Wow...it's been a while

Hi! Just wondering if there's anybody there?
Been a long time since I blogged... almost forgot how! hahaha

So the lovely ladies at Crafting by Designs have invited me back onto their team and I was delighted to say yes. Of course my mojo took a dive and disappeared the same day! But, hey, I'm here.

The next challenge starts today and the theme is 'Elegant Ladies', our sponsor for this week is Sheepski Designs.

I have not picked up a colouring tool in some time so went with a kit from Lelli-bot Crafts for my card this week. She is curvy and sexily elegant. This is a 7x7" card blank.

I am glad to be back. Hopefully the first post of many to come.
Maureen x

Craftwork Cards Julie Loves Hearts and Flowers

So, my mum died towards the end of February and I've not been feeling very crafty since then. However, I happened to see the latest kit from Craftwork Cards line of 'Julie Loves' called 'Hearts and Flowers'. Julie Hickey is a crafty inspiration of mine and her samples along with those of the CWC design team just yelled out to me! I had to have this kit. And thank you to C&C for Flexi-Pay meaning I could add the matching stamps to my order too!!!

So, the kit arrived and I literally got stuck in. Over around 3 days this week - I'm on holiday from work and was surrounded by sick kids - with plenty time to play... I have used almost the entire kit! I have only a few sentiment papers left, half the candi, some frames and a couple of scrap papers.

The end result is 30 unique, individual cards. All card blanks are from CWC - either from the Julie Loves kit or from previous kits including handbags and fancy gatefolds... I even had a go with a twister card too!

Everything I have used on the cards has been from Craftwork Cards with the exception of - Vibrant Turquoise Dylusions Ink Spray, Fully Purple Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Dusty Concord and Peacock Feather Distress Ink Pads. I have also used Liquid Pearls in both Peacock and Majestic Purple and Stickles in Crystal and Purple.

The large foiled die cut flowers are a favourite of mine from a few years back and I've used the last of my stash on these cards!

The 'tickets' were something that came with a few kits a couple of years back - I loved putting them with flowers as 'leaves' and so I bought a 'ticket die' from Die-namics to continue that look with subsequent CWC kits.

I shall stop chatting now and leave you with the remaining selection! Enjoy.

And this final pair of cards I used the paper strips from cutting down my sheets, some ink sprays and the last of the flowers to make my last 2 cards!

Thanks for looking!
Maureen x

Polkadots at Crafting By Designs

It's Wednesday! So, time for a new challenge at Crafting by Designs and this week we've gone a bit dotty!!

The theme is PolkaDots and our fabulous sponsor this week is Bugaboo Stamps.

I've used the fabulous Beautiful Fairy image and coloured her with my faithful Promarkers. I've added dots of colour around the image and aqua marine under her legs. The striped paper is old Gorjuss paper and the sentiment is from a K&Co 'To Go' box. The teal mat has been embossed using the Sizzix Swiss Dots embossing folder and some Dusty Concord distress ink brushed over to emphasis the 'polka dots'! The butterfly die is from a Chinese manufacturer on eBay. I have added glossy accents and iridescent Glamour Dust for sparkle to her ball and wings. 

Thanks for looking!
Maureen xxx

Glitzcraft!

GLITTER!!!!
Yup.... this is a very glittery post.
Turn back now if you don't like glitter... WAIT! Everyone likes glitter!!! Stay here and enjoy!

I have had the best time playing with Glitter pastes and Stencils from Glitzcraft! This is a uk based company and here's what their website says about them - 

Family run, we design and manufacture 95% of our own products in the UK, the business has been operational for 18 years, originally located in the United States of America, we set up operations in the UK in 2010.
Our official Company name is Laser Cut Designs Ltd but we trade in the UK as Glitzcraft Ltd,  we use high speed Laser Cutting Machines to create the Stencils and Embellishments.

The spectacular Glitter and Satin Paste is also a Glitzcraft formulation and is unique in the industry as it can be applied to a mutitude of different surfaces, dries in minutes and is water resistant when fully dry, so can be used on Fabrics and Glass as well as Papercraft materials, plastics and wood.

Here are a few things I've been doing! 

 This might be my favourite stencil....so far! I used three different pastes on this stencil - Lilac, Lavender and Purple - Leona knows me well, she put two tubs of purple in my kit!

 I have turned this one into a card using papers and embellishments from Craftwork Cards Velvet Plum collection.

