Its a lovely sunny day again today a sure sign spring is around the corner, I am almost tempted to go out and start sorting the garden out but I am not that well at the moment with a nasty chest infection and cold, so maybe not such a good idea just yet. I just hope the weather keeps up and I get outside at the wekend.
So in the meantime I have been busy with mothers day stuff. I have a box of chocolate hearts and I wanted to make a small gift bag of chocolates with matching card and here is what I came up with. The card itself was very fiddly to do but was well worth the effort.
The gift sack is a Gina Jayne Design which I downloaded from DAISIE just one of my favourite digital sites, I printed of a second sheet and used the rose to make the matching crad.
If you would like to see more of Gina Janes designs visit her site here
Hybrid & Digital craft projects with tutorials hints and tips on card making, scrapbooking and different craft related projects.
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Monday, 8 March 2010
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Nestabilities Storage Problem Solved
How do you store your nestabilities, if your anything like me I have tried all sorts of different ways to effectively store these. Ive tried folders, cd cases and other weird methods all of which have been only partly effective. But I think I have finally cracked it, so I wanted to share with you my idea and if you think its absolute rubbish just let me know lol.
I bought a plain and simple little black cd wallet from Office World for £3.00 - just a open and fold type no zip to fumble with and a packet of photo magnetic pockets. I cut piecies of card to fit inside each cd pocket. Cut two inch strips from the magnetic pockets and fixed to the card using double sided tape. Each nestability set now sits nicely in each cd sleeve without moving around or falling out - great stuff.
All I need to do now is pull out the card and select the size of frame i want to use.
I bought a plain and simple little black cd wallet from Office World for £3.00 - just a open and fold type no zip to fumble with and a packet of photo magnetic pockets. I cut piecies of card to fit inside each cd pocket. Cut two inch strips from the magnetic pockets and fixed to the card using double sided tape. Each nestability set now sits nicely in each cd sleeve without moving around or falling out - great stuff.
All I need to do now is pull out the card and select the size of frame i want to use.
Making Flowers
Where did Feburary go, the year seems to be flying by already. I have actually been working very hard in Feb but just never got around to posting so now I need to catch up with my posts and upload all my projects lol. The first one I am going to share with you is a mothers day card I made, it was a simple project to do but very effective. Here is a list of materials used.
Tim Holtz distressed inks peeled paint for the leaves and faded jeans for the blue flowers. I just rubbed some of the ink onto my craft mat and then spritzed it with some water. I dabbed up the ink onto some card and left to dry. Using a flower punch I punched out about 30 tiny flowers.
The matt layer is done with bazzil card and a blue background paper which was created in photoshop elements (which I hope to upload as a feebie) the verse is printed off in Edwardian script font, for the corners used a daisy corner punch. Icicle stickles just to finish off the flower centres. Hope you like it and have fun playing around.
I tried really hard to get the verse into focus and this was the best i could get!!
Tim Holtz distressed inks peeled paint for the leaves and faded jeans for the blue flowers. I just rubbed some of the ink onto my craft mat and then spritzed it with some water. I dabbed up the ink onto some card and left to dry. Using a flower punch I punched out about 30 tiny flowers.
The matt layer is done with bazzil card and a blue background paper which was created in photoshop elements (which I hope to upload as a feebie) the verse is printed off in Edwardian script font, for the corners used a daisy corner punch. Icicle stickles just to finish off the flower centres. Hope you like it and have fun playing around.
I tried really hard to get the verse into focus and this was the best i could get!!
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Cuttlebug Folder Storage
Im not sure if I like the end result of this project or not, I think I may need to work on this one. I cut out the box template from two pieces of card and fitted the front to the back matted layed the cottage rose papers from Gina Jaynes Collections. The folder will hold about 12 cuttlebug folders quite comfortably and so could do with being slightly wider so as not to run out of room to quickly lol. Maybe when i get the template more precise I will put up a proper tutorial for it, but it will have to wait a while I just have too many items on my to do list at the moment. I am sure you know what I mean and I am not alone :-)
Hope you all had a good weekend
Hope you all had a good weekend
Megans First Challenge Entry
Megan my grandaughter has made this card to enter into her first challenge on Little Hands Do Crafts, this is a great blog for little ones to take part in card challenges, take a look here. Megan would love you to visit her blog Megans Crafty Ladybird here.
I have been teaching Megan lots of craft techniques and she loves to craft with me at the weekends when she comes to stay with us, her blending and colouring is coming on relly well. I am hoping to help keep her blog up to date, time willing lol.
I have been teaching Megan lots of craft techniques and she loves to craft with me at the weekends when she comes to stay with us, her blending and colouring is coming on relly well. I am hoping to help keep her blog up to date, time willing lol.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Easel Card Video
I just had to share this with you, another new style to have a play with and the bonus is it looks really easy
Have fun
Have fun
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Blue Fairy Card
Dont you just love blogging, it is a great way for us all to showcase our work, but today I want to show off some work created by a friend who doesnt have her own blog.
Janet has made this card using the free background papers which i offered on here last year, she has kindly given me permission to show it to you all here. Now although Janet doesnt have a blog she does have her own project gallery on the trimcraft forum and you can find some beautiful cards and projects she has made, so please go and have a look here.
Janet has made this card using the free background papers which i offered on here last year, she has kindly given me permission to show it to you all here. Now although Janet doesnt have a blog she does have her own project gallery on the trimcraft forum and you can find some beautiful cards and projects she has made, so please go and have a look here.
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Bookatrix 30th Birthday Card
Just a quick post today as I am working on a template to make a storage box for my Cuttlebug Folders, when its finished tried and tested lol I am planning to put the template on here as a freebie.
OK this was the bookatric card I made for my daughters 30th birthday last week, so it is now safe to upload it here. She is not into old fashioned stuff as she puts it !!!!! so i tried to be as modern as I could coz I am more of a vintage girl myself and very into flowers...
OK this was the bookatric card I made for my daughters 30th birthday last week, so it is now safe to upload it here. She is not into old fashioned stuff as she puts it !!!!! so i tried to be as modern as I could coz I am more of a vintage girl myself and very into flowers...
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Crafty Makes: Cupcake Craft Challenge Card
Crafty Makes: Cupcake Craft Challenge Card
Kim has made a fabulous colourful card for the cupcake challenge
Kim has made a fabulous colourful card for the cupcake challenge
Free Five Petal Crochet Flower Pattern
Embelishments are the finishing touch to your projects and this can become quite expensive, here is a little crochet flower pattern that I use quite often.
