Birthday Wishes

Hi Everyone

Hope you have all had a lovely Christmas, I know I have........ I have loved just lazing about watching reading cooking etc but thought today I would make an effort to make a card, totally unrelated to Christmas to get me up and doing something creative again.

So this is a LOTV image that i have had since March and this is the first time I have used it. Although i did colour this and some other images while watching TV over the past few days so I just had to make it into a card.  I really must aim to use all of my stamps at least once before buying any more   Coloured with Spectrum Noirs and I've added quite a bit of grey to darken the colours up.  Papers and flowers are from my stash as too is the gem swirls.  The a little tag to add the sentiment.

I really must get my thinking cap on for the Crafter Companion blog challenge as January's is anything but a card, but I am stumped at the minute.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Happy Christmas Everyone

Hi Everyone

Well i just wanted to say thanks to everyone that has viewed, commented and followed my blog in the last year and a half or so.  I love making cards and sharing them with you.  Even though i don't seem to get as much time to take part these days.  So this last one before Christmas is for the Spectrum Noir blog challenge, Winter Blues.  Theres still time for you to take part so pop along and enter to win a fabby prize.

I've coloured this beautiful LOTV image with my Spectrum Noirs and matted onto Bo Buny card stock that Margaret and i found in Holland.  I've been waiting to use it since i got back and thise was the perfect time.    The eaxact card is Snowfall stripe and Snowfall wintertime. I've used a marriane die Christmas Leaves, snowflake dies and my Scalloped Tag for the sentiment which is just printed from my pc.  Then added some extra sparkle with glamour dust.

Hope you like it and that you all have a fabulous Christmas and Happy New Year.

Louise xx

Sheena Douglas Workshop

Hi Everyone

Well it has taken me a week to recover from Sheena's workshop (in a good way) i even had two days off work last week and didn't lift a piece of card or speccie and it has taken me a week to share these piccies with you.  I would have had a Craft Punked blog challenge card on Friday but our blog has disappeared and not to be found again........ ;0(.  However i think we will be back in the New Year with something a bit different so watch out.

So these are the two items I made at Sheenas workshop and i am quite impressed with myself.  The first is a welcome sign just made on plain old chipboard and then painted with a crackle effect.  The welcome is cut using an electronic die cutting machine, it may have been the ecraft and then the poinsettia made using Sheenas stamp from her paint fusion range. Its stamped with black ink onto plain red and green card and then the edge distressed with walnut stain distress ink and i little bit of glitter in the centre.  The faux wood panels have been created by just using a ruler and distress ink.  And the flowers and leaves added to decorate.  I've then added a few brads to finish off.

 The next item is just a simple  vase from ikea and then stamped with a flower from the new Fantasy circle stamp set.  Its edged with the cerne relief out of the fantasy paint range which are still sold out but will be back soon and Sheena had already prepared this part of the process. Then the flowers and leaves have been filled in with the fantasy paint to give this stunning effect.  it was so easy to do and when i heard we would be painting i really thought i wouldn't be keen on this but its paining in the loosest sense of the word as its applied with the non brush end of the paint brush and just filled in really.  I think it took all of 10 minutes to do this and the rest of the time is just drying time.  The colours i chose are very muted but some of the other attendees had stunning results with yellows  red,s oranges turquoises etc, just beautiful.

What a fab day we had and i really would recommend you attend any upcoming workshops as it was just so interesting.  Santa even paid us a visit.

Hope you like them.

Louise xx

Craft Punked Blog Challenge - Keeping Warm

Hi Everyone

Well i managed to fit another card in today and its just in time for the Craft Punked Blog Challenge and this weeks theme is Keeping Warm,.  Ideas could obviously be hats, gloves coats, fires etc but i thought this image went perfectly.  What better way to keep warm than curled up on a comfy chair or sofa on these warm dark cold nights.  Oh i wish i had Minnie and Tink back with me........

So..........  coloured with Spectrum Noirs and the image is Paw Prints.  I've used some dove craft paper that i brought back from Belgium and i know the holly doesn't match the theme but it matches the backing paper and i bought this Holly die at Graces while at a demo recently and also the holly berries which i knew would be useful.  The tag is from a diesire tag set once again, with a sentiment to match.  So not really a christmassy image but it now could be used as a Christmas card.

Pop over and join in the challenge.

hope you like it.

Louise xx

Hair Colouring Techniques

Hi Everyone

Today my Spectrum Noir Blog post is up and its a new card made using one of my fave crafters companion images.  This is the third card i have made recently with this stamp and i just love her.  For all details of colouring her hair please pop over to the Spectrum Noir Blog but here is my finished card.

