Hiya!!

Evening All

 

Just thought I had better check in and say hi, let you all know what I have been up to.

 

Today I started another baby blanket for my Brothers friend.  This one is going to be pink although I have already got a lemon one & a multi coloured pastel pinkish one on the go also.  Going to try and finish them all for the weekend, It will mean that he has a choice this time but if he takes all three, bonus!  I will pop photos on when I am done, really loving the multi-pastel one.

 

Well, over the weekend the most crafty thing I did was shop online!!  But this does mean that I have finally succumb to the word of embossing & die cutting.............yip I have finally purchased a Grand Calibur and cannot wait for it to arrive.  Then whats the use of having the machine without any bits you say...........yip I also bought the Crafters Companion Embossing Folders, some Core'dinations Card Pads and as I couldn't quite stretch to some Spellbinders Dies I managed to get a good deal on a load of XCut ones.  I am sure these will do the job till I win the lottery as that is my crafty budget completely blown out of the water for this month.................I mean year!  I doubt I will ever be allowed to purchase another crafty thing in my whole life.

 

The embossing folders from Crafters Companion look fab and that was the reason for the quick change of heart and the final push to make me "need" one of these machines.  The borders are fantastic and Leann's demos showed so so many ways in which they can be used.  I really want to start a scrapbook about my animals and the 12" borders are going to be brilliant for that, esp the one with the paw prints!! It is going to feel like Christmas when the 24 bundle embossing pack fall on my doormat.  You might not hear from me for a while.

 

All of the borders & folders can be found here http://www.crafterscompanion.co.uk/papercraft-2141/embossing-410/embossing-folders-1666/embossalicious-2041/6-x-embossing-folders-2046.html

 

or here http://www.createandcraft.tv/Darice_2.5_x_12_Embossing_Folder_Bundle_-_6_Folders_271596.aspx?fh_location=//createandcraft/en_GB/$s=embossing\u0020folders

 

and here http://www.createandcraft.tv/Darice_Embossing_Folder_Border_Bundle_271597.aspx?fh_location=//createandcraft/en_GB/$s=embossing\u0020folders if you would like to see a quick video on how they are used and how great they actually look.

 

If I do not produce great looking cards now then I think I should give up all together and try something new.  I have been assured though by a crafty friend that it will make all the difference.

 

In preparation I have tonight printed off loads of the digistamps from the Crafters Companion S.W.A.L.K CD.  I have not crafted with any of these images before so its all new.  The digistamps look great though and are going to be brilliant to colour. 

 

I would have printed the colour ones so they were just ready to go but I am all out of blue ink in the printer and haven't quite made it to the shops to buy a new cartridge.  As you all know shopping in actual shops is a bit of a chore for me, not a fan at all so not quite sure when I will be able to print any stuff from my lovely Cd's.  Might have to rope someone else into going shopping for me.................."oh you are going past Breahead, could you just drop in and pick me up a cartridge for my printer" yip been practising that one, just waiting on the opportunity to use it on an unsuspecting person or people.

 

Other than that its all been a bit uneventful in my little crafty world.  Hopefully have a few finished projects over the next few days to pop on and show you.  Would be good to here from you guys though, still no comments this year, good, bad or indifferent.

 

Bedtime for me, hope you have had a great start to the week and that it continues right through till the weekend.

 

Much Love

 

Amanda xx

Tatty Ted Anniversary Card - Mum & Dad

Ahh the Weekend!!

A very quick Saturday post just to show the other Anniversary card that I put together.  These are really simple card kits which take out all the hassle of trying to think of what to create but still allow you to actually do a little crafting and finish with something that is just simply stunning.

 

The first step is to build up the decoupage on the actual card base.  To do this is popped out the pre-cut die-cuts, trimmed off any "pips" & layered up using 3D glue gel.

 

 

The second step is to build up the frame.  Again just using the pre-cut decoupage, again I used 3D glue gel.  I also added a matching ribbon using red line tape.

 

The next stage is to fold the concertina type spacers which go between the card base & frame.  I attached these using red line tape as this is strong enough to hold it in place.

The finished card is a lovely framed piece of work which stands out from all others.  I have tried to personalise a little using a Sakura gel pen instead of peel-offs.

 

Well that's me for the day, off to do some crafting, I am sure you will see the outcome of this over the next couple of days.

 

Happy Crafting,

 

Amanda xx

Tatty Ted Anniversary Card - Husband

Morning,

 

Happy Friday Crafters!!

 

I have no plans this weekend & am actually now on holiday for a week, how very cool is that!!  I am planning on doing alot of crafting whilst I am off. 

 

I don't have any birthdays etc coming up and only a couple of Easter cards to make so just really going to make up toppers, do some colouring maybe with my spectrum's, maybe even dust of the Cricut.  It has been ages since I used my cutting machine, much neglected.

 

I think I will also finally have some time to catch up with some of the crafty blogs that I follow, see if I can pick up any new techniques, see what is trending etc.

 

So today's card is an Anniversary Card that my Mum asked me to make for my Dad.  Their Anniversary is almost always nearly forgotten as it fall on the same day as my Brothers birthday!!

I have used handmade paper for the matts & some matching ribbon to give a little texture to the card.  The decoupage has been layered up using 3D glue gel and attached to the card in the same way.

This was actually an Easter topper with the basket being filled with Easter eggs.  All I did to change this was add a small "with love" tag and lots of little flowers.

Just showing the layers on the card & the texture of the handmade paper.

simple insert to match the colours on the front.

Well that's me for the day.  I have one more Anniversary card to share with you but it is a Do Crafts Kit card which once put together look really stunning.

 

Have a lovely weekend everyone,

 

much love xxx

Boys Birthday Card using a La Pashe topper (2)

Hello My Lovelies

Just a quickie today, loads to do but wanted to show the other card that I put together for my Brothers birthday yesterday.

This is again a La Pashe topper which comes as a single sheet which you would then just cut out and layer up.  I have used mini foam pads but 3D gel would probably be a better medium to use allowing a better curve to the finished piece.

I have used eyelets instead of gems and twine instead of ribbon just as something different for a mans card.

When I text or speak to my Brother I always shorten it to "BRO" so that's whats on the card.  It is so good to be able to personalised even the main pieces on a card & that is what makes them special.

Just showing a little of the decoupage and how I have used a 3D glaze to add shine to the lamp, headlights and wet patches on the ground, just gives a lovely finishing touch.

Happy Crafting,

Amanda xx

Boys Birthday Card using a La Pashe topper (1)

Happy Hump day!!

 

All downhill to the weekend, we can do it :)

 

Today is a very special day, it is my lovely brothers birthday.  Love him so very much, family is important.  This is the 8x8 card that I made for my Mum & Dad to give to him and I do hope he like it. 

 

I used a La Pashe decoupage sheet, cut out all the pieces and popped together using little mini foam pads.  It is based around a guitar theme as he plays the guitar & has done for many years.  Really good at it as well *says me in a non-biased way of course*.

As you can see it isn't too fussy as for a guy but I have still managed to add a little ribbon & some gems for texture but keep the masculine feel. 

The ribbon is attached to the back of the last Matt using red line tape, this just hides the workings so to speak and gives a neater finish.

The gems, sentiment, "SON" and actual topper were attached using 3D glue gel, just to give a little dimension.

Showing all decoupage layers, giving dimension to the card.

The inside of the card is just a sentiment poem layered on matching paper from the front.

Another to follow tomorrow, made with lots of love by me from me :)

 

Happy Crafting,

 

Amanda xx

ATC - Tatty Teddy

Good Day Everyone :)

 

Are you as tired as I am? *yawn* oh what a week lol.

 

So whats new in your crafty stash?  I have bought myself some Mica flakes & some gilding flakes as you know.  After watching a show at the weekend with the lovely John Bloodworth on Create & Craft I think I may now actually be brave enough to use them.  Doesn't he explain things so well and make everything seem so possible with products made to look so easy to use? yes I believe he does!!

 

Anyway, along with the Tatty Ted cards I put together I also needed a couple of ATC's to go with the cards made for my crafty friends who are a bit under the weather.  Always good to get another for the collection I would think.

Both just really simple & quick using tiny toppers which I curved & attached using 3D glue gel and covered some of the elements with 3D glaze, which is a product I am loving!!

