My Christmas Card designs for this year!

Hi everyone,


I have finally finished this years Christmas cards!!!! Woo! I will be starting a lot earlier than end of November in 2010 for sure! I am now so behind on everything else it's a nightmare! lol!  I'm usually so organised, I really don't know what happened this year! It has definitely gone far to quick!!

Having said that, I have actually wrapped all presents up and they are under the tree ready for Christmas Day.  Looks so pretty!  Looking at it though, Mark and I have bought way to much as usual...oops. haha!

I still have to buy all the food and tidy up the house and re-arrange everything ready for the family to come over.  I have 6 over on Boxing Day and then 9 over the following day.  Where I am going to put all these people, I really don't know, but it's part of the fun, right?

I have had such a wonderful collection of handmade cards from people this year.  It has really brightened up my fireplace compared to the usual shop bought cards, which are still lovely to receive of course!

I don't think I am going to have much time to post before Christmas, so I just wanted to say MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all and a VERY HAPPY 2010!

Lots of love,

I have been given the Kreativ Blogger Award!

A big thankyou goes to the lovely Lori for sending me this award, which is very much appreciated!!  It just so happens she also won my Blog Candy today too!!

Here's what I'm supposed to do:

1.  Post a link back to the person who sent me this award!
2.  Post 7 interesting facts about me!
3.  Send this on to another 7 favorite blog sites and say why!
4.  Let my fav bloggers know they've received this award!

I will do the rest of the above after i've published this post!

7 Interesting facts about moi are:

1. I have lost 3 stone since January through Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness - v. proud!
2. I can play the Piano fairly well..!
3. I cried like a baby when I ripped half my toenail off back in August and passed out twice!
4. Like Lori, I to am addicted to craft shopping and could quite easily do it all day, everyday!
5. I have always wanted to drive an HGV!!
6. When I was a baby I had Pyloric Stenosis, which has left a big 12cm scar on my tummy!
7. I am very interested in family history and have researched back to the early 1600's!

7  Favorite blog sites (in no particular order) I am sending this award to and why are:

1. Kat has become a really great friend to me, even though we have not yet met! I love her blog because its always has such funky creations!
2. Katie ,who I also consider a good friend, and whos blog is full of fantastic creations from cards to yummy cakes!!! 
3. Hannah blog is so pretty and pink! She always has amazing cards. 
4. Susies blog I probably visit the most as she has fantastic challenges that I always want to enter when I have time, and I find her creations inspirational! She's a lovely lady too!
5. Sharons blog is always fun to read and I love to hear about her adorable Collie, Ben who sounds like a little star!  Sharon blog is also full of cute cards!
6. Jackie always has beautiful creations on her blog!
7. Lori has a wonderful blog which I am new to, but from what i've seen so far she has beautiful cards and i'm looking forward to having more of a look around!

Few! That took me way to long!!! Very difficult choices, I really have a lot more fav blogs than 7!!!

Thanks again Lori.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Who want's BLOG CANDY!?!?!?!?!

Hi everyone,

I have some lovely candy to give away to one lucky follower of mine!!  I thought it was about time I posted some candy to thank you all for visiting my blog and posting such lovely comments about my work.

What you will get:

- Jolly Nation Clear Stamps Set
- Gorjuss Girls Stamped Images
- Miss Anya Stamped Images
- My Guy Ian Stamped Images

This blog candy will close on the Saturday 5th December, and I will announce the winner sometime Sunday evening.

All you have to do to win is:

1. If you're not already a follower, please become one.
2. Display this photo on your blog for all to see with a link back to my blog.
3. Leave me a message so I know you have entered.

If you don't have a blog of your own, please become a follower anyway, and spread the word to anyone you think might be interested!
I will post worldwide, so everyone is welcome to enter.

Good luck!

Reigate Christmas Craft & Gift Fair takes place today!

Hi everyone,

Well I have been such a busy bee these past few weeks making all my stock for the Reigate Christmas Craft & Gift Fair and having all these visitors over, I can finally relax today! Yipee!!

The pictures I've added on this post are examples of the stock that is selling at the Fair until 4pm today. I hope they are being snapped up by lovely people right now!  It will be a good test to see how they will do in the shop opening next year!

The first picture is a Vintage style Lady Project Book. The second picture is a Vintage style Hardback Notebook. Third is an Eygptian Spiral Bound Notebook. Kanban Crafts really do have some lovely images, don't you think? Last but not least, the fourth is a Shopping list with Miss Anya Collection stamped image, by The Greeting Farm.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me and I will report back with news in a later post!

I was thinking earlier it's about time that I put up some Blog Candy!  So, please come and visit my blog and look out for some candy soon!

