Wednesday 27 February 2013

Sneaky Peek time again...Party Paws

Here's a Sneaky peek at what we have been playing with this week from Crafters Companion HQ . The Fabulous 'cute as a button, Sweeter than sweet ....insert  Drum roll here ...

introducing....

The new PARTY PAWS CD and STAMP SET!!!!

And the star of the show has to be BAMBOO THE PANDA 
 isn't he the cutest!!!! 

Here he's been stamped onto some Neenah classic snow white card  and  coloured in with my Spectrum Noir Pens then mounted onto one of Crafter's Companions Decorative Dies Die'Sire Die 'Grace Frame', and the backing paper was printed from the CD

Watch out for him coming soon on Create and Craft  TV on March the 5th. You can watch this on Freeview Channel 36, Sky 671 or Freesat 813 and Check out Crafter's Companion on Facebook at Crafter's Companion UK   and on Ideal world shopping Channel Freeview Channel 22, it's their  'Pick of the day' 


Tuesday 26 February 2013

Spectrum Noirs Award - Accredited Colorist


Well so far, so good , February is turning out to be a nice month , been really busy with Crafter's Companion Design team work , looking forward to seeing the girls from J and C Creations at the Farnborough 'Make it, Knit it and Stitch it' show on Friday running from 1st - 3rd, and sending out a big thank you to Jayne at Stamposaurus Stamps  for the free tickets won in her newsletter draw xx

This morning's emails bought good news I'm now a Spectrum Noir Accredited colorist , no that doesn't mean I can pop round and do your high-lightsin your hair, it means I have sat the colorist test set by Spectrum Noirs to see if you know how to blend colours and understand light and how it hits a image etc. and passed. Check out my new blinkie in the right hand column !!

So today I thought I'd enter the Spectrum Noir challenge and show off my colouring skills and what can be achieved with these wonderful alcohol pens here's a stamp from the S.W.A.L.K. Collection by Crafters Companion  called 'Time Out' Any hard working mum will tell you they sometimes need Time Out and indoors the only place you can hide is in the bathroom in the bath Tub!! I've had this Stamp over a year now but the old ones are sometimes the best ones!

Below I have listed the colours you will need to recreate this image.

Hair and Ribbons - N1,N2, N7,N8, PP1, PP2
Face - FS2, FS3
Bath tub LV1, LV2, LV3+ blender
Water TB1, TB2
Duck CT3

The image was mounted onto a Spellbinders die Floral Oval and then a Fleur de lis Rectrangle and the corners are from a Die'sire decorative die , Ornamental flower frame from Crafters Companion keep an eye out for those, I think they are going to be big!!

I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges
Spectrum Noir Challenge - Bling
Creative Inspirations Challenge
The Crafting Cafe Challenge
Crafting for all Seasons Challenge Dies and Punches
Oldie but a goodie Challenge

Thursday 21 February 2013

Another Sneaky peek...Crisilis Classics

Here's another sneaky peak at what's to come on Friday on Create an Craft TV , Freeview Channel 36, Sky 671 and Freesat 813. Don't forget to tune in and see this wonderful CD and stamp set  launch for the Artist Christine Haworth. Crisilis Classics and paintbox poppets, all bought to you by the lovely Leann Chivers, Sara Davis  and crew at Crafter's Companion, and keep an eye out for the cotton tote bag made by yours truly!!

 Till then here's a couple of cards I made from the Cd Rom ...


The images are so adorable, it was had to chose which ones to make.
Watch out for the PICK OF THE WEEK Shows starting at 12 noon on the 22nd Feb and continuing  all through the week till the 1st March


I hope you like this easel card , which would be ideal for a winter wedding or birthday or even Christmas card, there are only 306 days to the next one and it never hurts to start on your Chrimbo cards early !!

Thanks for popping by
 and feel free to leave a comment if you like what you see xx

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Sneaky Peek Time...Crisalis Classics Stamps

Hi everybody

Over the next few months I will be giving you Sneaky Peeks of what is about to be released from Crafters Companion, Don't worry they know all about it, no ones going to be shot at dawn !! As a guest Designer we are allowed to share our wonderful work and give our followers a heads up on the new stuff about to be launched on Create and Craft this week, so hold on to your hats and check out these fabulous images from Crafters Companion. This weekend   Crafters Companion will be releasing their new CRISALIS CLASSICS Stamps and CD Rom from the talented artist Christine Haworth on Create and Craft  Friday's 'PICK OF THE WEEK' Show, here are a few sample cards I made for their launch

The first is called 'The Reheshal' and was my favourite to colour as there were so many folds and creases in the skirts, you could really go to town with your Spectrum Noirs.

