When is a Snowflake not a snowflake....

 Morning ladies..

Well I've finally started on the design team over at Crafters Companion and what a ride!!, I have not stopped crafting for the last 10 days....FANTASTIC..

 One of the launches we have been designing for this week is the Darice Embossing Folders, which are just amazing. With 33 beautiful designs to choose from, you won't be disappointed, they are all fabulous!!

 Each folder comes with some Co-ordinations paper and a square of sand paper, they think of everything so you can get started crafting straight away, Genius!!

Here's my Contribution to their Facebook page/blog Crafters Companion UK

I used the Darice 'Snowflakes' embossing folder run through my Grand Calibur with some deep red Core'dinations paper. and then sanded it back to reveil the pale pink core colour , the corners were done in the same way with some light green co-ordinations paper.




I've added some
 bronze coloured pearl embellishments to the centre of each snowflake to add interest


The butterflies and swirls were cut from  metal dies there are plenty on the market at the moment. I've enhanced the butterflies with some tiny Orange gem stones from my crafty stash


The flower was made by running some light green and  peach Coredinations paper through the grand Calibur , (you can use whatever machine you use for embossing) and then sanding back to reveal the core colour inside and then cutting out into separate sections to build up the flower.

 I added some coloured pearls to the stamens and the centre is a disregarded ear-ring found in a bag of mixed broken jewellery at a boot sale last year.

If you would like to see more of the Core'dinations  paper why not pop over to the Crafters Companion website and check out the huge range .


Here's another card to show how versatile the embossing folder is...

Have to confess, I like this one best, as the colours are so pretty , one for next Christmas me thinks

hope you like it too.


Tracey Anne xx

Tuesday Alchemy Challenge spot

Well its that time again over at Tuesday Alchemy for their Challenge spot , this week is ANYTHING GOES and is sponsored by Robyns Fetish and Inky Impressions who have kindly put up two prizes for two lucky winners Roybns Fetish is giving away 5 Digital Images and Inky kindly donated a $10 Store voucher , so head on over and take a look at all the wonderful inspiration posted by the design team. Don't forget the challenges are now running for 2 weeks so plenty of time to get you entry in and maybe win a fantastic prize from our sponsors. xx

Here's my Contribution this month hope you like it xx

Its  an easel card with a twist It's all made from the one piece of card, I've used Tim Holts inks (broken china) to add a little colour and used my Spectrum Noirs on the little girl .

The Stamp is from Bilmalarna and is called 'Minosa Umbrella' and can be found over at J and Creations Website where they are currently having a huge sale including many many stamps from this range so why not pop over and check them out xx

At the moment I am working on something really special but its top secret till February so keep an eye out on the blog for more news on that this week xx

Twining Clematis ....butterfly card

Morning folks
Another day , another card....

To make this project you will need

Heartfelt Creations stamp Twining Clematis
white Card
Pattern paper
Marve pearliest card
Butterfly die
spellbinders Decorative Elements labels 8 die
Alcohol pens
Red and clear gems
Sentiment
Gold glitter

Heartfelt Creations bring us amazing stamps and this one is no exception, it is from the Floral Cross Collection and is called Twining Clematis I've stamped this onto a Decorative Elements labels 8 die from Spellbinders and coloured it with my Spectrum Noirs and Pro markers. I then stamped the image twice again and decoupaged the image. I added some gold glitter to the centre of the flowers. I then mounted it onto some patterned paper and added some butterflies and gems to embellish. The sentiment was stamped with a Tim Holts ink pad Dusty Concord and then embossed with clear powder and was from the Stamp barn

Alcohol pens used to colour this image were

Spectrum Noir Yellow CT3
Greens Spectrum Noir CG2, DG2 Promarker mint Green
Lilacs Spectrum Noir LV1 PP3 Promarkers Bluebell and Amethyst

The butterflies were cut out of a small die in Marve pearl card and then dabbed over with gold mica paint .

 Check out the range of Marianne Cutting dies and Spellbinders Cutting dies on the J and C Creations website
where you can find a range of different butterflies to choose from ...

Something old, something new

Hi everybody, welcome to the new year.
 Here is my contribution to the J and C Creations blog , the challenge started last week and  was to create a project incorporating something old, and something new this is my take on that.....