This next one is a floral... and you all likely know I'm not a florally person! But I love this stencil. Here I've used the Pink, Dusty Pink and Fuschia to create a colour gradient. I also added Picked Raspberry Distress Ink around the edges.

Again I've used the Velvet Plum collection to create a birthday card for a friend.

I hope you'll pop over and check out the Glitzcraft website and follow them on Facebook too! 

Thanks for looking

Mo xxx

 

February Anything Goes at Crafting By Designs

Hi! Happy new month! Well, time sure does fly by when you're having fun and I hope you all have had a great start to the year. Today sees the start of our February Anything Goes challenge at Crafting by Designs and I hope you will join us.

Our sponsor for this is Melonheadz and I've used some of their Halloween black and white images to create a card.

I have used my promarkers to colour in the owl and the eye balls, adding some Glossy Accents to the eyes and sprinkly on some iridescent Glamour Dust for sparkle. The papers are from Jillybean Soup 'Owloween Stew' paper pad and the sentiment is from Create with TLC.

Thanks for looking!
Mo xxx

Pink and Girlie at Crafting by Designs

Good morning! Another new challenge at Crafting by Designs and this is one I thought I might struggle with... Pink and Girlie!!! hahaha Anyway, I've given it my best shot and hope you will play along too.

Our sponsor for this week is Crafty Sentiments Designs and I've used their 'Flopsy in the Rain' image for my project today.

I have coloured the image using Promarkers and added glitter with a Crystal Glitter glue from Trimcraft. My papers, flower and pink sentiment are from the Craftwork Cards Floral Boutique kit, the darker pink is also CWC. The cream sentiment is from a K&Co 'To Go' box. So, I think I have fulfilled the 'Pink and Girlie' with this one!!

Thanks for looking!
Mo xxx

Anything That Shines at Crafting By Designs

Morning! Time for a new challenge this week at Crafting By Designs. This week we want to see something shiny - and apologies for the glare in my photo - that would be the shiny metallic card!

Our sponsor this week is the amazing Sami Stamps and I've loved playing with this image 'Witch Girl'. Create with TLC.

I have coloured her with Promarkers and black pencil. I've also added some 'Crystal' Glitter Effects glue from Trimcraft. The background paper is Martha Stewart, the Metallic card is Trimcraft and the glittery embellies are from my stash. I've also added a sentiment from

Thanks for looking!
Mo xxx

Inspired by a Movie at Crafting by Designs

Morning! Another post from me today with a project for Crafting by Designs. This week we want you to be inspired by a Movie.

Our sponsor for this week is Alicia Bel and I have loved colouring 'Sally' from A Nightmare Before Christmas. I hope you'll join in and share your favourite films for a chance to win.

I have coloured her with Promarkers and a black Coloursoft pencil for detailing. My papers are from the 'Oct 31' paper pad from Fancy Pants and the glittered embellishments are from my stash. The Skelington image is actually from a NBC badge that was broken so I pulled it apart and stuck him on there!

Thanks for looking!
Mo xxx

January Anything Goes at Crafting by Designs

Good morning! And a very Happy New Year! I hope you're all well and thank you for popping by my corner of blogland today. This post is for Crafting by Designs and our first challenge of the year - Anything Goes. As always, you have most of the month to enter this one and wow us with your talent.

Our sponsor for this one is Oddball Art Co and I've used image 161 - Don't Mess with Beany. 

I have coloured her with Promarkers and used papers from the Craft Sensations 'All Bright Colours' paper pad. The skull and crossbones is an embroidered embellishment I've had for ages. I've used this week's sketch from Sketch Saturday as my layout.

I will enter this in the following challenges -
Sketch Saturday - #444 with Bugaboo Stamps

Thanks for looking!
Mo xxx

Chalkola Chalk Markers

It's almost Christmas and there is still time to get those last minute gifts for your crafty friends and loved ones via Amazon! If you're finding it hard to think of something... check out these fabulous Chalk Markers from Chalkola!

Pack of 10 Neon Coloured Chalk Markers

Pack of 8 Earth Coloured Markers

These arrived on my doorstep one rainy Sunday afternoon courtesy of Amazon Prime next day delivery and I loved them on sight! An excellent range of colours - brights in the neon pack and darker tones in the 'Earthy' pack. Perfectly complimenting each other.

