Monday 23 April 2012

Craft Bloggers Network Challenge - Love Paints

Hiya crafty friends,

Here we are again, it Crafty Bloggers Network Challenge time!!!! And this fortnights theme is:

'Love Paints'


For all the information on how to enter this challenge can be found over at Crafty Bloggers Network Blog


And here is my Design Team project and I have to say I am quite pleased how it came out. I hadn't made anything like this for a long time, so I really enjoyed making it. And the fact it was quite messy to do just heightened the fun. My hands were covered in white paint...lol!

I hope you can all join us in this challenge, over at the Crafty Bloggers Network. I really would love to see what all you fabulous come up with for this challenge!!!











Project Recipe

Happy crafting (and paint cover finger)
Click here for more graphics and gifs!

Sunday 22 April 2012

Meet the Design Team - Say hi to Linda


1. Tell us a bit about yourself...
I took early retirement from working in the NHS of March last year. I have 2 sons and a stepson. My youngest son became a daddy for the first time in 2011 New Year's day to a beautiful little girl called Alice. My second granddaughter is due 2nd August this year. My hubby is my soul mate and has been so supportive of my crafting.


2. How long have you been crafting for and how did you become a crafter?
I am an avid crafter and have been all my life. I used to love drawing when I was young but haven't done any for quite a long time and have promised myself that I will try again sometime this year. I was taught to knit at a very young age by my Dad and my grandma taught me how to make my dollies clothes. In the past I have done embroidery and taught myself to cross stitch. Now I spend all my time making cards and coming up with different ideas, some that work and some that don't.

3. What is your favourite craft to do?
My favourite Craft is anything to do with papercraft. I love all areas of papercrafting from stamping to parchment craft. I like to incorporate different techniques into my card, I especially love to stamp on parchment as you can get some stunning results.

4. Do you work in the craft industry?
I suppose in a way I do as I am on the design team for quite a few UK companies including, Hougie Crafts, Kraftyhands, Jem's Designs, Ali-Craft, Oyster Stamps and Hobbyfun.

5.What is you favourite craft technique?
I suppose that stamping and playing with my inks and stamps are my favourite technique but I love to try all kinds of techniques. I love giving all the techniques a go.

6. Who is your favourite crafter and why?
I love watching Sue Wilson as she is just so inspirational and loves to give crafters ideas and tips on using the Spellbinder dies and Grande Calibur. I also think Sheena Douglass is an amazing artist and fell in love with her Paint Fusion. I love doing this and even decorated cupboard doors in my craft room.

7. Why did you want to become a Design Team member? 
To give inspiration and ideas to other crafters and be part of a fabulous team.

Saturday 21 April 2012

Meet the Design Team - Say hi to Barbara



1. Tell us a bit about yourself...

I’m 58 outside, but feel 25 inside J
I live in a small Wiltshire village just a 10 minute train ride from the wonderful World Heritage City of Bath, with my wonderful (very patient) partner of 20 years, Alan and our German Shepherd Finn. I have 2 fantastic sons from my first marriage, Nick (30) and Adam (27), and since Christmas, a gorgeous daughter in law, Emma…….they are my ‘reason for living’!
I‘m originally from Durham…..The rest of my family still live ‘Up North’, I miss them but see them as often as possible.
I’m a qualified Hairdresser, ( I still cut and colour my own hair ), I was a Slimming World manager for 10 years, and have numerous nutritional diplomas, but my  most favourite job was as an Ann Summers party manager. I did that for 7 years and still laugh when I think of all the wonderful times we had. J

2. How long have you been crafting for and how did you become a crafter?

I was about 4 yrs old when my mother taught me to hand-knit, she was a wonderful knitter.  I can also crochet, and I’ve made all the soft furnishings for every house I’ve lived in. When the boys were small I made all their clothes, and mine too.
When I was 15, mam bought me a knitting machine (I was spoilt rotten) and within a few weeks, I was making and selling machine knitted garments to friends, family and customers.    This continued all through the boys’ childhood, instead of going out to work, and I had a fabulous cottage industry going on.

3. What is your favourite craft to do?

I didn’t start paper-crafting and jewellery making until 2007, after a massive family trauma. Typical of me though, I went out and bought everything I needed for BOTH hobbies at the same time, spent a fortune, and still have some of it here, unused. (I’m a compulsive spender)!
 Card-making soon took over my life and it’s now the only thing I do.

4. Do you work in the craft industry?

 I sell at craft fairs and have lots of customers who buy just from me……..I make a nice living out of it, so can’t complain. I’ll never be ‘in profit’ though, as I spend every penny I make L

5. What is you favourite craft technique?

I love die-cutting, and have about 55 sets of Spellbinders, along with every other make of dies……but I’m now buying loads of stamps and really enjoying getting inky fingers.