An effective and cheap way to embellish your work is making crochet flowers, not only will you use up all your old scraps of wool but you can save some pennies too, dont know about you but I am always looking for good ways to save some pennies.
They only take a few minutes to make and even if you are a novice at crochet they are simple to create. I will be adding a video for those who dont crochet but would like to have a go at making these versatile embellishments.
Step 1: Make 5 ch and join with sl st to form ring.
Step 2: 10 sc in centre of ring.
Step 3: sl st to top of first sc.
Step 4: create a petal in the first sc - sc, 3dc, sc
Step 5: continue creating small petals in every other sc using the same pattern - five petals in total. sl st to join with first sc of first petal.
Step 6: turn to the back of the flower, sc down through base opening of small petal.
Step 7: ch 3, and sc through next petal base opening.
Step 8: repeat 4 more times in each opening. sl st through first sc, creating a series of 5 loops total.
Step 9: create a large petal in the first loop - sc, 5dc, sc
step 10: continue creating a large petal in each of the remaining 4 loops. sl st to join with first sc of first petal.
I added some tiny pearls to the centre of mine but again you can use anything you might have suitable in your stash.
An effective and cheap way to embellish your work is making crochet flowers, not only will you use up all your old scraps of wool but you can save some pennies too, dont know about you but I am always looking for good ways to save some pennies.
They only take a few minutes to make and even if you are a novice at crochet they are simple to create. I will be adding a video for those who dont crochet but would like to have a go at making these versatile embellishments.
ABREVIATIONS
ch - chain stitch
sl st - slip stitch
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
3dc - three double crochets in same stitch
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Make 5 ch and join with sl st to form ring.
Step 2: 10 sc in centre of ring.
Step 3: sl st to top of first sc.
Step 4: create a petal in the first sc - sc, 3dc, sc
Step 5: continue creating small petals in every other sc using the same pattern - five petals in total. sl st to join with first sc of first petal.
Step 6: turn to the back of the flower, sc down through base opening of small petal.
Step 7: ch 3, and sc through next petal base opening.
Step 8: repeat 4 more times in each opening. sl st through first sc, creating a series of 5 loops total.
Step 9: create a large petal in the first loop - sc, 5dc, sc
step 10: continue creating a large petal in each of the remaining 4 loops. sl st to join with first sc of first petal.
I added some tiny pearls to the centre of mine but again you can use anything you might have suitable in your stash.
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Monday, 11 January 2010
Free Background Papers - New Colours
Some more free background papers in new colours for you to download.
Just click on the picture and select save picture as using right click, if you have any problems downloading email me at caruff@hotmail.co.uk and I will send you attachment in email.
Just click on the picture and select save picture as using right click, if you have any problems downloading email me at caruff@hotmail.co.uk and I will send you attachment in email.
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Beginners Parchment Craft project
I took part in a Parchment beginners project on the trimcraft forum, I have had some basic tools for parchment for sometime now, I just love some of the work of the professional parchment crafters it is quite inspiring, so I finally took the plunge when I saw this opportunity to do a project where some help and support was there if needed. I know and youre quite right, I really am quite a coward but parchment did kind of scare me a bit... it is so intricate and alot of work goes into creating just one project. But there we go Ive done it now and I enjoyed doing this project even though it is a simple design.
Hope you are all managing to keep warm.
Hope you are all managing to keep warm.
Friday, 8 January 2010
Satelite Picture of UK
Thought I would share this picture with you of the UK taken this morning, quite amazing and this probably wont happen again for many a few years.
It looks like someone just moved the uk to the northpole or something
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
New Challenge Blog
I am excited about this mainly because I do love anything to do with Fred She Said Digitals... you have to check this new challenge blog out by Fred She Said, if you are like me and like to use digital images and stamps you cant miss this one. Become a member and follower you will be in for a chance to get a freebie too. Also there is a long list of links taking you to all of Traceys freebies over the last few years, but be sure to visit her shop too as there are many lovely images or flowers to download that you are bound to fall in love with and they are all at a reasonable and affordable price.
FRED SHE SAID BLOG CHALLENGE
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Christening Bookatrix Keepsake Card
Hello all on this lovely cold day bbrrrrrrr, its freezing here in the midlands, so im looking forward to spring..... oh gosh im wishing away the year already - but I do love spring. Ok enough ramblings now - I thought I would share my first project for 2010 which is a order from a new customer I picked up from the School Christmas fayre, all that hard work paid off so really pleased about that.
Here is a christening bookatrix keepsake card and box. I had originally planned to put two baby shoes on but it looked to cramped and decided that the one shoe looked better. I made the shoe using a template which I plan to upload onto my blog as a freebie eventually... when I get around to finding time to do it. In the meantime if anyone would like the template I can email it to you just drop me a request to caruff@hotmail.co.uk and I will forward it onto you.
I have another special card to do today as my daughter will be 30 next week... omg I really cannot believe that she will soon be 30 it only seems like yesterday when she was a baby... hope she dont see these or im in trouble lol
here she is then
She always did have two biscuits one for each hand lol
and now, with her own daughter Megan...
Sorry about that little trip down memory lane, just feeling my age a bit now. It really does make you realize how quickly time passes us by when your children start to reach milestone birthdays lol.
Hope you have had a good weekend and its all back to normal now.
Friday, 1 January 2010
Happy New Year To My Friends
Well 2009 has now gone and we all look forward to the new decade and as we make our new years resolutions I would like to thank everyone who has visited me read all my blabbering and taken the time to leave me a comment.
And my new year resolution... dont laugh
To be more organised and take more care of my blog and most important to make more time to visit my friends.
So here it is.....
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Another Free Digital Craft Download Site
I have another excellent free web site I want to share with you all. Here you will find an abundance of digital downloads which can be used for allsorts of crafts but if you are a digi scrapbook crafter then this will be just like finding heaven. You will have access to free scrapbook kits of all kinds and they have not just 100s of freebies but thousands. There is also elements, layers, paintbrushes for paintshop pro and much more.... go on give yourself a real treat for the new year there are new kits and printables to download for free added everyday so a site not to be overlooked by any means. Hope you all have fun browsing this one, but be warned you will likely spend a considerable amount of time here lol....
Digiscrap Depot
Digiscrap Depot
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Free Calendar 2010 - Printable Graphic Downloads
I wanted to share with my craft friends this fabulous site i stumbled across with a whole host of free downloads including calendars, stationery sets, recipe cards, bookmarks and scrapbook tags to name just a few. There are some gorgous graphics also which can be purchased but the free graphics on offer are simply some of the best ive seen in the free section. Hope you have fun browsing this site and wishing you all a happy new year.