The packaging states that they can be used on all hard non porous surfaces and they are washable - very important in my house with children who love to draw in all the wrong places! Although, they're not getting their sticky mitts on my new pens!

I opened up the brights and grabbed the purple first, being my favourite colour.

On opening, the tip has no colour - shake the pen and 'pump' the ink into the nib by pressing down onto paper or a wipe clean surface. The colour was bright and thick, not drippy, a very good consistency. I may then have drawn a couple of doodles on the fridge door!!! Good thick colour, bright and quick drying. A quick swipe with a damp cloth and it was clean again.

My daughter and I got a few more pens out, inked them up and had a play on the fridge! These go on smooth and creamy, dry quickly and without running. I popped them in my bag for work and used them for a Christmas chalkboard display for an upcoming charity day -

The white is stunning on the chalkboard - crisp lines and solid colour. The festive red and green perfect for holly and I can't wait to use the colours into the New Year for the World Cancer Day boards - the blue/pink/purple will be perfect for the CRUK colour scheme.

I've also used the pens on the shop windows and on the inspirational glass story board in the shop. They are easier to clean than the chalk pens provided by headoffice and stay bright and clear.
I have been using them for a few weeks now and am yet to be disappointed or find a negative.

Thanks for reading!
Mo xxx

(Disclaimer, I have received product for free or at a discount in exchange for an accurate, unbiased and honest review.)

Here Come the Holidays!

Good morning! Today is the start of our latest challenge at Crafting by Designs. We have several sponsors for this one as it will run for the rest of the month to give the DT a wee break over the Christmas holidays.

My first project is a Christmas/Creepmas card using 'Zoe la Zombie' by Alicia Bel which I've coloured using Promarkers. I've used Vintage Christmas papers from MME, red card candi and a paper bow from Craftwork Cards. I've finished off with a skele cameo! 

The second project is a set of gift tags with black and white images from Melonheadz which again I have coloured with Promarkers and added some gold detailing. These are the perfect finishing touch for those Christmas gifts and can be customised to go with whichever colour scheme you chose this festive season. I've kept mine traditional and used some paper from Craftwork cards for the wrapping here.

I hope you'll join in our challenge,
thanks for looking!
Maureen xxx

Getting Festive with Crafting by Designs

Morning folks! A quick post from me this morning! It's time for our Christmas in October challenge at Crafting by Designs today. I have used Peekaboo Penguin Ornament from The Stamping Boutique for my card. He is coloured with Promarkers and I've used papers and bow from Craftwork Cards.

Thanks for looking!
Mo xxx

Anything Goes at Crafting By Designs

Morning! No, your eyes do not deceive you - I have another card and another blog post!
It is Anything Goes time at Crafting by Designs and our sponsor this week is Shadow Clocksy - you know I love her images and I've used Rebel Zombie for my Halloween card!

I have used paper from DCWV Eek-a-Boo 6x6 stack and a sentiment from Create with TLC. The bats are from an x-cut mini die and the fence I believe was cut on my Cameo (I found it in a box of cuts!).
Thanks for looking!
Mo xxx

Lucy Loo Welcome Back from The East Wind

Today I am sharing a card that I am late with!! The East Wind are our sponsor this week at Crafting by Designs with the theme 'Favourite Season'. It's also the 150th challenge at Left of Center where TEW are also sponsoring so I've popped my card on there too.

The image is Lucy Loo Welcome Back, I've used papers from DCWV Eek-a-Boo stack and the sentiment is from there too. I've used Core'dinations for matting. The flowers are from Dovecraft and I've coloured with Promarkers.

I will enter the following challenges -
Open Minded Crafting Fun Challenge - Halloween
The Paper Players - Halloween
Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge - Oct Halloween
Dream in Darkness - Halloween (not sure it's dark enough!)


Thanks for looking!
Mo xxx

A Stitch in Time with Crafting By Designs

This week's challenge at Crafting By Designs is 'A Stitch in Time' and we'd like to see some stitching on your project - real or faux, it's up to you. I have used an image from our sponsor Bugaboo stamps for my Halloween card today - the image is Silhouette Skull Tree.

I have added faux stitching with a black fine liner pen and paprika Stickles to the eyes of the skulls.
My paper is DCWV Eek-a-Boo stack, the die is a Tim Holtz Bigz Weathered Clock and I've finished with glittery ribbon, sentiment and card candi.
I hope you'll join in the challenge at CBD!
Thanks for looking!
Mo xxx