Through the Round window....

Or the square window or the arched window! They were the words of Rhi as she set the dare over at Daring Card Makers this week. She was of course talking about apertures - she doesnt care what they are or where they are as long as the card has at least one.

Hmmm thinking caps on then. Well I was quite impressed this week cos I had the design all sorted in my head, it was just finding the time to commit it to crafty bits. You see as well as my own little monkey Baby J turning 1 this week and a birthday party to organise, a degree essay to write and a million other things to do,I also have my neice staying for 2 weeks. Did I mention my neice is only 9 weeks old. So yes picture me, a house full of madness, a german shepard who thinks he is a scottie and 2 children - oh and a boyfriend who has the good sense to go to work!

Anyhow I finally got down to the card at 10am thursday night (I know nothing like dead lines) and for a change the robo was happy to play and cut the right thing (template made for me by Stressed over at UkScrappers , at the right size in the right place! yeah I know i was surprised too. Bonus I thought, and there shoulda been my clue cos it all fell apart from then in. The pack of foils I had didnt contain a red piece which was in my minds design, ah well use a gold piece. All well and good but then my foiling pen decided it didnt want to work - shoddy workman ship! Last time I fork out for a poundland bargain. So I thought in compromise I would draw the line with gold pen which I did, and it looked Pants, big fat day, loose elastic, dodgy patterned Granny Pants!

So I had a minor strop at W, and which in his sympathetic (HA!) way he told me to stop moaning and get on with it. So I did a little creative editing. I put thin satin ribbon fromCrafts By Carolyn over the rubbish lines which I attached with little red flowers and mini brads (from Sarahs Cards. I then backed the aperture with a piece of gold foil, complained a bit more and called it a night!

And here is the card, I am not happy with it, but I really loved the one I made last week so that could be part of it :S



Will be back to blog a little more later about Baby J's birthday, and other goings on in my mundane little life. Until then why not pop on over to see us
Daring Card Makers and have a go at a window of your own?

T xxx

Handbags and Gladrags .....

This Weeks Dare was set by Lovely Lythan Her dare was

Raid your wardrobes!
This week I want you to get some inspiration from your clothes. Look through the wardrobe, drawers (or washing piles in my case). Are there any patterns that inspire you? A certain way the clothes are put together? You can echo the patterns in some way or even scan your clothes in! OR use something that would go on clothing on your card.
Yes, this week ours will be the best dressed cards in the neighbourhood!

Well to be honest the first thing I did was panic after all the only thing my wardrobe contains is Jeans, and only blue jeans at that, cue artistic director W with his bright ideas (actually give him credit he does design quite a bit for me!) and said why not look at your Radley Bags.

I have a soft spot for the stupidly expensive but 0h-so-lush Radley range of handbags but sadly as my Nan used to say "champagne tastes and beer money", however I also have a very generous sister in Law who has purchased them as birthday pressies! I know how lucky am I!

So with a large portion of design input from 'im Indoors meet my Radley inspired card, and for once I am pleased with it!!

Rising Flower Radley Design

Firstly I used a handbag card blank from CraftWork Cards as a template as it was the wrong colour, I drew it onto black card and cut it out. I then stuck a strip of pale blue textured card across the bottom of it. Using the same card and the autotrace function on my Robo friend (I am pleased to report we have settled out technical differences and are once again very much in love) to cut the radley dog logo. I cut a strip of the same card for a collar and set a white eyelet to hold the ribbon to make it into the trademark tag. I also used a knitting needle (technical gadgets me!) to emboss the word RADLEY on the dog.

Using a white gel pen I drew faux (read cheaters way!) stitching with a white gel pen around the edge of the dog and the cardstock strip. I also drew a stitched flower design on the side of the bag. I also used a pencil to add stitching round the handbag itself.

This is the stunning bag that inspired me and it can be seen with the entire collection on the Radley Website and purchased for the heartbreaking price of around £100!

Daring Card makers would also like to welcome the talented Gillian to our team and wish her all the best as she joins us on our creative Journey.

Well then my blogging friends I am off now until Sunday to visit my mummy where she is holding a 1st birthday party for Baby J. I am sure its all a mistake and he isnt actually 1 yet! On my return I promise to blog more as I read a comment (cant remember who from sorry!) on their blog about the dissappointment that we only blog on launch day. I promise to make an effort!

Till next time handbag lovers xxxx

Diamonds are a girls best friend...........

Well they would be if I had any hint hint hint! Tell a lie I have a lovely ring that W bought me for my birthday but still its not the engagement kind lol!!!!

Anyhoo the Bling-Bling was the theme behind this weeks dare set by the lovely Lynda. She challenged us to use Bling and Beads to add a little sparkle into our lives.

This weeks card nearly had me throwing my Robo out the window in frustration, hence we have a simple card this week before I gave up in frustration.

Engagement Congratulations
As I said due to technical differences this weeks card was a bit simple, but I am actually quite pleased with it. I started with a Tall pure white card blank and run a strip of blue American Crafts ribbons along the bottom. Using a piece of metallic blue card I cut the words Congratulations (minus the o!) in Lucidia Calligraphy on my craft robo. Then again using the robo and gold card I printed an engagement ring (using a template from Diane on
UKScrappers.

Using my KandiKane hotfix Crystal wand I attached a heart shapes crystal for the ring stone and 3 small round crystals at the bottom of the ribbon. Et Voila, an engagement card with a bit of bling ;)

Please head on over to Daring Card Makers to see what other ideas the design team came up with, dont forget to drop us a line with your creations too!

Till next week - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!