Easter Bliss

Tuesday 27 October 2015

Baby Album

It's taken me longer than anticipated to show you another of the projects that I made for my new grandson's nursery as I've been kept very busy helping out while his mum recovers from her operation. I'm sorry I haven't been a regular visitor to your blogs recently but I've also been having problems with Blogger, hopefully they are now sorted.
I have seen some beautiful albums created by crafty friends and thought the new baby's arrival was the perfect opportunity to have a go at one myself.

I made the album itself from greyboard. The pages are slightly smaller than the covers and I added a flap to each of the four pages. This gave me twenty 'sides' to decorate including the covers.

I started by joining the flaps to the pages before painting the greyboard with a light blue acrylic paint.

I then decorated the pages using papers from Graphic 45's Precious Memories and Prima's Bedtime Story.

I printed some postcards on the computer for journalling and recording key events. Every couple of  pages there is a pocket to store photos or mementos.

When all the pages were finished I cut strips of linen card, and edged them with a scallop punch, to join the pages.

On the back cover I used a gorgeous vintage pram image from La Pashe. I've used it a few times inside the album too.

Once assembled, the album was bound with linen card to which I added papers, lace and ribbon. The album is just over 2" (5 cm) wide.
I'd like to say a big thank you to the talented crafters that I have taken inspiration from to create this keepsake. I hope, in turn, that I have managed to inspire someone else to create an album. It really is great fun.

Saturday 10 October 2015

Totally Tiffany

Firstly I'd like to say a big Thank You to everyone for the lovely comments yesterday on the post about the birth of my new grandson. Your comments are all greatly appreciated.

Today's order of business is to tell you about a new CD from Kraftyhands featuring the most beautiful stained glass floral images. It's called Totally Tiffany and is the first CD in the new format of an A4 card folder. The folder contains the CD in a plastic wallet and inspirational photos of projects. This CD also comes with 10 sheets of heavy duty printable vellum.

The CD has toppers, including pyramage, pretty papers, stonework backing papers and sentiments.

The CD débuts today (10th October) on the British Craft Network at 1pm (GMT).

You can also see a video on the Kraftyhands website and on the Kraftyhands YouTube channel from 1pm.

I hope my samples have inspired you to check out this wonderful new CD. There are lots of other gorgeous samples from the Kraftyhands design team members in the online gallery.
Don't forget to enter the Kraftyhands "Cute and Cuddly" challenge for October.

Friday 9 October 2015

HAPPY EVENT!!

I can finally announce the happy event that has blessed our family and is the reason for my recent partial absence. We are now the proud grandparents of another beautiful grandson - as yet unnamed. He was finally born on the evening of October 7th, after a 10 day delay, to my middle daughter Elisha and her husband Tim.
Here is a little nightlight I made for his nursery. 

As Elisha and Tim have a gorgeous Bichon Frisé and have decorated the nursery with dog images I wanted to stay with the theme. I drew the Bichon image, traced it to have two dogs, and lightly shaded both copies with grey Copics. I then cut them out.

I again used an empty gravy tub and covered it with a fun paper from the Kraftyhands Cute Kittens and Puppies CD. I then cut out two circles and lined the tub with another of the papers that I had printed onto vellum. I made frames for the circles using X-cut dies.

I added the two Bichons and embellished the tub with lace, buttons and bows.

I printed an image of a cute Yorkie - who looks like my dog - from the same CD for the top of the tub. The nightlight is lit by a battery operated LED light that fits neatly inside.

Me with the gorgeous newest addition to our family.

Congratulations Elisha and Tim, we are so very proud of you and know you will be fantastic parents.
I've made a few more items to celebrate our grandson's birth that I will show soon. Have a great weekend everyone. I know I will.

Wednesday 7 October 2015

Kraftyhands October 2015 Challenge

Today is the start of the October challenge at Kraftyhands. This month's theme is
"Cute and Cuddly"
This challenge is just for fun. A full set of the rules are on the blog.
I have made a card for your inspiration.

This is a 6"x 6" card blank that I have covered with green pearlescent card. I then used papers and a sentiment from the Cute Kittens and Puppies Double CD Collection.

The adorable image looks like my little dog and I couldn't resist using it as she is both cute and cuddly. It's in the Bonus Christmas Toppers section on the Puppies CD. I added a Marianne die-cut branch, some half pearls and  Docrafts bow.
Please visit the  Kraftyhands Challenge Blog for a full set of the challenge rules and to view the inspirational creations from my talented team mates. Remember to be a follower of the challenge blog to qualify for entry and don't forget to watch the Kraftyhands shows on The British Craft Network.
I've entered this card in the following challenges:

Friday 2 October 2015

Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge #7

As it's the first Friday of October it's the start of a new challenge at Creative Artiste We are a challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. As long as you use more than one media on your project we'd love to see you enter the challenge. This is a month long challenge so you have time to create projects and enter up to three times. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. Thank you to everyone who entered Challenge #6 for September, it was a fantastic turnout. The winner has been announced on the blog.
Our theme this month is
"Lace and Pearls"
and we are being sponsored by Deedee's Digis.
http://shop.deedeesdigis.com/

I have made this card for your inspiration.

I used Pan Pastels to colour the front of an 8"x 8" card from blue at the bottom to pink at the top. I then took a strip of hessian and painted the centre with blue Artiste acrylic paint. I stitched pearls to some lace and added that and the hessian to the card. I die cut mirri card and a blue card with X-cut oval dies as a mirror.

The image from Deedee's digis I used is called Special Lady and comes with 3 images and 5 sentiments. I merged two of the images in MCS and used Copics to colour them. I die cut the image with the X-cut oval die and tucked a small scrap of lace between the mirror and the image.

I changed the colour of the sentiment in MCS and matted it on to blue card. I added some faux half pearls and a blue bow to the card. I created the flower by coiling a length of lace and stitching.
 I stitched on some more pearls and finished the card with a mini bottle full of pearls.
Now please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the wonderful projects created by my talented team mates for more inspiration.  Remember to have fun and enter your Lace and Pearl creations in the challenge.
I've entered this card into the following challenges:

Thursday 1 October 2015

Crafts Galore Encore October 2015 Challenge

As it's the first of October it's time for a new challenge on the Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. Thank you to everyone who joined in last month's challenge. The winners are on the challenge blog 'winner's page'. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. A full list of rules are on the challenge blog.
Our theme this month is
"Halloween or Make a Card"
We are being sponsored this month by Bugaboo Stamps who are offering 7 Free Digis to the winner.


This is the card I made for your inspiration.

 I layered an 8"x 8" card blank with green card and a pearlescent purple card. I then drew a haunted house on black card and cut it out. I layered yellow paper behind the cut out windows and fixed the house to the card front.

The image from Bugaboo that I chose is called JJ Calendar Months - October. I coloured her with Copics. The sentiments were printed on the computer.

 I cut out a full moon shape and some bats and added a Spellbinders fence and a couple of hand cut pumpkins. I finished the card with some black glitter on the bats, windows and pumpkins. 
Please now visit the Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog to see the fabulous cards from my wonderfully talented team mates. We look forward to seeing your Halloween or Card projects for October.
I've entered this card into the following challenges: