Sketch and Stash 34

I've got a few cards to make for a friend at work - isn't there something rather worrying when you're making a card specifically for an order!! And male cards for an order - a double whammy!! What if they don't like but are too polite to say so!!  Anyway, I'm waffling but this is one of them ( you probably guessed that by now!)  I've stamped the Stampin Up image in Faded Jeans Distress Ink and then used my water brush to drag the colour in  and added a bit more for further depth. I've used this week's sketch at Sketch and Stash so my new stash is this yummy Tim Holtz paper which I bought at Ally Pally and the old stash is the SU stamp set which I've had for ages!!! The sentiment is Whiff of Joy.

I've had a lovely proper pedicure tonight and have the next four days off work - hair cut tomorrow and some retail therapy - sorted!!

WOYNEWWW!!!

 My new desk!!! My photography skills aren't quite upto snapping directly into the light but I think you get the idea!!  It has been fraught though!!  First we didn't have all the packs for the desk and then Mr B had to hacksaw off one of the struts on the floor as the radiator pipe was in the way!!  I love the shelves though and no need for a blind!
 
A swing to the right to see more Ikea goodies holding Prismas, watercolourpencils, stickles,chalks etc.

The only item from Ikea that was straightforward - my Expedit cube which holds my 12x12 papers, more punches and some fab craft books.

 And finally, this bookcase which was just a nightmare and had to be assembled in the room (after being disassembled because we couldn't get it up the stairs) and had to buy it assembled from the bargain corner after finding, again, that we had the wrong box!!  Arrrrggghhhh!!!  I'll take some more detailed pics another time.  Oh and just on the floor there you can see a white bag which has got my blog candy goodies ready to go!!! 

Thank you everyone for all your lovely comments over the last week- you've kept me going with this marathon task!!  It still needs prettifying but everything is now accessible and I've sort out the tat!!!

My room is done and three for one!!!

 Finally - my room is finished and everything has a new home!!  I love it so much!!  We had the flat packs from hell from Ikea and assembling and disassembling of furniture but anyway, it's done!!  Going to take some pics in the light and post it up for WOYWW tomorrow as I've had so many lovely comments and encouragement from the followers there!!
On to my card, this is another of the fab new Leanne Ellis releases at Sugar Nellie and I've followed the sketch over on the Sugar Bowl challenge 34 this week.  They're also asking for punches and I've used a couple of Martha Stewart  edge punches, and also Stamping Up ones for the sentiment.

I hope I'm not too late for the Quixotic Paperie challenge 22 which is water- apart from the image, I stamped the edges with a swirly edge which I think looks a little like waves. I'm also entering this for Colour Create Challenge 43 which has a colour scheme of Burnt Orange, Black and Cream.  I used Burnt Orange for her hair - love this colour and not my usual choice but will definitely use it again!!

 Not only am I thrilled to be back in my little space, I was also thrilled to see that I made it into the Top Five for Passion for Promarkers last week - woohoo!!

Now I need to catch up with some serious blog hopping - catch you later!!

Rach is well and truly back with Candy!!

The fabulous Rach has returned to blogland and has some fantastic candy up for grabs! Go check it out and her blog, you won't be disappointed!!

While I'm here I should just say that I haven't forgotten about my candy, I will just get my room straight and then get it sorted!!!  (Marathon session at Ikea tonight - how many problems can you have with flat pack furniture!!).

WOYWW - Where's my desk gone!!

Well, of course no desk to speak of, so thought I'd show you the latest work in progress-all the painting's done - floors, walls and woodwork, even the radiator.  Just got to assemble the furniture, maybe paint some existing bits that I might use in there, put the blind up, sort out the lighting and rug and move in!!

A swing to the left here to show how tiny it is!!  And below, a couple of pics of my temporary space to highlight the mess I've made everywhere!!

Just off to eat my tea, made by DD1 and then I'll be back to wander round the other WOYWWers!!

Passion for Promarkers 48/Friday Sketchers 98

Look what I got from Funky Kits!!  I love these new Leanne Ellis stamps and have just treated myself to one or two!!  Couldn't wait to do some colouring and then saw that this week's challenge at Passion for Promarkers has a theme of in the garden.  Together with the sketch from Friday Sketchers this is what I came up with.  Promarkers of course, with some stickles round the edge and on the image rose and the paper roses.  Papers are DCWV Garden Stack and the sentiment is Hero Arts Anytime sentiments.  I've used the Daisy CB folder and the border punch is Flower Patch from Martha Stewart.

Just trying something a bit different

No challenge for this card but wanted to try this simple colourwashing technique from Craft Stamper Magazine.  Quite different for me and have totally cased the style demonstrated in the magazine this month.  However, it was very easy and, I think, produces a great effect.  The  image stamp is from Cherry Pie Stamps as is the sentiment, can't remember where the corner stamps are from.  I've used Distress Inks for my colour washing and the butterfly is two images punched out with a MS punch to give a shadowed effect.  Sent this to my special cyber sis, Faerielore, for her birthday at the weekend - I heard she had a fab time!!  Happy Birthday Sis!! 

Basic Grey challenge No 18 - Colour Combo

I made this tonight in my new temporary craft space, the dining room, and I can tell you I don't like it one bit!!  Nothing's to hand and everything seems a mess - probably because it is! A little update and some pics of Team Baker at work decorating my room in a mo.  The Basic Grey  challenge this week (18) is to use Blue and Gold, so here is this gorgeous little Cheeky Cherry from TGF .coloured with Promarkers and layered up using BG June Bug papers.  Kept it simple because it's for a man and because the papers are very bold.

As I said, and update on my room makeover -this is Team Baker at work sanding the floor of my room today.  I got them all cracking with the promise of money - works everytime!  Emily was also about somewhere but it is such a small space we were all tripping over each other in the end!!  However, the paintwork has now been rubbed down and painted and we are now ready to paint tomorrow!! Floor is going to be varnished and stained, then  a rug or something!! Next piccie shows my non-essential items piled up in the hall, and then there's my dining room with essentials!!!  I need to sort out!!

I've done it!!!

Yep, I've just packed up my craft room!!  What a load of tosh I have in there!!  Now it's spread everywhere around the house.  I'm hoping that this will drive OH into such a state of despair ( he's the domestic goddess round here!!) that he will get my little room sorted in super quick time!!  Meanwhile, I have set my 'essentials' up in the dining room so I can still keep making cards - not tonight though!! I'll take a piccie soon for you all to see!! :)

I've got loads of packaging from various  things, and lots of ephemera that I've kept because you never know when you might need it.  Can't decide whether to keep or bin- let me know your thoughts!!

No turning back now!!!!!  Happy Weekend everyone!

PS Got the latest Magnolia Ink today - gorgeous, lots of stunning cards from the likes of Bev, Tab and Christine to name a few.  Fabulous projects too, I love it!

WOYWW

Hi all - this is my desk, having just finished the card I posted last night!  My fabbie Bow Easy which is great and my new tape gun, having been recommended it by our very own Pam!  A few new stamps to the left from BSSS on Saturday - Whiff of Joys and one Lili of the Valley.  Several punches most of which just haven't been put away. The pads in the bag are for the Inkessentials Inker which I bought on Saturday and the Post Card stamp by Penny Black which I also bought!

Thought I'd also show you the pile of boxes that are ready and waiting for me to start packing up so that my room can have it's make-over!!  Everytime I go up there though and look at all the rubbish that's in there I just make a card instead!!! Check out Julia's blog here if you want to join in (WOYWW button also on my side bar!!)

I'll be back after work to have scout round at everyone else's desks - see ya later!!!

New Lili of the Valley/Sketch and Stash

Right, well now I am using some goodies purchased at BSSS on Saturday, including this cute Lili of the Valley image and the Penny Black postcard stamp.  This was actually one of my 'happy' buys as I have been looking for this everywhere, but it's a discontinued stamp - and the Penny Black stall at the show had a few found in the deepest corner of their stock room!!  As you can see, I've used one of the flowers that I made over the weekend,  Bloom nestie for the image cut out and a Martha Stewart punch for the border.  The vellum leaves are from a set I bought from QVC back in the day (!!!!).  Background paper is BG Wisteria and I've used Promarkers for the image and Distress Inks for the postcard image and edges, and Silver stickles too.  The ribbon also has a silver edging that isn't really showing in the pic.  I'm entering this for the following challenges - only two tonight!

Lili of the Valley - Blue and Silver
Sketch and Stash - the sketch, which I've rotated.

All those new goodies and this is what I made!!

I'm being ironic!!  I bought loads of lovely new goodies yesterday at Ally Pally and apart from using one punch on yesterday's card ( Julia, you are so right!! LOL!), I decided instead to make this little lot, following a great tutorial on Colleen's blog here. Colleen also posted this on the Inspirational Techniques blog if you want to look there.  And, and ... it looks like Colleen has lots of other gorgeous ideas which I'm going to check out!

I haven't added the leaves yet and will do this as I use them.  I also didn't use Glimmer mist as I was using bright, patterned papers from my scrap box. Saw lots of lovely blooms at AP but they were about £4 for 6, and while many of them were fabric, that seemed rather expensive and this has been much more satisfying!  See Julia I can be economical  (think I 'm being ironic again!!).

Ally Pally and Sweet Little Daisy

Well, had such  a brilliant day at Ally Pally yesterday, with my great friend, Lesley, and bought a ton of lovely goodies!  Met up with loads of lovely people too, including Alex (Eisbaerin), met Jacqui aka Cat's Whiskers who was demoing on the Whiff of Joy stall.  Fab  colouring skills! Katharina from Whiff of Joy of course- so lovely to see all the stamps in one place!!  Also met Lousette Ashton who creates for Craft Stamper magazine - sorry we interrupted your lunch!!  Oh, and also met my long time crafting Cyber sister, the lovely Laura (Fairielore)!  Yayyhh - so nice to finally meet you, sweet, even though it was only for a few minutes!  Looks like I missed a load more lovely peeps too, who I would have loved to say hello to - next time!

 Anyway, I've been working on this card for a few days, just a bit each night but couldn't quite find the finishing touch.  Then I bought this lovely Water Lily Punch by Martha Stewart yesterday which seems perfect.

  I love its 3D design!!  I coloured Daisy with Distress Inks, embossed the background mat with my Daisy CB folder and then layered it up with this pretty Blue daisy paper.  The pink borders are another fabbie MS punch and the leaves are a sizzix die.  The card is for my stock so will add sentiment when I know who it's going to.

I'm entering this for the following challenges:

Everybody Art - Sketch
Quixotic Paperie - The Joys of Spring
Simon Says - A Card for a Child

That's it from me today, can't decide whether to keep crafting or start packing up my room for it's make over!!  Mammoth task!

Quixotic Showcase Challenge!!

Oh deary me!!!  The latest challenge over  on Quixotic Paperie is to case the work or style of one of the DT members.  I loved the idea of this, and being a huge fan of Elaine's style I thought I'd case the following card:

BIG MISTAKE!!!  Next to Elaine's card my colouring looks messy, as does my stitching and well, it just looks like a cheap copy of a luxury handbag!!  Elaine's signature element is the ribbon across the centre of the card with a fab bow which makes everything look so luxurious!   Oh well, thought I'd put it up anyway - perhaps I can blame it on my photography!!!
 

Sugar and Spice - A new baby girl in our family!!

We heard today that one of hubby's cousins had a baby girl today, so it didn't take much to send me up to my little craft room and make this card!  I knew I wanted to use this cute image from Mo's Digital pencil so checked out their current challenge, no 25, which is pastels and therefore great for a little girl card. I know this is called Michael but don't think it matters which sex this little cutie is really!!

