In LIGHT of all these challenges.....

Just wanted to say "thanks" for all the lovely comments you posted on my blog during last weeks challenges... feels nice!! I imagine it could be a bit addicting... cause I was excited to try again this week!!

For this card I used an image and papers from Pink Petticoat. To bling it up a bit I used some gemstones card stock behind the chandelier, some diamond stickles and glitter on the chandelier. I used Brenda Walton adhesive rhinestones in black and clear on the text and on the papermania felt ribbon. I tried the sparkle and spinkle flocking in nightfall (that was messy!) and used a black tassel by tassel elegance. I lightly distressed the edges and birthday tag with black soot distressing ink.

Challenges:
 Pixi Dust Studios #10- think birthday
Gingersnap Creations-Random Redhead Challenge- birthday greetings
fab 'n funkychallenges #12- colour combo black and white
Paper Sundaes #6- distress you card
Quixotic- one for the boys
Little Red Wagon #17- black and white
Treehouse stamps #38- bling it on
Cute Card Thursday #101- Ribon-Tastic
Lexi's Creations #8- Anything goes
Incy Wincy Designs- touchy feely (I used flocking and felt ribbon as well as tassel)
crazy4challenges- all about texture (felt ribbon, flocking, tassel, gemstone cardsock, glitter, rhinestones, and scalloped card, decoupage)
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle- sparkle

Mum's the Word.... think of that charming, citrusy, floral, spring cleaning scent you get from her!

Man it's cold outside today... even a bit of snow for Ireland! I kept inside for the most part today and had some fun with this card....(you can click on picture for a closer look at card)

I thought I might try my hand at all the great card challenges around this week, so I made a card for "mum" with citrus and floral papers from Pink Petticoat, spring colours, a charm (metal charm "mom" and a metal brad I made), and a cute digi stamp from Bugaboo Stamps . I coloured the stamp with chalks and used some yellow stickles and card candy to brighten things up for spring!

Challenges:
Your Next Stamp Challenge 10 -spring colours with digital stamp
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturdays-SSDS Week 28-charming
Fourishes-FTTC55-flowers (on my paper and I put a small one on corner of digi stamp paper)
Digital Tuesday Challenge-DTC47 -a card for mum and digital image
Practical Scrappers-http://www.practicalscrappers.com -stamps (I used digi stamp)
Quixotic-challenge 14-something for mum -a card for mum
Magical Crafts-Challenge 9-mum
Secret Crafter-Challenge 71 -mum
Cute Card Thursday-Challenge 100 metal mania (brad and charm)
Pixi Dust Studios-challenge 9 -charmed

Enjoy your week....... hope ours warms up!! 

Welcome....

(for distressing challenge LPSC55 )

My brother in law's wife had a baby boy yesterday so I decided to make him a card this afternoon....

he has no name yet so just "welcome" will have to do for now!

I used my new retractable distressing tool on the corners of the two background papers and the Tim Holtz Vintage photo distressing ink. I made the brad with the paper mainia brad making kit too! 

Card Class No. 3....

It seems fitting, since I have put up a picture at the top of my blog of Kecabecca Falls, (in Thunder Bay where I grew up) that today we did a waterfall card! Beautiful vintage images along with distressing and stamping.....

Images change as you pull the ribbon tab....

 

And a lovely inner!

P.S. Thank-you guys so much for the gifts today!! Bow maker, a little angle to watch over me and your tips and talent you shared!

Slowly, but surely....

 

I have learned so many new things in the last couple weeks, but is hard to remember that being good at something doesn't happen over night. I see so many beautiful cards online and around and I would love mine to be as good....... I will continue to have fun practicing!

 

Husband's V day pressie.... P.S. he has everything!!

OK, so I panicked a little bit this afternoon..... what to get the guy who has everything???  I have a cork board in the kitchen that I use a lot so when I saw this type of board  I had a light bulb moment! He always has little lists of horses by our computer and spare dockets so I thought this would be a great way to keep them together... and keep the little ones dirty paws off them..... 

(Besides it gave me a chance to practice my distressing and use the new alphabet I got from pink petticoat!)

I have a few lotto tickets and scratch cards as well as the valentine the kids made him I will tack on when I give it to him tomorrow!

Card Class No. 2 .........

Well, today we tried our hand at a sexy little number....... 

In this card we made our own brads and did a running stitch in some lace for the border of the brad. Then we did some decoupage (which seemed to take me two life times.. but probably cause I was suffering lack of sleep!!)

We used a butterfly punch on background paper and some card candy to brighten things up... we did some embossing for the "for you" label... but I won't go into detail about that!! (he he)

All in all, good fun!! 

Be sure to check out my teacher's blog

http://www.shirlscards.com/blog/ to see all of her amazing work!!

"Thanks a Melon"

OK, so who do I thank for this new habit? Like I needed another one......

How cute, sweet, sassy, (oh, and there are some manly one's too) are these zip-kits? And it turns out my printer seems to be more than capable of printing them... One question though... what type of paper should I be using for printing??? I used glossy photo paper cause that's all I had BUT I am sure there is a better option... let me know!

http://www.pinkpetticoat.co.uk

Relieve Stress, Distress!

When the kiddos were settled a bit I sat down with all my new goodies I picked up today and practiced some of the things I learned earlier....

I was introduced to distressing, the pokey tool, making your own flowers, using double sided tape and foam pads, and scalloped cards... then with all my other new buys... MS punch, liquid pears, new stamps, corner punch, flower punch.... the list goes on... I ended up with this!!! Yay, such fun! Oh no, I forgot the bow!! (too clumsy for that yet)

Thanks Shirl and Cottage Crafts!

 Well, I went to my first card making class and had a great time. I learned a few new techniques that I can't wait to use in my own projects!! The teacher, Shirl from Shirl's Cards, http://www.shirlscards.com/blog/ was very patient and fun. She brought all the bits for us to put together the card below... isn't it cute!! Looking forward to next Saturday... not only for the card making but for the homemade cookies ;) yum!

 

 

Check out Shirl's blog for some more of her beautiful work

OK, from a distance...

This was my first attempt with the sewing machine today. (My friend threaded it as promised... never would have done that on my own first time round) Since it's February I decided to try a couple hearts. Funny, the first one turned out a lot better than the second. But they look OK from a distance... he he!

Wow, you need patience for this sewing stuff!!! Think I will take a breather...

Love my new bigshot... the texture makes this card so much better!! Starting a card making class tomorrow at cottage crafts (see their blog on side bar) and looking forward to it. First time since I have been scrap booking/card making that I will meet with some others that share the interest!

My Plans for February...

Well, since this is the month of love and such, I thought I would share my new love....

 

when I set my eyes on this shelf I had to have it.... not sure if it was the colour or the wallpaper-type background, but I was in love. So now I have to find a place for this baby, which shouldn't be hard as all my walls are pretty neutral and bare for the most part! I am also loving the song I have posted on the side bar for your listening pleasure... check it out on i tunes and proceeds all go to charity....

 

I have A LOT of scrap booking to catch up on too... as my son will soon be The Big 1, I will have to start his book. I did one for the girls of their first year so I will do the same for him. As well as that I have to do all the family stuff since he was born.... should keep me busy!

I have also bought a sewing machine (a cheap one to start). I can't even thread the thing with the instructions so I am hoping a friend will come by and help me out tomorrow... will keep you posted on my adventures with that. Should be comical.

By the way, you should really check out these books... seriously... very good. Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy.   
http://www.stieglarsson.com/

Enjoy February..........