House Cleaning Day ...

Today I have  prepared my house ready for a  dinner party that we are hosting  tomorrow night.

I have cleaned and  polished and now  everywhere is like a new pin.  Our guests will be staying over till Sunday so bedrooms and breakfast also have to be prepared

The 3 course menu is all decided on and  we are having  Beef in a Red Wine Sauce  ... easy peasy!! ..... The slow cooker will be doing the work ... not me!

But as it is a get together of old friends then the important part is the chat and the laughter that I know we will share.

My  "Film Crew"  will play his part and keep everybody  topped up with wine and  refreshements and of course the  music is his  department too.

But in the  process of cleaning look  what I did to my  vacuum cleaner ....

I shoved it  about that hard and fast I broke the handle.

It split all  along the side  and fell off.

But being the ever resourceful and the  ..... "never throw anything away"   kind of crafter I fixed it ... well sort of!!

I stuck the blighter back on with masking tape to hold it in place.

And now it works a treat and I got the rest of the vacumming done .... No Problem!!

Who's a clever girl then ?????

Hugs xx

Baby Blue ...

This little image is yet another from the CD

"The Next Big Thing"

from Just Inklined

The cards over the last few days have shown you the diversity in the images that can be found on this disc.

And some of them are really pretty for all ocassions.

The backing paper is also from the same disc and goes very well with my chosen colour scheme.

The ribbon has Baby written on it and I have just added a knot.

It is all layered onto navy blue card and it has been coloured with Spectrum Noir. The background has the addition of some Faux Clouds  in the sky.

The image panel has been added at a slant just to make it look a little diferent .... and you will notice that there is not a flower in sight ....  Oh! my I  will have to remedy that on the next card.

 

Hugs xx

More Ice Grey

Here is another Christmas card coloured with Spectrum Noir Ice Grey 

This is one of the six pen sets from Crafters Companion and is such a versatile set to buy.

The image is yet another from the Just Inklined CD "The Next Big Thing" and there are images on it to cover any occasion I need

Once again it features a snow scene and I have highlighted all the snowy elements with Glamour Dust.

The only other colour I have used is to add a touch of Orange into the windows.

The sentiment and the papers have been matted and layered onto black card.

I added a fun element to the card in the backing paper ... which is map so that Santa won't get lost....

And the last thing I did was to dot some Quickie glue pen over the image and sprinkle it with Glamour Dust for falling snow.

Pearl corners and a snowflake brad complete the look.

Hugs xx

Fun Critters ...

I coloured this little elephant with pink toenails using  Spectrum Noir  pens ...  just for fun.

I have matted and layered her onto two shade of pink card.

The Diamante around the edge is some that a friend brought me back from Shanghai and it is in  self adhesive strips.

The background has been Faux Letter pressed with an M-Bossabilities folder  and Victorian Velvet Distress Ink.

The flower is a paper one and the swirl behind it is from the Venetian  Motifs  from Spellbinders... and I have used a thin Organza ribbon around the spine.

 

This  King of the Jungle  is from the CD 

The Next Big Thing  from

Just Inklined   and there are lots of different animals  for you to choose from.

This has been coloured with pens from Spectrum Noir six pen set.

Notice the textured effect on the hair ... it is very easy to achieve and will be covered in the next  video tutorial

                 Colour Class - Browns.

 

 

Hugs xx

 

 

Isabella ...

I couldn't resist showing off this beautiful little girl... and her name is Isabella.

She is my Great Grand-daughter  and I think she is just adorable... and she looks just like her Daddy (my Grandson) ... only prettier!

Soft brown hair and big brown eyes I cannot tell you how sweet she is.

This is the child that I made the Advent Calendar for and all she wanted was the chocolates inside .... how fickle can one be???

But never the less she was worth making it for.

Isabella was one year old while I was on holiday and so I missed her 1st Birthday Party.

But I have some pretty things for her for Christmas and some of them I have already shared with you.

Back to some cards tomorrow and I am also getting another colouring tutorial ready to film...

Hugs xx

Paper Creators Challenge

This weekend sees the start of a brand new adventure for the design team and I am so happy to invite you to join in  the very First Challenge over at  Paper Creators 

 Sassy Sally Plays a Trick

The theme for this months challenge is ...

Christmas

We would love you to add  your designs to the 

 

Paper Creators Blog 

 

and you will be in with a chance to win a £10 voucher that you can spend in the store.

 

 This is my card and it features one of the Sassy Sally images.

I have deoupaged the Snowman and added some Glitter to his scarf and the buttons are small flat backed pearls.

I used some patchwork paper from my stash along with the green satin ribbon, and the fence is from Memory Box, which has been glittered also. 

Here is a quick run down of the challenge rules.

 

 The challenge will be monthly and start on a Saturday,

You can use whatever you like for the challenge as long as it fits the current theme

You can join in as many other challenges as you want.