Here is the link to the free calendars please share with your friends coz I think you will love this site.
GRAPHIC GARDEN


Here is the link to the free calendars please share with your friends coz I think you will love this site.
GRAPHIC GARDEN
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Merry Christmas
Just wanted to wish you all a very happy christmas and new year in case I dont get time to get away from the kitchen tomorrow lol.
Have a great day
Christine
Have a great day
Christine
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Paper Pricking & Card Stitching & Free Pattern
How nice it is not to be making Christmas cards so this was a nice change for me, after finding a paper pricking pattern on the net I was glad to have something new to try out. Just one problem though a quick trip to our brand new local Hobbycraft with whom I have a love hate relationship to buy some cottons I found myself at the till having spent £50.00 - wow how did i manage that one?
Not sure really products just seem to drop into my basket - oh well its good job the other half was not with me he would of had a heart attack. Now that is why I have a love hate relationship with Hobbycraft, its great to have their store on my doorstep and I am loving that, but I am just spending tooooo much so some stronger willpower will definately need to come into force me thinks before I get into trouble and married bliss becomes married horror lol.
I made this card with a free template I will post a link at the bottom if you would like to download it, it is the best one I have found so far and I have very much enjoyed the stitching so if anyone knows of some good sites for free templates please let me know. The backing paper was from Cuddly Buddly, some pale pink bazzil card and pink satin ribbon from stash.
A very nice economical card - ah thats good at least the card didnt cost much make. I now need to stay away from the shopping centre.
First attempt at card stitching - so nice and simple to begin with