6. Who is your favourite crafter and why?
                                                                                                                                                                        
Without hesitation, Sue Wilson from Creative Expressions, I love all her creations.
Ali Reeves is a close second, as she get ‘messy’ with inks!
These are the only 2 crafters I watch on TV.

7. Why did you want to become a Design Team member?

I promised myself that I was going to push myself a bit harder, and get noticed.  Started my blog, and just hoped crafters would like what I did…..so far it’s worked! x
>

Friday 20 April 2012

*Meet the Design Team - Say hi to Debe*



1. Tell us a bit about yourself...

My name is Denyse. I live in a small village in Essex which is a 20 minute train journey to Central London.I was a Primary School teacher teaching children aged 7-11 but I gave up work when my daughter Bethany was born prematurely and we took her home on oxygen and tube fed. We have had literally thousands of hospital appointments since but Bethany (who is now 14) is doing brilliantly and I am immensely proud of her!I am married to my best friend, Bill.



2. How long have you been crafting for and how did you become a crafter?

About 25 years ago I started doing cross stitch and tapestry work.I then gave up for a while and five years ago I went to a Christmas Market in Peterborough. I saw a demo of foiling with a quickie glue pen and bought a set, that was the start of a slippery slope for me, I got a Big Shot that Christmas and my passion for paper crafting took off from there!



4. What is your favourite craft to do?
Without a doubt stamping and colouring in with my copics. I have tried lots of different craft techniques over the years but none of them give me as much satisfaction as working with my Copic Pens!

5. Do you work in the craft industry?
No, sadly not :(

6. What is you favourite craft technique?
Apart from my copics (as above) I really enjoy using my Grand Calibur to cut and emboss.

7. Who is your favourite crafter and why?
My favourite crafter is Wendy Kadzidlo from Stamps and Memories. Wendy knows everything there is to know about Copic pens and arranges great lessons. She is also responsible for the Copicific Retreats which run twice yearly in Oxford. I have attended every one so far! It is fabulous to have a break whilst meeting like minded people and having lots of time to catch up on the latest Copic Techniques.Wendy's designs are always clever, eye catching and beautifully executed. I also love the work of Karen Watson and Dawny Phillips, both of whom are lovely ladies, fabulous crafters and have taught at the retreats! Phew!

8. Why did you want to become a Design Team member?
Oh! not sure if that is very easy or very hard to answer! I loved what Debbi was doing on the blog, but had a lot of self doubt as to whether or not I would be good enough to join a design team.I wanted the discipline and challenge of producing a card to a theme each month, so decided to try out and see if I got picked!I really cannot put into words what a boost it gave me to be picked and how much inspiration I have got from the lovely ladies on the DT. I am extremely grateful to Debbi and loving every minute of it!

Wednesday 18 April 2012

*Meet the Design Team - Say hi to Isobel*





1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm Isobel, I'm almost 58 (birthday soon) - I'm a bit of a mixed bag having a Scottish mother and Polish father. My husband and I were childhood sweethearts and married in 1971 when we were both just 17 years old. We had 4 girls Marion in 1972, Pauline in 1974, Susan in 1977 and finally Fiona in 1982. Our girls are our world. We have been married nearly 41 years now and are also blessed to be nana and papa to 8 beautiful grandchildren Skye 15, Dale 11, Sam 11, Dylan 11, Abbie 8, Zoe 8, Ava 6, and our surprise extra is Phoebe 1.Ian has retired early and has taken up metal craft so we enjoy going to craft fairs together to try and sell what we make. 

2. How long have you been crafting for and how did you become a crafter? 
 I have been crafting of a sort all my life really, having learned to knit at my mother’s knee when I was about 5. My mum was an avid knitter when she was alive. I've always loved all things crafty and like to dabble in all sorts. I'm like jack of all crafts master of none. Lol. I started making cards after daughter no 3 gave me a card kit for Xmas 6 years ago. The old cliché hook line and sinker comes to mind! 

3. What is your favourite craft to do?
My favourite cards to do are Ladies as you can be as fanciful as you like with them. 

4. Do you work in the craft industry?
I don't work in the craft industry but attend as many craft fairs as I can. 

5. What is your favourite craft technique?
My favourite crafting technique has to be decoupage as I love to cut things out , I find it very therapeutic. 