 Today I decided to have a play round with my New D-lites dies from Spellbinders and mix them in with some of my older dies.  There is now a large range of D-lites to choose from , for this card I've just gone for these 2
The medallion Four and fantastic flourish Three. I like the fantastic flourish as it is so detailed and pretty and can be used in a number of different ways , as a topper a corner or as I have done here a background base!!

Below I have included step by step instructions to reproduce this card . I have tried to keep things as simple as possible as I know there are as many of beginners out there as there are experts!!  Give it a go and see how yours comes out xx


This is an very easy card to made ,you will need the following

6'' White Scalloped  card blank
Cream, Pink and White card stock
D-lites Medallion 4 die
D-lites Fantastic Flourish 3 die
Tim Holts 'Spiced marmalade' orange ink pad
Marianne Butterfly dies
Die-namics fancy flourish die
Cream paper rose
God stickles
Pearl and crystal wire embellishments
1.5'' round sentiment





 step 1
Cut a square from white card slightly smaller than your card blank and dust the edges with Tim Holts 'Spiced marmalade' orange than mount onto your card blank. My scalloped card blank was about 15 Cm's (6 inches in old money) so I cut a 14cm square to fit inside




Step 2

Cut 4 Fantastic flourish die-cuts and 1 medallion 4 out of pink card stock then I find using some grease proof paper over the card you are cutting out a god send as it makes the card stock release easily from the metal die when its cut.  Dust the outside of each with some Spiced Marmalade.

 Step 3

 

Place your 4 die-cuts on your card with the quarters in the middle forming a circle,  glue onto the card and then place the medallion 4 in the middle of the square to cover the join. when this is complete add some random gold dots with your Stickles glitter glue , so your card has a sparkle to it whens its finished

Step 4
Cut out some butterfly dies, 1 large and 2 smaller in cream and Matt and layer onto each other and dust with some holographic glitter and add your paper rose and flourishes to the lower corner and a sentiment in the middle and your card is complete. 

 Many of the products used to make this card can be found on the J and C Creations website xx
why not visit there blog and join in the challenge x

I will be entering this card in the following challenges
ABC' challenges / birthday Cards
Unstampabelles Challenge #19 / use one or more dies
Createdwithlovechallenge #25 /  Anything Goes
makeitmondaychallenge /Anything goes

All at Sea....

Hi everyone ,

Well the snow finally arrived in Surrey on Friday.
 Bl*%dy typical , the day we have tickets for the Creative stitch and paper craft Show at Sandown Park . Well, we weren't going to be put off by the weather so we pulled on our woolly hats and set out to Esher in the car. The journey took a little longer than usual but the roads were pretty clear considering the constant flurry of snowflakes. we arrived around lunchtime to the show and entered the hall to find most of the public had decided to give it a miss!! Usually the hall is buzzing with life and its so crowded you can bearly move or look round the stands, but today we were in single numbers. My heart goes out to the stall holders as we know how it feels, when we do a country show with our card stall and the heavens open and the locals stay in the dry!!  It wasn't all bad, we had plenty of  'chat time' with friends at Stamposauras Stamps and J and C Creations and loads of room to look around and we managed to pick up some really good bargains!!! 

lots of goodies have been put into the Sale over at J and C Creations Website ,All of the Bildmalarna stamps have been reduced , along with many Penny Black and Heartfelt Creations Stamps also to make room for new stock coming in and you can really pick up some wonderful stamps from this ranges.

Today's card was made using a Bildmalarna 'Mimosas Boat' rubber Stamp that I picked up for less than £5.50 and is really sweet, and stamps beautifully.

look out for more stamps from these ranges on the blog as I plan to use a few in the next few weeks, As well as the beautiful designs they are (in my opinion) the easiest stamps to colour and print with by far!!





The image was stamped onto some white card and then cut out using a Spellbinders Floral oval die. The image has been coloured with my Spectrum Noirs and Pro markers and the background was a very light dusting with a Tim Holts' broken china' ink pad.  To make the waves stand out more, I have decoupaged them and then gone over them with some 'Rangers' Glossy Accents to make them appear 'wet'. I also added a few dots of Glossy Accents to give the look of water splashes around the boat.