Another one in the making

oops nearly forgot the link to the free pattern here
Not sure really products just seem to drop into my basket - oh well its good job the other half was not with me he would of had a heart attack. Now that is why I have a love hate relationship with Hobbycraft, its great to have their store on my doorstep and I am loving that, but I am just spending tooooo much so some stronger willpower will definately need to come into force me thinks before I get into trouble and married bliss becomes married horror lol.
I made this card with a free template I will post a link at the bottom if you would like to download it, it is the best one I have found so far and I have very much enjoyed the stitching so if anyone knows of some good sites for free templates please let me know. The backing paper was from Cuddly Buddly, some pale pink bazzil card and pink satin ribbon from stash.
A very nice economical card - ah thats good at least the card didnt cost much make. I now need to stay away from the shopping centre.
First attempt at card stitching - so nice and simple to begin with

Another one in the making

oops nearly forgot the link to the free pattern here
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Fall Flower By FSS
Its wet cold and miserable today, I think I would prefer snow to rain :-) hope you are all wrapped up warm today as colder temps are on the way - so the weatherman says....
I had a play around last night with some colouring and blending tecniques and I really enjoyed myself. This card was made using one of Fred She Said digital images, I coloured in and blended with sansodor. The frame is also from FSS digi pack and includes a pricking pattern, which makes everything so easy to put together. I dont know about you but I love easy - especially when you need to do a quick card. The backing paper is from K & Company and ribbon from stash.
I had a play around last night with some colouring and blending tecniques and I really enjoyed myself. This card was made using one of Fred She Said digital images, I coloured in and blended with sansodor. The frame is also from FSS digi pack and includes a pricking pattern, which makes everything so easy to put together. I dont know about you but I love easy - especially when you need to do a quick card. The backing paper is from K & Company and ribbon from stash.

Christmas Fayre Update
Just a quickie for now, the Christmas Fayre went quite well and it is fair to say that for my first attempt I am really quite pleased. Apparently it is was fairly quiet this year so knowing that fact makes my sales a bonus and although I did not sell out it has boosted my confidence to go on and attend more fayres but my thoughts are that craft fayres would be the better option. So all you crafters out there who may be a little afraid to take the plunge I would say go for it as the feedback I got was that people do like and will buy your handcrafted products.
I hope this will inspire you to have a go for yourself and now on a different note I have some exciting tips for you regarding Google Picasa but I am afraid it will have to wait but please watch this space for some more very soon.
I hope this will inspire you to have a go for yourself and now on a different note I have some exciting tips for you regarding Google Picasa but I am afraid it will have to wait but please watch this space for some more very soon.
Friday, 11 December 2009
Christmas Fayre Today
Well the day has arrived and I will be doing my first craft table at the school tonight.... aaaaargh I can tell you I am really nervous about this, so watch this space and will let you know later if its a big flop or a huge success one can only hope
Catch you up later on then......
Catch you up later on then......
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Snowflake Christmas Tree