Hobbycraft show @ NEC = super fantastic, but now bankrupt....LOL

Oh my goodness! Me and my friend Madeline went to the NEC in Brum today to spend spend spend at the Hobbycraft Show and had such a fabby time!! I have never been before, but after going today I will definitely be going next year! I saw Joanna Sheen, Stephanie Weightman and met Leonie Pujol who is really sweet. I hadn't realised she had left QVC though, and was shocked to see her on the Create and Craft stand! haha! Lots of luck to her in her new job.

As you can see, I had many bags to carry and had to leave a lot in the cloakroom as it was just to heavy to carry around! I was there from 10:30 until 5! What a long day, but it went so quickly! I am going to ache tomorrow!!

I got an old QVC TSV at one of the stands for £20, and it has loooooooads in it, which is why I thought id photo the contents list to show you! Really good value I think!

Anyway, I hope whoever went to the show had a fab time, I certainly did. Did I mention that already......:oD?

My First Attempt using Tim Holtz Stamp!

Recipe

Tim Holtz Stamp - Storytime Santa

Calendar Stamp

Music sheet Stamp

Holly Stamp

Brilliance Dew Drop Ink Pads - Black,Red, Green, Yellow and Blue Pearlescent

Scalloped Card from Craftwork Cards.co.uk

Well, I bought this Tm Holtz stamp back in 2006 in Florida, and never actually used it as I had not a clue what to do with the stamp!

I bought the latest copy of Simply Cards & Papercraft Magazine and what did I find??? A Tim Holtz Xmas stamp feature! I was really pleased!!! So basically this is an example from the magazine, with a few alterations! I am fairly pleased with it, not sure if I like it all that much as it is really different to my usual style! I don't own any Distress Ink Pads, so I have just used my Dew Drop ones for now. I am going to the NEC tomorrow for the Hobbycraft Show, hopefully I will see some there and i'll get a few!

Hope you are all having a fab weekend.

Candyfloss Xmas Easel Card

Recipe

x1 Pinflair Novelty Easel Cards & Envelopes (Pack of 3)

Stamp 'N' Bond Powder

Icicle Glitter

X1 Die-Cut 'Santa's Little Helpers' Character Sheet - Candyfloss Character (QVC pack)

Pink Gem Stones

Pink Ribbon

Craft Glue

Mini Glue Dots

Mini snowflake punch

White & Pink paper

See D's Christmas Words Stamp

Silver Ink Pad

As you probably noticed in previous posts, I have been using these cute novelty easels to display my cards and bits on, but I decided to use them for what they are meant for this time! I am really pleased with how it's turned out, and it's just a completely different way of sending a Christmas card.

I have also decided to enter this into Susie's Sassy Challenge Blog this week, so wish me luck! The theme is 'Christmas'. I have had a look at the enteries so far, and they are all stunning as always, so it's going to be tricky to pick winners! Head over to Susie's Blog and enter one of your Christmas card's!

My first few Xmas Cards for 2009!

I really must get cracking with these Xmas cards I need to make!! I sat in my craft room all day yesterday making up Daisy & Dandelion and Forever Friends Xmas decoupage and today is the day I need to use them on my cards.

I can't believe its 7 weeks until Xmas, I have hardly done any Xmas shopping - i'm starting to panic a bit now!!! So much to do, so little time!

As I mentioned in a post a few weeks back, I will be selling my handmade cards and other items in a shop called Calladoodles in Edenbridge, near Croydon in the new year. I'm really excited now! I have been asked by the owner, Clare, if I could make a few bits (mainly Xmas cards) for a stall she has got on Sunday 22nd November at Reigate Christmas Craft & Gift Fair 2009 which I have happily agreed to take part in. Hopefully it will be a good turn out and lots of money will be raised for Diabetes UK which this fair is in aid of.

I am also raising money for Diabetes UK with my Rosemary Conley Slimmers Club, and will be taking part in a 2 hour 'Aerobathon' on 2oth November 2009. I am really looking forward to it and since my dad has got Diabetes, I really want to take part.

So far, I have been sponsered £50 and I only got the form 2 days ago, so I'm feeling pretty proud!

Anyway, I am off to make a start on the rest of these Xmas cards, which I will try and post pictures of this evening!

Have a good day all.

Lou x

Art Deco Project Book

Hi everyone,

Been having problems loading up pictures on here, hence the lack of posts - sorry about that!

This is my latest design. I wanted to try something a bit different from my cardmaking as I was having trouble getting back into it after a few weeks holiday and illness, and it seems to have worked out well! Crafty bug is back!

Recipe:

Spiral bound project book - Wilkinsons

Image - Kanban Crafts

Gems - Studio 24 Catalogue

Backing paper (main) - Making Memories Ruby Razberry Floral DS 12x12

Backing paper (behind image) - Payper Box

The Project Book originally had a different cover on it, which I replaced with lovely MM paper which is 2 sided. Trying to punch holes in the right place was a little daunting, but I managed it quite well! hehe

Hope you like it.