I've used  Spectrum Noirs 
FS2, FS3, FS5 for the flesh tones
NR2,NR7,NR8 for the hair
BP1,PL1, PP2, PP4,PP5 for the dresses and the shoes and LY2, LG4, LG2 and DR6 for the flowers

The images is mounted on a Floral Oval Spellbinder Die cut and decorated with liquid pearls and red silk flowers


 This bride was such a beautiful image it had to be a choice and coloured well even though I'm no expert with my 'Species' I still feel the fresh tones came out OK, The picture doesn't do this card justice as the veil and flowers is covered in iridescent glitter and sparkles when you turn the card.

Again it has been coloured with my wonderful Spectrum Noirs , they blend beautifully and make the image look so professional don't you think?? I know I do!!
 This last card is called 'Take time to relax,' and is an enchanting image of a young girl just enjoying the summer breeze...  Roll on summer ..

Well that was just a taster of whats to come, so keep both eyes peeled this Friday for the 'PICK OF THE WEEK' on Create and Craft and make sure you don't miss the Crafters Companion hours. Don't miss the chance to see more of these images there are a dozen stamps to choose from and a CD Rom full of these images, papers embellishments and toppers to work with, all as fabulous as the last!!

If you would like to see more of my creations pop back soon and I will post more for you to enjoy xx



Monday 18 February 2013

Crafters Companion 'Love Challenge'

Hi everyone

First of all I would like to send out apologies for slacking where the blog has been concerned , things have been a little crazy at the homestead for the last few weeks and unfortunately the blog has been neglected , Its all been good stuff , I had a few days away with hubby, and have been working non stop for Crafters Companion on up and coming projects and promotions on Create and Craft , and not forgetting our lovely friends over at J and C Creations design team, who I have been creating for also, so there haven't been as many posts as usual and I hope to put that right over the next few weeks .


Today's post I would like to invite you over to the Crafters Companion Challenge blog which is in mid flow at the moment, The Challenge this month is LOVE IS IN THE AIR...Join in and you could win £30 worth of gift vouchers to spend on their website. All you have to do is create a card or project using one of their products. I missed the brief on this, didn't join the team till mid January so I am a little late joining in but here's my contribution to the inspiration anyway, it features one of the new Darice embossing folders, interlocking Circles, hope you like it and don't forget to join in the fun and enter over at the Challenge blog

I loved working with this embossing folders as the finished result is so nice and clear. I used Coreinations Card stock for this card , which can be found over at the Crafters Companion website in a range of fabulous colours and styles.  My first time using Coredinations Card stock ,I think it came out rather well !!

J and C Creations Blog Challenge ' International Friendship Week'

Here's my inspiration for the February Challenge 'International Friendship Month' over at J and C Creations Challenge Blog... There's a £20 gift voucher to spend on the J and C Creations website as a prize. kindly donated by Denise and Jenny, so get no over there and enter the challenge. You know what they say 'you have got to be in it to win it!!;


 Items used
Penny Black 'Furry Embrace' Stamp
The stamp Barn Friendship Sentiment' Stamp ( WOR123G) 
decorative Square die 
Marianne flower and swirl die( from Straight frame set)
Pearl embellishments 
patterned papers
Spellbinders labels17
Gold Peel offs

Alcohol pens to colours

Colours used for the little pussies were LG1, LG3, LG4, F2,NR2, NR3, Swing Seat NR3 ,NR5, Flowers LY2,LY4 and DG3, LG2, LG4 .
 All highlighted items can be found over at the J and C Creations website


I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges
Cutiepiechallenge - Pretty pastels
MyCraftspot challenge flowers
Stampwithfun - Friends Challenge



Wednesday 13 February 2013

National Bird feeding month.....


Good morning everyone,

 well its come round again National bird feeding month , where we live in Surrey there has been an invasion of Parakeets. You may assume they need a more tropical climate than Surrey , apparently not!! As the birds originate from the foothills of the Himalayas, they seem to find our mild winters easy to cope with.