 I used the sketch from Friday Sketchers, rotated to suit the image.  I coloured with Promarkers with a little Diamond Stickle for the wings.  The papers are Basic Grey Euphoria, and the butterfly paper is actually what the daffodils that my Nick bought me on Friday were wrapped in!!  I love daffs at Easter but I was almost more excited about the paper.  I  punched out one of the butterflies with my MS punch and layered it up on to another one punched in the dark pink matting paper to give it a bit of depth and added strength! I used  Nestie labels (can't remember which set!) to back the image, it mirrors the cloud that littl'un is lying on rather nicely, don't you think? Also had my sewing machine out again, as you can see, and flowers from stash. The beads on the silver elastic have been in my stash for ages and I think were meant to be for present wrapping.  Stamptacular challenge 53 wants Sugar and Spice, which all little girls are made of so I will be loading this up there too! 

Gosh, it's so nice not to be worrying about work tomorrow - yippee!!

Two Awards!

A very belated Happy Easter to everyone - can't believe it, I didn't make any Easter cards this year but it's been a very low key Easter in many ways as everyone's been off doing different things!

My girls, Holly and Emily, and I had an eight hour round trip to Lincoln yesterday for lunch with my mum, sisters, nieces and nephews and one or two boyfriends/girlfriends.  Lovely to see everyone, and great food thanks Mum!! Think I missed a turning on the way back, despite my SatNav and ended up coming down the M1!

My boy, Harry, has gone up to the Lakes today for a week of walking with his cousin who lives up there!  Now, to say I'm worried is a bit of an understatement - his ruck sack felt like a ton of bricks - and he expects to climb various summits including Striding Edge!!  But what can you do! Anyway, Uncle Alex to the rescue if their feet get too cold at night!!

That brings me neatly onto this award that I received a while back from Andria at Iona Rose designs - Andria lives in the Lake District, lucky lady!!

As I said, she passed it on a few weeks ago now but I didn't post it up, I think because I'm supposed to tell you 7 interesting things about myself and I couldn't think of that many!!  The only thing that might interest you is that I can touch my nose with my tongue - my party piece!!  Anyway, a belated thank you for this, Andria-I was trawling through your blog looking for the icon and you really have some gorgeous cards posted!!

The next award is from Nic (Coops) who I've known for quite a while in forum/blogland- another very talented and prolific card maker- again thanks, my dear!!

The problem I have is in choosing who to pass them on to, there are so many fabulous, creative people out there, and many of the people I would pass them onto already have them!!  So,  I'm copping out and not making any tough decisions, which I hate to do anyway, and giving this to any of my followers who happen to stop by and read this!!  Enjoy!!!

Sweet Stamping, Flutter By Wednesday,Crafts and Me, Sweet Pea Stampers

It's so lovely to think I now have five days off from work  and I do so hope to get some crafting time in there!!  Just finished this card which is one of the fab Sweet Pea images which seem to be going down a storm at the moment!!

I coloured it with promarkers taking the colour challenge from Flutter By Wednesday which is blue, green and white.  Well I've used navy blue with green leaves and white flowers!  ( You also have to use angels, fairies or butterflies!)  I've also used the sketch over on Sweet Stamping  which was brill to use (I've just rotated it to suit my image shape).  Finally, two new challenges this week, firstly Crafts and Me are asking for fairies or wings.  And there's a new challenge exclusively for Sweet Pea stamps, which is asking for gold - of course my golden sun!! The paper is BG and I used my MS Trellis punch, Quickutz flourish die and a ticket punch for the border/sentiment.  Flowers and pearl flowers are from stash.

I've also received an award from Coops ( big smiles and thanks, Nic) which I'm going to put up soon!!  Been a big fan of Nic's cards for a while so go and have a peek if you don't love her work already!! I've also been very remiss - this has reminded me that I got another award a while ago which I didn't pass on!! Bad Baker, Bad!!!