Well here is a few more Christmas Cards for the school fayre, what a game i had getting a good photo of these, I couldnt use the flash as the white paper was throwing back I really could do with some photographic lessons I think but just dont have much time really. I was inspired to make these cards when I saw one made by Sue at the pink shop blog, she has an awesome blog with some wonderfull ideas and creations, you can visit her here.
While im here I just wanted to say a big thank you to everybody who visits my blog and takes the time to make a comment it really is appreciated, I do try to get round all your blogs as there are some fabulous projects on all your blogs but the problem is there are just sooooo many I love to visit I could spend a whole day looking, reading, posting and still not get round to see everyone. I really wish I could though, but anyway what I would like to say is thank you to you all.
Have good day....
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Christmas Card Collection Is Growing With Fred She Said & Forever Friends Christmas Cards
Ive spent another whole day crafting - how lucky am I at the moment, everything has been put on hold so I can get these cards made for school Christmas Fayre. I must say I am getting a bit twitchy now its getting so close, well you see I have never done anything like this before and I am having nightmares that people will think they are all rubbish eeeeekk...... that would be so embarrassing. Ill let you know how it goes.
Most of the cards I made using Fred She Said digi flowers which I am most definitely addicted to lol and there are also some Forever Friend decoupage cards.
But in the meantime I just took some quick photos of a few, I hope you like them.


Most of the cards I made using Fred She Said digi flowers which I am most definitely addicted to lol and there are also some Forever Friend decoupage cards.
But in the meantime I just took some quick photos of a few, I hope you like them.



Monday, 30 November 2009
Crafting Like Crazy
Just a quick note tonight, I have been working like mad to get as many cards boxes and calenders made as humanly possible for the schools christmas fayre next week. I think I am nearly there and hopefully i can post you some pictures.
Hopefuly I can then find some extra love and care for my blog, its really looking sorry for its self lately :-( hardly any posts this year and im feeling a tad sad at how little time ive spent here, so my new years resolution is not going to be difficult to decide on this year lol.
Another project im working on at the moment is a light box for my photographs and dare i say it some more freebie background papers.....
Hopefuly I can then find some extra love and care for my blog, its really looking sorry for its self lately :-( hardly any posts this year and im feeling a tad sad at how little time ive spent here, so my new years resolution is not going to be difficult to decide on this year lol.
Another project im working on at the moment is a light box for my photographs and dare i say it some more freebie background papers.....
Monday, 16 November 2009
How To Fold A Origami Gift Box Video
As promised here is the video tutorial for the origami gift boxes. I am also writing up a text and photo sheet for you to download if you would prefer, but they are really quite simple unlike some of the more adventurous origami folds.
Dont know about you but i have really felt the cold this weekend, a good sign that winter is on its way so its cosy days in my craft corner for me apart from about 15 mins when i run up the school to collect Sam.
Dont know about you but i have really felt the cold this weekend, a good sign that winter is on its way so its cosy days in my craft corner for me apart from about 15 mins when i run up the school to collect Sam.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Christmas Is Near
Hello everyone, yes I have been absent from my blog for a while and im feeling a tad bit guilty now. Like most of us bloggers our time seems to be consumed with homelife sometimes and I have been busy looking after the grandchildren through school holidays and then a fabulous holiday in Florida. Im just about getting over the jet lag and getting back into normal life flow.
So now crafting is back in full swing and I have been really busy this past week making christmas gift boxes for the local school Christmas Fayre. I am upto 14 so far and will be making a video tutorial for you, but for now here is some pictures. I constructed the box using a Origami fold and will be posting a tutorial very soon.
Time to do some catching up on what you have all been up to over the last few months :-)









So now crafting is back in full swing and I have been really busy this past week making christmas gift boxes for the local school Christmas Fayre. I am upto 14 so far and will be making a video tutorial for you, but for now here is some pictures. I constructed the box using a Origami fold and will be posting a tutorial very soon.
Time to do some catching up on what you have all been up to over the last few months :-)

Monday, 13 July 2009
Sunday, 12 July 2009
How To Make A Paper Tortillion

A tortillion is a rolled up piece of paper which resembles a pencil. These can then be used to blend colors together using prismacolors and sansador. By making your own you can save some money, just follow the steps below.
TIP
You may find that your tortillion becomes stained after some use, you can clean the tip using a normal nail file and gently file the tip.
You Will Need
A Piece of Paper (A4 is recommeneded)
Ruler
Pencil
Tape
Scissors
Slim Knitting Needle/Wide Wire
Get an A4 paper (optional, you can use ordinary paper). At the top left corner, use your ruler to mark one inch down. Down at the bottom right corner, mark one inch up.
Connect the two points and cut across the line using scissors. Now you have two slabs of paper for two tortillions.
Beginning at the small end, roll the paper as even and tight as possible, working your way towards the wide end. Once this is done, hold on to it nice and strong.
Push a slim knitting needle or a fat wire into the open part of the tortillon so it takes the shape of a pencil.
Protect the paper with tiny strip of tape. Trim any extra paper around the top.
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