You can only enter a maximum of 3 times per challenge

Paper Creator products are not essential, but use one and it gets you an extra entry.

Please no back-linking, entries must be new

The winner will be picked at random and will win a £10 coupon to spend in the store.

Get busy and make your cards then add them to Debbies Blog and join in the fun.

And look out for the next months challenge too

Hugs xx

The Ribbon Room ...

 

I  am always  happy to share a  really good  find with you and this one  is no  exception.

I need quality ribbon for my cards and when I find one at a good price it is a bonus.

The Ribbon Room are an online supplier with something for every occasion, from Christmas  through to Everyday ribbon.... and everything in between.

Take a step inside  The Ribbon Room.

The ribbon featured here is from the Wedding collection and has tiny hearts embroidered into it.

This is the cream version and it is much prettier in real life than on the photo.

The Pearyl Swirl  is  Finesse La Creme  from Want2Scrap 


A  project  would not be finished   for me without the addition of both these  embellishments.

 

Even someone as beautiful as the ever gorgeous Maude needs something to enhance her looks.

This is Maude Doodlebuns all dressed up in her Christmas finery.

She is one of my all time favorite characters from
Just Inklined and I have used her many many times.

She has been coloured in with Spectrum Noir and I have added Glamour Dust and Glossy Accents to her glasses.

This ribbon is a lovely red Grosgrain and I have Braided it along the edge of the card.

The Grosgrain is eay to braid as it has some substance to it and the effect is lovely.

If you like the look of this Braiding and you're not sure how to do it then please look at the video
Braided Ribbon Tutorial

The satin lips are from my "Stash" and the sentiment is a stamp.

I hope you will check out The Ribbon Room for some beautiful patterns, colours and textures.

Hugs xx

 

 

Keepsake Box Tutorial

Yesterday I told you that Isabellas' mum wanted an Advent Calendar for herself.

 But what she really wanted was the small boxes to store items in.

So I thought I would  use another Spellbinders Box die that I have.

The  Petal Top Box  makes a bigger size and by making  my base box  from 14" Centura Pearl  it would hold nine  of the small ones.

The Diamante Swirl is from Want2Scrap

The video is the Keepsake BoxTutorial

 

To these boxes  I added  Mica Flakes  and the result  was very sparkly and feminine.... and one  I am sure that  will be very much enjoyed.

I used the Alphabet shapes to write out the words
"Keepsake Box"
and added them to the box lid.

All the Spellbinders I have used are from Save On Hobbies  and the price is amazing for these large dies.

The box die will only go through the larger cutting areas and not the smaller Big Shot or Cuttlebug.

I have to say that  I love the  finished box and I  will look forward to giving it to  Kylie for her to keep  all her little treasures in.

Hugs xx

Advent CalendarTutorial ...

I filled the Advent Calendar with chocolates and took it up for Isabella last night. Her mum was delighted with it and has said she willl keep it and refill it next year for her too.

It is very satisfying when someone really appreciates that work the you have put in.

"OooH...." she said ... "I want one of these" 

This is the box that I didn't complete on the film but I said I would add it to the Blog once it was done.

This one has silver Gilding Flakes added to it and the numbers are from the Letterbox set from Clarity Stamp

The card is the larger sized 16" square Centura Pearl from Crafters Companion  and the larger size is so useful to many projects.

But this colour scheme and the... "I want one ..." comment inspired another video which I will add tomorrow... and that is a more adult version that I have called a "Keepsake Box".

 

But for today  here is the link to the
Advent Calendar Tutorial   
and I hope you enjoy it.

 

Hugs xx

A step further...

I have been  tossing and turning  during the night with  measurements  going round my head.

Somebody  said they would love to be  inside my head for  day to see what goes on ....  No You Don't!!!

Any way this  Advent  Calendar  has been taken a step further.

In the  original the small  boxes fell out if the base box was tilted and it was a bit of a nuisance.

So I have made  a divider for  the inside that will hold all the small  ones in place.

 And it gives a much  neater  appearance to the whole  creation.

I have also  added  Googly eyes to the  characters on the front of the box, some  Want2Scrap  Diamante to each of the  numbers,  and some  pretty lace around the inside edge.

 Over the  weekend I am going to film the making of one  and show you how I did it.

I hope you will pop back and see the video which will have to filmed and edited around the Formula 1 .

That is my "Film Crews" favorite sport and he will be glued to the telly ... with his cup of tea and the obligatory quarted oranges.

Hugs xx

 

Advent Calendar

I wanted to make one of these Advent Calendars for Isabella ... my Great Grand-daughter ... to open each day in December.

And I have to admit it was running through my head in the early hours of this morning.

So this is what I have been working on today and it is now ready for  me to take to her so that her mum can help her open one each day.

I have used Centura Pearl card from  Crafters Companion

The boxes have yet to be filled with some goodies.

They have been made using the Bracket Edged Box die from Spellbinders.