Coloured with Spectrum Noirs and the satmp is Daydream Believer.  the paper is from my stash and i have once again used a tag from a diesire die set.  I've then added a couple of paper roses, a double bow and the heart is from my trip to Belgium, i knew they would come in handy one day.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Crafters Companion Monthly Blog Challenge - December

Hi Everyone

Decembers Crafters companion Monthly blog challenge is Winter Friends so i have posted a card that Gracie and I made a couple of weeks ago when she felt in the mood to craft, which she hasn't done for ages.

So she chose a Christmas in Mulberry wood Stamp and wanted to colour in greys with my Spectrum Noir pens  as i have done in the past.  She has coloured all of the owls, tree etc and i finished the blue background off, i think she had had enough by then.  She then chose papers to match from the Mulberry Wood CD and embossed some coredinations with a snowman snowflake embossing folder   Auntie Margaret had given her some Christmas embellishments when we were at her house and she wanted to add the snowman so she placed it herself and added a snowflake.

She was very pleased with this and i think she said she wants to give it to her Mam, so we will add a special sentiment when she is here at the weekend.

Hope you like it

Louise xx

Spectrum Noir Blog Challenege

Hi Everyone

This months Spectrum Noir Blog challenge runs from 15th November until 14th December midnight GMT, so you still have a chance of entering and winning, so don't miss out.

The theme is Animals and for my card i have used an everyday in mulberry wood stamps, Smile Everyday with my Spectrum Noir  pens.  I coloured this at the NEC a few weeks ago and Leann die cut it with the Magic Mirror die and i just love it.

A lot of people ask how should you start to make a card?  do you colour your image first then try to find papers to go with it or should you choose your paper and the colour the image to match.  I do both depending on how i am feeling or the circumstances.  So when i was colouring at the NEC i never had my crafty stash of papers with me so just chose colours i liked at the time.  Then i hunted for papers to match when i got back..  So both ways work i think.  the background papers are from K&Co out of my crafty stash and i have used kraft card for my base.  The tag is from the scalloped tag die set and then i have just added some ribbon tied in a triple bow using my ultimate pro, a brad and some pearls   The edge of the magic mirror die is distressed with vintage photo distress ink.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Craft Punked Blog Challenge - Blue & White

Hi Everyone

Today is day for a new Craft Punked blog challenge and as it's St Andrews day today the theme is Blue & White.

I've chosen some white watercolour card card as my case and matted half of it using some K& Co card stock .  I've added a sentiment from Sheena's stamp set, Best Friend and then cut a Butterfly out of the same paper with my diesire die.  This die is available to Crafters Companion members only at the minute but will be on general release in the New Year. Then to finish I've added a few pearls and some blue lace.  honestly it has taken me nearly two hours to make such a simple card and yet if i was to make it again it would take 10 mins max.  I find it really hard to come up with ideas when I'm not colouring in. However i love the finished result it was well worth the extra time it took.

Don't forget to pop along and take part.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Craft Punked Blog Challenge - Best Friends

Hi Everyone

The Craft punked Blog challenge this week is best friends and i made this topper at the NEC last week while demonstrating Spectrum Noir pens.  Louisa and i were talking about colouring for her upcoming shows and i decided to try and colour images to reflect the staff at CC so this one has dark hair with a hint of red like Louisa.

The papers are from K&C and the Craft Superstore had a half price sale recently so i purchased a couple of pads.  I've matted the swalk image onto Kraft card and used a couple of members only dies to complete the card. The dotty border and one of the tags.  The butterfly is a dienamics die die that i bought at the NEC and then i just finished off with a few pearls to match.

Don't forget to pop over to the blog to take part.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

My new obsession.........

Hi Everyone

well i am officially addicted to making boxes.  i made these 3 yesterday and i have loads of other beautiful papers and card that would look stunning made into boxes...........  but what can i do with all of them???  fill them with chocolates, sweets, candles all sorts of gifts.

As if i didn't have enough card i bough this pad from graces craft shop on Saturday and its a First Edition paper pad, Noir et Chic.  I love the colour combo.  It was only 9.99 so a bargain for 48 sheets of 200gsm card stock.  I am sure you will be seeing more of it very soon as there are lots of stunning designs.

this time i have used the Ultibox board and the heart shaped box.  I thought I should progress onto this as its a little more difficult than the oval but still easily achievable as its the same technique.   I never had any A3 card or paper so i have joined pieces together with my collal all purpose glue and i really thought it would make it difficult joining pieces but it worked fine.

Hope you like them.

