Across the Miles

Hi Everyone

well i had a huge amounts of visits to my blog yesterday, a lot more than normal so you must be loving these new little cute characters.  This is my second sneak peek before Fridays shows and this one is across the miles.  I've used backing paper from the co-ordinating cd rom and the sentiment is from the stamp set.   I've coloured with Spectrum Noirs and then edged my image and the paper with bundled sage distress ink.  Then i have added a little snow using my polar white flower soft and the little star was in my crafty stash.

Don't forget to take part in the Crafters Companion Blog Hop as you could win the fab CD.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Christmas in Mulberry Wood

Hi Everyone

Well i have been waiting for today to come around so i can share with you these new cute characters, it's Christmas in Mulberry wood and you are going to love them as much as we do.

As many of you know, Christmas starts in June for many papercrafters, so Crafter's Companion are starting to feel a little festive, launching the first of a new range, with artwork designed by artist Ian Hallows. The ‘Christmas in Mulberry Wood’ range (including six stamps, co-ordinating CD-ROM and two papercrafting collections by Hunkydory) will be Pick of the Week on Create & Craft from Midday on Friday!

To celebrate the launch, Crafter's Companion have organised a Blog Hop around some of the Design Team's blogs! If you have landed here from Ali's blog then you are hopping in the right direction. If not then you need to pop over to the Crafter’s Companion News Blog to begin.

Everyone on the Design Team had so much fun creating with this new range from Crafter’s Companion and to celebrate the launch of these stunning new collections on Friday 29th June you have the chance to win the brand new 'Christmas in Mulberry Wood' CD-ROM.

All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning this great prize is visit each blog in order and then go back to the Crafter’s Companion News Views and Inspiration Blog to leave a comment about the range and the sneak peeks you’ve seen. On Friday June 29th, Crafter's Companion will pick two comments at random, to win the prize.

So here is my first card and i just love this image.  I've coloured with spectrum noirs and used backing papers and a sentiment from the fab CD ROM.  Another exciting new feature on this cd rom is the epiphany section.  On here images from the artwork have been made smaller to perfectly fit your epiphany tools and match in with your images, whether they are stamped or from the cd.  

From here, you need to hop to Beth's blog.

Keep popping back each day this week to see more sneak peeks!

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

More Quick Christmas Cards

Hi Everyone

Well i said the other day that i had made 20 Christmas cards in one afternoon so i am ready to share the rest with you.  Did you watch Nigel, Sara and Leann on Tues/Weds, i did and the DT did a fabulous job of all the stamped, CD and HD cards.  So for anyone who bought the Hunkydory Kits here are some more ideas i came up with.  I have got to say again i was absolutely amazed i did 20 in one day.  I made none yesterday when i planned to do 3 or 4 but i have made 2 today.  So watch out there are some more exciting projects coming up, that we will be able to share very soon.  The very next one is Monday and we are all posting a blog hop.

Nigels Craft into Chrsitmas CD & Stamps are still available from Create and Craft if you missed out but  i cannot find the hunky dory kits that these are all made of so i hope you did get yours...............

Ok no narrative for these cards as they are all very easy, i only added a few bits and pieces here and there but you really don't need to the kits are so good to use just as they come.  Sorry if a few of the pictures are quite dark.

Hope you like them.

Louise xx

Craft Punked Blog Challenge - Strawberries and Cream

Morning everyone

I have a day off work today, so i am going to do the washing up, have already washed the bedclothes and got them drying and now i am going to craft.  I have a few projects to work on and i am short on inspiration so i need to get my thinking cap on.

This weeks Craft punked challenge the is strawberries and cream and it would have been very easy for me to grab my favourite little strawberries kisses character with the strawberries in the glass but i thought no i will try something new.  So this stamp is sweet butterfly and i bought it from the craft workshop and the lovely diane where i did my demo last Saturday.  She is fab isn't she but i am not happy with my card.  I think my colouring is a bit off and I'm not happy with my embellishments.  But i do love the paper and colours.  So instead of real strawberries i went with a strawberry and cream colour theme.

I have used my Spectrum Noirs to colour and the paper is K&Co and coordination's card stock.  I have distressed the edge of my image with tea dye but i must have had some worn lipstick mixed in somewhere as it has ended up a bit red but it matches anyway.

Hope you like it and don't forget to pop over to Craft Punked and take part this week. This weeks sponsor is Joanna Sheena so you could win some fab goodies.

Hope you like it.