6. Who is your favourite crafter and why?
My favourite crafter is Barbara Gray. I have always had a love for drawing and water colour but can do neither, and Barbara just inspires me with her brayer and stamps to have a go and enjoy myself while I'm doing it. She's a wonderful crafter and lady , my heroine. 

7. Why did you want to become a Design Team member?
I wanted to be a design team member with cards galore as I love to make cards and I love the challenge every month of designing something to suit the challenge, and of course not being modest or anything I like to show off my work and hope others enjoy looking at it .

Tuesday 17 April 2012

*Meet the Design Team - Say hi to Eileen*

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1. Tell us a bit about yourself..


My name is Eileen and I am Debbi’s mum, (I’m also the bane of her life lol). I was born in East Manchester, but have lived in South Manchester since I was sixteen. I've been married for 44yrs this year, and I married the boy from next door but one...lol! I have three great kids, and two magical grandsons and belong to a large extended family.....  My likes are paper crafting, creative writing and local history. For the past seven years Debbi and I have been researching our family tree.
2. How long have you been crafting for and how did you become a crafter? 
I have been crafting for about five years now, I took upcrafting seriously  when Debbi joined a craft club and I went along to keep her company, after that I was hooked....
4. What is your favourite craft to do?
I have knitted and crocheted in the past, but am totally addicted to paper-crafting.
5. Do you work in the craft industry?
I don’t work in the craft industry, but do work in admin of a creative writing forum.
6. What is you favourite craft technique?
My favourite craft technique has got to be working with dies, lace, ribbons and paper flowers.
7. Who is your favourite crafter and why?
My favourite crafter has got to be Debbi, (obviously I’m biased), but my professional  favourite crafter has got to be Sue from Spellbinders.
8. Why did you want to become a Design Team member?
I became a design team member because Debbi had my arm halfway up my back, and I couldn’t take any more lol. Seriously though, Debbi invited me to be on the team and I jumped at the chance. Thanks Debs.....

Monday 16 April 2012

*Meet the Design Team Say hi to Angela*


1. Tell us a bit about yourself...
My name is Angela, I am nearly 55 years old and I live in Germany with Pat, my husband of nigh on 35 years and our dog Finn. I'm originally  from Dublin and proud to call myself a 'Jackeen' !  My husband's work has taken us from Ireland to the UK for  about 15 years and now we are here in Baveria. We've been here for approximately 10 years and we are happy living with the space and the freedom that comes with living in a country environment.  I have learned to speak german and ski (who'd a thought) and I think we have intergated in to the way of life here...not so different from living in any rural community.  I must confess that I like the sense of order we have here. When the telephone engineer says he'll be there at 7am, sure enough, there he is. I am a punctual person by nature, so you can see the appeal. :) There is a lot of Arts and Crafts here and nature influences a lot of what people use in their creations. Very inspiring!


2. How long have you been crafting for and how did you become a crafter?
 I have  always been a bit crafty, helping with school projects, bit and pieces for the house and so on, but I really got into cardmaking when we moved to Germany. I was struggling to find suitable cards, to so I made my own. We don't have any major high-street greeting card stores here and the choice although very good, can be limited. That was about 8 years ago!  I have gone on to make a series of Christmas cards and supplied cards for family and friends and I had the pleasure of providing the wedding stationery for my nephews wedding. 

4. What is your favourite craft to do?

I would have to say that my favourite craft is cardmaking. This is closely followed by scrapbooking.  ATCs are finding a home in my crafty heart.  


5. Do you work in the craft industry?

I am not employed in the craft industry, but I am a member of 5 DT and it keeps me out of mischief and busy. Ultimately I would like to supply local businesses with hand-made cards, where individuality counts and not the souless greeting cards one sees in shops.


6. What is you favourite craft technique?

I love working with inks and stamps. I also like to play with embossing and distress techniques. 


7. Who is your favourite crafter and why?

My Favourite is Jennifer McGuire because not only is she talented, but in her work she incorporates  a lot of the elements I like to work with.

8. Why did you want to become a Design Team member?

Inspired by the great support from family and friends, I set up my blog to 'show' my cards. I've found something that I think I'm good at, and I can share the bits and pieces that I create.  It was then I thought I'd try out for the Cards Galore  D,  to gain more confidence in what I do and to trade ideas with like minded crafters.  It's been a blast so far!

Sunday 15 April 2012

*Meet the Design Team - Say hi to Lexie*




1. Tell us a bit about yourself...

 I'm mummy (and home educator) to my son, Jamie, who will be 6 years old in July.  We have a lot of fun together visiting museums, zoos and just going on long walks, and we're planning a new life in Yorkshire for later this year.   We're both really looking forward to doing lots of exploring and meeting new people.

