - although I have to say that they are a little fussy when removing them from the die!

 

Gorgeous!  I love them - and so many different ways to put them together!

So, off to link up and then back to sort, reorganising and packing away - oh what fun!

Happy crafting.
xx