They eat berries, buds, nuts and seeds, all of which are in plentiful supply in the area, both in the wild and in garden bird feeders, and due to their size - approximately 40 cm (16 inches) from top to tip of tail, they are able to compete for food and nesting spaces with our native birds.
.
It's believed that there are about 30,000 Ring-necked Parakeets living in the South East of England, mainly in Surrey, with some flocks also sighted in Sussex and Kent.

The one in the picture was photographed from my kitchen window, he was with his mate (not photographed) they were eyeing up the garden bird tables with great interest and popped down a few times to get some breakfast from them.

 Hundreds of them have taken up residence in our local woodlands but food must be thin on the ground for them to come into the gardens, its the first pair I've ever seen from indoors before, though you can hear them in the summer quite easily..

Here's my card to celebrate today...
Its a really pretty little stamp by Bildmalarna of a little girl feeding her chicks and seemed ideal for today's project Bildmalarna have a huge range of stamps over at J and C Creations website, many of which are now reduced in price so why not pop over and grab a bargain

You will need:
Bildmalarna Minosa 'Chickens Stamp
Embossed 6' card blank
Spellbinders Floral oval die
Green pearls 
Ribbon, paper flowers
Alcohol Pens to colour
Sentiment  

I've used a Minosa 'Chickens' Stamp from Bildmalarna and coloured it in with my Spectrum Noirs
colours used were
Hair - TN8, TN7, TN2
Skin - F2, F3
Dress and top
CG1,CG2, LG2,LG5, LY2
Chicks LY2, LY1 , CT3
Basket - GB6, GB7, GB8

When this was coloured, I cut the image out with my Floral Ovals die and mounted it onto an 6 x 6'' square embossed card blank. I added some ribbon down the side and some flowers in the corner and a few green pearls to embellish. The sentiment is from an old stamp I've had forever, and this was cut out with a 1.5 circle hole punch.

All items highlighted can be found on the J and C Creations website 

And if you would like to know more about our feathered friends and how you can help them through this cold spell, why not visit  the National Bird Feeding Society

if you would like to see more crafting items why not visit the J and C Creations website



Tuesday 12 February 2013

Liebster Award Nomination

Wow, Hi everyone
well, what a busy week I've had , and what a lovely surprise to come back to my blog and find that 2 people have kindly nominated me for a liebster award. So I would like to send a HUGE BIG THANK YOU to Rocky and Kelly for putting my little blog forward xx

ABOUT THE AWARD - this award was designed to be a blog award in the pay it forward fashion. Once you've been nominated you in turn award it to blogs that you like to visit that have fewer than 200 followers.  This is to encourage new visitors to visit these blogs - isn't this a fabulous idea?!
RULES FOR ACCEPTANCE - you must thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog. Post the award on your blog. Give the award to 5 bloggers who you appreciate that have less than 200 followers.  Leave a comment on their blog letting them know that you have given them this awesome award.
PAY IT FORWARD - Listed below are five blogs that I think you should visit:

Here are my nominees
Katy Crafts
The things she makes are amazing xx
Some Assembly Required
Sue is a true Artist with her animal/pet portaits..
Glitters and Bonbons
Shea is so talented, I just love visiting her blog..
Wendylynn's Paper Whims
I love her dark side...
Colorpaperscissors
She makes such lovely creations..

Kelly asked her nominees the following questions

1.) What is your favourite time of the day?
lunchtime, Always hungry so love Lunchtime!
2.) Do you have any pets? What are they? What's their names?
 I had the most adorable pug Spike till last month when he very sadly passed away at the age of 13, we miss him dearly, we also have a ginger feline cat, aged 13 who owns the house!!
3.) Are you allergic to anything? 
 Mondays!!
4.) What is your favourite food?
 Cheese and onion sandwiches
5.) What's your pet peeve? 
People who queue jump, and drivers that use their cell phones while driving,
 Idiots!!!
6.) Where is the most interesting place you've traveled to?
 Burgge in Belgium we went to an Ice Sculpture Exhibition
7.)  If a genie granted you 3 wishes, what would you ask for?
  Good Health for everyone I know, (mine is rubbish,) a little house in the country and an extra day in the weekend !!
8.) Who is your favorite cartoon character? Homer Simpson, Why?
  because every now and then he will do something my husband would do and that's funny!!
9.) What's your favorite flower? 
A yellow rose
10.) Why did you start your blog?
About a year ago I joined a design team and I was asked to write a blog so we could share the things we would make with others
11.) What do you like to do on your days off?
 when I get one I'll let you know!!!  seriously, we go  out on our motorcycles and enjoy the surrey countryside xx