I mounted this on a Spellbinders Decorative labels 8 rectangle die-cut from blue card and dabbed with some  WoW pearl blue embossing powder to add texture and interest and then Matt and layered onto some blue and white card that had been dry embossed using a Regal M-bossibilities folder 

I cut out 4 blue and 4 white swirls, using  a Marianne design Swirl die from the Creatables range ( set LR0111) and added under the corners and finished with some diamond gems and  light blue pearls  in the corners

I wasn't sure what to call this post and settled on 'All at sea' because that best describes me at the moment, I am slowly getting it together, (though somedays I forget where I've put it!!) so please bear with me, All the items highlighted on this post can be found at J and C Creations Website , if you don't see it there, you can contact them at enquiries@jandccreations.co.uk 
  and they will sort it for you xx

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges
Addicted to stamps challenge /use material/texture
Challenges 4 everybody #12 /Anything Goes
Cupcake inspirations colour Challenge 194
2 Sisters Challenge 127 /Colour Challenge

Feeling blue...

Hi  everyone

 Here's a card made for those in need of a boast. There's nothing worse than feeling under the weather and I should know, this year has been a total nightmare so far. What with illness and personal loss, I'm finally over my chest infection and flu and then our darling little pug passed away yesterday . It broke all our hearts to lose him,  it has been really hard for me today without my 13 year old shadow following me from room to room , it's amazing how such a little dog can leave such a big hole in your heart ...I feel that someone somewhere is testing my resolve to the limits. (There goes my new years resolution to be more possitive this year down the drain!!)

Thank goodness I can lock myself away in my craft room upstairs and escape from the real world once in a while...

Its freezing cold in Surrey, England today but the snow has held off for the moment. Hopefully it will stay away long enough for hubby and I to visit the Stitch and Creative Craft show at Sanddown park, Esher. Surrey on Friday. It will be good to see the girls from J and C Creations there and have a chin wag, though I hope they have had a better start to the year than me!!

Anyway less moaning and back to today's card .

Step 1
To make this card I took a grey 6'' square card blank and cut away half of the top leaf of the card to create a 'half gate fold' which I matt and layered with blue and peach patterned paper inside and out, I then added some more patterned squares one on the front leaf and one in the bottom right hand corner.


 Step 2
 my topper was cut using a spellbinders floral oval die and then run through an dotty embossing folder , my umbrella was cut on my cricut from the 'sweethearts' cartridge and again run through an embossing folder to create the flower pattern. I used Rangers glossy accents to create the rain drops and inked the edge with a Tim Holt's 'Broken China' blue ink pad. This was then added to the front of the card over hanging the top leaf




Step 3
I added some silk flowers and swirls to the bottom left corner and some little pearl embellishments to the top and added a sentiment on the topper. I didn't have a stamp for this so I used silver peel off letters to say 'under the weather?'

Step 4
when all of that was done I coloured the flowers on my umbrella with a blue promarker and added a little blue glitter glue.

Step 5
 I also added some corners cut from a Marianne corners die to the inside and decorated them with blue gems and added a second sentiment in silver peel offs inside that reads 'Wishing you a speedy recovery'


items used
 6'' grey card blank
white card
umbrella diecut
Di-namics fancy flourish die
Marianne corner die
Spellbinders floral oval die
Spellbinders square  fleur de lis dies
2 patterned embossing folders
Patterned paper

Silver peel off letters
Tim Holts 'broken china ink pad
 Silk flowers, pearls, gems ,glitter glue to embellish

So there you have it folks ,  I'm sorry if you find today's post sad but this blog isn't just about cards, its about my life and loves and so today is a sad day, I won't tempt fate by saying things can only get better as sometimes they don't , I just hope they get easier  xx

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges
EmergencyCrafters/ New years resolutions
SandysCraftyCreations/blue and white
Sparkles monthly challenge #40/flowers an diecuts
Thanks for visiting xx

Stamped window card ..

Here's a card I made from a technique I found on Technique Tuesday's blog. 

Thanks to mynnette for the invite. x
 Its a wonderful blog with lots of techniques to keep you busy, I know this one but haven't used it for a while so thought I share with you today.