Louise xx

Craft Punked Blog Challenge

Hi Everyone

The Craft Punked BlogChallenge today is anything goes so i thought i would share a box i made, which is a change from the cards i make.  I have made this using one of Crafters Companion new boards, the Ulti box board.  I have made it out of kraft card and matted with some polka dot paper i bought in Belgium but i think you can find it it here in the uk,  its dovecraft i think.  I've then wrapped around some cream lace and decorated with a memory box die and used my spellbinder dies bitty blossom.  I am not really a cut and glue type of person and colouring is my favourite but i fancied a bit of a change.

I may even use it to put a Christmas gift in!!!

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Craft Punked Blog Challenge

Hi Everyone

Its Friday and i am at the NEC enjoying myself meeting all of you lovely crafters but i have scheduled a post so fingers crossed it has worked.

This weeks Craft Punked Blog blog challenge is Occupations and i have chosen authors and a saturated canary image.  I'm not sure if this was inspired by the 50 shades of grey book but that's what it reminds me of anyway.  So i have coloured her with Spectrum Noir pens and used my K and Co papers matted onto Kraft card.  I've used my Marianne die hearts and a lovely whimsy tag to put my little Valentines message on.  I may even keep this card for Kevin for valentines day...........  hmmmm let me think ..........  no i won't he'll probably choke laughing!!!

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Spectrum Noir Blog

Hi Everyone

Helloo and only one more sleep and i'm off to the NEC to spend four days colouring in fab Crafters Companion images with my Spectrum Noirs, ooooo how i love my job.  I will also be helping out with the stand in general too (but mostly I will be colouring).  So I thought I would share my latest tutorial posted on the Spectrum Noir blog this morning.

I have used my Spectrum Noirs to colour and the list of colours is over on the blog along with step by step piccies and instructions.  I have used an everyday mulberry wood image, called Love you and matted onto white card that has been embossed with my 6x6 embossalicious flower folder.  I have also used my members only two new diesire dies from Crafters Companion, fence and classical frame.  The sentiment is using a die from the scalloped  tag set.

Hope you like it and i hope to see a  lot of you lovely crafters at the NEC show, Birmingham.  Please say hello.

Louise xx

Craft Punked Blog Challenge - Autumn

Hi Everyone

Well 3 posts in 3 days this is a rare event for me nowadays.   But i have another challenge card to share with you for the Craft Punked Blog Challenge and the them is Autumn/Fall.

I have used my 6x6 regal frame as the card inner and used papers from my heartfelt creations pack that Sara brought back from CHA.  I've used and 8x8" card base and matted onto plain black card.  Then my favourite flowers at the minute are made using my bitty blossom dies.  I love the contrast with the oranges, browns and blacks and it reminds me of fall..............

I think this may be my last post for a week as i have a demo at Frankies on Saturday, details  on the CC website   Then next week its the Craft show at the NEC,  Birmingham.  I will be there all four days - Thursday til sunday demoing spectrum noirs so if you are about then please pop along and say helloo.


Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Crafters Companion Challenge Blog

Hi Everyone

This months Crafters Companion Monthly Blog Challenge  favourite colour combo.  Well, i have just so many i found it really hard to choose. However when it comes to colouring with my Spectrum Noirs i love a pink and grey colour combo so i have chosen this gorgeous Daydream Believer  image i coloured a little while ago but had just never gotten round to making a card.  The backing paper is from the Toreads cd  (i just love this paper) and i have used one of my new diesire dies that are only available to Crafters Companion Members currently but i think they will be on general release in the new year.

Don't forget to pop over to the blog and take part.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Spectrum Noir Blog Challenge

Hi Everyone

Have you popped over to the Spectrum Noir Blog Challenge yet, if not have a go and enter to win a fab prize.  Here is my entry this month and the theme is flowers.  So i used one of the new Everyday Mulberry wood stamps and my Spectrum Noir Pens.  I've used my disire dies, lace border 3 and scalloped tag die, the green gingham paper is from a Crafters Companion CD but i cannot remember which one .  The purple strip of flowery paper is from the Toread CD and i have backed onto coredinations.  The flowers are made using a bitty blossom spellbinder die and leaf to match.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Craft Punked Blog Challenge - Halloween

Hi Everyone

Well i have had a week off work this week and have been busy looking after the lovely little girls for Leann.  Here's a few photos of Minnie and Tink.  Photos are from my i phone so not too good., apart from the one that's outside

I have never had dogs in my house before and they are just so lovely to look after as they are very well trained by the dog whisperer, aka Simon (Leanns husband)  although i do think they are being spoiled just a little but he'll have that sorted out in no time when he gets back I'm sure.