 

I really do need to get more creative with the ATC's, I am thinking of doing some miniature paintings or fantasy portraits like the very first ones that I tried.

 

Well off to the day job, Happy Crafting my friends.

 

Amanda xx

Tatty Teddy 1-2-3 Card (2)

Good Morning

 

Just a quick post showing another of the Tatty Ted 1-2-3 cards.  I am going to use one of the toppers to do a large 8x8 and make it quite fussy just to show that you can use small toppers on large cards.  Will do this as a project over the weekend.

 

This was for a lovely crafty lil' lady.

On the sentiment sheet for this one there were also some lovely little butterflies.  I inked all the edges on this with the lovely blue nose bear blue to highlight them a little.

Hope you all have a lovely week.

Much Love

Amanda xx

Tatty Teddy 1-2-3 Card (1)

Hiya Peeps

 

Cannot believe it is Sunday already!!  I did say that I was back to Part Time at work but managed to fit in overtime yesterday and will also be working tomorrow, what am I like, just cannot help myself!

 

I have put together some really quick cards using the amazing Tatty Teddy 1-2-3 kits from Do Crafts.  They are fantastic if you just have a little time but still want to do a bit of quick crafting.

With these fab cards all it takes is three little steps - Step 1, Choose the card shape & size.  Step 2, Choose your topper.  Step 3, Choose your sentiment. 

Each card comes with a blank pink & blue insert, I always use one as the insert & one as the matt for the topper. 

The sentiment sheet has one for the card & the other for the insert. 

And finally, the toppers are just gorgeous, decoupaged already, glittered already & lovely gems added also for that little bit of luxury.

This is for a very dear friend, sometimes a card out of the blue can really make someones day, even just bring a smile in dark times.  Is there someone you should be sending a card to today "just because"?

 

Happy Crafting Friends

 

Amanda xxx

Postcards - Flower Explosion (a very tame explosion)

Happy Friday

 

The weeks are just flying by!!  Whats your plans for the weekend? 

 

My weekend I will mostly be working at my actual day job, making a couple of birthday & a couple of anniversary cards and going to see "Beautiful Creatures" at the cinema.  I haven't been for an age so will be great.

 

I will also be making a card & ATC for a lovely friend going through a hard time.  I will post all of these after the dates of the events.  Must think of something to do meantime to keep you all entertained haha!!

 

So my postcards theme was Flower Explosion.  I am a pretty safe crafter so my explosion is more like a small shower, I didn't really go wild at all but I know the girls will make up for that!!

This is just a terribly stamped background, edged with a green Promarker, a stamped sentiment coloured also with promarkers.  I have distressed the edges of the leafs & the sentiment using the Tom Holtz distress tool.

I have added acrylic flowers with glue gel so that they stay stuck.  The leafs & sentiment have been stuck on using 3D glue gel this means that the raised areas will stay raised.

The stamped background and the sentiment have been coloured with sepia toned Promarkers and layered onto Gold Mirri Card.  The large bronze coloured acrylic rose has been attached to the card with twine.

This just shows the dimension of the layers, again used 3D glue gel for this.

Well that's me for this week, I do hope you all have a fantastic weekend & if you are crafting make it messy!!

 

Happy Crafting,

 

Amanda xx

Tags - Love & Romance

Bonjour Bloggers

 

Today is the day that has been put aside for us all to celebrate our love or to tell those that we might not have told at any other time of the year we love them.  Is it just a big commercialised waste of money? some may think so, I to was one of these until I sat down to write this today.

 

How many people sit on their feelings too embarrassed to say to the one they have been admiring that they are the love of their life's? on this one day, it is allowed and welcomed that exchange of feelings that have been stored up over months or years can be expressed in whatever way you want to and it is almost expected.  On any other day it may seem just random, maybe even un-serious but today well today is the day of love.  You can just feel it in the air :)

 

I do not expect any declaration of love today but will look forward to hearing everyone else's stories and I will smile and feel all warm & fuzzy inside, love romantics.

 

And what better day than today to show the tags for this months swap which has the theme, love & romance -

This was a simple tag to do & was created through the Do Crafts digital designer.  I have then Just cut it all out, decoupaged using 3D glue gel, glazed the wee blue noses and added some gems.  I have called this "Winter Romance" in honour of all the snow we have had in recent weeks & who doesn't love a bit of Tatty Teddy?