I'm Back!!!

Well, it has been quite a while since I have posted anything! Sorry about that! I'm back for now, and I have quite a few things to show you, yipee! I have been a busy bee up in my craft room the past few weeks, as I have been asked (after volunteering myself) to sell my cards and other papercrafts in a new shop opening in Surrey next year. It's not set in stone yet, but hopefully will be by Christmas, so i'm rather excited! I'm meeting the owner of the shop-to-be this Saturday and i'm going to be armed with all my creations, so I hope she likes them!! hehe

I have started to take my pictures differently, as I think they look a bit more professional on the easel and with the side view to show off the design. What do you all think? I also stuck one of my stickers on the easel 'Lulu's Cards' which I stick on the back of everything I make as I thought it was good advertising for my website! hehe. I'm hoping to get my website up and running by the new year where I will be selling my crafty items, well thats the plan anyway!! Takes up a lot of time, as i'm sure most of you can appreciate!

I bought a new stamp this week, and thought I would show you what I have done with it!

Recipe:

Little Clare's 'Dream a Little Dream' stamp

Image coloured with Promakers

Papermania Scalloped Card Pack (White and Black)

Clare Curds Sentiments Stamp

Me and My Big Ideas Florette Open Stock Paper (C-17)

Friendship Exchange over at Craftbubble was a success...

Over on craftbubble, there has been a Friendship Exchange going on and this was my gift to one of the lucky bubblers! I'm pleased to report that she loved it, which is always nice to hear and considering this was my first ever try at making a notebook, its even better to hear how much it's appreciated!

I popped into Tesco and they have a bargain section where I found 2 packs of plain notebooks for £1, and I just thought to myself, what a lovely gift for someone if I jazzed it up, and I might even make one for myself too! As you can see, I just covered it in really nice jazzy paper, by Me and My Big Ideas which I bought from www.artymiss.co.uk and used one of my favourite Tilda stamps which I coloured with Promarkers. I added a few buttons, cute flowers and some sparkle to the flowers on the paper. To finish it off I then added some bows to the spine and 'voila', finished notebook!

Hope you like it!

My first entry in the Die Cut Dream Challenge Blog!

Hi everyone,

I thought I would enter my card in the Die Cut Dream Challenge Blog this week as I have been meaning to do it for ages now! The theme is "Hearts and Flowers" which is a lovely theme to work with, so many different ways it can be done!! Well this is my choice. I haven't gone overboard on the flowers and hearts, I like to think its subtle! I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but the buttons on the corners of the 'Best Wishes' are heart shaped and nice and sparkly! Plus, Tilda has a sparkly heart on her top. For flowers, I used some lovely floral backing paper and a cute blue flower in the top left corner to finish it off.

A big thanks to Lisa....

I just wanted to say a big THANKS to Lisa for my wonderful RAK that I recieved at the beginning of this week. Look at the wonderful crafty bits and bobs she sent me, all because I was her 100th follower! Also, a big thanks to Katie for pointing me in the right direction ;o)!

Please take a look at Lisa's fantastic blog.

Flippin' Men cards..

I like the Flippin' Men range. I find it pretty difficult to get ideas for mens cards and these really help me out! As you can see, I have been pretty busy!! August is a manic Birthday month for Mark and I, and we have a few special ones this month, Marks Uncle is the big 70 and his boss is 50! I hope they like these cards! They took me over an hour each to make......!!

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone else who makes these using the proper aperture cards as it says in the instructions to use 3mm thick foam pads, which I found were still to small and ended up doubling them up to make 6mm! Works much better! Have you had the same problem? It's probably just me! hehe

The backing papers I used were from a set I bought from Costco. They are 2 sided which came in very handy as you can see! The aperture I had to cut out I just turned around and stuck down! I got the buttons from the 99p shop. They came in a pack of 5 with about 20 buttons in 3 different colours! 50 buttons for 99p isnt bad really is it!! I'd head down to your local 99p shop and grab some! They have a whole range of colours!! The felt letters 'DAD' were from a pack of PaperMania stash I had laying about, and they really add a finishing touch I think!

Bookmarks i've made for my best friends

Hi everyone,

I went to the Stamperama Show in Stevenage, Herts a few weeks ago and bought these wonderful little stamps by Card-io which make wonderful borders! I would love to have bought more but for 5 little stamps it was £10, so I had to restrict myself!! If I see them at another show, I may treat myself again!!

I decided to make these bookmarks using the border stamps for my 5 best friends as a nice little surprise for them!! I think it's important to show your friends how much you care, especially as I don't see them as much as i'd like, as I moved quite far away from them a few years back! We go all the way back to Nursery school, so i've known the practically all my life! I hope they like their surprise!

Please vote for my gorgeous nephew Craig to be the new face of Kinder!

Hi everyone,

Please could you vote for my nephew Craig !!

Much appreciated!