Louise

Quick and Easy Christmas Cards

Hi Everyone

Well i had a bit of a marathon crafty day yesterday as it was right down to the wire to have cards finished for Nigel's shows tomorrow night.  Hot off the press is just the perfect saying.  I made lots of cards yesterday to the detriment of my housework, but i definitely had more fun.

The following cards are made from using 2 of the kits from Nigel's shows and they are Hunky dory kits.  I made 20 in total which i was just amazed at (no pun intended) as it normally takes me all day to make 1 or two.  However the reason why i  was so quick is because these kits are just fab to work with.  All the colour matching is done, everything matches perfectly and lots of items are dire cut.  The easel cards are very quick to and are so unusual.  I just love them.  I have 6 to share with you today.

All i added was the glue, a few embellishments and a bit ribbon here and there and then sometimes i added some core or centura pearl for card bases..

Only 1 more sleep and it will be here tomorrow night.  The launch is 9pm on ideal world, so watch out as I'm sure everything will be going really fast like last time.

Hope you like them.

Louise xx

Spectrum Noir Blog Hop

Welcome to the very first Spectrum Noir Blog Hop!  This week our entire design team has come together to start off summer with a grand celebration of Yellow - the color of summer!  If you have landed here from Jennies blog, you are hopping in the right direction.  If not, pop over to the Spectrum Noir Blog so you do not miss a single stop!

Here is my card for the blog hop and the theme is Yellow, the colour of summer.  So mine is a card that is going to be a tutorial on the Spectrum Noir Blog on Tuesday the 19th June.  It's a tutorial with step by step instructions and I have taken photos along the way to help you.  But the picture is very yellow I think and I have not used one yellow colour at all they are all golden brown and tans.  The image is from Sheena Douglas, its from her little little bit scenic range, 50's French Cafe.  Its the first time I have coloured it and I normally like colouring cutesy images so this was a change for me but i thoroughly enjoyed it, I think we all should try something a little bit different sometimes.  I've added the colours used below and you will have to pop back on Tuesday for the full tutorial.  It does look summery I think, I would do with a holiday in France and a cool glass of white wine in hand at a French cafe.............

We are excited to announce that our new Spectrum Noir website and blog is up and running. If you have not had a chance to check out all of the great tutorials, tips, suggestions and samples our design team has posted, today is a great day to take a peek.  Before we get to the rest of the blog hop, how about we add a bit more excitement?  Spectrum Noir is going to award one lucky winner with a full set of 72 Basic Spectrum Noir Pens!  Yes, that's right...all twelve sets of six pens each and $25.00 or £25.00 gift certificate to be used on any Spectrum Noir product at Crafter's Companion US or UK websites .

Entering to win is easy.   Leave a comment on the Spectrum Noir Blog Hop Post telling us one fun new thing (tip, trick, interesting combination of colors, etc) you learned about the Spectrum Noir markers while hopping with us this week.  A random winner will be drawn using random.org and posted on our blog at 9:00 AM GMT, Saturday, June 23, 2012 so be sure to check back with us to see if you have won!  The lucky winner will have one week to claim their prize or a second winner will be chosen.  How about a bonus chance to win?  If you add our blinkie to your blog and mention in your comment that you've done so, you will be entered into a second contest to win a $25.00 gift certificate to be used on any Spectrum Noir product at Crafter's Companion (the US or UK site).  To add the Blinkie, simply download the code from the downloads section on the Spectrum Noir Blog and place it prominently in the sidebar of your blog. Do not forget to let us know in your comment on the Spectrum Noir Blog Hop Post  that you have added the blinkie to your blog!

Now, hop on over to the next amazing blog and check out what Kristine has to share!  In case you get lost along the way, here is the entire hop order:

Danielle

Leann

Angelique

Linda

Jennie

Louise

Kristine

Marcea

Taylor 

Suzanne

Cyndi

Wendy

Jacqui

Spectrum Noir Blog

Thanks for joining us today, and best of luck on winning a 72 piece set of Spectrum Noir pens (and maybe even a gift certificate)!

Hope you like it and all of the other DT members cards, they are fab aren't they.

Louise xx

Craft Punked Blog Challenge - Fathers Day

Hi Everyone

Today I have a card to share with you that i made a long time ago, it must be over 8 years ago and i found it in my bag of old cards.

Well its time for the Craft Punked Blog Challenge  and this week it is fathers day.  So my dad died 7 years ago and Kevin's dad just a year ago so we don't have any use for fathers day cards any more and i really didn't fell like making one so i found this. Although i could still make some with Gracie for her to give to her dad, so maybe she can have this one.  I can't say i designed this one as i made it from an ideas book that came free in one of the many crafty magazines i used to buy and i found that too as well when i was looking for this card.