Stamped Punched Window

 Basically you cut an aperture out of a piece of card, (smaller than your base card blank) to create a window and then raise it on pads and place it over a stamped sentiment, after its been stamped up around the 'window' and run through an embossing folder.  I used a cuttlebug embossing folder (small daisies) for this card and a floral stamp around the aperture and decoupaged the flowers. as a twist I mounted my sentiment onto acetate and then raised the aperture over it. If you would like to see the technique in full detail why not pop over to Technique Tuesdays /Stamped punched window there you will find step by step instructions on how to make your own card using this technique

The butterflies are a combination of two dies one from marianne designs and the other Cheery lynn exotic butterfly dies. I added some gems to the body to add a little sparkle.

The sentiment reads
 Love is...
the caring of two hearts
the pairing of two lives
the sharing of two souls

I would like to enter this card into a following challenges
Technique Tuesday challenge
Artistic inspirations challenge 24/AG
craftersbloggersnetwork challenge #7 / Flowers
Make my monday challenge/Diecuts/ punches
Craftingwhenwecan challenge/ favourite things

Um Cupcakes....

Today I've been taking it easy, the cough that has been plaguing me since boxing day is slowly starting to subside but not before I managed to pull a muscle during one of the more vigorous coughing episodes and so doing anything today that involved moving was a big no no for me. Even sitting colouring was uncomfortable but I managed to get by, by doing a little at a time as laying on my bed looking at the ceiling wasn't what I had planned for today.

Today's offering is a birthday card and the image is from the Belles and Whistles range of stamps and is called 'Belle with Cupcake'. The Artist is Elisabeth Belle and is one of my favourites. you can find her stamps in most retail stores around the country.

The image of 'Belle' has been coloured with new spectrum Noirs (Thank you Santa xx) and water colour pencils and then masked over, and then the background added with Tim Holts Distressing inks and some grass and butterfly stamps.

This card is a simple easel card and is made by taking a regular square card and folding one side Here I've used a Scalloped card then taken one side of the card and folded equally down the middle again, so you can then mount your work onto the folded half . with any easel card you will need a stopper to stop the whole thing sliding down in this case I used a ribbon border and a large sentiment label.

The Dies I used to create the picture frame are from the Spellbinders range and are called 'Decorative labels 8' and can be found on the J and C Creations website  so keep an eye out for those. The M-bossibilities folder I used on the base can also be found over at J and Creations and  and is called 'Mystic'.Dont forget you will need the Raspberry embossing plate to use these folders.


Sorry this post is not as comprehensive as my usual ones, I'm sure once I'm feeling better, I will be able to put more time in at the PC, but for now this is it for today. My youngest daughter has been playing with her cupcake maker she was given at Christmas this week, so I'm now off to raid the cake tin and have a little comfort food while I nurse my achy ribs xx

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges
Crafting for all seasons/something new
Color throwdown #224
Nutcrafters challenge #34
The house that stamps built/ challengeJ913
LEJdesigns/challenge #35

Butterfly Boxes

 Hi folks
hope you are all well today , sorry for the lack of posts in the last week or so,  I have been battling a chest infection for 2 weeks now, an extra Christmas gift from my beloved son who bought it over on the big day , I have been told I only have myself to blame as I raised my kids to share everything, so 'here Mum, have some germs' !!!

 I have been swallowing horse tablets by the dozen since then , but I think I've finally turned a corner and may be on the mend now, hopefully he's better too, as its back to school for him today whether he likes it or not!! he has to go anyway, after all, he is the Teacher!!

Here are some boxes made with a common feature, they all have butterfly embellishments. They were very easy to make and hopefully will prove to be useful too.

 Box 1
The first is a Garter box for a bride and includes a spellbinders foral doilies die cut and a hearts M-bossibility folder in its creation  and has the sentiment something old . something new... (which co-incidentally happens to be the blog challenge over at J and C Creations this January)

 There is a vellum ruffle , these are very easy to make , just take a strip of paper about a 1.5'' wide and 10'' long and make equal sized pleats along it and then join the 2 ends to each other and glue down. cover the centre hole with a disc or circle. I've also added ribbon , lilac Stickles Glitter glue and some soft blue pearls to embellish , the butterflies were punched using a Martha Stewart paper punch

Box 2
This box is a square favor box and was created in matt gold card by using the Crafters Companion ultimate Pro boxes board,  I added the flower shape when I was embossing the shape from the board , (there is a choice of a flower, or butterfly shaped lid ,you can add on or leave your box plain ) and decorated it with a giant paper flower from my stash , also added an orange band around the box and a gold ribbon. To open the box you slide the flower in two , its really clever!!






