Thank crunchy it's Friday

Oooooh day off today.  Time to do some catch up.  I know housework might not be the most inspiring thing but I've been up since 6.30, done the bedroom, kitchen (including cleaning the Oven) washed and hoovered and dusted.  At least it's got me motivated.  I am going to have a ride out this afternoon and see if there are any new Do crafts products around, I'm after the vine corner punch as I think it will be so versatile.  I made this card last night, to suit a good luck situation for a young lady, eg leaving school, doing exams, off to uni or college. http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/   the Stamptacular Sunday challenge

It's Nitwit paper(bought at Harrogate last Sept), a bought die cut frame (from the Nissan craft show, Ii think it's Debs Dies), my new Debbie Moore fairy stamps,an EK success punch (from the Crafty Nook), a felt bird sticker (from the Works)and on old oddment of ric rac in the bottom of my ribbon drawer.  Card candy (from Craftwork cards )and gems for embellishment (from YAY the pound shop).  I saved the leaves from the punch and glitter glued them because I wanted the fairy to be wistful, thinking about the future.  The label and quote is Polka Doodles.  Hope you like.  Today other than crafting, I am going to attend to my greys, their time is over and I am going to tidy my craft shelves and hopefully discover more stuff festering somewhere.
Also I am co winner of the Feb challenge on crafts on the Net, which is linked to Practical Publishing.  The winners are voted for by members and there are some great prizes from the magazine.  Please have a look it's a friendly place

Catcha later

The early bird

OMG, it's just turned 7am and I am blogging.  I must admit I am finding it increasingly difficult to blog and craft and comment and pass on blog awards.  I am going to do a rethink at the weekend, and work out my priorities.  I am doing this now as I really want to get this card on for the Polka Doodles challenge because it will always be one of my priorities because their products are so good.
Oh, my eyes aren't even working properly and I am trying to watch QVC crafting, drink tea and juggle this laptop at the same time.

So, the card.  It has to contain 3 handmade, not shop bought flowers.  I have used Polka Doodles papers from Sugar Birdies and Sundae of Seasons.  I enlarged the tree image and simply cut it out and added it to the card.  I made 3 flowers with the papers (printed on both sides) with my HOTP templates and added them to the trees.  Glitter glue, card candy and a MIC ladybird to finish this off.  It's bold and I hope very "Polka Doodles".
Time for breakfast
Catcha later

Teenage rampage

This card is for the Allsorts challenge.  Having an almost teenage niece, I like to think I have an idea what they like.  They like me to back them up when their mother says no and attempt to change her decision on things, like having an expensive bag for school! Now this Auntie would have just given in an bought her it if her mother (my sis) wouldn't, but it's now out of production.  Whew family crisis averted.  Famous for moods, teenagers that is I think the Gorjuss girls bridge the gap between cute and slightly moody, so that's what I chose.
It's Gorjuss decoupage, with a Sissix hello Kitty heart die cut, plus embellishments.  Sorted for those liitle madams out there!

I also added some dewdrops in moody grey and some flowers from Wild orchid crafts. I'm hoping it's on trend so will get  Georgia's opinino at some point, which will probably be Ugh! she's got no mouth.
I'm off to watch a scary film and get over my lack of weight loss this week.  No more treats!
Catcha later

Pastels...it's a bit thin

I've been in the huff.  Twice I've typed out my post and twice Internet explorer has stopped working and it hasn't saved.  So this time I'm saving as I go.  Haven't been to blogland much this week, I am sometimes spending more time blogging and blog browsing than I am actually pursuing the craft, I can see it's going to be a bit of a balancing act.
The challenge for this week on Less is More, is pastels.  I started out with good intentions but it is on the borderline I think for meeting the challenge rules. http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/