2. How long have you been crafting for and how did you become a crafter?

I started crafting by taking up knitting baby clothes for a friend's new baby.  Her mam taught me to knit and I still enjoy it occasionally.  I then went onto cross stitch and then onto cardmaking about 12 years ago.  I gave up for a number of years, though, but then got back into it almost 2 years ago now and it's better than ever.  Papercrafting has come a very long way in the years that I was out of it, and it's now incredible how many things we have at our crafty disposal.   

4. What is your favourite craft to do?

I love cardmaking, especially making shaped or lacy easels using my dies or Cameo.   

5. Do you work in the craft industry?

Not as such, but I have just started my own little cardmaking business and hope to really get that going once I move...and possibly expand a little, but that's all secret so, ssshhhh! 

6. What is you favourite craft technique?

Using my dies and punches to create my shaped easels.  Oh...and I love my distressing inks...and embossing, and cd crafting, lol. 

7. Who is your favourite crafter and why?

Tricky one as there are so many very talented crafters out there...both famous and unknown.  If I have to choose, though, I think it would be Sue Wilson as she does the most incredible demos and is a seriously lovely lady along with it.  She's also very generous as I won her blog candy the other month and the candy was out of this world! 

8. Why did you want to become a Design Team member?

Well, I saw somewhere to put my name down and so I did!  Lol.   Nah...I'm non competitive so it's my way of joining in with challenges without competing.  It also gives you new things to aim for and makes you dig that little bit deeper to come up with something different and, hopefully, inspiring to other crafters.

Saturday 14 April 2012

*Meet the Design Team - Say hi to Debbi T*


1. Tell us a bit about yourself...
I am 35 and at the minute a stay at home mum to my two boys Joshua 6 and Aidan 3 - they are my world and along with hubby, we have a great family life! I am currently on a career break from my day job that is as a business lending consultant for a Bank. I am an avid papercrafter!

2. How long have you been crafting for and how did you become a crafter?
I have been crafting for about 5 years ever since my neighbour invited me over to her house to have a play with her stash and as the say the rest is history - I was hooked and there went any chance I ever had of saving for a rainy day! I discovered Stampin' Up at a similar time and I signed up as a demo not long after - I love meeting new people through my crafting - sharing new techniques and ideas and being part of a team where everyone is as enthusiastic and passionate about paper and card as I am! (and yes I do get VERY excited) I love to get together with friends who I have made through the crafting community and know that I have been lucky enough to meet some lifelong friends through something that we both share a love of ...

4. What is your favourite craft to do?
This is sssoooo hard to answer I love so many - if I would have to choose one it would have to be colouring stamped images - as there are so many different mediums that you can use to make your images look pretty and striking depending on the look/ style that you are going for... Of late I have fallen back in love with my promarkers after selling nearly all the ones that I had!

5. Do you work in the craft industry?
Technically yes through Stampin' Up! but this is really just a hobby I don't do many workshops and the customers I have I have been friends with for many years - I love just getting together with them and having a laugh - they are always interested in the games I set up as they are always of a crafty nature with prizes involved and we even make cards along the way learning new techniques and I showcase them new products
6. What is you favourite craft technique?
Again there are so many - but if you are making me chose I will have to go with Stamping on candles - I love the effect that you get and how you are able to colour them and get an amazing effect that is personal to the person that you are giving it to... The last one I did for for my friends wedding as her husbands parents have passed away - it was lit at the beginning of the service and lit through the reception as well... To know that I had created something that was important to the both of them is a great honour.

7. Who is your favourite crafter and why?
I love Nicky Hall I only discovered her recently but love her style and love the designs that she creates - I spent ages talking to her at a recent craft show about colouring, pro-markers, card and CD Roms... A lovely lady and we had a giggle too...

8. Why did you want to become a Design Team member?
I wanted to give my crafting more focus I love creating but was finding that I am very hit and miss - being on a design Team gives me a reason to craft and keeps me focused I love having a reason to craft and this is keeping me motivated and I thank Debbi so much for giving me the opportunity to work with so many other talented crafters and on such great challenges.

Thursday 12 April 2012

*Meet the Deign Team - Say hi to Marleen*



1. Tell us a bit about yourself...
Hmmm, Before I am anything else, Im a mum.. I have 3 Wonderful children. Emma 8, Michael 6, and Abbie 20 month. Emma and Michael are as crafty as I am, and have a place on a DT themselfs.
I am married to Kevin who is my best friend, and biggest fan. We live in Ireland, where Kevin is from, but I come from Denmark. I am know to speak danish when I get really cross :-)

2. How long have you been crafting for and how did you become a crafter?
I started making cards, shortly after Emma was born. My sister came over to Ireland for a visit and she had just started making cards, she showed me how and the rest is history so to speak. In 2008 i started to do scrapbooking as well.

