TAG!!! YOU'RE IT!

This was a tag posted by a lovely contributor to the Dare blog so thought I would have a go at my first one!

1) What technique would you consider to be your "trade mark" (what do you do most?)
Hmmmmm probably squares with embellishments which make my cards really boring.

2) Which technique(s) do you wish you could do/do better?
Stamp! I cant and so wish I could as I see some gorgeous stamp art about. I get is a mess with the ink and it splodges anywhere - does anyone ant to teach me?

3) What are your 4 favourite embellishments?
Ribbon, buttons, flowers and patterned paper

4) What are your 3 favourite gadgets? My Bigshot (soon to be replaced by a dream machine!!!) my Creative Memories tape runner and my craft scalpel

5a) What do you like to do but haven't done in a while?
Scrapbooking
b) And what have you done recently & forgot how much you enjoyed?
Crafting in general, I had got out of the habit and now I am firmly back in the driving seat and loving it

So if you are reading this why not answer the questions yourself!

Dare 2 is up!

And woah is it a toughy, but I cant wait to see your cards. Lookie here if you dont know what I am on about http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/

The challenge this week was to use something from your kitchen - well if anyone actually knows me they will be laughing right about now. You see I dont "do" kitchens, or cooking so this was a particularly hard one for me but here's what I managed.

It was simple to do if a little messy. Firstly I drew my pattern, in this instance flowers with the end of a wax candle onto my card. Then using a foam brush and a little red food colouring I painted over it to make the background pattern and rounded the corners. When it was dry i mounted it onto a square card. I then attached a square cut from a cereal packet (blank side up) and a second square of homemade pattern. I assembled two paper flowers in white and red and used tacky glue to attach a silver ball cake decoration.

Then using a black pen i doodled squiggly lines and wrote the word "daisies" around the edge. I then accented this with red pen flowers and dots.

And while I had the cake making bits out, I came over all domestic godess and maked some fairy cakes too!!!! Impressive huh!

Dont forget to join us over at http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/, we would love to see your take on our challenge.

Oh, and does anyone know how to remove red food colouring from skin **blush**

Crafting left right and centre....


Wow the dare blog http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ has certainly started my creative juices flowing, and going on the amount of comments and mentions we have had, you guys are enjoying it too. Dont forget to check the blog friday 10am for this weeks dare - trust me its a right one!!

I have been making all sorts this week and I promise when I get round to it I will take some piccies for you. So far I have made some xmas cards using the yummy blonde moments papers, an exploding box, a canvas and a mini book - wow the crafters block has been lifted it seems!

Will get some piccies up ASAP i promise.

Oooh also can I just mention my twin sister Claire-Louise who had a right strop because I mentioned by other sister on the blog and not her. So check out her myspace here http://www.myspace.com/clairethegr8 so she doesnt feel all unloved and left out - ta ;)

Do You Dare???......

......... I DO! Have you guys checked out the new and exciting dare blog for cardmakers? if not why not!! lookie here http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/

Its a fab new blog set up to try to inspire cardmakers with a different dare each week. The design team is made up of designers from the UK and NZ, and will soon feature special guest designers. Why not have a go and post us the link so we can see.

Here is my Dare for this week - the theme was FRIENDS



The picture is a little dark, IRL its a very bright and funky pink. The patterned paper is Junkitz Salsa Circles, the "F" is from MM jigsaw alphabet in Poolside. The rest of the letters are from sizzlets bounce alphabet and are cut from black and fushia card same as the semi circle and the flowers. The Bling is attached by the Kandi-Kane, stay still long enough in my house and you get blinged lol.

So come on guys get across to the other blog and have a go!!! DARE YA!

I did it!!! I actually Crafted!!!!

I know I bet you are impressed now arent ya huh! Not only have I tidied up my "office", completed an essay for my OU course and played host to my mum and stepdad visiting this week I have also been crafting. I am sooooo pleased with myself can you tell? I made a card but that has to remain a secret for now, but trust me soon you will see. I also made a door hanger for my sister who is expecting a baby. I only had 10 minutes whilst Baby J napped so dont think I did too badly. The flash didnt pick up the glitter and sparkle very well on it tho. I am hoping to get a small gift scrapbook done for her before baby arrives but I only have about 3 weeks so might be a christmas pressie instead.

Talking of Christmas how organised am I , I have even brought some pressies! In other news, the big bad dr man said that there is nothing wrong with Baby J's hips at all (YAY!!), he has decided to prove this point by trying to climb the stairs and cruise round furniture! He has also gained another tooth which makes 4 in total - Where did my baby go?

I apologise for the gap in blogging dear reader but a few things happened to rock my little world. Dont really want to go into it but suffice to say some people werent who I thought they were and there was a lot of hurt on all sides. Shame really but I guess these things all happen for a reason, and I am a strong believer that the reason will be coming clear very very soon.

Till next time Ciao and remember - what doesnt kill you makes you stronger!

I am soooooooooooooo excited!!!!!!

.............and I cant tell you why!! I know, i'm sorry how mean is that. All I can say its that there are major rumblings going on and the chance to get involved with something with some great designers. Watch this space!!

On the crafting side I have been working on my huge list of things to do. I have started on the canvas but havent decided if its "understated and simple" or actually just "bare and uninteresting" maybe I should post it for your opinions? Have also been working on my part of the huge charity quilt that the forum members of Crafts by Carolyn (www.craftsbycarolyn.co.uk) have been working on. I am not a great stitcher but couldnt miss out on the chance to be part of such a huge project.

On the homefront baby J is poorly - teething we think, so we have got our work cut out with him at the moment. He has gone back to waking up in the night from sleeping through and is generally grumpy. Bless his little heart. But we have recognisable words now as well as his sign language he uses - not bad for 8 and a half months huh!?

Plan for tomorrow is to do some more work on the canvas and to start on a keyring album for my mum. Wish me luck.......

October already?? How did that happen??


Oh my god, today is the 1st October. How on earth did that happen? Who stole a good 3 months? That means there is only 85ish days till well you know, that day! I have one pressie tho so not doing tooo bad. Oh and I have written lists, I like lists they make me happy.

This weekend we journeyed south to visit my family. My little sisters baby is due soon and we had bought her some bits and pieces so took them down for her. Had a good time but it always reminds me how much I miss them being 4 hours away, although when i lived there 4 hours wouldnt have been far enough lol.

On the crafting front - well i hold my hands up and admit that the crafting session didnt happen. I am sorry, shall I go and stand in the corner? This week tho I have a huge crafty to do list so must get some things done. I have cards, canvases, scrapbook pages and a mini book to do so must crack on really. Will update as soon as I have done them to prove i really am a crafter and not a mad malingerer.