Monday 11 February 2013

10th Febuary -- It's Umbrella day

February 10th was officially national Umbrella day , We seem to have had a lot of those just lately.  On this day we celebrate the invention of one of the most used and useful items that most, if not all of us has, pretty sure every home owns at least one!!!!  They provide shelter from the rain and snow in the winter and shield us from the harmful rays of the summer sun, not just hand held , they come in many sizes and colours and Parasol umbrellas are a regular sight at most beaches, race courses and of course my favorite, the large ones you can sit under in the beer garden!!!


To commemorate this day I made this card for you to enjoy.

Items used
6'' Scalloped card blank
Silver mirror card
 white card
Penny Black 'winter snuggles' wooden Stamp
Clear and black Versamark ink pads
Spellbinders Scalloped edge die
Regal M-bossibilities Folder
Orange Pearls
Ranger Glossy Accents 
WOW Pearlecent Green pearl embossing powder

Step 1
To make the background for this card I first took my versamark ink pad and dabbed it over the inside of one side of my M-bossibilities folder I then placed my card inside and ran this through my Grand Calibur machine then I took it out the folder (carefully) and covered the sticky side of the paper with my WOW Pearlecent Green pearl embossing powder and melted with a heat gun . I then matted this onto some mirror card and added to my card blank

Step 2
To create the Penny black winter snuggles image I stamped with a black Versamark ink pad and embossed with fine clear embossing powder to get a raised clear stamped Image, I then coloured the little guys with my Spectrum Noir Pens and cut the image out using my Spellbinders Scalloped edge die

Step 3
I mounted the image onto some more mirror card and added some Glossy Accents to the umbrella and to the snow on top and left over night to dry completely before mounting onto my scalloped card blank

Step 4
I added some white satin ribbon down the side and the card was finished

If you would like to see more of these adorable hegdehogs why not check out the Penny Black  range over at J and C Creations Website All items highlighted in this post can be found there xx


Monday 4 February 2013

Eleanor Ballarina Tutorial... 'Angelica and Friends'


 I do hope you have all been watching the Create and Craft TV channel today and enjoying the 'Angelica and Friends' 4 Day Deal from Crafters Companion

Sara Davis has very kindly decided to do a giveaway over on her blog, check it out, you may win a sample card from her stash!!!

Here's a box card I made for the show and a tutorial on how to recreate it xx

Angelica Ballerina Box Card

You will need
4 x A4 Centura Pearl Card
Plain white, /silver mirror card, plain and patterned yellow card
Spectrum Noirs Alcohol pens
2 x 12’’ length White ribbon
Embossing folder
Silver glitter glue
Crafters Companion Spray and Sparkle
Crafters Companion Handbag and box board
Spellbinders floral Oval die      
Template on scrap paper 119mm x150mm












Step 1
 First take an A4 piece of Centura Pearl card and cut to the measurements 160mm x295mm and then score a line at 125mm and 145mm and then again at 272mm. You should now have a long card blank with 4 panels , The larger panels are the front and back and the skinny ones are the sides  When this is done fold your card it should look like a rectangle with open ends.



Step 2
Cut a rectangle, 150mm x 119mm in White Centura Pearl  (This is where your scrap template comes in) and emboss through an embossing folder of your choice, I used a  ‘Regal’ M-bossibilities on this project but any embossing folder with  a repeating pattern will work just fine. When this is done matt and layer this card onto some silver mirror card giving it a 2mm border around it. When this is done, matt this onto the 3rd panel of your card blank, remembering to insert your ribbon tie under it before sticking it down. This is your front panel of your box card





Step 3
Colour your image with your Spectrum Noirs, I used CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4 for the dress, TN9. TN8, GB7, F3 for the hair and F2, F3, F6 for the skin and LG1 for the outline.
When you have coloured your image, cut this out using an oval template, make the size just smaller than your spellbinders die, matt this onto a Spellbinder die-cut shape cut from yellow patterned paper and mount onto the front panel, decorate around the oval with your glitter glue and decorate your ‘ballerina’s tu-tu  and headband with some iridescent glitter then leave to dry completely. Add your sentiment onto a small floral Oval die cut and add to the corner. I used to ‘waste’ stars to decorate around my Ballerina



Step 4
 Emboss 2 strips for the sides of your box in Centura Pearl and matt onto some silver mirror card and decorate your side panels then cut another large panel for the back 119 x 150mm  (use your template) , emboss and matt onto silver again and mount on back, again first inserting the end of your ribbon before you stick it down. That’s the box cover completed.