Box 3
The oval box is a little trinket box and was made in orange card which was run through an embossing folder and  machine and then inked over with a gold pigment ink pad. Cut out using the instructions on the Crafters Companion ultimate Pro boxes and bags board Its simple to follow, you first emboss around the oval shape on the board and then emboss around the next oval shape up to that and then cut the required length of card strip to go around the sides , cut in some croc teeth and join it all together. the board does all the working out for you, so you don't have too!! Check them out over at the Crafters Companion website and check on you tube for helpful videos and tutorials to help you get started




I would like to enter these projects in the following challenges
Anything Goes Challenge  83/AG
Craftyourpassion/ Challenge ShabbyChic
Created with love / Angthing but a card
Die cutting Divas/ colour challenge
Tuesday throwdown/Shiny and new Challenge
cupcakecrafting/ the januarybluesChallenge224

Tuesday Alchemy Challenge

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE XX

Welcome to 2013 and a brand new Challenge over at Tuesday Alchemy and this week its going to be 

Challenge 46#

 ...HOPES, DREAMS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS

Make a project or card that reflects one or all of these and leave it with a link to your blog and you could be in with a chance of winning this fortnights Challenge

Their Sponsors are Guylous inimitability digistamps and we would like to thank them for their great prize of a $10 gift card and BugaloosStamp.com for putting up 7 free digi stamps as their prize. So pop over to Tuesday Alchemy later and enter their challenge and maybe you will be a lucky winner

My new years resolutions are to try and eat less, laugh more, to have more faith in myself and not to let  negative opinions change who I am and who I want to be.. ( luckily I have surrounded myself with people who are supportive and full of encouragement so the last one shouldn't be too hard to achieve.)
There's lots of exciting challenges lying ahead in this new year for all, including working on some fantastic design teams . I feel very privileged.

I hope you achieve your hopes and dreams this year , and wish you all success in everything you do and a happy new year to you all
 xx
AND DON'T FORGET
 LIFE IS NOT A REHEARSAL, LIVE EVERY MOMENT TO THE FULL...

Here's my Contribution to Tuesday Alchemy's Inspirational spot, I hope you like it, I designed this easel card with my husband in mind he turned 50 on Boxing day and it has all the things that he can relate to. As a mechanic he loves to tinker with machines of all kinds and loves his motorbike as much as he loves me ( maybe more...) we always joke about growing old disgracefully, and now he can say hes half way there!!

  

The  image was sent to me by a friend who thought I might enjoy the humour, and has told me it's from the Inky Printy Stamp Company, Just inked lined the Stamps called Albert and is from the wrinklies range I love him, hes such a rebel. Its a really cool site and definitely worth a visit , a huge range of different images to choose from and prices start as little a £1 a image.

 Albert has been coloured with my trusty Spectrum Noirs

G1,G2,G3,G4 G6 and G8 for his jacket and jeans FS2 and FS4 for his skin tones, LB1,LB3,LB8 for his shirt, and GT3,LB8,CR8 for his slippers, I edged the whole image with a pastel green Promarker.

The Sentiment Stamp 'Life is a journey' is from The Stamp Barn and reads.....

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body. But rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up,totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming .... WOW what a ride.”

Items used to make this card
Black, white and silver mirror card
Pearlescent green card
Albert Digital Stamp
Sentiment Stamp
Spellbinders Decorative eyelet circles
Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets set
Spellbinders Banners and ribbons
M-bossibilities industrial folder (Checker plate)
Gold,silver and black card Candies
silver mesh, wet glue and gold border stickers, happy birthday peel offs

 The motorcycle at the top of the easel card is created from the negative of a peel off sticker , You will need some low tack masking tape and a steady hand and you can normally pick up the left over 'waste' and then reposition it onto some card  and then cut around to form a shape you know as crafters there is no such thing as waste!!!
This trick works with most peel offs just remember to use a very low tack tape of some sort

well that's my first project of 2013 , Happy new year again to all and may it be as fun and fabulous as 2012 xx