It really is very simple, just a DL card matted with bazzil card stock and then i made the tags myself from
scraps of the base card stock.  I've edged them with chalk inks i think, that matches with the bazzil and then punched small holes at each end and tied with string.  Then just a few brads to finish.  Very plain but i think its ok for a mans card.  I really detest making cards for men.

Hope you like it.

Louise

Merry Christmas

Hi Everyone

It really is strange making Christmas cards in June.  But i just had to share another quick make with you and this time I have added my gold spray and sparkle to the backing papers from the CD.  I've used a card companion from CD 2 from Nigel's craft into Christmas double cd rom. and this cd is more traditional.  I love gold and burgundy together so classic.  The ribbon is part of the card companion and i have added some glitter to the tinsel on the tree using my quickie glue pen.  Then to continue with the gold sparkle i thought i would emboss a sentiment from one of the stamp sets. Once again i tried to add lots of embellishments but they came off.  i like it the way it is and it is so traditional i really do think i will be using these as they are so quick.  i could have a production line going with me and Gracie and get through lots of these i can tell you.  Well done Nigel  i can't wait for tues.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Craft into Christmas - Nigel may

Hi Everyone

This is my second sneak peek of Nigel's new Craft into Christmas CD and stamps.  Pop over to Nigel's blog as he is sharing lots of news and details with you over the days leading up to his launch on Tuesday on Ideal World at 9pm.

My second card is a very quick card and i used the cd this time.  Its one of the toppers and as i went with all red on my first one i have chosen all blue.  I have spray and sparkled the topper and matted onto cored and silver mirri card.  I have used a sentiment from the cd too and also used one of the embellishments but have then used my round epiphany tool to make my own epoxy sticker.  I still think my camera lens looks a bit steamed up in the top left corner as the epiphany sticker looks blurred but it isn't in real life.  I know what i will be doing for my Christmas cards, printing some of these toppers and spray and sparkling them it really does look fab close up.  he backing paper is also from Nigel's cd.

Remember to take part in the competition on the Crafters Companion News blog.

Hope you like it.

Louise

Christmas in June

hi Everyone

I am very very late tonight and probably the last one of Nigel's Angels to post their first sneak peek.  I have just been so busy with upcoming products and preparation etc.  oh and i had a weekend away with Margaret Brown as we went to Jayne Nestorenkos workshop in Rugby.  She has some fab new stamps coming out soon so watch out for some peaks of these.

Today i am sharing a stamped image from a range of 12 stamps Nigel is launching with his twin cd, Craft into Christmas, on the 19th June as a Pick of the Day on ideal world.  These stamps are just so A-MAY-ZING..............

I've have chosen the little penguin and coloured him with spectrum noirs.  Then i have chosen two backing papers from the CD.  I just love tartan and when i saw it i knew it would be on my first card.  I have kept it very plain and added just a little ribbon and a bow.  I have added a bit of sparkle to his hat and scarf though.  Hope you like it and there is a competition.

For a chance to win the whole range, add the blog picture i have at the top of my right side bar, 'have an amazing Christmas with nigel' to your blog and leave a link to your blog on the crafters companion news blog and your luck may be in.  the competition closes at 9pm next tues  morning, 19th June so don't hang about.

Hope you like it.

Louise

Craft Punked Blog Challenege

Hi Everyone

Today is the start of our new blog  challenge on Craft Punked, we have had a bit of a revamp from Glitter Geeks and the them this week is Happy Birthday or Celebrate.  This is chloe from Elizabeth bell and Whimsy stamps and i bough her ages ago (along with some others) that i still have not coloured yet.  I just love this image and i went with girly pinks and yellows.  Although it was going to be bright green and turquoise but i changed my mind. I have coloured her with spectrum noirs and  I have also used my polychromo pencils to add depth to the colour and i love the finished image.

I have used nitwit  backing papers, a butterfly from meiflower and some seam binding.  All mated onto some paper mill linen cream card.  The two photo corners are cut on my e-craft using the laina lamb office essentials sd card..

Hope you like it and go on pop over and take part.

Louise xx

Daisy Daisy Give me an answer do.......

hi Everyone

Remember that song?  I used to love it when I was little I think my uncle used to swing me around when I was little singing this to me....

My card today is Daisy Chain from the paintbox poppets range and its my second post on the Spectrum Noir Blog so i have done a tutorial of how to colour her in.  The reason i chose this one is she is the most viewed on my blog so i thought she must be quite popular.  Anyway I love her and i find her quite easy to colour, which is why i use her on my demo's.  I tell everyone that though as i think its important when you are starting out colouring that you really do have a go and with this image everyone who i have shown has gone away and coloured her beautifully.