Step 5
Use your template and score a rectangle in the middle of a piece of A4 Centura Pearl card. Then Score a 3cm border around this twice, cut out the corners to create tabs so your Card resembles the picture to the right. When this is done crease your folds then cut an oval aperture in the centre rectangle and fold and glue 3 out of the 4 sides. Use wet glue for this, when making boxes it’s always better than tape as that sometimes comes unstuck and you don’t want that!!  Leave one end open to insert the background.

Step 6
When your box insert is dry, using your template again, cut yourself another 119 x150mm rectangle and emboss this with the patterned embossing folder and insert into the box. Glue the background in, Close the end up and glue shut and leave to dry. When this was dry, I glued it onto the inside of my box cover.


Step 7
Take your Crafters Companion handbags and boxes board and use the ‘cloud’ shapes and dry emboss them. Starting with the largest and emboss onto plain white card, the next largest onto yellow card and the smallest onto Centura Pearl. Cut out the shapes and run through the patterned embossing folder and then mount onto a spellbinders oval die-cut and decorate the edges with silver glitter glue. When this is completely dry, glue it inside the box insert pictured above in step 6.

Step 8
Take your image of Angelica in her Ballerina costume and colour and decoupage 3 layers. I also sprayed Angelica’s Tutu with some Crafters Companion Spray and sparkle to give it a subtle glittery look, and then I mounted onto the top of the ‘clouds’.
Step 9
 Finish your box inset by cutting out some pretty corner dies using Centura Pearl white card and gluing them on the top of the box inset, just over hanging the aperture. When this is dry, you can tie a bow with your ribbon and the card is finished.

 

 
















Created by Tracey Anne xx



Sunday 3 February 2013

A Sneaky peek at Angelica and friends ..

Well as promised, something brand new and exciting from the Crafters Companions stables and its the Angelica and friends '4 day deal' launching at 8am tomorrow on Create and Craft shopping channel, SKY671/Free view 36/Freesat  813

 Here's a sneaky peek at what you can look forward to creating with, this fabulous range of Stamps and images from their Angelica and friends CD.  With a choice of 9 unmounted rubber stamps, everyone a joy to colour and create with, and a fabulous CD full of coloured images and elements to use to embellish, you will be blown away with delight with this collection.  Adorable fairies and playful children dressing up , Here we have 'Felicity' isn't she cute!!!!
 
Felicity bubbles card
Spectrum Noirs used to colour her
Dress PP2.PP5, PP6, BP2
Hair TN8 TN7,TN2, GB7,GB6
Flowers LV1, LV2, LG2 ,LY2, DG1
Pots GB7, CT4,CT2
I added some pink dew drops to make her bubbles look real . love the way this card turned out , hope Sara Davis loves it too.




This little darling is 'Jessica' and was an absolute joy to colour with my Spectrum Noirs. I don't confess to being very good at colouring images but with these pens its so easy to get a good result

Spectrum Noirs used were
Hair NR7, NR8, NR2,
Dress and wings LB1, BT3, BT5, BT8
Mushroom CR8, CR10, LG1, LG3,LG4
Grass LG2,LG5

Just this image and a little piece of ribbon and lace and you have a perfect little card to please any little girl.

   Here are a few more some from the CD and a box card project using the Eleanor image (which I'm hoping to tutorial in the next week or so)



 HUNKY DORY AND CRAFTERS COMPANION UNITE!!

 Also being launched are 3 Hunky-Dory card Sets featuring these darling images , A huge luxury set full of beautiful toppers, sentiments and card stock, an easel card set and an Acetate set,
why not have a look of what's to come on Create and Craft over the next 4 days by popping over to the Crafters Companion blog website!!!!!

Here are some of the samples I made with the kits xx

















 










my favorite to create in this collection was my exploding box
 
So make sure you don't miss the 'Angelica and Friends' 4 Day Deal  launch tomorrow with Sara Davis and keep an eye out for all the beautiful samples to get some inspiration on all you can create xx