I started with pastel friendly plastic, in pinks,blues and lavender and heated it, then ran my tweezers through it.  But that's when the black base starts to show!!!!So it's bolder than you would expect pastels to be. I added a couple of pastel gems and some punched hearts in pastel shade, covered with Glossy accents and stuck into the palstic before it dried. I filled in the gaps between some of the pieces with crystal glitter and added a teeny peel off. The background is just stippled lavener acrylic.
I did worry about it not meeting the rules but to be honest it made me think about my reasons for entering.  I'm not in it to win it, I'm in it to participate in the lovely little community that's building, and to learn from other crafters, and to give and receive some constructive feedback and generally just to pick up hints and tips.
So there it is, I'm still putting this one in, I'll still enjoy looking at the other entries, making comments and reading the comments I get in return.
Went to Durham yesterday and they had some birds of prey in the market square.  They were glorious, 2 owls, an eagle and a hawk.  Really beautiful.  Lacey had her photo taken with the cream owl and didn't even panic when it started flapping it's wings.
Got my Amazon delivery of the Frida Kahlo diary and paintings, plus the film Frida starring Selma Hayek.  She was an amazing artist with a fascinating life.  I am in awe.
Off to watch a bit C and C
Got a blog award yesterday from Lis. Please take a look at her fab blog . http://mycraftblogumentary.blogspot.com/
3 things about me: I studied French and English Literature at university. I have trained as a reflexologist.  I am addicted to chocolate.
I will be passing on the award shortly once I have browsed through my fellow bloggers sidebars.
Catcha later.

Sometimes it gets sad.

My entry for the Less is more 3 squares challenge this week, just sort of developped. I had the basic idea of where to place the squares,and I wanted some punched flowers and it just ended up as a sympathy card.

So sorry that the theme's not exactly inspiring, but sometimes I find these cards the most challenging of all because the situation they are designed for is so emotionally charged. My apologies if this lowers your mood, people but it's still about creating something which will mean something to the receipent. As I'm writing this I am beginning to feel that the impression of this post will be too gloomy.  Anyway: It's 2 small squares and a larger one, embossed with a CB folder.  The text and stamp are from American crafts and the flowers are punched and Pebeo dimensional paint added to the centres.  The squares are distressed with milled lavender ink.
On a more cheery note.  Went to the craft fair, it wasn't worth the entry fee and it appears to attract less interest every time, but like a good crafter I sniffed out a few things I really didn't need: few stamps and some nesting dies, and some die cuts in shapes I would not invest in the die for, but will have a go at the dies (eg umbrella).  The one good thing, Debbie Moore and Flower Soft were there with very professional stands.
I've got to go out tonight and really can't be bothered as it's cold and windy, but a girl's got to make the effort I suppose
Catcha later

Loves the nieces to pieces

It's 2 of my nieces birthdays in March.  Abi is 7 and Georgia is 13.  I wanted to make an alternative to a birthday card for them, so created these.  My first attempt at altering!

I found these wall hangings in Home bargains for 99p.  They are MDF with the most awful tropical pictures on them but they are nice and square so would be easy to alter/cover.  I used some plastic Hello Kitty stickers for Abi's and some ready made large embellishments for Goergia's also bought in one of the bargain stores.  I added Craftwork card and Pink Petticoat Papers, a few embellishments and their names.  I am pleased with them and they probably cost about £2.50 to make.  They look so pretty.
I've had some time to craft today, managed to make a couple of ATC's and am now covered with green alcohol ink.  I decided to have a go at vintage which isn't my style, and still isn't after todays efforts.  Still it was fun to play.  I also made a couple of post it note holders for the fair in July.  More on that another time.  Tomorrow there's a craft fair at Washington, so I'll do a bit browsing.  Debbie Moore was there last year so I am hoping she'll be demonstrating again.  Happy Saturday folks, hope you aren't on a diet and can enjoy a glass of wine and some chocolate.
Catcha later.
 

Blog award

Just a quickie.  Got 2 this week.  It'll take me a while to get round to doing the first one as there's a lot of folk to forward on to.  But my thanks to Ni, my fellow newbie to blogging.  Take a look at her cards http://nispapercraftingplace.blogspot.com/2011/02/wow-blog-awards-x-2-d.html
I do like the idea of bringing some blogs to the attention of fellow crafters, so here goes: I would like to offer the award to
Crafty Sam:  http://craftysams.blogspot.com/
Jackied : http://cardsbyjacki.blogspot.com/