I am rubbish at girly lovey type stuff but manage to put this together using some handmade paper, a piece of girly wallpaper, some Mirri Card and a couple of bits of ribbon.  I think it turned out OK.  It is layered up using 3D glue gel to give some dimension but it has loads of different touchy feely textures.  This is proper lovey so I have called this "Valentines Love".

I would really love to hear some tales of romance, so if you have anything special happen today that you just want to shout from the rooftops, please share.

 

I love you all, each and every one of those who take the time to read my daily ramblings.

 

Happy Crafting,

 

Amanda xx

ATC - Rain

Morning

I cant quite believe I am posting this so early in the month.  I am so organised it is scary!! 

This month our lovely leader has chosen Rain as our ATC theme & I loved this, so much so that I just could not wait to get started!!

I loved doing this ATC.  I love the dimension of it and the movement that has been created.  The background has been created with pastels and the clear star Sakura Gel pen which can be blended with a little water adding a lovely sparkle.  I have added the theme with silver peel off letters.

The cloud is made up of lots of tiny wool balls all stuck together with 3D glue gel and some ultra fine sparkly glitter added.  The rain drops are blue & clear glass beads on stretchy jewellery thread and are free to move about.

This was a very simple ATC to do but I think that's what I love about it, simple but effective.

The main part of the ATC is a background created with pastels and a lovely "rain" quote written on with a black fine-liner, very simple.

This is my actual "rain" part of the ATC & it is simply an ATC protector with drops of clear 3D glaze for the rain droplets.  These have set hard, clear & perfectly raindrop like.

I cannot wait to see what the rest of the girls have created.

Happy Crafting,

Amanda xx

The swaps received from my crafty friends.

Good Morning Crafters

 

A quick post as always to show the lovely swaps I received from my crafty friends from the Crazicards Swap Group.

 

The themes this month you might remember were, anything goes, wild winter & metallic new year.  I opted out of the wild winter tags as I really just could not get my head around it and a shortage of time meant that I really didn't have time to play. 

 

The girls did an amazing job of the tags that were submitted though, lovely stamped animals, loads of snow, really wild winter roads scenes with people leaving their cars etc, they were awesome.

 

So here are the ATC's which I think are just fantastic -

by Angela Foxcroft

by Katrina Polson

The Metallic New Year themed postcards were all really beautiful and some very amazing techniques were used, some that I may even have to steal.......I mean use in future projects, we do love to share after all -

by Christine Stuart

by Angela Drummond

It always amazes me how we can interpret the themes in such different ways.  Always with outstanding pieces of artwork being created, and the ones I receive I am so very proud to own.

 

Challenge yourself crafters and see what you can come up with.

 

Happy Crafting,

 

Amanda

My wee relaxing drive.

Good Evening Peeps

 

I do hope you are all well.  Just thought I would jump on and catch up with you all. 

Its been a busy wee week.  Finally got the house in order, craft room is tidy, business stock-take done, accounts done, and things all pretty much in order which is great.

 

I am now completely part time at my day job so well and truly back on track to craft on a daily basis which will help me feel better in myself, its good for your health is crafting, very highly recommended.

 

Well its no secret that I am a Celtic fan and tomorrows game has me on the ceiling, just far too excited!!  To relax some I went for a wee coastal run in the van today and it was just glorious.  A dry but very cold day, perfect weather for being out & about.

 

I took some poor but still lovely photos along the way, Paisley - Lochwinnoch - Kilbirnie - Largs - Wemyss Bay, Greenock, Port Glasgow and finally back home to Paisley.  It was brilliant, just to relax with no real place to go plus have my music blaring away, yip I was dancing & singing in the car much to some people amusement lol. 

 

Here are a few of my piccies, hope you have all had a fantastic start to the week.

 

Much love

 

Amanda xx

Wemyss Bay

Looking over to Dunoon

My lonely wee van, shame it was so quiet, such a beautiful lookout point.

 

Georgous Sky

 

 



looking down to Largs

Looking over to Millport

Largs Road

Kilbirnie

Kilbirnie