There are load of photos and instructions on the SN blog so pop over there for details and here is the finished card, which i really really like.  The backing papers are from the Paint Box Poppets CD ROM and I have matted onto coredinations.  Then just a little bit of decoration, not too much, and its finished.

I have scheduled this post as i should be just waking up in a lovely hotel after a lovely meal and evening with my other half.  We have suffered each other for 30 years and we drive each other mad.  I love hearing people say they have never had a cross word with their spouse after so many years of marriage, as we are the total opposite, we bicker constantly.  But we are still together and the majority of the time we don't really mean it. (I can't say all of the time as that would be a lie). We laugh together more than we bicker which is why I think we have lasted the 30 years.  And yes i know he would have or I would have been given a lesser sentence for murder.........  (that sounds awful doesn't it?)

Hope you like my card.

Louise xx

Sheena's New Embossing Folders

Hi Everyone

Last week at Dainty Toys I demoed Sheena's new embossing folders and they went down a storm.  These are the 3 cards I made and left for the shop and I love each one of them as they were simple to make and really effective.

This first one is using the Heavy Swirl design and I have embossed onto white plain card and used a small amount of the foiled card from the luxury card pack, I was also demoing with the swalk decoupage and daisy cards.  I added punched border under this and then finished with a piece of satin edged organza ribbon and a for you sentiment from the same range of paper crafting kits.  I think this was when my camera was steamed up with the heat but its sorted it self now as the temperature has dropped dramatically. I confess I had to put the heating on yesterday it was soooo cooooold............

For my second one i used the Daisy Folder onto coredinations card stock and stamped with my daisy stamp in brown memento and then added a stamped sentiment.  The ribbon is yellow satin edged oragnaza and i distessed the core and punched a border to finish it off.

And the last card is a blatant copy of an  Ali Watson card, so i hope she doesn't mind but when i saw hers recently i knew i had to make one with the wood folder.  Everyone was really impressed with this one at dainty especially when they knew it was just made from different size circle dies and the leaf of course.  The only little difference i have added, and it is small, is the little lady bird I had in my crafty stash that I found.  The sentiment is printed from word.

3 quick and easy cards to make with embossing folders.

Hope you like them

Louise xx

Crafters Companion Blog Challenge - June

Hi Everyone

Its time to share another monthly Crafters Companion Challenge card with you.  The theme this month is time to embellish.  I have chosen to make quite a simple card as my first thought was to go mad and over the top with embellishments but i just couldn't do it.  Although i do think i have left this one quite plain but i really love it.

I've used SWALK  decoupage and one of the Daisy meadow luxury Hunky dory card blanks. I love these swalk decoupage kits they are really easy to pop out and put togther and look really effective.   I have then matted her onto a doily that i distressed with spun sugar distress ink.  Then finished off with a little butterfly embellishment and a sentiment that matches perfectly.

I love these shaped cards, there are lots of patterns and colours to choose from in the pack.  I was demoing them on Saturday and its just so quick and easy to make a really great card so quickly.  The butterfly's are fab too.  A very quick and easy embellishment to add to a card.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Glitter Geeks Blog Challenge - Super Heroes

Hi everyone

Today is the last Glitter Geeks  Blog Challenege i am so sad................  But wait...................  no we are not stopping all togther we are just changing names and a brand shiney new blog called Craft Punked.

So the last challenge theme is Superheroes and i have looked and looked for images i could use, but i really got stuck.  And i am on a crafty diet until tomorrow, my birthday' so i could not buy any new digis or anything.  So luckily i stumbled across a fab blog called the lady wolf where i found these fab FREE SVG files to use on my e-craft.  

So i have used coredinations  to cut little Super Mario out and then cut the number and letters on my e-craft too.  I've also kept with the red white and blue colours to celebrate the jubilee as I'm really loving seeing these colours together, which is unusual for me as i like pastels.  I just love this card  and what's more i love Super Mario too, and can't wait to show Gracie as she is nintendo obsessed as well, .  We had one of the first Nintendo's when it came out and bought everyone that came out afterwards.  All of us have spent hours and hours trying to rescue the princess from Bowser and get to the end of the game first.  Ah happy memories............  and all the fighting and tears and shouting that went with it, ha ha ha.

Hope You like it.

And tomorrows post will be the new Crafters Companion Blog Challenge.

Louise xx