4. What is your favourite craft to do?
The only craft I do, is cards and scrapbooking. I do love decorating the house as well, but its a far more expencive hobby, so I stick to paper most the time...

5. Do you work in the craft industry?

Well, I have just started to do demo's in my local craftshop. I would love to really work in the industry, but as my children are still quite small, I cant work full time yet. I work on several Design Teams, so pretty much all my spare time is about crafting.

6. What is you favourite craft technique?
My favorite technique has to be distressing. Any kind of distressing will do. My favorite tool of the trade is cheep nailfiles from the pound shops. They can be used for so many different things..

7. Who is your favourite crafter and why?
Hmm, I dont really have a favorite. I have gotten to know so many fantastic crafters on-line. Everyone is so talented, but all so different, and thats what I find so fantastic about paper crafting. With the same materials, no 2 crafters, will ever make the same.

8. Why did you want to become a Design Team member?
What I love about working on DT's is that it sets me a challenge. It widens my creativity.

Tuesday 10 April 2012

Like a butterfly...

Day 10 - 
Personal or Business Blogging: Be inspired by a great quote!  You could share a quote from someone famous or someone less-than-famous (like your kid, spouse, neighbor, or friend).  Quote inspired posts can be inspirational and motivational, funny or sarcastic.There are quotes for every mood and theme. 

Hiya crafty friends,

When I read today challenge I have to admit it was a bit of a puzzler, as I have to admit all my favourite quotes are from Monty Python films/sketches...lol! And as a crafter there is not much I could do with them :) So, I went on a hunt for quotes on the internet and I came across the quote below and it instantly touched me and seemed to echo what I am trying to do at the moment with my fight to conquer my Social Phobia. I am going to use it as a future affirmation, and I may even print it out and frame it..


With this quote as inspiration, this is the craft project I have come up with...













Click here for more graphics and gifs!

Monday 9 April 2012

Crafty Dreams...



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DAY 9 Today challenge - "Behind the Scenes" 



Hiya crafty friends,

Well, I have to be totally honest with you and confess that my craft 'behind the scenes' is quite messy at the moment (a total mess is closer to the mark really) as my craft space is also know as my...bedroom...lol, and I would be totally ashamed to share with you how it looks, so with this in mind I'd like to share with you my future 'Craft Space' behind the scenes. As I am very lucky that my fantastic dad and brother are building one this summer....yay...so excited!!!

I thought I'd share with you some of the ideas I have come across whilst searching for inspiration on the internet. There are some truely wonderful craft rooms out there, in which I'd give my high teeth for, but obviously they are waaaaaaay beyond my price budget, but you can still get inspiration, ideas and looks from them.

As the key word to my craft room will be 'Organised', here are some of the ideas I would like to incorporate into my finished craft room to hopefully achieve this.

I would like everything to have a home, so I know exactly were I can find something I want when I want it, but no-one said that storage can't be pretty, did they :) I love the Shabby Chic look of this spice rack (right) that has been decorated to become a button storage unit and you can never have too many jars when it comes to craft storage (below)





And carrying on the with Shabby Chic and jars, I also love this incredably simple to make jar and bracket wall storage (right). Plus it is such a handy thing to have. And talking of wall storage there are some interesting elements, I could adapt and make use of, in the picture below

Kids Art Studio eclectic kids



As for the look I really like the look of the room below, but with a slight more 'Shabby Chic' feel to it. I like how light and airy it is and I think it would be a great place for creativity.


Well, there you go, some of my hopes for my craft room. They may be used or may not be used and the room may turn out completely different to how I planned (budget and what you want don't always go together, unfortunately) but I am going to enjoy the process and I will keep you all updated

Happy craftying
Click here for more graphics and gifs!

Crafty Bloggers Network Challenge - Pop-up effect

Hiya my crafty friends,



I hope you are all having a lovely Easter. You haven't eaten too much chocolate have you...lol!

It is Crafty Bloggers Challenge time, so why not pop over to Crafty Bloggers Network and join in with the challenge, which this fortnight is:

Pop-up Effect


I really enjoyed making my project, even though it took forever to make. As all the corners were cut-out by hand. My hand was certainly aching after this one. I love star cards as they really have the 'Wow' factor.








I am really excited to see all the entries to this challenge, to see what all you wonderful crafter 'do' with this theme.

Happy crafting

Click here for more graphics and gifs!