And I made 25 of them and embossed each one with a different pattern.

Once they were all glued together I had to make a large box to fit them all in as I wanted five rows of five.

I again used Centura Pearl and I have some of the  large 16" square card .... and I measured it all on the Ultimate Pro score board.

The boxes all fit inside and then I made a lid to go on the top.

Everything was then decorated up to match using the Festive Frolics paper stack from Papermania.


I added in a big white satin ribbon bow and the result is at the top of the page.

The toppers are from the same paper stack.

 The gemstones from Want2Scrap are the finishing touch.


And I hope it will be something that will be used and refilled for a few years .... and then I'll make another.

Hugs xx

Fun Card for today...

This image is from the CD The Next Big Thing     from   Just Inklined 

And it is packed full of images for you to colour for any occasion.

There are also backing papers, verses and inserts, as well as decoupage sheets for you to cut out and build up yourself.

I couldn't resist this image and decided to make one of the birds look a bit queasy.

I drew the veins in  the eyes of the bird on the left, with fine liner pen,  as the other one looked quite bright ... and so he is saying "Get Well Soon..."  to his friend.

I have coloured them in with Spectrum Noir ...  but I have used some of the Gold Browns to get the blend I wanted.

The birds have been cut out with Labels 4 and I have created a faux Nestie to layer them up with foam pads.

I have  matted and layered them  onto various shades of blue card and stamped out the sentiment in blue ink using the Big n' Juicy Waterfall colours.

I used the  Fancy Tags 2  to layer it up and a small amount of   Want2Scrap  Bling in the right hand corner.

The little Doily is from my "Stash".... and I have added some pretty turquoise lace under the topper and tied in a small bow.  I added a gemstone to cover the knot.

Poor thing I hope he feels better soon ...

Hugs xx

Spellbinders Video - Floral Doily ...

Here is another promised video and this one uses the Floral Doily Accents and Motifs.

There are so many ways to use each die that you will run out of card before you run out of ideas.

But over  the weekend  I .... Er! sorry we ... my "Film Crew" and I ... have put together this tutorial.

 Maybe it will give you some new ideas if you have this set in your collection.

I have used Centura Pearl Card that is available from Crafters Companion

Just by layering the shapes up in another way can give you a whole new look.

And don't forget to mix them up  with any other dies that you have  collected... and don't be afraid to cut them up too.   Look outside the  original purpose and let your  imagination run while you play.

The  Diamante is from  Want2Scrap  and the wide pink  satin  ribbon is some I had in my "Stash"

 

Hugs xx

Spectrum Noir Colour Class

Here, as promised is the first  video in the  Colour Class Series ...  using the Spectrum Noir pens.  This is using the six pen set that is the Ice Greys  (Cool Greys)

This video features again the

"Little Church In the Snow"  

which is from Just Inklined

I featured this image a couple of days ago and  I decided to use it in the video.

It is  so easy to colour and would make a lovely card for  Christmas.

Spectrum Noir Colour Class Ice Greys  uses only pens from the six pens sets and they are ...  IG1, IG2, IG4, IG6, IG8, IG10

Thes six pens can produce lots of different effects.

 They can also be used to shade and shadow other images as well.especially around figures.

You will see more examples on the website.


This is the another finished card with this image and on this I have added  Flowers, Ribbons and Pearls..... oh! that rings a bell!!

A question I was asked was can you mix fabric and paper flowers on the same project ... and the answer is "You can do anything you want ... just enjoy yourself"

The pearls are from Want2Scrap ... the small white roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts

I hope you will find the tutorial useful and other colours will follow soon.

Hugs xx

Floral Doily Accents and Motifs

This is the Floral Doily set from Spellbinders 

I thought it would be a good idea to show you what the package looks like so that you know what you are looking for if you wanted to buy.

It also gives you an idea of what the dies are like and what they will produce.

I always buy the Accents and the Motifs for any set as that way you know that they are going to work together.

Having said that  any Spellbinders will  work with any other ....  so don't be afraid to  mix and match any that you have in your  collection.

They are very versatile and of course you want to get as much from your purchase as you can.

So over the weekend I am putting together a video that will show you  several different ways to make this set work.

This card is created with Centura Pearl from Crafters Companion


I have cut lots and lots of the shapes with this card and then I play to see what the layers will look like as I build.

The   background  and the  semi circles  have been in  an  embossing  folder.

 One of the border strips has been threaded with thin red velvet ribbon and a small bow added.   Red pearls have been added to the corner pieces and the whole lot layered up onto the red card.

The Diamante swirl is from Want2Scrap  which always makes a card look so rich.

 

For the back of the card I have made a stand and there is a video to show you how I did it.

Creating Card Stands   gives you  some alternatives on how  to make them ... and it saves you the need to  add an insert.

Just add your  sentiment to the front and write your greeting on the back.

More tomorrow...

Hugs xx