So i finally got time yesterday to make my weekly Craft Punked challenge card and the theme is.....  take a guess..............  HALLOWEEN!!!!

I wasn't looking forward to this one at all but i have to say love my finished card.  I started and had no idea what it was going to turn out like so i just went with the flow and chose colours to match the fab papers Sara brought back from CHA and then thought about putting a background in so found this spooky house from Dis Digis.  The main image is from the Octopode factory and i have coloured both images with Spectrum Noir Pens.  I've used a few dies on this card too a circle and scalloped circle which you can find all over the place, tag from the scalloped tag set, vine die and a whiff of joy picket fence which i can't find any more online but there are lots of fences out there and used black card to accent.

Hope you like it and don't forget to pop along and take part.

Louise xx

Craft Punked Blog Challenge

Hi Everyone

I'm so excited I'm going to work for a couple of hours then off to a colouring day at the Aston again with the girlie's.  And I'm looking after Minnie and Tink (ie Leann's girls) and they are just fab, they are so well behaved and such lovely dogs i love them to bits.

Here's this weeks card for the Craft Punked Blog Challenge and the theme was to work from a recipe, which i loved doing and i think we need to do more as its more of a challenge, so i have chosen Cream, Red, Flower and Gems.  I've used a new stamp from the everyday in Mulberry Wood range that Sara is presenting today as a POW on ideal world and these stamps are right up my street.  The backing paper is from the matching CD ROM.

Coloured with Spectrum Noirs and the colours i have used are:

TN1, TN2, TN4, EB1, IG9, IG3, True Black, FS8, CR7, DR1, DR7, DG2 & DG3

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

50th Wedding Anniversary

Hi Everyone

Today  have a card to share with you that was made for a 50th Wedding Anniversary for a previous work colleague of mine.  She contacted me after seeing my blog and supplied me with wedding phtos of her mum and dad.  I planned to use serif and manipulate the pictures and create a back ground etc but i hadn't used it before and so was a little stuck.  So once again Margaret Brown came to my rescue at the last minute and this is what she came up with.  Isn't it stunning???

Thanks so much Margaret i was panicking as there was only a day left and i really need practice with serif.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Craft Punked Blog Challenge - With Sympathy

Hi Everyone

This morning is time for another Craft Punked Blog Challenge and this week it is With Deepest Sympathy.  So i took a break from my colouring and made a card using coordination's  embossing folders and dies.

I have used Nostalgia coordination's, i just love this colour and i have used two shades.  Then i used the petite dots 6x6 folders from crafters Companion and the Ornamental  oval frame.  The flowers are made using a spellbinders flower die bitty blossom and the leaves are in the same pack too.


I just love the finished result.

Don't forget to pop over to the blog and take part.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

The Snowman

hi Everyone

Did you know it is only 79 sleeps until Christmas !!! Well neither did i until today so i thought i would share with you some of my Snowman Cards i made for a demo a couple of weeks ago at Cardcraft Inspirations in Preston.  These cards are made using items from last years kits but there are new ones out now on CC.

I was demoing the new Ebosser and have used some Diesire dies and embossing folders too, i cannot wait to get my very own ebosser.  I am currently still using my little cuttle-bug  which i love but i just know that its going to be so much easier and quicker with my ebosser.

I have 7 cards to share with you all in one go as i feel they were so quick and easy to make that  i cannot justify 7 separate posts.  The items i have used are A5 paper pack, Decoupage, Embossing Folders, Gems & Diesire Dies. However the dies for the card below were bought in Belgium as i was let loose in a warehouse full of crafty items and just couldn't resist treating myself.  The Snowflakes are Marianne Dies.

The embossing folder below is form last years Snowman range but i cannot find it on the Crafters Companion website, i need to ask where they are as i loved this as obviously you can use it in different ways without the Snowman items.

Hope you like them.

Louise xx

Little Madam

Hi

Well here are a few more of the little madam images i coloured while in Germany in different colours.  I wanted to show how different they would look.  I also coloured a pastel turquoise image to contrast with the really dark one and i still like the dark one better and you can see how i have coloured some plain white pearls to match.

Then i was asked to colour a couple of items that the store sold to see how well the spectrums would do on other mediums.  So the one below is a candle stick holder made from resin and it was plain white before i started.

And the rose plaque below was plain white too.  i think they worked out quite well.

And then a picture from my couple of hours in Brussels on the Saturday evening.

 I will have some snowman cards to share with you tomorrow as there are some new items on sale now over at Crafters Companion.

Louise xx